Don't Call It Islamophobia

Saudi King Abdullah has been urging the United Nations to pass a universal law prescribing imprisonment for criticizing Islam. Some skeptics, including myself (notwithstanding that I twice enjoyed the King's generous hospitality in Riyadh), have suggested he start instead by establishing religious liberty in his own country, where all religious observance other than Wahabi Islam is banned. Two events occurring last week -- the hideous carnage in Mumbai, accompanied by shameful proceedings at the U.N. -- convinced me it is urgent for His Majesty to radically alter his plans.

Since the U.N. actions were less publicized, let me begin there. A key U.N. committee passed by 85-50 the King's "Islamophobia" resolution, criminalizing any "defamation of religion," especially Islam. The General Assembly is expected to soon approve this measure. Governments will be directed to amend their criminal codes accordingly; the resolution will be incorporated into amorphous "customary international law," which liberal Supreme Court justices are relying on, notwithstanding that much of this "law" springs from anti-democratic sources. While "defamation of religion" conveys a sonorous label, Islamic countries consider "Islamophobic" any expression linking Islam to such subjects as 9/11, terror attacks, honor killings, suicide bombings, beheadings, executions by stoning, persecution of homosexuals, fatwas against authors, death threats to cartoonists, etc. The Organization of the Islamic Conference has decreed that even "hostile glances" are Islamophobic.

As I surveyed reportage about Mumbai, I wondered if the Islamophobia resolution, had already become universal law, perhaps quietly ratified by our Congress, while I wasn't looking. Most coverage was so infested with political correctness that the words Muslim, Islamic and terrorists were never linked. The most egregious offender (guess who?): the New York Times. In its summary articles, you must read to the seventh paragraph before finding a word as strong as "militant" (a despicable misnomer bequeathed by the lexicon of political correctness) used to describe the terrorists. The Times -- echoing its deliberate nearly invisible under-reporting of the Holocaust -- lied on the last day of the siege by saying "It is not known if the Jewish center was strategically chosen or was an accidental hostage scene." CNN was equally terrified of offending terrorists. Most of the media refused to say that the killers were Islamic radicals; one might have thought they arrived from an un-named planet. Mehul Kamdar, a Chicago-based Indian writer, complained online "how extreme political correctness in the Western media keeps key information from being reported through self-censorship."

While full investigation must be awaited to identify the murderers definitively, it was apparent from the outset that the terrorists (I beg forgiveness for using that harsh word) were Islamic extremists. Who else, pray tell, would indiscriminately slaughter Hindus, Christians and Jews, i.e., anyone who was not Muslim, while shouting "Allahu Akhbar" (according to eye-witnesses)? If the media had used in 1941 the truth-avoiding restraints practiced today, Pearl Harbor would have been reported without using the word "Japanese." To erase all doubt, the terrorists told Indian TV during the attacks that they were protesting "mistreatment of Muslims." Notwithstanding, Britain's respected Channel 4 falsely claimed the "militants" showed "wanton disregard for race or creed." Turkish hostages were spared when they screamed "We are Muslims." Christians next to them were executed.

Alas, the media reflect unwillingness of society -- from the top down -- to face candidly the menace of Islamic radicalism. Messrs. Bush and Obama ritualistically condemned the attacks. Neither named the perpetrators. Bush misled us for years with the jargon "war against terror," instead of specifying the enemy. Obama spoke elliptically of combating "hateful ideology" without identifying it. Both leaders, like the media, gave us Pearl Harbor sans the Japanese. If we are to defeat the terrorists, we must name and understand them. And before I am hauled before the World Court on charges of Islamophobia, note I have not said the enemy is Islam. It is Islamic radicalism.

It is unacceptable racism to suggest that all Muslims support terrorism; nonetheless, it remains legitimate to ask why support for terrorism is widespread among Muslims. Palestinians danced in the streets on 9/11 and widespread approbation of the atrocity was found among Arabs (before the U.S. invasion of Iraq). Last week also brought the Dallas federal jury verdict finding the Holy Land Foundation -- America's largest Islamic charity -- guilty of funneling more than $12 million to support Hamas terrorists. A Chicago federal appeals court ruled significantly this week that it is unlawful to funnel money to an organization engaged in terrorism even if there is an effort to earmark the donation for nonviolent purposes.

King Abdullah, who once explained in my presence that his financial support of an infamous Hamas sheikh was merely "gifts to a sick old man," should tell us whether criticizing support of terrorists amounts to Islamophobia.

While I have bi-partisanly disrespected the incoming and outgoing presidents for vacuous verbiage, let me emphasize one key difference between them. President Bush recognized after 9/11 that his prime responsibility was preventing reprise, as intended by al-Qaeda. He deserves hosannas for completely succeeding, albeit by utilizing harsh interrogations and intrusive surveillance as well as locking up enemy combatants. If you hated Bush's methods, you helped elect Senator Obama, who is entitled to pursue his own counter-terrorism agenda. I approve the moderate mettle of most of Obama's initial appointments, except -- most conspicuously -- the dangerous Harvard quack Samantha Power, who left the Obama campaign last summer after calling Hillary Clinton a "monster." But last week, Obama dropped John Brennan, his respected Intel adviser, from consideration for a high position after the Leftist blogosphere went berserk over guilt by alleged association with "harsh" interrogations.

At an academic reunion in October, a brilliant Yale Law School panel, including the eminent Dean, could not answer coherently my question about what legal advice they would give to interrogators probing the intentions of a terrorist like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who planned 9/11 and slit Danny Pearl's throat. If the Obama team believes that we must treat terrorists like the Mumbai killers by reading them their rights and providing an ACLU lawyer, we are in for hard times. It is tragic that the Indians -- unlike our Administration -- did not draw meaningful lessons from the massive 2006 train bombings.

Which returns me to King Abdullah and his resentment over Islamophobia. The 9/11 terrorists received Islamic education in his country. The Mumbai terrorists were indoctrinated in mosques and madrassas in Pakistan and perhaps elsewhere. Some horrific defect in their Islamic education rendered them eager to slaughter non-Muslims. It is emerging that there may be a Saudi link to the group which apparently organized the assault on Mumbai in furthering its known commitment to continuous jihad as an obligation binding on all Muslims. No less authoritative a source than Husain Haqqani, the distinguished scholar presently serving as Pakistani Ambassador to the U.S., wrote in 2006 about the group which sent the killers to Mumbai :

"The most significant jihadi group of Wahabi persuasion is Lashkar-e-Taiba (The Army of the Pure) founded in 1989 by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed. Backed by Saudi money and protected by Pakistani intelligence services, Lashkar-e-Taiba became the military wing of Markaz al-Dawa wal-Irshad (Center for the Call to Righteousness). Saeed created a large campus and training facility at Muridke, outside the Pakistani metropolis of Lahore." Will Wahabi Scholars Condemn Massacres?

Thus, I respectfully suggest to the monarch that he alter his course. Instead of concentrating on trying to jail people in western countries for criticizing Islam, I suggest that our Government and media ask him: Why don't you load your formidable religious establishment -- ulema, sheikhs, imams, cadis, mullahs, jurisprudents -- on one of your jumbo jets and dispatch them on an intensive teaching mission to madrassas and Islamic schools around the world, starting in Pakistan. Islam is not a hierarchical religion, but it claims to respect teachers. The first lesson might be: Murder is wrong. The second: Mass murder is worse. The third: Non-Muslims are children of G-d who have a right to live. If the educational mission succeeds, there will be no need for an Islamophobia law. And many lives might be saved.

Just another good reason to kick the UN out of the US and the US out of the UN. We are so PC in this country we lack the courage to bitch about anything to the international community. Washington has no courage any more. This gov’t is starting to look like one huge clone of Neville Chamerlain. Without convictions and the will to enforce them, this country deserves no respect, and that's exactly what we get on the international scene. It make me sick to think of all those brave men and women who gave their lives to protect the willy-nillies who run this country. Shame on them.

criminalizing any "defamation of religion," especially Islam

This is a lie...they do not wish to criminalize defamation of religion....only when Islam is criticised. However, it lures people into agreeing with them under the false pretense that they are concerned about all religions. Islam is only concerned about Islam....everyone else is an infidel.

The first lesson might be: Murder is wrong. The second: Mass murder is worse. The third: Non-Muslims are children of G-d who have a right to live. If the educational mission succeeds, there will be no need for an Islamophobia law. And many lives might be saved.

Infidel nonsense. There is no justification for the above beliefs in the Koran or in the Hadiths. The Wahabbis have got it right. - Tom

I wonder if the Jews knew they had Naziphobia?

Probably not. They are so stupid as to believe they can talk their way into a peaceful accommodation with the Muslims.

The Nazis were doing Hitlers work. The Muslims are doing God's work. The Jews don't grasp the difference. They think negotiations are going to work with the Muslims.- Tom

Islam is shite.

mohammed was a poopie-head pedophile.

the king of saudi can lick the soles of my boots.

Come ‘n git me, abdul-uh.

on the record DITTO here....

But kindly allow my addition,

Pig lickin’ - Goat Fockers towel heads all. . .

tahDeetz

I note that you live here in America,?? If living under Wahhabi brutality is your thing why not move to Saudi Arabia???

I am not a Muslim.

The Muslim religion is the problem. Read the Koran and Hadiths and you can see where these terrorists get their motivation. The motivation comes from a fundmental interpretation of the religion as written in he Koran, and the example given by Muhammed in the Hadiths.

I believe the Wahabbis have the correct interpretation of the Koran and Hadiths- subject, convert or kill all people(Infidels) who do not believe there is only one God and Muhammed is his prophet.

To think you can negotiate or talk the fundamentalists out of their religion is naive. The so-called moderate Muslims are basically heretics, and can't support their views on the religion in a head to head discussion with the Wahabbis, using the Koran and Hadiths.

So when I see Infidels thinking that talk and reason is going to stop them I know those Infidels are very naive, and don't understand the fundamentals of Islam. - Tom

What Sir, is your point?

I don’t want to convince the Islamist (Muslims) of anything except to STOP TRYING TO CHANGE MY CONSTITUTIONAL AMERICA. If you don’t like or want to live in My Judo/Christian America, Speak English, Honor my Flag, say my Pledge of Allegiance then GET THE HELL OUT OF MY CONSTITUTIONAL AMERICA. Its really that simple.

Today the elected Marxist* Imam Obama, with the Marxist* Congress and the Islamic 5th Column ally, all want to destroy everything that is America. Their end goals are not the same. The Islamists want to create a World Caliphate while the Marxist* Imam Obama and the Marxist* Congress want to create a “USSR” of America. The first objective of these Marxists* is the conversion of our government, just as they have done in Europe and England, and this just happens to be compatible with the objective of Islam, at this time. Under the Marxist* Governments of England and Europe where Islam has flourished, they are changing the laws of those nations and have convinced them to adopt Sharia Law.

We are faced with two Evils Marxism and Islamism, its a case of them or US which side are you on??

Maxstake

*Marxist (or its bastard children Socialist or Communist).

What Sir, is your point?
I don’t want to convince the Islamist (Muslims) of anything except to STOP TRYING TO CHANGE MY CONSTITUTIONAL AMERICA. If you don’t like or want to live in My Judo/Christian America, Speak English, Honor my Flag, say my Pledge of Allegiance then GET THE HELL OUT OF MY CONSTITUTIONAL AMERICA. Its really that simple.

My point is that if Muslims follow the religion as written they are not going to leave unbelievers alone or tolerate them. Their obligation as a Muslim is to subjugate convert or kill non-believers.

They will not leave you or any non-believers alone. Allowing them into this country is like voluntarily taking cancer cells into your body. It can only spread, until it kills you. Or...you undergo treatment or surgery to rid yourself of this blight.

When Pres. Bush said Islam is a religion of peace, and didn't get castigated I knew we were in denial. Nothing preventative will be done against Islam. So it will take an obvious crisis to start a push back against Islam.

The so-called moderate Muslims are the trees that give the bears the cover they need.

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