[Buddha-l] NYTimes.com: Let Us Pray for Wealth

[Dan Lusthaus]

Again, Richard's claim:

> I have
> only called Cassandras who identify Islam as a serious threat deluded. And
I
> have called them that only because they are.

Well, I guess the current head of MI5 in GB is Bush's Cassandra cousin:

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/11/mi5-teen-al-qae.html

MI5: Teen Al Qaeda Recruits, Russian Spies Target Britain

November 05, 2007 11:40 AM
Brian Ross Reports:

 Teenage al Qaeda recruits and Russian spies are targeting Great Britain in
increasing numbers, according to the country's chief spymaster, Jonathan
Evans, the head of MI5.
In a speech today, Evans said MI5 had identified 2,000 al Qaeda-connected
individuals "who we believe pose a direct threat to national security and
public safety."

Individuals as young as 15 and 16 have been implicated in terrorist-related
activity, according to Evans, who said the extremists are "methodically and
intentionally targeting young people and children in the U.K."

As for the Russians, Evans said "there has been no decrease" in Russian
intelligence officers carrying out covert activities in Britain. MI5 is
devoting significant resources, Evans said, to countering "unreconstructed
attempts by Russian, and others, to spy on the U.K."
His comments are considered an important reflection of the current threat as
seen by British officials.

Evans speaks only with "the concurrence" of the home secretary, according to
officials.
His speech was delivered Monday to the Society of Editors Annual Conference
in Manchester.


And from the London Times:

London Times: Saudi Arabia 'Hub of World Terror'

November 05, 2007 8:34 AM
Brian Ross Reports:

Following up on our Sept. 11 report on the role of wealthy Saudis continuing
to finance al Qaeda, the Sunday Times of London labels Saudi Arabia the "hub
of world terror."

Its correspondents report the kingdom's "schoolbooks continue to include the
anti-Semitic forgery Protocols of the Elders of Zion" and a promised
commission to regulate charities suspected of giving money to terrorists has
yet to be established.

The British report comes in the days following a trip by the Saudi king to
London in which he criticized Great Britain for ignoring warnings that could
have prevented at least one terror attack.
Stunned British officials denied there were ever any such warnings, and the
Sunday Times of London story seems a bit of return fire.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/11/london-times-sa.html


Now what has me curious is the last sentence. Here's one for you
textualists. What is its rhetorical purpose there? To suggest that maybe the
claim that Saudi Arabia is spending a fortune funding terrorists and
indoctrinating the Muslim world (who use their textbooks, free of charge)
with the vilest form of antisemitism is untrue? Or the British govt. is
usually too polite to mention such things? Or mentioning such things is only
a form of name-calling? Or that it's just politics as usual, you needn't be
concerned, go back to separating your trash for recycling?

All of those options are odious. I would say that the last sentence violates
the Buddhist code of Right Speech, especially if one uses Richard's
standard, which is to be aware of the consequences of what one says.

Dan