The Root of the Problem

This is a sad time for all Americans, and all peace loving people of the world who wonder what drove the terrorists to cause unspeakable harm to so many innocent people and ultimately to themselves. What could possibly motivate this action? What was there to be gained? The impetus for such a heinous crime must have been very powerful indeed. And that drive and motivation still exists in the world today. But where is this faceless enemy? How do we stop it if we don’t even know what it is? This disaster has changed our lives forever.

We have heard ad nauseum the rhetoric that this was a ‘senseless act’ and if we ‘think about it for a thousand years it will still never make sense to us’. This is an extremely dangerous position for America to assume. It was ignorance of the motivations and hatred that allowed us to get ‘sucker-punched’ by these terrorists. And until we get inside their heads and understand what motivates them to this level of self-destruction, we are leaving ourselves exposed to additional attacks.

We have all heard that this was beyond the worst-case scenario that our leaders have anticipated. Unfortunately, this is far from the worst-case. Even the concept of slamming a jumbo-jet into the Capitol building was the climax in a Tom Clancy book from several years ago. But so are other even more deadly fictional terrorist acts including nuclear detonations in population centers and biological warfare on a large scale. These are ‘fictional’… for the moment anyway.

Pakistan is on the verge of a civil war with its Muslim fundamentalists trying to overthrow the Pakistani government because it sympathizes with the US. These fundamentalist Muslims are sympathetic to the Afghan Taliban regime and Usama bin Laden. Oh, and Pakistan has nuclear weapons. Let’s not forget our old pal Saddam and his biological and chemical weapons of choice.

We have all heard from our leaders that ‘we are not at war with Islam’, and that ‘there is nothing in Islam that condones this type of deplorable action’. And truly, there are many Muslims in this country and the world that deplore these heinous crimes. Watching Dan Rather weep with David Letterman over these horrific acts was a moving thing to watch, but when asked "Why?" we are simply told over and over that we ‘just don’t know’. We are told that the Muslims are a peace-loving people and that their religious beliefs are benign and peaceful. So it can’t be that… or can it?

I don’t expect Dan Rather would have ever read the Qur’an (the holy ‘bible’ of Islam). I don’t believe that the ‘talking heads’ on TV have done all that much in-depth research into the subject of Islamic religion and beliefs. For the most part, they are reading the scripts that have been generated by the policy makers in the newsrooms and the media moguls. And the ‘party-line’ is that Islam is a peace-loving religion that wouldn’t dream of doing such a dastardly deed. But yet we see images of Muslims partying over the death of thousands of innocent lives. Many are calling for a ‘jihad’ or ‘holy war’ against the United States. ‘Holy War’ is an oxymoron. There is nothing remotely ‘holy’ about it.

Something just isn’t adding up. I know I am not the only one that is confused over the rhetoric versus the images that I am seeing and the reality and the horror of the actions. The words just don’t fit the actions. But why? What is being instilled into these terrorists to make them act the way they do? Where does it come from?

Please read the following paragraphs with the understanding that these words are unaltered words from the Qur’an. (The Qur’an was written in Arabic, but like the Holy Bible, has been translated into English with the most popular and purportedly the most accurate being the Yusuf Ali translation from which these passages are quoted). No editorial license has been taken here, nor has any emphasis been added. Lest you think that these passages have been taken out of context or altered in any way, I have included the Sura chapter and verse for each.

Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits, for Allah does not love transgressors. 2:190

And slay them wherever you catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out, for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter. 2:191

And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and let there prevail justice and faith in Allah; but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression. 2:193

Fighting is prescribed for you, and you dislike it. But it is possible that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knows, and you know not. 2:216

Let those fight in the cause of Allah who sell the life of this world for the Hereafter. To him who fights in the cause of Allah, - whether he is slain or gets victory – soon shall We give him a reward of great value. 4:74

Of the Unbelievers: "seize them and slay them wherever you find them: and in any case take no friends or helpers from their ranks." 4:89

Allah has granted a grade higher to those who strive and fight with their goods and persons than to those who sit at home. 4:95

…"for the Unbelievers are open enemies to you." 4:101

For the Unbelievers, Allah has prepared a humiliating punishment. 4:102

O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of Allah anything but the truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was no more than a Messenger of Allah… Do not say "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is One God: Glory be to Him: far exalted is He above having a son. 4:171

From those too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part of the Message that was sent to them: so We estranged them, with enmity and hatred between one and the other, to the Day of Judgment. And soon will Allah show them what they have done. 5:14

In blasphemy indeed are those that say that God is Christ the son of Mary. 5:17

O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians for your friends and protectors: they are but friends and protectors to each other. And he among you that turns to them for friendship is of them. 5:51

They do blaspheme who say: "God is Christ the son of Mary." They do blaspheme who say: God is one of three in a trinity: for there is no God except one God Allah. If they do not desist from their word of blasphemy, verily a grievous penalty will befall the blasphemers among them. Christ the son of Mary was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. 5:72- 73, 5:75

Of the Jews: ‘When in their insolence they transgressed all prohibitions, We said to them: "Be you apes, despised and rejected."’ 7:166

"Many are the men We have made for Hell…" 7:179

Remember your Lord inspired the angels with the message: "I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: you smite them above their necks and smite all their finger-tips off them." 8:12

Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of Allah. Whatever you spend in the cause of Allah shall be repaid to you and you shall not be treated unjustly. 8:60

O Messenger! Rouse the Believers among you to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will vanquish two thousand of the Unbelievers: for these are people without understanding. 8:65

…Then fight and slay the Pagans wherever you find them, seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war…9:5

Fight them and Allah will punish them by your hands, cover them with shame, help you to victory over them, heal the breasts of the Believers. 9:14

Fight those who do not believe in Allah … until they pay the Jizya with willing submission and feel themselves subdued. 9:29

… Allah will send His punishment from Himself or by our hands. 9:52

Therefore, when you meet the Unbelievers in fight, smite at their necks; at length, when you have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly on them… He lets you fight in order to test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the way of Allah, - He will never let their deeds be lost. 47:4

It is He Who got out the Unbelievers among the People of the Book from their homes at the first gathering of the forces. Little did you think that they would get out: and they thought that their fortresses would defend them from Allah! But the wrath of Allah came to them from quarters from which they had little expected it, and cast terror into their hearts, so that they destroyed their own dwellings by their own hands and the hands of the Believers. 59:2

That is because they resisted Allah and His Messenger: and if any one resists Allah, verily Allah is severe in punishment. Whether you cut down O you Muslims the tender palm-trees, or if you left them standing on their roots, it was by leave of Allah, and in order that He might cover with shame the rebellious transgressors. 59:4,5

They will not fight you even together, except in fortified townships, or from behind walls. Strong is their fighting spirit amongst themselves: you would think they are united, but their hearts are divided: that is because they are a people devoid of wisdom. 59:14

Truly Allah loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure. 61:4

This is but a small sampling of the hatred and violence that permeates this book. This book is the very foundation upon which this religion is founded. This just doesn’t wash with the ‘peace-loving people’ rhetoric but it does begin to explain the motivation and the actions we see on the TV and now in our own backyards.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world, partly because it is so popular with those who despise America and all it stands for. The very passages you read above and many more like it are being taught to little children throughout the world. This ‘religious training’ is virtually guaranteeing that the next generation of terrorists is being groomed for violence and hatred while America digs out from the rubble of the last attacks.

Detractors will say "What about all the hatred and violence that has been caused in the name of Christianity?" It is true that there have been many atrocities committed on behalf of Christianity (Spanish Inquisition, and others). But none of these atrocities are in harmony with the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor are they grounded in any of the writings or principles of the New Testament. In fact these acts are diametrically opposed to the teachings and writings of Jesus who affirmed the greatest commandment(s): "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and all the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Mt. 22:37-40

Christians are tasked by Jesus to follow the ‘Great Commission’ found in Mt. 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching everything that I have commanded you." The basic tenet of the Christian faith is that all people are created in the image of God and are valuable to Him. The basic tenet of Islam is that some people are chosen by God to be Muslim, and the others are created for Hell. Christians strive to tell others about God’s love and sacrifice for us. Many Muslims want to expedite Allah’s plan for us infidels to go straight to Hell at their hands. And if they are killed in the process of killing us, great will be their reward.

Most Muslims are not associated with the horrible people that perpetrate terrorism. And some people that call themselves ‘Christians’ have done equally horrific acts. This is not meant to be in indictment for any people anywhere. Only God knows what is truly in our hearts and only God will sit in judgment of us all. But as a rational person, and a man that has read both the Bible and the Qur’an from cover-to-cover, I am well informed and prepared to take a stand for truth. The truth is that Islam is a man-made religion, full of hatred and venom and the followers of this horrible cult are being led away from God and salvation at an astonishing pace.

As Christians we cannot allow any knee-jerk reactions to the horrific acts against our nation and our people, lest we fall into the same snare that has engulfed the perpetrators of this crime. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ep. 6:12 The Muslim people are not our enemies; they are our brothers and sisters that are lost in the snares of the enemy’s trap and need our help.

The Muslim religion was created many hundreds of years after Christ. Mohammed, the Islam prophet, was born around AD 570. But Muslims believe that Islam is the true religion dating back to Adam and that the biblical patriarchs were all Muslim including Noah, Abraham, Moses, and even the Lord Jesus Christ. Today we see evidence that more and more Muslims are putting the Qur’ans’ hatred of Christians and Jews alike into practice. We watch as they train for the ‘jihad’ by shooting at targets with the cross of Christ painted on the chests. There is a major battle to be fought in the months and years ahead. It is not a battle of America against Islam, but a battle of good versus evil. But I for one am wary of a people that embrace a religion based on a book filled with hatred while proclaiming peace.

As Operation Infinite Justice is unleashed, we will undoubtedly be drawn into emotional struggles and turmoil as we wrestle with what is right and wrong. Unlike what we have been hearing for years from the ‘politically correct’, there ARE absolute truths; there IS a right and a wrong. But the media has been ‘drinking it’s own bathwater’ for so long that they have convinced themselves that every religion is ‘right’ and nobody is ‘wrong’. And we can all live in peace and harmony because everybody’s religion teaches them peace and harmony. Or does it? Let this tragedy be a powerful lesson to us all. It is time to wake up from the ‘ignorance-is-bliss’ mentality and get into the heads of these hateful people, recognize and acknowledge the root of the problem. Or we might just wake up in the middle of another Tom Clancy novel.

It is time for the world to wake up. We demand answers from the Islamic religious leaders. We are tired of the platitudes and disingenuous ‘lip-service’ that is in direct contrast to their actions. We are sick of the rhetoric of peace while they are running training camps of hatred and war. We are appalled by the false claims that the teachings of Islam do not condone the acts of the terrorists when the Qur’an reads like a terrorist manifesto. We are not fooled by the speeches of Yassir Arafat about how saddened he and his followers are while his followers are in the streets outside his headquarters in a carnival-like atmosphere celebrating the carnage of innocent people in America.

Americans are not stupid people. We were asleep to the danger that awoke us on September 11, 2001. We were sucker-punched. But that only happens once. America is regaining its bearings and composure. We are burying our dead and mourning the loss of family, friends, neighbors and our naiveté. We are carefully evaluating our position, identifying and targeting our enemies. And sadly, we have protected our enemies under the often-misguided umbrella of ‘tolerance’. But we won’t be fooled again.

Now is the time for answers. We need to hear from the Islamic religious leaders how ‘jihad’ has become the driving force in their religion that is supposed to be based in peace and love. And we need to hear how these ‘peace loving’ people can reconcile all of these issues and still claim to be peaceful. Unless we hear from these Islamic leaders very quickly, and in some very compelling terms, I know that millions of Americans will foster deep-rooted fear, resentment and mistrust of all Muslims, whether they are US citizens or desert Bedouins. We need to know why you believe that you should not be held accountable for these actions along with the others who perished in the blaze.

We will undoubtedly experience additional terrorist attempts or strikes from within our own borders perpetrated by the remaining cell groups interspersed and hiding among the Muslim population. But we will be watching very, very closely. And this may make a number of Muslims in this country uncomfortable. Deal with it. Because it is never going away as long as you embrace a religion that is hostile to peace-loving Christians, Jews, and anybody that does not conform to your beliefs.

We have been attacked by a very savage evil. This attack was much worse than Pearl Harbor as this was not an attack on a military machine but on innocent people who were going about their lives in a peaceful and ordinary fashion. And the perpetrators of this act of war have declared war on us with the battle cry of "Jihad". I do not need any more evidence to indict the faith of Islam as culpable in this act. President Bush announced that we would prosecute this war on terrorism against the terrorists and make no distinction between them and the nation states that harbor and protect them. But what about the religious infrastructure that has created the terrorists by teaching them to hate and kill anything that does not fit their mold? Should this be immune from attack because it calls itself a religion? If Adolph Hitler called Nazism a religion, would we be speaking German today? Clearly this is at the root of the problem and needs to be addressed unless we intend to live in a world envisioned by the leaders of the Taliban regime.

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