A new study by Harvard professor Stephen Walt and University of Chicago professor John Mearsheimer charges that the “Israel lobby” has distorted the foreign policy of the United States to the point of serious damage to U.S. interests. Perhaps anticipating that their claims might be controversial, the authors attempt to reassure any who might doubt them:
Some readers will find this analysis disturbing, but the facts recounted here are not in serious dispute among scholars.
In fact, even a cursory examination of The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy reveals that it is riddled with errors of fact, logic and omission, has inaccurate citations, displays extremely poor judgement regarding sources, and, contrary to basic scholarly standards, ignores previous serious work on the subject. The bottom line: virtually every word and argument is, or ought to be, in “serious dispute.”
In other words, a student who submitted such a paper would flunk.
The rest of the story continues here.
A prominent Harvard law professor, Alan Dershowitz, is alleging that the authors of a Harvard Kennedy School paper about the "Israel lobby," one of which is the Kennedy School's academic dean, culled sections of the paper from neo-Nazi and other anti-Israel hate Web sites.
"What we're discovering first of all is that the quotes that they use are not only wrenched out of context, but they are the common quotes that appear on hate sites," Mr. Dershowitz, who is identified in the paper as part of the "lobby," told The New York Sun.
Professor Dershowitz's thorough response, Debunking the Newest – and Oldest – Jewish Conspiracy: A Reply to the Mearsheimer-Walt “Working Paper” can be downloaded in pdf format from the Kennedy School of Government/Harvard U site here.
The abstract follows...
The working paper by Academic Dean and Professor Stephen Walt and Professor John Mearsheimer presents a conspiratorial view of history in which the Israel Lobby has a “stranglehold” on American foreign policy, the American media, think tanks and academia. In his response, Professor Alan Dershowitz demonstrates that the paper contains three types of major errors: quotations are wrenched out of context, important facts are misstated or omitted; and embarrassingly weak logic is employed. One of the authors of this paper has acknowledged that “none of the evidence represents original documentation or is derived from independent interviews.” In light of the paper’s errors, and its admitted lack of originality, Dershowitz asks why these professors would have chosen to publish a paper that does not meet their usual scholarly standards, especially given the risk – that should have been obvious to “realists” - that recycling these charges under their imprimatur of prominent authors would be featured, as they have been, on extremist websites. Dershowitz questions the authors claims that people who support Israel do not want “an open debate on issues involving Israel.” He renews his challenge to debate the issues.
Though obtaining two degrees from an Ivy League school myself, I am ashamed to admit that Harvard University, the shining star of the Ancient Eight, would have lended its name (albeit for a very brief moment in time) to such a shoddy piece of academic work that would have been thrown out of any community college in the nation as the anti-Semitic diatribe it is. The Crimson Alumni association are encouraged the voice their opinion on this shanda in the most economically injurious way possible.
Mike
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
AIPAC Update
Ahmadinejad Again Questions Whether Holocaust Occurred
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has reaffirmed comments about the Holocaust and Israel that previously drew international outrage, telling the German magazine Der Spiegel that "if there really had been a Holocaust, Israel ought to be located in Europe, not in Palestine." Ahmadinejad added that scholars who have documented the murder of European Jews are "politically motivated." The Iranian president's frequently expressed hatred of Israel and Jews has fueled concern about Tehran's pursuit of nuclear arms, an issue now being considered by the U.N. Security Council. Learn more about the threat that a nuclear Iran would pose to the United States and its allies in the Middle East.
House Panel Approves Aid to Israel
The House Appropriations Committee has approved a foreign aid package containing $2.46 billion in assistance for Israel. The lion's share of the aid – $2.34 billion – is military assistance designed to ensure that Israel can maintain its qualitative edge over potential adversaries in the Middle East. The bill also includes $120 million in economic assistance for the Jewish state. Lawmakers of both political parties have long backed aid to Israel as a means to help guarantee the security of the United States' most reliable ally in the Middle East. Urge your lawmakers to support aid to Israel.
New Hizballah Rocket Can Hit Tel Aviv
In defiance of official U.N. calls for Hizballah's disarmament, Iran has given the Lebanon-based terrorist organization rockets capable of hitting Tel Aviv and all of Israel's other major urban centers, senior security analyst Ze'ev Schiff reported in the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz. The rockets have ranges of about 125 miles, double that of the weapons Hizballah already possesses. The group attacked northern Israel with some of its older arms on Sunday, injuring an Israeli serviceman and damaging a military base. Hizballah, which has killed hundreds of Americans, Europeans and Israelis since the 1980s, gets most of its weapons and money from Iran, the leading state sponsor of international terrorism.
Israel to Participate in NATO Exercise
Continuing its cooperation with NATO, Israel will send naval vessels to participate in a Black Sea training exercise with the security organization this summer, The Jerusalem Post reported. NATO has begun working with Israel as its mission evolves toward countering international terrorism and weapons proliferation. Military units from Israel participated in NATO exercises for the first time ever last year. Israel is also a member of the alliance's Mediterranean Dialogue, a forum that facilitates military and political cooperation between NATO and selected countries along the Mediterranean basin.
U.S. Doctors Travel to Israel for Medical Mission
A group of 23 doctors from Arizona recently traveled to Israel to study the Jewish state's emergency medical system, The Arizona Jewish Post reported. Sponsored by a Tuscon Jewish organization, the trip allowed the physicians to get a first-hand look at the technological sophistication of Israeli hospitals, as well as the psychological methods used to comfort victims of terrorist attacks and their families. The Palestinian campaign of violence against its citizens has forced Israel to become a worldwide leader in emergency medicine and trauma care.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has reaffirmed comments about the Holocaust and Israel that previously drew international outrage, telling the German magazine Der Spiegel that "if there really had been a Holocaust, Israel ought to be located in Europe, not in Palestine." Ahmadinejad added that scholars who have documented the murder of European Jews are "politically motivated." The Iranian president's frequently expressed hatred of Israel and Jews has fueled concern about Tehran's pursuit of nuclear arms, an issue now being considered by the U.N. Security Council. Learn more about the threat that a nuclear Iran would pose to the United States and its allies in the Middle East.
House Panel Approves Aid to Israel
The House Appropriations Committee has approved a foreign aid package containing $2.46 billion in assistance for Israel. The lion's share of the aid – $2.34 billion – is military assistance designed to ensure that Israel can maintain its qualitative edge over potential adversaries in the Middle East. The bill also includes $120 million in economic assistance for the Jewish state. Lawmakers of both political parties have long backed aid to Israel as a means to help guarantee the security of the United States' most reliable ally in the Middle East. Urge your lawmakers to support aid to Israel.
New Hizballah Rocket Can Hit Tel Aviv
In defiance of official U.N. calls for Hizballah's disarmament, Iran has given the Lebanon-based terrorist organization rockets capable of hitting Tel Aviv and all of Israel's other major urban centers, senior security analyst Ze'ev Schiff reported in the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz. The rockets have ranges of about 125 miles, double that of the weapons Hizballah already possesses. The group attacked northern Israel with some of its older arms on Sunday, injuring an Israeli serviceman and damaging a military base. Hizballah, which has killed hundreds of Americans, Europeans and Israelis since the 1980s, gets most of its weapons and money from Iran, the leading state sponsor of international terrorism.
Israel to Participate in NATO Exercise
Continuing its cooperation with NATO, Israel will send naval vessels to participate in a Black Sea training exercise with the security organization this summer, The Jerusalem Post reported. NATO has begun working with Israel as its mission evolves toward countering international terrorism and weapons proliferation. Military units from Israel participated in NATO exercises for the first time ever last year. Israel is also a member of the alliance's Mediterranean Dialogue, a forum that facilitates military and political cooperation between NATO and selected countries along the Mediterranean basin.
U.S. Doctors Travel to Israel for Medical Mission
A group of 23 doctors from Arizona recently traveled to Israel to study the Jewish state's emergency medical system, The Arizona Jewish Post reported. Sponsored by a Tuscon Jewish organization, the trip allowed the physicians to get a first-hand look at the technological sophistication of Israeli hospitals, as well as the psychological methods used to comfort victims of terrorist attacks and their families. The Palestinian campaign of violence against its citizens has forced Israel to become a worldwide leader in emergency medicine and trauma care.
The Pope's Disastrous Speech at Auschwitz
I don't usually bother myself keeping up with speeches given by the pope. Luckily for me UNC Law Professor Eric Muller did, at least in the case of the most recent speech by Pope Benedict at Auschwitz...
When the white smoke told the world that Josef Ratzinger had been elected pope, it took some of us a moment or two to get our minds around the idea that the College of Cardinals had elevated a childhood member of the Hitler Youth to one of the world's leading positions of moral leadership. Clearly, Ratzinger had been no teenaged Nazi, but his public comments about that period of his (and his country's) life left some – myself included – with the nagging sense that he was airbrushing his memories of that time and too quickly dismissing the idea of resistance.
A synagogue visit last August and recent news of a contemplated visit to Israel were welcome moves; they left me hopeful that my concerns about airbrushing and avoidance of responsibility were wrong.
On Sunday, Pope Benedict visited Auschwitz and dashed those hopes.
The rest of Professor Muller's captivating essay can be read here.
Mike
When the white smoke told the world that Josef Ratzinger had been elected pope, it took some of us a moment or two to get our minds around the idea that the College of Cardinals had elevated a childhood member of the Hitler Youth to one of the world's leading positions of moral leadership. Clearly, Ratzinger had been no teenaged Nazi, but his public comments about that period of his (and his country's) life left some – myself included – with the nagging sense that he was airbrushing his memories of that time and too quickly dismissing the idea of resistance.
A synagogue visit last August and recent news of a contemplated visit to Israel were welcome moves; they left me hopeful that my concerns about airbrushing and avoidance of responsibility were wrong.
On Sunday, Pope Benedict visited Auschwitz and dashed those hopes.
The rest of Professor Muller's captivating essay can be read here.
Mike
Thursday, May 25, 2006
This weeks Torah portion: Bamidbar
Wishing you and yours a Shabbat Shalom from Brooklyn, New York.
Your friend at Chabad – Lubavitch,
Rabbi Chaim
******
This weeks Torah portion: Bamidbar (Numbers 1:1-4:20)
******
For candle lighting time in your area:
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/location.asp
******
Are we a Quality people?
By Rabbi Chaim
It doesn’t happen too often but I am somewhat speechless. Many things happened this week -some good and some could be much better- which I’d rather not elaborate on, but to sum it up I am at a loss for words. It’s one of those times, when you wonder, what is G-d actually thinking when he strikes young children with lifetime illnesses? Or why does G-d really plague good people with bad things? Like Tevya poses the question on Fiddler on the Roof “Yes, we are the chosen people, but G-d can you choose someone else once in a while?” As you can see I had a very emotional and stressful week…..But now to the Torah portion.
This week we begin reading the Book of Numbers. The first commandment in this fourth book of the Bible, G-d tells Moses “Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel….” go out and count the Jewish people. Give me a sum total of how many kids I have hanging out down there in the Sinai desert. Seemingly, this concept is odd, why is such an external idea so important to G-d? Since when do we give such significance to “Quantity” over “Quality”? It does not say “Go, check out their intellectual greatness or their general capabilities” but rather just count them all together, count Jewish bodies? What’s that all about?
Interestingly enough, Judaism teaches that something that is “counted” has special importance, by counting each “individual” object or person, albeit a quantitative importance, but the quantity still adds up to some real good quality. For Example, the concept of a “Minyan”, a quorum of Ten Men needed to say certain very holy parts of the three daily prayers. So although, it is ten physical men that you need in Shul, -no matter what their background, affiliation or Jewish observance- it is this quantity of men that makes the Divine Presence rest in their midst. True Divine Quality.
At the giving of the Torah –which we will celebrate next week- the Medrash tells us that, every Jewish soul of all generations had to be present at this momentous and historic occasion. Had one Jewish soul –even the lowest of the low- been missing at the time of this majestic event, the Torah would have stayed on high and never been giving to us Jews, because it was the quantity that was needed. All six hundred thousand Jewish souls ever created had to be there; or else we Jews would have never been given the Torah and would be just like every other Tom, Dick and Harry hanging out at the local bar.
You hear me: QUANTITY COUNTS!! Some worry how can you put on Teffilin with a Jew that may not know the deepest Kabalistic meaning of the Mitzvah? How can you ask a three year old girl to light the Shabbos candles, she does not even know how to say the blessing on her own? And that is of course very wrong! The more good things you do, the more quality you have. The more quantity of Mitzvos done in our world -even without full meaning and focus- the more the world becomes a world of quality.
Don’t listen to that nit-picker telling you you’re not perfect. Judaism believes that practice makes perfect, the more you practice –Mitzvos- the more perfected the world becomes.
In Yiddishkait: Quantity + Quantity = Quality.
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of the United States wherever they may be. Chazak! L'Chaim!
******
The ETorah is an educational project of
Chabad Student Outreach
Your friend at Chabad – Lubavitch,
Rabbi Chaim
******
This weeks Torah portion: Bamidbar (Numbers 1:1-4:20)
******
For candle lighting time in your area:
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/location.asp
******
Are we a Quality people?
By Rabbi Chaim
It doesn’t happen too often but I am somewhat speechless. Many things happened this week -some good and some could be much better- which I’d rather not elaborate on, but to sum it up I am at a loss for words. It’s one of those times, when you wonder, what is G-d actually thinking when he strikes young children with lifetime illnesses? Or why does G-d really plague good people with bad things? Like Tevya poses the question on Fiddler on the Roof “Yes, we are the chosen people, but G-d can you choose someone else once in a while?” As you can see I had a very emotional and stressful week…..But now to the Torah portion.
This week we begin reading the Book of Numbers. The first commandment in this fourth book of the Bible, G-d tells Moses “Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel….” go out and count the Jewish people. Give me a sum total of how many kids I have hanging out down there in the Sinai desert. Seemingly, this concept is odd, why is such an external idea so important to G-d? Since when do we give such significance to “Quantity” over “Quality”? It does not say “Go, check out their intellectual greatness or their general capabilities” but rather just count them all together, count Jewish bodies? What’s that all about?
Interestingly enough, Judaism teaches that something that is “counted” has special importance, by counting each “individual” object or person, albeit a quantitative importance, but the quantity still adds up to some real good quality. For Example, the concept of a “Minyan”, a quorum of Ten Men needed to say certain very holy parts of the three daily prayers. So although, it is ten physical men that you need in Shul, -no matter what their background, affiliation or Jewish observance- it is this quantity of men that makes the Divine Presence rest in their midst. True Divine Quality.
At the giving of the Torah –which we will celebrate next week- the Medrash tells us that, every Jewish soul of all generations had to be present at this momentous and historic occasion. Had one Jewish soul –even the lowest of the low- been missing at the time of this majestic event, the Torah would have stayed on high and never been giving to us Jews, because it was the quantity that was needed. All six hundred thousand Jewish souls ever created had to be there; or else we Jews would have never been given the Torah and would be just like every other Tom, Dick and Harry hanging out at the local bar.
You hear me: QUANTITY COUNTS!! Some worry how can you put on Teffilin with a Jew that may not know the deepest Kabalistic meaning of the Mitzvah? How can you ask a three year old girl to light the Shabbos candles, she does not even know how to say the blessing on her own? And that is of course very wrong! The more good things you do, the more quality you have. The more quantity of Mitzvos done in our world -even without full meaning and focus- the more the world becomes a world of quality.
Don’t listen to that nit-picker telling you you’re not perfect. Judaism believes that practice makes perfect, the more you practice –Mitzvos- the more perfected the world becomes.
In Yiddishkait: Quantity + Quantity = Quality.
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of the United States wherever they may be. Chazak! L'Chaim!
******
The ETorah is an educational project of
Chabad Student Outreach
Rehberg's Absense Noted
On Tuesday, the House overwhelmingly approved the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006.
The House of Representatives sent a powerful message to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority—the United States will not assist a government led by a terrorist group bent on the destruction of Israel and responsible for killing hundreds of Israelis and more than two dozen Americans. Hamas’ emergence as the majority in the Palestinian legislature in a democratically held election is a major setback for the U.S. goal of bringing peace to the region. The United Sates has made clear that it will not support such a government until it recognizes Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, renounces violence and abides by all past Israeli-Palestinian agreements.
The bill strengthens the ban on direct aid to the PA until the president can certify that the PA is not controlled by a terrorist group and meets a series of conditions, including recognizing Israel and renouncing violence. The legislation does not seek to harm the Palestinian people, allowing humanitarian aid to continue unfettered.
The vote was 361 Yeas, 37 Nays, with 25 Not Voting. Denny Rehberg was on the list of those 25 Representatives not voting either in favor or against this measure. His absence has been duly noted and I hope will be REMEMBERED on election day.
Mike
The House of Representatives sent a powerful message to the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority—the United States will not assist a government led by a terrorist group bent on the destruction of Israel and responsible for killing hundreds of Israelis and more than two dozen Americans. Hamas’ emergence as the majority in the Palestinian legislature in a democratically held election is a major setback for the U.S. goal of bringing peace to the region. The United Sates has made clear that it will not support such a government until it recognizes Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, renounces violence and abides by all past Israeli-Palestinian agreements.
The bill strengthens the ban on direct aid to the PA until the president can certify that the PA is not controlled by a terrorist group and meets a series of conditions, including recognizing Israel and renouncing violence. The legislation does not seek to harm the Palestinian people, allowing humanitarian aid to continue unfettered.
The vote was 361 Yeas, 37 Nays, with 25 Not Voting. Denny Rehberg was on the list of those 25 Representatives not voting either in favor or against this measure. His absence has been duly noted and I hope will be REMEMBERED on election day.
Mike
Alabama AG Primary Shame
A Democratic candidate for Alabama's attorney general's office has been exposed as a Holocaust denier less than a month before the state's June 6 primaries.
Larry Darby believes that there were no more than 140,000 Jewish deaths during World War II — most of them having been brought on by typhus — and that the historically accepted figure of 6 million killed is a lie promoted by the "Holocaust industry," The Associated Press reported last week.
The revelation about Darby, who failed to capture the Libertarian nominaton for attorney general in 2002, has sent the state's Democratic Party scrambling to keep him out of the two-way primary, which also includes Mobile County's district attorney, John Tyson Jr.
According to a poll of 400 registered voters, conducted last month for Alabama press outlets, Tyson has 21% of the vote against Darby's 12%, with about two-thirds of respondents undecided. The survey had a margin of error of five percentage points.
Undecided?! Undecided?!
Undecided about a man who denies the Holocaust? Undecided about a man who advocates white supremacy?
"Someone needs to speak up for the white man," he told the Decatur Daily News. "It's been a long time since someone took up that bat and took a swing for the white man."
Tyson said that aside from his views on race and the Holocaust, Darby also has publicly advocated legalizing drugs and shooting all illegal immigrants.
Darby's Aunt Mommy remains unavailable for comment. While many on the Jewish right and elsewhere are promoting this story as if Darby was the personal choice of Howard Dean in the race, it remains painfully obvious that Darby is not the "rising star of the Alabama Democratic Party," as they would like you believe. but rather a mistake, both political and genetic.
Mike
Larry Darby believes that there were no more than 140,000 Jewish deaths during World War II — most of them having been brought on by typhus — and that the historically accepted figure of 6 million killed is a lie promoted by the "Holocaust industry," The Associated Press reported last week.
The revelation about Darby, who failed to capture the Libertarian nominaton for attorney general in 2002, has sent the state's Democratic Party scrambling to keep him out of the two-way primary, which also includes Mobile County's district attorney, John Tyson Jr.
According to a poll of 400 registered voters, conducted last month for Alabama press outlets, Tyson has 21% of the vote against Darby's 12%, with about two-thirds of respondents undecided. The survey had a margin of error of five percentage points.
Undecided?! Undecided?!
Undecided about a man who denies the Holocaust? Undecided about a man who advocates white supremacy?
"Someone needs to speak up for the white man," he told the Decatur Daily News. "It's been a long time since someone took up that bat and took a swing for the white man."
Tyson said that aside from his views on race and the Holocaust, Darby also has publicly advocated legalizing drugs and shooting all illegal immigrants.
Darby's Aunt Mommy remains unavailable for comment. While many on the Jewish right and elsewhere are promoting this story as if Darby was the personal choice of Howard Dean in the race, it remains painfully obvious that Darby is not the "rising star of the Alabama Democratic Party," as they would like you believe. but rather a mistake, both political and genetic.
Mike
A Stamp Worth Having
From the JTA:The United States Postal Service will issue a stamp next week honoring an American diplomat who helped Jews escape the Holocaust.
The stamp will honor Hiram Bingham IV, who provided fake visas to journalist and scholar Varian Fry, who helped Jews pass into safety.
Bingham also hid Jews in his home after he was posted in southern France in 1940.
After German and French officials complained his activities, Bingham was transferred to Argentina.
In 1946, he resigned from the U.S. Foreign Service in protest over the U.S. refusal to investigate how war criminals were being given safe haven in the South American country.
"Bingham is the only U.S. diplomat that we know of who risked his career, indeed sacrificed his career, in order to save Jews from the Holocaust," Rafael Medoff, director of the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, told The Washington Post.
It's The Joooz!
It seems all the rage in recent months to blame the Jews for just about every problem in the Middle East and in particular the latest brouhaha regarding the controversy surrounding the claim that Iran planned to require Jews and Christians, among others, to wear a color identifying them as a religious minority.
In recent days the useful idiots of far left in particular have been been throwing around the AIPAC and neo-con canard that the story was promulgated, as Touchstone claims "to whip us up in an anti-Iranian frenzy." I suppose the simple fact that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for the complete annihilation of Israel and denies the Holocaust ever happened wouldn't be reason enough to trust the veracity of the initial reporting of the story. It is awfully hard to believe that a country whose leader calls for Israel to be “wiped off the map” would do such a thing. Right?
What these cretin's of the left seem unable or unwiling to do is separate the Bush administration's lies that led us into the morass in Iraq from the myth that if only Israel ceased to exist all of our "problems" in the Middle East would suddenly disappear.
Radical Islam and their comrades on the far left often present the Jews (codeword: AIPAC, neo-con's) as the driving force behind their theory of Zionist Globalization, the Jewish "conspiracy" to dominate the world by controlling its economy, capital and media.
Anti-Semitism on the far left is unfortunately going through a process of Islamization. It begins with the deligitimization of the State of Israel by accusing Israel of genocide (as Bozeman CPA Mark Tokarski often does in the comments) against the palestinian Arabs. Despite the fact that following the Six Day War in 1967 the population of palestinian Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza was roughly 1.1 million, and today approaches 4 million. Do these numbers indicate a mass extermination of human beings? By comparison the Jewish population of Europe in 1939 was roughly 15 million. By the end of 1945 a mere 9 million Jews remained. Genocide? You be the judge.
These apologists for Arab atrocities on the left would have you believe that if the 13,486,861 million square miles of Muslim territory simply absorbed Israel's meager 20,770 square miles all would be well in the world.
AIPAC in particular seems to be singled out on an almost weekly basis as the poster-child of a nefarious connection between the current administration and its policy towards the Middle East. One only need view an article appearing on the quasi-socialist Portland (OR) "Indy Media Center" (independent perhaps only from the National Alliance or other neo-Nazi groups), and the associated comments on the website, singling out Oregon Governor (and Democrat) Ted Kulongoski for his vocal support of AIPAC at a recent meeting in Portland, as proof of the subconscious convergence between the brownshirts of the right and the anti-Zionists of the left.
Is it any wonder, then, that it becomes almost second nature for the pseudo-journalists on the far left to conflate the dress code news coming from Iran last week with a conspiracy involving AIPAC without any substantive proof ? Yglesias says, "AIPAC's been trying to get the United States to go to war with Iran for some time now, so it's hardly a surprise to see them acting in the maximally alarmist way." Yet, in the article he links to, AIPAC is only mentioned once, in the context that AIPAC sent an e-mail to its members regarding the Iran dress code story, (as one would expect them to) but the context in which he presents it supposes that the reader will not bother to read that AIPAC was not behind the story, because in the minds of so many of the useful idiots it simply must be true. NO where does Yglesias attempt to explain how AIPAC is "trying to get" the U.S. into a war in Iran. He doesn't have to. The pathology of the far-left already accepts the inane connection.
Bernard Weiner of The Crisis Papers asserts that Jews "are, in some ways, as ancient as they come, and therefore are handy scapegoats when an outlet is needed for blame and resentment; scapegoats are required in almost any time of crisis... Anti-Semitism on the Left is generally not spoken about, but it's real and appears to be growing. Jew-haters often can hide their true feelings and arguments inside broadsides against Israeli policy...Suffice it to say that elements of anti-Semitism are alive and well not only in the usual hate and neo-Nazi sites on the internet but also can be found where most of us live in alternative, progressive and even mainstream circles."
I intend to not let a moment pass when I don't call out anyone on the Left OR Right for singling out either overtly or covertly any organization of which I am a member for an unwarranted attack on their motives. The luminescence of verity is often a disinfectant for the murkiness of innuendo.
Mike
In recent days the useful idiots of far left in particular have been been throwing around the AIPAC and neo-con canard that the story was promulgated, as Touchstone claims "to whip us up in an anti-Iranian frenzy." I suppose the simple fact that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has repeatedly called for the complete annihilation of Israel and denies the Holocaust ever happened wouldn't be reason enough to trust the veracity of the initial reporting of the story. It is awfully hard to believe that a country whose leader calls for Israel to be “wiped off the map” would do such a thing. Right?
What these cretin's of the left seem unable or unwiling to do is separate the Bush administration's lies that led us into the morass in Iraq from the myth that if only Israel ceased to exist all of our "problems" in the Middle East would suddenly disappear.
Radical Islam and their comrades on the far left often present the Jews (codeword: AIPAC, neo-con's) as the driving force behind their theory of Zionist Globalization, the Jewish "conspiracy" to dominate the world by controlling its economy, capital and media.
Anti-Semitism on the far left is unfortunately going through a process of Islamization. It begins with the deligitimization of the State of Israel by accusing Israel of genocide (as Bozeman CPA Mark Tokarski often does in the comments) against the palestinian Arabs. Despite the fact that following the Six Day War in 1967 the population of palestinian Arabs in the West Bank and Gaza was roughly 1.1 million, and today approaches 4 million. Do these numbers indicate a mass extermination of human beings? By comparison the Jewish population of Europe in 1939 was roughly 15 million. By the end of 1945 a mere 9 million Jews remained. Genocide? You be the judge.
These apologists for Arab atrocities on the left would have you believe that if the 13,486,861 million square miles of Muslim territory simply absorbed Israel's meager 20,770 square miles all would be well in the world.
AIPAC in particular seems to be singled out on an almost weekly basis as the poster-child of a nefarious connection between the current administration and its policy towards the Middle East. One only need view an article appearing on the quasi-socialist Portland (OR) "Indy Media Center" (independent perhaps only from the National Alliance or other neo-Nazi groups), and the associated comments on the website, singling out Oregon Governor (and Democrat) Ted Kulongoski for his vocal support of AIPAC at a recent meeting in Portland, as proof of the subconscious convergence between the brownshirts of the right and the anti-Zionists of the left.
Is it any wonder, then, that it becomes almost second nature for the pseudo-journalists on the far left to conflate the dress code news coming from Iran last week with a conspiracy involving AIPAC without any substantive proof ? Yglesias says, "AIPAC's been trying to get the United States to go to war with Iran for some time now, so it's hardly a surprise to see them acting in the maximally alarmist way." Yet, in the article he links to, AIPAC is only mentioned once, in the context that AIPAC sent an e-mail to its members regarding the Iran dress code story, (as one would expect them to) but the context in which he presents it supposes that the reader will not bother to read that AIPAC was not behind the story, because in the minds of so many of the useful idiots it simply must be true. NO where does Yglesias attempt to explain how AIPAC is "trying to get" the U.S. into a war in Iran. He doesn't have to. The pathology of the far-left already accepts the inane connection.
Bernard Weiner of The Crisis Papers asserts that Jews "are, in some ways, as ancient as they come, and therefore are handy scapegoats when an outlet is needed for blame and resentment; scapegoats are required in almost any time of crisis... Anti-Semitism on the Left is generally not spoken about, but it's real and appears to be growing. Jew-haters often can hide their true feelings and arguments inside broadsides against Israeli policy...Suffice it to say that elements of anti-Semitism are alive and well not only in the usual hate and neo-Nazi sites on the internet but also can be found where most of us live in alternative, progressive and even mainstream circles."
I intend to not let a moment pass when I don't call out anyone on the Left OR Right for singling out either overtly or covertly any organization of which I am a member for an unwarranted attack on their motives. The luminescence of verity is often a disinfectant for the murkiness of innuendo.
Mike
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
AIPAC Update
Israeli Prime Minister Addresses Congress
Ehud Olmert on Wednesday became the first Israeli prime minister in more than a decade to address a joint meeting of both houses of Congress, thanking U.S. lawmakers for their efforts to stop Iran's quest for nuclear arms and isolate the terrorist-controlled government of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Olmert specifically praised the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, which would block most aid to the Hamas-led PA, and the Iran Freedom Support Act, which would seek to choke off funds Iran could use for its atomic programs. Both bills have been passed by the House of Representatives and await consideration in the Senate. Olmert's address to Congress followed Tuesday meetings with President Bush that Bush said "reaffirmed the deep and abiding ties between Israel and the United States." Read the full text of Olmert's remarks to Congress.
House Votes to Restrict Aid to Hamas-Led PA
The House of Representatives on Tuesday voted 361-37 to approve the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act (PATA), legislation that seeks to isolate the Hamas-led government of the Palestinian Authority. PATA makes clear that the United States will not recognize or provide aid to a Hamas-led PA until the terrorist group renounces violence, dismantles the terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza, recognizes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and accepts all previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements. Exceptions would be made for humanitarian assistance. The bill would also prohibit official U.S. contacts with members of Palestinian terrorist groups, including Hamas. Thank your representative for supporting PATA, and urge your senators to vote for its Senate companion.
U.S. Pressure Deepens Iran's Economic Isolation
Seeking to stop Iran's quest for nuclear weapons, the United States is utilizing anti-terrorism laws such as the Iran Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA) to persuade international banks to limit their activities in the Islamic Republic, The New York Times reported. Partially as a result of the U.S. pressure, four leading European banks – UBS and Credit Suisse of Switzerland, ABN Amro of the Netherlands and London-based HSBC – have cut back on their dealings with Iran. ILSA authorizes sanctions against foreign companies investing in Iran. The U.N. Security Council is now considering a resolution that could lead to internationally backed sanctions on Iran if it does not give up its illicit atomic programs. Urge your lawmakers to support the Iran Freedom Support Act, which would renew and strengthen ILSA.
Israel Working to Meet Palestinian Humanitarian Needs
Israel has decided to give $11 million to non-governmental organizations to help meet Palestinian humanitarian needs, bypassing the Hamas-controlled government of the Palestinian Authority (PA). The money will buy medicine and medical equipment. Both the United States and Israel are taking steps to provide for the basic needs of the Palestinian people while maintaining efforts to isolate the terrorist-led PA. Read about U.S. and Israeli efforts to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Palestinian areas.
Palestinian Rocket Hits Israeli School
Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fired three Qassam rockets into Israel over the weekend, with one of them landing in a classroom at a religious school in the southern town of Sderot, Ynetnews.com reported. No students were in the room at the time of the strike, which occurred during a school prayer service. The incident represents the second time in as many months that a Qassam has almost caused a catastrophe in southern Israel. In April, one of the rockets nearly ignited a cache of flammable materials in the town of Ashkelon's industrial zone. Gaza-based terrorists have fired about 300 Qassams at Israel since the beginning of 2006. The Palestinian Authority has yet to meet its obligations to stop the attacks and dismantle the groups that carry them out.
Buffett Buys Stake in Israeli Economy
In a sign of the strength of Israel's economy, U.S. investment magnate Warren Buffett—the world's second-richest man—recently purchased an 80 percent stake in Iscar, an Israeli metalwork company based in the Galilee, The New York Times reported. "I plan further acquisitions of Israeli companies in the future," Buffett said recently. "I believe in the Israeli market and the Israeli economy and I think now is a good time to invest here."The Israeli economy has recently seen a tremendous upsurge—it has grown at an annual rate of about 4 to 5 percent over the last several years and jumped 6.6 percent in the first quarter of 2006—after experiencing rough times during the wave of Palestinian terrorism that began in 2000.
Ehud Olmert on Wednesday became the first Israeli prime minister in more than a decade to address a joint meeting of both houses of Congress, thanking U.S. lawmakers for their efforts to stop Iran's quest for nuclear arms and isolate the terrorist-controlled government of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Olmert specifically praised the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, which would block most aid to the Hamas-led PA, and the Iran Freedom Support Act, which would seek to choke off funds Iran could use for its atomic programs. Both bills have been passed by the House of Representatives and await consideration in the Senate. Olmert's address to Congress followed Tuesday meetings with President Bush that Bush said "reaffirmed the deep and abiding ties between Israel and the United States." Read the full text of Olmert's remarks to Congress.
House Votes to Restrict Aid to Hamas-Led PA
The House of Representatives on Tuesday voted 361-37 to approve the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act (PATA), legislation that seeks to isolate the Hamas-led government of the Palestinian Authority. PATA makes clear that the United States will not recognize or provide aid to a Hamas-led PA until the terrorist group renounces violence, dismantles the terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza, recognizes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and accepts all previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements. Exceptions would be made for humanitarian assistance. The bill would also prohibit official U.S. contacts with members of Palestinian terrorist groups, including Hamas. Thank your representative for supporting PATA, and urge your senators to vote for its Senate companion.
U.S. Pressure Deepens Iran's Economic Isolation
Seeking to stop Iran's quest for nuclear weapons, the United States is utilizing anti-terrorism laws such as the Iran Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA) to persuade international banks to limit their activities in the Islamic Republic, The New York Times reported. Partially as a result of the U.S. pressure, four leading European banks – UBS and Credit Suisse of Switzerland, ABN Amro of the Netherlands and London-based HSBC – have cut back on their dealings with Iran. ILSA authorizes sanctions against foreign companies investing in Iran. The U.N. Security Council is now considering a resolution that could lead to internationally backed sanctions on Iran if it does not give up its illicit atomic programs. Urge your lawmakers to support the Iran Freedom Support Act, which would renew and strengthen ILSA.
Israel Working to Meet Palestinian Humanitarian Needs
Israel has decided to give $11 million to non-governmental organizations to help meet Palestinian humanitarian needs, bypassing the Hamas-controlled government of the Palestinian Authority (PA). The money will buy medicine and medical equipment. Both the United States and Israel are taking steps to provide for the basic needs of the Palestinian people while maintaining efforts to isolate the terrorist-led PA. Read about U.S. and Israeli efforts to prevent a humanitarian crisis in Palestinian areas.
Palestinian Rocket Hits Israeli School
Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fired three Qassam rockets into Israel over the weekend, with one of them landing in a classroom at a religious school in the southern town of Sderot, Ynetnews.com reported. No students were in the room at the time of the strike, which occurred during a school prayer service. The incident represents the second time in as many months that a Qassam has almost caused a catastrophe in southern Israel. In April, one of the rockets nearly ignited a cache of flammable materials in the town of Ashkelon's industrial zone. Gaza-based terrorists have fired about 300 Qassams at Israel since the beginning of 2006. The Palestinian Authority has yet to meet its obligations to stop the attacks and dismantle the groups that carry them out.
Buffett Buys Stake in Israeli Economy
In a sign of the strength of Israel's economy, U.S. investment magnate Warren Buffett—the world's second-richest man—recently purchased an 80 percent stake in Iscar, an Israeli metalwork company based in the Galilee, The New York Times reported. "I plan further acquisitions of Israeli companies in the future," Buffett said recently. "I believe in the Israeli market and the Israeli economy and I think now is a good time to invest here."The Israeli economy has recently seen a tremendous upsurge—it has grown at an annual rate of about 4 to 5 percent over the last several years and jumped 6.6 percent in the first quarter of 2006—after experiencing rough times during the wave of Palestinian terrorism that began in 2000.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Tester: "A Stand-Up Guy"
Today, Lee Newspapers tackles the Tester campaign in a rather fair piece highlighting the strengths and weakness of Tester's endeavor to wrestle the seat from the incumbent.
If nothing else, the claim, usually coming from the political right, that no one knows where Tester stands on the issues should be erased by the aforementioned story. Don't let the Burns machine try to tell you anything different, spinning Tester's campaign into a web of tax increases and creeping socialism. If it's socialism you want, vote for Leather Daddy Paul Richards. If you want a decent, hardworking, and ethically clean Montanan to represent us in Washington I believe it's readily apparent who that man is.
Burns and his future promises for delivering big for Montana only proves that the Show-Me (the money) Senator really only cares about the way things were done in the past. If I were a conservative I'd be a short ride from Warm Springs away from crazy to even consider voting for Burns. At least Keenan is running as a conservative, and I genuinely respect a man who sticks to his principles.
A really important point is that it is the essence of Toryism is to believe that the past was immeasurably better than the present or any possible future while at the same time cooking with gas, driving a car, heating his home, watching his preachers (or porn) on the tube and communicating via a computer.
I don't know about insane, but certainly it IS dangerously unrealistic. It presumes that there really WERE good old days, and that everyone who lived in them were so damned happy that they never even looked for the point of death, confined by fear and trembling, less than five feet tall, without language, and confined by a lack of transportation.
And, as to human relations, a relative of mine once responded to a friends plaintive "they don't make women the way they used to" with "you're right, and what's more they never did."
Yes, the misery, the constant complaints of the conservative, the backward, the primitive, thrives on the vision of a Never-Never Land, thrives on eviscerating their opponent, any opponent, with lies and half truths in the hope that the public at large buys their schtick without fact checking and that some of the mud they sling will actually stick.
Want FACTS? Want a logical choice, the best and ONLY chance we as Democrats have of beating Burns in November? I believe Tester's on the right side of just about every issue that matters to me during this election cycle and I believe that as more people throughout Montana get to know him in the final 15 days of the primary campaign he stands at least a even chance of beating Little John.
"If I had to put it in one word, he's a stand-up guy," said Dave Louvar, owner of the Big Sandy grocery store. "I think highly of him. He's a small-town guy."
A small-town guy is just the kind of man we need to send to Washington in November to stir up the pot a little.
Mike
If nothing else, the claim, usually coming from the political right, that no one knows where Tester stands on the issues should be erased by the aforementioned story. Don't let the Burns machine try to tell you anything different, spinning Tester's campaign into a web of tax increases and creeping socialism. If it's socialism you want, vote for Leather Daddy Paul Richards. If you want a decent, hardworking, and ethically clean Montanan to represent us in Washington I believe it's readily apparent who that man is.
Burns and his future promises for delivering big for Montana only proves that the Show-Me (the money) Senator really only cares about the way things were done in the past. If I were a conservative I'd be a short ride from Warm Springs away from crazy to even consider voting for Burns. At least Keenan is running as a conservative, and I genuinely respect a man who sticks to his principles.
A really important point is that it is the essence of Toryism is to believe that the past was immeasurably better than the present or any possible future while at the same time cooking with gas, driving a car, heating his home, watching his preachers (or porn) on the tube and communicating via a computer.
I don't know about insane, but certainly it IS dangerously unrealistic. It presumes that there really WERE good old days, and that everyone who lived in them were so damned happy that they never even looked for the point of death, confined by fear and trembling, less than five feet tall, without language, and confined by a lack of transportation.
And, as to human relations, a relative of mine once responded to a friends plaintive "they don't make women the way they used to" with "you're right, and what's more they never did."
Yes, the misery, the constant complaints of the conservative, the backward, the primitive, thrives on the vision of a Never-Never Land, thrives on eviscerating their opponent, any opponent, with lies and half truths in the hope that the public at large buys their schtick without fact checking and that some of the mud they sling will actually stick.
Want FACTS? Want a logical choice, the best and ONLY chance we as Democrats have of beating Burns in November? I believe Tester's on the right side of just about every issue that matters to me during this election cycle and I believe that as more people throughout Montana get to know him in the final 15 days of the primary campaign he stands at least a even chance of beating Little John.
"If I had to put it in one word, he's a stand-up guy," said Dave Louvar, owner of the Big Sandy grocery store. "I think highly of him. He's a small-town guy."
A small-town guy is just the kind of man we need to send to Washington in November to stir up the pot a little.
Mike
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Yet Another George W. Bush Joke...
...our national punishment for having a President that inspires jokes instead of respect. And just think, Bush was supposed to restore our national dignity.
So, from e-mail this evening:
Mike
So, from e-mail this evening:
After numerous rounds of "we don't know if Osama is still
alive" Osama himself decided to send George Bush a letter in his own handwriting
to let him know he was still in the game.
Bush opened the letter and it appeared to contain a single
line of coded message:
370HSSV-0773H
Bush was baffled so he e-mailed it to Condi Rice. Condi and
her aides had no clue either, so they sent it to the FBI. No one could solve it
at the FBI so it went to the CIA and then to the NSA. With no clue as to its
meaning they eventually asked Britain's MI-6 for help.
Within a minute MI-6 cabled the White House with this
reply:
"Tell the President he's holding the message upside
down."
Mike
Pali's Test Russian Rocket
Israeli PM Olmert does not want to jeopardize Russian oil shipments into Israel, and is not reacting to the latest news of the Russian BM-21 Grad rocket being test fired in Gaza, for preparation for attacks against innocent Israeli civilians.
Mike
TEL AVIV [MENL] -- Palestinian insurgents have been testing indigenous versions of a Russian-origin short-range rocket in preparation for mass production.No word from Olmert's office on how the chickens fared.
Israeli military sources said Islamic Jihad has been test-firing indigenous version of the BM-21 Grad rocket from the northern Gaza Strip. The sources said the Grad was being tested for range and accuracy.
"We believe Islamic Jihad, probably with Hamas, has been developing and producing prototypes of the Grad," a military source said. "We know they have the expertise and the equipment to produce the rocket."
So far, the Grad rocket has been fired three times from the northern Gaza Strip into Israel. The last time was on Tuesday, when the rocket landed in a chicken coop in an Israeli kibbutz along the border with the Gaza Strip. Nobody was injured.
Mike
Friday, May 19, 2006
Yellow Star Controversy
Today the bandwidth has been all abuzz over news coming from Canada that Iran will require the few remaining Jews, Christians and other religious minorities resident in the country to wear colors identifying themselves as such, invoking horrid memories of how Nazi Germany treated Jews and other groups during the Shoah.I didn't jump on the story when I first heard about it because I thought that certainly a nation on the cusp of complete and total political and economic isolation wouldn't commit national suicide by actually promulgating such a policy. It's one thing to host and finance various worldwide gatherings of Arab Holocaust deniers, one would expect nothing less from the nations in the region. It's quite another leap to conjure up associations with Nazi Germany and the Holocaust while at the same time pretending to be taken seriously in other matters relating to the "peaceful" production of nuclear energy.
While there is no doubt that the current regime in Iran is a repulsive player on the international stage, and there is actually a scintilla of truth to the story that the Iranian parliament is considering what they call a "national dress code," of sorts, the initial rumor coming from various Iranian dissident groups in Montreal, with a definate and legitimate axe to grind against Tehran, have been wildly overstated.
The reaction to the supposed news has been predictable. An untypically robust response from Israel came in the form of a response by the Israeli Minister for Internal Security, Avi Dichter.
"Whoever makes Jews anywhere wear the yellow star again, will find themselves in a coffin draped in black."It's clearly apparant that Israel and Diaspora Jews need to embark on an operation to rescue the Jews of Persia. While I have no census figures on the number of Jews living in Iran I'll assume the number is far less than the 50,000+ rescused by the Israeli Government from Yemen during Operation Magic Carpet beginning in 1949. If it was possible then it's certinly possible now.
Meretz Chairman Yossi Beilin said, "Israel could no longer be satisfied with warnings, and that the moment Jews are forced to wear the yellow band, Israel must act to evacuate all Jews from Iran." He added that, "Israel must stand at the forefront of efforts to separate Iran's crazy and Hitlerite regime from government control.Now is the time for members of the worldwide and American Jewish community (millions strong and billions rich) to find common ground, put aside our legitimate differences of opinion on matters Toraic and Halachic, and attempt to rescue from Iran our Farsi speaking mispacha so that their rich culture and traditions, unique from our similar but different Ashkenazic and Sephardic culture, can be preserved.
Iran was once a hospitable place for Jews, with a thriving religious and social culture. At one time in the not too distant past it was even possible for Jews from Iran to travel to Israel without a passport, such was the friendship of the two nations. I remember little of a trip our family made to Tehran in the early 70's except of the hospitality we received from our hosts, now living in exile in Zurich. Unfortunately times have changed and now require from all of us a concerted effort towards Olam Haba directed at Iran, and sooner rather than later. The Talmud teaches us that “Whoever saves a single life is as if one saves the entire world.”
Times a wasting.
Mike
Security Clearance Double Standard
While the Administration boasts of appointing Gregg Rickman as the new anti-Semitism czar over at the State Department....
Mike
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday named Gregg Rickman, a dogged investigator who has tracked the Swiss banks role in the Holocaust, as the first special envoy for monitoring and combating anti-Semitism around the world....perhaps the first order of business for Mr. Rickman should be investigating anti-Semitism at the Department of Defense.
The Pentagon is invoking the prosecution of two pro-Israel lobbyists and a Defense Department analyst for illegal use of classified information as a basis for stripping security clearances from government contractor employees who have dual citizenship in America and Israel or family members living in the Jewish state.Perhaps when Rickman is finished with the Pentagon he can provide a plausible explanation as to why our tax dollars are being used to liberate Iraq so that Iraq can then be free to boycott Israel.
In at least three instances, Defense Department attorneys have used or attempted to use the case involving the former staffers of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee to justify withdrawing a security clearance or denying one in the first place, according to a Virginia lawyer who closely tracks such disputes, Sheldon Cohen.
The US-backed Iraqi government sent an official representative to this week's meeting of the Arab League Boycott Office in Damascus, The Jerusalem Post has learned, prompting criticism from members of Congress and the Bush administration.
Liaison officers from 14 countries met for four days this week to discuss ways of intensifying the Arab embargo against Israel. Among those taking part were delegates from several ostensible US allies, such as Iraq, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait.
Mike
Writing the High Country
Writing the High Country:
A Fiction Workshop Intensive on a Western Cattle Ranch
Have you ever wanted to spend the morning on horseback and the afternoon writing about the quiet pull of a mountain range?
Here’s your chance: a week long fiction workshop intensive located on a working cattle ranch near the Snake River in the Idaho Tetons. We will read a selection of classic and contemporary western writing, discussing both the legacies of the mythical “old west” and the realities of the “new west” as they play out in literature. Ranching activities (trail rides, round-ups, camp fire yarns) and a rodeo will be interspersed throughout the workshop schedule. Each participant will emerge from the week with a piece of short fiction. Readings from Wallace Stegner, William Kittredge, Richard Hugo, Cormac McCarthy, Thomas McGuane, Richard Ford, Barry Lopez, Annie Proulx among others.
The Location: A working cattle ranch, Granite Creek Ranch is located in the Snake River valley in Ririe, Idaho, halfway between Jackson Hole, WY and Idaho Falls. The ranch is on a five-acre lake, surrounded by magnificent mountain vistas. Yellowstone & Teton National Parks are nearby. Accommodations are in rustic cabins. The cost of the workshop includes all meals, lodging, and activities. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to the ranch. For more info go to: www.granitecreekranch.com.
Dates: July 9-15th, 2006. Space is limited to twelve participants.
About the Instructor: Reif Larsen is a writer, filmmaker, and teacher. He has taught writing workshops in South Africa, the UK, and New York City, where he currently teaches writing at Columbia University. He is working on a novel based in Montana about cartographers, cowboys, and scientists.
For more information and an application, please email: ril2104@columbia.edu.
A Fiction Workshop Intensive on a Western Cattle Ranch
Have you ever wanted to spend the morning on horseback and the afternoon writing about the quiet pull of a mountain range?
Here’s your chance: a week long fiction workshop intensive located on a working cattle ranch near the Snake River in the Idaho Tetons. We will read a selection of classic and contemporary western writing, discussing both the legacies of the mythical “old west” and the realities of the “new west” as they play out in literature. Ranching activities (trail rides, round-ups, camp fire yarns) and a rodeo will be interspersed throughout the workshop schedule. Each participant will emerge from the week with a piece of short fiction. Readings from Wallace Stegner, William Kittredge, Richard Hugo, Cormac McCarthy, Thomas McGuane, Richard Ford, Barry Lopez, Annie Proulx among others.
The Location: A working cattle ranch, Granite Creek Ranch is located in the Snake River valley in Ririe, Idaho, halfway between Jackson Hole, WY and Idaho Falls. The ranch is on a five-acre lake, surrounded by magnificent mountain vistas. Yellowstone & Teton National Parks are nearby. Accommodations are in rustic cabins. The cost of the workshop includes all meals, lodging, and activities. Participants are responsible for their own transportation to the ranch. For more info go to: www.granitecreekranch.com.
Dates: July 9-15th, 2006. Space is limited to twelve participants.
About the Instructor: Reif Larsen is a writer, filmmaker, and teacher. He has taught writing workshops in South Africa, the UK, and New York City, where he currently teaches writing at Columbia University. He is working on a novel based in Montana about cartographers, cowboys, and scientists.
For more information and an application, please email: ril2104@columbia.edu.
This weeks Torah portion: Behar-Bechukotai
Wishing you and yours a Shabbat Shalom from Brooklyn, New York.
Your friend at Chabad – Lubavitch,
Rabbi Chaim
******
This weeks Torah portion: Behar-Bechukotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34)
******
For candle lighting time in your area:
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/location.asp
******
A Healthy G-dly Ego?
By Rabbi Chaim
Well, it’s been quite a week. On Sunday I was a substitute teacher for an only boy’s eighth grade class, and let me tell you, it ain’t easy. On Monday, I stood online at Brooklyn Borough Hall to finally receive my official marriage license. On Tuesday we celebrated Lag Ba’omer and Chavie and I had the merit to pray (in the rain) at the Rebbe’s resting place in Queens. On Wednesday I visited a Jew at a correctional facility in the City and today I finally had my new leather Sofa delivered to my humble abode. As I write this email, I am relaxing on my comfortable new couch. Now that you got my week in review, lets move on to our double Torah portion.
This week we read the Torah portions of Behar and Bechukotai. The fact that we read them both on the same weekend must mean that they both have something in common. If you take a look at the meaning of the two names of the Torah portions you wonder.
Behar- means on the mountain –referring to the words G-d spoke to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai – something lofty. A mountain is something high and tall, something haughty and arrogant. On the other hand, Bechukotai, means “My statutes”, which in our simple language means doing G-d’s commandments without any questioning. Do as you are told, period. So how does the mountain - haughty lifestyle, fit and join together with the pure lifestyle of total devotion and nullification?
Well, perhaps we will find our answer in this story:
In a small city in Russia, Chassidim at a Farbrengen were talking of the concept of “Bitul,” self-nullification. The gathering finished very late at night, and their passage through the streets, talking and singing, aroused the suspicions of the Russian police officer of that town. This police officer, being the representative of the Czar in that small town, considered himself the “master” of the whole town. Thus, when he saw people walking late at night, talking in a strange language, his suspicions were aroused about their intentions, and called out “Who goes there?”
One of the Chassidim knew a little Russian, and answered: “‘Bitul’ goes! “nullification goes!”
The police officer did not know what ‘Bitul’ was, but didn’t ask too many questions. He considered Jews not to be normal people — after all, they don’t believe in his religion! Having received at least some kind of answer to his question (although not understanding it), he let them proceed unhindered.
I know some of you are reading this and saying “I’ve had enough with Rabbi Chaim, is he now expecting me to consider myself a nothing, a total nullified being, a G-d devotee that may live in Atlanta or San Francisco but who’s mind in some sphere unknown to us sensible people in the Pizza parlors and bowling alleys?” and my answer to your doubts is in this weeks Torah portion, this week everything finally makes sense:
Yes you must be a mountain, Behar, a loud and proud Jewish mountain, and at the same time you must be totally nullified, follow orders from G-d, Bechukotai, no “?’s” whatsoever. And both you and I can attain this way of life.
The only time haughtiness is outlawed in Jewish life, is when you are a self centered egotistic piece of arrogance. Are you allowed to be proud of doing a Mitzvah? Proud of being part and parcel of this chosen nation? (Some Jews shy away when asked “are you part of the chosen nation”, I love answering that question in aisle 14 in Wal-Mart with a resounding “Yes Sir” or “yes Mam”) can I be proud to pray Mincha – afternoon services in middle of the Lambert Saint Louis Airport? You sure can be proud, because its not you being proud of a good business deal or bragging about being smarter then your buddy, that sort of egotism is forbidden and quite nauseating. Jewish pride, on the other hand, is the G-dly spark within you shining and being proud, and that is not only permitted but even encouraged.
So by combining these two seemingly contradictory Torah portion’s, G-d is telling you “Be proud of your Mitzvos, be proud of your good deeds, be proud of your heritage, it’s not about you it’s about me”. You see, that Chossid talking to that anti-Semitic cop wasn’t a fruitcake who wasn’t really a member of the human race. That Chossid was a real person that probably enjoyed a good slice of beef and good cup of whisky, he was as physical as you and I, but when asked “Who are you?” he responded “I am Bitul, a nullified being”, my real entity is G-d, everything else is rubbish. My true pride in life is not of my own but of my father in heaven, who is truly the core of my existence.
So listen closely friends, don’t let that stinking evil inclination within you convince you to stop being a proud Jewish Mitzvah fulfiller, tell him to bug off or drop dead (depending how bad he is!), and you be as proud as Lance Armstrong was when winning the seventh Tour de France. A True nullification is when you don’t even have to worry about your G-dly ego, because there is no doubt of its true character.
Be proud! Not of yourself G-d forbid, because that’s a #1 No No, but of the King of Kings that operates within you.
May you have a healthy G-dly Ego.
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of the United States wherever they may be. Chazak! L'Chaim!
******
The ETorah is an educational project of
Chabad Student Outreach
Your friend at Chabad – Lubavitch,
Rabbi Chaim
******
This weeks Torah portion: Behar-Bechukotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34)
******
For candle lighting time in your area:
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/location.asp
******
A Healthy G-dly Ego?
By Rabbi Chaim
Well, it’s been quite a week. On Sunday I was a substitute teacher for an only boy’s eighth grade class, and let me tell you, it ain’t easy. On Monday, I stood online at Brooklyn Borough Hall to finally receive my official marriage license. On Tuesday we celebrated Lag Ba’omer and Chavie and I had the merit to pray (in the rain) at the Rebbe’s resting place in Queens. On Wednesday I visited a Jew at a correctional facility in the City and today I finally had my new leather Sofa delivered to my humble abode. As I write this email, I am relaxing on my comfortable new couch. Now that you got my week in review, lets move on to our double Torah portion.
This week we read the Torah portions of Behar and Bechukotai. The fact that we read them both on the same weekend must mean that they both have something in common. If you take a look at the meaning of the two names of the Torah portions you wonder.
Behar- means on the mountain –referring to the words G-d spoke to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai – something lofty. A mountain is something high and tall, something haughty and arrogant. On the other hand, Bechukotai, means “My statutes”, which in our simple language means doing G-d’s commandments without any questioning. Do as you are told, period. So how does the mountain - haughty lifestyle, fit and join together with the pure lifestyle of total devotion and nullification?
Well, perhaps we will find our answer in this story:
In a small city in Russia, Chassidim at a Farbrengen were talking of the concept of “Bitul,” self-nullification. The gathering finished very late at night, and their passage through the streets, talking and singing, aroused the suspicions of the Russian police officer of that town. This police officer, being the representative of the Czar in that small town, considered himself the “master” of the whole town. Thus, when he saw people walking late at night, talking in a strange language, his suspicions were aroused about their intentions, and called out “Who goes there?”
One of the Chassidim knew a little Russian, and answered: “‘Bitul’ goes! “nullification goes!”
The police officer did not know what ‘Bitul’ was, but didn’t ask too many questions. He considered Jews not to be normal people — after all, they don’t believe in his religion! Having received at least some kind of answer to his question (although not understanding it), he let them proceed unhindered.
I know some of you are reading this and saying “I’ve had enough with Rabbi Chaim, is he now expecting me to consider myself a nothing, a total nullified being, a G-d devotee that may live in Atlanta or San Francisco but who’s mind in some sphere unknown to us sensible people in the Pizza parlors and bowling alleys?” and my answer to your doubts is in this weeks Torah portion, this week everything finally makes sense:
Yes you must be a mountain, Behar, a loud and proud Jewish mountain, and at the same time you must be totally nullified, follow orders from G-d, Bechukotai, no “?’s” whatsoever. And both you and I can attain this way of life.
The only time haughtiness is outlawed in Jewish life, is when you are a self centered egotistic piece of arrogance. Are you allowed to be proud of doing a Mitzvah? Proud of being part and parcel of this chosen nation? (Some Jews shy away when asked “are you part of the chosen nation”, I love answering that question in aisle 14 in Wal-Mart with a resounding “Yes Sir” or “yes Mam”) can I be proud to pray Mincha – afternoon services in middle of the Lambert Saint Louis Airport? You sure can be proud, because its not you being proud of a good business deal or bragging about being smarter then your buddy, that sort of egotism is forbidden and quite nauseating. Jewish pride, on the other hand, is the G-dly spark within you shining and being proud, and that is not only permitted but even encouraged.
So by combining these two seemingly contradictory Torah portion’s, G-d is telling you “Be proud of your Mitzvos, be proud of your good deeds, be proud of your heritage, it’s not about you it’s about me”. You see, that Chossid talking to that anti-Semitic cop wasn’t a fruitcake who wasn’t really a member of the human race. That Chossid was a real person that probably enjoyed a good slice of beef and good cup of whisky, he was as physical as you and I, but when asked “Who are you?” he responded “I am Bitul, a nullified being”, my real entity is G-d, everything else is rubbish. My true pride in life is not of my own but of my father in heaven, who is truly the core of my existence.
So listen closely friends, don’t let that stinking evil inclination within you convince you to stop being a proud Jewish Mitzvah fulfiller, tell him to bug off or drop dead (depending how bad he is!), and you be as proud as Lance Armstrong was when winning the seventh Tour de France. A True nullification is when you don’t even have to worry about your G-dly ego, because there is no doubt of its true character.
Be proud! Not of yourself G-d forbid, because that’s a #1 No No, but of the King of Kings that operates within you.
May you have a healthy G-dly Ego.
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of the United States wherever they may be. Chazak! L'Chaim!
******
The ETorah is an educational project of
Chabad Student Outreach
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Airplane Chatter
Actual exchanges between pilots and control towers:
Tower: “Delta 351, you have traffic at 10 o’clock, 6 miles!”
Delta 351: “Give us another hint! We have digital watches!”
*****************************************
Tower: “TWA 2341, for noise abatement turn right 45 Degrees.”
TWA 2341: “Center, we are at 35,000 feet. How much noise can we make up here?”
Tower: “Sir, have you ever heard the noise a 747 makes when it hits a 727?”
*****************************************
From an unknown aircraft waiting in a very long takeoff queue: “I’m f…ing bored!”
Ground Traffic Control: “Last aircraft transmitting, identify yourself immediately!”
Unknown aircraft: “I said I was f…ing bored, not f…ing stupid!”
*****************************************
O’Hare Approach Control to a 747: “United 329 heavy, your traffic is a Fokker, one o’clock, three miles, Eastbound.”
United 329: “Approach, I’ve always wanted to say this…I’ve got the little Fokker in sight.”
*****************************************
A student became lost during a solo cross-country flight. While attempting to locate the aircraft on radar, ATC asked, “What was your last known position?”
Student: “When I was number one for takeoff.”
*****************************************
A DC-10 had come in a little hot and thus had an exceedingly long roll out after touching down.
San Jose Tower Noted: “American 751, make a hard right turn at the end of the runway, if you are able. If you are not able, take the Guadeloupe exit off Highway 101, make a right at the lights and return to the airport.”
*****************************************
There’s a story about the military pilot calling for a priority landing because his single-engine jet fighter was running “a bit peaked”. Air Traffic Control told the fighter jock that he was number two, behind a B-52 that had one engine shut down.
“Ah,” the fighter pilot remarked, “The dreaded seven-engine approach.”
*****************************************
A Pan Am 727 flight, waiting for start clearance in Munich, overheard the following: Lufthansa (in German): “Ground, what is our start clearance time?”
Ground (in English): “If you want an answer you must speak in English.”
Lufthansa (in English): “I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany Why must I speak English?”
Unknown voice from another plane (in a beautiful British accent): “Because you lost the bloody war!”
*****************************************
Tower: “Eastern 702, cleared for takeoff, contact Departure on frequency 124.7″
Eastern 702: “Tower, Eastern 702 switching to Departure. By the way,after we lifted off we saw some kind of dead animal on the far end of the runway.”
Tower: “Continental 635, cleared for takeoff behind Eastern 702, contact Departure on frequency 124.7. ! Did you copy that report from Eastern 702?”
BR Continental 635: “Continental 635, cleared for takeoff, roger; and yes, we copied Eastern… we’ve already notified our caterers.”
*****************************************
One day the pilot of a Cherokee 180 was told by the tower to hold short of the active runway while a DC-8 landed. The DC-8 landed, rolled out, turned around, and taxied back past the Cherokee.
Some quick-witted comedian in the DC-8 crew got on the radio and said, “What a cute little plane. Did you make it all by yourself?”
The Cherokee pilot, not about to let the insult go by, came back with a real zinger: “I made it out of DC-8 parts. Another landing like yours and I’ll have enough parts for another one.”
*****************************************
The German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They not only expect one to know one’s gate parking location, but how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign Speedbird 206.
Speedbird 206: “Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of active runway.”
Ground: “Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven.”
The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop. Ground: “Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?”
Speedbird 206: “Stand by, Ground, I’m looking up our gate location now.”
Ground (with quite arrogant impatience): “Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?”
Speedbird 206 (coolly): “Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark, — And I didn’t land.”
*****************************************
While taxiing at London’s Gatwick Airport, the crew of a US Air flight departing for Ft. Lauderdale made a wrong turn and came nose to nose with a United 727.
An irate female ground controller lashed out at the US Air crew, screaming: “US Air 2771, where the hell are you going?! I told you to turn right onto Charlie taxiway! You turned right on Delta! Stop right there. I know it’s difficult for you to tell the difference between C and D, but get it right!”
Continuing her rage to the embarrassed crew, she was now shouting hysterically: “God! Now you’ve screwed everything up! It’ll take forever to sort this out! You stay right there and don’t move till I tell you to! You can expect progressive taxi instructions in about half an hour, and I want you to go exactly where I tell you, when I tell you, and how I tell you! You got that, US Air 2771?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the humbled crew responded.
Naturally, the ground control communications frequency fell terribly silent after the verbal bashing of US Air 2771. Nobody wanted to chance engaging the irate ground controller in her current state of mind. Tension in every cockpit out around Gatwick was definitely running high.
Just then an unknown pilot broke the silence and keyed his microphone, asking: “Wasn’t I married to you once?”
Tower: “Delta 351, you have traffic at 10 o’clock, 6 miles!”
Delta 351: “Give us another hint! We have digital watches!”
*****************************************
Tower: “TWA 2341, for noise abatement turn right 45 Degrees.”
TWA 2341: “Center, we are at 35,000 feet. How much noise can we make up here?”
Tower: “Sir, have you ever heard the noise a 747 makes when it hits a 727?”
*****************************************
From an unknown aircraft waiting in a very long takeoff queue: “I’m f…ing bored!”
Ground Traffic Control: “Last aircraft transmitting, identify yourself immediately!”
Unknown aircraft: “I said I was f…ing bored, not f…ing stupid!”
*****************************************
O’Hare Approach Control to a 747: “United 329 heavy, your traffic is a Fokker, one o’clock, three miles, Eastbound.”
United 329: “Approach, I’ve always wanted to say this…I’ve got the little Fokker in sight.”
*****************************************
A student became lost during a solo cross-country flight. While attempting to locate the aircraft on radar, ATC asked, “What was your last known position?”
Student: “When I was number one for takeoff.”
*****************************************
A DC-10 had come in a little hot and thus had an exceedingly long roll out after touching down.
San Jose Tower Noted: “American 751, make a hard right turn at the end of the runway, if you are able. If you are not able, take the Guadeloupe exit off Highway 101, make a right at the lights and return to the airport.”
*****************************************
There’s a story about the military pilot calling for a priority landing because his single-engine jet fighter was running “a bit peaked”. Air Traffic Control told the fighter jock that he was number two, behind a B-52 that had one engine shut down.
“Ah,” the fighter pilot remarked, “The dreaded seven-engine approach.”
*****************************************
A Pan Am 727 flight, waiting for start clearance in Munich, overheard the following: Lufthansa (in German): “Ground, what is our start clearance time?”
Ground (in English): “If you want an answer you must speak in English.”
Lufthansa (in English): “I am a German, flying a German airplane, in Germany Why must I speak English?”
Unknown voice from another plane (in a beautiful British accent): “Because you lost the bloody war!”
*****************************************
Tower: “Eastern 702, cleared for takeoff, contact Departure on frequency 124.7″
Eastern 702: “Tower, Eastern 702 switching to Departure. By the way,after we lifted off we saw some kind of dead animal on the far end of the runway.”
Tower: “Continental 635, cleared for takeoff behind Eastern 702, contact Departure on frequency 124.7. ! Did you copy that report from Eastern 702?”
BR Continental 635: “Continental 635, cleared for takeoff, roger; and yes, we copied Eastern… we’ve already notified our caterers.”
*****************************************
One day the pilot of a Cherokee 180 was told by the tower to hold short of the active runway while a DC-8 landed. The DC-8 landed, rolled out, turned around, and taxied back past the Cherokee.
Some quick-witted comedian in the DC-8 crew got on the radio and said, “What a cute little plane. Did you make it all by yourself?”
The Cherokee pilot, not about to let the insult go by, came back with a real zinger: “I made it out of DC-8 parts. Another landing like yours and I’ll have enough parts for another one.”
*****************************************
The German air controllers at Frankfurt Airport are renowned as a short-tempered lot. They not only expect one to know one’s gate parking location, but how to get there without any assistance from them. So it was with some amusement that we (a Pan Am 747) listened to the following exchange between Frankfurt ground control and a British Airways 747, call sign Speedbird 206.
Speedbird 206: “Frankfurt, Speedbird 206 clear of active runway.”
Ground: “Speedbird 206. Taxi to gate Alpha One-Seven.”
The BA 747 pulled onto the main taxiway and slowed to a stop. Ground: “Speedbird, do you not know where you are going?”
Speedbird 206: “Stand by, Ground, I’m looking up our gate location now.”
Ground (with quite arrogant impatience): “Speedbird 206, have you not been to Frankfurt before?”
Speedbird 206 (coolly): “Yes, twice in 1944, but it was dark, — And I didn’t land.”
*****************************************
While taxiing at London’s Gatwick Airport, the crew of a US Air flight departing for Ft. Lauderdale made a wrong turn and came nose to nose with a United 727.
An irate female ground controller lashed out at the US Air crew, screaming: “US Air 2771, where the hell are you going?! I told you to turn right onto Charlie taxiway! You turned right on Delta! Stop right there. I know it’s difficult for you to tell the difference between C and D, but get it right!”
Continuing her rage to the embarrassed crew, she was now shouting hysterically: “God! Now you’ve screwed everything up! It’ll take forever to sort this out! You stay right there and don’t move till I tell you to! You can expect progressive taxi instructions in about half an hour, and I want you to go exactly where I tell you, when I tell you, and how I tell you! You got that, US Air 2771?”
“Yes, ma’am,” the humbled crew responded.
Naturally, the ground control communications frequency fell terribly silent after the verbal bashing of US Air 2771. Nobody wanted to chance engaging the irate ground controller in her current state of mind. Tension in every cockpit out around Gatwick was definitely running high.
Just then an unknown pilot broke the silence and keyed his microphone, asking: “Wasn’t I married to you once?”
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Silent Hypocrites
Hmm. No mention of the following on any major US news network.
Don't think for a minute that if an Israeli soldier was responsible for the death or injury of a single "palestinian" child the nutsacks of the left, including at least one frequent commenter on this blog, wouldn't be screaming bloody murder at the outrage of the Zionist murderers.
At what point in the future will these useful idiots of the far-left realize that they are only being used as pawns? If they really cared about human rights they wouldn't dismiss the deaths of innocent Israelis at the hands of pali suicide bombers as an acceptable form of warfare while remaining oddly silent when pali children are killed by their own people. Some might even go as far as calling them fucking hypocrites...and I'm one of them.
Mike
Supporters from the two Palestinian Authority factions have been shooting at each other in the streets for days, killing several people from both groups and wounding more than ten others, including eight children caught in the line of fire.
Meshaal exhorted the two warring factions to support a joint platform which called for “liberating Palestine, not recognizing Israel and adopting the path of Jihad and resistance”.
Islamic scholars at the two-day conference in Qatar issued a statement supporting “the right of the Palestinian people … to wage a holy war to regain all their homeland and liberate their land from the river to the sea."
Don't think for a minute that if an Israeli soldier was responsible for the death or injury of a single "palestinian" child the nutsacks of the left, including at least one frequent commenter on this blog, wouldn't be screaming bloody murder at the outrage of the Zionist murderers.
At what point in the future will these useful idiots of the far-left realize that they are only being used as pawns? If they really cared about human rights they wouldn't dismiss the deaths of innocent Israelis at the hands of pali suicide bombers as an acceptable form of warfare while remaining oddly silent when pali children are killed by their own people. Some might even go as far as calling them fucking hypocrites...and I'm one of them.
Mike
A Modern "Final Solution?"
Christian libertarian and Southern Baptist Vox Day offered up his own version of a final solution, American-style, to the problem of illegal immigration. The original column appeared on World Net Daily but was subsequently edited, the original can be found here.
It's been plainly obvious to me for some time that covert racism has been fueling the immigration debate...we don't exactly see the self-described "Minutemen" standing guard on our northern border do we? The 49th Parallel forms the boundary of the property I'm living on right now and I know of at least a dozen backroads both in to and out of Saskatchewan that are often easier to access than "official" crossings would ever be. There seems to be no fear in these parts of lily-white Canadians crossing into the United States as mules for the drug trade or potential terrorists despite the fact that so-called millennium bomber Ahmad Rassam remains the only known terrorist to attempt a land based border crossing actually carrying explosives, though Port Angeles, Washington is obviously different than rural Montana.
For more historical parallels on the subject I suggest reading the following sources:
On this day in history in the ghetto of Kovno (now Kaunas, Lithuania) the Nazis decreed the execution of all pregnant Jewish women. Makes one wonder when the brownshirts of the right will stark kicking pregnant illegal immigrant women in the stomach, you know, to avoid the "drain" on our healthcare system.
Mike
If it took the Germans less than four years to rid themselves of 6 million Jews, many of whom spoke German and were fully integrated into German society, it couldn't possibly take more than eight years to deport 12 million illegal aliens, many of whom don't speak English and are not integrated into American society.Sound familiar, perhaps disgusting? Sounds like the guy has really done some mathematical work on the issue. Is the right really morphing into a party of such unconcealed hatred of anyone or any group that does not look exactly like THEM?
It's been plainly obvious to me for some time that covert racism has been fueling the immigration debate...we don't exactly see the self-described "Minutemen" standing guard on our northern border do we? The 49th Parallel forms the boundary of the property I'm living on right now and I know of at least a dozen backroads both in to and out of Saskatchewan that are often easier to access than "official" crossings would ever be. There seems to be no fear in these parts of lily-white Canadians crossing into the United States as mules for the drug trade or potential terrorists despite the fact that so-called millennium bomber Ahmad Rassam remains the only known terrorist to attempt a land based border crossing actually carrying explosives, though Port Angeles, Washington is obviously different than rural Montana.
A fence is not necessary, for there are other means of efficiently resolving the problem without resorting to such an obviously dangerous measure. Instant deportation policies, employer fines and bounty programs combined with the denial of all social services to non-citizens would suffice to settle the matter without the need to imprison the American citizenry.Sleep well folks. Gruppen Fuhrer Vox Day and others on the right are out to make the brown people from SOTB into what Nazi Germany made the Jews of the 1930's.
For more historical parallels on the subject I suggest reading the following sources:
- Bauer, A History of the Holocaust, ch. 5.
- Saul Friedlander, Nazi Germany and the Jews (New York, 1997), chs. 1, 2, 5, 8.
- The Jew in the Modern World, pp. 642-660 (Documents 4, 6-20).
On this day in history in the ghetto of Kovno (now Kaunas, Lithuania) the Nazis decreed the execution of all pregnant Jewish women. Makes one wonder when the brownshirts of the right will stark kicking pregnant illegal immigrant women in the stomach, you know, to avoid the "drain" on our healthcare system.
Mike
AIPAC Update
Ahmadinejad Rules Out Ending Iran's Nuclear Pursuit
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that no package of economic incentives could convince Iran to give up its efforts to enrich uranium, a key step in assembling atomic arms, The Associated Press reported. European negotiators are preparing to offer Iran incentives in return for an end to enrichment, presenting the deal as a last-ditch opportunity for Tehran to avoid punitive measures by the U.N. Security Council. Iran has repeatedly turned down such efforts in the past, moving ahead with its quest for nuclear weapons in defiance of the international community. Learn more about the threat that an atomic Iran would pose to the United States and its allies.
Committee Strengthens Bill to Isolate Hamas-Led PA
The House Judiciary Committee has approved and strengthened the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, legislation designed to isolate the Hamas-led government of the Palestinian Authority (PA). The panel added an amendment to the bill that would bar the PA or the Palestine Liberation Organization from maintaining a mission at the United Nations unless the president issues a waiver every six months permitting the office to remain open. The bill is expected to be voted on by the full House next week. The act, co-sponsored by 295 congressmen, would restrict aid to the Hamas-controlled PA until Hamas meets a series of conditions, including renouncing terrorism and accepting Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. Exceptions would be made for humanitarian assistance. Urge your lawmakers to support the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act.
General Lauds Key U.S.-Israel Defense Program
A senior U.S. military official has praised the Arrow missile defense system as an example of the benefits the United States derives from its strategic relationship with Israel, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported. Jointly developed by the United States and Israel, the Arrow is designed to shield American troops and Israel from ballistic missiles. Aspects of the system have also been incorporated into the United States' own missile defense programs, said Lt. Gen. Henry Trey Obering, the director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. "We've learned an awful lot collaboratively together working with the Israelis" on the Arrow, Obering told a Senate committee. Learn more about strategic cooperation between the United States and Israel.
Palestinian Terrorists Threaten Americans
A Palestinian terrorist group has threatened to carry out attacks on Americans and Europeans in addition to Israelis, The Jerusalem Post reported. "We will strike at the economic and civilian interests of these countries, here and abroad," read a leaflet distributed in Gaza by the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. A senior al-Aqsa official in the West Bank endorsed the leaflet's message while celebrating the death of U.S. teenager Daniel Wultz, who died Sunday from injuries sustained in a recent Palestinian suicide bombing. Calling Wultz's killing a "gift from Allah," Abu Nasser said the bombing was revenge for U.S. support for Israel. "I say to the Americans if you will not change than we wish you more Daniel Wultzes and more pain and sorrow," he said. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has yet to fulfill its obligation to dismantle al-Aqsa and other terror groups. The Hamas-led PA has endorsed the groups' attacks and encouraged them to carry out more.
Lawmakers Press for Expanded Anti-Boycott Reporting
At a recent hearing devoted to reviewing the United States' free-trade agreement (FTA) with Oman, members of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade pressed the Bush administration to step up its monitoring of countries that pledge to pull out of the Arab League's boycott of Israel in return for American trade benefits. Subcommittee Chairman Clay Shaw (R-FL) secured Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Shaun Donnelly's commitment to report to Congress about whether Oman attends boycott meetings, if the Omani boycott office has been officially closed and whether Oman has officially changed its domestic boycott laws. For decades, the Arab League has maintained a boycott of Israel designed to economically weaken the Jewish state.
Brazil Turns to Israel for Pan-Am Games Security
Brazil is seeking Israeli help to provide security at the Pan-American Games, an Olympic-style series of athletic events scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro in July 2007. Luis Fernando Correa, Brazil's National Secretary of Public Safety, arrived in Israel on Sunday for meetings with representatives of 25 Israeli homeland-security companies. Forced to develop an expertise in counter-terrorism because of the constant Palestinian threat to its citizens, Israel has routinely been asked to help secure high-profile international events. For instance, Israeli lawmen helped train security teams for the 2004 Olympics in Greece. Israel also regularly receives law enforcement officials from around the world interested in studying its battle against terrorism.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that no package of economic incentives could convince Iran to give up its efforts to enrich uranium, a key step in assembling atomic arms, The Associated Press reported. European negotiators are preparing to offer Iran incentives in return for an end to enrichment, presenting the deal as a last-ditch opportunity for Tehran to avoid punitive measures by the U.N. Security Council. Iran has repeatedly turned down such efforts in the past, moving ahead with its quest for nuclear weapons in defiance of the international community. Learn more about the threat that an atomic Iran would pose to the United States and its allies.
Committee Strengthens Bill to Isolate Hamas-Led PA
The House Judiciary Committee has approved and strengthened the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, legislation designed to isolate the Hamas-led government of the Palestinian Authority (PA). The panel added an amendment to the bill that would bar the PA or the Palestine Liberation Organization from maintaining a mission at the United Nations unless the president issues a waiver every six months permitting the office to remain open. The bill is expected to be voted on by the full House next week. The act, co-sponsored by 295 congressmen, would restrict aid to the Hamas-controlled PA until Hamas meets a series of conditions, including renouncing terrorism and accepting Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. Exceptions would be made for humanitarian assistance. Urge your lawmakers to support the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act.
General Lauds Key U.S.-Israel Defense Program
A senior U.S. military official has praised the Arrow missile defense system as an example of the benefits the United States derives from its strategic relationship with Israel, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported. Jointly developed by the United States and Israel, the Arrow is designed to shield American troops and Israel from ballistic missiles. Aspects of the system have also been incorporated into the United States' own missile defense programs, said Lt. Gen. Henry Trey Obering, the director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. "We've learned an awful lot collaboratively together working with the Israelis" on the Arrow, Obering told a Senate committee. Learn more about strategic cooperation between the United States and Israel.
Palestinian Terrorists Threaten Americans
A Palestinian terrorist group has threatened to carry out attacks on Americans and Europeans in addition to Israelis, The Jerusalem Post reported. "We will strike at the economic and civilian interests of these countries, here and abroad," read a leaflet distributed in Gaza by the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. A senior al-Aqsa official in the West Bank endorsed the leaflet's message while celebrating the death of U.S. teenager Daniel Wultz, who died Sunday from injuries sustained in a recent Palestinian suicide bombing. Calling Wultz's killing a "gift from Allah," Abu Nasser said the bombing was revenge for U.S. support for Israel. "I say to the Americans if you will not change than we wish you more Daniel Wultzes and more pain and sorrow," he said. The Palestinian Authority (PA) has yet to fulfill its obligation to dismantle al-Aqsa and other terror groups. The Hamas-led PA has endorsed the groups' attacks and encouraged them to carry out more.
Lawmakers Press for Expanded Anti-Boycott Reporting
At a recent hearing devoted to reviewing the United States' free-trade agreement (FTA) with Oman, members of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade pressed the Bush administration to step up its monitoring of countries that pledge to pull out of the Arab League's boycott of Israel in return for American trade benefits. Subcommittee Chairman Clay Shaw (R-FL) secured Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Shaun Donnelly's commitment to report to Congress about whether Oman attends boycott meetings, if the Omani boycott office has been officially closed and whether Oman has officially changed its domestic boycott laws. For decades, the Arab League has maintained a boycott of Israel designed to economically weaken the Jewish state.
Brazil Turns to Israel for Pan-Am Games Security
Brazil is seeking Israeli help to provide security at the Pan-American Games, an Olympic-style series of athletic events scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro in July 2007. Luis Fernando Correa, Brazil's National Secretary of Public Safety, arrived in Israel on Sunday for meetings with representatives of 25 Israeli homeland-security companies. Forced to develop an expertise in counter-terrorism because of the constant Palestinian threat to its citizens, Israel has routinely been asked to help secure high-profile international events. For instance, Israeli lawmen helped train security teams for the 2004 Olympics in Greece. Israel also regularly receives law enforcement officials from around the world interested in studying its battle against terrorism.
What Happens In Gaza Stays In Gaza
...or "Kiss me you keffiyeh-wearing fool."
And when he wasn't busy deepthroating young pali boys and others, he blew foreign aid donated to the Palestinian cause, but not in the way this post generally predicts.
Mike
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Baruch Dayan Emes
Daniel Wultz, 16, an American tourist from Weston, Florida who was visiting Israel with his parents, has died at Ichilov hospital in Tel Aviv, almost a month after sustaining mortal wounds in a terrorist attack.Wultz’s death, brings to 11 the number of people killed when an Arab suicide bomber blew himself up at a falafel stand in the Neveh Sha’anan neighborhood of Tel Aviv last April 17.
Sustaining severe wounds over his entire body, Wultz was immediately rushed to the hospital where doctors struggled to save his life. Waltz was operated on numerous times, and given experimental drugs when his situation appeared hopeless. Although he rallied briefly, at one point opening his eyes, he succumbed today to internal bleeding in his stomach, which doctors were unable to stop.
Daniel's father, Tuly (Yekutiel) Wultz, was lightly wounded while seated beside his son at the eatery where the bombing occurred. Speaking to a group of students who came from Florida to pray for Daniel, he said "Unfortunately, I remember everything. Daniel was thrown into my hands, and asked me to pick him up. But when I saw the extent of his injuries, I laid him down to wait for an ambulance. I held his hand and told him I loved him, and he told me he loved me."
Daniel was the "best target combination we can dream of – American and Zionist," Abu Nasser, a leader of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, one of the groups responsible for the deadly blast.
Abu Ayman, a leader of the Islamic Jihad, which also took responsibility for the April 17 bombing in which Wultz was injured, threatened all Americans and Jews worldwide and expressed regret Wultz was still alive following the suicide bombing.
A number of people remain hospitalized with wounds suffered in the attack.
Messages of condolence can be sent to his family at: DanielWultz@gmail.com
Donations can be made via the Chabad of Weston "Daniel Wultz Gemilas Chessed Fund" here.
May his family and friends be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Mike
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Meet Jack
Rachel's sudden trip to Regina earlier in the week yielded a Jack Russell Terrier, a "gift" from some friends who were moving to PEI. The dog is full of energy and I can't wait to turn him lose in the fields when I catch a glimpse of the occasional Prairie Dog. The little guy loves to ride in the car/truck/tractor as well. Good dog.Mike
Friday, May 12, 2006
Shoot, Shovel, and STFU
In farming we have weed and disease pressure. The folks who have livestock operations throughout this state need to finally give the middle finger to the State and Federal government over wolf protection and eradicate the bastards once and for all. Hell, if my 73 year old mother can hit one (or three) with her Winchester 30/30 anyone can.
Mike
Mike
British Boycott Action Memo
How you can help oppose the proposed NATFHE Boycott.
By now, you have probably heard that there is yet another proposed British boycott of Israeli academics and universities. This is from NATFHE (National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education) a union of 67,000 college and university lecturers in England. There will be a vote during their annual meeting May 27-29 on whether the union should carry out a "personal" boycott of Israeli lecturers and academic institutions that do not publicly declare their opposition to Israeli policy.
You care about academic freedom. You care about Israel academics. You can take a stand. Here's how you can add to the ground-swell of international pressure on NATFHE so that they do not proceed with this boycott:
1. EMAIL CAMPAIGN
Send an email opposing the upcoming vote on boycotts to the heads of NATFHE and also the AUT, whose boycott was overturned this time last year:
John Wilkin, PRESIDENT
president@natfhe.org.uk
Dennis Hayes, VICE PRESIDENT
d.hayes@canterbury.ac.uk
Paul Mackney, GENERAL SECRETARY
pmackney@natfhe.org.uk
AUT General Secretary, Sally Hunt
sally.hunt@aut.org.uk
AUT President, Steve Wharton
president@aut.org.uk
2. PETITION
Our colleagues at SPME have started a petition: "An Appeal From Scholars World Wide To NATFHE Not to Vote/Defeat Any Motions to Boycott Israel Scholars"
Click here to sign this petition
3. PERSONAL PRESSURE
If you have colleagues or friends in Britain who are members of NATFHE, contact them directly and encourage them to vote "NO" to this unworthy proposal. Ask any friends likely to attend the NATFHE conference to speak out in opposition to the boycott.
4. BE HEARD
Condemn the boycott vote as being contrary to the philosophy of academic freedom and open intellectual pursuit by writing letters to the editor of The London Times, The Guardian, The Times Higher Education Supplement, etc. By including this issue in public speaking engagements you have between now and May 27th. By mobilizing your department or institution to sign a letter of opposition to the heads of comparable departments and institutions in England.
Let's make sure the NATFHE members know that the international academic community is watching their actions closely and that the proposed boycott of Israeli academics opposed by the academic community. If you have other suggestions for how IAFI members can help, please email us at info@iafi-israel.org
--
Andrew R. Marks, M.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics
By now, you have probably heard that there is yet another proposed British boycott of Israeli academics and universities. This is from NATFHE (National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education) a union of 67,000 college and university lecturers in England. There will be a vote during their annual meeting May 27-29 on whether the union should carry out a "personal" boycott of Israeli lecturers and academic institutions that do not publicly declare their opposition to Israeli policy.
You care about academic freedom. You care about Israel academics. You can take a stand. Here's how you can add to the ground-swell of international pressure on NATFHE so that they do not proceed with this boycott:
1. EMAIL CAMPAIGN
Send an email opposing the upcoming vote on boycotts to the heads of NATFHE and also the AUT, whose boycott was overturned this time last year:
John Wilkin, PRESIDENT
president@natfhe.org.uk
Dennis Hayes, VICE PRESIDENT
d.hayes@canterbury.ac.uk
Paul Mackney, GENERAL SECRETARY
pmackney@natfhe.org.uk
AUT General Secretary, Sally Hunt
sally.hunt@aut.org.uk
AUT President, Steve Wharton
president@aut.org.uk
2. PETITION
Our colleagues at SPME have started a petition: "An Appeal From Scholars World Wide To NATFHE Not to Vote/Defeat Any Motions to Boycott Israel Scholars"
Click here to sign this petition
3. PERSONAL PRESSURE
If you have colleagues or friends in Britain who are members of NATFHE, contact them directly and encourage them to vote "NO" to this unworthy proposal. Ask any friends likely to attend the NATFHE conference to speak out in opposition to the boycott.
4. BE HEARD
Condemn the boycott vote as being contrary to the philosophy of academic freedom and open intellectual pursuit by writing letters to the editor of The London Times, The Guardian, The Times Higher Education Supplement, etc. By including this issue in public speaking engagements you have between now and May 27th. By mobilizing your department or institution to sign a letter of opposition to the heads of comparable departments and institutions in England.
Let's make sure the NATFHE members know that the international academic community is watching their actions closely and that the proposed boycott of Israeli academics opposed by the academic community. If you have other suggestions for how IAFI members can help, please email us at info@iafi-israel.org
--
Andrew R. Marks, M.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics
Pali Marketing
The following article was sent by an electronic acquaintance and covers, I believe, many salient points regarding the culture of "palestinian victimhood" in the media and elsewhere.
In light of the above report is a new report from the Middle East Media Research Institute, MEMRI, highlighting Arab intellectuals praising martyrdom. There's really no need whatsoever to point out the alleged cause and effect of the Israeli/pali conflict has in these matters when those who are apparantly the Arab-elite praise martyrdom as a legitimate form conflict resolution. I can assure you that there are NO Yeshiva's or Jewish intellectuals calling for the murder of pali's, the election of the Kadima government, if nothing else, should prove that once and for all.
Mike
David and Goliath
by Asaf Romirowsky
FrontPageMagazine.com
May 10, 2006 http://www.meforum.org/article/932
The perception of Palestinians as victims has become the most powerful marketing tool Palestinians have and no one uses it more effectively. Time after time we have seen Palestinian figureheads like Michael Terazi and Hanan Ashwari plead the Palestinian cause and point to the Israeli "occupation" as the root cause of all Palestinian problems.
Conversely, for years, Israel preferred to deal with the war on the ground and put the war of ideas with the media on hold. This has come back to haunt Israelis in almost every news outlet. It has also sowed disaffection among the Israeli electorate. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's recent electoral victory highlights the apathy that exists within the Israeli population towards the new guard of political leaders. Another factor that was quite evident is the fact that the security threats that Israel faces were put on "hold" in these past elections.
This has not diminished the threat of Palestinian terrorism. As the recent bombing in Tel Aviv proves, the intifada is still alive and well. Another unchanging reality is the Palestinians' insistence that Israel is always to blame. In the Palestinian psyche, Israel is Goliath and the Palestinians are David. Following the Tel Aviv attack, for instance, we saw the classic Palestinian media maneuver, perfected by the late Yasir Arafat, of condemning Israel for the crimes of Palestinian terrorists. (Mahmoud Abbas was the notable exception: He condemned the attacks, characterized them as "terrorist" actions and observed, correctly, that no good would come of them.)
Simultaneously, the Palestinian psychology of "occupation" continues, as we witnessed after Israel implemented its disengagement plan from Gaza. It was remarkable to see official Palestinian spokesmen make the argument that Gaza disengagement changed very little and that, as far as they are concerned, Gaza remains "occupied" territory. Mahmoud Abbas stated clearly on July 7, 2005, that "the legal status of the areas slated for evacuation has not changed." And now, following the Tel-Aviv bombing, Sheikh Mohammad Abu Tir, a Hamas member of parliament, was quoted saying, "Israel and the occupation are responsible. Before the attack, less than two days before, Israel killed 18 Palestinians."
Furthermore, organizations like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) advocate the perception that, regardless of the reality, the Palestinians are occupied for life. The UNRWA has a financial interest in perpetuating this fiction. As long as the Palestinians are refugees, the UNRWA is in business. The reason is that the UNRWA's success is measured not by results but by the contributions it receives, and here the agency is doing well for itself. The Bush administration has agreed to contribute $51 million to the agency's emergency appeal this year, more than double the $20 million it contributed last year. Overall, the U.S. donation to UNRWA amounts to over $100 million annually.
The monies themselves illustrate how the United States is perpetuating a state of utter dependency in which the Palestinian upper class fobs off all economic responsibilities onto the international community. If one looks at Palestinian society as a whole, more than anything it is lacking social mobility. There are two social classes in Palestinian society: a small affluent class and the poor, who comprise the majority of the population. However, poverty in Gaza is ghastly not because of the so-called occupation. Rather, it is a self-inflicted state of affairs created by Palestinian leaders who are supposed to govern and better the lives of Palestinians but instead prosper at their expense. The fact is that Arafat's corruption and the al-Aqsa intifada have only succeeded in damaging Palestinian society rather than furthering its desires.
As long as Palestinians cling to the false notion of being "occupied" with Israel in the role of the "oppressor," they will not assume responsibility for themselves. In Palestinian society, socio-economic conditions are not the root cause of homicide bombing, since it is the more educated who are sacrificing their lives in Allah's name. And Arab terrorism did not begin with the so-called occupation after the Six Day War; it started as early as 1929 when Jews were massacred in Hebron. Despite this history, in Palestinian nomenclature, the "occupation" remains the root cause of all problems, from social and economic woes to terrorism.
The twisted psychology that Palestinians use to further their sense of victimization has successfully co-opted the feelings of the international community, to the detriment of both. It was former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir who said that "as long as the Arabs hate the Jews more than they love their own children, there will never be peace in the Middle East. The continued incitement of terrorism suggests that that time has not yet arrived. For this, and for much of their suffering, the Palestinians have only themselves to blame."
In light of the above report is a new report from the Middle East Media Research Institute, MEMRI, highlighting Arab intellectuals praising martyrdom. There's really no need whatsoever to point out the alleged cause and effect of the Israeli/pali conflict has in these matters when those who are apparantly the Arab-elite praise martyrdom as a legitimate form conflict resolution. I can assure you that there are NO Yeshiva's or Jewish intellectuals calling for the murder of pali's, the election of the Kadima government, if nothing else, should prove that once and for all.
Arab Intellectuals Praise Martyrdom in Discussion on Syrian TV
To view this Special Dispatch in HTML, visit: http://www.memri.org/bin/opener_latest.cgi?ID=SD116206 .
The following are excerpts from a discussion with Arab intellectuals 'Adnan Kanafani and Ibrahim Za'rour regarding martyrdom, which aired on Syrian TV on May 6, 2005. 'Adnan Kanafani is a member of the Arab Writers Association and of the Association of the Palestinian Writers and Journalists' "Syria Branch," and is also a Story Society reporter.(1) According to Arabic News, Ibrahim Za'rour is a Ba'thist and a university teacher.(2)
TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=1134 .
It is followed by clips of other programs in support of martyrdom on Arab and Iranian TV.
"Martyrdom is the Most Noble Sacrifice One Can Make for the Cause"
Palestinian author 'Adnan Kanafani: "I think martyrdom is the most noble sacrifice one can make for the cause - a cause pertaining to the essence of being, to life and death. This great people - the Arab people as a whole - has managed to shape a new culture from these ideas - the culture of martyrdom. The opponents try to bring us down from this honor, with claims about suicide bombers, terrorists, and so on. But we don't care about that, because we have rights, and we sacrifice our souls in order to attain these rights. Therefore, the martyrs are the vanguard of this nation. Because of the blood they have sacrificed, the very least we owe them is to always remain optimistic that victory will be ours one day."
[...]
"The Mother in Our Arab and Islamic History Has Always Sacrificed Her Children and Prepared Them for Martyrdom"
Ibrahim Za'rour, history professor at the Damascus University: "Martyrdom is the value that surpasses all values. The most exalted level in the elevation of mankind is when a person sacrifices his soul for the sake of something more precious - his homeland. Hence, when a person embarks upon martyrdom, he does so because he wants to protect the homeland, its identity, its culture, its continuity, and its future.
"When a martyr embarks upon martyrdom he thinks of nothing but his homeland. He leaves his children, his brothers, his wife, his mother, and his father, and embarks upon martyrdom, because the homeland is more precious to him than all of them."
[...]
"The mother in our Arab and Islamic history has always sacrificed her children and prepared them for martyrdom. This is rooted in our religion, our culture, in our values, and our upbringing."
[...]
"The mother is the school that prepares the children and sends them to martyrdom in defense of the homeland. This culture is within all of us. I always see mothers who utter cries of joy when they learn that their sons were martyred in battles in Palestine, in the Golan Heights, or Iraq."
[...]
"The Palestinian Mother, or the Arab Mother in General, is the Most Compassionate Mother on the Face of the Earth"
'Adnan Kanafani: "The mother knows perfectly well that if she does not sacrifice her son, she will never be liberated, or her son's sons, or the homeland, will never be liberated.
"When an olive tree is uprooted from its soil, a woman may weep a lot, but she will not weep over the martyrdom of her son, because she believes that he has ascended to a better world, leaving a mark of pride on her forehead.
"The Palestinian mother, or the Arab mother in general, is the most compassionate mother on the face of the earth, because she is dedicated to the upbringing of her children, and would rather eat dirt than refrain from breastfeeding. This is a well known fact about the Arab woman, in complete contrast to the other women.
"All that is said about the Arab woman is nonsense and fabrication. The Arab woman comprises one half of society, and she is the mother of the other half. She is our sister, our mother, and our daughter. She has sacrificed in the past, and she continues to sacrifice in the present.
"The Iraqi women are an example of this. What do they do when their sons are martyred? The same goes for the Palestinian women. They serve as a model. I believe this is the pinnacle of nobility in sacrifice."
[...]
"They have economic, military, and technological superiority, and all we have is this body and this blood. All of us, sister, have 'martyrdom seeker' written on our chests."
[...]
"As Long as There are Mothers Who Give Birth, the Processions of Martyrs Will March On"
Ibrahim Za'rour: "Our commitment to the martyrs will be manifest in continuing on the same path - the path of martyrdom - and in raising our children on the love of martyrdom, on the love of sacrifice, on altruism, on love of the homeland and of liberty. We have no choice but to continue with these processions of martyrs, and to remain close to one another. As long as there are mothers who give birth, the processions of martyrs will march on."
Other MEMRI TV Clips on Martyrdom
MEMRI TV CLIP #980, Palestinian Legislative Council Candidate and Bereaved Mother of Three Hamas Terrorists Umm Nidal Farhat: Israelis are Not Civilians and There Are No Prohibition on Killing them. I Am Willing to Sacrifice All My Sons, Dream2 TV (Egypt), 12/21/2005, TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=980 .
MEMRI TV CLIP #817, Al-Jazeera Special about Hanadi Jaradat, Other Female Palestinian Suicide Bombers, Their Families and the People Who Send Them to Die , Al-Jazeera TV (Qatar), 8/16/2005, TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=817 .
MEMRI TV CLIP #807, Al-Arabiya TV Special on the Culture of Martyrdom and Suicide Bombers, Al-Arabiya TV (Dubai), 7/22/2005, TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=807 .
MEMRI TV CLIP #776, Founder of UAE Think Tank Salutes Mothers of Palestinian Suicide Bombers, Iqra TV (Saudi Arabia), 7/21/2005, TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=776 .
MEMRI TV CLIP #379, Martyrdom Culture: Mother and Friends of Palestinian "Martyr" Tell Their Stories, Sahar TV (Iran), 11/22/2004, TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=379 .
MEMRI TV CLIP #171, Lebanese Preacher Sheikh Ahmad Al-Zein: The Palestinian People 'Must Continue to Sacrifice Martyrs Every Day' Al-'Alam, TV (Iran), 7/22/2004, TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=171 .
MEMRI TV CLIP # 377, Iranian TV Show Extols Palestinian Female Suicide Bombers, Sahar TV (Iran), 11/8/2004, TO VIEW THIS CLIP, VISIT: http://www.memritv.org/search.asp?ACT=S9&P1=377 .
Endnotes:
(1) http://www.postpoems.com/cgi-bin/show_bio.cgi?userid=adnan
(2) http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/010202/2001020217.html
Mike
This weeks Torah portion: Emor
Wishing you and yours a Shabbat Shalom from Brooklyn, New York.
Your friend at Chabad – Lubavitch,
Rabbi Chaim
******
This weeks Torah portion: Emor (Leviticus 21:1-24:23)
******
For candle lighting time in your area:
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/location.asp
******
Don’t they deserve more then Mother’s Day?
By Rabbi Chaim
If you’ve been watching the news lately, chances are that you are in a deep depression, so instead of talking about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying that Israel will "one day vanish" or the other news that “soon, the Yuan will be stronger then the Dollar”, I will talk about Mother’s Day. You see, ever since the 1st or 2nd grade I have been labeled a “Mama’s Boy”. I never argued with that label, on the contrary, I’m actually proud of it. I love my mother, and consider her a mentor. She is smart and to the point, and truly knows the wisdom of life. She must have gotten it from her mother, my beloved grandmother, but that I’ll save for “Grandmother’s Day”…
To be honest with you, I don’t like Mother’s Day. I think that unfortunately most young Americans think a bouquet of flowers or a nice Hallmark card is more then enough to make your mom happy from now until this day comes around next year. Have you checked the Ten Commandments recently? Well, last time I took a look it still said “honor your father and your mother”, that is Every Day of the year. So in my non-humble opinion every day is Mother’s day in my life, and I think that’s how it should be in everyone’s life. Now to the Jewish calendar…
Tomorrow (Friday, May 12th) is “The Second Passover”. So you’re thinking to yourself, “no way Rabbi Chaim, does that mean that I must eat Matzah again?” and the answer is “Yes”, but just a little piece, and I’ll explain: In the book of Numbers G-d turns to Moses and says “Any person who is contaminated by death, or is on a distant road, whether among you now or in future generations, shall prepare a Passover offering to G-d. They shall prepare it on the afternoon of the fourteenth day of the second month, and shall eat it with Matzahs and bitter herbs”. In the time of the Temple, any Jew who for whatever reason was impure or far away from Jerusalem on the eve of Passover in the month of Nissan (last month), has a second chance, and that is thirty days later, in the month of Iyar (corresponding to tomorrow).
Wow, we truly have a compassionate G-d; he gave his people Israel a second chance. But then you think again, and you say “big deal, I know plenty of Judges and parents, CEO’s and teachers that have given second chances. They were compassionate to their children, employees, students and even criminals, so is that what makes Almighty G-d so great?” Yet, there is something totally different about G-d’s second chance. The world says “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression”, and G-d tells us “My dear Kinderlach, you always have a second chance to make a first impression”.
You see, when G-d told the Jews about the second Passover, he wasn’t only talking about the Goody Two Shoes who missed the first Passover by accident, became impure by mistake or they miscalculated their trip time and their arrival to Jerusalem was too late; for had that been the case, G-d would be as good as Judge Judy or my mom, they too give second chances. Rather, when G-d gave us this second Passover, he gave it even to those that chose purposely to be impure or far away, and then sometime after Passover #1, had a change of heart, a new awakening, and yet, G-d tells them “Come home my dear children, I am happy to have you at my table”.
That is an all Merciful G-d, he doesn’t only give us a second chance, but he cleans away all the old records, and gives us a special type of second chance that can make a remarkable first impression.
Thanks Almighty G-d, You always let us return to you, even if we don’t deserve it!
(BTW: I am sure your mom would give you a second chance and allow you to visit her once a week, instead of once a year, and allow you to send her twelve cards a year, instead of one. You could do it!)
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of the United States wherever they may be. Chazak! L'Chaim!
******
The ETorah is an educational project of
Chabad Student Outreach
Your friend at Chabad – Lubavitch,
Rabbi Chaim
******
This weeks Torah portion: Emor (Leviticus 21:1-24:23)
******
For candle lighting time in your area:
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/location.asp
******
Don’t they deserve more then Mother’s Day?
By Rabbi Chaim
If you’ve been watching the news lately, chances are that you are in a deep depression, so instead of talking about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying that Israel will "one day vanish" or the other news that “soon, the Yuan will be stronger then the Dollar”, I will talk about Mother’s Day. You see, ever since the 1st or 2nd grade I have been labeled a “Mama’s Boy”. I never argued with that label, on the contrary, I’m actually proud of it. I love my mother, and consider her a mentor. She is smart and to the point, and truly knows the wisdom of life. She must have gotten it from her mother, my beloved grandmother, but that I’ll save for “Grandmother’s Day”…
To be honest with you, I don’t like Mother’s Day. I think that unfortunately most young Americans think a bouquet of flowers or a nice Hallmark card is more then enough to make your mom happy from now until this day comes around next year. Have you checked the Ten Commandments recently? Well, last time I took a look it still said “honor your father and your mother”, that is Every Day of the year. So in my non-humble opinion every day is Mother’s day in my life, and I think that’s how it should be in everyone’s life. Now to the Jewish calendar…
Tomorrow (Friday, May 12th) is “The Second Passover”. So you’re thinking to yourself, “no way Rabbi Chaim, does that mean that I must eat Matzah again?” and the answer is “Yes”, but just a little piece, and I’ll explain: In the book of Numbers G-d turns to Moses and says “Any person who is contaminated by death, or is on a distant road, whether among you now or in future generations, shall prepare a Passover offering to G-d. They shall prepare it on the afternoon of the fourteenth day of the second month, and shall eat it with Matzahs and bitter herbs”. In the time of the Temple, any Jew who for whatever reason was impure or far away from Jerusalem on the eve of Passover in the month of Nissan (last month), has a second chance, and that is thirty days later, in the month of Iyar (corresponding to tomorrow).
Wow, we truly have a compassionate G-d; he gave his people Israel a second chance. But then you think again, and you say “big deal, I know plenty of Judges and parents, CEO’s and teachers that have given second chances. They were compassionate to their children, employees, students and even criminals, so is that what makes Almighty G-d so great?” Yet, there is something totally different about G-d’s second chance. The world says “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression”, and G-d tells us “My dear Kinderlach, you always have a second chance to make a first impression”.
You see, when G-d told the Jews about the second Passover, he wasn’t only talking about the Goody Two Shoes who missed the first Passover by accident, became impure by mistake or they miscalculated their trip time and their arrival to Jerusalem was too late; for had that been the case, G-d would be as good as Judge Judy or my mom, they too give second chances. Rather, when G-d gave us this second Passover, he gave it even to those that chose purposely to be impure or far away, and then sometime after Passover #1, had a change of heart, a new awakening, and yet, G-d tells them “Come home my dear children, I am happy to have you at my table”.
That is an all Merciful G-d, he doesn’t only give us a second chance, but he cleans away all the old records, and gives us a special type of second chance that can make a remarkable first impression.
Thanks Almighty G-d, You always let us return to you, even if we don’t deserve it!
(BTW: I am sure your mom would give you a second chance and allow you to visit her once a week, instead of once a year, and allow you to send her twelve cards a year, instead of one. You could do it!)
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of the United States wherever they may be. Chazak! L'Chaim!
******
The ETorah is an educational project of
Chabad Student Outreach
AIPAC Update
Olmert Takes Office as Israeli Prime Minister
Upon taking office as the head of a national unity government, new Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert immediately offered to negotiate with a Palestinian partner that rejects terrorism and accepts Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. However, Olmert made clear that if the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority continues to back terrorism, Israel will have no choice but to take far-reaching steps of its own to achieve security for its people. "A Palestinian government led by terrorist factions will not be a partner for negotiation," Olmert said. Read more about Olmert's vision for peace and security for Israel. (Note: This is where I have a difference of opinion with AIPAC. I don't believe Olmert's efforts will ultimately be a vision for the peace and security of Israel, I don't support the Kadima government or its effort to divide Jerusalem. May this government be short-lived. -MH)
Rice Says Nuclear-Minded Iran Will Face U.N. Action
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday reiterated the United States' determination to pursue a U.N. Security Council resolution designed to stop Iran's quest for nuclear weapons. "We're going to take action in the Security Council," which could impose a range of political and economic sanctions on Iran, Rice told Fox News. Rice said that the United States and its European allies were determined to keep atomic arms away from Iran, which has recently ramped up threats against the West and Israel. Learn more about the threat that a nuclear Iran would pose to the United States.
Bill to Isolate Hamas-Led PA Nears Vote
The House of Representatives is expected to vote as early as next week on legislation designed to isolate the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Authority (PA). Sponsored by 293 members of the House of Representatives and nearly 90 senators, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act would make clear that the United States will not recognize or provide aid to the Hamas-led PA unless Hamas renounces violence, dismantles the terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza, recognizes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and accepts all previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements. Exceptions would be made for humanitarian assistance. Recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, Hamas has killed hundreds of Israelis and more than two dozen Americans since the 1980s. Urge your lawmakers to support the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act.
Congress Celebrates Israel's Independence
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate last week unanimously passed resolutions congratulating Israel on the 58th anniversary of its independence. The measures, sponsored by Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) in the Senate and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) in the House, stated that "despite the deaths of over 1,000 innocent Israelis at the hands of murderous suicide bombers and other terrorists during the past five years, the people of Israel continue to seek peace with their Palestinian neighbors."
Resolutions Condemn Iran's Placement on U.N. Panel
Members of Congress are sponsoring measures to criticize the United Nations for giving Iran a seat on the U.N. Disarmament Commission even as Tehran defies the international community to pursue nuclear weapons. A Senate resolution "expressing deep disappointment" with the move was introduced recently by Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN). The resolution details Iran's repeated violations of its international nuclear non-proliferation obligations. A similar resolution was introduced in the House by Rep. Jim Ryun (R-KS).
Upon taking office as the head of a national unity government, new Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert immediately offered to negotiate with a Palestinian partner that rejects terrorism and accepts Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. However, Olmert made clear that if the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority continues to back terrorism, Israel will have no choice but to take far-reaching steps of its own to achieve security for its people. "A Palestinian government led by terrorist factions will not be a partner for negotiation," Olmert said. Read more about Olmert's vision for peace and security for Israel. (Note: This is where I have a difference of opinion with AIPAC. I don't believe Olmert's efforts will ultimately be a vision for the peace and security of Israel, I don't support the Kadima government or its effort to divide Jerusalem. May this government be short-lived. -MH)
Rice Says Nuclear-Minded Iran Will Face U.N. Action
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday reiterated the United States' determination to pursue a U.N. Security Council resolution designed to stop Iran's quest for nuclear weapons. "We're going to take action in the Security Council," which could impose a range of political and economic sanctions on Iran, Rice told Fox News. Rice said that the United States and its European allies were determined to keep atomic arms away from Iran, which has recently ramped up threats against the West and Israel. Learn more about the threat that a nuclear Iran would pose to the United States.
Bill to Isolate Hamas-Led PA Nears Vote
The House of Representatives is expected to vote as early as next week on legislation designed to isolate the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Authority (PA). Sponsored by 293 members of the House of Representatives and nearly 90 senators, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act would make clear that the United States will not recognize or provide aid to the Hamas-led PA unless Hamas renounces violence, dismantles the terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank and Gaza, recognizes Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and accepts all previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements. Exceptions would be made for humanitarian assistance. Recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union, Hamas has killed hundreds of Israelis and more than two dozen Americans since the 1980s. Urge your lawmakers to support the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act.
Congress Celebrates Israel's Independence
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate last week unanimously passed resolutions congratulating Israel on the 58th anniversary of its independence. The measures, sponsored by Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) in the Senate and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) in the House, stated that "despite the deaths of over 1,000 innocent Israelis at the hands of murderous suicide bombers and other terrorists during the past five years, the people of Israel continue to seek peace with their Palestinian neighbors."
Resolutions Condemn Iran's Placement on U.N. Panel
Members of Congress are sponsoring measures to criticize the United Nations for giving Iran a seat on the U.N. Disarmament Commission even as Tehran defies the international community to pursue nuclear weapons. A Senate resolution "expressing deep disappointment" with the move was introduced recently by Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN). The resolution details Iran's repeated violations of its international nuclear non-proliferation obligations. A similar resolution was introduced in the House by Rep. Jim Ryun (R-KS).
Monday, May 08, 2006
The DaVinci Code...for Jews
While I was out yesterday pissing some time away on the golf course someone asked me what my take was on the controversy surrounding the The DaVinci Code. I was rather startled at the question because as odd as some people might consider it, I know very little about Christianity outside of the efforts that the despicable cult of J4J use against us, and I don't usually expend a lot of effort reading books concerning Jesus. Different strokes for different folks.
While trying to learn more about the issue the good folks at Aish HaTorah, via Rabbi Benjamin Blech, have provided the best commentary from a Jewish perspective I've read yet.
...But what strikes me, as a rabbi, is the remarkable irony that the very theories about Jesus presented by Brown that make the book blasphemous to Christians are concepts that make Jesus far more comprehensible to Jews.
If there are other stories with a different perspective that I might have missed please drop me a note and point them out.
Mike
While trying to learn more about the issue the good folks at Aish HaTorah, via Rabbi Benjamin Blech, have provided the best commentary from a Jewish perspective I've read yet.
...But what strikes me, as a rabbi, is the remarkable irony that the very theories about Jesus presented by Brown that make the book blasphemous to Christians are concepts that make Jesus far more comprehensible to Jews.
If there are other stories with a different perspective that I might have missed please drop me a note and point them out.
Mike
Too Little, Too Late
It's fairly obvious that the majority of the Republican party at the national level are running scared based upon recent polling that suggest they're in for a whooping in November. What we Dem's MUST do is absolutely squelch any talk of impeachment because, well, it's just plain stupid. Has anyone out there given serious consideration to the consequences of a successful impeachment, i.e. President Cheney? If that doesn't send chills down your spine nothing will. What we DO need to consider, despite Republicans using the tactic as a campaign strategy, is conducting congressional hearings on the failed intelligence that eventually led to the quagmire in Iraq and other issues that WE, THE PEOPLE deserve an honest and straightforward answer to. Should we as citizens demand anything less from those who claim to represent us in Washington?
A piece by Eric Pianin in Sunday's Washington Post caught my eye and seems to highlight the delicious despair the Republicans must be feeling upon receiving one piece of bad news after another.
"This administration may be over," Lance Tarrance, a chief architect of the Republicans' 1960s and '70s Southern strategy, told a gathering of journalists and political wonks last week. "By and large, if you want to be tough about it, the relevancy of this administration on policy may be over."
A new poll by RT Strategies, the firm headed by Tarrance and Democratic pollster Thomas Riehle, shows that 59 percent of Americans disapprove of Bush's job performance, while 36 percent approve -- a finding in line with other recent polls.
Tarrance said it would be extremely difficult for any president to bounce back this late in his administration and reassert influence on Capitol Hill when his approval rating barely exceeds his party's base support and half of all adults surveyed said they "strongly disapprove" of his performance. An overwhelming 73 percent of independents disapprove of Bush's performance, and two-thirds of those "strongly disapprove."
I'll close with a brief snippet from The Rude Pundit as he writes about the Patrick Kennedy inspired orgy among the right wing, which is occuring both nationally and to a lesser extent here in Montana. You'll have to click here for the real meat and potatoes part of the essay. He's not known as The Rude Pundit for nothing folks so if you're easily offended, or have a Michelle Malkin fetish, it's best to just move on :-)
Oh, sweet orgasmic blessings of the news cycle goddesses, oh, goddamn, fuck, a Kennedy in a car accident? In DC? Where drugs and/or alcohol might be involved? Where the cops say that Kennedy was actin' funny? And perhaps he was treated differently than others who were in the same situation? And it's Ted Kennedy's son, Patrick, who is a member of Congress? Sweet Jesus, for the fine members of the right wing punditry, it's like Christmas, Easter, and Ronald Reagan's Birthday all rolled into one big package of crazy.
I guess if the Republicans really had anything to gloat about from a policy perspective they wouldn't have to be pimping what would be an unreported story, sans the Kennedy name, all out of proportion.
Mike
A piece by Eric Pianin in Sunday's Washington Post caught my eye and seems to highlight the delicious despair the Republicans must be feeling upon receiving one piece of bad news after another.
"This administration may be over," Lance Tarrance, a chief architect of the Republicans' 1960s and '70s Southern strategy, told a gathering of journalists and political wonks last week. "By and large, if you want to be tough about it, the relevancy of this administration on policy may be over."
A new poll by RT Strategies, the firm headed by Tarrance and Democratic pollster Thomas Riehle, shows that 59 percent of Americans disapprove of Bush's job performance, while 36 percent approve -- a finding in line with other recent polls.
Tarrance said it would be extremely difficult for any president to bounce back this late in his administration and reassert influence on Capitol Hill when his approval rating barely exceeds his party's base support and half of all adults surveyed said they "strongly disapprove" of his performance. An overwhelming 73 percent of independents disapprove of Bush's performance, and two-thirds of those "strongly disapprove."
I'll close with a brief snippet from The Rude Pundit as he writes about the Patrick Kennedy inspired orgy among the right wing, which is occuring both nationally and to a lesser extent here in Montana. You'll have to click here for the real meat and potatoes part of the essay. He's not known as The Rude Pundit for nothing folks so if you're easily offended, or have a Michelle Malkin fetish, it's best to just move on :-)
Oh, sweet orgasmic blessings of the news cycle goddesses, oh, goddamn, fuck, a Kennedy in a car accident? In DC? Where drugs and/or alcohol might be involved? Where the cops say that Kennedy was actin' funny? And perhaps he was treated differently than others who were in the same situation? And it's Ted Kennedy's son, Patrick, who is a member of Congress? Sweet Jesus, for the fine members of the right wing punditry, it's like Christmas, Easter, and Ronald Reagan's Birthday all rolled into one big package of crazy.
I guess if the Republicans really had anything to gloat about from a policy perspective they wouldn't have to be pimping what would be an unreported story, sans the Kennedy name, all out of proportion.
Mike
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Israel: Civil War Watch
Approximately an hour or so after sunrise, Security forces descended, using large metal saws to drill out the front door of the Beit Shapira complex. This took approximately 45 minutes to achieve. Upon entrance to the premises and securing the roof top, many of the family members with young children and infants began to emerge voluntarily in hopes of avoiding violent clashes with police. Rebbitzin Shlissel, a direct descendent of Rav Kook, stood her ground and was physically dragged from the building by Security forces. At this point, it was clear to all that the evacuation was almost complete. Left to be removed were teenage girls occupying one room and teenage boys in another. The bravery of these two groups of teens was phenomenal. Fearlessly, teenage girls charged at these Security officers in full armor time after time, breaking through their wall of defense until all were arrested and deposited in police vans. It took approximately another hour to secure the teenage boys and remove them from the room they occupied. All emerged handcuffed and placed in police vans. At 10:10 this morning the last four boys were taken into police custody. The whole Avram Aveinu Neighborhood is still locked down. No one is allowed to leave their homes at this point.
Does this sound like the proper way for a government to treat it's citizens? The Kadima government of Ehud Olmert has absolutely no shame. Forcibly removing Jews from their homes without legal authority continues unabated in Olmert's Israel. One would hope Olmert doesn't go out in public very often without a highly trained security force... For continued updates and future video of the Chevron evictions visit Israelreporter.com.
One the other side conflict comes news that the Government of Israel foiled a Hamas plot to assasinate "palestinian" president Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). Meanwhile, the natives continue to be restless with the PA on the verge of outright bankruptcy and full-scale civil war. Wouldn't it be an ironic turn of events if pali terrorists started turning against each other with suicide bombings? Nothing like cleaning out the gene pool from the bottom up.
A growing number of Palestinians believe they are now closer than ever to civil war and bankruptcy. Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, who has just wrapped up a tour of a number of Arab countries, is returning home with a suitcase full of promises and little cash. Hamas officials are openly accusing PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and his senior aides of conspiring with the U.S. and Israel to bring down the Hamas cabinet. Some of the Hamas ministers have also complained that their predecessors literally stole everything from the ministries, including teaspoons, fax machines, and couches. Hamas officials said on Sunday they had discovered that all the workers in Abbas' office had received their salaries for the previous month, while more than 140,000 other PA civil servants have not yet been paid.
And finally comes a fascinating exploration of the cowardice inherent in Arab culture from Bill Levinson at Israpundit.
The modern Arab militant is well known for its physical cruelty and physical cowardice. The Islamofascist is incredibly courageous when slitting a female flight attendant’s throat with a box cutter (as happened on 9/11), sawing the head from a bound captive while chanting to Allah, murdering school children at Ma’alot, shooting a pregnant woman in her belly to kill her unborn child, and slaughtering a female aid worker (Margaret Hassan). Its behavior is far different, though, when it has to confront an armed male; then it tends to make itself scarce as quickly as possible.
BTW, if you're reading anything online today you might be just a touch mad. Get out there and enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasts. My wife will be in Regina for the day while I plan a strategy to reduce the number of divots at the Scobey Golf Club, and if I'm lucky, share some singlt malt and Cuban cigars with some friends.
Mike
Does this sound like the proper way for a government to treat it's citizens? The Kadima government of Ehud Olmert has absolutely no shame. Forcibly removing Jews from their homes without legal authority continues unabated in Olmert's Israel. One would hope Olmert doesn't go out in public very often without a highly trained security force... For continued updates and future video of the Chevron evictions visit Israelreporter.com.
One the other side conflict comes news that the Government of Israel foiled a Hamas plot to assasinate "palestinian" president Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). Meanwhile, the natives continue to be restless with the PA on the verge of outright bankruptcy and full-scale civil war. Wouldn't it be an ironic turn of events if pali terrorists started turning against each other with suicide bombings? Nothing like cleaning out the gene pool from the bottom up.
A growing number of Palestinians believe they are now closer than ever to civil war and bankruptcy. Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, who has just wrapped up a tour of a number of Arab countries, is returning home with a suitcase full of promises and little cash. Hamas officials are openly accusing PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and his senior aides of conspiring with the U.S. and Israel to bring down the Hamas cabinet. Some of the Hamas ministers have also complained that their predecessors literally stole everything from the ministries, including teaspoons, fax machines, and couches. Hamas officials said on Sunday they had discovered that all the workers in Abbas' office had received their salaries for the previous month, while more than 140,000 other PA civil servants have not yet been paid.
And finally comes a fascinating exploration of the cowardice inherent in Arab culture from Bill Levinson at Israpundit.
The modern Arab militant is well known for its physical cruelty and physical cowardice. The Islamofascist is incredibly courageous when slitting a female flight attendant’s throat with a box cutter (as happened on 9/11), sawing the head from a bound captive while chanting to Allah, murdering school children at Ma’alot, shooting a pregnant woman in her belly to kill her unborn child, and slaughtering a female aid worker (Margaret Hassan). Its behavior is far different, though, when it has to confront an armed male; then it tends to make itself scarce as quickly as possible.
BTW, if you're reading anything online today you might be just a touch mad. Get out there and enjoy the beautiful weather while it lasts. My wife will be in Regina for the day while I plan a strategy to reduce the number of divots at the Scobey Golf Club, and if I'm lucky, share some singlt malt and Cuban cigars with some friends.
Mike
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Olmert: WTF?
Every once in a while you read a story printed in the press twice because certainly you're eyes must have deceived you the first time. That's what happened when I came across a story on Yom Ha'atzmaut outlining a new plan coming from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, which will be implemented by MK Otniel Schneller, calling for the division of Jerusalem into Arab and Jewish sections.
His blueprint would give turn over most of the Arab neighborhoods in the capital to the Palestinian Authority (PA), he told the Associated Press. The plan calls for moving the separation barrier westward. The status of the Old City would be part of a "special region with special understandings" but under Israeli sovereignty. Schneller stated, "Those same neighborhoods will, in my assessment, be central to the makeup of the Palestinian capital ... al-Quds, [the Arabic name for Jerusalem). We will not divide Jerusalem, we will share it."
This "special region" of Jerusalem, as Schneller calls it, would seem to provide quite a convenient base of operations for the terrorist government of Hamas to launch Ketusha and Shahid rockets into the Jewish sections of the city.
Doesn't the Kadima government of Ehud Olmert realize that by essentially ghettoizing BOTH the resident "palestinians" and Israelis he is only going to create more bitter resentment on both sides? Does he not understand that the "palestinians" do not want to share one inch of Israel with the Jews, and have indicated so time and time again?
Hamas Leader Mahmoud Zahar on Al-Manar TV: ’Palestine Means Palestine in its Entirety – From the [Mediterranean] Sea to the [Jordan] River… We Cannot Give Up a Single Inch of it… Why Should We Recognize Condoleezza Rice… or Israel's Right to Exist?’
And this....
Palestinian Legislative Council Candidate and Mother of Three Hamas Terrorists Umm Nidal Farhat: Israelis are Not Civilians and There are No Prohibitions on Killing Them; I Am Willing to Sacrifice My Ten Sons
Or this...
Palestinian Legislative Council Member ‘Umm Nidal’ on Saudi Iqra TV: A Muslim Mother Should Raise Her Children for Jihad Interviewer Iqra TV Director-General Critical of Arab TV Channels That Don't Support Martyrdom Operations
You cannot trust or negotiate with these people. The only possible way to even co-exist with these terrorists is to seperate from them completely. The "palestinians" should be satisfied with the land they have and attempt to build an infrastructure capable of supporting their people rather than stealing from them. For their part the Israelis need to stop depending on cheap "palestinian" labor and instead focus on lowering the unemployment rate of 9%, perhaps higher among Russian and Eastern European Olim, into practical job training paying a living wage.
In the meantime the meshugana planning leading towards the eventual ghettoization of Jerusalem needs to stop before Olmert and his Kadima government succeeds at what no army has ever been capable of.
Mike
His blueprint would give turn over most of the Arab neighborhoods in the capital to the Palestinian Authority (PA), he told the Associated Press. The plan calls for moving the separation barrier westward. The status of the Old City would be part of a "special region with special understandings" but under Israeli sovereignty. Schneller stated, "Those same neighborhoods will, in my assessment, be central to the makeup of the Palestinian capital ... al-Quds, [the Arabic name for Jerusalem). We will not divide Jerusalem, we will share it."
This "special region" of Jerusalem, as Schneller calls it, would seem to provide quite a convenient base of operations for the terrorist government of Hamas to launch Ketusha and Shahid rockets into the Jewish sections of the city.
Doesn't the Kadima government of Ehud Olmert realize that by essentially ghettoizing BOTH the resident "palestinians" and Israelis he is only going to create more bitter resentment on both sides? Does he not understand that the "palestinians" do not want to share one inch of Israel with the Jews, and have indicated so time and time again?
Hamas Leader Mahmoud Zahar on Al-Manar TV: ’Palestine Means Palestine in its Entirety – From the [Mediterranean] Sea to the [Jordan] River… We Cannot Give Up a Single Inch of it… Why Should We Recognize Condoleezza Rice… or Israel's Right to Exist?’
And this....
Palestinian Legislative Council Candidate and Mother of Three Hamas Terrorists Umm Nidal Farhat: Israelis are Not Civilians and There are No Prohibitions on Killing Them; I Am Willing to Sacrifice My Ten Sons
Or this...
Palestinian Legislative Council Member ‘Umm Nidal’ on Saudi Iqra TV: A Muslim Mother Should Raise Her Children for Jihad Interviewer Iqra TV Director-General Critical of Arab TV Channels That Don't Support Martyrdom Operations
You cannot trust or negotiate with these people. The only possible way to even co-exist with these terrorists is to seperate from them completely. The "palestinians" should be satisfied with the land they have and attempt to build an infrastructure capable of supporting their people rather than stealing from them. For their part the Israelis need to stop depending on cheap "palestinian" labor and instead focus on lowering the unemployment rate of 9%, perhaps higher among Russian and Eastern European Olim, into practical job training paying a living wage.
In the meantime the meshugana planning leading towards the eventual ghettoization of Jerusalem needs to stop before Olmert and his Kadima government succeeds at what no army has ever been capable of.
Mike
Friday, May 05, 2006
This weeks Torah portion: Acharei-Kedoshim
Wishing you and yours a Shabbat Shalom from Brooklyn, New York.
Your friend at Chabad – Lubavitch,
Rabbi Chaim
******
This weeks Torah portion: Acharei-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1-20:27)
******
For candle lighting time in your area:
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/location.asp
******
Are you a spiritual thief?
By Rabbi Chaim
As you know quite well, I don’t usually advocate seeing films, but you gotta pick up this documentary “Paper Clips”. What an uplifting and inspiring story! It’s about the small town of Whitewell, Tennessee, and what they did to commemorate the death of over six million of our fellow Jews in the Holocaust. It is fascinating how much tolerance and humanity can emanate from a town of so called “Rednecks”, just goes to show….. America, there is hope for peace and harmony. Anyhow, did you know that some people from Norway wore paper clips on their lapels as a symbol of resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II? Trust me; get a copy of this documentary and you’ll thank me. Now to the weekly Torah portion…
Did you know that when it says in the Ten Commandments “Thou shall not steal” it’s talking about stealing people – kidnapping? Well, now you know the rest of the story. It is in this week’s Torah portion that we are commanded not to steal any money or valuables from our fellow human beings. I must confess, I always disliked thieves, for some reason or another they always rubbed me the wrong way. I would like to share with you a beautiful Drash based on a ruling of the great codifier of Jewish law – Maimonides, it goes something like this:
With every prohibition that Almighty G-d gave us; in his abundant mercy, he gave us a way to rectify our wrong. He said that you are not allowed to take a mother bird and her little birdies together. What happens if you did? The minute you send the mother bird away, the act of sin that you preformed is now void, it doesn’t exist; it’s as if you never did it. The Torah tells you to leave a section in your field for the poor to come and enjoy. If you didn’t listen and cut down the entire field, how do you do a quick rectification? Very simple, just leave a section of what you already cut for the poor and you are Scot free, you’re an angel in G-d’s eyes, you even made it easier for the poor; you cut it down for them. Yet, the sin of stealing is a totally different ball game, every minute that the person is missing the object you stole; it’s as if you are robbing him now again. So when you finally decide to return the stolen object, its not that you are rectifying a sin done way back when, but rather, you are just stopping your action of continuous sin that has been in progress ever since you robbed it in the first place.
So as you can see, stealing is a very grave sin, primarily because of what it does to your fellow and the constant inner struggle the robbed person has to go through. Interestingly enough the Talmud tells us “Stealing is like worshiping idols”, what in the world is that all about? I understand it’s not nice, but like “Idol Worship”, the worst sin in the five books of Moses? The Rebbe explains: Just as by idol worship, the Jew is basically saying that G-d doesn’t matter, I found better G-d’s, good idols, they’re more helpful, more inspiring, and more real. Similarly, when a Jew steals, he is saying, G-d you don’t matter, all I care about is that my friends, business partners, acquaintances or wife, shouldn’t catch me, but you G-d, who cares if you see me stealing? What could you do about it anyway? Huh? In other words you are making a statement that “G-d you don’t make slightest difference in my life, you seeing me means nothing, nothing at all”.
In truth, however, stealing is worse then idol worship. When someone drops their faith in Hashem and decides to serve one idol or another, he is giving up G-d, therefore it gives him an opportunity for repentance somewhere along the path of life, because when you are cognizant of your wrongdoing, you can rectify it and eventually return to G-d. Stealing is a different story; the Talmud says “there is a thief who prays to G-d before he goes out to steal”, and although that shows that he has a gem of a soul deep down inside of him that shines once every millennium, but it also tells me that he will never repent for the sin of stealing, because he will tell himself “what I did wasn’t so bad, I never dropped G-d totally! Oh come-on, so I stole a few million from the government, I cheated on the grocer for twenty bucks, I told my boss that I worked overtime, even though it was a total lie, is all this the end of the world? For this I need to repent? I didn’t clearly denounce G-d?”
That is why stealing is such a strong prohibition: it kills two birds with one stone. It is the worst you can do to another human being, and it ruins your relationship with the Creator of Heaven and Earth. It’s considered Idol Worship, and who would want that on their record?
On a good note: The great Chassidic Tzadik and sage Rabbi Zusya of Anipoli, learned a number of very important lessons from a thief that we can take to heart in our service of G-d:
1) The thief works quietly without others knowing.
2) He is ready to put himself in danger.
3) The smallest detail is of great importance to him.
4) He labors with great toil.
5) Alacrity.
6) He is confident and optimistic.
7) If he does not succeed the first time, he tries again and again.
My best wishes to you in your service of Hashem – Be a spiritual thief!
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of the United States wherever they may be. Chazak! L'Chaim!
******
The ETorah is an educational project of
Chabad Student Outreach
Your friend at Chabad – Lubavitch,
Rabbi Chaim
******
This weeks Torah portion: Acharei-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1-20:27)
******
For candle lighting time in your area:
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/location.asp
******
Are you a spiritual thief?
By Rabbi Chaim
As you know quite well, I don’t usually advocate seeing films, but you gotta pick up this documentary “Paper Clips”. What an uplifting and inspiring story! It’s about the small town of Whitewell, Tennessee, and what they did to commemorate the death of over six million of our fellow Jews in the Holocaust. It is fascinating how much tolerance and humanity can emanate from a town of so called “Rednecks”, just goes to show….. America, there is hope for peace and harmony. Anyhow, did you know that some people from Norway wore paper clips on their lapels as a symbol of resistance against Nazi occupation during World War II? Trust me; get a copy of this documentary and you’ll thank me. Now to the weekly Torah portion…
Did you know that when it says in the Ten Commandments “Thou shall not steal” it’s talking about stealing people – kidnapping? Well, now you know the rest of the story. It is in this week’s Torah portion that we are commanded not to steal any money or valuables from our fellow human beings. I must confess, I always disliked thieves, for some reason or another they always rubbed me the wrong way. I would like to share with you a beautiful Drash based on a ruling of the great codifier of Jewish law – Maimonides, it goes something like this:
With every prohibition that Almighty G-d gave us; in his abundant mercy, he gave us a way to rectify our wrong. He said that you are not allowed to take a mother bird and her little birdies together. What happens if you did? The minute you send the mother bird away, the act of sin that you preformed is now void, it doesn’t exist; it’s as if you never did it. The Torah tells you to leave a section in your field for the poor to come and enjoy. If you didn’t listen and cut down the entire field, how do you do a quick rectification? Very simple, just leave a section of what you already cut for the poor and you are Scot free, you’re an angel in G-d’s eyes, you even made it easier for the poor; you cut it down for them. Yet, the sin of stealing is a totally different ball game, every minute that the person is missing the object you stole; it’s as if you are robbing him now again. So when you finally decide to return the stolen object, its not that you are rectifying a sin done way back when, but rather, you are just stopping your action of continuous sin that has been in progress ever since you robbed it in the first place.
So as you can see, stealing is a very grave sin, primarily because of what it does to your fellow and the constant inner struggle the robbed person has to go through. Interestingly enough the Talmud tells us “Stealing is like worshiping idols”, what in the world is that all about? I understand it’s not nice, but like “Idol Worship”, the worst sin in the five books of Moses? The Rebbe explains: Just as by idol worship, the Jew is basically saying that G-d doesn’t matter, I found better G-d’s, good idols, they’re more helpful, more inspiring, and more real. Similarly, when a Jew steals, he is saying, G-d you don’t matter, all I care about is that my friends, business partners, acquaintances or wife, shouldn’t catch me, but you G-d, who cares if you see me stealing? What could you do about it anyway? Huh? In other words you are making a statement that “G-d you don’t make slightest difference in my life, you seeing me means nothing, nothing at all”.
In truth, however, stealing is worse then idol worship. When someone drops their faith in Hashem and decides to serve one idol or another, he is giving up G-d, therefore it gives him an opportunity for repentance somewhere along the path of life, because when you are cognizant of your wrongdoing, you can rectify it and eventually return to G-d. Stealing is a different story; the Talmud says “there is a thief who prays to G-d before he goes out to steal”, and although that shows that he has a gem of a soul deep down inside of him that shines once every millennium, but it also tells me that he will never repent for the sin of stealing, because he will tell himself “what I did wasn’t so bad, I never dropped G-d totally! Oh come-on, so I stole a few million from the government, I cheated on the grocer for twenty bucks, I told my boss that I worked overtime, even though it was a total lie, is all this the end of the world? For this I need to repent? I didn’t clearly denounce G-d?”
That is why stealing is such a strong prohibition: it kills two birds with one stone. It is the worst you can do to another human being, and it ruins your relationship with the Creator of Heaven and Earth. It’s considered Idol Worship, and who would want that on their record?
On a good note: The great Chassidic Tzadik and sage Rabbi Zusya of Anipoli, learned a number of very important lessons from a thief that we can take to heart in our service of G-d:
1) The thief works quietly without others knowing.
2) He is ready to put himself in danger.
3) The smallest detail is of great importance to him.
4) He labors with great toil.
5) Alacrity.
6) He is confident and optimistic.
7) If he does not succeed the first time, he tries again and again.
My best wishes to you in your service of Hashem – Be a spiritual thief!
May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Moshiach speedily. May He protect the armed forces of the United States wherever they may be. Chazak! L'Chaim!
******
The ETorah is an educational project of
Chabad Student Outreach
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Todd's Take On Montana
This race is only in play because of Burns’ Abramoff ties. The Democrats have done an incredible job of making the contest all about Burns' personal ethics. That said, neither Morrison nor Tester is acting like a first-tier challenger. They both meet the minimum standards and have yet to exceed expectations. Morrison’s handling of the disclosure of his affair wasn’t bad but it does raise a red flag. Let’s see how it plays in the general.
Couldn't have said it better myself. I've mentioned it before and I will continue to pound the point home until the last vote is counted and Morrison is the Democratic nominee. Jon Tester has been provided with a cornucopia of issues to use against Morrison yet has been strangely silent on why he deserves to beat Morrison.
I'm getting a little sick and tired of the anti-Morrison cacophony coming from the MT blogosphere. How about providing something novel...a reason, any reason, to vote for Tester?
Face it, the people behind the Morrison campaign are playing in the big leagues, at least as far as fund raising is concerned. Perhaps the fatal flaw for Tester will end up being a campaign being ran by rote amateurs. Please tell me his campaign manager didn't make the executive decision to rely on internet amateurs and bloggers to carry the day. Seriously.
If Tester should be trusted in the Senate to represent Montana shouldn't he start here at home with a staff who knows what the hell they are doing? Please tell me the brain trust in Big Sandy has something else to offer other than what I've seen up to now. I've been behind Tester since day one but his campaign is increasingly becoming an embarrasment. Tester has been handed one gift after another by the Morrison campaign and continues to punt his way through the campaign. Tester might shine on the debate circuit but when his light is dimished by standing in the political "lineup" it only serves to benefit Morrison, who can simply remain above the fray, and even depart before the debate is over, without any perceived chance of electoral retribution.
Geesus. It's patently obvious that the priapic Morrison will lose shamefully to Burns in the general and that Boulder's Leather Daddy, Paul Richards, is simply a joke of a candidate who doesn't even deserve a place at the table. Why then does Jon Tester refuse to throw down the gauntlet against Morrison, call him out on his improprieties and wipe the electoral floor with him? I'm becoming increasingly afraid we'll never learn the answer.
Mike
Couldn't have said it better myself. I've mentioned it before and I will continue to pound the point home until the last vote is counted and Morrison is the Democratic nominee. Jon Tester has been provided with a cornucopia of issues to use against Morrison yet has been strangely silent on why he deserves to beat Morrison.
I'm getting a little sick and tired of the anti-Morrison cacophony coming from the MT blogosphere. How about providing something novel...a reason, any reason, to vote for Tester?
Face it, the people behind the Morrison campaign are playing in the big leagues, at least as far as fund raising is concerned. Perhaps the fatal flaw for Tester will end up being a campaign being ran by rote amateurs. Please tell me his campaign manager didn't make the executive decision to rely on internet amateurs and bloggers to carry the day. Seriously.
If Tester should be trusted in the Senate to represent Montana shouldn't he start here at home with a staff who knows what the hell they are doing? Please tell me the brain trust in Big Sandy has something else to offer other than what I've seen up to now. I've been behind Tester since day one but his campaign is increasingly becoming an embarrasment. Tester has been handed one gift after another by the Morrison campaign and continues to punt his way through the campaign. Tester might shine on the debate circuit but when his light is dimished by standing in the political "lineup" it only serves to benefit Morrison, who can simply remain above the fray, and even depart before the debate is over, without any perceived chance of electoral retribution.
Geesus. It's patently obvious that the priapic Morrison will lose shamefully to Burns in the general and that Boulder's Leather Daddy, Paul Richards, is simply a joke of a candidate who doesn't even deserve a place at the table. Why then does Jon Tester refuse to throw down the gauntlet against Morrison, call him out on his improprieties and wipe the electoral floor with him? I'm becoming increasingly afraid we'll never learn the answer.
Mike
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Yom Ha'atzmaut חג עצמאות שמח
Though it's been a busy day and a half it would be remiss of me not to mention Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel Independence Day.It's difficult to add anything more to what Aaron has already mentioned but perhaps I could just briefly expand upon one item.
We are taught to remember that joy and grief are never too far apart; that is part of the reason that we break a glass during a wedding ceremony. The quick succession of three holidays, Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) last week, followed by Yom HaZikiron (Israeli Memorial Day) yesterday and Yom HaAtzmaut today really put the progression of life and faith into perspective.
If you've ever been to Israel during this time perhaps the most poingnant part of the transition between Yom Hazikaron, Memorial Day, and Yom Ha'atzmaut is the symbolic nature of every flag in Israel flying at half staff on Yom Hazikaron and then being joyfully raised on Yom Ha'atamaut. I believe it's reflective of the very nature of the emotional roller-coaster of the modern Jewish state, and is also a very Jewish in that Judaism demands, almost requires, that every major celebration is preceeded by a period of introspection and reflection.
Rosh Hashana is preceeded by Elul, Yom Kippur by the Days of Pentinence, Sukkot by Yom Kippur itself, and so on. The existential fact of Judaism is that the only rest, the only calm we will ever know, is death.
For a video of the siren's of Yom Hazikaron bringing Israel to a standstill for two minutes I suggest you visit Shlomo Wollins site, Israel Reporter, here. If you want top-notch blogger/reporter who's not afraid to get his shoes dirty, or his face bloodied, Shlomo's your guy. It's easy for those of us who sit behind a computer screen to become complacent but Wollins puts his body on the line every day to provide top-notch reports from Gush Katif to Amona to Chevron. If it matters, Israel Reporter is on the scene. Nuff said.
For religious background on the day, you can read or listen to some related Shiurim at YU Torah Online here. Other relevant and interesting information can be found on the "Celebrating the Independence of the State of Israel" page at the OU website here.
חג עצמאות שמח
Or in English, Happy Chag Atzmaut. Israel is 58 years old, 58 years strong, and is not going anywhere. It's high time the rest of the world got used to the idea.
Mike
AIPAC Update
House Votes to Tighten Sanctions on Nuclear-Minded Iran
The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved the Iran Freedom Support Act, which would extend and strengthen existing sanctions designed to curtail funds Iran could use for its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The bill, introduced by Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Tom Lantos (D-CA), passed by a vote of 397-21, winning broad bipartisan backing. A companion version of the bill, introduced by Sens. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Evan Bayh (D-IN), is pending in the Senate. Thank your House member for supporting the Iran Freedom Support Act and urge your senators to back the Senate measure.
Hamas Linked to Recent Terror Strike
Hamas, the terrorist group that controls the Palestinian government, was directly responsible for last week's attack on a border crossing between Israel and Gaza, Israel's Shin Bet security service said. According to the Shin Bet, Hamas officials funded and trained the men who carried out the strike, in which terrorists tried to drive a bomb-laden car into a border crossing through which Palestinians receive food and medicine. Hamas has consistently refused to renounce violence since it emerged as the dominant faction in the Palestinian Authority's (PA) parliament. In response, the United States and its allies have cut off most aid to the PA. Exceptions are being made for humanitarian assistance.
Iran Reportedly Has Missile That Can Hit Europe
Israel's military intelligence service has confirmed earlier press accounts that Iran has acquired surface-to-surface missiles capable of hitting Europe, according to The Associated Press. Iran reportedly obtained the missiles, called BM-25s, from North Korea. Iran already has missiles that can strike U.S. troops, allies and vital energy resources throughout the Middle East. The announcement of intelligence on the new missile came as Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responded to international calls for an end to Iran's nuclear program by threatening to attack U.S. interests worldwide. Learn more about the threat that a nuclear Iran would pose to the United States.
Chicago Mayor Reviewing Israeli Security Measures
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley is traveling to Israel this week to study whether lessons from the Jewish state's fight against terrorism can be applied to homeland-security techniques in the United States' third-largest city. Since 9/11, Israel has hosted numerous American law enforcement officials interested in gaining an up-close perspective of how Israel guards its citizens from the constant threat of Palestinian terrorism. The House of Representatives recently passed legislation that would expand homeland-security-related cooperation between the United States and Israel.
U.S. Official Goes to Israel for Anti-Terror Talks
The official who oversees the financial front of the United States' war on terrorism is in Israel to discuss economic action against the Hamas-led government of the Palestinian Authority (PA), The Jerusalem Post reported. The visit by Stuart Levey, Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, underscores the United States and Israel's shared goal of isolating the Hamas-led PA. The Hamas-controlled PA has been cut off by the United States and Israel because of its refusal to renounce violence and accept Israel's right to exist.
The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved the Iran Freedom Support Act, which would extend and strengthen existing sanctions designed to curtail funds Iran could use for its pursuit of nuclear weapons. The bill, introduced by Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Tom Lantos (D-CA), passed by a vote of 397-21, winning broad bipartisan backing. A companion version of the bill, introduced by Sens. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Evan Bayh (D-IN), is pending in the Senate. Thank your House member for supporting the Iran Freedom Support Act and urge your senators to back the Senate measure.
Hamas Linked to Recent Terror Strike
Hamas, the terrorist group that controls the Palestinian government, was directly responsible for last week's attack on a border crossing between Israel and Gaza, Israel's Shin Bet security service said. According to the Shin Bet, Hamas officials funded and trained the men who carried out the strike, in which terrorists tried to drive a bomb-laden car into a border crossing through which Palestinians receive food and medicine. Hamas has consistently refused to renounce violence since it emerged as the dominant faction in the Palestinian Authority's (PA) parliament. In response, the United States and its allies have cut off most aid to the PA. Exceptions are being made for humanitarian assistance.
Iran Reportedly Has Missile That Can Hit Europe
Israel's military intelligence service has confirmed earlier press accounts that Iran has acquired surface-to-surface missiles capable of hitting Europe, according to The Associated Press. Iran reportedly obtained the missiles, called BM-25s, from North Korea. Iran already has missiles that can strike U.S. troops, allies and vital energy resources throughout the Middle East. The announcement of intelligence on the new missile came as Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responded to international calls for an end to Iran's nuclear program by threatening to attack U.S. interests worldwide. Learn more about the threat that a nuclear Iran would pose to the United States.
Chicago Mayor Reviewing Israeli Security Measures
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley is traveling to Israel this week to study whether lessons from the Jewish state's fight against terrorism can be applied to homeland-security techniques in the United States' third-largest city. Since 9/11, Israel has hosted numerous American law enforcement officials interested in gaining an up-close perspective of how Israel guards its citizens from the constant threat of Palestinian terrorism. The House of Representatives recently passed legislation that would expand homeland-security-related cooperation between the United States and Israel.
U.S. Official Goes to Israel for Anti-Terror Talks
The official who oversees the financial front of the United States' war on terrorism is in Israel to discuss economic action against the Hamas-led government of the Palestinian Authority (PA), The Jerusalem Post reported. The visit by Stuart Levey, Undersecretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, underscores the United States and Israel's shared goal of isolating the Hamas-led PA. The Hamas-controlled PA has been cut off by the United States and Israel because of its refusal to renounce violence and accept Israel's right to exist.
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