Other Columns by Thomas D. Segel
Thomas D. Segel Bio

Printer-Friendly Version

Veterans Hold Strong Views Of The Muslim World
By Thomas D. Segel
March 14, 2002

The Muslim World has responded to an international poll by reflecting its anti American attitudes. A United States poll, mirroring those questions posed to international Muslims, identified a negative attitude of their countries by the American people. Pundits, across the globe have justifications, enabling comments and multiple rationales on all sides of the issue. They may have valid assessments of the Mid East, but from a very limited vantage point. Few have spent much time at the grass roots level of the Arab world. Those who lived in the region or worked with its citizenry were usually members of the United States Armed Forces.

Dozens of retired military and veterans of the Mid East were contacted and asked to give their personal assessments of the Muslim World and how we should be conducting ourselves in the aftermath of September 11th. Views ranged from hostile extremes to isolationist. However, those who know the people and politics of that region best have offered the most interesting and challenging observations.

Some of the recommendations offered by retired Navy SEAL Don Tyson of Arizona include the need for constantly restating what actually happened on 9/11/01. He feels the Arab media will never offer people the truth, so we must continue to provide unequivocal proof of what actually happened. He feels we must constantly restate where the terrorists came from and why they committed those heinous acts.

Tyson also feels terrorists should be repaid tenfold for every life taken. He believes we should do everything possible to isolate the protectors of terrorists from the civilized world. "We need to place embargoes on them," he says, "and we need to squeeze them dry of money. Congress needs to wake up and realize we must drill for our own oil in our own country. Let the Arabs hunt for new customers. At the same time we should change visa requirements for those visiting Muslim students attending our schools. If they speak in favor of terror or do ill while in the United States, they need to be deported at once... It should always be a tooth for a tooth. Fight back and never become intimidated."

Charles Henderson is an internationally published author who resides in Colorado. He is also a retired Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer. He says, "Why do we care what our enemy thinks of us? If we are at war, it is not a political contest where the popular man wins... .I believe we spend too much time fretting over what the Moslem World thinks of us, or what fickle-minded Europeans think of us. We have the big stick. When it comes to threats and acts of war against our own people, we should use the big stick until the threat is gone. And while we should want to cooperate and have positive relations with our neighbors, we should do what is right first. Like many have said..if you are not with me, then you are against me. If you are against me, then you must be with my enemy. If you are with my enemy, then you are my enemy... This is war. Lets act like it."

After two tours of duty in Turkey and another tour in Iran, retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Jerome Czeikus has an interesting analysis of the Arab world to offer. "The biggest problem I saw was the intrusion into their lives by Islam itself. It seemed as if everything they did was controlled by their religious beliefs. They didn't seem to recognize this or try to overcome it. Since Islam has no single leader similar to the Pope they would have a hard time secularizing their society, until or unless they found a leader who could do what Ataturk did in Turkey."

Czeikus concludes his comments saying, "So to me, the answer is to somehow convince all those Muslim countries that religious intrusions into their laws and legal systems are wrong. Until they recognize this, they will always find themselves in conflict with the West and the United States in particular."

Denny Shellabarger offered his opinion from Maine, where he now makes his home after retiring from the Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. While on active duty, Shellabarger lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, where he served as a consultant to the Royal Family. he warns us not to assume the pollsters have it right. "Yes, the more radical Muslims do hate us, but the common folk really support us. However, the all disagree with our policies regarding Israel".

Regarding the events of September 11th he says "they simply will not let their Muslim religion be associated with the attack, and therefore mentally assume an Arab Just Couldn't Have Done It. Allah would not have allowed it."

"Make no mistake," he says, "the Saudis still have the mind set they had in the 1920s - trust no one, even your neighbor. If you don't believe me, look at their homes - all have walls and iron gates.

Shellabarger has some interesting ideas on how to repair our image in the Arab world. He would send the President on an extended trip to Saudi and have him visit all countries in the region with the message that the United States wants to meet the Arab on his terms. He would have us offer a plan to establish Palestine as a nation state... and pay the Saudi Royal Family to turn over Bin Ladin, only make it look as if another country found him. The colonel believes Bin Ladin is really in Mekkah or Medinah right now.

Finally he would have us move our military personnel out of Saudi now and establish an Arab advisory council in the State Department. Shellabarger believes that if we are serious about this problem, we must start listening to that part of the world every day... and we need to listen to them, not some U.S. "Expert"

Retired Marine First Sergeant Danny Medders responded by reflecting on the American military personnel who have been killed in action during the conflict in Afghanistan. While he hears cries of concern from the liberal left at home and abroad, he would still honor these brave warriors by staying the course. "We must remain committed", he says, If we do not, these men will have died in vain. No American wants to live with that. To often in this great country we tend to forget (too quickly) the sacrifices our military make on our behalf. This time. I pray we remember. May God take them into his house and keep them forever more.