From Newsday:

When he began testifying at his own trial this week, a Florida doctor accused of pledging to support al-Qaida hoped to convince a jury that the FBI had it all wrong: He was a man of peace. If that was the plan, then Rafiq Abdus Sabir had a disastrous day on the witness stand Friday.

Under cross-examination, the Columbia University-trained physician was forced to acknowledge a history of family violence, a fascination with weapons and a belief that good Muslims should engage in armed jihad, or holy war.

In just a few hours, Sabir gave jurors a number of reasons not to like him ...

they discussed passages from several religious books. One said Jews should be expelled from the Arabian peninsula. Another said Muslims are obligated to obey an imam who declares war against nonbelievers.

Hou asked Sabir whether he agreed with both passages.

Sabir said yes, but added that Muslims are required to follow such instructions only if they come from a legitimate religious authority. Orders from false leaders, he said, should be ignored. And he said he had nothing against Jews or Christians and counted people of both religions among his friends.

Hou persisted. "You believe that you must participate in armed jihad, if you get a chance to?" he asked.

"Yes," Sabir answered, adding again that he would only do so in a legitimate conflict.

But taking that with a huge grain of salt, still, this article leaves much unsaid. Does Dr. Sabir realize that jihad an-nafs, the "greater jihad", must be fought first -- thereby vanquishing all evil from one's mind, action and speech -- before a gun can be picked up? Was this only a list of things Mr. Sbair was asked during Mr. Hou's "persistence" in cross-examination?

We will never know. One thing, however, is for sure, Dr. Sabir may have sealed his fate on that witness stand.

Posted by Y-Love at 06:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

From today's Washington Post and with a hat tip to my favorite mujahid, Brian -- Zbigniew Brzezinski, national security adviser to President Jimmy Carter, has some stinging words regarding life under W's self-appointed crusade against "terror":

The "war on terror" has created a culture of fear in America. The Bush administration's elevation of these three words into a national mantra since the horrific events of 9/11 has had a pernicious impact on American democracy, on America's psyche and on U.S. standing in the world. Using this phrase has actually undermined our ability to effectively confront the real challenges we face from fanatics who may use terrorism against us...

Constant reference to a "war on terror" did accomplish one major objective: It stimulated the emergence of a culture of fear. Fear obscures reason, intensifies emotions and makes it easier for demagogic politicians to mobilize the public on behalf of the policies they want to pursue. The war of choice in Iraq could never have gained the congressional support it got without the psychological linkage between the shock of 9/11 and the postulated existence of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

Support for President Bush in the 2004 elections was also mobilized in part by the notion that "a nation at war" does not change its commander in chief in midstream. The sense of a pervasive but otherwise imprecise danger was thus channeled in a politically expedient direction by the mobilizing appeal of being "at war."...

That America has become insecure and more paranoid is hardly debatable. A recent study reported that in 2003, Congress identified 160 sites as potentially important national targets for would-be terrorists. With lobbyists weighing in, by the end of that year the list had grown to 1,849; by the end of 2004, to 28,360; by 2005, to 77,769.

The national database of possible targets now has some 300,000 items in it, including the Sears Tower in Chicago and an Illinois Apple and Pork Festival.

The entertainment industry has also jumped into the act. Hence the TV serials and films in which the evil characters have recognizable Arab features, sometimes highlighted by religious gestures, that exploit public anxiety and stimulate Islamophobia....

Where is the U.S. leader ready to say, "Enough of this hysteria, stop this paranoia"? Even in the face of future terrorist attacks, the likelihood of which cannot be denied, let us show some sense. Let us be true to our traditions.

In whipping up the American populace into a frenzy of fear, W's "war on terror" (a war which, according to Hoax author Van Hoffman, is by definition unwinnable as it is a war against a tactic and not an enemy) began to alternatively flip between being the "War on Islam" and the "War on the Arab World", interchangeably.

Only by stopping the racism-driven hysteria can we really focus on who we should have been fighting against the entire time: the murderers, the actual terrorists who want to kill us, and not the millions of innocent humans who happen to look and pray like them.

Remember, all the Islamophobia and "ethnic profiling" in the world wouldn't have caught Timothy McVeigh.

Posted by Y-Love at 05:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Imagine there were a group of Arab-Americans who numbered around 400 officially, but had hundreds of "secret ranks". Imagine that they were dealing in drugs, and stealing people's identities -- even getting their wives to take jobs at state DMVs to get access to information on police officers and their families.

How quick do you think the planes would be flying to Gitmo or Hashem-only-knows where?

ABC News today gives us a glimpse into "Public Enemy No. 1", a white supremacist gang operating throughout the Western United States. And what it shows just accents the discrepancy in what's called terrorism.

The white supremacist gang Public Enemy No. 1 began two decades ago as a group of teenage punk-rock fans from upper-middle class bedroom communities in Southern California.

Now, the violent gang that deals in drugs, guns and identity theft is gaining clout across the West after forging an alliance with the notorious Aryan Brotherhood, authorities say. Police say the gang has compiled a "hit list" targeting five officers and a gang prosecutor a sign of just how brazen Public Enemy has become.

"They make police officers very, very nervous," said Cpl. Nate Booth, a gang detective with the Buena Park Police Department in Orange County... In the past three years, its ranks have doubled to at least 400, but authorities suspect there could be hundreds of other members operating under the radar. They said heavy recruiting is taking place throughout California and Arizona, and members have been picked up by police in Nevada and Idaho.

"They move around. We find them everywhere," said Lowell Smith of the Orange County Probation Department.

Posted by Y-Love at 02:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In Table 5 of this PDF provided by the Pew Forum, we find a shocking statistic.

One hundred percent of "white Jewish Americans" (deep breaths, deep breaths) called the war in Iraq the "one issue that mattered most" in this past election.

Zero percent said the economy, or immigration, or anything.

Granted this is still a survey. But I can't help but stare at my Adobe Acrobat and go, "that just sucks."

Posted by Y-Love at 04:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

So my rabbi, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Etzion, which I continually laud for its integrated approach to Torah and life, sent me a number of emails. My rabbi I consider to be the "voice of Torah" on most issues, and I take his opinion quite seriously.

However, he is also a Republican. Many times we disagree quite fundamentally, and on some things, though I struggle, I find myself virtually unable to defer to his generally wiser point of view.

On this, my rav is completely correct -- far more correct than I could have even imagined -- and I apologize to him and G-d for not having taken the words of my teachers more seriously.

My rav sent me in an email:

One of the recommendations of the Baker report is the right of the Palestinians to return -in other words the destruction of Israel.

did any of you call or email or both (much better) to any of the right wing radio shows ? probably no !

did any of you email or call or both (much better) your Senators? probably no !

did any of you email or call or both (much better) your Statesmen? probably no !

did any of you email or call or both (much better) your Friends and family about this ? probably no !

DO YOU CARE? DO YOU CARE ABOUT THE JEWISH STATE? DO YOU CARE ABOUT JEWS? DO YOU EVER WANT TO GO TO VISIT ISRAEL? DO YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE KOTEL? DO YOU WANT TO CARY A YELLOW BADGE ? DO YOU ALWAYS SAY "I DON'T KNOW HOW COULD THEY .............DURING THE SHOAH? OR IS IT ALL ABOUT YOU AND ABOUT THE NOW! CAN'T YOU SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL (OR AS IT SEEMS FROM BAKER'S REPORT) ? IT IS WRITTEN WITH ........YOUR BLOOD ! WAKE UP

And what I began to find, I find increasingly disturbing.

Continue reading "Words from my Rav on the Iraq Study Group" »

Posted by Y-Love at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This is one of the main reasons that I decry the infernal linking of anti-terrorism activities and Islamophobia. While chasing innocent law abiding Muslims under the rallying cry of "racial profiling is necessary", one misses actual terrorists with the largest stockpile of explosive chemicals in the nation.

From the Black Information Link, a black news service in the UK:

A FORMER British National Party member has been accused of possessing the largest amount of chemical explosives of its type ever found in the country. Robert Cottage, 49, of Talbot Street, Colne, appeared before Burnley magistrates last week charged with possession of an explosive substance.

Officers claim that their find is the largest haul of chemicals of its kind discovered.

The case has attracted little publicity as the national media continue to focus on Muslims.

Aaron Haworth, 23, who lives next door but one with his partner Marie and two children, added: "The police have been here since Thursday and we are still none the wiser as to what's happened.

"It's ridiculous really. I have two young children and if there is bomb making equipment at the house I want to know about it because I have my children's safety to think about. There's been all sorts of rumours flying around, I don't know why the police are being so cagey, that's what's making everyone so worried."

A valid question, no? (Hat tip to Isa)

Posted by Y-Love at 04:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Hugo Chavez departed Caracas today to go to Syria to discuss energy agreements. Mr. Chavez "will sign several energy agreements during the visit", a foreign ministry spokesman said today in a telephone interview with Bloomberg News.

The spokesman declined comment on how long Chavez would be in Syria.

I have a sinking feeling they'll be discussing more than just oil.

Posted by Y-Love at 02:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

You've seen the Jews for Allah site. You've read my blog on MySpace about him.

Now here are the videos.

At least 20 minutes worth. For your consideration:

Most recently, an interview with a German film crew:

And from earlier this year, an interview with a famous British atheist journalist:

The video which started it all (total over 10 minutes):

And a blog about them all.

It's one thing to embrace Islam. It's another thing entirely to profess an unending Jew hatred. His problem, as he says, "is with the Jewish people".

Posted by Y-Love at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Thank you, Chatham House for reporting what those of us on the angry American left have been saying for quite some time.

The "war on terror" is helping terrorists in ways that couldn't be achieved with just donations. And now we know just whom we've been helping this entire time.

Iran.

The British think-tank Chatham House just released a report saying that "there was little doubt that Iran had been the chief beneficiary of the war on terror." A grand total of over $400 billion goes a long way. Let's examine some of what the Jerusalem Post notes:

"The United States, with coalition support, has eliminated two of Iran's regional rival governments, [the Taliban and Saddam Hussein], but has failed to replace either with coherent and stable political structures."

The [Israel-Lebanon] conflict also boosted Iran's popularity to unprecedented levels on the Arab street, according to a Wednesday report by leading British think-tank Chatham House, giving Tehran even greater leverage to use at the international bargaining table.

But the US?

Iran has apparently been swift to fill the power void in the Middle East. Bereft of the secular Hussein regime and with the hardline Islamist Taliban regime in Afghanistan fighting up against the wall, Iran's charismatic and relatively moderate Ahmadenijad enjoys public support not unlike Britney Spears.

Not only does this screw Israel:

Fears of a resurgent Iran led an Israeli minister on Tuesday to warn that Israel should build more bomb shelters. "The Iranians have said very clearly that if they come under attack, their primary target would be Israel." Pensioner Affairs Minister Rafi Eitan told Israel Radio.

Meanwhile experts predict that if Iran is able to continue enrichment work unchecked, it may be able to construct nuclear warheads by 2010.

Our own government can't even assess what Iran's true nuclear capabilities are.

We've increased his PR through what we've done in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We've given him an unending stream of volunteers and people ready to join the militia groups that he and his Syrian counterpart are aiding -- Ahmadenijad with the funding and Syria with the logistics. In addition, much of Iran's current wave of confidence is underpinned by the extensive ties Iran has with Russia.

How can columnist Yasmine Rassam even come out of her face to say that a pullout of Iraq now would be a decisive victory for Iran? What more could we do for him that we're not doing already? This neo-con lie of "we're creating democracy in a free Iraq" gets harder to believe with every passing murder.

The "mission accomplished" against terrorism gets harder to stomach with every passing Osama Bin Laden sighting.

Senator Joseph Lieberman already said he "sees Iranian danger in U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, with Iran moving in." Moving IN? They are not only already there, Iran has replaced the US -- and the Coalition -- as the key power in Iraq!

How much more ammunition do we need to give to Ahmadinejad? Or have we made the bed that we are tragically doomed to lie in?

Posted by Y-Love at 12:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

TIME Magazine says beautifully and succinctly why the racist undertones of the "War on Terror" are undermining itself and the safety of Americans:

Jamal Harwood prays five times a day. He doesn't drink, smoke or eat pork. He's active in his local Muslim community, and he's very serious about the need for an Islamic state. But if you passed him on the street, you would have no idea. Not just because Harwood, a financial consultant in London, wears a suit instead of traditional Muslim dress. Or because he keeps his beard cropped fashionably close.

But because he's white.

A year later, he converted and soon joined Hizb ut-Tahrir, a political party known for its radical views that is banned in many Muslim countries. Harwood, 45, is now a spokesman for the group; he says it is opposed to terrorism. Although his life choices may make him an object of scrutiny by his government--Hizb ut-Tahrir has been on Britain's watch list since the July 2005 terrorist attacks in London--he has no regrets.

The government has labeled group A as terrorist and goes out to look for "Arabs" -- but a white guy is the spokesperson for group A. And the current terrorism related racial profiling is rife with other flub-ups.

Racial profiling simply does not work. However, no one has told this to Rep. Peter King -- the Republican from New York -- he already said:

"The fact is the overwhelming odds are that it is going to be someone of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent and of the Muslim faith. And I think a screener should be allowed to factor that in as one of many factors. Like if we were told that the Ku Klux Klan was going to attack Harlem or Bedford Stuyvesant, I think we'd spend more time looking more closely at whites than we would at African-Americans," King told 'FOX News Sunday.'

Actually, Representative King didn't stop there. As Newsday reported:

eclaring that airport screeners shouldn't be hampered by "political correctness," House Homeland Security Chairman Peter King has endorsed requiring people of "Middle Eastern and South Asian" descent to undergo additional security checks because of their ethnicity and religion....

King, who has said that all Muslims aren't terrorists but that all recent terrorists are Muslim, favors an ethnic and religious profiling scheme that would include foreign and American-born travelers. "I would give the investigators and screeners a lot of discretion as to where it ends," he said.

Last week, the British Department of Transport got caught up in a scandal regarding using racial profiling. One of the masterminds of the July 7th London bombings was black, and one of the airline plot terrorists was white.

Any terrorist with half a mind -- much less a mastermind -- would learn, just by reading the above, the hard lesson that millions of black men in America already know.

If the cops show up, give everything to the white guy.

If the racial profiling increases, it's almost a corollary -- obviously the use of "non-Middle Eastern or South Asian" terrorists will increase.

I think some of the Department of Homeland Security must be more interested in keeping America racist than safe. As even FOX News shows, we have other ways -- behavioral screening, etc. -- which are already in place at a number of airports which would not require screeners to resort to ethnic profiling.

But why do that? Who cares about offending a bunch of "ragheads", right?

Posted by Y-Love at 04:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The Bahraini Gulf Daily News reports:

Nasrallah has spawned a souvenir industry churning out everything from tapes and CDs of his speeches to posters, key rings and T-shirts in the wake of Israel's offensive against Hizbollah in neighbouring Lebanon.

The tape of the 46-year old Shi'ite cleric, which includes combat music and Lebanese nationalist songs, has become a runaway bestseller. "I am out of CDs already and have only tapes left," Otabshi said.

Nasrallah has become such an iconic figure in Syria that the Laterna night club has added Hizbollah songs to its staple diet of dance music.

New products come out almost every time Hizbollah delivers what it calls surprise operations against Israel.

One of the latest additions to Mohammad Ali's souvenir shop is a poster of Hizbollah missiles hitting an Israeli warship off the Lebanese coast -- an attack that badly damaged the vessel.

[...]

Another music shop, Ashtar in old Damascus, has placed a guest book outside its door for customers to write their thoughts about the Lebanese resistance. "When rifles speak, Arab rulers sink in silence," read one inscription, signed by an unknown passer-by.

At the P.L.O. Flag Shop, a local store that specializes in Palestinian souvenirs, the best-selling items for the past couple of weeks have been posters, T-shirts, buttons and coffee mugs featuring Hezbollah’s leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah.

Nasrallah has become an iconic figure in Syria. Children raise their hands and shout “Nasrallah, Nasrallah” as they go down slides in a park in central Damascus. Hezbollah’s yellow flags fly and pictures of its charismatic leader are plastered all over the city—on cars, traffic police motorcycles, government buildings, homes and even hospital emergency rooms.

Public support this entrenched -- to the point that little kids are singing about you as they slide down a sliding board -- is going to be very hard to extricate. It is probably not going to be undone by outside forces. From within the Shia communities themselves in Southern Lebanon, there is going to have to be a feeling of pride which comes from non-terrorists. Social services taken care of by non-terrorists.

I would like to fault the Lebanese government for this, but it's not that simple. One thing is for sure, no amount of ceasefire is going to stop Nasrallah CD's from going platinum. That war is not fought with guns. That war -- the war for the hearts and minds of Lebanon and the Arabic-speaking world -- is going to have to be fought on more intellectual, and ethereal, planes.

Posted by Y-Love at 02:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)