Article 623: Muhammad Ali's Assistance Toward Release of Danny Pearl

Submitted by Ed Gordon (Israel), Dec 2, 2005 at 05:31

Though he may have been sincere, I also wonder if Muhammad Ali really did try to come to the aid of Journalist Danny Pearl before the Wall Street Journal reporter was so brutally executed in Karachi Pakistan. This execution, appears to have been the 'trigger mechanisim' that set off the string of beheadings and other barbaric execusions of a number of people in both Iraq and Saudi Arabia, which included persons such as Nicholas Berg (also Jewish) and Margaret Hassan, who had been the director of the CARE organization in Iraq and responsible for saving the lives of literally thousands of Iraqis, especially children.

Most of these heinous deeds were carried out by representatives of groups affiliated to the Al Qaeda terrorist network; and in Iraq in particular, with the organization headed by Abu Musa al Zaqawi, that 'beloved' individual still being sought after and considered to be even more dangerous today than Usama bin Ladin.

Ali, who even lit the Olympic Torch at the 2002 Winter Games, has a very mixed history concerning his affiliation with the Nation of Islam, headed by Reverend Louis Farrakahn.

The former World Heavyweight Champion may also, in my opinion, not be in full control of his personal faculties, and any gestures he may have been attributed to giving toward issues, such as peaceful relations between various religious groups, may not have been actually coming from him, but from a cleverly worded public relations organization hired on his behalf.

Regarding President's Bush's lavishing of praise on Ali the other night, this is most likely a result of the U.S. President being a very avid sports fan, especially in light of Bush's former association with various sports organizations. The President chose to disregard Ali's connection to Islam and chose instead to praise the ex boxing champ as a sports hero.

I also, am curious as to what remarks Muhammad Ali whispered so candidly into George Bush's ear that caused the President to be momentarily taken back. I can very well imagine what they were - as if these words were coming directly from the mouth of the Prophet Muhammad himself. Perhaps a prophecy as to what the future will be concerning America's venture into Iraq; or perhaps something even more ominous.

You, the reader, can come to your own conclusions on this one.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".