Now the militaries of both rivals in the Ivory Coast are suspected of massacres, mostly along ethnic lines. Disappointing but not surprising after a brutal civil war only a decade earlier. However, is religion or even ethnicity at the foundation of this current conflict? Is it ”stubbornness” or “pride”? Or, maybe some combination producing a wicked brew? Worse, are people and “religions” outside of Ivory Coast taking sides or more accurately exploiting the brutality for some end to further polarize politics and people, including in America? The “Muslim Bogeyman” From the outset of being declared the losing candidate by the international/UN observers, the 11-year incumbent Laurent Gbagbo has tried to employ rhetoric that was intended to instigate religious/ethnic conflict. Gbagbo questioned whether the citizens from the Muslim north were really Ivoirians. Lucky break number 1 for Gbagbo since he could try to demonize these “Muslims” especially in Washington and European capitals. Lucky break number 2, the internationally recognized winner of the elections, Alassane Ouattara, was also Muslim. Unfortunately for Gbagbo though in this last ditch plan to stay in power, Ouattara, (a former international official with the IMF), is not religious nor did he respond with his own religious rhetoric. Also, many of Ouattara’s supporters are from a largely Christian group in the center of the Ivory Coast. Gbagbo’s efforts with most Christian European, American, United Nations and other international leaders were overly transparent as well as wicked. He was characterized as a “stubborn” or “proud” man not willing to give up power. But hold the conclusions: • Has anyone asked whether Gbagbo maybe motivated by religious zealotry along with his “pride” - is Gbagbo a religious extremist? • A few American politicians and organizations have now come rushing to Gbagbo’s side using recent killings (probably by Ouattara linked fighters to claim that Muslims were killing Christians and that Gbagbo is a Christian fighting to save his country from an election stolen by Ouattara. The Religious Extremist? The NY Times published an Op-Ed, Friday April 8, 2011, titled, “In Ivory Coast, Democrat to Dictator” by Venance Konan – a journalist, novelist and avowed ex-Gbagbo supporter who had for decades earlier marched with Gbagbo in efforts to rid the country of its then more than 30 year dictator Felix Houphouet-Boigny. Mr. Konan paints a favorable picture of the then Gbagbo with whom he spent time in detention and conversation. Finally, Laurent Gbagbo came to power, and then he began to change: Quoting Mr. Konan: “After last fall’s elections, Mr. Gbagbo and his wife, Simone, refused to accept the results, in part because they had become evangelical Christians, and their pastors convinced them that God alone could remove them from power. Every day on state TV, fanatical clergymen called Mr. Gbagbo God’s representative on earth, and the winner of the election, Alassane Ouattara, the Devil’s. Many young Ivoirians, poor, illiterate and easily brainwashed, believed this.” “More prosaically, Mr. Gbagbo and his cronies – guilty among other crimes of stealing from the public coffer – fear being brought to justice before an international tribunal, so much so that they have decided to hold on to power no matter the cost. The fear of losing everything can make a dictator, even one who once was a champion of democracy, lose his mind.” “Stubborn”, “Corrupt, “Dictator” but Why Not “Christian Extremist” In all the descriptions of Laurent Gbagbo (and his followers), I have not yet heard in the US or European media a description of him befitting a member of the Taliban, Al-Qadir or just “Christian extremist.” Although clearly his politics fit some perverted notion of “political Christianity” (ala “political Islam”) that description has been lacking. Let me make certain that it is understood that I find both political and moral fault with any person or persons who believe that they have a monopoly on speaking on behalf of or knowing God’s will to the exclusion of others, at least to the extent of taking another human being’s life. The war in Bosnia & Herzegovina has reminded us how religion can be exploited for the most evil of actions as well as having the capacity to inspire greatness, goodness and empathy in some. However, he who chooses to claim God exclusively is most likely committing the bigger sin. Killing to Defend “Christian Europe” from “Muslims” In the war against Bosnia & Herzegovina and is citizens, Slobodan Milosevic, Radovan Karadzic and General Ratko Mladic tried to further their pogrom by telling anyone who would listen that they were “defending Christian Europe” by killing/ethnically cleansing its population. Their effort had some resonance even when they were killing other Christians and Jews in Bosnia’s multi-ethnic society. Unfortunately much of the world, including western free societies, can be consciously and subconsciously lulled into stereotypes and generalizations – Muslims are the extremists and they don’t belong in Europe (or America). There is an inclination to paint the world black and white, and if gray intrudes upon such delineation then black can be white for the purpose of serving God’s will. Slobodan Milosevic was never particularly religious, although he was a quick learner in religious exploitation. Radovan Karadzic has been a great role player adopting whatever character was opportune. General Ratko Mladic is the fanatic executioner. I found in Mr. Konan’s Op-Ed a most interesting reference to events in the former Yugoslavia: “Only a year before he was elected President in 1999, I remember him (Gbagbo) denouncing Slobodan Milosevic, saying: ‘what does Milosevic think he can do with the whole world against him? When everyone in the village sees a white loincloth, if you are the only person to see it as black, then you are the one who has a problem.” Is Washington destined to be Abidjan? The problem is that Laurent Gbagbo is not the only one that identifies Muslims with the Devil and all Christians as with God. This is no different than the fanatical Mullah in whatever land who sees it exactly the opposite. They are both a danger to us all, to all the benefits to mankind of tolerance, pluralism, openness and shared empathy. It is really dangerous though if US Congressman and Senators start to see the world and people in this way. Is Washington destined to become today’s Abidjan? (In Part 2 – let’s take a look at how and for what purpose religious demagoguery is nurtured in the capital of the greatest democracy of the most pluralistic and open society). By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey Face Book at “Diplomatically Incorrect” Twitter – DiplomaticallyX Related Reports: ---“UN on Alleged Mass Killing Purportedly by Fighters Supporting Ouattara: diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/movie/mass-killingsretaliation-ivory-coast/26143 ---“Killing by Gbagbo Backed Military of Women Protesters” warcrimesjustice.com/films/movie/killingssanctions-ivory-coast-un-security-council/25918