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"See that, Barack? That's Islamic anti-Americanism melting away!"
"If Obama were elected president, 50 percent of the anti-Americanism in the world would disappear."
I predicted this enthusiasm for Obama among Muslims around the world in March 2007: "Given Obama’s politics, it will not be hard to present him internationally as someone who understands Islam and Muslims, and thus will be able to smooth over the hostility between the Islamic world and the West -- our first Muslim President." It is clear from that article -- read it for yourself -- that by "our first Muslim President" I did not mean that Obama was secretly a Muslim, as a Washington Post "journalist" cravenly misrepresented me as saying, but that his background and politics would make him attractive to Muslims.
Will this enthusiasm translate to anything other than substantial American concessions -- perhaps even including "hate speech" laws that outlaw critical discussion of Islamic jihad supremacism?
From "Fareed Zakaria GPS [Global Public Square]" at CNN, October 5 (thanks to Awake):
ZAKARIA: I'm here in Singapore with three very distinguished analysts of international affairs: Kishore Mahbubani, the dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy; Simon Tay, the chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs; and Raja Mohan, who is on loan from India, where he is a columnist for the "Indian Express," but also here at the Rajaratnam School in Singapore.Kishore, what I am struck by is coming to Singapore and listening to the usually very hard-nosed Singaporeans, who have tended to be very cool, realistic, and generally prefer Republicans, because they are hard-headed. And I notice that many of you are in something of a swoon over Obama.
You wrote in Newsweek that, if Obama were elected president, 50 percent of the anti-Americanism in the world would disappear.
Why is it that Singapore is Obama-crazy?
KISHORE MAHBUBANI, DEAN, LEE KUAN YEW SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY, SINGAPORE: Well, let me emphasize, not all of Singapore is Obama- crazy. But there are many in Singapore who are actually troubled by the growing divide between America and the world.
And you must remember that Singapore lives in a region where, indeed, Singapore is surrounded by more Muslims than Israel is. Right?
And so, as a consequence of that, we have to put our finger on the pulse of what's happening in the Islamic world. When it gets angry, it affects us. If it calms down, it's a better environment for us.
And Obama clearly will work a magic in the Islamic world.
I mean, I was asked by President S.P.Y. to deliver the presidential lecture a few weeks ago.
ZAKARIA: The president of Indonesia.
MAHBUBANI: The president of Indonesia. And he was very clear. And he said, and several other people said that, if Obama - if the Indonesians could vote, 200 million Indonesians would vote for Obama, partly because he will be the first Bahasa-speaking American president.
And also, at the same time, I think he understands, you know. He can connect with the rest of the world in a way that I think McCain cannot. The psychological universe of McCain is a very confined one. The psychological universe of Obama understands the diversity of the world.
And what puzzled me is, there is - not just in Singapore, but when I met a billionaire from India - I can't mention his name - he said to me, "Kishore, root for Obama. Root for Obama."
So, there is a magical effect that Obama is having on the rest of the world. And that's why, frankly, all the polls show - most of them, with some exceptions - the Muslim world for Obama.
ZAKARIA: But the lowest number is in India, Raja.
RAJA MOHAN, COLUMNIST, "THE INDIAN EXPRESS," AND PROFESSOR, RAJARATNAM SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, SINGAPORE: I think in India, I think our heart is with Obama, but our head is with McCain. Our heart is with Obama, because I think Obama represents not only, you know, the American system's capacity to change, it's also we're debating in India, about how do we empower our minorities, how to empower our lower castes.
If Obama can become the U.S. president, there's also a debate in India that the Dalit leader, Mayawati, can become the next prime minister.
ZAKARIA: She has come from a very lower caste background, yes.
MOHAN: Yes. So, in a sense it's very positive.
But at the same time, when we look at the issues on trade, I think any day I would take the Republicans. On outsourcing, I would take the Republicans. On immigration, I would take the Republicans.
ZAKARIA: Well, on immigration you'd take McCain, I think it would mean.
MOHAN: Yes.
ZAKARIA: Because the Republican position, you wouldn't accept it.
MOHAN: And the problem with the Democrats is that they come with their single-issue groups. Somebody does nonproliferation, somebody does human rights, somebody does workers' rights. I mean, you have them going around pricking everyone in Asia, without a sense of a coherent vision.
I agree with Kishore. Obama honeymoon will last for six months. But after that, we're going to have serious problems.
Posted by Robert at October 6, 2008 9:24 AM
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..."if the Indonesians could vote..."
Thank God, the Angels, and all the Saints they can't!
Posted by: Abscedere![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 6, 2008 9:55 AM
Seven years after Muslims murdered 3000 American civilians, did $billions in damage to the economy and embroiled us in two costly wars, we are going to reward them by electing as president the abandoned son of a polygamous Muslim with the name Hussein. Does anyone think this might be a dangerous and foolish thing to do?
For the once great Democrat party to attempt to foist this choice on us is beyond disgraceful.
Posted by: RBLA at October 6, 2008 10:00 AM
"Why is it that Singapore is Obama-crazy?" --from article
Gee, I don't know. That's a tough one. I'll have to give it some serious thought.
Posted by: darcy at October 6, 2008 10:11 AM
For the once-great Democrat party to attempt to foist this choice on us is beyond disgraceful.
Posted by: RBLA at October 6, 2008 10:00 AM
England was once-great, too, before they imported masses of Islamic Barbarians and legalized shar'ia law.
Jean Raspail's novel, "The Camp of the Saints" is coming true. Both France and England will be destroyed in what? 20 years? And, of course, there's always Hollandistan.
at October 6, 2008 10:14 AM
If Obama can become the U.S. president, there's also a debate in India that the Dalit leader, Mayawati, can become the next prime minister.
That's an excuse. Since when does American presidential politics dictate who can or cannot become the Indian PM? Are we to believe that Dalit (what is it, anyway?) is dependent on American voters? BS!
On outsourcing, I would take the Republicans. On immigration, I would take the Republicans.
Of course you would! But don't you realize that Democrats started the outsourcing, back in the late 1990s? You have nothing to fear on that score with Obama. Immigration benefits Democrats far more than it does Republicans. Again, Obama gives you nothing to worry about. The American people are another matter.
Obama honeymoon will last for six months. But after that, we're going to have serious problems.
That is not a good sales pitch. Why should Americans make this "gesture" to the world if it won't matter after six months? You've pretty much said that whether it's McCain or Obama, the problems will continue. The Obama dividend will be minuscule. Islamic terrorism will continue.
Come to think of it, didn't the same thing happen with Bill Clinton? He promised to "work with our allies". He gave the world America's acceptance of NAFTA and WTO. He shipped most of our wealth to Asia. What good did it do? How many of our allies were willing to work with us?
On immigration, give me the Constitution Party.
On outsourcing, give me someone, anyone - but not Republicans and not Democrats. I can't afford them anymore.
On the UN, give me someone (anyone!) who will get the UN off American soil, whether or not we remain as members.
at October 6, 2008 10:15 AM
The enthusiasm for Obama, both here and abroad, will wane rapidly after he begins governing, when his gullible supporters realize that their stratospheric expectations can never possibly be met.
Posted by: Cornelius at October 6, 2008 10:22 AM
Posted by: PMK at October 6, 2008 10:15 AM
Excellent points. Now you just need to figure a work-around to the current two-party system in place in the US, and in the next four weeks.
Posted by: awake at October 6, 2008 10:25 AM
Cornelius, they remind me of the MoonBats welcoming the aliens in "Independence Day." And you remember what happens to them.
BTW, your nic always reminds me of the good ape "Cornelius" in "Planet of the Apes." lol
Posted by: darcy at October 6, 2008 10:29 AM
The enthusiasm for Obama, both here and abroad, will wane rapidly after he begins governing, when his gullible supporters realize that their stratospheric expectations can never possibly be met.
Posted by: Cornelius
I fear for the US if he is elected, with a democrat congress he can install his Marxist agenda.
We have seen his attitude about free speech. (His Truth Squads)
His associations.
http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=1511
The world has gone nuts.
at October 6, 2008 10:47 AM
The world has gone nuts.
Posted by: interestinconundrum at October 6, 2008 10:47 AM
The WESTERN world has gone nuts.
Islam's just being it's regular 622 AD barbaric self.
Posted by: darcy at October 6, 2008 10:51 AM
The enthusiasm for Obama, both here and abroad, will wane rapidly after he begins governing, when his gullible supporters realize that their stratospheric expectations can never possibly be met.
BINGO! Remember, the conflict between Israel and Iran will be coming to a head in the next 4 years. Also, Obama will have to consider more cross-border raids into Pakistan, in order to fulfill his his promise to get tougher in that conflict.
The Muslims will press him, and force him to make these choices. I seriously doubt Obama will sell out Israel, or soften up in Afghanistan if he wants to get reelected. Muslims will fall back into their accustomed siege mentality and start calling him a traitor and bring up the apostasy issue surrounding Obama's upbringing. It might end up being worse than their hatred for Bush.
Posted by: Jimmy the Dhimmi at October 6, 2008 11:01 AM
Make no mistake: Fareed Zakaria is a Muhammedan agit prop just like Hesham Islam in the state department and so many others like him, who work for Islam-intern, who have infiltrated behind enemy lines and who work tirelessly on the Islamization of America.
Zakaria is doing his thing in the dar-al harb just like Tokyo Rose did in WWII. He sows doubt, he prevaricates, minimizes, equivocates, obfuscates, cheats and lies because he can. Nobody has called his bluff so far. But he is a rat. Zakaria is a hardcore jihadist with a pen and an agenda, no different from Tariq Ramadan or any other da'awa doctor. We all know what that agenda is: to make America Islamic. Trouble is, we let him. And he does it legally.
Hugh, what say you?
Posted by: sheik yer'mami at October 6, 2008 11:28 AM
Now you just need to figure a work-around to the current two-party system in place in the US, and in the next four weeks.
awake,
We have a workaround. It's called independents. I'm voting anti-incumbent and, wherever possible, I'm voting third party.
That means Chuck Baldwin for president and for most other offices probably the Libertarians, since they usually get their candidates on the ballot below the level of president.
If there are only two choices then I'm voting for the other guy, regardless of party.
It's not much, but my vote is all I have.
Until we decide that Democrats and Republicans are not worthy of our support, we will get the government we deserve.
Neither of these parties existed when the country was founded and neither one has a claim on the American people or on immortality.
at October 6, 2008 11:35 AM
One can only surmise that the Dems are out of their tree.
Especially in a downturn, why would anybody vote for socialist policies (higher taxes) as proposed by Barry H. ?
If the 'world' gets their wish and the Obamanator gets in, they will only see their pain prolonged, as will ourselves.
Posted by: dgene at October 6, 2008 11:48 AM
Posted by: PMK at October 6, 2008 11:35 AM
The problem is not Democrats and Republicans, per se. It is what the respective parties have come to represent. The Democratic party today has little resemblance to the party under JFK. The same can be said of the Republicans.
In my opinion, the media is the most dangerous element in US politics these days and while I can agree with your foundational premise, I will surely vote for a major candidate in November.
I always vote for the candidate over party affiliation anyway.
Posted by: awake at October 6, 2008 12:53 PM
"Obama honeymoon will last for six months. But after that, we're going to have serious problems."
In 1989, in the first direct presidential election in Brazil after 25 years of military rule, Mr. Melo was elected president. He run a platform of "change", delivered inspirational speeches, and had the press heavily in his favour. Exactly what is happening in the US now.
Two years later, Mr. Melo's disatrous government ended, and he became the first impeached president in Brazil's history.
With the US, obviously, the stakes are much higher!
How will it be in 2 years from now?
Posted by: calatrava at October 6, 2008 12:59 PM
13.9% of Singapore's population is Muslim.
Posted by: skevin at October 6, 2008 1:15 PM
awake,
If the problem is what the parties have come to represent then how do you expect to change things by electing people from those parties?
Voting for the candidate over the party is good but once your candidate goes to Washington he becomes part of the party machinery.
Someone took a poll where three of five voters said they would fire everyone in Congress. They'll get the chance to make good on those words in the House elections next month. I hold out little hope, since most people believe their own representatives are just fine and it's the rest of Congress that needs cleaning out. Since 1968, no election has turned over even ten percent of Congress. And we wonder why our leaders don't listen to us. Why should they? There is no penalty.
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=77167
Posted by: PMK at October 6, 2008 1:16 PM
From article...I agree with Kishore. Obama honeymoon will last for six months. But after that, we're going to have serious problems.
I agree with him too...One year tops and the people who elected him will be howling for his impeachment...
Posted by: duh_swami at October 6, 2008 1:34 PM
Posted by: PMK at October 6, 2008 1:16 PM
Agreed. It needs to start at the congressional level. Ultimately, Congress needs term limits, but getting Congress to vote themselves out of a job is a whole other ballgame.
That being said, I will still choose what I deem to be the lesser of two evils on the presidential ballot in November.
Posted by: awake at October 6, 2008 1:44 PM
On immigration, give me the Constitution Party.PMK
On outsourcing, give me someone, anyone - but not Republicans and not Democrats. I can't afford them anymore.
On the UN, give me someone (anyone!) who will get the UN off American soil, whether or not we remain as members.
Posted by: PMK at October 6, 2008 10:15 AM
Vote Loyalist Party - they'll be correct on outsourcing, on immigration and - nothing beats this - Islam!
What those Indians don't realize is that if the US economy stays in a rut, there will be no business to outsource to India in the first place.
Oh, and to answer your other question, 'Dalit' is what the 'untouchable' castes call themselves. The situation is parallel to that of Blacks in the US - there is a powerful affirmative action regime for them, just as there is for Blacks in the US, and their current dream is that Mayawati - the Chief Minister of the largest Indian state of UP - will be the Prime Minister of India, which, if it happens, would be as significant as Obama becoming president. You are of course right - Indians will vote for their choice regardless of whether Americans vote for Obama or McCain. You are also right that both are disastrous candidates.
Posted by: Infidel Pride at October 6, 2008 2:15 PM
For Hindus, Boston must be something of a puzzlement, for in the Hub of the Universe, at least until the last half-century, it was only the Brahmins who were untouchable.
Posted by: Hugh at October 6, 2008 2:25 PM
"didn't the same thing happen with Bill Clinton? He promised to "work with our allies". He gave the world America's acceptance of NAFTA and WTO. He shipped most of our wealth to Asia. What good did it do?"
Don't forget that 911 was planned and plotted during the Clinton years, so a lot of good his international outreach did.
Posted by: DenverRodeo at October 6, 2008 3:08 PM
DARCY: "BTW, your nic always reminds me of the good ape "Cornelius" in "Planet of the Apes." lol"
RESPONSE: I've been called a lot worse than a "good ape" in my time Darcy. In point of fact, the name is taken from a former West African fighter by the name of Cornelius Boza-Edwards.
CONUNDRUM: "I fear for the US if he is elected, with a democrat congress he can install his Marxist agenda. We have seen his attitude about free speech. (His Truth Squads)"
RESPONSE: I'm very concerned too my friend.
My guess is that Obama's going to tread carefully initially, hoping to avoid the Clinton phenomenon, when - two years after Bill's election - the public turned on his Leftist agenda and voted in the first Republican majority in the House of Rep. since the 1950s.
But unlike Clinton, whose primary motivation in life was sex, I believe Obama is a man of the far Left at heart. I believe he's been deceptive about his relationships with Frank Davis, Bill Ayers and Jeremiah Wright, I believe his move to the center the moment his nomination was secured was entirely tactical, and I also believe that though he may tread carefully in the beginning, it is his intention not to squander his place in history.
Obama will eventually move on a whole host of issues that will ingratiate, validate and empower the Left in America, so much so that for example, by granting amnesty to illegals and corrupting safeguards in the voter-registration process, he will attempt to preclude the Republicans from ever being able to garner a majority again.
Posted by: Cornelius at October 6, 2008 3:18 PM
If Obama gets in, and trys to impose marxism/socialism, this could plant the seeds of a second bloody civil war a likelyhood.
Posted by: bigcatgirl13106 at October 6, 2008 3:30 PM
If Obama gets in, and trys to impose marxism/socialism, this could plant the seeds of a second bloody civil war a likelihood.
Posted by: bigcatgirl13106 at October 6, 2008 3:30 PM
It's interesting to me what you said above, bigcatgirl, because a few weeks ago I read this article on "Pajamas Media" called "The Coming Civil War in America."
http://pajamasmedia.com/phyllischesler/2008/09/05/the-coming-civil-war-in-america/
at October 6, 2008 4:37 PM
Zakaria is indeed a taqiyya artist of the highest order. Anyone who claims that jihadism is the result of poverty, that Muslim evil is the result of Western policies, tha Muslims are failures because of Western 'oppression' (i.e., our existence, hard work, and upward mobility) is evil and a taqiyya rtist, and on that score he and Obama are right on the same page. He also claims that somehow all the Islamic hellholes in the world have longer lifespans and better healthcare because of their own efforts and excellent education, not because of Western aid, Western medicine, and Western influence. He is very sick, very tiny man.
What scares me about Obama is precisely the fact that he so clearly plans to unravel all of our Constitutional rights, and while he may not begin by immediately selling Israel down the river, an Obama impeachment would mean just that. The Democrat Congress has a lower approval rating - had a lower approval rating before the economic meltdown - than any Congress in history. An impeachment is nearly inevitable, and Biden will continue with the same policies he has always constructed and voted for - the annihilation of Israel and the Serbs - with zero shame, no qualms, no respect for anything but sheer evil and unmitigated socialism.
Even if Obama is the last Democrat, which he will be if elected, we're still screwed and so is Israel.
Posted by: jdamn at October 7, 2008 12:59 AM
Muslims may change their minds about Obama... but Obama is still a dangerous neo-Marxist.
Obama strongly supports the UN and the EU's socialist policies where everyone must be "trained to have respect for othernesss"...which will obviously include Islam.
Obama will sell America down the river to international organizations because they are "more legitimate" and "based on concensus".
Bt as we know, the UN is run by the OIC, and the EU are a bunch of cowardly Marxist bureaucrats.
Don't vote Obama unless you want your country to take orders from the rest of the world (mainly the Muslim part). Freedom to criticize Islam under Obama will disappear faster than April snow.
Posted by: Stefcho at October 7, 2008 5:42 AM
Muslims may change their minds about Obama... but Obama is still a dangerous neo-Marxist.
Obama strongly supports the UN and the EU's socialist policies where everyone must be "trained to have respect for othernesss"...which will obviously include Islam.
Obama will sell America down the river to international organizations because they are "more legitimate" and "based on concensus".
Bt as we know, the UN is run by the OIC, and the EU are a bunch of cowardly Marxist bureaucrats.
Don't vote Obama unless you want your country to take orders from the rest of the world (mainly the Muslim part). Freedom to criticize Islam under Obama will disappear faster than April snow.
Posted by: Stefcho at October 7, 2008 5:43 AM
Obama is the AntiChrist - look at the signs. The whole world proclaims him its leader.
Posted by: CGW at October 7, 2008 6:09 AM
My, my, isn't it Fear that has been ruling the United States from year one? You have been lied to by your governments about almost everything. From the first "Indian war" to the Iraq war. They wanted to make you afraid of some horrible threat, so the American people would hail their actions, preferable go to war. They put a lot of "the American People" in their speeches, but they had and have and will have their own agenda.
Your wailing about Obama is total B.S. Please, if you honestly want to make a point, check the facts you mention and find that, to say the least, you are stretching the truth.
I just visited my friends in Oklahoma. They were full of this B.S. about Obama. Guess what, they were just repeating each other. Rumors. Nobody ever made an effort to check the facts.
How trustworthy does the stretching about people you don't favor make your case against the radical Muslims and the Western dhimmi governments? You weaken the case! Who is going to take your arguments seriously?
And please, read the real story about McCain. Check him out. Now there is something that scares the hell out of me.
I am happy not to be American, because there is no candidate that is capable to rule the world. But I and the rest of the world will feel the consequences of the outcome none the less.
at October 7, 2008 7:18 AM
jdamn,
"Zakaria is indeed a taqiyya artist of the highest order. Anyone who claims that jihadism is the result of poverty, that Muslim evil is the result of Western policies, tha Muslims are failures because of Western 'oppression' (i.e., our existence, hard work, and upward mobility) is evil and a taqiyya rtist, and on that score he and Obama are right on the same page. He also claims that somehow all the Islamic hellholes in the world have longer lifespans and better healthcare because of their own efforts and excellent education, not because of Western aid, Western medicine, and Western influence. He is very sick, very tiny man.
What scares me about Obama is precisely the fact that he so clearly plans to unravel all of our Constitutional rights, and while he may not begin by immediately selling Israel down the river, an Obama impeachment would mean just that. The Democrat Congress has a lower approval rating - had a lower approval rating before the economic meltdown - than any Congress in history. An impeachment is nearly inevitable, and Biden will continue with the same policies he has always constructed and voted for - the annihilation of Israel and the Serbs - with zero shame, no qualms, no respect for anything but sheer evil and unmitigated socialism.
Even if Obama is the last Democrat, which he will be if elected, we're still screwed and so is Israel."
The truth is that what I have posted before would be the more likely possible outcome because the USA is so badly is divided on the basis of politics meaning if Obama is elected and if he starts to dismantle our consititutional rights, the conditions will be there for a bloody, second civil war.
Posted by: bigcatgirl13106 at October 7, 2008 7:21 AM
Hannifay,
You need to be corrected here. It looks like you have not read up on American history. Get your facts STRAIGHT before you post. Thank-you.
Posted by: bigcatgirl13106 at October 7, 2008 7:28 AM
Muse see video:
Burning down the house - How it all started:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RZVw3no2A4
at October 7, 2008 9:27 AM
Hannifay - I'm glad that you're not American also. Why do you come here and why do you even care to read at this site and follow any information about us if you think so little of us? Do you really believe that we "rule the world?" That kind of attitude allows you who believe that to remain in a state of juvenile irresponsibility and a "blame-the-leader" mentality. If you don't like the state of world affairs then get off your ass and go home to your own country and do something about it yourself and stop sucking money and protection from us.
Posted by: charlie at October 7, 2008 9:30 AM
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
I'm not even worried about a civil war. I'm worried about what happens if there isn't one. If there is, it won't be black on white or rich on poor. It will be right on left, and guess who's got more young people (red-staters just have more kids), every young person who's willing to put up or shut up, the military, the national guard, and all the guns? Class warfare my ass. It will be Americans on don't-deserve-to-be-Americans. Bring it.
Posted by: jdamn at October 7, 2008 10:55 AM
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