Jihadists Quote by Mark Steyn
![“Far from being tortured, the prisoners [at Guantanamo] are being handled literally with kid gloves (or simulated kid-effect gloves). The U.S. military hands each jihadist his complimentary copy of the Koran as delicately as white-gloved butlers bringing His Lordship the Times of London. It's not…” quote by Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c36/mark-steyn-1844_western-civilization_far-from-being-tortured-the-prisoners-at_1119393.jpg)
““Far from being tortured, the prisoners [at Guantanamo] are being handled literally with kid gloves (or simulated kid-effect gloves). The U.S. military hands each jihadist his complimentary copy of the Koran as delicately as white-gloved butlers bringing His Lordship the Times of London. It's not just unbecoming to buy in to Muslim psychoses; in the end, it's self-defeating. And our self-defeat is their surest shot at victory...Even a loser can win when he's up against a defeatist. A big chunk of Western Civilization, consciously or otherwise, has given the impression that it's dying to surrender to somebody, anybody. Reasonably enough, the jihadists figure: hey, why not us?””
About This Quote
The passage critiques the U.S. handling of Guantanamo prisoners, arguing that overly gentle treatment and cultural gestures are ineffective and may empower adversaries.
In simple terms: Gentle treatment of hostile prisoners can be counterproductive.
Key Takeaway
Avoid token gestures that may undermine strategic goals.
Themes
politics
military ethics
counterterrorism
culture
propaganda
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
political commentary
controversial
When to use this quote
- policy making
- military training
- media analysis
- public debate
Key Concepts
human rights
psychology
strategic communication
Questions to Reflect On
- Is humane treatment always the best strategy?
- How can cultural sensitivity be balanced with security needs?
A Different Perspective
Overly soft approaches may be seen as weakness, risking security.
![“The death toll is not nearly high enough... too many [jihadists] have escaped.” quote by Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e5f/christopher-hitchens-117_death_the-death-toll-is-not-nearly-high-enough_349015.jpg)
