On Sep 18, 2006, at 7:13 AM, Jordan Hayes wrote:
> Anyone see any analysis of his original speech?
Here's a rather partisan one:
> VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Al Qaeda militants in Iraq vowed war on
> "worshippers of the cross" and protesters burned a papal effigy on
> Monday over Pope Benedict's comments on Islam, while Western
> churchmen and statesmen tried to calm passions.
>
> The statement by an umbrella group led by Iraq's branch of al Qaeda
> came after the Pontiff said on Sunday he was deeply sorry Muslims
> had been offended by his use of a medieval quotation on Islam and
> holy war.
>
> "We tell the worshipper of the cross (the Pope) that you and the
> West will be defeated, as is the case in Iraq, Afghanistan,
> Chechnya," said a Web statement by the Mujahideen Shura Council.
>
> "We shall break the cross and spill the wine ... God will (help)
> Muslims to conquer Rome ... (May) God enable us to slit their
> throats, and make their money and descendants the bounty of the
> mujahideen," said the statement, posted on Sunday on an Internet
> site often used by al Qaeda and other militant groups.
>
> In Iraq's southern city of Basra, up to 150 demonstrators chanted
> slogans and burned a white effigy of the Pope.