Muslim "experts" weigh in: Why is Holocaust denial criminalized but not defamation of Islam?

One of the major arguments that Muslims have been using to defend their desire to censor any criticism of Islam is that most European countries have criminalized Holocaust denial, so the excuse of "freedom of expression" rings hollow.

Saudi Arabia's Al Madina take a slightly different tack. They asked a panel of  Arab "experts" why "the Jews" managed to criminalize Holocaust denial but Muslims have been unsuccessful in doing the same against "defamation of religions"?

The question itself is flawed for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it isn't "the Jews" who criminalized Holocaust denial in some European countries, it was the European governments who did so, for various reasons. Secondly, in some of those countries the laws are not specifically against Holocaust denial but against denial of other genocides as well or even more generalized hate speech.

The "experts" answers, however, show why it may makes sense in some cases to prohibit Holocaust denial - because their answers conform to the typical stereotype of Jews running the world!

One said that the Jews "control the economy and the policies of the world," which the Muslims do not, so that explains why Jews are so powerful as to put these laws in place but Muslims cannot.

Another "expert" noted that this was "due mainly to the capabilities of Jews' media, they dominate the world media that have succeeded through it to impose their vision on the Western countries; in contrast the media capabilities for Muslims is weak and ineffective and lacking professionalism and craftsmanship and the ability to promote properly the principles of Islam."

The bottom line is that many European countries understand that Holocaust denial is simply a precursor to anti-Jewish incitement, and they had seen first hand what anti-semitism could result in - the genocide of millions only because they were Jewish. "Islamophobia" might exist in a very mild form, but it will not result in genocide.

The "Innocence of Muslims" video is a perfect case in point. While the producer certainly wanted to incite people against Islam, there were no deadly anti-Islam riots as a result of the film. There were no calls for mass murder. The only incitement that resulted from that film was by Muslims, not against Muslims!

Anti-semitism remains real - and especially potent in the Muslim world. Last week a Jordanian newspaper called for the genocide of Jews, without the least hint of embarrassment. The answers given by these Saudi "experts" show also that Muslim anti-semitism is alive and well, and paradoxically give more reasons to enforce laws against hate. And their anti-semitism is so ingrained that they don't even notice it.

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While bombing hospitals, Syria says Mohammed film violates "humanitarian and moral values"

From DP-News/Sana:

The Syrian government condemned on Tuesday what it said the US-Zionist "Innocence of Muslims" film which offends Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

The Government considered, in a statement issued on Tuesday, that the producing, funding and directing of this film is a denounced and shocking act as it provokes the moral and human logic.

"The Syrian government condemns this disgusting film and calls upon all countries of the world not to show it in full or partially including on the internet as this constitutes an encroachment on religious, humanitarian and moral values and a flagrant assault against all symbols of humanity," the statement said.

The government called upon the peoples of the Arab and Islamic nation to be cautious and stand together in the face of the Zionist conspiracy against the position of Prophet Mohammad and the holy religions.

The government held those who are responsible for and involved in this "immoral offensive act" regardless of their nationalities and motives legally accountable for the film, adding that no one in the whole world has a moral, religious, cultural or humanitarian justification to do such "a hateful act".

Wow, Syria really seems outraged at such depths of immorality.

Meanwhile:

Civilians, including many children, are the main victims of indiscriminate Syrian army bombing and shelling of areas abandoned to opposition forces, Amnesty International said in a report on Wednesday.

The London-based international human rights group said its first-hand field investigations had revealed a pattern of relentless attacks by President Bashar al-Assad’s military on territory lost to rebels in the north of the country, according to Reuters.

Syrian government forces are stepping up attacks on markets, hospitals and bread queues, increasing civilian deaths in the country’s worsening conflict, Amnesty said.

On Tuesday, Syrian forces killed as many as 148 people across the country, activists told al Arabiya.

The rights group said its investigators had found hundreds of civilians have been killed or injured in recent weeks “in the street, while running for cover or trying to shelter from the bombings,” according to AFP.

When was the last time angry Muslims had spontaneous deadly riots over events in Syria?

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Jordan Salafists hold emergency meeting over silly French cartoon. And issue a threat.

Yes, really:

Jordan's Salafi Jihadi Current is holding an urgent meeting on Wednesday to discuss the cartoons published by a French weekly that is deemed offensive to Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

"The West aims to offend Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through methodological plans and using the pretexts of democracy and freedom of expression," the Salafi Jihadi movement said.

"If the West considers offending the Prophet as freedom of expression, then let them be open to the reaction of Arabs and Muslims," he added.

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Wednesday links

From Ian:

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Genocides, unlike hurricanes, are predictable, says world expert. And Iran is following the pattern

Gregory Stanton, founder of Genocide Watch, says Iran has taken six of the eight steps on path to genocide. But it’s not late to follow Canada’s preventative lead
“Genocide is neither linear nor “inexorable.” It is, rather, predictable and preventable, so long as you recognize the universal signs. And Iran, in its language and action, has taken six of the eight steps on the path to genocide, according to Dr. Gregory Stanton, the world’s foremost expert on the matter.”

Abbas threatens to step down - Is it that day of the month already?


Iran's crazed gay bashers

Conspiracy is rife in certain sections of Iranian society when it comes to issues such as Israel, the US, and homosexuality. Sadly, mainstream media outlets also play their part
"The ideologues of the Islamic regime in Iran know all too well how to use external enemies to persecute enemies closer to home. According to those in power, the Jews, the Israelis, the United States, and even the West more generally are the causes of Iran’s domestic problems."

Daniel Pipes: Islamic violence advances Shariah law

"Western civilization in the balance: Islamist aspirations grow with improved communications and weakened Middle Eastern governments, ultimately posing an existential question for Westerners: Will we maintain our historic civilization against their challenge, or will we accept Muslim dominion and a second-class dhimmi status?”

Muslims Continue Showing Respect for Other People’s Religion

"That’s why when Muslims in Lebanon protested by tearing down posters of Pope Benedict, they were respecting religion. And when they rioted on the Jewish Temple Mount, more respect for religion. And when Muslims deface the Star of David, the symbol of the name of King David, a man they claim to consider a prophet, that’s just more respect for religion. With so much Muslim respect for religion out there, it’s hard to know if we can take any more."

Pakistan 'forced' scientist to trade secrets

Abdul Qadeer Khan, Pakistan's renegade nuclear scientist, claims he was ordered to sell nuclear secrets by Benazir Bhutto, the country's former prime minister.

IAEA renews pressure on Iran after 'terrorists' charge

The U.N. nuclear agency said on Tuesday that Iran must address concerns about its suspected atom bomb research, one day after Tehran alleged that "terrorists" had infiltrated the organization to sabotage the Islamic Republic's uranium enrichment plants.

Defected Syrian general: Damascus planned to send chemical weapons to Hezbollah

Adnan Sillu, formerly in charge of Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile, tells Times of London Assad has drawn up plans to gas rebels and civilians

Hamas Calls for Abbas to Resign After he says Israel Founded to ‘Remain’

Hamas demanded the resignation of Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas after Abbas said Israel “was founded in order to remain and not in order to vanish” as the result of a nuclear war with Iran, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reported Sept. 18.

CAIR Rep: Violence Shows It’s America That Needs to Change

Anti-American violence throughout the Muslim world, ostensibly over a cheap Internet film denigrating the Muslim prophet Muhammad, may be misguided, but it’s a result of “the lack of dignity, the lack of respect that they’re being shown.” And it’s up to America to change policies to calm things.

Honest Reporting: Israeli Cruise Review Sinks in Ocean of Garbage

“On September 15, Gabriella Le Breton published her review of a cruise to Israel in The Times of London. What followed was a stunning display of ignorance and a lack of fact checking.”

IDF Blog: Learn How to Defend Yourself — IDF Style (Episode 2)

The IDF incubator for Israel’s future CEOs

The top physics and math students in Israel are groomed for dazzling careers through an unusual military training program.

Millions of pounds to be spent on regenerative medicine research; millions of people to benefit

A UK-Israel scientific effort seeks to make new discoveries in stem cell therapy, molecular medicine, and other areas.

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Also, UNESCO Třebíč ghetto scene of denial of Jewish heritage (Missing Peace)

Plus, how Chinese describe the difference between how Jews and Chinese do business:

The difference between Jewish and Chinese people: A Jew opens a gas station in some place and business is very good. Then a second Jew comes along and opens a restaurant, and then third Jew opens a supermarket, and the place very quickly prospers. When a Chinese person opens a gas station and business is very good, the second Chinese will definitely open a second gas station, and then the third, the fourth… Competition is vicious and it’s no fun for anybody.

(h/t Russell)

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Copt gets six years for insulting Islam - and Morsi

Egypt Independent reports:

A Coptic Christian schoolteacher, Bishoy Kamel, has been sentenced to six years in prison for posting cartoons on Facebook deemed defamatory to Islam and the Prophet Mohamed, and for insulting President Mohamed Morsi and his family.
The Sohag Misdemeanour Court imposed the following sentences on Kamel: three years for defaming Islam and the Prophet Mohamed, two years for insulting the president, and one year for insulting Mohamed Safwat who made the allegations against him.

The prosecution said Kamel had used Facebook to deliberately defame the Prophet Mohamed. He had also insulted the president and shown contempt for society’s sacred symbols, the prosecution said.

Members of Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya and various Salafist groups attempted to attack Kamel when he was led out of the court after receiving his sentence. They pelted with rocks the police car used to transport him away from the court.

I would say that Morsi is a jerk for persecuting Copts who exercise free speech, but then I might be sentenced to prison too.

See also this similar story from January where the "insult" was a picture of Islamist Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

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Masked terrorists with AK-47s celebrate "Mohammed - Messenger of Peace"

The Al Qassam Martyrs' Brigades held a night-time rally in Gaza to show their support for Mohammed.

Their website shows lots of photographs (as does Palestine Times,) but this one photo says it all.

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"Amending" Camp David "a matter of time" says Morsi advisor

From Egypt Independent:

An adviser to President Mohamed Morsy has said that amending the 1979 peace treaty signed with Israel is "a matter of time," adding that such a move is necessary to restore full Egyptian control over Sinai.

Mohamed Essmat Seif al-Dawla, who has been publicly advocating the move, told Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jareeda in an interview published on Wednesday, "There is no reason for keeping a treaty unchanged for three decades."

He added that the 1979 accord "preserves Israel's national security more than Egypt's, which constitutes a blatant violation of Egyptian sovereignty," and that it would not endure under Egypt's new leaders.

Dawla, a member of the activist Kefaya movement and one the opponents of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, is an engineer and a researcher for national issues. He also belongs to an anti-Zionist group, according to state news agency MENA.

Egypt is receiving some $2 billion a year from the US as compensation for signing Camp David.

When they revoke it, will the US revoke the aid too?

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Iran trying hard to incite Muslim world against US, Israel

Ever since the inane "Innocence of Muslims" video was released (and if you think the trailer is bad, check out the apparent full video,) Iran has been in the forefront of trying to stoke the fires of rage in the Muslim world.

As usual, the Iranian leadership has been trying to use any excuse to appear as the leader of the entire Muslim world, and this event has seen a torrent of articles in the Iranian press variously blaming the release of the video on Jews, Americans, NATO and even Mormons - but always in cahoots with "Zionists."

Here is a video showing an ayatollah inciting his followers into attacking the US:

Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami: This wave of holy rage must turn into a hurricane or a tsunami against the US so that they will refrain from toying with what is holy to the Muslims. They should learn that toying with Islam and with its most honorable prophet is tantamount to playing with a lion's tail. They will pay a steep price for this. They have already paid for this, and they will pay more.

It is notable that Iranian media still pushes the lie of the "100 Jewish backers" of the video.

The cynicism is obvious, but it is so easy to manipulate the opinions of millions of naive Muslims.

While the Danish cartoon controversy died down after a week or so, Iran is doing everything it can to stoke the fires of this fake outrage.

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The Charlie Hebdo caricature of Mohammed

From YNet:

French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo published cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed on Wednesday, a decision criticized by the French authorities which sent riot police to protect the magazine's offices.

The magazine's front cover showed an Orthodox Jew pushing a turbaned figure in a wheelchair and several caricatures of the Prophet were included on its inside pages, including some of him naked.

The publication comes in the midst of widespread outrage over an anti-Muslim film posted on the Internet. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius criticized Charlie Hebdo's decision as a provocation and said he had ordered security beefed up at French diplomatic offices in the Muslim world.

Charlie Hebdo's Paris offices were fire bombed last November after it published a mocking caricature of Mohammad. In 2005, Danish cartoons of the Prophet sparked a wave of violent protests across the Muslim world that killed at least 50 people.

The cover makes fun of the recent French movie hit, The Intouchables, and shows a Chassidic Jew pushing a wheelchair of a Muslim as they both say "Must not laugh!"

And here is the image that will probably get the offices of Charlie Hebdo firebombed, a spoof of Mohammed as Brigitte Bardot with the caption "The film that embraces the Muslim world:":

By the way, the Onion acidly satirized the Mohammed video kerfuffle with a pornographic cartoon that is way too explicit to be shown here, under the headline "No one murdered because of this image":

Following the publication of the image above, in which the most cherished figures from multiple religious faiths were depicted engaging in a lascivious sex act of considerable depravity, no one was murdered, beaten, or had their lives threatened, sources reported Thursday. The image of the Hebrew prophet Moses high-fiving Jesus Christ as both are [undergoing a sex act by] Ganesha, all while the Hindu deity [performs a sex act on] Buddha with his fist, reportedly went online at 6:45 p.m. EDT, after which not a single bomb threat was made against the organization responsible, nor did the person who created the cartoon go home fearing for his life in any way. Though some members of the Jewish, Christian, Hindu, and Buddhist faiths were reportedly offended by the image, sources confirmed that upon seeing it, they simply shook their heads, rolled their eyes, and continued on with their day.

UPDATE: More cartoons from the issue.

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Who's right, Romney or the PLO?

Over the past couple of days, Mitt Romney was slammed for saying, among other things:

I'm torn by two perspectives in this regard. One is the one which I've had for some time, which is that the Palestinians have no interest whatsoever in establishing peace, and that the pathway to peace is almost unthinkable to accomplish. Now why do I say that? Some might say, well, let's let the Palestinians have the West Bank, and have security, and set up a separate nation for the Palestinians. And then come a couple of thorny questions. And I don't have a map here to look at the geography, but the border between Israel and the West Bank is obviously right there, right next to Tel Aviv, which is the financial capital, the industrial capital of Israel, the center of Israel. It's—what the border would be? Maybe seven miles from Tel Aviv to what would be the West Bank…The other side of the West Bank, the other side of what would be this new Palestinian state would either be Syria at one point, or Jordan. And of course the Iranians would want to do through the West Bank exactly what they did through Lebanon, what they did near Gaza. Which is that the Iranians would want to bring missiles and armament into the West Bank and potentially threaten Israel. So Israel of course would have to say, "That can't happen. We've got to keep the Iranians from bringing weaponry into the West Bank." Well, that means that—who? The Israelis are going to patrol the border between Jordan, Syria, and this new Palestinian nation? Well, the Palestinians would say, "Uh, no way! We're an independent country. You can't, you know, guard our border with other Arab nations." And now how about the airport? How about flying into this Palestinian nation? Are we gonna allow military aircraft to come in and weaponry to come in? And if not, who's going to keep it from coming in? Well, the Israelis. Well, the Palestinians are gonna say, "We're not an independent nation if Israel is able to come in and tell us what can land in our airport." These are problems—these are very hard to solve, all right? And I look at the Palestinians not wanting to see peace anyway, for political purposes, committed to the destruction and elimination of Israel, and these thorny issues, and I say, "There's just no way." And so what you do is you say, "You move things along the best way you can." You hope for some degree of stability, but you recognize that this is going to remain an unsolved problem. We live with that in China and Taiwan. All right, we have a potentially volatile situation but we sort of live with it, and we kick the ball down the field and hope that ultimately, somehow, something will happen and resolve it. We don't go to war to try and resolve it imminently.

Outside of Romney's idea that the West Bank borders Syria, and a little oversimplification, this is pretty accurate. Even under the most rosy scenarios, the chances that a Palestinian Arab state would end up being controlled by Iranian proxies within a couple of years is unacceptably high. After all, Hamas did win the last elections, and Gaza today could easily be the West Bank tomorrow.

But here was the reaction from the PLO's envoy to the US:

"The leaked statements by the Republican presidential nominee once again show complete ignorance of facts and realities regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Maen Areikat said in a statement.

"Romney’s allegations that Palestinians are committed to the destruction of Israel are baseless given the fact that Palestinians have expressed support for the two-state solution, and repeatedly recognized Israel’s right to exist."

And here is what Saeb Erekat said:

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat said Tuesday that comments by US Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney that the Palestinians did not want peace were “absolutely unacceptable.”

“We consider these statements absolutely unacceptable,” he told AFP.

“No one has an interest in peace more than the Palestinian people, because peace for the Palestinian people and the Palestinian leadership means freedom and independence from the Israeli occupation,” Erakat said.

So let's look at the numbers.

The latest PSR poll for which we have the full results, from June 2012, shows that 49% of Palestinian Arabs oppose a two-state solution.

The last Bir Zeit poll (from 2007) showed that 67.5% of those polled preferred a solution where Israel is destroyed.

In the latest PCPO poll from February only 15% supported peace negotiations, as opposed to an imposed solution or a new intifada.

And The Israel Project poll last year showed that the vast majority of those who said they wanted a two-state solution wanted it as a stage to take over all of the area and destroy Israel.

Of course, you can look at this video and see how many Palestinian Arab organizations show their desire for a two-state solution:




On balance, it seems that Romney's off-the-cuff remarks reflect reality more than the outraged soundbites of the PLO's official liars.

But what about the official position of the PLO itself? Surely it supports two states, right?

Well, yes - as long as both states are Arab-majority.

The PLO and the PA has consistently and adamantly refused to accept the formulation of "two states for two peoples." They want "Palestine" to be allowed to ethnically cleanse some half million Jews from its borders, while insisting that Israel must accept millions of Arabs as full citizens in the 1949 armistice lines. I've documented this exhaustively.

Erekat and Areikat are feigning offense at being told what they in fact believe themselves. But if you don't believe me, just find a reporter to ask them the question plainly: do you support two states for two peoples? We know what the answer would be.

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(By the way, since Romney's leaked remarks are so newsworthy, when are we ever going to see the videotape of Obama's 2003 remarks at the dinner honoring Rashid Khalidi? Why is one off-the-record video leaked and the other one purposefully buried by the media? What is the line between good journalism and partisanship?)

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Muslims claim Jews wearing priestly garments storm Al Aqsa

Qudsmedia "reports:"

Extremists and settlers broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque dressed as priests of the alleged Temple and performed Talmudic rituals especially in various parts of the al-Aqsa mosque, guarded by Israeli occupation forces. They stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the afternoon and wandered at the Dome of the Rock, and then led biblical and Talmudic rituals, despite the attempts by Aqsa Mosque guards to prevent it.

In recent days in the al-Aqsa mosque, it was noted that there are extremists and settlers deliberately if surreptitiously performing some biblical rituals in al-Aqsa mosque, wearing clothes for the "priests of the Temple", and then walked the path specified around the Aqsa mosque, and performed multiple biblical and Talmudic rituals, provocatively and noticeably, especially when they came out of the al-Aqsa mosque towards the door, some barefoot.

Here is what these dangerous stormers looked like:

Two of them are wearing kittels, a white garment that some Jews wear on Rosh Hashanah. It is not a priestly garment. (The guy with the earflaps is not exactly wearing a priestly garment either!)

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Tuesday night links

From Ian:

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Berlin Jewish Museum event calls for Israel boycott

Jewish institution hosts Judith Butler, who renews support of BDS movement; 700-strong audience cheers boycott call.
"The German taxpayer-funded museum’s decision to showcase a speaker in the capital city, which during the Nazi period served as the launching pad for a boycott movement against German-Jewish businesses, has raised eyebrows about the management’s direction of the museum.
In an email to The Jerusalem Post on Saturday, Professor Gerald Steinberg, who heads the Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor, termed the cultural institution the “Berlin anti-Jewish Museum.”

PM Netanyahu on Meet the Press (VIDEO)


Arabs Try To Burn Books of Psalms on Mount of Olives

Three Arab youths were caught Saturday night desecrating Jewish holy books at a sacred Jewish cemetery in Jerusalem.

Merkel: Still hope for political solution on Iran

German chancellor says Tehran poses a threat not just to Israel, but to the whole world, yet political solutions have not been exhausted; EU foreign policy chief to meet Iranian negotiator as IAEA talks continue.

Australia: Girl, 8, calls on Islamic youth to back jihad

"AS PM Julia Gillard struggled to explain how Muslim children could be used to incite violence, eight-year-old Ruqaya yesterday fronted a congress of Islamic fundamendalists in Sydney to espouse her love for jihad. Addressing a 600-strong crowd at the Australian chapter of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Bankstown in the city's west, the young girl urged all Muslim youth to fight for the restoration of the Islamic caliphate, a single global government for all Muslims established under strict sharia law."

In anti-Islam movie furor, a filmmaker’s lies have legs

Many still believe an Israeli-American real estate developer named Sam Bacile made movie, and that 100 Jews funded it
"Still, there are those who continue to cling to the false notion that Jews were behind the film. Days after the Jewish connection was shown to be a fiction, the English-language website of Iran’s Press TV was repeatedly citing the disproved reports that the film was made by Jews. Meanwhile, Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a statement blaming “evil Zionists” and the US government for the film."

Innocence of Muslims: A Review

Liberals used to mock conservatives for worrying that violent and sexually explicit movies could have an impact on audiences - now they don't question it.
"I watched a ten-minute clip of the movie because a) I wanted to know what all the fuss was about and b) I write film criticism professionally and have an interest in movies that cause a stir. It is the worst film I have ever seen that didn’t star Adrian Grenier. The acting is terrible, the plotting non-existent, the cinematography amateur, and the tone vicious and bigoted. It’s like The Birth of a Nation as directed by Ed Wood."

French Jewry alerted to watch out for ‘fake Jews’

Local security services say terror groups may try to conduct reconnaissance and gain access to community buildings

Hamas calls on Egypt to reconsider shutting smuggling tunnels
Haniyeh and Mashaal to visit Cairo on Monday and discuss tunnels, economy and reconciliation

Rosh Hashanah in purgatory

My father, Alexander Breuer, fled the Nazis in 1938, only to return several years later with the US Army. He was among the first Americans to enter Buchenwald and witness, firsthand, the decimation of European Jewry. And on the scorched earth of occupied Germany, in 1945, he celebrated the High Holidays

Mitt Romney Recalls His Trip to Israel in Rosh Hashana Message VIDEO

New Book on William Cooper

A new book has been written about William Cooper, the Aboriginal who lead a march to the German Consulate to protest Kristellnacht in 1938…one of the few recorded protests world-wide.

Muslim Rage & The Last Gasp of Islamic Hate

Once again the streets of the Arab world are burning with false outrage. But we must hold our heads up high. Ayaan Hirsi Ali on how she survived Muslim rage—and how we can end it.
"How often have I endured bizarre conversations with government officials who cling to the illusion that the threat is temporary or that it can be negotiated. And then there are the even more delusional positions staked out by some prominent intellectuals who blame the writer, the politician, the filmmaker, or the cartoonist for provoking the threat. In the days after van Gogh was murdered, too many prominent Dutch individuals expressed precisely this position, declaring smugly, “Yes, of course killing is wrong, but Theo was a provocateur ...” Will they never cease looking for ever more ingenious ways of apologizing for free speech?"

Islamic Terror and the American Story

"Islamic terrorism has been part of the American story, since the first (1801-1805) and the second (1815) U.S. wars against Libya, Tunisia and Algeria-based Muslim pirates. Anti-U.S. Islamic terrorism has been fueled by Islam’s imperialistic vision, inflamed by core American values — irrespective of American national security policy — systematically and deliberately targeting innocent Americans in the U.S. and abroad."

The psychology of the Muslim rioter
Muslims are frustrated with themselves. By directing anger towards the West, they are providing a distraction

Ryan: Obama Admin Treats 'Israel with Indifference Bordering on Contempt'

Speaking at the Values Voter Summit on Friday, Ryan said the Obama admin treats "Israel with indifference bordering on contempt." Obama's critics on this issue cite his administration's hesitance to stand with Israel should they strike Iran, their refusal to set red lines that might prevent a strike from being necessary in the first place, and Obama's recent decision to meet with David Letterman instead of Israeli PM Netanyahu as evidence of this indifference.

Maureen Dowd Goes Borderline Anti-Semitic: 'Neocons Slither Back'

"Maureen Dowd, on the eve of Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish new year, decided to write a column dripping with anti-Semitism to attack Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan’s hardline positions on the Middle East and national defense. In her rant, titled “Neocons Slither Back” Dowd used ancient anti-Semitic imagery."

Syria Tested Chemical Weapons Systems, Witnesses Say

"The Syrian army is believed to have tested missile systems for poison gas shells at the end of August, statements from various witnesses indicate.
The tests took place near a chemical weapons research center at Safira east of Aleppo, witnesses told SPIEGEL. A total of five or six empty shells devised for delivering chemical agents were fired by tanks and aircraft, at a site called Diraiham in the desert near the village of Khanasir. "

Khamenei blames 'Zionists' as Iranians protest film

Supreme leader says West must prove its innocence in US-made anti-Islam film; Iran FM asks UN's Ban to take legal action.

Iran claims its nuclear facilities could now survive enemy ‘missile attacks and raids’

"Iran’s nuclear chief said Monday that “terrorists and saboteurs” might have infiltrated the International Atomic Energy Agency in an effort to derail his nation’s atomic program. He also said his country’s nuclear facilities could now survive enemy attack."

Iran: Saboteurs cut power lines to nuclear bunker

Explosives used to cut power to Fordow plant last month, Iranian nuke chief claims; says "terrorists" have infiltrated IAEA.
Explosives were used to cut the electricity power lines to Iran's Fordow underground enrichment plant last month in an apparent attempt to sabotage Tehran's atomic advances, its nuclear energy chief said on Monday.

Freedom House: 'Arab Spring' countries at risk

Report finds that democratic governance declined worldwide in 2011, ME and N. African states may slip back into dictatorships.

Gaza court convicts 4 for Italian activist's murder

"Three of the defendants were identified by the Hamas-run court as Hamas security men who had been working for the Salafi group for ideological reasons. Two received life sentences and one was jailed for 10 years. The men flashed defiant smiles as the sentences were handed down.
The fourth man, a fisherman, fled Gaza after the killing and was sentenced in absentia to 12 months. Two other men were killed in a gun battle with Hamas forces trying to rescue Arrigoni."

Pro-Hamas bloc wins control of UNRWA union in Gaza

Islamist coalition takes 25 out of 27 seats among 10,000 Palestinian workers
The development underscores Hamas’ influence among Gaza’s professionals even though it has been criticized lately for ignoring the needs of the poor.

Egypt’s Islamic TV talks with iron Salafist

A Muslim cleric hosting an Egyptian television show recently outlined his version of Islamic instructions for wife-beating. In another show, a cleric claimed that the Muslim Brotherhood, now governing Egypt, one day will rule the world.

PM Erdogan: Islamophobia should be recognized as crime against humanity

Pakistani Protester Burns American Flag and Dies From Smoke

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