Views on politics, policy, current affairs, the military and life in general.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Deep Blue - Subliminal Covert Warfare
Monday, December 03, 2012
Rate of Inflation
Saving the Republican Party
The GOP candidate lost the presidential election because the party ignored a dominant shift in demographics. In order to win national office, the Republican Party must reorient itself toward these key demographics.
1. it must reorient itself toward hispanic voters
2. it must reorient itself toward immigrants
3. it must reorient itself toward single women especially mothers
4. it must reorient itself toward the impoverished and those receiving state and federal assistance, seeking ways to lift this demographic out of poverty
5. it must reorient itself toward small business
6. it must reorient itself toward all those earning less than 1 million dollars a year
In reorienting toward these demographics, the GOP must execute policy which the recipients perceive as beneficial to them, regardless of how legislators, pundits and decision makers create and implement policy initiatives.
In addition, the GOP must disassociate itself from special interests which are perceived by the American-body-politick as being detrimental, if not malevolent, to its own ideals. These include:
1. disassociation with Big Business and its influence
2. disassociation with Wall Street
3. disassociation with back door and back room deals
4. disassociation with any group or interest that puts its own needs ahead of the national interest
Although number 4 may be a challenge because every group - and every person - seeks to improve their position and status in life, each can find ways to achieve these ends without jeopardizing the same for other groups.
Certain legislation should also be enacted to help the United States move forward without the dragging influence of special interests and the divisiveness Big Business and special interests create between Congress and themselves on one side and the American people on the other. Also certain initiatives should be executed to establish a baseline from which clear decisions can be made.
1. balanced budget amendment
2. 12 year term limits amendment for both the Senate and the House
3. public and transparent audit of the Federal Reserve
4. public and transparent audit of the Energy Department, FDA, Dept. of Education and the DOD.
5. public and transparent audit of all recipients of TARP
6. dissolve the IRS, Federal Reserve and the TSA
7. revoke all policy, acts, initiatives and legislation which supersede the Constitution (e.g. TSA, wiretaps, seizure of private property)
And the GOP should support several initiatives and issues.
1. unions which serve their membership and which do no disservice to the public or nation
2. strict new legislation and regulations on the size and operations of Big Banks with a reemphasis promoting community banks
3. a labor initiative which supports a realistic minimum wage, a minimum of 3 week annual vacations, protection of working mothers
How and in what way these initiatives should be supported must be left to discussion and debate within the halls of corporate America, around the watercooler, across kitchen tables and over coffee tables, in coffee shops and sports bars and in the halls and meeting rooms of Congress.
Finally there are at least 2 initiatives the GOP may consider.
1. establishing that all natural resources of a state are the rightful property of the citizens of that state and that any extraction of said natural resources shall be licensed at a marketable, fair rate and at least 80% of such proceeds directly distributed to the recipients in the form of a check in their name mailed to their last known address or direct deposit to their bank account (think Alaska)
2. requiring each corporation with gross revenues of 50 (100?) million or over to establish an employee trust fund to which 10% to 25% of profits shall be distributed and paid out to eligible employees monthly and an employees stock trust that shall hold no less than 10% of a corporations stock enabling employees to vote in corporate actions
With this plan in hand, the GOP may be able to recapture key demographics it has lost and help impel the US economy toward growth and greater productivity.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Restoring the American Dream
A Right Is Not a Privilege
A right cannot be regulated nor restricted. A right cannot be changed.
A right cannot be suspended. The government cannot interfere with the
rights of the people; it is the people who have granted the privilege
of governing to the government and that right can be withdrawn at
any time.
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Safe Refuge During the Coming Police State
Monday, December 05, 2011
The Solution That Will Save Our Nation
Friday, December 02, 2011
Building Wealth, Making Money
Beginning with industrialization, governments sought to expand their economies by replacing the long-term and slow growth modality of capital creation with the faster and more expedient means of debt creation. But as economies expanded, debt ballooned. Over time, as a nation's market expanded at a fairly steady pace (with the occasional downturn and setback), ensuring a commensurate increase in incomes, apparent wealth and living standards, the total debt increased at an exponential rate exceeding by many magnitudes the growth rate of the economy. As a result, at any major downturn and national or regional setback, nations businesses and individuals are left foundering in a sea of debt.
There can be no "fix" to an economy based on debt nor for a business' or individual's debt load unless the "fix" originates from the capital creation side of economic philosophy. However, as capital creation is slow and uneven this solution is unpalatable to nations and peoples accustomed to quick repairs, fast connections and instant gratification. To be told that a solution to debt can be guaranteed, but only after 10 or 20 years of hard work, with very little to show for the first half of that period, people and nations may opt for the more expedient solution of expanding their debt. Although this solution seems to solve the immediate debt, the existing debt doesn't go away, it is merely subsumed within the new debt. This seems to solve the immediate debt situation but in fact only moves the problem to a future date.
There is no solution to a debt crisis using the current model of debt creation. Under this model, current debt never goes away, it is only added to future debt. The only solution to a crisis of debt is debt that provides periodic income in excess of the periodic payments necessary to acquire that debt. Debt based on this new model is based on tangible assets, i.e. hard, fixed assets which cannot be easily dismantled or destroyed.
There are only four asset classes of production. These four classes are land (or real estate), labor, capital (cash), and intellectual property. In the modern era, each of these asset classes bears varying degrees of mortality risk based on the further distinction (subcategory) of that asset category, its location on the planet, competition and the market from which its revenues are derived. No place is absolutely safe; fires, earthquakes floods and storms can destroy a factory, warehouse or subdivision just as surely as war, a terrorist attack, competition or market decline.
Investment in debt is never a safe option. Debt is a soft asset, an intangible or paper asset which can lose value or be destroyed as easily as it was created. Whether the soft asset is student loans, mortgages, commodities, foreign exchange or highly leveraged derivatives, there is no assurance that any investment made today will be secure tomorrow. The characteristic of a soft asset which makes it easy to generate high returns over short periods of time is leverage. However, this leverage of return also leverages the degree of risk. The farther removed an asset is from a hard asset to a soft asset, the more inherent the risk built into the structure of that asset. Although this risk also leverages the potential rate of return, the increase in the return is simply not worth the increased risk as the current real estate crisis, worldwide currency crises, the slow decline of the dollar and international governmental debt crises all attest.
Income generating assets exist in a variety of forms and their return can exceed that of the more familiar debt model based asset vehicles. One of the most popular forms is stock ownership. Although this seems a contradiction in the capital creation concept, it is in fact a core concept; buy assets, not debt, buy ownership, not a promise. With stock, you are buying a piece of the company; when buying a student loan package, you are buying a promise.
Equity in a commercial enterprise is perhaps the easiest, least expensive and lowest risk means of initiating a capital creation strategy. To assure the proper perspective on equity purchases, an investor must view the asset for the periodic income it generates, not the projected cash-in value of the asset at some indeterminate time in the future. Each investor must view the asset as one that they will hold forever and then pass onto their heirs because of the income it generates (and additionally the value it adds to their estate). No investor should view such an asset as one they plan to sell in 10, 20, 30 or 40 years.
Indivduals, businesses and governments must all adopt the long view. This long view rests on a foundation of capital creation. Capital creation is the acquisition of assets which produce periodic, current income in excess of the payments required to purchase that asset.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6729612
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
America's Long Descent Into Night
The powers that be already control all the money in the world, they already control most of the natural resources and they already control most of the biggest corporations. The only thing they don't control is you.
Since the greed and lust of the powers that be requires them to control Everything, they must find a way to control you. They have already accomplished this to a large degree. The powers that be already control your money, your job and the way you view the economy. They have already made you dependent upon an educational system that trains people to become even more dependent upon the big corporations and the government. There is only one more thing to do to make you absolutely and completely dependent; there is only one more thing they must do to make you completely and totally a slave; they must make you completely subservient to them by stripping away your freedom and rights. The way they do this is through fear.
If this assessment is accurate, the powers that be will continue to chip away at our liberty by perpetuating our fear. They will degrade our liberty by continuously introducing new threats and new ways of combating those threats. Or they will introduce new methods of combating existing threats. These measures will all be introduced in the name of public safety, for national security, for the stability of the dollar or the economy or the stock market or to provide domestic peace or international stability. The authorities will say that these measures are necessary for peace and safety or to protect the people from danger. And the vast majority of Americans will accept these measures and the loss of their liberty, perhaps reluctantly, more likely willingly, but we will accept the loss of our liberty to protect ourselves from the evil the exists in the world, never realizing that the evil that exists in the world is the same blanket we cover ourselves with at night.
Our next President will be the person who conforms to the agenda of the powers that be, whether that be public or private, while garnering the greatest degree of public support. His or her public stance will most likely be that which expresses some degree of giving the government more control while, in other areas, proposing less. Once in office, the current trend will continue, regardless of who is in office or whether the next President is Republican or Democrat. The only way to stem this flow is for the people to elect the individual who advocates most strongly for the most limited size and role of government as possible.
The way of the future seems most certain and the following scenario most likely. A group of people small in number at first, but growing over time, will refuse to adhere to the fear-mongering fairy tales that beset us at every turn. They will grow fearless. Growing fearless, they will become less dependent. Becoming less dependent they will become more independent in terms of happiness, wealth and power. By not adhering to the common convention of fear and by demonstrating the power and wealth that slowly accrues to those who do not fear the scare stories, who do not fear responsibility and who do not fear liberty, more and more people will join them and become like them and the powers that be will see their power slipping away. Then, they will overreact.
At some critical point, when their own fear of loss of control has reached forced them to act, they will do so. The powers that be will unleash the most destructive and fearful acts they can imagine. The powers that be will unleash war, they may destroy nations - perhaps even the most powerful of nations - and they may even unleash nuclear holocaust. During this dark, dark period, many of those who had learned not to fear will learn fear once again. Many of those who had left the path of fear will turn back. The majority of the people who had escaped the control of the powers that be will slip back under their control. But a remnant of the truly free will escape. A small number of those who are truly without fear will remain without fear, they will not give in, they will not give up. They will remain free and independent. Though the powers that be may hunt them down from place to place, from state to state and from nation to nation, those who follow the Way will not fear and remain free. Eventually, the world will die. This may occur in a few years or may require several decades, but eventually the horrors released by the powers that be will consume all of the world that was. The way of life, the culture, the hedonism and materialism, the structures and institutions of the world that was will be no more. The powers that be will be gone along with all those who followed them and did not stand up for their rights but succumbed to their own fears.
Following the world of darkness will be a world of light. The small remnant of the free - the followers of the Way - will inherit a brave new world, a world brighter, bigger and better than the old. The old will make way for the new and the old will pass away. That which once was will be no more and true peace, love and harmony will reign in a world of love and light. This is the world that those who escaped the powers that be will inherit for it is written; "the meek shall inherit the earth."
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6724634
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Space Exploration, NASA, the USA & the Mission to Mars
Sunday, November 13, 2011
America, Down and Out?
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
The Water Flow Defense for Non-Violent Protest
THE WATER FLOW DEFENSE
NON-VIOLENT CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
Operations Manual
Defensive Tactic 1
KEY POINTS
“Brittle Barrier”
High Ground
Defense in Depth
Rendezvous Points
INTRODUCTION
The Water Flow Defense is an operational tactic used in non-violent civil disobedience actions. The Water Flow Defense is designed to minimize losses while maximizing an effective resistance. Used in situations in which police forces are poised to neutralize a standing position; this standing position may be an encampment, occupied zone, standing demonstration or march.
A key point to remember is that the police cannot attack something which isn’t there.
METHOD
As the police are assembling to drive against a standing position, preselected elements will assume 4 positions while previously relayed instructions will be repeated to all participants.
4 Positions
These four predetermined positions are as follows:
1. A group of volunteers will position as a line barrier across the police force anticipated avenue of approach. These volunteers may or may not link arms and/or sit down to provide additional strength in resisting police attempts to disperse them or arrest them. As it is likely that the police will use tear gas/pepper spray and/or sonic means to disrupt the barrier, barrier volunteers may wish to wear swim goggles to help protect the eyes, moistened handkerchiefs over the nose and mouth and ear protection of some type. Although these measures will provide a very limited means of protection, they may provide the few extra seconds necessary for other demonstrators to effectively move into their assigned positions.
The purpose of this “brittle barrier” is to last long enough to cause police forces to bunch up in front of it. This permits other groups to move into position. Members of this “brittle barrier” will be arrested, as such they must be fully aware of this contingency and be prepared for their arrest and possible injury.
The name of this line; “brittle barrier” is because it is designed to collapse after a few moments – or minutes if possible – allowing the police to move through the line of the barrier into the rearward areas.
2. Another group of volunteers will assume high ground positions – most likely rooftop positions – in positions which extend through and beyond police force masses. The purpose of these “high ground” volunteers – in peaceful disobedience – is to shout slogans at the police and capture with video and audio – livestreamed if possible – all police action against the encampment or standing position. These high ground positions must occupy all preselected positions within a radius of several blocks of the encampment and police assembly areas.
3. A third group will disperse from the encampment and move into position behind the police assembly areas. Movement to this position must avoid police contact and observation. Once assembled behind the police, these volunteers will silently observe the police assembly until the police initiate action against the encampment. Until the police initiate action, this group must remain at a distance behind the police force which is out of range of any immediate police response. This group will assemble in whatever locales the police force is assembling, i.e. if the police force is assembling in the street, this group will assemble in the streets behind the assembling police but at a distance the police cannot reach without dispersing themselves. When the police initiate action, this group will advance to close the distance between themselves and the police force, but not advance any closer than 20 to 50 feet until the moment the “brittle barrier” collapses. When the “brittle barrier” collapses, this group will close to contact.
4. Group four will be those volunteers who will position themselves along predetermined avenues of escape for the members of the encampment. Their purpose will be to guide encampment members to escape the encampment location quickly and safely to predetermined rendezvous points. “Rendezvous point” captains will be part of group four and will take position at their selected rendezvous points to receive encampment members and await further instructions.
PROCESS
As the police force begin their advance to the brittle barrier, members of the encampment will begin to decamp and move to their assigned rendezvous points. The intent of the brittle barrier is to both provide enough time for encampment members to safely decamp and bunch the police force for possible peaceful interaction.
As the police are clearing the encampment site, demonstrators located at the rendezvous points will either A. wait until police have left the area and then retake the encampment site, or B. upon further instruction, retire to another location (or locations) to establish a new encampment.
GOALS
The objectives of the “Water Flow Defense” is to minimize arrests and injury by providing the police with no targets. All targets will have (ideally) dispersed to their predetermined rendezvous points when the police reach the encampment site.
An additional objective is to provide a continuity of demonstration or occupation with little disruption. Within a few hours - or perhaps days – demonstrators will have either returned to the original encampment site to continue their demonstration or have moved to a new location where their demonstration will continue.
A tertiary objective will be to allow livestreaming – if possible – of police action against the demonstrators and their encampment and/or provide evidence against the police in any future legal action. This will primarily come from the high ground positions and any sidewalk photojournalists.
CONSIDERATIONS
The group three members will, upon contact with the police, take no action, but remain peaceful and non-violent at all times. As contact is made, the police will initiate all action. This group may either remain silent throughout their engagement, or begin shouting slogans when they begin their movement to contact. Should the police station a rearguard, the main body of group three will advance directly to contact while up to 30% may siphon off to side streets and overhead or underground passageways, circumventing police contact, to interposition themselves between the police rearguard and the main body of police.
CONCLUSION
The “Water Flow Defense” provides a means to continue a peaceful occupation or demonstration with little disruption in continuity. It provides a form of tactical “defense-in-depth” and positions demonstrators into advantageous locations where their collaboration can be maximized. The “Water Flow Defense” essentially, and effectively, leverages the fluid nature of the demonstrators against the static dynamic of police methodology.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Declaration of Independence
Preamble to the Constitution
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Dead Bodies Everywhere
Sunday, May 22, 2011
The Coming of the AntiChrist - Deception Unveiled - A Speculation
1. 1. Thursday - May 19, 2011
President Obama suggests Israel should return to 1967 borders allowing the establishment of a Palestinian state.
2. 2. Friday – May 20, 2011
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, meeting with President Obama, declares that Israel will never relinquish control of the lands it captured in the Six Day War of 1967, because those borders are indefensible.
3. 3. The Muslim world is intent upon the creation of a Palestinian state located on the lands Israel captured in 1967. One of the nations most intent upon this quest is Iran.
A Possible Conclusion
A. Would the Muslim world agree to relinquish the 3rd holiest location in Islam, the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem, traditional site of Solomon’s Temple, in exchange for receiving the lands Israel conquered in 1967 and permitting the Israelis to tear down the Mosque in order to rebuild the Temple?
B. Would Israel agree to revert to its pre-1967 borders in exchange for two conditions:
1. To receive the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem in order to tear it down and rebuild Solomon’s Temple,
2. That the United States and/or NATO and/or other bodies guarantee the borders of Israel?
LAYERS OF DECEPTION
1) – Layer 1 – The Overt Layer
The first layer of deception is the obvious layer. This is where things appear to be as they are and very few dig any deeper to identify possible hidden meanings. Those who do are often ridiculed as “Conspiracy Theorists” or “Biblical” or “Christian fanatics”. This first layer is the world as we see it and is good enough for the “dumbed down” population. They blindly accept what they obviously see.
2) – Layer 2 – The Biblical Layer
This layer is in accordance with what most of those who study the Bible and attend church could accept. Their interpretations of the meaning of the Bible are a result of their study and their degree of understanding. Although not necessarily wrong, their understanding may not be deep enough to identify the full truth.
3) – Layer 3 – The Deep Layer
The “general” layer; so-called because its thread runs throughout history from the time of Satan’s deception of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The purpose of the first two layers above is to convince people no further layers of meaning exist – that there is no deeper intent or meaning. Additionally, the purpose of the first two layers is to assure people that their understanding is complete and accurate – at whatever level they are willing to discern. Here, the symbols of Layer 2 are symbols hiding the meaning of the symbols of Layer 3.
OSAMA BIN LADEN
“I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads… One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished and followed the beast.”
Revelation 13, 1 & 3
On May 2, 2011, United States Special Forces – SEAL Team 6 – attacked Osama Bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan at 1AM local time killing him with a shot to the chest and another to the head. Either shot may have been fatal, but the shot to the head most certainly was. His body was retrieved by SEAL Team 6 for identification and upon verification of his identity, the body was washed according to Islamic tradition. His body was transported to the USS Carl Vinson, an aircraft carrier stationed in the Arabian (Persian) Gulf. An Islamic service was held aboard the aircraft carrier and Osama Bin Laden’s body was buried at sea on May 3. Photos of his body and his burial at sea were not made public.
Although Revelation 13: 1 & 3 seem to suggest a state or organization rather than a person, if, in some way, Osama Bin Laden is resurrected or reappears, this event alone may unite the entire Islamic world. Neither the Bible nor any other source indicate that Satan has the power to resurrect the dead. That does not mean he couldn’t do it, only that, to date, he has not. However, this power seems reserved to God. But if, Osama Bin Laden were to reappear apparently from out of the sea or from the sea, everyone would be convinced it was God who did it, further verifying and confirming the “righteousness” and “accuracy”, in their eyes, of the absolute authority of the Islamic religion by Muslims everywhere.
If Osama Bin Laden were to reappear, the probability is that such a person is either an imposter, or that the person killed by SEAL Team 6 was an imposter leaving the real Osama Bin Laden free to reenter the world. According to ABC News, the DNA which positively identified the body killed by SEAL Team 6 as Osama Bin Laden’s was confirmed by Mass General Hospital, which had samples of Osama’s sisters’ DNA in storage. When asked by the Boston Metro newspaper if this were true, officials at Mass General stated they could not confirm such allegations.
THE DOME OF THE ROCK MOSQUE
Located in Jerusalem upon the traditional site of Solomon’s Temple, the Dome of the Rock Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. It is said that here, Mohammed , the founder of Islam, was taken by the angel Gabriel to pray with Abraham, Moses and Jesus. Traditionally, he later ascended to heaven from here and this is also believed to be the rock upon which Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Completed in 691 AD, The Dome of the Rock Mosque slowly sank into a period of decay and disrepair. This accelerated under the British Mandate established in 1918 in the Middle East when Great Britain acquired the Middle Eastern lands of the Ottoman Empire, an ally of Germany. The Ottoman Empire was the world’s first Islamic state and according to some records, the Ottoman Empire was established in 1290AD.
In 1964, King Saud Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia at the request of the Islamic Council, asked a construction engineer, contractor and friend of the king, to not only restore the Mosque to its former glory, but to enlarge it and make it more beautiful than before. This construction contractor was Mohammed Bin Laden, father to Osama Bin Laden. This may provide Osama Bin Laden with some degree of claim and authority over the Dome of the Rock.
If a resurrected Osama Bin Laden were to claim this authority, he may consider encouraging Israel to withdraw to its pre-1967 borders by offering the Dome of the Rock Mosque in exchange. Israel would then be free to tear down the mosque and rebuild its temple.
More recently, an Israeli has concluded that the Temple of Solomon, the Temple desired by Jews everywhere, actually stood a few meters from the Dome of the Rock. This would permit the construction of the temple without disturbing the mosque. The two would be separated by a long, high wall.
As leader of the Islamic world, and perhaps as the 12th Imam and Caliph, Muslims may accept either of these proposals should either be recommended by Osama Bin Laden.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
2011 Inflation Estimate
Monday, February 14, 2011
Killing the Snake
Killing the Snake
Defeating the Islamic Extremists
Copyright 2011 by Perry Jones
(A Draft)
A counterinsurgency strategy is based on an understanding of the underlying causes of that insurgency. Attriting the existing members of that insurgency will not defeat the insurgency. Overturning the governments which seem to support or assist insurgency will not defeat the insurgents. In fact, both of these actions may radicalize those individuals not currently aligned or supportive of the insurgents and increase the number of insurgents available to the cause.
A primary underlying cause of insurgency is the ideology of those believing in the goals and aims of that cause. An ideology cannot be defeated with weapons or occupation of “enemy” territory; the weapons in play are ideas, the locations are every nation, city, village and home in the world.
One of the first acts in defeating a conventional enemy is to cut off the enemy’s ability to communicate. This eliminates the ability of the enemy to control and command his elements in the field leading to disorganization and mislocation of those elements. This leaves those elements vulnerable to attack and elimination.
The act of cutting off the insurgent’s ability to communicate may prove effective at a global level; the worldwide leadership, financial support and ideological recruitment on a mass scale would be eliminated. This will not eliminate local leadership, financial support or recruitment. These actions will continue regardless of how many “terrorist” nations are occupied or how many terrorists are killed.
Muslims believe that Islam is a superior ideology, it is not just a religion, it is a way of life which filters and colors every aspect of Islamic society. In the West, democracy is a form of government which separates religion from the state and empowers the individual over their leaders. Western women are not beholden to men, the people are not beholden to their leaders who govern and the faithful are not beholden to their clergy. In Islam, these roles are reversed. Democracy is a bottom up way of life, Islam is a top down form. In democracy, control rests with the people, in Islam, control rests with the leadership. And that is the fundamental difference. It is also the key weakness.
The objective of a leadership is to conserve or expand their power; every contrary belief, ideology or government is a threat to that power and therefore must be countered and vigorously opposed. The radical mullahs and imams are following this role exactly.
Around the world, the extremists are spreading their ideology of hate and vitriol. They shout slogans meant to inspire and enrage. They paint the western world as evil, with the leader of the western world - the United States – as the “great Satan”. With the interconnectedness of the worldwide web, the radical extremists themselves are deeply intertwined as a den of snakes is intertwined. Cutting their communications separates the snakes, but does not kill them.
Over the last several years, we have seen that one strategy to counter terrorism and aggression will be ineffective; to convince the enemy leadership that hostile actions on their part will spell defeat rather than victory. The mullahs and imams are convinced of their eventual success and are willing to die to achieve it. When one is captured or killed, another steps up to take their place, the ideology is not diminished, their war effort does not stumble, it continues essentially unchanged.
We must find another means of leverage rather than the weapons of war and the hypocritical foreign policy we now follow. We must convince the Islamic leadership, all of them, that aggression against the West will spell the end if Islam. Alternatively, we must convince the leaders and the Muslim people that the true nature of Islam seeks to abide in peace and cooperation with other states and religions.
In Nazi Germany, Hitler’s followers and war machine were constrained by geography; the geographical field of battle for radical Islam is the world. With Nazi leadership, there were a few who held power and maintained their ideology. With this power, they convinced their people that their worldview was accurate and true. Using media and mass meetings they informed their people of the ills of their enemies focusing the attention and anger of their people against their enemy fanning the flame of their rage. The mullahs and imams are following this same strategy. Using mosques, madras, mass media and worldwide communications, the radical leadership convinces their people of the evils of the Western world. They convince people that the Western world’s politics is evil, our economy is evil, our culture is evil, our foreign policy is evil, our disparate religions are evil and our liberalization of women and education are evil. These are points which cannot be easily countered as they appear accurate from one point of perspective. We can believe that our culture, politics and religions and the separation of church and state are superior, but from the point of view of the Islamic world, they are not.
Strategies for Defeating the Extremists
The extremists believe they are serving the wishes of Allah, they understand that Allah is the guiding force and principle that drives their ideology. With this single statement, we see the key to defeat the Islamic extremists.
There are two methods we can employ to win this war. Or, perhaps, we can employ both to some degree. The first is that, if the imams and mullahs believe Allah is their guiding force, is encouraging them and approving of their actions, (and they do) we must convince them that Allah is not. We must convince the extremists that Allah is opposed to violence, that Allah is opposed to the forced introduction of Islam into nations and communities that do not currently have an Islamic following and that Allah does not support the denigration of spirit or the continued illiteracy of the individual. And we must convince the extreme mullahs and imams that Allah will punish those who support violence, radicalism and extremism in the name of Islam.
A second method is to educate, employ and advance the common Muslim into an understanding of a world that has no place for violence, destruction or hatred and to convince the everyday Muslim that a personal policy of peace, education, hard work, entrepreneurship and honesty and integrity is the fastest and surest path to assure the achievement of the stated tenets and goals of Islam and of their own and their families benefit.
Islam is a great and peaceful religion which can peacefully and cooperatively coexist with other religions and non-Islam states. This is the heritage and history of Islam and we must remind the Muslim people of this historical legacy of Islam.
In pursuit of method one, we must place doubt in the minds of those who lead and direct the extremist movement. We must position Western trained and/or progressive Islam viewing imams, mullahs and Islamic scholars in two positions in Islamic society. One position is as a key advisor to those who make the decisions. These people must be willing to sacrifice their lives and die at the hands of their own people or Westerners because their cover will be so deep, no one will know who they are. As key advisor, they should relay doubt on decisions and actions of the decision makers by asking “would Allah really approve?,” by quoting surahs from the Quran which show an alternative to that decision, by identifying hadiths and historical actions which will benefit the cause of peace and by the continuous application of doubt about hostile actions and encouragement for peaceful actions.
The second position for these progressive individuals is within their communities. As university professors, doctors, lawyers, school teachers, local authorities, judges et al, the impact these progressive individuals can play in their communities can be substantial. Their influence will not only be contained within their community, but as their message filters out into the general population, it will eventually circle the globe. These progressive individuals must also view themselves as potential martyrs for a more peaceful world. As visible promoters of a progressive Islam within their communities, their safety and security can, perhaps, be addressed but not assured by Western military and intelligence actions.
In either case, identifiable contact between these individuals and any Western military, intelligence or even perhaps any Western person may compromise their position and undermine their influence.
In pursuit of method two, wherever possible, schools for the school age and training centers for those above school age should be established. The world has entered into a new economic period and the old style of economics has failed. A new style of personally integrated economics emphasizing personal financial responsibility must be established. Self sufficiency in homes and communities must be encouraged. Individual entrepreneurship must be encouraged. A job is no longer a guarantee of income and has never been a guarantee of future financial freedom or a source of individual empowerment. Literacy, Islamic and world history, mathematics and creative artistic studies must be encouraged in each school and training center. Islam must be encouraged to embrace the potential of the individual, not to suppress it.
Neither of these two methods will end this war overnight or even in a year or two. Both will take time and perhaps even a decade or more. In the meantime, we must protect our homeland without abrogating our rights, encourage peace without sacrificing our principles and promote change without losing our heritage. The battle will not be easy but it can be won. This war will require persistence and determination perhaps over many years, but we won the Cold War, we can do it again.