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Some catching up to do ...

September 07, 2004 ~ 5:16 p.m.

It�s been tough for me to find the time to write lately, as I think my absence of late demonstrates. I�ve been hopping between temp jobs, battling a bout of depression, and, to make matters even worse, on Sunday morning, the wife and I had to euthanize our beloved Sky.

But there�s been so much in the news over the past week that I just have to give my (quick) perspective on, so here goes:

French chickens come home to roost?

The French have discovered how deceived they were by the perception that they were immune from Islamic terror simply because their government opposed the War in Iraq. The recent kidnapping of two French journalists by Islamic militants has the country on edge and questioning their own invulnerability to terror.

Christian Chesnot of Radio France Internationale and Georges Malbrunot from Le Figaro newspaper were captured in August, and it�s obvious that the hostage takers operating in Iraq don�t really care what Western nation their prey is from. If they can�t have an American, a Frenchman will do quite well, thank you. In fact, the capture of the French journalists provided the fanatics with an opportunity to apply coercive pressure to France in order to, so they hoped, make an exception for Muslims in terms of school and public dress codes.

With regard to the French government�s ban on headscarves for Muslims in the public schools, President Jacques Chirac has been consistent. France operates on a strict secular state policy which, quite rightly, demands that Muslims follow as well. If Christian students can�t wear crosses or Jewish students can�t wear yarmulkes or Star of Davids, then Muslim girls cannot wear headscarves.

It�s clear that France faces two choices: To change its secularism in the schools to allow for the wearing of headscarves or by sticking with her decades-old policy, enacted long before Islamofascists became such a threat to the West.

French Muslims, however, while disagreeing with the ban on headscarves themselves, have put their country first, urging their fellow citizens to remain calm over the issue. This, I feel, may ultimately be the factor that decides the fate of Muslim headscarves in the Fifth Republic.


School tragedy in Russia forces Putin�s hand

Speaking of countries paying a price at the hands of Islamofanatics, what about the Beslan school tragedy in Russia, which has produced more than 350 dead victims?

In response to the heartbreak, Russians have become mobilized in their opposition to terrorism. As if two passenger planes exploding and crashing, killing 90, and a bombing of a Moscow subway station, killing 10, wasn�t enough.

The violent seizing of a school in Beslan, North Ossetia (next door to Chechnya, in the Caucasus region), in which children and others were held hostage on September 1, is now believed to be the work of Chechen terrorist Shamil Basayev, and their deplorable tactics spurned on by their outrage at Putin�and those who vote for him. (When asked by a parent why they were keeping people hostage and strapping bombs all around the school gym, a militant responded, �Because you vote for your Putin.�)

There will be an internal investigation held by the Russian government to discover how the tragedy and huge loss of life could have been avoided. Many are convinced that Putin�s policy toward Chechnya culminated in the plane, subway and Beslan school bombings. But Putin is right to denounce any suggestions for dialogue with Chechnya.

�Why don�t you meet Osama bin Laden, invite him to Brussels or to the White House and engage in talks, ask him what he wants and give it to him so he leaves you in peace?� an angry Putin said. �You find it possible to set some limitations in your dealings with these bastards, so why should we talk to people who are child-killers?�

Russia did not support the War in Iraq either, but has had plenty to deal with concerning Chechnya, which Putin smashed in order to keep the region in line and part of the Russian Federation. Chechens feel the time is now to break away from Russia.

If there was going to be freedom for Chechnya, however, it should have come at the bargaining table shortly after the breakup of the Soviet Union. There will be no freedom for Chechnya now as Russia cannot afford to give in to terrorism, and Putin is right to declare this a matter for �Russia�s territorial integrity.�

Essentially, Putin is drawing the line in the sand, warning the international community to mind its own, to not dare to tell Russia what it should or shouldn't do in the wake of these tragedies and in the midst of its terrorism crisis. I am far from Putin�s biggest fan, believe you me, but I couldn�t agree more. Russia needs to do what it feels is best, free from the nitpicking and moaning of the international �community.�


Clinton-style health care?

You know, there was a reason I didn�t trust Bill Clinton when it came to selling his ill-fated health-care package to the American people in 1993, and not solely for its socialist content.

The 42nd U.S. President had a quadruple bypass performed on him, from which he is now recovering.

I was happy to hear this news. Unlike the anti-Bush losers, who seem to have an overwhelming need for a hate figure in their empty lives, I feel no sense of personal enmity toward Mr. Clinton. I don�t wish him any harm. Other than free trade, the death penalty and welfare reform, I opposed most of what he stood for, and I feel he disgraced the White House with his sexual shenanigans and by committing perjury in front of the Grand Jury. Clinton took America down a route that any decent person with a shred of morality hoped would never happen. (Bush can�t make America look bad or foolish�Clinton saw to that already.) But I�m glad the man, as a human being, is okay.

I hope that anyone so passionate about health-care reform will make a full recovery from his heart operation and will lay off the hamburgers and smoke cigars less frequently.


Right decision, wrong reason in Germany

The glory days of communist East Germany aren�t over yet, it would appear. Germans new to the idea of capitalism are aiming fear-driven venom at Gerhard Schroeder.

Schroeder is trying to implement economic reforms in Germany, and state welfare cuts are among his plans. This has German voters, especially those in the former East Germany, incensed.

Imagine that�Schroeder, who appealed to the German Left during the last election two years ago, running on a platform of anti-Americanism and opposition to the War in Iraq, is now very unpopular amongst those who were once his most ardent supporters.

I never thought I�d feel sympathy for Schroeder�indeed, I should be exalted at the prospect of Schroeder schadenfreude�but alas, he is making too much sense for me to kick him when he�s down. Germany�s economy is sluggish and Schroeder has rightly placed part of the blame for that on the fact that his nation is among the most generous of welfare states. The German leader wants to limit unemployment benefits to one year and decrease the amount of benefits that welfare recipients are entitled to.

Unfortunately for Schroeder, his compatriots love welfare more than they love him.


Yankees suffer worst loss in their history

A week ago today, the New York Yankees, for whom baseball history is mostly positive, made history yet again�by taking it on the chin from the upstart Cleveland Indians, being shut out 22-0.

The loss marks the worst ever during the Yankees� 101 years as a team.

Many have correctly predicted that Cleveland may have to wait until next year in order to effectively compete for a playoff spot. But what a thing this plucky team now has to their credit: Shutting out the Yankees, scoring 22 runs off them, and doing it all in Yankee Stadium.

For once, I�m grateful to the Yankees for making the record books.

� M.E.M.

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