…is taken to school by Jamie Glazov, who by far has the best of the argument.

D’Souza comes off, to me as either extremely naive, or disingenuous, or both.

…is taken to school by Jamie Glazov, who by far has the best of the argument.

D’Souza comes off, to me as either extremely naive, or disingenuous, or both.

That’s largely not being covered by the press.

The Saudis are even, secretly, cooperating with the Israelis. Iran has always been seen as a greater danger to Israel than the surrounding Sunni Arab nations. Hizbollah, which is a Lebanese Shia organization, made a name for itself during its disastrous attack on Israel last Summer. Although Hizbollah lost by every measure, they won in the arena of public opinion. Both the Israelis and Saudi Arabs (and Sunni Arabs in general) hated that.

The Afghan people seem to be getting tired of the Taliban:

Another annoyance was the large number of the Taliban fighters who were from far away, mainly Pakistan. Al Qaeda also sent in some Arabs and Central Asians, and these guys were not very popular either. By the end of 2006, the Taliban tactics has terrorized many Afghans into compliance. But many others were actively resisting the Taliban, and providing information to NATO and Afghan troops. Over the Winter, the Taliban have continued to take a beating. This means the Taliban appear ready to enter this years Spring Offensive tagged as a bunch of vicious losers. The Taliban tactics have been more successful in generating fear, than recruits. Even across the border in Pakistan, it’s getting difficult to get smart young fellows to sign up. Those guys with half a brain noted that most of those who went off to fight last year, either didn’t come back, or came back wounded or ill.

…may have started. Michael Totten is lucky (or unlucky) enough to be on the scene in burning Beirut. Palestinians are involved as well.

…may have started. Michael Totten is lucky (or unlucky) enough to be on the scene in burning Beirut. Palestinians are involved as well.

…may have started. Michael Totten is lucky (or unlucky) enough to be on the scene in burning Beirut. Palestinians are involved as well.

The LA Times is reporting good news in Iraq.

his month, Fatikhan was host of the first Ramadi reconstruction conference, held behind the high walls of his family compound. Contractors, sheiks and others met with U.S. officials to discuss projects to pave roads, rebuild schools and improve electrical, sewer, phone and water systems.

Fatikhan, who wears tailored suits when not in traditional clothing, understands U.S. politics. He told a visiting journalist, “Please take a message to the Democrats: Let the American forces stay until we can hold Iraq together. Then we will have a party when American forces go.”

Outside Fatikhan’s meeting room, other sheiks, some much older, waited to talk to him. So did Iraqi police officials. The sheik’s bodyguards were nearby.

He offered his American and British visitors sweet tea and insisted that they stay for a lunch of goat, rice and sauces.

“The terrorists are not here for the interests of Iraq,” Fatikhan said. “We don’t need them here to say they’re here to defend us. If Iraq was in danger, the real people of Iraq would stand up and defend Iraq.”

He referred to the U.S. and Britain as “the two great nations.”

What’s wrong with them? Don’t they know it’s a hopeless quagmire? And on the day of the State of the Union speech, too.

Between the Arabs and the Persians.

I do think that the current oil prices reflect the use of Saudi Arabia’s “oil weapon,” except instead of wielding it by forcing prices up (OPEC no longer has the clout to do that unilaterally) they’re forcing them down and starving Iran (not to mention Venezuela) of oil revenues. In fact, I’d be surprised if this wasn’t one of the things that Secretary Rice discussed with them a few weeks ago.

Everyone else has been linking to this piece, so I might as well, too. This holocaust will be different. But we continue to sleepwalk toward it.