Friday, December 02, 2005
IT’S MUFTI TIME
A bunch of Iraq-based peaceniks remain in the care of insurgent goons. Time to deploy Australia’s master kidnap negotiator, who, as Islam Online reports, single-handedly saved Douglas Wood:
Last June, Sheikh Taj Aldin Al-Hilali, Grand Mufti of Australia, succeeded in securing the release of Douglas Wood, an Australian contractor taken hostage in Iraq.
Possibly a little credit for that should go to these guys.
(Via Rod Clarke)
WELCH NUDGES RIGHTWARD
Matt Welch gains an insight into Australian journalism:
Tim Blair, who is flying over the Pacific as I speak after a fine weekend of n’er-do-welling in L.A., occasionally likes trying to convince me that if I marinated daily in the hellbroth of dullard Australian commentary, why, I’d be a conservative too! I think he’s just trying to justify his unseemly man-crush on Zell Miller, but reading Caudillo-fluffing rot like this almost makes me wonder.
Author of said rot, Andrew West, is a cheery fellow; met him last night at the Walkley Awards. I must stop going to these things. People are too friendly. Lateline host Tony Jones—interesting guy, and not as reflexively leftoid as might be assumed—began a long chat with this smiling remark: “Oh, yes. The guy who called me Snowcone Tone.”
GRIMLY MILESTONED
SBS news last night referred to the “grim milestone” of America’s 1000th execution since 1977. Like an earlier grim milestone, this particular grim milestone threatens to establish a grim milestone for repetition of the phrase ”grim milestone”. In a Maryland county, however, a more telling grim milestone is noted:
Prince George’s County reached a grim milestone late Monday, recording its 155th homicide of the year—an all-time record number of killings.
Hmm. Only seven killers—who between them murdered nine people—are currently on Maryland’s death row. Further debate on the US death penalty here.
UPDATE. In other grim milestone news, I’d missed that this site recorded its five millionth hit a few weeks ago. That’s five million since last December; as well, comments hits are closing in on two million.
LITTLE EDITING ERROR NOT UNNOTICED
The Age’s Sarina Lewis reports:
Amid the cacophony of Paris Fashion Week, the opening of a new Louis Vuitton store on the Champs Elysees, the (literally) forested runways of Kenzo, and Lagerfeld’s neon-lit catwalk, Melbourne-born designer Martin Grant’s gentile, invitation only little soiree could have gone unnoticed.
Only gentiles were invited? This French anti-Semitism is way out of control.
(Via Andrew Richards, who writes: “Anyone who knows the Paris rag trade as I do will realise that this must have been a very small party.”)
MISERY CREATED
Antony Loewenstein—not the brightest of chaps—slams defence contractor David H. Brooks over “the misery his job actually creates”.
Misery? Brooks’ company supplies body armour. His job actually saves lives. Specifically, American lives; perhaps that’s why Antony is so miserable. Cheer up, angry Ant! You’ve got Thank a Soldier Week to look forward to!
Thursday, December 01, 2005
FLIPPING OBSERVED
Go back to Afghanistan! Pull out of Iraq! Jeff Goldstein ponders unusual demands from ex-DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe. Meanwhile, John “I have a plan” Kerry has a new plan on troop numbers in Iraq; interestingly, it’s a reversal of his old plan.
CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT
Barbara Walters on Saddam Hussein:
Oh, I would do him for hours and hours and hours.
She’s actually talking about an interview.
PRIZES FOR ALL
Go to the Briefing Room for live blogging direct from tonight’s Walkley Awards.
UPDATE. Ran into the SMH’s Andrew West last night, who told me his site had dropped its “Contrarian” title. Sure has; according to the SMH home page, Andrew’s site is now called “Poltiics”.
MESSAGE MIXED
Given the oft-fatal results of heroin use, this comment from death penalty opponent Brian Deegan might be read as supporting Nguyen Tuong Van’s execution:
Let the punishment fit the crime.
Singapore replies: okie dokie! More on this from Matt Price, who notes requests from Democrat, Green, and Labor identities that the Prime Minister avoid a cricket match in protest at Nguyen’s sentence.