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Posted on 10/26/2001 6:37:22 AM PDT by Magician

After the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, many experts are searching for an answer to the well-known question: Why do they so dislike us that they are ready to die to kill as many people as possible?

The answer is clear. It’s due to the religious ideas of radical Islamic fundamentalists, whose numbers constitute as much as 10 percent to 15 percent of all Muslims.

We know that different levels of hostility to America are widespread among the world’s Muslims, from whose midst come the most aggressive terrorists of our time.

The specific reason for their hatred is America’s steadfast support of Israel, whose creation in 1948 is almost universally regarded among Arabs in particular, and Muslims in general, as an unspeakable crime against the Arab inhabitants of the region.

However, many Muslims would hate America even if Israel didn’t exist. They hate us because our country is rich and they are not in a time when they control the world’s largest reserves of natural resources. They hate us ecause we stand for democracy and freedom, and because they are bound by their strict religious rules – which condemn the Western lifestyle.

In the world today, Islam – the Muslim religion – is the principal alternative to the Western world. Muslims are fiercely proud of their religion, which they regard as infinitely superior to the materialistic, libertine ways of the West.

In general, their religion is not hostile. The Koran, a vast, vague book filled with nice poetry, condemns the slaughter of innocents, prohibits suicide, and includes condemnations of war and incitements to struggle.

We do not have any big problem with the Muslim world in general. However, we do have a drastic problem dealing with the radical Islamic fundamentalists, Muslim extremists who have invoked religion to justify mass murder and incite their followers to suicide.

Their human, cultural and other values are directly opposed to ours, and they hate us so much they consider it an "honor" not only to die but also to kill as many "infidels" or non-Muslims as possible in the process. For example, a sensuous heaven, replete with all manner of delights, is a little-known but important part of the mentality that has inspired radical Islamic fundamentalists in their attacks against "infidels."

If the terrorists accept popular Islamic conceptions of heaven, they believe their reward for dying while killing "infidels" includes dozens of amorous virgins per man and rivers flowing with clear wine in a reconstructed Garden of Eden.

Passages from the Koran and attendant commentaries, known as Hadith, describe a paradise with rivers, trees and cool breezes – perfect for a religion originating in the desert – where only Arabic will be spoken.

According to Hadith, the blessed will be clothed in green-and-gold robes and showered with jewels, each of which comes along with a "black-eyed maiden."

We have to remind ourselves of the history behind current events. During the last millennium, the many wars between Muslims and the West were intended to capture territories and their populations.

There were also instances of simple plunder, when invaders grabbed everything they could lay their hands on and then returned home as quickly as possible.

Of course, the real intentions were covered by an allegedly religious explanation, which played the role of propaganda support for the aggressor or defender.

Between wars, however, there were plenty of periods of peace and sometimes even harmony, when Muslims and Westerners existed together without any major problems.

For example, during the first half of the last century, the Middle East region and the Muslim world in general requested no interference from the civilized West. Until the 1950s Jews and Christians lived peaceably under Muslim rule, but later everything changed so dramatically that now we cannot understand how it’s come about.

As Newsweek said recently, "something happened in these lands. To understand the roots of anti-American rage in the Middle East, we need to plumb not the past 300 years of history but the past 30." It would be difficult to disagree with this statement but, unfortunately, the magazine didn’t provide an answer to its own question. We will try, however.

WWII was followed by the Cold War, or confrontation between the U.S./West and the former USSR and its satellites. Both sides used different ways of waging this war, but if the U.S. and other Western countries limited themselves to civilized methods and forms of struggle, the communist leaders of the former Soviet Union felt comfortable in the use of monstrous tactics.

During the Cold War the former USSR spent billions of dollars trying to undermine the U.S. position and interest in Asia, Africa and Latin America by supporting so-called national liberation movements – radical political, religious and military groups whose leaders declared their intention to challenge America.

Special attention was given to groups that declared their own "war" against the U.S. Members of these groups were called, by Moscow and also by many liberal Western politicians of the time, "activists of national liberation movements" – or, simply, "freedom fighters."

Now accurately known as international terrorists, groups of these "freedom fighters" received from the former Soviet Union sufficient funds, weapons and explosives as well as "ideas," or ideological and propaganda support. Many "freedom fighters" had very special training in the former USSR, where they were taught how to kill people.

According to the Sept. 15 issue of Izvestia, " the Soviet Union was the main terrorist in the world and the major school for international terrorism. Please remember that the best-known terrorists of previous decades – Carlos the Jackal, the German of Baader-Maihoph group, the Italian Red Brigades, the Japanese Red Army and the Irish Republican Army – all were trained by Soviet instructors."

They were also supplied with explosives, weapons and ideas. Leaders of terrorist organizations got big hugs and kisses from Soviet leaders, as well as from Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who is still kissing Saddam Hussein.

It’s important to remember that the former USSR taught terrorists how to explain away their brutal activities. Accordingly, the Soviet Union secretly funneled funds to ideologies that supported international terrorists.

As a result of these developments, Islamic fundamentalism began dominating the minds of more than 100 million Muslims and influencing hundreds of millions of others.

It is a paradox that, supported by the USSR, radical Islamic fundamentalism dramatically increased its influence during the Afghanistan war, when Western democracies began funding some groups of Muslim extremists whose leaders, including Osama bin Laden, declared a war against Soviet intervention.

In other words, the USSR was hit by a weapon developed for its own support. But this is a result of terrorism. Moscow tried to create a rift between pro-Soviet and pro-Western fundamentalists but failed because neither of them wanted to fight each other and preferred instead to attack "infidels" on both sides.

International terrorism flourished over the last decade when, inspired by their victory in Afghanistan, the extremists began slowly to take aim at America. They were very careful in the beginning, but when they were not punished for their crimes they began to feel themselves powerful enough to declare a war against us and challenge the civilized world.

Radical Muslim fundamentalists are not limited by any restrictions; they live not for life but for death, which is exactly the basis for terrorist activity. It’s difficult but possible to stop their attacks against us if our leaders will officially inform extremists that every hostile step against America will be retaliated against as soon as possible and the level of retaliation will not be limited by any restrictions.

If terrorists are not limiting themselves in any way, why should we have to do so?

Click on the book:

Blood of the Moon

The Great Conflict Between Islam and Christianity Through the Ages

The events of September 11, 2001, have redefined our nation's life. When all is said and done, more will have been written about the now -- infamous attack on America than perhaps on any other event in our history. But will there be a clear message from the Church? At present, there is not. Most Christians know little about Islam, are unaware of the 4,000 -- year history behind the most recent attacks, and are unaware of the biblical issues that must be resolved before we chart a course as a nation in response to Islamic terrorism. This is why Blood of the Moon may be the most important book you read this year. During the Gulf War a decade ago, this was the book looked to by leaders, both in the Middle East and in Washington, D.C. Now, this newly -- revised and updated editon is available to once again offer policy -- makers, strategists, and thinkers the answers to the innumerable questions we face as a people.

Why does the conflict in the Middle East always seem to spill over into the rest of the world?

What is the true nature of Islam?

Is terror an integral part of the conflict?

Is it possible to eradicate the world of such evil?

Who are the major players in this global confrontation, and what do they really want?

How long has this been going on and what started it all?

Blood of the Moon is a straightforward examination of the roots of the protracted war between Islamic fundamentalists and the rest of the world. Stretching back as far as the days of Abraham and as far forward as the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, historian and theologian Dr. George Grant provides readers with insights simply not available through the national news media. This is must -- reading for everyone who is looking for answers to the present crisis, and serves as a great tool to teach the next generation that there is a price associated with true liberty.

Paperback. By George Grant, Introduction by Doug Phillips

Link: HERE

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Why do they so dislike us that they are ready to die to kill as many people as possible?

It does not matter why. It's immaterial.
The only thing that matters now is that so many more of them are slaughtered that they will no longer be a threat. Period.

The Fires Still Burn
Lest we forget.

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