Watching the news this morning I am surprised that the riots being staged are still so prevalant. What do you think the future holds, will the non muslim world be forced to confront this situation militarily at some point and what do you believe the outcome will be, with or without that confrontation?

Watching the news this morning I am surprised that the riots being staged are still so prevalant. What do you think the future holds, will the non muslim world be forced to confront this situation militarily at some point and what do you believe the outcome will be, with or without that confrontation?

It seems like possibly the rioting is getting worse? How long can they keep it up is the question that I have? Over these cartoons? Or is there another underlying reason for the riots going on?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the riots that are the worst seem to be happening in Muslim countries yes or no? It appears that those countries where these riots are happening and where people are getting killed and property being damaged need to be responsible to quell the riots on the homefront and put a stop to it. How do they do that? That I don't know really, but it does appear to be out of hand. I'm not sure if the non Muslim world will have to step into this fray, but who knows how it will turn?

Watching the news this morning I am surprised that the riots being staged are still so prevalant. What do you think the future holds, will the non muslim world be forced to confront this situation militarily at some point and what do you believe the outcome will be, with or without that confrontation?Isn't that what we're engaged in right now?

I don't think it would be a holy war between religions so much as a war between one culture that holds religion in the highest regard and another which thinks religion is a charming remnant of our primitive past that we choose to sustain out of tradition.

I don't think so. It is my belief that we are fighting the political manifestation of that religion. The question that seems to be developing is how deep does the control the clergy exerts in the muslim world and what are their ultimate goals. Will we end up physically and militarily attacking muslim governments to get at that clergy or will the various government entities be able to regain control? It seems to me that this is what we are seeing today, notice being served on the various governments, a demonstration of the power the clergy holds over the people. An attempt to allign the governments to the goals and aims of the clergy through threat of revolution. So far, it is a frightening exhibition of power with seemingly no end other than one called for by that clerical entity that is now instigating it.Religion and politics are part and parcel of the region. I don't think they can be seperated.

Isn't that what we're engaged in right now?

I don't think so. It is my belief that we are fighting the political manifestation of that religion. The question that seems to be developing is how deep does the control the clergy exerts in the muslim world and what are their ultimate goals. Will we end up physically and militarily attacking muslim governments to get at that clergy or will the various government entities be able to regain control? It seems to me that this is what we are seeing today, notice being served on the various governments, a demonstration of the power the clergy holds over the people. An attempt to allign the governments to the goals and aims of the clergy through threat of revolution. So far, it is a frightening exhibition of power with seemingly no end other than one called for by that clerical entity that is now instigating it.

I don't think it would be a holy war between religions so much as a war between one culture that holds religion in the highest regard and another which thinks religion is a charming remnant of our primitive past that we choose to sustain out of tradition.

I think you misjudge Western dedication to religion. A lack of militancy doesn't translate to a lack of spiritual dedication of faith. :)

You picked up on it, but you didn't follow through. Where would the riots have more effect, in a western country or in a Muslim country? Well if the desired effect is to enrage, incite and recruit, a Muslim country would be best, don't you think? It is very obvious the the cartoon issue is not what is driving this thing. It is the desire to enrage, incite and recruit for the cause. To keep the flame burning, they need to put forth a common issue. The cartoons are the manifestation of the issue for the extremists. They even went so far as to draw their own and claim they were done by westerners, to further incite and enrage. Those images are far more blasphemous than what was done in Denmark.

I think you misjudge Western dedication to religion. A lack of militancy doesn't translate to a lack of spiritual dedication of faith. :)Agreed, but how many Americans do you think would sign up to fight a "holy war"? Not that I'm against them doing so on their own dime.... I just figure it would be more like "I'll send money instead" than a rush to enlist like after 7 Dec 1941.

I don't think so. It is my belief that we are fighting the political manifestation of that religion. The question that seems to be developing is how deep does the control the clergy exerts in the muslim world and what are their ultimate goals. Will we end up physically and militarily attacking muslim governments to get at that clergy or will the various government entities be able to regain control? It seems to me that this is what we are seeing today, notice being served on the various governments, a demonstration of the power the clergy holds over the people. An attempt to allign the governments to the goals and aims of the clergy through threat of revolution. So far, it is a frightening exhibition of power with seemingly no end other than one called for by that clerical entity that is now instigating it.

if or when it does happen.. we will have to face "they" won somehow. isn't building a rational democratic society the main goal in the anti terror war? once the western forces attack a muslim country to contain it's jihad, we will be in their terms.
the solution may lie in a clever exploit of the divisions and political fractures of the muslim leadership, something the US seems to f^&k up really bad. it ends up w/ giving trainig OBL, guns to SHussein, support to torturers in latin america... if you want to rule the world, you need to be very, very clever. the brits were good at that.

You picked up on it, but you didn't follow through. Where would the riots have more effect, in a western country or in a Muslim country? Well if the desired effect is to enrage, incite and recruit, a Muslim country would be best, don't you think? It is very obvious the the cartoon issue is not what is driving this thing. It is the desire to enrage, incite and recruit for the cause. To keep the flame burning, they need to put forth a common issue. The cartoons are the manifestation of the issue for the extremists. They even went so far as to draw their own and claim they were done by westerners, to further incite and enrage. Those images are far more blasphemous than what was done in Denmark.

oh yeah.. absolutely. and there's nothing to do except watch and hope the anger exhausts. the right attitude is to become the exact opposite: sit and don't move. let them waste the energy. to link street manifestations into military action is a loooong move the muslims are NOT able to pull.

I don't think our objective is to rule the world, I think it is more to live in it. I believe these riots are not so much aimed at us as they are a heads up to the muslim governments. We have made some gains in this fight and there is pressure from us for those governments to contain the radicalism or we will be forced to do it. That is reality. This isn't a local issue, it is being exported. These riots are a show of strength, a call to muslim governments to check their hole cards. What it pays us to do is to observe the reactions to them and to assess how deeply entrenched this radicalism really is. Is it radical or the norm? The riots aren't a threat to us but their objective could be.

I think you misjudge Western dedication to religion. A lack of militancy doesn't translate to a lack of spiritual dedication of faith. :)

Wouldn't you agree, though, that Western dedication to religion is far more rooted in the individual than the state?

I don't think our objective is to rule the world, I think it is more to live in it

those words may fit a 2nd grade end of term writting assignment but i doubt an american official could say that in trade and commerce international meeting without provoking a gaggle of laughter.

I believe these riots are not so much aimed at us as they are a heads up to the muslim governments. We have made some gains in this fight

what fight? ???? an internal fight or a call to arms to burn up the west? the latter is radicalism w/ no practical consequences. it's bravado only..

and there is pressure from us for those governments to contain the radicalism or we will be forced to do it. That is reality.

israel was realistic w/ it's strategy of selective killing. they want to bomb us? well.. let's kill the heads of the organizations. in the end, it didn't end w/ terrorism.. but i bet it put some terror back.

This isn't a local issue, it is being exported. These riots are a show of strength, a call to muslim governments to check their hole cards. What it pays us to do is to observe the reactions to them and to assess how deeply entrenched this radicalism really is. Is it radical or the norm? The riots aren't a threat to us but their objective could be.

objectives are not threats. military forces or terror cells are.. ignore the noise and conmcentrate on inteligence: is it possible to have GOOD inteligence work w/ muslim terrorists cells?

Oh yes, and that is as it should be. Didobedience of the laws of God should be between the individual and god, not some enforcement arm of the Church of Government. Our standing in our respective religious communities depends on our adherance to doctrine but our lives and our souls should not. Still, when threatened as a group, our religions would draw us together for defense. The legal challenges in this country demonstrate that.

Watching the news this morning I am surprised that the riots being staged are still so prevalant. What do you think the future holds, will the non muslim world be forced to confront this situation militarily at some point and what do you believe the outcome will be, with or without that confrontation?

The far right seems to want a religious war. I'd say the chances are good if cooler head do not prevail.

Look how far we've come--we were attacked by how many hundred Al Qaeda on 9/11? And now 1.3 billion Muslims from Arabia to Indonesia are inflamed against us.

Let's make sure to elect cooler heads next time, or get your kids trained up in violence.

Still, when threatened as a group, our religions would draw us together for defense. The legal challenges in this country demonstrate that.

Explain?

Watching the news this morning I am surprised that the riots being staged are still so prevalant. What do you think the future holds, will the non muslim world be forced to confront this situation militarily at some point and what do you believe the outcome will be, with or without that confrontation?


Yes...