It appears that this ministry may have actually taken over control of the entire British government. Here's the latest-
The U.K., faced with a 6.3 billion pound ($11.7 billion) bill to deport illegal immigrants as it prepares to roll out mandatory identification cards in four years, is considering an amnesty to legalize some workers.
The reason? Why, it simply can't be done! There are apparently a whopping 570,000 illegals in the country. An "expert" on immigration claimed, "Our economy would shrink. We would notice it in un- cleaned offices, dirty streets and un-staffed pubs.''
Frankly, that's a price I'm willing to pay. The streets are already dirty, there are plenty of students looking for work in the pubs and, please, untidy offices? Sure sounds like a national disaster. Perhaps some of Britain's 1.61 million unemployed just might be able to plug the gap left by the half a million illegals.
Now, some could argue that the illegals do the work that Britons don't want to do because of low wages- but the fact is, with an amnesty, the illegals won't be illegal anymore; and if they are legally recognised then you can bet that they'll be first in line demanding that their jobs pay the legally required mimimum wage.
And the fact is that our economy needn't be harmed at all; there are plenty of Polish workers, amongst others from the EU, who can now legally work in the UK. They are ready, willing and able- and from what I've seen of them more than capable- to do just those sorts of jobs.
Perhaps all that's needed is a change in the law to get rid of illegal aliens for less than the stated £11,000; if you're in the country illegally and you get caught, we immediately return you to country of origin. Now, why does the price of a plane ticket have to cost over ten grand?
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Somalia In For Trouble?
Remember that era of golden peace that Monster and Critics, courtesy of UPI, said was going to emerge? Well, not so fast kiddo.
Somalia's parliament on Wednesday approved deployment of foreign peacekeepers to the anarchic nation, a move opposed by newly powerful Islamist militias controlling Mogadishu, the parliament speaker said.
"Opposed" is one way of putting it. Their actual stance on the matter is more like this-
"We will fight fiercely to the death any intervention force that arrives in Somalia."
That comes from Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, a senior member of the Islamic Courts, who said that "it would be the religious duty of all Somalis to fight any peacekeeping force."
Remember too that the leader of the Courts also has this to say, "Until we get the Islamic state, we will continue with the Islamic struggle in Somalia."
Somalia's parliament on Wednesday approved deployment of foreign peacekeepers to the anarchic nation, a move opposed by newly powerful Islamist militias controlling Mogadishu, the parliament speaker said.
"Opposed" is one way of putting it. Their actual stance on the matter is more like this-
"We will fight fiercely to the death any intervention force that arrives in Somalia."
That comes from Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, a senior member of the Islamic Courts, who said that "it would be the religious duty of all Somalis to fight any peacekeeping force."
Remember too that the leader of the Courts also has this to say, "Until we get the Islamic state, we will continue with the Islamic struggle in Somalia."
Somalia Update
So much for the Islamic Courts giving power back to the people- they've now launched an attack on a town 55 miles away.
Islamic fighters drove secular militiamen out of a strategic town in southern Somalia following a brief firefight early Wednesday, witnesses reached by two-way radio said, just hours after the militia's leaders fled the town.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, but residents were fleeing for fear of additional unrest in Jowhar, 55 miles from the capital, Mogadishu.
How soon before they extend their presence to the rest of Somalia, and then perhaps beyond?
Islamic fighters drove secular militiamen out of a strategic town in southern Somalia following a brief firefight early Wednesday, witnesses reached by two-way radio said, just hours after the militia's leaders fled the town.
There were no immediate reports of casualties, but residents were fleeing for fear of additional unrest in Jowhar, 55 miles from the capital, Mogadishu.
How soon before they extend their presence to the rest of Somalia, and then perhaps beyond?
BBC Propaganda Continues
As soon as I finish one piece on the obvious bias at the BBC, I find another- this time about the CAIR-manufactured controversy over the YouTube video of a possible Marine singing about killing Iraqis. The BBC is fast onto this story- odd considering the time they take to cover other stories if at all. They tell us this, stating that this is what the Marine was singing about-
The lyrics caught on video refer to the shooting of Iraqi civilians, especially children.
Luckily we have blogs like Little Green Footballs to keep us right-
"the song is about a young woman luring a Marine into an ambush where she and her sister are killed by her jihadi father and brother, who in turn are killed with great justification by the Marine."
UPDATE- LGF is on the case of the BBC's bias here too, complete with the video in question lest there be any doubt. Thank heaven for the blogosphere; if my only news source was the MSM here in Britain, goodness knows what sort of warped view of the world I'd have.
The lyrics caught on video refer to the shooting of Iraqi civilians, especially children.
Luckily we have blogs like Little Green Footballs to keep us right-
"the song is about a young woman luring a Marine into an ambush where she and her sister are killed by her jihadi father and brother, who in turn are killed with great justification by the Marine."
UPDATE- LGF is on the case of the BBC's bias here too, complete with the video in question lest there be any doubt. Thank heaven for the blogosphere; if my only news source was the MSM here in Britain, goodness knows what sort of warped view of the world I'd have.
BBC Profile
I'm sorry, maybe I missed a memo or something, but when did the BBC cease being an impartial news organisation and become a mouthpiece for Islamists? I wrote only yesterday about the positive article they ran on the leader of the Islamic Courts in Mogadishu, and now I fnd that they have a similar piece up about Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiah, the terrorist group responsible for the Bali bombing which murdered more than 200 people.
While the BBC's news article on him does mention that he was convicted of conspiracy, and that he does admire Bin Laden, the "frail, 68-year-old man with a wispy beard, embroidered white skull cap and heavy glasses perched on his aquiline nose" denies any link with JI and has even condemned the bomb attack in Bali; they even go on to say that he denies any link with terrorism at all. Heck, they want us to know too that he denies JI even exists and that it's all part of "an American-inspired plot to undermine Islam." He is, afterall, "just a simple preacher".
Unlike his Wikipedia page, the BBC makes little mention of the Christian church attacks, being charged with treason, immigration violations, and providing false documents and statements to the Indonesian police; they merely state that "prosecutors have struggled to make any of the charges stick."
The BBC also informs us that he intends to go back to teach at his school. They make no mention of the fact that graduates of the school are in prison on terrorism charges. Could that perhaps have something to do with his own teachings? You'd think not based on the BBC profile, mainly due to the fact that they make little mention of his own words, save for a little piece saying "I support Osama Bin Laden's struggle because his is the true struggle to uphold Islam, not terror - the terrorists are America and Israel." Which, it seems, may be a popular opinion to have at the BBC.
You might like to know that Ba'asyir also says this-
The infidel country must be visited and spied upon. If we don't come to them, they will persecute Islam. They will prevent non-Muslims converting.
They [the West] have to stop fighting Islam. That's impossible because it is sunnatullah [destiny, a law of nature] as Allah has said in the Koran. If they want to have peace, they have to accept to be governed by Islam.
We'll keep fighting them and they'll lose. The batil [falsehood] will lose sooner or later. I sent a letter to Bush. I said that you'll lose and there is no point for you [to fight us]. This [concept] is found in the Koran.
After my release, I hope I can meet him [Osama Bin Laden]...When I heard his story, I came to the conclusion that he's mujahid, a soldier of Allah.
As long as there is no intention to fight us and Islam continues to grow there can be peace. This is the doctrine of Islam. Islam can't be ruled by others. Allah's law must stand above human law. There is no [example] of Islam and infidels, the right and the wrong, living together in peace.
Why, he must be one of those moderate clerics we're always hearing about? At least, that's what the BBC would like you to think.
While the BBC's news article on him does mention that he was convicted of conspiracy, and that he does admire Bin Laden, the "frail, 68-year-old man with a wispy beard, embroidered white skull cap and heavy glasses perched on his aquiline nose" denies any link with JI and has even condemned the bomb attack in Bali; they even go on to say that he denies any link with terrorism at all. Heck, they want us to know too that he denies JI even exists and that it's all part of "an American-inspired plot to undermine Islam." He is, afterall, "just a simple preacher".
Unlike his Wikipedia page, the BBC makes little mention of the Christian church attacks, being charged with treason, immigration violations, and providing false documents and statements to the Indonesian police; they merely state that "prosecutors have struggled to make any of the charges stick."
The BBC also informs us that he intends to go back to teach at his school. They make no mention of the fact that graduates of the school are in prison on terrorism charges. Could that perhaps have something to do with his own teachings? You'd think not based on the BBC profile, mainly due to the fact that they make little mention of his own words, save for a little piece saying "I support Osama Bin Laden's struggle because his is the true struggle to uphold Islam, not terror - the terrorists are America and Israel." Which, it seems, may be a popular opinion to have at the BBC.
You might like to know that Ba'asyir also says this-
The infidel country must be visited and spied upon. If we don't come to them, they will persecute Islam. They will prevent non-Muslims converting.
They [the West] have to stop fighting Islam. That's impossible because it is sunnatullah [destiny, a law of nature] as Allah has said in the Koran. If they want to have peace, they have to accept to be governed by Islam.
We'll keep fighting them and they'll lose. The batil [falsehood] will lose sooner or later. I sent a letter to Bush. I said that you'll lose and there is no point for you [to fight us]. This [concept] is found in the Koran.
After my release, I hope I can meet him [Osama Bin Laden]...When I heard his story, I came to the conclusion that he's mujahid, a soldier of Allah.
As long as there is no intention to fight us and Islam continues to grow there can be peace. This is the doctrine of Islam. Islam can't be ruled by others. Allah's law must stand above human law. There is no [example] of Islam and infidels, the right and the wrong, living together in peace.
Why, he must be one of those moderate clerics we're always hearing about? At least, that's what the BBC would like you to think.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Impartial BBC
Hamas broke the ceasefire that they had been "honouring" on and off for months in the wake of the Israeli shelling of a beach in Gaza which left eight dead. They fired rockets and mortars and threatened to begin an "earthquake in Zionist towns".
Only problem is that it appears that the beach blast wasn't caused by Israel at all. Not only did the shelling by Israel into Gaza cease eight minutes before the beach blast but forensic analysis of shrapnel taken from some of the victims shows that it did not come from Israeli munitions. This might explain why the Palestinain Authority didn't want to co-operate with any Israeli investigation into the incident.
Luckily for us, the BBC is quick off the mark to discredit the Israeli findings- after putting the phrase "not Israel's fault" in the headline of the story into quotation marks. While the Israeli findings get a whopping total of three sentences at the start of their report to deny Israel was involved, the BBC quickly moves on to give Human Rights Watch more space to declare that the Israelis must have done it. Because we all know how expert a group like HRW are at forensic analysis and the different effects of various explosives.
"My assessment [is] that it's likely that this was incoming artillery fire that landed on the beach and was fired by the Israelis from the north of Gaza."
Why, of course! You must be right, why on earth did I let myself get swayed by silly little things like the timing of the incident and the study of the actual shrapnel which injured people on the beach? Phew, that was close- for a moment I almost let myself be convinced by actual evidence rather than the opinions of a human rights campaigner. We're not informed what sort of expert opinion made this assessment but by golly, I'm sure they know what they're talking about. Otherwise the BBC wouldn't quote them, right?
The BBC goes on to give the final word to Hamas-
Ghazi Hamad, spokesman for the Hamas government, accused Israel of "shying away from its responsibilities over this atrocious crime, without offering the slightest proof".
"These Israeli allegations are false and lack any credibility. While the resistance wants to ambush the occupation, it does not place bombs on beaches or in the middle of crowds," he said.
Well, of course. Who ever heard of Hamas putting a bomb in the middle of a crowd? The very suggestion!
Only problem is that it appears that the beach blast wasn't caused by Israel at all. Not only did the shelling by Israel into Gaza cease eight minutes before the beach blast but forensic analysis of shrapnel taken from some of the victims shows that it did not come from Israeli munitions. This might explain why the Palestinain Authority didn't want to co-operate with any Israeli investigation into the incident.
Luckily for us, the BBC is quick off the mark to discredit the Israeli findings- after putting the phrase "not Israel's fault" in the headline of the story into quotation marks. While the Israeli findings get a whopping total of three sentences at the start of their report to deny Israel was involved, the BBC quickly moves on to give Human Rights Watch more space to declare that the Israelis must have done it. Because we all know how expert a group like HRW are at forensic analysis and the different effects of various explosives.
"My assessment [is] that it's likely that this was incoming artillery fire that landed on the beach and was fired by the Israelis from the north of Gaza."
Why, of course! You must be right, why on earth did I let myself get swayed by silly little things like the timing of the incident and the study of the actual shrapnel which injured people on the beach? Phew, that was close- for a moment I almost let myself be convinced by actual evidence rather than the opinions of a human rights campaigner. We're not informed what sort of expert opinion made this assessment but by golly, I'm sure they know what they're talking about. Otherwise the BBC wouldn't quote them, right?
The BBC goes on to give the final word to Hamas-
Ghazi Hamad, spokesman for the Hamas government, accused Israel of "shying away from its responsibilities over this atrocious crime, without offering the slightest proof".
"These Israeli allegations are false and lack any credibility. While the resistance wants to ambush the occupation, it does not place bombs on beaches or in the middle of crowds," he said.
Well, of course. Who ever heard of Hamas putting a bomb in the middle of a crowd? The very suggestion!
Monday, June 12, 2006
Thinking Forward
Rear Admiral Chris Parry seems to understand the threat faced by the UK. Good thing that he is "head of the development, concepts and doctrine centre at the Ministry of Defence". Basically the government's go-to guy to examine future threats to the country.
Europe, including Britain, could be undermined by large immigrant groups with little allegiance to their host countries — a "reverse colonisation" as Parry described it. These groups would stay connected to their homelands by the internet and cheap flights. The idea of assimilation was becoming redundant, he said.
If a security breakdown occurred, he said, it was likely to be brought on by environmental destruction and a population boom, coupled with technology and radical Islam. The result for Britain and Europe, Parry warned, could be "like the 5th century Roman empire facing the Goths and the Vandals".
He foresees a future in which pirates make make the waters of the Meditteranean unsafe for holiday-makers and where the current power structure may crumble by 2012. It's a very interesting read, be sure to check it all out.
Europe, including Britain, could be undermined by large immigrant groups with little allegiance to their host countries — a "reverse colonisation" as Parry described it. These groups would stay connected to their homelands by the internet and cheap flights. The idea of assimilation was becoming redundant, he said.
If a security breakdown occurred, he said, it was likely to be brought on by environmental destruction and a population boom, coupled with technology and radical Islam. The result for Britain and Europe, Parry warned, could be "like the 5th century Roman empire facing the Goths and the Vandals".
He foresees a future in which pirates make make the waters of the Meditteranean unsafe for holiday-makers and where the current power structure may crumble by 2012. It's a very interesting read, be sure to check it all out.
Iraq Invite Still Open
Iraq wants the US to remain in the country.
Iraq will allow the current United Nations mandate to remain in effect beyond a deadline next Thursday for a review of Security Council Resolution 1637, which provides legal authority for the American-led military coalition to continue its combat operations.
A number of resolutions and other agreements provide legal authority for coalition forces to operate in Iraq. Under the most recent one, 1637, Iraq acknowledged that multinational forces were in the country at its request.
Gee, you mean it's not an "illegal occupation" at all? What a shocking surprise. That the New York Times saw fit to mention it, that is.
Hat tip Frau Budgie.
Iraq will allow the current United Nations mandate to remain in effect beyond a deadline next Thursday for a review of Security Council Resolution 1637, which provides legal authority for the American-led military coalition to continue its combat operations.
A number of resolutions and other agreements provide legal authority for coalition forces to operate in Iraq. Under the most recent one, 1637, Iraq acknowledged that multinational forces were in the country at its request.
Gee, you mean it's not an "illegal occupation" at all? What a shocking surprise. That the New York Times saw fit to mention it, that is.
Hat tip Frau Budgie.
Maths Problem
Charles Johnson does his sums.
One of the people killed in the Zarqawi raid was his wife. His sixteen year old wife.
Also included among the casualties was his eighteen month old son.
One of the people killed in the Zarqawi raid was his wife. His sixteen year old wife.
Also included among the casualties was his eighteen month old son.
Pro-Islamic BBC
The BBC needs to change its name, perhaps to the British Islamic Propaganda Corporation. I've already noted that there's some unusually biased and misleading reporting on the Islamic Courts in Mogadishu. Despite the murder of one of their own the BBC has already written approvingly of the "stability" that the Courts have brought to the streets of the city. Stability obviously trumps freedom, something than many on the Left have made clear in the past few years with their opposition to the overthrow of the dictatorships of Saddam Hussein and the Taliban.
Now, the BBC goes further and publishes a puff piece on the leader of the Courts, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. He only got involved in the Courts to rescue a kidnapped child, don't you know. He's also "confident that Islam will always have the upper hand." But don't worry, this "modest leader" who dresses "simply in a long-sleeved Pakistani-style shirt and a pair of simple trousers which do not reach his ankles and cheap sandals" comes across as a pretty decent guy. Remember, he's doing it for the kids.
I did a search for some of the Sheikh's sayings and an awful of of news agencies are giving the Islamic Courts positive press, including his statement that he doesn't want to establish a Taliban-like Islamic state in Mogadishu. In fact he is quoted by the ever unquestioning BBC as saying, "This body is not a political one. Rather we want to give power back to the Somali people so it can make its own decisions and decide its own destiny."
Which is strange because Sky news quotes him as saying, "Until we get the Islamic state, we will continue with the Islamic struggle in Somalia."
Now, the BBC goes further and publishes a puff piece on the leader of the Courts, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. He only got involved in the Courts to rescue a kidnapped child, don't you know. He's also "confident that Islam will always have the upper hand." But don't worry, this "modest leader" who dresses "simply in a long-sleeved Pakistani-style shirt and a pair of simple trousers which do not reach his ankles and cheap sandals" comes across as a pretty decent guy. Remember, he's doing it for the kids.
I did a search for some of the Sheikh's sayings and an awful of of news agencies are giving the Islamic Courts positive press, including his statement that he doesn't want to establish a Taliban-like Islamic state in Mogadishu. In fact he is quoted by the ever unquestioning BBC as saying, "This body is not a political one. Rather we want to give power back to the Somali people so it can make its own decisions and decide its own destiny."
Which is strange because Sky news quotes him as saying, "Until we get the Islamic state, we will continue with the Islamic struggle in Somalia."
Flight of Fantasy
Time for another image by master-comic artist Adam Hughes. Here's a pistol-packin' Lara Croft in his inimitable style.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Crime Fighting Saudi-style
Note to moonbats: what George Bush has or seeks to have is not a religious theocracy. This is a religious theocracy.
A 70-year-old Saudi woman was briefly jailed after being detained by the religious police who suspected her motives for entering a shop owned by a man in a busy Riyadh market.
Yep, an old woman who can barely walk entered a shop where there was only a man present and the religious police swooped in to arrest her immediately.
A 70-year-old Saudi woman was briefly jailed after being detained by the religious police who suspected her motives for entering a shop owned by a man in a busy Riyadh market.
Yep, an old woman who can barely walk entered a shop where there was only a man present and the religious police swooped in to arrest her immediately.
Peaceful Somalia
According to this "analysis" at Monsters and Critics with a United Press International byline, and I use the term analysis loosely, Somalia could be due for a new golden era of peace and unity following the victory of the Islamists in Mogadishu.
Thanks to the victory of Islamic fighters, Somalia is back in the international spotlight and perhaps on its way to peace.
The theory is that with the US-backed warlords out of the way, peace will return to the war-stricken country now that the Islamists have "reunited" Mog. And don't worry, these are moderate Islamic courts, no need to bother yourself with trifling little details like them banning Western and Indian films, videos or even the World Cup. Their opposition to listening to music or dancing because it's "un-Islamic" is just a trivial concern. No, these are moderate clan-based African Islamists. No need to pay any attention to that man (Mogadishu's senior cleric- what does he know, right?) saying that "All Somalis must defend the Islamic courts because this is not inter-clan fighting, but war with the infidels." That fighting which left 300 dead as they fought to take control of the city was nothing to worry about- possibly it's some sort of cultural thing. And that talk by one of the leaders of the Islamic Courts about starting a jihad on any foreign troops sent to the country? Probably just tough guy talk?
The courts union, which includes 11 Islamic religious tribunals, are credited for having reinstated some peace and order in the capital and for providing services the powerless central government has failed to do.
Now that they've unified Mogadishu, the Courts hope to go on to "unify" the rest of Somalia, with the help of foreign fighters in their ranks. Goodness, soon the whole country can benefit from their benevolent leadership! But that's not all, after that they may go on to "unify" parts of Ethiopia too.
The "analysts" go on to say that the US shouldn't worry about Al Qaeda in Somalia because the Islamic courts won't have anything to do with them. Please do try to forget that the US has already identified Al Qaeda operatives being harboured by the Islamic Courts and that they have also had contact with Osama Bin Laden.
Experts warn that an American intervention in the name of the war on terror would be tantamount to an open invitation to Somali cooperation with al-Qaida, threatening to turn the courts union from a clan-based system into a fundamentalist militant one.
Unless of course the US tries to stop them having contact with Al Qaeda, in which case they will adopt close ties with the terrorists. Makes sense doesn't it? Thank you Monsters and Critics (and let's not forget UPI) for such a well researched and in-depth analysis. What on earth would we do without such insightful reporting as this?
Thanks to the victory of Islamic fighters, Somalia is back in the international spotlight and perhaps on its way to peace.
The theory is that with the US-backed warlords out of the way, peace will return to the war-stricken country now that the Islamists have "reunited" Mog. And don't worry, these are moderate Islamic courts, no need to bother yourself with trifling little details like them banning Western and Indian films, videos or even the World Cup. Their opposition to listening to music or dancing because it's "un-Islamic" is just a trivial concern. No, these are moderate clan-based African Islamists. No need to pay any attention to that man (Mogadishu's senior cleric- what does he know, right?) saying that "All Somalis must defend the Islamic courts because this is not inter-clan fighting, but war with the infidels." That fighting which left 300 dead as they fought to take control of the city was nothing to worry about- possibly it's some sort of cultural thing. And that talk by one of the leaders of the Islamic Courts about starting a jihad on any foreign troops sent to the country? Probably just tough guy talk?
The courts union, which includes 11 Islamic religious tribunals, are credited for having reinstated some peace and order in the capital and for providing services the powerless central government has failed to do.
Its victory in Mogadishu apparently restored hope for stability among this east African country`s almost 9 million population, mostly Muslims exhausted by civil war.
Hope and stability if you're a Muslim willing to go along with their particular brand of "justice" that is. Like the kid who stabbed his father's killer to death after a ruling by one of the courts. All that business of thieves getting limbs amputated and women wearing either the headscarf or veil is welcomed by the people of Somalia; stability like this is much preferred over the results of speaking out against the courts. The BBC also approves of the new stability that the Courts have brought to the city, even though one of their own producers was murdered there, most likely as a result of a fatwa issued against Westerners entering Mogadishu.Now that they've unified Mogadishu, the Courts hope to go on to "unify" the rest of Somalia, with the help of foreign fighters in their ranks. Goodness, soon the whole country can benefit from their benevolent leadership! But that's not all, after that they may go on to "unify" parts of Ethiopia too.
The "analysts" go on to say that the US shouldn't worry about Al Qaeda in Somalia because the Islamic courts won't have anything to do with them. Please do try to forget that the US has already identified Al Qaeda operatives being harboured by the Islamic Courts and that they have also had contact with Osama Bin Laden.
Experts warn that an American intervention in the name of the war on terror would be tantamount to an open invitation to Somali cooperation with al-Qaida, threatening to turn the courts union from a clan-based system into a fundamentalist militant one.
Unless of course the US tries to stop them having contact with Al Qaeda, in which case they will adopt close ties with the terrorists. Makes sense doesn't it? Thank you Monsters and Critics (and let's not forget UPI) for such a well researched and in-depth analysis. What on earth would we do without such insightful reporting as this?
Zarqawi's Family
It seems that the very public and loudly proclaimed disowning of Zarqawi by his family some months ago, wasn't quite what it appears.
Jordanian parliamentarians criticized a number of deputies from the Islamic Action Front (IAF) for paying their respects to the family of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi during a visit to a tent erected in Zarqa to "celebrate his martyrdom".
Four deputies from the IAF, the largest opposition party in Jordan, visited the tent on Friday, and said it was their "duty and obligation towards a Jordanian family who had lost one of its members."
The family of Zarqawi had asked three Islamist lawmakers in Jordan to intervene with the government to bring his body back home for burial.
Perhaps the disowning had more to do with the "influential family" ensuring that it's influential position wasn't affected by Zarqawi's murder of 54 people in the Jordan hotel bombings than with any real disapproval of what he was doing?
Jordanian parliamentarians criticized a number of deputies from the Islamic Action Front (IAF) for paying their respects to the family of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi during a visit to a tent erected in Zarqa to "celebrate his martyrdom".
Four deputies from the IAF, the largest opposition party in Jordan, visited the tent on Friday, and said it was their "duty and obligation towards a Jordanian family who had lost one of its members."
The family of Zarqawi had asked three Islamist lawmakers in Jordan to intervene with the government to bring his body back home for burial.
Perhaps the disowning had more to do with the "influential family" ensuring that it's influential position wasn't affected by Zarqawi's murder of 54 people in the Jordan hotel bombings than with any real disapproval of what he was doing?
More Beheadings
The misunderstanders of Islam in Iraq are continuing their bloody business.
INSURGENTS have signalled that the fight is still on after Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death, posting an internet video showing the beheading of three alleged Shiite death squad members in revenge for killing Sunnis.
Hacking off the heads of prisoners and posting the video online doesn't warrant a terrorist label these days either I see.
"Iraq is the front defence line for Islam and Muslims, so don't fail to follow the path of the mujahidin (holy warriors), the caravan of martyrs and the faithful," said Abdullah bin Rashid al-Baghdadi, the head of the Mujahidin Shura Council.
INSURGENTS have signalled that the fight is still on after Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death, posting an internet video showing the beheading of three alleged Shiite death squad members in revenge for killing Sunnis.
Hacking off the heads of prisoners and posting the video online doesn't warrant a terrorist label these days either I see.
"Iraq is the front defence line for Islam and Muslims, so don't fail to follow the path of the mujahidin (holy warriors), the caravan of martyrs and the faithful," said Abdullah bin Rashid al-Baghdadi, the head of the Mujahidin Shura Council.
He vowed: "As for you the slaves of the Cross (coalition forces), the grandsons of Ibn al-Alqami (Shiites) and every infidel of the Sunnis, we can't wait to sever your necks with our swords."
This misunderstanding couldn't have anything to do with verse 47:04 of the Koran, "Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks" could it?Conspiracy Theory
The moonbats are coming out to play, with this article by a Canadian Professor of Economics (obviously the sort of expert you want to speak to regarding the effects of US Air Force munitions) which hints that all is not as it seems.
Abu Musab Al Zarqawi's "safe house" was attacked by two Falcon F16 fighters. Two 500 lb laser-guided bombs were dropped on the site. The safe house was transformed into rubble. According to press reports, charred bodies had been removed from the rubble. Zarqawi's body, however, was virtually intact.
Perhaps it was an operation headed by the Illuminati?
Time to check their tin foil hats are working correctly.
Abu Musab Al Zarqawi's "safe house" was attacked by two Falcon F16 fighters. Two 500 lb laser-guided bombs were dropped on the site. The safe house was transformed into rubble. According to press reports, charred bodies had been removed from the rubble. Zarqawi's body, however, was virtually intact.
Perhaps it was an operation headed by the Illuminati?
Time to check their tin foil hats are working correctly.
Jihad Goes On
We keep being told that the trouble in Iraq is because of American foreign policy (although it has to be said that this is largely the belief of a certain segment of American society). Somehow, it seems that the memo explaining this has gotten lost in the post somewhere between New York and Baghdad.
Following the precision assassination of Zarqawi, the remaining leaders of Al Qaeda in Iraq apparently got together and have released the following statement-
"The leaders agreed unanimously to continue the Jihad (Holy War) and plan large-scale operations that will shake the enemy in coordination with the other factions of the Mujahideen Council," said the statement posted on an Islamic Web site.
Following the precision assassination of Zarqawi, the remaining leaders of Al Qaeda in Iraq apparently got together and have released the following statement-
"The leaders agreed unanimously to continue the Jihad (Holy War) and plan large-scale operations that will shake the enemy in coordination with the other factions of the Mujahideen Council," said the statement posted on an Islamic Web site.
It also said that the leaders of the Council's factions agreed to renew allegiance to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden "who will be pleased by his soldiers in Iraq."
Jihad? Don't these guys know that Islam is a religion of peace and that jihad is an internal spiritual struggle?"Implicit" Recognition
Ireland On-Line reports on the continued trouble between Israel and Hamas. As with many other news outlets they repeat the following line-
The violence complicated Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ efforts to persuade the Hamas-led government to endorse a document that would implicitly recognise Israel.
As Charles Johnson has pointed out, the document does no such thing-
Notice the weasel words “implicit” and “implying.” [speaking about another report] The media use these words because the fact is that this document, written by terrorists and mass murderers serving jail sentences for their crimes, contains no recognition of Israel. It’s another phony ploy by the Palestinians, in a long line of phony “peace initiatives” staged for the benefit of the West and our endlessly gullible/dishonest media.
Honest Reporting has more, including a link to the actual document itself.
Ireland Online also conveniently adds that Hamas has "largely honoured" the ceasefire. So many news organisations seem so unwilling to want to state outright that Hamas has broken the ceasefire on more than one occasion, instead they all seem to make claims like this. And Hamas members are always militants, never terrorists. What does it take these days to have a terrorist called a terrorist- firing rockets at schools certainly isn't enough. Whatever happened to unbiased reporting?
The violence complicated Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ efforts to persuade the Hamas-led government to endorse a document that would implicitly recognise Israel.
As Charles Johnson has pointed out, the document does no such thing-
Notice the weasel words “implicit” and “implying.” [speaking about another report] The media use these words because the fact is that this document, written by terrorists and mass murderers serving jail sentences for their crimes, contains no recognition of Israel. It’s another phony ploy by the Palestinians, in a long line of phony “peace initiatives” staged for the benefit of the West and our endlessly gullible/dishonest media.
Honest Reporting has more, including a link to the actual document itself.
Ireland Online also conveniently adds that Hamas has "largely honoured" the ceasefire. So many news organisations seem so unwilling to want to state outright that Hamas has broken the ceasefire on more than one occasion, instead they all seem to make claims like this. And Hamas members are always militants, never terrorists. What does it take these days to have a terrorist called a terrorist- firing rockets at schools certainly isn't enough. Whatever happened to unbiased reporting?
The Zarqawi Effect Part 2
The targeted assassination of Zarqawi has had another effect-
Members of an armed Fatah militia which claimed to have kidnapped an Israeli Saturday transferred the individual in question, a U.S. citizen, to the custody of the Palestinian Authority before dawn Sunday.
The PA security forces subsequently handed the American over to the Israel Defense Forces. Defense officials believe once the militants discovered the person was indeed an American citizen, they took steps to end the matter quickly.
"Apparently, the kidnappers did not want to end up like Zarqawi," a defense official said.
Proof positive that a pair of 500lb bombs are more effective in combating terrorism than treating it as a law enforcement issue.
Members of an armed Fatah militia which claimed to have kidnapped an Israeli Saturday transferred the individual in question, a U.S. citizen, to the custody of the Palestinian Authority before dawn Sunday.
The PA security forces subsequently handed the American over to the Israel Defense Forces. Defense officials believe once the militants discovered the person was indeed an American citizen, they took steps to end the matter quickly.
"Apparently, the kidnappers did not want to end up like Zarqawi," a defense official said.
Proof positive that a pair of 500lb bombs are more effective in combating terrorism than treating it as a law enforcement issue.
Zarqawi Effect
The death of Zarqawi has had one unusual effect- it's made the Left/Liberal wing of the political sphere admit that we are facing a huge threat, one not embodied in any one individual, but rather an ideology. Of course their protestations are partly inspired by a desire not to let anyone believe that Bush has scored any points or "won" anything, but I think it's telling that the same people who were only recently calling for America to pull out of Iraq are now stating that Zarqawi was nothing more than a figurehead to a vast and dangerous group of terrorists.
I'm sure that in a week or two though, they'll be back to blaming Bush for not catching Bin Laden. If we do get that rat though- expect them to have a brief glimpse of reality again, just enough to try and counter any positive influence such a success would have on the American people; to rapidly attack Bush's "smirk" and to loudly proclaim that getting rid of Bin Laden will not stop the threat we're up against.
You wouldn't think that it would be so hard for the left and right to unite against an enemy that thinks nothing of blowing innocent people to smithereens or hacking civilians heads off in snuff videos.
I'm sure that in a week or two though, they'll be back to blaming Bush for not catching Bin Laden. If we do get that rat though- expect them to have a brief glimpse of reality again, just enough to try and counter any positive influence such a success would have on the American people; to rapidly attack Bush's "smirk" and to loudly proclaim that getting rid of Bin Laden will not stop the threat we're up against.
You wouldn't think that it would be so hard for the left and right to unite against an enemy that thinks nothing of blowing innocent people to smithereens or hacking civilians heads off in snuff videos.
Evolution
The Times has an article on how global warming is already beginning to affect the evolution of some animal species. The changes seem to extend beyond the normal variation in behaviour that animals can display as they adapt to an altered environment. Here's an example-
Among European great tits, rising temperatures have created selective pressure because the caterpillars on which their chicks feed are maturing earlier in the spring. Tits that can lay their eggs earlier — a trait that is determined genetically — have an advantage, as their chicks can still eat these caterpillars.
They end their article with something of a footnote-
Global warming could be returning the world to the way it was four million years ago, when sea levels were 80ft (25m) higher than they are today, scientists led by Dr Alexey Fedorov, of Yale University, report in Science.
Who the heck was driving an SUV and burning fossil fuels four million years ago?
Among European great tits, rising temperatures have created selective pressure because the caterpillars on which their chicks feed are maturing earlier in the spring. Tits that can lay their eggs earlier — a trait that is determined genetically — have an advantage, as their chicks can still eat these caterpillars.
They end their article with something of a footnote-
Global warming could be returning the world to the way it was four million years ago, when sea levels were 80ft (25m) higher than they are today, scientists led by Dr Alexey Fedorov, of Yale University, report in Science.
Who the heck was driving an SUV and burning fossil fuels four million years ago?
Gitmo "Heroes"
Does this man have even the slightest clue about what's actually going on in the world today?
William Goodman from the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights told AFP news agency the men were "heroes for those of us who believe in basic American values of justice, fairness and democracy".
So men committed to fighting, killing and dying for one of the most oppressive rights-denying regimes the world has seen are heroes of freedom in Goodman's eyes.
I'm just stunned by his gargantuan stupidity and wilful ignorance of the simplest of facts.
UPDATE- The British Foreign Office is also in mourning.
In a brief statement, the Foreign Office described the suicide of the three detainees - two from Saudi Arabia and one from Yemen - as "very sad news".
Which is odd because they never seem to issue statements announcing their sadness at the deaths of Coalition forces in Iraq or elsewhere in the war on terrorism.
William Goodman from the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights told AFP news agency the men were "heroes for those of us who believe in basic American values of justice, fairness and democracy".
So men committed to fighting, killing and dying for one of the most oppressive rights-denying regimes the world has seen are heroes of freedom in Goodman's eyes.
I'm just stunned by his gargantuan stupidity and wilful ignorance of the simplest of facts.
UPDATE- The British Foreign Office is also in mourning.
In a brief statement, the Foreign Office described the suicide of the three detainees - two from Saudi Arabia and one from Yemen - as "very sad news".
Which is odd because they never seem to issue statements announcing their sadness at the deaths of Coalition forces in Iraq or elsewhere in the war on terrorism.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
AA-12
The AA-12 auto-shotgun gets a neat looking digital urban "paint" job. Photo from the superb Defense Review.
IAR
ACE has previously posted on the US Marines' search for an IAR, an Infantry Automatic Rifle, to replace the M249 SAW. The major difference between the light machine gun in service and the IAR is that the latter will be magazine rather than belt fed.
Defense Review has details of a Colt weapon which may fit the bill- and they also have exclusive pictures to go along with it. So far we don't even know the name of this new weapon but it seems to be a heavy barrelled M16 with a gas piston system, monolithic upper and 100-round Beta Mag.
Hopefully more details will be forthcoming shortly.
Defense Review has details of a Colt weapon which may fit the bill- and they also have exclusive pictures to go along with it. So far we don't even know the name of this new weapon but it seems to be a heavy barrelled M16 with a gas piston system, monolithic upper and 100-round Beta Mag.
Hopefully more details will be forthcoming shortly.
Act of War?
So Hamas has called off the truce which is was "largely abiding by". Since then they have launched rocket and mortar attacks on Israel.
The Islamic militant group claimed responsibility for at least 15 of the rockets fired after midnight, as well as a barrage of mortar bombs. The attacks caused no casualties, and the Israeli army said nearly all of them appeared to land inside Gaza.
They have also threatened further violence-
"The earthquake in the Zionist towns will start again and the aggressors will have no choice but to prepare their coffins or their luggage," the Hamasmilitants terrorists said in a leaflet. "The resistance groups ... will choose the proper place and time for the tough, strong and unique response."
Maybe it's just me but when the elected government says and does things like this, isn't that like starting a war?
UPDATE - It seems that the beach explosion which was blamed on the Iaraelis may not actually have been committed by them afterall-
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Sunday that the deaths of seven Palestinian civilians on a Gaza beach Friday could have been down to "internal Palestinian causes," rather than by Israel Defense Forces artillery fire.
IDF figures show that six shells were fired in the direction of open fields in the northern Gaza Strip near the time of the explosions. The six shells, however, landed hundreds of meters from the site of the blast.
An investigation is being conducted- and the PA is refusing to cooperate.
UPDATE 2 - Looks like it wasn't an Israeli shell afterall. Forensic tests of shrapnel removed from the victims reveals that it didn't come from Israeli munitions. More here.
The Islamic militant group claimed responsibility for at least 15 of the rockets fired after midnight, as well as a barrage of mortar bombs. The attacks caused no casualties, and the Israeli army said nearly all of them appeared to land inside Gaza.
They have also threatened further violence-
"The earthquake in the Zionist towns will start again and the aggressors will have no choice but to prepare their coffins or their luggage," the Hamas
Maybe it's just me but when the elected government says and does things like this, isn't that like starting a war?
UPDATE - It seems that the beach explosion which was blamed on the Iaraelis may not actually have been committed by them afterall-
Defense Minister Amir Peretz said Sunday that the deaths of seven Palestinian civilians on a Gaza beach Friday could have been down to "internal Palestinian causes," rather than by Israel Defense Forces artillery fire.
IDF figures show that six shells were fired in the direction of open fields in the northern Gaza Strip near the time of the explosions. The six shells, however, landed hundreds of meters from the site of the blast.
An investigation is being conducted- and the PA is refusing to cooperate.
UPDATE 2 - Looks like it wasn't an Israeli shell afterall. Forensic tests of shrapnel removed from the victims reveals that it didn't come from Israeli munitions. More here.
Forced Marriage
A law banning forced marriages in Britain has been dropped "in the face of a backlash from Britain's Muslim community."
It seems that Labour's current policy stance is taken from the Neville Chamberlain School of Appeasement.
Ministers have admitted they feared a new law would be 'resented as an intrusion into minority cultures and religions.'
It is thought that thousands of women are subjected to forced marriage every year.
Head of Policy and Public Affairs (for the NSPCC) Diana Sutton said: 'The coercion involved in forced marriage is abusive and a violation of children’s human rights.
It seems that Labour's current policy stance is taken from the Neville Chamberlain School of Appeasement.
Ministers have admitted they feared a new law would be 'resented as an intrusion into minority cultures and religions.'
It is thought that thousands of women are subjected to forced marriage every year.
Head of Policy and Public Affairs (for the NSPCC) Diana Sutton said: 'The coercion involved in forced marriage is abusive and a violation of children’s human rights.
'We know that forced marriage can have serious harmful consequences for children including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, kidnap, rape and self harm.
'In the most tragic cases it can result in murder and suicide. In the longer term, many women forced in to marriage suffer domestic violence, whose impact on children is now widely documented.'
Gosh, that's awful but not quite so terrible in the eyes of our Labour government as stigmatizing a minority community- can't have them feeling bad about something like that can we?Sign of the times
A film about a school whose football team turns around a losing streak aftere finding God has been given a PG rating because it is too religious.
But after the Motion Picture Association of America rated the film, Kendrick says he was told that it got the 'Parental Guidance' rating for being so openly religious.
What's next? 12A ratings for Disney because their films are too moral?
But after the Motion Picture Association of America rated the film, Kendrick says he was told that it got the 'Parental Guidance' rating for being so openly religious.
What's next? 12A ratings for Disney because their films are too moral?
No Football
I'm not much of a football fan at all but even I can't see why the Sharia courts of Mogadishu should want to ban residents from watching the World Cup.
Residents say Islamist militiamen have shot in the air to disperse hundreds of Somalis protesting against moves by sharia courts to stop them watching the soccer World Cup in the capital, Mogadishu.
Residents say Islamist militiamen have shot in the air to disperse hundreds of Somalis protesting against moves by sharia courts to stop them watching the soccer World Cup in the capital, Mogadishu.
The soccer tournament had drawn huge crowds to TV screens set up under trees and iron-sheeted shacks.
The militia have also banned films and they have previously tried to close cinemas and video shops. Those attempts resulted in fighting that left twelve people dead.
Leaders of the capital's influential Islamic courts oppose western and Indian films, which they say promote immorality in the mainly Muslim nation of 10 million people.
I can see- though obviously not agree- why they would want to ban movies, but football? Perhaps they're worried that the people of Mogadishu will become corrupted by all those men running around in shorts? Or perhaps they're opposed to them seeing that the result of a free, open and stable society is the opportunity for thousands of people to relax in luxury while watching a very silly game being played by overpaid men. Makes a bit of a change from the grinding poverty that their regime will no doubt continue to foster.
Another London Protest
I keep hearing about moderate Muslims but the only time they've ever come together to protest Islamic terrorism only about a dozen managed to show up. Here in Britain, Muslims came out to protest, not against the threat of terrorism and the so-called "hijacking" of their religion by "extremists" but about police action to try and prevent a terrorist attack. Funny, but I don't remember any big protests against the murderers who carried out the 7/7 attack in London. The local Muslim population obviously feels more strongly about police anti-terror tactics than they do about actual terrorist attacks. More about one Muslim man being slightly wounded by police than fifty two people murdered by Islamic terrorists.
In a sometimes tense stand-off, about 100 protestors were heavily outnumbered by police as fundamentalists waved placards and called for the implementation of Sharia Law in Britain.
Only a hundred but still many more than appeared at the Free Muslims Against Terror protest in the US.
The sister of one of the men arrested in the anti-terror raid called on people not to join in the protest, but not because she was opposed to it per se-
"This will only provide another opportunity for our community to be portrayed in a negative light.
"Consequently, this will allow the police to inflict the same trauma that we have been through on another family. More brothers and sisters as a result, could be arrested, this will have an adverse affect in proving both of my brothers’ innocence."
Not a word about the police doing what they can to foil terrorist attacks on innocent people? No condemnation of the terrorists who are threatening to murder people in Britain and the effect that is having? Of course not. It's all the government and the police's fault.
Anjem Choudary, former UK head of the Islamic group al-Muhajiroun, and right-hand man to Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, the so-called Cleric of Hate, told demonstrators: "We have a right to defend ourselves. We will defend ourselves as a community, our lives, our honour. Cowardice and Islam cannot be in the heart of a Muslim at the same time."
He appears to misunderstand that Islam is a religion of peace too. As does this chap-
A bearded Irishman from Dublin, a convert of five years who gave his name as Khaled, said: "The Prophet Mohammed said ‘you should carry weapons’ and he is right."
Perhaps it's not surprising that there's so much confusion- one young boy was holding a sign that read, "Police target Muslims; will you be next?" He told reporters that he had been given the sign by his mosque. Aren't they supposed to be teaching this child that Islam is peaceful, not that the police are the problem? Shouldn't he maybe be holding a sign that reads "Terrorism; not in Islam's name" or something like that?
In a sometimes tense stand-off, about 100 protestors were heavily outnumbered by police as fundamentalists waved placards and called for the implementation of Sharia Law in Britain.
Only a hundred but still many more than appeared at the Free Muslims Against Terror protest in the US.
The sister of one of the men arrested in the anti-terror raid called on people not to join in the protest, but not because she was opposed to it per se-
"This will only provide another opportunity for our community to be portrayed in a negative light.
"Consequently, this will allow the police to inflict the same trauma that we have been through on another family. More brothers and sisters as a result, could be arrested, this will have an adverse affect in proving both of my brothers’ innocence."
Not a word about the police doing what they can to foil terrorist attacks on innocent people? No condemnation of the terrorists who are threatening to murder people in Britain and the effect that is having? Of course not. It's all the government and the police's fault.
Anjem Choudary, former UK head of the Islamic group al-Muhajiroun, and right-hand man to Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, the so-called Cleric of Hate, told demonstrators: "We have a right to defend ourselves. We will defend ourselves as a community, our lives, our honour. Cowardice and Islam cannot be in the heart of a Muslim at the same time."
He appears to misunderstand that Islam is a religion of peace too. As does this chap-
A bearded Irishman from Dublin, a convert of five years who gave his name as Khaled, said: "The Prophet Mohammed said ‘you should carry weapons’ and he is right."
Perhaps it's not surprising that there's so much confusion- one young boy was holding a sign that read, "Police target Muslims; will you be next?" He told reporters that he had been given the sign by his mosque. Aren't they supposed to be teaching this child that Islam is peaceful, not that the police are the problem? Shouldn't he maybe be holding a sign that reads "Terrorism; not in Islam's name" or something like that?
The 5.56mm
The Army has apparently completed a study into the ineffectiveness of the 5.56mm cartridge, following complaints from troops that enemy fighters had been shot more than once and kept coming. The Army's response is that troops need more training in shooting the enemy more times to "have a better chance of dropping people right away".
I guess when the Air Force finds pilots complaining that their fighters or bombers aren't up to scratch they'll be told to fire more missiles to make up for it?
Given the US military's technological might and it's utter technological dominance over the battlefield, it's criminal that the men right on the front line, toe to toe with the enemy, are being put in danger fielding a weapon system some four decades old- if the round is not up to scratch and there are better alternatives available (and there are) I can see no reason why they are having to "make do" with a round that is clearly not up to the job. Are any other part of the military machine, apart from the infantryman, being asked to do their job with less than optimum equipement?
Of course one of the advatages of the M16 weapon family is that it is highly flexible. With a few simple changes, the base weapon can be adapted to fire a variety of ammunition from pistol calibre up to big bore rounds more at home hunting in Africa than on the battlefield. If a more powerful round is needed by troops the current weapon system could be adapted very easily to fire it- with no further weapon training needed by troops; making it ideal for an army at war. If there was ever a more easily surmountable problem to upgrading a weapon I can't recall it.
That it hasn't yet been done is shocking. Seems to me that people need to stop complaining about body armour, and start clamouring for a more effective cartridge so that the American soldier is better able to kill the enemy without getting himself killed first. Soemhow I can't see liberals making a fuss about this.
I guess when the Air Force finds pilots complaining that their fighters or bombers aren't up to scratch they'll be told to fire more missiles to make up for it?
Given the US military's technological might and it's utter technological dominance over the battlefield, it's criminal that the men right on the front line, toe to toe with the enemy, are being put in danger fielding a weapon system some four decades old- if the round is not up to scratch and there are better alternatives available (and there are) I can see no reason why they are having to "make do" with a round that is clearly not up to the job. Are any other part of the military machine, apart from the infantryman, being asked to do their job with less than optimum equipement?
Of course one of the advatages of the M16 weapon family is that it is highly flexible. With a few simple changes, the base weapon can be adapted to fire a variety of ammunition from pistol calibre up to big bore rounds more at home hunting in Africa than on the battlefield. If a more powerful round is needed by troops the current weapon system could be adapted very easily to fire it- with no further weapon training needed by troops; making it ideal for an army at war. If there was ever a more easily surmountable problem to upgrading a weapon I can't recall it.
That it hasn't yet been done is shocking. Seems to me that people need to stop complaining about body armour, and start clamouring for a more effective cartridge so that the American soldier is better able to kill the enemy without getting himself killed first. Soemhow I can't see liberals making a fuss about this.
Zarqawi's End
I'm a huge fan of Michelle Malkin's Vent and the Hot Air blog which hosts it. Many thanks for them for this celebration of Zarqawi's demise.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Stunt
California Democrat Rep. Pete Stark thinks that the killing of Zarqawi is nothing more than a stunt to deflect attention away from the bad news coming out of Iraq.
I guess he also thinks that cops arresting murderers and the like is nothing more than a stunt to deflect citizens attention away from those depressing crime stats.
Does this man really hold elected office in the United States of America?
I guess he also thinks that cops arresting murderers and the like is nothing more than a stunt to deflect citizens attention away from those depressing crime stats.
Does this man really hold elected office in the United States of America?
The Threat
It seems odd than in the aftermath of Zarqawi's death pundits are quick to point out that he's only a figurehead, that there are plenty of other terrorists to take his place. Check out Frau Budgie's coverage for more details.
Aren't these the same people who have been saying for years now that we had to get Bin Laden, as if that would magically end the jihadi threat? I guess they can be honest enough to admit that we're facing a huge terrorist threat that extends beyond a few leaders when it might dampen the boost Zarqawi's death will give President Bush.
Aren't these the same people who have been saying for years now that we had to get Bin Laden, as if that would magically end the jihadi threat? I guess they can be honest enough to admit that we're facing a huge terrorist threat that extends beyond a few leaders when it might dampen the boost Zarqawi's death will give President Bush.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Hamas' Chemical Bombs
It seems that Hamas, the group which was supposed to become moderate after winning elections remember, is experimenting with adding toxic chemicals to its bombs.
The sources said the experiments have involved relatively simple chemicals, and as far as is known, the organization is not yet able to integrate such agents into its bombs effectively. However, they said, Hamas' West Bank cells include several skilled bombmakers who are investing great effort in trying to upgrade their weapons.
The organization also is amassing large stocks of explosives so operatives will be ready to launch attacks immediately should its leadership decide to end the security "lull," the sources added.
Their terrorist cells have apparently been given orders to prepare attacks that can be executed as soon as the order is given. Their new tactic is alleged to be "mega-attacks".
Currently, Hamas' West Bank cells are focusing mainly on buying arms, training operatives, setting up explosives factories and conducting experiments. However, a few cells - mainly in the southern West Bank, around Hebron and Bethlehem - are continuing to carry out small-scale attacks. These cells are only loosely connected to the organization's leadership in Damascus and Gaza, and as long as they keep a relatively low profile and do not claim responsibility for their attacks in Hamas' name, the leadership does not interfere. One such cell was arrested early this year after murdering six Israeli civilians near Gush Etzion and Hebron.
I guess that those whose support resuming the flow of aid money to the PA must be trying hard to ignore information like this.
The sources said the experiments have involved relatively simple chemicals, and as far as is known, the organization is not yet able to integrate such agents into its bombs effectively. However, they said, Hamas' West Bank cells include several skilled bombmakers who are investing great effort in trying to upgrade their weapons.
The organization also is amassing large stocks of explosives so operatives will be ready to launch attacks immediately should its leadership decide to end the security "lull," the sources added.
Their terrorist cells have apparently been given orders to prepare attacks that can be executed as soon as the order is given. Their new tactic is alleged to be "mega-attacks".
Currently, Hamas' West Bank cells are focusing mainly on buying arms, training operatives, setting up explosives factories and conducting experiments. However, a few cells - mainly in the southern West Bank, around Hebron and Bethlehem - are continuing to carry out small-scale attacks. These cells are only loosely connected to the organization's leadership in Damascus and Gaza, and as long as they keep a relatively low profile and do not claim responsibility for their attacks in Hamas' name, the leadership does not interfere. One such cell was arrested early this year after murdering six Israeli civilians near Gush Etzion and Hebron.
I guess that those whose support resuming the flow of aid money to the PA must be trying hard to ignore information like this.
F-16
Word is now coming out that Zarqawi was killed by a pair of F-16s and some 500lb bombs. Here's an example of the venerable F-16 from the fantastic Air Force Link photo gallery.
Al-Zarqawi
Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, has been killed; and this time it seems that they really did get their man.
It seems an appropriate time to re-use The Sun's old Falklands War headline: Gotcha.
I think it's important to note this quote from the story-
"Today Zarqawi has been terminated," Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced at a televised news conference with the top U.S. commander in Iraq, General George Casey, prompting applause and cheering from Iraqi journalists.
I wonder if any US journalists will be similarly pleased?
It seems an appropriate time to re-use The Sun's old Falklands War headline: Gotcha.
I think it's important to note this quote from the story-
"Today Zarqawi has been terminated," Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced at a televised news conference with the top U.S. commander in Iraq, General George Casey, prompting applause and cheering from Iraqi journalists.
I wonder if any US journalists will be similarly pleased?
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Mogadishu
It looks like Clinton's decision to cut and run from Somalia is coming back to haunt us all. The Islamists who have seized control of Mogadishu are frank about their intent-
Mogadishu's most senior Muslim cleric, Sheikh Nur Barud, called on Somalis to crush secular resistance to the imposition of Sharia law and to reject warlord efforts to garner support by appealing to clan and tribal loyalties.
Mogadishu's most senior Muslim cleric, Sheikh Nur Barud, called on Somalis to crush secular resistance to the imposition of Sharia law and to reject warlord efforts to garner support by appealing to clan and tribal loyalties.
"All Somalis must defend the Islamic courts because this is not inter-clan fighting, but war with the infidels," he said in an address aired by local radio stations.
"We are against those who want to make this war appear like inter-clan fighting," Barud said. "This fighting is between those who support Islam, and godless invaders and those who support them."
I guess this senior cleric didn't get the memo that Islam is a religion of peace.
Shortly after the overthrow of Afghanistan I can recall hearing rumours of special forces activity in Somalia and for a time it seemed that attention in the war on terror would be focused there. A few years on and the situation has dramatically worsened- and soon Islamist terrorists might have a new safe haven from which to plan and train for their attacks. Pundits proclaimed massive coalition casualties just before troops went into Baghdad; those fears were never realised. If action has to be taken against Mogadishu, I don't think we'll be so lucky again.
Schism
The British press and media pundits are talking at great length about the schism between police and the Muslim community in the aftermath of the raid which left one man shot and wounded- and which appears to have found no evidence of terrorist activity. And George Galloway's Respect party is also getting in on the act-
MUSLIMS in east London should end co-operation with the police in the wake of last week’s terror raid, a Respect party activist has said.
The rally is being supported by the anti-war Respect Party, the Muslim Association of Britain and the Muslim Council of Britain which earlier this week voiced fears that trust between the Asian community and police could break down.
None of these groups seem to be too concerned about the actual chemical terror attack which police were desperate to foil. Tony Blair, however, is backing the police-
"I think that we should be very, very wary of drawing conclusions, but my view is absolutely clear," he said.
"I support the police 101 per cent, and the security services. I think that if they had a reasonable piece of intelligence that they think they have got to investigate and take action on, they should."
Of course, if such an attack had taken place, the police and intelligence service would be raked over hot coals for not doing enough to prevent it. As it is, the police claim to have had specific information of an imminent attack. They had no choice but to act.
I find it disconcerting that an anti-terror raid, aimed at protecting the lives of British citizens, should result in calls for the entire Muslim community to cease co-operating with police and also induce some to organise a protest against the raid itself. They apparently feel "unjustly targeted in the domestic fight against terrorism". I wonder who they would like the police and intelligence service to focus their attention on in this battle against Islamist terrorism? Presbyterians?
MUSLIMS in east London should end co-operation with the police in the wake of last week’s terror raid, a Respect party activist has said.
Yvonne Ridley told listeners to a radio talk show that the community was being “terrorised” by the Metropolitan Police and should end all contact with the force.
A group called Stop Political Terror are also planning on holding a protest in London as a result of the raid-The rally is being supported by the anti-war Respect Party, the Muslim Association of Britain and the Muslim Council of Britain which earlier this week voiced fears that trust between the Asian community and police could break down.
None of these groups seem to be too concerned about the actual chemical terror attack which police were desperate to foil. Tony Blair, however, is backing the police-
"I think that we should be very, very wary of drawing conclusions, but my view is absolutely clear," he said.
"I support the police 101 per cent, and the security services. I think that if they had a reasonable piece of intelligence that they think they have got to investigate and take action on, they should."
Of course, if such an attack had taken place, the police and intelligence service would be raked over hot coals for not doing enough to prevent it. As it is, the police claim to have had specific information of an imminent attack. They had no choice but to act.
I find it disconcerting that an anti-terror raid, aimed at protecting the lives of British citizens, should result in calls for the entire Muslim community to cease co-operating with police and also induce some to organise a protest against the raid itself. They apparently feel "unjustly targeted in the domestic fight against terrorism". I wonder who they would like the police and intelligence service to focus their attention on in this battle against Islamist terrorism? Presbyterians?
Yon on Haditha
As the media feeding frenzy around Haditha and the allegations of a massacre, Michael Yon takes the time to focus on the matter. As always with Yon's work, it's worth reading in its entirety.
What word, then, properly characterizes the recent media coverage of Haditha, when analysis stretches beyond shotgun conclusions to actually attributing motive and assigning blame? No rational process supports a statement like: “We don’t know what happened, but we know why it happened and whose fault it is.”
That seems to sum up the matter. Yon goes on to make a point that hadn't really occurred to me-
To get the true context of how fairly any newspaper or media outlet is treating the military in general, and this war in particular, news consumers should consider how long it had been since that same source focused the same energy on the war. For some outlets, the last time the war really splashed was with Abu Ghraib.
Yon goes on to highlight some of the horrendous acts committed by the terrorists in Iraq, acts that the press in the US and elsewhere barely mention, if at all. I think that it's important to remember that while the media goes on at great length about Abu Ghraib and now Haditha, they have next to nothing to say about what the enemy is up to, day in and day out.
Whose side are they on?
What word, then, properly characterizes the recent media coverage of Haditha, when analysis stretches beyond shotgun conclusions to actually attributing motive and assigning blame? No rational process supports a statement like: “We don’t know what happened, but we know why it happened and whose fault it is.”
That seems to sum up the matter. Yon goes on to make a point that hadn't really occurred to me-
To get the true context of how fairly any newspaper or media outlet is treating the military in general, and this war in particular, news consumers should consider how long it had been since that same source focused the same energy on the war. For some outlets, the last time the war really splashed was with Abu Ghraib.
Yon goes on to highlight some of the horrendous acts committed by the terrorists in Iraq, acts that the press in the US and elsewhere barely mention, if at all. I think that it's important to remember that while the media goes on at great length about Abu Ghraib and now Haditha, they have next to nothing to say about what the enemy is up to, day in and day out.
Whose side are they on?
Saturday, June 03, 2006
MPACUK
A few blogs have already commented on the reaction of the "moderate" Muslim group MPACUK ("the UK's Leading Muslim civil liberties group, empowering Muslims to focus on non-violent Jihad and political activism") to the shooting of a man by police conducting an anti-terrorism raid. First of all, here's what the raid was all about-
A DESPERATE search is under way for a “chemical vest” that a British suicide bomber was ready to deploy in a terror attack on London.
Police fear that the strike, using a home-made chemical device, was imminent after an informant told MI5 that he had seen the lethal garment at the home of two young men.
Armed officers who led the assault on the terraced house in Forest Gate, East London, wore oxygen masks and protective chemical gear after a tip-off from MI5 that the device had already been assembled. And the reaction of MPACUK-
If British intelligence is anything to go by, we can only hope the sleeping Muslims of East London will wake up and rise against the tyrrany being perpetrated against our youth in the name of combating terrorism.
And then there's this comment-
The message for Muslims in all this is clear - the Police should be given no support and should not be helped in their victimisation of our community. If they want to repeat their experiences of the Irish and black communities, if they want riots and if they want tension then by all means they should go ahead and carry on their policies. But from now on and as far as I am concerned, they're the enemy.
Now obviously the comment has nothing to do with the site itself but it would be interesting to know just how widely accepted such views were in Britain.
A DESPERATE search is under way for a “chemical vest” that a British suicide bomber was ready to deploy in a terror attack on London.
Police fear that the strike, using a home-made chemical device, was imminent after an informant told MI5 that he had seen the lethal garment at the home of two young men.
Last night detectives were at the hospital bedside of a 23-year-old postal worker shot during a pre-dawn raid on his parents’ home, while his younger brother, aged 20, was being questioned at Paddington Green high security police station.
If British intelligence is anything to go by, we can only hope the sleeping Muslims of East London will wake up and rise against the tyrrany being perpetrated against our youth in the name of combating terrorism.
And then there's this comment-
The message for Muslims in all this is clear - the Police should be given no support and should not be helped in their victimisation of our community. If they want to repeat their experiences of the Irish and black communities, if they want riots and if they want tension then by all means they should go ahead and carry on their policies. But from now on and as far as I am concerned, they're the enemy.
Now obviously the comment has nothing to do with the site itself but it would be interesting to know just how widely accepted such views were in Britain.
Declining Britain
The flag of England, banned from being flown in England because "the council has to be sensitive to how residents of other nationalities would react to England flags being displayed."
In the run-up to the football World Cup, spoilsport New Prospect bosses have banned workers from flying England flags.
In the run-up to the football World Cup, spoilsport New Prospect bosses have banned workers from flying England flags.
A letter has been sent from assistant director of property services John Rule, telling managers to instruct staff that maintenance workers using New Prospect’s fleet must not fly any "unauthorised accessories, namely the flag of St George".
The flying of the flag may apparently "seriously compromise the health and safety of our own employees and members of the public."Proof of Alien Life?
When I read this I kept thinking about the opening scenes of the '70s remake of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers when we see the alien lifeforms falling in drops of rain.
In April, Louis, a solid-state physicist at Mahatma Gandhi University, published a paper in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Astrophysics and Space Science in which he hypothesizes that the samples -- water taken from the mysterious blood-colored showers that fell sporadically across Louis's home state of Kerala in the summer of 2001 -- contain microbes from outer space.
Specifically, Louis has isolated strange, thick-walled, red-tinted cell-like structures about 10 microns in size. Stranger still, dozens of his experiments suggest that the particles may lack DNA yet still reproduce plentifully, even in water superheated to nearly 600 degrees Fahrenheit .
I've only got one thing to say-
Look, you fools. You're in danger. Can't you see? They're after you. They're after all of us. Our wives, our children, everyone. They're here already. YOU'RE NEXT!
In April, Louis, a solid-state physicist at Mahatma Gandhi University, published a paper in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Astrophysics and Space Science in which he hypothesizes that the samples -- water taken from the mysterious blood-colored showers that fell sporadically across Louis's home state of Kerala in the summer of 2001 -- contain microbes from outer space.
Specifically, Louis has isolated strange, thick-walled, red-tinted cell-like structures about 10 microns in size. Stranger still, dozens of his experiments suggest that the particles may lack DNA yet still reproduce plentifully, even in water superheated to nearly 600 degrees Fahrenheit .
I've only got one thing to say-
Look, you fools. You're in danger. Can't you see? They're after you. They're after all of us. Our wives, our children, everyone. They're here already. YOU'RE NEXT!
Haditha
The Haditha investigation carries on- and yet the press seems to have decided that the Marines are definitely guilty; and it seems to me that if they are innocent, no one will believe the final conclusion of the investigation because of all the negative reporting so far. The damage is already done. Just like the fake Koran flushing story.
Over at Michael Yon's website there's an article about the situation that the Marines face. It's worth reading the entire thing to get a glimpse of the threat that the troops in Iraq have to deal with day in and day out.
"you can’t dig a hole in front of someone’s house and plant an IED without them noticing at some point during their daily routine. The people around know something, and it’s evidenced by the fact they were conveniently inside to avoid the explosion. However, they didn’t outwardly aggress on you, and you don’t have a clear target, so you can’t retaliate. Repeat this sequence of events a few times over the course of 6-7 months of combat. Perhaps you bury a few friends as a result. The same scene manifests itself in a myriad of locations and situations. Your friends keep dying, and you have never so much as seen the face of your enemy."
Over at Michael Yon's website there's an article about the situation that the Marines face. It's worth reading the entire thing to get a glimpse of the threat that the troops in Iraq have to deal with day in and day out.
"you can’t dig a hole in front of someone’s house and plant an IED without them noticing at some point during their daily routine. The people around know something, and it’s evidenced by the fact they were conveniently inside to avoid the explosion. However, they didn’t outwardly aggress on you, and you don’t have a clear target, so you can’t retaliate. Repeat this sequence of events a few times over the course of 6-7 months of combat. Perhaps you bury a few friends as a result. The same scene manifests itself in a myriad of locations and situations. Your friends keep dying, and you have never so much as seen the face of your enemy."
The American Soldier
It's a shame that the press don't show the same regard for the military-
Kimberly Dozier, the CBS reporter wounded by a car bomb in Iraq, now has a Purple Heart at her bedside in a U.S. military hospital in Germany after a young American soldier gave her his medal, the network said.
"A young American soldier came up to Kimberly's brother Michael and told him that he had met Kimberly in Iraq two years ago after he had been wounded with shrapnel in his arm," CBS said without identifying the soldier. "The soldier had his Purple Heart with him, and he told Michael that he'd like Kimberly to have it because, he said, she's suffered as much as any soldier. That Purple Heart is now beside Kimberly's bed."
Kimberly Dozier, the CBS reporter wounded by a car bomb in Iraq, now has a Purple Heart at her bedside in a U.S. military hospital in Germany after a young American soldier gave her his medal, the network said.
"A young American soldier came up to Kimberly's brother Michael and told him that he had met Kimberly in Iraq two years ago after he had been wounded with shrapnel in his arm," CBS said without identifying the soldier. "The soldier had his Purple Heart with him, and he told Michael that he'd like Kimberly to have it because, he said, she's suffered as much as any soldier. That Purple Heart is now beside Kimberly's bed."
Barking A Crime
The headline on FARK sums this up pretty well - "Apparently, allowing a dog to bark close to a prisoner is now torture. The west surrenders to the live TV head-hackers."
Army sergeant Santos Cardona, the prison guard at Abu Ghraib who allowed "his Belgian shepherd to bark within inches of an Iraqi detainee's face" has been sentenced to a reduction in rank and 90 days hard labour. His "crime" of permitting his dog to bark closely to the prisoner was aggravated assault.
His lawyer had this to say-
"What we have here is a soldier who let his dog get too close to a detainee, and the dog barked."
Barking is now classified as assault?
Army sergeant Santos Cardona, the prison guard at Abu Ghraib who allowed "his Belgian shepherd to bark within inches of an Iraqi detainee's face" has been sentenced to a reduction in rank and 90 days hard labour. His "crime" of permitting his dog to bark closely to the prisoner was aggravated assault.
His lawyer had this to say-
"What we have here is a soldier who let his dog get too close to a detainee, and the dog barked."
Barking is now classified as assault?
Friday, June 02, 2006
US Marine
Another great image from the US armed forces. This time it's from the USMC's Image Archive.
A Marine with 2nd Platoon, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment peers outside a building, scanning for enemy activity during a patrol in Ramadi May 23. Weapons Company conducted a snap vehicle checkpoint patrol in downtown western Ramadi to disrupt insurgent activity in the battlespace. 3/8 is currently deployed with I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Al Anbar Province to develop the Iraqi security forces, facilitate the development of official rule of law through democratic government reforms, and continue the development of a market-based economy centered on Iraqi reconstruction.
A Marine with 2nd Platoon, Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment peers outside a building, scanning for enemy activity during a patrol in Ramadi May 23. Weapons Company conducted a snap vehicle checkpoint patrol in downtown western Ramadi to disrupt insurgent activity in the battlespace. 3/8 is currently deployed with I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Al Anbar Province to develop the Iraqi security forces, facilitate the development of official rule of law through democratic government reforms, and continue the development of a market-based economy centered on Iraqi reconstruction.
Kettlebell Training
Pavel has released a new kettlebell training book, titled Enter the Kettlebell. It's based on his experiences of the past five years of kettlebell training in the US and it serves to correct one of the main complaint of his titles so far- by producing a strict training program to follow. When I bought his Russian Kettlebell Challenge I expected it to contain a training guide, but all it really did was to introduce the exercises and offer advice on how to structure your own program. Many people were apparently unhappy with this- I must admit it was a bit daunting to not only learn to use this new tool and technique but also to have to put everything together myself.
For those of you unfamiliar with the kettlebell, or girya, this sums it up pretty well-
AK-47 of physical training hardware. Hunk of iron on a handle. Simple, sinister, brutal—and ferociously effective for developing explosive strength, dramatic power and never-say-die conditioning. The man’s man’s choice for the toughest, most demanding, highest-yield exercise tool on the planet. Guaranteed to forge a rugged, resilient, densely-muscled frame—built to withstand the hardest beating and dish it right back out, 24/7.
I can't disagree with that at all. Of all the varied training I've undertaken (competitive road cycling, running, swimming, weight training and even being trained by the PT instructors of the Royal Marines), nothing has been as simple and effective as the kettlebell. With just a handful of exercises, the KB works your entire body, producing real strength endurance.
At the moment I'm struggling to get back on my feet after a bad few weeks of back pain. It's hard just to stand upright right now, or even sit upright for that matter, and my muscles feel like they've turned to jelly- but I can't wait to start swinging that hunk of iron again. I'm also keen to get my hands on Pavel's new book- in addition to providing a foolproof training regime for girevik's of all experience levels, it also has some sections on dealing with back pain.
If you're looking to lose weight, build muscles or just gain some functional strength, the kettlebell seems to me to be the way to go- and Enter the Kettlebell would appear to be a great place to start. I'll hopefully add a review here when I get my copy.
For those of you unfamiliar with the kettlebell, or girya, this sums it up pretty well-
AK-47 of physical training hardware. Hunk of iron on a handle. Simple, sinister, brutal—and ferociously effective for developing explosive strength, dramatic power and never-say-die conditioning. The man’s man’s choice for the toughest, most demanding, highest-yield exercise tool on the planet. Guaranteed to forge a rugged, resilient, densely-muscled frame—built to withstand the hardest beating and dish it right back out, 24/7.
I can't disagree with that at all. Of all the varied training I've undertaken (competitive road cycling, running, swimming, weight training and even being trained by the PT instructors of the Royal Marines), nothing has been as simple and effective as the kettlebell. With just a handful of exercises, the KB works your entire body, producing real strength endurance.
At the moment I'm struggling to get back on my feet after a bad few weeks of back pain. It's hard just to stand upright right now, or even sit upright for that matter, and my muscles feel like they've turned to jelly- but I can't wait to start swinging that hunk of iron again. I'm also keen to get my hands on Pavel's new book- in addition to providing a foolproof training regime for girevik's of all experience levels, it also has some sections on dealing with back pain.
If you're looking to lose weight, build muscles or just gain some functional strength, the kettlebell seems to me to be the way to go- and Enter the Kettlebell would appear to be a great place to start. I'll hopefully add a review here when I get my copy.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Google has recently been dropping conservative sites from their indexes. In addition I've been finding their search results less that satisfactory lately- has anyone else noticed a change or is it just me? Seems that every time now i search for a bunch of key words most of the results that come back ignore most of the words I've just searched for.
I'm looking for a new search engine to replace them with. Anyone have any suggestions?
I'm looking for a new search engine to replace them with. Anyone have any suggestions?
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Firefight in Ramadi
The US Department of Defense provides access to some superb examples of photography. Startling high quality it's a treasure trove of images for anyone with any interest in things military.
This particular image is "U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Juan Morales, with 2nd Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, lays down a barrage of gunfire to cover his fellow Marines during a firefight in Ramadi, Iraq, May 20, 2006."
This particular image is "U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Juan Morales, with 2nd Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, lays down a barrage of gunfire to cover his fellow Marines during a firefight in Ramadi, Iraq, May 20, 2006."
Monday, May 22, 2006
Coin Censored
I frequently hear comments from American bloggers that Europe is flushing itself away- vanishing amid a plague of self-loathing for its own culture and history. Well, it's not just happening on this side of the Pond.
A Keller school district parent said political correctness has run amok at her daughter’s elementary school, where the principal chose to omit the words “In God We Trust” from an oversize coin depicted on the yearbook cover.
The school probably did this because they knew exactly what would have happened if they had included the dread word "God"- the ACLU would have sued them.
Michael Linz, a Dallas attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said the district’s move was appropriate, sensitive and constitutional.
Yeah, can't have an image of a coin in circulation on anything to do with a school, can we? As bad as this is, there is even worse news-
the school could have used a different symbol for liberty, such as the Liberty Bell or the Statue of Liberty, if it was concerned about giving offense. But Gardner [of the school's PTA] said those symbols may not be acceptable to everyone, either.
A Keller school district parent said political correctness has run amok at her daughter’s elementary school, where the principal chose to omit the words “In God We Trust” from an oversize coin depicted on the yearbook cover.
The school probably did this because they knew exactly what would have happened if they had included the dread word "God"- the ACLU would have sued them.
Michael Linz, a Dallas attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said the district’s move was appropriate, sensitive and constitutional.
Yeah, can't have an image of a coin in circulation on anything to do with a school, can we? As bad as this is, there is even worse news-
the school could have used a different symbol for liberty, such as the Liberty Bell or the Statue of Liberty, if it was concerned about giving offense. But Gardner [of the school's PTA] said those symbols may not be acceptable to everyone, either.
I'm quite sure this is not what the writers of the Constitution intended. I wonder what they would have to say about America today?
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Chavez's Pretend War
I'm beginning to think that Chavez's anti-American paranoia is nothing more than ploy that he will eventually use to justify his remaining in power long after his elected term has finished. Not content with simply telling everyone who will listen that the US is about to invade, he's now also conducting military manoeuvres to practice resisting an Iraq-style invasion by America.
Venezuela's government has created community organizations called "Local Defense Councils" that would provide support during a potential invasion by hiding weapons deposits, relaying messages or sabotaging water and power services.
Chavez is expected to easily win a reelection bid this December as massive social spending and the widely popular anti-American discourse have kept his approval ratings high.
Venezuela's government has created community organizations called "Local Defense Councils" that would provide support during a potential invasion by hiding weapons deposits, relaying messages or sabotaging water and power services.
Chavez is expected to easily win a reelection bid this December as massive social spending and the widely popular anti-American discourse have kept his approval ratings high.
Critics in Venezuela say Chavez is squandering record oil wealth on improvised social programs and creating an artificial conflict with the United States.
Credit To The DFLP
LGF links to a report by Michael Totten on his visit to the city of Ramallah- and takes offence as his reference to Saeb Erekat as an honourable politician.
The Totten report makes for interesting reading- Ramallah is most likely not what you think, given the impression of the region from the media. I know the feeling- having grown up in Northern Ireland I'm used to people thinking that Belfast and environs resemble scenes from the Blitz.
Anyway, as I was reading through Totten's piece I came across a reference to the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Totten says this of them-
The DFLPers have a crackpot ideology, but to their credit they insist Palestinians should only fight Israeli soldiers, and that Palestinians should only fight Israeli soldiers in Palestine. Israeli civilians are to be left alone.
That would be the same DFLP responsible for the Ma'alot School Massacre in 1974-
The Palestinian gang who took the children hostage had tried to stop a van a few miles from Ma'alot several hours before entering the school.
Three men dressed in army uniforms opened fire when the van pulled away, killing one girl inside.
Just before dawn they broke into flats in Ma'alot and forced their way into one apartment. A woman, her husband and five-year-old child were shot dead.
The gang then walked to the school and woke the caretaker, who was also shot. They took the children hostage and separated them into boys and girls.
They had promised to release half of the teenagers once they received a code word from their organisation in Syria.
Although the Israelis entered into negotiations with the DFLP, and even agreed to release prisoners as per their demands, it all went wrong.
At 5:45 p.m., a unit of the elite Sayeret Matkal special forces group stormed the building. They managed to kill all the hostage takers, but not before they had used guns and explosives to kill some of their hostages. A total of 26 Israelis were killed and more than 60 people were wounded in what became known as the Maalot Massacre.
Twenty one of the dead were children.
Since that time the DFLP has waned, politically and with regards to their ability to conduct their terrorist campaign. In fact, in the groups existence, only 8% of their targets have been military. A student was attacked by axe-weilding members of the DFLP in 1975, a civilian was found murdered in his apartment on March 31st 1994, they carried out a mortar bomb attack with Fatah in August 2005, they fired mortars at the Netzer Hazani settlement in June 2005, injuring a civilian Thai worker, they fired mortars at the settlement of Morag and Netzarim in January 2005, and they fired two rockets at the settlement of Netzarim in December 2004.
The DFLP were also responsible for the June 2002 attack on the settlement of Itamar which left five dead and four wounded. The victims were a forty year old woman and her three sons- aged 16, 12 and 5- and a neighbour who came to their aid.
They also carried out the attack which killed three Israeli soldiers and wounded seven more in 2001.
The same man who was in charge of the DFLP at the time of Ma'alot remains their leader.
The Totten report makes for interesting reading- Ramallah is most likely not what you think, given the impression of the region from the media. I know the feeling- having grown up in Northern Ireland I'm used to people thinking that Belfast and environs resemble scenes from the Blitz.
Anyway, as I was reading through Totten's piece I came across a reference to the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Totten says this of them-
The DFLPers have a crackpot ideology, but to their credit they insist Palestinians should only fight Israeli soldiers, and that Palestinians should only fight Israeli soldiers in Palestine. Israeli civilians are to be left alone.
That would be the same DFLP responsible for the Ma'alot School Massacre in 1974-
The Palestinian gang who took the children hostage had tried to stop a van a few miles from Ma'alot several hours before entering the school.
Three men dressed in army uniforms opened fire when the van pulled away, killing one girl inside.
Just before dawn they broke into flats in Ma'alot and forced their way into one apartment. A woman, her husband and five-year-old child were shot dead.
The gang then walked to the school and woke the caretaker, who was also shot. They took the children hostage and separated them into boys and girls.
They had promised to release half of the teenagers once they received a code word from their organisation in Syria.
Although the Israelis entered into negotiations with the DFLP, and even agreed to release prisoners as per their demands, it all went wrong.
At 5:45 p.m., a unit of the elite Sayeret Matkal special forces group stormed the building. They managed to kill all the hostage takers, but not before they had used guns and explosives to kill some of their hostages. A total of 26 Israelis were killed and more than 60 people were wounded in what became known as the Maalot Massacre.
Twenty one of the dead were children.
Since that time the DFLP has waned, politically and with regards to their ability to conduct their terrorist campaign. In fact, in the groups existence, only 8% of their targets have been military. A student was attacked by axe-weilding members of the DFLP in 1975, a civilian was found murdered in his apartment on March 31st 1994, they carried out a mortar bomb attack with Fatah in August 2005, they fired mortars at the Netzer Hazani settlement in June 2005, injuring a civilian Thai worker, they fired mortars at the settlement of Morag and Netzarim in January 2005, and they fired two rockets at the settlement of Netzarim in December 2004.
The DFLP were also responsible for the June 2002 attack on the settlement of Itamar which left five dead and four wounded. The victims were a forty year old woman and her three sons- aged 16, 12 and 5- and a neighbour who came to their aid.
They also carried out the attack which killed three Israeli soldiers and wounded seven more in 2001.
The same man who was in charge of the DFLP at the time of Ma'alot remains their leader.
Friday, May 19, 2006
AHA Update
It seems that the US State Department is doing the right thing in regards to Ayaan Hirsi Ali-
A Somali-born lawmaker who may lose her Dutch citizenship because she lied on her asylum application is welcome to move to the United States, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said on Thursday.
"I am not going to comment on specific security matters but obviously she needs to be taken care of," Zoellick said.
Looks like Verdonk's spitefulness has sabotaged her own career and failed to harm Hirsi Ali in any way. Isn't it great when things work out so well?
Cross posted at Infidel Bloggers Alliance.
A Somali-born lawmaker who may lose her Dutch citizenship because she lied on her asylum application is welcome to move to the United States, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said on Thursday.
"I am not going to comment on specific security matters but obviously she needs to be taken care of," Zoellick said.
Looks like Verdonk's spitefulness has sabotaged her own career and failed to harm Hirsi Ali in any way. Isn't it great when things work out so well?
Cross posted at Infidel Bloggers Alliance.
Yellow Stars Become Strips
A new law has just been passed by the Iranian parliament which would require Jews and Christians and Zoroastrians to wear coloured badges to identify themselves. Upon hearing this story as FARK I immediately checked the BBC website- and there's not a single mention. I suppose I shouldn't be shocked by this but I am- Britain's major news outlet not reporting on a story like this! Not on the news front page or even on the Middle East page. Of course they do have time for the "top story" of Bruce Willis talking about Die Hard 4. They don't stand idle for the really important stories.
Iranian expatriates living in Canada yesterday confirmed reports that the Iranian parliament, called the Islamic Majlis, passed a law this week setting a dress code for all Iranians, requiring them to wear almost identical "standard Islamic garments."
Jihad Watch frequently prefaces stories about Iran's nuclear aspirations with the phrase "1938 alert". Can the parallels be any clearer than this?
Update- The facts of the story still don't seem to be clear. There are denials coming from Iranian officials, along with further references to the coloured badges being part of some minor amendment to the dress code bill. Hot Air is keeping a close eye on things. Be sure to read Andrew Bostom's feature on the background to the badges and the Islamic concept of najis
Iranian expatriates living in Canada yesterday confirmed reports that the Iranian parliament, called the Islamic Majlis, passed a law this week setting a dress code for all Iranians, requiring them to wear almost identical "standard Islamic garments."
The law, which must still be approved by Iran's "Supreme Guide" Ali Khamenehi before being put into effect, also establishes special insignia to be worn by non-Muslims.
Iran's roughly 25,000 Jews would have to sew a yellow strip of cloth on the front of their clothes, while Christians would wear red badges and Zoroastrians would be forced to wear blue cloth.
And here's a notable part of the story-
The new law was drafted two years ago, but was stuck in the Iranian parliament until recently when it was revived at the behest of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.Jihad Watch frequently prefaces stories about Iran's nuclear aspirations with the phrase "1938 alert". Can the parallels be any clearer than this?
Update- The facts of the story still don't seem to be clear. There are denials coming from Iranian officials, along with further references to the coloured badges being part of some minor amendment to the dress code bill. Hot Air is keeping a close eye on things. Be sure to read Andrew Bostom's feature on the background to the badges and the Islamic concept of najis
The Madness Continues
I thought that Britain's leadership was bad but it seems that the United States is working hard to beat us.
First of all the Senate has killed the Kyl amendment by 58 votes to only 35.
The Senate killed an amendment that would have denied a chance for permanent status and eventual citizenship to illegal immigrants who have been in the country less than five years and to any future immigrants who enter the country under the guest-worker program.
As Hot Air points out this plainly contradicts what Bush said in his speech on Monday-
I support a temporary worker program that would create a legal path for foreign workers to enter our country in an orderly way, for a limited period of time...And temporary workers must return to their home country at the conclusion of their stay.
The Senate also voted on whether or not America should have an official language- a measure supported by 84% of Americans. Well, with their usual trepidation they did vote to accept English as the national language and then promptly changed their minds and made English not the national language but only the "unifying language". In other words, they did nothing at all- but made it seem to voters that they both support having an official language and that they also oppose it. Your tax dollars at work.
While they were at it, the Senate also killed the Ensign Amendment-
To qualify for full Social Security benefits, a worker must register 10 years of work. Under current law, illegal immigrants who obtain legal status can use their previous illegal work history to apply for Social Security benefits.
To remedy the situation, Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) has offered an amendment to the pending Senate immigration bill that would reverse this law to ensure that law-breakers are not rewarded for their past work at the expense of immigrants who have waited in line and American citizens.
Now, it seems hard to me to even believe that the United States Senate is even contemplating this measure. I can't say it better than this summation-
Should ILLEGAL immigrants, once made legal by the McCain legislation, be entitled to receive the Social Security benefits they have paid into the system while ILLEGALLY using FRAUDULENT Social Security numbers STOLEN from actual, legal citizens of the United States of America.
Or this-
The plan will siphon off the hard-earned tax dollars of American workers who may never see a dime of their confiscated earnings and fork it over to foreigners guilty of at least four acts of federal law-breaking: crossing the border illegally, working illegally, engaging in tax fraud and using bogus documents.
Who on Earth do the Senate think they are representing, American citizens or illegal aliens? At the moment, it's not quite clear.
First of all the Senate has killed the Kyl amendment by 58 votes to only 35.
The Senate killed an amendment that would have denied a chance for permanent status and eventual citizenship to illegal immigrants who have been in the country less than five years and to any future immigrants who enter the country under the guest-worker program.
As Hot Air points out this plainly contradicts what Bush said in his speech on Monday-
I support a temporary worker program that would create a legal path for foreign workers to enter our country in an orderly way, for a limited period of time...And temporary workers must return to their home country at the conclusion of their stay.
The Senate also voted on whether or not America should have an official language- a measure supported by 84% of Americans. Well, with their usual trepidation they did vote to accept English as the national language and then promptly changed their minds and made English not the national language but only the "unifying language". In other words, they did nothing at all- but made it seem to voters that they both support having an official language and that they also oppose it. Your tax dollars at work.
While they were at it, the Senate also killed the Ensign Amendment-
To qualify for full Social Security benefits, a worker must register 10 years of work. Under current law, illegal immigrants who obtain legal status can use their previous illegal work history to apply for Social Security benefits.
To remedy the situation, Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) has offered an amendment to the pending Senate immigration bill that would reverse this law to ensure that law-breakers are not rewarded for their past work at the expense of immigrants who have waited in line and American citizens.
Now, it seems hard to me to even believe that the United States Senate is even contemplating this measure. I can't say it better than this summation-
Should ILLEGAL immigrants, once made legal by the McCain legislation, be entitled to receive the Social Security benefits they have paid into the system while ILLEGALLY using FRAUDULENT Social Security numbers STOLEN from actual, legal citizens of the United States of America.
Or this-
The plan will siphon off the hard-earned tax dollars of American workers who may never see a dime of their confiscated earnings and fork it over to foreigners guilty of at least four acts of federal law-breaking: crossing the border illegally, working illegally, engaging in tax fraud and using bogus documents.
Who on Earth do the Senate think they are representing, American citizens or illegal aliens? At the moment, it's not quite clear.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Firefox 2
I'm a huge fan of Firefox, although it took me a little while to switch away from Mozilla. While we're currently working with version 1.5.0.3 , word is that version 2 will be released sometime this summer. Dubbed Bon Echo, the first review is out now.
I'm looking forward to the "restore session" option! I tend to work with more than a dozen pages open and with my old, slow machine I occasionally find Firefox crashing. Having those open tabs restored without having to search through my history will be a big help. And the close buttons on each tab look like they might be quite handy- though I'm sure I'll be clicking them by accident for a long time after version 2 is released.
I'm looking forward to the "restore session" option! I tend to work with more than a dozen pages open and with my old, slow machine I occasionally find Firefox crashing. Having those open tabs restored without having to search through my history will be a big help. And the close buttons on each tab look like they might be quite handy- though I'm sure I'll be clicking them by accident for a long time after version 2 is released.
The Choice of Hamas
A new Hamas-led "security force" is active in the Gaza Strip, its aim to "ensure the safety of citizens and protect property amid a wave of instability and violence." LGF has a picture of a member of the force.
The 3,000 strong unit is headed up by Jamal Abu Samhadana, who is, according to the BBC, a militant wanted by Israel. Actually, he's a little more than a militant- he's also the founder of the Popular Resistance Committees, responsible for multiple Qassam rocket attacks on Israel.
He said- “We have only one enemy. They are Jews. We have no other enemy. I will continue to carry the rifle and pull the trigger whenever required to defend my people.”
The group that this Hamas-appointed terrorist founded is responsible for a number of notable atrocities. On November 20, 2000 they bombed a bus filled with children- two adults were killed and nine children wounded. This brother and two sisters were just one group of children on the bus-
Israel lost a leg, Orit part of a foot, and Tehila was badly hurt in both legs.
Along with Islamic Jihad, the Popular Resistance Committees was responsible for the brutal murder of eight months pregnant Tali Hatuel and her children, Meirav, 2, Roni, 7, Hadar, 9, and Hila, 11.
They claimed responsibility for the ambush of an American diplomatic convoy in 2003 that killed three American citizens and left another wounded. The diplomats were on their way to interview Palestinian students for scholarships at American universities.
After his appointment, Samhadana said that the PRC would continue to attack Israel, seeing no conflict between his role as leader of the PRC and his role overseeing the police and security forces. Lest there be any doubt that the PRC or its armed wing the Salah al-Din Brigades (though the two are so closely linked as to be virtually indistinguishable) are in fact Islamist terrorists, there is an analysis of one of their posters here. As you can see, they are under the impression that verses of the Koran justify their actions.
Cross posted at Infidel Bloggers Alliance.
The 3,000 strong unit is headed up by Jamal Abu Samhadana, who is, according to the BBC, a militant wanted by Israel. Actually, he's a little more than a militant- he's also the founder of the Popular Resistance Committees, responsible for multiple Qassam rocket attacks on Israel.
He said- “We have only one enemy. They are Jews. We have no other enemy. I will continue to carry the rifle and pull the trigger whenever required to defend my people.”
The group that this Hamas-appointed terrorist founded is responsible for a number of notable atrocities. On November 20, 2000 they bombed a bus filled with children- two adults were killed and nine children wounded. This brother and two sisters were just one group of children on the bus-
Israel lost a leg, Orit part of a foot, and Tehila was badly hurt in both legs.
Along with Islamic Jihad, the Popular Resistance Committees was responsible for the brutal murder of eight months pregnant Tali Hatuel and her children, Meirav, 2, Roni, 7, Hadar, 9, and Hila, 11.
They claimed responsibility for the ambush of an American diplomatic convoy in 2003 that killed three American citizens and left another wounded. The diplomats were on their way to interview Palestinian students for scholarships at American universities.
After his appointment, Samhadana said that the PRC would continue to attack Israel, seeing no conflict between his role as leader of the PRC and his role overseeing the police and security forces. Lest there be any doubt that the PRC or its armed wing the Salah al-Din Brigades (though the two are so closely linked as to be virtually indistinguishable) are in fact Islamist terrorists, there is an analysis of one of their posters here. As you can see, they are under the impression that verses of the Koran justify their actions.
Cross posted at Infidel Bloggers Alliance.
Border Games
I have no idea what's happening in America right now- has Howard Dean been hired to lay out the Republican's election strategy?
While the simple task of enforcing existing laws against illegal aliens and identity fraud seems to be beyond all levels of government, Bush is singularly failing to take charge of the situation and do what Americans actually want him to do. He's doing a bang up job from the point of view of any potential illegal immigrants or would be terrorist infiltrators though. For a stark reminder of just why this is completely unacceptable, make sure to watch Michelle Malkin's Vent, Connect the Dots. We're fast approaching the fifth anniversary of 9/11 and yet nothing has been done about such huge security holes.
His proposal to send National Guard troops to the border- not to actually patrol, something the military just mind know something about- has not gone down well with Vincente Fox; and Mexico is threatening to sue the United States if the troops actually apprehend anyone breaking the law on American soil.
General Blum of the National Guard stated that, although troops being sent to the border area will have "the right of self-protection to preserve their life and to save the lives of others" they will not all be issued weapons.
He says- "There will be a lot of jobs that we'll be performing that will not require people to carry sidearms. However, if they're in a mission profile where they could be subject to threat or injury, or their life is threatened, they will, in fact, carry weapons, just as they do in other missions around the world."
It remains to be seen if all units deployed along the border, actually watching for aliens, will be considered to be subject to such a profile. Somehow, given the nature of the attitude towards the "rights" of the illegals, I'm not entirely convinced that they will be. I hope I'm wrong though-
U.S. Border Patrol agents were backed down this week by armed men, dressed in what appeared to be Mexican military uniforms and carrying military weapons, who seized a captured dump truck filled with marijuana from the U.S. agents and dragged it across the border into Mexico with a bulldozer.
While the simple task of enforcing existing laws against illegal aliens and identity fraud seems to be beyond all levels of government, Bush is singularly failing to take charge of the situation and do what Americans actually want him to do. He's doing a bang up job from the point of view of any potential illegal immigrants or would be terrorist infiltrators though. For a stark reminder of just why this is completely unacceptable, make sure to watch Michelle Malkin's Vent, Connect the Dots. We're fast approaching the fifth anniversary of 9/11 and yet nothing has been done about such huge security holes.
His proposal to send National Guard troops to the border- not to actually patrol, something the military just mind know something about- has not gone down well with Vincente Fox; and Mexico is threatening to sue the United States if the troops actually apprehend anyone breaking the law on American soil.
General Blum of the National Guard stated that, although troops being sent to the border area will have "the right of self-protection to preserve their life and to save the lives of others" they will not all be issued weapons.
He says- "There will be a lot of jobs that we'll be performing that will not require people to carry sidearms. However, if they're in a mission profile where they could be subject to threat or injury, or their life is threatened, they will, in fact, carry weapons, just as they do in other missions around the world."
It remains to be seen if all units deployed along the border, actually watching for aliens, will be considered to be subject to such a profile. Somehow, given the nature of the attitude towards the "rights" of the illegals, I'm not entirely convinced that they will be. I hope I'm wrong though-
U.S. Border Patrol agents were backed down this week by armed men, dressed in what appeared to be Mexican military uniforms and carrying military weapons, who seized a captured dump truck filled with marijuana from the U.S. agents and dragged it across the border into Mexico with a bulldozer.
Close Call
Talk about a lucky escape!
Robin Key, 44, of Riverview, Fla., was shot through the windshield of the car she was riding in Sunday. She said she felt a searing pain in her shoulder.
Robin Key, 44, of Riverview, Fla., was shot through the windshield of the car she was riding in Sunday. She said she felt a searing pain in her shoulder.
Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies said a .38-caliber bullet smashed through the windshield then bounced off Key's shoulder - thanks to a seat belt and a thick bra strap.
The copper-jacketed slug landed in her lap.
Sesame Street
Thanks to website Folded Space for this incredible list of Sesame Street videos. Brings back a lot of memories for me and my kids love it too.
This post is for my girls who keep asking me for the "noisy one" - Fat, Cat, Sat, Hat.
This post is for my girls who keep asking me for the "noisy one" - Fat, Cat, Sat, Hat.
Lightning
With thanks to the US Department of Defence Image Gallery email- Lightning strikes Balad Air Base in Iraq as a C-130 aircraft taxis on the flight line May 16, 2006. DoD photo by Senior Airman James Croxon, U.S. Air Force.
What an awesome image.
What an awesome image.
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