Tony Blair:

To me, the most remarkable thing about the Koran is how progressive it is. I write with great humility as a member of another faith. As an outsider, the Koran strikes me as a reforming book, trying to return Judaism and Christianity to their origins, much as reformers attempted to do with the Christian church centuries later. The Koran is inclusive. It extols science and knowledge and abhors superstition. It is practical and far ahead of its time in attitudes toward marriage, women, and governance.

Under its guidance, the spread of Islam and its dominance over previously Christian or pagan lands were breathtaking. Over centuries, Islam founded an empire and led the world in discovery, art, and culture. The standard-bearers of tolerance in the early Middle Ages were far more likely to be found in Muslim lands than in Christian ones.

It’s rather inexplicable that someone like Tony Blair, who has shown rare vision in understanding the serious threat posed by Islamic Jihad, could be so utterly ignorant on an issue like this. This is truly a statement straight out of bizzaro-land.

Let’s take a look at some of Blair’s absurdly backwards claims. He says that the Qur’an is “inclusive,” with the goal of “trying to return Judaism and Christianity to their origins”. No serious analysis of Qur’anic doctrine could ever make such an assertion. The Qur’an claims that the Christians and Jews deliberately altered their religious documents to hide references to the coming of the prophet Muhammed.

Allah did aforetime take a covenent from the Children of Israel. . . . But because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them, and made their hearts grow hard; they change the words from their (right) places and forget a good part of the message that was sent them. . . . From those, too, who call themselves Christians, We did take a covenant, but they forgot a good part of the message that was sent them: so we estranged them, with enmity and hatred between the one and the other, to the day of judgement. (Qur’an 5:12-16)

Jews and Christians who have refused to accept Muhammed as a prophet are considered renegades of true faith. I fail to see how, in declaring that it knows the Jewish and Christian faiths better than the Jews and the Christians, Islam can be considered “tolerant”. Muhammads legacy of “reform” was no more than a call to the Christians and Jews to convert to Islam, the one true faith, and when they refused he made war upon them.

Blair’s claim that the Qur’an was ahead of its time with regard to women is equally beyond comprehension. Muhammad was enitrely a man of his times in this regard, not itself a horrible offense, but one that has become problematic in present times because of his unique status as a perfect man. Muhammad married Aisha at the age of 7 and consummated the union when she was 9 (he was in his fifties). Thus, it is from his example that Iran allows for girls to be married at the age of 9. Marriage at such ages is also quite common in countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan.

There are many more examples of the inferior status of women under Islam. Their testimony is worth only half a man’s. A son’s inheritance must be twice that of a daughter. Disobedient wives are to be beaten:

Men are in charge of women, because Allah hath made the one of them to excel the other, and because they spend of their property (for the support of women). So good women are obedient, guarding in secret that which Allah hath guarded. As for those from whom ye fear rebellion, admonish them and banish them to beds apart, and scourge them. (Qur’an 4:34)

I see little here to suggest Muhammad’s revelations were ahead of their times in any domain, but certainly not with regard to women. I don’t see this tolerance Blair speaks of, neither in doctrine nor in practice. When you consider that virtually every conflict currently engaged across the globe has Muslims on one side, such declarations are rendered hollow. It is quite clear, unfortunately, that Tony Blair has never bothered himself to read the Qur’an.

Hat tip: Little Green Footballs

Every now and then a story comes along that so defines a topic of discussion as to lift it beyond the reach of petty debate. With regard to the threat of Islamic Jihad, this is one of those stories.

Men claiming to be local Taliban bombed a girls school in Noor Ali village in Darra Adam Khel on Monday night and threatened further attacks if the students did not wear veils. The militants also left Urdu pamphlets at the school saying, ?Be veiled, otherwise we will bomb you again.?

If ever a story could end the useless “debate” over the issue of jihad, this should be it. There is no amount of talk that will appease these people. There is no single issue driving their behavior, as James Baker would have us believe. Simply, it is their nature. There truly is but one solution, the Islamic Jihadists must be destroyed. Annihilated. Wiped out. It cannot be made any clearer.

It is incumbent upon free peoples to take the actions necessary to end this assault against human decency. Yes, that will involve suffering casualties. Yes, that will involve being the target of reprisal attacks. It is the right thing to do. It is time we get into the ring and fight. Really fight, not sort-of-maybe-pretend-to-fight like we have done thus far. Everywhere these people show themselves we must strike with righteous fury. They can be allowed no quarter and, most importantly, no mercy. All the Jihadist understands in this world is death. It is time we deliver it upon him.

Hat tip: Gateway Pundit

From HotTalk:

“This is a true story…..Check out this photo from our mess hall at the US Embassy yesterday morning. Sen. Kerry found himself all alone while he was over here. He cancelled his press conference because no one came, he worked out alone
in the gym w/o any soldiers even going up to say hi or ask for an autograph (I was one of those who was in the gym at the same time), and
he found himself eating breakfast with only a couple of folks who are obviously not troops.

What is amazing is Bill O’Reilly came to visit with us and the troops at the CSH the same day and the line for autographs extended through the palace and people waited for two hours to shake his hand. You decide who is more respected and loved by us servicemen and women!”

Somehow I found my way to the Huffington Post this morning. And instead of navigating safely away I wasted about twenty minutes burning my eyes with the acidic rhetoric which passes for a liberal blog. Allow me to share my pain with you. The two-minute version:

Some loon named Jane Smiley can’t figure out why people follow Bush.

One thing I have always wondered about Bush, that I wonder even more now, is what is the source of his power over these people, that come hell (Iraq) or high water (Katrina), they do what he wants? Does he throw things? Does he hold his breath and turn red in the face, so that they worry he’ll have a stroke? Does he hit people? Does he shout, “Off with his head!”? Does he send high level dissenters to Gitmo? (I wish he would, so that they could come to experience and understand conditions there). Do they just defer to him because of the office of the Presidency? (No one did that with Bill Clinton). Why would anyone feel allegiance to George W. Bush? It’s a mystery, and it’s a mystery that is killing people every day.

It’s called leadership. It’s no surprise this is a mysterious concept to liberals. Leaders must be inspiring. And the left’s ethos is anything but.

I think a trip to the Ritz Guantanamo would indeed be an eye opening one - but it’s the author herself who might learn a thing or two by going there. I bet that will happen never.

Poster TheHandyman reassures us that nothing bad has ever happened to an ostrich with his head firmly buried.

If we would bring all the troops home from everywhere, Germany, South Korea…everywhere we have them stationed, took the money they spend overseas and our Gov’t spends over there and spent it here we could eliminate poverty, give everyone a college education for free, we could even pay off the national debt if we just minded our own business. You only need a big Army when you are riding around in the world attacking other people.

This thread is for posters to express their thoughts on Castro getting an all clear on the cancer front.

Well if Ron Reagan can survive being shot, Castro can certainly make a rebound….good for him!

I’m having trouble following the logic. Reagan’s survival begets Castro’s continued reign? These people will engage in the most extraordinary mental gymnastics to express their support for murderous tyrants.

Last but not least, the comments regarding rumors about Prince Harry’s deployment to Iraq basically fall into one of two categories:

Harry sucks - or - Harry sucks less than the Bush daughters

YOUR MISSION,LITTLE PRINCE HARRY !

Is to command all of the other Little Rich Kids, and secure a pub for the use of the other British Officers !

Fucking useless Little Bitch !

By: f722380

And the twins?

They’re of prime fighting age aren’t they?

Or don’t the Bushiepigs think they’re quite royal enough for all that duty and all?

By: Raven

You get the idea.

In a victory for the war against global jihad, Ethiopian forces have driven the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) from its base in Baidoa. In typically short-sighted fashion, the UN has sprung into action to demand Ethiopia cease defeating the terrorists at once. It is important that Ethiopia ignore these cries and continue on until the enemy has been destroyed.

Already the Islamists are spinning their retreat as a “change of tactics” that signals a “new phase in the war”. In Islamist speak, this means they plan to wage ruthless guerrilla warfare and intend to make civilians their priority target, since civilians are the only group they have proven capable of fighting. That is why Ethiopia must ignore the international pantywaists and stay on the offensive until the Somalia Islamists have been completely broken.

Just when you thought the media couldn’t get any more comical in pressing its agenda, another reporter steps up to take bias to a whole new level. The AFP is apparently so desperate for anti-Bush headlines, they have taken to fetching old stories from the trash bin, fixing them up with a fresh coat of paint and dumping them into the unsuspecting lap of the public.

Hot Air put together a side by side comparison of two AFP articles, the one on the left from December 4th and the one on the right just published this afternoon. Click to see how news is recycled for yourself:

Democratic Senators Byron Dorgan and Sherrod Brown put their heads together and came up with this execrable assault on good sense. They get off to a fast start, loading the first paragraph to the hilt with lies and irrelevances.

Fewer and fewer Americans support our government’s trade policy. They see a shrinking middle class, lost jobs and exploding trade deficits.

Let’s take this one bit at a time. Shrinking middle class? Well, yes, but not how Senators Dumb and Dumber would have you believe. The upperclass is growing as both the middle and lower classes shrink. Hardly something to complain about.

Lost jobs? What lost jobs? Unemployment is nearing record lows.

Exploding trade deficits? Who cares. That boogeyman has always been more form than substance. Trade deficits are not a particularly good indicator of anything, though they do make good soundbytes for opportunist populists.

Rob at Say Anything does a good job exposing the rest of the articles nonsense.

William Overholt, in another WaPo op-ed, takes on the protectionists and their faulty assumptions.

Visit FreeTrade.org for more on the benefits of free trade.

To most people this won’t be news, the rest will simply ignore as it conflicts with their world view.

The American military is holding at least four Iranians in Iraq, including men the Bush administration called senior military officials, who were seized in a pair of raids late last week aimed at people suspected of conducting attacks on Iraqi security forces, according to senior Iraqi and American officials in Baghdad and Washington.

. . . It was unclear what kind of evidence American officials possessed that the Iranians were planning attacks, and the officials would not identify those being held. One official said that ?a lot of material? was seized in the raid, but would not say if it included arms or documents that pointed to planning for attacks. Much of the material was still being examined, the official said.

Nonetheless, the two raids, in central Baghdad, have deeply upset Iraqi government officials, who have been making strenuous efforts to engage Iran on matters of security. At least two of the Iranians were in this country on an invitation extended by Iraq?s president, Jalal Talabani, during a visit to Tehran earlier this month. It was particularly awkward for the Iraqis that one of the raids took place in the Baghdad compound of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, one of Iraq?s most powerful Shiite leaders, who traveled to Washington three weeks ago to meet President Bush.

It’s time to directly confront the Iranian madman. No, that does not necessarily mean military conflict, though it should be an option. But we must state unequivacally that this behavior will not be tolerated, and that there will be consequences if it continues. They must believe we are serious, and the easiest method to achive that is to actually be serious. This is a novel idea to many, the same people who will reflexively label such a policy as “warmongering”. Yet it must be done.

If you are a law abiding non-white citizen in the United States, beware! You may be rounded up by the government and thrown into a labor camp or a gas chamber at any moment. Or at least that’s what LULAC and the Democratic Party want us to think. These comments coming on the heels of the farcicle immigration raids on the Swift and Co. meat packing plants.

“We are demanding an end to these immigration raids, where they are targeting brown faces. That is major, major racial profiling, and that cannot be tolerated,” said Rosa Rosales, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, at a news conference.

“This unfortunately reminds me of when Hitler began rounding up the Jews for no reason and locking them up,” Democratic Party activist Carla Vela said. “Now they’re coming for the Latinos, who will they come for next?”

The groups, which included LULAC, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Hispanic National Bar Association, and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, sent letters to U.S.
Homeland Security Secretary
Michael Chertoff, urging a halt to the raids.

Indeed, who will they come for next? Murderers? Rapists? Bank robbers? Sure, this starts with illegal immigrants. But it’s a slippery slope. Before you know it, we’re getting tough on all kinds of criminals.

The truth is that “brown skinned” law-breaking non-citizens in this country illegally have nothing to worry about. Despite the left’s hysteria, they are not the target of a new holocaust. In fact, they most likely face little or no consequence for the crimes they have committed - illegal entry, fraud and identity theft likely among them. Because there are few in the government with the fortitude or inclination to hold them accountable.

The left likes to pretend they are the champions of the victimized. Of course, the real victims of illegal immigration and its related crimes are the law abiding citizens of this country. Apparently liberals don’t give a damn about them.