Zakaria represents well that class of Americans who are so worldly that they affect a sophisticated disdain for the very idea that any threat must compel us to defend ourselves from them.
And now he wants us to learn to live with radical Islam:
The groups that advocate these policies are ugly, reactionary forces that will stunt their countries and bring dishonor to their religion. But not all these Islamists advocate global jihad, host terrorists or launch operations against the outside world—in fact, most do not. Consider, for example, the most difficult example, the Taliban. The Taliban have done all kinds of terrible things in Afghanistan. But so far, no Afghan Taliban has participated at any significant level in a global terrorist attack over the past 10 years—including 9/11. There are certainly elements of the Taliban that are closely associated with Al Qaeda. But the Taliban is large, and many factions have little connection to Osama bin Laden. Most Taliban want Islamic rule locally, not violent jihad globally.
Lord, I held on to this article debating whether I want to address his inane analysis. But he never tires of his drivel so I suppose I should man up and have a go.
First of all, I can't believe he tries to use the Taliban as an example of jihadists who aren't a threat to us. Bad example, dude. The Taliban harbored al Qaeda and bin Laden prior to 9/11, allowing him to plan and execute the 9/11 attacks. And the Taliban refused to turn over bin Laden to us after the attacks. Sure, since we overthrew their regime they've been more focused on regaining power than attacking us, but doesn't prudence say we shouldn't let them take power again given what they allowed on their soil when they did control Afghanistan?
Is every group of sicko Islamists a direct threat to us? No. And we don't fight all of them, do we? But all of them provide recruits to the groups that do want to kill us. And they all carry the seeds of turning into groups that would try to kill us.
And the majority of Moslems doesn't need to be radical if we retreat in the face of the fanatics.
In the end, Zakaria is part of the sophisticated class of Westerners too smart to be roused to anger by our enemies no matter how twisted they are and no matter how much they kill. He is one of the many analysts who can advocate the most supine policy of surrender and retreat by cloaking it in the garb of hard-headed realism. He isn't scared of Islamists blowing us up! Oh, no! He won't lower himself to fighting back from fear no matter what outrages the Islamists commit against us or just against fellow Moslems. Now that's big-brained, nuanced thinking!
I suppose he has to think this way to sleep at night.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the only good jihadi is a dead jihadi. Because any jihadi who survives this year is just another one who has to be killed next year.
UPDATE: Thanks to Transterrestrial Musings for the link (and another who's unhappy with Zakaria)>
