Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Update. It is the Mauritanian government's designation as "apostates" that makes them lawful targets for slaughter. What policymakers the world over fail to grasp is that the death penalty for apostasy is not the invention of al-Qaeda or other supposed "misunderstanders" of Islam, but comes from Muhammad himself -- hence its persistence, whether it is aimed at groups or individuals. "Al Qaeda claim French embassy bombing in Mauritania," from Reuters, August 18 (thanks to Sr Soph):
DUBAI (Reuters) - Al Qaeda's North Africa wing said on Tuesday it was responsible for a suicide bombing at the French embassy in Mauritania earlier this month that injured three people.
The bombing on August 8 in Nouakchott came three days after Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who overthrew the Islamic state's first freely elected leader last year, was sworn in as president, promising to make the fight against al Qaeda a priority.
The bomber, named as Abu Obeida Musa al-Basri, was from Nouakchott, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said on a website used by al Qaeda-linked organisations.
"This operation came in reaction to the hostility of the Crusaders -- led by France -- and their apostate agents against Islam and its people," the group said in the statement, which was accompanied by images depicting Basri posing with weapons in the desert.
France condemned the bombing and vowed to fight groups committing such attacks. Those injured included two embassy guards, according to France's Foreign Ministry.
The normally peaceful former French colony has seen an upturn in violence in recent months. France has said it would help Mauritania in its fight against the violence.
This should be on the front page of all newspapers. As a matter of fact, it should be run right next to R. Bary's story.
Maybe a real crusade is in order. ;)
Some more positive news, the government in Rotterdam, Netherlands has given stealth jihadist Tariq Ramadan the boot as an "adviser" for his role as a propaganda agent for the Iranian government: http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2009/08/tariq-ramadan-gets-sack.html
Who does Mr. Ramadan blame? Why Geert Wilders of course. But worry not Mr. Ramadan. President Obama has removed the travel restrictions so you can finally come to the US.
"crusaders"???
The only "crusaders" are the al-qaeda group.
djrz,
That's what popped into mind as well. Leave it al-qaeda to drag out that tired cliche.
The Crusaders, as Robert Spencer has written, were acting defensively to save Christian pilgrims and holy sites from Muslim violence. They were responding to centuries of relentless Muslim aggression. Remember that Egypt, Syria, and Asia Minor (Turkey) were all once Christians lands that were Islamised by force. If only the modern French were a little like their Crusader ancestors and would stand up to Islam, but alas this is not the case.
Virgil: True.
I was using the word "crusader" in a way closer to how the jihadis meant it.
If you remove the Cross/Christian word derivation, you have what Muslims perceive as something like this:
A hostile group of people from an inferior religion who attack another country for no good reason and commit unforgivable atrocities.
That fits what al qaeda does.
"The normally peaceful former French colony has seen an upturn in violence in recent months."
That will happen anytime and anywhere the violent radical Muslims start moving in...
Mohammedan lowlifes strike again! ...where Islam goes Hell follows.
"Normally peaceful".
Yeah, right.
Here's what my Christian factbook, 'Operation World', says about Mauritania.
First: the place has been Islamised for 1000 years. We all know how that usually happens - see Bostom's Legacy of Jihad, and Bat Yeor's 'Islam and dhimmitude' and Trifkovic's 'Sword of the Prophet'.
Second:
From the potted history - "Independent from France in 1960. *A long succession of military coups that are a continuation of Moorish tribal warfare* {surprise, surprise - Mauritania is it appears observing the normal procedures for transfer of power in Islamised societies, namely, violence and assassination - dda}. Slavery was not officially abolished *until 1980* {my emphasis added - dda}; there are still allegations of hidden pockets of slavery in the interior."
I am *sure* that slavery is practised - after all, Mohammed took and kept slaves and whatever he did is OK for Muslims for all time.
Third: Mauritanian society is divided into two major groups: the 'Arabic' or Arabised population, called 'Moors', and the Black Africans.
The 'Arabic' or Arabised segment is itself divided into two, namely, the 'white Moors' of Arab and Berber origin, and the 'black Moors', 'descended from slaves of the White Moors'. My source observes, laconically, that "there remains considerable discrimination by the dominant White Moors {i.e those who regard themselves as Arab and therefore as Superior Muslims - dda} against other groups'.
As for the Black African component, all of whom are Muslim - my source notes that "most are settled farmers in the south, and despised by Moors".
So: on top are those who regard themselves as Arabs and 'white', and who, it is pretty clear, despise and feel entitled to enslave those who are 'black', both 'black Moor' and black African, even though those 'black' people are theoretically their fellow Muslims.
None of this sounds to me like a 'peaceful' society.