Economics-A Way to Win the War Against Terror

Max Boot of the LA Times has an interesting article entitled "Islam's tolerant face" where he details two successful Islamic states that do not accept the Salifi band of radical Islam-Malaysia and Qatar. While one is semi-democratic, the later is autocratic. However both share a few characteristics. Malaysia and Qatar. These two countries do not accept Taliban-style Islam, accept other religions, have a large educated population, and have vibrant economies that actively trade with the west.

These two countries, while not the models for freedom are examples how Islam can coexist peacefully with the west and other religions. As Max Boot points out,

Given the monstrous crimes perpetrated in the name of Allah, it is easy to despair about the future of the Muslim world. Nonstop news about bombings, beheadings and general bedlam will no doubt lead more and more Westerners to conclude that we are at war with an entire civilization.

For our part, we should resist the temptation to label Islam the enemy or to lash out against moderate Muslims in places like Dubai. A more tolerant brand of Islam, of the kind practiced in Malaysia and Qatar, could be our most potent weapon in the struggle against the suicide bombers.

These countries provide other examples of what could be accomplished in a tolerant Muslim society that values education more than absolute rule. The US, continuing to partner with these moderate Muslim countries, not only helps its cause to pursue global democracy and tolerance but also provides an example to Muslims what life could be like if not for the few salifi radicals like Osama bin Laden and Al Zarqawi.