Attack on Jewish Community Center in Seattle.

Yes the shooter was a member of the "Religion of Peace" - Islam. (Excellent Coverage at Little Green Footballs:
Six Shot, one killed at Seattle Jewish Federation

Six women were shot - one fatally - this afternoon at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle by a man who told a witness he was upset about "what was going on in Israel....When asked at a news conference if that meant the alleged shooter was Muslim, Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske said: "You could infer that."...Marla Meislin-Dietrich, a database coordinator for the center, told The Associated Press. "He said 'I am a Muslim American, angry at Israel,' before opening fire on everyone," Meislin-Dietrich said. "He was randomly shooting at everyone.""

it turns out that the suspect is a Pakistani man with a criminal background. He is from the Tri-Cities but his citizenship is unknown.

How long before the local Muslim community half-heartedly "condems" the attack and then loudly worries about a backlash against Muslims?

Oh, they already did.

In a statement, the Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said:

“We condemn this senseless attack on a religious institution and offer sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed or injured. The American Muslim and Jewish communities must do whatever is within their power to prevent the current conflict in the Middle East from being transplanted to this country. We also urge local, state and national law enforcement authorities to step up security measures at synagogues, mosques and other religious institutions of both faiths.”

And the police of course buy into it:

Kerlikowske said police officers throughout the city were being asked to step up patrols of synagogues and mosques.
"We are protecting mosques because there is always concern about retaliatory activity," he said.

Yeah right, how many retailiatory attacks have we seen on mosques by Jews? Exactly...none.

This attack technique puts the western democracies in a very bad tactical situation - lots of Muslims within the gates, any of whom can go commit a terrorist act while the Muslim community then "condemns" it and then loudly worries about a backlash runs for protection from the authorities, and then another Muslim goes to perform another attack and the cycle contines with no response, which shows them that the tactic is working, and non-muslims keep dying.

At what point is the West going to wake up that this is not an isolated incident and actually make a response?

It should be announced that if this continues all non-citizen Muslims will be deported as enemy aliens. No, it is not a collective punishment, its self-defense from future attacks and will send a message that this type of attack tactic will not be tolerated and that there will be a response to these acts of terrorism. This is a non-violent and legal response, if "disproportionate". If we truly are in a War on (Islamist) Terror, we owe it to ourselves to protect ourselves from the agents of the enemy from our midst and to show trhat there will be consequences for terrorist attacks.

When Hezb'allah co-locates with your position, its time to leave

From Little Green Footballs

Retired Canadian Major General Lewis Mackenzie was interviewed on CBC radio, and had some very interesting news about the UN observer post hit by Israeli shells; the Canadian peacekeeper killed there had previously emailed Mackenzie telling him that Hizballah was using their post as cover.

The entire interview is a breath of fresh air:

We received emails from him a few days ago, and he was describing the fact that he was taking fire within, in one case, three meters of his position for tactical necessity, not being targeted. Now that’s veiled speech in the military. What he was telling us was Hezbollah soldiers were all over his position and the IDF were targeting them. And that’s a favorite trick by people who don’t have representation in the UN. They use the UN as shields knowing that they can’t be punished for it.

Not only does Hezb'allah hide behind women and children, they hide behind the UN. The UNIFIL troops have sadly become victims of Hezb'allah perfidy.

In addition, just to show how co-located many of these UN positions are with Hezb'allah, here's a picture of one of them:
I don't know if this was the same post that was hit but it is certainly an example of how close Hezb'allah was to these UN positions before this conflict even started. Today I would not be surprised if they are firing from within UN positions.

Why the UN has not loudly complained about, and condemned, Hezb'allah for using their positions and treoops as shields in this conflict is unknown, but the UN's ingrained bias against Israel is undoubtedly the most likely suspect, and secondly that the UNIFIL troops are essentially hostages to Hezballah likely also makes any condemnation of Hezb'allah's actions a risky proposition for the UNIFIL observers on the ground.

It is a sad loss that the 4 UNIFIL observers were killed, but the fault lies with Hezb'allah, not Israel.

Possibly Interviewing an American Criminal at The Hot Zone - No Exit

At Kevin Sites' blog in his article No Exit American citizens are caught in the crossfire in southern Lebanon while trying to flee the fighting. He seems to have made an interesting choice of an interview subject-

TYRE, Lebanon - For the Chahines, of Dearborn, Mich., spending summers in south Lebanon is a family tradition. It also helps to keep them in touch with their Arabic heritage. But this summer that tradition almost cost them their lives....

"Mr. Chahine, who came to the U.S. 32 years ago, built a business and raised a family there. "

Is this the same Talal Chahine of Dearborn who fled the US to Lebanon under indictment for tax fraud and funneling money to Hezb'allah?

I guess we know why he and his family are there if its the same "Chahine of Dearborn":

Defendant: Talal Khalil Chahine (La Shish Restaurant) OWNER AND FINANCIAL MANAGER OF “LA SHISH” RESTAURANT ARE CHARGED WITH TAX EVASION U.S. Department of Justice Federal charges were unsealed today in Detroit against Talal Khalil Chahine, 51, of Dearborn Heights, Michigan and the owner of the “La Shish” restaurant chain, and Elfat El Aouar, 39 of Plymouth, a “La Shish” financial manager and Chahine’s wife. Chahine and El Aouar are charged by the federal grand jury Indictment with four Counts each of Income Tax Evasion, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7201. Each Count carries a maximum penalty of 5 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Elfat El Aouar was arrested earlier today from her home in Plymouth. A bail hearing and arraignment is scheduled to occur at 1:00 p.m. in federal court. Talal Chahine is presently outside the United States and is believed to be in Lebanon. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.

The Detroit News also picked up the story of the indictment.

Now, did Sites know who Chahine was and fail to report this interesting bit of information? Cetainly it is somewhat suspicious as Sites report gives the first name of everyone else he talks with but not Chahine's. Given that Chahine is alleged to have funelled money to Hezb'Allah, his use as an interviewee without disclosing this information makes his story and credibility as an eyewitness quite suspect. Especially since Sites takes Chahine's assertion at face value.that

"I didn't see any Hezbollah fighters in our village," says Mr. Chahine, "so why are they bombing there?"

Hopefully Kevin Sites will be able to clarify if this is the same Chahine and why he did not use his first name in his report.

To The Circus

Last night, we went to the Carson & Barnes Circus held at Millford. The circus was held there to raise money for a bike trail. It was Abby's first circus.

On the way from the parking area, there were a few protestors from PETA on the sidewalk near the entrance protesting the circus. The were on the sidewalk, holding placards and asking if people wanted their literature. The protestors were well-behaved and polite, and the presence of Millford Police probably helped with that. While I disagree with them, it was commendable of the PETA protestors to behave in a proper and civilized manner.

Abby absolutely loved the circus. As a 2.5 year-old, she was amazed at the sight and size of the Elephants and the tricks by the Acrobats. She pointed at the Acrobats while they were at the top of a platform and said "Come down you're going to fall" - a very cute moment.

It was a fun circus and all the children present clearly seemed to be enjoying themselves. Oh, and the animals appeared well fed, healthy, and well treated. Simply a wonderful form of entertainment.

Does the Missile Threat end the idea of Land for Peace?

Given that the land Israel withdrew from in both Lebanon and Gaza is being used as a launching pad for missiles and rockets against israel, to cede further land would likely prove disastrous to Israel. The only reason longer range rockets are not being fired from Gaza is that Israel is preventing their importation through the port of Gaza.

Already, Hezballah is hitting civillians in Haifa with its rockets, 30 miles away from the Israel-lebanon Border. Missiles from Gaza are striking Sderot. If Israel were to complete a withdrawal from the West Bank (Judea and Samaria) to behind the security Fence, all of Israel would then be in range of missiles from the ceeded territory.

Don't beleive me? Then take a look at this map. As you can see, from the West Bank, Tel Aviv's airport is in range of the short-range Qassam rockets, and the entire county is in range of Katyushas, not to mention the longer range missiles.

Land for Peace, and the subsequent creation of a hostile state filled with anti-Israel sentiment with the capability to import Iranian missiles would be suicide for Israel. Until the Arabs learn to accept Israel's existence and cease attempting to destroy it and kill its people, the whole idea of land for peace cannot go forward.

The Nonsense of Proportionality

"The essence of war is violence. Moderation in war is imbecility." -- Admiral Sir John A. Fisher.

The current infatuation of the UN and much of the world with accusing Israel of violating the mythical rule of proportionality in warfare is part of the continuing attacks on Israel where it is held to a standard to which no other nation in the world is held. Indeed no other nation could long survive if it folowed these mythical stanards that the ret of the world blithely ignores - except of course, when they accuse Israel of violating them.

What is the proportinate response when an attacker hurls hundreds of missiles into your territory, all of them deliberately aimed at civillian targets? What is the porportionate response when an attacker crosses your border and kidnapps your soldiers, demanding that you release thousands of convicted criminals or terorist detainees in return for their release? Wouldn't you block roads, airports, and ports, knowing the intention of the kidnappers to move them out of the country? Would you not use as much force as necessary to end the conflict as quickly as possible and to bring security to your borders?

If the proportion of Hezballah is accepted, then for every Israeli killed in this conflict, 1000 Arabs should be killed. After all, Hezballah is arguing that each Israeli soldier os worth a thousand Arab terorrists. Obviously, Israel is clearly behind if this calculation is the correct proportionate response. With 37 Israelis killed and only 381 Lebanese (unfortunately including innocent Lebanese civillians but certainly this number includes a great many Hezballah members), clearly Israel has a lot of catching up to do to ensure its response is "proportionate".

Sadly for those who argue that Israel is disproportionate, it is not adopting the Hezballah calculation for 1000 Arbas for every Israeli. Instead Israel is trying to limit civilian casualties (while Hezballah is actively seeking to attack civillians) while attacking an enemy that hides among civilians and places its weapons and arsenals in mosques, hospitals, schools and private homes. The 'brave' guerrillas of Hezballah hide behind the skirts of their women and the toys of their children

Israel's response may not be "proportionate" but it is moral.

Not an Anti-War Rally

But an Anti-Israel one.

As predicted the Dearborn demonstration was full of textbook seething. Not anti-war, merely anti-Israel.

From The Detroit News
Thousands protest Lebanon bombing

Metro Detroiters, many with relatives caught in the violence, call for an end to Israel's attacks.

Calling for an end to the attacks with such charming chants as:

Along the 1.5-mile trek to the park, protesters chanted "Allahakbar,"
"Hezbollah" and "Stop the killing, stop the bombing" as they walked

.

No condemnation of the Hezb'allah raid and kidnappings that started the entire current conflict.

The religion of peace seemed a little tense as well:

There were tense moments briefly during the rally when two rabbis joined the
protest. A few of the marchers thought the two Jewish clerics had come to the
event as counter-demonstrators.

Hmm, how tolerant would they have been had they actually been counteprotesting - probably not very.

Instead they were two self-hating Jews.

Many in the crowd were surprised when they saw Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss and a
fellow rabbi joining the protest.

Weiss of Jews United Against Zionism of Monsey, N.Y., a group that believes the
quest for a Jewish state strained Arab and Jewish relations, said he came in
support of the protesters.

"We are here to show solidarity and support for the Palestinian people."

He is, of course, entitled to his wrong-headed, dhimmi-fied opinon, but I will maintain my opinion that 'Rabbi' Weiss is a total moonbat, lower than pondscum and that had he been born in an earlier era, he would have made a fine kapo.

Body of Scuba Diver Recovered From Lake

A sad loss of a Michigan Diver:

Divers recovered the body of a 51-year-old Waterford man Thursday in Maceday Lake, where he had been reported missing about 18 hours earlier.

The man, whose name was not released Thursday pending family notification, was found about 1:30 p.m. in about 100 feet of water in the area where he had been scuba diving with nine others, said Lt. Gordon Pizzini of the Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

I wasn't there, I do not know what happened, and am not about to start guessing. Hopefully the investigation results will be published or made known to the diving community and we can take steps and learn lessons from this accident to prevent others like it in the future.

In Dearborn the Seething begins

In the Detroit Free Press

Muslims attending a memorial service at a Dearborn mosque Sunday evening called upon businesses along Warren Avenue in Dearborn to shut down at 5 p.m. Tuesday to protest Israeli action in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

. . .

Speakers at the service criticized Israel and asked the U.S. government to help U.S. citizens trapped in Lebanon.

With picture slides behind him showing the attacks in Lebanon, Ned Fawaz, chairman of the board of the Islamic Center, urged the crowd to "call Washington, call all your senators ... send e-mails" voicing opposition to Israel's actions.

Mohammad Bazzi of Dearborn Heights said that business owners are planning to shut down at the start of a march scheduled for Tuesday along Warren Avenue -- the main commercial strip in east Dearborn.

Notice that of course, there was no criticism or opposition of Hizb'allah the group that brought this situation upon Lebanon from these Dearborn muslims.

Shutting down at 5pm, oh my, such a protest, they just watched "Working 9 to 5". They must have been inspired by the Cyndi Sheehan fast of the hour.

Their march on Tuesday should provide plenty of examples of Homo Islamicus and Homo Moonbaticus.

From The "You're New At This Aren't You?" File.

Robber Faints during Bank Hold up

From the Oakland Press:

A novice bank robber found out Thursday that he's not cut out for a life of crime.

With cash in hand, the alleged robber, an unemployed automotive designer, was headed out the door of the Lasalle Bank on Maple Road in Troy when he saw two police cars drive by. Lawrence C. Lawson, 60, of Madison Heights passed out. Employees called 9-1-1. "It was just by coincidence," said Troy police Lt. Gerry Scherlinck. "Just randomly, two police officers are driving by." Lawson was arraigned Friday on charges of bank robbery and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

I just really want to know how much the officers were laughing while they arrested him.

How you can help Israel now

Israel is currently facing a war on at least two fronts against the same enemy the US faces: Islamists.

The Islamists (Hamas and Hizb'allah) are currently using rockets and missiles to attack civillian targets in Israel.

Should Israel be permitted to take the gloves off and fight this war, for it is indeed a war, with fronts in Gaza and southern Lebanon, it will most likely win.

You can help by donating to:

American Friends of Magen David Adom (Israel's Red Star of David - their own Red Cross organization). Funds are needed for medical assistance for victims of the missile and rocket attacks on israeli civillians.

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (provided recreational and religious facilities and scholarships for Israeli soldiers)

Amazing Comments by Putin on the Mid East Situation

In Bush Blocks Russia WTO Bid in Icy Exchange (interestingly enough, the Detroit Free press runs this under the headline: Bush, Putin differ on cease-fire. Putin says something that simply boggles the mind, hypocritical doesn't even come close to describe it, perhaps chutzpah sums it up best:

"At the same time," the Russian leader said, "we work under the assumption that the use of force should be balanced." The European Union - and France, in particular - has condemned Israel's attacks as excessive, putting Bush at odds with key allies.

Speaking to reporters after the summit's opening dinner, Putin stressed that significant efforts were needed to restore peace in Lebanon.

"However complicated the questions are, maximum efforts must be applied to resolve the situation in a peaceful way and I think all efforts have not been exhausted," he said.

The "use of force should be balanced"? I have but one word for Putin: Chechnya.

When did the Russia under Putin use "balanced force" in dealing with the Chechen Islamist issue? Heck, when did Russia ever use balanced force - the Russian way of way is throw as much steel at your enemy as you can, and keep doing it until you win.

Especially given the disregard in which the Russians have used heavy artillery against Islamists causing lots of noncombatant deathsin Chechnya, Putin's sudden belief in proportional force beggars belief.

Yes, Putin wants to keep playing the great power game and suck up to the Soviet Union's old allies, the Arabs, by criticising Israel, but really.

Someone needs to remind Putin that he is fighting a war against islamists today, and toadying up to other islamists will not win him many favors in the long run.

Bad, naughty, weight pouch!

So there I was, at 25 feet in Spring Mill Pond just off the bottom, Visibility at less than feet at best, diving with four other divers.

Suddenly, it gets silted up real bad, and visibility drops to zero, I could not see a thing. Then I all of a sudden get flipped onto my left side and start ascending pretty quickly - sideways! A fun ride and I break the surface with what I am sure was a very confused look on my face.

It turns out my weight pouch on my right side in my Dacor Talon BC decided it didn't like me face down and it came zipping out of the BC (so much for the retaining powers of Velcro).

Eventually the other divers noticed I was gone and one came up to see what was going on. Without the 10 pounds in the pouch i was too buoyant to descend, and when I tried, I always got flipped onto by left side, so I couldn't search for the pouch.

One of the divers searched for the pouch but failed to find it. The pouch alas is almost definetely buried in the muck and will not likely be found.

Personal Lessons learned: Even though the velcro quick release should be enough to hold the weights in, use the retaining clip - it prevents an instant release of the weights, by pulling on the release handle, instead to release you unclip the clip and pull with it- but it will save your pouches.

Now to go buy another wieght pouch and 10 pounds of weight...

And now for a completely different a burning.......

Chechen Terror Leader Shamil Basayev Killed in Russia

The details seem to indicate this was an effective Russian take-out
(with some unidentified foreign intelligence agency's help) of a very nasty piece of work, whose death is welll deserved.

Suffice to say after the terrorist outrages of the Moscow theater in 2002 in which dozens of hostages and militants died, the 2004 school hostage taking in Beslan that killed 331, and the seizure of about 1,000 hostages at a hospital in Budyonnovsk that killed about 100 and many other lesser reported atrocities, it is unquestionably good that Basayev is no longer sleeping but has been sent on to meet his maker or more likely is roasting in some dark, hot, pit of hell.

What do we do with Witches? - Pardon Them!

From Foxnews: Woman Accused of Witchcraft in Virginia in 1706 is Pardoned

It took 300 years, but Virginia's only convicted witch has finally been pardoned.

State Gov. Timothy M. Kaine was asked to exonerate Grace Sherwood, who was tried by water and accused of using her powers to cause a woman to miscarry. On Monday, the 300th anniversary of Sherwood's "ducking" trial, Kaine obliged....What happened to Sherwood after she was convicted is unclear. Some court records may have been lost to fire.

She weighed more than a duck and was therefore...a witch! (Ok, not that kind of ducking, but the Monty Python possibilities with this post are about endless)

Unlike in Monty Python and The Holy Grail, the authorites and mob of people who had been turned into newts were apparently not too hot to burn this witch - even after she had been convicted, as history shows she lived long past the trial:

She may have been jailed until 1714, when records show she paid back taxes on her property, Ferry Plantation House director Belinda Nash said. She then lived quietly until her death at 80.

Its certainly nice to see we can eventually get around, 300 years later, to pardoning people convicted of witchcraft and rectifying a rather embarrasing historic legal wrong.