Brutally Honest

"No Evidence CIA Slanted Iraq Data"

Washington Post, today:

Congressional and CIA investigations into the prewar intelligence on Iraq's weapons and links to terrorism have found no evidence that CIA analysts colored their judgment because of perceived or actual political pressure from White House officials, according to intelligence officials and congressional officials from both parties.

The panel chairmen, Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Rep. Porter J. Goss (R-Fla.), and other congressional officials said in recent interviews that they found no evidence that analysts shaded their findings to more closely fit the White House's known desire to create the strongest, most urgent case for war with Iraq.

One would think that this might quell the lunatic left and their "Bush Lied" mantra. Don't bet on it. And this despite stories like this one:

Since we haven't found WMD in Iraq, a lot of the anti-war/anti-Bush crowd is saying that the Bush administration lied about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Well, if they're going to claim that the Bush administration lied, then there sure are a lot of other people, including quite a few prominent Democrats, who have told the same "lies" since the inspectors pulled out of Iraq in 1998. Here are just a few examples that prove that the Bush administration didn't lie about weapons of mass destruction...

Read the link to see those examples. Then tell your liberal friends to put a sock in it. Please.

:)

"Passionate About the Passion"

There has been much written about Mel Gibson's soon-to-be released movie "The Passion". Most of what is portrayed about the flick in popular media isn't exactly positive. This New York film critic's comments typically mimes the blather generated by Gibson's opponents:

"...it seems highly unlikely this $30 million production will appeal to a mass audience Gibson says he is seeking - in anything like its present form.

The dialogue is in Aramaic with English subtitles, which won't be particularly easy to follow for viewers.

He should cut back on the endless close-ups of the bleeding Jesus, which will make this unwatchable for many audience members.

And then there is the movie's deeply troubling depiction of the Jewish authorities as bloodthirsty zealots.

While Gibson takes pains to spread the blame by depicting the Roman soldiers who whip Jesus as sadistic (in a scene that goes on far too long), by literally depicting Jews as "Christ killers," he is going down a dangerous road that most Christian leaders abandoned decades ago. Unless Gibson provides some sort of historical context, he could well - as his detractors charge - be fueling anti-Semitic feelings among less sophisticated Christian audience members."

What I've personally read about the film does nothing but fuel my interest in seeing it. I can't wait for it to open here locally. A review I think more clearly represents what The Passion is all about is this one by Steve Fournier, a constitutional lawyer and a graduate of the John Paul II Institute of the Lateran University, Franciscan University and the University of Pittsburgh.

Here's a teaser:

From the gripping opening scene in the Garden of Gethsemane, to the very human and tender portrayal of the earthly ministry of Jesus, through the betrayal, the arrest, the scourging, the way of the cross, the encounter with the thieves, the surrender on the Cross, until the final scene in the empty tomb, this was not simply a movie; it was an encounter, unlike anything I have ever experienced. In addition to being a masterpiece of film making and an artistic triumph, "The Passion" evoked more deep reflection, sorrow and emotional reaction within me than anything since my wedding, my ordination or the birth of my children. Frankly, I will never be the same.

When the film concluded, this "invitation only" gathering of "movers and shakers" in Washington, D.C. were shaking indeed, but this time from sobbing. I am not sure there was a dry eye in the place. The crowd that had been glad-handing before the film was now eerily silent. No one could speak because words were woefully inadequate. We had experienced a kind of art that is a rarity in life, the kind that makes heaven touch earth.

Read the whole thing...

And then see the movie.

Can't wait.

"Ambition that blinds"

A few days ago, I commented on Howard Dean's idiotic statement that the standard of living is "a whole lot worse" since Hussein was de-throned.

John McKenzie dropped by to say, puzzlingly, "While many have undoubtedly benefited from the American takeover, one must remember that many of those who are worse off can no longer speak for themselves."

Well, there are some Iraqis who can speak for themselves, and here's one who did:

I’m not going to comment about the rightness of the statement with more than saying that only a (blind) man would believe it and only a man blinded by his ambitions would dare to say it, but when you say such words, don’t you mean in other words that the sacrifices made by the American soldiers are all in vain? And that these soldiers are not doing a service to the world, nor to Iraqis and not to America. In fact you are saying that since they didn’t do the world, America or us a favour then they’re only doing a favour to GWB and his administration.

Don’t you agree that by saying those words you accuse the American soldiers of one of two charges each of which is worse than the other; You are saying that, either they are stupid enough to sacrifice their lives for the sake of GWB political future, or they are evil people who love fighting and killing and they are doing this only for money, in other words they’re no more than mercenaries. Saying that you only disagree with the way this issue is handled will also not change the fact that you are only harming your men and women on the battlefield.

Please consider this for a moment, does winning the elections and getting rid of GWB and the republicans worth the damage you’re inflicting on your men and women’s morale?

My heart goes with those brave people and the widows, orphans and mothers of the American soldiers who died while doing this great service for their country, ours and humanity. I can’t imagine what their response would be to such thoughtless words motivated with nothing more than selfish ambitions.

Read Ali's entire post.

"A Churchless Faith"

My trek across the blogosphere today brought me to this article by Alan Jamieson, where he opens with this question:

What makes people stop attending church and what happens to their faith after they have left?

Well, that caught me eye mate.

So I kept reading.

The second category of leavers - those I call the "Reflective Exiles" leave their church from a quite different position. Although they too may have problems with the leadership, direction and practice of their church (or EPC churches in general) these issues are not the fundamental reasons for their decision to leave.

For this group of leavers, and those we will consider next, leaving is typically a process which occurs over a long period of time, perhaps 18 months or more. This process of moving away from the church begins gradually with feelings of unease, a sense of irrelevancy between church and what happens in other important areas of their lives, and a reducing sense of fit and belonging to the church community and its 'faith package'.

The title 'reflective' is given to this group because of the reflecting and questioning stance towards their faith which now characterises them. I call them exiles because they are, albeit by personal choice, exiled from a community and a way of understanding themselves, life and God which has been very important, even foundational, to them in the past.

Dang...

Get out of my head...

:)

Read the whole thing.

"Al Franken Kocks Down Dean Heckler"

Wise-cracking funnyman Al Franken yesterday body-slammed a demonstrator to the ground after the man tried to shout down Gov. Howard Dean.

"I got down low and took his legs out," said Franken afterwards.

Franken said he's not backing Dean but merely wanted to protect the right of people to speak freely.

"I'm neutral in this race but I'm for freedom of speech, which means people should be able to assemble and speak without being shouted down."

Full story here.

Doesn't this say so much?

Hee hee...

Agony

This story has me on pins and needles.

Bill Lincoln, also known to me as HarryTick, is in Iraq. Bill's blog, Walking The Dogma, is on my blogroll. Bill has become a close friend, even though I've never met him in person.

It was Bill who helped me start this blog. No strings attached. No allowing me to pay my way, even when I insisted. Nothing but assistance from him. It is/was much appreciated.

It was Bill who made me think about what it is I believe, and why.

It was Bill who introduced me to the blogosphere.

Bill flies the OH58D Kiowa Warrior Scout, the type of helicopter that crashed into the Tigris yesterday while on a search and rescue mission for a missing American soldier. The downed helicopter is from his unit. Both pilots are now missing.

Many of Bill's cyber-friends wait breathlessly for some word from him, some quick note, just a hello, anything that would bring good news.

And we wonder how in hell his wife and family can cope with this kind of waiting.

Harry. Bill. Brother. Sojourner. Blogger. 'Christian'.

Friend.

Let us know something.

Quickly.

"Howard Dean Says Iraqis Worse Off Now"

My favorite AP reporter, dogged in liberal blogdom by those opposed to her style, has written a new piece, and this one is sure to raise some eyebrows as well.

Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean said Sunday that the standard of living for Iraqis is a ``whole lot worse'' since Saddam Hussein's removal from power in last year's American-led invasion.

``You can say that it's great that Saddam is gone and I'm sure that a lot of Iraqis feel it is great that Saddam is gone,'' said the former Vermont governor, an unflinching critic of the war against Iraq. ``But a lot of them gave their lives. And their living standard is a whole lot worse now than it was before.

Hmmm... Dr. Dean, he of the now infamous "I have a scream" speech in Iowa last week, has apparently stuck his foot in his mouth... again...

The standard of living for Iraqis is a whole lot worse since Hussein's removal? And we're supposed to take this clown seriously? Please...

Where is the man getting his information? His biased bloggin' bosom buddies?

The article goes on to say that Dean believes his wife's presence in New Hampshire is helping him.

Maybe she ought to speak for him... that should certainly help.

UPDATE: Perhaps Howard ought to read this.

"Honor Roll Is Suspended in Nashville"

If this AP story isn't an example of asininity, nothing else qualifies.

The school honor roll, a time-honored system for rewarding A students, has become an apparent source of embarrassment for some underachievers.

As a result, all Nashville schools have stopped posting honor rolls, and some are also considering a ban on hanging good work in the hallways -- on the advice of school lawyers.

After a few parents complained that their children might be ridiculed for not making the list, lawyers for the Nashville school system warned that state privacy laws forbid releasing any academic information, good or bad, without permission.

Some schools have since put a stop to academic pep rallies. Others think they may have to cancel spelling bees. And now schools across the state may follow Nashville's lead.

The dumbing down of America, on a new high. Or would that be a low?

Get the remarks made by a Nashville elementary school principal:

Some school systems already get parents to sign a release before student information is made public. Others think it might be a good idea to get rid of the honor roll altogether, as Principal Steven Baum did at Julia Green Elementary in Nashville.

"The rationale was, if there are some children that always make it and others that always don't make it, there is a very subtle message that was sent," he said. "I also understand right to privacy is the legal issue for the new century."

Baum thinks spelling bees and other publicly graded events are leftovers from the days of ranking and sorting students.

"I discourage competitive games at school," he said. "They just don't fit my worldview of what a school should be."

Anyone want to bet that this guy's involved in the local NEA?

Speaking of crushing dissent

Just stumbled across this story thanks to Worldmagblog.com.

An 82 year-old French priest was fined EUR 800 (USD 990) Monday for describing the Koran as a handbook for the devil.

Philippe Sulmont was found guilty of "provoking discrimination, hatred or violence" for comments he made in a letter to his parishioners in the northern town of Domqueur at the end of 2002.

"The Asiatics proliferate and invade our land, bringing with them an ideology that threatens the whole world," he wrote.

"Indeed I would add there is no such thing as 'moderate' Islam. All the populations infected by the Muslim religion are indoctrinated by the Koran - a holy book which is the manual for the extension of the kingdom of the devil at the expense of the kingdom of Christ," he said.

I wonder how many Imams in France have been fined for their anti-Christian vitriol?

Crushing Dissent - A personal anecdote

I've posted recently about the Blogosphere's frequent commenting on the left's crushing of dissent.

I think I can safely say that I've personally seen some of that myself. And tonight, I think I can confidently state that I've experienced it again.

I've participated enough on a decidedly leftist Christian forum to have garnered the 'honor' of being the 5th most frequenter poster on this particular board (as measured by the number of posts). I'd probably be higher except for the fact that I frequently get deleted. I'm usually deleted when I point out the hypocrisy of the leftist participants on the board, especially those who are responsible for content.

I have, admittedly, been deleted deservedly, but those times are rare, especially more recently.

Tonight, I returned to the board after a week's hiatus (I was given a time-out that lasted a week and as is usually the case, not given a reason why) and I posted the following:

I posted this on another thread, and am thinking it was deleted because it was off-topic...

Thought I'd try a new thread and see if it hangs around.

[A board moderator] posted to [A minority conservative poster]:
Your attempt to define me as a person......and your reaction that I was somehow "wrong" when I informed you that your definitions are incorrect........are classic traits of a misogynist/abusive type personality.

To which I replied:

Hmmm...

What classic traits are being displayed when other posters on [this particular board] attempt to define me, especially when their definitions are incorrect?

Please note that I've not named any names (and so am not personally attacking anyone), I've not impugned the moderators or their moderating, have not used foul language, and therefore would think that this post would stand as is, if there's to be a modicum of fairness on this board.

Well... the post was deleted, and I am, once again, banned from posting. It's rather sad I think but also certainly informative and educational.

Tolerance, diversity of thought, and open-mindedness, that which the left constantly reminds us are their goals for society, must mean something other than what we've been told.

I can conclude nothing else.

Pathetic hypocrisy, wouldn't you say?