Do you understand that the War on Terror is NOT a War against Islam?

Question

I'm am amazed at the amount of intolerance and ignorance on this board when it comes to the War on Terror.

It's not only the war, but the intolerance concerning Muslims, whether it's a Senator from Illinois (whose bio states that he is a Christian and member of the United Church of Christ), or the family down the street. One can only hope that the myopic viewpoints on this board aren't an actual reflection of the populace of this country.

You do understand that terrorist groups use Islam as a means to create suicide bombers based on the promise of a glorious afterlife.

This is supposed to be a war against terror, not a war against Islam. Blame the terrorist groups, not the religion.

Stating that Islam is responsible for the suicide bombers would be akin to stating that Catholicism was responsible for the development of the Irish Republican Army, and their use of explosives during their conflict.

This is a conflict, not a crusade (which would be English for jihad).

Actually put this on the wrong board. It was meant for the Political board. Well, enjoy it anyway.

Answer 1

I was shocked at the anti-Islam feeling on this site. Everytime I would submit and answer defending Islam, I got many "thumbs downs" and reportings.

Answer 2

Do you understand that Islamic Fundamentalism was in fact begun by the CIA to destabilize the USSR (communists ban all religion) so if it were a war against Islam it would be extremely inconvenient for the CIA as they would be forced to fight themselves. But seriously, your question is a very good one and you are right most people do see the whole thing as a war on Islam which it is according to the media and according to who the US is attacking and blaming. Who else are they attacking? ETA? The IRA? So actually, what you are saying is nonsense isn't it? Which US terrorist targets are there which are not Islamic? OK, not all Muslims are being targeted (or are they?) but the terrorists are all Muslims aren't they? What are you saying it is a war against Islamic terrorism but not against Islam? So what about Iraq? A secular state with no terrorists... Feeling a bit lost? There is no war on terror, there is a corrupt administration faking terrorist attacks so it can steal oil and if it can advance some weirdo Christian agenda at the same time then whoopee du!

Answer 3

Hmmm. Some high ranking politicians and generals believe it is a war on Islam, so doesn't that make it a war on Islam? I agree that it's supposed to be against terrorists, but this seems to be the squeaky clean, feel-good message that is transmitted to the general public, not the guiding principle of the war.

By the way, for those who have not noticed, this isn't a single war. Many countries are involved in different conflicts that the US chooses to put under the sweeping title of the War on Terror. But the average Canadian or Italian does not believe that Iraq, for example, has anything to do with terrorism, and this is why many countries are involved only with the Afghanistan campaign.

@tjreamer, in response to his 4 points:
1. All the terrorists are muslims? What about Timothy McVeigh, the Unibomber, and the IRA? Oops, they're different somehow.
2. Moderate muslims aren't condemning the radicals? I can probably dig up in about a minute a dozen newspaper articles showing otherwise. The real question is, are you LISTENING to the moderate muslims?
3. I can't comment on this, because I have never read the Qu'ran. But I can tell you that Christians do not "ignore the nasty parts of the Bible", they just understand how to interpret them. I suspect this is true of moderate Muslims as well.
4. Bush himself has made nonsensical comments about this being a war against "Islamic fascism" (whatever that is) and that he has been chosen by God to be in his position. Sounds like a call to jihad to me.

Answer 4

Everyone knows this my son. The US authorities headed by Bush always remind us that our enemies are not the true Muslims but the fanatics.
However, very many Muslim faith leaders use their mosques to condemn the US and even aid terrorists; sometimes you may not be able to tell a good Muslim from a fanatic.

Answer 5

1. Unfortunately all the terrorists are Muslims, so you can see how people might get confused.

2. Moderate Muslims are as much to blame for the actions of the radicals because they don't condemn them. They aren't turning them in to authorities or co-operating with police to help identify and arrest terrorist cells.

3.Radical Muslims believe just the same things about the Qu'ran, Mohammed etc as moderates, they just take the passages on jihad more seriously. The passages encouraging violence against the infidel are there, moderates just ignore them, the same way moderate Christians ignore the more inconvenient and nasty parts of the Bible.

4. It is the Islamic terrorists themselves who say this is a war against Islam, not the West.

Answer 6

The war on terror is not a war against Islam but against our minds

Answer 7

You have a point, but where is the outrage from Muslims against these terrorists for hijacking their Religion? Why do so many think Jews ordered the 9-11 hijackings? Why do so many refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist? Why won't Pakistan let us search for Osama Bin Laden? You have a LONG way to go before you prove to ME you are a "Religion of Peace".

Answer 8

War on terror is basically a clash of civilizations.
Mohammed used violence to achieve his goals and that philosophy is the basis for the Jihad,
a word based on the Koran.
Look at how Muslims resolve conflicts among themselves. That's their way.
Read the news

Answer 9

Spot on.

Unfortunately too many people need someone to hate and at the moment the Muslims are that group.

Answer 10

i agree... but those the real terrorist(Bush and israelis)... won't stop until they been blown up by the muslim..the real muslim who sacrifice his or her life for islam... and the media is always the best way to provoke the bad things and unreal... they said it's war against terrorist but the real fact is they are against the muslim..