Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The Arabists Among Us
The Jerusalem Connection ^ | August-September 2003 | Rev. Dr. James M. Hutchens, Editor

Posted on 09/21/2003 6:45:59 AM PDT by Salem

The Arabists Among Us

By James M. Hutchens

________________________________________

In 1995, a New York Times “Notable Book of the Year,” was Robert D. Kaplan’s The Arabists. It is a fascinating and insightful account of how the State Department of the United States government became, and remains, pro-Arab.

Basically, it is a story of how, over the last two centuries, the children of missionaries to the Muslim world of the Middle East, have been pipelined through Ivy League schools into the State Department. Once embedded there, in the Office of Near Eastern Affairs, their love for the Arab peoples and culture has had a major determining influence on our Middle East policy, especially as that relates to Israel. As one put it, “The Jews were a distant, unreal world to us then, but the Palestinians were individuals we knew” (page 4).

Another is more chilling, “to a man, the American community in Syria and Lebanon remained opposed to the State of Israel and some even crossed the line into anti-Semitism” (page 7). The fact is, many of these missionaries were from mainline Protestant denominations, whose doctrinal stance regarding Israel was one of supersessionism or replacement theology. With a doctrinal justification for Christians replacing Jews as the covenant people of God, it was a short step for these missionaries and their children to adopt a pro-Arab political posture.

While the “Arabist” position has been well entrenched in the State Department for decades, it was given an industrial-strength adrenaline shot during the tenure of Secretary of State James Baker. That same pro-Palestinian bias remains and appears to hold hostage our current Secretary of State, Colin Powell.

But even more troubling than the Arabists in the State Department, are the Arabists among Christians in the United States, particularly among evangelicals. Kaplan describes an Arabist as “men and women … who read and speak Arabic and who have passed many years of their professional lives, with their families, in the Arab world, whether as diplomats, military attaches, intelligence agents, or even scholar-adventurers” (page 7).

By and large, that description appears to fit Dr. Gary M. Burge, a Presbyterian professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and Graduate School in Wheaton, Illinois. His 2003 book, Whose Land? Whose Promise? What Christians Are Not Being Told about Israel and the Palestinians, is a testament of an evangelical Arabist. More to the point, it is a diatribe against all things Israel and a champion of all things Palestinian. With such glaring selectivity of scripture and events, it can scarcely be considered as substantive scholarship. It is a transparent example of where one’s love of the Arab and his culture has trumped the clear teaching of the Word of God.

In Dr. Burge’s case, being a Presbyterian, his theology (very likely replacement theology) would give aid and comfort to his political views. Let me be quick to add however, that I too am an ordained Presbyterian minister. Not only do I not subscribe to replacement theology, I consider it a blight on the legacy of the institutional church.

Time and space will not allow for a full review of his book. However, I do want to respond to one of the points he made in his book, namely, “If Israel makes a biblical claim to the Holy Land, then Israel must adhere to biblical standards of national righteousness.”

By referring to “biblical standards of national righteousness,” I must assume Dr. Burge is referring to God’s standards of righteousness and justice. If that is the case, it would be instructive to see what God says about Israel’s righteous responsibility regarding those who occupy the land God promised to Abraham and his descendants. For example, God says to Moses in Deuteronomy 2:31-34, 3:2-3:

The Lord said to me, “Now begin to conquer and possess his land.” When Sihon and all his army came out to meet us in battle at Jahaz, the Lord our God delivered him over to us and we struck him down, together with his sons and his whole army. At that time we took all his towns and completely destroyed them – men, women and children. We left no survivors.  …The Lord said to me, “Do to [Og, king of Bashan] what you did to Sihon King of the Amorites.” So the Lord our God also gave into our hands Og king of Bashan. We struck them down, leaving no survivors.

Again in Deuteronomy 31:3-4, just as the children of Israel were about to enter and possess the promised land, Moses, at God’s direction, told all Israel: The Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you.

Certainly, the God of all the earth will do what is righteous and just in his eyes. That being the case, what Dr. Burge wants is not justice for the Palestinians, but mercy.

As a graduate of Wheaton College and having served there as Chaplain in the early 70’s, I am grieved and deeply concerned that the Arabists have made a successful landing within its hallowed halls. If Dr. Burge’s views represent the prevailing attitude at Wheaton toward Israel and the Jewish people, my how the mighty have fallen.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; Israel; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: arab; arabists; arabs; baker; bookreview; cartoons; chaplain; colin; colinpowell; department; evangelicals; islam; israel; james; mohammad; mohammed; muslims; palistine; palistinian; powell; proarab; rop; state; statedept; terror; terrorism; war; wheatoncollege; wot

1 posted on 09/21/2003 6:45:59 AM PDT by Salem
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SJackson; yonif; rdb3; Simcha7; American in Israel; spectacularbid2003; Binyamin; Taiwan Bocks; ...
Interesting insights on why the State Department is so biased against Israel's war on terror.

If you'd like to be on or off this
Christian Supporters of Israel ping list,
please FR mail me. ~
  -  -
Letter To The President In Support Of Israel ~

2 posted on 09/21/2003 6:48:00 AM PDT by Salem (FREE REPUBLIC - Fighting to win within the Arena of the War of Ideas! So get in the fight!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Salem
Thanx.


3 posted on 09/21/2003 7:20:29 AM PDT by rdb3 (Which is more powerful: The story or the warrior?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: rdb3
it really is quite sad!!
4 posted on 09/21/2003 8:22:26 AM PDT by WillowyDame ("get over yourself, everyone else has")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Salem
The Quislings of our time.
5 posted on 09/21/2003 8:25:56 AM PDT by TADSLOS (Right Wing Infidel since 1954)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Salem; xzins
Thanks Salem and ping to x (another perspective on the third world department of state)
6 posted on 09/21/2003 9:31:51 AM PDT by TrueBeliever9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Salem
please add me to your list.

Thanks.
7 posted on 09/21/2003 11:08:43 AM PDT by xzins (And now I will show you the most excellent way!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Salem
With a doctrinal justification for Christians replacing Jews as the covenant people of God, it was a short step for these missionaries and their children to adopt a pro-Arab political posture.

Actually, it's not a short step at all. There is no reason for Christians to be pro-Palestinian. However, for an interesting view and some background info, see this article by Bat Yeor (which I posted earlier today):

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/986691/posts

8 posted on 09/21/2003 3:18:04 PM PDT by livius
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Salem
Basically, it is a story of how, over the last two centuries, the children of missionaries to the Muslim world of the Middle East, have been pipelined through Ivy League schools into the State Department. Once embedded there, in the Office of Near Eastern Affairs, their love for the Arab peoples and culture has had a major determining influence on our Middle East policy, especially as that relates to Israel. As one put it, “The Jews were a distant, unreal world to us then, but the Palestinians were individuals we knew” (page 4).

Another is more chilling, “to a man, the American community in Syria and Lebanon remained opposed to the State of Israel and some even crossed the line into anti-Semitism” (page 7). The fact is, many of these missionaries were from mainline Protestant denominations, whose doctrinal stance regarding Israel was one of supersessionism or replacement theology. With a doctrinal justification for Christians replacing Jews as the covenant people of God, it was a short step for these missionaries and their children to adopt a pro-Arab political posture.

Yep, the Doctrine of Balaam is still extant.

9 posted on 09/22/2003 8:43:55 AM PDT by af_vet_1981
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Salem; rdb3; WillowyDame; TADSLOS; TrueBeliever9; livius; af_vet_1981

WND Exclusive


FROM JOSEPH FARAH'S G2 BULLETIN
Radical Islam's 'plan'
to take over America

Arab-American author outlines secret
20-year strategy to undermine country


Posted: August 4, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern

Editor's note: Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin is an online, subscription intelligence news service from the creator of WorldNetDaily.com – a journalist who has been developing sources around the world for the last 25 years.


© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

A refugee from the Muslim Middle East thinks he has discovered Islam's 20-point plan for conquering the United States by 2020 – a plan revealed in the latest issue of Joseph Farah's G2 Bulletin.

Anis Shorrosh, author of ''Islam Revealed'' and ''The True Furqan,'' is a Christian Arab-American who emigrated from Arab-controlled Jerusalem in January 1967.

''The following is my analysis of Islamic invasion of America, the agenda of Islamists and visible methods to take over America by the year 2020,'' Shorrosh says. ''Will Americans continue to sleep through this invasion as they did when we were attacked on 9/11?''

1. Terminate America's freedom of speech by replacing it with statewide and nationwide hate-crime bills.

2. Wage a war of words using black leaders like Louis Farrakhan, Rev. Jesse Jackson and other visible religious personalities who promote Islam as the religion of African-Americans while insisting Christianity is for whites only. What they fail to tell African-Americans is that it was Arab Muslims who captured them and sold them as slaves. In fact, the Arabic word for black and slave is the same, ''Abed.''

3. Engage the American public in dialogues, discussions, debates in colleges, universities, public libraries, radio, TV, churches and mosques on the virtues of Islam. Proclaim how it is historically another religion like Judaism and Christianity with the same monotheistic faith.

4. Nominate Muslim sympathizers to political office to bring about favorable legislation toward Islam and support potential sympathizers by block voting.

5. Take control of as much of Hollywood, the press, TV, radio and the Internet as possible by buying the related corporations or a controlling stock.

6. Yield to the fear of the imminent shut-off of the lifeblood of America – black gold. America’s economy depends on oil and 41 percent of it comes from the Middle East.

7. Yell ''foul, out-of-context, personal interpretation, hate crime, Zionist, un- American, inaccurate interpretation of the Quran'' anytime Islam is criticized or the Quran is analyzed in the public arena.

8. Encourage Muslims to penetrate the White House, specifically with Islamists who can articulate a marvelous and peaceful picture of Islam. Acquire government positions and get membership in local school boards. Train Muslims as medical doctors to dominate the medical field, research and pharmaceutical companies. (Ever notice how numerous Muslim doctors in America are, when their countries need them more desperately than America?) Take over the computer industry. Establish Middle Eastern restaurants throughout the U.S. to connect planners of Islamization in a discreet way.

9. Accelerate Islamic demographic growth via:

10. Reading, writing, arithmetic and research through the American educational system, mosques and student centers (now 1,500) should be sprinkled with dislike of Jews, evangelical Christians and democracy. There are currently 300 exclusively Muslim schools in the U.S. which teach loyalty to the Quran, not the U.S. Constitution. In January of 2002, Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Washington mailed 4,500 packets of the Quran and videos promoting Islam to America's high schools – free of charge. Saudi Arabia would not allow the U.S. to reciprocate.

11. Provide very sizeable monetary Muslim grants to colleges and universities in America to establish ''Centers for Islamic studies'' with Muslim directors to promote Islam in higher-education institutions.

12. Let the entire world know through propaganda, speeches, seminars, local and national media that terrorists have hijacked Islam, when in truth, Islam hijacked the terrorists.

13. Appeal to the historically compassionate and sensitive Americans for sympathy and tolerance towards Muslims in America who are portrayed as mainly immigrants from oppressed countries.

14. Nullify America's sense of security by manipulating the intelligence community with misinformation. Periodically terrorize Americans with reports of impending attacks on bridges, tunnels, water supplies, airports, apartment buildings and malls.

15. Form riots and demonstrations in the prison system demanding Islamic Sharia as the way of life, not America's justice system.

16. Open numerous charities throughout the U.S., but use the funds to support Islamic terrorism with American dollars.

17. Raise interest in Islam on America's campuses by insisting freshman take at least one course on Islam.

18. Unify the numerous Muslim lobbies in Washington, mosques, Islamic student centers, educational organizations, magazines and papers by Internet and an annual convention to coordinate plans, propagate the faith and engender news in the media.

19. Send intimidating messages and messengers to the outspoken individuals who are critical of Islam and seek to eliminate them by hook or crook.

20. Applaud Muslims as loyal citizens of the U.S. by spotlighting their voting record as the highest percentage of all minority and ethic groups in America.

Shorrosh is a member of the Oxford Society of Scholars, has traveled in 76 countries, and is a lecturer and producer of TV documentaries. ''Islam Revealed'' is a bestseller now in its eighth printing. His forthcoming 10th book, from which the 20-point plan is abridged, is titled ''Islam: A Threat or a Challenge.''

''The True Furqan'' is also available for viewing on Islam-Exposed.org. Shorrosh's new website is Focusing-on-Islam.com.

10 posted on 09/22/2003 8:58:57 AM PDT by Happy2BMe (LIBERTY has arrived in Iraq - Now we can concentrate on HOLLYWEED!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Happy2BMe
''Islam: A Threat or a Challenge.''

After reading some of the koran and some of the hadiths my opinion is that it is a major threat.

Their old book doesn't have a new testament.

After the old testament and bloody Moses the Christians at least had someone (Jesus) come along and temper the might makes right attitude of the barbarians.

On the other hand the koran went in just the opposite direction. From respect and inclusion to kill where ever you see them.
11 posted on 09/22/2003 2:29:38 PM PDT by BabsC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: BabsC
"After reading some of the koran and some of the hadiths my opinion is that it is a major threat."

The Truth About Islam

Observations by Dr. David R. Reagan

 

Ever since the Attack on America on September 11, 2001, we have heard a never-ending chorus of voices from government, academia, and the media assuring us that the Islamic terrorists who attacked the Trade Towers and the Pentagon are not repre­sentative of “true Islam.” We have been likewise assured by spiritual leaders — even some Christian spokesmen — that Islam is a religion of peace, and that Muslims worship the same God as Christians and Jews.

“Our war is not against Islam,” we have been told repeatedly. “Our war is against terrorism.”

Central Questions

Well, what about it?

The Intolerant and Militant Nature of Islam

One of the most controversial issues regarding Islam concerns whether or not it is a militant religion. Muslims in the West argue it is peace-loving. Westerners who have experienced it in the Muslim world argue it is inherently in­tolerant and militant.

The Koran itself preaches intolerance toward other religions. Sura 5 contains the following command: “Take not Jews and Christians for friends . . . He among you who takes them for friends is one of them . . . Choose not for friends such of those who received the Scripture before you [Jews and Christians] . .  But keep your duty to Allah” (verses 51, 55, 57). Extreme intolerance is commanded in Sura 5:33 — “[For those who do not submit to Allah] their punishment is . . . execution or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet, from the opposite sides, or exile from the land.”

The Koran also expresses an intolerant attitude toward any person who decides to reject the Islamic faith or convert to another religion. Such persons are to be executed (Sura 9:12). In the Hadith (the oral tradition of Muhammad’s sayings) it says “Whoever changes his religion, kill him” (Hadith 9:57). These commands are practiced in all Islamic Fundamentalist countries today.

With regard to militancy, the Koran not only condones it, it commands it:

Fighting is prescribed for you, and [some of] you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knows, and you know not (Sura 2:16).

Fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war (Sura 9:5).

Fight in the way of Allah . . . and slay them [the unbelievers] wherever you find them and drive them out . . . and fight them until . . . religion is for Allah (Sura 2:190-193).

Muhammad is quoted in the Hadith as saying, “The sword is the key of heaven and hell. A drop of blood in the cause of Allah — a night spent in arms [war] — is of more avail than two months of fasting and prayer. Whosoever falls in battle, his sins are forgiven, and at the day of judgment, his limbs shall be supplied by the wings of angels and cherubim.”12

The Imperialistic Nature of Islam

From its inception, Islam has been committed to what it calls jihad — a word mean­ing holy war. The duty of Muslims is to subjugate or destroy “infidels” — the term the Koran uses for all non-believers.

In the Muslim viewpoint, the world is divided into two regions — those areas controlled by Islam, called Dar al-Islam (meaning the House of Islam) and those called Dar al-Harb (the House of War). The Koran commands Mus­lims to fight non-Muslims until they exterminate all other religions, leaving Islam as the one and only religion in the world (Suras 2:193 and 8:39). Muhammad is quoted in the Hadith as saying, “I have been ordered to fight with the people until they say, none has the right to be worshiped but Allah” (Hadith 4:196).

Regarding terror, Allah orders Muslims to terrorize non-Muslims on his behalf: “Strike terror (into the hearts of ) the enemies of Allah and your enemies” (Sura 8:60). Allah then assures his followers that he will assist them: “I will instill terror into the hearts of unbelievers. Smite them above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them. It is not you who slay them, it is Allah” (Sura 8:12, 17).

Concerning jihad,14 the Koran guarantees Paradise to those who fight for Allah (Sura 4:74). It promises instant Paradise for those who die in battle (Suras 9:111 and 47:5-6). Dying for Allah is presented as better than living: “And if you are killed or die in the Way of Allah, forgiveness and mercy from Allah are far better than all that others may amass [of worldly wealth]” (Sura 3:157).

Martyrs are promised a sensual and luxurious life in Paradise (Sura 52:17-22). According to Al-Ghazzali, one of Islam’s greatest teachers, when a martyr reaches Paradise, he “will marry 500 companions, 4,000 virgins, and 8,000 divorced women.”15 Commenting on this statement, Randall Price, biblical teacher and Middle East expert, observed that the Islamic Paradise is “just the kind of place that adolescent, unmarried men, isolated through their lives from the opposite sex by rigid cultural standards, would die for.”16

Fundamentalist Goals

The Ayatollah Khomeini of Iran was the modern day Islamic spokesman who revived Muhammad’s vision of world con­quest. He taught that the re-establishment of Israel was a Satanic miracle allowed by Allah because of the lukewarmness of the Muslim masses. He called for a renewal of true Islam to accomplish three purposes:19

  1. To overthrow the “secular” rulers of Islamic countries (like Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt), just as he had done in Iran.

  2. To take back the land of Palestine for Allah, exterminating Israel in the process.

  3. To conquer the rest of the world for Allah.

Notice the first priority was the transformation of secular Islamic countries into religious states ruled by the Koran. Then would come Israel and the world.

In a proclamation made by Osama bin Laden in 1998, he listed the same goals and prioritized them in the same order.20 He then identified the United States as the prime obstacle to the achievement of these goals. Accordingly, he called on Muslims everywhere “to comply with Allah’s order to kill the Americans and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it.”

It is important to note that the eradication of Israel is not the top priority. Nor is Israel viewed as the major obstacle to world conquest. I emphasize this because many Americans are saying that the key to winning the war against terrorism is to dump Israel. More and more, on radio talk shows, I hear people saying, “Let’s cut Israel loose. Let the Arabs have it. Then they will leave us alone.”

That is utter nonsense. Israel is not the cause of Islamic terrorism toward the West. If Israel were to disappear tomorrow, Fundamentalist Islam would still be determined to destroy America as part of its plan to take the world for Allah. And if we were to abandon Israel, the Muslim world would interpret it as an act of cowardice, proving our word is meaningless and that we truly are, as they say, “a depraved society devoid of values.” Our abandonment of Israel would only whet their appetite. Islamic Fundamentalism cannot be appeased. It must be de­feated.

12 posted on 09/22/2003 2:33:42 PM PDT by Happy2BMe (LIBERTY has arrived in Iraq - Now we can concentrate on HOLLYWEED!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Happy2BMe
when a martyr reaches Paradise, he “will marry 500 companions, 4,000 virgins, and 8,000 divorced women.”

This is supposed to be good? Nag nag nag nag.....

13 posted on 09/22/2003 2:37:02 PM PDT by Lazamataz (I am the extended middle finger in the fist of life.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: BabsC; Salem; rdb3; WillowyDame; TADSLOS; TrueBeliever9; livius; af_vet_1981; SJackson; dennisw; ...
Freeper's Guide to Islamic Cyberterror

Twenty-Year Plan for USA: Islam Targets America

The True Furqan can be located on HERE or HERE


14 posted on 09/22/2003 6:55:19 PM PDT by Happy2BMe (LIBERTY has arrived in Iraq - Now we can concentrate on HOLLYWEED!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Happy2BMe
Thank you for the ping...a definite read!
15 posted on 09/22/2003 7:18:44 PM PDT by TrueBeliever9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

Comment #16 Removed by Moderator

To: Happy2BMe
reading
17 posted on 04/12/2004 12:13:28 AM PDT by sully777 (Our descendants will be enslaved by political expediency and expenditure)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Salem

BTTT


18 posted on 02/03/2006 9:24:33 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Salem; All
The Religion of "Peace"

Mohammedan Savages in London

Each one of these terrorists needs to be picked up one after the other.

Pal-Arabs once again showing their true colours

Iraqis chant anti-Danish slogans as they burn a Denmark flag during a protest against caricatures of Prophet Mohammad published in several European newspapers, in Falluja

Syrians walks over the Israeli flag on the pavement leading up to a mosque in Damascus February 3rd, 2006, where Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal delivered a speech on Friday.

The face of total hate & demonic rage. A Pal-Arab from the terrorist gang Hamas hold up his Quran, screaming.

Iranians chant slogans during a protest in Tehran, Iran February 3rd, 2006. Some real demented things depicted in this shot.

Islamic demonstrators chant slogans during a protest in front of the Danish Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Feb. 3rd, 2006.

19 posted on 02/04/2006 3:54:19 AM PST by M. Espinola (Freedom is never free)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson