by Nathan Barton

Good morning, unless you are in most parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe.  (A short commentary today, due to appointments and travel.)

The Caliphate continues to fight and grow in Mesopotamia, it seems. USA Today reports that “Muslim leaders gathered Monday on the steps of Dearborn City Hall [Michigan] to strongly condemn the Islamic State or ISIS, saying the militant group in Iraq and Syria doesn’t represent Islam or Muslims. ISIS members are ‘crazy criminals who are abusing our religion,’ said Imam Mohammed Elahi of the Islamic House of Wisdom in Dearborn Heights. ‘You’re a bunch of gangsters … you’re not Islamic.'”   Well, I am glad to see that a few Muslims, apparently American ones, are condemning the Caliphate.  But I wonder how quickly these will be condemned by other Muslims as apostates who must die?  And it is now reported that hundreds of “Americans” are fighting for ISIS and that a second one just died.

Meanwhile Jack Shafer of Reuters announces “This month’s ultimate enemy: The Islamic State” and reports “At an Aug. 21 Pentagon press conference, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel claimed that the Islamic State ‘is as sophisticated and well-funded as any group that we have seen. They’re beyond just a terrorist group. They marry ideology, a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess. They are tremendously well-funded.’ Perhaps sensing that his comparison hadn’t reached sufficiently hyperbolic velocity to escape earth orbit, Hagel immediately amended himself. ‘Oh, this is beyond anything that we’ve seen. So we must prepare for everything,’ he said. … Hagel wasn’t so much fear-mongering as he was fear-tending. War is the health of the state, as Randolph Bourne observed a century ago.” Amen to Jack’s comments.  ISIS is the “enemy of the month” and just a growing list of people who really can do little to America unless we let them.

The WaPo tells us Ukraine, Russian troops battle amid fears an invasion is underway in the latest panic shout. The conflict worsens in Ukraine’s east as the presence of Russian troops provokes international condemnation.  The meeting of the two presidents is said by some to be a desperate attempt to stop fighting before Fall rains turn the Eastern Ukraine into the huge mud wallow that made the Eastern Front of WW2 such a horrific field of battle, and kill additional thousands of troops and civilians even MORE needlessly.  But the West seems content to egg both sides on.

WaPo also has a photo spread: These men were the last to die In the 50-day Gaza war. The open-ended cease-fire was holding after seven weeks of warfare that killed more than 2,100 people.  Will it last?  I doubt it.  Meanwhile, Egypt seems to be double-dealing in Libya, working with Abu Dhabi to launch air attacks against at least one side in the revived conflict in that butchered country.

And far to the east, Pakistan and India seem intent on starting a new war over their 60+ year hatred and border disputes.  Islam is INDEED the religion of peace.  Nuclear peace after the bombs are launched, no doubt.  What next?

Mama’s Note: A new “wonder of the world,” perhaps? A vast sea of glass half a mile thick? Seems like a real shame to me. Wouldn’t the people there rather just live and let live?

Stateside, a combination of stupidity on the part of both parents and the instructor led to the instructor’s accidental death by shooting by a nine-year-old girl firing an Uzi at a poorly designed and operated range in Arizona.  There IS A REASON we teach children to shoot using .22-cal Chipmunks and small pistols, and why full- and semi-auto weapons come later in life AND training.  You do NOT let a nine-year-old ride a bronco OR drive a semi.  Stupid.  Especially since this gives MORE ammo to hoplophobes and hopoclasts.

Mama’s Note: Such breathtaking stupidity! I wouldn’t touch a full auto Uzi with a ten foot pole because I KNOW I could not control it. A nine year old child has no experience with which to judge that, and trusts the adults around her. I truly believe that the parents of this child are as much to blame as the stupid “instructor.” He paid for his stupidity with his life. The girl and her parents will pay in terrible coin for as long as they live.

But, of course the antis will dance in the blood and tears to gin up excuses for ever more “laws.” None of which will even begin to address stupidity. The stupid you always have with you… at least until they finally achieve the Darwin award.