Haqeeqat.Org Face it…

USING THE SWORD TO SPREAD WESTERN VALUES

By: Abid Mustafa

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Take the example of the New World and its relationship with Afghanistan and Iraq. Liberation has become occupation; democracy has given way to colonial rule, devastation is termed as precision bombing and the slaughter of innocent Muslims is described as collateral damage. Meanwhile, American and British oil companies are queuing up to exploit the oil wells of Iraq and transport the energy reserves of the Caspian Sea to Europe via Afghanistan. 

Whenever western governments mention weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and Muslims in the same breath, the western media immediately breaks into wild frenzy warning its people that a catastrophic event of epic proportions is about to unfold.

Old European fables of Muslims spreading Islam by the sword are reinvented to convey the impression that Muslims are extremely dangerous, highly irresponsible and pay scant regard to human life. Hence the mantra of disarming Muslim countries of WMD has become the rallying cry of the West directed against the Muslim world.

In some cases the arguments are extended to justify the West’s ongoing policy of regime change in Syria, Iran and perhaps Pakistan. However, a close study of Islamic rule in the past contradicts the popular western myth that Muslims are bloodthirsty people anxious to wipe out the rest of mankind in the name of Islam.

The same however, cannot be said about the West. The West armed with its secular doctrine and materialistic world-view proceeded to exploit, plunder and colonise vast populations in order to control resources and maximise wealth.

In pursuit of these newfound riches the West succeeded in destroying civilisation such as the Incas, American Indians, Aztecs, and Aborigines. Those who survived colonisation were forcibly converted to Christianity, stripped of their heritage and sold into bondage to western companies. For the indigenous people of Africa, India, Asia, Middle East and others, the promises of freedom quickly evaporated and were replaced by colonial rule. Rather than show remorse towards such atrocities the West could only gloat at its achievements.

Technologies such as cannons, pistols, steam engines, machine guns, aeroplanes, mustard gas etc only hastened the acquisition of colonies and the exploitation of its people. Resistance offered by the natives towards their colonial masters was met by brute force – often resulting in the destruction of entire communities. When the West was not destroying the natives they were too busy annihilating each other in a desperate bid to cling on to their precious colonies. World Wars I and II are prime examples of the destructive nature of western values.

This is a description of the Old World where countries like England, France, and Germany built empires and accumulated immense wealth on the death and destruction of millions of innocent people. Is the New World (America leading the West) any different today?

Take the example of the New World and its relationship with Afghanistan and Iraq. Liberation has become occupation; democracy has given way to colonial rule, devastation is termed as precision bombing and the slaughter of innocent Muslims is described as collateral damage. Meanwhile, American and British oil companies are queuing up to exploit the oil wells of Iraq and transport the energy reserves of the Caspian Sea to Europe via Afghanistan.

The Islamic Khilafah in the past never treated mankind in such a barbaric fashion. Neither did the Khilafah spread Islam by force nor destroy civilisations. When Islam spread to Egypt, many Coptic Christians did not embrace Islam and today they still number approximately 7 million. Likewise, when India was opened up to Islam the inhabitants were not coerced into accepting Islam. India today has a population of more than 750 million Hindus.

Compare this to extermination of Muslim and Jews in the courts of the Spanish Inquisitors during the much-coveted European renaissance. Those Jews that survived this Spanish holocaust were warmly welcomed by the Ottoman Caliphate. In Islamic Spain they flourished and became important members of the Islamic society.

Today, the world has more to fear from the destructive nature of western values than WMD. In the past these values were enforced upon nations either through direct colonial rule or through tyrannical regimes loyal to the West. Presently, the greatest danger-facing mankind is the constant threat of the West imposing its values on the rest of the world through WMD.

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http://usa.mediamonitors.net/content/view/full/49882

Survey shows 75 percent Pakistanis want Musharraf out

Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:50am EST
By Simon Cameron-Moore

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Seventy-five percent of Pakistanis want President Pervez Musharraf to quit, according to a survey released by the U.S.-based International Republican Institute on Monday.

Released a week before Pakistan votes in an election that could precipitate U.S. ally Musharraf’s downfall if it returns a hostile parliament, the IRI survey also said Musharraf’s job approval rating had dropped to a new low of 15 percent.

Another opinion poll, published by Gallup Pakistan, put the number of people who thought Musharraf should resign at 81 percent, but the number of people surveyed was far fewer than IRI.

Another opinion poll, published by Gallup Pakistan, put the number of people who thought Musharraf should resign at 81 percent, but the number of people surveyed was far fewer than IRI.

The assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto on December 27, according to IRI, “greatly impacted the political landscape”.

It said her Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was “benefiting from both a wave of sympathy as well as a backlash against the government”.

Conducted in late January, the IRI survey showed 50 percent of respondents said they would vote for the PPP, while 22 percent favored the party of Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister Musharraf ousted in a 1999 coup, and only 14 percent backed the Pakistan Muslim League, which has provided Musharraf’s political prop.

The West, and neighboring countries are increasingly uneasy at the prospect of instability in a nuclear-armed Muslim state, that is fighting militants linked to the Taliban and Al Qaeda.

Only 33 percent of respondents to the IRI survey supported the Pakistan army “fighting extremists in North West Frontier Province and the tribal areas”.

Just nine percent thought Pakistan should be cooperating with the United States in the war on terrorism, though 65 percent recognized that Taliban and al Qaeda’s operations in the country were of serious concern.

LOST CREDIBILITY

The government and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency have both made a Pakistani Taliban commander linked to al Qaeda the prime suspect in Bhutto’s killing, but the survey showed only 13 percent of respondents blamed al Qaeda.

Sixty-two percent said the government was responsible, according to IRI.

“This indicates a collapse in the government’s credibility among its citizens,” IRI said.

Pakistan will hold polls for the National Assembly and provincial assemblies on February 18, and, while it is not a presidential election, a hostile parliament could seek Musharraf’s impeachment.

Opponents say the way Musharraf secured a second term from the outgoing parliament was unconstitutional. He declared emergency rule on November 3 in order to replace Supreme Court judges who might have annulled his re-election by the old assemblies.

IRI said that whatever goodwill Musharraf retrieved by ending emergency rule in mid-December, quitting as army chief and declaring parliamentary elections, was lost in the wake of Bhutto’s assassination, a deteriorating security situation, and a worsening economy.

Nearly 77 percent of respondents said economic issues –inflation, unemployment, poverty and development– would be the main factors determining how they would vote. Inflation was the top issue for 55 percent.

Asked if there was one leader who was the best person to handle the country’s problems only eight percent named Musharraf, 15 points less than IRI’s last survey taken in late November.

(Editing by Sanjeev Miglani)

http://www.iri.org/newsarchive/2008/2008-02-11-News-Reuters-Pakistan.asp