March 29, 2005

Russians Hate Jews (But not nearly as much as Muslims hate Jews & Christians)

Interesting findings of a Pew poll as published by the Union of Councils for Jews in the Soviet Union. Second place goes to the Germans and the French *shock*:

A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press on global attitudes towards Muslims, Jews, and Christians found that among predominantly Christian countries, Russia is the most antisemitic, according to a March 18, 2005 report by the Regnum news agency.

Twenty-five percent of respondents to the Pew survey in Russia expressed hostility towards Jews, compared to 20% in Germany, 11% in France, 9% in the UK, and 8% in the US. Hostility towards Muslims was expressed by 46% of respondents in Germany, 38% in Russia, 32% in the US, 29% in France, and 18% in the UK.

Attitudes towards Jews and Christians in selected predominantly Muslim countries were generally more hostile, with a whopping 92% of respondents in Morocco expressing hostility towards Jews and 72% expressing hostility towards Christians.

Hat tip: Zorkmidden of Discarded Lies

Parenthetically I have seen hostility towards Muslims in both the U.S. and Russia. A survey cannot capture how this hostility is translated on the ground.

In Moscow, for instance, Tartars or people who appeared to be from the Caucuses are routinely sidelined by the police for questioning. And by routine I mean every time I went to a Metro stop the police were checking the I.D. on a darker skinned guy.

The summary of findings for the report also shows that 57% of the French think that the U.S. is overreacting to terrorism.

Other tidbits? 2% of Pakistanis have an unfavorable view of Muslims. Interestingly enough, Pakistan's Christian population is estimated at between 1.5-3%. Why would Christians in Pakistan have an unfavorable view of Muslims? Answer.

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The Gay-Outing Terrorists of the Left: The 'Gayjahidiin'

Thanks to the terrorist tactics of the gay-outing left, The Gay Patriot has been silenced. Darleen calls this Leftist jihadism. I think the term gayjahidin is apt.

The tactics used by John Aravosis (Americablog) and Michael Rogers (BlogActive-Raw Story) have become more and more disgusting with time. Recently, we noted in a series of posts that the two have teamed up to 'out' Republican National Committee Chair, Ken Mehlman.

Now, the pair have sunk to an even lower low--if that is possible to imagine. Gay Patriot likened the two to 'terrorists'. What did it get the anonymous gay-blogger? According to Outlet Radio:

According to GayPatriot, who is also a client of mine, Michael Rogers called GayPatriot's place of employment on Friday immediately following the post above and spoke to GayPatriot's secretary and boss. GayPatriot had no idea Rogers would go to such measures and shared with me that both he and his secretary were very upset by the calls but that his boss was understanding.
Rogers excuse for calling Gay Patriot's boss?
Rogers expressed feeling threatened by the post and compared it to posts by anti-abortionists who posted the names of doctors performing them.
That is how threatening people behave, not those that feel threatened.

Rogers later instigated a police investigation and demanded from Gay Patriot's webhost that his site be taken down (check the update).

As Rob at Say Anything puts it:

TheyÂ’re telling us, with their actions, that if youÂ’re gay in this country you can not support the Republican party or any aspect of the political right and if you do support that sort of thing you will be persecuted.
He also points me to Lime Sherbert who was appparently also a victim of the gayjahidin.

Jay Tea over at Wizbang adds:

So, let's sum things up: the attitude of conservatives towards gays is "do whatever the hell you want, just keep it in private. And no, you aren't getting married, so forget about that." The liberals say "we're all for you, we'll give you whatever you want, just so long as you do exactly as we say. Otherwise, we'll fry your faggot asses -- and not in a way you'll like."
The left keeps using that word tolerance. I do not think that word means what they think it means.

Update: Emperor Misha barks in and points me to Lime Sherbert's banner. You can check it out here.

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14th?!?!

Thanks to John Hawkins of Right Wing News for naming the Jawa his 14th favorite read. But 14th? Come on, dude. I understand being behind Malkin and Betsy, you wouldn't want to be accused of being gay (not that there's anything wrong with that...), but behind Tim freakin Blair!!! Isn't he, like, one of them foreigners or something? That's just not right......

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Romanian Journalists Taken Hostage in Iraq, Plea for Help (UPDATED)

Sorin_Dumitru_Miscoci.jpgUPDATE 10:40 PM: Reports are coming in that a fourth hostage was taken. The fourth hostage is an American......Check main page for updates......


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Three Romanian Journalists have been kidnapped in Iraq. The three victims are Marie Jeanne Ion, Sorin Dumitru Miscoci, and Edward Ovidiu Ohanesian (although the MSM is still reporting the last man as simply 'Ovidiu', his first name is Edward).

As we have noted many times before, paying the ransom demands of hostage takers often leads to more hostage taking...eh, Giuliana Sgena?

Images: top, Prima TV camera man Sorin Dumitru Miscoci; bottom, Prima TV reporter Marie Jeanne Ion

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AP:

Three Romanian journalists had finished interviewing Iraq's interim prime minister hours earlier when one of them sent an ominous text message back to her newsroom: "Help, this is not a joke, we've been kidnapped."

The three were abducted Monday night near their Baghdad hotel, officials said Tuesday - the latest journalists to be taken hostage in Iraq.

They were identified as reporter Marie Jeanne Ion, 32, and cameraman Sorin Dumitru Miscoci, 30, from Bucharest-based television station Prima TV, and Romania Libera reporter Ovidiu Ohanesian, 37.

Petre Mihai Bacanu, managing editor of Romania Libera newspaper, said the three disappeared late Monday, shortly after interviewing interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.

Bacanu said no group had claimed responsibility and no ransom demand had been made.

The three were abducted about 8:30 p.m. from a street next to the hotel, which is not in the city's heavily fortified Green Zone, a hotel employee who works at the reception desk told The Associated Press by telephone.

A group from the Romanian Embassy told the hotel staff that their driver reported the three had been kidnapped, the employee said. The hotel, where other foreign journalists also stay, is in Baghdad's upscale Jadriya neighborhood and is surrounded by a concrete barrier, he said.

A Prima TV statement said Ion called the newsroom, speaking a mixture of Romanian, Arabic and English, and was heard apparently talking to her abductors.

Image right: Eduard Ovidiu Ohanesian reporter for 'Romania Libera' newspaper,Guardian:
Prima TV said Ion had made a mobile phone call to the station shortly after the three were abducted.

"Don't kill us, we are from a poor country and we have no money," Ion was quoted as saying.

Their translator said that they were from Romania, a poor country and don't have money to pay a ransom. All I know they have been taken by force and we can't reach them any more," Mr Dumitru said.

The disappearance of the three Romanians is just the latest kidnaping incident involving journalists in Iraq.

In December, a pro-American President was elected in Romania. Even more importantly, President Traian Basescu was elected publicly proclaiming his support for U.S. policy in Iraq.

Romania has 800 troops in Iraq and President Basescu made a surprise Easter visit to Iraq on Sunday.


Image: Marie Jeanne Ion (L) and cameraman Sorin Miscoci (R) from Romania's Prima TV

UPDATE 11:22 (Central): The Sgrena effect has begun. FT:

Romania's government may face its first test in sustaining public support for the country's military presence in Iraq after three Romanian journalists went missing in Baghdad on Monday, presumed kidnapped.

One official in Bucharest said the government expected “some negative public reaction”, but added that much would depend on how the crisis was resolved....

Romania has been a strong supporter of the US mission in Iraq since the 2003 invasion. But an opinion poll released on Tuesday showed 55 per cent believed their country's 800 troops in Iraq should be brought home.

I understand 'old Europe' wanting to see democracy fail in Iraq, but 'new Europe' as well?

UPDATE 1:08 (Central): A well informed source tells me that rumors have begun circulaiting that Ansar al-Sunna is responsible for the abduction of the three Romanian journalists.

This would indeed be odd given that the journalists were abducted in Baghdad.

Developing.......

Others: Chad at In the Bullpen, Interested Participant, Opinion Bug, Hyscience, Digger,

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Hunting Zarqawi on the Web

Is the FBI seriously tracking down terrorist websites? I doubut it.

This Newsweek piece lays on the excuses for why the job of tracking these websites is so difficult. If informal networks of bloggers and amateur terrorist trackers can keep tabs on them why not the FBI? Pretty amazingly pathetic.

Dan, over at Riehl World View, also makes a few keen observations here. What many readers may not be aware of is that most terrorist websites are hosted by companies in either the U.S. or Europe.

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The Bush Doctrine vs. the 'Arc of Tyranny'

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Willisms has a fascinating post on the danger of what he terms 'the arc of tyranny' poses for the West and how the Bush doctrine is taking on that danger.

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Fewer Iraqis, More Foreigners Fighting U.S. in Iraq

General John Abizaid speaking to Wolf Blitzer on CNN yesterday said that the number of Iraqis fighting the U.S. has decreased in the past months. This decrease, says Abizaid, means that a larger percentage of the insurgency is now composed of foreign fighters.

The American Forces Press Service quotes Abizaid as saying, "The terrorist groups such as that led by Abu Musab al Zarqawi continue to be very dangerous."

However, “Many of the former Baathist criminals, who know they won’t have an opportunity to participate in the political future of the country, are continuing to fight,” the general said. (AFPS)

The elections of Jan. 30, though, has encouraged Iraqis and the performance of the Iraqi security forces in those elections also is a cause for hope.

“Certainly it’s better since the election,” Abizaid said. “I think continued military operations and continuing strengthening of the Iraqi security forces will make it better still.” (AFPS)

Abizaid then pointed the finger of blame squarely at Syria and Iran.

“Their security services can find those facilitation cells; they can dismantle them,” Abizaid said. “And they can certainly go after the people we have identified by name that are former members of the regime that are coordinating actions inside Syria. I won’t go so far as to say that these groups have the active support of the Syrian government, but the Syrians certainly aren’t doing enough to shut off their support for the insurgency.” (AFPS)

"We know that Iranian intelligence services people were involved with Muqtada al-Sadr during the uprisings back in April,” he said, “and then again in November (Iranian operatives) showed themselves in the Najaf area.” (AFPS)

Unsurprisingly, Arabic news sources have spun the General's words to mean that the absolute number of foreign fighters have increased. A clear sign that the strength of the insurgency is growing.

However, the General clearly indicated that the overall strength of the insurgency has fallen since the election.

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Zarqawi Surrounded (UPDATED)

Iraqi Interior Minister Falah al-Nakib announced today that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al Qaeda in Mesopotamia (Iraq), has been surrounded.

The Sofia News Agency reports the Interior Minister as saying, "He is surrounded in a certain area, and we hope for the best. This operation is ongoing. We hope that the situation will be completely different in Iraq at the end of this year."

Al-Nakib said al-Zarqawi was moving in "more than one area," but declined to provide more details, reports BNN.

Fingers. Crossed.

UPDATE: Novinite, which is the official foreign news agency of Bulgaria, was where this story first appeared. Later, the AP picked up the story and clarified that al-Nakib's remarks were much more general than the Novinite story.

Apparently what al-Nakib meant was that Zarqawi would eventually be captured because the Iraqi security forces are gradually taking control of the streets and winning the war.

An interesting fact bolsters his argument from the Zarqawi produced murder video released Sunday that we posted images from here. For the first time, Zarqawi uses a silenced pistol to murder the hostage victim.

As reader Eric J. notes:

The silenced pistol says to me that they are:

A. In an urban area where neighbors may hear them. (No surprise, the hostage takers seem to mostly have kept their hostages in urban areas, rather than taking them out somewhere in the countryside.)

B. Do not want to attract attention to themselves - do not control their surroundings.

It seems to indicate that random gunfire is something that would be noticed and investigated, where that was probably not the case a few months ago.

Indeed.

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March 28, 2005

Gone Fishing

The bass, they are a callin! I'm taking the rest of the afternoon off. If you have a sec, why not leave a comment at the caption contest. You won't want to miss this one. I'll announce winners tomorrow. Hasta, biyatches!

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Iraqi Interior Ministry Official Murdered by Zarqawi on Video (Images)

iraq_minister_executed_al_qaeda.jpgThe video of the murder of an Iraqi Interior Ministry official--what the MSM is calling a vidotaped 'execution'--has been posted on an Islamic bulletin board. The Jawa Report has obtained a copy of the video and will provide a link to it as soon as it is uploaded to a suitable site. Graphic images from the video are posted below.

Various news agencies are claiming the video is still unauthenticated. However, the video shows the banner of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's al Qaeda in Iraq and bears the trademark of that group's propaganda arm.

The only strange thing about the video is the weapon used. A silenced pistol is used to shoot the poor hostage in the head. The preferred method for murder by Zarqawi has been the use of an AK-47 or a dull knife to behead the victim.

iraq_minister_executed_al_qaeda2.jpgThe victim is identified as Colonel Ryad Kateh Olyway (also translitterated as Aliwi ), a liason officer for the Iraqi Interior Ministry. Olyway was kidnapped a month ago.

As in past Zarqawi snuff films, Olyway is first forced to 'confess' to the 'crime' of 'collaboration' before he is blindfolded and shot in the back of the head.

The execution of 'collaborators' is a common practice for terrorist groups and is routinely used by Palestinian, Chechen, and Kashmiri rebels. The 'collaborator' is branded an 'apostate' and then, in accordance with Islamic law, is executed. Apostasy is a capital offense under Islamic law.

Before Olyway is murdered, his al Qaeda captors claim that he is to be executed as retaliation for the abuse of women prisoners in Iraq by the Coalition. This is a common allegation made by Arab and left-wing media, including by Italian propagandist and ex-hostage Giuliana Sgrena.

Al Qaeda has at various times demanded the release of female prisoners being held by the Coalition. The U.S. has denied that they are holding any women in prisons in Iraq. Pro-terrorist media outlets such as al Jazeera and Giuliana Sgrena's Il Manifesto routinely publish the accusation that American soldiers rape and torture Iraqi women.

Graphic images from the Colonel Ryad Kateh Olyway's murder are posted below. The images are not terribly bloody, but may be disturbing.

iraq_minister_executed_al_qaeda3.jpg

Others: Chad Evans at In the Bullpen links to video. more...

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March 26, 2005

Blog Sabbath Caption Contest

Caption this photo. Winners announced Monday.

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Third Blast in a Week Rocks Christian Neighborhood in Beirut

A car bomb has gone off in another Christian neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon. This would be the third blast in a week to hit Beirut's Christian population.

Lebanon's Christian population has overwhelmingly supported mass demostrations aimed at forcing Syria to withdraw. Counter-demonstrations in support of Syria's long-time occupation were reported as consisting mainly of Palestinian refugees and supporters of the Islamic terrorist group Hizballah.

ITV reports that five people were wounded in the blast. The AP reports that at least two of the wounded were Asian born foreigners.

CNN:

A blast rocked Beirut on Saturday night, and Lebanese television broadcast stark images of severely damaged structures engulfed in flames.

Security officials reportedly think a car bomb caused the blast.

Casualties cannot yet be confirmed in the blast, which is said to have occurred in eastern Beirut, a predominantly Christian area.

Ambulances raced to the scene, reportedly in an industrial district, but it is not known whether people were trapped in the buildings.

A print shop and possibly a timber yard were said to be affected, which would account for the extensive flames and smoke.

News footage showed firefighters attempting to extinguish the fierce flames, which were shooting out of many windows.

The explosion was the latest in a series of blasts in the Christian areas of Lebanon. It occurred on the eve of the Christian holy day of Easter.

Four days ago, a bomb ripped through a shopping mall in a predominantly Christian area north of Beirut, killing three people and wounding at least two others, police said.

Just a few days earlier, a car bomb exploded in another Christian area of Beirut, shearing off part of a multistory office building. Nobody was killed.

Related: Bomb in Beirut Mall Kills 3

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Paul Wolfowitz Has Muslim Mistress?

Paul Wolfowitz is alleged to have a Muslim mistress. The left-wing and conspiracy media are all abuzz about an alleged affair the married man is having with Shaha Ali Riza, acting manager for External Relations and Outreach for the Middle East and North Africa Region at the World Bank.

These reports are now even claiming that it was the influence of Ms. Riza--who is something far too rare in the Muslim world, a feminist--that led Wolfowitz to advocate the Iraqi invasion in such forceful terms.

Thanks to 'W' for sending me the link. I also noticed several tin-foil brigade sites are running this story word-for-word out of the Arab News, without citing the original source.

Is it true? I've no idea. The Arab News is not the most reliable source of information out there. And whenever you see a Western name publishing in the official organ of the house of Saud, I'd be skeptical.

But stranger things have happened then a Jew getting a little piece of Muslim action. This Guardian piece also reports the two are having an affair--so maybe there is something to this. A number of other publications also ran with this a couple of weeks ago.

The tinfoiled among us are already pointing this out as more evidence of the evil nature of the neocon cabal. That any relationship Paul Wolfowitz is having with Shaha Ali Riza is really just another way for him to dominate Muslims. He is the pitcher, after all.

Cause you know, as a J-O-O Wolfowitz receives orders directly from Tel Aviv via a super-secret implant in his head.

You didn't think those ginormous ears of his were real?!? The left one is the transmitter and the right one is the receiver.

Here is a tidbit from the article:

What they are said to share is a passion to establish democracy in the Middle East.

Riza, in her mid-fifties, was born in Tunis and grew up in Saudi Arabia. Her childhood is said to have done much to shape her commitment to democracy, equal rights and civil liberties in the Arab world based on her first hand experiences.

She brought those beliefs with her when she joined the World Bank in 1997.

Riza studied at the London School of Economics in the 1970s before taking a masterÂ’s degree at St. AnthonyÂ’s College, Oxford, where she met her former husband, Turkish Cypriot Bulent Ali Riza, from whom she is now divorced.

After they moved to America, Riza worked for the Iraq Foundation, set up by expatriates to overthrow Saddam Hussein after the first Gulf War. She subsequently joined the National Endowment for Democracy, created by President Ronald Reagan to promote American ideals.

It was this time that Riza, a British citizen eight years younger than Wolfowitz’s wife — started to meet with Wolfowitz about reforming the Middle East. They allegedly began dating two years ago.

Even by the discreet standards of WashingtonÂ’s powerful inner circle, their relationship is a remarkably closely guarded secret. The Washington Post says the couple rarely goes out together or demonstrates affection publicly, according to friends who are aware of the relationship. They attend low-key Washington social events and visit friendsÂ’ homes together and Riza also sometimes goes to official functions and dinners with him, but is not identified as his partner, an acquaintance said.

“His womanizing has come home to roost,” a Washington insider told reporters. “Paul was a foreign policy hawk long before he met Riza but it doesn’t look good to be accused of being under the thumb of your mistress.”

A Wolfowitz opponent at the World Bank told a reporter: “Unless Riza gives up her job, this will be an impossible conflict of interest.”

Wolfowitz married his wife Clare Selgin in 1968. But they have lived separately since 2001, after allegations he had an affair with an employee at the School of Advanced International Studies where he was dean for seven years. They are now believed to be legally separated.

The World BankÂ’s staff association has told executives it has been swamped with complaints from employees about Wolfowitz.

However, Wolfowitz’s only comment on the complaints has been a terse statement issued through a Pentagon spokesman. He said: “If a personal relationship presents a potential conflict of interest, I will comply with bank policies to resolve the issue.”

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Iraq IS Vietnam (but not like you think)

Growing up I remember seeing the footage of the last few helicopter flights out of the U.S. embassy in Hanoi. For some reason, the footage was run over and over. As if a hasty retreat wasn't humiliating enough for the nation, the liberal media had to remind us of our shame.

Ever since we began our efforts in Iraq those on the left have been using Vietnam as an analagous war. Trying to shame us in the same way they shamed us then. It turns out they are right to compare Iraq to Vietnam. Only this time, it's our enemies who are beating a hasty retreat and seeking peace with honor.

Thanks to Mark for sending me this FT piece:

Many of Iraq's predominantly Sunni Arab insurgents would lay down their arms and join the political process in exchange for guarantees of their safety and that of their co-religionists, according to a prominent Sunni politician.


Sharif Ali Bin al-Hussein, who heads Iraq's main monarchist movement and is in contact with guerrilla leaders, said many insurgents including former officials of the ruling Ba'ath party, army officers, and Islamists have been searching for a way to end their campaign against US troops and Iraqi government forces since the January 30 election.

“Firstly, they want to ensure their own security,” says Sharif Ali, who last week hosted a pan-Sunni conference attended by tribal sheikhs and other local leaders speaking on behalf of the insurgents.

Insurgent leaders fear coming out into the open to talk for fear of being targeted by US military or Iraqi security forces' raids, he said.

Sharif Ali distinguishes many Sunni insurgents, whom he says took up arms in reaction to the invasive raids in search of Ba'athist leaders and other “humiliations” soon after the 2003 war, from the radical jihadist branch associated with Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Unlike Mr Zarqawi's followers, who are thought to be responsible for the big suicide bomb attacks on Iraqi civilian targets, the other Sunni insurgents are more likely to plant bombs and carry out ambushes against security forces and US troops active near their homes.

Sharif Ali said the success of Iraq's elections dealt the insurgents a demoralising blow, prompting them to consider the need to enter the political process.

Let me just add that I've seen hundreds of videos produced by various insurgent groups for propaganda value. The most recent trend in these videos seem to be roadside bombs detonated at some distance. In fact, after the bomb goes off these people rarely continue taping. They split real fast like.

These people are not nearly as daring as they would have you believe.

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Escape Attempt Foiled in Iraqi POW Camp

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Schultz!!!

Good thing Colonel Klink wasn't running the camp, eh? Then again, I guess Kos, Michael Moore, Ward Churchill, and ilk, already believe the Nazis are running the joint......

UPDATE: I forgot to link this awesome-o photoshop by Confederate Yankee yesterday. Tim Robbins, indeed!!

So many metaphors, so little time. This article, cited below, goes with the Shawshank Redemption metaphor, while OpiniPundit sees more of the 'Great Escape' angle. more...

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March 25, 2005

More South Park in Iraq

Here is more evidence that South Park Republicans are much more responsible for the Iraq invasion than the neocon cabal ever was. Here is a patch popular with the troops in Iraq (see below), as noted by Will Collier.

Notice that Cartman is the only one smiling? To quote the great sage from Colorado, "I told you Kyle, Jawas have no heart." more...

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Islamic Group Claims Texas Refinery Fire Result of Terrorism

An internet statement made at an Islamist bulletin board claimed that a recent fire at a Texas oil refinery was the work of terrorists. The same group had earlier announced that it had carried out a suicide bombing in a Qatar movie theater last Saturday. That blast killed one Briton and wounded at least 12 others.

Let me just make the disclaimer that I am extremely skeptical. However, as Robert Spencer has been reminding readers of late, this is exactly the type of thing we ought to be on the lookout for. Via M.H. King this AFP report:

A shadowy Islamist group which claimed it carried out last weekÂ’s suicide bombing in Qatar said in an internet statement it was responsible for an oil refinery explosion in Texas that left 15 people dead.

“It was a new kind of operation as we promised before,” said the ”Jund al-Sham Organisation” (Organisation of Soldiers of the Levant) in the statement posted on an Islamist website and dated March 24.

“Jund Al-Sham is able to attack with an iron fist all the enemies of Allah wherever they are,” added the statement, whose authenticity could not be verified.

“This operation was a big surprise, which we spoke of in other statements, and we will continue our suicide operations inside and outside America, and we will attack the economy of America as America did the economies of the Muslims,” it added.

The group also threatened to carry out attacks in Britain and Italy, and said these would continue “until the last soldier of the Crusaders or Jews is no longer in an Islamic country.”

SITE adds:
The communiqué, which has not been corroborated by any other source, also states that the attack was a follow up to a promise made by Abi Hamza “the American” who had declared that “He will turn your streets red, covered with blood.” It seems that the communiqué refers to Abu (abi) Azzam the American, a purported al-Qaeda member who in a videotape broadcasted on October 26, 2004 had threaten to carry out attacks in the United States.

The communiqué also promises that “This announcement will be followed by a detailed and illustrated announcement of this blessed operation in Texas’ main refinery.”

James Joyner is skeptical too.

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Mmmm, Dinosaur Chicharrones

So, can you deep fry T-Rex rinds? Via Commissar and Bill scientist now have found soft cell tissue from a T-Rex. Mmmm, tastes like chicken!

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Lawyers Kill Terri Schiavo

Why is it that the most authoritative voices on Constitutional meaning are lawyers? The very group least likely to know anything at all about the Constitution?

Looking around the blogosphere I am in awe at the utter ignorance lawyers have of the Federalist Papers and other historical documents written by those who had a hand in writing the Constitution.

Oh, and a close second place goes to political scientists.

I find it more than a tad bit convenient that lawyers and judges claim an absolute right in expounding what the law means.

Somewhere in Virginia, James Madison is rolling in his grave. He is soon to be joined by Terri Schiavo.

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Top Taliban Leader Killed in Afghanistan

A top leader of the Taliban Islamist rebels has been killed along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Of course, al-Reuters runs this headline for the same story: Woman, Children Die in U.S. Attack on Taliban

I'll run with the Stars and Stripes version of events:


A “high-level” commander of the insurgency in Afghanistan was killed in a firefight with U.S. forces along the rugged border with Pakistan, according to an Army announcement.

Officials said Raz Mohammed, “implicated in many of the attacks against coalition forces in Paktika Province,” was killed alongside two other enemy fighters March 22 when Afghan and U.S. forces clashed with militants during a raid to capture Mohammed.

Mullah Hakim Latifi, a purported Taliban spokesman, in a satellite telephone conversation with The Associated Press from an undisclosed location said the clash occurred when U.S. troops surrounded the tents where Mohammed was living in Waza Khwa, an impoverished district on the Pakistani border.

He confirmed the death of Mohammed, who he said was a senior military commander in eastern Laghman province before the TalibanÂ’s ouster in 2001.

He said MohammedÂ’s wife and six of his children also were killed.

Latifi claimed that eight American soldiers died in the battle, but the American military said coalition forces suffered no casualties.

You know, shit tends to happen when you're married to an asshole.

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