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In March 2007 I wrote that "given Obama’s politics, it will not be hard to present him internationally as someone who understands Islam and Muslims, and thus will be able to smooth over the hostility between the Islamic world and the West – our first Muslim President." By that I meant, as is clear from the rest of the article, not that Obama is a Muslim, but that he would be our first Muslim President the way Bill Clinton was our first black President -- not in any real sense, but in the sense of having (in the perception of his supporters) some unique affinity, some bond, some kinship.
In any case, in the months since then, as all the rumors have swirled around about Obama's being secretly a Muslim -- rumors I do not credit in the slightest -- it has indeed become clear that this is just how Obama is being presented, and how he is being perceived in the Islamic world: as someone with a unique understanding of Islam and Muslims, such that only he can pave the path to peace.
But the path he would pave, of course, would just be the old tired well-trodden one of Carterian appeasement.
In "Obama's appeal in the Muslim world: An Arab Muslim foresees a possible new era of positive US leadership," Yasser Khalil in the Christian Science Monitor (June 13) notes the enthusiasm Muslims around the world are feeling for Obama, and how he would "talk" to America's "enemies" -- as once dear old Neville flew all the way to Munich to talk to Herr Hitler.
Cairo - U.S. Senator Barack Obama represents a phenomenon that has drawn global attention and captivated the minds of Muslims around the world as he wages a spirited campaign to become the next president of the United States.In spite of the campaign's heated debate and some controversial rhetoric regarding Islam, large segments of the Muslim population here remain fascinated with the election and have become big fans of Senator Obama.
This level of support for an American presidential candidate is unprecedented in the Muslim world. That it comes amid an almost unanimous feeling of indignation and rage toward US foreign policy – particularly in Iraq and the Palestinian territories – makes it even more noteworthy.
The simple explanation is that many Muslims see new reason for hope in the political approach of Obama and his advisers. His apparent eagerness to rally more international support for US policy, and even talk to America's "enemies," is cause for optimism. Imagine what global politics might look like in Iraq, or Sudan, or Afghanistan, if Obama-like vision had influenced US leadership earlier.
Oh, I can imagine that all too vividly.
As an Arab Muslim in Egypt who is affected by US foreign policy, I believe an Obama approach may help solve the accumulated problems between Muslims and the US that have become more aggravated since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. New and more creative techniques for dealing with extremists instead of the controversial methods used by the current US administration could also stop giving Al Qaeda and other such groups the pretext for recruiting new members. Then, perhaps, extremists would lose the arguments that fuel their criminal machine and lead them to destroy innocent people....
Maybe. But if they're emboldened by his weakness and naivete, and if the stealth jihad marches inexorably forward, and free speech is restricted in the West just when it is needed the most to alert people to that stealth jihad, what will Yasser Khalil turn to then to rein in the "extremists"?
By embracing dialogue with Muslim populated countries such as Syria and Iran, and jump-starting US diplomatic efforts, Obama will open doors that have been shut – and bolted – in recent years. It is in the interest of all Muslim countries that the US president have such a constructive approach, even while maintaining a high degree of friendship with Israel and powers supporting it in the US and abroad.In pursuing rational, inclusive, and creative politics, Obama can remain effective while still overcoming obstacles that impede the path of global peace and coexistence.
Good luck with that.
Posted by Robert at June 12, 2008 10:21 PM
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I think as you note Robert we are looking at this with eyes wide open. Oboma and all who follow him are eyes wide shut.
That being said I see Islam make progress as far as advancing it's agenda. This maybe a silver lined cloud in the long run. Because in their enthusiasm for power they will over step it and this could cause more to see the threat and thus a final positive reaction.
Looking back in history all of Spain and a good part of France was over run before they were stopped this IMO is how history could will play out. And as we know history repeats itself all to often. The down side lives and freedoms will be lost short term.
It is a crap shoot all in all.
Posted by: Im.mad.as.HELL!![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 12, 2008 11:38 PM
"Imagine what global politics might look like in Iraq, or Sudan, or Afghanistan, if Obama-like vision had influenced US leadership earlier."
Yes, I can imagine. Global politics would have been worse off. Saddam & The Taliban would have still been in power in Iraq and Afghanistan respectively and still murdering innocent Iraqi and Afghani citizens.
In other words, nothing would have happened. Despite the endless talks and conversations and proposals that would have been drawn up and talking to these countries in a stern voice, you would have still had murderers in power.
"New and more creative techniques for dealing with extremists instead of the controversial methods used by the current US administration could also stop giving Al Qaeda and other such groups the pretext for recruiting new members. Then, perhaps, extremists would lose the arguments that fuel their criminal machine and lead them to destroy innocent people...."
New and more creative techniques? What does this mean? We're not making a cake. Yasser Khalil makes the common mistake that somehow, the Islamists that the West deals with are somehow reasonable or negotiable. Make no mistake about it, this is not the case. It doesn't matter what technique you come up with.
As Hassaan Nasrallah said on April 9, 2000: "Anyone who reads the Koran and the holy writings of the monotheistic religions sees what they did to the prophets, and what acts of madness and slaughter the Jews carried out throughout history ... Anyone who reads these texts cannot think of co-existence with them, of peace with them, or about accepting their presence, not only in Palestine of 1948 but even in a small village in Palestine, because they are a cancer which is liable to spread again at any moment." It's kind of hard to creatively negotiate with someone like that, isn't it Yasser?
Al-Qaeda doesn't need a pretext to recruit new members. It doesn't matter what the US has or hasn't done because Al-Qaeda and other Islamist terrorist organisations want to impose Islam on the world and have been making efforts to do this, WELL before September 11, 2001.
Yasser Khalil needs to learn some history lessons.
Posted by: S Perry at June 12, 2008 11:53 PM
If Obama thinks he can out-bulls**t the Muslim bulls**ters, he is deluding himself. They have taken the measure of every Western diplomat who thinks he has a smooth style and charm. Muslims are inveterate liars; they are expected to deceive us and use every stratagem against us. Because most of our political leadership knows almost nothing real about Islam, they get fleeced. And they deserve to be.
at June 13, 2008 12:56 AM
In other words Obama will help Muslims overcome non-Muslims by stealth, apeasement and making deliberate concessions.
Obama will certainly "benefit" the Muslim world; but only by undermining the non-Muslm world.
Obama is willing to pay this price because, more than anything else, he has a score to settle with white America.
Posted by: Stefcho at June 13, 2008 4:08 AM
Given this phenomenon, how could anyone imagine voting for Obama for president? Is it not perfectly clear that he's in league, philosophically at least, with the enemies of the United States?
Perhaps it's my age. Time was, the suggestion that our head of state should sit down with persons who openly wish us harm and strive to do as much of it as possible would have provoked an impeachment and trial, if not a summary public hanging. What has become of us?
at June 13, 2008 4:47 AM
In pursuing rational, inclusive, and creative politics, Obama can remain effective while still overcoming obstacles that impede the path of global peace and coexistence.
This is an impossible task, for one reason: there is no such thing as inclusive politics for Muslims. For them, it's a zero sum game. If you deal with Israel you are against Muslims.
Islam is here to dominate the world. Peaceful coexistence isn't in its vocabulary. The only global peace Muslims seek is the peace of the conqueror.
Posted by: PMK at June 13, 2008 7:51 AM
There's nothing wrong with appeasement as such. It's what you give away to appease someone that matters. Chamberlain wasn't wrong to talk to Hitler. He was wrong to force Czechoslovakia to give up the fortified Sudetenland, something that never belonged to Germany in the first place. The other problem was that Hitler was unappeasable and incapable of satisfaction. Which is why Bismarck's career still looks like a success story, and Hitler's doesn't. Perhaps Chamberlain should have tried giving away an ice cream cone first.
Posted by: sceptico at June 13, 2008 8:03 AM
There may be an Islamic love affair going on with Obama, but as with all things, the fantasy is better than the reality...
Posted by: duh_swami at June 13, 2008 10:41 AM
Our Mara is the stereotypical best of the West. Her world is better than the Islamic world.
Would Obama consider Mara's world better if there were more Islamic crap inside her world day after day, hour after hour? Would Obama think and work to bring the Islamic world more like what Mara has, and doing so to appease the Islamic world, or to appease the Islamic world would he do things to bring Islamic puke into future Mara worlds?
Does Obama even realize to understand what makes Mara's world, and the West, better than the Islamic world?
If he doesn't, can he learn fast?
Is he basically deep down in his heart a good guy? Or is he a chump, a putz? Actions speak louder than words.
Posted by: k24anson at June 13, 2008 10:29 PM
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