Iqbal & Hillary.

This is coolbert:

This particular photograph of Hillary Clinton from her latest visit to Pakistan, last month, has raised some eyebrows - - at least in some quarters.

Hillary, praying as a courtesy at the shrine to Mohammad Iqbal. A man described as a famous Pakistani poet [in actuality, a man much more than a poet]. I do not think of either Hillary or her husband Bill as being religious persons in any sense of the word. I may be wrong, but that is the impression.

Hillary also taking time to say some unkind words regarding ex-President Bush.

"Hillary Prays At Shrine of Muslim Saint & Bashes Bush in Pakistan"

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, second right, prays . . . in front of the grave of the Poet Muhammad Iqbal, at the Iqbal Memorial"

[that man to the left of Hillary in the photograph is a Pakistani army officer, wearing headgear particular to his unit!]

Please recall what Mohammad Iqbal, now deceased many years now, had to say about the "west" and the "western" relationship to Islam. A quote as germane now as it was many years ago:

"Believe me, Europe today is the greatest hindrance in the way of man's ethical achievement. The Muslim, on the other hand, is in possession of these ultimate ideas on the basis of a revelation .. . With him the spiritual basis of life is a matter of conviction for which even the least enlightened man among us can easily lay down his life [9/11!] . . . The basic idea of Islam that there can be no further revelation binding on man . . . "

And recall too, what the outstanding English intelligence officer and author, Colonel Hughes-Wilson, has to say about "western" women, foreign ministers and "Secretary of State" engaging in diplomacy with Muslim nations and Muslim men:

"Unpalatable as it may be to Western liberals, feminists or intellectuals, to send a female ambassador to an Arab country is always a calculated risk. In a culture where only men control power and events, and 'strong' men are much praised, female plenipotentiaries are always at a disadvantage unless they themselves can demonstrate that they are unusually powerful figures or are capable of wielding power forcefully."

It is generally also considered verboten and very poor form for an American official, especially one in such a highly visible and important position as Hillary Clinton - - to criticise the American President, past or present - - especially when done in front of a foreign audience!!

You - - the devoted reader to the blog, must draw your own conclusions? I only present the material, you must make the assessment!

Ciao!!

coolbert.