HOW I JOINED THE "ROTTEN CORE OF AMERICAN EXTREMISTS" BY MAKING IT HARDER FOR MUSLIM MODERATES...

DonFeder.com ^ | September 27, 2006 | Don Feder

[sergey1973]

I am a bigot, a Klansman "with higher-thread-count sheets," the "enemy within," part of "the rotten core of American extremists" who are making it harder for moderate Muslims "to recapture their own faith."

So says Ralph Peters, retired military man, establishment conservative and eternal optimist.

In a commentary in the September 7th New York Post, Peters went postal on those who believe (in his words) "that Islam can never reform, that the violent conquest and subjugation of unbelievers is the faith's primary agenda."

Us Islamophobes fantasize about the "Protocols of the Elders of Mecca," imply that Muslims are "evil and sub-human," and thus spread baseless hatred wherever we go, Peters charges.

I am mortified and deserve to be sentenced to a sensitivity-training session forthwith.

Ralphie explains it all so clearly. Muslim fanatics are "a minority of a minority," says he. And, while Peters admits that Islam as it's perpetrated in the Middle East is less than delightful, still, "from Senegal to Sulawesi, from Delhi to Dearborn, I've seen no end of vibrant, humane, hopeful currents in the Muslim faith," the columnist insists.

Excuse me while I gag.

[Salem]

I have read Peters a but, including, "New Glory: Expanding America's Global Supremacy" which was definitely optimistic, to the point of being naive.

Peter's was completely off in left field in his article that Feder is blasting. The original Peters' commentary was posted at FREE REPUBLIC here:

ISLAM-HATERS: AN ENEMY WITHIN

Guaranteed to make the PROP list members blood boil.

---

AMERICA AT WAR
At Salem the Soldier's Homepage ~
Honored member of FReeper Leapfrog's "Enemy of Islam" list.
Islam, a Religion of Peace®? Some links...  by backhoe
Translated Pre-War IRAQ Documents  by jveritas
Mohammed, The Mad Poet Quoted....  by PsyOp
"PLAES DO NOT TOCH THE WAR"  by AnnaZ
One FReeper On The Line  by SNOWFLAKE
The Clash of Ideologies - A Review

"It's time we recognized the nature of the conflict. It's total war and we are all involved. Nobody on our side is exempted because of age, gender, or handicap. The Islamofacists have stolen childhood from the world." [FReeper Retief]

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Paleologus

[layman]

Test your newfound knowledge

Thanks. I took the test and got the majority of the questions right. I feel much better now.

[Jet Jaguar]

Outstanding quiz! Thanks.

[Slings and Arrows]

I'm here to help.

[Stultis]

Ralph Peter's is usually dead on the money. His only real mistake here is that he strayed out of his expertise, which is military affairs, and into a sociologial matter that he's not really tracking on. I'd advise everyone to read his military insights, which are by and large first class material, and ignore his personal opinion on this.

I don't know how, or see how, it is possible to do what you ask. Peters frequently, even typically, combines military analysis with cultural analysis, and does so inextricably. E.g. his outstanding essay on Why Arab Armies Lose Wars (if I'm recalling the title correctly).

[ClearBlueSky]

The reference to the Klan was fascinating!
Truth is- people of admitted Klan association are reviled and ostracized from society for THEIR BELIEFS.We don't want them as neighbors or associates. We don't want our children playing with theirs. We even consider those with Klan ancestors guilty forever. Rightfully so- please don't misunderstand, ( except holding someone responsible for what their ancestors did).

Now would someone please tell me why it is wrong to do the same to Muslims based on THEIR BELIEFS? Someone- anyone from the 'be fair to Muslims crowd', c'mon!
Could it be that standing against a 'small' evil is ok( and safer) than standing against a much larger one?

[Valin]

Don Feder. A legend in his own mind.

[Valin]

Two reasons come to mind
1 Good news doesn't sell newspapers
2 That would be showing George Bush is correct and so help the conservative cause.

[Valin]

Probably peeled spuds and scrubbed crappers for four years.


LTCOL Ralph Peters, USA (Ret)
Ralph Peters is a writer, strategist, commentator and retired military officer. He is the author of 19 books and several hundred columns, articles and essays. Uniformed service, personal interests and research have taken him to 60 countries. He served in the U.S. Army for 22 years, first as an enlisted man, then as an officer. He retired shortly after his promotion to lieutenant-colonel to write with greater freedom.

As a soldier, Ralph Peters served in Infantry and Military Intelligence units before becoming a Foreign Area Officer specializing in Russia and surrounding states. Special assignments took him to Southeast and Central Asia, to the Caucasus, to the Kremlin, to the Andean Ridge and to the southwest border of the United States. He has traveled extensively in the Muslim world, as well as studying India, southern Africa and Indonesia. In addition to assignments to the Pentagon and the Executive Office of the President, he served and lived in Europe for a total of ten years. Recent travels have taken him to Iraq and back to Africa.

Ralph Peters has published three books on strategy and military affairs, Beyond Baghdad, Beyond Terror and Fighting for the Future, each of which collected his previously-published essays and articles. He is presently at work on a new book on strategy that argues for a dramatic realignment of our nation’s engagements abroad—as well as for extensive military and diplomatic reforms.

Also a novelist, under his own name and as Owen Parry, he has written a number of bestsellers and prize-winning historical novels. His commentaries and essays have appeared in The New York Post, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Los Angeles Times, Newsday, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Newsweek, Harpers, Parameters, Strategic Review, Maclean’s and a wide range of other domestic and foreign publications. He has appeared on every major American television and cable-news network, as well as on numerous national and regional radio programs.

Peters firmly believes that only first-hand experience of the world beyond our shores allows us to make intelligent judgments about issues of war and peace.

Ralph Peters lives in the greater Washington, D.C. area. He does not accept any funding or employment from political parties, their surrogates or from the defense industry.

In the mean time you did what...shoveled sh*t in Louisiana?
Sometime I agree with him sometimes I don't, but he is a man that deserves to be listened to...unlike Don Feder.

[wai-ming]

I've seen no end of vibrant, humane, hopeful currents in the Muslim faith," the columnist insists.

When, I ask Mr. Peters, are these "good" elements of Islam going to gain the upper hand?

Either they can't, or they refuse to.

I guess the rest of the world will just have to die waiting.

[Bellflower]

It seems to me that many of the "moderates" sit quietly by while the extremist carry out their actual desires. If not where is there outrage? Where are their apologies? Where are there efforts to stop their brethren? How many of these quiet Muslims dance in the street and pass out candy when we or Israel are brutally attacked? How many have friends or relatives that they know are working for terrorism and they quietly give them their support?

That being said there are many that do care and are decent people but they need to find their voice and have the courage to fight extremism or expect that they might naturally be painted with the same brush as the terrorist. Sides have to be drawn and they need to choose which side they are on. The world is at war and courage and sacrifice may be called for by it's citizens. I guess we all need to be ready to take stands for what is right

As a contrast the right to life movement instantly and loudly comes out and renounces all violence when an extremist attempts to or succeeds at killing an abortionist. They know they must or they stand to be painted with the same brush as the abortionist killer. They know that this is not how standing up for life should be carried out and they want the world to know it. The pro-killers still will attempt to paint all pro-lifers with the same brush as the killers.

[ExpatGator]

"Peters firmly believes that only first-hand experience of the world beyond our shores allows us to make intelligent judgments about issues of war and peace."

In this case I am qualified to comment on any damn thing I so desire. Having been to every continent except the Antartic, more countries than not, I am the end all expert on "issues of war and peace". That and the fact that I am a student of and very informed about counter-insurgency and military history makes me the man. (The facts of this paragraph are true, however the braggadocio is for effect). My point here is that his Bio is impressive, but on paper so is Kerry's. What is his political bent and agenda?

My lack of knowledge about Peters and presumption of his ignorance is definitely trumped by your ignorant attack of a fellow Freeper (me). I spent more time looking over a 25mm chain gun in the Persian Gulf than I have in Louisiana, but thanks for your thoughtful input.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Studying Sun Tzu is manditory for understanding War. Incredible work.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Peters tv stints have been singularly uninteresting and rarely helpful whatever his other virtues.

[sergey1973]

"When, I ask Mr. Peters, are these "good" elements of Islam going to gain the upper hand?

Either they can't, or they refuse to.

I guess the rest of the world will just have to die waiting."


Excellent rebuttal !

[sergey1973]

"Peters firmly believes that only first-hand experience of the world beyond our shores allows us to make intelligent judgments about issues of war and peace."

I think the better thing to say is that apparently Peters thinks that his impressive military and overseas experience make him automatically an expert on Islam. It certainly does not. The authors like Robert Spencer and Andrew Bostom did a superb research on Islam using primary sources (i.e. Core Islamic Texts, works of leading Islamic theologians throughout centuries, historical documents, etc.) and their judgement of Islam is based on solid historical facts--not some ideological prejudices.

Ralph Peters also could have made the thorough research on Islam if he wanted to. His Military Intelligence background and author's experience could have served him well to do things like going to the primary sources, critically analyzing statements, digging for facts, etc. However, he chose not too dig deep into facts , but to play the role of an ideological hound dog for Islamists and their allies instead. He used the bully pulpit of popular newspaper to attack Islam Critics. Very unfortunate and it will definitely tarnish his image as a thoughtful author.

[ExpatGator]

Very good and even-handed post.

I tend to be a bit reactionary on the subject, but arrived at that position through critically studying the history of islam, their philosophy, and the modern application of their religious/social norms.

In a word they are primitives. They declared war on us, and most adherents of the religion support their war.

We must not confuse the struggle against them with a civilized struggle, because their culture is not civil. We reshaped Japan only because we dismantled their militant culture by killing a large percentage of a generation of their men. The muslim problem will only be solved through OVERWELMING force applied with an unrelenting resolve.