AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN?

So, hands up all who agree with Sheik Abdullah el-Faisal that devout Muslim Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, the man accused of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in Texas, is an "Officer and a Gentleman," and his actions should not be denounced.

"He was recorded praising Osama bin Laden and saying, "You have to learn how to shoot and fly planes and drive tanks."

El-Faisal also said chemical weapons should be utilized to "exterminate non-believers" and said Muslim mothers should buy toy guns for their children to providing training opportunities.

"We do NOT denounce this officer's actions, we do however apologize for the following acts committed by our country," the U.S.-based website's supporters said. They listed: "Bay of Tonkin, The East Timor Massacre by USA Supported Suharto, 1902 Samar Massacre in the Philippines by the USMC, 1,000,000 Dead Iraqis, Afghani & Pakistanis Killed by the USA, Starvation of Africa & Rape of it's (sic) Resources by the USA, Support of the Brutal 'Israeli' Occupation Entity, Etc. Etc."

"Every day is Fort Hood for the world community due to USA policies and their tyrant totalitarian puppet regimes," the activists proclaimed. "Rest assure (sic) the slain terrorists at Fort Hood are in the eternal hellfire and it is not to (sic) late for YOU to change your policies," they said."

Now then, El Faisel is a guy who was sentenced to nine years in jail back in 2003, reduced to seven on appeal, after being convicted of soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred in England. He served four years before he was set free and allowed to return to Jamaica from whence he hailed. That's what justice means in the UK these days, little wonder Jihadists take us so lightly!!!!

Naturally. moderate Muslims are queuing up to condemn him. Aren't they?

THE SWISS ROLE

Muslims in many parts of Switzerland have invited the public into mosques - three weeks before a vote on whether to ban the construction of minarets. How caring and inclusive.

Muslim organisations say they hope their open day will counter what they say are fears and prejudices. The conservative group that initiated the vote - the largest party in the Swiss parliament - says minarets are a symbol of Muslim political power.

I fully agree with the ban on the construction of minarets and trust the Swiss create a roll that others will emulate.

POST MORAL BRITAIN...

As we approach Remembrance Sunday, comes the news that War memorials are being desecrated by thieves and vandals at the rate of more than one a week.

Figures released on the eve of Remembrance Sunday reveal how thugs are casually vandalising plaques, statues and stone crosses. Since the country paused to commemorate the war dead in November last year, yobs have damaged at least 56 war memorials.

Here is one image from a land that has moved post-Christian, post-morality. Urinating on wreathes laid in memory of the fallen. Secularism rules...

THE TIES THAT BIND.....

Interesting to read that Islamicic killer Major Nidal Malik Hasan worshipped at a mosque led by a radical imam said to be a "spiritual adviser" to three of the hijackers who attacked America on Sept 11, 2001.

Hasan, the sole suspect in the massacre of 13 fellow US soldiers in Texas, attended the controversial Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Great Falls, Virginia, in 2001 at the same time as two of the September 11 terrorists, The Sunday Telegraph has learnt. His mother's funeral was held there in May that year. The preacher at the time was Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born Yemeni scholar who was banned from addressing a meeting in London by video link in August because he is accused of supporting attacks on British troops and backing terrorist organisations.

Just one of those coincidences, I dare say?

GORDON'S BIG IDEA....

My but what a surprise. UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has had an idea. A new idea. A fresh idea.

He thinks governments should consider whether it would be possible to develop a tax that would be universal, comprehensive in scope and compatible with financial stability, as well as fair and which would not "distort things"

You have to laugh, don't you? This dolt hasn't a clue - he is facing the exit door next June and between now and then he is simply an embarrassment.  The US and Canada have instantly kicked it into touch, of course, so it is dead in the water as soon as it is was floated. So, to cheer Gordon up, here's a song dedicated to him.     

TUVITIS

Well then, been away earlier today at the Traditional Unionist Voice Party conference. I had been invited there as a guest.

Packed venue in Belfast with several hundred people there.

I thought it was a very professionally run event and had several highlights.

My one-time political eminence grise, Robert McCartney QC was the guest speaker.

His topic was the Educational chaos caused by the IRA/Sinn Fein Education Minister Caitriona Ruane aka The Ruanator. Bob gave an interesting and lengthy analysis of the folly of the deconstruction of selective education.

As some may know, Bob came from a very humble background, one of eight kids, and through hard work and study he got himself a place in a Grammar School, then to University, and then into the Law. As some may know, he became one of Northern Ireland's leading lawyers and it was nice to see him again.

Bob, like the TUV, believes that the retention of academic based selection is in the best interests of all children and disdains the malignant policies of IRA/Sinn Fein/Labour in this regard.

First time he and I have been in the same room in a few years now but we did not talk. Some things do not change.

The  highlight however, was TUV Leader Jim Allister's speech. Jim gave a sweeping and incisive analysis of the current and future political scene. He exposed the unspeakable hypocrisy of the DUP, he outlined the difference the TUV can make within not just Unionism but the very future of Northern Ireland politics. Jim is a powerful orator, with a sense of humour, and the audience really responded to his comments. In a local political world of minnows, Jim is a shark.

There was a good line in his speech concerning our current First Minister Peter Robinson visiting the doctor to establish what was wrong with the DUP.  Could it be Swine Flu, perhaps, given how noses have been stuck in the trough? Nope. It is in fact TUVITIS - a condition that is lethal to terrorists in government.

Unionism is alive and well and the TUV keeps the flag flying in my view. There is a sense of righteous indignation which drives these people and it is one that has driven me for years. They despise the failure of the main Unionist Parties to stand up to terrorists in government. The DUP betrayal in 2007 is a particular sore and it is obvious that the DUP has lost a significant number of core supporters because of their duplicity under Chuckle Brother Number One and now Robbo.

If I were an incumbent DUP MP or MLA, I would start looking for fresh career opportunities.

The TUV are already a force in local politics and they are not going away. They offer a fresh alternative to the roll-over rancid greed of the DUP. They have some great young and upcoming talent. They also have an energy that I have not encountered for many years and those who write them off will eat their words.

All in all - a great day out. Their day is coming.....principled unionism has a voice.

AL-LOLITA

IT'S the perennial family problem - what to give the 112 year old man with 5 wives and 13 children?

That's right - a 17 year old bride.

He is old enough to be her great-great-grandfather. But Ahmed Muhamed Dhore, a Somalian who claims he is 112 years old, said he had realised a "dream" by marrying a 17-year-old bride ... The bride's family said she was "happy with her new husband".

Aye, I bet she's delighted. Best not mock, eh? Apparently we're supposed to celebrate the differently-cultured nowadays.

WELCOME TO POSTMODERN BRITAIN

A two-year-old girl was punched in the head by two teenage girls during an attempted robbery in north-west London.

They demanded money from the mother before punching her in the arm and attacking her daughter. The attackers are described as being of Mediterranean appearance and aged between 14 and 18.

Treat this one as a public information service, you know, in case you happen to spot them as you drive by. Get up as much speed as possible and don't forget to reverse back over the evil bitches.

THE NATURE OF GOVERNMENT

The US Army major who killed 13 people in a shooting spree at America's biggest military base had come to the attention of the FBI six months earlier over possible links to extremist comments posted on the internet.

Given this information, not even I would die in a ditch for his right to be armed.

Major Nidal Malik Hasan, 39, used an FN Five-Seven, a semi-automatic pistol popular with SWAT teams, that can fire armour-piercing bullets ... Hasan had bought the weapon legally at a gun store close to Fort Hood in August and practiced at a nearby shooting range.

But government was clearly cool with it.

How to Suck Thumb and Not Influence People

A year ago today I set off for my week's holiday in Paris.  Before I left I spoke with the UUP's Alex Kane by phone and we discussed the ongoing refusal of Sinn Fein/IRA to work devolved government due to their childish fit of pique over the devolution of polcing and justice 'powers' (in reality it is nothing more than transferring the budget from London to Belfast as the police will retain operational independence).  On Tuesday I depart for two and a half weeks to India, and I'm wondering whether I'll be having a similar conversation one year on.

Sinn Fein/IRA are once again behaving like Harvey Korman in Blazing Saddles (the scene when he couldn't find his 'froggy' in the bath).  Instead of the bearded barman or the butcher of Londonderry, this time we had a relatively insignificant hick in the form of 'national' chairman, Declan Kearney, wheeled out to make the customary threats.  He message that the political process will go into 'free fall' unless those power are devolved is just another example of how Irish republicans can both misread and misinterpret an agreement they signed up to.

This is not about the principle of sharing power with former IRA terrorists and whether those same terrorists should one day have that budget withing their grasp.  Regular visitors to ATW will be well versed in my opinions on both matters.  No, this is about the republican movement effectively lying to the rubbish that consitutes its support base in claiming that pressure would be brought to bear on Unionists in the event of slow progress towards policing and justice devolution.  The St Andrews Agreement makes no such provision.  It states categorically that it is for the parties of the Assembly - collectively - to determine when the move should take place.  Although I have no time for the DUP since they reneged on their promise never to share power with terrorists, on this matter I entirely agree with Peter Robinson. 

So what could the Provo excusers do?  Collapse the Assembly?  In a re-election atmosphere where the DUP could effectively claim it had called Sinn Fein's bluff it is highly unlikely to suffer the same haemorrhaging of support to the TUV as we witnessed back in June.  Ergo, it is more than likely that the DUP would again return as the largest party.  So where do the Shinners go then?  Bleating to the Republic's government who are busily trying to prop up their basket case of a country?  Bleating to the Americans who've just, yet again, experienced the reality of terrorism (make no mistake, Ft Hood was a terrorist attack in all but name) within their borders?

Sinn Fein have been brought up in an atmosphere of making threats whenever they couldn't get their own way fast enough.  Nearly twelve years after the Belfast Agreement and with completely different circumstances, dometically and globally, prevailing, such childishness no longer works.  It didn't work a year ago and it won't work now!

Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, A Disloyal American?

New Jersey's Kareem Khan was only 14 on September 11, 20O1.  He had to wait until 2007, when he was twenty, to die in the service of his country in Iraq as a member of the 2nd Infantry Division.   He was awarded the Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. 

He happened to be Muslim, like thousands of others who have served their country with honor.

One can recognize the real dangers of radical Islamic terrorists without having to resort to slandering an entire people.   I don't recall too many of the armchair warriors of ATW taking a leave of absence from blogging to serve in the wars they advocate, do you?  Corporal Khan made the supreme sacrifice, and among the things he died for was the freedom of speech for those who would use it to label him disloyal based merely upon his religious beliefs.  Perhaps, if they had the capacity to reflect upon his sacrifice, they would be less quick to sterotype all Muslims.           

ALLAHU AKBAR!

"Soldiers reported that the gunman shouted "Allahu Akbar!" — an Arabic phrase for "God is great!" — before opening fire Thursday, said Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, the base commander. "

All very well but surely the BIG issue, the one which really concerns the BBC for example, is to ensure that Muslims are not discriminated against by those racist whites.

ATW FRIDAY JUKEBOX 2

Been out all night - at a soiree in Stormont.

So, before the witching hour, a song from me to finish my first week back!

FORFEIT!

Unelected leader warned: "Despised government will have forfeited its right to international support if it fails to root out corruption and improve the governance of the country"

"I understand" says Brown, "But we'll be voted out soon anyway."

ATW FRIDAY NIGHT JUKEBOX

NOW you too can play that dishwasher advert music whenever you like. As my niece would say: cool.

WHERE WOULD WE BE WITHOUT GOVERNMENT?

IN a place where six year old girls aren't 'logged' as 'racist' as required 'by law'.

There's one way to find the truth - give her a bowl of Bombay Mix and see if she pulls a face.

THE IRON LAWS OF ECONOMICS WILL NOT BE DENIED

We have a public sector awash with printed cash, and a private sector squeezed by broken banks.

 - John Redwood

Finally, the dirty secret is out there. If you thought the Bank of England's counterfeiting of our currency is intended to keep inflation up (going by their erroneous definition of inflation), think again. Before this week the BoE had printed up £175billion to ease liquidity in a cash-strapped economy, so goes the official line. However, the BoE has bought just £2billion of commercial paper and £173billion of Treasury gilts. This week the Bank announced that another £25billion will be bought up. Can you guess where that's going? Over to Redwood:

The Bank has decided to print another £25 billion, presumably to boost inflation more. I think they will find inflation goes up in the New Year anyway. The decision will also have the effect of making sure the government does not run out of cash for its current spending spree in the important period of the run up to the election. Very convenient.

Click to read more ...

JUST AN ALL AMERICAN SOLDIER...

Have you seen this? It's all American soldier Major Hasan yesterday some seven hours before the shooting.

THAT LEPRECHAUN LANGUAGE

I see that the Traditional Unionist Voice has apologised for its "childishness" after issuing a statement describing Irish as a "leprechaun language".

The statement was issued under the name of TUV vice-chairman Keith Harbinson and condemned the Department of Education for "wasting" money on Irish. However after being distributed to the media, the press release on the party's website was changed to remove the term.

Good call by Jim Alister and Keith to alter this. There is no need to call the Irish language a "Leprechaun" language and this was a silly error. However there are worse things one could do - such as share power with terrorists. A young party like the TUV need to realise that press releases are a two edged sword and ensure that all such releases are authorised by someone with an eye for such obvious howlers.

I plan to be at the TUV annual conference tomorrow and will report back. My old pal Bob McCartney is a speaker and it will be nice to hear him after all these years.

I saw Jim Allister being interviewed on H&M last night and thought he did well in what was a tough interview by Noel Thompson.

GREEN SHOOTS OF RECOVERY EVERYWHERE!

Looks like all the talk of green shoots is paying off...

"A record 35,000 people were declared insolvent during the three months to the end of September, the largest number in at least half a century."

The stimulus is really working.