More on Beinart

Here are some additional thoughts regarding Beinart’s New Republic editorial.

First of all, it’s clear that fighting terrorism and countering Muslim extremism is a serious concern. After 9/11, counter-terrorism efforts received more funding and attention, and almost everyone, including those on the left, agrees with that emphasis. The question is what further steps the US should take. What changes should occur in US policy?

Democratic policies would actually be more effective than those of George Bush. Democrats have sought more spending on domestic security measures than the Republicans have approved. Bush stonewalled the 9/11 commission and delayed implementing their suggestions. Major reform of the intelligence agencies is necessary, but the Bush administration’s main focus has been to suppress or purge people whose conclusions disagree with the Bush ideology.

Beinart frets that “when liberals talk about America's new era, the discussion is largely negative--against the Iraq war, against restrictions on civil liberties, against America's worsening reputation in the world”. Most liberals are perturbed that the US government holds suspected terrorists without trial and subjects some detainees to torture. And when the President is someone like Bill Clinton, who the world respects and admires, it’s a lot easier for the US to gain international support to help achieve the nation’s goals. Liberals, like any other political group, call attention to those policies they disagree with, and dismissing that reaction as negative doesn’t help the debate.

Obviously, the Iraqi war is the crux of the matter, for liberal criticism of Bush and for Beinart’s criticism of liberals. The liberals have always held that invading Iraq was a massive mistake, and subsequent events have proven them right. Though nobody is saddened by Saddam Hussein’s departure, life for most Iraqis has gotten much worse, while the US has suffered an enormous cost in fortune and lives. The suffering in Iraq has become a recruiting tool for Muslim extremists, while the enormous military burden of the war has weakened the US.

Liberals have a serious, coherent, and moral approach to deal with al Qaeda. Unfortunately, it’s a more difficult message to sell than the Republican position of a “war on terrorism”. However, on a topic as important as terrorism, the nation must choose the most effective policy, not the policy that gives you a concise slogan.