misunderstood

Submitted by kid bertha (United States), Jun 14, 2007 at 11:18

Major Dave,

I have no problem in admitting that most likely you are more knowledgable than me on the culture of the Middle East because you have commanded troops over there and are probably older and wiser than me. I agree with your stance on this debate for the most part. I think my previous words may have been a little one-sided after reading your reply and re-reading my intitial post. I want to make one thing clear: I believe in one loving GOD who wants good for all mankind. I also believe he has his own laws that are applicable to all mankind and do not favor any religion.

In no way did I want to say that all Muslims are bad people. I know plenty of Christians of all denominations, agnostics and atheists who are definitely not good people. You are correct that all religions have been corrupted because man teaches them. What I really was trying to emphasize is that Islam, one of the three messianic faiths, is undergoing a massive infiltration by radicals. I realize there have been christian cults (Jim Jones, etc.) and satanic cults in history, and there are New Age cults today that claim they are Christian, but they are not. These sects are all deceived and are not the way to GOD. But It is imperative that all people of the world recognize and accept a true fact of today. The reason to be so alert about all of this religious fire brewing all over the world is because I believe this IS a time of trial for all mankind to know GOD. We need to be seeking GOD, spreading his love any way possible to all on earth. GOD wants to know all of man. The ticket is FREE, you just have to want to know him and ask for the Holy Spirit to take over your life. Once one fully surrenders to Christ and accepts Jesus into his heart and soul, the rest of the road will unfold.

Now, I agree with most of your proposals for a solution. I admit I do not have the "great solution." I believe only GOD has control. I think all man made solutions, whether diplomatic or military, are only temporary at best.

I too hold dear the same values of "equality among men, and life, liberty, and the pusuit of happiness, freedom of religion, separation of church and state, etc." I agree that the West needs to encourage all Muslims to stand up for their faith and condemn terrorist groups and organizations that support them. This is one thing that is very difficult to do, just as you have said, because generally Americans and the rest of the West, since 9/11, have stereotyped Muslims into one group, one we can not trust. I truly believe there are good Muslims.

But many of the American Muslim organizations (ie. CAIR) are very reluctant to publically and officially condemn terrorist activity and terrorits organizations. So are many of the Imams in Muslim mosques in America. They are traped in a situation where they must remain loyal to the source of their funding, and many of these funds come from terrorist sponsoring countries and governments that secretly condone radical views on the West (ei. the Saudi royal line). I think we definitely need to become energy independent from Saudi Arabia. They are NOT our allies. We have been deeply deceived. Their form of Islam, Wahhabism, is an austere form that has been the dominating faith for centuries and teaches a strict literal interpretation of the Quran. Usam Bin Laden is a Wahhabist of the most radical type.

My spirit tells me that the unfolding of world events for the last 100 years are evidence that prophecies are being fullfilled everyday. There is no "religious" solution to the Holy War that is brewing today. However, there are many measures our governemnt should take to increase our saftey and survival and protect our democracy as we know it. One concern of mine, as I said on my first post, is the trend now in American culture and policy currently lead by secular progressive groups who say they are out to defend civil liberties.

These groups are not upholding the values our great country was founded on. They are actually attempting to pass massive reform that will only make this country more dangerous and unaccountable for its peoples' actions. They believe in human enlightenment and that evil does not exist in the world. This is a very dangerous movement.

I also think the military effort must be reshaped to better deal with global terrorism. Yes Iraq is important, but it is not the whole world. I believe Saddam strategically shipped his WMD to Syria and Iran just before American forces took over Iraq and he vanished in hiding. For Americans to say there were and are no WMD is irresponsible. He used chemical and biological warfare on his own country. How naive are people to think he did not have WMD? It blows my mind.

We need to understand our enemies war techniques better ( I know you know way more about this than I do). I think it is the radicals ability to remain loyal to a cause that has no time table that presents the greatest threat to our freedom. A long, drawn out and gruesome war is what they want. America must be prepared for the struggle ahead of us on our own soil.

The real and ultimate threat is not now, it is five years from now, 10 years from now. When an enemy warns you over and over again that their goal is to establish a caliphate under Sharia Law in your country and all ovef the world, how long do you sleep on it? You don't!! You get prepared internally first. Domestic and national security is one area I think our governemt has neglected. Frankly, I have not heard any decent proposals by any of the 2008 candidates from either party on dealing with and protecting our citizens from the ultimate threat of radical Islam. Rudi Guliani is the only candidate who shows any of the leadership qualities that the next President must have to be effective on the war on terror. I do not agree with a few of his policies on social issues, but I think he would do the best job of any of the current candidates in protecting America. The only thing I can offer is from GOD alone.

We must go back to the basic fundamental values on which our country was built, the ones you quoted. Once these are put into action, Americans must spread the truth about GOD and convince all people that Radical Islam is not representative of mankind. I agree with you that we must become friends with Muslims and regain their respect.

I just finished one of the most humbling and touching books I've ever read, "Why They Hate," by Brigitte Gabriel, a Lebanese journalist now living in America, who is a survivor of Radical Islam during the Lebanese Civil War of 1975-1990. Her childhood was living hell. She is extremely knowledgable on Middle Eastern culture and the threat the world faces from Radical Islam. You should get it and read it. It is a quick read because it is so powerful and well written. It is both a story of her life in Lebanon and her lesson on Radical Islam and its goals to defeat and conquer the West.

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