Precisely 100 years of Islamic conquests after Muhammad's death (632), the Muslims, starting from Arabia, found themselves in Gaul, modern day France, confronting a hitherto little known people—the Christian Franks. There, on October 11th, 732, one of the most decisive battles between Christendom and Islam took place, demarcating the extent of the latter's conquests, and … [Read more...]
Islam and Innocence
Jihad Watch Just recently, a high ranking Pakistani cleric, one Munib ur-Rehmen, asserted that "Islam does not allow anybody to take lives of innocent people by any means." However, when he was grand mufti, two years earlier, he also said that "truly Islamic" states must kill the apostate from Islam. Considering his former statement, that Islam forbids the taking of … [Read more...]
Islam’s Doctrines of Deception
Jane's Islamic Affairs Analyst Polish To better understand Islam, one must appreciate the thoroughly legalistic nature of the religion. According to sharia (Islamic law) every conceivable human act is categorised as being either forbidden, discouraged, permissible, recommended, or obligatory. "Common sense" or "universal opinion" has little to do with Islam's notions of … [Read more...]
Debate with Michael Scheuer
What Does al-Qaeda Want? Jihad Watch I recently wrote something of a lengthy exposition regarding ex CIA analyst Michael Scheuer's continuous characterizations of Osama bin Laden as at once Robin Hood, Saint Francis of Assisi, and Thomas Jefferson—that is, a man fighting oppression and tyranny, that and nothing more. Mr. Scheuer was kind enough to respond here. Now, it is … [Read more...]
No We Can’t
by Bruce Thornton City Journal From the days of ancient Athens, the citizens of democracies have been querulous warriors. Key democratic institutions such as free speech and citizen control of the military ensure that ordinary people take an active interest in the progress of war, freely (and often loudly) offering criticism and demanding results. Such criticism typically … [Read more...]