Why the antiwar left must confront terrorism (From Amnesty Director)

Salon ^ | 11/15 2003 | Mark Falmon

[Eurotwit]

Nov. 15, 2003 | More than two years into the Bush administration's lurching war on terror, William Schulz, executive director of Amnesty International USA, is aiming some of his sharpest criticism not at the White House, but at the American political left. His message: Take on the terror threat, or risk irrelevance.

War protesters of various stripes, alongside anti-globalization and human rights activists, have staged several large rallies nationwide this year, channeling their anger at the Bush administration through slogans like "No blood for oil," "End the imperialist occupation" and "Regime change begins at home." But in an interview with Salon, Schulz said that the political left has thus far botched a key mission. "There's been a failure to give the necessary attention, analysis and strategizing to the effort to counter terrorism and protect our fundamental right to security," he said. "It's a serious problem."

In his new book, "Tainted Legacy: 9/11 and the Ruin of Human Rights," Schulz argues that rising global terrorism requires the left "to rethink some of our most sacred assumptions." A vigorous defense of human and civil liberties, while essential to spreading democracy worldwide, is not enough to stop terrorists from blowing up airplanes or shopping malls, he says. And that presents the left with a problem, because some of the tools needed to fight terror, such as stricter border controls or beefed up intelligence work -- and, perhaps, war against states that support terrorists -- chafe against traditional leftist values.

[RobbyS]

I'll be darned! But of course he is right, but asking the left to change their religion is futile.

[1st-P-In-The-Pod]

The man is right, but will anyone listen?

[Ditto]

Fine. He tells the looney left to grow up. Now who's going to deliver this same message to the Libertarians?

[Monti Cello]

The left's neo-isolationist stance probably threatens groups like Amnesty International.

The left has buried any semblance of humanitarian concern in order to attack Bush. And they even more forcefully claim that the US has no moral authority to being human rights abroad. They are not far from a position that human rights are but a Western construct, and that there really are no universal human values.

I think this author sees a future of Republican presidents for at least the next 5 years, and thus the do-gooder left will be against foreign engagement and the spread of American values during that time. Probably doesn't bode well for his organization.

[q_an_a]

amnesty international was not always a front for saving communists. they have done some good work and some not so good communication. it is too bad that they have not changed as much as the old soviet bloc. maybe this story is the beginning of the shift for ideaolgy to actually saving those who are prisoners of conscience including Christians.

[nuconvert]

Great to hear Mr. Schulz come out against the "Left". He's absolutely Right.