Once again: validating irrational rage, and validating in principle the demands for punishment is only fueling the fire, and further endangering American and other NATO troops. The cleric said it himself: anything seen as a half measure will only serve to enrage, and will become an additional excuse for violence. “Afghans won’t accept US justice […]
U.S. troops could face “disciplinary review” over Qur’an burnings
As noted before, it is highly counterproductive to go down this road and validate in principle the demands for punishment. Anything Afghans see as a half-measure of discipline will be taken as another insult. “Official: Mistakes led to Afghan Quran burnings,” by Patrick Quinn and Rahim Faiez for the Associated Press, March 3: KABUL, Afghanistan […]
Egypt throws out case against Christian accused of insulting Islam
He posted a cartoon making fun of a style of dress, and that was seized upon an insult to Islam. Naguib Sawiris was really being brought to trial for daring to mock those who intended to be his new overlords, but who seem to have overreached for now. An update on this story. “Egypt court […]
Algeria: Al-Qaeda offshoot claims military base bombing that injured 24
This item is of interest not only for what happened today, but for where it is leading. The advance of more anti-Western Islamic parties, including Salafists, makes North Africa a friendlier place for al-Qaeda and related groups (see also: the al-Qaeda flag on open display in Libya’s Benghazi), and their strengthening presence in North Africa […]
Libya: Muslim Brotherhood forms political party
For the Muslim Brotherhood, the caliphate is the goal, gradualism is the tactic, and democracy currently happens to be the path of least resistance to power. “Libya’s Muslim Brotherhood sets up political party,” by Ali Shuaib for Reuters, March 2: TRIPOLI (Reuters) – Libya’s Muslim Brotherhood teamed up with other Islamists on Friday to establish […]
Afghanistan: U.S. probe of Qur’an burning finds 5 “responsible”
U.S. authorities are fighting a fire with gasoline, escalating concessions to a group that will only be satisfied with having the Americans turned over to a raging mob. Continuing down this road may be far more counterproductive than the administration realizes. A reprimand, a court-martial, even a prison sentence for those who have been named […]
Afghanistan: “When we watch these dogs [fighting] it’s a way of expressing our anger against the Americans. We think the Americans are being attacked.”
“We want the Afghan government to bring the people who did this to us. We will kill them ourselves.” There’s just plenty that’s disturbing about this story. “Anti-U.S. emotions run high at Afghan dogfighting ring,” by Michael Georgy for Reuters, March 2: (Reuters) – Protests over the burning of Korans at a NATO base may […]
Islamophobes — no, wait, Tunisian legislators — say “we cannot use the shari”a as a source of legislation because it can disrupt the balance of Tunisian society”
Are they “racists” for saying that, too? This minority group also alludes to the fact that the Islamic parties have been dealing in generalities about Sharia, and that the supposed “flexibility” of Sharia that enters into the argument to deflect criticism of its harshest tenets is no reassurance. They know what is coming. “Shari”a Rises […]
Afghan clerics: Obama’s apology can never be accepted
It bears repeating as often as is necessary: so many apologies and promises of trial and punishment are validating a process which, for many of its backers, can only rightly end through retribution in blood, and even that will not be the end. Nothing will never be enough, because the response, a lethal orgy of […]
Pakistan: Christian woman tortured, paraded in streets for “anti-Islam views”
On the anniversary of the assassination of Shahbaz Bhatti, there seems to be little sense of urgency in Islamabad as long as the victims are not Sunni Muslims, but the same impulses that lead to the persecution of non-Sunnis and non-Muslims will ultimately devour Pakistan itself. “Pakistan woman tortured, paraded in streets for ‘anti-Islam views’,” […]