Bush Declares War On Radical Islam (Daniel Pipes Gives Thumbs-Up But Says More Work Is Needed Alert)

Frontpagemag.com ^ | 10/11/05 | Daniel Pipes

[goldstategop]

A courageous speech by George W. Bush last week began a new era in what he calls the “war on terror.”

To comprehend its full significance requires some background. Islamists (supporters of radical Islam) began their war on the United States in 1979, when Ayatollah Khomeini took power in Iran and later that year his supporters seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran.

For the next twenty-two years, however, Americans thought they faced merely a criminal problem and failed to see that war had been declared on them. For example, in 1998, when Islamists attacked two U.S. embassies in East Africa, Washington responded by unleashing detectives, arresting the perpetrators, taking them to New York, assigning them defense lawyers, then convicting and jailing them.

The second era began on September 11, 2001. That evening, President Bush declared a “war against terrorism” and the U.S. government promptly went into war mode, for example, by passing the USA Patriot Act. Though welcoming this shift, I during four years criticized the notion of making war on a military tactic, finding this euphemistic, inaccurate, and obstructive. Instead, I repeatedly called on the president to start a third era by acknowledging that the war is against radical Islam.

Bush did occasionally mention radical Islam – in fact, as early as nine days after 9/11 – but not with enough frequency or detail to change perceptions. British prime minister Tony Blair also advanced the discussion in July, when, after the London transport bombings, he focused on “a religious ideology, a strain within the worldwide religion of Islam.”

But the third era truly began on Oct. 6 with Bush’s speech to the National Endowment for Democracy. He not only gave several names to the force behind terrorism (“Some call this evil Islamic radicalism; others, militant Jihadism; still others, Islamo-fascism”), but he provided ample details. In particular, he:

Presented this “murderous ideology” of Islamic radicals “the great challenge of our new century.” Distinguished it from the religion of Islam. Drew parallels between radical Islam and communism (both are elitist, cold-blooded, totalitarian, disdainful of free peoples, and fatefully contradictory), then noted in how many ways the U.S. war on radical Islam, “resembles the struggle against communism in the last century.” Pointed out the three-step Islamist drive to power: ending Western influence in the Muslim world, gaining control of Muslim governments, and establishing “a radical Islamic empire that spans from Spain to Indonesia.” Explained the “violent, political vision” of radical Islam as comprising an agenda “to develop weapons of mass destruction, to destroy Israel, to intimidate Europe, to assault the American people, and to blackmail our government into isolation.” Defined its ultimate goal: “to enslave whole nations and intimidate the world.” Observed that Muslims themselves have the burden of doing the “most vital work” to fight Islamism. Called on “all responsible Islamic leaders to join in denouncing” this ideology and taking steps against it. The detailed texture of Bush’s speech transforms the official American understanding of who the enemy is, moving it from the superficial and inadequate notion of “terrorism” to the far deeper concept of “Islamic radicalism.” This change has potentially enduring importance if finally, 26 years later, it convinces polite society to name the enemy.

Doing so means, for example, that immigration authorities and law enforcement can take Islam into account when deciding whom to let enter the country or whom to investigate for terrorism offences. Focusing on Muslims as the exclusive source of Islamists permits them finally to do their job adequately.

Despite these many advances, Bush’s speech is far from perfect. His quoting the Koran harks back to 2001, when he instructed Muslims about the true nature of their faith; his comment about extremists distorting “the idea of jihad” unfortunately implies that jihad is a good thing.

Most serious, though, is his limiting the “radical Islamic empire” (or caliphate) to just the Spain-to-Indonesia region, for Islamists have a global vision that requires control over non-Muslim countries too – and specifically the United States. Their universal ambitions certainly can be stopped, but first they must be understood and resisted. Only when Americans realize that the Islamists intend to replace the U.S. Constitution with Shari’a will they enter the fourth and final era of this war.

[goldstategop]

Daniel Pipes gives a thumbs-up to President Bush's courageous speech giving concrete definition to the War On Terror by defining the true nature of the enemy - but says it falls short of recognition that the Islamists' goal isn't confined to taking over the Islamic World aka the Spain-Indonesia area - the global aim of the enemy, like the Nazis before them, is to take over the free world as well and impose on it a totalitarian philosophy; this one embodied in the Shari'a. More work is needed since the West is effectively engaged in a Third World War. Winnning it requires perserverance and a willingness to stick to it in the long term til freedom's most dangerous enemy is histoire.

[thoughtomator]

“a religious ideology, a strain within the worldwide religion of Islam.”

To be perfectly clear, it's the dominant strain.

[aquila48]

Daniel Pipes gets it - thanks for the post.

[goldstategop]

Exactly. That's why more work is needed. But it is a good start towards getting rid of all the false myths and assumptions that have hobbled us in the War On Terror.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[thoughtomator]

When the next mega attack comes, we will look foolish for not having packed them all in crates and shipped them back where they came from.

[Yosemitest]

And this Daniel also testifies: (from an earlier post)

Prophesy passes in front of our face on TV and we sleep... Our preachers don't teach us what to look for.

An example (I'm a student and I could be wrong):

Daniel 11:40 - 12:4

40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. 41 He shall enter also into the glorious F88 land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. 42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. 44 But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. 45 And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious F89 holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

Daniel 12
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise F90 shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

FOOTNOTES: (Chapter 11)
F88: glorious...: or, goodly, etc.: Heb. land of delight, or, ornament
F89: glorious...: or, goodly, etc.: Heb. mountain of delight of holiness

FOOTNOTES:(Chapter 12)
F90: wise: or, teachers

Verse 40 "At the time of the end" ...Isn't this the time just before Christ returns? Notice verse 1 of chapter 12... the resurrection.

. Daniel 11:40 ... "push at"... I see the Sep 11, 2001 World Trade Center as a 'push at' situation. And didn't we "come against him' with almost everything we had?

Look at all the countries we're going into and compare it with verse 41 thru verse 43.

The question is in verse 44... what tidings will trouble us, perhaps 'confirmed nuclear weapons like suit-case bombs' in the hands of terrorist?

But all is NOT well, as we see in verse 45. Who is helping us now, and how long will they remain with us against this religious war?

And notice in verse 4 that the understanding may not be given until the end. Isn't knowledge increasing in leaps with todays' computer assisted study tools?

Forgive me if I'm wrong, I'm speaking as a man, a very concerned man.

[Jim Robinson]

"...the three-step Islamist drive to power: ending Western influence in the Muslim world, gaining control of Muslim governments, and establishing “a radical Islamic empire that spans from Spain to Indonesia.” Explained the “violent, political vision” of radical Islam as comprising an agenda “to develop weapons of mass destruction, to destroy Israel, to intimidate Europe, to assault the American people, and to blackmail our government into isolation.” Defined its ultimate goal: “to enslave whole nations and intimidate the world.” "

Bump!

[Yosemitest]

The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades is a must read for anyone trying to understand the enemy we face. A reviewer at Barnes and Nobles put it clearer than I can

R. Young, A reviewer, August 22, 2005,
Finally, Undiluted Truth
This bold book finally dares to give us the truth about Islam in crystal clear, easy to read, language. I found nothing in the book that was not easily verified and documented. The problem in the past has not been that the facts were unavailable but that they were unspeakable. Here they are spoken, and they need to be heard.

[Eurotwit]

Your thoughts...?

Certainly, I agree with Pipes that the rhetoric has improved. It was a good speech last week.

Cheers.

[Ninian Dryhope]

"Focusing on Muslims as the exclusive source of Islamists permits them finally to do their job adequately."

About time. We need to focus our attention and resources where the problem is and Islam is the problem.

[Ninian Dryhope]

"To be perfectly clear, it's the dominant strain."

True, and it is dominant because it is faithful to the original.

[gunnyg]

What's wrong with this picture?

"· Distinguished it from the religion of Islam."

No--declare war against Islam, not "radical islam"!

Only THEY can distinguish themselves from the radicals, and only if they choose to do so.

Did the U.S. declare war against only radical Germany? Or radical Japan?

WW II was our last declared war, btw--and, coincidentally, the last we won!

~SIMPLIFY~

[tkathy]

"Observed that Muslims themselves have the burden of doing the “most vital work” to fight Islamism."

Muslims must come to grips with the fact that they are the only ones ultimately that can stop islamofascism or destroy themselves and the world.

[TexasRedeye]

"When the next mega attack comes, we will look foolish for not having packed them all in crates and shipped them back where they came from."

Yes, ship them back - but only half way! I understand that the ocean depth is over their heads about there.

[Valin]

To be perfectly clear, it's the dominant strain.


According to DCaniel Pipes it's about 10-15%. HARDLY dominant.

[angkor]

The fourth era will also come when Congress provides a full declaration of war and "names the enemy", starting with the State Dept.'s "List of Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations".

http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/fs/37191.htm

[Kenton]

Only when Americans realize that the Islamists intend to replace the U.S. Constitution with Shari’a will they enter the fourth and final era of this war.

I think I got a new tage line...

[Kenton]

Only when Americans realize that the Islamists intend to replace the U.S. Constitution with Shari’a will they enter the fourth and final era of this war.

This deserves to be trumpeted from the Capitol Dome.

[Proud_texan]

"false myths and assumptions that have hobbled us in the War On Terror"

Well said.

The speech was long, long overdue. I'm glad it finally got made but I fear it's too late after all the years of, as you so well put it, the false myths and assumptions.

[Eagles6]

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