Today's Reading

1. Blogizdat: Attacked For Their Looks
   
2. Heavy-Handed Politics: The Myth Of Moderate Islam
3. Dust My Broom: Tagged By The Gods
4. Bogus Gold: U. S. Muslims Issue Fatwa Against Terrorism
   
5. Insight Scoop: "Experts" urge "caution" in debate over evolution...
6. Everything Ulster: 'Historic' IRA Statement "Ends Armed Campaign"
7. Apprehension: Another Way Of Looking At The World
8. The War Room: DOSSIER # 13 A: VIOLENCE, RACE, RELIGION AND FAMILY IN TORONTO
9. The impudent Finger: Happy Birthday, Alex!
10. Orthodoxy Today: The politics of faith

Well, gotta go to work!

The Efficacy Of Natural Selection

From Michael Yon :

The enemy in Iraq does not appear to be weakening; if anything, they are becoming smarter, more complicated and deadlier. But this does not mean they are winning; to imply that getting smarter and deadlier equates to winning, is fallacious. Most accounts of the situation in Iraq focus on enemy "successes" (if success is re-defined as annihiliation of civility), while redacting the increasing viability and strength of the Iraqi government, which clearly is outpacing the insurgency.

The Mosul police are now strong enough to launch successful undercover operations, and have been fanning out across Mosul and surrounding villages, snooping and listening for snippets.

Killing the weak and stupid does make those who remain stronger and smarter. It also tends to make them fewer.

Theo Van Gogh Murder Sentenced

BarcePundit has links to Pieter Dorsman for backgound information and Roger L. Simon who wonders why Hollywood hasn't noticed.

Who Is Aly Hindy?

Heavy-Handed Politics (and others) have covered the statements of Mr. Aly Hindy, the head of Scarborough's Salaheddin Islamic Centre (Toronto). The threat is not terribly veiled. But there is apparently more to Mr. Aly Hindy than meets the eye. Arabian Dissent asks, "Who is Aly Hindy?" (Hat tip to sda.)

Heavy-Handed On The Birth Dearth

The Heavy-Handed One gives us a quote from Chuck Colson:

"The 'birth dearth' is what demographers call plummeting birth rates in most of the industrialized world. Throughout Western Europe and East Asia, the birth rate is well below 2.1 births per woman -- which is the minimum needed to maintain a stable population. ... Throughout history, societies in demographic decline, usually as a result of disease, have faced two unattractive options: a decline in their standard of living or the replacement of their native population with a more fertile immigrant one. Europe has, essentially by default, chosen the latter. But as last week's bombings in London illustrate, turning millions of Islamic immigrants into 'Europeans,' however you define the term, is a dubious proposition. ... It's hard to imagine a better example of the importance of worldviews, and specifically in this case, the Christian one. [Mark] Steyn is right when he says that Europe's decline is directly linked to its hostility towards Christianity."

If you want to learn why the Germans are having trouble flushing their toilets, read the rest of the article here.

The Yin And Yang of The Phantom Menace

The Belmont Club has an excellent post on two leftist memes:

1. World wide terroroism as the phantom menace and
   
2. terrorism as the yin to US yang.
   

Just Wait Until He Learns About Evangelicals

Evidently shocked by the existence of people who have religious beliefs that effect the way they live their lives, a Canadian professor calls for the intellectual extermination of practicing Catholics. He calls for governmental repression only because he is far too sophisticated to call for the "Final Solution". (Didn't someone else use that term in the past? I'm sure I have heard it before.) If you think I am making much ado of nothing, consider what has been said about the wife of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts. Bogus Gold reports here.

It's Know Your Mayor Day

Everything Ulster reports on the Mayor of London, Ken Livingston:

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has said that suicide bombing is a legitimate tactic for terrorists to use! Unbelievable! 2 weeks ago these monsters killed around 100 people in London, yesterday more tried to do the same and less than 24 hours after that second attack the mayor of the city bombed goes on TV defending the tactics used by the terrorists! (Hat tips to A Tangled Web and JihadWatch)

"Given that [they] don't have jet planes, don't have tanks, they only have their bodies to use as weapons. In an unfair balance, that's what people use."
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London

What kind of f****d up world is this? (Ed: Beano's French edited)

Ken Livingstone was talking about the Palestinians use of suicide bombers against Israel, rather than the Islamofascists bombing the shit out of London but a bomb's a bomb. Also, a fanatic is a fanatic, and if it takes one to know one, Red Ken should be able to spot them a mile off.

Ken has in the past defended IRA terrorism, Palestinian terrorism and now suicide bombers. In a disgusting distortion of reality, he went on to launch a verbal assault on Israel. If you want to read more of his interview there's a report on haaretz.

Read the rest and follow the links here.

Stop Paving The Road To Hell!

The Heavy-Handed One grasps the truth about aid to Africa when he writes, " "For God's Sake, Please Stop the Aid!" This is an excellent follow-up to Atlas Shrugs As She Says The Road to Hell is Paved with Live 8.

Atlas Shrugs As She Says

"The Road to Hell is Paved with Live 8." Read her update on Africa.

And They Will Vote Chavez

From Barcepundit :

PAPILLON LIVES, IT'S A MIRACLE! Henri Charrière, notorious for his epic narration of his bids to escape from the dreadful prison in the French Guyana, left this vale of tears 32 years ago. But that doesn't seem to be a problem for Venezuela's authorities: he, and thousand of illustrious and not so illustrious dead, has suddenly appeared in the countriy's electoral census, ready to vote in next August local elections.

Jimmy Carter, call your office!

(via Glenn Reynolds).

Re-visiting Bombings In Baghdad And Beatings In Belfast

On 5/3 I posted:

Read Wretchard's analysis of Non-State Belligerents and apply that analysis to the current state of conflict in Northern Ireland. Isn't this a better schema for understanding the murder of Robert McCartney and its aftermath (here and here)? The Provisionals and Unionists at the extreme (and sometimes not so extreme) end of the spectrum seem more like organized crime, both in means and in ends, than political aspirants. It is not a term of endearment when the IRA is called the "rafia" in Catholic neighborhoods. This would also explain this response by Sinn Fein to Republic Of Ireland's involvement in Northern political campaigns.

Wretchard's central point is the following:

What they are about is local, private fiefdoms. Rather than a strong central government, the strategic goal of the Iraqi insurgency may in fact be chaos; the endpoint not a nation-state but warlord-power in an atmosphere congenial to criminal activity.

Slugger O'Toole published an article decrying the hypocrisy of Unionist politicians regarding the murder of a private citizen by Unionist paramilitaries. This article also points to evidence to support the above thesis. Slugger links to an editorial in the Irish News. To quote:

While the UVF and LVF are engaged in some sort of power struggle - the exact reasons for which no-one really knows - the UDA are also apparently troubled by internal rifts.

Last week we had the unedifying spectacle of hundreds of UDA members facing each other down after a number of attacks on bars in different areas of Belfast. It would not take a lot for that dispute to end in death and injury as well.

As we await a statement from the IRA, hopefully bringing an end to that organisation's existence, is it too much to hope for loyalist organisations to do the same?

It is surely not too much to hope for a concerted effort from all shades of political opinion towards that goal. Think of the police resources which could then be freed up to deal with other forms of criminality.

Slugger quotes extensively from this editorial by Lindy McDowell, which opens with:

The LVF and the UVF are locked in bloody combat. The UDA is also at war - with itself. The IRA really hates the Real IRA. The Real IRA continues to hate the Continuity IRA. And the INLA hates everybody.

But this internecinene warfare, and the conflict between the republican and unionist paramilitaries, serves a greater purpose.

There is a point to paramilitary violence and those of us who just get swept away by the sheer horror of it all miss that point.

The point is about paramilitary self perpetuation.

The latest loyalist feud is part of that trend. It's about one group attempting to assert supremacy over another in a community that is already entirely revolted by all their methods and means.
. . . .
They also need to make a little more clear the revulsion of so many people at how these gangsters have attempted, and in some cases succeeded, in hijacking aspects of their culture.
. . . .
We allow paramilitaries to set the agenda in Northern Ireland - to set, not just one side of the community at the other's throat but to tear individual communities, streets, even families apart. Put simply, they know how to wind us up.

The paramilitaries by unspoken agreement, sustain each other's existence and excesses.

In this world, the herd is kept divided, confused and defenseless. The predators then feast as they will.

This Must Be Unconstitutional,

but it causes me very little Apprehension.

Venezuela Watch 7/18/05

From the BBC :

Hundreds of Venezuelan doctors have marched through the country's capital, Caracas, demanding the expulsion of Cuban doctors.

President Hugo Chavez says he invited the medical staff into the country to provide free health care for the poor.

But Venezuela's doctors, who are also asking for better wages, say the Cubans are taking their jobs.

They say the government is trading its oil revenues to pay for some 20,000 Cuban doctors and dentists.
. . . .

Under a special programme set up by Mr Chavez and his ally Cuban President Fidel Castro, Cuban doctors, dentists and nurses work in newly set-up medical centres in Venezuela's poorest areas.

In exchange, the oil-rich country sends Cuba 90,000 barrels of oil a day.
. . . .

They say that while the Cuban-staffed clinics are equipped with medicines and modern machines, public hospitals often lack basic medical equipment.

"Venezuelan doctors are underpaid and many are unemployed," trauma specialist Pedro Carvallo told Reuters news agency.

He said many Cuban doctors do not hold proper medical qualifications.

"These Cubans are political agents who come to indoctrinate, not to work as doctors," Mr Carvallo said.

Mr Chavez says the Cubans have accepted jobs in areas, including crime-ridden slums on the outskirts of towns, where many Venezuelans refuse to work.

Fidel Castro has said that he aims to increase the number of Cuban health care wrkers in Venezuela to up to 30,000 by the end of the year.

Brings back memories of how fast the Cuban "workers" in Grenada beat their plowshares into AK47's.

Schmidt Happens

London: The Sunday Times - Review reports: Legalised brutality — the new face of America

"It is to America’s credit that it has vented this material. But it is also true that the evidence now shows that 9/11 has indeed changed America — into a country where brutal treatment of detainees is now legal. And it has all been done with legal cover and political deflection. Last Thursday, not a single major conservative website even mentioned the Schmidt report at all. Better to look away.

This is what the new world of terror can do to a country dedicated to human dignity and liberty. When President George W Bush said, after Abu Ghraib, that those images did not represent America, he sadly mis-spoke. Thanks to his own decisions legalising torture for “military necessity”, those images do indeed define part of Bush’s new America. Deep in the cages of Guantanamo Bay lies that saddening, sobering truth."

Technorati Search
(Hat tip to Watching America)

Why Yes, I Am Circumcised

From Al-Raya, Qatar:

We live in a world that is controlled by a small group of "Zionized" American right-wing fanatics. This group is totally influenced by mythical Judaic concepts, which prompted it to declare war on Islam under new banners, such as terrorism. It is equally funny and tragic that the United States, aided by Great Britain and other allies, is the one who is practicing terrorism in all its forms in Iraq. This under a slew of slogans and lies such as, "spreading the humanitarian civilization," "the need for democracy," or "the importance of reform."

Read World Controlled By 'Zionized American Right-Wing Fanatics'
.

The Impudent Celebration of Bastille Day

Out Of respect for the French, The Impudent One celebrates Bastille Day. Follow all the links.

For something more edifying, check out this post.

A Little Further Along On The Journey

John Bunyan wrote "The Pilgrim's Progress" while in prison, recounting the story of Christian as he traveled from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City of Zion. Doug at Bogus Gold links to the travelogue of the Anchoress as she recounts part of her journey to that destination. Follow Doug's links. (Those looking hard will notice something interesting in Doug's choice of links.)

Grenada Braces For Next Hurricane

In spite of not having recovered from Hurricane Ivan, Grenada prepares for the next hurricane. For information on the recovery effort, go here. My original post on the devestation caused by Hurricane Ivan can be found here .

To Better Understand The French

Try this simple exercise:

1) Read the Wikipedia entry for Huguenot.

2) Now try the French entry.

Perhaps the French language is more efficient than English.

Kate Spots The Canary In The Coal Mine

Kate, of sda , sees the canary wobbling on it's perch. She is correct, but the larger story is the history of an idea. Raskolnikov holds forth at Dust My Broom, explaining how members of aboriginal tribes in Canada become fluent in anti-Semitism.

It looks like the radical left's investment in the Aboriginal community is finally paying off. While aboriginal students across the country study the evil ways of Europeans, imbibing lefty saints like Foucault and Said, the Big Pimp Indians are laying the foundation of absurd logic and hatred that the left needs in place to perpetuate future generations of dissent. For anyone who has studied history, this should ring an ominous bell.

Superhero Doffs His Mask

One of the great mysteries of the blogosphere is no more. Wretchard has revealed his true name and the location of The Belmont Club. "Big Respect" as they say in Jamaica.

Soldiers' Angels Night At Keegan's

If you missed the Fund Raiser at Keegan's Irish Pub Thursday night (as I did) go to the Soldiers' Angels website to participate.

Another Reason To Drink

The Impudent Finger points to the British response to the London bombing here. He also points to The UKBlogs Aggregator

"We Want Scarier Troops"

Th UN asks for help in Haiti. Condi says we're kind of busy right now, try France and Canada. Read the analysis here. (Hat tip to sda.)

Robert McCartney's Home Attacked

Read the story here.

Robert McCartney's fiancée Bridgeen Hagans and the couple's children had their home attacked at 2:10 AM on Saturday. Rocks and glass bottles were thrown at the doors and windows, and one window was broken during the disturbance.

Who is Robert McCartney? Read here.

Madrid Style Bombing In London

Wretchard reports here.

History: The Battle Of Crysler Farm

There was a time when the border between America and Canada was not quite as open and certainly not as friendly. Read the story here. (Hat tip to The Raging Kraut via Dust My Broom.)

Those Who Can - Do; Those Who Can't . . .

From Le Monde: "Europe's Quest for Military Independence from Washington"

France's traditional policy with regard to NATO has been to define a security model, with European interests at its core, which avoids the formation of two blocs, one led by Washington and the other led by Moscow. This has meant French strategic autonomy within a variety of international organizations, but never a European army, not for the Jospin government or for the subsequent Raffarin government. The objective is to allow the E.U. to manage crises, such as those in Bosnia or Kosovo, without the Americans.

Let me extend a personal invitation to the French to replace American troops in Bosnia and Kosovo. European problem - European solution? Header summary:

In order to acquire true military independence from the United States, the E.U. - and especially France - must allow NATO to transform itself into a global security organization. By taking part in this transformation, the E.U. may win the support and trust of Washington in setting up a fully-integrated European military.

Read the rest here. (via Watching America)

Berlin Memorial Destroyed

The government of the city of Berlin has destroyed the monument at Checkpoint Charlie that commemorated the deaths of 1000 people killed fleeing East Germany. (Earler posts here and here..)

Baby Killers Resist Instant Gratification

Tim Blair reports the story here .

The Impudent Finger Points To Anti-Stockholm Syndrome

"Hell hath no fury like . . . a Swede's scorn?" The Impudent One tells the story so very well here. (Welcome Back SolaMan.)

Manitoba One-Ups Senator Durbin

North Dakota like North Korea?

Devils Lake Diversion

The Scene from the Shoreline

Children Of A Lesser Atrocity Update

Checkpoint Charlie Monument destruction updated here and here.

Ulf Hjertstrom Understands Personal Responsibility

From Tim Blair:

A hostage held alongside Australian Douglas Wood in Iraq has hired bounty hunters to track down his former captors, promising to eliminate them one by one.

Swede Ulf Hjertstrom, who was held for several weeks with Mr Wood in Baghdad, was released by his kidnappers on May 30 ...

Now, he wants to find those responsible.

"I have now put some people to work to find these bastards," he told the Ten Network today.

"I invested about $50,000 so far and we will get them one by one."

One Swede strikes more fear in the hearts of the jihadi than any five Democratic Presidential candidates. Read the rest of the article to find out who Andrew Jaspan is and what he is confused about.

Not Quite 15 Minutes Of Fame

Kate McMillan analyzes the attention span of the MSM:

Islamists lack a well known face who can compete with a Cruise or a Pitt, and even if they did, the nature of Islamofascist pop culture isn't all that compatable with a star system. Hellfire missiles tend to follow them around, for one thing. Some new Jihadi explodes onto the scene and, well - he explodes onto the scene.

Read the complete article to find out how this relates to Thailand: 600 dead in 2 years..