tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-365971922024-02-08T05:26:19.273-06:00The RootA collection of miscellany seen through conservative eyes, "The Root" is an attempt to get at causes, not symptoms.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-3645070309764842272007-04-06T09:25:00.000-06:002007-04-06T09:30:36.646-06:00Jumping from Blogger to WordpressThis will be my last post on "The Root." I have created a new blog at <a href="http://www.beausams.com">www.beausams.com</a>, and until I can afford to have this site link to my new one, I'm asking you to make that easy click on over. Don't worry, BeauSams.com contains the same astute analysis of just about everything under the sun. (I'm joking about the astute part.) Thanks for reading. <br /><br />Best,<br /><br />BeauBeauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-84898408934138972102007-04-05T22:06:00.000-06:002007-04-05T22:12:35.597-06:00Watching 24 for the First TimeAs a <span style="font-style:italic;">24</span> noob, I have to say that I've been impressed with the first four episodes. The pace is frenetic, if a bit implausible, and the balance of tension within each episode is fantastic. The season one DVD is nice to have because I find myself wanting to see what's next constantly. <br /><br />The only show I'm hooked on at the moment is <span style="font-style:italic;">Lost</span>, and I definitely have room for some Jack Bauer in my diet. I think, though, that I'll try to catch up with the show, now in season seven, by rental first. I can tell already that this is going to be an enjoyable ride.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-31961309833612273562007-04-05T01:27:00.000-06:002007-04-05T01:35:07.872-06:00Democrats and the "GWOT"<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,264008,00.html">FOX News reports</a> that Democrats are fighting their Global War on Terminology again, attempting to strike "Global War on Terror" and "long war" from defense reports:<br /><blockquote>Erin Conaton, the committee's staff director, sent out the 15-page memo titled "Style Guide for Defense Authorization Report."<br /><br />"When referencing military operations throughout the world, please be as specific as possible. Please avoid using colloquialisms such as, 'the war on terrorism, or the 'Long War' Please do not use the term 'global war on terrorism,' " according to the memo.</blockquote>Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-8052062807021562202007-04-04T13:46:00.000-06:002007-04-04T14:03:39.900-06:00Rainbow Six, Vegas StyleI admit I'm a little behind the curve when it comes to console video games, but I have recently been playing Rainbow Six: Vegas, and it really rocks. Having played Gears of War prior to this, I was familiar with the run, duck, and fire from cover game mechanics. What I wasn't expecting was the impressive amount of visceral fun Rainbow Six offers. While chasing terrorists through Mexico and into Vegas, you get to blow up pretty much anything that stands between you and them. Spraying a burst of gunfire through a casino's glass windows while a bad guy hides behind an escalator shouldn't be this much fun, but it is. Heck, sometimes I don't even know where the bad guys are, so I just fire randomly across the room, which is surprisingly rewarding. <br /><br />The storyline leaves a lot to be desired, but part of my confusion comes from not being able to hear the important conversations before and during missions. I'm not sure if my television is to blame or if the dialogue is rather muted. Regardless, I tend to play games like this using Tuco's philosophy from <span style="font-style:italic;">The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly</span>: "If you're gonna shoot, shoot. Don't talk."<br /><br />For a generally good time, I can't imagine action games getting much better than Rainbow Six: Vegas. It's easy to pick up and hard to put down.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-73558991766423342082007-04-04T11:21:00.000-06:002007-04-04T14:01:43.805-06:00Happy Easter! Signed, Your friend MahmoudMad Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (MMA) has agreed to "pardon" captured British soldiers and just in time for the Easter holiday! Well, how about that. FOX <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,263924,00.html">reports</a>.<blockquote><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ahmadinejad asked British Prime Minister Tony Blair not to "punish" the crew for confessing that they had been in Iranian waters when they were seized by Iranian coast guard</span>. Iran broadcast videotapes of some of the crew giving confessions, infuriating Britain.</blockquote> Aww, what a swell chap. It gets better: <blockquote>Ahmadinejad said Iran was not seeking a "confrontation" when it intercepted the British, "but the deplorable conduct of the British government led to the prolonging of this incident."<br /><br />He criticized Britain for deploying Leading Seaman Faye Turney, one of the 15 detainees, in the Gulf, pointing out that she is a woman with a child.<br /><br />"How can you justify seeing a mother away from her home, her children? <span style="font-weight:bold;">Why don't they respect family values in the West?</span>" he asked of the British government.</blockquote> Touche.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-6401855656532647182007-04-03T20:20:00.000-06:002007-04-04T10:20:56.002-06:00Taking One on the Stiff Upper Lip?Former soldier and current military analyst Frank Peters today questioned the actions of the British hostages in Iran, <a href="http://www.nypost.com/seven/04032007/postopinion/opedcolumnists/wheres_winston__opedcolumnists_ralph_peters.htm">claiming the Brits "wimped out in a matter of days and acquiesced in propoganda broadcasts for their captors."</a> Ouch. <br /><br />Peters colorfully describes the situation:<br /><blockquote> What on earth happened to the Royal Marines? They're members of what passes for an elite unit. Has the Labor government's program to gut the U.K. military - grounding planes, taking ships out of service and deactivating army units - also ripped the courage from the breasts of those in uniform?<br /><br />The female sailor who broke down first and begged for her government to surrender was pathetic enough. But when Royal Marines started pleading for tea and sympathy . . . Ma, say it ain't so!<br /><br />Meanwhile, back at No. 10 "Downer" Street, British politicians are more upset that President Bush described their sailors and Marines as "hostages" than they are with the Iranians.<br /><br />Okay, Lord Spanker and Lady Fanny - what exactly are those sailors and Marines? Package tourists?<br /><br />Naturally, the European Union has praised Britain's "restraint." We've now got another synonym for cowardice.<br /><br />I've always respected the Brits and quite liked those I worked with when in uniform . . . but I'm starting to wonder if I bought into a legend. While criticizing our military's approach to everything, the Brits made an utter balls of it in Basra - now they're bailing out, claiming "Mission accomplished!" (OK, they had a role model . . .) In Heaven, Winston Churchill's puking up premium scotch. </blockquote>Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-9892527303138782632007-04-03T14:23:00.001-06:002007-04-04T14:02:44.473-06:00A-R-A-B: The Rap<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/nizt2oEtHl8' name='movie'></param><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/nizt2oEtHl8'></embed></object></p><p>Another video from Remy and Habib, the guys who did the Warcraft vid. </p></div>Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-87711783814720956572007-04-03T11:00:00.001-06:002007-04-04T14:03:06.160-06:00Warcraft: The Rap<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/B97P0e7ejYw' name='movie'></param><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/B97P0e7ejYw'></embed></object></p><p>My nerdy alter-ego is a huge World of Warcraft fan, and this is one of the best WoW vids out there right now. Even if you don't play, you might still enjoy this.</p></div>Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-10378640394193384152007-04-02T19:41:00.000-06:002007-04-04T14:04:40.857-06:00U.S. to Blame...AgainIt turns out Rosie O'Donnell is not the only voice in the liberal wilderness blaming the U.S. for the British hostage crisis. She is joined by the British daily, <span style="font-style:italic;">The Independent</span>, which claims in an article today that <a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article2414760.ece">a botched U.S. raid ten weeks prior to the hostage incident is ultimately to blame</a> for Iran's actions.<br /><br />I'm sure Iran is really miffed that we took a swipe at the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on his visit to Arbil in Northern Iraq. After all, I'm sure he was on a goodwill mission, delivering cookies and milk to Kurdistani diplomats there. But it stands to reason that they would send a clear message to us instead of the hopelessly mixed signals coming from Tehran at the moment. Also, nevermind the fact that evidence has been found showing Iranian involvement in resistance efforts against the U.S.; <a href="http://washingtontimes.com/commentary/20070315-082220-8308r.htm">Rick Brennan covered this in a NYTimes piece two weeks ago.</a> Nevermind Iran's repeated flouting of U.N. demands to come clean over their nuclear program. Simply forget Mad Mahmoud's eagerness to perpetrate another Jewish holocaust. It is, as always, those cowboys from the West who are to blame. <br /><br />If only we wouldn't be so gung-ho. If only we would listen to the worldwide community (who, interestingly, spends most of their time listening to Iran's demands). If only we would reward bad behavior by the promise of incentives upon compliance. Then this hostage situation could have been averted. This whole Middle Eastern imbroglio might have been averted if we would have curried the favor of world opinion. <br /><br />This article is, sadly, another example of a growing dhimmitude in Europe--a hope to achieve success through submission. That the UK would take so long to attempt to resolve this situation doesn't speak to patient virtue, but to indecisive weakness. There is a reason, after all, that British soldiers were kidnapped and not Americans, and <span style="font-style:italic;">The Independent</span> never quite gets around to it. Iran's leaders know that kidnapping American soldiers would be the death knell for Ahmadinejad and his cronies. They understand the language of the strong man--that a strong man only submits to the stronger man. Unfortunately, as Tony Blair warns the Iranian government that he will move to a new diplomatic phase if pushed, British hostages are paraded, humiliated, and made a mockery of to a worldwide audience. Teddy Roosevelt said to "speak softly and carry a big stick." Thus far, the British only have the first part of that right.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Update:</span> Allahpundit at Hot Air offers an extended debunking of <span style="font-style:italic;">The Independent's</span> article <a href="http://hotair.com/archives/2007/04/02/independent-recycles-three-month-old-story-to-blame-us-for-hostage-crisis/">here</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">More</span> on Britain's "quiet diplomacy" from <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1605931,00.html?xid=site-cnn-partner">Time</a>.</span><br /><blockquote>At a Camp David press conference on the weekend, Bush reiterated his support for his friend across the Atlantic and deplored Iran's "inexcusable behavior" in "the British hostages issue." The use of the word hostages was "utterly careless," says John Williams, who in June 2004 as Director of News for the British Foreign Ministry, was involved in moves to free eight British service personnel, also detained by Iran on a stretch of the Shatt al Arab waterway. He argues that the British government must be seen to regard the current crop of detainees "as victims of a misunderstanding that could be resolved." <span style="font-weight:bold;">That's a prerequisite for the kind of quiet diplomacy that prevailed back in the summer of 2004 when the eight were freed after three days.</span></blockquote><br />Yes, but it is also a prerequisite for more aggressive behavior on Iran's part, as manifested in this latest hostage incident.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-57630648708130749722007-04-02T16:16:00.001-06:002007-04-02T16:16:47.282-06:00Newt Gingrich - How to bring the British hostages home<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/SEsP9NdCzhc' name='movie'></param><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/SEsP9NdCzhc'></embed></object></p><p>Newt shoots straight regarding Iran.</p></div>Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-51473742106640426802007-04-02T14:10:00.000-06:002007-04-02T14:32:45.474-06:00Those who do not learn from the past...In a rather predictable move, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=445979&in_page_id=1770">some teachers and schools in the UK are refusing to teach certain inconvenient historical truths</a>--namely the Holocaust and the Crusades--in an effort to appease the Muslim community, who are taught in their mosques ideas contrary to popular historical interpretation.<br /><br />Well blow me down. If this type of behavior wasn't becoming commonplace in Europe, I'd be more aghast. The essence of politically correct behavior has always been to sacrifice truth at the twin altars of tolerance and multiculturalism, which is why it is ultimately doomed to fail. The question is will it fail because good people wake up and recognize it for the idiocy that it is or will it take the future Imam of England to decree it so?Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-68901248079977280912007-03-31T00:31:00.000-06:002007-04-02T14:39:03.154-06:00Rosie O'Donnell--Less Cutie, More Patootie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/c/c6/150px-Stay-puff-marshmellow-man-film.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/c/c6/150px-Stay-puff-marshmellow-man-film.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Rosie O'Donnell has been intellectually overboard for quite some time now. In fact, I don't know that there was ever a time when she was not. Her recent comments regarding the supposed <a href="http://www.rosie.com/">joint British/American naval prisoner conspiracy</a> is only more evidence that this is the case. She claims that the truth behind the facade is that the U.S. wanted to bully Iran into escalation, so we pressed our old fallguys, the British, into doing the dirty work for us. Now, I don't admit that this is beyond the realm of possibility anymore than, say, Hugo Chavez being hired to drive Al Gore around in an all-electric Toyota Prius. It <span style="font-style:italic;">could</span> happen if the planets align just right.<br /><br />Unfortunately, Rosie has turned The View into her bully pulpit, or Big Rosie's Playpen. She is one of those people who just has to speak their mind without consideration of others. I watched a show not too long ago where the gals interviewed Dennis Miller. Now, I'm no huge fan of Miller's, but I think he is an intelligent and reasonable guy. He appeared especially so when paired with Rosie O'Donnell, who felt it necessary whenever possible to try to steal some of Miller's building gusto. Her futile effort caused her to come off as bitter and childish. Her closing remarks didn't help matters as she threw in some comment to the effect that while Miller is an okay guy, his political views are drastically different from hers. This raised an interesting question of what's worse--her views or that many people in America actually care about them. <br /><br />That Rosie has so much cultural capital when one would be hard-pressed to think of any redeemable thing she has done to deserve it kinda bums me out. It reminds me of a similar situation involving another rather big, umm, creature of Hollywood's imagination--the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. In <span style="font-style:italic;">Ghostbusters </span>, Ray is told by the villain that the first thing that comes to his mind will be the thing that destroys the world. Ray imagines Stay Puft because he thinks there's nothing more harmless than a big marshmallow. Boy, was he wrong. <br /><br />At the risk of exploding my analogy, our cult of celebrity magnifies Rosie's puffery to a status it doesn't deserve and, worse, seemingly justifies more of the same.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-51777218216465845442007-03-29T20:43:00.000-06:002007-03-29T21:45:55.423-06:00I'm Back (and with a movie review, no less)Okay kiddos and kiddettes, I've finally completed my thesis, defended that sucker, and now I'm almost out the door. I'm still teaching, but the lion's share of my writing energy has returned, so I'm going to start posting to my blog again. <br /><br />I'm going to review a movie I just saw on date night with my wife--<span style="font-style:italic;">Reign Over Me</span>. First, a guilty confession and digression. The only reason I was remotely interested in this flick was that Adam Sandler looked a dead ringer for Bob Dylan in the previews. Having seen the movie, the resemblance is uncanny at times and also a bit disconcerting, too. The feeling I had can only be compared to the feeling I have while watching a Tom Cruise movie. I can never look past Tom Cruise enough to enjoy any film with him in it. He's that absurdly ubiquitous in our culture. However, so is Bob Dylan (at least to music fans), and I lost the immersion factor a few times. <br /><br />Overall, though, I'd have to say the movie was very enjoyable. The cast is strong, led by Sandler, Don Cheadle, Liv Tyler, Jada Pinkett Smith, and, in a minor appearance, Donald Sutherland. However, this movie is primarily about the relationship between Sandler's character, Charlie Fineman, and Cheadle's, Alan Johnson. It is an odd coupling, to say the least, but the divergent personalities of the two (Fineman is borderline insane while Johnson is a reserved family man) work well against each other.<br /><br />The storyline is plausible as the two former roommates link up only to find that their once close relationship is non-existent because of the events of Sept. 11th, 2001. Fineman lost his wife and three kids in that tragedy and has developed a post-traumatic stress disorder. Johnson tries to help him find his way back while dealing with some issues of his own. The misadventures that follow are entertaining, comic, and, ultimately, heartwarming. <br /><br />However, there is a struggle at times to sympathize with Sandler's character because of his repetitive outbursts against those who both love and try to help him. Yet, just when I thought I couldn't handle another emotional tempest, the plot was gradually brought to a resolution. What is revealed throughout these episodes is the scope and size of Fineman's struggle (symbolized by his addiction to a video game where he fights enemies of colossal dimensions)and the difficulty he has not only with processing his loss, but with learning to trust and love again. And the struggle to relate is not only his, for the inability of well-meaning people to understand him is painfully obvious as well. <br /><br />Sandler plays Fineman with a depth that surprised me honestly, having only seen him in movies like Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and Big Daddy. He captures the fragility of psychosis during moments almost simultaneously charming and chilling. Cheadle turns in his usual excellent, although understated, performance. This guy is one of the most underrated actors in Hollywood, and his comments on Captain America's black sidekick in the movie can be taken as a metatextual remark on his star status.<br /><br />So, to bring this windy exposition to a close, I'd give <span style="font-style:italic;">Reign Over Me</span> two-thumbs up.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-88614431820102841182006-11-18T00:50:00.000-06:002006-11-20T13:00:27.600-06:00R.I.P. Bo Schembechler<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/3528/4467/1600/458782/schembechler.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/3528/4467/400/427893/schembechler.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I remember when the Schembechler-led Michigan Wolverines bested my Crimson Tide in the 1988 Hall of Fame bowl; it was the first time I saw Alabama lose a football game. I was inconsolable.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-53808538144248901442006-11-17T09:40:00.000-06:002006-11-17T09:57:32.086-06:00WWMcD? (What Will McCain Do?)Nate over at <a href="http://www.youdecide2008.com/2006/11/16/mccain-fauxtoshop-because-its-easy/">You Decide 2008</a> has put together a nice collection of John McCain's possible talking points for '08.<br /><br />This is my personal favorite:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/3528/4467/1600/599800/mccain_faux_3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/3528/4467/400/507184/mccain_faux_3.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-91085932923659415002006-11-17T09:07:00.000-06:002006-11-17T10:13:36.338-06:00Republicans Vote Boehner House Minority, Blunt WhipI'm not going to be angry, but I don't feel that the Republican boat is headed in the right direction, unless, of course, a political iceberg in '08 is the desired destination.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update</span>: Mary Katherine Ham laments the <a href="http://townhall.com/blog/g/9438890a-fe8a-466a-a5a9-2a98d51a81bb">status quo</a>.(H/T <a href="http://www.michellemalkin.com/">Malkin</a><br /><br />Update II: NR's Jonah Goldberg on the Republican penchant for old, white southern dudes:<br /><blockquote>Who says the Republicans are the Stupid party?<br /><br />Huge numbers of voters told exit pollsters that they were disgusted with the nigh-upon Roman excesses of the GOP; the self-dealing, the pork-barrel spending, the aloofness — it was all just too much. Meanwhile, strategists warned that the Republican party was becoming too white, too male and too exclusively Southern. Ken Mehlman, the outgoing head of the Republican National Committee, declared just days after the GOP’s recent thumpin’, “We rely too much on white guys for our vote.”<br /><br />So what did the GOP senators do when they needed to pick their No. 2 man in the Senate? They shouted, “This is a job for Trent Lott!”<br /><br />Recall, if you will, that Lott, the Mississippi Republican, was Senate majority leader in 2002 until he proclaimed that America would be better off if only Strom Thurmond — the Dixiecrat segregationist candidate in 1948 — had been elected president.<br /><br />The gale-force winds of the subsequent political maelstrom were not only enough to blow Lott from his perch as majority leader, but some witnesses actually swear they saw his hair move.</blockquote><br /><br />Also, <a href="http://www.captainsquartersblog.com/mt/archives/008535.php">Captain Ed</a> offers a way back.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-82234801620181076442006-11-16T20:25:00.000-06:002006-11-16T22:09:26.482-06:00Common Sense Conservatism? Hmm.<a href="http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-11-16T205527Z_01_N16567717_RTRUKOC_0_US-USA-POLITICS-MCCAIN.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsHome-C3-politicsNews-2">From Reuters</a>:<blockquote>Arizona Sen. John McCain, taking the first step toward a 2008 White House bid, said on Thursday a return to principles of limited government and "common sense conservatism" would carry Republicans back to power after last week's election drubbing.<br />[...]<br />"Common sense conservatives believe that the government that governs least governs best, that government should do only those things individuals cannot do for themselves and do them efficiently," he said.</blockquote><br />Well, that sounds nice and all, but why do we have to keep repackaging conservatism? It reminds me of something Rush Limbaugh once wrote about New Democrats. He said something to the effect that anytime a Democrat runs as something new, rest assured that he's the same old Democrat with new packaging. Until McCain decides to define what exactly "common sense conservatism" means, especially where illegals and gay marriage are concerned, then I'm going to assume he's a moderate in conservative clothing.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-49768957996323353992006-11-16T16:46:00.000-06:002006-11-16T20:03:02.546-06:00New Assessment of the Jihadist Threat Released(H/T <a href="http://www.jihadwatch.com">Jihad Watch</a>)The <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/15/washington/15terror.html?_r=4&oref=slo&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin">United States Military Academy has released a report</a> citing the declining influence of figures such as Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahri in jihadist circles because of the increasing global spread brought about by the internet. The real cultivation of radical ideology seems to be coming from chatrooms and forums. But, here's the really harrowing news:<blockquote>The report found that radical Islam, sometimes called Salafism, is so deeply embedded in the Arab world that Salafis now constitute a “majority or significant portion” of the Muslim population in the Middle East and North Africa.</blockquote><br />Contrary to what I've read and heard--and most of that was from conservatives--the threat from radical Islam is much greater than many previously thought. The folks at Jihad Watch have been saying this for some time, but I guess I didn't want to overstate the problem. <br /><br />One difficulty is being able to discuss this without the demanded qualifiers (you know, the litany of "of courses" that has to follow any claim about radical Islam.) Again, I think it's time we speak through the emotion surrounding this issue to get at the facts.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-82805170048515430082006-11-16T15:17:00.000-06:002006-11-16T17:35:11.892-06:00Not Groundbreaking, But Good News NonethelessThe Iraqi Interior Ministry reports that it has issued an arrest warrant for one of the top instigators of sectarian violence, <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20061116-1228-iraq-sunniarrest.html">the AP reports</a>.<br /><br /><blockquote>The Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant Thursday for the head of the influential Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars.<br /><br />Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani, a Shiite, said Harith al-Dhari was wanted for inciting terrorism and violence among the Iraqi people. Al-Dhari [is] the top leader for the Sunni minority. </blockquote><br />Sounds like good news to me, especially given incidents like <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6153316.stm">this</a>:<blockquote>In continuing bloodshed in Baghdad, police said gunmen opened fire on customers and workers in the bakery in the religiously-mixed neighbourhood of Zayouna.<br /><br />Most bakeries in the capital are run by members of Iraq's Shia majority and are frequently targeted by Sunni militants. </blockquote>Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-70458950935783610392006-11-15T16:02:00.000-06:002006-11-15T16:25:38.077-06:00Fair and Balanced CriticismI like most things about FOX News, but I can't say the same about the FOX Network. Why are they giving face-time to O.J. Simpson with this <a href="http://apnews.myway.com/article/20061115/D8LDKJLG0.html">two-episode hypothetical confession</a>? This is little more than pandering to the Nancy Grace crowd in order to boost ratings.<br /><br />Here's the official word from FOX:<br /><blockquote>"O.J. Simpson, in his own words, tells for the first time how he would have committed the murders if he were the one responsible for the crimes," the network said in a statement. "In the two-part event, Simpson describes how he would have carried out the murders he has vehemently denied committing for over a decade."</blockquote><br />Wait. He <span style="font-style:italic;">was</span> the one responsible for the crimes; he was found guilty in a civil suit that awarded an enormous settlement to the families of his victims. He still hasn't paid them. <br /><br />And yet, here's Orenthal again. On national television. Because he can't stand being out of the public eye. FOX doesn't have to show this program; it is an informed and deliberate decision. And it's one that I hope Americans will hold them accountable for.<br /><br />But I'm not holding my breath.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-38566911631464278762006-11-15T12:57:00.000-06:002006-11-15T13:04:15.127-06:00Here's Predicting This Story Gets Downplayed<a href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/11/abramoff_report_1.html">From ABC News/The Blotter:</a><br /><blockquote>As convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported to federal prison today, a source close to the investigation surrounding his activities told ABC News that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) was one of the members of Congress Abramoff had allegedly implicated in his cooperation with federal prosecutors.<br />[...]<br />A source close to the investigation says Abramoff told prosecutors that more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid from Abramoff's clients "were no accident and were in fact requested by Reid."<br />[...]<br />Sen. Reid has been an outspoken critic of the connections between Abramoff and Republican legislators.<br /><br />In a speech earlier this year, Sen. Reid described it as "a program where the lobbyists paid and the Republican members of Congress played."<br /><br />The Justice Department said it would have no comment on the ongoing Abramoff investigation.</blockquote><br />I hope Abramoff squeals on every last one of these crooked jokers, Republican or Democrat.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-34155576450689783062006-11-15T09:56:00.001-06:002006-11-15T10:38:25.267-06:00Lott Is the New Minority Whip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/3528/4467/1600/trentlott.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/3528/4467/400/trentlott.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Fox News is reporting that Trent Lott is the new minority whip in the Senate.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update</span>: Breitbart <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/11/15/D8LDJE9G1.html">reports</a> that, according to outgoing senator Rick Santorum, Lott beat Lamar Alexander of Tennessee by one vote, 25-24.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Update II</span>: With the election of Lott, are Republicans sending the message that the way forward is by going in reverse? Haven't we seen this song-and-dance already?Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-11039252056454554102006-11-15T09:47:00.000-06:002006-11-15T15:55:38.011-06:00Daniel Pipes on Installing a Strongman in IraqPipes agrees with James F. Burns' <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/12/weekinreview/12burns.html?_r=1&oref=slogin">article in the NY Times</a> that suggests the idea of installing a strongman in Iraq may be an attractive alternative to the chaos existing there now.<br /><br />Pipes' response is <a href="http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/702">here</a>.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-63322753382209567862006-11-15T09:24:00.000-06:002006-11-15T09:40:00.793-06:00The Only "Phased Redeployment" I Care AboutHow about Republicans start advocating a phased redeployment of illegal immigrants back to their home country, and soon? All this talk of amnesty for illegals turns my stomach. We should see past the emotion on this issue and enforce the laws of our country.<br /><br />Reflecting a glimmer of hope, Mike Pence, candidate for House Minority Leader, has recanted his original position of an amnesty compromise, the <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20061115-122626-4892r.htm">Washington Times reports</a>.<blockquote>"I [Pence] reject any form of amnesty, even if we've got border security," he said. "I really reject the idea that people whose first act in this country was a violation of the law ought to be able to get right with the law without leaving the country."</blockquote>The Republican leadership needs to find some backbone and get tough on illegals.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36597192.post-90385158493457727612006-11-14T14:12:00.000-06:002006-11-14T14:32:41.460-06:00Crazy Mahmoud?<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/14/AR2006111400230_pf.html">From Washington Post/AP</a>:<br /><blockquote>VIENNA, Austria -- International Atomic Energy experts have found unexplained plutonium and highly enriched uranium traces in a nuclear waste facility in Iran and have asked Tehran for an explanation, an IAEA report said Tuesday.<br /><br />The report, prepared for next week's meeting of the 35-nation IAEA, also faulted Tehran for not cooperating with the agency's attempts to investigate suspicious aspects of Iran's nuclear program that have lead to fears it might be interested in developing nuclear arms.<br /><br />And it said it could not confirm Iranian claims that its nuclear activities were exclusively nonmilitary unless Tehran increased its openness.<br /><br />"The agency will remain unable to make further progress in its efforts to verify the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran," without additional cooperation by Tehran, said the report, by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei.<br /><br />Such cooperation is a "prerequisite for the agency to be able to confirm the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program," it added.<br /><br />As expected, the four-page report made available to The Associated Press confirmed that Iran continues uranium enrichment experiments in defiance of the U.N. Security Council.<br /><br />Both highly enriched uranium and plutonium can be used to make the fissile core of nuclear warheads, and Iran is under intense international pressure to freeze activities that can produce such substances.<br /><br />But Tehran has shrugged off both Security Council demands that it stop developing its enrichment programs and urgings that it cease construction of a heavy water research reactor that produces plutonium waste. It insists it wants enrichment only to generate nuclear power and says it needs the Arak research reactor to produce isotopes for medical research and cancer treatment.<br /><br />Earlier Tuesday, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that Iran would soon celebrate completion of its nuclear fuel program and claimed the international community was ready to accept it as a nuclear state.<br /></blockquote>Could the international community please wake up? What is it going to take for the UN to act? Does Israel have to be nuked first? A suitcase bomb set off around the Green Zone in Iraq? Oh wait, the UN doesn't act. It only talks, exhorts, condemns, and "isolates." Apparently, President Ahmadinejad thinks that the international community is ready to embrace a nuclear Iran--one more member of the nuclear gentlemen's club. <br /><br />I really hope diplomacy works, but I'm almost sure it won't. If it doesn't, let's hope that the US is prepared to follow through with the alternative.Beauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17833422161691671366noreply@blogger.com0