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LITTLE WHITE LIES (Administration tells about Islam)
Chronicles Magazine ^ | November 22, 2002 | Thomas Fleming

Posted on 11/24/2002 7:38:43 PM PST by Keyes For President

"From the mountains of Afghanistan to the valleys of Bosnia to the plains of Africa to the forests of Asia and around the world we are on the ground working with our Muslim partners to expand to the circle of peace, the circle of prosperity, the circle of freedom." Secretary of State Colin Powell, in pronouncing these glorious phrases (we hope he did not actually break precedent and write them himself) sounded like a Fourth of July orator invoking the rock-bound cliffs of Maine and the sunny shores of California.

Secretary Powell is apparently unaware that there are forests in Africa and plains in Asia, but the myopia is pardonable when you are running circles around the rest of the world. What the secretary would prefer not to bring up is the fact that in both Africa and Asia Muslims, many of them funded by "pro-Western" governments and oil sheiks, are engaged in a genocidal massacre of Christians. Presumably the genocide in Nigeria and the Sudan is not the partnership Secretary Powell envisions, presumably the Islamic terrorism in Indonesia and the Philippines is somewhat outside the circle. In Bosnia, where the United States supported an Islamic that wanted to impose Islamic law on a Christian majority, one of our Muslim partners was none other than Osama bin Laden.

Not content with repeating the palpable absurdities that are the staple of the multiculturalist left--a critic of the administration would use harsher language--Powell went on to describe plans to bring more Muslims into the United States and to excoriate those who sing "the siren song of the bigots, extremists who cloak themselves in false spirituality in an attempt to divide and to weaken us." Whether he was talking about Osama bin Laden or Pat Robertson (guilty recently of hinting that Islam may not be entirely a religion of peace), was not entirely clear upon the first reading of the AP report of Powell's address to a group of Muslim leaders. But if by "bigots and extremists," Powell means Muslims who claim religious support for terrorism against Christians, then he should have named the man who introduced this belief into Islamic thought: Muhammad himself.

We all know that the Bush administration is caught between a rock and a hard place. They are going to war against a country full of Muslims (Iraq), supporting what may be Bibi Netanyahu's quest for a final solution of the Palestinian problem, while still wanting to make nice with oil-rich states we pretend to believe are "moderate." There is nothing moderate, from the Christian point of view, about Saudi Arabia, which forbids Christian symbols and preaching the gospel and funds anti-Christian Islamic movements around the globe. Saudi Arabia spawned Osama bin Laden--and the Saudi millionaires who continue, according to reports, to support him.

Pat Robertson has the issue right. He knows that Islam, despite the existence of millions of "bad" Muslims who reject some of the fundamental tenets of their faith, is a religion of war not peace, that any country with a sizable population of even bad Muslims contains a ticking time bomb, ready to go off in hard times when confused people begin looking for their spiritual roots. When Christians find their roots, they find the Prince of Peace. When Muslims rediscover theirs, it is Muhammad the terrorist.

I wish no ill to Muslims, either as human beings or as adherents of a religion I reject. I would like to leave Muslims alone, in exchange for being left alone. I do not support, at this point, the planned invasion of Iraq, and I agree with the many patriotic Israelis who realize that Sharon and Netanyahu, egged on by their supporters in the United States, may well bring about the total destruction of Israel. I cannot, however, swallow the lie that Islam, as a religion, is compatible with our Western way of life or that global terrorism is not a legitimate expression of authentic Islam.

So long as America's political leaders continue to treat the people as children, so long as they continue to misrepresent the most basic facts of the life-and-death struggle confronting America and the West, our foreign policy will be confused and dangerous, and our control of our own borders and destiny will become more tenuous with every passing day.

Telling fairy tales about a nonexistent partnership with terrorists in order to justify the importation of more Muslims may seem, to State Department staffers and gofers, like a brilliant move. In the short run it might bump President Bush from being, at the moment, the most popular Republican in the century-and-a-half history of his party to being the most popular Republican who will ever live. But in telling their little white lies, they are playing with fire, as many a parent has learned after lying to his children. When the time comes to ask the American people to defend their borders and their interest from a global jihad, these lies will inevitably come back to haunt them.

P.S. Our Muslim Partners Expand the Circle

Nigeria is in "the forests of Africa," where Colin Powell says our Muslim partners are "expanding the circle of peace." The past few days, however, our Muslim partners in Kaduna (a large town in northern Nigeria), have not been listening to Secretary Powell's speeches: They were too busy killing Christians and burning their churches.

The trouble started when a newspaperman, knowing the Prophet's eye for beauty, suggested that Mohammed himself would have approved of the Miss World Contest. To protest this affront, Muslims (no, not radical Islamicists, but Muslims) first burned down the newspaper and then went on a killing spree that left more than 100 people dead and 500 injured. Some of the victims--all or mostly Christians, so far as we can tell--had been stabbed first and then set on fire. According to the AP story, "hordes of young men, shouting "Allahu Akhbar," or "God is great," ignited makeshift street barricades made of tires and garbage, sending plumes of black smoke rising above the city." Although it is now that Muslims started the riot and destroyed at least four churches, a later AP story, published in the Washington Post, preferred to give the impression that Christians were to blame for the violence: "In neighborhoods dominated by minority Christians...youths smashed windows and set fires in mosques used by the ethnic Hausa and Fulani Muslims who dominate Kaduna."

Kaduna, though the majority of the population is Muslim, has a sizeable Christian minority. Of course, Christian and pagan Nigerians have fought back against the Muslims' violence, but what Western reporters like to call a civil war or ethnic conflict in northern Nigeria is nothing less than an ongoing genocide. The next time Colin Powell is chatting it up with our Muslim partners, he might ask them about the millions and millions of dollars they have poured into Africa for the sole purpose of exterminating Christianity--and, of course Christians--on that continent.

On the same day Nigerian Muslims were crying "down with beauty," another peaceful Muslim was taken into custody in Indonesia on the charge of plotting the terror-bombing in Bali that claimed 200 victims, and still another peaceful Muslim (Palestinian, this time) tried to blow up a busload of schoolchildren, and still another Palestinian Muslim in nearby Lebanon murdered an American Christian whose sole crime was preaching the Christian gospel of peace.

This has not been an unusual week. Every day around the globe committed Muslims are murdering and massacring Christians, and yet American politicians go on pretending that these criminals are merely a handful of extremists. Only this September, Antony Sullivan--longtime whitewasher of Islamic aggression--called upon President Bush to remove "Sudan from the list of terrorist-sponsoring states, though Dr. Sullivan knows full well that the Sudanese regime has refused to end the orgy of terrorism and violence directed at is own Christian population.

In repeating the mantra that "Islam is a religion of peace," our leaders are acting like children who protect themselves from the bogeymen by pulling the covers up over their heads--except in this case, the bogeymen are real.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bush; islam; powell; religionofpeace; ropma
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To: Keyes For President
What's dishonest about this campaign to declare Islam the enemy: you claim it's time for honest talk, that the President's choice of words is dishonest. You, OTOH generalize the extremist element of Islam onto its mass practictioners worldwide (most of them nonviolent).

I also find your version is current with religious zealots in a primitive, tribal religion sense.
21 posted on 11/24/2002 8:29:10 PM PST by Belial
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To: CWOJackson
BTW, post #19 was meant for you.
22 posted on 11/24/2002 8:30:17 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
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To: crystalk
Post #19 was meant for CWOJackson
23 posted on 11/24/2002 8:30:51 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
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To: Luis Gonzalez
I thought as much.
24 posted on 11/24/2002 8:31:45 PM PST by CWOJackson
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To: Luis Gonzalez
Not people, but bodies possessed by Satan, and in any event they have already picked the fight with us, and it will be and is, war to the death.

Join us or defect to the towelheads.

25 posted on 11/24/2002 8:32:09 PM PST by crystalk
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To: CWOJackson
What you wrote merits reflection. It should also be noted that you refer to historic times and Islamism resides in the past for its relevance, not in the present or the future. If Islamism succeeds in taking over the world, civilization will revert to historic parameters, with the incumbent enslavements residing therein.
26 posted on 11/24/2002 8:33:49 PM PST by MHGinTN
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To: crystalk
I'm not joining anything you belong to, and I'm not drinking from any cup that's touched your lips.

You are no less the problem than "they" are.

"They" did not pick the fight with us, a bunch of terrorists picked a fight with us.

"Join us or defect to the towelheads."

You are as demented as they are, and every bit as possesed by Satan.

27 posted on 11/24/2002 8:40:10 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
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To: MHGinTN
I wish some of you folks would make up your minds. Every other post on FR is about how the founding fathers meant this, Thomas Jefferson said that. And how many times a day do I see people posting that if we don't remember history we're bound to repeat itself, etc.

Now suddenly the past isn't relevent.

What isn't relevent is branding an entire religion based on the actions of a fanatical minority.

28 posted on 11/24/2002 8:41:33 PM PST by CWOJackson
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To: Keyes For President
bump
29 posted on 11/24/2002 8:43:11 PM PST by foreverfree
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To: Luis Gonzalez
Easy my friend! Many are unable to differentiate between Islam and fanatical, suicidal, totalitarian Islamism.
30 posted on 11/24/2002 8:43:16 PM PST by MHGinTN
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To: MHGinTN; CWOJackson
There was a time when Islam was the most advanced religion in the world. Scholars, and universities filled with students were the norm in Islamic countries while Europe was caught in the grip of the Dark Ages.

Now, the fanatical sects dominating Islam have an inherent need to maintain their worshippers ignorant, and uneducated.

They need troops.

31 posted on 11/24/2002 8:44:16 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
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To: MHGinTN; CWOJackson
I have read that the most highly educated Muslim population in the Middle East are the Palestinians. They attend Israeli schools and universities.

I have this insane notion that the problems in Palestine, and the continuing acts of war against Israel are designed by radical Muslims who do not wish to see the Palestinians at peace with Israel, and educated enough to understand that the rest of the Muslim world has been using them for decades.

Imagine Arafat out, a permanent peace with Israel, and education...could very well bring about the fall of the Wahhabi radicals world wide.

32 posted on 11/24/2002 8:52:30 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
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To: MHGinTN
Good to see you too Marvin! It's been a long time.
33 posted on 11/24/2002 8:53:40 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
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To: Texasforever
Which do you want...?

How about the truth?

Since the cataclysmic events of September 11, 2001, and the start of the Afghan war, journalists and politicians have often spoken of a collision or war of civilizations, following Professor Samuel Huntington's hypothesis. Was that collision determined by the traditional relations between Islam and infidel non-Muslims? Both the historical roots of the question — and the answer — can be found in Bat Yeor's works. The philosopher Jacques Ellul wrote in the preface to her previous book that "the jihad is an institution, not an event." This new volume examines that "institution" and links it to dhimmitude, which also was to become institutionalized. This study covers a period of 14 centuries — from the rise of Islam and through the resurgence of dhimmitude in contemporary conflicts, such as the breakup of Yugoslavia and the Palestinian intifadas.

The author shows how, from the birth of Islam, the submission of the infidels led to the dispossession of their lands and to their economic exploitation through protection-ransom relationships. Freedom of worship was restricted for Jews and Christians, and Christian proselytizing was prohibited. Individuals were subjected to degrading treatment and their human liberties limited. Though Europe's advances in the East brought hope and protection to non-Muslims (the dhimmis), the rise of Arab nationalism — and the achievement of independence by Muslim states — was to mark a return of repressive regimes, not only in countries where the sharia is strictly applied (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan, Pakistan) but in countries which have "adapted," if not completely adopted, it (Egypt, Iraq, and the autonomous Palestinian Authority). [Source]

What do I want? I want the administration to quit jerking me around. I want a President who has the guts to point at the peope who are killing us and say "they are the Enemy" -- no matter how much it costs him politically.

All I want is for this administration to tell the truth about Islam. Instead, we're getting told that the people who destroyed our buildings, killed three thousand innocent people, and firebombed that nightclub are mere fringe members of some mythical "religion of peace". Baloney. Anyone who takes the time to honestly examine the history of Islam can only conclude that, far from being a religion of peace, the heresy of Mohammed is at its core a religion of war. By refusing to deal honestly with the American people regarding Islam, the administration only fosters more distrust among the people of the United States, and hastens the day when these same peaceloving people come back with an atom bomb to kill even more of us.

What does it take to make people realize that we have enemies? Three thousand people and a smoking hole in the ground and they still won't acknowledge the truth!

What do I want? I want an admission of the obvious truth: that it's Us vs. Them, and one or the other is going to win. But I'm not going to get what I want. Instead, I'm going to get to watch as we keep playing nice with the "peaceful" people of Islam -- people whose fondest dream is to see my civilization in ruins, my culture destroyed, my Faith stamped out and me and mine with our throats cut.

What I want only God can give. May He raise up a champion for your people -- a holy warrior who will take the banner of St. George in hand, cry "Deus vult!" and, in the name of Jesus Christ, unashamedly defend Christianity from her enemies.

34 posted on 11/24/2002 8:55:27 PM PST by B-Chan
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To: Luis Gonzalez
Scholars, and universities filled with students were the norm in Islamic countries while Europe was caught in the grip of the Dark Ages.

Yes, the elite were filled with wisdom and understanding. Meanwhile, the other 99% of the population remained in the Dark Age where they were thrown when the Arabs conquered the Roman Empire.

Most people today don't know it but in the Roman Empire literacy was the norm, at least for citizens and inside the major metro areas. Museums have litterally tons of letters written by common soldiers to the folks back home. The folks back home wrote back, as well.

35 posted on 11/24/2002 9:03:03 PM PST by jimtorr
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To: B-Chan
What do I want? I want an admission of the obvious truth: that it's Us vs. Them

I think the 4 or 5 thousand Muslims that died in Afghanistan understand it is "US v Them". I think Saddam Insane understands that it is "Us v Them". I think that those presently on trial understand that it is "US v Them" All of those at GITMO believe it is "US v Them" Our military folks that have been killed and wounded so far understand that is "US v Them". Every Mullah in the Middle East knows it is “US v Them”. What is not to understand? Every bomb dropped is your "admission" that it is "US v Them". Or is what you are saying that every Muslim in this country and around the world should be open season with no bag limit?

36 posted on 11/24/2002 9:03:22 PM PST by Texasforever
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To: jimtorr
"Yes, the elite were filled with wisdom and understanding. Meanwhile, the other 99% of the population remained in the Dark Age where they were thrown when the Arabs conquered the Roman Empire."

No, I don't think so.

37 posted on 11/24/2002 9:04:04 PM PST by Luis Gonzalez
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To: Luis Gonzalez
You are the big one for history, go back and read it.
38 posted on 11/24/2002 9:10:37 PM PST by jimtorr
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To: Luis Gonzalez
The number of Muslims is 1.5 to 2 billion now. Even grouping Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants together, Islam is about equal in number or larger than Chrisitianity.

One of the reasons so many are converting to Islam in Europe, southern Africa and South America now is the theological unity of Islam.

In contrast to Christianity which is now really made up of distinct faiths that are still loosly grouped as Christian but encompass a diversity of belief that you don't se in Islam.

Think of it - there are the Orthodox, the Catholics and the Protestants. And w/in Protestanism the gamut runs from Anglicans to Baptists to 7th Day Adentists, pentecostals, the JW's, Mormons and Chrsitian Scientists.

What you really have here is the emrgence of new distinct faiths out of the originally unified Christian faith.

That disunity is proving fertile ground for Muslim missionaries in the West.
39 posted on 11/24/2002 9:12:28 PM PST by Douglas
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To: CWOJackson
Didn't we do the killing Muslims in the name of Christianity thing a couple of times already?

I've always heard 3rd times a charm......Lets Roll

40 posted on 11/24/2002 9:14:34 PM PST by SouthernFreebird
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