After the Egyptian Revolution: The Wars of Religion

 

Christian Teen Killed In Egyptian Riot

After the Egyptian Revolution: The Wars of Religion

The angry, aggressive crowd formed within minutes of my arrival. Dozens of Muslim men came together in the middle of the dusty dirt path leading to the Church of the Two Martyrs in this village south of Cairo.

The men were determined to block access to what has become a sectarian sore: a church overrun by Muslim locals and desecrated.

“You can’t see it!” a group of men screamed.

In an armored personnel carrier, several soldiers in red berets watched the fracas from farther up the road.

Closer by, at least a dozen soldiers in flak jackets and helmets marched down an adjacent side street, barring anyone from following them. “You are not allowed to pass,” some of the men yelled at me. “Leave! Leave now!”

 “Are you Christian?” another asked.

“What are you going to see?” asked Mahmoud Mohammad, 30, who appeared to be their spokesman.

“Destroyed walls and a burned building?”

I told him I wanted to reach the church. 

“It’s not a church,” he said, raising his voice. “It is a meeting place, and we don’t want a church here,” he added before grabbing my notebook, ripping out several pages and forcibly marching me out of the village.

(THE CHURCH OF ST MINUS AND ST GEORGE HAS BEEN LOCATED ON THAT SITE FOR 1700 YEARS – 400 years before the start of Islam)

Egyptian Army Blocks Street

(The dispute started over a relationship between a Muslim woman and a Christian man. When the father of the woman refused to “maintain his family’s homor (by killing his daughter) the father was murdered by a cousin. In turn, the murdered man’s son, killed his father’s murderer.)

“After Friday prayers, some of the youth were angry and still mourning, so they came to the church looking for that filthy Christian,” Mohammad said, referring to the young man involved in the love affair.

They didn’t find him, but they ransacked the church. “We found wine (communion wine) and books against Islam,” (Bibles – most of the Muslim villagers can’t read) Mohammad claimed as other men interrupted to speak of other alleged wrongdoings by their Christian neighbors. “They rape our women!” one yelled. “They overcharge us at their stores!” said another.

It is unclear how many people were killed in Sole, but after Christians demonstrated in Cairo on Tuesday night against the desecration of the village church, a fight ensued with groups of Muslims, leading to violence that left 13 dead and 140 wounded.

New Year's Day Church Bombiing Victims - Attack Carried Out By Terrorists From The Gaza Strip

Tensions between Egypt’s majority Muslim population and Christians … rose sharply after a church in Alexandria was bombed on New Year’s Day. Twenty-one worshippers were killed in the attack.

Many of Sole’s Christian residents have fled, fearing further violence. Maher Sadiq, 26, isn’t one of them. He says many of the town’s Christian menfolk are staying to defend their homes. Sadiq, who says his house is on the same street as the church. “They’ve turned the church into a mosque,”he said by telephone. “There’s a banner in front of it that says ‘Al-Ramla Mosque.’ They’re not letting anyone go near the church. We will not leave. We’re prepared to die here.”

 Aziz Narooz, 27, and Hani Diab, 26, traveled from Sole earlier on Wednesday to join the hundreds of Coptic Christians maintaining a sit-in outside the state television headquarters. Many were sleeping on blankets spread out on the pavement. Most were carrying large wooden crosses. “People are scared. Some haven’t left their homes in days,” “They burned our church, they kicked around the statues of our saints” and “They tore up the Bible, and they’re still there.”

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2058032,00.html?xid=rss-world-yahoo

 

Sectarian Clashes in Egypt Challenge Revolutionary Idealism

 

Christians march from Cairo TV to Tahrir Sqaure

Sectarian Clashes in Egypt Challenge Revolutionary Idealism

 

CAIRO: On the banks of the Nile, in the middle of a roiling protest Wednesday by hundreds of chanting Christians, a man raised a Koran in one hand and a wooden cross in the other. “I came here because we don’t want sectarian strife,” said Ahmed Moustafa, a 37-year-old Muslim. “Muslims and Christians are united.”  

But such idealism might be waning as Egyptians confront the worst outbreak of religious violence since Hosni Mubarak was swept out of power Feb. 11. The deaths of 13 people in clashes in Cairo between Muslims and Christians late Tuesday have prompted calls for religious tolerance and raised the prospect of a deepening sectarian divide after a post-revolution honeymoon period. Street battles broke out after Copts set up roadblocks in major arteries to protest the destruction of one of their churches. Security is scant in this metropolis of 18 million, where the military-controlled government is still groping to find a way to tamp down crime with no functioning police force. 

Muslim Brotherhood gathers in Tahrir Square for counter protest

Although clashes between Muslims and Christians are not new in Egypt, they often take place far from the capital. That the overnight violence continued for hours near the heart of Cairo is bound to add to concerns among Christians that weeks of tumult in Egypt have left them particularly vulnerable in a country that is overwhelmingly Muslim. 

Some witnesses said that the Egyptian army had stood by for as long as four hours without intervening in the fighting.  http://aina.org/news/2011039212001.htm

Protesters march in Cairo after church attacks

Officials said that all of those who were killed died of gunshot wounds and that 140 others were injured. Copts said that all of the victims were Christian adherents, but other reports said that as many as five Muslims were killed.

SO MUCH FOR THE OFTEN REPEATED CLAIM THAT THE EYPTIAN MILITARY CAN PREVENT THE FUNDAMENTALISTS FROM TAKING CONTROL OF EGYPT.

 

AS THE SMALL NUMBER OF SECULAR LEFTISTS IN EGYPT IS SWEPT OUT OF THE WAY BY THEIR MASTERS, THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD, EGYPT PLUNGES FULL SPEED AHEAD INTO A REINCARNATION AS AN FUNDAMENTALIST ISLAMIC STATE.  

IRAN REPEATED.

Egypt’s Islamic Revolution: Christian-Muslim clashes in Egypt kill 11

Christians Killed In Church Attack

CAIRO – Security and hospital officials say Muslim-Christian clashes in the Egyptian capital Cairo killed 11 people and wounded more than 90.

The clashes broke out Tuesday night when a Muslim mob attacked thousands of Christians protesting against the burning of a Cairo church last week. Muslims torched the church in a Cairo suburb amid an escalation of tensions between the two religious groups over a love affair between a Muslim and a Christian that set off a violent feud between families of the couple.

The officials said Wednesday that the killed were six Christians and five Muslims.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

CAIRO (AP) — Clashes between Muslims and Christian in the Egyptian capital killed at least six people, security and

This car bonb killed 21 outside a Coptic Church in Egypt

 hospital officials said Wednesday.

They said the clashes took place late Tuesday night and lasted several hours. The fighting involved the use of guns, clubs and knifes, they added. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

The clashes began when several thousand Christians protested against the burning last week of a church in a Cairo suburb by a Muslim mob following a deadly clash between Muslims and Christians over a love affair between a Muslim and a Christian.

The Christian protesters on Tuesday blocked a vital highway, burning tires and pelting cars with rocks.

Burning Car Cairo

An angry crowd of Muslims set upon the Christians and the two sides fought pitched battles for about four hours. The six killed were believed to be mostly Christians who died of gunshot wounds.

Tuesday’s clashes are the latest evidence of the security vacuum in Egypt that followed the ouster on Feb. 11 of President Hosni Mubarak at the end of 18 days of anti-government protests. The police have pulled out from Cairo and several other cities three days into the uprising and are yet to fully take back the streets, a fact that has unleashed a wave of violent crime and even lawlessness in some parts of the nation.

Mubarak handed power to the military when he stepped down but it does not have enough troops to police every street in Cairo, a sprawling city of some 18 million people that, at the best of times, looks like it is about to descend into chaos.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110309/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_egypt

Fawning Over Obama’s Mid East Trip, American Press Insults America’s Arab Allies

Please, enough already. World history did not start with the Obama inauguration.

Obama is not the first US President to visit the region referred to in the West as ‘The Middle East” and contrary to what may be printed by the intellectual bimbo’s running  the American Press, The United States of America enjoys very warm relations with billions of muslims around the world and has long standing partnerships and relationships with their Governments.

First, to those in the American Press who insist on displaying their ignorance, please do so without insulting b0th Foreign dignitaries and the billions of the Muslims that you write about and feign interest in.

The King of Saudi Arbia has a proper name and Title; King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/world-leaders-s/saudi-arabia.html

The current Saudi King assumed leadership in 2005 upon the death of his half brother, Faud.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arbia, is ruled by a monachy and is, as is obvious, named for the ruling family; Saud – Saudi Arbia. The given names “Faud” and “Abdullah” are first names and not family, or surnames as they are called in the west. First names,  frequently referred to as “Christian” names in the West, are not, in fact, a proper form of address when you refer to the Saudi Monarch or a member of the Royal family.

Refering to the King as King Abdullah is as direspectful as refering to the American President as President Barack. An individual may be invited to address a ruler by his first name, however, that informal manner of address is both personal and private. To do otherwise is disrespectful.

The press should note that the most recent “Saudi Dynatsy” can trace its history back to 1744 and Muhhamad ibn Saud. That is right 1744, or 20 some years before the US claimed independence from Britian. The earliest history of the Saud family is centuries older. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia 

As to the remainder of the articles by the  “Main Stream Media”, hyping the Obama visit to the “Middle-East”, the relationship between the Kingdom of Saudi Arbia the Saudi people and the United States of America is not dependent upon the “Obama Personality” as the press seems to imply.

Obama needs to stop reading his own press clippings and take advantage of this important opportunity to build on a decades old freindship between Saudi Arabia and the US, a relationship that did not start with Obama’s bow to King Saud at the G-20 meeting a few weeks back.

While the US press may have amensia when it comes to the inflamatory, anti-Saudi, anti-Middle East, Anti- OPEC, comments made by the inexperienced Presidential Candidate  Obama, the rest of the world and the Anti-American press does not.    

Obama had better shift to a tactic other than his well practiced “Obama Apology Tour” seen todate. Contrary to the liberal and leftist ideoology embraced by the American press, Muslim leaders and Muslim people around the world embrace the American presence and the ideology which this Country has represented for 200 years.  

In 2001, while addressing the United Nations, the present Saudi King,  Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (then a Crowned Price and Deputy Prime Minister) said the following;

“Mr. President: The phenomenon of terrorism is still widespread in all parts of the world, although fluctuating considerably, and still requires greater effort from our organization in order to contain and combat it. The Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has always denounced all forms and shapes of terrorism, and added its efforts to those of the international community to address this serious phenomenon. What should be emphasized in this respect is that extremism, violence, and terrorism are global phenomena, not restricted to any people, race, or religion. In view of the internationalism and comprehensiveness of this phenomenon, addressing and combating it effectively can only come through agreed-upon international action within the framework of the United Nations, that ensures the elimination of terrorism, conservation of innocent life, and preservation of the supremacy and stability of the State.”

“Combating terrorism also requires international cooperation in not harboring terrorist elements and groups, and preventing their ability to exploit the territories and laws of the states in which they reside, and to make use of them as a springboard for their destructive activities, irrespective of the pretext or justification.”

King Saud’s speach is quite remarkable and I encourage readers to read the entire speech here:  http://www.un.org/millennium/webcast/statements/saudi.htm

I wonder what King Saud thinks about the current American President’s “political spin” on the war on terror.

King Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud has also spoken to the U.N. on the topic of religious tolerance. http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/11/12/59950.html , http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/03/25/47417.html , http://www.gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi_arabia/10259004.html .

The King has repeatedly noted that the key to world peace lies down the path of religious tolerance.

President Obama’s current trip to Saudi Arabia does not take place in a vacuum. Saudi Arabia, like the US, has been, and continues to be, a target of “terrorist activities” by extremists the world over. In June 1996, 19 American soldiers were killed in Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia. More than 500 were wounded. http://www.saudi-us-relations.org/articles/2003/ioi/030515-terrorist-targets.html                Five short years ago, on December 6, 2004, a group of terrorists staged a ground attack on the US Consulate in Jeddeh, Saudi Arbia, killing 5 employees of the Consulate. Later that month two vehicle borne improvised exposive devices (VBIEDS) were detonated in the Capital City of Riyadh. 

“Since it has become clear that the terrorists are targeting not only foreign interests, but the house of Saud as well, the government of Saudi Arabia has been leading an aggressive and increasingly successful counter assault on extremist elements in the country. The host government has acknowledged that this battle will not be concluded quickly.” http://www.ediplomat.com/np/post_reports/pr_sa.htm .

Two years earlier on May 12, 2003, Al- Qaeda homicide bombers killed 34 foriegners, including 2 Americans, at a housing complex in Riyadh.  On May 29, 2004, 24 oil company workers were killed by terrorists in Riyadh. During the week of June 11, 2004, 3 Americans and a BBC Journalist were killed. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_attacks_in_Saudi_Arabia

The Saudi Government issued the following statement, ”

“…The attack was an attack on humanity. We reject the terrorists who express their hatred for our people and our friends through such cowardly actions. These terrorists have turned their backs on our people and they have perverted our faith; they do not in any way represent Islam. They only represent hatred towards all of humanity…”                                                                                                     

http://www.saudi-us-relations.org/articles/2003/ioi/030515-terrorist-targets.html

For a brief history (1979 – 2008) of terrorist attacks inside Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Government response see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_attacks_in_Saudi_Arabia 

This history is of particular importance if one wants a “fair” understanding of the complex relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia rather than the hastily cobbled “press releases” currently flooding the air waves.

Example: On November 20, 1979, hundreds of terrorists seized the “Grand Mosque” or “Masjid al-Haram” in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The terrorists were extremely well organized and armed and were successful in withstanding attempts by the Saudi National Guard to retake the Mosque. Eventually, the Saudi’s requested and received assistance from the French GIGN (French Commandos) and together with Saudi Special Forces, the Mosque was retaken. Later 63 of the 67 surving “terrorists” were tried and sentenced to death. The total number of Islamic worshippers killed by the terrorists was estimated at more than 250. On November 21, 1979, Ruholla Khomeini of Iran made a radio address falsely attributing the Mosque attack to US forces. This false claim resulted in attacks against US Embassies and Consulates throughout the Muslim World. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_attacks_in_Saudi_Arabia 

The US Embassy in Iran had been seized by Militants less than 3 weeks earlier on November 4, 1979.   

Faslehoods about the history of  US-Islamic realtionships abound.

President Obama cannot strength existing relationships by ignoring this fact. Vague apologies for acts that did not happen do not strength the positive relationships that do exist.

THE PRESS’ FAILURE TO UNDERSTAND THAT ISLAM DOES NOT EQUATE TO ISLAMIC TERRORISM IS DEPLORABLE. Muslim’s know this, so do American’s.

The US is not the lone target of these terrorists – speech making will not change that fact. The people of the MIddle East are not our enemies and they never have been … This is a fact that is well understood, despite whatever differences may remain.

 Most of Saudi Arbia’s neighbors, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, enjoy long standing, complex and  mutually respectful relationships with the US. These countries, like Saudi Arabia Arabic are also Muslim countries. 

I’m just amazed at the US press. Radical Islam is not confined to the Middle East. In fact only 20%, or 1 out of 5, of the Muslims in the world are “arabic” people. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_by_country

India has a history of a long and mutually prosperous relationship with the US. Islam is India’s second larget religion, with over 150 million Muslims in India. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_India 

Turkey, a long time US ally, is a non-arabic but majority muslim country. There are 71 million Muslims in Turkey. For those that are interested in a “factual context” of the global Islamic world, see : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_by_country

The Saudi King, Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud, has repeatedly spoken out against militant extremists in Iraq, Syria and Iran. “Saudi Arabia has told Iran not to count on the kingdom’s help if the international community imposes harsher measures on Tehran because of its refusal to abide by international requirements on the nuclear issue.” At a meeting in Riyadh last month (2007), King Abdullah told visiting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Iran will have to “bear the consequences” of its actions, and should not underestimate the power, capabilities or will of the United States and the rest of the international community, according to a Saudi official. “We told him, ‘Don’t come back to us and say you wish somebody had told you that,'” the official said. “Don’t come back and ask for help.” The king was equally blunt with Syrian President Bashar Assad, whom he met in Riyadh on the sidelines of the Arab summit last month. Abdullah told Assad that if he wants to improve relations with Saudi Arabia — which are at an all-time low — he first has to prove his good intentions in Lebanon, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issues. http://www.beirutbeltway.com/beirutbeltway/2007/04/saudi_arabias_w.html

The American people and the World at large would be better served if the Press “reported” on world events and stopped “spinning” political events. Neither Islam nor the world hates America or Americans. President Obama’s “Middle Eastern” trip is not taking place in a vacuum nor is it taking place without substantial historical background.

President Obama needs to stop issuing senseless apologies and do something constructive to build on the work of not only his predecessors but of other world leaders.

The fact that the American President comes from an Islamic family is not new ‘news”, despite the President’s claims to the contrary during the election cycle. To imply that a non-muslim, from a muslim family, will “change” how “militant terrorists” view the US is simply ridiculous. The “militants” or “terrorists” target all of those who disagree with their narrow interpretation of the world, Muslim and Non-Muslim alike.

All of the political spin the media can muster will not change that fact.

The Saudi King is correct, the path to peace lies through religious tolerance, not political correctness or Jihad or “Holy War”.

Ask the American Troops who gave their lives on behalf of  Muslims Kosovo, Afgahistan, Iraq, Somalia. Morroco, Tunsia and Indonesia over the last 70 plus years.

If you are ignorant of history you are doomed to repeat it. If your ego is so large you believe history begins with yourself, you qualify as a megalomaniac.

Megalomania (from the Greek word μεγαλομανία) is a historical term for behavior characterized by delusional fantasies of wealth, power, genius, or omnipotence – often generally termed as delusions of grandeur or grandiose delusions. It’s a Greek word ,”megalo” meaning “very large”, “great”, or “exaggerated” and “mania” meaning obsession thus combining to denote an obsession with, either in the form of irrational perceived need for or preoccupation with in one’s own estimation having and/or obtaining, grandiosity and extravagance (especially in the form of great fame and popularity, material wealth, social influence or political power, or more than one or even all of the aforesaid) and accompanying complete desirous and bombastic abandon; a common symptom if not the key diagnostic feature of megalomania. It may be a symptom of manic or paranoid disorders. However it is not considered a distinct mental disorder of itself according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

http://www.reference.com/search?q=Megalomaniac

Also See: NARCISSISM or Narcissistic personality disorder

O’S FOREIGN FAILURES – NEW PREZ FLUNKING GLOBAL TESTS

Ralph Peters

NEW YORK POST

AMERICA’S enemies smell blood and it’s type “O.”

All new administrations stumble a bit as they seek their footing. But President Obama’s foreign-policy botches have set new records for instant incompetence.

Contrary to left-wing myths, I wasn’t a fan of the Bush administration. (I called for Donald Rumsfeld to get the boot in mid-2001.) But fair’s fair. Despite his many faults, Bush sought to do good. Obama just wants to look good.

Vice President Dick Cheney was arrogant. Vice President Joe Biden is arrogant and stupid. Take your pick.

Don’t worry about the new administration’s ideology. Worry about its terrifying naivete.

Consider a sampling of the goofs O and his crew have made in just two months:

China: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (you know that gal married to the Saudi hireling) crawled to Beijing to tell the party bosses that human rights don’t matter. Our “relationship” is more important than freedom and human dignity.

Beijing’s response? A staged military confrontation with an unarmed US Navy vessel; continued screw-America currency cheating; a renewed crackdown on dissidents and, yesterday, a call for a new global currency to replace the dollar.

Thanks, Hill. You’re a sweetheart.

Pakistan: With viral corruption throughout and Islamist fanatics sweeping half of its territory, Pakistan’s coming apart. Its Dem-adored prez tries to ban opposition parties and gut the judiciary. It has nukes and seethes with hatred of America. And Islamabad controls our primary supply route into Afghanistan, using it as an extortion tool.

Obama’s response? Billions in new aid for Pak pols to pocket. We’d be better off handing the money to AIG to pay out more bonuses.

Afghanistan: Obama’s Vietnam. Am I the only American who remembers that candidate Obama had a plan to capture Osama bin Laden and fix our previous “mistakes” in Afghanistan? President Obama doesn’t have a clue.

Iran: Obama tried to reach out, to talk. After all, talking got him to the White House. But America-bashing is what keeps Iran’s leaders in office, it’s their political essence. After 30 years of fierce hostility, hasn’t anyone figured out that the senior mullahs need us as an enemy? Without the Great Satan America to blame, they’d have some real explaining to do to their homies. So O got the left-hand finger.

He wanted to chat with the Taliban, too. They told him he could stick it where the sun don’t shine.

North Korea: Obama wanted a fresh start. North Korea’s response? Threats of war with South Korea and the kidnapping of two American journalists. And the renewed pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, along with rocket tests.

Cuba: Obama would like to liberalize our relationship. The Castro boys told him to kiss off. They need an enemy, too. (Dear Mr. President: It’s not always about us or how evil America is.)

Venezuela: Guess who else needs an enemy?

Mexico: The good news: Obama knows where it is on a map and recognizes that Mexico’s government faces a narco-insurgency that threatens our country, too. His first action? Cave to the Teamsters, violate a lawful treaty on cross-border trucking, reignite fading anti-Americanism and undercut President Felipe Calderon.

Poland: Obama’s stance on our bravest ally on the European continent? The Russians are more important than you are. He’s sending the same message to Ukraine and Georgia.

Russia: Bolshie Biden, the commuting commissar, knows he’s the man who can turn Russia into our best pal. After “Friend of Bill” Strobe Talbott tried and failed disastrously. And after poor W saw into Putin’s soul, only to get his butt handed to him. “Uncle Joe” Biden has nothing to learn from past failures, though: He’s got a re-set button.

Moscow’s response to the Obama administration’s bid for a new start? It threatens NATO members it once occupied and continues to back Iran’s nuclear program. Plus, it bribes Kyrgystan to kick us off the critical-to-Afghanistan Manas airbase (then offers to help replace that supply lifeline, giving Russia a choke-hold on our troops).

Next, the Kremlin threatens massive re-armament and demands the abandonment of the dollar as the international reserve currency.

Obama’s response? Push that re-set button again. And again.

At what point does naivete become cowardice?

As for our allies, Obama apparently needs them less than Bush did. O treated Britain’s prime minister like the deputy Paraguayan veterinary inspector, and he blindsided the leaders of the Czech Republic, Poland, Mexico and Canada on issues ranging from missile defense to trade. But he’d like them to take the Gitmo terrorists off our hands, please.

The one bright spot thus far has been Iraq, where Obama quickly tossed aside his campaign promises. The O-man doesn’t want to be on the blame-line for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in Baghdad. And his MoveOn.org supporters can throw all the tantrums they want. (Breaking news, folks: O’s a professional pol, not the messiah . . . )

Apart from Iraq a success Sen. Obama did all he could to prevent his foreign policy’s an instant wasteland. By comparison, the Carter administration is starting to look like a model of manly strength, courage and patriotism.

Ralph Peters recently became Fox News’ first “strategic analyst.”

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03252009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/os_foreign_failures_161154.htm?page=0