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Note: I moved a lot of information previously here to the Issues of the War in Iraq, Including Abu Ghraib page.
September 11 taught us that the front lines of a catastrophic terror attack are not here or in policy but are local, in communities all across this country. It is the folks in our fire departments, in our police stations, in our emergency rooms, and in the volunteer corps. It is the brave men and women who rush to an attack site with almost superhuman stamina and compassion, working to save their fellow citizens.
-- Bill Frist, U.S. Senator
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.
-- Albert Einstein
Furious activity is no substitute for understanding.
-- H.H. Williams
I also include this information because the legacy of the Crusades continues after centuries, directly influencing Muslims and their reaction to Western influence in the Holy Lands. One recommended book on the subject is The Crusades through Arab Eyes by Amin Maalouf. The reader comments at that Amazon link are also valuable. In addition, the book The New Concise History of the Crusades, Revised Edition by Thomas Madden is a good introduction to the Crusades. (See also the 1999 edition page at Amazon for more reader comments.) Readers might also like to review the documentary Mohammed: Legacy of a Prophet (2002). It covers the story of the 7th century founder of Islam and important events in the early years of the religion. The film includes contemporary interviews with those that follow Islam describing how it is integrated in their lives. Being of Christian background, I had scant knowledge and this documentary informed me greatly.
Ibn Taymiyyah, stated: "to fight in defence of religion and Belief is a collective duty; there is no other duty after Belief than fighting the enemy who is corrupting the life and the religion. There is no preconditions for this duty and the enemy should be fought with one best abilities."
...Norquist arrived in my office brandishing an open letter citing my remarks at CPAC as evidence of "racism and bigotry" that have "no place in the conservative movement." I responded with a lengthy letter of my own, describing my concerns about the role Norquist and his Islamic Institute had been playing in enabling and facilitating Islamist political influence activities aimed at the Bush Administration and other Republicans. I urged him to cease and desist, lest he do real damage, not only to the President and the Party, but to the nation's security.
And later...
In this sobering article, the writer includes 81 citations to substantiate his claim. Insight Magazine, writing about the founding director of Grover Norquist's Islamic Institute, has an article on Khaled Saffuri's Ties to Terror Suspects. The online encyclopedia Wikipedia has an entry on the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) describing one group in question. By the way, a term used in the introductory comments, Fifth Column, is defined as "any clandestine group of people which works covertly inside a nation to undermine its strength."Grover Norquist's efforts to legitimate and open important doors for pro-Islamist organizations in this country must be brought to an immediate halt. They have already created political vulnerabilities for this President and his Administration. But for the influence exerted by Norquist and his friends, President Bush might long ago have reached out to peaceable, tolerant, pro-American Muslims. In particular, the past 26 months could have been spent building up Muslim spokesmen and groups who share this President's vision of a world in which democracy, liberty and freedom of religion prosper—and who could help cultivate those values in Muslim lands and communities overseas.
We need to shine a spotlight on hate speech wherever it appears. The State Department produces an annual human rights report. Henceforth, it should also produce a quarterly War of Ideas Report, which would focus on those religious leaders and writers who are inciting violence against others.
The article is aggressive but the answer to hate speech is more speech to challenge it. Just a reminder... access to New York Times [NYT] online articles requires free registration. You can also read a dissenting opinion on the article.
Gillo Pontecorvo 's "The Battle of Algiers", filmed in black and white in 1965, released in late 1967, is the crucial film about a new kind of warfare [attacking conventional forces and then disappearing back into the population]. It involves the proving-ground of the emerging tactics in Algeria from 1954 to 1962, as France tried and failed to contain a nationalist uprising... the reason it is being viewed in the Pentagon 35 years after its making, is that it is lucid and dispassionate in its examination of the tactics of both sides.
Read a New York Times article on the movie.
What makes us omniscient? Have we a record of omniscience? We are the strongest nation in the world today. I do not believe we should ever apply that economic, political, or military power unilaterally. If we had followed that rule in Vietnam, We wouldn't have been there. None of our allies supported us. Not Japan, not Germany, not Britain or France. If we can't persuade nations with comparable values of the merit of our cause, we'd better re-examine our reasoning.