The Catch-22 of American Foreign Policy

Catch-18 was one of the titles originally considered for Joseph Heller’s classic novel, Catch-22. In the novel, Catch-22 described the rule which prevented Yossarian, the book’s hero, from going home–a man was considered insane if he willingly flew dangerous combat missions, but if he made the necessary request to be relieved of such missions, he was considered sane and therefore not eligable for relief.

Similarly, the United States has trapped itself in a terrible Catch-22 in the Muslim world. The more America intervenes in Muslim lands, the more ill will it creates among Muslims. Ostensibly, more ill will towards America among Muslims justifies more American intervention in Muslim lands. And you don’t have to take my word for it. In 2004 the Defense Science Board said almost the same thing. “American direct intervention in the Muslim World has paradoxically elevated the stature of and support for radical Islamists, while diminishing support for the United States…”