Rational Discussion of Threats of Right-Wing Networks out of Power (was Re: Allies and opponents of US fall silent)

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

>One can, indeed must, assail US expansionism
>and the domestic efforts to lock down dissent; but there is a decentralized
>network in the wider world that is committed to killing as many Americans
>(and non-Americans) as it can, using whatever tools it has. It is not a
>liberation force, it is a violent theocratic gang that won't stop until it
>is stopped, and how it can be stopped should be part of any discussion "we"
>on the "left" have. In other words, we cannot pretend that it is some minor
>irritant that will go away in due course. The challenge is incorporating all
>this into an understandable argument. Not easy by any means.
>
>DP

No leftist has said that Al Qaeda is a "liberation force," so that's 
a moot question.  Al Qaeda & like networks are _indeed_ a threat to 
the regimes in power & whatever left oppositions that exist in the 
countries in which they operate; and they will _not_ "go away in due 
course"; but exactly what degree of threat do they pose, & to whom? 
It doesn't seem to be the case that they are "committed to killing as 
many Americans and non-Americans as they can."  Past terrors that are 
attributed to Al Qaeda suggest that they focus on politically 
symbolic high-profile targets (embassies, warships, the WTC, the 
Pentagon), unlike suicide bombers who blow up buses, pizzerias, etc. 
Threats from right-wing networks that are not in power should be 
rationally discussed, rather than exaggerated; exaggeration will only 
panic people & make them more inclined to accept the destruction of 
civil rights & liberties than otherwise.
-- 
Yoshie

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