What’s interesting in the news today?
1. The barbarians within our gates.
From Politico “With his decision to use force against the violent extremists of the Islamic State, President Obama is doing more than to knowingly enter a quagmire. He is doing more than play with the fates of two half-broken countries—Iraq and Syria—whose societies were gutted long before the Americans appeared on the horizon. Obama is stepping once again—and with understandably great reluctance—into the chaos of an entire civilization that has broken down.
Arab civilization, such as we knew it, is all but gone. The Arab world today is more violent, unstable, fragmented and driven by extremism—the extremism of the rulers and those in opposition—than at any time since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire a century ago. Every hope of modern Arab history has been betrayed. The promise of political empowerment, the return of politics, the restoration of human dignity heralded by the season of Arab uprisings in their early heydays—all has given way to civil wars, ethnic, sectarian and regional divisions and the reassertion of absolutism, both in its military and atavistic forms. With the dubious exception of the antiquated monarchies and emirates of the Gulf—which for the moment are holding out against the tide of chaos—and possibly Tunisia, there is no recognizable legitimacy left in the Arab world.
Is it any surprise that, like the vermin that take over a ruined city, the heirs to this self-destroyed civilization should be the nihilistic thugs of the Islamic State? And that there is no one else who can clean up the vast mess we Arabs have made of our world but the Americans and Western countries?”
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2. And no, barbarians is not too strong a word to use in describing them.
From TheNYPost “Islamic State barbarians are raping thousands of women in Iraq and Syria to mass-produce spawn who’ll follow in their vile footsteps, The Post has learned.
Young militants are running wild to the chagrin of their more sophisticated and p.r.-savvy commanders, an Iraqi official told The Post.
The motivation of the rapists is twofold: They want to make ISIS babies — and they are just plain out for twisted thrills.”
“Each rapist’s goal is to impregnate multiple women and breed children within their villages and towns, he said, adding, “They want to intertwine themselves within the communities.
“They want to become part of the fabric of the cities they control so they can live on for generations.””
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3. ISIS is concentrating recruiting efforts in places like Minnesota. Maybe law enforcement should be concentrating their efforts there too.
From TheStarTribune “Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has zeroed in on Minnesota, home to the largest Somali population in the country, as a target-rich recruiting ground for fighters such as the boy on Facebook.
Federal investigators, as well as community leaders like Farah, say a sophisticated new wave of extremism is trying to sell disaffected youth on joining militant brigades in Syria and Iraq.
In recent months, about a dozen Minnesotans, mostly Somali-Americans, have slipped away to fight or aid known terrorist groups in Syria and Iraq. Federal authorities confirmed one Minnesota man died last month while fighting for ISIL. A second Minnesotan reportedly was killed in the same battle. Federal agents have intercepted young Somalis at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. At least three young women — including a 19-year-old from St. Paul — left the state three weeks ago and are believed to be in Syria.
As director of Ka Joog, a Somali youth outreach program, Farah is outmaneuvered, outspent and is quickly losing ground in the propaganda war being fought in cyber space.”
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4. So how much did it cost the Obama admin to buy Lois Lerner’s silence? About $100,000 a year.
From Politico “Employers won’t hire her. She’s been berated with epithets like “dirty Jew.” Federal agents have guarded her house because of death threats. And she’s spent hundreds of thousands of dollars defending herself against accusations she orchestrated a coverup in a scandal that has come to represent everything Americans hate about the IRS.
Lois Lerner is toxic — and she knows it. But she refuses to recede into anonymity or beg for forgiveness for her role in the IRS tea party-targeting scandal.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Lerner said in her first press interview since the scandal broke 16 months ago. “I’m proud of my career and the job I did for this country.””
“Lerner wants to work to help pay for her defense bills, though a source working on the congressional investigation said she’s receiving a $100,000 annual pension. But while even Miller, fired by Obama in the wake of the scandal, has landed on his feet at a Washington-based consulting group, Lerner is still untouchable.”
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5. The “dirt” on Hillary.
From Yahoo “The annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, an initiative of the Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton Foundation dedicated to addressing “global challenges,” is taking place in New York this week. The Republican National Committee marked the occasion by dumping a huge opposition research file on Clinton to reporters.
Titled “Clinton Confab Complications,” the research briefing declared, “As Clinton World Gathers In New York, Problems Loom Over Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Campaign.” It highlighted several issues Republicans think can hurt Clinton, including her ties to “heads of state, business leaders, and actors” and alleged “conflicts of interest,” business dealings of some of her staffers, and potential progressive opposition to Clinton.
The GOP has previously used some of these same attacks on Clinton. This briefing makes clear that Republicans hope the separate points will contribute to an overall narrative that Clinton is ethically compromised and overly cozy with big business. The RNC is also clearly eager to capitalize on any potential dissatisfaction with Clinton among the more liberal wing of the Democratic Party.”
Seems like there’s a lot of dirt left to be dumped.
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6. The number of Ebola cases continue to climb and officials say it could get much, much worse.
From USAToday “New estimates from the World Health Organization warn the number of Ebola cases could hit 21,000 in six weeks unless efforts to curb the outbreak are ramped up.
Since the first cases were reported six months ago, the tally of cases in West Africa has reached an estimated 5,800 illnesses. WHO officials say cases are continuing to increase exponentially and Ebola could sicken people for years to come without better control measures.
In recent weeks, health officials worldwide have stepped up efforts to provide aid but the virus is still spreading. There aren’t enough hospital beds, health workers or even soap and water in the hardest-hit West African countries: Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.”
“The CDC calculations are based, in part, on assumptions that cases have been dramatically underreported. Other projections haven’t made the same kind of attempt to quantify illnesses that may have been missed in official counts.
CDC scientists conclude there may be as many as 21,000 reported and unreported cases in just those two countries as soon as the end of this month, according to a draft version of the report obtained by The Associated Press. They also predict that the two countries could have a staggering 550,000 to 1.4 million cases by late January.”
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Wandering Views 
I can see why no one would hire Lois Lerner. She would drive many potential customers away. And she probably belongs in jail. However, harassment and death threats are out of bounds. She shouldn’t be celebrated nor demonized until she goes to court.
Which should happen, but won’t. She’s protecting Obama.
This is worse than the Clinton scandals, but the next president, like Bush, will just turn the page and let it slide.
This time, we need to turn over the rocks to see what all is hiding beneath them.
Lots of people belong in jail, probably including Erick Holder.
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From yesterday, Karen, I’m wondering why you think the article on tax evasion is “warped thinking?”
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I have a great interest and care for the Arab nations. God made promises to the Arabs too – the promise to the Rechabites (Jeremiah 35) was to Arab people, as the Rechabites were descended from Jethro prince of Midian, and the Midianites – as descendants of Keturah, Abraham’s second wife (Genesis 25:1-4) – were combined with the Ishmaelites in the OT accounts. I once encountered an Arab Christian, converted from the most extreme branch of Islam, and he was shining example of what God could do with the Arab people. Unfortunately, the conservatives of the Western world fail to recognize that there are Christians among the Arab countries – Ted Cruz’s offensive speech was proof of that – and make assumptions which have proved destructive to the region (i.e. the Second Gulf War). God blessed Ishmael and was with him (Genesis 21:17-20). Islam goes beyond the Arab world – most of its adherents are not genetically Arab. We must not confuse a nation created by God with a religion created by man.
This is a compelling account of how Christians in Ukraine and Iraq are seeking the peace of the land in which they live: http://www.worldmag.com/2014/09/holding_together/page1
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Phos,
Conservatives in the west are well aware of the plight of Christians in these Arab countries. They’ve been reporting on their plight for much longer than the media overall. They’ve also been the ones begging the Obama admin to send aid to help them. We know who they are, and have seen them victimized repeatedly, and many still are on a daily basis, by their Arab brothers. Conservatives in this country have done as much to help them as anyone else in the world.
Certainly mistakes have been made, the biggest being GW2, but you cannot deny that things have gotten worse with liberals in charge of US foreign policy. It’s been a disaster in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Egypt, and other places. In all those places the plight of Christians is worse than ever. Gone are the dictators who kept order and now the mob rules. And so does Sharia and Islam. Conservative policies aren’t always right, but liberal policies haven’t been right yet.
And Ted Cruz speaks for himself. As I said when we first discussed it, a lot of what he said was true. True, but it was still a poor choice of venue. People who have to live where the bombs fall obviously won’t always share all of his ideas.
The vocal few in the audience who interrupted didn’t speak for the whole of Arab Christians, and Ted Cruz don’t speak for us.
I’m perfectly capable of making a fool of myself and saying things that might offend some people all by myself. I don’t need a spokesperson to say stupid stuff for me, especially one I didn’t vote for. Yet. 😯
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My sense was that Cruz saw this venue as way to score political points — and it backfired badly. Politicians … 😦 They are who they are.
And I agree that mistakes have been made in the past with regard to the Middle East and our foreign policy in the wake of 9/11.
But this stuff isn’t a science and outcomes are always, to some degree, unpredictable. And that makes any action — or inaction — risky. Hindsight, of course, is 20/20.
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The Real, I don’t disagree with much of what you say. However, I would say it is Christians, not conservatives, who are aware of the plight of their Arab family. I suppose, as a Canadian, I have an easier time separating the right wing of U.S. politics from my fellow Christians in America. I love the latter, while the former seem to me to be no better than their liberal opponents.
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There is a difference, though, between conservative and “right wing.” 😉
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I once had a huge debate with a certain World commenter on right and left wing, and what movements were encompassed within each wing. I saved my arguments 😉 So when I said right wing, I meant conservative too.
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So one should always strive to be middle of the road? 🙂 There are legitimate and significant differences between liberal and conservative viewpoints. The issues are important and Christians are (I think) called to participate in their government.
I’d say the problem occurs when the 2 sides can’t listen fairly to one another and we’ve all been guilty of that at one time or another. But there’s nothing wrong with having a conservative viewpoint and arguing effectively for it.
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The problem occurs when Christians become unable to separate conservatism from being a Christian. There are certain distinguishing elements of conservatism, like nationalism and, dare I say it, capitalism, which have very little place in Christianity. As Christians, we are free to love our countries and we have an obligation to pray and seek the peace of the land where we live, but the Church was early distinguished for placing Christ before nationality. Capitalism is as much an atheistic system as is communism – and its “every man for himself’ principles are directly contradictory to the command to love your neighbour as yourself [NB: In criticizing capitalism, I am not automatically advocating socialism – both are broken, man made systems]. It is not so much that Christians need to be middle of the road, rather remember that they are not of the world. As that quote from the Epistle to Diognetus (circa A.D. 130)said:
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Cool blockquote function!
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Agree roscuro. We are first and foremost citizens of heaven. And our political views can differ, with those espousing different positions equally dedicated to principle.
Capitalism is a neutral & you could argue that one either way. But on the plus side, many Christians have seen it as a system that best encourages strong character and hard work.
The more power government is given over people’s lives, the more corrupt (and sometimes dangerous) it tends to become. That’s a generality, I know, but history seems to bear that out more often than not.
Of course, big business also becomes (or can become) corrupt and filled with greed. We are to beware of either pitfall and not place too much faith or trust in those institutions.
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And Christians also disagree on how involved one should be in civil government. I lean toward the notion that there is a valid role for us to play in that endeavor, based on loving our neighbor and, wherever possible, redeeming the culture around us.
Withdrawing from the whole mess is tempting (so tempting sometimes!) — and there’s a place for that, too. But maybe God intended for there to be a balance among his people, depending on personality, opportunity and other specifics.
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Well, as I said, in criticizing capitalism, I am not automatically advocating socialism, i.e. more government programs. It is a funny thing but growing up, I had it strongly impressed upon me that conservatism, with the accompanying nationalism and capitalism, was the best environment for Christianity. It was actually by reading articles on World magazine that I became convinced that none of these things were inherently Christian. That is right, it wasn’t by reading arguments against those ‘isms’, but by reading arguments for them, that I realized that they really Christian at all.
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That should be *weren’t really Christian.
I don’t see how simply being a Christian which is after all, being salt and light, could be said to be withdrawing from the world. I think we underestimate the difference that can be made simply by being different. The early Christians were accused of turning the world upside down – a pretty strong description for just living like a pilgrim on earth. The trouble with Christians trying to change the world for the better by using “isms” is that those systems are man made – it is like trying to produce righteousness by the works of the law, all you get is misery and failure. I’m not saying we should stop advocating for the vulnerable in our societies, i.e. the unborn; but that we should, as Christ did before us, deliberately refuse to allow our message to be hijacked by any political movement.
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I agree with Donna.I think a lot of Christians are capitalists because historically the freer a society is the better people of all faiths fare. Already government interference is forcing some Christians in our society to choose between their faith and their livelihood.
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Also, I didn’t see the whole speech but what did Cruz say that was so offensive?
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Here is a good explanation of why Cruz’s speech was offensive. It includes a transcript of the speech: http://www.theamericanconservative.com/coppage/ted-cruz-crashes-defense-of-christians-summit/
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So it was because he defended Israel?
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Why did he even need to bring Israel into it? He deliberately poked his finger in the eye of hurting people.
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roscuro, nationalism is a distinct danger, I agree (as is allowing oneself to be co-opted by a political movement that results in our not putting biblical principles first).
Maybe we’re talking past each other, but I don’t seem to be grasping exactly what it is about political involvement that bothers you so much. Some of it may be a cultural difference, though, Americans have always been enthusiastic when it comes to politics.
We are citizens of heaven but also, for now, citizens of the earthly kingdoms in which we have been placed for a purpose.
And I agree with kbells that big and controlling government is simply a distinct danger in so many cases. More freedom is a good thing (which also is, I guess, why Americans feel so passionate about having a say in our government).
We’re beginning to see the tentacles of our own burgeoning government reach further and further into our lives in our own country — and I can’t say it’s a very good thing for the church. 😦
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Nationalism and Capitalism may not be necessary Christian but neither are they necessary anti-Christian. Like so many things they can be used for good or bad.
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kbells, so true. There’s probably no ‘perfect,’ fail-proof form of government or economic system as they’re all in the hands of fallen man.
I will say America was/has been a rather remarkable experiment — one that may not survive ultimately, at least not in its original form, hard to say.
It wouldn’t surprise me if (I’m thinking many decades from now) the country will be split up in some way, who knows.
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Linda – I thought that the particular statement that companies who move their headquarters overseas were “robbing” the treasury was what was warped.
On one hand, I would prefer American companies to stay put. But we have the highest corporate tax rate among developed countries in the world, & companies are then taxed again on money earned overseas that was already taxed in the other country/countries. So I kind of don’t blame companies for wanting to move, even though I’d rather they not.
It seems as if the government is determined to punish business with high corporate taxes, over-regulation, & now looking to punish them if they leave the country.
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Some wise man once said that America will be a great nation until the people learn that they can vote themselves benefits from the government.
Or something like that.
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