On May 15th, Dr. Ron Paul, the antiwar Republican presidential candidate and congressman from Texas, was denounced by “America’s Mayor” in the second Republican presidential debate when he sited the role of American foreign policy in motivating the murderers of 9/11. Giuliani demanded a retraction and an apology for the statement, which Paul refused to do. (For a full account of Paul and Giuliani’s clash, click here.)
On May 24th, Dr. Paul assigned a list of books to help get Giuliani familiar with the realities of American foreign Policy:
Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire by Chalmers Johnson
Imperial Hubris: Why the West is Losing the War on Terror by Michael Scheuer (the former Chief of the CIA’s bin Laden Unit, Alec Station)
Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism by Professor Robert A. Pape of the University of Chicago
But by the look of Rudy Giuliani’s beady little eyes, and knowing how busy he is collecting investments — er, donations — from those who plan to make their living off of the taxpayer in a Giuliani administration, it is easy to imagine that the self-described hero of 9/11 and terrorism expert has not been able to sit down and read these books.
(Much less, Perfect Soldiers by Terry McDermott, The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright, A Pretext for War by James Bamford, Terror Incorporated or Insurgent Iraq by Loretta Napoleoni, 1000 Years for Revenge by Peter Lance, The Far Enemy by Fawaz A. Gerges, Holy War, Inc. by Peter Bergen, Ghost Wars by Steve Coll, or anything else about the people who took part in the attacks.)
Now Rudy Giuliani and anyone else out there who can’t see too well, were never taught how to read by their government school teachers or just can’t find the time in their hectic schedule can relax. Antiwar.com has done your homework for you.
You can listen to MP3 audio of in-depth radio interviews with the authors of the books on Ron Paul’s list (less Philip Zelikow), recorded just in the last two weeks for Antiwar Radio and the world at large.
Former CIA analyst Michael Scheuer May 18th
Professor Robert A. Pape June 1st
Former CIA advisor Chalmers Johnson May 17th
Two other former CIA officials have also told Antiwar Radio that Dr. Paul is right about al Qaeda terrorism against the U.S. being a consequence of our interventionist foreign policy:
Former CIA counter-terrorism agent Philip Girialdi May 23rd
Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern May 25th
Bottom line: The only reason that Osama and his gang are able to recruit suicide terrorists is by pointing to real, earthly grievances: specifically the presence of foreign occupying armies in their countries — not 72 virgins in heaven, not freedom, nor a plan to create an Islamic Caliphate.
