[Publius6961]

"There were special interest groups involved immediately after those meetings last fall in trying to dissuade the administration from acting with us," says Salaam al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council in Los Angeles.

It goes much deeper than that, and they are all beginning to realize it now.

Initially they all repeated the empty words, "Islam is a religion of Peace", and Bush gave them more than ample time to reflect and consider that the murder of 2823 Americans was not theoretical and warranted a deeper response than that.

It never came.

Endlessly repeating that the "occupation" blah blah blah... isn't nearly enough. They know it. Bush knows it. The American people know it.

No heartfelt regret was ever expressed because it was never there, it is not there now.
Thus, the true picture became clear for everyone. And the consequences unfold.

They had their opportunity but there was really nothing there to talk about. No cultural, religious or political common ground.

The consequences must unfold, because such a barbarity cannot go unanswered. Ever.

[cajungirl]

A magnificent post!! You ought to write a column. The best I have seen on the subject. It is passing strange to me that so many are so willing to forget the enormous barbarity of 911. Just breathtaking.

[willyone]

The only regret they have is that they did not kill more of us. And now most of us are on to them.

[river rat]

Correct...

I believe Bush also considered that he didn't want "Islam is a religion of Peace"... to be his "Read my Lips" screw up.

Bush is always saying he is patient.... He waited nearly a YEAR for the Muslim community to do SOMETHING of substance to reflect their sympathy with America and their condemation of the radicals who committed these high crimes against civilization.

Nothing happened, except more Arab bitching about how unbalanced America's support is in the Middle East... Screw them - it's about to get a lot more unbalanced.

For all intents and purposes --- Arafat is done, Iraq will soon be done, House of Saud is in critical condition - and democracy is threating in Iran......The Arab despots have good reason to be concerned. Radical Islam has good reason to be concerned.
Semper Fi