Many things fall into place if you see the Islamic extremists from their own point of view, as ‘simply’ trying to defend themselves.
They see their religion (in their interpretation) endangered. They would rather be dead than see their sons and daughters further influenced by the Western ‘attractions’ of material goods, sexual and other freedoms, and so on. They feel compelled to fight back.
Their governments are way too moderate for them, and they would like to replace them with more ‘committed’ believers.
They would like to destroy the ‘infidels’, but they will settle for a separation, for a formal state of war, like the one they maintain with Israel. They will settle for a ‘Clash of Civilizations’. When our worlds will be separated by a state of war, whether cold or hot, that will make it more difficult for their young people to emulate the ways of the enemy, to listen to our music, wear Western clothes, and so on.
This brings us to another point… Those religious fanatics have their real problem not with Jews, or with Christians, but with secular non-believers. Deeply religious observant people do not threaten them as much. Secular cultures do.
We are not their real targets. We are means to an end, innocent bystanders, if you will... They attacked us in order to accomplish their own domestic political goals. Osama is not stupid. He knows that he cannot conquer us, or convert us to Islam. What he can – and will try to do – is radicalize the ISLAMIC FAITHFUL and TAKE CONTROL of Muslim Countries.
I am very surprised that presumably intelligent people of Islamic faith fail to understand that it is THEY, and not WE who are the real mark. It is not we, but the MUSLIMS who are under threat of being dragged back into the single digit centuries.
If not enough people will get this through their thick skulls that’s exactly what will happen.
I think it is fairly likely to happen, and if it will, it means the terrorist will have achieved their purpose. The world will be divided into ‘clash of civilizations’ camps. There will be not much trade or communication between them, and they will coexist in a state of a nuclear standoff. Life on the Muslim side of the world would be most unenviable, based on the letter of the Koran, and on a 7-th century Justice system.
Eventually, the radicals will probably lose anyway, but not before they will cause a great amount of unnecessary human suffering, not unlike what the Stalinists and the Nazis did in Russia and in Europe.
We have a great potential ally in the evolving conflict, and that is Russia.
“The Russia Card”… is a very interesting part of the global equation. A military and political alliance with Russia would be very powerful. It would rapidly marginalize any European power that would elect NOT to join in. Fear of such a potential alliance would apply great pressure on Pakistan and other key Muslim countries to destroy their extremist movements, lest they find themselves isolated, radicalized, and facing powerful enemies.
There is one problem with this scenario, namely, that this is exactly what Osama and his people would like us to do. Once the world is split, it is very likely that they will accomplish their goal of radicalizing the Muslim world, and capturing political power. A new relationship with Russia is a must, but it is important to keep things in balance.
Where is the answer? The answer resides with the populations of Muslim countries and with their leadership. They must be able to understand that the world has changed, and that their greatest danger comes now from their internal enemy, their terrorists and radicals. If needed, they should make Jihad against this dangerous internal enemy.
If they can do it, we have hope. They have done it in the past. If, however, they will continue to sing the same old songs, and will not be able to offer serious resistance to their extremists (who eventually will kill the ‘moderates’ anyway), then the West and the USA should accept the inevitable, and start positioning themselves for the global realities of the future. AK |
