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| Arabia |
| Saudi Cleric Blasts U.S. Consulate Attack |
| 2004-12-08 |
| Saudi Arabia's highest religious authority on Wednesday condemned as a sin the deadly shooting rampage at a U.S. consulate, and local newspapers reported one of the slain assailants was a former employee of the nation's religious police. The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh reopened Wednesday, two days after militants stormed into the inner courtyard of a U.S. consulate in this port city firing their guns, grabbing human shields and killing five people. Four of the attackers were killed. U.S. officials warned more attacks were possible, and the injured spoke of assailants opening fire and hunting for victims with shouts of "Where are the Americans?" Grand Mufti Abdul-Aziz al-Sheik said in a statement that anyone who enters the kingdom with the permission of its leaders has a promise of security and should not be attacked. "What happened on Monday regarding the storming of the U.S. consulate in Jiddah, using weapons and explosives, killing innocent souls, petrifying secure ones, and undermining security in the kingdom are all forbidden acts and grand sins," al-Sheik said. As Saudi Arabia's most senior cleric, the mufti's words carry significant weight among Saudis, though his views normally wouldn't diverge far from the official government line. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 Of course he condemns the attack, the attackers failed to kill any Americans. |
| Posted by: Scott R 2004-12-08 6:36:06 PM |
| #2 The total article is a beautiful work of making the MK look to be so shocked at who was responsible for attack. Other comments of the past few days on the attack have pointed out that if the guy had been a muttawa (religious cop), then he had to have done something to a superior to get fired; thus "extremist views". Protocol of Zion extremist views are perfectly welcome, however. Other pearls: He was released, then disappeared. Families weren't accepting condolences. Nice contrast to Paleo bombers families. Etc. Etc. Last week while my car was being fixed, I was talking to the Palestinian family that owns the shop. A frank discussion. "Bargouti (one in prison) is stupid. He's in jail. Paleos can't vote for a killer./ Saudi has plenty of $50/barrel oil revenues to fix their security/religious problems once and for all./ You know, Mike, Arabs are crazy." Slowly but surely, the tide is turning. Just keep up pressure, W, Rummy, and Condi. |
| Posted by: chicago mike 2004-12-08 1:19:45 PM |
| #1 Dare I hope that this article captures the entire meaning of his condemnation? No doubt Americans would not qualify as "innocent souls"... |
| Posted by: mjh 2004-12-08 12:34:11 PM |