America's Burden

US News & World Report ^ | 09/09/2002 | Fouad Ajami

[dark_lord]

It was the fate of an American president raised in Midland, Texas, to come into a great burden, to prosecute the 21st century's first war in an Islamic world given to a malignant anti-Americanism...A country not particularly skilled in the ways of foreign chameleons and intriguers had no choice but to be pulled into the minefields and alleyways of strange places...there are vast multitudes out there, even in "friendly" lands, who winked at the terror and said in sly, insinuating ways that America had finally gotten its comeuppance...From Morocco to Indonesia, the people of Islam are 1.2 billion, a fifth of mankind. The preachers prey upon the gullible among them, and the faith is sharpened into a weapon...In the shadows, preachers and plotters tell the most brazen and vile lies about America. We are innocent, unimplicated in their histories and current maladies, but they tell their children different tales. We are their demons in a drawn-out, twilight war.

[dark_lord]

It looks like we may be moving into a major, century long clash between the West and Islam. For the complete article:

America's Burden

[sinkspur]

The Allies had to kill 100,000 Japanese civilians to choke the Nippon bloodlust.

If it takes 100 times that many Muslims, so be it.

[What Is Ain't]

Very insightful piece.

[Hugin]

In their politesse, our leaders keep saying that this is not a war against Islam. But there is a terrible new force in Islamic lands: a political radicalism dressed in religious garb, and this force will have to be thwarted just as America ground down communism. From Morocco to Indonesia, the people of Islam are 1.2 billion, a fifth of mankind. The preachers prey upon the gullible among them, and the faith is sharpened into a weapon.

Ideologically, the rehabilitation of modern Islam, its accommodation with modernity, is a matter for the Muslims themselves. But there is, alas, an unavoidable American burden and calling. This land that is so reluctant to engage in military adventures abroad is fated to do military duty and to stand sentry in hostile places. In the shadows, preachers and plotters tell the most brazen and vile lies about America. We are innocent, unimplicated in their histories and current maladies, but they tell their children different tales. We are their demons in a drawn-out, twilight war.

Well put.

[Pushi]

Or 100 times, so be it.

[Pushi]

Or 1000 times, so be it.--This is what I meant.