Links are working!!! I’ll now run away and compose something worth linking to…back later.

Niall muses on September 11 and asks; Must we, or rather should we need to be constantly reminded of these events? Surely, it’s better to be made aware of the probable reasons for the occurrence and try to ensure the circumstances don’t arise again His last sentence is a given but I believe we must be regularly reminded of how evil the bastards are. Human nature, being what it is, will see people move forward, as Niall points out. However, on this occassion ‘getting on with life’ will never work while we still have terrorists trying to snuff out that very life. The Holocast, the Killing Fields, USSRs Gulags, etc, can be placed in a ‘past obscenities’ file because the perpetrators are mostly dead and buried or have been neutralized. al Qeada still exists! We need to maintain the momentum.

This article in the Washington Post atracts some interest in the blogosphere as Andrew Sullivan posts an article under FLYPAPER – IT’S WORKING and a piece in todays Australian. Two years after the attacks on the United States, Osama bin Laden’s leadership cadre has been isolated and weakened and is increasingly reliant on the violent actions of local radicals around the world to maintain its profile. But the al Qaeda network is determined to open a new front in Iraq to sustain itself as the vanguard of radical Islamic groups fighting holy war, according to European, American and Arab intelligence sources. Sounds good to me. If the US forces stay and sucker al Qaeda to fight in Iraq it places the battle where it should – out of reach of women, kids and other innocents. In military speak it’s called fighting the battle on ground of your own choosing. Update: President Bush agrees with me. We have learned that terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength; they are invited by the perception of weakness. And the surest way to avoid attacks on our own people is to engage the enemy where he lives and plans. We are fighting that enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan today so that we do not meet him again on our own streets, in our own cities. Read the full text of last nights address to the nation here

From the Malysian Times Kuala Lumpur – Islamic authorities will prosecute Malaysian men who try to divorce their wives by sending cellphone text messages or email without going to court, an official said on Thursday. The warning marks the latest move by the government to discourage the use of electronic messages to initiate divorce proceedings in this predominantly Muslim Southeast Asian country. Islamic law generally accepts that a husband has divorced his wife if he announces his intention to do so to her and the decision is ratified by a cleric. The process for a wife to divorce her husband is more difficult. Great society isn’t it? I can just see Abdul checking out a good sort at the bar – oops, sorry they don’t drink – at the mosque. Mmmm…better than the sandbagged chick at home. Reaches for the mobile….SMS I divorce thee, I divorce thee, I divorce thee. Send. …….Hullo! Whats a nice chick like you doing at this boring old mosque? Lets go get coffee. And they reckon we’re ungodly! Inserted in the interests of winding up the troll from comments in my previous post. Ishmael – As-Salamu ‘Alaikum.

Scientists were today warning of a possible asteroid collision with the Earth. An asteroid around 1.2 km wide could hit the earth on March 21, 2014 and has been classified as “an event meriting careful monitoring” by astronomers. I’m surprised the Holy Rollers haven’t claimed it as a message from God. Maybe it’s heading for the Middle East! Hey, I’d put up with a bit of disruption -clouds, long winters etc if we could stop the rot in one hit. C’mon asteroid! ……….No! No! Not Brisbane!

I don’t know about others but I think Indonesia will regret giving Baasyir only four years. For one, It doesn’t matter how long they put him away he will still be able to influence Jemaah Islamiah. In a country that sets very high corruption standards do you really believe that all the prison guards are professional. Of course not! The ‘four years sentence’ sends a message that Indonesia is still not serious about terrorism. In times when the press wasn’t so aware, Indonesia would have simply executed or prisoned for life anyone who had a hint of treason about him – and this guy has been found guilty. Times do change. Keep a watch on Baasyir, you’ll be hearing more about him. Here for a US report from the Washington Post and here for an Australian perspective from the Sydney Morning Herald. Downer, the Foreign Minister, reflects majority opinion when he says he’s surprised.

From correspondents in Starke, Florida and quoted in this article in the Australian ON the eve of his execution for the murder of an abortion doctor, an unrepentant Paul Hill said today: “I expect a great reward in heaven.” Sounds a bit like the ’72 virgins’ recruiting campaign that another group of idiots use. News Flash! Heaven is an invention of the church to guarantee tythes and you have to get up real early to get one virgin, let alone 72.

Having a heart attack? Cough like your life depends on it. According to this article your life does depend on it. Dr Tadeusz Petelenz, a researcher in Poland, said the technique, called cough CPR, forces blood to the brain while the heart is starting to fail and keeps patients conscious long enough to call for help. It may also rectify their heart rhythm, he told a meeting of the European Society of Cardiology. If you can’t cough, keep a packet of Winfield Red ciggies handy – guaranteed to work for you. Posted in the interests of us mature people staying around long enough to spend our kids inheritance.

Who the hell is LEADING Aboriginal activist Warren Mundine? I’m a news junkie but if I have ever read of him, the article wasn’t significant enough to stay in my head. He’s opposing Carmen ‘I can’t remember’ Lawrence in the ALP presidency so just the fact that he is breathing will make him a better canditate. Mr Mundine, a cousin of boxer Anthony Mundine, is chairman of NSW Country Labor and chief executive of the NSW Native Title Service. I see little merit in his CV, particularly the bit about being a cousin of Tony, and I sincerely hope he loses. Nothing to do with him, I just think the ALP under Carmen will have less credability than it does now. One can always hope.