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Home Front: Culture Wars
Zapatero urges alliance with Arab world
2005-03-26
This article a few days old. Apologies if you've seen it already.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero urged Arab leaders to back his initiative to create an "alliance of civilisations" to crush terrorism and bridge the gap with the West.
"In fact, you're welcome to use al-Andalus to build that bridge. We understand it has sentimental value for you."
"We are in favour of a constructive dialogue between civilisations, peoples and religion," Zapatero said as he addressed the opening session of an Arab League summit in the Algerian capital. Everything must be done to "dominate misunderstandings between the Western world and Islam," he said.
"Misunderstandings." Check.
The goal of setting up an "alliance of civilisations" is aimed at forging ahead "toward consolidating a more just international order," Zapatero said.
"A more just international order." Check.
Zapatero unveiled the idea last September at the United Nations.
"Only the UN can fix this." Check.
His project is set to breathe new life into trans-Mediterranean dialogue and Barcelona is scheduled to stage a November summit to mark the 10th anniversary of the launching of the so-called Barcelona Process designed to that end. The process foresees the creation of a zone of political stability and economic prosperity, greater cooperation on social, cultural affairs and education, promotion of human rights and a joint fight against terrorism. A further aim is the creation of a trans-Mediterranean free trade zone by 2010.
Noble goals, all. More talk while the boomers run free.
Zapatero also condemned terrorism and said any attempt to link it to Islam "is a very serious error that only serves to multiply misunderstandings ... (and) to erect a wall more mighty than the Berlin Wall".
"Islam is a religion of peace. Anyone who sez different goes on the poop list." Check.
He also called for international support for the Palestinian leadership "to ensure a just peace with Israel".
"It's those damnable Jooos again. We just can't help ourselfs." Check, please.
Posted by:seafarious

#17  Those who say "religion was the opiate of the masses" have forgotten about television!
Posted by: mom   2005-03-26 11:11:19 PM  

#16  @ #12 Mr. Marx?
Posted by: Sobiesky   2005-03-26 7:29:25 PM  

#15  You mean that isn't Mr. Bean?

Zappy is jut paying back for all the help the terrorsts gave him during his election is all....
Posted by: CrazyFool   2005-03-26 6:20:49 PM  

#14  Possible cleanup, aisle 12.

Bring the buckets and the capital letters.
Posted by: Desert Blondie   2005-03-26 5:45:00 PM  

#13  Mr. Marx, I presume? If you stick around for a bit, you'll see that none of us is particularly fond of "holy men" of any persuasion who drive their flocks into paroxysms of hatred and blood feuds.
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-03-26 4:33:14 PM  

#12  islam is not a religion of peace nor is christianity and judeaism they are all political tools to motivate people to do what the clergy rabbi or oman says,
wake up people and see the opium of the masses for what it is.
Posted by: Mr.M   2005-03-26 4:18:40 PM  

#11  My Friend Booty? sounds a little to trendy for me.
Posted by: Bobby Lee   2005-03-26 3:57:29 PM  

#10  with all the same suave charm and intelligence
Posted by: Frank G   2005-03-26 3:16:49 PM  

#9  "Zappy is the one on the right." I can always pick him out because he looks so much like Rowan Atkinson's "Mr. Bean".
Posted by: Sgt. Mom   2005-03-26 3:10:34 PM  

#8  Bouteflika..?.

You know, the horse book for kids.
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-03-26 2:05:46 PM  

#7  I knew that.



Bouteflika..?.
Posted by: Shipman   2005-03-26 1:34:59 PM  

#6  The pic is Zappy on the right shaking hands with the Incredibly Awful Combover otherwise known as President Bouteflika of Algeria.
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-03-26 1:19:03 PM  

#5  Isn't he standing on a box?
Posted by: Mrs. Davis   2005-03-26 12:33:23 PM  

#4  SPOD, Zappy is the one on the right.
Posted by: jn1   2005-03-26 12:31:27 PM  

#3  Zappy is following the Chavez model. You know, the completely wrong one. He also seems to be getting tutelage from Chirac in his clown routine.. He apparently didn't need any help with knowing how to insert his nose up the Arab/Islamist ass crack.

I didn't realize he is physical midget well as a mental one.
Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom   2005-03-26 12:01:23 PM  

#2  To the tune of "The Duke of Plaza-Toro" by Gilbert and Sullivan

In enterprise of martial kind when there was any fighting
He swore to let the enemy win and put it into writing
During the Exodus I think he'd have supported Pharaoh
That overrated craven ignoble man Cobarde Zapatero

And when the issue was if there should be a future for the family
He orderéd a mortal blow to be struck very handily.
He thought if you weren't pure despair your mind was much too narrow
That overrated craven ignoble man Cobarde Zapatero.
Posted by: Korora   2005-03-26 8:28:27 AM  

#1  More diplomatic ties = support for oppressive dictatorships

Deeper economic ties = investment in corrupt oil companies controlled by the dictator's family/tribe.

More cultural ties = Subsidising more radical imams come to preach and preach in Europe's mosques and hiring Arab nationalist intellectuals to lecture European students about the evils of the West and the Zionists.

But it doesn't matter. It's already too late for old Europe. The old order in the Islamic world is crumbling. Zappy can go on pretending that his decrees, his little meaningless initiatives matter. He can go on offering platitudes. That's what Old Europe is about.
Posted by: John in Tokyo   2005-03-26 1:07:12 AM  

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