Terrorism debate raises course questions

Political Science professor Stephen Gale buries his face in his hands as professor Ian Lustick reads from his book yesterday evening.

What was supposed to be a dialogue among three national experts on terrorism yesterday turned into a fractured, and at times raucous, event.

However, it still offered the audience a diverse set of views on issues surrounding terrorism, with Ian Lustick, Stephen Gale and Daniel Pipes speaking about "What Today's College Students Need to Know About Terrorism."

The Penn College Republicans and the Middle East Forum hosted the forum as part of Penn's Terrorism Awareness Week. It is funded by, and had its name changed from, conservative author David Horowitz's national "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week."

About 80 people attended the forum in Huntsman Hall.

Pipes, director of the Middle East Forum, arrived about 30 minutes late to the event. Political Science professors Lustick and Gale spoke and answered questions until he arrived.

Lustick, author of "Trapped in the War on Terror," said he was initially in favor of the war on terror but soon realized that it was "not at all what it seemed to be." He warned against overreacting to terrorist acts.

"Al Qaeda was heading into the dustbin of history" before the attacks, he said, but the U.S. played into its hands with its reaction and "trillion dollar war."

In response to a question from alumnus David Rusin about attacks that had been thwarted, Lustick said that two years after the "war on terror chest thumping," the charges for alleged terrorists seem to go away.

But Rusin said later, "I'm concerned about him underreacting; I don't think its a one-off deal."

Gale spoke about the lack of courses seriously devoted to the study of terrorism, to the nation's detriment.

"Where are all the other courses?" he asked.

Students seemed to agree.

College senior Ezra Cohen said that "we need people to be passionate about the problem of terrorism. [Terrorism] needs to be a standard on Penn's campus, not the exception. Otherwise there won't be any progress."

College senior Anne-Garland Berry agreed as well, saying, "Dr. Gale had a good point that students should petition for more courses - we as students don't know enough about terrorism to even know we don't have the right courses on it.

After he arrived, Pipes said the U.S. needs to "modernize Islam" by defeating radical Islam and "offering a space for moderates to come in."

Pipes drew criticism from Lustick, however, who said that "you can't decide another culture's extremist when you aren't part of" that culture.

A protester distributing flyers outside the room was escorted from the building by Penn security and Police personnel.

Comments (6)

Speaking of terrorism: George W. Bush committed hate crimes of epic proportions and with the stench of terrorism (indicated in my blog). George W. Bush did in fact commit innumerable hate crimes. And I do solemnly swear by Almighty God that George W. Bush committed other hate crimes of epic proportions and with the stench of terrorism which I am not at liberty to mention. Many people know what Bush did. And many people will know what Bush did�?even to the end of the world. Bush was absolute evil. Bush is now like a fugitive from justice. Bush is a psychological prisoner. Bush has a lot to worry about. Bush can technically be prosecuted for hate crimes at any time. In any case, Bush will go down in history in infamy. Submitted by Andrew Yu-Jen Wang B.S., Summa Cum Laude, 1996 Messiah College, Grantham, PA Lower Merion High School, Ardmore, PA, 1993 �?GEORGE W. BUSH IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN U.S. HISTORY�? BLOG OF ANDREW YU-JEN WANG ______________________ I am not sure where I had read it before, but anyway, it is a linguistically excellent statement, and it goes kind of like this: �?If only it were possible to ban invention that bottled up memory so it never got stale and faded.�? Oh wait�?off of the top of my head�?I think the quotation came from my Lower Merion High School yearbook.

I would ask Dr. Lustick what culture considers beheadings, mass murder, subjugation, kidnapping, suicide bombers as not being extreme. If he can name such a culture I would then suggest that we bomb them into extinction before their behavior becomes commonplace.

[QUOTE id="b02c2f48-d65d-495b-87b1-a4f9cd67320e"]God these professors (not Pipes) are stupid. No wonder all they can do is indoctrinate.[/QUOTE] Vince, Please explain exactly how and why you believe "these professors are stupid". Please also explain how and why Dr. Pipes is your sole exception. I'm interested in this discussion and wonder what elements of their presentations struck you the wrong way. Looking forward to hearing from you. Regards, SJMB

God these professors (not Pipes) are stupid. No wonder all they can do is indoctrinate.

I'm interested in knowing what the protestor was protesting with the flyers he/she was handing out and whether it was a Penn student.

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