Romney warns of theocracy danger

[paineinthearse]

The pot calls the kettle black.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/10/11/romney_warns_of_theocracy_danger/

Romney warns of theocracy danger

In remarks in N.C., says US under attack
By Seth Effron and Raphael Lewis, Globe Staff | October 11, 2005

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Venturing into foreign policy, Governor Mitt Romney yesterday told a largely Republican audience that Islamic terrorists ''want to bring down our government" and ''want to put in place a huge theocracy." ''We're under attack, as you know, militarily," Romney told about 150 people gathered at an exclusive Raleigh country club. ''They're not just intent on blowing up a little bomb here and there at a shopping mall, awful as that would be. They want to bring down our government, bring down our entire economy. They want to put in place a huge theocracy." ''Thank heavens we have a president of the United States who recognizes this for what it is and has declared war on it, and thank heavens we have a military that consists of the strongest and bravest and most able men and women in the world," Romney said.

<snip>

Asked later by a Globe reporter about his remarks, Romney said he was referring to Islamic terrorists. ''Obviously, this is an extreme fundamentalist perspective," he responded. ''It's certainly not shared by the people of Islam generally, but is shared by some radical few." Then he was asked if he felt Islamic terrorists want to take over the United States. Romney said: ''No. No. No." ''I don't have any foreign intelligence that's any different than what you read in the various journals and so forth," the governor said. ''Among the various reports I've read -- and I think President Bush has described -- that there are some who wish to bring down the Western-leaning governments and put in a more fundamentalist, religious leadership. But that's not something I'm something I'm expert in."

Eric Fehrnstrom, Romney's communications director, said last night that the governor had made an assertion in earlier speeches that terrorists were seeking a broad based ''theocracy." Those remarks have not been widely reported, however. Fehrnstrom also pointed to an account earlier this month from the New York Times describing a letter obtained by the US forces in Iraq that was written by Ayman al-Zawahiri, the second-ranking leader of Al Qaeda. According to the Times, the letter outlined a four-stage battle plan, beginning with the American military's expulsion, followed by the creation of a militant Islamic caliphate in Iraq and then in Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt. The final step, the Times reported, quoted unnamed US officials, would be a battle against Israel.

Romney, who has yet to announce whether he will seek the 2008 GOP presidential nomination, drew criticism from some Muslims and civil liberties advocates last month when he raised the prospect of wiretapping mosques and conducting surveillance of foreign students. Yesterday's trip was billed as an effort by Romney to tout his budget expertise. His much discussed potential as a 2008 presidential candidate drew some of North Carolina's leading Republicans -- including former governor Jim Martin; US Representative Sue Myrick of Charlotte, and half-a-dozen Republican state legislators.

more.....

[Rockholm]

1. We are close to a theocracy already, Dumbass.

I read this article in The Globe this morning and nearly lost my breakfast. What a prick.

[paineinthearse]

2. Rockholm

You are my "Friday", there are TWO of us in the Mass group today! Glad to see you!

[Rockholm]

3. Pathetic. Where the frig are all of the massholes?

[paineinthearse]

4. Activist state, indeed

:shrug:

There's more action in the Rhode Island forum.