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.
Still raping and stoning your woman over there you camel humping, non-bathing, date eating, 7th century living dirtbag? NO MORE EXPLOSIVES FOR MUSLIMS!
Good afternoon! Waiting for our "friends" aren't you?
I don't know if M.A.D. applies in this case.
I do think that since Muslims mostly process symbolic reality instead of tangible reality, destroying their symbols should destroy them.
After Mecca is razed, a hog processing plant needs to be set up immediately. The charter employees can be the remaining GITMO detainees and any members of the House of Saud who have a problem with this policy.
We gotta stop coddling these people.
ROTFLMAO
"or is that the same thing?"
Cultural Jihad and CAIR are essentially the same.....both spew propaganda and support jihadists. :)
Where's our buddy dane?
I hear ya,
The little protest we hear is muted, for the most part.
Don't forget Bayourod.
Well now you're catching on Achmed...Most all of us know you spell terrorism with a capital I...And now, we believe the same thing about terrorism/Islam that the muzlims do...
What is more irresponsible....putting all options on the table or not stopping terrorism in muslim countries? When their so-called leaders start turning in their wackos and cracking down on their own "death to America" mantra, we may believe them when they "condemn" terrorist activities. Until then, they have something to consider the next time they funnel money & weapons to muslim thugs.
Sounds to me like you need to embrace diverrrrrrrsity and have a little more tolllllerance!
;)
Well if this isn't the pot calling the kettle black. Calling Tancredo's comments "outrageous" and demanding apologies is ludicrous. Where were the Muslims when some of their own murdered 3000 Americans?
I am sick of Muslims and the double standard they apply to us.
Tancredo has the guts to say publicly what many of us feel. Good for him.
Or Checkers and NYC Republican
Tancredo was wrong. Why stop with Mecca? In retaliation, he should call for the nuking of Medina as well.
I forgot checkers......
What kills me about that whole bunch is that they tell us to shut up and obey the party as if we were in the soviet union then tell us how anti democratic we are.
If you want agood laugh go to the CAIR Arizona website at http://www.cairaz.org/ and click on "Success Stories"
It's hard not to. But the Pres said we should not do that and that is the national policy. So, until further notice that is the way it shall be.
No doubt. Bayourod's previous lies:
To: PRND21
"Tancredo and his followers are bumbling fools."
It's even worse than that. ****They are against the war in Iraq.******* It is part of their isolationist philosophy as enunciated by their prophet Buchanan.
****They opposed President Bush sending troops to Iraq in the beginning. *****They want the troops brought back now to guard the border and they want the money being spent on Iraq to be spent building a wall around our borders.
310 posted on 07/19/2005 1:29:44 PM CDT by bayourod
---
To: dennisw
The Secretary of Homeland Defense testified before two Congressional committees last week that in order for him to secure the border against terrorists it is necessary for Congress to enact certain legislation that would allow his border guards to work more effectively detecting smugglers and terrorists.
Tancredo immediately announced that he would oppose such legislation
If Tancredo and his followers manage to block the legislation necessary to keep terrorists from crossing the border, and as a result an American city is bombed, the blood will be on the hands of Tancredo and his followers.
321 posted on 07/19/2005 1:58:40 PM CDT by bayourod
Maybe we should start celebrating Ramadan, like president bush!!!!
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.