David Warren: Oncoming [cartoons - the most important thing since Al Qaeda attack on 9/11]

davidwarrenonline.com ^ | February 26, 2006 | David Warren

[Tolik]

This will be my 11th consecutive column, directly or indirectly on the “Danish cartoons” issue. The cartoons themselves were a red herring from the start -- a fake issue, trumped up by fanatical Muslims seeking grievances to abet a confrontation, and thereby extract concessions from the West. It is a fire, still being stoked around the world by radical “Islamists”, using shameless lies and misrepresentations. (See my previous columns.)

The reason I have written so copiously on this subject -- not the cartoons themselves, but what I have called the “organized apoplexy” in response to them -- is because it is important. In my judgement, it is the most important thing that has happened since the Al Qaeda attack on the United States, in 2001. It is important in combination with other fast-developing events, including the victory of the openly terrorist Hamas in a Palestinian election; Iran’s public promise to “wipe Israel off the map”; collapsing public order in Pakistan, Nigeria, and elsewhere; the recent Muslim riots, and continuing low-level Intifada in France; and now the destruction of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, triggering vicious sectarian strife in Iraq. And quite literally, hundreds of lesser events of the same nature -- each revealing an Islamic world in combustion, and a West retreating into contrived apologies and other confused gestures of cowardice and panic.

One cannot keep up with all these events -- the wheels of history are turning too quickly. The world in which we will find ourselves, a few years hence, will not resemble the world we inhabited a few years ago. Yet this is among the few predictions that can be safely made. The events will fall out as unpredictably as those Danish cartoons. The names, dates, and places are not yet recorded; but the shape and scale of events is already blotting the sun on our horizon.

Even after the experience of the Great War, and the Depression, people on the eve of the Hitler war could not appreciate what was coming. It is only in retrospect that we understand what happened as the 1930s progressed -- when a spineless political class, eager at any price to preserve a peace that was no longer available, performed endless demeaning acts of appeasement to the Nazis; while the Nazis created additional grievances to extract more.

This is precisely what is happening now, as we are confronted by the Islamist fanatics, whose views and demands are already being parroted by fearful “mainstream” Muslim politicians. We will do anything to preserve a peace that ceased to exist on 9/11. Not one of our prominent politicians dares even to name the enemy.

And from a mixture of fear of, and sympathy for, large, recent, Muslim immigrant communities in the West, we confuse domestic and foreign issues. I do not doubt the great majority of Muslims, in Canada and around the world, are decent, “moderate” people, who want no part in a “clash of civilizations”. But it has become obvious they can do nothing to stop the triumph of “Islamism” internationally, or oppose the fanatics proselytizing in their own communities.

Germany was full of moderate Germans, as Hitler rose; Stalin drove his oars through a sea of moderate Russians. While we must not forget that the Muslims are the first victims of “Islamism”, and may suffer most from its triumph, we are beyond the point where we can do more for them than destroy the tyranny by which they are enthralled.

Indeed, many Muslims, by birth or faith, remain our best allies, warning us as many fine Germans did of what is coming our way. For example, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the Somali-born politician in the Netherlands -- a magnificent young woman -- speaking recently in Berlin:

“Publication of the cartoons confirmed that there is widespread fear among authors, filmmakers, cartoonists, and journalists who wish to describe, analyze or criticize intolerant aspects of Islam all over Europe. It has also revealed the presence of a considerable minority in Europe who do not understand or will not accept the workings of liberal democracy. These people -- many of whom hold European citizenship -- have campaigned for censorship, for boycotts, for violence, and for new laws to ban 'Islamophobia'. … The issue is not about race, colour, or heritage. It is a conflict of ideas, which transcend borders and races.”

This was so, she added, when we were finally obliged to stand against the Nazis. It is true today, as we foolishly let the Islamist menace grow and grow.

[PeterPrinciple]

It is only in retrospect that we understand what happened as the 1930s progressed -- when a spineless political class, eager at any price to preserve a peace that was no longer available, performed endless demeaning acts of appeasement to the Nazis; while the Nazis created additional grievances to extract more.

When you are in school, you knew you were going to have to confront the bully, the only questions was when. Sooner is better.

[Tolik]

David Warren:

...people on the eve of the Hitler war could not appreciate what was coming. It is only in retrospect that we understand what happened as the 1930s progressed -- when a spineless political class, eager at any price to preserve a peace that was no longer available, performed endless demeaning acts of appeasement to the Nazis; while the Nazis created additional grievances to extract more.

This is precisely what is happening now, as we are confronted by the Islamist fanatics, whose views and demands are already being parroted by fearful “mainstream” Muslim politicians. We will do anything to preserve a peace that ceased to exist on 9/11. Not one of our prominent politicians dares even to name the enemy...

Nailed It!

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[Freedom of Speech Wins]

Bush has named the enemy, though arguably not broadly enough.

Great piece though.

[Lando Lincoln]

Thank you Tolik. Warren indeed, 'Nails It". The fact that no one in the political class speaks the name of the enemy is quite telling, isn't it? I believe that GWB is inclined to, but his advisors are telling him that , if it were to incite "rage" - along with attendant death and chaos - his political opponents would exploit it. So, it comes down to politics. Not until the next 9-11 will we even have a chance. I pray it does not come at the dear cost I fear it will.

Lando

[massadvj]

Excellent post.

This issue has been of great interest to me of late, and so I have taken the time to actually sit down and read the Koran, in order to understand the degree to which the philosophy of the "Islamofascists" coincides with the book itself.

Well, I am in shock. The ideas and philosophy of this book are as great a threat to Western Civilization as those in Mein Kampff or The Communist Manifesto, perhaps more so. The fact that millions of school children around the world are made to memorize its passages is an abomination. This is not a religion on a par with Budhism, Hunduism or Christianity. This is religion as revenge, religion as hate, religion that appeals to the worst inclinations of mankind.

Now it could be that moderate Muslims do not take many of the passages in the Koran seriously just as most Christians do not take much of the bible seriously. Nonetheless, the key distinction between the two religions is this: if I am a Christian, based on the philosophy of the New Testament, I will pray for the strength to forgive my enemies. If I am a Muslim, I will pay for the courage, based on the philosophy of the Koran, to kill my enemies.

This key distinction between the two religions may be, in the end, irreconcilable.

[little jeremiah]

Ping to self for later read.

[Tirian]

"Bush has named the enemy, though arguably not broadly enough"

I think Warren was limiting his comments to the Canadian leadership. Follow the link to his website and look at some of the other excellent columns, such as "Organized Apoplexy"

[Billthedrill]

With no disrespect intended toward the 3000 dead at the WTC, I think that the cartoon incident may in fact be even more of a watershed. I say that because in reply to the WTC atrocity we took down two sitting Moslem governments, and in response to the cartoon riots we - meaning the self-proclaimed keepers of freedom of speech, the media - capitulated.

This did no service toward those "moderate" Moslems (however few they may actually be) who now may be forgiven coming to the conclusion that death threats from their co-religionists should they speak out against them are quite real and that they will not be defended either by press or police. Under those circumstances it would be a very brave man or woman who would speak out.

For me the real revelation is simply how enervated and thoroughly rotten the intellectual structures of the West in general have become as a consequence of an unreasoning acceptance of the precepts of multiculturalism. This really is appeasement - give them what they want and they'll stop creating pain - and it is more than a little disturbing to see how nearly universal the capitulation has been.

It is also amusing to note who the true defenders of freedom of speech turn out to be - the radical left, the right "wing," the anarchists - nearly anyone but the mushy, fat, complacent, holier-than-thou liberal middle that is more than willing to rationalize any surrender of freedom lest it make waves. Should it come to the barricades you might find Gordon Liddy next to you or Christopher Hitchens or Nat Hentoff but Pinch Sulzberger will be cowering under his bed.

[Tolik]

Yes, and let me add that a large part of our population and probably majority of the other West believes that there is no war and no threat; and the Iraqi "quagmire" is just Bush's trumped up war for ____ [ fill in a grudge, like oil or whatever else]. And anyway all the problems in the world can be solved if Israel cease to exist and Yankee go home.

Even when some of them respond to a concrete problem at hand, they still don't see why we all so worked up. The only optimism I have is to believe that VDH is right saying that quietly they agree with what US doing, just don't want to say it.

[GOPJ]

Nonetheless, the key distinction between the two religions is this: if I am a Christian, based on the philosophy of the New Testament, I will pray for the strength to forgive my enemies. If I am a Muslim, I will pray for the courage, based on the philosophy of the Koran, to kill my enemies.

You're right -- the well springs seem incompatible...

[coydog]

That last line sounds like it should come out of the mouth of Lazarus Long. Heh.

[coydog]

It seems like everyone who stood in the gap were the bloggers, and the MSM stepped in it big time when they told viewers to go online to see what all the fuss was about. They were basically admitting their cowardice in the open.

[stinkerpot65]

Islam is evil.

[stinkerpot65]

Islam is evil.

[Rummyfan]

Excellent excellent post. Thanks!

[Billthedrill]

...the MSM stepped in it big time when they told viewers to go online to see what all the fuss was about.

Yes, exactly. The problem there is if we're going online to see the pictures, why should we go anywhere else for the news? Especially since it's now known that what we get from the MSM is incomplete. Dumb move, IMHO.

[FreedomPoster]

Interestingly, Dennis Prager wrote a column with almost the exact same theme over 3 years ago.

Majority of muslims are peaceful - so what?
http://www.townhall.com/opinion/columns/dennisprager/2002/11/05/164826.html
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/782621/posts

[NRA2BFree]

Bush has named the enemy, though arguably not broadly enough.

Yes, he did but then he turned around and renamed it the "religion of peace", and started having Ramadan dinners for Islam's followers at the White House!! How stupid was that?

[darth]

Are you another one of Mr. Heinlein's children? I am. His philosophy was a major influence on me. BTW, I got to have dinner with him in 1984! Now that's something to tell my grandchildren.