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Events
Friday, October 20, 2006; Tufts University, Barnum 008
[map], 7:30 PM
Israel and the War on Islamic Totalitarianism
Lecture and Q & A by Yaron Brook
Hosted by Tufts University Objectivist Club.
Saturday, October 21, 2006; Boston World Trade Center Amphitheater
[directions],
9–10:30 AM
"No Substitute for Victory": Military Offense and the Defeat of
Islamic Totalitarianism
Opening remarks by Yaron Brook
Lecture and Q & A by John Lewis
"In war there is no substitute for victory": with these words General Douglas MacArthur said farewell to
Congress in 1951. His legacy was the transformation of Japan from a brutal aggressor, in the grip of a
totalitarian religious ideology, to a productive nation that eschewed violent conquest. MacArthur's words
ring true today: only the total, and forthright, defeat of the governments supporting today's Islamic
kamikaze can discredit the virulent ideology of jihad, set the people of reason free from terror and
reaffirm the foundations of freedom and peace.
Saturday, October 21, 2006; Boston World Trade Center Amphitheater,
10:45 AM–12 PM
Muhammad and His Relevance Today
Lecture and Q & A by Robert Spencer
What is the significance of the repeated invocations by Islamic jihadists of the Muslim prophet Muhammad's
words and deeds? What was Muhammad really like? What are the implications for Muslim moderation, and for
non-Muslim Western governments dealing with the war on terror and, domestically, large populations of Muslim
immigrants?
This talk is a plea for realism to rule public policy regarding terrorism, and for the discarding of the
politically correct fantasy that currently dominates public discourse on these matters.
Saturday, October 21, 2006; Boston World Trade Center Amphitheater,
1:30–2:45 PM
Radical Islam and the War on Terror
Lecture and Q & A by Daniel Pipes
Who are the enemy in the war on terror and what are their goals? Dr. Pipes will argue that radical
Islam (not "terrorism" or "extremism") is the enemy; and that the West’s goals must be to (1) defeat
it and (2) replace it with a moderate form of Islam. He will provide an in-depth analysis of radical
Islam and also make the counter-intuitive point that non-violent radical Islam is ultimately more
dangerous than the violent sort.
Saturday, October 21, 2006; Boston World Trade Center Amphitheater,
3–5 PM
Jihad Against the West: The Real Threat and the Right Response
A panel discussion featuring Yaron Brook,
Daniel Pipes and
Flemming Rose
This panel discussion will include an open Q & A.
Saturday, October 21, 2006; Boston World Trade Center International Pavilion,
5–6:30 PM
Reception
Attendees will have a chance to meet the speakers. Appetizers and refreshments will be served.
Sunday, October 22, 2006; Boston World Trade Center Amphitheater,
10–11:15 AM
Islam and Europe after the Cartoon-Crisis—Clash
of Cultures or Coexistence of Civilizations?
Lecture and Q & A by Flemming Rose
What will the outcome be of the current encounter between the West and Islam in Europe? An Islamized
Europe or a European Islam? The cartoon crisis brought to the surface issues and questions that for some
time had been simmering below the surface. The issues of immigration and integration are at the top of
most European citizens' agendas, but public opinion is divided. What kind of underlying mindset and
values are driving the European debate, and can Europe learn anything from the United States?
Sunday, October 22, 2006; Boston World Trade Center Amphitheater,
11:25 AM–12:40 PM
Defending Freedom: The Principled vs. the Pragmatic
Approach
Lecture and Q & A by Peter Schwartz
The "realists" in foreign policy have embraced the most unrealistic, impractical method of functioning:
pragmatism. Mr. Schwartz examines the destructiveness of the case-by-case, seat-of-the-pants approach that
characterizes our government—and our culture—today. He contrasts this with an approach that is
firmly committed to principles, and shows how only such a policy can lead to success in defending America.
Sunday, October 22, 2006; Boston World Trade Center Cityview II,
2:30–4:30 PM
Panel and Reception for Students
ARI's Onkar Ghate, Anu Seppala and Debi Ghate will be hosting a special 1-hour panel discussion for
full-time high school, undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in discussing how today's
world events affect them. Students interested in developing a better understanding of how ideas influence
a culture, in systematically studying Ayn Rand's philosophy or in becoming involved with intellectual
activism on their campus are especially encouraged to attend.
The panel discussion will be followed by a 1-hour reception. Admittance is restricted to full-time
students who have registered for the event.
Sunday, October 22, 2006;
Ford Hall Forum/Faneuil Hall
[map],
6:30 PM
Democracy vs. Victory: Why the "Forward Strategy of Freedom"
Had to Fail
Lecture and Q & A by Yaron Brook
After Sept. 11 the Bush administration declared that we must go on a mission to bring freedom to the
Middle East nations that threaten us; thus, the Forward Strategy of Freedom. According to this
strategy, establishing democracies in key Muslim countries, starting with Afghanistan and Iraq, would
spur a revolution in the rest of the Muslim world—a revolution that would bring free,
pro-Western, anti-terrorist governments to power.
But the strategy has failed. With the rise of the religious Shiites in Iraq, of Hamas and of Hezbollah,
and with the electoral victories of Islamic radicals elsewhere in the Middle East, the Muslim world has
grown more militant.
Why has the Forward Strategy of Freedom failed, and why was failure inevitable? What are the flaws
inherent in the strategy? How does it necessarily undermine victory? What motivates it and what
strategy should replace it? These are the questions Dr. Brook will address in his talk.
Register now!
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