20,000 ways to say I love you

I pointed out here a few weeks ago that thousands of weapons in Libya have gone from control  by the military to stolen and in the hands of jihadists.  Here is an update on that original story, with a few more details.


From The Daily Caller/Yahoo September 27 by Neil Munro

Free for all: Up to 20,000 anti-aircraft missiles stolen in Libya

A survey of weapon depots in Libya shows that up to 20,000 shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles are now missing, partly because President Barack Obama has refused to send troops to guard the weapons depots, according to a left-of-center advocate.

“We were quite disappointed after talking to administration officials … that nothing more was done, even about the [storage] facilities in Tripoli, which are unsecured now,” said Peter Bouckaert, director of emergencies at left-of-centre group Human Rights Watch.

‘“The major impediment [to action] is that the administration doesn’t want ‘boots on the ground,’” he said.

“If these weapons get into the wrong hands, any civilian aircraft operating in the region will be threatened,” said Bouckaert, who has just returned from a visit to Libya.

The missing missiles are Russian-made SA-7s and SA-16s: Shoulder-launched missiles that can home into the hot exhaust trails from civilian and military jets. The SA-16 is only five feet long and weighs just 24 pounds.

A few of those types of missiles were used by al-Qaida’s allies in Iraq. Al-Qaida’s allies in Yemen have also showcased their possession of a number of the missiles.

In the last few weeks, Bouckaert said, administration officials have met to discuss the threat. “This has moved sharply up on Obama’s agenda,” partly because the administration-backed National Transitional Council can’t guard the weapons depots, he said.

“European intelligence agencies are also very concerned about these missiles, and they’ve been in contact with me,” he added. The European intelligence agencies “have a larger capacity on the ground [in Libya] because they’re not operating under the same restrictions that President Obama has placed himself in,” Bouckaert explained.

Obama sent aircraft and missiles to help the rebel tribes push back the heavily-armed army, but has consistently refused to send U.S ground troops to win land battle or to protect the fledgling democratic government once dictator Muammar Gaddafi fled the Libyan capital of Tripoli in August. When Obama announced the U.S. intervention on March 18, he was explicit: “The United States is not going to deploy ground troops into Libya.”

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Iranian pastor refuses to convert to Islam, now under threat of death

"...there is no compulsion in religion..."(2-256) except when there is.  Islamic law allows for one who is not a Muslim be given four chances to recant their apostolic beliefs and turn towards the light of Muhammad before more strict punishments are imposed.  Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani just received his fourth invite to Islam, and for the fourth time he refuses.  He may be executed within the week.


Iran has the second highest execution record on earth, this year they have killed almost 400, 125 of those in September alone.




From International Business Times September 29 by Daniel D. Tovrov

Iranian Pastor Sentenced to Death: Nadarkhani Refuses to Convert

Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who is facing the death penalty, again refused to convert to Islam to save his life.

Nadarkhani was arrested in 2009 for the crime of apostasy because he allegedly abandoned Islam for Christianity. As a pastor, Iranian clerics believe that Nadarkhani was preaching in order to convert Muslims.

Before his last hearing Wednesday, Nadarkhani had been given three previous chances to repent, and all three times he has refused. After his final refusal Wednesday, no verdict has been announced, but many expect that he could be put to death as soon as Friday.

The case has slowly garnered international attention, and there are a number of Christian rights groups advocating for his release. 

U.S. House Speaker John Boehner also has spoken out against Iran. "While Iran's government claims to promote tolerance, it continues to imprison many of its people because of their faith. This goes beyond the law to an issue of fundamental respect for human dignity. I urge Iran's leaders to abandon this dark path, spare [Nadarkhani's] life, and grant him a full and unconditional release," said Boehner.

There were rumors on Wednesday night that Nadarkhani's execution sentence was to be waived after the final trial, but contradicting reports indicate that the news was incorrect.

"We've had some reports that there has been a verbal announcement from the court in Iran that the sentence is annulled but we urge caution," said Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a religious group campaigning for Nadarkhani's release.

"It's been known that verbal announcements have been directly contradicted by later written statements. We are still calling for international pressure to be kept up."

The American Center for Law and Justice said in a message titled "Troubling News" that the rumors were spread by the Iranian secret service in an attempt to get the media to stop reporting the story. ACLJ said Nadarkhani's lawyer Mohammad Ali Dadkhah called the center Wednesday to say the death sentence hasn't been overturned.

Even if the sentence were commuted, Nadarkhani could still face life in prison. And even if he were released, there would still be danger.

Read it all

  

Another one bites the dust

Actually, as the MSM has reported, we got a twofer.  Anwar Al-Awlaki and Samir Khan were riding in the same car, and since only one vehicle in the convoy was targeted, whoever was riding in that vehicle would be reduced to basic chemical components.  The spin and misleading punditry is beginning to spew forth, making this targeted killing into something other than what it really is.  The most obvious was tonight on ABC nightly news where the reporter, I do not remember MSM reporters names because they are not important to me, during the entire 6 minute story did not mention even once the words jihad, Islam, the Qur'an, it was if the world of Al-Awlaki had nothing to do with anything Islamic, but was just an aberration and had nothing to do with Muhammad, Allah or the Qur'an and sharia.  The viewer had nothing to go on, no way to understand who the enemy is or why they do what they do.

In order to truly see how the MSM distracts and misleads the reader, here are three articles, the first from Salon which, as has been their history seem content to let less than journalistic pride guide their editorial decisions.  Then two others from major MSM sources where less is more when it comes to descriptions that help inform the reader.


From SALON September 30 by Glen Greenwald
The due-process-free assassination of U.S. citizens is now
reality

It was first reported in January of last year that the Obama administration had compiled a hit list of American citizens whom the President had ordered assassinated without any due process, and one of those Americans was Anwar al-Awlaki.  No effort was made to indict him for any crimes (despite a report last October that the Obama administration was "considering" indicting him).  

Despitesubstantial doubt among Yemen experts about whether he even has any operational role in Al Qaeda, no evidence (as opposed to unverified government accusations) was presented of his guilt.  When Awlaki's father sought a court order barring Obama from killing his son, the DOJ argued, among other things, that such decisions were "state secrets" and thus beyond the scrutiny of the courts.  He was simply ordered killed by the President: his judge, jury and executioner.  When Awlaki's inclusion on President Obama's hit list was confirmed, The New York Times notedthat "it is extremely rare, if not unprecedented, for an American to be approved for targeted killing."

After several unsuccessful efforts to assassinate its own citizen, the U.S. succeeded today (and it was the U.S.).  It almost certainly was able to find and kill Awlaki with the help of its long-time close friend President Saleh, who took a little time off from murdering his own citizens to help the U.S. murder its.  The U.S. thus transformed someone who was, at best, a marginal figure into a martyr, and again showed its true face to the world.  The government and media search for The Next bin Laden has undoubtedly already commenced.

What's most striking about this is not that the U.S. Government has seized and exercised exactly the power the Fifth Amendment was designed to bar ("No person shall be deprived of life without due process of law"), and did so in a way that almost certainly violates core First Amendment protections (questions that will now never be decided in a court of law). What's most amazing is that its citizens will not merely refrain from objecting, but will stand and cheer the U.S. Government's new power to assassinate their fellow citizens, far from any battlefield, literally without a shred of due process from the U.S. Government....

Next is this from FOXNews September 30 by Jennifer Griffin & Justin Fishel

Two U.S.-Born Terrorists Killed in CIA-Led Drone Strike

Senior Al Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki and another America-born militant were killed in Yemen early Friday morning by a CIA-led U.S. drone strike, marking the highest-profile takedown of terror leaders since the raid on Usama bin Laden's compound. 

Fox News has learned that two Predator drones hovering above al-Awlaki's convoy fired the Hellfire missiles which killed the terror leader. According to a senior U.S. official, the operation was carried out by Joint Special Operations Command, under the direction of the CIA. A total of four people were killed in the attack. 

President Obama called the strike a major "milestone" in the fight against Al Qaeda and its affiliates. 

"The death of Awlaki is a major blow to Al Qaeda's most active operational affiliate," Obama said Friday. "He took the lead in planning and directing efforts to murder innocent Americans ... and he repeatedly called on individuals in the United States and around the globe to kill innocent men, women and children to advance a murderous agenda." 

He said the strike is "further proof that Al Qaeda and its affiliates will find no safe haven anywhere in the world." 

Al-Awlaki was a U.S.-born Islamic militant cleric who became a prominent figure with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the network's most active branch. He was involved in several terror plots in the United States in recent years, using his fluent English and Internet savvy to draw recruits to carry out attacks. President Obama signed an order in early 2010 making him the first American to be placed on the "kill or capture" list. 

The Yemeni government and Defense Ministry announced al-Awlaki's death, without giving details. But American sources confirmed the CIA and U.S. military were behind the strike on al-Awlaki, whom one official described as a "big fish." 

The strike hit a vehicle with other suspected Al Qaeda members inside, in addition to al-Awlaki. According to a U.S. senior official, the other American militant killed in the strike was Samir Khan, the co-editor of an English-language Al Qaeda web magazine called "Inspire."

Khan, in his 20s, was an American of Pakistani heritage from North Carolina. His magazine promoted attacks against U.S. targets, even running articles on how to put together explosives. In one issue, Khan wrote that he had moved to Yemen and joined Al Qaeda's fighters, pledging to "wage jihad for the rest of our lives."

Even as jihadists use the word jihad to describe themselves, we in the West refuse to use the words our enemies use to describe themselves,  If we are at the point where we will not use the same descriptors as our enemies, which we are, then we are doomed.  Refusing to recognize how an enemy describes and defines themselves serves no purpose except to get us killed faster.

Lastly we have this from ABC September 30 by Mark Schone and Matthew Cole 

American Jihadi Samir Khan Killed With Awlaki

Khan, 25, was the Saudi-born, New York-raised editor behind "Inspire" magazine, the English language online publication of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP. Khan had become a rising figure in jihadist propaganda and an "aspiring" Awlaki, according to U.S. intelligence officials.

A young American who edited al Qaeda's English-language magazine, and had urged Muslims to mount deadly attacks on U.S. targets, was killed in the same CIA drone strike that eliminated Anwar Awlaki in Yemen Friday, U.S. officials said.

"He does appear to be increasingly involved with operational activities [of Al Qaeda]", a U.S. official told ABC News in 2010.But while Awlaki relied on sermons to recruit jihadis, Khan used sarcasm and idiomatic English in an attempt to appeal to Western youth. As Khan himself has said, "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that I [am] Al Qaeda to the core." He titled a rebuke of toppled Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak "A Cold Diss." Khan's ability to use American vernacular, like a graphic depicting graffiti that reads, "Jihad 4 Eva," had prompted concerns that young Muslims with an interest in jihad and al Qaeda would be drawn to a voice similar to their own.

British officials found copies of "Inspire" in the apartments of several suspects arrested and charged in connection to a bomb plot in the U.K. Officials said the suspects were avid followers of both the magazine and Awlaki.

There is more from all three articles, be sure to read them all.

Australian jihad continues

More agitation and misunderstanding of Islam in the land downunder.


From The Age September 29 by Dylan Welch


Man with terror links held after raid

A SYDNEY man with ''demonstrated connections'' to one of the world's most dangerous terrorist preachers has been arrested by Sydney police over allegations he broke into a cash machine.

Milad bin Ahmad-Shah al-Ahmadzai was arrested after three other men were prevented from robbing a cash van at gunpoint in far western Sydney yesterday morning.

Awlaki is of great concern to Western intelligence agencies due to his repeatedly demonstrated ability to radicalise via the internet young Muslim men in Western countries.

Awlaki is seen as such a threat that last year he was placed on a CIA ''catch or kill'' list.

(...)police executed search warrants at Ahmadzai's home and five other locations, seizing a Subaru WRX, a pistol, ammunition, Australian and US currency, a pill press, anabolic steroids, two-way radios, laptop computers, mobile phones and passports.

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Nigeria: less talk, more death from "books, him bad"

Boko Haram will not dialogue(surprise) with the government so it is jihad as usual.  Expect more murders of those "not Muslim enough" and attacks against the institutions of law enforcement and government as well as against those things seen as haram: beer halls, pool halls, innocents gathering in the shade for a game of chance and others deemed infidels.

The Horn of Africa is falling, the rise of Islam and sharia is occurring before our eyes.


From AFP/Google September 28

Nigerian Islamists reject talks with government: spokesman

(AFP) – 1 day ago  

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — A purported spokesman for a Nigerian Islamist sect blamed for scores of attacks, including last month's bombing of UN headquarters, has rejected a proposal to negotiate with the government.

A spokesman for Boko Haram told journalists in a conference call late Tuesday in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, where the sect has carried out most of its attacks, that the group would push ahead with its violent campaign.

"We are not going to enter into any dialogue with the government as the Galtimari committee has recommended," Abul Qaqa said, referring to a panel appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan that this week urged negotiations.

"We do not recognise the Galtimari committee and, as far as we are concerned, its recommendations are of no effect."

He added: "We still maintain our cause of ensuring strict implementation of Islamic law in Nigeria and waging war against infidels."

A man identifying himself by the same name has claimed to speak on behalf of the sect on several occasions, but Boko Haram is believed to have a number of factions and several others have said they are spokesmen as well.

Some two months ago, Jonathan set up a seven-person fact-finding committee headed by ex-diplomat Usman Galtimari to seek ways to end violence in the country's northeast.

It handed in its final report this week that urged the government to negotiate with the extremists provided they renounce violence and surrender their arms.

While most of its attacks have been in the northeast, Boko Haram also claimed responsibility for the UN bombing on August 26 in the capital Abuja that killed at least 23 people.

The Funhouse Mirror

The problem is Muslim immigration and agitation, yet the reflection in the mirror shows it is those who point out the immigration and agitation problem as being the real image.  German authorities are plagued by Islamist agitation, so the natural reaction is to watch those who ask the tough questions and demand the tough answers.

Makes sense, if you are actively working toward your own demise.

From Spiegel September 27

Authorities Debate Surveillance of Islamophobes

Islamophobes in Germany could come under increased surveillance by the country's domestic intelligence agency. There are concerns that the anti-Muslim scene is becoming increasingly dangerous, and some intelligence officials want it to be subject to greater scrutiny, despite stringent German privacy laws.

I guess I better shut up now.

The subject will be discussed at a meeting on Thursday between the president of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Heinz Fromm, and the agency's leaders in the 16 German states. Officials in Bavaria are considering putting right-wing populists under observation as a new form of extremism, while Hamburg has declared it is watching an internet discussion forum similar to anti-Islamic website "Politically Incorrect" (PI).

A spokesman from the North Rhine-Westphalia interior ministry told the FrankfurterRundschau newspaper that PI was not currently under observation by intelligence agents, but that the blog was being read closely and that the opinions and comments published on it were "undemocratic." The xenophobic comments were calculated to "incite young people", the spokesman added.

Most states are reluctant, however, and the federal interior ministry has also not yet committed itself on the matter. In essence, the question is whether the hatred of Muslims is enough to endanger freedom of religion and international understanding -- or whether it is a radical but legitimate expression of opinion by individual authors within the limits of the constitution.

  

Read a banned book today

In the 21st century there are still books seen as too ribald or truthful for eyes such as yours or mine.  The American Library Association (ALA) has not banned the books, they are responding to school districts, parents and regular folks who let them know which books they find offensive and should be banned.  In this day and age the concept of banning books smacks of "Fahrenheit 451" and on the one hand I am glad to see the ALA recommending we read those books which are threatened with, or have been banned.

Two problems I see.  The list of books recommended to be read include the Qur'an, which begs the question, who wants the Qur'an banned, and secondly the ALA does not mention any of the books written by such authors as Robert Spencer, Wafa Sultan, Ibn Warraq, Brigitte Gabriel, Steve Emerson, Walid Phares and others, books which have been attacked and strongly demonized by those who want to silence the critics of Islamic hegemony and jihadist actions.  Why does the ALA support the reading of certain books but not others?  Could it be they are afraid of what some see as the truth, or are they slowly becoming as all dhimmis do, apologists to their new masters for fear of a beating if they do not adhere?

In any case, reading is always a good idea, especially the Qur'an, but other books on the list are always a great read so keep reading everything, don't let the bastards get you down.


From zap2it September 27 by Liz Kelly Nelson

Banned Books Week: Read 'The Hunger Games' or the 'Koran'

Thanks to the vigilance of the American Library Association (ALA), the list of books banned or challenged in 2010-2011 isn't as long as it could be, but it's long enough to keep a person out of books for at least a year. Every year duringBanned Book Week the ALA works to keep books considered controversial, obscene or profane on library shelves and in schools.

In the past year, books in danger of censorship include Suzanne Collins' popular "Hunger Games"series, which was adapted into a screenplay and will arrive in theaters sometime in 2012 to torment parents and others who think it numbs kids to violence. A Virginia school system also tried to ban "The Diary of Anne Frank," when it received a complaint that the book "sexual material and homosexual themes."

The ALA asks that from Sept. 24 - Oct. 1, lovers of literature read a banned book. Below, some titles from the 2010-2011 list to get you started:

"The Hunger Games," Suzanne Collins
"The Diary of Anne Frank," Anne Frank
"Water for Elephants," Sarah Gruen
"Brave New World," Alduous Huxley
"The Koran"
"The Catcher in the Rye," J.D. Salinger
"Push," Sapphire
"Slaughter-house 5," Kurt Vonnegut
"Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India," Joseph Lelveld
"My Mom's Having a Baby," Dori Hillested Butler

Convicted of helping to funnel 150K to Chechen jihadists but Judge makes no connection to "terrorism"

Judge Michael Hogan declared that he believed Pete Seda, our own Oregon jihadist did in fact help to funnel money to Chechen Islamists/jihadists, but that was not enough to find a connection between Islam and "terrorism".

WTF!

So Judge Hogan makes a decision based in nothing more than a feeling that Islam is peaceful and that Pete Seda, aka Pirouz Sedaghaty is not part of a greater plan based in Islamic supremacy and conquest.  I would suggest to Judge Hogan to read the Qur'an and start asking the hard questions about Seda's motivation behind the movement of 150K in support of Islamic hegemony.  I would also recommend to Judge Hogan to look at the numbers compiled at the religionofpeace.com to see how, since 9-11 there have been almost 18,000 attacks world-wide by Islam against both Muslims and non-Muslims, all of them justifying their actions using the Qur'an and hadiths of Muhammad.    

Judge Hogan said that "...he has no doubt the money went to Islamic fighters battling the Russian army in Chechnya, as the prosecution maintained, (but)there's no proof directly linking Pete Seda to terrorism." 


 Ladies and gentlemen, here is a perfect example of the disconnect between reality and political correctness.  Judge Hogan believes that "terrorism" is separate and distinct from Islam and seems not to care to learn the connection.  Without knowing how Islam, through the Qur'an and hadiths of Muhammad, affect and determine a jihadists actions and beliefs, Hogan is blind to the real reasons behind Seda's actions, and the ramifications of how the doctrine of Muhammad affects those who want Islam to dominate.


Another jihadist will soon be released back into the society he has pledged to take down, thanks to Judge Hogan.  We will soon have Pete Seda back in our midst to once again to take up Muhammad's call to "...slay and be slain for Allah..."(9-111).




From The Miami Herald September 27 by Jeff Barnard


Islamic charity leader sentenced to nearly 3 years

EUGENE, Ore. -- The leader of the U.S. branch of a defunct Islamic charity was sentenced Tuesday to nearly three years in prison after being convicted of helping smuggle $150,000 to Saudi Arabia.

U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan said that while he has no doubt the money went to Islamic fighters battling the Russian army in Chechnya, as the prosecution maintained, there's no proof directly linking Pete Seda to terrorism.

For that reason, Hogan said he wouldn't apply the so-called "terrorism enhancement" that could have sent Seda to prison for eight years. Instead, Hogan sentenced Seda to 33 months in prison, ordered him to pay the Internal Revenue Service $80,980 in restitution, and allowed him to remain free for 60 days before reporting.

Seda, also known as Pirouz Sedaghaty, is an Iranian-born U.S. citizen who ran the U.S. chapter of the al-Haramain Islamic Foundation based in Ashland. He worked in Ashland as a tree surgeon and was an outspoken proponent of the peaceful aspects of Islam. He was known for marching in the local July 4 parade with his camel.

Except in Chechnya, apparently.

Seda was convicted last year of tax fraud and conspiracy to defraud the government for helping Saudi Arabian national Soliman Al-Buthe convert a contribution from a doctor in England into traveler's checks, which Al-Buthe took with him on a flight to Saudi Arabia without declaring it to authorities. Prosecutors have been unable to force Al-Buthe to return to the U.S. to face the same charges as Seda.

Acting U.S. Attorney Dwight Holton said federal prosecutors felt they had proven Seda's connection to terrorism, but respected the court's ruling and were satisfied with the sentence.

"Money is the lifeblood of terrorist organizations," Holton said. "We are working very hard to cut off that lifeline. Shutting down al-Haramain internationally and here was an essential part of that."

Read it all

Saudi woman driver has escaped the lash; King Abdullah dismisses punishment

International pressure got her pardoned, but this one time wave of the hand does not a reform make.  Saudi Arabia follows strict sharia law, and this is just a blip o the radar screen.  In the future, there is no reason to believe that the next female driver will also escape scott-free, after this episode dies down there will come another time where sharia law will come into play, and the internantional community may not have the clout when that time comes.


From the BBC September 29

Saudi woman driver's lashing 'overturned by king'

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has overturned a court ruling sentencing a woman to 10 lashes for breaking a ban on female drivers, reports say.

The ruling, although not officially confirmed, was tweeted by a Saudi princess and reported by AP news agency citing an unnamed official.

The woman, named as Shema, was found guilty of driving in Jeddah in July.

The sentence came two days after the king announced women would be allowed to vote for the first time in 2015.

"Thank God, the lashing of Shema is cancelled. Thanks to our beloved king," tweeted Princess Amira al-Taweel, wife of Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.

"I am sure all Saudi women will be so happy."

Two other women are due to appear in court later this year on similar charges, reports say.

In recent months, scores of women have driven vehicles in Saudi cities to put pressure on the monarchy.

'Cause for optimism'

Jedda-based journalist Maha Akeel said the initial court ruling had gone against the general trend, with police stopping few Saudi women drivers.

"It seems the official stand is to ignore those women... and let the public slowly get used to to the idea of women driving before making it official," she told the BBC.

"So far, the reaction has been positive. Most of the people have no problem."

Read it all

Al-Qaeda insulted Iran would claim 9-11 is a "conspiracy"

If this is not the pot calling the kettle black, I do not know what is.  For Al-Qaeda to chide Iran for their stand on 9-11 buggers belief, it is as if Al-Qaeda is insulted that Iran would steal their thunder and claim it was not a jihad attack, but a conspiracy of Zionists, the US government and, of course those pesky Mennonites.

I like to see our enemies squabbling among themselves, it gladdens the heart to know our sworn enemies behave like little schoolkids, arguing over who is more right.


From the BBC Septemebr 28

Al Qaeda chides Iran over 9/11 'conspiracy theories'

The man behind the conspiracy

Inspire, an al-Qaeda-linked online magazine, described Mr Ahmadinejad's controversial speech to the United Nations last week as "ridiculous".

The Iranian leader said he believed the World Trade Center towers could not have been brought down by aircraft.

The article said such a belief "stands in the face of all logic and evidence".

I wonder if they read the Popular Mechanics article on 9-11?

Entitled "Iran and the Conspiracy Theories", the Inspire article said Iran used the theory "as a rallying call for the millions of Muslims around the world who despise America".

Yep.

Iran "is a collaborator with the US when it suits it" nonetheless, the Yemen-based author said.

There have been sharp sectarian tensions between mainly Shia Iran and Sunni Muslim al-Qaeda - although are both fiercely opposed to US influence.

Mr Ahmadinejad's speech last Thursday triggered a walkout from the General Assembly by diplomats from more than 30 countries.

In the Navy...you can sail the seven seas...

My apologies to the Village People, but the idea of Iran sailing off the American coast is as ludicrous as the Village People doing a concert for Young Republicans.  Ian has no large vessels, no logistics in place for a long-term fleet stationed off the US coast and if they even sneezed i  our direction we would blow them out of the water.  This is bluster and sabre-rattling to impress their friends and supporters, but for us here on the mainland, there is nothing in this but sound and fury, signifying nothing.


From Reuters/Yahoo September 27 by Hashem Kalantari

Iran says could deploy navy near U.S. coast: report

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran raised the prospect on Tuesday of sending military ships close to the United States' Atlantic coast, in what would be a major escalation of tensions between the long-standing adversaries.

"Like the arrogant powers that are present near our marine borders, we will also have a powerful presence close to American marine borders," the head of the Navy, Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyarisaid, according to the official IRNA news agency.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the 31st anniversary of the start of the 1980-1988 war with Iraq, Sayyari gave no details of when such a deployment could happen or the number or type of vessels to be used.

The declaration comes just weeks after Turkey said it would host a NATO early warning radar system which will help spot missile threats from outside Europe, including potentially from Iran. The decision has angered Tehran which had enjoyed close relations with Ankara.

And it comes a few months after Iran sent warships through the Suez canal, after the fall of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the first time the Islamic Republic had deployed navy vessels in the Mediterranean.

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Pakistan: 10 year old girl makes simple spelling mistake, now accused of blasphemy and being part of "a conspiracy against Islam"

It is amazing how fast a simple mistake in spelling becomes a major insult to Muslims.  From zero to full hatred in a New York second, this little girl has no idea why she is being treated with such disdain, and her parents are beside themselves trying to figure out why this has become a full-blown Islamic mess.  Although as Christians in a Muslim land I am sure they are aware of the hatred from Pakistanis against non-Muslims and the treatment of churches as well as the local Christian leaders in the past.

We can hope for a good outcome, but hope is not a tactic so a prayer would help more than blind hope.


From ASIANews September 27 by JIbran Khan

Pakistan: ten year old girl accused of blasphemy and sentenced for a spelling mistake


Abbottabad (AsiaNews) - A spelling error has led to an accusation of blasphemy, and serious consequences for a Christian girl of 10 years of age and her family in Abbottabad. Faryal Bhatti, the daughter of a nurse, Sarafeen Bhatti is a student at Colony High School Havelian POF. On September 22, during an examination she misspelled a word in Urdu, putting the full top in the wrong place. Thus the word, referring to the prophet Muhammad, was transformed from "poem of praise" (naat) to "curse (lanaat). The Urdu teacher, Mrs. Fareeda, sternly rebuked Faryal in front of the class and took the matter to the headmaster, even though the child defended herself saying that it was a mistake.

The news of the alleged insult to Muhammad spread through the school, among teachers and the direction accused the girl of blasphemy. The school authorities informed the religious authorities who together with the inhabitants of the colony staged a demonstration, demanding the child be reported to police, expelled from school and her family expelled from the Colony. A mob chanted slogans against Christians, and in Friday sermons religious leaders denounced the episode as "a conspiracy against Islam", which was to be crushed.

In a meeting with teachers and religious leaders the child (in tears) and her mother explained that it was a mistake and apologized. Maulana Syed Ejaz Ali, a religious leader of the Jamia Masjid saw the piece of paper, talked with the child and mother and concluded: "I have no precise idea about the intentions of Faryal, her eyes filled with tears show her innocence, but the error has transformed the word into an insult and this is sufficient reason for a punishment, she should never throughout her entire life, think against Islam. "
To appease the religious the school administration expelled Faryal from school, Islamic clerics lobbied the Colony administration resulting in the mother being fired and forced to leave the residence. Both mother and daughter were transferred to Wah Cantonment by the hospital management. The Masihi Foundation has asked two Islamic clerics in Islamabad to give their opinion on the matter, Maulana Mehfooz Ali Khan and Hussain Ahmed Malik. Maulana said: "It is the innocent mistake of a child. Many Muslim students in the madrasas incorrectly pronounce the Arabic words, changing their meaning, you can not punish a child for an honest mistake, the girl was only 10 years old, she will carry this trauma with her. Faryal Bhatti has been subjected to all of this only because she is Christian, I protest against the decision...


Good news from Islam, these two clerics coming to the defense of the child.  We shall see if they remain in their positions as clerics, as they have now placed themselves on the other side of Islamic doctrine, as defined today by other, recognized Islamic leaders.


Read it all