Russian President Vladimir Putin has described leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as âa very outstanding person, talented, without any doubtâ.
The Republican has repeatedly praised Mr Putinâs macho style and policies towards Syria, on the campaign trail.
The Russian president brushed off concerns about Mr Trumpâs controversial proposal to ban Muslims from the US.
He said Russia was ready to work with whoever was elected the next president.
âIt is not our business to determine his merits, that is up to US voters,â Mr Putin told reporters after his annual televised news conference. âBut he is the absolute leader in the presidential race.â
âHe is a very outstanding person, talented, without any doubt.â
New York billionaire Mr Trump has spoken warmly about Mr Putinâs tough approach to foreign policy in the past.
On Wednesday, he contrasted himself with President Barack Obama when he said: âI will get along - I think - with Putin, and I will get along with others, and we will have a much more stable - stable world.â
Mr Trump has also backed Russian intervention in Syria, because Mr Putin said his target was Islamic State.
Relations between Mr Obama and Mr Putin have chilled in recent years following disputes over Ukraine and Syria.
âIn every country where Muslims gain absolute power Shariah is imposed on everyone, regardless of their religion or lack thereof (Eqypt ,Saudi, Iran, Pakistan, Qatar, etc).â
Turkey, Bosnia, Tunisia? William Borroughs fled to North Africa because at the time he could be openly gay there but not in the USA.
Youâre right though, the key issue is whether thereâs a difference between Islam and Sharia, I think there is.
Also, you talk about the Magdelin Laundries and stuff. Why arenât you trying to stop Catholics coming into the country?
Its hardly that tall an order for the GOP to win it. The last 4 elections have shown the country is divided right down the middle almost 50/50. Again its going to boil down to the same handful of battle ground states and particularly the big three of Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania. Pick up 2 of those 3 and theyâll win. If you have a candidate from one of those states Marco Rubio or John Kasich on the ticket, itâll go a long way towards carrying them.
Mrs Rodham is a hugely divisive character. Sheâs very able and capable, but lacks the common touch, is not a good campaigner, at 69 will possibly be too old and god knows what sort of dirt will be dug up on her by next November.
Good reasonable points. You are right, there are many countries where Muslims are in the majority, and Sharia law is not imposed on those that are non-Muslim. The sentence you quoted though is countries where Muslims have âabsoluteâ power, and as we have seen numerous times in history the shift from democracy to totalitarianism can occur quite rapidly.
Iâm not trying to stop anyone coming into the country, I disagree completely with Trump on this point. His is a knee jerk reaction to a problem that is highly complex. The solution in my opinion is to confront moderate Muslims in the west and encourage / force (non violently, the pen is mightier than the sword)them to reform their religion. To do this you have to state unequivocally that advocating for Sharia law is not covered by free speech and the ideology needs to be abandoned or at the very least greatly reformed. This cannot be done by pandering to them, you have to confront poisonous ideology. I take your point about intolerance towards gays in the US, but intolerance in that case is being defeated by confronting it, just as racial intolerance was confronted in the 1960s. William Borroughs would have been hung if he went to the wrong Muslim majority country.
The real difference of opinion in this debate is between those that that believe promoting intolerance and violence towards others is embedded in Islamic faith teachings (the Medina phase of Mohammedâs life), and those that believe it is not (the Mecca view of Islam, the religion of peace). Itâs a complex argument, far beyond the intellectual abilities of some on this thread.
