 Islamo-Fascist works for me. I don't see much difference between our World War 2 enemies, and the current savage opposition.
...it is philosophically apt to apply the word to specific Islamist political movements. But does it help the antiterrorist struggle for the president to label it a "war against Islamic fascists"? For several reasons, the answer is a resounding "no".
This blanket term confuses the American public about the nature of the struggle they are facing. This is not World War II, where an Adolf Hitler was bent on territorial conquest. This is not a war of standing armies seeking to capture land. The West is engaged in a long-term fight against disparate radical Islamist groups that are alienated by globalization and the backwardness of their countries. In the words of Steven Cook, Mideast expert for the Council on Foreign Relations: "There are different groups with different political interpretations of Islam and different goals. There is no real address for ‘Islamo-fascism.’ " | But "General Delivery, Riyadh, S.A." and "To Whom It May Concern, Tehran, Iran" will do for a start. |
Lumping all these groups under a single rubric creates the image of one worldwide and powerful jihadi movement, rather than disparate groups whose differences can be exploited. For example, Iranians hate al-Qaida, which considers them to be infidels. | But they will let them bunk in the guest house on their way to kill Americans... |
And Arab Sunnis will never follow the lead of Shiite Iranians, no matter the current cockiness of IranÂ’s leaders...| But the Arab street cheers them on when they confront the Great Satan |
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