A couple of weeks ago, on the occasion of the annual hajj, in which 2.5 million Muslim pilgrims fulfill their obligations to travel to Mecca, prominent Muslim clerics from Asia, Africa, and Europe, along with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Iraq, denounced violence in the name of Islam and issued a manifesto, signed by all, declaring that “murder of innocents is never justified and violates the teachings of Islam.”
If you haven’t heard about this, it’s because it never happened. I conjured it to clarify the nature of the problem. Well-intentioned non-Muslims never tire of asserting that Islam is a religion of peace. Muslims themselves are a lot less forthright. (The Council on American-Islamic Relations has issued formal denunciations of terrorism, but coming from an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terror-financing case, such pious declarations are worthless.)
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Still, before considering the response to the latest outrage, perpetrated by a jihadi convinced that mass murdering Americans gathered to light the Portland Christmas tree would land him in Paradise, it’s important to pause and notice that while Muslim leaders leave a lot to be desired, average Muslims are heroes in this story.
The L.A. Times reports that the FBI was alerted to 19-year-old, Somali-born Mohamed Osman Mohamud’s increasing radicalization by someone who knew him well. Other sources suggest that Mohamud had quarreled with his family and felt “betrayed” that they did not support his violent ambitions. Reading between the lines, it seems likely that one or both parents (both of whom, by the way, are described as loving America) alerted the FBI.
Further, the elaborate sting orchestrated by the FBI had to involve agents posing as Islamic radicals. I’m guessing here, but it seems unlikely that the agents were non-Muslims. There are probably too many subtle things a non-Muslim would get wrong. So kudos to whoever tipped the FBI to the danger, and to the (presumably) Muslim agents who saw the thing to fruition and arrest.
On the other hand, those Americans who think that respecting the majority of non-violent Muslims requires a mealy-mouthed denial of reality are doing no one any favors.
Some criminal lit a fire at a Corvallis mosque a day or so after Mohamud’s arrest. This elicited a scolding declaration from U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton. Did he denounce the resort to violence by anyone? No. He intoned, “The fact is that violent extremists come from all religions and no religion at all. For one person to blame a group, if that’s what happened here, is uniquely anti-American and will be pursued with the full force of the Justice Department.” Of course whole groups should not be blamed for the actions of individuals. Yes, the Justice Department should pursue the arsonist. And, yes, violent extremists can be motivated by all sorts of things. But it is fatuous to pretend that Islam is no more likely than Buddhism or Christianity or Judaism to produce mass killers. When a Christian says “Praise God,” people nod politely or in agreement. When a Muslim shouts “Allahu Akbar,” everybody ducks.
If a Christian or a Jew suddenly becomes more devout, there is very little chance that he or she will become violent. Quite the contrary. But religious zeal among Muslims is often expressed with bombs and the blood of innocents. Thousands of imams worldwide preach violent jihad, Islamic schools instill contempt for other faiths, and terrorists actively recruit killers willing to commit massacres for Allah.
Yet Attorney General Eric Holder could not bring himself to say, under questioning before Congress, that terrorists might be motivated by “radical Islam.” The State Department and the Department of Homeland Security banned the words “jihad” and “mujahideen” from official statements about terrorism. And the president removed the term “Islamic extremism” from the National Security Strategy.
Why is it so hard to tell the truth? The truth is that while the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful and law-abiding, there is a powerful strain within the religion that encourages murder and mayhem. Muslims, sooner or later, must deal with this, along with the rest of the world. But to suggest that acknowledging Muslim extremism amounts to bigotry, as this administration seems to, is both dishonest and cowardly.
With all due respect, even Ms. Charen is engaging in a bit of politically correct truth evasion. The fact that most Muslims are not violent Jihadists means nothing. Not every single American citizen is a gun carrying member of our Armed Forces - but we are all part of the effort, paying taxes, being Americans, supporting the cause to one degree or another.
In the case of Islam, it is like a state army (that is why those who leave face the death penalty like deserters from an army) and Muhammad himself was a huge terrorist, terror is built into and a core integral part of Islam, it cannot be ignored. The problem is not so-called radical Muslims or extremists.
The West cannot place our future, our continued existence, on the vain hope that all of the Muslims who immigrate to the West will forever fail to follow the religion as Muhammad created it and in the example of Muhammad himself.
Almost all Islamic terrorists are Wahhabi Muslims. The growth of Wahhabi Islam in the West has been financed by Saudi Arabian oil money.
Wahhabi Muslims believe that everyone should live their life in the same manner as Mohammed and effectively reject the modern world, that is unless the modern world and its technology helps them kill people who disagree with them.
It has been alleged, by at least one leading American Muslim leader, that they have infiltrated and dominate 80% of the Mosques in the USA. They prefer to join and then dominate existing non-Wahhabi mosques rather than open their own.
Even if we acknowledge the fact that most Muslims are not violent and do not support Wahhabi terrorists or even agree with Wahhabi Islam, hard-line Muslims have done an effective job of dominating Muslim communities around the world and appear to be doing so in the USA as well.
Today's 1.5 billion Muslims make up 22% of the world's population. But their birth rates dwarf the birth rates of Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and all other believers. Muslims will exceed 50% of the world's population by the end of this century.
Anyone believing Islam is a religion of peace should go live in Fallujah.
There are 1.5 Billion Muslims on the planet. It is estimated 1% are terrorists. If my math is correct that computes to 1.5 million Muslims who cheered at 9-11. 1.5 million Muslims hell bent on our destruction.
What religion blows up its own places of worship? Get a clue.
American Christian Infidel
Michael Canzano
Saying "the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful and law-abiding" strikes me as equivalent if, during the 1950's, one would have claimed, "the vast majority of Communists are peaceful and law-abiding".
You do go on to say, "there is a powerful strain within the religion that encourages murder and mayhem." This is the nub of the Islam problem and has been for over 1300 years.
While I'm no friend of CAIR, "unindicted co-conspirator" means they're not a co-conspirator.
Why weren't they indicted? Most likely because the prosocution felt they could not provide evidence that would convict them. Hence, innocent of this charge.
It's the exact equivalent of labeling someone a murderer because they were designated a "person of interest" in an investigation. The government doesn't get the right to label someone guity unless they not only indict, but also convict them.
Mona, I always enjoy your articles. You're a very reasoned person. Most of this article is articulate and well-reasoned, as well; however, you are nearly as guilty of denial and underestimating the danger of Islam to the Western world as those you've criticized.
There is no Muslim extremism. There is only Islam. If you don't believe that, just ask an Imam (of course they can lie to an infidel). Some Muslims and their leaders believe violence against the non-Islamic world, particularly the West, is justifiable. Others believe any means are justifiable, including peaceful means, if they are viable,feasible and more likely to produce the desired result, which is domination of the world by Islam. Have you read "The True Believer" by Eric Hoffer? Great Book. Eisenhower carried a copy with him always. All Muslims are true believers. They must be, or they can be killed by their fellow religionists. This dangerous political philosophy, masquerading as a religion, has found the secret to perfect loyalty, or, as they may claim, perfect faith. Make it a crime punishable by death to blaspheme Muhammad, Allah, or any of the ideology's tenets and, also, make it a capital crime to leave the sect. Pretty strong motivation for loyalty, particularly when the system has had fourteen centuries to be perfected. An Imam issues a fatwah to kill and, even if a majority won't act upon it, it only takes a few "faithful" to put fear in every Muslim's and, now, every non-Muslim's heart. The West dare not speak, much less act against Islamic forces among us. We've also bound ourselves firmly with political correctness. Muslims know this and they are using it to further their aim - a world of faithful Muslims.
It is very important for the West to cease its denial and recognize that Islam is a dangerous political philosophy more than a religion. All muslims are potential converts to the violent side of their faith. The Koran approves and even encourages violence against non-Muslims and against slothful Muslims. It really uses many of the same principles that fascists have used. In fact, some Muslims have studied fascist principles and tactics and some fascists studied principles and tactics of Islam. These tactics and principles are how to control the masses. They're ideologically on the opposite pole from democracy and individual liberty. Islam is not and cannot ever be compatible with the Western tradition. This conflict has been going on since the early seventh century and will continue until Islam gives up, which is unlikely, or the West gives up, which, it seems, could happen one day. Fifty, seventy-five, a hundred years hence, perhaps our descendants will be ruled by Sharia. It's practically inevitable, barring a great unspoken second coming of true liberty.
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