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

Skip to comments.

Islamic studies are the keyto understanding terrorism -
Sunday Telegraph ^ | 12 March 2006 | Piers Akerman

Posted on 03/11/2006 2:50:30 PM PST by Fair Go

FIVE years after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre towers and the Pentagon, four years after the first Bali atrocity and three months after the Cronulla riots, it has become appallingly apparent that local police are still standing flat-footed in the face of a growing crime problem among some in Australia's own Muslim community.

It's high time the politically correct pap that spews forth after every evil global terrorist attack was ignored and real research into the underlying philosophy driving the radical fringe, and its supporters and financiers, was undertaken.

A good first step would be to reject the claims of all those who continue to spuriously argue that the West was in some way wholly responsible for the rise of militant Islam and deserving of terrorism. It is not, as even Osama bin Laden acknowledges.

The roots for this evil can be found within extremist strands of Islam such as the Wahabism followed by bin Laden, which takes as its inspiration a literal reading of the Koran and the sharia law derived from its teachings.

This also inspires groups such as Hizb ut-Tahrir, which has a branch in Sydney and works to reinstate the Islamic empire of the caliphate through a global jihad.

In the past few days, senior NSW police and Police Minister Carl Scully have bemoaned the lack of co-operation investigators have received from members of a community formerly described as being "of Middle Eastern appearance".

These people are now described as "Arabic", in a clumsy, if politically correct, attempt to avoid describing the alleged perpetrators as Islamic.

But it is well documented that the thugs who took part in the initial attacks on Cronulla beach were Muslim. Those who participated in the subsequent reprisal raids after the well-publicised riots met outside the Lakemba mosque before taking their convoy of violence to Maroubra and other beachside suburbs.

For decades, the multiculturalist policies of Gough Whitlam's Labor government and Malcolm Fraser's Liberal government, and their successors, encouraged and funded migrant groups to retain their particular cultures and refrain from assimilation.

Although most migrant groups actively embraced the broader Australian culture, it's obvious to all that the focus of Islamic communities on their mosques meant there was minimal cross-cultural contact.

It is now just as obvious that many senior religious leaders discouraged members of their communities from associating with people in the wider community.

Indeed, there is ample evidence that leaders – including Keysar Trad and the Mufti, Sheik Taj Eldeen Alhilaly – for many years preached hatred and contempt for Australian society. They based their sermons and lectures on their readings of the Koran.

Logically, that would seem to give the lie to those well-meaning souls who rush to praise Islam as a religion of tolerance and love after every terrorist attack.

Whenever crimes or acts of terror are committed in the name of Islam, we are again told that the religion is essentially one of peace that teaches respect for the rights of all.

As it happens, the Koran, particularly in verses found in Sura 9, provides numerous invitations for Muslims to visit violence upon Jews, Christians and non-Muslims in general.

It is an unfortunate reality that these verses are still read with enthusiastic approval in mosques throughout Australia and the rest of the world.

Scholarly studies of the Koran have been made by academics and theologians, but there are few within intelligence organisations or law-enforcement agencies with any great knowledge of Islam.

The exceptions are a few officers in the ranks of the Australian Federal Police who have had to undertake studies of the Koran to confront terrorists inspired by the fundamentalist teachings of Jemaah Islamiah in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Muslims are taught that the Koran is the word of God, revealed through Mohammed, but its Arabic version can seem to be poetically ambiguous.

Most serious scholars seem to agree that informed readings would indicate God wasn't beyond changing his mind – a trait noticed by some of Mohammed's contemporaries – and, on occasion, even issuing views contradicting his earlier statements.

A handful of Muslims around the world have called for greater examination of the Koran and for a reformation like the one that modernised the Christian church in Europe during the 16th century, but they have been vilified by many of their fellows.

The political correctness permeating the liberal-arts community has prevented thorough studies of Islam, but courageous theologians and scholars are exploring the topic.

They must be joined by members of intelligence and law-enforcement agencies if the West is to understand the motivation for terrorism and combat those who are using Western liberal democracies' overly indulgent multiculturalism policies as shields for their criminal acts.

It's not enough for the West to ask Muslims, from Iraq to Cronulla, to become part of the solution. It should also be asking why so many are demonstrably not interested in bringing criminals to justice and working for peace.


TOPICS: Australia/New Zealand; Culture/Society; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: australia; highereducation; islam; islamicstudies; terrorism
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-108 next last
Just as the left exploited the Vietnam War to try and change society, they are now exploiting the War in Iraq for the same end. However, this time their propaganda mirrors that of islamic terrorists.
1 posted on 03/11/2006 2:50:34 PM PST by Fair Go
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Fair Go
A good first step would be to reject the claims of all those who continue to spuriously argue that the West was in some way wholly responsible for the rise of militant Islam and deserving of terrorism. It is not, as even Osama bin Laden acknowledges.

O_o I'd like to see a source for this.

2 posted on 03/11/2006 2:53:18 PM PST by Gordongekko909 (I know. Let's cut his WHOLE BODY off.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gordongekko909

I do have a book containing Osama Bin Laden's interviews and will look for some sources. My understanding is that Bin Laden saw the Taliban as responsible for the downfall of the Soviet Empire and then thought he could do the same to the US.


3 posted on 03/11/2006 2:58:05 PM PST by Fair Go
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Fair Go

the Lineral/leftists in the western world keep hoping that their playbook is going to work this time.

It has usually been; give enormous amounts of welfare to groups like the English working class and the black American community, destroy their families, and they will be dependent on the state and vote in liberals/leftists forever.

They will be completely captured, passive, demoralized, live in squalor, and vote as they are told.

However, this playbook isn't working with Muslim. Muslims don't call into unwed mothers/drugs/drink and hopless depdence. They keep it together and are not passive and are not grateful.

But the Liberals keep hoping the old playbook will work. Pretty soon if we keep on gasping with admiration over their ethnicity, hand out more welfare, and pat them on the head, they will become contented if rather sordid masses.

But the more they give them, the more they give way, the more the wolf is at their door.

However, they're stuck on stupid. "Give them more, they'll vote for us forever."

No. They'll eat you.


4 posted on 03/11/2006 2:58:34 PM PST by squarebarb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fair Go
Wahhabism is the State Religion of Saudi Arabia.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

5 posted on 03/11/2006 2:58:40 PM PST by expatguy (http://laotze.blogspot.com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: squarebarb

call into = fall into.

sorry.


6 posted on 03/11/2006 2:59:46 PM PST by squarebarb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Fair Go

This is a pretty good article. It reminds me of one I read last night on a one of the big milblogs. In the Asia region the use of Deprogrammers have shown great results. USing moslem clerics, experts in the radical fringe, etc and other methods they have been able to deprogram alot of people from these radical ideas.


7 posted on 03/11/2006 3:01:15 PM PST by bayourant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fair Go
Islamic studies are the key to understanding terrorism

Image Hosted by ImageShack.us

8 posted on 03/11/2006 3:07:08 PM PST by 68skylark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 68skylark

Islamic studies are the key to understanding terrorism.........

Not much of a scholar here, but I think this is true. Been studying pictures of the Trade Towers going down, the rioting in France, the placards calling for the destruction of Western Civilization, the beheading of those who aren't Muslim, etc.

The short study is over.
I believe I understand now.


9 posted on 03/11/2006 3:13:04 PM PST by Grateful One
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: 68skylark

Nice.

It is not necessary to completely understand cockroach biology, psychology, physiology or history in order to deal with them.

It is merely enough to understand how to use the Yellow Pages and a telephone to call the exterminators.

In the same way, it is interesting to a point to understand radical Muslim psychology and history; however once the realization occurs that we are not dealing with civilized human behaviour, rather with proto-human killer ape gang warfare, then a call to the Pentagon and CIA ought to suffice.


10 posted on 03/11/2006 3:14:57 PM PST by MarkBsnr (When you believe in nothing, then everything is acceptable.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Fair Go

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1594311/posts?page=320#320

It's like I read this story before I posted to the above thread.

"Basic Islamic ideology is incompatible with life in a society based on Judeo-Christian principles and accordingly, needs to be reformed. Relying on hope for reform is a bit too passive. Education is key. We do need to reform their education systems to a secular western style and more importantly, preach the gospel vigorously."


11 posted on 03/11/2006 3:17:01 PM PST by Rockitz (After all these years, it's still rocket science.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fair Go

I'm all for studying and understanding Muslims and their faith. I just think that we should kill them first, for health reasons.


12 posted on 03/11/2006 3:26:02 PM PST by KarinG1 (Some of us are trying to engage in philosophical discourse. Please don't allow us to interrupt you.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fair Go
Sura 9 should be required reading for all Americans, especially the politicians.

The filthy death cultists intend to kill all of us.

13 posted on 03/11/2006 3:36:28 PM PST by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fair Go

Article by "Piers Akerman" - Michael Scheuer's new pen name?

/spit


14 posted on 03/11/2006 3:43:15 PM PST by LurkedLongEnough
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fair Go
Another thread full of those who would give Bin Laden what he was hoping for - a world-wide religious war.

I'm sure he will be very grateful to you all.

I wonder just how many here would be happy at the thought of the extermination of at least 20% of the planets human population ?
15 posted on 03/11/2006 4:07:41 PM PST by RS ("I took the drugs because I liked them and I found excuses to take them, so I'm not weaseling.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RS
Another thread full of those who would give Bin Laden what he was hoping for - a world-wide religious war. I'm sure he will be very grateful to you all.

Despite your somewhat surly tone, you make a good point. I guess you're saying we don't want to expand this war if we don't have to.

I'm not sure how far this war will expand, or who our real enemies really are. Are we at war with a lot of people, or just a few?

One of the paradoxes of war is that if we're willing to take on whoever wants to fight us, relatively few people want to fight. But if we're scared of battle, we'll get lots of enemies.

16 posted on 03/11/2006 4:44:26 PM PST by 68skylark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: 68skylark

"Are we at war with a lot of people, or just a few?"

Seems like a voice of reason - identify your target before you pull the trigger.

"One of the paradoxes of war is that if we're willing to take on whoever wants to fight us, relatively few people want to fight."

Most of them don't want to fight anyone. But if someone started calling your religion a "death cult" and wanted to call out exterminators against you and your family, you might get defensive.
Goes back to identifying your target. If we don't aim at the terrorists, we won't hit them.


17 posted on 03/11/2006 5:05:18 PM PST by RS ("I took the drugs because I liked them and I found excuses to take them, so I'm not weaseling.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Rockitz
>"We do need to reform their education systems"

The time has come to convert the slimes------



---------- to radioactive vapor!

Sura 9:5 of the “Koranus,” “Slay the idolaters muslimes wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush.”

Kill A Commie For Mommie He's Got A Plan


Seven Dead Monkeys Page O Tunes

18 posted on 03/11/2006 5:30:14 PM PST by rawcatslyentist ("Why waste time learning, when ignorance is instantaneous"---Hobbes the Tiger)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: RS

Don't worry, the radical jihadists haven't risen up to the extent Bin Laden anticipated after 9/11 so I don't think anyone is planning on a worldwide religious war that will exterminate 20% of the earth's population. Ever read any worthwhile references on what Bin Laden expected 9/11 to achieve?


19 posted on 03/11/2006 6:24:35 PM PST by Fair Go
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: RS
But if someone started calling your religion a "death cult"...

The problem is that it just gets harder and harder to reach any other conclusion. Perhaps the most important thing non-Muslims around the world can do is to stop giving deference to this obviously pathological behavior gripping 1.3 billion people. The growth of Islam needs to be viewed in epidemiological terms. If Mr. And Mrs. Moderate Muslim tire of hearing their faith disparaged, perhaps they need to rethink their role as enablers.

The message they need to here is this: I’m sorry if you take offense, but taking offense is something you are very good at. The leading edge of your faith is violent and evil. You sit there in silence while unspeakable atrocities are committed in the name of your “beloved Prophet”. Video taped beheadings don’t seem bother you, but cartoons do. It’s real hard to tell where you stand. I hope you understand how many could come to view Islam as a death cult. If you take offense, so be it. At least we have clarity and know where your allegiance lies. If calling you out makes an enemy of you, you were an enemy all along anyway.

20 posted on 03/11/2006 7:18:18 PM PST by Minn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-108 next last

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