Thoughts on Nationalism 2.0 (Cross Posted from Barnyard Buzz)

 

By Unknown author - The above description comes from the 2007 CIA publication "The Art of Strategic Counterintelligence" by Ricky-Dale Calhoun (link, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4006756

What is nationalism? Is it positive or negative? Does it depend on circumstances? How are Islamism and nationalism related (or are they not related)? Where in the Middle East is nationalism found most abundantly? What have been the historical effects of nationalism? How do you see nationalism affecting current events (inside or outside the Middle East)? 

I was thinking recently about the Pentagon's efforts to combat domestic extremism, and nationalism by extension, by monitoring social media. The most difficult thing to do for the adjudicators (the people making judgements on people's ability to serve) is to tell the difference between the guy who watches Fox News, shares angry things on social media, says political things to enrage other people of a differing political stripe, but still loves and serves immigrant communities despite the imagined communities and activated identities he seems to hold; versus someone who does all the same things politically, but doesn't love immigrants, believes every conspiracy theory, is forming an anti-government militia/proto-terrorist group, thinks themselves above the law, and threatens someone with a gun during a very low-stakes political discussion in someone else's apartment.

 

I know both of these people personally. The first I will do anything for, the second, I want to report to the FBI and DHS. (If anyone has some ideas, let me know!) I know in many of the Middle Eastern countries, the military autocracies do not make a distinction between critics and terrorists, the Muslim Brotherhood and al Qaeda (note: I don't like either) and thus radicalize people further when they come knocking on their doors. It would be difficult to know or tell from their social media posts who is the real threat, especially when humans are spectacularly good at lying during interviews, such as job interviews. Some of these people could be the real threat; by gaining a security clearance they really could do some damage. Others are passionate critics, say many of the same things, but don't do the dangerous and evil deeds, and in fact do a good job serving their communities. I don't know all the answers, but I know that there is something to be learned by figuring out who the really bad guys are and separating them from the rest of the other people, without alienating the rest who would be loyal in all other scenarios. That is counterinsurgency (COIN) strategy in a nutshell.

 

I guess what I am trying to say is let's learn something from our history with autocratic regimes in the Middle East. Let's learn how to distinguish the strident nationalists of exclusion who don't act that way in real life, and find the real extremists hidden among us who are planning evil acts that threaten our national security. It is difficult to find the nuance in today's world of hot takes, fake news, cancel culture as a reflexive tool for both sides, and so many ways to fuel fires of aggression, but I do want people to think this through. Is there a balanced sort of way to interact with nationalists at home and abroad that doesn't make minorities feel unsafe, but also grafts in said nationalist's good ideas for the betterment of society?