Mr Hitchens, if, in referring to the "candidate who followed the "Rev." Jim Jones to a Kool-Aid resort in Guyana (don't forget that this did actually happen)," you meant Rep Leo Ryan, you were not only way off-base (and snotty about it, to boot), but actually obscenely off-base, and owe Rep Ryan's family--and the families of those lost at Jonestown he was trying to save--a substantial apology. I suggest you do a wee bit of research into the matter so your apology is better-reasoned than was your initial ignorant snark. Agree with you or not, I have always and for many years respected your work and integrity, and am confident you will put-right your hurtful error.

Amen to that, hongdb. What he said about Representative Ryan (and that has to be who he meant) borders on libel. Hitch's grasp on history here is getting to be about as shaky as Dana Perino's. And as long as we're on the subject, it was Flavor Aid, not Kool-Aid.