Cleric Calls on Bush to Convert to Islam

[Virginia Dare]

SOLO, Indonesia (AP) - A reputed leader of an al-Qaida-linked terror group blamed for deadly bombings across Indonesia on Thursday accused President Bush and Australia's prime minister of waging wars against Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir also called on Bush and Prime Minister John Howard to convert to Islam, saying it was ``the only way to save their souls.''


http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?floc=ns-tos-feat-b-02&idq=/ff/story/0001/20060615/1107320941.htm

[Benhurst]

1. Dear God, don't they have enough murderous crazies already

without adding those two war criminals?

[TexasLawyer]

10. LOL!!!

Good point! :rofl::rofl::rofl:

[MindPilot]

2. Sounds like a good idea to me

since Bush seems to care way more about Iraq that he does the United States.

[meti57b]

7. excellent comment!!

"...bush seems to care way more about Iraq than he does the United States."

I have to work that into conversations with bushies.

I'll probably hear, "we're fighting them over there so we don't have to fight them here."

[Tesha]

3. But if he converts, he can't drink anymore! Translation: Won't happen!(NT)

[bunkerbuster1]

4. I can imagine Chimpy's "humorous" reaction to this suggestion:

"Islam? Do I get me some nookie with that? heh heh heh."

[OwnedByFerrets]

5. The Church of the Almighty Dollar

Doesn't allow conversion to other religions.

[Joe Bacon]

21. Bush BSes about Jesus, but he REALLY worships the Golden Elephant.

Like every other lying Republican, Bush worships the Golden Elephant with his morning prayer:

Oh Almighty dollar
You're all we're really after
'cause of it wasn't for you
We'd be in the Crapper

AMEN

[smirkymonkey]

23. "No, Mr. Bush, but if you blow yourself up in the White House

you will get 72 virgins in Hell." heh..heh just kidding :evilgrin:

[fshrink]

6. It's like a PCP user trying to convert a crack user.

[yellowcanine]

8. It will take more than converting to Islam to save Bush's soul. He has

a lot to answer for, come Judgement Day.

[hogwyld]

11. He has no soul. n/t

[genieroze]

9. As one crazy said to another, my religion is nuttier then yours.

[Igel]

12. And yet he manages to be offensive, even as he's ludicrous.

"He added that families still grieving after the 2002 Bali blasts that killed many foreigners should also become Muslim to find ``salvation and peace.''

Hey--jihadis I approve of killed your drunken fornicating infidel hell-spawn in the polytheist den of iniquity called Bali, but that's ok, you can still do the right thing and become Muslims! We'll forgive you!

Talk about ecumenical outreach and intercultural understanding.

Not da'wa. D'oh-wa.

[xxqqqzme]

13. who knew '...Militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir...'

was a comedian?

[daleo]

14. This is pretty standard dogma for most religionists, isn't it?

They claim non-believers must convert to their religion, as it is "the only way to save their souls".

This comment is pretty standard too (U.S. Christians say the same sorts of things):

"He said the attacks ``were God's will'' and that survivors should ``convert to Islam'' if they wanted to ease their suffering."

This comment is worth noting too:

"The firebrand cleric declined to directly condemn young men who carry out bombings in Indonesia in the name of Islam, saying he still considered them ``holy warriors,'' because they believed they were defending the oppressed.

But he also said they were misguided and wrong to use bombs in a country at peace. ``Why use bombs in a non-conflict zone? Preaching is enough,'' he said."

[megatherium]

15. It is said to be traditional for Muslims to offer the chance

for their enemies to convert to Islam; when their enemies decline this offer, they are justified in waging holy war against them. The modern Jihadi appears to have adopted techniques of total war (deliberate targetting of children, for example, in bombings in Israel). Thus, if this cleric is well-connected, this may be rather ominous: it is a warning of further attacks.

[daleo]

17. Christian church gave people a chance to convert during the Inquisition

Although I don't know how much good it did them. The additional interpretation you give may or may not be true, but that isn't what the article states, or what the quotation indicates.

For the record, I find religious fanaticism of all stripes troubling. I think a lot of the "Islamic extremism" is actually driven by separatism or nationalism though, and Islam has become a rallying point for a mostly secular purpose.

In earlier decades nationalists used Marxism for the same purpose. I doubt that all that many people involved in liberation movements in the mid-20th century really cared much about dialectical materialism (or even understood it), but it worked to unify disparate groups. Same with Islam for a lot of "Islamic extremists".

[opihimoimoi]

16. Suppose we give them Bush and Cheney to END the Jihaqd...period

and thats all...we give them Bush and Cheney they end the war...we pull out and Iraq goes on like we weren't there?

and if this were serious....what then?...better to sacrifice 2 if we can save 2 billion lives and 5867697879 tons of money

Of course them 2 guys won't do it...them being cowards... aren't they?

After all, they ain't doing squat for Americans but spend, kill, dominate, and dictate....who needs them? who needs enemies if they in charge?

Come, we go eat

[Igel]

22. It started before them;

how can it be argued they're a sufficient cause?

Lots of causes, with a few partial answers being offered. Everybody knows there's this large thing in the room making a growling noise, but some people only feel a foot, it feels like a cat's foot, albeit large, so it must be a kitty; not a problem, kitties are nice. Somebody else feels some soft fur on a mane, and recommends a haircut, she, after all, works in a salon. Another person feels a furry tail, and offers a tail-related solution that the kitty-lover finds somewhat harsh. Somebody felt the teeth, but he's no longer around to report his findings; the other three hope he went to the bathroom without telling them and that loud "Aaahh! No! Help!" they heard was him having trouble opening the door.

[VegasWolf]

18. Bush polled this idea and found that he would lose 87.3% of his base.nt

[sam sarrha]

19. the dumbass hasn't figured out Christianity yet....! dont confuse him

[Virginia Dare]

20. He's figured out how to manipulate the Christian fundies....

in turn, riling up the Muslim fundies, maybe they're all in cahoots, who knows.

:tinfoilhat:

[dmoded]

24. in some levels of religon

just like the crazy iranian nutcase did, with his invitation. they have to do this by relgious law before an attack.

just a thought.

[Rocknrule]

25. Maybe then Bush will blow himself up and we'll be rid of him

[JI7]

26. nah, he will be like Bin Laden and others who call on others to

go out and get themselves killed while trying to kill others. while he enjoys his comfort and safety.

i don't see much difference between this guy and Bush. only difference is the name they give to their religion. but the way they practice is or at least what they do in it's name isn't so different.