The War for Arab Minds and Souls

Submitted by Rabbi Stuart Dauermann (United States), May 3, 2002

As usual, we have reason to be grateful to Dr. Pipes for his reality-based cogent thinking. Beyond what he says, with which I totally agree, our government needs to give deep thought to whether and how it is possible to eradicate the ideological cancer, the teachings and orientation of mind and heart which we call militant Islam. Until and unless we can find ways of discrediting the white-hot ego-stoking ideology of renascent Militant Islam, we will only have to fight these same battles again and again as new suicide bombers step up to fill the ranks of those we vanquish with military strength.

In short, the battle we are fighting calls for more than military strength and financial generosity ala the Marshall Plan. Perhaps Bush's attempt to pit "nice Muslims" against "bad Muslims" represents his attempt to move in this direction. However, more finesse and effort will be needed if we are to succeed.

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