I thought ITN and McCraken would be interested in this news: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_18-7-2005_pg1_8 A Republican congressman said in a radio interview aired by a Florida station that if a multiple-city attack happened in the United States in the next 90 days, as predicted by an Israeli expert, and was found to be the work of extremist Muslims, then “we should take out their holy sites.” Congressman Thomas G Tancredo, Republican from Colorado, was being interviewed by AM 540 WFLA radio host Pat Campbell, who asked him what the response of the United States should be were terrorist attacks on US cities to take place and were attributable to extremist Muslims. The Congressman replied, “ ... then we could take out their holy sites.” Asked if that meant Mecca, Tancredo answered, “Yes.” khalid hasan
Not only is such thinking stupid, it plays into the terrorist mindset. The Congressman should be punsihed for such stupidity... There are legitimate war time military targets and linking religious targets with war aims behooves the terrorism we are fighting.
I was wondering about this recently. Is threatening to bomb mecca/medina - a terrorist threat? yeah, ok, a lot of terror money may come from mecca (of course those parts of the 9/11 commission are blacked out). But there's lots of innocent muslims worshipping there every day. Is a US congressman threatening to bomb mecca - any different than a syrian politician threatening to bomb the washington monument? Either way, its a threat of 'quit your violent behavior, or we will make you and innocent civilians pay'.
Come on, you know if Reagan were still president he'd be joking into the microphone, "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Islam forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."
Not that I agree with Tancredo on this issue but just because there's a billion Muslims in the world doesn't mean they're all at Mecca at any given time... How many people are usually there in non-hajj times anyway??
ITN, do you belong to this 51%? http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2005/London Bombing.htm 51% Want Military Response to London Bombing
I belong to the 51% that supported George Bush, who has INSTITUTED REFORMS PREVENTING TERROR ATTACKS IN THIS NATION SINCE 09/11/01... that's really the only 51% worth something. Speaking of said reforms, Spain and England should follow suit...
I had no idea the IRA would feel so strongly about Islamic terror attacks in London...................
I was listening to a little right-wing hate talk and some knuckle dragger was carrying on about the proposal to bomb mecca. Apparently, the congressman, upon reflection, changed his mind and decided it would not be a good idea to bomb Mecca. Then, the knuckle-dragger took congressman to task, saying original idea was great, super, boffo! I'd comment that its a good thing that these idiots are in the fringe, and not part of the mainstream of American politics. Then I would wake up from my dream. Speaking of dreams, did ITN really go anti-bomb Mecca? That's whay we call a Monday surprise.