Confronting evil with one missile at a time

A senior Al-Qaeda operations planner was killed by a US missile strike in Pakistan.

Saleh al-Somali was responsible for the terror group’s operations outside the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, reaching into activities in Africa. The official said al-Somali was believed to have been involved in plotting attacks against the United States and Europe…al-Somali was part of al-Qaida’s senior leadership circle and had connections to other Pakistan-based extremists. His role was to take guidance from senior leaders and develop plans for prospective terrorist attacks.

Not exactly your serial 7-11 candy thief.

To those who say violence is wrong, war is not the answer, or it’s immoral to kill, etc. What do you do about a guy like al-Somali? Do you let him  keep on plotting to blow up innocent people? Do you pray for him? Preach to him? Go over to his flat for tea and cookies and tell him it’s wrong to hurt people?

The problem is that pacifists can’t give a credible, coherent answer to, “what do you do with a guy like al-Somali?” The only coherent, credible answer is to kill (or perhaps capture) him before he murders innocent people again. And to kill or capture him requires the use of military force, to which pacifists are opposed. That is why pacifists can’t give a straight answer to such a simple question.

God’s Battalions: The Case for the Crusades

This book may be my next read, after finishing my papers for St. Stephen’s.

Homeowners’ Association refuses to allow Medal of Honor recipient to fly flag

UPDATE: COLONEL BARFOOT WINS! Hat tip to poolriah:

RICHMOND, Va. —  A 90-year-old Medal of Honor recipient can keep his 21-foot flagpole in his front yard after a homeowner’s association dropped its request to remove it, a spokesman for Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner said Tuesday.

The Sussex Square homeowners’ association likewise has agreed to drop threats to take legal action against retired Army Col. Van T. Barfoot, Warner spokesman Kevin Hall said.

The association had threatened to take Barfoot to court if he failed to remove the pole from his suburban Richmond home by Friday. It had said the pole violated the neighborhood’s aesthetic guidelines.

It is fitting to begin with what I believe to be Colonel Barfoot’s citation for the Medal of Honor:

BARFOOT, VAN T.Rank and organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army, 157th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Carano, Italy, 23 May 1944. Entered service at: Carthage, Miss. Birth: Edinburg, Miss. G.O. No.: 79, 4 October 1944.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 23 May 1944, near Carano, Italy. With his platoon heavily engaged during an assault against forces well entrenched on commanding ground, 2d Lt. Barfoot (then Tech. Sgt.) moved off alone upon the enemy left flank. He crawled to the proximity of 1 machinegun nest and made a direct hit on it with a hand grenade, killing 2 and wounding 3 Germans. He continued along the German defense line to another machinegun emplacement, and with his tommygun killed 2 and captured 3 soldiers. Members of another enemy machinegun crew then abandoned their position and gave themselves up to Sgt. Barfoot. Leaving the prisoners for his support squad to pick up, he proceeded to mop up positions in the immediate area, capturing more prisoners and bringing his total count to 17. Later that day, after he had reorganized his men and consolidated the newly captured ground, the enemy launched a fierce armored counterattack directly at his platoon positions. Securing a bazooka, Sgt. Barfoot took up an exposed position directly in front of 3 advancing Mark VI tanks. From a distance of 75 yards his first shot destroyed the track of the leading tank, effectively disabling it, while the other 2 changed direction toward the flank. As the crew of the disabled tank dismounted, Sgt. Barfoot killed 3 of them with his tommygun. He continued onward into enemy terrain and destroyed a recently abandoned German fieldpiece with a demolition charge placed in the breech. While returning to his platoon position, Sgt. Barfoot, though greatly fatigued by his Herculean efforts, assisted 2 of his seriously wounded men 1,700 yards to a position of safety. Sgt. Barfoot’s extraordinary heroism, demonstration of magnificent valor, and aggressive determination in the face of pointblank fire are a perpetual inspiration to his fellow soldiers.

And some piss-ant lily-livered homeowner’s association (HOA) is now going to come in and tell Colonel Barfoot, age 90, he’s not allowed to fly the US flag because, well, the flagpole is not “aesthetically pleasing” enough to the HOA?

What a load of unmitigated crap! This is unbelievable. It would be an HONOR to live in the same zip code as Colonel Barfoot.

One has to wonder whether this HOA and the lawyers who work for them appreciate men like Colonel Barfoot. I don’t think they do. What a bunch of small-minded selfish pr-cks. Mark Levin slams these jerks.

Captain H. B. Le shows that in America, anything is possible

The inspirational story of US Navy Captain H.B. Le.

This story touches me personally because my best friend was one of the “boat people” who fled Viet Nam in the 1970’s.

In America, anything is possible.

The Orthodox Study Bible, one month on

I recently purchased a copy of the Orthodox Study Bible (OSB) after selling a number of books for which I no longer had use to Half Price books. Although you generally get a pittance for your used tomes, the nice thing about Half Price is that they will buy virtually anything. So for those looking to clean the books collecting dust off their shelves, Half Price is probably your best bet. Their buying pitch is based on human nature: once you’ve unloaded a dozen boxes of books from your car to their buying counter, you’re very likely to accept their offer for your books no matter what it is, especially when your car is across the parking lot.

Anyway I digress. So my good friend Steve asked me what I thought about the Orthodox Study Bible. Not wanting to give him an ignorant opinion – or at least wanting to give him a less ignorant opinion – I attempted to delve into some of it last night. It is upon last night’s reading and the few scattered chances I’ve had over the last month or so to sit down undisturbed and review the book that the following general observations are based.

My biggest gripe about the OSB is the use of the New King James Version New Testament. Besides the textual problems chronicled by the King James only crowd, I just don’t think that the NKJV reads as well as the King James. Now I fully acknowledge that may be my personal preference – if you like the New King James Version, you’re definitely in for a treat with the OSB. I wrote an email to Father Peter (Gillquist) asking about the use of the NKJV but never received a reply.

My biggest praise of the OSB is for the extensive notes and commentary, along with the long-awaited new translation of the LXX (Greek Septuagint). This is essentially the first translation of LXX since the 1850’s. It reads well and is patterned after but different from the NKJV. The notes and commentary from the early church fathers help the reader to understand Orthodox theological concepts, and the notes do an admirable job of demonstrating that the Orthodox view is the preferred one. There are entire pages devoted to Orthodox Christology, the doctrine of Theosis (partaking of the divine nature), etc. In addition, the color icons are beautiful – but easily damaged. Be careful with the pages.

The OSB can be used as either an introduction to Orthodox Christianity for those new to the Faith, or it can be used as an outreach tool for the Orthodox expositor. It has the blessing of many leading Orthodox bishops and scholars. Having said this, I would not depend on the OSB as your only Bible. Unless one is fluent in the original NT Greek, it is important to have a number of good translations on hand so that one might more easily understand Holy Scripture. My personal though not very portable NT is published by Holy Apostles Convent / Dormition Skete in Colorado, though this translation, which reads like the old KJV, may be a little stuffy for non-academic types.

Overall, I like the OSB. It’s a solid reference Bible that deserves a place in your library. It does an admirable job of bringing to the modern world the ancient Christian faith handed down to us by Jesus and His Holy Disciples.