Sen. Murray Praises bin Laden's Good Deeds

NewsMax.com ^ | 20/12/2002 | NewsMax.com

[DocFarmer]

Sen. Murray Praises bin Laden's Good Deeds

Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., is under fire today for praising terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, leader of the 9/11 attacks that killed thousands of Americans.

"We’ve got to ask, why is this man [bin Laden] so popular around the world?" Murray said to pupils Wednesday at a government high school in Vancouver, Wash. "Why are people so supportive of him in many countries ... that are riddled with poverty?

"He’s been out in these countries for decades, building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day care facilities, building health care facilities, and the people are extremely grateful. We haven't done that.

"How would they look at us today if we had been there helping them with some of that rather than just being the people who are going to bomb in Iraq and go to Afghanistan?" Murray said, according to The Columbian, the daily newspaper in Vancouver.

Blame America First for Not Being a 'Better Neighbor'

The Associated Press today quoted Murray as telling the students: "War is expensive, too. Your generation ought to be thinking about whether we should be better neighbors out in other countries so that they have a different vision of us."

Most mainstream media have largely downplayed or even ignored Murray's remarks.

Until the ever-dependable Sean Hannity brought up the issue tonight, even Fox News Channel barely mentioned Murray. Like the other media, it was too busy in the feeding frenzy over Trent Lott, toppled for his far less offensive comments.

'Outrageous and Despicable'

Chris Vance, chairman of the Washington State Republican Party, said Murray’s comments were not only offensive but untrue.

"It is absolutely outrageous and despicable to imply that the American government should learn a lesson from the madman who murdered thousands of American citizens," said Vance. "I know Senator Murray has a habit of sticking her foot in her mouth, but this goes way beyond a simple gaffe.

"Patty Murray sent the message to these students that the United States somehow deserved or brought on the September 11 terrorist attacks. I think all decent people can agree that we most certainly did not, that this was an unprovoked attack of terrorism.

"And where on earth does Senator Murray get the idea that Osama bin Laden built roads, schools and day cares? He ran terrorist camps in Afghanistan that trained the killers who carried out the 9/11 monstrosities. It is the American government and the American people who lead the world in helping people of impoverished countries, not murderers like bin Laden.

"If Patty Murray really believes what she said, she should think twice about running for re-election. It’s one thing for her to be wary of engaging in war, but to say these kinds of outrageous and untrue things is just beyond the pale."

Osama's Gift of Hatred

Michael Swetnam, chairman of something called Potomac Institute for Policy Studies in Arlington, Va., told the Associated Press:

"Mostly he did underwrite - and so did many Arab charities - several fundamentalist Muslim schools throughout Afghanistan and Pakistan that teach a very, very fundamentalist, right-wing version of Islam that preaches hatred for the West," Swetnam said.

Hatred for the West? That sounds like the P.C. left wing, not right wing.

Bin Laden’s version of Islam tells Muslims that "people in the West are trying to attack your religion, oppress you, and the only way to fight that is to rise up against the United States and its crusader buddies, Israel and Europe," Swetnam said.

See Also:

http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2002/12/20/133001

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=30114

http://www.columbian.com/12192002/clark_co/345147.html

[DocFarmer]

ThornInUrSide,

Okay, fair enough. Now, how about doing the same thing on the comments of Sen. Lott at a certain birthday party a few weeks ago? He said nothing overtly racist, nor did he imply same - but the Lib/Dem/Soc/Commies and their cohorts in the media parsed and split every hair possible to destroy his career.

Sen. Murray did state that Osatan bin Lummox was/is a terrorist. That does not excuse the rest of her stupid and traitorous comments.

Sorry, friend, but that dog don't hunt here. Nice try, though. Many thanks.

[txhurl]

From her later statement:

"While we continue to search every corner of the globe to destroy Osama bin Laden and his al-Quaida network, should we also consider the longer-term issue of what else can be done to improve relations with all nations including the Arab world?" Murray asked. "How else can we bring America's values to those who do not understand us?"

I believe we'll deliver those 'values' via B-52.

[smith288]

Murray stated in her complete speech that Bin Laden was a terrorist and an evil man. The gist of her speech was he's manipulated the ignorant poor people in Afghanistan to allow him to run his operations from there. Therefore, he's gained their support.

so? Lott was only complimenting an old fart retiring from the senate. Cant we hold democrats balls (yes, even liberal chicks have them i think) to the fire for comments that may or may not mean something?

[PowderMonkey]

When I read about this, I fired off a letter to the Seattle Times. Let's see if they publish it:

I have lived and worked in over 52 countries during the course of my career with various foreign affairs agencies. I was appalled by Senator Murray's comments regarding bin Laden, as quoted in the December 21 edition of your paper. Her statements were irresponsible; a slap in the face to countless numbers Peace Corps volunteers, U.S. Embassy employees, and specialists within the U.S. Agency for International Development who have dedicated their very lives to a cause President John F. Kennedy once called "the long twilight struggle for freedom."

For her to say, "He’s been out in these countries for decades, building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day-care facilities, building health-care facilities, and...we haven’t done that," is pure tripe. bin Laden is nothing compared to what the United States has accomplished in providing famine relief, eradicating disease and pestilence, building schools, and providing clean drinking water to millions of people around the world. In so doing, industries within cities such as Seattle and Vancouver have benefited directly from the resulting foreign aid project contracts. She and her constituency have eaten well, slept well, and earned a good living indeed while my colleagues and I labored unseen and unacknowledged far from home.

In the rush to blame America first, Senator Murray has forgotten the high price paid in that long twilight struggle. As I write this, I am fighting back the tears, recalling the friends and colleagues lost I've lost over the years to senseless acts of terrorism. How could she be so ungrateful and insensitive? How could she be so ignorant? I would urge her and the students she addressed to visit the State Department building in Washington, D.C. Within the Diplomatic entrance, they will find a granite wall inscribed with the names of those who died in the service of their country, and in service to humanity itself. Many of those names are known to me personally. They fell while on the frontlines of the long twilight struggle for freedom. May Senator Murray never forget that.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

clueless in Seattle

[DocFarmer]

ThornInUrSide,

Please refer to the Constitution statement above. Specifically "aid and comfort" to the enemy. Her statements provide that aid and comfort to terrorism in general, and bin Laden in particular. I think that's a pretty straightforward analysis.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

My brother-in-law was a Peace Corps volunteer in the 1960s.

While there he met Chris Matthews and they became lifelong friends.

Gary died almost 3 years ago and Chris stayed with him for 2 hours shortly before he passed.

Murray insults all those young idealists who made a difference in the Cold War.

[GATOR NAVY]

Let this woman talk...her views will only re-inforce the disdain more and more Americans have for the liberals

That's fine if people get to hear what she says. But if her stupidity is hidden by the leftist media, she can say whatever she wants and suffer no consequences.

[Tax Government]

I admit to being a slightly, involuntarily star-struck by anyone capable of being elected a senator, even democRATs. So, it comes as a relief to learn that, in spite of being a senator, MURRAY IS AN ABSOLUTE IDIOT.

[txhurl]

or just cute 8 word sentence knee jerk replies?

OK, here's your long-term solution for Muslims in general, not just Afghanis:

Air-drop free goats for the next 20 years in an appeasement effort. Pros: Next generation of Muslims - wherever - associate US with FREE BBQ rather than GREAT SATAN. Cons: We get accused of imperialistically trying to buy them off.

Allow any Muslim to freely emigrate and attend US college of choice AND extend generous SBA loans for the purpose of opening convenience stores or medical practices AND allow their children to practice their religion in our public schools even though our children can't. Pros: We get more Muslim immigrants. Cons: We get accused of siphoning off their best and brightest.

More?

[Flyover Country]

Nothing odd here, she's a Democrat. Just like Robert Byrd got a pass on his racially charged statement and his past association with the KKK. This stuff needs to be brought to the attention of all who try to pin this on the Republicans.

[moneyrunner]

If you begin with the assumption that what Murray said was true, you may make a case for her defense, although praising the man who perpetrated 9/11 is, I believe, as stupid as anything Lott has ever said.

However, she claims that Bin Laden is responsible for building schools, roads, “day care centers (in a society in which women are not allowed to leave their homes without a male escort)?” and hospitals. She then compares this unfavorably with what the US has done, implying that we have not done this thousands of times over. I refer you to reply number 44 from someone who was there.

So, I am looking for some proof of the “good works” that Murray refers to as the reason why he is popular in the Moslem world. Then I am looking for proof that the US has not spent countless billions of dollars over the years helping the people in other countries. Perhaps she is implying that our foreign aid programs, the Marshall Plan, the Peace Corps were all fakes?
I’m sorry, in context or out of context, Murray is exhibiting her Left Wing – blame America first – bigotry.

[DocFarmer]

ThornInUrSide,

No BS, just facts. Her own words -

"We’ve got to ask, why is this man [bin Laden] so popular around the world?"

"Why are people so supportive of him in many countries ... that are riddled with poverty?"

"He’s been out in these countries for decades, building schools, building roads, building infrastructure, building day care facilities, building health care facilities, and the people are extremely grateful. We haven't done that."

"How would they look at us today if we had been there helping them with some of that rather than just being the people who are going to bomb in Iraq and go to Afghanistan?"

"War is expensive, too. Your generation ought to be thinking about whether we should be better neighbors out in other countries so that they have a different vision of us."

Those kinds of statements provide aid and comfort and support to terrorist activities (and actors). It's no less than Bonior dumping on Dubya in Baghdad, or Hanoi Jane in an anti-aircraft emplacement.

There is no denying the facts, despite your boredom with them.

[Ben Hecks]

Outstanding! This deserves publication by every newspaper in the country.

[PowderMonkey]

Please accept my most heartfelt condolences at the loss of your brother-in-law. He, like many others paid the ultimate price for "making a difference," for bringing relief and enlightenment to millions sufffering in a world of darkness, oppression, and superstition. Be assured, his contributions were lasting ones. The contributions made by him and his contemporaries are why historians refer to the 20th Century as the "American Century." He will not be forgotten.