Radical Islam Grows in Toxic Soil

Submitted by Gary Vineberg (United States), Aug 14, 2002 at 10:03

Stick to your guns, Dr. Pipes.

Radical Islam grows in toxic soil, the failed political culture of the Arab/Muslim region. The answer there is the same as here: secular democracy.

As Thomas Friedman wrote in his astute editorial about India in the New York Times today, "If Islam is ever to undergo a reformation, as Christianity and Judaism did, it's only going to happen in a Muslim democracy."

That is why a "regime change," as our Administration delicately puts it, in Iraq is so important. Saudi Arabia is edging closer to being a radical theocracy like Iran, Egypt is becoming more of a dictatorship like Syria, and the moderate monarchies of Jordan and Morocco are more or less impotent. The West must irrigate the soil of the Arab/Muslim region with democracy.

To me, the most troubling question is why most of our European so-called allies stand opposed to toppling Saddam Hussein when the potential rewards are so great for the whole world.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".