Gore Vidal on Understanding America's Terrorist Crisis

April 18, 2002 At this historic Independent Institute event, renowned author Gore Vidal rejects the blind "patriotism" expected by government officials and the mainstream media, and investigates U.S. foreign policy throughout recent history, showing how it has contributed to the terrorist crisis. With his famous wit and insight, Vidal also demonstrates the ways in which the "War on Terrorism" is being used to curtail civil liberties, shred the Bill of Rights, and foster a more dangerous world. Moderated by Lewis H. Lapham (Editor, "Harper's Magazine"), the program also includes a panel of scholars, Barton J. Bernstein (Professor of History, Stanford University), Robert Higgs (Senior Fellow in Political Economy, Independent Institute), and Thomas Gale Moore (Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution). To order copies of this video, please visit http://www.independent.org/store/events/vidal.asp or call Toll Free 1-800-297-8733. For further analysis, see: "Crisis and Leviathan: Critical Episodes in the Growth of American Government," by Robert Higgs http://www.independent.org/store/book.asp?id=101 "Depression, War, and Cold War: Challenging the Myths of Conflict and Prosperity," by Robert Higgs http://www.independent.org/store/book.asp?id=65 "Resurgence of the Warfare State: The Crisis Since 9/11," by Robert Higgs http://www.independent.org/store/book.asp?id=60 "American Surveillance: Intelligence, Privacy, and the Fourth Amendment," by Anthony Gregory http://www.independent.org/store/book.asp?id=122 The Independent Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan, public-policy research and educational organization that shapes ideas into profound and lasting impact. The mission of Independent is to boldly advance peaceful, prosperous, and free societies grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity. Applying independent thinking to issues that matter, the Independent Institute creates transformational ideas for today’s most pressing social and economic challenges. The results of this work are published as books, the quarterly journal, "The Independent Review," and other publications and form the basis for numerous conference and media programs. By connecting these ideas with other organizations and networks, Independent seeks to inspire action that can unleash an era of unparalleled human flourishing at home and around the globe. Independent Institute: http://www.independent.org/ “The Independent Review: A Journal of Political Economy” (Quarterly Journal): http://www.independent.org/publications/tir/ Independent Institute Books: http://www.independent.org/store/independent_books.asp FREE Email Updates from the Independent Institute: http://www.independent.org/register/sub_form.asp Become a Member of the Independent Institute and receive a FREE gift: https://secure.independent.org/donate/ Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=independentinstitute Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/independentinstitute Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IndependentInst