Islamic Fascists? Yes!
AnalPhilosoher asserts that it’s inappropriate for President Bush to call Jihadists fascists because “jihadists aren’t statists” (via Instapundit.)
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Okay, well, how can we square this assertion with the former Taliban government in Afghanistan or the current Iranian regime?
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If you read Paul Berman’s excellent book “Terror and Liberalism” (and everybody should), you’ll be AMAZED at just how many links there are between classic European fascism on the one hand and the Muslim movements we’re dealing with on the other. I mean what would you call the Baath movement of Iraq and of Syria but a classic fascist movement? (And you’ll find that their history is actually directly connected with European fascism). It’s true that the “Islamist” movements have some different wrinkles. But as the Buddhists say, are they more the same, or more different? And again, don’t forget about the Spanish Phalangists — widely considered to be a classic “fascist” movement — who incorporated the religous angle, albeit in a European and Christian form.
Here’s more Berman on the subject (but do check out his book.)
Also…we blogged about Berman and the meaning of Iraq at awhile back.
Personally, I am thrilled that Bush is finally articulating this.