NYT Columnist Disses GOPs as Not Being Able to Find Iran on Map While NYT Can't Find Iran on Map

The Twittersphere exploded with condemnation and defense of freshman Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) for leading the letter of 47 GOP senators to Iran’s leadership — explaining how Congress works and how that jeopardizes their imminent pact with President Obama. A fair share of the criticism painted Cotton, a combat veteran with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, as a backwoods yokel who must not even know Middle East geography:

@SenTomCotton @Morning_Joe can you even find Iran on the map?? #youdontbelonginoffice #IranTalks

— Junior Gillani (@Jumpmann311) March 10, 2015

@DVanLierEsq @NaYaKnoMi @HuffPostPol I bet he can’t even point out Iran on a map..

— surfinbird512 (@surfinbird5121) March 10, 2015

@mmrothenberg @LuWho2You @SenTomCotton @JZarif of course he does. GOP doesn’t understand history or geography. Can’t find iran on a map.

— Gizmonic Institute (@caebling) March 9, 2015

@SBengali @LOLGOP If Cotton is representative of majority in his state, he’s unable to identify Iran on a map or know language they speak.

— Joanna (@JoannaCocoGrove) March 10, 2015

Joining that chorus was New York Times columnist Roger Cohen:

Outrageous behavior from Republican senators who can’t find Iran on a map: White House Faults G.O.P. Letter to Iran http://t.co/YZxOcAK6xe

— Roger Cohen (@NYTimesCohen) March 9, 2015

However, the NYT had its own map problems:

My new favorite correction – NYT map said the Islamic State was busy smashing antiquities in Iran… #winning pic.twitter.com/ot3mZcLxMf

— Matt Trevithick (@MattTrevithick) March 9, 2015

That correction came from this story.