Monday, August 27, 2007

Sick! Sick! Sick! Sick!

Today I was reading Pat Dollard's blog and came across this article: Pat Dollard Young Americans Blog Archive » Jihadi Shortage Leads Al Qaeda To Swell Ranks With Local Children.

"Child fighters, once a rare presence on Iraq’s battlefields, are playing a significant and growing role in kidnappings, killings and roadside bombings in the country, U.S. military officials say."

and...

"Stone attributes the rise in child fighters in the country, in part, to the pressure that the U.S. buildup of troops has placed on the flow of foreign fighters. Fewer of them are making it into the country, he said, and the militant group Al Qaeda in Iraq is having a difficult time recruiting adults locally. Thus, it has turned to children."

I had two thoughts while I was reading the article and a third as I was typing this post.

1. Sick! Sick! Sick! Sick! I don't say bad language but I have some in mind for Al Qaeda in Iraq who would use children as expendable fodder. Are they so mentally disturbed that they think their religion allows, or even encourages, such disgusting behavior?

2. As upsetting as this is, it is actually a sign that Al Qaeda in Iraq may be in its twilight. It has been a trend that in past, elongated conflicts the losing side begins using anyone that can to prolong the inevitable. For example, the beaches of Normandy in 1944 was protected by very few Germans but a lot of conscripts from other nations, old men, and young boys. Al Qaeda in Iraq seems to be beginning, according to this article, this same pattern.

3. The last thought I had occurred while I was writing this entry. I am proud of what our military is doing in this situation. If you think about it, it could be doing much worse. Certainly, Al Qaeda in Iraq would do much worse. I'm sure that they would just simply execute these young boys. We aren't. A more humane country would just simply lock them up and throw away the key. We didn't. We are actually taking time to teach, to educate, to care for these young boys. Doesn't that say something about who are the American people?

Saturday, August 25, 2007

Success!

"Dear Justin,

"The College Board is pleased to announce that your Biology course is authorized to use the 'AP®' designation for the 2007-08 academic year. The College Board applauds and recognizes your efforts to provide your students with the academic rigor and college-level experience that is the promise of AP. I thank you for the time and effort you put into participating in the AP Course Audit."

That's one course audit down! I still have to get the AP Calculus audit approved. Oh well.

Friday, August 24, 2007

Michael Totten's "The Worst Since 9/11"

Michael Totten, another one of the "must read" reporters in Iraq, wrote an interesting piece on a massive terror attack that I hadn't even heard about. "The Worst since 9/11"

He brings up a couple of really good points:
1. Congratulations to the media for not over-reporting this. My first reaction was, "Why didn't I hear about this!"
2. What do you call the murder of 500 innocent people? Murder, terror, genocide? This is another concept where the English language just doesn't cover it.

Advertizing Fixed

I'm removed any graphical advertizing from the Adsense panel now. So, unless obscene text starts appearing, we should be alright.

Questionable Adverstizing

When I took a look at my blog today, I noticed that the ad from Google Sense was quite inappropriate for a Christian teacher at a Christian school. This was NOT intentional on my part.

Please be patient as I will correct this as soon as I can. Unfortunately, I won't have time tonight to fix it, but I will as soon as I can.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

It Begins!

ICSB - International Christian School of Budapest

Unbounded!

Here is a link to the old blog that I lost. Sorry for the weird change of location. The e-mail situation has finally settled down.

Unbounded!

Michael Yon Online Magazine

If you haven't already, you need to discover Michael Yon Online Magazine. This guy is arguably the best reporter in all of Iraq. He gives the sorry as he sees it firsthand which is not something we're really getting anymore.

Is he biased? Who isn't? I think, "Yes, he is." But, he isn't covert about it. He doesn't have a raging agenda. At the most, you could say that what he wants is to report Iraq how it should be reported.

Give him a read.