Pakistan Update

In the WTF (What the Fatwah!?) Department we have another woman who goes on the list of having more courage than many men — Nilofer Bhaktiar in a Daily Times interview

sherpao-cartoon.jpgInterior Minister Sherpao is confirming that Abdullah Mehsud (Pakistani Taliban commander related to Baitullah Mehsud) was behind the attack on him that killed 28 via suicide bomber last week. Since then three more have passed away in the hospital, bringing the total death tally in the horrific bombing to 31.

Continue reading “Pakistan Update”

Iran Exterminates Individuality

In its race to become the most repressive regime since Mao Zedong’s, the State of Iran is now mandating haircut styles for men, and burqas for women. It’s a quest doomed to failure – trying to remake people into the state’s image is bound to have severe reprecussions for the regime over time.

Lost Comments

Apologies to Ornery Elephant, and maybe one other? I lost some comments this morning through not paying attention while deleting some spam. I am also implementing a new policy, as I reply to comments I will insert my replies at the bottom of the comment I am replying to with brackets. I would rather my reader’s comments show up in the side bar for reading than all my replies.

Also a side note: a great place to hit for round-ups is Noisy Room, they usually have a post per day with an amalgam of some of the better articles around the web.

No Rest for the Wicked

For most of the winter we got to listen to the rants of Mullah Dadullah, promising all sorts of mayhem in this Spring’s Taliban campaign. Unfortunately, he’s being roundly thwarted by new tactics which include more weapons-free rules of engagement, pursuit until destruction, no truces, and closer direct engagement.

These tactics combined are having a telling effect: for much like Napoleon’s army after Waterloo who were chased to destruction by von Blucher’s forces, there aren’t many of them leaving the engagement zone outside the confines of body bags.

The London Telegraph has the details, and a video here.

Captain’s Quarters also has some great analysis regarding the new tactics.

h/t to Ornery Elephant

Gun Markets of Pakistan

This is educational for folks calling for the invasion of Pakistan’s North West Frontier Province, a Taliban hangout. Some portray it as a monolithic Taliban region, but in reality it’s a lot of disparate tribes and interests. You see a large village in the video, where many guns are manufactured, however there are miniature versions of this town through every pass in the Pakistani frontier.

In popularlity the US is least liked, but Al Qaeda is disliked almost as much, and the Afghan Taliban are third on the “not liked” list. The Pakistanis are very nationalistic, and through history they’ve always been this way. Every conquering country that has come through eventually gets worn down and goes away. As the narrator states “Pakistan Zindabad!”

You should note in the video that most people walk about freely with guns, in some ways it reminds me of my home in Alaska, especially the part where he shoots the Kalakov (Kalashnikov made in Pakistan) off the roof. You should also note that people are smiling, listening to music, dancing. Even though they look like they might be the bad guys you should first know that Taliban don’t dance, they hate music, and rarely smile. You should also note the shaved chins, neatly trimmed beards – so most are not Taliban.

I am going to disagree with the narrator in one aspect, the war can be won, and is being won. Eventually it will be Pakistan Pashtuns and Afghan Pashtuns staring at each other across the border, and as the Aghan Talibs are pushed out of Pakistan (for surely they’ve outstayed their welcome too…) they will migrate back. More oft than not when Taliban cross the borders now they are being faced with Afghan Army forces, and that will continue.
The average Pakistani wants to go about his business, make some money, and hopes that load shedding of electricity will stop soon. Some are even vehemently opposed to the Talibanization of the frontiers, and want it to return to tribal structure. Yes, sometimes that business I spoke of earlier is opium and guns, but that’s the way it’s been, and the way it will be in the Khyber area until other means to live are made there.

Don’t Tell Rosie!

high-priestess.jpgSince Rosie O’Donnell, High-Priestess to moonbats has declared that fire can’t melt steel, this must not be happening! It’s against the spoken word of the church!

From Yahoo news (hat tip cbinflux):

OAKLAND, Calif. – A section of freeway that funnels traffic off the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge collapsed early Sunday after a gasoline tanker truck overturned and caught fire beneath it, authorities said.

The heat was intense enough to melt part of the freeway and cause the collapse, but the truck’s driver walked away from the scene with second-degree burns. [Editor’s note: SACRILEGE! GASOLINE CAN”T DO THAT!]

highway_collapse.jpgNo other injuries were reported, which officials said was only possible because the accident happened so early on a Sunday morning. The truck driver took a taxi to a nearby hospital, Officer Trent Cross of the California Highway Patrol said.

Authorities said the damage could take months to repair, and that it would cause the worst disruption for Bay Area commuters since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake damaged a section of the Bay Bridge itself.

Snow on Monday

The indefatigable Tony Snow will return to work on Monday after treatment for cancer; soon he will begin chemotherapy. In a gathering of fellow Alumni of Davidson college Tony said the following in response to some questions.

tony-snow.jpgThe indefatigable Tony Snow will return to work on Monday after treatment for cancer; soon he will begin chemotherapy. In a gathering of fellow Alumni of Davidson college Tony said the following in response to some questions. 

“No, it doesn’t mean I’m going to be gray, shriveled and in the fetal position, to my classmates who think I’m going to lose my great hair, forget about it.”

as well as this:

“I am actually enjoying everything more than I ever have, God hasn’t promised us tomorrow, but he has promised us eternity.”

Note to Edwards: Some people don’t need $400.00 haircuts.

Full Story at Yahoo