Michelle Malkin interviews Robert Spencer

Really long clip, but really I could listen to Robert speak all day :)

I especially loved the part where Robert said how regardless of the small minority who come to hot air, lgf, and jihadwatch; that the majority of Americans are still ignorant about Islam.

To that I say: Robert, we'll make them a minority! Just give us time. Word of mouth is a powerful tool :)

The people seen walking behind Robert was certainly
distracting.

Fantastic interview by Michelle Malkin.

Fantastic answers by Robert who was actually given an opportunity to finish a few sentences.

I found the ending portion especially strong.

Excellent work all around!

Yes, great video as usual - keep up the good work
but
one major complaint about Religion of Peace? Why Christianity Is -- and Islam Isn't

It's not on sale at Amazon in England!! any chance?

Eloquent, intelligent..and above all truthful. Robert, these qualities are what distinguishes you from those that would silence you.

U:d

I just bought the book off Amazon. If its like Robert Spencer's other books, it will be a winner.

Response to the Hezbollah sign being removed.

http://www.canada.com/shareit/soundoff/view.html?id=0ec6495d-198b-4d4c-a0b4-cce97395fd27&soundoff=315305

Elric

The link is to an email. Are there any news stories to link?

here is the story of it being removed. The link I provided was from a Hezzie supporter not happy about it, calling Hezzie peaceful.

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=26641_Pro-Terrorist_Billboard_Removed_in_Ontario

Awesome Robert. I am finishing your book PIG to Islam. As soon as I finish it I was planning on purchasing the book on Mohamed but I think my next purchase will be this new book of yours.
As was said above I too could listen to Robert all day long.
Many interesting points. The one that stuck in my mind was where Robert said we need to stop calling this the "War on Terror" as this is an action not a group, such as the Islamic Jihadist who we are really at war with.

For anyone who keeps track, the book has hit the Amazon top 200 ranking on its first day. From their site:

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #156 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Make that three bestsellers for Spencer. Wait til it spikes.

It is true that there are calls for violence in the book of Joshua.
But hands up who knows that Jesus is the Latin for Joshua?

Joshua may be the perpetrator of violence in the Old Testament.
But he is the victim in the New Testament.

Maybe the God of the bible is not so bad after all.
And maybe the bible does show the gradual self-revelation of God.

Knowing everything I know, I still vastly prefer the Judeo-Christian tradition to Islam.

I've always wondered whether Robert named it "PIG (Politically Incorrect Guide) to Islam" on purpose :)

Robert,

Great interview as usual. My one complaint is that the camera spent too much time on you and not enough time on Michelle.

I can listen to you talk all day, but I'd rather look at her.

Awesome Robert. I am finishing your book PIG to Islam. As soon as I finish it I was planning on purchasing the book on Mohamed but I think my next purchase will be this new book of yours
Posted by: SoTX at August 13, 2007 2:17 PM

i would suggest his mohhamad book before the new one so you will be aware of the insides and outs of the faith of mohhamad, then once you know that then you will be able to better cross examine the two faiths.
have fun reading.

...and climbing

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #128 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

By tonight it should make the top 100.

OT

Something weird going on in New Jersey.

http://www.homelandsecurityus.com/HobokenAx081307

13 August 2007: A minor accident that took place at Hoboken and Summit Avenues in Hoboken, New Jersey Sunday night - a mere 6-mile drive from the Empire State Building in Manhattan prompted the response of police to the scene as the driver of one of the vehicles fled on foot after the accident. But the police were summoned for another reason – the vehicle from which the suspect in the hit-and-run fled contained a “box” in the trunk containing “radioactive” symbols. According to a law enforcement source close to the Northeast Intelligence Network interviewed shortly after 5:00 this morning, sensors carried by police that measure radioactivity sounded an alarm that indicated higher than acceptable levels of radioactivity, prompting a response from HAZMAT and other officials. Police, fire and HAZMAT officials established a safe perimeter around the accident scene, and the driver of the car containing the box or device emitting radioactivity was caught several blocks from the scene.

This event took an unusual twist, however, when Fox Channel 5 news reporter from New York City was reporting live from the scene. As he was describing the event, a voice coming from the reporter’s ear piece was picked up by his microphone: "TELL THEM NO RADIOACTIVITY" was the message clearly heard as isolated as a sound file HERE. Viewers can clearly see the befuddled reaction by the news reporter to the message from his ear piece in the video clip below, and the confused response to the complete change of information by the television anchor.

Go check out the links you can certainly here them say "TELL THEM NO RADIOACTIVITY".

Something weird going on in New Jersey.

Posted by km

Yeah, it's called a COVER-UP

It's too coincidental after the previous report on Saturday - dirty bomb threat in the SAME LOCATION...

New York City responds to "dirty bomb" threat
Submitted by admin on Sat, 2007-08-11 05:08. U.S. News read more

Douglas J. Hagmann, Director

11 August 2007: An Internet-based threat of the detonation of a radiological device, or a "dirty bomb" in the area of Macy's and the Empire State Building in Manhattan caused an increase of the deployment of radiological sensors on vehicles, boats and helicopters Friday night. Police and federal officials set up vehicle checkpoints in lower Manhattan and at bridges and tunnels, checking for any indication of a conventional bomb laced with radioactive materials. Mayor Bloomberg downplayed the threat, calling it one of many they have experienced without substantiation.

HQ INTEL-ALERT Private Intelligence Report investigators are on-site in Manhattan, and will issue a report to subscribers as information is developed.

Special Report 11 August 2007: Doug Hagmann and Lan Lamphere covered this story as it broke live on the Patriot Brigade Talk Radio Network. Listen Here. You need Winamp, Itunes, Realplayer or RealOne installed on your computer to listen on demand. Or you can listen to the live rebroadcast on the Patriot Brigade Talk Radio Network. Breaking updates all day on Sat/Sun as we learn more. Be sure to listen live for the latest news.

Here's a guy named Raymond Ibrahim on the Fox channel with Sean Hannity introducing his new book called The Al Qaeda Reader. In essence he says the same thing that we have all been discussing and learning about here.

Anybody familiar with this guy?

http://sheikyermami.com/2007/08/13/al-qaeda-reader-new-book-by-raymond-ibrahim/

Check out the google map of Hoboken, New Jersey. The tunnel to NYC is very very close. This is most surely a cover-up.

I should imagine even a small radioactive device in the Holland tunnel would be seriously distruptive.

Are there are any JW readers close by that could give us a more detailed account of whats going on?

Hey km,

Goran Kukic is the name of the driver. It has been suggested that the name is Serbian. So this Goran Kukic was involved in the “fender bender” and fled the scene, but was captured and detained. There was a box in the trunk of the car, which he apparently did not own, that emitted high levels of radiation. The box apparently was removed, and radiation levels in the vicinity are now ‘normal’. Uh huh.

The father of the car’s owner (where is his son????) provided an explanation for the presence of the box containing radioactive materials in his son’s car that police deem “plausible.” Uh huh

No mention of the name of the car’s owner, or the name of his father, who is providing explanations.

I would love to know the following:

1. Who is the car's owner
2. Why is the car's owner unavailable for comment?
3. Why was this Goran Kukic driving a car that he didn't own, that contained radioactive materials?

All sounds like a planned attack to me.

This is the latest from DEBKA on its disclosure last week of a potential radiological attack in New York. Maybe they were right after all.

DEBKAfile CLARIFIES ITS DISCLOSURE OF AL QAEDA’S RADIOLOGICAL THREAT TO NEW YORK

August 13, 2007, 9:19 PM (GMT+02:00)

At midnight Thursday, Aug. 9, DEBKAfile’s monitors of terrorist Web sites and forums connected the messages accumulating from midday. They spelled out an al Qaeda threat mentioning New York, Los Angeles and Miami as targets of attacks “by means of trucks loaded with radioactive material.” Our counter-terror sources and monitors stressed “there is no way of gauging for sure how serious these threats are, or how real.”

Monday, Aug. 13, the chatter continues.

Such disclosures are the daily content of DEBKAfile – not only about al Qaeda, but terrorist organizations in the Middle East and other parts of the world. We believe that holding back such information would be irresponsible and wrong and possibly expose people in targeted countries, most predominantly the United States and Israel, to danger. After this data is aired on our free site, our job is done and it is up to the relevant security authorities to decide how to deal with it.

In this case, the New York Police Department very properly responded.

After 24 hours, during which time the department almost certainly put its vast resources to work to research and assess the DEBKAfile disclosure, security was increased throughout Manhattan and on tunnels and bridges, with radioactivity sensors posted on vehicles, boats and helicopters.

The New York police came up with a further piece of information which was not sourced to DEBKA suggesting that a dirty bomb may go off on Friday evening around 34th Street in Manhattan, where the Empire State Building, Madison Square Garden and Macy’s department store are located.

At that point, something quite irrational happened: The NYPD’s sensible precautions generated a flood of media recriminations against… DEBKAfile. Unbridled, gratuitous assaults on this publication’s credibility came from the publications which missed the story, prominently Associated Press, the International Herald Tribune and FoxNews.

Reuters, to its credit, covered the episode fairly and professionally.

With regard to DEBKAfile’s record, our readers may recall that in 2003, our counter-terror sources exposed the massive recruitment campaign al Qaeda ran worldwide for an army of jihadis to fight US forces in Iraq under the command of a Jordanian terrorist called Abu Musab al Zarqawi.

Again, in 2005 - and up until the present - we warned that al Qaeda was building networks in Egyptian Sinai and the Gaza Strip.

Had the powers-that-be responded in timely fashion to these advance alerts, the situation in both troubled places might have evolved differently.

Robert is clearly the most proficient individuals on this subject and is amazing. I've read his Politically Incorrect book and it was great. I'm always glad that he's speaking out and bringing clarity to this subject, which we need so very much.

Now, I will say, that if christians are going to claim they are now less violent, they would still have to take responsibility for all the violence they did commit through the years, some of which is still happening.

Michelle's point from Rosie was interesting. But the facts are the facts. When AIDS came into focus during the early 80's it was the religious of our nation that were creating such hatred and scaring people that led to violence for years until science could ferret it out. Sorry, but this is only one of many examples of the religious in our nation acting irrationally, just like islam.

Even Falwell and Roberts came out and made atrocious statements after 9/11; Fred Phelps uses religion to disrespect our brave soldiers - please, let's not get sanctimonious.

Fortunately there are people like Christopher Hitchens to help counteract the religious of this world, much like Robert is counteracting islam - I'm glad both are speaking up.

Robert and Hitchens should have a debate together, it would be interesting to hear both perspectives.

It's worth reminding people that even this administration thinks that this war on terror was rooted in religion.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines02/0220-03.htm

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad Bush was at the helm instead of Gore, no doubt, but all the religiosity that's pushed in our society does give one pause and may end up deciding the next election away from a conservative viewpoint since the religious right can't seem to control themselves and get their house in order.

Scooter--

A few thoughts:

When Christians have committed violence in the name of their identifying themselves as Christians, are they acting in accordance with or defiance of the teachings and example of Jesus?

Contrast Islam, jihad, and the teachings and example of Muhammad.

Indeed, "the devil can quote scripture to his own purpose," as people like Fred Phelps (who does not even begin to represent mainline Christianity) remind us, but one must consult those scriptures to see if they're really being twisted in the first place from the intentions of their central figure. Big difference there.

In that light, it's interesting to note that in looking for "Christian" violence, what most people seize on (the Crusades) didn't begin until over 1000 years after the birth of Jesus. Meanwhile, jihad violence was alive and well in Muhammad's lifetime, and for that matter, the Crusades were a response to it. (And as Robert noted in the interview with Michelle Malkin, no one then tried to justify it scripturally.)

And while I agree with your most recent comment in the sense that countering the jihad must be a non-sectarian endeavor, since it threatens us all, being non-sectarian and anti-religious are not the same thing. And the former certainly does not preclude recognizing the positive influence of religion on our heritage, and unapologetically upholding it as something worth protecting. Even a "post-Christian" society could acknowledge that.

MarisolJW,

VERY well said.

Someone once said: "..if you rob a religion of its ethical requirements, then all you've got is a collection of superstitions..."

Consider the following: "if christians are going to claim they are now less violent, they would still have to take responsibility for all the violence they did commit through the years..."

An important message from the bible is that each and every individual is to be held accountable for his or her own behavior. That's why the police don't round up entire families because a son has broken a law, nor do courts impose punishments on relatives or acquaintances not involved. Ditto for past generations -- what do you want, reparations for the Crusades? It's a ludicrous concept.

And with respect to AIDs, I recall back in the 80s a news item -- a child with AIDs had been removed from the elementary school (by the principal.) The parents were terribly upset. But the principal explained that it was a necessary precaution. At that time no one knew how virulent the AIDs virus was. This was not about "religion" -- the subject of religion wasn't even brought up. Of course, in hindsight, we can all say (clicking our tongues): "oh, what hysteria!!" But at the time, we didn't know. So, it could possibly have occurred that the one AIDs child infected with AIDs inadvertently infected dozens more children -- then what?

Of course, many atrocious statements have been made -- about AIDs, about 9/11, about virtually everything...and by nearly everyone (from religious people, to atheists). Hitchens, has, imo, also made deplorable comments -- including, vicious personal attacks against people such as Mother Teresa. Hitchens is not guided by a "moral vision." He is guided simply by a hatred of all things religious. (A "one size fits all" policy is pretty simplistic, as simplistic as any extremist fundamentalist "religious" position). I actually think Hitchens is as dangerous (as wanton) as the Wahhabis/Islamists. Extremist secularism, extremist atheism, etc., is equally problematic (especially when it is devoid -- sheared -- of a moral compass.)

"...being non-sectarian and anti-religious are not the same thing. And the former certainly does not preclude recognizing the positive influence of religion on our heritage, and unapologetically upholding it as something worth protecting."
Posted by: MarisolJW

I would argue that Christianity isn't something we need to protect so much as Christianity needs to protect us. Go to any church. Talk to Christians. The know mohammad better than anyone else. They are our front line, our final defence, our salvation and I am proud to be in that number.

here is the story of it being removed. The link I provided was from a Hezzie supporter not happy about it, calling Hezzie peaceful.

http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=26641_Pro-Terrorist_Billboard_Removed_in_Ontario
Posted by: Elric66

And here's more good news.. LOL.. Screw the hez!!! That hez supporter should be REMOVED from Canada!

Let him go back to his Mierdestan!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBfd_puPK3M

The LGF open thread is VERY funny folks.

Ummm, scooternyc,
you may want to rely on a better source than commondreams, which is heartily endorsed by, and heavily utilized/exploited by, the CPUSA.org (see their media links they endorse).
cd is known in realityland as a kook fringe website.

There are plenty of much better sites that can make a point than that.

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #86 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

...and still climbing. Not bad for first day sales.

Anyone know when the NYT Bestsellers list gets updated?

Here's a guy named Raymond Ibrahim on the Fox channel with Sean Hannity introducing his new book called The Al Qaeda Reader. In essence he says the same thing that we have all been discussing and learning about here.

Anybody familiar with this guy?

Posted by: sheik yer'mami at August 13, 2007 4:37 PM

***

I just this morning listened to an interview Dennis Prager conducted with the author last week. I found it quite fascinating and immediately checked on the book's availability at my local library. (No dice. They buy multiple copies of the Christians-taking-over-America books, most of which sit on the shelves collecting dust, but trying to find something like this is pretty much a lost cause.)

The interview is long (35 minutes) and available here (page down to #10): http://www.townhall.com/talkradio/Show.aspx?RadioShowID=3

I've been reading Robert's new book since last week and must say it should be in the top ten shortly. He makes minced meat of moral relativists with ease. Great read . . . get your copy - and one to share - ASAP.

While we're watching Spencer's latest blockbuster take Amazon's bestseller list by storm (again!), I recommend anyone serious about Christian/Islamic dialogue to mosey over to a much neglected title, The True Furqan

This little volume is little-known in the West, where it has been freely available for over 8 years now, but it has caused storms of outrage all over Dar Al-Islam, where it is not available. Because it is banned as a very, very dangerous book.

All you need to convince you of how it is perceived is to look at a few of the book reviews there. Funny how many reviewers regard it as "worthless" but consider it worth their time to write long vitriolic screeds anyway. There is an ongoing battle on Amazon over this book, and if anything gets the Islamists foaming at the mouth as much as Ali Sina and Robert Spencer, it's this little volume.

Ironically, it's Amazon rank is relatively low, partly because it's never really gotten any press in the West, and those in Dar Al-Islam who might want to read it ... can't get it.

What makes this book so dangerous? Well, there's the little fact it looks a bit like the Qur'an, and it's title includes a common nickname for the Qur'an. Full of hatred and incitement? No, actually it speaks out against these things. Written in the highly poetical style of the Qur'an, complete with the first-person voice of "Allah", it speaks of love and compassion and chides the Islamic world for corrupting God's message (as found in the Bible, not the Qur'an).

The translator tells me that before completing the English translation they showed portions of the Arabic manuscript to devout Muslims who, after cursory reading, told them that it was the text of the Qur'an. I guess that they didn't notice that instead of saying "be harsh to the unbelievers" it says to love your enemies.

If there's any doubt about the content -- well, the first "Sura" is a rephrasing of I Cor. 13 (with apologies to Paul the Apostle and... well, I suppose God), with Muslims in mind. That one "Sura" tells a muslim more about Love than all the Quran and Hadiths put together.

You won't enjoy it much as pleasure reading unless you are a fan of Arabic poetry (and the English reads about as choppily as any Qur'an translation), but its value is pretty easy to understand if you spend any time at all speaking with Arab-speaking muslims. It comes with both English and Arabic text, so you can copy bits and post them here and there.

Anyway, I think the project is well worth supporting. I hope a cheaper paperback copy becomes available soon so it can be bought in bulk and placed in hotels... (yes, I'm on to that again...)

"When Christians have committed violence in the name of their identifying themselves as Christians, are they acting in accordance with or defiance of the teachings and example of Jesus?" --Marisol

Yes, no one disputes that some Christians can and do commit heinous acts. But they do so AGAINST the teachings of Christ. This explains why the scale of such violence in the name of Christianity is so tiny compared to the vast amount of violence perpetrated by Muslims following Muhammad's deplorable example, for Allah to rule over all.

Scooter, I say that as an non-believer myself. The two Christian leaders you cite [Falwell and Roberts] do preach against homosexuality but don't advocate violence against gays. Even the despicable Fred Phelps doesn't call for killing homosexuals. He and his small band of fanatics do celebrate AIDS and soldier deaths in Iraq etc. It's disgusting. But they aren't killing. I think it's an important contrast with Muslim fanatics who ARE killing for their Allah, and homosexuals are definitely on that long list.

Actually, I'd like to say to buy TTF from Amazon but the prices there for used ones are a ripoff. Get it from the source instead.

A side benefit is that it is also available there to read online.

Dr. Anise Shorrosh (not the author of TTF), who features the book there, is a fascinating character himself, who prefers not to go "commercial" but lives dangerously, on a shoestring. His is a simple labour of love. Check out the video of him being assaulted (including an attempt on his life with a knife) during a debate against an Islamist leader in South Africa.

To scooternyc:

You are too far all over the place to be able to really respond to everything you have said in any kind of logical way. You don't seem to know what you are trying to say, so I guess that's why you are saying it so badly. It's like you're not sure what you think, but can't get past everything you've read about Christians. It's almost as if you've absorbed every cliche you've read about Christians and can't stop the rhetoric long enough to think for yourself.

You are not alone. Your ambivalence is the only thing that makes you different. So there is hope for you yet.

Take it from an atheist who has contempt for all religions. Islam is the worst. You don't need any Christian or anti-Islam group to tell you that, just go to Google and type in the word "Islam". And then start reading. Don't waste your time on any anti-Islam site. They are obvious and can be easily ignored. Just stick to the pro-Islam sites. They will tell you all you need to know about Islam. And it's not pretty.

Robert Spencer only repeats what Muslims themselves have to say about Islam. This fact is not acknowledged by his critics, because they can't. Through ignorance, and hatred of Christianity, they refuse to see that Spencer is not just giving his own opinion. He is repeating what Muslims say and how they interpret the Koran, and his opposition to Islam is based on that.

His critics, who will never acknowledge that Christians are capable of doing anything good at all, cannot bring themselves to see the greater evil that is Islam. No matter what it does or what it teaches.

I understand why they think that way because I thought exactly the same way. Then I started reading about what Islam really is and what it teaches.

I suggest you do the same.

TELLING IT LIKE IT REALLY IS

Oh man. Talk about cutting through the bs! Spencer is one of the most important thinkers of the 21st century so far. If people don't get a clue the 22nd century will be broadcast in Arabic only.

"Take it from an atheist who has contempt for all religions. Islam is the worst." --Jaynie59

I would bet the farm that this is Hitchens' take as well.

In response to Odysseus's comments above regarding the alleged calls for violence in the book of Joshua, I repeat what I said on Michelle Malkin's site:

OK, here we go again - it’s another debate of who can show more disdain for the so-called “Old Testament” - what I and my co-religionists call the Hebrew Bible. Look at all the blood spilled in those books! Yep - and look at all the blood spilled in American history. War is deadly by definition.

What such shallow readers always fail to grasp is that the Hebrew Bible contains a section of commandments (the majority of the first five books, the Torah or teaching), some philosophy (Proverbs, Job), some poetry (Psalms, Song of Songs), lots of prophecy, and tons of history - nearly 1-1/2 millennia worth. I think it’s not surprising that in that span of time, Israel might have had as many conflicts with its neighbors as America has had in two centuries. Buddhism, the most pacifist of the world’s major religions, has given rise to various martial arts in Asia. If you don’t expect Buddhists to commit suicide to suit the jihadists, why should the Jews?

The ultimate point is this - whatever the chronicles tell us of the unwanted wars of Israelite history, Israelite law does not call for the conquest of the world or the conversion of other peoples. Indeed, one of our prophets says “Each man shall walk in the name of his god, and I shall walk in the name of the Lord.” Compare that with Sura 9 of the Qur’an, which demands that everyone in the world must choose between conversion to Islam, submission as a dhimmi who pays the jizya tax, or death.

Was Muhamad inspired by the verse “He who does not believe shall be condemned”? It is unseemly for people to complain about what they perceive as the warlike nature of the “Old Testament”. Rather, as a well-known parable of the Talmud states, if you see the mote in your fellow’s eye, won’t he see the beam in your own eye?

A buying tip for Canadians: Purchase Spencer's book from amazon.ca instead of amazon.com (use the same account name&password). The price comes to a bit less in $$CAN than in $$US.

Also, the Amazon.ca sales rank is lagging behind the Amazon.com one, so this is like a "vote" for Spencer's book in Canada. I don't know if the .ca sales rank contributes to the .com one, but the reverse appears not to hold. Sorry, Robert, my purchase probably doesn't add to your international Amazon rank, but it helps it in Canada.

On the downside, it appears that the Amazon VISA is not yet available to Canadian residents (U.S. buyers signing up for this card can get Spencer's book essentially for free plus a $5 bonus. Ah, the power of Capitalism...) although if you have a U.S. dollar one, you can use it at amazon.ca

Goobs--

Thanks!

archimedes, just an FYI...
current Xrate: C$1=US$-.9471 (days end today)

Robert is excellent, as usual!

The Goobs,

"Goran Kukic" sounds more like Croatian name, but can be both.

I really liked the whole interview but was surprised by the suggestion that Muslims in Eastern Europe (I'm reading that ex-Yugoslavia) and Central Asia (the ex-Soviet republics there) hold the key to moderation in Islam. Muslims in both places were heavily oppressed by Communists in the 20th century and living among very large non-Muslim communities. Lots don't know a thing about Islam due to oppression but some are Caliphate and Sharia proponents despite that (most famously Izetbegovic, the first Bosnian president). Lots of them were certainly as bad as the occupiers when the Turks or Nazis ran the area.

So the way to moderate Muslims is to oppress and not teach them Islam? That still doesn't address the root problem of violent tendencies in Islam. Robert, can you please elaborate on your thoughts? Thanks.

Interesting point Robert makes about islamic defenders invariably pointing out that the New Testament and Old Testament have many violent passages also. The fact is the moslem should be challenged to point out any love or peace in the koran. The pope had it right and the moslems went ape when the Pope questioned where are any good passages in the koran or where is anything good coming out of islam? The moslem will be left out of the conversation and will be unable to participate in any discussion if he has to identify any good contained in koranic passages.

Four chapter in already and a great read. A book Robert had to write. He is taking names and kickin' ass.

The Koran and Mein Kampf are similar.

The Koran should be banned in America as it is covenants to violence upon all who are not Muslim.

People who wish to equivocate the Bible and the Koran fail to understand that the bible was a historical document where later verses over turned earlier passages as being no longer applicable.

Except for the ten commandments virtually all earlier laws were deemed obsolete.

There is really only One directive Commandment in the Bible and that is to love your neighbor and God.

There is nothing in that covenant to call harm on another.

The Koran is a totally violent book calling to kill all who are not innocent. Innocent is defined by each Muslim so they become the accuser, judge and executioner all by themselves.

I really liked the whole interview but was surprised by the suggestion that Muslims in Eastern Europe (I'm reading that ex-Yugoslavia) and Central Asia (the ex-Soviet republics there) hold the key to moderation in Islam. Muslims in both places were heavily oppressed by Communists in the 20th century and living among very large non-Muslim communities. Lots don't know a thing about Islam due to oppression

This is an excellent point that, aside from Bosnia and Albania, can be illustrated by 2 examples in the former Soviet Central Asia - Uzbekistan and Kyrghizstan. Uzbekistan, as one may know, still has their Soviet era president Islam Karimov, and while he has moved away from Communism in general, one aspect of Communism - militant athiesm - has been kept intact, and Tashkent cracks down quite heavily even on Muslims who choose to display their beards. While some Uzbek Jihadis have reacted to this by fleeing to Afghanistan/Pakistan and joining the Taliban, this policy has worked. Similarly, next door Kyrghizstan, while not quite as oppressive, wasn't a haven for Jihadis either. But after the Andijan firings in 2005, when several Uzbek prisoners/protesters escaped to Kyrgyzstan, where the government had just been toppled, Kyrgyzstan ended up becoming a haven for Jihadis throughout the region.

The response of Western countries, vs countries like Russia, India and China to this Uzbek action was notable. While the 'US government has been "very consistently critical of the human rights situation in Uzbekistan, they were very concerned about the outbreak of violence in Andijan, in particular the escape of prisoners, including possibly members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, an organization considered a terrorist organization.' In a saner era, the US supported the Shah, since the alternative was worse, as Jimmy Carter proved. Now, despite the possibility that Uzbekistan could get taken over by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan if the country became democratic, the US still opposes the one force that keeps Uzbekistan at least from becoming a Jihadi hinterland.

If the policy in Kosovo doesn't frighten one, Uzbekistan should.

You're totally right Infidel Pride. All recent US administrations have been pro-Jihadi when the target of Jihad is China, Russia, India, Serbia or Greece (Turkey to me is still very much Islamic) and lately Israel too. The cases are numerous: the Uyghurs in China, Uzbekistan, Kyrgizstan, Pakistan, Chechens, Bosnian Muslims and Albanians. Right now they're cozying up to Fatah and Syria. Don't even get me started with Saudi Arabia, Egypt or the treatment of Christians in the Middle East. That's why Omar Bakri Muhammad (of the Al-Muhajiroun fame) said he thought there was "pact" between the British government and Muslims.

Those policies are shortsighted (stupid is another word that comes to mind) and antisocial. They'll end up paying in the end as all of it is demonstrating they're very willing to bend themselves to the will of the Ummah.

Sheik yer'mami:

Among other things, Raymond Ibrahim posts articles at the Victor Davis Hanson web site. (He is not a Muslim.)

Here is his latest article there:

http://victorhanson.com/articles/ibrahim080907.html

A disclaimer: I have not read Mr. Spencer's new book and I probably won't. I don't have to read it. It's unfortunate that he felt the need to write it, and it's doubly unfortunate that nobody is going to believe a word in it. Nobody who needs to believe it, anyway, will get past his name and his perceived history that the Islamists have been so successful in propagating.

I honestly and truly believe that there is no hope for the West. After Beslan, it became obvious to me that most people simply are not interested in the truth. Left or right. It doesn't seem to matter what political philosophy you adhere to. Because Islam is a religion, both camps can't bring themselves to criticize it in any meaningful, truthful way. The West is too mindful of "offending" and any Islamic voices out there who try are simply apostates and get nowhere.

The West will lose in the end and maybe we deserve to lose. When the far left can advocate for a religion and society and culture of politics that would target their ideals of womens rights and gay rights first, what hope is there? When the far right has so much respect for a religion that it refuses to criticize it and refuses to name what our real enemy is, what hope is there?

I'm glad Robert Spencer still tries. But he's spitting into the wind. My only hope is that it doesn't happen in my lifetime or my daughters lifetime. But it will happen.

Like the shark in Jaws, people will continue to ignore this particular problem until it swims up and bites them on the ass. Or cuts off their heads.

Jaynie59 -

Despair is one of the Seven Deadly Sins. How do you KNOW, 100%, that Robert is 'spitting in the wind'? How can you KNOW that no-one is going to read him, or believe him, or act on what they learn? His other books have all sold pretty smartly. I understand that ordinary GIs in Afghanistan and Iraq are reading Spencer's books. Some will connect what he says, with what they've seen. Then they'll educate others...

Robert seems to be getting quite a bit of airtime, lately.

And Ayaan Hirsi Ali is getting a lot of media exposure, too - here in Australia she attended a major Writers' Festival in our biggest city, heaps of publicity, sold-out sessions. Our MSM in Australia has given her prime-time exposure and positive spin.

Nothing is fated. There is no 'kismet'. The future is open to the grace of God. And Muslims are mere mortals - subject to Murphy's Law and its military subdivision, SNAFU. What happens if Iran cops a good solid force 8 earthquake (they do get those) and Mr Ahmadinejad becomes a smear of grease under a pile of concrete, and his nuclear project collapses into rubble?

Please: don't give up. Is your daughter (child, teenager, adult?) 'on side'? Then that's two of you.

If you have any grain of faith at all, read Jacques Ellul, 'Hope in Time of Abandonment' and "Prayer and Modern Man". Or Chesterton - "The Everlasting Man". Do what ynkeedoodl2 has done - find a church, settle in, start educating.

You could join me and Isabellathecrusader every Friday as we pray for 1. confusion to the Jihad! and 2. conversion of the Muslims.

Make a big donation to the Bible Society - for their work in the Middle East, South Asia, Russia and China. Not to mention their work in Europe!

If you're an atheist, of course, then as well as Spencer's stuff, get your fellow-atheists onto Hirsi Ali, Ibn Warraq and Oriana Fallaci. Feminists can read Phyllis Chesler and Nonie Darwish, as well - both have written powerful stuff about the widespread abuse of children and women within Muslim culture, much of it the fallout from polygamy.

I myself think there is still hope, so long as we refuse to be frightened by Boggarts or paralysed by Dementors.