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World Opinion Be Damned
Ayn Rand Institute ^ | 6/3/04 | Alex Epstein

Posted on 06/06/2004 1:34:22 PM PDT by wagglebee

It is a testament to the perverse priorities of our politicians and journalists that the biggest American outcry over Abu Ghraib has been not about the gruesome decapitation of American Nicholas Berg by terrorists, but about the fact that many Arabs and Europeans are mad at us.

"We are the most hated nation in the world," laments Ted Kennedy, "as a result of this disastrous policy in the prisons."

The alleged solution to this alleged crisis of "world opinion" is to show more deference toward the rest of the world. Otherwise, we are told, the world's anger will bring more terrorist attacks and less "international cooperation" against terrorism.

All of this evades one blatant truth: the hatred being heaped on America over Abu Ghraib is undeserved. Throughout the Middle East, torture—real torture, with electric drills and vats of acid—is official policy and daily practice. Yet there are no worldwide condemnations of the dictatorships that practice such atrocities—let alone the Arab-Islamic culture that produces so many torturers. But when, during a war, a handful of American prison guards subject a handful of Iraqi POWs to comparatively mild humiliation—which the U.S. government denounces and promptly investigates—"world opinion" proclaims itself offended and condemns America.

Abu Ghraib is just the latest example of the injustice of "world opinion." Since September 11, the United States—the freest nation on Earth—has been ceaselessly denounced for any step in the direction of self-defense against terrorism, while terrorist regimes Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinian Authority get a moral free pass.

So-called "world opinion" is not the unanimous and just consensus that its seekers pretend. (Observe that the phrase never includes the many pro-American foreigners, such as freedom-fighters in Iran.) It is the irrational and unjust opinion of the world's worst people: the Islamists who seek to subjugate the world to Islamic rule, the socialists and pacifists who seek to subjugate U.S. sovereignty to U.N. rule, and the legions of "moderate" followers who support or sympathize with these goals. These people oppose us not because of any legitimate grievances against America, but because they are steeped in irrational doctrines like Islamic fundamentalism, collectivism, and pacifism—which lead them to oppose and resent American freedom and individualism, and our resulting wealth and power.

The proper response to the anti-American voicers of "world opinion" is to identify them as our ideological and political enemies—and dispense justice accordingly. In the case of our militant enemies, we must kill and demoralize them—especially the Arab and Islamic regimes that support terrorism and fuel the Islamist movement; as for the rest, we must politically ignore them and intellectually discredit them, while proudly arguing for the superiority of Americanism. Such a policy would make us safe, expose anti-Americanism as irrational and immoral, and embolden the world's best elements to support our ideals and emulate our ways.

President Bush, like most politicians and intellectuals, has taken the opposite approach to "world opinion": he has tried to appease it. Instead of identifying anti-American Muslims as ideological enemies to be discredited, he has appealed to their sensibilities and met their demands—e.g., sacrificing American soldiers to save Iraqi civilians and mosques, and striving to make the Iraqi occupation not look "too American." Instead of seeking to crush the Islamists by defeating the causes they fight for—such as Islamic world domination and the destruction of Israel—he has appeased those causes, declaring Islam a "great religion" and rewarding the Palestinian terrorist Jihad with a promised Palestinian state. Instead of destroying the terrorist regimes that wage war against the West—including Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and the Palestinian Authority—he has sought their "cooperation" and even cast some as "coalition partners."

Such measures have taught the enemies they appease a deadly lesson: anti-Americanism pays. "Denounce and oppose America," they have learned, "no matter how irrationally and hypocritically, and American leaders will praise your ideals and meet your demands." "Attack America via terrorist proxy," terrorist states and movements have been taught, "and America will neither blame you nor destroy you, but redouble its efforts to buy your love." Is it any wonder that anti-Americanism is gaining prominence, and that the "War on Terrorism" has no end in sight?

Every attempt to appease "world opinion" preserves, promotes, and emboldens our enemies. Every concession to angry Muslim mobs, every denunciation of Israel, every consultation with Prince Bandar or dictator Assad gives hope to the Islamist cause. Every day we allow terrorist regimes to exist gives their minions time to execute the next September 11. America needs honest leadership with the courage to identify and defeat our enemies—world opinion be damned.


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: abughraib; iraq; liberals; nickberg
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Every attempt to appease "world opinion" preserves, promotes, and emboldens our enemies.

The United States is the world's only super power. IMHO that means we do what we think is necessary to protect world peace, if these other two-bit countries had a clue how to protect the world they would be super powers too, but they're not.

1 posted on 06/06/2004 1:34:23 PM PDT by wagglebee
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To: wagglebee

we all can agree on SOME of these points, maybe not all...


2 posted on 06/06/2004 1:55:21 PM PDT by bitt
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To: wagglebee

interesting thread to compare re: torture...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1148695/posts


3 posted on 06/06/2004 1:59:55 PM PDT by bitt
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To: wagglebee

"if these other two-bit countries had a clue how to protect the world they would be super powers too, but they're not."

On of the greatest ironies in European hatred for America, the Superpower, is that they helped create the beast they so despise. Some of the worst tyrants in history were products of Europe...and because of their inabilities to deal with their own problems, they have come to America for help.

With every problem that arose in Europe, America only became stronger, as we had to continually deal with their incompetence. Unfortunatley, we've paid a high price in blood and treasure. But is also because of this that America has decided to not sit on the sidelines and let conditions worsen. We are a reminder to Europe of just how much of a failure they really are.


4 posted on 06/06/2004 2:08:04 PM PDT by cwb (If it weren't for Republicans, liberals would have no real enemies)
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To: wagglebee
the "War on Terrorism" has no end in sight

Well, that's the idea, isn't it? How else can you write yourself a blank check for the unlimited expansion of the federal government?

5 posted on 06/06/2004 2:19:48 PM PDT by snopercod (They often call me Snoper, but my realname, my realname, my realname is Mister Cod.)
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To: All
All of this evades one blatant truth: the hatred being heaped on America over Abu Ghraib is undeserved.

Kennedy, et al. know that. That is not the "issue." It's just another weapon to use against the Administration. Nothing more. If it helps America's enemies, so what. It's politics Rat style.

The proper response to the anti-American voicers of "world opinion" is to identify them as our ideological and political enemies. . .we must politically ignore them and intellectually discredit them, while proudly arguing for the superiority of Americanism.

I am flabbergasted that we limit this advise to fighting "world opinion." It is not just people "over there." Within hours of 9/11/01 the editors of Sacramento Bee opined that the attack was our fault, in part. We never try to "understand" the world's peoples. A few weeks later the publisher of the Bee was booed off a stage delivering the same message and denouncing the President and attorney general for being mean to accused terrorists.

The foreign enemy has learned how America will neither blame you nor destroy you when you have the support of America's homegrown enemy within. The North Vietnamese communists proved it and thanked the Fondas, Kerrys, and the American press.

6 posted on 06/06/2004 2:32:32 PM PDT by WilliamofCarmichael (Benedict Arnold was a hero for both sides in the same war, too!)
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Comment #7 Removed by Moderator

To: wagglebee
"We are the most hated nation in the world," laments Ted Kennedy, "as a result of this disastrous policy in the prisons."

Thanks for the morality lecture, Ted.


8 posted on 06/06/2004 2:54:32 PM PDT by atomicpossum (I give up! Entropy, you win!)
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To: wagglebee
LOL, Bush the appeaser...

Kyoto, Afghanistan, the Iraq war... Bush tried to get international consensus but did what needed doing anyway... Appeasement, right...

While it could be argued that Bush could be more forceful in Afghanistan and Iraq it hardly qualifies as appeasement.
9 posted on 06/06/2004 3:04:48 PM PDT by DB (©)
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To: wagglebee
Better to be hated and feared than loved and held in contempt.

Better yet to make all the haters one with the universe--or at least with the molecules of glass their cities and towns were once made of.

--Boris

10 posted on 06/06/2004 3:11:38 PM PDT by boris (The deadliest weapon of mass destruction in history is a Leftist with a word processor)
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To: boris

All of the tributes to President Reagan got me wondering, whatever happened to the neutron bomb? It seems that having it today would save a ton of money rebuilding infrastructures.


11 posted on 06/06/2004 3:14:31 PM PDT by wagglebee
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To: wagglebee
"We are the most hated nation in the world," laments Ted Kennedy, "as a result of this disastrous policy in the prisons." Someone whisper to senile Ayatollah Teddy that what happened at the Iraqi prison was not a 'policy', it was an aberation committed by a sexual degenerate like himself. Also Teddy, just what would it mean America has become if the Islamofascists 'love' America, Fat Boy? Frankly, I don't want America to degenerate to a level where we would be loved by your heroes, Teddyskins. Come NO-vember, we are going to send a message to your and your putrid party. Pay attention Ayatollah Ted.
12 posted on 06/06/2004 3:18:36 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you can read this, you've had life support from someone. Promote life support for others.)
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To: wagglebee

The problem is not the violent and irrational psychos throughout the world that hate us. It's the people in this country that pander to them for their own purposes (eg the swimmer) which only encourages them to continue the outrages and violences against us.


13 posted on 06/06/2004 3:19:18 PM PDT by paul51
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To: wagglebee

I am always pleased to read opinion pieces from the Ayn Rand Institute about the war on terror. These people are truly the heirs of her unapologetic defense of America. During her years of popularity, she was a very lonely voice in the intellectual community criticizing the currents of communism and socialism that pervaded our society. Now I find that her legacy persists in the willingness of the Ayn Rand Institute to take the America-haters among us head on, including the asinine "Libertarians" who would sell us all out in the name of "freedom".


14 posted on 06/06/2004 3:20:10 PM PDT by vanmorrison
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To: snopercod
Well, that's the idea, isn't it? How else can you write yourself a blank check for the unlimited expansion of the federal government?

Yeah, 9/11 was staged to get into your wallet.

15 posted on 06/06/2004 3:28:47 PM PDT by Barlowmaker
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To: wagglebee
Multiple designs of our neutron bombs have been leaked to the Chinese.


16 posted on 06/06/2004 3:29:41 PM PDT by risk
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To: wagglebee

Why? Places like the Golan neighborhood in Fallujah are in desperate need of urban renewal anyway.


17 posted on 06/06/2004 3:34:01 PM PDT by johnb838 (When I hear "Allahu Akhbar" it means somebody is about to die.)
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To: risk

I forgot that the Clintons managed to "outsource" everything to their Chicom "patrons."


18 posted on 06/06/2004 3:34:02 PM PDT by wagglebee
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To: riteub

To bleeding hearts like you, Riteub, I say you just don't get it. There's no cleaning up our image. We are going to get slammed no matter what we do. This really isn't about our moral failures -- we are more moral than most other countries, perhaps all, but its really beside the point. The point is that countries that can't match us militarily will attempt to win with lies, cheating, and misrepresentation.

Frankly I'm not sure it is possible for an arab to tell the truth. They are totally conditioned to try to lie at least four or five times before they even come close to the truth.


19 posted on 06/06/2004 3:37:41 PM PDT by johnb838 (When I hear "Allahu Akhbar" it means somebody is about to die.)
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To: wagglebee

The Cox report offers summaries of leaks that go back to the 1970s. I think "outsourcing our wares" has been a multi-party affair, perhaps with one leaning toward the accidental and the other the intentional variety. Just the other week, Los Alamos reported some missing media again. I don't think we've stopped up all the leaks, no sir. Part of the problem is that our researchers forget that they're not a part of an international brigade of intellectuals attempting to unite the world in scientific progress. Our labs aren't part of an internationale... Or they shouldn't be.


20 posted on 06/06/2004 3:39:18 PM PDT by risk
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