March 20, 2003
THE GRAVEDIGGERS:
Arabs Angry Over U.S. Attack on Iraq (ALI AKBAR DAREINI, Mar 20, 2003, Associated Press)"God, you are almighty, you are capable of turning this (war) against" the Americans, said Bashir el-Afesh as he finished his prayers in Cairo.Kamal Abou Ayta, an Egyptian political activist who has organized anti-war protests in Cairo, called the attack "illegitimate."
"I believe that American soldiers whenever they step on Iraqi soil, they will be defeated," Abou Ayta said in an interview. "I am sure of that."
Egyptian newspapers planned extra editions Thursday. In the Lebanese capital, papers pushed back deadlines to include war news and appeared on newsstands.
Early morning anti-war protests where reported at Cairo University and Al-Azhar University — at the latter, a venerable Islamic institution in Cairo, students chanted: "Patience, patience, oh Bush, tomorrow the Muslims will dig your grave."
We eagerly await the story describing the fury of the American street at the seeming inability of the Arab world to manage its own affairs, construct decent governments, make peace with neighbors, employ its young, etc., etc., etc. Posted by Orrin Judd at March 20, 2003 8:59 AM
I see more and more similarities to the Boxer Rebellion.
Posted by: David Cohen at March 20, 2003 9:30 AMWe are missing a great opportunity by not encouraging this kind of thinking among the Arabs. Make it stark: It's the U.S. Army v. Allah, last man standing wins.
I call it the Bonifacian play, and it is the only chance we have, in the long run, of avoiding a clash of civilizations that will lead to one, many Omdurmans.
But Bush's misunderstanding of who the enemy is precludes it. Many Muslims will die horrible deaths for his lack of insight.