Sunday morning roundup

Kandahar is hurting.

So is Japan's economy.

Frank Rich laments the lunatic fringe infusing our politics.

I've given Tom Friedman credit when it's due, and I haven't often called him out for being wrong. It's for pop-tart journalism. Meanwhile, the New Yorker offers you a whole-grain, hearty article on the Beijing Consensus, should you want some evidence and analysis to go with blanket statements.