A surprisingly good editorial for a mainstream media source — this one is in the Union Leader, “Murder in Pakistan: Hatred all over the world”: SO, THEY don’t hate us for our freedoms, eh? The horrific murder of Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s best hope for democratic reform, is almost certainly the work of al-Qaida or al-Qaida-linked […]
Archives for December 2007
Coal in Israel’s stocking
Here is a terrific piece by Cliff May of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies on the Wall Street Journal’s recent hatchet piece on Israel and the Christians of Bethlehem: In this holiday season, there are journalistic conventions one comes to expect: stories lamenting the commercialism of Christmas; stories summing up the 12 months […]
Science, Islam, and Christianity
On Christmas Eve, the Guardian published an odd commentary piece by Ajmal Masroor, the director of Communities in Action. It was odd because Masroor was openly proselytizing for Islam, wondering why former British Prime Minister Tony Blair didn’t convert to Islam rather than to Catholicism. One doesn’t usually see such open proselytizing in a major […]
Osama snubs Al-Jazeera, to issue his boffo new release on jihadist website
This could be as big as when Sinatra broke with Capitol and formed the Reprise label: a jihadist website has denounced Al-Jazeera as “the channel of the infidels” and announced that the Elvis of jihad, Osama himself, would be posting his latest on the Net, and presumably bypassing the dinosaur media. Who would have imagined […]
Spencer: A Nuclear-Armed Jihadist State?
Here, from today’s FrontPage, is my take on the murder of Benazir Bhutto and its chief beneficiaries (news links in the original): Al-Qaeda has claimed credit for the murder on Thursday of Benazir Bhutto: “We terminated the most precious American asset which vowed to defeat [the] mujahadeen.” According to an Italian jihadist website, the hit […]
Three Tajik jihadists sentenced to prison terms for preparing attacks
“The suspects were allegedly members of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (MIO),” an organization whose founders “aimed to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state under Sharia law.” “Three Tajiks sentenced for preparing attacks: court,” from Agence France-Presse: Dushanbe. Three Tajiks accused of being members of a militant Islamic group were sentenced on Wednesday […]
India: Fatwa issued over relationship between female Muslim journalist, Sikh politician; “Had she been in Saudi Arabia, she would have been stoned by now”
Rumor has it that a female Muslim journalist and a male Sikh politician might be romantically involved, though they maintain they’re just friends. Either way, they’re spending time alone together. Would she marry a non-Muslim? Would she leave Islam for him? None of the clerics’ business? Oh, but it is. In fact, it’s time for […]
Pakistani Opposition Party Says “Bhutto’s Assassination May Spark Civil War”
And of course, it might. By Dharmendra Ashwal for AHN: Islamabad, Pakistan (AHN) – Following the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, opposition groups have warned of a civil war in Pakistan. Riaz Malik, of the opposition Pakistan Movement for Justice party (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf), warned, “The impact will be that Pakistan is in more […]
U.S. intelligence officials not sure Al-Qaeda really killed Bhutto
While the jihadists say that Al-Zawahri himself ordered the killing. “U.S. Checking al Qaeda Claim of Killing Bhutto,” by Brian Ross, Richard Esposito & R. Schwartz for ABC’s The Blotter (thanks to James): While al Qaeda is considered by the U.S. to be a likely suspect in the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Banazir […]
Violent protests, riots in Pakistan; Musharraf blames jihadists for Bhutto assassination
An update from the Canadian Press, “Pakistan in turmoil over Bhutto’s assassination, Musharraf blames terrorists”: RAWALPINDI, Pakistan – Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s opposition leader and one of the country’s best known politicians, was assassinated Thursday in a stunning suicide attack that also killed at least 20 others at a rally. The death of the charismatic former […]
Bhutto “champion of moderate face of Islam”?
The Press Trust of India calls Benazir Bhutto “an uncompromising champion of democracy and a moderate face of Islam.” Al-Guardian, meanwhile, in “Moderniser, moderate, martyr,” seems to assume that everyone will know what Benazir Bhutto was moderate about: In doing so, she presented herself as a moderate, willing to stand up to the Islamist militants […]
Benazir Bhutto: Killed by the real Pakistan
Andrew C. McCarthy tells the truth about Pakistan, a truth that eludes the government and the learned analysts, in National Review: A recent CNN poll showed that 46 percent of Pakistanis approve of Osama bin Laden. Aspirants to the American presidency should hope to score so highly in the United States. In Pakistan, though, the […]
Bush: Bhutto murder a “cowardly act by murderous extremists who are trying to undermine Pakistan’s democracy”
“Peace is impossible under Musharraf,” says Nawaz Sharif. “Assassination Poses Dilemma for US,” by Matthew Lee for AP: WASHINGTON (AP) – The Bush administration scrambled Thursday with the implications of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s assassination after investing significant diplomatic capital in promoting reconciliation between her and President Pervez Musharraf. President Bush, speaking briefly […]
US Special Forces to increase presence in Pakistan — Al-Qaeda’s new central battlefield
The latest casualty on Al-Qaeda’s central battlefield This is even more likely after the murder of Benazir Bhutto. But the military is still talking about educational and employment initiatives, as if they will make the jihad go away. This despite the fact that study after study has shown that jihadists are generally better educated and […]
Al-Qaeda claims murder of Benazir Bhutto
The jihad continues. “We terminated the most precious American asset which vowed to defeat [the] mujahadeen.” “Pakistan: Al-Qaeda claims Bhutto’s death,” from AKI (thanks to all who sent this in): Karachi, 27 Dec. (AKI) – (by Syed Saleem Shahzad) – A spokesperson for the al-Qaeda terrorist network has claimed responsibility for the death on Thursday […]
Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto assassinated in gun, bomb attack
More details to come later: From Khaleej Times Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack after a rally in the city of Rawalpindi on Thursday, her party said. “She has been martyred,” said party official Rehman Malik. Bhutto, 54, died in hospital in Rawalpindi. Ary-One Television said she had […]
Mauritania: Jihadists killed family of French tourists
“At least two of the suspects had been accused by prosecutors this year of being members of the al-Qaida-linked terror group and of having undergone military training with it in Algeria.” “Mauritania: Sleeper cell killed French,” by Ahmed Mohamed for the Associated Press: NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania – Mauritania’s interior minister blamed a terrorist sleeper cell Wednesday […]
Iran to USA: Don’t play games with us
More tough talk from the mullahcracy. From Al-Bawaba (thanks to Sr. Soph): Foreign Minister of Iran Manouchehr Mottaki warned US officials on Wednesday against starting new games with Iran, advising them to learn from their past failures. The minister made the remark while commenting on a recent statement by the Iraqi President Jalal Talabani during […]
Sweden population boom!
As immigrants pour in, native Swedes pour out. How long before Sweden becomes a Sharia state? “Sweden’s population boom continues,” from The Local (thanks to Dan): Sweden’s population is continuing to grow at a rapid clip, according to preliminary figures from Statistics Sweden…. The increase can be largely attributed to immigration figures, which are the […]
Iran Negotiating Purchase of Advanced Air Defense System from Russia
1938 Alert. “Iran Negotiating Purchase of Tur-M1 Missile System from Russia,” from Fars News Agency (thanks to Davsmi): TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said that Tehran has entered negotiations with Moscow for the purchase of Russia’s Tur-M1 Missile system. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet […]