Inquirer Columnist - Mark Bowden http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/mark_bowden RSS Feed for Inq Col Mark Bowden en-us Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT The Point: Diplomacy still best in dealing with Iran http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/mark_bowden/20091115_The_Point__Diplomacy_still_best_in_dealing_with_Iran.html Two days after Iranian students overran the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, taking 66 Americans hostage 30 years ago this month, Pentagon brass met in a secret briefing room called "The Tank" to consider rescue options. The Point: What screamers lack: The art of persuasion http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/mark_bowden/20091018_The_Point__What_screamers_lack__The_art_of_persuasion.html We are living in a time when honest discussion is often drowned out by the noise of partisan cheerleading. More and more, cable TV shows, blogs, radio stations, Web sites, and magazines exist to openly advocate a political agenda, ideology, candidate, or product. Journalistic institutions are in decline, and many professional reporters are looking for new careers. The Point: What Bush got right offers clues for Obama http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/mark_bowden/20090927_The_Point__What_Bush_got_right_offers_clues_for_Obama.html Three years ago, the war in Iraq seemed lost. There was little disagreement that the Bush administration, having toppled Saddam Hussein with relative ease, had badly bungled the aftermath. Tank units led by Gen. Tommy Franks had led U.S. forces triumphantly into Baghdad. There had been a ceremonial toppling of Hussein's statue, and the presidential "Mission Accomplished" news conference . . . and then the real war started. The Point: Gray area in fight against terrorism http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/mark_bowden/20090830_The_Point__Gray_area_in_fight_against_terrorism.html The front page of The Inquirer on Tuesday nicely framed the journey we have taken since the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. The Point | Journalism's future is in global dialogue http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/mark_bowden/20070617_The_Point___Journalisms_future.html Just about 10 years ago, when I was working to present a 29-part serialization in The Inquirer of what would become my book Black Hawk Down, we had some discussions about presenting the story at the same time on the paper's Web site, www.philly.com. The Point | Lessons of being wrong on Iraq http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/mark_bowden/20070304_Lessons_of_being_wrong_on_Iraq.html Four years ago this month, I was writing columns in this space that advocated going to war against Saddam Hussein. I was wrong. We should not have invaded. Bowden, Mark http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/mark_bowden/5900531.html