"Bonfire of the Pieties" Jeff writes that: "the “branding” of what is “official” Islam can only be settled by a will to power, and by an adherence to identity politics that allows for the strong (often armed or more devoutly militant) within a particular identity group to claim control over that group’s narrative and become its public face.

Dissenters, once internecine battles have been settled, are then marginalized or excommunicated. They are inauthentic (as Taheri has been called) or (in other contexts) are “race traitors” or women “in denial” of their own oppression."

Jeff goes on about the danger of identity politics, including the usefulness to those who just want power.

Austin Bay Blog: "The cartoons seemed familiar to our Egyptian blogger.

…they were actually printed in the Egyptian Newspaper Al Fagr back in October 2005. I repeat, October 2005, during Ramadan, for all the egyptian muslim population to see, and not a single squeak of outrage was present. Al Fagr isn’t a small newspaper either: it has respectable circulation in Egypt…

Read the whole thing. No, I can’t confirm this with a second source, but decide for yourself. The scan shows the front page of the paper. Seems a lot of Egyptians weren’t too perturbed by the cartoons."

In From the Cold: An Idea That Simply Won't Work MAD with Iran fails: "Mr. de Borchgrave spends about 500 words tracing the mystical beliefs of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, including his efforts to hasten the return of the 12th Imam, known as the Mahdi. According to Shiite tradition, the Mahdi went into 'occlusion' in the 9th century (at the age of 5). Ahmadinejad calculates that the return of the Mahdi is only two years away; he has close ties to Muslim scholars who believe the Imam's return can be hastened by creation of 'chaos on earth.' Apparently, Mr. Ahmadinejad is doing his best to support that cause, by taunting the U.S. and its European allies, and proceeding with Iran's nuclear program."

Prepare more contacts with opposition groups.

Andrew Sullivan | The Daily Dish

Worth reading, again.

Remembering a great man: Americans for Prosperity : "Ronald Reagan -- who would have turned 95 today -- will forever stand out as the pre-eminent leader of my lifetime, whether as the man who lost the 1976 nomination battle but won the war of ideas . . . or the fiery candidate who gave America purpose again in 1980 . . . or the President who restored the American economy and won the Cold War without firing a shot . . . or the cultural icon who left us forever reminded and hopeful that great leaders do emerge when we need them."

A great man, great American, great President. This Libertarian never voted for him -- but now I feel I should have.