http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/undergod/2010/08/once_considered_ anti-islam_senior_scholar_says_hes_now_in_the_middle.html
Once considered anti-Islam, senior scholar says he's now in the middle By Michelle Boorstein I had a very interesting chat yesterday with Daniel Pipes, who is considered one of the most senior scholars who focus on radical Islam. While Pipes is certainly considered hostile to Islam by many Muslim-Americans and Arab-Americans, he pointed out to me that until 2000, he would get called out very publicly several times a month by watchdog groups like the Council on American-Islamic Relations, for things he said or wrote. Now, he said, he's fallen off the radar because of "anti-Islam" bloggers and activists. "This anti-Islamic agitation has been growing over time. It's much stronger than in 2001," he said. "The two sides are shooting at each other and don't notice me anymore." Pipes says while he shares a concern about radical Islam with today's crop of bloggers, he considers them "anti-Islam" because in his view they see the faith and it scripture as fundamentally problematic for a pluralistic, democratic society like the United States and unchangeable. Pipes said the bloggers have brought an unsophisticated tone to the debate, "which I think is unfortunate." That said, Pipes was clear that he shares some goals with even people he calls the most "anti-Islam" - such as far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who has advocated banning Muslim immigration to his country and the Quran. Pipes said he's raising money for the defense of Wilders, who faces trial for inciting hate and discrimination against Muslims. The issue, says Pipes, is one of protecting free speech. Pipes says he shares "the same enemies" with people like Wilders and the new crop of bloggers. "We're in the same trench but we have different views of what the problem is. We both see an attempt to impose Islamic law, sharia, in the West. We are both against it, and want to maintain Western civilization. But understand the nature of the problem differently." Important distinction, in your eyes? [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [email protected]. -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [email protected] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [email protected] Unsubscribe: [email protected] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. OSINT, as a part of The Intelligence Network, is making it available without profit to OSINT YahooGroups members who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information in their efforts to advance the understanding of intelligence and law enforcement organizations, their activities, methods, techniques, human rights, civil liberties, social justice and other intelligence related issues, for non-profit research and educational purposes only. We believe that this constitutes a 'fair use' of the copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law. If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use,' you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtmlYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/osint/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
