Comments on: The Tragedy of False Optimism in Jihad World http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/11/30/the-tragedy-of-false-optimism-in-jihad-world/ Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:15:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jeff Gill http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/11/30/the-tragedy-of-false-optimism-in-jihad-world/#comment-2362 Jeff Gill Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:49:29 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/?p=422#comment-2362 Americans are Crazy Eddie (h/t "The Mote In God's Eye" by Niven & Pournelle). Americans are Crazy Eddie (h/t “The Mote In God’s Eye” by Niven & Pournelle).

]]> By: Martin Berman-Gorvine http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/11/30/the-tragedy-of-false-optimism-in-jihad-world/#comment-2335 Martin Berman-Gorvine Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:49:06 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/?p=422#comment-2335 This episode is entirely typical of Tom Friedman's intellectual cowardice regarding the dysfunctions of the Middle East. He understands the problems all too well but seems to be afraid of being labeled an enemy of Islam or a Zionist or something. This is the stupidity of false hope. This episode is entirely typical of Tom Friedman’s intellectual cowardice regarding the dysfunctions of the Middle East. He understands the problems all too well but seems to be afraid of being labeled an enemy of Islam or a Zionist or something. This is the stupidity of false hope.

]]> By: charlie finch http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/11/30/the-tragedy-of-false-optimism-in-jihad-world/#comment-2332 charlie finch Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:37:41 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/?p=422#comment-2332 Obama is going to govern like the Doge of Venice: a mystical presence, of few words and incisive attention (three question press conferences), dispatching so many Marco Polos (Hillary et al.) to the four corners of the Earth at his inscrutable dispensation. Can trade, intrigue and masques of mystery but follow? Obama is going to govern like the Doge of Venice: a mystical presence, of few words and incisive attention (three question press conferences), dispatching so many Marco Polos (Hillary et al.) to the four corners of the Earth at his inscrutable dispensation. Can trade, intrigue and masques of mystery but follow?

]]> By: charlie finch http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/11/30/the-tragedy-of-false-optimism-in-jihad-world/#comment-2326 charlie finch Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:04:53 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/?p=422#comment-2326 Western leaders must reform Islam the same way Martin Luther King attacked segregation, through nonviolent confrontation. This means an unrelenting, unified attack on Wahhabism, rather than the current coddling done under the umbrella of "tolerance" and "political correctness". Root out Wahhabi money and influence; reject Wahhabi funding of mosques and foundations. There are many kinds of Islam in the world and in history, which can only blossom again if he fear of extremist reprisals is removed. The situation is analagous to Shintoism in Japan, a cult based on shame and a poisonous sense of superiority. Hiroshima and Nagasaki reversed this behavior at a terrible, terrible price and we must avoid a nuclear solution to Jihad, a prospect becoming more likely every day. Western leaders must reform Islam the same way Martin Luther King attacked segregation, through nonviolent confrontation. This means an unrelenting, unified attack on Wahhabism, rather than the current coddling done under the umbrella of “tolerance” and “political correctness”. Root out Wahhabi money and influence; reject Wahhabi funding of mosques and foundations. There are many kinds of Islam in the world and in history, which can only blossom again if he fear of extremist reprisals is removed. The situation is analagous to Shintoism in Japan, a cult based on shame and a poisonous sense of superiority. Hiroshima and Nagasaki reversed this behavior at a terrible, terrible price and we must avoid a nuclear solution to Jihad, a prospect becoming more likely every day.

]]> By: Ulla Lauridsen http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/11/30/the-tragedy-of-false-optimism-in-jihad-world/#comment-2325 Ulla Lauridsen Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:50:42 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/?p=422#comment-2325 Western leaders can't reform islam. How? Muslims should do that, but seemingly, they won't. They are dead set against universalism and secularism, and as long as that is the case, it's hopeless. Western leaders can’t reform islam. How? Muslims should do that, but seemingly, they won’t. They are dead set against universalism and secularism, and as long as that is the case, it’s hopeless.

]]> By: MarcH http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/11/30/the-tragedy-of-false-optimism-in-jihad-world/#comment-2322 MarcH Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:32:17 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/?p=422#comment-2322 I just returned from a year deployment as a civilian counter-insurgency advisor to a US Army Brigade Combat Team in Iraq. I had the honor of serving with Iraqi Muslims who regularly risked death by torture for themselves and their families to build an Iraq which, while influenced by Islam, would be a country of laws, tolerant and aligned with the U.S. Moderate Islam is a small flickering flame in the Arab/Muslim world. It is our choice to nurture that flame or to let it go out and leave the Arab/Muslim world the choice of either nationalist fascism or Islamic fascism as their organizing principal. Ron, why don't you embed in Iraq for a month and get the real story? I just returned from a year deployment as a civilian counter-insurgency advisor to a US Army Brigade Combat Team in Iraq.

I had the honor of serving with Iraqi Muslims who regularly risked death by torture for themselves and their families to build an Iraq which, while influenced by Islam, would be a country of laws, tolerant and aligned with the U.S. Moderate Islam is a small flickering flame in the Arab/Muslim world. It is our choice to nurture that flame or to let it go out and leave the Arab/Muslim world the choice of either nationalist fascism or Islamic fascism as their organizing principal.

Ron, why don’t you embed in Iraq for a month and get the real story?

]]> By: charlie finch http://pjmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/2008/11/30/the-tragedy-of-false-optimism-in-jihad-world/#comment-2319 charlie finch Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:27:51 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/ronrosenbaum/?p=422#comment-2319 The piece in Slate recently about how to read the Koran is typical of the fear/shame box in which Islam is now locked. The piece begins with a disclaimer dismissing Judaism and Christianity as myths, Judaism as the fantasies of a people in exile and Christianity as the misguided (and blasphemous) deification of an itinerant prophet. The logical end of this is that Islam is "the one true religion" and that, perforce, is the stumbling block. Until Western leaders risk their lives to go into the mosques and challenge this religious hegemony, Islam has no chance of a reformation. The piece in Slate recently about how to read the Koran is typical of the fear/shame box in which Islam is now locked. The piece begins with a disclaimer dismissing Judaism and Christianity as myths, Judaism as the fantasies of a people in exile and Christianity as the misguided (and blasphemous) deification of an itinerant prophet. The logical end of this is that Islam is “the one true religion” and that, perforce, is the stumbling block. Until Western leaders risk their lives to go into the mosques and challenge this religious hegemony, Islam has no chance of a reformation.

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