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December 06, 2008
If Obama won't go to the mountain
Take the mountain to Obama, or something like that. James Taranto considers where Obama can go.
"President-elect Barack Obama's aides say he is considering making a major foreign policy speech from an Islamic capital during his first 100 days in office," the New York Times reports. Problem is, where?
Most alternatives are too parochial, too divisive or too obviously point out the near uniform despotism and consequent squalor of the Islamic inheritance...
But there is a city that, although not a national capital, is for all intents and purposes the capital of all Islam--a place where Obama could credibly speak to all Muslims, Sunni and Shiite, from Morocco to Malaysia to Michigan.
Not only that, but Obama's very presence--along with that of his secretary of state, chief of staff, the rest of his entourage and the traveling press from all over the world--would demonstrate that Islam is a more tolerant faith than many Westerners, including this columnist, have thought.
Is it really that simple? Can we be serious? Yes, we can.
All the new president has to do is give a speech in Mecca.
Not only that, but Obama's very presence--along with that of his secretary of state, chief of staff, the rest of his entourage and the traveling press from all over the world--would demonstrate that Islam is a more tolerant faith than many Westerners, including this columnist, have thought.
Is it really that simple? Can we be serious? Yes, we can.
All the new president has to do is give a speech in Mecca.
Speaking of Muslim cities: Having borrowed $80b (from?) to finance its preposterous vertical expansion, the Dubai property market is on the point of collapse.
Ha. Ha. Ha.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at December 6, 2008 08:47 AM
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