Monday, 12 March 2007
 

Dances with Osama?
Contributed by Bill Faith

Native American trackers to hunt bin Laden
Hat tips: Jules Crittenden, Dan Riehl

WASHINGTON: An elite group of Native American trackers is joining the hunt for terrorists crossing Afghanistan's borders.

The unit, the Shadow Wolves, was recruited from several tribes, including the Navajo, Sioux, Lakota and Apache. It is being sent to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to pass on ancestral sign-reading skills to local border units.

In recent years, members of the Shadow Wolves have mainly tracked smugglers along the US border with Mexico.

But the Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan and the US military's failure to hunt down Osama bin Laden - still at large on his 50th birthday on Saturday - has prompted the Pentagon to requisition them.

US Defence Secretary Robert M.Gates said last month: "If I were Osama bin Laden, I'd keep looking over my shoulder."

The Pentagon has been alarmed at the ease with which Taliban and al-Qa'ida fighters have been slipping in and out of Afghanistan. Defence officials are convinced their movements can be curtailed by the Shadow Wolves.  ...

***

Michelle Malkin has more here, A J Strata wonders why it took so long to think of the idea.

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 12, 2007 at 06:23 AM in Afghanistan, Islamism Delenda Est, Pakistan | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Friday, 09 March 2007
 

CIA goes a-huntin' in Pakistan
Contributed by Bill Faith

[Posted here by accident, moved here. Sorry.]

Contributed by Bill Faith on March 9, 2007 at 11:57 AM in Afghanistan, Islamism Delenda Est, Pakistan | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Monday, 08 January 2007
 

Congratulations Isaac ...
Contributed by Bill Faith

... and a deep bow to John Werntz, who had a lot more to do with it than he may choose to tell you the general public about.

Today's good news.

***

See also: Escape From Theocracy

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 8, 2007 at 10:40 PM in Bill Faith, Islamism Delenda Est, Pakistan | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 12 November 2006
 

Sunday Musings
Contributed by The Gray Dog

RINOS, DINOS, NEOCONS and Leprechauns.  You just can’t survive today’s political scene without an appropriate tag.  Each party is in search of the perfect description, the ideal candidate and the winning platform, yet if Jesus Christ himself signaled his second coming, I’m sure the extremists in both parties would find him objectionable. 

What is conservative enough? Where is the dividing line that separates Conservatives and RINOs?  Is the extreme right of the Republican Party hell bent on imitating the failed practices of the George Soros wing of the Democrats?  Joe Lieberman is the perfect demonstration of what happens when the extreme wing of either party demands perfection.  On the other hand, a Democratic majority in the House and Senate is what happens when the Conservatives take their ball and stay home.

Democracy is not black or white.  It is a fluid system that demands weighing principles against pragmatism, convictions against realities.  Extremism on the other hand is a denial of reality.  The “my way or the highway” attitude often leads extremists to being stranded on the shoulder of the road.  It doesn’t matter what form extremism takes, Conservative extremism, Liberal extremism and Islamic extremism share the same short sighted vision which will cause them to fail. 

Continue reading "Sunday Musings"

Contributed by The Gray Dog on November 12, 2006 at 07:03 PM in Afghanistan, Current Affairs, Dem Dumbness, Iran, Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, Joe Lieberman, Pakistan, Patriotism, Politics, Russia, The Gray Dog | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 01 October 2006
 

Musli on Pakistan's Tribal Area
Contributed by John Werntz

This post concerns an extraordinary young American who blogs under the pseudonym Muslihoon.  His friends and followers, of whom there are many [May his tribe increase!] call him Musli for short.

To introduce him to my reader[s] I can do no better than to quote from his "About," omitting a short whimsical passage at the end--

Of South Asian descent, American citizen by birth, and a college graduate, I study religions and languages as a hobby. I was born a Muslim but left Islam in 10th grade. Since then I converted to Christianity. I am unapologetically a Zionist, Jewophile, patriotic, hawkish, opinionated, and with regard to international relations a systemist. My primary interests these days are Islamic militancy (which goes by many names) and modern reformed fundamentalist Islam (the Salafi movement within Islam).

Everyone who has not been fast asleep these past few days is aware of the sharp disagreement between two of this country's Muslim allies: President Karzai of Afghanistan and President Musharraf of Pakistan.  Karzai's indignation is easily understood.  He cannot accept that Musharraf seems to have offered a permanent haven to the Taliban leadership and thousands of Taliban fighters in south-western Pakistan. In what follows, Musli offers us a remarkable insight into conditions in the Pakistan tribal area that shelters the Taliban remnants.  One can only hope that our leaders possess at least a glimmering of Musli's knowledge of the area.

The rather extensive quotes that follow are taken from Muslihoon's post of October 1, 2006.

The Pakistani province of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) consists primarily of Pashtuns. One part of the NWFP is special administratively: the Federally-Administered Tribal Area (FATA), which is in the southwest of the NWFP and borders Afghanistan. This is basically an autonomous area, where the tribal authorities basically rule without interference from the federal government of Pakistan or the provincial government of the NWFP. This area has become significant because they harbor fleeing members of the Taliban, fleeing Afghanistan and the Coalition’s assault on and attempt to eliminate the Taliban.

[snip]

FATA had never been ruled by any force. Not even the British or any other invading force passing through has been able to subdue this area. As may be expected, Pakistani authorities have not had much success. In fact, Pakistan has basically given up. A treaty of sorts was signed between FATA authorities and Pakistani authorities, according to which Pakistani authorities would restore FATA’s autonomy with the condition that FATA will not harbor agents of the Taliban nor harbor foreigners nor harbor foreign entities or allow them room to operate.

But if anyone thinks FATA will turn over members of the Taliban, one would be sorely mistaken. For one thing, they can easily say: anyone who is a student is a talib-e ilm (student of knowledge); are they then required to turn over all students in every school? (“Taliban” means, literally “students”.) The other issue has to do with melamasti or hospitality. In the Pashtun code of living (called Pashtunawali), any guest has to be honored and protected, even if it is one’s enemy. A host must consider any offense to one’s guest as a serious offense against the host. (And recall how honor is restored in these societies: by violence.) As people in FATA (and the NWFP and the Pashtuns of Afghanistan) follow Pashtunawali, and is considered to be an essential and defining aspect to being Pashtun (thus, whoever does not follow it has essentially renounced his Pashtun-hood), there is no way FATA will refuse to assist members of the Taliban or surrender such members to Pakistani authorities. Furthermore, with regard to foreigners or foreign entities, many foreigners moved into the area and then married local people. If FATA were to expel these foreigners, it would have to deal with the anger and staunch resistance by families (and the tribes they belong to).

[snip]

Pakistani authorities’ involvement in FATA has never been popular in Pakistan, seen as Pakistan attacking its own people on the order or behest of The United States, essentially doing The United States’ dirty work in Pakistan. And, sad but true, if Pakistani authorities wanted to exert authority and influence over FATA, it would need to fight a very violent, bloody civil war in that region: the people of FATA have not let Pakistani authorities succeed either. This agreement will shore up support for the government.

So, what does this agreement between FATA and Pakistani authorities mean for The United States and for Afghanistan?

At this point, Musli breaks off from straight exposition to consider the implications of the above facts on the ground for policy in wartime.  His thoughts merit careful consideration.  The entire essay should be read by anyone who wishes to be well informed.  What really counts is what George W. [hijacked religion] Bush and Condoleezza [disturbances] Rice and Donald [stuff happens] Rumsfeld think. Do they or their advisors know what this youthful American of "South Asian" origin knows?  Let us hope.

Contributed by John Werntz on October 1, 2006 at 02:49 AM in Islamism Delenda Est, John "72nd TCS" Werntz, Pakistan | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Monday, 25 September 2006
 

Isaac Tells All
Contributed by John Werntz

Entitled "Fear and Loathing in The Land of the Pure,"  Isaac Schrödinger's long-awaited manifesto appeared on September 25, 2006.  Far too long and much too good to be excerpted here, the manifesto is a long and colorful essay in four parts.  The first part is biographical, and clarifies how his adherence to the ideal of freedom of thought and expression has caused him to abandon the Islamic theocratic edicts of the culture in which he was raised. Part 2 details provisions of Islamic law that deal with apostasy and blasphemy, in particular Article 295C of the penal code of his native land, Pakistan. Those who are not legal scholars may content themselves with skimming legalistic details.

Part 3 fleshes out the abstractions of the law with scarifying tales--taken mostly from human-rights groups such as Amnesty International--that illustrate how the law is strictly interpreted in Islamic courts, and haphazardly enforced in the street by cops, mobs, and assassins. Just take a look at this, which Isaac published some months before the cartoon riots of last Spring, to understand that Isaac's fear for his life, if he were to be deported to Pakistan, is realistic. If the cops and courts don't get him, the mobs or assassins very well may.

In closing, Isaac restates his credo of freedom of thought and expression, and explains why, in order to be true to himself he must do and say things that would imperil him if he were forced to return.

Having come late to the party today, I can do no better than to permit others to do the wrap-up. In particular, a comment to Isaac's post makes an apt and succinct point.  In the comment, Alex says:

Well said. Unfortunately, if you were a deserter from an all-volunteer army in a free democratic nation (like Jeremy Hinzman for instance) you'd have more support for your refugee claim in Toronto than an ex-Muslim looking for a way to avoid the death penalty in a third world nation. Still, the refugee board would have to be absolutely blind not to see the merit of your case.

Indeed. Considering that Isaac describes himself not only as "ex-muslim" in the banner to his blog but goes so far as to call himself "pro-American," he is not likely to attract all that much sympathy from professional bleeding hearts.  Libertarians are another breed.  Regarding the bottom line, I will let Perry de Havilland of Samizdata have the last word:

"Read his article and perhaps do as I have done and drop your mouse heavily on his PayPal button to help with his legal expenses... it will give you some serious blogospherical karma points."

Hurry! Karma points are going fast. Just 50 Andrew Jacksons or 20 U.S. Grants or a mere 10 Ben Franklins more, and Isaac-related karma point will be out of stock.

Entitled "Fear and Loathing in the Land of the Pure," Isaac Schrödinger's long awaited manifesto appears today, September 25, 2006.  This is a long blogpost that is far too good to be excerpted here.  In the first of 4 parts, Isaac tells his own story: how his commitment to freedom of thought and expression led him to abandon the traditional Islam in which he was raised. Part 2 is a detailed exposition of various Islamic laws on blasphemy and apostasy, including Article 295C of the penal code of his native land, Pakistan.  The message for us, who live in freedom, is that in countries ruled by Islamic law, the most innocent comment here can be a capital crime there.  Just one example. Take a look at this, which Isaac innocently published in his blog in October, 2005, months before the outbreak of the cartoon riots.  Blasphemy, punishable by death in Pakistan.

In the third part, Isaac fleshes out the bare-bones abstractions of Islamic law with scarifying tales, taken mostly from human-rights activists, of how the law is applied formally in the courts, and enforced haphazardly by cops and mobs in the street.

Part 4, which must not be missed, is Isaac's eloquent and convincing appeal for help in his struggle to avert deportation and death. 

Having come late to the party, I can do no better than to quote the remarks of others...

From a commentor to Isaac's post who called himself "Alex:"

Well said. Unfortunately, if you were a deserter from an all-volunteer army in a free democratic nation (like Jeremy Hinzman for instance) you'd have more support for your refugee claim in Toronto than an ex-Muslim looking for a way to avoid the death penalty in a third world nation. Still, the refugee board would have to be absolutely blind not to see the merit of your case.

Alex is right. Isaac, who proclaims himself "ex-muslim" and [horrors!] "pro-usa" in the banner of his blog, is unlikely to get much sympathy from professional bleeding hearts.  All the more reason to follow the advice of Perry de Havilland in Samizdata, to wit--

Read his article and perhaps do as I have done and drop your mouse heavily on his PayPal button to help with his legal expenses... it will give you some serious blogospherical karma points.

Hurry! Karma is going fast. Only 50 Andrew Jacksons, 20 U.S. Grants, or a mere 10 Ben Franklins is all that is left in stock.

Contributed by John Werntz on September 25, 2006 at 03:13 PM in Current Affairs, Islamism Delenda Est, John "72nd TCS" Werntz, Pakistan | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Saturday, 09 September 2006
 

Blogger In Fight For His Life
Contributed by Bill Faith

Please read this, follow the links, and do what you can to help:

Co-Blogger Fighting For His Life (H/T:TMV via CQ)
Michael van der Galien

One of the co-bloggers here, at Liberty and Justice, Isaac Schrodinger is currently involved in the fight of his life. Better said: a fight for his life.

As all of you who have read (some of) his articles will know, Isaac is very critical about radical Islam. ...

As a result, it should be obvious to anyone with any basic knowledge about this subject, it is not exactly safe for him, an apostate, to live in a country in which Muslim extremists have quite some power. He came from Pakistan, was educated in Saudi Arabia, later in the United States and now lives in Canada.

He is currently involved in the battle of his life: in January 2007 one judge will decide whether he should be granted refugee status in Canada or be deported to Pakistan.

He met with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada yesterday. You can read his account of how it all went here.

[...]

You can help. If you have links to relevant article about the treatment of apostates / not-good-Muslims / etc. in Pakistan or just want to show Isaac your support, please use the e-mail button at his blog, drop it off in one of the comment sections at his blog and or just leave a link or even simply a word of support in the comment section [here].

Contributed by Bill Faith on September 9, 2006 at 01:36 PM in Bill Faith, Canada, Islamism Delenda Est, Pakistan | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Tuesday, 15 August 2006
 

Them or us (Updated and bumped)
Contributed by Bill Faith

Karol Sheinin, subbing for Michelle:

According to the Guardian, much of the information to stop the terrorist attacks out of London was obtained via torture.

Reports from Pakistan suggest that much of the intelligence that led to the raids came from that country and that some of it may have been obtained in ways entirely unacceptable here. In particular Rashid Rauf, a British citizen said to be a prime source of information leading to last week's arrests, has been held without access to full consular or legal assistance. Disturbing reports in Pakistani papers that he had "broken" under interrogation have been echoed by local human rights bodies. The Guardian has quoted one, Asma Jehangir, of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, who has no doubt about the meaning of broken. "I don't deduce, I know - torture," she said. "There is simply no doubt about that, no doubt at all."

[Read on.]

Not exactly the classic "ticking bomb" scenario, but close. This time common sense prevailed and the good guys won a round. This time.

***

Tom Bevan has worthy thoughts on the matter here.

*** Update and bump. Original timestamp 2006.08.15.17:20 This is going to have the bleeding hearts crawling out of the woodwork by morning. Might as well put it higher on the site where it's easier to find.

Allahpundit:

Gobsmackingly vile. What does it profit a man if he should gain the whole world but lose his soul?

Besides 2500-3000 innocent human lives, I mean.

(Read the whole thing.)

***

Ace of Spades: Torture "Broke" Pakistani-Held SkyBomb Plotter, Unravelling Conspiracy

Contributed by Bill Faith on August 15, 2006 at 08:47 PM in Bill Faith, Great Britain, Islamism Delenda Est, Pakistan | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Monday, 14 August 2006
 

Pakistani Earthquake Relief
Financed, Covered UK Terror Plot
Contributed by Bill Faith

James Joyner:

It appears that the planners of the foiled UK hijacking plot operated under the auspicies of the earthquake relief effort to both finance and shield their activities.

British and Pakistani investigators are trying to determine whether the group of Britons suspected of plotting to blow up as many as 10 commercial airliners may have received money raised for earthquake relief by a Pakistani charity that is a front for an Islamic militant group. The charity, Jamaat ud Dawa, which is active in the mosques of Britain’s largest cities, played a significant role in carrying out relief efforts after last October’s earthquake in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. It is one of the most militant of the groups battling the part of Kashmir controlled by India. In May, it was labeled a terrorist organization by the United States government.

[...]

[Read the whole thing.]

Contributed by Bill Faith on August 14, 2006 at 10:28 AM in Bill Faith, Great Britain, Islamism Delenda Est, Pakistan | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack