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Why telling Muslims what they believe is a bad idea
What should we call terrorists, some of whom claim to be motivated by their religion? Can one be an Islamic terrorist? What about a Christian terrorist? Does what we call terrorists matter?
The new Washington Institute for Near East Policy Strategic Report argues that rather than "avoid any mention of the religious motivation behind the terrorism of al-Qaeda and other like-minded organizations, the Obama administration should sharpen the distinction between the religion of Islam and the political ideology of radical Islamism." This is exactly the wrong approach and one that is likely to result in more effective radicalization of disaffected Muslims. If Western policy analysts start down the road of defining this or that aspect of Islam for Muslims, this will serve to create divides, not overcome them.
Listening to the mainstream American Muslim community is the best course to follow in terms of engaging this range of issues. If they had done this, the Washington Institute report might not have referred to "homegrown" radicalization, and they did so more than once. This is a phrase that some American Muslims have told me they find quite offensive, as it furthers the "them vs. us" mentality that serves to marginalize their community in their own homeland. The drafters of this report do not seem to have listened and learned, and this phrasing in their report is likely to put off at least some in the American Muslim community.
The Obama Administration's policy, by contrast, is both practical and wise. In regard to Islam, it can be summarized as 'Don't define people's religion for them; it never works out well.'
This is one of the reasons the Obama Administration, in its 2010 National Security Strategy document approach, roots the analysis in "The World as It Is." In the real world, not offering radicals another reason to demonize you and your apparent lack of respect for their religion is a practical and effective strategy.
In addition, the 2010 National Security report recognizes that the best defense against local radicalization is local empowerment. The Washington Institute report, in fact, praises this approach. "[T]he National Security Strategy appropriately highlights the need to empower communities to counter radicalization, stating, 'Our best defenses against this threat are well informed and equipped families, local communities and institutions."
There's another reason why a focus on Islam in crafting national security strategy to combat radicalization of young Muslims is not likely to be helpful--it risks being a distraction. The Washington Institute report refers to Omar Farouq Abdulmutallab, the "attempted Christmas 2009 airline bomber" and the speed with which he was recruited via the Internet. But what is most interesting about Abdulmutallab to me was his social networking. The Washington Post examined 300 posts that they attributed to Abdulmutallab and these posts show his loneliness and alienation. These excerpts from this young man's online ramblings about his relationship with his father (not close) and whether he should be a liberal or not, and how he felt alone--in other words, pretty typical for a young person who isn't getting enough attention. Easy to miss if you're looking for evidence of Islamic ideology; but extremist recruiters don't miss the lonely and alienated. They troll for them.
Extremists, whether in recruiting for Chicago gangs or for al-Qaeda, know this is the kind of vulnerable young person they are looking for and they are out there on the Internet too, trying to find and recruit vulnerable young people. This is a stage of life where the young are likely to be passionately idealistic and their idealism can be directed toward destruction, or toward helping to construct a better world. This is exactly the point that Eboo Patel makes in his wonderful book, Acts of Faith. He writes that he was lucky that he had positive models in his life to direct his passion to make the world a better place toward social construction and not destruction--and that is the goal of Interfaith Youth Core, the interfaith youth service organization that he founded. The most effective way to combat extremist recruiting is to help young people turn their passions to social construction through service, not to social destruction through violence. It's not Islam, it's the way young people are at that age. Don't let religion mesmerize you because you'll miss the obvious--young people are vulnerable to extremist recruiters unless they have other, more positive role models.
The Obama Administration's approach is the right one on every level: it is practical, it doesn't give terrorists more reasons to claim the U.S. disrespects Islam, and it is does not focus on religion to the exclusion of the many motivations people have for converting to extremism.
By
Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
|
July 13, 2010; 4:24 PM ET
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Posted by: haveaheart | July 20, 2010 2:50 PM
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Blockquote>Osama Bin Ladens 3-Musketeers or 3-Soldiers?
"MUHAMMAD", "SAAD" & "ABDUL REHMAN".
http://news.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/03/bin-ladens-daughter-created-saudi-iran-rift.htm
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/2009/12/200912258253483951.html
http://islamizationwatch.blogspot.com/2010/06/osama-bin-ladens-son-wants-to-call.html
Note: Osama B.L.[Expired around 06.??.07] Has around 38 Kids + 9 dead kids, NOt 26 [Satanic VersUS Loving] Kids! Also, The Devil Had 5 Wives & 2 Concubines. Note: Islami Concubines r unlimited!?
Posted by: faith-on-space-ship-earth | July 15, 2010 12:20 PM
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C O M E - H O M E - B R A V E - B O Y' S & G i R L S!
"GO WEST YOUNG-LADS, Go-WEST" TO MOMMA, POPPA & CO.!
B R E A K I N G -- N E W S:
BEHOLD: A Great "Fruedian Slip Of Genuine Prophecy" leaching out subliminally by direct MEME Genetic Telepathy!
Bin Ladens Son, 29 year old OMAR, said, "My dad is on the Earth but I don't know where. He's still alive. If that sort of person dies, you could never make it a secret. The world changes if he dies"-
B i N --- L A D E N --- I S --- D E A D!
B I N --- L A D E N --- I S --- D E A D!
B I N --- L A D E N --- I S --- D E A D! Since 06.??.07
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WE [i] Told YE So!
We, The "HUUMATE-Ummah" Eyes & Ears, Intelligentsia INT'L, Never LIE!
WE are "APOCALYPTIC-ON"s NOt "APOCALYPTIC-OFF"s!
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D i N G --- D O N G, -- W O R L D' S
S A T A N i C --- V E R S U S
L E A D E R --- IS --- D E A D!
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.. Credit To "JJ" .. @ .. http://onwapo.com/
Posted by: faith-on-space-ship-earth | July 15, 2010 10:29 AM
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PS:
D i D -- [WE]i -- W i N -- T H E
"E V E R Y B O D Y -- D R A W --
M U H A M M A D -- D A Y" Award
Contest?
Note: It's only a Visual Trick. It is NOt any mr. Muhammad but depicting a Wannabe Martyr. Note: "m" = the Mark of the "Satanic Versus "m"artyr. Aka Mark of the Devil.
Posted by: faith-on-space-ship-earth | July 14, 2010 6:52 PM
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Some Pictures Are Louder Than Words! Aye?
Hmm: ....♫..♪....72 Virgins?....O.K!....."Al Arkbark"
.
................................................. ^
................................................ *.* >
..................................... ,_____./
.................................. /.…..........\
................................. |...BOMB...|
.................................. \_______/
……………………….
....... (/('('('(')')')')')\)
......... /................\......
....... _|...._...._....|_
....... |.|..-(♠)--(♠)..+ ......
........ \|...... m ......|/
......... \.....(---)...../
........... \............/.
............. ”###”.....
..............................
......................................
=
........TRUTH & FREEDOM is OUR-Religion, not Islam!
.......................................
............................... 1 Earth, 1 Life, 1 G-D, i(+TiME)!
...................................... _.-(_)._ ...........
..................................... '______'. .......
.................................... {______} ...
.................................... /./.+.\/.+.\.\ . ...
.................................... |.\__/\__/.| ...
.................................... \.....--....../ ..
................................... /'...."""....'\ .
................................. \/_.............._\ ......
................................. (__/....'|....\__) ........
.................................... |___.|___| .............
..................................... '---------' ... By STAN & Family.
.
PEACE,PAZ, SHALOM, SALAAM,
MIR, FRIEDAN, AHIMSA, ZINGHYU..
_____
Credit: "JJ" .....@...... http://onwapo.com
Posted by: faith-on-space-ship-earth | July 14, 2010 6:38 PM
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Fear SisStar Susan B. T..
iNterestingly, from a HUFF.POST link here i just read a Nice Moving Article on "THE SPIRITUAL iMPLICATION OF DEMENTIA" by Ms. LYNN CASTEEL HARPER (a real Story about her GrandPA & GrandMA) that got me scruples thinking.
WE [i] APOCALYPTiC-ON's Need to Treat the PRE-APOCALYPTIC-OFF {i.e. Fanatic-Fundamentalist-Extremist Islami's} as if they have DEMENTIA and or are SCHIZOPHRENICa/o.
A MIND, even though is a Terrible thing To Waist; THAT if it contains too many Pre-Apocalyptic Thoughts like (72 Virgins et al); THEN its sure to metastasize in the Head (not Heart or oss) of such Aspirant THUS causing iSlamic-Mania/dementia. Note: It is thought that the ARABiC Letterings in themselves can cause Some Unsuspecting IslamicO/A's Dimentia, or Behave Neurotic like. IT's also suprising that translating the Quram/Koran in English has the same effect. But More Nauseating than being Violent or Anti KAFiR (Anti Social).
Note: The Pre-ApocalypticOffs patient's own Carbon-based Neuronic Pathways within their Plastic Brain needs rapid prevention techniques, ELSE, IF not treated sooner (using "WATER BOARDING" techniques helps) THEN they will surely Hurt Themselves & Other's. Geee, i Thought Zombies were only in the Movies.
Pre-ApocalyopticOFF'S are a Danger to APOCALYPTiC-ON's & Innocents.
Example: 45% (i Might be Wrong) of the "Detainees"(though Rehabilitated) released from the CIA secret Prisons or Military Tribunals or from Guantanamo-Bay et al; all hath Shown Their nostalga for fatal Attraction Activities via ALLAH's UMMAH & for being remembered as a FOOL , ooops, a Heroic or martyr by Killing as many US Kafirs as Possible. Did Ye Read Todays News? Wait until Tomorrow or in 72 Hours. It Never Stops; Zombie after Zombie after Zombie after Zombie.... iye yaya yeya yo!
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Note: If Ye feed Certain (Potentially Good FOLKS) the Wrong Religion; Then We Can See the Disease progress thus degenerating them. Like feeding someone Rotten-Food, it's important NOt to feed someone Rotten (old) Religion. Garbage In Gaebage out. I [WE] Classify such Zombies, inflicted with such Varied symptoms or combination of all such Pre-Apocalyptic Symptoms as possessed with either
"PRE-APOCALYPTIC-SyiNDROME"S & "RELIGiOUS JEALOUSY PSYCHOSIS"s & acute "TRIPLE STANDARD PSYCHOSIS"s
___
This Is NOt a Cartoon. It is More than That!
___
WHAT's Up DOC?
Posted by: faith-on-space-ship-earth | July 14, 2010 6:17 PM
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gurureoul, I'm not trying to define Islam, I'm simply drawing attention to the way Muslims have done so historically and how they do so today. Of course, Islam is multifaceted and complex, but that complexity works for Islamicists like myself: it can't be made the basis for things like government policy. You say we are fighting the terrorists, not Islam. In one sense that's true, but on a broader basis it isn't. As an ideology, Islam is larger and more enduring than other major ideologies of the 20th century, such as communism or fascism. It contains numerous aspects that are diametrically opposed to modern Western values or to universal values as found in the Universal Declaration of human rights. Muslims by and large detest democracy, man-made laws, rights for women equal to those of men, rights for homosexuals, rights for religious minorities, freedom of speech, freedom to believe as one chooses, freedom from draconian laws that punish moral failings like adultery or drinking alcohol. These are all opposed to our values, but they are also the underlying cause of the poverty, backwardness, poor education, and human rights of Muslims themselves. Stopping the terrorism (which will take generations, if that) is not enough. Islam has to come in line with the way all other civilizations are moving. It can be distinct in positive ways, but it has to get in line with human rights issues or the way international law and international relations work.
You write about past crimes of the West, but forget to mention that we don't do things that way today. Yes, we ran a slave trade, but we also ended it. I think it's more important that Muslims admit that the Arab/Islamic slave trade went on much longer, involved far more slaves, and was only stopped by Westerners interfering. Some Arab countries still use slaves under the guise of 'servants'.
If we don't talk honestly about these things, we are doing ourselves a disservice and harming the prospects of Muslim women, of gay Muslims, of Muslims who have lost their faith and want to live openly, of non-Muslims like Egypt's Copts and Iran's Baha'is, who live under persecution. Leave this in the dark and it will fester. We need to get it out into the clear light of day. So far, Muslim authorities and organizations have been running rings round us. Let's ruin some rings round them.
Posted by: maceoin | July 14, 2010 10:00 AM
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maceoin, I disagree with you. Just because there is a historical record of islam does not mean that it has been defined, just that it exists. You find muslims against muslims over what islam is, just as you find christians against christians as to what being christ-like is - like in Northern Ireland, for instance.
And the obama administration's stance on the issue in no way implies that muslims will dictate america's free speech. It asks, what political, global gain will come from demonizing islam along with the terrorist acts, when it is the terrorism not the islam which we fight? Will it gain us any more allies? Could we lose allies? The effect on what we can and cannot say about islam is a direct effect of the terrorist actions. They have made our businesses and populace afraid of being attack. The terrorists have sown terror into our populace.
Obviously you also forget the crusades, conquests, torturing, and slavery that christianity brought along with it, don't you? Let us create draconian policies and hate speech against them as well. I'm not sure there's any religion whose past (or present) isn't tainted with human blood.
But the biggest point you miss is that there is no necessity that our intelligence and military action should have any bearing on the rhetoric we use to describe those actions. They're often better when they're different. Our strategists and military leaders will not ignore the role that islam has played in the radicalism we encounter. But why do we need politically, publicly, and globally to denounce a religion? That's bad PR.
Posted by: gurureoul | July 14, 2010 7:32 AM
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I really can't agree. You write "In regard to Islam, it can be summarized as 'Don't define people's religion for them; it never works out well.' Nobody is defining Muslims' religion for them. It's there in front of us, in Islamic history, in texts from the Qur'an to the ahadith to the classical works of tafsir and fiqh, in the writings of modern Muslim thinkers and ideologues, in the prophet biographies, in what we see of Muslim culture, theology, and politics, in our knowledge of life in Muslim countries, in the vast corpus of studies by Western Islamicists, in polls and surveys, in speeches, in videos, in TV shows, and much more. Why should we need to define Islam when Muslims do such a varied and respectable job of defining it for us. The problem with the Obama approach is that he allows Muslims to dictate what we can and can';t say about Islam. John Brennan has stated more than once that we are not to use the term jihad because it has a true and spiritual meaning in Islam and does not refer to war. Actually, he is egregiously wrong. There is a spiritual meaning to the term, but from the beginning the word has meant violent action to spread or defend Islam. To avoid that meaning and many other things Obama doesn't like is to go down a dangerous road to a position where we are no longer talking about Islam, but discussing a bowdlerized "Islam" that has been defined by Muslim apologists and Barack Obama and John Brennan, in plain defiance of 1400 years of jihad, conquests, and the subordination of non-Muslims. That is the truth, and if it doesn't some people, too bad. We have to have dialogue about what Islam really is. Pretending it is the "Religion of Peace", when it has never been committed to peace in any modern sense of the term, gets us nowhere. Honesty is the way forward, not obfuscation such as is recommended here. Today, Shaykh Yusuf al-Qaradhawi, long celebrated as a leading "moderate", called on all Muslims to fight a sacrificial jihad, particularly against Israel. Did it help to consider him a moderate and to invite him to London to speak (as Ken Livingstone did)? Many of us knew he was not a moderate, and we had the quotations to prove it, but the politically correct crowd pushed on with a dishonest portrayal. This meant, among other things, that he was allowed to address young British Muslims, become yet more popular, and attract them to his website and TV shows. Now he openly calls for jihad: won't some of those impressionable young Muslims join up to fight? And that's what we're doing here when we present dishonest pictures of Islam because it's politically expedient to do so. Muslims have to start facing a lot of truths about their faith, from their treatment of women and religious minority (based on impeccable classical texts) to the inequalities inherent in shari'a law. Let's start putting some real pressure on them to face the truth and respond to it, perhaps with some real reform for a change.
Posted by: maceoin | July 13, 2010 5:49 PM
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Finally, a glimmer of reason among all the invective. This article is accurate on every point.
It's about time that Americans begin to understand that President Obama has been developing a carefully conceived, well-crafted policy for how we deal responsibly with terrorism.