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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Islamism growing among Iraqi Sunnis |
| 2004-07-28 |
| Sheikh Mahdi Ahmed al-Sumaidi was detained in Abu Ghraib prison early this year after a weapons cache was found in his Ibn Taymiyyah mosque. Since released, his anti-US fervor is undiminished. "Neither the occupation forces nor the government they installed is acceptable,'' he says. "The legitimate power is the resistance." Even so, he is grateful for the US invasion. "God uses many tools,'' he says. "America's brutality has caused many to understand that Islam is the answer to our problems. The only solution is Islamic government." Sheikh Sumaidi is one of a cadre of Sunni preachers whose star has risen sharply in the past year. No longer constrained or exiled by a repressive regime, they are preaching jihad at key mosques and pushing to make Iraq an Islamic state. They are still on the fringes of mainstream Sunni practice here. But amid almost daily firefights in the Sunni Triangle, these radical preachers are emerging as the principal Sunni rallying point. "The Islamists are growing up very quickly among the frustrated and disadvantaged,'' says Sadoun al-Dulame, who runs the Iraq Center for Research and Strategic Studies in Baghdad. "All the violence is allowing extremists to mobilize and try to monopolize political space." |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #8 "God uses many tools,’’ he[Sunni "preacher] says. "America’s brutality has caused many to understand that Islam is the answer to our problems. The only solution is Islamic government." Far be it from me to say I told you so...the only trustworthy, pro American Iraqi is a Kurd...umm... let's see..."secular" Sunni Iraqis who suppressed Shiites are now teaming up with former suppressed Shiites in hate America mindset. Ummm...so now GI's are viewed as useful tools by the folks we "liberated"...very nice...I've said my peace because no doubt, this short post will provoke a fire storm of attacks from wishful RB thinkers. Let me save your breath, I know exactly what will be said:"But it's only a handful of insurgents and lots of foreign fighters. The majority of Iraqis want a free and open society. It just takes a while." Rightttt...the only Iraqis worth their salt are Kurds. Let the Sunnis and Shiites fight it out themselves... it could save our GI's ammunition. |
| Posted by: rex 2004-07-28 7:14:04 PM |
| #7 Ibn Taymiyyah mosque Ibn Tammiyah just happens to be the name of a medieval Islamic scholar who is something of an antecedent of Wahabism. Perhaps this is a mosque that has always been Wahabist? Perhaps we're not getting a full picture? |
| Posted by: Liberalhawk 2004-07-28 4:02:32 PM |
| #6 I think we need to look closer at Susan's suggestion. Ignoring which religion is correct, we are fighting a worldview that offers no compromise. We need allies, and must select from "Radical Islam's" enemies and pick palatable choices Current strategy is to encourage moderate islam. This does create a buffer, but doesn't do anyting to actually reduce the extremists. It does help them by providing shelter and "unattackable" targets. We must commit ourselves to total victory, or defeat - there is no detente mode in Islam. If we are to be victorious, we must change Islam or eradicate it. Can Islam be changed? It seems to be based on conquest, slavery and other repugnant things, with no hope of a reformer as Muhamed was declared the last prophet. As literacy spreads in the middle east, this problem will increase, not decrease, as the way of life is in writing. I recommend a subversive Christian conversion. We can do the conversion through NGO's, much as saudi funds terrorism. That allows us deniability, and we can take a moral stand about freedom of religion. An excellent test bed would be Darfur, where we can leverage off Muslim violence against the native population. |
| Posted by: flash91 2004-07-28 1:20:44 PM |
| #5 ...that Islam is the answer to our problems. The only solution is Islamic government." Yeah...that's the answer!!!! Let's mass rape women and girls, burn villagers alive, have acid throwing contests using girls as targets, pull civilization back 2 or 3 centuries and re-start the islamic slavetraders using black africans as the currency...AGAIN, and enforce a Stalinistic theocracy that would make a North Korean blush. Everyone would knuckle under except for you and your fellow blackhats, Sheikh Mahdi Ahmed al-Sumaidi. You and and your butt-buddies will use SA as a model where you can drink and smoke and rape and "be a man" at the expense of your constituents. Gee, that sounds a lot like Saddam, Uday and Qusay, doesn't it? |
| Posted by: anymouse 2004-07-28 1:10:20 PM |
| #4 Actually, my sheikh friend, the Kurds and Shia are the answer to your problems. Heh. "Have a nice day". |
| Posted by: Verlaine 2004-07-28 10:38:23 AM |
| #3 Susan - I think your idea is bad. Now is not the time nor will it ever be for that part of the world. |
| Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2004-07-28 10:20:05 AM |
| #2 That would be a death sentence in Iraq right now Susan. Muslims need to be freed, for sure, if this conflict is to be resolved. But missionaries right now in such a war torn place would only make things stickier. But, doll, I know what you mean. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-07-28 1:31:19 AM |
| #1 We should not miss this golden opportunity to spread the word of Christ. People are hungry and war torn. An ideal situation to convert Muslims to Christians. |
| Posted by: Susan 2004-07-28 12:53:09 AM |