Call it what it is

The leadership of America and Britton have purposely avoided the term Crusade for fear of the religious connotations it would have upon a tremendous amount of individuals, both Muslim and Christian. However, the leadership of our enemy, al Qaeda is much attuned to the emotions of their people and fully realizes that by referring to this present action as a Crusade it will stir the minds and imaginations of their people resulting in more joining the fight against us.

In a broader reality, the Muslims do view the present war on terrorism as a Crusade and not a war, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was deeply involved with this line of thinking. He had patterned his life after his idol and role model, Nur ad-Din Zangi, the Syrian leader in the First Crusades as is well overviewed and discussed in this online preview of Zarqawi and His Role Model. He also attempted to pattern his other idol, Saladin, who battled Richard the Lionhearted and recaptured Jerusalem for the Muslims in the Second Crusades.

In a recorded radio broadcast before he met his fitting end at the hands of the U.S. Military, al-Zarqawi asked a question that I will paraphrase that was meant to rally new support for his cause, “Where are the Saladin’s of yesterday?” Again a direct reference to the Crusades and meant to stir emotions and support among the people of Iraq.

We American’s are so deeply entrenched in the new age political correctness of the twenty first century that if we used the word Crusade to describe the present war there would be political fallout of far reaching proportions. I am sure that someone will read this and feel that I have overstepped the bounds of good taste and that in itself is the basic underlying problems we face, political correctness.

I do not feel that the war on terrorism began as a crusade, but it was quickly turned into that term and we need to grasp the broader meanings and ramifications of al Qaeda creating a Crusade reference and fight it accordingly. If we continue with the political correct thinking philosophy of our generation, we will not achieve the victory that is needed. We need to meet their statements and fight the war on the plane of existence they have created to win. If we fail to do so, we will face terrorist attacks far into the coming years.