GWBush can look into the heart of someone and now their intentions, his security details are granted this power by proxy thereby avoiding any unpleasant decisions at the border.

Posted by: KAOSKTRL at June 9, 2007 9:13 AM

'Officials should proclaim a moratorium on all visa applications from Muslim countries...'

A pleasant dream, but one with zero chance, now or in the forseeable future, of ever becoming reality.

Posted by: Dane at June 9, 2007 9:14 AM

"It is only a matter of common sense to recognize where the great majority of jihadists come from, and acting accordingly."

Given the ease with which jihadist Muslims gain access to Britain and the ease with which they operate within Britain, no British Muslim should be allowed into the US, either.

The attacks on the London transit system and the plots to down planes over the Atlantic mean that Muslims who hold British passports cannot be trusted.

Profiling? Of course!

And there's a reason for it. It's in the British mosques.

Posted by: PMK at June 9, 2007 9:16 AM

It's such a no-brainer that countries should not let Muslims in anymore. Let 'em stay in their countries - now, wny doesn't that occur to the "Officials" responsible for visa applications? It seems quite simple to me.

Of course, ex-Muslims such as Hirsi Ali, Dr. Wafa Sultan, and Nonie Darwish are very welcome.

Posted by: darcy at June 9, 2007 9:22 AM

"why," typo, sorry. It's early!

Posted by: darcy at June 9, 2007 9:23 AM

My goodness, do you ever make ALOT of sense Robert. Honestly, we will need leaders like you for 15-20 years down the road when stuff REALLY begins to get serious and widespread. What a disaster George Bush has been to America in his tenure; not least of which is pandering to the business lobby by not securing our borders for the sake of cheap labour.

Posted by: Triumphant_Paladin at June 9, 2007 9:45 AM

I can guarentee you, we have sleeper cells in Dallas, LA, NY etc waiting to strike from foreign jihadists who snuck through the southern border via Mexico. So what you suggest Robert is exactly correct but equally important is fortifying the border!!

Posted by: Triumphant_Paladin at June 9, 2007 9:49 AM

A very good proposal. But to be workable three things are required. Sealed borders so that undocumented Muslims can't sneak in from Mexico or from Canada. An entry-exit database, as Giuliani seemed to suggest in the last debate, so that visitors can't overstay visas and then disappear. And finally, a much reduced level of legal immigration so that all new prospective immigrants can have their backgrounds thoroughly checked. Until we can establish such a system we need, as Tancredo has been suggesting, a time out on all immigration. As the system is now we can't even detain a well identified individual carrying drug resistant TB.

Posted by: RBLA at June 9, 2007 9:58 AM

Nice idea, but it's not just the PC crowd that will yelp, but mainly the Saudis, and money talks.
As for Lebanon, it's too late. In a generation or less it will be a fully Muslim country, ready to take its place alongside Gaza as jihad dump. Too many Muslims and too many bullets.

Posted by: jewdog at June 9, 2007 10:16 AM

Seal the border? Background check's? A serious effort to curb illegals and terrorist's from crossing ths borders? Profiling?
You wont see any of that untill the traitor Bush, is kicked out of office, locked out of his office, get's fired, become's too old with increasing senility, or he die's of overacidity while eating Chinese food, and Allah escorts him to Hll.
Now the infamous 'Jonny Sutton' is putting another border patrol agent in jail for a typo. (see worldnetdaily.com). The US gov is proving daily that it is perfectly capable, and willing, of running over American citizens, and stomping on them with hob nail boot's. The American gov has proven itself incapable of honoring its commitment to the people it governs. It is no longer of the people, for the people, or by the people, it is now an exclusive club, largely unresponsive to the public, off on its own agenda of power to the officials, and not the people. The entire bunch of them, liberal's, concervative,s ect, should be kicked out of office as incompetant's, (Bush , Rice ect), and traitors, (Hairy Reed and Nancy P). I am not sure who they are working for, but I know it is not for the people who elected them....

Posted by: duh_swami at June 9, 2007 10:27 AM

SInce it is documented that the majority of acts of terrorism are perpetuated by islamist, ie muslims, government should ban immigration and visa from musilm countries., the outcry would be so great, perhaps this will waken the world and demand muslims
fix their sordid cult from within.

Posted by: ZenaWarriorPrincess at June 9, 2007 10:37 AM

Isn't that telling!

Posted by: MZ at June 9, 2007 10:40 AM

Watch out you Arabs you may now be thrown more over to "being with the american side!" err err...

Posted by: MZ at June 9, 2007 10:42 AM

"Because this is not a racial issue, these restrictions should not apply to Christians and other non-Muslim citizens of those countries. Those who claim that such a measure is "Islamophobic" should be prepared to provide a workable way for immigration officials to distinguish jihadists from peaceful Muslims."

No doubt about it, Islamic countries, along with their allies in the U.S., will scream "Islamophobia" and "racism." But why should our political leaders jepordize our security for fear that someone might call us names? Christianphobia and Jewishphobia are practiced openly and routinely without shame or apology in Muslim countries all the time.

This is a human rights as will as a security issue. Both could and should be addressed at the same time.

Congress should pass a law restricting travel from any country that forbids the building of houses of worthip other than Mosques (as with Saudi Arabia.)

That restricts citizenship based on religious affiliation(as with Saudi Arabia)

That requires special permits for the building of churches and other houses of worship (as with Egypt)

Whose laws mandate the death penality for apostasy (as with Saudi Arabia and Iran).

That restrict the publishing of religious literature other than that approved by Muslim authorities.

Whose school text books glorify suicide bombers as Martyrs.

Whose civil authorities fail to protect the lives and property of religious minorities within their borders (as with most Islamic countries).

Most, if not all, Muslim countries are in violation of these simple rules of religious liberty -- and they're "in-your-face" about it (especially Saudi Arabia), Yet our diplomats and leaders say and do nothing. Instead they live in morbid fear that they might offend the religious sensibilities of Muslims inside and outside of the United States.

Well, it's time we do what's right morally and and what's right for the security of our country.

If anyone calls us Islamophobes, call them Christianphobes and Jewishphobes right back -- and without apology.

Posted by: rational at June 9, 2007 11:01 AM

God, I wish our leaders had these kind of guts!!

AMEN!!! This kind of declaration is long overdue by the leaders of
>the United States of America. Kudos to the Aussies.
>
> Debate in Australia .
>
> This is true and can be checked at:
>http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/australia.asp
>
>
> Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on
>Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a
>bid to head off potential terror attacks.
>
>
>
> A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to
>Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister John
>Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face a
>crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard,
>hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if
>they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were
>made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country
>which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you",
>he said on National Television.
>
>
>
> "I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws
>governing people in Australia : one the Australian law and another Islamic
>law, that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent
>courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to
>go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better
>option", Costello said.
>
>
>
> Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he
>said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the
>other country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that
>Muslims who did not want to accept local values should clear off.
>"Basically people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't want, to
>live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can
>basically clear off", he said.
>
>
>
> Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by
>saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.
>
>
>
> Quote: "IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave
>It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some
>individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali , we have
>experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians."
>
>
>
> "However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the
>'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that
>our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do
>I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to
>Australia ." "However, there are a few things that those who have recently
>come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand."
>"This idea of Australia being a multi-cultural community has served only to
>dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. And as Australians, we
>have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own
>lifestyle."
>
>
> "This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles,
>trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom"
>
>
>
> "We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese,
>Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become
>part of our society. Learn the language!"
>
>
>
> "Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right
>wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on
>Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented.
>It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If
>God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as
>your new home, because God is part of our culture."
>
>
>
> "We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask
>is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with
>us."
>
>
>
> "If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like "A Fair Go",
>then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.
>We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really
>don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep your
>culture, but do not force it on others.
>
>
>
> "This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow
>you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done
>complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian
>beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one
>other great Australian freedom,
>
> 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'."
>
>
>
> "If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come
>here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted."
>
>
>
> Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, American citizens will
>find the backbone to start speaking and voicing the same truths !
>
>
>
> If you agree please SEND THIS TO EVERYBODY YOU KNOW!
>
>
>

Posted by: rational at June 9, 2007 11:13 AM

To the above post: This is EXACTLY the clear speak we need. Fortunately, Australia has nipped it in the bud relatively early unlike a host of European nations, which now boast large Muslim lobbies and Greater % populations. It still early for America too to adopt the Australian standard but it will never happen because of America's dependance on Middle East oil. None of this will happen until we develop a viable alternative energy source.

Posted by: Triumphant_Paladin at June 9, 2007 11:35 AM

"Because this is not a racial issue, these restrictions should not apply to Christians and other non-Muslim citizens of those countries."

But how can authorities possibly determine who is a Muslim and who isn't? Becoming a Muslim doesn't require any official program of intensive study; it's not like a Jew becoming Bar Mitzvahed. Anybody can read the Quran and the works of Sayyid Qutb and become radicalized and even his own friends and family might not know.

Posted by: Steven L. at June 9, 2007 1:41 PM

That won't stop a damned thing...since the terrorists are coming right in from damascus & the bekaa valley anyway.
That doesn't even rate window dressing...lol

Posted by: jcom972 at June 9, 2007 3:09 PM

And so the pendulum swings. I adoure men who have fortitude.

Posted by: mustang65 at June 9, 2007 3:19 PM

This is indeed a courageous position by Robert Spencer. I'm sure he will be prepared for the incoming flak.

As there is no way to distinguish between a Jihadi, and a moderate Muslim ie a potential Jihadi, all muslim immigration needs to be stopped into all Western countries. I hope France will lead the way, as there is no country, particularly among the Anglo-sphere, that has the courage to take the lead.

Posted by: DP111 at June 9, 2007 4:09 PM

'This is indeed a courageous position by Robert Spencer.'

He, and Hugh Fitzgerald to greater and lesser degree, have been advocating this position for quite a while now.

Posted by: Dane at June 9, 2007 4:29 PM

So the problem is Arabs? And what exactly is Lebanon, if not member of the Arab League? And parties like Amal, Hizbullah, Fatah et al - aren't they Arab parties? What exactly does Beirut think - that Arabs outside Lebanon are the problem, while Lebanese Arabs - like Hizbullah - are as clean as the wind driven snow?

Posted by: Infidel Pride at June 9, 2007 6:28 PM

To be honest, I don't think there's any hope for Lebanon. In a mere 47 years, it has gone from 60% Christian to only 22% Christian. Christians are leaving that country at the rate of 60,000 a year, and if that rate is maintained, it will have been virtually emptied of Christians in 15 - 18 years. And let Lebanon be an example of what will happen to the West if we ignore the Islamic demographic and terrorist threat. People in the West are so complacent in their belief that we will never live under Sharia, pretend it will never happen, and have fooled themselves into believing that only a tiny minority of the Muslims currently here want to live under Sharia, and really want the same things as what we do, but this pollyannish fools' paradise view can lead only to disaster, and if we become another Lebanon, all bets are off.

Posted by: Spirit Of 1683 at June 9, 2007 7:36 PM

This would be ideal. We have to stop worrying about who we are offending and have the balls to stand up and point out the enemy. We all know who they are, and were they come from.

Posted by: Isamisevil at June 9, 2007 8:09 PM

Dane said

A pleasant dream, but one with zero chance, now or in the forseeable future, of ever becoming reality.

Anything is very do-able, once we put our minds to it. Public opinion can change overnight, given the right events.

Posted by: special_guest at June 10, 2007 1:22 AM

Robert Spencer wrote:

This issue has been clouded by national traumas about "racism," but in fact it has nothing to do with racism, as jihadists with blonde hair and blue eyes are just as lethal, and should be just as unwelcome, as jihadists with dark skin, this is about taking prudent steps to protect ourselves and defend our nation. It is only a matter of common sense to recognize where the great majority of jihadists come from, and acting accordingly.

Officials should proclaim a moratorium on all visa applications from Muslim countries, since there is no reliable way for American authorities to distinguish jihadists and potential jihadists from peaceful Muslims. Because this is not a racial issue, these restrictions should not apply to Christians and other non-Muslim citizens of those countries. Those who claim that such a measure is "Islamophobic" should be prepared to provide a workable way for immigration officials to distinguish jihadists from peaceful Muslims, or, if they cannot do so, should not impede basic steps the U.S. should take to protect itself. And Muslims entering from anywhere -- Britain, France -- should be questioned as to their adherence to Sharia and Islamic supremacism. This is not because anyone will expect honest answers, but so that answers proven false by the applicant's subsequent activity can become grounds for deportation.

Meanwhile, Islamic organizations in the U.S. who refuse to renounce and teach against political Islam should be reclassified as political organizations, as we have called for many times here, and made subject to all the controls and scrutiny to which political organizations are subject.

In the above passages Robert Spencer hits the bullseye several times, and I only wish he would harp on these exact ideas -- about how to handle immigration, and reclassification of organizations as political -- more often. I don't know if anyone else is articulating these positions, and surely no one is doing so as well as Spencer.

Which makes it all the more important that he repeat these points whenever possible, because everyone needs to hear them, and hear them more than once, so as to try them on and realize how fitting they are.

Posted by: traeh at June 10, 2007 5:14 AM

It's not just visas and immigrants we need worry about. In my part of the country Habitat for humanity homes are being funded by the government of Saudi Arabia(displayed on a huge sign in front of the project.) Let's face it the infitration of jihad is more than we want to know. I say follow the money.

Posted by: imamerican at June 10, 2007 6:01 PM

Robert:

Here's my naive question. How could such a policy be refined so that the Christians and other minorities coming from Moslem countries not be filtered out?

xavier

Posted by: xavier at June 11, 2007 12:44 AM