One might have thought that all these moderate Muslim leaders would have applauded General Leahy’s remarks and assured the Australian government that they shared Leahy’s determination to defend freedom against these Muslims who ostensibly misunderstand and misapply their religion. Instead, they’re complaining about “right-wing extremism” and “bigotry,” and complaining that resistance to jihad will only lead to more jihad — a sly call for surrender.
An update on this story. “Muslims slam 100-year war call,” by Rick Wallace and Gina Rushton, The Australian, August 11, 2014 (thanks to Kenneth):
ISLAMIC community leaders and Labor yesterday criticised former army chief Peter Leahy’s provocative warning that Australia should prepare for a 100-year battle with Islamic radicals intent on terrorist attacks.
The defence strategist’s call to arms — which included talk of pre-emptive action — was attacked as inflammatory, divisive and negligent by Muslim leaders in several states.
While Tony Abbott was cautious in his response, Labor immigration spokesman Richard Marles said the comments were “hard to justify”.
Islamic Council of Victoria secretary Ghaith Krayem said Professor Leahy’s “ludicrous” statements were “grossly negligent” and raised the risk of right-wing extremism bubbling over.
“Our main concern is there is a growing risk of right-wing extremism in this country and somebody like him coming out and pushing for pre-emptive action, on the back of the Attorney-General (George Brandis)’s comments about it being OK to be a bigot, is a problem,” he said. “Comments like that say to this particular generation of young (Muslims) that the community doesn’t want them and pushes them further away.”
Former Islamic Council of Victoria president Yasser Soliman said Professor Leahy’s comments were “what you would expect to see from someone who sees the world in terms of war and conflict”.
Yes, because as we all know, no Muslims ever see the world in terms of war and conflict.
“We would be in a very bad state if we allowed those preoccupied with conflict to dictate our view. We need people to stand up and put as much effort into peacemaking as war making.
“This perpetual cycle of counter-terrorism and revenge, it’s just madness. Instead of one Saddam Hussein we have thousands of them; instead of one Osama bin Laden, we have thousands.”
But apparently if we don’t fight them, they will go away.
Islamic Friendship Association spokesman Keysar Trad said Professor Leahy’s comments were inflammatory and counterproductive. “The only thing that would stir such a statement would be a profound misunderstanding of the religion of Islam … Historically we have succeeded in weeding out our radicals,” he said.
Really? Where and when?
Melbourne Islamic community leader Sheik Muhammad Abdul Wahid said while the Muslim community supported law enforcement efforts against terrorism, the fate of the Palestinians and the conflict throughout the Middle East was aiding the recruitment strategies of extremists.
In other words, the way to end jihad is to stop resisting jihad.
Mr Marles, speaking on TV yesterday, said “the comments of Peter Leahy are hard to justify in the context of a 100-year conflict”.
“Surely the right thing to be doing here … is to be working with the Islamic community,” he said.
“The leaders of the Islamic community in this country are as appalled with the actions of those individuals as any of us.”
The Prime Minister, speaking on Saturday, said he hadn’t had a chance to look at the comments but “General Leahy was a two-term commander of the Australian Army and he’s a person who I believe should be listened to respectfully and taken seriously”.
He added that “the last thing I want to see is anything that suggests there is some incompatibility between cultures and civilisations”.
Yes, such an incompatibility would be unprecedented and inconceivable!