UPDATE: Lgf notes that while the rest of the MSM are hailing A-bomb's letter as a step towards "dialogue," the NY Sun thinks it's a declaration of war.
The key sentence in the letter is the closing salutation. In an eight-page text of the letter being circulated by the Council on Foreign Relations, it is left untranslated and rendered as “Vasalam Ala Man Ataba’al hoda.” What this means is “Peace only unto those who follow the true path.”
It is a phrase with historical significance in Islam, for, according to Islamic tradition, in year six of the Hejira - the late 620s - the prophet Mohammad sent letters to the Byzantine emperor and the Sassanid emperor telling them to convert to the true faith of Islam or be conquered.
Islam expert Robert Spencer agrees. The letter is "da'wa," a call to convert to Islam before you are attacked.
That's grim. But for heaven's sake, this time if someone's at war with us, let's notice.
