We Didn't Start the Fire

Despite leftist chatter, America didn't "do" anything to radical Islam. The terrorists launched their jihad on America because American society is pluralistic, prosperous, free--and not Muslim. The Koran promises that universal submission to Allah (Dar al-Islam--or "house of Islam") will bring world peace (Dar es-Salaam--or "harbor of Peace"). Where the New and Old Testaments are connected narratives about people, the Koran lists requirements for government and man. Where the Bible is history (or, for some, fiction), the Koran reads like the tax code. So Radical Islam views Westerners as tax cheats. Just as widespread evasion would destroy the tax system, prosperous non-Islamic nations are criminals. The swelling success of such criminal nations implicitly challenges the Koran's accuracy and Allah's infallibility.

No quarter or compromise is possible--because the word of the Koran is law. Any deviation or impurity--such as a Constitution or civil rights--is a crime. The Koran gives such criminals only three options: forced conversion to Islam, taxation "in acknowledgment of [Islamic] superiority and [non-Muslims'] state of subjection" or death and hell.

The terrorists responsible for 9/11 were neither poor nor uneducated. While in the West, they went to college, chatted on mobile phones, drank booze and ogled women in strip clubs. They weren't jealous of Western wealth and freedom. They were unconcerned about greenhouse gas emissions, colonialism, rain forests and income inequality. The terrorists don't hate us out of envy--they hate us because Western civilization is inconsistent with the teachings of the Prophet. Three thousand Americans died on September 11th--because murder was simpler than conversion or confiscatory taxation.

A year ago, Al Qaeda killed 200 in Madrid, toppling the courageous Spanish government in favor of appeasers. This week, Spain hosted an international conference promoting worldwide cooperation in fighting terrorism and/or bashing America. Either way, the terrorists were unimpressed:

You infidels, whatever you prepare, you will be defeated and never be victorious because Allah has promised us victory. So you have only to wait ... and we will be waiting too," said a statement purportedly posted by the group on an extremist Islamic Web site on Saturday.

The statement could not be verified, but the Web site has posted previous al-Qaida statements and claims of responsibility.

"How many times the infidels gather in solidarity and cooperation against Islam and to fight jihad (holy war)," the statement said. "They call Islam terrorism. Terrorizing enemies of God is our faith and religion which is taught to us by our Quran." . . .

"Lest we forget. The first brilliant anniversary of Madrid attack. Here where we accept congratulations," the Web site page said.

Or enemy has no qualm about killing and will fight forever to convert the West to Islamic. The Koran says it's Allah's will--and that victory is inevitable.

And Muslim extremists are particularly interested in fellow Arabs. That's why terrorists from around the world flocked to Iraq--an Arab government that rejected even some of the Koran's dictates would be an especial affront to the word of god. This heresy was sufficiently threatening to warrant murdering (inside a Mosque at a funeral) 47 fellow Muslims--apparently because they weren't terrorists.

I'm thankful the Bush Doctrine kick-started democracy in the mid-East. Because America and the West are racing against time. Some day, perhaps, a "Martin al-Luther" may reform Islam. But that might take centuries. Until then, protecting our rights, religion and respect requires military force. We didn't start this war. So, short of surrender--still the preferred option in Europe--America must persevere until Radical Islam is either contained or destroyed.

(via GOP Bloggers)