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June 10, 2009
Exclusive: ‘The Third Jihad’ – An Interview with Peter Connors
Editor’s note: The Third Jihad is a documentary about the threat of radical Islam that faces the United States and the world. Featuring interviews with many prominent individuals, including a number of contributors to FamilySecurityMatters.org, the film is being shown around the nation in an effort to educate Americans about the very real danger of Jihad.
FSM recently had the opportunity to interview Peter Connors, the Executive Director of the Clarion Fund, a non-profit, non-political media company educating the public about national security threats. Connors oversees strategic development, film distribution, screenings, and all marketing and media activities from their home office in Portsmouth, NH.
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FSM: The brutal treatment of women under Sharia law should be a rallying cry for Western feminists – and for a time, the treatment of women in Afghanistan under the Taliban was given a lot of attention. And there have been documented cases of honor killings right here in the U.S. However, it seems as though after America under George Bush went in to Iraq, the attention given to this appalling situation seems to have gone away. Do you think there’s a connection?
PC: Wife beating and "honor killings" are accepted under Sharia Law and in radical Islamic societies around the world. It is especially concerning – but not surprising – that such behavior has made its way to America.
In recent years, these atrocious acts have largely gone unnoticed and this is a serious problem. Frankly, whether or not we sent troops into Iraq, the facts remain the same. Not only are vicious acts against women tolerated; they rarely receive national media attention. This only perpetuates the problem. A pattern has developed and unfortunately, until we break the cycle, the violence will continue.
Americans must be made aware of these activities, especially those taking place on U.S. soil. That is why The Third Jihad is such an important film. It aims to educate the American public about the dangers of Sharia Law and the serious threat it poses to civil liberties and American life as we know it. It cites various examples of honor killings and encourages Americans to take action against such injustices.
It is also important to mention that women are not the only group facing persecution. In many radical communities, there is no tolerance for any religion other than Islam. Churches are destroyed and Christians are overtaxed, harassed, or driven out altogether. Homosexuals are also not accepted in radical Islamic communities and are subject to severe punishment and brutality, as well as the ultimate punishment – death.
It is my hope that our film and web educational tools will help bring more attention to these important issues and activate the American public to take a united stand against them.
FSM: Revenue from Middle Eastern oil is largely responsible for funding radical Islam – from madrassas to training camps. Knowing this, why isn’t it a higher priority for America to utilize its own resources and break its dependence upon foreign oil?
PC: The Third Jihad addresses the issue of oil funding terror. The statistics are astounding. The U.S., which accounts for only 5% of the world's population, uses about a quarter of the world’s oil. It is clear that our reliance on oil perpetuates the problem. While the Clarion Fund can educate America about this issue, it is up to the American public and its leaders to take action, funding programs to develop alternative energy sources and calling for reforms that will end our dependency on oil. We have invested considerable time addressing this issue on our activism website, RadicalIslam.org.
FSM: One of the most prominent Islamic groups in America, CAIR, says it condemns terror acts but refuses to condemn groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Dennis Prager likens this to condemning gas chambers but not condemning the Nazis. Why won’t CAIR come right out and denounce these terrorist organizations?
PC: I’m not exactly sure what you expect to hear from CAIR, considering they are unindicted coconspirators in the largest terror financing trial in U.S. history. (And from my experience and estimation, CAIR does not represent the voice of the American Muslim community.)
Having said that, this issue is addressed in The Third Jihad. Some Muslim American groups, including CAIR, hide behind a moderate front. This is an attempt to achieve greater credibility and influence – as well as financial support – for their stated cause. CAIR claims to condemn terror but refuses to condemn known terror organizations. This is an indication that something is amiss. Why would they refuse? What are they hiding? They should at least explain why it is that they will not condemn these groups.
The FBI recently cut ties with CAIR following the Holy Land terror financing trial. This is a major step forward, but Americans should realize that there are organizations out there whose motives are of concern.
FSM: Many American Islamic groups considered to be “moderate” have been linked to a document which the FBI believes to be the manifesto of the Muslim Brotherhood in North America – which states, in part, that their work in America is a “grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within” so that “Allah’s religion is made victorious over all other religions.” Why aren’t the mainstream media all over this?
PC: The organizations that are in favor of radical Islam have done a very good job of convincing the world – and especially the Western media – that any criticism of radical Islam encourages and is a product of something they call “Islamophobia.” Therefore, most media outlets are concerned about being branded as anti-Islam, which certainly has impacted the level to which these issues have been covered. In a way, the Clarion Fund is playing the role the media should be playing concerning these issues. We are educating America about this clear and present threat to American society.
The manifesto uncovered by the FBI could not be clearer. It outlines goals and strategies for the infiltration and domination of America from within and lists, by name, a number of American Muslim organizations that could help achieve those goals. Many of the groups indicated are thought to be the moderate Muslim leadership of America, including the MSA, ISNA, and the IAP (which also has ties to CAIR). It is unfortunate, but not shocking, that the mainstream media has decided to keep this story under wraps.
FSM: The war on terror, which should really be called the war against radical Islam, has taken a back seat to the economic situation. Will it really take another attack on American soil for us to sit up and take notice?
PC: I certainly hope not, and everyday that the Clarion Fund works tirelessly to inform the American public we get one step closer to solving the problem. However, as Americans remain detached from global terrorism, there is a general tendency to overlook the threat posed by radical Islam. While some simply don’t see the threat clearly enough to be concerned, others prefer to “wish it away.” The underlying issue is a lack of education: Americans are content with remaining unaware of threats to national security, and the media are more than happy to oblige. This is why Clarion’s top priority is to educate Americans – through the production of feature-length documentary films and other interactive media – about threats to our national security.
FSM: Since 9/11, more than 30 homegrown Jihad plots have been stopped before they could be carried out. How seriously should we take the threat?
PC: The threat is real and now is the time to take action. Just look back at the past two weeks with yet another foiled terror attack in New York and the American soldier killed outside the recruiting station in Arkansas. The Third Jihad clearly asserts that the spread of Islamic fundamentalism in America is a societal reality that cannot be ignored. The fact is that terrorism is taking root on our own soil, and is pervasive – penetrating various channels. We are very fortunate that dozens of attacks have been prevented, but it would be naïve to discount the possibility – or even probability – of future terrorist plots or attacks on American soil.
FSM: The threat of a nuclear Iran is one that we should take very seriously. Yet our current president seems to think he can reason with someone whose mindset is such that the thought of “mutually assured destruction” – that is, if he sends off a bomb we will retaliate and we’ll all die – is not something to worry about.
PC: TheThird Jihad addresses the threat of radical Islam on both the cultural and physical levels. As such, it includes a section on chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear warfare.
Essentially, the physical threat of warfare is an extension of cultural Jihad and political Islam. Radical Islamists have developed a strategic approach to achieve their goals and have already convinced many that it is reasonable - even preferable - to engage in dialogue and discussion. This can sometimes blind us to the real threat. The film serves as a clear wake-up call to Americans that a nuclear Iran is a serious issue and an unmistakable reality.
FSM: Is a reformation of Islam from within the best way to combat the problem of Islamism?
PC: The Clarion Fund asserts that the majority of Muslims in America are peaceful, law-abiding citizens; it is only a small but alarmingly growing percentage of American Muslims who hold radical views. Clarion encourages all Americans, Muslims included, to take a stand against radical Islam. Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, the narrator of The Third Jihad and founder of the American-Islamic Forum for Democracy, is one example of a courageous American Muslim who opposes radical Islam. He has made it his life mission to expose the radicals for their exploitation of Islam.
I believe that the best way to combat the problem is by educating and empowering Americans, especially the American Muslim population.
FSM: How successful has your film been in getting the word out to average Americans about radical Islam?
PC: In short, there is a lot more work to be done, but we are pleased with the reception of the film at this point.
Clarion's main objective is to educate the American Public about the escalating threat of radical Islam to America’s national security. We achieve this in two ways – by producing feature length documentary films and by facilitating interactive educational mediums.
The Third Jihad itself serves as an education tool, exposing an important and relevant issue that is very often overlooked or misconstrued by the mainstream media. The film is a real eye-opener for many Americans who would otherwise remain detached from this subject.
Clarion has also developed, RadicalIslam.org, an activism website that helps spread awareness about the threat of radical Islam in America and provides practical response tools. For the launch of the film, the site was been redesigned to include up-to-the-minute updates from major news sources as well as social media-driven networking capabilities.
FSM: Is there another film in the works?
PC: We have not yet decided on the subject of our next film project, but it will undoubtedly focus on an issue of national security. Once Clarion is satisfied with the progress of the grassroots efforts to expose radical Islam’s goal of creating an Islamic law-ruled theocracy in America, we will focus on other threats to national security. Be sure to stay tuned.
Brought to you by the editors and research staff of FamilySecurityMatters.org.
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