The Local Area Watch

BOOK & MOVIE REVIEWS AT THE LOCAL AREA WATCH

Dear L.A.W. Readers:

We have been reviewing books and a few movies on this site for the last six months. Feedback has been positive and it has been enjoyable keeping up on the latest and greatest offerings to the public.  Reference our section on the menu bar titled "reviews" to enjoy an over-view of each book or movie, personal reflection and the final rating given if you haven't yet. 

Books & Movies Reviewed To Date Include:

Brigitte Gabriel - Because They Hate

Mark Steyn - America Alone

Tony Blankley - The West's Last Chance

Newt Gingrich - Rediscovering God in America

Movie - The 300

Movie - Amazing Grace

Bernie Goldberg - Crazies To The Left Of Me, Wimps To My Right

Robert Spencer - The Truth About Muhammad

Honorable Mention goes to:  * Noni Darwish - Now They Call Me Infidel * This has not been reviewed at L.A.W. but, is one we strongly recommend.  This book provides a snapshot into the REAL culture of Muslims and Islam in the Middle East by a woman who grew up there, was the daughter of a martyr and eventually saw the light and moved to The West, converted to a new religion and a new life. She sounds the wake up call too many of us refuse to hear or see.

Since we have gotten positive feedback to this review offering, we will continue to provide it on a regular basis. We welcome your ideas on movies and books if we haven't selected a current offering you think would be of great value to our readers. We especially enjoy your comments to our reviews and opinions - both positive and those not so positive so keep them coming.   The goal for now is to provide reviews on current books and movies of special importance in regards to current local, state, federal and world events.  We may mention at some point an item of relevance, such as the book by Noni Darwish - Now They Call Me Infidel,  but not go into a full review even if it's warranted.  Due to time and space constrictions, we may not always be able to review a book or movie even if it is deserving.

Above all, we want to keep supporting the importance of READING a book and learning about world issues that impact us all.   We hope you will go beyond just Internet blogs, websites with over-views of quotes, data and events or reading a short article in a magazine or newspaper. Although these newer and shorter modes of gaining information are relevant, we hope you will want to dive deeper into issues than these short cuts can provide. 

Pick up a book and spend some time reading, it's well worth it.

Submitted By: 

Bridget Dupont-Tingley, Editor

The Local Area Watch

CITY CASH STRAPPED, METAL PRICES SOAR; HEARTWELL PROPOSES SELLING THE CALDER FOR SCRAP

Well, OK, maybe he hasn't gone that far yet.  But Mayor Heartwell has been pushing for the sale of Indian Trails, a city-owned golf course at the corner of Kalamazoo Avenue and 28th Street.  Had this solon of sanctimony been less of a bungler at his chosen trade of politics, he might have figured out that the denizens of River City would have gone for scrapping the elephantine sculpture next to City Hall long before putting the for-sale sign on the great green expanse of Indian Trails.

Of course, Heartwell wasn't completely alone in this.  In a unanimous vote at last week's meeting, the Grand Rapids City Commission agreed to take a look-see at selling Indian Trails to developers.  They OK'd the process to seek buyers for the public golf course.  I can't see why that in itself should raise the hackles of those who doubt a sale is in the best interest of our community (including yours truly).  After all, there is very little owned by the city government that in principle should never be considered a prospect for sale or privatization.  As valuable a green space on a congested commercial corridor as Indian Trails is, it's not as though last week's vote were akin to the U.S. Congress proposing the sale of the Washington Monument.

That said, it is curious that the idea of selling the Indian Trails golf course came before the City Commission for any sort of vote at all.  The idea was not prompted by any routine government process of reviewing public assets for possible sale.  So the prompting must have come from the outside -- i.e., a private party lobbying a city official to put Indian Trails on the auction block.  Again, I can't see why this is a problem.  There is nothing nefarious in private citizens petitioning public officials to take some sort of action.  In fact, that's a right enshrined in the First Amendment.

However, when the petitioning is done behind closed doors where the disinfecting sunlight of public disclosure is shut out, this is a problem.  Second Ward City Commissioner Rick Tormala handled a similar situation properly a few months ago when he proposed that the city government consider selling a group of municipal parking facilities downtown to a private party.  In doing so, Tormala disclosed who approached him about doing so.  No secrets.  No one working behind the scenes to gain an advantage at public expense.

Contrast this to how Mayor Heartwell and City Manager Kurt Kimball operated as pitchmen for the now-vanished "Mystery Developer" who wanted to buy the City Island public works.  As government officials they signed agreements to keep the developer's name and his plans secret from the public while carrying his water through City Hall.  Even if Boss Logie would not have been so foolish as to put his signature on a back-room deal, clearly Heartwell and Kimball stayed true to his legacy of putting the city government in the service of favored dealmakers instead of residents and taxpayers.

And now we have the Indian Trails imbroglio.  For more than a year Third Ward City Commissioner Jim White, known friend of developers, has pushed for the sale of the public golf course, yet the public is no wiser as to why he wants this to happen.  Why is White so hot on selling Indian Trails?  Moreover, why is Heartwell on board?  This would seem an odd position for him, a self-styled progressive to the point of obnoxiousness, especially with his bleating on environmental issues (e.g., urban green spaces).  Yet Heartwell is in lock-step with White, as evidenced by this statement he e-mailed to key city officials ahead of last week's vote:

"You know what a green advocate I am, so this decision isn't easy for me either.  If, when the proposals come in, we find that no development proposal is attractive enough to warrant selling this property, then we won't.  But I, for one, want to see what the development community proposes.  Commissioner White has been a persistent advocate for using City assets to advance an economic vitality agenda.  This is one that may work.  Let's give it a chance."

As it turns out, Tormala had been counseling Heartwell and his fellow comissioners to listen carefully to the public before going down any path too far -- and this statement of Heartwell's was in response to Tormala's urge for caution.  But Heartwell, knowing that White had not canvassed his constituents in the Third Ward, where Indian Trails is located, instead wanted to ensure that the "development community" got the city government's ear.  When all was said and done, Heartwell and White won the vote last week to open the bidding for the public golf course without any public hearing on the matter.  While the other city commissioners made a mistake to agree to this in the absence of any public disclosure from White or Heartwell as to the identity of the private parties lobbying for the sale of Indian Trails (or in lieu of that, a public hearing that would tend to flush them or their shills out into the open), they have plenty of opportunity to rectify this.

And they need to do so.  As already noted above, there is no reason why the City Commission should not in principle consider the sale of a public asset like the Indian Trails golf course to private parties.  Just as fast-tracking the bidding process, as White desires, should be a no-go because it facilitates back-room dealmaking, noisy opposition (such as L.A.W.'s is likely to be) to any sale of the property should not curtail a process of public deliberation over it.  Public matters must be decided publicly, especially when they are controversial like the sale of Indian Trails.  To ensure this, our city commissioners need to get this process back on the open government track and follow the example Tormala set with the proposal to sell the city's parking ramps.  It's long past time to deep-six the Boss Logie back-room arm-twisting way of doing business -- and perhaps Heartwell and White too if they insist upon carrying on that noxious tradition.

AMWAY NO LONGER SCAMWAY?

As regular readers of the Local Area Watch know, we are no fans of Amway.  As reported here, here, and here, we have a healthy disdain for the multi-level marketing company that has been suckering ordinary people to buy its soap-and-vitamins sales kits with the pitch that reselling the stuff to family and friends is the path to riches, when in fact they were nothing but marks to enrich Amway and its kingpin distributors.  For a long time now Amway (including its most recent incarnation as Quixtar) has had a dirty bargain with its kingpins:  Amway turns a buck selling sales kits to the new marks recruited by the kingpins while turning a blind eye to the kingpins pressuring the marks to buy pricey but useless training and motivational crap.  A match made in hell.

Well, it's not illegal, at least not here in the U.S. of A.  That's O.K.  The law shouldn't stop people from being suckers.  But it is a business that stinks, and apparently the top brass at Amway can no longer deny the stench.  And so Amway Chairman Steve Van Andel and President Doug DeVos announced that they want to redirect their kingpins to selling Amway products rather than the Amway "opportunity".  To that end, they are junking the Quixtar brand name over the next two years with the hope that the odor which has clung to their company will disappear along with it.  Once that is done, the plan is to have Amway brand name arise like phoenix to restore confidence in their multi-level marketing operations.

Perhaps.  The reason for re-branding Amway as Quixtar seven years ago was to disassociate the company's North American multi-marketing operations from the taint the Amway name had acquired over the years.  However, under the Quixtar name the merry tradition of kingpins fleecing new recruits continued, and so Quixtar became as soiled as Amway.  Meanwhile, there have been government crack-downs on these dubious practices in some of the company's overseas markets causing considerable financial trouble and embarrassment.  Consequently Van Andel and DeVos say they want to finally eliminate the negative perceptions associated with their company.

No doubt they do.  What businessman wants his company to be the object of scorn?  But will Van Andel and DeVos actually undertake the difficult task of cleaning out the Augean stables of the kingpins who have helped to make Amway and then Quixtar reviled names?  Or is their re-branding strategy just more flim-flam, a Quixtar redux, that polishes the turd instead of flushing it?  Stay tuned.

A VIEW FROM THE RIGHT - MICHIGAN'S BUDGET UPDATE

"We are facing a budget shortfall this current fiscal year in excess of $500 million and next year's is in excess of $3 billion. Bottom line: We have a lot of work to do...

"We did this in anticipation of the looming budget crisis and the need for us to roll up our sleeves and get to work immediately."

Speaker Dillon, Journal of the House, Jan. 10, 2007, pgs. 22-23

That was the word from Democrat House Speaker Andy Dillon five months before his chamber decided to take a five-day weekend on Mackinac Island, with the state’s future tax structure and a $2 billion budget whole for FY2008 sitting on the books.

As folks return to work in Lansing this Tuesday, rested and refreshed, no doubt, they still need to roll up their sleeves to get to work.  So let’s start by examining exactly where we stand.

The FY2007 budget deficit, somewhere in the neighborhood of $800 million, has finally been resolved.  Good news and bad news.  Custom dictates we examine the bad news first…

Only a small portion, somewhere around 25%, give or take, of the “savings” represents actual cuts to government spending.  The balance was achieved through selling off tobacco settlement dollars and delaying payments to universities.  Basically they cooked the books.  The “fix” wasn’t a solution so much as a stop-gap.  And what it took to achieve what they did… the GOP in the Senate has agreed to allow a vote on a tax increase in 2008, a sign many conservatives have taken as a sign of wobbly knees.

The good news?  When you only have a couple months before the end of a fiscal year you’re not going to be able to make a lot of cuts, period.  The money is almost all gone at that point.  So the fact the Senate GOP was able to make any cuts at all is a good thing.  Even better, while the governor ran around the state claiming she was going to be forced to kill people through Medicaid cuts (her words) and close our kids’ schools (her state superintendent’s words) through draconian school aid cuts if the GOP didn’t kneel at the alter of Baal-Granholm, dark-goddess of the tax increase, renounce their faith in fiscal restraint and embrace a $1.8 billion tax increase, they thumbed their noses at the dollar-bill-green idol and prevented a single pennies worth of said cuts with nary a sign of a tax increase.

What next?  To paraphrase my favorite Tolkein hero, the battle of 07 is finished but the battle for Michigan is about to begin.

First on the docket is a replacement for the dreaded and finally dead Single Business Tax.  The Senate has their BEST plan which small and medium sized businesses like and the House has their MBT which major manufacturers like the Big 3 think is pretty groovy.  Word out of Lansing is that they’re down to one issue, one sticking point in negotiations.  In other words, they’re close.  The Senate GOP has even gone along to get along on this one and backed off their initial insistence that the replacement represent a $300 million net tax cut for Michigan businesses.  Instead, pursuant to the wants and dreams and hopes of every tax-and-spender in the state any SBT replacement will be 100% revenue neutral. 

Good for the bargaining process, bad for Michigan’s economic recovery.

But the real danger on the horizon rests in the FY2008 budget deficit.  It’s shaping up to be in the neighborhood of $2 billion.  For those of you who have a hard time wrapping your mind around big numbers, that’s enough money to buy 200,000,000,000 penny tootsie rolls at the drug store counter.  Wait, that’s another big number. And do they still sell penny tootsie rolls?  But I digress.

How are they looking at fixing this new mess?  The Governor and the House are openly advocating for a $2 billion increase in the state’s income tax, a move that’s sure to send investors, job makers, entrepreneurs and families with options scurrying even faster towards the border.  And the House has the votes to pass any sort of destructive tax hike scheme the governor can cook up (though they never did grant her a vote on that ridiculous, campaign pledge violating “two-penny” service tax plan).

The Senate GOP majority appears, for their part, to be looking at a series of serious reforms.  You can expect the Dems to try to co-opt a few of these so they can paint themselves as serious reformers.  And you can expect their friends in the press to play right along and give them credit for trying to reign in government spending.  Ideas being bandied about in Republican circles include:

*Privatizing the housing / care of 5% of the state’s prison population, a move that could save the state nearly $200 million a year, according to a study by the Rio Grande Foundation.

*Eliminating the MEA’s monopoly on teacher health insurance, a move that could save the state as much as $400 million.

*Preventing state employees from drawing a paycheck and a pension at the same time.

*Eliminating the Office of the First Gentleman, saving a quarter of a million dollars annually.

*Asking state employees making over $100,000 a year to take a 4% pay cut, again, saving millions.

And that’s the short list.

The real worry is that for every item on that list the Democrats grant lip service they’ll try to exact a toll from House and Senate Republicans to the tune of YES votes for tax increases.  GOP members in both chambers are likely never to face a period of greater pressure.  They’re going to be tested.  How will they hold up?  That remains to be seen.  But you’d better believe we’ll be providing as much positive… uh… hmm… encouragement (yeah, that’s the word) as we possibly can to potential turn coats like Ron Jelenik and Valde Garcia and Dick Ball and Mike Nofs and Ed Gaffney. 

It’s one thing to have your Democrats taking shots at Michigan’s future.  It’s another thing entirely when “our own” elected officials stab us in the back. 

However you slice it, it’s going to be an interesting summer in Lansing. 

Lets just hope it’s exciting, not disastrous.

Submitted By Guest Writer:

Nick De Leeuw
www.rightmichigan.com

A VIEW FROM THE LEFT - MICHIGAN'S BUDGET UPDATE

There will be no article for the month of June from Jeff Winston at www.michiganliberal.com. 

He was not able to submit an article by the posting deadline due to his current work and political schedule.

We'll look for his next submission in July.

FOUNDER OF THE WORLD'S MOST INTOLERANT RELIGION - PART 2

See previous entry for Part 1 of this book review. It includes type of book, publisher information and general over-view of book. This section, Part 2, will complete the review under my personal comments section.

Book Review 

The Truth About Muhammad
By Robert Spencer

Personal Review

Muslim – One who submits.

The Creed of Islam – ‘La ilaha ilallah wa Muhammadur rasul al-Lah’ – There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the Prophet of God.

For a short book, only about 194 pages long. It sure packed a powerful punch and contained a bounty of important details. The start of the book provides a nice two page chronology of Muhammad’s life.   The author gives a list with bullet points that helps the reader see a quick over-view of the basics from birth to pilgrimages, to wars and finally to death. A snap shot of his life if you will.  From there, Spencer provides a four page list of important names and places.  Again, a nice over-view for the reader to get acquainted with important leaders, followers, battles, tribes, wives, locations and other references that might be hard to follow without this handy reference list. Please bare in mind that in both books by critics and apologists, there are multiple spellings for many of the major cities, places, people and battles encountered in Muhammad’s journey. For purposes of this review, I have chosen to spell things as deciphered by this author alone.

The Truth About Muhammad is easy to read and an excellent resource. It is by no means the only book out there on this topic and is not meant to be a complete guide to understanding Islam or Muhammad, but it is an excellent companion to other readings. I would consider it a primer to the man, the religion and his teachings. It was informative, educational and seriously eye opening.

I believe this book did a wonderful job of NOT making fun of the Prophet or his religion.  Rather, it opens the door for lay people across the world to grasp the basic facts of Muhammad’s words, actions and life, even if they themselves are not experts.  This book was painfully honest, but extremely respectful as well. The words in the Sunnahs are just that, words. It is the faithful followers who choose to use the words and commands as a catalyst for purposes of violence and anger, and inspiration for a holy war.

Unlike Jewish and Christian manuscripts, scriptures and doctrine that have been allowed to be analyzed, dissected and critiqued over the years – for the good of each religion by the way - the Sunnah has not had such attention. Not because it is not warranted, but because of the backlash to those who dare to question anything in or out of the books of the Qur’an, the Hadith or the Sira.    You will find it difficult to find researchers and authors who are willing to pen an honest and critical look at Islam so, you can learn about the issues at hand. You will not find it so hard to find apologists for Islam. There is a plethora of researchers, authors and activist groups who are willing to make excuses or complete denials on behalf of the religion - Armstrong, Haykal, Lings, Rodinson, numerous University Middle Eastern Studies departments, CAIR and more.  It’s important to bear in mind no reform can come without complete analysis and input from both sides of an issue. So, the apologists are welcome to their side of things. But, they should be equally open to those willing to critique Islam from the other side.

Islam is serious in all things.  There is no free speech.  There is no free thought.  It is often a lifestyle of restraint, resentment, isolation, anger and limited happiness for the masses. Because of these restrictions, analysis will be hard to find as few are willing to cross this imaginary boundary for fear for their own safety or for those they love as dire consequences often follow any critical commentary in this area. 

An amazing thing you will find is that many Islamic scholars as well as lay people will deny any of the   negatives seen in the Sunnah – they will deny Muhammad harmed a hair on any persons head let alone frequent beheadings, that he only preached only peace and love never war and death, that he was tolerant of all religions, that he never married his daughter in law, that he didn’t really go to 27 battles as the texts say and more. They will deny these things outright, claim you don’t understand the religion and if you quote verses and suras, they will get mad, inevitably angry and possibly threatening.  Anyone who has studied the Sunnah will be astonished by these extreme levels of denial, ignorance and limitless excuses to be found.  Illiteracy rates remain shockingly high in parts of the middle east and many people (especially young men and women) never read the Sunnahs in their lifetimes (remember, it’s supposed to be read only in Arabic, the language of Allah). They simply rely on what they have been told over the years and what is preached to them in schools, mosques and homes by Imans, Mullahs and practicing family members.  Granted, on the flip side, many Christians have never read the Bible in full either. But, we don’t see world wide movements with conversion or death as an option in Christianity as we do with militant Islam at this time in history.

To understand this mind set goes to the heart of differences between Christianity and  Islam. God is the only one to take vengeance per the Bible (Romans 12:19) when it comes to Christianity.  But, in Islam, Muhammad says Allah commanded the faithful to do this. Thus, Christians ultimately understand when challenges come to their religious faith it is not for them to bare the sword. They can speak the truth and share the word, but it up to individuals to believe by choice. They have free will.  Only God can judge them later for denying the truth.  Muslims are not quite so, easy going. They take it upon themselves to be defenders and not wait for Allah to do so. The Qur’an, The Hadith and quotes from The Sira is clear, the only true faith in God’s sight is Islam and most Jews and Christians and non-Muslmis are wrongdoers.  Thus, Muslims believe avenging a wrong must be done now.  And, they are doing it in ever increasing numbers.

Though some deny it, or simply don’t recognize it, militant Islamic extremists appear to be the most serious issue of our time.  They fervently wish to kill Americans, Israelis and even fellow Muslims who are not Muslim enough.  Until one becomes familiar with this religion and it’s leader and the words used to inspire – both good and bad – you can’t speak with authority on the issue.  Unlike Rosie O’Donnell and other conspiracy and denial minded citizens, this issue is REAL and it is NOT going away because we want another answer and wish for another outcome.

Because of the surge in jihad around the world, long before 9/11 happened, and many more incidents since, I felt compelled to research this issue further and try to understand what in the world is really going on? I didn’t want media – t.v., cable or newspapers to censor the information I got and give me the politically correct bumper sticker style answer a few lines long for such a complicated issue (ie, Death to Israel, Palestinians R Great, America is the Great Satan, Muslims 4 Peace). I certainly didn’t want politicians up for house, senate and presidential seats to be my avenue to reason.  Due to my need to understand the issue further, I began reading books like: Because They Hate – Brigitte Gabriel, America Alone – Mark Steyn, The West’s Last Chance – Tony Blankley, Now They Call Me Infidel – Nonie Darwish, and now, The Truth About Muhammad by Robert Spencer, so that I could understand more completely the history of Islam, the practice of the faith and the growing threat of Islamic extremism around the globe. The who, what, when and why’s if you will.  These books all did a great job of looking objectively at the world wide crisis at hand. They reviewed what caused the difficulties, what we can do about it and what will happen if we don’t. 

Many Americans and others around the world argue we know why they want to harm us.   We are told repeatedly by politicians, media outlets and harsh critics of the West that  the reason they attack us is we make too much money, have good lives and we live in an opportunist society and they don’t like us because of these reasons.  We are told that it’s all about our massive need for huge oil reserves that we get from the Middle East that makes them feel violated and angry.  We are advised it is our foreign policy they don’t like. They insist that the world doesn’t approve of America being active around the globe helping to keep peace and democracy alive in regions that wish for those things.  We are frequently told that the Jewish statehood enrages the Arab world and that suppression of the Palestinians by Israel and the west is really what triggers Muslim anger.  The last argument is that America invaded Afghanistan and Iraq – clear violations of U.N. rules they say.  We have gone to war and now occupy innocent countries without reason. 

Too many refuse to look further, to probe deeper and find out the bare bones truth. The examples cited above are really just excuses, not the reason why.   Boiling below the surface is something darker and much more frightening.  Too many claim WE are the answer.  We are told, it is OUR fault, not theirs.  No further investigation needs to be done. Inspector Clouseau has solved the crime.

One thing is abundantly clear once you do some honest homework and piece together the facts of the case.  Islam, as it is followed today by fervent and devoted followers, is an ever growing threat to the non-Muslim world. Just look at the radical nature of young Muslims between the ages of 15-35 not only in the middle east, but all over Europe, Africa, Asia, America and more. Both native born and immigrants. The violence, the destruction and the death threats are not going away because we wish it away. It will not go away if The U.S., Western countries or Israel were to leave the region.  The problem is not occupation or military intervention. The problem is not attempts to spread democracy or capitalism. The problem is not the world buying their oil and their leaders not sharing the wealth. The problem is not us.

Islam, as it is practiced by the passionate faithful, is the problem. We are not Muslim enough. We need to be converted to the only true religion, Islam. Once we covert, then Sharia law needs to dominate the world. Only then will a form of stability reign. But…read the Qur’an, The Hadith and The Sira, even then real peace, freedom, love and brotherhood will NOT reign.  Sharia law is cruel to women and children, it is devastating to societies, it is not even good for men. It does not support human dignity and rights as we know it in the West.

I, like many, have a hard time supporting the statements made by many diplomats in The U.S., The U.K. and other countries whom have stated over and over again about Islam.  That it is a religion of peace, joy and love.  We are told by apologists that Muhammad spoke with mercy for humankind and believed in brotherhood. With the research and reading I have done so far, the evidence is weak.  Muhammad may have begun his journey with some favorable thoughts and ideas, but by mid stride, his message morphed into something dark, ugly and very dangerous. Apologists always go back to Muhammad’s early period and discuss the time frame where he spoke kinder words, was more accepting and open of other people’s, lifestyles and faiths. True enough.  But, they fail to discuss the darker period, the later years of his life as well. It’s too convenient that those who support the good in Islam, also refuse to acknowledge the abundant darkness there too.  It’s almost like they are in denial about the dark side.  Until they acknowledge and discuss both, their arguments are empty.

As we can see with our own eyes and hear with our own ears, it is not the period of peace that young extremists and jihadists quote and act upon in their current terror campaign.   When jihadists bomb a building or market, when they behead someone from the West, when they use innocent Arabs as protection against getting bombed themselves and more, they quote directly from the Qur’an, Hadith and Sura for support and inspiration.  Their actions are NOT supported by a foundation of love, peace, respect and tolerance. Mosques and madras around the world are not preaching love thy brother. They are preaching hate and kill thy brother the infidel.  We must continue to probe deeper, so we can begin to identify and understand the anger, resentment and dislike being nurtured in the middle east against Israel, America, The West, and other non Islamic countries.  Hatred, destruction and death cross all water ways, all air space, all borders and all peoples of non-Muslim status.

This book, The Truth About Muhammad, needs to be considered our newest wake up call.  We’ve had about thirty years worth of wake up calls, but it seems too few are paying attention or listening to the message being sent to us.  When these extreme groups tell us what they want to do and why, they mean it. As a reminder, here are some previous warning signs we may have missed or simply avoided what they meant…

Late 1970’s The Iranian Hostage under the Ayatollah Khomeini (names like Terry Anderson, Terry Waite & William Higgins should ring a bell)

1985 TWA Flight 847 hijacking, Egypt Air flight 648 hijacking – 60 killed,  Achille Lauro cruise ship hijacked by the PLO –  one passenger shot dead

1986 TWA flight 840 bombed on approach to Athens airport – 4 Americans shot dead plus an infant, Berlin disco bombing – 3 killed, 230 wounded, Pan Am flight 73 hijacked-22 died when plane is stormed in Pakistan

1988 Pan Am flight 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland – all die

1989 Suitcase bomb destroys UTA flight UT-772 en route to Paris-171 passengers/crew dead

1993, WTC first bombing-6 dead and more than 1,000 hurt, failed NYC landmark bombing plot

1994 Bombing of Jewish center in Buenos Aires-86 dead and 300 wounded, Alas Chiricanas flight 00901 bombed -21 dead, Israeli embassy attached and Jewish charity car bombed-20 wounded, Air France flight 8969 hijacked

1995, Bombings in France-7 killed and more than 100 wounded, bombings of military compound in  Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-7 killed and dozens wounded

1996, Khobar Towers bombing in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia- 19 servicemen died and hundreds wounded

1997 Luxor, Egypt massacre-62 killed

1998, U.S. embassy bombings in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya-225 died and over 4,000 wounded

1999 2000 millennium attack plot foiled between US and Canadian border

2000 Numerous attacks against Israel, over 37 attacks - 44 dead and hundreds injured, USS Cole bombing-17 servicemen died, many wounded, Jerusalem restaurant bombing-7 dead and over 120 wounded

2001 Numerous attacks against Israel again - 203 dead and hundreds injured, 9/11 attacks WTC NYC, Pentagon & PA-approximately 3,000 died and thousands injured, Richard Reid attempts shoe bombing attempt to an American Airlines plane & Paris embassy bombing – both plots failed

Since 2001- The Bali Indonesia bombings, The Madrid bombings, The London bombings and others.  Many dead, many wounded.  Don’t forget the many foiled attacks around the world since as well.

(A comprehensive list can be found via The Islam Review, writer Abdullah al-Araby).

These bombings and murders have been done by many groups – call them al Qaeda, The Taliban, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, PLO, Muslim Brotherhood, fringe groups and underground activists in nations like Syria, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Iran and more.   They may all wear different uniforms and play on different teams, but they are in the game for the same outcome. A home run for Islam. A touch down for the faith.  A puck in the net for Muslims around the world.  Score, score, score.

The greatest danger is places like the last few countries noted as their governments pretend they aren’t directly supporting or involved with these fringe movements yet the work is being done secretly with their blessing and cash assistance (and sometimes not so secret like Iran).  Since these extremists don’t wear a national uniform, operate in a single location or report to one commander in chief, they are seen as off shoots from real militant armies of a national structure.    These groups fly under the radar of traditional warfare practices, so they get to operate in secret with the blessings of the highest of national officials.  Many want to grant them Geneva rights protection even though they themselves don’t follow anything required to get those benefits.   Bottom line, the group names change, but the ideology and inspiration come from the same original source – the Sunnah, it’s writers and their Prophet Muhammad.    

It’s clear that moderate Muslims, which we hear make up the majority of Islamic followers, are not speaking out or acting out against such atrocities just because they are afraid of the ramifications to themselves or their families.  To the contrary, the evidence seems to support that many remain silent because they support the actions of those who are radical even if they themselves are not. If you read the Sunnah, believe the faith and follow the Prophet, you can’t help but support the commands and revelations revealed and commanded to the believers.  That translates to emulating the Prophet fully. Including extremists, radical jihadists and everyday practicing Muslim men, women & children.

Spencer clarifies this best, “The quest for the historical Muhammad, while fascinating and important, is not what will determine the course the Islamic world will take in coming decades. Any such investigations are extremely unlikely to gain any significant audience in the Islamic world.  What is certain to be influential, however, is the figure of Muhammad as he appears in the Qur’an and other accepted Islamic sources – especially the Hadith, the traditions of the Prophet that have largely determined the bases of Islamic practice and piety. This battle is already raging”.

It is not until books like this one are allowed to become more main stream that reform can occur.  Christianity has had periods of deviance over the centuries that went too far (Crusades, Inquisition, Pedophile, etc.).  In time, Christian groups were able to identify a wrong and right it to become better people. They self-corrected even if it took great trial and tribulation to get there. Just because a wrong is done, people don’t have to feel they can’t admit the bad deed done AND still stay true to a faith and make it better. Erroneous ways can only be corrected by blatant honesty. 

I try not to loose hope that Muslims themselves will finally be able to take a critical look at what they    believe and follow as their golden rule. The change must begin within.  They do not need to keep living in a world of hatred and destruction and ultimately, blaming everyone else for many of their own ills. Islam should be a peaceful and loving society that respects all men, women and children regardless of age, sex, faith, nationality or country.  They should support and embrace the humane parts of Islam and speak out against and defy the inhumane and destructive parts.  They need to live this, NOT just speak this.  Until such a shift occurs, they will be at odds with much of the developed world.

I recommend this book highly to all citizens of The United States and countries in the West.   Few Americans know anything at all about Muhammad or what he commanded his followers to do on behalf of Allah.  If you read this review and knew little of what I shared, I hope you will be inspired to do further homework on this timley and important topic.

Until we research and understand, we cannot form an opinion.

Until we research and understand, we cannot form a plan. 

It’s possible in the end that we recognize a serious change may be impossible among true believers and impassioned followers of Islam.   Due to this, we should all be very alert and very concerned.  It is wise and prudent that we take any and all measures to protect ourselves until a dramatic shift occurs. If we don’t, who will? 

Final Rating

Five stars for this book. *****   It covered it all – informative, interesting and motivating.

Reviewed by: 

Bridget Dupont-Tingley-The Editor
The Local Area Watch

FOUNDER OF THE WORLD'S MOST INTOLERANT RELIGION - PART 1

* This book is a MUST for anyone who knows little to nothing about Islam.  It is for anyone who wants to understand the War on Terror.   It is for anyone who wants to understand the enemy in our midsts.*

Book Review 

The Truth About Muhammad
By Robert Spencer
Regnery Publishing, Inc.  2006
Available at all major books stores- Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Walden, Schuster, etc.

Type of Book:

Non-fiction.

The first portrait in almost half a century to speak uncomfortable truths about the world’s largest growing religion, the Muslim faith and it’s Prophet, Muhammad. A critique by an author who is willing to discuss the hard facts of the Prophet’s life unbounded by fear and political correctness. The book covers the birth of Muhammad, his first revelations, his pilgrimages, his war battles, his many wives and finally, his final day of death. Extensive documentation from all the most reliable sources used by Muslim scholars themselves is used to portray a man and a faith that touches the 21st century and every citizen around the globe. This is a book about the true nature of Islam, not the ideal version.

Background: 

Per Regnery Publishing, Inc., Robert Spencer is the director of Jihad Watch, a program of the David Horowitz Freedom Center and author of the New York Times bestseller The Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam (And the Crusades), as well as four other books on Islam and terrorism, including, Islam Unveiled: Disturbing Questions about the World’s Fastest Growing Faith and Onward Muslim Soldiers: How Jihad Still Threatens America and The West, as well as eight monographs and hundreds of articles. He lives in a secure, undisclosed location.  Further information can be found on Wickepedia.

General  Book Overview: 

Spencer begins his book with some powerful thoughts:

“Five years into the War on Terror, it is still   common place to hear Islam called ‘a religion of peace’.  It is now also common to hear that term used derisively or ironically, in light of continued acts of violence committed in the name of Islam…Mounting evidence that jihadist violence is actually quite popular among Muslims worldwide has not made Western officials reconsider their view of Islam…As both reform minded Muslims and bloodthirsty jihadists invoke his example to justify their actions, the question of which group is likely to prevail in the future, and which will guide an Islamic world that is it the grip of a religious revival and increasingly hostile toward America and the West, will be largely determined by Muhammad”. 

With those opening thoughts, Spencer moves on to the beginning of his book noting that this is not meant to be a comprehensive biography of the Prophet of Islam. It is also not meant to be the definitive analysis of the Qur’an or the Hadith. On the other hand, he did write this book to still be a very solid examination of the life of Prophet, his journey, travels, words and life as told by an author and expert in Islam from the Western world. It shows what is problematic about Islam and how Muslims justify violent actions or behavior in order to follow their most revered Prophet.  Unfortunately, much of these actions and behaviors are not in accord with Western notions of human rights or dignity of person.

Spencer states he was very hesitant at first to write this book, share his knowledge and views in light of violence and death that seems to follow those who speak out against Islam.  Example reactions to date:

- The Danish cartoon artists and the world wide backlash that caused 139 deaths and over 823 wounded
- The filmmaker Theo Van Gough and his gruesome murder
- Pope Benedicts speech and the resulting youth violence world wide
- Active violence in the U.K., France  & other countries due to “perceived” Muslim discrimination for jobs, government welfare and housing
- Many scholars like Christoph Luxenberg, reform minded writers of Islam such as Hassan Shahid and Tarek Fatah and many others who have to be in hiding or go under  pseudonyms in order to speak out else they will be subject to death threats or murders attempts on their lives. 

Spencer notes after much deliberation, he decided this book had to be written. Undefended, we will loose our rights to free speech.  Without intervention, we will also loose our rights to free thought. The subject matter is provocative he says – lethally so.  The question of Muhammad, who he was, what he did, and what he believed is keys to understanding the global conflicts all citizens of the world are currently facing.  Until we know the man, his words and his commands, we cannot begin to comprehend the jihadists and their motivations and ultimately, the clue as to how we can control, contain or eliminate the threats.

Spencer makes a point of saying, it is not necessary nor it is his intention to insult Muhammad, to deride him, to lampoon or mock him or to write anything except a scrupulously accurate account of what he said and did. Even with that respect level in mind, tempers run hot quickly as we have seen so often in the last two decades.   If no one is willing to take risks like these, freedom as we know it will swiftly become a relic of history. This is not a Democratic, Republican, liberal or conservative issue. It is not even just an American issue. It is something of great importance to the entire world.

Spencer confirms that he relied exclusively upon Islamic sources for the life of Muhammad.  The Sunnah is the gold standard for the Islamic faith – it includes the Qur’an, the Hadith and the Sira.   In these books and writings, he was able to use the earliest biographical material available in the Islamic tradition, that which the best Islamic scholars use as well.

To elaborate further, the Qur’an (English spelling is Koran – I will spell it as this Islamic scholar does in his book) details a good part of particular incidents in the Prophet’s life, but it is not a continuous narrative.  Often, things are written as if the reader knows the outline and outcome of the story already. Spencer refers in all cases to the deity of Islam as “Allah” (the same person that much of the rest of the world calls “God”).    Allah, according to the traditional Muslim view point, spoke each word in this book to Muhammad through the Angel Gabriel (although some accounts state the Angel Seraphel came to him for the first three years and then Gabriel visited thereafter).    Gabriel then visited Muhammad on and off for over 23 years with revelations during his journey as a Prophet. Spencer relied upon the English translations of the Qur’an made by M. A. Usuf Ali and M. M. Pickthall.  Spencer does justice to his analysis and viewpoints in that whenever he notes an issue of importance, he provides a specific verse or sura in it’s original form for the reader to see first, then he makes separate commentary to support a position.  This is much better than just giving a view point without the original text being able to be viewed. I believe this works best so, readers can decide if they want to have a different interpretation than the author. Keep in mind that writings are also placed in the Qur’an according to their length thus, later passages from the Medina time frame are often found first and those from his Mecca time frame are later as they are shorter.

Moving on, the Hadith is a complement to the Qur’an, as it elaborates on the traditions of the Prophet.  This is second only to the Qur’an in authority for most Muslims and contains large amounts of information about the Prophet.  It is from this work that most of the laws that distinguish the Western world from Islamic society have been taken (family, marriage, fidelity/infidelity, polygamy, business, schooling, trade, taxes, punishment, etc). Some feel it has some form of divine inspiration as well. Fairly early in the history of Islam, faithful Muslims assembled collections of the accounts of the Prophet’s words, deeds and stories that they weeded through to determine what was more or less authentic. Scholars grade traditions according to designations of sound, good, weak, forged and others. The Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are the highest and best collections in the Hadith. There are other collections (something like forty or more), but these two are considered the highest quality and are often the most cited.

Finally, there is the Sira, or biography of Muhammad. The first full length biography of the Prophet is by Ibn Ishaq and was done about 150 years after Muhammad’s death.  This was the first attempt at providing a continuous narrative of the Prophet’s entire life.  This original book is lost to history and exists in revised and more limited versions by the second biographer, Ibn Hisham who wrote his biography another 60 years after Ishaq died. Of interest, this second book contains some quotes and writings by other Muslim authors as well.   Hisham is noted as saying that in his version there may be slight differences due to, “things which it is disgraceful to discuss, matters which would distress certain people, and such reports as perhaps not trustworthy” – translation – some areas have possibly been fine tuned, changed or omitted altogether. Ibn Sa’d is also cited as one of the earliest biographers of importance as well.

These are the three main books and collections that have influenced Islamic history and society.  They are read and respected by scholars and followers today.   Islamic apologists often state that the Qur’an has never been altered and there are no variations to it.  It is in a pure state from Allah to Gabriel and then to Muhammad.  Some outside scholars and critics do not feel this is the case based upon inconsistencies and some items they felt have been removed and/or altered.  Thus, they feel these books may not be as pure as some apologists say they are. Regardless of how accurate all the documentation is, it is more important to understand that Muslims generally accept what has been written and told to them versus what actually happened, and this is what forms the foundation for their Muslim belief, practice and laws today.

A little background for you (numbers are as accurate as can be via historical information)…Muhammad was born in Mecca, Saudi Arabia in 570 CE.  His father Abdullah, died before he was born. He was raised by a foster mother and nursemaid as was the norm until he was six and then he died as he was to be returned to his birth mother. From there, his grandfather helped raise him first and then his uncle Abu Talib raised him through manhood.  Muhammad’s family was known as the Quraysh tribe, they were well known, seemed to be well off and they were pagans in Arabia.  Muhammad traveled to many towns in the region via his uncle over the years as he was growing up.

According to tradition, stories abound saying during these travels that Muhammad was identified more than once by a Christian Monk, a local Jew and others as the Prophet foretold in Christian and Jewish religious scriptures.  One thing to note, the testimonies by these Christians and Jews helped support Muhammad later when he tried to use doctrine to identify that he was the Prophet not only to his own people, but peoples of others faiths as well. This identification went on for years and even Muhammad supposedly recognized that he was special from an early age.  Outside of these travels and periods of identification, Muhammad’s life was fairly normal. 

Once he reached the age of 25, his life began to change. At that time, he became a salesman and sold trade goods for a wealthy older woman named Khadija in Syria. Two angels shielded Muhammad from the scorching sun and heat during one  trip per a slave in attendance and thus, Khadija was impressed enough to marry him. She was 40 and he 25.   Khadija had a cousin named Waraqa who was a convert to Christianity from Judaism and she was close to him. She told Waraqa of the angels visiting Muhammad and he immediately recognized him as the Prophet as well. 

It would be awhile before Muhammad, Khadija and Waraqa finally realized exactly what the revelations from the Angel Gabriel meant.  Both Khadija and Waraqa had profound impact on Muhammad’s middle life and to the evolution of the early Muslim faith as well.   Many feel without their intervention on Muhammad and his life, Islam may never have evolved.  Muhammad had to weather through the early years trying to understand what the revelations were all about, who they were really from and what he was to do with them. He was often confused, upset and close to suicidal at times per the historical testimonies.   Muhammad wouldn’t declare himself as the Prophet of Allah until he was about 40 years old and only after he devoted himself to many years of long prayer and reflection.

The early periods of Muhammad’s development of the Islamic faith were fairly quiet and peaceful – the years 613-621.  This period of growth and development does not seem to have a formal name, but for purposes of this review I will refer to it as, the Mecca period. 

Muhammad began preaching Islam publicly by the year 613 in Mecca. For the next few years, he shared his revelations and his commands with people who slowly began following the Prophet’s ways. By 619, Muhammad’s own people the Quraysh, did not believe his visions and often challenged him. The Quraysh were firm in their pagan worship and would not accept Muhammad and his revelations.  That same year, Muhammad’s first wife Khadija died and he was visited by another angel  -  Satan this time – and he gives the approval for Muhammad and the Quraysh to worship their pagan gods for one full year as long as a year later they recognized Allah and Islam. Muhammad didn’t realize until after he fact that it wasn’t Gabriel but Satan who gave him this incorrect information and revelation.  This is known as the satanic verses incident (made famous by Ayatollah Khomeini & Salaamed Rushdie – the death threat). By 620, Muhammad believes he has been taken overnight to Paradise and meets all the previous prophets who came before him – Adam, John The Baptist, Jesus, Joseph, Moses, Abraham, etc. This journey is known as the ascension, Night Journey or Miraj and occurred on the now famous Temple Mount in Jerusalem.  In the year 622, Muhammad and the Muslims flee Mecca and go to Medina in the event known as the Hijra. They left due to ongoing problems with the Quraysh and their rejection of the Islamic faith.  They also wanted to make haste to other areas that would be more accepting of the word of the Prophet and Allah. 

The years 624-632 until Muhammad’s death are violent years and the messages from Allah began to   change dramatically.  This was a time filled with over 27 war battles, taking of children and women as slaves, imposing a non-Muslim poll tax called the jizya, reducing the rights of women, the expulsion of pagans, murder of dissenters, taking food, homes, clothing, jewelry and precious metals as booty for the victors and Muhammad marrying additional 10-12 wives (including a nine year old girl named Aisha-his favorite, killing the Jewish Chief of Khaybar and taking his beautiful wife Safiyya as a spoil of war and many others along the way. There also appears to be some concubines in the mix too).  He was proudly called the master of all of Arabia during this time of warfare, destruction and death. 

Muhammad finally met his fate and died at the age of 63 due to natural causes in the year 632.  He left behind no sons (the only one he had died early in birth), only daughters and eventually his legacy was continued by Abu Bakr as the first caliph.   The largest body of Muslims remains the Sunnis (so called because they adhere to the Sunnah or traditions of Muhammad faithfully). Sunnis account for about 85% of the worlds’ Muslims. The remaining 15% are called Shi’a Muslims.   They are a small faction that split from the main body of Muslims under another leader named Ali who felt he was the rightful descendent to Muhammad as he was a cousin and son-in-law by marriage to Muhammad.   This group of Shi’ites evolved expressions of Islamic piety that at times are markedly different from the norms of the Sunni’s. More radical if you will. Ali was the fourth caliph but, was eventually assassinated years later. The Sunni-Shi’ite fault line still divides the Muslim world well into the 21st century.

During Muhammad’s nearly ¼ century Islamic journey, many of his revelations laid the foundation that would become Islamic law and doctrine.  A foundation so strong it influenced followers 1,400 years ago and well into the modern world.   Incidents such as:

• Praying 5 times a day (at one point Muhammad said Allah commanded 50 prayers per day. He got it reduced to lessen the burdens of his followers).
• Avoid  Hasad or envy.  The evil eye from others can take away the good things in life that Allah provides. So,beware.
• Insistence upon the veiling of women as the sight of an unveiled women is distressing and sinful (not to wear it and reveal skin, body parts or hair is a crime in many countries with serious punishment).
• That it takes four witnesses (male only) in order to establish a crime of adultery or related indiscretions (thus it is nearly impossible to prove rape in areas that follow Sharia law, many women who admit to rape are then charged with adultery as they admitted to sex with a man and witnesses can’t be proven thus, large numbers of women in middle eastern countries are jailed for these reasons only).
• That adultery should be punished by public stoning of the couple involved in the indiscretion (although the Qur’an doesn’t physically state this). It only commands lashes for adultery and the woman being confirmed to their homes until they die.
• Theft by a thief means cutting off a man or woman’s hands.
• Borrowing of ideas and concepts from Christian writings (The Bible/ New Testament) and  Jewish writings (The Torah), even some gnostic and/or heretical sayings as well (incorrect information about Christ being crucified, who crucified him, ideas about heaven (paradise), Adam & Eve, other Prophets besides Muhammad, who are designated God’s chosen people, etc).
• Preaching of Monotheism - Islam is the only acceptable religion (practicing Muslims should only do so in Arabic.  To speak/write/read in Arabic is the only true language of Allah). 
• Revelations that Allah gave approval for Muhammad to marry his adopted son’s wife –his daughter in law.  Muhammad asked for direction and Allah commanded this marriage.
• Allah declaring to Muhammad that it is fine to go to war during the holy times providing it benefits Islam. Many things are allowed as long as it benefits Islam.
• Allah declaring to Muhammad that piety will bring military victories.
• Allah declaring to Muhammad that he alone gets the booty of war and can divide the spoils as he sees fit thereafter.
• Allah gave Muhammad multiple revelations that People of the Book (Jews & Christian) were not to be trusted, were enemies and not to be befriended.   They are said to be friends and protectors of each other only.  Muslims are taught to reject Jews and Christians as friends and protectors.
• Allah gave Muhammad approval that People of the Book must pay a jizya (tax) as they are the guilty/protected people or dhimmis. They were believed to have received genuine revelations from Allah but, they rejected Muhammad as Prophet and distorted the revelations they received. Thus, they were guilty. 
• The final veneration of Muhammad in the teachings that advise followers to be faithful, devoted and obey his words and actions as the human ideal.

Spencer raises many critical questions in this book that everyone should be asking:

Is Islam really tolerant of other religions?
Was Muhammad a real Prophet?
Did he have a gentle and peaceful side or just a side dedicated to warfare?
Were his visions and revelations really from Allah or something else altogether?
Was he a pedophile or a misogynist?
Why did he tax non-Muslims and reduce them to second class citizens?
Did he murder those who spoke out against him?
Why do jihadists imitate Muhammad and his reign of terror?
Is the rest of the world simply misunderstanding this religion?
What is Muhammad’s legacy into the 21st century and beyond?

It’s important to get these questions answered, for as Spencer notes, “Muhammad became more controversial than ever before in the Western World after the 9/11/01 jihad terror attacks. Numerous analysts and commentators made assertions about him and the religion he founded without ever bothering to investigate the actual record.   Since knowledge about Muhammad in the West has always been sketchy, they can be excused; however, many of the questions on which his example was invoked and discussed are still relevant to the War on Terror and the relationship between Muslim and non-Muslim worlds”.

Although Muhammad had some early periods of kindness to his companions and his followers, he also invoked great mistrust, dislike and contempt for non-followers as the years and revelations went on.  One only has to quote directly from the Qur’an, The Hadith and The Sira to see the evidence of the Destruction his legacy invokes. 

Spencer advises the reader that we cannot claim ignorance any longer on this issue. Jihadists and even everyday Muslims use Muhammad as their perfect human example and use his words, actions and recommendations as their example and guide. Only by understanding Muhammad can we in the West understand what he said and how it can affect each one of us.    He continues these thoughts stating too many Western governments and officials dismiss the twisting of this religion by a crazy few or the hijacking of Muhammad’s message for their own good as isolated instances.  Even many non-Muslims refuse to accept the reality of what Muhammad did and taught because the real analysis and implications are terrifying.  Many assume that identifying the parts of Islam that are problematic will add to the current jihad violence.  Many leaders fear we will end up in a clash of civilizations – West against the entire Islamic world if we dare to challenge the elements of Muhammad’s life that cause Sharia environments to spread. 

Spencer is strikingly clear, if we refuse to confront these deadly challenges, that lack of confrontation will NOT stop jihadists and extremists and even some moderates from their ultimate goal.  Islamic rule.

Spencer ends his book discussing that there are some things that can be done to stop this growing wave of suppression of human dignity and rights, on-going destruction and threats of suicidal death bombers:

1. Stop insisting that Islam is a religion of peace
2. Initiate a full scale Manhattan project to find a new energy source
3. Make Western aid contingent upon renunciation of the jihad ideology
4. Call upon American Muslim advocacy groups to work against the jihad ideology
5. Revise immigration policies with the jihad ideology in view

He reminds the reader, “The words and deeds of Muhammad have been moving Muslins to commit acts of violence for 1,400 years now. They are not going to disappear in our lifetimes, nor can they be negotiated away…If no Western politicians can be found who are courageous enough to grasp this nettle, Western countries will eventually pay a stiff price, when the jihadists they have admitted carry out successful jihad attacks, inspire native born Muslims to do the same or when they advance Sharia provisions by peaceful means as in the campaigns in the U.N. and several European countries.”

Only active participants who learn about the REAL man and his religion can form a solid plan to avoid a collision course with history.  The sooner someone stands up, the better.  If this problem continues or is ignored, “Muhammad will continue to inspire his followers to wield the sword in his name."

On a side note, Mr. Spencer is beginning an interesting process this month on Michelle Malkin's website HOTAIR.  He is going to be reading the Qur'an from front to back and posting his readings and review over the next few months.  He has decided to do this as many apologists have come to him and challenged what he has read in deciphered documents.  Mr. Spencer wants to share with the world what apologists refuse to read and accept themselves. I highly recommend all readers consider checking out his postings on a monthly basis if they are interested in this topic.

Part two – the personal review section and the final rating to follow separately due to length of review.

Reviewed by:

Bridget Dupont-Tingley
The Editor
The Local Area Watch