A Knight in Dragonland

From the Village of Kuardu, Northern Areas, Pakistan in the shadow of the mighty Karakorum on Friday, September 14, 2001:
In the name of Allah, Almighty, the Beneficent, the Merciful … Peace be upon you.
It is by fate that Allah the Almighty has brought us together in this hour. Today is a day you children [...]

[Read more]

There are some very interesting remarks in this article in the New York Times about mounting tensions in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopian troops are preparing to confront the Islamist forces that have taken control of much of the southern portion of Somalia. The only internationally recognized government in Somalia sits besieged by [...]

[Read more]

The Bush administration describes Pakistan as a great ally in the War on Terror. Excuse me? Pakistan’s government just concluded a deal with tribal leaders in Waziristan editorialized here in the Washington Post. The deal results in a withdrawal of Pakistan’s army troops from the region. In return, these tribal leaders [...]

[Read more]

 
A great and glorious thing it is
To learn, for seven years or so,
The Lord knows what of that and this,
Ere reckoned fit to face the foe -
The flying bullet down the Pass,
That whistles clear: “All flesh is grass.”
Three hundred pounds per annum spent
On making brain and body meeter
For all the murderous intent
Comprised in “villanous saltpeter”!
And [...]

[Read more]

If you want to really make a difference in the world, here are two organizations that you can support. Both operate out of Central Asia, a part of the world where we Americans aren’t so popular right now. Who cares, you say? Well, hatred in combination with desperate poverty and limited opportunities [...]

[Read more]