What Alabamians and Iranians Have in Common

I always thought the Middle East and the South had a lot in common. Now it looks like I have proof:

The proportion of those who say religion is important in their daily lives is highest in Mississippi, at 85% -- a figure that is slightly higher than the worldwide median (among all countries, rich and poor). Two others, Alabama (82%) and South Carolina (80%) are on par with the worldwide median.

Lining up these percentages with those on our worldwide list allows us to match residents of the most religious states to the global populations with which they are similar in terms of religiosity. The results produce some interesting comparisons -- Alabamians, for example, are about as likely as Iranians to say religion is an important part or their lives. Georgians in the United States are about as religious as Georgians in the Caucasus region.

It's all about Iran

I found this fascinating quote in Thomas Friedman's column this morning:

“The Gaza that Israel left in 2005 was bordering Egypt. The Gaza that Israel just came back to is now bordering Iran,” said Mamoun Fandy, director of Middle East programs at the International Institute of Strategic Studies. “Iran has become the ultimate confrontation state. I am not sure we can talk just about ‘Arab-Israeli peace’ or the ‘Arab peace initiative’ anymore. We may be looking at an ‘Iranian initiative.’ ”

It seems that much of Israel's justification for entering Gaza is to contain Iran. In it's own machiavellian sort of way, it's a brilliant move. Immoral as hell. But brilliant.

Iranians join Bush shoe protest

Further proof of how unpopular George W. is around the world:

Dozens of Iranians in the country's capital Tehran have held their own shoe-throwing rally in protest at US President George W Bush.

They were showing support for the Iraqi journalist who threw his footwear at the American leader in Baghdad.

The protesters waved their shoes in the air before throwing them at posters featuring caricatures of Mr Bush.

The journalist, Muntadar al-Zaidi, is due to go on trial in Iraq, accused of assaulting a foreign head of state.

The demonstration took place near Tehran university as people headed to Friday prayers.

One demonstrator, who called himself Mr Ghanati, said he was a member of the Islamic guards and that the Iraqi journalist had seen off the "traitor" Mr Bush with his action.

"Bush has committed a lot of cruelty against the people of Iraq and other countries," he said.

As much as I love this country, it's hard for me to argue with rest of the world's complaints again our current president. I never thought of him as an evil man. But he's certainly an incompetent one.