Another Piece of a Difficult Puzzle

I’ve posted several pieces below(“Boudreaux on Suicide Terrorists and ‘The War on Terror’” and “The Other Side of the Debate“) on what to make of the “War on Terrorism.” Are current policies generating more terrorism, rather than less, or is there in fact a now unavoidable conflict between free nations and those who are pledged to destroy them? Robert Pape puts weight on the national origins of the suicide bombers. What does the evidence regarding the identity of the bombers in London add — if anything — to the discussion, since they were British subjects of Pakistani origin, hence seemingly inconsistent with Pape’s analysis?



2 Responses to “Another Piece of a Difficult Puzzle”

  1. T J "Orson"Olson

    I wish the analysis implied by Pape and repititiously advanced by libertarians were true. Why? It is optimistic an empowering. It claims that peace can be had by simply withdrawing from Arab-Islamic lands. I call this the “reservation strategy.” In effect, the West pulls up for oil (in oil rich countries), and we balkanize the rest of their world against our impact.

    Sancta simplicitus! But will radical Muslim’s bred on religious paranoia then embrace a “live and let live” ethic? Not likely. (See how even “moderate” Muslims are morally split http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050720/ap_on_re_eu/muslims_suicide_bombers_1) Ongoing globalization makes this impractical. And the inevitable neglect of oppressed peoples makes this immoral.

    But do we need to sacrafice for others to achieve their good? No. In practical politics, I think a Bush style “Sherrif’s posse” can alternate with a modified libertarian foreign policy modelled on emergency strategies like “rescue” or resucitation. The utter disarray of Democrats are currently stuck in means that creative thinkers, such as many libertarians are, have the power to nudge the debate in a new, innovative direction.

    What do I propose? Three things to take advantage of the liberating social, intellectual, and political forces for freedom that have been unleashed by Bush policies – but in ways not sacraficial, but self-interested for the US and individuals.

    First, renounce unilateralist Bush doctrine. But don’t throw the baby of Muslim popular sovereignty out with the bathwater – this still can grow. Since debates about freedom and the backward nature of Islam are now open and joined, how can more liberating ideas be expanded?

    Military intervention should be proclaimed as only a defensive measure – as only a last resort. Thus, the fruits of the war in Iraq need not be abandoned as isolationists would do. Instead, solidarity with incipient freedom can be helped along, benifiting the political debate both here and abroad.

    Second, revive abolitionism. Expand the debate over the meaning of freedom within Islam – as well as within the West – through aggressive diplomacy and volunteer activity that harnesses American’s Christian ethos. In other words, complete the mission of the abolition of slavery – which is mostly a Muslim institution today. (“Silent Terror: A Journey into Contemporary African Slavery” by Samuel Cotton, 1998. See review http://www.danielpipes.org/article/903)

    The failure of libertarians to take up this noble cause in the wake of the Fall of Communism is, to me, a great stain on us and part of our parochial failure to revitalize the universalism of liberty in our time. But it’s not too late! Where are the Reason exposes of Saudi’s, for instance, who bring slave labor help into the US as “housekeepers” and proceed to rape and abuse and isolate these sad victims from their right to choose and be independent? Where are the Matt Welch’s unmasking this evil practice? (See “Slavery a reality – even here” http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_2817908 And http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_3937077,00.html) Nowhere among us, despite its recurrent prosecution in the US! Let us therefore takeup the old cause anew.

    Now, if Islam is the problem, then we are not in command of the solution. We are relatively helpless – yet that’s realism. But we can keep the doors open to Islamic modernization and advancement by speading liberal ideas and a noble ideal.

    If existential religious despair and political helplessness leads to terrorism, then by all means, why not embrace hope? Why not promote a targeted Pakistani Peace Corps (eg, have US and Pakistani-Americans involved) to counter Madrassas baleful influence in creating students of Jihad? Instead of Koran memorization, why not the handtools and building plans that Kennedy once eloquently put in the service against the third-world temptation of communism? Hence, the third revised libertarian plank of foreign policy, promote education and self-improvement abroad.

    Ultimately, only Muslims can marginalize doctrines that sanction terrorism against apostates and infidels – only they can make their religion fit for a globalizing planet and admired in a peaceful international world.

    Now, it will be objected: statists will corrupt this program, making it into an international welfare system. Probably. Surely existing international institution’s like the corrupt UN could use a healthy dose of liberal idealism. That it may fail is no reason not to raise the libertarians’ image and make us relevent to debates already in dire need of improvement. We already find our voices marginalized – why compound the mistake? Probable failure is no good reason not to sell our message of hope to those needing it.

    Moreover, the second issue gives libertarian’s a healthy, moral lever with which to object to taxation and the expansive resort to statist force! And other synergies based on the morality of real self-defense also suggest themselves.

    Therefore, I think strict isolationist libertartianism should be modified in adaptive ways to the new challenges of a post 9/11 world. This promises to not merely make libertarian values relevant today, but to revitalize libertarian thinking about policy-making. Libertarianism must be about more than making love and money, or the helpless rant “no!” How about “Freedom first! – and above all else.”

    Obviously, the world is large and varied, and the consequences of liberty’s growth cannot be predicted with much precision. But let us return to first principles and complete the unfinished abolition of slavery. Dignity for Muslim and non-Muslim alike. Let us use US foreign policy to advance a program of freedom for all.

    Thanks, Tom, for opening up the pressing issues of our time to re-examination. News of a new Arabic, pro-liberty web site going online on August is one step in the right direction!

  2. T J "Orson"Olson

    I wish the analysis implied by Pape and repititiously advanced by libertarians were true. Why? It is optimistic an empowering. It claims that peace can be had by simply withdrawing from Arab-Islamic lands. I call this the “reservation strategy.” In effect, the West pulls up for oil (in oil rich countries), and we balkanize the rest of their world against our impact.

    Sancta simplicitus! But will radical Muslim’s bred on religious paranoia then embrace a “live and let live” ethic? Not likely. (See how even “moderate” Muslims are morally split http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050720/ap_on_re_eu/muslims_suicide_bombers_1) Ongoing globalization makes this impractical. And the inevitable neglect of oppressed peoples makes this immoral.

    But do we need to sacrafice for others to achieve their good? No. In practical politics, I think a Bush style “Sherrif’s posse” can alternate with a modified libertarian foreign policy modelled on emergency strategies like “rescue” or resucitation. The utter disarray of Democrats are currently stuck in means that creative thinkers, such as many libertarians are, have the power to nudge the debate in a new, innovative direction.

    What do I propose? Three things to take advantage of the liberating social, intellectual, and political forces for freedom that have been unleashed by Bush policies – but in ways not sacraficial, but self-interested for the US and individuals.

    First, renounce unilateralist Bush doctrine. But don’t throw the baby of Muslim popular sovereignty out with the bathwater – this still can grow. Since debates about freedom and the backward nature of Islam are now open and joined, how can more liberating ideas be expanded?

    Military intervention should be proclaimed as only a defensive measure – as only a last resort. Thus, the fruits of the war in Iraq need not be abandoned as isolationists would do. Instead, solidarity with incipient freedom can be helped along, benifiting the political debate both here and abroad.

    Second, revive abolitionism. Expand the debate over the meaning of freedom within Islam – as well as within the West – through aggressive diplomacy and volunteer activity that harnesses American’s Christian ethos. In other words, complete the mission of the abolition of slavery – which is mostly a Muslim institution today. (“Silent Terror: A Journey into Contemporary African Slavery” by Samuel Cotton, 1998. See review http://www.danielpipes.org/article/903)

    The failure of libertarians to take up this noble cause in the wake of the Fall of Communism is, to me, a great stain on us and part of our parochial failure to revitalize the universalism of liberty in our time. But it’s not too late! Where are the Reason exposes of Saudi’s, for instance, who bring slave labor help into the US as “housekeepers” and proceed to rape and abuse and isolate these sad victims from their right to choose and be independent? Where are the Matt Welch’s unmasking this evil practice? (See “Slavery a reality – even here” http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_2817908 And http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_3937077,00.html) Nowhere among us, despite its recurrent prosecution in the US! Let us therefore takeup the old cause anew.

    Now, if Islam is the problem, then we are not in command of the solution. We are relatively helpless – yet that’s realism. But we can keep the doors open to Islamic modernization and advancement by speading liberal ideas and a noble ideal.

    If existential religious despair and political helplessness leads to terrorism, then by all means, why not embrace hope? Why not promote a targeted Pakistani Peace Corps (eg, have US and Pakistani-Americans involved) to counter Madrassas baleful influence in creating students of Jihad? Instead of Koran memorization, why not the handtools and building plans that Kennedy once eloquently put in the service against the third-world temptation of communism? Hence, the third revised libertarian plank of foreign policy, promote education and self-improvement abroad.

    Ultimately, only Muslims can marginalize doctrines that sanction terrorism against apostates and infidels – only they can make their religion fit for a globalizing planet and admired in a peaceful international world.

    Now, it will be objected: statists will corrupt this program, making it into an international welfare system. Probably. Surely existing international institution’s like the corrupt UN could use a healthy dose of liberal idealism. That it may fail is no reason not to raise the libertarians’ image and make us relevent to debates already in dire need of improvement. We already find our voices marginalized – why compound the mistake? Probable failure is no good reason not to sell our message of hope to those needing it.

    Moreover, the second issue gives libertarian’s a healthy, moral lever with which to object to taxation and the expansive resort to statist force! And other synergies based on the morality of real self-defense also suggest themselves.

    Therefore, I think strict isolationist libertartianism should be modified in adaptive ways to the new challenges of a post 9/11 world. This promises to not merely make libertarian values relevant today, but to revitalize libertarian thinking about policy-making. Libertarianism must be about more than making love and money, or the helpless rant “no!” How about “Freedom first! – and above all else.”

    Obviously, the world is large and varied, and the consequences of liberty’s growth cannot be predicted with much precision. But let us return to first principles and complete the unfinished abolition of slavery. Dignity for Muslim and non-Muslim alike. Let us use US foreign policy to advance a program of freedom for all.

    Thanks, Tom, for opening up the pressing issues of our time to re-examination. News of a new Arabic, pro-liberty web site going online on August is one step in the right direction!