By Andrew L. Jaffee

The “top” Australian Muslim cleric is now attempting to sanitize his blatant incitement to violence against women using the usual “taken out of context” excuse. Thankfully, Australian leaders aren’t buying it:

Australia’s most senior Muslim cleric has prompted an uproar by saying that some women are attracting sexual assault by the way they dress.

Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali said women who did not wear a hijab (head dress) were like “uncovered meat”.

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By Zachary Abuza*

In four years since the devastating bombs that killed 202 people on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, police and security forces in the region, with the support of Australian and American counterparts, have hurt Jemaah Islamiyah’s capabilities. Roughly 400 members have been arrested. Last November, Dr. Azahari bin Husin, the group’s top bomb-maker was killed and police netted some 33 bombs in various states of production, much of JI’s available cache. JI is seeking to rebuild its ranks. Azahari’s cookbooks were written in an easy to understand manner and he had trained his own protégés. Likewise they have been trying to stockpile explosives. Two weeks ago a female courier was caught with 8-9 kilos of mining-grade plastic explosives. JI is down but not out.

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by Alastair Gordon
National Post*
Thursday, September 21, 2006
*Cross-posted with permission

When Stephen Harper addresses the UN today, Alastair Gordon hopes his remarks might sound something like this…

Ladies and gentlemen, it is a pleasure to be here today. Where to start? Let’s go to the Far East and work our way round the globe.

- Taiwan is a peaceful, self-made democracy with the world’s 17th largest economy. Yet it has consistently been denied entry to the UN. Meanwhile, Iran, a wretched theocracy threatening the world with nuclear Armageddon, is a member not only of the UN General Assembly, but also of the Human Rights Council. Canada will now support Taiwan’s full participation in the UN and its agencies. I am also taking this opportunity to announce Canada’s withdrawal from the “One China” policy embraced by my predecessor.

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By Andrew L. Jaffee

When the cat’s away, the mice play? Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was in New York when rebels ousted him from power. Er, ah, at least they’re polite rebels. From the AP:

“The armed forces commander and the national police commander have successfully taken over Bangkok and the surrounding area in order to maintain peace and order. There has been no struggle,” the announcement said. “We ask for the cooperation of the public and ask your pardon for the inconvenience.”

Were they playing elevator music during this public service announcement?

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