Well, at least it’s not racial. Sorta.

Saw this article today, about an “emergency” rape law passed in Italy:

Italy’s government has rushed through a decree to crack down on sexual violence and illegal immigration after a spate of rapes blamed on foreigners.

What’s “a spate”? Must be quite a few, to justify the swift passage of a new law, I’m thinking. A virtual epidemic. But no. It’s three. They happened in one weekend, but still. Three.

The decree sets a mandatory life sentence for the rape of minors or attacks where the victim is killed.

Well, that sounds good to me. Harsh sentences for rape are exactly as they should be. And further along in the article it mentions that trials for rapists will be speeded up, and more resources will be focused towards helping the victims. All good, in my book.

But then I saw this…

It also establishes rules for citizen street patrols to be conducted by unarmed and unpaid volunteers.

Wait just a damn minute.

Mirror Universe

You would think that any headline reading:

John McCain ‘endorsed by al-Qaeda supporters’

Would actually be from the Onion.  Or something the McCain campaign would say about Obama.  But no.

In a message broadcast on the password-protected al-Hesbah site, the group said they would also welcome a pre-election terror attack on the US because that would make a McCain win more likely.

In an endorsement that will not be welcomed by Mr McCain’s flagging campaign, the group said that if al-Qaeda wants to exhaust the USmilitarily and economically, the “impetuous” Republican presidential candidate is the better choice.
[...]
“…al-Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming elections so that he continues the failing march of his predecessor, Bush.”

“If al-Qaeda carries out a big operation against American interests,” it said, “this act will be support of McCain because it will push the Americans deliberately to vote for McCain so that he takes revenge for them against al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda then will succeed in exhausting America till its last year in it.”

Mark Salter, a senior McCain adviser, had no immediate comment.

Yeah I bet he didn’t.  The above is from the Telegraph in the UK.  The NYTimes even mentioned it in an Op-Ed piece this weekend.  Though it’s hard to take a newspaper seriously when they also cover “Tattooed Leopard Man ditches hermit life.“

The Telegraph points out that this posting is not an official al-Qaeda edict or anything, just the opinion of someone involved (perhaps) with the group.  But still.

For years people have been saying that we’re beyond satire, because the country is becoming so ridiculous that even the most far-fetched Saturday Night Live scenarios are really happening.  This, I think, definitely falls under that heading.  Though, I have to say, a strange reversal from four years ago when al-Qaeda supposedly was all for John Kerry.  Hmm.

Hat Tip: Mary

Again, Why I’m Angry

Benazir Bhutto assassinated

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday in the wake of a suicide bombing that killed at least 14 of her supporters, doctors, a spokesman for her party and other officials said.

Bhutto suffered bullet wounds in the aftermath of the bomb attack, TV networks were reporting.
[...]
Bhutto was rushed to Rawalpindi General Hospital — less than two miles from the bombing scene — where doctors pronounced her dead.

Former Pakistan government spokesman Tariq Azim Khan said while it appeared Bhutto was shot, it was unclear if the bullet wounds to her head and neck were caused by a shooting or if it was shrapnel from the bomb.

The bomber detonated as he tried to enter the rally where thousands of people gathered to hear Bhutto speak, police said.

You fucking, fucking bastards. I am really too angry to do anything but curse at this point.