Posted on 07/20/2005 3:27:23 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
KUWAIT CITY - Muslims from Indonesia to the Middle East on Wednesday labeled as aggressive and irresponsible a U.S. congressman's suggestion that the United States could "take out" Islamic holy sites if Muslim attackers targeted America in a nuclear strike.
Some demanded an apology. Many said the comments fuel Islamic extremism and leave Muslims feeling Americans equate terrorists with all of Islam.
"American mentality imagines that a religion is attacking another religion, and here lies the danger," said Syrian political analyst Ahmed al-Haj Ali. 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 and Medina, in Saudi Arabia, are Islam's holiest cities. All able-bodied Muslims are required to make a pilgrimage there at least once in their lives. 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 Kuwait University political science teacher. The comment should be rejected by civic societies, the Congress and President Bush, he said.
U.S. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli called the congressman's statement "insulting and offensive." He said Americans "respect the dignity and sanctity of other religions."
In Egypt, the liberal al-Ghad Party condemned Tancredo's comments and demanded "an official apology to all Muslim nations, who love peace and reject arrogance and violence."
"It's aggressive and it is exceeding all limits and doesn't serve anything but extremism and terrorism," al-Ghad said in statement published in its mouthpiece newspaper by the same name.
Tancredo has refused to apologize, telling The Associated Press his comments had been taken out of context. He said he never said he wanted to bomb Mecca or Medina and added that it would be better to think of ways to prevent a terrorist attack, noting that he didn't want to "inflame this issue."
But some Muslims still felt Tancredo's remarks reflected a broader American opinion. "America is trying to market the idea of striking at Mecca in order to fight fundamentalism. This is crazy talk devoid of logic," said Sheik Hisham Hassani, a Syrian expert on fundamentalist groups. He accused Washington of sowing "sectarian discord that always begins with such utterances."
The leader of Indonesia's most influential group of Islamic clerics criticized the remarks as "irresponsible" and called on Americans to protest them. "How can an American congressman say something like that?" said Amidhan, who goes by one name. "It just reflects his inability as a politician."
"Does he understand anything about human rights? At least when the United States attacks Iraq, Muslims blame the government not the American people," Amidhan said.
Al-Abdullah, the Kuwaiti political scientist, put some blame on the way the question was put to the congressman. "These imaginary 'what if' questions are endless," he said.
Yes cricket, There really is a problem in lumping everyone under the same label. So why do the middle easterners INSIST on lumping all of western civilization under the same label of "INFIDEL" ? Hmmmm?
You missed a zero in this one: it's more than 400 years that Islam behaves in the same way.
"He will also get similarly swatted on a national stage."
Who ever said he was presidental material? I sure didnt. What I do respect is the fact that he brings issues like this to the forefront, illegal immigration, a retaliatory strike on mecca, etc.
Then you admit that tancredo gave islamofascists propaganda points.
How about thinking about the concept of not giving the enemy any propaganda points at all.
Anyway you all can have your knee jerk bull seession, but tom tancredo stepped in it, and made our troops job harder in the mid-east.
But you all go ahead and think of yourselves, I'll think of not putting extra burdens on our troops as tancredo does. 63 posted on 07/20/2005 4:01:03 PM PDT by Dane
They are, but you go ahead and back the person who gave the islamofascists propaganda points and made our troops jobs harder in the mideast, tom tancredo. 67 posted on 07/20/2005 4:03:07 PM PDT by Dane
I guess your selfishness to up your self-esteem outweighs the logic of not putting extra burdens on our brave troops as tancredo's knee jerk rhetoric does. 76 posted on 07/20/2005 4:05:28 PM PDT by Dane
A lot of Americans probably think this, but they aren't as knnejerk as tancredo to pronounce it and give the islamofascists propaganda points and putting extra burdens on our troops in the mideast. 81 posted on 07/20/2005 4:08:02 PM PDT by Dane
But what the heck it makes you and tancredo feel good. And if it makes you feel good that's all that matters, damn the extra burdens tancredo's outburst puts on our troops stationed in the mideast. 90 posted on 07/20/2005 4:13:33 PM PDT by Dane
The fact remains tancredo's knee jerk remarks put extra burdens on our troops in the propaganda war. Are you happy tancredo gave the scumbags our troops are fighting(the islamofascists) propaganda points? 129 posted on 07/20/2005 4:30:16 PM PDT by Dane
And the same "beloved" tancredo who gives our enemies gift wrapped propaganda points, thus putting extra burdens on our troops. 138 posted on 07/20/2005 4:35:07 PM PDT by Dane
Oh so now you admit that tancredo did put extra burdens on our troops with his cheap political stunt. 144 posted on 07/20/2005 4:38:19 PM PDT by Dane
LOL!!!!!!
I'm not here to play splinter the words but if they use it as propaganda then I guess that's what it is but again, if the words didn't come from him they would have found other words to take it's place. If we would just MOAB their a*s they would have a chance to argue back!
Uh they aren't demonrats points.
They are true points that tancredo with his big mouth gave our enemies, the islamofascists, propaganda points.
But you go ahead and endorse putting extra burdens on our troops in the mideast.
The nuking of Mecca and other Muslim cities has been discussed even before Tancredo's statements.
Friday, January 7, 2005: Has U.S. threatened to vaporize Mecca?
US congressmen shouldn't give our enemies propaganda points.
Is that too hard of a concept to grasp?
Nope, but it seems tancredo is, with his giving gift wrapped propaganda points to our enemies, the islamofascists.
"Are you a jihadist mouthpiece?"
Yes...yes he is.
He has now changed to talking point number 2: "give our enemies propaganda points."
What a maroon!!
See reply #170.
These tancredo threads are fun!!!
Never mind "See reply #170." What's the DUmmies talking point?
Are you sure you're not a bot?
Oh, we’re going to make a wreck o' Mecca
And raze Medina too
Ignite tons of lard in Teheran’s main boulevard
And make a pork fondue
(I'll have to work up a couple of verses to go with this chorus).
Dane....please, answer my questions fully and completely. These wont go away.
I'm still trying to understand your logic that tancredo is a puppet of Buchanan. Yet buchanan wants to placate the terrorists, as you say. However, Tancredo would respond to an attack with nukes. How is that placating?
You also stated that Buchanan hates israel, yet, if Tancredo is a puppet of Buchanan like you said, then why did he support israel?
Please see:
http://www.issues2000.org/House/Tom_Tancredo_War_+_Peace.htm
You never address the substance of the objections to your posts, do you? Just continue to repeat the stupid assertion you've made in the first place.
You're a true follower of one Dr. Joseph Geobels.
"Are you sure you're not a bot?"
No he's either a jihadist or commie/socialist, both hate america and want to see it destroyed.
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