Yvonne Latour

Joseph Klein and Ron Paul

by Yvonne Latour           

During the January 17^th Fox News Presidential Debate the topic of al Qaeda and Taliban supporters was brought up. Ron Paul’s response was to adopt a “Golden Rule” policy stating that the United States should not do to other nations what we don’t want done back.  Paul also stated that the reason for their attacks is because we assaulted them first.

Joseph Klein responded with this article stating that Paul’s policy is absurd. Joseph Klein uses examples from the Qur’an and a previous dealing with a Muslim ambassador to point out the reasons behind jihadists’ activities. He believes that the attacks were not provoked because the US assaulted Islamic states; rather, he believes they hate the US for not being Muslim.

Ron Paul’s idea of foreign policy may be a little less absurd than Joseph Klein claims. Ron Paul seems to be looking at a broader array of Muslims compared to Joseph Klein, who chose to focus on jihad and political leaders who were involved in a more literal approach. Joseph Klein’s view is very narrow and does not take into consideration the larger majority of Muslims who choose a less violent approach to the faith. The verses he uses from the Qur’an all do suggest violence but out of context of larger passages it is hard to tell the true meaning behind the verses.

Some questions come to mind after reading this article. Joseph Klein makes seemingly factual claims but what is the extent of his own knowledge of the faith and culture? Does other media portraying Muslims as violent and bent on destruction sway him or does he truly have a grasp of the majority of the people? Why would Muslims try to destroy a country whose second largest religion is Islam? Klein does not present both sides and the article is published on a very politically conservative website aimed at readers who probably share the same ideals.

Klein brings up the point that Muhammad himself launched his own jihad against non-believers and those who did not want to convert. It is true that Muhammad did use violence, but in John L. Esposito’s book Islam: The Straight Path, it is made clear that his conquests were motivated by political reasons “rather then racial or theological” ones (p. 16). Another problem with Klein’s argument is his use of the word infidel. By definition an infidel is someone who does not hold a faith or who does not hold a faith that is the same as another’s. Klein is referring to the US and Israel as infidels as if they are the only enemy of extremist Muslims like members of al-Qaeda.  However, realistically and based on the definition of this word, this group of Muslims views all non-Muslims and non-believers in all countries as the enemy.

Joseph Klein needs to be more open about possible foreign policies and not have such a close-minded approach to the Muslim people.