In Human Events this morning, I discuss the ongoing damage that Grover Norquist is doing: Last Tuesday on the House floor, Rep. Frank Wolf (R.-Va.) showed more courage than most of the members of his party have ever managed to summon: He called out influential Republican power broker and anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist”‹ for, among […]
Archives for 2011
Egypt: “How have Copts become so unprotected in their own country? Why is it so easy to kill over a dozen of us in a protest while those who stormed into the Israeli embassy were not even harmed?”
As the Egyptian prime minister blames a “dirty conspiracy,” more details are emerging about the massacre of the protesters: “At one point, an armored security van sped into the crowd, striking a half-dozen protesters and throwing some into the air.” “After midnight, mobs roamed downtown streets, attacking cars they suspected had Christian passengers. In many […]
Israeli FM: Palestinians want statehood for a state they expect to exist in the future, but does not exist now
“… under the accepted principles of international law going back to the Montevideo Convention of 1933, there are four prerequisites for statehood: a permanent population; defined territory; effective government; and a capacity to enter into relations with other states.” The contradictions on the Palestinian Authority’s treatment of its “permanent population” are particularly glaring, and revealing […]
Al-Qaeda on al-Awlaki killing: Hey, now, that’s not cricket
An international jihadist group committed to killing as many Americans as it can chides the U.S. for taking action against it. Obviously, they would object in any case. The irony that a group that would destroy the U.S. Constitution if it had its way is invoking its tenets in protest is exceptionally rich. “Al-Qaeda joins […]
Saudi religious police demand soccer players cover tattoos — particularly “Christian drawings”
“… the letter [from the religious police] followed a picture published in local newspapers showing Pino’s tattoos included some ‘Christian drawings.’” That’s what’s going to plunge the whole country into a fit of shirk. How many Saudis are even going to look at Juan Pablo Pino’s right bicep and say “Oh, hey, that’s Jesus”? Many […]
Nearly all remaining al-Shabaab forces said to leave Mogadishu after duking it out with gov’t and AU troops in pasta factory
Don’t tell al-Shabaab about the grand Pastafarian conspiracy to replace the entirety of Sharia Law with the eight “I’d Really Rather You Didn’ts.” On the other hand, Pastafarian heaven apparently includes a beer volcano and stripper factory. Given the prize the jihadists always have their eyes on, maybe there would be hope for interfaith dialogue […]
CNN says Iranian pastor’s death sentence for apostasy shows “nuance” of Islamic law
Will Joseph Nadarkhani get a “nuanced” hanging? This story has been circulating for a few days, but is certainly not the first time CNN has tried to peddle Paper Sharia: that is, Sharia as advertised as what it could, would, should be, as opposed to Sharia as observed. This report virtually ignores the other innumerable […]
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula confirms death of al-Awlaki in drone strike
Confirmation, tributes, calls for revenge. Lather, rinse, repeat. An update on this story. “Al-Qaida confirms killing of US-born cleric,” by Ryan Lucas for the Associated Press, October 10: CAIRO (AP) “” Al-Qaida’s Yemeni offshoot on Monday confirmed the killing of U.S.-born militant cleric Anwar al-Awlaki late last month and vowed to avenge the prominent propagandist’s […]
Seattle: Hertz says suspended Muslim airport shuttle drivers can return if they clock out for prayer breaks
Reasonable accommodations don’t always mean you get everything you want. But this is about getting paid to pray, and making the break a hands-off affair for supervisors. An update on this story. “Hertz: Muslim workers failed to follow break rules,” by Laura Meyer for Reuters, October 8: SEATTLE (Reuters) – Hertz rental car company, which […]
Pope calls for Indonesia to respect freedom of religion in accordance with its constitution
The survival of the constitution as it stands is at the heart of Indonesia’s future: either it is a dead letter, or its protections are still in force. That is Indonesia’s choice in the coming years. It is indeed in the crosshairs, however, just as the national doctrine of Pancasila itself is under fire from […]