A critical debate is taking place over the best way to combat global terrorism. The Bush administration believes that only have the power to break the that gave rise to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. To that end, Washington favors empowering moderate, secular Muslims as an antidote to autocratic and extremist tendencies. However, , resident fellow at the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute, argues that it is those who the United States most ? ? who hold the to spreading democracy and stability in the Muslim Middle East.
In his recently published monograph, Mr. Gerecht refutes the notion that are the answer to a more democratic, stable Middle East. Speaking on Mr. Gerecht said that in an ideal world, he would favor putting the emphasis on Muslim moderates and progressives. But right now there are too few moderates and progressives, making it impossible for the United States to ?reach over the heads of illiberal dictators and kings? and encourage Muslim moderates.
According to Mr. Gerecht, a former Middle East analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, will be an important driving force behind the democratic process in the region, especially in the aftermath of the January 30th elections in Iraq. He said the United States should not fear this tendency because it is Islamic activists who will be most effective in stopping ?bin Laden-ism.? , for example, began in 1979 as the most ?jihad-ist, anti-American culture in the Muslim world,? but Reuel Marc Gerecht called that jihadism today ?dead as a doornail? and described Iran as probably the most pro-American country in the Middle East. He suggested that trend could be replicated in the Sunni world as democracy starts to develop.
Using the slow pace of democratic development in the as an example, Mr. Gerecht reminded that it did not get to Thomas Jefferson, author of America?s Declaration of Independence, without going through the 16th century Protestant reformer Martin Luther who challenged the authority of the Catholic Church. And so in the , he said, it is important for to argue with other Islamic militants and to ?fight it out? in the political arena.
Mr. Gerecht suggested that it would be difficult for many Americans, especially officials in the Bush administration, to deal with an where the is a significant political force. And he acknowledged that, along with the rise of fundamentalist participation in politics, for example are likely to come under assault, as they did in Algeria. However, Mr. Gerecht said he is not overly concerned about the long-term outcome because democracies cannot ultimately sustain terrorism and most Muslims do not support terrorist behavior.
Regarding the controversial issue of U.S. support for groups like or entering the Middle East political process, Reuel Marc Gerecht said he thinks it is not for the United States to tell either the Lebanese or the Palestinians who can enter their own democratic politics. Furthermore, he suggested that, if Hamas wants to win elections, it would not be able to maintain an unrelenting holy warrior attitude toward the Israelis. So he said he favors allowing Islamic activists to compete for votes. Mr. Gerecht said he does not believe that Muslims in the Middle East are ?fundamentally different? than most other people in the world who have embraced the democratic ethic.