Stupid, stupid, stupid

Has Italy not learned from Spain? It is retreating in the face of terror. Stick with the winning side, Bozo! It's too bad that the Pope who is enjoying an increase in political clout in Italy isn't supporting the war in Iraq. I hope he'll see the light soon. Interesting turning point is happening in Europe. Some good, some bad. This is one of the bad ones.

America IS winning in these absurd Kyoto Protocol dialogues

And the US will win again when Russia takes over the G8 presidency next year. All these clowns want to see is if the US would take the plunge before they'll act. They're only pressuring the US as a typical rah-rah bandwagon jumping rhetoric. Certainly, China, Mexico, Brazil, and India would not be able to survive the economic impact if they were to buy into the Kyoto Protocol. They don't have the slightest chance. So, all they can say is, "Yeah, you first." Good thing it isn't Pres. Clinton who is being pressured right now or else we'd be utterly screwed. Bush will not succumb to this half-baked strategy. He's too smart to know that it won't work and there are other ways that are more viable. We shall win again next year when Putin is putting on his rah-rah facade.

Mr. Putin, let's see you go first. We promise to follow if your half-baked Kyoto Protocol propaganda is making any significant environmental change and isn't killing your economy.

"Who Started the Supreme Court Circus?"

Yet more liberal political and MSM bias. The terms dirty rotten scoundrels and sore losers come to mind.

From Mark Steyn of SteynOnline...

... on the possible response of yesterday's terror attacks in London.

"The choice for the British people today is whether to be the Spaniards post-Madrid or the Australians post-Bali. Anyone who knows Britain knows the citizenry don't incline naturally to appeasement, but anyone who knows their political elites knows the same cannot be said quite so clearly for their governing class."

Let's hope the Brits will take the hardline approach of engaging the terrorists in war.

Excerpted From Hugh Hewitt's blog

By Tom Clarkson
Gulf Region Division
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

It is one of the nicest gestures I have ever observed. My Iraqi friends indicate that it has no name. But it is the traditional, Arabic, slight bow, accompanied by the hand being placed over the center of one’s chest, when greeting a friend. It, generally, is reserved for those one cares for and wishes to show themselves as “humbly appreciative for the honor of their familiarity.” It’s a greeting well worthy of consideration by others.

A peaceful, soft voiced and extremely intelligent Iraqi gentleman, with whom I have had the honor to become acquainted, recently shared several insightful thoughts with me. At the core of his comments was the Arabic saying, “People of Mecca know its mountains better than the others.” What that means, he explained, is that each of us knows what is best for ourselves significantly better than do others, no matter how well intentioned they may be. This is wise counsel – for people and countries alike.

When asked the nature of the insurgents and how they should best be handled, this same individual thought for some time and said, “Iraqis do not understand why those who are caught in murderous acts of insurgency and killing innocent civilians, are not being dealt with immediately and decisively. Such is the Islamic way. Allowing them, all too often, to escape justice or to get off lightly, though they have killed many, only emboldens them and makes a mockery of the legal process.” It seems that the Old Testament “eye for an eye” closely parallels Islamic thought regarding basic, simple justice.

Now based on forty-five days of observation here, I feel the necessity to assert some personal beliefs/concerns, as follows:

How easy it is for those comfortably ensconced in the security of their air conditioned living rooms, with TV controls upon their laps and a laugh track sit-com blaring before them, to haughtily proclaim, “Let the Iraqis do it for themselves. It’s their problem not ours.” If those who enjoy the fruits of freedom are not ready to help those who seek it, then who?

The many Iraqis who bravely are standing up for their beliefs face uncertainties unimagined by those snack munching, video playing multitudes back home who are several generations removed from our country’s own struggles to attain democracy.

Too often, too many of us give cursory indication of appreciation to phrases such as that one poignantly etched upon the Korean Monument on the Mall in Washington, D.C., “Freedom is not Free.” Here in Iraq, one is daily reminded, that this is much more than mere words.

“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing which for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his person safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.” John Stuart Mill, 1806-1873

"McDermott makes list of author's 100 worst Americans"

Read the article first.

Aah, but I think he does know why. It is because Seattle is full of loons who are sick enough to elect McDermott to office. Of course, from McDermott's perspective, it is his genius and foresight that created the Starbucks empire in Seattle.

"Judges: The Law Is the Law"

An LA Times Op-Ed piece.