Dismissing Real Piracy

Pirates of bygone eras are often viewed as lovable, fun-loving rogues like the party-goers in the above picture.  In fact, such "pirates" make a regular appearance during Puget Sound's SeaFair Festival:

http://www.seafairpirates.org/

Unfortunately, the reality of piracty--then and now--is much different, as pictured below.

A Virginia judge threw out the case against 6 Somali pirates accused of attacking a US warship.  His justification? 

The judge, in an unprecedented decision, held that attempted piracy is not itself part of the international law definition of piracy.

The Maritime Executive has the full story:

http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/disaster-courts-disaster-piracy-infested-waters/

What these "lovable rogues" deserve is this:

Ground Zero Mosque Protest Gaining Momentum

The Ground Zero Mosque protest is gaining momentum.  Depending on what poll you read, one thing is clear--over 60% disagree with the idea of a mosque being built near Ground Zero.  However, our "Imam in Chief" Obama, along with "Princess Pelosi," who wants to investigate the anti-Mosquers, are trying to frame the argument as one of religious intolerance.  Just like the woman pictured above.

Not only that, but the Islamist apologists, (and possibly enablers), like Daisy Khan, are trying to brand Americans as Islamophobic. 

From Jihad Watch:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/08/wow-daisy-khan-calls-opposition-to-ground-zero-mosque-metastasized-antisemitism.html

Islamists know us better than we know ourselves.  And one of the worst things one can be called in America is "racist" or "intolerant."  Of course, the demand of tolerance with islamists is a one-way street, as this gentleman points out:

What most liberals fail to realize is the militant nature of Islam and the conscious decision-making process on where mosques are built.  The individual pictured below, clearly understands this:

Pat Condell; writer, comedian and internet personality in the UK, rolls-in on the debate in his typical scathing style:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/06/pat-condell-on-ground-zero-mosque-is-it-possible-to-be-astonished-but-not-surprised.html

We're Outta Here!

Well, sort of.

The last combat unit, the 4th Brigade Stryker Combat Team of 2nd Infantry Division, left Iraq yesterday.

The Washington Post has the story:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/18/AR2010081805644.html?wpisrc=nl_headline

Along with a similar story from DC Caller:

http://dailycaller.com/2010/08/18/last-us-combat-brigade-leaves-iraq-through-kuwait/

Meanwhile, the Seattle Times covers the story's local angle:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012664581_apwa4thstrykerbrigade.html 

Despite this good news, US support troops will still maintain a presence in Iraq for the foreseeable future.

Pelosi Comes Down on...

...opponents of the Ground Zero Mosque.

Silencing the opposition is a favorite tactic of the left.  So Pelosi is calling for an investigation of the funding for those protesting against the Cordoba House.

From Jihad Watch:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/08/pelosi-wants-investigation-of-ground-zero-mega-mosque-opponents.html

From the Daily News:

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2010/08/18/2010-08-18_nancy_pelosi_house_speaker_wants_investigation_into_ground_zero_mosque_oppositio.html

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the significance of the Islamic center's name.  Cordoba, was captured by a Muslim army in 711 A.D. and became the center of the Caliphate of Cordoba in 766 A.D., ruling over most of Spain, until recaptured in 1236 during the Spanish Reconquista.

Wikipedia's thumbnail history of Cordoba:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%B3rdoba,_Spain

I'm certain the mosque's name will not be lost on our Islamist enemies.

Meanwhile, Victor Davis Hanson puts this issue into wider persective.  From his Works and Days:

http://pajamasmedia.com/victordavishanson/

Obama's Visit to Seattle--a "Sonic" Sensation

A float plane strayed into the 10-mile restricted airspace established around Seattle during President Obama's visit yesterday.  Responding to this infraction, two F-15s from the Oregon Air National Guard broke the sound barrier in order to intercept the intruder.  Their sonic booms were heard throughout the Puget Sound region.

The Seattle Times has the story:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012647005_sonicbooms18m.html

I was home, eating lunch at the time.  The sonic booms scarred on of my dogs so bad, he ran off--and we're still looking for him.

Don't Even Think About Her

One grievance monger wants to put the kabosh on men discussing the appearance of their women coworkers--even when they're not present.  Jenn Q Public, of News Real Blog, rolls-in on this Thought Police rookie:

http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/08/14/the-new-workplace-sexism-thinking-chicks-are-hot/

Our Imam in Chief has Spoken...

...he's cool with a mosque being built by Ground Zero, formerly the World Trade Center:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/13/AR2010081304357.html?wpisrc=nl_headline

David Swindle of News Real, didn't pull any punches like the luke-warm Washington Post (WaPo) article did:

http://www.newsrealblog.com/2010/08/13/barack-obama-the-sharia-law-president-endorses-the-911-mosque/

I like David's damning conclusion:

...years from now historians will point to this night as the turning point in Barack Obama’s presidency. It is on this arrogant, brazen position that he has conclusively sacrificed any hope of a second term.

This "nail in the political coffin" does make the 2008 cover of the New Yorker, pictured above, look prophetic.

Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch, rolled-in with several articles over the past couple of days:

http://www.jihadwatch.org/

Obama "...says it is all about religious freedom. Actually, it isn't about religious freedom at all. It's about whether a triumphal mosque should be built at Ground Zero."

Debbie Schlussel pointed this out in the opening paragraph of her latest article Bronx Prez to USA: No Mosque and State Seperation:

I’ve said it repeatedly over the years, and I’ll say it again. There is no separation between mosque and state, only between church and state and synagogue and state. To me, that’s of far more concern than a mosque near Ground Zero.

Sacred Grounds

In today's Washington Post (WaPo), Charles Krauthammer hits it out of the park on why building a mosque at Ground Zero is a bad idea:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/12/AR2010081204996.html?wpisrc=nl_pmopinions

Throughout the article, he mentions other memorial sites that are specifically reserved to honor people and events, like the USS Arizona Memorial, pictured above.  Since historical sites like, the Arizona are considered sacred, then area of the former World Trade Center, where nearly 2,605 men, women and even children perished, needs to be sanctified.

The 9/11 casualty break-down according to Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_September_11_attacks

Tigers by the Tail?

A ship containing hundreds of refugees from Sri Lanka was boarded today by the Canadian Navy.  The concern is that some of folks on board may be members of the Tamil Tigers--a Sri Lankan terrorist organization.

From FOX News:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/12/canadian-navy-boards-refugee-ship-said-carrying-tamil-tigers-members/?test=latestnews

Earlier today, we were concerned that if the Canadians refused to let the MV Sun Sea dock, it may have headed to Seattle.  (The ship is pictured above when it was called the Harin Panich).

Potential Neighbors for the GZ Mosque

The debate over the proposed "Ground Zero" Mosque continues unabated.  Two days ago, it was announced that the imam behind the project, Feisal Abdul Rauf, will be traveling to the Middle East--sponsored and paid for by the US State Department.

From FOX News:

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/08/10/state-department-sending-ground-zero-mosque-imam-discuss-religious-tolerance/

In retaliation, Greg Gutfeld of FOX's Red Eye, came up with a brilliant idea--open a gay bar next to the mosque:

http://www.dailygut.com/?i=4696

Of course the purpose of this would be to foster diversity and acceptance...

The friend who sent us this link had these opening comments:

In the spirit or freedom, blah, blah, blah, this guy wants to open a gay bar next door to the Ground Zero mosque. My partner here at work suggested a dog groomers across the street, too. Any other suggestions?

The deluge of suggestions, which "just happened" to be antithetical to Muslim sensitivities were:
 
Bacon shop?
Bible book store?
Lingerie store? (wait, that would be acceptable)

One of those Virginia ham places would be cool.

It definitely needs to be a strip club where the nude chicks sell liquor and bacon sandwiches.

A row of those massage chairs across the street so everyone can put their feet up with the soles of their shoes facing the front of the mosque. Cup holders for adult beverages and trays to set their BLTs and ham sandwiches would be sweet additions.

If a dog training place doesn't work, a pet store specializing in dogs would be cool as well.

Nobody mentioned a porno shop. Couldn't specialize though. How about a YMCA, with hotel? Kill two birds with one stone. Might satisfy the muslims, and wouldn't offend regular folks, who wouldn't get the connection.

I like all of these ideas - Gay Bar, Dog Grooming, Strip Club, Virginia Ham Shop. Throw in a microbrewery and it sounds like a party...

Government Motors Rollin' Out the "Voltswagen"

Jonah Goldberg of NRO, rolls-in on GM's ("Government Motors") vanity car, the Chevy Volt:

http://article.nationalreview.com/438984/low-volt-age/jonah-goldberg

As for me, I'm not all charged up over this car.

It's About Sharia Stupid!

According to Andrew McCarthy, the Republicans, and Newt Gingrich in particular, are ready to blast their opponents in the 2012 Election with this simple question: 

Where do you stand on sharia?

http://article.nationalreview.com/438932/its-about-sharia/andrew-c-mccarthy

In fact, he's written a book on the subject of sharia law vs the US:

http://www.amazon.com/Grand-Jihad-Islam-Sabotage-America/dp/1594033773/ref=s

Most of us like-minded folks see "creeping sharia" as a threat to our freedoms and way of life.  Unfortunately, enough liberals are so infected with political correctness that they end up enabling the rise of sharia within western civilization.

And no symbol of sharia is more obvious than the burqa.  Unfortunately, a real burqa, niqab, hijab, or any other muslim woman's apparel, is nowhere near as sexy as pictured above.  Nor as stylish as depicted in this commercial: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM3R6_1Ayoo 

Comrade Karla sent us an article regarding the burqa ban gaining ground in some European countries, along with the following comment:  Disturbing read, especially when noting the source of some of the quotations.

http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=MzYwZWRjYTJhZGM0YTY4NzJmOTgwMDNiZmI0ZTdjNTE

Another friend chimed in:

We have every right, indeed an obligation, to ensure that our more enlightened conception of women and their proper role in society prevails in any cultural conflict, particularly one on Western soil.

Well said...

Reconsidering the 14th Amendment

(Image from The Esbiem Photorium, copied from Debbie Schlussel's blog post on 15 Apr 09)

Because of the growing immigration crisis, Republicans are talking about revising the 14th Amendment, which states:  "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State wherein they reside."

NPR has the story:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129007120

Comrade Karla sent us the link with a detailed synopsis of the 14th Amendment and subsequent legal rulings, with the following comments:

There have been some lame-brain attempts to misuse the 14th Amendment of late re: illegal immigrants. The link below is very useful in clearing up some misconceptions. More anti-PC ammo.

http://www.14thamendment.us/birthright_citizenship/original_intent.html

The graph below was also copied from Debbie Schlussel's blog post on 15 Apr 09:

One of our friends responded with this observation:

Let's see how this works:

1. Person in this country illegally, pops out a kid here on America soil two days after crossing the border, kid is automatically an American citizen.

2. American parents (citizens by birth) legally adopt an infant from a foreign country. A process which includes filling out a stack of papers several hundred feet high and going through a background check more intrusive than getting a TS clearance. Upon bringing said child to the states, another painful bureaucratic process is necessary to gain citizenship for the little tyke.

Makes sense to me...