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US Envoy: To defeat the Islamic State, we must “tell the story of how we celebrate Islam”

Oct 29, 2014 11:09 am By Robert Spencer

Allen and Kuwaiti emirGeneral Allen was the commander in Afghanistan who issued an abject and embarrassing video apology to “the noble people of Afghanistan” for the alleged desecration of a Qur’an at a U.S. air base. Here he is assuming what all Western leaders assume: that the Islamic State is perverting the true teachings of Islam, and that these Muslim leaders will be eager to show that to be the case. But it is increasingly clear to everyone that this is just whistling in the dark: even the Guardian sees through it. “US Envoy: To Defeat ISIS, We Must Highlight ‘Our Profound Respect’ for Islam,” by Patrick Goodenough, CNS News, October 29, 2014 (thanks to Lookmann):

(CNSNews.com) – A global effort to counter claims by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ISIL) that it is acting in the name of Islam must include a counter-narrative that highlights “our profound respect” for the religion, the administration’s point man in the anti-ISIS coalition said this week.Retired Marine Corps Gen. John Allen was speaking in Kuwait, where representatives of more than a dozen Islamic and Western met to discuss using public communications to combat ISIS (also known as Da’esh – an acronym for the Arabic rendering of the group’s name, ad-Dawlah al-Islamiyah fil-Iraq wa ash-Sham).

“As we seek to expose Da’esh’s true nature,” Allen told the gathering on Monday, “we must also tell a positive story, one that highlights our respect – our profound respect for Islam’s proud traditions, its rich history, and celebration of scholarship and family and community.”

“We must work with clerics and scholars and teachers and parents to tell the story of how we celebrate Islam, even as we show that Da’esh perverts it.”

The conference in Kuwait City brought together officials from leading Arab states, Turkey, France, Britain and the U.S. to discuss ways their governments are working to counter ISIS’ message.

The jihadist group, which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq and has declared a “caliphate” in those areas, runs a dynamic propaganda and recruitment operation, including a full-color online magazine, video clips, and an active social media presence.

The Qur’an and other Islamic texts, along with viewpoints of historical and modern-day Muslim scholars, are central to its messaging, and the U.S.-led coalition is prioritizing attempts to counter the purported religious justifications for its actions.

Allen said that ISIS propaganda serves both to attract recruits and “perverts the innocent.”

“It is only when we contest Da’esh’s presence online and deny the legitimacy of its message – the message that it sends to vulnerable young people – and as we expose Da’esh for the un-Islamic, criminal cult of violence that it really is, it is only then that Da’esh will be truly defeated.”

He said every member of the coalition had a role to play in combating the image ISIS portrays of itself.

“Da’esh’s online messengers present themselves as the true and victorious representatives of Islam. They seek to portray themselves as winners, true leaders worthy of financial support that attracts and radicalizes foreign fighters,” he said.

“I believe every coalition partner, every one, has a unique and a vital role to play in striking down this image – this image within the context of our respective cultural, religious, and national norms.”

Allen noted that leading religious figures in the region have spoken out against ISIS on religious grounds.

Last August, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia declared that ISIS’ ideas and violent conduct made it “enemy number one of Islam.” The same month, Egypt’s grand mufti launched an Internet-based campaign to discredit ISIS, and urged media to stop using any name for the group that incorporates the word “Islamic.”

More than 120 Islamic figures last month signed a letter to ISIS leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi – who calls himself “Caliph Ibrahim” and has called on jihadists everywhere to swear loyalty to him – challenging him on religious grounds….

And that challenge was as hypocritical as it was revealing.

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Filed Under: dhimmitude, Islamic State (aka ISIS, ISIL, Daesh), United States, Useful idiots, willful ignorance Tagged With: featured


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Comments

  1. IQ al Rassooli says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 11:21 am

    Dear readers, it is NOT a wonder WHY the USA has been losing battles and wars against the most backward fighters on earth with clueless political, academic and media running the show thus deceiving and misleading a mostly unlearned public regarding these issues

    Adding insult to injury, tragically the PEOPLE also have even more incompetent military commanders such as general Allen who despite the fact that he was in eye ball to eye ball contact with Muslims regurgitates the above outrageously stated drivel about Islam

    Our leaders are infinitely more criminal than the Muslims because they are BETRAYING us

    General Allen should have his brain examined for colluding with, aiding and abetting the enemies of humanity

    IQ al Rassooli
    Kafir & Proud

    • mortimer says

      Oct 29, 2014 at 1:04 pm

      The taqiyya of Saudi clerics is swallowed and regurgitated by US officials undigested!

      The denialism of Obama’s minions is the problem. There is virtually NO DIFFERENCE in the Salafist doctrine of ISIS and the Salafist doctrine of the Saudis.

      ISIS got their teachings from the Saudis.

    • jsteves2000 says

      Oct 30, 2014 at 7:16 pm

      Will our government ever come to the conclusion that Islamic leaders can do and say anything, especially lie, as long as it is for jihad. (TAQIYYA) Of course they are going to say they are against ISIS and any radicalization of islam (again TAQIYYA) (STEALTH) we still listen and follow along like a little puppy and swallow it down with a gulp of “do nothing to hurt islam”. WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND WE ARE IT!!!!

  2. umbra says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 11:22 am

    Never imagined a Marine General (retired) could stoop so low in order to grovel on the behalf of his master. Truly repulsive for a staff officer. The only shining light is that he is no longer on active front line duty.

    • mariam rove says

      Oct 29, 2014 at 11:30 am

      you said that right. M

  3. RichardL says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 11:23 am

    I have told this story here before: On the opening session of BrightStar 2009 in Cairo, Allen started the proceedings by saying how happy he is to be back in a country where he hears the muezzin’s call to prayer. To him that is the sweet sound of peace. The oldest serving Egyptian general used the opportunity to point out that Islam is a religion of peace and anyone who connects it to terrorism is a terrorist.

    I deeply despise Allen since then, though he is a Marine.

    Nobody reacted in any way to the statements. Afterwards I stood with the Swiss and the British military attaches and the Brit said, “we would need one brigade to crush the whole of the Egyptian army.” The Swiss deadpanned: “Surely you are joking! A batallion of Swiss infantry could do the job in a few hours.”

    Maybe that’s the difference between colonels and three star generals…

  4. G179 says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 11:29 am

    Last week we celebrated Islam in Ottawa, NY and Jerusalem.

  5. Jaladhi says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 11:34 am

    They celebrate Islam by raping, looting and killing, torturing, enslaving, supremacism, misogyny, , etc – all the holy deeds of Islam!! That is their religious motto to please Mo/allah!

  6. FedUpWithWelfareStates says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 11:39 am

    Well, we have been warning everyone about the Moral Cowardice rampant amongst the military officer ranks for quite sometime now, & now we have a former Marine General that vindicates our accusation. Another Dhimmi wading into the midst of Jihadism thinking that if we appease these circus clowns they will spare us…Why else do you think Obama chose Allen?

  7. Jaladhi says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 11:41 am

    The West is infested with traitors wrt fighting Islam and Muslims – leaders, media, military, universities – students, administration and faculty.

    How can we hope to win???

  8. Jay Boo says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 11:50 am

    Rosie O’Donnell False equivalence — Game Over
    It has been mentioned here frequently here, that The Bible is descriptive while the Koran is proscriptive.
    Yet, liberals gush over Islam even as they disrespect Judeo-Christian values.

    Wow
    Think about that for a moment.
    How could anyone possibly say that the Koran and the religion of Islam does not specifically endorse and encourage violence?
    Islam is well beyond reform?

    • Anon John says

      Oct 31, 2014 at 3:12 am

      It boggles the mind that Progressive Liberals place such love for a “religious” group who wouldn’t back the Progressive ideals. Islam demands killing gays, not encouraging it or marriage for them. Capital punishment is an Islamic cornerstone. Islam teaches to punish women who seek freedom over themselves and to be equal with men; this harks back to Muhammad who had stated that women have less intellect than males. “War on Women” really is descriptive in Islamic traditions for how they treat females. Marijuana use and other drugs are forbidden to Muslims. The list goes on, yet Progressive Liberals ignore the truth – I suppose they plan on reforming Islam, something which hasn’t happened in 1400 years and most Muslims don’t seem to be ready to change.

  9. Michael Nollet says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 12:05 pm

    General Allen is described in the article as “retired.” Good. He needs to stay that way.

  10. Michael Copeland says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    Lt.-Col. Allen West, former Congressman, U.S. House of Representatives, explains:
    “You need to get into the Qur’an … the Sira [biography of Mohammed] … the Hadith [traditions about Mohammed], and then you can really understand that this is not a perversion: they are doing exactly what this book says.”

  11. Dave J says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 12:07 pm

    Political and military leaders deal with Islamic leaders taking tea in their finery. They accept “gifts” and make noble pronouncements.

    Citizens and soldiers deal with Islamic followers on the street in their rough mobs and with their knives, guns and hatchets.

  12. R Cole says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 12:59 pm

    All you have to do is to remove the ‘un’ in un-Islamic – in the following quote – and there you will have it:

    ….and as we expose Da’esh for the un- Islamic, criminal cult of violence that it really is, it is only then that Da’esh will be truly defeated.”

    What is obvious is – this ‘getting along with Islam’ is becoming increasingly expensive – it has cost us in lives and in taxpayer’s money.

    Boots on the Ground For Islam – Not the ‘Good News’!

    First we have to fight a religious war – a Holy War no less – now we are expected to promote the religious propaganda – of one side over the other.

    There may not have been an ISIS – but the cloud of Islam’s advance has been on the horizon for decades. ISIS narrative has been and is the norm across the Islamic world.

    :: ::

    Fatwa Dispensary

    Surely the General knows the Saudis ordered the clerics to issue this handy anti-ISIS fatwa [or else]:

    Last August, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia declared that ISIS’ ideas and violent conduct made it “enemy number one of Islam.”

    [Wonder if this is less or more than an Islomophobe on the ‘enemy of Islam’ rating?]

    :: ::

    They want us to be “in lockstep” with Islam !!

    But if “we are not at war with Islam” as Obama says – then we should not be at war for Islam either.

    :: ::

    These are Saudi interests.

    ISIS has already stated they wish to take over Mecca!!

    Which would most certainly boost ISIS coffers – if we are not mistaken – with the loot or booty permitted to be collected under Islam Shari’a laws.

    Tell it to the Saudis!!

  13. jackspratt305 says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 1:04 pm

    Once a Marine, always…..well until you have to kiss Muslim a-s for your boss. Damn traitor.

  14. mortimer says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 1:09 pm

    The only doctrinal difference between ISIS and Saudi is that the Saudis DON’T want ISIS to ‘take over Mecca’.

  15. profitsbeard says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 2:09 pm

    The General added that: “Of course infidels deserve to die if they refuse the blessings of Islam”.

  16. pennant8 says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    Meanwhile, over at thereligionofpeace.com, the deadly attack odometer just clicked over to 24,212 since 9/11.

  17. Wellington says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 5:19 pm

    I submit that just about the the most disturbing, destructive, disgusting and dangerous of all useful idiots are those with military influence and power. General Allen fits this description most definitely, though, as Michael Nollet in his 12:05 P.M. post above aptly noted, it’s a good thing this general is retired. Thank God (N.B. “God” and not “Allah”) for small blessings, no?

    I also caught myself wondering while reading this article and many of the spot on comments on this thread what would Winston Churchill say of General Allen were the Great Man still here? Oh, imagine that withering, superbly sardonic wit applied to General Allen. How could I not smile while reflecting upon this? Of course, I couldn’t.

  18. Darren says

    Oct 29, 2014 at 9:30 pm

    WTF is wrong with these people. Dear lord I am lost for words. I understand generals these days are politicians but sir do you have any shame? Is pleasing your masters that important to you? I guess when Sheik Obama purged the military so he could put his cronies in or lackies he did his job too well.

    Just surrender now it will save more lives in the long run. The war on terror is a joke that isn’t funny, how do you declare a war on an enemy tactic while ignoring the ideology that creates the foot soldiers of sharia? A futile game of whack a mole, meanwhile they penetrate every level of government, they are taking over parts of Europe, Africa, ect. The Western world has lost it’s mind I’m convinced of that further each and every day. We are on a suicidal death train with Casey Jones driving.

  19. dlbrand says

    Oct 30, 2014 at 1:27 am

    One more decorated fool for Islamic use, one more “war planner” crafting the details for instructing our Warriors, and ultimately, our nation, on how to bow with them that bow.

  20. Laura says

    Oct 30, 2014 at 6:07 am

    “As we seek to expose Da’esh’s true nature,” Allen told the gathering on Monday, “we must also tell a positive story, one that highlights our respect – our profound respect for Islam’s proud traditions, its rich history, and celebration of scholarship and family and community.”
    ‘Proud traditions’ of beheading those who disagree with them, ‘rich history’ of amputations, rape, and violence.
    ‘Celebration of scholarship’ limited solely to study of the Koran. ‘Celebration of family and community’ where fathers sell their pre-pubescent daughters to dirty old men, and communities that target non-muslims and ‘blasphemers’ usually with fatal consequences.
    Yes…there is much to celebrate about Islam!
    I’m English and utterly gob-smacked that a senior American military officer could make such a grovelling statement to the very religion that would slice him into bite size pieces if it had half a chance.
    ‘Land of the free’ don’t make me laugh…more like ‘Land of the free from rational thought.’

  21. DiMu says

    Oct 30, 2014 at 8:32 am

    Straight out of Monty Python! It’s like saying the best way to win the Cold War is to celebrate Communism.

  22. forthfaran says

    Nov 7, 2014 at 9:49 am

    Proud traditions?,rich history? the way it celebrates scholarship? To make this fairy tale stick the government will have to either ban the reading of the Koran and Islamic writings by us Infidels,or get permission to concoct a special infidel, Muslim lite ,Koran and ahadith. Don’t think they wouldn’t do both these things;they are more than capable.

  23. forthfaran says

    Nov 7, 2014 at 9:53 am

    You know what?,I am becoming more confused with every one of these grovelling ,dhimmi statements that I read. Why are they doing this? Are they really that frightened of Islam.Or is it that Saudi owns most of America’s debt?

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