Are We Ar War With Islam? Part VI

Looking at history, it is fairly clear that we were at war with Communism. We had regional proxy wars, and the Cold War. Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson had no problem defining who the enemy was. Did that mean every Russian, every Chinese citizen, or every Cuban believed in Communism? Did it mean that every citizen of every Communist state believed in extending the reach of Communism across the globe? Of course not. No more than every single Muslim believes in violent jihad, or forcing all the world's people to live under Sharia law.

But just how many Muslims do believe in being governed under Sharia law? According to a Pew Research Center report of 12/7/15 by Michael Lipka, 25 countries have Muslim populations in which at least 50% of the Muslims would like to see Sharia law govern. The percentages range from 52% to 99%, when we only count countries with 50% or more agreeing. These countries include Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, the Palestinian territories, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Niger, Djibouti, Congo, Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Kenya, Mali, Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon and Liberia.

We know that Communist states were totalitarian states. We know that Communists did not believe in what we in the West consider to be basic civil rights - freedom of speech, freedom of religion, the right to assemble and petition the government. Is there any similarity to Sharia law? No freedom of speech. The Organization of Islamic States has been trying for years to get the UN to criminalize any speech critical of Islam. We have seen how death threats are made against those who criticize Islam. We have seen the actual killings at Charlie Hebdo. No freedom of religion. In some Muslim countries it is a crime punishable by death to convert from Islam to another religion. And do not look for churches or synagogues in some Muslim countries. Freedom of assembly and the right to petition the government for change? That did not work out well in Iran with their "Green Revolution."

So, we see how both Communist ideology and Islam's Sharia law are inconsistent with basic American and Western values. Are there other differences between Sharia law and Western values? You bet. According to an article by Ayaan Hirsi Ali in the June 14, 2016 Wall Street Journal, at least 40 Muslim countries/territories criminalize homosexuality. You think the Orlando murderer was alone in his beliefs about homosexuality? According to an article in the 6/13/16 Washington Post, at least 10 Muslim countries have the death penalty for certain homosexual acts. Some have death by stoning; when the punishment is less than death it may be imprisonment and/or flogging. Inconsistent with Western values? You bet.

How about Muslim countries treatment of women? It does vary, but we also know how extreme some are. Some countries have large percentages of their populations that do not believe women should be able to choose their own clothing. 56% in Tunisia, 52% in "westernized" Turkey, 49% in Lebanon and 47% in Saudi Arabia, to name a few.

You think that the disgustingly named "honor killings" occur only overseas? The American Conservative said that the Justice Department estimates that there are 27 "honor killings" yearly right here in the USA. One can surmise that there are many more than 27, as the victims are dead, unable to report their own deaths. When killed by their own families, there is no one to complain. Yes, I fully acknowledge that many in the Muslim community condemn such killings. But one must ask how there is a culture that sustains such killings.

Whether women are allowed to be out in public without a man, get an education, work, hold public office can all vary from country to country. So, Obama wants to fight "violent extremists," not "radical Islamists." But,as John Guandolo opined (see Part V), how do we develop a strategy without identifying the enemy. Is the enemy only those who carry out violent attacks? Is the enemy those who support those terrorists, even if they do not participate? Or, can we say that the ideology that supports not just the Islamic terrorists but also a way of viewing the world that is completely contrary to American, Constitutional and Western values is the real problem?

Once again, I fully acknowledge those Muslims who do not support terrorism or jihad, and who do not want to live by Sharia law nor enforce it upon others. But not all Germans supported Hitler, not all Chinese supported Mao, and not all Russians supported Stalin. It is unclear to this writer why identifying the true enemy can ever be an insult to those who do not hold such radical, anti-American beliefs. It is time for Obama and the left to face reality. Or, we can just continue to blame everything that happens on the Republicans, as the New York Times does.