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Cox & Forkum on the Muhammad Caricatures: Overboard
Cox & Forkum: Overboard
From Robert Tracinski in today’s TIA Daily comes a must-read analysis of the Mohammed cartoon controversy: Publish or Perish: The Lessons of the Cartoon Jihad
The central issue of the “cartoon jihad” — the Muslim riots and death threats against a Danish newspaper that printed 12 cartoons depicting Mohammed — is obvious. The issue is freedom of speech: whether our freedom to think, write, and draw is to be subjugated to the “religious sensitivities” of anyone who threatens us with force.
That is why it is necessary for every newspaper and magazine to re-publish those cartoons, as I will do in the next print issue of The Intellectual Activist.
This is not merely a symbolic expression of support; it is a practical countermeasure against censorship. Censorship—especially the violent, anarchic type threatened by Muslim fanatics—is effective only when it can isolate a specific victim, making him feel as if he alone bears the brunt of the danger. What intimidates an artist or writer is not simply some Arab fanatic in the street carrying a placard that reads “Behead those who insult Islam.” What intimidates him is the feeling that, when the beheaders come after him, he will be on his own, with no allies or defenders—that everyone else will be too cowardly to stick their necks out.
The answer, for publishers, is to tell the Muslim fanatics that they can’t single out any one author, or artist, or publication. The answer is to show that we’re all united in defying the fanatics.
That’s what it means to show “solidarity” by re-publishing the cartoons. The message we need to send is: if you want to kill anyone who publishes those cartoons, or anyone who makes cartoons of Mohammed, then you’re going to have to kill us all. If you make war on one independent mind, you’re making war on all of us. And we’ll fight back.
Also, the following excellent editorials from the Ayn Rand Institute were added in updates to previous cartoons, but I’m reposting them here: The Twilight of Freedom of Speech by Onkar Ghate; and “Muslim Opinion” Be Damned by Alex Epstein.
(The Danish cartoons and caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed can be seen at MohammedCartoons.com. Our other related cartoons are: Image Problem, A Right to Blasphemy, Western Dhimmitude, and Must-See TV.)
Technorati Tags: MuhammadCaricatures, FreedomofSpeech, Cox&Forkum, Islam, Muhammad,
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Metropolitan Water District Watch: Jeffrey Kightlinger New CEO/General Manager?
Flap has learned through MWD sources that Jeffrey Kightlinger, Metropolitan Water District General Counsel has been selected as MWD’s new CEO/General Manager. A formal announcement is pending while an employment contract is negotiated with the MWD Board of Directors.
Jeffrey Kightlinger is general counsel for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. As general counsel, Kightlinger is responsible for directing Metropolitan’s legal staff and consulting attorneys; leading the district’s legal strategies in pending and potential litigation; and protecting Metropolitan’s interests in all legal matters.
Before becoming general counsel, Kightlinger represented Metropolitan in environmental issues and water right matters. At Metropolitan he worked primarily on Colorado River matters, water rights issues and a number of the district’s water transfer and storage programs. Prior to joining Metropolitan in 1995, Kightlinger worked in private practice representing numerous public agencies including municipalities, redevelopment agencies and special districts.
Kightlinger spent a year specializing in environmental law at George Washington University in Washington D.C., while working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of California, Berkeley, and his law degree from the University of Santa Clara.
Mr. Kightlinger will be replacing Dennis Underwood who passed away in November 2005.
Certainly this is a better pick than former Democrat Assemblyman Richard Katz.
Katz would have been a DISASTER for the MWD because of his involvement with Keith Brackpool and Cadiz Real Estate.
Stay tuned for the formal announcement.
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Metropolitan Water District Watch: CEO/General Manager Passes Away
Technorati Tags: MetropolitanWaterDistrict, MWD, RichardKatz, DebraMan, GilbertIvey, California, CaliforniaStateWaterResourcesControlBoard, GrayDavis, JeffreyKightlinger, KeithBrackpool, CadizRealEstate
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Muhammad Caricature Watch: Pakistan Police Gas Students Protesting Caricatures
Pakistani students try to escape teargas fired by police to disperse the crowd who gathered to protest against the publication of cartoons depicting Islamic prophet Muhammad, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Monday, Feb 13, 2006.
ASSociated Press: Police Gas Students Protesting Cartoons
Police fired tear gas and wielded batons Monday to stop about 7,000 students protesting cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad from marching on the governor’s residence in northwestern Pakistan.
The students had marched to several universities in Peshawar and hurled stones at a Christian school, breaking windows and causing other damage. They also threw stones at shops in the main business district, chanting “Down with America” and “Down with Denmark.”
So, who set up these demonstrations? Al Qaeda?
There were no immediate reports of casualties, but an Associated Press reporter saw students carrying away a classmate with an injured leg.
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf told journalists in the capital, Islamabad, on Monday that newspapers that have printed the caricatures were “being totally oblivious to the consequences for the world, for world peace and harmony.”
“The most moderate Muslim will go to the street and talk against it because this hurts the sentiments of every Muslim,” he said. “Whether an extremist or a moderate or an ultramoderate, we will condemn it.”President Musharraf has it wrong about freedom of speech and expression.
However, he has it right to maintain law and order over foolish demonstrations – really about nothing.
Muhammad Caricature Watch: Condolezza Rice – Muslim Outrage Could “Spin Out of Controlâ€
Muhammad Caricature Watch: Denmark Withdraws Diplomats from Iran and Indonesia
Muhammad Caricature Watch: Thousands Protest Against Prophet Drawings
Muhammad Caricature Watch: Muslim Leaders Urge Calm
Muhammad Caricature Watch: Are Extemists Fanning Caricature Outrage?Muhammad Caricature Watch: Egypt and the Muhammad Caricatures
Muhammad Caricature Watch: Condoleezza Rice – Iran and Syria Stoking Anger – The Response
Muhammad Caricature Watch: Condoleezza Rice – Iran and Syria Stoking AngerCox & Forkum: Western Dhimmitude
Muhammad Caricature Watch: French Weekly Charlie Hebdo Reprints Muhammad Caricatures
Muhammad Caricature Watch: Demonstrators Attack Norwegian Embassy in Tehran, IranMuhammad Caricature Watch: 4 Killed In Afghanistan in Caricature Bloodshed
Muhammad Caricature Watch: A Right to Blasphemy
Muhammad Caricature Watch: New Protests Erupt Around the World
Muhammad Caricature Watch: The False Cartoons and Danish Imams
Muhammad Caricature Watch: Angry Demonstrators Set Danish Consulate in Beirut AblazeMuhammad Caricature Watch: Syrian Protesters Set Danish Embassy Ablaze Over Cartoon
Muhammad Caricature Watch: Protests Over Muhammad Drawings IntensifyMuhammad Caricature Watch: Anger Over Cartoons of Muhammad Escalates
Day by Day by Chris Muir on CNN
Day by Day by Chris Muir on Muhammad Caricatures
Cox & Forkum: Publication of Caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad by a Danish Newspaper
Technorati Tags: Jyllands-Posten, ProphetMuhammad, Islam, Muhammadcaricatures
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Al Gore Watch: United States Committed “Terrible Abuses” Against Arabs
U.S. Former Vice President Al Gore talks during the 2nd day of Jeddah Economic Forum Sunday Feb. 12, 2006 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
ASSociated Press: Gore Decries Treatment of Arabs Post 9-11
Former Vice President Al Gore told a mainly Saudi audience on Sunday that the U.S. government committed “terrible abuses” against Arabs after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and that most Americans did not support such treatment.
What in the HELL is Gore talking about? Has he LOST it?
But, it gets worse…..
Gore said Arabs had been “indiscriminately rounded up” and held in “unforgivable” conditions. The former vice president said the Bush administration was playing into al-Qaida’s hands by routinely blocking Saudi visa applications.
“The thoughtless way in which visas are now handled, that is a mistake,” Gore said during the Jiddah Economic Forum. “The worst thing we can possibly do is to cut off the channels of friendship and mutual understanding between Saudi Arabia and the United States.”
Sucking up to the Saudi Oil money and SELLING OUT America will NOT elect you President, Al.
What a MORON!
Captain Ed has Al Gore Sells Out To The Saudis
Michelle Malkin has AL GORE SLANDERS AMERICA
Blogger Reactions:
Scott Johnson at Power Line dubs him “Al of Arabia.”
Captain’s Quarters skewers Gore’s sellout.
Tigerhawk condemns Gore’s betrayal on foreign soil.
Instapundit: “Only Al Gore could come up with the idea of criticizing Bush for not sucking up to the Saudis enough. Sigh.”
Little Green Footballs has a photo reminder for Gore and notes that Gore has been doing the Arab-pandering speaking circuit for a while.
Oblogatory Anecdotes calls him Al “Dhimmi” Gore.Judith Apter Klinghoffer notes other Saudi panderers at the Jeddah conference.
Ankle Biting Pundits: Al gores the truth yet again.
Tom Bevan at Real Clear Politics is right: Ann Coulter’s comments this weekend were dumb, but Al Gore’s were truly insidious.
Technorati Tags: AlGore, SaudiArabi, JeddahEconomicForum
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Iran Nuclear Watch: Talks with Russia Postponed
An Iranian technician works at a Uranium Conversion Facility in Isfahan. Iran has started putting uranium feedstock gas into centrifuges, defying the West with actual enrichment work on making what can be nuclear reactor fuel or atom bomb material, diplomats told AFP.
Reuters: Iran delays nuclear talks with Russia
Iran said on Monday talks with Russia this week to discuss proposals to process nuclear fuel for Iranian reactors on Russian soil had been postponed.
The proposal was put forward by Moscow to ease international concerns that Iran could enrich bomb-grade uranium.
“Talks with Russia have not been canceled, but the date should be discussed,” government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham told a weekly news conference.
Russia and Iran were scheduled to hold talks on Thursday to see if any headway could be made on the Russian proposal.
Elham said the proposal was only acceptable if it was in addition to enrichment facilities in Iran. “The government insists on enriching uranium on Iran’s soil and the proposal should be adjusted based on the new circumstances,” Elham said.
Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak said Moscow remained prepared to hold talks with Iran over the proposal on February 16.
“Our proposal to meet on February 16 still stands,” Kislyak told Interfax news agency.
And anyone really considered this a serious compromise? Just another STALL tactic. But, since Iran has already been referred to the United Nations Security Council why waste time on this charade?
So, what is Iran’s true position?
Elham repeated Iran’s demand that Western countries recognize Iran’s right to nuclear technology as a signatory to the NPT. “We are committed to international treaties to preserve our right,” Elham said.
“But if our right was not recognized, there will be no reason to remain committed to international treaties.”
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned on Saturday that Tehran might review its membership of the NPT if it felt its enemies were using the accord to put unfair pressure on Iran.
But Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Sunday played down Ahmadinejad’s threat on the withdrawal from the NPT, saying Iran had no intention of pulling out of the treaty.
Elham said Iran would resume its uranium enrichment activities at its Natanz plant by March 6, when the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei submits his report on Iran’s atomic work to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors.
“Iran is determined to go ahead with its peaceful atomic work … We will not wait until then (March 6),” he said.
They will continue uranium enrichment – further isolating themselves from the world community. And risking military operations to end their nuclear program.
Stay tuned…..
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Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Reaffirms Commitment to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty
Iran Nuclear Watch: United States Preparing Military Strikes Against Iran Nucear Sites
Iran Nuclear Watch: Natanz Uranium Processing Plant has RestartedIran Nuclear Watch: “MYTH†of the Holcaust Redux
Iran Watch: Iran Paper Holds Holocaust Cartoons ContestIran Watch: Iran Paper Plans Holocaust Cartoons
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Tells IAEA to Remove Surveillance Cameras and Seals From Nuclear Sites
Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Warns Against Iran Conflict
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ends Cooperation With IAEA and Resumes Uranium EnrichmentIran Nuclear Watch: IAEA Reports Iran to United Nations Security Council
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Threatens Full-Scale Enrichment Work
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says BACK OFF Or…Iran Nuclear Watch: Bush – United States Will Defend Israel Against Iran
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Will Resist “Bully Nationsâ€
Iran Watch: Bush: Iran ‘Held Hostage’ by Clerical Elite
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Documents Point to Nuclear Warheads
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Threatens End of Diplomacy
Iran Nuclear Watch: Permanent Five Say IAEA Must Report Iran to U.N. Security CouncilThe Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, Russia, China, SergeiLavrov, UnitedNations, UnitedNationsSecurityCouncil, ZhouWenzhong, NicholasBurns, EuropeanUnion, MahmoudAhmadinejad, ManouchehrMottaki, JacquesChirac, Chirac, France, Iran, Nuclearweapons, nuclear, AbdulQadeerKhan, AliLarijani, CondoleezzaRice, JohnBolton, RezaVaidi, GholamHosseinMohseniEjehei
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Day By Day by Chris Muir on Muhammad Caricatures and Free Speech
Technorati Tags: DaybyDay, ChrisMuir, MuhammadCaricatures, FreeSpeech