Helmand, Afghanistan

A recent Washington Post headline reads: “At Afghan outpost, Marines gone rogue or leading the fight against counterinsurgency?”

“The Marine approach — creative, aggressive and, at times, unorthodox — has won many admirers within the military. The Marine emphasis on patrolling by foot and interacting with the population, which has helped to turn former insurgent strongholds along the Helmand River valley into reasonably stable communities with thriving bazaars and functioning schools, is hailed as a model of how U.S. forces should implement counterinsurgency strategy.”

Let the warriors win. It’s what they do best.

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/marines-gone-wild-thank-heaven

“The steps being considered mean that every dog owner in the land will have to fit their pet with a microchip so that its whereabouts can be determined from dog-spotting spy-in-the-sky drones, and that before being allowed to take delivery of a puppy, people will have to sit an exam similar to the driving theory test. The cost could reach £60, and on top of this you will need compulsory third-party insurance in case your spaniel eats the milkman.”

“…the behaviour of one man has skewed the concept of everyday life for everyone else. And we are seeing this all the time.”

“We must start to accept that 5% of the population at any given time is bonkers.”

Maybe if they can get us to accept having to chip our dogs, get us to become comfortable with that, then they can nudge us into having our children chipped, and then let them put chips in us. For our own good, of course, because the government knows best.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/jeremy_clarkson/article7052392.ece?

BILL NUMBER:A10129

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the general business law, in relation to
prohibiting the use of salt in the preparation of food by restaurants

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:  To prohibit restaurants from using
salt when preparing customers’ meals. Customers will have the discretion
to add salt to their own meal after it has been prepared.

http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=+A10129%09%09&Summary=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y

Colleen R. LaRose

“A Pennsylvania woman who called herself JihadJane was tied Tuesday to an alleged assassination plot against a Swedish cartoonist who depicted the prophet Muhammad atop the body of a dog.”

“Michael L. Levy, the United States attorney for Eastern Pennsylvania, said in a statement the case illustrated how terrorists were looking for American recruits who could blend in. “It shatters any lingering thought that we can spot a terrorist based on appearance,” he said.”

“Ms. LaRose is white, with blond hair and green eyes…”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/us/11pennsylvania.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

“At least three Swedish newspapers have published a cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad with a dog’s body after an alleged plot to murder the artist was unveiled in Ireland.”

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gfyTngzJoXI5VLnRYFKryLwRumugD9EBME780

“A group of about 15 gunmen stormed into the offices of World Vision in the Mansehra district of Pakistan on Wednesday.

Witnesses say they gathered the staff together and then dragged them off one by one to a separate room, where they were executed.

World Vision said the office was targeted because it was running programs to help women.”

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/11/2842468.htm