An ultimate State Department Arabist

IMRA ^ | 25 December 2005

[SJackson]

Excerpts: An ultimate State Department Arabist 25 December 2005

BITTERLEMONS-INTERNATIONAL Middle East Roundtable:22 Dec,'05:

"The main concern is terrorism" by Thomas R.Pickering*

QUOTES FROM TEXT:

"To some extent, those bent on understanding and reconciliation in the United States face not only their own limitations in influence ... but those of their colleagues and friends within the circle of Islam.

Leadership there seems to have been hijacked by the extremists "mesmerized by the words 'Judeo-Christian heritage', they seek to find common cause with the Jewish presence in the Holy Land." "denial that the Allah of Islam is the shared common God of all three faiths."

"look at the decades of history when Islam and the West coexisted"

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EXCERPTS: ... Islam has become of special interest to many in the West. ... is a hot-button topic.

What does the West ... think about Islam? ... . The main source of concern relates to terrorism. The major focus, from Bali to Baghdad and from Madrid to Mazar-e-Sharif, has been on the intimate linkage between Islamic fundamentalists and the use of the terror tactic. So much so, that events like Oklahoma City (where American extremists were tried and found guilty) and the fateful assassination of Yitzhak Rabin (involving Jewish extremists) are almost passed over or ignored. [IMRA: Rabin's assassination is far from "passed over or ignored". It is memorialized and remains an ever-fresh memory for Israelis. However, the assassination of Sadat and Abdullah I of Jordan are hardly noted.]

A second dimension ...extends beyond Islamic fundamentalists to Islam as a whole. While President Bush seems careful, after having made his "crusade" allusion several years ago, to distinguish between Islam and terrorism, others are not. Some readings of parts of the US press can certainly lead to the malign and in my view badly mistaken conclusion that the war on terrorism has become a war on Islam. That would be an unparalleled tragedy and one probably sought by our enemies, the progenitors of terrorism, coming from groups such as al-Qaeda and its affiliates and supporters around the world. ...

...others are taking a different and somewhat more sophisticated approach. It remains, however, sequestered for the moment among academics who have studied Islam, diplomats who have sought understanding and cooperation with our friends in the Arab and Muslim world, and groups of religious leaders seeking reconciliation, cooperation where possible, and mutual understanding as a basis for avoiding the calamities of mindless confrontation. Their success so far has been limited and sporadic, but they continue to work at the task.

To some extent, those bent on understanding and reconciliation in the United States face not only their own limitations in influence ..., but those of their colleagues and friends within the circle of Islam. Leadership there seems to have been hijacked by the extremists; the press regularly dotes on their confrontational public declarations to the pleasure, I am sure, of those who seek wider confrontation. Here, those working to build bridges often express the need for "a little help from their friends", but what they receive comes often on a personal basis and in conferences behind closed doors and blinded windows.

Nor, on the western side, is all necessarily well in the religion department. There are ... some among the Christian right who seek their own form of association with the Middle East and the issues of the religious divide. Often mesmerized by the words "Judeo-Christian heritage", they seek to find common cause with the Jewish presence in the Holy Land and champion it because of their belief that postulates a pre-messianic presence of Israel in the Holy Land.

What happens after that is more problematic. However, the present expressions of these views give rise ... to unquestioning support for the settlements in the "territories" ... and in a diametrically opposed fashion, the creation of antagonism and animosity toward Islam. For example, there is a rejection among some in this community of the commonality among the three Abrahamic--or, for the sake of balance, "Ibrahimic"--faiths, of belief in a single, common deity, and a denial that the Allah of Islam is the shared common God of all three faiths.

... Many who have analyzed the growing divide insist that the heat and emotion of the present will subside over time. Others, more activist in their course, seek the leaders, the understanding, and the dialogue with Islam that can help to temper the confrontation and relieve the apparently growing divisions. The latter course seems only right under the circumstances. The world as seen from East and West is too interconnected, too interdependent, and now too closely related to be torn apart by eleventh century-style religious controversy. One has only to look at the decades of history when Islam and the West coexisted to understand the value and the necessity of this wiser course.- Published 22/12/2005 © bitterlemons-international.org

*Thomas R. Pickering's long career at the US State Department included postings as ambassador at the UN, the Russian Federation, India, Israel and Jordan, and culminated in the position of under secretary of state for political affairs. After retirement became Senior Vice President, International Relations, Boeing Aircraft January,2001.

[English Nationalist]

"look at the decades of history when Islam and the West coexisted"

That would be those decades when through intimdation and outright violence we managed to keep them subdued.

[txhurl]

That would be the decades before the automobile.

[Dark Skies]

Excellent post at illustrating the outdated view that people like Pickering have of islam. His background in diplomacy and his lifelong experience in "understanding" other cultures makes him congenitally INCAPABLE of looking directly at the face of hatred and evil of real islam.

Are all muslims bad...of course not. But the core of islam that al-Wahab and those like him sought to and still seek to return to is the very epitome of hellishness.

Pickering's attitude is the inverse of "throwing out the baby with the bath-water"...

"...he wants to let a pack of wolves enter the house because they are remotedly related to the family dog."

[Lurker]

I think I have a new tagline.

L

[JimSEA]

Some readings of parts of the US press can certainly lead to the malign and in my view badly mistaken conclusion that the war on terrorism has become a war on Islam.

postulates a pre-messianic presence of Israel in the Holy Land

there is a rejection among some in this community of the commonality among the three Abrahamic--or, for the sake of balance, "Ibrahimic"--faiths, of belief in a single, common deity, and a denial that the Allah of Islam is the shared common God of all three faiths.

First point, it is concerning that Islam is becoming a war on all non-Muslims as the attack has been in that direction. In most cases, the moving force has been Islamic.

Just where was Israel if not in the holy lands, I don't really understand this point unless the author is totally delusional.

Finally, the "revelations" about God made by the "One Prophet Muhammad" certainly do not fit with my concept of God.

[Matchett-PI]

We need to clean house at the State Department, the CIA, and everywhere else the Arabists are entrenched in the government bureaucracy. They are the ones who tried to stop President Bush from fighting the War on Terror, and are still working, along with their friends in the media, and Congress, to undermine him.

[Dark Skies]

With my blessings! Tell me what you are thinking of?

[tet68]

Islam and the west co-existed? Who knew?

[SJackson]

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[Fred Nerks]

AKA Thomas Reeve Pickering

Born: 5-Nov-1931 Birthplace: Orange, NJ

Gender: Male Ethnicity: White Sexual orientation: Straight Occupation: Diplomat

Nationality: United States Executive summary: US Ambassador

Military service: US Navy (1956-59)

Prior to his long series of foreign assignments, Pickering served as special assistant to Secretaries of State William P. Rogers and Henry Kissinger (1973-74).

Co-chaired the Council on Foreign Relations task force that produced Iraq: The Day After in March 2003. The report contained specific 30 recommendations for postwar policy, all of which were apparently ignored by the Bush administration.

Speaks French, Spanish, Swahili, Arabic, and Hebrew.

University: BA History, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME (1953) University: MA, Tufts University (1954) University: MA, University of Melbourne, Australia (1956)

http://www.nndb.com/people/675/000061492/

Looks like GWB wisely 'misunderestimated' him!

[Cicero]

Speaks French, Spanish, Swahili, Arabic, and Hebrew.

Smart but stupid.

[Fred Nerks]

"One has only to look at the decades of history when Islam and the West coexisted to understand the value and the necessity of this wiser course.-"

I comfort myself with his date of birth in 1931. He's stupid if not senile and will meet his maker soon.

THE HISTORY OF ONE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED YEARS OF MUHAMMADANISM:

The Jihad against Arabs (622 to 634)

The Jihad against Zoroastrian Persians of Iran, Baluchistan and Afghanistan (634 to 651)

The Jihad against the Byzantine Christians (634 to 1453)

The Jihad against Christian Coptic Egyptians (640 to 655)

The Jihad against Christian Coptic Nubians - modern Sudanese (650)

The Jihad against pagan Berbers - North Africans (650 to 700)

The Jihad against Spaniards (711 to 730)

The Reconquista against Jihad in Spain (730 to 1492)

The Jihad against Franks - modern French (720 to 732)

The Jihad against Sicilians in Italy (812 to 940)

The Jihad against Chinese (751)

The Jihad against Turks (651 to 751)

The Jihad against Armenians and Georgians (1071 to 1920)

The Crusade against Jihad (1096 – 1291 ongoing)

The Jihad against Mongols (1260 to 1300)

The Jihad against Hindus of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh (638 to 1857)

The Jihad against Indonesians and Malays (1450 to 1500)

The Jihad against Poland (1444 to 1699)

The Jihad against Rumania (1350 to 1699)

The Jihad against Russia (1500 to 1853)

The Jihad against Bulgaria (1350 to 1843)

The Jihad against Serbs, Croats and Albanians (1334 to 1920)

The Jihad against Greeks (1450 to 1853)

The Jihad against Albania (1332 - 1853)

The Jihad against Croatia (1389 to 1843)

The Jihad against Hungarians (1500 to 1683)

The Jihad against Austrians (1683)

Jihad in the Modern Age (20th and 21st Centuries)

The Jihad against Israelis (1948 – 2004 ongoing)

The Jihad against Americans (9/11/2001)

The Jihad against the British (1947 onwards)

The Jihad against the Germans (1945 onwards)

The Jihad against the Indians (1947 onwards)

The Jihad against the Filipinos in Mindanao(1970 onwards)

The Jihad against Indonesian Christians in Malaku and East Timor (1970 onwards)

The Jihad against Russians (1995 onwards)

The Jihad against Dutch and Belgians (2003 onwards)

The Jihad against Norwegians and Swedes (2003 onwards)

The Jihad against Thais (2003 onwards)

The Jihad against Nigerians (1965 onwards)

The Jihad against Canadians (2001 onwards)

The Jihad against Latin America (2003 onwards)

The Jihad against Australia (2002 onwards)

The Global Jihad today (2001 – ongoing)

The War on Terror against Jihad today (2001– ongoing)


http://www.historyofjihad.org/

[American in Israel]

"denial that the Allah of Islam is the shared common God of all three faiths."

Satanism is the fourth great monothiestic faith... Thats two on one side and two on the other.

[familyop]

Pickering's mindset looks too much like that of Pickthall's, IMO.

[papertyger]

I honestly wonder which is more entrenched by doctinaire ideologues...Marxism by academics, or Detente' by diplomats.

[Lurker]

Check it out.

L

[Dark Skies]

lol...looks good! And ain't it the truth.