Difference between revisions of "The Power of Nightmares"
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| − | A 2004 documentary series by [[Adam Curtis]], "'''''The Power of Nightmares''''' seeks to overturn much of what is widely believed about [[Osama bin Laden]] and [[al-Qaida]]. The latter, it argues, is not an organised international network. It does not have members or a leader. It does not have "sleeper cells". It does not have an overall strategy. In fact, it barely exists at all, except as an idea about cleansing a corrupt world through religious violence." [http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1327904,00.html --Andy Beckett for ''The Guardian'', 15 October 2004] | + | A 2004 documentary series by [[Adam Curtis]], "'''''The Power of Nightmares; The Rise of the [[Politics of Fear]]''''' seeks to overturn much of what is widely believed about [[Osama bin Laden]] and [[al-Qaida]]. The latter, it argues, is not an organised international network. It does not have members or a leader. It does not have "sleeper cells". It does not have an overall strategy. In fact, it barely exists at all, except as an idea about cleansing a corrupt world through religious violence." [http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1327904,00.html --Andy Beckett for ''The Guardian'', 15 October 2004] |
"As Curtis traced the rise of the "[[neo-conservatives|Straussians]]", he came to a conclusion that would form the basis for '''''The Power of Nightmares'''''. Straussian conservatism had a previously unsuspected amount in common with [[Islamism]]: from origins in the 50s, to '''a formative belief that liberalism was the enemy''', to an actual period of Islamist-Straussian collaboration against the Soviet Union during the war in Afghanistan in the 80s (both movements have proved adept at finding new foes to keep them going). Although the Islamists and the Straussians have fallen out since then, as the attacks on America in 2001 graphically demonstrated, they are in another way, Curtis concludes, collaborating still: in sustaining the "fantasy" of the [[war on terror]]." [http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1327904,00.html] | "As Curtis traced the rise of the "[[neo-conservatives|Straussians]]", he came to a conclusion that would form the basis for '''''The Power of Nightmares'''''. Straussian conservatism had a previously unsuspected amount in common with [[Islamism]]: from origins in the 50s, to '''a formative belief that liberalism was the enemy''', to an actual period of Islamist-Straussian collaboration against the Soviet Union during the war in Afghanistan in the 80s (both movements have proved adept at finding new foes to keep them going). Although the Islamists and the Straussians have fallen out since then, as the attacks on America in 2001 graphically demonstrated, they are in another way, Curtis concludes, collaborating still: in sustaining the "fantasy" of the [[war on terror]]." [http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1327904,00.html] | ||
Revision as of 16:40, 16 October 2004
A 2004 documentary series by Adam Curtis, "The Power of Nightmares; The Rise of the Politics of Fear seeks to overturn much of what is widely believed about Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida. The latter, it argues, is not an organised international network. It does not have members or a leader. It does not have "sleeper cells". It does not have an overall strategy. In fact, it barely exists at all, except as an idea about cleansing a corrupt world through religious violence." --Andy Beckett for The Guardian, 15 October 2004
"As Curtis traced the rise of the "Straussians", he came to a conclusion that would form the basis for The Power of Nightmares. Straussian conservatism had a previously unsuspected amount in common with Islamism: from origins in the 50s, to a formative belief that liberalism was the enemy, to an actual period of Islamist-Straussian collaboration against the Soviet Union during the war in Afghanistan in the 80s (both movements have proved adept at finding new foes to keep them going). Although the Islamists and the Straussians have fallen out since then, as the attacks on America in 2001 graphically demonstrated, they are in another way, Curtis concludes, collaborating still: in sustaining the "fantasy" of the war on terror." [1]
