Joe Farah: Bush, Powell wrong on Islam

WorldNetDaily ^ | December 6, 2002 | Joseph Farah

[Michael2001]

The author of this piece, Joe Farah, is a Christian of Lebanese descent. His people experienced the Muslims first-hand. The Arab world used to be 20% Christian, now it is almost 100% Muslim. Islam is incompatible with other religions, and certainly with Western Civilization.

[sinkspur]

Farah is also politically tone-deaf.

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.

[sinkspur]

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.

Farah hasn't read Free Republic lately.

[Jhoffa_]

Well, he's right.

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.

[thinktwice]

I own a nice dog, but there are mean dogs out there that threaten us every day as we walk the neighborhood.

I can assure everyone that ridding the world of mad dogs will not require the destruction of my dog.

[Jhoffa_]

PS:

Failing to recognize we are engulfed in a Global Jihad –..

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.

[JCG]

If Bush did what Farah wants, there'd be vigilantism right here in America, against people who have nothing to do with al-Qaeda.

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?

Pipes article here...

Muslim population in America

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)

Who is Steve Emerson?

[sinkspur]

I own a nice dog, but there are mean dogs out there that threaten us every day as we walk the neighborhood.

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.

[sinkspur]

See what I mean, thinktwice. Let's just change a couple of Pipes' words around:

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!

[sit-rep]

Is there anything you see in black and white...besides me ofcourse, or is every topic that comes down the pike "Gray Area"?

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

[Larry Lucido]

No, no, no, Sinkspur! When you are breaking up a fight in a biker bar, you don't just take out the two or three causing the most trouble. Why, you wade into the middle of the bar and yell out "Bikers suck!" The Joe Farah method of dispute resolution.

[Jhoffa_]

When you are breaking up a fight in a biker bar, you don't just take out the two or three causing the most trouble. Why, you wade into the middle of the bar and yell out "Bikers suck!"

ROFLMFAO!!!

[sinkspur]

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...

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.

[ChinaGotTheGoodsOnClinton]

Thanks for the post.

I wish this clarity existed all the way to the top of the Bush Administration.

[Larry Lucido]

I think sinkspur is correct in this case. No need to take on every muslim in the world simultaneously. Rather, actively engage the ones in this country and put them on the spot. Enlist them in the war against wahabi (sp?) islam, encouraging them to vociferously condemn it. Those that hem and haw can be shunned, shamed, or whatever, with good reason.

[JCG]

Every Muslim is a KILLER!

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)

Who is Steve Emerson?

[Michael2001]

A lot of Americans hate Klan members. Therefore Bush should praise Klan members so they won't be attacked.

BTW most Klan members are peaceful people too. But if I was Catholic, or Jewish, or black, or whatever, I would be worried if their numbers were growing. As an Infidel I am worried about Muslims increased presence in this country.

[EternalHope]

Every word about the nature of Islam in this article is probably true, but the conclusion is still wrong. Someday that conclusion may be right, but NOT YET.

The conclusion will only be right if the evil doers succeed in their efforts to unite Islam against us. They are close, but they have not succeeded. It would be flat out stupid on our part for us to make it easier for Islam to unite against us.

RIGHT NOW is the wrong time to talk about expanding the war against Islam. We MUST HAVE access to bases around Iraq if we are to depose Saddam Hussein. That means we MUST have a working relationship with at least some of the nations surrounding Iraq.

RIGHT NOW the Islamists are attempting to unite as much of Islam as possible against the United States in a world wide jihad. They have failed at the governmental level in most Islamic nations (so far), but they seem to have a majority of Muslims in general behind them (especially in Arab lands).

The battle to keep Islam from uniting is AT LEAST as important as the battle to depose Saddam. That is a crucial point that many, many people have missed. Part of the fight to win this battle involves President Bush's proclaimation that Islam is a "religion of peace".

We ALL know that a large part of Islam is NOT a religion of peace!!! Even President Bush!!! So what!!!

If we can take out Saddam before the evil doers can unite Islam, the rest of the job becomes much easier. But if Islam unites first, everything becomes MUCH harder.

The evil doers know every bit of this. So does our government. So should every Freeper!

The time may be coming when we have to take on most of the Islamic world, all at once. However, if we can take out Saddam first, the rest of the Islamic world is much more likely to crawl back in their cave than they are to volunteer to be next in line.

In other words, the hardest part of this war may be over if we can take out Saddam before the Islamic world can be united. The bad guys know this, and will do everything in their power to prevent that from happening.

To repeat: I believe Joeseph Farah is an admirable man, and I believe that much of what he said in this article was right on the money. But his conclusion is 100% wrong AT THIS TIME.

The time may come when Farah's conclusion is right, but only if we fail in our attempts to keep Islam from uniting. If that time comes, it means we are at war with around a billion people. Our list of allies could be so small that it included only Great Britain, Australia, India, and Israel. The rest of the world would run in panic.

I think we would eventually win that war, but the price of victory would be very high.

[sit-rep]

LOL... predictable to a tee...

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