Theodore's World: Poll of U.S. Muslims Tells of Suicide Attacks OK

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May 23, 2007

Poll of U.S. Muslims Tells of Suicide Attacks OK


Some US Muslims say suicide attacks OK

WASHINGTON ...fopr complete article

One in four younger U.S. Muslims said in a poll that suicide bombings to defend their religion are acceptable at least in some circumstances, though most Muslim Americans overwhelmingly reject the tactic and are critical of Islamic extremism and al-Qaida.

The survey by the Pew Research Center, one of the most exhaustive ever of the country's Muslims, revealed a community that in many ways blends comfortably into society. Its largely mainstream members express nearly as much happiness with their lives and communities as the general public does, show a broad willingness to adopt American customs, and have income and education levels similar to others in the U.S.

Even so, the survey revealed noteworthy pockets of discontent.

While nearly 80 percent of U.S. Muslims say suicide bombings of civilians to defend Islam can not be justified, 13 percent say they can be, at least rarely.

That sentiment is strongest among those younger than 30. Two percent of them say it can often be justified, 13 percent say sometimes and 11 percent say rarely.

"It is a hair-raising number," said Radwan Masmoudi, president of the Washington-based Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, which promotes the compatibility of Islam with democracy.

He said most supporters of the attacks likely assumed the context was a fight against occupation — a term Muslims often use to describe the conflict with Israel.

U.S. Muslims have growing Internet and television access to extreme ideologies, he said, adding: "People, especially younger people, are susceptible to these ideas."

Federal officials have warned that the U.S. must be on guard against homegrown terrorism, as the British suffered with the London transit bombings of 2005.

Even so, U.S. Muslims are far less accepting of suicide attacks than Muslims in many other nations. In surveys Pew conducted last year, support in some Muslim countries exceeded 50 percent, while it was considered justifiable by about one in four Muslims in Britain and Spain, and one in three in France.

"We have crazies just like other faiths have them," said Eide Alawan, who directs interfaith outreach at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Mich., one of the nation's largest mosques. He said killing innocent people contradicts Islam.

Andrew Kohut, Pew director, said in an interview that support for the attacks represented "one of the few trouble spots" in the survey.

At a later news conference, he said much of that support could be attributed to age because the findings were consistent with numerous other surveys showing young people more inclined to violence and to support wars.

The poll briefly describes the rationales for and against "suicide bombing and other forms of violence against civilian targets" and then asks, "Do you personally feel that this kind of violence is often justified to defend Islam, sometimes justified, rarely justified, or never justified?"

The question did not specify where a suicide attack might occur, who might carry it out or what was meant by using a bombing to "defend Islam."

In other findings:

- Only 5 percent of U.S. Muslims expressed favorable views of the terrorist group al-Qaida, though about a fourth did not express an opinion.

- Six in 10 said they are concerned about a rise in Islamic extremism in the U.S., while three in four expressed similar worries about extremism around the world.

- Yet only one in four consider the U.S. war on terrorism a sincere attempt to curtail international terror. Only 40 percent said they believe Arab men carried out the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

- By six to one, they say the U.S. was wrong to invade Iraq, while a third say the same about Afghanistan — far deeper than the opposition expressed by the general U.S. public.

- Just over half said it has been harder being a U.S. Muslim since the 9/11 attacks, especially the better educated, higher income, more religious and young. Nearly a third of those who flew in the past year say they underwent extra screening because they are Muslim.

The survey estimates there are roughly 2.35 million Muslim Americans. It found that among adults, two-thirds are from abroad while a fifth are U.S.-born blacks.



Wild Thing's comment.........

We already know the barbarians are already within the gates. So this is just a glimpse of what one survey says.

... "2.35 million Muslim Americans"....... not osure if this is accurate.........

This article above is from Yahoo news so I am going to put another link here that shows the American Muslims Demographic Facts. The link shows 7 million Muslims in the U.S.; 1 million in Canada.

Posted by Wild Thing at May 23, 2007 12:47 AM


Comments

I don't trust them at all. The annual 6% growth rate worries me. That is our government letting them in when I believe there should be atotal ban on immigration of moslems, especially mullahs/imans.

Posted by: TomR at May 23, 2007 05:57 AM


These radical beings are the biggest threat to mankind today.They should be in some way dismissed from society.There beliefs are so very far from what the world considers rational that we for the most part are in constant peril with their presence amoung us.Our biggest threat is that these beings put no value on human life and this is most alarming.Look at the carnage that they have been responsible for over the years.Innocent and vulnerable people being killed simply by being at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Posted by: bill at May 23, 2007 08:53 AM


We've got to get these ass holes out of the country. We should give each of these killers two weeks to arrange their affairs and pick a country to move to. Then move them, forceably if necessary. If they think killing for the sake of some god who doesn't exist then get rid of them. No just and loving god would want people to kill for it. Get these rag headed son of a bithches out of here now. All they know how to do is kill and fuck their daughters and sons. We can stop terrorism here by getting the mother fuckers out and not letting any of the jerk offs in for any reason. No vacationing no visiting no nothing

Posted by: Eugene at May 23, 2007 03:13 PM


Internment camps for those that are here. Out in the middle of the dessert. As little as possible in the way of modern conveniences. No access to broadband either. No future entry either. Then slowly deport those that are here starting with the imams and mullahs.

Posted by: raz0r at May 23, 2007 10:02 PM


Tom if we had strong leaders they would do that, but I agree with you they are weak and don't even care. They should do what you said and not waste time doing it too.

Posted by: Wild Thing at May 23, 2007 10:39 PM


Bill they sure are, to all mankind everywhere in the world. We did not being this, they did, to us and other countries and I don't get why the left etc. do not understand the danger these followers of Islam bring to the world.

Posted by: Wild Thing at May 23, 2007 10:41 PM


Eugene they are truly evil on every level.

Posted by: Wild Thing at May 23, 2007 10:42 PM


razOr your so right about the broadband too. They use the internet to meet and plan things. They sure keep the FBI busy.

Posted by: Wild Thing at May 23, 2007 10:44 PM


Islamofascism = Naziism, Totalitarianism, Socialism, Fascism, Humanism, Atheism, Idolitryism, Communism, Humanism, Materialism, Hedonism and Relativeism. These people just don't get that the Islamomaniacs declared WAR on us in February 1998. New York, Virginia and Shanksville Pennsylvania get it! Or do they?

Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at May 24, 2007 01:26 AM