There is no reason to doubt the sincerity of President Bush in pursuing the war against terrorism. However, opposition from the United Nations, the EU and his own State Department has quietly hamstrung him. The EU has, by and large, sought to avert action against any Arab state or organization in the hope of reaping diplomatic benefits in the Middle East at the expense of the United States. The State Department tended to oppose such action because it has been staffed by Arabists for the past 70 years and has consistently overrated the importance of Arab oil. As for the UN, the overwhelming majority of its member states are dictatorships, many of them Moslem. The Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, is from Ghana, a West African state with a 20% Moslem minority, and cannot but be influenced by this consideration. Most states supporting Moslem terrorism, notably Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Iran and Pakistan, have not yet been punished for this. Pakistan avoided punishment by helping the US to round up elements of al-Qaeda on its territory, though little was done to stop terrorism against India and its supporters in Kashmir. Iraq was invaded, though not for aiding terrorists, which it did unashamedly.

President Bush has complicated his problems by trying to force democracy down the unwilling throats of the Arab world's autocratic rulers. As soon as these realized the effect this would have on their privileges and the loyalty of their subjects, they began to organize themselves in opposition. Despite its new constitution, not even Iraq is a democracy in any real sense and possibly never will be. Yet President Bush's main problem is his failure to realize that there is no sentiment for democracy in Moslem states because the Quran does not advocate anything remotely resembling it. This should occasion no surprise, as the Prophet Mohammed himself was a brilliant military leader with virtually absolute power that he never delegated to anyone outside a small circle of his close supporters. Mohammed is the example Moslems worship and respect.

Thus President Bush has managed to unite the Arab world against him. Mubarak of Egypt and Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia are now busy promoting opposition to democracy in the many states where they have some influence. On past performance, the State Department, the UN and the European Community may do little of effect to obstruct them.

What threat does Islam pose on an international level? How should the West respond to the Islamic threat? Is a 'Palestinian' state within the borders of Israel inevitable? These and other questions were recently posed to Yohanan Ramati, Director of the Jerusalem Institute for Western Defense . Mr. Ramati is an expert on global affairs, including the threat of Islam. This video will provide an eye-opening view of what is happening in the world today. [Taken from the Tzemach television program. 27 min.]

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