Yes, it's him - guess he got something right back then?? I don't claim to understand all the meanderings of his mind, but maybe he got something right for once. I remember him more (before Pflamegate) for that idiotic op-ed he published in the NY Times in July 2001 proclaiming that the threat of terrorism was greatly exaggerated and that except for a couple of hot spots in the world such as Kashmir and Columbia it was in decline..... I remember that column vividly because I was living in NYC at the time, holding the actual NY Slimes in my hands, and muttering "who IS this dumb-AXX" because it should have been obvious to anyone with lukewarm grey matter that one large attack would throw all his comforting stats about a supposed decline in terrorism out the window..... and even pre-9/11 anyone with a brain knew that there were terror groups trying to get at us ala the USS Cole, African embassy bombings, Khobar Towers, etc.
p.s. don't fear, I have NEVER subscribed to the Slimes - i was in a Starbucks (oh no) and there was the front section of the Slimes on the table so I forced myself to go over to the dark side for a few minutes...... :^)