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The War Against Global Jihadism
realclearpolitics.com ^ | January 08, 2007 | Peter Wehner

Posted on 01/07/2007 10:35:17 PM PST by neverdem

President Bush has said that the war against global jihadism is more than a military conflict; it is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century. We are still in the early years of the struggle. The civilized world will either rise to the challenge and prevail against this latest form of barbarism, or grief and death will visit us and other innocents on a massive scale.

Given the stakes involved in this war and how little is known, even now, about what is at the core of this conflict, it is worth reviewing in some detail the nature of our enemy - including disaggregating who they are (Shia and Sunni extremists), what they believe and why they believe it, and the implications of that for America and the West.

Islam in the World Today

The enemy we face is not Islam per...

--snip--

Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has also declared his absolute hostility to America.[26] Last October, he said, "whether a world without the United States and Zionism can be achieved... I say that this... goal is achievable." In 2006 he declared to America and other Western powers: "open your eyes and see the fate of pharaoh... if you do not abandon the path of falsehood... your doomed destiny will be annihilation." Later he warned, "The anger of Muslims may reach an explosion point soon. If such a day comes [America and the West] should know that the waves of the blast will not remain within the boundaries of our region."

He also said this: "If you would like to have good relations with the Iranian nation in the future... bow down before the greatness of the Iranian nation and surrender. If you don't accept [to do this], the Iranian nation will... force you to surrender and bow down."

(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: islam; jihad
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To: AmericanExceptionalist

The disparate factions of Islam are not fully cooperating. We see small examples of cooperation, but not the nightmare scenario.

If the Muslim factions unite behind a single leader (as Bin Laden hoped), we will face a nightmare war against 1.2 billion people consisting of never-ending terrorist attacks on civilians.

Bush's strategy is to create an offsetting Muslim faction (free and democratic) in the Middle East.


21 posted on 01/08/2007 2:47:41 AM PST by Erik Latranyi (The Democratic Party will not exist in a few years....we are watching history unfold before us.)
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To: neverdem
This quote from the Ayatollah in 1979 says it all:

"We do not worship Iran, we worship Allah. For patriotism is another name for paganism. I say let this land [Iran] burn. I say let this land go up in smoke, provided Islam emerges triumphant in the rest of the world."

This is why the current leadership in Iran is not concerned about US or Israeli retaliation. This is why we cannot deal with Iran the same way we deal with other regimes where personal interests trump global ambitions.

22 posted on 01/08/2007 2:53:41 AM PST by Erik Latranyi (The Democratic Party will not exist in a few years....we are watching history unfold before us.)
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To: neverdem
If they didn't have relatively cheap oil

It's only cheap if you exclude the costs of military and political engagement with the barbarians over there.

23 posted on 01/08/2007 2:59:04 AM PST by Jim Noble (To secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity)
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To: Erik Latranyi
"If the Muslim factions unite behind a single leader (as Bin Laden hoped), we will face a nightmare war against 1.2 billion people consisting of never-ending terrorist attacks on civilians.

If this happens, there will be NO civilians, only combatants.

24 posted on 01/08/2007 3:31:37 AM PST by WorkerbeeCitizen (Religion of peace my arse - We need a maintenance Crusade - piss on Islam)
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To: neverdem
The Nature of Our Enemy...
25 posted on 01/08/2007 4:01:20 AM PST by Sir Francis Dashwood (LET'S ROLL!)
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To: neverdem

Trickle down annihilation works, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Keep spewing.


26 posted on 01/08/2007 6:20:46 AM PST by PGalt
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To: MHGinTN

So, if we make the dead black rock go away for some reason...Things will get better???

No, don't get me wrong, I would not be offended if that ever did happen...And I honestly believe we could handle the backlash from the gazzilion followers of the dead black rock followers...

BTW, I got what you said before you said it...;-)


27 posted on 01/08/2007 8:22:10 AM PST by stevie_d_64 (Houston Area Texans (I've always been hated))
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To: Erik Latranyi
If the Muslim factions unite behind a single leader (as Bin Laden hoped), we will face a nightmare war against 1.2 billion people consisting of never-ending terrorist attacks on civilians.

I am not convinced that there are 1.2 billion radical Muslims worldwide. Certainly, it is disheartening (to say the least) that very few "moderate" Muslims have been willing to speak up, in fervent opposition to the radicals; and that makes the "moderates" complicit, in my view. But all the Wahhabis (or Salafasts) plus all the radical Shiites would still not equal 1.2 billions Muslims.

Even so, there are more than enough to cause major trouble. And we had better wake up to that fact--soon.

28 posted on 01/08/2007 2:17:30 PM PST by AmericanExceptionalist (Democrats believe in discussing the full spectrum of ideas, all the way from far left to center-left)
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To: neverdem; Peach; Mo1
These jihadists are certainly a minority within Islam -- but they exist, they are dangerous and resolute, in some places they are ascendant, and they need to be confronted and defeated.

~~snip~~

This is significant because for many Muslims, the proper order of life in this world is for them to rule and for the "infidels" to be ruled over.

The second point is at odds with the first. I tend to believe the latter.

history lesson ping

29 posted on 01/08/2007 2:29:56 PM PST by prairiebreeze ((invisible sarcasm tag in effect))
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To: neverdem
When I saw this headline, I thought it was reffering to the 'Rats.
30 posted on 01/08/2007 2:48:13 PM PST by BnBlFlag (Deo Vindice/Semper Fidelis "Ya gotta saddle up your boys; Ya gotta draw a hard line")
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To: Lurker
"There may be moderate muslims. But there is no moderate islam." Ibn Warriq.

That is an illogical and counter factual statement. The tenor of a religion is determined entirely by the attitudes and behavior of it's adherents, and that by how they interpret the dictates of their religion. The history -- and for the matter of that even a "slice of time" sociological study -- of the major religions indicates they are all liable to wide ranges of evolution and interpretive gloss, whatever their sacred texts may say.

A religion is, almost entirely and exclusively, what its adherents make it. If there are moderate Muslims then there is, ipso facto, moderate Islam.

Of course I understand what Warriq means: That the radical, violent, terrorist, jihadist interpretation of Islam is the CORRECT and ONLY CORRECT interpretation of Islam. This is a stupid message to preach, because it validates the ideology of our enemies. It's also ironic that it's gleefully by some Christians here since it's EXACTLY the same tactic that activist anti-Christian atheists take: Claiming that the most extreme and nonsensical interpretation of Christianity is the only valid one.

31 posted on 01/08/2007 3:05:57 PM PST by Stultis
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To: prairiebreeze
He also said this: "If you would like to have good relations with the Iranian nation in the future... bow down before the greatness of the Iranian nation and surrender. If you don't accept [to do this], the Iranian nation will... force you to surrender and bow down."

Given that the Democrats want to talk to these monsters, one can hardly blame the insane for talking like this.

32 posted on 01/08/2007 3:07:27 PM PST by Peach (The Clintons pardoned more terrorists than they captured or killed.)
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To: Stultis
This is a stupid message to preach,

Only if you think the truth is stupid.

L

33 posted on 01/08/2007 4:47:12 PM PST by Lurker (Europe killed 6 million Jews and as a reward they got 40 million Moslems. Karma's a bitch.)
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