Prince Charles Turned His Back on Sir Salman Rushdie over The Satanic Verses 'Because He Thought Book Was Offensive to Muslims'

THE INDEPENDENT: Revelations made by author Martin Amis

Prince Charles turned his back on Sir Salman Rushdie during his fatwa over publication of The Satanic Verses because he thought the book was offensive to Muslims, it has been claimed.

In an interview with Vanity Fair, the author Martin Amis claims that the Prince’s views caused a row at a dinner party after Rushdie was issued with the death sentence by Islamic clerics in 1989. Amis claims that Charles told him that he would not offer support “if someone insults someone else’s deepest convictions”.

Amis attempted to remonstrate with him, but the Prince offered little beyond insisting he would “take it on board”. Rushdie went into hiding for a decade after Iran's late spiritual leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa in 1989 calling for the author's assassination. » | Kunal Dutta | Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Iran Considers Ban on Vasectomies in Drive to Boost Birthrate

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

THE GUARDIAN: Supreme leader sees family planning policy as an imitation of western lifestyle and aims to double Iran's population

Iran's parliament is seeking a ban on vasectomies and a tightening of abortion rules as the country moves away from its progressive laws on family planning in an attempt to increase the birthrate.

Two decades after Iran initiated an effective birth control programme, including subsidised male sterilisation surgeries and free condom distribution, the country is to make a U-turn.

Last year the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, criticised existing policy on contraception, describing it as an imitation of western lifestyle.

The 74-year-old has urged the government to tackle what he believes to be an ageing population and to double the number of people in Iran from 77 million to at least 150 million.

This week Tehran's conservative-dominated parliament, the Majlis, voted to discuss banning vasectomies and introducing punishments for those involved in encouraging contraceptive services and abortions, local agencies reported. » | Saeed Kamali Dehghan | Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Margaret Thatcher: Feisty Interview 1995

One Resolute, Determined, Feisty Lady! Margaret Thatcher – The Walden Interview 29/10/1989

Margaret Thatcher appearing for interview on 'The Walden Interview' following the controversial resignation of her Chancellor Nigel Lawson.

The First part of the interview is non political and demonstrates excellent interview technique under pressure. Regardless of your political beliefs you have to admire her composure.

President Obama Stoking Resentment?

Apr. 14, 2014 - 5:00 - Bernie Goldberg weighs in

President Obama and Stoking Resentments » | Bernard Goldberg | Sunday, April 13, 2014

Barack Obama & The White House: Playing the Race Card to Deflect Criticism

Apr. 14, 2014 - 6:07 - Dr. Ben Carson on the Obama administration playing the race card

How the Media Protects President Obama

Apr. 11, 2014 - 4:34 - Howard Kurtz on why the media covers for the President

Feindbild Islam – Wird die Angst zum Hass?

Religionsfreiheit in Salzburg – Islam in Österreich

Ukraine Crisis: Obama Warns Putin That Moscow Faces Further Action

THE GUARDIAN: Presidents clash in tense telephone call as armed separatists seize more buildings in eastern Ukraine

Barack Obama has told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a tense phone call that Moscow would face further costs for its actions in Ukraine and should use its influence to get separatists in the country to stand down.

Armed pro-Russian separatists seized more buildings in eastern Ukraine earlier in the day, expanding their control after the government failed to follow through on a threatened military crackdown.

In a call on Monday night that the White House said Moscow requested, the US president told Putin that those forces were threatening to undermine and destabilise the government in Kiev.

"The president emphasised that all irregular forces in the country need to lay down their arms, and he urged president Putin to use his influence with these armed, pro-Russian groups to convince them to depart the buildings they have seized," the White House said in a statement. » | Reuters | Tuesday, April 15, 2014

BBC Whitewash? Trojan Horse: 25 Schools Probed Over Alleged Takeover Plot

BBC: An investigation into an alleged hard-line Islamist takeover plot of Birmingham schools has widened, with 25 schools now under the spotlight.

Birmingham City Council said it had received more than 200 reports in relation to its inquiry.

It has appointed former head teacher Ian Kershaw as its chief advisor.

Anonymous claims hard-line Muslims were trying to take over the running of some city schools were made in a letter sent to local authorities last year.

The 25 schools now being looked at include primaries, secondaries and academies.

The 200-plus reports to the council include emails and calls from staff, parents and governors. (+ BBC video) » | Monday, April 14, 2014

Margaret Thatcher: Death of a Revolutionary

A documentary about the late former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, which could be criticised for being an uncritical hommage rather than a balanced view of her premiership. Most of the negative impacts caused by the fundamental changes she brought to Britain have been "elegantly" omitted, but her motives, her basic believes, her encouraging message and everything positive she stood for are beautifully summarised and one understands why despite her errors and some misjudgement she could be praised as a great and visionary politician who not only changed Britain for the better (on balance) but had an influence on the world like few other politicians can claim.

A Channel 4 documentary by Martin Durkin with contributions by Kenneth Baker, Cecil Parkinson, Neil Kinnock, Kelvin MacKenzie, Norman Tebbit, Bernard Ingham, Charles Powell, Nigel Lawson and David Cameron.

Dead Swedes Provide Home Heating for the Living

A crematorium in Stockholm is helping people in the city keep warm - by burning dead residents. Environmentalists hail it as a progressive way of generating energy. And as RT's Paul Scott reports, the idea is catching on.

Ukraine : l'UE élargit la liste des sanctions ciblées

LE POINT: Bruxelles a décidé lundi d'élargir la liste des personnalités russes et ukrainiennes pro-russes sous le coup de sanctions, a annoncé Catherine Ashton.

L'Union européenne a décidé lundi d'allonger la liste des Russes et des Ukrainiens pro-russes visés par des sanctions ciblées, mettant directement en cause la Russie pour "l'escalade" de la situation dans l'est de l'Ukraine. Réunis à Luxembourg, les ministres des Affaires étrangères ont insisté sur "l'importance décisive" de la réunion prévue pour jeudi à Genève entre Ukrainiens, Russes, Américains et Européens.

"Il est crucial que la Russie et l'Ukraine s'engagent dans un dialogue utile" pour "lancer le processus de désescalade", a déclaré Catherine Ashton, qui dirige la diplomatie européenne. Si, à l'issue de la rencontre de Genève, une extrême tension devait persister dans l'est de l'Ukraine, les Européens pourraient décider de passer à la "phase 3" des sanctions, celles d'ordre économique, susceptibles de frapper plus durement la Russie. » | Source AFP | lundi 14 avril 2014

Israel: Lieberman enthüllt Geheimgespräche mit arabischen Staaten

Außenminister Avigdor Lieberman: "Sie haben mein Wort"

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Avigdor Lieberman hetzt gerne gegen Araber. Umso überraschender sind die jüngsten Äußerungen des israelischen Außenministers. Seine Regierung führe Geheimverhandlungen mit Saudi-Arabien und Kuwait. Das Ziel ist die Aufnahme diplomatischer Beziehungen.

Jerusalem - Israels Außenminister Avigdor Lieberman hat erstmals bestätigt, dass seine Regierung Geheimgespräche mit verfeindeten arabischen Staaten führt, unter ihnen Saudi-Arabien und Kuwait. Ziel der Verhandlungen sei die Normalisierung der Beziehungen und die Aufnahme diplomatischer Kontakte, sagte Lieberman der Zeitung "Jediot Acharonot".

Grundlage der Gespräche seien die gemeinsame Furcht vor der wachsenden Stärke Irans und die Bedrohung durch islamistischen Extremismus, sagte der israelische Außenminister weiter. "Erstmals verstehen die Araber, dass nicht Israel oder die Juden oder der Zionismus die Bedrohung sind - sondern Iran, der weltweite Dschihad, die Hisbollah und al-Qaida", so Lieberman. » | syd/Reuters | Montag, 14. April 2014

Türkei: Erdogan plant Sondergefängnis für Homosexuelle

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Die Regierung in Ankara spricht von "Schutz der Verurteilten": Inhaftierte Schwule, Lesben und Transsexuelle sollen in der Türkei künftig in einem speziellen Gefängnis untergebracht werden. Die Opposition ist empört.

Ankara - Die türkische Regierung von Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan sorgt mit einem neuen Vorhaben für Aufsehen: Justizminister Bekir Bozdag hat bekanntgegeben, dass Ankara den Bau eines Sondergefängnisses plane, in dem ausschließlich Homosexuelle untergebracht werden sollen.

Ziel der Trennung sei der "Schutz der Verurteilten", sagte der Minister auf Anfrage eines Oppositionsabgeordneten. Fortan müsse jeder Gefangene bei Haftantritt seine sexuelle Orientierung angeben. Insassen, die bei Haftantritt erklären, homosexuell zu sein, sollen künftig in einem eigenen Knast eingesperrt werden. » | syd/dpa | Montag, 14. April 2014

Der Islamist mit der Metallkralle steht vor Gericht

DIE WELT: Abu Hamsa al-Masri wird vorgeworfen, an einer Geiselnahme im Jemen beteiligt gewesen zu sein und die Taliban zu unterstützen. Der Islamist muss sich jetzt vor einem US-Gericht verantworten.

Mit der Auswahl der Geschworenen hat am Montag der Prozess gegen den Hassprediger Abu Hamsa al-Masri in New York begonnen. Der 55 Jahre alte Islamist soll 1998 an einer Geiselnahme im Jemen beteiligt gewesen sein, bei der vier Menschen getötet wurden. Die Staatsanwaltschaft wirft dem gebürtigen Ägypter mit britischen Pass zudem vor, er habe die Taliban in Afghanistan unterstützt und mitten in den USA, im Bundesstaat Oregon, ein Terrorcamp errichten wollen.

Die Geschworenen wurden befragt, ob sie in irgendeiner Verbindung zu al-Masri, der unter dem Namen Mustafa Kamel Mustafa angeklagt wurde, stehen. Al-Masri hat angegeben, dass er sich selbst verteidigen möchte – im Falle eines Schuldspruchs droht ihm lebenslange Haft. » | Montag, 14. April 2014

Islamisten greifen Nigerias Hauptstadt an

DIE WELT: Drei Attentate der extremistischen Terrorsekte Boko Haram innerhalb von 48 Stunden erschüttern Nigeria. Erstmals seit zwei Jahren sterben wieder Zivilisten in Abuja durch einen Selbstmordanschlag.

Die islamistischen Fanatiker der nigerianischen Gruppe Boko Haram verschärfen ihren Krieg gegen Christen, Zivilisten, gemäßigte Muslime und staatliche Institutionen. Mit einem schweren Bombenanschlag auf den Busbahnhof Nyanya Motor Park in der nigerianischen Hauptstadt Abuja töteten die Extremisten zahlreiche Menschen. Die Zeitung "Premium Times Nigeria" berichtete von mindestens 200 Toten. Viele seien bis zur Unkenntlichkeit zerrissen worden, überall hätten Leichenteile gelegen. Journalisten, die kurz nach der Explosion vor Ort waren, zählten 60 Leichen. » | Von Dietrich Alexander | Montag, 14. April 2014

More Schools to Be Investigated over 'Extremist Muslim' Plot Fears

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: More schools will be investigated by the Department for Education over concerns about extremist plots to take over institutions

The number of schools to be investigated over fears children are being “radicalised” by extremist Muslims attempting to seize control of institutions has increased to 25.

Teams of inspectors are to be sent into schools and will be able to penalise those where religious conservatism is believed to be getting in the way of teaching.

The Department for Education (DfE) launched the investigation after an alleged Islamic takeover plot to force out governors and head teachers was reported in Birmingham.

An anonymous letter claiming responsibility for changes in leadership at four schools in the city says it was part of a campaign called Operation Trojan Horse. The letter set out a blueprint for seizing control of schools and claimed a radical group of Muslims were pursuing their own agenda in classrooms and forcing out head teachers and governors who refused to cooperate. Read on and comment » | Claire Carter, and agencies | Monday, April 14, 2014

My comment:

The politicians/authorities are up their necks in trouble, all caused by mass immigration. Serves them right! Trouble is that we, the people, have to suffer for their foul up. If ever we were in need of a change of narrative, we are today. Change it now! Islam is not a 'religion of peace' but a religion which brings with it only trouble and strife. Can't the fools look around them and observe? In each and every country where Islam is strong, there is trouble and strife. Yet these fools keep on with the narrative of Islam being a 'religion of peace'. – © Mark

This comment appears here too.

Op-Ed: Islam Is As British As the Gray Sky of London

ARUTZ SHEVA: These words were uttered by a London Alderman. Sheer numbers of Muslims weak British backbones and the desire for Arab investments are turning Britain into something unknown.

“Islam is British like grey sky”
In 1215, Britain enacted the “Magna Charta Libertatum”. It is the basis of the UK legal system which protects individual rights.

800 years later, for the first time, that glorious legal system is changing face. It is now an experiment unique in the world, the hybridation of the Magna Charta and Islam. This is not Londonstan or Islamisation, the multicultural ghettos or threats, but Islam injected into the most important sectors of the country’s government: law, education and finance.

Given the high rate of Islamic presence in England, sharia, or Islamic law, will now be used by notaries and lawyers. The initiative comes from the Law Society. Baroness Cox, a member of the House of Lords who has always been engaged in campaigns for the protection of women against discrimination, asserts emphatically that these latest developments “would turn suffragettes in their graves”.

Sharia in the UK has become so powerful that 85 Islamic courts in the country operate daily in familial disputes. The advent of this parallel system has been made possible thanks to the British Arbitration Act and the Alternative Dispute Resolution. These courts, it must be stressed, are based on the rejection of the principle of the inviolability of human rights. » | Giulio Meotti | Friday, April 11, 2014

Moscow Accuses Kiev of Issuing 'Criminal Orders' and Warns of Civil War

THE GUARDIAN: Russia orchestrating latest violence in east Ukraine and is staging another Crimea-syle intervention, claims US and Nato

The crisis in Ukraine escalated dramatically on Sunday night as Russia accused Kiev of issuing a "criminal order" against protesters and warned of a civil war in the country, which has been hit by a wave of unrest that America believes has been orchestrated from Moscow.

The Russian statement came after unknown armed men attacked a convoy of Ukrainian troops in Slaviansk, about 100 miles from the border, launching the first gun battle in Ukraine since the standoff began, in which at least one person was killed. Both the US and Nato accused Russia of staging another Crimea-style intervention, with Samantha Power, the US ambassador to the United Nations, saying events were following the same pattern as in Crimea, where unidentified military forces took over government installations before the peninsula was in effect annexed last month.

"[The unrest] is professional, it's co-ordinated, there is nothing grassroots-seeming about it," Power said. "The forces are doing, in each of the six or seven cities they've been active in, exactly the same thing. Certainly it bears the telltale signs of Moscow's involvement," she told ABC's This Week.

The Nato secretary general, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, described the protests as "a concerted campaign of violence by pro-Russian separatists, aiming to destabilise Ukraine as a sovereign state". » | Paul Lewis in Washington and Alec Luhn in Slaviansk | Sunday, April 13, 2014

Israeli Teenagers Risk Being Sent to Prison by Refusing to Join the Army

Draft-age pupils in Israel have defied the law and Benjamin Netanyahu by telling him they will not join the army after leaving school

Read the Telegraph article here | Robert Tait, Tel Aviv, with video by Quique Kierszenbaum | Sunday, April 13, 2014

Turquie : le Premier ministre accuse Twitter d'évasion fiscale

LE POINT: Recep Tayyip Erdogan soupçonne le réseau, utilisé pour diffuser des enregistrements et des écoutes téléphoniques mettant en cause son entourage, d'évasion fiscale.

Le Premier ministre turc a accusé Twitter d'évasion fiscale après que le réseau a été utilisé pour diffuser des enregistrements et des écoutes téléphoniques mettant en cause son proche entourage dans un scandale de corruption. "Twitter, YouTube et Facebook sont des sociétés internationales créées pour faire du profit", a déclaré Recep Tayyip Erdogan dans des propos retransmis à la télévision. "Twitter est parallèlement aussi un évadé fiscal." "Nous allons nous occuper de cela", a ajouté le Premier ministre. » | Source AFP | samedi 12 avril 2014

Ukraine : Obama crie au loup mais manque d'options et de vision

LE FIGARO: Les Russes se sont gaussés des sanctions économiques décidées à Washington et à Bruxelles contre des personnalités de l'équipe Poutine

Tandis que Poutine poursuit «son plan» de déstabilisation rampante de l'Ukraine, l'Amérique en est réduite à crier au loup et à appeler vainement à la «désescalade». Le contraste entre la résolution du dirigeant du Kremlin et le désarroi qui plane dans les capitales occidentales, comme tétanisées par l'enchaînement des événements, est flagrant. Après avoir annexé la Crimée, le patron du Kremlin est passé à la phase «provocations» dans l'est du pays, tandis que des dizaines de milliers de soldats russes sont massés aux frontières, prêts à entrer. … » | Par Laure Mandeville | dimanche 13 avril 2014

Konflikt in der Ostukraine: „Russland führt Krieg gegen die Ukraine“

FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG:: Angesichts blutiger Gewalt im Osten der Ukraine haben sich die Führungen in Kiew und Moskau gegenseitig das Anzetteln eines Kriegs vorgeworfen. Bei Feuergefechten zwischen ukrainischen Truppen und prorussischen Milizen wurden mehrere Menschen getötet und verletzt.

Nach blutigen Zusammenstößen in der Ostukraine hat Übergangspräsident Alexander Turtschinow die prorussischen Separatisten ultimativ zur Aufgabe aufgefordert. Nur wer bis Montagmorgen die Waffen niederlege und die besetzten Verwaltungsgebäude verlasse, werde strafrechtlich nicht belangt, sagte Turtschinow am Sonntag in Kiew. Zugleich drohte er mit einem „groß angelegten Anti-Terror-Einsatz“ unter Beteiligung der Streitkräfte, um die Unruhen im Osten des Landes zu beenden. Nach Angaben des Präsidialamtsleiters Sergej Paschinski gilt das Ultimatum bis 9 Uhr Ortszeit (8 Uhr MESZ).

Russland warnte die prowestliche Regierung in Kiew nachdrücklich vor einem Militäreinsatz gegen die Separatisten. Moskau sei „empört über den verbrecherischen Befehl“ von Turtschinow, der die Proteste von der Armee niederschlagen lassen wolle, teilte das Außenamt in Moskau am Sonntag mit. Russland trete dafür ein, die Krise von der Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) und dem Weltsicherheitsrat untersuchen zu lassen. „Gerade vom Westen hängt es jetzt ab, einen Bürgerkrieg in der Ukraine zu vermeiden.“ » | Quelle: AFP | Sonntag, 13. April 2014

Russische Propaganda: Der gute und der böse Hitler

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: In Deutschland verbieten sich Vergleiche mit der Nazizeit. Hitlers Verbrechen sind einzigartig, der Relativierung will sich niemand bezichtigen lassen. Jüngst bekam dies Finanzminister Schäuble zu spüren, der vor einer Schulklasse angeblich eine Parallele von Putins Krim-Politik zu Hitlers Vorgehen im Sudetenland zog. Die Nation war empört.

Auf dem Gebiet der ehemaligen Sowjetunion hat man diesbezüglich weniger Berührungsängste. Hier gilt Hitler in erster Linie als imperialistischer Feldherr, dessen grösstes Vergehen der Angriff auf die UdSSR war, der Holocaust kommt im Bewusstsein erst an zweiter Stelle. Die Reduktion der Rolle Nazideutschlands auf diejenige einer unterlegenen Kriegspartei führt mitunter zu sonderbaren Situationen. So hat schon mancher deutsche Besucher anerkennende Worte über Wehrmacht und Hitler zurückweisen müssen, die als wohlwollende Schmeicheleien gedacht waren. » | Volker Pabst | Freitag, 11. April 2014

Erneut Giftgas in Syrien

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Acht Monate nach dem verheerenden und international geächteten Chemiewaffenangriff nahe der Hauptstadt Damaskus hat die syrische Regierung den Rebellen vorgeworfen, erneut Giftgas eingesetzt und dabei mehr als 100 Menschen verletzt zu haben.

Das staatliche Fernsehen meldete am Wochenende, Aufständische der radikalislamischen Nusra-Front hätten in der Ortschaft Kfar Seita auf diese Weise zwei Menschen getötet sowie mehr als 100 verletzt. » | ap | Sonntag, 13. April 2014

Ukraine-Krise: Politisches Powerplay des Kremls

NEUE ZÜRCHER ZEITUNG: Russland bestreitet, in der Ostukraine aktiv zu intervenieren. Gleichzeitig erhält es seine politische und wirtschaftliche Drohkulisse aufrecht. Moskau ist zunehmend unberechenbarer.

Auf breiter Front ist Moskau am Wochenende der internationalen Kritik an seiner Ukraine-Politik entgegengetreten und hat jegliche Verantwortung für die angespannte Lage von sich gewiesen. Es sei nicht im Interesse Russlands, südöstliche Regionen der Ukraine abzuspalten und sich einzuverleiben, sagte Aussenminister Sergei Lawrow. Ob allfällige Referenden über den Beitritt zur Russischen Föderation von Moskau genauso anerkannt würden, wie dies auf der ukrainischen Halbinsel Krim der Fall war, ist jedoch unklar. » | Daniel Wechlin, Moskau | Sonntag, 13. April 2014

Debate: Anjem Choudary vs. David Wood: Would Sharia Help the West?

Muslims claim that the West is immoral, and that Islam can improve Western society. But can the teachings of Muhammad really help the United States, Great Britain, and other Western nations? Anjem Choudary and David Wood debate the evidence.

Anjem Choudary: Khilafah (Caliphate) Is Our Objective

Adultery Is Good For Your Marriage – If You Don’t Get Caught, Says Infidelity Website Boss

Noel Biderman is the Canadian founder of Ashley Madison, a
controversial but globally[-]popular adultery website that connects
married men and women and discretely enables them to have affairs

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: As global membership to the world’s biggest infidelity site soars to over 24 million, its founder explains the international appeal of adultery

He receives regular death threats, websites are devoted to his demise, the Vatican has sent letters of complaint and the Queen of Spain has sued him.

The man in question is not a criminal, a terrorist or a dictator. Instead, he is the businessman behind the world’s biggest website for extramarital affairs.

Noel Biderman is the Canadian founder of Ashley Madison, a controversial but globally popular adultery website that connects married men and women and discretely enables them to have affairs.

Famed for its catchy motto – “Life is short. Have an affair” – the dating service is free for women but paying for men. Its array of features include virtual “winks”, instant messaging and “travelling” services for members seeking an affair during business trips.

Its mobile app uses GPS technology to track down the nearest available potential lover. » | Danielle Demetriou, Tokyo | Saturday, April 12, 2014

Church of England Faces 'Crisis’ As Gay Priest Weds

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Church of England faces "crisis" as Canon Jeremy Pemberton, a priest from Lincoln, becomes the first to defy its ban on gay clergy marrying

A priest has become the first in Britain to defy the Church of England’s ban on gay clergy marrying.

Canon Jeremy Pemberton, 58, a divorced hospital chaplain, wed his long-term partner Laurence Cunnington, 51, on Saturday afternoon.

Campaigners expressed delight that the couple had taken advantage of Britain’s newly-introduced gay marriage laws and urged bishops to “bless” their partnership. They predict he will be the first of many gay clergy to marry. » | Edward Malnick | Saturday, April 12, 2014

Margaret Thatcher: Life, Love & Letters

Documentary: Geert Wilders: Europe's Most Dangerous Man?

Geert Wilders in America (2009)

Geert Wilders (IPA: ['xe:rt 'ʋɪldərs], ['ʝe:ʁt 'ʋɪldəʁs]; born September 6, 1963) is a Dutch politician and leader of the Party for Freedom. Born of a German father on the border town of Venlo and raised a Roman Catholic, the young Geert Wilders formed many of his political views in his travels to Israel and the neighboring Arab countries. His early job at the Dutch social insurance agency moved him to politics, where he worked as a speechwriter for the liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. In 1996, he moved to the city of Utrecht, and represented his pluralistic neighborhood in the city council, and later the House of Representatives of the Netherlands. There he was noted for his witty one-liners and outlandish blond hairstyle.

Pat Condell: A Society of Cowards

We're getting what we deserve.

Here's What I Would Have Said at Brandeis

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: We need to make our universities temples not of dogmatic orthodoxy, but of truly critical thinking.

On Tuesday, after protests by students, faculty and outside groups, Brandeis University revoked its invitation to Ayaan Hirsi Ali to receive an honorary degree at its commencement ceremonies in May. The protesters accused Ms. Hirsi Ali, an advocate for the rights of women and girls, of being "Islamophobic." Here is an abridged version of the remarks she planned to deliver.

One year ago, the city and suburbs of Boston were still in mourning. Families who only weeks earlier had children and siblings to hug were left with only photographs and memories. Still others were hovering over bedsides, watching as young men, women, and children endured painful surgeries and permanent disfiguration. All because two brothers, radicalized by jihadist websites, decided to place homemade bombs in backpacks near the finish line of one of the most prominent events in American sports, the Boston Marathon.

All of you in the Class of 2014 will never forget that day and the days that followed. You will never forget when you heard the news, where you were, or what you were doing. And when you return here, 10, 15 or 25 years from now, you will be reminded of it. The bombs exploded just 10 miles from this campus. » | Ayaan Hirsi Ali | Thursday, April 10, 2014


Related »

Ayaan Hirsi Ali Publishes Remarks She Planned for Brandeis

Apr. 11, 2014 - 12:15 - Islam critic defends herself

Brandeis Withdraws Honorary Degree for Islam Critic Ayaan Hirsi Ali »

Hillary Clinton Dodges a Shoe Thrown by Audience Member

A woman throws a shoe at Hillary Clinton as the former US secretary of state delivers a speech at a hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday. Clinton dodges the shoe and jokes about the incident with the audience. The shoe-thrower did not explain her actions and has been taken into custody

Margaret Thatcher – The Iron Lady (Documentary 2012)

From her humble beginnings as a Grocers daughter from Grantham, Margaret Thatcher fought her way through the murky world of politics, the sexist prejudices of the Conservative Party elite and the scepticism of the British electorate to become the greatest British Prime Minister since Winston Churchill. Margaret Thatcher - The Iron Lady is the first major documentary to look back on the development and impact of this remarkable woman, whom commentators of both the political left and right agree changed the face of 20th Century politics forever. Featuring many excerpts from her powerful speeches and insightful contributions from her political supporters and detractors, a portrait emerges of a woman whose strength of conviction eventually became her weakness. This programme includes intimate footage of the Thatchers at home in Number 10, and unseen footage from her emotional and first major interview after her resignation as Prime Minister with Michael Brunson in 1992. Contributors include: Lord Heseltine, Lord Howe, ex-Conservative MP Gyles Brandreth, ITN political editor Michael Brunson, biographer Hugo Vickers, political correspondent Nicholas Owen, biographer Robert Lacey.

Margaret Thatcher's Anti-Gay Speech

"Children are being taught they have an inalienable right to be gay. All of those children are being cheated of a sound start in life." -- Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, October 9, 1987. Conservative Party Conference. Blackpool, United Kingdom.

David Cameron On Gay Marriage

David Cameron: 'Jesus Invented the Big Society – I'm Just Continuing God's Work'

THE INDEPENDENT: Prime Minister spoke to Christian leaders assembled in Downing Street – after listening to an unfortunately-timed rendition of ‘Ave Maria’

David Cameron has claimed divine inspiration was at work when it came to drafting a key concept for Conservative Party policy.

Speaking last night at his Easter reception in Downing Street, the Prime Minister reportedly said he was simply doing God’s work when he launched the “Big Society” initiative of volunteering and civic responsibility.

“Jesus invented the Big Society 2,000 years ago,” Mr Cameron said. “I just want to see more of it.”

On the day that saw Culture Secretary Maria Miller resign over a furore about her expenses – despite repeatedly being back by the Prime Minister – Mr Cameron was said to have no comment on a singer’s choice of hymn: “Ave Maria”.

He went further than any recent prime minister in speaking publicly about his faith, according to the Daily Mail, and took the opportunity to offer his support to Britain’s Christian community. » | Adam Withnall | Tuesday, April 10, 2014

Scientists Trying to Create Human Heart with 3D Printer

Apr. 10, 2014 - 4:44 - Practicing cardiologist Dr. Kevin Campbell weighs in

Russia’s 'Preparations for War on Sweden' Lead to Security Service Concerns

THE INDEPENDENT: Fears spread from eastern Europe as Ukraine crisis continues

Swedish security services have expressed serious concerns that Russia is heightening its spying efforts in Scandinavia and “preparing for war”, according to local media reports.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the chief counter-intelligence analyst for the Säkerhetspolisen (Säpo) agency said that the escalating crisis in eastern Europe was the greatest security threat identified in a recent briefing.

Wilhelm Unge said communications from Russian intelligence agencies had increased, more attempts were being made to recruit spies and that Moscow had purchased a significant number of maps.

The spy chief said the developments were in keeping with recent trends, most notably the military flight exercises undertaken by Russia last year against simulated Swedish targets.

“You don't carry out these kinds of things unless you can actually conceive carrying out an attack in the future,” Mr Unge said. Read on and comment » | Adam Withnall | Tuesday, April 08, 2014

Angela Merkel Denied Access to Her NSA File

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor.

THE GUARDIAN: Frustration with US government rises over failure to clear up questions about surveillance of German chancellor's phone

The US government is refusing to grant Angela Merkel access to her NSA file or answer formal questions from Germany about its surveillance activities, raising the stakes before a crucial visit by the German chancellor to Washington.

Merkel will meet Barack Obama in three weeks, on her first visit to the US capital since documents leaked by whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed that the NSA had been monitoring her phone.

The face-to-face meeting between the two world leaders had been intended as an effort to publicly heal wounds after the controversy, but Germany remains frustrated by the White House's refusal to come clean about its surveillance activities in the country.

In October, Obama personally assured Merkel that the US is no longer monitoring her calls, and promised it will not do so in the future. However, Washington has not answered a list of questions submitted by Berlin immediately after Snowden's first tranche of revelations appeared in the Guardian and Washington Post in June last year, months before the revelations over Merkel's phone.

The Obama's administration has also refused to enter into a mutual "no-spy" agreement with Germany, in part because Berlin is unwilling or unable to share the kinds of surveillance material the Americans say would be required for such a deal.

Merkel is intensely aware of the importance of the surveillance controversy for her domestic audience, and is planning to voice Germany's concerns privately with White House officials and leading senators. She will also be "forthright" in confronting the issue if she is asked by reporters during a press conference with Obama, according to a well-placed source with knowledge of the trip. Read on and comment » | Paul Lewis in Washington and Philip Oltermann in Berlin | Thursday, April 10, 2014

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