At the jirga
Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami is holding a three day tribal jirga, or conference, in Peshawar. Pakistan’s Daily Times reports some interesting comments from participants:
Syed Munawar Hasan, central general secretary of the JI, highlighted various aspects of the “so-called war on terrorism”. He observed that only Muslims were being targeted in the anti-terrorism campaign and no Jew had so far been declared as a terrorist.
Kach members might have something to say about that, but in any case, Syed Munawar Hasan is either in denial about, or wants us not to notice, that only Muslims, not Jews or Christians, are operating a global terror network using religious doctrines to justify violence.
Mr Hasan criticised the role of the Muslim leadership and said that rulers of all Muslim countries had joined hands with the US and were acting at the behest of American interests. He said that the Muslim community had split into two visible groups due to the policies of their rulers. One group comprises of Muslim rulers who are safeguarding American interests, while the other consists of ordinary Muslims who want an end to American supremacy, he added.
Kind of a different twist on the “tiny minority of extremists” theme, eh?
The JI leader alleged that the war on terror was initiated to “root out the spirit of jihad from the minds of Muslims”. However, he maintained that the situation after 9/11 had boosted the spirit of jihad in the Muslims across the world. Mr Hasan urged the jirga participants to play their role to promote jihad in the Muslim community.
The war on terror was initiated to “root out the spirit of jihad from the minds of Muslims”? Would that it were so “” at least in regard to violent jihad! One of the chief weaknesses of the war on terror has been a reluctance to acknowledge that we are engaged in a war that is as much, or more, ideological and religious as it is military. No, America is not engaged in a war with Islam, but large segments of Islam are engaged in a war with us. In fact, it is a war against jihadists. There is nothing to apologize about in stating that we are resisting those who have declared their intention to change the nature of our society and subjugate us. Even if they cannot do that, they can do violence for this cause. Until we acknowledge this, we will not be confronting the enemy properly, and will remain vulnerable to attack from sources we are not willing to admit are potential sites of terrorist recruitment.