Andrew Sullivan links to a transcript of the below-linked debate between Norman Podhoretz and Fareed Zakaria, and approvingly notes that though Podhoretz didn’t fare well against Zakaria’s attack, at least he denounced religious fanaticism in the Middle East.

So I went back and read the whole transcript, worrying that the editors at Talking Points Media had somehow sliced up the interview in such a way to make poor Norman look bad.

Not so. Podhoretz comes off even more spittle-flecked and sputtering than in the abbreviated TPM digest version. As Josh noted, there’s real condescending disdain for Zakaria oozing out of that contorted little maw.

While I was at SAIS, I remember going to a conference put together by The Center for the Defense of Democracies and the Committee on the Present Danger titled “World War IV”. My professor at the time, Eliot Cohen, was speaking, as was Podhoretz and then-Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz (who I’m still fascinated by).

I’ve always respected Dr. Cohen as an excellent and provocative lecturer and teacher, and even though we rarely saw eye-to-eye on specific policies, I wanted to go see him speak to a non-academic audience. I distinctly recall his talk being far too pragmatic for most of the nervous balding men in attendance—too few warnings of incipient danger for their bloodthirsty palettes.

In contrast, Podhoretz gave them just what they wanted. Even then, I remember being quite struck at how unpleasant this stunted little man was to listen to. He exuded a cagey paranoia which the audience just lapped up. He fed into their fears of inadequacy and of Western civilizational decline with stiff talk of rallying the nation and dark warnings of what it would mean if they failed.

This is all from memory. I have notes to the conference, with specific reactions to Podhoretz’ speech, which I may try to dredge up if I remember next time I’m in rooting around in my electronic archives.