Pew Polls the Borg

Over at Jewish World Review is an article by Daniel Pipes in which he discusses the results of a recent Pew Survey of Moslem attitudes in six countries with longstanding Moslem majorities and in four nations with substantial, but relatively new Moslem minorities. Here are some highlights, with the boldface being Pipes' own broad classification of the findings.

A proclivity to conspiracy theories: In not one Muslim population polled does a majority believe that Arabs carried out the 9/11 attacks on the United States. The proportions range from a mere 15 percent in Pakistan holding Arabs responsible, to 48 percent among French Muslims. Confirming recent negative trends in Turkey, the number of Turks who point the finger at Arabs has declined from 46 percent in 2002 to 16 percent today. In other words, in every one of these ten Muslim communities, a majority views 9/11 as a hoax perpetrated by the U.S. government, Israel, or some other agency.

...

Support for terrorism: All the Muslim populations polled display a solid majority of support for Osama bin Laden. Asked whether they have confidence in him, Muslims replied positively, ranging between 8 percent (in Turkey) to 72 percent (in Nigeria). Likewise, suicide bombing is popular. Muslims who call it justified range from 13 [That's all? --ed] percent (in Germany) to 69 percent (in Nigeria). These appalling numbers suggest that terrorism by Muslims has deep roots and will remain a danger for years to come.

British and Nigerian Muslims the most alienated: ... The situation in Britain reflects the "Londonistan" phenomenon, whereby Britons preemptively cringe and Muslims respond to this weakness with aggression.

Nigerian Muslims have generally the most belligerent views on such issues as the state of Western-Muslim relations, the supposed immorality and arrogance of Westerners, and support for bin Laden and suicide terrorism. This extremism results, no doubt, from the violent state of Christian-Muslim relations in Nigeria.

Ironically, most Muslim alienation is found in those countries where Muslims are either the most or the least accommodated, suggesting that a middle path is best -- where Muslims do not win special privileges, as in the U.K., nor are they in an advanced state of hostility, as in Nigeria.

I have to disagree with Pipes on the last two paragraphs above. My interpretation of the situations in Britain and Nigeria is that they are substantially the same. Unlike in the other five Moslem countries, if Moslems form an overall Nigerian majority, it is a bare one. (They do dominate the north of the country, however.) In both cases, the Moslems live in states with substantial numbers of non-Moslems, stand to gain significantly more power, and are not being met with sufficient resistance. In Britain, the infidels are surrendering. In Nigeria, they merely look beatable.

One further interesting note.... I recall reading, a long time long ago, about the capacity for the Moslem mind to entertain contradictory notions without being troubled in the least. The example was along the lines of some Arab family who professed a visceral hatred of America, but who were planning a trip to Disney World so they could ride the Teacups. The fact that so many Moslems apparently believe both that the atrocities of September 11, 2001 are not the fault of Moslems and that Osama bin Laden is some kind of hero strikes me the same way. Wasn't that supposed to be his greatest "achievement"?

No surprises here. This survey really serves only as a reminder that we are at war with savages, and that Islam is not a "peaceful" religion, no matter how many times one simpering idiot or another says so.

-- CAV