Here is the piece in whole, followed by my commentary:
Publication:East Valley Tribune;
Date: Sunday, September 12, 2004 ;
Section:Perspective;
Page:106
THE PROTRACTED CONFLICT
Waging war — and peace
In order to truly win the struggle against terrorism, America must connect ‘Gap’ with ‘Core’
- Linda Turley-Hansen is a syndicated columnist and former veteran Phoenix television news anchor who lives in the East Valley.
She can be reached by e-mail at letters@lindastake.com.
To all those who are convinced that George W. made a mistake by waging war on Iraq, pick up a hot-selling book by Thomas Barnett, a military analyst with the U.S. Naval War College. Critics are calling his vision of solutions to today’s world conflicts "a template," a "Rosetta stone."
The title might intimidate the average Joe (that’s me), but fear not. "The Pentagon’s New Map" is thoroughly readable. Besides, we’re much in need of fresh ideas, void of stale, political wind.
My first reaction in watching the Harvard Ph.D.’s ideas on C-Span was hope. I relaxed for the first time since 9/11. Who was this guy who views the bigger picture with a super-size lens? I soon found out.
This Valley is full of people who believe Christ’s return is just around the corner, but first, we can expect global catastrophes of inconceivable proportions. Of course, it’s the sitting president who has started the beginning of the end. Then there are the others who agree Armageddon is unavoidable, but perhaps without deity’s appearance to save us. Kerry is going to do the saving.
Barnett has different ideas. His "new map" divides the world into the "Core" (or the haves) and the "Gap" (or the have-nots.) Barnett fully supports Bush’s decision to take out Saddam Hussein and suggests that North Korea be next — because there cannot be global peace until crazy dictators in the "Gap" are removed to allow "connectivity" with those in the "Core."
Why does Barnett support carefully identified targets of war? In a telephone interview, he told me that helping "Gap" citizens escape cruel domination is the only road to their economic development, which is a connector to "Core" states — then peace. But, in doing so, Barnett stresses that America must build a strong contingent that comes in right behind the tanks and planes to mend and heal the broken nation — and that’s where he says Bush blew it.
Is it his fault? Barnett says no. Presidents before Bush sent troops into troubled "Gap" areas with no plans for putting Humpty-Dumpty back together again. So, according to Barnett, the second half of the equation, the system of peacekeepers who bring stability, must be developed by "Core" countries, but not necessarily under the label of democracy. In this scenario, in the future, America’s number one export will be security.
What caught my ear first, like an explosion, was Barnett’s contention that developing countries, which keep women under wraps, will never build economic stability. Instead, they breed hostile thinking.
"Our goal should be very simple here: Keep young girls in school at all costs, delaying sex and pregnancies." Then, he points out that women are potential entrepreneurs who can build village economies with the help of small loans from "Core" nations. The trick, of course, is to get the women out from under the veils of male dominance.
In a brief departure from my book report, I’m intrigued by Barnett’s understanding of the power of women’s role in civilization beyond childbearing. It’s my take that the spirit of any society that would cut out half of its citizens is steeped in evil. The devastating practice of eliminating the intuitive side of a community is laced throughout history.
It’s interesting that in order to pursue evil activities of domination, creeps like Osama bin Laden have had to first disenfranchise women. They force them into brutal, submissive conditions and prevent them from having influence, including in their own homes. Their imposed silence leaves the men with nothing to balance their reality.
So why do these nut-cakes wage terrorism? I think it’s simple: It’s a lot easier to cook up war games than teach a child to read or work out a disagreement with the wife. It satisfies sick egos to sit around the campfire and brag about how tough they are and how many people they can kill with one airplane. For good measure they throw in a few religious references. They have no comfort from family love or country. They’ve desecrated home.
And that’s Barnett’s point. Until there is economic reason to stop waging war, so-called "freedom fighters" will continue to spread their immoral work. He predicts that if peacekeepers can train one generation of youth and give them a taste of what can be, they’ll never go back in the caves again. He predicts that world peace is possible in his lifetime.
It’s true. Barnett’s theories require a nation of courageous, visionary Americans, beginning with our commander-in-chief, plus "Core" allies. I think four more years of George Bush might be the way to go.
This quick review is simply a tickler, but for me stirs new understanding. Read the book, or go into Barnett’s Web site, www.thomaspmbarnett.com. Then, as Fox News says, "You decide!"
LINDA TURLEY-HANSEN COMMENTARY -
FRESH VISION: Naval War College analyst Thomas Barnett’s new book sets out a plan for defusing today’s increasingly deadly world situation.
COMMENTARY: Little unhappy with her describing the Core-Gap as Haves versus Have-nots, but she gets the rest of the story down awfully well, so that's a minor complaint on my part. Obviously, what's different about this review is the focus ont the role of women in economic development, which is admittedly a sidelight in the book but one that draws in readers who might not otherwise pick up PNM, so I'm very grateful to this journalist for bringing up that angle to my work. Plus, I like how she handles my criticism of the current regime: noting it but not overselling it. All in all, a great review, especially for citing the website.
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