POST SCRIPTS

OK, predictably, this guy was very careful about his words and several times he invoked, "I don't want to discuss any specifics about this case." He took a very measured and defensive position from the first question, but again that's understandable as he was being protective of his friends.

Amanpour asked, "It's said the Aug 10th arrests resulted from a tip in the Muslim community, do you see that as a positive thing? (Then she added quickly) The 7/7 (train bombing) information also came from a Muslim informant, so do you think he is a hero or a villain?" Muslim leader's answer, "If it (the tip) leads to the death of a person then you must consider that as well." Interpreted by me to mean: Villain.

The death he was referring to was Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes. He dashed out of one of the apartments near a suspected hideout and led police on a wild foot chase, refusing to stop. Eventually the pursuit led to the rail station where Menezes dashed onto a passenger car, was tackled, then resisted police officers trying to grab his arms. One of the armed officers feared Menezes was a terrorist trying to set off a bomb and shot him once in the head. Sadly, turns out it was all just a hoax, Menezes didn't have a bomb and was not armed. I'm sure this "runner" expected to look like a hero to his buddies back at the apartment complex - luring the coppers into a big chase only to find out he was an unarmed Brazilian, except he played his "bomber" role too aggressively and perception became a reality... in his death.

Alright, now here's where it got really interesting: Amanpour asked the man, "Why do you think educated, decent young men, who certainly were not poor and had no history for terrorism, could suddenly be motivated to take innocent lives, even in their own country?" Muslim leader: "They identify with the struggle of Muslims everywhere against Israeli and United States aggression, in Lebanon and Iraq, everywhere we see Muslims being attacked, on TV news, anywhere in the world where it happens and they want to fight back. Because they feel its just as if they or thier family is being attacked." Amanpour: "So they see themselves as Muslims first and not as citizens of the UK?" Muslim leader: "Yes, they are Muslims first...so are Christians..." Amanpour: "Then how do we stop this? Obviously people don't always have a say in their governments foreign policy?" Muslim leader: "Osama bin Laden once said people in democracies elect their government and that makes them just as culpable as their government. If their government wages war on Muslim people then they are equally responsible."

Amanpour: "So they see this is a war they are fighting?" Muslim leader: "Definitely. They are fighting a war. It doesn't matter where in the world Muslims are being attacked, Muslims are as one fist and they will respond. This is why Muslims born in the UK could become fighters for a cause in Lebanon or Palestine." Then he added, "The "back door" was left open to influence the young men and this is something the Muslim community could consider, meaning meeting places like Mosques and leaders like their Imams. (He was vague, but Amanpour pressed him) He explained, "Radical elements do exist in any religion and it could be that this element encouraged something. It is possible that some were allowing this influence in and they were recruiting some people, it could have happened. "

The Muslim leader concluded by saying words to the effect, "There are over 2 million Muslims living in the UK and only a few have been involved in anything, therefore it is not really appropriate to say it is a Muslim problem, these are isolated events that could have happen anywhere to anyone, its not about Muslims or Christians or anyone, it's only something that could happen to anyone, anywhere that's all. Wherever there are radicals, this could happen, that's all I am saying." (Again, I am just paraphrasing as best as I can)

What he failed to say, but was blatantly obvious to me, if even 1% of those 2 million plus Muslims in the UK should feel allegiance to Muslims fighting some war in some far off place against the UK and they chose to become active fighters in that event, they could quickly become England's worst nightmare.

Right now, following tons of plane bomber news, Amanpours interview, and the street interviews with young Muslim men in the UK, it appears top me that the local Muslim community is far from convinced those men arrested on 8/10 did anything wrong at all; just the opposite, they seem to feel the government has not been forthcoming, because they have no case. Two of the Muslim men interviewed repeatedly demanded to know, "Where is the evidence? One added, "We don't think they have any, if they did, why don't they say what it is?" Many in the crowd seemed to echoe those angry sentiments.

Makes one wonder, could any western country with a huge Muslim population be at high risk for terrorism and violence for the very same reason laid out in Amanpour's interview? "They identify with the struggle of Muslims everywhere." because they are all part of the Nation of Islam. Look at the French, they've been having their share of ethnic violence and we hear the critics argue France has allow in too many Muslims and their culture is being undermined and their anti-US policies are reflected by that huge Muslim influence. I don't know, it could all be just anti-Muslim hype and terrorist hysteria talking, but over 6000 cars and buildings were burned to the ground by someone recently on the outskirts of Paris and it wasn't the Irish.

Is that old saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," not applicable to Muslims? I say this because a great deal of Muslims seem to be having a difficult time blending in, in whatever country they are in (excluding the Arab nations) and this "failure" often results in violent clashes, initiated of course by the radical Muslims. Case in point was the recent rioting in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, etc., in conjunction with thousands of angry protestors in dozens of other countries over a silly cartoon. How many deaths resulted from a perceived slight against their religion by a cartoon?

Even though we may want to think it, Islam is not just another religion like the Baptists or Catholics. They are THE "Nation of Islam" and they carry that inseparable national identity into the country they happen to live in and become like a separate country within a country. We've seen this happen over and over, in countries like Canada, France, Australia, Denmark and even in the US, that have witnessed one common source for their terrorism trouble...and its always radical Islam. That makes me ask, does being a member in the "The Nation of Islam" mean they must have only one political loyalty.... to the Nation of Islam and no other? It's just a question - and we must always dare to ask questions, even if they make us uncomfortable. Its better to be said and addressed, than to be thought and left to wonder. Its what we do in democracies, we question things openly, all sorts of things, from religion to politics...anything that concerns us, so we might learn, as human beings, all sharing the same planet. I really believe if this was done more in Islamic theocracies, we wouldn't have near the hostility we have now towards the west and Americans in particular.

In researching this piece, I ran across an earlier interview between Amanpour and this controversial Cleric Abu Qatada (see above) who still resides in the UK. His interview is about a year old, but it is still very relevant to the recent events on Aug. 10th. Amanpour asked this radical Immam, "There have been videotapes that have come out of Afghanistan -- there has been this man Sulaiman Abu Ghaith who is the spokesman for al Qaeda. I am not asking you whether you know him or whether you are linked to him -- I want to know what you think of what he said. He praised the people who did what they did in the U.S. on September 11; he said the world should expect more of that, and he called these people good men, good and faithful men. And he said they are good Muslims. Is that what Islam teaches -- that it is good to fly a plane into a building killing everybody?

Answer, "Listen to me. You have presented to me as a great journalist with the CNN. There is man who lost a sum of money in street No. 1 so he went to look for this in street No. 2. Do you know why? Because street No. 2 was lit. Your problem is over there, don't victimize me. You are dealing with your problem in Afghanistan in your filthy way, which is represented by the American policy and the military. Your problem is not with me and it's not here. Here our role is to teach people and to make a stand as required by our religion. So don't try to find anything here that merits an accusation or a wrong practice."

This was a great interview and I encourage you to visit this CNN site and read the entire transcript, its fairly short, but incredibly informative.

I suggest you read just one more article to pull it all together, "Why Muslims Misjudged Us.

PS Did you know that on Friday, police arrested another 40 suspected terrorists in raids on Muslim gathering places throughout Italy, the Italian Interior Ministry said, according to The Associated Press. The arrests were made in Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, Naples and other cities, as a follow up to the British anti-terrorist operation.

If anyone has a well reasoned response to this piece and wants page one here for a rebuttal, they got it, just as long as it doesn't violated the ER policy about threats or libel, you will have a wide open opportunity to say what you want..