Posted on 12/06/2002 2:44:59 PM PST by Michael2001
President Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell have both recently sharply criticized those warning of the grave threat posed by Islamism.
They characterized such warnings as "hate" speech.
Such a reaction from our national leaders requires abject ignorance of the world around us.
The truth? Islamism is the No. 1 threat to Western civilization today. It is the No. 1 threat to Christians around the world. It is the No. 1 threat to Jews. It is the No. 1 threat to American security.
Worse yet, Bush and Powell continue policies that actually spread the poisonous hate of Islamism – hatred that manifests itself in the deaths of innocent people around the world on a daily basis.
Failing to recognize we are engulfed in a Global Jihad – an unholy war in which only one side is on the offensive – Bush and Powell pretend that the terrorism we defend against is somehow disconnected from any religious component. It is not.
Islamism, the radical brand of Quranic fundamentalism, is on the march. Its goal is nothing short of world hegemony. Its goal is nothing short of the destruction of the United States of America. Its goal is nothing short of the end of the Jewish state. Its goal is nothing short of the elimination of Christians and Jews around the world. Its goal is nothing short of global domination.
We see the violent outbursts today in Nigeria. We see them in Indonesia. We see them in the Philippines. We see them in the Middle East. We see them in Chechnya. We see them in the Balkans. And we in the United States saw them most clearly on Sept. 11, 2001.
How can we continue to keep our heads in the sand?
Rather than criticize those who do see the truth clearly, Bush and Powell ought to remember who their friends are. They ought to remember they are responsible even today for supporting those with blood on their hands. They ought to remember those schools in the Palestinian Authority teaching real hate, real violence, real jihad – all with taxpayer subsidies from the United States of America. They ought to remember "our friends" in Saudi Arabia who fund terrorism around the globe and who sent so many of those hijackers to the U.S. last year.
Perhaps Bush and Powell believe, like President Clinton and Madeleine Albright before them, that if only we in the United States are "nice" to those who hate us, the favor will be returned. Perhaps they think appeasement is the best policy. Perhaps they think this deep-seated violent hatred against us will dissipate if only we pretend it doesn't really exist. Perhaps they think we can win respect from our enemy if we are kinder and gentler.
This was the mistake Israel made a decade ago. Under pressure from the West, the Jewish state negotiated and conceded and bargained and withdrew. Only recently have most Israelis seen the truth: It was all for naught. It was all in vain. It was all an illusion. There was never any chance for peace through weakness.
The only way to achieve victory in this war with Islamism is to recognize who the enemy really is. That is how we defeated the Soviet Union. President Reagan called it what it was – an "Evil Empire." And that was the beginning of the end. If we don't call evil what it is, we cannot hope to defeat it.
No, we are not at war with all Muslims. There is a distinction. Some Muslims, as we have seen, prefer to live under freedom. Some prefer to live free of hate. Some prefer to live in peace with Christians and Jews. But we cannot ignore the fact that many do not. We cannot ignore the fact that many see our demise as their divine purpose. We cannot ignore that there is a sizable and growing number of Muslims in that category.
There is no danger that Americans are about to be consumed with hatred for all Muslims. There is no danger that Americans are about to punish innocent Muslims for the crimes of others. There is no danger that Americans are going to become like our enemies.
Therefore, here's my advice to Bush and Powell: Stop the appeasement. Pull the plug on the financial aid to terrorism. Recognize the true enemy and deal with it harshly. Don't compromise with evil. And, most of all, stop criticizing your true friends and allies in this war.
Bush is trying to keep a lid on the hatred that is building in America toward Muslims, so that it doesn't spread over onto innocent American Muslims.
Just look at these threads on Islam. There's a hysteria here out of all proportion to what Bush is doing.
If Bush did what Farah wants, there'd be vigilantism right here in America, against people who have nothing to do with al-Qaeda.
Farah ought to know better than adding fuel to the fire.
Farah hasn't read Free Republic lately.
He's right about us not being at war with all Islam and he's also right about the faction of Islam that we are at war with being very, very dangerous.
I just want to know, in a situation like this is there anything anyone could say that wouldn't either:
1) Turn the part of Islam that's currently not the problem, the benign part toward Osama. Give legitimacy to his claims that "Islam itself is under attack by the infidels!"
I mean, helping him recruit is obviously not in our best interest and it does a great injustice to the peaceful Muslims.
Or
2) Do a disservice to the people who truly are afflicted at the hands of Islam. Marginalize them and what they suffered.
I mean, it seems to me that all a person can do is draw a distinction between terrorists and non-terrorists and leave it at that.
And that's exactly what Dubya did! It's one of the few times I am really convinced that he's got his head screwed on straight over this terrorism business and just look what's become of it.
I can assure everyone that ridding the world of mad dogs will not require the destruction of my dog.
I think this is where it all falls apart. There is a fundamental parting of the ways right here.
When you blur the line between Islam and what some evil people are doing for themselves in the name of Islam you taint the entire religion and you blur the lines between a murdering terrorist thug and the peaceful guy who fasts, prays 4 times a day and wouldn't hurt a fly.
IMO, Dubya's right here to maintain a clear distinction between the two.
Separating the religion from the terrorists is in everyone’s best interests at this point in time and I think it's all you can expect, given the circumstances.
Al-Qaeda is but a small part of the "Islamist" problem.
Here's a happy thought from Middle East expert Daniel Pipes:
Islamists constitute a small but significant minority of Muslims, perhaps 10 to 15 per cent of the population. Many of them are peaceable in apearance, but they all must be considered potential killers.
How does 400,000 to 800,000 -- in our country -- potential killers sound?
Meet an Islamist -- peaceable in appearance, killer
America's Fifth Column ... watch Steve Emerson/PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
New Link: Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)
I can assure everyone that ridding the world of mad dogs will not require the destruction of my dog.
But some are saying that all Rottweilers, for instance, are dangerous and are not to be trusted. It doesn't matter that the vast majority of Rottweilers are gentle dogs, and are raised that way.
A few Rotteweilers are vicious; therefore, every Rottweiler must be suspected.
Islamists (vicious Rottweilers), constitute a small but significant minority of Muslims,(Rottweilers) perhaps 10 to 15 per cent of the population. Many of them are peaceable in apearance, but they all must be considered potential killers.
Every Muslim is a KILLER!
I see you taking no serious stance on any issue at all sinkspur. If you do take a serious stance on anything, what stops you from stating them?
The answer to this categorizes you...
SR
ROFLMFAO!!!
The answer to this categorizes you...
No. I don't agree with you, therefore, I can't possibly be serious, can I?
There's one thing that's black and white, and that categorizes YOU, sit-rep: you condemn all Muslims, and you condemn all homosexuals, with the foulest language you can get away with on this forum.
My position: each human being deserves the benefit of the doubt until they, personally, prove otherwise.
No, Pipes said 10-15% were Islamists; a mere 120-180 million of them worldwide.
America's Fifth Column ... watch Steve Emerson/PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
New Link: Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)
My position: each human being deserves the benefit of the doubt until they, personally, prove otherwise.
With the amount of passiveness you demonstrate on many freedom and security issues in this country, I hope "they prove otherwise" on you before anyone else. this is not an issue of gun rights. this is an issue of a religion. Wether you want to believe it or not, Muslim children-Islam, are taught to "hate" America and everything it stands for. Your thinking, "No racial Profiling" causes bad things to happen.
I am proud of you for finally stating the obvious. Your quote creates a clear picture why you support the queers. Too bad you do not have children. Your views change when you love something.
SR
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