Do you see what I see?

Lets take some inventory, shall we?

Afghanistan: free of Taliban rule and having democratic elections. Check.

Iraq: free of Saddam and on its way to a democratically elected government. Check.

Palestinians: Almost acting like a nation with elections. Check.

Libya: renouncing terrorism, paying back victims of said terrorism,
and dismantling its terrorist system. Check.

Egypt: Hosni Mubarek calling for more 'open' elections

Lebannon: Its citizens in revolt ( and peaceful, BTW) against their Syrian oppressors, the Syrian backed government resigning. Check.

Syria: now coughing up some major Baathists hiding from Iraqi justice: Check

Awwww, maybe its just my imagination that Freedom and Liberty are compatible with Middle Eastern cultures. That people, no matter where they are or where they came from all want that same kind of freedom. Maybe all the usual suspects are figuring out that they need to start running the opposite direction now, merely to get in front of this march to Freedom, or risk being left behind in its dust, or worse, trampled beneath it. Maybe standing on principle and not backing down from a fight with Evil in whatever form it takes, get results. Maybe going it alone or with less allies than you'd like when you know the cause is right is actually the right thing to do. Maybe it is just my imagination after all...

He said it, not me.

Picked this up on Powerline. Its a quote from Winston Churchill, from his experience in fighting in the Sudan.

"How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live. A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property - either as a child, a wife, or a concubine - must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.

Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die. But the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytising faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science - the science against which it had vainly struggled - the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome."

Protestors in Lebannon, wanting their country back... 

Signposts in the Middle East

Just picked up a report from Fox News here concerning Syria pulling troops out of Lebannon. A little slow, since they agreed to that in 1989, and we really don't know what they mean when they say they're pulling troops out What was really interesting is a quotation from one of the participants in a protest related to the assasination of the former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri.

"It is my civic duty as a Lebanese to take part in this uprising," said Youssef Mukhtar, a 47-year-old engineer. "Enough bloodshed and disasters. It is the 21st century, and people should be able to govern themselves. The situation has become unbearable and we have to regain our country."

21st century, indeed. I wonder why, after all these years of occupying their neighbor, the 'occupying nation' (that's NOT the United States) is NOW announcing a pullout of troops? I wonder why, after all these years, we have Lebanese citizens clamoring for self-government? Could it be, that after seeing countries like Afghanistan and Iraq moving toward democracy and 'governing themselves', these folks would want the same thing for their country? Could it be that Mr. Bush's policies, ever how imperfectly carried out, actually are having the desired effects? I'm thinking so.

An open letter to Democrats...

It seems almost daily one finds example after example of Democrats shooting themselves in the foot over foreign and domestic policy, and for what? Do you guys hate Bush that bad that you can't see the real opportunity before you as a party? My late father, rest his soul, was a yellow-dog Democrat. For those of you to young to remember, it means if Mother Teresa was a Republican, he would have voted for a yellow dog running on the Democratic Ticket. He always considered Democrats as the party for the Little Guy, the Workin' Man, the Disadvantaged, the Downtrodden, the Forgotten. Democrats were the ones to stand up to Big Government and Big Business, and hold them accountable to regular folks. It wasn't Liberalism in his day, it was Progressivism. The biggest problem you guys have is you've forgotten all that. We need people that won't allow Big Government and Big Business to run roughshod over the common man with no accountability. We need folks to act in our behalf. Where'd you go? All the way to TooFarForYourOwnGood, Texas...that's where. You want to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves? Well, how about unborn children, the least able to fight for their rights? Are you too busy advocating a woman's right to choose, after she's already chosen? And that makes sense to you? Want a cause to champion? How about all those 20 and 30 somethings that WILL NOT have Social Security having a say in their future retirement and their families well being? Want to advocate for civil rights? How about the BILLIONS of people across this planet still in the grip of Totalitarianism, torture, religious fanaticism , genocide, and the like? Want to show the electorate that you have as much claim to 'Christian values' as Bush? How about not looking down your pseudointellectual noses at the "unwashed" in this country and actually try caring about them, and then doing the appropriate, 'Christian', thing? That enough to keep you busy? It would be so easy to out-bush Bush, I could do it from my couch, for crying out loud. Maybe if you'd take a break from hating the guy so much and get your 'stuff' all in one bucket, you might do yourselves, and this country, some good. I don't get all I want from the Republican side. I'm ready to strangle the whole lot concerning our borders, culture, and government spending. We do at least need a loyal opposition in this country to keep us all honest, the 'other side', if you will. The problem is that you have no side, no agenda, no ideas, no vision, no nothing...except for your hatred of a very imperfect man that's got all of that stuff. Heaven help you. I know I can't.

More on the Iraqi elections, terrorism, cowardice, and bravery.

As you can imagine, there are some bloggers in Iraq, "Iraq the model" being one of the more prominent, which you can visit here . Great story on the cowardice of the terrorists and the heroism of Iraqi citizens during the election. If you have any doubts about who is wearing the black hats in Iraq, go check out this blog.