Believe me, I’m not trying to be a troll here but after Hurrican Katrina hit New Orleans, I’ve read several accounts of foreign people who said that the U.S. was being paid back by God for our hubris and obnoxiousness in our war in Iraq. Indeed, I read (in the Washington Post newspaper) that some terrorists had named Hurrican Katrina as Private Katrina in that the hurricane was an asset working against the U.S. However, I haven’t heard from anyone as to whether the recent earthquake in Pakistan was a sign from God that undermines their (terrorist’s) righteousness and piety. Has anyone heard or read that foreigners are taking back their statements about American retribution so that they won’t have to admit that God was punishing Pakistan?
Of course, I’m concerned about the tremendous loss of life, the inability of the Pakistani government to render assistance, etc. I’m wondering if the Pakistani’s are acknowledging American assistance positively and I must confess that I’m secretly giggling that “what goes around comes around”.
If I’m not mistaken, the standard extreme islamist response, based on previous similar incidents, would be, “Allah is punishing Pakistan for straying from the Quran and true Islam, and for dealing with the Great Satan”. Then again, if it happens to the extremists themselves, or to a very strict, devout Muslim state, they will mutter something about “mysterious ways” and it being “God’s will”.
As the old saying goes, they may be crazy, but they ain’t stupid. They use spin every bit as much as we in the West do.
Afterward Khalil explained that the earthquake was meant as a punishment from God because of people’s failure to follow a spiritual life.
“It was an expression of God’s wrath. We have to mend our affairs, particularly our character,” he said. “All the happenings around us - the tsunami, Hurricane Katrina - all are part of God’s wrath.”
