Quote Originally Posted by Pindar
The lecture stands independent of any personal views one might have of the lecturer.


The many failings of academia are nonetheless distinct from the preparations and infrastructure of the intelligence community and Military.
I agree with the first and disagree with the second.

As to the first, nonetheless Said's attack on Lewis and 'Orientalism', followed by its favourable reception in (especially American) PC academic discourse, has prevented to a great degree an objective study of Islam.

As to the second, the intelligence community relies to a great extent on this academic discourse. Hence the problem becomes apparent.

For example, if there's no academic like Lewis to point out 'Wahabism', how is the intelligence community to know where to look? The number of Arabic and Farsi speakers is not that important, important is knowing what they should listen to, whom to keep a close eye on.
And that only touches on intelligence gathering. In the field of foreign analysis, the academia and the intelligence community are even closer linked.