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| Arabia |
| Haj turns political... |
| 2003-02-10 |
| More than two million Muslim pilgrims began pouring into the plains of Arafat on Monday, February 10, for the climax of the annual hajj, praying for forgiveness and for Iraq to be saved from a threatened U.S. attack, as Iraqi pilgrims vent their anger at the U.S. plans to attack Iraq and at the silence of Arab leaders. "Most Arab leaders are not doing their job. Many have remained silent" on the ongoing U.S. military buildup in the region, said 60-year-old Said Mahmud. "At this delicate juncture, they are required to support Iraq by deeds and not by words alone." "Save us! Save us! Help!" Some 15,000 Iraqi pilgrims are taking part in the annual hajj this year, some 9,000 of whom traveled to Saudi Arabia by plane. The Iraqi camp is just several hundred meters (yards) away from a camp housing some 7,000 American Muslims who came for the hajj this season, 3,000 less than last year because of heightened tension in the region. Maybe they could get together and swap stories of oppression... "Arab leaders must understand that the United States will attack their countries one by one after finishing the job in Iraq," warned Khaled Ahmad, 70. "Arab and Muslim leaders must be held responsible for this vicious crime." No. We're only going to dismantle the ones that breed terrorists. I don't think that includes everybody. All they have to do is round up the Islamists and kill them and they'll be safe... The Iraqi pilgrims said that the main goal of any U.S.-led attack on their country would be to wrest control of the Gulf's abundant oil wealth. "It's a pre-planned conspiracy against Iraq and Arabs. The Americans want to control the oil in the Gulf region," where more than 70 percent of proven world reserves are located, said Kazem Hussein, a 45-year-old teacher. "It's a crusader war against Muslims and (U.S. President George W.) Bush has mentioned something like this." And Islamists have declared war on us. Don't forget that. Don't ever forget that, because we'll never forget that. Iraqis also prayed for their country to be spared the ruins of war, saying the people had suffered enormously during numerous wars and biting UN economic sanctions in force since August 1990. Maybe they shouldn't have tried to eat Kuwait? If they hadn't done that, none of the consequences would have followed, would they? But then, that puts us in the realm of cause and effect, which is a Western concept that's beyond the Islamist comprehension. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |
| #2 ...praying for...Iraq to be saved from a threatened U.S. attack And if Iraq isn't saved from a threatened U.S. attack will they take it as a sign from God that He is not exactly pleased with Saddam? I doubt it. |
| Posted by: RW 2003-02-10 11:33:54 |
| #1 One might ask themselves - what sort of Iraqui is ALLOWED to go on Haj while the war looms? Propaganda, pure and simplisme. |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-02-10 09:46:51 |