Still skeptical about the "moderates" but don't think it's fair to blame our useful idiots... not much at least...

Submitted by Morton Doodslag (United States), May 12, 2007 at 01:56

Dr. Pipes, I find your usage of various terms and inferences in the phrase "And do they not suggest that ignorant non-Muslim busybodies should get out of the way of those moderate Muslims" extremely unfortunate.

The most pressing complaint I have is the implicit idea that persons in the West are in any way significantly responsible for the heinous downward trajectory Islam finds itself on. Yes, the "useful idiots" which are the target of this phrase certainly do much harm and they cause it in many ways -- and they certainly abet the agenda of some of the worst actors within Islam. They serve as shills, and propaganda megaphones and obfuscators for some of the worst that Islam has to offer, and probably contribute a small degree to the encouragement the radicalization within Islam and discouragement of elusive "Islamic moderates".

But their contributions in this regard are a mere drop in the ocean when compared to the actions and inactions of Muslims themselves in fueling and stoking the flames of Jihad or the failure to resist and fight it. I disagree with your thesis that "moderates" will ever win the day -- but agree with your thrust that these useful idiots within the West who confuse, and shill for terrorists should be called out in the West --- but blaming these "useful idiots" for impeding "moderate Muslims" is very wrong-headed.

I think that the Muslims are already utterly lost in a spiral of blame and scapegoating which perpetually deflects criticism away from themselves and Islam, and projects their failures and their hatred onto others -- onto us. Why should we EVER abet them with their society wide cancer of denial, abuse, and blame? I say this: Islam's failures are not our fault -- they are the fault of no "infidel". Islam's failures -- Islam's violent creed -- Jihad -- responsibility for these lie squerely on the shoulders of ALL Muslims who practice Islam -- their self described tribe -- their Ummah -- Those who succumb to Islam's call to violence and Jihad, and those who fail to stop them, and who fail to develop arguments to defeat them -- are nearly equally responsible for the horrors Islam unleashes -- both against Muslims themselves, and more tragically against all the countless non-Muslim victims of this vile nightmare. The impedence which our "useful idiots" creates for those ever elusive "moderate muslims" is nothing when compared to complicity of Muslims in Islam's enormities.

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