by Daniel Pipes
Daniel Pipes’ Weblog*
August 14, 2006
http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/652
* Cross-posted with permission

George W. Bush had used “Islamic fascists” and “Islamofascists” often before but, for reasons that elude me, his statement on Aug. 10 turned this wording into a major issue, with dozens of articles, pro and con, debating the term. I myself weighed in today with an article titled “‘At War with Islamic Fascists’.” Here are some of the discussions that struck me as particularly worthwhile, with additions as they appear:

• Abdel Rahman al-Rashed, “بالتأكيد هم فاشيون” (”They Certainly Are Fascists”). August 13, 2006. The general manager of Al-‘Arabiya news channel, who has already proven his bravery, asks “What’s wrong with describing terrorists with any negative term?”
• Timothy R. Furnish, “‘Islamic Fascism’: Well, It’s Half Right.” August 14, 2006. Argues that this term “should be avoided because it’s simply another way to let Islam off the hook.”
• Janet Daley, “‘Fascistic’ is the right word for Islamic fundamentalism.” August 14, 2006. Argues that “Islamic fundamentalism is fascistic in the precise, technical sense of the word.”
• Nihad Awad executive director of CAIR, on Fox News Channel’s O’Reilly Factor, on August 14, 2006, replying to the question, “why are all the terrorists Muslims?” “They are Muslim, but they’re not Islamic. Their actions are not inspired by Islam.” When asked whether the Taliban in Afghanistan were fascists, Awad replied, “They were fascists.” “And they were practicing Sharia Muslim law,” said Bill O’Reilly. Awad replied: “No. No. They - they deviated when they mistreated women, when they did not allow people to go to school.”
• Stephen Schwartz, “What is ‘Islamofascism’?” August 16, 2006. The “first Westerner to use the neologism in this context” argues in favor of the term Islamic fascists.
• Roger Scruton, “Islamofascism.” August 17, 2006. Finds utility in a term that “enables people on the left to denounce our common enemy.”
• National Review Online symposium on “Word Choice: Are we at war with ‘Islamic Fascism’?” August 17, 2006. Eight writers muse on the term and generally endorse it but with many reservations, taking a position similar to my own.
• David Ignatius, “Are We Fighting ‘Islamic Fascists’?”, August 18, 2006. Argues that the phrase is misleading, both in its broad reference to Islam and in its evocation of another century and another war.”