Death, Taxes, And Jihad

Battle of Vienna                                                         Franz Geffels (fl, 1635-1671)

It's interesting that, on September 11-12, 1683, the army of the Holy Roman Empire and the commonwealth of Poland-Lithuania defeated the Army of the Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Vienna, in present-day Austria. Read more about this battle that many historians believe affirmed the survival of western Europe and its Judeo-Christian civilization from destruction by Islamic jihad.

Readers may also be interested in the Siege of Vienna, an attempt by Suleiman the Magnificent to take the city in 1529.

Hidden Dimensions And The Muslim Brotherhood

What would one think of an organization with the following credo:

Allah is our objective; the Quran is our constitution;, the Prophet is our leader; Jihad is our way and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations.

Two remarkably contrasting assessments of threats posed by the Muslim Brotherhood are in today's news. On the domestic front, Power Line's Scott Johnson explores the Capital Hill testimony of James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, and Leon Panetta, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. And William Katz, blogging at Urgent Agenda, reports on an investigation of Youssef al-Qaradawi from the well-respected German newspaper, Der Spiegel. Though not an official, Al-Qaradawi is a long-standing and respected intellectual presence in the MB.

After reading both posts and their associated links, OTR has only one word to describe the Muslim Brotherhood: interesting. Any organization perceived this broadly bears additional study and careful watching, especially in light of "the Islamic principle of Taqiyya, or misrepresentation to achieve a goal," mentioned in the Katz post. Whatever its intention, OTR expects we'll be hearing more about the MB for a long time.

Photo: Muslim Brotherhood founder, Hassan al-Banna

Leftist NPR Execs Cleanse The Ranks

OTR can't believe that National Public Radio (NPR) would fire liberal news analyst Juan Williams because he had the courage to state the obvious that people in Muslim dress make Americans nervous. And if it isn't obvious to you, you haven't flown on a domestic flight with full-bearded men in galabiyyas and turban hats or ridden Atlanta's subway with women covered head to toe in black burkas. If you saw those World Trade Center towers fall on September 11, 2001, you will have an autonomic response to such chance encounters that could emerge as a response in your conscious mind.

Here are a few takes on the Williams story: Moonbattery, Gateway Pundit, and National Review Online.

OTR hopes that Fox News executives are preparing a long-term contract for Williams's signature, and preparing a seat for him at the Fox News Election Central desk on November 2. Williams would make a lasting and positive center left contribution to any discussion of the American experience.

Afghan Refugee Mom And Seven Kids Live In London Mansion At Taxpayer Expense

Here is another unbelievable story about the British welfare system and why it is bankrupting the UK. Be sure to click on the link to the Daily Mail article if you want to be completely outraged.

Last year, I met a couple in their forties from southwest of London who vacationed at their two modest properties in the U.S., one in central North Carolina, the other in Missouri. Back home in England, they operated a small, successful sandwich shop in a resort town. I asked them if they looked forward to retiring there and was met with an abrupt response that they would be here permanently in the U.S. tomorrow if our authorities would let them. Would the welfare story have something to do with their attitude?