Two New Good Ones By Hitch

Flying High: The truth about airport security measures

"The future murderers will generally not be from refugee camps or slums (though they are being indoctrinated every day in our prisons); they will frequently be from educated backgrounds, and they will often not be from overseas at all. They are already in our suburbs and even in our military. We can expect to take casualties. The battle will go on for the rest of our lives."

That's right. This is a war that will last at least as long as the Cold War. I've said that many, many times. The sooner we rid ourselves of bankrupt doctines like political correctness, the faster we will be able to deal with the real problem head on.

And Iraq was not a war for oil, but the oil fields are the nation's best hope for recovery

"What this means is that Iraq could quite soon be in a position to rival the output of Saudi Arabia and Iran. This is precisely what many of us in the regime-change camp used to point out: the huge, glittering prize of a democratic and federal Iraq situated between two parasitic theocracies and capable of challenging their oil duopoly."

[---]

"But the essential and overarching choice is, and always was, this: Iraqis can have a future of tribalism in which their children skip school to stand guard over barricades made of burning tires and all is resolved by the militia system and malign cross-border interference. Or Iraqi nationhood can be slowly rebuilt by a federal order that allows for extensive decentralization and the solution of differences by elections and the courts, with a reviving economy that could ultimately make all citizens as rich as their Kuwaiti neighbors and former victims. Win or lose, this is the best offer that Iraqis could have been made, and it is rightly feared by the decrepit but still-dangerous oligarchies next door."

Keep going, Iraq!!

Wondering About the Downfall of Journalism?

This article sums up what I've been saying for years.

Democracy's Demolition Derby

How Unfortunate!

BMW crashes into CBC Vancouver studios after attempted carjacking

All that damage to a BMW. Pity.

Phyllis Chesler Puts..

the Christmas panti-bomber on the psychiatrist's couch, and finds, like bin Laden, his status in the polygamous Islamic culture screwed him up, along with legions of other young Muslims.

"If Arab Muslims truly want to change the culture in which terrorism flourishes and which includes the master handlers and manipulators (Nancy Kobrin and I call them “serial killers by proxy”), the sexually repressed and permanently “shamed” young men, the permanently endangered women, and the homicide-and-hate preachers—that culture will have to undergo a revolution as far as women are concerned.

Think about what that revolution might look like. Polygamy; forced, arranged child marriage; purdah; forced veiling; female illiteracy; female genital mutilation; female sexual slavery; gender segregation; sexual repression/obsession; in short, everything that characterizes Islamic gender apartheid would have to go."

[---]

"...the West had better wake up and understand that these acts of terrorism have absolutely nothing to do with the alleged American “occupation” of Iraq or the alleged Israeli “occupation” of Palestine or with alleged past western crimes of colonialism, imperialism, capitalism, Crusadism–or with issues of poverty and illiteracy. Bin Laden and Abdulmutallab are educated and wealthy and not all that altruistic. Jihadists, martyr-killers, suicide bombers, all believe that they are doing what the Qu’ran commands them to do: Kill the infidel, take over all infidel lands. For those who say that this is not their Islam, I say: Bring on that Islamic Reformation. If it were ever needed, it is needed now."

She reserves her best Freudian analysis for the last, and, as much as I, and she as well, don't subscribe to overly psycho-babling excuse generation, I think she's on to something.

Rumours and Signs

The Green Revolution continues.

First of all there are "rumors" that Grand Ayatollah Khamieni has his flight strategy already planned, and I mean real flight - high-tailing it out of Iran with Russia's help.

From the same source, there is a link to this Speigel interview with esteemed Iranian cleric Ayatollah Mohsen Kadivar: 'I Am Convinced the Regime Will Collapse'

"Kadivar: My relatives were part of the funeral procession (ED: for Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri), which included hundreds of thousands of people, including a nephew of Khomeini’s. From them I know that the Basij militias attempted to provoke peaceful mourners to commit violence. They didn’t do them this favor. But they did shout out slogans that had never been heard before in Qom, Iran’s most conservative city: “Death to the dictator! Our leader is our shame!” On that day, the people were particularly angry at supreme religious leader Ali Khamenei." (emphasis mine)

[---]

"SPIEGEL: Montazeri succeeded in recent months in uniting the religious and secular wings of the opposition. Has his death weakened the dissident movement?

Kadivar: The exact opposite is true..."

RTWT

Do Universities Have Some Accounting to Do?

Detroit Terror Attack: British Universities 'complicit' in radicalisation

In my ever so humble opinion, it's long past time to re-examine the idea of tenure, too, especially in the social and political sciences.

Behind Every Horrific Story..

...there's someone who can make you laugh: here and here!

Oooooo! What's This About?

Israel calls all its ambassadors and consuls general home for a tete-a-tete. Of course, knowing what I know about Iran and the wimpish leadership currently available throughout most of the Western world, I have a sneaking suspicion the "...how to develop and promote Israel’s foreign relations and its image as a country that contributes to creating a better future for everyone..." and "...the rise of new global powers and how to deal with them..." will have to include a discussion about Iran.

And speaking of Iran, this bit only serves to strengthen my prediction. Sooner or later the Islamic Republic's state enforcement agencies will turn.

"Predictions" Time

Victor Davis Hanson has some very interesting predictions about the direction Obama's administration will take in 2010. I hope he's right.

As for my predictions, here are three (for now at least):

1) The Islamic Republic of Iran will fall, and be replaced by a secular republic;

2) The Dems will suffer mightily in the mid-term elections;

3) The Repubs will get their leader, who will, hopefully, purge the party of its rabid religious right.

Well, okay, that last one is just wishful thinking.

More Please!

Now this is a headline that we could certainly stand to see more often:

Parents of Terror Suspect Offer Cooperation

Pardon me for thinking that the fact that they are Nigerian, rather than pawns in the great Pan-Arab Nationalist or Middle Eastern/Asian-Islamist con games, may have considerable significance. At any rate, hat's off to them. I know they must be going through a very rough journey.

And I can't help but suspect that the media might have otherwise ignored these parents, had it not been for the certain sensationalist cache their story has. Ordinary moderate Muslims do not get much press coverage of their attempts to fight back against this ideology and the masters that have spread it around the world. It's usually only those who have perfected the art of whining and claiming to be victims (ie. those who spread the ideology) that get the interviews.

And speaking of Pan-Arab con games.

Mooching Off Relatives....

...as is my usual custom at Christmas time. Will be back to regular blogging in the first week in January.

In the meantime, I'm thinking this Fossil Award that Canada just received could be put to good use. Think of the possibilities:

*T-Shirts
*keytags
*posters
*bumber stickers
*coffee mugs
*novelty plates (for your CO2 belching rattletrap)
*etc.
*etc.

I'm sure there are more ideas out there. Let me know in the comments what you come up with.

And it looks like we have competition, too. Maybe there's a possibility of some good old fashioned international rivalry here. Our honour and reputation is at stake. We earned this Fossil Award and by God we should fight to keep it.

Until then, have a Merry Christmas, whether you're a moocher or a moochee.

Standing Tall and Proud

Essential reading on the subject, especially at the "click" (below the YouTube vid).
=======================
Yay, Canada!!!

Canada branded 'Colossal Fossil' at climate talks

About those twits who survive on arts grants on the other hand....



I wonder how may NGO funds they dip into to support their habits.

So Much for Copenhagen Agreement

Senior White House Official: The 'Chinese are Dug In';'We've Done What We Can in' Copenhagen

"The original goal of the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen was a legally binding international treaty reducing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. It became clear months ago that at least partly because of the Chinese refusal to commit to serious greenhouse gas emission cuts, that would not happen.

Leaders from more than 190 countries have spent the last two weeks working on a more informal agreement, but that might not happen either."

[---]

"the US offer, Clinton underlined, was only "in the context of a strong accord in which all major economies...provide full transparency as to their implementation."

President Obama noted that as well, saying the offer was on the table "if -- and only if -- it is part of the broader accord" including transparency."

I would like to personally thank the Chinese for deep-sixing this most stupid of ideas. Stick to your guns, gentlemen.

Related: Prince Charles does his bit, "generating an estimated 6.4tons of carbon dioxide" while he's at it. At the same time Prime Minister Gordon Brown:

"...chartered a 185-seat Airbus to take him and 20 aides to Denmark. Was a smaller plane producing less carbon dioxide not available?

Could he perhaps have shared an aircraft with Prince Charles? Might he have considered taking a scheduled flight to the Danish capital, of which there were 16 on Tuesday?"

Doubt Grows Over Climate Talks

UPPERDATE: Remember that many people, Lord Monckton among them, have postulated that when the "Reds" lost their best hope with the collapse of communism, they ran like a good little herd of sheeples into the welcoming arms of the environmentalism. This week, in Copenhagen, we have a stage upon which all those former "Reds" are peeing their pants with glee. Look what was served up for them yesterday:



And speaking of former Reds, look what the Russians have brought to the table. Seems Russian raw data does not support the AGW theory, but that hasn't stopped the Warmists from carefully cherry-picking that which they could use.
==========================================
UPDATE: It just doesn't get any better than this:

Blizzard Dumps Snow on Copenhagen as Leaders Battle Warming
==========================================
ORIGINAL POST:

"Climate talks at a UN conference in Copenhagen have reached a crisis point, with Germany's leader describing reports from talks as "not good" and a British politician warning of "a farce"."

What do you mean "not good"? The sooner this "farce" falls apart and the gaia groupies go home the better.

Conserving the Planet at Copenhagen

h/t The Daily Bayonet

Related.

Perfect!!

I've just discovered a perfect name for Mahmood Ahmadinejad. It was used in a passage quoted at Gates of Vienna: Adolfinadinnerjacket

"Gha Daffy" ain't bad, either.

It was in an entry about the rent-a-riot crowds in Copenhagen. And it too, ain't bad.

Kinda like poetry, as in poetic justice.

Good Day Sunshine

Sunshine speeded Swiss glacier melt

"...faster than today, even though warmer average temperatures are being recorded now, Swiss researchers said Monday."

[---]

"...Their study into the impact of solar radiation on Alpine glaciers made the "surprising discovery" that in the 1940s, and especially summer 1947, the ice floes lost the most ice since measurements begin 95 years ago...."

Meanwhile, things are marginally better here in the frozen north. Windchill is currently only -36C. Sigh.

American Thinker...

...Reading the fine print, so I don't have to.

Yes, Louise, there is a Santa.

"Today's London Times carries what might eventually be considered the most important headline in the world for the last 20 years and the most hopeful news for the next 20 years if it is correct:

"Copenhagen Stalls Decision on Catastrophic Climate Change for Six Years"
The key decision on preventing catastrophic climate change will be delayed for up to six years if the Copenhagen summit delivers a compromise deal which ignores advice from the UN's science body.

World leaders will not agree on the emissions cuts recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and are likely instead to commit to reviewing them in 2015 or 2016."

The Times says industrialized countries have not been able to agree to the draconian 25-40% cuts in carbon emissions by the year 2020 demanded by the poor nations and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

President Obama has reportedly agreed to only a 4% reduction from the 1990 levels by 2020."

This is very pleasing, and not really surprising. I actually thought the "developed" countries would be the ones walking out. Instead they've managed to buy some time to thoroughly debunk Algorical et al's junk science.

I am surprised by Obama's small concession. I guess he doesn't believe American is to blame for everything in the world after all.

Some Things are Just Too Funny

Copenhagen climate summit negotiations 'suspended'

The Africans have pulled out in a huff. Rent-a-rioters stand with them. Does that mean the rest of us can go home now?

Oh shucks. Now they're back.

And how about this one. Where's all the outrage about illegal hacking or whatever you'd call this? In any case, as if this would change Canada's stance at Copenhagen.

It Could Have Been Worse

...had Canadians troops been involved. They could have handed them over to Pakistani police where they could have been beaten with shoes.

Honestly, Libtards, get a life.

BRRRRRRR!!!

No wonder I was so cold.

Who's Scarier? Warmists or Realists

ht Uncle Meat

In the Meantime...

...this morning, just before I left Edmonton at around 9:00 am, there was more news on the AGW front.

At Edmonton International Airport, where roughly 145 fossil fuel burning flights land and take off every day and leave untold ppm CO2 hovering in the atmosphere, the temperature was -52C. Driving all the way back to Saskatchewan, with my heat turned up to the max for the full five hours, my feet were still cool when I got here.

So what's wrong with global warming, I ask? Bring it on!!

Related:



Kinda scary, ain't it.

Tony Blair

Still the greatest Prime Minister since Maggie Thatcher.

And still more mass graves.

Yup. The wrong war for the wrong reasons.

Lefties. I just don't understand 'em.

Death to Dictators: Part 2

By fire!

Is 2010 the End of the Road..

...for the Islamic Republic of Iran?

Check out Winston's last two entries.

Read this link, especially.

Related:

About those pesky Swiss and their ban on minarets.

Slow Blogging

Tomorrow I'll be leaving for Alberta and blogging will be intermittent for about a week. I'll blog when I can, but don't expect much.

But I'll leave you with this:



h/t Commenter Oz at SDA

Further to the Munk Debates

The Munk Centre, a think tank affiliated with the University of Toronto, hosted a debate yesterday on the "crisis" of global warming. It was live streamed for the general public and eighteen other Canadian universities. The debaters were Elizabeth May and George Monboit for the scaremongers side going up against Lord Nigel Lawson and Bjorn Lomborg on the opposition.

I signed up to watch it and because of that, I was the recipient of an email this morning, and this, in part, is what it said:

"Going into the debate the audience vote on the resolution – be it resolved climate change is mankind’s defining crisis and demands a commensurate response – was 61% in favour and 39% opposed.

At the end of evening, the opinion had shifted among the 1,100 attendees: 53% of people agreed with the monition and 47% were in opposition."

Amazing. A debate held at the University of Toronto, in which faculties and students from eighteen other universities participate, and at which the audience is subjected to the reasoned arguments of the dreaded deniers actually results in swaying 8% of the crowd away from their "sky is falling" hysteria. There is hope yet. If you missed it, it's available here.

Meanwhile, take a look some of the other news from the last few days:

Eternal Melting

The Climate Science Isn't Settled

Climate Gate: It's all unravelling now

"Big News for People Who Don't Actually Understand Science"

Flashback to Balbulican's famous words regarding Climategate. I wonder what sort of "science" ol' Balb was actually referring to? Was he simply ignorant of basic standards, and if so, is that an indication of the state of decay in today's research facilities? Or has his academic credibility been so badly compromised that he simply doesn't recognize where he is?

I suspect he has advanced degrees in the social sciences - anthropology perhaps, or something close, as well as a law degree. Is this kind of malfeasance just so common in his field of expertise that its practitioners simply have no clue how corrupted they have become? Or is it considered okay because all's fair in love and lawfare?

No folks. This is not the way science is done. In the past two days we have news that heads are already rolling, or very nearly so. Politicians are giving notice that investigations will be forth coming. Governments are falling. Academic institutions have had their reputations irreparably damaged and, with good reason, are putting their errant employees on notice. When the outcome of "science" is the expenditure of trillions of dollars world-wide on a quite possibly non-existent problem created by the fervent imagination of a handful of "scientists" in the pockets of a corrupt United Nations agency, you can bet your sweet patootee that this should not be "how science is done".

This thing has only just begun. As it unravels, as more and more of it is made public and the dust begins to settle, we should see a very different landscape emerge. Any number of decades-long practices may be up for scrutiny - peer review, for example, or the sanctity of tenured professorship, and most certainly, the United Nations - by now so fully riddled with scandal that it's surprising it still exists - and its multitude of shady and corrupt agencies, not to mention the missing-in-action and presumed dead main stream media, which has taken a very serious blow to its already flagging fortunes.

No Balb. This isn't business as usual. This is a earthquake size wrenching of the status quo. When it's finished we will have a very different world.

Full Court Press

...from the Climategate denialists:

Harper won't be riding a white horse to Copenhagen

"Get ready to hear a lot of nasty things said about Canada this week."

Okay. Here we go:

Climate writer blasts Canada as 'corrupt petro-state'

"British journalist and environmental activist George Monbiot took aim at Canada's climate policies today, calling this country a "corrupt petro-state" whose government behaves with "the sophistication of a chimpanzee's tea party.""

[---]

"The immediate threat to the global effort to sustain a peaceful and stable world comes not from Saudi Arabia or Iran or China. It comes from Canada."

Ooh. We're so offended. /sarc

Oooooh

The Glenn Beckization of the Republican Party and other climategate denialist arguments.