Recently there was some controversy over whether Joseph Stack's flying an airplane into a building in Texas ought to be called "terrorism." CAIR was complaining that only Muslims are ever labeled terrorists, which of course is patently false, but in any case I think the whole discussion was based on false premises. Anyone can apply the label "terrorism" to anything he wishes. The focus of this site has never been "terrorism" as such. What is more important is the ideology motivating the act of "terrorism," and at this site what I have been doing for over six years now is tracking the advances (and very occasional setbacks) of those who hold to the ideology and belief-system of Islamic jihad, as rooted in the Qur'an and Sunnah. That jihad advances by means of acts of terror, i.e., assaults on civilian populations designed to demoralize and weaken an enemy, but also by other means.
This cleric's statement is interesting because he forthrightly avows that jihad does involve what most Westerners think of as terrorism; he is refreshingly forthright amid all the steaming piles of Jihad-Is-An-Inner-Spiritual-Struggle that Islamic apologists routinely serve up in the West.
"Egytpian [sic] Cleric Wagdi Ghoneim: We Pray to Allah That We Be Terrorists, If Terror Means Jihad," from MEMRI, February 4-14 (thanks to all who sent this in):
The following excerpts are from an interview with Egyptian cleric Wagdi Ghoneim, which aired on Al-Aqsa TV on February 4-14, 2010.February 4, 2010:
Wagdi Ghoneim: God did not say that there was only one way to conduct Jihad, and if you missed it - that's it. No, Jihad is a huge issue. Surat Al-'Ankaboot ends with: "Those who strive in our [cause] - We will guide them to Our paths." Our paths, not our path. "Path" would have meant that there is only one. But there are "paths."
What are the paths of Jihad? One is the Jihad of the soul. If you cannot get up in time for morning prayer - you are hopeless. Hopeless. How will you sacrifice your life, if you can't sacrifice a few hours of sleep? If you are asleep and snoring during morning prayer - will you sacrifice your life? That is why the accursed Zionist Jews said that so long as the number of Muslims who pray in the morning prayer is less than the number of Muslims who pray in the Friday prayer, the Zionist entity is safe.
[...]
We are a nation that excels in the production of the art of death. Sheik Hassan Al-Bana said that we are a nation that excels... "To excel" means that we are very good at... At what? At the production of the art of death. I will die anyway, so I should be creative to make sure my death is for the sake of Allah. We should think how to die for the sake of Allah, rather than be run over by a car on the highway.
[...]
We are a nation that excels in the production of the art of death. That's why our enemies are terrified of us. Don't our enemies say that we are a backward nation? Don't they say that our countries are not clean? That we don't have proper science? So why are they afraid of us? Why are they terrified of us?
It is because we have something that they don't have: faith. They do not believe in God. Their God is the dollar. [...]
We are a Jihad-fighting nation, and we should guide all the people to this path. I am sorry to tell you that some preachers and scholars are ashamed to utter the word "Jihad." They do not use the word "Jihad." They are all afraid. They ask you not to use the word "Jihad." Why not? "So that they won't say that we are terrorists." A mujahid is called a "terrorist" nowadays. Brothers, we pray to Allah that we be terrorists, if terror means Jihad for the sake of Allah.
[...]
[In the West] they say: "Ladies, Mademoiselles, and Gentlemen..." The men come at the end - that is, if they have real men over there at all. We should start with "Gentlemen," then "Ladies" and finally, the unmarried women. I said this when I was lecturing in Japan in English. I said to them: "Gentlemen and Ladies..." They said: "What is this?!" I said to them: I know what you're thinking, but this is our religion. This is Islam. Men are the guardians of women.
[...]
February 14, 2010:
Wagdi Ghoneim: For women, Islamic law permits things that are compatible with their nature as females, as well as things that are compatible with the work they are required to do. What is the work you should do? It is the work God created you for.
Think about it. I am a man. Anything you women can do, I can do better, because I am a man, and I am stronger than you. My body is stronger. For example, I can put out a fire. I can climb the ladder and hold the hose, but you can't, because you are a woman. You are weak. I can work as a night guard. I have a pistol, a gun, or even a baseball bat. If I hear anyone coming, I say: "Where are you?" But you? You're a female. You are startled if a mouse gets near you.
[...]
Therefore, there are jobs you women cannot do - like being judges. You cannot be a judge, because your heart will not allow you to sentence someone to death. Can you sentence someone to death? As a man, I can sentence a person to death - even by hanging. But you - if a murderer brings his children to court, and he holds his newborn child in front of you... If you sentence him to death - who will raise this child? Your soul will not let you sentence him to death. [...]
Lovely guy.
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"We are a nation that excels in the production of the art of death. That's why our enemies are terrified of us. Don't our enemies say that we are a backward nation? Don't they say that our countries are not clean? That we don't have proper science? So why are they afraid of us? Why are they terrified of us?
It is because we have something that they don't have: faith"
No - it's because you're brainwashed, hate-filled, immoral, merciless, ruthless, mass-murdering evil Barbarians.
That's what you have that we don't. Get it?