Cowering In Egypt

Egypt is in the grip of a classic revolution. It begins with chaos and ends in tyranny. This is not to say that Mubarak represented anything other than tyranny. He knew that it was the only way he could keep his country together - that is, to keep it from descending into the even deeper hell of Tehran’s sadistic hordes. In his particular neighborhood, Mubarak knew, he was essentially spitting into the wind. Not much use in pretending that he would not eventually succumb either to death by natural causes or to go down swinging. He held up his end as long as he could.

When the Left decided to join up with the Muslim Brotherhood, he knew it was over. When the West - and, especially, the United States - turned its back on Israel, he knew it was twice finished. He sent his successor son and his family to safety. He himself would stay and fight and, if need be, go down with the ship.

Not much help from Obama who would pepper his stammering response to the chaos with “the people” to the point where it became embarrassing to listen.

In the past, the U.S. could always be counted on to intervene. It was Mubarak’s reward for making peace with Israel. With Obama’s rise to power, the contract became null and void. Mubarak would have to go it alone.

The plague haunting the world remains anti-Semitism. It’s what unites all the players in the Middle East. Once it became apparent that no one would be spared, the faint-hearted veered to the dark side. Israel was declared a pariah nation and even the West would follow suit.

Israel reminds of an Islamic woman who has sinned. Her fate is determined by shariah. They will want to dig a pit for her. And the bloodlust of their god will be satisfied (now that the secularists have also joined in the clamor).

Besides the Israelis, the secularists will also be losers. They confuse secularism with a total ban of religion. They think that this would help them escape the twin burdens of guilt and duty, not realizing that these, in the hands of men, would become even more oppressive and arbitrary. They further delude themselves in that their 'secular humanism' is much different from religion. It is as crude and intolerant as Islam itself. And its high priests are every bit as extreme as the most radical jihadist.

If you want true 'secular humanism', you need only look to India where it is not unusual for an extremely competent high-tech worker to stop at a temple on his way home to circumambulate the idol of his choosing (always keeping it to the right of him) three times before receiving the priest’s blessing and be sent on his way; or, a humble rickshaw driver inviting his priest to bless his brand new vehicle; or the bus driver stopping at a temple to have his upcoming journey blessed… Religion is woven into daily life. No one mocks it. No one feels slighted. No one is cursed, even if they choose to shun ritual.

The Muslim Brotherhood is not like that. They insist on shariah (for everyone). Atheists are not like that. They insist on religious ritual being hid under a bushel. Communists are not like that. They ban any religion, not understanding the concept of ‘giving unto Caesar…’

Islam is not celebrated for being enlightened or tolerant. It is fear that spreads it. It gives off the illusion of power. Who can resist cowering before madmen after the doors of the asylum are thrown wide open and it becomes no longer possible to avoid them?

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/

Horse Trading

Anwar al-Maliki is the modest leader of a fledgling nation that is determined to survive. He does not aim to change the world. As such, he is out shopping for alliances.

Shopping for alliances is somewhat akin to horse trading. You hope to secure the strong horse. Tehran is the strong horse at the moment - not necessarily the good horse, or the kind horse, or the enlightened horse; but the one that can be reasonably expected to get the job done.

Tehran has an impressive resume. Of all the horses in the field, it is currently ahead of the pack. It will soon be able to claim a nuclear arsenal; already appears to have firm control of its political process; and enjoys an ever widening circle of influential friends that reaches to the very doorstep of universally despised America.

Iraq now finds itself in the position of Israel in the early years of its founding. Israel too bought the backing of the strong horse. It has served her well. Surrounded by openly hostile nations, Israel with the support of strong-horse America has been able to keep them all at bay and preserve its territorial integrity.

Things change. America is in decline. America hasn’t successfully prosecuted a serious challenge in some time. In fact, America seems to be locked in a life-and-death struggle with itself.

Neither Iraq or Israel can stand alone. At the moment, there is grave doubt if America will even come to Israel’s aid should the fur begin to fly. There is no question that Tehran is already licking its chops in anticipation of U.S. departure from Iraq. Iraq has to make peace with the strong horse. Iraq will do its bidding and in return it will be allowed to keep its name.

Should Israel fall - as seems more likely each day - regional accolades will accrue to Tehran. Iraq will be allowed to join in the celebration along with Turkey, Brazil among others. Like I said, Malaki has no intentions of changing the world.

When parents are (some would say) burdened with a handicapped child, they continue to love him and try to integrate him into the workings of normal society. Although they might not give him the keys to the car, they may give him a shovel and tell him to dig. Next, they might tell him to fill the hole up again. The child will be busy working and feeling good about himself. And mother might be granted a moment to rest. It’s called ‘make work’ and is commonly used in the army to forge character, strong bodies and discipline. The work itself is quite useless and adds little to the overall scheme of things.

This the is the level to which the office of the president has fallen in our nation. We obviously do not consider the job important enough to seriously consider background and qualifications. Maliki, on the other hand, is skilled. He has (as JB points out) the trappings of a statesman and an instinct for survival. He is doing what he thinks is best for his country at the moment. No doubt, as conditions change, he will change his stripes - again.

http://pkoelliker.blogspot.com/

First Things

Again, we are ignoring first things. When the Cheoan was attacked by North Korea, our response was to delay, allow enough time for the people to forget about it and then issue a statement to the effect that we’ll really get mad if it happens again. Nobody doubts that both Beijing and Tehran are wise to the game. Apparently, it is totally acceptable for any axis of evil nation to keep poking a stick in our eye. But it doesn’t stop there.

The saying goes, that shit rolls downhill. So let’s take a look at who lives down hill. It’s we and our allies. Don’t feel sorry for Obama. He is not one of us. He’s made that abundantly clear. It’s no skin off his nose when shit happens. Look at what’s happening with these pat downs. Some malcontent puts explosives in his pants and a year later 300 million Americans run the risk of being sexually manhandled by the State. “It’s for our safety,” we’re being told. The American people are no longer buying it. There’s a rumor going ‘round that the enhanced pat-down procedures are deliberately aggressive to get people to opt for massive doses of x-rays instead. Let somebody follow the money: Who has bought stock recently in the company that is producing these machines? There’s the added benefit, of course, to get the American public used to rolling over as our police state gains momentum. (Update: George Soros recently sold his shares in OSI-Systems, owner of Rapiscan. So, I guess, the scheme has gone about as far as it will go.) What everyone is ignoring here is that Janet Napolitano was unable to answer the question of whether Muslim women in burkas would be required to submit to the new procedures. First things.

Our president feels it is quite alright to bully Israel into indefensible positions, demanding all manner of concessions, while ignoring the fact that the Arab world will never recognize Israel’s right to exist as a state. When Obama speaks of a two-state solution, he speaks of a two Arab state solution. First things.

Our health care system is in disarray. Doctors are fleeing the profession. Premiums are becoming prohibitively expensive. Companies can no longer cope with employees’ health care insurance needs. Everything we were told about the bill was a lie (as anyone with even an ounce of sense could have figured out for themselves). So, why did it pass?

We’re never told first things.

Moscow Subway Bombing

Looks like a classic example of the dog turning on its master. (Note: I make no qualitative distinction between dog and master.) From these (cyber) pages we have learned that Russia encourages Tehran; that Tehran encourages terrorists. Will Russia now cooperate with America to defeat terrorism?

Answer: No. Putin does not see America as a credible partner in any serious area of endeavor. Putin has looked into Obama's eyes and saw nothing useful there - only immense pride and unearned arrogance. Putin will handle this on his own. He will be utterly ruthless. He can be expected to take full advantage of the crisis. He will make heads roll publicly to distract from his own failings.

Americans watching from the sidelines will not feel encouraged. They will despair at what they see as their own president's efforts to counter terrorism. FBI raids of Christian militia groups will fail to allay fears.

Since passage of the health care bill, there has been much talk in the media about right-wing violence. The NYT – party organ of our current administration - has suggested that the tsunami of public disapproval of the bill has nothing to do with the bill itself; that instead, it has become an excuse by white males to attack a sitting black president. We are now to believe that any criticism of Obama’s policies is the result of racism. This is a dangerous tact this administration is taking.

Obama was elected primarily to vanquish white guilt. It appears to have backfired. Obama’s election is about to give race baiters a field day. I propose we shut down all conservative websites, and silence conservative talk radio. Why, when disagreement alone is deemed sedition, hand them more nails with which to crucify us?