Still coming out with the doubtful etymologies, eh, Mr Sterling?

I thought the "72 virgins" were actually "72 raisins"?

"72 girlfriends" was in this instance more laden with comedic potential than either of those two.

Could you somehow put a fold in this, ie re-edit it? Preferably just under the title.

Ask and ye shall receive.

Allahu Akbar!

Damn, it didn't work.

Spengler on Benedict, and Islam.

More importantly, does anyone know what's with Thailand right now? Tanks rolling and a coup's brewing from what I've read. Of course, as always, it's the pope's fault. Either his or else Israel's. When in doubt, blame the US, and throw the other two in the mix just for giggles.

I am almost certain that the islamo-faciasts who want to change the world through burning a hatred flame in the stolid christian heart, have no idea what kind of return to 12th century cruelty they can generate. One can only compare the reactions of our European heritage with history. What ever happened to the understanding of history? Why must they toy with the underlying psychology of the western mind? Have they no memory?

With each generation, we seem to generate more ignorant marchers into the flame. When will the lies cease?

I write, confused by the thrust of your deep comments, O Hypnophobe!

Art thou threatening the Faithful with the resurgence of Christian ( accursed be its name!) "faith"? Dost thou veritably think that sage7's legions are on the cusp of smashing our Holy Believers? Pehraps thou shouldst read more closley the Books of the "Christian" (I spit on its name) "faith".

Or dost thou lend credence to the equally dismal delusion, that the "Christ's" soldiers are no more than limp-wristed, raisin-despising eunuchs, eager to immolate themsleves on fires of their own making? That by following their leader Gore they will accede unto the very kingdom of heaven?

Allahu Akbar has been taken so far out of context in this article, it simply is disgusting and is typical ignorant american ranting. This is an empty article. Filled with nothing but stupidity. What is wrong with you people are you that brain dead.

Jake, you humorless twit fuck, perhaps you should try expressing some dismay in the general direction of the people who shout the Takbir immediately before committing unspeakably violent acts?

I can't just like you can see that no matter what the act committed after, it has nothing to do with the translation of Allahu Akbar into english. So why the dismay for a phrase in the first place. Does changing the context of it make the acts of violence go away? The only reason one would make a post like that is to take up space because theres nothing better to talk about. No one is going to change any meaning of Allahu Akbar, especially not from america and second, even talking about it and making a subject out of it is a complete waste of time. Its not like banning the phrase or getting people to change their understanding of it will win the war on terror..

According to Eurof's Law of the Oxbridge Firsts (ELOF), I, as an Oxford English literature First, get to adjudicate on this matter for once and for all.

I decree that Jake has won this argument.

Sterling's wilful inability to accept that "Allah is great" may have a benign interpretation, or that "jihad" has a plethora of meanings, has removed him from credible semantic, or even Semitic, debate. Both terms have been proved to be, if you will, "petards", with which Sterling has successively "hoist" himself, alas.

Am I the only viewer noticing how sparse the commentary has been as of late on the entire site? Where is the Sterling post on how Hastert is a good man, or how Foley is really a good leader? Come on now, we are gearing up to the ellections pretty soon, someone better take the bat off their shoulder.

why would Sterling defend Foley? Foley is a Democrat.

I've been busy, Sanford.

And Sam, I would not defend Foley or attack Foley. When I lived in DC I saw congressmen do lots of bad things. The only reasons this thing is back-to-back on the news are that it's a slow news day and much of the media wants to kick the GOP out of Congress. Nobody blamed the Democratic Party for Gary Condit, after all. And besides, much of the scandal appears to be faked.

Claude & Jake - Meaning is contextual. However, it is clear that a substantial number of Muslims believe that the death of non-Muslims is the will of Allah and that killing non-Muslims honors Allah. That is why they shout the Takbir when they do terrible things.

Haha, what part of "messages with the young man and disgraced former Congressman Foley took place before and after the 18th birthday" did you not read?

That "report" says absolutely nada.

So, faked? You wish. The only thing faked is Fox News "mistakenly" tagging him as a Dem in their graphics.

Sterling, honestly this is the best thing that could happen for the Republicans. See, if they lose the House and Seante, then they can blame the Recession we are teetering on the edge of squarely on the Democrats. Of course, facts be d@mned about who is really to blame (i.e. fiscal policy normally has about 5 years before the effects are felt.)

By the way, whoever Foley's attorney is, that guy is a serious misdirector of attention. By the way, isn't solicitation of a minor a crime, even in DC?

I've not read everything Foley IM'd, but he was certainly dancing on the edge of being a pederast for which he should be castigated and castrated live on Pay Per View if he is found guilty. Let's wait and see how this one plays out. I've got an extra hundred just in case.

Well, of course Foley is a pederast. I don't think anyone's saying otherwise. And I'd guess he probably did commit numerous crimes.

But it now seems the most sensational IMs were sent after the kid had turned 18 (ABC is now claiming they were sent two or three weeks before the kid's 18th birthday). And the shock some exhibit that kids are engaging in sexual conversations on the internet strikes me as similar to the shock of parents when we were kids, upon finding out there was beer at a party. It's a big nothing of a story involving a previously unknown congressman, and I doubt most voters are even paying attention to it.

"I doubt most voters are even paying attention to it."

Polls show you're wrong. And, with NK testing a nuke, Americans feel like Bush has failed by wasting what will soon amount to over a trillion dollars on a war that has only created more violence and threats aimed at us, rather than go after the larger and more imminent threats o fIran and North Korea.

The falling gas prices are being met with cynicism, consumers know the prices will go up as soon as the elections are over and associate the oil companies with the GOP. Voters see Bush as a wimp (part 2) and a liar, Republicans as dishonest power mongers whose party line of family values is pure demagoguery, and the only base support they will retain will be on the abortion "issue".

Unfortunetely, there are many Americans who are "one issue" voters. Pro-life Christians and Catholics, that's your GOP base.

Sam - this is a sham issue. If you want to waste your own time pontificating about it, have a ball. However, if you expect me to respond to it with arguments of my own you're going to be disappointed.

doesnt matter what you think, what matters is what millions of "middle american" housewives think, and to them, its not a sham issue.

I have a question to the writer,have you ever asked your self as a human why they do this?
Can't you just remove the hatred and think about it for a second
It's because more than 100,000 palestanians died because of israel
it's because more than 150,000 Lebanese people died
because of the civil war which israel made
it's because that more than 100,000 iraqis died because of the last war led by the US
Need i say more crimes?
Just ask your conscience as a human.....

I ask myself all the time, Ali, why a billion and half Muslims spread over half the world seem crazily obsessed with a piece of real estate the size of New Jersey. I ask myself all the time why Muslims kill each other in vast numbers without blinking, but then commit horrific crimes to avenge cartoons in a non-Muslim newspaper hardly anyone had previously heard of. I ask myself why Saudi Arabia threatens the death penalty for any non-Muslims who enters Mecca and forbids Christian churches from being erected in its territory, when Western and Christian nations are open to Muslims and permit mosques to be built equally with Christian churches.

Sterling

I thought Ali had just answered those questions and far more succinctly than you put them too. It isn't a question of black and white, as you seem to be saying, in your typically myopic neocon way - it's all down to the Jews.

I'm christian, but even then I still am knowledgeable enough to realise that the entire muslim population cannot be judged on a small percentage of it. It is not their fault that they, like all other religions, have extremists who believe their views are right and feel that they have the right to impose them on others. Do not insult the entire muslim community because you're too ignorant to consider all the facts. Don't write articles based simply on your xenophobia.

all of you should read the book by brigitte gabriel
'because they hate" hear another side,,,, AND what appears to be the truth..