The Jihadis have given all leaders in the West an excuse to examine developments in our region from the narrow angle of security. But does anyone in his right mind really believe that Jihadis pose an existential threat to anyone, be it Israel, Europe or America? Does the fight against Jihadis truly justify ignoring, if not downright stomping on, the aspirations of hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world for freedom, justice and dignity? Apparently it does.
The fact that there are forces using sectarian sentiments in our societies to fuel a proxy war meant to serve certain interests of theirs does not mean that sectarianism is an external invention. In fact, insisting that sectarianism is a foreign invention will prevent us from dealing with it effectively, and will only serve to perpetrate it, thus, giving external dabblers powers a permanent tool which they can use to their advantage in times of crisis.
It is not easy for me to criticize an American president, irrespective of his ideological background, because when I do, my criticism often get used by all sorts of anti-American forces in the Arab World, and beyond, in their attack against America and American values, that is, the very values which I long came to embrace, albeit always critically. For, to me, America is an idea, a worthy idea, whose advancement requires critical adherence not blind faith, and armies of analysts and scientists not militias and informants.
Continue reading “On Heresy & Apostasy in Politics and Religion”
With some of the same idiots who urged restraint in Syria now urging strikes against in Iraq on behalf of Maliki and Iran, against a Sunni insurgency that is far from being dominated by ISIS, as all and sundry is willing to argue, it is important for some of the remaining rational voices out there to push for the adoption of a clear policy objective and a clear endgame vis-à-vis current developments in Syria and Iraq, and throughout the region. Inaction premised on fear of potential consequences that soon become self-fulfilling prophecies on account of said inaction, drone attacks and air strikes without political follow through, and kneejerk reactions continue to be the main ingredients for disaster. The U.S. cannot afford any more of this. The peoples of the region cannot afford any more of this.
The Ammar Abdulhamid Archive 