A previously unknown terrorist organization called the Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for multiple brutal, synchronized attacks in Mumbai, India.  The Times of India reports least 80 people have died so far, with perhaps 200 more people held hostage. 

A later report indicates that the Indian Army stormed the Hotel Taj and the Oberoi Trident, capturing 9 terrorists alive.  Reports on Twitter indicate that at least 1 terrorist was killed, while the Times reports 2 of them are dead.

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In the last few decades a major change has taken place in what we Westerners often call “the Muslim world”: Turkic peoples have awoken.

For years, many Turkic peoples were dominated by the Soviet Union and / or by other foreign powers. One only has to refer to countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan to see that these peoples were dominated by communists for decades. These communists tried to destroy the Turkic peoples they controlled and their culture.

But they did not succeed. (more…)

In the run-up to the presidential elections a lot was said about now president-elect Barack Obama’s liberal voting record in the United States and Illinois Senate. As many, including myself, pointed out in recent months, Obama had the most liberal record in the U.S. Senate and his views on abortion, among others, were most definitely not within the mainstream.

Many feared that this could very well mean that Obama’s promises of bipartisanship, unity and tolerance would prove empty. (more…)

Via The Drudge Report:

A leading Russian political analyst has said the economic turmoil in the United States has confirmed his long-held view that the country is heading for collapse, and will divide into separate parts.

Professor Igor Panarin said in an interview with the respected daily IZVESTIA published on Monday: “The dollar is not secured by anything.| MORE ›

Not that I’m sure anybody is surprised by this at this point (perhaps except the far-left hoping Obama might change his mind), but it is looking increasingly likely that current Defense Secretary Robert Gates will hold his job for at least another year, according to CNN.| MORE ›

James Joyner throws down the gauntlet to conservative intellectuals, arguing that conservatives lack ideas with regards to at least two critical issues: global warming and income inequality. I would argue that while Joyner’s challenge to conservatives is provocative, it is fundamentally based on sand. (more…)

My wife is having surgery today.  She’s chosen her doctors as best she can with the limited information available regarding their abilities, which is to say word-of-mouth, and we’ll soon be off to the relatively new facility in Bryan, Texas for her operation.| MORE ›

After reading Claudia’s post about the civil literacy test, I decided to take it as well, so I could see whether the test was extremely difficult.

My score: You answered 28 out of 33 correctly — 84.85 %

Although I am obviously better informed than the average person due to my studies, the difference between my knowledge and that of the average American is quite sad. As Claudia pointed out, the average American had a score of 49% and elected officials of 44%.

College educators have an average score of 55%. 55%.| MORE ›