Eye on the Watcher’s Council

As you may know the members of the Watcher’s Council each nominate one of his or her own posts and one non-Council post for consideration by the whole Council. The complete list of this week’s Council nominations is here.

The Glittering Eye, “Have You Had Your Melamine Today?”

In my submission for this week I take a walk through my grocery store, considering what may have, potentially, been contaminated with adulterated Chinese “wheat gluten”.

Eternity Road, “Authenticity, the West, and Islam”

Francis Porretto lays out a case against Muslims that’s completely logical. I have no doubt that a number of my fellow Council members agree with him and I won’t state my objections here and now but I’ve posted them before.

Bookworm Room, “I Know What You’re Against But What Are You For?”

Bookworm considers the sectarian differences among atheists. I’ve long believed that if God does not exist, we would be compelled to invent him, her, or it and Bookworm explores the reasons why in this post.

Soccer Dad, “The Quietest Hero”

In heroism as in everything else in this world the squeaky wheel gets the grease. In this post Soccer Dad recounts the heroism of Frank Foley, of whom you’ve probably never heard, who was honored by Vad Yashem in 1999.

Done With Mirrors, “After Iraq: Kurdish Option”

Callimachus continues to consider the alternatives if, as certainly seems likely, we withdraw our troops from Iraq, this time considering whether redeploying our forces in whole or part to Iraqi Kurdistan. Coincidentally, I posted on Iraqi Kurdistan just yesterday at OTB. I’m trying to research what’s really going on there and finding it very rough sledding.

The Colossus of Rhodey, “Not Only Is She a Babe…”

Hube is thrilled with an anti-Communist speech given by Maria Conchita Alonso. It’s a remarkable world when 50 year old matrons are referred to as “babes”.

Big Lizards, “Does America Elect Defeatists?”

I’ll answer Dafydd ab Hugh’s question: historically, America has elected the candidate with the most positive vision of America’s future to the presidency. That’s one of the reasons I don’t believe that, whatever the illusions of her supporters, Hillary Clinton will be elected to the presidency. Not only would she have to change her message, she’d have to change her affect and her life history.

The Education Wonks, “Taking God Out of One Public School Classroom”

I agree with the spokesman of the Thomas More Law Center that religious ideas and the history of the United States are inseparable. One of the things this means is that it is not possible to purge God completely from public school classrooms without impeding the function of education and turning the history of our country as taught in the public schools into a lampoon.

Joshuapundit, “Zawahiri Posts Important New Video—and Reveals al-Qaeda’s Jihad Strategy”

Freedom Fighter analyzes the most recent tape from al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and I mostly agree with his analysis. There’s only one detail I’ll quibble about. While I’m certain that Mr. al-Zawahiri is happy to exploit what he sees as divisions within the ranks of his enemies, I think the tape is mostly a message to rally the troops, akin to a videotaped speech from the CEO of McDonald’s to the franchisees. The tide may not be rolling in the direction of liberal democracy in the Middle East right now but I don’t believe they’re moving towards al-Qaeda, either, and those who are of a similar disposition to al-Zawahiri (the franchisees) probably need a good pep talk.

Rightwing Nut House, “Suffering By Comparison”

In this post Rick Moran considers the Republican presidential aspirants who participated in the group press conference referred to for some reason or other as a “debate” that took place the other night. I didn’t watch it; such displays don’t interest me but Rick’s thoughts sound about right.

Cheat Seeking Missiles, “’The Greatest Scientific Scandal of Our Time’”

In his submission for this week Laer considers a charge that global warming advocates are cooking the data. The greatest scientifice scandal? There are so many from which to choose and I’m afraid we’ll continue to have a glorious selection so long as a) we keep electing lawyers who are scientific illiterates into positions of power and b) rent-seeking is an effective way of securing funding for research.

Rhymes With Right, “The Fort Dix Six”

Greg posts on yesterday’s top story, the group of prospective terrorists arrested for a plot to raid Fort Dix. I can’t manage to muster much outrage over this story (I keep thinking of the Piranha Brothers) and poor cynical me continues to think that if the career path in the FBI lies through counterterrorism, then counterterrorism we will get, and they’re more likely to unearth idiots than terrorists who are capable of pulling off a terrorist attack with mass casualties.

Well, I’ve decided which posts I’ll vote for. Which would get your votes?