Posted on 03/25/2003 9:14:34 AM PST by Risa
War in Iraq: Guidelines for American Muslim Leaders
The Muslim American Society has prepared this set of talking points and guidelines as a roadmap for community leaders to follow when guiding their communities through the Iraq War Crisis safely and securely.
WHAT MUSLIMS FEEL ABOUT THIS WAR
We are particularly concerned with Iraqi issue because it involves a direct confrontation of our country with a Muslim nation, which apparently puts the cohesiveness of our American Muslim identity to the test.
However, principled positions based on sound methodology and careful analysis of the situation always bring harmony between our commitment to Islam and our civic duties, because by following the truth and standing out firmly for justice one would help the cause of Allah (SWT) and serve the best interest of all humanity.
And Islam leaves no excuse for bias or injustice under any circumstances.
We believe that this war, which is waged in spite of the UN Security Council and worldwide opposition, does not serve the best interest of our nation, and will further devastate the Iraqi people who are still suffering from the consequences of previous wars and crippling sanctions.
Our opposition, which is based on solid religious, moral, patriotic, and humanitarian grounds, concurs with the positions of most religious and civic leaders and groups, many members of Congress, a number of veterans, and some outspoken families of the victims of 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Declared justifications and objectives of the war are neither consistent nor convincing, especially when considering the double-standard trend in our foreign policy in dealing with dictators or with weapons of mass destruction.
The community should be reminded that this war has nothing to do with religion. Indeed, the war was opposed by the leadership of virtually all religious communities.
The war has also nothing to do with weapons of mass destruction, promotion of democracy, or the crackdown on terrorism. The real motives for the war are political and economical.
It is also the natural result of philosophical underpinnings and intrinsic flaws of both systems. The dictatorship in the oil rich Iraq has led to a string of fatal decisions that made it an easy target of the most powerful lobbies in the US:
a. The military industrial complex, which is constantly on the look for new enemies and more wars which constitute opportunities to experiment with new weapons and justification for an ever increasing budget.
b. The multinational corporations, which are constantly on the look for cheap resources and captive markets
c. The pro-Israeli lobby, which is trying to achieve unequivocal superiority for Israel in the region.
In addition to oppressing his people the Iraqi dictator made himself an easy target by attacking his neighbors, thus loosing any regional support and paralyzing an already cosmetic Arab and Islamic alliances.
On the other hand, the balance (or the arrogance) of power and the belief in a universal civilization, and the "I am better than him" syndrome have always resulted in hegemony and a drive to control the world.
However, one cannot deny that the prevailing perception in the Muslim World is that this war is war on Islam, another crusade.
Like Muslims elsewhere, our opposition to some government policies does not diminish our love for our country and our commitment to its security and prosperity.
We strive to serve its best interests by standing out firmly for justice at home and abroad, and calling for meaningful reforms.
Our principled and legitimate opposition to the war does not imply any sympathy with the ruthless Iraqi dictator, who terrorized his people and his neighbors and led Iraq to devastating military conflicts.
The world should be rid of the Iraqi regime and all similar regimes. And the first step is to stop supporting these dictators-a support that aborted so many attempts to establish real democracy-and to begin supporting real political pluralism in the Arab and Muslim world.
But the change should not be cosmetic nor should it be imposed on people. Weapons may liberate land, but they do not liberate people. And the Iraqi people have already paid dearly for twelve years of attempting to eliminate the regime through weapons and sanctions.
EXCERPT
(Excerpt) Read more at masnet.org ...
They live here and benefit from our society, and they denouce our president and our military.
I hope our President will come to his senses about the consequences of importing hundreds of thousands of these people from all over Africa and the Middle East. Otherwise, our nation will balkanize in no time.
As a woman, I do not want Mulsim institutions in my country, and I do not want Muslim men in my government.
risa
Now that's one of the most IGNORANT statements I HAVE EVER HEARD. And I live in the Bay Area, so I've heard a lot of ignornant statements.
A fancy, deceitful way of saying,"Long Live Saddam! Down with America!"
I stopped right here. That term was spawned at 2 Dzherzhinsky Square and injected into our culture by the flag burners of the 60's.
I read through this POS... If these are the guidelines to direct and align their communities - they are acheiving the goal of identifying themselves as being one with the enemy. The author chooses to dismiss the merits of this case for speculative consiracy theory.
I said it a long time ago, letting Islam to spread in this country is gonna be it's downfall over time and is counter the interests of America and the U.S. Constitution.
Just wait until they get a critical mass of voting base.
Actually I believe it comes from a member of that complex, formerly known as the Arsenal of Democracy, Dwight David Eisenhower, 33rd President of the US in his farewell speech to the nation on January 17, 1961.
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