We are all, I’m sure, aware of the recent attack and murder of multinational medical workers in Afghanistan. The Taliban have boasted responsibility, and have accused the workers of trying to convert Muslims to Christianity. Further, the workers were accused of being foreign spies. The bodies of the workers, six Americans, one German, one Briton, and two Afghans, were returned to Kabul on Sunday. The workers' belongings were ransacked following the killings. Secretary of State Clinton said we Americans and our government were “heartbroken” by these deaths. She made mention of the Taliban “twisted ideology.”
It is not unusual for Taliban forces to grow in fierceness during the Holy Month of Ramadan, which will begin this Wednesday, August 11, 2010.
My point at this writing is that this cruel attack marks a new level of hostility, this at a time when many Americans, many pundits, are advising a winding down of the Afghan conflict. To my knowledge, this is the first instance of persons being killed for their Christianity. The dead here are martyrs to Christian teaching.
In the past, Taliban have killed for non-compliance with extremist principles, for Western lasciviousness, but not for spreading Christian teachings. This should come as a warning. The Taliban, far from embracing our efforts to provide outlets for their energies, have escalated; this anti-Christian prosecution may extend to America, Great Britain, and the Western World.
Our hearts go out to the loved ones of the slain and we must accept that the bloodshed may worsen.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Alan Kurtz
I take issue with your claim that "this anti-Christian prosecution may extend to America, Great Britain, and the Western World." First, I assume you mean "persecution," not "prosecution." Christians have experienced enough persecution throughout the last 2,000 years that we ought to recognize the difference between those two words. Second, what is your basis for saying it "may extend to America, Great Britain, and the Western World." It may rain tomorrow, but then again, it may not. Please explain how, in practical terms, the Taliban could accomplish such a grandiose thing.
2 - jeannie danna
John,
Are we there for the people or the oil?
"On February 12, 1998, John J. Maresca, vice president, international relations for UNOCAL oil company, testified before the US House of Representatives, Committee on International Relations. Maresca provided information to Congress on Central Asia oil and gas reserves and how they might shape US foreign policy.
Women's rights were introduced into Congressional testimony by Congressman Rohrbacher as the wedge for UNOCAL to build its pipeline through Afghanistan. Three years later CNN would be airing its acclaimed TV documentary "Under The Veil," which displayed the oppressive conditions that women endure in Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban (a propaganda film for the oil pipeline?)." Source
Yes, it is going to get worse there when we leave...
3 - John Lake
Hmmm... persecution. You have a point. My legal background is showing, prosecution being a legal term.
Jeannie danna: I believe we are there to limit the potential of the Taliban, and to attempt to bring fairness to the Afghani. As to more devious motivations, there are rich mineral resources in Afghanistan. In future years, we hope to eliminate our dependence on fossil fuel.
4 - jeannie danna
John,
Did you read my comment?
5 - Alan Kurtz
John responds only to carefully selected parts of comments, namely the easy parts. He still owes me, for instance, an explanation as to how, in practical terms, the Taliban could extend their anti-Christian persecution to America, Great Britain, and the Western World. I suspect he ignores those parts because he has no answer.
6 - jeannie danna
Oh?...just like you...
7 - Alan Kurtz
Jeannie, you make so many posts, and raise so many questions, that it's impossible for a mere mortal to keep up with you. Perhaps if you cut your number of BC comments in half--say, to only 500-600 per day--you could spend more time on each and develop some focus.
8 - roger nowosielski
Obviously, Alan, Jeannie has a beef with you. I should say it's pretty obvious. So perhaps the both of you would do well trying to resolve it.
9 - Alan Kurtz
Roger, I have never disrespected Jeannie. In fact, I've hardly ever mentioned her name. But she felt obliged to join you in defending Cindy the other day, and has been on my case ever since. I hold you partly responsible because she was merely following your example: when commenting, friendship counts for more than common sense.
10 - roger nowosielski
Of course friendship counts for more than common sense, if only because all communications are personal and all truths are relational. So I don't really see why you should be surprised.
Perhaps you're right, but if I remember correctly, you had a run-in with her about six months ago or so. I can assure you of one thing, Jeannie has excellent memory.
11 - jeannie danna
Alan, you make so many posts, and raise so many questions, that it's impossible for a mere mortal to keep up with you. Perhaps if you cut your number of BC comments in half--say, to only 500-600 per day--you could spend more time on each and develop some focus.
12 - jeannie danna
I'll defend whoever you attack, Alan.
13 - John Wilson
I was surprised by this comment: "The dead here are martyrs to Christian teaching."
I thought that they were explicitly there to NOT proselytise.
Did they break their agreement?
Since they were looted, it appears that the killers were simply murderous thieves, not political people.
14 - roger nowosielski
Speaking of friendship, Alan, let me say say that the basis of governance in Rome, during its glory Republic days, wasn't merit or mere status but simply amicitia.
Of course it had gotten a bad rap since, to mean cronyism, nepotism, and things of that nature. But on Roman rendition of things, it was a noble principle in a manner of speaking, far beyond the vulgar and the ordinary. For friendship implied the likeness of mind, the same predispositions, trust, all those things.
It was an honorable thing to Roman way of thinking, nothing to do with fraud, corruption of being bought. It implied sharing the same sentiment and heart, and what comes with it, loyalty.
(Of course, only the patricians were so privileged to engage in such noble ideas. Which is why the office of the Tribune was instituted, to speak for the plebs - a tremendous idea, come to think of it. Too bad it's not really in use anymore.)
15 - jeannie danna
Alan,
I saw that BS you pulled this morning, coming up on those articles with your critical eye , intimidation, and superiority. get a life, and you wont be so obsessed with outshining all of BC.
and now, we will see if you can respond to an entire comment.
16 - jeannie danna
Hi Roger,
If I can ask a question without being railroaded out of here.
What language is the word amicitia ?
I tried to translate it from Italian to English, and didn't get any results.
17 - John Lake
jeannie:
I read the statements, at Lew Rockwell.com, from the February, 1998, testimony of John J. Maresca, vice president, international relations for UNOCAL oil company, testifing before the US House of Representatives. His mention of the potential for such a pipeline falls short of our governments consideration of such a pipeline. The subject at that point was quickly changed to Taliban treatment of women, and then to the need to address the taliban issue. Also mentioned at that time was the potential to eliminate Afghan opium production, which the U.S. has avoided, in an effort not to further inflame the situation.
18 - John Lake
Alan Kurtz:
Alan are we so naive? The thrust of efforts since the 9/11 attacks has been to thwart additional terrorism on American soil.
It seems self explanatory!
19 - Deano
Jeannie,
I believe it is Latin meaning friendship...
20 - jeannie danna
John,
If you read the full paragraph in the link it will make more sense.
I pasted the heading with the part about why the women would be used as a wedge issue.
Please don't misunderstand me here, because I hate the, Taliban and what they are doing in the name of religion, but we are not the police. We want our children home.
21 - jeannie danna
Thanks Deano! : )
22 - roger nowosielski
It is self-explanatory, John, but is this reason enough? Is that what you're arguing for, the containment of terrorism, because it it is, it's a fool's errand.
23 - Alan Kurtz
John Lake (#18), thanks for clarifying this point. But, no, I don't think it's self-explanatory. In your article you wrote that the Taliban may extend their anti-Christian prosecution [sic] to America, Great Britain, and the Western World. But in comment #18, you refer to thwarting additional 9/11-style terrorism on American soil. Obviously you equate anti-Christian prosecution [sic] with 9/11-style terrorism. But those are two different things. All it took for 9/11 was 19 al-Qaeda terrorists who hijacked four jetliners and flew three of them into buildings. Whatever their motivations, anti-Christian prosecution [sic] was probably not high on the list. For the Taliban to now export anti-Christian prosecution [sic] to America, Great Britain, and the Western World would present an entirely different set of logistical challenges, which I believe make delivery a virtual impossibility. In your haste to prevent anti-Christian prosecution [sic], you've badly confused the issue.
24 - Alan Kurtz
Jeannie Danna (#15), thank you for inviting me to respond to your comment. First, I refuse to apologize for my "critical eye, intimidation and superiority." My intellect is a gift from God, and as such should not be hidden under a bushel. By the same token (and here's where I finally take the gloves off, folks), being a cyberstalking busybody is your gift from God, and it too should not be hidden. So when you trail me from thread to thread like an abandoned Chihuahua, and deposit your simpleminded, increasingly vindictive posts like so many dog droppings in the park, I understand completely. You are merely doing as God ordained. Which is not to say that I am alone in perceiving this. The other commenters also recognize your limitations and take pity on you, treating you like one of the gang when really, deep down, they know you're just a pest.
Second, I am not "obsessed with outshining all of BC." It's absurdly easy to do and involves minimal effort on my part.
25 - jeannie danna
A,
What makes you think everyone here is reading your every word?
I see who comments on your threads and who actually converses with you here...and they are far and few between.
As far as posting is concerned
I can read and comment anywhere I want.
You claim that you have a gift from God? A gift to do what?
I refuse to apologize for my "critical eye, intimidation and superiority." My intellect is a gift from God,
Get the boots out, folks