The BBC is re-airing its miniseries called “The Power of Nightmares.” I haven’t seen it, and am unlikely to, unless it airs on BBC America. But I did read the associated articles on the BBC website. I don’t accept the producers’ characterization of Al Qaeda as a “phantom enemy,” but I think the drawing
of parallels between Sayyid Qutb and Leo Strauss is kind of brilliant:

The rise of the politics of fear begins in 1949 with two men whose radical ideas would inspire the attack of 9/11 and influence the neo-conservative movement that dominates Washington.

Both these men believed that modern liberal freedoms were eroding the bonds that held society together.

The two movements they inspired set out, in their different ways, to rescue their societies from this decay.

Related links:

The BBC articles.

A related Indymedia link.

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