Near East Pundit

If you're ever in Phoenix...

My buddy Zach, his girl Trish the Dish and I went to the Arizona Diamondbacks game last night and later went to an Irish Pub, Seamus McCaffreys.

McCaffreys has signs like "Help Wanted - Irish Need Not Apply," and "Athenry, 2.5 kilometers."  It makes a guy like myself who has always wanted to be Irish feel right at home. 

While drinking some Irish drink by the name of Kiltlifter or something I looked over and saw a myriad of Irish statues.  One of them held an American flag.  The other held a flag of Israel.   

Here's a pic:

If you're ever in the Phoenix area you should stop by.  It's in the downtown area at 18 W. Monroe. 

 

One thing's clear - the Palestinians support Judenfree

A recent poll shows 63 percent of Palestinians support launching rockets into Israel, 75 percent support kidnapping Israeli soldiers whereas 77 percent favor a peace treaty with Israel. 

The Associated Press refers to the poll as "contradictory." 

However, it's not hard to reconcile seemingly contradictory beliefs when one considers the goal most Palestinians would like to accomplish. 

The peace treaty with Israel would end the economic blockade, give Hamas and the other terrorist groups time to regroup and learn Hezbollah's tactics in order to succeed in a full on war against Israel - all of which will ultimately lead to a Judenfree Palestine from the Jordan to the Mediterranean.

Meanwhile the world will look favorably upon the Palestinians as having taken substantial moves toward peace, Ismael Haniyah will get a Nobel Peace prize while Israel might get a couple of years of peace.

All the while the Palestinians prepare for war.

What will the Europeans do?

Der Spiegel interviewed Cardinal Walter Kasper, ecumenical representative within the Catholic Church on the Pope's comments, the Islamic reaction and future relations between the Church and Islam. 

Kasper addresses an important point the West must realize when considering the emergence of Islam...

Kasper says, "So far, it [Islam] has only been tolerant in places where it is in the minority. Where it is the majority religion, Islam does not recognize religious freedom, at least not as we understand it."

Islam will never content itself with minority status, whether in the East or the West.  If Islam becomes the majority in Europe, unlike the Europeans' tolerance for other religions, including Islam, Islam will not recognize other religions but will coerce forced conversions and second rate status to non-Muslims as we've seen in its entire history up until today...Islam is still living in the Middle Ages. 

Kasper says "Islam is a different culture. This doesn't mean that it's an inferior culture, but it is a culture that has yet to connect with the positive sides of our modern Western culture: religious freedom, human rights and equal rights for women. These shortcomings are one reason so many Muslims feel such frustration that often turns into hatred and violence against the West, which is despised as being godless and decadent."

An encouraging sign in Europe - a new poll taken in major European countries has found Europeans believe the conflict between extremists and "moderates" is the cause of the tension and wars in the Middle East as opposed to a previous belief in Israel's policies as the cause of problems in the region.

Whether the Europeans have the fortitude to actually do something about Islamo Fascism we have yet to see. 

In a damning critique of Islamo Fascism, Kasper says "Suicide attacks are the actions of losers who have nothing left to lose. In this case, Islam serves as a mask, a cover for desperation and nihilism, but not for religion."

Islamo Nazism's intentionality - intimidate at all costs

Perhaps the Islamo Fascists don't understand irony.  Or more likely, they do not care. 

The manner in which Muslims and those sympathetic to the terrorists counter recent Islamic violence is to say the Church participated in violence in the name of Christianity 100s of years ago.  Excuse me, but doesn't that justify exactly what Pope Benedict XVI said?  That Islam today lives in the Dark Ages as certain portions of Christianity did?

Pope Benedict XVI quoted a 14th century source saying "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."

The Muslim world responded by saying they should crucify the Pope , attacking several churches, murdering a nun in her 60s who worked in a children's hospital, and calling for the Pope's arrest and/or capital punishment because "he insulted the Prophet." 

Most of us in the West expect the Muslim world to act responsibly and to refute such behavior.  We think calls for crucifixion, arrest, and the murder of the helpless are so reprehensible that surely such apologies will soon arrive. 

What we do not understand in the West is the Islamo Fascist's intentionality behind such detestable actions.  As Charles Krauthammer in The Washington Post says "But of course, refuting is not the point here. The point is intimidation."

The Islamo Nazi goal seeks to intimidate the rest of the world so severely that no one would dare to question Islamo Nazi behavior under the guise of an insult to the Prophet or Islam.  They have started with Europe and would end with the rest of the West as they want the entire world ruled by a Caliphate. 

Freedom of speech for the most part does not exist in the Islamic world.  However, the new problem the West must face directly is the Islamo Facscist's desire to now silence the West as well. 

If we do not deal with this issue now we will deal with it later. 

We cannot allow Islamo Fascism to disallow criticism of violence within Islam.  The West must be able to say certain behavior is wrong.  And there must be open discourse regarding bad behavior, especially evil behavior. 

America has somehow lost its moral justification to do exactly that because of the PR war we currently face in Iraq and across the Globe. 

The Islamo Nazis have spun the perception so askew that in spite of 9/11, 7/11, India and Bali along with the failed bombings of Canada, Germany and England that the West cannot even call the ideology that seeks to dominate all of the world by force what it is, namely, Islamo Nazism.

Whereas the "moderate" Muslims tell us we cannot say anything that appears negative towards Islam no matter how true it may be, the Islamo Nazis say if we do then they will kill us. 

At some point someone has to say enough. 

If not, we will all one day live under the scimitar of Islamo Nazism. 

Senior WaPost Reporter - MSM filled overwhelmingly with Left Bias

Hugh Hewitt interviewed longtime senior reporter Thomas Edsall of the Washington Post in which Edsall said the Main Stream Media (MSM) are overwhelmingly biased to the left.

Here's a portion of the interview although it's worth the read in its entirety:

Hugh Hewitt: A proposition. The reason talk radio exploded, followed by Fox News, followed by the center-right blogosphere, is that because folks like you have been the dominant voice in American media for a long time, and you’re a pretty thoroughgoing, Democratic favoring, agenda journalist for the left, and you’ve been the senior political reporter of the Washington Post for a very long time. And people didn’t trust your news product…not you, personally, but the accumulation of you, throughout the L.A. Times, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and they got sick and tired of being spoon fed liberal dross, and they went to the radio when an alternative product came along.

Thomas Edsall: To a certain degree, I agree with that.

HH: And so, why do you think it’s wrong, somehow, for people to want to hear news that they don’t consider as biased? I mean, that’s what it is. It’s just unbiased news is what people wanted. That’s why conservatives like me got platforms, and our blogs get read, and our columns get absorbed.

TE: One, I don’t think it’s unbiased.

HH: It’s transparent at least. Everyone has bias. I agree with that. Everyone’s got bias.

TE: It’s transparent. Okay, that I would agree. And I agree that whatever you want to call it, mainstream media, presents itself as unbiased, when in fact, there are built into it, many biases, and they are overwhelmingly to the left. (bold mine)

HH: Well, that’s very candid.

Hugh later asks Edsall the number of Democrats to Republicans working in newsrooms.  Here's the dialogue:

HH:  Is there any big name political reporter, and you know them all, Thomas Edsall. That’s why your book, Building Red America, is getting read left and right. Are there any of them who are conservative?

TE: Big name political reporter?

HH: Right.

TE: Jim Vandehei of the Washington Post.

HH: Think he’s voted for Republicans for president?

TE: Yes, I think he has. I don’t know, because he’s never told me. But I would think he has.

HH: And so, of those sorts…and he’s a very fine reporter.

TE: He is.

HH: He probably is a Republican. But given that number of reporters out there, is it ten to one Democrat to Republican? Twenty to one Democrat to Republican?

TE: It’s probably in the range of 15-25:1 Democrat. (bold mine)

Overwhelmingly left bias in newsrooms?  Democrats outnumbering Republicans 20 to 1 in newsrooms?  Where's Eric Alterman to say "the left wing bias is a right wing conspiracy" when you need him?

Hamas "Best" is Nowhere Near Enough

The best Israel can expect from Hamas if they went to pre-1967 borders is 5 to 10 years of calm.  Allow me the honor of pointing out how truly underwhelming this offer truly is.

"We support establishing a Palestinian state in the land of 1967 at this stage, but in return for a cease-fire, not recognition," said Haniyeh [Palestinian Prime Minister].

For a decade at best, Israel gets in return: indefensible borders, a continual grievance by the Palestinians until Israel no longer exists along with perpetual violence until Palestinians get "rights" and "justice," a euphemism for all the land and lots of dead Jews.

"Yousef [Haniyah's political advisor] said instead of recognizing Israel, Hamas was prepared to agree to a "'long-term truce for five or 10 years, until the occupation withdraws.'"

In June of 1967, Israel protected itself against an imminent attack by Egypt and fought against four separate Arab countries for their very existence in which Israel ultimately won and aquired the land they currently possess.*

Before 67, Egypt controlled the Gaza Strip while Jordan controlled the West Bank, both of which Egypt and Jordan never annexed as their own.  Neither country wanted the Palestinian problem that the Arab and Muslim world blames Israel for today. 

Israel and the U.S. have set forth as a condition of negotiation that Hamas should recognize Israel, honor previous agreements and renounce violence. 

Why Israel and the U.S. would expect a terrorist organization to recognize Israel, makes no sense to the most critical of critics.  What in the Hamas Charter and Hamas behavior would suggest otherwise?

As I posted earlier, Menachin Begin, former Prime Minister of Israel was asked by a reporter if he would negotiation with Palestinian organizations who recognized Israel's existence to which Begin said "No, sir!"  The reporter said "Why not?"

Begin said, "Because I don't need Palestinian recognition for my right to exist." (bold mine) 

If Begin were around today he would never have considered a demand for recognition of Israel's right to exist as a quid pro quo for negotiation.

The right of Israel's existence is axiomatic, self-evident and a properly basic truth that needs no attestation.

It just is.

*Israel did give up part of the land they acquired in the 67 war along with oil independence to Egypt for a peace deal. 

Islam...a religion of honor & law, not peace

Ahmadinejad is the Howard Dean of Middle Eastern politics.  They both seem to believe what they say, and they continue to make really dumb statements. 

Ahmadinejad said "People in important positions should be careful about what they say. What he [Pope Benedict XVI] said may give an excuse to another group to start a war. Where the religion should support peace and brotherhood. Christ was a prophet for peace, as was Moses. And as was the prophet Muhammad." (bold mine)

Here are a few excerpts from the Koran:

004:091…seize them and kill them wherever you find them…

008:012: …make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.

008:039:…fight with them until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah…

Does Ahmadinejad truly believe Islam is a religion of peace?  Perhaps peace so long as Muslims control everything. 

When Dean's up for re-nomination as chairman of the DNC, perhaps Ahmadinejad should consider running?  After all, he can't make many more gaffes than Dean already has, including Dean's "I have a Scream" speech.

UPDATE:  One of my closest friends challenged me on this passage saying I'm not helping by quoting nasty passages from the Quran when there are plenty of nasty passages within the Judeo Christian Scriptures. 

If any alleged "Christian" today used those Scriptures to do evil in God's name, the Christian community would be the first to denounce such evil behavior.  None of which we see within the Muslim community, whereas most Muslims, even those in the West can sympathize with such behavior even if they don't actively participate.

Britian arguably has a higher toleration of Islam than any other Western country.  However, in Britain we find the most hatreds towards the West and Britain in particular.  We see marches and rallies filled with angry Muslim youth calling on the death of anybody who insults Islam and glories in the beheadings of Americans. 

I'd love to talk to anybody who thinks if we leave them alone, they'll leave us alone.

Tolerance for Islamic terrorism gone too far

Anjem Choudary, a Muslim cleric in England has called for the Pope's execution because he "insulted" Islam. 

Like other Islamic terrorists, Choudary would subject non-Muslims to Shari'a law which says "Whoever insults the message of Mohammed is going to be subject to capital punishment."

According to former friends, Choudary smoked pot, "slept with white girls," and took LSD.

Then he met cleric Sheik Omar Bakri Mohammed, the founder of Al Muhajiroun, an organization dedicated to creating a worldwide Islamic state, and his behavior changed completely. 

Choudary organized the protest that some have thought fake or a set up in which Muslims held up signs saying "behead those who insult Islam" and "slay those who insult Islam."

picture courtesy of BBC

Choudary praised the 9/11 attackers and according to the article, "After the July 7 atrocities in London, he vowed he would not tell the police if he knew a terror attack was being planned and urged Muslims to defend themselves against perceived attacks by 'whatever means they have at their disposal.'" 

According to acquaintances, Choudary lives off of British state benefits.

Islam at the edge of Modernity

Muslims taking responsibility? 
Muslims not blaming others for their woes? 
Israeli Arabs calling themselves Israelis instead of Palestinians? 
Women having full equality with men in the Muslim world? 

It's about time...

Whether or not it will take hold and grow exponentially, only time will tell.

The Boston Globe is reporting on Al Qasemi college, which was founded in Israel in 1989 to promote a Muslim Reformation...most ideas of which Muslims worldwide consider radical and against Islam. 

The program started as a result of Muslims concerned with their Muslim youth studying abroad and coming back with ideas "not good for the community," a euphemism for Wahabbi or Salafi ideology.

The article says, "'All these assertions are considered radical, even incendiary, in much of the Arab Muslim world. But Mohammad Essawi , the president of the college, said such changes in thinking are needed to transform an education system in the Islamic world 'that is still in the 12th century and does not have an open mind.'"

The college has increased exponentially starting with 40 students 17 years ago to the current 1,600 they have now.

If the Muslims will have a Reformation of their own, it has to come from within and not due to pressure from the outside.  Muslims have to have the courage to change and the courage to challenge the extremists in their midst whatever the cost if they're to salvage their religion from those who would hijack it for their own ends. 

Don't make me go Medieval on you!

Gunman shot a nun in the chest, stomach and back at a children's hospital in Somalia meanwhile killing her security guard.  What does a nun who lived in an Islamic run society need a security guard for? 

Also, between Saturday and Sunday at least five Christian churches in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip were torched and burned down. 

The alleged cause?  A speech by the Pope on faith and reason.  Which begs the question...why would such a speech inflame the passions of the true Muslim believers across the globe?

Apparently, Muslim youth are so volatile that any perceived insult can turn them into a suicide bombing, AK47 wielding jihadist. 

While speaking on faith and reason, the Pope brought up the idea of forced conversions, something he says is marginal to the overall dialogue. 

The Pope said, in quoting a 14th century Byzantine emperor - "Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached".

As a result Turkish political leader Salih Kapusuz said "He [Pope Benedict XVI] is going down in history in the same category as leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini."

The Pope said, "The emperor, after having expressed himself so forcefully, goes on to explain in detail the reasons why spreading the faith through violence is something unreasonable. Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul."

I agree. 

How does forcing someone at the point of death to convert to Islam remain compatible with the nature of God?  The difference between Islam and Christianity is Islam focuses on an exterior change regardless of how fake it may be, versus Christianity which focuses on a heart change which ultimately leads to an external change.   

This is the problem with Islam as I see it - instead of Muslim leaders taking a quotation of a 14th century Byzantine emperor and discussing it, they immediately go into a tirade and foment an already volatile Muslim community that is looking for any excuse to protest, bomb and murder. 

Here's a highlight of Muslim leader's comments - "In Beirut, Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah, one of the world's top Shia Muslim clerics, said: 'We demand that [the Pope] apologises personally, and not through [Vatican] sources, to all Muslims for such a wrong interpretation'...Ahmad Khatami told worshippers at Tehran University: 'The Pope has insulted Islam.'"

How does quoting someone 600+ years ago insult a religion unless there's validity to the quote? 

The Pope's speech would've given the Muslim "umma" a wonderful opportunity to discuss the wonderful things Muhammad has brought to the world. If Islam is such a great religion, then why not point those out instead of demanding apologies and fomenting violence?

Instead of dialogue, the Pope gets death threats and influential Muslim leaders comparing him to Hitler.

The Jerusalem Post says "...the Mujahideen's Army movement in Iraq threatened to carry out a suicide attack against the Pope in revenge for his comments about Islam and jihad."

Most people believe, and rightly so, that Islam still lives in the dark ages.  Judging by recent behavior, that's a hard position to argue with.