Posted 5/31/2002 02:07:00 PM by Ocean Guy
More from the FBI: Tearful FBI Agent Apologizes To Sept. 11 Families and Victims -- 05/30/2002

Posted 5/31/2002 02:01:00 PM by Ocean Guy
As if the world doesn't have enough to worry about with Pakistan and India threatening a nuclear exchange, we also have a quieter threat from Iranian Missiles

Posted 5/31/2002 01:30:00 PM by Ocean Guy
Thanks to Bill Quick for bringing this article byAyhan Ozer to light. Mr Ozer begins by saying, "Today, as a Muslim and as an insider, I would like to hold a mirror to Islam; if the Muslim community does not like the reflection in the mirror it is not the fault of the mirror. You can call it a soul-searching of a concerned Muslim," as he assesses Islam today.

We should all try to better understand these debates within the Islamic world between those who want to destroy us and those that can live in tolerance and peace.

Posted 5/31/2002 11:34:00 AM by Ocean Guy
If there was any doubt about the real Palestinian goals then maybe you should read this. With a little freedom or democratic process among the Palestinians we might have a better idea of how widespread this viewpoint actually is.

Posted 5/31/2002 11:24:00 AM by Ocean Guy
Can you believe this: Egyptian Opposition Weekly: Condoleezza Rice Has Damaged the World of the Blacks," and "She Is Suited Only to Work at a Nightclub or to Make Her Bed in the Heart of the Jungles"

Posted 5/31/2002 11:13:00 AM by Ocean Guy
Dennis Prager has an interesting point of view on the UN. He says, "...the destruction of the U.N. building in New York City would actually increase goodness on earth. He has a point. Or maybe you'd prefer his idea of moving the UN headquarters to Saudi Arabia.

Posted 5/31/2002 10:15:00 AM by Ocean Guy
Well it appears Mr Yasin has thought about the inflammatory title of his address: Harvard Grad Speaker Drops 'Jihad'. He seems to want to argue semantics in insisting on his meaning of "jihad" while not acknowledging the violence the word actually conveys. His silliness is the same as someone who would insist that by calling himself gay, that we should think he was happy and by no means homosexual.

The test will be if he manages to condemn the violence

Posted 5/30/2002 02:58:00 PM by Ocean Guy
Thanks to "sfdaphne" for the heads up on Pizza deliveries to the IDF ... they are still happening. You can send yours through PizzaIDF.org

Posted 5/30/2002 02:16:00 PM by Ocean Guy
Here's a little gem highlighting the infighting among the Arabs. John Loftus reports on an American Terrorist Network that isn't entirely new.

The connection of University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian to terrorist groups is an old story, the investigation Mr. Loftus is describing is enlightening.

To put it bluntly, the covert Saudi network in Florida funded the murders of fellow Muslims for the crime of wanting to create the first democratic Arab state. Whatever harm the Israelis may have done, they did build an excellent public education system, including several universities, for the benefit of their Palestinian neighbors. That was the problem.

Read the article for some insight into some of the infighting in the Arab world. Our enemies do not belong to Nations as we know them. Although they have borders, thanks to the West, they have no real national identity as we understand the concept. Arab leaders: princes, mullahs, and presidents are competing for the leadership of the Arab people, not necessarily a nation state. Freedom and democracy are threats to the established powers. Mr Loftus gives us a glimpse into what the Saudis have been doing about it and why they feel threatened.

Posted 5/30/2002 10:44:00 AM by Ocean Guy
One would think that the Department of State's document Patterns of Global Terrorism 2001 would be a reliable source to find the country's perceived problem areas and threats in our War on Terrorism. Not so, says Daniel Pipes, unless you believe that Columbia is the epicenter of Global terrorism.

Eric Alterman may be partialy correct, at least in the sense that the War on Terrorism, isn't really a war on terrorism.

Let's face it, we really aren't in a war on terrorism. This is evident in that much of the terrorism in the world is not part of our fight. We are, however, in a war against Islamic terrorists.... a war that was declared by them years before 9/11. For this war the Nation does need to be mobilized as Mr Alterman suggests, and we must recognize that innocent people have been and will be killed, on both sides. Still I like the name "War on Terrorism" and I think most people understand exactly what it is.

The reality of the situation is that this war is being thrust upon us, it is not a war of our choosing. We can either ignore the conflict, appease our enemies, or fight them to win. If we ignore it, many more American innocents will die. Even if we appease our enemy, more innocent Americans will die. Only by confronting them, only by fighting, can we hope to protect ourselves.
This enemy is determined, they want to kill us. We have the right and responsibility as a Nation to defend ourselves.

Sounds similar to statements out of Israel doesn't it?

Posted 5/29/2002 11:31:00 AM by Ocean Guy
Today I thought I'd weigh in with my Clash of Civilizations theme by talking a little about the "American Jihad" commencement address at Harvard. Matthew Yglesias and Glenn Kinen are Harvard students whose commentary deserves attention. An article from Zev Chafets is more background.
This whole issue seems to boil down to a conflict between realists and idealists. The idealists who support this speech seem to want us to believe that if we are educated about the virtues of Islam as presented by Mr Yasin, then we will be more tolerant; and that maybe that tolerance will lead us to peace among mankind. At the very least they would have us believe that we can coexist with Islam. I don't believe that any amount of education of Western Society will bring that closer to reality.

Islam itself must determine if it wants to coexist with the rest of the world. Can Islam be tolerant? Can Islam recognize the authority of secular governments and secular courts?

As it is practiced now, I have little hope of peaceful coexistance with Islam in my lifetime. The hate and intolerance preached in most of the Middle East against the non-muslim world will take at least a generation to change by "peaceful" means. But before that process can even begin, Islam must decide to be receptive to change. The struggle inside Islam to modernize is of interest to everyone on this planet. Will the voice of Islam that would have them return to the pure state of the religion from 1400 years ago prevail? Or will Islam be able to maintain its identity while modernizing and accepting coexistance with other cultures? Is the Islam that is practiced in the USA a beacon of tolerance and modernity that can show the Old World Islam how to thrive? The choice is not 'ours', the choice can only be made by Muslims.

While attention to the debates and activities within the Islamic world is essential, the presentation of idealistic viewpoints without balancing them with the reality of the situation, can only harm the process.
I have no doubt of the good intentions of the decision makers in choosing to publicize Mr Yasin's ideas of Jihad. But I shudder to think of the unintended consequences of supporting such a distasteful issue.... more to come.

Posted 5/28/2002 11:57:00 AM by Ocean Guy
Even though the story is a little old, the Palestinians' seizure of the Church of the Nativity deserves more attention.
This Honest Reporting article describes the extent of the planning and some of the reasons the Palestinians decided to move into the church when the IDF arrived in Bethlehem. The church compound was known to have enough food for 50 monks for two years and the deepest wells in the city.
Every time an incident like this comes to light, I am reminded that the conflict in the Middle East is, in fact, a Clash of Civilizations. The reporting seems especially irritating because the Western media purports Western values on the Islamic world, even though the World of Islam does not accept our values. Secular government is anathema to Islamic teaching. I'm not sure how that can reconcile with Western society. In the end either Islam must change or it must be defeated.

Posted 5/24/2002 08:09:00 AM by Ocean Guy
Like many of the bloggers I will be off for the long weekend.

Posted 5/23/2002 07:16:00 AM by Ocean Guy
I heard last evening that the IDF was prohibiting its soldiers from accepting any pizzas they didn't order themselves. Thats' a shame. As a former US Navy pilot I know how much those small getstures can mean. I'll be looking for other ways to show support. If anybody knows of a good one, please share....

Posted 5/22/2002 12:37:00 PM by Ocean Guy
Ok.... so my first attempt at html is being tested, maybe today I can start blogging....
for a laugh while you wait, try: Science reveals the real Jesus... and have the volume up...

Posted 5/15/2002 10:12:00 AM by Ocean Guy
So...... I've taken the leap and started a blog. I hope to do daily updates, but first I have to come to figure out the software. Isn't that always the case? Please stay tuned for my opinions about world events and whatever else trips my trigger.