Can the West defeat the Islamist threat? Here are ten reasons why not

Times Online ^ | September 09, 2006 | David Selbourne

[Iris7]

LET US SUPPOSE, for the sake of argument, that the war declared by al-Qaeda and other Islamists is under way. Let us further suppose that thousands of “terrorist” attacks carried out in Islam’s name during the past decades form part of this war; and that conflicts that have spread to 50 countries and more, taking the lives of millions — including in inter-Muslim blood-shedding — are the outcome of what Osama bin Laden has called “conducting jihad for the sake of Allah”.

If such war is under way, there are ten good reasons why, as things stand, Islam will not be defeated in it.

1) The first is the extent of political division in the non-Muslim world about what is afoot. Some reject outright that there is a war at all; others agree with the assertion by the US President that “the war we fight is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century”. Divided counsels have also dictated everything from “dialogue” to the use of nuclear weapons, and from reliance on “public diplomacy” to “taking out Islamic sites”, Mecca included. Adding to this incoherence has been the gulf between those bristling to take the fight to the “terrorist” and those who would impede such a fight, whether from domestic civil libertarian concerns or from rivalrous geopolitical calculation.

[BW2221]

This guy couldn't be more correct. I'm sure his paper will be fined for publishing "hate speech" in the UK.

Anyone wish to accompany me to his funeral next week? Will there be two ceremonies - one for his head and another for the rest of his body?

[steve-b]

Doctrines of market freedom, free choice and competition — or "freedom ’n’ liberty" — are no match for the ethics of Islam and Sharia, like them or not.

What's the author's DU handle? (Heck, this level of moral treason goes above and beyond that of the ordinary DUmmie -- could he be Skinner? benburch? Will Pitt?)

This article is not defeatist

Bull$#!^.

[BW2221]

Keep telling yourself that when you're living in the Caliphate.

[BW2221]

I have read a great deal of Robert Spencer. My guess is that he would agree with most of the article.

[Iris7]

I left in February '68 and just missed the peak by a few days. Our lads (once one myself) kicked ass. The VC were destroyed. Then Cronkite and his ilk destroyed us.

Unfortunately the enemy intends to destroy us now in the same way he did then. The same enemy, and the same strategy, that beat us in 1968.

Am I willing to fight? Getting a bit old, but am trying to rally the troops for the job ahead. Comes time for bullets I will do my best.

[I see my hands]

"Guess what's gonna happen?"

My guess is siesta.

[varon]

3) Indeed, the third reason why Islam will not be defeated, as things stand, is the low level of Western leadership, in particular in the United States. During the half-century of the Islamic revival, it has shown itself at sixes and sevens both diplomatically and militarily. It has been without a sense of strategic direction, and been unable to settle upon coherent war plans. It has even lacked the gifts of language to make its purposes plain. Or, as Burke put it in March, 1775, “a great empire and little minds go ill together”. In this war with Islam, if it is a war, the combination bodes defeat.

[Renegade]

All the reason to use tactical nukes and end this crap once and for all.

[Stepan12]

I have read a great deal of Robert Spencer. My guess is that he would agree with most of the article.

If I'm ever fortunate enough to run into the great man, I'd have more pressing things to ask him about than this article.

[Iris7]

This war has found me a bit old but has not found me unwilling. Perhaps we will meet again.

[camas]

if islam is so great how come they want to come to a Christian country??? they are so inbred they will never amount to any more then what they are now, a bunch of lazy rage heads

[steve-b]

May I reiterate that although I find this analysis unpleasant I also find it convincing?

Your intellectual limitations are not my problem.

Reading your defense of this defeatist clap-trap, I see the basic problem with your viewpoint. You are a romantic who disdains the technologies that make "sacrifice" on the home front and "heroics" on the battlefield increasingly irrelevant:

Miniver Cheevy
Edwin Arlington Robinson

Miniver Cheevy, child of scorn,
Grew lean while he assailed the seasons
He wept that he was ever born,
And he had reasons.

Miniver loved the days of old
When swords were bright and steeds were prancing;
The vision of a warrior bold
Would send him dancing.

Miniver sighed for what was not,
And dreamed, and rested from his labors;
He dreamed of Thebes and Camelot,
And Priam's neighbors.

Miniver mourned the ripe renown
That made so many a name so fragrant;
He mourned Romance, now on the town,
And Art, a vagrant.

Miniver loved the Medici,
Albeit he had never seen one;
He would have sinned incessantly
Could he have been one.

Miniver cursed the commonplace
And eyed a khaki suit with loathing:
He missed the medieval grace
Of iron clothing.

Miniver scorned the gold he sought,
But sore annoyed was he without it;
Miniver thought, and thought, and thought,
And thought about it.

Miniver Cheevy, born too late,
Scratched his head and kept on thinking;
Miniver coughed, and called it fate,
And kept on drinking.

[RightWhale]

Islamists are a threat to moslems, too, and the sooner the moslems deal with this the sooner it will be over with. The West will continue to try to assimilate islamists and everything else and that may take forever.

[hotshu]

Not particularly interesting if you'r caught in the crossfire.

Unless you happen to be among the few who are armed and willing to pick off offenders of both persuasions.

[Iris7]

I recollect some men I have known, "Hispanics", who were as good as any I recall ever meeting. I recollect a lad from years ago - I was old enough to be his daddy - that I would still be proud to serve under. Recollect an Anglo young woman even younger who was going to be a Naval Officer. Same goes for her.

[Iris7]

All too true.

Years ago I swore to defend the Constitution against all enemies whether foreign or domestic. Enemies.

[rodguy911]

Very interesting and scary stuff here good catch.

[StAnDeliver]

"Such belief therefore makes an absurdity of the project to “democratise” Muslim nations in the West’s interests"

Bogus. Turkey gets it done, precisely because we in the West pimpslap Erdoðan every time he gets out of line. That's a model worth following in every worthless ME oil state out there.

[Twinkie]

I told someone the other day that we might need the Latinos to help us fight off the terrorists.

[Dallas59]

David Selbourne has a new name...Muhammad Selbourne