24 January 2009

AFTER THE CRUSADES COMES THE CALIPHATE

Note: The following note (now with revisions) I posted on a Turkish English-language political blog, at the end of an opinion-piece about the recent American presidential election: http://www.worldbulletin.net/author_article_detail.php?id=1876

I'd say America is not in a "Crusade" against the whole "Muslim world," as you say. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are against very specific, regressive subsections of the Muslim world--not against all Muslims--which is not a unified community, in any case.

But, let's look ahead: When the U.S. is out of Iraq in about 18 months, what then? Will Iraqi Muslim factions cease fighting with each other? Will neighboring Iran be satisfied with the status quo? Will Afghanistan regain peace (which it never had)? Will Pakistan settle its longstanding internal discord? Will India not continue to experience factional strife? Can you assure us that the Muslim "world" will change for the better?

I am one who thinks American efforts in the Middle East/Afghanistan have been misguided and mostly detrimental to both the U.S. and those countries in which it has been involved. But, will the essentials much change as the U.S. extricates itself from those troubled places? What is your basis for optimism after America withdraws?


If you are a moderate Muslim, where will you stand after the current misnamed Crusade ends and the widespread, internecine Muslim warfare continues, with the U.S. no longer actively fighting, but in which you will be forced to choose sides? After the "Crusades" (part two), and after America takes care of its own energy needs, where will you be, as a moderate Muslim, when medieval Muslim forces fight to establish the theocratic Caliphate (part two) on your head?

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