Douglas Murray on What the Islamists want

Douglas Murray

Wikipedia

Writing for The Spectator (May 27, 2017) in the aftermath of the terrorist bombing in Ariana Grande's Dangerous Woman concert at the Manchester Arena, Douglas Murray tells us, 'Islamists are very clear about what they want - we just aren't listening' - and he adds, 'Cries of "what can it mean?" always follow a terror attack. It seems we're incapable of learning anything.' Here's an excerpting summary of his article:

Even after all these years, all these attacks and all these dead, the West still keeps asking the same question after events like those of Monday night: 'Who would do such a thing?' The answer is always the same . . . . Yet still our society wonders: what would make someone do such a thing? The tone of bafflement is strange - like a society that keeps asking a question, but keeps its fingers lodged firmly in its ears whenever it is given the answer . . . . For their part, the Islamists are amazingly clear about what they want and the reasons why they act accordingly. You never have to read between the lines . . . . [Yet people ask, W]here does it come from, this hatred the Islamists hold? . . . Do people think this stuff comes from thin air? It was always there. Because it's at the religion's origins . . . . It's our own fault [that we keep asking why] because we have been told [the answer] . . . so many times . . . . [that we should be able to stand up] and say: 'Apologies. Turns out we do know. It was jihad for Allah.'

Murray speaks and writes often about Islamism and the danger it poses. He is intelligent and insightful, and he is worth paying attention to. Among other work that keeps him busy, he is associate director of the Henry Jackson Society, and he writes for several publications.