A Daytona Beach expert on the Iran hostage crisis that began in 1979 is Stanley Escudero, retired foreign diplomat, who first came to prominence for his outspoken views on Iran back then. While serving in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in the mid 1970s, he questioned the Shah's longevity in power. This challenge to the basic tenets of U.S. policy in the region would probably have ended his career, had the Shah not proved him right soon thereafter (as described in a Wikipedia profile). As the Iranian revolution was unfolding, Secured was sent back to Iran with the mission of getting out in the street and finding out what was happening. Escudero, who went on to serve as a foreign ambassador for the US in three Islamic-populated countries - Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, all former republics under the rule of the Soviet Union before its demise in 1991 - explains in his essay below why kidnappings of Americans back in 1979, wasn't the first time Islamic extremism had reared its ugly head. And why the carnage early Sunday by a 'lone wolf' gunman, who professed allegiance to ISIS in killing 50 patrons in a gay night club and wounding 53 others before he was shot to death by cops, is the latest in Islamic extremism at its absolute worst against the US and the West, but won't be the last.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Let’s be clear. Radical Islam is at war with the United States and the West. The slaughter of innocents in Orlando is only the latest in a long series of terrorist attacks on America and on other Western, non-Islamic countries beginning with the takeover of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979. It will not be the last.
Having lived in the Islamic world for over 40 years, I can tell you that the majority of Muslims are good, decent, hardworking people who are about as observant of their faith as is the average Christian.
But at the core of the Islamic religion and belief system, drawn from the early struggles of the Prophet as he established his empire in the Arabian peninsula, are a series of strong admonitions to the faithful to undertake jihad, to fight against non-Muslims, to covert them at the point of the sword or to reduce them to an inferior subject status until all the world is Islamic. These are found primarily in chapter 11 of the Koran and in certain of the sayings of the Prophet, the Hadith, as written down by his early companions.
Having lived in the Islamic world for over 40 years, I can tell you that the majority of Muslims are good, decent, hardworking people who are about as observant of their faith as is the average Christian.
But at the core of the Islamic religion and belief system, drawn from the early struggles of the Prophet as he established his empire in the Arabian peninsula, are a series of strong admonitions to the faithful to undertake jihad, to fight against non-Muslims, to covert them at the point of the sword or to reduce them to an inferior subject status until all the world is Islamic. These are found primarily in chapter 11 of the Koran and in certain of the sayings of the Prophet, the Hadith, as written down by his early companions.
Historically, when Islam has seen itself as stronger than the West, Christendom has suffered attack. When the West was stronger, we struck back. At present many Muslims, and especially the most radical among them see the West as weaker than they – not in traditional military terms, but at the core of our societies.
There they see us as lacking the will for a long, costly and unconventional struggle. Infiltrating our countries, in Europe on a vast scale, they use our freedoms against us to weaken our defenses against terror and limit our actions to responses to specific acts. They have seized the initiative and we continue to let them keep it. That way lies defeat for the West.
Foreign policy is not the subject of this message but, domestically, if we are to survive as America, we must remove the strait jacket of political correctness, recognize that the threat comes almost entirely from jihadist Islamic radicals and take broad steps to prevent it.
Begin by realizing that the Constitution does not require us to commit suicide. During the Second World War, Nazi operatives were not permitted to espouse their creed in the United States. Virtually the entire Japanese population of our country was interned.
During the Cold War, communist activities and propaganda were banned. Soviet spies were sought out and jailed or executed. These unusual measures were necessary to protect the liberty and independence of the American people and our nation. And they were temporary. When the conflicts ended, so did the restrictions.
Begin by realizing that the Constitution does not require us to commit suicide. During the Second World War, Nazi operatives were not permitted to espouse their creed in the United States. Virtually the entire Japanese population of our country was interned.
During the Cold War, communist activities and propaganda were banned. Soviet spies were sought out and jailed or executed. These unusual measures were necessary to protect the liberty and independence of the American people and our nation. And they were temporary. When the conflicts ended, so did the restrictions.
Recognize that the source of virtually every terrorist attack against the US and the West since 1979 is jihadist Islam and treat them as our blood enemy.
Profile, as the Israelis do quite successfully. Observe closely and remain informed of the activities of Mosques and various Islamic organizations. Require Islamic authorities and leading Muslim figures in the United States to cooperate with our government against terrorism including helping to identify and hand over budding terrorists. If they refuse or evade, shut down their organizations and deal with them as terrorist supporters.
Welcome and encourage Muslims who show that they want to be good Americans and that they place the good of our common nation above that of the religious and social system that is Islam.
Pause immigration by most Muslims until an effective vetting system can be developed, implemented and tested successfully.
Drop the absurd practice of pretending that captured terrorists are entitled to protection under the Geneva Convention and/or our own legal system.
By their own choice they have placed themselves beyond the pale of civilization and have earned nothing more than harsh interrogation and probable execution.
These recommendations are harsh and un-American in many ways, but then so are the terrorists. And, when the terrorists have been crushed, the restrictions will go away. Continuing what we are doing now will produce more Orlandos.
Stan Escudero, June 13, 2016