Malkin's Offensive New Feature: 'Stuff Muslims Don’t Like'
Friday, May 9, 2008 at 10:12AM Michelle Malkin’s appalling new series on her blog, Stuff Muslims Don’t Like: A new feature, is inflammatory, insulting and ignorant. My husband is a MSG in the Army and a Religious Leader Engagement subject matter expert in the war on terror, particularly relating to Iraq, and he is equally appalled. She justifies her series by comparing it to a blog called Stuff White People Like:
“Of course, Stuff Muslims Don’t Like doesn’t purport to characterize the entire Muslim population anymore than Stuff White People Like purports to characterize the entire population of white people. It’s a look at predictable predilictions, proclivities, and trends.”
Sure it doesn’t, Michelle. She makes no distinction between an entire population and whoever her swipes are intended for. Her flawed analogy doesn’t consider that Islam is a religion, not a race.
What’s worse is her comment section. The ignoramuses posting their have listed these examples of Stuff Muslims Don’t Like:
God (and all He stands for).
The United States of America
The Armed Forces of The USA
Out - respect and love for family
In - killing your daughters because they “shamed” you by having boyfriends
Grilled pork chops and chardonnay.
Daylight Savings Call to Prayer
Truth, Justice and the American Way!
Bathing…above the ankles.
People who think for themselves.
Women (in general)
and God forbid that they should see a woman bodybuilder!!
Learning how to land a plane.
Good hygiene
Unbelievable. It goes on with comments of blathering ignorance of proportions that make me shudder. Do Malkin readers hold those views toward this man and his son? Or these Muslim women who are laying down their lives for their country? How about this man? Or these blind children and their amazing teacher? They’re Muslim, too. How about this Muslim who teaches children that the United States is their friend? Or this man and his son? Or these Muslims who reached out to the Vatican in a gesture of unity and peace? How about this Iraqi volunteer who saved U.S. troops and civilians by throwing himself on a suicide bomber?
Funny, because I thought she and her readers typically praise these Muslims, despite the fact that they don’t bathe and don’t like “God and all he stands for.” FOOLS!
What if her feature were a What Catholics Don’t Like? What Philippino-American Women Don’t Like? What Mormons Don’t Like?
Malkin and her commenters ought to be ashamed of themselves. They say they support the war efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq but systematically insult the allies GEN Petraeus and our troops are making on the ground in the combat zone. Their words are as poisonous as any Democrat’s who continue to call Iraqis too lazy to fight for their own country. While politicians like Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich argue that a U.S. presence in the Middle East in and of itself has provoked Muslim nations to take aim at U.S. interests around the globe, it is sentiments like Michelle Malkin’s that make it more difficult for Muslims to want U.S. soldiers on their soil. If these people are the friends of the troops, who needs enemies?
I realize it’s easier to paint a broad stroke of Islam because it is a very complicated religion and that I have turned off some of my readers defending Muslims, but this isn’t about condoning Islamic theology, it is about condemning Islamic apostates and heretics like Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda and defeating terrorism. I don’t condone Mormonism but I love Mitt Romney. See how that works?
It boils down to this: Do we want to win the war or not? Do we want to defeat terrorism or not? Do we want world peace or not? If we do, we must stop flaunting our enormous cultural and religious ignorance and arrogance before it’s too late.
PREVIOUSLY:
GEN Petraeus on Relationships (including with Muslims, who want the same things we want)
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Amy Proctor
‘Jihadist’ among words struck from official lexicon
WASHINGTON | Don’t call them jihadists any more.
And don’t call al-Qaida a movement.
The Bush administration has launched a new front in the war on terrorism, this time targeting language.
Federal agencies, including the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, are telling their employees not to describe Islamic extremists as “jihadists” or “mujahideen,” according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. Lingo like “Islamo-fascism” is out, too.
The reason: Such words may boost support for radicals among Arab and Muslim audiences by giving them a veneer of religious credibility or by offending moderates.
For example, while Americans may understand “jihad” to mean “holy war,” it is in fact a broader Islamic concept of the struggle to do good, says the guidance prepared for diplomats and other officials tasked with explaining the war on terror to the public. Similarly, “mujahideen,” which means those engaged in jihad, must be seen in its broader context.
U.S. officials may be “unintentionally portraying terrorists, who lack moral and religious legitimacy, as brave fighters, legitimate soldiers or spokesmen for ordinary Muslims,” said a Homeland Security report titled “Terminology to Define the Terrorists: Recommendations from American Muslims.”
“Regarding ‘jihad,’ even if it is accurate to reference the term, it may not be strategic because it glamorizes terrorism, imbues terrorists with religious authority they do not have and damages relations with Muslims around the world,” the report says.
(Awaiting unclassified versions of Words that Work and Words that Don’t: A Guide for Counterterrorism Communication from the CounterTerrorism Communications Center and Terminology to Define the Terrorists by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
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Reader Comments (48)
amy p,
well said, Its Muslims who are the key to a US victory in the Middle East.
Well said to you, robert. You said in one sentence what took me several paragraphs. Kudos.
Great post, Amy! I couldn't agree more.
Great post, Amy! And I COULD agree more!
It amazes me how people I have seen as important voices on my side can also be so blind to the damage that they do, and the bigotry that they stir up and pour gasoline on. They are doing al-Qaeda a favor, as Zawahiri and bin Laden have unsuccessfully tried to rally the Muslim world to stand together against the U.S., claiming Muslims are being persecuted by the West. Influential voices like Malkin are only giving the enemy validity to their propaganda.....transforming propaganda into a sliver of truth.
Here's a present for you Amy, by way of Michael Totten, an excerpt:
Will probably piece together a post, soon, tying in your post here.
Well, you probably wouldn't like my http://tiny.cc/8CYK5 any better.
Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter etc etc etc, are concerned about one thing and one thing only, its called "ATTENTION". With attention comes fame and fortune. One is only giving them credibility by addressing this type of nonsense. Otherwise, they could be described as nothing more than useless pieces of walking flesh, for lack of an understatement. It is an unfortunate shame that people are willing to sacrifice their dignity for $$$.
I, like you Amy think it's not fair to generalise the general muslim population with remarks like hers. We wouldn't like it being done to us as we are all individual people, not everyone over there feels and thinks the same way.
Great stuff, wordsmith. Very insightful.
Mavic, I'm not sure you can judge anyone's motives. I disagree that Malkin (in particular) wrote her feature to get attention. There's no way to support that argument.
I believe conservatives box themselves into a corner about Islam out of a defensive posture because liberals defend terrorists. By that I mean their rhetoric, calling them freedom fighters, blatantly opposing U.S. endeavors in Muslim countries, etc. encourages terrorists to continue the fight against the west. The Homeland Security document, which I hope will be unclassified soon, talks about this very phenomenon.
In essence, whatever liberals are for, Malkin/Coulter feel like they most oppose. Unfortunately, they gain confidence in the persecution of their actions/words and hunker down even further, rejecting calls to rethink their characterizations as appeasement, which it is not. It has gotten to the point where any criticism of her comments against Muslims, including in my entry, she wears as a badge of honor not realizing that she is doing damage to the War on Terror and the fight against terrorists.
I wonder if Malkin et al think GEN Petraeus, who they rightly hold up as a hero and a genius, would agree with her sentiments. People who work with Muslims or have any experience with more than just a handful know, as Amy F pointed out, that you cannot generalize an entire religion-population.
I'd suggest that Mavic's ignorant comments, referring to Malkin or anyone else for that matter, as "useless pieces of walking flesh", are as bad as what goes on at Malkin's site. Good going, Mavic. You have become what you despise.
i won't reveal my thoughts on the post but only say, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to each of you lovely ladies and loving mothers.
,
How about things Islamo-Facists do not like:
1. freedom.
2.womens rights
3. free press
4.women in school
5. every other religon including Muslims who do not follow their code
6. democracy
7.USA
8. women school teachers
9. elections
10. Israel
11. etc.
You get the point and I think this could be usefull and funny and its what Malkin should have done.
Read the update, Amy. I consider that good news. And anyone who considers it equivalent to "not naming the enemy" due to political correctness, like the British press referencing "bombers", rather than Islamic terrorism, just doesn't understand the whole "counter-insurgency/winning hearts" and minds strategy.
Bravo, Amy. Inflammatory stuff like Michelle's would only make the fight against terrorism harder.
Here's the Terminology to Define the Terrorists: Recommendations from American Muslims (pdf). Interesting read....it's like they've been reading your blog and/or listening to Johnny. (^_~)
wordsmith, that document is still classified so even though its on the net, I'm going to delete it from your comment.
Not sure what to think about this post. In someways I can understand peoples frustrations. Though I'd not participate in this behavior because it makes "US" Look stupid in Rednecked!
Better yet though.... why not just get out and take care of our own needs and dependence's. Leave them to their little sand castles, because long protracted wars are only recipe for lose and less security. Yet we never see that here. 5 plus years of supposed progress and "we are making inroads" "Things are better" all said here. Yet we all wonder????
Propaganda machine! Are you being paid?
It takes about 4-5 years to graduate from college. How long were you expecting it to take to rebuild Iraq after living 30+ years under the brutality of Saddam and his sons, and in the midst of those fomenting chaos to derail the rebuilding process?
Point being is that we were never supposed to be re-building a country wordsmith... Their oil was supposed to pay for the rebuilding... LIES, LIES, & MORE LIES..... Gulf of Tonkin did not teach the general population in the US a stinking thing!!!
Great thoughts dtodeen!!
Patience is a virtue, and some have more of it than others. Ann Coulter and Michelle Malkin are the type of people who draw scrupulous lines in the sand and woe to those who cross over these lines. Ann and Michelle are for the most part careful upon whom and to what they will pour their caustic and sardonic wit upon.
From hajibs on our Laura to genital mutilation to honor killings, suicide bombings, 9-11, Iranian mullahs talk of nuking Israel, Islamic footbaths in colleges, screaming your prayers to Allah in airport terminals before boarding your plane, ... it all adds up and it's soon coming to a neighborhood near you good folks to deal with on a daily basis ..., and there are those such as our Amy P who can tolerate hearing of still one more, and then another serving of Islamic idiocy from today's news source, and then say another prayer to assuage their feelings of helplessness. Others like Ann and Michelle cannot sit still and patiently wait and pray and perhaps they seek relief from their own feelings of helplessness by entertaining themselves with an occasional column of ridicule. Yes, better were they to go for the jugular and attack the premise that the words and thoughts generated from the Qu'ran are not from the same Creator God as the one that gave Jesus the power of volition to perform miracles, and perhaps someday Ann and Michelle, and the next elected administration of ours, and Hollywood and New York studios would also begin to portray the lunacy emanating from the Qu'ran so that the masses would equate Islam with Mayan and Incan religious rituals and thought, perhaps someday a Western ideological warfront will be initiated, but for now we all simply wait for the tide to turn.
Ann and Michelle types want the Islamist threats to go away yesterday, and their words seem like bullets and bombs to those not necessarily the enemy. Others are more patient, and their words are ...? their words are not bullets and bombs to those who may not necessarily be the enemy. So it goes.
For the recored I condone Malkin and her lame attempts at humor. I find it destructive. Bad politics have been our wronging. Fight to win and lets get her done. I always supported the invasion. I am tired of the ongoing comedy. Amy needs to fight the fight, and quit making up stories of progress. It's not happening and may never. Now we get Iran to deal with because of no foresight.
dtodeen, I'm not sure what to make of your comments. You condemn or condone Malkin's attempt at humor? You seem to flip from supporting the war effort and then go on to say I'm making up stories of progress? I'm not sure what you're saying here.
Kurt, I'm not tolerating bad religion. I condemn bad religion. I also condemn Malkin's interference in the PR department. She has a relatively high profile and needs to be more careful about who she puts down, especially if she's going to do so in ignorance.
dtodeen, wordsmith is right: it takes the average college kid 4-5 years to earn a degree to be proficient in a particular field. How long do you think it takes to create an entire military and government from scratch? It takes Iraqi officers 3 years of training before they can join the force.
Make up your mind if you want to support the effort or not. This getting back on and off the pot is confusing.
PRECISION IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR:
INCITING MUSLIMS THROUGH THE WAR OF IDEAS
Dr. Sherifa Zuhur
http://www.strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pdffiles/PUB843.pdf
What I meant was some people handle bad news reports better than others. Since the 1960's these Islamist's have been hijacking and bombing aircraft. To think only now in 2008 has the source instigating the behavior become recognized and focused upon at the Federal level. And even now, it's like when President Jackson (?) invited some native American Indians to the White House, trying to be friendly and social, we're all equal type of frame of mind he had. It didn't work then and it won't work now. The Islamic mentality is incompatible with Western mores and folkways, and there is no concievable way the intentions of the Creator God, the Big Guy who gave Jesus that power to think and perform miracles is contained in the words and thoughts generated by that dumb book of theirs.
The jugular of Islam is the belief that the words and thoughts generated from the Qu'ran are from the Big Guy. There are already a few hunters who want that Beast off the Earth. First one(s) close enough to do the coup de grace are famous, and written about in future history books as heroes. People like Ann and Michelle have an excellent command of the english language, they just need to smarten up, get organized and get serious ...
Islam won't be around a thousand years from now. Basically it's demise is inevitable and destined once the challenge to do so becomes more recognized by others.
Mr. Hanson, no Abrahamic faith can possibly perish from the face of the earth. Muslims adore the one true God as do Jews and Christians.
It is foolish to launch a polemical war against Islam while we have troops pitched in the field in defense of Islamic peoples. In fact, it places them in greater danger by emboldening the enemies of America.
There is no peaceful scenario of any kind that does not include partnerships between the US and Muslim nations.
DELETED
STLis the best wrote:
Gee, I thought it was that we were supposedly there to steal the Iraqi oil?You're right: we were never supposed to be "occupiers". The original plan from the White House and Pentagon was a model similar to Afghanistan, where we handed the reigns over to an interim government right away. Paul Bremer listened to State and CIA, who had different ideas on how to handle post-war Iraq from the plan put forth by the Bush Administration.
dtodeen wrote:
From what I've heard, the possibility of Iranian interference was predicted.
Think of all the things that were anticipated to happen, that didn't come to pass.
People have such unrealistic expectations, I don't know how we made it through the Normandy Invasion without heads rolling and partisan sniping derailing the war effort. I suppose it's because this war has become a partisan war.
Clearly Amy after all we've seen even you can't report all the little "progress" as a step to the final solution? Yet, there is no end in site. Now even though you so easily paint people who dare argue a different POV as less enlightened as yourself......it is obvious, even as much as you try, Americans want clear cut victories and protraction of any military conflict is indeed not in our best interest as a nation. Sadly, a almost great President will go down as the worst because he failed to make a battle plan to defeat the lovelies you so clearly have placed your faith AND REPUTATION ON. I will not place such false trust in these same peoples.
You are risking my families and yours in a failed operation and a failed untrusting uncooperative people who so easily were manipulated for 50 years by nothing more then a man fearing anal rape from America soldiers and getting aids. Yes, these people I will trust for my families future. Dear Lord. Even with a husband in theater you can't be that easily locked into this position you've beat into anyone watching your thoughts.
One little example of failure.....but understandable because we are invaded daily, is the securing of all Iraqi borders. No doubt a failure so easily predicted except by Rumsfeld who demand a speedy little force. Who cares if Jihad Johnny flooded the country giving those Iraqi people you trust another possible choice as option.
Just another quick mistake from a old grunt wh has fired his weapon in fear of a Iraqi shooting him first! (me) According to Gunny John who sat in downtown Baghdad after fighting all the way to Central Baghdad..when the rioting started it was clear Rumsfeld had no answer.
Sorry for having to rehash the past but these failures have led us to what irritates the less enlightened. Remember grunts know nothing!
I agree with 100% on this issue, Amy. I believe you are 10 times the person Michelle Malkin is. Your intelligence and sensitivity shine through. I disagree with you when it comes to many topics but you are dead on when it come to this one. Good for you.
the trouble with Michelle Malkin is that success seems to have gone to her head. Perhaps she thinks her success means that anything out of her mouth will be both insightful and funny.2 seconds of thought would have suggested otherwise.
But the other points above are relevant too. I will go further and say that we should have been doing the work your husband is doing when the war started. Col Tim Collins of the Royal Irish Regiment tried and got a phoney war crime accusation lodged against him by an over weight Army Reservist (Re Biastre) who thought handing out lollypops to kids would cut through years of resentment and misunderstanding.
So sorry, Michelle is wrong, but she just parroting the 2003 US approach.
Wordsmith, I am glad you can realize the issue of PAYING for this war. Bravo! But what you or anybody else can't do (but they do it all the time...) is compare this operation to the likes of WWII... That makes me so ill every time I hear it because it is ABSOLUTELY FALSE!!!
Americans were behind WWII because Hitler had taken over just about... ALL OF FREAKIN WESTERN EUROPE!!! saddam, was boxed in and unable to invade anybody! Yes, he invaded a tiny little piece of land called Kuwait back in the 90's but had NO capability to do the same now........ So how can people compare this junk to WWII is way beyond me.
Ok, so for all of yall that want to keep pumping this issue as such a valiant effort chime in and give some answers...
1. WHat standing army are we fighting?
answer: none
2. What is the mission?
answer: accomplished a long time ago according to Bush but I believe it is now to make a safe and secure Iraq... But how do you do that when there has been nothing but fight in that region FOREVER...
3. What determines when the mission is accomplished?
answer: They can't even say so there is no answer
4. How much of your money are you willing to spend to see iraqi's have a good life while Americans are having one of their worst times ever?
answer: if you are logical and not caught up in the drama... $0 about that much is appropriate. Anything else you are just plain old dumb!!
5. How many of the AMERICAN people are behind this operation? You know to win hearts and minds and to free a people?
answer:Well the numbers are just a bit in favor of GETTING THE HECK OUT OF THERE... Say like at a minimum of 70%. So I guess you can say that a vast MAJORITY of AMERICANS could care less about the little untrainable iraqis and how well they are doing....
Those simple questions alone tell you what is wrong with this whole thing and you people know it! It disgusts me that SOME not ALL people with military families or friends will not speak up when they know this is not right! I understand trying to support people and I am in no way implying anything bad on our forces. Instead it is against this government who has pulled the biggest CON job on the American citizens!!!! They have sold us out over the last 8 years and they ALL DESERVE TO BE GONE REGARDLESS OF PARTY AFFILIATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Liberal, whatever else.... It is not that simple people!! Seriously stop selling out your own and start worrying about AMERICA and not others!!
1. WHat standing army are we fighting?
-Was the IRA a "standing army" or a terrorist group? They were the latter. It's not the U.S.'s fault al-Qaeda et al won't wear a uniform because they know we'll kick their butts.
2. What is the mission?
-to take out Saddam (check) and his heirs to the throne (check), to make sure Iraq doesen't develop WMD (check) and to rebuild infrustructure and an independent Iraqi government that can defend itself from enemies foreign and domestic (almost check)
3. What determines when the mission is accomplished?
-The ability of Iraq to defend itself and provide for it's own people. As U.S. troop levels decrease it'll be clear.
4. How much of your money are you willing to spend to see iraqi's have a good life while Americans are having one of their worst times ever?
We spend less than 1% of our GDP on Iraq. I think human life is worth investing in. Check your history. Unemployment is around 4 1/2 percent. Hardly "one of the worst times ever".
5. How many of the AMERICAN people are behind this operation? You know to win hearts and minds and to free a people?
You mean Americans at the Mall or Americans in the war? I'll refer you to the military reenlistment and recruitment stats for April and you can do the math yourself.
Are you people clear yet that I'm serious about enforcing the Rules of Engagement?
kris, the approach in 2003-beginning 2004 was the right approach. Militarily, not the State Department's bungling of things like Paul Bremmer's firing the Iraqi Army, delaying payments, etc, but the COIN strategy that the 82nd Airborne Div. was doing, as were many other units. When those first units came home in 2004, GEN Sanchez and others either sincerely thought, or caved to policial pressure to minimize casualties, that pulling troops back into the super-FOBs (Foward Operating Bases) and off the streets living with Iraqis would hasten victory. It did the opposite. Lesson 101 of counterinsurgency: no security, no victory. There could be no winning hearts and minds while we left Iraqis to fend for themselves against al-Qaeda and the insurgency as troops retreated to the super FOBs.
dtodeen, I haven't the time right now but you're absolutely wrong. No end in sight? Based on what, that we're waiting for increased security before leaving? It's impossible that there is no end in sight based solely on the fact that we cannot sustain current troop levels in Iraq indefinitely. We are already transitioning down in many ways. Do you have any idea how long it takes to rebuild a country from scratch with a people that has been traumatized by a dictator? In the U.S. army it takes 4 years to train our best officers at West Point. All officers must have a minimum of 4 year degrees. We've been in Iraq for 5 years. This isn't a magic show, it's reality and as long as America produces men and women willing to provide explosive enlistment and reenlistment numbers like we saw in April, March, Feb., Jan, Dec., Nov and for the past several years, we'll be there as long as it takes and do the job right.
In the meantime, the rest of you who don't support the war effort go back to your shopping at the mall. This requires nothing of you. This isn't like WWII where Americans had to all chip in and sacrifice something.
Again, pointless and just talking points and NO iraqis are NOT WORTH INVESTING IN!!!!!!!!!!!! AMERICANS ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. England and the IRA did not call it a war (check). Nor did they occupy all of Ireland (check)
2. Whatever... More caught up drama... It was to take out WMD because of the immenent threat of Saddam and that is all they ever told us (fact). It later became all of your little checks...
3. The mission being over will not be clear because there will ALWAYS be unrest in the middle east. (check that)
4. Sorry but those statements hardly qualify an answer but I'll give it a swing... America has roughly a $14-14.5 trillion dollar economy and as a matter of fact it is the largest in the world. No other country even stands close by itself... The EU together still falls more than a trillion dollars behind us. That being said... YOU NEED TO GET YOUR NUMBERS STRAIGHT OR GO TO A MATH CLASS... 1%??
First of all the estimates show it will cost over a Trillion dollars byt the time we are said and done... THey have already spent around $400 billion or more which is almost 3%...
Check my history? I know my American History VERY Well young lady and I think you should check your own ROE's on that one! We have never INVADED/OCCUPPIED a country with out a REAL aggressor such as HITLER!! FACT NOT FICTION AND DON'T YOU DARE!! I have bled for this country and you are just married to one!!
Unemployment 4 1/2 percent?? Yes, but that is only because they have totally re-vamped the way they look at it... But even so, that makes 13,500,000 Americans unemployed or whatever... So you think giving Iraqis money, Paying for their roads, schools, government, etc... Is worth more than getting those 13,500,000 Americans a roof over their head, food to eat, etc...???? Are you really that caught up???
Give me a break!! America should invest in AMericans!! Not iraqis!! Otherwise maybe you and the likes should consider re-locating??
You should be ASHAMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STL, because you seem to have some anger issues I will only engage on these points:
-the IRA did consider itself at war
-Sorry, that's LESS than 1% of the GDP. Former White House economist Lawrence Lindsey did the math.
-Saddam was a fictional dictator?
-re-vamping unemployment numbers now are you?
-humanitarianism is nothing to be ashamed of. "It goes well with me so I don't care about anyone else" is well worth being ashamed of.
History will show Iraq was well worth investing in. Until then, feel free to work on your ANGER ISSUES!!!!! PLEASE!!!!
Mr. Proctor, your position and rank precludes you from voicing a belief, whether you hold the belief or not, that Mohammed and the Qu'ran give contrary definition to the nature and intentions of the Judeo-Christian definition for the nature and intentions of God. Speaking directly to you and you alone now Mr. Proctor, I apologize. My polemic probably perhaps was then unnecessary in this blog.
Someday soon the violent Islamist elements around the world will have been put down by our Western militaries. Hooray! At this time we can all begin to constructively work towards dismantling those Islamist beliefs inside those hapless individuals who believe the God we all adore wants little girls to have their genitals mutilated.
Thank God, Johnny.
Mr. Hanson:
I am paid by the US Government to make qualitative distinctions between the religious requirements of US Servicemembers. My experience working with Iraqi religious leaders and adherents informs my analysis. Most Iraqi Muslims would reject any attempt to hide my religious belief, even about Islam. They expect me to believe and behave like a Christian, not someone sheepishly concealing their beliefs. They know I do not embrace Mohammed as an inspired prophet. Its best to get all that on the table up front so that we can respect and relate to one another with authenticity and sincerity.
In all my dealings with Iraqis, I have never encountered anything close to the pathological hatred and commitment to violence that the Irish insurgency of the IRA evinced against the Northern Irish loyalists. Not that it is useful to compare the two insurgencies, but if anyone thinks Arabs or Muslims are more prone to violence and unreasonable acts of insurgency than [so-called] Christians are, they should take a trip to Belfast (video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgp3Za2TG4E&feature=related ).
It is grossly unfair to paint all Muslims as female circumcisors. That practice is unheard of in Iraq. Most Iraqis that I met are reasonable, hospitable people who are very sincere about their faith in God as they understand Him. It should never be our task to "dismantle Islamist beliefs..."; that is God's interior work in the spirit. Our task is to support orthodox Muslims who are far more concerned about heretical forms of Islam than we ever will be. In Iraq that support requires diligent cultural inquiry and authentic human empathy - not the usual qualities one might expect from a combat Soldier.
In all forms of warfare, no message is as compelling as the moral example of the combatants, most especially the victor.
He seems to be off his meds.
Seriously, just calm down behind that keyboard.
We are helping Iraqis because what they are going through is a direct result of our removal of Saddam. It is the honorable and the right thing to do, to help them get back up on their feet. And a secure and stable Iraq makes us all safer.
After the Soviets left Afghanistan, we left a power vacuum there. Instead of helping Afghanistan, the Taliban came in and set up their schools and indoctrination to their beliefs. What would happen should we irresponsibly vacate Iraq? How does this make America safer, to give our enemies even the perception that they defeated and drove us out of Iraq? People like you validate Osama bin Laden's belief that America is a paper tiger that has no stomach for war, and does not have the intestinal fortitude needed to sustain losses to persevere on to victory.
I'm not a fan of throwing money away to foreign governments; but when America shows itself to be a generous nation with 4 trillion on Marshall Plans (no matter how failed or misguided), offer humanitarian relief and assistance and financial aid during natural disaster crises....it does serve America's interest.
You sound like a conspiratorial chicken little.Not according to the Duelfer Report. I'd say based upon what we know now, the irresponsible course of action would have been maintaining the status quo, based upon the intell information of what we knew then.
The decision to remove Saddam from power was a sound one, although you can definitely make good arguments why we shouldn't have. Unfortunately, the good arguments often get lost amidst the "Bush lied, people died" line of reasoning.
President Bush made it clear right after 9/11: This is a new kind of war. Unfortunately, you still seem stuck on conventional 20th century warfare.
The dangers of Saddam, including his propensity for weapons, and his potential to work with Islamic terrorists against a common enemy were real.
I agree w/Amy.
All I can say about any of your responses... Bogus... Amy, you are about as wrong as when you tried to say that America was founded on Christian principles... I guess that is a way to make Christians feel bigger and better. Not me and not the other Christians I know. Icluding many priests/pastors I from a board I serve on... Anger issues?? That is just a cop out and another diversion... The math thing... I guess you don't understand how to do a percentage... The IRA may have considered it a war but nobody else did... So wrong and BAD comparison...
Wordsmith, get over it and again, cop out...
In summation, I am very glad to see that MY COUTRY and MY FELLOW COUNTRYMEN VASTLY DISAGREE WITH YOUR OPINIONS!
Now it is about the human effort??? There are so many other places that needed it before Iraq ever did. CAN YOU SAY AFRICA?????????? HELLO??? They make Saddam look like he's gay.
AGain, I understand you supporting your family, friends, or anybody in the military. As we all do except by people's definitions of support (as I am sure ours do not agree)... But the Iraq "situation" is RIDICULOUS and again, is the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS!
If you feel so strong about the well being of the Iraqi people why don't you guys move there? Otherwise ACT LIKE AMERICANS AND SUPPORT YOUR FELLOW MAN!!! Then let's go level Afghanistan like we should have in the first place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You sound like a conspiratorial chicken little.
Amy,
Where are your ROE's on that comment?????? Again, are you playing both sides or just one? I think I already know that answer but I let you let you show me being that I am from the Show-Me State.
"Conspiratorial chicken little"? I decide what violates the ROE and I don't care in the slightest about your opinion.
Anyone who can't accept that the United States was founded on Christian principles doesn't merit serious discussion on any issue. Sorry.
The continent of Africa did not violate cease-fire agreements after losing a war with us. They did not violate 12 years of 17 unenforced UN Resolutions. Again, what did the Duelfer Report actually say about the dangers Saddam posed?
Amy, that is a twisted lie and you know it! Doesn't merit serious discussion on any issue?? Are you kidding me?
Do this... Why don't you prove it and spell out what you are really trying to say?
I think what you mean (thanks to Bill O'Reilly for starting this twisted farce...) is this (as I have said before)...
The majority of people who came here in the beginning were Christian. Agreed? Agreed.
Therefore you can extrapolate the idea that they had a severe influence on what the social values of the time. Agreed? Agreed.
But, unfortunately for you, since you really do believe in this nonsense... That is about as close as you can come to your statement. But that is your belief and you can believe that all you want. It is definitely not fact.
But the part where it gets screwed up is when you try to put the big old Christian flag on America rather than the Stars & Bars...
As far as integrity, I know I get a little riled up when I type but I am sick of this country being stolen out from underneath us. THe divisions that have plagued this country for years. The name calling on bith sides. The obvious ignorance or blatent lack of concern a lot of people have about their country. The list can keep going from there...
ROE's are bunk and just a little name you have made up to make it sound cool. Fine and your deal but if you treat somebody one way then you better treat them all the same. Otherwise you are just as fake as the people you talk about all the time!
NO WE WERE NOT FOUNDED ON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES AND THAT IS A FACT
Wordsmith, again, try telling that to the public and see what they say back to you... You may get a couple but I am ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that you will get 100 times that siding with me. Sorry........
Mr. Proctor, obvious you cannot speak your mind to me. I sometimes hear those intermittent clicks on the phone line too ...
Good luck on your mission. God speed.
I only normally remark here to disagree with something, this is an exception. I believe Johnny's position and mission are both excellent and sincere. His comparison of the Iraqi and Irish insurgencies is the best I have seen (including the bit where he said it's silly to compare them too closely -- a sentiment which I believe applies even more to the ever-popular WW2 comparison).
Although it's quite possible that Johnny would lie to pursue his military goals, I know him to be a uniquely stubborn man especially in religious matters, so I wouldn't waste much time disbelieving him. I'm glad that his stubbornness is being harnessed to these ends. This is the kind of mission with the best change of fostering peace and prosperity in the region.
Just my humble and unqualified opinion.
Mr. Proctor- excellent comment post. We as the free and soveriegn strength of the world have an obligation to help where we can, and we have an obligation not to turn our faces from human rights attrocityies, but to face them. We learned that after sending Hitler to hell. I also agree that it is the Holy Spirit that changes hearts, and will do so in Muslim hearts as well, but people sometimes forget this and feel that we need to give God a 'little help' soemtimes, hence the strong comments and feelings of some- although they are wrong, their intentions are basically good, just misguided.
You said "They expect me to believe and behave like a Christian, not someone sheepishly concealing their beliefs." Wow- spot on- but unfortunately, we here in the states, far removed from the actual groundwork, the door to door everyday life in Iraq, do not understand htis, and many, especially extremist liberals, think we must placate Muslim extremists to prevent hostilities towards our country, and I beleive Muslims laugh at our timidity and our misguided hypersensitivity. We've certainly lost their respect by cowering in congress and failing to understand that the majority of Iraqis are not much different than us when it gets right down to it.