Hugh Hewitt Interviews American-Muslim

Took an extremely late lunch today and listened to Hugh Hewitt out of Los Angeles on the short drive. Hugh asked for any Muslim listeners to call in and discuss the day's issue.

Hugh had previously read from the The Times of London and other publications. The topic of discussion was whether the London bombings last week had the same effect as the Madrid bombings. It was obvious the two events were different thus far.

The Madrid bombings were staged just before elections. After the first event, the bombings, there were a number of additional events which led to the ouster of the previous "executive branch" of Spain who supported the Iraq war. The Spanish people voted in a candidate who vowed to withdrawal all troops form Iraq, which he did.

The London bombings were not timed before an election, however Hugh surmised the terrorists were looking for a similar response from Britian. The response was a "pull-back" or softened stance on terrorism. The terrorists may have hoped if the British are hit at home, they may crawl into their homes and raise the white flag. However, Prime Minister Blair quickly got on the podium and denounced the terror acts and reinforced if not increased his offense on the war on terror. The attacks thus far have had the opposite effect as may have been hoped, simply emboldening and angering the British to fight harder. Cheerio to the British!

A Muslim listener called in who was originally from Ethiopia. Hugh wanted the American-Muslim side of how all this can be stopped. The listener (we will call him Muslopia) said if the US pulls it's military forces from Saudi Arabia it would resolve the issue. Hugh questioned this statement and asked for more clarity. Paraphrasing Hugh, "You think if the US pulls their troops out of Saudi Arabia, the terrorist attacks will stop." Muslopia did not know what to say at first and fumbled some... Muslopia then said, "The US needs to stop forcing it's culture on the rest of the world... The rest of the world already have their own cultures, we don't need a second culture."

Hugh said we are not really forcing our culture, it is being sought by the rest of the world. I think Hugh may have been referencing country music, blue jeans, Starbucks and democracy. Hugh said he really thinks everyone in the world want what we have.

Hugh asked Muslopia why he came to this country; Muslopia said he is a taxi cab driver and said he came to America for his family. Hugh then began to paint the parrallel of if Muslopia came to America for a better life for his family, then how is it wrong for others to want more of America in their country. In reality it may not be American music, clothing or coffee. It maybe our ideals, freedoms... our Democracy. I think Hugh said the other peoople want the same thing Muslopia came here to find, food, shelter, things many other countries cannot provide their citizenry.