Month: November 2008

Off into the sunset

Today marks the blogging retirement of Kim and Connie du Toit, people who I have been reading for upwards of five years. It’s been a treat to wake up every morning and read what he had to say, and it will be very wierd, to say the least, seeing that “Other Side” folder in my RSS feed sit at zero. Their farewell posts are up and comments on their site are open until midnight, so if any of you have been affected by their work, as I have, now is your chance to say “thank you” on the record.

To the du Toits, Kim especially, I can only say thank you, a thousand times thank you. For everything. You’ve given me some great advice in the forums and through email over the years, helped me learn a lot about our government, about guns and my rights, and about the world in general. To this day I still refer people to excellent posts of yours from years ago that articulate thoughts better than I ever could. There will be a large, empty hole where your voice was, and while I know you’ll never be replaced, I do look forward to finding your successors.

Mumbai Review

So the attacks are over, 56 hours later. Latest count is 183 dead, and more than 300 injured, but according to Indian officials, it was stopped before the worst could happen – they had apparently planned to kill thousands of people by bombing the Taj building.  Averting that, at least, is a small bright spot in this chaos. Five hostages were killed at the Chabad House, one of the first places targeted, a fact scarcely covered by western news media – perhaps because the hostages were Jewish and Israeli.

The captured terrorist is Pakistani and has suspected ties to the Pakistani ISI, which has caused no small amount of tension to flare up in an already-tense region. Though Pakistan has denied involvement and sworn to help, and has sent its chief spymaster to aid in the investigation, it has also indicated it will move 100,000 military personnel to the border if “tensions continue to rise.” If that does happen, this could end up being the tipping point of a much larger, and scarier, conflict. Let’s hope it doesn’t get that far.

Bill Roggio has an excellent, more in-depth analysis of the execution and ramifications of the attack.

h/t to Ace for several of these links.

Giving thanks

I’m working today, so no turkey for me! My family will be having the traditional get-together and meal tomorrow instead. But as it’s a slow work day, I have the opportunity to take some time and put together my thoughts on this past year and how I can look back on it this Thanksgiving.

Since this time last year I’ve started this blog, which has been until recently very sporadic, but a great outlet nonetheless for me both creatively and mentally. I’ve started a new job, back in June, which has gone fairly well for me, although it’s certainly kept me busy as we’ve been on 60 hour weeks since July – but the end of that is in sight, hopefully this coming week. I’ve made a few new friends, and I’ve lost a couple too. But overall I’m very grateful for where I am in my life right now, and I’m thankful God has me where he does.

I’m also thankful for the people in my life – my family, who have always been there for me, and put up with my rambling at family dinners. For my close friends, who keep me sane and grounded through everything that happens.

On a national scale I am thankful to our president for eight years of service. I don’t agree with everything he did, but he has managed to do a fair amount of good among the bad, and he’s kept his honor doing so. I am thankful to the rough men who keep us free – the soldiers of our Armed Forces, serving all over the world. We all owe them a debt of gratitude that we can never repay. I’m thankful that I live in this blessed country, because for all its flaws and scrapes and bruises, it’s the best country this world has yet to see, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

Despite all the chaos of the world and the anticipation and fear and doubt of the coming years… there is much to be grateful for, and today I’d encourage you all to relax from focusing on all that’s bad and take a little time to appreciate the good.

Taking the rest of the day off of blogging here, and then celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow with my family. I’ll be back on Saturday. Happy Thanksgiving, all.

Update on Mumbai Hostages

Via an email from reader Dan F: Somewhere between 10 and 20 Jewish hostages are being held at the Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Center in Mumbai, in addition to the others being held in the hotels. The ones targeted in hotels are mostly American, British, and Israeli, though there are also reports of Australian, Japanese, and Singaporean hostages and victims as well. Latest updates have one of the hotels being recaptured and eight hostages freed, but another hotel and the Jewish Center are still held by the terrorists.

As we head into our Thanksgiving merriment today, keep these people in mind in your prayers.

This is awesome.

No, seriously, it is.

TIKRIT, Iraq – Eighteen females in northern Iraq who were associated with Al-Qaeda in Iraq suicide bombing cells turned themselves into Coalition forces on Nov. 26.

The females were persuaded by their mullahs and fathers to cease their training in suicide operations and reconcile.

Today, these women took the first step in reconciliation by turning themselves in and signing a reconciliation pledge.

Great news, on two points: first, that these women who have been treated as slaves and property are finding the strength to rise up and say no to the terrorists pressuring them into this, indicating a real change in the attitude over there. Second, that the women were convinced by their mullahs and fathers. This is out of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein’s hometown. These would be devout Shi’ites, religious leaders, who are actively decrying this terrorism for the first time that we’ve really seen over there. That alone is incredible. These women also bring with them valuable information on insurgent cells. I wish them all the best in their new lives as they move forward as – for the first time – free women.

h/t: Michael Ledeen at PJM