Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Mom Knows Best
To which I can only add - we have theoretically conservative Republicans in the "let's lose and blame Bush" club. If you'd like to send them a message about their non-binding resolutions (i.e. Ass-Hat) - take a look at Hugh Hewitt's pledge. And if you want to hear someone with some spine on the subject - something we sorely need - listen to Hugh's interview with Congressman John Boehner here. It's Hugh with the spine - the Congressman is - well - what's the word - congressional.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Frank Miller Interview
Little Green Footballs has an excerpt from an interview of Frank Miller here. Little did I know until it was mentioned at the end of the interview thank Frank Miller is the creator of The 300. The first movie I've been waiting to get to theaters in years, and the creator - well - listen to the interview. He can't be a Hollywood favorite.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Speaking of Lebanese Muslims...
If you'd like to see what they're up to in Lebanon - vis-a-vis Australia - we have that for you too! This comes from the Beirut -> Beltway blog via Michael Totten. Both blogs are in near real-time mode as Lebanon looks increasingly like it's going into a civil war.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
G'Day Mate! From Lebanese Muslims Downunder
Friday, January 19, 2007
The 300: March 9 - Mark Your Calendar
Terror Dry Run in LA Subway with Super Speedy Response
A scary posting from Debbie Schlussel on what we can look forward to in LA. Check out the CNN video (linked to from Debbie's post). Accidential mercury spill? OK officer, if you say so.
We are being probed, weak points are being identified. The Miami port, the LA subway. These are the ones we know about.
We are being probed, weak points are being identified. The Miami port, the LA subway. These are the ones we know about.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Redneck Hearing Protection
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Give us guns – and troops can go, says Iraqi leader
Hat Tip: Drudge Report
If you are asking yourself: What is going on? How can they now want us to leave? The answer is that Nouri al-Maliki, a Shia, wants no part of routing out the Shia militia around Baghdad. They would much rather have the US arm the Shia militia by providing weapons to the Iraqi government while he's running it, so that they can exterminate the Sunni when we're gone.
This is hardball. This falls on deaf ears in the White House. Al-Maliki is trying to go around Bush by convincing enough Senators and Representatives to sign-on to his 'premature withdrawal plan'. That's the devil's bargain here - accept al-Maliki's offer and sign-on to the ethnic cleansing. In all honesty - I have some sympathy for the Shia position, they have been brutalized for decades by a Sunni minority under Hussein. Do they want a free and united Iraq or do they want payback? I fear the numbers that want payback are too great for a free and united Iraq to stand on its own.
The White House will now try to dump Al-Maliki ASAP, he's a liability to their plan.
If you are asking yourself: What is going on? How can they now want us to leave? The answer is that Nouri al-Maliki, a Shia, wants no part of routing out the Shia militia around Baghdad. They would much rather have the US arm the Shia militia by providing weapons to the Iraqi government while he's running it, so that they can exterminate the Sunni when we're gone.
This is hardball. This falls on deaf ears in the White House. Al-Maliki is trying to go around Bush by convincing enough Senators and Representatives to sign-on to his 'premature withdrawal plan'. That's the devil's bargain here - accept al-Maliki's offer and sign-on to the ethnic cleansing. In all honesty - I have some sympathy for the Shia position, they have been brutalized for decades by a Sunni minority under Hussein. Do they want a free and united Iraq or do they want payback? I fear the numbers that want payback are too great for a free and united Iraq to stand on its own.
The White House will now try to dump Al-Maliki ASAP, he's a liability to their plan.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Iran's New Toy
Iran has taken delivery of the TOR-M1 (SA-15) from our friends the Russians.
The Russians claim it's effective against targets to 30,000 feet. More reliable sources put the upper-end closer to 20,000 ft with a radar capable of detecting targets with an RCS of 0.1 meter squared.
And while we're on weapon-system news, this is an F/A-22 releasing a 1,000 lb JDAM at supersonic speed. The F/A-22 has an RCS somewhere in the bird to bee range, and wouldn't fly as low as 30,000 ft unless they wanted to waste fuel. The F/A-22 is operational, and they are being deployed outside of the United States.
The Russians claim it's effective against targets to 30,000 feet. More reliable sources put the upper-end closer to 20,000 ft with a radar capable of detecting targets with an RCS of 0.1 meter squared.
And while we're on weapon-system news, this is an F/A-22 releasing a 1,000 lb JDAM at supersonic speed. The F/A-22 has an RCS somewhere in the bird to bee range, and wouldn't fly as low as 30,000 ft unless they wanted to waste fuel. The F/A-22 is operational, and they are being deployed outside of the United States.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Cool Rocket Launch
Check out the stabilizing fins about 1/3 of the way into the clip.
Zakaria: Even if We 'Win'
Fareed Zakaria has some pointed questions about the results we're going to get from a success in Baghdad as a result of the surge (H.T. RCP). I think Zakaria is asking some important questions. Who do we turn "Iraq" over too? How much will they have invested in "Iraq the Nation" versus their commitment to, or fear of, their own sect? I despise Joe Biden, but the options open to us are 1) rule it ourselves, 2) partition, 3) another year of pretense followed by civil war. I'm not deluding myself about partition, that may bring war as well - but it won't be a war because we're trying to salvage an Iraq that does not exist without a homicidal maniac for a leader.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
We live in interesting times
Think about this for a moment - and see if the hairs on the back of your neck don't stand straight up:
The Litvinenko murder is only the first of many stories in which Islam, nuclear materials and Russian decline will intersect in novel ways.
From Mark Steyn, "The Bear Goes Walkabout"
The Litvinenko murder is only the first of many stories in which Islam, nuclear materials and Russian decline will intersect in novel ways.
From Mark Steyn, "The Bear Goes Walkabout"
Viva Jesus!
There's a strange attraction for invocations of Jesus on the left - particularly when they're about to take something by force. USA Today (via the Drudge Report) describes Hugo Chavez's oath of office this way:
Since this will be the last Presidential oath of office to be heard in Venezuela while Chavez is alive - I think we can take it as the official Venezuelan view on the intentions of Jesus. Still, there are some dissenting views:
Three cheers for Cardinal Savino. A brave man.
This is all vaguely reminiscent of Al Gore's comment in the 2000 Presidential campaign, that he spent much of his time asking himself "What Would Jesus Do?" - to which the answer is apparently "Sue".
I'm not a Christian - it's not for me to defend the faith - but I would think those who are would find this pretty grotesque. Is it the view of Christians that those who cannot be won over to 'loving thy neighbor' through love itself should be forced to do so by the courts, the IRS, or the Army?
Where is the Christian response to invocations of Christ as the role-model for nationalizing industries and shutting down television stations? Where does super-church Pastor Rick Warren come down on this? Is Chavez just misunderstood like Syria's Assad?
Chavez took the oath of office at the National Assembly after a sweeping re-election victory that has given him free reign to pursue more radical changes, including plans to nationalize power and telecommunications companies.
His right hand raised, Chavez declared: "Fatherland, socialism or death — I swear it," invoking the Cuban leader's famous call to arms.
Chavez also alluded to Jesus, saying: "I swear by Christ — the greatest socialist in history."
Since this will be the last Presidential oath of office to be heard in Venezuela while Chavez is alive - I think we can take it as the official Venezuelan view on the intentions of Jesus. Still, there are some dissenting views:
He scolded leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and the Organization of American States for criticizing his decision not to renew the license of an opposition-aligned television station.
Addressing Venezuela's top Catholic prelate, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, Chavez said he could not understand why the church supported Radio Caracas Television, which Chavez accuses of subversive activities aimed at ousting him.
"Mr. Cardinal," Chavez said, "the state respects the church. The church should respect the state. I wouldn't like to return to the times of confrontation with Venezuelan bishops, but it's not up to me. It's up to the Venezuelan bishops."
Three cheers for Cardinal Savino. A brave man.
This is all vaguely reminiscent of Al Gore's comment in the 2000 Presidential campaign, that he spent much of his time asking himself "What Would Jesus Do?" - to which the answer is apparently "Sue".
I'm not a Christian - it's not for me to defend the faith - but I would think those who are would find this pretty grotesque. Is it the view of Christians that those who cannot be won over to 'loving thy neighbor' through love itself should be forced to do so by the courts, the IRS, or the Army?
Where is the Christian response to invocations of Christ as the role-model for nationalizing industries and shutting down television stations? Where does super-church Pastor Rick Warren come down on this? Is Chavez just misunderstood like Syria's Assad?
Monday, January 08, 2007
Troop Surge is not Strategy
There is a mindless argument taking place. The President is widely expected to announce Wednesday night an increase of 20,000 or more troops into Iraq, and the freshly-coronated Queen Grandmother is preemptively rejecting the approach - announcing that the dolt in the Whitehouse didn't understand his thump'n, and that he must instead present his plan for reducing the troop levels immediately.
But this is all nonsense. Having 160,000 troops in Iraq, or 100,000 troops in Iraq is not strategy. India was ruled with 100,000 troops. The problem is not numbers - it's mission. It is entirely within American capability to end the civil war in Iraq in short-order by making ourselves the rulers and using disproportionate response to every act of violence. We have no desire to do so. That is fine, and I understand the sentiment, but the consequences will be that they will have their civil war - and lots of innocents will be killed, many more than would be killed by our rule. We should understand the price of our civility.
President Bush is a bold man. It was an act of faith in humanity to say that Iraqis want civilization and freedom so badly, and so quickly, that they will face the thugs in their own country, kill the foreigners, and set-aside their sectarian difference to and stand with us and take their future. No doubt significant numbers of Iraqis have done just that - but not enough of them quickly enough to suit the American attention span.
Partitioning then, is our endgame in Iraq. We have no will for something larger. What then of Iran? That is the question.
But this is all nonsense. Having 160,000 troops in Iraq, or 100,000 troops in Iraq is not strategy. India was ruled with 100,000 troops. The problem is not numbers - it's mission. It is entirely within American capability to end the civil war in Iraq in short-order by making ourselves the rulers and using disproportionate response to every act of violence. We have no desire to do so. That is fine, and I understand the sentiment, but the consequences will be that they will have their civil war - and lots of innocents will be killed, many more than would be killed by our rule. We should understand the price of our civility.
President Bush is a bold man. It was an act of faith in humanity to say that Iraqis want civilization and freedom so badly, and so quickly, that they will face the thugs in their own country, kill the foreigners, and set-aside their sectarian difference to and stand with us and take their future. No doubt significant numbers of Iraqis have done just that - but not enough of them quickly enough to suit the American attention span.
Partitioning then, is our endgame in Iraq. We have no will for something larger. What then of Iran? That is the question.
California's Givernator Expands Health-Care Program
Sacramento - July 8, 1700 PST.
The Givernator, realizing that giving free health-care to illegal immigrants will only encourage more illegal immigration - has expanded the program to cover all children in Mexico!
According to the Givernator -
A spokesman for the Givernator stated the Giv is further planning on opening free health clinics in Mexico to be paid for by California companies employing over 7 legal residents, or 14 illegals. The Givernator noted that those employing illegals are already shouldering more than their fair share of Mexico's health-care costs. Further - by running the clinics in Mexico - greenhouse gas emissions associated with busing patients to San Diego clinics and hospitals can be avoided.
The Givernator, realizing that giving free health-care to illegal immigrants will only encourage more illegal immigration - has expanded the program to cover all children in Mexico!
According to the Givernator -
There's no debate - they'll be crossing the border at one of our illegal's safe-passage corridors and going straight to the Emergency Room - we'll save money running regular bus service, and having them see Doctors by appointment. Doctors and hospitals will be only too glad to pay for this out of their own pockets realizing how damaging it would be to the state budget to expose the true cost.
A spokesman for the Givernator stated the Giv is further planning on opening free health clinics in Mexico to be paid for by California companies employing over 7 legal residents, or 14 illegals. The Givernator noted that those employing illegals are already shouldering more than their fair share of Mexico's health-care costs. Further - by running the clinics in Mexico - greenhouse gas emissions associated with busing patients to San Diego clinics and hospitals can be avoided.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Decades of Lies
Caroline Glick's article in the Jewish World Review is fascinating and revolting. It reveals 33 years of lies, from the United States, about the involvement of Arafat in the assasination of a US ambassador. An assasination which, as it turns out, we knew he ordered and provided support for.
One of the heroes of the story is Scott Johnson of Powerline. He's been after the truth of it for years. Now the State Department has come clean publicly - they had intercepted Arafat communications ordering the assasination.
It's all so ugly.
Arafat didn't hate all Americans thought - he had a warm spot in his heart for Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter, from the Middle East Quarterly.
And of course Jimmy knew the truth about his host - that he'd had US Ambassador Cleo Noel and US Charges d'Affaires George Curtis Moore killed.
Perhaps this is what the Nobel prizes were for, the murder and the cover-up.
One of the heroes of the story is Scott Johnson of Powerline. He's been after the truth of it for years. Now the State Department has come clean publicly - they had intercepted Arafat communications ordering the assasination.
It's all so ugly.
Arafat didn't hate all Americans thought - he had a warm spot in his heart for Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter, from the Middle East Quarterly.
Arafat recalled sending Rosalynn a traditional Palestinian embroidered jacket one Christmas when she was First Lady. . . . As the evening wound down, the Arafats promised Jimmy and Rosalynn that they would visit them in Plains. "I want to see the land that gave birth to Jimmy Carter," Arafat said. When the Carters returned to the American Colony Hotel, they were still abuzz over the Arafats' gracious hospitality. . . .
And of course Jimmy knew the truth about his host - that he'd had US Ambassador Cleo Noel and US Charges d'Affaires George Curtis Moore killed.
Perhaps this is what the Nobel prizes were for, the murder and the cover-up.
