The Dangers of Alienating Muslim Americans​​

​The news over the last two years have been dominated by The Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS). All of us have heard the rhetoric about how America must defeat them and how ISIS seeks to destroy the Western World. As Americans, we feel somewhat secure with our superior technology and economy that we can hold at bay such terrorist, if not completely destroy them. The average American does not understand this enemy or what their tactics are. Donald Trump’s campaign  highlights what I believe to be a large portion of the American public playing into the hands of ISIS. ISIS is a very formidable and intelligent foe who should not be underestimated. Tatics such as carpet bombing and passing judgment on a whole religion based on actions by a minority of radicals are incapable of dealing with a very capable enemy.

​The belief that ISIS seeks to either kill or convert Westerners is an over simplification of a larger strategy. There are not the traditional armies facing off on a far off battlefield with a winner take all victory for either side. For one, despite the strength that ISIS has gained in territory, followers, and the resources, they have not gained so much strength as to convert from gorilla warfare to that of a conventional army. Could such a scenario occur in the future? Possibly. There is at least one example in the past where the National Liberation Front, also refereed to as the Viet Cong accomplished as much. For now however, I wish to only address the current tactics as they are. Militarily, ISIS cannot stand up to the United States, never-mind the whole of Western Society. So ISIS works with what resources they do have.

​Terrorism and gorilla warfare are their most viable options. The mistake that is being made today is the underestimation of the long term goals of such strategies of ISIS. Unlike September 11, 2001 the enemy is not attacking financial institutions. The end goal is not economic collapse or to inspire just fear. ISIS is a form of government that has been made reality by a more radical form of Sunni Islam and it’s subsequent followers. That is a relatively small number of individuals when compared to the greater Muslim population of world. ISIS most urgent goal has been and still is to recruit and grow the ISIS base. This has been achieved through means such as propaganda videos on youtube, social media outreach through twitter and similar sources, as well has the means frightenining local populations into submission with torture and even murder. The subsequent attacks and even the attempted attacks made on the Western World are yet another source recruitment.  

​By staging the attacks in Western nations a very predictable outcome occurs. The more lives lost, the greater the public anxiety and less secure people feel the greater the fear and anger. The attacks cause non-Muslim populations to be increasingly suspicions of all Muslims. This environment makes it very easy to incite the non-Muslim populations. The front runner of the Republican Primary, Donald Trump, is well on his way the nomination for the Republican Party by making statements such as, 

“a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on" released by Trump Campaign on Dec. 8

and 

“Islam hates us” and that there is "a tremendous amount of hatred there." Trump 3/9/16 in a CNN interview with Anderson Cooper.

So whats new you ask? The difference between radical terrorist and peaceful Muslims are beginning to melt away for many. For those who emulate Trumps language and concerns over Islam as a whole is helping to disenfranchise those peaceful populations of Muslims in America and throughout the greater Western World. These are the seeds of hate that ISIS hopes to take advantage of by endearing it’s self to those Muslims that feel betrayed. 

​This slope is made all the more slippery by the fact that there is undeniably radical Islamic presence in America at this moment. Muslims are roughly a 1/3 of the worlds population with most being peaceful individuals. There needs to be strong leadership that can simultaneously be strong enough to protect innocent civilians, thwart and deter terrorism, yet have the strength to unite all those who seek to live in peace with one another regardless of religion. This is important because a perpetuation of violence is a real possibility if we have a generation of American Muslims who are demonized fueling radical recruitment. 

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