Al-Qaeda is losing the war of minds

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/47bd1adc-e9f5-11dc-b3c9-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1 ^

[stickman20089]

.. in large measure because of what is unfolding in Iraq, the tide within the Islamic world is beginning to run strongly against al-Qaeda – and this, in turn, may be the single most important ideological development in recent years.

In November 2007 Sayyid Imam al-Sharif (“Dr Fadl”) published his book, Rationalizations on Jihad in Egypt and the World, in serialised form. Mr Sharif, who is Egyptian, argues that the use of violence to overthrow Islamic governments is religiously unlawful and practically harmful. He also recommends the formation of a special Islamic court to try Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda’s number two and its ideological leader, and calls the attacks on September 11 2001 a “catastrophe for all Muslims”.

Mr Sharif’s words are significant because he was once a mentor to Mr Zawahiri. Mr Sharif, who wrote the book in a Cairo prison, is “a living legend within the global jihadist movement”, according to Jarret Brachman, a terrorism expert.

[stickman20089]

According to a July 2007 report from the Pew Global Attitudes Project, “large and growing numbers of Muslims in the Middle East and elsewhere [are] rejecting Islamic extremism”. The percentage of Muslims saying suicide bombing is justified in the defence of Islam has declined in seven of the eight Arab countries where trend data are available. In Lebanon, for example, 34 per cent of Muslims say such suicide bombings are often or sometimes justified; in 2002, 74 per cent expressed this view. We are also seeing large drops in support for Mr bin Laden. These have occurred since the Iraq war began.

[FocusNexus]

“During a recent Democratic debate, for example, Mr Obama declared: “We are seeing al-Qaeda stronger now than at any time since 2001.” Mrs Clinton says President George W. Bush’s policies in Iraq have “emboldened our enemies”. We should leave Iraq, she says, so we can better focus on the threat of al-Qaeda.

In fact, in large measure because of what is unfolding in Iraq, the tide within the Islamic world is beginning to run strongly against al-Qaeda - and this, in turn, may be the single most important ideological development in recent years.”

This is what’s at stake at this election — do we insist on victory, or do we snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory and surrender to the terrorists.

[Irish Rose]

Mr Sharif, who is Egyptian, argues that the use of violence to overthrow Islamic governments is religiously unlawful and practically harmful.

We're all so proud. Now if only they would declare violently overthrowing infidel governments "religiously unlawful".

I know "does not slaughter fellow Muslims" is an improvement over "does slaughter fellow Muslims", but let's keep some perspective. It's not as if Islam has experienced a Sermon on the Mount moment, with a newfound commandment to love one's enemies. The war on terror goes on.

[MaxMax]

I doubt there’s any outrage over the use of retarded and pregnant women
for suicide/terrorist bombings.

[Fred Nerks]

Sounds like a hudna to me...

[Rennes Templar]

W has almost single-handedly reversed a cancer that was growing on the world. The toughest job ever for a Pres and he gets no thanks.

[Tut]

ping

[Cacique]

btt

[Lancey Howard]

Heh. They’re also getting their heads blown off.

[M. Espinola]

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at a naval college in Lahore, a city in eastern Pakistan, killing four people and wounding at least 14, officials said. Pakistani security officials examined the scene after the attack. Photo: K.M. Chaudary/Associated Press

[LZ_Bayonet]

"W has almost single-handedly reversed a cancer that was growing on the world. The toughest job ever for a Pres and he gets no thanks."

Correct! But he will when doing so will not result in a political gain or loss. He may have to wait for the history books.

[Kaslin]

That needs to be rubbed in to Bendung

[50sDad]

The percentage of Muslims saying suicide bombing is justified in the defence of Islam has declined in seven of the eight Arab countries where trend data are available.

Please inform the Democrats that this is precisely because the very people inclined to say that it is justified are the people that our "Islamic Roach Motel" policies in Iraq are designed to lure into the country where we may kill them at our leisure.

[Jabba the Nutt]

It may end up that Muslims immigrants in the West will be the big terrorism problem. They are further away from gaining power and they are surrounded by infidels, their enemy, every day. It’s easier to push an “us vs. them” idea, when the infidel is in your face daily. It’s harder to maintain that, while watching the Muslim jihadists slaughter Muslims on a daily basis in countries like Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan. With satellite tv now, that info gets out to the rest of the Muslim world too.

[sr4402]

I doubt there’s any outrage over the use of retarded and pregnant women for suicide/terrorist bombings.

They view them as property with no souls who can be disposed of.

[roses of sharon]

Yes, President Bush could have “made the Middle East glass”, after 9/11.

Or he could have just gone to Afghanistan and held on to his 90% approval rating. Where we would have had Saddam and Sons directing and funding attacks on us and the Afghan citizens (as Iraq did in Israel for decades), and our troops would still be trudging around in Hazmat uniforms fearing Saddam’s WMDs.

Instead GWB, and (Blair and Howard), went to Iraq to get rid of the WMD threat, and give any moderates who wanted it a chance to defeat the Islamic Cultists who have ruled their way of life in the ME for so long that modernity was non-exsistant. To show the world it could be done.

And if the moderates ultimately win, Islam has a chance to evolve into a civilized way of life.

If the moderates (and us) lose in the end, our next few Presidents had better be ruthless SOBs in order to deal with it.

Unfortunately Rudy Guiliani, Fred Thompson and Duncan Hunter, are out, and now we have McCain, Clinton or Hussein.

Let us pray that if McCain wins he has the guts to make enemies of the world, as this President has so bravely done.

[Niuhuru]

I don’t know about you, but I thank him all the time when I pray.

[USF]

The RoPers were laughing their a$$es off at this on their forums a while back.

Its widely reported and recognized in their circles that these “new suggestions” Sayyid Imam al-Sharif were and his collective recent writings, including the book referred to in the article above (”Rationalizations on Jihad...”) were all produced from his jail cell under duress!

While its true, he has ideological differences with the likes of Zawahiri, its because he supports the muslim brotherhood model for overthrow over kuffarocracy with sharia.

Their are still devoted to the islamic obligations of territorial expansion and defeat of the kuffar.

[USF]

Make that:

Its widely reported and recognized in their circles that these “new suggestions” of Sayyid Imam al-Sharif and his collective recent writings, including the book referred to in the article above (”Rationalizations on Jihad...”) were all produced from his jail cell under duress!