CAIRO, Egypt, Oct. 11, 2008

Opponents Of U.S. Gloat Over Fiscal Crisis

Mideast Hardliners Call Wall St. Meltdown Divine Retribution For U.S.'s Past Misdeeds Against Muslims

  • Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas (pictured here in a 2007 file photo) said, Photo

    Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas (pictured here in a 2007 file photo) said, "We are witnessing the collapse of the American Empire," given the financial crisis facing Wall Street and credit market.  (AP)

  • Timeline Financial Meltdown

    Track major events that lead to one of the most tumultuous times in Wall Street's history.

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(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.

Quote

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

Iranian cleric Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati
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.
© MMVIII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Add a Comment See all 245 Comments
by hypnotoad72 October 11, 2008 1:27 PM PDT
Yawn. Amaneedalay would gladly take American jobs to help bring America down too.

I wonder what his allies are thinking; we are a GLOBAL economy, which means if one goes so does everyone else.

Tell him to go shave himself. I don''t care where.
Reply to this comment
by ajapierce October 11, 2008 1:29 PM PDT
You know, those Middle East countries could be even worse of then we are. If we stopped buying oil from them, all of these Terrorists organizations would disappear over-night. With $700+ billion dollars going back into the US Economy by getting our own oil from our own country, these middelast countries would all but shrivel up and die.

In other words, don''t bite the hand that is feeding you, you middle east jerks.
Reply to this comment
by lmartink October 11, 2008 2:11 PM PDT
Osama bin Laden must be gloating as well. We launched two horribly expensive wars and are falling apart at the seams financially, while Osama watches from his hideout in Pakistan.

When will we figure out that you can crush an enemy economically, without firing a shot? Just like China is doing at this moment.

Are we fools or what?
Reply to this comment
by sepa2 October 11, 2008 2:26 PM PDT
These extremists appeal and relevence in MIDDLE EAST can be wiped out by providing just solution to palastinian people. Their sorry situation harm the reputation of USA in Middle East
Reply to this comment
by lloydbest1 October 11, 2008 2:29 PM PDT
It''s tempting to get angry with those who express joy at our present and (I hope) temporary discomfiture. But remember where these people come from. They are a small minority of semieducated misfits who have been raised in and obsessively practise a form of phantom Islam that is every bit as odious as the most extreme versions of right-wing Christianity practised by our own cranks - if not even more so.
Their joy is irrelevant to me and I would pay no more attention to the wind coming out of their mouths than that coming out of their backsides.
Reply to this comment
by drivelphobe October 11, 2008 2:36 PM PDT
cause_x


There you go again. You got out of your crib and are playing on your mommy''s computer. You''ll feel better after you have your bottle, your pacifier and a change of diapers.
Reply to this comment
by drivelphobe October 11, 2008 2:55 PM PDT
cyinzl8r-

Wow! What a vocabulary you have. Nice.
Reply to this comment
by collegedudeu October 11, 2008 3:10 PM PDT
This cause_x loser is roaming these forums AGAIN? I''ve happened upon these forums occasionally and EVERY single time I do, he''s here. I guess he can''t seem to get enough attention from the very people he supposedly hates. Don''t feel bad cause_x; Only 5% of the world is blessed to be born American. Maybe in your next life :)
Reply to this comment
by renonv5 October 11, 2008 3:14 PM PDT
Who really cares what those blowhards in the middle east think??? Why even print this ***?
Reply to this comment
by ubrew12 October 11, 2008 3:54 PM PDT
"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."

Anarchy?? I guess if you believe God awaits you with 40 virgins in Heaven, you''ll believe anything! Anarchy is what happens to your missiles once they get to second stage (as yesterdays test proved... once again).

Here''s how strong the Wests economies are: they can lose $5 trillion in a week and still not be in Anarchy.
Reply to this comment
by bellona2 October 11, 2008 4:04 PM PDT
Was cause_x abused by some priest?
Reply to this comment
by osiod9 October 11, 2008 4:07 PM PDT
Hey cause_x, I think I knew your mother...and I mean that in the Biblical sense. She was no good. At least cyinzl8r''s camel could hump
Reply to this comment
by whitemale08 October 11, 2008 4:14 PM PDT
It should be no surprise that those in the Middle East are laughing at us.

They have seen empires come and go for centuries and we are no different.

The whole stupid idea of ''American Exceptionalism'' as taught by idiot pioneers like junkyard dog Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity should''ve been REJECTED.

It was that type of mentality that fooled us into thinking that a combined Financial / Military Empire with the emphasis on Finance from London was any different then the Persians/Babylonians down to the Egyptians.

We might as well accept our logical place in this World and go by what the Constitution had intended which was ''protectionism'' and non-intervention and a focus on the welfare of it''s own people.
Reply to this comment
by puldr October 11, 2008 4:19 PM PDT
When difficulties come it''s not a bad thing to examine myself (or my country) to see if there''s anything I need to do better (such as reducing the balances on credit cards, reducing or eliminating expenses on harmful things such as cigarettes, alcohol, etc). A little humility and self-examination can help us avoid pitfalls in the future. The same applies to our country. We need to avoid needless adventures into other countries such as Iraq, and recognize the need for all people to live within secure borders and in peace!
Reply to this comment
by latrocinor-2009 October 11, 2008 5:18 PM PDT
Here''''s how strong the Wests economies are: they can lose $5 trillion in a week and still not be in Anarchy.
Posted by ubrew12

I believe we have a LOT of very patient people at the helm and that gives me great comfort.

All through history wise advisors have had a comittment to good quality societies and it guaranteed those who cooperated with them a stable economically robust society.

For about 50 years we have had a lot of pseudo-wise people committed to activism and revenge and revolution.

They have been very busy with their addictive rhetoric and story telling. The masses have ignored the wisdom of the ages and followed the busy activists with their one trick pony causes and here we are.

A unintegrated society with uncoordinated causes.

The "Tower of Babel" fable has been ignored. Pride has taken hold and people do not speak the same languages so are scattered and are at social civil war.
Reply to this comment
by latrocinor-2009 October 11, 2008 5:25 PM PDT
Posted by azordie

Well put.
Reply to this comment
by skeeterman October 11, 2008 5:28 PM PDT
I hear people blaming the Republicans or the Democrats. The fact is this mess started over 9 years ago when a Democrat was in office. He even pushed very hard for the legislation. The other factor in this is that the current administration has done nothing to stop this mess. So don''t go blaming just one party. It is time we as the voters of this great nation take our county back by getting rid of worthless politicians and putting someone in ofice that will work for us and not big business.
Reply to this comment
by latrocinor-2009 October 11, 2008 5:30 PM PDT
ns and putting someone in ofice that will work for us and not big business.

Posted by Gunney76


They have to work for EVERYONE, big business included.
Reply to this comment
by kaelinda October 11, 2008 5:35 PM PDT
Well, Osama Bin Laden declared in 2001 that his objective was to bankrupt America. Looks like it''s about to happen, thanks to the billions spent on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now Bin Laden only has to stay hidden for a few more months, while the USA and Europe try to get their heads above water again.
Reply to this comment
by iphyt4u October 11, 2008 5:46 PM PDT
I will only talk in bipartisan terms until after the election. I see the republicans, specifically Bush, as the cause of all our national problems. I would be an idiot to ally myself with the very people who created these problems. We will have a clean slate on Nov. 5th regardless if it''s McCain or Obama.
Reply to this comment
by samthetvcat October 11, 2008 5:48 PM PDT
"Opponents Of U.S. Gloat Over Fiscal Crisis"

Aren''t they probably as affected by the crisis as the rest of us? All those Sheiks surely don''t keep their gazillions stuffed in their mattresses.

Plus the price of oil is half what it was last year.

PS But shoot, let''s gets started on the alternative energy - how great would it be to put these clowns out of business? :p
Reply to this comment
by October 11, 2008 5:54 PM PDT
There''s an old saying: "Society gets what society deserves".

I would say that society (the U.S. in particular) is getting right about what was "due", although "more" is yet to come.

Or, to put it alternatively, and more succinctly: "People are Morons".
Reply to this comment
by latrocinor-2009 October 11, 2008 6:03 PM PDT
I see the republicans, specifically Bush, as the cause of all our national problems. I would be an idiot to ally myself with the very people who created these problems.
Posted by iphyt4u

Ask your self WHO wanted banking procedures relaxed so "disadvantaged" people could have easier access to loans for business and houses?

Who called those who oposed the relaxation of standards and best practices "mean spirited" and "racist"?
Reply to this comment
by rafterman1 October 11, 2008 6:38 PM PDT
===Is it mere coincidence that as Obama''''s poll numbers rose last week, financial markets around the globe fell like stones? Or maybe, just maybe, the entire world fears what will happen if democrats under Pelosi and Obama gain political control of the U.S===
Posted by bullyforhim

The rest of the world is PRAYING that Obama wins. They''ve seen the Republican act the last eight years and they are terrified of four more years of the same.
Reply to this comment
by talk2chief October 11, 2008 7:01 PM PDT
"Opponents Of U.S. Gloat Over Fiscal Crisis"

Let them eat sand and bathe in oil.
Who cares what those backward camel jockey''s think.
Reply to this comment
by policrypt October 11, 2008 7:11 PM PDT
Let them eat sand and bathe in oil.
Who cares what those backward camel jockey''''s think.

Posted by talk2chief at 07:01 PM : Oct 11, 2008
-----------

You don''t get it do you? Food, water and oil. Paper currency may mean nothing. Do you grow your own food, distill your own water or drill your own oil?

What do you think is important in a "need based" society?
Reply to this comment
by talk2chief October 11, 2008 7:16 PM PDT
What do you think is important in a "need based" society?
Posted by Policrypt

I know I don''t care what the middle east thinks about US.
Reply to this comment
by talk2chief October 11, 2008 7:21 PM PDT
WHO CARES WHAT THOSE CAMEL JOCKEYS THINK ? WELL I CARE THAT WE WILL BE UNABLE TO FUND SECURITY AS WE SHOULD BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS HAVE RUN OUR COUNTRY INTO THE GROUND.
Posted by tonic16612

Really? Who controlled the congress who made the laws that increased our national debt, created Freddy Mac and Fanny Mae? Answer that question Einstein.

Oh yea, and how come we haven''t had congressional hearings into Freddy and Fanny. Because the democrats blocked it. Deficit spending was a democratic invention long before Reagan.
Reply to this comment
by policrypt October 11, 2008 7:22 PM PDT
I know I don''''t care what the middle east thinks about US.

Posted by talk2chief at 07:16 PM : Oct 11, 2008
---------------

If you truly don''t care, then what they say would not elicit a response.

However, you should try and look at this from outside of the box. What will be important to you when discretionary is lost?
Reply to this comment
by talk2chief October 11, 2008 7:26 PM PDT
However, you should try and look at this from outside of the box. What will be important to you when discretionary is lost?
Posted by Policrypt

Why? So they can impose Muslim values on me. Remember "God has answered their prayers." If we tank they tank worse. Survival of the fittest. Ever heard of Darwin?
Reply to this comment
by tannerbird October 11, 2008 7:39 PM PDT
ON NOV4 VOTE EVERY ONE IN OFFICE NOW OUT. LETS WIPE IT CLEAN NO MATTER WHAT PARTY.
Reply to this comment
by brianbwb-2009 October 11, 2008 7:40 PM PDT
The hardliners are only partially correct, as this is the result of decades of corruption, racism, class warfare, and hegemony, not just against Muslims, but against the entire world, including non-rich citizens of the countries currently in crisis.

The reason that the problem will not be solved is that the measures necessary are beyond the mental comprehension of those in control, because they only want to restore the same corruption.
Reply to this comment
by talk2chief October 11, 2008 7:44 PM PDT
The reason that the problem will not be solved is that the measures necessary are beyond the mental comprehension of those in control, because they only want to restore the same corruption.
Posted by brianbwb

WAY TO HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! Both parties patronize lobby dollars in order to obtain power and then only cater to the top 1% of the wealthiest of Americans.
Reply to this comment
by billpl-2009 October 11, 2008 7:58 PM PDT
WHY ARE THEY PRINTING THIS CRAPP?

CBS...time to ****

Reply to this comment
by hotwitch October 11, 2008 7:59 PM PDT
Gloat over fiscal crisis ? Don''t forget the biggest gloater of them all, the American Media !
Reply to this comment
by talk2chief October 11, 2008 8:02 PM PDT
You are just as stupid as those who gloat on American downturns. The world financial systems are intervoven and each region benefits as much from properity of one part of the globe, as it suffers when economies take a downward spiral in another part.

So the gloating is as mute as is your response to it.

Posted by blitzder

What planet are you from? Do YOU even know how to read!
Reply to this comment
by hawksprings October 11, 2008 8:02 PM PDT
In 2006, McCain and 19 other Senators, NONE of them Democrats, tried to get the Congress to enact effective regulation that would have prevented this mess.

The blame for this mess lies at the feet of the Liars: The Democrats.
And the fact that the media is doing little to assign blame is very revealing about who''s fault it is.

Here''s the link:
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=28973
Reply to this comment
by ocasanas October 11, 2008 8:14 PM PDT
""We are witnessing the collapse of the American Empire," Hamas prime minister in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniyeh, told worshippers": No, you are witnessing your own collapse, because with less money here, there will be way less money there, and soon bye bye terrorists. Terrorists are going to be terrorized. Horrible, don''t you think?
Reply to this comment
by dixxson-2009 October 11, 2008 8:26 PM PDT
Did you expect Tears? Prayers?
Perverted Journalism and twisted english language brought us the
Bushes, and this crisis. Calling peoples who defend their Homelands Terrorists, Insurgents.
And an "oponent," is not a one way Afair, we are also their "Oponent"!
Reply to this comment
by vietvet06 October 11, 2008 8:31 PM PDT
Maybe, George W. "Brainiac" Bush and company, were lured into a classic horseshoe ambush. I was surprised that Colin Powell supported the full scale military action, but later thought that the real reason was the supply end of that move, but still, surprised. Now, our country is paying a somber price for the saber rattling bugle blowing buffoons in our government. The Russian winter, in hand with a protracted delaying action, demand and supply, defeated the German army. George W. Bush would have been better served studying military history and tactics than pretending to be a reservist. The winter of demand and supply is well upon him.
Reply to this comment
by vietvet06 October 11, 2008 8:35 PM PDT
Maybe, George W. "Brainiac" Bush and company, were lured into a classic horseshoe ambush. I was surprised that Colin Powell supported the full scale military action, but later thought that the real reason was the supply end of that move, but still, surprised. Now, our country is paying a somber price for the saber rattling bugle blowing buffoons in our government. The Russian winter, in hand with a protracted delaying action, demand and supply, defeated the German army. George W. Bush would have been better served studying military history and tactics than pretending to be a reservist. The winter of demand and supply is well upon him.
Reply to this comment
by jjmarz1001 October 11, 2008 8:36 PM PDT
For GetRealTex,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcZ9ku_wInw
Reply to this comment
by scorpio59er October 11, 2008 8:42 PM PDT
Remember: From 9/11 to the crashing of the economy, it ALL happened on George W. Bush''s watch.
Reply to this comment
by arthurcl1 October 11, 2008 8:43 PM PDT
Get Rid or Crooked GOP Bush/Cheney and McCain and Troopergate crooked Palin before she "Oh Golly Miss Molly" gets into the White House! Vote Obama for real Change and get rid of Crooked GOP! It''s the Economy Stupid! As we heard from previous Bush Dad''s time!
Reply to this comment
by stopsocialis October 11, 2008 8:48 PM PDT
Don''t let the liberals and Muslims scare our blessed country into more appeasement folks!

We can fight and get our country back! We still have our freedoms and liberties, it''s time to take a stand!

Don''t let these defeatest liberals scare you into thinking you have it "so bad" over here in America.

Are you using the internet right now? Are you driving a car, do you have a roof over your head, do you have food in your belly, do you have a job??

If you''re blogging on this forum right now you have it better off than a TON of other places in this world.

So don''t let the liberals and Muslims fool you, we can fight to keep our nation''s Sovereignty and we can win!

God bless all of you!
Reply to this comment
by veteran22 October 11, 2008 8:48 PM PDT
They are gloating and we are fighting each other over whose fault it is??? Let''s show them what America is made of and let this crisis unite us, not divide us. A house divided will not stand. Divide and conquer is the best military strategy ever devised. Greedy fat-cats (politicians and businessmen) who know how to play and manipulate the system to enrich themselves and impoverish us got us into this mess. A war we cannot afford hastened our collapse. A few honest politicians foresaw the mess but didn''t have the leadership skills or the will to change anything. Our unrelenting consumerism and materialism aided and abetted the criminals. We are all to blame. The question is can we change; can we do it quickly; and will we do the same thing again?
Reply to this comment
by dragon8me October 11, 2008 8:48 PM PDT
Now is the time to eliminate the Federal Reserve. A money system based on debt is bound to fail. And now, the Chinese can evicte Americans from their homes since they own the debt and are getting some of the "bailout money. Personally, I think this was planned all along. And by the way, thanks to the "patriot Act" and presidential directives, this is all Bush needs to declair martial law and cancel the election.
Reply to this comment
by zietzke-2009 October 11, 2008 8:48 PM PDT
Uncover this guy''''''''s head and let his dumbo ears hang out and it he looks just like OBAMA!!!!!!

Hahhahahahahahha!!!

GO
D DAMNED AMERICA!

GOD DAMNED AMRERICA!!!

I can even hear Obama''''''''s voice coming out of his mouth!


Posted by GetRealTex
======================================================
Hey GetRealTex,

You are a RACIST and a Hatefull rePIG !!!

People like you should be deported...Go get a life !

As far as this story goes....DON''T SEND THESE MIDDLE EAST COUNTRIES ONE MORE STINKING DIME ! The Muslim extremist factions in these countries HATE EVERYONE, including there own people....END OF STORY.

Reply to this comment
by stopsocialis October 11, 2008 8:50 PM PDT
The Muslim extremist factions in these countries HATE EVERYONE, including there own people....END OF STORY.
Posted by zietzke at 08:48 PM : Oct 11, 2008

They DON''T HATE Barak Obama. They WANT him to WIN!

THINK before it''s too late, would ya?


www.muslimsforobama.com

NUFF SAID!
Reply to this comment
by stopsocialis October 11, 2008 8:52 PM PDT
"We like Mr. Obama, and we hope that he will win the elections,"

-Ahmed Yousuf, Hamas'' top political adviser in the Gaza Strip, said in an exclusive interview with WND and with the John Batchelor Show on WABC Radio in New York.


Even America''s ENEMIES are trying to give you LIBERALS A CLUE that Barak Obama has their support. But you dummy liberals can''t put 2 and 2 together here!

WAKE UP!

Do you really want a President who is supported by MUSLIM EXTREMISTS LIKE HAMAS?????
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