Tony Blair simply does not get it
Published by Avi Green on Friday, September 29, 2006 at 1:05 AM.
I watched Tony Blair's conference to the Labour comittee a few days ago. It was really hilarious at times, and at others it was just simply disappointing. He predictably was unwilling to admit the truth about Islam. From The Australian (via Normblog):
And while it's true that in a way, Muslims are their own victims, that's not what Blair meant, unfortunately. Rather, he meant that as an apology of sorts to Muslims themselves, suggesting that they're "misunderstood". Please, Blair, do tell us about it.
His claims to have successfully cracked down on crime in Britain also ring hollow at best, especially when looked upon in light of the authorities' decision to only conduct raids on terror suspects with the Muslim leadership's approval.
[O]f course, the new anxiety is the global struggle against terrorism without mercy or limit.Sigh. Once again, another derivation of countless other arguments made in recent years that some corrupt fanatics just hijacked "a peaceful religion." And so, any impact that could've been had when Tony made clear that we shouldn't fall for the enemy's propaganda was rendered inert. It's moral equivalency, and I want to make clear that moral equivalency is something that could be the death of us all.
This is a struggle that will last a generation and more. But this I believe passionately: we will not win until we shake ourselves free of the wretched capitulation to the propaganda of the enemy, that somehow we are the ones responsible.
This terrorism isn't our fault. We didn't cause it. It's not the consequence of foreign policy. It's an attack on our way of life. It's global. It has an ideology. It killed nearly 3,000 people including over 60 British on the streets of New York before war in Afghanistan or Iraq was even thought of.
It has been decades growing. Its victims are in Egypt, Algeria, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Turkey. Over 30 nations in the world. It preys on every conflict. It exploits every grievance. And its victims are mainly Muslim.
This is not our war against Islam.
This is a war fought by extremists who pervert the true faith of Islam. And all of us, Western and Arab, Christian or Muslim, who put the value of tolerance, respect and peaceful co-existence above those of sectarian hatred, should join together to defeat them.
And while it's true that in a way, Muslims are their own victims, that's not what Blair meant, unfortunately. Rather, he meant that as an apology of sorts to Muslims themselves, suggesting that they're "misunderstood". Please, Blair, do tell us about it.
His claims to have successfully cracked down on crime in Britain also ring hollow at best, especially when looked upon in light of the authorities' decision to only conduct raids on terror suspects with the Muslim leadership's approval.
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