Quick Roundup 81

CAIR "Condemns" Possible Terrorist Attack

In the past, I have often asked, rhetorically, why, whenever it is the Moslem community's turn to condemn the latest atrocity committed in the name of Islam, it seems that the only sound I hear from those quarters is the deafening roar of chirping crickets.

After the latest possibly Islam-inspired attack on American soil, in which a Moslem shot six people in a Jewish center, it would seem at first glance that I can move on to another line of questioning.

However, taking a cue from the moonbat left, where the definition of "apology" may as well be "a denial of wrongdoing", CAIR has decided that "condemn" means "to blame the aggressor and the victim equally".

In a statement, the Washington-based Islamic civil rights and advocacy group said:

"We condemn this senseless attack on a religious institution and offer sincere condolences to the loved ones of those killed or injured. The American Muslim and Jewish communities must do whatever is within their power to prevent the current conflict in the Middle East from being transplanted to this country. We also urge local, state and national law enforcement authorities to step up security measures at synagogues, mosques and other religious institutions of both faiths." [bold added]

Protect the mosques, eh? As if Jews run around indiscriminantly maiming and murdering without provocation.

Or am I reading this wrong? Has CAIR finally come to its senses and realized that our government is right to place mosques "and other religious institutions" of Islam under surveillance while followers of that faith remain at war with this country? That is the only way I can think of to keep the "current (!) conflict in the Middle East from being transplanted to this country".

But somehow, I doubt it.

Better there than here.

Is the criminal refuse that Katrina littered the rest of the country with washing back to New Orleans? It seems so.

Police were investigating six fatal shootings that occurred within 24 hours, the latest round of killings as the city struggles to rein in violence that has shadowed the recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

Three brothers and a friend were killed in a neighborhood not far from the French Quarter, and two other people were gunned down in separate incidents hours later, authorities said Saturday.

But is New Orleans going to do anything about its ineffective criminal justice system?

"The spotlight Katrina put on the city showed the real reason for these murders -- abject poverty and a poor education system," [the appropriately-named city councilman James] Carter said. "We have to go from looking at this as a strict law enforcement situation and take a more holistic approach." [bold added]

Apparently not. But at least the appetite of the local government for federal handouts seems to have "recovered"....

Not that I am particularly happy about this turn of events, but if they are followed with a drop in Houston's crime rate, there will at least be a silver lining.

Ben Franklin on Beer

I see that Matt May has an amusing quotation about beer by Benjamin Franklin posted on his blog.

But does he own the tee shirt, as I do?

Sippin' the Google Juice

It's interesting sometimes what can get a blog extra hits. Probably the single post that has gotten my blog the most search-related hits over time is my review of Sam Harris's The End of Faith. That's a steady, near-daily trickle. Another post, on a national treasure hunt, got me lots of hits from -- erm -- clue-seekers for quite awhile soon after I started blogging.

But a week or so ago, I got tons of Google referrals for several days because of this post, about anamorphic illusions and the sidewalk art of Julian Beever, after his work resurfaced in the news media. (I seem to recall BBC as the original source, but can't find the story easily enough now.)

AMLO -- Again

It looks more and more like the worst-case scenario for the aftermath of the Mexican presidential election as far as where Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wishes to take it. Recall what he said not so long ago:

Lopez Obrador has vowed to fight the outcome in the courts. And though he's asking supporters to take to the streets, he urged them to be peaceful.

"We don't want to affect the citizens. This is not about blocking highways," he said. "This is, and will continue being, a peaceful movement."

My reaction to this was:

[C]an anyone honestly believe that AMLO thinks his followers will take his calls for peaceful assembly seriously, given his past record and the fact that he doubtless understands who supports him? AMLO has been speaking of peace for the benefit of the gullible reporters and politicians from El Norte while setting the stage for a huge confrontation when his silly request is thrown out as being unwarranted under Mexican law. He knows this and so do his followers.

Well, now we have it straight from the horse's mouth.

Lopez Obrador argues that a complete recount is the only viable solution to avoid long-term social turmoil.

"That is the rational and sensible decision," Lopez Obrador said Sunday.

"That is the political and legal solution that best suits Mexico and democracy.

"If they shut off the democratic paths, only submission or violence remain. For that reason, we have to defend democracy and make it worthwhile."

Lopez Obrador said he will be among the protesters occupying the Zocalo. Ranking members of his political coalition will take up posts in the plaza and along the Reforma, he said.

He ordered followers taking part in the sit-ins not to damage public property or provoke confrontations. [bold added]

Got that? AMLO winks while planting the seeds for what he wants his followers to do. The whole time, he is posing as a champion of law and order even as he demands something contrary to Mexican law. His goons will thus erupt into violence only when the electoral court "provokes" them by "shutting off" "democratic paths" (i.e., by upholding the law), leaving them with no "choice" since we all know that brave AMLO will never "submit".

Events in the Mexican state of Oaxaca sound eerily similar to recent stirrings in Mexico City. Not good.

It is obvious that AMLO has no intention of accepting rule of law here. No matter what the outcome -- unless the court tells AMLO to count every ballot himself, personally -- he will have ample room to complain about bias if it involves what he pretends to want: actually counting votes. (And if the court did, he'd complain that they were asking the impossible of him.) More on this here.

-- CAV