And so it begins...

Spencer is correct, as always. Ahmadinejad has been so bold in his rhetoric that he may soon choose to act upon it.

Hate to make an early OT post, but there is some good news out of an AQ document that has been seized in Iraq.

The document says that the Baghdad cells are capable of only "hit and run" operations, leading the public to conclude that "the Shiites are stronger in Baghdad and nearer to controlling it, while the mujahedeen … are not considered more than a daily annoyance to the Shiite government."

But the strategy document complains that "the strength of the brothers in Baghdad" is based mostly on car bombs and "groups of assassins lacking any organized military capabilities."

The writer complains that the Americans and the Iraqi government forces "were able to absorb our painful blows," raise new recruits and "take control of Baghdad as well as other areas, one after the other."

"This is why every year is worse than the previous year, as far as the mujahedeen's control and influence over Baghdad," the document said.

Read it all here.

Sleazeface = good cop

Allah = bad cop

Thank goodness for people like Spencer who are not deluded by any PC correctness and can see this in the broader picture of the jihad against the West. This is about the Madman being able to say. "see, I gave them the chance to become voluntary dhimmis, but they said no so here we go"

I call on Ahmadinejad to accept Satan as his personal savior!

Oh -- he already has?

Never mind.

This is a da’wa, a call to accept Islam, and in one of the Hadith Mohammed commands his followers to issue this call before taking offensive action.

Things you don't hear from the MSM.

Roundup of reaction from Washington Post:

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's letter to President Bush offering "new ways" to resolve the international dispute over Iran's nuclear program, while brushed off by the White House, has achieved one clear result: more positive press coverage than he has ever gotten.

With Western powers unable to reach agreement about a United Nations Security Council resolution on Iran's nuclear program, online commentators says Ahmadinejad's 18-page letter (translated here) promotes the idea that Iran is open to compromise at a time when the rest of the world is divided.

The letter, the first written communication between the leaders of the two countries in 27 years, criticizes Bush for the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, detainee abuse in U.S.-run facilities in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, and for his support of Israel.

Steven R. Hurst, a Middle East correspondent for the Associated Press calls the letter, a "deft trump card." Mark Fitzpatrick, a former U.S. State Department official now with the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, told the AP that Ahmadinejad's move was "an astute negotiating ploy."

"It's harder for the Americans to get 15 votes (unanimity) in the Security Council if they are seen as not willing to talk to the Iranians," Fitzpatrick says.

Spiegel Online describes the letter was "a deft move for Ahmadinejad's image in the Middle East. It forced Washington to reject a personal overture from Tehran, and it philosophized in Islamic terms about the decline of the West." The German newsweekly reports that several leading German papers reacted skeptically. Financial Times Deutschland said the letter was merely "a big public relations push."

The Independent of London called it "an extraordinary about-turn."

"Whatever its precise contents, the letter is a notable departure for Mr Ahmadinejad who, since becoming President last August, has not lost an opportunity to vilify the US, issue bloodcurdling threats against Israel and dare the West to do something about Tehran's nuclear programme," wrote correspondent Rupert Cornwell.

The letter "is another sign of how the two longtime adversaries may be engaged in a delicate dance towards some kind of contact, after a generation of estrangement," according to Cornwell.

Bring it on!

How about we send some really persistent Jehovah's Witnesses round to knock on Ahmadinejad's door and invite him to join? Or would he take their invitation as a declaration of war?

My favorite AP propagandist for Iran (Ali Akbar Dareini) has another take.

Experts: U.S. Hasty in Brushoff of Iran

What experts? Well a former government official of Iran and Iranian "political analyst," of course.

June 6, 1944

Experts: Allied Invasion of Normandy Hurts Chances for Peace With Germany

Adolph Eichmann Goebbels - AP

"France and Germany warned Iran this week not to pursue their nuclear research program. In fact, France and Germany warned Iran that if they didn't stop their program they would, you know, warn them again." --Jay Leno

"Russia has agreed to help Iran build a nuclear reactor. Yeah, because when you think well-built nuclear reactor you think Russia" --David Letterman

Dear Mr. President

You killed perhaps hudreds of thousands of innocent with you bombs and tanks in the name of freedom. The Koran clearly states you should give them a chance to subjugate themselves to you and pay you taxes (or convert), then if they dont use a sword in a soccer stadium. You guys are totally backward.

A-Dog

P.S. Dont be afraid to put the burkah bakc on those females whos heads roll out of the covering upon hitting the groung (peac be upon it)

#1 MSMediaCritic

There is a hole in thier minds...

In comparison, imagine the media reaction if Bush had sent Sleazeface a letter asking him to recognize that Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God, and to join Christians in creating a world of peace. Bush would immediately be declared a raving fundamentalist lunatic.

"is another sign of how the two longtime adversaries may be engaged in a delicate dance towards some kind of contact, after a generation of estrangement"

Or maybe it's a sign that Imadinnerjacket's advisors have finally convinced him that he has a bullseye drawn in the middle of his forehead and that the Cowboy is taking aim.

Mr President, History tells us that repressive and cruel governments do not survive.

Hey Ahmadinejad, you ###wad, may I suggest you read your own damn letter?

/SPIT

Oh, crap.

Thank you Mr. Spencer.

Spell-check is forbidden by Allah

So if he "attacks" we get to kill him- and alot of his fellow religionists- correct?

BTW- Bush about to release his response to Ahmadinnerjacket... breaking...

Next comes the call for higher oil prices...

….If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya [the tax on non-Muslims specified in Qur’an 9:29]. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands.

Then comes the attack.

If prophet Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Ishmael, Joseph or Jesus Christ (PBUH) were with us today, how would they have judged such behaviour? Will we be given a role to play in the promised world, where justice will become universal and Jesus Christ (PBUH) will be present? Will they even accept us? My basic question is this: Is there no better way to interact with the rest of the world? Today there are hundreds of millions of Christians, hundreds of millions of Moslems and millions of people who follow the teachings of Moses (PBUH). sorry mr president one of these was a mocker...ishmael...and so are you.

ye worship ye know not what.we know what we worship for salvation is of the jews.john:4:22

When are we going to take these people for their word?

The time is short; we should strike first with immense force and violence.

#16 religion of bacon
You forgot to add "Or we will turn your country into a smoking crater". Just to make it equivalent to what the Iranian President is saying.

You folk are just too hard-hearted! Don't you realize that Iran has plenty of problems on it's own! Problems that are the responsibility of the US!

Most Iranians know that the relationship with the US is at the root cause of their problems and that to be solved the nuclear issue needs direct talks with America.

This I know,
'cause the BBC tells me so...
[Link: news.bbc.co.uk...]

I read the letter. Well, to be honest, I skimmed the letter. And he sounds like he's writing based off the leftists' playbook. Everything in that letter would resonate with Kos, I'm sure of it: noting the thousands who died in Iraq, the millions of dollars wasted, the oil, all of it.

He's been watching too much American news lately, methinks.

OT:

A Malaysian Muslim astronaut will go to the International Space Station. Which way does he face to perform his prayers?

Ahmadinejad's ghost writer states:

Liberalism and Western style democracy have not been able to help realize the ideals of humanity. Today these two concepts have failed. Those with insight can already hear the sounds of the shattering and fall of the ideology and thoughts of the liberal democratic systems.

We increasingly see that people around the world are flocking towards a main focal point – that is the Almighty God. Undoubtedly through faith in God and the teachings of the prophets, the people will conquer their problems. My question for you is: “Do you not want to join them?”

Yes, that's exactly why there's a million plus Iranians in Los Angeles and no Americans in Tehran.

You'd swear an American moonbat college professor wrote that POS!

#11 RC neo-Jew

Would should airdrop copies of The Watch Tower on Tehran. Or Dianetics.

#32 Me

We should

PIMF!

#12 Beagle.

June 6, 1944

"Experts: Allied Invasion of Normandy Hurts Chances for Peace With Germany

Adolph Eichmann Goebbels - AP"

In the same light: A Daily Kos column from the same era.

"President Roosevelt is the real leader of invasion of Poland. Secret US troops actually invaded Poland and blamed it on Germany"

I just read this letter, I fully understand why the Bush admin is brushing this off, it reads like Al Franken trying to play a religious card.

#29 TSI

He'll lose his mind, on live TV.

It's hard to disagree with Spencer here. Notice the repeated references to following Christ -- he constantly addresses Bush as a Christian, the kufr, and invites him to submit. Chilling.

That is, a genuine return to the teachings of prophets, to monotheism and justice, to preserve human dignity

How exactly does hanging an underage female rape victim for the crime of adultery, or caning a twelve year old boy to death for eating a sandwhich during Ramadan work to preserve human dignity?

Ahmadenij(ih)ad is the spokesrat for a government that is pure evil defined. There is absolutely nothing inherent to his insane death cult religion or his fascist theocracy that can demonstrate anything about preserving human dignity to the USA.

His letter is nothing more than the ravings of a madman. GWB should simply rip it into pieces during a press conference.

*spit*

#27 freetoken

BBC accidentally told the truth:

The messianic tone of the letter was picked up on by one hardline Iranian newspaper which said it was similar to invitations by the Prophet Muhammad to pagan leaders asking them to convert to Islam - hardly a flattering comparison for Mr Bush.

I wonder what a "hardline Iranian newspaper" means in Beebspeak?

#30

Hey SoCalJustice! Where you been?

There's a very good online interpretive guide to the hadiths here. You have to be wary of the author, who is connected with Hindu ultra-nationalism and thus not terribly objective. But's more than you're likely to find in one stop elsewhere.

Yeah, I kind of figured it was something like that.

We have a new jihadi working in our lab, wearing a hijab, doing her job effectively and well, but not socializing with us and stuff like that. Since she started, Islamist literature has been appearing in the lunchroom calling us to Allah and she's been asking me lots of questions about the different kinds of Christians and Jews. Today she asked me about Americans. This is what I told her.

"The absolute worst thing anyone can do is underestimate Americans. They fight and bicker among themselves all the time and they are hedonistic and free wheeling but threaten their free, hedonistic, open society and they will (while bickering among themselves about the best way to do it) set about to destroy your society first, down to the last brick in the wall if that is what it take to get you to leave them alone to go about their business. History has proven that smart people don't piss off the USA."

I don't think she believed me.

#13, St. Pancake

ROFL!

#13 St. Pancake

Hey, did you see my posts on the dance hall fire yesterday? It was the Bill Mraz Hall in Houston, a historic polka hall - not the Gruene Hall. The fire was 10/24/05.

9 Van Impe

From WaPo: The letter "is another sign of how the two longtime adversaries may be engaged in a delicate dance towards some kind of contact, after a generation of estrangement," according to Cornwell.

Delicate dance, my eye. This ain't easy listening - it's more Laibach or Rammstein.

Warning - MUSIC will start automatically.

I have an idea for a reply from President Bush:

Deus Vult!

Hmmm?

Spencer, being a smart man, allows (as is the case anytime you're trying to figure out someone's motives) the evaluation can be wrong...

But my money is on his evaluation on this one.

Ahmadinejad is a psycho, but he is a deeply devout psycho and he is playing by the rules as he understands them.

He believes he is obligated to give us a chance to convert before he attacks.

He's taking care of his obligation and doing it in a very public way that will be warmly regarded by his fellows.

That it will also toss up more smoke and confusion as far as reactions in the west no doubt also pleases him.

My bet is the administration blows it and fails yet again to name the enemy (Islam and the desire for conquest central to it). And if they can't bring themselves to do that they can't do the only thing (protect this country) that really makes them different from the dems.

#31

You'd swear an American moonbat college professor wrote that POS!

Ahmadajadine must be a fan of Chomsky (and vice versa).

In comparison, imagine the media reaction if Bush had sent Sleazeface a letter asking him to recognize that Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God, and to join Christians in creating a world of peace. Bush would immediately be declared a raving fundamentalist lunatic.

As he should be if he did so, right?

The rhetoric of both Islamic and Christian fundies is very similar. It seems to me that the clash of civilizations is more about clinging to the past versus embracing the future, rather than East versus West. Which is where I fault the Republican politicians who pander to our own version of backward-looking religiosity.

Sounds like something Dan Rather would write.

#29 The Sanity Inspector

I hope the other astronauts have a sense of humor and say "Towards Mecca? You're praying towards Uranus."

(#41) Ward Cleaver

I've been around - just doing more lurking than posting these days.

How's life?

#49 amused...in iran you could be beheaded for saying that...thank god for the west...lol

I gave up reading the letter at page 9, after the 9/11 conspiracy theory. It envoked horrible visions of Cindy Sh-thead, Alec Baldwin, Nancy Pelosi,...

Since they sound so much alike can we send all of the uber-libs to Iran?

#43 Judith

Wow. You might not want to leave any of your open beverages or food where she can get to them while you're not looking.

That is, assuming you're not called in by a supervisor and fired for daring to speak the truth.

But if not, I'd say start bringing in bacon sandwiches and pork BBQ for lunch (unless you're Jewish, of course).

#40 Beagle

Yup, the so-called "hardline" newspaper and Mr. Spencer both picked up on the same tone.

However, the party line that the letter is some sort of conciliatory jesture is still being repeated by all sorts of online and paper publications, even in the most unlikely of places.

Here is where I get to jump on the dump-on-Bush bandwagon... This war is as much for the heart and mind of our society as anything else (e.g. oil.) While Bush is a good cheerleader, a decent clutch player, and most likely one of the more decent men that have occupied the whitehouse over the last century or so, he is completely not up to this task. The Churchill/Roosevelt type, though perhaps not very nice in person, is needed here.

#52 SCJ

Doing well. The wife is in remission, so life is good.

#46 Cattt

How about the tried and true "Nuts" as a response.

The MSM is so confused. Could you imagine what their reaction would be if Bush had sent a letter to Ahmadinejad, quoting verses out of the Bible and asking him to choose Jesus as his personal savior? This psychopath sees himself as the new Saladin for Islam. I say, let this idiot attack and then we destroy him and his regime.

#59, meet #16.

Oops. Sory about that target="_blank".

#49 amused

As he should be if he did so, right?

No. It would be highly inappropriate for Bush to do that, but I wouldn't put it in "raving lunatic" territory. Bush doesn't claim to have a halo emanating from his head when he gives speeches, he doesn't advocate the eradication of races, nations, or religions, etc etc. And if he has any end-times fundamentalist beliefs, he's done a very good job of keeping them personal and not letting them affect his job as President of the US. If anything, he's way too friendly and gosh-howdy about Islam for my taste.

Any other questions?

I'm honestly not sure about this interpretation.

The hadith says:

When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action.

Polytheists have to convert or die. Monotheists are allowed to practice their own religions as long as they accept dhimmitude and pay the jizya.

Last time I looked, Christianity was a monotheistic religion...

LOL nice letter... what, typed on an old IBM Selectric? You'd think a "member of the Nuclear Club" would be hip to Microsoft Word. :)

I'm having trouble with my e-mail, but could someone please forward Spencer's article to John Gibson over at Fox. He seems to be more inclined to cover this kind of thing than anyone else. Today he covered some information that showed that Saddam was enough of a WMD to justify the invasion so I'm sure he'd be interested in this intrepretation of Iran's letter. Thanks.

This is a da’wa, a call to accept Islam, and in one of the Hadith Mohammed commands his followers to issue this call before taking offensive action.

I accept Islam for what it is: bloodthirsty men who take out their frustrations on women.

I beat him to "offensive action"

(#57) Ward Cleaver

Excellent news. Thank god.

#63 Amy, not according to islam. Because of Jesus the Christ(as described in the Gospels) and the Trinity, Christians are the worst of the worst polytheists.

My favorite part of the letter is where the loon sarcastically says

Students are saying that sixty years ago such a country did not exist. They show old documents and globes and say try as we have, we have not been able to find a country named Israel.

The point, of course, is that Israel didn't exist before, therefore it is illegitimate and shouldn't exist now.

I wonder if they've tried to find a country called "Iran" on old maps. I can't seem find that, either. I guess Ahmadinejad is saying Iran has to be destroyed, too.

[Link: alia.ir...]

In this whitewash, the dhimmi author even describes it in even softer tones:

"In places, he strikes a soft, almost fatherly stance. On its first page, Ahmadinejad strikes a tone of a man who is troubled by a friend's actions and decides to sit down and give him a little advice.

He later casts himself as a humble teacher and man of faith who mingles with students and common people."

[Link: news.yahoo.com...]

Amazing...and I am sure we are going to be subjected to lots more of this from the MSM here.

Yet, even as the dhimmi MSM and BBC will use this to castigate the "arrogance" of Bush, the Saudis and Kuwaitis do not appear to be fooled.

Roger #68

I disagree. Christians and Jews are considered monotheists by Muslims.

68 Roger,

No actually Christians and Jews are considered monotheistic by Muslims.

#72 mich-again & Amy

Qur’an 5:72 “They are surely infidels who blaspheme and say: ‘God is Christ, the Messiah, the son of Mary.’ But the Messiah only said: ‘O Children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’”Qur’an 5:73 “They are surely disbelievers who blaspheme and say: ‘God is one of three in the Trinity for there is no Ilah (God) except One, Allah. If they desist not from saying this (blasphemy), verily a grievous penalty will befall them—the disbelievers will suffer a painful doom.”
Qur’an 4:171 “O People of the Book! Do not exaggerate in your religion; nor speak lies of Allah. The Messiah, Christ Jesus, the son of Mary was (no more than) a messenger of Allah, and His Word, which He bestowed on Mary, and a Spirit proceeding from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. Say not ‘Trinity.’ Cease and Desist: (it is) better for you: for Allah is one Ilah (God). (Far it is removed from him of) having a son. To Him belong all things in the heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs. The Messiah is proud to be a slave of Allah, as are the angels, those nearest. Those who disdain His worship and are arrogant. He will gather them all together unto Himself to (answer)…. He will punish with a painful doom; Nor will they find, besides Allah, any to protect or save them.”

#43 Judith

Leaving religious literature for others at work is a violation of laws to prevent a hostile work environment. I'd bitch to high heaven.

Also I have asked Muslims and they have told me Christians are polytheists who are failures. The koran says Jesus[koranic version] will be a witness against his own disciples and all Christians. It says Jesus submits to allah.

The White House should put out a press release that says, "The President of Iran offered the United States an olive branch, promising a bond of mutual respect if only the United States adopts policies consistent with the religious values of Islam. This would entail the Congress enacting laws requiring women to dress modestly and remain at home when not escorted by a husband or male relative, and requiring homosexuals to be put to death. President Bush politely but forcefully declined President Ahmadinejad's offer."

It's interesting that at least on the face of it, he seems to think that if he converts George Bush then somehow we'll all go along with it. If George were to convert to Islam he'd be gone within 2 minutes and somebody like me would take over. Of course Ahmadinejad knows that, but the staggering thing is that his Islamic audience apparently doesn't. Otherwise he wouldn't write this stuff.

I suspect that this is a prelude to an attack.

#49 amused

"The rhetoric of both Islamic and Christian fundies is very similar."

Prove it.

"It seems to me that the clash of civilizations is more about clinging to the past versus embracing the future, rather than East versus West."

Your world history knowledge is severely lacking.

"Which is where I fault the Republican politicians who pander to our own version of backward-looking religiosity."

Today's mainstream christianity has little difficulty dealing with modern ideas such as science, social changes and the like. I don't see too many fundie women wearing a sack over their bodies either. Also blaming a whole political party and accusing them of religious fundamentalism is just plain stupid.

I take it you are a Democrat then? Or a closet moonbat?

43 Judith 5/9/2006 02:42PM PDT

"The absolute worst thing anyone can do is underestimate Americans. They fight and bicker among themselves all the time and they are hedonistic and free wheeling but threaten their free, hedonistic, open society and they will (while bickering among themselves about the best way to do it) set about to destroy your society first, down to the last brick in the wall if that is what it take to get you to leave them alone to go about their business. History has proven that smart people don't piss off the USA."

I don't think she believed me.

Brilliant. And true.

You should steer her to some of the documentaries about, say, the firebombing of certain German cities in WW2, which caused more damage and death than the A-bomb. And some of the goings on in the old Wild West.

#49 amused 5/9/2006 02:47PM PDT

The rhetoric of both Islamic and Christian fundies is very similar.

Dear Amused,

For your convenience, I have highlighted the brain malfunctions that most closely resemble the ones you recently made on the topic of comparisons of religions:

Irrelevant Comparisons
Example: A hundred dollars is a good price for a toaster, compared to buying a Ferrari.

Failure to Recognise what's Important
Example: My house is on fire! Quick, call the post office and tell them to hold my mail!

Faulty Pattern Recognition
Example: His last six wives were murdered mysteriously. I hope to be wife number seven.

Reading this letter, I think that it's plain as day that Ahmedinejad's staffers lurk at Kos and the DU. 3/4ths of the letter is made up of garden-variety contradictory, romantic bullshit leftist talking points. "Save the Children, Help the People, everybody hates you, 100,000 dead, blah blah blah".

Nice letter. A hint at Holocaust Denial up front, a "convert or die" chaser, with a bunch of leftist garbage in the middle. And yet, I'm not surprised that gas prices dipped a little yesterday on the "hope" represented by this letter. We really are That Stupid, aren't we? Sad. Just fcking sad.

Amishjeans is right. They can win this showdown without any difficulty, and in the end, when it's time for the West to Submit, we'll invite them right in through the front gates.

What ever happened to Survival Instinct? Why have we lost it?

Today's Varvel cartoon from the Indy Star:
Ahem...I heard you want to wipe us off the map.

Also this recent one:
We need a handout.

Gary's one of the good guys.

The only thing that stops me believing that this may be is a prelude to an attack, is the fact he would be pole-vaulting over his staunchest supporters, those in this country opposed to a war with Iran, or in fact any future war -- these are the people already accusing the current Administration of warmongering, and saying the U.S already has plans to go to war with Iran.

[I guess by the time I finished typing that sentence it doesn't really matter if you pole-vault, jump, skip or side-step if you honestly believe it is your duty, given by God to unleash chaos on Gods behalf.]

#84 xenophobic, gotta get the mahdi out of the well!

In light of that, this letter could be — but is not necessarily — a prelude to an attack.

It more a prelude to ramping up intimidation tactics and the threat of violent protests against soft targets and political action groups who are on the fence about the RoP and the War on Terror. They Mafia extortion and intimidation phaze will now commence to cause weak groups to cave in. It has already started in many ways such as Borders books and other companies suppressing the Danish Cartoons with a country that is supposed to Champion free speech.

A quote from Ayn Rand - The Fountainhead - 1943

"I would give the greatest sunset in the world for one sight of New York's skyline," she wrote in The Fountainhead , "The sky over New York and the will of man made visible. What other religion do we need?" she asked. "I feel that if a war came to threaten this, I would throw myself into space, over the city, and protect these buildings with my body."

Ayn Rand - 1905-1982

#63 Amy

Actually Christianity isn't a monotheistic religion, it's a trinitarian religion.

They just talked about this on Fox, gave it all of 5 minutes, no hadith reference, no mention of dawa, though some metion of the 12th imam.

Funny thing is they did all agree he was 'out there', but they just can't/won''t make the FREAKING CONNECTION!

He's 'out there' because he's a good, practicing muslim!

Idiots. Pick up a fucking book.

#87 peabody

3 manifestations, one god. Monotheistic.

#89 Orson Buggy, according to Christian thought. The Trinity is polytheistic according to islam and the koran.

#90 Roger

They are wrong. What more can I say? LOL

#91 Orson Buggy, I know! Their batting average is miniscule. See 76 & 73 above to see how far they take it.

After reading his letter, I felt I had just read the talking points for the Democratic Party. Once again, liberals and our enemies are of the same mind. Bastards!

Europe hasn't lost it's survival instincts, it just thinks it will be numero uno if America takes the first few nukes, and blows Iran away. Israel should drop a few hints that they think Europe is behind Iran getting nukes.. bought and paid for by european anti-semites, and if Israel gets nuked it's going to be sure to shoot some of their nukes at France and Germany just as a way to die with grace.

/ let all the snakes come out of the mud

The president isn't going to compose a long answer. He cannot thus dignify the letter he received, and the outrageous charges made in it.

But someone should prepare a careful and thoughtful answer.

Point: There are errors of fact in the letter. 911 was not the work of the CIA or Mossad. No 100 thousand innocent Iraqi civilians have been killed by hostile action of U.S. forces. Nor, for that matter, a tenth of that number. Far from seeing her waters destroyed, Iraq has had a restoration of water flow to the domains of the marsh Arabs, and with it, a restoration of life and hope in that realm. And on and on.

Many other points could be made. Whoever responds needs to take an honest swing at the task of making them in such a way that the Iranian president will find it worth his time to read it and ponder the points made. A tall order, but we do have an obligation to give it a try.

#91 Orson Buggy:

They are wrong. What more can I say?

You do realize that it makes no difference whether they're right or wrong on this point, I hope?

Their actions are going to be based on their beliefs, not ours, after all.

85 Roger

gotta get the mahdi out of the well!

My theory is that Saddam was the Mahdi that arose from out of a well after a very long absence bringing joy to many.

#97 mich-again, the spider hole arising eh?

#96 lobo91

So long as they realize that I will shoot the first SOB that tells me I have to be a goddamn muslim.

#43 Judith

Hey, Judith, way to go! Wish I could do stuff like that, but in whackademia, I'd be hauled off by the sensitivity police before I finished.

Makes me wonder if the Iranians are about to spill over the border into Iraq in full force to "liberate Iraq from the Zionist Crusader Infidels" etc...

But then IIRC the Chinese weren't all that "expected" to help the North Koreans in the Korean War either...

#101 anotherindyfilmguy

[But then IIRC the Chinese weren't all that "expected" to help the North Koreans in the Korean War either... ]

Or get their asses handed to them by the US military.

Prophet Ibrahim's life is a sign and an example to us. His trust in Allah and willingness to submit to Him with the sacrifice of his dearest possession was a severe trial turned manifest example. If one sees the esoteric view of this series of events, it is readily evident that when Ibrahim was willing to fulfil Allah's command of giving up his dear son, Allah did not really need or want his son as Ismail had been granted to him in old age 11:69-71, - it was a test. And Ismail, by readily agreeing to his father's need to obey the command of Allah, relieved the burden Ibrahim must have felt. Both father and son submitted to the Will of Allah.

Then Allah gives a hundred-fold...

isaac not ismail...please understand..it makes all the difference.

Everybody get your fallout shelters ready.

What d'you suppose he's gonna try and hit first?

In case you thought this couldn't get any weirder, there’s another Iranian letter—actually, a memo. Time covers it here.

#79 Orson Buggy

"The rhetoric of both Islamic and Christian fundies is very similar."

'Prove it.'

Go to the websites for Falwell, Robertson, Dobson, then go to Wikipedia and look up end times, dispensationalism, millenium...

"It seems to me that the clash of civilizations is more about clinging to the past versus embracing the future, rather than East versus West."

'Your world history knowledge is severely lacking.'

Not talking about world history, the clash is happening in the present.

"Which is where I fault the Republican politicians who pander to our own version of backward-looking religiosity."

'Also blaming a whole political party and accusing them of religious fundamentalism is just plain stupid.'

Okay, a qualifier, -some- Republican politicians. The culture wars are all about pandering to fundie attitudes. Falwell, Robertson and Dobson are courted by Republicans. The rhetoric in their websites and TV shows is of the same flavor as the Islamists.

We have more to lose to our own version of backwardness than anything their nuts can do to us.

95 lostlakehiker 5/9/2006 04:26PM PDT

The president isn't going to compose a long answer. He cannot thus dignify the letter he received, and the outrageous charges made in it.

But someone should prepare a careful and thoughtful answer.

Point: There are errors of fact in the letter. 911 was not the work of the CIA or Mossad. No 100 thousand innocent Iraqi civilians have been killed by hostile action of U.S. forces. Nor, for that matter, a tenth of that number. Far from seeing her waters destroyed, Iraq has had a restoration of water flow to the domains of the marsh Arabs, and with it, a restoration of life and hope in that realm. And on and on.

Many other points could be made. Whoever responds needs to take an honest swing at the task of making them in such a way that the Iranian president will find it worth his time to read it and ponder the points made. A tall order, but we do have an obligation to give it a try.

Very interesting post.

I think a response is proper etiquette.

If I were writing it, off the cuff, I think I would tell this guy he is a religious nut, and his letter reads like a Branch Davidian/Jim Jones/Marshall Applewhite hybrid combination manifesto.

The main thing I got out of reading his letter is that not only is he crazy, he is a simpleton with a 6th grade understanding of America. His letter reads like some kind of cheap sci-fi with an alien observer watching earth writing a sociology text and getting it all wrong.

Crazy but intelligent is one thing... stupid and crazy is another thing altogether. I feel more scared than ever.

#77 stuiec

Brilliant-I love it. :-) But we'd have to explain it slowly for the MSM.

We have more to lose to our own version of backwardness than anything their nuts can do to us.

That's a bunch of baloney. Our nuts are protected by the Constitution of the USA. Their nuts despise our Freedoms.

My initial reaction to the news of Ahmadinejad's letter was that it was a well timed bluff, a public relations stunt, to buy some time with the international community before they put the final touches on their nuclear program. After reading his letter, my view has changed. This lunatic must truly believe that he is one the Mahdi's "nails" and must truly be preparing the world for the arrival of the last Imam. Shiites believe that the last Imam will appear in the last century before judgment day to rid the world of the "Dajal" or anti-christ and create the "Umma", an entire planet united under the banner of Islam (I shudder at the mere thought of it). This letter is modeled after the "Aslem Taslam" letters (Aslem Taslam = Embrace Islam and you will be saved) that were sent by Mohamed's followers before the Muslim conquests from North Africa to South East Asia. When Ahmadinejad claimed he saw "a blue glow" enveloping the UN room as he was reciting his speech, he was neither high on cracks nor bluffing. He must truly believe it! I thought he was a schemming liar, now I think he is actually truly nuts. A nut job about to acquire nuclear bombs. I'm afraid that every minute we spend debating the issue of attacking Iran's nuclear facilities is a minute that brings us closer towards a nuclear active Iran. And to quote Mark Steyn "Iran with a nuclear bomb is a suicide bomber with a radioactive belt".

To quote a US congressman "maybe we should nuke meca."

#106 Amused

So, preventing Howard Stern from saying the f-word on public airways is the same as 19 thugs killing 3,000 Americans, or sawing the heads off of Christian schoolgirls, suicide bombings, and other atrocities?

#106 amused

The rhetoric in their websites and TV shows is of the same flavor as the Islamists.

Do they promote beheadings, suicide bombings, executions, and any other form of MURDER? HUH!?!?

Get your head out of the sand your ass!

In fact, they promote peace and family values. Some people have a problem with figuring out between good and evil, and apparently you are one of them.

1939 is fast approaching. This letter is written by a crazed psychopath. This ranks up there with the Unibomber's Manifesto. The sad and depressing thing is not so much the letter as is the reaction by the MSM, the Left and Experts. They all believe that Bush is passing up an opportunity to "open" talks with the Iranian regime. They see Bush as the fault for this problem. Not one of them came out and said that this letter was the ramblings of a crazed individual who makes Sadaam look like Ghandi. Who cares if the President of Iran and his government are all insane? They claim that if we would just talk to them and "reason" with them, we would come to some kind of agreement. This is not looking good.

This idiot and many Muslims like him, see the recent events as a struggle between Islam and the West. This IS a Crusade to them. Until the West wakes up to this reality, things are not going to get better in the world.

I wonder what the document was typed on? Looks like we may have found Dan Ra^ther's 1972 IBM Selectrix.

#114 AngryAmerican

amused has JDS; Jesus Derangment Syndrome

How could it be (look at the PDF) that such a letter as this (which I agree with Spencer, would have to be, if authentic, Da 'wa, an invitation to Islam before a formal decloration of war.} look like it was typed on an IBM Selectric?

Surely to Jesus (PBUH... How precious is that?)these people, who are on the verge of the atomic bomb have, at least, advanced to Word Perfect.

Now I am really creeped out. The fact that the man is a raving lunatic and wants to completely destroy Israel is a given - and to tell you the truth, half the world wants to do the same thing, so there is nothing new here. But the fact that he is trying to convert the President of the United States to Islam, and will go to war with America if he doesn't agree...

are you guys getting nervous, or is it just me?

#47 KG

There are quite a few posters here on lgf who steadfastly take the position that islam is not the enemy, and that islam has been hijacked by a handful of extremists, and that our focus should be on that handful. Some of those posters get down-and-dirty and start name-calling if someone says islam is the enemy. Contrary to overwhelming evidence to the contrary, many of those posters say islam is actually our ally in the "WOT" (how anyone can declare war on a tactic is something I never could quite grasp).

islam is not our friend. islam is incompatible with freedom and democracy. islam exists to subjugate or conquer all on-moslems.

#63 Amy

I know some islamists consider Catholics, for instance, to be polytheists, because of the Trinity.

#115 Kevin Shook

"This IS a Crusade to them. Until the West wakes up to this reality, things are not going to get better in the world."

Yup. And the sad thing is, there ar emany in the West who still won't realize it even as their heads are being sawed off. There are none so blind as those who do not see.

#120 - yes, I agree, and I'm deeply worried about our global refusal to see this Hellish religion for what it is, a deviate corruption created by a pedophile (piss be on him) but actually instigated by Satan.

As said above, it is 1939 ... but with a horrible difference in magnitude. These barbarians are now spread around the world, with who knows how many ready to commit horrific acts. And the world closes it eyes while the animals pursue weapons capable of killing millions in a flash. Hitler took much longer to kill his millions.

Sometimes I've wondered if there really are demons, but Islam has at least clarified that. An intelligent look at Hamas, Al Quada, this Iranian nutjob, and countless others, leaves one to realize they are urged on by ignorance, hatred, and quite apparently, demonic influences.

#120 hiker

Thanks for the friendly heads up. =)

The scent of fear in the air everywhere is thick (and growing thicker by leaps and bounds). And with that fear the human impulse to find any alternative (no matter how irrational). I know that my mind skitters away from actually looking at the reality of our circumstances for more than a few moments at a time and that's with intentionally trying to not avert my eyes.

#110 neverquit

"We have more to lose to our own version of backwardness than anything their nuts can do to us."

'That's a bunch of baloney. Our nuts are protected by the Constitution of the USA. Their nuts despise our Freedoms.'

Well, more importantly, WE are protected from THEM by our constitution. But it does bother me that the Bill O'Reillys here spit out the word 'secular' like it's something dirty.

#113 Caliredst8r

"So, preventing Howard Stern from saying the f-word on public airways is the same as 19 thugs killing 3,000 Americans, or sawing the heads off of Christian schoolgirls, suicide bombings, and other atrocities?"

No, but a house divided cannot stand. Perhaps if the current administration had spent more time on national defense of our ports and borders, rather than the culture wars, the events of 9/11 may have turned out differently?

#114 AngryAmerican

"The rhetoric in their websites and TV shows is of the same flavor as the Islamists."

'Do they promote beheadings, suicide bombings, executions, and any other form of MURDER? HUH!?!?'

Actually, yes - Pat Robertson recently advocated the murder of Hugo Chavez, president of Venezuela. And then there's boys kissing, can't have that, and turning back the clock on women's rights.

#117 Roger

"amused has JDS; Jesus Derangment Syndrome"

Heh, good one. My original point was:

Islam: Fear God, read the Koran
Christianity: Fear God, read the Bible.

Neither offer a real solution, and both are looking backwards.

How about:

Progressive (liberals): Embrace rationality, take personal responsibility.

Note that the Iranian president contrasted his part of the world, conservative theoracies, to liberal democracies. I'm just sayin'...

Andrew Sullivan's ongoing discussion of 'Christianism' does a better job of 'splaining things than I.

[Link: time.blogs.com...]

Search his site for 'Christianist' too.

All theocracies are bad, m'kay?

Islamic Imperialism is the enemy

#120 hiker

Yup. What you said. There are some people who just don't get that Islam is about Love Allah Or Die. The only Muslims that don't really believe that are apostates-like zombie says.

Seeing as he calls Texas "home", Bush's response should be in an audio format. The Degüello...