Last Thursday I read an in-depth analysis of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’s justification for the terror he and his cohorts are currently engaged in. Zarqawi’s expressed view is that the terror is justified because democracy is “man-made” and “modern” while the Koran is “god-breathed.” He claims that this “apostasy” needs to be purged, hence the justification of terror.
Some “experts” have said it’s the logic of an insane man, but Sigian, one of the author’s of Adeimantus, has looked at the statement in depth and maintains that Zarqawi is far from insane.
In a wonderful piece, titled “Know Your Enemy,” Sigian parses Zarqawi’s statement so that the reader can better understand the enemy we are fighting in Iraq and around the world. He puts his purpose this way:
“If we are going to prevail over it in a war that is at least in part a war of ideas, we'd better take it seriously and understand it.””This past Saturday an audio tape purportedly recorded by Zarqawi was posted on two websites that support radical Islamicist causes. (The "purportedly" is included in all press reports but there's little if any doubt that the tape is genuine.) In the recording Zarqawi justifies and explains the Iraq insurgency. You've probably heard about this. Media (mainstream and otherwise) around the world has reported that he "declared war on democracy". In many blogs and MSM opinion pieces, commentators have thanked him for revealing in such stark terms the unenlightened thought and goals of Al Qaeda and the Iraq insurgency. The subtext of these observations (and often the main point) is that no rational person could possibly subscribe to this agenda when it's laid out so clearly, and that Zarqawi made a tactical blunder by being so plain-spoken.”
Some “experts” have said it’s the logic of an insane man, but Sigian, one of the author’s of Adeimantus, has looked at the statement in depth and maintains that Zarqawi is far from insane.
In a wonderful piece, titled “Know Your Enemy,” Sigian parses Zarqawi’s statement so that the reader can better understand the enemy we are fighting in Iraq and around the world. He puts his purpose this way:
“If we are going to prevail over it in a war that is at least in part a war of ideas, we'd better take it seriously and understand it.””This past Saturday an audio tape purportedly recorded by Zarqawi was posted on two websites that support radical Islamicist causes. (The "purportedly" is included in all press reports but there's little if any doubt that the tape is genuine.) In the recording Zarqawi justifies and explains the Iraq insurgency. You've probably heard about this. Media (mainstream and otherwise) around the world has reported that he "declared war on democracy". In many blogs and MSM opinion pieces, commentators have thanked him for revealing in such stark terms the unenlightened thought and goals of Al Qaeda and the Iraq insurgency. The subtext of these observations (and often the main point) is that no rational person could possibly subscribe to this agenda when it's laid out so clearly, and that Zarqawi made a tactical blunder by being so plain-spoken.”
"I maintain that it's naive and dangerous to assume Zarqawi's message was less than well-considered or that it will have almost no appeal in the Islamic world.”
Link to the post for more. I believe it’s a must read!
1 comment:
I was struck similarly by al-Zarqawi's rationale. I could not disagree with him. We in America have been persuaded by our own rhetoric that democracy is the "best" form of government, therefore we should encourage its adoption throughout the world. Yet, the "democratic mind" is a product of culture and is not the worldview of all cultures or religions.
I have been studying Islam lately learned that "jihad" was nearly adopted as the 6th pillar of Islam. It is NOT a peripheral doctrine founded upon an obscure verse taken out of context by radicals! Mohammed was a man of war (though merciful to his enemies in victory) who was involved in wars and fighting from Islam's founding to the end of his life. The Islamic Empire that evolved over the next 50-100 years after his death was propagated theough military conquest.
I suspect this conflict will outlive us. Just food for thought...
Jerome Mahaffey PhD., Indiana University East
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