Korean Hostages and the Taliban

In late July, the Taliban kidnapped 20 Koreans who were in Afghanistan as part of a Christian outreach program -- their goal nothing more or less than helping the unfortunate.

Their strength in spirit, however, is matched by their naivety: Afghanistan, like much of the Middle East today, is full of Islamic zealots who disregard any attempt by outsiders "trying to help out."

Since their kidnapping, the Taliban have executed two of the male hostages. The 18 that remain, mostly women, now find themselves as pawns in the political process which is unstable at best. The international community, of course, typically adheres to a "non negotiating" stance with who they deem terrorists. The Taliban, and Al-Qaeda, don't see themselves as terrorists, but freedom fighters looking to create a Islamic state -- a caliphate based on the strictest interpretation of Islamic teachings.

To date, the Taliban have demanded release of their brothers in arms, a demand the Afghanistan government and western leaders have ignored. So, as the days continue to pass more innocent Korean Christians will most assuredly turn up dead, the victims of a no-win situation.

The news is important since Christians world wide are, more than ever before in modern times, susceptible to the wrath of radical Muslims -- as experienced in the Philippines, the Russian satellite states and Middle East nations. It's important for those in the civilized world to realize that, even with good intentions, the world is a dangerous place. That caution should be taken and a great deal of foresight used before venturing out on good-will trips to help the impoverished. Having a good heart is not, as many hostages have found out, a shield against terrorism.

Everything is a disease or syndrome

Everything is a disease or syndrome nowadays; so apparently, we're not responsible for much of anything we get into.

And there are plenty of drug companies lined up to fuel our rationalizing of
disorderly behavior, overindulgence, promiscuity and, well, you name it and
there's probably a syndrome, disorder or disease associated with it by now
that some pill pushing pharmaceutical company can treat.

Alcoholism: You drink too much --- in the mornings, afternoons and at
night; you're either hung over or on your way;

Wrestles Leg Syndrome: Your body twitches at night making it difficult
for you and your better half to get to sleep;

Alien Hand Syndrome: You lose control of your hand; it gesticulates
uncontrollably or unbuttons your clothes while your other hand is
trying to put them on. Also known as Dr. Strangelove Syndrome.

Alice in Wonderland Syndrome: Also called micropsia, this condition
distorts visual perception so that objects that are close appear
disproportionately tine, as though viewed through the wrong end of a
telescope;

Foreign Accent Syndrome: Usually following strokes or other brain
trauma, victims suddenly start speaking with a French, Scottish,
Italian etc. accent without warning.

Pica Syndrome: You have a compulsive appetite for non-edible items
including clay, stones, cigarette ash, paint, glue etc.

Riley-Day Syndrome: The syndrome makes its victims especially accident
prone because they simply don't register warning signs of tissue damage
such as wounds, bruising and burns. They are even oblivious to oxygen
deprivation, which means they'll hold their breadth until they black
out.

Genital Retraction Syndrome: Victims are convinced that their genitals
are disappearing into their bodies.

Many more are advertised on TV and the radio, playing on our propensity
to avoid responsibility.  

Imigration answer simple

For the past two decades or more America tends to kick around
the idea of preventing illegal immigration during the run-up to elections.

Each time the political leadership looks at the same problems and offers
the same solutions. Yet nobody has mentioned the obvious:

We're all the offspring of illegal immigration; that's if you're
looking at the problem from the perspective of our Native American
Indian population.

The only answer is to let our economy implode, the dollar sink below
that of the peso and open our borders so that we -- the newly
impoverished -- can flood Mexico in a quest for better paying jobs.

Friends, we are victims of our own success including economic
development, political stability and military might. The fact that
those from nations offering little opportunity to better their lives should
seek out the American Dream should surprise no one. It is the
liabilities of being a super power.

And as is the case with the European Union, open borders hasn't meant
national identity problems or rampant crime. Maybe it's time we look at a
similar solution here.

Manuel Noriega on his way to France?

America's favorite Latin America dictator who, once plucked from power and jailed in 1990, is set to be released Sept. 9.

Unfortunately for him, however, France has requested their turn on prosecuting old Pineapple face. The French convicted him of buying land there with illegal drug money. And so goes another "officer" of American foreign policy --- once backed and now left for the French to pick at his politically-irrelevant carcass.

France, of course, isn't the only one lined up to get at him; he's been convicted of murder, kidnapping, political corruption and the list goes on. Now, as he fights extradition to the land of whine and cheese, one can only imagine how he relives his years as dictator. But alas, the U.S. tends to create its own international law when it comes to deposing international leaders.

I can't help but wonder how we'd react if, say, Iran convicted Bush of a crime and sent in a snatch team to take him back to Tehran to serve his sentence.