Tectonic shift

Yet another “why isn’t this bigger news?” item, hat tip: BlackFive. The Belmont Club reports on Zalmay Khalilzad’s remarks at the CSIS on July 11:

I will give my bottom line up front. I believe Americans, while remaining tactically patient about Iraq, should be strategically optimistic. Most important, a major change – a tectonic shift – has taken place in the political orientation of the Sunni Arab community. A year ago, Sunni Arabs were outside of the political process and hostile to the United States. They boycotted the January 2005 election and were underrepresented in the transitional national assembly. Today, Sunni Arabs are full participants in the political process, with their representation in the national assembly now proportional to their share of the population. Also, they have largely come to see the United States as an honest broker in helping Iraq’s communities come together around a process and a plan to stabilize the country.

How dumb is this?

Dear US Government:

I am a church. Please give me visas for my, uh “brethren” Religious Workers.

A report on the investigation, obtained by the Globe, said that instances of fraud were particularly high among applicants from predominantly Muslim countries, and the report raised concerns about potential terrorism risks.

Iran looking for war?

Omar, blogging on IraqTheModel, gives his take on what the axis of evil is up to.

I don’t know for sure what made Hizbollah do what they did this morning but I can make some guesses starting from the fact that Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hizbollah collectively form one big axis of evil in the Middle East with connected interests and shared goals so the abduction of the two Israeli soldiers looks like an act planned to serve the interests of the members of the axis without the least regard to the harm it can bring upon Lebanon.

The whole thing is worth reading. The sad part is his parting shot:

Those extremists do not understand the language of compromise and they do not believe in negotiating even if they declare the opposite.
They want a war and I think they’re going to get one.

Turning D.C. into England

Tsk, tsk. Seems they’re having to declare a “crime emergency” in the nation’s capital.

District of Columbia Police Chief Charles Ramsey declared a crime emergency in the city after Senitt, a volunteer for the potential presidential campaign of former Virginia Gov. Mark R. Warner, was killed.

The crime emergency declaration allows commanders more flexibility to adjust officers’ schedules and reassign them to high-crime areas.

What a surprize that D.C. is becoming dangerous just like London. Gee. I wonder what they could have in common?

Perhaps they just haven’t considered trying this.

England to outlaw choosing baby’s sex

Here’s a real head-scratcher from Jolly Olde.

Health Minister Caroline Flint told MPs she was minded to introduce a “clear and specific ban” on the use of new techniques to choose one gender of baby.

My question for Flint is how exactly do you enforce this without completely outlawing abortion? Not to worry, though. Perhaps you won’t be able to determine your baby’s sex, but whether he and/or she has a dad will be completely optional.

Ms Flint also indicated that rules allowing fertility clinics to block treatment for single women and lesbian couples could be scrapped. Present regulations include the need for a father in considerations of the future child’s welfare – an element the Government considered should go, she said.

Orwell was an optimist.