Why the apparent change of heart? “Syria’s sudden readiness to cooperate seems to be an attempt at derailing U.S.-led attempts to have Damascus referred to the U.N. Security Council.” They will do what they have to in order to take the pressure off in the short term, but will otherwise most likely follow the playbook […]
Archives for May 2011
Afghanistan: Assassination of police commander was planned in Pakistan
There is an element of displacement of blame here, to be sure. It has become quite common for Kabul to downplay the extent of the problem as a phenomenon native to Afghanistan: everything’s fine, no terrorists here! But the fact remains that Pakistan’s double game has made efforts to root out the Taliban a decade-long […]
Egyptian military “playing both sides” between “extremists” and non-Muslims
The Egyptian military is seeking to maintain stability through the path of least resistance, hoping to maintain the status-quo, more or less, by pursuing a policy of steam-control. In practice, the military’s actions amount to a process of establishing conditions for an arrangement with the Muslim Brotherhood, which is in the best position to take […]
Muslim Brotherhood sheikh to run for president of Egypt; promises to implement Sharia and cancel peace treaty with Israel
Didn’t he get the memo that the Ikhwan is “moderate” and “largely secular?” “Brotherhood sheikh to run for president,” by Hany ElWaziry for Al Masry Al Youm, May 29 (thanks to Zulu): Muslim Brotherhood Sheikh Hazem Abu Ismail announced his intention to run in Egypt’s upcoming presidential elections. He said that if elected he would […]
“Islamic militants and al-Qaeda men” seize Yemeni town
Party’s over in Zinjibar. “Al Qaeda group tightens grip on Yemen coastal town,” by Samia Nakhoul and Mohamed Sudam for Reuters, May 29 (thanks to JCB): SANAA (Reuters) — An al Qaeda group tightened its grip on a Yemeni coastal town while in the capital Sanaa a truce was holding on Sunday between President Ali […]
Algerian Christian gets five years in jail for “blasphemy”
This story helps to demonstrate why “blasphemy” laws and other legislation curtailing free speech to shield Islam from insults and “provocations” (real or imagined) must be resisted: “While Algeria professes that it upholds religious freedom, it also embraces a blasphemy law that, by its very nature, can be used to prosecute anyone who does not […]
U.S.: Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba as dangerous as al-Qaeda
Perhaps more so. They are sheltered and sponsored in Pakistan even more than al-Qaeda, which is a foreign group, while LeT is homegrown, and owned and operated by the ISI. And they have already “plotted mayhem and murder from nondescript locations in the United States.” LeT is much more central to Pakistan’s double game. “LeT […]
Pakistani intel officer ordered jihad massacre of Mumbai Jews
“Strongest among men in enmity to the believers wilt thou find the Jews…” — Qur’an 5:82 “Witness: Pakistani Intel Officer Ordered Hit on Mumbai Jews,” by Sebastian Rotella for ProPublica, May 24 (thanks to Cy): In his second day of testimony, David Coleman Headley, a confessed Pakistani-American terrorist, revealed more details about close ties between […]
Taliban: No, we’re not going to attack the nukes, we’re just going to take over Pakistan
And the nukes would be theirs. They certainly don’t have the wherewithal themselves to reinvent the “Islamic bomb.” On the other hand, they may change their minds if they decide it suits them — “replace it with something better,” as it were. “Taliban aims to take over Pakistan, its nukes,” from the Press Trust of […]
Egypt: Military court prosecutes only Christians in Muslim attacks on churches
Marching toward democracy. “Egyptian Military Court Prosecutes Only Christians in Muslim Church Attacks,” by Mary Abdelmassih for AINA, May 27: (AINA) — A Military court in Egypt has sentenced three Christian Copts to 5-years imprisonment on charges of possession of firearms and pocket knives. The Court released all other Muslims and Copts arrested following clashes […]