The brother-in-law of American chess legend Bobby Fischer blasted the
Bush administration Monday for Fischer's recent arrest in Japan, saying
Fischer is a pawn in a game of election-year politics.

Fischer's own family is against his arrest? What a scoop. "Hey Charley, hold
the headline on the Petunia Festival, I think we've got something here!"


``What Bobby's accused of is playing chess 12 years ago in Yugoslavia,''
said Russell Targ, a former Stanford laser physicist whose late wife was
Fischer's sister. ``It looks like it's a distraction from the war and
the economy. Let's arrest Bobby Fischer. That will take people's minds
off their troubles.''

Wouldn't that be wild if it were true? Unfortunately for the ego of the chess
world, there's no indication as of yet that the US Government cares about him
at all. His passport wasn't renewed, and since then, nature has simply taken
its course.


The 61-year-old has been on the run since trouncing Spassky at the
tournament,

Trouncing Spassky, I like that. Probably few players' reputations have
suffered as much from a *victory* as Fischer's did after that match. He took
an even bigger hit from it than Karpov took in 1978.



While some chess fans miss watching his brilliant maneuvers, they've tired of
his tirade against Jews and the United States, particularly his praise of the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.


Actually, people have been surprisingly willing to sweep that under the rug,
with nothing more than some lip service about not wanting to shake his hand
personally, but really, who in the chess world would be able to resist an offer
like that if it came to them?


Officials there told the Associated Press today that Fishcer has been in
their custody since and was being processed for deportation, though he
could appeal their deicison.

I eagerly await Fischer's press release about how the Jews have taken over
Japan. Those darn Jews!


Targ, who was in Iceland in 1972 when Fischer first beat Spassky in a
Cold War showdown, has not been in touch with his brother-in-law for
more than a decade. He called for Fischer's release.

Well, far be it from me to suggest that the plea of a Stanford professor
doesn't carry much weight in the world of international politics, but... oh,
let's face it. The plea of a Stanford prof DOESN'T carry much weight in the
world of politics.


``Prosecuting Bobby right now is ridiculous,''

That's very true. He should have the charges dropped in exchange for being
institutionalized and finally getting the treatment he needs. The most
depressing thing about this whole business is how little his supposed friends
care whether he ever gets help or stays haunted by his phantoms the rest of his
life. With friends like that...


Targ said in his first comments to the press since Fischer's arrest. ``He's a
political prisoner now.''


It's a disgrace that he should need a passport at all, isn't it? Who do they
think he is, one of the peons?


Targ blamed President George H.W. Bush for first making a scapegoat of
Fischer, who defied sanctions against Yugoslavia as the country was
embroiled in civil war. ``He didn't know what to do about ethnic
cleansing in Yugoslavia,'' Targ said of the former president.

Well, Bobby sure knew what to do about it. Lend his name to it. I wonder
who's the bigger villain here.


``Now George the Second doesn't know what to do about 900 Americans in Iraq
or the economy, but let's arrest Bobby.''


"The Old Faulty Dilemma fallacy ought to fool the marks." On the other hand,
maybe the guy really believes what he's saying. He is a laser physicist, not a
logician, after all.



The White House on Monday referred questions about Fischer's case and
Targ's comments to the State Department, which referred questions to the
Department of Justice, which said charges have not been filed.

Which means that Targ's rant is entirely pre-emptive. And considering how much
sense it's made, we can call it a Pre-emptive "strike".


``Everyone respects his chess. No one respects him,'' Kirshner said.


Unfortunately, that's the Sam Sloan "everyone".


Stanford chemistry Professor Richard Zare, a longtime faculty sponsor of the
university's student chess club, said Fischer's virulent anti-
Americanism and anti-Semitism make him ``the type of person you might
not want to get trapped in an elevator with.''


It would be harder on Fischer than anyone else. After spending so many years
avoiding any and all diverse opinions, or anyone who might stand up to him
imagine of poor Bobby were in the presence of a (gasp!) diverse opinion that he
couldn't escape from. Arrest would probably be preferable.