Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Could This Happen Here?

From Daniel Pipes:
"As the full implications of the London terrorist attacks by domestic jihadis sink in, Westerners are speaking out about the problem of radical Islam with new clarity and boldness....

"Mr. Cameron [British shadow education secretary] spoke with a bluntness unique in four years of politicians' discourse since September 11, 2001: 'The driving force behind today's terrorist threat is Islamist fundamentalism. The struggle we are engaged in is, at root, ideological. During the last century a strain of Islamist thinking has developed which, like other totalitarianisms, such as Nazi-ism and Communism, offers its followers a form of redemption through violence.'

"Most striking are the growing calls to extrude Islamists....:

A call to expel Islamists has also come from Peter Costello, the treasurer of Australia and regarded as heir apparent to Prime Minister Howard.

Continuing now with the Pipes article:
"These statements, all dating from the past half year, prompt several observations. First, where are the Americans? No major U.S. politician has spoken of making American-based Islamists unwelcome. Who will be the first?

"Second, note the consistent focus on the law and legal issues. This correctly picks up on the fact that ultimately, the Islamist project concerns the application of Islamic law, the Sharia.

"And finally, these comments are likely to be leading indicators of a broader campaign to restrict and remove Islamists – a move that comes none too soon."

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