This guy is adept at Taqiyya; the sanctioned deception canonized in his religion. He has a message to the West and a totally different one to the Muslims. I heard him a number of times on some Arab satellite channels, and I could not believe this to be the same person. He undoubtedly is less radical than most of the clergy in Egypt and this is mainly because he is an employee of the state, and the state (Egypt) does not wish to unnecessarily alienate the West

Here is a Pew Research public opinion survey showing that millions of Muslims support Bin Laden and they think that killing people is justified by their religion:

http://pewglobal.org/reports/display.php?ReportID=248

In some countries they are a majority. Overall they number in the millions.

Some experts feel that the Quran does not justify this, although many fire-breathing clerics say it does. Whether it does or does not is irrelevant because, as I said, any religion is what its believers make of it. If millions of Buddhists or Unitarians decided their religion compels them to kill people, that would would make these religions terroristic and warlike. They would be ignoring the founding documents of their religion in this case, but they would still think they believe in it, and the people they kill would be just as dead regardless of what the Sutras and Bible say.

I know little about the Quran or the Bible but I have seen enough of both to know that they are ambiguous and both can be taken as in favor of killing people or against it. So even based on the founding documents, a killer can claim to be true to the original doctrine.

Keenkong,

You said "nonbeliever" is a mistranslation of the Koran 9:5.
Then, you seem to say that it is OK to "Fight and Kill" polytheists during certain months, just not "nonbelievers". Fight and kill means fight and kill.

Is that correct.
Do you really think it's OK for Allah in the Koran to say "fight and kill" polytheists and idolators (e.g. Hindus in Mumbai one year ago after Ramadan).

Your desire to sound politically correct seems have overwhelmed your basic morality. You are actually providing cover with your PC defense for the MURDER OF POLYTHEISTS DURING CERTAIN MONTHS!
Wow!

Also, some basic math.
6+ billion people in the world.

1+ billion muslims.
1+ billion Christians.
20 million Jews.
Equals at most 2.3 billion

The non-supremacist spiritual, philosophical, and scientific people of the world are still the majority, and for the sake of humanity, it needs to stay that way.

Fuzzytruthseeker,

Please don't spread misinformation to satisfy your narrow view of the world. Do some research.

FACTS:
1. The leader and founder of the Tamil Tigers Velupillai Prabhakaran was a CHRISTIAN, NOT A HINDU.
2. His eldest son's name is CHARLES ANTHONY. He was named after Prabhakaran's close friend and early leader of the Tamil Tigers who was a ROMAN CATHOLIC.
3. This was always an ETHNIC Tamil vs. Sinhalese conflict, NOT a religious Hindu versus Buddhists conflict
4. Fighting for Hinduism was NEVER a stated goal of the Tamil Tigers (LTTE), unlike Islamic militant groups. Many leaders of the LTTE were CHRISTIANS.

Hindus and Buddhists have lived in peace for over 2,500 years. So please don't spread disinformation and cause more problems in the world. Just try to fix the problems between Muslims, Christians, and Jews. The supremacist religion are the source of the conflict.

I think we need to draw a clear line between Islam, Muslims and Muhammad.

Most Muslims that I know, either in the US or outside are good people, and in some ways, better than non-Muslims.

At the same time it is also true that Muhammad was persecuted during his lifetime and consequently some of the violent things that he says in the Koran about infidels or non-believers or idolators, are indeed horrifying.

Muhammad of Gazni invaded India many many times destroying Hindu temples. Why on earth should one travel so far to destroy the monuments of another religion? Why did the Taliban destroy the two ancient statues of the Buddha? We need to face this reality.

It is a reality that most Muslims are good people and it is also a reality that Islam condones violence of a kind which we do not find acceptable.

To be sure, the Old Testament also has violent passages, but the central figure of Christianity is Jesus, the apostle of peace, who talked about turning the other cheek. Jesus did not talk about killing non-believers.

That fact often reminds Christians that violence is not the way of their savior. But who is the savior for Muslims? That is the big question, and we all need to face it.

proclivity suggests a statistical approach. What percent of Hindus actually kill because of religion v what percent of buddhist v percent of christians v percent of muslims. Another approach to proclivity is in the centuries since religion x has existed, how often has it chosen violence as a method to acquire something. There is a qualitative difference in the orientation to peace in those that do it every century they have existed to those that do it once in a rare century.

(Hindus used to exist from Afghanistan to Vietnam, So the claim of self defense would allow hindus to kill muslims from afghanistan to vietnam, and yet they don't hmmm)

The idea that Hindus and Buddhists are not 100% pure therefore it is ok to kill in the name of allah is nonsense; and poor thinking. Our nuclear world does not have time for this foolish ethnocentred poor thinking. We need to abolish ideologies of mine v yours, the chosen savior, the last prophet, the only book.

Otherwise, the next time AQ kahn and associates nuke Delhi, Eboo et al will come out and say again, this is not islam but just bad men. We need to understand man is universal (and god created), it is ideology that creates proclivity to kill(and made by man).

hariaum

Dear FUZZYTRUTHSEEKER,

I believe you attributed what CLEARTHINKING1 wrote to me (KEENGKONG).

I agree with you that Hindus and Buddhists have sometimes engaged in violence against other religious minorities, although I was not aware of all the examples you cited. Any time one looks at any religion with a large number of followers, there will be examples of that religion showing religious intolerance.

Dear Clearthinking1,

“The MAJORITY of the world is neither muslim, christian, or jewish.”

I am aware that there are literally billions of people in the world who are neither Muslim, Christian, nor Jewish. I respectfully disagree with your viewpoint that the majority of people in the world are not members of the three faiths.

“Allah in the Koran: Sura 9 verse 5: ‘But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and kill the nonbelievers wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem.’ Isn't this exactly what Maj. Hasan did after reading the Koran and talking to the Imam?”

I believe you take a mistranslation of the Koran and cite it out of context. What you quoted did not match any of the three online English translations I read of the Koran. In particular, the word “nonbelievers” should have been either idolaters or polytheists. Additionally, you ignored the prior verse which said when not to do what was stated in verse 5. Since I neither read Arabic nor am a scholar of Islam, I won’t comment more.

“Who are you to apologize for your fellow Americans, some of whom were just murdered and their families still weep?”

I am an American citizen. I apologized “for the many bigoted posts of my fellow country men.” I apologized because many of the posts displayed bigotry. Fortunately, there were also many posts that displayed tolerance and respect for diversity.

KEENKONG,

You write "Welcome to 2009. The MAJORITY of the world is neither muslim, christian, or jewish. They belong to real spiritual systems like Buddhism or Hinduism or are rational spiritual people."
Is that so? Are Budhists and Hindus rational spiritual people? Have you heard of one Ashoka who ruled from Kandahar and, after his insanely bloogy victory in what is today Orissa, decided that Hinduism is too bloodthirsty a religion nd Indai should become Buddhist? Have you heard of the Gujrat pogroms comitted by md Hindus against Muslims in 2002? On the other, have you heard of the massacre of Hindu Tamil Tigers recently at the hand of Buddhist Sri Lankans? Did you read, more than a decade ago, how, under Bandaranaike, Buddhist firing squads tasked to execute Hindu Tamil rebels and who had Buddhist-religious qualms about killing when not in active self-defense, were persuded by their superiors that they were firing, not at people but at the spot at the level of the heart that had been drawn on the hood placed on the head of the victim? I could cite many, many more acts of violence like that.

If you are an intelligent person, o would invite you to read Rabbi Waskow's opinion at http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/arthur_waskow/2009/11/ft_hood_shooting_a_flashback_to_fragging.html

Keenkong,

Welcome to 2009. The MAJORITY of the world is neither muslim, christian, or jewish. They belong to real spiritual systems like Buddhism or Hinduism or are rational spiritual people.
You seem very narrow minded about religion, which is common in the "abrahamic faiths". The whole problem is the supremacist ideas of these religions and the subsequent intolerance. My prophet, god, or book is better than yours. But hey, let's live together in peace. Hasn't worked very well so far for a reason.

The grand mufti writes "This horrific attack is a complete violation of Islamic law and norms."
Not according to the Koran, history, or reality. He can ignore history and reality, but I doubt if he can ignore the Koran.
Allah in the Koran: Sura 9 verse 5:
"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and kill the nonbelievers wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem." Isn't this exactly what Maj. Hasan did after reading the Koran and talking to the Imam?

P.S. What ever happened to the nonmuslims in muslim countries - you know Buddhists in Afghanistan, Zoroastrians & Jews in Iran, Hindus in Pakistan & Bangladesh, Coptic Christians in Egypt, Dawoodi Bora muslims in Yemen. Read a little history and the Koran before you insult other peoples intelligence and morality. Who are you to apologize for your fellow Americans, some of whom were just murdered and their families still weep?

Correction, it is Fort Hood, not Fort Worth.

Reminds me of another incident in Guantanamo, where an American Muslim Clergy who was stationed 5-6 years ago. He has seen enough of the injustice,atrocities heaped upon the untrialed prisoners - and asked to be transferred. His name was either Capt.James Yee or Lt.James Yee.

He was arrested upon arrival back in the US and was framed with false charges of possessing Secret Documents, Pornography in his Laptop hard disk ,accused of having extra marital affairs et.al. spins.

And now Hasan, a trained Psychologist took another way out. What pushed him into that?

It is because of the YOU ARE NOT WITH US, YOU ARE AGAINST US dumb attitude of gwb.By not offering a graceful way out for US Personnel who have seen the light, whereby many have even been driven to Suicides, an undisputed statistic of Suicides by US Personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Wake up American men,and look into mirror, into your own eyes when you shave in the morning; and ask yourself whether it is Islam that is harming you people or the Greed and Lies and Crimes on humanity committed by the US Administration.

A few people wanted to know whether Dr. Ali Gomaa, the Grand Mufti of Egypt, provides different messages to different parts of the world. I went to his English language web site, http://www.aligomaa.net/index.html. His statements addressing terrorist events in Egypt are similar to the statements he made in his column for the Washington Post. We need to move beyond this thinking that people of any one religion are all bad or all good. For the sake of the United States and of Egypt, I wish Dr. Ali Gomaa luck in battling Islamic fundamentalism.

The hate coming from many of these comments to this article are not only unnecessary but contemptuous.

I am flattered that the Grand Mufti of Egypt is concerned about our troops. I am sure his comments are sincere.

The nastiness of many of these replies is revolting and tends to foment the hate that the Islamist's demonstrate when they carry out terrorist attacks.

You all should stew in your bigoted remarks.

i don't understand how the grand mufti could call it a 'cowardly act'. after all, doesn't the koran tell the muslims to kill the infidels. the major was following the teachings of his 'peaceful' religion.

Add my name to the earlier commenter here who asked this Muslim cleric if he'd post these comments he made here in English...again in Arabic in Cairo? Remember Arafat used to mouth platitudes aimed towards the naive American media in English, then say what he really meant in Arabic to quite another audience.
Sorry, but this man's comments mean absolutely nothing to me....he simply has no credibility in English.

Dear Dr. Ali Gomaa:

I apologize for the many bigoted posts of my fellow country men. I apologize to the many Muslims who are loyal, American citizens who may end up being mistreated as a result of this incident.

Yes, many terrorists act in the name of Islam. Living in the Middle East, you know this better than I do. Islamic fundamentalists pose a danger to people of all religions. Moderate governments, such as the Egyptian government, fight against Islamic fundamentalism.

In America, we need to be realistic about the danger of terrorism: A Muslim terrorist might want to kill me. However, a Christian or Jewish terrorist may do the same. I personally don't have a preference whether I'm killed by someone like Timothy McVeigh (who blew up the federal building in Oklahoma), Bruce Ivins (sent anthrax through the mail), or a Muslim terrorist. We need law enforcement that is willing to investigate and protect us from any group or individuals that might pose a physical danger to Americans.

If law enforcement becomes bigoted in how it searches for terrorist dangers, the odds of another terrorist attack increases. We need law enforcement that is willing to investigate and protect us from any group or individuals that might pose a physical danger to Americans.

Many Americans are ignorant of the terrible acts committed by the Crusaders and, later, by colonizing powers.

In America, we have trouble coming up with a pragmatic perspective: Nearly all Muslims living in the U.S. fully support the government. However, it is reasonable for police and policy makers to be concerned about Islamic terrorists. In acting upon their concerns, they need to treat Muslims with respect. The more Muslims are treated with respect, the more Muslims who have an inkling that a fellow Muslim might pose a danger are willing to report that person to the authorities.

As far as whether the Koran is for or against peace, it is much like the Old Testament. Several things in it can be read as advocating war. Several things can be read as advocating peace. The New Testament is unequivocally for peace; however, in practice, Christian leaders have not been any more peaceful than Jewish or Muslim leaders. In short, as to each religion, it's a wash as to which one is more peaceful.

I am a Jew. Prior to about 1920, Jews had lived in Muslim countries without many problems for over a thousand years. After Saladin captured Jerusalem, Christians, Jews, and Muslims were allowed to pray there. Jewish and Muslim relations have definitely gotten worse since then, however, there is nothing about that nature of either Judaism or Islam or Chistianity that makes us natural enemies.
I wish peace for you and everyone.

Thanks for your column.

Yes... but the Grand Mufti wouldnt object if Islam took over the world anyway as is the global plan.
All of Europe is beginning to get eaten up by the muslim populations and nothing is done, as yet, to end the consuming.
Good old England is likewise is beginning to disappear.
What a tragedy.

Yo Grand Mufti, where the hell were you when the 9-11 attacks happened? Why don't you speak up when Hamas and Hezbollah shoot rockets into Israel? Why don't you do something to get Iran to free the three Americans who are about to be put on trial for trumped-up charges of espionage? Why don't you speak up about the Somali pirates and their shenanigans? And why do you always wait until Islam's claim of preaching peace is called into question before you finally open your mouth?

Sorry, guy, but the rest of the world ain't buyin' it. You Muslims aren't gonna weasel your way out of this one. Your day of reckoning has arrived. No more playing the victim, no more bashing Jews and Israel and no more welcome mat at the border. Get out now.

Let's see, up until very recently Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland were committing terrorism against each other, essentially based upon religion. The KKK in the American South wrapped itself in fundamentalist Protestant religion (aside from being anti-Black, it was virulently anti-Catholic and anti-Semitic) and was widely supported in its terrorist activities by Southern fundamentalists. Hindus butchered hundreds of thousands of Muslims in India at the time of partition and were butchered in turn. The Catholic Church sponsored the Inquisition for centuries as a method of terrorizing whole populations into conformity with its views. Fundamentalist Jews in Israel have committed terrorist acts against innocent Palestinians. Remember the Israeli doctor who machine gunned Muslims at prayer in their mosque near the Wailing Wall, and the Irgun (a Jewish fundamentalist terrorist organization) which butchered the whole Palestinian village of Deir Yassin at the time of the 1948 war.

I don't believe Islam has an patent on terrorism or any greater proclivities for it than most other major religions. Read the Christian bible and God's instructions to the Hebrews to commit genocide against the populations they found occupying Palestine when the Hebrews arrived from the Egyptian deserts. And many Christian fundamentalists believe all this is literally true and worse that it was fundamentally right at the time.

The killing of innocents by anybody, at any time, is wrong whether the perpetrators wrap it in religion or not. And almost no religion's hands are free of blood.

To understand the factors that give rise to Islamic terrorism and extremism is of course central to solving what has become a world problem.

I suggest we begin with an examination of political oppression and brutality within Muslim countries, and the question of why, if Islam is such a peaceful and merciful religion, Islamic countries controlled by Muslims are such frequent and flagrant violators of human rights.

Islam must look within to solve this problem. Continuing to blame this radicalism on the West will lead Muslims nowhere and the rest of the world is getting tired of hearing it.

Dr. Ali,

I agree with what you have written here, but I wish that we would hear more often and more loudly from reasonable and moderate Muslims condemning the immoral nature of extremism and terrorism. We need a daily, regular dialogue to counter the loud and strident voices of the relatively few extremists out there, who get their message across because there is no one opposing them... except us infidels. They must be actively opposed by their fellow Muslims too!

Be aware, we set up the same thing in Iraq and Afghanistan, training Muslims to fight Muslims, giving them weapons, paying them, and not knowing where their true alliance is. It will ALWAYS be with God, fighting a nation that promotes indecency and immodesty and does not want God's wisdom guiding them.

Now how do we prevent copy cat attacks? The only way is to show how he was wrong and the errors in Islam according to what the prophet Muhammad conveyed. If Muslims are not submitted to the will of God, they are infidels whether they know it or not.

Muhammad's primary message was to follow all God sent down, specifically mentioning the Torah and Gospel of Jesus Christ. They were to submit to following it. Jesus said to love your enemies and do good to them that persecute you. (It disarms your enemy.) Jesus said to live by EVERY word of God. It is easy to see that Christians are infidels for not following Jesus Christ; but the Muslim is also an infidel in need of correction if he wants to go to paradise.

We need corrections in religion by going back to IT IS WRITTEN instead of following religious leaders. Muslims are expecting to be cleansed from the errors of their faith. That is what the Mahdi is; but the real Mahdi is the word of God that has been waiting for them to follow in truth. The Christian and Jewish Messiah is also the word of God waiting to be followed in truth. Cleansing and peace are ready when we want them.

Marie Devine
http://www.divine-way.com
God has solutions to world problems we created by ignoring His wisdom.

I am a Muslim and saddened by the massacre at Fort Hood. My heart goes to the families of those who lost their lives and to those who were injured.

Islam indeed is religion of peace. There are a billion of Muslims around the world who have their own point of views and express them peacefully. Like all populations and religions, there are few who express their opinion with violence as did the man at Fort Hood Texas.

Worst are those who kill helpless innocent no matter what their religion is or what ever their weapons are. There are also radicals who are using this incidence to incite hatred>

Peace and Blessing be upon you Grand Mufti of Egypt - Dr. Guma

Where were you when 5 US Armed personnel raped and burned to death a 14 years old Iraqi girl, having prior to that killed her entire family of 5 including 3 children.

The killing in Ft.Worth-Texas is by an American who do not believe in being sent to kill people, or to participate directly or indirectly.

As for the killing of indidels, Muslims have the rights to kill any Invaders, whether they are infidel - or even Muslims who sold their soul and join in the Invasion.

Religions are pure. Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhist, Hindu, et al.

We should look at this incident, or another similar incident during Gulf War when another US Servicemen threw grenade at his own men. It is a matter of people who have seen and witnessed enough of the killing of innocent people.

9/11 if not entirely created by g w b happened 8 or 9 years ago, does that give a carte blanche for US Personel to invade Afghanistan, Iraq, to persistently till to-day, kill innocent civilians by the hundreds of thousand.

US Armed Forces and its allies are Invader of a Foreign land. Their Citizens have the right to fight back in all manners.

Hasan action at Ft.Worth is not of cowardice, but a rightful action against Invading Army, which he do not want to be a part of; knowingly that he will also die. IT is bravely.

Grand Mufti, I know under what pressure you are told to write such appeasing Letter, however,myself and many others will bear witness to your COWARDLY gesture on the Day of Judgement.

You of all person should not even have written such a letter - as it provide the aura of acknowledgement of relating this incident to Islam. What you should write is to your Government to shut down all the US Secret Prisons in Egypt where innocent people have been abducted to and tortured.

I hope the US Government will understand that what Hasan did(as an American) was to send a message to the US Government to recall all troops in foreign land and stop their evil Invasion and murder of innocent Civilian.

All of these have nothing to do with Islam. It is a matter of US interest and GREED for OIL - even to the extent of Invading Sovereign Nations and killing their Citizens.

Good Christians in the US should do the same - before anymore of your sons and daughters are sent to kill innocent people in foreign lands, where you have no rights to be.

Quinn and Meacham continue their anti-Christianity crusade by bringing in the Grand Mufti of Egypt, who, while pretending to condemn terrorism, can't help but caution Americans not to be quick to judge. We don't give a rat's behind what the Grand Mufti of Egypt has to say about anything, and we don't give a rat's behind about his interpretation of Islamic law, or anybody's interpretation of Islamic law. Hasan was an Islamic terrorist and we are at war with Islamic terrorism. Period.

Dr. Ali Gomaa writes very reasonable sounding statements.
"Islam is utterly against extremism and terrorism but unless we understand the factors that provide a rationalization for terrorism and extremism we will never be able to eradicate this scourge"
"Blaming an entire religion because of the acts of this not-well man is patently unfair"

OK. The history of Islam and violence is not subtle or vague. AND, how does one reconcile statements from Allah in the Koran: Sura 9 verse 5:
"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and kill the nonbelievers wherever ye find them, and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem."

Didn't Major Hasan follow the Koran PRECISELY?
Are these the "factors that provide a rationalization for terrorism" that Dr. Gomaa is referring to?
Who's being objective and whose being unfair?
Let us first ask all the victims of Islamic terrorism and violence, who are mostly muslim by the way.

Unfortunately, feel good statements not only don't help, they make things worse. They provide cover for the next terrorist like Hassan.

I'm a Texan who can trace his heritage in the state back to when it was barely a state. I have family at Ft. Hood. If this is how he feels, I welcome Dr. Gomaa's sentiments. I'm sorry to see that others are uncharitable.

Basically what he is saying is that terrorism is evil, and that they will keep it up until we submit to their will.

"ravitchn" you are a dumb jackass. If Obama is to fault for what happened in Ft. Hood then naturally it was bush's fault and failure to protect us when 911 took place in 2001. Old "w" (lower case letters in regards to bush is meant to be total disrespect for the dumiest President this country has ever had), not only failed the the civilians in this country but he also failed our men and women of the Armed Forces by sending them into harms way to fight his personal war in Iraq all because Sadaam didn't like his daddy. Then old tricky dicky channey and his Haliburton buddies are getting flithy rich over the war. So if you think Obama is at fault at Ft. Hood then you must think bush is at fault for 911.

"I was shocked as any sensible human being was when I learned about the senseless, appalling and cowardly act of violence in Fort Hood."

Why cowardly?

Seems like every time something violent is done to Americans it is reported as cowardly.

9-11 was described as a cowardly attack. But the attackers premeditatively gave up their lives.

I think some commentators with political motives throw the word cowardly around inappropriately.

It is possible for a person to be brave and wrong (mistaken, deluded). Or neither cowardly nor brave and right.

Can we say every act of terrorism which kills innocent bystanders "INTENTIONALLY" is an act of cowardice, .... or can we still not go that far?

It's good to see a pronouncement like this to the effect that Islam is a religion of peace, that condemns the murders at Ft. Hood.

Islam is not a religion of peace and it is not a religion of violence either. It is whatever people who call themselves followers decide to make of it. After the 2001 attack, millions of believers celebrated and many named their children after Osama Bin Laden. Those people clearly believe that Islam is a religion of violence. Others disagree.

This is true of all religions. Even Buddhism has, at times, given rise to violent sects, such as the Japanese 10th century warrior monks.

Beautiful - a lot of you posters whined that there wasn't enough of an outcry from the Muslim community after 9/11 (There was, but the media decided it was against the interest of their wallets to report on it).

So now we have an actual outcry, and you people refuse to listen. This just shows that the majority of you have nothing more than irrational hatred, which is sad, seeing as how some of you actually pretend to be educated.
______________

Right - but NOT as much as the outrage world Muslim community showed, after the Danish cartoons, nor after Salman Rushdie's book was published.
This may be one voice of outrage, but rest assured, there must also be dancing in the Arab streets. All in all, it is just a feeble, muted attempt at some decency.

Why we fear the followers of the koran:

1a) 179 killed in Mumbai/Bombay, 290 injured

1b) Assassination of Benazir Bhutto and Theo Van Gogh

2) 9/11, 3000 mostly US citizens, 1000’s injured

3) The 24/7 Sunni-Shiite centuries-old blood feud currently being carried out in Iraq, US Troops, 3,469 killed action and 871 non-combat and 93,040 – 101,537 Iraqi civilians killed, http://www.iraqbodycount.org/ and
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/casualty.pdf

4) Kenya- In Nairobi, about 212 people were killed and an estimated 4000 injured; in Dar es Salaam, the attack killed at least 11 and wounded 85.[2]

5) Bali-in 2002-killing 202 people, 164 of whom were foreign nationals, and 38 Indonesian citizens. A further 209 people were injured.

6) Bali in 2005- Twenty people were killed, and 129 people were injured by three bombers who killed themselves in the attacks.

7) Spain in 2004- killing 191 people and wounding 2,050.

8) UK in 2005- The bombings killed 52 commuters and the four radical Islamic suicide bombers, injured 700.

9) The execution of an eloping couple in Afghanistan on 04/15/2009 by the Taliban.

10) Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan: US troops killed in action 562, 176 killed in non-combat situations as of 9/02/09

11) 13 USA citizen soldiers killed at Ft. Hood by another follower of the koran.

Hmmm, (from Wikipedia) Jason "Leopold revealed many secrets of his life as a journalist such as a prior drug addiction, bouts with mental illness and suicide attempts, breaking journalistic rules, and lying to employers about a criminal conviction that took place when Leopold was in his 20s and working in the record business. (Leopold was convicted in 1996 for grand larceny)."

Jason Leopold is the editor-at-large of the news report cited previously:

http://pubrecord.org/nation/4520/former-gitmo-psychologist-called/

Former Top Gitmo Psychiatrist Called For Extermination of “Muslim Zealots”

http://pubrecord.org/nation/4520/former-gitmo-psychologist-called/

William Henry Anderson, who is currently the senior psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital, wrote that eliminating “hard-core zealots” is necessary because they have “brains that are structurally and functionally different from us” and there is “no evidence that they can be induced to change their minds.”

A Harvard lecturer and former chief of neuropsychiatry at Guantanamo Bay made the shocking claim in a 2004 article that 100,000 “zealots” within the Muslim body politic would have to be exterminated, the way the “treatment of cancer requires killing of the malignant cells.”

Dear Mr. Haber,

You wrote as part of your post:

"...clearly they do not fear "fundamentalist Christians" nearly as much as they fear "fundamentalist Muslims."

I am afraid you're sadly mistaken.

WE FEAR ALL FUNDAMENTALISTS EQUALLY BECAUSE ALL FUNDAMENTALISTS ARE IRRATIONAL IDEOLOGUES UNWILLING TO RECOGNIZE REALITY, AND THE FAILURES OF THEIR IDEOLOGY.

Just sayin'...

"You can always find some Muslim cleric to say what he thinks you want to hear. The fact remains that we have at Ft. Hood been struck by another Muslim terrorist and the OBAMA administration has failed to protect us."

If this attack was Obama's fault, then where were Dick and Bush when terrorists were crashing planes full of people into the twin towers? What a colossal failure Bush was as a protector of the American people and look where we are now due to BUSH's failures. We're stuck in two wars that mean nothing...Dick and Bush sent OUR US TROOPS into battle without the proper equipment and failed to protect OUR soldiers completely, while Cheney made $$$$ off of his war profiteering business Haliburton.

Keep your comments about Obama, I'd rather have him then the treasonous thugs that were office before him.

The struggle we find ourselves in is not one between Islam and non-Islam. It is between reasonable, rational mainstream Islam and extremist fascist Islam.

When Dr Gomma's views have prevailed over the Islamic extremist, the world will be a better place.

It was the Islamic extremists who killed on 9/11/01 that led us to invade Afghanistan, which allowed them to complain about the US military's actions in that country.

But the Iraq invasion was pure folly because Saddam was very secular, a brutal thug and killer, but totally different ilk from the Islamic fundamentalist extremists that are killing Iraqis, Americans and others in Iraq today.

Many of the commenters here (and even the Grand Mufti) seem to think that this was a terrorist act. This act was many things: For example, it was pretty clearly an act of treason, as that is defined in the Constitution. However, it was definitely not a terrorist act. Terrorism is the use of violence aimed at innocent civilians for political ends. In other words, violence targeted at people who are non-combatants. This was a military target; the targets were soldiers headed for a combat zone. There were civilians injured as well, as there are in war, but that was not the intent. So this cannot by any stretch of the imagination be called terrorism.

Beautiful - a lot of you posters whined that there wasn't enough of an outcry from the Muslim community after 9/11 (There was, but the media decided it was against the interest of their wallets to report on it).

So now we have an actual outcry, and you people refuse to listen. This just shows that the majority of you have nothing more than irrational hatred, which is sad, seeing as how some of you actually pretend to be educated.

One thing nobody seems to mention in any discussion: Satan. Why is that? Satan has no religion. If one believes in God, one must also believe in Satan. Satan is everywhere. He can enter Christians, he can enter Islam. The Muslim extremist represent Satan, even if they believe they represent God. Satan is the great deceiver. He can deceive all. So much so, he can deceive someone to believe he is God, when if fact he is Satan. Today, when someone speaks of Satan, they are usually met with rolling eyes. That's Satan's plan. To make everyone believe he is a hoax. And looking at the world we live in today, I'd say he's fooled a lot of people.

One thing nobody seems to mention in any discussion: Satan. Why is that? Satan has no religion. If one believes in God, one must also believe in Satan. Satan is everywhere. He can enter Christians, he can enter Islam. The Muslim extremist represent Satan, even if they believe they represent God. Satan is the great deceiver. He can deceive all. So much so, he can deceive someone to believe he is God, when if fact he is Satan. Today, when someone speaks of Satan, they are usually met with rolling eyes. That's Satan's plan. To make everyone believe he is a hoax. And looking at the world we live in today, I'd say he's fooled a lot of people.

You can always find some Muslim cleric to say what he thinks you want to hear. The fact remains that we have at Ft. Hood been struck by another Muslim terrorist and the OBAMA administration has failed to protect us.
Posted by: ravitchn | November 9, 2009 1:45 PM
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Obama had nothing to do with this and you know it. Racist thugs like you disgrace America and its values. The hypocrites in the "Christian" Right contradict everything Jesus Christ stood for. The sheer ignorance you and your grubby fellow facists exude is apalling.

We hear this all the time. But the perpetrators follow their own version of Islamic law.

The same is true in other religions. The Catholic Church is officially opposed to capital punishment but a large number of Catholic officials in this country, including a majority of the Supreme Court, support it. If these people actually believed that the Church expressed the will of God, would they still support capital punishment?

Yemen Courts find that killing Infidels. American Troops, is not a crime under Islamic Law. The Terrorists were let free under Islamic Law in Yemen.

Yes,he's right it's only 85% of Palestinians that are Terrorists, not 100%.

Then he justifies the Terrorism stating "but unless we understand the factors that provide a rationalization for terrorism and extremism" --

THIS GUY IS AN ISLAMIC TERRORIST
There is no rationalization for terrorism except to an Islamic Jihadist.

What rationalization is there for an UNHOLY ACT? None.

Islamic Law does not condemn Jihad as an unholy act but gives 40 virgins as reward while Saudi Arabia sends cash payments to the family.

I wonder how much money this guy's family in Palestine will get?

I guess one has to be rationale and not generalise! But history is a warning and there is plenty of it!

In this perticualr case, the system has failed!

Question is: How could this be stopped, since everything else about his doctor seems spiritual other than this perticular hidious act! One can not keep a calm head, when you see the victims! One wants to scream, "Do something, to STOP this massacre.. "... How long the humanity has to suffer whether in the name of God or Name of the patriotism or what ever.. it is massacre.

Read between the lines of what he is saying:

1. The decision not to kill is based on mercy.

2. Unless you do what we say, this will keep happening.

pkenjige -- you might want to read up on the history of Christianity. I bet you'd be real suprised in more than a few events.

Prophet ( profit) Mohammad, an poor, orphan who married a rich window and became wealthy and fought wars to keep Mecca and Medina! He started muslim religion! Some countries have seen through thousands of 9/11 + extreame violance from Muslims! India is living example of such cruelty from 9th century and it still has not stopped! "Cruetly, death, rape" anything and everything to posses the country!

I am not sure how all these events are not eye witness and proof of the fact that muslims can not contain themselves to what they have!

Even though 5 pillars of Islam preaches morality, the blood thirst to posses the country is overwhelmingly obvious!

imagine a world without zealots.

imagine a world with toxic licit sedatives.

vive le terror et predator wins

100% of the worlds problems can be attributed to the promotion and support of fundamentalist ideas of any religion, across the entire span of history.

100% of past fundamentalist ideas have failed, and the current ones are failing bofore our eyes.

REJECT FUNDAMENTALISTS OF EVERY STRIPE.

You can always find some Muslim cleric to say what he thinks you want to hear. The fact remains that we have at Ft. Hood been struck by another Muslim terrorist and the OBAMA administration has failed to protect us.

Stop the spin!!!

Most have no issues with the religion of Islam. Muslims are no more responsible for this as Christians are responsible for Tim McVeigh!

However, this Major clearly used his faith, or a particular hybrid of it, to psyche himself up for a loose cannon Jihad! He tried to reach Al Queda, praised suicide bombers, and target U.S. military personel. Let's call him what is is! A rogue terrorist!

Why is it when people go on a shooting spree in a mall, or in a school, bashes a gay person, drags a black man behind their car, kidnaps and abuses a young girl or young boy, or blows up a federal building. we don't start ranting about the problems with American -- supposedly Christian -- culture?

Posted by: MontaraCA | November 9, 2009 12:20 PM
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Montara: American culture does not encourage or propagate the crimes that you speak of above. And religion is not at the root of any of the crimes that you allude to above. Evey society has crime, and forever will, but America is largely free of organized crime in the name of an ideology (a better comparison would be that of animal activist terrorism, or that of a race-based radical group). But Islam has a sect that encourages killing of infidels, what is apparently what Major Hassan did.

justillthennow:

It seems you will defend Islam no matter what. Your assertion that you fear fundamentalist Christians more than fundamentalist Muslims just begs the question: what is it that you fear? While you might find policies inspired by the fundamentalist Christians troubling or wrong, is there anything to show that you are actually in danger of attacks by fundamentalist Christians? Have there been any attacks by Christians who claim their faith as their motivation? I can think of a couple murders of abortion doctors over the last twenty years or so and those were very specific and not random. Timothy Mcveigh wasn't religious and didn't receive inspiration through his religion but, rather, through a political motivation completely separate from any relgious belief. I would agree that fundamentalist Christians are a serious problem and do pose a "threat" in the sense that they attempt to impose their religious values onto others, but saying that you fear them more than the fundamentalist Muslims is ridiculous. That would only be true, perhaps, if you yourself were a fundamentalist Muslim who would be safe from the attacks of your comrades. Otherwise, you need to start paying more attention to what is really happening and which groups are employing the most threatening tactics. Not to mention the fact, even if the fundamentalist Christians are a threat, this does not make the Muslims less threatening. Both the Bible and the Quran are books filled with passages inspiring evil acts. However, in our times the events unfolding on a daily basis give weight to the claim that it is Islam that we should fear.

And yet not all religions do this. As noted below, there are no Buddhist jihads, nor Hindu jihads, no Hopi Jihads, no Mayan Jihads, no ancient egyptian jihads, no ancient greek jihads. Even ancient Mecca before islam was a city of peace and cooperation open to all faiths.

(yes, there is killing in the name of religion every where, but though democracy is a government, we can make distinctions between different type of governments and their tendency towards peace -it is not black or white but that does not stop us from making conclusive judgements)

At some point, the koran needs to be rewritten (as it has been in the past) or muslims need to see the koran as any of a series of opinions to consider and reject when patently false.

As an infidel and idolator, I find no comfort in those that preach I am hated by god saying they are the religion of peace and mercy.

hariaum

Why is it when people go on a shooting spree in a mall, or in a school, bashes a gay person, drags a black man behind their car, kidnaps and abuses a young girl or young boy, or blows up a federal building. we don't start ranting about the problems with American -- supposedly Christian -- culture?

This horrific attack is a complete violation of Islamic law and norms and the perpetrator is no way representative of the Muslim people or the religion of Islam.============================================

On the contrary, this looks like exactly what muslims do.

Think suicide bombs and blowing up school buses, or attacking the UN, the very people who are trying to get food to them.

Yep, killing a bunch of innocent people sounds like just about what one would expect from an angry, crazy muslim.

I think the actions of the Ft Hood shooter are less about Islam than they are about the common belief of many men in our society and others that it is more "manly" and respectable to "go out in a blaze of glory" - i.e., kill other people - than just commit suicide when you are personally despondent. Yes, the shooter was not killed, but it is pretty clear he expected to be. I wish somehow we could change the culture to make these men who do these things realize that it is NOT manly or honorable or brave to kill unarmed, unrelated people waiting for mental health care... or in a job-training center... or going to church... or at your old office. If you are that unhappy, PLEASE just kill yourself and leave others out of it!

"Let me be clear by reiterating that Islam is utterly against extremism and terrorism but unless we understand the factors that provide a rationalization for terrorism and extremism we will never be able to eradicate this scourge."

Take a real good, hard look at your culture and religion and you will find the reasons why terrorism and Islam are synonymous. Once again, Muslims refusing to take responsibility for anything. The Grand Mufti implying that the reasons must be due to some other factor (meaning US or Israel) other than what is staring him in the face.

For-Runner has violated almost every policy on discussion for this website and has been reported.

As for Dr. Gomaa, your words are kind and in the true spirit of Islam as I understand it (I am Roman Catholic from the USA). Unfortunately, your religion has been overrun and twisted into a tool for control and political gain and is rapidly loosing it's faith. People of your position must be at the forefront to correct this in whatever way possible.

It should be apparent now that we cannot help. Only with your work can we have peace. Therefore, I hope this message reaches your followers and is not just a PR piece to quell backlash.

Clearly, every religion has it's deamons. In the US, christan fundamentalism has taken a firm hold in many areas. Their penchant for persecution, hate and violence in the name of God is only matched by your own extremist. They wish to make their belifs into common law and rule without regard to the will of the people. They must be controlled or we run the risk of becoming a mirror image of Iran.

History shows that religious (holy) wars, which this is, and the division of faiths can be terrible for socitey. But it is necessacry. Eventually, a balance is reached. Muslims must decide on what side of the scale they will be on when that day comes.

Dr. Gomaa, I appreciate your address to the American people. I have to tell you, though, that you are sounding a cracked bell. What we need to hear from you is why so many people call themselves Muslim who are not Muslim. What is it about Islam that attracts murderers like the Fort Hood shooter, Bin Laden, the Muslim Brotherhood and all of the suicide bombers?

Tell us that. Show us that you understand something is deeply flawed in modern Islam. Show us be being honest about the fact that murderers seem drawn to Islam and use Islam as the reason for their killing of innocents.

Tell us, please.

"WASHINGTON (AP) -- The personal Web site for a radical American imam living in Yemen who had contact with two 9/11 hijackers is praising alleged Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan as a hero.

The posting Monday on the Web site for Anwar al Awlaki, who was a spiritual leader at two mosques where three 9/11 hijackers worshipped, said American Muslims who condemned the attacks on the Texas military base last week are hypocrites who have committed treason against their religion.

Two U.S. intelligence officials told The Associated Press the Web site was Al Awlaki's. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence collection.

Anwar said the only way a Muslim can justify serving in the U.S. military is if he intends to ''follow in the footsteps of men like Nidal.''"

""Well, Christianity is very violent, too," show their hypocrisy by their willingness to malign Christianity -..."

I'll malign Christianity, sure. Fundamentalist Christians are wackos. Fundie Muslims are worse.

It is fine to condemn this single act. But Islam has reached the point where it is best known for murder - its own disciples even more than any one else - than peace.

Islam will have to heal its own wounds. But until the terrorists and murders can find no corner in which to hide, Islam itself bear the responsibility.

Dr. Juma' -
Thanks for condemning so forcefully any acts of violence in the name of Islam. Comments like this from a senior cleric have been a long time coming.
Some questions for you:
- Are you also printing this letter in Arabic newspapers where your young co-religionists can read it, or is this message only for the consumption of liberal western readers of the Post?
- Are you planning to have this letter read aloud at however many mosques you control?
- Do you plan to denounce suicide bombings of Israelis? (As you know, many of the anti-American attacks have their origin in inspirational sermons praising "martyrdom" operations against Jews.) Are the Israelis somehow exempt from your strictures against violence?
- Are you planning to publicly apologize to the families of the Fort Hood victims? Can you come here to the U.S. to do so? I'm reminded of King Husayn's personal visit to several Israeli families after a Jordanian soldier killed their children; that personal appear did more to calm the waters than any number of speeches he cold have made from the safety of Amman.
Dr. Juma', your religion has gotten badly off track and, as history shows, will ultimately turn on its masters. If you think you can control your fundamentalists and keep them off your own doorstep, then you should ask the Saudis about their experiences trying the same.

May the Mufti spread his self-espoused brand of Islam to all Al-Qada and Taliban followers. And may the Mufti pressure all Muslims to support the practice and proclamation of all religions in all countries, both Muslim and non-Muslim.

There are no good religions. All separate people of one faith from another emphasizing our differences more than our similarities. Look at what it has done to the troll,FOR-RUNNER, posting. Hateful attacks because of religious difference. Name calling, cursing, juvenile behavior. All in the name of some imaginary god.

Hello withouthavingseen,

Actually, I fear fundamentalist Christians more than fundamentalist Muslims, and the reason is twofold.

First, fundamentalist Christians have a long history that shows their potential, and it can be quite ugly. Furthermore they have no shortage of positions of power from which to continue their deep historical traditions. Just look at the legacy of the last President and his accomplishments!

Second, it is the fundamentalist Christians that live in closer proximity to me and my family. They have a greater effect on my life. I feel their influence, and not happily, daily.

Essential Christianity is a good force, if I were to make a judgment call. Fundamentalist Christianity is not nearly so benign. It acts more like a malignancy. It seeks to take over, but as surrogate to truth, an impostor, pursuing it's own ends.

For Dr. Ali Gomaa Grand Mufti of Egypt and all the other Muslims out there:

Here is the Five Step Method to Deprogram/"Deflaw" 1400 years of Islamic brainwashing.

Are you ready?

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 Abraham, 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 supposedly 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!!!!

And the Egyptian sociologist? Goma's fatwa?

Goma's fatwa pronouncing statues illegal ("unIslamic") in Egypt?

Give us a break, Media. We know you have your Middle East oil and media sites interests, to the tune of hundreds of billions, but AMERICANS ARE NOT STUPID.

Thank you, Dr. Gomaa.

You realize that it is easier to kindle a flame and throw fuel on it, than it is to snuff it out.

We have some reprehensible examples of those who claim to have read the Koran in Arabic (although there are many millions of good Muslims who have not!) and claim that they know all about the religion.

I have read enough about Islam that I know that I have nothing to fear from it.  Although I am a Catholic Christian American who has hardly ever traveled (and not to Europe or Asia), I know my belief.

We all mourn for injustice.  Thank you for your kind offering.  Many already understand; and many will never.

As i've been living with Muslims for years, they hate any other religions. Do NOT trust what is the Egypt's Grand Mufti says in this page. Do NOT expect any goods from them. To know the real Muslim, you should listen to their teachings and to read the Quran in Arabic. Then you would know that Quran teaches NOTHING but to get rid of other believes. BE CAREFUL from any Muslim.

Islam is a religion of peace... Islam is a religion of peace... Islam is a religion of peace... Islam is a religion of peace... Islam is a religion of peace... Islam is a religion of peace... Islam is a religion of peace...

Right.

One would think it would need repeating less if it were more obviously true.

Has anyone ever heard anyone say, "Buddhism is a religion of peace?" There are not too many Buddhists suicide bombing or beheading journalists these days.

Right from the caravan-raiding days of Mohammad, Islam has been a blood-soaked religion from first to last. The whole crock about Islam being a religion of peace is only plausible because most Muslims we meet here in the West are better than their philosophy, or have been expelled from their homelands for being moderate(ly Muslim) or Westernized.

If Islam is a religion of peace, I am the ambassador to France. And people who have no qualms about saying "Well, Christianity is very violent, too," show their hypocrisy by their willingness to malign Christianity - clearly they do not fear "fundamentalist Christians" nearly as much as they fear "fundamentalist Muslims."

Ryan Haber
Kensington, Maryland