The one man most likely to know about all of Al Qaeda's plans to attack and kill civilians and Britain's Labour Party held the position that they would only tell the CIA where Osama Bin Laden was if the CIA promised not to torture him.
Ministers insisted that British secret agents would only be allowed to pass intelligence to the CIA to help it capture Osama bin Laden if the agency promised he would not be tortured, it has emerged.MI6 believed it was close to finding the al-Qaida leader in Afghanistan in 1998, and again the next year. The plan was for MI6 to hand the CIA vital information about Bin Laden. Ministers including Robin Cook, the then foreign secretary, gave their approval on condition that the CIA gave assurances he would be treated humanely.
Typical of the left wing- more concerned about the rights of an arch-terrorist than about the lives that might be saved by using some degree of coercion to get him to talk.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Old Veteran
The last surviving British solider who fought in the trenches of World War One has returned, at the age of 109, to the battlefield.
Harry Patch, 109, from Somerset, made the trip to Belgium to recall his part in the Battle of Passchendaele which claimed 250,000 British casualties.
The Battle of Passchendaele was officially known as the Third Battle of Ypres - the name of the principal town within a bulge in the British lines.
The fighting was so fierce there that the British suffered 3,000 casualties every single day. When you compare that to the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan it makes you realise just how lucky we are that so few are being killed and wounded. God forbid that we ever engage in a was with such massive casualties ever again.
Harry Patch, 109, from Somerset, made the trip to Belgium to recall his part in the Battle of Passchendaele which claimed 250,000 British casualties.
The Battle of Passchendaele was officially known as the Third Battle of Ypres - the name of the principal town within a bulge in the British lines.
The fighting was so fierce there that the British suffered 3,000 casualties every single day. When you compare that to the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan it makes you realise just how lucky we are that so few are being killed and wounded. God forbid that we ever engage in a was with such massive casualties ever again.
Gitmo Recidivists
Who could possibly have foreseen this? Enemy combatants captured on the battlefield and then released while the war is still in progress return to combat. I don't recall hearing any demands for Nazi troops held during World War 2 to be released and allowed to return home by the media or politicians while the war was in progress but times sure do change.
According to the paper, at least 30 former Guantanamo Bay detainees have been killed or recaptured after taking up arms against allied forces following their release. A Defense Department spokesman told the newspaper that most of the catch-and-release beneficiaries have been discovered in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
That's 30 either killed or re-captured- how many others are still engaged in jihad against Allied troops or the civilian population? How many people have died or been wounded as a result of their release? Despite this- and other evidence of Gitmo detainees returning to jihad- elected US politicians still continue for Gitmo to be closed and for the detainees to be given the legal rights of civilian criminals.
The Age notes a recent analysis of 516 Guantanamo detainees by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, which found that “while there was no evidence linking six of them to terrorist activities, 95 per cent were a potential threat to US interests. This was based on their affiliations with groups such as al-Qaeda, their enthusiasm for violent jihad, their having undertaken small-arms training or having been willing to perform a support role for terrorism.”
Sure sound like a bunch of guys who need to be let go, doesn't it?
According to the paper, at least 30 former Guantanamo Bay detainees have been killed or recaptured after taking up arms against allied forces following their release. A Defense Department spokesman told the newspaper that most of the catch-and-release beneficiaries have been discovered in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
That's 30 either killed or re-captured- how many others are still engaged in jihad against Allied troops or the civilian population? How many people have died or been wounded as a result of their release? Despite this- and other evidence of Gitmo detainees returning to jihad- elected US politicians still continue for Gitmo to be closed and for the detainees to be given the legal rights of civilian criminals.
The Age notes a recent analysis of 516 Guantanamo detainees by the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, which found that “while there was no evidence linking six of them to terrorist activities, 95 per cent were a potential threat to US interests. This was based on their affiliations with groups such as al-Qaeda, their enthusiasm for violent jihad, their having undertaken small-arms training or having been willing to perform a support role for terrorism.”
Sure sound like a bunch of guys who need to be let go, doesn't it?
No Churchill
I've been staying away from blogging a lot lately- seems like the world is going to hell and the people in power just don't care. Case in point- Olmert handing over millions of dollars, weapons, prisoners and amnesties to Fatah. Result- the Al Aqsa Brigades declare their intention to continue to fight. And Fatah don't even pretend to be renouncing violence. It's beyond absurd.
At the weekend Orson Scott Card's essay about the global warming fraud was linked somewhere on the blogosphere (and it's well worth reading too) but another recent essay caught my eye there too- and it seems to be one that should be disseminated far and wide. If others are writing about it and I've simply missed it- well, maybe you did too, so here it is. It's a difficult piece to quote, you really need to go and read it all to get the full impact of the comparisons between pre-WW2 Germany and today, but here's a taster-
Chamberlain kept treating Hitler as if he had rational goals, as if he could be appeased -- kept peaceful by giving him what he wanted. But these "troublesome young men" in Parliament understood the truth: That Hitler responded to every concession as if it were a message telling him that Britain would not stand against him no matter what he did.
If you do not believe the threats of an insane enemy and destroy their war capacity early, when it can be cheaply done, you will pay for it in blood and horror.
Then think on this-
[T]here is another huge question mark hanging over Isfahan and Natanz: why is the government in such a rush to enrich fuel, when it has no nuclear power plants in which to use it?
Western civilisation is beginning to burn and the politicians are playing their violins. In the years to come we may have to pay for their short-sightedness with a nuclear conflagration. We keep hearing some of them mouthing comparisons between the Cold War and the conflict against global jihad today- but none of them will say out loud that the threat of nuclear war, either with a state like Iran or with terrorists like Al Qaeda, is as much alive today as it was during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Back then the public at large knew the threat was very real and they were rightfully scared, today the majority seem to be whistling with their fingers in their ears. And of curse the major difference between jihadists and communists is that the latter only wanted to win- they weren't actually too keen on dying in the process. Right now we face an enemy that not only operates largely from the shadows (where do we point our nuclear deterrent?) but is also rather keen on being martyred in the process of fighting us. Threatening to kill them if they attack us isn't a tactic that is going to work.
I just hope that it doesn't take the detonation of a nuclear device to make the people who weren't woken by 9/11 to realise that we're in the early stages of a war that, despite the tragedies of then and since, could be about to enter a much more terrible phase.
At the weekend Orson Scott Card's essay about the global warming fraud was linked somewhere on the blogosphere (and it's well worth reading too) but another recent essay caught my eye there too- and it seems to be one that should be disseminated far and wide. If others are writing about it and I've simply missed it- well, maybe you did too, so here it is. It's a difficult piece to quote, you really need to go and read it all to get the full impact of the comparisons between pre-WW2 Germany and today, but here's a taster-
Chamberlain kept treating Hitler as if he had rational goals, as if he could be appeased -- kept peaceful by giving him what he wanted. But these "troublesome young men" in Parliament understood the truth: That Hitler responded to every concession as if it were a message telling him that Britain would not stand against him no matter what he did.
Far from appeasing Hitler, Chamberlain's policies were encouraging him to be more and more reckless.
Sound familiar?If you do not believe the threats of an insane enemy and destroy their war capacity early, when it can be cheaply done, you will pay for it in blood and horror.
Then think on this-
[T]here is another huge question mark hanging over Isfahan and Natanz: why is the government in such a rush to enrich fuel, when it has no nuclear power plants in which to use it?
Western civilisation is beginning to burn and the politicians are playing their violins. In the years to come we may have to pay for their short-sightedness with a nuclear conflagration. We keep hearing some of them mouthing comparisons between the Cold War and the conflict against global jihad today- but none of them will say out loud that the threat of nuclear war, either with a state like Iran or with terrorists like Al Qaeda, is as much alive today as it was during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Back then the public at large knew the threat was very real and they were rightfully scared, today the majority seem to be whistling with their fingers in their ears. And of curse the major difference between jihadists and communists is that the latter only wanted to win- they weren't actually too keen on dying in the process. Right now we face an enemy that not only operates largely from the shadows (where do we point our nuclear deterrent?) but is also rather keen on being martyred in the process of fighting us. Threatening to kill them if they attack us isn't a tactic that is going to work.
I just hope that it doesn't take the detonation of a nuclear device to make the people who weren't woken by 9/11 to realise that we're in the early stages of a war that, despite the tragedies of then and since, could be about to enter a much more terrible phase.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Fantastic 4
I finally got to the cinema last night (Grandads are great!) and saw Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. It's, well, it's okay. For a summer blockbuster it was actually pretty bland. The Thing's make-up was really well done, the single Torch/Silver Surfer chase was well done but the plot was just too darn slow. Too much story and not enough oomph. Having said that it was, like the first film, enjoyable enough. Just nothing special. The Reed Richards bachelor party was nicely handled, Jessica Alba was very pretty and the Galactus storm cloud was creepy- but Victor Von Doom is a shadow of his comic self.
One criticism I do have- apart from the lack of spectacle and high action- is that the Silver Surfer wasn't enough of a surfer. How much better would it have looked if the CGI people had actually watched how surfers move on a board and translated that onto the big screen. It's a small thing but I think it really would have helped.
One criticism I do have- apart from the lack of spectacle and high action- is that the Silver Surfer wasn't enough of a surfer. How much better would it have looked if the CGI people had actually watched how surfers move on a board and translated that onto the big screen. It's a small thing but I think it really would have helped.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Cold Steel Bushman
I've written before about my Cold Steel Mini-Bushman knife but I've been using it a tad more lately and it's fast becoming my favourite. It's an unusual design, being one piece of metal with a 'rolled' hollow handle. The problem with the handle is in trying to find a reliable way to carry "survival" items in it- you see, it's open at both ends. How hard would it be for CS to provide a little screw on cap for it? At the moment I've got mine stuffed with cotton wool balls- handy tinder and they are jammed in tight enough that they show no sign of wanting to fall out. It would be nice to be able to keep a little flint in there too though. BCB's Ranger is about the right size. If you have any suggestions about how to seal up the handle easily do let me know.
Anyway, the Mini-Bushman is a great knife- fits the hand nicely, the blade's a great shape and, wow, but it's easy to sharpen. I'm very much a beginner at hand sharpening knifes but I bought myself some diamond stones recently and the Bushman's edge just popped out. I think it's sharper now than when I bought it and with minimal effort too. In fact, my Cold Steel Two-Handed machete and Rifleman's tomahawk also came up very nicely too now that I think about it.
The little Bushman's impressing me so much that I'm more and more tempted to pick up the 7" big brother model.
Anyway, the Mini-Bushman is a great knife- fits the hand nicely, the blade's a great shape and, wow, but it's easy to sharpen. I'm very much a beginner at hand sharpening knifes but I bought myself some diamond stones recently and the Bushman's edge just popped out. I think it's sharper now than when I bought it and with minimal effort too. In fact, my Cold Steel Two-Handed machete and Rifleman's tomahawk also came up very nicely too now that I think about it.
The little Bushman's impressing me so much that I'm more and more tempted to pick up the 7" big brother model.
Internet Issues
I take my previous praise for my ISP's service back- on Friday morning my wireless router died. Completely and utterly non-functioning. One moment I'm reading Hot Air and trying to load a video and the next the blasted thing just stops working altogether. I immediately got on the phone to tech support expecting a cheery "We'll replace it right away, sir." I got the router when I signed up with my new ISP a few months ago you see. Instead I spent 15 minutes trying to explain that no, there wasn't a power light on and no, I couldn't press the button to turn the router on again. In an effort to get away from me I was "escalated" to a call-back team. A team that didn't call back on Friday at all and which doesn't work weekends. Heard back from them yesterday evening on my mobile.
I explained the situation all over again- router not working at all, won't even turn on, no signs of life, ex-router, etc, etc- and was asked if I could try plugging it in again. No, says I, I'm in the car not at the PC. I explain again that there are no settings to check, no troubleshooting to do, the router displays no signs of life whatsoever. Chap tells me that he won't authorise a replacement until he's gone through the troubleshooting process. I tell him that I'm an ex-computer engineer and that I've checked it out and that it doesn't work. Not if plugged in alone, not if plugged into my PC via a network cable- in fact, I say, it won't even turn on. He insists on troubleshooting the product and so I ask him to explain to me exactly what he thinks he can accomplish over the phone when the router won't even turn on and can't be picked up by the PC wirelessly or through a network cable. What settings does he want to check? He avoids the question every time I ask it.
And here's when my previously wonderful ISP fell down; he exclaimed twice "unplug the cables, unplug the cables" and then he hung up on me.
I'm not amused.
I explained the situation all over again- router not working at all, won't even turn on, no signs of life, ex-router, etc, etc- and was asked if I could try plugging it in again. No, says I, I'm in the car not at the PC. I explain again that there are no settings to check, no troubleshooting to do, the router displays no signs of life whatsoever. Chap tells me that he won't authorise a replacement until he's gone through the troubleshooting process. I tell him that I'm an ex-computer engineer and that I've checked it out and that it doesn't work. Not if plugged in alone, not if plugged into my PC via a network cable- in fact, I say, it won't even turn on. He insists on troubleshooting the product and so I ask him to explain to me exactly what he thinks he can accomplish over the phone when the router won't even turn on and can't be picked up by the PC wirelessly or through a network cable. What settings does he want to check? He avoids the question every time I ask it.
And here's when my previously wonderful ISP fell down; he exclaimed twice "unplug the cables, unplug the cables" and then he hung up on me.
I'm not amused.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Flight of Fantasy
I've been plagued with connection problems lately and I've pretty much exhausted my own tech knowledge. My router's connecting to the 'net, my PC is speaking to the router but for some reason every so often my browser just refuses to load pages. Cue much bad language and a strong temptation to toss my PC out the window. IE tells me there's a problem with the winsock catalog but a winsock repair tool, LSP tool and even fixing TCP/IP doesn't seem to help. I think that the cause may not be software related but actual black magic.
Anyway, here's a lovely Dale Arden painting from Dan Morton.
Anyway, here's a lovely Dale Arden painting from Dan Morton.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Open Borders
The results of the USA's lax border security.
The FBI is investigating an alleged human smuggling operation based in Chaparral, N.M., that agents say is bringing “Iraqis and other Middle Eastern” individuals across the Rio Grande from Mexico.
An FBI intelligence report distributed by the Washington, D.C. Joint Terrorism Task Force, obtained by the Blotter on ABCNews.com, says the illegal ring has been bringing Iraqis across the border illegally for more than a year…
Each individual would be charged a fee of $20,000 to $25,000, according to the report.
So how many terrorists have made it into the US by this known route in the past year? And how many others are out there that the Feds don't know about?Isn't Politics Wonderful?
Couldn't let this one pass me by- Obama's cunning plan to try not to reveal how pro-abortion he actually is, with the aid of Planned Parenthood. In effect he's signalled his support for measures like these but is afraid to actually vote yes or no on them for fear of revealing his principles to the people who vote.
So now we know a bit more about Obama- he's desperate for votes and will do what he can to obtain as many as possible, even if that does mean deliberately misleading the public with the help of a political advocacy organisation.
ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: When Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., voted "present," rather than "yes" or "no" on a handful of controversial abortion votes in the Illinois state senate, he did so with the explicit support of the president and CEO of Illinois Planned Parenthood Council.
"We at Planned Parenthood view those as leadership votes," Pam Sutherland, the president and CEO of the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council, told ABC News. "We worked with him specifically on his strategy. The Republicans were in control of the Illinois Senate at the time. They loved to hold votes on 'partial birth' and 'born alive'. They put these bills out all the time . . . because they wanted to pigeonhole Democrats."
Pigeonhole them as being in favour of extreme measures like partial birth abortion? My goodness, whatever next- politicians being asked to vote in favour of hot-button issues that arouse strong opinions in the electorate? How could they!
Note too that this strategy goes back to the '90s- Obama's obviously had his eye on a White House run for some time now.
So now we know a bit more about Obama- he's desperate for votes and will do what he can to obtain as many as possible, even if that does mean deliberately misleading the public with the help of a political advocacy organisation.
Friday, July 13, 2007
10,000 B.C.
This is only the teaser trailer for upcoming movie 10,000 BC but it's sold me on the whole concept. Let me sum it up- man vs sabre-tooth tiger! If that isn't enough to make you want to rush out and see it the moment it opens here some more details on the plot-
It was a time when man and beast were untamed and the mighty mammoth roamed the earth. A time when ideas and beliefs were born that forever shaped mankind. 10,000 B.C. follows a young hunter (Steven Strait) on his quest to lead an army across a vast desert, battling saber tooth tigers and prehistoric predators as he unearths a lost civilization and attempts to rescue the woman he loves (Camilla Belle) from an evil warlord determined to possess her.
It was a time when man and beast were untamed and the mighty mammoth roamed the earth. A time when ideas and beliefs were born that forever shaped mankind. 10,000 B.C. follows a young hunter (Steven Strait) on his quest to lead an army across a vast desert, battling saber tooth tigers and prehistoric predators as he unearths a lost civilization and attempts to rescue the woman he loves (Camilla Belle) from an evil warlord determined to possess her.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Mrs Bin Laden
I had very little interest in the story of a British woman marrying one of Bin Laden's sons but I clicked one of the links about it to give it a quick read over. Interesting details here from The Times-
She insists that her husband does not support terrorism and has not seen his father since 2000, when they both lived in Afghanistan during the period when it was controlled by the Taleban.
He seems to be pretty content with a Sharia-based totalitarian regime though. And then there's this-
“The only reason I would like to meet his father is to ask, ‘Did you do it [the September 11 attacks] and if you did, why?’ ” she said. “I want to understand why it happened because it was a tragic event which led to tens of thousands of other people dying.”
The British woman who has become the daughter-in-law of Osama bin Laden said yesterday that she hoped to use the enormous international interest in their relationship to campaign for peace in the Middle East.
Jane Felix-Browne said that she had been overwhelmed by the response after The Times revealed yesterday that she had married a son of the al-Qaeda leader.
Mrs Felix-Browne, 51, married Omar Ossama bin Laden, 27, in April after a holiday romance and is now preparing to apply for a visa so that he can visit Britain.
And here's what really caught my eye-She insists that her husband does not support terrorism and has not seen his father since 2000, when they both lived in Afghanistan during the period when it was controlled by the Taleban.
He seems to be pretty content with a Sharia-based totalitarian regime though. And then there's this-
“The only reason I would like to meet his father is to ask, ‘Did you do it [the September 11 attacks] and if you did, why?’ ” she said. “I want to understand why it happened because it was a tragic event which led to tens of thousands of other people dying.”
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
The Muslim FO
Seems that the British Foreign Office has become a Muslim organisation. Zawahiri has released a tape condemning the decision to award Salman Rushdie a knighthood and the FO has issued a reply-
"The government has already made clear that Rushdie's honour was not intended as an insult to Islam or the Prophet Muhammad," said a spokesman.
"The government has already made clear that Rushdie's honour was not intended as an insult to Islam or the Prophet Muhammad," said a spokesman.
Can you imagine the outrage if an FO spokesman used the term "Our saviour Jesus Christ" in an official release? It's incredible how insidiously terms like this have crept into everyday usage amongst politicians and the press- apparently without them even realising the import of what they are saying.
Compare and Contrast
This-
About 1,500 people have taken part in a rally against terrorism in Glasgow, organised by mosques and Islamic groups. It comes a week after a car burst into flames after being driven into the terminal building at Glasgow airport.
Across town from the site of the recent attempted car-bomb attacks, several thousand Muslims gathered in front of the London Central Mosque to applaud fiery preachers prophesying the overthrow of the British government – a future vision that encompasses an Islamic takeover of the White House and the rule of the Quran over America.
"One day my dear Muslims," shouted Anjem Choudary, "Islam will govern Britain!"
"Brothers and sisters, make no mistake. Make no mistake. The British government, the queen, the MPs in this country, they are enemies to you, enemies to Allah and enemies to the Muslims."
Humphries estimated nearly 3,000 Muslims were gathered in front of the mosque in north London June 22, after Friday prayers, to protest Queen Elizabeth's knighting of Indian author Salman Rushdie, the target of a death-sentence fatwa for "insulting" Islam's prophet Muhammad in his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses."
Tell me again which is the tiny minority?
About 1,500 people have taken part in a rally against terrorism in Glasgow, organised by mosques and Islamic groups. It comes a week after a car burst into flames after being driven into the terminal building at Glasgow airport.
What's telling about the numbers is that it wasn't an exclusively Muslim affair- infidels turned up to boost the numbers.
Faith leaders, churches and trade unionists were among those at the event, and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon spoke to the crowd.
With this-Across town from the site of the recent attempted car-bomb attacks, several thousand Muslims gathered in front of the London Central Mosque to applaud fiery preachers prophesying the overthrow of the British government – a future vision that encompasses an Islamic takeover of the White House and the rule of the Quran over America.
"One day my dear Muslims," shouted Anjem Choudary, "Islam will govern Britain!"
"Brothers and sisters, make no mistake. Make no mistake. The British government, the queen, the MPs in this country, they are enemies to you, enemies to Allah and enemies to the Muslims."
Humphries estimated nearly 3,000 Muslims were gathered in front of the mosque in north London June 22, after Friday prayers, to protest Queen Elizabeth's knighting of Indian author Salman Rushdie, the target of a death-sentence fatwa for "insulting" Islam's prophet Muhammad in his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses."
Tell me again which is the tiny minority?
Monday, July 09, 2007
Storm Clouds
Perhaps I'm being particularly bleak but it seems to me that we're about to enter a period of intense, violent and bloody war.
Syrian troops on Thursday reportedly have penetrated three kilometers into Lebanese territories, taking up positions in the mountains near Yanta in east Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.
And-
The American ambassador to Iraq has urged policy makers in Washington to give "some very, very serious thought" to the consequences that could follow an early reduction of U.S. troops in Iraq, warning of a surge in sectarian killings in which civilians "by the thousands" could die.
But the Dems aren't listening or don't care that they might be about to enable a genocide to take place-
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the U.S. troop surge in Iraq is not working and the war "is headed in a very dangerous direction."
"We believe that it's time to change course," he said.
Not to mention Al Qaeda's insistence that Iraq is central to their plans to spread their particular brand of bloody mayhem further afield- and note too how you never hear anyone mention any more that a US withdrawal would prove Bin Laden's assertion that America is a paper tiger correct. We've seen time and again how murderously depraved the terrorists in Iraq are- hacking off hostage's heads on camera, blowing up women out shopping, beheading children, mass graves; the list goes on and on and on. These are the very people who will feel emboldened by a US retreat, who will feel that their barbarous tactics have been vindicated by the withdrawal of a superpower. People who will see these tactics- bloody mass murder of innocents- as a successful tool to be used again in order to obtain their goals.
And-
Turkey has massed 140,000 soldiers on its border with northern Iraq, Iraq's foreign minister said Monday, calling the neighboring country's fears of Kurdish rebels based there "legitimate" but better resolved through negotiation.
And-
Commercial satellite imagery indicates Iran is tunneling into a mountain near its Natanz uranium enrichment complex, possibly to protect nuclear equipment against air attack, a US think tank reported Monday.
And-
The Israeli Cabinet on Sunday approved the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners, officials said, in the government's latest gesture of support for moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his struggle against the Hamas militant group.
There is one tiny problem with that last piece- Olmert promised that no prisoner with blood on their hands would be let go- but out of 10,000 prisoners they are having real trouble finding only 250 who fit that criteria.
The situation does not look good.
Syrian troops on Thursday reportedly have penetrated three kilometers into Lebanese territories, taking up positions in the mountains near Yanta in east Lebanon's Bekaa Valley.
And-
The American ambassador to Iraq has urged policy makers in Washington to give "some very, very serious thought" to the consequences that could follow an early reduction of U.S. troops in Iraq, warning of a surge in sectarian killings in which civilians "by the thousands" could die.
But the Dems aren't listening or don't care that they might be about to enable a genocide to take place-
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the U.S. troop surge in Iraq is not working and the war "is headed in a very dangerous direction."
"We believe that it's time to change course," he said.
Not to mention Al Qaeda's insistence that Iraq is central to their plans to spread their particular brand of bloody mayhem further afield- and note too how you never hear anyone mention any more that a US withdrawal would prove Bin Laden's assertion that America is a paper tiger correct. We've seen time and again how murderously depraved the terrorists in Iraq are- hacking off hostage's heads on camera, blowing up women out shopping, beheading children, mass graves; the list goes on and on and on. These are the very people who will feel emboldened by a US retreat, who will feel that their barbarous tactics have been vindicated by the withdrawal of a superpower. People who will see these tactics- bloody mass murder of innocents- as a successful tool to be used again in order to obtain their goals.
And-
Turkey has massed 140,000 soldiers on its border with northern Iraq, Iraq's foreign minister said Monday, calling the neighboring country's fears of Kurdish rebels based there "legitimate" but better resolved through negotiation.
And-
Commercial satellite imagery indicates Iran is tunneling into a mountain near its Natanz uranium enrichment complex, possibly to protect nuclear equipment against air attack, a US think tank reported Monday.
And-
The Israeli Cabinet on Sunday approved the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners, officials said, in the government's latest gesture of support for moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his struggle against the Hamas militant group.
There is one tiny problem with that last piece- Olmert promised that no prisoner with blood on their hands would be let go- but out of 10,000 prisoners they are having real trouble finding only 250 who fit that criteria.
The situation does not look good.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Al Qaeda's Iraq Plans
Still think it's a good idea to pull troops out of Iraq and leave the nation to jihadists? If Michael Yon's recent article hasn't convinced you then how about this-
Al-Qaeda second-in-command Ayman Zawahiri has urged Muslims to unite behind the movement's global jihad - and called for the violent overthrow of the governments of Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Al-Qaeda second-in-command Ayman Zawahiri has urged Muslims to unite behind the movement's global jihad - and called for the violent overthrow of the governments of Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
In a wide-ranging review of developments in the Muslim world, Zawahiri lays great stress on the central role of Iraq.
He claims Iraqis are increasingly supporting the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq, proclaimed in predominantly Sunni areas by an al-Qaeda affiliate.
The success of the Islamic State, he says, is crucial to the revival of a global, pan-Islamic caliphate.
So much for claims that the US presence in Iraq is fuelling the conflict there- rather, Al Qaeda sees Iraq as being central to their plan to spread their doctrine of hate to other nations. If we let Iraq fall to them it can only lead to greater problems ahead.
Policing Madness
What is it about modern Western nations that so many in positions of authority seem to have no sense of self-preservation? Why does political correctness trump common-sense measures to prevent loss of life?
Up to eight police officers and civilian staff are suspected of links to extremist groups including Al Qaeda.
Up to eight police officers and civilian staff are suspected of links to extremist groups including Al Qaeda.
Some are even believed to have attended terror training camps in Pakistan or Afghanistan.
Their names feature on a secret list of alleged radicals said to be working in the Metropolitan and other forces.
The dossier was drawn up with the help of MI5 amid fears that individuals linked to Islamic extremism are taking advantage of police attempts to increase the proportion of ethnic staff.
Astonishingly, many of the alleged jihadists have not been sacked because - it is claimed - police do not have the "legal power" to dismiss them.
I would have thought that not being able to receive the proper security clearance would have been grounds enough for dismissal- and if it isn't, then they should make it so immediately. How on Earth can it be possible that someone with probable links to terrorists can be allowed to remain in the police force? I'm fairly certain that if these individuals had been found to have ties with the IRA, for example, during the recent Troubles then there would have been no question of dismissing them immediately.
We can also reveal that one suspected jihadist officer working in the South East has been allowed to keep his job despite being caught circulating Internet images of beheadings and roadside bombings in Iraq.
He is said to have argued that he was trying to "enhance" debate about the war.
Classified intelligence reports raising concerns about police staff's background cannot be used to justify their dismissal, sources said.
Instead, the staff who are under suspicion are unofficially barred from working in sensitive posts and are closely monitored. Political correctness is blamed for the decision not to sack them.
There can be no other reason- I'm pretty sure that a background check is required to become a police officer (a person I know recently applied for a post working at the local airport and the security checks required to work in a shop there are rigorous to say the least). In this day and age of international and home-grown terrorists there can be no excuse not to blacklist individuals identified by MI5 or whoever as possible terrorists or terrorist sympathisers. Good grief, not so long ago a man was turned down by the police because he had a Union Jack tattoo- a patriot was turned away but someone who has attended a terror training camp is fine?
This is beyond a joke- and the people making these decisions need to begin putting the security of the country and the safety of British citizens ahead of this politically correct nonsense.Changing Iran
There's a good piece up from the BBC's former correspondent in Iran.
Telling that the regime of Khatami- which she recognises as being anything other than liberal- is currently seen as a kind of golden age in Iran.
The other night I was at a private party and two young Iranian women performed a song about a bird. It was indescribably sad and beautiful and had many of the women in the audience in tears.
Women are not allowed to sing in public in Iran - it is considered un-Islamic for men to hear them.
These women - who in today's Iran can only perform in houses of friends - sang about a bird, a crane, whose wings had been clipped and whose mouth had been covered.
It was a poetic symbol of censorship and the restrictions imposed on women.Telling that the regime of Khatami- which she recognises as being anything other than liberal- is currently seen as a kind of golden age in Iran.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Muslims United
When I heard of the "not in my name" campaign being launched by various Muslim groups in the UK I was, naturally, suspicious- were they really going to out and out renounce Islamic terrorism? Were we looking at a new era of the silent majority of peaceful Muslims speaking out against the violence committed n the name of Allah? Were we finally going to hear a national campaign that renounced jihad?
The Muslim communities across Britain are united in condemning the attempted bombings in London and Glasgow.
Well, it's certainly off to a good start- and it continues in a similar positive manner-
We are united with the rest of the country at this critical time and are determined to work together to avert any such attacks targeting our fellow citizens, property and country.
But it's around here that things start to go a little awry-
Islam forbids the killing of innocent people. We reject any heinous attempts to link such abhorrent acts to the teachings of Islam.
They also quote- partially- 5:32 (killing one is like killing mankind)- which is a highly misleading thing to do; aren't Muslim spokesmen always complaining about people taking verses of the Koran out of context? The whole of the verse, and the one that follows immediately after it give a rather different impression- here's the main part of 5:32- "whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind." So there is no blanket ban on killing- and I'm sure that jihadis have a very borad opinion of what exactly "corruption" entails. And here's what follows it- "The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land." Quite a huge difference between that and "Thou shalt not kill" isn't there? And that's without even going into the whole "who are innocent" debate- civilians, it has to be said, are not always viewed as innocents.
Note too that while they condemn the bombings they do seem to be more upset at attempts to link jihadist violence with Islam. The ad then goes into some discussion about not targeting Muslims with prejudice or discrimination.
We call on our government to work towards a just and lasting peace in areas of conflict around the world and to take the lead in helping eliminate the injustices and grievances that foment division and nurture violence.
And here at last we have the typical veiled threat common amongst Muslim spokespeople condemning acts of terrorism in the West- change your ways or there will be more violence. Evidently they believe that British foreign policy is to blame for these attacks.
Well, it's certainly off to a good start- and it continues in a similar positive manner-
We are united with the rest of the country at this critical time and are determined to work together to avert any such attacks targeting our fellow citizens, property and country.
But it's around here that things start to go a little awry-
Islam forbids the killing of innocent people. We reject any heinous attempts to link such abhorrent acts to the teachings of Islam.
They also quote- partially- 5:32 (killing one is like killing mankind)- which is a highly misleading thing to do; aren't Muslim spokesmen always complaining about people taking verses of the Koran out of context? The whole of the verse, and the one that follows immediately after it give a rather different impression- here's the main part of 5:32- "whosoever killeth a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind." So there is no blanket ban on killing- and I'm sure that jihadis have a very borad opinion of what exactly "corruption" entails. And here's what follows it- "The only reward of those who make war upon Allah and His messenger and strive after corruption in the land will be that they will be killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off, or will be expelled out of the land." Quite a huge difference between that and "Thou shalt not kill" isn't there? And that's without even going into the whole "who are innocent" debate- civilians, it has to be said, are not always viewed as innocents.
Note too that while they condemn the bombings they do seem to be more upset at attempts to link jihadist violence with Islam. The ad then goes into some discussion about not targeting Muslims with prejudice or discrimination.
We call on our government to work towards a just and lasting peace in areas of conflict around the world and to take the lead in helping eliminate the injustices and grievances that foment division and nurture violence.
And here at last we have the typical veiled threat common amongst Muslim spokespeople condemning acts of terrorism in the West- change your ways or there will be more violence. Evidently they believe that British foreign policy is to blame for these attacks.
BBC Propaganda
Earlier today I started a post about the BBC's positive attitude to Hamas in the wake of the Alan Johnston release. Other things got in the way and I'm glad it worked out like that because the article I was working on pales in comparison to this pro-Hamas propaganda currently on the BBC website.
Hamas hopes it has delivered several messages - the first is to any potential rivals in Gaza about who is boss.
But not the only one as the Beeb are quick to point out-
The second, and most important of all for Palestinians, is that it is dedicated to ending the appalling lawlessness of the last few years.
Hamas hopes it has delivered several messages - the first is to any potential rivals in Gaza about who is boss.
But not the only one as the Beeb are quick to point out-
The second, and most important of all for Palestinians, is that it is dedicated to ending the appalling lawlessness of the last few years.
No mention of preventing their own lawless attacks on Israeli civilians or of their recent actions in Gaza which left people dead.
The third message, aimed at the outside world, is that the release of Alan Johnston shows that Hamas is responsible, and powerful.
Yep, terrorists dedicated to the wholesale slaughter of innocent Israeli men, women and children are "responsible" according to the swooning BBC. Following a breathless account of how hard Hamas worked to release Johnston we get this-
When I visited Khaled Meshal, the leader of the political wing of Hamas, in Damascus last week, he told me that their strategy was to build pressure on the kidnappers until they cracked.
To make reality a little more palatable, a deal was done about an exchange of prisoners, and a fatwa was issued by a cleric authorising Alan's release.
Friendly chats with terrorist leaders- all in a day's work for the Beeb. Meshal, by the way, is thought to direct Hamas' terror attacks.
Hamas wants to impose law and order but there are plenty of issues they need to sort out before that can happen.
Recognising Israel's right to exist? Stopping blowing up children? No, the Beeb's only worried about rivalries within Gaza.
But if Hamas can bring law and order to Gaza, then it will increase its legitimacy.
Ah, that old gem that's always trotted out when an Islamist totalitarian regime comes to power- remember the "golden age" that the press promised was coming to war torn Somalia when they took over there? Amazing that the average liberal journalist gets all dreamy at the mention of dictatorial regimes imposing "law and order" by any means necessary.
Hamas says it wants a rapprochement with Fatah, the other big Palestinian faction.
But so far, Fatah - still stinging from the defeat inflicted by Hamas three weeks ago - says it has no interest in dealing with a group that perpetrated what it calls a "military coup".
Poor old Hamas- they just was to live in peace and harmony with the other terrorist gangs but bad old Fatah won't play. It's just not fair!
And there is Israel, which controls Gaza's borders, its airspace and its sea coast.
At least six Hamas members were killed in an Israeli raid into Gaza the night after Alan Johnston was released.
Most Israelis regard Hamas as a terror organisation that would destroy their state if it could.
Most Israelis? How about every rational human being around the world- it isn't just in the imagination of Israelis (notice how the Beeb helpfully tells us that six of the peace-loving Hamas men were killed) that Hamas wants to destroy Israel- it's what Hamas themselves believe and what they themselves have told the world time and again. And if Hamas isn't a terror organisation then what do the Beeb call a group that commit indiscriminate mass-murder of innocent people?Israel may not like it, but there are signs that some people in influential positions in the West are changing their view of Hamas after everything it did to release Alan Johnston.
For the new British foreign secretary, David Miliband, it amounted to a change of tone. He welcomed the part played by Hamas, and mentioned its prime minister, Ismail Haniya, by name.
I should point out here that Britain negotiated with recognised terror group Hamas to obtain Johnston's release. So much for that "no talking with terrorists" thing, eh?
Others go much further, believing that the policy of isolating Hamas because it will not recognise Israel or renounce violence, is looking threadbare, not least because it seems to play into the hands of the extremists.
A group of British parliamentarians has signed a motion in the House of Commons calling for engagement with Hamas.
Let me see if I understand this- refusing to recognise Hamas because they're a bunch of genocidal mass-murderers plays into the hands of extremists? The Hamas extremists that think it's okay to eradicate an entire nation? Or the Hamas extremists that like to detonate bombs amidst crowds of women and children? I'm not sure I follow his reasoning. Is this BBC journalist really arguing that it's high time we forgot about asking Hamas to stop wanting to destroy an entire nation because that policy is "threadbare"?
The mood was summed up in the final despatch sent back to the UN by its Middle East envoy, Alvaro De Soto, before he retired earlier this summer.
He wrote that Hamas "can potentially evolve in a pragmatic direction that would allow for a two-state solution - but only if handled right".
I actually thought we'd done away with the pragmatic argument- weren't Hamas supposed to become moderate when they won the election, came to power and actually had to function in Gaza as government? That didn't quite work out as expected, did it? And yet here we are again- journalists and politicians expecting the leopard to change its spots, despite all the evidence to the contrary.
The Pardons
Hot Air have a superb piece up on Bill Clinton's pardons during the waning days of his presidency. That there's a possibility he and his wife might end up back in the White House should send shivers down the spines of Republicans and Democrats alike.
Bill Clinton freed terrorists, drug dealers, child molsters, cronies, his brother, and a man who may have helped Saddam Hussein build and buy international support for his murderous, terrorist-friendly regime.
Read it all.
Bill Clinton freed terrorists, drug dealers, child molsters, cronies, his brother, and a man who may have helped Saddam Hussein build and buy international support for his murderous, terrorist-friendly regime.
Read it all.
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Bad Judgement
Money from the US, money from Israel, terrorists released from prison, not to mention the arms and training- all this to support the so-called "moderate" Fatah against Hamas. And what do they do?
Despite the complete Hamas takeover of Gaza and the Fatah suppression of Hamas in Judea and Samaria, including heavy violence and mutual accusations of illegitimacy, the two Palestinian Authority terrorist organizations may be moving towards a renewed cooperation. This, according to IDF analysts, can be seen in the cessation of Fatah activity against Hamas in Judea and Samaria.
Who could possibly have foreseen some problem with giving money, arms and training to terrorists?
Despite the complete Hamas takeover of Gaza and the Fatah suppression of Hamas in Judea and Samaria, including heavy violence and mutual accusations of illegitimacy, the two Palestinian Authority terrorist organizations may be moving towards a renewed cooperation. This, according to IDF analysts, can be seen in the cessation of Fatah activity against Hamas in Judea and Samaria.
Who could possibly have foreseen some problem with giving money, arms and training to terrorists?
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Flexing Their Muscles
There seems to be quite a high probability that Israel will face another war this summer- and if Solano's right it's one that could very well spread across the Middle East and involve other Western nations.
The European Union foreign policy chief suggested on Monday that Iran could be linked to the Hamas military takeover of Gaza, recent attacks on the Lebanese army, and on European peacekeepers in Lebanon.
What this means is that the conflict in Iraq may soon be something of a sideshow to a much larger war.
The European Union foreign policy chief suggested on Monday that Iran could be linked to the Hamas military takeover of Gaza, recent attacks on the Lebanese army, and on European peacekeepers in Lebanon.
What this means is that the conflict in Iraq may soon be something of a sideshow to a much larger war.
"What happened in Gaza cannot be seen separately from what happened in Lebanon," he told a conference on the Middle East hosted by the Socialist group of the European Parliament.
"There are new groups in the Palestinian camps," Solana said. "And the fact that UNIFIL has been attacked for the first time cannot be taken separately."
Solana said that while the car bomb attack that killed six Spanish members of the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on June 24 was carried out by "forces we don't know", he added: "It would be naive not to see this as part of a global approach."
There have been reports of Iranian agents preparing for attacks in Europe. Is that what he's referring to here?
"Somebody I know well -- Ali Larijani -- has said 'we are supporting Hamas'," he said, referring to the chief Iranian nuclear negotiator, who made the statement in an interview with Newsweek published last month.
"All this is connected," Solana said. "It didn't happen by accident or miracle, it was probably planned."
Iran is playing a dangerous game- thus far it has been appeased by more powerful nations but surely that cannot continue.Another Act of War
This must be a record for one nation being fairly blatantly attacked- and people being killed- by another and nothing being done about it. How many more times is America going to turn the other cheek to Iran's slaps?
Ali Mussa Daqduq, who U.S. officials say played an integral role in a January attack in Karbala that killed five Americans, allegedly was helping to train Shiite militias fighting U.S.-led coalition forces, the officials said.
And who exactly was he?
Daqduq was captured in a raid aimed at seizing another Shiite militant leader suspected of involvement in the January 20 Karbala attack, said Brig. Gen. Kevin Bergner. Intelligence officials said that Daqduq and the Iraqi militia commanders with whom he worked have admitted working with Iran’s Quds Force.
Ali Mussa Daqduq, who U.S. officials say played an integral role in a January attack in Karbala that killed five Americans, allegedly was helping to train Shiite militias fighting U.S.-led coalition forces, the officials said.
And who exactly was he?
Daqduq was captured in a raid aimed at seizing another Shiite militant leader suspected of involvement in the January 20 Karbala attack, said Brig. Gen. Kevin Bergner. Intelligence officials said that Daqduq and the Iraqi militia commanders with whom he worked have admitted working with Iran’s Quds Force.
The Iranian special operations force “is using Lebanese Hezbollah essentially as a proxy, as a surrogate, in Iraq,” Bergner said. He added that the military is learning about the “specific motivations behind those operations.”
Thus far Iran seems to have been getting away with it- but I honestly don't think that will continue for much longer. Iran is responsible for the deaths of those five American soldiers.Monday, July 02, 2007
Al Qaeda Murders
Michael Yon's latest is a must read- the kind of story that should be all over the evening news. It's a startling shame that in the midst of war our own media doesn't cover any kind of material like this.
On an excursion with American and Iraqi troops they discover an entire village empty, devoid of life. The people are missing and the livestock shot. This is the work of Al Qaeda. The bodies- men, women and children- some of the kids beheaded- are soon uncovered in graves nearby.
This is the face of an enemy so bloodthirsty and monstrous that it boggles the mind. A face that most people will never hear of because the vast majority of the MSM is unwilling to cover stories like this.
Warning- there are some quite graphic photos of the uncovered bodies in the linked article.
On an excursion with American and Iraqi troops they discover an entire village empty, devoid of life. The people are missing and the livestock shot. This is the work of Al Qaeda. The bodies- men, women and children- some of the kids beheaded- are soon uncovered in graves nearby.
This is the face of an enemy so bloodthirsty and monstrous that it boggles the mind. A face that most people will never hear of because the vast majority of the MSM is unwilling to cover stories like this.
Warning- there are some quite graphic photos of the uncovered bodies in the linked article.
Rambo Replica
Okay, okay, it's a cheap knife but it's a heck of a lot more cost effective than the United Cutlery Rambo-replicas considering that it uses the same quality steel. Anyway, it's obviously a display piece and not a field knife- if I want one of those I'll make a bee-line for one of the Martin hollow handle knives.
While the sheath is pretty nasty looking the blade itself is actually quite pleasing. The "sawback" is cosmetic only, the edge is barely there, I dread to think what exactly is in the "survival kit" in the cord-wrapped handle but this is a knife that's all about looks- and it does look the part. Sure it would fall to pieces if I ever had to use it as a survival knife but it won't be venturing too far from my desk, let alone out into the woods.
While the sheath is pretty nasty looking the blade itself is actually quite pleasing. The "sawback" is cosmetic only, the edge is barely there, I dread to think what exactly is in the "survival kit" in the cord-wrapped handle but this is a knife that's all about looks- and it does look the part. Sure it would fall to pieces if I ever had to use it as a survival knife but it won't be venturing too far from my desk, let alone out into the woods.
Pre-Big Bang
What?
It may be possible to glimpse before the supposed beginning of time into the universe prior to the Big Bang, researchers now say.
Say again? I was under the impression that time itself was created in the Big Bang according to the theory.
Recently scientists have instead suggested the Big Bang might have just been the explosive beginning of the current era of the universe, hinting at a mysterious past.
You mean that their time-cherished theory might be a load of tripe, that they might not actually know that much about our origins?
It may be possible to glimpse before the supposed beginning of time into the universe prior to the Big Bang, researchers now say.
Say again? I was under the impression that time itself was created in the Big Bang according to the theory.
Recently scientists have instead suggested the Big Bang might have just been the explosive beginning of the current era of the universe, hinting at a mysterious past.
You mean that their time-cherished theory might be a load of tripe, that they might not actually know that much about our origins?
PC Woes
I've been having some problems with my broadband for the past few weeks- the connection remains but while some programs continue to download from the internet, my browser would simply refuse to load pages. I would try to refresh my wireless connection to the router but often times this had no effect. Shutting down and restarting seemed to be the main way to get around it- either the router itself or my PC. A huge, big nuisance.
Anyway, I figured out that the problem lies with the machine's DNS. Bringing up a cmd screen I could ping websites via their IP address but not via their actual name. Flushing the DNS cache would, 8 times out of 10, solve the problem.
Well, this morning I spent more time trying to get a working connection than I actually did doing any reading so I downloaded a little program called WinsockXPFix, backed up my system, and ran it. Thus far it seems to have resolved the problem.
If you hear a scream today that sounds like a soul tormented you'll know that the fix has only been temporary.
Anyway, I figured out that the problem lies with the machine's DNS. Bringing up a cmd screen I could ping websites via their IP address but not via their actual name. Flushing the DNS cache would, 8 times out of 10, solve the problem.
Well, this morning I spent more time trying to get a working connection than I actually did doing any reading so I downloaded a little program called WinsockXPFix, backed up my system, and ran it. Thus far it seems to have resolved the problem.
If you hear a scream today that sounds like a soul tormented you'll know that the fix has only been temporary.
Glasgow
There's plenty of great coverage of the Glasgow airport attack (Hot Air) so I'll not rehash that information. I did visit Glasgow a couple of years ago (and may be back again this summer) and I was struck then at the pretty lax airport security (especially when compared to the bad old days when the IRA et al were active). I guess we can be thankful that the attack was unsuccessful and no one died.
Here's hoping that further attempts are foiled or fail.
Here's hoping that further attempts are foiled or fail.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Anti-Illegal Tactic
Following the dictum KISS- Keep it simple, stupid.
The sheriff’s department has developed a remarkably effective — and controversial — way of catching illegal immigrants: Deputies in patrol cars pull up to a construction site in force, and watch and see who runs.
The sheriff’s department has developed a remarkably effective — and controversial — way of catching illegal immigrants: Deputies in patrol cars pull up to a construction site in force, and watch and see who runs.
Those who take off are chased down and arrested on charges such as trespassing, for cutting through someone else’s property, or loitering, for hiding out in someone’s yard, or reckless driving, for speeding off in a car.
U.S. immigration authorities are then given the names of those believed to be in this country illegally.
I guess if Washington isn't going to act to do something about the illegal immigrants in the US, local authorities are going to step in and do it themselves. I wonder if any other PD will emulate this example?Admitting Defeat
Olmert appears to be quite possibly the worst possible leader at the worst possible time for Israel. It's almost as if he has a death wish- giving millions of dollars to Fatah, sending arms to Fatah, releasing terrorist prisoners and refusing to countenance the long-term defence of some Israeli people.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned in a speech at the annual Caesarea Conference Thursday night that Sderot residents should not expect to be completely protected against Kassam rocket attacks fired at the town from northern Gaza.
The Prime Minister declared that his government cannot offer reinforced rooftops for every edifice within rocket range, saying: "A country cannot protect itself ad infinitum, because there would be no end to it."
Pathetic defeatism.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned in a speech at the annual Caesarea Conference Thursday night that Sderot residents should not expect to be completely protected against Kassam rocket attacks fired at the town from northern Gaza.
The Prime Minister declared that his government cannot offer reinforced rooftops for every edifice within rocket range, saying: "A country cannot protect itself ad infinitum, because there would be no end to it."
Pathetic defeatism.
Religious Apartheid
Seems like the Saudis have an "out" when it comes to their hatred of Jews. Odd that the US and British governments continue to favour a regime that displays behaviour like this. If it weren't for all that essential oil that the world depends on do you think things might be any different?
In an interview with Israeli television, a transcript of which was published by Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper, Mubarak said circumstances in conservative Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites, prevented the Saudi monarch meeting Olmert.
In an interview with Israeli television, a transcript of which was published by Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper, Mubarak said circumstances in conservative Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites, prevented the Saudi monarch meeting Olmert.
“Forget about meeting with the king... The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has circumstances that differ from those of any other state. They have holy lands and men of religion,” Mubarak said.
So religious discrimination is acceptable on account of all the Saudi holiness then?
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