Bush Apologizes

AP | 9/18/01

[pabianice]

White House apologizes for using 'crusade' to describe war on terrorism

The Associated Press

9/18/01 3:37 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush regrets using the word "crusade," with all its historical connotations of religious war, to describe his campaign against terrorists, his spokesman said Tuesday.

Bush only meant to say that his is a "broad cause" to stamp out terrorism worldwide, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said.

"I think to the degree that that word has any connotations that would upset any of our partners or anybody else in the world, the president would regret if anything like that was conveyed. But the purpose of his conveying it is in the traditional English sense of the word, it's a broad cause," said Fleischer.

On Sunday, Bush had told reporters: "This crusade, this war on terrorism is going to take a while."

With that comment, he stoked suspicion in some Arab and Muslim quarters where crusade is a loaded term that recalls the Christians' medieval wars against Muslims in the Holy Land.

Bush is trying to rally Arab nations to join an international coalition against the perpetrators of last week's twin terrorist strikes in New York and Washington.

"I think what the president was saying had no intended consequences for anybody, Muslim or otherwise, other than to say that this is a broad cause that he is calling on America and the nations around the world to join," Fleischer said.

[ppaul]

You are missing the bigger picture. They (the radical Islamics) would hate us even if there were no Israel.....Israel and the Jews are just a convenient scape goat for that hatred.

Really?
Then why haven't they declared jihad against Greeks? Romans? Because this conflict preexisted "Western Civilization."
That IS the big picture.

It goes back to who inherits the Land promised to Abraham's descendants. The Land which the Jews lay claim as promised to them by God, is also the Land upon which the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, walked. As long as the U.S. does not raise the sword against Israel in support of the Holy Warriors of Muhammad, it will be regarded as an enemy of Muslims among Islam's radicalized true believers.

[100%FEDUP]

"Too bad he apologized, for my American Heritage computer dictionery has as the #3 definition for crusade: A vigorous concerted movement for a cause or against an abuse. Sounds like that applies to me."

Once again the filthy fascist social engineers (the politically correct) criticize "W" for using the word crusade. Even though "crusade" by definition has no religious precepts. This is the same group that automatically demonizes and links the ten commandments to christianity even though the jews were the ones who received them from God in the first place.

[RGSpincich]

yep. I botched it, though. Should be: "Never apologize, mister. It's a sign of weakness."

[RoseofTexas]

Our C-in-C needs to stand his ground! Don't get me wrong, I support our president 100%!! He needs NOT to apologize to anyone!! The HELL with those who misunderstood his meaning!

[Ditto]

The radicals use religion as a weapon in their cultural hatred of the West. Let me ask you this.... if any of them had nukes, do you think they would use them against Israel if they could get away with it? The answer is yes, of course they would. Because killing every Jew there is their goal, even if they had to incinerate every Palestinian in Israel at the same time. And of course, they would be also destroying their so-called "holy Places" at that same instant. That would not bother these guys in the least. They don’t care about the Palestinians or the ‘Holy Places”. They are just slogans that mean nothing. What they want is to eliminate Western civilization.

BTW. They have attacked the Italians and Greeks and damn near every other Western nation over the last 30 years. I remember one of their Zealots spraying DaVinci airport with machine gun fire killing dozens back in the 70s. They hijacked Greek cruise ships, blew up building in Germany, kidnapped British, Irish and Dutch tourists --- the list goes on. The Europeans and Israelis are the little Satins, we are the Great Satin.

[thunder99]

To correct yourself is a sign of character. Whether GW was right or wrong is so petty during this time of crisis. I applaud the efforts of the Bush Admin. to ensure we, as Americans know this is war, and not to be confused with religious beliefs.

[Rome2000]

The Muslims started the wars that led to the Crusades. Now we're apologizing to them on the same day they declare Jihad against us?

And Araft is now our ally?

I am rapidly coming to the conclusion that we may as well not even get started with this war.

If this is our leaders attitude we will lose in the long haul.

[catpuppy]

Just imagine how you would feel if a Muslim came to your church, read from your Bible, and lectured you about what it means to be a Christian.

If your TV picture/sound made you think that President Bush was lecturing Muslims about what it means to be Muslim then you may want to get a new TV. On second thought, forget it. A new TV probably wouldn't help.

[RGSpincich]

If meanings were taken by others that were not intended, the meanings should be correctly noted not apologized for.

[ET(end tyranny)]

They hate Israel because they want the land that Israel is sitting on. They WANT Jerusalem. And they eventually want a one world that consists of nothing but Islamic states. Anyone that is non Muslim, is a threat to the Muslim dream.

All nations should be paying attention, because at some point in time, it will be 'their turn to be attacked with the intent, not just of causing a few deaths, but massive deaths, on their drive for an Islamic world!

[Don Myers]

"If Bush is apologizing now for using the "wrong word," how can we hope to maintain the resolve needed to see us through several years of terrorist counter-attacks?"

I think we are in trouble.

[Don Myers]

"No but frankly if you visit a university campus and talk to the current generation of students "

I was afraid of that. A lot of people will have to do some growing up, or they will die. Frankly, if they can't grow up and get with the program, a lot of people will think them expendible.

[ladyinred]

To Arabs the word Crusade means something entirely different than it does to us. It is appropriate for him to clarify what he meant. The media however, is going overboard as usual.
Speaking of his comments, the one about the old West posters was fitting and is a universal symbol that needs no clarification! Fitting, since they are calling us the American "cowboys".

[Don Myers]

"the anger of Muslims worldwide will be directed at us. "

These people hang together. As soon as we attack Afghanistan, we are at war with the Muslim World.

[Don Myers]

"He just created a slippery slop for himself and the rest of us. "

First, he needs the permission of the world to defend American shores, and now he must be politically correct. Wonderful, just wonderful.

[Don Myers]

"Every word out of Bush's mouth is scripted "

We know you are kidding. Thanks for the laugh.

[537 Votes]

"Never apologize, son, it's a sign of weakness."

I usually regard refusing to apologize as a sign of severe psychological dysfunction and an emotional inability to accept reality. People who refuse to apologize can usually be broken into tears with the merest threat, criticism, or slap on the wrist.

The same goes for those who interpret an apology as a sign of weakness.

I assume, however, that you enclosed your statement in quotation remarks to indicate that you don't really believe in the statement, you were just quoting the conventional wisdom in some quarters. And alas, there are some people you do have to be careful about apologizing in front of, lest they do take it as a sign of weakness.

[Gmax]

You are an idiot....

[Don Myers]

"This word would have made it inconceivable that any Muslim would cooperate or even remain neutral. We can't afford the notion that we're at war with the entire Muslim religion. That would be a no-win"

Would you care to expound on the following article for how the Muslim World would view us if we attacked Afghanistan?

Yahoo! Hong Kong - News

Tuesday, September 18 8:09 PM SGT

Defiant Taliban hit back as clerics stand by bin Laden

KABUL, Sept 18 (AFP) -

Afghanistan's ruling Taliban Tuesday told their people to be ready for a holy war as Islamic scholars gathering to decide Osama bin Laden's fate made it clear they would not hand over the man wanted "dead or alive" by the United States.

The Islamic regime's army also unleashed a fierce offensive against their last opponents within the country in a bid to pre-empt US moves to strengthen them.

The display of defiance from the Taliban came as their supporters in Pakistan mounted the biggest anti-American demonstration yet, heightening fears that any US attack on Afghanistan will have devastating implications for the stability of its neighbour. "Of course if there is an invasion of an Islamic country, there will be jihad against the invaders," a senior Taliban official told AFP as hundreds of Islamic clerics, or ulema, streamed into Kabul. "After the invasion jihad will be the only alternative and that is the obligation of Muslims."

The ulema are expected Wednesday to begin a meeting which will consider whether to extradite bin Laden, who is suspected of orchestrating last week's terror attacks on New York and Washington and has been indicted in New York for the 1998 bombing of two US embassies in Africa.

The Taliban have previously hinted they might give bin Laden up for trial in a neutral, preferrably Muslim, country. But the clerics arriving on Tuesday were in no mood for compromise.

"Even if the whole of Afghanistan is devastated we won't hand him over until there is a solid proof against him," Mullah Mohammad Hassan, a representative of Paktika province told AFP.