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The Elephant Roared and Brought Forth a Turd: A Case Against Democratizing the Middle East
Ancient Navigation And MappingDR. SENTIEL ROMMEL: As part of the research team that sought to know how advanced the ancient navigational equipment and computers or ..... The original vulgarity was bylined: The Constipation of Americas Mid-East Peace Policy!
It is with some trepidation that I embark upon this discourse; for one, out of respect for elephants, but more so because within the American framework of democracy I have so greatly benefited. Thus, to liken the extension of Americas efforts to democratize the civil administrations of Moslem stateseven with the caveat considering cultural sensitivitiesto the intestinal hardships of our beloved pacaderm is in itself cause for internal consternation, reflection, and a longing for interior relief.
STUNT OMNES UNUM
The current administrations mascot bears some responsibility for the chosen political metaphor; however, it must be duly noted, that this article could just as well be entitled: Asinus asinorum in saecula saeculorum! (Latin for: The Jackass of Jackasses in the Centuries of Centuries, or The Greatest Jackass in Eternitythis, and other Latin expressions in honor of Pax Americana will be duly sprinkled throughout this missive)giving equal honors to both dominate American political parties for their extended efforts at peace in the Middle East, for: Stunt omnes unum . . . they are all one!
Indeed, by giving credit to where credit is due, we must keep in mind that the commonality of purpose to secure Americas interests in the Middle East and, ipso facto, the Wests energy spicket, via proping up its Islamic dictatorships, or hastening the democratization of the region, is the continuous policy of both Democratic and Republican State Departmentsmake no mistake about it.
The Democrats differ only in the design of a better mouse trap and have no right to cast their stones of dispersion from their glass palace at the failed policies of the GOPpolicies now garbed in democratic hyperbole.
WELCOME TO THE THEOLOGICAL CALDRUM
Peace in the Middle East! Better yet: What is the current administrations Mid-East Peace Policy? Road Map to Peace? Peace Process? It is prudent, though policy makers would dearly extract this fixation from the debate, the theological implicationsMoslem, Jewish, and Christianfrom this canundrum of canundrums, and why, specifically, Jerusalem (has become) a cup of trembling (i.e., reeling or drunkeness) to all the surrounding peoples . . . a very heavy stone for all peoples . . . though all nations of the earth are gathered against it (Zechariah 12:2-3)?
The Biblical metaphor of reeling and drunkeness is actually the physical reaction of a person who trembles after imbibing a poisonous potion. You drink of this venom, you immediately go into radical convulsions, with one destination in view: death!
Initially, so it appeared, our Presidents so-called lack of a coherent Mid-East peace plan at the commencement of his administration both mystified and concernedsooner or later he too would be compelled to deal with this Middle East tar baby. Could you blame himgrasping this cup of trembling portends incessant disappointment and, worse yet, staggering political liability with purient involvement leading toas we now bemoaneintractable conflict.
Yet, the greatest Consuming Nation ever to countenance the planetfueled by the mecurial petroleum moleculewould inevitably be sucked into this black hole whose exit strategies escape all nations.
EXTOLING OUR VIRTUESPLAIN VANILLA
Nothing like pontificatingi.e., extolling our efforts at peace in the region. This was masterfully accomplished by the Council on Foreign Relations Aaron D. Miller at the CFRs Transition 2005: Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East Peace Process forum in February. Dr. Millera former U.S. State Department official, having served six previous Secretaries of State by helping to formulate U.S. policy on the Middle East and the Arab-Israeli peace processconfirmed my original thesis regarding the bi-partisan nature of our endeavors at formulating peace in the Middle East; to wit:
The three Americans that have made the most compelling contribution in the history of American diplomacy, and there are only threetwo Republican secretaries of state, Henry Kissinger, James Baker, and one Democratic president, so it transcends party lines, Jimmy Carterall combined those qualities, with an acute sense of knowing when to intercede. That is how to do effective American diplomacy. And if in fact we were to succeed again, that is an approach that we have to come back to. (Note: Apparently, Miller dismisses President Clintons endeavors.)
In any event, bi-partisan consensus was summed up by political think tank Seeds of Peace president Miller as follows:
(1)President Bush must make the Middle East Peace Process a 24/7 top priorityworking with a diverse team of competent advisors.
(2)Policy must not neglect whats happening on the ground (i.e., realities on the ground integrate with immediate policy).
(3)The U.S. must remain in control of its own policy (i.e., dont let either side, Israeli or Palestinian/Arab, dictate).
(4)Beware of interim deals, but also beware of high-risk efforts to solve this problem quickly.
(5)Combine empathy and trust, with toughness, to both Israelis and Arabs.
Furthermore, avoidance of the black hole is uselessMiller concludes:
If we want to supplement our war against terror, further the cause of democratization, there is no other issue that would do more to enhance our credibility than the pursuit of this one (i.e., full engagement in the so-called Middle East Peace Process involving Arabs and Israelis).
Christians In PerilChristians in Peril Romans 7:8-7:25 Christians in Peril The Christian today has become a peop ..... Safe, reasonable, intelligent, thoughtfulyep, just plain vanilla. But the status quo of Dr. Millers world was about to be shaken with the departure of one Collin Powell, and the subsequent installation of National Security Advisor, now Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
In this time of great decision, I have come to Cairo not to talk about the past, but to look to the future a future that Egyptians can lead and define.
Ladies and Gentlemen: In our world today, a growing number of men and women are securing their liberty . . .
After all, America was founded by individuals who knew that all human beings -- and the governments they create -- are inherently imperfect. And the United States was born half free and half slave. And it was only in my lifetime that my government guaranteed the right to vote for all of its people.
Nevertheless, the principles enshrined in our Constitution enable citizens of conviction to move America closer every day to the ideal of democracy. Here in the Middle East, that same long hopeful process of democratic change is now beginning to unfold. Millions of people are demanding freedom for themselves and democracy for their countries (Excerpts from Sec. of State Rices speech at the American University in Cairo, Egypt on June 20, 2005).
Naturally, Dr. Rices (later references) to democratic aspirations for the regionaddressing her audience as ladies and gentlemen to highlight Islamic suppression of women in generalblew the Kaffiyeh off her Arab audience.
Notwithstanding all the cultural sensitivities to the contrary . . . it is nigh impossible and absurdly ridiculous to fathom how Judeo-Christian Americana ideals and cultural backgrounds relate to Middle Eastern realities on the ground (as we speak). Never mindthe President must opine:
America will not impose our style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, to attain their own freedom, make their own way (Rice, in her same speech, quoting from President Bushs second inaugural address, while prefacing his words with: We are supporting the democratic aspirations of all people.).
Thus, in one-fell swoop, we witness cultural wiggle room at its height as Arab states commence their march toward freedom and Islamic-style democracy!
EGYPT MUST LEAD, AS SHE LED OF OLD
What Is Your Hobby?When you saw the title of this article, what was your reaction' Did you groan' Did you get excited' Did you say, 'Who has time for a hobby'' I ..... The people of Egypt should be at the forefront of this great journey, just as you have led this region through the great journeys of the past (Again, excerpt from the Rice speech.).
At this point, one must ponder: What Egyptian journey of the past do we contemplate? How about the slave-driven, pyramid-building, totalitarian civilizations of the Pharaohs?
Of course we Americans intuitively know what the President and Dr. Rice mean (at least we once did) . . . but driving this democratic square peg into the black, moon-shaped hole of Islamic civilization may ultimately necessitate Alexander the Greats resolution of untying the Gordian Knot he encountered at the ancient city of Gordium (100 miles west of Ankara, Turkey).
An oracle of Zeus alleged that if anyone could untie this knot, that person would be the conqueror of all Asia. Of course everyone knows, Alexander (champion of the Ancient West) cheated on the oracle by cutting the knot with his sword instead of untying itnotwithstanding, the avaricious behavior of the god Zeus still gave Alexander Asia!
Even so, the conclusion of the matter (i.e., incorporating nigh 1,500 years of Islamic civilization into Western thinking and democratic idealism first proclaimed by the Greeks) may ultimately necessitate a rather crude Greco-Roman application; simply put: CUT TO THE CHASE!
And, why might this be the case? Consider the utter futility of the West approaching the Islamic Knot of Asialets just consider the lead of Egypt toward democratic liberalization:
Nina Sheas piece on Egyptian democratic ideals tells it bluntlythe Muslim Brotherhood would be swept to power if open elections were held in Egypt:
Mubaraks policies have created a situation in which pro-Western democrats like Ramy Lakah are silenced or driven abroad, leaving the Muslim Brotherhood as the only organized opposition within Egypt. If an open election were held this year, few doubt that the Muslim Brotherhood would win. An Islamist group, the Brotherhood has won hearts and minds through charitable work and exploited religion to thrive despite ruthless repression against it. It purportedly renounced violence in the 1970s, but its motto continues to be: Allah is our objective. The Prophet is our leader. Quran is our law. Jihad is our way. Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.
And, what of Islamic Brotherhood?
A social and political movement which started in Egypt in 1928 by Hasan al-Banna for the purpose of establishing a pan-Islamic state, transcending all current political and geographic divisions. Like those before him, al-Banna also regarded the West as posing a fundamental threat to the future of Islam. He felt that even worse than military campaigns were the attempts to import Western culture and political ideals. The root of Muslim problems was that the Sharia (Islamic law) had not been implemented - once this was accomplished, everything would be better. (Taken from: Islamic Extremism)
This is the same Muslim Brotherhood that assassinated Anwar Sadatin spite of Sadats attempts to assure them of his Islamic fidelity. Is it any wonder that the Brotherhood continues to call for a more open and democratic political system in Egypt.
Tracing the so-called hydra-headed monster of Islamic terrorist organizations is not the intent of this discussion. One can deliberate for countless hours on this serpentine figure (Please see http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/rpt/fto/2001/5258.htm). But, what is of peculiar note is where Secretary Rice delivered this sea-change in American foreign policy: In the heart of Egypt, where the Brotherhood and scores of Islamicists recruit insurgents against Americas War on Terror!
IRANIAN DEMOCRACY AT WORK
While the U.S. attempts to light the fires of Iraqi liberty and democracyagainst the backdrop of rabid Islamic insurgency, London bombings, and ominous threats upon homeland US targets (Including soft targets in the U.S. like movie theaters, restaurants and schools etc.) (Please see: http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/005364.php), the Iranian people by the millions decide its time to elect an even more radical regime to pilot their nation through the incursions from the West!
Of course, with the election of hardliner and American hostage taker, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (though vehemently denied by Iranian authorities), at summers commencement (2005), how heartening are his initial exploits heard in the West:
Today, we can say that nuclear technology is our right!
How comforting too, to know that a Greater Persiawhich encompasses Southern Iraqs Shiite majorityalso awaits the full development of the democratic Islamic Republics nuclear program. Some, like Michael Rubin in Forward Magazine, conjecture that the Bush Administration has no coherent policy on Iran regarding the spread of democracy. Dear Michaellet me disabuse you of such folly! The West, led by the Bush Administration, knows precisely how to democratize and, ipso facto, diffuse the Islamic Bomb! If, on the other hand, you consider this contrary to democratic ideals live with it.
ISLAMIC MODERATES?
There is this Western fascination, perpetrated by certain strata of its intelligentsia and fomented by both the progressive and entrenched liberal media, that the vast majority of clear-thinking Moslem leadership, when push comes to shove, is tolerant and merciful; yes, caring souls who long to live in peace with all mankind, especially with folks in the West.
Frankly, lets quit pussy-footing around with discovering a Salman Rushdie here, a Dr. Khalid Duran there, or even a Tashbih Sayyed, President of the Council for Democracy and Tolerancethese rare exceptions dwell in the ethereal world of the Wests civilization. Whats happening on Dr. Millers ground bespeaks the antithesis of the so-called moderate Moslem.
One gets this image of President Bush standing amidst a sea of moderate Moslem clerics gatheredall the while this miniscule segment of Islam is utterly overshadowed by the vast majority of mainstream believers in Allah to whom moderate Moslem is regarded in the Quran as an Infidel and should be treated as any Christian, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, etc.
(For entire article . . . please go to http://www.the-tribulation-network.com; includes graphics, links, etc.)
Doug is a member of the "Last Days Network" . . . a group of evangelical pundits providing news and analysis on Religion in Politics. "Applied Biblical prophecy," apostasy and deception, the impact of the New American World System, and the influences of the Religious Right and Left upon American culture, are topics discuss by the group. He is an educator based in Northern California; his articles appear on numerous blogs throughout the nation and the world.
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