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My Optimism About Europe

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Submitted by Ed Melik, Esq. (United States), Feb 13, 2011 at 02:28

Interesting analysis by Mr. Pipes who I admire and respect but in this instance I must respectfully take an issue.

(Ed. Note: Exerpted from Daily analyses importance of convergence of Islamic movements against the West

[Text of editorial by "Saleh Eskandari", entitled: "'Convergence of Islamic movements' http://saleheskandary.blogfa.com/post-6.aspx)

Following the disintegration of the Ottoman caliphate in 1924, the movements in theWorld of Islam were taking shape mainly for confrontation against the phenomenon of Western colonialism. The Pakistani scholar, "Khorshid Ahmad", who was a member of Pakistan's Jema'at Eslami, believes that the roots of contemporary Islamic uprising must be looked for in the colonial legacy. In other words, in the effects that colonial powers left behind in Muslim communities. [Punctuation as published here and throughout.]

A considerable section of the movements that had taken form in response to the process of colonialism emerged from the Sunni inhabited states. One can refer to the Ekhvan al-Moslemin [Arabic: Muslim Brotherhood] in Egypt that was founded by Hasan al-Bana in 1928, the Syrian Islamic movement (a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood) set u by Mostafa Saba'i, one of Hasan al-Bana's novices and comrades, in 1944, the Al-Shabab al-Eslami society in Morocco in 1971, the al-Qiam and al-Dawa groups in Algeria in the 1970s and the Islamic Salvation Front that was founded in 1989 and had branches in all areas of Algeria, and the New Ekhvan Movement in Saudi Arabia in 1970s, etc.

Although most of the collective actions of those movements manifested themselves against the native governments that were supported by colonial states, in numerous cases they would lead to direct confrontation and even armed resistance against the domination of foreign and non-Muslim forces. Some examples of that can be noted, including the uprising by the Sudanese Mahdi and the declaration of jihad against Britain at the end of the 19th Century, the declaration of jihad by the Senusi Movement in north Africa against the Allies and the Italian forces at the beginning of the 20th Century, the armed struggle by Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood against British forces in the Suez Canal at the beginning of 1952, etc.

However, the subject of this short article is to respond to the question about the Sunni Islamic movements that have been formed essentially against colonialism and began to struggle in the 20th Century against political, economic and cultural hegemony of the colonial states with unparalleled enthusiasm and energy and the reason behind their failing today to show the requisite fervour and eagerness against the "supra-neo-colonialism" [Farsi: este'mar-e faranow]. To understand this phenomenon requires an awareness of the nationalist context that pre-dominated the Middle East atmosphere in the 20th Century.

Essentially, although Islamic movements in the Sunni inhabited states and even certain Shi'i countries used to present their ultimate goal and aspiration as Islamic reformism before the Islamic revolution in Iran, one cannot deny the fact that anti-colonial nationalist tendencies have not figured in their actions. In practice, colonialism in the 20th Century had targeted the national sovereignty of the Muslim states in the Middle East. The issues of the mandates, puppet governments, occupation of the territories of Muslim states and, eventually, the Palestine issue are examples of direct colonial intervention in the national sovereignty of those states.

In fact, in the anti-colonial objectives of the Islamic movements of the Sunni inhabited states somehow a mix up had occurred between the quest for Islam and nationalist concepts.

In the present century, "supra-neo-colonialism" has not targeted nation-states [sic] in contrast to the colonial era. What challenges supra-neo-colonialism today is the concept of umma [Islamic nation]-government or the "unity of the Islamic umma. Today, as a result of the civilization fissures that have appeared, the West as a whole finds itself facing Islam in its entirety. Therefore, in the supra-neo-colonialism, the national sovereignty of the states does not enjoy significant interest. It is the concept of the Islamic umma that is of importance, something that the American president notes as the threat of Islamic empire from Indonesia to the gates of Spain. Within that policy, the setting up of democratic rules in Iraq and Afghanistan can be justified

Today, in the supra-neo-colonialism scheme, the West's confrontation and defiance towards the World of Islam has reached its height. Therefore, the need for separate Islamic movements in various Muslim states is not of issue as it was in the 20th Century. On the contrary, what is of importance to the World of Islam is the convergence of Islamic movements against the Western neo-colonialism.

The concept of "Islamic reawakening" that was initiated by the Islamic revolution in Iran and is on the ascent with the passage of time is devoid of nationalist tendencies. The moving engine of Islamic reawakening is the quest for Islam in the light of the formation of the Islamic umma. The Islamic movements in the Sunni inhabited states must re-appraise the concepts and indications that revolve around the superior reasons for Islamic reawakening so that one can witness the unity of word among the masses under the convergence of the Islamic movements.

In an ecumenical meeting with the Shi'i and Sunni scholars, the Supreme Leader [Khamene'i] made certain statements about the unity of the Islamic umma, saying: "We have to create the principles of an academic, true and sincerely realistic unity between the Sunni and Shi'is... The distinguished in the struggle against colonialism and global arrogance have doubly stressed the need for the "Islamic umma unity". Notice how Seyyed Jamaleddin Asadabadi (may God be satisfied with him), known as Afghani, and his novice Sheykh Mohammad Abdo and others, and the late Sharafoddin Ameli and other great ones from the Shi'i scholars endeavoured in the struggle against colonialism not to allow this easy tool to turn into a weapon in the hands of colonialism against the World of Islam.

What would the West's reaction be if a coalition of Muslim countries were to invade Spain and Italy, prop up corrupt and dysfunctional regimes in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, impose crippling sanctions on Canada and Australia, and demand the United States of America unilaterally disarm?

Would, under such circumstances the people of the West seek to engage in "interfaith dialogue" for "peace building" with their Muslim counterparts? Or would, western societies be radicalised, polarised and destabilised by the experience of perpetual humiliation, relentless aggression and imperial interference? Would it not be logical for such western states that retained pretensions of sovereignty to then seek overt and covert means to defy and frustrate the forces of imperial pan-Islam? And would it not stand to reason that some particularly outraged westerners would band together in terrorist organisations, invoke the memory of Charles Martel or Vlag Tepes, and rally to the defense of Christendom?

The answers to these questions are self-evident. If the situation were reversed, Christian churches would be preaching "crusade" and "just war" from every pulpit. Western youths would be alienated from both their sell-out local masters and their imperial backers and lash out at them given the opportunity. Self-serving and cynical members of the western elite may well go along with the charade of peace building and interfaith harmonisation, but even they in their hearts would know that they are traitors and collaborators and sooner or later they will have to face the consequences of their duplicity and incompetence.

The recent episodes involving separate botched or scotched attempts by an American citizen of Pakistani origin, a Nigerian and an Afghan, to carry out "lone wolf" attacks on the imperial heartland, like earlier coordinated attacks on western targets, demonstrate the nonsensicality of the prevailing analysis about the causes of (and therefore) and the cure for terrorism. The conventional analysis is that terrorism in the Muslim world is the byproduct of inadequate human resource development, limited economic opportunities, a youth bulge, and lack of democracy. These factors are, it is maintained, responsible for creating the terrorist mentality/sympathy in the Muslim world.

The problem is that those perpetrating the attacks or attempted attacks on western soil are not poor, illiterate, peasant boys brainwashed for years in deeni madaris to carry out their deadly mission. The actual socioeconomic profile of many organised anti-West Islamic movements and groups within the Muslim world as well as the export quality terrorists that find their way to the West seems incompatible with the poverty-illiteracy theory. Insofar as organised Islamist movements are concerned, ranging from the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood to Pakistan's Jamaat-i-Islami, their demographic profile is middle class with a considerable influence in professions such as engineering, medicine and education.

More overtly militant organisations like Hezbollah or Hamas run charities, television stations, win parliamentary elections and also maintain armed wings. The individuals responsible for attempting to strike at targets in western soil are very different in socioeconomic profile from the poverty-stricken madressah student. For educated Muslim youths residing in the West, with their whole lives ahead of them and many opportunities to rise further, only a sense of outrage at what is being done to their coreligionists and the countries of their origin by western powers seems an adequate explanation of their readiness to give up all their tomorrows and end or ruin their lives by participating in terrorist acts.

To immediately make the apologetic argument that a few alienated or outraged individuals do not represent the true sentiments of the Muslim world and the Muslim peoples seems to ignore the fact that rejection of the West's policies towards the Muslim world is pervasive in Muslim societies. If Muslim youths with no material reason to become terrorists are succumbing to extremism as an ideology of resistance, then the longer the West's military occupation of the Muslim world continues the greater the chances of the rise of the reluctant fundamentalist within Muslim diasporas in the West.

This situation is favourable to principally one group of people — the rather more enthusiastic fundamentalists that exist in every society, including the West and the Muslim world, and who yearn for apocalyptic confrontations as the prerequisite for reordering the world as a utopia.

This is a point that is brilliantly captured by Abdel Bari Atwan in his book The Secret History of Al-Qaeda. If Atwan's analysis is correct, and in the five years since this book was published the speed of US and western decline has accelerated beyond the expectations of Al Qaeda strategists, there is absolutely nothing that would please the Islamic radicals more if the West were to send its armies into more Muslim countries. The Al Qaeda grand design was and is to force and provoke the West into imperial overstretch and possible domestic collapse by raising the economic, military and political costs of perpetuating its imperial stranglehold over the Muslim world.

That Hillary Clinton publically threatened Pakistan with "very severe consequences" after the failed attempt on Times Square if in the future an attack were to happen and be traced back to Pakistan reflects the West's apparently insoluble dilemma. What specific consequences did Hillary Clinton have in mind? Would the US order the expansion of drone strikes to Islamabad, Lahore and Quetta in retaliation for a terrorist strike on US soil? Would the US decide to extend its rainbow "arc of security" from Afghanistan into adjoining regions of Pakistan? Would the Americans send in Delta Force to hunt down the "bad guys"? Or would senior American diplomats press Pakistan to "do more" on its own? In many respects the western alliance has, like the Soviet Union in the 1980s, grabbed the Islamic wolf by the ears — they know that they cannot hold him forever but are too afraid to let him go.

The vast majority of Muslims are trapped between the demoralising incompetence of their own governments, utopian delusions and ruthlessness of militant obscurantist forces, and the hubris and irrationality of the western imperialists. The combination of domestic meltdown, religious extremism and western imperialism constitutes a triangle of despair that threatens to cripple all prospects for a better future. There is, however, a possible solution though it is one that the West is not likely to accept until forced to do so by a further succession of military and economic failures by which time it will be too late for everybody.

That solution would require the West to shift the emphasis of its policy towards the Muslim world, and from that of expanding or consolidating a sphere of influence that costs too much to maintain to the management of imperial decline.

The first step in this regard would be the phased withdrawal of all western combat forces from the Muslim world in accordance with a publically announced timetable and accompanied by a comprehensive programme in western countries to switch to energy sources other than oil within a generation. The trillions of US dollars expended on invading and occupying Iraq and trying to gain access to energy fields of the Middle East and Central Asia could well have produced a green technology revolution that would have weaned the West from its addiction to Muslim oil and blood.

The second step would entail shifting the focus of western aid from ill-advised attempts to introduce democracy and free markets to building the administrative capacity of Muslim countries beset by managerial dysfunction. The third element would require the modernist elites that still rule most of the Muslim world to show some leadership and character for a change and embark upon meaningful internal reform while moving to decisively confront regressive elements.

However, getting even one of these elements of a solution in place is probably beyond the ability of present western and Muslim ruling elites. The post-9/11 attacks and attempts have clearly demonstrated that in a globalised world "Islamic terror" and western imperialism will feed off each other and jeopardise the future of both Muslim and western societies. While this prospect of escalating destabilisation and insecurity is welcome to extremists on both sides it is clearly not in the enlightened self-interest of either the Muslim or western peoples to be held hostage by utopian delusions and imperialistic reactionaries.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (66) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Optimism about Europe [134 words]Nelson T D'SilvaMar 14, 2011 04:39183410
8Our Real Enemy [446 words]julietsmFeb 25, 2011 07:05182959
4julietsm is quite right (for Islamists name of the game is hypocrisy) [225 words]GopiFeb 28, 2011 02:51182959
2Optimism about Europe [84 words]Nelson T D'SilvaFeb 22, 2011 20:00182891
10We need to take radical steps sooner rather than later [261 words]MathildaFeb 21, 2011 15:31182856
2Some Hope [151 words]Mike KurtzigFeb 15, 2011 09:11182695
3When will these countries take back their countries. [79 words]batya daganFeb 13, 2011 22:19182641
1My Optimism About Europe [2335 words]Ed Melik, Esq.Feb 13, 2011 02:28182599
5Cherry picking time [207 words]dhimmi no moreFeb 15, 2011 08:05182599
5What of IslamicImperialism? [271 words]Kepha HorFeb 22, 2011 11:09182599
2Don't be fooled by David Cameron [85 words]DurotriganFeb 12, 2011 10:51182578
1no leadership here [119 words]mythFeb 12, 2011 07:43182575
4Strong speeches need strong actions [199 words]Frank LukeFeb 10, 2011 13:55182514
4actions speak louder than words [170 words]yahudieFeb 21, 2011 22:15182514
My optimism about Europe [257 words]sufi imdad ali soomroFeb 10, 2011 01:31182505
3Misery [118 words]FreethinkerFeb 14, 2011 12:25182505
My optimism about Europe [181 words]sufi imdad ali soomroFeb 14, 2011 23:19182505
3sufi imdad ali soomro repeats a lie [228 words]GopalFeb 15, 2011 23:22182505
4Islam is a religion of war originally [59 words]MaxFeb 16, 2011 06:34182505
My optisism about Europe [172 words]sufi imdad ali soomroFeb 17, 2011 00:35182505
3Those harsh and biting realities [918 words]JeffFeb 17, 2011 13:22182505
My optimism about Europe [589 words]sufi imdad ali soomroFeb 17, 2011 23:31182505
1Overrating islam and slandering the US [87 words]Januk36Feb 18, 2011 10:44182505
4Another victim of Arabian imperialism [228 words]dhimmi no moreFeb 19, 2011 16:19182505
2My self-denial about your optimism [590 words]JeffFeb 24, 2011 12:56182505
My optimism about Europe [260 words]sufi imdad ali soomroMar 1, 2011 03:37182505
1Islamic terrorism and Q8:60 [160 words]dhimmi no moreMar 2, 2011 06:59182505
3About you, sufi imdad [100 words]IQMar 4, 2011 21:37182505
which history book are you reading? [254 words]abdirisak ishakMar 5, 2011 09:04182505
2To abdirisak [98 words]IQMar 6, 2011 01:47182505
My optimism about Europe [354 words]sufi imdad ali soomroMar 7, 2011 00:54182505
respect [239 words]abdirisak ishakMar 11, 2011 21:06182505
4Islam is and was a religion of war AND slavery [267 words]JamesMar 12, 2011 10:13182505
your fears are your greatest falls [402 words]abdirisak ishakMar 12, 2011 20:00182505
5England's colonial past [393 words]JamesMar 17, 2011 10:07182505
4Muhammad's other biography is called "The invasions" He was not the Buddha for sure [58 words]dhimmi no moreMar 20, 2011 07:27182505
2Another victim of Arabian imperialism [320 words]dhimmi no moreMar 20, 2011 07:44182505
2Arabian imperialism and its victims [178 words]dhimmi no moreMar 20, 2011 07:58182505
1africa is a true victim of arabic, european and now american imperialism [781 words]abdirisak ishakMar 26, 2011 20:50182505
3Another victim of Arabian imperialism from Africa [295 words]dhimmi no moreMar 30, 2011 13:13182505
1Greetings from one of those "worse than the Arabs [904 words]JeffApr 5, 2011 13:06182505
1Not so optimistic [234 words]philFeb 9, 2011 23:28182503
5Future Confrontations with Islamists [355 words]Kim BruceFeb 9, 2011 13:13182494
at last [52 words]Thomas HowardFeb 9, 2011 10:55182490
2Building Up to the Moment - Gaining the Upper Hand in Islam vs Christianity in the Future [500 words]M. ToveyFeb 8, 2011 18:46182461
7would be nice [158 words]AnnaFeb 8, 2011 17:04182458
8Response to "Would Be Nice" [108 words]ShirleyAnn AddyFeb 9, 2011 10:13182458
The US has faced such threats before [89 words]MichaelFeb 17, 2011 04:12182458
2Response to the US has faced such threats before by Michael [72 words]Shirley Ann AddyFeb 18, 2011 11:14182458
But do we have time? [63 words]NeelieFeb 8, 2011 16:58182457
6My Optimism about Europe. Brits are Fed Up. [137 words]AnneFeb 8, 2011 15:35182454
2When will Great Britain remember the European history? [119 words]TeresaFeb 11, 2011 01:11182454
1My Optimism about Europe, Brits are fed Up. There is a lot to learn. response to Teresa. [140 words]AnneFeb 11, 2011 22:53182454
2Compatiblity of cultures on one country [297 words]TeresaFeb 15, 2011 04:05182454
1There is alot to learn. Too bad it has to be that way. response to Theresa [177 words]AnneFeb 16, 2011 22:36182454
2I wish I felt as optimistic as you Mr Pipes, until Cameron ditches the human rights act nothing will change. [436 words]disillusionedFeb 22, 2011 10:29182454
1Brits are Fed Up. There is a lot to learn- response to Disillusioned. [180 words]AnneFeb 25, 2011 08:23182454
4If only voting changed things. [573 words]disillusionedFeb 26, 2011 08:20182454
1Brits are Fed up and Disillusioned- Look to a higher power that is coming. response to Disillusioned [243 words]AnneFeb 27, 2011 08:15182454
7Defeating Islamism [31 words]Clifford IshiiFeb 8, 2011 15:07182451
Error in judgment [92 words]olog-haiFeb 8, 2011 13:44182447
3Caveat [47 words]Judy HershonFeb 8, 2011 13:44182446
4IT IS ABOUT TIME EUROPE WAKES UP [132 words]JACQUES HADIDAFeb 8, 2011 13:42182445
5Anti-Islamic sentiments [23 words]MahendraFeb 8, 2011 12:43182443
1Optimist beware [20 words]Al RamyFeb 8, 2011 12:15182440
4Prime Minister David Cameron's Speech [95 words]ShirleyAnn AddyFeb 8, 2011 11:17182437

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