~by Richard Baehr

The latest survey on Palestinian attitudes should throw a glass of very cold water on the large class of Middle East peace processors, both here and in the region, assuming that they are conscious. As reported by the New York Times no less, it turns out that an overwhelming majority of Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank support violence against Israel and want an end to any talks with Israel. The kind of violence the Palestinians support includes the cold-blooded slaughter of 8 children in Jerusalem , when a gunman fired hundreds of rounds at yeshiva students in a study hall, and the firing of rockets from Gaza at Israeli cities.

Of course, Israel left Gaza in August 2005, so there has been no occupation or settlements for Palestinians to complain about since then, to use as justification for the firing of over 5000 rockets at Israel since the disengagement. While PA President Mahmoud Abbas initially condemned the Jerusalem attack, he has subsequently elevated the killer to martyr status, and the killer is now glorified in the Palestinian media as another hero of the resistance.

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To follow-up on my Global Caliphate post I would like to address the notion that Islam is as much a political ideology as it is a religion.  This is important for the following reasons.

First, political ideologies are not protected by notions of political correctness in the same way religions are.  Conservatives and Liberals are lambasted constantly by opposition forces, and with much more gusto than someone criticizing, say, Baptists.  If you attack Catholicism you are seen as intolerant, but if you attack Republicans you are seen as politically active.  This is fair, because Catholics are basically minding their own business, while Republicans are attempting to take control of government.  We should attack those who are trying to govern us.  It keeps them at least a little honest, and provides us with balance.  We should not, however, attack people because they believe in a God.

Islam is not just a religion.  It is also a political movement.  Here is a statement from a popular Islamic web site:

Secularism cannot be a solution for countries with a Muslim majority or even a sizeable minority, for it requires people to replace their God-given beliefs with an entirely different set of man-made beliefs. Separation of religion and state is not an option for Muslims because is requires us to abandon Allah’s decree for that of a man.

If Mosque and State cannot be separated than Islam is, by definition, a Political Entity.  It is comprised of both faith and political ideology.  While I make no arguments against Muslims believing in God, I make every protest against this belief in Theocracy.  No ideology has ever been more destructive than Theocracy.  It has never worked, and will never work.  Religion can bring people inner-peace, guidance, and self-respect.  But when it is placed in the hands of Kings or Congressmen, it turns into a weapon.

Islam is inherently flawed.  It will never become a religion of peace until it shakes off its belief in Theocracy.