The Art of Politics

Disloyal Opposition

Former British cabinet minister demonstrates the enemy within...

Demonstrating why the argument - that the left (on both continents) cannot be trusted with the war on terror - cannot quite ever be put to rest, former British cabinet minister Clare Short has confirmed such doubts by claiming that Al Qaeda's cause is "just".

There is a natural distrust of the left when it comes to active engagement against terrorism - the left has long been the refuge of pacifism, unilateral disarmament, isolationism, and demobilization. In it's nature, it is difficult to trust such a group to wage war. But going beyond this, it's the company the left keeps that raises eyebrows and concerns. And remarks such as those by Short, that there is little difference between the methods and outcomes of the US and UK and of the terorrists themselves, reveals a deeper disconnect and an astonishing amount of political self-flagellation.

Comparing Iraqi resistance fighters - who blow up children, Iraqi police, civilians - to the French resistance, Short reveals the undercurrent of moral equivalence and self-loathing of the left, both in Europe and America. It is a moral guilt, unassuaged by promoting democracy or liberty.

It is almost akin to the Stockholm Syndrome. Because the policies of the Euro and American left render them incapable of effectively dealing with an aggressive foe, there is almost a transferrence, or identification with the enemy - be it Soviet totalitarianism or Islamic terrorism. It's a pathological transfer that the political system has seen in the two recent struggles of our times - against Communism, where accomodation and justification for Soviet excesses was offererd and embraced, and now terrorism, where moral equivalences and excuse making and self-abuse for a murderous and barbarous enemy of order are de rigeur among the left.

That the party that has birthed Tony Blair, who history will regard as one of the most effective proponents of engagement against terrorism, also contains the apologist and compunctive Clare Short, is nothing short of astonishing.

Posted by MEC2 at October 10, 2004 08:09 PM