Should he resign? Of course not. Has he done anything wrong? Of course not. All options should be discussed — and discussed openly. I have been bitterly attacked here and elsewhere today, and even called a dhimmi (which really is just about the worst thing you can call me, as opposed to the terms of honor the jihadists keep bestowing on me) for my article on Tancredo. However, most people are misreading it. I was discussing the value of the threat as a deterrent. I don’t think this threat would work to deter terrorism. Someone just wrote me saying we should instead threaten to occupy Mecca. On first thought I suspect that the threat that infidels would tread on the sacred soil might be far more effective than the threat that the sacred site would be annihilated.
But in any case, all this is well worth thinking over carefully and discussing calmly and rationally. These groups that are calling for Tancredo’s head are trying to prevent that and make us all play the dhimmi — for real. Congressman Tancredo is to be commended for having the courage to bring this discussion into the public forum.
From AP, with thanks to The One Who Must Not Be Named:
DENVER (AP) – Hispanic and Muslim groups called on Rep. Tom Tancredo to resign Monday, saying he has embarrassed Colorado by suggesting that Americans bomb Islamic holy sites if terrorists launch a nuclear attack on the United States.
They also criticized the GOP congressman’s staunch advocacy of tougher immigration controls.
“Enough is enough. We’re here to say ‘Stop,'” Hispanic activist Manolo Gonzalez-Estay told a crowd of about 200 people at the state Capitol.
Abdur-Rahim Ali, imam of the Northeast Denver Islamic Center, said Tancredo’s statement that “you could take out” Islamic holy sites in a retaliatory attack was unacceptable.
“What would happen if a prominent Muslim made that statement about Catholic holy places like the Vatican?” asked Ali.
They don’t have to, Ali. They are sure they will take it peacefully:
Saudi Sheikh Muhammad bin Abd Al-Rahman Al-‘Arifi, Imam of the mosque of King Fahd Defense Academy, discussed the coming Muslim conquest of the Vatican. Citing a Hadith in an article posted on the Kalemat website in 2002, he stated: –¦ We will control the land of the Vatican; we will control Rome and introduce Islam in it. Yes, the Christians, who carve crosses on the breasts of the Muslims “¦ will yet pay us the Jiziya [poll tax paid by non-Muslims under Muslim rule], in humiliation, or they will convert to Islam”¦”