Some Good News On The Historical Front

Intrepid Citizens Save Timbuktu’s Priceless Manuscripts:

Once again civilization survives barbarism: Timbuktu’s ancient literary treasures were not destroyed after all. In a classic example of how the uncertainty of war can make bad reporters of us all, local accounts apparently vastly exaggerated the damage done to the city’s legendary library. Not only was the place not burned to the ground—as the city’s mayor claimed—but the manuscripts themselves were removed from the library by Malians last year.

It's an ugly thing when a religion designed to promote serenity is taken over by a collection of over-excited, intellectually incestuous barbarians. I hope that true Islam will prevail during my lifetime, but I wonder how lasting is to be the rise of those panicked that the world cannot and will not return to the 600's. The fact that both Australia and the United States are on the verge of overtaking Arab oil resources and production will make things all the more volatile.