“There’s still a tendency to see these things in Sunni-Shia terms. But the Middle East is going to have to overcome that.” – Condoleezza Rice, January 2007. Still waiting? Hope you brought a book. “Bomb Kills at Least 53 Pilgrims in South Iraq,” by Nabil al-Jurani for the Associated Press, January 14: A bomb killed […]
Shocker: Pakistan can’t come up with a suspect in kidnapping and murder of journalist who criticized Pakistani intel agency
The Obama administration believed Syed Saleem Shahzad’s killing was ordered by Pakistani intelligence, and Pakistan angrily denied the outgoing Joint Chiefs chair’s allegations that Islamabad sanctioned the killing. Shahzad’s final article was on failed talks between the Pakistani navy and al-Qaeda, which sought to secure the release of al-Qaeda-linked naval officers. He then disappeared. The […]
Iranian pastor rejects offer to be released from prison if he acknowledges Muhammad as a “messenger sent by God”
Remember when the pressure was on against Iran over its treatment of Pastor Nadarkhani for apostasy from Islam, and he was suddenly described by authorities as a traitor, Zionist, rapist, and brothel owner? How quickly that has evaporated again from the narrative. This began as an apostasy case, and it is continuing as such. “Iran […]
Thailand nabs jihadist suspect with Hizballah connections
With apologies as always to Dr. Seuss: Oh, the places you’ll “misunderstand” Islam! “Thailand arrests Hezbollah suspect after terror tipoff,” by Haroon Siddique for the Guardian, January 13: Police in Thailand are questioning a suspected Hezbollah member, with the development coming as the US embassy warned American nationals of the threat of a terrorist attack […]
How about that: U.N. chief tells Lebanon to disarm Hizballah
Weird stuff happens on Friday the 13th, you know. Here, someone actually remembered U.N. Resolution 1559, after which Hizballah was the only group from the Lebanese civil war that failed to disarm. For that matter, it was the U.N. Secretary-General who remembered. It will take more than asking once, however, to dismantle the army of […]
Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood looking into deal to grant military immunity for crimes committed against protesters
One form of bad government helping another, as the Ikhwan’s mask slips a little bit more. “Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood wants military immunity for generals, activists cry foul,” by Joseph Mayton for Bikya Masr, January 12: CAIRO: In a move that has left many of the country”s activists angered, Egypt’s top political force the Muslim Brotherhood […]
Freedom on the march… out the door: Free-lance Egyptian “morality police” group says it will train volunteers with tasers
This story continues to evolve, and there seems to be no particular sense of urgency from within the government to try and stop it. No, authorities are going for easy targets like stripping and stomping on women in the street and subjecting them to “virginity tests.” Tasers, of course, are not without risks, especially if […]
Egypt: Salafist says naked pharaoh paintings are “heresy”
The Salafists do not need absolute power to be a threat to Egypt’s antiquities and historical heritage. They already won between a quarter and a third of the vote, enough to be a major force in proposing, approving, and blocking legislation. That will help determine priorities in government, and also threatens a gravitational pull toward […]
Pigs may fly: Indonesian gov’t may “finally” move against thugs of Islamic Defenders Front
Indonesia is markedly more relaxed in its approach to homegrown Islamic supremacist thugs (see also: the church saga in Bogor) than ones with international connections, though they have shown a rather soft touch at times in the latter case as well. As long as the local groups focusing on harassing Christians and Ahmadis, intervention has […]
Muslim Brotherhood member who just won parliament seat: Pilgrimage to Egyptian rabbi’s tomb would be “suicide mission” for Israelis
And why would that be? More on this story. “Egyptians: No pilgrimage to rabbi’s tomb,” from the Associated Press, January 11: Egyptian Islamists and other activists say they have vowed to prevent Israelis from making an annual pilgrimage to the tomb of a 19th-century Jewish holy man in the Nile Delta. Pilgrimage opponents have decided […]