Salman Rushdie: Bush Administration setting up Authoritarian state

[ck4829]

SPIEGEL: But in the light of the attacks September 11, 2001 attacks you yourself wrote that in order to protect free societies against terrorism, limiting rights was inevitable.

Rushdie: I was thinking of stricter aircraft checks or things like that -- of annoying but easily understandable constraints. I hadn't thought it possible that the Bush administration would go about setting up the machinery of an authoritarian state.

SPIEGEL: Has it done that?

Rushdie: Oh yes. Over the past few years I've been the president of PEN in New York, the chairman of the American writers' association. Again and again, we've had to deal with these far-reaching attacks on civil liberties. And most complaints have been justified, because it wasn't even apparent in what way arrests and surveillance operations were connected with anti-terrorism. And I know what I'm talking about: From my own history of being threatened, I have indeed developed a sympathy for intelligence activities, my protectors enjoy my greatest respect.

SPIEGEL: So are Bush and Blair going too far?

Rushdie: This is the problem with politicians who by nature tend towards being authoritarian: When they are given the chance, they go too far. We have to watch out there. I find it deeply depressing that the Anglo-American politics and Arab politics are currently corroborating each other -- that is: their worst prejudices. Take a look at Iraq, at Lebanon. There is no just side in either conflict. But at the same time we need moral clarity, something I have often missed recently in many liberally minded people -- and I myself am liberal. We need clarity about what is right and wrong, the willingness to defend our values with clear words and to actually call the guilty persons guilty.

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,433969-2,00.html

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. I love der Spiegel.

It's free and you see a whole different point of view, not to mention, not one word about missing blond besotted bimbos gone missing on Aruba, or 10 yr old child abuse and murder stories.

[Jed Dilligan]

2. So true:

"Take a look at Iraq, at Lebanon. There is no just side in either conflict."

Once again, for those who have suggested that if I don't support the US and Israel, I support the insurgents and Hezbollah:

"Take a look at Iraq, at Lebanon. There is no just side in either conflict."