It can difficult for a writer to find
something fresh to write about. Top stories in the US right now include the bad
weather in New England and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's bridge woes. Not quite earth-shaking stuff, really. But, if you are a
reporter looking for a whiff of scandal to write about, religion always has something
to offer. This week's news included torrid tales of sex, money laundering, another immaculate conception, and murder in the
clergy. I always used to wonder what they got up to during the week. Check out the stories and I'll save a pew for you this Sunday.
Wednesday 22 January 2014
Wednesday 8 January 2014
Al Queda Redux
More
than a decade after the 9/11 attacks and despite losing it’s leader, Al Qaeda
remains and is experiencing a resurgence. Rather than being a small group of
radicals in hiding, the terror network’s franchises operating in Iraq and
Syria, Al-Nusra and ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant,) are serious
players in the war-torn region. In fact, this resurgence of Al Qaeda is so alarming that the US is sending more
drones to the region in response. Oddly, you might have missed this story if
you were relying on some of our major newspapers. Congratulations are in order for Liz Sly of the Washington Post, for her story on January third. USA Today also did a piece that deserves a look as
did the Chicago Tribune, (although the story was at the very bottom of their World
News page.)
The Atlanta Journal’s home page has no mention of it today, but at least we can rest easy
knowing Honey Boo Boo is recovering after her family’s auto accident. Likewise,
the editors of the Austin American-Statesman chose to report the critical
Velveeta shortage.
Some may have at this point grown tired of the situation grinding along in Syria, but any success of ISIS and similar factions there potentially threaten our NATO ally
in the region and it isn’t hard to imagine US advisers and technology soon
winging their way to Southern Turkey before Washington will ever let that happen.
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