Year: 2005

Man, what an ego.

Via CNet: In times of tragedy, people have increasingly turned to the Web to share witness accounts, offer support, voice opinion, and debate issues. The London bombings were no exception this week, as people from across the globe logged on to the Web to vent, comfort and seek community.

BRITAIN and America are secretly preparing to withdraw most of their troops from Iraq – despite warnings of the grave consequences for the region, the SUNDAY MAIL in UK is reporting.

Jihad Watch:

It may take some time before the full identity of the attackers is established. But the ideology that motivates them, the networks that sustain them and the groups that finance them are all too well known. Moments after yesterday’s attacks my telephone was buzzing with requests for interviews with one recurring question: but what do they want?

Even asking this question could lead to the capitulation of Britain and the West. What do they want? Withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan. Well, that sounds reasonable. Let’s give it to them. Spain did so, after all.

There may be good reasons to withdraw, but to do so on the jihadists’ terms and at their demand to do so, thereby granting them a victory, would be suicidal. When Western analysts ask, What do they want? It is because they want to grant it — something, anything, to get these people to stop killing us. But just as Chamberlain discovered of “Herr Hitler,” when they grant what they want, they will find that it is not precisely what they wanted.

That reminded me of Theo van Gogh, the Dutch film-maker, who was shot by an Islamist assassin on his way to work in Amsterdam last November. According to witnesses, Van Gogh begged for mercy and tried to reason with his assailant. “Surely we can discuss this,” he kept saying as the shots kept coming. “Let us talk it over.”

Van Gogh, who had angered Islamists with his documentary about the mistreatment of women in Islam, was reacting like BBC reporters did yesterday, assuming that the man who was killing him may have some reasonable demands which could be discussed in a calm, democratic atmosphere.

But sorry, old chaps, you are dealing with an enemy that does not want anything specific, and cannot be talked back into reason through anger management or round-table discussions. Or, rather, this enemy does want something specific: to take full control of your lives, dictate every single move you make round the clock and, if you dare resist, he will feel it his divine duty to kill you.

If attacks similar to those that occurred earlier Thursday in London happened in the United States, most cell phone users would have trouble getting emergency crews to find them, according to experts.

Joe’s Dartblog has a montage of newspaper front pages.

Jeff Jarvis asks…

“Are Muslim terrorists a Muslim problem? And should the Muslim world — its religous and political leaders and its citizens — be fixing this problem by condemning and hunting down and jailing and stopping those who murder innocents in their name?”

Revulsion and Resolve. “Despite the shock, horror and outrage, the calm shown in London was exemplary. Ordinary life may be inconvenienced by the spectre of terror, yet terrorism will not force free societies to abandon their fundamental features. An attack was inevitable. The casualties were dreadful. The terrorists have only strengthened the resolve of Britain and its people.”

Via Drudge: Reporter Bob Novak declares on CNN that Rehnquist will announce retirement today after Bush’s plane touches down at Andrews AFB approx. 4:50 PM EDT.

MORE: No announcement yet.

While we’re on the subject of rumors, there’s another out tonight – former Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth could replace Howard Stern when he makes the move to satellite.

The Roth rumor, which has legs, is the latest and was started by a report from Steppin’ Out Magazine’s Chaunce Hayden.

In an online post, Hayden wrote: “Howard Stern’s successor has been found! It’s none other than 80s rocker David Lee Roth. Infinity Broadcasting isn’t commenting and Roth has been asked to keep mum until it’s officially announced. But an inside source at Infinity has confirmed the signing. Roth auditioned for the job both in L.A. and Boston and got very positive feed back from listeners. Roth has been running ads in trade publications looking for a producer “For a HUGE radio show.” Roth is said to be taking over for Stern in early September, 3 months before the shock jocks contract is due to expire.”

When reached last night (7/6) about this report, Infinity VP of Communications Karen Mateo told FMQB the company was “looking at a number of personalities to replace Howard” and added there was not an announcement pending.

The Roth rumor could fit though. Diamond Dave has done a couple stints at Infinity outlets WZLX/Boston and KLSX/Los Angeles. If the rumor comes to fruition, it remains to be seen what stations Roth would pick up, as Infinity chairman and CEO Joel Hollander has stated that numerous personalities would likely replace Stern across his current affiliates.

Personally, I think Dave jumped the shark years ago.

UPDATE: It’s no longer a rumor.