By Andrew L. Jaffee

10 lashes… for a good couf, using hair gel, and wearing a nice necktie? Talk about alienating a nation’s youth: Iran’s Il Duce Ahmadinejad banned Western music in December 2005; his thought police started shutting down Internet bloggers; the storm-troopers banned access to the BBC’s website; etc. Now, very significantly, the mullahs are going after barbers who dare to create hair styles which could be considered un-Islamic (whatever that is).

From Gulfnews:

(more…)

By Andrew L. Jaffee

Please forget about politics for a few minutes, and take a look at the wonder which is springtime: From a walk with two dear friends yesterday: wildflowers, a snake, a swallowtail butterfly, verdant hillsides, ancient trees, a babbling brook, some strange, other-worldly plant… Click on any of the thumbnail images below to enlarge. I know the thumbnails are a little hard to see, but click and you’ll be surprised:

(more…)

By Andrew L. Jaffee

Congress could regulate violence on cable, satellite and broadcast television without violating the First Amendment, the Federal Communications Commission said in a report released Wednesday. …

A correlation exists between bloodshed on television and violence in real life, the commission said.

- WHIO TV

While I’m not sanguine with censorship, Hollywood has shown no inclination to limit the amount of perversion it pumps out. The FCC report cited above “has alarmed executives in the broadcast and cable industries as well as the American Civil Liberties Union.” It has alarmed broadcast executives because they’re afraid they might make a few less million dollars; the ACLU doesn’t know what morality means. Are Americans concerned about Hollywood’s ultra-violence? Yes. Are U.S. citizens willing to do anything about it? Maybe. Are Americans sitting back and passively internalizing all the violence? Probably.

(more…)

By Andrew L. Jaffee

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, leader of the Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkinma Partisi, AKP), has been steadily moving Turkey away from its secular roots, planted by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and towards Islamist “ideals.” Thankfully, not all Turks are buying it:

Hundreds of thousands of people have rallied in Istanbul in support of secularism in Turkey, amid a row over a vote for the country’s next president. …

[AFP reports: “More than a million Turks rallied here Sunday in support of secular democracy”]

“Turkey is secular and will remain secular,” shouted demonstrators from all over the country as they waved flags and pictures of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic.

“We want neither Sharia, nor a coup, but a fully democratic Turkey,” they added.

Many sang nationalist songs and called for the government’s resignation.

Our correspondent describes the rally as an enormous show of force. More than 300,000 people attended a similar event two weeks ago. …

(more…)

By Andrew L. Jaffee

Foolishly, but not surprisingly, the UN Commission on the Status of Women singled out Israel as the only country “found in violation of women’s rights” — while Arab/Muslim women are being whipped, murdered in honor killings, and beaten up for holding peaceful demonstrations. Israel’s Knesset (parliament) is democratically debating whether females, who already serve on the frontlines of defending the Jewish state, should be allowed to serve in “tank and infantry formations.” You go, (girls):

…But things have changed, and now an army-appointed commission of academics and officers is studying whether to integrate the army’s last all-male preserve: infantry, armor and special forces.

Commission member Naomi Chazan, a prominent feminist and a former lawmaker, says the focus will be on “increasing the equality” of women in uniform _ and that means admitting them to tank and infantry formations. …

(more…)

By Andrew L. Jaffee

Perhaps Don Imus’ nasty racial slur (”nappy-headed hos”), and the ensuing controversy, has had some positive affects, as we’ve found that it wasn’t only “right-wing” Republicans who denigrate African-Americans. The fact was emphasized that African-Americans and PC politicians were denigrating African-Americans. Immediately after Imus blew a cork, the great demagogues, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, went for Imus’ jugular. But Sharpton and Jackson’s double standard was rightfully pounced on by the blogsphere, and even by some newspapers and TV shows. These two charlatans happily tolerate — probably profit from — the disgusting, misogynistic, and violent lyrics in rap music. In stepped people like Jason Whitlock, whom I’ve already written about, and now Russell Simmons, “the pioneering entrepreneur who made millions of dollars as he helped shape hip-hop culture:”

Expressing concern about the “growing public outrage” over the use of such words in rap lyrics, Simmons said the words “bitch,” “ho” and “nigger” should be considered “extreme curse words.”

Here’s some background:

(more…)

by Chas Newkey Burden, Aish.com

The British public’s perception of journalists has sunk so low that when I am asked in social situations what my job is, I am sometimes tempted to pretend I am part of a more respected profession — like drug trafficking. I exaggerate, of course, but only a little. Most people view journalists as immoral liars who would sell our own grandmothers for a front-page scoop. I am an altogether softer writer, so when members of my profession publish sensationalist or intrusive stories, I don’t sit and flog myself on their behalf.

(more…)

By Andrew L. Jaffee

Saudi Arabia said Friday that it had arrested 172 suspected terrorists over the past several months from a network that was planning suicide attacks — including the use of airplanes — on the kingdom’s oil industry, military installations and other targets.

- Washington Post

Well… good for the Saudis, almost. They’ve suffered from many terrorist attacks, but they’ve created the culture of Islamist terrorism. Can’t have it both ways — and here’s a reminder why:

(more…)

by Efraim Inbar*

Israel’s leadership was ill-prepared for the summer 2006 war against Hezbollah. Israeli politicians and planners displayed strategic blindness. While denying the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) victory, they squandered an opportunity to destroy the bulk of Hezbollah’s military presence in southern Lebanon, settle regional scores, enhance Israel’s deterrence, and strengthen Jerusalem’s alliance with Washington.

(more…)

By Andrew L. Jaffee

I have written many times about Soviet/Russian war crimes, but the mainstream media has generally maintained silent — with a few exceptions. Regarding Estonia’s correct and morally sound decision to dismantle a symbol of Russian conquest and occupation of their homeland, the BBC weighed in:

…But the Estonians believe much of the tension is being whipped up by forces outside the country, i.e. Russia itself.

During the years of Soviet occupation after World War II, tens of thousands of Estonians were killed. And they say their country was effectively colonised with many Russians being brought in as workers and military personnel. …

(more…)

By Andrew L. Jaffee

Guaranteed to shock even the tamest of Islamists:

A Nigerian lesbian who “married” four women last weekend in Kano State has gone into hiding from the Islamic police, with her partners.

Under Sharia law, adopted in the state seven years ago, homosexuality and same-sex marriages are outlawed and considered very serious offences.

The theatre where the elaborate wedding celebration was held on Sunday has been demolished by Kano city’s authorities.

Lesbianism is also illegal under Nigeria’s national penal code.

Nigeria’s parliament is considering tightening its laws on homosexuality. …

(more…)

By Andrew L. Jaffee

Christopher Hitchens points out that the Barbary Pirates of yore — from the “Maghrebian provinces of the Ottoman Empire that conform to today’s Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia” — were not so different from today’s Islamo-fascists. In a historical essay touching on Jeffersonian philosophy and that of our other Founders, Hitchens concludes “that many Americans saw a radical incompatibility between the Barbary system and their own,” and that it is “pleasant when the interests of free trade and human emancipation can coincide.” So here it is, 2007, yet the Islamists are still stuck in the 18^th — or is that the 7^th — century? Jefferson wasn’t stuck anywhere. Read on:

(more…)

By Bill Levinson

It is far from surprising that the National Jewish Democratic Council has not responded to our E-mail asking it to condemn the appearance of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Chris Dodd, Joe Biden, and Bill Richardson at Al Sharpton’s anti-Semitic and racist hate organization, the National Action Network. The NJDC has painted itself into a corner or, to use another expression, “it has us exactly where we want them.” This article will show why the NJDC has rendered itself worse than irrelevent to the 2008 elections; it has actually become a Republican asset.

(more…)

By Andrew L. Jaffee

The Estonian authorities have removed a contentious Red Army war memorial in the capital, Tallinn, despite overnight protests that left one person dead.

- BBC, 4/27/07

To this, “A [Russian] foreign ministry spokesman described the decision as ‘blasphemous and inhumane’.” The Russian government is talking like it had the “right” to annex Estonia in 1940, but Estonians haven’t forgotten what their former Russian tormentors (occupiers) did to them for 50 years. How would you like to see a Nazi “war memorial” erected in your hometown, say in Tel Aviv or Chicago? Nazi or Soviet — it’s all the same.

Yes, Stalin “helped” to defeat Hitler, but by allying ourselves with the Soviet Union in WWII, we supported a monstrous state, the Russian Empire, in killing as many or more people than the Nazis did (Stalin killed about 20 million):

(more…)

By Tom Drewing

I was sitting here, reading my favorite pundits and the phone rang. The caller ID thingy said, “Unknown caller”. Usually this means someone wants some money from me to support whatever *cause*. I answered anyway because sometimes I just do. Heck…sometimes I even donate some money. This one was no different. It was the RNC. They had a quick one question “poll” which as usual, is designed to prime you for donating. Usually I find this kind of Sales 101 stuff kind of funny. I mean, c’mon. Am I really dumb enough to believe they want my opinion? That they are busily gathering all of our opinions to craft some sort of previously un-thought-of solution to our national woes? Or are they just stamping on my toe, before asking if I wanna buy a Band-Aid?

(more…)