Category: The Dish

An update on the war to punish Coca Cola for fat kids.

The latest poll of international attitudes toward America and other states. Only Iran is less popular than the US. But Africans are much more positive – an effect, I’d say, of this administration’s admirable attempt to ameliorate the global AIDS epidemic.

"This administration reacts to anyone who questions this illegal program by saying that those of us who demand the truth and stand up for our rights and freedoms somehow has a pre-9/11 world view. In fact, the President has a pre-1776 world view. Our government has three branches, not one. And no one, not even the President, is above the law." – Senator Russ Feingold, TPM.

Watching the hearings in the early hours, I was certainly impressed with Gonzales’ unflappable calm and pleasant demeanor. I was also convinced that this program is not just about national security. The way it was implemented and the manner in which it is being defended represent a calculated decision within the White House to use this war as a golden opportunity to expand executive power for a generation. There’s nothing unconstitutional about that – and the hearings struck me as an almost text-book case of one branch of government bristling up against another. But that also means that those liberals and, indeed, small government conservatives, who worry about individual liberty in this country need not apologize for fighting back. And they absolutely shouldn’t be intimidated by the thought that they might be endangering national security. This isn’t about the program; it’s about how it’s being conducted and authorized. Karl Rove is intent on erasing that distinction. The rest of us have to keep insisting that he fail.

"Nothing in Al Gonzales’s public statements, legislative proposals or anything else suggests that this is an individual who operates outside of the political gyroscope of President Bush," – Bruce Fein, deputy attorney general in the Reagan administration. When will all these liberals stop criticizing our Great Leader?

They call for the arrest of some Islamist demonstrators who were clearly inciting murder.

It’s amazing to me that this part of the story hasn’t gotten more attention. The most inflammatory of the cartoons were faked – by Islamists. They conned the BBC for a while:

Twelve cartoons were originally published by Jyllands-Posten. None showed the Prophet with the face of a pig. Yet such a portrayal has circulated in the Middle East (The BBC was caught out and for a time showed film of this in Gaza without realizing it was not one of the 12).

This picture, a fuzzy grey photocopy, can now be traced back (suspicion having been confirmed by an admission) to a delegation of Danish Muslim leaders who went to the Middle East in November to publicise the cartoons. The visit was organised by Abu Laban, a leading Muslim figure in Denmark.

According to the Danish paper Ekstra Bladet, the delegation took along a pamphlet showing the 12 drawings. But the delegation also showed a number of other pictures, including the "pig" one. The delegation claimed they were the sort of insults that Muslims in Denmark had to endure. These also got into circulation.

Here’s the source for one of the cartoons: from the French Pig-Squealing Championships in Trie-sur-Baise’s annual festival. Much of this controversy has been deliberately created by Islamists to polarize the world and to intimidate Western governments. Another reason to expose it for what it is.

At National Review. Here and here. They’re directed for the cheapest of political points with respect to Senator John McCain, who suffered incredible torture at the hands of the Viet Cong for the sake of his country.

A reader writes:

"I never heard of you or read any thing you wrote, but I watched you accidentally with Anderson Cooper talking about Islam. I saw you and I heard another caricature: a caricature of Ignorance, arrogance and lack of respect for others based on democracy and the West and brainwashed ‘freedom.’

In Islam RESPECT is Number one, RESPECT of the Mothers and Fathers the Elderly etc RESPECT is the key to conquer the Muslim world. So if you do not understand the world RESPECT … then as we say here forget it … if you wish to open your mind and understand what is Taboo in other people’s culture and understand the meaning of RESPECT, it’s fine. We call it here an open mind. If not, Ignorance is a great ocean to swim in. Jesus said love your neighbor: that means RESPECT your neighbor. Understand him and respect his feeling. Watching you talk was a disaster."

One small comment: I have no interest in conquering the Muslim world. I just want the West to remain free. That means that respect is a two-way street.

… for the late start today. I did Anderson Cooper last night (I mean the show, smart-asses), and then, well, uber-nerd watch coming up, but I found myself engrossed in the CSPAN hearings with Alberto Gonzales. Went to bed late. And I just woke up. Caffeinated blogging imminent.

He dislikes the press more than the Islamists. A blogger laments.