The Threat of Radical Islam
By Jan Larson (11/20/06)
There were two very enlightening programs televised last week, “Exposed: The Extremist Agenda” on CNN’s Glenn Beck show and an examination of filmmaker Wayne Kopping’s “Obsession: The Threat of Radical Islam” [1] hosted by E. D. Hill on Fox News.
Both of these programs should be required viewing for all Americans, especially for anyone that doubts that the threat from Islamic radicals is very real and very serious.
One of the most shocking aspect of both programs and a centerpiece of Kopping’s film is the footage from various Arabic television stations showing the preaching of anti-Israel and anti-West propaganda. Even more shocking is the footage of young children extolling the virtues of martyrdom and expressing the desire that they may “give their lives for the sake of Allah.”
These children are indoctrinated to believe that Jews are “apes and pigs” and must be killed “for the sake of Allah.” They are repeatedly bombarded with propaganda that the West (Britain and the United States are most prominently mentioned) is actively trying to suppress and enslave Muslims. They are taught that the Jews and the Americans are the cause of every bad thing that happens in their society.
With an estimated 1.3 billion Muslims in the world, it doesn’t take a very high percentage to be “radicalized” in this way for there to ultimately be a formidable army of jihadists willing to not only fight against Jews, Christians and other non-Muslims, but to die in the process.
Comparisons are often made between the rise of Hitler and Nazi Germany and the rise of Islamic extremism. There are two ways that Nazism and Islamic extremism differ however. We knew who the Nazis were and we knew where they were. We really don’t know who all of the radical Islamic extremists are, although al Qaeda and Hezbollah quickly come to mind, but more importantly, we don’t know where they are. In actuality, Islamic extremists are everywhere – throughout Europe and Asia and undoubtedly right here in the United States as well.
The mistake that was made when dealing with the threat of Nazism was that it took too long to act. Years of appeasement and “wishing the threat away” allowed Hitler to gain strength and influence and when the threat was finally confronted, it cost millions of lives – lives that could have been saved if the gathering threat had been confronted earlier.
There is a similar threat from radical Islam, only the stakes are higher today than in the 1930s. Hitler had airplanes and bombs, but unless Islamic extremists and the states, particularly Iran, that supports them are confronted, the day will come that a nuclear device is detonated on American or European soil.
While many in this country go about their daily lives seemingly without a care in the world, many others are asking the very serious question of what can be done about this threat?
In the short-term, it will take worldwide intelligence to detect terrorist cells and thwart their plans for death and destruction. An example of how this works was the thwarting of the plot to blow up airplanes bound from Great Britain to the United States last summer. We must also ensure that Iran never develops a nuclear capability.
In the longer-term, the only way to turn the tide will be for moderate, peaceful Muslims to actively turn against their radicalized brethren, denounce the propaganda and take an active role in eliminating the extremist influence.
One major step toward this goal would be the establishment of a stable, democratic state in Iraq. Many have said that U. S. involvement in Iraq has simply led to the creation of more terrorists. This is foolish and naïve. As the documentaries depict, terrorism has been bred in the Middle East for a long time. To think that somehow the threat is greater as a result of Iraq is akin to thinking that you would be safe with only 99 king cobras in your house instead of 100.
A stable, democratic Iraq, would show many in the Middle East that there is an alternative to authoritarian rule by zealots that use religion to foment hatred. This is why the war in Iraq is so difficult. The enemy knows this too.
To downplay, dismiss or otherwise disregard the threat of radical Islam to the United States and the West, in the face of the facts presented in these programs, is foolhardy, to say the least.
[1] http://www.obsessionthemovie.com/
Copyright ©2006 Jan A. Larson All rights reserved.
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