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Mamoun Tamimi on the London Bombings
July 19, 2005
Palestinian National Council Member Mamoun Tamimi on
the London Bombings: "Since This [Iraq] War is Ongoing, Those You Strike
Have the Right to Strike Back At You – In Your Home, Your Country, Or
Anywhere"
The following are excerpts from an Al-Jazeera television interview on
the London bombings, with Palestinian National Council member Mamoun Al-Tamimi
and reformist author and journalist 'Adel Darwish of the U.K. paper
Daily Mail. The interview aired on July 12, 2005 on Al-Jazeera TV. (To
view this clip, go to http://memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=759.)
Al-Tamimi: "Blair Will Fall Just Like Aznar"
Host: We heard the British Home Secretary say that what happened
in London has nothing whatsoever to do with the British policies or
Iraq. What do you have to say to him?
Al-Tamimi: "Obviously, he wants to defend himself, because this
operation will bring down the government. Blair will fall just like
Aznar did. When Spain was attacked, Aznar immediately tried to pin it on
ETA and the Basques. Then it turned out that Al-Qaeda was behind the
attack, and he immediately lost the elections. Blair will follow Aznar.
This is certain. Therefore they want to cover up...
"First of all, they prevented the media from filming the attacks. The
attacks were enormous, a thousand times greater than what was reported.
Why did they do this? Because of the fear that overcame the British
people and government, and because they know that they are paying a
steep price for the mess Blair got them into. They understood that this
is because they treat the Arabs and Muslims with disdain and spill their
blood. They understood that this is war. In war, you hit and get hit.
That's the equation. It is just like Albright said when she was asked
whether two million Iraqis were killed because of the decade-long siege
on Iraq. She responded, 'That's war.'
"Since this war is ongoing, the people you strike have the right to
strike back at you, in your home, your country, anywhere. That's the
equation."
Darwish: "When You Give In to Terrorists, You Encourage Them"
Host: When Spain suffered a terrorist attack, it immediately
withdrew its forces from Iraq...
Darwish: "I think that was a very big mistake, because when you
give in to terrorists, you encourage them. The British people are
determined not to give in to the terrorists. By the way, Mamoun spoke
about the Arab custom of blood vengeance... The detainees are British
citizens of Pakistani origin, and not Arabs. Therefore, there is no
connection between the Arab blood vengeance and the location of the
bombings."
Al-Tamimi: "Britain Totally Annihilated Germany after Hitler's
Fall – This is British Humanism"
Al-Tamimi: "As for Britain's humanism, Winston Churchill once
said: 'Defend freedom, for it is the reason for our existence.' After
Hitler's fall in Germany, Winston Churchill ordered the army and the air
force to continue bombing. The bombings continued three weeks after
Hitler's fall, and military historians say that the casualties sustained
by Germany after Hitler's fall were greater than the casualties from the
war. Germany had 25 million casualties, and in Britain there were 18
million dead. In other words, Britain totally annihilated Germany after
Hitler's fall.
"That is Britain's humanist side. We have suffered from Britain's
humanist side since the turn of the century, since 1880 or 1881. Ever
since, we have been suffering because of Britain. Britain uprooted the
Palestinian people from its land and planted a Jewish entity. It brought
over riffraff and gave them Palestine, uprooting children and women from
their homes and their fields, without any food or clothing. Britain
divided up the area and sowed the seeds of civil strife. It created
mini-states which collaborated with it. Britain occupied Iraq. We are
still suffering disasters because of Britain."
"In Saddam's Day, There Was Stability"
Al-Tamimi: "Britain caused infinite destruction to the Iraqi
people. Now that the political and social map of Iraq has been
completed, there will be no civil society there. He said that there was
no civil society in the days of Saddam. Is there civil society now in
Iraq?!
"Today there are massacres, murder, car bombs, martyrdom-seekers,
battles of attrition – there is total confusion. Is there civil society
now? Have we lost our minds?! In the days of Saddam there was stability,
calm; there was a government, a people, funding, a state, and
institutions. All of this has been [taken away] by imperialism, in the
guise of culture and humanism – while they are really the least cultured
and humane in the world."
Darwish: London Bombers "Losers and Cowards"; Al-Tamimi: "Who
Made Them Love Death? Britain and the U.S."
Host: Mr. 'Adel Darwish, what do you have to say to the
perpetrators of these operations?
Darwish: "I say that they are losers and cowards, and that they
lack any courage. They should go and confront the British soldiers in
Basra, if they've got what it takes. But they are cowards with no
courage."
What would you say to them?
Al-Tamimi: "I say that people who blow themselves up... There are
already dozens of them. If you say that they are cowards, then you are a
mental pervert. They love death like that man loves life. Who made them
love death? Britain and the U.S. with their actions. And the American
and British peoples will pay the price if they don't put an end to these
governments."
SOURCE:
Memri - Document No.936
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