Tony Blair And Islam

[emmie]

is he right, or just blowing his own trumpet,
on http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27122008

[emmie]

BBC

Tony Blair has warned Western leaders they must put aside their differences with Russia over Ukraine to focus on the threat of Islamic extremism.

In a speech the former UK prime minister - now a Middle East envoy - said powerful nations must "take sides" and back "open-minded" groups.

[sandyRoe]

Finding them first might take some doing. In Egypt, for example, the choice seemed to be between a military dictatorship(which suited The West and Israel very well) and The Muslim Brotherhood.

[ToraToraTora]

He's right, radical Islam is a festering sore that is only going to get worse. If only the main body of "sensible" Islam could put their own house in some sort of order it wouldn't be such a worry.

[emmie]

i would go with the first for the time being, The Muslim Brotherhood is not what they wanted. Neither is a good choice however.
his remarks about Ukraine seem rather strange, better to side with Putin, so they can fight extremism

[whiskeryron]

This is amazing. Even more amazing is that this hasn't been published long before now.CHURCHILL ON ISLAM Unbelievable, but the speech below was written in 1899... (check Wikipedia - The River War).The attached short speech from Winston Churchill, was delivered by him in 1899 when he was a young soldier and journalist. It probably sets out the current views of many, but expresses in the wonderful Churchillian turn of phrase and use of the English language, of which he was a past master. Sir Winston Churchill was, without doubt, one of the greatest men of the late 19th and 20th centuries.He was a brave young soldier, a brilliant journalist, an extraordinary politician and statesman, a great war leader and British Prime Minister, to whom the Western world must be forever in his debt. He was a prophet in his own time. He died on 24th January 1965, at the grand old age of 90 and, after a lifetime of service to his country, was accorded a State funeral. HERE IS THE SPEECH:"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. The effects are apparent in many countries, improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement, the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.Individual Muslims may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome ..."Sir Winston Churchill; (Source: The River War, first edition, Vol II, pages 248-250 London).Churchill saw it coming......

[emmie]

WR i have seen that, pretty sure that its been mentioned on here, not perhaps the whole piece but reference to it.

[ToraToraTora]

yes excellent insight from the master Ron. Stand by to be castigated by the anti British. Mentioning British heroes and acheivements tends to get them foaming at the mouth.

[emmie]

haven't we interfered enough in other wars, not of our making

"
Mr Blair told the BBC ahead of the speech the West would pay a "very heavy price" for not intervening in Syria.

He said the opportunity to create "an optimistic solution" had been missed.

[emmie]

i think Blair is deluded.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Stand by to be castigated by the anti British. Mentioning British heroes and acheivements tends to get them foaming at the mouth. ///

Yes it is so strange that there are some on here who are only too quick to castigate Christianity, or even those who have the unenviable job of defending us from radical Islam.that is our armed forces and the Police

Even the EDL etc, (who have to my knowledge never committed any terrorist offences or murdered soldiers on our streets), they will willingly have a go at.

But it is these same ABers who will shy away from criticising Islam, the faith under who's name these atrocities were committed.

[scooping]

If it's Blair beware.

[emmie]

if some read the link, its more to do with his idea that we should bypass Ukraine, and other "small" matters and concentrate on the wider issues,
i thought this odd coming from a man like Blair, a Mid East Peace Envoy and one who led this country to war.

[emmie]

i think he is talking of radical Islam,

[youngmafbog]

Blair is deluded, but he is right on the fight on Islam. Pity it was his mob that drowned debate on the topic under the Racist banner.

[Brenden]

Bit rich of Blair after he and his cohorts let them all in - and we are tied with our hands behind our backs by human rights (which he wife fully supports and has made her own fortune out of it ) and cannot get rid of them. The Blairs must be laughing all the way to the bank.

[ichkeria]

"Siding with Russia" to defeat radical Islamism seems an odd idea. Apart from the obvious fact he seems not to grasp the nature of the Russian beast, it is largely because of Russian intransigence on Syria that the situation there is now as it is. So by all means focus on the threat, but not by forming dubious alliances. He does seem to have something of the dangerous zealot (ironically enough given his text) about him

[emmie]

ickeria, couldn't have put that better myself. by the way how is the situation out in the Ukraine...

[jomifl]

He has been right about everything else hasn't he ? WMDs in Iraq, faith schools, Gordon Brown as chancellor, the man can do no wrong, right?

[emmie]

well erm....

[ichkeria]

Emmie
The situation in Ukraine is on a knife edge. Don't want to hijack the thread to talk about it but suffice to say that a lot now depends on how efficient the Ukrainian army is in dealing with the Russian special forces and their cohorts. They've not got off to a very good start.
And there are elections due on May 25