Islamist rebels destroy UNESCO World Heritage sites in historic Mali city of Timbuktu

**Pete** · 06-30-2012, 12:38

Islamist rebels destroy UNESCO World Heritage sites in historic Mali city of Timbuktu

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/...SDW_story.html

"BAMAKO, Mali — Islamist fighters with ties to al-Qaida have destroyed tombs classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site in Mali’s historic city of Timbuktu, a resident and U.N. officials said Saturday.

Irina Bokova, who heads the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, cited in a statement Saturday reports the centuries-old Muslim mausoleums of Sidi Mahmoud, Sidi, Moctar and Alpha Moya have been destroyed......................"

Islamists doing what Islamists do best - destroying things.

Now let's see if anyone cares.

Sigaba · 06-30-2012, 13:08

MOO, the Taliban's destruction of Buddhist statues in Afghanistan in March 2001 was a global wake up call that went ignored. I don't see how this act will prove any different.

Notwithstanding the ongoing debates over why Islamicists behave the way they do, the behavior alone merits a timely, proportional response.

YMMV.

Radar Rider · 06-30-2012, 13:27

Sigaba,

When clicking on this thread, my first thought went to the great Buddhist statues in Bamiyan. I'm not Buddhist, but was rather disgusted that the Taliban destroyed those historical treasures. The savages went so far as to fire at the statues with artillery.

Historians may mourn the loss of historical sites due to Islamist intolerance and violence; I honestly doubt that the greater liberal world will put any of the blame on Islamist extremism, though.

Sigaba · 06-30-2012, 14:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radar Rider

Sigaba,

When clicking on this thread, my first thought went to the great Buddhist statues in Bamiyan. I'm not Buddhist, but was rather disgusted that the Taliban destroyed those historical treasures. The savages went so far as to fire at the statues with artillery.

Historians may mourn the loss of historical sites due to Islamist intolerance and violence; I honestly doubt that the greater liberal world will put any of the blame on Islamist extremism, though.

From a political stand point, I think that more traction can be gained by focusing on behaviors rather than motivation. IMO, people can think and believe as they please. They should just understand that the moment they decide to subvert the rule of law and the accepted standards of civilized behavior, there's going to be a problem.

This position does not contradict my position that standards and conventions are constructs or that violence and war are a part of the human condition. Nor do I believe that everything can be talked out. I am simply saying that, in this day and age, once you start blowing stuff up, you shouldn't be surprised when you get what's coming to you.

**Ambush Master** · 06-30-2012, 14:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigaba

From a political stand point, I think that more traction can be gained by focusing on behaviors rather than motivation. IMO, people can think and believe as they please. They should just understand that the moment they decide to subvert the rule of law and the accepted standards of civilized behavior, there's going to be a problem.

This position does not contradict my position that standards and conventions are constructs or that violence and war are a part of the human condition. Nor do I believe that everything can be talked out. I am simply saying that, in this day and age, once you start blowing stuff up, you shouldn't be surprised when you get what's coming to you.

AND, I still say that the "Radical Islamists" are the ones that want to get along with the rest of the World!!! They are in the minority, not the other way around!!!

Later
Martin

Richard · 06-30-2012, 15:31

Ἰδοὺ ὁ ἄνθρωπος...and so continues the March of History.

Richard

Dusty · 06-30-2012, 16:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ambush Master

AND, I still say that the "Radical Islamists" are the ones that want to get along with the rest of the World!!! They are in the minority, not the other way around!!!

Later
Martin

Nailed.

**Pete** · 06-30-2012, 16:08

Timbuktu shrines damaged by Mali Ansar Dine Islamists

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18657463

The BBC's story on it. The 700,000 manuscripts in the 60 libraries should make a pretty good bonfire.

".........He went on: "God is unique. All of this is haram (forbidden in Islam). We are all Muslims. Unesco is what?"

"They have already completely destroyed the mausoleum of Sidi Mahmoud (Ben Amar) and two others," Malian journalist Yeya Tandina told the Reuters news agency.

In addition to the shrines, Timbuktu is home to some 700,000 ancient manuscripts held in about 60 private libraries..................."

And don't hold your breath for the Muslim north to send and Army down there to settle things down. As they say in Muslim countries " Anything to advance Islam is O-Tay with us."

**PRB** · 06-30-2012, 21:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ambush Master

AND, I still say that the "Radical Islamists" are the ones that want to get along with the rest of the World!!! They are in the minority, not the other way around!!!

Later
Martin

By Islamic doctrine you are absolutely correct......

brown77 · 07-01-2012, 01:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

".........He went on: "God is unique. All of this is haram (forbidden in Islam). We are all Muslims. Unesco is what?"

Meanwhile in the West Bank:

UN organization places Jesus' birthplace on list of World Heritage in danger. Abbas: This is a victory for our cause and for justice. US says its 'profoundly disappointed' by politicized decision

UNESCO's World Heritage committee has voted to approve a Palestinian bid to place the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on its list of sites of World Heritage in Danger.

The Palestinians had pressed to have the church and pilgrimage route inscribed as an emergency candidate at the meeting of the World Heritage 21-nation committee in St. Petersburg, Russia........

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...249093,00.html

Richard · 07-01-2012, 06:03

Belief vs Reason - and Reason loses again. Sad.

And so it goes...

Richard

**The Reaper** · 07-01-2012, 09:56

To paraphrase Stalin's comment about the Pope, "How many divisions does the UN have?"

For some, relevancy flows from the mouth of a gun.

TR

**Pete** · 07-01-2012, 12:43

Mali Islamists to continue destroying UNESCO sites

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories...07-01-12-14-33

"..........Ansar Dine spokesman Sanda Abu Mohamed said Sunday that Islamists will continue the destruction they started Saturday.

"We're going to destroy everything before we apply Shariah in this city," he said........."

T-Rock · 07-01-2012, 21:59

Quote:

From a political stand point, I think that more traction can be gained by focusing on behaviors rather than motivation.

The only way to change learned behavior, IMHO, is to discredit the motivating factors. Otherwise, 1400 years of history is ripe with examples of playing Whack-a-mole...it's an endless game... Why not attack the enemies weakest spot, the character of Muhammad and the credibility of the Quran?

**Pete** · 07-02-2012, 03:16

Islamists vow to smash every mausoleum in Timbuktu

Getting busy like little beavers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18665522

"..........Ansar Dine is reportedly made up of Islamist fighters from Mali and other African states including Algeria and Nigeria.

"What shocks me the most is the presence of foreigners among them who do it with mockery while shouting Allah Akbar," Timbuktu resident Hamed Mohamed told Reuters.

"For me it is a declaration of war and a crime against our cultural heritage. It is time that the international community helped us.".................."