February 11, 2009 2:11 PM

Opponents Of U.S. Gloat Over Fiscal Crisis

(AP)  America's opponents in the Middle East are gloating over the financial meltdown in the United States, painting it as divine retribution for past misdeeds against Muslims and the last gasps of a dying empire.

Hardline clerics across the region and groups like Hamas and al Qaeda took delight in America's financial woes even though it has not left the region unscathed, with stock markets across the Middle East dropping more than 10 percent last week.

"We are witnessing the collapse of the American Empire," Hamas prime minister in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniyeh, told worshippers during Friday prayers. "What's going on in America is a result of the violation of the rights of people in Palestine, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Muslims around the world."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that America was paying the price for exporting inflation and deficits to the rest of the world.

"Now the world capacity is full and these problems have returned to the U.S." he said. "And finally they are oppressors, and systems based on oppression and unrighteous positions will not endure."

High level Iranian cleric, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, was more blunt addressing worshippers on Oct. 3.

"We are happy that the U.S. economy is in anarchy and the anarchy is reaching Europe," Jannati said. "They are seeing the result of their own ugly doings and God is punishing them."

Iran denies the financial crisis has hurt its economy, but the turmoil has helped drive the price of oil down more than 40 percent since July, shrinking revenues in a country that relies on oil for 80 percent of its budget.

Al Qaeda was one of the first groups to express satisfaction over the financial crisis.

"The enemies of Islam are facing a crushing defeat, which is beginning to manifest itself in the expanding crisis their economy is experiencing," said American al Qaeda member Adam Gadahn in a video released early this month.

One hardline Sunni cleric in U.S.-allied Lebanon saw the financial collapse as God's answer to Muslim prayers.

"God has responded to the supplications of the oppressed people," Mufti of Mount Lebanon Sheik Mohammed Ali al-Jouzo told the state-run news agency Thursday. "It is the curse that hits every arrogant power."

By Associated Press Writer Paul Schemm; the AP's Bassem Mroue, Ali Dareini and Karin Laub contributed to this report

© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 241 Comments
by libluv2cnsor October 13, 2008 7:28 PM EDT
this is one of those rare occassion that liberal athiest becomes religious..SO THEY CAN AGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT IS ANTI-AMERICAN
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by libluv2cnsor October 13, 2008 7:26 PM EDT
I guess God did not bless America -he gave us Bush -then Palin-the damage is likely fatal.


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Posted by babooph at 07:30 AM : Oct 13, 2008
+ report abuse


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does this mean you believe in God??
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by petro49l October 13, 2008 2:47 PM EDT
America should make gasoline from coal and shale. U.S. Oil Corporations have the option of purchasing oil leases in Central and South America. Why not build more nuclear power plants? Economy will improve when this country produces its own steel and automobiles. Imports are a mistake. Never buy anything overseas unless its French champagne.
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by babooph October 13, 2008 10:30 AM EDT
I guess God did not bless America -he gave us Bush -then Palin-the damage is likely fatal.
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by runningralph October 13, 2008 6:12 AM EDT
Don''t worry what Hamas and al Quada say. Jihadists will always be against us. Always have been, always will be. We are infidels.
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by republic1776 October 13, 2008 2:41 AM EDT
American has become Socialist Communist.
Amercia is too stupip to see that; the two pary system is fatal!
It breed''s corruption, and secret deals!
They are on the same side!
A *** could figure out that the system is rigged by Democrats and Republicans.
The World has become a sickening place, because of dirtbags who call them selves leaders!

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by mtminds October 12, 2008 11:47 PM EDT
If only I had invested in goats I cold have had 5 wives by now
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by p1tey1 October 12, 2008 11:28 PM EDT
blah.....blah....blah.....
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by heero78-2009 October 12, 2008 10:32 PM EDT

My plan B is to learn to speak Canadian, aye.
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by impeach__w October 12, 2008 9:22 PM EDT
World Bank Under Cyber Siege in ''''Unprecedented Crisis''''
The World Bank Group''''s computer network %u2014 one of the largest repositories of sensitive data about the economies of every nation %u2014 has been raided repeatedly by outsiders for more than a year, FOX News has learned.

It is still not known how much information was stolen. But sources inside the bank confirm that servers in the institution''''s highly-restricted treasury unit were deeply penetrated with spy software last April. Invaders also had full access to the rest of the bank''''s network for nearly a month in June and July.

In total, at least six major intrusions %u2014 two of them using the same group of IP addresses originating from China %u2014 have been detected at the World Bank since the summer of 2007, with the most recent breach occurring just last month.

In a frantic midnight e-mail to colleagues, the bank''''s senior technology manager referred to the situation as an "unprecedented crisis." In fact, it may be the worst security breach ever at a global financial institution. And it has left bank officials scrambling to try to understand the nature of the year-long cyber-assault, while also trying to keep the news from leaking to the public.

" http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,4356
81,00.html "

This post keeps getting removed! wonder why?
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