Al-Qaida's No. 2 defends deadly attacks

[jon1856]

I just about:
1)fell off on my chair when I saw this
2) Thought about putting this into odd news stories
3)Then just got depressed

Al-Qaida's No. 2 defends deadly attacks
CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida No. 2 Ayman al-Zawahri, rejecting criticism of attacks by the terror network's followers that have killed thousands, maintained Wednesday that it does not kill innocent people.
His comment came during a 90-minute audio response that was billed as the first installment of answers to the more than 900 questions submitted on extremist Internet sites by al-Qaida supporters, critics and journalists in December.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080402/...a/ask_al_qaida
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23925477/
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNe...edName=topNews

[RACooper]

What your shocked that a fanatic only sees the reality they want to see?

People believe lots of messed up crap based on ideology, so why should one of the clowns that spreads his twisted ideology be any different than any of others?

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by RACooper

What your shocked that a fanatic only sees the reality they want to see?

People believe lots of messed up crap based on ideology, so why should one of the clowns that spreads his twisted ideology be any different than any of others?

Not at all shocked at this. Just that very few people counter it.

[RACooper]

Originally Posted by jon1856

Not at all shocked at this. Just that very few people counter it.

I'm a little confused here - what do you mean that very few people counter it? Or do you mean that very few people counter it in the sources you look at/access? Does the entire "Muslim" world have to spontaneously all repudiate the rantings of a evil religious and ideological fanatic? Because God knows that we Christians as a whole don't seem to really do that for the evil bastards calling themselves "Christians" lurking our midst now do we?

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by RACooper

I'm a little confused here - what do you mean that very few people counter it? Or do you mean that very few people counter it in the sources you look at/access? Does the entire "Muslim" world have to spontaneously all repudiate the rantings of a evil religious and ideological fanatic? Because God knows that we Christians as a whole don't seem to really do that for the evil bastards calling themselves "Christians" lurking our midst now do we?

RA-we both have posted in very similar threads in the past. IIRC, there have been comment made in them as well as in the media, that this type of extremest rant ("Clown") generally does not get much counter-arguments on the street. I am not saying that the entire Muslim world/religion believes in any of it.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by RACooper

I'm a little confused here - what do you mean that very few people counter it? Or do you mean that very few people counter it in the sources you look at/access? Does the entire "Muslim" world have to spontaneously all repudiate the rantings of a evil religious and ideological fanatic? Because God knows that we Christians as a whole don't seem to really do that for the evil bastards calling themselves "Christians" lurking our midst now do we?

Oh, but I think Christian do. Think about how many people openly condemn the Westboro Baptist Church craziness.

And I guess I'm looking for active, open public condemnation, not merely a willingness to say when your among non-Muslim friends or other moderate Muslims that the extremists are a problem.

I think the number of Muslims who are willing to publicly condemn Muslim extremist is much smaller, mainly because Muslim extremist might kill you for doing so which again is the threat that no one wants to openly admit that they are bowing to.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Oh, but I think Christian do. Think about how many people openly condemn the Westboro Baptist Church craziness.

And I guess I'm looking for active, open public condemnation, not merely a willingness to say when your among non-Muslim friends or other moderate Muslims that the extremists are a problem.

I think the number of Muslims who are willing to publicly condemn Muslim extremist is much smaller, mainly because Muslim extremist might kill you for doing so which again is the threat that no one wants to openly admit that they are bowing to.

Thanks '94. Well said.

[RACooper]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Oh, but I think Christian do. Think about how many people openly condemn the Westboro Baptist Church craziness.

Ah but do they really - at least in a way different to what happens in the "Muslim World"? (in quotations for a reason).

Because we are familiar with Christianity and "Western" culture we understand the nuances and differences of both the ideologies and the rejections of said ideologies - what's more is that we are also 'immersed' or connected into our society so we are more apt to hear/see even the "half-assed" rejections. We aren't connected into or apart of the "Muslim World" so we aren't as likely to either hear or see anything unless we either make an effort to look outside of our world or that the media choses to report on (admitedly with the state of American media: self-focused "mediatainment" it's a little more difficult for you).

I think the number of Muslims who are willing to publicly condemn Muslim extremist is much smaller, mainly because Muslim extremist might kill you for doing so which again is the threat that no one wants to openly admit that they are bowing to.

Same can be said for Christianity - it is much easier to condemn those outside of one's denomination or faith than it is to deal harshly with the cancer within... and even then there is a strong inclination to handle things "in house".

So for example how many "Christians" condemned or rejected the hateful and ignorant comments of Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, or Franklin Graham when they spouted of about Islam? We in the West are just as guilty when it comes to not rejecting, or hell even accepting, the rantings and ravings of ideological assholes - the only difference is that our assholes are on top so they haven't radicalized "too much" (although some have on the fringes - Christian Identity, Christian Patriots, FLDS, KKK, etc.)