Acute Politics posts an optimistic update:

If things continue as they are right now, our military won't need a surge to chase the terrorists out of Anbar- the citizens will do it for us, which is as it should be. It's beginning to show already: more local tips, more police recruits (far more than anticipated), and sadly- in bigger and more desperate Al-Qaeda attacks...

It's a big job, but I think we may have finally learned enough forgotten lessons from places like East Timor, Vietnam, Ireland, Malaysia, and others that it just might work this time.

Color me hopeful.

An "upliftin' experience" to be sure: flying with Lutran Viking Airlines.

Analyzing the history of violence. (A&LD)

Seems one of the benefits of our modern squeamishness is less recreational violence.

More on Ali Reza Asgari, and Hezbollah as a potential domestic threat.

Whether he defected, disappeared, was kidnapped, rendered or captured remains an open question. Whatever the case, Asghari would be “an intelligence bonanza,” according to the Daily Telegraph in London. Indeed, some say, he was a CIA mole for the four years, before he was forced to flee. He is reportedly being held at a NATO base in western Germany.

Asghari was involved in the creation of Hezbollah (Arabic for “Army of God”) in 1982 and was the main liaison between the Lebanon-based terror group and its paymasters in Tehran. He is also a retired general in Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards.

Earlier posts here, here, and here.

LVMI reporting on inflation in Iran.

Bruce has posted some interesting thoughts on nuclear weapons, war, and disarmament.

Preemptive strike is the second most insane war doctrine ever developed. Do we really believe that by acting preemptively that somehow war will be avoided? Once the first shot is fired all bets are off.

Over three dozen representatives joined U.S. Rep. J. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol today to urge Americans to pray for the U.S. and its leaders for at least five minutes each week. Forbes, who is also the leader of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, said he hopes “God will hear our prayers and heal our land.”

Five minutes? Don't you think that's pushing it a little? I mean, this is the 21st century you know.

VOM, India:

BANGALORE - On March 16, 2007 Pastor John Selvan and Brother Vijay were attacked by more than 30 Hindu extremists when they were returning home from conducting prayer meetings in Bhelahalli, Bangalore. "When they were returning home, they were suddenly stopped by more than 30 Hindu extremists. They severely beat the men with sticks, axes and other weapons. The extremists are still holding Brother Vijay, the motorbike and their cell phones," reported The Voice of the Martyrs contacts working in India. The Hindu extremists are demanding Pastor Selvan bring the senior pastor of the church to them or "face serious consequences." Pray for the safety of Vijay and for Christians in India who continuously face difficult and dangerous situations.

Blogging, audioblogging, and now videoblogging: looks like all three mediums are here to stay.

No more excuses for blogger's block after you follow this link. (HT: evangelical outpost)

When the Religious Right says "jump," most Christians just ask "how high?"

(HT: evangelical outpost)

Another Tolkien title is arriving in mid-April, compiled by his son from notes Tolkien left behind. It's possible they're just trying to capitalize on the fantastic success of the series, though that really doesn't seem to be the case. (HT: The G-man)

National Geographic has not completely lost their sense of humor.

Max has an excellent post up about the futility of modern philosophy.

It's beyond excerpting, so read the whole thing. Twice.

And the flattening continues: America's top-heavy educational institutions are starting to crumble.

Higher education, prior to the social spasms of the late 1960s, was a very different entity than it is today. Hardly perfect, having a "college degree" meant something then. It meant that you had undergone a passage, a set of experiences and to some degree had mastered important skills and knowledge. It set one apart. To announce you have a college degree today has all the heft of reporting that you have cable TV.

Iran continues to be feisty, and perhaps, this time, a bit foolish, kidnapping 15 British Servicemen in Iraqi territorial waters. Pajamas Media has a pretty good roundup.

Unions defending illegal immigrants? Never thought we'd see that.

Under current law, the legal incentives of business and labor point in opposite directions: firms face fines and other sanctions for hiring undocumented workers, while the quickest path to union membership growth is by turning a blind eye to illegal immigration. Sanctioning unions that allow illegal immigrants to join their ranks would harmonize incentives, and give both Big Business and Big Labor the same interest in obeying the law.

“Perhaps we need to rethink all of our immigration laws,” Prof. Vedder told Pajamas Media, noting that he favors more libertarian immigration policy. “But the laws being what they are,” he said, “perhaps we should rethink this mismatch in incentives. If we apply these laws to employers, we should apply them to unions as well.”

Apparently someone is working to get Michael Yon kicked out of Iraq, or at least to silence his dispatches. Instapundit doesn't get it, and neither does David St. Lawrence.

A pretty shrewd piece from AU describing a Pyrrhic victory for the Religious Right.

As usual, the end is the good part. Read the whole thing.

Keeping up with Caedmon's:

March 17, 2007 / 3:58 pm

Be warned. I just played trombone. Through my guitar rig. And then my dad came by the studio. And played trumpet. Through my guitar rig. With a wah pedal. We are awesome.

- Andy

March 17, 2007 / 8:57 pm

Andy’s dad played some killer trumpet, Danielle played some killer scratch vocal, as well as bgvs, and Garett and I tracked drums based on an idea that Danielle heard and it kills. I love that working with this band challenges me to think outside of my own perimeters, whether self-imposed or not. By the way, I mean “kills” and “killer” in a good complimentive way, not at all in a literal way. Did I mention that Ella Osenga is now 2 years old? Well, she is and we took a break from the HOD to celebrate with Guitar Hero II and bratwerst prepared by none other than Mr. O. Tune in tomorrow for more fun filled commentary and perspective…

cool,
todd

VOM, India:

• RAJASTHAN - On March 7, 2007, Pastor Reginald Howell of Good Shepherd Community Church was brutally beaten by a Hindu extremist group in Hanumangarh, Rajasthan. According to The Voice of the Martyrs sources, Pastor Howell went to Hanumangarh to pray for the sick and visit Christians in the area. The pastor was beaten with an iron rod and suffered severe injuries on his back. The police refused to register his complaint and as a result, doctors denied him treatment. Rajasthan State has a so-called "Freedom of Religion Bill," that is used as a tool to harass Christians. VOM sources report cases of anti-Christian attacks in the area keep increasing, and the State Administration turns a blind eye to the persecution.
• ANDRA PRADESH - On March 11, 2007, Pastor Anand visited a village to attend services. He was attacked by more than 10 men from a Hindu radical group. Local police who arrived at the location of the attack did not protect him, resulting in further beatings. Pastor Anand was beaten on his face and legs with wooden logs until the early hours of the next morning.

The deep, sorrowful side of Francis Schaeffer. (HT: Ivory Doghouse)

Like most stereotypes, this one of politically engaged conservative Christians contains a painful element of truth. Too often we confuse our agendas with God's agenda and demonize our opponents in a desperate attempt to score political points. What's ironic is that many of today's culture warriors look to Schaeffer as the man who fired the first shot.

Schaeffer never meant for Christians to take a combative stance in society without first experiencing empathy for the human predicament that brought us to this place.

It's happening:

Using the name of Jesus in the public square is patently offensive.

From an Alaskan free-speech school case. More here and here.

Still more on Iran's "defection infection." (HT: PJM)

Who is Ali Reza Asgari and why is he important? No one is quite sure yet, but when the Iranian general and former deputy defense minister disappeared in Istanbul earlier this year, suddenly everyone had a good spy story to follow. Did Asgari defect? Was he kidnapped by a foreign intelligence agency? And how does his fate affect the United States in its ongoing confrontation with Iran, if it does at all?

Earlier posts here and here.