Conspiracy paranoia and displacement of responsibility often travel together, as in this case. “Anti-Islam forces behind Pak unrest,” from The News (Pakistan), May 10: ABBOTTABAD: Leaders of various religio-political parties on Sunday said terrorism was promoted in Pakistan under a well-hatched conspiracy. Addressing a Khatm-e-Nabuwwat conference, leaders of various religious political parties including Sirajul Haq, […]
Archives for May 2010
Pakistan: Methodist arrested with batteries and electrical circuit in his shoes — no, wait…
Actually Faiz Mohammad appears to be another Misunderstander of Islam. More on this story. “Man arrested in Pakistan trying to board plane with batteries and electrical circuit in shoes,” from the Telegraph, May 9: Pakistani officers arrested a man at Karachi airport after batteries and an electrical circuit were found in his shoes as he […]
U.K.: Suspected al-Qaeda member fights deportation, says it’s not safe for him to go back to Algeria
And he’s been successful so far, despite the fact that he has been kicked out of France and Germany, and in the U.K., he “arrived … on a false passport and has also admitted lying to the security services and committing fraud.” “‘Jihad’ dad wins right to stay on UK as kids are ‘settled’,” from […]
Lebanese president won’t ask Hizballah to disarm
He won’t ask them, let alone order them, as he should. His explanation is that it would not be appropriate at a time of heightened tension between Lebanon and Israel, but why the elevated level of tension in the first place? That stems from Hizballah’s ongoing existence as an Iranian- and Syrian- supported state-within-a-state that, […]
Islamic clerics protest the “Judaization” of Jerusalem, accuse Israel of injecting walls of al-Aqsa mosque with chemicals to speed deterioriation
Complaining about the Judaization of Jerusalem makes about as much sense as complaining about the anglicization of London. Or the Americanization of Kansas City. Of course, so much of the Islamic narrative about Jerusalem depends on layer upon layer of radical historical revisionism that the clerics do not recognize anything wrong with their wholesale denial […]
U.S. to Pakistan: “You can’t pretend any longer that this is not going on”
Is Pakistan’s double game wearing thin? Or will business as usual return once the attention on the Times Square bombing attempt fades? “U.S. Urges Action in Pakistan After Failed Bombing,” by Jane Perlez for the New York Times, May 8: ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Obama administration has delivered new and stiff warnings to Pakistan after […]
Oh, good: Pakistan stages show of force with nuclear-capable missiles
Relax, the prime minister said “the world can now move “beyond safety and security concerns’!” Of course, India is the target audience for this display, demonstrating Pakistan’s skewed sense of priorities as jihadists continue to operate freely, and sometimes with official encouragement. “Pakistan test-fires pair of ballistic missiles,” from CNN, May 8: Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) […]
Russia: Bomb in trash can kills 1, injures 5 at Caucasus train station
The intrepid mujahedin, targeting commuters getting on trains. “Train station bomb kills one in Russia: officials,” from Reuters, May 7: (Reuters) – One woman was killed and five others injured when a bomb exploded on a train station platform in the southern Russian region of Dagestan Friday, local officials said. A spokesman for the local […]
Hizballah: “Jihad places us in a pleasant state of mind”
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, it ain’t. More on this story. “Hezbollah says it’s ready for fresh war with Israel – and stronger now,” by Nicholas Blanford for the Christian Science Monitor, May 7 (thanks to Larry): Mashghara, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon – Nearly four years after […]
Turkish legislators approve constitutional changes said to strengthen position of Islamist ruling party
Opposition parties allege that the amendments “designed to give the Islamic-rooted government leverage over the largely secular judiciary,” which would certainly fit the pattern of behavior by the Erdogan government, described below. “Turkish lawmakers OK constitutional amendments,” by Selcan Hacaoglu for the Associated Press, May 7: ANKARA, Turkey — The Turkish parliament narrowly approved Friday […]