October 25,
2005
Bush Lacks in Knowledge of Islam and its Teachings
President Bush has, for the most part, done a solid job of conducting the war on terror since 9/11. Yes, much work still needs to be done (capturing or killing bin Laden, Zawahiri and Zarqawi and defeating the insurgency in Iraq are at the top of the list), but the defeat of the Taliban regime, the ouster of Saddam Hussein, and--thanks largely to the Patriot Act--the bust-up of numerous domestic terrorist plots, have been victories. Unfortunately, the President is still disturbingly lacking in one crucial area: his knowledge and understanding of Islam and its teachings. For more on this, check out this excellent article from the always insightful Diana West of the Washington Times. West rightly criticizes Bush's announcement that he's added a Koran to the White House library, asking:
"Is it just me, or does the president's gesture of inclusion sock the rest of us in the head? Fun-loving, peacenik Muslims aside, the Koran is indisputably the favorite book of Osama bin Laden, Abu Musab Zarqawi, the killers of Daniel Pearl, Hamas bus bombers, London Underground bombers and anyone who has ever hidden an IED on an Iraqi road to kill or maim an American soldier -- none of which is the best recommendation for White House honors."
It's also significant that the President has made Ramadan dinners a staple of the White House's annual itinerary. As Jack Kinsella of the Omega Letter notes:
"Hosting Islamic leaders at the White House has become an annual event, one which began in 2001 after Islamic terrorists slammed three aircraft loaded with innocent Americans in the World Trade Center and Pentagon building and crashed a fourth filled with passengers into a field in Pennsylvania.
I always thought that an odd tradition to start, given the circumstances. Sort of like hosting an annual Shinto celebration in Washington, starting right after Pearl Harbor."
One can only hope the President begins receiving sounder advice from his inner circle regarding the history and nature of Islam. Or, better yet, he could open a Koran for himself, followed by a thorough reading of Robert Spencer's essential work, "The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam and the Crusades."
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