Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid

“Negotiate with them.” — “Silence all other voices.” — “Hear what we have to say.” — “These are their reasons.”

Everyone has spoken, except those who carry the hand grenades, machine guns and Kalashnikovs. Why is it that we haven’t heard from the terrorists themselves? We don’t need explanations by proxy. Let us hear from the people who call themselves Mujahedeen but whom others call takfiriyeen (those who accuse others of being infidels).

Let us hear their opinions — that everything around them is kufr (disbelief), that all people are apostates including those who justify their crimes. Listening to the people who speak in the name of the terrorists is a waste of time, especially given that the terrorists have means of communication and are perfectly capable of speaking for themselves.

The field has turned into a bazaar. Anyone too old to fight or too smart to boycott and all those who hope to make a fast buck on the back of these events are shouting their wares in the street. But the war traders cannot reign in extremism and are too cowardly to fight it. The truth is that the extremists don’t wield much influence.

Everything they have done so far proves that beyond the bombs they do not have much power, and the bombs only reach defenseless civilians. That is a sign that they are not here to stay. It follows that their supporters had better watch out.

Their apologists used to tell us that Al-Qaeda is not targeting our country, only infidels in other countries. When Al-Qaeda struck in Saudi Arabia they claimed that it was targeting infidels inside the country. When it attacked civilians — Arab and Muslim —- and moved its weapons and cells to Makkah and Madinah, the excuse changed again; this time it is that these people are demanding reform. We are caught in a mire of lies and justifications.

Take another example. Some apologists have told us that the terrorists want to turn themselves in, and that all they ask is fair treatment when they do. Just imagine: They throw explosives, and then in a matter of days they are ready to surrender. How naive do we have to be to believe that people one minute transport tons of explosives and rocket-propelled grenades and the next they just want to be given a fair trial? Why are we being told such lies?

The reality is that these lies are weapons in their publicity war. The image suggests that they are decent young men who have seen the error of their ways and are ready to give themselves up — and that it is only a heartless government that will not take them up on their generous offer.