Robert Reich’s latest column in the American Prospect attempts to outline a pragmatic approach to fighting terrorism (reader-submitted link). Here’s a juicy quote, taking both the left and right to task for their hardline positions:
Here’s where America’s political and intellectual left and right seem incapable of reasoned debate. Much of the left is still bemoaning America’s Cold War support of anticommunist dictators–the shah, Mobutu, Somoza, Greek colonels, Korean generals, Pinochet, Marcos, Armas, the mujahideen–and our nation’s gruesome record advising them, training their death squads, schooling and equipping their torture specialists, and helping them squirrel away their vast wealth. Given this history, the post-September 11 effulgence of American flags, patriotic hymns, and “freedom and democracy” bromides offered by American politicians strikes many on the left as dangerously ahistoric if not downright hypocritical.
The right dismisses this sordid history as irrelevant to the current crisis and accuses anyone on the left who dwells on it as “blaming America” for terrorism. Both sides are wrong: the left for suggesting that this history should make us any less determined to fight Islamic extremism and the right for assuming that this record has no bearing on why much of the third world is hostile toward us. Of course, we must proceed against terrorists with full force. Yet it’s also important to understand that our checkered history has shaped the understandings of many poor nations whose cooperation we need in order for that force to be effective and many of the world’s poor who are both attracted to radical fundamentalism and repelled by American bullying.
Salon has a great interview today with Yossi Klein Halevi, an Israeli journalist. While his opinions are obviously only his own, I found the interview to be an excellent picture of how Israelis perceive their ongoing relationship with the Palestinians. For example, here’s his statement on the dealing with terrorism in day to day life:
On the other hand, Israel is the only democracy in the world that has never known any period without terrorism. That’s one of the mistakes that many of my colleagues in the media make when they judge Israel. They don’t understand the context of our excruciating internal debates over occupation vs. security or human rights vs. terrorist prevention. All of those issues which the United States is now going to have to start facing, we’ve been living with from the day of our existence.
I have never known a period in this country where terrorism was not an active consideration of how we live our lives. Israelis used to joke that in Alaska they have to deal with the snow, and in the Middle East we deal with terrorism. That is part of the weather here. In the sense of how you balance daily life with fear and caution, Israel is the world expert.
Current estimates are that about 1,000 people are currently being detained in relation to the 9/11 attack. The government has not released their names, nor has it explained why these people are being held. I’m glad that various political groups are keeping a close eye on this situation.
Everything I need to know (about investing) I learned from Warren Buffett.
EPIC has published the DOJ field guide (PDF) on the new authorities granted by the anti-terrorism act signed last week. Here’s the blurb from EPIC’s home page about the document:
Within hours of the USA PATRIOT Act being signed into law, the Justice Department issued a field guidance memorandum (PDF) on the new anti-terrorism authorities approved by Congress. The memorandum does not address expanded powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act; guidance in that area appears to be classified. Attorney General John Ashcroft announced that he has directed FBI and U.S. Attorney’s offices “to begin immediately implementing this sweeping legislation.”
(Link via Interesting People.)
Amazon.com reported in an SEC filing that they’re saving a boatload of cash by using Linux.