A review of the book Onward Muslim Soldiers: How Jihad Still Threatens America and the West by Robert Spencer.
Published in October of 2003, this book is a nonfiction work and the result of Mr. Spencer's "in-depth study of the doctrine of jihad and how it is exploited today by terrorists to justify what they’re doing and to recruit and motivate new terrorists".
In the book, Spencer discusses issues relating to radical Islam, Jihad and Islamic Terrorism, and points out substantiated references that radical Islam is more of a threat to our way of life than the media and our government would have us believe. Using examples of current events and Sources from the Qur'an he points out that Jihad in the form of physical violence against non-Muslims, is not only a real component of Islam and that Islamic tolerance (the tolerance of "the religion of peace" for other religions) is in fact the result
of a very successful campaign to mask Islamic extremists true motivations. He points out that our media has not only jumped in the side of Islam on this issue, but they have taken up the banner of Jihad in their own way. He cites this as the reason for the apparent lack of support from the more moderate Islamic community for anti-terrorism measures and their failure to openly or widely criticise Muslim extremists.
The book makes a number of controversial claims, supported again by current events. Including his opinion that mosques in the United States should be monitored more closely, and that Muslims living "non-Muslim" western nations not only refuse to "assimilate" into the society of their chosen country, but they live in closed societys governed by their own religious "laws" whether they contradict with that of their new home or not. All of this while non-Muslims living in Muslim countries are treated with legal and religious oppression as proscribed in the Qur'an.
Although I served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm, I had limited contact with the locals both in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. This book gave me more than a few "so that's why that man (or woman) gave me that look" moments. A real eye opener for anyone concerned about our country and the threats, foreign and domestic to our way of life.
