“A fascinating and important insight from the ever-astute French commentator Michel Gurfinkiel (subscription required) suggests that Jean-Marie Le Pen, the leader of France’s neo-fascist National Front, is poised to strike a strategic alliance with French Muslims. Those who have just done a double-take over that last sentence because they assume that French neo-fascists, like the British BNP, detest all immigrants equally and Muslims in particular, should think again.

First, one of the most striking aspects of today’s politics of racial hatred is the axis that links the far left, the far right and Islamists. If you read the websites and utterances of all three, there are certain areas where the point of view and indeed the language and the imagery are virtually identical. Three guesses what those areas are. Yup, got it in one: hatred of the Jews and of Israel.” (Melanie Phillips’s Diary thanks to walker)

Gulf War Veteran Gets Placebos Instead Of Real Medicine: “A Gulf War veteran undergoing medical treatment said he was given placebos — or sugar pills — instead of real medicine.

Like thousands of other soldiers, Army veteran Mike Woods said he developed bizarre symptoms after serving in the first Gulf War — blackouts, chest pain and numbness in the extremities.

Woods looked to the Veterans Administration for help. He said his VA doctor prescribed him a drug called Obecalp.

‘She told me there was this new drug out that would really help me with all of my physical conditions, and my pain. She really wanted me to try it,’ said Woods.

But when the pill provided no relief, Woods did some research and learned that Obecalp isn’t a medicine at all, but a sugar pill. He was shocked to learn the word ‘obecalp’ is placebo spelled backward.” (WSOC-TV thanks to Uncle $cam)