War would 'open the gates of hell,' Arab nations say

LA Times via SF Chronicle ^ | 9-6-02 | Michael Slackman, Jailan Zayan

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Cairo -- After months of expressing their individual opposition to a U.S. attack on Iraq, Arab leaders offered a united front Thursday, declaring their "total rejection of the threat of aggression on Arab nations, especially Iraq."

The statement was issued at the end of a two-day meeting of the Arab League, the 22-member interest group that has often found it extraordinarily difficult to join forces behind a single agenda.

But propelled by anger over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Arab leaders have notified the White House of the region's profound opposition to an attack.

The only nod to U.S. demands was a renewed call for Iraq to allow the return of U.N. weapons inspectors to the country.

"If this war takes place, we see it against a backdrop of terror and anger in the Middle East," said Amr Moussa, the league's general secretary. "People are angry and frustrated and cannot accept what is happening in the occupied territories. We will continue to work to avoid a military confrontation or a military action, because we believe that it will open the gates of hell in the Middle East."

[Puppage]

Those gates were flung open on 9/11/2001

Sitting back & doing nothing will result in more of the same. Remember your history...it's the best teacher of all.

[rhombus]

:...we believe that it will open the gates of hell in the Middle East."
Got the location right...
"In the land of Mordor, where the shadows lie."

[Joe Bonforte]

That has created an environment in which Washington says Hussein must be eliminated because he is a threat to his neighbors, even as all of those neighbors have joined together, at least publicly, to declare their opposition.

It's a safe bet that when a large number of people agree on something, it's in their self-interest to do so. Hussein threatens his Arab neighbors, but they still don't want America forcing him out. They must feel that as bad as Hussein is, the alternative of a possibly free Iraqi people, supported by America as they build a democratic Arab nation, would be worse.

And they're right, because it would probably mean the eventual end of most repressive Arab regimes, particularly the odious House of Saud, and the fundamentalists in Iran. So while this paragraph make it superficially look like Arab leaders are going against their better judgement for some higher principle, in fact they are operating in their own self interest in trying to keep America out of Iraq.

"The world cannot accept a weakened role for the United Nations," said Alawi, whose country is the site of a U.S. air base and arms depot. "Those who are thinking they can impose a new law for their own benefit, they are pushing the world into instability and chaos."

And here we see the confirmation. What they are really concerned about is instability in the region, which might lead to their own demise. But as one columnist (I forget who - Glenn Harlan Reynolds, maybe?) said about instability as an outcome of a war with Iraq, "That's not a bug, it's a feature." One of the secondary reasons to take out Hussein and try to forge a free Iraq is the potential domino effect it would have in the region to destabilize repressive regimes that feed the terrorist machine.

Despite their pledge of support for Iraq's diplomatic stance, the foreign ministers did not discuss whether they would lend military assistance to Iraq if it were attacked. The ministers "considered this issue too hypothetical, something they shouldn't go into," said Hisham Youssef, the league's spokesman.

In this, the article's concluding paragraph, we see that it's all blather anyway. They'll gripe because they perceive some risk, but actually fighting against us is an even bigger risk. So they'll do nothing more than gripe. Let 'em.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

War would 'open the gates of hell,' Arab nations say

The gates will need to be flung wide open because massive numbers of Islamic fanatics will have to be ushered in.

[Shryke]

I value this group like I value this UN BS occurring in South Africa:

If they were all blown up by a terrorist during their summit, would there be ANY negative impact on the world?

[Arkinsaw]

Not only will the gates of hell be opened but the shuttle trains down there are going to be running overtime also.

[mc5cents]

Meet the gatekeeper.

[L,TOWM]

"At my command, unleash Hell"- General Maximus President Bush

[Texbob]

You have to open the gates of hell to go after the Devil.

[Sweet Hour of Prayer]

Gee, I thought murdering 3,000 Americans last September 11th opened the gates of hell. The arab citizens dancing with joy in their cities need to realize that for every murderous action they conduct there will be an equally horrifying reaction. Saddam has been plotting, developing, and financing war and murder for over a decade. The Iraqi people need to understand that they will be punished for failing to remove this threat to all humanity.

Why on earth should be wait to respond to another attack? Do you think that Saddam will leave a blatant calling card to announce his participation in murder? Lets act now instead of forming another committee to determine why we were caught "short-sighted" after another atrocity is committed. Daschle is tying up homeland security and trying to thwart the Iraqi neutralization. Who's side is he on?

[Vetnet]

So be it....

[Robe]

As I posted Yesterday...

"Open the gates of Hell"

And the US MARINES HAVE THE WD-40

[Wolfie]

Dude, you're harshing my mellow.

[Paradox]

Gates of hell? Oh yes, we'll open them and usher them on through, like we did to this guy:

"Highway of Death"

[Admin Moderator]

How about trying that again without the water pipe comment? Thanks, AM

[Hemingway's Ghost]

I couldn't agree with you more, Kevin. Thanks for the ping. On this issue we share common ground.

Unleash the "gates of hell," you g-damn savages. We'll be ready.

[ZULU]

The Islamic World IS the "Gates of Hell" and they opened on September 11, 2001. What is this idiot saying?

[Thinkin' Gal]

War would 'open the gates of hell,' Arab nations say

Hillary, your ride is waiting.

[DManA]

He's saying he's in daily contact with the Great Satan that is NOT the USA.

[Leisler]

"Gates of Hell," is a bad translation from arabic. It is more acurate to say, "Lid from septic tank", or "portal( door ) to outhouse".

Anyways, how could one ever tell?

[tpaine]

How weird you are kevin. -- Virtually the only time I NEED to argue the constitutional position on the 'drug war', -- is when you anti-freep creeps are on some tread arguing AGAINST observing the rule of law & our constitution.

And time will tell as to whether "the Islamic threat and its potential consequences", --- or violations of our constitution by our own government, --- lead to the greatest threat to our life & liberty.
At the moment, the latter wins, -- the war on drugs has a far greater casualty count than the war on terror, and is a far more likely to effect personal liberty.

-- Of course a ~domestic~ version of the war on terrorism would blend the two together nicely, would it not? -- Your little rant is great agit-prop groundwork for such schemes, kevin. -- Keep up the good work.

[Steve0113]

War would 'open the gates of hell,' Arab nations say

You've been acting mighty rash
and talking that trash -
let me give you some advice.

You can crawl back in your hole
like a dirty little mole,
but now it's time to pay the price.

- Charlie Daniels

[dcwusmc]

it's ironic about KC... the Arabs and other terrs can kill us but only our very own FedGov can shred the Constitution and take our liberties. Honor the Constitution and enforce the Bill of Rights and I do believe that the terrorist problem will resolve itself in VERY short order. Then the gates of Hell can open only to receive its own spawn and not engulf the rest of the world. Yet KC seems to think that the only way we can fight terrorists is to simultaneously conduct a war on Americans and the Constitution. He's as weird as they come.