In the book "The Shadow of the Giant" he summarizes the balance of government and religion that plagues Islam:

Islam…has never learned how to be a Religion.  It’s a tyranny by it’s very nature.  Until it learns to let the door swing both ways, and permit Muslims to decide not to be Muslim without penalty, then the world has no choice but to fight against it in order to remain free.

…

As long as ordinary Muslims believe it’s their duty to kill any Muslim who tries to quit being a Muslim, as long as they think they have a holy duty  to resort to arms to compel unbelievers to obey Islamic law — you can’t liberalize that, you can’t make a decent system for anybody.  Not even for Muslims.  Because the cruelest, narrowest, most evil people will always rise to power because they’ll always be the ones most willing to wrap themseves in the cresent flag and murder people in God’s name.

Something to think about.

Open tracked to ST who writes an excellent piece on those who would see us lose.

Well, now you know who we will lose to if we as a nation cannot find the unity we lost.

Seeing as how the Democrat Party is so focused on the environment, I have only one question:

Do they have any of those that run on Bio Diesel?  Or Ethanol?

Or better yet, some form of alternative fuel that is none Co2 producing.

I am sure out of principle she will turn it down otherwise….

 MORE

Apparently this is heating up into a he said she said.

The story I humourously lampooned started with a Washington Times report:

The office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is pressing the Bush administration for routine access to military aircraft for domestic flights, such as trips back to her San Francisco district, according to sources familiar with the discussions.

The sources, who include those in Congress and in the administration, said the Democrat is seeking regular military flights not only for herself and her staff, but also for relatives and for other members of the California delegation. A knowledgeable source called the request "carte blanche for an aircraft any time."

It fairly notes that the former Speaker had similar access:

Mrs. Pelosi’s request is not new for a speaker, who is second-in-line in presidential succession. A defense source said the speaker’s regular access to a military plane began after the September 11, 2001, attacks. Rep. J. Dennis Hastert, Illinois Republican, who was speaker at the time, started using U.S. Air Force planes for domestic travel to and from his district for security reasons.

But it notes a distinction: 

A former Hastert aide said the congressman did not use military planes for political trips or regularly transport his family.

The defense source said Mr. Hastert requested a plane with good communications so he could conduct legislative business. The military flights increased to the point the speaker used a military plane for many, if not all, flights to his Illinois district, the former aide said.

Sources said Mrs. Pelosi’s request goes beyond what Mr. Hastert received. The speaker’s legal counsel is spearheading the talks.

Leaping to her defense is Think Progress, who claimed:

Here are a collection of Global Warming links, with a brief excerpt. 

Before I do I want to note that this is becoming as contentious of an issue as any I have ever debated, and the politicking in it is sickening.

I am embroiled in a somewhat heated debate elsewhere, where one of the particulars is defending China not being included in the framework of the Kyoto Protocol that everyone is bleating about, making an argument that is the equivelant of white guilt:

But if you’re going to point the finger at how unfair it is to exempt China, they can point the finger back at us and say how unfair it is we’re able to enjoy the spoils of our unhindered growth.

If you accept that at face value, then we should be ashamed of the years of industrialization that have lead us to the technological advances we enjoy.  Because China is emerging, apparently they deserve their shot at despoiling.  Otherwise, what?  Should we trash allt he trapping sof civilization and return to a farm based economy?  I imagine many greenies would love it.

I dont buy it, particularly when China is not far behind us in total emissions and is expected to exceed is in as little as 2-3 years, or possibly 20.  If the spirit of the treaty means anything, it has to apply to reducing pollution everywhere.  The trading of credits that effective allows two countries to "pool" their polution, make no changes and still look to be compliant makes the entire treaty a dog and pony show.

That is only one reason why the Kyoto protocols are a farce, and Clinton and Bush both are right to refuse to send it to congress for ratifying.

Sad that one of the few truly bipartisan areas of agreement is still so contentious.

Since we are on Kyoto, here is George Will’s assessment:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16960409/site/newsweek/

President Clinton and his earnest vice president knew better than to seek ratification of Kyoto by a Senate that had passed its resolution of disapproval 95-0. Fifty-six of those 95 senators are still serving. Two of them are John Kerry and Barbara Boxer. That is an inconvenient truth.

Heck, why not.  I’d have taken one. 

You know, there could be worse things….

http://www.freehugscampaign.org/