Much of the obscurity of our effort so far against terrorism originates in the now official idea that the enemy is evil and that we are (therefore) good, which is the precise mirror image of the official idea of the terrorists.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Seeing terrorists as purely evil and ourselves as purely good creates a mirror that obscures the real nature of conflict.
- In plain terms
- Labeling enemies as evil blocks understanding.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid moral binaries when analyzing terrorism.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What are the risks of oversimplifying opponents?
- How can we achieve a more accurate view of conflict?
Another view
Even nuanced views can be politicized.
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