Comments on: Political Islam and U.S. Intelligence

By: legion

legion — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 20:20:44 +0000

No, Anderson, our religion is money. that's why we'll never address the madrasas' real breeding-ground: Saudi Arabia.

By: Anderson

Anderson — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:59:31 +0000

I think what we need is a cross-cultural movement to oppose fundamentalism, and support religion-state separation in all societies. Those on the American right who seem eager to take up this cause in other societies, should try to lead by example. But our religion is true, Tano!

By: Tano

Tano — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 19:23:58 +0000

By: bernie

bernie — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:02:11 +0000

"to the extent that Islam truly enters into politics, it’s not a threat." That's funny. HAMAS and Hezbollah are true political parties engaged in a true political process and are, contrary to American Parties, completely true to those who elected them, no compromises. No Islamic leader needs to say, "read my lips," because when they say lets kill the Jews they mean it, it's not just a sound bite for broadcast coverage. Both of these parties started off secular, but as Islam is like a fungus infestation, they are now dominated by Imams. Even the midget president of Iran does nothing that is not sanctioned by the Mullahs. There is no greater threat to the West than moderate Islam. It's like having a mild case of cancer; eventually the entire body is consumed by disease. See Three Threats to Modern Civilization

By: Anderson

Anderson — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 15:55:24 +0000

For fundamentalists, there is no distinction between religion and politics.

Right, in the Mideast and in America alike.

The problem, in the Mideast, is, why is fundamentalism so attractive in the first place? Islam has not always been like this, contrary to those who think the Arab legions swept through north Africa sometime in the Hoover administration.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 14:59:31 +0000

Fair enough, although I think it's splitting hairs. For fundamentalists, there is no distinction between religion and politics. The two swords theory hasn't materialized yet in much of the Muslim world.

By: Anderson

Anderson — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 14:41:22 +0000

Farah isn't persuasive in the least, because he commits the error he attributes to Nakhleh. How much of the dangerous belief that only Salafist Islam, and only shari'a law, are "true" Islam, is itself due to political circumstances? Political processes inevitably lead to compromise, if they don't break down. In that sense, Nakhleh is correct: to the extent that Islam truly enters into politics, it's not a threat. The problem is with those who, under the guise of "politics," really seek to shut down the political process in favor of a Robespierrean dictatorship of virtue.

By: A Newer World

A Newer World — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

George Michael Shocks Audience With Raunchy Political Satire Of Bush And Blair... [IMG ] Bush to declassify NIE -- but which one?Halliburton Gave $4 Million to Politicians and Received 600% GainOUTSIDE THE BELTWAY (Joyner): Political Islam and U.S. IntelligenceJohn Bolton Confirmation Battle Really, Really DeadHow Bush Wrecked the ArmyHOT AIR: Bloggers gather at White House for pork bill signingNEXT HURRAH (DemFromCT): More On The NIE's EffectsMAHABLOG: Condiliar Strikes Back

By: Salon.com - Daou Report

Salon.com - Daou Report — Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY (Joyner) Political Islam and U.S. Intelligence Douglas Farah notes from a recent House Intelligence Committee Report that the “U.S. intelligence community has only a single office devoted to understanding political Islam,