Comments on: Some Positive Theo Van Gogh Fallout in Germany

By: thedragonflies

thedragonflies — Mon, 22 Nov 2004 01:14:18 +0000

My guess is that the more successful the coalition forces are in Iraq, the more courage the modernists and moderates will be in the rest of the Middle East. After all, the Islamofascists are at war with non-fanatical Islam as well as the U.S. and Western Civilization.

By: Ed Poinsett

Ed Poinsett — Sun, 21 Nov 2004 20:03:46 +0000

Good things appear to be happening. The backlash in the Netherlands, this protest in Cologne, unrest in North Korea, internal stress in Iran, progress in Iraq. Wouldn’t it be terrific if the Turks and the Germans were to become the leaders in a resurgence of moderate Islam in Old Europe?

By: TedM

TedM — Sun, 21 Nov 2004 18:54:58 +0000

Turks Iranians and Pakistanis all are nationalities with an educated, semi-secular part of their population.

When I was doing work in the ME, it was not uncommon for the offices to be staffed with Egyptian and Pakistani office help.

In Iran, our partners were fully working and competent Iranis.

It is not surprising to find Turks openly protesting islamofascists. And I have hope that the educated middle class of Iran will bring about a change in regime there. Pakistan is a tribal mixed bag where the status quo is as good as you can get for some time to come.

It is Arabia and parts of North Africa where the islamists have the power of terror that open dissent is life threatening. And it is the immigrant populations from those areas which are to be feared in Western Europe.Their allegiance is to the islamist religion and not the country in which they live. (or hold citizenship)

By: ahem

ahem — Sun, 21 Nov 2004 17:29:19 +0000

It’s a very good sign. Perhaps it will encourage the silent majority to add its voice.

For a long time, I wondered why more Muslims weren’t at the barricades protesting the viciousness of the Islamists and then I realized: they’re probably afraid for their own skins.

It makes sense that resistance would come from the Turks, who are among the most democratic and sophisticated Muslims. Good for them. It takes some stones these days to stand up against Islamism.