It’s daffy, all right, but in reality Gaddafi is reflecting the conventional wisdom here. What’s the difference between an Islamic state and a Christian state? Why, maybe the cut of one’s beard or the style of one’s hat. That’s it. Stonings? Amputations? Denial of free speech? Denial of legal equality? What are you, some kind of Islamophobe?
“Gaddafi defends Taliban,” from Agence France-Presse, September 24 (thanks to Maxwell):
LIBYAN President Muammar Gaddafi launched a spirited defence of Afghanistan’s hardline Taliban overnight in a rambling address to the UN General Assembly.
“Why are we against the Taliban? Why are we against Afghanistan?” he asked leaders of more than 120 nations attending the annual General Assembly debate.
“If the Taliban wants to make a religious state, okay, like the Vatican. Does the Vatican constitute a danger against us? No,” said the Libyan leader, addressing the 192-member body for the first time in his 40 years in power.
“If the Taliban wants to create an Islamic emirate, who said they are the enemy?” he said….