Magruder's Law

"Combat inevitably sinks to the lowest common denominator of the combatants. If you like to wrestle in the mud and your opponent likes to gouge out eyes, then sooner or later you will both be eye-gouging in the mud."

I missed this editorial from last month but it captures the essence of what I have come to believe. There will be a tipping point. It may be a massive terrorist attack, a political assassination or perhaps just some small but horrifying event that captures the attention of the world. When it happens the West will finally come to the sobering conclusion that the battle we find ourselves in is existential in nature. That day will be a bad day for the West. It will be a disastrous day for our enemies.

In the piece Jacques Dhervillez uses two vivid examples from WWII:

At the start of WWII, England fought in a gentlemanly fashion, not hitting until they were first hit and scrupulously confining themselves to military targets. Then Hitler flagrantly violated that covenant by bombing civilian neighborhoods in London and other British cities, with the sole objective of terrorizing the British people. It took a few years but when the Allies had the power to retaliate they used it, bombing German cities with a rather half-hearted regard for whether targets were military or civilian and needlessly annihilating Dresden in what many think was a payback for Coventry. In the end, over ten percent of Germany's people died in the war.

Japan pulled off the ultimate terrorist attack at Pearl Harbor, killing over 2,400 people. Our immediate response was what would nowadays be called "proportionate"--Doolttle's daylight raid on Tokyo. But our anger festered over the years and was fed by news of later atrocities such as the Bataan death march. The end result was Hiroshima and Nagasaki and nearly a million dead Japanese.. I know that all sorts of pragmatic arguments were advanced, even cogent ones, but I contend that if Pearl Harbor had not occurred, we probably would not have used our atomic weapons.

Dhervillez lays out the path to disaster if the goal of obtaining nuclear weapons is ever achieved by Islamic terrorist willing to use them:

Bear in mind that you are planning such an attack against the biggest nuclear power in the world and the only one that has actually used nuclear weapons against an enemy. The only thing that restrained us during the Cold War, aside from fear of reprisal, was a mutually agreed upon taboo. If an Islamic power violates that taboo and uses nuclear weapons against the US, what form do you think our retaliation will take? And how "proportionate" do you think it will be?

"Massively Disproportionate" is Dhervillez's prediction. Read the whole thing.

The last email I sent to my liberal doppelganger in Chicagoland ended with the line:

One day even the most strident anti-Christian zealots will realize that a strong organized Christian movement able to coexist and thrive in secular society is a bulwark against creeping Islamo-facism. I hope by then it’s not too late.

Three days later I find an unlikely ally in Sam Harris, author of the anti-religion tome "The End of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason". His editorial "Head-in-the-Sand Liberals" describes the natural alliance I wrote about. To get the ball rolling Harris spells out his liberal pedigree:

Perhaps I should establish my liberal bone fides at the outset. I'd like to see taxes raised on the wealthy, drugs decriminalized and homosexuals free to marry. I also think that the Bush administration deserves most of the criticism it has received in the last six years — especially with respect to its waging of the war in Iraq, its scuttling of science and its fiscal irresponsibility.

Not much for conservatives to cheer about so far. But the years since "Faith" have lead him to one difficult, inescapable truth:

But my correspondence with liberals has convinced me that liberalism has grown dangerously out of touch with the realities of our world — specifically with what devout Muslims actually believe about the West, about paradise and about the ultimate ascendance of their faith.

On questions of national security, I am now as wary of my fellow liberals as I am of the religious demagogues on the Christian right.

This may seem like frank acquiescence to the charge that "liberals are soft on terrorism." It is, and they are.

Harris catalogs the left's decent into irrationality:

At its most extreme, liberal denial has found expression in a growing subculture of conspiracy theorists who believe that the atrocities of 9/11 were orchestrated by our own government. A nationwide poll conducted by the Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University found that more than a third of Americans suspect that the federal government "assisted in the 9/11 terrorist attacks or took no action to stop them so the United States could go to war in the Middle East;" 16% believe that the twin towers collapsed not because fully-fueled passenger jets smashed into them but because agents of the Bush administration had secretly rigged them to explode.

He even notes the extent BDS (Bush Derangement Syndrome) has clouded the views of his fellow liberals:

Given the mendacity and shocking incompetence of the Bush administration — especially its mishandling of the war in Iraq — liberals can find much to lament in the conservative approach to fighting the war on terror. Unfortunately, liberals hate the current administration with such fury that they regularly fail to acknowledge just how dangerous and depraved our enemies in the Muslim world are.

Harris understates the effect of BDS on the irrational left. 9-11 denial is only the most recent, fully metastasized, form of the disease. The path of this madness is a linear progression. Stealing the 2000 election begat lying us into war, which begat stealing the 2004 election which came full circle to Bush knocking down those buildings. The "Loose Change" crowd has become so mainstream the Democrats are running a 9-11 denier for congress this fall. The left sees Bush as a paradoxical unholy trinity: malevolent despot, Machiavellian puppet master and incompetent boob all in one person. That’s why the following statements can simulatiously coesxits in the minds of most Democrats:

• Bush lied us into war over WMDs.
• Bush fooled the US Senate, Hans Blix, the CIA and the combined intelligence services of Britain, France, Egypt, Jordan and Russia into to believing in WMDs.
• Bush was too stupid to: A) comprehend political damage of not finding WMDs ... and ... B) plant the WMDs there when he had the chance.

I don't agree with all of Harris' observations, particularly when he concludes that the only people willing to do battle with Muslim extremist are Christian Extremist:

Increasingly, Americans will come to believe that the only people hard-headed enough to fight the religious lunatics of the Muslim world are the religious lunatics of the West. Indeed, it is telling that the people who speak with the greatest moral clarity about the current wars in the Middle East are members of the Christian right, whose infatuation with biblical prophecy is nearly as troubling as the ideology of our enemies. Religious dogmatism is now playing both sides of the board in a very dangerous game.

I know mainstream Christians, Jews, and athiest who are willing to acknowledge dangers we face and vote accordingly. You don't need to be a Christian extremist to fight religious lunatics. Christians and secular humanist are natural allies when it comes to apposing the common enemy of Islamic fundamentalism.

Do I hear and Amen?

In case you wondering where scenes like this are born....



You must watch the movie "Obsession: Radical Islamic War Against the West". A 60 minute version of the film is available for order but the full length version is still being shown in special theatrical engagements.

If you are moved please consider thoughtfully of buying a full length version at the movie's official site here.

UPDATE: As expected the links have come down. You can search Google Video and YouTube as well the official website to see clips an trailers of the movie.

Expect the Pope's quote earlier this week to spark the next Cartoon Jihad. This issue will be whipped up to fever pitch in anticipation of the Pontiff's planned visit to Turkey in November. I predict that trip will ultimately have to be cancelled.

An AP Article delivers the quote of the day:

"Anyone who describes Islam as a religion as intolerant encourages violence"

-Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam

You can't make up better stuff than that.

Road to the Takeover III


At long last the Democrat plan to take back the House and Senate is unveiled. The fact it was released late on a Friday afternoon (Washington's favorite time to dump bad information) may say more about the Dem's faith in the plan than anything else.

Right form San Fran Nan's web site here are the bullet points of the Plan (and my comments in red):

MAKE HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE

Fix the prescription drug program by putting people ahead of drug companies and HMOs, eliminating wasteful subsidies, negotiating lower drug prices and ensuring the program works for all seniors; invest in stem cell and other medical research.

At least its not Hillary-care. Lets expand on the huge pill give away the Republicans have already saddled us with.

LOWER GAS PRICES AND ACHIEVE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

Crack down on price gouging; eliminate billions in subsidies for oil and gas companies and use the savings to provide consumer relief and develop American alternatives, including biofuels; promote energy efficient technology.

Funny how the oil companies forgot how to gouge us when oil was $10 dollars a barrel. Notice what is not here: a plan for brining more energy on line, Like drilling in Alaska.

HELP WORKING FAMILIES
Raise the minimum wage; repeal tax giveaways that encourage companies to move jobs overseas.

CUT COLLEGE COSTS
Make college tuition deductible from taxes; expand Pell grants and cut student loan costs.

ENSURE DIGNIFIED RETIREMENT
Prevent the privatization of Social Security; expand savings incentives; ensure pension fairness.

No Social Security reform, just more of the same ponzi scheme. Harry and Nan will be long gone by the time it all flies apart.

REQUIRE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
Restore the budget discipline of the 1990s that helped eliminate deficits and spur record economic growth.

Who was running Congress during the 90s when we had all those surpluses?

The first time I read this I had the nagging suspicion I was missing something. What could it be? Hmm.. Oh I know.......

The War!!

Biofuels, pell grants and minimum wage, but not a single word on the biggest issue facing this nation. Was this even intended to be taken seriously?

A Tale of 2 Quotes

It is essential to acknowledge that the war itself was a mistake. ... It was wrong, and I was wrong to vote for that Iraqi war resolution.
John Kerry, June 13, 2006 Speaking to Take Back America Convention

I've come to not only look you in the eye. I've also come to tell you that when America gives its word, it keeps its word.
George Bush, Baghdad Iraq, June 13,2000

In one speech, Monday Morning Quarterback John Kerry reversed 4 years worth of Senatorial votes and multiple positions taken during a Presidential campaign. Should have known he'd vote against the war....after he voted for the war.

Rove Cleared

This morning Demorcrats woke up to the "sad news" Karl Rove has been cleared in the Valerie Plame case that has excited the left for so long.

Not that the facts have any impact on a party which has built its Fall campaign on the "Culture of Curruption" bumper sticker:

"If Karl Rove had been indicted it would have been for perjury. That does not excuse his real sin which is leaking the name of an intelligence operative during the time of war. He doesn't belong in the White House. If the President valued America more than he valued his connection to Karl Rove, then Karl Rove would have been fired a long time ago. So I think this is probably good news for the White House, but its not very good news for America"

-Howard Dean 6/13/2006

Of course the Dean strategery was best expressed by another Democrat icon:

"When you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. When you have the law on your side, argue the law. When you have neither, holler."
-Al Gore

Road to the Takeover II

In a fit of unbridled candor Democrat Jim Moran reveals his reason for wanting to take House control back for or his party: "When I become chairman [of a House appropriations subcommittee], I'm going to earmark the shit out of it".

The article goes on to say:

Moran, D-8th, told those attending the Arlington County Democratic Committee's annual Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner on June 9 that while he in theory might oppose the fiscal irresponsibility of earmarks - funneling money to projects in a member of Congress's district - he understands the value they have to constituents.

What he recognizes is their value to his political career.

Haditha Questions

If we have learned anything from Memogate, Katrina or coal mine disasters, its that we must be skeptical of early reporting. Especially reporting from a war (or war like) zone. Especially if the reporter may have a political axe to grind.

I don't know what is going on with the Haditha investigation. It very well may be a group a marines went out of control and committed a war crime. But we have seen examples of manufactured cases against American and British soldiers that fell apart under evidentiary examination.

In that vain take a look at this narrative from the American Thinker.

UPDATE: Today's Washington Post carries a first hand account of one of the Marines involved in the incident. In his version of events an IED killed a member of the patrol. The patrol then took fire from houses in the area. What followed was an aggressive search an destroy mission to eliminate the insurgents which were firing on them. While the account does raise questions about what the proper rules of engagement in such a situation should be, its quite different from what Democrat Majority Leader Hopeful Jack "we can never win" Murtha has been saying.

Road to the Takeover

Apparently this week's "moral victory" in California has Democrats dreaming of the return to House and Senate control. They are so giddy with enthusiasm that they began fighting over the spoils of majority rule. Jack "we can never win" Murtha announced his intention be to be majority leader if Nancy Pelosi becomes Speaker of the house. Pelosi and Murtha, now there is a dream team.

All of this is kinda like the Dallas City Council planning the Cowboys Superbowl parade in August.

Speed Bump on the Road to the Takeover

In the fight for California's 50th Congressional district Democrats had:

• A disgraced Republican Congressman in prison.
  
• That nifty "The Culture of Corruption"™ chant.
  
• Got the word out illegal aliens didn't need papers to vote.
• An unpoplular Republican President and Congress

What could have gone wrong?
Oh yeah, an election happened. That's where most Democrat dreams go to die.

Just becasue I like this image....



With any luck he is sharing a room in hell with Jeffrey Dahmer

Looking for Common Ground

The national debate over same sex marriage is at an impasse. Those who oppose a redefinition of marriage do not have the political strength to pass a constitutional amendment. Wednesday's Senate defeat of the amendment garnered only 49 votes, a single vote more than it got 2 years ago. It needs 67 to clear the Senate. On the other hand same sex marriage advocates suffer landslide defeats every time the issue is put on the ballot. Even in California, even in Oregon. They depend on activist judges to give them the victories they can not secure via the political process.

Wednesday's Wall Street Journal had a good editorial on the issue. The last paragraph offers a suggestion for proponents:

As for liberals, they might consider that their best chance to change minds is through open state debate, not coercive courts. Polls show Americans are becoming more comfortable with civil unions and other gay rights. In fact, the best thing gay activists could do for themselves at the federal level would be to support repeal of the death tax, since under current law gay couples often lack inheritance rights. That would accomplish more than anything that will emerge from this week's political spectacle over amending the Constitution.

To this I would add supporting Social Security reform allowing recipients more control over survivor benefits, another conservative idea.

Memorial Day 2006

If you have a few minutes, take time from the yard work, grilling and summer fun to remember why we take a day to remember those lost and those still with us who have sacrificed so much in our names.

These interviews were conducted by Laura Ingraham at Walter Reed Hospital. No platitudes I can add speak as much as these men in their own words.

Jason Scott

Brent Jorgensen

The Mohammad Cartoons

There is very little I can add to this weeks outrage brought to you by the Muslim Street. Below are a series of links which put the incident into perspective. Starting with an editorial by Mark Steyn which drives home the problem of when multi-cultualism is used as a weapon against the "tolerant".

The Cartoons were first run in a Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten in September and were met resentment by the local Muslim community. Some local imams unable to incite the uprisings locally took their show on the road late last year through Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. Included in their portfolio of offensive cartoons were the original 12 that had run in the Danish newspaper and 3 others more pornographic in nature that no one seems to know the origin of.

Several European newspapers republished the Jyllands-Posten cartoons this week in a support of feedom of speech. As far as I know no major US papers have. CNN and other networks do not show the cartoons "Out of respect for the Muslim community". Somehow I don't remember this same standard when a crucifix immersed in a jar of urine was called art.

Throughout the week protest spread throughout the middle east and Europe.

This weekend the violence has intensified. Yesterday after the burning of embassies in Lebanon a Christian church was stoned. Today a Catholic Priest in Turkey was gunned down in church.

For more complete coverage of the controversy visit Michelle Malkin and Little Green Footballs. Lest I forget here are the offending cartoons themselves.