Headlines:
- Half of Germany Sees Islam as a Threat, Survey claims
- Most American Veterans say the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were Not Worth Fighting
- Trump to Host Pakistani PM at White House
Half of Germany Sees Islam as a Threat, Survey claims
One in every two Germans sees Islam as a threat, according to a survey published on Thursday. The latest twice-yearly ‘Religion Monitor’ poll by the Bertelsmann Foundation found that 50 per cent of those interviewed were suspicious of the religion, Bild reported. But only 13 per cent of respondents wanted immigration halted, the foundation’s religion expert Yasemin El-Menouar was keen to point out. ‘Widespread scepticism of Islam’ did ‘not necessarily equate to Islamophobia,’ she said. ‘Apparently, many people currently view Islam less as a religion, but above all as a political ideology and therefore exempt it from religious tolerance,’ El-Menouar said. Some 5 million Muslims live in Germany – 1.5 million of them in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia. In eastern Germany, where fewer Muslims live, attitudes were more negative. Some 57 per cent of Easterners saw Islam as a threat, compared to 50 per cent in the west. And 30 per cent of those in the east went as far as to say they did not want a Muslim for a neighbour, as opposed to 16 per cent in the west. While the study’s authors expressed concern about its findings, attitudes towards Muslims do not seem to be hardening over time. The April 2013 Religion Monitor report found that 51 per cent of Germans saw Islam as a threat. Only a third of those surveyed had a positive view of the religion. By contrast there were majorities favourable to Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism. [Source: Daily Mail]
If Germans along with other Europeans were not fed with a daily diet of Islamophobia, the overwhelming population would convert to Islam.
Most American Veterans Say the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were Not Worth Fighting
The US government’s so-called war on terror is nearly two decades old, and strong majorities of US veterans and the general public do not approve of its biggest efforts — the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — according to a new poll from Pew Research Center. The survey found 64% of veterans said Iraq wasn’t worth fighting, along with 58% who said the same about Afghanistan. Meanwhile, 62% of US adults said Iraq wasn’t worth it, along with 59% who expressed the same view on Afghanistan. Most veterans (52%) and US adults (58%) also said the US military campaign in Syria has not been worth it. The US invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 following the terror attacks on September 11, 2001. Almost 19 years later, the US military is still present in the country and American service members are still dying there. Indeed, though the US declared an end to combat operations in Afghanistan in 2014, the fight there is ongoing. Roughly 14,000 US troops are still in Afghanistan as the Trump administration pushes for peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government. It’s estimated the Taliban now controls or contests roughly 61% of the country’s districts, and the Islamic State group — also known as ISIS — has gained a strong foothold in the country. But Afghanistan remains a country consumed by conflict and violence, which helps explain why it was recently ranked the least peaceful country in the world — replacing Syria — in the 2019 Global Peace Index report. At least 10 US soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan in 2019 in a war that’s claimed the lives of over 2,400 Americans. There are also currently about 5,200 US troops in Iraq, who are training Iraq forces amid fears of a resurgence of ISIS. The US ended combat operations in Iraq in 2010 and withdrew most of its troops by the end of 2011, but has maintained a presence there since. The US military’s activities in Iraq ramped up significantly there since 2014, when the first air strike against ISIS was conducted. [Source: Business Insider]
This is further proof that America is in decline. After using all its military might, America is unable to fashion political outcomes in its favour. Imagine what the rightly guided Khilafah upon the method of the Prophethood could achieve against America.
Trump to Host Pakistani PM at White House
U.S. President Donald Trump will host Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, at the White House on July 22 for official talks aimed at “creating conditions” for an “enduring partnership” and cooperation to secure a peaceful South Asia. The White House said Wednesday that that the two leaders would discuss such issues as counterterrorism, defense, energy and trade. Peace efforts in Afghanistan are expected to be high on the agenda. “The visit will focus on strengthening cooperation between the United States and Pakistan to bring peace, stability and economic prosperity to a region that has seen far too much conflict,” a White House statement said. Khan’s first interaction with Trump is seen in the region as signaling a thaw in the often acrimonious relationship between Washington and Islamabad. The acrimony stems from U.S. allegations that, despite having received billions of dollars in financial assistance as an ally in the war against terrorism, Pakistan has harbored Taliban leaders and fighters and other militants who plot deadly attacks against American and NATO troops in Afghanistan and rival India. Islamabad rejects the charges. Since taking office, Trump has suspended all military cooperation and assistance to Pakistan, alleging the country has “given us nothing but lies and deceit.” Khan took office nearly a year ago and argued with Trump on Twitter a few months later about the U.S. allegations. He defended Pakistan’s counterterrorism successes, saying the country had suffered tens of thousands of casualties and billions of dollars in losses to its national economy while fighting America’s war on terrorism. However, Islamabad has since helped arrange direct peace talks between the U.S. and the Taliban aimed at ending the 18-year Afghan war. The effort is credited with easing tensions, which prompted Trump to acknowledge in February that the two countries had recently “developed a much better relationship.” Analysts do not expect anything major to emerge from the Trump-Khan meeting, but they note it could still go a long way toward improving bilateral ties because both leaders dislike the status quo and have strong personalities. Trump has consistently been critical of U.S. involvement in foreign wars while Khan is known for leading anti-war campaigns and calling for seeking a politically negotiated settlement to the Afghan war, even when his party was in the opposition. [Source: Voice of America]
After years of drone attacks and slaughter of Pakistan’s citizens, Khan wants to meet Trump at the White House. America’s hostility towards Pakistan and Islam is well known, and yet the intellectually-defeated Khan thinks he can change outcomes.