Calling an idiot an idiot – a new strategy for the War on Scary Terror Monsters?

I’ve long maintained that your suicide bomber is not the brightest star in Allah’s heaven.  This article is great and calls into question the strategy of turning these religious idiots into some kind of supermen.  Short of actually starting a speed dating culture in these countries, pointing out how desperately stupid and uncool it is may be a great way of discouraging further jihad-ism.  Just in case you think this article exagerattes, please note that Ghulam Sakhi, a “senior Taliban commander” (read:  cowardly, bigoted idiot) was killed trying to hide in women’s clothing last week.  Ooh – that’s honorable eh?

it’s fair to say that the Taliban employ the world’s worst suicide bombers: one in two manages to kill only himself. And this success rate hasn’t improved at all in the five years they’ve been using suicide bombers, despite the experience of hundreds of attacks—or attempted attacks. In Afghanistan, as in many cultures, a manly embrace is a time-honored tradition for warriors before they go off to face death. Thus, many suicide bombers never even make it out of their training camp or safe house, as the pressure from these group hugs triggers the explosives in suicide vests

via The Case for Calling Them Nitwits – Magazine – The Atlantic.

S. Clemons: Wilkerson on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

More evidence of the fact that it is, indeed, time to grow the fuck up:

In fact, our records demonstrated that if you categorized soldiers by sexual inclination and then checked all the factors of good soldiership against those categories, the very best peacetime soldier was a female who was a lesbian. Fewer absences-without-leave, fewer disciplinary actions in general, faster riser in the ranks, and totally dedicated to the job.

Oh yes, and incidentally, she was more apt to stay with the same partner over time than even a heterosexual soldier who was married. How interesting, we thought at the time.

via Wilkerson on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell: The Time Has Come – The Washington Note.

Nearly There

Let’s get this straight (no pun intended):  It’s time, and past.  All the haters and hypocrites aside – time to grow the eff up!

Rachel Maddow: “Dont ask, dont tell” repeal draws support from all quarters.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

This is no longer a readiness issue, or even a societal one.  It is religious freakery, hate, and fear.  Time to fix it.

Former Captain Accused of Faking Record

A chaplain no less!

The indictment alleges that Bishop, a former Army chaplain who was discharged earlier this year, began making false claims about his military decorations and training in 1991, soon after he ended his first tour of active duty.

via Former Captain Accused of Faking Record.

Child abuse ringleader ratted out

In case you forgot about the world’s greatest child sex ring with the HCR vote and March Madness going on:

The Pope played a leading role in a systematic cover-up of child sex abuse by Roman Catholic priests, according to a shocking documentary to be screened by the BBC tonight.

In 2001, while he was a cardinal, he issued a secret Vatican edict to Catholic bishops all over the world, instructing them to put the Church’s interests ahead of child safety.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23369148-pope-led-cover-up-of-child-abuse-by-priests.do.

Atheists in foxholes in Cove!

Now here is one first sergeant involved, with integrity:  Retired soldier creates military association for atheists in Cove.

With duty stations spanning from South Korea to Iraq, Johnson said she’s always served her country – just leave God out of it.

Thirteen years ago, Johnson, 43, founded the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers. What began as three people conversing online has since grown to 1,500 members nationwide.

Johnson, a Copperas Cove resident, went on to create a Fort Hood chapter in 2007 that provides local military atheists with an open forum to socialize, vent and learn from one another.

“If there’s one thing church groups get right is fellowship,” Johnson said. “Everyone wants to be around people who are like them.”

Girl buried alive for talking to boys

Lovely, wonderful people:

Media reports said the father had told relatives he was unhappy that his daughter – one of nine children – had male friends. The grandfather is said to have beaten her for having relations with the opposite sex.

A postmortem examination revealed large amounts of soil in her lungs and stomach, indicating that she had been alive and conscious while being buried. Her body showed no signs of bruising.

via Turkish girl, 16, buried alive for talking to boys | World news | guardian.co.uk.

I have a suggestion about the disposition of said father.

England going to the dance

Getting closer:

U.K. urged to abolish MSM blood-donation ban
Peter Tatchell, a gay rights advocate in the U.K., is urging the government to lift the lifetime ban on blood donations from men who have sex with men, saying it is based on “stereotyped, irrational, unscientific and homophobic assumptions.” Lifting the lifetime ban would help the National Blood Service address the supply shortage during the winter flu season, Tatchell said. PinkNews.co.uk (U.K.) (11/30)

Gay people not as dangerous as nutcases

And this is still with wavering and sometimes immature leadership on the issue (Mr. Obama).  Imagine what would happen if the grownups took over and demanded that others acted in an adult fashion… hmmmm.

“Service members said the most important factors for unit cohesion and readiness were the quality of their officers, training, and equipment,” said Laura Miller, a sociologist at the government-funded RAND Corp. that conducted the study along with the University of Florida. “Serving with another service member who was gay or lesbian was not a significant factor that affected unit cohesion or readiness to fight.”

via Study builds case for repealing ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ – Political Intelligence – A national political and campaign blog from The Boston Globe – Boston.com.

GunGod Nut has a helpful suggestion

Ms. Anti-Gun control shoulda-woulda-coulda Suzanna Hupp throws her two cents in on the shootings at Fort Hood, since no tragedy is enough to make the GunGod nuts shut up.

Suzanna Hupp, a former state representative whose parents were among the Killeen Luby’s massacre victims in 1991, said allowing soldiers on base to carry arms would not prevent attacks like Thursday’s, but would likely reduce the damage.

via Fort Hood assault prompts variation on typical gun control debate – PoliTex.

Sure, Mrs. Hupp – that’s just what we would need, 100 Soldiers with guns in their pockets, shooting in all different directions and running out of the building with guns in hand. I’m sure that it would make it so much easier for the cops to shoot the right person as they run out of the SRP site.