AP writer Vladimir Isachenkov has a special fawning birthday present for former Soviet strongman Mikhail Gorbachev:

Mikhail Gorbachev’s magnetic brown eyes shine as brightly as ever, and he speaks with the same passion about the collapse of the Soviet Union as he prepares to mark his 75th birthday on Thursday.

That’s a whole lot nicer than pointing out the time Gorby suggested whacking the Pope. Back to the AP story:

The man who ended the Cold War and launched democratic reforms that broke the repressive Soviet regime continues to enjoy the limelight, globe-trotting on behalf of his political foundation and environmental group and taking part in charity projects.

At a meeting with foreign reporters this week, Gorbachev blamed the United States for losing a chance to build a safer and more stable world following the Soviet demise.

"Ending the Cold War was given as a gift" to the United States, but it only strengthened its arrogance and unilateralism, he said. "The winner’s complex is worse than an inferiority complex, because it’s harder to cure."

Absolute nonsense. Gorbachev ended the Cold War like Hirohito ended World War II: by losing. The collapse of the Soviet Union wasn’t "given as a gift." The USSR was dragged into the modern world, kicking and screaming, by an aggressive U.S. foreign policy.

But hey, let’s gloss over the whole Evil Empire thing. We need to know important things, like that Gorbachev is a foodie:

Despite his age, Gorbachev seems as lively and energetic as before, giving the impression of genuinely enjoying life. "I like good dishes from all over the world. I have tasted them all and I still can’t name a favorite," he said.

Isn’t that nice! I wonder how many of those exotic dishes he tasted while shortages plagued his people. But hey, as long as he’s "lively and energetic," who cares?

The following is a transcript of a broadcast made by atheist Wafa Sultan on Al-Jazeera:

"The clash we are witnessing around the world is not a clash of religions, or a clash of civilizations. It is a clash between two opposites, between two eras. It is a clash between a mentality that belongs to the Middle Ages and another mentality that belongs to the 21st century. It is a clash between civilization and backwardness, between the civilized and the primitive, between barbarity and rationality. It is a clash between freedom and oppression, between democracy and dictatorship. It is a clash between human rights, on the one hand, and the violation of these rights, on other hand. It is a clash between those who treat women like beasts, and those who treat them like human beings. What we see today is not a clash of civilizations. Civilizations do not clash, but compete.

…The Muslims are the ones who began the clash of civilizations. The Prophet of Islam said: "I was ordered to fight the people until they believe in Allah and His Messenger." When the Muslims divided the people into Muslims and non-Muslims, and called to fight the others until they believe in what they themselves believe, they started this clash, and began this war. In order to start this war, they must reexamine their Islamic books and curricula, which are full of calls for takfir and fighting the infidels.

My colleague has said that he never offends other people’s beliefs. What civilization on the face of this earth allows him to call other people by names that they did not choose for themselves? Once, he calls them Ahl Al-Dhimma, another time he calls them the "People of the Book," and yet another time he compares them to apes and pigs, or he calls the Christians "those who incur Allah’s wrath." Who told you that they are "People of the Book"? They are not the People of the Book, they are people of many books. All the useful scientific books that you have today are theirs, the fruit of their free and creative thinking. What gives you the right to call them "those who incur Allah’s wrath," or "those who have gone astray," and then come here and say that your religion commands you to refrain from offending the beliefs of others?

…The Jews have came from the tragedy (of the Holocaust), and forced the world to respect them, with their knowledge, not with their terror, with their work, not their crying and yelling…. 15 million people, scattered throughout the world, united and won their rights through work and knowledge. We have not seen a single Jew blow himself up in a German restaurant…

…The Muslims have turned three Buddha statues into rubble. We have not seen a single Buddhist burn down a Mosque, kill a Muslim, or burn down an embassy. Only the Muslims defend their beliefs by burning down churches, killing people, and destroying embassies. This path will not yield any results. The Muslims must ask themselves what they can do for humankind, before they demand that humankind respect them."

My how refreshing to hear. Let us hope someone listens instead of stoning her.

Hat tip RWN

The New York Independent Party has launched a website to draft Donald Trump for President in 2008.

A Message from N.Y.S Independence Party Chairman Frank MacKay: “America needs a decisive CEO-Style President to straighten out Washington – not another politician. We need a candidate that can awaken the electorate in 2008 with a serious non-partisan political agenda. Let’s face it, in the wake of catastrophic scenes like New Orleans in the days, weeks and months following hurricane Katrina, wouldn’t you trust that Donald Trump could get the job done right? Could you imagine Trump tolerating the inefficiencies that caused five hundred million dollars worth of mobile homes destined for hurricane victims to rot in parking lots in Hope, Arkansas?

 Someone needs to shout You’re Fired! With Trump at the helm, New Orleans could be a world class destination by now, handled with all the efficiency of a master developer and American entrepreneur.”

I am not a fan of "The Apprentice" and admittedly all I know about "The Donald" is that he was married to some woman named Ivana, he owns casinos and is a real estate developer.  So what else is under the hair?  How does he feel about the issues I care about?

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"Atomic Batteries to power. Turbines to speed." Fire away. 

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