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September 11, "A day that will live in Infamy," in the words of FDR who was describing the Axis attacks on American Pearl Harbor in 1941. Fast forward to the rhetoric of the Bush administration post 9/11 which declared "A war on Terror," or what has become a apparent, "A war on Islam," which has become apparent to all including the Muslim American community, which at one point supported the efforts of the Bush Administration. Mr. Bush and his administration have kindled a fire of "Stealth Crusade Part 2" on Muslims in America and abroad. It has become apparent that the War on Terror was, and is in fact a War on Islam. Nevertheless, the pattern and reality of furtive hostility that has surfaced has been consistent since 2001 and clearly indicates that there is actually a crusade going on against Islam and Muslims under the pretext of the war on terrorism.
We live in a world where history has proven that political deception is a recognized method used by powerful governments and their leaders towards achieving personal interests. We as informed citizens of the world should analyze the "performances" and rhetoric of such leaders as Bush, when we listen to him praising Islam as a "great religion," while hosting Iftar parties at the White House and trumpeting off to the world about how he now owns a copy of the Quran, suggesting that he and his administration are exercising an act of diversity.
Through the implementation of policies such as those found within the USA Patriot Act; what has become more evident and clear now, is that the Bush administration is consistently pursuing a path of confrontation with Islam and Muslims both in America and abroad. For example, the self-evident scandals of the humility brought upon the Iraqi prisoners of war at Abu Ghraib. Moreover, the manner in which, the Quran was mistreated by American servicemen at Guantanamo Bay Cuba. Last but not least, the style in which the bodies of two Taliban fighters were cremated and the rhetoric that was uttered by high Pentagon officials in describing Islam and Muslims suggest without any doubt that the US Administration is pursing an agenda of a "Clash of Civilizations," through intimidation towards Islam and Muslims.
The proof of this "stealth crusade," can be found within the recorded history of the last five years. It is quite apparent, and one can see and view the patterns of the "us versus them," chess game being played clearly by the kings, the rooks and nights of the White House.
Praising Islam as a stealth tactic:
Another example of the Bush administration's hidden agenda to carry out his stealth crusade on Islam includes the use of double-talk. For example, government officials that hold high rank such as the President and vice president, and senior staff members ensure that Islam is never criticized or attacked by their office. They always extend courtesy towards Muslims and Islamic symbols. They ensure that the White house does not demonize Islam. However, 79th attorney general John Ashcroft tried to cross the line of tolerance when he questioned the idea of God in Islam, and said that, "the God of Islam wants the followers of Islam to be suicide bombers." He never withdrew the statement he made in public even though some senior administration members had distanced themselves from him. It looks great to see Bush and or Cheney praising Islam and hosting iftar parties while waving a copy of the Quran as a symbol of their respect for Islam. But one must understand their hidden motives and the stealth game they are playing very clearly. First of all, under the US constitution, they cannot speak against Islam or any other religion and secondly, they do not want to create a diplomatic disaster for America by showing open hostility against Islam. There are 56 Muslim countries. Even though some of them such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and Qatar and UAE are virtual US colonies, yet none of them would tolerate open hostilities against Islam.
Praise the Lord
The second strategy being implemented within the stealth crusade project is quite recognizable in the form of propaganda speeches and radio/TV talks delivered by some of the closest friends of President Bush and the GOP. The title Christian evangelists may ring a bell to those who are aware of this tactic in particular. In reality, however, they are crusaders whose sole aim is to denigrate Islam in particular because it is an ideological opposite of their defined Christian faith. Thus for them, Islam is anti-Christ, a religion of terror and should be shot back into the dark ages. The evangelists share these ideas with Bush and his cronies and rarely has the Bush administration distanced itself from the likes of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson.
The Bush team uses the first amendment as a means of spewing their hateful speech towards Islam within their churches and on their radio stations. For these necessary tools are Bush's pawns on the chess board, which he rallies as the base of the Republican party crusade against the new axis of evil, being Islam and the Middle East.
They have prepared a large team of crusaders at the grass roots level that is willing to express its hatred openly against Islam and Muslims.
Praise the Freedom
The third pattern is visible in several government agencies and government sponsored programs such as the faith-based provision in which, several evangelical groups have been using public money not only to promote their brand of Christianity, but also to promote hatred against Islam and Muslims.
In Places like Pentagon and the justice Department, there are individuals who strongly believe that Islam is an axis of evil and this was actually expressed by several US army officers within private and public statements made by them. They occupy important positions in the Administration and they have been using public funds to demonize face of Islam.
Their strategy is two-pronged. The first being to engage Muslims in dialogue and creates a division between them. This is done under the guise of labeling and categorizing Muslims into a moderate group and an extremist group being Shia and Sunnis. They are also dividing Muslims on ethnic and cultural lines. The administration has found a sufficient amount of Muslim groups throughout the world to serve as their partners in this endeavor. So far, the administration has spent more than 200 million dollars in this campaign, which has been kept secret. The Bush administration has given money to several Muslim groups under different Schemes and it has tried to boost the stature of several Muslim leaders by tempting them to join iftar parties hosted by GOP leaders and the White House. The second strategy is to create conditions of hostility against Islam through evangelical chaplains who have been employed in large numbers within the Pentagon.
Praise Democracy
The third visible trend within the stealth attack on Islam has been implemented through the use of so called intellectuals such as Daniel Pipes, who is a self-proclaimed Islam-hater, and through the employment of so called liberals as well as neo-cons whose main objective is to prove that Islam is anti-democracy and as a religion, does not have the capability to play any role either in state or in politics.
They do not want Islam to take any form of comprehensiveness in any part of public or private welfare. Ironically, some of them are strong supporters of a mingling Christianity within the political arena in America and the West. For instance, Kenneth Star, a GOP favorite had urged the Bush administration to appoint ultra-conservative Christians and radical Islam-haters to positions of power within the government. For instance, Daniel Pipes was elected as a board of director for the Institute for Peace.
How ironic, a self-proclaimed Islam-hater would be appointed by Bush to such a position of honor. He was later removed from the elected position.
How should Muslims deal with this confrontational situation that has been thrust into their faces by Bush and his "Stealth Crusaders?" The first advice would be to stand up and recognize that this attack on Islam is a crusade against Islam launched by the Bush Administration. The second advice would be to speak up and refuse to be categorized into groups such as Shia or Sunni, which gives them fuel to divide Muslims.
Let us not identify ourselves as either Sunnis or Shias. Let us call ourselves Muslims. Stand up and refuse to be called moderate or extremists. Take a stand against those who misuse Islam for their stealth political agenda, which is to eradicate Islam from the face of the earth. Take a stand against this "Stealth Crusade."
Dr. Aslam Abdullah is the editor of the Muslim Observer, director of the Islamic Society of Nevada and director of the Muslim Electorates Council of America (MECA).
Note: Neo-cons and the general public who limit their views to a select group of American corporate news media will point figures at the actions of a few fringe elements to justify this policy of aggression. But tit-for-tat is not a policy that civilized societies should engage in. To those people I want to say, "Hold your criticism of this article" until you read this writers criticism of those who claim to be Muslims and engage in violation of human rights. See the following articles ..
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