" globalone
"I'm confused.

"Didn't we try the "let's be everyone's friend" routine during the Clinton administration? "

It was doing better than Bush's 'Let's be everyone's enemy unless they agree with my denial and irresponsibility.'

Frankly, if half the Muslim world didn't believe Muslim extremists perpetrated the 9/11 attacks, that's not all bad... It means they didn't *want* to, as dangerous as the conspiracy theories could be.

If an *increasing* number of Muslims through the Bush administration didn't believe it, frankly, if Bush were the only face of America *I* was seeing, I wouldn't be inclined to believe us, either. :)

That's about what Bush did to our credibility, and honor, as a nation.

Not that I really have any criticism of President Obama's clear speech and actions in these matters.

America can be a strong friend without brooking any attacks on ourselves. The answer isn't to sit in judgement or make excuses about what enemy-making is 'justified' before it's even discussed on the basis of being wise or honorable.

Doesn't mean we need to apologize for our freedom and liberty to right-wing religious extremists over there, (or over here, for that matter) nor be goaded into further stupidity or dishonor by these types. To be strong friends of Liberty and Justice, we must first and foremost live up to our own standards as a free nation, even when it maybe takes a little more courage or *gasp* respect for others.

Doesn't mean we can't reserve the right to come down like a bag of hammers on people we know are trying to hurt us, but this doesn't *have* to be the war of cultures and all the bystanders in them that Christian and Muslim fundamentalists are always agitating for.

Those things are deceit and fear and dishonor, and these are not the weapons of a nation that hopes to lead, not rule.

Coloradodog,

I recommend going to a Catholic Mass sometime. No one will check your credentials and you may receive the low-cal wafer with the rest of us, no questions asked. If you want to stand up during the service and rant and rave like a rude, mad person, then you might be asked to leave.

United states has failed miserably in Iraq and Afghanistan. No Jobs No Money In U S. So it is of united States interest to woo muslim countries.Once their economy revives [ Atlest twelve years according to economic experts] they will start showing their true colours again

Speaking of banning people of other faiths from entering, the world must boycott Salt Lake City and all Catholic Churches during Communion as they host racist and bigots. What kind of deity do Mormons and Catholics worship where they ban people of other faiths from entering their "sacred" temple or communion? The world watches and still does business with these ethnocentric myopic bigoted people.

Speaking about Mecca, the world must boycott that place as it hosts racist and bigots. What kind of deity do Muslims worship where they ban people of other faiths from entering their "sacred" mosque or city? The world watches and still does business with these ethnocentric myopic bigoted people.

Americans don't practice segregation, they don't practice apartheid, and there is freedom of religion and no-religion here. What will Muslims bring to the bargaining table when it comes to compromise, do they compromise? Obama will not be able to do much when faced with absurd Islamic demands.

There is much segregation and separation in Islam itself, how can people of this faith expect trust when the most Muslims will ever achieve is others tolerating them.

While Obama settles down in his presidency Muslim problems will escalate, they will still fight, blame, and demand apologies. Hide away their women in burkas, in distant lands they will stone their women, whip men, take child brides and keep harems. Palestine will continue to burn, Kashmir will bleed and Europe will no doubt see more Jihads. America may even witness another attack.

Do you think Obama will do away with airport security? Billions of dollars are spent in security, pad down passengers looking eagerly for just that one Muslim who will explode?

And America must reject Islamic practises of intolerance, mass murder of civilians in terror attacks, second-class treatment of its women...

Att: CCNLiberated et al;

B R i L L i A N T! Ya Ya Momma/Poppa Mons!

We are going to make this a good day for Dalia Mogahed as we are listing below the Five Steps to Deprogram/"Deflaw" Islam.

Using "The 77 Branches of Islamic "faith", a collection compiled by Imam Bayhaqi as a starting point. In it, he explains the essential virtues that reflect true "faith" (iman) through related Qur’anic verses and Prophetic sayings." i.e. a nice summary of the Koran and Islamic beliefs.

"1. Belief in Allah"

aka as God, Yahweh, Zeus, Jehovah, Mother Nature, etc." should be added to your cleansing neurons.

"2. To believe that everything other than Allah was non-existent. Thereafter, Allah Most High created these things and subsequently they came into existence."

Evolution and the Big Bang or the "Gib Gnab" (when the universe starts to recycle) are more plausible and the "akas" for Allah should be included if you continue to be a "creationist".

"3. To believe in the existence of angels."

A major item for neuron cleansing. Angels/devils are the mythical creations of ancient civilizations, e.g. Hittites, to explain/define natural events, contacts with their gods, big birds, sudden winds, protectors during the dark nights, etc. No "pretty/ugly wingy thingies" ever visited or talked to Mohammed, Jesus, Mary or Joseph or Joe Smith. Today we would classify angels as fairies and "tinker bells". Modern devils are classified as the demons of the demented.

"4. To believe that all the heavenly books that were sent to the different prophets are true. However, apart from the Quran, all other books are not valid anymore."

Another major item to delete. There are no books written in the spirit state of Heaven (if there is one) just as there are no angels/"pwtfft"s to write/publish/distribute them. The Koran, OT, NT etc. are simply books written by humans for humans.

Prophets were invented by ancient scribes typically to keep the uneducated masses in line. Today we call them fortune tellers.

Prophecies are also invalidated by the natural/God/Allah gifts of Free Will and Future.

"5. To believe that all the prophets are true. However, we are commanded to follow the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) alone."

Mohammed spent thirty days fasting in a hot cave before his first contact with Allah aka God etc. via a "pretty wingy thingy". Common sense demands a neuron deletion of #5. #5 is also the major source of Islamic violence i.e. turning Mohammed's "fast, hunger-driven" hallucinations into horrible reality for unbelievers.

Accept these five "cleansers" and we guarantee a complete recovery from your Islamic ways!!!!

Analogous Five Steps to Deprogram/"Deflaw" Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Paganism are available on request.

Dear Dalia Mogahed,
Eygptian Madam,Procter&Gamble marketing products researcher,Chemical Engineer,Economist.

-*the new American president-that God(not God,but Allah) may guide him to lead with Wisdom and Justice*(Justice in islam means Shariah,nothing else)
The sermon you listened in the *holiest mosque on earth*(In islam,no mosque hierarchy such as holy mosque,holier ones,holiest mosque)
Dear Madam,
Does Saudi Arabia handle saudi people with Wisdom and Justice ?
Do Governments in muslim countries handle their nations with Wisdom and Justice ?
*Justice* in islam means Shariah Rules.In shariah/islamic justice *man can take four women and whenever he likes he can kick them out,but woman has no right to divorce her husband/master*,is this Justice ?
*Wisdom*.Is there wisdom in Saudi Arabia(homeland of islam).Why dont you try to teach wisdom(if you know) to saudi people ?

-Will non-muslims(infidels) always reach out to muslims ? Shall not muslims do anything ? Shall not muslims reach out to Civilization ?

-Majority(of muslims) reject terrorism(Taqiyya.Do you know what it is).How many muslims are fighting against Terror in Afghanistan.

The last word.Civilization will not adapt to muslims,they shall adapt to Civilization.That is the Core Issue.

"If President Obama wishes to turn the fragile spring of global goodwill into lasting security, he must trade the mental models born out of a bygone era for those befitting the realities of today. Only then will peace have a prayer."

All the hope and change and goodwill would do Obama no good until the Muslims change their mental models, starting with accepting responsibility for their own actions and dropping the habit of regarding America as the cause and the potential solution to all their problems. Since Ms. Mogahed is so in love with surveys, she could benefit from examining a few more, for instance this 2006 Pew Research survey of attitudes in the Muslim world:

http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=253

A lot of stuff here that contradicts what she says about how the Muslims view the West. Here is one of the most interesting quotes:

"In one of the survey's most striking findings, majorities in Indonesia, Turkey, Egypt, and Jordan say that they do not believe groups of Arabs carried out the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The percentage of Turks expressing disbelief that Arabs carried out the 9/11 attacks has increased from 43% in a 2002 Gallup survey to 59% currently. And this attitude is not limited to Muslims in predominantly Muslim countries--56% of British Muslims say they do not believe Arabs carried out the terror attacks against the U.S., compared with just 17% who do."

Reconciliation between the "Western world" and the "Muslim World" is a moot point as long as the Muslim World is out of touch with the real world. Until those attitudes change, it's a bit premature to make the assumption that previous assumptions have been false.

I'm confused.

Didn't we try the "let's be everyone's friend" routine during the Clinton administration? Were there policies brought forth by President Clinton that treated Muslims as "subjects or suspects" instead of "partners", because I'm not aware of any.

Yet....

* Oct. 12, 2000 - A terrorist bomb damages the destroyer USS Cole in the port of Aden, Yemen, killing 17 sailors and injuring 39.

* Aug. 7, 1998 - Terrorist bombs destroy the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In Nairobi, 12 Americans are among the 291 killed, and over 5,000 are wounded, including 6 Americans. In Dar es Salaam, one U.S. citizen is wounded among the 10 killed and 77 injured.

* June 21, 1998 - Rocket-propelled grenades explode near the U.S. embassy in Beirut.

* June 25, 1996 - A bomb aboard a fuel truck explodes outside a U.S. air force installation in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. 19 U.S. military personnel are killed in the Khubar Towers housing facility, and 515 are wounded, including 240 Americans.

* Nov. 13, 1995 - A car-bomb in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia kills seven people, five of them American military and civilian advisers for National Guard training. The "Tigers of the Gulf," "Islamist Movement for Change," and "Fighting Advocates of God" claim responsibility.

* February 1993 - A bomb in a van explodes in the underground parking garage in New York's World Trade Center, killing six people and wounding 1,042.

Yes, NO more Ass-uming, nor ll-usions:

iMAGINE:

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O.ne U.niversal R.eligion is-US!

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United States of The LEVANT
where (North) is Seperate from
the (South) ARABiA. A Prophecy
whose time is cometh.
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YES WE CAN!

Salaam, Shalom, Peace, Paz, Mir, Frieden, Ahimsa, Zhingyu...