It’s about bloody time!
Muslim clerics in Spain issued what they called the world’s first fatwa, or Islamic edict, against Osama bin Laden on Thursday, the first anniversary of the Madrid train bombings, calling him an apostate and urging others of their faith to denounce the al-Qaida leader.
The ruling was issued by the Islamic Commission of Spain, the main body representing the country’s 1 million-member Muslim community. The commission represents 200 or so mostly Sunni mosques, or about 70 percent of all mosques in Spain.
The March 11, 2004, train bombings killed 191 people and were claimed in videotapes by militants who said they had acted on al-Qaida’s behalf in revenge for Spain’s troop deployment in Iraq.
The commission’s secretary general, Mansur Escudero, said the group had consulted with Muslim leaders in other countries, such as Morocco — home to most of the jailed suspects in the bombings — Algeria and Libya, and had their support.
Now, the US needs to do everything it can to help Spain protect Mansur Escudero and the others from reprisal. I hope this quells a bit of the anti-Spain nonsense we’ve heard since their withdrawal from Iraq as well.
Now, the US needs to do everything it can to help Spain protect Mansur Escudero and the others from reprisal.
That says alot, doesn’t it?
What do you think would happen to Osama if he got captured by fellow muslems and turned over to Spanish authorities? That would make for one helluv’a interesting international incident don’t you think?
That says alot, doesn’t it?
Perhaps, but I’m sure what it says is different to different people. What’s it say to you?
Well it tells me that reprisal is real. That the terrorist networks have enough capability to kill unprotected Spaniards.
On the positive side it also says that there are people willing to make a stand against such reprisals.
Perhaps, but I’m sure what it says is different to different people. What’s it say to you?
Alot! (just kidding)
Well, its interesting that the “U.S. needs to do everything it can to help Spain” protect one of its own citizens. Its interesting that a citizen of Spain would need protection for denouncing someone like bin laden. Its interesting that your first thought after posting the quote is to write that sentence. Its interesting that a person saying words would need protection at all (interesting, if not surprising). And what Crock Pot said above.
Just thought it brought up a lot of things on many levels (“interesting” and “says” are probably not the right words for what I was thinking).
It’s the reality of why, at least partially, there hasn’t been one before now, though, and to pretend ObL can’t attack within Spain is ridiculous. Clearly he can, and most likely will try to now.
Where the US really needs to help Spain is in open diplomatic support and secret intelligence exchange. I’m sure some of the willingness to be generous was curbed when Spain pulled out of the Iraq. It’s time to reverse any curbing that took place now that they’ve been so bold as to do what no else was.
“Perhaps, but I’m sure what it says is different to different people. What’s it say to you?”
That too many people have the delusion that “alot” is a word.
“I’m sure some of the willingness to be generous was curbed when Spain pulled out of the Iraq. It’s time to reverse any curbing that took place now that they’ve been so bold as to do what no else was.”
This is a use of “they” that seems to confusingly and needlessly blur the Islamic Commission of Spain, the government of Spain, and the Spanish electorate. The “they” in question who acted seems to be the first, rather than the second or third, according to what you say. I’m a bit dubious that the Commission has diplomatic status, or a intelligence branch the U.S. government has liason with, and can thus help it with either diplomacy or intelligence, but I don’t really know anything about them. I’m otherwise fine with helping the Spanish government with this wherever practical, but could you elaborate on what the relationship of the Commission and the government is, perhaps?
I’m not sure what the relationship of the Commission to the government is except that it’s the Spanish government’s responsibility to protect the members of the Commission from possible reprisal by Al Qaede for the fatwa, and so it’s in the US’s (and indeed the entire world’s) best interest to help protect the members of the Commission…wouldn’t you agree?
The Grand Imam of Italy has been outspoken for a long time against terrorism.
via LGF, fwiw
you’re not gonna make me go to LGF, are you Dave? Can’t you paste another link?
Thats a different link
“…so it’s in the US’s (and indeed the entire world’s) best interest to help protect the members of the Commission…wouldn’t you agree?”
Since my knowledge of them is next to non-existent, I’m hesitant to say, but with that caveat, yes. On the other hand, since my knowledge of them is next to non-existent, my agreement seems fairly pointless and insubstantial. I don’t think much of opinions absent knowledge, including my own. Since I don’t know what I’m talking about on this topic, I’d say that any tentative opinion of mine is worthless until I do investigate and gain some relevant knowledge.
I mean, it’s not he original LGF post or link, but another source mentioned in the comments. I searched in LGF because I remembered this was from way back in 2002. There weren’t many or any Arab Muslim internet sites in English back then. I used to read Dawn and The Nation (PK) to try and find opinions fom outside the US.
Where the US really needs to help Spain is in open diplomatic support and secret intelligence exchange.
Is Spain in trouble? When are the Spainards going to start marching (with puppets of course) against the Islamic radicals. I’m looking forward to the TV coverage.
I’m happy about this Edward. This is a good thing.
I’m for unseen US support, lest the imam’s message be diluted by charges that he is simply our “puppet”.
Now, the US needs to do everything it can to help Spain protect Mansur Escudero and the others from reprisal.
Not bloody likely, after pulling Spanish troops out of Iraq. If there’s one thing the Bush clan is good at, it’s holding grudges.
Forgive, me, but completely Off-topic: but when even Hitchens has misgivings, what does this mean??
Edward, feel free to delete this post, however, it would be interesting to see conversation on this in its own post.
“…it would be interesting to see conversation on this in its own post.”
The Hitchens piece has its own post here, since yesterday evening. No, no, don’t thank me. Comments on that blog do actually work, though (some of the time, anyway).
In other news, Obsidian Wings seems to be undergoing comment spam from someone concerned about Phentermine. I certainly won’t give them the satisfaction of clicking through to figure out what the hell phentermine is, but I’m pretty sure it doesn’t relate to the site’s interests.
when even Hitchens has misgivings, what does this mean??
Liquor Barn had a going-out-of-business sale?
even Hitchens has misgivings, what does this mean??
Come on guys, it’s hard to move from one end of the ice pick to the other.
I get felix‘s funny joke, but not lj‘s comment…
Sorry, too clever by half. link
I should add that this was the first google link to come up, not endorsing the political point of view implicit.
Still don’t get it, but I do love “the Stalinist painter Alfaro Siqueiros and his machine-gunners”. Edward, got any of this guy’s work in your gallery?
If you have to explain a joke, it wasn’t a very good one, right?
Well, Hitchens was a Trotskyite until he found his choler with 9/11 (not that he had lost it before that 9/11, just that it was more devoted to playing a clown doing things like denouncing after Mother Theresa)
Yes, Felixrayman’s joke was way better than mine
Scrutiny Hooligans has a take on this:
“While church officials in this country have called for George W. Bush to seek peace, justice, and respect for human rights, they don’t have anything analogous to the fatwa. Ah, the beautiful fatwa – it can make authors tremble in Irish castles, women seethe under slavish oppression, and diabetic gimpy old terrorists feel very, very alone. Scrutiny Hooligans would love to see Muslim and Christian leaders come together to condemn leaders who promote violence as a solution. Pin Bush to bin Laden in the popular press and help people to realize which of them has been responsible for the most innocent deaths.”