> >. . . Given the overwhelming documentation available about the
> >identities of the September 11 terrorists, this finding suggests
> >something well beyond entrenched mistrust of the United States.
> >It points squarely to the severely limited access of people in many
> >Islamic countries to anything like objective news coverage by
> >independent media.
It's not obvious to me that the mistrust is founded on simple lack of information. Chances are that many would reject "objective news coverage" if it was offered to them. Look at how many people watch the Fox network, for instance, relative to PBS.
> >In general, the Gallup survey buttresses Sen. Joe Lieberman's
> >argument that the war on terrorism is not simply a military
> >campaign against specific terrorist networks operating in and
> >beyond the Middle East: it is a "great civil war" within the Islamic
> >world in which the United States is inescapably a party. To win
> >this war, as Lieberman suggested, we must not only "drain the
> >swamp" of terrorist groups and the anger and despair that feeds
> >them, but "plant the seeds" of economic opportunity, tolerance,
> >and access to independent news and opinion, that can make it
> >possible for the justice of our war effort to become apparent.
It is hard to escape the observation that thus far, at least, the US role in this civil war is to side with forces that have little appetite for tolerance and the rest.
Strictly as a practical matter, not knowing anything about the economies of the relevant countries, I suspect that imposition of 'economic opportunity' in the shape of trade liberalization would stir up even more opposition, at least in the short run, since I imagine there are plenty of petit-bourgeoisie and peasants, and few proletarians.
The only operational component of the Lieberman formula is the use of force. All the rest stands to be illusory, eventually (perhaps quickly) resulting in dire consequences from the use of force.
If G Bush can be president, I could be Secy of State.
mbs