Fear and Loathing on Illegal Immigration

The massive protests since and including last weekend have brought the issue of illegal immigration into sharp focus. The image of thousands of people carrying Mexican flag exposes the attitude of many of these people as one of colonization rather than assimilation. The most important result has been the voices of legislators who oppose any form of amnesty being brought to the forefront of the public debate. With Congressional elections coming this year now is a good time for the politicians to have to face the magnitude of the problem.

Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Arizona, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher R-California Virgil H. Goode Jr., R-Virginia, Rep. Steve King of Iowa and Tom Tancredo of Colorado are speaking emphatically against the Senate bill that despite Arlen Spencer's assurances to the contrary, is an amnesty bill. They stand in stark contrast to Senators Spencer, Graham, McCain and Kennedy who want to wash their hands of an issue they never wanted to tackle in the first place. McCain who comes from Arizona is dumping on the interests of his state's citizens for some misguided perception hat he can buy enough Hispanic votes to overcome his dismal showing in his last presidential bid as he seeks the office in 2008.

Today President Bush is meeting with Mexican President Fox and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss security issues. As has been the case with other such gatherings they have traded assurances of cooperation with little evidence that anything will change. The fundamentals of the crisis are not hard to discern, but difficult for politicians to address. On our side are the courts who have forced states to educate all children regardless of their parent's immigration status because of our 14th amendment that automatically grants citizenship to anyone born in the United States. Then heap on this the willingness of local governments to extend welfare without verification of citizenship, and basically free healthcare at our emergency rooms. On the Mexican side is a socialist government that has used its oil resources to buy votes rather than infrastructure and economic development incentives. The result is the country's economy cannot sustain itself without the billions of dollars sent to relatives by both legal and illegal immigrants. This has fostered a situation where so many Mexicans are here that the fringe elements calling for the return of the Southwest to Mexico are anticipating success. politicians always looking to the easy way to reelection are loath to restrict any largess that people now enjoy for fear of a backlash as the French Government is experiencing now.

Politicians are not as they flatter themselves to be, leaders. They are the slaves of the mob. Their constant fear and goal is how to win the next election. Popular sentiment must be loud and clear for them to abandon they tried and true way of never doing anything substantial. The only way they will be enthusiastic about passing any piece of legislation is if they get to throw lots of money around with their name attached to it, or if there is a credible threat to their reelection if they are on the wrong side of an issue. Take the Dubai Port Deal as an example. Whether or not you think the outcome was good or bad the fact is that no one in congress cared a whit about the deal until the general public caused an uproar. The politicians fear of voter wrath explains the strange bedfellows that joined forces to kill the deal.

The demonstrations with the Mexican flags has done for the illegal immigration issue what talk radio did for the Dubai Ports. If the intensity of the public can be sustained congress may drop the amnesty issue and at least deal with border security.

News on the Self Defense Front

A number of states have just passed laws giving citizens greater ability to exercise their right to self defense. Today Nebraska approved a right to carry law. The governor is expected to sign. This, along with the recent override of Gov. Sebelius' veto in Kansas, would leave only Wisconsin and Illinois as states yet to recognize this as a useful aid in preventing crime. Illinois by the way is set to try and fix an anti lead poisoning bill that could possibly (and you know it will) be used to effect ammunition manufacturers.

In the area of "No Retreat" laws I find Alabama, Alaska and Mississippi all passing this important legislation. In the case of Mississippi this is more a codifying of a long practice of not holding the victim responsible for actions taken to thwart a criminal. It has always befuddled me how courts could have so favored the interests of criminals at the expense of the citizen trying to protect his life and property.

I remember the 1970's when much of the anti gun and criminal coddling became the norm. There were times I thought the politicians had lost their minds. I still think the great majority of politicians are in need of a good wood shampoo, but self defense laws are coming back to something more sensible, it just took 25 years or so. I just hope that it doesn't take half that long for them to get a clue about illegal immigration.


Carnival of Cordite #53

Chaplains Groups Differ on Prayer Order

As in the church in general there are dueling factions within the military chaplain dispute. What we see in the general church is conflict between the conservative church that views the scripture as the sole authority and the liberal church which is looking to make the church relevant in current society. So it is within the struggle the conservative chaplains are having in their effort to exercise their faith in praying in the name of Jesus whenever they are called on to pray.

The International Conference of Evangelical Chaplain Endorsers Is asking that there be no restrictions on chaplains ability to pray in the name of the deity they serve. The military on the other hand feels that public prayer in command situation where attendance is mandatory must be "inclusive" so as to not offend anyone not of the faith of the chaplain who prays. The National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces is comfortable with this arrangement so does not support the effort by ICECE to have congress or the President force the Military to change the policy.

"This has been portrayed as though chaplains are not allowed to pray in Jesus's name, without any distinction between what they do all the time in worship services and what they do occasionally, in ceremonial settings where attendance is mandatory,"[says] Rev. Herman Keizer Jr., chairman of the National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces.

The Rev. Billy Baugham, executive director of ICECE, said he was surprised by NCMAF's stand.

"It will just lead more evangelicals to leave them and join us," he said....

Keizer said NCMAF sees nothing wrong with a commander asking a chaplain to offer nonsectarian prayers at such events, as long as the chaplain can decline to participate, with no repercussions.

But Baugham said evangelical chaplains must represent the church that endorses them for military duty, and "they are not authorized to give nonsectarian prayers." He also said he does not believe that chaplains are truly free to pray as they wish in worship services.

"There are chaplains who get their knuckles rapped pretty hard, and we have documentation of this, for praying in Jesus's name in chapels," he said.

The military wants to make chaplains into little more than councilors with this restriction. When we ask people to leave home, family and friends to risk their lives for our benefit, we cannot also ask them to leave their religion also. Those exposed to the prayers of other faiths or lack thereof can easily make accommodation in their private thoughts, but to ask a minister to compromise his faith during the exercise of his religious duty is to violate his conscience

see also:
Army Silences Chaplain After Prayer Criticism
Air Force's New Rules on Religion Called Unconstitutional
Military Chaplains Told toPray to God Not Jesus
Navy and Chaplains Still at Odds

Maryland Democrats Reject Photo ID at Polls

Maryland legislators are in a battle over voting security in upcoming elections in the state. The Republicans want votes to present a photo ID at their polling place before voting. The Democrats want to allow voting with provisional ballots and drop any ID requirement. Since the Senate of Maryland is dominated by Democrats they were able to dump the ID bill. The average person might not see anything wrong with showing an ID. The integrity of the voting process is not a difficult concept to grasp. Yet Sen. Delores G. Kelley, Baltimore County Democrat actually said "she was 'really frightened' by the photo ID requirement" Her fear might be that she can't get elected unless people who should not be voting can. Her claim that people are intimidated by such a requirement is nonsense. The only reason someone would not want to have to show their ID would be if they had no reason to be there or they were not who they claimed to be.

What the Democrats are protecting is their natural constituency. It's a theme that plays out in every election. They know that citizens by and large do not share their radical ideas. If that were not the case they would not need to resort to the courts to force their nonsense on the public. Just look at Georgia where civil rights groups are trying to stop the enforcing of an ID law for voting there. So they must protect that voting block they find most dependable, the incarcerated, the illegal and the interred. How else does one justify their enthusiasm for getting felons to vote, illegal immigrants amnesty and provisional ballots.

Democrats Offer Bold Security Agenda

Oh happy day the Democrats have a National Security plan! When I heard the news I went right to the DNC website to read all about it. I thought I might load the whole thing on this blog and comment on each proposal about my thoughts on each one's effectiveness. What I found was an article with a link to the plan. Great! Not just a link, but a whole article to go with it. And that's not all! No not by any means. Why they even had a blog post ready for me to paste! Those Democrats are the best. So here is the post they so thoughtfully wrote for my blog:

Democrats.org has a post called "Democrats Offer Bold Security Agenda" that's worth checking out...

Today, Democratic leaders across the country will join House and Senate Democrats in unveiling a comprehensive plan for providing the American people with real security. The agenda stands in stark contrast to the dangerous incompetence of the Republican leadership, which has undermined the security of the American people.

Is that cool or what? I wish more organizations would do this, it would make blogging such a snap. I hope next time they will provide the comments to go with the article so I can spend more time watching reruns of The West Wing.

Anyway you may have noticed that I don't have the document on this blog with a comment on each proposal about my thoughts on each one's effectiveness. That's because there was nothing worth commenting on. It's just a regurgitation of the same nonsense that John Kerry was touting in his campaign. Just "We will do better, we are smarter, Bush is stupid. Well the new buzz is Dangerously Incompetent, but you know what they mean. After reading it it seemed they just threw something together after the latest poll, but no the Post says it took months.

The new strategy, which comes after months of deliberations and several false starts, aims to neutralize the advantage Republicans have held on national security and terrorism issues...

If they can't do better than this someone might be showing up with a bottle of vodka and a pistol.

Illegal Immigrants Support Politicians That Americans Won't

When dealing with the world of government and politics I take certain assumptions. The first is there will always be a percentage of elected officials who will never have a clue. I can't complain about that because even moon bats need representation. The second is the longer a person holds elective office, the more clueless he becomes. A situation obtains in the Senate that has combined these two assumptions into a critical mass. Most of the Senate has become ossified to the point of complete cluelessness on the issue of illegal immigration. Add to that the length of time most of them have been there and it's safe to assume they are clueless on most other issues also. Take the differences between Virginia's Senators. The senior Senator, John Warner has been there since 1978. His positions are so convoluted or squishy that he could be the Republican's answer to John Kerry. Then there is Sen. George Allen in his first Senate term. He is clear on opposing amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Tony Blankley of the Washington Times has assembled various polls that demonstrate the disconnect between the Senate and the voter. It can explain the huge difference between the House and Senate versions of immigration bills, House members being somewhat more in tune with voters because of their shorter terms.

National polling data could not be more emphatic — and has been so for decades. Gallup Poll (March 27) finds 80 percent of the public wants the federal government to get tougher on illegal immigration. A Quinnipiac University Poll (March 3) finds 62 percent oppose making it easier for illegals to become citizens (72 percent in that poll don't even want illegals to be permitted to have driver's licenses). Time Magazine's recent poll (Jan. 24-26) found 75 percent favor "major penalties" on employers of illegals, 70 percent believe illegals increase the likelihood of terrorism and 57 percent would use military force at the Mexican-American border.

An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll (March 10-13) found 59 percent opposing a guest-worker proposal, and 71 percent would more likely vote for a congressional candidate who would tighten immigration controls.

An IQ Research poll (March 10) found 92 percent saying that securing the U.S. border should be a top priority of the White House and Congress.

Yet, according to a National Journal survey of Congress, 73 percent of Republican and 77 percent of Democratic congressmen and senators say they would support guest-worker legislation.

The Politicians who support amnesty and guest workers programs must know they are out of touch with the electorate and are hoping they can secure a following of grateful illegals to keep them in their cushy jobs.

The Tin Foil Sombrero Crowd

The large demonstrations over the weekend have brought to the surface the illegal immigrant version of the moon bat. The old standbys were there such as La Raza and Atzlan but one I was not aware off looks particularly batty. They call themselves the Mexica Movement. They are your typical indigenous racial purity group that calls it's opponents Nazis. There seems to be a theme there. I continue to wonder at the disconnect when groups support any kind of racially based separation or claim of homeland while calling critics Nazis. The anti war crowd sees unified in their desire to see Israel destroyed calling them occupiers of the Palestinian homeland yet they equate Bush with Hitler. I know, I shouldn't expect logic or reason to be operative with these nut jobs, but I can't help shaking my hear ruefully.

Here are a few photos from the demonstration. They have plenty more at their web site. Definitely check it out.

H/T Marchers say gringos, not illegals, have to go

Basil's

Court Finds Rep. McDermott Obtained Illegal Wiretap

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled today that Rep. Jim McDermott D-Wash violated the privacy rights of Rep John Boehner R-OH by giving an illegally obtained wire tap of a cell phone conversation to the New York Times.

The case stems from a tape that a Florida couple made in December 1996 and gave to McDermott the following month.

McDermott, then the ranking Democrat on the ethics panel, leaked the tape to the Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which printed partial transcripts in January 1997.

Gingrich was later fined $300,000 and reprimanded by the House, and he resigned his seat in November 1998. The Florida couple pleaded guilty to unlawfully intercepting the call and were each fined $500. McDermott resigned his seat on the ethics committee.

He was never charged with a criminal offense, but Boehner filed a lawsuit in 1998 accusing McDermott of violating state and federal wiretapping laws.

The number 1 Democrat on the Ethics Committee at the time involved in illegal wire tap scheme. Reminds me of the UN putting Libya in charge of the Human Rights Commission. Don't ya just love liberals. Oh and Rep McDermott is one of the sponsors of the impeachment resolution against President Bush. Funny how no one is calling for McDermott's resignation.

Basil's

Senators Back Guest Workers

In an effort to meet the midnight deadline set by Sen. Frist the Senate Judiciary approved a law supposedly to deal with illegal immigration.

With Republicans deeply divided, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Monday to legalize the nation's 11 million illegal immigrants and ultimately to grant them citizenship, provided that they hold jobs, pass criminal background checks, learn English and pay fines and back taxes.

Sen. Kennedy was quite impressed with himself after voting for this bill that bares his and Sen. McCain's names as sponsors. It seems to me his celebration is misplaced. The question I have to ask is this:

"How does the Senate expect people who broke the law to come here to get in line to 'hold jobs, pass criminal background checks, learn English and pay fines and back taxes'?"

Especially when the same senators who support this legislation argue that it is necessary because we can't possibly find and deport all these people. when these people forget to show up and comply with this new law are we just magically going to find them and deport them? Of course the answer is no because doing something about illegal is not the object of this bill. Both sides of the isle think they can buy votes with this legislation from the grateful masses of Mexican colonists that will get a free pass to stay.

Whiny French Go on General Strike.

If whiny children grow up to be conservatives than why are the French socialist? A study published in the Journal of Research Into Personality by Berkeley Prof. Jack Block claims whiny and insecure children grow up to be conservative. With all the simpering and public tantrums one would think they would have grown up to be staunch capitalists. According to the Wash Post this unfortunately is not the case.

They just can't abide the government's effort to give employers the discretion to fire non performing employees in the first two years of their employment. They feel quite put upon since this would make young people actually work for two years before they can cruse to retirement. In France that would make them the only people among the employed having to work. So to force the government to withdraw such an unfair work requirement the labor unions have called a general strike and car burning demonstration.

Perhaps Prof. Block might have looked to see if whiny children who didn't grow up became French.

Basil's
Linked by Rolling Barrage

Rising Tide of Applications to Christian Colleges

The education system in the US has generally abandoned its mission in favor of social engineering. It doesn't matter at which level one examines it, from kindergarten on to graduate school there is some form of indoctrination going on. Parents who want to bring an academic focus back to their children's school are put off as troublesome or ignorant, so it comes as no surprise that the home school and privet schools are seeing increased enrollment.

Then comes the great dilemma of collage and university. There is little argument that a collage education opens the doors to more lucrative careers, but the quality of the education has been declining for decades. The political correctness movement didn't start in a vacuum, the leftward tilt of collage and university faculty had reached such a critical mass that it was just a natural extension of the common philosophy of the administration. The hostility of the university environment to American values and culture is exemplified by recent events. Yale has fought off criticism of its bringing a former spokesman for the Afghan Taliban to campus with statements such as:

"What is wrong with you? Are you retarded? This is the most disgraceful alumni article that I have ever read in my life. You failed to mention that you've never contributed to the Yale Alumni Fund in your life. But to suggest that others follow your negative example is disgusting."--Alexis Surovov, assistant director of giving at Yale Law School

Add to this the hostility toward the ROTC to such a point that the government finally stopped any federal payments and grants to schools that refused to allow military recruiters and ROTC programs. Thomas Sowel and David Horowitz among others have written extensively on the nonsense that has become our system of higher education. Is it any wonder that parents, who overwhelmingly finance the education of collage and university students, are looking to an alternative for this stage of their child's education? increasingly they seem to be turning to evangelical schools.

Applications have jumped 8 to 10 percent at the 238 colleges that belong to the North American Association of Christian Admissions Professionals, according to Executive Director Chant Thompson. More applications mean more students on campuses next fall, he says, and that's good news, because 25 percent of those schools are barely breaking even.

Since 1990, enrollment has increased 70 percent, from 135,000 to 230,000, at the 102 evangelical schools that belong to the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities. Over the same period, enrollments at all public and private colleges increased by 13 percent and 28 percent, respectively.

Young people are still impressionable in their early twenties. I struggled with the obvious nonsense that I heard when I was in collage. I had a sense that what the professors were pushing was wrong, but I lacked the knowledge and experience to say why. And that is the problem. We send our child to Collage to learn what is necessary to discern the truth yet they are instead placed in a hostile environment where those tools are not imparted, but are subjected to indoctrination instead. The critics of those who choose home school and the evangelical university complain that children are being shielded and coddled. But when young people are still acquiring the experience and skills necessary for understanding the world around them it is entirely appropriate to be careful of who and what they are exposed to. It's parent's progeny and money so it is parent's reasonability to do the best they can to ensure the best result.

A few years ago I changed careers. A campus of George Mason University was opened not far from where I live. My wife suggested I go and get a degree in economics since I was now in the financial business and I admired the economics department of GMU. I replied, "I would love to, but it would interfere with my education."

Afghan Court Dismisses Case vs. Christian Convert

Abdul Rahman has had his case in Afghani court for being a convert from Islam to Christianity dropped. Even as the judge in the case was declaring his independence from Western influence, he now says there insufficient evidence for a trial.

"The case,"The case, because of some technical as well as legal flaws and shortcomings, has been referred back to the prosecutor's office," the judge, Ansarullah Mawlavizada, told Reuters.

He declined to elaborate or say if the review would delay the trial, which had been due to begin in coming days.

A prosecutor said Rahman's mental state would be examined on Monday following suggestions that he may be mentally unstable.

Rahman, detained this month for converting to Christianity, told an Italian newspaper from his Kabul jail cell that he was ready to die for his new faith.

The question remains as to what will happen next. There is still going to be an examination of Abdul Rahman's mental condition and at least one cleric has stated that he would incite the mob to "tear his to pieces." The pressure to resolve this case and avoid the death penalty has grow each day. Even one Afghani newspaper called for his release. A diplomat suggested that exile may be the result.

Through it all Rahman has stayed steadfast in his claim to be a Christian. The Italian newspaper La Repubblica published an interview with him as reported by AP.

"I am serene. I have full awareness of what I have chosen. If I must die, I will die," Abdul Rahman told the Rome daily, responding to questions sent to him via a human rights worker who visited him in prison.

"Somebody, a long time ago, did it for all of us," he added in a clear reference to Jesus.

Rahman also told the Italian newspaper that his family — including his ex-wife and teenage daughters — reported him to the authorities three weeks ago.

He said he made his choice to become a Christian "in small steps," after he left Afghanistan 16 years ago. He moved to Pakistan, then Germany. He tried to get a visa in Belgium.

"In Peshawar I worked for a humanitarian organization. They were Catholics," Rahman said. "I started talking to them about religion, I read the Bible, it opened my heart and my mind."

Mexican Colonists Protest Illegal Immigration Law

Thousands of people demonstrated in LA , Phoenix and other US cities protesting a bill that would make Illegal immigration a felony rather that a civil crime. Even the organizers were surprised by the turnout. It was a very visible example of the magnitude of the problem we face in defending our sovereignty. Many carried Mexican and other South American flags and were chanting Mexico! Mexico!.

Wearing white shirts to symbolize peace, marchers chanted "Mexico!" "USA!" and "Si se puede," an old Mexican-American civil rights shout that means "Yes, we can." They waved the flags of the U.S., Mexico and other countries, and some wore them as capes.

In a previous post I highlighted the legal changes that the Mexican government has made to preserve the loyalty and citizenship of its people who live in America, both legally and illegally. There is little effort to hide the desire of Mexico to reclaim the Southwest United States. This is why they are supporting the massive assault on our southern border by their own people.

The large turnout has President Bush trying to pacify a more restless legislature with speeches about enforcing current law first and securing the border before changing immigration law. While this is all good news the proof is in the bills he supports and signs.

This bill that the Colonists form Mexico are protesting is still insufficient for dealing with the problem. Making Illegal entry a more serious crime will not do much to deter or apprehend the violators. If anything it will complicate matters. What is needed is for Congress to bite the bullet and appropriate funds to build and maintain a fence on our border with Mexico. Then as we need fewer personnel to guard the border we can then do what's necessary to deal with the people that are discovered to already be here.

Immigration is not the problem as much as the apologists for the colonist would like to say it is. Nor is the claim that they do work Americans won't. It is the illegal flood of people that plagues us. What is happening to our economy is a depreciation of wages at the low end of the scale. Entry level work is becoming scares because the illegal population is competing unfairly and in large numbers. In an economy that has 96% employment the addition of thousands of workers every day seeking entry level work by crossing illegally only adds downward pressure to the wages offered at the low end. This situation slows the upward movement of legal residents by limiting their opportunities to enter the job market to begin building skills for advancement. This is however secondary to the main problem we face which is the active colonization of our nation by a neighbor. If we do not deal decisively with this issue now we may find in the not too distant future that we must deal with a secessionist movement.

Tracked to
Reforming Welfare and Illegal Immigration, CapitalistImperialistPig,
Stop the ACLU Right Wing Nuthouse

Sheryl Bowen in Memorial

Today I attended the memorial service for an old friend. Sheryl Bowen and I met at a horseshoe supply store. She had recently graduated from a farrier school in Kentucky. It was one of those friendships that started immediately. She was one of those people that I found to be nutty enough to be fun to be with.

Though we were of the opposite sex we remained just friends which is often difficult to do. She rented from me and worked for me until 1986. She later married and had twin daughters. Then while working for another farrier she was injured in an auto accident that ended her career as a farrier. I can say that this event more than any had the most profound effect on her.

She later founded Roses4Vets and is well rememberd by many because of it.

She will be missed, but I know I will see her again.

Other memorials:
Obituaries
Horse Lover

Another Child Rapist walks in Ohio

The horrifying state of our justice system seems to continue finding new ways to make regular people gape in disbelief. I read this at Lost in Lima Ohio. On the heals of Judge Connor's inexcusable decision one would have to wonder what's up in Ohio.

I'd written about Bryant a few days ago- outraged that a judge would use the power of the court to free a child rapist. You see, this wasn't a plea deal where some fancy lawyers wiggled their clients out of prison time. This is a case where a jury heard the evidence, deliberated on the case, and formed a unified conclusion. They sentenced Bryant according to the law- and the judge turned his nose at it.

I know, you're still wondering why I'm writing about it again, right?

In doing this blog- in covering these cases, I've had chances to hear from families of victims, and even friends of the convicted. I'm used to hearing both sides of cases. But never have I had a chance to hear from the third group- you know the one that actually came into the case unbiased. I heard from one of the jurors last night, and could plainly see that his outrage was overwhelming.... to the point that he returned the check of $167.90

.

Go and read to whole post and the links. I'm beside myself.

Owner fights state over deer's fate

Fifteen years ago Phyllis Goforth, aged 73 of Farmville, Virginia purchased from the Natural Bridge Zoo three Fallow Deer. She now has Five deer, two of the original a couple offspring and a White Tail that was brought to her five years ago by a person who found it by its mother who had died on the highway. Her farm has other animals and is located in rural central Virginia. On Wednesday Officials from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries showed up the take the Deer. They sited a law passed after Mrs. Goforth acquired her Fallow deer that prohibited the owning of Deer without a permit. They also said they had to take the deer to test them for chronic wasting disease. The test they claimed required the killing of the deer so their brain tissue could be examined.

Knowing that the Game and Inland Fisheries officials were coming she alerted the press who were there when the officials arrived. Not wanting a public spectacle they left without the deer. They have however initiated court proceedings against the woman.

If chronic wasting disease is the reason for the concern a new test has been developed that does not require the killing of the deer. It would seem advantageous to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to find out about this test and use it to bring this issue to a quick resolution. If they persist in the killing of the deer and it is found that they are free of the disease the huge stinking pile they find themselves standing in could be hard to walk away from.

Iranian Duplicity Shouldn't Be Surprising

Iran is publicly professing its support for Iraq's stalemated political process while its military and intelligence services back outlawed militias and insurgent groups, U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said Thursday.

At some point the world is going to have to recognize that Iran under the present leadership is not interested in coming to an understanding, at least not one that does not support their view. The Iranians know from recent world history the neither the UN or the EU has the stomach to take decisive action. The two bodies are so committed to diplomacy that they have abandoned consideration of any alternative. Even sanctions are loathsome to them, unfortunately not for the right reason.

The modern Moslem state is duplicitous by nature. A quick survey of 20th Century history reveals plenty of examples. The Saudis while financing Madras schools and Terrorist families has cultivated an reputation as a Western Ally. The Arab world in general paying lip service to the UN on numerous peace initiatives regarding Israel has never stopped calling for that state's destruction including several invasions. More recently there is the whole song and dance with Saddam Hussein and the UN inspections. Let's not forget Afghanistan and its convoluted religious liberty laws that have resulted in a trial of a convert who faces the death penalty.

So how is anyone going to expect otherwise with Iran. Their nuclear ambitions and support of insurgency in Iraq are clearly in their best interest so long as they can hold off their adversaries. With the record of the UN and EU this won't be difficult. They could develop a weapon and carve out a piece of Iraq and the two organizations would still be shaking treaties at them. The only option is the one the UN and EU fear more than any, regime change.

How Good is the US Military?

How does one know if our military is well trained has good equipment and competent leadership? This is an important question because a laps in just one of these can de disastrous. If the training is insufficient, good equipment won't be utilized to its full potential and the plan won' be excited efficiently. The first result could lead to unnecessary casualties the second to units being isolated and destroyed. If the equipment is no good all the training in the world will be lost to week technology or more resources would have to be deployed to overcome the deficiency. But most devastating is poor leadership. Good training and good equipment can easily be negated by a bad battle plan. Successful plans are adaptable to changing situations or sufficiently crafted to dominate the battlefield. Evidence has been released that confirmees the US military has all these elements.

Documents captured in Iraq and released by the US Government reveal that our plan to attack Iraq was given to Saddam Hussein by the Russian Ambassador Vladimir Teterenko.

The first document (CMPC-2003-001950) is a handwritten account of a meeting with the Russian ambassador that details his description of the composition, size, location and type of U.S. military forces arrayed in the Gulf and Jordan. The document includes the exact numbers of tanks, armored vehicles, different types of aircraft, missiles, helicopters, aircraft carriers, and other forces, and also includes their exact locations. The ambassador also described the positions of two Special Forces units.

The second document (CMPC-2004-001117) is a typed account, signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Hammam Abdel Khaleq, that states that the Russian ambassador has told the Iraqis that the United States was planning to deploy its force into Iraq from Basra in the South and up the Euphrates, and would avoid entering major cities on the way to Baghdad, which is, in fact what happened. The documents also state "Americans are also planning on taking control of the oil fields in Kirkuk." The information was obtained by the Russians from "sources at U.S. Central Command in Doha, Qatar," according to the document.

This document also includes an account of an amusing incident in which several Iraqi Army officers (presumably seeking further elaboration of the U.S. war plans) contacted the Russian Embassy in Baghdad and stated that the ambassador was their source.

The full documents can be found on the U.S. Army Foreign Military Studies Office Web site.

In prosecuting W.W.II the allies had a huge advantage in planning and preparation because of the ability to crack the codes of the Germans. The capture of the Enigma machine early in the war by the British allowed the leadership the craft plans knowing beforehand what the enemy had deployed, where it was and what they planned to do with it The information was not perfect, but it was extremely reliable and made a significant difference in the outcome of the war. The Russian ambassador gave Saddam sufficient information on our plans to attack Iraq that had our military's training, equipment and leadership had any exploitable weakness he could have done so. The result of course was much different, but it explains the greater resistance encountered especially when we moved to take the urban areas. Knowing beforehand that the cities would be bypassed at first made them the natural haven for retreating Iraqi troops. Though difficult to quantify our Russian "friends" caused our troops to suffer greater casualties because of the betrayal of our plan to Sadism Hussein.

Basil's

Paris Job Law Rally Turns Violent

French Young people fearing that they may actually have to work for a living have continued their rioting . The unrest instigated by labor unions and fueled by the Prime Minister Villepin's inability the get President Jacques Chirac to grow enough backbone to not abandon him. What cars escaped the looting and burning last year are now targets of indignant anxiety over having to prove one's value to an employer.

Rampaging French youths set fire to cars and looted shops in Paris on Thursday, marring protests against a youth jobs law that Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, in a conciliatory move, agreed to discuss with unions.

Aides said Villepin would meet senior trade union officials on Friday to try to defuse a crisis that has triggered a national strike threat and drawn hundreds of thousands of protesters on to French streets.

In Paris, riot police fired tear gas in clashes with youths, dubbed "casseurs" by the French, in the Invalides areas near the Foreign Ministry, Reuters witnesses said.

Youths threw stones at police and set fire to the door of an apartment building in running battles at the end of a largely peaceful rally by thousands of students and workers against the CPE First Job Contract.

"This time, there are lots of young criminals on the march who are there to steal and smash. This discredits the movement," said Charlie Herblin, a 22-year-old worker on the march

It truly is unfortunate when people can't march to protest the weakening of the socialist nanny state without a bunch of radicals showing up and causing trouble. But things are looking up. Now that Chirac has left his prime Minister out to dry there are already offers to cut the proposed changes, mainly to cut the probationary period from two years to one and the employer must give reason for dismissal. Still this may be too onerous a requirement for young people expecting to ensconce themselves in a work situation right away and begin the cruse to retirement without fear of dismissal. Only one problem. Unless France becomes more dynamic economically there will be no retirement. France is working toward becoming more like an economic backwater of the old Soviet Bloc than a Western developed nation. If such a small step as this can cause such angist more stringent measures are unthinkable.

Factory City links with Unrest in French Youth
Wizbang Carnival of the Trackbacks LVI

The Best Juggling Act I've Ever Seen

You have got to see this. Be sure to have the sound on.



Thanks phenry

Basil's

Aid Workers Freed by Military They Despise

US Forces have freed the Christian Aid Workers held hostage since November. These people were there in protest to the military action and to support the Iraqi people yet they were taken hostage by the very people they claimed to be sympathetic with. One of them , an American, was killed. One would think these folk may be grateful for their liberation by a military raid, but their organization makes no mention of the military in their press release.

Three Christian peace activists kidnapped last year in Iraq were freed Thursday in an early morning military operation, the British Embassy in Iraq announced.

The announcement came two weeks after the activists' colleague and fellow hostage, Tom Fox of Virginia, was shot to death and left on a Baghdad street.

The three men rescued Thursday -- two Canadians and a Briton -- were freed in a planned rescue operation by multi-national forces, a British Embassy spokesman said.

One would think the irony of their experiance would be a clue. Maybe, in the middle of the night one of the will wake up and acknowledge their ignorance.

RealClearPolitics

Navy Rules to Restrict Prayer

The US Navy Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter needs to take a break. At least he needs a course on understanding religious philosophy. He has signed an official rule requiring chaplains to use "nonsectarian" language when praying. This is the codifying of a suggestion memo made in 1998. This has not happened in a vacuum. Navy Chaplain Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt conducted a hunger strike outside the Whitehouse to bring attention to this issue. This rule serves no purpose other than to make religion a meaningless exercise.

If Secretary Winter feels that specific religious expression is so offensive he should dispense with the chaplain service and just hire some councilors because that is what he is trying to turn chaplains into. I find most disturbing his signing such a rule in the face of so much controversy over it. The restricting of minister's expression of worship to the God they serve within the very organization we are using to bring freedom to Afghanistan and Iraq is just ludicrous. If this attitude extends through the administration that would explain the tepid response to the plight of Abdul Rahman, the Afghani who is facing the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity.

Reid Threatens Filibuster on Illegal Immigration Bill

How can some people be so consistently on the wrong end of the proverbial stick. If there was one appendage that the Democrats could rip from the Republicans and beat them savagely with, it is illegal immigration. But Sen. Harry Reid wants to make positively sure that never happens. He has vowed to filibuster the bill being offered by Sen. Bill Frist who is trying to force the Judiciary Committee to get of their collected duff and put forward a bill in early April. And what is it in Frist's bill that Reid doesn't like? Why it has no amnesty provision. Not that Harry Reid would call it that, doesn't matter calling a pig's ear a silk purse won't make it so.

Sen. Reid's preferred bill is Kennedy-McCain which waves the white flag on illegal immigration by giving those illegally here already the ability to stay. The "'guest worker' program and a 'path to citizenship'" the he likes in this bill is just that, amnesty. Fortunately the House is not going to stand for any flavor of amnesty. They seem to not be as ossified as the Senate who's members are nearly clueless on what is happening on our southern border. A guest worker program can be something we can work on after we stop the flow of colonists from Mexico into the United States.

Linked to
Resistance is Futile
Basil's

Diversity Day Canceled because of Too Much Inclusion

Viroqua High School in Viroqua, Wisc. had scheduled a Diversity Day where speakers from various backgrounds would present their viewpoints. The usual suspects were invited and every thing looked like it was ready to go when the Liberty Council presented a challenge claiming they where excluding Christian and former Homosexuals, yet had other religions and a Homosexual couple. They said the Michigan court had previously ruled that such an exclusion was improper. But when the new list of speakers was announced they had one of the previous speakers drop out.

Gregg Attleson, a teacher on the Diversity Day planning committee, told the LaCrosse paper the intent is to introduce students to minorities and people with alternative lifestyles.

Attleson said the homosexual couple scheduled to speak refused to be on the program alongside an "ex-gay" viewpoint, saying they would be uncomfortable.

That diversity thing sure is troublesome, it makes one have to expose oneself to different viewpoints. For some people that is just too much diversity.

Planned Parenthood Opposes Bill to Protect Women From Forced Abortions

The Michigan legislature is considering a bill that would protect women from being pressured or coerced into having an abortion.

Under the bill, should a woman say she's being coerced, abortion centers are required to direct her to places like domestic violence agencies to help with possible physical abuse.

Yet, Planned Parenthood objects to offering women that help.

Big surprise! Planned Parenthood does not want women to be reffered to to places like domestic violence agencies if they answer afermatively that they are feeling pressured to have the abortion. This pressure comes in many forms. It can be as simple as an employer suggesting moherhood would limit career opportunities to Husbands, fathers, or boyfriends telling the woman she is on her own if she has the child and including the threat of physical violence. But don't expect Planned Parenthood the have any sympathy, they are there for one purpose, to collect that check after the abortion.

In planned parenthood's world a woman has the same rights and choices as Abdul Rahman, the Afghani who is facing the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity has. His choise is freedom to practice his religion as lon as it's Islam, a pregnant woman's is to have the abortion, any other result is a "restriction."

CARNIVAL OF THE CLUELESS #38: THE “HEY DUDE! WHERE’S MY COUNTRY?” EDITION

Arizona Targets Wired Funds of Immigrant Smugglers

We know that immigrants from Mexico and other South and Central American countries, both legal and illegal, send money back to relatives. The most reliable method is the wire transfer. The State of Arizona has been intercepting wire transfers coming into the State from Mexico. This happens for only a few reasons two of which are, to pay for goods being shipped to Mexico which is legitimate, or to pay smugglers to help bring humans across the border.

Targeting wire transfers into Arizona, the state is hoping to hamper the finances of smuggling operations that bring scores of illegal immigrants across the border each year.

Since March 2005 authorities in Arizona have halted 12,417 wire transfers, seizing $15 million in funds, $3 million in vehicles and $5 million in property.

The intercepted transfers, averaging $800 to $1,800 each, typically are payments sent by individuals in Mexico to coyotes and other groups involved in illegal immigration north of the border.

California has a similar effort. The easiest way to curb behavior is to take the value out of it. Obviously this is not the only way the coyotes receive their fees. This is also not the only way to combat illegal immigration, just one tool of many. A fence along the border would go a long way to slowing the flow of human traffic into the US, eh Gov. Napolitano are you listening?

City Asks Smith and Wesson to Take Over Winchester Plant

Officials of New Haven Conn.Officials of New Haven Conn. have scheduled a visit with Smith &W esson to the former Winchester Repeating Arms Plant in hopes that the gun manufaturer will keep open the facility. The plant is scheduled to close on March 31. Although S&W exectutives have agreed to look at the plant they 're not saying any more that they are just looking.

Carnival of Cordite #52

Allies Indignant Over Afghan Trial of Christian

Abdul Rahman

Abdul Rahman, the Afghani who is facing the death penalty for converting from Islam to Christianity has gained some support from Afghanistan's western allies. Following are quotes as reported by CNN

Americans

"We have underscored also to Foreign Minister Abdullah that we believe that tolerance and freedom of worship are important elements of any democracy," U.S. State Department spokesman Scott McCormack told reporters Tuesday. "We urge the Afghan government to conduct any legal proceedings in a transparent and fair manner."

Nicholas Burns, undersecretary for political affairs, said he understands the complexities of the case and promised the United States would respect Afghan sovereignty. However, he said, Afghans should be free to choose their own religion, and he believes the nation's constitution supports that.

"We hope the Afghan constitution is going to be upheld," Burns said. "If he has the right of freedom of religion, that ought to be respected."

Rep. Tom Lantos, the ranking Democrat on the House International Relations Committee, wrote a letter to Karzai asking him to intervene and uphold "core democratic principles and fundamental human rights."

"In a country where soldiers from all faiths, including Christianity, are dying in defense of your government, I find it outrageous that Mr. Rahman is being prosecuted and facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity," Lantos wrote.

The State Dept, statements are typically squishy. Our problem is we can't use a pullout as a threat because it would just give the country back to the Talaban. Some carrot and stick must be devised to bring home to the Afghanistan Government that we will not abide such barbarity. Rep. Lantos is exactly correct in accessing the obligation the Afghan Government owes to the west. The president of Afghanistan can intervene, and should, to stop the death penalty from being applied.

Moslem countries see no problem with a dual justice system, a national system that rules everyone and a separate Sharia system to regulate Moslems. The reason they see no hypocrisy in a constitution that guarantees religious freedom yet condemns a man to death for converting to a different religion from Islam is they have no trouble (sort of) with those who practice other religions so long as once one claims Islam as their religion they cannot ever change their mind because they are bound by Sharia Law from the moment they become Moslem, which includes birth.

Italians

Former Italian President Francesco Cossiga wrote a letter to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, urging him to withdraw Italian troops from Afghanistan unless Kabul guarantees Rahman's safety, Reuters reported.

"It is not acceptable that our soldiers should put themselves at risk or even sacrifice their lives for a fundamentalist, illiberal regime," Cossiga wrote.

With only 1775 troops stationed in Afghanistan the Italians can be more direct in their displeasure with this situation. Their pullout would be bad news to the Afghanistan government which is looking for NATO to take the lead in securing the county.

Germans

One German official promised to intervene if necessary. Another, Development Minister Heide Wieczorek-Zeul, said, "We will do everything possible to save the life of Abdul Rahman," according to Reuters.

The Germans with 2700 troops say they will do everything to stop this, but some specifics would be nice. We will probably not hear what those are until they are implemented, but you can be sure they have communicated them to the President.

Canadians

Canada echoed that sentiment, saying human rights in Afghanistan was a top priority and that "Canada will continue to encourage the Afghan government to adhere to its human rights obligations," foreign ministry spokeswoman Pamela Greenwell told Reuters.

Canada has 2300 troops, but one can only guess at what "encourage the Afghan government" actually means.

If Afghanistan wants to join the civilized world this kind of thing can't persist. The problem however is the culture of Islamic society itself. It is this culture that brought the Talaban to power in the first place. When honor killing is considered justifiable there will be a clash with western morality. It is hard to say that we are not at war with Islam when Islam breeds such barbarity.

Basil's

Michigan Governor Agrees to Abortion Regulation

Michigan's pro-life legislature made a compromise with the state's pro abortion Governor to get her to sign a law that would offer a woman seeking an abortion the opportunity to see an ultrasound of her baby before making her final decision to abort it. Doctors would be required to make the ultrasound and then offer it. The current law requires each woman be offered the option of seeing a drawing of the developing fetus.

Gov. Jennifer Granholmwill sign into law a bill requiring Michigan abortion providers to give a pregnant woman the option of viewing ultrasound images of her fetus before performing an abortion, according to her spokeswoman.

It would mark the first time Granholm has agreed with the Legislature's anti-abortion majority on a measure to regulate the procedure. The bill, which moved quietly through the Legislature, is an expansion of the state's so-called informed consent law.

Gov. Granholm is one of those politicians who favors unrestricted abortion while also claiming to be Catholic. Her veto of a bill restricting partial birth abortion was overridden, but now faces a court challenge. The ACLU has chosen not to challenge the ultrasound bill despite their anxiety over what it calls "small, incremental steps... all designed to put up barriers". The complaints of the pro abortion supporters over offering woman information before they take a decision puts the lie to their claims to be pro choice.

Sarcophagus Painted With Homeric Scenes Discovered

During construction a tomb possably dated at the time of Homer was discovered. Altough its valuable artifacts have been looted it's walls are decorated with vivid scenes from the epics of Homer.

A 2,500-year-old sarcophaguswith vivid color illustrations from Homer's epics has been discovered in western Cyprus, archaeologists said Monday.

Painting such as these can reveal details of life lost from antiquity.

Judge Connor's Resoning in Pedophile Case Dubious

The legislature in Ohio has backed off of its effort to remove Judge Connor from the bench for his decision to give no jail time to a child rapist. However, citizens of Franklin County are circulating a petition to have him removed. The members of the justice system have enjoyed an immunity from responsibility for their decisions that is unwarranted. Their claim that they should be insulated from political pressure is valid but shouldn't be absolute. Situations arise when the judiciary should be subject to the checks and balances that the other branches of government are. There are some disturbing aspects to this case that may lead one to question the soundness of Judge Connor's decision process.

Husted said Connor erred by invoking his own alcoholism -- and subsequent recovery program -- as evidence that Selva could be rehabilitated. Connor, an alcoholic with a string of drunken-driving arrests from 1978 to 2002, told Selva during sentencing that both had diseases that could be managed through therapy and supervision.

Connor also was convicted of possessing cocaine during a traffic stop in 1984. The judge said he's been sober since 2002 and is in a 12-step program for alcoholism.

"He's using his past and current problems as an excuse for giving a lenient sentence," Husted said.

Call me old fashioned or unrealistic , but what is a man with more than one DWI and drug conviction doing on the bench? What is revealing is his overwhelming vote for reelection. Experience leads me to believe that most people pay little or no attention to the campaigns for the bench, in Franklin County at least that may change. Judge Conner's decision may have been influenced by his own shortcomings which should not be.

Of Selva's behavior, Connor said in a court transcript: "I can find that it's manageable, but I can't say — I have no evidence — I can't look at the future and say Mr. Selva will, in fact, manage it."

Add to that the convoluted conclusions of the psychologist and one has to wonder if anyone involved in this case has their head screwed on tight.

Dr. Kristin Haskins, hired by the state, was more circumspect.

"Mr. Selva's risk to re-offend can be reduced and managed by participation in and completion of a sex-offender treatment program," she said.

But, she added, "should he remain in the community, great care should be given to Mr. Selva not being allowed to be alone with any male under age 15, except his own son, for any length of time, no matter how short — not even seconds."

Haskins said she couldn't determine whether Selva truly is a pedophile.

To state that he can't be left alone with boys for any time at all and then suggest that he is not truly a pedophile makes one question the soundness of the person making such a statement. How anyone can conclude that a man who rapes children is not a pedophile is just goofy. I guess it takes a high level of education to relieve a person of their common sense.

It shouldn't take many more cases such as this to cause people to scrutinize the courts and the laws they are to uphold more closely to try and bring some sanity back into the system. Unfortunately other children are going to suffer before this issue is resolved.

Senators Urge Mexico to Act on Border Tunnels

It's rare that I find myself in agreement with Sen. Dianne Feinstein and the other California Sen. Barbara Boxer well unique might be more accurate, but I do. They along with Sens. Pete V. Domenici, Conrad Burns, Norm Coleman, Jim Talent and Maria Cantwell of Washington signed a letter to Mexican President Vacentia Fox and members of the Mexican Congress urging them to criminalize the financing, construction and use of tunnels under the border with the US and Mexico. They encouraged the Mexicans to enact legislation similar to a law sponsored by Sen. Feinstein known as the Border Tunnel Prevention Act.

This bill was offered after the size and sophistication of a tunnel from Tijuana airport to an abandoned warehouse in Otay Mesa was discovered in January. I don't expect much of a reception on the part of the Mexican government, They are actively engaged in the colonization of America's Southwest.

From Daneen G. Peterson, Ph.D. at American Chronicle

In 1996, Mexico amended its constitution, permitting dual citizenship for all naturalized Mexican-American citizens which took effect in 1998. What does that mean? In a Pew Hispanic Center poll of "Attitudes about Voting in Mexican Elections and Ties to Mexico" that surveyed nearly 5,000 Mexican migrants [read that illegal aliens] who were interviewed while applying for identity cards [Matricula Consular cards that only illegal aliens need since those here legally have U.S. government identification documents] at Mexican consulates in the United States has found that . . . [n]early nine out of ten (87%) of the respondents said they would vote in the next Mexican elections if they could!
Roberto Suro, Survey of Mexican Migrants: Attitudes about Voting in Mexican Elections and Ties to Mexico, March 14, 2005, Pew Hispanic Center,

In 2005, Mexico Approved The Right to Vote for All Mexican Nationals! This means that all Mexican-American citizens, all Mexicans here legally on visas, etc., and all illegal aliens now have the right to vote in the 2006 Mexican presidential elections by absentee ballot. Does that worry you? It should! You should also knew that "[t]he Central Mexican state of Zacatecas embraces Mexican 'migrants' as candidates for electoral office. [For example] Andres Bermudez, a wealthy California grower christened the 'Tomato King,' captured a mayoralty [in Mexico]. Two other immigrants garnered seats in the state legislature. Mexican candidates routinely motorcade in the U.S. seeking political support from Mexican-Americans."
Bruce Fein, Dual citizenship folly, March 1, 2005, washingtontimes

The illegal Immigration issue is one that at this point is free for the Democrats to exploit for the upcoming elections but more Republicans are hearing from their constituents so this is quickly becoming an issue of importance. I doubt we will ever have the President on board for this but the states are already making it a priority so Washington will eventually have to join in if only to get on the band wagon.

France Protest New Job Law

During a weekend that found the anti war movement unable to get a million people worldwide to demonstrate the French turned out 1.5 million to protest a law that would allow employers to fire a person under the age of 27 without cause during a two year period. This law needing to be passed means that the current situation forces employers to hold on to workers who may not be producing. The French minister who has pushed this law gives sound reasoning for the change.

Villepin pushed the new law as a vehicle to prompt companies to hire more young people at a time when joblessness among that group averages 23 percent and exceeds 40 percent in some poor neighborhoods populated by immigrants and their French-born children. Villepin argued that under existing labor laws, employers were increasingly reluctant to hire young people because of job protections that make it all but impossible to fire workers, even if they are incompetent.

Very basic principle here, but remember this is a country that tried to solve unemployment by shortening the work week to 30 hours but requiring the same weekly salary be paid. They hoped this would cause employers to hire more people. Obviously they didn't. As to this law, they simply were not hiring people they could not fire because there was no incentive for the worker to produce since there was no risk.

Taking a page from the Moslem riots of last year he mob turned out in force burning cars and pelting police with garbage. Too his credit the President Jacques Chirac has stood behind the decision of Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. The unions have given an ultimatum.

The French government showed no sign of bowing to an ultimatum set by union leaders to withdraw a new job law by late Monday or face a possible general strike this week and further mass demonstrations.

Buoyed by protests at the weekend that organizers said brought 1.5 million people onto the streets nationwide, union leaders set a Monday evening deadline for the government to withdraw or suspend the First Job Contract (CPE) law.

Sixty present of the voters polled favor withdrawal of the law. Decades of socialism are about to wreck the French economy and the French people want to pull the throttle out to full speed as their government tries to put on the breaks. What's remarkable is that the French government even has a clue.

Linked by unconformed

Death Penalty for Becoming Christian in Afghanistan

Islam has been facing some stiff competition. That is the only way to justify such incentives as 72 Virgins when one blows oneself up, or this report that it is a capital crime to stop being Moslem.

Despite the fact the hardline Taliban regime is no longer in power, an Afghan man faces possible execution for allegedly abandoning his Islamic roots and becoming a Christian.

"Yes that's true, a man has converted to Christianity. He's being tried in one of our courts," Supreme Court judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada told the Middle East Times.

The case centers on Abdul Rahman, believed to be 41, who converted from Islam to Christianity some 16 years ago. His relatives reportedly notified authorities about the conversion.

The constitution in Afghanistan is based on Shariah law, which states any Muslim who rejects his or her religion should be sentenced to death.

"We are not against any particular religion in the world. But in Afghanistan, this sort of thing is against the law," the judge told the Associated Press. "It is an attack on Islam. ... The prosecutor is asking for the death penalty."

What kind of nonsense in this "We are not against any particular religion in the world. But in Afghanistan, this sort of thing is against the law,"? One can't say they are not against any other religion when one is willing to kill someone for choosing a different one. This is not a path to joining the civilized world nor for encouraging others to consider Islam as religious practice. For the world to see Islam as something other that a dagger at its throat, dropping this case and removing this law would be a good place to start.

Basil's

Navy Exchanges Fire With Suspected Pirates

Somali pirates have been plaguing the coast since the country fell into anarchy. Following the attempted taking of a cruise liner last year an international force has been patrolling the Indian Ocean coast.

The Cape St. George, a guided-missile cruiser, and Gonzalez, a guided-missile destroyer, were conducting maritime security operations in the area. They are based in Norfolk, Va.

The MO of these pirates is to seize ships and ransom the crew. There is reasonable expectations that this is a part of al-Qeada's financing efforts.

The suspected pirates then opened fire on the Navy ships. The Cape St. George and Gonzalez returned fire with small arms in self defense, officials said.

One suspected pirate was killed and a fire ignited aboard the main suspect vessel. Boarding teams from Cape St. George and Gonzalez took 12 other suspects, including the five who were injured, into custody. The Navy boarding teams also confiscated an RPG launcher and automatic weapons.

No U.S. sailors were injured in the engagement, officials said..

Senate Democrat's Battle Plan for Next Election

Remember that dorky kid in high school that always tried to be cool? Well maybe that was every kid in high school, but I digress. You know what I'm talking about. He's got all the right clothes, the right hair and the right lingo, but everyone knows he's not cool. Or that relative, that brother in law that is just obnoxious but he's the wife's brother so the husband tries to act like he's glad to see him, but his wife sees right through it. Well here comes the Democrats and Harry Ried looking to show America how patriotic they are for the coming election. Here's a snippet from the memo on how to highlight their differences on national security from the President.

Titled "Real Security," the political document calls for staged town hall events at military bases, weapons factories, National Guard units, fire stations and veterans posts.

"Ensure that you have the proper U.S. and state flags at the event, and consider finding someone to sing the national anthem and lead the group in the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the event," the battle plan states.

If you one has to tell a person how to act virtuous, it is because that person lacks virtue of his own. For Harry Ried to remind his fellow democrats to have flags, sing the anthem and say the pledge betrays their disdain for such things.

Too bad that tar and feathering is no longer a tradition in politics today. This kind of fained patriotism at places such as "military bases, weapons factories, National Guard units, fire stations and veterans posts" would be a perfect set up.

Basil's

"The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons."
--- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ireland Asks Bush for Alien Amnesty

The Irish Government took advantage of the popular St. Patrick's Day celebration to press for amnesty for Irish Illegal Immigrants. Hardly a case for people who can't find work back home, Ireland is experiencing an economic boom.

O'Neill, a Redwood Shores resident who has run his bar for eight years and plans to open a second location March 29 in San Francisco, came to the Bay Area from Dublin in 1992 on a work visa. He got his green card in 1995 and became a dual citizen of the U.S. and Ireland in 2001.

He said Irish illegals typically come to the states on student visas, wind up getting cash-paying jobs and stay after their visas expire. They work in construction or at restaurants and pubs, he said, even as a wave of immigrants move to Ireland to work in the high-tech, pharmaceutical and tourism industries in that country's booming economy.

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Bernie Ahern, Ireland's prime minister, just want's us to make exception to our laws because some Irish collage students find it too much trouble to apply in the proper manner when their visas run out. He contends that we should follow the lead of his country and have an "open immigration" policy. That might be a nice idea except Ireland does not have an open policy. In fact they are more restrictive on granting citizen status to those born of non Irish parents. They are looking to tighten the skills requirement also. No mention of any tolerance for illegal immigration.

More recently, the government proposed a national "citizenship referendum" to eliminate an Irish-born child's automatic right to citizenship when the parents are not Irish nationals. The public overwhelmingly passed this referendum in June 2004. Both measures led to heated debates in Ireland and were noted abroad.

Second, with regard to labor immigration, Ireland has maintained policies that are among the most liberal in Europe. In the absence of quotas, the number of work permits issued to non-Irish migrant workers exploded from less than 6,000 in 1999 to about 50,000 in 2003. Moreover, the great majority of migrant workers have been legally employed in relatively low-skilled occupations. This is in contrast to many other European countries' labor immigration programs, which are regulated by quotas and often exclude low-skilled occupations.

Third, as another reflection of its relative openness to economic immigration, Ireland granted citizens of the 10 new EU member states free access to the Irish labor market immediately upon EU enlargement on May 1, 2004. Only the UK and Sweden shared this policy; all other countries of the pre-enlarged EU (EU-15) decided to continue employment restrictions for accession state nationals.

After five years of significant immigration and fairly ad hoc immigration policymaking, the Irish government seems to be in the process of formulating a more comprehensive and managed approach. While it remains to be seen how policies will develop in the next few years, the government appears to favor a "skills-based" policy that increases the restrictions on the employment of workers from outside the enlarged EU, especially in low-skilled occupations.

It doesn't matter if the illegal immigrant is Irish, Mexican or Arab, Christian or Moslem, hard working or lazy. What matters is our laws are respected by those who wish to live and work here.

Virginia Blog Carnival XXVIII

at Spark It Up

Project Hero

QandO has the next Silver Star recipient tribute up on their site.



Our hero this week is 1LT Brian Stann, Silver Star

“This award represents my guys,” the Scranton, Pa. native explained. “It’s an insight to what my men did over there. There were a lot of our guys who received awards from our group when we were out there, not just me.”

Stann was the 2nd Mobile Assault Platoon leader with Weapons Company when everything started happening during the operation. From May 8 to 14, 2005, Stann led his men into battle, where their mission was to seize a bridge near Karabilah, Iraq. Three different times, he negotiated four kilometers to maintain their position from enemy attacks. However, on the third time through, the enemy had set up an ambush for the Marines.

Although ambushed, Stann called in close air support and direct fire from tanks while taking on over 30 rocket-propelled grenade attacks, multiple machine guns firing, and improvised explosive devices detonating.

“When we began, it was a big fight, but as the days went on, we began to use more of our assets,” Stann explained. “We called in close air support and used tanks and dealt a big blow to the enemy.”

Stann was in a 360-degree fight and was setting up casualty evacuation points after they were hit by suicide IEDs. All of this would not have been possible if it were not for the hard work of his men in the sheer face of danger, explained Stann.

Frist and Tancredo Toss a Wrench Into Specter's Effort to Surrender to Illegal Immigration

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, (R-PA). and his committee are struggling to agree on an effort to wave the white flag on illegal immigration. Fortunately a week long break came up so they could punt their surrender until they returned. Just when it looked like they were out of range of any responsible action, along comes Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Colorado's Rep. Tom Tancredo.

Frist said his bill would include several measures already hammered out in negotiations under way in the Senate Judiciary Committee, including an increase in the number of border guards, more fencing along the Mexican border and faster deportation of illegal immigrants. But it would not create the temporary worker program that President Bush has urged to legalize the status of the 11 million illegal immigrants thought to be in this country.

Sen. Specter was miffed at Sen. Frist putting a two week time limit on the committee to produce a bill or he would introduce one of his own directly on the floor bypassing the committee.

"It would be chaos on the floor to have this bill debated without the committee acting first," Specter said yesterday afternoon, only to grudgingly accept Frist's move in the evening.

It takes a long time to craft a surrender bill that will fool the public into believing it will solve the problem so Specter is quite irritated at his fellow Republican. Then from the house as if to rub salt in the wound Rep. Tom Tancredo has the temerity to announce that the House will not accept a surrender provision.

Colorado's Rep. Tom Tancredo and 70 other U.S. representatives sent a letter today to a Senate committee, warning that legislation it's considering allowing illegal immigrants to work legally in the country will hit a roadblock if it comes back to the House.

"We are concerned that some of these proposals are fundamentally incompatible with the desire of the American public for real immigration reform and their clear opposition to reform proposals that amount to little more than thinly disguised attempts to provide amnesty," the House members said in the letter.

Definitely a bad day for the squishy Republicans

Freed Child Rapist Rapes Two Children in SC

No sooner do I post this article about Franklin County Common Pleas Judge John A. Connor giving no jail time to a child rapist, then I read this:.

Darlington County , SC authorities are looking for a convicted sex offender accused of holding two 17-year-old girls captive Monday night under a shed behind his home.

Some child rapist in South Carolina is set free by a judge after seving 9 years of a 19 year sentance. It's discovered that he's imprisoned two teenage girls in his shed so he can vent his perversity. Not like the prosecutors didn't try to keep this creep off the street.

Hinson was convicted in 1991 for second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Shortly before his release from prison in 2000, the state attorney general recommended Hinson be committed indefinitely to a Department of Mental Health facility as a sexually violent predator.

Attorney general's spokesman Trey Walker said the case against Hinson was dismissed by a judge and he was released. Hinson had registered as a sex offender as required by law.

In this case Circuit Judge Edward Cottingham claimed the prosecution did not demonstrate that Hinson was capable of committing a sexual offense in the future. Maybe , just maybe this judge might will wonder how he made such a poor judgment.

Meanwhile the legislature in Ohio, where Pleas Judge John A. Connor is only giving out probation for child rape, are moving to utilize a law that allows a 2/3 vote to remove state judges from the bench. How frustrating it is to see judges turning these beasts out onto the community when prosecutors are asking them to keep them segregated from society. My belief is we should put them all on an island they cannot escape from and just let them live out their lives doing to each other what they would otherwise do to our children.

Anyone with any information about Hinson's whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff's office at (843) 398-4501; Darlington County Dispatch after hours at (843) 398-4920; Crime Stoppers of Hartsville at (843) 332-8980; or Crime Stoppers of the Pee Dee at (843) 667-TIPS (8477) or (866) 369-TIPS (8477). Callers need not reveal their identities.

Update 17 March 2006 9:30 pm: Fox News reports Hinson captured.

CARNIVAL OF THE CLUELESS #37: THE “WHAT WOULD AN ARMY OF DAVIDS DO?” EDITION


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