In the Midwest and Talking about Terror

By: Brian Sikma

One topic that presidential candidates at the Midwest Republican Leadership Conference had to address was the subject of the War on Terror. Although America is facing important domestic policy decisions, the War on Terror is an event that is not only defining our time, but is also defining us as a country. Thus, every presidential candidate no matter what their domestic policy ideas are, must address the subject of the War and articulate their views on how important this conflict is.

Although I’m not a fan of Mitt Romney, one thing that I really like about him is his use of the word “jihadist” when speaking of the deadly, hate-filled enemy we are fighting against in this long war on Islamofacists terrorists. The term jihadist conjures up images of a foe who is seeking to wage an unceasing and unmerciful fight against out civilization. So far, Romney has been one of the toughest candidates when it comes to the war.

The Politico’s Jonathan Martin (who was present at the MRLC) thought that Gov. Mike Huckabee’s performance at the press conference was very weak on foreign policy. Martin went so far as to say that if Giuliani is the 9/12 candidate (meaning that his candidacy was created out of the ashes of 9 /11) then Huckabee was the 9/10 candidate. A candidate who is too focused on domestic issues and doesn’t care enough, or doesn’t understand, the importance of the Global War on Terror.

I see Mr. Martin’s point, but I have to say that there is a side of Huckabee that he didn’t seem to cover. When speaking to the crowded hall at lunchtime, Huckabee used a phrase and drew a comparison that I have yet to hear any presidential candidate use. According to Huckabee, this war against radical Islamic terrorists is not a normal geopolitical war (we all knew that I hope), but at its root is a war between two faiths. The implications of this statement are huge. One faith wants to take the world down into a bondage, the other faith wants to liberate men not so they can do whatever they want, but so that they can do what is right.

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From time to time I’ve thought about how politically incorrect it would be to argue that the great clash of civilizations between the Judeo-Christian West and the Islamofacist Wahabbi style Islam was a manifestation of two very divergent faiths. While the West’s Judeo-Christian concepts of liberty, rights with responsibilities, respect for the individual, and freedom of religion make the West a sanctuary for all faiths, it is interesting to note that not one of the Islamic nations that enforce a strict Islamic law code allow full freedom of conscience. The Left, using the freedom allowed by the Christian roots of this country, thoroughly enjoys academically lauding those who believe we should negotiate with Holocaust deniers while at the same time belittling the faith of Christians.

A recent poll found that the single largest group that higher education professors are biased against is Christians. Can you imagine what would happen if it was found out that Wahabbist Islam was the subject of the most bias? Why, CAIR and every other pro-Saudi charity that hides under the guise of a concern for “American-Islamic relations” would be up in arms.

Folks, I’m not for a theocracy, and I don’t think Governor Huckabee is either, but let’s return to some old fashioned common sense and start calling a spade a spade. Let’s face up to the fact that at its root this war is over a very deep divide in ideologies and faiths. One faith says love thy neighbor as thyself, the other says that murdering innocents is the highest calling. As Sen. McCain said earlier this year, the terrorist are in this war to win, the question is, are we?