Blogs For Victory

Aayan Hirsi Ali offers a stark warning:

…Unlike Al Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood has evolved and learned the hard way that the use of violence will be met with superior violence by state actors. The clever thing to do, it now turns out, was to be patient and invest in a bottom-up movement rather than a commando structure that risked being wiped out by stronger forces. Besides, the gradualist approach is far more likely to win the prize of state power. All that Khomeini did before he came to power in Iran was to preach the merits of a society based on Islamic law. He did not engage in terrorism. Yet he and his followers took over Iran – a feat far greater than bin Laden ever achieved. In Iran the violence came later.

The point is that fighting violent extremists is only part of the battle; perhaps the easier part. The bigger challenge may be to deal with those Islamists who are willing to play a longer game…

Do read the whole thing – a genuine must-read. Ms. Ali is very correct in all this. Especially now, those who wish to engage in psychotic violence to advance the Caliphate have learned that we will catch or kill them, now or later. Fighting the United States – in Iraq, now in Afghanistan and even from dispersed terrorist cells – has proven itself to be suicidal. And while suicide is used, you’ll note that the leaders never strap on the bomb vest…and neither do they relish getting double tapped by a SEAL team (for all their brave words about wanting to die for Islam, they really do prefer to live for power and wealth).

And so the slow and steady model adopted by the Moslem Brotherhood will just spread – especially if, as I suspect, they gain control of Egypt. Endure, work, organize – and wait the right moment, all the while claiming to merely want an end to corruption, to brutality and to economic injustice. It works like a charm with western liberals (always willing to give the benefit of the doubt to anyone who attacks the United States, for whatever reason), and it works even better with the Moslem masses…who really are tired of the oppression and corruption they live under.

What do we do? First off, have no illusions. Do not hail the rebels we see in the Moslem world as the successors of our Founders who fought for freedom. Some of them, no doubt, really do want freedom…but the best organized among them are Islamist of one stripe or another, and in a such a ferment, it will be those who know what they want who will wind up on top, at least initially. Secondly, let the Moslem Brotherhood know that we’re not fooled – that if they come to power, even by democratic means, we will consider them what they are: enemies to be held off, and eventually destroyed. Finally, do whatever we can to encourage the emergence of genuine freedom fighters in the Moslem world. This will work well against the corrupt regimes currently in power and will eventually work well against any Moslem Brotherhood successors, as their rigorous application of the Islamist heresy proves an utter failure.

And we should also be prepared for war – against any or all such regimes, at any given time. Just because they rise to power speaking sweet words of peace doesn’t mean they won’t resort to war. This will become especially true as the failures of Islamism are exposed and the new rulers cast about for means of keeping control and unity among their people. Even if its stupid to try, they may try war with us – and it may come quite out of the blue (though it will almost certainly start with an attack on Israel, if it comes to that).

Also, don’t get too worked up over any one individual in the Islamist leadership. It was a complete misreading of the facts when some people said we “took our eye off the ball” and didn’t get bin Laden years ago. Sure, bin Laden was a threat and taking or killing him was a worthy object – but taking or killing him does not resolve the issue. Bin Laden was a symptom – the disease is Islamism, and it’s breeding ground is the corrupt and inhuman regimes ruling the Moslem world. Until those regimes change to regimes which really are committed to liberty and pluralism, our problem will remain…and may grow more acute if the Moslem Brotherhood rises to power in several States at once.

The war goes on – and it won’t end for a while. The only way to make sure is if we did declare a war against all of Islam and conquered the whole area and forced a new settlement upon it. While this is within American capability, it is not something we’re likely to have the political will for unless and until several Islamist States go to war against us, all at once. All we can do is work with what we’ve got – and by a judicious application of power and bribes, try to sway things our way over time.