The Meaning of the Shoes

From AOL News
BAGHDAD (Dec. 15) - Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets Monday to demand the release of a reporter who threw his shoes at President George W. Bush, as Arabs across many parts of the Middle East hailed the journalist as a hero and praised his insult as a proper send-off to the unpopular U.S. president. [...]

Journalist Muntadhar al-Zeidi, who was kidnapped by militants last year, was being held by Iraqi security Monday and interrogated about whether anybody paid him to throw his shoes at Bush during a press conference the previous day in Baghdad, said an Iraqi official. [...]

Showing the sole of your shoe to someone in the Arab world is a sign of extreme disrespect, and throwing your shoes is even worse.

Newspapers across the Arab world on Monday printed front-page photos of Bush ducking the flying shoes, and satellite TV stations repeatedly aired the incident, which provided fodder for jokes and was hailed by the president's many critics in the region.
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A note from Radarsite: We all understand now the significance of this particular insult in the Arab world -- right? But do we really? Somehow I tend to doubt it. The true significance of this attack on President Bush and symbolically on the United States, and its enthusiastic reception in both the Arab world and in our own liberal media has not really been addressed. One part of this story is of course the breathless eagerness with which our own biased leftist MSM quickly grasps onto any story that will support their long-held conviction that the Iraq war was a foolish criminal endeavor, perpetrated on the American people by a clueless ignorant cowboy -- "the unpopular U.S. president".

But I contend that this incident provides us with an even more important lesson. One which we should have learned by now but have not. It is simply this: Why should this act of hatred and resentment come as a surprise to us? Haven't we accepted the fact yet that 'blood is thicker than water'; or in this case, that the Arab world's adherence to Islam and to Sharia law supersedes any temporary arrangements of convenience made with infidel governments. Treaties made with Arab (or any Muslim) states are in reality no more than cynical measures of expediency. Realpolitik.

Here is the cold hard truth: Islam is, was, and always will be the sworn enemy of Western civilization in general, and of the United States of America in particular. Any thoughts that we can peacefully coexist without risking subsequent betrayal are foolhardy and delusional. Every time we think we have made inroads into the Muslim world we should be automatically circumspect and on guard. For when push comes to shove, all of those minor political or regional differences between Arab/Muslim states will be quickly set aside when confronted with the common enemy of the infidel West. Until the very roots of Islam are torn out of this culture we will never succeed in establishing any meaningful and lasting peace in this region.

The Arab world has lionized the shoe-tosser not just because he confronted and insulted an "unpopular American president", but because he heroically challenged the power and the hegemony of the Infidel West. To not understand the depth of this animosity is to not understand the profound meaning of this monumental global confrontation we are experiencing.

Does this mean that we should just give up on our efforts to reform and democratize the Middle East? Of course not. But we cannot be naive or overly optimistic. We must constantly bear in mind the immutability of the message of the Koran. During the Cold War we developed the concept of 'Trust but verify'. This attitude is even more relevant today when confronted with militant Islam.

Read more:
http://radarsite.blogspot.com/2008/11/our-most-dangerous-enemy-post-mumbai.html

http://radarsite.blogspot.com/2008/11/golden-key-those-illusive-moderate.html

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Instruments of Love and Harmony #7

From Zenit.org comes Final Statement of Catholic-Muslim Forum "Called to Be Instruments of Love and Harmony"
For background information about the meetings, see this Reuters article of 11/06/08.

The statement includes an enumerated list of fifteen points which present a target rich environment In this installment, I'll take on the eighth point of agreement.[Links & emphasis added.]

8. We affirm that no religion and its followers should be excluded from society. Each should be able to make its indispensable contribution to the good of society, especially in service to the most needy.

9. We recognize that God's creation in its plurality of cultures, civilizations, languages and peoples is a source of richness and should therefore never become a cause of tension and conflict.

Taken at face value, points 8 & 9 mean that the Muslims participating in the meeting accept the concept of multiculturalism. By so doing, they would sever themselves from Allah and become apostates.

Allah said, "whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.".[3:85] Allah said, "Truly, the religion with Allah is Islam". On his deathbed, Moe said "Expel the pagans from the Arabian Peninsula". [Bukhari 4.52.288] Caliph Umar subsequently expelled the Jews. [Bukhari 3.39.531]

As if that was insufficient proof of intolerance, we have Allah's commands to fight until only Allah is worshiped and Jews & Christians are subjugated and extorted. In three ayat, Allah declares that Islam must be made to dominate other religions: "to make it superior over all religions", "that He may make it (Islam) superior over all religions", "to make it victorious over all (other) religions".

The right to believe and practice as you choose is obviated by Allah's commands to fight disbelievers. Once Jews & Christians are conquered, subjugated & extorted, Islamic law specifies certain regulations. I quote from Reliance of the Traveller, Book O.

• O11.5
• are distinguished from Muslims in dress, wearing a wide cloth belt (zunnar);
• are not greeted with "as-Salamu 'alaykum";
• must keep to the side of the street
• may not build higher than or as high as the Muslims' buildings, though if they acquire a tall house, it is not razed;
• are forbidden to openly display wine or pork, (A: to ring church bells or display crosses,) recite the Torah or Evangel aloud, or make public display of their funerals and feastdays;
• and are forbidden to build new churches

Either the Muslim participants in the forum are contradicting Allah & his Messenger and abandoning Islam or their affirmation multiculturalism is insincere. Which is it?

Click this link for A Common Word between Us and You, which precipitated the recent meetings. [Note the Events section, a recent addition to the page]. A Common Word's home page includes a summary, the missive, media reports, blog posts and various responses from Christian & Jewish leaders. Click this link: Islamic Extortion Letter for my original dissection of the missive or this link: Go Burn With Muhammad, a blog devoted to dissecting the missive and reactions to it.

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Muslim lawyer Anjem Choudary brands Christmas 'evil'

Cross posted by Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

The war on Christmas is now international with Muslims stepping in to take pot shots at the holiday.

Muslim preacher Anjem Choudary has branded Christmas "evil" in a sermon posted on the internet.

The lawyer, who recently praised the Mumbai terror attacks, urged all Muslims to reject traditional Christmas celebrations, claiming that they are forbidden by Allah.

The 41-year-old shocked Christians and even those of his own faith by branding yuletide festivities as "the pathway to hellfire".

Choudary, who is chairman of the Society of Muslim Lawyers, ruled out all celebrations, including having a Christmas tree, decorating the house or eating turkey.

In the sermon posted on an Islamic website, he said: "In the world today many Muslims, especially those residing in western countries, are exposed to the evil celebration Christmas.

"Many take part in the festival celebrations by having Christmas turkey dinners.

"Decorating the house, purchasing Christmas trees or having Christmas turkey meals are completely prohibited by Allah.

"Many still practise this corrupt celebration as a remembrance of the birth of Jesus.

Choudary is Principal Lecturer at the London School of Shari'ah and a follower of the Islamist militant leader Omar Bakri Mohammed.

Earlier this year, he led a meeting at the heart of the area where the liquid bombers lived, which warned of a British September 11.

Full Story

Isn't it strange that a Muslim would condemn the birth of Jesus as a pathway to Hell since under Islamic teachings, Jesus was a prophet of God.

Behold! the angels said "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus the son of Mary held in honor in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah. ( Quran, 3:45)

So wouldn't honoring this prophet be an acceptable idea? I guess not according to Anjem Choudary.

is an outspoken hatemonger. Here are just a few examples:

In October of 2000 Choudary issued a press release as the UK head of Al-Muhajiroun, threatening British Jews not to support Israel in any way. The press release said, in part, that it is an "Islamic obligation upon Muslims everywhere to support the Jihad against those who fight Muslims anywhere in the world or who occupy Muslim land," "the Qur'an is explicit in making Israeli aggressors and occupiers legitimate targets for Muslims wherever they may be" and that "if you support Israel financially, verbally or physically you will become part of the conflict." And did the British government arrest him for this act of hatred? No.

At a press conference in Walthamstow, East London, on the eve of the first anniversary of the 7 July 2005 London bombings, Choudary said that Muslims in Britain were "oppressed" and had the right to defend themselves "by whatever means". He also said that he would not notify police if he were to learn of another terrorist bombing plot, and that "I don't think Muslims can co-operate with police."

Choudary told a reporter, "Whoever insults the message of Muhammad is going to be subject to capital punishment. I am here have a peaceful demonstration. But there may be people in Italy or other parts of the world who would carry that out. I think that warning needs to be understood by all people who want to insult Islam and want to insult the prophet of Islam." Police launched an investigation into the protest, but no charges were laid.

In a BBC interview Choudary was asked why he would not say with Omar Bakri Mohammed, "I condemn the killing of innocent people." Choudary replied,

At the end of the day, when we say "innocent people" we mean "Muslims". As far as non-Muslims are concerned, they have not accepted Islam. As far as we are concerned, that is a crime against God.

View at YouTube

Choudary lost no time in seizing upon the Archbishop of Canterbury's well-publicised remarks in February 2008 concerning shariah law in the UK. He held a public meeting in Harmony Hall, Walthamstow, calling for the implementation of Shariah law in its entirety in the UK. In posters that were fly-posted near tube stations in East London, he billed himself as Judge of the Shari'ah Court of the UK.

Speaking a conference on September 11th, 2008 in London, Choudary, referring to the high birth rate of Muslims, stated that "It may be by pure conversion that Britain will become an Islamic state. We may never need to conquer it from the outside.". He also stated that "We do not integrate into Christianity. We will ensure that one day you will integrate into the Sharia Islamic law.".

Speaking at a UCD Debate on Shariah Law in Ireland, Anjem contended that Shari'ah law is the future for Ireland and Britain and was opposed by professors and students of the University.

In November 2008, Choudary organised a meeting of the 'Islam for the UK' group in the Brady Arts and Community Centre in Tower Hamlets at which Omar Bakri Mohammmad spoke via a video-conference link. At this meeting, in response to a question from a female Muslim with regard to Islam being a religion of peace, Choudary stated that "Islam is not a religion of peace. It is a religion of submission. We need to submit to the will of Allah."

By his own words does he admit that Islam is not a religion of peace.

So now he hates Christmas. Maybe he should move to a nation that he would be happy in, but alas he can't. He was thrown out of Lebanon in 2005. They don't want him either.

And what does the Association of Muslim Lawyers say about their leader's words? Nothing. They neither condemn nor condone. They are silent. And silence equals consent. By their silence they are agreeing with Choudary 100%.

So much of a joyous Christmas with your Muslim friends. Pretty soon it will be illegal in Great Britain to even celebrate Christmas. But don't worry, you can celebrate Eid and slaughter a goat instead.



View at YouTube

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Chapel No, Prayer Room Yes!

Cross posted by Findalis of Monkey in the Middle


Again the Religion of Peace has won another battle in the war against America and our Judeo-Christian values.

The Mall of America, that bastion of capitalism, has given in to Muslim demands for a prayer room.

Mall of America Moves to Accommodate Minnesota Muslims

On the day Muslims around the world began to celebrate Eid al-Adha, Fatuma Mohamed was at the Mall of America (MOA), far away from where she would normally say her prayers.

But she and other Muslims needed to take time from the activities of the mall and find a quiet area to pray as Muslims do during the festival that commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his only son for God.

“I said my prayer right at that corner,” Mohamed said, pointing to the spot.

Another Muslim, Amran Ali, did the same.

“I had to say my prayer at a corner,” Ali said. “I was stared at, but no one bothered me.”

Every year, as Muslims in America are compelled to engage in business, work and shopping during the holidays, many find themselves away from mosques and other places where they can hold prayers without interruption. They are forced to seek privacy in corners and alleyways, places that often subject them to unwanted attention. Some Muslims also worry that their repetitive calls of “Allah akbar!” (God is great!) during prayers could be misconstrued as calls for Jihad.

So you were stared at. Big deal. And if I heard "Allah akbar!" in my mall, I'd run for the nearest exit immediately. That is what the murderers shouted at Mumbai. Any person these days would do the same.

This year Muslim leaders from the Twin Cities area were able to persuade MOA, the largest enclosed mall in the United States, to set aside a room for prayers.

“I learned quite a bit from my last meeting with the community,” said Douglas Reynolds, MOA’s security director.

But Mohamed and other Muslims did not know there was a prayer room, even though MOA and Muslim volunteers had intended to have eight posters in three languages, (English, Somali and Arabic) to be displayed at all entrances to the mall.

Reynolds said many might have missed the signs because MOA and the Muslim leaders did not advise the community about the prayer room before this week’s observance of Eid al-Adha. The signs also went up too late in the day, Reynolds said.

“It would have been nice to get the message out to the community earlier,” Reynolds said. “The signs were also not available until 4:30 p.m.”

He promised that MOA would “do a better job next time.”

Sheikh Neelain Muhammad, an imam at the St.Paul-based Da’wa Islamic Center, and five other volunteers from the center were among the many volunteers who were at the mall to make sure that day went on without incidents, especially from teenagers.

Full Story

In other words, they had better do the same next time or we will call out Jihad on you.

There are many facts about the Mall of America, but they do not have a chapel on their premise. They do have a Muslim Prayer Room though. And do they make accommodations for members of other faiths? Don't hold your breath.

I find that if you are going to make a prayer room for one faith, shouldn't you make a chapel for other faiths? I am very glad not to live in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area so I don't have to go to this Dhimmi establishment.

If you do live in this area, let them know how you feel about this reverse discrimination they are doing.

You can contact them at:

Mall of America
60 East Broadway
Bloomington, MN 55425
952-883-8800
Website

Let them know that your dollars are better spent at places that don't cater to Jihad and Terror.

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Every Day Heroes

Meet Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman:

RAF Benson Pilot Receives Top Honour - Friday 7 March 2008

It was announced today that Merlin helicopter pilot Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), the first time the honour has been awarded to a female pilot.

The DFC, awarded for “an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy" was awarded to Flight Lieutenant Goodman following a particular sortie during her second 2-month tour as part of the Joint Helicopter Force (Iraq) in support of Operation TELIC.

On 1 June 2007 she was the aircraft captain of the Incident Reaction Team (IRT) Merlin helicopter based at Basra Air Station. At 2315 hours on 1 June, Flight Lieutenant Goodman was alerted that there was a serious casualty following a mortar attack on an isolated British location in the centre of Basra City. Landing an aircraft at this location is assessed to be very high risk. On 1 June 2007, intelligence reports indicated a large, ‘spectacular’ attack would occur somewhere in Basra, with a helicopter being a possible target. Flight Lieutenant Goodman was fully aware of the elevated threat level throughout her sortie.

Alert to the high risk, but being fully conscious of the importance of providing unfailing IRT support to ground forces, Flight Lieutenant Goodman elected to fly her approach, whilst under intense enemy direct and indirect fire. Maintaining a firm control of the situation whilst flying tactically on Night Vision Goggles at very low level across a hostile city, she commenced a most expeditious transit and approach to an unfamiliar and dangerous landing site. She continued her approach, undeterred by close friendly covering fire and even closer enemy fire which began to impact to the rear of the aircraft. Despite the most complex approach, with numerous obstructions and ambient conditions on the limit of aviation operations, she executed a landing with few visual references bringing the aircraft in next to the casualty. The medics and Aviation Reaction Force left the aircraft as 4 mortar rounds landed in and around the location; however, she remained in full control of the situation and elected to hold the aircraft on the ground as the option with least risk. The top cover Lynx helicopter was by now reporting several substantial explosions in the area, which were believed to be either enemy mortars or RPG fire. With the casualties loaded, Flight Lieutenant Goodman departed the helicopter landing site just as further explosions occurred in close vicinity to the aircraft. Additionally, her aircraft detected a possible enemy missile engagement and automatically discharged flares as a counter measure. She departed the area, her path covered by very close friendly artillery fire to distract enemy forces. Flight Lieutenant Goodman flew rapidly from the area, making maximum use of the aircraft’s performance, crew and supporting assets to achieve a safe transit clear of the area. The aircraft landed at the British Field Hospital just 14 minutes after launch.

Many IRT sorties are high risk. However, on this occasion Flight Lieutenant Goodman had to instantly weigh up the risks against the importance of recovering a serious casualty, which would impact on morale throughout the coalition. Without the IRT, the casualty would have died within 15 minutes. Despite extreme pressure, whilst in the face of the enemy, she made the right decision. This was a bold and daring sortie which undoubtedly saved life.

Upon hearing the news of this historic award, Flight Lieutenant Goodman commented, “I am truly honoured to be awarded a DFC, but without both my crew and all the engineering support personnel, the rescue of the casualty would not have been possible. The helicopter Incident Reaction Team (IRT), whether in Iraq or Afghanistan, is regularly confronted with dangerous casualty extractions and all are dealt with in a professional and timely manner. This is not an award just for me, but recognizes all the soldiers, sailors and airmen, who, day in and day out put their lives on the line for the British public to remain safe.”

The Station Commander, Group Captain Paul Lyall further commented, “For the last 2 years, Royal Air Force Merlin helicopters have been hard at work moving our troops around southern Iraq. Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman showed great gallantry in flying her helicopter into a restricted area of Basra under enemy fire to rescue a wounded soldier and speed him straight to our field hospital. She would be the first to say that any of her colleagues would have shown the same skill and courage. She is humbled to be the first female recipient of a Distinguished Flying Cross. All of us at Royal Air Force Benson salute her actions, and those of the other 3 crew members that supported her. Flight Lieutenant Goodman’s actions were in the finest traditions of the Royal Air Force and we are very proud of her.”

Flight Lieutenant Goodman was born in Bristol on 22 November 1976 and was brought up there before completing a degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Manchester. Her Royal Air Force career began in 2000 and following Initial Officer Training at RAF Cranwell and initial flying training at RAF Shawbury, she was posted to the Merlin Force at RAF Benson in 2004. A combat Ready pilot, Flight Lieutenant Goodman has completed 3 tours on Operation TELIC in Iraq. (source)

More here, and then there is this:

From The Times

March 8, 2008

First woman DFC wears her uniform with pride

Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman

Michael Evans, Defence Editor

“This could be a bit dodgy” were the final words spoken by Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman to her Merlin helicopter crew before they took off to rescue a wounded comrade under heavy fire in one of the most dangerous parts of Basra last year.

It was dark and dusty, and as they flew in low over the rooftops of the city there were flashes and explosions all around them. It was more than dodgy.

Yesterday the 31-year-old pilot was proud but bashful when she was told officially she was the first woman to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for an act of supreme bravery.

Flight Lieutenant Goodman, who comes from Bristol and is based at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, knew that it was going to be a dangerous mission because the helicopter would be vulnerable to a hail of machinegun fire, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. ... (source)

(source: The Fleet Air Arm Officers' Association)

If you "google" her name, you will find many, many articles on Flight Lieutenant Goodman.


On the same day as her actions were recognised, a further 183 members of the British armed forces were also given the medals they had earned:

Friday 7 March 2008 13:47
Ministry Of Defence (National)

RAF personnel honoured for service on operations

184 members of the Armed Forces are honoured today for their courage and professionalism on operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world.

Five Conspicuous Gallantry Crosses, five Distinguished Service Orders, 28 Military Crosses, and three Distinguished Flying Crosses will be awarded in the honours for the period 1st April 2007 to 30th September 2007.

Flight Lieutenant Michelle Goodman becomes the first woman to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross for her bravery in Basra.

Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence, said today:

"Our servicemen and women risk their lives on operations every day, and it gives me great pleasure to congratulate those honoured today and to thank them for their tireless service to our country.

"These men and women are a credit to the Armed Forces. Many of them have displayed courage beyond the call of duty and all of them have shown unstinting dedication. We owe thanks to them all and to their families for their invaluable support and commitment to the Armed Forces."

Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, today said:

"The Service personnel that we honour today have all distinguished themselves - many in the face of great danger - and some have risked their own lives to save others. They have all earned the nation's thanks and respect, and I pay tribute to their outstanding achievements in the face of most difficult and dangerous circumstances."..(go here)

The list is truly amazing, Go here and read about the bravery of some of Britain's finest.

Thank YOU for your service, Flight Lieutenant Goodman!~

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