Dramatic new evidence that Cabinet rebel Jack Straw was sacked as Foreign Secretary as a result of pressure from George W. Bush has been revealed. Senior sources close to the US Government told The Mail on Sunday that Mr Straw’s outspoken opposition to America’s policies on the Middle East was discussed by White House aides weeks before his shock dismissal by Tony Blair in May. It follows the disclosure that the Bush Administration feared Mr Straw was in the pocket of Muslims in his Blackburn constituency. And it gives further credence to claims that he was fired because of his refusal to back America’s all-out support for Israel.
Category Archives: USA
‘Root out the true enemy’
“America, awake. We are in the early stages of a war between Western civilization and the militant Islamic fanatics who control the Arab world. We have had our second Pearl Harbor on 9/11, and still we sleep. The current Lebanon-Israeli conflict is yet another instance in which radical Islam has displayed its intentions and hatred of world democracies. In the past quarter century, America has been under attack by the Islamic world. Thousands of Americans have died as a result of Muslim hatred directed against the US….
“I am not a Bush supporter, but I applaud his courage and integrity in supporting our Israeli allies during this latest Islamic outrage against Israel. We are engaged in a war with Islam regardless of the reluctance of our leaders and allied leaders to call it as it is. We won World War II by crushing our enemies, not negotiating with them.”
Mel Goldstein in the Roanoke Times, 2 August 2006
‘Islam or else?’
“Of course, God can change the human heart and wash away any past sins – and thus cause to emerge a completely new creature – quite separate from their past. But Islam is not in that group. Islam is a force for evil that opposes all who do not embrace it. Much like the homosexual agenda, all who oppose Islam must be silenced by whatever means. That is at the heart of Islam – convert to the worship of Allah or else slay all those who reject Islam….
“Dr. Keyes basically says that he has no illusions about the threat posed by Islam, and that Islam will remain at odds with all other religions, unless Islam is effectively held in check through ‘wise policy and action’. In my opinion, I think that such ‘action’ may well include war — if things persist. I see no other option since Islam itself urges its followers: ‘Make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them.’
“So unfortunately, it’s either kill or be killed.”
Guy Adams at Renew America, 3 August 2006
‘Right showing left the way on radical Islam’
No doubt a number of people will have noted the irony that Martin Bright’s recent pamphlet When Progressives Treat with Reactionaries, which claims to expose “the British State’s flirtation with radical Islamism”, was published by the right-wing think-tank Policy Exchange. When it comes to treating with reactionaries, Bright can evidently speak from first-hand experience.
In yesterday’s Observer, Bright tried to justify his alliance with the political Right, with whom he finds common ground in Islamophobia. He describes Policy Research as “centre right”, despite the fact that its research director on international issues is the frothing-at-the-mouth reactionary Dean Godson.
But Bright does accept that right-wingers like Peter Dobbie in the Mail on Sunday, Frank Johnson in the Torygraph and Charles Moore in the Spectator have showered him with praise for his stand against the Islamist hordes. Bright writes: “There is no doubt that it has fed into the perception in some circles on the left, encouraged by the MCB, that I am part of some Islamophobic campaign….” Yup, I think that just about summarises it. As one commentator on the Guardian website observes: “Like [Melanie] Phillips who started on the left and is now on the far right, I suspect Bright will end up there as well.”
Hizbullah a threat to the whole world, Dershowitz claims
“The fight against Hizbullah is a fight against anti-Jewish, anti-Christian, and humanistic values. If Hizbullah terrorism is not stopped in southern Lebanon, it will be coming to a theater, church, or synagogue near you.” Alan Dershowitz explains the crisis in the Middle East.
Christian Science Monitor, 27 July 2006
Well, we can certainly agree that Israel’s assault on Lebanon and the slaughter of innocent civilians is a fight against humanistic values, but I suspect Dershowitz meant to write “anti-humanistic”.
WND explains the Middle East conflict
“Radical Islamic jihadists seek to destroy Israel. Nothing short of the Jewish state’s annihilation will satisfy them. In fact, even the destruction of Israel is simply a means to an end – a short-term goal, if you will. It is the first step in a long march to global domination. Some secularists in the West look at Islam and dismiss the possibility that it could ever dominate the globe … much of the world believes this evil ideology can be negotiated with. They believe it can be placated. They believe it can be bought off. They believe it can be reasoned with. They even believe that it might be enflamed by legitimate grievances….
“There are no legitimate grievances. Israel did not steal anyone’s land. Israel did not create a refugee crisis. Israel did not oppress the ‘Palestinian people’. All that is nonsense…. The conflict between Islamic radicals and Jews in the Middle East is really very simple. The Islamic radicals want all the Jews dead…. No amount of land concessions will appease the beast. No amount of foreign aid will appease the beast. No amount of revisionist history will appease the beast. Only death and destruction of all infidels will quench the beast’s appetite for blood and power….
“This is the way it has always been – since Muhammad first got his demonic visions in the desert. Ever since then, radical adherents to his message have been on the march – beheading, converting by sword, wiping out entire villages, raping and pillaging.”
Joseph Farah in World Net Daily, 26 July 2006
Newt Gingrich on the threat to Western civilisation
“The nature of the threat – with Iran at the epicenter – is at its core ideological. The ideological wing of Islam that is irreconcilable to modern civilization. And while not operationally connected, the events of just the last seven weeks throughout the world share the common strategic goal of defeating the West and its values. It could be accurately described as a third world war. Just place these events on a map and a clear picture emerges.
“An Iran-Syrian-Hizbullah-Hamas terrorist alliance is waging war against Israel; seven bombings in Mumbai, India, killed more than 200 people; North Korea, launched seven missiles, including an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of hitting the West coast of the continental United States; seven Americans pledging allegiance to al-Qaida on video tape; a plot to bomb New York City subways and tunnels; 18 Canadians arrested with twice the explosive force used in the Oklahoma City bombing. Now add all the cities where previous events have occurred and a global campaign of terror is no longer deniable. The free world must stand up to the barbarism or be defeated by it.”
And since when has the government of North Korea found its inspiration in the “ideological wing of Islam”?
Steven Emerson on US Muslims
“Tonight, hundreds, if not thousands, of Muslims will convene in American arenas, conventions halls, and mosques. Steven Emerson, an internationally recognized expert on terrorism who will speak in Jackson Hole on July 27, has witnessed such meetings and has infiltrated these groups.
“He says these gatherings feature a speaker who will call for the worldwide extermination of Jews and Christians. The audience will respond with blood-curdling shouts of ‘Allah Akbar’ and ‘Destroy the West’, their fists and weapons raised high. Available will be instructional videos for sale on the proper handling of self-propelled grenades. Flyers will advertise boot camps in Turkey, Syria and Afghanistan. A coloring book entitled ‘How to Kill the Infidel’ will be available for kids.”
Self-styled “security expert” Steven Emerson offers the citizens of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, his insights into the life of the US Muslim community.
‘Apocalyptic Muslim Jew-hatred’
“There are short-term reasons behind the attacks on Israel by Hezbollah and Hamas. But underlying all the geo-strategy is a solid foundation of fanatical Jew-hatred, dating back to the founding of Islam. There is literally nothing Israel or Jews can do to appease those who seek to annihilate them…. Ultimately, this chronic, annihilationist jihad being waged against Israel by both Hizbollah and Hamas, is driven by orthodox Islamic theology, and eschatology.”
No, not Melanie Phillips. It’s Andrew G. Bostom, in the American Thinker, 17 July 2006
‘I am no Islamophobe’ claims Bright
Martin Bright complains: “It seems I have been labelled an Islamophobe by the Muslim Council of Britain. This stock response to any criticism of MCB leadership is becoming as tiresome as Zionist cries of anti-Semitism when the state of Israel is put under any kind of scrutiny.”
As we have already pointed out, Bright told a FOSIS conference last year that he had no problem describing himself as an Islamophobe. Now he gets all indignant when the MCB applies that term to him.
For right-wing support for Bright’s programme, see the Daily Ablution and Jihad Watch.