Posted on 11/09/2005 11:38:42 AM PST by Ed Hudgins
The Means and Ends of Islamists
by Edward Hudgins
Objectivist Center/Atlas Society
After each new suicide attack, as innocent blood flows in the streets of Baghdad, London, Madrid, or Tel Aviv, there is a surge of speculation about what motivates terrorists who are willing to give up their own lives for their cause.
Some observers say they're motivated by traditional geopolitical goalsfor example, to drive the allies out of Afghanistan, Iraq, or the Middle East; to punish allied countries for their policies; or (that perennial favorite) to drive Israel into the sea. Those who buy this explanation often contend that the terrorists' ends might be understandable, but their means certainly are not. If their ends can only be addressed, the terrorists will be satisfied and stop their attacks.
Others say the terrorists are motivated by hatred of the West because it is secular, democratic, and modern as opposed to Islamic, authoritarian, and medieval. Like Nazis or communists, Islamists see themselves in a war with the rest of the worldeither they must win or we will. Giving in to their geopolitical demands might reduce the terrorism in certain places and for a while, but in the long run will be seen by the Islamists as a sign of weakness. They will only be encouraged to continue to push for more radical goals, and will regard their terrorist tactics as a successful strategy to achieve them.
So which is it? In fact, both arguments carry some truth because the two are not mutually exclusive. Islamists do not spring up from within a vacuum; rather, they arise from within a culture that instills in them most of their values. The ends of the Islamists are constituted in the means they adopt, and both their means and ends reflect their fundamental values...
Continued: http://www.objectivistcenter.org/text/ehudgins_means-end-islamists.asp?
(Excerpt) Read more at objectivistcenter.org ...
Your Rummy quote needs work.
This one of the reason that it is a waste of time to negotiate or compromise with the thugs. They will is unbendable and a concession by our side is seen as weakness.
Rumsfeld is right. But how does he explain away our new American system of 'multiculturalism', where Islam and Christianity must live together in 'harmony'? Which one of us must change the way we live right here in America?
I don't see Islam changing here, but I do see Christianity being suppressed by government while Islam is being taught and heralded in some of our public schools, and being trumpeted as "the religion of peace" by the likes of Rumsfeld himself.
The answer from government seems to be to just let them continue pouring into our country and we can hire more fbi and security to keep an eye on them. It's a cycle of insanity that isn't being broken or honestly addressed by anybody, including our present Administration.
"People like to call it suicide bombing," he said. "We call it self sacrifice. You must fight for the way of Allahto kill first and be killed."
Islam in a nut shell.
Just remember, no torture.
Islam, The Alleged Religion of Peace® ( TARP )? Click this picture:
No, I am not exaggerating. Click the pic, go to "last," and read backwards.
If you are not informed about this stuff, you will be made sick. If you are informed, you will be made mad, all over again.
Then, there is this little problem...
For "Thunder on the Border," click the picture:
Kindly note tagline:
Expulsion!
Great grafics, but where is the hammer?
That's the Muslim crescent, not part of the hammer and sickle.
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