All Hank, all the time.

[SlaveNoMore]

Diane_Keaton
Last year, the surveys showed 1/3 of British Muslims believe Western society is "decadent" and immoral and that Muslims should seek to end it. I sure haven't seen any peaceful efforts by Muslims to encourage changes to our "immoral" behaviour. I think we all know what "seek to end it" means.

The capitulation to and appeasement of their population is also getting to absurd proportions.

We had the cartoon frenzy a while back. Now this whopper:

A five-year-old girl’s passport application was rejected because her photograph showed her bare shoulders.

Hannah Edwards’s mother, Jane, was told that the exposed skin might be considered offensive in a Muslim country.

The photograph was taken at a photo-booth at a local post office for a family trip to the south of France. Because of the way the camera was set up, the picture came out showing Hannah’s shoulders.

The family had it signed and presented it at a post office with the completed form but were told that it would not be accepted by the Passport Office. A woman behind the counter informed them that she was aware of at least two other cases where applications had been rejected because a person’s shoulders were not covered.

Mrs Edwards, a Sheffield GP, said: “I was incensed. I went back home and checked the form. Nowhere did it say anything about covering up shoulders. If it had, I would have done so, but it all seems so unnecessary.

“This is quite ridiculous, I followed the instructions on the passport form to the letter and it was still rejected. It is just officialdom pandering to political correctness.”

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Why? It's not like Eric Rudolph would act differently if the Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire condemned anti-abortion violence more vigorously.

Fewer people might support, emulate, or defend him.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
I dont recall the exact numbers, but isnt the latest Lebanese government filled with Hezbollah members - like 25%- 30%?

Hezbollah has 14 of the 128 seats in Parliament, and 3 of the 5 Shi'ite Ministry seats. The Parliament is split equally between Christians and Muslims under the constitution. Right now, Hezbollah likely has much more support than their seats represent; ultimately, Hezbollah would almost certainly like to destabilize the system and provide for majority Islamic representation in Lebanon.

Damn, you and I agree on something. Sign number 3 of the apocalypse.

Let's try for one more: one of Israel's most important protections comes from its aura of invincibility. After this invasion, that aura is badly damaged. Israel shouldn't risk it over anything but major fights.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Seriously, though -- it's been three years. Do you think that the invasion and occupation of Iraq is really helping change views of the US in the muslim world? (Favorably?)

No. But I do think that the only chance we have is to establish a political and social atmospher where free exchange of ideas (including Western ideas) is allowed to flourish peaceably, and as I said to Wonk, the only way I can see that happening is if we are on the ground.

[SlaveNoMore]

Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Hezbollah has 14 of the 128 seats in Parliament, and 3 of the 5 Shi'ite Ministry seats. The Parliament is split equally between Christians and Muslims under the constitution. Right now, Hezbollah likely has much more support than their seats represent; ultimately, Hezbollah would almost certainly like to destabilize the system and provide for majority Islamic representation in Lebanon.

I'm curious how many Lebanese would willingly concede the southern portion of the country controlled by Hezbollah to Hezbollah, effectively making them a nation state repsonsible for their own actions and no longer "shielded" by acting within the confines of another country.

Let's try for one more: one of Israel's most important protections comes from its aura of invincibility. After this invasion, that aura is badly damaged. Israel shouldn't risk it over anything but major fights.

2 for 2. We're rolling.

[SlaveNoMore]

from Peter Brookes:

If there is a clear winner in this war, it’s Iran. Regrettably, the “Mullahs of Mayhem” came out of the conflict with nary a scratch — politically, economically, or militarily. While Tehran lost no soldiers, and suffered no attacks on its territory, it was able to:

a) Divert a great deal of world attention from its nuclear (weapons) program, and its support for anti-American Shia militias in Iraq;

b) Strike out at its arch-enemy Israel using its terrorist toady, Hezbollah;

c) Severely damage public opinion about the U.S. in the Muslim world;

d) Put a deep freeze on the Middle East peace process;

e) Push global oil prices even higher, filling its national coffers for advancing its nuclear program, its conventional military, and its support of Hamas and Hezbollah;

f) Catapult itself to a position of leadership in the Muslim world through its support of Hezbollah;

g) And, lastly, remind the region — and the world — that it is capable of creating even more instability if anyone tries to get in the way of its plans for hegemony in the Middle East.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
from Peter Brookes:

If there is a clear winner in this war, it’s Iran. Regrettably, the “Mullahs of Mayhem” came out of the conflict with nary a scratch — politically, economically, or militarily. While Tehran lost no soldiers, and suffered no attacks on its territory, it was able to:

a) Divert a great deal of world attention from its nuclear (weapons) program, and its support for anti-American Shia militias in Iraq;

b) Strike out at its arch-enemy Israel using its terrorist toady, Hezbollah;

c) Severely damage public opinion about the U.S. in the Muslim world;

d) Put a deep freeze on the Middle East peace process;

e) Push global oil prices even higher, filling its national coffers for advancing its nuclear program, its conventional military, and its support of Hamas and Hezbollah;

f) Catapult itself to a position of leadership in the Muslim world through its support of Hezbollah;

g) And, lastly, remind the region — and the world — that it is capable of creating even more instability if anyone tries to get in the way of its plans for hegemony in the Middle East.

3 for 3 - End Times are near.

Remind me again what you think Bush is doing right on this watch?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Diane_Keaton
Do you really think he means terror attacks will stop as long as the Brits stand up and say "hey, we acknowledge the fact that the terrorists are pissed b/c we're in Iraq and that's why maybe the terrorists are slaughtering innocents."

STP, which is to say: no.

[SlaveNoMore]

Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
Remind me again what you think Bush is doing right on this watch?

Not raising my taxes and ....um, what was the question again?

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Then don't get into the discussion. I believe that the failure of Muslim leaders to speak forcefully to their constituents and say "this is wrong." (note the period) is an enormous part of the problem.

I agree AND so is pretending that the likes of Yasser Arafat are statesmen and/or according them the diplomatic regonition of such.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
The capitulation to and appeasement of their population is also getting to absurd proportions.

We had the cartoon frenzy a while back. Now this whopper:

France IS an islamic country, no?

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
Not raising my taxes and ....

Dude that is a huge one. I honestly think we can outlast these guys for another 50 years before we end up Islamisised like Weurope will be in 2020. I want as much of my income as possible during that period.

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
Dude that is a huge one. I honestly think we can outlast these guys for another 50 years before we end up Islamisised like Weurope will be in 2020. I want as much of my income as possible during that period.

Sure. Remember also, from the government borrowing, the prime rate will be around 134% by then. Invest in good flight capital.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
I agree AND so is pretending that the likes of Yasser Arafat are statesmen and/or according them the diplomatic regonition of such.

guys like Ty have had some personal brush with terrorism yet still are brave enough to think we should not do much but hope- why are you such a coward?

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Gattigap
Sure. Remember also, from the government borrowing, the prime rate will be around 134% by then. Invest in good flight capital.

My cash is all in Yuan. I may dislike the Clintons, but it doesn't take a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowin.