Tancredo: "You nuke us, we'll nuke Mecca and Medina"

[holtjv]

I'm not sure who Tancredo is, exactly, but I would easily agree with this inflammatory remark. Of course, Washington quickly discredited it.

Here's the story, the Tancredo quote I bolded:

Pakistan criticizes Barack Obama
By ROHAN SULLIVAN, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 37 minutes ago
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistani officials called Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama irresponsible for saying that, if elected, he might order unilateral military strikes in Pakistan against al-Qaida.

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Hundreds chanted anti-U.S. slogans and burned an American flag in the street to protest the remark.

Obama's comment turned up the heat on already simmering anger among Pakistanis about the issue, after senior Bush administration officials said last week they too would consider such strikes if intelligence warranted them.

Further inflaming the situation was a comment by Tom Tancredo, a Colorado Republican whose bid for the White House is considered unlikely to succeed, that the best way he could think of to deter a nuclear terrorist attack on America would be to threaten to retaliate by bombing the holiest of Islamic sites, Mecca and Medina.

U.S. officials quickly distanced themselves from Tancredo's remarks.

In Miran Shah, a major town in the lawless region that borders Afghanistan, about 1,000 tribesmen condemned recent Pakistani military operations in the area and vowed to repel any U.S. attack.

"We are able to defend ourselves. We will teach a lesson to America if it attacks us," local cleric Maulvi Mohammed Roman told the rally.

In Karachi, Pakistani's largest city, about 150 people chanted slogans against the United States, Obama and Tancredo at a demonstration organized by Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal, a coalition of six hard-line religious parties. Protesters set fire to a U.S. flag.

"Those who are talking about attacking our holiest places are committing blasphemy. The punishment for this offense is death, and death only," said coalition lawmaker Mohammed Hussain Mahanti.

In a major policy speech Wednesday, Obama said as president he might order strikes in Pakistan's tribal zone to get terrorists, including those responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

"There are terrorists holed up in those mountains who murdered 3,000 Americans. They are plotting to strike again," Obama said. "If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf will not act, we will."

Top officials in the government of Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, a key U.S. ally in the fight against terrorism, bristled at Obama's comment.

"It's a very irresponsible statement, that's all I can say," Foreign Minister Khusheed Kasuri told AP Television News. "As the election campaign in America is heating up we would not like American candidates to fight their elections ... at our expense."

Bush called Musharraf Friday to congratulate him on the 60th anniversary of Pakistan's independence from India, but also mentioned "recent statements emanating from the U.S. regarding possible U.S. action inside Pakistani territory," the foreign ministry said .

Bush "said that such statements were unsavory and often prompted by political considerations in an environment of electioneering," the statement said, adding that Bush said the United States fully respected Pakistan's sovereignty.

Tancredo told a gathering in Iowa on Tuesday he believes a nuclear terrorist attack on the U.S. could be imminent.

"If it is up to me, we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland of that nature would be followed by an attack on the holy sites in Mecca and Medina. Because that's the only thing I can think of that might deter somebody from doing what they otherwise might do," he said.

In Washington, the State Department reacted with unusual venom to Tancredo's remarks, which some diplomats fear could damage U.S. ties with the Muslim world and hurt efforts to counter Islamist extremism.

"Let me just say that it is absolutely outrageous and reprehensible for anyone to suggest attacks on holy sites, whether they are Muslim, Christian, Jewish or those of any other religion," deputy spokesman Tom Casey told reporters.

Pakistan used to be a main backer of the Taliban, but threw its support behind Washington following the Sept. 11 attacks. It has deployed about 90,000 troops in its tribal regions, hundreds of whom have been killed fighting militants.

But a controversial strategy to make peace with militants and use tribesmen has fueled U.S. fears that al-Qaida has been given space to regroup.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan said Friday he would open a debate in the national assembly next week on recent U.S. criticism of Pakistan.

It was a matter of "grave concern that U.S. presidential candidates are using unethical and immoral tactics against Islam and Pakistan to win their election," Afghan said.

[BGCarrera32]

Works for me...

[RANDY P]

where do I put my donations?

Either that or it will give Israel a reason to bomb the Dome Of the Rock. It's said they've been trying to ruin it for years.

rjp

[Mule]

If I was calling the shots it would have happened after 9/11 but I would hit the Dome of the Rock too (conventional). Then send Clint Eastwood over there to explain how allah is a b!tch & his prophet was a pedophile then "any of you men don't wanna get killed, clear on out the back."

[kstar]

Hammurabi back at 'em!

I like the Tancredo approach.

Best,

Kurt

[sammyg2]

Can I push the button? Please?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

here's a little more from that day. Tancredo is a one issue candidate: Immigration (on which he has good thoughts). but that ship has sailed so it looks like he's now riding the coattails of Obama. Good news is that based on the below, I think you can have a beer with'im.


IowaPolitics.com: Tancredo says threat of attack on holy sites would deter terrorism
7/31/2007

By Chris Dorsey
IowaPolitics.com

OSCEOLA -- Followers of radical Islam must be deterred from committing a nuclear attack on U.S. soil, Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo said Tuesday morning, saying that as president he would take drastic measures to prevent such attacks.

"If it is up to me, we are going to explain that an attack on this homeland of that nature would be followed by an attack on the holy sites in Mecca and Medina," the GOP presidential candidate said. "That is the only thing I can think of that might deter somebody from doing what they would otherwise do. If I am wrong fine, tell me, and I would be happy to do something else. But you had better find a deterrent or you will find an attack. There is no other way around it. There have to be negative consequences for the actions they take. That's the most negative I can think of."

* Listen to Tancredo discuss his plan

The harsh approach is vital in order to prevent a worldwide collapse, Tancredo told nearly 30 people Tuesday morning at the Family Table restaurant.

"Beyond the loss of human life and devastation, it would cause a worldwide economic collapse," Tancredo said of a nuclear attack on U.S soil. "If all of a sudden we are not a consuming engine of the world, the producing nations will collapse also. That is what they want, that is what they are looking for, to end Western civilization as we know it."

Tancredo said there was no such deterrent in place right now.

"The president and this country better figure out exactly what it can do to deter, I underline deter, the next attack," Tancredo said. "Deter, not just respond, deter, or else I assure you we are going to suffer. The extent of which of course I do not know. I know what they are planning and I know what they want. I do not know if they are going to be capable of doing this tomorrow, the next day or a month from now. I know right now at this moment there is nothing that deters them."

Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff said earlier this month he had a "gut feeling" that nation could fall under another terrorist attack. Tancredo said it is possible potential terrorists are residing in this country.

Tancredo told the crowd officials recently broke up a illegal immigrant smuggling ring and discovered people of Middle Eastern descent were paying $25,000 to $50,000 to gain entry into this country.

"You have to ask yourselves, why would anybody pay $25,000 to $50,000 to be smuggled into the United States?" Tancredo asked. "It's not to work over here at the Quick Stop or the 7-11. If you pay $50,000 to be smuggled into the United States or somebody is paying that for you, it's probably for some other purpose, not to just get a job that no American will take."

[HardDrive]

Wow. I certainly hope no one who has posted thus far claims to be a Christian. Because your a f*cking fraud if you do.

[BGCarrera32]

I've never seen such an angst filled individual such as yourself...grow up.

[sammyg2]

Hard drive, these people have declaired war on the west and on all Christians.
They have said over and over that all Christians need to be killed and that any muslim that kills a Christian will have a place reserved in heaven. They have stated that a christian is an infadel and needs to be killed and that you can't be a good muslim if you tolerate christians.
It's time we defended ourselves, it's time we fought back, and as far as your insults, I don't think enough of you or your opinion to tell you what I really think of your post.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Wow. I certainly no one who has posted thus far claims to be a Christian. Because your a f*cking fraud if you do.

Just to be clear, I posted Tom's additional speech to show what a moron he is. It may have had the opposite effect. My apologies.

[azasadny]

Last I heard, Mecca and Medina are located in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, so if we bomb those cities we have declared war on Saudi Arabia. How likely is that?

[Mule]

Not likely enough.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I've always liked Tancredo. I like him even more for reiterating his position on this - and it IS just that - reiteration. He's been suggesting this for months. Good on him for not being a mamby-pamby, politically-correct jackass. That's EXACTLY the message we should be sending to this "religion of peace". Want to be known as such? Fine, start reining in your idiot militants.

[Jim Sims]

While considering this topic it is important to know that not all world views are the same. Some may want to destroy this world and all that are in it. Deterrence likely has no meaning for these persons. Ever escalating violence is their goal.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by BGCarrera32

I've never seen such an angst filled individual such as yourself...grow up.

Yeah. I feel some angst. Not sure what that has to do with maturity. Do you identify adulthood with not feeling angst?

Our country is headed down hill. If you don't feel a certain amount of angst about our current situation, then you must not care about your country. Or perhaps you have joined the rest our you countryman, their minds numbed by anti-anxiety meds?

[Joeaksa]

A nuke attack, either conventional or "dirty bomb" should be followed by an nuke strike on Syria, Iran and North Korea (if they have not shut down their reactor by then) followed by this message:

From this day forwards there will be at least one, possibly more, US Air Force aircraft, either manned or drone, flying within 50 miles of the two holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia 24/7/365. Any futher attacks on the United States of America, its citizens, or property worldwide by ANY group with ANY links to Islam and the two holy cities will be eliminated by a our dropping a nuclear bomb on the area.

After this strike we will as well go on all out war against any Islamic entity that we feel is a threat to our country anywhere in the world. As well, we are at this time pulling our troops out of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iraq and returning them home or to foward bases in Europe and Asia.

Those of you who are Moslem had the chance to stand up and stop the spread of the Islamic terrorists. You sat by and did nothing so now we are taking charge to insure the survival of our country and way of life. If you want to save your two holy cities then now is the time to send the word out to all of the faithful in your religion that one more incident against the United States of America, or any of its citizens ANYWHERE in the world will result in the lost of your ability to worship at Medina and Mecca for 25,000 years. Its your choice so choose wisely...

[RoninLB]

I don't think it has to be a nuke attack to mobilize everyone together. Blowing up a school full of kids will do it.



"Political Correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end."

[island_dude]

The logic of proposing an attack of this sort is nonexistent. Treating all Muslims as if they were terrorists and threatening them with an attack on their collective holy places so beyond stupid its scary. Aside from the fact that the Saudis would probably no longer see us as a friend, we would basically put ourselves in the position of murdering hundreds of thousands of innocent people, some of whom are good Christians. Its on the same level of logic that say we should attack Iraq because the Al Queida people were muslim and Iraq is a Muslim nation and therfore responsible. ... Wait, that what we did isn't it? Pure Genius.

Anybody who thinks for a moment that this is a good idea pretty much doesn't value anybodies life Christian or otherwise. The fall out from an attack of this sort would pretty much turn the US into a target for every Muslim and for all of the nations who might have issues with us killing thousands of innocents. This would be a show of stupidity and weakness not strength, and I am not sure the country would survive the fall out.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by island_dude

The logic of proposing an attack of this sort is nonexistent. Treating all Muslims as if they were terrorists and threatening them with an attack on their collective holy places so beyond stupid its scary. Aside from the fact that the Saudis would probably no longer see us as a friend, we would basically put ourselves in the position of murdering hundreds of thousands of innocent people, some of whom are good Christians. Its on the same level of logic that say we should attack Iraq because the Al Queida people were muslim and Iraq is a Muslim nation and therfore responsible. ... Wait, that what we did isn't it? Pure Genius.

Anybody who thinks for a moment that this is a good idea pretty much doesn't value anybodies life Christian or otherwise. The fall out from an attack of this sort would pretty much turn the US into a target for every Muslim and for all of the nations who might have issues with us killing thousands of innocents. This would be a show of stupidity and weakness not strength, and I am not sure the country would survive the fall out.

You mean like treating every member of the nazi party is if they were all bent on world domination? So we're not a target right now? What it would show is that we are willing to fight fire with fire, a message that is sorely in need of conveyance.