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September 14, 2004
Col. Mustard With the Lead Pipes in Nepal
Daniel Pipes, everyone's favorite Israel-lover and Islam-hater, has written a column describing the difference between the Nepalese and French reactions to the taking of hostages in Iraq.
The Nepalese reaction: assaulting Muslims; throwing rocks at, ransacking, and setting fire to a mosque; burning Korans; looting Muslim-owned businesses and homes; and ultimately doing $20 million in property damage. The Nepalese hostages were killed.
The French reaction: working with Islamic organizations in both France and the Middle East to save the lives of the French hostages. The French hostages are still alive, though not out of the woods yet.
Guess whose response Pipes prefers. Naturally, he chooses the Nepalese response of attacking innocent people for the crimes of others in distant countries who happen to share their religion. Oh, he does throw in an obligatory side comment that the violence was "abhorrent," but his conclusion makes it clear that he doesn't really mean it:
If history is a guide, the Nepalese have made a repetition of atrocities against themselves less likely. And the French have made such a repetition more likely.
Yes, my friends, resorting to violence against innocent people is the preferred response, even though it didn't save the lives of the hostages, while negotiation and cooperation are denigrated, even though they have (at least to this point) saved the lives of hostages.
Not surprisingly, this is the same guy that George W. Bush appointed (during a recess, to avoid messy Senate confirmation hearings) to the (cough, cough) United States Institute of Peace. Big Brother would be proud.
Posted by Mike Tennant at September 14, 2004 09:25 AM