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February 22, 2009
Contest 2
The British government is at work on a counter-terrorism strategy to be "unveiled" (how insensitive) next month. Details of Contest 2 (said strategy) are said to risk alienating Muslims (otherwise noted for playing well with the group) with the following "incendiary" definitions of extremists.
• They promote Sharia law.
• They believe in jihad, or armed resistance, anywhere in the world. This would include armed resistance by Palestinians against the Israeli military.
• They argue that Islam bans homosexuality and that it is a sin against Allah.
• They fail to condemn the killing of British soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Though if you are a Dutch parliamentarian and argue for the same definitions you can expect to be turned back at Heathrow. Would not want to get anyone's tea towel in a knot.
Elsewhere in the House of War: British Muslims arm the Taliban with electronic devices for roadside bombs used against British forces in Afghanistan. They used to call this sort of thing treason. Trust me, these days the word is considered incendiary.
Also incendiary: the words "Crusade", "pirates" and "evil". Our reality based ancestors developed useful categories for dealing with problems in the world. Yet somehow we contrive to imagine we are so much smarter than they are. The joke is on us; Saladin did not have nuclear weapons.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at February 22, 2009 06:14 AM
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