May 23, 2005

Sunnis Step Off Political Sidelines

This is the final nail in the coffin for Iraq's murdering terrorist'. Any shred of legitimacy they might have enjoyed from within Iraq is gone. The only support left in country is from the die hard Baathist's desperately trying to regain power and their numbers are miniscule.

BAGHDAD, May 21 -- More than 1,000 Sunni Arab clerics, political leaders and tribal heads ended their two-year boycott of politics in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq on Saturday, uniting in a Sunni bloc that they said would help draft the country's new constitution and compete in elections.

Formation of the group comes during escalating violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims that has raised the threat of sectarian war. The bloc represents moderate and hard-line members of the Association of Muslim Scholars, the Iraqi Islamic Party and other main groups of the disgruntled Sunni minority toppled from dominance when U.S.-led troops routed Hussein in April 2003.

Sunnis have remained on the sidelines of the Iraqi government since then. Most Sunnis boycotted national elections in January that put the long-suppressed Shiite majority in charge. Meanwhile, a Sunni-led insurgency appears to have become increasingly unpopular among ordinary Iraqis as the death toll from bombings and other attacks climbs.

Make no mistake, this is a big deal. The move effectively diminishes the chance for an all out civil war breaking out between Sunnis and Shiites to practically nil. All major parties are now participants in the process leaving the radical elements essentially isolated and powerless.

Posted by Traderrob

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May 22, 2005

Chavez: nuclear ambitions?

First he may have been looking into chemical weapons, now he's smooching the mullahs and looking for, as Clarence Boddicker might phrase it, "state of the art bang bang".

H/t to the Little Green Footballs.

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Tiger in Your Tank, Stool Pigeon Under Your Hood

Dave at Garfield Ridge, the man who puts the "Air" in "Air Power", announces that Oregon, ("The Bozo State"), wants to put a GPS chip in every car to track your mileage, so you can pay a mileage tax. He links to Partisan Pundit, with much, much more, e.g.: "The state of Oregon is finding ways to anally penetrate its motorists for more cash..."

If there was ever a measure capable of causing a rebellion all across the political spectrum, this is it.

Patterico reported a while back on a similar plan under deliberation here in California. The LA Times article he linked to (now offline) also said that the Federal Gummint is considering implementing a nationwide program to do the same thing, and that research is ongoing at the DOT.

(It's already the law in New Zealand, according to a friend of mine who owns a farm there. He has to write down his mileage and pay an extra tax because he owns a gas-guzzling, forest-leveling V-6 Toyota truck. No chips for them, just a mileage log.)

This is stupid on at least two enormous levels, and probably some smaller ones I haven't considered yet. But to start, see the extended entry:
more...

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Which Numbers Matter? The NCTC Report Revisited, Recoded and Reanalyzed

By Demosophist

At Rusty's suggestion I'm moving this reanalysis of the Terrorism Chronology back to the start, for another run through the gauntlet. What I'd like to make clear is that I disagree that there's any implication in the numbers that we're losing, or losing ground, in the fight against Totalitarianism 3.x. In fact, we're confounding them at every turn, which is one reason they're becoming more vicious. In addition, they're raising the number of attacks in certain places, such as Kashmir, at the expense of "quality." Anyway, here's the original post, from last week:

Marc Danziger (by way of reader T.M. Lutas) recently emailed an Excel file containing the narratives from the report released by the National Counterterrorism Center entitled A Chronology of Significant International Terrorism for 2004, describing the 651 terrorist attacks it identified.  (Although there has been a debate with Larry Johnson over the significance of these numbers I've no argument with the idea that we ought to be concerned.  After all, I'm concerned or I wouldn't be posting this re-analysis. However, I object to the notion that these numbers are some sort of signal that we're not winning the war.)  At any rate, I've been mulling over these data since Marc dropped them to me about two weeks ago, doing a lot of what data geeks do with this sort of delicacy, and thought I'd post a little of what I've found. 

First of all, Marc's post on Winds of Change describes his preliminary findings, according to which it's clear that two countries, India and Iraq, account for over 3/4ths of the terrorist attacks that took place in 2004. (If all attacks listed in the report are included these two countries account for 76.2%).  After looking more carefully at the narratives in the glossy report the first thing that one finds is that there are about 70 events on the list of terrorist attacks that may not belong.  That's because the target of those attacks was clearly military, rather than civilian.  These amount to about 11% of the total number of attacks listed, and more than 80% of these (57 of 70) occurred in Kashmir.

Now, it's true that the folks who did these dirty deeds probably were not very concerned about "collateral damage" to civilians, so I don't have reservations about including them, provided some civilians were either wounded or killed, but in 36 of the 70 cases where the objective was clearly military there were no civilian casualties at all.  I'm not sure why these events even appear in a terrorist attack database, but their inclusion tends to put more emphasis on terrorist activity in the troubled Indian state than might otherwise be the case.  This is not so much because the events were included for Kashmir, but more because similar events were not generally included elsewhere.  But whatever the justification, as one deletes some of these questionable "terrorist" attacks from consideration the percentage of attacks in Iraq rises from roughly 31% to 34% while those in India/Kashmir fall from about 45% down to 41%.  So, while the proportion of "terrorist" attacks rises for Iraq and falls for India after you do a bit of circumspective culling, those two nations still account for approximately 3/4ths of all terrorist attacks in the world.  That fact doesn't change.  And in sheer frequency of attacks, India/Kashmir is still more active than Iraq, or anywhere else.  But that's not the whole story, by a long shot.

more...

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More Hypocrisy From the Left.....Go Figure

Another glowing example of the blatant hypocrisy of the left concerning filibusters. We have pointed out the complete reversal of conviction from the likes of Schumer, Levin, Leahy, Kennedy, Feinstein etc. over the past weeks. It appears we have another inductee into the disingenuous Democrat hall of political shame.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, who publicly crusaded against Senate filibusters 12 years ago, now says he opposes banning filibusters against judicial nominees - the so-called "nuclear option'' fueling a bruising Capitol Hill showdown.

``I would vote against changing the filibuster rule right now,'' Frank (D-Newton) told the Herald in a telephone interview Thursday. Frank explained he still supports an ``across-the-board'' ban against all filibusters, but he opposes the Republican ``nuclear option'' because it only outlaws filibusters against judicial nominees.

In 1993, Frank led a public fight to end Senate filibusters, asserting in a Washington Post op-ed piece: ``I believe legislative bodies should scrupulously abide by two principles: complete openness and majority rule. The filibuster is a godsend to potential gridlockers.''

PUHLEEEAZE Barney.... sounds like Kerry, he's against it except when he's for it. Is it possible for these crapweasels to be consistent on anything.

Posted by Traderrob

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Okrent's parting volley

And keeping with the theme of New York blog-vixens: Karol of Alarming News alerts us to Daniel Okrent's last ombudsman column for the New York Times. Okrent takes the opportunity to get a lot off his chest, including a slam at Paul Krugman (quoted at Karol's) and this gem:

"5. Reader Steven L. Carter of Bala Cynwyd, Pa., asks, If "Tucker Carlson is identified as a conservative" in The Times, then why is "Bill Moyers just, well, plain old Bill Moyers"? Good question."

You tell 'em, Steve. "Bala Cynwyd" is proud of you.

Okrent's job goes to a guy named Barney who just retired from the Wall Street Journal's news desk recently. That shouldn't necessarily get anyone's hopes up that he's somehow ideologically conservative; after all, the WSJ editorial page's liberal columnist Al Hunt was recruited from the news side of their operation. Anyway, ideology shouldn't really matter for this job, although I hope he will be receptive to conservative criticism of the Times' relentless cheerleading for libertinism, socialism, and cosmopolitan internationalism.

Don't know what to say about Okrent's legacy. I don't see where he forced any major reform at the paper, but there's not too much any single person could have done. One of the things he regrets, according to his final column, is admitting that "of course" the Times is a liberal paper. Well, I thought that was a welcome burst of candor, though Okrent rues handing ideological critics of the Times that particular club.

But you're supposed to tell the truth, and let the chips fall where they may. If people criticize the paper, at least it will be for being honest and liberal instead of being liberal and lying about it.

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Blondes have more fun?

Blogger and DJ Dawn Eden has parlayed a series of defeats--including getting canned from her job as a copy editor at the NY Post for her pro-life views--into some victories including, apparently, a columnist job at the NY Daily News. Her first "Our Gal in cyberspace" column is here.

Plus, she apparently has a new beau she met through her blog. Career advancement, friends, romance--is there anything blogs can't do? (Whoa, I'm sounding like Hugh Hewitt.)

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May 21, 2005

Oil for Food Rundown

The Oil-for-Blood mess is pretty complicated, and Saddam thrived on the ambiguities. Stephen Hayes of the Weekly Standard does the world a service by serving up a very readable primer on the situation: how it got started, how it worked, and why it matters.

This isn't a partisan article. Which is good because Oil-of-Uday shouldn't be a partisan issue.

I will point this out just to exercise the moonbats who flutter by here now and then: if you honestly think there is some unsavory link persisting between Dick Cheney and Halliburton, how can you fail to be outraged at the much grander, and more brazen, corruption between Saddam and the UN--criminal activity that snatched relief from starving Iraqis, that supported terrorist groups, that bribed world leaders, and that subverted and made a mockery of the very international institutions you hold so dear?

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Louisiana Church Sex Cult Arrests

(Ponchatoula, Louisiana) The FBI, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office, and the Ponchatoula Police Department are investigating allegations of cult-like deviant practices, including sex with children and animals, by members of the Hosanna Church in Ponchatoula. Thus far, the following eight people have been arrested and charged.

Austin Bernard III, 36, was charged with allegedly forcing a girl under the age of 13 to perform a sex act and admitted to knowing about alleged sexual acts involving children, dogs and cats that occurred at Hosanna Church.

Nicole Bernard, 36, was charged with aggravated rape of a juvenile under the age of 13

Paul Fontenot, 21, was charged with aggravated rape of a juvenile under the age of 13.

Deputy Christopher Labat, 24, was charged on one count of aggravated rape, one count of crime against nature, and one count of malfeasance in office. Being a law officer, Labat was not put with the general prisoner population. He is, however, on suicide watch.

Louis Lamonica, 45, was charged with two counts of aggravated rape and one count of crime against nature after he confessed that he had sex with children and animals. The entire sex cult case broke wide open when Lamonica walked into the Sheriff's office and confessed. He is the former pastor of the Hosanna Church.

Robbin D. Lamonica, 45, was charged with one count of aggravated rape after a male victim told deputies that he had been having sex with Robbin Lamonica from the time he was 4 years of age until he was 13.

Lois Ann Mowbray, 54, was charged with obstruction of justice, failure to report a felony, and accessory after the fact to aggravated rape.

Allen R. Pierson, 46, was charged with one count of aggravated rape for allegedly engaging in sexual intercourse with a girl who was 9 or 10-years-old at the time. The victim is now 13.

The investigation continues and authorities believe there may be dozens of victims ranging in age from infancy to adolescence. Computers were seized and the crime lab expects to find pictures of sex acts involving children and animals.

Notably, the laws of Louisiana consider sex with young children a capital crime punishable by death. If the evidence is sufficient, Scott Perrilloux, the 21st Judicial District Attorney, may seek the death penalty. Execution shouldn't be inconceivable. The enormity of the alleged crimes is bewildering.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

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A Post for Demosophist (and other D.C. area peeps)

My e-mail is mypetjawa-at-gmail-dot-com. I don't really read my yahoo account anymore since I get about a bajillion pieces of e-mail there every day. And I don't have access to my university e-mail right now since it's a pop server. Further, until last night I didn't really have internet access since my wifi card decided to melt my computer down the very first night I got to the hotel so I've only read The Jawa Report like twice in the past week.

Grumbling indeed......

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May 20, 2005

Oddblogging--Loquat bleg

So I picked about a gallon of loquats from a tree at church this evening. I don't know what to do with them. They're tasty on their own--kind of like apricots but citrusy--but we can't just eat a gallon of them. I can't just juice them because they have a large pit in the middle. Any recipes, ideas, etc. on what to do with loquats? ( I'm gonna juice a couple and mix it with some gin and crushed ice, and I'll let you know how that turns out.)

UPDATE--Gin and loquat--better without the loquat.

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Pepsi and the Devil's Nougat

Ace is tired of the Pepsi challenge already. PepsiCo's ranting, anti-American CEO just didn't light his fuse the way it did for Hugh Hewitt or Powerline. And you know what? That's fine.

Ace had a brilliant entry a while back about the concept of keeping "Conservative-Kosher" and how he's kinda half-hearted about it. Part of the reason he drifted right into South-Park conservatism is the incredible number of stupid boycotts leftists frickin' HAVE TO DO OR YOU'RE AN IMPERIALIST PIG. Below the break, his example, plus a long rant of my own:


more...

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Female Afghan 'Veejay' Murdered

(Kabul, Afghanistan) After the fall of the Taliban, Shaima Rezayee, 24, immediately discarded her burkha and became a video journalist for Kabul's answer to MTV. In this capacity, she hosted an hour-long music and chat show airing videos of Western singers which outraged conservative Muslims. Two months ago, Rezayee was fired due to pressure from Islamic mullahs. This week, she was murdered in her home by an unknown assailant. The killing is believed to be linked to her time as a veejay.

Obviously, living in a democracy doesn't automatically guarantee freedom of expression.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

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Call me ADMIRAL Rusty Shackleford

This week I:

Atended a speech delivered by the President. Very cool since I had no idea he was going to be the key note speaker.

Met two U.S. Senators, including John McCain. The other Senator was decent enough to chat with my students for awhile.

Hung out with my Congressman for about 30 minutes too long while he blathered on and on with every liberal DNC talking point while claiming to be a 'conservative' Democrat.

Sat in on a Senate committee meeting in which Trent Lott looked incredibly bored.

Watched as John Lewis reminded a group of high school students that he was with Dr. King at the March on Washington for the bajillionth time in his life.

Was in the room as Justice Kennedy read the decision from the bench that states could not ban the import of wine---Thomas and Breyer passed notes the whole time.

Had to sit through the Junior Senator from California blathering on and on about 'extremist Republican judges' from the gallery.

Was overheard on the Hill commenting, upon passing Norm Coleman in the halls, that his wife was hot.

Had two half-smokes, three all beef kosher hot dogs, and four Mt. Dews off street carts.

Told a lobbyist representing the rent-to-own furnishings industry that his business was immoral and predatory. I take it Congressional aids aren't so forward as he stormed off in a huff.

Saw the Nationals beat the Brewers. Several yuppified liberals moved because we were beeing a tad bit too obnoxious. Don't you just love liberals-- always fighting for the 'common man' but can't stand to be near any of them.

Witnessed the head of the Israeli Air Force lay a wreathe at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Cried as I found my grandfather's name at the new WWII memorial.

Cried again at the Holocaust Museum.

And again reading the Second Innaguaral enshrined on the walls of the Lincoln memorial.

Noticed that the Human Rights Campaign building is right across the street from the YMCA. How prosaic.

Missed my family desperately.

This town is so shallow. This town is so deep. The history I love, the politics and the people I hate.

I'll see some of you tomorrow about 8 p.m. E-mail me for directions.

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Expediency vs Accuracy and the Truth

It's called"transferrence"(TF) and the MSM is in full TF mode. Crappergate has resulted in the deaths of two dozen people. There are clearly two parties that bear reponsibility for creating the circumstances that led up to this tragedy but are being ignored in favor of their favorite whipping boy, GW.

It has become the prevalent modus operandi for the left to transfer blame from truely guilty to those of their choosing and the MSM for the most part have been complicit in these efforts. It's been going on for years and it's integral to the rationalization and justification of their agenda. The most long standing example of this is their take on crime and criminals. "We can't blame the poor black teen for gunning down 3 people in the street. We must blame the truely guilty, the evil white capitalist who has forced this child into a life of poverty, frustration and violence. We must not hold him accountable, but, rather society and ultimately ourselves for creating an environment by which we produced such a an individual."

Fast forward to Crappergate. It's not the fault of Newsweek for shoddy reporting, nor of the Muslim clerics who daily whip their followers into a frenzied bloodlust ready to rampage at the slightest provocation. No, it's the Bush administrations fault for going to war in Afghanistan and Iraq thereby enflaming the passions of the Muslim world against us. It's our callous attitude and intolerance toward the religion of peace and our efforts to elevate our interests above those who would choose to kill us that are truely responsible for the these deaths. It's the fault of the Bush administration, society and ultimately ourselves.


What a steaming cowpie. The radical Muslim world has had it out for us before George Bush had the faintest glint in his eye to run for President. It started when we chose to support Israel in the Middle East and has been festering increasingly ever since. The Muslim terrorist's have been bombing our facilities and killing our people across the globe for decades and it has to do with who we are and what we stand for. The only thing that will change their attitude toward us is to change the very core of ourselves as a people.

Maybe that's what the MSM really feels is neccessary. That we as a people discard our current set of morals, values and beliefs in favor of a more "worldly"concoction, one of their choosing. That we subjugate our interests to the interests of the world. That we quit making them mad. After all it's our fault, if we would just quit irritating them, they would leave us alone maybe even learn to love us.

Personally, I'll continue to place the blame where it belongs. This approach may not ultimately result in a worldwide rendition of Kumbaya but, that's OK, I can't sing anyway.

Posted by Traderrob

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Dude: That Was Awesome.

Oh yeah. I've been waiting too long for it to come out, and it's a masterpiece. Seriously. Worth every penny. Conflict, tragedy, humor...The villains are venal and nasty. I especially liked the confrontation with that gray shaggy beast. The direction is good; it's long, but pretty much every part is necessary. (A little cheesy at the end, kinda hammers home the point too hard, but I'll forgive that.) And while it's not subtle, it's not trying to be, you know? There's a lot to think about here--the loss of liberty, human nature, the corrupting illusion of perfection--this one's pretty deep, folks.

What? The Sith? F--- that noise. I'm talkin' about the new Bill Whittle essay: Sanctuary, Part One and Part Two.

A new Whittler should be an event in the rightish Immedia like the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau in November--a tasty good reason for a party. It's long, though, so if you are reading this from work, do yourself a favor: print it out, and take it home, and Sunday night instead of watching some crap on TV, pour yourself a double bourbon, settle back into a comfy chair, and enjoy it.

Posted by: seedubya at 05:04 AM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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Fisking Robert A. Pape

By Demosophist

There's something about ths piece from the New York Times Op/Ed page that just got me riled up, and I had to tackle it. I don't really have a problem with the basic thesis that terrorism, and even suicide terrorism, is a rational strategy. But I really do not like what Professor Pape does with that, at all.

Blowing Up an Assumption
By ROBERT A. PAPE
Published May 18, 2005
Chicago
MANY Americans are mystified by the recent rise in the number and the audacity of suicide attacks in Iraq.

I'm not. I'm mystified by the absence of reporting about the success of our strategies in Iraq, and the rather obvious fact that we're winning. So is there a reason why I need to read the rest of this? I'll read it though, because I have a hunch there are illusions waiting to be dispelled. Call me psychic. more...

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May 19, 2005

no posting today for Suzanne

I just got home from school, and now I'm leaving to go see Star Wars. Or maybe I should say, stand in line to go see Star Wars.

I mean, I love you kids and all, but we do have our priorities... ;-)

Posted by: Suzanne at 05:43 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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