Something Interesting and Sadly Humorous

As I was driving home last night from choir practice I had the radio tuned to KLBJ in Austin and the Michael Berry show was on. He was talking about the arrest of the man in the alleged terrorist plot to bomb the Federal Reserve building in New York City. He began his story with a comedic twist by asking:  “Do you believe the perpetrator is A. Baptist, B. Lutheran, C. Methodist….?” He continued down this litany of religious denominations before settling on the correct answer as “Islam”. I was shocked as I am sure many of you are, to hear that the “religion of peace” would have a follower so out of touch with his beliefs.

Ample Topics for the Novelists

When you choose to write about espionage and global threats, the so-called “Arab Spring” has offered up a seemingly endless stream of subjects regarding the emerging leadership in these countries and how the United States will choose to deal with them. Israel continues to be our only proven ally in the region and yet we seem to have blinders in place when our diplomats talk about our relationship with them. Israel has no illusions about them however. Egypt appears to be quickly preparing for some type of conflict with Israel (here) and even Tunisia, the first of the governments to topple now has concerns with the rising influence of jihadists in their midst. (here)