Earlier today -- in "Pope calls Islamic extremism 'product of the West'" -- I suggested that President Obarmy might be more interested in pursuing his foreign policy goals in the Middle East than in helping that area's Christian to resist Islamic extremism. Certainly that's the view of Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II, whom I quoted.
Neither the Patriarch nor Walt should be surprised, then, by today's report in the Wall Street Journal that the Prez recently wrote a secret letter -- the fourth such missive -- to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, about their "shared interest" in fighting ISIS.
The Prez also expressed his hope -- he still uses that word a lot, even though hope is not a plan -- that they could make a deal on Iran's nuclear programme... preferably before the US mid-term elections. Walt supposes that the letter was entrusted to USPS and has yet to arrive in Tehran.
Just kidding. According to the WSJ report, November 3rd wasn't really the redline deadline. They say the Leader of the Free World(TM) stressed that any co-operation on fighting the Islamic State is contingent on Iran reaching such an agreement on its nukes by the November 24th diplomatic deadline.
The White House has refused to confirm the existence of the letter, saying it would not comment on Mr. Obama's "private correspondence". In response to questions yesterday, spokesthingy Josh Earnest could only say, "I can tell you that the policy that the president and his administration have articulated about Iran remains unchanged."
Republican leaders, however, had lots to say. House Speaker John Boehner (rhymes with "gainer", not "loner") said he doesn't trust Iran's leaders, and is opposed to bringing them into the fight against IS.
Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham called it "outrageous" that the president would approach Iran, given its support for the Syrian government and Shia groups such as Lebanon's Hezbollah.
In a joint statement, they said, "The administration needs to understand that this Iranian regime cares more about trying to weaken America and push us out of the Middle East than cooperating with us."
Still confused about who's doing what with whom and to whom in the Middle East? Read "Are you confused about the war in the Middle East?" [Duh! Like that's gonna help. Ed.]
OK, I can do better than that. Read "Should the West be meddling in the Middle East? Good question!"
Friday, November 7, 2014
Pope calls Islamic extremism "product of the West"
No. Not that Pope. The reference is to Pope Tawadros II, Patriarch of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Egypt's largest Christian group. The Fides news agency reports that Pope Tawadros denounced Western policies which have fostered Islamic extremism in the Middle East.
The Patriarch (pictured here with leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church and members of the diplomatic corps) made his comments in a television interview broadcast last Tuesday by the Al Hayat network, at the conclusion of the prelate's visit to Russia.
Responding to the interviewer's questions, Pope Tawadros made explicit reference to Western complicity towards extremist fanatical groups, aiming at reshaping the balance of power in the entire region. Their goals, he explained, include the total evacuation of the indigenous Christian communities in that area of the world.
He also called the confidence of those who expect aid from the West to the Christian communities of the Middle East misguided. "Some thought that America could protect us" when extremists burned dozens of Egyptian churches in 2013, he said, "no-one did anything."
The Fides report does not say if Pope Tawadros expressed any surprise at the lack of Western interest in or action on behalf of Christians in his country. Walt doubts it. Of course, Barack Hussein Obama is not a Muslim [Right! Ed.] but that doesn't stop him making nice with folks like Iran's Ayatollah Khameini, not known for being exactly pro-Christian.
The Patriarch (pictured here with leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church and members of the diplomatic corps) made his comments in a television interview broadcast last Tuesday by the Al Hayat network, at the conclusion of the prelate's visit to Russia.
Responding to the interviewer's questions, Pope Tawadros made explicit reference to Western complicity towards extremist fanatical groups, aiming at reshaping the balance of power in the entire region. Their goals, he explained, include the total evacuation of the indigenous Christian communities in that area of the world.
He also called the confidence of those who expect aid from the West to the Christian communities of the Middle East misguided. "Some thought that America could protect us" when extremists burned dozens of Egyptian churches in 2013, he said, "no-one did anything."
The Fides report does not say if Pope Tawadros expressed any surprise at the lack of Western interest in or action on behalf of Christians in his country. Walt doubts it. Of course, Barack Hussein Obama is not a Muslim [Right! Ed.] but that doesn't stop him making nice with folks like Iran's Ayatollah Khameini, not known for being exactly pro-Christian.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Best cover comment on the mid-terms
From the New York Daily News.
I like this. Like it a lot! The world, or at least an important part of it, might just become a better place, thanks to all Americans who voted with their heads this time.
Canada to be closed to immigrants in polygamous/forced marriages?
Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Minister today acknowledged ["admitted", surely. Ed.] that there "at least hundreds" of cases of immigrants in polygamous marriages being admitted under Canada's notoriously PC ["lax", surely. Ed.] immigration system. Polygamy, Chris Alexander said, is "incompatible with Canadian values", so letting polygamists into the Great Not-so-white North has to stop!
What neither he nor the Minister for the Status of Wimmin failed to mention is that Islam is the only one of the three Abrahamic religions that allows polygamy. Just an oversight, obviously. What this means is that Muslims with more than one wife won't be allowed to immigrate. Unless, that is, they lie about the status of those "other women" who are named on their applications, which is what happened in the notorious Shafia multiple murder case.
The Shafias -- father, son and second wife -- were convicted in 2012. That it took nearly three years for the "conservative" government of Steve Harper to make any adjustment in its immigration policies shows you the strength of the multicultists in Canada and elsewhere. Yes, we must be tolerant of Muslims. If their beliefs and practices seem barbaric to us, it's our fault for being racist, Islamophobic, etc etc.
While they're at it, the Canuck government is going to tweak its immigration policies to protect women and girls who seek to escape polygamous or forced marriages. This was promised in the 2013 Speech from the Throne, which said, "Sadly, millions of women and girls continue to be brutalized by violence, including through the inhumane practice of early and forced marriage. This barbarism is unacceptable to Canadians."
Mr. Alexander said that the legislation he's introducing today would eliminate early and forced marriages from Canada's immigration system and the country as a hole ["whole", surely! Ed.] The targets here are not just Muslims, but Hindus and Sikhs, all of whom routinely send home to India/Pakistan/Bangladesh for suitable brides/grooms for their children, lest the kiddos be tempted to "marry out" and thus integrate themselves into Canadian society.
The changes to Canada's "system" will take effect only if the legislation is passed. There is less than a year left in the Harper government's mandate. If Mr. Alexander's bill is subject to prolonged liberal hand-wringing, as Walt expects, it could well die on the order paper. How Canadian would that be!
What neither he nor the Minister for the Status of Wimmin failed to mention is that Islam is the only one of the three Abrahamic religions that allows polygamy. Just an oversight, obviously. What this means is that Muslims with more than one wife won't be allowed to immigrate. Unless, that is, they lie about the status of those "other women" who are named on their applications, which is what happened in the notorious Shafia multiple murder case.
The Shafias -- father, son and second wife -- were convicted in 2012. That it took nearly three years for the "conservative" government of Steve Harper to make any adjustment in its immigration policies shows you the strength of the multicultists in Canada and elsewhere. Yes, we must be tolerant of Muslims. If their beliefs and practices seem barbaric to us, it's our fault for being racist, Islamophobic, etc etc.
While they're at it, the Canuck government is going to tweak its immigration policies to protect women and girls who seek to escape polygamous or forced marriages. This was promised in the 2013 Speech from the Throne, which said, "Sadly, millions of women and girls continue to be brutalized by violence, including through the inhumane practice of early and forced marriage. This barbarism is unacceptable to Canadians."
Mr. Alexander said that the legislation he's introducing today would eliminate early and forced marriages from Canada's immigration system and the country as a hole ["whole", surely! Ed.] The targets here are not just Muslims, but Hindus and Sikhs, all of whom routinely send home to India/Pakistan/Bangladesh for suitable brides/grooms for their children, lest the kiddos be tempted to "marry out" and thus integrate themselves into Canadian society.
The changes to Canada's "system" will take effect only if the legislation is passed. There is less than a year left in the Harper government's mandate. If Mr. Alexander's bill is subject to prolonged liberal hand-wringing, as Walt expects, it could well die on the order paper. How Canadian would that be!
What's wrong with les Canadiens?
Poor Len here. I wanted to write this piece Sunday night, following the Montréal Canadiens drubbing by the Calgary Flames [Calgary?! Ed.] but Ed. restrained me. After last night's débâcle -- shut out 5-0 by Chicago -- I can restrain myself no longer. [Have at it, then. Ed.]
The Habs got off to a great start this season. Going into Sunday's game they were 8-2-1, good for 17 points and first place in the NHL Eastern Conference. Today they still have 17 points, and are tied for first with Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, both of whom have games in hand. What happened?
Back in October, I was asked by my kids -- unaccountably they root for the Toronto Maple Laffs -- why I wasn't gloating. My response was that if I did so, I'd probably wake up and find it was all a dream -- not real. And so it was. This month, reality has set in. The reality is that this year's "Glorieux" are a mediocre team with a bad defence and terrible special units. For the first ten games they had an incredible run of luck, which has now come to an end.
What's wrong with Canada's team? I will tell you. It's these guys.
Let's start with Carey Price (#31), the Habs' ace goaltender and unofficial captain. I love him to bits but must acknowledge (as he should) that he's not superhuman. Although he's stolen more than his share of games with stand-up and stand-out performances, he still needs help. That means a reliable defensive corps, which is what the Canadiens had last year, not this year.
Over the summer, Habs management made some changes, under huge pressure from the fans, the owners and the Montréal press, to pay whatever was necessary to sign P.K. Subban (#76) to a long-term contract. Result? An 8-year deal at an average C$9 million a year (almost $8 million in real money).
Is Subban -- former Norris Trophy winner and Olympic gold medalist and a credit to his race -- earning his exorbitant keep? In a word, NO.
Let me quote from an e-mail sent (with bcc to me) by Walt's Agent 3 to long-time Montreal Gazette hockey writer Pat Hickey, one of the chief cheerleaders for P.K.
Your brief report on last night's "game" -- quotes deliberate -- didn't mention the Habs' star defenceman. He was lucky to be only -3 for the night, since he happened to be on the ice when both Montreal goals were scored, and Calgary didn't score on his needless penalty.
I note for 12 games this season his +/- is 0. He leads the team in only one stat -- penalty minutes.
Don't you think it's about time you sports scribes got over the PC factor that seems to preclude any discussion about whether PK is worth the enormous sum he's being paid?
Looking now at the team stats as of today, Subban's +/- is now -3, and his PIM total is now up to 22, thanks to another bad penalty last night, which negated a Montréal power play just when they desperately needed a goal to get back in the game.
I can think of three ex-Habs who must be laughing at Montréal GM Marc Bergevin. One is Josh Gorges, a solid, stay-at-home defenceman who Monsieur B traded to Buffalo rather than pay him half of what Subban is getting.
Then there's Francis Bouillon, another dependable (if aging) blue-liner who didn't get a renewal contract at all. And there's Doug "Swede" Murray, a tough but less-than-mobile rearguard who was also dumped because, hey, who needs a solid defence when you've got P.K.'s speed and cannonading slap shot going for you?
If only... So far this year, Subban has 3 goals, behind Plekanec, Pacioretty and Galchenyuk. By my arithmetic he's on track for a 50-point season which would be very good, but what the Habs really need is not more goal production but more goal prevention!
Coach Michel Therrien has been juggling his defence pairings, with lamentable lack of success. The problem is that nobody can (or wants to) play with Subban, of for no reason other than his unpredictability. You can't count on him to be in the right position at the right time. He could be behind the opposing team's goal line... or in the penalty box.
I'm sure I'm not the first to say "I told ya so!" Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock has doubtless said so many times, in private at least. He coached Canada's 2012 Olympic team, to which Subban was named, in spite of his huge "risk factor", for reasons of political correctness.
Babcock let him ride the pines for all but a few shifts of Canada's least challenging preliminary bout against Austria. So of course he (Babcock) was labelled a racist. Although he's never said so publicly, the truth is that Team Canada's coach simply wanted a player he could count on. Not Subban.
The Habs got off to a great start this season. Going into Sunday's game they were 8-2-1, good for 17 points and first place in the NHL Eastern Conference. Today they still have 17 points, and are tied for first with Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, both of whom have games in hand. What happened?
Back in October, I was asked by my kids -- unaccountably they root for the Toronto Maple Laffs -- why I wasn't gloating. My response was that if I did so, I'd probably wake up and find it was all a dream -- not real. And so it was. This month, reality has set in. The reality is that this year's "Glorieux" are a mediocre team with a bad defence and terrible special units. For the first ten games they had an incredible run of luck, which has now come to an end.
What's wrong with Canada's team? I will tell you. It's these guys.
Let's start with Carey Price (#31), the Habs' ace goaltender and unofficial captain. I love him to bits but must acknowledge (as he should) that he's not superhuman. Although he's stolen more than his share of games with stand-up and stand-out performances, he still needs help. That means a reliable defensive corps, which is what the Canadiens had last year, not this year.
Over the summer, Habs management made some changes, under huge pressure from the fans, the owners and the Montréal press, to pay whatever was necessary to sign P.K. Subban (#76) to a long-term contract. Result? An 8-year deal at an average C$9 million a year (almost $8 million in real money).
Is Subban -- former Norris Trophy winner and Olympic gold medalist and a credit to his race -- earning his exorbitant keep? In a word, NO.
Let me quote from an e-mail sent (with bcc to me) by Walt's Agent 3 to long-time Montreal Gazette hockey writer Pat Hickey, one of the chief cheerleaders for P.K.
Your brief report on last night's "game" -- quotes deliberate -- didn't mention the Habs' star defenceman. He was lucky to be only -3 for the night, since he happened to be on the ice when both Montreal goals were scored, and Calgary didn't score on his needless penalty.
I note for 12 games this season his +/- is 0. He leads the team in only one stat -- penalty minutes.
Don't you think it's about time you sports scribes got over the PC factor that seems to preclude any discussion about whether PK is worth the enormous sum he's being paid?
Looking now at the team stats as of today, Subban's +/- is now -3, and his PIM total is now up to 22, thanks to another bad penalty last night, which negated a Montréal power play just when they desperately needed a goal to get back in the game.
I can think of three ex-Habs who must be laughing at Montréal GM Marc Bergevin. One is Josh Gorges, a solid, stay-at-home defenceman who Monsieur B traded to Buffalo rather than pay him half of what Subban is getting.
Then there's Francis Bouillon, another dependable (if aging) blue-liner who didn't get a renewal contract at all. And there's Doug "Swede" Murray, a tough but less-than-mobile rearguard who was also dumped because, hey, who needs a solid defence when you've got P.K.'s speed and cannonading slap shot going for you?
If only... So far this year, Subban has 3 goals, behind Plekanec, Pacioretty and Galchenyuk. By my arithmetic he's on track for a 50-point season which would be very good, but what the Habs really need is not more goal production but more goal prevention!
Coach Michel Therrien has been juggling his defence pairings, with lamentable lack of success. The problem is that nobody can (or wants to) play with Subban, of for no reason other than his unpredictability. You can't count on him to be in the right position at the right time. He could be behind the opposing team's goal line... or in the penalty box.
I'm sure I'm not the first to say "I told ya so!" Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock has doubtless said so many times, in private at least. He coached Canada's 2012 Olympic team, to which Subban was named, in spite of his huge "risk factor", for reasons of political correctness.
Babcock let him ride the pines for all but a few shifts of Canada's least challenging preliminary bout against Austria. So of course he (Babcock) was labelled a racist. Although he's never said so publicly, the truth is that Team Canada's coach simply wanted a player he could count on. Not Subban.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
What's hanging from the overpass in YOUR neighbourhood?
Sorry if you were expecting a body. Guess it depends where your neighbourhood is. This one is not in the USA -- the "clearance" sign tells you that -- but above the M1 highway near Springwood, in Queensland, Australia.
Australia?! Wasn't that the country that used to have a "White Australia" policy on immigration? Well, yeah... but that was half a century ago. Since then, thanks to a liberal (geddit?) infusion of white guilt, Australia will take you whether you're white, black, yellow, brown or striped. And instead of asking newcomers to adapt to the majority (i.e. white) culture in the land they have chosen to come to, successive Australian governments are forcing the folks who were already there to adapt to the cultures of the immigrants.
Yes, it's official multiculturalism, just as repugnant to common sense and sensibilities in Australia as it is in Canada, Britain, France, Germany etc etc and so forth. Oh, did I leave the USA off the list? I shouldn't have. In America all cultures are equally respected, except that of heterosexual white Christians.
Yet you don't see signs like this hanging from overpasses in the USA. [Really? Ed.] If someone dared to put up such a banner, they'd likely be tracked down by the FBI and hauled before a "progressive" judge on charges of racism, inciting to hatred, contempt for human rights, yada yada yada.
Can you think up a defence to such charges? How about "protecting ourselves from a government determined to make us second-class citizens in our own country"? Just a suggestion.
Americans! Get out and vote Dems out!
Dear American readers, today is DO day. "DO" for "Democrats Out"!
When you go to the polls, ask yourself how the hopey-changey thing has worked out for you and for the US of A? Are you satisfied? Do you think the country is headed in the right direction? NO?! I thought not. Well, you can't get rid of President Obarmy, but you can tie his hands by voting out the tax-and-spend, big-government, screw-the-real-Americans Democrats.
Don't wait for 2016! Start fixing America now!
This message was NOT sponsored by the Republican or any other party. Walt takes full responsibility for it. Now please take responsibility for your country and get out and vote the damn Dems out!
When you go to the polls, ask yourself how the hopey-changey thing has worked out for you and for the US of A? Are you satisfied? Do you think the country is headed in the right direction? NO?! I thought not. Well, you can't get rid of President Obarmy, but you can tie his hands by voting out the tax-and-spend, big-government, screw-the-real-Americans Democrats.
Don't wait for 2016! Start fixing America now!
This message was NOT sponsored by the Republican or any other party. Walt takes full responsibility for it. Now please take responsibility for your country and get out and vote the damn Dems out!
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