The Left's ignorance of history (and reality)

Submitted by DrRJP (United States), Feb 13, 2007 at 16:36

It said that "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." It is also said that "Those who are ignorant of history are doomed to revisionism." The Left is oblivious to history, in general, but especially so to Middle Eastern history.

The Left believes that Islamic countries hate the United States because "of our role as protector of Israel." We are hated for who we are and not for who we support. Israel is seen as the enemy of the Arab world because it is the only true democracy in the Middle East and is not a part of a unified pan-Arab nationalism. The only thing "alien" about Israel is that it is the only Middle Eastern country where freedom of religion and freedom of speech are both permitted and protected.

The main reason why there are anti-American and anti-Israel sentiments in the Islamic world today is because both the US and Israel are convenient scapegoats for their own internal problems, and because we are seen as the main obstacles to the their dream of a world caliphate.

Islamic imperialism is on the rise and Islamic terrorism is a worldwide phenomenon that has absolutely nothing to do with the Arab-Israeli conflict. The US was attacked on 9/11 because we had troops stationed in Saudi Arabia after rescuing Kuwait during the first Gulf War, not because we support Israel. The present-day Islamic conquests of the Sudan and Indochina, where millions of people have been killed solely for not being Islamic, have nothing to do with the creation of Israel or US policy.

The Left ought to begin their study of history with the history of Islamic imperialism from the 7th Century to the present day. Historically speaking, violence played a predominant role in both the spread of Islam and the land acquired for it. Furthermore, even if there were no Israel, terrorism would continue unabated because it has been one of the more effective tools used by Islamics to push their agenda. Case in point: the Madrid bombings (which had nothing whatsoever to do with Israel) forced Spain to pull out of Iraq.

The Left wonder why the US supports Israel. The reason is basically twofold: one, Israel is our only true friend in the Middle East, and two, because our future depends upon their future. The days of isolationism are long gone and unless we face up to the real threat to our own existence, namely radical Islamicism, we will cease to be an independent democracy. Rather than ask why we give aid to Israel, the writer should ask why we give billions in aid to countries that support and promote terrorist acts against us and the rest of the West. Maybe, the writer should also ask why we give arms and money directly to terrorist groups like Fatah and Hamas who are Hell-bent on Israel's destruction first, and ours second.

Finally, the Left should learn a little truth about Israel's history. Historically, there has always been a state known as Israel and there have been Jews living in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank continuously for more than 3,000 years. In 70 AD, the Romans expelled most (but not all) Jews from Israel and renamed it to Syria Palestina. There never was a nation known as Palestine and the people who call themselves Palestinians are indistinguishable from other Arabs.

The only occupation that exists in this region is an Arab occupation of Jewish lands, and represents one of many such occupations around the world. There are about 1 million Jews living in Israel who were expelled from surrounding Arab countries. Nobody talks about the "Jewish refugee problem" because Israel absorbed them all. Conversely, Arab countries patently refuse to accept any "Palestinian refugees" but rather prefer to keep them in camps as a propaganda tool against Israel.

Whether the Left believe it or not, the end of Israel could spell the beginning of the end for our nation as well. As you have noted, they need only to look at what is happening in Great Britain and France. The likelihood of these two bastions of Western democracy becoming Muslim theocracies is growing each day. An atomic Iran would not just be existential threat to Israel, but to the rest of the democratic world as well.

Just as we faced up to the threats of Fascism and Communism, we must now face up to the new threat of Islamicism, and to do that, we need a strong Israel now more than ever.

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".