The Power of Nightmares.

The Power of Nightmares is a BBC series playing in Britain. (must be downloaded) . This is but one part of it, but it says a lot about how the war on terror came to be and explains to me why so many Europeans have this false notion of conservatives. It takes about 30 minutes to watch. It "explains" how both the neoconservatives of the United States and the radical Islamists believed in several "myths" that allowed them to think they could transform the world in their own way.

It begins telling us of the "dark illusion" of terrorism. It is simply a "fantasy." I don't think there are many of us who see terrorism as fantasy now.

The documentary is filled with what I call the music of "dread." The kind of music you hear in the horror movies just before someone is horribly killed. It gives a nice effect to the seemingly equal "evil" of radical Muslims and neoconservatives.

I find it amusing in the film that the neoconservative's vision to bring democracy and freedom to the world is said in a sinister voice and "dread" music because the conservatives themselves had "created a myth" of terrorism and culture wars.

Oh the HORROR!!! How truly AWFUL to have a vision for freedom and democracy in the world!!!

Meanwhile, as the U.S. helps afghans defeat the Soviet invasion in 1982 and then the Soviet collapse, the film states both neoconservatives and radical Muslims felt they each had won. The documentary also says the Soviet Union was collapsing on it's own. The U.S. really didn't do anything to defeat communism. The fall of the Berlin wall as well, I suppose, was a coincident of the policies of Reagan. They just happened to occur at the same time.

This battle in Afghanistan is the one many leftwingers refer to as when we "armed and trained" Al Queda because of the help we gave Afghans to fight the Soviet invaders. As if we had some crystal ball and could see that radical Muslims would turn against us in a war on terror.

Then the film outlines the conservatives determined defeat of Bill Clinton. Not sure why that is important since they don't mention the Cole bombing or the Embassy bombing or Clinton's reaction to it. It only focuses on the conservatives determination to regain power.

I suppose the film's purpose is to compare two religious views that want power. But doesn't seem to focus on the extreme different OUTCOMES of one or the other having power.

In a radical Muslim world women are treated like cattle, hiding behind burkas. Killing those who disagree with you is encouraged and is your way to heaven.

In the conservative view (which is not necessarily a religious view, of course) we promote freedom and free elections. A people (including women) who have a voice in government. Our way to heaven, for those who believe, does not include killing anyone. It is about compassion and forgiveness.

Now one can argue, rightly so, that the terrorists are a perverted version of Islam, just as anyone who commits violence in the name of Christianity perverts it. But the film does not make that distinction. It compares radical Islam to neoconservatives.

I don't even think my leftwing friends would agree that neoconservatives are willing to kill anyone who disagrees with them , including their own people. The thought is absurd. As is the comparison in this film.

But, sadly, the Europeans see this and believe it.

I have no illusion that conservatives are perfect. Politics, in and of itself, is a mean business on both sides of the political spectrum. Both sides have their good guys and bad guys.

I also know that America is not perfect. I understand many of the reasons that others in the world see us as hedonistic and self involved.

But in the end I see America as a reflection of most most of us here. Although we may think of ourselves first and enjoy the benefits of freedom and prosperity, we also step up to the plate when help is needed. We have a compassionate heart.

Selfishness resides in us, no doubt, but our goodness and kindness overshadows our shortcomings.

This is what I believe.