Obamas 53. Geburtstag: Der lustlose Präsident

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Barack Obama wird 53, doch Grund zum Feiern hat er kaum. Der US-Präsident wirkt amtsmüde, verweigert die politische Führung. Viel Zeit bleibt ihm nicht, um seine Präsidentschaft zu retten.

Am Samstag konnte Barack Obama endlich wieder einen Erfolg feiern. Auf dem Landsitz Camp David gewann seine Herrenrunde ein privates Golf-Turnier gegen eine andere Herrenrunde. Das White House Press Corps meldete, Obama habe "bestes Golfwetter" genossen: "24 Grad und überwiegend sonnig"

Nichts gegen Golf oder gegen Herrenrunden, aber Obama erweckt den Eindruck, als flüchte er vor den Herausforderungen seiner Präsidentschaft. So wie sich die Fotos häufen, die ihn auf Polo- oder Golfplätzen zeigen, häufen sich die ungelösten Probleme seines Landes.

Obama, der an diesem Montag seinen 53. Geburtstag feiert, ist ein müder Präsident geworden. Er wirkt erschöpft, genervt vom Kleinkrieg mit dem politischen Gegner. Zugleich erweckt er den Eindruck, als sei er sich zu fein für das schmutzige Geschäft der Politik. Vieles deute darauf hin, "dass Obama bereits das Handtuch geworfen hat", schrieb der Publizist Joe Klein. » | Ein Kommentar von Markus Feldenkirchen, Washington | Montag, 04. August 2014

Inside Story: Who Can Stop the Islamic State's Advance?

Concern as the Islamic State continues expanding its territories under its control in Iraq.

Islamic State Terrorists Claim First Stake in Lebanon

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The rebel group, which has carved out a vast swathe of territory across Syria and Iraq, launched attack on border town after follower was seized

The jihadists of the Islamic State have seized their first territory inside Lebanon, a long-feared strike that hits at the heart of the country’s uneasy sectarian balance.

A Syrian rebel group which has sworn allegiance to the Islamic State’s leader has set up check-points in the town of Arsal on the two countries’ border, though it has stopped short of declaring it part of the organisation’s “Caliphate”.

Lebanese army troops have moved up to attack the town, firing shells and putting at risk not only the 40,000 local inhabitants but the estimated 120,000 Syrian refugees who have taken shelter there.

The crisis brought a rare show of unity from Lebanon’s competing political factions, with the Sunni prime minister Tammam Salam standing alongside the rest of the cabinet to give a statement. “The attack on Lebanese national dignity will not go unpunished,” he said, calling Islamic State’s behaviour “sick”. » | Carol Malouf in Arsal and Richard Spencer, Middle East correspondent | Monday, August 04, 2014

US Muslim Civil Rights Group Showing Sympathy to Terrorists?

Jul. 24, 2014 - 5:38 - Group's massive letter-writing campaign

Hamas Founder's Son Speaks Out against Terrorist Group

Jul. 30, 2014 - 6:46 - Mosab Hassan Yousef on why it's time to stop the organization

'Jihadist' Books On Sale in French Supermarkets

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Thousands of people complain at works that reportedly call on Muslims to open bomb factories and advertise methods to kill 'sodomists'

Books preaching violent jihad and urging Muslims to set up arms factories are reportedly on sale openly in French supermarkets and bookshops, sparking thousands of complaints and fresh debate over the limits of free speech.

Publishers have defended the works, claiming only a few pages are contentious, while authorities say it would be difficult to ban them.

They can be found on the shelves of supermarkets including Carrefour, one of the world’s biggest retail chains, and Fnac, France’s largest retailer of books, music, DVDs and electronic goods. Some of the works are also available from the website of the online retailer Amazon.

According to Le Figaro newspaper, two petitions demanding they be withdrawn from sale, signed by more than 18,000 people, have been ignored by Carrefour.

“It is not up to the distributor to take a view on the shocking nature of publications,” a representative of the group’s press department said, adding the books “have never been banned”. » | David Chazan in Paris | Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Gutfeld: Obama Fans Writhe as the Dream Dies

Jul. 28, 2014 - 6:26 - It's like a 10-year-old realizing Santa is really his drunk uncle

The Great Marijuana Ruse

Jul. 28, 2014 - 8:29 - Talking Points 7/28

Latino Converts to Islam

Saudi King: Don’t Misuse Islam for Terrorism

AL ARABIYA: Some vested interests are tarnishing the noble image of Islam and using it to perpetuate terrorism across the world, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has warned.

In his Eid Al-Fitr address to the citizens, expatriates and the Muslims worldwide, King Abdullah said the Kingdom has taken several measures to root out the scourge of terrorism and to protect the country’s security and stability.

The Eid, he said, is an occasion to rejoice at the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. The King extended his best wishes for the Eid to world Muslims.

“The Muslim Ummah should steadfastly strive to defeat the forces who are maligning the noble and kind image of Islam and harming the believers and their sons,” the King said. » | Saudi Gazette, Jeddah | Monday, July 28, 2014

Anti-Semitism On the March: Europe Braces for Violence

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Fears of violence and anti-Semitism at major protest marches planned in Berlin and other German cities this weekend against Israeli operations in Gaza

European cities are braced for violent clashes this weekend as people take to the streets to protest against Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Thousands of police are being deployed in cities across Europe with Berlin alone deploying 1,500 police officers in a response and authorities in Paris have sought to ban outright marches planned for this weekend.

The protests have triggered warnings that the spectre of anti-Semitism has returned to haunt Europe.

Protesters have attacked synagogues, smashed the windows of Jewish-owned business and torched others, in scenes disturbingly reminiscent of the 1938 Kristallnacht in France. The marchers have chanted “Jews to the gas chambers”, and Jewish people have been attacked on the streets of Berlin.
An 18-year-old Jewish man claimed on Friday he had been punched in the face in an unprovoked attack while wearing a skull cap in the centre of Berlin, in what would be the second such incident in less than a week. » | Justin Huggler, Berlin, and Josie Ensor | Saturday, July 26, 2014

New Dark Age Alert! Gay Saudi Arabian Man Sentenced to Three Years and 450 Lashes for Meeting Men via Twitter

THE INDEPENDENT: The man was arrested after he arranged to meet a man who was in fact an undercover agent for the Saudi Arabian police

A Saudi Arabian man has been sentenced to three years in jail and 450 lashes after he was caught using Twitter to arrange dates with other men.

The 24-year-old man who has not been named, was given his sentence after the court in Medina, Saudi Arabia, found him guilty of “promoting the vice and practice of homosexuality.”

According to a report in the daily Arabic newspaper Al-Watan, the man was arrested following an entrapment ploy by the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV).

Posing as a potential suitor online, members of the CPVPV arranged to meet the now convicted man for a date.

When the man arrived at the designated meeting place, he was greeted by an undercover agent and a number of other officers from the CPVPV.

He was then arrested and his phone was confiscated.

According to authorities, a search of the phone revealed “indecent images” and other incriminating evidence that apparently proved his “homosexuality”. » | Jack Simpson | Friday, July 25, 2014

Iraq: Isis Warns Women to Wear Full Veil or Face Punishment

'Anyone who is not committed to this duty and is motivated by
glamour will be subject to accountability.'

THE GUARDIAN: Sunni insurgents issue guidelines in mosques on how clothes should be worn to prevent women 'from falling into vulgarity'

Islamic State (Isis), the al-Qaida offshoot that seized large swathes of northern Iraq last month, has warned women in the city of Mosul to wear full-face veils or risk severe punishment.

The Sunni insurgents, who have declared a caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria and have threatened to march on Baghdad, also listed guidelines on how veils and clothes should be worn, part of a campaign to violently impose their radical brand of Islam.

"The conditions imposed on her clothes and grooming was only to end the pretext of debauchery resulting from grooming and overdressing," the group said in a statement.

"This is not a restriction on her freedom but to prevent her from falling into humiliation and vulgarity or to be a theatre for the eyes of those who are looking."

A cleric in Mosul told Reuters that Isis gunmen had shown up at his mosque and ordered him to read their warning on loudspeakers when worshipers gather.

"Anyone who is not committed to this duty and is motivated by glamour will be subject to accountability and severe punishment to protect society from harm and to maintain the necessities of religion and protect it from debauchery," Isis said. » | Reuters in Baghdad | Friday, July 25, 2014

Krauthammer: Obama Has Defended Muslims, Where Is He On Christian Persecution?

Read the short article on Real Clear Politics here | Posted by Ian Schwartz | Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Gaza Conflict: France Criticises 'Anti-Semitic' Riot

BBC: French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has condemned "anti-Semitic" violence that broke out during a protest against Israel's action in Gaza.

Jewish-owned businesses and a synagogue were targeted in the suburb of Sarcelles, just outside Paris.

Shops were looted and 18 people were arrested as youths went on the rampage during Sunday's protest, which had been banned by authorities.

The mayor of Sarcelles said the Jewish community was in fear.

Such an outpouring of violence had never been seen in the suburb before, he said.

Roger Cukierman, head of the umbrella group Crif that represents French Jewish organisations, said Jews were not just afraid, they were anguished.

"What's happened in the past few days is terrible. They're shouting 'Death to the Jews' and attacking synagogues. It's completely out of control", he said. » | Monday, July 21, 2014

George Galloway Is a Muslim Now

Comment with George Galloway: How Should the ISIS Threat Be Confronted?

George Galloway Discussing ISIS

La persécution des chrétiens d'Irak est un "crime contre l'humanité"

LE POINT: Le secrétaire général de l'ONU Ban Ki-moon s'alarme des persécutions des chrétiens de Mossoul par les djihadistes de l'État islamique.

Ban Ki-moon, secrétaire général de l'ONU, a affirmé dimanche que la persécution des chrétiens de Mossoul (Irak) par les djihadistes de l'État islamique (EI) pouvait être considérée comme un crime contre l'humanité. Au moment où des centaines de familles chrétiennes fuient Mossoul après un ultimatum de l'EI, Ban Ki-moon a "condamné de la manière le plus ferme possible la persécution systématique des minorités en Irak par l'État islamique et les groupes armés qui lui sont liés". Dans un communiqué de l'ONU, Ban Ki-moon se déclare "particulièrement troublé par les informations sur des menaces contre les chrétiens à Mossoul". Ban Ki-moon "réaffirme que les attaques systématiques contre des civils en raison de leur origine ethnique ou de leur appartenance religieuse peuvent constituer un crime contre l'humanité dont les auteurs doivent rendre des comptes", ajoute le communiqué de l'ONU. » | Source AFP | lundi 21 juillet 2014

George Galloway Replies to Tony Blair on ISIS and Iraq – In The Now – Russia Today – June 16, 2014

George Galloway replies to Tony Blair on ISIS