Moderate Muslims<\/p>\n
On Thursday the Indonesian President, Megawati Soekarnoputri,
\nwarned the U.S. that its bombardment of Afghanistan should halt
\nduring the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan, which begins in mid-
\nNovember. A \"humanitarian pause\" is essential, she says, to allow
\naid agencies to deliver desperately needed food and medical
\nsupplies and prevent a humanitarian disaster as winter takes
\nhold.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation. It is
\nalso a moderate Muslim state which rejects the religious
\nextremism which drives Osama bin Laden's network. Indonesia was
\nquick to condemn the suicide attacks on the U.S. and to declare
\nits commitment to a global coalition against terrorism. It does
\nnot, however, support a war against the people of Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Washington needs the support of moderate Muslims as it pursues
\nits \"just war\" against \"terrorism\" and it can expect that support
\nas long as the targets are clear and there is no suggestion that
\nthe war has become one not against terrorists but against a
\nMuslim people.<\/p>\n
Islamic terrorism feeds off the deep sense of injustice that
\nconsumes too many of the world's 1.2 billion Muslims. Now the
\nbombing of Afghanistan is further galvanizing anti-U.S. sentiment
\nin such moderate nations. In the longer term, the destabilization
\nof moderate Muslim states by anti-U.S. Islamic militants could
\nprove as threatening to global security as were the Sept. 11
\nattacks.<\/p>\n
-- The Sydney Morning Herald<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/moderate-muslims-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }