Battling the forces of radical Islam

Over the last several months there have been a number of letters concerning the present situation in Iraq and the Middle East. These letters have been passionate, well-written and full of genuine concern.

I have been reluctant to add my opinion to this mix, but feel compelled to do so, as I believe the Iraq incursion needs to be viewed in a broader historical context. I also believe that some of these letters have been unfair to President Bush and misrepresent the tasks that he has been pursuing since the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001.

As a caveat, let me begin by making clear that I am neither an expert on the Middle East nor Islam, but have studied enough history of both to have an opinion that is at least worthy of debate. I believe that western civilization is involved in a long twilight struggle against the forces of radical Islam, which has hijacked one of the world’s great religions for its own sinister purposes.

This battle became inevitable when technology such as the fax machine and satellite television eliminated the distance between these civilizations that geography had previously provided. The opening salvo occurred in November 1979 when the American embassy in Tehran was besieged. Since that event there have been a number of subsequent incidents, such as the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center, various embassy bombings, the attack on the USS Cole and of course, Sept. 11, 2001.

In all probability, this war will continue for generations and will conclude only when Islam undergoes a fundamental reformation similar to that which Christianity underwent following the Inquisition; a sobering thought indeed.

Iraq needs to be viewed in the context of a front in this struggle as opposed to a stand-alone event. It would be a mistake to view Iraq in isolation as surely it would be to view battles of previous wars such as Gettysburg and Midway without consideration of the larger wars in which they were fought.

It is possible that the outcome of Iraq will not be positive for the United States. It may very well be the equivalent of the disastrous British attack on Gallipoli during World War I. Only time will tell. However, military setbacks such as Gallipoli and Pearl Harbor did not determine the eventual outcome of the wars in which they were fought, and a long protracted struggle in Iraq must not determine victory or defeat in the larger war in which we are currently engaged. The goal of bringing a form of democracy to Iraq is certainly a daunting task, but Iraq has a high rate of literacy and a tradition of a strong middle class to make the effort at least possible if not probable.

Each of us must make the determination if Bush is the right person to lead us in this effort during the next four years. I believe he is, but am respectful of those who feel otherwise.

Regardless of who becomes president next January, this larger war will continue. To believe otherwise ignores the reality of the world in which we currently live.

Durlin Lunt is a resident of Northeast Harbor.