…said the spider to the fly. A piece on hope and future prospects for the Middle East, by Silence Dogood:
Things have been moving rapidly in the Middle East these last two weeks. Democracy seems to be breaking out all over. The neo-cons are vindicated and Secretary Rice is all smiles. Iraq is beginning to stabilize. Civil war there seems to have been averted for the time being. The “˜big gamble” seems to be paying off. Democracy is winning, so why am I so worried?
Is it because once again, our foreign policy team seems to be playing checkers while our enemies are playing chess? Could we be just a move or two away from check or even checkmate? I”m afraid so, very afraid. Let me tell you why.
The former Syrian “President-for Life” Hafez Al-Assad was predictable. We always knew exactly what to expect from him, i.e. nothing, ever. Bashir Al-Assad, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish. He is giving us exactly what we want by pulling out of Lebanon, without so much as a peep. He’s bowing to pressure, you say? Perhaps, but then again, maybe we should look at things from the point of view of the Islamists, of which he is certainly one, for it is common knowledge that he is surrounded by “˜bearded ones” who have been calling all the shots in Syria after the death of the old man. What do they want? What are their goals and why?
“We have political goals, for religious reasons,” so says Usama bin Laden; and this general rule holds for all Islamists, for all Islamists hold the same religious ideas. While they may vary slightly from situation to situation on short-term political goals, their long-term political goals are identical, especially the goal of weakening the United States so they can get on with the business of destroying Israel. This is the goal of Al Qaida everywhere, and of the Zarqawi group in Iraq; it is the goal of Hamas in the Palestinian territories; the goal of Hez(Death to America)bullah; and it is certainly the goal of the Mullahs running Iran. In fact, if you were to take a poll across the crescent of the Muslim world, from Malaysia to the Balkans, you would very likely find near unanimous agreement on this point.
First we weaken America, then we destroy Israel, then we restore the Caliphate and consolidate the entire Muslim world into one big fascist state, then we subjugate Europe, (if necessary, that is) then we fight the “˜final battle” with the infidel Americans for control of what’s left. News Flash — Enemy plan revealed!
Now, if your goal were to weaken America militarily, which war would you study?
America’s Vietnam fiasco is a template, or “roadmap” if you will, to Islamist victory. But, you see it hasn’t worked out all that well for Islamists in Iraq, especially those of the Al Qaida brand. Couldn’t get that civil war going they were banking on, you see. However, when Islamists cast their eyes toward Lebanon, the outlook considerably brightens. There, the Mullahs have in their employ over 25,000 fanatical and determined “˜Party of God” members armed to the teeth by virtue of the $100 to $200 million they get from Iran each year. Jumbo jets from Tehran filled with weapons for Hezbullah have been landing with clock-like regularity in Damascus for years. Maybe that’s why they love the Syrians so.
So now suddenly, there sits The Islamic Republic of Iran holding all the cards after the Syrians pullback from Lebanon. One might even argue, Iran is directing the pullback, for Bashir is looking more and more like an Iranian puppet every day. In fact, they essentially have us right where they want us. All that’s left, is to spring the trap, draw us into their Hezbullah-fueled civil war quagmire and the next Democratic administration to come along will first apologize, then pull our forces out of the Middle East and finally throw Israel to the dogs (well, maybe not right away). Voila! The Islamist goal of weakening America and curtailing American influence in Muslim lands is realized. Check.
I don’t thinks there is any serious doubt that, acting on orders from Iran, the Hezbullah terrorist army can and will foment the start up of civil war once again in Lebanon. Now, the only question that remains is whether or not we can avoid being drawn into it. Unfortunately, this is a problem the administration shows no sign of grasping, or even of being aware of, and the danger is lurking right in front of us. We must take steps right now, if we are to avoid a foreign policy blunder of major proportions, then we must take even further steps for self-preservation at home.
First, we must press France and the EU into making a stand for democracy. We must make them take responsibility for Lebanon. This is a country after all, that had been under French protection, that was torn apart by Civil War while the French looked on, and that was finally, forcibly subjugated to a foreign, Islamically tilting power, again while the French sat idly by. Lebanon is making her bid for democracy without war (the one big “˜no, no,” after all) and the Europeans must be forced step up to the plate.
But, if they refuse, when the violence in Lebanon heats up we may be forced to remain on the sidelines watching people, most likely Christians, get killed. It will be sickening, but the harsh truth of the matter is, we simply cannot afford to allow our forces tied down more than they already are. Our armed forces are not omnipotent, nor omnipresent.
If we become tied down in Lebanon, it might well mean the sacrificing of Taiwan, (China has been making noises), or maybe even the sacrificing of South Korea to the Communist North. Yes, our enemies are numerous and all of them are actively seeking some weakness to exploit, or an undefended flank to attack, anything to weaken us with the aim of eventually bringing us down. And not even the indomitable, (if they just knew us, they would love us), Karen Hughes will be able to change their minds about that.
Next, we must reconfigure our foreign policy so as to oppose in no uncertain terms, the imposition of Islamic Law anywhere and everywhere it is applied. We must define ourselves and what we stand for, as opposed to what Islamism stands for. This must be made clear from the outset. Nor can we afford to coddle the numerous demands of Islamists at home. That means equality granted, but no special privileges for Muslims. Clear lines, based on moral principles, must be drawn across our legal landscape if we are to avoid the fate of Europe.
Along with that, we must concentrate on securing the home front, which means ripping up the terrorist underground network that, by all accounts, has only grown stronger and more deeply imbedded since Sept. 11, 2001. This will require tough and painful decisions that must be debated fully, openly and publicly without interference. Because, ladies and gentlemen, we are literally sitting on a time bomb, like it or not, we will have to face some unpleasant truths.
Truth, indeed, old fashioned, reasonable and objective truth, must be returned as our standard. Moral equivalency must be vanquished.
Indeed, all issues pertaining to Islam must be openly and honestly debated. We must expose those areas of our society where Islamist money has purchased influence, especially in our government and school systems, and let the chips fall where they may. The systematic deception so embedded in Islamic teaching must, in its turn, be systematically exposed.
We also must remember that we are not the first generation to discover the existence of evil and we will not be the last. But, if we confront this menace squarely, shining the full light of truth upon it, it will not live. If, however, we bow to the pressure of political correctness, we will unwittingly allow this evil to multiply in the darkness, and that could well prove to be a fatal and indeed, final error.