Probable Al-Qaeda strike at a 3,000-year-old temple of jahiliyya -- the "pre-Islamic period of ignorance," which traditionally Islam regards as a worthless period containing nothing worthwhile. (Consider the implications for Notre Dame cathedral, the Vatican, the Louvre, etc. etc. etc.) From AP (thanks to someone):
SAN'A, Yemen (AP) -- A suicide bomber killed eight people Monday when he drove his car into the site of the ancient Queen of Sheba temple in northeast Yemen, police said.The Queen of Sheba temple was built about 3,000 years ago.
Police in the province of Mareb said the suicide car bomb explosion also wounded seven other people. Six of the people killed were tourists, believed to be mostly from Spain. The other two were Yemenis, police said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
Witnesses reported seeing a car enter a gate before exploding at the site of temple, which is known in Yemen by its Arabic name, Balqis. The temple was built about 3,000 years ago at the time of the ancient Queen of Sheba.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but police in Mareb said they had received information last month about a possible al Qaeda attack. Authorities did not elaborate.
Add a few minarets and declare the temple a mosque - problem solved. Hey, it worked for Hagia Sophia!
In Spain we are got used to see how french, german or american tourists are killed but now we have had six soldiers killed and now six tourists, I am very sad for their loss, but going to a islamic country is plenty of risks, and it´s better not giving money. And the traitor called Zapatero won´t make anything, like the americans aren´t like Bush in IC in Washington, please don´t think that all spanish are like Zapatero, I am spanish and I am proud of it, we aren´t everyone this rubbish called Zapatero.
History, culture, development, art, music, beauty, expression, architecture, heritage, technology science, education, in fact humanity...all hated and feared by the Religion Of Peace..
Just like they destroyed those Buddhist statues, they will destroy everything else which is not Islamic.
Albeit, in this case, one cannot be sure whether it was to destroy the site, or whether it was simply to kill a load of tourists at a tourist hotspot.
I'll take bets on the bomber thinking: "Hmm, two birds with one stone! Oh Allah will be so pleased with me!" -_-
The report said that he drove his car into the site of the Queen of Sheba temple, rather than the temple itself - which would lead one to conclude that the temple itself doesn't exist anymore. If that's the case, why bother? But even more astounding - why do any European tourists decide to put Yemen in their itinerary? Is there that short a list of places worth visiting?
No respect for other's history. No respect for human rights of others. That is the Arab and Muslim way. It is 1984 totalitarianism with the blessing of their god.
infidal pride wrote, "But even more astounding - why do any European tourists decide to put Yemen in their itinerary? Is there that short a list of places worth visiting?"
I can't agree with this, Tourists should with these ancient sites in the muslim world because all these are at risk. as long as they make money for the muslim government they will be protected. why do you think that the pyramids and other egyptian sites are protected? because they attract tourists and earn the government money. Imagine if no tourists would go there, soon they will fall into neglect and easy pickings for looters and treasure seekers. We want to make every muslim government feel that the rest of the world still has knowledge and interest in these ruins.
"...which traditionally Islam regards as a worthless period containing nothing worthwhile. (Consider the implications for Notre Dame cathedral, the Vatican, the Louvre, etc. etc. etc.)"
One thing that strikes me about Muslims is their almost autistic attitude toward other cultures, other religions. Only Islam matters and they are never apologetic for their Imperialist history (Arabs, Ottomans, etc.). For example, the killing that Muslims did in India was amazing and they apologize for nothing on the matter. All other Imperialists (Manchu, Japanese, British, etc.) are required to apologize for their oppression-but that is unthinkable-especially for Arab Muslims. In any case, Islam is still, at its core, the engine of Arab Imperialism.
desidude
All that does is put infidel money into Mohammedan hands. There is a word for it - starts with a 'J', ends with an 'A', and with the consonants 'Z' and 'Y' in between.
The Infidel world can't even keep religious minorities in such countries, such as Copts or Assyrians, safe; why put so much of a higher priority on the pyramids or the sphinx?
I'd like to see ancient heritage sites preserved as well, but I don't see that happening without increased risk to Infidels unless and until such places are liberated from Muslims. If that's not going to happen, let them fester.
Frank, even if they were cornered and a 'sort of' apology came out of them - it would be worthless. All they would be doing is lying. Look at their agreement to stop slavery - it was only slowed down at the time.
And look at what they tell us, when cornered: 'we do not believe in the killing of innocents nor do we believe in suicide.'
- they don't view infidels as innocent - only muslims are innocent
- they don't view it a suicide when someone dies killing infidels, or tries to kill infidels - they are martyrs.
WHat I am saying is that they would twist the words and you would have to take it and debug it to find out what the problem with their apology would be.
We are not dealing with a group of people who have a good handle on honesty, and honor. Their honor, to us, is on the shadey side of hades.
Two of the suspects arrested in England are Doctors. This is mindboggling. One is a Neurosugeon.
As someone who loves the study of ancient relics, I would hate to see the pyramids or Sphinx damaged, but I expect it to happen sooner or later.
Solution: Stay away from anything Dar al-Islam.
http://sheikyermami.com/2007/07/02/courtroom-jihad/
I'm not surprised this attack succeeded. Why should any Yemeni policeman, even if warned about it, stop the destruction of an unbeliever's temple? If a few worthless infidel tourists die, so what? As to the dead Yemenis, it's probably un-Islamic to visit that temple so that's ok too.
Burn some frankincense, Sheba's gift from the desert, in memory of more martyrs to the cruelty of Mohammad's madness.
Killed by a dead man's dead mind.
Infidel pride,
I agree in not giving jiyaza to these Muslims, we are forced to give them jiyaza in the form of our tax money sent them, in the form of any goods or service bought from them such as oil. Yes, every time we put that $40 gas in our tank we are handing them money to propagate their religion and culture.
Visiting the ancient sites in their countries does provide them with some income but it comes with a tag saying that this money is from infidels for sightseeing the ancient relics. Ancient relics which belong to the world. and don't forget that while their you do support their museums, their tourist dependent services such as hotels, taxis, tour guides, tour buses, souvenir shops and so on. This shows their government that we do care for ancient pre- Islamic history. That we don't care to see their mosques or old Korans.
Case in point-
We visited the Kashmir valley in the late 1980's. The tour bus guide wanted to take us to visit some old Islamic shrines and a shrine for Hindu Muslim unity. But some of the visiting Hindu tourists demanded that we also should be taken to visit some ancient Hindu shrines. After a while the tour bus guide relented and we did visit some Hindu temples. After all Hinduism is an important part of the history of the Kashmir valley and we did want to show the locals that we do care for them.