An Afghan policeman? Why, wasn’t he a “moderate”? Here again we are confronted with the impossibility of distinguishing a “moderate” from a “radical” Muslim. Given the almost universal acceptance of the iron dogma that Islam is a Religion of Peaceâ„¢ that has been hijacked by a tiny minority of extremists, this impossibility may come as a surprise. But in reality, there is no mainstream sect of Islam or school of Islamic jurisprudence whose authorities have renounced and rejected violent jihad and Islamic supremacism, and declared that anyone who holds to the idea that Muslims have a collective responsibility to wage war against Infidels and subjugate them under the rule of Islamic law is a heretic.
If there were such a sect or school in Afghanistan or elsewhere where there is an American military presence, one could rely on the peaceful group and shun the group that taught violence. But there is no such group. Contrary to popular belief, not only is the principle of jihad warfare against unbelievers not the province of a “tiny minority of extremists,” but it is taught by every mainstream sect and school of Islam.
The U.S. government, of course, denies this fact and bases numerous policies upon the assumption that the vast majority of Muslims share universally accepted notions of human rights, and abhor jihad terrorism. And that is just one reason our policy in Afghanistan is foredoomed.
“Senior Afghan policeman held over planting bombs,” from the BBC, February 8 (thanks to Java):
A senior Afghan policeman has been arrested in connection with planting and storing roadside bombs, Nato officials said.
The policeman was held by Afghan and coalition forces in northern Parwan province on Friday.
A Nato statement said that the policeman was “linked to criminal activities, including a murder.”
Roadside bombs are frequently used to attack foreign and Afghan forces in Afghanistan, correspondents say….
The BBC seems to think that Poverty Causes Terrorism, a common notion that has been disproven again and again:
Correspondents say policemen in Afghanistan are badly equipped and poorly paid.
Many in the force complain that they are neglected and morale in many police units is low.