[PeteB570]

They need to import some good ol’ CA tree huggers to get things crackin’ over there.

[Tolsti]

Gee, how tragic. Such a stupid, obsessed culture.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

“year-round human shields” crosses my mind here.

[Joe Boucher]

I’m all for redoing Meccas skyline,
Melt it and make it all glow in the dark.

[Crazieman]

[Sonny M]

Cute.

The article is by SALAH NASRAWI, who we must assume is muslim, since only muslims are allowed in Mecca, also the lack of quotes and ever sources, while full of opinion shows that lazy opinioned driven journalism is just as prevalent no matter the background of the writer....who writes for the associated press.

[Charlespg]

Outside the Prophet‘s Mosque, Wahhabis have destroyed the Baqi, a large cemetery where tombs of several of the Prophet‘s wives, daughters, sons and as many as six grandsons and Shiite saints were once located

Muslims are too stupid to even try to perserve their history,why am I not surprized?

[txroadhawg]

These days it‘s easier to find a Cinnabon in Mecca than the house where the Prophet Muhammad was born(?)

But where can you get a good cold beer, that’s the real question!

[wideminded]

The destruction of Mecca: Saudi hardliners are wiping out their own heritage

Although the religious hardliners have reasons for wanting to destroy historic landmarks in Mecca, it sounds the rush may also be due to people with more pecuniary motives involving plans for the freed-up real estate.

[HereInTheHeartland]

“Gooood Morning Mecca.
The weather today should be bright and sunny.
Temperatures are expected to reach 2,100,000 degrees with occasional bright orange mushroom clouds.”

[Mamzelle]

Why do the Wahabi’s destroy historical Islamic sites?

[RichInOC]

That reminds me. I wonder if the pig balloon from Pink Floyd’s “Animals” album cover is still around.

[null and void]

*yawn* Call me when the skyline looks like a crater rim.

[hgro]

What would the 79 virgins say.

[SeafoodGumbo]

[humblegunner]

Oh, damn.

I was hoping for a major saturation bombing.

What a disappointing thread.

[Cobra64]

[MIchaelTArchangel]

These days it‘s easier to find a Cinnabon in Mecca than the house where the Prophet Muhammad was born.

I don't speak Arabic all that well. Is the Arabic word for prophet synonymous with the Arabic word for pedophile?

[Clemenza]

FYI- Muslim business associates of mine have told me that Mecca is not really that nice of a place, and that the millions of poor folks who come for their hajj have a tendency not to clean up after themselves.

[muawiyah]

This has a precedent. Once ancient Sparta was defeated, it was turned into a shadow of itself where just a few hundred warriors trained all the time in the old way just to show "tourists" what it had been like.

This was still going on long after Rome had taken over all of Greece.

One of the deals Mo made with the existing power structure in Mecca was to keep the Kaaba, sans it's hundreds of "gods", for purposes of drawing the ever valuable religious pilgrims. Negotions were made regarding who got to peddle meat, who sold the bread, who got to deal tents and houses for sleeping, and who would secure the concession to direct traffic to caravans.

In short, a new and ever more commercial skyline is really well within the traditions of this city.

I would imagine a penthouse suite overlooking Abraham's Altar would be worth hundreds of millions!