Recent terrorist attacks in Kenya and Pakistan highlight the brutal reality of Islamist terrorism which blights so many nations. In modern day Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Mali, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria – and in other nations, the same terrorist forces slaughter, behead, kill religious minorities, put women in the shadows and so forth. Indeed, it appears that “the cult of death” just adores to spread carnage and to attack various civilizations in order to install “year zero.” Of course, so-called elites try to rationalize everything and the moral relativity brigade will excuse anything in order to support their notions of equality. For example, in Nigeria often issues related to corruption and poverty are mentioned behind the growing rise of militant Islam and terrorism in this country. However, this doesn’t wash because vast numbers of Christians and followers of Traditional Beliefs also face the same issues but they don’t go around demanding “a Christian state” or “a Traditional Beliefs state.” In other words, it is clear that the binding factors involved in this international carnage belongs to the role of enforcing Sharia Islamic law, persecuting non-Muslims, persecuting minority Muslim groups like the Alawites and Shia, crushing indigenous Sunni Islam outside of the Gulf region which opposes such sectarian and Takfiri mindsets – and other realities related to Gulf petrodollars. Therefore, Islamist forces are attacking Christian churches in Syria; attacking all religious minorities in Pakistan; destroying Sufi shrines in Libya, Mali and Somalia; beheading Alawites, the Shia and pro-government Sunni Muslims in Syria; and other brutal realities in other nations. Al-Shabab (al-Shabaab) is claiming responsibility for the ongoing terrorist crisis in Kenya. The al-Shabab seeks out all apostates to Christianity in Somalia and then beheads captured male converts to the Christian faith. At the same time, the al-Shabab destroys Muslim Sufi shrines and seeks to crush indigenous Sunni Islam in Somalia. Clearly, much of their Takfiri and sectarian ideology is based on Gulf petrodollars and the meddling of outside forces, which have imposed their draconian “Islamist year zero” view on this brutal terrorist organization. Meanwhile, women are further marginalized by militant Islamists who think little about marrying little girls and putting women in the shadows. Of course, it goes without saying that these Islamist militant forces adore chopping hands and feet off in order to install terror into the hearts of the people of Somalia. The BBC states about the ongoing terrorist attack in Kenya that “The attack began at about 12:00 local time (09:00 GMT) on Saturday, when the attackers entered the Westgate centre throwing grenades and firing automatic weapons. A children’s day event was being held at the time – children are among those reported killed.” “Some witnesses said the militants told Muslims to leave and said non-Muslims would be targeted.” “They came and said: ‘If you are Muslim, stand up. We’ve come to rescue you’,” said Elijah Lamau.” “He said the Muslims left with their hands up, and then the gunmen shot two people.” It is clear that in the world of the al-Shabab that slaughtering Christians is part and parcel of their Islamic inquisition. After all, the small Christian community in Somalia – many hide their faith – is threatened by the al-Shabab because they want to kill every single convert to the Christian faith. The bankruptcy of the West is clear because many international jihadists from nations like America and the United Kingdom have either gone directly to Somalia – or Islamist agitators in the West are allowed to distort reality in order to spread Salafism and Takfiri mindsets. Meanwhile in Pakistan the persecution of Ahmadiyya Muslims, the Shia, Hindus, Christians and Sikhs is all too common. Indeed, the Shia community suffers greatly because of various Sunni Islamist terrorist factions in Pakistan. Also, when powerful Sunni Muslim leaders speak out then they also face death. Another reality in Pakistan is that institutional discrimination is embedded within the state institutions. Therefore, the latest attack against Christians in Pakistan highlights the enormous sectarian hatred within militant forces in this country. Bloomberg reports about the terrorist attack in Pakistan that “Two suicide bombers killed at least 60 people in an attack during a church service in Pakistan’s northwestern city of Peshawar, according to police and a city commissioner.” “The attackers detonated explosives inside the church while as many as 600 people listened to a sermon, Zaheer ul Islam, Peshawar’s deputy commissioner, told state-run Pakistan TV. Doctors at Lady Reading Hospital were treating 110 injured churchgoers, Shiraz Afridi, director of emergency services, said by phone from Peshawar, located near the Afghanistan border.” The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, is trying to open up a dialogue with militant forces in this country but how do you deal with forces which adore killing people in Christian churches and Shia mosques? Likewise, how do you compromise with militant Takfiri and Salafi Islamists; when they desire to crush diversity and impose draconian laws on the entire population? Gulf and Western powers also have to stop utilizing international jihadist forces in the short-term because it simply leads to more long-term chaos and the deterioration of human rights. From Afghanistan in the 1980s to Syria in modern times it is clear that Gulf and Western powers have fought on the same side based on short term objectives. However, after over 40 years of meddling in Afghanistan you merely have women in the shadows, non-Muslims crushed and a failed state. Christians and other minorities also feel victimized in Pakistan because of institutional discrimination. In Iraq militant Islamists also attack mosques, religious pilgrimages and funerals because in their warped world it is fine to slaughter innocents. Until this international menace is focused on properly and Gulf petrodollars are prevented from spreading Takfiri and Salafist hatred; then the blood will just keep on flowing. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24193059 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-22/pakistan-suicide-bombs-kill-60-during-church-service-in-peshawar.html leejay@moderntokyotimes.com http://moderntokyotimes.com