“There was no reason why a country would need to possess such a document unless they wanted to produce uranium hemispheres for a nuclear weapon.” Alarming, yes. Surprising, no. “US: Strong reasons to suspect Iran was working covertly to build atomic bomb,” from Agence France-Presse, May 29: Inspectors from the UN atomic watchdog are “alarmed” […]
Archives for May 2008
Yemen under pressure? Authorities arrest 11 suspected al-Qaeda members
This roundup comes in the wake of a great deal of negative press about Yemen’s counter-terrorism efforts, which have been so half-hearted that even al-Qaeda has discouraged attacks on Yemeni authorities since they haven’t been “tools in the hands of the crusaders.” But now that they have those eleven suspects, will the track record on […]
Ethiopia: Hotel bombing kills 3; Somali jihadist group claims responsibility
Somalia Jihad Update. “Somali Islamist group claims responsibility for deadly bomb attack in Ethiopia,” from the Associated Press, May 29: MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) – A little-known Somali Islamist group claimed responsibility on Thursday for a bomb attack that killed three people in Ethiopia on the eve of national celebrations to mark the 17th anniversary of […]
Algeria: Prosecutor demands two years in prison, $8145 fines for ex-Muslims “practicing non-Muslim religious rites without a license”; woman apostate’s verdict delayed by international attention
Updates on the separate cases of six men and one woman detained for activities that could “shake the faith of Muslims.” As one of the defendants asked: “How can six people shake the faith of 40 million unless the court is convinced that the faith of the 40 million is not based on strong foundations?” […]
The great war against nothing in particular
Andy McCarthy wonders, since “war” and “terror” are no good, if it’s okay if we call this present conflict the “On” — “or would that offend all the moderate prepositions?” “War on terror” has always been a stupid and misleading term. But this recommendation to abandon it is even more stupid and misleading. New adventures […]
Qur’an critic to be executed in Iran within days
Dr. Foroud Fouladvand This message comes from an Iranian ex-Muslim and lover of freedom in London: Urgent Attention Another free thinker is to be executed in Iran in the coming days It is with great regret that I inform all freedom loving people of the world that the Mullahs’ terrorist regime is about to execute […]
Former Saudi Info Minister explains dialogue with Jews and Christians: “You know that the books you have are not the divine gospel and the divine Torah”
Since there is so much high hopes put on these calls for “dialogue,” such as the letter from the 138 scholars to the Pope, it is useful to remember some of the core assumptions involved. Note also that the idea that the Jews and Christians altered their holy books is one of the foundations of […]
Syria stonewalls on inspections of possible nuclear reactor support sites
1938 Alert. “Search Is Urged for Syrian Nuclear Sites,” by Joby Warrick and Robin Wright for the Washington Post, May 29: The Bush administration is pressing U.N. inspectors to broaden their search for possible secret nuclear facilities in Syria, hinting that Damascus’s nuclear program might be bigger than the single alleged reactor destroyed by Israeli […]
Bush: “Now, in the 21st century, our nation is once again contending with an ideology that seeks to sow anger and hatred and despair — the ideology of Islamic extremism”
Uh oh, he said “Islamic.” Will Condi call him on the carpet? “Bush likens war against Islamic extremism to fight against fascism,” from AFP, May 28 (thanks to all who sent this in): COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (AFP) – US President George W. Bush on Wednesday likened America’s efforts to quell Islamic extremism in Iraq and […]
The Nakba, May 29, 1453
Today marks the anniversary of the real Nakba, or perhaps more precisely the καταστροφή — the Catastrophe: on this day in 1453, the armies of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II entered Constantinople, marking the end of the Eastern Roman Empire, more commonly known as the Byzantine Empire. If anything deserves to be called an occupation, […]