A new school in Afghanistan, and today’s articles from Maria

New school opens in Paktika Province of a country where women couldn’t even leave their homes.

The eight-room school, designed to support 150 to 250 students of all ages, is staffed by teachers selected by the government of Afghanistan, said Army Lt. Col. Chris Toner, Task Force Catamount commander.

TF Catamount, comprised of the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment from Fort Drum, N.Y., as well as Airmen and Sailors, participated in the event.

“As a teacher, I am honored to be here today to open a school,” said Army Lt. Col. Janet Loefstedt, Paktika Provincial Reconstruction Team commander, to the local leaders.”:I saw your children lining the road as I came into Charbaran and thought this school would get much use.”

Today’s articles from Maria
America’s First War on Terror

Barbary jihad piracy was merely a 16^th through 19^th century manifestation of the naval razzias characteristic of Islamic imperialism since its emergence (pp.41-43) in the 7^th and 8^th centuries. For example, although the Abbasid state (750-1250) “orientalized” the Caliphate, and lacked naval power of any importance, in the west, Muslim forces (i.e., decentralized, “organic formations”), continued the Islamic expansion by maritime warfare. Throughout the 9^th and 10^th centuries, Berbers and Arabs from Spain and North Africa launched raids along the coastal regions of France, Italy, Sicily, and in the Greek archipelago.

Francisco Gabrieli has described how these naval razzias were concordant with jihad, yet antithetical to the modern rule of law. He also emphasized their capacity for conquest, or, even when “disorganized”, triumphal rapine and destruction:

More hideous Euro-globalism

Now some in the Pentagon interpret that Washington Summit Declaration of 1999, given teeth in 2003, to mean that NATO, largely supported by U.S. taxpayers, would share intelligence assets and planning strategies for E.U. missions. But, it’s clear that’s not the way the European Union is interpreting it. The E.U. leadership sees a chance to use U.S. and other NATO forces for its own military purposes.

‘SUPERMAX’ FOR WORST OF WORST, and I’d take away the TV, too.

Immigration madness — come one, come all, no ticket needed. As a legal immigre from a former Communist country who had to spend years obtaining her citizenship, imagine how Maria feels about illegal immigration. She also sent Echoes of a dying culture

The Postal Service said yesterday it wants to raise the price of a first-class stamp by 3 cents – to 42 cents – and proposed a “forever” stamp that could be used as a hedge against future increases. Maybe I’d buy the “forever” stamp, but would it be really for ever, or, until the USPS says so?

Beware Europe’s unknown viral nasties. Time to use the DDT, and check out the tamiflu

Another phony addiction: phone addiction Mobiles ‘as addictive as smoking’. Plweez.