Another nondenominational beheading [With Comment by John]

You undoubtedly have read about the beheading of the American Peter Kassig by the devotees of the Islamic State as featured in yet another high-definition IS video. The beheading has been widely reported in the media. The victim has been identified widely in the media reports under his given name of Peter Kassig, as in this Los Angeles Times article, to choose just one such report at random.

Conforming to its mandatory Cloud Cuckooland lingo, the White House has released President Obama’s statement on the matter, referring to the perpetrator as ISIL and to the victim as Abdul-Rahman Kassig. Kassig took up the new name when he converted to Islam under duress in captivity. He certainly never had his name changed legally.

Referring to Kassig as “Abdul Rahman” is like referring to Patty Hearst as “Tania” back in the day. Did anyone other than Hearst’s SLA kidnappers ever do so? The White House is sunk in a willful eccentricity that would be comic if only it pertained to something other than a serious matter of national security.

In his brief statement, Obama is at pains once again to assert the nondenominational nature of the beheading: “ISIL’s actions represent no faith, least of all the Muslim faith which Abdul-Rahman adopted as his own.” Obama has apparently been on a first-name basis with the victim since he took up Islam while in the custody of his nondenominational captors.

JOHN adds: I can’t resist noting Obama’s gratuitous assertion that beheading “least of all [represents] the Muslim faith.” Really? Islam is the religion least associated with beheadings? How many people have you noticed getting their heads chopped off by Hindus lately? Jews? Christians? Sikhs? Zoroastrians? Atheists? Anybody? Obama’s vouching for Islam is touching, I suppose, depending on your perspective, but I doubt that anyone is persuaded.

PAUL adds: The Koran states:

When your Lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.

Some Muslims say that this statement arises from the context of a particular battle and is not intended as a general command. I lack the expertise to assess this argument.

However, it clearly is no coincidence that radical Muslims are beheading people. And clearly Islam is not the religion least associated with beheadings, as Obama would have us believe.

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