One, via Maddow, is an informative opinion piece for The Atlantic by Ta-Nehisi Coates on the justification and rationalization of illegal/anti-religious teaching actions by our side and Al Qaeda’s side of the war, respectively.

This NYT piece is an in-depth investigation into how an American became a powerful jihadist in Somalia. His quote:

“I was finding it difficult to reconcile between having Americans attacking my brothers, at home and abroad, while I was supposed to remain completely neutral, without getting involved” is pretty striking and ties into/butts up against Coates’ piece that says:

“In combination with the furious efforts of moderate Muslims and even committed Islamists like al-Sharif, al Qaeda and its methods have been largely discredited…”

Both entities go to great intellectual lengths to justify their visceral actions/beliefs in response to each other and both are struggling with a split populace within themselves. I’m not a historian but I’m guessing this is an example of history repeating itself.

Also related, a brief outline of world history from the East/Islamic Empire view.

“Five percent of the world’s population is American; twenty-five percent of the world’s prisoners are American. The United States incarcerates more of its citizens than any country in the history of the world.

The rate is three times that of Iran, six times that of China. More than one in a hundred adults in the United States is in prison. One in nine black men ages 20 to 34 is in prison.

It is illegal to bring into the United States any goods produced by forced labor or by prisoners, yet American prisoners make 100% of the military helmets, ammunition belts, bulletproof vests, ID tags as well some other items used by the US military. Although a prisoner is not technically forced to work, solitary confinement is the punishment for refusal. They also make 93% of domestically produced paints, 36% of home appliances and 21% of office furniture.” QI via Shakesville