The United States must retaliate for the attack on Salman Rushdie
The United States must retaliate for the attack on Salman Rushdie
Iran’s bloody fingerprints are all over this terrorist attack on American soil, and Joe Biden must punish Iran for this outrage.
In the wake of the attempted murder and brutal stabbing of Salman Rushdie, it is time for the United States government to start taking the threat posed by Muslim terrorists seriously. President Biden needs to show unprecedented strength in leadership and make sure the terrorist regime in Iran and other Muslim terrorists know this will not be tolerated – especially on American soil. This is more than a religious controversy: This is an act of war.
While Iran denies direct responsibility for the attack, it is nonetheless an undisputed fact that Iran’s supreme leader put a “fatwa” on Rushdie and called on Muslims everywhere to murder him in response for his book lampooning Mohammad. Iran also placed a bounty on Rushdie’s head that has stood for well over three decades now, and Iran blamed Rushdie and his supporters for the attack. Iran’s bloody fingerprints are all over this terrorist attack. The fact that the suspect was communicating with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard makes Iran's guilt even more obvious.
Retaliation is mandatory. President Biden should refuse to allow any Iranian diplomats into these United States. Since Iran does not have an embassy here, the Iranian delegation to the United Nations should be forcibly deported. If the United Nations does not join us in defense of free speech, the UN itself should be forcibly deported from American soil and we should leave the organization. This is a move that should have happened generations ago, but weak leadership of both parties stopped it from happening. Yes, MAGA folks, this weak leadership includes Donald Trump.
Sadly, even some in the West have been weak in defending free speech and opposing Islamic terrorism in the immediate aftermath of the stabbing. Jo Maugham used the terrorist attack as an opportunity to whine about how free speech is a tool of oppression. He is not the only one, as Pope Francis even lectured people about not insulting another's religion in the aftermath of an attack by Muslim terrorists a few years ago. It is truly sad when the top figure of the Roman Catholic Church cannot unequivocally condemn violent terrorists without lecturing people about hurt feelings.
Now is not the time to go wobbly. Now is the time to unequivocally defend free speech and push back against fanatics who would use "religion" as an excuse for murder, rape and genocide. That starts at the White House with our foreign policy.
Interesting post, Mr. Tibbs. I do appreciate your writing and your commitment to regular contributions on numerous different subjects. Also your willingness to stand for truth in the public sphere and on the basis of the only Rock for truth. (2 Cor. 10:3-5)
I'd only heard briefly about the attack on Salman Rushdie. No doubt it connects to other things and sadly almost none of them will get much real investigation by the press. The corruption of our society is truly multi-faceted. It marks a good opportunity to point out that because information is so compromised (in the so-called media and elsewhere) it's very easy to draw potentially incorrect conclusions even when seeking to draw meaningful and helpful ones. And even with the necessary commitment to standing on Christian truth and the Scriptures. I'd caution, for instance, against assuming that "retaliation is mandatory." (Rom. 12:19) I'd also caution against assuming that retaliation isn't actually occurring or hasn't occurred already. There are reasons to be concerned about the state of Iran, no doubt, but the complexities likely are more challenging than to speak of a need for thus-and-such action to be taken or not in relation to the attack on Mr. Rushdie. Perhaps this sounds odd. I'm no foreign policy expert but I've definitely learned that most of what is set out to the public as such is some of the worst misinformation that exists. Understanding this is something that will help us all in more effectively standing for truth. I think that the folks who know the real picture on "foreign policy" and are most inclined to act in the best interests of the peaceful well-being of Americans (or even Iranians or anyone else) are often the ones most persecuted by those who commentate on or are, in fact, officially in charge of foreign policy decisions.
Part of what I'm saying is that speaking of this or that event as an act of war is a partial misnomer. In a sense, it's all war all the time right now. That this is still mostly not understood by the public is both a mercy and an indictment that we'll all have to overcome. But our Lord works miracles and we ought to plead with Him for such things. I've no doubt that His people are and always have.
Islamic terror, assassinations, government corruption (both parties and foreign and domestic), weapons of mass destruction and issues surrounding the history and present state of the UN are matters that weave a very evil web. Certainly oppose evil. (Rom.12:9, 21) Don't step away from the foundation. (Psa. 94:18) But bear in mind that most of the official discussion of news is bunk. Also, most of the alternative discussion. :) I guess that means we live in deceptive times. Thankfully, Jesus is "the way, and the truth, and the life." (Jn. 14:6)
Side note, for having a fatwa out for over three decades, Salman Rushdie gets around a lot. The one time I was in New York City, my Dad came back from getting breakfast and said he'd just seen Rushdie at the coffee shop. I tried to tell him that that was a Seinfeld episode (it is) but it turns out he actually had. :) Prayers for Rushdie and for and end to the corruption brought to men through lies.