Wednesday, September 15, 2004
Idiot’s Guide to Islamic Jihad
I took a one-semester course in the history of the Middle East over a decade ago. That makes me no expert on affairs of the region but, when I come across certain references to Islam and the Middle East I’m often reminded of the larger contexts at play in the current “war on terror” which, lets face it, is a war with a radical ideology. There are certainly a variety of sources available to anyone seeking a better understanding of such issues.
I recently came across a very concise and rather objective overview of Islamic history and the specific issue of radical Islamic Jihad.
If information overload has discouraged you from seeking a basic understanding of information surrounding who or what we are currently at war with, then I recommend the following quick and easy overview (about seven pages); Bin Laden’s Rage: Why He and His Followers Hate The United States.
(Don’t be misled by the prominent flag and eagle that headline the article. It’s not a cheesy patriotic tirade). The free world is not at war with bullets, bombs, or “terrorism.” We’re at war with a radical ideology that is disciplined and fervent. It’s not going to go away if we address some fanciful “root causes” or tell its followers we’re sorry we have bigger houses than them.
The pen is mightier than the sword, but this time you better bring both.
I recently came across a very concise and rather objective overview of Islamic history and the specific issue of radical Islamic Jihad.
If information overload has discouraged you from seeking a basic understanding of information surrounding who or what we are currently at war with, then I recommend the following quick and easy overview (about seven pages); Bin Laden’s Rage: Why He and His Followers Hate The United States.
(Don’t be misled by the prominent flag and eagle that headline the article. It’s not a cheesy patriotic tirade). The free world is not at war with bullets, bombs, or “terrorism.” We’re at war with a radical ideology that is disciplined and fervent. It’s not going to go away if we address some fanciful “root causes” or tell its followers we’re sorry we have bigger houses than them.
The pen is mightier than the sword, but this time you better bring both.
