Weekend Warrior Break #5

Does Hollywood Ignore Islamic Terrorism?

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990's, came widespread speculation as to where/when (and in what form) the next major threat would emerge. In took nearly a decade for the United States to awaken to a gathering threat, that much of the world was already familiar...that of Islamic fundamentalism. Despite the many unequivocal declarations of jihad by Al-Qaeda, and the subsequent attacks on 9/11 , Hollywood has remained strangely disengaged.

Igor Toronyi-Lalic, has written an excellent essay on the virtual Hollywood blackout of movies featuring Islamic villains. Story here.

Caucasian Games

The newly re-elected Abkhazian president Sergey Bagapsh vowed a swift response would follow any aggression on the part of Georgia, concerning its recent secession. The small nation in the Caucasus has the backing of the Russian Federation, and currently hosts a small Russian military contingency. 

Switzerland: In Qaddafi's Crosshairs

 

It appears that Switzerland (of all places)  has managed to raise the ire of one of the Middle Easts most notorious rulers. Strange as it is to say;  given its long standing commitment to peaceful neutrality.  Nevertheless, Muammar Qaddafi of Libya has called for a "jihad against it with all means." Apparently the "infidel" state of Switzerland has angered the Libyan dictator by its recent referendum on the banning of the construction of minarets.  Story here.

Weekend Warrior Break #4

Kosovo Marks 2nd Anniversary Of Independence

Glenn Beck Gets It Wrong On Lincoln Part 2

In the second half of the interview with Lewis E. Lerhman, the conversation continues with Beck declaring that the Constitution is a "suicide pact."  Apparently he has it on good authority, we are led to believe, as this is what Lincoln's war allegedly "settled."  Thus the "union" is to be maintained by bayonet point as Beck declares "there's no way out."

I find much to like about the Glenn Beck show, but in this case, the line of reasoning employed is pure sophistry.  Secession was a known and accepted mechanism by the founding generation, to be used in  cases of governmental tyranny.  Force should never be the arbiter for deciding issues of principle.  But by suggesting that the issue has been settled by war, this is exactly the idea that Beck advances. 

Glenn Beck Gets It Wrong On Lincoln

For some time now, I have been watching with passive interest,  the Glenn Beck show.  The main reason for this was due to its emphasis on historical and Constitutional matters.  How did we get here, and what would the founders think of our current situation.  This being in counter distinction to other programing that typically focuses mainly with contemporary politics.  Beck typically places the blame for our overreaching federal government on the policies instituted by Woodrow Wilson and F.D.R.  I had been waiting with bated breath for Beck to mention the actions of Lincoln during the WBTS in hastening the arrival of our current leviathan state.   

On last nights program there was an interesting exchange between Beck and a guest author Lewis E. Lehrman regarding Lincoln.   Some of the comments I found problematic,  as they both were in agreement on giving Lincoln a complete pass on  his many Constitutional violations.  Lehrman made several assertions such as the following:

" The states had certain rights delegated to them by the Constitution." 

This is simply false as the states do not derive their rights from the Constitution.  Rights are inherent and not subject to  governmental approval.   Furthermore, the Constitution cannot delegate rights precisely because it is the creation of the states.  It is the relation between a superior and an inferior.  This is of course the whole nature of sovereignty.   Lehrman continues:

"The federal government had certain rights delegated to them." 

This is true as far as it goes, but it is important to remember that the "delegated rights", proceed not from the Constitution but from the states and the people.  It is also true that these are not "rights" as such, but rather delegated, "powers."  Lehrman:

"Lincoln embraced the rights of states."

There are so many problems with this statement that one scarcely knows where to begin.  Clearly, Lincoln didn't believe in the fundamental sovereignty of the states, or in the idea of consent of the governed.  More to come in a follow up post. 

The Hunt For Red October?

It turns out that truth really is stranger than fiction.  The CIA has finally admitted after 30 years of denials, the details of "Project Azorian", a daring mission to recover a Soviet nuclear submarine that sunk off the coast of Hawaii in 1968.  Story here.

De-Christianizing Kosovo

In the postmodern world that we find ourselves in,  the social model most idealized by the elite class is  the notion of multiculturalism.  Despite all this talk of the joys of living in a multicultural society; the remaining Christian Serbs (and other minorities) in Kosovo, have yet to be afforded the blessings of living in such a pluralistic society.  Ironically, the ongoing persecution of minorities in Kosovo is happening under the full knowledge of NATO countries including the United States and Great Britain. Story here.   

Who's Day Is It Anyway?

Weekend Warrior Break #3

Snow in Southeastern North Carolina!?

Well, it looks as though we have finally gotten a little snow here in eastern North Carolina.  Got a little bit last year, but only just enough for a light dusting. Of course, the big one (for us) was way back in 1989. 

Londonistan

The Feather Men

I recently learned that one of my favorite books will be getting a big screen adaptation. The book "The Feather Men", written by Sir Ranulph Fiennes, concerns the deaths of former British soldiers under mysterious circumstances.  The story centers around a group of vigilantes (The Feather Men) who go outside the law to protect fellow SAS soldiers against a group of contract assassins known as The Clinic.   

The movie re-christened "The Killer Elite",  will star Jason Statham. Story here.

Truth On Trial In Amsterdam.

Weekend Warrior Break #2

"I said I never had much use for one, never said I didn't know how to use it."

The Messiah makes another gaffe...

NeoCon Game

Another great one from SA...