In Show of Strength, Islamists begin destroying Timbuktu's U.N. World Heritage sites...

Bamako, Mali (CNN) -- Elderly men were keeping watch Saturday over Timbuktu's main library after Islamists burned a tomb listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The attacks Friday were blamed on Ansar Dine, a militant group that seeks to impose strict Sharia law.
The ancient city in Mali was captured by at least two separatist Tuareg rebel groups -- one of which is Ansar Dine -- in an anti-government uprising in the northern part of the country that began in January.


www.cnn.com...

I have to say that I wasn't expecting this...I thought this group was just going to implement Sharia.

It's almost as if people join these groups for no other reason but to destroy things and murder people.

Before this thread descends into hate speech (I'm disgusted by what is happening, too!) let me say:

For every "Islamist" acting like an utter moron, there are 1,000 others (a million others?) who just want to go to work and live and mind their own damned business.

reply to post by Schkeptick


Being that i've been following this story ever since the collapse of Mali's government and the subsequent moves by the Taureg and their allies, i felt it was important to post even though it may appear biased.

but I don't think that hate speech will emerge considering that all sides in this situation are primarily Muslim and countrymen.

I would like to know...how do these activities find support?

Originally posted by Schkeptick
Before this thread descends into hate speech (I'm disgusted by what is happening, too!) let me say:

For every "Islamist" acting like an utter moron, there are 1,000 others (a million others?) who just want to go to work and live and mind their own damned business.

Your numbers are a little off.

The UK intelligence agency MI5, has estimated that 4,000 British Muslims have received military training from the Taliban.

MI5 has estimated that up to 4,000 British Muslims had travelled to Pakistan and, before the fall of the Taliban, to Afghanistan for military training.

The Independent

Some of them were quite possibly involved in the attack on Timbuktu's main library.

Originally posted by Schkeptick
Before this thread descends into hate speech (I'm disgusted by what is happening, too!) let me say:

For every "Islamist" acting like an utter moron, there are 1,000 others (a million others?) who just want to go to work and live and mind their own damned business.

you are right, but, those that want to do that, have to aggressively fight against the inhumane religous laws and edicts of islam. and if they are unable to do that in countries RULED by islamic law, then they remain ineffective in stopping the "utter morons".

Ansar Dine faced no resistance at all from the local population and the people of Timbuktu were both cordial and compliant to their extreme demands...which were made based on their interpretation of Islam.

The people of Timbuktu are unarmed and without military training. The other Tuareg group left the city and are camped out at the nearby airport.

despite this, the reports suggest that ansar dine is slowing intensifying provocations and heaping upon the locals repeated humiliations.

this is all quite confusing.

Dear OP,

Your thread's title is misleading if not offensive.

Those that committed those crimes are radicals and criminals, misuing religion yet again to justify their bloodlust and thirst for power. These failed animals of Gaddafi are back in Timbuktu to find a way of life that gives them meaning - violence. They had done nothing for the name of Islam. No one, no muslim society or community sanctioned that act. These few animals operated on their own.

They had committed sacriledge against holy Islam sites, and many muslims around the world would condemn that heinous crime, not only just misusing their religion to perpetrate it.

The central gov will do well to ferate out who they are individually, and then deal with them as common criminals,nothing more. If need be, I am sure other muslim states around the world would provide intelligence and troops under UN to assist the gov when asked. There is no need to fear or give in to radicals, but be bold and confront them for what they truly are - brigandes hell bent on criminality and seeking sympathy from uneducated fools.

And you OP, will do well too, to rename your title thread or it will only prove your ignorances, on a site that is dedicated to deny ignorances.

reply to post by SeekerofTruth101


I like the title...no one is above reproach. don't you believe it is time then for people to refuse to continue to allow their culture and heritage to be used to accomplish the goals of criminals?

how is it different what you say ansar dine is doing to islam, from what someone is obviously attempting to do with the American flag, its culture, its heritage and its laws?

I read everyday of all of the evils that America is alleged to be committing around the world for no other reason than because the person(s) who committed the crime at the time were wearing stars and stripes.

i suppose its about association...if nothing is done about them by muslims, then the title of this thread is what Islam will be known as in the future.

for now i'll keep the title.

if all of those things you say will be done are done, i will change it.

Originally posted by Schkeptick
Before this thread descends into hate speech (I'm disgusted by what is happening, too!) let me say:

For every "Islamist" acting like an utter moron, there are 1,000 others (a million others?) who just want to go to work and live and mind their own damned business.

Sadly it is those who are "minding their own business" who financialy support the more radical muslims and provide them with a recruiting pool.

Just like the pseudo-catholics that make it possible for the Vatican to influence politics, the run of the mill peaceful muslims support the Imams and charity funds that support this kind of behavior.

Originally posted by michaelbrux

Then, as I mentioned, it will be upon your own head.

You have free will to make choices. It's your choice, as a free human, beholden to no one except your conscience, and your conscience, if not mentality, shows up clearly what you are, despite your lame justifications to shift blame elsewhere.

Change begins with us, and we each are individually responsible for our own actions. No one else.

I wish you well.

reply to post by SeekerofTruth101


thank you for your sincere concern for me.

its not often that a person can expect such fair treatment.

I dont know. Seemed like a backhanded remark to me, but that might just be the skeptic in me. Its really shameful when people use religion to justify their own bias.

reply to post by yuppa


if you are referring to the OP...it was a backhanded remark. I don't consider what Ansar Dine is doing Strength.

I consider it weakness and cowardice to the extent that their behavior is measured according to moral or ethical principles.

I consider it a violent and unjustifiable crime to the extent that their behavior is measured according to legal principles.

the strangest part of this of all is not what they are doing, but that their behavior is only possible because of the unwavering support they are receiving from people who's reputations are exalted in their local communities.

its obvious that Ansar Dine has resources and support that is providing advanced communications and transportation, weapons, food and fuel which could only be coming from Western patrons.

so everyday when I walk out of my own home in the USofA...I am quite convinced that some of the people I am seeing are making this possible.

just wanted to bring this reality to my own front page.

Originally posted by Schkeptick
Before this thread descends into hate speech (I'm disgusted by what is happening, too!) let me say:

For every "Islamist" acting like an utter moron, there are 1,000 others (a million others?) who just want to go to work and live and mind their own damned business.

Im not sure whats worse... Allowing a group to hijack a movement and destroy history - like they did to the statues built into the side of mountains in Afghanistan - or allowing a group to do that while the bulk of peaceful people just remain quiet and allow it to happen.

Originally posted by Xcathdra

Originally posted by Schkeptick
Before this thread descends into hate speech (I'm disgusted by what is happening, too!) let me say:

For every "Islamist" acting like an utter moron, there are 1,000 others (a million others?) who just want to go to work and live and mind their own damned business.

Im not sure whats worse... Allowing a group to hijack a movement and destroy history - like they did to the statues built into the side of mountains in Afghanistan - or allowing a group to do that while the bulk of peaceful people just remain quiet and allow it to happen.

Either way both are happening in Christian and Muslim nations right now.

This is just another example of how religion empowers nuts to act out.

Everyone thought the worst invention ever was the Dr. Teller's invention, it is really religion. There is nothing more perverse than organized religion. The few controlling the many by telling them lies so that the many do the few's bidding. How dumb an animal that can be so easily deceived and controlled as 'the faithful'?

Derek

Originally posted by michaelbrux
Bamako, Mali (CNN) -- Elderly men were keeping watch Saturday over Timbuktu's main library after Islamists burned a tomb listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The attacks Friday were blamed on Ansar Dine, a militant group that seeks to impose strict Sharia law.
The ancient city in Mali was captured by at least two separatist Tuareg rebel groups -- one of which is Ansar Dine -- in an anti-government uprising in the northern part of the country that began in January.


www.cnn.com...

I have to say that I wasn't expecting this...I thought this group was just going to implement Sharia.

It's almost as if people join these groups for no other reason but to destroy things and murder people.

Hi Michael, Here is the truth that the MSM has conveniently left out!

Mali; Ansar Dine the "split" truth

According to much Western news media, Mali is on the verge of being overrun by jihadists as an Islamist tsunami crashes down on a vulnerable population. Amongst the insurgent factions that have wrested control of northern Mali and effectively partitioned the country, Ansar Dine (“Defenders of the Faith”) has stolen much of the spotlight. Led by the wily Tuareg rebel Iyad ag-Ghali, with the aim of imposing Sharia law, this group has come to epitomise the northern revolt in much coverage of the events.

But there is another Ansar Dine in Mali, and one that is far more representative of the kind of Islam that most Malian Muslims practice. This other, grassroots Ansar Dine rarely makes the news – at least not the kind news that ag-Ghali’s Islamist militia made in seizing Timbuktu. This is despite the fact it has over one million followers and that, in the past decade, its charismatic preacher Sheikh Cherif Ousmane Madani Haidara, has emerged as Mali’s most popular religious leader.

One has but to wonder how the 1000s of muslims remain unmoved by allowing their faith to make world news by murder and extortion and equally leaving the faithful wide open for military prosecution wether based on a lie or maniacs who actually believe in what they are doing.How they have come to be so arrogant as pariahs who callously slaughter in the name of faith.
I know my country is no gathering of angels so those recriminations are not what we are addressing here.

reply to post by fnpmitchreturns


I realize the possibility that individual minds or individual groups think differently and have different goals.

I also realize that embedded within these differences is a force that seeks to exploit those differences.

For my entire life, i've watched this force move with impunity from place to place, capitalizing on the casual observers inability to clearly define what makes one thing different from another.

I think that the dialogue is about to change drastically in the next few weeks:

and the new discourse will be:

don't figure out the difference to your own disadvantage.

the Muslim world in general and the people of northern Mali and Timbuktu are in exceptional danger right now.

it should be quite clear that Ansar Dine is going to be wiped out, leaving not a single survivor.

Timbuktu could possibly be reduced to a sand heap for no other reason than because the people that live there thought that it wouldn't happen.

its almost as if people don't see what is obviously coming next.

if these so called pious men truly cared for anything but their own religion...they'd leave that city immediately.

and when all is said and done.

there will be no recompense for their losses.

Either way both are happening in Christian and Muslim nations right now.

Can you give us some examples of where christians are terrorizing a population, destroying historical landmarks and wreaking havoc upon a once stable and productive society like the taliban did in Afghanistan?