June 13, 2003

Liberalism by Example

To the Editor:

In "Totalitarianism and the Role of Intellectuals" (The Review, May 9), Paul Berman advocates a two-pronged approach to fighting what he claims is the premier threat to liberalism -- so-called "Muslim totalitarianism." Mr. Berman supports both military action and, more important, a war of ideas as necessary to combat this implacable enemy of Western values and civilization. Leaving aside the issue of whether what he identifies as Muslim totalitarianism is truly