White House condemns attack on U.S. embassy in Yemen

Thursday 18th September, 07:28 AM JST

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WilliB at 04:25 PM JST - 18th September

" “This attack is a reminder of the continuing threat we face from violent extremists both at home and abroad.” "

Extremists of what? They are still refusing to address the issue. There is not "extreme" about the the Jihadists who blew up the embassy. They are simply serious believers, acting on the command to fight the kuffars until they submit.
WilliB at 04:28 PM JST - 18th September

Professor:

" What we are simply witnessing here is a religion being hijacked by a few idiots and nothing more "

Gee, but it is pretty easy to hijack, isn´t it? And just how was this religion before it was "hijacked"? It was founded by a warlord who kept slaves, had a harem, ordered raids and murder, and personally led over 30 wars. Where do you think the swords in Saudi Arabias flag come from?

Tell us what there is sans the "hijacking".
skipthesong at 05:19 PM JST - 18th September

Let's use skip's post as a shining example of hypocrisy!

'we pushed people into joining Al-Quaeda and taking up the insurgency." That's debatable. Least you not forget, OBL is probably one of the smartest people in the world and has more resources than many believe.'

Not debatable at all; it's fact. What's more, lest we forget who TRAINED OBL in the first place, as a lackey for more American dirty work" He was up to the fight and we didn't train him, just gave him more cash. no one needed to train him, he was born for this as he knows jihad, which ever day it falls on, is his duty

Funny, I don't usually call American military recruiters 'Messiah' (nor does anyone, to my knowledge), but they practice the exact same things you preach here -- target the poor and/or not so smart to go off and fight, both for food and 'for honour'." Ah, so everyone who joins up is stupid... what do you call cops then? Anyway, you actual agree with me that the people blowing themselves up are stupid and blinded by some religous goal.. Thanks,

"The only way to stop all this is to stop the teachings, like somehow the US has done and is still trying to do in schools - not allowed to pray, show support for god, nor use religious reasons for celebrating things and most of all, keep religion out of a governmental power."

I agree with you here, IN PART, but am using this quotation as a means to point out to some on here the hypocrisy in thinking that by electing McCain/Palin this kind of thing will 'stop terrorism'. Does anyone think that by electing McCain/Palin skip's notion of eliminating religion from government and schools will occur? Polar opposite, my friends! Palin is a radical Christian, and while I've no doubt she would attempt to limit any religion that is not hers, from government to schools, she would easily pander to the desires of some to reinstitute the Lord's prayer in schools (ie. make it mandatory for ALL to say!), take out any methods of birth control and/or sex ed., etc. And limiting it from governmental affairs??? Come on! This is a woman who says Iraq is god's work!"

Where did I say I will vote for McCain? Excuse me, but I know I have been advocating a third party.. and with me running in 2012!

And while I agree with skip that the 'teachings' should be limited in school, I don't think anything should be banned." Then we are stuck with it, whether we agree or disagree. Ban it. Any school that teacher the world is screwed up because some chick eats an apple should be burned to the ground as far as I am concerned (no, I do not mean that litterally, but if it was burning down, I don't think I'd be fetching any water).

In fact, I think people should be taught to RESPECT others' religions" Ok, this is great.... please, let your hatred for me die for the moment and inform me, that you know of, what religion teaches respect for the next kind while advocating theirs as the "true one"

, and learn more about them... through awareness. When I went to the nearby international airport the other day, I was deeply impressed to see that they had recently added a 'Prayer Room' for those who wish to enter and pray (granted it was due to an increase in Emirate flights directly to the UAE, but at least they are being accomodating). They CANNOT ban Muslims from praying when they are 'supposed to'. Likewise, while they cannot ask ALL people to recite the Christian Lord's prayer, they cannot, I believe, ask those who wish to do so to NOT do so (although there is no set time for it, so they CAN ask them not to do it during class, etc., if it's disruptive). Throw in some Buddhism and Judaism for spice, and let them all try to learn a little. The idea that providing an open forum for people to learn about Islam is akin to creating a terrorist cell is ludicrous, and results in the same kind of fear and hypocrisy that pushes terrorists to target such attacks on themselves." I can't say one bad thing about Buddhism. Nothing at all. Sorry about that. Hope I didn't disappoint you.

''prior to bush taking OFFICE there were ZERO attacks in the US' " Yes, there were, were all you too young to remember 93? and if you take Islam out of the picture, what about Tim McVey?'

Go back and reread my post, skip! I was pointing out how Ossan's 'black and white' view of things since Bush took office can easily be spun against him (and even said, in brackets, after that which you quoted, "according to your logic"). In other words, read a little more carefully before you post on someone else's comments, and especially if quoting them." oh, apesadumbrado. Debo haber entendido mal.

"I believe in fighting fire with fire! And, I believe in fighting until the finish. Never have I been drawn into a fight and then start helping the idiots, and I don't approach a discussion to talk about being friends, and if I did I sure as hell wouldn't ever let my guard down. I guess that is one of the reasons your kind is losing everything." " Wow... HATE ALERT!!! 'Your kind', eh skip?" Hey man, not sure where you are from, but that's acceptable. If you don't like it, go cry to Hollywood.

Instead of using 'your kind' as to stereotyping a group of people, which you love to do, I'll use it in the sense of 'type', as in your 'type of argument' is what sets the world at war, and why NO ONE ever wins... especially those who consider being open to options other than war as 'backing down'." If you really know of a workable choice, let us in on it.

"The peace lovers have the best idea, but unfortunately, I won't see it work in my lifetime."

Not with that attitude, granted, because opposed to the 'peace lovers', or 'our kind', there are the warmongers, who won't allow the peace lovers, for various reasons, to prevail." u call me a warmonger? I've never threatened anyone with war.

"Hope my future generations do. But when I see the so called left call presidential candidates religous nuts yet talk how lovely Islam is, even though its the most right winging element we have on earth right now, I sometimes hope they win."

This argument just doesn't make sense.... you sometimes hope WHO will win?" Muslims, so you can live under it rules and decrees. No more Roppongi Hills for you.

Hell, I'm not Christian/Jew/Muslim or anything else but Buddhist," Well, if they win, that will have to change.

but I would gladly learn about any and all of them without necessarily espousing any of their views." Don't believe you. Respect them? sure!" No, you won't, you even went as far as saying something to the effect that we should be afraid of Christians and not Muslims.

How else are we going to survive? (and no, skip, NOT by wiping out the Muslims!) I do not know how many times you brought that up, but yo, I don't recall calling for their extermination but I will admit, those who follow those Nazi ways, the ones who use the idea of marrying off 9 year olds in Yemen, yeah, wipe them out. not saying I would do it though.

Calling the righties religious nuts is, granted, quite strong if not justified, but I don't think anyone who says Palin, for example, or Bush, for a better one, is a religious nut would turn around and set up an altar for the 9/11 terrorists." You kind of contridicted yourself here I think. First of all, I don't think either of them are really believers as much as they say they are, but the down on their luck types like, similar to muslims, believe there is a god they can pray to tht will lead them to the promise land. Who am I to say there is no such thing? Well, who is anyone to say one wasn't abducted by aliens?

I think it would be more apt to say that those people believe ANYONE who misuses ANY religion to fob off their responsibility and launch war is a radical; but that does not make ALL Muslims so, nor does it make people opposed to radical Christians in government automatically embrace Islam!! When will you learn this!?"

When you do.

"this bombing is nothing new to me. I am not going to start crying tears for the people who did this NOR will I look for excuses you and several others have for the people in a country that supports the idea of marrying off girls as young as 9 years old..... to provide rightwinging off spring."

Again, misunderstanding leads to hate, skip. I just as easily use this mentality to group all people under banners in other areas, for example: all Chinese are communists, as are Cubans, VEnezuelans, and North Koreans, and love their leaders and would die for them. All Jews want all Muslims to die, and vice-versa, etc. etc. but I would be utterly wrong, and utterly stupid to actually believe such things." and yet, you still preach to the crowds here that I am some type of hating monster who desires to kill wontonly.

Look, until 9-11 (I even gave a pass to 93, 88, and 79) I really never even thought about Islam at all, except for some of my friends in Chicago. But their type uses more of a race method to obtain people and I wasn't down with that.
WilliB at 05:39 PM JST - 18th September

Islam has always been a radical political movement as well as a religion, and it only our modern ignorance that makes us forget that. Islamic "clerics" are quite clear about what they want: The establishment of the 9th Caliphate (or the 1st Imamate, in case of the Shiites). That is a politcal goal, any way you turn it.

The US government (both parties) keeps digging its own grave by misunderstanding the modern jihad as a problem of a few "extremists" who have "hijacked" a peaceful "religion". This is simply wishful thinking.

These Yemeni bombers have "hijacked" islam as much as Stalin "hijacked" peaceful communism. They are taking it seriously, that is all they do.
skipthesong at 05:45 PM JST - 18th September

Sorry skip, but that's not only criminal, but it's hatred to the core.... oh... and that doesn't mean I'm sympathizing with skinheads, either, in case you need to be further informed)."

Whoa, now you gonna on my case about that... man, there is no satisfying you, is there? JIC, u a lady or are you just young?

Willi, you hit something here and I really wish some here would get it. One poster stated the religion had been hijacked and that we should not blame the whole crew. Ok, fine if you want, but you are right in pointing out that modern Jihad is not just a passing item with the Bush presidency. And Smitty is gonna be all over me, but I think we are in for a much bigger fight than many believe and I also believe that having all these people come to their defense like one poster is part of the plan.
Madverts at 05:52 PM JST - 18th September

Superlib,

"Perhaps Adverts can fill us in?"

Hey there's no need to get up-tight because I'm pointing out the truth mate. The so-called war on terror has increased global suicide bombings and has heightened the risk of heinous attacks on American civillians and American interests both at home and abroad.

I'm so sorry some people don't like hearing the truth.
Alinsky4prez at 05:58 PM JST - 18th September

The so-called war on terror has increased global suicide bombings and has heightened the risk of heinous attacks on American civillians and American interests both at home and abroad.

I've long felt that the violence in India and the Sudan and Algeria and Afghanistan and and Pakistan and Israel and Russia and Chechnya and the Philippines and Indonesia and Nigeria and England and Thailand and Spain and Egypt and Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia and Ingushetia and Dagestan and Turkey and Morocco and Yemen and Lebanon and France and Uzbekistan and Gaza and Tunisia and Kosovo and Bosnia and Mauritania and Kenya and Eritrea and Syria and Somalia and Kuwait and Ethiopia and Iran and Jordan and United Arab Emirates and Tanzania and Germany and Australia and Belgium and Denmark and East Timor and Qatar and Tajikistan and the Netherlands and Scotland and Chad and Canada and China and Nepal and the Maldives and Argentina and Angola was all directly related to my country's misguided war on 'terror', which is little more than a war on teh religion of peace(that name for Islam is the only thing that bush ever got right!).
smithinjapan at 05:59 PM JST - 18th September

skip: "And Smitty is gonna be all over me, but I think we are in for a much bigger fight than many believe and I also believe that having all these people come to their defense like one poster is part of the plan."

I'm not 'all over you' on this at all, just attacking your arguments as being that which you pretend to hate so much -- which smacks of insecurity.

I actually agree with you... I think that 'we' (questionable whom we are speaking of) ARE in for a much bigger fight than many believe. Where we differ is as to why; with my opinion being that intolerance, by it's very nature, can never cease to exist simply by decision. That goes for your intolerance, the intolerance of radical Islamists for viewpoints other than their own, intolerance of ANYTHING! As ideal as you may wish for things to be by saying, "We should just eliminate all religions", there is no way in hell it's going to happen without many fighting tooth and nail to protect it, regardless of the religion they're fighting for.

Now, before you try and back that up with the logic that 'that's exactly why it should be eliminated', keep in mind that religion is belief... and by saying you 'believe all religions should be eliminated', you really aren't acting any differently than a jihadist who says all his enemies should cease to exist. You clearly adhere to your beliefs as strongly as any person who is part of a religion, and even fringe on the radical in many of your posts.

Regardless, putting it all on some kind of external locus of control and saying, "We're going to be in for a bigger fight than we think" while attempting nothing to prevent it, or believing there's nothing you can do... well, son... you're setting yourself up for your own fall.

Anyway, I do apologize for the strong tone I've taken in a lot of my posts here against you, today in particular, but you've really got to take a good look and see that your attitude towards one particular group, and your 'solution' for it, are really no different than what that group proposes towards people like yourself. I'm not telling you to go to the local mosque and embrace Islam, skip... not at all... I'm certainly not going to... but I am telling you that ignorance and hatred breed more of the same. You don't have to be 'down with Islam' to realize that not all of Muslims are radicals.

Anyway, next time you quote me on something, try not to paste the WHOLE post (in fact, in your last entry NONE of mine would have sufficed). With that, have a nice day... go let off some steam (in a positive manner).
Nippon5 at 06:05 PM JST - 18th September

The origins of al-Qaeda can be traced back to 1979 when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Soon after the invasion, Osama bin Laden traveled to Afghanistan where he helped organize Arab mujahideen and established the Maktab al-Khidamat (MAK) organization to resist the Soviets. In 1989, as the Soviets withdrew, MAK was transformed into a "rapid reaction force" in jihad against governments across the Muslim world. Under the guidance of Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden became more radical.[82] In 1996, bin Laden issued his first fatwā which called for American soldiers to leave Saudi Arabia.[83]

In a second fatwā issued in 1998, bin Laden outlined his objections to American foreign policy towards Israel, as well as the continued presence of American troops in Saudi Arabia after the Gulf War.[84] Bin Laden used Islamic texts to exhort violent action against American military and citizenry until the stated grievances are reversed, noting "ulema have throughout Islamic history unanimously agreed that the jihad is an individual duty if the enemy destroys the Muslim countries."[84]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Qaeda
Madverts at 06:09 PM JST - 18th September

Heh, uhm, alinsky,

Cut and paste as much as you want. The fact remains that suicide bombings are UP, largely due to the brain-childs of idiots that thought they could wage war on an ideology.
skipthesong at 06:38 PM JST - 18th September

allinsky: That many places are in the mix?

smitty: I ain't talking about elimination of religion by killing people.
smithinjapan at 08:54 PM JST - 18th September

skip: "smitty: I ain't talking about elimination of religion by killing people."

I know that, but what you've got to realize (what I was saying) is that your reason for wanting to eliminate religion is based on the trouble caused by radicals. We're not talking about fence-sitters who might be swayed into another system of beliefs -- we're talking about the die-hard radicals. There's NO WAY, out of all the people you might be able to get to give something up, that you will do them... particularly by means of threats. It would take something absolutely cataclysmic for their beliefs to be shattered, and usually it's not in a positive manner, and not for the better good. 9/11 for example, probably turned more than a few distraught relatives away from God, and likely pushed some towards him/her as well. Likewise with Allah -- I'm sure, and I know this might be tough for you to believe, there were MANY Muslims who questioned or outright condemned the motives of the murderers of that day; and likewise others who were suddenly swayed into joining the cause.

Again, eliminating religion to make a 'peaceful planet' will never happen... the people it's very ingrained in would never give it up -- regardless of what that religion is.
skipthesong at 10:02 PM JST - 18th September

Mad: "The fact remains that suicide bombings are UP, largely due to the brain-childs of idiots that thought they could wage war on an ideology."

Look, if you want to use stats, we can go around in circles forever. These people have a goal and they have had that goal for a long time. The US has had problems with the Islamic world since the day the US decided to back Israel (sorry, but I still can not get over the fact how tiny the place and how much significance in modern history it has). People blamed Carter, Regan was blamed, Bush went a step further with Iraq and Clinton did to with Somalia and Bosnia and in other parts of the world people are even going as far as blaming Russia with Chechenya.

I would rather say, it is more to do with timing. GWB came in when it was time to blow up, otherwise, what was 93 all about? What was the Cole about? and the list goes on and on. Face it, it was a and always has been a bad genie in a bottle.

And yet, the US government, with the increase in suicide bombings still as you say, has managed to shell out record numbers of cash to these people I sometimes feel we are funding the enemy's side...
skipthesong at 10:06 PM JST - 18th September

It would take something absolutely cataclysmic for their beliefs to be shattered, and usually it's not in a positive manner, and not for the better good. 9/11 for example, probably turned more than a few distraught relatives away from God, and likely pushed some towards him/her as well. Likewise with Allah -- I'm sure, and I know this might be tough for you to believe, there were MANY Muslims who questioned or outright condemned the motives of the murderers of that day; and likewise others who were suddenly swayed into joining the cause."

I like this post. I do. One thing here: "something absolutely cataclysmic for their beliefs to be shattered" You are not going to like this answer, but how about that cataclysmic approach by done in the same manner in which got so many into religion in the first place? At this moment, right now, I do not see any other alternative and I do, really do, hope I am wrong.
Madverts at 10:25 PM JST - 18th September

Skip,

"Look, if you want to use stats, we can go around in circles forever."

How so?

The stats prove that the so-called war on terror has done nothing but ceate it. Iraq is a shambles and no a terrorist playground, Afghanistan is no better off and the outrage towards non-muslim'sfrom the Islamists in this perceived war against their faith worldwide has increased exponentialy...

"And yet, the US government, with the increase in suicide bombings still as you say, has managed to shell out record numbers of cash to these people I sometimes feel we are funding the enemy's side..."

More than funding Skip:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/aug/06/usa.iraq

If idiots, and I repeat, inept idiots had not been in charge of this so-called war on terror, something might have been achieved.

But idiots were in charge, and not acting in the interests of eliminating terrorism - they wanted to sell lots more arms in companies where Bush's daddy holds stock, and have a strategic advantage over world oil reserves.

The blowback, I promise, will be eternal throughout our lifetimes.