Although we have an email privacy policy (at Hyscience - where originally posted) that assures readers that their emails are never published, we have a long-standing tradition that the policy DOES NOT APPLY TO DEATH THREATS. The majority of death threats that we get are to us personally, and some of those have been posted in the past.

However, today we received an email from Belani Bulasin in Turkey, that applies to all of us "blasphemous Westerners." His English is better than what we've seen from most jihadist emails in the past, so one would assume that he is bright and educated.

While he's certainly entitled to his opinion of whether or not the images of Muhammad should or should not have been posted, making death threats to individuals or a civilization, or to any persons of any group of any size in between, is inappropriate and unacceptable behavior in today's world.

This applies to everyone, even those who by choice or happenstance live in a stoneage culture, and follow a violent and intolerant religion that worships someone they view as a prophet, but who is viewed by much of the world as the wellspring of terrorism.

Since Belani's message applies to the entire Western civilization, and is indicative of the intolerant, violent, hateful, and murderous religion that he follows, radical Islam, a belief that follows jihad and seeks world domination, and submission to Islam by non-radical Muslims and non-Muslims alike, we feel it very appropriate to post his email here:

Hyscience Message from Belani Bulasin

karasahan@e-kolay.net to admin
Feb 3 (12 hours ago)

From: Belani Bulasin (85.99.40.104)
Email: karasahan@e-kolay.net

I'd like to let you know a Turkish saying reads as "a dog which was destined to be dead soon, urinates on a wall of a mosque! You blasphemous Westerners all are very like that dog in the saying!

Belani Bulasin
Istanbul/TURKEY

Readers are also encouraged to be very polite. Remember, Belani needs therapy, not more abuse. He was probably abused as a child, or perhaps that dog at the mosque just happens to have "special meaning" for him. We want to let him know that we consider him our friend, albeit a bit misguided.

Update: I missed this one earlier, this one from an annonymous sender:

Anonymous Sender to admin Feb 3

I had a dream last night after looking at your blog.
Severe tragedy will kill or crush you this year.
I think it will be your son killed in Iraq.
Or maybe something worst.
You will be amazed at my prediction.
This i promise you.
Keep up your attacks on muslims.

Originally posted at Hyscience

Posted by: Richard@hyscience at 08:13 AM | Comments (25) | Add Comment
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You had to know this was coming. The lawyer for Iyman Faris, convicted of plotting to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge, asked a federal judge today to throw out the case because the National Security Agency illegally spied on him.

From the AP:

Iyman Faris' challenge is among the first to seek evidence of warrantless electronic eavesdropping by the National Security Agency, a practice that began after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Government officials have reportedly credited the practice with uncovering Faris' terrorist plot and several others.

A motion filed by Faris' attorney David Smith in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., argues that investigators improperly obtained evidence against Faris and that his trial lawyer was ineffective.

Given the likelihood that Faris' phone conversations or e-mails had been electronically monitored, Faris' trial lawyer, Frederick Sinclair, should have asked for evidence of such surveillance, Smith said in the motion.

And, there are others looking to get their terror-related convictions overturned.

A lawyer for Ali al-Timimi, an Islamic scholar in northern Virginia serving a life sentence for exhorting followers to fight U.S. troops, has said he plans to challenge his case based on NSA involvement. So has an attorney for Adham Amin Hassoun, a Lebanese-born Palestinian living in Florida who is charged with being part of a cell dedicated to supporting violent Muslim extremists.

Companion post at Interested-Participant.

Posted by: Mike Pechar at 11:20 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Strictly Speaking this sort of thing doesn't bother me all that much. I mean, it's true that western media are kind of bending over backwards, matrix-style, to placate muslin sentiment, but the backdrop is that we're more afraid of what we might do, than what they might do. Consider that human beings, as a rule, are not really that different from one another in spite of modest differences in local and regional culture. We basically all have the same sense of fairness and usually recognize the same constraints against the First Commandment. And the thrust of history that substantiates the reform and progressive movements in Western Culture (individual freedom, anti-slavery, anti-totalitarianism) are not merely "Western" but human, in a sense that's vastly larger than the regional appeal of a Seventh Century Prophet who "shall not be disobeyed." And while the world of Islam has been offended, yet again, by our iconoclasm, we have yet to see the awakened offense of Western Culture to the affront of being challenged and blasphemed by the regional superstition of "low Islam," before it has even awakened itself to a righteous indignation about chattel slavery: a conflict that cost the United States in excess of a million untimely deaths. (And in my own case, almost 50% of the progeny of our Arkansas hillbilly family.) If the sense of Jacksonian offense at being taken for granted by a lesser cultural light is ever genuinely awakened, the modest threats tossed out by the Islamic world as a thin figleaf against its own shameful past will seem anemic and pale by comparison to the wrath that will be loosed on that poor excuse for "progress."

Do not get me started...

(Cross-posted to Demosophia)

Posted by: Demosophist at 10:13 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Stop the ACLU and Patriotic Mom post about protestors disrupting the funerals of Iraq War vets, and the extremes that their families have been driven to just to bury their loved ones with dignity.

more...

Posted by: Bluto at 08:51 PM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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I'm Salman Rushdie, and I endorse this post.

Posted by: Vinnie at 08:38 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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We are pleased to introduce noted star of the big and little screen, Mohammed the Prophet. Star of such blockbuster hits as "The Siege" and "Executive Decision." Emmy award winning star of "Flight 93" and various episodes of "24."

Hello, O brothers. I have come with a couple of questions for you.

After a hard day of marching, flag burning, and chanting "Death to America, Israel, Denmark, and Vanutu!" do you find it hard to unwind?

After a hot, rough day in the Bekaa valley, training for your martyrdom mission, do you find it tough to relax and enjoy a good soccer game on the television?

Fret not, O holy warrior, for I have just the thing for you...

Fris Vodka. That's right, imported from the great nation of Denmark, this super premium vodka is freeze distilled by master distillers commissioned by appointment to the royal Danish court. But don't take my word for it, take theirs...

After a hot day preparing detonators and wiring IEDs, I greet my husband at the door with a Fris martini. It helps him wind down after a hard day, so that we can ululate all night, baby!

I was a kindergarten teacher before I found Fris. Now, after a drink or two, I can behead the infidel in my sleep!

Shhh...don't tell anyone, but my daddy loves his Fris in a Cosmo! He mixes them in the hollowed out skull of an apostate!

There you have it, brothers and sisters. Purchase Fris Vodka, and other fine Danish products, in a store near you. And that's not just a request, that's a fatwa!

Posted by: Vinnie at 08:35 PM | Comments (17) | Add Comment
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These ladies will not sit around idly waiting for an honor killing.

First up, my good friend Beth, who simply will not rest until I, and I alone, receive the coveted First Fatwa of Jawa:

But wait, sports fans. Linda of Something and Half of Something, that notoriously evil Joooooooooooooo, offers herself up a heapin' plate of fatwa-worthiness:

Remember, O exalted imams, the fatwa for the top image goes to me, the bottom one goes to Linda. Of Something and Half of Something. A blog. By a Jewish lady.

Posted by: Vinnie at 06:35 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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Muslims at WWE Smackdown

Steelers or Seahawks fan?

The kind of Islam I dig!

Double meaning?

Bad ass, bad gay.

Inspired by Blogfather.

Related photoshop contest.

Posted by: Rusty at 04:40 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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Jesus Christ: "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them”.

To see the Fruit of the Religion of Peace click below. (graphic image warning) more...

Posted by: Howie at 03:40 PM | Comments (9) | Add Comment
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When is overstating your population by 1.5 million people a big deal? When your actual population is only 2.41 million. That's an overstatement of 62%! That would be kind of like the U.S. claiming it had 453 million people instead of 280.

Worse, the numbers built of phony assumptions grow the error rate over time. Thus, the PA actually overstates its future population far more than it is already overstating it today. They overstate the number of Arabs expected to be living in Israel and the West Bank by over double!

So, what incentive could the Palestinian Authority have in lying about their population? The Officer's Club:

The report has the ability to bust a legion of myths perpetuated by pro-Palestinian factions. It disproves notions that Arabs outnumber Jews in Israel and the occupied territories, it reveals a Jewish majority in Arab East Jerusalem, and cements the dominant Jewish majority (4-1) within Israel's pre-1967 borders.

This affects the Israeli-Arab conflict on every level. The PA has long used these bogus head counts to generate sympathy for their cause on the international stage. It impacts Arab claims to the entirity of the West Bank, and blows the whistle on millions -perhaps billions- of dollars worth of international aid donated to help people that never actually existed (and in reality was probably directed into the coffers of Islamic Jihad or the now reigning Hamas).

Click the image below for larger view.

Posted by: Rusty at 03:24 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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By 'threats' I don't mean the problems associated with an open border. I mean actual threats...against police officers along our borders...by the Mexican military.

Posted by: Rusty at 03:23 PM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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OK, this is just a matter of lawyers getting in the way of sentience. Some senior staff officer had better step in to dispel the insanity, and use a rolled-up newspaper on the JAG's nose while they're at it. Dumber than a bag of rocks...

(h/t: Instapundit)

Posted by: Demosophist at 03:15 PM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
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As if promising to 'slay' and 'behead' the blasphemers wasn't enough. Now calls for 'extermination'. Since Muslims are holding the entire country of Denmark responsible for a single brave newspaper's actions, are we to surmise that only the Danes should be sent to the gas chambers or all of in the West who support them too?

Photo grab of BBC via fellow Jawa reporter Tim at Opinion Bug.

And just in case you don't understand what they mean by 'extermination'.

Above AP image via Michelle Malkin who has more.

Check out our expose on the terror supporters behind this demonstration and their ties to the City of Birmingham here.

UPDATE: Related and funny.

Posted by: Rusty at 02:30 PM | Comments (21) | Add Comment
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1 That religion of peace (TM), always showing the world what peace really is to them.

Posted by: indolene at February 03, 2006 02:35 PM (YHcxM)

2 Reason #412 to keep Iran from acquiring Nuclear weapons.

Posted by: MarcoPolo at February 03, 2006 02:46 PM (dH8aR)

3 I propose we call this what it is: Islamic Totalitarianism. THis is not about religion.

Posted by: Patty at February 03, 2006 02:58 PM (aH6Zf)

4 Yes, but it's an "internal" holocaust.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at February 03, 2006 03:04 PM (8e/V4)

5 Of course they mean "exterminate" in a peaceful, introspective sort of way. This just keeps getting better and better. I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas morning.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at February 03, 2006 03:05 PM (0yYS2)

6 At what point does the rest of the world declare that it's had enough and will no longer respond to the daily threats and acts of violence by advocating free speech and claiming that Islam has been hijacked? At what point is it okay for us to take back our world?

Posted by: Graeme at February 03, 2006 03:13 PM (jepkE)

7 Every one of these pictures is further proof that: Islam was not Hijacked

Posted by: Fred Fry at February 03, 2006 03:13 PM (JXdhy)

8 Yes, female jihadist, I am ready for you. My Socom is cleaned, locked and loaded. Any more questions?

Posted by: jesusland joe at February 03, 2006 03:25 PM (rUyw4)

9 Come on Progressive Europeans! Let even more immigrate in! Should prove interesting! With your declining aging populations - you'll need them to support and care for you in your declining years! And think about your children - the few you are having. Whose lil' Hans, Dag & Michelle gonna play with in school! Why, they would all be alone in empty classrooms - if not for the new muslims surrounding them. Interesting isn't it. Take France - muslims constitute 10% of the population - growing just with out imigration at 3x the rate of others - and in some young age groups already account for 30+%. Its gonna be really interesting in another generation.

Posted by: hondo at February 03, 2006 03:28 PM (3aakz)

10 "Be Prepared for the REAL Holocaust." Somehow, I don't think it'll be pointed in the direction she's thinking it should be...

Posted by: John at February 03, 2006 03:57 PM (wg4FW)

11 The subtle implication being that the Holocaust wasn't REAL....

Posted by: Rusty at February 03, 2006 04:15 PM (JQjhA)

12 Prepare for another Heroshema and Nagasaki, or should I say, Mecca and Medina. DESTROY THOSE CITIES WITH NUKES!

Posted by: Andre at February 03, 2006 04:25 PM (bQ3vG)

13 ...and the subtle threat to kill all the unbelievers. I'm sure many of them will not mind me taking issue with their threat. And you know what is truly unbelievable. That a few cartoons could elicit such a reation from these people. The barbarians are truly at the gate.

Posted by: jesusland joe at February 03, 2006 04:26 PM (rUyw4)

14 While looking at pictures of various "protests" in various countries, I can't help but wonder why there are so many signs written in English being utilized in countries other than England. Many of them use the same verbage as those in England. Rather than being frightened by these persons who seem to want to point the finger at us no matter what their actual agenda, I suppose we should feel flattered we're so special and popular. And why no protests in the U.S.? I guess they've heard the phrase "don't sh*t where you eat".

Posted by: scarletbegonia at February 03, 2006 04:27 PM (z77r4)

15 I'd like to see the Moose limbs try holding signs like that in Alaska. I doubt they'd last 5 minutes before they got the crap beaten out of 'em. Male or female.

Posted by: REMF at February 03, 2006 04:46 PM (7RMSi)

16 Clearly woman in burka is a jooooooish agent trying make mooooslims look bad. This entire crisis smells like a zionist plot!

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at February 03, 2006 04:52 PM (8e/V4)

17 The pictures are available throughout the western world - notice how all the protests and threats of violence are in a handful of Western European (Progressive) countries. They can smell the stench of weakness. The signs are predominately in English cause the mullahs & boys back home can't read Danish or Dutch etc - most Western Europeans have a working handle on English - and they can send their threats of violence to Bush and America from the safety of 3000+ miles away.

Posted by: hondo at February 03, 2006 04:56 PM (3aakz)

18 Nope wont see it REMF the only thing you'll see is the glow of a burning churches in AL.

Posted by: Howie at February 03, 2006 04:57 PM (D3+20)

19 Was reading where the US is actually backing MUSLIMS in this little cartoon fracas. I'm really disappointed in our leaders who, even when faced with the obvious, continue to deny the truth about islam.

Posted by: Richard at February 03, 2006 11:31 PM (W8EsU)

20 Uh, don't the Brits have strict "hate speech" laws for this sort of thing?? I am pretty darn sure if a sign read "Exterminate those who slander Christianity," the makers of that sign would land themselves in jail PDQ

Posted by: Jan at February 04, 2006 10:46 AM (bcz28)

21 I didn't think of it before. This muslim woman is a white girl. All the more reason to find out who is beneath the veil, as these converts are often more radical than the rest, and she is probably even a traitor to her own.....

Posted by: fred fry at February 06, 2006 12:09 PM (BmQNv)

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See Vonski's weekly roundup of positive news from Iraq.

According to the above article, the statistics indicate that the number of attacks in Iraq are declining. To those who say things are getting worse, not better, I would like to respectfully disagree.

This outrage is developing into (surprise!) threats of kidnapping and violence against those responsible for the blasphemies. In Islam, it is forbidden to produce or view any sort of depiction of Muhammad to discourage idolatry.

A commenter left the following message twice on my blog now tonight, one of which timed in at February 2, 2006, 20:25 my time.

Commenter's name:
MUHAMMAD AWAIS

Email address:
MOEK007@YAHOO.COM

to all the non muslims.... u think by publishing these kind of things u can win or dreaming of conquering islam. let me tell you.. this is an attempt of the satanic followers who have no belif n faith... they are the misguided n rejected people of this world. if u dare to do this again a wor! ld wide holy war will be declared on you bastards. i believe that you the europeans are afraid of losing their ground against islam. and that is evident .. the world is turning to believe in islam... so such miscreants try to diverge their attention... a lost hope. i must say. did you (satans ) ever saw any muslim saying anything about ur religion..never...dont try our nerves .. you will have more to see in future.....if you would have been infront of me... i would have cut your throat right tere n then.... the ill-legitimate sons n daughters of the americans,,,and jews.....clinton himself a gay...who gives a shit to him... a bad character ex-president. you are the biggest hypocrate of the time.. God gives you true direction(hidayat). ask forgiveness from ALLAH THE ALMIGHTY....AND APOLOGISE TO THE MUSLIM UMMAH... OR YOU WILL BE PAST.

Hat tip Michelle Malkin for posting the Secular Blasphemy link.

Possibly related to cartoons "day of outrage"?

Investigators are trying to determine if a string of fires at churches in central Alabama were started by an arsonist, a state official said on Friday...One of the churches has a predominantly black congregation and the other four are predominantly white, officials said.

Update: That's six churches Burned in three hours. All on 02/03 the "day of outrage".

Posted by: Howie at 01:49 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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What the news is not reporting about these people is that they are followers of Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad and that their website has called for death to all those who blaspheme mohammed. They openly preach this hate on the streets of London. A related group, The Saved Sect, operates in Birmingham.

Intelligence gathered from Jawa Report operatives indicated that radical Islamists linked to Sheikh Omar Bakri Muhammad are using The Birmingham Grid for Learning webservers to spread jihadi propaganda and recruit terrorists. These webservers are owned and operated by the Birmingham City Council. The webserver also seems to be related to various schools in Birmingham.

What we want to know is who has access to these webservers? Is an employee of the City of Birmingham, or a related school, a jihadi? I believe the people of Birmingham might be interested to know that there is a terrorist in their midst. Especially if that terrorst is teaching their children.

More pics at LGF.

Posted by: Rusty at 12:27 PM | Comments (17) | Add Comment
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1 Go Get em Rusty!

Posted by: Filthy Allah at February 03, 2006 12:30 PM (5ceWd)

2 I hope nobody alienates these peaceful, misunderstood people, so we can dialogue with them.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at February 03, 2006 12:33 PM (0yYS2)

3 So where are all the moderate muslims who should be counter-protesting this crap? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at February 03, 2006 12:54 PM (8e/V4)

4 Whoa there they are all in one place calling for murder. Hmm I hate to take IM's gig but what an opportunity missed.

Posted by: Howie at February 03, 2006 12:54 PM (D3+20)

5 I guess the problem for the European's is the fact they have no way to enforce their freedom of speech, or protect themselves from assault due to the restriction of Firearm's. You cannot kill, or maim an intruder in your house in the U.K without going to jail yourself. At the same time the Police force is imploding with increasing wait time for responses and the fear of officers themselves, of entering an armed conflict without anything but a baton. It's open season as far as the "radicals" are concerned, how can anyone defend themselves in a society that handguns are illegal, and rifle registration is given to those that have a need. If you want to see an example of that, the day of my Grandfathers funeral, the Police came and seized his rifles until the licenses could be transferred to my Father.

Posted by: dave at February 03, 2006 01:34 PM (CcXvt)

6 We must all of us stand up against the bullying and censorship of Muslim nations and domestic Muslims. No one should feel threatened for poking a finger in the eye of Islam, any more than they should for doing so to Christianity, Judaism or Hinduism. Shutting off humorous jabs is the first step to foreclosing critical analysis. Islam desperately requires this criticism - from both within and without. Its adherents are murdering thousands around the world in its name. The rank and hysterical behaviour of the Muslims and their governments that raged against the cartoons only confirms this need. Here in Britain, television regularly shows programs critical of Christianity that often are nothing more than ridicule and debasement of our faith. Why is this taken with annoyance, but not violence and threats?

Posted by: Paul at February 03, 2006 01:52 PM (PM/BC)

7 LGF's server must be getting hammered. Can't get on the site at all.

Posted by: Oyster at February 03, 2006 02:53 PM (YudAC)

8 These are good days my friends, good days.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at February 03, 2006 03:07 PM (0yYS2)

9 I can only imagine the grin on Maxie's face.

Posted by: Oyster at February 03, 2006 03:30 PM (YudAC)

10 Dave and Paul, I feel for you. I don't know what I would do myself if I were disarmed, and what is happening right now has steeled my resolve to become more polically active. I have been a member of the NRA for several years, but I have decided today that I will divie up the cash and become a life member. I will also put some more cash into buying ammunition for my firearms as they are useless without it, and my daughter is about to have some shooting lessons. My two sons are already prolific shooters and hunters. Everyone here in the US should do the same. The situation in Britain looks bad to me, but the media does have a tendency to exagerate. Maybe it isn't as bad as it looks.

Posted by: jesusland joe at February 03, 2006 04:00 PM (rUyw4)

11 Joe: Don't feel bad, I left the UK 9 years ago for the U.S. Two weeks ago bought a Winchester Model 94 Ranger, a rifle I have admired for years, but could probably never own in the U.K

Posted by: dave at February 03, 2006 04:14 PM (CcXvt)

12 Yeah, yeah, yeah. Behead the infidel for this. Behead the infidel for that. Friggin one trick ponies

Posted by: REMF at February 03, 2006 04:32 PM (7RMSi)

13 Enjoy shooting that Winchester, dave, as I have spent many a day on a makeshift shooting range. And I recently obtained a Socom II(ouch on the price), but I had dreamed of owning one ever since Springfield came out with the M1A, I just never had the cash.

Posted by: jesusland joe at February 03, 2006 04:32 PM (rUyw4)

14 Boy did my blood boil when I saw these images of the rag heads publicly displaying their absolute hatred. There is nothing wrong with the infidels when they are paying up the money left and right though eh?. I´m not surprised that there was no police intervention - despite it being illeagal in he uk (lower case used purposely to indicate disrespect)to incite racial hatred. Or maybe this isn´t?¿? The ´british muslims´ can shit all over the uk quite openly as thats the way it is nowadays.....thats why I left.

Posted by: Eat his lamb at February 04, 2006 06:10 AM (bUxRY)

15 Is this the religion of peace? whats with the liberals whya re they not condeming this?

Posted by: sandpiper at February 06, 2006 03:31 PM (as4nC)

16 Fuck Islam, that pre-medieval death cult! If the jihadis come for me, they can talk to Mr. Benelli, who will speak on my behalf.

Posted by: Russell Whitaker at February 12, 2006 11:54 PM (bWAWp)

17 There's a lot of violence in the Qu'ran, and a lot of violence in the Bible (particularily the OT). But one thing that seems unique about the Qu'ran is that it demands the killing of "unbelievers" (e.g. Surah 4:89). So, in effect, the picture shows a rather moderate muslim, who demands that only those unbelievers that "insult Islam" should be killed. I for my part will surely refrain from calling Islam a violent religion, lest gentle and peace-loving muslims cut my unbelieving head off!

Posted by: Aragorn at February 26, 2006 02:46 PM (OXXW/)

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... the culture war that is being waged by the Arabs and Muslims in response to the Danish cartoons is an assault on the West's right to live and govern in accordance with its values. It is an assault on the notions of freedom and self-determination themselves

So please tell me, "Oh great Muslim scholars," why is it that "non-Muslims ought to behave obsequiously towards all things Islamic," and can't carryout a simple satire on how the world perceives the Muslim world by their terrorist behavior, while the Muslims are free to demonize Jews as monkeys and pigs and accuse Christians of being idolaters???

Caroline Glick absolutely nails it on the Muslim furor over the cartoons, and her piece in the JP needs worldwide recognition:

(...) At its base, the Muslim furor over the cartoons is part and parcel of their culture war against the West. The Muslims pushing the issue believe that non-Muslims ought to behave obsequiously towards all things Islamic, while the Muslims are free to demonize Jews as monkeys and pigs and accuse Christians of being idolaters. According to the rules of their culture war, if Western societies refuse to behave in accordance with their dictates, the Muslims have the right and duty to attack them.

(...) That is, the culture war that is being waged by the Arabs and Muslims in response to the Danish cartoons is an assault on the West's right to live and govern in accordance with its values. It is an assault on the notions of freedom and self-determination themselves.

I hope that's clear, now. Make sure you get it, then help to make sure everyone you know gets it. Pass the word!

Originally posted at Hyscience

Posted by: Richard@hyscience at 12:18 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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The tin-foil brigades are at it again. This time with a Downing Street memo which is supposedly "bigger, longer, and uncut". In fact, this one is another non-starter for the conspiracists who would like to believe that George Bush and Tony Blair are the modern incarnations of evil.

To the conspiracy theorists all absence of evidence is evidence of kabal and silence is nothing more than cover up. Thus, the conspiracist is left grasping at straws and then calling such straws evidence--or worse, proof.

So, what is in this "mother of all Downing Street memos" which David Corn believes is evidence that Bush and Blair are "conspiring to create a modern-day version of the sinking of the Maine"? Yes, Corn actually uses the word conspiring--you know, as in "to be involved in a conspiracy", Here is the Channel4 'exlusive':

President Bush to Tony Blair: "The US was thinking of flying U2 reconnaissance aircraft with fighter cover over Iraq, painted in UN colours. If Saddam fired on them, he would be in breach"

But, what exactly is the big deal here? The fact of the matter is that Saddam Hussein was doing this on a nearly daily basis already! With or without the Bush-Blair conspiracy, Iraqi forces fired on U.S. and British planes patrolling the no-fly zone thousands of times before U.S. troops ever invaded Iraq.

How does one conspire to create an incident that is already happening on nearly a daily basis? Is Corn and the American Left acually so ignorant as to have not read the hundreds of press reports of Iraqi forces firing on Coalition airplanes for years and years before the invasion?

Saddam had been in breach for a dozen years, the majority of which were under the Clinton administration. Was Bill Clinton somehow involved in this conspiracy too?

Corn seems to rest his hopes on that single point. But there is more in what he calls 'the mother of all Downing Street' memos:

Bush: "It was also possible that a defector could be brought out who would give a public presentation about Saddam's WMD, and there was also a small possibility that Saddam would be assassinated."

So, what is the big deal about wanting an Iraqi to talk publicly about Iraq's WMD program? It had been done before and used as pretext to invade Iraq's sovereignty before.

Assassinate Hussein? File under: mother of all not-shocking ideas.

What else is so 'shocking' in the papers?

Blair: "A second Security Council Resolution resolution would provide an insurance policy against the unexpected and international cover, including with the Arabs. "

Bush: "The US would put its full weight behind efforts to get another resolution and would 'twist arms' and 'even threaten'. But he had to say that if ultimately we failed, military action would follow anyway.''

Blair responds that he is: "solidly with the President and ready to do whatever it took to disarm Saddam."

Bush told Blair he: "thought it unlikely that there would be internecine warfare between the different religious and ethnic groups."

The conspiracy minded doesn't stop there. People like Corn were convinced there was a conpiracy long before the Downing Street Memo. The DSM was used as 'evidence' that their preconceived notions were correct. So this 'evidence' simply corraborates what they already believe. Just like moon landing nuts who believe that a photo which shows a shadow where they don't think it should be is 'proof' of the conspiracy, Corn and the far Left believe any statements from Bush or Blair that they were planning for war before they had publicly stated that they had made up their minds is 'proof' of a neo-Imperialist agenda.

But it gets worse. While rational people will see these statements as ambigious at worst and innocuous and obvious at best, people like Corn think the smoking gun has been found. They are so convinced that they know 'objective reality' as it really is, that any disregard for the memo is simply to deny the obvious. Hence, when the media doesn't pick up on the story Corn and the Left believe the media is part of the conspiracy too! Corn:

Will members of the press corps at 1600 Pennsylvania press the point? This revelation--which is more shocking than anything in the Downing Street Memos--should be major news here. But will it?

Hat tip: payer of bills.

dKos:

The new smoking gun reveals a flagrant violation of international law. Waging war under such circumstances constitutes a breach of the Nuremberg and Geneva codes and the UN Charter, which legitimize such action only in clear and present danger situations involving self-defense.

The Political Pit Bull has an excellent analysis of this shocking new memo, too.

Posted by: Rusty at 11:08 AM | Comments (18) | Add Comment
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1 Let them push it: just more embarrassment for the Left.

Posted by: Jeff Medcalf at February 03, 2006 11:50 AM (eer2X)

2 Liberal non-scandal #3450835.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at February 03, 2006 11:52 AM (8e/V4)

3 What's so sad is that this is being taken VERY seriously by the Left.

Posted by: Rusty at February 03, 2006 12:12 PM (JQjhA)

4 ..at which point Mr. Bush looked at Mr.Blair and said "I think it's time, don't you? Mr Blair agreed at which time a large antique chest was bought into room, the chest was covered with 'runes' or some artifacts of a dead language. I helped remove the large ivory effigy of Imperial Emperor Karl Rove, and poured in an equal mix of Haliburton oil, and Arab baby blood from a vial, It was at this point I heard the voice of Ariel Sharon over the intercom it boomed and said "DRINK...YOUR MASTER COMMANDS IT!" it was at this point Mr.Bush, and Mr. Blair suckled the fingers extended from the effigy and began drinking" The "Real" portions of the Left's "Downing Street Memo" remember it's fake but accurate!!

Posted by: dave at February 03, 2006 12:12 PM (CcXvt)

5 Bush told Blair he: "thought it unlikely that there would be internecine warfare between the different religious and ethnic groups." Oh, for God's sake, does this even sound like the President, even a little bit? I have to think that President Bush would say "civil war", rather than "internecine warfare", and, in fact, there has not been a "civil war". I'd also like to know why the actual document hasn't been presented for inspection. Could it be that the Left learned a valuable lesson from the Dan Rather TANG memo fiasco?

Posted by: The Dread Pundit Bluto at February 03, 2006 12:13 PM (RHG+K)

6 This "memo" are the words of a third party. Words that can easily and likely change the context of any conversation. Ambiguous doesn't even begin to describe some of those statements. It should go into the toilet right next to a certain book.

Posted by: Oyster at February 03, 2006 12:28 PM (YudAC)

7 The timing of this latest leftist assault on our leadership and the uprising of muslims in Europe is a little too coincidental to be accidental. I've known for a long time that the leftists were walking hand-in-hand with muslims, and this is just more proof. The day is coming, so buy a gun and stock up on ammo while you can, because when the time is at hand, the government will ban all sales of arms and ammo.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at February 03, 2006 12:38 PM (0yYS2)

8 Bush Derangement Syndrome knows no bounds.

Posted by: indolene at February 03, 2006 01:26 PM (YHcxM)

9 You forgot this part of the article, fucktard: "A memo of a two-hour meeting between the two leaders at the White House on January 31 2003 - nearly two months before the invasion - reveals that Mr Bush made it clear the US intended to invade whether or not there was a second UN resolution and even if UN inspectors found no evidence of a banned Iraqi weapons programme. "Should Saddam Hussein choose confrontation, the American people can know that every measure has been taken to avoid war, and every measure will be taken to win it." GWB,(3/17/03)

Posted by: MyPetGoat at February 03, 2006 02:31 PM (QwwYn)

10 Yes! MyPetGoat: Hit Jawa where it hurts, they deliberately obscured that particular excerpt from the Fake Memo obviously to hide the facts!! Jawa also left out the part where Bush said he planned to attack by using flying robot ponies.

Posted by: dave at February 03, 2006 02:35 PM (CcXvt)

11 Yeah they really hate it when we cherrypick their forged documents, it really shows our dishonesty.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at February 03, 2006 03:08 PM (0yYS2)

12 "Yeah they really hate it when we cherrypick their forged documents, it really shows our dishonesty." Especially when it comes to Yellowcake...

Posted by: MyPetGoat at February 03, 2006 03:38 PM (QwwYn)

13 Flying Robot Ponies!!! Ya mean they finally got that damn system to work properly? Damn it! And me - an ol'hand CAV RECON SCOUT getting ready to retire in 6 months! I WANTED A PONY! HMMV'S OK, Dirt bike was cool - but a flying pony! Aaaaaaaah man! This sucks! What am I gonna do with my Wagner CD?

Posted by: hondo at February 03, 2006 03:43 PM (3aakz)

14 hondo, give it to MyPetGoat. He has been adopted by a Muslim teenage boy, so he may need it for the entertainment value.

Posted by: jesusland joe at February 03, 2006 04:08 PM (rUyw4)

15 Shorter Maximus & Jesusland Joe

Posted by: TedB at February 03, 2006 04:14 PM (QwwYn)

16 Oh, TedB, I see you want to fellate the Muslims, so why don't you take the place of MyPetGoat? And I'll throw the Wagner CD in, no charge! Have a nice day.

Posted by: jesusland joe at February 03, 2006 04:39 PM (rUyw4)

17 Ha Ha Ha Ha Teddy's shootin' those blanks again.

Posted by: hondo at February 03, 2006 06:20 PM (3aakz)

18 you guys are complete idiots. why dont you look at some of this stuff before you stat talking? What if one of our "allies" (that means friends of ours)flew fighter planes over US air space? do you think we would shoot at it? hell yes we would. so whats the difference? I could tear this crap apart but I doubt that any of you would even bother to find out any of it for yourselves. so good luck guys and remember"ignorance is bliss" and it diffinatley doesn't hold up in a court of law

Posted by: Felix at February 05, 2006 03:42 PM (aMFEY)

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At what point did blasphemous art become a declaration of war? Via Charles Johnson this little nugget about a 'refugee' in Norway:

Yesterday (Thursday) Mullah Krekar, the alleged leader of the Islamist group Ansar al-Islam who has been living in Norway as a refugee since 1991, said that the publication of the Muhammad cartoons was a declaration of war. “The war has begun,” he told Norwegian journalists. Mr Krekar said Muslims in Norway are preparing to fight. It does not matter if the governments of Norway and Denmark apologize, the war is on.

Posted by: Rusty at 10:16 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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Then I have to go back to work.

If today is an official "International Day of Anger" in the Ummah, what was 9/11, a mild disagreement?

Posted by: Vinnie at 10:13 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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Upside down bin Laden as Christ

When will the riots and death threats begin? Perhaps we should boycott New York? More from Michelle Malkin and Chad at ITB.

Posted by: Rusty at 09:00 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
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