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On February 5, we were informed that Stephen Coughlin, the sole expert on Islamic law in the Pentagon, was not going to be fired after all, after it looked as if he was going to be at the behest of Hesham Islam, an aide to Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England. And not long after that it looked as if Islam himself would be out, under a cloud of accusations of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, the forbear of Hamas and Al-Qaeda.
But now, in "The Coughlin Affair," Frank J. Gaffney, Jr. says that the bad news is all back on: Coughlin is out, Islam is in.
Imagine trying to fight a war without a clue as to what motivates your enemy or governs his strategy for your destruction. Actually, you don’t have to work too hard to get your head around such an insane idea; it is the current practice of the United States government.This is not, of course, the way it is supposed to be. According, for example, to the Pentagon’s own guidelines as reflected in the Army’s Field Manual 34-130 dealing with Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB), one of the first tasks in any conflict is to “Evaluate the threat.” This job requires military personnel to “update or create threat models: convert threat doctrine or patterns of operation to graphics (doctrinal templates); describe in words the threat’s tactics and options; [and] identify high value targets.”
Such guidance is eminently sensible and needed, not only at the tactical or battlefield level, but also at the strategic level. In fact, most national security practitioners would find it, well, unimaginable to try to do otherwise.
Yet, Stephen Coughlin, one of the very few people working for the U.S. government who has rigorously studied the current “threat doctrine” – the wellspring in the traditions, practices and Shariah Law of today’s totalitarian ideology known as Islamofascism – is, as of this writing, still being cashiered at the end of next month.
Worse yet, the individual who seems to be most responsible for shutting down Mr. Coughlin’s essential doctrinal analysis and training by driving him out of the Pentagon – one Hesham Islam – seems to be staying in a sensitive position working for the Defense Department’s Deputy Secretary, Gordon England. This notwithstanding serious questions raised about Mr. Islam’s public biography, conduct in relation to Muslim outreach, the Coughlin affair and his top secret security clearance.
Read it all.
Posted by Robert at February 27, 2008 7:48 AM
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What? Huh? Trying to fight a war?
Who's trying to fight a war... what battlefield. Etc. These are politically incorrect terms which need to be banished from public discourse.
/probably not as sarcastic as intended
Posted by: Goob![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at February 27, 2008 8:13 AM
Time for everybody to contact U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) again.
http://myrick.house.gov/contact_Myrick.shtml
She's up for re-election this year after redistricting. Give some cash, too.
Posted by: Concerned Citizen at February 27, 2008 8:16 AM
WHEW!!! Praise be to Allah, for a second it almost seemed the Kuffars grew a brain and decided that National Security should be a secure thing.
Posted by: SoteriA at February 27, 2008 8:19 AM
Are these people Government hires? That would suggest they are servants of 'The People', U.S. citizens, correct?
Then 'The People' need to make their voices heard.
Is it still fashionable to riot?
Posted by: Abu_Lahab at February 27, 2008 8:43 AM
Pelosi and Co. protect the terrorists. The Bush administration protects the islamist financiers. Who protects the American people? No one.
If we want something done right, we're going to have to do it ourselves.
Posted by: PMK at February 27, 2008 9:20 AM
Not only is Mr. Islam due some serious scrutiny, but it appears Mr. England is too. Incredible!
Posted by: Shakey_Premise at February 27, 2008 9:23 AM
Clearly, things didn't bode well as there were no repercussions to Gordon England's complicity in this matter.
Posted by: justamomof4
at February 27, 2008 9:25 AM
Assalamau Laikum all,
Common sense has prevaild after all this. I don't think that Sue Myrick will be back....she has been approached behind the scences and told not to interfere.
The Pentagon has to make level headed clear decisions where peoples lives are concerned....they don't want someone in the backgound saying (cough cough) Islam is not peaceful.
The Amerike is no longer highly strong...they are highly strung.....indeed I would not be surprised that you have retained Islam for Islam ....if you know what I mean.
at February 27, 2008 9:33 AM
I had contacted my congressman and, like Gafney's article mentioned, was informed by his office that there was nothing to the Coughlin contract not being renewed.
I will contact them again. Please contact your congressional representative and your senators! I have also contacted Sue Myrick through her website, www.suemyrick.com, sue@suemyrick.com. I will also pass this along to every talk show host I can think of.
Perhaps, if nothing else, the Anti-Jihad Caucus started by Rep. Myrick could use a scholar such as Major Coughlin though we need him in the Pentagon.
Posted by: eve_anne_gelical at February 27, 2008 9:42 AM
As Mr. Gaffney noted in the body of the article, we were told that Mr.Coughlin was staying in and Mr.Islam was going out. We were misled. By whom is not clear.
Hard questions need to be posed to Mr. England and Mr. Edelman. And Mr. Islam. Whether these unelected gov't officals get asked the hard questions remains to be seen. Unelected gov't officals are not known for being responsive to the voters.
Thanks to concerned citizen for posting a link to Rep. Sue Myrick (R,NC). Perhaps her office can answer the question: What happened? Why? Who is responsible?
Posted by: omvi at February 27, 2008 9:51 AM
omvi, unless you are a constituent in her congressional district, I don't think you can contact Rep. Myrick through the official Congressional website.
Use her other one listed on her website, www.suemyrick.com
sue@suemyrick.com
Posted by: eve_anne_gelical at February 27, 2008 10:10 AM
One cannot help thinking that the people we pay to fight wars,and to understand and strategize about the enemy they are fighting would clearly be doing the right thing in our interest as well as theirs.
Maybe Coughlin will serve more effectively with his skill at the Pentagon from a different venue, or location since there is way to much public discourse on the matter by now, not withstanding Hesham Islam.
I'm still studying Major Coughlin's excellent thesis (: "To our great detriment" Ignoring what extremist say about jihad) http://www.strategycenter.net/docLib/20080107_Coughlin_ExtremistJihad.pdf
I highly recommend that you keep this PDF in your favorites and share it with all those who may be interested..
Just thinking out of the box here.
Posted by: Mackie at February 27, 2008 10:18 AM
And just recently, one of the main presidential candidates is seen wearing the uniform of the enemy.
Yep Barack is wearing the traditional muslim garb.Not long ago, 2006.
And everyone is saying shhhhh..... it's politically incorrect not to comment.
Those whom the gods would destroy they first make stupid.
Posted by: dgene at February 27, 2008 10:43 AM
Robert, perhaps you could suggest to those at Regnery Publishing to publish Major Coughlin's thesis. Forewords by you and Frank Gafney would be great additions for context.
I'd certainly buy one and a book tour by Major Coughlin would certainly get the word out about what's gone on at the Pentagon with his contract not being renewed.
at February 27, 2008 10:44 AM
This is truly wierd
Rules of Propaganda
1. The rule of simplification: recduce all data to simple confrontation between "good & bad", "friend & foe".
2. The rule of disfiguration: discreding the opposition by crude smears & parodies.
3. The rule of transfusion: manipulating the consensus values of the target audience for one's own ends.
4. The rule of unanimity: presenting one's viewpoint as if it were the unanimous opinion of all right thinking people: drawing the doubting individual into agreement by the appeal of star-performers, by social pressure and by "psychological contagion"
5. The rule of orchestration: endlessly repeating the same messages in different variations and combinations.
(Dr) Goebbels
One of the more insidious forms of propaganda, however is that where the true sources of information are hidden (or ignored) from the recipients and propagators alike. This genre of so-called "covertly directed propaganda" aims to mobilise a network of unsuspecting "agents of influence" who pass on the messages as if they were acting spontaneously. By feigning a coincidence of views with those of the target society, which (that) it seeks to subvert. By pandering to the proclivities of key individuals, it can suborn a dominant élite of opinion makers by stealth.
Posted by: ericthekuffar at February 27, 2008 10:55 AM
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the - Web Reconnaissance for 02/27/2008 A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention, updated throughout the day...so check back often.
Posted by: David M at February 27, 2008 11:22 AM
Yep, I was feeling a little better about my government, that was 2 men in high places that get_it.
http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52644
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58798
'Nitwits' in Washington
"The average Marine lance corporal has more security awareness than the nitwits charged with protecting us in Washington," a senior U.S. military intelligence official told WND. "The FBI might as well put out a sign: 'Double agents wanted, no experience necessary.'"
at February 27, 2008 11:28 AM
Naseem entertains us with extreme hilarity once again.
Is it still fashionable to riot?
Posted by: Abu_Lahab
I guess not. I am the only one around here who does it. To tell you the truth, it gets a little lonesome rioting all by myself. The police are always unsympathetic.
This is a disgusting bit of news. The nest of vipers needs to be cleaned out. The only candidate that 'might', do that is McCain. I am sure Hillbillery and Obama won't. Obviously Bush won't, he must have heard of this situation, his silence proves his collusion. McCain should be asked his opinion of this situation. His answers or non answers could be enlightening.
Posted by: duh_swami at February 27, 2008 12:08 PM
From Phyllis Chesler at Chester Chronicles:
"My friend and colleague, the scholar Bat Ye’or told me that if Obama is elected, America will become dhimmified even faster than Europe."
Posted by: arius at February 27, 2008 12:15 PM
What's next??
Pentagon officials sawing off Christians' heads in US city streets???
HELP!!!!
Posted by: pythagoras at February 27, 2008 1:35 PM
"My friend and colleague, the scholar Bat Ye’or told me that if Obama is elected, America will become dhimmified even faster than Europe."
Posted by: arius
That's my suspicion as well. Local liberals call me a hate and fear monger for suggesting it.
But muslim or not, Obama does not pass the Islamic smell test...
at February 27, 2008 1:52 PM
Maybe it's time to redesign the Pentagon into a Crescent?
Posted by: PorkFatRules at February 27, 2008 2:52 PM
We must note down the names of those who have been and are subverting our country and making it easier for the Islamics to take over.
Why? So that we can remember . . .
(Hesham Islam's and Gordon England's so far lead all the rest. [It's cumulative, you see, we start at the bottom, and go from the bottom up to the latest malefactors that come to our attention.])
at February 27, 2008 4:41 PM
PMK,
You said, "If we want something done right, we're going to have to do it ourselves."
Yes, but it ain't gonna happen by itself. It only takes one person to make a snowball. But it takes more than one person or two to start rollin' it so that it grows big enough to be seen from afar. And it takes a small crowd to roll a huge snowball, etc.
at February 27, 2008 5:08 PM
Should have left the hole in the Pentagon as a reminder.
Posted by: profitsbeard at February 27, 2008 10:49 PM
Mackie,
Thanks for the link to Major Coughlin's thesis.
Posted by: unicorns62000 at February 27, 2008 11:42 PM
Concerned citizen
I did not realize that the comment thread would come to an end. Thank you for the links, actually the third one was a great one, and will keep it as reference. As per your citation shows and nearly duplicate mine:
((Galatians 6:8b-10 The one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.))
Is another proof of my assumption and sure conviction that Books are the same. Same source… I have to say that I am impressed by your vast and cross-cultural knowledge and reading and I am sure one day I will hear from you from the same side of the conflict. Now in answer your question, yes… but to let you know an insider info, this is the opinion of the vast majority too, I am pleased by the report about Turkey's endeavor and hope that good thing would emerge out of it. I wish to continue the thread by email contact if your time and curiosity allows it, one day will meet again. I have the decree in pdf format, if interested.
at February 28, 2008 12:57 AM
(Hesham Islam's and Gordon England's so far lead all the rest. [It's cumulative, you see, we start at the bottom, and go from the bottom up to the latest malefactors that come to our attention.])
Posted by: unicorns62000 at February 27, 2008 4:41 PM
Yes.. up the ladder.. ending with Condi and finally Dubya who, instead of being impeached for shielding the Saudis and Pakistanis, was re-elected. If that wasn't America committing suicide. Any wonder Dubya INCREASED student's visas to Saudis? Increased financial and military AID to Saudis AND Pakistanis? Shoved illegal aliens down America's throat?
As they say 'Fish starts to rot in the head'.
at February 28, 2008 7:12 AM
Alert:
Technically 'Dubya' is NOT committing treason by assisting the Saudis because the US Friendship Treaty with Saudi Arabia which was forged in the 1934 by FDR remains in effect. Dubya has done nothing no other US president hasn't done with the Saudis over the past 70 or so years. You may have been taking Michael Moore's demagoguery a bit too seriously.
Should the US dissolve this treaty? Perhaps. But Bush is technically not committing a legal (or impeachable) offense by siding with Saudi Arabia. What are the options for the USA with the Saudis? Quite limited: either they are classified as an enemy state or they are not. What exactly would the USA achieve by classifying Saudi Arabia as an enemy state (which it may very well be)?
For what little it's worth, the House Of Saud has adopted limited democratic measures in the Kingdom and (gasp!) premits women to take governmental offices. While this is negligible to us, for the Saudis these steps are GIGANTIC (relatively speaking). The House of Saud answers to the mosques and really is not in total control there, the mosques are at least as powerful as the House of Saud (Islam is theocracy). More than once al-Qaeda has attacked the House of Saud (which they still give plenty of cash to). al-Qaeda is a product of the mosques not national governments (although Iran's national government may have been playing a bigger part than we thought and a greater role than played by the House of Saud).
FDR once remarked "keep your friends near and your enemies nearer." This has US official policy, but admittedly this policy is in need of at least some revision.
John Kerry, the only viable presidential alternative to Bush, co-operated with the Viet Cong and willingly enabled the North Vietnamese to win the war, push out the USA, and forced 800,000 South Vietnamese to escape by sea, more than half of which perished at sea. Most people elected "Dubya" by default as being the lesser of the evils on the ballot.
Posted by: pythagoras at February 28, 2008 3:23 PM
PYTHAGORAS!!!
Thanks, PYTHAGORAS for noticing that Michael Moore and his demagoguery have infiltrated even the most erudite blogs. Also kudos for reminding us that the Saud and US Friendship Treaty has been in effect through five or more U.S.presidents, thereby erasing the idiotic suggestion that Bush should be impeached.
Posted by: youngtimer at February 28, 2008 4:02 PM
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23286149-2703,00.html
The Iraq war
"THE Iraq war has cost the US 50-60 times more than the Bush administration predicted and was a central cause of the sub-prime banking crisis threatening the world economy, according to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz."
Granted, this guy only won a Nobel Prize for economics so he isn't in Dubya the Great's heady Maths league.
Three trillion and counting.
But that's just chump change to the chump in chief.
So let's see, the state of Mississippi has a population of some 3,000,000 so let's give every man woman and child a million tax free bucks each in that state.
All of 'em.
And the end result of all that bling bling is
a) an Iran friendly gov't in Baghdad
b) a Koran based constitution
c) the mass killing of the infidel community in Iraq
and
d) The disappearance down the toilet of the dollar plus US economy.
"The spending on Iraq was a hidden cause of the current credit crunch because the US central bank responded to the massive financial drain of the war by flooding the American economy with cheap credit."
But Bush's family is rolling in it so I'm sure he won't be having any sleepless nights worrying about his pension fund.
So, on the one hand the US dollar is going down quicker that Monica, 1,000's of dead servicemen, 10s of 1,000s of seriously injured servicemen, a revitalised Iran, the end of the a secular gov't in Iraq
but on the other hand, Dubya got to give his "Bring it on" speech on a warship.
So it's all pluses and minuses.
at February 29, 2008 4:13 AM
PorkFatRules:"Maybe it's time to redesign the Pentagon into a Crescent?"
Har di har, PFR
Joke of the week
Posted by: ewha1 at February 29, 2008 4:21 AM
PMK:"If we want something done right, we're going to have to do it ourselves."
Absolutely.
Once upon a time, when it got so rotten, the mob would riot, royalty would sweat and heads would roll.
Now, our esteemed rulers screw it up so badly and then walk away into the sunset raking in the millions on the lecture circuit and by writing folksy homilies and pompous eulogies in their god awful autobiographies.
So much for progress.
A question to any US residents. Is this a campaign issue in the States?
Posted by: ewha1 at February 29, 2008 6:02 AM
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