Palestinian extremists party today.

[Az]

I think Eli has said something that differs from what he wanted to say.

[Shi Huangdi]

Eli seemed pretty clear in his statement. If he wishes to retract it that is his call.

[cavebear]

I can't find any news stories (internet search) that mention Iraqi celebrations...

Let's wait for confirmations before leaping to conclusions.

[Pekka]

Shi, I saw it on TV myself. It was a document about 9/11, and focused on tragedy. I'm sorry, I can't give you any sources.

And sure, I'll give you he was a bit drunk . And even I could have said something like that if I was drinking, even more strong, fighting words. So that really doesn't count, I was just trying to somehow tell that there must be at least some Americans too, who enjoyed innocent deaths. I'm not saying they throwed huge street parties with live music, just that there are those people. I am also sure there are some people in my country too that enjoyed it. Screwed up people. But if you want source for substancial group street partying, I can't give you that, I haven't heard of those, and I think those didn't happen. I don't know what I'm talking anymore, kind of lost my mind already. I'm not defending Palestinian extremists here, that's for sure. Just I don't see the point of getting angry about some extremists partying.. you can't always choose your emotions and that kind of stuff triggers people, but we should all remember that these people are stupid and don't have respect for human lives. This is 'Newsflash!' too like you put it.

[Sirotnikov]

Iraqis Call Shuttle Disaster God's Vengeance
Sat February 1, 2003 03:23 PM ET

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Immediate popular reaction in Baghdad on Saturday to the loss of the U.S. space shuttle Columbia and its seven-member crew -- including the first Israeli in space -- was that it was God's retribution.
"We are happy that it broke up," government employee Abdul Jabbar al-Quraishi said.

"God wants to show that his might is greater than the Americans. They have encroached on our country. God is avenging us," he said.

Iraqis are braced for a possible U.S.-led war to rid their country of any chemical, biological or nuclear weapons it may possess. Iraq denies it has such weapons.

Car mechanic Mohammed Jaber al-Tamini noted Israeli air force Colonel Ilan Ramon was among the dead when the shuttle broke up over the southwestern United States 16 minutes before its scheduled landing.

The 48-year-old Israeli astronaut was a fighter pilot in the Israeli air force. He was the youngest pilot in a team that bombed Iraq's nuclear reactor in 1981. Israel said the reactor was intended to develop nuclear weapons.

"Israel launched an aggression on us when it raided our nuclear reactor without any reason, now time has come and God has retaliated to their aggression," Tamini said.

There were no such signs of jubilation over the shuttle disaster in any of the Palestinian territories. The official response from the Palestinians was one of condolence.

"President (Yasser) Arafat and the Palestinian Authority offer their condolences to the six American families and the Israeli family who lost their loved ones in the catastrophe," Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian official and spokesman, told Reuters.

Erekat said Arafat had sent President Bush a message of condolences over the loss of the NASA space agency's shuttle. The United States, Israel's closest ally, is the chief Middle East peace broker.

[Pekka]

These people get pleasure from you getting angry, so why give that pleasure? Just think that these people are human waste, and get angry to people who are normal.
For me to get angry, I have to care about what some people think and do. If people who I don't have any respect, or care what they do because they mean nothing to me.. why bother getting angry because of these people, that's beyond me.

[chequita guevara]

Man, the Iraqi government is dumb. They never pass up an opportunity to make themselves look evil when they could make themselves look better. My comment about being evil, sick bastards trying to score political points applies to them as well.

[Az]

Smooth move, Saddam.

[Pekka]

Man Iraq is DUMB! These are the days when the US presents their evidence and EU thinks what their position will be. That is if evidence is convincing, it might be big coalition, if not.. then not so big coalition. Iraq wants to play cool now, and win those hearts and NOT say stupid things like these. This won't win any hearts where it counts, and that is possible coming coalition.

[Drake Tungsten]

That article has to be a lie, Siro. The Iraqi government would never say such things; they are secular, after all.

[Sava]

I don't blame the Iraqi government for that response. If I were living in Iraq, I'd probably feel the same way. But I agree that it just shows they're classless pieces of sh1t. I sure hope it turns out Saddam has been bad. But again, we shouldn't attack without proof if at all.

[Sirotnikov]

Che, get over your high horse.

Even though Arafat has officialy expressed his condolences, you and I know that he probably had a tost celebrating this occassion, when the two nations he its trying to trick are suffering.

[MrFun]

Chegitz -- I'm just stating that based on past patterns of behavior of Palestinian extremists -- not all Palestinians -- that today is probably another party for such evil extremists.

As for Iraqi extremists -- I'm not surprised they're twisting this tragedy around, to endorse it as some kind of anti-Western message from God.

[Wernazuma III]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten
That article has to be a lie, Siro. The Iraqi government would never say such things; they are secular, after all.

No, they're not so secular as you might think. They're not Wahabit islamic fundamentalist nutcases (and thus I don't buy the Al Qaeda link), but they're definitely defining their nation as "islamic", just like all Arab nations. The notion of God in there fits the picture perfectly.

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Sirotnikov
Che, get over your high horse.

Even though Arafat has officialy expressed his condolences, you and I know that he probably had a tost celebrating this occassion, when the two nations he its trying to trick are suffering.

Neither you nor I know anything of the sort.