Jihad Watch: West: "This high-level effort to, in effect, deny the connection between Islamic law and what the military calls the 'enemy threat doctrine' should ring bells, not just in the military, but in Congress"

January 11, 2008

West: "This high-level effort to, in effect, deny the connection between Islamic law and what the military calls the 'enemy threat doctrine' should ring bells, not just in the military, but in Congress"

In "Foul play," the brilliant Diana West gives us an absolutely masterful take on the Pentagon's firing of Steve Coughlin:

The year is 1942. The place, the Pentagon. A Berlin-born aide to the U.S. deputy secretary of defense has learned that a military intelligence officer has not only read Hitler's Mein Kampf, but is lecturing senior officers about Hitler's heretofore unexamined goals of world domination.
This schweinhunt must go. At least, that's what the German-born staffer thinks. Did I mention he's fluent in German? That's partly why the Deputy SecDef relies so heavily on his aide's judgment on all things German, particularly when it comes to the War on Nazism's German outreach program. This program brings Nazi apologists into the inner sanctum of the American war machine...

Sound crazy?

Travel forward to 1973. The Deputy SecDef's Soviet-born, Russian-speaking aide is gunning for the one intelligence officer who has boned up on Marx, Engels and Soviet military doctrine. Why? Because the officer refuses to "soften" his brief on communist ideology, and is presenting it to the military leadership — now hearing it for the first time since the Cold War began. If communist plans for global domination become common knowledge, the aide realizes, gazing thoughtfully at a poster-size photo of Soviet mouthpiece Vladimir Posner on his office wall, the Pentagon will change strategy and halt the U.S.S.R. outreach program, which gives commie symps Pentagon access...

Totally outlandish, right?

Once upon a time, yes. But this month, this newspaper's Bill Gertz reported on a not entirely dissimilar real-life version of such fictions, the termination of Maj. Stephen Coughlin (USAR). Mr. Coughlin, a lawyer and reserve military intelligence officer, has been the Pentagon's sole specialist on Islamic law charged with lecturing senior officers on jihad doctrine — military leaders who have been fighting the so-called war on terror for years without an inkling of Islamic ideology. His contract with the Joint Staff will end in March, Mr. Gertz wrote, because Mr. Coughlin "had run afoul of a key aide" to the Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England.

That "key aide" is Cmdr. Hesham Islam (USN ret.), an Egyptian-born, Arabic-speaking Muslim whom Gordon England describes as "my interlocutor" and "personal, close confidante." According to Mr. Gertz, Mr. England's interlocutor and confidante confronted Stephen Coughlin seeking "to have Mr. Coughlin soften his views of Islamist extremism." Note the irony in this choice of words. "Islamist" and "extremism" — like "Islamofascism" and other euphemisms —are words that draw a PC curtain over mainstream Islam. They effectively shield the religion and its tenets from the scrutiny necessary to assess the ideology driving our jihadist enemies. Of course, lifting that PC curtain on Islam and its jihadist tenets is precisely the effect of Stephen Coughlin's Pentagon brief. It goes against what political correctness tells us; it also goes against what Islamic advocacy groups tell us.

For example, Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), is someone who advocates decoupling the word "Islamic" from the word "terrorism" for discussions of, well, Islamic terrorism. Why mention this? ISNA is a group that has been strenuously "outreached" by Mr. England's Pentagon even as the Justice Department has officially labeled it a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. Wonder if Mr. England ever thought much about the large picture of Miss.Mattson — head of ISNA, an unindicted co-conspirator in a federal terrorism trial last year — hanging amid the photos on Hesham Islam's office wall.

What Hesham Islam wanted from Stephen Coughlin was a softer interpretation of Islamic law and jihad, and, as Mr. Gertz reported, in the process he slurred Mr. Coughlin as "a Christian zealot or extremist 'with a pen.' " Now Mr. Coughlin is out.

This high-level effort to, in effect, deny the connection between Islamic law and what the military calls the "enemy threat doctrine" should ring bells, not just in the military, but in Congress, which obviously has Pentagon oversight responsibilities. And what about the FBI? When a citizen is denounced as a "Christian zealot or extremist" shortly before his government contract is dropped, has a civil rights violation occurred?

More questions. Why is the deputy secretary of defense engaged in Muslim "outreach"? And how good (safe) is his "outreach" advice if, for example, it brings ISNA into a bizarro relationship with the Pentagon, and sends a longtime apologist for assorted terrorists, Muslim Public Affairs Council's Salam Al-Marayati, on a Pentagon-sponsored trip to Guantanamo Bay? When such advice brings the military's woefully belated education on jihad to a halt, it becomes shockingly clear that the Pentagon is more concerned with political correctness than protecting the nation.

Posted by Robert at January 11, 2008 7:18 AM
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"..What Hesham Islam wanted from Stephen Coughlin was a softer interpretation of Islamic law and jihad, ..."

...aka submission...

Posted by: exsgtbrown

at January 11, 2008 7:42 AM

Brevity, clarity, fully sounding the alarms! Bravo Diana!

The effects of the influence over Secretary of Defense Gordon England by his cherished "key aid", "interlocutor" and "personal, close confidante", this Egyptian-born, Arabic-speaking Muslim Cmdr. Hesham Islam (USN ret.) is most alarming as has been evidenced by the following:

Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England personally promoted Navy chaplain Abuhena Mohammed Saifulislama Wahhabi-trained (so much for softer interpretations, eh Hesham?)Muslim chaplain who catered to al-Qaida detainees at Guantanamo and fought to establish the first mosque in Marine Corps history.

HIGH TREASON!

Posted by: heroyalwhyness

at January 11, 2008 8:10 AM

More and more, I keep thinking there must be some huge, global conspiracy to make islam supreme.

For what reason I don't know - oil? money? power?
Okay, I admit I am a bit of a conspiracy nut.
But there has to be a concerted campaign here. Otherwise how can our leaders, in every western nation, be so willfully blind and stupid when it comes to islam? So eager to help, to pay and pay and pay. Throwing good money after bad, money which should be used at home to protect and help our own. A person could go crazy thinking about it.

What are they all so afraid of?

Posted by: ImNoDhimmi

at January 11, 2008 8:16 AM

Wouldn't it be nice if one of the candidates would express concern about this. What about the bloviating McCain who had to be dragged kicking and screaming by an outraged electorate into finally conceding that the borders should be secured? Shouldn't this renowned military man have something to say about an apparent security breach within the Pentagon?

Posted by: RBLA

at January 11, 2008 8:30 AM

This is NOT a 'conspiracy theory',- this is the real thing.

Gordon England is a traitor, as we can see here:

http://sheikyermami.com/2008/01/09/west-point-bows-to-mecca/

And Hesham Islam, the 'Muslim Outreach Expert' is a mole, check it out:

Pentagon Infiltration Watch:

http://sheikyermami.com/2008/01/07/pentagon-infiltration-watch/

Posted by: sheik yer'mami

at January 11, 2008 8:34 AM

Good article, good reason to get pzzed. The people of the world are being sold out by the US gov, not just US citizens...Bush and his philosophies got to go...And don't replace him with a clone...

Posted by: duh_swami

at January 11, 2008 8:35 AM

Makes me wonder what's being taught to the cadets at our military academies about the nature of Islam, so as not to offend Muslim classmates.

Are Imams leading students in prayer at chapel to insure inclusiveness?

Are Muslims permitted to pray five times a day even during duty hours?

Are there Mosques at West Point and Annapolis, and does anyone monitor what's being preached in them?

Are classes in history and current events laced with the Muslim perspective, so all feel included?

I wonder just how far the Pentegon goes in its outreach to Islam.

Posted by: rational

at January 11, 2008 8:38 AM

This goes deeper than the pentagon.

A few days ago a poster put the story of the man who beheaded the GA hiker.
There is and isn't a connection with our security here.
As this story unfolds, it seems that it may turn out that there has been a serial killer running around the SE US (three maybe four states and possibly ten years)and nobody connected the dots on an intra-state level.
Wasn't this the reason we are spending all of that money on the Dept. of Homeland Security?
Not connecting the dots was an accepted screw-up leading to the success of 9/11.
Or is all that money going into Muslim pockets for sensitivity training?
What part of young, attractive dead women found without their heads in National Forests did not ring any alarm bells?

The point here is if they can't see how a man could go on a long killing spree through so many states, how are they going to find a Jihadist who is working operations in multiple states and multiple criminal activities for funding of the Jihad?

Even our first responders like the cops in TX are being taught to look the other way when behavior might reflect on the religious teachings of Islam.
Yesterday there were many examples of times the first responders could have done something to save the lives of those two girls.

If the people who are protecting us are not allowed to comprehend what the fight is about how are we going to win?

Posted by: Aunt Bea

at January 11, 2008 8:58 AM

"The process of settlement is a Civilization - Jihadist Process" with all the word means. The Ikhwan must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging" its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated ad God's religion is made victorious over all other religions."

"Without this level of understanding, we are not up to this challenge and have not prepared ourselves for Jihad yet. It is a Muslim's destiny to perform Jihad and work wherever he is and wherever he lands until the final hour comes, and there is no escape from that destiny except for those who chose to slack."

http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/461

Posted by: Sounder

at January 11, 2008 9:11 AM

That "key aide" is Cmdr. Hesham Islam (USN ret.), an Egyptian-born, Arabic-speaking Muslim --in article above.

My God, does his last name HAVE to be "Islam?"

If I never heard that foul word again it would be too soon.

Posted by: darcy

at January 11, 2008 9:24 AM

More and more, I keep thinking there must be some huge, global conspiracy to make islam supreme.

For what reason I don't know - oil? money? power?

ImNoDhimmi, Western Europe relies HEAVILY on ME oil. Without that oil, WE would basically shut down. I daresay that fact is a huge reason why WE leaders are appeasing Mohammedans.

As for the U.S. which doesn't rely as heavily on ME oil, utter and complete PC ignorance and stupidity about Islam.

The U.S. gets 90% of it's oil from within -Alaska, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Wyoming and others, and from Canada, Venezuela, and Mexico.

Posted by: darcy

at January 11, 2008 9:34 AM

Secretary England is just another useful idiot assisting our enemies. As angry as I am by Secretary England’s criminal dhimmitude, who is really to blame here? Does the President act or speak any differently? Does anyone believe that the President is not aware of Mr. Coughlin’s dismissal or that he disapproves of it? Secretary England is the President’s man and he is carrying out his chief’s policy. President Bush bares full responsibility for this insaneisylum.

Posted by: patagonianplato

at January 11, 2008 9:46 AM

I hope everyone is forwarding this to their Congressmen, Senators, and to the Whitehouse. This is that important.

Who is the Congresswoman that sits on the committee that oversees terrorism/anti-terrorism?

Posted by: antishock8

at January 11, 2008 9:57 AM

"More and more, I keep thinking there must be some huge, global conspiracy to make islam supreme. "

What conspiracy? They tell us every day what their goals are. They're out in the open letting us know that our days as free people are numbered. We just can't accept that they would be so open about it and so we write them off as crazies, at our own peril.

Posted by: PMK

at January 11, 2008 10:17 AM

Thank you, thank you, thank you to Diana West!
There is absolutely no reason to treat islam any differently than any other extremely hostile ideology. The PC crowd is free to ignore the religious side of islam, but it has a strong and unseparable socio-political agenda. We can not pretend that this agenda does not exist. Even if we do pretend the islamists will kepp reminding us. In blood.

The commie system was not better than global jihad, but it was not any worse. When Warsaw pact failed a very large segment of its population simply did not want to figt the West. WE did not want it! What percentage saudi, egyptians, jordanian, yemeni, libyan, morocan, pakistani etc. does not HATE the West?

Wake them up, Diana!

Posted by: Excommie

at January 11, 2008 10:21 AM

I hope Coughlin sues the pants off the DOD, Mr. England and Mr. Islam for religious discrimination

Posted by: eve_anne_gelical

at January 11, 2008 10:29 AM

"when it comes to the War on Nazism's German outreach program...."
-- from the article above

Better: "War on the Blitzgkrieg's German outreach program."

Posted by: Hugh

at January 11, 2008 10:35 AM

"when it comes to the War on Nazism's German outreach program...."
-- from the article above

Better: "War on the Blitzkrieg's German outreach program."

Posted by: Hugh

at January 11, 2008 10:36 AM

As an earlier poster noted, the best response here is for everyone to contact their Senators and Congressional Represenatives to shed more light on Major Coughlin's firing.

Posted by: Patrick

at January 11, 2008 11:33 AM

As an earlier poster noted, the best response here is for everyone to contact their Senators and Congressional Represenatives to shed more light on Major Coughlin's firing.

Posted by: Patrick

at January 11, 2008 11:33 AM

Hopefully this story gets more legs as it moves along. Bill Gertz stories on the Coughlin firing certainly got the ear of Diana West with the article coming out in the Washington times as well.

These well known and influential writers could hopefully encourage the domino effect among other concerned and conservative columnists prior to letting Coughlin go in march.

What has Mr.Coughlin been relegated to in these next 2 months? Has he already been relieved from his job while still on the payroll? Have his efforts been effectively neutralized?

Certainly the brass at the pentagon are reading people like Gertz, and West let alone Gates himself.

I made a request to the editor of townhall.com to follow this story as well and referenced Bill Gertz first known article " Muslim Pressure" and "Coughlin sacked" as well as Diana Wests article this morning.

Posted by: Mackie

at January 11, 2008 11:39 AM

Hopefully this story gets more legs as it moves along. Bill Gertz stories on the Coughlin firing certainly got the ear of Diana West with the article coming out in the Washington times as well.

These well known and influential writers could hopefully encourage the domino effect among other concerned and conservative columnists prior to letting Coughlin go in march. What has Mr.Coughlin been relegated to in these next 2 months? Has he already been relieved from his job while still on the payroll? Have his efforts been effectively neutralized?

Certainly the brass at the pentagon are reading people like Gertz, and West let alone Gates himself.

Posted by: Mackie

at January 11, 2008 11:39 AM

Concerning nomenclature here, pretty ironic two of the surnames are "England" and "Islam."

Posted by: darcy

at January 11, 2008 11:40 AM

Concerning nomenclature here, pretty ironic two of the surnames are "England" and "Islam."

Posted by: darcy

at January 11, 2008 11:40 AM

Light snow fall was reported in Baghdad for the first time several dacades. Maybe Hell is freezing over.

Posted by: Pelayo

at January 11, 2008 11:44 AM

rational asked:

Makes me wonder what's being taught to the cadets at our military academies about the nature of Islam, so as not to offend Muslim classmates.

Why, the kinder, gentler . . .er, softened [referring to Hesham Islam's particular vernacular] version of Islam . . .of course! Want to bet, either/or England/Islam/الإخوان al-ikhwān had their greasy fingers in this too! .. .

General Vines' reading list

Pictorial image of reading list assignment to Iraq

Posted by: heroyalwhyness

at January 11, 2008 11:53 AM

rational asked:

Makes me wonder what's being taught to the cadets at our military academies about the nature of Islam, so as not to offend Muslim classmates.

General Vines' reading list

Pictorial image of reading list assignment to Iraq

Posted by: heroyalwhyness

at January 11, 2008 11:53 AM

rational asked:

Makes me wonder what's being taught to the cadets at our military academies about the nature of Islam, so as not to offend Muslim classmates.

Why, the kinder, gentler . . .er, softened [referring to Hesham Islam's particular vernacular] version of Islam . . .of course! Want to bet, either/or England/Hesham Islam (aka ikhwān) had their greasy fingers in this too! .. .

General Vines' reading list

Pictorial image of reading list assignment to Iraq

Posted by: heroyalwhyness

at January 11, 2008 11:54 AM

Coughlin was trained in Russian, not Arabic, graduated from a second-tier law school, and he appears to be unpublished on the subject that he claims expertise in - Islamic law.

So how is he an "expert" on the subject?

Posted by: Jeffrey Carr

at January 11, 2008 12:33 PM

heroyalwhyness:

And wouldn't you know it, we see A book by Karen Armstrong and 2 books by John Esposito.

Posted by: Mackie

at January 11, 2008 12:35 PM

Test...tried posting 2 times and nothing...

Posted by: BigDaddyKool

at January 11, 2008 12:36 PM

Jeffrey Carr:

Do you have any recommendations for his replacement in that capacity?

Posted by: Mackie

at January 11, 2008 12:39 PM

Jeffrey Carr, LTC seems to thinks Coughlin had a good grasp on islamic law and cites Coughlin's 300 page thesis on it in the article:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1949972/posts

As for my letter to my congressman and senators:

Dear whosit.

I have been informed that the only scholar on Islamic law on the Joint Chiefs Staff, Major Stephen Coughlin, USAR, has been fired due to linking mandates from islamic law and the war on terror. The story appears today in a Washington Times story by Diana West, Foul Play.

See http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080111/EDITORIAL04/346804216/1013

In an earlier report in Inside the Ring also in the Washington Times by Bill Gertz, Gertz stated that Coughlin was called a "Christian extremist with a pen" by those opposed to his message. Senator, would calling someone a "Jewish, Moslem, Hindu, etc extremist with a pen" be permissible in the Pentagon?

Finally, LTC Joseph Myers, who is an Army Advisor to the Air Command and Staff College has condemned the firing of Maj. Coughlin and has called the failure to look at Islamic law and the quoran as motivators of the terrorism happening in the world “intellectual cowardice”.

See http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1949972/posts

I hope you will vigorously investigate this issue, particularly any pressure brought to bear by Deputy Secretary of Defense, Gordon England and his aide, Hasem Islam who is reported to have pressured Major Coughlin to moderate his views...many of which were based on public testimony in the DOJ case against the Holy Land Foundation in Dallas earlier this year.

Sincerely,

Posted by: eve_anne_gelical

at January 11, 2008 12:44 PM

OT: Just a note to my blog readers that I am going to get the Anvil back online soon. I am being given nebulous information by my hosting company that amounts to virtual book-burning, and until I figure out what it is that they claim is the problem with my blog's "scripts", I am at their mercy.

I just overheated on the phone with one of their support operators and it was then that I realized how deeply-rooted I am in this fight, both emotionally and intellectually, and I had to hang up.

This article reminded me again of what I find myself going through, along with other bloggers, and how real a war of information we are in. When we aren't the victims of thought-police, spammers, hackers, exploiters, terrorists, Truthers, politicall-correct zealots or some other hoooligans, we are victims of bigger fish, like our bureaucrats and elected leaders. No wonder I am so disgusted to the point of ripe anger today.

Foehammer

PS Support Fred Thompson.

Posted by: Foehammer

at January 11, 2008 12:44 PM

oops should be LTC Joseph Myers above

Posted by: eve_anne_gelical

at January 11, 2008 12:45 PM

From above: Coughlin was trained in Russian, not Arabic, graduated from a second-tier law school, and he appears to be unpublished on the subject that he claims expertise in - Islamic law.

I did not know one had to be 'published' in order to be an expert on something...

Posted by: duh_swami

at January 11, 2008 12:54 PM

Frank Gaffney Jr. also wrote an article and his perspective on January 8th in the Washington times concerning the firing of Stephen Coughlin

http://washingtontimes.com/article/20080108/COMMENTARY03/461101751/1012

Posted by: Mackie

at January 11, 2008 12:59 PM

Its nice to see Carr spew more Leftist drivel. Keep showing folks that Leftists are nothing but closet supporters of Dhimmitude and Jihad.

Posted by: waltc

at January 11, 2008 1:09 PM

We can take a look here at what Major Coughlin has participated in and his experiences in working in this critical field of what Gaffney calls in his article; "the war of ideas".

http://www.strategycenter.net/scholars/scholarID.18/scholar_detail.asp

Posted by: Mackie

at January 11, 2008 1:26 PM

Let me see if I get this straight... there's no such thing as an Islamic Extremist but you can be a Christian Zealot...So being an extremist or zealot in and of itself is acceptable, it just depends on what "religion" you are being extreme about. hmmm

Next debate/press interview, etc, whichever candidate from whatever party is asked about the War on Terror - I'm hitting the mute button. "Cause none of them (Barack and Hillary no surprise there) have anything substantive and realistic to say.

The West and her citizens will be lying in mass graves, her churches and temples destroyed, great works of art in ruin, but at least we could say we didn't offend them...

Posted by: HOV Dummy

at January 11, 2008 1:32 PM

I just overheated on the phone with one of their support operators and it was then that I realized how deeply-rooted I am in this fight, both emotionally and intellectually, and I had to hang up.

Foehammer

Foehammer, I have tried for 2 or 3 days to get your website and 99% of the time I can't. It is obvious something is going on. With your host maybe? Today you, tomorrow Jihad Watch? These thought police are scary. Having read your comments for a while here and at the Anvil I know you do not scare easily or at all.

Posted by: mosapedifile

at January 11, 2008 1:53 PM

Try try again...
none of my posts are showing up.
To Jeffrey Carr, he is an expert because he can recognize the threat islam is to our country, seems to be an intellect at a premium these days.

Posted by: interestinconundrum

at January 11, 2008 2:17 PM

The American Left, mind boggling isn't it?

Posted by: interestinconundrum

at January 11, 2008 2:20 PM

OK maybe the third time is a charm. :)

Folks I am a Senior NCO in the US military...been in 19+ years. Been stationed in and deployed to muslim countries. Just wanted to pass on sme info in case you think this insanity is atypical in today's military.

1 - My guess is 99% of enlisted and 85% of officers have not read ONE BOOK on islam, mohammed or the roots of jihad. However they will be the first ones to call you a racist when you engage them in honest dialogue about the issue.

2 - 95% of enlisted E-7s and above and 99.99% of officers O-4 and above are more politician than warrior by a long shot. See the Straight of Hormuz for a perfect example.

3 - Prior to deploying troops to islamic countries, we first make them take islamic cultural and sensitivity training courses (and you thought it was just for those wacko leftie civilian companies).

4 - There are numerous commercials on Armed forces Network - Europe regarding terrorism. One guess how many mention "islamic." My personal fave is the one that asks "What does a terrorist look like" while the faces of American whites, blacks, and hispanics fade in and oout saying "like me." Then the last guy, a 60-ish white guy, says, "maybe even like YOU!" Other commercials referring to terrorism show military cops apprehending a guy at the base entrance...they always portray the terrorist as a lone white guy in a hooded sweatshirt.

5 - In a certain African islamic country we are trying the failed Vietnam-era policy of "winning hearts and minds" by---not making this up---vaccinating camels, among other things. You see, if we vaccinate Abdul's camel he will magically forget his years of islamic indoctrination and start to love us, move to America, fly the flag, go to baseball games, and eat pork ribs on the 4th of July. We do all this stuff while local African islamics are wandering around the country strung out on khat.

6 - We probably spend more money on rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan than we do on actually fighting the bad guys. We deploy folks there whose sole mission is to build schools, roads, etc for these mohammedens. We solicit hard-working military folks to donate clothes, food, school supplies, and crayons to the little Abduls and Fatimas so they can go to school and learn how we are the sons of pigs and monkeys (or is it apes amd pigs? I always forget).

Bottom line folks if you think the US military is fighting the smart fight over there...haha! My advice to you is to prepare, plan, and be ready for when the islamists unleash the terror again in America (can't bring myself to write the commie/nazi-esque "homeland"). When that happens you may just be targeted as a "home grown terrorist" (oh yeah we learn about those too--dirty constitutionalists!) and be disarmed, interned, or outright killed while the prez invites imams to the WH to pray and eat Ramadan dinners.

Posted by: BigDaddyKool

at January 11, 2008 2:25 PM

Oh, almost forgot...I am stationed in a Western European country. If you've read "America Alone" by Mark Steyn all I can say is he is RIGHT on the money. Europe is all but lost. When I visit great (and not so great) European cities all you see are European couples either childless or with one kid. Look over their shoulder and there is Abdul being followed by Fatima in a burqua and 5-7 kids behind them ranging in ages from newborn to 10. The Europeans DONT CARE (or seem not to care). They are adults but act like children. The host country's military is...ummm...let me just say a squad of Eagle Scouts could take a battalion of these guys out. Steyn called them perpetual adolescents but that might be a stretch. Sad thing is if America doesn't change this is us in a couple, 3 generations.

Posted by: BigDaddyKool

at January 11, 2008 2:36 PM

C. Snouck Hurgronje wrote the following in 1914; the book titled “Mohammadism.”

“There is no lack
of pessimists, whose wisdom has found its poetic form in the words of
Kipling:

East is East and West is West,
And never the twain shall meet.

To me, with regard to the Moslim world, these words seem almost a
blasphemy. The experience acquired by adapting myself to the peculiarities
of Mohammedans, and by daily conversation with them for about twenty years,
has impressed me with the firm conviction that between Islam and the modern
world an understanding _is_ to be attained, and that no period has offered
a better chance of furthering it than the time in which we are living.”

From the above, you should see that Hurgronje had been wrong. I grew up in amongst Muslims and can attest to you that Kipling had been right and more of a visionary that Hurgronje.

I read three books written by Hurgronje. One book titled “Mohammadism;” it’s accurate to some extend, but he showed his preference for Islam over Christianity. Another book, titled “Mohammad;” he wrote accurately to some extend about Mohammad. Instead of saying Mohammad invented his vision of angles; he said probably he suffered migraine headache.
He called him “the poor fellow who was being misunderstood.” The third book, titled Achenes, which was 100% accurate. Everthing he said of the Achenes is still true today; I saw it when working for the Consortium in the province of Ache, Island of Sumatra, in Indonesia.

I prefer reading Sirat Rasul Allah written by Mohammad Ibn Ishaq translated by Alfred Guillaume. Alfred Guillaume was a French poet; he interpreted the book word for word. You will see how honest Ishaq was. One example is, that the Prophet Mohammad recommended drinking camel piss for good health; it’s tonic for the healthy people, and medicine for those who are recovering from illnesses.

You will also find some horny expression of Mohammad when he was consummating his nine-year old wife.

As to Pentagon, I see at the rate American are relaxing, perhaps, by 2040 Israel will be the only Dal-Al-Harb in the world.---If and only if Israel does not make peace with Hamastan and Arafatistan.

Posted by: ssa

at January 11, 2008 2:49 PM

Man I swear when you read the hadiths you can't help but wonder just how stupid the arabs of mohammed's time were? You can almost picture mohammed sitting around one day, enjoying a big tall glass of camel pee, when they come up to him, "Mohammed, mohammed, a fly landed in my delicious camel pee."

"Hmmmm...allah says its ok, one of the fly's wings has a poison, but the other has the cure, so you're good. Drink up."

How do you get people to believe this rubbish?!?!?!?

Posted by: BigDaddyKool

at January 11, 2008 3:06 PM

"When such advice brings the military's woefully belated education on jihad to a halt, it becomes shockingly clear that the Pentagon is more concerned with political correctness than protecting the nation."

And as a result the Pentagon is now filled with moles.I wonder how much a part has the Clinton years played in this...

Posted by: solomonpal

at January 11, 2008 3:11 PM

eve_anne_gelical,

may I use your letter to send to my Congressional representatives?

Posted by: CRUSADER

at January 11, 2008 3:15 PM

Jeffrey Carr -

"Second-tier law school"? They're all second-tier - if you pay attention.

"Unpublished"? Are you thinking of our Ivy-League President? Eventually, we are going to have to think for ourselves. We certainly cannot delegate the thinking to President Bush.

Posted by: Havoc

at January 11, 2008 3:53 PM

Crusader, yes, please do!

Jeff Carr, bio on Coughlin includes: Mr. Coughlin holds a Masters in Strategic Intelligence, with a focus on global terrorism and Jihadist movements; and, the JD from the William Mitchell School of Law,

Posted by: eve_anne_gelical

at January 11, 2008 4:15 PM

Perhaps Robert could convince Regnery publishing to publish Maj. Coughlins thesis. I'd love to read it!

Posted by: eve_anne_gelical

at January 11, 2008 4:18 PM

Man I swear when you read the hadiths you can't help but wonder just how stupid the arabs of mohammed's time were?
.....
How do you get people to believe this rubbish?!?!?!?

Posted by: BigDaddyKool

BigDaddy,

A little violence goes a long way. Remember the Meccans threw him out when he taught peace and love. Once the message was believe or die, they all got on the straight and narrow. It's how Islam has perpetuated itself: leaving Islam is dangerous to your health and not joining is dangerous and costly as well, not only in the next life but in this one, too.

Posted by: PMK

at January 11, 2008 4:51 PM

I feel unbelievably lucky to have come across Stephen Coughlin's 300 page thesis referred to above!

http://www.strategycenter.net/docLib/20080107_Coughlin_ExtremistJihad.pdf

Posted by: eve_anne_gelical

at January 11, 2008 5:21 PM

Total cowards and traitors at the highest levels of the US government.
Vote for Rudy and pray it is not too late.

Ruslan Tokhchukov, EnragedSince1999.

Posted by: Enragedsince1999

at January 11, 2008 5:25 PM

eve_anne_gelical:

Thanks for the PDF form of Stephen Coughlins Thesis on Islamic Law and the assessments of jihad warfare

I'll be putting that in my favorites and reading Coughlins assessments.

Posted by: Mackie

at January 11, 2008 6:14 PM

Coughlin was trained in Russian, not Arabic, graduated from a second-tier law school, and he appears to be unpublished on the subject that he claims expertise in - Islamic law.

So how is he an "expert" on the subject?

Posted by: Jeffrey Carr at January 11, 2008 12:33 PM

Who in the H is "Jeffrey Carr?"

Some Muslim Apologist Dhimmi? IOW, an idiot.

Posted by: darcy

at January 11, 2008 7:39 PM

Its nice to see Carr spew more Leftist drivel. Keep showing folks that Leftists are nothing but closet supporters of Dhimmitude and Jihad.

Posted by: waltc at January 11, 2008 1:09 PM

So right. Hey Carr - why don't you become a Mohammedan and move to Jordan? You hypocrite. Leave the U.S. NOW!

Posted by: darcy

at January 11, 2008 7:43 PM

Multi-Cultural dogma is disproved by Islam. It is impossible to accept the Notion that a Religious Doctrine could hold to an Absolute. Something so irrational as Heaven through violence.

To accept the reality of that absolute would require accepting the notion of its possibility. Where Possibility has rendered asunder every Utopian Ideal.

Man does because man can.

Posted by: flowerknife_us

at January 11, 2008 7:59 PM

Has "Jeffrey Carr" moved to Syria or Jordan or Yemen or Pakistan yet?

I'd like to know, because he is a Traitor. If not, I'm going to report him.

Posted by: darcy

at January 11, 2008 8:17 PM

Sean Hannity just had Steve Emerson on defending Coughlin and claiming Islamists have infiltrated the Pentagon.

Hannity seemed stunned and unwilling to believe.

Colmes calmly observes "You mean the Pentagon lied to us?"

Posted by: USorThem

at January 11, 2008 10:03 PM

Would someone kindly suggest what I might say about this to my congressman...Keith Ellison?

Posted by: Emerson Twain

at January 11, 2008 11:22 PM

Firing Coughlin is nothing more than the right thing to do when you realize that he's not the authority he wants to be. It becomes particularly apparent when you compare his credentials to actual experts in Islamic law.

The real problem here has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with trying to find qualified people with the necessary TS/SCI clearance. As I said at my blog, DOD needs to do what NSA has done - establish a PISA clearance - a provisional clearance with restrictions that let's NSA get the technology from new companies now, without having to wait 1-2 years for a full TS/SCI investigation to complete.

Here's my take on it:
http://idolator.typepad.com/intelfusion/2008/01/steven-coughlin.html

Posted by: Jeffrey Carr

at January 11, 2008 11:43 PM

Emerson, I would ask him what he thinks about it and also make sure I contacted my Senators about it!

From the paper that Coughlin wrote, I can see why Hashem Islam wasn't happy about Coughlin's thesis...it says that because the US is starting from "islam wouldn't do this; it's been hijacked by extremist" (the Current Approach) the warfighters and policy makers must take any info from "cultural experts" (p 18) provided by advocates of the Current Approach (I read this as England and Islam) and all info, from the advocates and their vetted advisors (ISNA types, perhaps,) must be taken/accepted uncritically and unconditionally ( p. 20)

That's as far as I've gotten.

Time to hit the hay.

Posted by: eve_anne_gelical

at January 11, 2008 11:48 PM

Someone asked who Jeffery Carr is. He is a dishonest (recall your bating Hugh the other day, Jeff?), liberal provacateur, bandwidth pirate. Don't give him the time of day, don't click on his link to his pathetic site. You already know what it says. Go back to reading Coughlin's doctrinal thesis. Time much better spent.

Posted by: Concerned Citizen

at January 11, 2008 11:53 PM

Note that 'carr' resorts to that old chestnut: 'you can't understand Islam/ say anything about Islamic teachings, if you don't know Arabic'. Very interesting. That's the argument usually presented by Muslims upon encountering Infidels who show a disconcerting awareness of the more unpleasant passages of the Quran, Sira and Hadith.

Posted by: dumbledoresarmy

at January 12, 2008 1:40 AM

"allah" is Satan and muhammad is a demon.

Posted by: CGW

at January 12, 2008 6:47 AM

Posted by: Concerned Citizen at January 11, 2008 11:53 PM

That was me who asked, Concerned Citizen. Don't worry, I did NOT "click on his link" and never will. I'm sure his site is "pathetic" as what he has to say about this Coughlin debacle is pathetic.

Posted by: darcy

at January 12, 2008 8:28 AM

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