ISLAMISTS (AND U.S.) REMEMBER 9/11 – BLACK FLAG OVER CAIRO, AMERICAN AMBASSADOR KILLED

Printer-friendly version PDF version Send to friend Change the text size

Volume XI, No. 2,905 • September 12, 2012

ARAB WORLD | More About: Libya, Al-Qaeda, Islamists, Cairo, US Embassy, Muslim Extremists, Anti-american

Contents: Media-ocrity of the Week | Weekly Quotes | Short Takes | On Topic Links

[On the 11^th anniversary of 9/11 US embassies came under attack in Cairo, Egypt where an Islamist mob tore down the American flag and replaced it with the black flag of Islam; and in Benghazi, Libya, where the American ambassador J. Christopher Stevens was brutally murdered and his body paraded through the streets in a barbaric show of utter contempt for his remains. Photos have been circulating online. Please be warned these photos are graphic Three other Americans were also killed in the attack on the embassy in Libya, all this ostensibly in protest over a soon-to-be-released film on the prophet Mohammed.—Ed.]

___________________________________________________________________

ISLAM’S BLACK FLAG FLIES OVER U.S. EMBASSY IN EGYPT

Raymond Ibrahim

Front Page Mag, September 12th, 2012

The United States embassy of Egypt is under siege. According to Fox News:

“Mainly ultraconservative Islamist protesters climbed the walls of the U.S. Embassy in Egypt’s capital Tuesday and brought down the flag, replacing it with a black flag with an Islamic inscription to protest a video attacking Islam’s prophet, Muhammad. Hundreds of protesters marched to the embassy in downtown Cairo …. Dozens of protesters then scaled the embassy walls, went into the courtyard and took down the flag from a pole. They brought it back to the crowd outside, which tried to burn it, but failing that, tore it apart. The protesters on the wall then raised on the flagpole a black flag with the Muslim declaration of faith on it, ‘There is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet.’ The flag, similar to the banner used by al-Qaida, is commonly used by ultraconservatives around the region…. By evening, the protest grew with thousands standing outside the embassy, chanting ‘Islamic, Islamic. The right of our prophet will not die.’ A group of women in black veils and robes that left only their eyes exposed chanted, ‘Worshippers of the Cross, leave the Prophet Muhammad alone.’”

Some clarifications for context: Islam’s black flag with the shehada and sword inscription is not an al-Qaeda banner but rather Islam’s most ancient banner, popularized by the Abbasid caliphs in the 800s. In other words, these protesters were not imitating al-Qaeda; rather they—and al-Qaeda—are imitating Islam’s heritage, replete with jihad against the infidel. Same with the phrase “worshippers of the cross”—Islam’s ancient appellation for the hated Christians.

The reason behind this latest rampage is Muslim outrage over the appearance of a film deemed offensive about the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Apparently it depicts him inciting jihads, deceiving people, and exercising his libido—not unlike what is recorded in Islam’s own authoritative biographies and hadiths of the prophet. It is not exactly clear who made the video, though Egyptian expatriates and Copts are being accused, possibly in conjunction with Pastor Terry Jones. In other words, the reason for this latest bit of Muslim outrage is once again the issue of free speech—in the same camp of Danish Muhammad cartoons, burned Korans, and any number of other freedoms of expression exercised by non-Muslims, and even Muslims.

The U.S.’s formal response to this terror campaign against its embassy and the desecration of the American flag has, once again, been to lay the blame on free speech. In a statement, the U.S. said, “The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals [film makers] to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims—as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions. We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.”

Interestingly, while very concerned about the “religious feelings of Muslims,” the U.S. embassy in Egypt had nothing to say about the fact that, right before it was attacked, a Christian man in Egypt stood on trial for “insulting” Islam—even as a throng of Muslims besieged the court-house, interrupting the hearing and calling for the man’s death. Apparently appeasing thin skins is more important than speaking up for those whose lives are at stake—not just Christian Egyptians, but now U.S. employees—over issues of freedom.

Left unsaid and unknown in any Western media is the fact that the U.S. embassy has long been under threat, but for different reasons. Earlier, the Egyptian paper El Fagr reported that Jihadi groups in Egypt, including Islamic Jihad, the Sunni Group, and Al Gamaa Al Islamiyya had issued a statement threatening to burn the U.S. embassy in Cairo to the ground unless all the Islamic jihadis currently imprisonment and in detention centers in the U.S. including Guantanamo Bay were released:

“The group, which consists of many members from al-Qaeda, called [especially] for the quick release of the jihadi [mujahid] sheikh, Omar Abdul Rahman [the 'Blind Sheikh'], whom they described as a scholar and jihadi who sacrificed his life for the Egyptian Umma, who was ignored by the Mubarak regime, and [President] Morsi is refusing to intervene on his behalf and release him, despite promising that he would. The Islamic Group has threatened to burn the U.S. Embassy in Cairo with those in it, and taking hostage those who remain [alive], unless the Blind Sheikh is immediately released.”

Despite all this—despite longstanding threats to the U.S. embassy, followed by a real attack, culminating with the destruction of the American flag—Victoria Nuland, the U.S. State Department’s Spokesperson, speaking in response to this latest attack, said that “none of this suggests that there are hostile feelings for the U.S. in Egypt.”

In fact, none of this is surprising—neither the attack on the U.S. embassy, nor the U.S. government’s head-in-the-sand response, with strong words reserved only for those non-Muslims exercising their free speech rights. This event also explains the situation in a way that even a child can understand: the more you appease—as the Obama administration has been doing with the Islamic world in ways unprecedented—the more contempt you earn from those you appease, and the more demands will be made of you. Thus, today, far from being respected as a super-power, the U.S. is increasingly seen as a subdued, contemptuous dhimmi—who must say “how high?” whenever Muslims command “jump!”

Media-ocrity of the Week

Although his swearing-in at Rideau Hall must have happened in the dead of night, Canada appears to have a new foreign minister. His name is Benjamin Netanyahu. His day job may be prime minister of Israel, but Canada’s abrupt actions against Iran seem to confirm that the Harper government’s outsourcing of Canada’s Middle East policy to Jerusalem is now complete.There is little else to conclude from Canada’s unwise decision to move unilaterally on Iran at this moment. All sorts of crucial issues are in play with Iran. They involve the future of its nuclear program, the impatience of Israel’s leadership to attack Iran, the shape of a new Middle East as the heinous Syrian regime implodes and several delicate life-and-death issues involving Canadians on death row in Iran. Surprisingly, Western nations have held together on how to approach these key challenges — except, now, for Canada. [Tony Burman is no less than the former head of Al Jazeera English and CBC news [and] teaches journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto.]

___________________________________________________________
Weekly Quotes

“The Embassy of the United States in Cairo condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims – as we condemn efforts to offend believers of all religions…We firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.” – American Embassy in Egypt in response to the MB rioters in Cairo storming the US embassy tearing down its flag and replacing it with the ancient black flag of Islam and in Libya killing the US ambassador and 3 embassy employees. (US Embassy Website, Egypt, September 11, 2012)

“Since our founding, the United States has been a nation that respects all faiths.  We reject all efforts to denigrate the religious beliefs of others. [by the maker of the film on Mohammed – Ed.]  But there is absolutely no justification to this type of senseless violence.  None.  The world must stand together to unequivocally reject these brutal acts.” – President Barack Obama in response to the assault on the American embassy in Libya and the killing of its ambassador. (Weekly Standard, September 12, 2012)

“The first response of the United States must be outrage at the breach of the sovereignty of our nation, and apology for American values is never the right course,”- Mitt Romney to reporters on the campaign trail after expressing sorrow over the deaths of J. Christopher Stevens, the ambassador to Libya, and three other Americans killed in Benghazi, Libya. “They clearly sent mixed messages to the world.” saying that the statement issued by the American Embassy in Cairo before the deaths criticizing an anti-Islamic video was “akin to an apology” and a “severe miscalculation.” (New York Times, September 12, 2012)

"I ask myself, how could this happen? How could this happen in a country we helped liberate, in a city we helped save from destruction?" - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in response to the anti-American riots in Cairo and Benghazi. "This question reflects just how complicated and, at times, how confounding the world can be. But we must be clear-eyed even in our grief. This was an attack by a small and savage group, not the people or government of Libya," (Ynet News, September 12, 2012)

“We can say with confidence that the diplomacy and the sanctions are not working. The sanctions have harmed the Iranian economy but they have not harmed the Iranian nuclear program. [Note: Clinton had said the best method to resolve the situation are sanctions and diplomacy]. That is a fact. And it is a fact that every day that passes, Iran is getting closer to a nuclear weapon.” - Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu at a press conference in Jerusalem with Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Metodiev Borisov. “If Iran knows that there are no red lines, if Iran knows that there are no deadlines, what will it do? Exactly what it is doing. It is continuing without interference toward nuclear capability and nuclear bombs. The world tells Israel ‘Wait, there is still time.’ And I say ‘Wait for what? Wait until when?’ Those in the international community who refuse to put red lines in front of Iran, don’t have a moral right to put a red light in front of Israel.” (Emphasis added – Ed.; Jewish Press, September 11, 2012)

Lights out! Israel could cripple Iran’s entire power grid with bursts of electromagnetic pulses powerful enough to send the Islamic Republic “back to the Stone Age” to stop it from developing nuclear weapons. Bill Gertz, editor of the conservative Washington Free Beacon, says US intelligence agencies have “growing concerns that Israel will conduct a strike on Iran using a high-altitude nuclear burst aimed at disrupting all electronics in the country.” The technology behind electromagnetic impulses, known as EMP, involves making nonlethal gamma energy react with the Earth’s magnetic field. The gamma flashes produce a powerful electromagnetic shock wave that can fry electronic devices. The shock wave would knock out Iran’s power grid and communications systems for transport and financial services, leading to economic collapse. (New York Post, September 9, 2012) (Top)

Short Takes

EGYPT’S 9/11 REMEMBRACE –(Cairo) The film, [titled "Innocence of Muslims"]...was reportedly produced by U.S.-based Coptic Christian Egyptians, who are concerned about church burnings, killings and persecution of their fellow Christians in Egypt at the hands of Islamists. Apparently, the Coptic Christians cannot exercise their right of free speech in the United States to express their views on a religion that has been used to justify far worse physical attacks on Egyptian Christians without incurring the wrath of the Islamists and the condemnation of the Obama State Department. (Front Page Magazine, September 12, 2012)

'US EMBASSY ATTACK PLANNED; AMBASSADOR WAS NOT TARGET' –(Washington) [According to] official sources in Washington on Wednesday…the [attack on the US embassy where] three employees were killed was planned, and the attackers used the protest outside the consulate as a diversion. The sources could not say whether the attackers instigated the protest or merely took advantage of it, and they say they don't believe [Ambassador] Stevens was specifically targeted. (Ynet News, September12, 2021)
 

REPORT: RIOTS ACTUALLY ABOUT RELEASE OF BLIND SHEIK –(New York) From reports in US media it appears that the riot at the U.S. embassy in Cairo [had] been planned well before the Egyptian media reported on the anti-Islam YouTube film that was blamed for sparking the protest. The protest was reportedly announced on August 30 by Gamaa Islamiyya, an Egyptian terrorist group [one of whose members was invited to the White House in June – Ed.], to call for the release of its leader, Sheikh Omar abdel Rahman — aka the blind sheik, who is serving a life sentence for the first World Trade Center bombing. If the storming of the embassy was organized by Gamaa Islamiyya … why hasn’t the State Department’s response reflected that? It’s hard to imagine they’re not aware of the group’s activities. (Commentary Magazine, September 12, 2012)
 

ISRAEL FEARS ARAB SPRING ANARCHY IN PA –(Jerusalem) Due to the Palestinian Authority's financial crisis, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered on Tuesday the transfer of a 250 million shekel advance to the PA from tax revenues collected by Israel.A statement from Netanyahu’s office said he consulted on the issue with Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz. The directive was communicated via Netaynahu’s special envoy, Attorney Yitzchak Molho, who coordinated with PA leadership. The aid to the PA comes amid fears by Israeli military and government leaders that the social protests in the PA will lead to anarchy. (Israel National News, September 12, 2012)

ILLEGAL ARAB BUILDING DEFIES SUPREME COURT RULING –(Jerusalem) The illegal “building intifada” being waged by the Palestinian Authority on state lands in Area C of Judea and Samaria, (the West Bank), has become the latest battleground for the radical Left in conjunction with foreign-funded Israeli socalled human rights NGO’s such as B’tselem and Bimkom. This unlawful land theft is being carried out with the full support of the EU, foreign aid organizations and the UN. Under the Oslo Accords, Israel was allocated full administrative and security control over Area C. Allocation of final sovereignty in Area C was to be determined in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo Accords and the Bush Roadmap of 2002. (Jerusalem Post, August 27, 2012)

POPULATION NEARS 8 MILLION AHEAD OF ROSH HASHANA – (Jerusalem)Israel's population approached the eight million mark nearing Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, according to a report released Wednesday by the Central Bureau of Statistics. Israel's population stands at 7,933,200, of which 5,978,600 (75.36%) are Jewish, 1,636,600 (20.62%) are Arabs- including Beduins and Druse, and approximately 318,000 (4%) are "other" - including non-Jews who have one Jewish grandparent and non-Arab Christians. The Jewish population grew 1.8% while the Arab population grew at 2.4%. [While] the Jewish growth rate remained largely steady…the Arab growth rate… continued [its] rapid decline since 1996-2000 when the population was growing at a rate of 3.4%. (Jerusalem Post, September 12, 2012)

FATE SEALED FOR EGYPT’S JEWS –(Alexandria, Egypt) Islamists storm the U.S. embassy and Egypt’s last Jews have no rabbi. Shanah tova from the Muslim Brotherhood. Outside of Israel, the Jewish community of Alexandria is perhaps the Mediterranean’s oldest, dating back to Alexander the Great’s founding of the city in 332 B.C. But this year, there may not even be High Holiday services at the city’s last remaining synagogue, Eliahou Hanabi, also known by its street address, Nabi Daniel.
The Egyptian press first reported that government authorities “ordered the cancellation” of this year’s Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur celebrations. But the synagogue’s caretaker, Youssef Gaon, explained that there would be services. “The only difference,” he said, “is a rabbi and cantor who usually lead the services were denied entry to the country.” Apparently they were not granted visas for security reasons. That shouldn’t come as a surprise: The Muslim Brotherhood-led government is incapable of providing security for anyone—from ordinary Egyptians who have endured a crime wave of epic proportions since Hosni Mubarak was toppled in February 2011 to Americans based in [the] Cairo embassy, which [was] mobbed by Islamists. Only a year ago this month, the Israeli embassy was also besieged; its staff was lucky to escape alive. (Tablet Magazine, September 12, 2012) (Top)

On Topic

• Israel National News, September 12, 2012
  Gil Ronen

Mohammed Film's Maker 'Not Israeli,' 'Probably Not Jewish'

• The American Interest, September 12, 2012
  Walter Russell Mead

The Day The Roof Fell In [on Obama]

• Times of Israel, September 12, 2012
  Stuart Winer

Jewish Hostage Held by Al-Qaeda-Pakistan Appeals to Netanyahu for Help

Visit CIJR’s Bi-Weekly Webzine: ISRAZINE.

CIJR’s ISRANET Daily Briefing is available by fax and e-mail.
Please urge colleagues, friends and family to visit our website for more information on our Briefing series.
To join our distribution list, or to unsubscribe, contact us at http://www.isranet.org/.

The ISRANET Daily Briefing is a service of CIJR. We hope that you find it useful and that you will support it and our pro-Israel educational work by forwarding a minimum $90.00 tax-deductible contribution [please send a cheque or VISA/MasterCard information to CIJR (see cover page for address)]. All donations include a membership-subscription to our respected quarterly ISRAFAX print magazine, which will be mailed to your home.

CIJR’s Briefing series attempts to convey a wide variety of opinions on Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world for its readers’ educational and research purposes. Reprinted articles and documents express the opinion of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the Institute.