What does yesterday’s election loss of Spain’s conservative Popular party portend for the war on terror? While evidence is pointing more toward al-Qaida, one can be certain that whoever perpetrated the attacks wanted to instill fear in the Spanish electorate as they went to the polling booth.
This week in a border region of Israel and Jordan, Gen. Tommy Franks and Jack Kemp, joined American business leaders in breaking ground on a joint Jordanian and Israeli center called “Bridging the Rift.”
The horrific bombings in Madrid Spain yesterday killed more than 190 people and injured more than 1,200. This was obviously an al-Qaida operation with 10 simultaneous explosions within Madrid’s transportation system in a diverse country that was part of the coalition in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
If you think the war on terror is about Islam against the West, pay attention to Iraq. Something strange and grave is afoot there. Simultaneous attacks. An al-Qaida signature. Terrorists bringing homicidal carnage on Shiite Muslim shrines and pilgrims, wantonly killing 140-plus and injuring 400 on their holy day of Ashoura.
It was only two months ago that the Saudis were funding radio advertisements throughout the United States on our need as Americans to be patient as they move toward reform and tolerance.
I ran to see Gibson’s Passion this week. It was a most heart-wrenching film with universal themes of Jesus’ compassion. The graphic violence was overdone and more suited for the Dark Ages than 2004.Mass media in all its forms in America has a unique responsibility to guide the nonviolent tenor of religious discourse.
The Passion and recent commentary deserves comment on how Muslims and Islam view Jesus Christ– a prophet of God no different from Moses or Mohammed.
On the Bishop O’Brien verdict
Paul Bremer has now opened the long awaited discussion. Will the new Iraq call itself “an Islamic state?”
This weekend, an American Airlines pilot turned his entire airplane and passengers into an evangelical bus trip in the sky.