Bush's War on Terror Also Targets Thinkers

"Any American who tries to go beyond 'America good, terrorists evil,' who tries to understand — not condone — the growing world backlash against the United States, faces furious attacks delivered in a tone of high moral indignation. The attackers claim to be standing up for moral clarity, and some of them may even believe it. But they are really being used in a domestic political struggle.... that seems ever more centered on religion."

--Paul Krugman, New York Times

The New York Times October 28, 2003
A Willful Ignorance, By PAUL KRUGMAN

The complete article may be purchased from the archives of the New York Times at-- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30717FF35550C7B8EDDA90994DB404482

Excerpt--

...There's something broader going on: a sort of willful ignorance, supposedly driven by moral concerns but actually reflecting domestic politics. Surely it's important to understand how others see us, but a new, post 9/11 version of political correctness has made it difficult even to discuss their points of view. Any American who tries to go beyond "America good, terrorists evil," who tries to understand — not condone — the growing world backlash against the United States, faces furious attacks delivered in a tone of high moral indignation. The attackers claim to be standing up for moral clarity, and some of them may even believe it. But they are really being used in a domestic political struggle. ...

... We'll lose the fight against terror if we don't make an effort to understand how others think. Yet because of a domestic political struggle that seems ever more centered on religion, such attempts at understanding are shouted down.

Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/28/opinion/28KRUG.html

Washington Post Dec 22, 2002. pg. A.05

Focus on Bin Laden's Charity Sparks Anger; GOP Criticizes Sen. Murray for Speech

Matthew Daly.

The complete article may be purchased from the Washington Post archives at- http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/search.html?nav=left

Excerpts--

Sen. Patty Murray's explanation to high schoolers that charitable works made Osama bin Laden popular in poor countries -- and her challenge to the United States to do the same -- drew fire Friday from Republicans and conservatives. ...

"It is absolutely outrageous and despicable to imply that the American government should learn a lesson from the madman who murdered thousands of American citizens," [Washington state GOP Chairman Chris] Vance said. ...

In a statement, Murray called bin Laden "an evil terrorist who is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans" and accused Vance and others of twisting her words.

"Having a challenging and thoughtful discussion about America's future reflects the best values of a free democracy; to sensationalize and distort it in an attempt to divide is not," she said. ...

Credit: Associated Press

Copyright 2003 The Washington Post