A Peek into Others' mind » June 18, 2008

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(68 unread)

June 19, 2008
7:50
Ha'aretz: Israel-Hamas truce takes hold in Gaza ...
» ‎ War and Piece

Ha'aretz: Israel-Hamas truce takes hold in Gaza strip....

7:21
Maysaloon:
» ‎ Syria Planet

Good old fashioned colonialism continues in Africa:

In further testimony, Mann claimed that Spain and South Africa, with the endorsement of the South African president, Thabo Mbeki, had supported the plot. By January 2004, two months before the attempted coup was put into action, it was, Mann said, "like an official operation. The governments of Spain and South Africa were giving the green light: 'You've got to go, you've got to do it.'"

Spain, he said, was prepared to recognise the new government the day after the coup and to send in large numbers of military police. Outside the court, the Spanish ambassador, Javier Sangro, said he had no comment.

6:56
Israel Agrees to Truce with Hamas on Gaza
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

The prime minister and defense minister of Israel have agreed to an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire with Hamas for the Gaza area starting Thursday, Israel Radio reported.

6:34
Israel 'favours' talks with Lebanon
» ‎ AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (MIDDLE EAST)

Call for negotiations comes amid reports of a prisoner deal with Hezbollah.

6:05
SyriaComment.com: Olmert: If there is Peace with Syria, the reality in the region will change
» ‎ Syria Planet

Olmert: Israel isn't far from direct talks with Syria : IHT "We aren't far away," Olmert was quoted as saying. "If the two parties are serious, we should soon sit down at a table for talks."

"If there's an Israeli embassy in Damascus, things will change," he was quoted as saying. "It will also make a difference in Lebanon. If we negotiate with Syria, why not with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora?"

From Le Figaro, here"…Peu importe si, pour l'instant, les Syriens disent qu'ils ne se sépareront pas de l'Iran. S'ils font la paix avec Israël, cela modifiera la réalité dans la région. La Syrie doit cesser d'être un centre pour la terreur et d'abriter les quartiers généraux du Hamas et du Djihad islamique. S'il y a une ambassade israélienne à Damas, les choses changeront. Cela fera aussi une différence pour le Liban. Si on négocie avec la Syrie, pourquoi pas avec le premier ministre libanais, Fouad Siniora ?"

Lebanon: Crisis of Power
June 18, 2008
Oxford Business Group

Regions outside of Beirut are experiencing power cuts of up to 20 hours a day, affecting both the public and industry. ….

According to state electricity monopoly Electricite du Liban (EDL) its production capacity is 1600 MW. This rate often falls due to technical failures or scheduled maintenance of plants. Even at optimum production, daily demand is more than 2100 MW.

Fadi Abboud, the president of Lebanon's Industrial Association, has warned that the country risks losing part of its industrial base, with a number of manufacturers having shifted their operations to countries such as Kuwait.

"The authorities and EDL provide Beirut with electricity 21 hours a day while the rest of the country gets less than four hours of power," Abboud reported to local media on June 11, adding, "We simply cannot continue." ……

Lebanon's gross public debt as of the end of April rose to $43.2bn, up 3.6% over the total at the close of last year, and a 5.5% increase on the April 2007 figure. With the government having to subsidise EDL's operations to the tune of almost $1bn last year, and probably more this year, the electricity monopoly is one of the main contributors to Lebanon's growing deficit.

Succession at House of Saud: The Men Who Would Be King By: Anne Penketh | The Independent
King Abdullah created a council to choose his successor and avoid a bloody feud. But will the Saudi princes allow it to?

Financial Times Saudi Arabia should ditch its dollar peg The inflation problem in the Gulf region, which is hitting low-income workers, is exacerbated by the fixed exchange rate policy, writes Martin Feldstein

Berber activist attacks arabist from Syria on Aljazeera on Youtube

6:02
McCain Proposes Nuclear Power, Jane Fonda Has Nightmares
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

John McCain proposes to destroy the world (kidding): McCain says wants 45 new nuclear reactors by 2030.

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri (Reuters) - Republican John McCain would put the United States on course to build 45 new nuclear reactors by 2030 if elected president, the Arizona senator said on Wednesday.

McCain, his party’s presumptive nominee in this fall’s presidential election, is laying out his plan to make the country energy independent.

“If I am elected president, I will set this nation on a course to building 45 new reactors by the year 2030, with the ultimate goal of 100 new plants to power the homes and factories and cities of America,” he said.

5:37
GAO SUSTAINS BOEING BID PROTEST
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

The GAO sustained Boeing's protest of the Det of the Air Force's award of a contract to Northrop Grumman Systems for KC-X aerial refueling tankers.

5:37
Worth rereading a post from a few ...
» ‎ War and Piece

Worth rereading a post from a few weeks back, tracing the roots of an Iran oil blockade meme. Update: An Iranian American contact writes, "Just fyi Israelis connected to the intelligence services told me that their objective was a...

5:27
The Syria News Wire: Bashar in India - how did he do it, and what's going on?
» ‎ Syria Planet

Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad has arrived in India - the first Syrian head of state to visit in three decades. And the most important foreign trip Bashar Al-Assad has ever made.

Politics - Israel, America, Iraq and Lebanon - may be Bashar's immediate concern. But with the oil set to dry up within two years, Syria is starting to court foreign economic powers. And the world's strongest economies over the next decade will be India and China - not America or Europe.

So who won the bid to run Syria's largest oil company - an Indian-Chinese joint venture, taking over from a Canadian firm.

But how did Bashar make it to India? A neutral party in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and close to the US, a few things must have gone through the Indian Prime Minister's head. Most importantly, how will this affect our new relationship with Israel. The answer - if Israel can talk to Syria, surely we can.

And what a visit - five days will be spent in the country. To put that in context - most political visits last a few hours, or a day at most. When Sarkozy came to Lebanon on his landmark visit, he stayed for three hours. He barely had time to get through passport control.

Bashar's taken a huge team to India - including the economy and trade minister, and the telecoms and technology minister.

The reason for bringing the economy minister is obvious. But why the telecoms and technology man?

Well, my personal - off-the-radar and slightly leftfield - prediction: India's Reliance Telecom or Bharti wants to buy Syriatel, which has been up for sale for a while. Both Reliance and Bharti have been trying to get their hands on MTN (a South African company which also has a foot in Syria) - but Syriatel would be a quick hit, and give the Indians exactly what they want - easy access to a developing market.

But reason number two for bringing the telecoms and technology minister - Bashar has already said he wants Syria to be a call-centre country, like India. He wants foreign countries to outsource their call centres to Syria. And India is the world leader in that field.

And reason number three - Syria has a huge amount to learn from India's technology industry. Tech is India's oil.

It's the economy stupid.

So what makes us so sure Bashar is so economy-obsessed? Look at many of Bashar's key appointments since 2000. The Deputy Prime Minister - Abdullah Al-Dardari - has an economic background. There are experts who used to work in the World Bank. And Syria's ambassador to Washington is - tellingly - a businessman, not a politician, not even a Ba'ath Party member.

One of Syria's sharpest minds is the ambassador to UAE - which is set to become the Arab World's financial powerhouse. And the eloquent Buthayna Sha'aban - who started out as the President's spokesperson, and one of his closest allies - now has the job of enticing Syrians living abroad to come back home and use their skills to build the economy. And it seems to be working.

The economy is the new politics.

5:27
Your tax dollars at work: US diplomat in Lebanon attacked by Hezbullah while viewing USAID projects
» ‎ Israel Matzav

The motorcade of the most senior American diplomat in Lebanon, Michele Sison, was attacked by Hezbullah thugs on Wednesday in the town of Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon. Ms. Sison is the United States Charge de Affaires in Lebanon, and had come to the town to visit several institutions that the United States government supports in and around the town. Curiously, the Lebanese website Naharnet gives

5:15
NBC Aram Roston investigation on a Jordan ...
» ‎ War and Piece

NBC Aram Roston investigation on a Jordan fuel deal sparks Congressional probe....

5:06
Brown Says Europe Will Tighten Iran Sanctions
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

After talks with President Bush, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said that Britain would freeze Iranian assets and increase its troop strength in Afghanistan.

4:56
Venezuelans' assets frozen by US
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

The US Treasury Department freezes the US assets of two Venezuelan nationals for alleged links with Hezbollah.
3:18
Untapped wealth
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

How to exploiting Iraq's vast oil reserves

2:41
Russian RPG can penetrate 800mm thick tank armor
» ‎ Israel Matzav

This is not good news. On show at the Paris International weapons exhibition is the RPG-32 Grenade Launcher,"HASHIM". The Russian made RPG is already on the Pentagons weapons to watch for list. The weapon which is not in use yet has been designed for special forces operations as indispensable weapons. It is capable of penetrating tank armor up to 800mm thick and has a 72mm explosive charge at

1:52
Treasury Moves on Hezbollah in Venezuela
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

The Treasury Department's Office fo Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) today several entities tied to Hezbollah and operating in Venezuela. This is the first time I can find of the U.S. government directly and publicly linking Hezbollah funding activities to Venezuela.

This is part of a larger pattern, including, as I wrote earlier, of the penetration of Hezbollah and Iran in Venezuela, with the blessing of the Chavez government.

Not long Iran began banking operations in Venezuela as well, in an effort to bypass the international sanctions in place and those that may follow in coming days.

According to the OFAC statement, one of the men designated, Ghazi Nasr al Din, is a Hezbollah fund raiser who has facilitated the travel of senior Hezbollah operatives to Venezuela to raise funds and open Hezbollah-funded social centers.

This, of course, is greatly facilitated by the direct flights now operating between Caracas and Tehran, with return stops in Damacus, Syria. The added beauty of these flights is that those who board them don't need visas, so there is no record available as to who has come or gone. And, despite being commercial flights, it if virtually impossible for a normal person to book and fly on the flights. My full blog is here.

1:50
Shalit's family threatens to sue over 'truce'
» ‎ Israel Matzav

In a country where everything is justiciable, I suppose this was almost inevitable. The family of kidnapped IDF corporal Gilad Shalit - whose release is not included in the 'truce' that is to begin Thursday morning contrary to government assertions for the last week - has given the government 48 hours to obtain Gilad's release or they will sue to prevent the government from entering into the '

1:42
Science: Bacterial Evolution Observed in Laboratory
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

In an experiment that has been underway for 20 years at Michigan State University, biologist Richard Lenski has actually observed evolution at work in E. Coli bacteria.

A major evolutionary innovation has unfurled right in front of researchers’ eyes. It’s the first time evolution has been caught in the act of making such a rare and complex new trait.

And because the species in question is a bacterium, scientists have been able to replay history to show how this evolutionary novelty grew from the accumulation of unpredictable, chance events.

Twenty years ago, evolutionary biologist Richard Lenski of Michigan State University in East Lansing, US, took a single Escherichia coli bacterium and used its descendants to found 12 laboratory populations. The 12 have been growing ever since, gradually accumulating mutations and evolving for more than 44,000 generations, while Lenski watches what happens.

Mostly, the patterns Lenski saw were similar in each separate population. All 12 evolved larger cells, for example, as well as faster growth rates on the glucose they were fed, and lower peak population densities.

But sometime around the 31,500th generation, something dramatic happened in just one of the populations – the bacteria suddenly acquired the ability to metabolise citrate, a second nutrient in their culture medium that E. coli normally cannot use.

Indeed, the inability to use citrate is one of the traits by which bacteriologists distinguish E. coli from other species. The citrate-using mutants increased in population size and diversity.

“It’s the most profound change we have seen during the experiment. This was clearly something quite different for them, and it’s outside what was normally considered the bounds of E. coli as a species, which makes it especially interesting,” says Lenski.
1:08
The PJ Media Veepstakes
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Check out the PJ Media Veepstakes, where you can vote for your favorite vice presidential candidates, and possibly even win an Asus notebook computer or an Amazon Kindle.

0:54
Are There Lessons To Be Learned At USF?
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

Today, Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed, an Egyptian student in Tampa, Florida, entered a guilty plea in Federal Court in Tampa to one count of providing material support to terrorists. The plea stems from the case wherein he and a cohort, Youssef Megahed, who is another student at the University of South Florida (USF) and whose charges are still pending, were stopped by Sheriff’s deputies near a US Naval facility in Charleston, South Carolina. During the traffic stop, their vehicle was found to contain explosives material and jihadist training materials on Mohamed’s computer. Mohamed’s plea relates to the circumstances of that traffic stop and what he told investigators were the purpose of those training materials...namely to assist terrorist fighters in their jihad against the “invaders,” who Mohamed identified as US military personnel in Muslim lands and those who assisted them.

Mohamed now awaits sentencing and faces up to fifteen years incarceration. Pursuant to prior media reports, Mohamed came to the US on a student visa to attend USF and had been arrested for as yet detailed charges in Egypt prior to coming to the United States. Seemingly, there may be some questions concerning the student visa issuance process related to Mohamed that hopefully the State Department and/or the Department of Homeland Security will one day answer.

Beyond that, Mohamed joins a growing list of Islamic terror-linked operatives who have also been connected with the University of South Florida. Those include former Professor Sami Al-Arian, who was a tenured computer engineering professor there and is now convicted of having provided support to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). It includes Al-Arian’s brother-in-law Mazen Al-Najjar who was deported after a multi-year legal battle that linked him to the PIJ. Al-Najjar was a part-time professor at USF, and worked there in violation of US immigration law. It includes Ramadan Shallah, the current chief of the PIJ who Al-Arian and Al-Najjar brought to the US to ostensibly work in their PIJ front organization in Tampa. Shallah worked for a while as a professor at USF...in violation of US immigration law. Indirectly, the list includes Fawaz Damra, the convicted and deported former imam of the Parma mosque in Cleveland, Ohio who lied on his naturalization forms about his support for PIJ and other radical Islamist organizations. Damra was involved with Al-Arian and Al-Najjar with their Tampa PIJ front organization that also happened to have a formal “research” working agreement with USF. The list includes Hussam Abujubarra, the similarly (like Damra) convicted and deported computer engineering professor at the University of Central Florida (UCF) who was convicted of lying in his own immigration proceedings. Abujubarra helped Al-Arian and Al-Najjar set up that Tampa PIJ front organization with links to USF. The list includes Bashir Nafi, a notable PIJ operative who, like Shallah, Al-Arian and Al-Najjar brought to the US with visa applications to work at their Tampa PIJ front organization affiliated with USF but who, in reality, wound up working at the northern Virginia International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), the very “charity” under Federal investigation wherein Al-Arian was detained for contempt for refusing to testify about in Grand Jury proceedings. Nafi was deported in1996 for visa violations and, like Shallah and Al-Najjar, remains under Federal indictment in Tampa for Federal charges, though they remain at large since they are outside the US.

From the earliest days of the Al-Arian, et al investigation, various iterations of the USF Administration have claimed they have done all they can to cooperate with federal law enforcement authorities and to conduct all available internal audits and reviews to make certain the school is free from radical, terror-involved personnel and influences. University administrators are not counter-terrorism law enforcement personnel. There are, however, significant and strong administrative and legal inquiry procedures that remain available to State university and education officials when it is suspected that serious subversive activity is occurring on their campuses or being committed by their faculty or students. The cases of the suspects and defendants named above spanned a period of nearly fourteen overt years. That is a long time for a university to learn some tough lessons. The question is, has USF learned those lessons and has it really done all it can to resolve what some may call a substantial problem?

If the USF Administration cannot answer that question, maybe the Florida Attorney General or the Governor can.

Permalink for 'Syria_Planet/2008/06/18/SyriaComment.com__Syria_Pegs_Hopes_on_India_and_Econ._Liberalization'

0:46

SyriaComment.com: Syria Pegs Hopes on India and Econ. Liberalization

» ‎ Syria Planet

Syria pegs hopes on ‘rising India’: Sify

the Syrian leader expressed hope that New Delhi, which has built close ties with Israel in the past decade, will play a proactive role in peace negotiations in the Middle East.

New Delhi has emphasized that its growing friendship with Israel will not come at the expense of its traditional good relations with the Arab world.

In fact, India has been reaching out to countries like Syria and Iran as it searches for new sources of energy to feed its growing economy.

In December 2005, India and China jointly won a bid to buy Petro-Canada's stake in Syrian oil fields.

The Syrian and Indian leaders also looked at ways to increase trade.

Ami Isseroff writes:

Robert Dreyfuss points out, the Israeli deals with Hamas and Hezbollah drive a wedge in US policy, which has been to isolate these groups. US non-interference in Lebanon, acquiescence in the Doha compromise and its push to get Israel to give up Sheba farms, an issue invented by the Hezbollah, all play into the hands of the Hezbollah. They leave Lebanese moderates loyal to Prime Minister Seniora politically stranded. The French Mediterranean initiative will establish France as an important operator in the Middle East, independent of the US. Meanwhile, there is not the slightest sign that Hezbollah, Hamas or Syria are dissociating themselves from Iran or each other in any way." ….

The big losers so far are the moderate Palestinians in the West Bank and the moderate democratic regime of Fouad Seniora in Lebanon. The big winners are Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah.

Israel, Hamas Reach Cease-Fire Pact

Israel and Hamas agreed to a cease-fire aimed at ending months of violence in and around Gaza, in exchange for potentially easing the Palestinian enclave's isolation. The initial phase of the truce, the first since late 2006, will start Thursday morning.

Latest: 5 hurt in Ashkelon as close to 50 rockets hit southern Israel

IAEA says Syria lacks skills for nuclear facility
Tue Jun 17, 2008 5:44pm BST

DUBAI (Reuters) - There is no evidence Syria has the skilled personnel
or the fuel to operate a large-scale nuclear facility, the head of the
United Nations atomic watchdog said in remarks aired on Tuesday.

"We have no evidence that Syria has the human resources that would allow
it to carry out a large nuclear programme. We do not see Syria having
nuclear fuel," International Atomic Energy Agency Director General
Mohamad ElBaradei told Al Arabiya television.

Syria sees benefits of liberalisation
By Heba Saleh in Damascus
Financial Times FT.com, June 18 2008

Chic sidewalk cafés offering fashionable coffees and trendy western dishes have sprung up in the more upmarket areas of Damascus.

The clients are invariably well-dressed, and the neighbourhoods are studded with shops selling international brand name clothing such as Benetton and Stefanel, some of whose merchandise is made in Syria.

In the arcade attached to the Four Seasons Hotel, imported shoes and fashions from top designers are available to those who can pay more than £1,000 ($2,000) for a single item of clothing.

The picture is at odds with Syria’s image as a pariah state with a centrally planned economy, a large and unprofitable public sector and a security apparatus breathing down everyone’s neck.

But Syria has been forced to liberalise aspects of its economic system to make up for oil revenue that has been falling by about 10 per cent a year.

The economy remains in desperate need of restructuring, and privatisation has stalled. The country’s foreign policy, at odds with most of its neighbours in the Arab world, has been deterring investment from abroad.

However, in recent years the establishment of private banks and a dramatic reduction in tax rates and import duties have boosted private investment, trade and non-oil exports. The latter have strengthened, particularly in Arab markets.

The International Monetary Fund expects growth in real gross domestic product in 2008 to reach 4 per cent, up from 3.9 per cent last year.

Economists say the presence of 1.5m Iraqi refugees has fuelled local demand, tourism has been growing and petrodollars from the Gulf have been finding their way into Syrian property.

Foreign direct investment has grown – even if it was still modest at $700m in 2007. Most foreign investment is in oil and property, according to Nabil Sukkar, an economist who runs an independent consultancy.

“Foreign investment to manufacturing is not there,” he said. “The multinationals are not there. I can only think of two.” But he argues that “the business climate is no longer the deterrent to foreign investment. It is the media image and the United States accusing Syria of terrorism”.

The economic cost of a hardline foreign policy might be an additional factor driving the Syrian regime to send signals recently that it wants a better relationship with the west.

Officials are in contact with Israeli counterparts on reaching a peace agreement that would return the occupied Golan Heights to Syria.

Having acquiesced in a deal that ended almost two years of crisis in Lebanon – after being accused of blocking it – Syria is starting to reap benefits, with France in particular resuming its engagement with Damascus.

The US, however, remains unconvinced that the regime, accused of the 2005 assassination of Rafiq Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, deserves to be rewarded at this time.

Washington first imposed trade sanctions on Syria in 2004. Last month it was reported the US Treasury had been pressing Turkcell, a Turkish mobile phone operator, to abandon a $1bn (€645m, £512m) takeover of Syriatel, which is owned by Rami Makhlouf, the tycoon cousin of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president.

There is little expectation that Syria’s international image will change soon, so the country’s economic decision makers are concentrating on local and regional investment and on mitigating the impact of global inflation which has been exacerbated locally by poor harvests.

Ordinary Syrians are being squeezed by higher prices especially after the government reduced fuel subsidies recently.

Public sector salaries have been raised 25 per cent to help those on limited incomes, but most people work for the private sector. Mr Sukkar argues inflation is causing the middle class to “disappear” as its buying power erodes.

Healing Lebanon’s ‘four bleeding wounds’ will not be enough for Hizbollah to disarm Nicholas Noe in The National

In the wake of what some now refer to as the May “events” in Lebanon – Hizbollah’s use of its weapons domestically, the Lebanese army’s evident complicity and the Doha Accords – something strange seems to be happening among those who used to view Hizbollah almost monolithically, as an absolute evil to be crushed. The first stirrings of such nuance, if we can call it that, were heard in mid-May when Daniel Freedmen, a former foreign policy analyst for the Republican presidential candidate Rudolf Giuliani, wrote in the Wall Street Journal: “If Hizbollah really is on the brink of what could turn out to be a seismic change, the US should do everything to encourage this process. It should accept a greater role for Shiites in the Lebanese government as long as Hizbollah agrees to start, however gradually, decommissioning.” Two weeks later, Theodore Karasik and Ghassan Schbley of the RAND Corporation pushed the idea further, arguing that Lebanon’s “four bleeding wounds” – illegal Israeli flyovers, prisoners, occupied territory such as the Shebaa Farms and the still unknown locations of Israeli mines – should be removed immediately. “Once the four wounds are healed,” they said, “Hizbollah will face increasing internal Lebanese pressure to disarm. The Lebanese people will not so willingly accept rhetoric about where weapons are pointed.” What the two RAND analysts fail to address, however, is the key factor that will determine whether or not the removal of the four bleeding wounds provides a viable roadmap for Hizbollah’s normalisation: a national defence strategy. For unless Lebanon is allowed to develop a robust national army, trusted by Hizbollah, admired by the Shiite community in particular and believed in by all Lebanese, the removal of the four bleeding wounds simply won’t be enough to normalise Hizbollah – certainly not without violence…… Hizbollah’s number two, Shaykh Naim Qassem, recently expounded on exactly this subject – to an extent not previously seen in Hizbollah’s discourse – by saying, “We agree to a defence strategy that makes our national army capable of protecting Lebanon and of preventing Israel from attacking it. At that point, a solution to the weapons situation will be part of this defence strategy… We need to confront the Israeli danger [however]. If the Lebanese state tackles it in a certain way, we are ready to be part of this solution.” Whether Qassem’s comments constitute a wily ruse or not matters little; the point is that Hizbollah has publicly affirmed its understanding that the basic logic of national defence, embedded in the landmark 2006 agreement between the Christian leader Michel Aoun and Nasrallah, is fast accelerating and that public support for resistance activities over time is now especially prone to this dynamic. In order to push this logic decisively forward, however, the US, the EU and other states invested in Lebanon’s future must move quickly to help develop an overall roadmap focused on achieving Hizbollah’s normalisation through a strong national defence plan for Lebanon. As a critical first step in this regard, the US must immediately drop the badly outmoded “redline” policy which prohibits giving any strategic weaponry to the Lebanese Armed Forces…. Nicholas Noe is a PhD candidate at the Lebanese University and is the author of “Voice of Hizbollah: the Statements of Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah”

'Curveball' speaks, and a reputation as disinformation agent remains intact
By John Goetz and Bob Drogin, Special to the Los Angeles Times
June 17, 2008

The Iraqi refugee and German intelligence source code-named Curveball, left, meets with reporter John Goetz somewhere in Germany. His tall tales of Saddam Hussein's mobile germ weapons labs helped the White House justify the invasion of Iraq.

The Iraqi speaks publicly for the first time. Charges that he fabricated intelligence that helped lead to war in Iraq are themselves fiction, he insists. But there are fresh doubts about his honesty.

Bridge of Understanding
Le Pont Art Organization & Gallery in Aleppo, Syria
By Charlotte Bank

Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, is home to one of the country’s most interesting art institutions. Issa Touma, a Syrian of Armenian descent and an artist, curator, and photographer by calling, has operated his Le Pont Organization as a site for exhibitions and international exchange since 1996.

When I visited Issa Touma in his gallery in October 2007, he was preparing an exhibition about two politically explosive walls: the Berlin Wall and the wall between Israel and Palestine, the latter photographed by Rula Halawani.

Issa Touma is all too familiar precisely with mental walls. He is known in Syria and internationally for his innovative and courageous presentations and projects, which are anything but easy to realize in a country with a notoriously conservative art scene.

Jews in Congress

Record number of Jewish U.S. congressmen? Haaretz

Looking at all the toss-up races, it's a possibility, not yet a likelihood.

The class of 2006 gave us a record number of Jewish legislators on Capitol Hill. The numbers: 30 Jewish members of the House (29 Democrats), 13 Jewish senators (9 Democrats, 2 independents who caucus with the Democrats and 2 Republicans). This is the highest number ever.

The UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon has now taken control of the former Dutch intelligence building in The Hague which will serve as the tribunal's headquarters,

0:21
06/17/08 DoD News Briefing
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

No description

0:04
الرصاصة اللّتي لفّت الكوع: وسيم
» ‎ Syria Planet

لا أريد أن فكر بشيء………………..بتاتاً - تعبت…………

قد أرهقني الحنين اليك, و أرهقني القلق

لا أستطيع العمل, و لا اللعب

لا أريد أحد حولي و لا أطيق الوحدة

قد جردت قلبي لكي فلما أحس بالخوف؟ لما أحس بالضعف هكذا

مئة سؤال, مئة فكرة لعينة تلوث عقلي

كل كلمة منك بألف معنى عندي

لا نوم و لا يقظة, أهكذا يكون عذاب ربنا على من يغضب عليه؟ يجعل ليله نهار و نهاره ليل؟

ماذا فعلت لأستحق هذا؟

أريد أن يذهب عني العذاب و لكن كل ما أدفعه عني أشتاق لعذابه اللذيذ, أشتاق لك كالمخدر, كالخمر

و كم أكره نفسي و أنا أقول هذا, و أنا أكره هذه الأمور

و يا لذة الشعور الذي يغريني اليك

أنت أخطر من أي مخدر, من ملكة الهروين القاسية

كم أكره هذا العذاب و كم أعشقه

كم أريد أن أحترق في نارك, أن اشعر في لهيبك

و في قلبي أمل دائم بالوصول لفردوسك

سامحيني على عقلي الصعب و على حبي الذي سيكون أصعب…

أريد أن أغيرك, أن أتحكم بك, أن أظلمك و أفترسك, أن أدمر قوتك

و في آن واحد, لا أريدك الا كما أنت, كما خلقك الله, قوية….

آه يا قلبي, ستة أيام كستة سنين

لا أريد أن أكلم أحد….و لكن في قلبي كلام….

كم أنا متعب…

0:00
Ahmadinejad says murder plot foiled in Iraq
» ‎ Alarabiya.net English | Middle East

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that Iran's enemies had planned to kidnap and kill him during his landmark visit to Iraq in March but a change of plans had foiled the plot. "Based on reliable intelligence, the enemies had planned to kidnap and kill the servant of the
0:00
Israel and Hamas to discuss prisoner swap
» ‎ Alarabiya.net English | Middle East

Israel and Hamas will renew indirect talks in Cairo next week on a prisoner exchange involving an Israel soldier held in Gaza for two years, a senior Israeli defense official said on Thursday. Ofer Dekel, a special envoy of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, will travel to Cairo for the talks
0:00
Israel's Peres and Amr Moussa in verbal dispute
» ‎ Alarabiya.net English | Middle East

Arab League chief Amr Moussa and Israeli President Shimon Peres exchanged harsh words on Wednesday about the stalled Middle East peace process, a witness to the row said. The dispute erupted at a working lunch during a conference of Nobel laureates at Jordan's World Heritage Site of Petra, said
0:00
Right-wingers want ban on Jerusalem Gay Pride
» ‎ Alarabiya.net English | Middle East

A rightwing group on Thursday asked the Israeli Supreme Court to ban this year's Gay Pride parade to be held in Occupied Jerusalem, an annual event that has drawn violent controversy in the Holy City in the past. In a petition to the court, the small National Jewish Front called the event
0:00
Morocco bans publication of abuse testimony
» ‎ Alarabiya.net English | Middle East

A Moroccan court on Thursday ordered a newspaper to stop publishing testimony given by victims of years of repression under late king Hassan II to a royal truth commission, a judicial source said. The court found for Consultative Council for Human Rights (CCDH) president Ahmed Herzenni in his
0:00
Iraq launches new crackdown on Shiite fighters
» ‎ Alarabiya.net English | Middle East

Iraqi forces backed by U.S. troops launched a new operation against Shiite fighters in the south of the country early on Thursday after the expiry of a four-day deadline to surrender arms. "The operation started overnight. The situation is normal and there has been no trouble," said
0:00
Attempted Ski Dubai rapist gets 10 years: report
» ‎ Alarabiya.net English | Middle East

A Saudi man convicted of trying to sodomize a 12-year-old boy at an indoor ski facility in Dubai was sentenced to 10 years in jail on Thursday, press reports said on Thursday. The 26-year old student will be deported after serving the prison term, the Dubai-based Gulf News daily said. It is
0:00
US freezes assets of Hezbollah allies in Venezuela
» ‎ Alarabiya.net English | Middle East

The U.S. Treasury Department on Wednesday froze the U.S. assets of what it said were a pair of Venezuela-based supporters of Hezbollah. They are Ghazi Nasr al Din and Fawzi Kan'an, along with two travel agencies owned and controlled by Kan'an, the department said. "It is extremely

June 18, 2008
23:47
Muslim Women Receive Apology From Obama Staff - Not Good Enough
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

They were barred by campaign volunteers from appearing in visible seats behind Barack Obama, because they were wearing Muslim headscarves. A campaign official apologized to them when it became a news story.

But that’s not good enough; they won’t be happy until they’ve made a presidential candidate grovel: Muslim woman demands an apology from Obama after camera snub.

One of two Muslim women who were denied visible seats behind Barack Obama’s stage at Joe Louis Arena on Monday because they wore head scarves said they deserve a personal apology from Obama and close-up seats at a future campaign rally.

Hebba Aref, 25, and her friend, Shimaa Abdelfadeel, received apologies from the campaign Tuesday after they complained that they were not allowed to sit near the podium when campaign volunteers learned that they wear the traditional Muslim head garb called a hijab.

Aref said she was especially disappointed because she was attracted to Obama’s message of unity and inclusion. She said she’d like more than an apologetic phone call from a campaign official. “I was kind of in shock that had happened,” said Aref, a Bloomfield Hills resident and graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. “I’ve lived here practically my whole life, and never been treated that way. It’s so s ironic that it was at his rally, he obviously would not promote any discrimination at all.”

Aref said she received a phone call and apology from an Obama campaign offiicial, but said that’s not enough. “I do appreciate they’re taking the time to look into what happened,” Aref said. “I think it’s a huge deal. I was hoping for an apology form Senator. Obama himself. He needs to send a strong message this kind of discrimination won’t be tolerated.”

UPDATE at 6/18/08 2:03:49 pm:

Here comes the Saudi-funded, Hamas-linked radical Islamic front group calling itself the Council on American Islamic Relations, right on cue, trying to capitalize on this: CAIR Urges Obama to Include Muslim Women in Upcoming Events.

Notice: they aren’t really protesting this incident, they’re just trying to get more visibility out of it. Contrast this to their likely reaction if a similar incident had happened at a John McCain rally.

23:26
(NBC/NEFA) - Voices From the Iraqi Insurgency: Exclusive Interviews with Hamas al-Iraq and the Al-Rashideen Army
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

(See also - MSNBC Deep Background: "Exclusive Interviews with Iraqi Insurgents")
In an effort to help Americans better understand the evolving dynamics behind the Sunni insurgency in Iraq, I have begun conducting a series of exclusive interviews with prominent Sunni insurgent organizations. The first groups to accept my invitation were Hamas al-Iraq and the Al-Rashideen Army--arguably two of the most influential Sunni insurgent factions fighting in Iraq.

Both groups have insisted that they are part of a unified Sunni effort to force a U.S. military withdrawal that includes all major organizations “except Al-Qaida, and everyone has fought against them because we see this group as promoting a particular agenda that does not fit with the realities of Iraqi society.” When asked for an assessment of Al-Qaida's top leaders in Iraq, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, a spokesman for "Hamas al-Iraq" responded, “If you mean knowing those two persons by their names only, the answer is yes as everyone else knows. However, whatever is the truth behind them or about them, we do not know. If you have any information about them, then we hope you will be able to share it with us.” Likewise, a representative from the "Al-Rashideen Army" openly mocked the repeated, insistent demands by Al-Qaida's Deputy Commander Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri for Sunni insurgents to join under the banner of Al-Qaida: “There is a problem in Tibet for China—is it possible for me to prescribe the solutions for their problem? We are a people in this region for 6000 years before Christ, end[ing] with Islam, and we are fully capable of rolling and managing our own affairs. We do not need others to tell us what to do.”

As for Abu Omar al-Baghdadi's offer of a truce last month to other Sunni insurgent groups, the Al-Rashideen Army had this to say: “We have never heard of it, and we do not credit any audio recordings, our intelligence rather does not recognize audio recordings, [in order] to take action or make decisions.”

- Transcript of Interview with Hamas al-Iraq
- Transcript of Interview with the Al-Rashideen Army

23:22
What is Israelenews?
» ‎ Israellycool

I just stumbled on a site called israelenews.com, which bills itself as “Israel’s daily news e-mag.”

The site contains a number of blog posts, as well as articles from a number of well-known and not-so-well-known people. And while these include some worthy authors (including Israellycool contributor Elder of Ziyon and fellow pro-Israel blogger Sultan Knish) , it currently has on the front page articles by the likes of anti-Israel blogger/pest Richard Silverstein, and the blatantly anti-Semitic Israel Shamir.

Just as disturbing is the presence on the front page of an article about an Israeli porn site. The words “WARNING!!! ADULT CONTENT” appear in the excerpt, but seemingly only for effect, given the presence of an uncensored, pornographic picture right next to them. Yeah, thanks for the warning. Needless to say, I did not click through for the full article.

What I’m confused about is the purpose of this site. Is it a site to promote a variety of views on Israel and intellectual discussion? Or is it a glorified porn site? Furthermore, do the authors know their articles are being published on this site? And if so, are they aware of the anti-Israel/Jewish views and other filth being disseminated there?

Update: Here is the full list of authors. Looking at some of these names, I am sure they would not approve of having their work published there.

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23:14
Daniel Levin, you'll remember, is the former ...
» ‎ War and Piece

Daniel Levin, you'll remember, is the former acting assistant attorney general who submitted himself to waterboarding because he was so troubled about the question of whether it constituted torture (the White House insisted it does not). The White House later...

22:21
Vice Premier Ramon: Hamas Truce 'Triumph for Radical Islam'
» ‎ IRIS Blog

Apparently not everyone in the Kadima government has lost his mind:

Vice Premier Haim Ramon on Tuesday reacted harshly to reports of an imminent Gaza cease-fire, calling it a victory for radical Islam.

"I am against a truce, because it is another triumph for radical Islam. It won in Lebanon and now it is about to win in Gaza. So what is the point of being moderate? Why would Hamas be interested in a resolution?" said Ramon at a Haifa University conference.

Ramon, together with Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz and Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann, abstained from a cabinet vote last Wednesday to refrain from embarking on a large-scale military operation in Gaza and instead to give more time to Egyptian-mediated truce efforts, although none of the ministers voted against the decision.

See also: Senior IDF Officers Warn: Ceasefire Places No Restrictions on Hamas War Preparations
22:02
Apparent Honor Killing in Canada
» ‎ IRIS Blog

Honor killing, a widespread phenomenon throughout the Muslim world, is sharply on the rise in the West because of immigration:

The father of a Mississauga teen killed last year has been charged today with first-degree murder in connection with her death.

Muhammad Parvez, 57, appeared in a Brampton courtroom today where he was officially charged. The charge is an indication investigators believe the girls killing was pre-meditated.

Parvez was arrested in early December after his daughter Aqsa, 16, was found strangled in the family's Mississauga home.

Paramedics revived her, but she died later in hospital....

The death drew international attention after her friends said she had argued with her father over her desire to shun the hijab, a traditional Muslim scarf that covers the head and shoulders....
21:50
7,000 Muslims Attack Hindu Pilgrims with Explosives, Firebombs
» ‎ IRIS Blog

Still think the drivers of Muslim terrorism are political grievances? Then why are religious sites so frequently attacked by Muslim mobs throughout the world?

A mob of nearly 7000 Muslims attacked a group of Hindu pilgrims in West Bengal, a state in Eastern India that borders Bangladesh on the west. According to a Hindu blog, a sacred Hindu site frequented by Hindu pilgrims, including women and children, has experienced a sustained attack since Thursday evening. Muslims have thrown gas cylinders and Molotov cocktails at the pilgrims, burning down the camp building and trapping 180 men, women and children, along with fifteen police officers, within the confines of the compound.

The Muslims attempted to breach the wall of the compound by exploding gas cylinders against it. The fifteen police officers have not been able to disperse the mob, even afer firing several rounds....

The police have issued an arrest warrant against the Hindu leader, Sri Tapan Kumar Ghosh, and 15 other Hindus. They are charged with "Incitement and Instigation for Rioting" and "Disruption of Communal Harmony."

No arrest warrants have been issued against Muslims.

See also this update on Shia-Sunni violence: Bomb Kills 4 Outside Pakistan Mosque, Injures 5

21:29
Digg Hijacker Gets the Boot
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

As I’ve noted several times, the far-left kiddies at Digg.com have recently been “hijacking” LGF threads, by posting them at Digg with nasty, insulting titles and derogatory descriptions.

One of these fine, tolerant fellows, whose IP traces to the Hawaii Medical Service Association, just used our contact form (and his work ISP—oops) to send the following note of tolerance and love:

Well you got me banned from Digg, good going, fascist c*nts. What an untalented bunch of hypocritical cowards you all are. Go f*ck yourselves, professional liar douchebags.

Change!

(Thanks to the Digg admins for taking out the trash.)

21:21
Israel 'open' to Lebanese talks
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Israel says it is interested in holding direct, bilateral peace talks with Lebanon.

21:03
Baghdad blast death toll rises
» ‎ AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (MIDDLE EAST)

US official says Shia group is behind deadliest car bomb attack in three months.

20:38
At the Official Obama Site: They DO Moderate the Blogs
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Well, well. Look what’s going on at the official Barack Obama campaign web site; in one of their community blogs filled with hateful ranting, we discover that the administrators are paying attention to these “unmoderated” blogs after all: Barack Obama : : Change We Can Believe In | C42D’S FEAR AND LOATHING IN AMERICA.

Hi David,

Thank you so much for your involvement in the BarackObama.com online community. Your voice is valued here; however, we were forced to remove your recent blog post due to your use of profanity. It detracts from a welcoming community where all people can engage in positive discourse.

This is your first warning. Please be mindful of your language in the future.

Thanks for your understanding and cooperation in maintaining a respectful dialogue on our website.

Emily
Obama for America

Here’s another blog, by someone who is freaking out over this attempt to “censor” their pearls of wisdom: Barack Obama : : Change We Can Believe In | Phoenix Rising: Do You Know Anyone Who Has Received A ‘Warning?

Diane,I have found this warning message only today.

I am perplexed with confusing thoughts.

A blogger wrote yesterday “they give you only one warning before removing an account” Is this correct?

I checked ACTIVITY in my profile, and NO comments are marked there as REMOVED

I have not posted anything obscene or offensive. But I made about 30 comments on 6/3. between calling to South Dakota. So could you send me the comment which was removed? Such procedure certainly would help people like me. Infiltrators know very well WHY they get a warning. I truly don’t. I would learn from it.

On 6/2 and 6/3 I spent CONSIDERABLE amount of time sending alerts about INFILTRATOR POSTS which I judged as injurious to our purpose. (I see them today as well but am reluctant to act at all on anything). I made a mention of that in a comment, so may be I was reported as revenge. BTW alerting is time consuming and I do not get points for the alerts.

Seeing this comment of mine which someone deemed offensive would enable me to verify it was really mine – and not made by someone else by infiltrating my account. I have read several stories in the last 3 days of just that happening.. No one has access to my computer at my place.

I have NOTED “something going on” with people accounts and emotions in these last 3 or 4 days. This is discouraging and distressing. Accounts busted and (nice) people afraid to comment and leaving. Do not let it happen.

7. The campaign is very well aware that behind every TRUE supporter of Barack on this blog there is an incredible amount of emotions. I cannot tell you how I am feeling today. I gave you my LIFE in these last 4 months as well as 1/7th of my earnings this year. I went broke in February but donated.

To finish – if supporters like me are under a threat of termination on the basis of what I have described, this means that there is something very very wrong happening to the campaign and its future goals. I think my profile can be a clue. And I have done much more.

Here are some more Obamatons, freaking out that a person using the name “JFKFan” was banned: Barack Obama : : Change We Can Believe In | Independent support: Really!

One of our best has been wrongfully deleted from this blog. The site administrator has either been fooled into making this decision or shows bad judgement, and it is a direct threat to all who post here.

Make this right! He’s been here from the beginning and has done more to enlighten us than anyone outside of Barack himself! Anyone who anonymously reported him as “objectionable” is a coward and a troll.

BRING BACK JFKFAN, NOW!!

BRING BACK JFKFAN, NOW!!

BRING BACK JFKFAN, NOW!!

BRING BACK JFKFAN, NOW!!

BRING BACK JFKFAN, NOW!!

BRING BACK JFKFAN, NOW!!

JFKFan’s posts are now deleted, but they contained the usual crude Photoshop illustrations of President Bush as a chimp, John McCain as Hitler, etc.

Obviously, this means blogs and groups like these, which have been pointed out at LGF over and over, must meet the standards of the campaign:

Barack Obama : : Change We Can Believe In | Michael Morrissey’s Blog: 9/11 Truth
Barack Obama : : Change We Can Believe In | Government of, by, and for The Israel Lobby: ‘The Israel Lobby: AIPAC’ 1-5
Barack Obama : : Change We Can Believe In | Marxists/Socialists/Communists for Obama
Barack Obama : : Change We Can Believe In | Adam Roberts’s Blog: The Nature of the Proletariat

And there are many, many more like these still posted at the site, with more going up every day.

20:38
INTERPOL Entrenches Itself Deep Up Syria’s Tush
» ‎ Israellycool

Figuratively speaking of course:

Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble said Wednesday that Syria is ‘very cooperative’ in fighting terrorism.

‘We do not accuse countries of being terrorists. We just ask countries to cooperate with us, and Syria is very cooperative,’ Noble told a press conference on the sidelines of an anti-terrorism conference in Damascus.

The Interpol chief said that owing to the help of countries like Syria and Iran, they were able to add many details and pictures to around 8,900 wanted people.

The Onion is probably kicking itself that it did not think of this story first.

Meanwhile, the Syrian Arab News Agency goes even further:

Secretary General Ronald K. Noble expressed appreciation over efforts exerted by Syria to boost the international cooperation in the field of combating terrorism and organized crime.

During a meeting held Tuesday with Interior Minister Lt. Gen. Bassam Abdul-Majeed , Noble said that Syria’s hosting of deliberations of the 3rd Fusion Task Force for Fighting Terrorism asserted her care for activating this cooperation.

He also pointed out to the standing cooperation between Syrian Interior Ministry and the INTERPOL through the National Center of Damascus Interpol, stressing that Syria is ranked among the first ten countries in term of cooperation with the organization.

More like in the top five terror sponsors.

I’ve got only one thing to say to all of this:

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20:24
Livni slams Olmert
» ‎ Israel Matzav

Foreign minister Tzipi Feigele Livni slammed Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert on Wednesday for corruption and for putting his own interests ahead of the country's interests. Not to mention ahead of her own interests and those of their party. You don't say.... "When the public gives its mandate it wants to know that it can trust its chosen leaders, and not that those in power are weighing their own

20:10
Israel 'detained' French diplomat
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

France complains to Israel about the treatment of one of its diplomats, who it says was detained at a Gaza crossing.

20:03
Obama Bumper Sticker
» ‎ The Muqata

Posted by JoeSettler

Hattip: Jewschool

Jameel Adds:

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

19:53

A Peek into Others' mind » June 18, 2008

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