Shadow Home Secretary Resigns

Mr. David Davis, the shadow home secretary, has resigned from the House of Commons in order to force a by-election on the issue of the government's proposed 42 day detention bill.

As regular readers know, I'm a firm believer in taking the war to the Jihadists fast, hard & often, but I'm with Mr. Davis in opposing the 42 day detention idea–not because I think it's too harsh or unjust, but because New Labour refuses to recognise that we are, in fact, at war and this detention power would be used against anyone who comes under the heading of "terrorism", which is a tactic and not an enemy. The difference between Mr. Davis and myself is that if the detention was explicitly aimed at Jihadists and their supporters I'd have no qualms with it.

Anti-Terrorist Bed

For that special raving, paranoid nut-case in your life.

Filter to protect precious bodily fluids extra.

A Modest Proposal

Lamperd of Canada has a modest idea for improving airline safety in these troubled time: Force all passengers to wear bracelets that allow the stewardesses to taser them by remote control.

I suspect that the owners of Lamperd have a great deal of stock in railway companies.

Now Can I Question Their Patriotism?

The anti-war movement in the United States has finally descended to the level of domestic terrorism with an improvised bomb planted at a military recruiting office in Times Square, New York City. Confederate Yankee looks at the incident and concludes that the target and lack of anti-personnel features rules out Jiahdists-- or, at least, competent ones.

But remember, they support the troops!

Terror World

The BBC has a feature on how to make Britain's buildings more terrorist-proof.

Unfortunately, defeating the enemy is not considered as one of the options.

The Habit and the Hijab

The absurdity of airport security in the United States summed up in one image.

Culinary Milestone

A chilli sauce so spicy that it closed down Soho with a bioterrorism alert.

But what makes this story a corker is that the report includes the recipe!

Criminal Lawyers

Hofstra Law School is hosting the Sixth Biannual Legal Ethics Conference "Lawyering at the Edge: Unpopular Clients, Difficult Cases, Zealous Advocates". Not very big news until you notice one of the "dynamic" speakers on their list:

Lynne Stewart, who has defended many unpopular clients over the years

What Hofstra fails to mention is that Lynne Stewart is also a convicted felon who was found guilty, sentenced to prison and disbarred from practicing law in 2006 for helping an imprisoned Jihadi terrorist who was behind the 1993 WTC bombing and the 1997 Luxor massacre pass messages to his followers so they could carry on his campaign of mass murder.

I'm not just stunned that Hofstra would let a traitor like her be touted as an expert on "ethics", but that she isn't still in gaol serving a life sentence.

The Pope, Bears, & Islam

From the BBC:

The failed bomb attacks on London and Glasgow have damaged public perceptions of Islam, a survey has suggested.

No doubt that would be the "No #&%$, Sherlock" survey.

Deer In The Headlamps

Europe is beginning to recognise that the Jihadis are a real threat, but haven't the slightest clue as to what to do about it. This is demonstrated no more obviously in the remarks of Britain's new security minister Admiral Sir Alan West, who admits that Britain is in for a fight against the Islamists that might last fifteen years, but whose only plan is less than impressive.

Is he calling the war a war? Is he advocating taking the fight to the enemy on his own ground? Going after the tyrants financing and harbouring the Jiahdis? Is he talking about securing the borders and getting control of immigration? Damning multiculturalism? Demanding that Muslims assimilate and that whether or not they're treated with suspicion is up to them and not their neighbours, who have every right to be wary until assured otherwise?

Sorry. Sir Alan's remedy is... "snitching."

Don't Mention... Anything, Really

Iowahawk looks at the logical outcome of the Gordon Brown approach to Jihadis:

British public safety officials today increased the national alert level to "Quite Elevated Indeed" -- the highest category possible -- and appealed to UK citizens to "keep a sharp lookout for diverse people engaged in activities."

"We ask the public to report any behaviors by various people that may or may not be of a suspicious nature," said Lt. Clive Jameson of the Metropolitan Police Service. "We further ask the public to be especially vigilant for activities of broad stratas of people who may be from countries of some sort, especially those within the eastern and/or western hemisphere."

Tip o' the hat to Charles Palmer.

On The Payroll

Up to eight people with suspected links to terrorist groups, including Al Qaeda, have been discovered working for British police forces.

Have they been arrested? Questioned? At least sacked? Nope (emphasis added).

Astonishingly, many of the alleged jihadists have not been sacked because - it is claimed - police do not have the "legal power" to dismiss them.

Translation: "Here, let me help you put that noose around my neck."

No Respect

The AP's Thomas Wagner puzzles over why all those doctors became involved in a terrorist plot and for all his research and pondering cannot come up with a single common denominator as to what could cause these professional men to plant car bombs in London and Glasgow. Could it be a religious motive. No, of course not. Don't be silly.

It is enough to make one show genuine sympathy for the Jihadists. I mean, here they are shouting from the rooftops that they're a load of crazed Muslim fanatics dedicated to establishing a worldwide Caliphate and have sworn war to the knife against any infidel or fellow Muslim who does not subscribe to their twisted brand of Islam and you can't even get the Western elite to give you a look in. What do you have to do to be taken seriously as a power-hungry megalomaniac around here?

Death With Indignity

The Telegraph reports on a terrorist web site based in Britain where 45 Muslim doctors threatened to blow up naval bases and "clubs for naked women" in the vicinity of Jacksonville, Florida.

I guess that's what happens when you start treating the Hippocratic Oath as "guidelines."

Blackburn Arrests

Two "Asian" men have been arrested in Blackburn on terrorist charges.

In other developments, the number of Jihadi doctors has now risen to seven. The eighth is a medical technician.

Glasgow Attack

Two "Asian" men rammed a Jeep Cherokee into the main terminal at Glasgow airport with the vehicle bursting into flames. The men in the car and two others are reported to be under arrest by Strathclyde police. Eye witnesses say that this was no accident and that the driver deliberately swung the car into the entry way. According to Sky News, one witness said that the men were "throwing petrol around".

Who is behind this attack, what their motive might be, whether it is part of some larger events, if it is related to the failed London bomb attacks, if there is some religious element (Heaven knows what), or if anyone named "Mohammad" is involved remains an utter mystery and will remain so for as long as the major media outlets can manage.

Update: Sky News is now reporting that only two men have been arrested.

Update: Witness tells Sky News that one of the suspects shouted "Allah" while attacking a policemen.

Update: Fox News has reported that Britain's threat level has been raised to "critical", meaning that another attack is thought imminent. The BBC confirms.

Update: The BBC is reporting that two people have been detained in Cheshire in connection with the bombings in Glasgow & London. Looks as if the two incidents are part of the same plot.

Update: The Jihadist who was taken to hospital in critical condition from severe burns was wearing a suicide bomb belt.

Update: CNN reports that there may be a third Jihadist in the Jeep. Also, the burns of the bomb belt terrorist are explained:

Witness Jackie Kennedy told the BBC that after the crash, a passenger in the Jeep doused himself with fuel from a can and ignited it, then got out of the vehicle. Airport police used fire extinguishers on him, and he fell to the ground, she said.

"I realized that this was obviously deliberately done -- the fact that the guy was in flames and seemed to be enjoying himself, even smiling," Kennedy told the BBC.

How anyone can read this and think it's no problem if these madmen get their hands on nuclear weapons is beyond me.

Catch and Release

According to ABC News, British police have identified the suspect and (surprise!) it isn't a rogue IRA operative or Mafia hit man, but is Al Qaeda (emphasis added):

British police have a "crystal clear" picture of the man who drove the bomb-rigged silver Mercedes outside a London nightclub, and officials tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com he bears "a close resemblance" to a man arrested by police in connection with another bomb plot but released for lack of evidence.

Officials say the suspect had been taken into custody in connection with the case of al Qaeda operative Dhiren Barot (pictured), who was convicted of orchestrating a vehicle bomb plot involving targets in London, New York, Newark, N.J. and Washington, D.C.

And some people can't understand why it's a bad idea to use the police and civilian courts to solve what is a military problem.

Don't Connect the Dots

MI5 reports that there are 2000 terrorists in Britain actively supporting Al Qaeda.

But remember, this is just a police matter; we are not at war.

And maybe I'm a Chinese jet pilot.

Also Stable?

Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq, is reported dead in a fire fight with rival Jihadists.

Until it is confirmed that Abu is sharing a pew with Castro in a very warm spot, I'm holding off on the celebrations.

Fun Fact from GlobalSecurity.org:

He probably came into Iraq in 2002, before Zarqawi's arrival, and may have helped establish the first al-Qaeda cell in the Baghdad area.

But Iraq had nothing to do with Al Qaeda and is just a distraction from the "real" war.

Al Qaeda Round Up

From the Times:

A top al-Qaeda commander linked to a string of international terror attacks has been captured trying to enter Iraq and is in US custody, the Pentagon said today.

Between that and the Saudi's scooping 172 terrorists (if the report is credible), this has been a very good day.

Dane-Geld

Something that should be cast in bronze and nailed to the desk of every politician, diplomat or editorialist who thinks it's possible to appease terrorists and tyrants.

Dane-geld

Rudyard Kipling

It is always a temptation to an armed and agile nation,

To call upon a neighbour and to say:—
“We invaded you last night—we are quite prepared to fight,
Unless you pay us cash to go away.”

And that is called asking for Dane-geld,
And the people who ask it explain
That you’ve only to pay ’em the Dane-geld
And then you’ll get rid of the Dane!

It is always a temptation to a rich and lazy nation,
To puff and look important and to say:—
“Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you.
We will therefore pay you cash to go away.”

And that is called paying the Dane-geld;
But we’ve proved it again and again,
That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld
You never get rid of the Dane.

It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation,
For fear they should succumb and go astray,
So when you are requested to pay up or be molested,
You will find it better policy to say:—

“We never pay any-one Dane-geld,
No matter how trifling the cost;
For the end of that game is oppression and shame,
And the nation that plays it is lost!”

Headline of the Day

From the BBC:

'Poison gas' test on Underground

Yep, the aftermath of those curries can be diabolical

Vote of Confidence

According to ABC news, Moqtada al Sadr has fled to Tehran because "He is scared he will get a JDAM dropped on his house."

That's at least one person who thinks the Americans' "surge" is effective.

News Blackout

Who is Al Qaeda's No. 1 man in Iraq?

Don't bother checking the New York Times. They're not really interested.

Tangled Plot

Security forces in Britain are testing a new device designed to snare bomb-laden boats bent on attacking Parliament by fouling their propellers.

I can't help thinking that there's a snag in this somewhere

Missing Piece of the Puzzle

The BBC reports that a man, Derrick Shareef, 22, has been arrested for planning to carry out "violent Jihad" by attacking a shopping centre in Illinois with hand grenade.

Not surprisingly, the Beeb leaves out one tiny detail in the story. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I suspect that it may have something to do with his motive.