In a recent thread in the ATS Conspiracy Forum, “So I just signed up on a Muslim extremist board…” I was floored by some of the comments from the posters. The original poster Sublime620  signed up because he “wanted to discuss politics with the ‘enemy’. People that don't like white Americans and Jews. While they don't actively state that they want to destroy America, it is clearly stated as an objective of theirs to make the world dominated by Islam.”

Sublime620 joined the board because “it was featured on Fox News as being a Muslim extremist website…” But, his real question was, after joining this board, if he would be “added to the terrorist watch list? Will my phone be tapped? Will they personally monitor my internet activity? Will I have trouble flying?”

He continues: “As for Christian extremists... Do you mean the neo-cons? I discuss them all the time. Hate 'em. But I know everything about Christian extremists. I have never argued with a Muslim extremist. I really was just curious as to what it would be like to have a casual debate with them [Muslim extremists].”

“…I have a different opinion and I wanted to discuss and debate that with them. Doesn't that show that I have more respect for them than most people do?”

JmanFIVek: “I love chatting with islamic extremist. It's interesting to try and understand their perspective.”

ANOK; “Why can't people see extremists Muslims as just a 'bunch of nuts' instead of painting the whole religion as evil? …It has nothing to do with religion, but a lot to do with the media and the power of persuasion.”

Res Ipsa: “I hate being ignorant about the different Muslim groups and what is pissing them off so bad. I just hate being ignorant about anything…”

SpartanKingLeonidas: pointed folks to some other thread he had begun, One called “Muslim’s Are Not The Problem, You Are!!! ” You have been duped by ignorance and are blind to the truth. The Muslim religion, is just like Christianity, exactly like it in fact…”

Sometimes it amazes me that my enemy is so naïve, superficial, and stupid…Syrian Ambassador to the U.S. 'Imad Mustafa, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on May 5, 2008

These comments and comments like them show exactly what most of the American people are – ignorant of Islam, ignorant of their beliefs, and ignorant or the threat they pose. Unfortunately, it isn’t only “extremists” who are a threat.  There is abundant material from so-called “moderate” Muslims who speak about world domination and the destruction of those who do not follow the faith. The Muslims who do not believe this are apostates…in order to adapt within whatever culture they are in, and not become jihadists, they must ignore huge chunks of their holy book, the Qur’an and the hadiths. It is nothing like Christianity, as some would attest. The Muslims themselves agree their belief is nothing like Christianity.

In a sermon that aired on Hamas' Al-Aqsa TV on April 11, 2008, Yunis Al-Astal, Hamas MP and cleric, told worshipers that Rome, "the capital of the Catholics, or the Crusader capital," would soon be conquered by Islam, just as Constantinople was. It then, he said, would become "an advanced post for the Islamic conquests, which will spread through Europe in its entirety, and then will turn to the two Americas, and even Eastern Europe."

"If the Islamic shari'a is applied in America… "I am proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim, because I know, I follow, and I strive to practice the teachings of Islam. Every Muslim should be proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim... it gives benefits to society. On the basis of this knowledge, every Muslim should be proud to be a fundamentalist Muslim." [...]

"I would stress that every Muslim should be a terrorist. I repeat: Every Muslim should be a terrorist. A terrorist is a person who terrifies others, who terrorizes others. Public address delivered by Indian cleric Ashraf Mohamedy, which aired on Peace TV on April 22, 2008:

In late August, 2004 at the Egyptian Journalists' Union in Cairo, Sheikh Dr. Yousef Al-Qaradhawi, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood movement and one of the most important religious authorities in Islamist circles, issued a religious legal opinion permitting the abduction and killing of American civilians in Iraq.

Statements like the one from ANOK, “ Why can't people see extremists Muslims as just a 'bunch of nuts' instead of painting the whole religion as evil? …It has nothing to do with religion, but a lot to do with the media and the power of persuasion” show how little people really understand Islam. Their religion and their political ideology are one and the same – all “penned” from the same man. From the mouth of the same man they revere as their prophet. The man who if cartoons or pictures are made of, they will kill because of. And, please, for any who want a make a comparison with other religions – let us first remember that Muhammad, Abu l-Qasim Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, was a man. Not a god. Not God. Or even the Son of God. He was an illiterate man who saw and heard things, including at one point djinns – or in English, a genie. He related having conversations with one. In fact, the Qur'an has a whole discourse on them, and it states that Muhammad was sent as a prophet to both “humanity and the Djinn”.

What many want to call extremists, are, in fact, fundamental Muslims. The only valid comparison one can make between them and Christians is that fundamental Christians also believe every jot and tittle in their holy book, the Bible, and they believe in God. But, it is not the same God. Other than that, there is no comparison on any level.

Plus, Muslims lie. It is not only an accepted behavior, it is expected. It is so written in the Qur’an and in their hadiths.  They all believe in taqqiyah, which basically means to simulate whatever status you need to in order to win the war against the enemy…which is everyone who does not follow Muhammed. From The Truth About Islam, Taqqiyah & Jihad (Deception & Holy War), taqqiyah, or dissimulation, is a form of deception, which Muslims use to conceal the truth. This Islamic concept to deceive an enemy (i.e., non-Muslim, infidel, kafir, etc.) is not only a common practice, but is considered a virtue among Muslims. It is used by all Muslims, not just Shias, as Sunnis will assert.

Just remember this practice of deception whenever you hear ludicrous remarks like "Islam is a religion of peace," or "Violence is completely foreign to Islam."

So, aside from any other issue regarding Islam, one must remember that what they say (such as in an open forum, during a debate or political negotiations) must always be questioned. The fruit of the tree is where one sees the truth. There are good Muslims – Muslims who want the Qur’an to be reinterpreted. To adapt. But remember, they do not accept the Qur’an in its entirety. Because if they did, they would be jihadists. It is so written.

The Quilliam Foundation is one such group. They are a counter extremism think tank, created by former activists of radical Islamist organizations. They believe that Western Muslims should revive Western Islam, and find harmony in West-Islam relations.

And, of course, there are duplicitous Christians and Jews and folks of other beliefs. But, their scriptures say lying is wrong. It is not acceptable behavior. In Islam, however, it is not only considered acceptable, it is often considered necessary as it serves their belief and their cause.

From Understanding Dishonesty and Deceit in Islam

When someone first becomes curious and wishes to begin learning about Islam, it is imperative that they first understand the degree to which lying is not only permitted, but actually fostered and even, at times, commanded in Islam.  When a Christian wishes to teach others about Christianity, it is simply understood that honesty will be an essential aspect of that sharing.  In Islam however, most westerners have a hard time relating to the fact that purposeful exaggerations, covering of the truth and occasionally – outright-deliberate lying is a core part of the religion of Islam.  There are actually specific doctrines and traditions that foster a culture of dishonesty within Islam…of course, there are some verses and traditions in Islam that discourage lying:

 And cover not Truth with falsehood, nor conceal the Truth when ye know (what it is). -Surah 2:42 (Yusuf Ali)

 But, it is the exceptions to the rule that have actually become the rule itself. 

In order to understand how a religion can rationalize and justify lying, the model of jihad and the goals of Islam must be examined.  Within Islam, jihad is essentially viewed as a struggle to bring all things into submission to Allah and Islam.  This is critical. There is the personal inner struggle, which is fought by every Muslim to overcome his or her own weaknesses. Then there is the need to wage jihad to make others submit to Islam.  This is similar to what Christians call evangelism.  In Islam it is called Dawah.  “Flowing on down the spectrum, there is the imperative for Islam to take over local and eventually national governments.  This is the point, unfortunately where the true face, the violent face of Islam is often revealed and, where jihad usually begins to get bloody.”

This is what is we’re seeing throughout the world today.  So, while many non-Muslims think of jihad as personal struggle, and simply fighting against non-Muslim governments and nations, the concept in Islam actually includes all aspects of life, which the western world is beginning to see as shari’a law, among other things. “ In the Muslim mind, even the struggle to convert non-Muslims to Islam is part of jihad.  Evangelism in Islam is more than just “sharing the good news, it is war.” Muhammad said, “War is deception.”  So, in this context,  “Islam encourages Muslims to use an aggressive jihad/war-time mentality that is literally defined by deception.”

And, until people realize the degree to which this mentality plays out, people in the western world, who are being purposefully deceived, are like sheep being led to the slaughter.

So, yes – most of us are as stupid and naïve as they think we are. And, people will continue to be so until they truly inform themselves about Islam and not listen to the Muslim apologists who continue to compare Islam with Christianity or tell us it is a religion of peace. Because anyone who has actually reads the Qur’an know that isn’t true.