Posted on 07/20/2005 2:08:36 PM PDT by ToveL
From Indonesia to the Middle East, Muslims were aghast Wednesday after an American congressman raised the suggestion that the United States could "take out" Islamic holy sites if there was a nuclear attack on it by Muslim fundamentalists.
Many said the comments only fuel Islamic extremism and leave Muslims feeling that Americans equate terrorists with all of Islam.
"American mentality imagines that a religion is attacking another religion, and here lies the danger," Ahmed al-Haj Ali, a Syrian political analyst, said.
He called it "frightening" to "retaliate against the birthplace of Islam for individual criminal acts or acts committed by groups that are condemned by Islam."
Rep. Tom Tancredo, a Colorado Republican, was asked on a radio talk show Friday how the United States should respond if terrorists struck several of its cities with nuclear weapons.
"Well, what if you said something like, if this happens in the United States, and we determine that it is the result of extremist, fundamentalist Muslims, you know, you could take out their holy sites," Tancredo answered. When host Pat Campbell of WFLA-AM in Orlando, Fla. asked if he meant "bombing Mecca," the congressman responded: "Yeah."
Mecca is the birthplace of Islam's prophet Muhammad and home to the Kaaba, Islam's most sacred site, which Muslims around the world face when they perform daily prayers.
"I find it strange that such a comment comes from someone who represents a civilized people," said Hamed al-Abdullah, a political science teacher at Kuwait University. The comment should be rejected by civic societies, the Congress and President George W. Bush, he said.
US State Department spokesman Adam Ereli called the congressman's statement "insulting and offensive." He said Americans "respect the dignity and sanctity of other religions."
Tancredo refused to apologize Tuesday, telling The Associated Press that his comments had been taken out of context. He said he never said he wanted to bomb Mecca or Medina, but he did not explain whether he would support bombing the Muslim holy sites if terrorists attacked the United States' nuclear reserves.
Sorry if this has already been posted.
Same story, maybe different source. Every time I look, it's Tancredo! Or someone condemning him.
Tolerance Kills
so it's not frightening for them to discuss the distruction of the western world.
Sorry, but I doin't see what alienating the few Muslims that we are not fighting will do to help us fight the Muslims that do hate us. I don't think that the terrorist Muslims are really all that religious really anyway, and would like to be able to use the excuse of our over reaction to do further damage and gain further converts. This is a rediculous idea, even though it touches our emptions of hatred and anger. We need to use our heads, not our hearts, to beat these guys.
We'll find out, sooner or later
If Abdul will pray, to a glowing crater.
Gee, everything was so calm before and now it's been reignited.
He's a very bad man.
The reality is they (Muslims) are not telling us the real reasons they are killing for. It's not Iraq, not Afghanistan, not Isreal, it's the teaching of islam ,too kill non Muslims, and to become martyrs etc. That's why, nothing else.
Jeff
If that were true, you'd be right.
The only problem is, those "individual criminal acts" are required by Islam.
Looks like we got their attention...
Hopefully, Abdul will be radioactive dust INSIDE that glowing crater...
Lack of focus on the problem kills even more...
Sounds like a plan to me! After all, we didn't start this cultist crusade, but we can sure as heck finish it!!!!!
Unfortunately it looks like republicans are going to learn a very hard lesson if they don't pay attention to what we the people are saying. The people back Tancredo and all the attacks are only solidifying support.
Here's an interesting posting about winning for the sake of winning. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1447029/posts
Maybe they will think twice before attacking us again.
It was probably the Associated Press that was "agast" at these comments.
If anyone isn't quite sure who our major news services serve, maybe this will help clarify it.
reignites? I never knew their anger was extinguished...
Condemn harder.
Are Muslims upset about remarks by other Muslims about turning America into a sea of fire, etc? Considering that Tancredo's remarks are a response to those.
Carthage = history
Islam = History
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.