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.
correction, that bill had to do with increasing border agents
You're likely correct that a large chunk of the Muslims are being nailed with a 'Broad Brush' .
That happens all the time here, however, it would help to see a billion come forward and denounce and actively work to track the leaders and supporters of Jihad down and take care of business.
The Silent Majority of the Islamic and Muslim communities need to speak out against the crimes being committed in 'Allah's' name!!!!
Tell the mosques on our shores and abroad need to come clean or the future of Islam in the US will be very bleak indeed at this rate.
Is saying that considered a hatecrime , I wonder?
"Isn't it amazing? A half dozen Islamofascists detonate bombs in crowded London byways and obliterate some 50 innocent "infidel" lives and most Muslims either cheer or remain silent. But let Tancredo merely suggest that Mecca be included as a target in the event of the detonation of terror nikes in large US cities and Muslims worldwide start shaking their fists and demanding an apology."
Well, finally, someone got right to the point. HELLO??? Is anyone getting it yet? Time to make them sweat. Screw raghedia.
No, considering that muslims consider us infidels, that they are supposed to promote global dominance of islam, and that the only way to deal with infidels is to convert them or kill them.
Hey, that's not me saying that, it's their religion.
So nuking (or Moabing) Mecca and Medina are a problem?
Done.
Taking out Mecca is a very viable option should our homeland come under a nuke attack. Actually, it should have been done on 9/11........The great Oz has spoken.
I got their apology right....HERE...and they can get it with a simple kiss of my glutes.
tancredo could have kept the focus on the islamofascist London bombing, but he gave the islamofascists the propaganda points with his headline grabbing bluster.
Are you married? Wannabe? :>
That's number 2.
Notice that the above is just a sample collection of Talking Point #1 up to post #174 in this very thread alone. At approximately post 195, Dane The Lame Refrain changed his tactic and started mixing TP #1 and TP #2 so as not to be found out. Unfortunately, his Talking Points have been uncovered, archived and being wheeled to the "FR Hall of Talking Points" as we speak for posterity.
Lemme see if I've got this right.
We ain't s'pos'ta say anything to upset people who hate us and want to kill us because they might hate us and want to kill us.
Do I have that right?
Thought so ....
They no doubt have been communicated through diplomatic channels, but loud mouth tancredo has to give the islamofascists propaganda points all for the quest of a cheap headline.
JMO, you make the makers of tin foil very happy.
"Unfortunately, Tancredo has undermined his own work on border security with his loose talk about nuking Mecca. Fortunately, other congressmen are working on that issue too, notably Reps. Cornyn and Kyl."
Talking point number 3?
Haven't I read this same Talking Point somehwere else, or is this #4?
Or, is it just a cut-and-paste?
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