The Sword of Gold

Both Frontpage Magazine and the Winds of Change are running pieces accusing Grover Norquist of collusion with Islamist organizations in exchange for money. (Hat tip: Glenn Reynolds). The essence of the Frontpage Magazine story is that Norquist is using his conservative credentials and contacts to gain influence in the Bush White House on behalf of Islamic clients. The Winds of Change report is a model of brevity and pith:

Instapundit points to a story about Republican fundraiser Grover Norquist [who?], whose close connections with radical Islamists take the term "slimy political bagman" to dizzying new depths.

... This is an issue we began covering here at Winds of Change.NET back in March, with links from our March 4th & March 19th Winds of War editions to these articles in National Review and The Seattle Times (restricted access now, try The St. Petersburg Times instead). By far the best article, however, is Franklin Foer's "Fevered Pitch" in The New Republic, back on Nov. 12, 2001. Unfortunately, it's subscribers-only now, but here's a Yahoo Groups message - a bit hard to read, but it contains the content. The Hill was writing about the growing rift between Gaffney and Norquist over this issue back on February 26, 2003, and on March 19, 2003 a number of conservatives sent Norquist a very sharp letter of rebuke for these activities. None of which seems to have given Norquist pause. Or led to any accountability. As Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.) said recently of activities by Sen. Rockefeller et. al. on the House Intelligence Committee:

"If what has happened here is not treason, it is its first cousin. The ones responsible - be they staff or elected or both - should be dealt with quickly and severely sending a lesson to all that this kind of action will not be tolerated, ignored or excused."

One of the myths about the current War on Terror is that it is principally about religion. That is incorrect. It is principally about money. Radical Islamist organizations have attacked the West in the expectation of gain, as argued in Follow the Money. It is a weapon too, and is wielded with special cunning and precision by factions long practiced in corruption and incitement to treachery. Unless the sword of gold is turned against them, we will bleed upon it even as we kiss it.