Free Republic

The Center for Near Eastern Studies (CNES) at the University of California, Los Angeles and the UCLA School of Law's Journal for Islamic and Near Eastern Law co-sponsored a lecture (podcast available here) last month by Khaled Abou El Fadl, chair of the Islamic Studies Interdepartmental Program, with the vague title "Shari'ah Watch: A View from the Inside." The flyer for the lecture promised "an informed discussion about Shariah and its role and impact in the West," yet Abou El Fadl delivered neither. Instead, his audience of 35 -- comprising mostly seniors and left-wing students -- witnessed a meandering, repetitive...

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Federal agents have been called out to investigate a possible arson case at the construction site of a controversial Islamic Center of Murfreesboro in Rutherford County. Officials said four construction vehicles were doused in some kind of flammable liquid accelerant early Saturday morning. Firefighters were alerted to the situation by a passerby who saw flames at the site. Only one large earth hauler was set on fire before the suspect or suspects left the scene. Investigators believed the people responsible for the fire was spooked and ran off before igniting the other three pieces of machinery. Agents...

In a repeat of a week ago, the First Family this morning went to a private beach in Edgartown. The Obama motorcade - with the president, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia, 12, and Sasha, 9 - left the family's Martha's Vineyard vacation retreat at Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark at 11:07 this morning. The family is now at a private beach off Pohogomot Road, according to White House press pool reports. The area is on the opposite side of Oyster Pond and the Oyster Watcha Road area where the family spent last Saturday at a private beach. (snip)...