“Whether there is anything specific to the Muslim religion that encourages this radicalisation is an open question” — Francis Fukuyama in Prospect magazine It’s not an “open question” to Ibn Warraq, or Ali Sina, or Ayaan Hirsi Ali or Wafa Sultan or Azam Kamguian or Irfan Khawaja or Anwar Shaikh or tens (or possibly hundreds) […]
Archives for January 2007
Canadian intel agency grasps for clues into “jihadization” of youth
The continuing assumption that Islam has been hijacked by a Tiny Minority of Extremists, and that “mainstream” Islam is “moderate” leads the Canadian Security Intelligence Service to a series of dead ends in attempting to explain the appearance of jihadists among Muslims in Canada. “Jihadization of youth a ‘rapid process’,” by Stewart Bell for the […]
Abu Bakar Bashir Threatens Jihad Against Indonesian Police
An update on this story. “Suspected Terror Leader Abu Bakar Bashir Threatens ‘Jihad’ Against Indonesian Police,” from Associated Press: JAKARTA, Indonesia “” An alleged Southeast Asian terror leader threatened to call for holy war against Indonesian police Thursday, days after an anti-terror squad shot dead 15 suspected Islamic extremists. Abu Bakar Bashir, accused by Australia […]
Atomic Iran
Nutters with nukes unveil tomorrow’s news today: From A.P. U.N. says Iran plans nuclear development Iran expects to start installing thousands of centrifuges in an underground facility next month, the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said Friday. The installation would pave the way to large-scale uranium enrichment, a potential way of making nuclear […]
“Hurray! We’re Capitulating!”
A 1938 alert from Der Spiegel: This essay is an excerpt of Henryk M. Broder’s book “Hurra, Wir Kapitulieren,” (“Hurray! We’re Capitulating”) published by Wolf Jobst Siedler Verlag in 2006. The book spent a number of weeks atop the DER SPIEGEL bestseller list. The controversy over the 12 Muhammad cartoons that were published in the […]
Petraeus lists mistakes in Iraq
Spreading democracy isn’t working out. From UPI The first problem was that the national elections, expected to unify the country behind a legitimate Iraqi government, did the opposite. Palestinians vote for Hamas, Afghans vote for sharia. Maybe someone should let our leaders in on a little secret: voting is only part of the equation.
My Problem with Jimmy Carter’s Book
More Mush from the Wimp. But as Kenneth W. Stein writes in the Middle East Quarterly, Carter was president. His critics were not. To support Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid‘s central theme that Israel is intransigent, Carter recasts Hamas as a moderate partner ready to negotiate with Israel. He launders its reputation both with careful word […]
Year of the bleep
If China capitulates first, there won’t be any bombs at the Olympics…perhaps. From the Sidney Morning Herald (whose headline gets the nod, but thanks to all who sent this in from various sources): China’s ruling Communist Party has banned images and mention of pigs in TV advertisements airing over the lunar new year to avoid […]
Suicide blast at Marriott hotel in Pakistani capital
The blast took place at the hotel “where the Indian High Commission was to host a reception to mark the Republic Day,” according to the Times of India . “Suicide blast at Marriott hotel in Pakistani capital,” by Rana Jawad for AFP : ISLAMABAD (AFP) – A suicide bomber killed a security guard and himself […]
Fitzgerald: Islamophobia? Not so fast
“Analysts both in the Muslim and the Western world by and large agree that “fear” and lack of objective dialogue are the root cause of Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism.” — a statement by Abukar Arman in this article Not so fast, buster. The word “Islamophobia” is not an acceptable term for intelligent apprehensions over Islam. For […]
Pakistan census highlights disappearance of Jewish minority
The surprise on the part of the former minister for religious minorities that there were Jews in Pakistan underscores how thoroughly their presence has been erased from history there. “Pakistan census poses question on remaining Jews,” from Reuters: ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan government census on civil servants raised curiosity on Thursday about one of the […]
Boxer, CAIR say dispute resolved, but Boxer won’t return rescinded award
It’s good news that Boxer didn’t give in to pressure from CAIR. It would be even better news if she continued to pursue what she has begun to learn about the group. “Boxer, Muslim group say skirmish resolved,” from Associated Press: WASHINGTON – Sen. Barbara Boxer and officials from a Muslim advocacy group said Wednesday […]
Iran Revolutionary Guards Quds Force director detained in Iraq
An update on this story. “U.S. envoy: Iran Revolutionary Guards Quds Force director detained,” by Steven R. Hurst for Associated Press: BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) – The U.S. ambassador said Wednesday that one of the Iranians detained by U.S. forces in Iraq during two raids over the past month was the director of operations for Iran’s […]
U.S. had “catch and release” policy on suspected Iranian agents until recently
As one U.S. official accurately described the policy: “We were bending over backwards not to fight back.” “Troops Authorized to Kill Iranian Operatives in Iraq,” by Dafna Linzer for the Washington Post: The Bush administration has authorized the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian operatives inside Iraq as part of an aggressive new strategy […]
Francis Fukuyama: “Whether there is anything specific to the Muslim religion that encourages this radicalisation is an open question”
Didn’t history end already? Why then are we still hearing from Francis Fukuyama? In “Identity and Migration” in Prospect, he says this: Whether there is anything specific to the Muslim religion that encourages this radicalisation is an open question. Since 11th September, a small industry has sprung up trying to show how violence and even […]
“More people were victimized as a result of Islamophobia than the other way around”
Refresh my memory: what was the name of that large skyscraper containing 3,000 people that was brought down by “Islamophobia”? Abukar Arman writes in the Baltimore Chronicle: Analysts both in the Muslim and the Western world by and large agree that “fear” and lack of objective dialogue are the root cause of Islamophobia and Anti-Americanism. […]
Bahraini reformer: “I listen to music”
Few people are aware that Islamic law forbids music, and when I have pointed it out, I’ve been accused of distortion and “Islamophobia.” Bahraini author Dhiyaa Al-Musawi knows better, and lists it along with several other points as evidence of his going against religious orthodoxy. He also has good things to say about rejecting the […]
Iran: Zoroastrian MP denounces rights violations
“Violating our rights, confiscating our belongings and treating us badly has become costumary. Zoroastrians who denounce such violations to authorities are completely ignored.” Bravo, Kurosh Niknam. May you be safe. From AKI, with thanks to Fjordman: Tehran, 23 Jan. (AKI) – Kurosh Niknam, an Iranian MP representing Zoroastrians in Parliament, has denounced state discriminations against […]
Indian, Pakistani troops exchange fire in Kashmir
Escalation. From Reuters: JAMMU, India (Reuters) – Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged small arms fire on Thursday after an attempt by anti-India militants to cross their heavily guarded border in the disputed territory of Kashmir, an Indian army spokesman said. “The (firing) has been going on for quite some time now between the two sides […]
Toothless UN rebuffed by Iran
1938 Alert: “UN nuclear agency asks Iran to back off on rejection of 38 inspectors,” and the second part of this headline should be: “Iran declines.” From AFP, : VIENNA (AFP) – The UN watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency has asked Iran to reverse its ban on 38 IAEA inspectors from working in the country, […]