First, they start with the rock throwing...

If the Gallup Independent gets a fatwa and we don't, I am going down there with a full load of cinderblock in my truck.

And just who do they think it is, the local Rotarians?

However, no evidence has been recovered proving the incident was in retaliation for the publication of the cartoons or was done by a member of the local Arab community.

Whoever did it, we all know it's really George Bush's fault.

Posted by: Vinnie at 12:05 AM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
Post contains 90 words, total size 1 kb.

The F-14 Tomcat has been officially retired from the Navy's service. And except for that brief Top Gun fiasco in 1986, the Tomcat has served our country with distinction. What? Are you still suffering under the delusion that Tom Cruise is straight?

Pssst--I hear that the new F-22 Raptor refuses to let any Scientologist--including jet pilot John Travolta--come near it.

Posted by: Rusty at 12:42 PM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
Post contains 68 words, total size 1 kb.

I found this on the Beeb.

Nah, no ties to terrorism there. No WMD, either.

Meanwhile, I have done my duty as a good Jawa correspondent and found more pictures of Iraqi prisoners being abused. Graphic images below the fold. more...

Posted by: Vinnie at 06:07 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 87 words, total size 1 kb.

Local guy just called me back to tell me that D.C. knew about it and was working on it already.

Which means someone saw my post and reported it even before I did.

What can I say, but thank you, and we get results!

If you don't know what I'm talking about, scroll down, I have to go back to work.

Posted by: Vinnie at 09:57 AM | Comments (2) | Add Comment
Post contains 71 words, total size 1 kb.

Talked to a Secret (sooper sekrit?) Service agent at the local field office regarding that comment.

They're going to get their computer guys on it and talk to me tomorrow.

It could be nothing, it could be something, either way, someone overseas is going to be hauled in for interrogation.

I hope so, anyway.

Posted by: Vinnie at 05:51 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 64 words, total size 1 kb.

Michelle Malkin says that the Cartoon Jihadists are winning the battle of the Free Press.

The first two examples come from Malaysia and Yemen, hardly bastions of press freedom to begin with.

The rest are either socialist countries, or former Communist countries. And the U.N. And the E.U.

I am to going finally place the last brick into the wall that keeps me in the bowels of the blogosphere dungeon by disagreeing with Michelle Malkin.

I will believe that the Cartoon Jihadists are winning when they finally prevent me from posting offending images of Mohammed.

Why we are choosing to die upon the hill of whether or not what MSM outlets publish these pictures makes me want to pull out the duct tape for head wrappage again.

If the blogosphere truly wants to be the new media, then we have got to stop worrying about what the MSM does or doesn't do.

Who gives a flying blank at a rolling donut if the L.A. Times didn't publish the photos? I've posted them numerous times, and so have others. So many that the google searches for these caricatures far outstrip the daily readership of any newspaper in the world.

That is what free press is. And that's why I disagree that the Cartoon Jihadists are winning.

And this is why I should resign myself to being a bottom-feeding blogger. Forever and ever.

Posted by: Vinnie at 02:11 AM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
Post contains 239 words, total size 1 kb.

My very dear friend Beth sent the remaining two brain cells in my head to furiously rubbing against each other in order to create a spark by reminding me of the Islamic practice of taqqiya.

And the comments she refers to, I've seen them as well, I have no choice, they show up in my inbox now on a daily basis.

I first learned of taqqiya from Patrick al-Kafir. Here's his definition from his C&R lexicon:

taqiyya: Dissimulation; lying for the sake of ones religion; concealing ones true religious beliefs for strategic reasons. Taqiyya is a lie by commission, rather than by omission, as in kitman. The concept of al-taqiyya is one historically associated with Shia Islam. This is because Sunni Muslims, who believe that Shiites are heretics, would impel them to denounce their faith, thinking this would expose them as mushrikeen when they refused to. In response, the Shia would do so, but hold true to their faith in their hearts, thus preserving their faith and their lives. Taqiyya is now used by all Muslims as a means of deceiving infidels about Islam's aims, practices, and aspirations.

Let's revisit Beth, she's on to something here...

I’m tired of reading the same line in damn near every thread related to the cartoons, where the liars say Islam “respects all religions.” Exactly who do these people think they’re kidding? Maybe they can peddle that bunch of hogwash to the blind dhimmis on the Left, but that’s not flying here. As far as I’m concerned, ANYONE who claims that Islam “respects all religions” has showed their true colors–that they are exactly the kind of Islamofascist with whom the civilized world is at war.

...because, like I said, I've been on the receiving end of these comments.

So the question begs, is Islam tolerant of other religions? Another meme I've noticed is one that basically goes "Muslims don't defame the other prophets, like Jesus, and Moses, how dare you!"

The answer, of course, is no. Islam is not tolerant of other religions. Not only is Islam intolerant, it spits in the face of the very religion it claims to be the one true extension of. Jew hating aside, if Islam respects and doesn't defame the prophets that came before Mohammed, then how then do they rationalize the concept of taqqiya? Or the practice I noted in the post below, the muta'a?

Their hypocrisy is exposed by what was written in stone, thousands of years ago, and brought to the world by a prophet supposedly revered in Islam, Moses:

14 “You shall not commit adultery. (muta'a)

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (al-taqqiya)

Then we proceed with the obvious:

13 “You shall not murder. (duh, applies to every other major, or minor for that matter, religion on Earth)

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.” (just who invaded Spain, anyway?)

For a group that proclaims religious superiority over the rest of us, you would think this would present a problem.

Nah.

F.E.T.E

Posted by: Vinnie at 08:56 PM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
Post contains 548 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Outstanding catch, only in need of one addendum. God wrote down the ten commandments, is it blasphemy to reject the word of God? Breaking the individual commandments is bad in so far as they're concerned but what happens when they reject the commandments outright? I would make sure that those 72 virgins got a medical checkup if I were smart.

Posted by: Mike H. at February 06, 2006 09:14 PM (DGg0m)

2 I’m tired of reading the same line in damn near every thread related to the cartoons, where the liars say Islam “respects all religions.” What religion "respects all other religions?" Name one that respects any other religion, for that matter. The whole point of sectarianism is not that the sects "respect" one another, but that none is able to get such a stranglehold on the state that it can use the state's resources to crush the others. I'm not sure whether Islam is less tolerant, but suppose that depends on the sect of Islam we're talking about. I'm not sure how far one can get with this religion-bashing thing. But as a practical matter shouldn't we try to differentiate between sects that at least tolerate the idea of religious diversity and those that don't? Not that they "honor it" mind you. Just that they're willing to put up with it. But anyway, you guys are proving my point. There is large-scale willingness to just consign the entire Muslim world to the dust bin, because of the reaction against a few cartoons. Listen Muslims, can you just imagine what this would be like were any of your holy warriors successful enough to destroy an American city, or even a neighborhood? Still think it's a good idea to get the bomb? The only reason things don't look worse for you in the West is that your holy warriors just haven't been very successful. And for that you can thank Allah and George Bush, not to mention a few apostate Muslims.

Posted by: Demosophist at February 06, 2006 09:36 PM (GHzDS)

3 Demosophist, we're not consigning them to the dustbin, they're doing it all themselves. That post smacked of apologetics.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at February 06, 2006 10:15 PM (0yYS2)

4 Thank you for reminding me of this. I reread all of the Chronicles of Narnia, and you might be interested in reading "The Last Battle". It might take you a day, and you will be surprised by its common day relevance especially where taqiyya is concerned. C.S. Lewis knew this was coming and how it would come long before I was even born...

Posted by: RepJ at February 06, 2006 10:19 PM (ZKVg+)

5 Re #17: does that mean you can't covet your Kuwaiti neighbour's oil, cars, tvs, gold...

Posted by: Matthew at February 06, 2006 10:20 PM (/LA+Y)

6 Why don't you go over to Beth's site and debate it with her, Demosophist? I didn't write that, she did. But anyway, you guys are proving my point. There is large-scale willingness to just consign the entire Muslim world to the dust bin, because of the reaction against a few cartoons. Sorry, but I don't know how old you are, but I clearly remember Munich in 1972, the oil embargo of 1973, and the hostage crisis of 1979. My perspective on Islam goes alot farther back than just this current cartoon issue, Demosophist. Finally, it's not "religion bashing." It's "getting out the facts."

Posted by: Vinnie at February 06, 2006 10:20 PM (f289O)

7 abu hamza convicted by british court for incitement to murder! woohoo!

Posted by: ian uk at February 07, 2006 07:26 AM (GhCfc)

8 I'm going to do a little "religion bashing" here. This is just my own opinion, but Mohammed was just an egomaniac with control issues. And he was smart too. I mean "real" genious. He coupled his ability to imagine some pretty advanced ideas about the universe and mathematics (even though his math doesn't add up when disbursing inheritances among the family - and in other instances) with his own perversities and personality defects to create an unquestionable self-made existence. He proclaimed himself a prophet by playing on the superstitions that were prevalent at the time. He proceeded to destroy knowledge gained by others so that his Koran was the only word. The destruction of books, scrolls and other sources of knowledge were routinely destroyed by him and his followers for centuries after. And look at some of the most ridiculous proclamations he made: * Angels won't visit a house with a dog in it? * Jews were turned into rats? His proof? Rats don't drink camel's milk and neither did Jews. * The devil resides in your nose while you sleep? (there are many, many more) And this "word" is eternal and must never be questioned? And to this whole issue about not allowing any depiction of Mohammed; this was NOT Allah's word. This rule was made up by other men after Mohammed died. Funny how God's edicts always benefitted Mohammed over everyone else. Even his followers. He got the pick of women after their husband's were killed. He got a full fifth of all the booty from conquests. He claimed to speak for God yet, changed the rules regularly to suit himself, and after he died it was proclaimed that Muslims live their lives patterned after his. And there you have it.

Posted by: Oyster at February 07, 2006 07:37 AM (YudAC)

9

Posted by: ian uk at February 07, 2006 08:42 AM (GhCfc)

10 Actually, I have heard of one religion that is tolerant of all others. I is called something like the Church of Latter Day Messengers, or something like that. It seems that they believe all religions are based on messengers of hope and salvation, and are told at different times, in different places, to different people. They maintain it is just the same message and has been that way since the dawn of time. I seem to recall that they thought John Lennon was one of the last(est). Something about "love being all you need" and the "inability to purchase love". Their central tenent around which every thing revolves is the belief that 'War is a crime' (in other words 'peace') and that this is the revelation foreseen and foretold by Nostradamus, amongst others. I happened to overhear a conversation about it on the bus in from Yass (about 45 minutes out of Canberra) last Monday. It was a probably a crack-pot fringe sect. Rupert Murdoch has a farm out that way, if that means anything. Peace and Out Jack

Posted by: Jack Russell at February 10, 2006 12:21 AM (DCfOe)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

Histories and commentaries about Islam often mention the ironic labels that Muslims place on the two "houses" that define the two parts of humanity, as they see them. In this cosmology the realm of the infidels is referred to as the "House of War" while the sphere of Islam is called the "Ummah" (roughly, the community of the virtuous and faithful). The implication is that the West is condemned by their failure to "submit to the will of Allah" to a process of internecine struggle. This has been a useful fiction for the Ummah because not only does it provide a sense of moral superiority, but serves as a figleaf to hide the Ummah's private shame. The term "House of War" manages to convey the notion that the long struggle for justice, freedom and responsible government in the West was the mere pathology of an inferior and faithless people. But the current "cartoon crisis" informs the confused that what the Ummah has really been in submission to for these many centuries is not Allah's will, but a long tradition of tyranny that oppresses in the name of Allah. Avoidance by the Ummah of the kind of struggle that, for centuries, plunged the House of War into a bloody-but-purifying crucible has left the "House of Mankind" contaminated with dross.

And threatens to plunge us all, this time, again into the crucible.

(Cross-posted to Demosophia)

Posted by: Demosophist at 11:43 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 239 words, total size 2 kb.

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
Post contains 30 words, total size 1 kb.

Via email from Patrick al-Kafir who found it at the blog-grandfather:

Zombietime's Mohammed image archive.

While the debate rages, an important point has been overlooked: despite the Islamic prohibition against depicting Mohammed under any circumstances, hundreds of paintings, drawings and other images of Mohammed have been created over the centuries, with nary a word of complaint from the Muslim world. The recent cartoons in Jyllands-Posten are nothing new; it's just that no other images of Mohammed have ever been so widely publicized.

Note the images purchased off the street in Iran.

In 1999.

Man, wait 'til the Islamofascists see this. It'll be boycott city, baby!

Posted by: Vinnie at 11:21 PM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
Post contains 119 words, total size 1 kb.

Several choppers have been shot down in Iraq of late. Infovlad has the new video of a chopper being shot down released by the terrorists. There are conflicting reports as to how these choppers go down. Mujahedin Army and Salahudin al-Ayoubi Brigade have both claimed responsibility. The Mujahedin Army released the video. The enemy can be heard in the background repeating “God is Great” in Arabic.

NPRÂ’s ATC : Three helicopters operated by the U.S. military have gone down in Iraq in the past 10 days, resulting in 16 deaths. Some experts believe insurgents are using a new weapon: an airborne cousin of the roadside bombs used to blow up trucks and tanks.

AP Via Indy Star : Ashid Khalifa, 27, who has a food and drink stand in the area, said he saw the attack. "I saw the smoke trail left by the missile," he said. "I heard a hissing sound, looked around and saw the helicopter losing control before crashing down."

The U.S. command questioned the credibility of a video purportedly showing an attack on a helicopter that was posted on the Internet by one of the militant groups, the Mujahedeen Army.

"A review of the footage on television of a missile being fired does not appear to show this incident today, which remains under investigation," said Lt. Col. Barry Johnson, a U.S. spokesman.

"This appears to be another case of terrorists attempting to manipulate a tragic incident," he added.

Updated: ABCNEWS : Reports this was a Russian missile..

Pentagon officials tell ABC News they believe Iraqi insurgents used a Russian-made SA-7 surface-to-air missile to shoot down a U.S. military helicopter on Monday... ...It's a troubling new development because there are hundreds — and by some estimates thousands — of SA-7 missiles that are unaccounted for in Iraq... ...The weapons had been part of Saddam Hussein's arsenal, much of which was looted after the invasion. But until now, insurgents had never successfully used them against an American aircraft.

Posted by: Howie at 10:12 AM | Comments (10) | Add Comment
Post contains 436 words, total size 3 kb.

Senators McCain and Bayh both said today that the US must not discard the possibilty of military action against Iran's nuclear program as a last resort. It's nice to know that at least two Senators recognize the danger of a nuclear-armed theocracy led by mad mullahs with Apocalyptic aspirations.

From Breitbart:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican and Democratic senators said on Sunday the United States may ultimately have to undertake a military strike to deter Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, but that should be the last resort.

"That is the last option. Everything else has to be exhausted. But to say under no circumstances would we exercise a military option, that would be crazy," Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona said on CBS's "Face the Nation."

Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said there are sensitive elements of Iran's nuclear program, which, if attacked, "would dramatically delay its development."

Also posted at The Dread Pundit Bluto.

Posted by: Bluto at 05:05 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 200 words, total size 1 kb.

If this is true, I may break my boycott and buy a bottle of obnoxiously expensive real French champagne.

If it's not, I'll drown my sorrows with Old Milwaukee.

May, might, could have:

DAMADOLA, Pakistan (AP) - An airstrike in a remote Pakistani tribal area killed at least 17 people on Friday, and a senior Pakistani official said the target was a suspected al-Qaida hideout that may have been frequented by high-level operatives, possibly the No. 2 leader Ayman al-Zawahri.

Citing unnamed American intelligence officials, U.S. news networks reported that it was a CIA strike and that al-Zawahri, Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant, could have been at a targeted compound in the Bajur area or about to arrive.

There was no confirmation from either the Pakistani or U.S. government, but a senior Pakistani government official told The Associated Press that "there is 50-50 chance that some al-Qaida personality was at the home" that was hit in the border village of Damadola, about 125 miles northwest of the capital Islamabad.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said Saturday that he had heard that the al-Qaida figure may have been al-Zawahri and that the information would be clearer later Saturday.

Wasting away again in MargaReuterVille.

Just a thought, if the DNA results come back positive, will there be pictures released i.e. Uday and Qusay?

Failing to do so could result in a we said-they said type deal, with them releasing year old never-before-seen video and audio and claiming it's recent.

Posted by: Vinnie at 07:26 PM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
Post contains 265 words, total size 2 kb.

Ayup, that's our military. When they're not shoving hot pokers up some poor sob's butt, they're doing terrible things to Iraqi children.

Best of luck and well wishes for a successful surgery.

Posted by: Vinnie at 05:51 PM | Comments (27) | Add Comment
Post contains 38 words, total size 1 kb.

The acquittal on December 6 of Sami al-Arian, a former professor of computer engineering at the University of South Florida, on eight counts relating to terrorism was a setback not only for the Department of Justice and the Bush administration, but also for the struggle against Islamic extremism itself. That the Florida jury deadlocked on another nine counts, however, leaves open the possibility of his ultimate conviction.

So why did Sami al-Arian get away with 17 counts of assisting a terror group and conspiring to commit murder relating to the attacks carried out by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in Israel? This, in spite of the fact that his trial did clarify once and for all - after years of denial by the professor and his supporters - establish that Al-Arian was a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad - a group that engages in terrorist acts including suicide bombings in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank, approved of its goals and methods, and raised money in the United States to finance its activities.

After all, at the time of the indictment, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad was responsible for the murder of over 100 innocent people in Israel and the Occupied Territories, including at least two young Americans, Alisa Flatow, age 20, and Shoshana Ben-Yishai, age 16. And clearly, al-Arian's help in funding the murders should warrant his being found guilty since raising money for a terrorist group that committs murder, is a federal crime every bit as much as personally planting the bomb.

So, what role - if any, did the trial judge play in the terrorist-supporting al-Arian escaping justice for his participation in the murder of Israeli civilians and American citizens? Read Ronald Radosh's piece in The Weekly Standard and find out about the judges' role and why Sami al--Arian got off this time...
And as one would expect from the ilk of the ACLU or Amnesty International - defenders of the rights of terrorists, AI is urging the US authorities to ensure that Sami Al-Arian is afforded humane treatment and due process in any further proceedings taken against him. And what humane treatment and due process was afforded those innocent Israelis murdered with the help of funds raised by al-Arian? more...

Posted by: Richard@hyscience at 04:30 PM | Comments (18) | Add Comment
Post contains 444 words, total size 4 kb.

1 I'm beginning to think that Floridistanis are about as stupid as Californistanis on average if they let this man off when the evidence is so clear. I wonder if New Yorkistanis would have done it any differently?

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 29, 2005 04:53 PM (0yYS2)

2 Florida is indeed full of idiots.

Posted by: IO ERROR at December 29, 2005 05:21 PM (vhWf1)

3 Agent Brown will be keeping an eye on him.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 29, 2005 09:05 PM (TP7SP)

4 Not all Floridians are idiots, just the ones that have moved here from up North.

Posted by: Thirdee at December 29, 2005 09:51 PM (sH6Sa)

5 Oh yeah. This Floridian wishes she was on the jury.

Posted by: Thirdee at December 29, 2005 09:56 PM (sH6Sa)

6 Personally, I wish we could specify *inhumane* treatment for certain types of criminals, like this guy assuming he's guilty. But suggesting that any suspect doesn't deserve due process is real bad. Hands off the Rule of Law--it's one of the things that makes the U.S. not suck. I also wish we could adopt a law similar to what Putin is trying to establish in Russia, clamping down on foreign NGO's. I'm getting real sick of European pansies coming here and agitating over how we treat our thugs and thieves as if it were some legitimate concern of theirs.

Posted by: ShannonKW at December 30, 2005 03:05 AM (dT1MB)

7 Amen, Thirdee! I'm a Floridian. Have been all my life. Please consider that al-Arian and those who let him go are from that part of Florida which is a bastion of liberalism (aside from Dade county as well). Judge Greer who was hell bent from day one to allow Michael Schiavo do whatever he damn well pleased was from the same area of Florida, the middle west coast. Send these f**kers to Jacksonville and see how well they fare. We'll eat 'em for lunch and then go out for dessert. While I'm originally from south Florida and love the weather down there, I'll suffer the bitter winters here (it's all relative) to remain among those where the men are men and the women can shoot.

Posted by: Oyster at December 30, 2005 05:53 AM (YudAC)

8 We also have a local population of immigrants here, mostly from the New York and Chicago areas, and they brought their infection of liberal stupidity with them. We also have a few "halfbacks", who are Yankees who moved to Florida then moved halfway back, and landed here. Proof of the superiority of Southern culture is that we tolerate them though there is no reason to.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 30, 2005 08:16 AM (0yYS2)

9 I thought Florida was full of Jewish snowbirds from NY who never went back - now even they think terrorism is ok, as long as it is just against Israel?

Posted by: Glenmore at December 30, 2005 08:25 AM (80Dji)

10 From my experience Glenmore, that's about the size of it.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 30, 2005 09:42 AM (0yYS2)

11 hahahahah! suck on this one you kufrs!

Posted by: Jawa and all Jawa supporters....Suck! at December 30, 2005 01:54 PM (n3EHA)

12 We'll get the jihadi pig bastard before its all over with. Bwaaahaaaahaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!Yeah, and it will feel great to put his ass behind bars!

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 30, 2005 07:44 PM (rUyw4)

13 Agent Smith says all of you podlings don't need bars, as your minds are under control already.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 30, 2005 10:33 PM (HuVhz)

14 Smith, if you folks spent as much time trying to understand what motivates us podlings as you do trying to "understand" what motivates the enemies of this country, then maybe your view of us podlings would change a bit.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at December 31, 2005 10:35 AM (8e/V4)

15 Someone should ban this idiot before he has the greg effect and chases off real commenters.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 31, 2005 11:59 AM (0yYS2)

16 Exactly right, IM. I'm sick and tired of the crap, myself. It has gone on way too long.

Posted by: jesusland joe at December 31, 2005 01:15 PM (rUyw4)

17 Agent Smith says, if it were only your fantasy you could see through, you would choose to keep it.

Posted by: Agent Smith at December 31, 2005 06:27 PM (X9zNj)

18 The Al-Arian trial and its results prove unequivically that the legal system cannot fight terrorist networks. The proper response to a possible terrorist operating is to monitor, carefully gather evidence to prove guilt (no skipping over this step!), and when the case is built... ..blow his ass away with a sniper rifle. If the state won't do its job, then the people must. "Vigilantism"'s root word is Vigilance.

Posted by: MegaTroopX at January 01, 2006 10:13 AM (yT/Rw)

Hide Comments | Add Comment

DEBKAfile is reporting that the Islamic Army of Iraq posted a video on the Internet claiming the execution of American security consultant Ronald Shulz who was abducted Dec. 8. The 8 second video shows gunmen shooting a kneeling blindfolded figure whose face is hidden. We have the video and it will be available shortly.

The murdering Islamothugs have once again committed yet another, atrocity. Of course we've heard not a peep of this from the mainstream media - only that the U.S. abuses it's prisoners by making them uncomfortable or hurting the feelings. How does that compare to murdering prisoners?

Update: Here is the video, now on our server.

Update: BBC News is also reporting the execution.

Originally posted at Hyscience

Posted by: Richard@hyscience at 05:33 AM | Comments (58) | Add Comment
Post contains 143 words, total size 1 kb.

If Col. Shusko has his way, every Marine -- and everyone near them -- will benefit from the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). Unlike men and women in the other branches of the armed forces, every Marine is taught how to fight hand-to-hand, up close and personal.

For the first time in the U.S. military, an effort has been made to combine the most effective techniques of martial-arts disciplines from around the world into a single course of study -- MCMAP.

At the Marine Corps Martial Arts Center of Excellence, fighting instruction is merged with character-building lessons as a new breed of warrior is forged.

Posted by: Richard@hyscience at 05:38 AM | Comments (19) | Add Comment
Post contains 141 words, total size 1 kb.

The results are perhaps not what mainstream media expected in a new AP/Ipsos poll about the use of torture to interrogate terrorists. With all the recent stories about alleged torture and abuse of al Qaeda prisoners, and the CIA "renditions" of terrorist suspects, it seemed that the MSM had succeeded in creating a hostile environment for any sort of aggressive interrogation. Not so, according to the poll, though some major outlets are shading what they report to put the best face on the results. MSNBC and ABC run with the AP feed:

WASHINGTON - Most Americans and a majority of people in Britain, France and South Korea say torturing terrorism suspects is justified at least in rare instances, according to AP-Ipsos polling.

CBS and Fox have not reported on the poll. more...

Posted by: Bluto at 01:01 AM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
Post contains 404 words, total size 3 kb.

So, the U.S. armed forces are broken, worn out, and "living hand to mouth." A Vietnam vet said it, so it has to be true! Nothing like a tautology to seal the deal (by saying "I predict he'll make it look like we're staying the course," Rep. Murtha gives himself the chance to be proven right regardless of facts or what the administration does -- a pullout of any degree is proof the military is stretched too thin, and maintaining the current force level is only a saving face operation needed because the troops are stretched too thin). Besides the fact that his lame political pandering sounds more like a terrorist communique than anything else, I cannot help to think he is slightly mistaken based on what, you know, actual soldiers on the groud say. But since such logic has escaped the Honorable Representative, let me do a quick graphic display.

Rep. Murtha's view of the U.S. military: more...

Posted by: wineaholic at 10:48 PM | Comments (25) | Add Comment
Post contains 276 words, total size 2 kb.

It's Veteran's Day.

Memorial Day is when we honor those that died to give us our freedom.

Veteran's Day is the day when you have your chance to say thanks, alive and in person, to those who will soon be memorialized.

I'm not naive, I know many of you do that every chance you get.

I served but never fought, and in some ways that disappoints me. But then I look back at my experience in the Navy and I realize that no matter what, my time in the Navy will guide me well for the rest of my life.

So I say thanks to all of those who went in before me, whose cumulative wisdom helped me become the man I am today.

Posted by: Vinnie at 02:56 AM | Comments (13) | Add Comment
Post contains 128 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Thank you for your service, Vinnie.

Posted by: Russ at November 11, 2005 03:12 AM (utsLN)

2 Right back atcha, Russ.

Posted by: Vinnie at November 11, 2005 03:20 AM (Kr6/f)

3 It's also Memorial Day in my country for honoring locals who fought in British service during World War II. I think though that it's fitting to offer thanks to veterans everywhere, regardless of nationality that have done their part to preserve freedom in the world. A special thanks must be given to veterans of the United States Armed Forces though, who now continue the vast majority of the work alone. So thank you brave men and women. In doing your part to make your country safer, you've helped (and still are helping)to make mine safer as well.

Posted by: Graeme at November 11, 2005 06:23 AM (ZKZ0y)

4 My hubby is a veteran as well. He got a bigger kiss than usual this morning. And to all you guys and gals - A heartfelt thanx.

Posted by: Oyster at November 11, 2005 06:34 AM (YudAC)

5 Thanks to Vinnie and all vets. I gotta remember to make a few calls today.

Posted by: Howie at November 11, 2005 06:50 AM (FC8Wr)

6 Thank you, vets, and God bless you.

Posted by: jesusland joe at November 11, 2005 07:33 AM (rUyw4)

7 Its the day in 1918 when WW I officialy ended the day we remember those who have died in war to make our nation free lets not forget their sacrifice

Posted by: sandpiper at November 11, 2005 09:18 AM (8W+Ht)

8 Thank you veterans. The nation owes you its gratitude.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at November 11, 2005 10:12 AM (8e/V4)

9 My wife said she'd make me a cake, but I think I'd rather go to the range to celebrate by shooting some Osama and Che targets.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at November 11, 2005 12:08 PM (0yYS2)

10 Personally believed Vets Day and Election Day should be merged. They would go well together - Vets - the right to vote - freedom. Makes it kinda difficult to forget one without the other. And an Official Day off - to remember and to vote. Lots of people claim to want Election Day off (possible increase in turnout). Libs would never go for it once they realize the potential downside for them - all those vets and their friends and families remembering - and voting

Posted by: hondo at November 11, 2005 01:49 PM (Jvmry)

11 Excellent idea hondo.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at November 11, 2005 01:52 PM (0yYS2)

12 Thanks to all of you!

Posted by: Maureen at November 11, 2005 06:02 PM (ny5O/)

13 Nicely put Vinnie. I served but never fought in combat. But I was ready. I think they were all lucky. No telling how ugly it would have been had they messed with us. I was born in February but yesterday was my birthday. Thanks for all the rides you guys gave me. I never thought I would miss the Khaki green and battleship gray. Or the wing, and San Diego will always be "The Place". FU Saddam, I was ready for you 10/14/94, then you pussed out. I lost 3 days of sleep and 4 days in Fallon. And I will dance on your grave after you are gone.

Posted by: cmunkey72000 at November 11, 2005 09:51 PM (ju9c2)

Hide Comments | Add Comment