Great idea! Why didn't anyone think of it before?

"Moderates within the Iraqi government and moderates within Islam, and other faiths, as Iraq is home not only to Islam but other faiths. Moderates should stand up and say enough is enough."
--- from the article above

Is General Comstock, in noting that "moderates within the Iraqi government....and within Islam, and other faiths" because "Iraq is home not only to Islam but other faiths" suggesting that "moderates" who belong to those "other faiths" should be among those to "stand up and say enough is enough"?

In other words, is he suggesting that those who are regarded as Christians (there are no Jews left in Iraq, though Jews had lived there for several thousand years and as recently as the the early 20th century, to quote the 11th edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica, formed the "most intelligent and prosperous" part of Baghdad's population) should get up and denounce the "terrorism" that is being praciced by the two strands of Sunni resistance to the assumption of power, through the ballot-box, of the Shi'a (which is not the same thing as opposition to "democracy" for if the Sunnis constituted 60% of the population they would be plumping for "democracy")? Because that is an absurd and impossible demand. The Christians are being killed in Basra by Shi'a Muslims and in the Sunni isosceles triangle by Sunni Muslims, and in Baghdad they are held to ransom, or murdered, by Muslim gunmen of both Sunni and Shi'a background.

There is a new language here, brought on by the refusal to call Islam anything but a "faith." The term used nowadays is treacly; applied to Islam it is misleading, if not downright false. A "faith" that is so often "fanatical" and a belief-system which is that of a cult, a cult to which,if you do not fully subscribe, you keep quiet about your lack of enthusiasm for fear of being attacked by those who "enforce" that "faith."

What General Comstock might have said is this: civiliians are killed by Muslim terrorists, who claim to act in the name of Islam. These are almost entirely Sunni Muslims, who apparently regard the Shi'a as Infidels. In some cases Shi'a have been engaged in the killings of Sunnis, ex-Baathists in Basra, those who are killed for revenge in Baghdad or elsewhere. Muslim Arabs have been killing Muslim Kurds. And Muslims of all kinds have been attacking all non-Muslims -- ancient libraries of Mandean manuscripts have been destroyed, Christian women forcibly kidnapped and raped in Ramadi and elsewhere, Christians murdered by Muslims in Basra and Baghdad.

But he cannot say it like that. So he must pretend that it is not only Muslims but those of "other faiths" who must "stand up and say enough is enough."

Even in the act of seeming to speak the full truth, out of exasperation (born, like so much of the exasperation of the American military, with an understanding of Iraqi reality, that does not correspond to the Official Washington Line about the onward March to Democracy.

Even strong men, or perhaps especially strong men, if they are generals, and naturally care about the misuse of the men under their command, and know what an impossible task they are being asked to perform, and further being asked to not utter home truths, but rather a distorted version of those truths, can end up as General Comstock did here. Saying something that is not quite what he wanted to say, but was all he is permitted to say, just as outside Iraq and Qatar, all over the Western world, the past four years have seen denunications of "fundamentalism from wherever it comes" as if it were a widespread phenomenon, equally at home in this or that "faith" and equally encouraged, or discouraged, by this or that "faith."

The sample above is a new kind of Comstockery. One does not blame this Comstock as perhaps one might the original Anthony Comstock. For here General Comstock is inhibited, and his words therefore slightly confused and part of the truth strangled in his throat -- but the fault is not his.

hugh;

"there are no Jews left in Iraq...."

i vaguely remember an article somewhere discussing the disappearance ofr Judaism in Iraq.
if i am correct, the writer said that there had been a small population of sept- and octagenarian Jews remaining until recently, slowly shrinking due to the attrition of old age, until there was only 2 old men left around the time of the fall of Baghdad. one was a caretaker of a closed synagogue, the other lived in a back room in the same building. the reason the article stuck in my mind was because the writer mentioned that due to a fued between the 2, they hadn't spoken to each other in years, even though they lived at the same address.

true? couldn't tell you, although if it is true i think it would be monumentally more tragic if the feud portion were accurate.

false? could be, it seems a bit too convenient,
a whiff of the contrived

There may be a half-dozen Jews left in Baghdad; I have seen the same articles. But that is an insignificant number, tending toward O.

t-ham (and Hugh)

I think it was an NYT Sunday Magazine piece, but could stand to be corrected.

For more about Iraqi Jews, Carol Basri, a lawyer of Iraqi Jewish descent recently made a documentary, "The Last Jews of Baghdad". She covers, more or less, the increasing animosity the once very significant Jewish community faced for the last century or so, until, virutally all of them left in the 1970s.

The muslims of the world are beginning to realize what I believe has been our strategy all along. I think "taking the fight to the enemy" means instigating confrontation and then shining a giant spotlight on the violence. I think Washington knows full well that white Christians will never be able to stop radial muslisms. I think they know that the voice needed to curb extremism must come from within Islam. However, there are many issues that must be reconciled wihtin the religion of Islam in order for muslims to live fruitful lives in the modern world. I know very little of the religion, but some decision has to be made concerning the role of women in Islam, as well as the stance the religion will take on tolerance of non-muslims. Sadly, though, the reformation of Islam will probably be as bloody as the reformation of Christianity.

"It is time for the moderates of Iraq to speak out and say that the violence committed against civilians is intolerable," said Major General James Comstock, director of the United States Central Command in Qatar.

They already do that, at least some of them. Speaking out is far short of actually 'doing' something. Talk is cheap...when muslims start rooting terrorists from their midst, and bring them bound or shackeled to the authorities, then, they will be doing something...short of that it's just more hot air...

Maybe Maj. Gen Comstock is going to get a clue that the 'moderates' in Iraq are just hiding until they watch the coalition troops leave, then then will emerge to join up with whatever group has gained the most power. Being pragmatists and cynics going back to Hammurabi. (The old Italian character in "Catch-22" comes to mind. A happy 'fascist' when Mussolini was in power; then a 'pro-allies kind of guy' when the fascists fell.)

The Iraqis' 'moderation' appears to be of the invisible variety.

Time to phase our way out, having determined that there are no WMD's.

And focus on the jihadists at large in the world, with Iraq cordoned off and contained.

And start the War College re-runs of all that was learn.

-ed.

(forgot two letters at the end of the previous post.)

LOL, love the title you gave this article Mr. Spencer, I think it summs up the entire feeling toward Islamic "moderates"

This article starts off by saying..Clerics 'must denounce violence'," A top US military official has called for Iraqi moderates and religious leaders to speak out against violence committed by the insurgency against civilians. "It is time...
Now The Quran is wonderful when it says, "Truly Allah guides not one who transgresses and lies." Surah 40:28. In the Hadith, Mohammed was also quoted as saying, "Be honest etc..

BUT there is a big BUT...This is to their own, not us...
Unlike most religions, within Islam there are certain provisions under which lying is not simply tolerated, but actually encouraged. The book "The spirit of Islam," by the Muslim scholar, Afif A. Tabbarah was written to promote Islam. On page 247, Tabbarah stated: "Lying is not always bad, to be sure; there are times when telling a lie is more profitable and better for the general welfare, and for the settlement of conciliation among people, than telling the truth. To this effect, the Prophet says: 'He is not a false person who (through lies) settles conciliation among people, supports good or says what is good." Provisions for lying in Islam
Most Muslims are familiar with the principles of Islam that will justify lying in situations where they sense the need to do so. Among these are:

War is deception..... (and Muslims consider that we are at war with them).
The necessities justify the forbidden.
If faced by two evils, choose the lesser of the two.
These principles are derived from passages found in the Quran and the Hadith.

In the Quran, Allah, allegedly, says:
" Allah will not call you to account for what is futile in your oaths, but He will call you to account for your deliberate oaths: for expiation, feed ten indigent persons, on a scale of the average for the food of your families; or clothe them; or give a slave his freedom. If that is beyond your means, fast for three days. That is the expiation for the oaths ye have sworn. But keep to your oaths. Thus doth Allah make clear to you His signs, that ye may be grateful." Surah 5:89

"Allah will not call you to account for thoughtlessness (vain) in your oaths, but for the intention in your hearts; and He is Oft-forgiving, Most Forbearing." Surah 2:225

One passage from the Hadith quotes Mohammed as saying: "The sons of Adam are accountable for all lies except those uttered to help bring reconciliation between Muslims."
The following quote demonstrates the broadness of situations in which the prophet permitted lying. "The sons of Adam are accountable for all lies with these exceptions: During war because war is deception, to reconcile among two quarreling men, and for a man to appease his wife."

The principle of Al-Takeyya
The Arabic word, "Takeyya", means "to prevent," or guard against. The principle of Al Takeyya conveys the understanding that Muslims are permitted to lie as a preventive measure against anticipated harm to one's self or fellow Muslims. This principle gives Muslims the liberty to lie under circumstances that they perceive as life threatening. They can even deny the faith, if they do not mean it in their hearts. Al-Takeyya is based on the following Quranic verse:

"Let not the believers Take for friends or helpers Unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah: except by way of precaution (prevention), that ye may Guard yourselves from them (prevent them from harming you.) But Allah cautions you (To remember) Himself; for the final goal is to Allah." Surah 3: 28

According to this verse a Muslim can pretend to befriend infidels (in violation of the teachings of Islam) and display adherence with their unbelief to prevent them from harming him.

Under the concept of Takeyya and short of killing another human being, if under the threat of force, it is legitimate for Muslims to act contrary to their faith. The following actions are acceptable:
Unfortunately, when dealing with Muslims, one must keep in mind that Muslims can communicate something with apparent sincerity, when in reality they may have just the opposite agenda in their hearts. Bluntly stated, Islam permits Muslims to lie anytime that they perceive that their own well-being, or that of Islam, is threatened.

In the sphere of international politics, the question is: Can Muslim countries be trusted to keep their end of the agreements that they sign with non-Muslim nations? It is a known Islamic practice, that when Muslims are weak they can agree with most anything. Once they become strong, then they negate what they formerly vowed.

The principle of sanctioning lying for the cause of Islam bears grave implications in matters relating to the spread of the religion of Islam in the West. Muslim activists employ deceptive tactics in their attempts to polish Islam's image and make it more attractive to prospective converts. They carefully try to avoid, obscure, and omit mentioning any of the negative Islamic texts and teachings.

An example of Islamic deception is that Muslim activists always quote the passages of the Quran from the early part of Mohammed's ministry while living in Mecca. These texts are peaceful and exemplify tolerance towards those that are not followers of Islam. All the while, they are fully aware that most of these passages were abrogated (cancelled and replaced) by passages that came after he migrated to Medina. The replacement verses reflect prejudice, intolerance, and endorse violence upon unbelievers

First number is from the year 1948, the second number is taken from the year 2000:
Algeria 140,000,.............Less than 100
Egypt 75,000,......................... 200
Iran 100,000,.............12,000 to 40,000
Iraq 150,000,..........................100
Lebanon 20,000,....................... 100
Libya 38,000............................ 0
Morocco 265,000,....... .............5,800
Syria 30,000,............. ............200
Tunisia 105,000,..... ...............1,500
Yemen 55,000,........... ..............200

See a pattern???? and with what do Muslims think of pagans/infidel, are we in for any better,,,,,hmmmm
Even though they wont become citizens they insist on Sharia law in Canada, so do we now have Indian law, and Chinese law, Japanes law etc,,where will it stop..