Where's the Beef?

Hmmm.... Pope Benedict accurately quotes a 14th-century emperor, Manuel II Paleologus, who said ""Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

And just as with Dutch cartoons, and a poor novel, riots erupt from the "religion of peace."

I was disappointed to hear Pope Benedict's apology for quoting this, and for saying that he personally disagrees with Paleologus. Because I think Paleologus was right, and have been proved right in the centuries since. And we need to say so.

I can hear Margaret Thatcher saying, "This is not the time to go wobbly."

Let us make Jesus the central issue.