Islamic Fundamentalism, Pakistan, Taliban, Muslim Population Growth, War on Islamic Fundamentalism
Monday, Tuesday May 11/12, 2009
Today's Zinger:
The War For Ideology Takes No Prisoners.
Opinion:
Stage four cancer. If you have ever had cancer, those words have special implications. If you have never been impacted by cancer in your life or that of a friend or family member, then those words do not have the same meaning. Stage four cancer is when cancer cells escape the initial organ and migrate into other organs. Initially, cancer starts out looking like any other cell. It mutates. Each cell invades a new territory from which it grows. Once cancer spreads it is very difficult to control and usually consumes the body. As a two time cancer survivor, I know that cancer is not something that you ignore and hope that it will go away. It is not something that you can negotiate. It is not something that you selectively treat. It takes all the energy that you can muster to aggressively attack its very existence. Hopefully, with aggressive treatment, the cancer cells are destroyed. Unfortunately, in the process, normal healthy cells are also destroyed. The cancer survivor lives in a diminished capacity due to the battle.
The past few weeks has brought a renewed sense of concern about world security. There is a cancer growing and we all know it. Islamic Fundamentalism has spread to many countries. The war in Afghanistan and Iraq are wars of ideology and not wars for assets or territory. Like our involvement in Korea and Vietnam, like our involvement in Cuba, the United States is at war to preserve an ideology. In the past, it was the prevention of the spread of Communism. Now it is the prevention of the spread of Islamic Fundamentalism.
Past wars were much easier. Each side would put on their uniforms, state their mission, follow an agreed to manual of how the battle was to be conducted and fight until one side or the other gave up. The losing country would surrender and hostilities would end.
Today's wars are quite different. There are no uniforms, there is no country in charge, there are no common manuals of engagement nor agreement on what is appropriate. Quite the opposite is true. One side fights an Anglican 20th century battle while the other side fights a religious 5th century war. One side hacks off heads and uses innocent people as shields while the other side struggles with waterboarding as an interrogation technique.
To the Islamic Fundamentalist, one thing is clear, the mission. This battle goes back thousands of years when Muhammad, at his deathbed said: "Turn the pagans (non-Muslims) out of the Arabian Peninsula." Vol. 5:716. Prior to his death, Mohammad said, "The person who participates in (Holy battles) in Allah's cause and nothing compels him to do so except belief in Allah and His Apostle, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward, or booty (if he survives) or will be admitted to paradise (if he is killed). " Vol. 1:35. Current Islamic Fundamentalists see the world committed to their God, Allah, and the destruction of all non believers. Not only in the Arabian Peninsula, but around the world.
Islamic Fundamentalists are spreading to all reaches of the world. The number of Muslims is rapidly growing in most countries. Muslims now represent more than one fifth of the world's population. The growth rate of the Muslim population, which averaged 1.9% between 2000 and 2006, is also far higher than the world's population growth rate, which averaged 1.22% in the same period. Muslim growth is also much faster than any other major religious group. The Muslim population in Britain has grown by more than 500,000 to 2.4 million in just four years. The population multiplied 10 times faster than the rest of society, according to the Office for National Statistics. In the same period, the number of Christians in Britain fell by more than 2 million.
Recently, I read a book on Muslim Fundamentalism in Europe (While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying The West From Within. by Bruce Bawer). You can purchase the book on Amazon. Click here for reviews and to order a copy.
Most countries are inhabited by people that want to be open to others and allow each person the right to life and their pursuit of happiness. Bawer's book talks about how the very freedoms that we so value are used against us for the advancement of radical Islamic doctrine. We should not fear Muslims, but we have a right to fear extremists and Islamic Fundamentalism is an extreme that is showing up as stage four.
Pakistan is an advanced country inhabited by smart people with strong family values. It is a country of many regions. Each region has a distinct personality, economy and religious profile. Pakistan has been going through significant economic and political change since Musharraf gave up military control of the country in 2007. Unfortunately, the country has fallen on very difficult times. With these difficulties come opportunities and the Islamic Fundamentalists have seized on these opportunities to extend their reach. In an effort to calm tensions in their country, the newly elected President ceded control of northern regions to the Taliban to impart Islamic law on its citizens. The rationale was to stop fighting and negotiate. The Current President, Ali Zaradari is in a weakened position and the Taliban is using force to gain greater control.
To the Taliban, Pakistan is a huge prize. It will afford them a base to grow the movement, access to people and resources and most importantly, a bargaining chip for greater world influence; nuclear missiles. After all, any person or group willing to strap a bomb around their themselves to kill others and enter the Kingdom of Allah will certainly be willing to strap a missile to a country to express the ultimate suicide mission ever undertaken for Allah.
The free world is entering a new threat. Stage Four Islamic Fundamentalism. The Obama administration has offered the olive branch of peace, if they are willing to "unclench their fist". Just as President Bush had done years before, this administration is falling into the same trap as Pakistan. Negotiating with fundamentalists is like negotiating with cancer. While no one wants war and everyone wants to think that reasonable people can work out their differences, we are not dealing with reasonable people and these efforts will only lead to growth of the cancer while they talk a good game.
If Islamic Fundamentalism cannot be negotiated with, then the world is left with a very unpleasant but necessary treatment if it wishes to survive without adopting Islamic Law. Destruction of the cells will inevitably mean we will be left in a diminished state, but we will be able to pursue life, liberty and happiness for all of the world's citizens.
Wednesday May 11,12 2009 article
After receiving a few comments and reading an article on the replacement of the military General in Afghanistan, I want to clarify the May 11/12, 2009 article regarding the battle against Islamic Fundamentalism.
I read an article this morning that discussed the challenges of the war in Afghanistan. The United States has replaced the General in command with someone known for innovative strategies. The prior General was very focused on destroying the Taliban. This strategy is insufficient. That reminded me that my article yesterday gives the impression that the way to defeat Islamic Fundamentalism is through elimination or complete destruction. I used the analogy of stage four cancer and the only way to beat cancer is to aggressively attack it. As a two time cancer survivor I have always said that the way to survive cancer requires four components working together. These are:
1) Good medicine to aggressively attack and destroy the cells
2) Good conditioning to keep the rest of the body in shape
3) Faith to heal the mind and soul and restore a sense of calm
4) Good friends to encourage and support your fight.
In my personal battle with cancer I worked these four areas every day. I feel that each is an important component in winning. As I think about overcoming Islamic Fundamentalism I realize that the same is true as well. We will never win this struggle through military power alone. As I think about the challenges of overcoming Islamic Fundamentalism I realize that the cancer analogy is a good analogy but I didn't take it far enough. The same pillars of treatment for cancer are true in defeating radical fundamentalism.
1) Good medicine is the military tools and techniques to wage and win war against our enemies
2) Good conditioning is providing the aid and support for the rest of the country
in order that Fundamentalism will not work its way into other regions
3) Faith. Acknowledge and respect Muslims and their faith without grouping all into a radical religion
4) Friends. We need allies to work with the same mission, passion and commitment.
Post Scripts:
For a quick and easy overview of the teachings of Muhammad,
Today's Zinger:
The War For Ideology Takes No Prisoners.
Opinion:
Stage four cancer. If you have ever had cancer, those words have special implications. If you have never been impacted by cancer in your life or that of a friend or family member, then those words do not have the same meaning. Stage four cancer is when cancer cells escape the initial organ and migrate into other organs. Initially, cancer starts out looking like any other cell. It mutates. Each cell invades a new territory from which it grows. Once cancer spreads it is very difficult to control and usually consumes the body. As a two time cancer survivor, I know that cancer is not something that you ignore and hope that it will go away. It is not something that you can negotiate. It is not something that you selectively treat. It takes all the energy that you can muster to aggressively attack its very existence. Hopefully, with aggressive treatment, the cancer cells are destroyed. Unfortunately, in the process, normal healthy cells are also destroyed. The cancer survivor lives in a diminished capacity due to the battle.
The past few weeks has brought a renewed sense of concern about world security. There is a cancer growing and we all know it. Islamic Fundamentalism has spread to many countries. The war in Afghanistan and Iraq are wars of ideology and not wars for assets or territory. Like our involvement in Korea and Vietnam, like our involvement in Cuba, the United States is at war to preserve an ideology. In the past, it was the prevention of the spread of Communism. Now it is the prevention of the spread of Islamic Fundamentalism.
Past wars were much easier. Each side would put on their uniforms, state their mission, follow an agreed to manual of how the battle was to be conducted and fight until one side or the other gave up. The losing country would surrender and hostilities would end.
Today's wars are quite different. There are no uniforms, there is no country in charge, there are no common manuals of engagement nor agreement on what is appropriate. Quite the opposite is true. One side fights an Anglican 20th century battle while the other side fights a religious 5th century war. One side hacks off heads and uses innocent people as shields while the other side struggles with waterboarding as an interrogation technique.
To the Islamic Fundamentalist, one thing is clear, the mission. This battle goes back thousands of years when Muhammad, at his deathbed said: "Turn the pagans (non-Muslims) out of the Arabian Peninsula." Vol. 5:716. Prior to his death, Mohammad said, "The person who participates in (Holy battles) in Allah's cause and nothing compels him to do so except belief in Allah and His Apostle, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward, or booty (if he survives) or will be admitted to paradise (if he is killed). " Vol. 1:35. Current Islamic Fundamentalists see the world committed to their God, Allah, and the destruction of all non believers. Not only in the Arabian Peninsula, but around the world.
Islamic Fundamentalists are spreading to all reaches of the world. The number of Muslims is rapidly growing in most countries. Muslims now represent more than one fifth of the world's population. The growth rate of the Muslim population, which averaged 1.9% between 2000 and 2006, is also far higher than the world's population growth rate, which averaged 1.22% in the same period. Muslim growth is also much faster than any other major religious group. The Muslim population in Britain has grown by more than 500,000 to 2.4 million in just four years. The population multiplied 10 times faster than the rest of society, according to the Office for National Statistics. In the same period, the number of Christians in Britain fell by more than 2 million.
Recently, I read a book on Muslim Fundamentalism in Europe (While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying The West From Within. by Bruce Bawer). You can purchase the book on Amazon. Click here for reviews and to order a copy.
Pakistan is an advanced country inhabited by smart people with strong family values. It is a country of many regions. Each region has a distinct personality, economy and religious profile. Pakistan has been going through significant economic and political change since Musharraf gave up military control of the country in 2007. Unfortunately, the country has fallen on very difficult times. With these difficulties come opportunities and the Islamic Fundamentalists have seized on these opportunities to extend their reach. In an effort to calm tensions in their country, the newly elected President ceded control of northern regions to the Taliban to impart Islamic law on its citizens. The rationale was to stop fighting and negotiate. The Current President, Ali Zaradari is in a weakened position and the Taliban is using force to gain greater control.
To the Taliban, Pakistan is a huge prize. It will afford them a base to grow the movement, access to people and resources and most importantly, a bargaining chip for greater world influence; nuclear missiles. After all, any person or group willing to strap a bomb around their themselves to kill others and enter the Kingdom of Allah will certainly be willing to strap a missile to a country to express the ultimate suicide mission ever undertaken for Allah.
The free world is entering a new threat. Stage Four Islamic Fundamentalism. The Obama administration has offered the olive branch of peace, if they are willing to "unclench their fist". Just as President Bush had done years before, this administration is falling into the same trap as Pakistan. Negotiating with fundamentalists is like negotiating with cancer. While no one wants war and everyone wants to think that reasonable people can work out their differences, we are not dealing with reasonable people and these efforts will only lead to growth of the cancer while they talk a good game.
If Islamic Fundamentalism cannot be negotiated with, then the world is left with a very unpleasant but necessary treatment if it wishes to survive without adopting Islamic Law. Destruction of the cells will inevitably mean we will be left in a diminished state, but we will be able to pursue life, liberty and happiness for all of the world's citizens.
Wednesday May 11,12 2009 article
After receiving a few comments and reading an article on the replacement of the military General in Afghanistan, I want to clarify the May 11/12, 2009 article regarding the battle against Islamic Fundamentalism.
I read an article this morning that discussed the challenges of the war in Afghanistan. The United States has replaced the General in command with someone known for innovative strategies. The prior General was very focused on destroying the Taliban. This strategy is insufficient. That reminded me that my article yesterday gives the impression that the way to defeat Islamic Fundamentalism is through elimination or complete destruction. I used the analogy of stage four cancer and the only way to beat cancer is to aggressively attack it. As a two time cancer survivor I have always said that the way to survive cancer requires four components working together. These are:
1) Good medicine to aggressively attack and destroy the cells
2) Good conditioning to keep the rest of the body in shape
3) Faith to heal the mind and soul and restore a sense of calm
4) Good friends to encourage and support your fight.
In my personal battle with cancer I worked these four areas every day. I feel that each is an important component in winning. As I think about overcoming Islamic Fundamentalism I realize that the same is true as well. We will never win this struggle through military power alone. As I think about the challenges of overcoming Islamic Fundamentalism I realize that the cancer analogy is a good analogy but I didn't take it far enough. The same pillars of treatment for cancer are true in defeating radical fundamentalism.
1) Good medicine is the military tools and techniques to wage and win war against our enemies
2) Good conditioning is providing the aid and support for the rest of the country
in order that Fundamentalism will not work its way into other regions
3) Faith. Acknowledge and respect Muslims and their faith without grouping all into a radical religion
4) Friends. We need allies to work with the same mission, passion and commitment.
Post Scripts:
For a quick and easy overview of the teachings of Muhammad,
Posted by ZK at 5/11/2009 9:19 AM 
Categories: Religion, Taliban, Social Issues, Religous Fundamentalism
Categories: Religion, Taliban, Social Issues, Religous Fundamentalism
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