The mass murder in San Bernardino, California—a terrorist attack the most prudent of us expected and saw coming—is proof that, no matter where Islam takes root, no matter how moderate and benign the perpetrators of these mass murders previously projected themselves, there remains for every Muslim a jumping off point: the option of jihad. As Samuel Huntington pointed out, “In Islam, God is Caesar.” So, when the state commands a Muslim to go to war, that is one thing, but when the Muslim perceives that his god has commanded him to go to war, that is quite another. The jihadist Muslim will feel no hesitation about refusing to obey the commands of the state to go to war, especially if that state is a Western democracy. But should his god intimate to the same Muslim that he (or she) should go to war, even against the state to which he has sworn allegiance, and especially if that state is a Western democracy, the compunction he may feel is merely in regards to the time he expends preparing to obey his god and subsequently, at the behest of that god, murdering his neighbour.
Efraim Halevy, former Director of the Mossad, has written in Man in the Shadows: “It should be recognized that the Islamic fundamentalist terrorist threat will not evaporate into thin air under the onslaught of the combined efforts of the Western world. Primarily, the battle is an integral struggle within Islam. The world at large cannot pretend to move in and effect a result. So, what is left for us to do? Should we just sit on the sidelines and await the outcome of the battle royal?” If it is true that the “combined efforts of the Western world” cannot “effect a result” entirely, must we therefore await the outcome of what should be “an internal struggle within Islam”? My problem with Halevy’s prescription is that I perceive no internal struggle happening within Islam, at least not intense enough to eradicate the intolerance the Quran promotes or the fundamentalism that same intolerance can inspire in the mind of even a “Westernized” Muslim.
“All that is human must retrograde if it does not advance,” wrote Edward Gibbon. This rule applies to Islam and the Muslim as much as to all religions and religious. The vile manifestations produced by a contumacious lethargy, which is today stultifying the Islamic world and the reputation of Islam, are proof of this fact. The problem with fundamentalists like those of ISIS and the Taliban is that they deem the journey backward into Islam’s imperial past as glorious and the moderate Muslim’s journey into modernity as shameful. And the danger to all Muslims is that the tenets of their faith can be constructed to justify both paths. The imperialistic and expansionist goals of Islam are just as construable as are the moderate and modernistic goals of the not so distinct reform movement within Islam.
Walid Phares opines in The Coming Revolution: “Western-based religious reformers seem to be in the majority of dissidents at this stage, particularly those focusing on reforming religion or, more precisely, reinterpreting the texts in a manner that would marginalize the jihadists and open the path for democracy and pluralism.” This was back in 2010, and since then, I’m sorry to say, nothing has transpired—not war or peace—in that part of the world where Islam is preponderant that would indicate any coordinated initiative to “marginalize the jihadists and open the path for democracy and pluralism.” We may have religious reformers thicker than thieves at a fair here in the West, but the fact that such reformers remain an essentially silent minority within the sphere of a preponderant Islam should inform the most reasonable among us of why Islam and Western style democracy is, and always will be, a bad mix.
The sheep become inured to the slaughter, as the saying goes. We have become too accustomed to hearing and reading about Islamic terrorism. Mark Steyn remonstrated not so long ago, “I’m Islamed out. I’m tired of Islam 24/7, at Colorado colleges, Marseilles synagogues, Sydney coffee shops, day after day after day. The west cannot win this thing with a schizophrenic strategy of targeting things and people but not targeting the ideology, of intervening ineffectually overseas and not intervening at all when it comes to the remorseless Islamization and self-segregation of large segments of their own countries.” I feel the same way. I do not believe, as does Efraim Halevy, that “…much more creativity and originality must be sought and ultimately put to good use.” You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. And you cannot present Western style democracy as a bountiful gift to those who perceive it as nothing other than a contaminating imposition.
In her novel The Covenant, a book she dedicated to “all victims of terror, and those who loved them,” Naomi Ragan writes, “People didn’t seem outraged or even surprised anymore, just kind of weary and dumbfounded. And even journalists pretended to no longer be able to distinguish right from wrong, bending over backward to see the murderer’s point of view. Homicide seemed almost a lifestyle choice these days. Like being gay or vegetarian, it had earned a certain respect, even glamour, at least among media types who seemed eager to adopt the terrorists’ own incredibly self-serving and immoral self-image as martyrs and heroes.” This is where we are. This is what we have become. And for whose sake are we now “weary and dumbfounded”? For the sake of a perpetually malefic religion, and only because Western journalists feel so compelled by an abstract and sophisticated morality that they must equate the religion of Islam with Judaism and Christianity? For the sake of shamelessly intolerant mullahs, here and abroad, who daily denigrate and excoriate (with the media’s blessings) Judaism and Christianity? Such self-demeaning accommodation is not progress, nor is it prudent. Edward Abbey said it best: “Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell.”

jihad3tracker says
Hussein Obama is so deeply in the final stage of mental shred that he inadvertently let the “cancer” word escape from his usually well controlled mouth, giving us a peek at the pathological subconscious part of his head.
Spot On says
You are on it. No doubt about the cancer. Pathological, I don’t buy. There is just too much money making opportunities to get rich in Washington. Bill and Hillary are open about it.
After 911, I recall, a Saudi Muslim offered Rudy G. a ten million dollar check (for Rudy’s cooperation?). Rudy shoved it back telling him to take it and shove it. Good for Rudy. Does anyone honestly believe that this was the only ten million dollar check the Saudis ever wrote to a politician? It was more like the only check ever rejected, so it made news and we know about it.
jihad3tracker says
I try to post briefly — and sometimes omit reasons behind my choice of words.
My point in using that word was that Barry Soetoro has 11 months left in his term, and every day he must face long hours wondering when the next jihad attack is coming, and where. There are going to be more, certainly, and maybe a catastrophic one.
He is in — at least as far as the memories of our fellow citizens go — a uniquely alienated corner, even though immersed in denial on that. He mentioned his daughters last night, and my guess is that they are as disturbed as the rest of us are at his inadequacy. No amount of private family-fun stuff can change their minds on that.
When he leaves office, after yet unknown jihad slaughter in the U.S., the prospects are zero of him getting any sort of TRULY respectable job. And, of course, the best political writers will unleash devastating assessments.
So, after wreaking havoc on his “fellow” citizens, this 3rd-world culturalist, minority-grievance purveyor, Islam-loving empty soul is destined for the landfill of disgrace, but only after an unprecedented depth of damage to us and our children.
Spot On says
I am with you on this. Someone said that Jimmy Carter is happy now. Yes he is happy about beating cancer but he is now most happy at not being the worst ever President. Yes, Jimmy was bad but BO now welcomes the world’s worst possible garbage to our homes to kill us.
guide inside says
“When he leaves office”— Does he do so by his own choice because he honors the two term legislation?
underbed cat says
Awesome comment, Spot On, and all this talk about global warming due to fossil fuels, is also about not developing U.S. oil, so the Sauds can keep collecting money, from an industry devleloped from western countries. So ironic that they can give “money grants to the top universities,such as Harvard and Georgetown, Arkansas, and schools throughout the country.
But also to medical schools, businesses,media, counties etc.. which ever the generous heart wants to give. Can’t say we shouldn’t be grateful, but just know there are certain strings attached, that may change outcomes of research….
To return a check…..after the worst terrorist attack in history, shows that Rudi G. had character….understood the money’s intended real purpose. The intended purpose of terror is to wear out the target to submit, hollywood may be aiding this along, so anything that sounds somewhat spiritual may sound innocent, and much needed in our country. But that is only because they are able to wrap the target with soft , quiet words, intended to misdirect. We can only get a solution when it is exposed, Any attempt at reform shows that the reformer does not know the command to not change the words, since they are from allllah.
TexasMom43 says
I think rabies is more fitting than cancer there is a cure for some cancer, no cure for rabies.
TexasMom43 says
The arab who offered Mr. Guiliani ten million dollars is the same arab who owns a stake in Fox and other media and who influenced Harvard Univesity (also under Saudi influence) to admit Obama, a mediocre “choom gang” high schooler named Barry Soetoro, who paid his tuition, living expenses and other incidentals. Trivia question of the day: Name that Arab! Interrogate him. Force Harvard AND Columbia to open their records on Barry – it’s a national security issue.
Edward says
Maybe his brain implant batteries are drained.
Has anybody made any effort to check his obvious head and neck surgical incisions?
What are those traceable scars ?
A Google Image page will show them. They were visible in 2009 on him at the time of his Ft Hood massacre news presser was in progress. Use these key words: pictures of obama head scars
Jaladhi says
>”My problem with Halevy’s prescription is that I perceive no internal struggle happening within Islam, at least not intense enough to eradicate the intolerance the Quran promotes or the fundamentalism that same intolerance can inspire in the mind of even a “Westernized” Muslim.”<
Totally agree with you!1 There is no internal struggle going on in Islam. It never was and it never will be. Such is the spell of Islam on Muslims Muslims have only one view which is in Quran and anything else is just a taqiyya toting distraction from the central point of Islam.
Jay Boo says
Life in a free society involves making choices either good or bad.
Making decisions can be stressful.
Islam however presumes to be a set of predefined good choices.
Islam ignores the good things about free societies and correctly points out that free societies have decadent behavior and greed on display. Islam asks Muslims to repress such decadent behavior and greed on public display.
Instead, a Muslim’s image of good behavior is put on display.
The more they play dress up and pray, the more they fill their hearts with hate.
All Muslims attempt to partner up with Allah.
It is only in matters of degree that they differ.
EYESOPEN says
What muzlims cannot understand is that God made the angels and humans free – free to love and serve Him, or free to reject him. He allowed us free will to make the choice. In izlam, that freedom has been rescinded. What they fail to understand is that “virtue” forced by coercion is not virtue at all but slavery, plain and simple.
Unfortunately, this is something that most will never understand because izlam’s “god” is the complete antithesis of the true God; and instead of life, and all that is good, demands death, slavery, misogyny, false pride (among muzlim MEN), and everything that is negative. If they were given the chance to understand the good, they might be able to perceive the bad; but this is not given as an option for them.
Michael Copeland says
Islam is ironclad reform-proof, watertight.
Many share the wish to reform the Koran.
It will not happen. It is not permitted.
The Koran is part of Islamic law.
The Koran itself says it is “perfect”.
“The word of your Lord is complete, in truth and justice.
There is none who can change His words.”, 6:115.
To “reform”, or change any verse is to deny it.
One who denies any verse has to be killed.
The killing can be performed, penalty-free and vigilante style,
by anyone “since it is killing someone who deserves to die”
(Manual of Islamic Law, “Reliance of the Traveller” o8.7(7), o8.4).
The Manual is available as a free download.
Martin Luther’s reformation was of the non-Biblical practices
of the Roman Catholic Church. He did not reform the Bible.
deja vu says
‘Martin Luther’s reformation was of the non-Biblical practices of the Roman Catholic Church. He did not reform the Bible.’
A very good point. But the Bible did not need reforming. The Qur’an is a different matter.
xxxChurch100 says
How true … the qur’an will always prove the old adage:
” you can’t shine a Sh+t “……. no matter how hard you try .
Angemon says
Great article.
PaulyG says
“The imperialistic and expansionist goals of Islam are just as construable as are the moderate and modernistic goals of the not so distinct reform movement within Islam.”
Where does Islam promote modernity or innovation exactly? As a matter of fact, Islam and Muhammad himself clearly discourage modernity and innovation.
“This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion” (Al-Maidah 5: 3)
“And let those who oppose the Messenger’s way beware, lest some conflict befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.” (Al-Noor 24:62)
‘Aisha(R) reported Muhammad(S) said: “Whoever innovates into this affair of ours something that we have not commanded it is to be rejected” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Jaabir (R) narrated Muhammad(S) said, “To proceed: The best speech is the Book of Allah and the best guidance and example is that of Muhammad, and the worse of all things are the newly invented things (in the religion), for every innovation is a error and a misguidance.” (Muslim) ”
If Muhammad did it or approved of it, it is halal. If Muhammad disapproved of it, it is haram. Plus, the Allah himself states that the religion has been perfected. You cannot improve on perfection. Allah cannot be incorrect, right?
خَليفة says
Islam is like that little insecure brat that says things like “Well my dad said _____ and he’s smarter than your dad. My dad told me so and he wouldn’t lie.”
Ok, Islam is worse than that “Muhammed said Allah said _______ and Muhammed said Allah is smarter than your God. Muhammed said Allah said so, and Muhammed said Allah said Muhammed wouldn’t lie.”
And yet…. Muhammed did some major innovating in creating his religion and claiming it is the next step in the path of Judaism to Christianity to Islam. Anyone with half a brain an see how ridiculous Islam is. I guess there are a lot of bratty, insecure Muslims.
John Johness says
Yes – “Weary”. I am finding this is the next step in the script of denial. After the mild lefties have done with all their arguments and there is a too obvious attack, their last stance is “look, I am just sick of hearing about all this”. Resignation. ‘What can we do”
The San Bernardino was the one that did this. Nice couple, quiet, Uni graduates, baby, respectable….. It pretty well negated every leftist argument.
So now we have Islamoapathy.
? says
Excellent insight.
RC says
Devolin is not credible–he promotes hatred for Christians!
RC says
Devolin’s hatred for God and his people–is much like a cancer cell.
TexasMom43 says
Jimmy Carter ushered in this tsunami of muslim troubles; if there had been no Jimmy Carter there
d have been no Obama, possibly. Sunni or Shia, they unite to destroy the West.