[Rhodes22-list] We're all Jews Now?

[DCLewis1 at aol.com]

In a message dated 7/24/2006 9:46:31 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
robert at squirrelhaven.com writes:

rhetoric  that is only recently
being vocally disavowed by the majority if Islamic  faithful around
the world.




Robert,
 
I've been trying to stay out of these political exchanges, trying to limit  
my board time, but I can't let your statement above pass.  I frankly don't  see 
the majority of Islamic faithful around the world disavowing anything very  
much, what I see passes for smug smiles when it comes to the travails of  
seculars/Christians/Jews/Hindus brought by muslim terrorists.  I'd  appreciate 
anyone challenging that perception; it's not a happy one.
 
Those smug smiles extend to the US muslim community.  I don't recall a  large 
and loud public condemnation of al Quaida and it's tactics in the US  by the 
US muslim community, maybe I missed it.  I did hear a lot of  protestations of 
innocence and expressions regarding the need for tolerance (a  remarkably 
non-muslim characteristic) and due process - but that's  different.  Nor do I 
recall any muslim nation doing anything constructive  regarding terrorism except 
as the US paid them (e.g. Pakistan) or except as  the terrorists explicitly 
attacked the ruling government, in which case it  was the government responding 
to protect itself not a response from  the muslim majority of that country.  
I'm inclined to the  we(everybody but muslims)/they(muslim majority) point of 
view.
 
If I'm right, it says a lot about the wisdom of investing US military  
resources to protect muslims from Serbs in Bosnia - freeing up muslim  fighters to 
attack us in Afghanistan and Iraq.  It says instituting  democracy is a crock, 
because it just provides a venue for "the people" to  elect terrorists and 
radical clerics to their government - which is what has  happened in Lebanon and 
Iraq.  It says that the problem is not bin Laden,  rather the problem is bin 
Laden and most of Pakistan, all of Yemen, minimum  half of Saudi Arabia, most 
of Iraq, all of Iran, all of Syria, etc.  It  says that a secular strong-man 
running Egypt is a lot better for US interests  than a democracy/theocracy 
staffed with radical clerics.   I don't see  a lot of evidence that the majority of 
muslims world wide are on our side on the  terrorist issue - US punditry 
notwithstanding.
 
As for Iran's nuclear program, if it is truly a threat - as opposed to yet  
another US intelligence fiasco - I'm sure Israel will deal with it.  IMO  they 
are very capable. They are also explicitly threatened by the  Iranian program 
so their dealing with the issue would be appropriate.  
 
JMO
 
Dave