Posted on 01/02/2002 8:52:04 AM PST by Prodigal Son
In December, he reiterated his support for the war during a speech delivered at Durban's Grey Street mosque, saying bin Laden should be captured and tried for the attacks. It was pointed out to him that such unreserved support for the war in Afghanistan gave the impression that "we are insensitive to and uncaring about the suffering of the Afghan people..."
Former president Nelson Mandela has repudiated his controversial statement that Saudi-born dissident Osama bin Laden should be held responsible for the September 11th attacks on the United States.
In a statement released by his office, he said subsequent discussions with family, friends and advisors had
convinced him that his view may be "one-sided and over-stated".
Mandela provoked the ire of the Muslim community in November last year when he vocalised his support for the war against Afghanistan at a Washington press conference held after his meeting with US President George W Bush.
At the time, the former president told the audience that bin Laden's al-Qaeda network should be smashed and terrorist strongholds destroyed.
In response to the speech, angry Muslims said the elder statesman had no right to label bin Laden a terrorist when he had not been convicted in a court of law.
In his surprising about-face, Mandela said that he wished to register his sincere regret "if the manner in which we stated our position gave any offence to Muslims in South Africa and throughout the world".
He also said he would be arranging meetings with Muslim leadership in South Africa early in the new year to personally convey this message to them.
"We are also writing to President Bush to appropriately qualify the view we previously expressed to him in person and in correspondence."
Mandela clarified his new position on the matter, saying labelling bin Laden a terrorist could "be seen as undermining some of the basic tenets of the rule of law".
He emphasised that his opposition to all forms of terrorism remained total and said he supported international efforts to combat and eradicate terrorism.
Thanks for that link. I'm perusing that as we speak.
1. He did not give his almighty powerful endorsement of our retalitory attack on the Taliban or Al-quida and we didn't ask him and this PO's him to no end.
2. The USA told him to butt out.
3. To save face and play global politician he can now do his IX42 impression and play mediator for dead islamic extremists with a tear in his eye.
4. If you look real close he is screaming - "HEY I'M IMPORTANT, REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT" (NOT!)
Semper Fi
My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed seeing what South Africa was like in much better days.
By arguing that it is unfair to label him a terrorist is an argument against our response. If you entertain the idea that bin Laden is not responsible, our actions are unjustified. Words mean things. When Mandela says that it is premature to label him a terrorist, then he is certainly saying it is premature to bomb the crap out of him. That is certainly an argument for leniency.
Ummm, we are at war with Afghanistan. When you take down the government, install a new government and target their leaders for elimination, it's called "war". It's justified and I'm glad we're fighting for total victory. War is not evil if it's conducted with righteous purposes, methods, means and ends regardless of what the libs would want you to believe.
What I think is amazing is the amount of subtle propaganda that goes on like "we're not at war with Afghanistan" and "we're at war with terrorism" when in reality we are at war with Afghanistan and terrorist is too hard to define to really be at war with them. For example, the Northern Alliance was probably considered "terrorists" by the Taliban and they probably were before they came to power. Certainly the Contra Rebels/Freedom Fighters were labeled as terrorists by the left. Kurds are labeled terrorists. As are Chechens. We're certainly not going after them and we wouldn't even call them terrorists.
I like the term "evildoers" myself. I think it pretty much sums up who we are after. Evil seems a little more universal for condemnation.
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