Foxmuldar's Blog

The LA Times slurs the IDF in article on the fake photo

2012-02-05T06:46:00.000-08:00

Elder of Ziyon
February 5, 2012

The good news is that the Los Angeles Times blog took note of the fake viral photo supposedly showing an IDF soldier stepping on the chest of a poor Palestinian Arab girl.

But writer Batsheva Sobelman, while showing all the evidence that the photo was staged, still is not 100% sure that the photo isn't that of an Israeli soldier. Instead of accepting the clear proof that the soldier couldn't be Israeli, she writes "But the question remains: Is the soldier Syrian or Israeli?"

But that's not the worst part. Sobelman actually says:

There are some things in the photo -- other than the situation, which is not beyond the realm of possibility -- that are not quite right.

Sobelman thinks that it is possible that an IDF soldier would step on a little girl's chest and point a machine gun at her? Would she ever, ever say that about any other army in the world?

In that one sentence, the LA Times is showing that its regard for fairness in reporting is no better than the thousands of Facebook idiots that copied the photo as proof of Israeli crimes.

http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2012/02/la-times-slurs-idf-in-article-on-fake.html

The Free Press Comes to Sweden by the Editors of Sappho.dk

2012-02-04T16:03:00.000-08:00

International Free Press Society

By admin02 • on February 4, 2012

The evening' speakers in high spirits. From left to right: Hans Rustad (Norway), the Swedes Gunnar Sandelin and Ingrid Carlqvist and the Danes Lars Hedegaard and Mikael Jalving. Photo: Steen Raaschou

(COPENHAGEN, 2 February) “Come and listen to what you will never see, hear or read in the Swedish media.”

This is a quote from the invitation to the Swedish Free Press Society’s first meeting, which took place on 31 January in the City of Malmoe across the bridge from the Danish capital Copenhagen.

That same evening yet another murder and yet another bombing of a police station were added to the seemingly endless cycle of gangland violence in the Southern Swedish city. The number of unsolved murders in Malmoe since last summer now stands at eight and the city has acquired a reputation as the Murder Capital of Northern Europe.

But despite escalating violence and biting cold, 120 people turned up for the meeting, which was held under the watchful eye of about 20 uniformed and armed police in addition to a number of fierce-looking plainclothes agents that were there to protect the Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who has been the target of several assassination attempts.

The Swedish journalist Ingrid Carlqvist – the principal organiser of the event – had ample reason to be satisfied as she bid welcome to the audience and speakers:

“This is a historic meeting,” she said.

“We are here to break some taboos and let’s begin with the biggest one of all – Sweden’s immigration policies.”

Total blackout

As one of the evening’s speakers, the Swedish journalist Gunnar Sandelin, could testify, it is a risky business to write the truth about this national taboo.

In 2008 he wrote a critical piece for the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter under the headline “Journalists impose blackout on immigration”. Since then he has been unable to find a steady job.

The article documented that the vast majority of so-called refugees have no legitimate reason to ask for asylum.

What is really taking place is a hugely expensive, camouflaged immigration. “In addition,” said Sandelin in his Malmoe speech, “we have no knowledge at all about who is entering the country. The great majority come without any identification papers and present the immigration authorities with cooked-up stories.

Many anonymous members of the immigration service are well aware of what is going on. Yet nothing is done.

“This ought to be an obvious issue for Swedish journalists but nobody wants to touch it. They simply impose a blackout when it comes to the entire problem of unregulated mass immigration. Instead they spend their time stigmatizing people who dare speak up. This is not a healthy social climate.”

Sandelin quoted a poll indicating that 90 pct. of the population agree that the Swedish media are not telling the truth about immigration and its consequences.

“Make them weep”

As a former journalist with the state-owned TV channel SVT Sandelin was able to reveal how the channel views its role when it comes to immigration.

At some point he asked his boss why the reporters kept labelling immigrants as refugees when it was evident that they were not.

“My boss informed me that immigrants are weak and that it is therefore the obligation of TV-journalists to be on their side.

Immigrants had to be presented as so pitiful that viewers would weep.”

According to Gunnar Sandelin, this is a highly ideological issue.

”It used to be the workers who were weak by definition – today it is the immigrants. We are being ruled by a sort of mental Stalinism that determines what roles various social groups must play. As a consequence, people are being misled and kept in the dark as to what is really going on.”

Inequality before the law

The other speakers were two Danes and one Norwegian.

President of the Danish Free Press Society Lars Hedegaard attributed most current threats against free speech to the fact the entire vision of an idyllic multicultural society has unravelled.

“As we can see in city after city and country after country, multiculturalism and cultural relativity have created problems so vast that politicians no longer know how to solve them. Angela Merkel has admitted that the multicultural utopia is off the table and so have David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy. But if they cannot solve the problems, they can at least try to prevent people from speaking about them.”

The result, said Lars Hedegaard, is the introduction of so-called “hate speech” and “racism” clauses in the penal codes and an ensuing string of convictions all over Europe. The problem is compounded by the fact that laws against insult are being applied selectively leading to inequality before the law.

“Some people are being punished for saying what the specially favoured – those defined as ‘week’ or righteous – can utter with impunity. In fact, the most favoured can say pretty much whatever they want.”

Hedegaard made a point of stressing that successful integration of immigrants cannot take place in a climate where people are afraid to speak their mind. “Who would integrate into a society that responds to any attack by limiting the rights of its own citizens?” he asked.

“Without free speech we cannot solve the problems of society. We cannot even identify them.”

Cracks in “The Realm of Silence”

The other Danish speaker, journalist and author Mikael Jalving, is quite an expert on Swedish debating culture. He spent most of a year travelling around the country in an attempt to get the Swedes to talk.

It proved difficult. He did, however, manage to collect enough material to write a book entitled “Absolute Sweden” in which he characterises the country as “The Realm of Silence”.

“There is a lot of discussion taking place in Sweden,” he told the audience in Malmoe. “But people rarely debate matters of import. That’s why I’m positively surprised that today we have a Free Press Society here in Malmoe. I wouldn’t have believed that two years ago.”

Sweden wants to be best

Hans Rustad, the editor of the popular Norwegian website Document.no, had also made the trip to Malmoe. He delivered a brief characterisation of Swedish immigration policies as it looks from a Norwegian perspective:

“Viewed from the outside, Sweden seems to have a great need to be the best. You want to be number one in goodness and tolerance, which is why you compete with other countries in the discipline of having the most liberal immigration policy.”

“But in the process you have given up your own identity and that is dangerous. That is why I wish the Swedish Free Press Society success and good luck.”

Fatwa This!

2012-02-04T14:00:00.000-08:00

Jawa Report

February 4, 2012

Iranian regime has no sense of humor.

Now, Iranian lawmaker Arsalan Fat'hipour is telling Iran's PressTV that the country may impose a ban on products from South Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung over a commercial depicting Israelis accidentally destroying an Iranian nuclear facility.

I liked the commercial. In fact I like it more now that I know it annoys the Mullahs. Enough to run it again and again and again....

http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/211024.php

Autonomous Quadrotors Fly Amazing Formations

2012-02-04T12:48:00.000-08:00

Wired
By Jason Paur Email Author February 3, 2012

Roboticists at the University of Pennsylvania’s GRASP are able to get as many as 20 of their autonomous microcopters to fly in formation and perform complex maneuvers flawlessly.

In an impressive new video, the GRASP — General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception — team makes their swarm of flying microbots flip, change direction, navigate through obstacles and even fly figure-eights with jaw-dropping agility and precision.

GRASP has since 2010 made remarkable advancements in the capabilities of their tiny quadrotors, developed by Kmel Robotics, and documented them with a series of videos showing bots flying hoops and building a tower-like structure. The lab is developing the ability to fly autonomously in formation, communicating with each other to maintain position. Last year the team demonstrated a basic formation flight with a lost-communication demonstration where one of the aircraft drops out on its own.

There is still plenty of human input as the tiny UAVs are programmed to fly various tasks. No Skynet yet. Such machines could be used for surveillance or search-and-rescue missions. They’re also just plain cool to watch.

As we wait for the next trick, we hope becoming self aware is indeed just science fiction.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/02/autonomous-quadrotors-fly-amazing-formations/

Snuffed Out, Honor Killings That the Media Continues to Hide.

2012-02-04T11:12:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Pamela Geller and Atlas Shrugs

This violence against Muslim daughters has to be made public. No longer can the media hide the truth. Islam is a sick Ideology that allows its followers to kill their own children.

Islamonausea, not Islamophobia

2012-02-04T11:02:00.000-08:00

Europe News

Jihad Watch 3 February 2012
By Nicolai Sennels

We should stop using Muslims' self-chosen word – "Islamophobia” – by which they paint themselves into a corner of being feared: it destroys communication
Instead of such a divisive term, we should insert a more approachable and factual word that preserves opportunities for bridge-building and learning: "Islamonausea.” This does not render communication impossible, but enables visitors to our Western cultures to notice aspects of their behavior that make us sick.
It's no wonder that Muslims use the word "Islamophobia” so often. Lacking convincing arguments, charm or constructive contributions to their surroundings, being feared is the only way to gain at least some kind of respect. The term Islamophobia, fear of Islam, points to what Muslims want, not to what non-Muslims feel. Who is afraid of Islam, anyway?
"Fear of Islam, Islamophobia, is what the Muslim extremists try to make us to feel by using threats and terror. But who is afraid of Islam? We feel sick of all that hate, violence and suppression of women. Islamonausea is a fitting word.
"Xenophobia,” an irrational fear of that which is strange or foreign, also doesn't work. Aversion to Islam doesn't come from unfamiliarity with the religion; in fact, it's quite the opposite. There’s no reason to fear being called a racist, either, since neither Islam nor Muslims are a race.
Our language needs a term that describes what many critically thinking people feel about Islam according to their own terms, not according to what Muslims wish us to feel or what the PC establishment diagnoses to scare us into allowing more voters for the Left into our countries.
We need a term that simultaneously invites Muslims to realize what they need to change about their behavior and religion if they wish to advance from an embarrassing last place in the evolution of civilizations and to earn some real respect among the world community.

Natural reaction
As in many other nauseating situations, Islamonausea is a normal and natural reaction to something abnormal, not vice versa.
The nausea reflex is innate, and it is biologically natural and healthy to experience emotional and bodily discomfort with anything that is unpleasant, unhealthy or harmful.
There is nothing phobic or racist in feeling nausea when hearing about the Islamic massacres performed by Muhammad and his many devout copycats through history and all over the world today. The same goes for Muhammad's sexual relationship with a nine-year old girl, and the cutting off of limbs and stonings in the name of Allah and his Sharia laws.
Thinking of Muslims’ epidemic practice of forced inbreeding (which damages intelligence and increases the risk of psychiatric diseases) -- often many generations in a row -- one may also experience unpleasant feelings in the abdomen.
There is also no shame in feeling nausea when hearing about the extreme social control, violence and murderous examples made to keep and scare hundreds of millions of their women from enjoying their human rights to chose their own sexual partners, clothing and lifestyle.
The many calls for hatred, violence and killing of non-Muslims commanded by the faultless Koran are outright disgusting. Imagining the pinnacle of evolution being a planet-sized Islamic caliphate is not only a complete embarrassment to the human race; it may also make one lose one's appetite.

Examples
The word Islamonausea can be used to describe a feeling of nausea, disgust, displeasure, discomfort or aversion that arises by itself when encountering Islam or Islamic culture, or whatever or whoever represents it.
Examples of use of the word: "I'm not afraid of Islam, I have Islamonausea." "I do not want minarets in my town. They give me Islamonausea." "They got Islamonausea from all the Muslim immigrants and decided to move to another neighbourhood." "Reading the Koran gives me Islamonausea." "He got Islamonausea and decided to quit his job at the prison." "I get Islamonausea hearing about all those honor killings." "I get Islamonausea at the thought of eating Halal." "I get Islamonausea seeing all those Muslims hopping up and down and shooting in the air, trying to scare us into respecting their childish behaviour."

Prevalence
The first use of the word that I have been able to trace, is from 7 July 2005, in a comment on this website, Jihadwatch.org.
Here, a person calling himself Sheik Canuck, writes in a comment to an article on Muslims' positive reaction to the Islamic suicide bombings in London that same day:
"I don't have islamophobia, I have islamoNausea, I'm sick of them all."
The first time it occurred in a Danish newspaper was in a letter by this writer in Nordjyske Stiftstidende on December 30th 2011, entitled "We have nausea."
The term attracted some attention when the comedian, atheist and Islam critic Pat Condell used it in a video from 2009 called "Apologists for evil."
Islamonausea deserves its own article on Wikipedia. Help get Islamonausea into our dictionaries by using the word on blogs, in articles and in Letters to the Editor, and in everyday speech.
(...)

Posted February 3rd, 2012 by hd

http://europenews.dk/en/node/51889

Panetta Predicts an Israeli Strike on Iran

2012-02-04T10:48:00.001-08:00

by Daniel Pipes
February 4, 2012
Cross-posted from National Review Online

It's not every day that someone like the U.S. secretary of defense forecasts an ally's move but this just happened when Leon Panetta said that he believes, in the paraphrase of a Washington Post reporter, that "there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June." Thoughts on this unusual statement:

It's a paraphrase: For delicate statements, top officials prefer indirection and written words. It offers wiggle room and reduces tensions. Asked whether he disputed the Post report, Panetta inscrutably stated: "No, I'm just not commenting. What I think and what I view, I consider that to be an area that belongs to me and nobody else." (Contrast this episode with Barack Obama talking about drones in front of the cameras, an indiscretion that won him trouble, including a lawsuit from the ACLU.)

It might be disinformation: In the mirror world of nuclear diplomacy, we on the outside have almost no way of discerning wheat from chaff. Panetta could be sending a signal to Tehran as opposed to telling the truth. The same applies to other news, be it assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists or sales of ordnanceto Israel. Wait a decade to learn what's really happening now.

Tehran is determined: Iran's supreme guide, Ali Khamene'i, again confirmed that nothing and no one will impede his regime from acquiring nuclear weapons, announcing that "Sanctions will not have any impact on our determination to continue our nuclear course." I believe him. Just as the North Korean regime allowed its subject population to starve in the pursuit of nukes, so will the Iranians pay whatever the price.

Israel is also determined: The Israeli leadership looks back to the Holocaust and feels the weight of its responsibility. Commenting on those top-ranking military personnel who disagree with him and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu about the Iranian nuclear danger, Israel's Minister of Defense Ehud Barakcommented that "It's good to have diversity in thinking and for people to voice their opinions. But at the end of the day, when the military command looks up, it sees us — the minister of defense and the prime minister. When we look up, we see nothing but the sky above us."

U.S. presidential elections: Were the Israelis to attack Iran, Obama's response could have major electoral implications. Were he to approve or (especially) join in the attack, he would scramble the elections to his advantage. Were he to condemn the Israelis, however, he would likely pay a price. (February 4, 2012)

http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/2012/02/panetta-predicts-an-israeli-strike-on-iran

Paul Ryan Crushes Fed Chairman Like a Bug

2012-02-04T10:02:00.001-08:00

Blame Obama for the violence in Egypt, don't blame America or Israel

2012-02-04T09:29:00.001-08:00

Thanks to BNI and Memri TV for providing this video.
A narrow stadium exit turned into a death trap. Crowds of Egyptian soccer fans fleeing supporters of the opposing team armed with knives, clubs and stones rushed into the corridor, only to be crushed against a locked gate, their rivals attacking from behind, survivors and witnesses said. The result was the world’s worst soccer violence in 15 years, with 74 people crushed, suffocated or stabbed to death and several hundred more injured.

Obama supported and continues to send our tax dollars to these jackasses. Why send one dime to these hateful Muslims. There will never be a democracy in Egypt. Sharia will now rule and it owes its thanks to Obama.

Komen Defunded Planned Parenthood Because They Didn’t Perform Mammograms

2012-02-03T02:48:00.000-08:00

Wizbang Blog
February 2, 2012

Some of the early accounts of this ever developing story was that Susan G. Komen discontinued funding to Planned Parenthood over an ongoing Congressional investigation. Now the President of the organization says that the defunding was in large part because Planned Parenthood did not offer mammograms at all, rather, they performed mammogram referrals. How much money does it take to make a mammogram referral?

“First and foremost, it doesn’t really have anything to do with that,” she said, adding that she didn’t know “very much” about the investigation because she works “20 hours a day focusing on our mission.”

So why did Planned Parenthood lose funding? Brinker says it has to do with the fact that they do not provide mammograms to women, but only provide mammogram referrals. “It was nothing they were doing wrong,” she explained. “We have decided not to fund, whereever possible, pass-through grants. We were giving them money, they were sending women out for mammograms. What we would like to have are clinics where we can directly fund mammograms.”

Imagine that. An organization whose sole purpose is to fight against breast cancer wanting to give their money to organizations that actually aide in fighting breast cancer.

The Washington Post story goes on to say that Komen will continue to fund three chapters of Planned Parenthood because they are the only source of breast health services in their respective areas. So it seems that the narrative that Susan G. Komen is some sort of right-wing extremist, anti-abortion group doesn’t really hold water, now does it?

With lefties the facts don’t matter. All they see is that abortion proponents will be receiving less money; and to them, that’s the bottom line. Lucky for them they have friends like Nanny Bloomberg who said he was giving Planned Parenthood $250,000. Good for him, put your money where your freaking mouth is Mikey.

And then there’s this. Since cutting funding to Planned Parenthood, Susan G. Komen has seen anincrease in their donations by 100%. I wonder if this was money they would have been getting all along had they not been funding the abortion mill? On the other side, Planned Parenthood has seen their donations spike to more than make up for what they’ll lose from Komen.

Gotta protect women’s bodies and all that nonsense.

Send me a few Million and I'll be happy to refer anyone to where they can get a mammogram or any other procedures they may want or need. But isn't that how liberals think. Its always easier to spend other peoples money even if you don't earn it.

http://wizbangblog.com/2012/02/02/komen-defunded-planned-parenthood-because-they-didnt-perform-mammograms/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Wizbang+%28Wizbang%29

Fast and Furious 2012: Give Us The Documents!

2012-02-03T02:22:00.000-08:00

Obama Negotiates With Taliban Over Gitmo Prisoners

2012-02-02T17:40:00.000-08:00

CORRUPTION CHRONICLES
Judicial Watch Blog

February 2, 2012
In a deplorable move that could seriously compromise national security, the Obama Administration is in the process of negotiating a deal to release up to five Taliban prisoners from the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

As part of “Taliban reconciliation efforts,” the terrorists would be transferred to Qatar, a Middle Eastern Arab state where the militant Islamic group will soon open an office. The Obama Administration is selling the preposterous deal to Congress by saying that the prisoners won’t actually be released but rather transferred to the custody of the Qatari government and they will remain in jail.

While much of the mainstream media has ignored this unbelievable story, a bimonthly global magazine dedicated to covering politics and economics, published a piece this week on how the backdoor deal is going down. It includes details of how top Obama Administration officials briefed eight senior Senate leaders this week about the pending Taliban “transfer” from Gitmo to Qatar.

The classified briefing took place in the basement of the capitol building and none of the eight senators would discuss details, according to the magazine, but a few spoke before entering the secure briefing room. Michigan Senator Carl Levin revealed that the briefing was “about the ongoing Taliban reconciliation efforts.” The Democrat lawmaker questioned whether the Qataris can be trusted to keep the Taliban prisoners behind bars.

Calling the deal “highly questionable,” Arizona Senator John McCain said he’s not confident that the Qataris will keep the Taliban prisoners locked up. The Republican lawmaker also noted that at least one of the prisoners was responsible for the deaths of several Americans. Reports have identified three of them as Mullah Khair Khowa, a former interior minister, Noorullah Noori, a former governor in northern Afghanistan and former army commander Mullah Fazl Akhund.

It’s not clear who the two others will be, though one thing is certain; the Obama Administration’s own Guantanamo review task force has determined that they are too dangerous to transfer. Additionally, U.S. intelligence assessments have concluded that the Taliban prisoners scheduled for transfer are too dangerous to be released.

The Taliban is a radical terrorist group that rules large parts of Afghanistan and enforces Sharia law, the authoritarian doctrine that inspires Islamists and their jihadism. Just last month the Taliban released a horrific video of the executions of 15 Pakistani soldiers that had been abducted weeks earlier. Incredibly, the Obama Administration believes the terrorist group is reformed and last month began engaging in “peace talks” with Taliban leaders.

http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2012/02/obama-negotiates-with-taliban-over-gitmo-prisoners/

Mark Durie - Muslims in the West: Loyal to Whom?

2012-02-02T15:06:00.001-08:00

blazingcatfur

Our friends the Saudis' imprison Christians for worshiping in their own homes

2012-02-01T02:12:00.000-08:00

Israel Matzav
Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012

'Our friends the Saudis,' a typically tolerant Islamic caliphate, haveimprisoned 35 Christians for worshiping in their own homes.

The Christians have now been in prison for more than a month. Jonathan Racho ofInternational Christian Concern says it is no wonder that Christians there worship in their homes because of the danger they face.

"In Saudi Arabia there is no church," says the ICC spokesman. "There is no other place of worship other than mosques -- so the Christians in Saudi Arabia only gather at their private homes to worship. And when they worship, as you can see in this particular example, they could also be arrested."

Racho was able to talk with one of the female prisoners by phone and explains that prisoners are suffering because of lack of proper medical attention. "They told me that especially the male prisoners have been assaulted by the Saudi officials," he shares.

One of the prisoners told Racho that a Saudi official insulted them by telling them they are non-believers, animals, and supporters of America.

He adds the Christians are waiting for justice, which to them means their release from prison and the ability to worship freely.

And they consider being called 'supporters of America' an insult? If so, they don't get it either.

Labels: Christians in Muslim countries, our friends the Saudis

http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2012/02/our-friends-saudis-imprison-christians.html

The Middle East, women, sex, and the awful double standard

2012-01-31T17:55:00.000-08:00

People of Shambhala
Tuesday January 21, 2012

What to conclude when an Egyptian newspaper is condemned for reporting gang rapes and sexual assaults on women in Tahrir Square? Or that a self-appointed "morality police" now patrols Egypt's streets with rods to beat any woman dressed in normal, causal clothes? Should we conclude that, in the Middle East, it is acceptable for men to rape, but not okay for a woman to show the least bit of skin?

A few days ago Egyptian newspaper Bikya Masr reported that an Arab-American woman had been "stripped of her pants, assaulted and beaten by a mob of men in the center of the square."

"Surprisingly," says Bikya MAsr, "this led to a backlash against us, in comments on the article, emails and on a private listserv here in Cairo." Journalist Joseph Mayton says he

received a number of emails condemning reporting such incidents, with the correspondence saying Bikyamasr.com is “anti-revolution,” “Orientalist,” and even patronizing and victimizing toward women by detailing the sexual violence that was perpetrated in the square.

This misses the reality. Sexual violence in Egypt, and around the region is not new. It seems to occur whenever large crowds gather in this country. As a media outlet, we can only do our best to report on such incidents. Many argued that we did not contextualize the situation by reporting the story of the woman being assaulted.

They argued Tahrir was “safe” for women and that even men were protecting women throughout the day. Certainly, this was correct, but it misses the point. Sexual assault needs no contextualization. Assault is assault, in our view.
Apparently in Egypt it's a controversial view.

However, some in the Middle East are fighting back. With Iranian actress Golshifteh Farahani told not to return to Iran because of a naked photo shoot published in Madame Le Figaro more than one Facebook group has been launched in support of the actress.

One, called, simply, Support of Golshifteh Farahani, says it "has been formed, in order to support Golshifteh's move, in order to say NO to relegion [sic], tradition, culture and anti women's law.Viva freedom !!!"

Reuters says "movement has sprung up, with supporters encouraging others to post Farahani's topless photo as a "PicBadge" of the actress' photo-shoot to their Facebook profiles." Activists are encouraging people to read The Stoning of Soraya M.

A number of activists -- men and women -- are also posting nude photos of themselves in protest at the treatment of Farahani and of women in the Middle East in general.

Nude protesting might be extreme, but --whatever one may think of it -- it is clear that a lot of people in the Middle East are getting fed up with rape being "contextualized" and portrayed as okay, while self-expression is seen as absolutely immoral.

Qaradawi: No Chopping Off of Hands Now…But Later is OK

2012-01-31T16:06:00.000-08:00

by IPT News • Jan 31, 2012 at 5:34 pm

The Muslim Brotherhood's leading religious voice thinks that shari'a law should be instituted in Egypt—but in a gradual fashion—according to a translation put out by The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

Yusuf al-Qaradawi was interviewed last Thursday on Egypt's Al-Nahar TV. During the segment, the Qatar-based scholar discussed the current political situation in Egypt and let his feelings known that no alternative exists to the complete implementation ofshari'a.

But this change need not come all at once; instead, those in power "should do things gradually."

"We should prepare the people, teach them…[because] people do not understand the shari'a properly," Qaradawi said. The next five years should be transitional, meaning "there should be no chopping off of hands."

But fear not, shari'a seekers, this transitional phase is only meant to be temporary.

"This should be a period in which we teach people the true laws of shari'a," he said. When we find food for all the hungry, schools for all the pupils, hospitals for all the sick, homes for all those who want them, wives for all the bachelors, then we can discuss the punishment for theft."

The electorally driven, gradual nature of change advocated by Qaradawi keeps in line with well-established Brotherhood ideology, with the ultimate goal being the unification of all Muslims under the banner of the Caliphate—or universal Islamic state.

And it is certainly not a new notion for Qaradawi either. In November, the Brotherhood cleric made similar comments in a fatwa posted on OnIslam.net. In it, he noted "Gradualism in applying the Shari'ah is a wise requirement to follow. In doing so, we will be following Allah's Laws with regard to physical nature and teachings of Islam."

Previously, at a 1995 conference held by the Muslim Arab Youth Association (MAYA) in Toledo, Ohio, Qaradawi called for the conquest of Western regimes and the implementation of shari'a not through armed conflict, but through Da'wa(proselytization):

"What remains, then, is to conquer Rome. The second part of the omen. 'The city of Hiraq [once emperor of Constantinople] will be conquered first,' so what remains is to conquer Rome. This means that Islam will come back to Europe for the third time, after it was expelled from it twice… Conquest through Da'wa [proselytizing] that is what we hope for. We will conquer Europe, we will conquer America! Not through sword but through Da'wa."

Qaradawi's approach to putting sharia into practice is noticeably measured when compared to other vocal Brotherhood leaders. In December, one of the group's senior leaders, Sobhi Saleh, caused a stir when he stated publicly that the Brotherhood's political arm would apply Islamic law and "prohibit alcohol" if brought to power. "It was planned since 1928," he said. "But Islam is the solution."

Comments such as these can only serve to further alarm the country's liberal/secular activists, who have been vocal about their distrust and disapproval of the Brotherhood and its plan for Egypt.

Qaradawi's comments Thursday offer little to quell such fears.

http://www.investigativeproject.org/3418/qaradawi-no-chopping-off-of-hands-nowbut-later-is

Another D.C. Scandal Fleeces Taxpayers Out Of Millions

2012-01-31T14:59:00.000-08:00

Corruption Chronicles
Judicial Watch Blog
January 31, 2012

In a classic fleecing of U.S. taxpayers, a politically-connected nonprofit blew millions of dollars that were supposed to help build and renovate housing for the poor in the slums surrounding the nation’s capital.

The cash—more than $13.7 million—mostly flowed under the leadership of ousted Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, who lost reelection in 2010. During his tenure Fenty was embroiled in a variety of scandals, including the use of taxpayer-funded ads to promote a family business that donated big bucks to his political campaign and controversial trips to Dubai and China on taxpayer time. Judicial Watch obtained documents related to the questionable jaunts which were financed by the foreign governments while Fenty served as an elected official of a U.S. city.

During that time, a charity (Peaceoholics) headed by Fenty’s pal got lots of federal and local cash without being held accountable for how the funds were spent. Several local newspapers have reported on the scandal in the last few years, but this week the area’s mainstream paper published a lengthy exposé that should make most people cringe. It outlines how millions in federal and local funds have been poured into “affordable” housing projects that were never completed.

The scathing article apparently embarrassed some members of the D.C. Council, which has been napping throughout this scandal. One councilman, Michael A. Brown, issued a press release following the story expressing deep concern by “evidence that has been uncovered pointing to unethical behavior and possible criminal malfeasance.” Brown is calling for an “investigation” of a more recent $4.6 million that Peaceoholics got to transform distressed apartments for troubled young men.

Instead, the project became something of a spending free-for-all for developers and contractors who knew redevelopment money was out on the street and in the hands of a novice nonprofit with unchecked authority to spend it,” according to the news story. It goes on to say: “The project was overseen at the housing agency by a top manager with real estate interests of his own who, along with other housing officials, often failed to impose fundamental spending rules and regular oversight. Instead of competitive bidding, Peaceoholics did business with friends and associates. Work often wasn’t tracked or documented.”

As outrageous as this may seem, this sort of thing is par for the course in D.C.’s perpetually corrupt government, which has been rocked by a series of scandals in recent years. Last summer Mayor Vincent Gray, a veteran councilman, was the subject of a corruption investigation for paying a mayoral candidate to stay in the race and trash dethroned, then-Mayor Fenty.

After becoming mayor last January Gray came under fire for hiring an army of senior staffers with lucrative salaries while the city suffered through a painful $400 million budget shortfall. Among Gray’s highly-paid employees are the son of his chief of staff and the daughter of a close adviser.

Who could forget Mayor Marion Barry—elected to the D.C. Council four times since his drug conviction—starring in an FBI surveillance video smoking crack? Barry, who represents Ward 8, has since been in trouble for failing to pay his taxes, violating the terms of his probation and stalking a former girlfriend.

http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2012/01/another-d-c-scandal-fleeces-taxpayers-out-of-millions/

Muslims Declare Jihad on Dogs in Europe

2012-01-31T02:33:00.001-08:00

STONEGATE Institute
by Soeren Kern
January 31, 2012 at 5:00 am

A Dutch Muslim politician has called for a ban on dogs in The Hague, the third-largest city in the Netherlands.

Islamic legal tradition holds that dogs are "unclean" animals, and some say the call to ban them in Holland and elsewhere represents an attempted encroachment of Islamic Sharia law in Europe.

This latest canine controversy -- which the Dutch public has greeted with a mix of amusement and outrage -- follows dozens of other Muslim-vs-dog-related incidents in Europe. Critics say it reflects the growing assertiveness of Muslims in Europe as they attempt to impose Islamic legal and religious norms on European society.

The Dutch dustup erupted after Hasan Küçük, a Turkish-Dutch representative on The Hague city council for the Islam Democrats, vehemently opposed a proposal by the Party for the Animals (Partij voor de Dieren) to make the city more dog friendly.

According to a January 28 report in the Amsterdam-based newspaper De Telegraaf, Küçük counter-argued that keeping dogs as pets is tantamount to animal abuse and he then called for the possession of dogs in The Hague to be criminalized.

According to its website, the Islam Democrats [ID] party is "founded on the Islamic principles of justice, equality and solidarity. ID is a bottom-up response to the large gap between the Muslim and immigrant communities and local politics…ID focuses on the political awareness within the Muslim and immigrant communities. Awareness about the need to organize, but also the need for mutual support."

Paul ter Linden, who represents the Dutch Freedom Party (PVV) on The Hague city council, responded to Küçük by saying: "In this country pet ownership is legal. Whoever disagrees with this should move to another country."

Dutch political commentators believe Küçük's declarations are a provocation designed to stir up the Muslim population in The Hague. Muslims -- who now make up more than 12% of the city's population of 500,000 -- view dogs as ritually unclean animals and Küçük's call for a ban on them is a sure vote-getter, they say.

The incident in Holland follows dog-related controversies in other European countries.

In Spain, two Islamic groups based in Lérida -- a city in the northeastern region of Catalonia where 29,000 Muslims now make up around 20% of the city's total population -- asked local officials to regulate the presence of dogs in public spaces so they do not "offend Muslims."

Muslims demanded that dogs be banned from all forms of public transportation including all city buses as well as from all areas frequented by Muslim immigrants. Muslims said the presence of dogs in Lérida violates their religious freedom and their right to live according to Islamic principles.

After the municipality refused to acquiesce to Muslim demands, the city experienced a wave of dog poisonings. More than a dozen dogs were poisoned in September 2011 (local media reports here, here, here, here and here) in Lérida's working class neighborhoods of Cappont and La Bordeta, districts that are heavily populated by Muslim immigrants and where many dogs have been killed over the past several years.

Local residents taking their dogs for walks say they have been harassed by Muslim immigrants who are opposed to seeing the animals in public. Muslims have also launched a number of anti-dog campaigns on Islamic websites and blogs based in Spain.

In Britain, which has become "ground zero" for Europe's canine controversies, blind passengers are being ordered off buses or refused taxi rides because Muslim drivers or passengers object to their "unclean" guide dogs.

In Reading, for example, one pensioner, a cancer sufferer, was repeatedly confronted by drivers and asked to get off the bus because of his guide dog. He also faced hostility at a hospital and in a supermarket over the animal.

In Nottingham, a Muslim taxi driver refused to carry a blind man because he was accompanied by his guide dog. The taxi driver was later fined £300 ($470).

In Stafford, a Muslim taxi driver refused to carry an elderly blind couple from a grocery store because they were accompanied by their seeing-eye dog.

In Tunbridge Wells, Kent, a blind man was turned away from an Indian restaurant because the owner said it was against his Muslim beliefs to allow dogs into his establishment.

In London, a bus driver prevented a woman from boarding a bus with her dog because there was a Muslim lady on the bus who "might be upset by the dog." As the woman attempted to complain, the doors closed and the bus drove away. When a second bus arrived, she again tried to embark, but was stopped again, this time because the driver said he was Muslim.

Also in Britain, police sniffer dogs trained to spot terrorists at train stations may no longer come into contact with Muslim passengers, following complaints that it was offensive to their religion.

A report for the Transport Department advised that the animals should only touch passengers' luggage because it is considered "more acceptable." British Transport Police still use sniffer dogs -- which are trained to detect explosives -- with any passengers regardless of faith, but handlers are now more aware of "cultural sensitivities."

Sniffer dogs used by police to search mosques and Muslim homes are now being fitted with leather bootees to cover their paws so that they do not cause offense.

Critics say the complaints are just another example of Muslims trying to force their rules and morals on British society. Tory MP Philip Davies said: "As far as I am concerned, everyone should be treated equally in the face of the law and we cannot have people of different religious groups laying the law down. I hope the police will go about their business as they would do normally."

Meanwhile, Muslim prisoners in Britain are being given fresh clothes and bedding after sniffer dogs search their cells.

The inmates say their bedclothes and prison uniforms must be changed according to Islamic law if they have come anywhere near dog saliva. Government rules mean prison wardens must hand out replacement sets after random drug searches to avoid religious discrimination claims.

The dogs have also been banned from touching copies of the Islamic holy book the Koran and other religious items. Prisoners are handed special bags to protect the articles.

In Scotland, the Tayside Police Department apologized for featuring a German shepherd puppy as part of a campaign to publicize its new non-emergency telephone number. The postcards are potentially offensive to the city's 3,000-strong Muslim community.

In Norway, Gry Berg, a blind woman, was denied entry into four taxis in the center of Oslo because she was accompanied by her guide dog.

In France, Marie Laforêt, one of the country's most well-known singers and actresses, appeared in a Paris courtroom in December to defend herself against charges that a job advertisement she placed discriminated against Muslims.

The 72-year-old Laforêt had placed an ad on an Internet website looking for someone to do some work on her terrace in 2009. She specified in the ad that "people with allergies or orthodox Muslims" should not apply "due to a small Chihuahua."

Laforêt claimed that she made the stipulation because she believed the Muslim faith saw dogs as unclean.

The case was taken up by an anti-discrimination group called the Movement against Racism and for Friendship between Peoples (MRAP), which lodged a complaint against Laforêt.

Laforêt's lawyer said his client "knew that the presence of a dog could conflict with the religious convictions of orthodox Muslims. It was a sign of respect." But Muslims rejected her defense.

Soeren Kern is Senior Fellow for Transatlantic Relations at the Madrid-based Grupo de Estudios Estratégicos / Strategic Studies Group. Follow him on Facebook.

http://www.stonegateinstitute.org/2796/muslims-ban-dogs-europe

A better idea would be to ban Muslims from the Hague. Imagine what would happen if CAIR or others of their ilk called for a ban on dogs in America. Haha, I wish they would show their true colors. Just let them try. But if we allow Islam to continue to push its evil ideology upon our society, eventually they will be demanding bans on alcohol, music, and even dogs.

Charles Adler & Raj Sharma Discuss The Shafia Honour Murders & Immigration Policy

2012-01-31T02:26:00.001-08:00

blazingcatfur

The Export: Radical Islam's Map to the End of Democracy - Trailer

2012-01-30T16:03:00.001-08:00

OfficialACLJ

What do Evergreen Energy, Ener1, and Amonix, Inc. all have in common?

2012-01-30T02:28:00.001-08:00

Wizbang blog

January 30, 2012 | Filed under 2009 Spendulus Bill,Asshats,Categories,Environment,Global Warming | Posted by Michael Laprarie

They all received millions in Stimulus-related dollars from the Obama Administration – $5.3 million for Evergreen, $118 million for Ener1 (as well as a ‘good luck’ visit from Vice President Biden) and $5.9 million for Amonix. Oh, and they all either developed or manufactured “green energy” components – ‘alternative fuel’ products, batteries for electric vehicles, and solar panels, respectively.

And this past week, all three filed for bankruptcy protection.

Boy, can Barry pick ‘em, or can Barry pick ‘em!

http://wizbangblog.com/2012/01/30/what-do-evergreen-energy-ener1-and-amonix-inc-all-have-in-common/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Wizbang+%28Wizbang%29

Censorship of Geert Wilder’s Film Fitna – Does YouTube Follow Sharia Law?

2012-01-30T02:22:00.000-08:00

Europe News
British Freedom 30 January 2012

The British Freedom YouTube account has been suspended because it included Geert Wilder’s controversial film Fitna. British Freedom received the following message from YouTube:

The YouTube Community has flagged one or more of your videos as inappropriate. Once a video is flagged, it is reviewed by the YouTube Team against our Community Guidelines. Upon review, we have determined that the following video(s) contain content in violation of these guidelines, and have been disabled:

Fitna – The Geert Wilders Movie – YouTube.mp4 – (BritishFreedomTV)

We encourage free speech and defend everyone’s right to express their points of view even if unpopular. But YouTube does not permit hate speech. "Hate speech” means content that promotes hatred or violence against members of a protected group (race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, and sexual orientation/ gender identity). Sometimes there is a fine line between what is and what is not considered hate speech. If you’re not sure whether or not your content crosses the line, don’t post it.”

It seems that YouTube, which claims to encourage free speech, could be accused of basing its understanding of such freedom in accordance with principles of sharia. Sharia does not allow criticism or negativity towards the holy book of Islam. The website fidh.org reports that a man in Afghanistan was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment "for having distributed a document criticising the Koran and its views on women’s rights”. Would YouTube censor a video that pointed this out? Fitna is simply a film that quotes the Koran and then shows how some people have interpreted those quotes. To call it ‘hate speech’ indicates a political agenda and an attempt to stifle debate.

Why has British Freedom been specifically targeted? There are many YouTube channels that contain the film Fitna which can be found quite easily by a simple search. Has British Freedom been targeted because it is a political party? The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is already trying to meddle in the internal affairs of Western democracies via its global campaign against free expression.

The very nebulous and ill-defined term ‘Islamophobia’ is often used to restrict debate on issues relating to political Islam. The Secretary General of the OIC, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has specifically referred to Western politics. Does this mean that there is now an organised campaign against specific political parties and if such a campaign exists has YouTube inadvertently found itself embroiled in it? Has YouTube now sided with the OIC and accepted its narrative? If the public are prevented from making informed decisions at election times due to politically motivated censorship then democracy looses all its true meaning.

The European Union has offered to host the next meeting of the Istanbul Process which relates to the OIC campaign against freedom of expression. If the European Union bows to OIC pressure on this subject then it means that very significant legislative changes might occur in European states that could put democracy itself in serious danger. The issue of freedom of expression is therefore the subject of ongoing political debate and material like the film Fitna is an important component of that debate. Censorship of this film could be seen as an attempt to stifle debate on a subject of significant public interest. YouTube’s action against the British Freedom YouTube channel may cause some people to conclude that YouTube is effectively taking sides in an extremely significant political debate.

We call upon YouTube to take a position of political impartiality and reinstate the British Freedom channel with the film Fitna included on it.

Fitna

Posted January 30th, 2012 by pk

Allen West To Obama: ‘Get The Hell Out Of The United States of America’

2012-01-29T16:18:00.001-08:00

January 29, 2012

Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) had a strong message Saturday for President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz: “Get the hell out.”

West made the comments during a speech at a Palm Beach County GOP event in West Palm Beach.

“This is a battlefield that we must stand upon. And we need to let President Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and my dear friend, chairman of the Democrat National Committee, we need to let them know that Florida ain’t on the table,” West said.

The audience was booing by the time West got to Pelosi’s name.

“Take your message of equality of achievement, take your message of economic dependency, take your message of enslaving the entrepreneurial will and spirit of the American people somewhere else,” he continued. “You can take it to Europe, you can take it to the bottom of the sea, you can take it to the North Pole, but get the hell out of the United States of America.”

Tarek Fatah Reaction To Shafia Honour Murders

2012-01-29T14:57:00.001-08:00

blazingcatfur

Only in California: 6 Year Old Charged With Sexual Assault

2012-01-29T12:16:00.001-08:00

Inmates running our Asylums or schools.