Give Me Non-Islamic Clothes or Give Me Death

Source: Posted Toronto – Girl, 16, dies after hijab dispute with father (Rob Roberts)
In Mississuagua Canada (near Toronto) a young woman is murdered by her father. Why? Because she would not wear the clothing he demanded her to wear. That is she would not cover up properly.

The 16-year-old Mississauga girl who was allegedly strangled by her father in a dispute over her refusal to wear the hijab has died. Aqsa Parvez, a Grade 11 student at Applewood Heights, succumbed to her injuries late last night, Peel Regional Police said today.

The girl’s 57-year-old father, Muhammad Parvez, has been charged with muder. Aqsa’s 26-year-old brother, Waqas Parvez, has been charged with obstructing police.

Friends believe Aqsa (seen above in a personal photo) was the victim of a dispute over the teenager's desire to be more western. “She wanted to live her life the way she wanted to, not the way her parents wanted her to,” classmate Krista Garbhet told the Post this morning.

Source: Posted Toronto – Girl, 16, dies after hijab dispute with father (Rob Roberts) Such a pity. When this family left their native land they took this ugly custom with them. We in the West want to welcome all who want to share in the promise of liberty, but leave your illiberal traditions at home, after all, isn't there a reason you left?

However, here are one of Mohamad Parvez's enabler's interviewing Ayan Hirsi Ali:
Ayan Hirsi Ali had to fight against the likes of Muhamad Parvez and a combination of wits, luck, and the Almighty got Ayan out of the Aqsa's fate (to date as Ayan is marked for death). Wonder if those who knee jerkingly detest Ayan (i.e. Westerner's, the Islamists detest her) see what Ayan escaped and why they should support her.

I give the standard disclaimer about innocence and hope if Mr. Mohamad Parvez and his son are convicted in the death of Aqsa they become someone's boyfriends and they stay awake all night long in fear the food is haram. Stash them in the bowels of the prison and never tell them which way is Mecca, why should they get to observe the tenets of their faith on my in-laws (we have family in Canada) dime observing all the customs of something that obviously instilled them with barbarism?

Now, do not get me wrong or believe I am on the fence about this. However, if a Muslim woman in the West voluntarily covers up, I have no problem with that. I do buy (at least partially) the argument that too often women here in the West are commoditified (i.e. turned into commoditys) that there is way too much pressure upon women to be sex toys for men. In fact, given time perhaps Aqsa would have learned it first hand and reverted to covering (at least partially) but to kill her for not is evil.

BTW, I wonder if Lawarence O'Donnell has anything to say about this? I doubt it, he is probably out there bravely denouncing Mitt Romney or something.

A hat tip to the Jawa Report on two counts: The story from Toronto and Lawrence O'Donnell's honesty.

The Iranian Path & Pakistan

Many people & pols are saying history is repeating itself in Pakistan. They claim we supported a strongman in the Shah & incurred the wrath of the Iranian people and instigated the Shia revolution that bebuggers us to this day. The one side of the debate obviously wants to dump Musharaff the other side may not like him or what he is, but fears the consequences of cutting him loose.

Well, I tip my hat to Tee Bee on pointing out this:

In reading various bloggers' reactions to events in Pakistan, I have noticed that a number of them seem to think that Musharraf is all that stands between us and a nuclear-armed Islamist state.

Source: Obsidian Wings – Islamic Extremism In Pakistan (by hilzoy)
Hilzoy makes a point very much worth considering. Who and what do the Pakistani people support? According to Hilzoy's work a majority support Nawaz Shariff (whom returned to Pakistan about one month ago to be refused entrance and returned to his exile in Saudia Arabia), btw, Nawaz Shariff was the PM prior to Musharaf ejecting him from Pakistani leadership.

Now a number of things. First, I do not consider our threats against cutting off aid to Pakistan as serious, they are strictly pro-forma and I hope the language which the threats are being conveyed to Pakistan are being expressed properly – i.e. with language that indicate they are only pro-forma.

Now, many commentators support supporting Musharaf for one reason and that is the fear of the takeover of Pakistan by a fundamentalist Islamic regime. Hilzoy's post is to demonstrate this is an incorrect belief. However one commentator in the comments states:

Good write up hilzoy.

13% of the Iranian people believe that Sharia must rule. Ahmedinejad and the Mullahs are reportedly very unpopular in Iran. Nevertheless, the Iranians are ruled by Mullahs. Gays are hung from cranes. The reason the Mullahs are able to rule over the Iranian population is the power of the teachings of Mohammed. As time has proven, his system of government is brilliant. It is a mistake to underestimate the power of Islam, even when it is unpopular.

What percentage of the Pakistani people believe that Sharia must rule? 13% like in Iran? Double that (26%)? Triple that (39%)?

Answer: 60% (Gallup polling attached). Another 21% of Pakistanis believe that Sharia must be a source of legislation, but not the only source.

Pakistan has a lethal combination of a pious majority, violence sanctioned through its state religion, and a modern nuclear stockpile. It is no place for President Bush to be spreading freedom to ‘ordinary moms and dads’ through democracy. As if he had the power.

But the bigger threat is not Islam through democracy, it is the religious elements in the military. There are probably men making plans as we type. They are on a mission from God.

Source: Comment by Bill in response to Hilzyo's Islamic Extremism in Pakistan That is the danger of an Islamist takeover is not related to its popularity in the polls but the willingness of the Islamic fanatics to use violent means to accomplish their goals.

Okay so where does that leave someone who is supposed to guide our foreign policy? I think Iran is a good place to look. Its too late to try to win over the radical elements of Pakistani society, remember, the rebels in Saudia Arabia are not champions of freedom of religion, women's rights, freedom of speech for everyone they think the Saudi rulers are not sufficiently Islamic. Just because someone is a radical and a rebel does not automatically confer upon them righteousness (can there be anymore stark example of this phenomena than Che Guevara?)

Iran was obviously going to fall into the hands of the enemies of the USA and are no better than the Shah, that wasn't a gain, that wasn't a bold stand for human rights, it was a loss for our nation and the US and at best a stay even play for human rights. We should have stood by the Shah.

Another example, this time going the other way is that of a nation near & dear to my heart, a nation I have visited twice and very much look forward to visiting again – The Philippines.

In 1986 in what is known as Edsa I the Filipino people turned out to support the widow of Benigno Aquino (assassinated by Marcos goons in 1983, ironically enough I was "Up North" when this happened and distinctly remember hearing this news) in her election to the Filipino presidency over Ferdinand Marcos. Ferdinand wanted to put down the "insurrection" they way thugs typically do and asked Ronald Reagan for support. Ronald in consultation with Paul Wolfowitz (yes, that Paul Wolfowitz) urged Ferdinand Marcos to leave the Philippines. This time the USA urged a strongman to leave his post of power.

Why?

Because the opposition that was in a position to take over was not threatening to the USA or the regional balance of power and (a big and) that power respected human rights. We did not fear Corazon Aquino would all of a sudden join with the USSR or start persecuting any specific or general populations in the Philippines.

In Pakistan, it would be foolish to count on either Nawaz Shariff or Benazir Bhutto to be able to consolidate enough power to effectively rule the nation or to even consolidate power. It is not always the most popular party sometimes it is the group most willing to use violence.

Pakistan & Afghanistan.

'XPLODEY DOPES AND JUST DOPES

Much of today's commentary regarding Afghanistan and Pakistan is centering on the 'xplodey dope that blew up himself and others outside of Bagram Airbase and the left's pitiful reaction to the bombing. Yes, the left is disappointed the 'xplodey dope did not kill VP Cheney.

However, while sad, it is not interesting due to its utter predictability. What is interesting though is the sequence of events here. The VP and intelligence officials visit Pakistan, reports I have read indicate they came loaded with intelligence on what is going on in Waziristan and it is not the production of baby milk. The Taliban and their supporters contrary to the agreement they came to with Pakistan is staging out of Waziristan to attack Afghanistan.

THE CIA IS NOT THE ONLY LEAKY INTELLIGENCE SERVICE

Now, President Musharraf is in a very tight spot. His intelligence service the ISI was one of the main agencies responsible for setting the Taliban up (and this article also talks about the role in general of Pakistan in the affair as well as its current status). I think it likely the ISI contains many Taliban supporters and enemies of Musharraf and certainly those people are not going to take kindly to a spanking over Waziristan.

I speculate Musharraf's intelligence officials were briefed on the rest of the VP's trip and word made its way to the Taliban who sent out the 'xplodey dope. I do not take this event in itself to be a causus belli (keep cool) but I hope in their meeting it was made perfectly clear if Pakistan does not control its own territory then they should not howl when others decide to control it. Kinda like adverse possession.

IF YOU WANT IT, TAKE CARE OF IT

Though Pakistan claims Waziristan as its own territory Waziristan is essentially its own nation, but Pakistani forces by agreement do not have authority there. So, if I own a second house but do not oust the squatters who have taken up residence there what right do I have to the house? Of course, adverse possession is different but not all that much.

SOMETIMES A 'XPLODEY DOPE IS JUST A – 'XPLODEY DOPE

Of course, it could also be possible the 'xplodey dope was just sent on a routine mission and when the Taliban heard who was in the Bagram Airbase at the time they try to convince us they were after him.

The Moderate Muslim

Dinesh D'Souza did an interview to promote his new book with Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review.

I saw him speak once as well and many of the themes he goes over in the interview he also covered in his talk at Lawrence University.

He covers the idea that the war on terror is a poor name like saying a war on turning ones flank. Yes true, but this is hardly worth the breath of a college sophomore. It has been repeated over & over almost as much as the idea that the Church put Christmas on December 25th to piggy-back it on the existing pagan solstice celebrations (ditto for Easter). Still, the interview contains much that is valuable.

And both the Right and the Left have been operating under illusions. The radical Muslims are against modernity and science and democracy. The radical Muslims are upset because of colonialism and the Crusades. It’s all nonsense. That’s not what the leading thinkers of radical Islam say. And Bin Laden’s own views are quite different. In his Letter to America, issued shortly after 9/11, he said that America is the fount of global atheism and it is imposing its morally depraved values on the world. So Muslims must rise up in defensive jihad against America because their religion and their values are under attack. This aspect of Bin Laden’s critique has been totally ignored, and it’s one that resonates with a lot of traditional Muslims and traditional people around the world. A second point is that unlike Falwell I don’t think “America” is to blame. Muslims in Indonesia and Egypt and Pakistan don’t see “America,” they see the face of American popular culture that is projected by our television and movies and music. They see the dimension of America that in their view corrupts the innocence of children, and undermines the family, and promotes homosexuality as a normal way of life. In fact, this is the America of the cultural Left. What the Left considers “liberating,” much of the world considers a scandalous assault on modesty and decency. [emphasis added]

Source: National Review Online – Eyeing the Enemy (Dinesh D’Souza looks left.)

Now as many of you may know I lived in the United Arab Emirates for six years. It was my experience much of the Arabs impression of America was formed by the likes of: Falcon Crest, the Bold and the Beautiful, and other such Hollywood fare. It was not uncommon for a student to talk to us about his upcoming trip to America. It was usually quite apparent the student was under the impression he was going to the land of cheap & easy lays.

Dinesh then notes how the left has formed a de facto alliance with the radical Muslims that we on the right must forge an alliance with moderate Muslims. This is where I find myself often banging my head on the wall.

Not against Dinesh but many on the right. Yes, often times those on the right paint a picture the war is not against a subset of Islam but against all of Islam itself. This is wrong, very wrong.

Often times lack of moderate outrage is used by people to say the moderate Muslim is more rare than Bigfoot. Fear is very powerful and the radical Islamists demonstrate they are perfectly capable willing and able to create all sorts of Mayhem. A wedding in Jordan, a tour group in and people at a resort in Egypt are examples of the radicals taking their wrath out on their Islamic brethren.

Often times people trot out the Koran and say SEE! Here it says the Koran orders the Muslim to kill and enslave unbelievers. It tells the Muslim to not take friends of Jews & Christians etc. Well truth be told the Holy Bible contains some unbelievable statements. Do you really believe it wrong to eat "rock badgers" and shellfish? How about reading Leviticus and some of the methods outlined about determining guilt?

Read the whole article

Iraq Updates

The left is clamoring and making noise that sounds very much similar to stay the course with regards to Iraq.

It sounds like the gloves may be coming off. I did not watch the speech tonight so I am working on the speculation I read prior the speech and a summarys found in National Review Online's the Corner.

On Admission of Failures

Hmmm. I would like to have believed the administration has been frank with itself on these things. Perhaps it has and all of what we are seeing is finally one side of the internal debate won.

On Increased Soldiers in Iraq

Good. In the past I have been skeptical of such a move but have come around, especially now certain other steps are to be taken.

On The Other Steps

I am glad it sounds as if the rules of engagement are going to be lightened up. No matter what our soldiers do the likes of John Kerry, Howard Dean et al are going to call them terrorists and insult them (to be mimicked by Al Qaida), might as well do what is right and loosen the rules of engagement.

On Laying Down the Law With Iraq

We do not have infinite resources or patience. Iraqi leaders have to be made to understand that. Right now political conditions are not ripe for much more work in Iraq. However, I believe if things do not start to progress soon then after 2008 we will leave Iraq. Then in some years afterward will return and unfortunately events will be such that we have enough resolve to return and finsih the job.

On Laying Down the Law With Iraq

The militias have to be dealt with. Part of the reason the militias came up was due to the general lawlessness. The criminal elements had to be dealt with and the Iraqi government was unable to deal with and our forces did not want to deal with it. The locals then started to take the law into their own hands. Remember, not too long before the invasion Saddam emptied out his jails. It sounds like major components of this last push are aimed at increasing the physical and material security of the oridinary Baghdadi, this will be a help. Lets hope its not too little or too late.

Somalia

Reading in this that and the other place I have seen some question and whine about what is happening in Somalia. One commentator at Boots & Sabers states how the action in Somalis empowers the radicals. Interesting how it is losing control of a nation that makes a movement stronger rather than controlling a nation.

One thing I saw was whining about Geneva Conventions. I tell you.

I wonder how long its going to be before we hear Somalia did not attack us on 9/11.

Could Not Have Been Al-Qaida

We just thumped & rethumped a gathering in Somalia. As is always the case when a gang of Al-Qaida gets thumped it wasn't Al-Qaida but some other innocuous gathering.

Here are the top 10 suggestions Al-Qaida's media men came up with for their press release on the matter.

It wasn't a gathering of Al-Qaida the US Airships shot up it was....
10.) A bar-mitzvah
9.) A wedding
8.) A funeral
7.) An international financiers convention
6.) A fashion show
5.) A garden party
4.) A bridal shower
3.) A wild & crazy bachelor party
2.) An editorial boad meeting for The Somali Reporter
1.) A showing of the Vagina Monologues.