By the way, just so press malfeasance in this matter is abundantly clear, in the Pope's original remarks, he introduced the offending line from the Byzantine emperor not with the words "somewhat brusquely" as the provisional translation had it. But
Thanks to the Internet, however, you can view Pope Benedict delivering the speech in German. Fast forward to 2:48, and you'll hear Benedict pronouncing the words, "in erstaunlich schroffer, uns überraschend schroffer Form ganz einfach." These are the very words that, according to the professor I cite above, are correctly translated as, "with an astonishing brusqueness, for us an astounding brusqueness, bluntly."
So if anyone had bothered to listen to his speech. . . .sigh.
By the way, I was curious if Iraq the Model might have something to say, and indeed he has two interesting posts on the topic --from in-country as they say. His own take on the Pope's remarks. And his claim that Muslim clerics are Begging For More Anger.
They want to add another big scene to the countless previous ones—angry mobs burning flags and pledging to destroy the "infidels".Actually their latest calls for MORE ANGER are becoming pretty much like begging.Iran thinks the Muslim people fell short of doing their duty and Qaradawi calls Muslims to have a "day of fury".All these are theatrical acts directed by governments and corrupt clerics seeking controlled anger among the mobs to use in intimidating the west and discouraging it from applying more pressure on, or calling for changing, these tyrannical regimes.
