Shire Network News #127

Shire Network News #127 has been released.  This week week’s guest is Prof Barry Rubin, Director, Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center and Editor, Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal .  As we approach the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the modern state of Israel, Barry joins us to talk about his latest reprinting of "The Israel Arab Reader". The book provides over 300 original source documents and gives a massive amount of background into the Israeli Arab struggle.  Click here for the show notes, links, and ways to listen to the show; directly from the web site, by downloading the mp3 file, or by subscribing with your podcatcher of choice.

Below is the text of my commentary.

---

Hi this is Doug Payton for Shire Network News, asking you to "Consider This!"

The Los Angeles Times ran a story last Thursday noting a widening "ideology gap" between Al Qaeda and its allies.  Those once-loyal allies are now upset that bin Laden’s crew emphasizes suicide bombings instead of political action. 

I gotta’ ask; where were these allies in September of 2001?  Did they somehow explain those attacks as "political action"?  This wasn’t a bunch of angry protestors yelling "What do we want?  The Caliphate!  When do we want it?  Now!"  Did they imagine that this radical act would lead to later moderation?  "Well, now that we’ve killed 3,000 Americans in this massive attack, we’ll just stick to the ballot box and the ‘war of ideas’ from here on out."

And these allies are shocked — SHOCKED — that innocent Muslims are also being targeted.  I hate to break it to you fellas (OK, I actually love to break it to you) that a radical is a radical.  The cause is the only thing, and anything in the way has no value.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to the allies of Al Qaeda, but apparently the nuances of radical Islamo-fascism have been lost on them.  They just thought, hey, kill a few infidels, strongarm a few politicians, and this whole affair would be over by Spring. 

Instead, Ayman al Zawahiri, in his latest audio message, found it necessary to respond to angry questions submitted online.  Kind of like a CNN presidential primary debate, except that in the end, if you vote for the wrong guy, you’re beheaded.  He spent an hour and a half responding to what he considered the most important questions, but not all the questions got a response.

But here on Shire Network News, we have, from the home office in Camillus, NY, the Top 9 Questions Ayman al Zawahiri Didn’t Have Time To Answer:

9 – What’s with all the guns in your videos?  Are they a show of machismo, or do you really use them?

8 – Will he be doing that hilarious "Carnac the Magnificent" act with Osama?

7 – How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck Danish cartoons?

6 – Are bribe..er..subsidies to the Canadian Human Rights Commission causing the budget shortfalls?

5 – Are we really taking our marching orders from Evil Bert?

4 – Before the advent of guns, what did they shoot into the air to celebrate the killing of civilians?

3 – Who does your hair?

2 – Where’s all the merchandising revenue from "Bin Laden, the T-shirt", "Bin Laden, the lunchbox", "Bin Laden, the coloring book", and "Bin Laden, the flamethrower"?

And the #1 Question Ayman al Zawahiri Didn’t Have Time To Answer:

Jihadi group?  I was told this would be the Al Qaeda Knitting Club!

Yes, it seems AQ and OBL could use some serious PR.  I hear some Hollywood war movie producer are available.

Consider that.

Filed under: Podcasts • Shire Network News • Terrorism

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!