Since these Arab governments sacrificed the Palestinians, more resentment has been growing against not only Israel who refused one UN resolution to withdraw from occupied Palestine after another, but also against the US AND these Arab governments. The US has thus been required to continue supporting these unpopular governments, not out of love for Israel, but out of the knowledge that if the people ever gained control, the next embargo would be the last. The US economy would collapse and funding for Israel would disappear. So, unfortunately, the Saudis and the oil cartels don’t have the power attributed to them – if they did, Palestine would have returned as a country long ago.

BTW, as every US administration bombs a country and calls for “regime change”, that’s a warning to Oil Cartel countries that if they don’t play ball, they’re next.

I would point out however that one should respect the laws of the country in which they reside. If I were in a country where rapists have their privates amputated or people who vandalize cars get caned or if the theft of a pizza would be my third strike and mean life in prison, I should be wise enough to obey those laws no matter how or perhaps especially if they are severe.

This whole thing is about money and power. The religious scams on all sides are merely the ruses used to trick large amounts of innocent people into killing each other, so that the wealthy and powerful make their own “killings” in the marketplace and on their thrones.

However, the nasty irony of all of this is that those who would first call others “blasphemers” are usually the ones who are the real blasphemers. The Taliban appropriate the intelligence of Islamic thought and the insights of the Koran, contorting it into a means of power and despotism.
Neocons and some fundamentalist Christians transmogrify Christ’s teachings into a false Gospel of war and greed.

When Church and State mix, when religious laws prevail over
the secular, then the usual result is a religion bearing no relation to the vision of its prophets and people killing other people.

What exactly is the reason behind the translation ban? Also is it just certain sects of Islam that practice it or is it a widespread practice? I’m genuinely interested. I just wonder how it compares to the various bans on translating the Bible that various Churches have instituted throughout history.

And last but perhaps most importantly, the US gives Israel over $15 000 per Israeli (not counting “loans” and weapons) and gives the Palestinians less than $100 each in “aid”, yet states it’s an impartial peace broker.

Also, if the US were to fight Islam (which is what I feel they are presently doing) instead of just the half dozen or so Islamic countries they’ve attacked or “terrorism” in general, many Muslims will take it upon themselves to fight these “Crusader” all over the world even if they don’t have an army. While no single Muslim group or Islamic country could defeat the US war machine on their own, one tiny group – Al Qaeda has cost the US hundreds of billions of dollars.

After Afghanistan and Iraq, the US will target Iran, Syria, and Lebanon, perhaps one or two of the former Soviet Republics and at some point the Muslim people will overthrow the US backed dictators and unite against the US. Even if that doesn’t happen, the US will be bankrupt long before they get half way through that list.

Unlike Bush, Zionists and some Americans and Israelis, I don’t think God takes sides in war, but it’ll be interesting to see how far the US will get in its war with Islam before it goes the way of Rome, the British Empire and the USSR. I would wager eight years if McCain is elected and two generations if Obama can’t turn off the war machine.

It appeared that most were afraid to take the case because of guilt by association. That’s certainly an effective way to get a conviction. The lust for conviction and confessions reminds me of, hummmm, US terror prosecutions. Disgusting.

His attorney has great courage. All of this is quite dismal. I hope he can get out of there.

Yes, we essentially rid Afganistan of the Taliban, but the World would have to war with a religion to stop what this article is about.