News From Iraq.

As is so often the case, an excellent piece from Michael J Totten in Iraq, telling it as it is without the self-loathing, hand-wringing and pustulated narrative we get from the MSM.

When Mahmoud says Al Qaeda does not belong to Islam, he is not speaking theologically. I’m afraid Al Qaeda does belong to Islam if you look at it that way. But he is right that Al Qaeda does not belong to Islam as it is currently lived by the people in his community.

Ain't that the truth.

Sheik Abdul Sattar Abu Risha made similar points, a bit more eloquently, to Johns Hopkins University Professor Fouad Ajami: “Our American friends had not understood us when they came. They were proud, stubborn people and so were we. They worked with the opportunists, now they have turned to the tribes, and this is as it should be. The tribes hate religious parties and religious fakers.”

It might also be the case that the tribes will be where Pakistan can sort itself out, if it gets possessed/remains possessed by the opportunists.

Read all of Michael's piece. Most illuminating. Hat tip, Samizdata.

That Iranian Interview in Full...

Snow: Hand on heart - you do not want a bomb?

Dinner: "Americans and British - if they have it {nuclear facility} - what is the issue? Why have it? We don't need it {a bomb}."

Roger's Translation: "We don't need it, but we want it."



Snow: Can you say that no Iranians are involved in the killing of British solders?

Dinner: "I should say this to the good British people about the things that happen .. {unclear} .. We are sorry for your soldiers to be killed, we think that peace should exist. Why should there be invasions so that people are killed? We want friendship. Our message is friendship to all - all nations all human beings - anybody who is killed, we are against that. Your soldiers, poor soldiers, they don't know where they are to be sent, they don't know which part of the world, why should they be killed? British youths should be in their own country, serving their own people. We want peace and friendship for all. We should help. This war should finish."

Roger's translation: "(of course) I cannot say that no Iranians are involved."

Blair in the Middle East

Tony Blair is now the Quartet's Middle East Envoy.

No envoy will be perfect. Some demand an Arab, others would reject an Arab. Some demand a European, others reject a European.

Tony Blair has done things wrong but he HAS managed to resolve Northern Ireland between existing, not "new generation", foes, even.

The Palestinian leaders who truly want a solution instead of an excuse to continue violent extortion the struggle will be able to talk to someone with the ear of the EU and America. How valuable is that? I'd say priceless.