CAN WE DEFEAT THE ISLAMISTS?
A very interesting article in the London Times says NO. It's an interesting set of explanations of our weakness in the fight for Civilization. Some of it's "built in" to our world, but some could be changed if we choose to do so. The gist of the article is very pessamistic, particularly as there seems to be little hope that the necessary changes will be forthcoming, any time soon.
1) The first is the extent of political division in the non-Muslim world about what is afoot. Some reject outright that there is a war at all;
2) The second reason why, as things stand, Islam will not be defeated is that the strengths of the world community of Muslims are being underestimated, and the nature of Islam misunderstood.
3) Indeed, the third reason why Islam will not be defeated, as things stand, is the low level of Western leadership, in particular in the United States.
4) Next is the contribution to the disarray of Western policy-making being made by the egotistical competitiveness, and in some cases hysterics, of “experts” and commentators on Islam.
5) The fifth disablement is to be found in the confusion of “progressives” about the Islamic advance. With their political and moral bearings lost since the defeat of the “socialist project”, many on the Left have only the fag-end of anti-colonial positions on which to take their stand.
6) The sixth reason for Islam’s growing strength is the vicarious satisfaction felt by many non-Muslims at America’s reverses.
7) The seventh reason lies in the moral poverty of the West’s, and especially America’s, own value system. Doctrines of market freedom, free choice and competition — or “freedom ’n’ liberty” — are no match for the ethics of Islam and Sharia, like them or not.
8) The next indication that Islam’s advance will continue lies in the skilful use being made of the media and of the world wide web in the service both of the “electronic jihad” and the bamboozling of Western opinion by Muslim spokesmen.
9) The ninth factor guaranteeing Islam’s onward march is the West’s dependency on the material resources of Arab and Muslim countries.
10) Finally, the West is convinced that its notions of technology-driven modernity and market-driven prog- ress are innately superior to the ideals of “backward” Islam. This is an old delusion.
The author expands on these points, and apparently has written a book that might be worth reading. Surely, those who reflexly believe that Democracy is by itself an anodyne for Islamic fundamentalism ought to read the whole thing. Principal among those needing to think this through is our President.
No doubt Democracy would help millions of these wretched people, but it's not a guarantee to help us defend ourselves from them...and that's the whole point, isn't it?
Personally, while I'd like them to be happy, I really don't care if they are, so long as they stop trying to kill us. If they don't stop, I really don't care what we do to prevent them from doing so....at least till we're out of bullets, when I'd be more willing to negotiate this point.
1) The first is the extent of political division in the non-Muslim world about what is afoot. Some reject outright that there is a war at all;
2) The second reason why, as things stand, Islam will not be defeated is that the strengths of the world community of Muslims are being underestimated, and the nature of Islam misunderstood.
3) Indeed, the third reason why Islam will not be defeated, as things stand, is the low level of Western leadership, in particular in the United States.
4) Next is the contribution to the disarray of Western policy-making being made by the egotistical competitiveness, and in some cases hysterics, of “experts” and commentators on Islam.
5) The fifth disablement is to be found in the confusion of “progressives” about the Islamic advance. With their political and moral bearings lost since the defeat of the “socialist project”, many on the Left have only the fag-end of anti-colonial positions on which to take their stand.
6) The sixth reason for Islam’s growing strength is the vicarious satisfaction felt by many non-Muslims at America’s reverses.
7) The seventh reason lies in the moral poverty of the West’s, and especially America’s, own value system. Doctrines of market freedom, free choice and competition — or “freedom ’n’ liberty” — are no match for the ethics of Islam and Sharia, like them or not.
8) The next indication that Islam’s advance will continue lies in the skilful use being made of the media and of the world wide web in the service both of the “electronic jihad” and the bamboozling of Western opinion by Muslim spokesmen.
9) The ninth factor guaranteeing Islam’s onward march is the West’s dependency on the material resources of Arab and Muslim countries.
10) Finally, the West is convinced that its notions of technology-driven modernity and market-driven prog- ress are innately superior to the ideals of “backward” Islam. This is an old delusion.
The author expands on these points, and apparently has written a book that might be worth reading. Surely, those who reflexly believe that Democracy is by itself an anodyne for Islamic fundamentalism ought to read the whole thing. Principal among those needing to think this through is our President.
No doubt Democracy would help millions of these wretched people, but it's not a guarantee to help us defend ourselves from them...and that's the whole point, isn't it?
Personally, while I'd like them to be happy, I really don't care if they are, so long as they stop trying to kill us. If they don't stop, I really don't care what we do to prevent them from doing so....at least till we're out of bullets, when I'd be more willing to negotiate this point.
posted by Jerry at 6:53 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home