A perfect role model for 21st Century Women?

Either that or a sign of our times. Anyhow here is the story of a modern hero (heroine?) from the BBC, Katrina I salute you!

Squaddie makes Miss England final

Katrina Hodge is a part-time model and a soldier in the British Army
A female soldier who once fought off a suspected Iraqi insurgent has won a place in the final of Miss England.
Katrina Hodge, 21, will participate in the contest in July, having already won the Miss Tunbridge Wells crown.
L/Cpl Hodge was nicknamed Combat Barbie in 2005 after being given a bravery commendation for saving the lives of members of her regiment in Iraq.
They were held at gunpoint when their vehicle overturned but L/Cpl Hodge punched the gunman and took his rifles.
She said: "I was in complete shock at first. The force of the accident caused our vehicle to roll over three times and threw us off guard.
"As I came round, the Iraqi suspect was standing over us with the rifles. I knew if I didn't act fast then our lives would be in danger.
"I punched him and the force startled him enough for me to retrieve the rifles from him."
Miss Hodge, a military clerk with The Adjutant General's Corps, will go on to appear at Miss World 2008 if she wins the English title.
"I was delighted to have been selected for the Miss England final and it is a great honour," she added.
"Being a part-time model and a serving soldier is certainly a world apart. I want to use this competition to highlight the work that the Army are doing and what they have done for this country."
She is currently serving at Frimley Park Hospital in Camberley and will take part in the Miss England national finals on Friday.

Iraqi Christians continue to suffer 'religious persecution'

Iraq's beleaguered Christian minority continue to suffer whilst the west does nothing. At the very least we could offer them asylum, instead of giving it to Iraqi AL Qaeda members who then try to blow up Glasgow airport. From Catholic online:

Iraqi Christians Under Attack says Pew Report
7/11/2008
Chaldean.Org (www.chaldean.org/)
Iraqi Christians have been in Iraq since the time of Christ.The majority of them are Chaldean Catholics.They are our brethren.
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BAGHDAD, IRAQ (Chaldean.org) - Senior research fellow, Brian J. Grim, paints a harrowing picture of the ongoing persecution of Iraqi Christians. The research expert on religion and world affairs with the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life in Washington, D.C. reports that the situation for Christians in Iraq is worsening. “It is no small irony, of course, that the Shiite majority that's now a leading force in Iraq was brutalized and suppressed under Saddam, who extensively curbed the Shiites' religious freedoms. A State Department report in 2002 said Saddam's government ‘severely restricts or bans outright many Shiite religious practices.’ One might think that those fresh memories would be enough to ensure liberties for Iraq's religious minorities today. Yet that appears not to be the case,” writes Grim in his report. Iraqi Christians are part of historic indigenous communities that have been in what is now Iraq nearly since the time of Christ, several centuries before Islam came to the region. The majority of them are Chaldean Christians, an ancient religious group affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. Grim points out what's particularly devastating for Iraq's religious minorities is the lack of clear legal protections for religious freedom. Although Article 2 of the Iraqi Constitution guarantees religious freedom, it also contains what some have termed a "repugnancy clause," which states, "No law that contradicts the established provisions of Islam may be established." Because the clause does not explicitly state what the "established provisions of Islam" encompass or exclude, this opens the door for the state and the courts to become theological arbiters. As such, there are no formal avenues for religious minorities to participate in the process. Furthermore, Article 89 of the constitution stipulates that the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court include experts in Islamic jurisprudence, which means that the provision in Article 2 will be supported by a court system with people specifically employed to interpret Islamic law. These people can be appointed without having civil law training. The nature and extent of the violations of religious freedom were not only severe, they also were tolerated by the government and, in some cases, committed by forces within the government. As such, a bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom included Iraq on a "watch list" of countries where religious liberty is severely threatened. Religious leaders have made numerous attempts to broker resolutions. In 2007, American president George W. Bush recounted, the pontiff " was concerned that the society that was evolving (in Iraq) would not tolerate the Christian religion." Indeed, Iraqi Christians have continued to find themselves in the cross hairs of faith-inspired violence. The worst episodes have occurred in regions with diverse ethnic and religious groups, such as Baghdad and Mosul, where the majority of Iraq's Christians live. The State Department reported last year that Muslim extremists "warned Christians living in Baghdad's Dora district to convert, leave or be killed." Commission representatives recently visited Iraq. Among other things, they are assessing whether religious freedom is threatened due to possible collusion between Shiite militias and Iraqi government ministries, and whether the country's smallest religious minorities are being marginalized by government officials and parastate militias. If Iraqi government's culpability in violations of religious freedom continues, Iraq would join the likes of Burma, Iran, North Korea and Sudan. The political and social consequences of this oppression will need to be addressed by the new U.S. administration, whichever party wins the White House in November. An Iraq that truly honors and protects religious freedom would be a benchmark of success that all Americans — and no doubt both parties — would applaud.

Bin Laden's Son calls for Britains Destruction

No not the son I reported on earlier. This guy is Hamza Bin laden. Why am I posting this? I posted earlier about the attempts this chap's half brother to enter the UK and live with his British wife. This post sheds some further light on this family and it is notable how his message for the UK is couched in Islamic religious terms. Oh hang on it's all to do with our foreign policy again of course! From the Evening Standard:

Osama Bin Laden's 16-year-old son calls for Britain's 'destruction' in new terror video Last updated at 12:18pm on 09.07.08
Add your view


Hamza Bin Laden, q6, appears in a terror video calling for infidels to be destroyed
As the world's most wanted terrorist Osama Bin Laden often used internet broadcasts exhorting his followers to continue their battle against the infidel West.
Now the 16-year-old son of the Al Qaeda leader appears to be following in his father’s footsteps in a chilling new internet film which shows him calling for the ‘destruction’ of Britain.
Dressed in a military camouflaged waistcoat over traditional Afghan dress Hamza Bin Laden, the youngest of the Al Qaeda chief’s 18 sons, recites a poem he has written.
The video begins with a short introduction that says: ‘We now offer you a new poem by Sheikh Hamza Bin Laden, may God protect him.’
Clutching his AK47 rifle Bin Laden begins by calling for the destruction of Britain.
'Accelerate the destruction of America, Britain, France and Denmark, ' he says.
The poem continues: ‘Oh God, reward the fighters hitting the infidels and defectors.'
‘Oh God, guide the youth of the Islamic nation and let them assist with the fighters' plans.’
‘God, be pleased with those who want to go for jihad – and blind those who are watching and want to capture them.
‘Grant victory to the Taliban over the gangs of infidels.’
Tory MP Patrick Mercer said of the reading: 'The sins of the father are being visited upon the son. We now have the Crown Prince of Terror taking up his father’s mantle.'
The release of the video appears to have been timed to mark the third anniversary of the July 7th bombings in London.
Last November, just a month before she was assassinated, Pakistan's former prime minister and opposition leader Benazir Bhutto said that Hamza Bin Laden was one of a number of warlords who intended to kill her.
In an interview for Al Jazeera, Bhutto said that her killers would come from either ‘a gang from the Afghanistan warlord Baitullah Mehsud, or Hamza bin Laden the son of Osama bin Laden, or the Pakistani Taliban in Islamabad, or by a group in Karachi."

Britain should get rid of it's Monarchy according to UN Human Rights Council

Well whether you are a republican or not I would have thought that the UN Human Rights Council has more important matters to address but apparentley not. I mean genocide in Darfur? Wars in Somalia, Iraq and torture in Saudi? Nope far more pressing matters need to be addressed according to the Telegraph here . What is strange is that this human rights Council includes that 'kernel of evil' Saudi Arabia and other paragons of virtue such as Cuba and Syria. Here is the article anyway:

Britain should get rid of the monarchy, says UN
By Nick Allen
Last Updated: 3:01PM BST 13/06/2008
A United Nations report says Britain should abolish its monarchy.
The UN Human Rights Council said the UK must "consider holding a referendum on the desirability or otherwise of a written constitution, preferably republican".
The council has 29 members including Saudi Arabia, Cuba and Sri Lanka.
It was the Sri Lankan envoy who raised concerns over the British monarchy.
Article continues
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The resulting report said Britain should have a referendum on the monarchy and the need for a written constitution with a bill of rights.
The monarchy costs each adult in Britain around 62p a year but even groups representing taxpayers said there was no case for getting rid of it.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "With so many human rights abuses around the world the UN should be busy reporting on issues of starvation, execution and the denial of the vote to huge numbers of people around the world.
"Saudi Arabia and Cuba should pay a little more attention to their own human rights record."
The UN report was also critical of the UK's treatment of immigrants from Sudan.
Syrian representatives accused the UK of discriminating against Muslims and Iran complained about the UK's record on tackling sexual discrimination.
A royal source said: "People here certainly haven't detected any appetite for a referendum. The Queen is a focus for national unity, identity and pride."

Paper Tiger Alert! 'Army' for EU Proposed!

Well why is this idea so naff? Two reasons it will cost taxpayers a fortune, secondly it will never be an Army as most European countries will not fight anyway. Look at the weak willed German commitment to NATO, that is so apparent in Afghanistan for instance. In Afghanistan German helicopters will not fly after 5pm (gives the Taleban the night off) and their troops will only fire in self defence. Thus Taleban leaders in their area have relative immunity. In Afghanistan the burden is borne by UK, US and Canadian troops. Anyway the story from the BBC is here.

Call for EU to build its own army
By Mark Mardell Europe Editor, BBC News

European soldiers already act under the UN banner in Kosovo
An influential Polish member of the European parliament has called for the EU to develop "hard power" and spend more money to build a European army.
Foreign affairs committee chairman Jacek Saryusz-Wolski also wants the European parliament to have the final say on deployments under the EU flag.
The French have said beefing up the EU's military capability will be a key part of their six-month presidency.
The BBC has been told their plans also include a new EU military headquarters.
Other items on the French list of proposals involve calling upon all EU countries to increase spending on defence to meet a new target of perhaps 6% of Gross Domestic Product.
More aircraft
France's leadership of the EU will also include a push for the creation of more rapid reaction forces to enable Europe to collectively undertake three simultaneous missions.
They also want more helicopters and aircraft to be made available for missions.
The big problem is finding countries that want to contribute... troops and helicopters to real missions
Mark Mardell's blog
The EU will not officially comment until the proposals are unveiled by French President Sarkozy in two weeks' time.
The head of the German army, Gen Wolfgang Schneiderhan, told the BBC that Europe needs to be able to react to crises.
"Working together with Nato we can improve the ability of both organisations to tackle the threats that face our world," he said.
The plans are likely to prove controversial in many countries, including Britain, where there is reluctance towards any move to a European army.
In Ireland there are concerns about neutrality, while in Germany there are worries about any policy that could go beyond a peacekeeping role.

Further background and comment on this story can be found on the BBC journalist Mark Mardells blog.

Obama will probably get the Democrats nomination....

Now the guy has nowhere enough experience to be president of the US. Yes he's bright and seems a nice enough guy but that is not enough. From the BBC:

Obama: I'll be winner next week

Barack Obama believes he will be the Democrat nominee by Tuesday
US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has told the BBC that he expects to be his party's nominee once the final primaries are over next week.
Speaking to the BBC's Katty Kay, he said the general election campaign - against Republican John McCain - would then begin in earnest.
Mr Obama is battling Hillary Clinton to be the Democratic presidential nominee.
Mrs Clinton could still win, by persuading enough "super-delegates", or senior party officials, to back her.
But Mr Obama is confident that he will pick up enough of the remaining delegates to clinch the nomination.
"If we've gotten the number of delegates needed to secure the nomination then I am the nominee," he told the BBC.
'Political stunt'
The delegates will choose the party's nominee at a nominating convention in August and the candidate with the most delegates will win.
Some delegates are "pledged" to vote according to the results of elections - or primaries - held in their state, while others - the unelected "super-delegates" - are free to vote for whoever they like.
So far in the race, Mr Obama has picked up more of both types of delegates - elected and unelected - than Mrs Clinton.
Only three more contests remain: the Puerto Rico primary on Sunday and the South Dakota and Montana primaries on Tuesday.
Mr Obama also told reporters that if he managed to sew up the nomination he planned to make an overseas trip, including a possible visit to Iraq.
The announcement comes amid criticism from the McCain campaign that Mr Obama has not visited Iraq since the beginning of 2006.
"It's been 871 days since he was there," said Mr McCain in Los Angeles, as he offered to accompany Mr Obama on a joint visit to the country.
"I am confident that when he goes he will then change his position on the conflict in Iraq, because he will see the success that has been achieved on the ground," the senator added.
But Mr Obama described Mr McCain's offer as "a political stunt".
"I think that if I'm going to Iraq, then I'm there to talk to troops and talk to commanders, I'm not there to try to score political points or perform," he told the New York Times.

Islamic terrorism in Exeter- Will British Muslims come out in protest?

I believe according to the EU I should not call it thus but Jihadi terrorism committed exclusively by Muslims in the name of Islam is Islamic terrorism. In this latest incident it seems a white convert may have been responsible he may also reportedly have had a history of mental illness. From the BBC :

Two quizzed over restaurant blast

An area of Plymouth City centre was evacuated by armed police
Armed police have detained two men in an operation linked to an explosion in a restaurant in Exeter.
Officers targeted the men at a cafe in the Old Town Street area of Plymouth. One man was arrested and the other is described as "helping police".
The operation is linked to Thursday's explosion in Exeter, for which Nicky Reilly, 22, has been arrested.
Meanwhile, sources close to the investigation revealed police were aware of Mr Reilly prior to his arrest.
BBC Home Affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford says Mr Reilly became known to officers because he was close to a group which police had been gathering information on.
It is also understood Mr Reilly received a text message before he travelled to Exeter, which could be significant to the investigation.
In Friday's operation, armed police targeted two men who were drinking at the Bagatelle cafe in Plymouth.

Eyewitness Ed Hayward describes the arrests
Tony Merrick, who works nearby, told BBC News: "There were about 25-30 officers in 10 vehicles.
"They sealed off the area and two men in the cafe were surrounded."
Rebecca Pope, 25, who was looking out of a window above the cafe, said the two men were put in paper suits before being taken away in unmarked cars.
Police arrested Mr Reilly, from Plymouth, on Thursday after an explosive device detonated inside the Giraffe restaurant in Exeter.
It is thought there were two further devices which were recovered from the scene and made safe.
The BBC's Daniel Sandford said the devices contained nails, drain cleaner, kerosene, an organic oil and aluminium foil.
He added that it is not yet known if the explosion was caused by a deliberate or accidental detonation.
'Preyed upon'
Officers later revealed Mr Reilly, who was injured in the blast, had a history of mental illness.
Deputy Chief Constable Tony Melville said on Thursday evening police believed Mr Reilly had adopted the Islamic faith and had been "preyed upon" and "radicalised".
However, Devon and Cornwall Police have not since elaborated on these claims.

Nicky Reilly suffered facial injuries in Thursday's blast
Neighbours of Mr Reilly have told BBC News he converted to Islam and changed his name to Mohammed Rasheed.
Police said Mr Reilly boarded a number X38 double-decker Stagecoach bus in Bretonside bus station, Plymouth, on Thursday morning and have appealed to passengers on the service to contact them.
"We know that between 1026 and 1040 yesterday morning 54 other passengers boarded the same bus and travelled to the main bus station in Paris Street, Exeter, arriving just after midday," a spokesman said.
The explosion took place at about 1250 BST.
He was taken to hospital following the explosion where he remains under police guard.
A bomb disposal team arrived at Mr Reilly's home in the Stonehouse area of Plymouth at lunchtime on Friday.
Police investigations are continuing at the flat, while the cordon at Old Town Street has been lifted.

Now of course I'm just waiting for Muslims to condemn this and march against it with the same zeal as they did over harmless cartoons.