'Thank God for George Bush!'

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | February 12, 2004 | Abraham McLaughlin, Africa

[Cincinatus' Wife]

“Ah, you are from America. Thank God for George Bush!” It’s the first thing Ghazi Suleiman – a devout Muslim and one of Sudan’s top human-rights lawyers – says as I sit down in his living room in Khartoum one night. Dressed in a white tunic-like robe, he explains why he’s such a fan of President Bush.

First, he says, America’s ouster of Saddam Hussein has put pressure on leaders all over the Muslim world to loosen political and religious strictures. In Sudan – a nation with a predominantly Muslim North and predominantly Christian South - the government has continued to lessen its enforcement of sharia law and its harassment of political dissidents, he says. “I have more freedom because of the war in Iraq.”

Second, Suleiman supports Mr. Bush because, “he understands the problem with Islam.” It’s been used “as a machine gun politically to suppress the masses,” he says. It works as a tool of repression because according to Islamic law, “A good Muslim is not allowed to raise up arms against the state.” Also, politicians use the harsh punishments in Islamic law to disable their opponents.

“Islam is a good religion,” he adds, “but it must be watched. It must be caged.” Bush, he says, understands this. (This certainly isn’t the view Bush has expressed publicly. But I found the interpretation interesting.)

At this point, Suleiman’s friend and fellow lawyer, Gabriel Matur Malek, jumps in. He’s a Christian and a member of one of Sudan’s largest ethnic groups, the Dinkas. There’s an old Dinka saying, he says: “If you do something wrong to me, I forgive you. But I know that someday God will make you hit the son of a chief on the head. Then the chief will punish you.” Some Dinkas believe, he says, “that the Islamic world has hit the son of the chief on the head – and now they’re seeing the wrath of George Bush.”

As the conversation wound down, I bid goodbye. As I headed out the door, Sulieman called out, “You go back to your country and vote for George Bush!” No promises. But it sure was an interesting night.

[Jewels1091]

LOVE IT!!!!

[lawgirl]

That is fabulous.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

U.S. President George W. Bush closes his notebook after finishing speaking about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, at the Fort Lesley J. McNair National Defense University in Washington, February 11, 2004. Bush on Wednesday called for toughter international safeguards to keep nuclear arms technology from falling into the wrong hands. 'The greatest threat before humanity today is the possiblity of secret and sudden attacks with chemical or biological or radiological or nuclear weapons,' Bush said. REUTERS/Larry Downing US ELECTION

[McGavin999]

Howlin, you might want to use your ping list on this one.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

[dufekin]

Yes it is. It illustrates that we're even winning the war of ideas. And if we can do anything to get peace in the Sudan, we need to do it. But we're winning hearts and minds in a wretched place ruled by a ruthless despot now or formerly engaged in a genocidal civil war where we don't even have a military presence.

The next article (Ethiopian socialism, on the same page as the article discussed herein) is equally enlightening.

[David1]

Bush must be re-elected. It is a must!!!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Character counts.

Intern rumour rocks Kerry campaign

[Eva]

bump

[moonhawk]

Quote of the day:

"...There’s an old Dinka saying, he says: “If you do something wrong to me, I forgive you. But I know that someday God will make you hit the son of a chief on the head. Then the chief will punish you.”..."

BUMP

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Excellent story!

[Susannah]

America’s ouster of Saddam Hussein has put pressure on leaders all over the Muslim world to loosen political and religious strictures. In Sudan – a nation with a predominantly Muslim North and predominantly Christian South - the government has continued to lessen its enforcement of sharia law and its harassment of political dissidents, he says. “I have more freedom because of the war in Iraq.”

GREAT side affect of the Iraq War!

[Cincinatus' Wife]

George W. Bush: Military Pilot***Says a frankly anti-Bush article in the Washington Post: "In December 1969, George W. returned to Houston to hone his skills and eventually fly solo on the all-weather F-102, firing its weapons and conducting intercept missions against supersonic targets. He learned with a verve that impressed his superiors, becoming the the first hometown graduate of the 147th's newly established Combat Crew Training School." While Bush was in the 111th FIS, the parent group came off runway alert and was assigned the mission of training F-102 pilots in the United States for the Air National Guard. ***

[Cincinatus' Wife]

With Iraq and Afghanistan seeded with freedoms, the U.S., the Middle East and for that matter, the entire world is safer. It isn't a pretty process but leaders look long term and act in the best interest of their countries.

[used2BDem]

Character counts??
You BET!!
Someone best inform the dems!!

[VOA]

“I have more freedom because of the war in Iraq.”

Now there's a Satanic verse...in the eyes of most of American mainstream news media...

[VOA]

Pastor Chuck Swindoll said that he heard a radio preacher once saying
"Now I'm not gonna' fight some of the members of my denomination that have
unfairly attacked me. But I'm gonna' tell God about 'em!"

[pax_et_bonum]

ping

[Howlin]

A "good end to a hard day" read!