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Why The West Is Losing The War On Terror
Potomac Books
March 2005
332 pages ISBN: 1574888625 Trade Size (reprint)
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Non-Fiction
Though U.S. leaders try to convince the world of their
success in fighting al Qaeda, one anonymous member of the
U.S. intelligence community would like to inform the public
that we are, in fact, losing the war on terror. Further,
until U.S. leaders recognize the errant path they have
irresponsibly chosen, he says, our enemies will only grow
stronger. According to the author, the greatest danger for Americans
confronting the Islamist threat is to believe—at the urging
of U.S. leaders—that Muslims attack us for what we are and
what we think rather than for what we do. Blustering
political rhetoric "informs" the public that the Islamists
are offended by the Western world’s democratic freedoms,
civil liberties, inter-mingling of genders, and separation
of church and state. However, although aspects of the
modern world may offend conservative Muslims, no Islamist
leader has fomented jihad to destroy participatory
democracy, for example, the national association of credit
unions, or coed universities. Instead, a growing segment of the Islamic world strenuously
disapproves of specific U.S. policies and their attendant
military, political, and economic implications.
Capitalizing on growing anti-U.S. animosity, Osama bin
Laden’s genius lies not simply in calling for jihad, but in
articulating a consistent and convincing case that Islam is
under attack by America. Al Qaeda’s public statements
condemn America’s protection of corrupt Muslim regimes,
unqualified support for Israel, the occupation of Iraq and
Afghanistan, and a further litany of real-world grievances.
Bin Laden’s supporters thus identify their problem and
believe their solution lies in war. Anonymous contends they
will go to any length, not to destroy our secular,
democratic way of life, but to deter what they view as
specific attacks on their lands, their communities, and
their religion. Unless U.S. leaders recognize this fact and
adjust their policies abroad accordingly, even moderate
Muslims will join the bin Laden camp.
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