In Human Events today I discuss how the Secretary of Defense seems to be wooing our media-anointed President-to-be by taking a hyper-PC line on the global jihad:
Is Robert Gates hoping that if Barack Obama is elected president, he will keep him on as Secretary of Defense?It sure looks like it. Last week, while speaking at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Gates tacitly endorsed Obama’s famous identification of Afghanistan as the central front in the war on terror. After a few brief and perfunctory remarks about Iraq, Gates spent most of his address talking about Afghanistan, which he proclaimed to be “the test, on the grandest scale, of what we are trying to achieve when it comes to integrating the military and the civilian, the public and private, the national and international.”
Nor was that the only indication that Gates is extending a virtual CV in Obama’s direction. In his address, Gates noted that “in the wake of the end of the Cold War, a new threat has emerged to menace peace-loving people of all nations and all religions.” That threat? “Violent extremism,” which Gates said “seeks to eject all westerners and western influence from the Middle East and Southwest Asia, to destroy Israel, and overthrow all secular and western-oriented governments in the region.” He explained that these “violent extremists” have “unlimited ‘ideological zeal,’” but he never even came close to explaining the content of that ideology, which would of course have required him to talk about Islam. This politically correct tack is sure to endear him to those who may soon be deciding who will oversee Obama’s Pentagon.
Gates’ analysis of this “violent extremism” echoed Obama’s: he said that the threat emanated from “failed and failing states, from ungoverned spaces.” In this, he hewed closely to Obama’s statements in an interview last summer, when the candidate attributed the rise of “extremist elements” to “a shift in Islam that I believe is connected to the failures of governments and the failures of the West to work with many of these countries, in order to make sure that opportunities are there, that there’s bottom-up economic growth.” (The refutation of the idea that economic growth will end support for jihad terrorism is staring Gates and Obama in the face, and its name is Saudi Arabia -- but neither seems to have noticed.) And Obama would approve of Gates’ pious admonition that “our own national security toolbox must be well-equipped with more than just hammers” -- i.e., it needs to be filled with goodies for regimes that tell the State and Defense Departments what they want to hear.One would think that Gates would know better by this time, especially after recent revelations of how the Musharraf government in Pakistan was for years taking American money to fight against jihad terrorists and simultaneously aiding those same jihad terrorists. Indeed, less than three weeks before his address to the Institute of Peace, Gates was asked during an appearance at the National Defense University in Washington how the incoming President might smooth over the tense situation between the U.S. and Iran. Gates’ reply was telling: “I have been involved,” he said, “in the search for the elusive Iranian moderate for 30 years.” Then Gates recounted an incident from a 1979 meeting between then-National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski and officials of Ayatollah Khomeini’s Iran. Gates, who was there, said Brzezinski told the Iranians that the U.S. would recognize the Khomeini government and even sell Iran weapons, but that the Iranians demanded that the U.S. hand over the Shah to them. When the U.S. refused, they stormed the American Embassy in Tehran, thus beginning the hostage crisis. Mideast analyst Barry Rubin commented: “Had the United States been a mean bully in its treatment of the new Islamist Iran? On the contrary, Washington did everything possible to negotiate, conciliate, and build confidence. We’ll do almost anything you want, Carter and Brzezinski offered, just be our friend. Far from being appeased, Iran demanded such a total humiliation -- turning over the fatally ill, deposed Shah for execution -- even that administration couldn't accept it.”
Gates, with his talk of diversifying our current alleged hammers-only approach to “violent extremism,” and his apparent politically correct unwillingness to delineate the true motives and goals of those who would destroy us, seems determined to go down this road again. As far as Obama is concerned, that may be just fine and spare him the trouble of finding a new Secretary of Defense. But will America be able to pay the cost of still more politically correct myopia and appeasement?
Robert Gates, the consummate bureaucrat.
violent extremists” ruling elites new code word for islamists. but l would not rule out a win for McCain. pollsters are like the msm types, and l am sure it has been a dead heat all along, all of a sudden the polls are getting closer. Election results will be defined by turnout.
Yes, I suppose the 'Throne of Obama I' will attract many baboons seeking handouts.
And the would be ruler Obama, consolidates his power base prior to election.
In spite of the fact that Obamessiah, has been able recruit many swooners and may very well win the presidency, there are a legion of people who are not swooning, and see the death of America in his eyes and words.
I have predicted that within a year of an Obama presidency, the same people who elected him will be howling for his impeachment.
A further prediction...In the first year of his presidency, before he gets impeached, there will be several attempts on his life. I won't speculate further on the results of those...
In case you are monitoring FBI, that is a prediction, not a threat.
...to integrating the military and the civilian...
they get an "F" on that...
Sorry, Gates, but Colin Powell got in line first. And sorry, Colin, but Bill Ayers was already in line ahead of you.
I don't think any of these former "Republican" office-holders have a chance, nor do the Clinton retreads like Madelaine Albright. An Obama cabinet will be made up almost entirely of Obama types. And expect Joe Biden to be out of the loop altogether, like Truman under FDR.
OT - I thought people might be interested in this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Crusaders-Struggle-Holy-Land/dp/0898709490/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b
A good Christmas present for Robert Gates!
*
Also, a little story about a trip to the PO yesterday. On display in the glass box this year's Christmas stamps. Great! On display next to the Christmas stamps - Eid stamps.
There were no Eid stamps prior to 9/11. So, how does it follow that we're honored with their presence post-9/11? I don't get it.
“a shift in Islam that I believe is connected to the failures of governments and the failures of the West to work with many of these countries, in order to make sure that opportunities are there, that there’s bottom-up economic growth.”
Obama wants to "spread the wealth".
Newsflash, senator: none of those governments failed because of the West. If anything, we have been giving them "goodies" since the Cold War and our "hearts and minds" approach went full speed after 9/11. 9/12/01 should have gone down in history as the starting date of the MUSLIM program to win WESTERN hearts and minds. It wasn't. Why?
Newsflash 2: Israel isn't a failed government or a failed state. Some might argue the current government is a failure but the failure is in the people at the top. The "regime", a parliamentary one, is alive and well.
If Gates thinks he will fit in with an Obama administration, he is probably right. How far removed from "the failed Bush policies of the last seven years" is Obama? Isn't he really calling for a continuation of Bush's religion of peace policies, but without soldiers on the ground in Iraq? Doesn't he still call for us to fight in Afghanistan?
Did anyone see his special last night? Thankfully, I missed it.
Did anyone see his special last night? Thankfully, I missed it.
Posted by: PMK at October 30, 2008 9:13 AM
It was on, I changed the channel.
A further prediction...In the first year of his presidency, before he gets impeached, there will be several attempts on his life. I won't speculate further on the results of those...
In case you are monitoring FBI, that is a prediction, not a threat.
What I'm worried about is some islamic fanatic will believe that Obama is an apostate muslim, and decide to administer the sharia penalty for apostacy.
No, I'm NOT saying that Obama is or even was a muslim. I'm saying that some nutcase could THINK that his was one.
In case you are monitoring, FBI, this is a worry, not a threat.
What I'm worried about is some islamic fanatic will believe that Obama is an apostate muslim, and decide to administer the sharia penalty for apostacy.
Posted by: Bigfoot
joe biden -- president. that would mean so much to the anti-gun crowd. the dead president, killed by whatever device, the new president (who's proud of his anti-gun legistlation) uses this to outlaw guns.
I am very concerned about the rise of fundamentalist islam as a growing threat to western democracies and secular societies, but I really don't believe that a McCain administration (and far less a Palin administration) is going to be any more effective at addressing this than an Obama administration. I think that we need to respond aggressively to terrorist activities as they are carried out, but I also think that the only way to ultimately resolve this problem is by having Islam undergo a period of reform; similar to the kinds of reform efforts that Christianity and Judaism underwent at points in their histories. I think that Obama's more nuanced approach may lead to an atmosphere were moderate muslims (yes, I believe these exist) will be more willing to demand reform of their own religion. I don't think we need to appease fundamentalists (of any religion), but I do think we need to encourage moderate muslims to take an active role reforming Islam.
There is one additional consideration regarding Obama's election. If Obama were only a typical socialist re-distributor as are most Democrats it would be tolerable. But there is much evidence that he detests white people. He pals around with virulent white haters such as Wright and assorted followers of Farrakhan. He has also admired and is admired by various Islamists and Palestinian activists. The group of whites he most seems to approve of are self-hating whites such as Pflager and a cadre of 60s radicals. Anyone on campus in the late 60s and early 70s is quite familiar with the type. Unlike their ideological forebears these “new” leftists actively hate their own race and their western cultural heritage. This is shown by Bernadine Dohrn’s admiration for the murders carried out by the Manson family. Obama’s attitude toward his own white relatives is shown by his comments regarding Grandma. Furthermore, in his own writings he condemns members of his family in Kenya who were simply employed by white colonialists.
Given all that, a serious question to be raised is whether Obama would do anything to protect a people he detests from attack by internal or external enemies. And if an attack occurred would he be expected to retaliate. Might it be that only if said enemies were foolish enough to attack a primarily minority city or region would they risk the wrath of Obama?
RBLA,
Any attack on a major US city would hit minorities. The urban areas are the source of a lot of Obama's support - from people of all races. And if he wants to not support the people that are paying most of the taxes then he will be killing the goose that lays the golden egg.
Whatever his personal feelings, he will have to take action.
from above: I think that Obama's more nuanced approach may lead to an atmosphere were moderate muslims (yes, I believe these exist) will be more willing to demand reform of their own religion...
Various people talk about reforming Islam, but no one knows just exactly how to go about it.
They can demand reform all they want, but what do you reform? To whom do moderates(?) make these demands?
Reform The Quran? Fat chance of that...Immutable word of Allah and all...
Obama will have nothing to do with any Islamic reform...He will instead aid Islamic hegemony.
"I also think that the only way to ultimately resolve this problem is by having Islam undergo a period of reform; similar to the kinds of reform efforts that Christianity and Judaism underwent at points in their histories." --a2slb
LOL. Good Luck with that.
Sorry, ain't gonna happen.
Did anyone see his special last night? Thankfully, I missed it.
Posted by: PMK at October 30, 2008 9:13 AM
Thankfully, I missed it too. I have been out of town and busy. I have reached total burnout on the election. I want it to be over.
With Obama accepting hundreds of millions in small credit card donations without name and address verification, massive illegal voter registration and endorsement from hundreds of organizations paid for by us taxpayers, and with no one effectively challenging him on all this, I fear the outcome of the election will be an ugley event for all the people that follow the rules, work hard, and uphold the greatness of the USA. I fear the Muslims will have a free reign with him in charge. Gates may fit right in with him. Osama and his minions should be very happy with Obama.
Every man, women, and child of age should vote to help offset the illegal votes and illegal money accrued to Obama.
l ran across this cute poem from Michelle Malkin's site, it fits well, send it to people you think might benifit.
Twas the night before elections
And all through the town
Tempers were flaring
Emotions all up and down!
I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap
Had cut off the TV
Tired of political crap.
When all of a sudden
There arose such a noise
I peered out of my window
Saw Obama and his boys
They had come for my wallet
They wanted my pay
To give to the others
Who had not worked a day!
He snatched up my money
And quick as a wink
Jumped back on his bandwagon
As I gagged from the stink
He then rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!
On Fannie, on Freddie,
On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, On Pelosi
He screamed at the pairs!
They took off for his cause
And as he flew out of sight
I heard him laugh at the nation
Who wouldn’t stand up and fight!
So I leave you to think
On this one final note-
IF YOU DONT WANT SOCIALISM
GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!
This is of course is a transition period whether it is a McCain Presidency, or an Obama Presidency.
These speeches could be designed as a soft sell to the next President which may actually be encouraged by the White House to make a certain amount of President Bush's case while seemingly embracing Obama's so called strategy to a certain degree.
Personally I don't think Obama ever owned this opinion to increase troop strength in Afghanistan in the first place since the need had been recognized as far back as late 2005. It is mistake to think he was the man with the right strategy. I would not give him an ounce of credit for it.
It is a fact that the theatre of war is beginning to shift back to Afghanistan as Iraq begins to stabilize more and more. Afghanistan Khandahar Districts have been over run with Taliban fighters and NATO, and other coalition countries are looking to double their strength in these areas. Already in early 2006 Secretary Gates was showing concern about increased Islamic Militant attacks and moved to increase US troop strength by 4,500 troops from the 101St.Airborne alone.
In fact President Bush announced on September 8th that he was reducing the US troop strength by 8,000 and increasing our military footprint in Afghanistan.
Bush said. The Taliban and its al-Qaida allies have regained strength and are using the tribal areas of Pakistan as safe havens. American troops who were scheduled to deploy to Iraq will deploy to Afghanistan beginning in November. This will make the “quiet surge” of NATO forces into Afghanistan a bit louder.
Most of these theatre changes are being brought about by the success of General Petraues surge operations in Iraq.
On reforming Islam...
Islam can't be reformed because of Mohammadans lofty view of it. The perfect religion, the last word from the perfect god Allah, and the living examples of Allah's tool, the perfect man and roll model Mohammad. These are what define Islamic supremacy.
In order to reform Islam, one must reach the conclusion that there is something wrong with it, that it is broken, and needs fixing.
In other words, admitting that Islam and Mohammad are NOT PERFECT, not supreme.
That's what apostates are made of.
Actually Mohammadans even contemplating reform are blasphemous. They should just apostate themselves and be done with it. There is no way to sit on the razor fence of reform and not get cut...
First off,
The next war or the budding war to come indeed is in Afghanistan. Mackie is right and so is Gates. Trusting Obama to do the right thing about this is not a good idea. Like most of the other issue that he parades, some of which I think are terrible and some of which are good, I don't think he'll ultimately deliver. Throw a Democratic Congress on top of that and you've got a 180 degree disaster. At least the former schleps were fighting the enemy over there. That's better than leaving them alone to plot on us and just try to defend with "intel" and no force.
I always tell my friends that on one level (and I'm not/was wholeheartedly for the Iraq situation) the "War on Terror" however much you like or dislike it, from the US point of view, was a complete success. No attacks on the US in 7 years? If you had given even money odds to someone in 2001-2002 that there would be NO attack in the next 7 years on America, they would have snapped that bet up in a second ... and LOST.
Gates knows better. But I know better too. This election will be VERY close. When all is said and done, McCain will be the next president of the USA.
Even if Obama won, he can't be president because he wasn't born here. I thought it sounded crazy too, but you're telling me all he has to do is put up a real long form Certificate of Live Birth and he can't/won't do it? Berg is right. Something's up. And his college documentation and transcripts will show this, as well.
Don't believe the hype. This race is almost dead even, or will be by Monday Night.
"Even if Obama won, he can't be president because he wasn't born here."
The hard part is proving that. The Kenyans have sealed any and all medical records of Obama's mother leading up to his birth.
The State of Hawaii has sealed the birth certificate. Only Obama can request its release.
No one in the press is demanding he do so. This should have been disclosed when he first ran. The press likes to talk about how much money a woman spends on clothes or a man spends for a haircut but whether someone is constitutionally qualified to become president is off limits. Go figure.
"But will America be able to pay the cost of still more politically correct myopia and appeasement?"
No. Gates' approach is very dangerous, as is Obama's. They sure will make a Pansy-Pair of Politicians. God help us.
Posted by ebonystone:
And expect Joe Biden to be out of the loop altogether, like Truman under FDR.
LOL… Biden's out of the loop, or should I say open loop, even when he's in the loop… LOL
An al Qaeda leader has called for President George W. Bush and the Republicans to be "humiliated," without endorsing any party in the upcoming U.S. elections, according to a video posted on the Internet.
"O God, humiliate Bush and his party, O Lord of the Worlds, degrade and defy him," Abu Yahya al Libi said at the end of sermon marking the Muslim feast of Eid al-Fitr, in a video posted on the Internet.
---
Gee - I wonder who Al Qaeda wants to be elected?
"The Kenyans have sealed any and all medical records of Obama's mother leading up to his birth."
PMK
PMK, I was wondering about this, too. So, Kenya actually does have medical records for Obama's mother, is that correct? Can you point to a source for this, perhaps another source that says a request was made for the records, who the requester and requestee were, when the request was made, and why it was denied? Do you by any chance know where the medical records are located? Nairobi (the state capitol)? Kisumu (the regional capitol)? I would think there is a chance they were destroyed or altered in Kenya, but in the case of alteration a good document forensics investigation should be able to detect it. If Obama's mother returned to the U.S. around the time of the birth, then there should be a record of when she entered the country, which could be compared against his birth date. I assume there is someone on top of this story - why haven't we heard more about it?
It is outrageous that Obama has not produced court certified proof of his being a native born U.S. citizen, as is required by the Constitution. Failure to produce such proof should in and of itself disqualify him. Why hasn't there been a court challenge of this?
It is outrageous that Obama has not produced court certified proof of his being a native born U.S. citizen, as is required by the Constitution. Failure to produce such proof should in and of itself disqualify him. Why hasn't there been a court challenge of this?
Posted by: Eastview
I agree. Imagine if McCain were withholding his original birth certificate, the media would roast him alive. The left-media double standards are mind-blowing.
"...the media would roast him alive."
champ
This transcends issues of media approval or disapproval. It's the law! If Obama becomes president and it can be proven that he is not, in fact, even eligible, then this will produce a Constitutional crisis the likes of which has not been seen in this country.
"Whatever his personal feelings, he will have to take action."
PMK
Yes he will be forced by panicky members of his own party to "take action." But what sort of action would it be? Most likely some ineffective window dressing. As long as the large majority of casualties were non-minority, the rest would just be collateral damage. Some Muslims were also killed on 911; did that stop their fellows from dancing in the streets?
Gates wants the Job knowing forces are in play to cut 25% of his budget.
Obama will build up the military to meet the challenges of the 21st Century? While planning to cancel and delay all the weapon systems in the pipe line to do just that?
Sane minds still ask the question about who he is.
He seems to fit what Prophesy defines as the Anti-Christ.
His Military posture must make him loved by the Chinese and Russians. Major cutbacks by US, while they are both rearming to the teeth as well as selling as much hardware to our enemies as possible.
Dumping Troops into Afcrapistan with very tenuous supply lines through Russia? and Pakistan.
Europe loves and wants him, Islam loves him and wants him.
He is surrounded by some of the most vile anti American individuals any candidate has ever had. Leading an army of mindless Minions lead by the nose, by a compliant Press who violates every principle of honesty and integrity.
Of course, I could be wrong. I could be very wrong. I pray that I'm wrong. I pray very hard.
It all reminds me of the movie The OMEM. where his Minions are everywhere.
so if you never see another Post...
When will stupid Republicans like McCain and possibly Gates--I assume he is a Republican, get it through their dense heads that Democrats do not engage in bipartisanship unless it is 100% to their advantage. I'm sure king obama has already selected a panel of dedicated ideologues (communists) for his cabinet and unlike Mr. bipartisanship McCain, has no interest in "reaching across the aisle". Why should he, when there is a legion of like-minded minions just dying to work for the savior obama.
No matter how often Republicans compromise with the left, IT IS NEVER RECIPROCATED and seldom acknowledged.!!! I've heard many Republicans lavish praise and appreciation on the likes of Ted Kennedy but I have NEVER hear him or any other prominent Democrat say a kind word about a Republican. Gates is disgusting, like all of them. Political expedience, self-promotion, clawing their way to the top and groveling to stay there is all they do and their careers are their top priority, not their jobs. I'm nobody but I refuse to call islamic jihad/terrorism by another name. What a shame that our own leaders cannot or will not name our enemy.
A little off topic, but fun...
If McCain wins...Liberals move to Canada...See travel video..
http://link.brightcove.com/
Groan...link broken...
If this one is broken I give up...
http://www.investorsiraq.com
Well, right site but video gone...Shucks...
One more try...
http://link.brightcove.com/services/...tid=1842856410
Ok I give up...it's not me, Its Allah...He does not want you to see that video because it is just too darn funny...You know how Allah hates funny...
ABOMINATION
OBAMA NATION
HMMM
Accounts like this make me wonder if we aren't doomed after all. Mediocrities are everywhere. The malevolently misdirected are full of passion and conviction. The world is indeed out of joint. Where are the Lincolns and Churchills? Damn. It needn't be this bad but it is. Perhaps all of mankind is, in reality, a collective idiot. No, wait, I have to have more hope than this. Or do I? Need a beer.
I feel there is a fundamental mistake made by the various persons posting here—if someone disagrees with your political views they are (select all that apply): a fool; a traitor to the country; or an easily manipulated stooge. In short demonize the Democrats. Don’t let the fact that the majority of the country self-identifies with that party and its policies get in the way of making your political opponents into monsters. Even Mr. Spencer, who I admire buys into this thinking by calling Obama “media anointed”, as if the millions of citizens who enthusiastically support him might not have independently come to this conclusion on a comparison between the dismal record of 8 years of Bush, and the disappointing campaign of McCain. I fully understand that many here do not share my liberal Democratic views, but I don’t think that this is a conservative political web site. (Although the pathetic parroting of the long discredited wingnut views that Obama isn’t an American is depressing). Instead I read this site regularly because, like I hope all the readers here, I am convinced that we face a very real danger from jihadists world-wide, and Robert Spencer does an admirable job in keeping this threat front and center.
I suspect that Mr. Spencer and I disagree on both the outcome of this election and many domestic political issues, but there are plenty of places for me to get my liberal fix on these questions—I check Jihad Watch because it is the best site in keeping me informed about the Islamic threat to our freedoms. May I suggest, that if, as it seems fairly certain based on the polling, that Obama wins, perhaps even by a landslide, that we, the informed anti-jihad community realize that this issue is not a Republican/Democrat issue, it is an issue for all Americans. As has been pointed out often here, cherished liberal views (gay rights, female equality, etc. ) are totally threatened by jihadists. Rather than fill the pages with anti-Obama rants, consider the challenge of reaching out to the majority of the country who will vote Democratic on Tuesday. If jihad awareness is presented as part and parcel of a litany of extreme conservative positions, then many will sadly not inform themselves, and our country will be all the more weaker.
Rage on as you wish on the numerous conservative web sites that are out there, but leave the extreme partisan stuff out of this site. Focus on what unites us, not what divides us.
esquared.
Your joking right?
When Obama produces his Birth Certificate, then we will know he is truly an American. Eligible to run for the Presidency let alone occupy the office.
For you to understand that Islam is a threat must make you one really lonely liberal Demoncrat.
You really need to ask yourself why you need to come here(of all places) to get a clue as to what is going on. Then you can better send your message of reaching across the isle where it really needs to be.
"Rather than fill the pages with anti-Obama rants, consider the challenge of reaching out to the majority of the country who will vote Democratic on Tuesday."
-- from a posting above
A perfectly reasonable and intelligent request.
When it comes to the American People and our leaders, be it democrats or Republicans demonstrating a clear and better understanding of the aspirations of fundamental Islam; YES!
When it comes to the liberal agenda that defines Senator Obamas Presidential candidacy; NO!
Let's see... in a global war against an imperialistic terror movement, who would I prefer, a fighter pilot or a community organizer?
Hmmmm... let me think...
esquared: If the old Democratic Party still existed, the one of FDR, Harry Truman and JFK, I would welcome, as a conservative, only having to disagree with such opponents on things like taxes and Social Security, knowing all the while that the nation as a whole was protected and sound. But that Democratic Party is now almost entirely gone and the likes of Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Barack Obama are the face of the new Democratic Party, one which has been in formation since the 1960s and which is viscerally anti-military, contra traditional morality (which Democrats increasingly mock and deride------no one saw this coming any better that that old style Democrat, Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who said that modern liberals were not only defining deviancy downwards but upwards as well; Moynihan also noted that the greatest failing of modern liberalism was its incapacity to recognize and deal with true evil), deferential to an appallingly corrupt, anti-American, anti-Israeli UN, hostile to the concept of American exceptionalism, obsequious to Europe and even exculpatory of Islamic evil by implying that the West has brought Muslim ire upon itself (the D'Souzas among conservatives, it should be noted, are a rare breed).
In short, modern liberalism is, as Whittaker Chambers observed long ago, a prescription for Western suicide. And please don't dismiss this as rage. It isn't. It's just stating things the way they are. Doubt me? Try asking one of the few old Democrats left what he thinks about this. Try asking Joseph Libermann.
The goal is to educate, as large a number of people as possible, about Islam and about Jihad.
Some of those people are Republicans, or at least, for all kinds of reasons that may have nothing to do with Islam, will be = voting for John McCain. Many may support, for now, his belief that the war in Iraq as the most intelligent way to deal with the world-wide Jihad. They are wrong, but in order to realize that they are wrong they need to learn about the instruments of Jihad other than terrorism, and they need to focus especially on what is happening in Western Europe. If McCain is elected, that does not mean that the American army should remain in Iraq, or that he is exempt from the need to learn about the Money Weapon, campaigns of Da'wa, and demographic conquest. Some of them can be persuaded that the war in Iraq is now folly, and that more is to be gained by leaving, and allowing the sectarian and ethnic fissures widen, in order to divide and demoralize the Camp of Islam.
Some of these people are Democrats, or at least, for all kinds of reasons that may have nothing to do with Islam, will vote for Barack Obama. Many of them wish the American effort in Iraq to end promptly, though they do not, on the whole, give a thought as to why that might actually be part of a much less expensive, and much more effective, policy to contain Islam. But some of them can be persuaded of that, just as some of them can find out what Islam means for the rights of the individual, for the legal and politial institutions of this country, for artistic expression, for free and skeptical inquiry.
Neither group of voters should remain off-limits to appeals to them to find out more about Islam, and not find out that more from the likes of the apologists for Islam, who have been, in the past, associated with both parties, and there continue to be apologist wings, for different reasons, in both parties. There are D'Souzas and Norquists and assorted james-bakers voting for McCain. There are the Muslims of the Nation of Islam (and of Dearborn), bloc-voting for Obama. And then there are the others: those who now know, and those who do not yet know, what they must come to know, if policies that do not squander but husband resources for the war of self-defense against Jihad (which goes on forever, has no ending) are to be sensibly adopted -- policies far more effective than any of this boots-on-the-ground stuff in Iraq or Afghanistan. A pedagogic war, an information war, will lead, if properly conducted, to a propaganda war certain to demoralize the enemy, for it will be based on the truth.
What is that truth? The truth is that the failures of Muslim states and societies, all of them, the political failures, the economic failures, the social failures, the intellectual and moral failures, are a result of Islam itself. This has been discussed, in detail, many times at this website. It has to keep being discussed, until it becomes impossible to overlook, and it is already impossible to refuge or, once heard, to forget.
The appeal must be to all those willing to listen.
The fact that some readers think that it must be a joke that someone regularly frequents this site and is a liberal democrat shows the depth of the challenge. As usual Hugh, you expressed much of what I was thinking in a far more eloquent manner.
l have come to understand that islam is a form of facisim, the control of your entire life. the link with liberalism to the far left is socialism and even more to the left communism. BO represents the far left, socialism and with that you will have more income redistribution, each to his needs etc. and alson you will have restrictions on your freedoms, ie speech. BO's gang have already reacted to some reporters questions they feel too harsh by banning them. So l have come to the conclusion modern day liberlism is in bed with islamists, and the need to vote them out, ie GB labou gov't, Canada's liberal govt, and US Democrats need to be voted out!
As a person with liberal views, I'm heartened to see esquared's comments and Hugh's response. I'm a regular reader of both Jihad & Dhimmi Watch and I'm very concerned about the rise of fundamentalist Islam. I do not see my concerns as incompatible with my liberal views and am always depressed when the discourse on this site sinks into an "us (right) vs them (left)" rather than "us (separation of chuch & state and true freedom of religion) vs them (fundamentalists).
Re the recent posting by liberal Democrats. Unfortunately, you have allowed your party to slip into the grasp of a most virulent anti-American, anti-Western and, yes, anti-Semitic cadre who have now foisted on us a glib but inexperienced and dangerous candidate for the most important office - one that is crucial to our very survival in this protracted war with a relentless enemy. I say this with regret as I was once a member of the once great Democrat party. Obama has taken to lying constantly about his associations, although he was more honest in his writings long before he tossed his hat in the ring. The latest info on Ayers; who is not a guy he happened to meet walking his dog in the neighborhood; but one he has had a long relationship with; was revealed last night on Hannity and Colmes. A rare copy of one of Ayers' books was dedicated, among others, to one of our earliest Islamic terrorists - Sirhan Sirhan. How does that make all of you libs with portraits of RFK hanging on the wall feel now?
RBLA - my husband and I watched H&C last night, so we saw the Ayers' book and the dedication to Sirhan Sirhan that you mentioned. Very shocking.
They also discussed another associate of Obama's on H&C named, Rashid Khalidi, a Columbia University professor; and now the Los Angeles Times is reportedly refusing to release a videotape of Senator Obama at a party for Rashid Khalidi at which several offensive things were allegedly said by Rashid pertaining to Israel, and that he apparently supported the terrorist activity of the PLO, which is more shocking news. And why won't the LA Times release the video, or at the very least, release the transcripts? People who have nothing to hide, hide nothing, right?
As Americans, and yes as Republicans & Democrats, but as Americans first and foremost, why don't these associates of Obama raise some serious questions and concerns to the point where every American is PRESSING Obama for real answers to these legitimate questions?
Instead, most Americans seem to be satisfied with allowing him to give us very vague answers that really only dismiss the issue? What has happened to our country, and what has happened to common sense and our right to know the whole truth? It seems that now we are comfortable giving Obama one pass after another to these legitimate concerns and questions pertaining to his Friends & Connections? Connections, I might add, that go beyond the pale, so I just don't get it.