Leftists and Islamists: An Unholy Alliance

By Aaron Kliegman On the surface, the longstanding alliance between leftists and Islamists is puzzling. While the former seeks a secular utopia based on radical equality, the latter pushes for a destructive theocracy based on Muslim primacy. If anything, both sides should be enemies. Dig a little deeper, however, and the alliance makes complete sense. In many ways, it’s a perfect match. This connection is why the Oregon chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) — an organization linked to Hamas (therefore the Muslim Brotherhood) and jihadist terrorism — recently tweeted its support for the far-left rioters terrorizing Portland. CAIR’s executive director, Nihad Awad, has also declared that “Black Lives Matter is our campaign” and often speaks at events for the Black Lives Matter movement (BLM). Many writers have detailed how far-left activists, journalists, academics, and politicians support the likes of Hamas, and how Islamist leaders and groups endorse left-wing causes, claiming to pursue social justice. Indeed, both sides often jointly organize rallies, support the same political campaigns, and even file lawsuits together. But why? Ideological forces unite Islamism and the progressive left — above all, hatred of the United States and, of course, Israel. Recall Hamas’s “open letter to America” justifying the 9/11 attacks. “Do you remember how the blacks lived under your wing?” the terrorist group wrote. “Your white son bound their necks with the fetters of slavery … Have you asked yourself about your actions against your original inhabitants, the Indians, the Apaches? Your white feet crushed them and then used their name for a helicopter bearing death.” Today, one can see this same message, almost word for word, any time on CNN or in the opinion pages of the New York Times — now it’s just a standard talking point for Antifa, BLM, Bernie Sanders, Ilhan Omar, and the professors educating America’s youth. Indeed, one needn’t go far to find ample examples of left-wing radicals demonizing the US as racist and Israel as genocidal. But this attitude has, unfortunately, also become mainstream within the Democratic Party. Consider Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state. Not long after 9/11, well before The Squad’s radicalism became popular and the word “woke” entered our lexicon, she said of Osama bin Laden: “He's been out in the countries for decades, building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day-care facilities, building health care facilities, and the people are extremely grateful. We haven't done that.” Too bad USAID never hired such a great humanitarian. America could’ve learned something about doing good in the world. The other ideological force that unites the two sides is an absolutist, black and white worldview. Leftists — more popularly known as progressives — put everyone into one of two boxes: the oppressor or the oppressed. The former is evil and must be destroyed; the latter is innocent and must be protected. Islamists, meanwhile, seek to impose on entire societies a specific form of Muslim religious rule that adheres to their understanding of what Islam should be. Anyone or anything antithetical to that vision is an enemy. While the progressive left preaches tolerance, in practice its adherents, like the Islamists, only tolerate those who believe as they do. In short, both are supremacist. And while a secular utopia sounds quite different than an Islamist theocracy, both somehow always end up being totalitarian. Beyond ideology, there are practical reasons for this unholy alliance to exist. It’s no secret that the left controls virtually all of America’s cultural institutions — the media, Hollywood, academia, and increasingly athletics. By allying with the left, Islamists automatically gain immense influence and a huge platform. The left gets something, too: the ability to use the guise of religion and the First Amendment as protection to undermine the US. Anyone who opposes the progressive agenda generally, and progressives’ relationship with Islamists specifically, is not only an Islamophobe but also trying to trample on religious liberty. It’s a powerful weapon to silence political enemies. Leftists and Islamists have been collaborating since at least the early 20th century, when Bolshevik leaders in Russia called on Muslims to wage a “holy war” against Western imperialism. This alliance changed often over the years but never ended, continuing through today. The real danger now is that Islamists will become even more mainstream as the Democratic Party moves further to the left, strengthening this nefarious collaboration. Only the center-left can stop this trend, rejecting radical policies and extremist tactics. In other words, change ain’t coming — at least not for the better. Order Newt's Latest Book: https://www.gingrich360.com/trump-and-the-american-future

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