Linkage

Tim Burke has a piece up on the Newsweek Qu'ran story, which points out that the problem is that, a) given the secrecy surrounding institutions like Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, it's basically impossible to know whether the story is true or not, and b) given what we do know about what goes on in those institutions, it's really quite plausible that it's true.

Europhobia has up a rant about the proposed banning of religious hatred. I'm not sure how I feel about this in the abstract: incredibly carefully drafted legislation might be sensible - I emphasise might, but this will not be incredibly carefully drafted legislation, so it won't be sensible. Also, it's a good rant.