Is Pipes A Shachtmanite?

Submitted by Barry Miller (United States), Jul 6, 2007 at 22:05

Just what is the relevance of Muravchick/Gershman having a common "Shachtmanite" background got to do with their views on Islamism? What is Pipes trying to intimate by that obscure, dismissive reference which none of his readers understand? And wasn't that the same label that for years Irving Kristol's enemies pinned on him? And presumably other "neoconservatives" including Pipes labored under similiar criticism from their opponents. Do tell us what this long-forgotten radical who, I've read in several places, was simply a sectarian Trotskyist, had to say about Islamic terrorism. And if Pipes can't do that why throw out his name?

Barry Miller

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Daniel Pipes replies:

I am not a Shachtmanite, indeed, am not any sort of ex-Leftist at all, as I never was on the Left.

I mentioned this common biographical fact as part of my explanation for Muravchik's support of Gershman.