Lots of former and current officials have issued statements upon the death of Osama bin Laden, but you've got to see the one from probable presidential candidate Michele Bachmann:
"I want to express my deepest gratitude to the men and women of the U.S. military and intelligence community. Their persistence and dedicated service has yielded success in a mission that has gripped our nation since the terrible events of 9/11. Tonight's news does not bring back the lives of the thousands of innocent people who were killed that day by Osama bin Laden's horrific plan, and it does not end the threat posed by terrorists, but it is my hope that this is the beginning of the end of Sharia-compliant terrorism."
"Sharia-compliant terrorism"? What now? That's a clever new coinage. I'm guessing the purpose of it is to turn our attention inward. You see, the kind of conservatives Bachmann is courting are desperately concerned about "creeping Sharia," the idea that people in places like Oklahoma will suddenly, within a year or two, be forced to wear burkas or something. It's the latest in imaginary boogeymen. By using the term "Sharia compliant," Bachmann invokes Sharia-compliant finance, which is a way some financial institutions construct instruments and accounts that essentially exploit loopholes in the Koran's injunction against charging interest.
Of course, there's nothing "Sharia compliant" about terrorism. Like any system of religious law, Sharia is full of contradictions and controversies. It would make no more sense to talk of "Old Testament-compliant terrorism," since anyone who wants to justify terrorism can find a verse here or there in any holy book that can be interpreted to excuse their murderous intentions. But by defining terrorism as not just something motivated by religious extremism but compliant with Islam, as though there were a clear and unambiguous position the religion takes in favor of terrorism, Bachmann can draw a connection between terrorism and anything Islamic, meaning anything Islamic that might appear in America. That situates the war on Islam she and others would like to wage here at home, providing a handy enemy anytime you need it.
