I don’t often write about Islamic extremism. This is partially due to the fact that I am not secretive about where I live and who I am and I have bad dreams about being fit for an orange jumpsuit and turning up in a grainy jihad snuff film on the internet. Another reason for this, however, is that it is too broad a topic to try to tackle in a casual manner and would require an entire blog dedicated to just that. However, sometimes things come across my desk that I can’t help but to address – if only briefly.
Today I was presented with two topics of opportunity that I painted an interesting dichotomy worth exploring a little deeper – that being the two sides of Islamic extremism. On one hand you have a scattered and angry movement that is lacking in any real focus but is intent on simply causing as much harm to “infidels” as possible. On the other hand, you have the focused, precise movement who seem to have somehow combined extremism and a more “noble” patriotic cause.
To start with, we can look at the “wild” side of extremism. This came across my desk in the form of “Azzam the American’s“ (Adam Gadahn) latest little tirade against the “evils” of his former home. In his video, Gadahn calls for violence against President Bush as well as a release of all Muslims from American captivity “regardless of their crimes” under threat of jihad against the American people. He also makes statements about America being defeated . He specifically states:
“The first question Americans might ask is: has American really been defeated? The answer is yes and on all fronts.”
To which I can not rightly figure out just what on earth he is talking about. How have we been defeated and just how does he define “defeat?” It is this sort of hollow rhetoric that bothers me about this end of the extremist spectrum. They don’t make sense and they lack any real focus. Chaos and death seems to be the end goal and the justification for these things seems to be murky at best. This makes them dangerous and unpredictable as they are more driven by some sort of peculiar ideology more so than anything actually tangible.
On the other hand, there is an even more dangerous side out there; yet it is a side that I have a hard time condemning. Why? Because I am fiercely patriotic and I can see where these people are coming from. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t condone violence – especially against American troops – but I do not fear these Muslims because they are not the ones who advocate for random death and chaos, nor are they the people who would come here to carry out their “mission.”
Who are these people? One of them is “Juba” the possibly mythical “Baghdad Sniper” who fights for his own people and land. In his own words:
“I am not a criminal…. I am not bloodthirsty…
I just defend our land you invaded…defend our children whom you stole their happiness and their right to live in peace.”
It’s difficult for me to condemn a statement like that despite the fact he is taking action against our troops. After all, I would gladly take up arms against anybody who were to invade my homeland. The difference is that I would not blur the line between patriotism and religion which is a fatal flaw in “Juba’s” arguments. It is difficult to be taken seriously when you can’t separate these things and it adds to the arduous task of trying to show the world that Islam isn’t all about violence. After all, why not simply claim that you are fighting for your country? Patriotism is a far more understandable and respectable cause than jihad. If what “Juba” is claiming is true:
“If you came as visitors we would make you leave happily.
Yet, if you come as invaders, we will make your families pay for what you did to our families.”
Then it puts him strides away from “Azzam the American” and his counterparts, yet they are both lumped together in the public eye because they share the [unfortunate] commonality of Islamic extremism.
Again, though, let me reiterate that I don’t condone “Juba’s” violence but I can’t help but to respect the fact that he not only acts out of patriotism, but he is also not calling for general death and chaos towards America or the American people. He is focused in his mission.
So herein lies the challenge of dealing with, analyzing or even writing about Islamic extremism. How can we address something that has such a broad dichotomy to contend with? On one hand, I would say that few things would please me more than finding the approximate location of people like “Azzam” and dropping ordinance on them until they’re below sea level and nothing but fine powder and ash. But where do you draw the line between people like that and people like “Juba?” Both fall under the “Islamic Extremist” tag, but they couldn’t be further apart in ideology and focus. Do we hunt down “Juba” like any other militant Islamic extremist, or do we treat him with the same respect as another soldier?
These are things we need to think about before we lay down blanket condemnations. After all, I doubt that I am the only one who would take up arms against an invading force if it ever came to that in America… And I doubt I am the only one who would advocate for precise and calculated acts of “patriotism” vice chaotic violence and scattered ideology.
You hit it pretty well. The multitude of definitions we’ve straddled ourselves with aren’t helping us maintain our focus. There are those that are fighting for their freedom,their physical homes. Much like the Juba character these are the types that are now actually helping the US in Iraq.There are the Islamist zealots too. These guys rnge from comical morons to homicidal maniacs. They actually break the rules to get to their ends. It’s like a psychosis.
The greeniac mentallity is the same. Its just an excuse to act like an idiot and perform a bunch manuevers that do nothing stroke ones own ego and give a sense of worth.
I can see how Juda feels and where hes coming from basically because I believe its his right to defend against what he sees as an injustice to his country.
It is physical, its real, its his home. Its not an ideal as much as it is a real tangible substance in his life.
But in his case , when you are confronted with a formidable force such as our military, he could of gotten more flys with sugar. Sooner or later , thats what it came down to.
This one is tough. I have often thought that we would really resent troops from other countries and would indeed feel invaded. Yes, I too can see how Juda would feel and I am sure we might feel the same.
liked what Micky2 said, “But in his case , when you are confronted with a formidable force such as our military, he could of gotten more flys with sugar. Sooner or later , thats what it came down to.”
Micky, you’re right about that. It’s similar to the greenie movement because the greenie movement is one of extremes as well. There is always a spectrum when it comes to extreme behavior, and people fall all over that spectrum.. But in the end, they are still extremists and they are still subject to scrutiny for what they do.