The Way We Were

New York Times ^ | November 23, 2003 | THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

[Tom D.]

The Way We Were By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Published: November 23, 2003 LONDON

We've all had our ups and downs since 9/11, but last week's events in London tested even my congenital optimism. I was a participant in the 50th anniversary celebration of the Marshall scholarships. The Marshalls were created by the British government to honor Secretary of State George Marshall and to express Britain's gratitude for the Marshall Plan. Over the last 50 years, some 1,400 Americans have attended Oxford, Cambridge and other British universities on Marshall scholarships, paid for by British taxpayers. Twenty-eight years ago, I was one of those lucky Americans.

On Wednesday, for the 50th anniversary, the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission gathered all the Marshall scholars now in Britain and British dignitaries who have supported the program, with Prince Charles presiding. The event, held at the University of London, was timed for the Bush visit, because Secretary of State Colin Powell, the keynote speaker, was one of five Americans being presented with the first Marshall medals. There were a few protest banners waiting for Mr. Powell around campus, but nothing extraordinary. Prince Charles showed up with what appeared to be one security guard.

But there was no Colin Powell.

A few hours earlier, the organizers were told that Mr. Powell was canceling, because of "security concerns." Every American I talked to was both sad and embarrassed — sad that an event intended to affirm the Atlantic alliance turned into another small victory for terrorists; sad that all these young Marshall scholars didn't get to see their secretary of state being honored and to hear his thoughts; and embarrassed that some nameless security officer decided Mr. Powell couldn't brave a few protesters, but Prince Charles could.

But this is more lament than criticism. I wouldn't want the responsibility of deciding when the president or secretary of state should appear in public.

These are tough calls. It's always hard to know where the line should be. But I fear we're starting to cross it in ways that could actually be dangerous for us all. Whether we're talking about our public officials or your family deciding whether to vacation in Istanbul, we all have to learn to live with more insecurity. Because terrorists are in the fear business, and every time we visibly imprison ourselves, they win another small victory and become more emboldened. Indeed, we could learn from the British. The I.R.A. murdered the queen's cousin and almost blew up Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in her hotel — yet life in London goes on and the police here still don't carry guns.

I fear that the kinds of security officials who pulled the plug on Mr. Powell are becoming the new priesthood of our age. If the 1990's were the era of "Davos Man," the 2000's are the era of "Security Man" — and like a priesthood, these "terrorism experts" have unchallenged authority to curb our freedom in the name of freedom. Some of them deserve respect and know their stuff. But some wouldn't recognize the 6-foot-5 Osama bin Laden if he walked past them dribbling a basketball and dragging his dialysis machine.

Bin Laden is supposed to be on the run — not us. What good is driving bin Laden into a cave if our secretary of state has to live in a bubble? When Mr. Powell can't deliver a speech in London — London — then why travel anywhere? And if diplomats can't travel or circulate, then diplomacy becomes virtual. And virtual diplomacy leads to virtual allies and virtual allies lead to no allies at all. If communities of shared values can't share their values, where are we?

I called an Israeli friend, the political theorist Yaron Ezrahi, to fulminate about this and he perked me up. He told me he had just been to the reopening of the Cafe Hillel in Jerusalem, which a suicide bomber just blew up a few weeks ago. "It was so crowded you couldn't find a seat," said Mr. Ezrahi. "Freedom is the only guardian of freedom." Which is why Israelis insist that any bus stop blown up by suicide bombers be rebuilt by the next day. Message to suicide bombers: You're dead and we're not afraid. That is the best deterrence.

The events of 9/11 were a new and dangerous form of terrorism — "terrorism not meant to stimulate political concessions but to destroy our way of life," notes John Chipman, head of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. We had to react, but we must stop overreacting. Terrorists win when they prevent us from enjoying and spreading our values. We defeat them not just by how we react, but by how we don't react.

[Tom D.]

Friedman was right to be embarrassed by Powell's no show. If that fop, Prince Chuck, can get by with one security man, it stands to reason that the USA can do what it takes to make our erstwhile general and current Sec. of State comfortable.

[blanknoone]

A few hours earlier, the organizers were told that Mr. Powell was canceling, because of "security concerns."

A few hours earlier tells me there was a last minute threat. He had planned to be there (with adequate security) and something changed, and the good secretary adapted....that is also part of the new reality.

[visualops]

"Freedom is the only guardian of freedom."
Message to suicide bombers: You're dead and we're not afraid. That is the best deterrence.

Bingo.

IMHO Powell should have been there. Bad example, bad message.

[jocon307]

"But some wouldn't recognize the 6-foot-5 Osama bin Laden if he walked past them dribbling a basketball and dragging his dialysis machine."

Oh, what a picture in my mind. And Tom, Charles is no fop, he doesn't have enough style to merit that designation. But the Queen looks great, doesn't she? Check out the daily dose from Friday. 80+, and not stooped, nor fat, she looks wonderful.

God save the Queen, and Tony, and W, and Charles too! And those wonderful princes!

[bimbo]

The Powell no-show was likely the idea of the Secret Service, whose power and un-questioned authority have increased alot since 9/11.

[Savage Beast]

Your lamentations would fall on more sympathetic ears, Thomas, if you would clarify your thinking and increase your resolve.

The solution of the problem of terrorism is not the relaxation of necessary security, either for public offials or private citizens. The solution is the resolve to stop terrorists and terrorism--immediately, certainly, and permanently.

We have the ability.

We also have a brilliant, courageous, puissant and highly capable leader, President Bush.

Your pessimism will vanish and your lamentations cease once you accept these obvious facts and place your full support behind President Bush and the war that the United States is waging--dispite all our wishes to the contrary--against fanatic Islamic aggression, war, and terrorism.

These terrorists and their supporters have declared war against the United States. Our refusal to wage war against them will not make them stop waging war against us.

You and John Chipman are quite right. The massacre of September 11, 2001, was indeed "terrorism not meant to stimulate political concessions but to destroy our way of life"--a "way of life" that includes liberty, equality, and justice for all people--and that is unquestionably superior to the hideous "way of life" that they are attempting to impose--by force--upon us and all of the people of the world!

The answer is not mindless bravado and the reckless ignoring of important security measures.

The answer is swift, certain, and resolute destruction of the perpetrators, their supporters, their support systems, and their hopes of ever achieving their evil goals.

Keep in mind that the massacre was an attack on the U.S. by an enemy power. War is our only option. It is a defensive war, and we must win it. Resolve is our only means of winning.

So can your pessimism, set aside your lamentations, forget about mindless lapses of security, and place the full force of your resources, resolve, and commitment behind President Bush and the war effort. Become part of the solution--not the problem.

[Drango]

Mr. Powell was canceling, because of "security concerns." Every American I talked to was both sad and embarrassed

FRIEDMAN will only be happy if a Secretary of State is killed. Then his joy will know no bounds.

[Backwoods Southern Lawyer]

Friedman is right:

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

We cannot have our Secretary of State dodging meetings such as the Marshall Scholarship celebration. If it is safe enough to hold that celebration, then it is safe enough for an ex-general to attend it if he has been invited and if he has accepted that invitation.

[wizardoz]

Indeed, we could learn from the British. The I.R.A. murdered the queen's cousin and almost blew up Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in her hotel — yet life in London goes on and the police here still don't carry guns.

Uhm.... and HOW exactly is that good??

[detch]

Another attack on the Administration by Friedman. President Bush will be remembered as the President who finally drew a line in the sand against the terrorists. Friedman will have been forgotten for his liberal, biased reporting.

[Backwoods Southern Lawyer]

It is not so much of an attack as it is constructive criticism and it is justified criticism. There was no excuse for Powell's absense. For the most part, Friedman has been in Bush's corner on his Mid-East/War on Terror policies are concerned. When Friedman comments on matters such as this [remember, he is telling the Administration to be tough, not to cut and run, or that we should not be in Iraq, Afganistan, etc. in the first place], it is worth listening to what he says.