Robert Pape and the myth of suicide bombings, unicorns and fairies.

In todays RG (11-7) there is a piece by Robert Pape on the reasons why suicide bombings take place.  If not for people like Mr. Pape, the clueless public would have no idea how to think with a cloudy mind.  Here I dissect his obviously myopic article.  Remember, critical thinking will keep us safe.
Enjoy.  BTW, there is no link for this article, the RG seemd to forget to post it.....hmmmm.

If we leave, they will be nice.....NOT!

The question posed by Robert Pape (Sunday 11-7) “What triggers a suicide attack” seemed, at first glance to answer this all-important query, yet within a few paragraphs it descends into mis-information, spin and half-truths.  Pape gets few points right, and leaves the reader no more aware and informed on Islam than if they had not read it.

   Mr. Pape says that during the 80s,  the rise of Hizballah in Lebanon was due primarily to Shi’ite Muslim fundamentalism, and equates that rise to our(west) assigning blame for these attacks to Islam.  He claims that through his research, after analyzing over 2,200 suicide attacks world-wide that the primary driver of this terrorism is “foreign occupation”.  If one listens to only what is spoken by Islamic experts to the west, it is easy to believe this is the reason.  However, if one understands that Islam says one thing to the west and another to the Arab/Muslim world, it then becomes easy to see the reality, and the true reasoning behind these attacks.

   A few examples are warranted.  Sheik Osama bin-Laden, in the book “The Al-Qaeda Reader” by Raymond Ibrahim says ““Why all the lies and false claims that the conflict with the Americans(jews) is not over values of justice and the choice of freedoms?  For indeed the conflict with the crusading Americans(jews) is over values of justice, both in theory and practice, likewise with freedoms….Such are lies.  Muslims are obligated to raid the lands of the infidels, occupy them, and exchange their system of governance for an Islamic system…”  Granted a number of people think that bin-Laden is nothing more than a hairy clown hiding in some cave in Afghanistan, however his voice resonates with millions of Muslims, who hear his words and believe that what he says is the truth. 

   Those in a position of leadership within Islam constantly use the tenets, doctrine and ideology to bolster their positions in the Islamic Umma, call recruits to jihad, denigrate their enemies and advance the Islamic agenda.

   Ali Gom’a, the grand mufti of Egypt, the highest Muslim religious authority in the world, supports murdering non-Muslims. In the daily Al Ahram (April 7, 2008), he says, “Muslims must kill non-believers wherever they are unless they convert to Islam.” He also compares non-Muslims to apes and pigs, not only the Jews.

   Muhammad Sayyid Al Tantawi, president of Al Azhar University also approves of killing and maiming Christians, Jews, and other infidels. He added, “This is not my personal view. This what the Shari’a Law says, the law of Allah, the only valid law on the earth.”

   Yousef Al Qaradhawi, the spiritual leader of the fundamentalist organization, the Muslim Brothers, urged on Al Jazeera TV (Jan. 9, 2009) Muslims to kill the Jews, not only in Israel but also worldwide. He added, “No peace can be made between us (Muslims) and the non-believers. This what our holy book says. This what Allah says.”

   The Saudi Sheikh Saleh Al-Lehadan, head of the Supreme Judiciary Council, told Al Watan daily, (March 25, 2008) “After getting rid of the Jews in our Arab land, we must turn to the Christians. They have three options: either they convert to Islam, or leave, or pay Jizia (protection taxes). Further, there is not such a thing as Shiites, Sufis, etc. There are only Sunnis. All these sects must renounce their pagan beliefs and return to Sunna, the right path of Islam.”

   Hundreds of millions of Muslims DO NOT follow, listen to or care about the words from these learned men.  Yet there are over 100M estimated to follow the fundamentals of Islam and practice the strictest version as laid down by Muhammad in 610AD.

   Mr. Pape claims his research shows that the reasons Muslims hate us is because of our “occupation” of Muslim lands, and by extension our support of Israel, our foreign policies and our war against Muslims and Islamic countries.  By listening to only one narrative, and basing a conclusion on that one narrative, he misses the point completely.  Ignoring what is said on the other side of the coin allows for only one opinionated view: if we leave, they will stop hating us.  This is disingenuous, false and misleading.  In other words, poppycock.  Mr. Pape should know better.