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Don't Trust Islamists

(Jerusalem Post) Barry Rubin - Should Islamists be helped to run in elections in order to moderate them? The short answer is that radical Islamists will not be moderated by participating in elections or gaining power. Once in power, Islamist parties would change laws and society to produce more Islamists. Hamas will use any power it obtains to create a base for more terrorism. The factor most likely to moderate larger Islamist groups is their knowing power is beyond their reach. Once they conclude they can win, however, the result will be instability and more militancy. The most likely result of any Western belief that power will moderate radical Islamists will be unilateral Western concessions to such groups. They will be given immunity for past terrorist acts, diplomatic backing against the local regimes, money and other benefits in exchange for promises to be good. They will then break these promises, most likely without cost.
2005-05-31 00:00:00
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