- Western vilification of Islam is longstanding, cruel,
and unjustifiable. In his 1978 book "Orientalism," Edward Said
explained a pattern of Western misinterpretation of the East, especially
the Middle East. In "Culture and Imperialism" (1993), he broadened
Orientalism's core argument to show the complex relationships between East
and West by referring to colonizers and the colonized, "the familiar
(Europe, West, us) and the strange (the Orient, East, them)."
-
- He explained Western high-minded/moral superiority notions
compared to culturally inferior Muslims. They're now portrayed as dangerous
bomb-throwing terrorists, making them easy prey to wrongfully victimize.
-
- Ramsey Clark is a former US Attorney General and International
Action Center (IAC) founder. He's also a committed activist for social,
economic, political, and racial justice. In his new year's message, he
expressed worry and hope looking ahead, saying:
-
- "During the past year, there has been a dangerous
upsurge, largely manufactured by the media, in anti-Islamic bigotry. Simultaneously,
supposedly, in the name of 'peace,' " American and Western allies
have attacked and occupied non-threatening Muslim countries preemptively
and lawlessly.
-
- Notably post-911, they've viciously targeted Muslims
for political advantage. Throughout America, continental Europe and Britain
it rages, harming innocent men and women. With no regard for democratic
values and justice, they're bogusly charged and imprisoned for crimes they
neither planned or committed. Yet supportive media reports convict by accusation,
the public unaware that supposed threats were lies, yet it repeats endlessly.
-
- No wonder former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi
once told a Kuala Lumpur audience that Muslim vilification was "insensitive
and irresponsible," adding that false accusations and hate are "widespread
within mainstream Western society....The West should treat Islam the way
it wants Islam to treat the West and vice versa. They should accept one
another as equals."
-
- Islamaphobia in Britain's Media
-
- A January 2007 Islamic Human Rights Commission report
titled, "The British Media and Muslim Representation: The Ideology
of Demonisation" corroborated various studies showing UK Muslims believe
British media inaccurately portray them and their religion falsely and
unjustly.
-
- In 2008, a Channel 4 Television "Dispatches"
documentary, based on a Peter Oborne and James Jones "Muslims under
Siege" document, revealed how UK media and political figures propagate
widespread Islamophobic views, similar to America where Muslims are vilified
as terrorists.
-
- Since 2000, UK findings showed most media reports portrayed
Muslims as dangerous, backward, irrational, extreme, incompatible with
British values, and prone to commit terrorism. Both tabloid and major broadsheets
stand guilty, including London Guardian writer Polly Tonybee once saying
"I am an Islamophobe and proud of it." The Independent's Bruce
Anderson wrote:
-
- "There are widespread fears that Muslim immigrants,
reinforced by political pressure and, ultimately, by terrorism, will succeed
where Islamic armies failed and change irrevocably the character of European
civilisation."
-
- Author Martin Amis in the Times wrote "There is
a definite urge - don't you have it? The Muslim community will have to
suffer until it gets its house in order." The "Muslims under
Siege" document explained that:
-
- "Islamophobia is a tremendous force for unification
in British public culture. It does not merely bring liberal progressives
like Polly Toynbee together with curmudgeonly Tory commentators like Bruce
Anderson. It also enlists militant atheists with Christian believers."
-
- Moreover, it's punctuated by political opportunists wrongfully
charging Muslims with terrorism, taking advantage of public sentiment against
a Muslim presence in Britain. More on that below.
-
- In "Muslims under Siege," Oborne and Jones
noted how mainstream society for centuries singled out an alien presence
for hatred and opprobrium because they were perceived to threaten British
identity. Earlier targets included Catholics, Jews, French, Germans and
gays. Today it's Muslims, public enemy number one as in America.
-
- Wrongfully vilified for their faith, they're considered
fair game by hostile journalists and political opportunists, especially
those on the far right. They've turned away from maligning Jews and Blacks
to now focus on Muslims, but they're not alone. Mainstream politicians
also made Islamaphobia Britain's remaining socially respectable form of
bigotry.
-
- They believe, like British National Party (BNP) chairman
Nick Griffin, that:
-
- "To even hint of making common cause with Islam....is
political insanity....We should be positioning ourselves to take advantage
for our own political ends of the growing wave of public hostility to Islam
currently being whipped up by the mass media."
-
- He and others cited Bat Ye'or's book titled, "Eurabia:
The Euro-Arab Axis," saying Europe is becoming Eurabia where Christians
and Jews will be second class citizens to a new Muslim majority. Griffin
sees all Europe being Islamified, threatening traditional mainstream culture.
It's a short leap to inciting hysteria about terror attacks to justify
Britain's war on Islam, replicating the same tactics in America and throughout
Europe.
-
- Hyping Fear, Citing Terror, Naming Names, and Rounding
up the Usual Suspects
-
- Reports regularly appear like a London Independent March
28, 2009 article headlined, "Police identify 200 children as potential
terrorists," saying:
-
- "Two hundred school children in Britain, some as
young as 13, have been identified as potential terrorists by a police scheme
that aims to spot youngsters who are 'vulnerable' to Islamic radicalisation."
-
- Norman Bettison, Britain's most senior terror prevention
official, said the Association of Chief Police Officers asks teachers,
parents and other community figures to spot signs of extreme views, suggesting
youngsters are being "groomed" by radicalizers.
-
- "What will often manifest itself is what might be
regarded as racism and the adoption of bad attitudes towards the West,"
he explained, adding "We are targeting criminals and would-be terrorists
who happen to be cloaking themselves in Islamic rhetoric."
-
- A Home Office spokesman said: "We are committed
to stopping people becoming or supporting terrorists or violent extremists,"
even though Britain, like America, faces no terror threat. Claiming it
is entirely bogus to hype fear for political advantage. As a result, Muslims
are wrongfully scapegoated. UK media reports like US ones wrongfully convict
them by accusation, the public never the wiser.
-
- An earlier article discussed a bogus London terror plot,
accessed through the following link:
-
- http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2008/12/persecution-of-syed-fahad-hashmi.html
-
- It explained that in America and Britain, government
cooperators are paid to lawlessly entrap and testify against targeted Muslims.
A so-called London Fertilizer Case used Juniad Babar, a dubious character
UK media nicknamed "Supergrass."
-
- In 2004, he agreed to cooperate with FBI agents after
being indicted in June. He then pled guilty to four counts of conspiring
to and providing and attempting to provide material support or resources
to terrorists. A fifth count involved providing funds, goods, or services
to benefit Al-Qaeda. In return for a reduced sentence, he copped a plea,
requiring him to provide "substantial assistance," including
entrapping and testifying against targeted Muslims, ones authorities want
to frame and convict.
-
- He was also used in London's Fertilizer Case. It involved
a half-ton of ammonium nitrate, allegedly to blow up a London shopping
center, nightclub and other targets. Though charges were entirely bogus,
alleged "bombers" were convicted and imprisoned, despite no plot
and no crime.
-
- On December 28, New York Times writer Sheryl Stolberg
headlined, "Obama's Traveling Team Stays Focused on Terror,"
saying:
-
- While on vacation, he has "reliable secure voice
capability" to maintain contact with his advisors on any breaking
news. "In recent weeks, concerns about terrorism in Europe have spiked,
with intelligence officials reporting increased chatter about threats."
-
- No matter how bogus, hyping fear in America, across Europe
and Britain has become the national sport. Alarms and/or arrests recently
were made in Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and UK.
-
- On December 29, based on suspicions only, several Muslim
men (several entering from Sweden) were arrested for allegedly planning
to attack the Jyllands-Posten newspaper offices, the same broadsheet that
published 2005 satirical cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. One was later
released. No incriminating evidence links them to a plot. Yet they'll likely
face "preliminary" terrorism related charges, Denmark's PET security
police head, Jakob Scharf, saying:
-
- "It is our assessment that this is a militant Islamic
group; and they have links to international terrorist networks," even
though he has no evidence proving it. Once again, guilty by accusation.
-
- Swedish SAPO security police head Anders Thornberg said
suspects were surveilled before entering Denmark based on suspicions they
were planning a terror attack. Again, suspicions, no evidence.
-
- White House spokesman Nick Shapiro approved, saying:
-
- "We comment the work done by the Danish and Swedish
authorities to disrupt this plot, and will continue to coordinate closely
with them and our other European partners on all counterterrorism matters
of common concern."
-
- Even through the holiday season, likely innocent Muslims
are targeted and charged. No evidence needed, just "suspicions."
-
- On December 27, New York Times writer Alan Cowell headlined,
"British Police Charge 9 Men, Arrested in Raids, With Preparing for
Terrorist Acts," saying:
-
- After a week of coordinated raids in three cities, UK
police said they "charged nine of the 12 men they arrested in a case
that seemed to be a sign that Europe's concerns over potential terrorist
attacks were spreading."
-
- All arrested were Muslims. Three were uncharged and released.
The others appeared in London court accused of "engaging in conduct
in preparation for acts of terrorism." At issue is an alleged plot
to bomb unspecified targets. According to John Yates, Britain's ranking
counterterrorism official:
-
- "The operation (was) in its early stages, so we
are unable to go into detail at this time about the suspected offenses,"
because perhaps none are planned. "However, I believe it was necessary
at this time to take action in order to ensure public safety," even
though saying so may be a lie, especially after admitting there's no imminent
terrorist attack.
-
- European officials, in fact, said, no specific threats
were timed to coincide with the holiday season, despite alleged claims
of an Al Qaeda plot at the time. Nonetheless, inflammatory news reports,
including from BBC, said the men were planning attacks on the US Embassy
and London Stock Exchange "to coincide with the Christmas holidays
(and prepared by) reconnoitering the targets." Also that they were
using parcel bomb designs from an Al Qaeda newsletter, though no bombs
or clear evidence was found.
-
- It's another case of guilt by accusation based only "on
suspicion (no evidence) of the commission, preparation or instigation of
an act of terrorism," but media reports suggest otherwise.
-
- Cowell said:
-
- "....special squads us(ed) sniffer dogs to raid
four homes and an Internet cafe. They smashed windows and ceilings in the
cafe and, according to witnesses, seized a dozen computers. The antiterrorism
team also searched two motel rooms near a military base, where four of
the detainees had registered, but the police provided no further information."
-
- AP reported that Sue Hemming, head of the Crown Prosecution
Service Counterterrorism Division said:
-
- "I have today advised the police that nine men should
be charged with conspiracy to cause explosions and with engaging in conduct
in preparation for acts of terrorism with the intention of either committing
acts of terrorism or assisting another to commit such acts."
-
- BBC reported that "Police....search(ed) many properties,
(but) no explosives have yet been found." When no evidence exists,
conspiracy is charged. Also, "conduct in preparation" is meaningless
without specifics. If they existed, they'd be stated and reported. Authorities
instead said an alleged plot was in "relatively early stages,"
giving no credibility whatever to the charge. Nonetheless, on December
30, Reuters said a Danish court charged the three men in custody with attempting
an act of terrorism.
-
- A Final Comment
-
- On July 7, 2005, BBC reported that three blasts struck
the London Underground. Another struck a city double-decker bus (called
7/7). All occurred during the morning rush hour for maximum disruption
and casualties. Prime Minister Tony Blair called them terrorist attacks.
Four men were later charged. Three were Muslims, the other Jamaican-born.
At precisely the same time, an anti-terror drill occurred, simulating the
real attacks. It was no coincidence, raising legitimate questions about
a false flag.
-
- AP reported that the London Israeli embassy warned Scotland
Yard about 7/7 in advance, and Israeli Army Radio said "Scotland Yard
had intelligence warning of the attacks a short time before they occurred,"
but didn't act or issue alerts. Moreover, Israel's finance minister at
the time, Benjamin Netanyahu, was told to skip a London economic conference
where he was scheduled to speak. Other officials were also warned, but
not the public. It's no stretch calling 7/7 a false flag operation to heighten
fear and keep Britain and America embroiled in war.
-
- The March 2004 Madrid train bombings occurred three days
before Spain's general elections. With no supportive evidence, they were
blamed on Al Qaeda. Another false flag was likely to stoke fear in Spain
and throughout the West. Nearly always, Muslims are blamed. This time,
Basque separatists were also named, again with no corroborating evidence.
-
- The pattern repeats often. On June 30, 2007, a Jeep Cherokee
with propane canisters crashed into Glasgow International Airport's glass
doors. BBC reported that it "was in the middle of the doorway burning,
(but) the car didn't actually explode. There were a few pops and bangs
which presumably the petrol."
-
- The usual suspects were named, Al Qaeda and Islamic terrorists.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown then said:
-
- "We are dealing, in general term, with people who
are associated with Al Qaeda"
-
- The UK Telegraph reported:
-
- An "unknown Al Qaeda terrorist cell (was) thought
to be preparing to launch a series of Baghdad-style car bombings."
-
- Other UK and US reports also stoked fear, ABC News saying:
-
- "All of this comes just three weeks after what was
described as an Al Qaeda graduation ceremony for suicide bombers at a training
camp in Pakistan."
-
- Neither Brown or media reports cited evidence, just fear
mongering charges. Another false flag was likely to maintain public support
for the war on terror that's also a war on Islam in America, continental
Europe and Britain. The latest London arrests look just as bogus, especially
with no hard evidence to corroborate charges.
-
- Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com
and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the
Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays
at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs
are archived for easy listening.
-
- http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
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