In addition to banning the violent so-called “Islamic Defenders Frontâ€, Indonesia’s president caves into pressure from extremist groups and also bans the Ahmadiyah movement, an act the Jakarta Post calls a blatant breach of religious freedom, a violation of the constitution and could set a precedent for further state inference in religious affairs:
- Govt Calls it a day for Ahmadiyah (The Jakarta Post)
- Editorial: To ban or Not to Ban (The Jakarta Post)
Mideast analyst George Bisharat debunks the fallacy that Muslim movements and states like Iran are irrationally aggressive and therefore can only be militarily confronted:
- The Fallacy of Islamic ‘National Suicide’ (Los Angeles Times)
Despite the signature of other opposition leaders, hardliner Hassan Aweys rejects a ceasefire between some Islamists and the government until Ethiopia fully withdraws:
- Somali Islamist Rejects Ceasefire (BBC News)
Information overload and bureaucratic mismanagement force delays in legal immigration and hinder the FBI from providing basic background checks to protect the country from terrorists…
- Return to Old Spy Rules Is Seen as Deadline Nears (New York Times)
…yet Congress is content to compound the problem, goaded into passing further FISA “reform†legislation that is invasive, ineffective and counterproductive:
- FBI Background Checks For Immigrants Are Far Behind, Audit Says (Los Angeles Times)