Dr. Paul's Malpractice

realclearpolitics.com ^ | October 12, 2007 | Tom Bevan

[neverdem]

In the spin room after the Republican debate on Tuesday evening in Dearborn, Mich., a reporter from the Arab-American News asked Ron Paul what he thought of the term "Islamic fascism."

"It's a false term to make people think we're fighting Hitler," Paul responded. "It's war propaganda designed to generate fear so that the war has to be spread."

Now, when Paul asserts that the war in Iraq is a mistake that is bankrupting America, he's making a serious argument which current polls suggest a majority of Americans agree with -- though not most Republicans. When he says 9/11 was the result of "blowback" from decades of U.S. foreign policy abroad, he's on somewhat more precarious ground, but at least there is still some shred of intellectual basis for his view -- albeit a Chomskyite one.

But when Paul says that the term "Islamic fascism" (or, for the purpose of discussion, its synonymous twin, "Islamofascism") is propaganda designed to spread war, he's veered off into the sort of paranoid fringe kookiness that keeps his campaign relegated to a side-show novelty act.

The term "Islamic fascism" was popularized, though not coined, by Christopher Hitchens, who wrote in the aftermath of September 11 that the attacks represented "fascism with an Islamic face" - which was itself a play off of previous variations of the same phrase. Long known for his Marxist beliefs, Hitchens, who supported the invasion of Iraq, has since fallen out of favor with the left. But that hardly makes him a propagandist who uses the term with the intent of "generating fear" and trying to spread war.

Indeed, as William Safire pointed out last year, since 9/11 the Bush administration has gone out of its way to find a label for the threat behind the...

[ketsu]

Osama is not a national leader. He’s like their high priest. That doesn’t make it “not fascism”. It makes “religious fascism” an apt description.

You don't get it. Read up on what fascism *is* and get back to me.

Calling something religious fascism is like saying "black is white" or "wet is dry". They're fundamentally irreconcilable ideologies.

[Iconoclast2]

If Thompson had true grit, he would have done what his constituents wanted and voted to impeach Clinton.

[DB]

Hitchens is no conservative much less neoconservative.

[agere_contra]

Fascism refers to the Fasces - the rods that are weak individually, but strong when bound together.

Fascism and Collectivism are almost - but not quite - synonyms for totalitarian big-govt regimes.

Hitler's Reich controlled the means of production, whereas Stalin's and Mao's government owned the means of production. All three states were ruled by a self-perpetuating Oligarchy (with the obvious exception that Hitler's state never got to perpetuate itself)

Both forms of government (fascism, communism) are left wing, socialist states. But more than this, both forms of government crush people who are of the wrong race and/or of the wrong ideology.

Islamic states seem to instinctively go for Big Government 'solutions' to the problem of statehood. In Syria, Eygpt, Saudi, Iran we see inpenetrable oligarchy, poor protection of property and - as we know - you get oppressed for being a Christian, Jew or the wrong sect of Muslim. Or for not hating the Joos enough.

In summary: Fascist and Communist are the same in practice, and - IMO - "Islamo-fascist" is a very apt term. Hope this is helpful

[DB]

Lets start with the commonly defined definition of fascism:

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/fascist

1 often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition
2 : a tendency toward or actual exercise of strong autocratic or dictatorial control <early instances of army fascism and brutality

Here’s another:

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761568245/Fascism.html

Fascism, modern political ideology that seeks to regenerate the social, economic, and cultural life of a country by basing it on a heightened sense of national belonging or ethnic identity. Fascism rejects liberal ideas such as freedom and individual rights, and often presses for the destruction of elections, legislatures, and other elements of democracy. Despite the idealistic goals of fascism, attempts to build fascist societies have led to wars and persecutions that caused millions of deaths. As a result, fascism is strongly associated with right-wing fanaticism, racism, totalitarianism, and violence.

Now replace race with religion.

Then what exactly doesn’t fit?

The second reference has much, much more detail if you care to read it.

[Puddleglum]

If he is going to dismiss this one, he could have suggested a more accurate label. When he said the 9/11 attack was committed by “19 thugs, not a nation” (paraphrase), he again missed an opportunity to characterise the element(s) of cohesion that propogate attacks on civilians in the ME and beyond.

I think the ME terrorists are nihilists who exploit nationalism and Muslim fundamentalism to “stir the pot” until they are in power one nation at a time, with the goal of controlling (for starters) the ME and/or every nation with a large Muslim population. But because they are nihilists, they are empty at the core and you could throw the whole world down their gullet and they would want something else to kill.

[DB]

Actually if you care to be truthful, it was Ron Paul that brought up Hitler’s Germany with regard to the word fascism. And the claim that those who apply the word fascism with regard to the modern Islamic movement are only people trying to perpetuate war so we can have bigger government.

But you knew that right?

[ejonesie22]

Barking Moonbat thread...

Fascist, totalitarian, whatever, they are a threat and need to be smashed...

Damn, just damn...

[John D]

But when Paul says that the term "Islamic fascism" (or, for the purpose of discussion, its synonymous twin, "Islamofascism") is propaganda designed to spread war, he's veered off into the sort of paranoid fringe kookiness that keeps his campaign relegated to a side-show novelty act.

I think that says it all.

[sportutegrl]

Paul may have a point with the Hitler/fascism connection. Personally, I would like to dispense with Hitler and start using a new epithet such as: Stalin, Ho Chi Min, Lenin, etc.

[DB]

Islamist don’t hold much value for communism. Communism has no room for God of any flavor. You don’s see Islamist preaching: “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need” which is the basic communist philosophy for Utopia.

Fascist Utopia and Islamist Utopia share the same means to their end.

[DB]

Please make “don’s” don’t...

[longtermmemmory]

Ron-kook-paul is about to go on c-span.

apparently he is for legalizing pot. (per some cop for legalization who called)

Too bad we don’t have conservative seminar callers.

The c-span screeners are going to have their hands full with kook paulists.

[Lakeshark]

the cleanest and best of all the GOP candidates

I always thought RP was kind of cute, perhaps a bit kooky, but he said things about a lot of issues that I liked.

That being said, watching him talk about the war against Islamo-fascism is painful. He has blamed the US for "them" hating us, he has no understanding that this Islamist movement is trans national, very real, and very determined to enslave everyone else to their ideology with force. In an age of nuclear, biological, and other weapons that they desire to inflict pain on the world, his views are really naive at best.

Considering the Islamists have already killed several thousand of our citizens on 9/11, likewise killed significant numbers in disparate places such as Spain, England, Bali, and virtually everywhere they can kill innocents in the world, I find RP's pronouncements no longer cute, but seriously stupid and dangerous.

His statements in regard to the Islamist war are straight out of the DU, KOS, and Soros playbook, and that ought to make any libertarian or conservative at least pause to consider who they are really supporting here.......

[longtermmemmory]

the kook is on c-span right now.

http://www.c-span.org

[Eastbound]

Aw, shux.

[mkjessup]

"Dr. Paul's malpractice is due to decreased visual acuity in foreign affairs, IMHO. Otherwise, I like his domestic prescriptions."
That's like saying "At least Dr. Kevorkian only kills elderly or terminally ill patients, and not little kids."
How so?

It means that a Ron Paul Presidency would end up being fatal to somebody due to his myopic foreign policy views.

In years past, he was the right man for the Presidency.

Years like 1896, 1900, etc.

[lormand]

"Comparing Nazi Germany to nations that aren't running blitzkriegs through their neighbors is a logical fallacy that only a gullible, uneducated population would fall for."

So only the presence of a blitzkrieg is required for a Nazi Germany comparison?

Right! < /sarcasm >

[MEGoody]

I think Paul's right on target with this. Comparing Nazi Germany to nations that aren't running blitzkriegs through their neighbors is a logical fallacy that only a gullible, uneducated population would fall for.

Facism is defined by Merriam-Webster's as: A political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition.

That defines Hitler's regime, and it defines the Islamic facists.

So Paul is wrong. . .naturally.

[Eastbound]

Thompson voted GUILTY on the "Obstruction of Justice" article.

He voted Not Guilty on the "Perjury" article.

ROLL CALL VOTE