Authorities in the West assume, with near-unanimity, that each and every mosque and Islamic center in Western countries is simply the Islamic equivalent of a church or synagogue, posing no security threat whatsoever, and that only “Islamophobes” think otherwise. This assumption, however, is just that, an assumption. It isn’t based on any study of what Islam teaches, or of what particular mosques teach. It is an assumption that some Western officials may someday come to regret.
“Exclusive: German Islamic center raises money for Hezbollah,” by Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, June 22, 2018 (thanks to The Religion of Peace):
The Al-Mustafa Community Center in the northern German city-state of Bremen is a major hub for raising funds for Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to a German intelligence report reviewed by The Jerusalem Post.
The Bremen intelligence agency’s newly released report in June stated, “The Al-Mustafa-Community Center supports Hezbollah in Lebanon, especially by collecting donations.”
The United States, Canada, the Arab League, the Netherlands and Israel classify Hezbollah a terrorist organization. Germany and the European Union merely designate Hezbollah’s so-called military wing a terrorist entity.
The Post uncovered the Shi’ite organization’s bank account – the Bremen-based Sparkasse. The Bremen intelligence agency, the rough equivalent to Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), said there are approximately 60 Hezbollah supporters in the Al-Mustafa organization and “the Arab-Shi’ite association functions as a point of contact for Shi’ite Muslims in Bremen, especially those from Lebanon.”
The intelligence document did not cite the amount of funds transferred from Hezbollah supporters in Bremen to Hezbollah in Lebanon. It is unclear if Germany is currently engaged in anti-terrorism finance operations covering Hezbollah funding streams in Bremen and throughout Germany….
One photograph posted on the Al-Mustafa website shows at least 10 young children wearing Hezbollah combat-style attire in the green and yellow colors associated with the Lebanese militia, while displaying the Hezbollah flag, whose logo depicts an upraised arm grasping an AK-47 assault rifle….
Muhammed Jacob says
ALL MUSLIMS CONTRIBUTE MONEY TOWARDS JIHAD
How Zakat Funds Jihad
The term “zakat,” it is a form of tithing in Islam. Individuals, as well as businesses, are required to pay it.
Muslims who are able to do so must donate 2.5% of their wealth (5% for Shia) toward zakat. Zakat is very important in Islam and is considered one of the five pillars of Islam.
And modern administration of zakat often involves Islamic charities and governments.
Zakat is a concern because, as the bipartisan 9-11 Commission Report detailed, it has in fact been used to fund Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups:
From page 170 of the 9/11 Commission Report:
Al Qaeda and its friends took advantage of Islam’s strong calls for charitable giving, zakat. These financial facilitators also appeared to rely heavily on certain imams at mosques who were willing to divert zakat donations to al Qaeda’s cause.
Al Qaeda also collected money from employees of corrupt charities. It took two approaches to using charities for fundraising. One was to rely on al Qaeda sympathizers in specific foreign branch offices of large, international charities–particularly those with lax external oversight and ineffective internal controls, such as the Saudi-based al Haramain Islamic Foundation. Smaller charities in various parts of the globe were funded by these large Gulf charities and had employees who would siphon the money to al Qaeda.
In addition, entire charities, such as the al Wafa organization may have wittingly participated in funneling money to al Qaeda. In those cases al Qaeda operatives controlled the entire organization, including access to bank accounts. Charities were a source of money and also provided significant cover, which enabled operatives to travel undetected under the guise of working for a humanitarian organization.
From page 372 of the 9/11 Commission Report:
Charitable giving, or zakat, is one of the five pillars of Islam. It is broader and more pervasive than Western ideas of charity–functioning also as a form of income tax, educational assistance, foreign aid, and a source of political influence. The Western notion of the separation of civic and religious duty does not exist in Islamic cultures. Funding charitable works is an integral function of the governments in the Islamic world. It is so ingrained in Islamic culture that in Saudi Arabia, for example, a department within the Saudi Ministry of Finance and National Economy collects zakat directly, much as the U.S. Internal Revenue Service collects payroll withholding tax. Closely tied to zakat is the dedication of the government to propagating the Islamic faith, particularly the Wahhabi sect that flourishes in Saudi Arabia.
Traditionally, throughout the Muslim world, there is no formal oversight mechanism for donations. As Saudi wealth increased, the amounts contributed by individuals and the state grew dramatically. Substantial sums went to finance Islamic charities of every kind. While Saudi domestic charities are regulated by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, charities and international relief agencies, such as the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY). are currently regulated by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. This ministry uses zakat and government funds to spread Wahhabi beliefs throughout the world, including in mosques and schools. Often these schools provide the only education available; even in affluent countries, Saudi-funded Wahhabi schools are often the only Islamic schools. Some Wahhabi-funded organizations have been exploited by extremists to further their goal of violent jihad against non-Muslims.
The most authoritative source for such information is a book which is available on Amazon called “The Reliance of the Traveler, A Classic Manual of Islamic Sacred Law.” That book has a whole section devoted to the rules of zakat, including “THE EIGHT CATEGORIES OF RECIPIENTS.” On page 272, section h8.17, one category is labeled:
THOSE FIGHTING FOR ALLAH
The seventh category is those fighting for Allah, meaning people engaged in Islamic military operations for whom no salary has been allotted in the army roster (O: but who are volunteers for jihad without remuneration). They are given enough to suffice them for the operation, even if affluent; of weapons, mounts, clothing, and expenses (O: for the duration of the journey, round trip, and the time they spend there, even if prolonged. Though nothing has been mentioned here of the expense involved in supporting such people’s families during this period, it seems clear that they should also be given it).
This passage, from this widely-used Shariah text seems to have been written expressly about zakat payments to charities which have funded Al Qaeda, HAMAS, Hezbollah and the Taliban. Note from the passage that such payments are meant specifically for irregular forces who are not part of any army roster, which describes terrorist/guerilla/insurgent groups exactly. Note that they are meant for “Islamic” military operations and not secular groups (i.e. HAMAS and not the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command). Note that such payments are made even if the recipient is affluent…like Osama Bin Laden. And, finally, the families of fighters are to be taken care of, such as payments by Saddam Hussein and Saudi princes to families of Islamikaze bombers in Gaza and the West Bank.
All too often, the destinations of zakat payments are to Jihadists, simply because Shariah mandates it.
Maybe that is why so many Islamic charities have been implicated in terrorism financing.
While conducting research recently we came across more evidence of zakat funding jihad. The popular Islamic web site “RadianceWeekly.com” contains the following passage:
Specified Accounts of Zakat
“The alms are meant only for the poor and the needy and those who are in charge thereof, those whose hearts are to be reconciled; and to free those in bondage, and to help those burdened with debt, and for expenditure in the way of Allah and for the wayfarer. This is an obligation from Allah. Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”
(Al-Qur’ān – 9:60)
The verse presents eight different heads of Zakat funds. Be it a collective system of Zakat collection and distribution or an individual himself or herself doing this, one should spend the Zakat money only on the specified accounts.
The first category of Zakat recipients is of fuqara, those who depend for their sustenance on others. They include orphans, destitute widows, the disabled, unemployed and old. Second, masakeen – those who are in greater distress than the ordinary poor people. They are both self-respecting and poor. Third, ‘those employed to administer them’. Fourth, to provide succour for and to rehabilitate the reverts to Islam. Fifth, to secure the emancipation of slaves or release of the unjustly jailed persons. Sixth, to the debtors who would be pauper if they were to pay off all their debts from their available resources. Such debtors do not include those who incur heavy debts either as a result of their extravagance or their spending on evil purposes. Seventh, fi sabilillah signifies the struggle to establish the Islamic system of life on earth. And, eighth, a traveller is entitled to receive help out of Zakat funds if he needs such help during his journey.
Note that this passage actually identifies two possible destinations for zakat that could be interpreted as supporting violent jihad:
The 5th destination includes the emancipation of those “unjustly” imprisoned. This could certainly be interpreted to mean jihadis who have been captured and jailed by infidel forces and authorities.
Then, of course, we have the well-known 7th destination, which is expressed here as supporting those attempting to establish the Islamic system of life on earth…in other words those working to impose Shariah.
THIS MEANS THAT THERE ARE NO MODERATE MUSLIMS!
gravenimage says
All true about Zakat, Muhammed Jacob. It is *not* “charity” as it is so often translated in the West.
J D S says
The west has a problem with investigating anything that is supposed to have “religious” tag applied to it….
I do hope that maybe in the U.S. OUR investigating agencies are planting people inside these organizations in order to know what’s happening but with the mindset of today’s government it’s doubtful that they are doing much. Anyone with any understanding of Islam at all should know this this is not a God based religion and I don’t understand why Islam could be called a religion st all.
Older Canadian says
Substantial proof that Germany is still anti-sementic. Call it what it is. They still have an underground Nazi movement.
The only mistake made was taking down the wall and letting Germany be a self governing country again.
Japan after WWII made an agreement and has honoured it.
Difference is honour, respectability and self worth. Historically Germany has always been void of those characteristics.
Older Canadian says
Would not be surprised, disgusting that the thought is. Germany colluded with islamist in WWI and WWII. So what is going on in germany with merkel, is not, can I say out of character for the german state. Sick, sick, sick, hope I am wrong.
The European says
And I would bet that American businessmen would exchange stupid and tasteless jokes about Hiroshima and Nagasaki when doing juicy arms deals with the Chinese
gravenimage says
Most Americans consider the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary to avoid more bloodshed but highly regrettable.
The idea that Americans regularly joke and gloat about dropping nuclear bombs on the Japanese is baseless calumny.
Wellington says
The European, gravenimage, as I know you know, regularly engages in baseless calumny about America. For me, this is dispositive of how deficient his moral intelligence is, never mind an overall dearth of knowledge about the facts. Why, he’s probably foolish enough to think the Marshall Plan and Truman Doctrine, never mind the creation of NATO, were just nefarious ways of extending American influence and helping American capitalists.
Such inane cynicism makes me sick. But I’ve come across it regularly in my readings of history and such cynicism is almost never put forward by anyone who helps anything or anyone in any manner. It is just dead, stupid and useless from the get-go.
gravenimage says
Agree on all points, Wellington.
underbed cat says
Sometimes reality is stranger than fiction and that is the case for absolute threat of Islam and the absolute deception that has been able to cover up the messes,. The history was forgotten, the self cleaning doctrine written 1400 years ago,was protected by sharia laws and/or dismissed as misunderstood and a accommodating narrative arose from the ashes by the suits that knew the source and became the cover advisers and they are still at it. But we are now awoke because of the information available that we know here and those who know who spoke and wrote the truth for the curious.
Brian hoff says
Only the germany military gave up in world war 2. The nazie party and nazie government never gave up. In the case of japan the army navy and government gave up.
DHazard says
Good article from the National Review about how Muslim donations (zakat) end up in the hands of Hamas and other terrorist groups:
https://www.nationalreview.com/2017/01/terrorist-groups-american-charities-fund-ufa-hamas-dawah-social-services/
There is no law prohibiting US citizens from sending money to most countries. Zakat is one of the pillars of Islam and who knows where that money will end up. Here is the definition of Zakat from “Islamic Relief USA”:
Zakat is payable at 2.5% of the wealth one possesses above the nisab. Nisab, which is equal to 3 ounces of gold, is the minimum amount of wealth one must have before they are liable to pay zakat. *As of June 14, 2018, nisab is estimated to be $3889.92 Zakat is liable on gold, silver, cash, savings, investments, rent income, business merchandise and profits, shares, securities, and bonds. Zakat is not paid on wealth used for debt repayment of living expenses such as clothing, food, housing, transportation, education, etc.
The European says
To Older Canadian
“Substantial proof that Germany is still anti-semitic.”
First of all: the article is not about an underground Nazi movement, but about the Al-Mustafa Community Center in Bremen which obviously works as a fundraiser for Hezbollah.
Second: Why would the Bremen intelligence agency release a report on the dealings of this Shi’ite Muslim community and ist involvement with anti-Jewish Groups like Hezbollah? If Germany were anti-semitic the government would rather suppress the release of such a report and advise the intelligence agency to abstain from further surveillance and investigation.
I know that you are a German-hater and that you will use any pretext to smear Germany and its people, but even an anti-German bigot like you should use his brain before he is posting comments.
Older Canadian says
Europeon:
The german government is not stupid. By not supressing the report, (as it would most likely leak out), gives the appearance that they are on top of things, which gets votes, and protects their agenda. It is a old trick used by all governments regardless of their stripes.
Fair is foul and foul is fair.
Crack a few history books. History is repeating once again. Very sad.
The European says
Older Canadian
I am not happy about Merkel either -to say the least. Her Immigration policy is a disaster, and her opinions on Islam are stupid, but neither Merkel nor the German government are anti-semitic.. The fact that there are many anti-semitic Muslims in Germany now is no prrof that Germany is anti-semitic. There are more Muslims in France, Great Britain and the US and as you know, Muslims who believe in their Religionare anti-semitic – as a matter of fact. Are all These governments and political leaders anti-semitc? I don’t think so. Merkel and her government don’t Harbor any Kind of well-hidden and devious anti-semitism, their Agenda is quite different: they want to build a unified Europe, they want to abolish the Nation-state, and they are using illegal mass-immigration to this effect. Maybe you can see the difference!
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Hezbullah is not a terrorist organization, it is a resistance group against fascist evil Zionist state of Israel expansionist ambition. Today fascist evil Zionists cannot dare encroach into Lebanese territory because of Hesbullah’s resilience.
Wellington says
Hey, Ibrahim, who protects true liberty more, Hezbollah or Israel?
Yeah, provide so many of us here at JW your answer. I mean how could we not learn where you really stand on the matter of real freedom by your responding to this question?
Westman says
“Hezbullah is not a terrorist organization..”
I need a moment clean up the coffee I spewed while laughing.
gravenimage says
Hizb’allah has pretty much destroyed Lebanon–formerly a largely civilized majority-Christian nation.
And of course he does not consider the destruction of Israel to be terrorism–he himself has said how much he looks forward to personally taking part in the genocide of the Jews. *Ugh*.
christianblood says
gravenimage
Hezbollah does not attack Christians, Hezbollah actually protects Christian shrines and Christian villages from the US and Saudi-backed Takfiri groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, White Helmets, FSA etc. You probably don’t know it but Christians and Shiites (Hezbollah) are allies in Lebanese politics depending on each other for votes and for defense. Hezbollah trains Christian militia in Lebanon to fight ISIS and other US and Saudi-backed jihadists and does the same in Syria too. The lowering demographics among Christians in Lebanon is due to lower Christian birthrate, higher muslim birthrate and higher immigration among Christians in Lebanon for the past 4 decades.
gravenimage says
No, the crushing of Christian Lebanon was *not* a good thing.
And Christians in Lebanon often have to throw support to Hizb’allah–opposing them can get you killed. The claim that Hizb’allah was formed to protect Christians is quite absurd.
And I will ask you again to say *anything* critical of Hizb’allah’s constant attacks on Israel–but I won’t be holding my breath expecting a response.
gravenimage says
Germany: Islamic center raises money for jihad terror group Hizballah
…………………….
What–a Mosque raising money for Jihad terrorists? Say it ain’t so! sarc/off
christianblood says
gravenimage
Why focus on a Shiite center raising funds for Hezbollah which is a Shiite resistance militia when Trump and the US government has just resumed funding Al-Qaeda PR group also known as the “White Helmets” in Syria??? What a Duplicitous Hypocrisy!
Don’t you think US government funding Al-Qaeda with millions of dollars is a big deal?
See it below:
http://theduran.com/trump-resumes-funding-for-white-helmets/
gravenimage says
Oh, good God–no, wiping out Israel is not “resistance”.
And, as I have noted, I oppose *all* Jihad and Shari’ah–I don’t make excuses for them persecuting Christians or slaughtering Jews as Christianblood does.
Japetto Danatelli says
Thinking that an islamic center might be supporting terror is about as simple a deduction that a strip joint might have drinking and dirty dancing. I mean, c’mon, let’s not be stupid about this. These centers and mosques are like the huddle in a football game, it’s where all the strategy and effort is planned and coordinated. It’s where the funds are collected, the motivating ideology is preached, where their camaraderie is strengthened. Architecturally these buildings are a brick & mortar testament to their swelling hegemony and coming supremacy, their call to prayer a humiliating reminder of our subservience. How many mosques have been caught with weapons and bombs? How many have been caught teaching supremacist and hateful ideas against us “infidels”? far too many. Erdogan of Turkey said it best, “The mosques are our barracks, the domes our helmets, the minarets our bayonets and the faithful our soldiers….” If we ignore the not-so-hidden meaning of these snake dens with Arabic writing then we’re ignoring the bullseye in the islamic target. These meeting centers should be under the closest scrutiny, as they openly declare seditious and murderous ideas as their sacred truth above all else. Their manual for living is an active threat against our nation and her people. Muslims are sowing the seeds of our destruction right under our noses and the left is helping them like master carpenters building a house. Anyone who has one of these scary places near their home should be scratching their chin with concern and suspicion. Because the little good that comes out of them is nothing compared to the evils they teach and promote against our freedoms, safety, and cultural well-being.
somehistory says
Well, this is like the “holy land foundation” that operated in Texas and was prosecuted in 2008 for funding hamas…and had members who are now members of cair…those that weren’t put in prison.
Wherever they are, they work to terrorize those who refuse to bow to the beast. With money, drug deals that fund it, Friday meetings to ‘prey, …so many ways to create terror; all with the goal of forcing the people of earth to serve satan and his wild beast.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
welligton, your mean fascist evil Zionist state of Israel’s freedom to carry out genocide killings of Palestinians and plots against all Muslims? To hell with fascist evil Zionist freedom together with Satan in yahweh and his wife Ashera hero gods
gravenimage says
Israel is defending against Jihad.
Ibrahim itace muhammed himself has said that the he wants to see the destruction of civilized Israel and personally take part in the genocide of the Jews.
infidel says
Another Islamic TRUISM from the infidel:
Does not matter a bit, even if U are the greatest fan of this Muslim sports star or entertainment star..Does not matter that U may have giant cutouts of him in Ur bedroom or even Ur loo….. HE WILL ALWAYS CONTRIBUTE TO ZAKAT.. AND ZAKAT ALMOST ALWAYS COMES BACK TO HAUNT U IN THE FORM OF JEHAAD….
MORAL OF THE STORY .. Do not deal with Muslims in any form or manner…Do not transact any business with them..
infidel says
I forgot to add: Does not matter even if the Muslim superstar is an angel in his behavior.. BUT AS LONG AS HE IS A MUSLIM, HE WILL GIVE ZAKAT…AND ZAKAT MEANS HELL FOR INFIDELS AND THE INFIDEL HOST NATION…
It should be made MANDATORY of all Muslims living in host infidel nations TO NOT GIVE ZAKAT..It should be STRICTLY MONITORED..
The European says
To gravenimage
“Inter arma silent leges!”
And I may add: moral standards are very low in wartimes; In times of war people are doing very bad things which are morally unjustifiable. Dropping atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima was immoral – no matter for what reason the American government decided to do it. Period!
When this stupid and totally uneducated and unreferenced JayBoo is making inappropriate remarks about German companies making business deals with Iranians, you remain silent, but when I pay him back in his own coin, this is anti-American calumny. You are operating a double standard, gravenimage.
By the way, I also hope that this Islamic centre will be shut down, as much as I hope that the government will finally crack down on all these mosques and Islamic associations which are funded by either Saudi-Arabia or the Turkish regime.
gravenimage says
The European wrote:
To gravenimage
“Inter arma silent leges!”
………………………
I have never claimed to the be the law–I’m not sure how this is salient here.
More:
And I may add: moral standards are very low in wartimes; In times of war people are doing very bad things which are morally unjustifiable. Dropping atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima was immoral – no matter for what reason the American government decided to do it. Period!
………………………
I don’t think that a land invasion of Japan would have been better–it would certainly have claimed more lives, including more Japanese lives–and bowing to Fascism would have have been *even worse*.
More:
When this stupid and totally uneducated and unreferenced JayBoo is making inappropriate remarks about German companies making business deals with Iranians, you remain silent, but when I pay him back in his own coin, this is anti-American calumny. You are operating a double standard, gravenimage.
………………………
Well, this is true–I disagree with Jay Boo that it is likely that German business people are making Holocaust jokes with Iranians, and I should have said so.
But Jay Boo is hardly uneducated–he is a staunch Anti-Jihadist here.
And I notice that you appear to have *no* problems with Germany making business deals with the sanguinary Islamic Republic of Iran–I think that *any* countries in the West dealing with any of these Shari’ah states is a *very* bad idea–including the US dealing with Saudi Arabia or Pakistan.
More:
By the way, I also hope that this Islamic centre will be shut down, as much as I hope that the government will finally crack down on all these mosques and Islamic associations which are funded by either Saudi-Arabia or the Turkish regime.
………………………
I agree entirely with your points here.
Ibrahim itace muhammed says
Ignorant liar Gravenimage, Lebanon has never been mithraist christian majority country .Muslims have been 60% majority ruled by less than 40% Christian minority due to sectarian division among Muslims. such domination by mithraist Christian minority was resisted and compromise was reached that Muslim shall be the Prime Minister and Christian as ceremonial president.
gravenimage says
The repulsive Ibrahim itace muhammed wrote:
Ignorant liar Gravenimage, Lebanon has never been mithraist christian majority country .Muslims have been 60% majority ruled by less than 40% Christian minority due to sectarian division among Muslims. such domination by mithraist Christian minority was resisted and compromise was reached that Muslim shall be the Prime Minister and Christian as ceremonial president.
……………………………
Lebanon–like the entire Levant–was majority Christian before the Muslim invasion.
But Lebanon was also majority Christian until well into the modern era–the nation was found to be over half Christian in the last official census.
That changed in the early 1970s, when the nation foolishly invited in “Palestinian” Muslims. They soon attacked the native Lebanese, turning Beirut from the “Paris of the Levant” to a watchword for violence and chaos.
The idea that Christians oppressed a larger Muslim population there is just ludicrous calumny, and the idea of destroying the country being “resistance” is grotesque.
Also, notice his characterization of a Muslim being the Prime Minister and a Christian as ceremonial president as a “compromise”. Of course, “ceremonial” means powerless.
The European says
To Wellington
Here we go again.
The European’s “Moral deficiency”
Your baseless remarks about the oral deficieny and your German-bashing makes me sick, too, Wellington. You once told me that you had German ancestry. Well, if German blood is running through your veins, you share their moral deficiency, too. So, welcome to the club, Wellington. Ha,ha,ha! I think that your regular remarks about this alleged “moral deficieny of Germans” is nothing but self-loathing, like so many Germans in my country who think they must hate everything German and germanhood because this megalomaniac Austrian bum called Hitler had millions of Jews killed.
Calumny of America.
Once and for all, Wellington: I don’t hate the American people, but I am very critical of American foreign policy. That is a huge difference.
When Trump became president of the US, I was happy for you, because I thought: “Hey, there is a man who stands behind his nation and who has the right opinion on mass immigration and Islam.” But then I saw his dealings with Saudi-Arabia, the most successful purveyor of radical Islam worldwide, and I asked myself: “How serious is this guy about Islam?” Sure, for the time being, the Saudis might be less of a threat to Israel than the Iranian Mullah Regime, but Islam is Islam, and Islamic anti-Judaism in Saudi-Arabia is as widespread as it is in Iran or in any other Muslim country. And the approach of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend,” is highly questionable.
I think that the NATO-bombing of Serbia had been a mistake, as much as the war on Iraq had been a mistake, but that is another topic.
Again, criticism of American foreign policy is not calumny of America, and I hope that a person who pretends to be educated, like you do, can see the difference and will stop using slanderous language against me.
Wellington says
It’s not a blood or biological issue, The European. It’s a cultural matter. There is a huge difference between Germans and German-Americans because of the worldview being so different, the two countries having such different priorities and perspectives. It’s just dumb to think it is some physiological matter and I have never meant it in that sense.
As for criticism of American foreign policy, hell I do it sometimes. But your criticism I find excessive and sometimes just plain wrong. No American President at this point in time can shun the entire Islamic world. Trump is using Saudi Arabia (which is indeed a despicable country, here I don’t think we would disagree) as a wedge against Iran, much as we aligned with Stalin in WWII against Hitler. C’mon. You can’t be so naive to think that you should never engage in Realpolitik. During the Cold War America’s chief goal was first containing, then defeating Communism. But this meant sometimes having to ally with unsavory characters like Marcos in the Philippines and the Somoza family in Nicaragua. As FDR said when told that one of our allies in Latin America was a dictator, his response was, “Yeah, he’s an SOB but he’s our SOB.” Welcome to the real world, The European.
As for Serbia and Iraq, I think America did the right thing in both instances. Let me explain. Respecting Serbia, the break-up of Yugoslavia began in 1991 and and in eight years there were four wars and loads of bloodshed, with no side innocent in this break-up. Both Bush 41 then Clinton said that this was Europe’s problem and we were staying out of this mess in the Balkans. Well, Europe, the UN and Russia didn’t solve the problem and it kept getting worse and worse with many European countries, especially those close by to the former Yugoslavia (examples being Italy, Austria and Hungary) desperately asking the US to intervene for demographic reasons, market reasons, overall stability reasons, etc. In fact, the US was blamed for NOT intervening (I wonder if you remember this). Finally, Clinton in 1999 bombed Serbia to send a message to all that active warfare had to stop as well as the mass killing. The bombing accomplished this goal. Thereafter, a kind of lesser conflict ensued but the outright wars and much of the killings stopped. So, there were two stages to the break-up of Yugoslavia—1) 1991-1999 when four wars and mass murders occurred and Europe was in panic mode about this; 2) 1999 onwards when things quieted down a fair amount and, yes, killings and other crimes continued but it was nothing like the Nineties. It was low level enough that the rest of Europe could relax and all this occurred BECAUSE of the American bombing in 1999. America was criticized for doing nothing about the mess in former Yugoslavia in the Nineties and then when it did something, which I think accomplished what I just wrote it did, it was blamed for bombing Serbia. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. This is a feature of being the major power in the world going the whole way back to ancient times. For the record, I’m sorry the Serbs were made the scapegoat in this “incident” but someone had to be and I was definitely against the recognition by America of an independent Kosovo; I said so at the time and still do. Here America did make a mistake.
Respecting Iraq, Bush 43 had to take out the megalomaniac, Saddam Hussein, who was out of control, not abiding by the terms of the 1991 truce that caused the cessation of the Gulf War (e.g., firing on British and American jets almost daily flying over the two no-fly zones in Iraq) and he gave every impression that he was hiding WMDs and not coming clean about them—-every major intelligence agency on the planet thought he still had them. No President could leave such a person in power after 9/11. Where Bush made a significant mistake was in his thinking he could implant democracy in Iraq. No Muslim country can have true democracy. Bush should have kept the Iraqi Army in tact and selected from its officer corps a Mubarak type (ideally if possible an Ataturk type) who would run Iraq with an iron, though not sadistic a la SH, hand. This is where Bush erred and not in taking out SH.
Well, I hope I have cleared up a few matters here. Perhaps we are closer in our viewpoints than each of us thought. I would like to think so. Know though that I look upon America as the best guarantor in all the world for world stability. Sure we’re going to make mistakes at times but we were the decisive factor in WWII (the German General staff said as much), the decisive factor in WWII (yes Britain was valiant and the Russians were fearless but without America coming into the war who would have stopped the Japanese and without America in the European theatre matters would almost certainly have turned out much differently. Then we won WWIII, the Cold War, and we remain to this day the decisive factor in the world. As Mark Steyn, a Canadian, has said, ” A world without America would be a world that would be subject to the tyrants of the earth.” So true even with a boneheaded mistake by America now and then.
Wellington says
“…..decisive factor in WWI…” and not “decisive factor in WWII…”
The European says
“War is the sum of all evils wrapped up in one.”
Wars are expensive, their Outcome is often very uncertain, everyone who engages in warfare gets his Hands dirty, and the human loss is terrible.
But, sometimes , wars are unavoidable, but it requires a lot of wisdom and Knowledge to know whether it is necessary or not.
Yugoslavia
After the downfall of communism, dormant ethnic and religious conflicts between Serbs, Croats and Muslims flared up as the yougoslavian state, already weakened by an economic crisis, fell apart. Muslim against Serb, Serb against Croat, Croat against Muslim, a war of everyone against everyone, a terrible mess, impossible to say who was right and who was wrong. But this war had to stop, Russia and the EU couldn’t achieve this, and that’s where the Americans came in. In 1995 Itzetbegovic (Muslim Bosniaks), Tudjman (Croatia) and Milisevic signed a peace treaty ( Dayton, Richard Holbrooke…) and the war was over. End of the story?
No. In 1998 there was another war. The KLA and other armed roups had started a secessionist war against Serbia. Kosovo was an autonomous province of Serbia and the heartland of Serbian culture. The Muslims of Kosovo which were numerically superior to the Serbs wanted to take something which was not theirs. Sure, Serbia fought back, Albanian Kosovars were deported, but hese Muslim villagers were often hostile to Serbia, they engaged in sabatoge, they gave shelter to KLA-fighters and supported them. These measures were necessary, any government threatened with secession would have acted likewise.But what did the EU and the US? Demonizing Milosevic and the Serbs, accusing them of “genocide” and marketing their military engagement as “humanitarian war”, they sided with the Muslims, destroyed much of Serbia’s infrastructure and industry, killed thousands and helped Kosovars “create” their Muslim shithole. That was a very bad idea, indeed.
Saddam Hussein.
He was useful as long as he fought against Iran, and every Western nation -France, Germany, the US- contributed largely to his military built-up. He became dangerous when he coveted countries like Kuwait and Saudi-Arabia. Oil is the lifeblood of Western civilization, and a megalomaniac madman like SH being in control of the oilfields would have been disastrous for us. So, yes, war was necessary to keep him at bay. But once his military capabilities were destroyed, he did not pose a threat any longer.
He had no WMD, no nuclear arms, and he was no longer capable of invading his neighbours.
Sure, he was not your SOB anymore, but this son of a bitch couldn’t be harmful to the West either. So why go to war with him? Democracy and freedom for the Iraqi people? As you have said, democracy and freedom means nothing to Muslims, they don’t even understand the concept. Links with al_Qaeda? No links found!
International military interventions
I think the UN is the place where military interventions must be decided upon. I favour the rule of international law, the UN-Charta and UN-led missions. When the US went to war in 2003 they had no mandate from the UN, and they were in breach of the UN-Charta which forbids offensive wars. I think the US can be a defender of the good cause, but it must act within the framework of international law and UN resolutions.
Why
Wellington says
Counting on the UN (Useless Nations) is a fool’s errand. Besides, as Robert Spencer and many others have noted numerous times, the UN is now controlled by the OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) just as during the Cold War it was controlled by the Communist Eastern Bloc.
I find it quite telling that you want to rely upon such a wretched international body as the UN. Its Human Rights Commission is a farce. The UN has passed Resolution 16/18 which would, in effect, criminalize criticism of religion. It demonizes Israel on a regular basis And so on. I would like to see the US pull out of the UN completely because it is essentially an organization where representatives of authoritarian regimes come to lecture representatives of democratic regimes on what they’re doing wrong.
Rolf Wittwer says
Merkelanistans Medias keeping silent – as usual..
Brian hoff says
In world war 2 Swissland as than neutral country gave nazie germany aidd in ww2 without the allied saying of do nothing. Swissland was the cental point for grathering intelligent and operating base for mission against the axis.The swissland gave OS active help as they did the nazie. So in major war odd alliance are form.