As many would know, Dutch member of parliament Geert Wilders has made a film called “Fitna,” expected to be released this month, which is said to examine links between the Qur’an and acts of violence. It has aroused some controversy. Well, it emerges that a Dutch public broadcasting station, in an effort at balance of some kind, was set to do something similar, except this time trying to illustrate direct links between passages of the Bible and acts of violence. The result: They found they couldn’t quite pull it off. Click here for more on the story at Jihad Watch.

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Containing 7 1/2 tons of steel salvaged from the World Trade Center, the USS New York was christened today in Louisiana. From the Washington Times:

It is sleek, mighty and gleaming silver as a Manhattan dawn. But this is a warship with real inner mettle. When the USS New York is christened today in Louisiana with a splash of champagne and a hearty cheer, few will overlook its motto: “Never forget.”

This brand new transport dock ship is bolstered with more than 7 tons of steel salvaged from the wreckage of the World Trade Center.

“This is unique. To my knowledge, I don’t know of any other case in which symbolic materials associated with an event of historic magnitude have been used in a Navy vessel,” said historian Jack Green of the Naval Historic Center.

“This ship is important to the Navy and important to the sailors who will man it. The USS New York will project American power all over the world, supporting the cause of freedom and doing it in a way that honors the courage of the heroes and victims of September 11,” said Cmdr. Jeff Davis.

She is a big girl: The New York is 684 feet long, tasked to support the amphibious, special operations and expeditionary warfare missions of the Marine Corps. And it is quite capable of transporting a landing force of up to 800.

The steel will always be near, right below their boots.

Securing its destiny has taken time, though. The fire-scourged metal — pulled from the rubble of the Twin Towers shortly after September 11 — was melted down in a Louisiana forge almost five years ago and molded into a great hunk labeled “Unit 1120,” which would one day comprise the actual bow stem of the New York. Steelworkers at the Amite Foundry treated the metal with reverence; it was “a spiritual moment,” according to press accounts at the time.

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“Three held after discovery of devices.” So reads the dry headline from the Irish national news service, RTE. The three being held are three Afghan men. “It is believed the devices may be components for explosives.” This is not yet confirmed. The men were arrested in Tralee, Co. Kerry, roughly 80 miles from Shannon Airport, where U.S. military aircraft often stop for refueling. Addendum 03/02: The three have been released; police say their “enquiries are continuing.”

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