Exploring the roots of radicalism

[QuietStorm]

snip
Back in the fifth century, the Chinese strategist Sun Tzu wrote a classic work called The Art of War. One of the key components of the book was his belief in preparation and in "knowing the enemy". Indeed, one point is widely cited to this day, "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."

Now fast-forward to the ongoing United States global "war against terrorism". How well does the US and its leader, President George W Bush, understand the enemy? Not well enough, if one relies on public statements. Consider his remarks to the American Legion National Convention on August 26.

"They attack the civilized world because they bear a deep hatred for the values of the civilized world. They hate freedom and religious tolerance and democracy and equality for women. They hate Christians and Jews and every Muslim who does not share their narrow and violent vision ... because America stands for freedom and tolerance and the rights of all, the terrorists have targeted our country."

This sort of rhetoric reminds one of the saying of the American writer H L Mencken, "For every complex problem, there is a solution that is simple, neat and wrong."

more...
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/EH30Aa01.html