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We are Fighting World War III Now
“We fought two devastating world wars in the 20th century. Most believe that we have now
made it more than one decade into the 21st century without the outbreak of World War III. But I contend that
we have been fighting World War III for decades – and we are still fighting it now! In fact, we
have been fighting World War III since the previous century. We here in America, along with rest of the
world, are locked in a brutal and deadly war with radical fundamentalist Islam! We won’t admit it because
we don’t want to face the truth. We won’t admit the truth that we have been repeatedly attacked in dastardly fashion
by the dark and sinister forces of jihadist Islam. We won’t admit that we are at war because our mortal enemy,
Radical Islam, is not a single nation or a group of nations – it is a religious cult with no national base, no
capital city and no single geographical location where its center of power resides. We won’t admit that we are at
war because the war thrust upon us by the religious zealots of Islam is like no war in which we have been previously
engaged. We may not recognize that we are war, but make no mistake, we have been attacked, we are being
attacked and we will continue to be attacked until we wake up and decide to fight and destroy, once-and-for-all, the
forces that are attacking America and the rest of the world right now.”
(Ref. 1)
Violent jihadism, with its clearly stated goal of world domination is now becoming more
powerful than ever. It is spilling increasing volumes of blood, with the majority of it being the blood of fellow
Muslims. While it may be politically convenient to focus on ISIS as the source of all this bloodshed, the ugly
truth is that, even if ISIS is militarily defeated in the short-term, the Radical Islamic mindset that
created ISIS and al Qaeda before it is now far-too-common in today’s Muslim world. Encouraged by today’s
ongoing political dynamics, this mindset of violence, terror and world domination will continue unabated in
encouraging future jihadist groups to fill the gaps. Despite the millions of Arabs and Muslims who believe in
progress and modernity, we can expect many of the children in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere that are currently being
indoctrinated by ISIS and other militant Islamic fundamentalists to join this “holy war.”
“Radical Islamists seeks to subjugate everyone who does not adhere to its version of
‘religion.’ Just because we are not {formally} at war with Radical Islam does not mean that Radical Islam is not at
war with us. Pretending that war does not exist only ensures our defeat. The consequences of that defeat will be
catastrophic for the civilized world.” (Ref. 2)
Sadly, too many Americans and other peoples around the world don’t recognize or won’t
admit who is our real enemy. The real enemy is Radical Islam – It is not ISIS, al Qaeda,
Boko Haram or any one of the other fundamentalist Islamic organizations spreading terror and hatred around the
world. ISIS and the other Islamic terrorist groups are merely the foot soldiers serving in the armies of Radical
Islam.
Focusing on the defeat of a group of foot soldiers rather than the real force behind these
terrorists does not remove the ultimate threat to America and the rest of the world. Defeating ISIS or al Qaeda is
merely winning a battle. Their defeat does not end the war with Islamic fundamentalism. Defeating these foot
soldiers is similar to the defeat of Rommel’s Afrika Korps in North Africa during World War II - it did not end
the war against Nazi Germany. Radical Islam is the real enemy and it must be understood to be the ultimate target.
In the end, Radical Islam must be defeated, just as Hitler and the Nazis had to be defeated in World War II. Merely
killing a bunch of jihadists will not put an end to the Islamic terrorism now present in the world.
While many extol Islam as the Religion of Peace and denounce ISIS as being completely
un-Islamic, they remain blind and/or silent to the real threat posed by the radical and fundamentalist members of
Islam – including those adherents of ISIS. The fact is that while all Muslims are not ISIS terrorists, essentially
all members of ISIS are radical, apocalyptic jihadists and are adherents of fundamentalist and Radical
Islam.
In focusing on ISIS, too many fail to see the big picture – theirs is a narrow tactical
perception rather than a broad strategic outlook. They are wearing blinders and are nearsighted! They don’t or won’t
recognize the ultimate threat and thus cannot envision a strategy to defeat that threat. Just as the apparent defeat
of al Qaeda and the killing of Osama bin Laden did not end the threat of Islamic terrorism, so too, the defeat of
ISIS will not end the Islamic jihadist threat. Until the real enemy is recognized and acknowledged, it will not be
defeated. A good piece of advice is to “keep your eye on the prize!” and ISIS is not the prize – Radical
Islam is!
Recognizing the real enemy is the first step toward developing a winning strategy against
Islamic terror. Focusing on a battle being fought against a “JV team” of terrorists is the wrong approach to winning
the real war. Spouting rhetoric and feel-good platitudes does not lead to an effective strategy for decisively
ending this threat to our modern civilization.
While many may have failed to perceive and fully understand the Radical Islamic threat,
others have not. They have warned that the United States is in a war of civilizations with Radical Islam and that a
new “world war” has reached U.S. soil – facts that should have been obvious since 9-11.
This War with Radical Islam is unlike any war in which America has fought. There is no
country to conquer, no dictator to defeat and no peace treaty to sign. In the War with Radical Islam,
victory will occur when Radical Islam does not win. The War with Radical Islam will neither be swift nor
decisive. It will be long and drawn out. The enemy here has great patience. Consequently, we need to make the
enemy understand that he cannot win and he cannot wait us out. He must come to understand that his only option is
to die or surrender.
Nation Building
The United States has kept troops in Germany, Japan, and South Korea for 70+ years. As a
result, there are stable democracies and thriving economies in those countries. A message to be learned as a result
is: Stay the course - cutting and running in the face of evil is a guarantee of disaster!
There has been recent debate about the subject of “regime change” or “nation building”.
Should America work toward “nation building” in those nations where Radical Islam poses a threat to world peace?
Can “regime change” or “nation building” be achieved? The answer is that the United States and with other nations
have successfully implemented “regime change” or “nation building” in the cases of Germany, Italy and Japan
following World War II. In all three cases, fascist regimes were replaced with democratic governments and all
three former enemies have become staunch allies of the United States, while their citizens have enjoyed the fruits
of democracy. “Regime change” or “nation building” can succeed where there is a concerted will to make it
happen. We can and must ensure that moderate and democratic governments succeed in countries like Iraq
and Afghanistan, no matter how long it takes. Failure to do so cannot be an option! We cannot allow any country to
become a breeding ground for Islamic terrorism nor a sanctuary for Radical Islamists.
Retreating into the Homeland is Not an Option
Withdrawing into “Fortress America”, as some would wish, is not a realistic option. In
today’s modern world, America simply cannot insulate itself from the rest of the world. North Korea is a prime
example of this fact – our enemies can reach us, and they already have done so more than once. So, self-preservation
dictates that we cannot stick our heads in the sand and withdraw from the rest of the world in the vain hope that
enemies like Radical Islam will leave us alone. Another compelling reason why we must carry the fight to Radical
Islam is that of morality - we cannot leave friends to the not-so-tender mercies of our common
enemies.
You are Either With Us or You are Against Us
So far, the war on Radical Islam has proven to be one without mercy. The Islamic jihadists
have set the tone and theirs is a war to death with no mercy and no innocent bystanders. If you do not submit to the
Islamic fundamentalist, they will kill you. We, in turn must make it absolutely clear - You are with us or
you are against us. We must demand of friend and ally that they join with us in this global fight to the
death – no standing on the sidelines and watching!
The world has seen that so-called moderate Muslims are as much victims of Radical Islam as
non-Muslims – perhaps even more so. It is therefore in their interest to join America in this war. Moderate Muslims
cannot remain passive in this struggle, but must demonstrate the will to join us to destroy this threat to the
civilized world. Again, our message to moderate Muslims must be: You are with us or you are against
us.
The New U.S. Strategy in the War Against Radical Islam
In announcing a new U.S strategy in Afghanistan on 21 August 2017, “President Trump
declared terrorists ‘have nowhere to hide’ . . . — calling out Pakistan for providing safe haven, . . . and vowing
that troops ‘will fight to win.’
“ ‘The killers need to know they have nowhere to hide, that no place is beyond the reach of
American might and American arms,’ . . . ‘Retribution will be fast and powerful.’
- - -
“{Trump} criticized Pakistan for providing ‘safe haven to agents of chaos, violence and
terror,’ suggesting the U.S. would cut off billions of dollars in aid, and demanded the country ‘demonstrate its
commitment to civilization, order and to peace.’
“He also nudged India to do more in Afghanistan, noting the billions of dollars that
country makes in trade with the United States.
“{In marked contrast to the previous Obama administration,} Trump also said the
U.S. will no longer publicize deadlines, troop levels or military plans. [Emphasis mine}
- - -
“ ‘We will not talk about numbers of troops or our plans for further military activities,’
Trump said. ‘Conditions on the ground, not arbitrary timetables, will guide our strategy from now on.
America’s enemies must never know our plans or believe they can wait us out. I will not say when we are going to
attack, but attack we will. [Emphasis mine]’ “
(Ref. 3)
“After nearly 17 years of war in Afghanistan, President Trump . . . proposed a pragmatic,
purposeful approach to the conflict that will work to protect and advance U.S. interests in that part of the
world.
“Here’s why:
“First, it has a counterterrorism focus. The key aim is to help prevent Afghanistan from
becoming a safe haven for terrorists as it was for al-Qaeda under the Taliban’s rule, leading to the horrific 9/11
attacks.
“This means that we’ll work with Afghan, NATO and other partners to secure the country from
becoming a place where terrorists (like ISIS) can plan, train and operate, especially against the United
States.
“This is as critical to U.S. security as it is to that of other nations; 20 of the nearly
100 U.S. government-designated foreign terrorist organizations are present in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region of
South Asia, according to the Pentagon.
“Second, there is a regional strategy. This is essential, especially in regard to
neighboring Pakistan, where terror groups such as the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network are able to find
refuge.
- - -
“. . . {As} Afghanistan’s friend, the United States and other partners (India and Europe
for example) will work with Kabul to assist the country politically, economically and socially in support of our
common interests.
“. . . {And} there are no timetables. Timetables clearly have their place in that they can
focus a project, but they can also be counterproductive, especially in military operations; politically-driven
schedules give the enemy decisive insights into our plans.
“Remember the anecdote of a Taliban prisoner who said, ‘The Americans have the watches, but
we (the Taliban) have the time’? We don’t want the Taliban to think they can just wait out a well publicized
U.S.-NATO withdrawal.
“This could mean that we’re in Afghanistan battling the spread of violent Islamist
extremism for a {long} while. . .
“Sure, critics are bemoaning a lack of details {from the president}, but . . . {t}he
critical step was to settle on a good, solid strategy going forward which furthers U.S. interests.
“Thankfully, we now have that.” (Ref. 4)
“Trump’s plan includes a modest increase in U.S. troops — actually approved in June but
not implemented pending agreement on the broader strategy. That commitment represents a recognition that, as Trump
put it last night, ‘a hasty withdrawal would create a vacuum that terrorists?.?.?.?would instantly fill, just as
happened before Sept. 11th.’
“But the strategy also recognizes that Afghanistan must solve many of its own problems, and
that U.S. soldiers cannot be sent into the field with one hand tied behind their backs.”
(Ref. 5)
On September 11, 2001, al-Qaeda “flew passenger jets into the Pentagon and the World
Trade Center . . . Nearly three thousand Americans died. Since September 11, thousands more Americans have died
fighting jihad overseas, with tens of thousands wounded.
“After all that loss, after all that expense, jihad is still spreading. Indeed, our own
government threw away victory in Iraq and {was} on the verge of leaving Afghanistan to its fate. It is
understandable if Americans are weary of thinking about war . . . But enemies do not fight on our
timetable.” (Ref. 6; Page 13)
We have no one to blame but ourselves for the situation in which we found ourselves. We
allowed this threat to civilization to take root. “By late 2008, jihadists in Iraq were largely defeated, their
leaders killed or captured, along with tens of thousands of their terrorist foot soldiers. . . . But . . . only six
years later, ISIS {became} stronger than any jihadist group in world history.”
(Ref. 6; Page 8)
President Trumps’ announcement has been a long time in coming after the dangerous trend
of the Obama years. Trump’s stated policy of no announced strategies, no announced dates to quit and no announcement
projected military deployments should always be the policy when engaged in war. The enemy must be kept in the dark
except for one pronouncement and that is that we will continue to fight, with whatever it takes and as long as it
takes until that enemy is defeated. Radical Islam must be made to realize that there will be no safe sanctuaries,
that America is committed to training the military forces of those countries wherever it tries to establish a
foothold, that we will work with the civilians and governments of those countries to create an environment in which
their rotten ideology cannot survive. Wherever Radial Islam rears its ugly head, we will work to win the support of
locals and to administer, advise, and train the enemies of our enemies. America and its friends will provide the
resources needed – military and civilian. And, perhaps most importantly, America will lead in this war to
the finish!!
It is up to our president to define the mission, give it to the military, let them do their
jobs and not be an armchair-general and micromanage them.
“. . . America must commit to destroying ISIS, not just ‘managing’ it or eliminating its
influence {as President Obama advised}. To do so, we must support our true allies with arms, equipment, military
advisers, and – if necessary – military power.” (Ref. 6; Page 92)
The “Moderate” Muslims
“There is tremendous value in enlisting Muslim allies against jihad, allies like the
Peshmerga in Kurdistan.” (Ref. 6; Page 29) “It is imperative that jihadists face
strong Muslim opposition." (Ref. 6; Page 93)
“Moderate” Arab/Moslem leaders and governments are beginning to become aware that the
excesses of Islamic fanatics threaten not just “infidels” but themselves as well. These “moderates” know quite well
that Muslims are being butchered and abused by fanatics across the Middle East. Victory over fanatic Islam requires
that we insist that these Muslim “moderates” join the fight to defeat and destroy the Islamic jihadists. There can
be no standing on the sidelines. “Moderate" Arabs/Muslims must understand that they are either with us or they are
against us!
As a matter of practicality, America will have to support weak (and sometimes unsavory)
governments in Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Niger and elsewhere that are trying to fight al-Qaeda and other
radical Muslim extremists. So be it!
Let’s remember that we linked arms with Joseph Stalin and his brutal Communist regime to defeat Nazi Germany.
We held our nose and fought together with Communist Russia until the common enemy was defeated.
While much of this effort to totally defeat Radical Islam is being waged in countries like
Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, etc., there is another major threat from Radical Islam, and that threat is Iran and its
attempts to spread it’s hegemony and it’s perverse version of Islamic fundamentalism throughout the Middle East and
Africa. The world’s efforts to rein in Iran’s ambitions must be continued and intensified as part of the overall war
against Radical Islam.
It’s Total War with No-holds Barred
Make no mistake, the United States and the rest of the civilized world are at war with one
of the most evil enemies in recorded history and there is only one way to conduct the battle against this
unprincipled and ruthless foe – the fight must be carried to them and they must be destroyed! They abide by
no rules of war – and therefore neither should we! Rules of war are for those who fight by these rules.
Furthermore, there can be no halfway or timid approaches to fighting this war. We must conduct this fight with any
and all means available. Negotiation with these monsters is futile and meaningless – they honor no agreements.
Negotiations with radical Islamic terrorists are a non-starter. “. . . it is highly doubtful that anyone but the
most naïve among us would believe that negotiations, led by the United nations or anyone else, are the proper way
forward.” (Ref. 6; Page x) There can be only one acceptable objective and that
objective is TOTAL VICTORY. Evil such as this must be met with overwhelming force – nothing else
is acceptable. “When jihad is on the march, only overwhelming force can stop it.”
(Ref. 6; Page 10)
As General MacArthur said in his 1951 farewell speech to Congress. "There is no
substitute for victory!" There was a time when this was understood in America. Now in 2017, we need to
heed the General’s message. There can be no accommodation with the fanatics that comprise Radical Islam! In simple
terms: “Islam is not a religion of peace. It’s a political theory of conquest that seeks domination by any
means it can. Every accommodation of Muslim demands leads to a sense of euphoria and a conviction that Allah is on
their side. They see every act of appeasement as an invitation to make fresh demands.”
(Ref. 7) Total victory is the only acceptable outcome!
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References:
- World War III – We Are Fighting It Now!, David Burton, Son of Eliyahu; Article 198,
8 August 2014.
- Speech to the UN, Brigitte Gabriel, Act For America, 17 April 2014.
- Donald Trump sends message: U.S ‘will fight to win’, Chris Cassidy, Boston Herald,
pages 4-5, 22 August 2017.
- New Afghan strategy hits the mark, Peter Brooks, Boston Herald, page 17,
23 August 2017.
- Trump’s Afghan reset, Op-ed, Boston Herald, page 14,
22 August 2017.
- Rise of ISIS, Jay Sekulow, Howard Books; ISBN 978-1-5011-0513-5, 2014.
- Into the Fray: Bombs in Brussels (or 'It’s Islam Stupid' revisited), Martin Sherman,
Jerusalem Post ,
24 March 2016.
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