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Saturday, September 16, 2006

Ralph Peters vs. Robert Spencer

There is quite a little spitting contest going on between retired Colonel Ralph Peters and Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch.

To read Peters’ article in the NY Post “Islam-Haters: An Enemy Within” you find yourself nodding your head if you have read web sites which notoriously attract extremists keyboard warriors. But Peters’ language is intemperate and at the end he is not persuasive since he refuses to name names or cite sources. Thus, he is able to set up straw men and knock them down with ease.

Is he claiming that mainstream critics like Robert Spencer are (and I quote): “the really ugly "domestic insurgency" ... among right-wing extremists bent on discrediting honorable conservatism.

Well those are fighting words. And Robert Spencer is not taking them lying down. He responded to an e-mail Peters sent to CaliforniaRepublic with this "fisking" of Peters' screed. And I have to say that Peters' reputation does not survive unscathed.

Examples:

[SPENCER] Ralph Peters has followed up his mudslinging attack on no one in particular with a stinging email to California Republic, in response to an invitation to reply to my recent article about him. In this email, he names me and makes a number of false accusations. For the record, I will correct them here.

[PETERS] Thanks. No, I don't intend to reply to Spencer, Bostom and Co. Replying only gives them what they crave so desperately: Attention. Bostom, for example, has been panting for attention for his book and his views in my columns for years (he doesn't mention that, does he?). I'm tempted to publish some of the sycophantic e-mails this crowd has sent me over the years--just to let their groupies know how little integrity they have.


[SPENCER] In fact, I have never sent even one email to Ralph Peters, sycophantic or otherwise. I do not even have his email address.

[PETERS] But this shouldn't be a personal matter--it's about ideas, about freedom, about defending our country, about getting it right. And I simply don't find close-minded loonies helpful--so I don't respond to their pleas for my time.
By the way, that's why I didn't "name names." First, it would have given them attention. And, second, it's my belief that it's okay to attack those more powerful than me by name, but it's ungentlemanly to attack the weak as individuals. And you shouldn't exaggerate the reach of these guys. The blogosphere inflates the image of a lot of little men, from the Timothy McVeigh Fan Club to pedophiles. If their views had genuine merit, they would be widely published in forums where they have to get past the editorial gates. But they're not widely published because they don't pass the quality or sanity tests. Their stuff is just self-important net-dweller hate-porn. And in a nation of 300 million, they'll be able to find a good number of fellow haters.

And please note that my attack was on their positions--their attacks (very poorly written, by the way) have been on me personally...on my integrity, my military services, etc.

[SPENCER] It's interesting that he calls the work of those he hates "self-important net-dweller hate-porn" and then claims to take the high road. But again, he is making false statements. And if we are indeed the ones he meant in his column, and we are so insignificant, why did he see fit to spend a Post column attacking these shadowy evildoers at all?


There remains the very real question how to react to Jihad. It does not seem wise to antagonize over 1 billion Muslims. It is not a good idea to create a billion enemies if you really only have a few thousand (or a few million) people who want to kill you.

On the other hand, we have seen nothing of the “moderate” Muslim world except studied indifference and defensive - and increasingly silly – claims that Islam is a religion of peace.

Is Islam similar to the pre-Reformation Catholic Church, and are we hoping its Martin Luther will appear? Has Peters found that vast majority of peaceful Muslims who will help us eradicate the jihadists, but is he keeping it a secret?

I realize the last comment was a bit sarcastic, but rather than denounce “right wing bigots” who –so far – have not blown up, beheaded or kidnapped any Muslims, I would like to hear from Peters how he views the transformation of Islam. Because in terms of interpreting Islam’s official teachings Spencer seems more persuasive than Peters.

After reading both Peters and Spencer on this subject, I have to conclude, regretfully (I have liked Peters in the past) Peters comes across as the name calling extremist and Spencer as the reasonable voice.

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