Middle East Genocide

We also accept extravagant claims that “civilized” Arabs rescued the classical texts that formed our civilization. That’s utter nonsense. The Arab hordes that burst out of barren Arabia in the 7th century were composed of illiterates. Conquering at a time when the warring Byzantine and Persian empires had exhausted themselves, the new rulers found that tribal practices didn’t suffice to run provinces. So they took over the existing bureaucracies, staffed by Greek-speaking Christians and Jews. It was those officials who saved the Greek classics for Europe’s future Renaissance — and their descendants designed Islam’s greatest monuments.
Yes, some Arab rulers came to value learning — but the Arab world never produced a Homer, Plato, Sophocles or Thucydides whose appeal transcended their culture.
Islam was a religion spread by war. It was only a “religion of peace” where it had conquered. True, Islam sometimes proved more tolerant of minorities than Europeans, but that was at the zenith of the faith’s power.
There’s yet another illusion of ours — that Islam is gaining strength. Islam is on the ropes. What we’ve seen in the pogroms and outright genocides over the last 150 years has been the spleen of a once-triumphant faith whose practices and values can’t compete in the modern age.
Consider today’s Middle East, apart from Israel. Despite the massive influx of oil wealth, there isn’t one world-class university. Nothing of quality or technological complexity is manufactured between Morocco and Pakistan. Not even Saudi Arabia has first-rate health-care. Research is nil. Patent applications are statistically zero. Women are regarded as lesser beings, wasting half of the region’s human capital. Not one Arab society’s a meritocracy. And corruption cripples all.

Good read.

Yeah, he's good. . .been reading him in the NY Post for a couple of years. . .

"Consider today’s Middle East, apart from Israel. Despite the massive influx of oil wealth, there isn’t one world-class university. Nothing of quality or technological complexity is manufactured between Morocco and Pakistan. Not even Saudi Arabia has first-rate health-care. Research is nil. Patent applications are statistically zero. Women are regarded as lesser beings, wasting half of the region’s human capital. Not one Arab society’s a meritocracy. And corruption cripples all."


Never thought about it like that before.  The potential techo-wizards leave,get educated, and be creative in the First World countries.

Dude was an intelligence officer. I guess he is good at research and looks at things differently than dumbasses like me.

Always liked this:

Haaaa!!!!!!!

Ralph rarely call 'em wrong.

I have a couple of his books. He has more out now.
I may hit amazon.

I generally agree with everything he says and will be purchasing a few of his books.
He and I also share the same last name

Anglo-Norman I would guess.

The culture of the Arab world, and of Iran, had a great run centuries
ago. But over the last several centuries, it has broken down, it has
lagged behind, it has become—and it is not politically correct to say
it—barbaric. Barbaric in its treatment of women, in its corruption, in
its lack of a work ethic, its lack of respect for education, and in its
fundamental tyranny on a political, social, and even familial level.



( Just finished reading the latest news article about an 8yo child bride in Yemen who died on her "wedding night" after intercourse with her 40yo husband, barbaric indeed )



Because I do not believe that all civilizations are equivalent. I don't
believe in a civilization that torments women and children, that's
woefully corrupt, that in the 21^st century, not only cannot build a competitive automobile, but cannot even build a competitive bicycle!

In the footsteps of Mohammed and Aisha

That left a mark.

The dumbest ones got the oil.  That's life.

Peters is an interesting cat.

Brilliant, and genuinely cares for the enlisted Soldier.

I don't always agree, but when I disagree, I reexamine my position carefully.

The Beverly Hillbillies effect.

Wow. Perfect.

If you don't mind I may borrow that one in the future.

I stole it from an Algerian

Sign of a smart man.

Noted. Filed.
for future use

He writes solid fiction as well. I read his "the war in 2020", and really enjoyed it.

I have a 3 day meeting starting tomorrow.  I need something to read.