Hold Damascus Responsible

Submitted by dr. richard tomback (United States), Aug 1, 2006 at 16:02

Dear Dr. Pipes,

Responding to your above article, Hold Damascus Responsible, I do find that while Syria and Iran are clearly the direct beneficiaries in the current crisis as they expect to reap almost unlimited political gain in the Muslim world by assisting Hizballah in resisting Israel, I do find great fault with most of the Muslim world and with the " West".

I will confine myself to the following remarks:

a]The major religious leaders in the Muslim world, especially in the theological centers of Mecca, Medina, and Cairo have not moved beyond their traditional Anti-Semitism and hatred for the West. This in spite of the knowledge that, at the very least, such teachings contributed to the 9-11 tragedy.

b] Most of the nations of Western Europe in the past have adopted a passive/ and or indifferent stance toward Islamic militancy as long as Israel was the object of Muslim wrath. Unfortunately, even today in spite of the bombings in Spain and in Russia, few European leaders have the courage to call for substansive reform within Islam.

c]The United States political scene, with the exception of President George Bush and a few others, recognizes the dangers of the present state of affairs for the future of world civilization.

d] The liberal establishment, by not calling for an accountibility from Hizballah, the client of Syria and Iran, seems to have as its motto, WHAT"S MINE IN MINE, WHAT"S YOUR'S IS THEIRS.

Thank you,

Dr. Richard S. Tomback

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".