Are Human Rights More Important than American National Security?

Immanuel Wallerstein sure knows how to decontruct a “malicious” question. Here’s a succinct take on his False Choices, or Media Traps to be found at Agence Global.

At a presidential candidates debate, journalist Wolf Blitzer of CNN fame, asked the Democratic candidates this:

“Are human rights more important than American national security?”

It’s the Battle of the Titans! In one corner, human rights: In the other, U.S. security.

Rights vs. Security. Humanity vs. the U.S.

What’s your answer? Are human rights more important than U.S. security?

The candidates gave their answers: For one, human rights, of course. For others, no, no, national security, hands down. Wait a minute lady and gents speaks another. It’s both. One doesn’t get to speak about it at all.

So much for the candidates.

Enter Wallerstein:

Is the question about foreign policy or internal policy? Primarily internal policy. What internal policy? The recent policies whereby U.S. human rights have been diminished in the name of national security.

Then the deconstruction: What is it that the nation is trying to “secure”?

Think through that one and the whole Wolf Blitzkrieg question disintegrates into meaningless drivel.

What does that make of the politicians pandering to such drivel instead of criticizing it? What does that make of the journalists peddling it?