Killed for wearing his pants too low.

I don't know what to say.

These are the people we think we can have discussions with?

ISLAMABAD: A teacher who once fought as a mujahideen against Soviet occupation forces in Afghanistan has been gunned down by the Taliban in
Pakistan's troubled Swat valley for not hiking up his 'salwar' or trousers above his ankles.

Though the Pakistani Taliban have not issued any edict for the salwar to be worn in this manner, there have been reports of the militants threatening men for not hiking up their trousers.

The militants say hiking up the trousers is essential for offering prayers.

Former mujahideen Amjad Islam, who was working as a teacher in a private school in Swat, was gunned down yesterday for not hiking his salwar above his ankles. The militants then went to Islam's house and gunned down his father, Ghani Akbar, a lawyer by profession.

Islam's body was later hung by the militants from a pole in the College Square in Matta town and local residents were warned not to touch it till Friday morning. The body was taken down and moved to Islam's house after a local jirga intervened.

Local residents said the militants had asked Islam to hitch his salwar above his ankles last morning. The teacher told them he was a former mujahideen and knew everything about Islam. He also said nobody could be forced to pull up his salwar above the ankles, The News daily reported.

Link to source article.

Hat tip to IamWilliamWallace.

Obama, Lobbyists, Waffles, Sweetie and Blackberry

This guy is just unbelievable. First he tells us he isn't going to hire ex-lobbyists and then does and when the press questions him, he doesn't like it.

President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to the White House press corps Thursday night, but got agitated when he was faced with a substantive question.

Asked how he could reconcile a strict ban on lobbyists in his administration with a deputy defense secretary nominee who lobbied for Raytheon, Obama interrupted with a knowing smile on his face.

"Ahh, see," he said, "I came down here to visit. See this is what happens. I can't end up visiting with you guys and shaking hands if I'm going to get grilled every time I come down here."

Pressed further by the Politico reporter about his Pentagon nominee, William J. Lynn III, Obama turned more serious, putting his hand on the reporter's shoulder and staring him in the eye.

"Alright, come on" he said, with obvious irritation in his voice. "We will be having a press conference at which time you can feel free to [ask] questions. Right now, I just wanted to say hello and introduce myself to you guys - that's all I was trying to do."

Link to Politico.

During the primaries he shut down a press conference, and at another he complained they wouldn't let him eat his waffles.

He also removed access by a Florida TV station because of hard questions.

WFTV-Channel 9's Barbara West conducted a satellite interview with Sen. Joe Biden on Thursday. A friend says it's some of the best entertainment he's seen recently. What do you think?

West wondered about Sen. Barack Obama's comment, to Joe the Plumber, about spreading the wealth. She quoted Karl Marx and asked how Obama isn't being a Marxist with the "spreading the wealth" comment.

"Are you joking?" said Biden, who is Obama's running mate. "No," West said.

West later asked Biden about his comments that Obama could be tested early on as president. She wondered if the Delaware senator was saying America's days as the world's leading power were over.

"I don't know who's writing your questions," Biden shot back.

Biden so disliked West's line of questioning that the Obama campaign canceled a WFTV interview with Jill Biden, the candidate's wife.

"This cancellation is non-negotiable, and further opportunities for your station to interview with this campaign are unlikely, at best for the duration of the remaining days until the election," wrote Laura K. McGinnis, Central Florida communications director for the Obama campaign

Orlando Senteinel link

And if that didn't tell you who this guy is, view the video of him telling a reporter, "Hold on a second sweetie...."

Link to video.

That was very arrogant by a man who was getting the most favorable press treatment in history. But it was a clear indication of what was coming. And now we see it again.

His decision to keep his Blackberry again shows his arrogance. He apparently cares nothing about security...yes, it will be hacked and he will send some confidential information he should not...plus it can be used to spot his position within 100 feet... that's a real security problem. Not just for him..... but also for those around him. The Secret Service pledged to protect him, but that assumed he cooperates.

Worse, the base question was a hard news question. He used the press to hype his false claim about ethics and not hiring lobbyists, and then less than 24 hours later, hires one.

And the press is supposed to be his pal??

As Col Potter said, "Horse hockey."