Posted on 11/25/2002 5:09:44 AM PST by GOPBlonde
The religion of Islam represents an enigma to most Americans, especially in the aftermath of the atrocities perpetrated by radical Islamists on September 11th. There's just too many conflicting statements being disseminated that only add to the confusion. Is Islam really a "religion of peace", as consistently asserted by President Bush, or is it a vehicle for violent Jihad? Well, history reveals that both versions of Islam have emerged at various points over the course of the past 1500 years, according to author Stephen Schwartz in his informative tome, "The Two Faces Of Islam".
Schwartz exhibits a notably sympathetic approach to Islam, underscoring that there is nothing intrinsically violent, or perverse about traditional Islam, one of the world's magnificent religions. Unlike "clash of civilization" proponents, Schwartz eschews the notion that the Islamic world was inevitably poised to wage Jihad on western cultures. Rather, the variant of Islam known as Wahhabism (Wahhabi cult) is currently at the root of Muslim extremism, and attacks upon western societies. And Schwartz is of the opinion that "the great majority of the world's more than one billion Muslims do not support Wahhabism".
Moreover, Schwartz maintains that the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an, is often quoted out of context, such as the familiar verse, "Slay the idolators wherever you find them. Arrest them, besiege them, and lie in ambush everywhere for them". Accompanying verses, which would provide further clarification, are generally ignored such as: "Proclaim a woeful punishment to the unbelievers, except for those idolators who have honored their treaties with you. With these, keep faith, until their treaties have run their term. God loves the righteous". Or, the lines that exhort: "God does not forbid you to be kind and equitable to those who have neither made war on your religion nor driven you from your homes. God loves the equitable". Therefore, a more comprehensive reading of the Qur'an reveals a kinder, more flexible understanding of Islamic beliefs.
The author's major points can be summarized as follows:
* Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda terrorist organization are practitioners of the Wahhabi "death cult" within Islam, a Jihadist group with an apocalyptic bent.
* The official belief system of Saudi Arabia is militant "Wahhabism", dating back to its inception during the 18th century. The House of Saud aligned itself with the puritanical and "heresy hunting" cleric Ibn Abd al-Wahhab and his adherents, which engaged in violent Jihad against all other sects of Islam, thus ushering in the rule of the House of Saud on the Arabian peninsula. The Wahhabi - Saudi alliance established a unique power-sharing arrangement, in addition to cooperating with the British in efforts to depose Ottoman rule.
* The Ottoman Empire is illustrative of Islamic cooperation and peaceful co-existence with a variety of religions. The author notes that, "a multi-ethnic, pluralistic, and tolerant Ottoman Empire established a new, all-powerful caliphate and fostered an Islamic style that set the intellectual pace for the faith for the next 450 years."
* The Muslims of the Balkan region (Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania, etc.), individuals considered "uniquely European and Islamic", generally rejected advances of the radical Wahhabi movement during the 1990s when the Saudis orchestrated considerable proselytization efforts. The Balkan Muslims refused to be radicalized despite the enormity of their suffering, including "ethnic cleansing" atrocities at the hands of non-Muslims. The author notes that Wahhabism attracted few recruits in the region: "Instead Balkan Muslims rebelled against Wahhabi attempts to impose puritanical strictures on their pluralist culture."
* The Saudis continue to be thoroughly enmeshed with Wahhabi ideology and the Jihadist movement that seek to destroy western societies including America as "The Great Satan". Make no mistake -- the Saudis are committed to lavishly funding and disseminating their malevolent Wahhabi beliefs around the globe. And these Saudi activities pose an enormous threat to the safety and security of Americans.
* Therefore, author Stephen Schwartz issues a clarion call for America to reject the Saudi propaganda "myth" that they are "moderates", and that Saudi Arabia is a "friend", and an "ally" to our nation. As Schwartz indicates, "The success of the 70-year campaign of disinformation in the West to protect Saudi power has reached its end. Difficult as it may be for our leaders to say so in public, it is clear that Wahhabism-Saudism is part of the 'axis of evil', and possibly the most dangerous part".
* IMPORTANTLY, American Muslim leadership has become radicalized, with an estimated 80% of American Mosques now under Wahhabi influence. The author states: "The Wahhabis had imposed the Saudi monarchy by bloodshed; but they had carried out a bloodless coup within the American Muslim community thanks to American constitutional protections, which they exploited, as well as the ignorance and accommodating attitude of the non-Muslim majority and the timidity of non-Wahhabi Muslims in the face of a careful and well-crafted Wahhabi campaign". Now the salient question is whether traditional Muslims here in America will speak out against the "Islamo-Fascist" dictates of their leaders.
Let's just admit it, the Saudis have been up-to-their-eyeballs in support of terrorism for quite awhile. Logically, any person or nation that is funding the Wahhabi "death cult", is in effect funding the terrorism that it produces. And America can no longer ignore the unholy alliance between the Saudi royals and the al-Qaeda organization that perpetrated the heinous assaults upon New York City and Washington DC.
Just this past week, allegations surfaced that the wife of Saudi Ambassador Prince Bandar funneled monies through third parties to two of the September 11th hijackers. In the minds of many Americans, there is undeniable Saudi complicity in the deaths of approximately 3000 individuals on that "Day of Infamy". The calls for Senate investigation into Saudi financing of al-Qaeda terrorism, particularly the September 11th terrorist strikes, is well-founded and arguably an imperative undertaking. The average American has grown exceedingly cynical, and wants these Saudi scoundrels held accountable for their misdeeds. If it means filing a multitude of lawsuits against them, freezing their bank accounts, and confiscating their assets, so be it. As for American foreign policy, it will just have to adjust to the changing landscape. We can no longer do business with individuals implicated in the mass murder of our citizens, nor should we depend upon them in any way. Let them keep their military bases.
Hmm, that doesn't seem to help their case IMO. To me this means, keeps smiling till the treaty is up then kill them like we proscribe in the previous verse.
I could be wrong.
However, he is not playing it 100% straight. His personal religious involvement seems to be Sufism. The Sufi movement is an ultra-hip cult branch of Islam, which to give it all the credit I'll ever give it, tries to put a humanistic face on Islam by opening it to mysticism, and in its Western incarnation, by unifying it with Christianity and Judaism, with a nice wash of touchy-feely Bhuddism, and maybe a little Native American Shamanism.
It, like any other branch of a branch of any religion, certainly has a few good points. (Especially since many of its devotees like to go into trance-like states which renders them pleasantly useless on Jihad) But, over the years it seems to have attracted more than its share of Western nut-jobs. Peace love Woodstock, Allah, Jesus, Bhudda, and especially Muhammed, May Peace be Upon Him, Be Praised along with the great Manitou and Nature.
Woulda been nice for Schwartzie to have been a teentsie bit more direct about his involvement in it. Oy vey, a nice Jewish boy fooling with this haazerai!
Black Muslims Create 'Explosive Mix' in Terror War, Says Author
Source: CNSBNEWS.com; Published: November 14, 2002; Author: Marc MoranoOf course, the great majority of Muslims are peaceful -- so what?
Source: Jewish World Review; Published: November 5, 2002; Author: DENNIS PRAGERRamadan: A Month of Peace?
Source: Toogood Reports; Published: November 4, 2002; Author:| Alan CarubaThe Seamless Garment Of Hate: The Beltway Sniper Shootings
And Islam/Nation of Islam
Source: Toogood Reports; Published:| November 1, 2002; Author: Nicholas StixBarbara Stanley: American Jihadist Terrorism - Conversion And Recruitment
Source: Toogood Reports; Published: October 28, 2002; Author: Barbara StanleyJihadis in the Hood: Race, Urban Islam and the War on Terror
Source: Middle East Report; Published: Fall 2002; Author: Hisham AidiThe Radical Islamic Mind (lengthy exposé from Christian perspective)
Source:Spiritual Counterfeits Project; Published: Sept 2002; Author: Aleesha KhanNaming The Evildoers: Militant Islam Reaches America
Source: New York Times BOOK REVIEW; Published:| September 29, 2002; Author: Judith MillerDEPRIVING THE ARABS OF THEIR PREY
Source: WINSTON MID EAST ANALYSIS & Published: September 13, 2002; Author: Emanuel A. WinstonA Hatred Beyond Understanding
Source: Sierra Times; Published: September 9, 2002; Author: Alan CarubaSaving Islam from bin Laden [Christopher Hitchens]
Source:The Age (Melbourne); Published: September 5 2002; Author: Christopher HitchensMuslim leaders pledge to 'transform West': 'If Islamic state rises, we will be its army'
Source: WorldNetDaily.com; Published: August 13, 2002; Author: Jon DoughertyToday's Criminal Will Become Tomorrow's Islamic Terrorist
Source: CNSnews.com; Published: June 25, 2002; Author: C.T. RossiDavid Horowitz: Know The Enemy (And What He Believes)
Source: FrontPage magazine; Published: June 24, 2002; Author: David HorowitzFour Myths About Muslims
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: June 13, 2002; Author: C.T. RossiTrying To Find A `Moderate' Islam Is A Quixotic Quest
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: May 20, 2002; Author: C.T. RossiThe Islaming of Europe
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: May 20, 2002; Author: Alan CarubaWhy Islam Can't Join the Modern World
Source: FrontPageMagazine.com; Published: May 16, 2002; Author: Jamie GlazovIt's The Attitude, Stupid [re: Palestinians]
Source: Toogood Reports; Published: May 14, 2002; Author: Philip SafranReports of Moderate Islam's Existence Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: April 22, 2002; Author: C.T. RossiIt's time to snap out of Arab fantasy land {Steyn}
Source: National Post; Published: April 19 2002; Author: Mark SteynHOROWITZ: A MIDDLE EAST HISTORY PRIMER
Source: News and Opinion.com; Published; April 10, 2002; Author: David HorowitzArafat Must Go!
Source: CNSNews.com; Published: April 10, 2002; Author: Alan CarubaNetanyahu speaks before US Senators
Source: http://netanyahu.org/netspeacinse.html; Published: April 10, 2002; Author: Benjamin Netanyahu20 Suppressed Facts About Israel, Islam
Source: Koenig's International News; Published: April 9, 2002; Author: Jim BramlettThey Live to Die (Islam Martyrdom)
Source: Wall Street Journal; Published: April 7, 2002; Author: Reuel Marc GerechtMoral Fortitude Vs. Vacillation
Source: CNSNews.com ; Published: April 01, 2002; Author: Alan CarubaTerror's Homebase, All Over The Map -- Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam
Source: Wall Street Journal-- Book Review; Published: | March 29, 2002; Author: Adrian KaratnyckyIslam Vs. The World
Source: Toogood Reports; Published: December 2, 2001; Author: Alan CarubaArab World Poverty -- Whose Fault?
Source: Capitalism Magazine; Published: 11/18/01; Author: Larry ElderWill the Real Islam Please Stand Up!
Source:Van Jenerette Editorial Comment, Various Publications;
Published: October 14, 2001; Author: Van JeneretteCivilization Envy
Source: National Review Online; Published: September 28, 2001; Author: Jonah Goldberg
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