Islamic extremism as the enemy

Posted By Thomas E. Ricks Friday, January 9, 2009 - 6:15 PM Share

One reader questions whether I was correct in my discussion of the Army War College to refer to Islamic extremism as the enemy. I think that might have been a good question as late as Sept. 10, 2001. When I read the comment, I thought of what a Holocaust survivor told a friend of mine was the key lesson of his experiences back then: "When someone says he wants to kill you, pay attention!"

EXPLORE:TERRORISM

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SETH EDENBAUM

7:07 PM ET

January 9, 2009

"Pay attention" is not the opposite of "ask why."

You can't make intelligent decisions without understanding your opponent.
It's not so good for moral choices either, or even moral calculations

Following your link to a photo of the WTC attack, it's clear Islamic extremism has replaced "the communist menace" in your imagination. But Hamas and Hezbollah are not Al Qaeda, Hardened military/political organizations with public administrations and popular support almost by definition can not be nihilists. Al Qaeda is more Aum Shinrikyo as crossed with Charlie Manson than it is the French or Algerian Resistance, the Contras, UNITA, the Sandinistas or FARC (pick your own friends or enemies from that list.)

Iran is not Saudi Arabia. The government of the former are more rational than the latter, therefore far less dangerous. Iran also has both a form however limited of representational government and even a few remaining Jews. 20,000 more or less. And a popular base for reform.

An unwillingness to know your enemy points to an unwillingness to know yourself. In such a case, realism is impossible.

SETH EDENBAUM

7:48 PM ET

January 9, 2009

A pompous response to a glib

A pompous response to a glib post.
Tone is important. It's hard to get it right sometimes.

GENUINE REALIST

10:29 PM ET

January 9, 2009

Some thoughts on this.

http://grealistink.typepad.com/wordplay_language_politic/2009/01/nassim-taleb-iraq-and-the-credit-crunch.html

NYGDAN

5:57 PM ET

January 13, 2009

forewarning

I have to say that I recall hearing that statement before. Though I had thought it was 'when someone says they are going to kill you, beleive them!'. It rings true to me whenever I think about this current mess.

In response to other comments:
Seth Edenbaum said:
"it's clear Islamic extremism has replaced "the communist menace" in your imagination."

Is it really paronoia if they /are/ out to get you though? I mean, Bin Laden declared war on the US, attacked its embassies and warships, and then carried out 911. Hamas says that they are dedicated to defeating Israel, and they act in that manner. I think everyone can agree that we should 'know the enemy', and in particular know that he is serious when he says he is working to destroy us.

As far as Hamas not being 'nihilists', its really a quibble no? Al Qaeda has no real chance of establishing a super-Caliphate, so we consider it to really support 'nothing' and thus be 'anarchist/nihilist'. But that's not what /they/ beleive. Similarly, Hamas' actions do nothing other than ensure that Israel attacks them, but does that make them nihilists?

Also, it is worth re-iterating your point that Iran is not Saudi Arabia, they are a reactionary, xenophobic, sectarian government, but they are still effectively 'democratic', ignoring the whole 'supreme ayatollah' and rule by the clergy issue.

Anyway, lets not knock being glib anyway no? The world runs on glib don't it?