by Clifford F. Thies

The top religious council of Saudi Arabia has recently issued a ruling on terrorism that is said to break new ground on the matter of financing terrorism, condeming it as well as terrorism itself. This may be true. Mostly, the ruling reflects traditional Islamic teaching on just war. Most importantly, that it says terrorist acts against civilian populations are wrong, and that care must be taken to minimize loss of innocent blood or property damage even in the conduct of a just war.

From Washington Post, David Ignatius, via RCP "Saudi Muslim Religious Council Condemns Terrorism" June 13:

Terrorism has damaged the Islamic world far more than the West, and too many Muslims have been cowed and silent. But a powerful and so far largely unreported denunciation of terrorism emerged last month from Saudi Arabia's top religious leadership, known as the "Council of Senior Ulema."

The Saudi fatwa is a tough condemnation of terror, and of the underground network that finances it. It has impressed senior U.S. military commanders and intelligence officers, who were initially surprised when it came out. One sent me a translation of the fatwa, and Saudi officials provided some helpful background.

"There is no gray area here," said a senior Saudi official. "Once it has come out like this, from the most senior religious body in the kingdom, it's hard for a lesser religious authority to justify violence."

The ruling reflects and will strengthen the shift of popular opinion among the Muslims of the world, as reflected by public opinion polls, on matters such as suicide bombing. It also reflects the shifting geopolitics of the region, with the emergence of an increasingly belligerent Iran, its nuclear ambiions, and its support of radical Muslims intent on destabilizing the governments of the region.
The radicals have their own, twisted version of Islam, based on certain texts of the Koran, while ignoring others, according to a weird method of resolving apparent contradictions. In contrast, the most respected scholars employ a wholistic approach to interpretation, appreciate the role of allegory in Semitic expression, and consider knowledge obtained through reason as well as through revelation.

Dr. Thies is a professor of economics at Shenandoah Univ. in Virginia

Glenn Beck's just released thriller The Overton Window, is being both praised and criticized as a libertarian-themed tome.

Excerpt from Vanity Fair, "Glenn Beck Now at War with The Washington Post Because of How Much the Paper Hated His Book":

The Washington Post sure disliked Glenn Beck’s new Libertarian-ish thriller, The Overton Window, which came out today. The book’s plot centers around an evil person who attempts to stage a coup on the United States government, and his son, who attempts to stage a coup...

Beck also refuted the Post’s claim that the book is “dangerous” because readers might confuse his conspiratorial ramblings for fact. “It’s weird how many people read The Washington Post and take your fiction as fact,” he said.

From Mediate, "The Overton Window; a review":

Our protagonist is Noah Gardner, a privileged, cocky New Yorker with a cynical and vast knowledge of “truth” and a megalomaniac PR guru father. His love interest is Molly Ross, a headstrong, staunch anti-government activist libertarian who hates smoking and can deftly handle a firearm (who is not what she seems).

Huffington Post, "Glenn Beck's Soon-To-Be-Bestseller, The Overton Window: Paranoid Political Fiction":

It appears as though Glenn Beck is making the leap from bestselling author of paranoid political opinion to bestselling author of paranoid political fiction. That's right, he's about to release a new book Kevin Grisham-esque thriller called The Overton Window, after a political theory popular amongst libertarians about the shifting range of what is considered acceptable political policy.

The Libertarian Party of Oregon held its state convention over the weekend. Party members debated by-laws, and the platform. But also at issue were cross-endorsements of Republican candidates. Washington County LP Chair Richard Burke (photo) who attended the recent LP national convention in St. Louis as a Wayne Root delegate, was the main backer of the endorsement strategy.

From OregonLive.com

The latest dispute involves the state's new fusion voting law, which allows candidates to list the nominations of up to three parties next to their name on the ballot.

The Washington County Libertarian Party cross-nominated two Republican state House candidates, Shawn Lindsay and Katie Eyre Brewer.

Both Lindsay and Brewer are strong fiscal conservatives.

From Lindsay (campaign website):

With the state facing a $2 billion dollar budget deficit next year, government must tighten its belt just like families are being forced to do. State spending has increased nearly 40% over the past six years.

From Brewer (campaign website):

Government spending is out of control. The massive debt and unfunded liabilities being passed on to our children and grandchildren will severely limit their future opportunities. Elected leaders must stand up to the special interests controlling decisions in Salem.

MOVEMENT NEWS

Stewart Flood, longtime Libertarian Party of South Carolina committee member and Southeast Region representative for the Libertarian National Committee expressed qualified support for the candidacy of Republican Governor candidate Nikki Haley.

From IPR, "State Senator blames Libertarian Party for controversy over racial slur" June 15:

We supported many of Governor Sanford’s initiatives. He came to libertarian events when invited.

If Ms Haley continues to represent libertarian values and, if elected, acts as a libertarian governor would, then we will certainly do everything we can to support her.

Flood describes himself as a former "Goldwater Republican," turned Libertarian Party member.

NEW FROM REASON TV

"Obama should think about kicking his own ass" -- Nick Gillespie

DALLAS - The Republican Party of Texas today released its latest video, "Soy Tejano Republicano(a) (“I Am A Texas Republican”), to audiences statewide on YouTube. This first-of-its-kind video in both English and Spanish and features Texas Republicans espousing conservative values and ideas directly to Texans for whom Spanish is their primary language.

“We created this video to establish bonds and express our common ideals with Texans whose language might be Spanish, and whose hearts and minds align with Republican principles,” said Republican Party of Texas Chairman Steve Munisteri. “Hispanic Texans tend to be conservative and believe in the same things that Republicans believe in – strong families, free enterprise and less government. Those shared values are what this video is all about.”

See the video at our sister site WorldwideLiberty

From Eric Dondero:

British Member of Parliament, distinguished Tory, and columnist for the London Telegraph Daniel Hannan has a column:

I admit it: I was wrong to have supported Barack Obama

Hannan outlines a laundry list of complaints with the Obama administration; his mismanaging of the BP oil spill, his love of the E.U. over British sovereignty, his support for disarmament, the fact that he's grown the U.S. Government by 30% since he's been in office.

But none of that was cause enough for him to retract his prior support. It's a foreign policy matter that has tipped the scales.

All these things are minor irritants compared to the way the Obama administration is backing Peronist Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands – or, as Obama’s people call them, “the Malvinas”. British troops were the only sizeable contingent to support the US in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have fought alongside America in most of the conflicts of the past hundred years. Yet, when the chips are down, Obama lines up with Hugo Chávez and Daniel Ortega against us.

Not that we should feel singled out. The Obama administration has scorned America’s other established friends. It has betrayed Poland and the Czech Republic, whose Atlanticist governments had agreed to accept the American missile defence system at immense political cost, only to find the project cancelled. It has alienated Israel and India. It has even managed to fall out with Canada over its “Buy American” rules and its decision to drill in disputed Arctic waters. Never has there been a worse time to be a US ally.

Pamela Geller at Atlas Shrugs:

Joel Pollak, the Republican nominee for US Congress in the 9th district of Illinois. He is challenging J(jihad) Street supporter Rep. Jan Schakowsky in the most corrupt city in the union - Chicago, a sewer of corruption. Obamaland: Chicago Is a "Dark Pool Of Political Corruption"

Contribute to Pollak. Support Pollak. Get out the vote for Pollak. Eradicate the crooks and scoundrels who have infiltrated and destroyed our system from within.

PollackforCongress.com

From Eric Dondero:

In a surprise announcement, Alan Dershowitz, a self-described "Democrat," publicly endorsed Republican congressional candidate Joel Pollak for Congress. Dershowitz first broke the news in an interview with syndicated radio talk show host Michael Medved on Monday. At issue - Israel.

From the Evanston Review (Illinois):

Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz is throwing his support behind the Republican challenger to U.S. Rep. Janice Schakowsky in the November election.

Joel Pollak of Skokie, a 2009 graduate of Harvard Law School, is making Schakowsky's positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and support for the moderate J Street organization a campaign issue.

Dershowitz, whose stands on Israel often draw national media attention, will appear with Pollak at a fund-raising luncheon Wednesday at Wildfire Restaurant, 159 W. Erie St., Chicago.

Pollak studied under Dershowitz at Harvard and worked with him as a research assistant for several years.

Note - Pollak became a YouTube sensation back in 2009 for having challenged Cong. Barney Frank. At a forum he asked “How much responsibility, if any, do you have for the financial crisis?”

Interestingly he was born and raised in South Africa, and has a multi-ethnic backgroud.

Pollack is an active member and leader of the Chicago Tea Party.

PollackforCongress.com

43% to 36% over Democrat

Paul LePage, Mayor of Waterville, somewhat unexpectedly won the GOP nomination for Governor last week. A solid Tea Partier with strong libertarian ties, LePage is now comfortably ahead in the polls.

From Rasmussen:

Republican Paul LePage is the top vote getter in the race for governor of Maine following the winnowing down of the crowded contest in Tuesday’s primaries.

The first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the race finds LePage earning the support of 43% of Likely Voters in the state, while Democrat Libby Mitchell picks up 36% of the vote. Democrat-turned-independent Eliot Cutler trails with seven percent (7%). Fourteen percent (14%) are undecided.

LePage was enthusiastically endorsed by the Republican Liberty Caucus prior to the primary. Some Maine Republican political sites have even labeled him a "libertarian Republican."

From Eric Dondero:

Meet Renee Ellmers. She is the Republican nominee to challenge the now infamous Democrat Rep. Bob Etheridge in North Carolina. Etheridge has become an instant YouTube sensation, having smacked and forcibly held a college kid asking him questions on a Washington DC street.

Ellmers is a Surgical Intensive Care Nurse. Her husband is a general surgeon. She was inspired to run after having attended an Etheridge town hall meeting and hearing the Congressman defend ObamaCare.

From an Ellmers press release:

“I do not share President Obama’s vision for America, and I do not believe we can borrow and spend our way to prosperity. Bob Etheridge has voted with Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi 97% of the time. He’s voted for Wall Street bailouts, higher debt ceilings, and he and Barack Obama have spent billions on government ‘Stimulus Plans’ to create jobs – but we’ve lost 3 million jobs,” said Renee Ellmers.

“I’m a mother, wife and nurse and I never dreamed I’d be running for Congress, but it’s time to put a stop to the Obama rubber stamp Congress and Washington politics as usual.”

Libertarian-Conservative blogger Moe Lane at RedState was able to interview her briefly today. Her remarks on the events of the day:

"My husband sent me the video and send Renee you really need to see this. I was shocked. I was speechless... I feel for those college students. They were obviously there doing what Americans have a right to do, which is question their Congressman. His response was unbelievable. As a mom I'm concerned about those kids. He really seemed to come unglued... He was really ugly. To actually put his hands on the boy, that was over the top."

Reneeforcongress.com