Conflict with the West: Religious Drivers and Strategies of Jihad
Recorded on August 17, 2006
Location: The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium
Dr. Shmuel Bar, Director of Studies at the Institute for Policy
and Strategy, joins us from Israel to discuss the close
relationship between religion and politics in Islam - and the
predilection of radical Islamic organizations towards religious
motivation - which makes it difficult to draw a picture of the
political and military strategies which drive them as distinct from
religious convictions. The use of religious authority through
fatwas (Islamic rulings) of Islamic scholars to justify the very
act of jihad and to regulate its scope and constraints is a pivotal
force for motivation of the foot soldiers of the jihad, but also a
serious consideration for the leaders. The use of apocalyptic
rhetoric for motivation of followers is not easily distinguished
from the real expectations and practical plans of radical leaders.
Join us as Dr. Bar explains the strategic concepts of Islamic
terrorists and the resulting ramifications for U.S. policy toward
the Middle East and for coalition forces currently on the ground.