Our enemies know this grim truth: War has never become obsolete (Clifford D. May)

New Hampshire Union Leader ^ | 12/30/05 | Clifford D. May

[StoneGiant]

 

Our enemies know this grim truth: War has never become obsolete

By CLIFFORD D. MAY

TO BE FAIR to our enemies, they are only doing what comes naturally. We are the historical oddballs. Wars have been fought since time immemorial. The vast majority have been over power and resources, to defeat rival civilizations, to vanquish hated “others.”

“Man’s highest joy is victory: to conquer his enemies; to pursue them; to deprive them of their possessions; to make their beloved weep; to ride on their horses; and to embrace their wives and daughters,” Genghis Khan said.

Sure, grievances may be a contributing factor. The Germans were angry over the way France and Britain treated them after World War I. But it was to dominate the world — not to redress insults and injuries — that the Nazis left a trail of blood from one end of the continent to the other. Similarly, while workers may have gotten a raw deal in the Industrial Revolution, Bolsheviks and Maoists had more in mind than raising wages and securing health care for those who labored on assembly lines.

Nazis attempted to establish the rule of the “Aryan race.” Communists attempted to unite a broader swath of humanity: workers of the world as well as those whose fingernails were clean but who proclaimed themselves the proletariat’s vanguard.

Militant Islamism — the 21st century’s most dynamic and dangerous form of totalitarianism — is attempting to appeal to 1.2 billion Muslims living in more than a hundred countries. Non-Muslims are encouraged to convert. Indeed, Osama bin Laden expects many will, once it becomes clear which side in this global struggle has the stronger will to power.

Again, there are grievances to cite as justification: For the poverty, unemployment and oppression that plague many Muslim societies, Militant Islamists blame Christians, Jews, Hindus and the “apostate” Muslims who collaborate with these “infidels.” They charge that “Crusaders and Zionists” are stealing Islam’s resources.

The fact that a quarter century of rule by radical mullahs has left Iranians worse off than they were before the Islamist Revolution is eluded. That Saudi and Gulf sheiks are among the wealthiest individuals in the world does not, in the radical mind, contradict these claims.

Bin Laden and his ideological brethren promise that the conflict that has begun will not end until Muslims have the lands, power and status they demand and deserve. Lesser peoples are to be annihilated or subjugated. The Caliphate (the ancient empire established by Mohammed in the 7th century) is to rise again — and mosques will be built where churches and synagogues now stand.

Tolerance and mutual respect among the great religions are, in their view, ludicrous concepts. More than that: They are blasphemous because they put the true religion on an equal footing with false faiths. Only one aspect of all this is new and novel: the Western conviction that that it is passe to wage war in pursuit of such objectives.

Most Americans and Europeans cannot imagine fighting other than in self-defense or against severe oppression. That is admirable; less so the lack of imagination that leads so many in the West to “mirror-image,” to delude themselves into believing that everyone sees the world as they do.

To win a war requires more than boots and bullets. It requires understanding the enemy’s motives and goals, and perceiving how intensely he is committed to victory. Postmodern Americans and Europeans may believe wars of conquest are obsolete, a discarded relic of the distant past. They may even see war itself as an aberration, an unnatural disruption of what they have convinced themselves is the “normal” state of peaceful coexistence.

But our enemies view the world differently. Their perspective is of an older vintage. “The ordinary theme and argument of all history is war,” observed Sir Walter Raleigh in the early 17th century. Wishing that were no longer true does not make it so.

We infidels pretend otherwise at our peril.

Clifford D. May, a former New York Times foreign correspondent, is the president of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a policy institute focusing on terrorism.

 

[Gay State Conservative]

As long as there are men,there will be wars because as long as there are men,there will be evil men,and evil men will *always* find away to win power over counties,or armies or large quantities of weapons.

[CarrotAndStick]

I've posted this elsewhere, but the issue is more relevant by the day:

http://www.dawn.com/weekly/mazdak/20051203.htm

Conversion losses




By Irfan Husain

MEET Sanno Amra and his wife Champa: a middle-aged Hindu couple. They live in a small, simple but spotlessly clean home in Karachi’s Punjab Colony.

Until six weeks ago, they lived with their five children, reasonably content with their lot. Sanno worked as a chauffeur, and his wife cooked for a family. On October 18, their lives suddenly fell apart: Champa returned home from work to discover that her three oldest daughters were missing — Reena (21), Usha (19) and Rima (17) had seemingly vanished without a trace. This is any parent’s worst nightmare, but the couple’s woes had only begun.

After searching frantically for the girls, they went to the local police station where the SHO put them off without registering a case. A couple of days later, they met the deputy superintendent of police for Clifton. This proved to be the only bright spot in the entire tragic episode, for DSP Raza Shah went out of his way to help. He forced his subordinates to file an FIR, and his intervention was invaluable in ensuring the safety of the parents. And just for the record, the MQM ‘sector-in- charge’ also lent them his organisation’s support.

On October 22, a police FIR for kidnapping was duly prepared, naming three young men from the neighbourhood as the principal suspects. Immediately, Sanno and his wife started getting threats from their neighbours. Earlier they had never had any problems, although they were the only Hindu family in a predominantly Muslim locality. But now, the same people were pressuring them to remove the names of the local boys from the FIR.

Within days, they received a package by courier containing three identical affidavits signed by their daughters, stating that they had converted to Islam of their own free will. The declaration concluded: “That since my parents are Hindu and after conversion of my religion, it is not possible for me to live and pass my life in Hindu system/society [sic] and therefore, I have decided to live separately...”

According to their affidavits, the girls (now calling themselves Afshan, Anam and Nida) were living in the hostel of the Madarsa Taleem-ul-Quran, and were being instructed by a local moulvi. On November 10, a court order directed the police and the administrators of the seminary to arrange a meeting between the girls and their parents.

When Sanno and Champa finally met their daughters, they were shocked to see that they were in burqas that concealed them from head to toe, leaving only their eyes uncovered. The eyes of the youngest girl were bloodshot from weeping. At this supposedly private meeting, a dour woman was present throughout as were a moulvi and a couple of cops. In subdued voices muffled by heavy fabric, the girls said they wanted to stay where they were.

Understandably, the parents are convinced that their daughters were under pressure. In fact, they simply cannot come to terms with the notion that their children have not only abandoned them, but also the faith they grew up in. As far as they are concerned, their daughters have been brainwashed. Interestingly, the girls have cited “religious channels on TV” as the reason for their conversion.

Since their daughters left, Sanno and Champa have not returned to their jobs. They stay at home with Suraj and Arti, their young son and daughter and wait for news. Apart from their neighbours, they have also been isolated by their own community. According to Sanno, other Hindus look down on them because of their girls’ apparent conversion. Face, that most pernicious of Asian values, has been lost.

I spoke to DSP Raza Shah and asked him if in his opinion, any pressure had been brought to bear on the girls. He was sure it had been a voluntary conversion, adding that it was very possible that neighbours might have influenced them. The parents are clear that their daughters never watched TV in their presence, nor did they ever discuss the possibility of a conversion. According to Vijay, a relative, twenty girls from the Hindu community had converted to Islam in the last five years.

Talking to the parents in their simple home, I could feel their pain and their distress. “We just sit and stare at each other”, Sanno said. “For us, life is over.” Above all, they want the certainty of the knowledge that their daughters did not abandon them voluntarily. They went back to the madressah recently where they were refused access to their daughters. “Even if they have become Muslims, we are still their parents,” Champa said tearfully. The moulvi at the madressah, instead of being sympathetic, invited Sammo and Champa to convert as well.

What the stricken parents are looking for is closure: once they are satisfied that their daughters will never come home again, they will learn to live with their grief. But for this to happen, they want the girls to be moved to neutral ground like the Edhi orphanage where they can meet them without the coercive presence of moulvis and cops. But this request has been turned down by a judge.

Vijay has shared the family’s tribulations, and is understandably bitter. “Mr Jinnah had promised the minorities equal rights and protection. But it seems his promises were buried with him,” he maintains. Given the spate of conversions, some voluntary, some forced, the insecurity among the minorities, especially among Sindhi Hindus, is understandable.

Even if most of these conversions are not at gunpoint, they still take place in an overpowering environment of religiosity. Religious programmes on every private and public TV channel must leave an imprint on young minds. The need to conform at school and college where religion casts a constant shadow, must exert a subtle influence on non-Muslim students. And in a society based on faith, the minorities have been marginalized to the point where they are tempted to convert simply to get ahead in life.

But Sammo and Champa are not concerned with the larger issues regarding the place and fate of the minorities in Pakistan. All they want is justice. For them this involves being able to spend time alone with their beloved daughters, free from pressure and coercion, and to satisfy themselves that they took this drastic step on their own. Surely in a state that aspires to General Musharraf’s oft-touted ideal of ‘enlightened moderation’, this should not be too much to ask for.

[Dark Skies]

Tolerance and mutual respect among the great religions are, in their view, ludicrous concepts. More than that: They are blasphemous because they put the true religion on an equal footing with false faiths. Only one aspect of all this is new and novel: the Western conviction that that it is passe to wage war in pursuit of such objectives.

Another excellent piece by Clifford May. Thanks for posting it!

[2banana]

Bin Laden and his ideological brethren promise that the conflict that has begun will not end until Muslims have the lands, power and status they demand and deserve. Lesser peoples are to be annihilated or subjugated. The Caliphate (the ancient empire established by Mohammed in the 7th century) is to rise again — and mosques will be built where churches and synagogues now stand.

What the religion of peace and tolerance really wants...

[CarrotAndStick]

What the religion of peace and tolerance really wants...

PS: This is an actual poster found in a madrassa in Pakistan.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

They are after our children...
and our deaths.

In his own words in early 2003 Osama bin Laden personally declared that in this new World War he has declared on us...

it is now is the World's...


Communists & Muslims


..vs..


the World's...


Christians & Jews.


Nothing less than this..!!!


President BUSH has responded by promising FREEDOM for the oppressed peoples & cultures of the world in a new LIBERTY Century...

...while aiming us back for a walk on Earth's moon, that the muslims worship, and then on to the planet Mars.

Bringing those still living in the 7th Century A.D. on Earth along for the ride.


Amazing times, these..?

.

[ozdragon]

I am a big fan of the use of gasoline in copious quantities to be used as a funigant at the Madras.

[Calpernia]

>>>>Within days, they received a package by courier containing three identical affidavits signed by their daughters, stating that they had converted to Islam of their own free will. The declaration concluded: “That since my parents are Hindu and after conversion of my religion, it is not possible for me to live and pass my life in Hindu system/society [sic] and therefore, I have decided to live separately...”<<<

Everytime I think I understand one of the rules....the rules are changed.

I thought all Hindus were suppose to be murdered and NOT converted because they worshipped idols?

And the Jews and Christians were to be converted and taken as slaves?

Does anyone that is Muslim understand their own rules?

[10mm]

I, for one, do not think we should wait for our cities to become smoking ruins before exterminating our enemies with extreme prejudice.

It's time the planet is cured of the worldwide mental illness known as Islam. Destroy every Islamic holy site. Vaporize Mecca, Medina, Qom, Damascus, Tehran, Riyadh, Islamabad, Mogadishu and their disgusting mosque in our "Holy City" of Jerusalem.

Demonstrate to them that Allah, their false moon-god, is worthless and impotent. Destroying their faith is the only way to win this war.

Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Tokyo, Berlin, Dresden. We haven't had much trouble from the Japanese or Germans lately. MacArthur and Patton must be spinning in their graves over our failure to learn from history.

5000 years of recorded history proves conclusively that "Peace" can never be "negotiated". The losers must beg for it.

[Calpernia]

????

Wow! How much caffine have you had this morning???

[10mm]

Actually, it was a copy/paste of a comment I made yesterday. THAT was a heavily caffeinated day! :^)

[Calpernia]

I know a caffinated influenced comment when I see one!

[PsyOp]

Everytime I think I understand one of the rules....the rules are changed.

Deliberately vague in many instances, the Koran means what your imam says it means. Besides, anything goes with regard to infidels. As long as they accept Islam, even idolators will be allowed to live.

Mohammed, The Mad Poet Quoted....

[Tolik]

Nailed It!

This ping list is not author-specific for articles I'd like to share. Some for the perfect moral clarity, some for provocative thoughts; or simply interesting articles I'd hate to miss myself. (I don't have to agree with the author all 100% to feel the need to share an article.) I will try not to abuse the ping list and not to annoy you too much, but on some days there is more of the good stuff that is worthy of attention. You can see the list of articles I pinged to lately  on  my page.
You are welcome in or out, just freepmail me (and note which PING list you are talking about). Besides this one, I keep 2 separate PING lists for my favorite authors Victor Davis Hanson and Orson Scott Card.  

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Wurlitzer]

I hope someone is the keeper of the GPS coordinates of the front steps of every mosque world wide.

[10mm]

Locate the enemy in your own backyard.

IslamicFinder

[nw_arizona_granny]

No, I do not understand it.

Unless someone wanted them to be muslim wives.

[nw_arizona_granny]

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