Tancredo supporting his base.
Posted on 07/18/2005 10:58:49 PM PDT by Checkers
The Tancredo Blunder
Donald Sensing has all the links that really matter on the Tancredo blunder. (HT: StonesCryOut.) Pastor Sensing notes that I corrected the first post to specifically note that Congressman Tancredo talked of "bombing" Mecca, not "nuking" Mecca. The actual audio is available to anyone now at the website for WFLA 540 in Orlando. Note two things. First, Congressman Tancredo said that if we determined that "extremist fundamentalist Muslims" attacked the U.S. with nukes, then we should bomb Mecca. Why, he should be asked, if "extremist fundamentalist" Muslims are guilty would we declare war on all Muslims? Why make the distinction about "extremist, fundamentalist" Muslims if the distinction doesn't matter in our response. Second, the Congressman also said "the most draconian measures" should be on the table." He didn't say "nuke," but it is a fair inference.
Tancredo is no doubt being inundated with "Stand tall Tom!" calls and e-mails from the anti-Islam crowd. This is a fringe opinion, but its supporters are not afraid of voicing it, much like the pro-Durbin remarks crowd on the left fringe urged Durbin to stand tall when he compared the American military to Nazis and Pol Pot's killers. This creates a problem for Tancredo: He will offend this very loud portion of his support by regretting and retracting his remarks which he surely must do, and the sooner the better.
The remarks he made are a positive disservice to the United States, for all the reasons Durbin's were. He has to retract them. And he ought to apologize to every Muslim soldier, sailor, airman and Marine for suggesting that the way to respond to an attack on America is to attack their faith.
I have been hearing from people who urge that Tancredo is just voicing the updated version of the MAD doctrine which kept the USSR at bay through the long years of the Cold War. That's silly. Destroying Mecca wouldn't destroy Islam. It would enrage and unify Islam across every country in the world where Muslims lived.
Let me be blunt: There is no strategic value to bombing Mecca even after a devastating attack on the U.S. In fact, such an action would be a strategic blunder without historical parallel, except perhaps Hitler's attack on Stalin. Anyone defending Tancredo's remarks has got to make a case for why such a bombing would be effective.
Take down the Syrian regime? You bet. Replace the House of Saud? Fine. Bomb every nuclear facility in Tehran? Absolutely. The US would respond to a savage attack with fury --but purposeful fury. Bombing Mecca would be the opposite of purposeful fury.
Those who support him have to explain what the strategic value of such a response would be. There is none.
UPDATE: More at CaptainsQuarters, RovingTheologian OneClearCall, OpaqueLucidity Brainster's Bogus Gold and Mark Daniels.
I want to be very clear on this. No responsible American can endorse the idea that the U.S. is in a war with Islam. That is repugnant and wrong, and bloggers and writers and would-be bloggers and writers have to chose sides on this, especially if you are a center-right blogger. The idea that all of Islam is the problem is a fringe opinion. It cannot be welcomed into mainstream thought because it is factually wrong. If Tancredo's blunder does not offend you, then you do not understand the GWOT. Yoni Tidi is a frequent and popular guest on my program, a deeply religious Jew and a retired major from the Israeli security services. On the program tonight he condemned the idea of attacking Mecca or any other target that is "Muslim" as opposed to "terrorist-supporting." We are not in a war with devout Muslims. We are in a war with Muslims who think that their faith compels them to kill non-believers and the nations that support those extremists.
A SCOTUS nomination will sweep Congressman Tancredo's remarks from the headlines, but I hope center-right bloggers will stand up and be counted on this issue. And I really hope that Congressman Tancredo, a fundamentally good man, will appear and regret his comments in unequivocal terms. Congressman Tancredo has seen the aftermath of Islamist terrorism up close when he visited Beslan. He knows the cost of encouraging such violence. I believe he will want to make clear that the vast majority of Muslims do not support that kind of butchery.
Check the int'l coverage much less anything outside of talk shows and so far, close to nothing about Tom's comment anywhere.
Much mildew about nothing, imo.
"When you get back to Earth you might want to go pick up a copy of the Koran and start reading."
Are we at war with the 1 billion people that are members of the Islamic religion?
Depends if you believe that they actually follow the Koran or not.
"Nuking Mecca sounds good to me."
Although may not be enough to stop the murderous jihadists.
Tancredo for President 2008/2012.
Though I wouldn't put Tancredo's comments in the same category as Durbin's ... but it's up there with what Newsweek and Isikoff did
"Tom got 13.5%, btw."
If you're right, I stand corrected. I had conceded I wasn't sure of the 10% number off the top of my head.
%13.5 doesn't strike me as a viable result; it's down there with Gary Coleman and the pornstar.
"OOPs. I forgot, you're ,, gasssp, one of them.. lol"
?
"Depends if you believe that they actually follow the Koran or not."
Was that a yes or a no?
I also suspect you/your missionary friend are about right...also I have heard that Islam is a very "de-centralized" religion...ie. Imam's have great regional/local power, and can sway what local Muslims feel/think.
BS. Your argument is the same as the liberals'. You think we can modify our behavior to appease the terrorists. You think if only we acted a certain way they wouldn't hate us so much.
He speaks of a devastating attack on the U.S. If the attack is truly "devastating," what kind of response would you expect? Furthermore, if you wanted to prevent a "devastating" attack by suggesting an equally "devastating" attack of no strategic value to us, then the coupling of "devastating" attacks becomes strategic, unless cooler heads prevail.
-PJ
We are at war with the true believers of Islam. You're naive if you think otherwise. Maybe you'll figure it out when your head is on the chopping block.
I bet if there was a poll over 55% of Americans would agree with Tancredo. But then again we would be anti-islam and crazy people.
Islam is a perverted "religion." It worships the black rock of Mecca. It worships the ancient temple of Baal. It worships the fallen meteriorite of eons past.
Islam is the root of the first Crusade. Islam is the bastard of Abraham.
Islam is the Johnny come lately to the table of the reverent. In short, it is the late and feble answer to Christ from the impotent groin of Baal. Not only does it fall short, it shames the God of Abraham.
Islam is the infidel. Islam is the shameful. Islam is the godforsaken. Islam is the cause of the misery of today's faithful.
If you think I'm telling the truth, you have the answer in your heart.
Protect your family from these miserable criminals. They deserve the bottom of our feet.
Did I say that???
No .. I don't believe I did ... But hey nice try
Look .. we have brave men and women who are tying to fight this WOT and the least thing they need right now is some loud fat mouth Congressman shooting off his mouth
Yes .. If we are ever nuked .. I have no doubt there would be a swift and deadly response
But this talk from Tancredo is not useful nor needed
YEP
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