The Women's Freedom Network Newsletter September/October, 2001, Vol. 8, Number 5. The Case for Force by Jeane Kirkpatrick This article was adapted from The Chronicles of Higher Education, September 28, 2001.

W e have had three presidents declare war on terrorism - Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and now George W. Bush. In the Reagan years we worked hard to manage several groups of terrorists that were attacking Americans' rights. We worked very hard to prevent the sale and spread of weapons of mass destruction. At each point in time, unfortunately the president in question did not do more.

These acts of terrorism are not a criminal matter where due process of law would be the logical and fair response. Due process of law is for Americans. It is for people who accept the obligations of citizenship in a democracy. If there is anything that these terrorists did not do, it was accept any obligations of citizenship in the world. They do not deserve our due process in our courts.

These terrorists have been escalating their attacks for a good 10 years, beginning with the first bombing of the World Trade Center and on to the bombing of our embassies and the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole. Each time we did not respond effectively, and as a result, these terrorists have grown more and more violent in their attacks. If we do not respond in an effective way that deters them, then they will destroy our society. A democracy cannot survive and function under such fire.

It would be a very serious mistake for the U.S. not to respond with force. I do not usually advocate the use of force to solve problems, but we must in this case to protect our civilization. I do not just mean American civilization. I mean modem civilization. Modern civilization is open and free; it permits women to participate; it is egalitarian and inclusive. I believe these terrorists are seeking to destroy our modern society.

It is important for the president and others to make entirely clear that Americans do not in any sense approve of scape-goating Muslims. We do not regard this terrorism as a Muslim act. We regard this as an act of a fanatic, extremist political group, which represses its own people. They start with tyranny against their own people, and they move on, and they have tried to move on too far this time.