Muslim troop factor worries US (US Converted Muslim Troops)

[Whoa_Nelly]

Muslim troop factor worries US

WASHINGTON, NOVEMBER 4: After the 1991 Persian Gulf War, huge tents were erected in Saudi Arabia near the barracks of US military. Inside, day and night, Saudi imams lectured the GIs about Islam and made aggressive pitches to convert them.

Within months, about 3,000 US soldiers converted to Islam — the largest surge of Muslims ever into the US forces. Twelve years on, with three Muslim employees at the Guantanamo Bay prison accused of security breaches, US officials are wondering whether they have been inattentive to outside influences on the small community of Muslims in the armed forces.


Air Force Gen. Ralph Eberhart, head of the US Northern Command, said terrorists who try to penetrate the US military by playing on religious or ethnic identities will fail ‘‘99.9 per cent of the time.’’ Even so, Eberhart said, ‘‘there’s no doubt there’s an effort (by Al Qaeda) to turn our people’’. ‘‘I’m concerned that foreign extremists might have engineered the security breaches at Guantanamo.”

more...
http://www.indianexpress.com/full_story.php?content_id=34709

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Oh sure,

anyone who embraces Islam obviously has no brain and will believe anyone in a turban who comes along and tells them what to do. Excuse me, but that is rot. I think what the real worry is that-gasp-Americans will discover the beauty and tolerance that is Islam (not talking about the fundementalists-they aren't Muslims any more than fundementalist Christians are Christian, imho)

[DuctapeFatwa]

3. No, what they're afraid of is Islamic economy

I wrote a screed about this last night, in this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=642836

[DarkPhenyx]

4. NO, if you'll notice...

...the General quoted said thaqt 99.9% of thsoe approached would not be turned. Did you even read the post, let alone the article?

[damnraddem]

8. I read that. One in a thousand.

With 3000 converts, that would mean about 3 would 'turn.' Isn't that the number already charged? Hey, U.S. military, don't worry -- you already caught them all. ;-)

[kayell]

2. But, but, but

it's not a war about religion. * told us so. Right???

[DarkPhenyx]

5. Here we go again.

Another thread for a small group of us to come out and act like complete morons by ranting about how the U.S. Military is going to become anti-Islam.

The same sort of contact was happening between the U.S. military and the soviets. and the U.S. military and the Nazis. Hell, it happens between the U.S. military and Isreal. It happens people. Let's try and maintain a grip shall we?

[sistersofmercy]

11. Yep no reason to think any discrimination would happen within in the

military. They have been a paragon of tolerance, now haven't they? Misinformation? Heck no, the military is always truthful.

[patdem]

6. So the FIRST time American troops were posted in an Islamic country

more have been converted than ever before in history...well gee....what does one expect??? the FIRST TIME Americans have been exposed to Islam they converted???? What is it about the Islam Religion????? As a woman I am weary....but as a person from what I have gleaned Islam is a MUCH better 'religion' than Xianiaty....if humans are what count....but BEING AN INDEPENDANT WOMAN....I do not know about Islam for ME, personally???

[PsychoDad]

7. Many of my sisters are very independant.

And I say with all due respect, I have never met one who would not speak her mind. :D In fact, often I have found my sisters more willing to speak up when my brothers remained silent.

[leesa]

9. Can't open the article to read it, but what is his proof that these

are Al Quaeda? Or is it just an assumption, like usual, that all Muslims are terrorists? Sounds like they are regular Muslims going for converts just like the Chritian preachers going for converts. 6000 in a few months is quite impressive. But why is he saying it has anything to do with Al Qaeda or terrorists?

[aeon flux]

10. Have you read the Koran?

You may be surprised by how crudely it is written. I studied it in a world literature class once. It makes the Old Testament look almost mild.

The Koran gives new meaning to the term 'fire & brimstone.'

[Tinoire]

13. Are you kidding?!

The Koran is one of the most beautiful books in the world. Either you are insensitive to such a work or your translation was very bad.

[IndianaGreen]

15. BULLSHIT!

Had you read it you would have known that it uses similar language to what you referred to as the "Old Testament"? You would have also noticed that it also mentions the same prophets and patriarchs.

You don't read Arabic, and you don't read Hebrew or Aramaic, so how can you be a judge on how anything is "crudely" written?

Amazing that when Muslims refer to Jesus or to Moses, they will always say "Peace Be Unto His Name" in a sign of respect. I wonder why some people think that they have a monopoly on Gawd, whether it is when they are talking religion, or they are invading other countries.

[DuctapeFatwa]

12. gratuitous kick

beause I get a kick out of them talking about people being "turned."

Has such a nice medieval ring, perfect for a Crusade!

[Solly Mack]

14. Oh piffle.

People like General Boykin are a danger to the military. Boykin turns minds and causes (some) soldiers to think in extremes...if they want to worry about something, worry about that. The religious right is one of the most dangerous elements in America today.

[DuctapeFatwa]

16. All Boykin did was bring the words Americans hear into line with

the actions the Majority World experiences.

Additionally, his views are those of the mainstream US voting class.

They may not be YOUR views, but if you were the mainstream US voting class, you probably wouldn't be posting here, now would you? :)