WSJ: Protests, Rhetoric Feed Jihadists' Fire

[flpoljunkie]

AUGUST 23, 2010
Protests, Rhetoric Feed Jihadists' Fire
By JONATHAN WEISMAN

Islamic radicals are seizing on protests against a planned Islamic community center near Manhattan's Ground Zero and anti-Muslim rhetoric elsewhere as a propaganda opportunity and are stepping up anti-U.S. chatter and threats on their websites.

One jihadist site vowed to conduct suicide bombings in Florida to avenge a threatened Koran burning, while others predicted an increase in terrorist recruits as a result of such actions.

"By Allah, the wars are heated and you Americans are the ones who…enflamed it," says one such posting. "By Allah you will be the first to taste its flames."

Anti-Muslim rhetoric in the U.S is different, since jihadists can use Americans' words to make the case that the U.S. is indeed at war with Islam. The violent postings are not just on al Qaeda-linked websites but on prominent, mainstream Muslim chat forums, Mr. Brachman said

"We are handing al Qaeda a propaganda coup, an absolute propaganda coup," with the Islamic-center controversy, said Evan Kohlmann, an independent terrorism consultant at Flashpoint Partners who monitors jihadist websites.

more...

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703589804575445841837725272.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5

[msongs]

1. "by Allah...." lol nt

[Dr Morbius]

2. If the Wall Street Journal gets it, why doesn't the rest of Rupert Murdoch's empire? nt

[flpoljunkie]

3. Sadly, because they are hoping to use it as a wedge issue for the mid-terms.

Short term political expediency vs. integrity. The former wins every time for the GOP.

[yellowcanine]

4. No kidding. This is a no brainer.