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| Terror Networks & Islam |
| Opinion: The Muslim mind is on fire |
| 2005-07-28 |
| Youssef M. Ibrahim DUBAI -- The world of Islam is on fire. Indeed, the Muslim mind is on fire. Above all, the West is now ready to take both of them on. The latest reliable report confirms that on average 33 Iraqis die every day, executed by Iraqis and foreign jihadis and suicide bombers, not by US or British soldiers. In fact, fewer than ever US or British soldiers are dying since the invasion more than two years ago. Instead, we now watch on television hundreds of innocent Iraqis lying without limbs, bleeding in the streets dead or wounded for life. If this is jihad someone got his religious education completely upside down. Palestine is on fire, too, with Palestinian armed groups fighting one another - Hamas against Fatah and all against the Palestinian Authority. All have rendered Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas impotent and have diminished the world's respect and sympathy for Palestinian sufferings. A couple of weeks ago London was on fire as Pakistani and other Muslims with British citizenship blew up tube stations in the name of Islam. Al Qaeda in Europe or one of its franchises proclaimed proudly the killing of 54 and wounding 700 innocent citizens was done to "avenge Islam" and Muslims. Madrid was on fire, too, last year, when Muslim jihadis blew up train stations killing 160 people and wounding a few thousands. The excuse in all the above cases was the war in Iraq, but let us not forget that in September 2001, long before Iraq, Osama Bin Laden proudly announced that he ordered the killing of some 3,000 in the United States, in the name of avenging Islam. Let us not forget that the killing began a long time before the invasion of Iraq. Indeed, jihadis have been killing for a decade in the name of Islam. They killed innocent tourists and natives in Morocco and Egypt, in Africa, in Indonesia and in Yemen, all done in the name of Islam by Muslims who say that they are better than all other Muslims. They killed in India, in Thailand and are now talking of killing in Germany and Denmark and so on. There were attacks with bombs that killed scores inside Shia and Sunni mosques, inside churches and inside synagogues in Turkey and Tunisia, with Muslim preachers saying that it is okay to kill Jews and Christians - the so called infidels. Above all, it is the Muslim mind that is on fire. The Muslim fundamentalist who attacked the Dutch film director Theo Van Gogh in the Netherlands, stabbed him more than 23 times then cut his throat. He recently proudly proclaimed at his trial: "I did it because my religion - Islam - dictated it and I would do it again if were free." Which preacher told this guy this is Islam? That preacher should be in jail with him. Do the cowardly jihadis who recruit suicide bombers really think that they will force the US Army and British troops out of Iraq by killing hundreds of innocent Iraqis? US troops now have bases and operate in Iraq but also from Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman. The only accomplishment of jihadis is that now they have aroused the great "Western Tiger". There was a time when the United States and Europe welcomed Arab and Muslim immigrants, visitors and students, with open arms. London even allowed all dissidents escaping their countries to preach against those countries under the guise of political refugees. Well, that is all over now. Time has become for the big Western vengeance. Visas for Arab and Muslim young men will be impossible to get for the United States and Western Europe. Those working there will be expelled if they are illegal, and harassed even if their papers are in order. Airlines will have to right to refuse boarding to passengers if their names even resemble names on a prohibited list on all flights heading to Europe and the United States. What is more important to remember is this: When the West did unite after World War II to beat communism, the long Cold War began without pity. They took no prisoners. They all stood together, from the United States to Norway, from Britain to Spain, from Belgium to Switzerland. And they did bring down the biggest empire. Communism collapsed. I fear those naïve Muslims who think that they are beating the West have now achieved their worst crime of all. The West is now going to war against not only Muslims, but also, sadly, Islam as a religion. In this new cold and hot war, car bombs and suicide bombers here and there will be no match for the arsenal that those Westerners are putting together - an arsenal of laws, intelligence pooling, surveillance by satellites, armies of special forces and indeed, allies inside the Arab world who are tired of having their lives disrupted by demented so-called jihadis or those bearded preachers who, under the guise of preaching, do little to teach and much to ignite the fire, those who know little about Islam and nothing about humanity. Youssef M. Ibrahim, a former Middle East correspondent for The New York Times and energy editor of the Wall Street Journal, is managing director of the Dubai-based Strategic Energy Investment Group |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #16 Perhaps Mr. Ibrahim did not want a war pitting all of Islam against the west, but Binny sure as hell does. Binny's plan will succeed to the point of radical islam being the most dominant force in Islamic politics. But thats as far as he'll get with his plan, supposing the west goes to war with Islam, which is still very debatable. Because we, as the article points out, can destroy anything we want to. Albeit at a high cost, but we've done worse to ourselves than anyone will ever do to us. We could destroy Islam if we please and will no doubt force radical islam into submission in due time. So, bring it on Binny. However, I think our boys are going to pull this hearts and minds battle off, as we already have in most of Iraq, minus the Sunni leadership, who are all old baathists anyway. I did like this guys take on Iraq and Palestine though, very insightful. EP |
| Posted by: ElvisHasLeftTheBuilding 2005-07-28 15:34 |
| #15 I agree with .com and phil.My take is,it is not an idictment of the West and the guy gets it. |
| Posted by: raptor 2005-07-28 12:51 |
| #14 From .com's link, about the assassination of Yammamoto - To cover up the fact that the Allies were reading Japanese code, American newspapers published a story that civlian coast watchers in the Solomons saw Yamamoto boarding a bomber in the area. How we could've pulled off that feat of planning in such a short period must've stunned the Japenese - if they believed it! Too bad we are not allowed to assassinate really bad people anymore. Too bad the newspapers now would scream about the violation of the Geneva Convention, et cetera, and not actually lift a finger to help. War, after all, is morally reprehensible. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-07-28 12:39 |
| #13 AlanC In fact both stories are true. Yamamoto promised six months of victories but he feared what would happen once the US economy had redeployed for war because he knew American industrial power. But he also knew the Americans and he didn't share the opinion prevalent in Japanese leading circles that Americans were soft and after the six months of Japanese victories, would throw the towel at the perspective of having to fight in plague infested hellholes like Guadalcanal. That is why he opposed the war. But when he learnt about the late deliveral of the declaration of war (BTW: the note was contorted and didn't tell clearly it was war, the Japanese wanted to cut in the the time allowed to Americans for alerting their forces) he knew that the Americans would not content with retaking the lost ground and force Japan to give some possessions but that they would not stop until utterly crushing it. |
| Posted by: JFM 2005-07-28 10:08 |
| #12 I doubt he can even begin to understand and comprehend the shift in attitude on the street level. |
| Posted by: MunkarKat 2005-07-28 09:49 |
| #11 I can see why this guy doesn't write for the Times anymore. |
| Posted by: raptor 2005-07-28 09:36 |
| #10 .com, JFM The version I've heard is that BEFORE Pearl Harbor Yamomoto objected to the war with words along the lines of ...."I'll have a free run for 6 months, but then what?" Having been to the US he understood the size and scope of out industrial might. Think back to Gene Wilder re Mongo... "Don't shoot him, you'll only make him mad." |
| Posted by: AlanC 2005-07-28 08:33 |
| #9 .com If my memory is any good it was not the missing of the carriers who worried Yamamoto (1) but knowing that due a decoding snapfu the Americans had been notified of the state of war after the attack. Yamamoto had lived in America and knew that this would make Americans mad. Also he didn't share the opinion of his colleagues of Americans being soft and decadent, he thought they were tough and, if angered, would fight to the death. Pearl Harbor and the diplomatic disaster of delivering the note too late endured Japan would have to deal with an angry America. The thought of it frightened Yamamoto. (1) As evidenced at Midway, Yamamoto still clinged to the concept that battleships were the important ships and carriers the secondary ones. |
| Posted by: JFM 2005-07-28 06:53 |
| #8 "How is this an indictment of the West?" It isn't; he's indicting his fellow Muslims. His sentence preceeding the one you quoted says it all: "I fear those naïve Muslims who think that they are beating the West have now achieved their worst crime of all." |
| Posted by: Dave D. 2005-07-28 06:43 |
| #7 I read this as he GETS actions have consequences and for Islam and Arabs they won't like them (which is not the same as saying they are bad). |
| Posted by: phil_b 2005-07-28 06:19 |
| #6 The Empire Strikes Back.......... |
| Posted by: Luke Groundwalker 2005-07-28 05:51 |
| #5 I think you'll find the link to the quote interesting - it's likely bogus, lol! But Ibrahim's article seems quite genuine - and uses typically colorful and visual phrasing, so apropos to Arabs - to make his point. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-07-28 04:51 |
| #4 I don't think he's indicting the West at all - I think he's issuing a clarion call to Islam. That he adds "sadly" is probably no different than anyone in similar shoes would say - i.e. he's not weaseling. My take is that he sees exactly what Yamamoto saw after Pearl Harbor when the carriers were missed - "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve." I believe he recognizes this is the equivalent moment for Islam. If I've missed it, please explain your take. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-07-28 04:42 |
| #3 Help me understand something: Ibrahim lists just a few of the examples of the carnage inflicted by muslims on muslims, and then says: The West is now going to war against not only Muslims, but also, sadly, Islam as a religion. How is this an indictment of the West? Clearly, it just reveals the fact that islam and the muslim culture, is the culprit. In fact, the West has not, and will not be nearly as harsh on arabs because of its human rights values. |
| Posted by: PlanetDan 2005-07-28 04:04 |
| #2 Yea and a fellow who's book is coming out in September says there are 7 of Osmas Nukes in the US. Their targets, US cities, just as Osama has planed and promsied. We haven't tarried to long and pussyfooted around over long I hope . |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom 2005-07-28 03:00 |
| #1 Word. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-07-28 01:56 |