Would the Pope be in such a fix if not for Bush?

[gulliver]

It looks like the Pope definitely stepped in it, but would he even have been discussing the subject were it not for Bush's inept handling of the West's relationship with Muslims and Muslim countries? Would Islamists be as on edge as they are if Bush had been competent?

I'm not apologizing for the Pope. His context was at best ambiguous. You can't do that when the most apparent context is you're the friggin Pope! But I have to ask if we would be in the middle of another crisis of Muslim outrage right now if Bush and his GOP Congressional cronies hadn't stirred up such a hornet's nest.

More birth pangs of the birth of more pangs...

[Atman]

1. Would ANYONE?

Just sayin.

[Why Syzygy]

2. It is hard to say

who started what when. Looking for blame is not the solution anyway. The question needs to be, what do we do next? Remember, there were terror attacks during Clinton's administration too. They seemed to have been escalating. World Trade Center, Beruit, etc. This has been going on a long time. Bush is guilty of many stupid and crazy crimes. But the Pope's speech? I don't think so.

[JuniperLea]

3. Bush stirred the hornet's nest

And the Pope swatted at angry hornets.

Neither is too terribly bright, IMHO.

[Tom Joad]

4. The problems go back before Bush. West support for brutal military

occupation in Palestine, propping up dictatorships, extinguishing hope for secular democracies through corruption, military attacks, CIA supported coups (Iran in the 50's).

Bush is terrible, but he is only part of the problem.

[BOSSHOG]

5. I would greatly appreciate

all religious leaders devoting their time and energy and life to the welfare and needs of their own flocks. Wouldn't that be great. But you are right. Bush and his kind are responsible for the current world climate which led to the pope blathering on about something he should not have.

I'm a non church going baptized Catholic, Pope. I spent three years as an altar boy. You should be concerned about me and why I don't go to church anymore. I'd be glad to let you know, but you are too busy stirring up shit amongst non catholics. Meanwhile me and my money will be staying home again next Sunday morning. Great strategy Pope.

[malaise]

6. They're all part of the same gang

of thieves, racists, liars, looters and imperialists.

[whistle]

7. A 700 years old hornets nest and now Opus Dei steps up to the plate

....and gives yet another whack on the nest

[AZBlue]

8. Of course he would. Muslim outrage didn't start with Bush.

To say it did is to show a complete lack of understanding of the Middle East and Islam. To a Muslim, Muhammad is sacred beyond our understanding. There's no comparison in Western religions. Combine that with an atmosphere that doesn't support open discussion or differing opinions, and you've got the current situation the Pope's in. And, anyone who dares criticize or question him is not just wrong, they should be killed. Period.

Bush can be blamed for a lot, but not this one. If you don't believe me, just ask Salman Rushdie.

[frebrd]

9. I don't think you can blame * for this..

that old man's problem is conservative German arrogance and foot-in-mouth disease.

[gulliver]

11. Why not?

I agree that the Pope stuck his foot in his mouth. But Bush started the fire. The GOP is responsible for everything that flows from his incompetent handling of the Muslim world. We never had all these problems under Clinton.

Bush kicked the hornet's nest. The hornets got madder and the nest grew. That's Bush's results for all our trouble. High cost, low results. The current sorry state of the West's relationship with the Muslim world is the GOP's fault. It was better before they gained sole control of our government. It will be better again when they lose that control.

I think it would be interesting to do a day-by-day comparison of newspapers. Clinton's first day in office next to Bush's. Then Clinton's second day next to Bush's. I remember the Clinton years, and I know what that comparison would show. Day after day of worse times for America under Bush.

[Vidar]

10. Sure he would. The Danish cartoomists were threatened as well & they

certainly hhad nothing to do with Bush.