Naming the "tiny minority of unidentified extremists possessing no particular ideology"

Do any of the major American presidential candidates from either party have the knowledge and courage to do so? Will any one of them "call a spade a spade," or will they continue to go the way of the craven UN in capitulating to Islamic intimidation and violence?

From here, in response to a recent interview of Fred Thompson:

While it may be true that some of those Muslims who engage in the slaughter of non-Muslims are ignorant of many things, it is not true that ignorance leads one to carry out jihad.

On the contrary, since the word of Allah (Qur'an) and the example of Mohammed (Sunnah) demand the faithful Muslim to war against all who refuse to convert or submit to the rule of Allah, it is the knowledgeable, devout Muslim who does so.

I want to vote for Fred, but I fear that he too is ignorant of the Source and Sustenance of our enemy's bloodlust:

"the Messenger of Allah . . . would say: 'Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war. . . . When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action. . . . Invite them to (accept) Islam . . . If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya . . . If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah's help and fight them . . .'" (Muslim Book 19, Number 4294).

"fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war) . . . " (Qur’an 9:5).

"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued" (Qur'an 9:29).

"Allah's Apostle said: 'I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle . . . '" (Bukhari Volume 1, Book 2, Number 24).

“Allah’s Apostle said, ‘I have been made victorious with terror. The treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand’” (Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 220).

To which RiverCocytus replied,

As the spokesperson for our nation, it does not good to fuel the fire of our enemy's hatred. If there is a good way to do it, it is to call all Muslims haters (even if it is directed in their religion) EVEN if they individually or as groups have no intention to do so.

Yours tends towards an ideological polemic, which is what Fred purposely avoided. I believe he is probably aware of the implications of what the Koran teaches. He's also aware of the sensitivity of the subject. Unless we really go to war with the whole, entire Muslim world, such things will remain unsaid.

Some need be and will need to continue to be our allies, hopefully permanently.

In the ideological black-and-white world your position makes sense, but it does not make workable policy.

It's one thing to not attack Muslims as whole. It is another thing to do what the British do and cede powerful positions to radicals.

Here's my response:

I'd like to respond to a few of the points you raise.

First, the enemy already hates us.

Second, if there are Muslims who would ally themselves with us out of principle and not expediency against those waging jihad, how would telling the truth about what their god commands "radicalize" them? Wouldn't they want to reject or revise their interpretations of such texts?

A person's accurately quoting my religion's Scriptures never makes me want to kill. In fact, I've never wanted to bomb or burn down anything in response to someone's misrepresenting Biblical texts.

If all it takes to enrage Muslims is accurately citing the will of Allah and his apostle's example, how were they ever truly our allies in the first place?

Third, what evidence do you have that Fred -- or any major presidential candidate -- has any understanding of what actually motivates our enemies?

Fred's reference to "ignorance" is not inconsistent with the UN's announcement this week that any combination of the words "Muslim" and "terrorism" in the same calendar year is offensive, their utterance justifying the "re-education" of the person(s) responsible.

Lastly, whether or not we war against "the entire Muslim world" (and again, how does accurately citing Islam's commands regarding non-Muslims "incite" to violence the faithful unless that is to what their religion predisposes them?), Islam is at war with us.

Imagine Winston Churchill claiming that it was a "tiny minority of unidentified extremists possessing no particular ideology" waging war against the civilized world rather than Nazi Germany. Would he deserve our admiration for his courage, or would he have been rightly despised for his Chamberlainian cowardice?

Justifying lying about Islam by calling it "workable policy" is craven appeasement and rewards Islamic intimidation and violence.

Instead, we ought to "call a spade a spade."