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.