Do you think there are courageous Muslims who can confront those advocating theoracy and sutocracy, and threats to our American way of life?

LTC Thomas Tennant — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 14:56:43 -0500

Dr. Zuhdi Jasser is an Arizona physician and prominent voice for Muslims who reject terrorism in the name of Islam. He is hopeful because Americans are becoming knowledgeable about the radical Islamists who pose the true threat around the world. When asked how he would frame the debate about radical Islam for Americans, Jasser counted off four key elements. Watch to see what he means.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Mar 8 at 2016 3:02 PM

PO2 Steven Erickson — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 15:02:17 -0500

Oh, how I PRAY this could become reality.

I know that there is no such thing as "impossible" with God. We should all pray that it's His Will and we should stand behind those who stand up to violence and slaughter in the name of their god.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2016 3:33 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 15:33:57 -0500

LTC Thomas Tennant Here is your link. I saw this, this morning and I think doesn't offer a lot in understanding how to add to strategy. What he provides himself is a superficial list while talking about how the candidates only address the issue superficially. he does not address how Muslims can reject extremism, when he says we need to recognize there is a existential threat (we know this), he says there is a difference between Muslims and Islamist (we know this), He's failing to inform that all Islamist believe they are Muslims and by definition of the word Muslim (believer) (all Islamist are Muslims but not all Muslims are Islamist), and he says that we should not be going after terrorist groups but instead Islamists. This aids his own personal agenda, "A Battle for the Soul of Islam: An American Muslim Patriot’s Fight to Save His Faith" He says the world is not a safer place with out America in it, (we know this), he says Russia or Iran or anyone who hates freedom and liberty...will fill vacuums that are left (we know this). Listen closely to his words, he says "Americans" instead of "we" "Americans will eventually get this right" but when he talks about "Muslims" he says "we" and "our". I know there are Muslims who do stand up and there are Imam's that do preach about being moderate and avoiding extremism, and there are Imam's in Iraq that have been put to death for their refusal to help ISIL recruit. SGT Vince Albert Dickson SrA Edward Vong CPT Ahmed Faried Do you know about this organization and can you add to the discussion?
http://dailysignal.com/2016/03/05/4-ways-an-outspoken-american-muslim-frames-the-debate-on-terrorism/

4 Ways This American Muslim Frames Terrorism Debate

"I think Americans will eventually get this right," Dr. Zuhdi Jasser says, "and not only pick candidates but pick policies that are smart."

Response by PFC Alexander Oliveira made Mar 8 at 2016 4:04 PM

PFC Alexander Oliveira — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:04:08 -0500

those trying to create a theocracy or pseudotheocracy are completely ignorant of others faiths and belief systems. politics aside. a muslim should not be afraid to practice their faith in this country for fear of persecution. and I hope somebody from that faith comes forward to do something about it. if I had a national voice I would. I, an atheist don't have faith but believe if you do nobody should stop you from practicing it Christians, muslims, jews any of you.

Response by SPC David S. made Mar 8 at 2016 4:18 PM

SPC David S. — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:18:45 -0500

The number one killer of a Muslim is another Muslim. As this call for jihad keeps popping up every now and then there is the need to examine the religion and culture that feeds the call to violence. In the case inaction is the same as endorsing it.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Mar 8 at 2016 4:46 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:46:25 -0500

It is possible that some people who have been raised in Muslim majority cultures will stand up for unbelievers. We have seen this in Iraq, Iran and Syria in the past decades sometimes resulting in death for those reaching out to those who don't have the Muslim faith. In developed country's where Islam is a minority religion paradoxically it seems to take more courage to go against the tenets of Islam and speak out against those who consider themselves to be the faithful [Wahhabi doctrine adherents]. I hope we will see more marginal Muslims stand up against tyranny. The truly faithful Muslims who thoroughly believe the Koran will most likely never stand up to tyranny because the Koran teaches that Islam is the only way. Thanks for tagging me CPT L S

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Mar 8 at 2016 4:47 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 16:47:15 -0500

I would hope so.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 8 at 2016 5:43 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 17:43:09 -0500

Hmmm, sorry. Can't find an option that fits. You should have used the fifth option and allowed us "Other. Please Explain" Back in the days when people were fleeing from behind the Iron Curtain, I had the temerity to ask: "Who's going to be left to change things?" I got in a lot of trouble for asking, but it seemed to me that the prospect of finding a path to a more peaceful world, a better life for those trapped in the Soviet Union diminished with every escapee. Why, I was wondering, don't some stay and mount a revolution? I am saying the same to those who claim that if so-and-so is elected, they're going to leave the U.S. Well, where are you going to go? You can run, but you can't hide.

The simple fact is that it's easier here where We the People are sovereign. Sure, we've surrendered our power over recent decades, but it's a lot easier to take back when we're offered the opportunity every two years. We can simply vote the bums out. However, in a place like the Middle East where tyrannies are founded in theocracy, it's not so easy. Especially a theocracy which inherently requires submission. So, yes, it will take courage to alter it and a whole lot more. In fact, it will require a complete overthrow of Islam. Keep in mind Muslims who live in peace among us are fundamentally violating their religion every day (or they are merely dissembling to hide among us). Thus, you can't look at American Muslims think that they are representative of the people in the Middle East. In other words, for a person to revolt against the tyrannies of the Islamic countries, they will have to revolt against their people. Can you imagine the courage that would require?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2016 10:23 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Mar 2016 22:23:14 -0500

You asked: "Do you think there are courageous Muslims who can confront those advocating theoracy and sutocracy, and threats to our American way of life?"

The Muslims who take a Fundamentalist stance that calls for violence don't see more moderate Muslims as real Muslims. Moderate Muslims who are interested in living in peace generally don't see fundamentalist Muslims pursuing violent Jihad as real Muslims. So how much influence do they really have on one another?

Response by CPO Frank Coluccio made Mar 9 at 2016 12:13 AM

CPO Frank Coluccio — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 00:13:57 -0500

Yes there are.
BUT, and it's a BIG but, it is against Islamic teaching to publicly contradict and condemn other Muslims unless they besmirch Islam.

Response by LTC Thomas Tennant made Mar 9 at 2016 8:58 AM

LTC Thomas Tennant — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 08:58:07 -0500

WOW!!! I love the spirited debate and some of the spin off points.
ONE THING WE NEED TO CONSIDER - I think Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz said in some of the earlier debates was "Unlike the cold war in which the Free Capitalistic West was fighting Communism, in this GWOT we are fighting the same evil that has wrapped itself in a religion. This makes it that much harder to defeat. Suppression on the physical battlefield (while necessary) is not enough, we have to beat it in the arena of ideas and ideals."

Honestly, we have not even attempted to address the fight in the arena of ideas and ideals. We have a political party in denial and denies that we are even in a GWOT. That be the Democrats. We also have a party that would rather tear itself apart than honestly discuss the issues. That is the Republicans. Bottom line for me is we as a nation have to come up with an effective broad base strategy on several fronts and then execute. They are:

a. Military - First to contain ISIS/ISIL and then destroy the developing Caliphate. Bring the fight to them and degrade their ability to recruit and grow.
b. Diplomatic - Rebuild our alliances while getting commitments. Support Israel.
c. Media, Messaging & Cyber - We need to attack Islamic radical fundamentalism and discredit as a viable faith. Islam needs to be separated from the political governance of any country. Turkey has done that for the last 100 years and Atatürk's radical reforms after WW I are still valid.
d. Economic & Social Reform - As ISIS/ISIL and radical Islam is being crushed, we will have to replace it and fill the void. We have to give the people a pathway to a better life. We need to replace victimhood with self reliance.

Back to the original question - My answer we cannot achieve any of the above without the Moderates in the Muslim world. We have to encourage them to speak out and help us address Radical Islam in the arena of ideas and ideals.

WHAT SAY YOU?

LTC Stephen Ford
Capt Seid Waddell
CPT Jack Durish
SSG Gerhard Seidel
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SFC Tyrone Almendarez
LT Miranda Bernabei
SSG Mark Colwell
PFC Alexander Oliveira

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 9 at 2016 1:29 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 13:29:09 -0500

This is a convergence of the Trinity and DIME.

Response by SPC Harold Bustamante made Mar 12 at 2016 12:23 AM

SPC Harold Bustamante — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 00:23:47 -0500

yes...it can happen, Kurds are muslims and they are kicking Daesh ( IS ) ass and they believe in equal rts for other religions and women. So yes.. western muslims can and you have to believe they love their country they are in.. if you treat them as equals and not racist

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2018 9:03 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 09:03:42 -0500

Absolutely They can. I am serving over seas shoulder to should we many right now. Radicalization is a choice and they reject the parts or interpretation of the Koran and Sharia law that advocate for misogyny, homophobia, ethnic or religious intolerance, violence or a forced world wide caliphate. They are enlightened, tolerant and actively confronting and fighting the cancer that is extremism and terrorism.