British Environment Secretary David Milliband (Feb. 02, 2006):

” [The time for] climate change deniers [is running out.] The [IPCC] report confirms our concerns that the window of opportunity to avoid dangerous climate change is closing more quickly than previously thought. [The report] is another nail in the coffin of the climate change deniers and represents the most authoritative picture to date, showing that the debate over the science of climate change is well and truly over.”

So, who are these deniers … these shills for big oil, quacks, cranks, and junk scientists who can’t tell bad science from good? After all, 2500 scientists have signed the IPCC report … or is it 1000 … or is it 100 … or 51:
The Who’s Who of Quacks, Cranks, and Junk Science

“I was out here 2 weeks ago, and the streets were bare … since we started rolling in and work’n with the IA … there’s been a big difference!”

ht: Mudville Gazette

Hell, who cares if you burn a bazillion tons of CO2 during that cross country private jet flight … all you’ve got to do is flip some cash to the Carbon Credit police and off you go… conscience free … hassle free … and all for the good of Terra Firma.
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For one-stop Afghanistan news and op-ed, you may want to try Afghanistan Watch Blog. It carries a daily mix of pieces from varied news sources; including op-ed that features perspectives from all sides. The purpose of the site is not to give news hot off the wires, but to give a broad cross-section. The site usually doesn’t post until after 10:00 am EST when most news and op-ed for day has been collected. Foreign news sources are used often in order to provide varied perceptions of the Afghan Mission:
Check out Afghanistan Watch.

Immerse … Rinse Twice … Dry Off … Start Motor.
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I’d like to thank Kate once again for letting me guest blog. It’s been a privilege to share in one of the most robust and varied “comments” communities going. It is, after all, the commentary from readers that makes SDA one of the most interesting places to visit. Thanks all !
Running MediaRight.ca has forced me to read a lot of international opinion writing, and what an eye-opener it’s been. The world, at least within MSM op-ed, is a sea of leftists:
Constructive criticism always recognizes context. In other words, it acknowledges the realities, the history, facts on the ground, efforts made thus far, difficulties, and successes, and in this light it offers alternatives. But, reading the standard leftist diatribes now plugging the pages of the broadsheets, which by the way make up 80% of all op-ed, one would conclude that every step, every utterance, every move, every expenditure, every battle, and every thought ever held or enacted by those prosecuting the Afghan conflict, is flawed.
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Maybe it’s because I’ve read way too much World Two history… maybe it’s because I’m a paranoid rightwhing warmongering neocon nutbar… or maybe, it’s just because the facts speak for themselves… but I’d swear we’ve been down this road before:
In the end, our little boys and girls will have to face their little boys and girls. The question yet to be answered is, will our little boys and girls, raised on decadence, utopian fantasy, and cradle to grave security, be able to stand up to, least of all defeat, their little boys and girls?
Last time, they called themselves the Divine Wind.

More fingers point toward Pakistan each day, blaming its security service for bombings in Kashmir, India, and Afghanistan, and for helping arm and train the Taliban. Some are suggesting that without Pakistan assistance, the Taliban would be a dead force.
From NATO to New Delhi, from killers to smugglers, Pakistan is being blamed as a force for instability to its neighbors.
Adding to the complexity is the fact that NATO and ISAF aircraft have been given over-flight rights by Pakistan. So, on the one hand NATO aircraft fly over Pakistan to attack Taliban and supply the NATO mission, while on the other Pakistan offers haven and support to those killing NATO troops. It’s unclear whether Pakistan’s security force is a state within a state and out of control, or if Musharraf himself is playing a dangerous game of monkey in the middle.
At MediaRight.ca, we have a number of articles that focus on Pakistan. From busting Pakistani smuggling rings to revelations of gruesome Taliban videos playing on Pakistani TV, there is not much good to report about this Muslim nuclear power.
cross posted @ Celestial Junk

Prince Harry of the UK has been refused service in Afghanistan or Iraq, and this despite his desire to serve. The Daily Mail argues that Harry should serve on the front lines, as did Prince Andrew in the Falklands War.
Canada’s O’Connor calls on other NATO nations to step up their commitment in Afghanistan. A little known fact is that many of those serving in Afghanistan won’t let their soldiers anywhere near the volatile south. Canada, the UK, the United States, and a few small contingents from other countries are the only ones taking on the resurgent Taliban head on, out of a field of over 30 countries.
NATO’s commander claims that Afghanistan is at a tipping point and that this winter will be critical in saving the mission. He couples his announcement with a plea for more support. Is he genuine in his “tipping point” comment, or is it intended to leverage NATO partners to step up and shift forces to the south. Imagine being in charge of a force where most of your troops are not allowed in the “hot zone”.
With increasing effect, ISAF troops and the Afghan government are relying on traditional Afghan meetings, called Loya Jirgas, to give Afghans a voice and to quell the resurgent Taliban. Now, Afghanistan has extended a hand to Pakistani tribes in the border region, suggesting that cooperation via Loya Jirgas could be the way forward.
Increasingly, Pakistan’s security forces are coming under scrutiny both in India and Afghanistan. Their footprint is a trail of death and instability from Kashmir to Kabul, yet Musharraf denies it. Now, the NATO commander in Afghanistan is in a confrontational mood, armed with proof that Pakistani security forces are training Taliban and suicide bombers.
Details @ MediaRight.ca
cross posted: Celestial Junk
UPDATE: Since the comments seem to be focussed on Prince Harry the UK “spare”, it put me in mind of a little something Junker from Cjunk penned a while back: Fatwa Fashion

I’ve posted about the following site a number of times at Celestial Junk, so I thought I’d give you a heads up while I’m guest blogging on SDA.
Titled, Death Tolls for the Man-made Megadeaths of the Twentieth Century, this site is brought to us by Matthew White. I’m not even sure if Matthew is keeping the site up, but it’s still one of the best resources available when you need that special number. “That number”, being how many people died in any given 20th Century conflict of significance. I’ve linked to the Alphabetical page above. You can access the Table of Contents Here, where White includes links to graphs and other chartings of humankind’s destructive capability.
Note that unlike the standard method of reporting in the MSM, White uses multiple and often varied sources.
It’s difficult to peruse the site without having to contemplate just how self-destructive our species can be.

Here’s a little something to get you started: Vietnamistan
And this: Money can buy you Love
Put your links and thinks in the comments; but beware the filter.

A Canadian soldier, killed recently in Afghanistan, is praised for saving the lives of his mates, while Hillier moves to rectify an inequity that involves wounded soldiers and their danger pay. A new Canadian poll (for what it’s worth), suggests that support for the Afghan mission is up.
In Afghanistan itself, a clutch of trained suicide killers was captured and what was discovered; yes, they’re from Pakistan and they’re now whining the whine of most Islamists who become prisoners… “We were brainwashed!”
Christie Blatchford gives us her long view, while the Pentagon blasts a Newsweek piece, basically calling it a work of fiction.
And as winter begins to approach, the Taliban scurry back to Pakistan to plan the next phase of, “retake Afghanistan”. They failed in their 2006 offensive but are planning what some call the Afghan Intifada.
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cross posted @ Celestial Junk

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace… bla bla
As a follow up to the Wafa Sultan video:
Let’s humor the utopian left. Imagine if, for the next decade and a bit, Jack Layton, Kofi Annan, and Noam Chomski get to run things in terms of the West’s response to Islamic Fascism. Fast forward to 2020 and what would we have. I mean, in all seriousness, what would we have? Wafa Sultan says Islam must be transformed. Transformation though, is radical, and those who don’t want to be transformed will resist and they will blame it all on the infidel.
I took my shot at predicting HERE: What’s your prediction?
Excerpt:
Essentially, we are in the 1930’s all over again, only this time the global menace is far more dangerous. When fascists went on a global romp during World War Two, their advance could be clearly identified by geographical boundaries. The fascists of today though, are more like a cancer that has metastasized and has grown into and become part of critical life giving organs.

Wafa Sultan hits about as hard as anyone I’ve heard or seen. Unbelievable. Hat Tip: LGF

cross posted @ Celestial Junk

From Charles Adler comes this perfect rant; click on One Tough Cop.
If you can’t find the link, try this one CLICK.

NATO announces it’s take-over date and clarifies what has been reported as a “peace treaty” negotiated between UK forces and Taliban. Apparently the incident was “misreported” (how could that be?).
Further to misreporting, it turns out that Senator Frist did not say what was reported that he said about the Taliban and the Afghan process. News broke recently that he had suggested that the Taliban be brought into the Afghan government.
Meanwhile in the UK, the opposition Tories claim that failure in Afghanistan would be catastrophic while American forces count 278 dead in the Afghan theater, and prepare to come under foreign command for the first time since WW2.
Canadians come under a third day of attacks. One attack took the lives of two soldiers. The soldiers were guarding a road construction crew; engaged in exactly the type of activity that Lollipop Jack Layton would have them do.
For details and much more, check out MediaRight.ca. and don’t miss the opinion buffet, where we give voice to an interesting cross-section of views.
cross-posted @ Celestial Junk

We’ve got a load of reading up that is Canada focused:
– Hillier has plans to boost the military, including the possibility of transferring soldiers into the combat arms, even if they didn’t sign-up for the combat arms. My sources in Her Majesty’s Service tell me that not enough recruits are signing up for combat jobs (infantry, combat engineers, artillery, armor, etc). Hmmm?
– There was a support rally in Calgary; did you know? For any of you planning a rally, be sure to spend some time planning it out and getting the word out. A blog burst won’t do it.
– Canada’s reconstruction teams are, to be blunt, not doing much. The Taliban have figured things out really quick; a bomb here, a suicide killer there, and the construction stops.
– The Red Cross looks into Canada’s handling of Taliban prisoners. Guess how we’re doing?
– Lollipop Jack plans a trip to Afghanistan; maybe. Considering the troops hate him, he’d be insulting them by putting his socialist little ass in theater.
– Moosehead is off to Afghanistan to bath the troops in suds. I wonder what the locals will think about suds in a alcohol-free country?
– And, in the opinion section, a Canadian general claims that he’s more worried about attitudes back home, than about the Taliban. Ouch
MediaRight.ca

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