Brahma: Oil and Islamism

Brahma: Oil and Islamism
http://chellaney.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns%214913C7C8A2EA4A30%21942.entry

from http://rajeev2004.blogspot.com/2008/12/brahma-oil-and-islamism.html

Brahma states the obvious i.e. unearned oil wealth has led to radical Islamisation in the middle east - which is then exported by international subsidies to terrorist organizations (not to mention some Indian NGO's). Islamic ideology is full of concepts like Jihad, dar-ul-harb and houris - but in modern times the fuel for this fire has been petro-dollars. the ideas of a shiite revival are further elaborated in Vali Nasr's very fine book - I am actually glad to see the Sunni domination of the muslim world end. not because I am fond of the shia's - but because for india, the muslim world is better divided than united. this divide is actually very vicious - there used be riots in Lucknow about Shia processions during MuharramBrahma ends on a quizzical note - asking for the democratization of the region rather than Saud type autarky - I hope he does not have more of the Bush-style democratisation of Iraq in mind. I am also sad that he has not called for the ultimate weapon of destruction of oil sheikhdoms - solar power!
Posted by Ghost Writer at 12/24/2008 03:25:00 PM