A Peek into Others' mind » July 16, 2008

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July 17, 2008
7:27
Iran, Iran, Iran: "Washington's Iran Pivot: How ...
» ‎ War and Piece

Iran, Iran, Iran: "Washington's Iran Pivot: How big a shift?", and "A Test of US Flexibility on Iran":What remains uncertain at this point is whether the move represents what Bush administration officials publicly insist a one-time offer by Washington...

7:23
Gary Sick on Iran and the Hawk-Realist Power Balance
» ‎ LobeLog.com

Gary Sick, an acute observer of U.S.-Iranian relations for more than three decades who served on the National Security Council staff under president Ford, Carter and Reagan and now teaches at Columbia University, wrote a brief comment today on the latest developments in U.S. Iran policy and what it says about the balance of power between hawks and realists within the Bush administration. His essay, which refers to John Bolton’s op-ed, “Israel, Iran and the Bomb, published Monday on the opinion pages of the ever-hawkish ‘Wall Street Journal,’ is reproduced with the author’s permission. (Incidentally, I had the opportunity to talk briefly with former Amb. James Dobbins, who dealt extensively with Iranian diplomats over Afghanistan during and after the ouster of the Taliban and who has been one of the most outspoken and influential voices in the foreign-policy community here to urge direct engagement with Tehran on a whole range of issues. He called the decision to send Undersecretary of State for Policy William Burns to Geneva to join his counterparts from the EU-3, Russia, and China in talks with Iran Saturday a “remarkable” and a “dramatic departure” from previous U.S. policy.)

As usual, John Bolton is absolutely right. His policy prescriptions may be reckless to the point of foolishness (”When in doubt, bomb!”), but his understanding of what is happening in Washington policy (as outlined in his op-ed in the Wall Street Journal yesterday) is unerringly accurate.

While much of the world was hyper-ventilating over the possibility that the United States (and maybe Israel) were getting ready to launch a new war against Iran, Bolton was looking at the realities and concluding that far from bombing the US was preparing to do a deal with Iran. He had noticed that over the past two years the US had completely reversed its position opposing European talks with Iran.

First, the US indicated that it would participate if the negotiations showed progress. Then, when they didn’t, we went further and actively participated in negotiating a new and more attractive offer of incentives to Iran. Bolton noticed that when that package was delivered to Tehran by Xavier Solana, the signature of one Condoleeza Rice was there, along with representatives of the other five members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.

He had probably also noticed Secretary Rice’s suggestion of possibly opening a US interests section in Tehran — the first step toward reestablishing diplomatic relations. And he didn’t overlook the softening of rhetoric in Under Secretary Wm Burn’s recent testimony to the Congress about Iran.

Now, just one day after Bolton’s cry of alarm that the US is going soft on Iran, we learn that the same Bill Burns will participate directly in the talks that are going to be held on Saturday in Geneva with the chief Iranian negotiator on the nuclear file. Bolton’s worst suspicions seem to be confirmed.

Unlike many observers and commentators, Bolton has been looking, not at what the US administration says, but what it does. Ever since the congressional elections of 2006, the US has been in the process of a fundamental change in its policy on a number of key issues: the Arab-Israel dispute, the North Korean nuclear issue, and Iran. Since the administration proclaims loudly that its policies have not changed, and since the tough rhetoric of the past dominates the discussion, it is easy to overlook what is actually going on.

Bolton no doubt noticed that Rumsfeld is gone and replaced with Robert Gates, a very different sort of secretary of Defense. He will have observed that the worst of the neocons (including himself) are now writing books and spending more time with families and friends, cheer-leading for more war by writing op-eds from the outside rather than pursuing their strategies in policy meetings in the White House.

He will have seen the gradual shift of the policy center of gravity from Dick Cheney to Rice and Gates. He will have been listening when the Chairman of the JCS and others have said as clearly as they realistically can that the military option, though never renounced as a theoretical possibility, is the least attractive option available to us and in fact is close to impossible given our over-stretch in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In other words, Bolton, as someone whose policies (in my view) are certifiably insane, recognizes real pragmatism and moderation in Washington when he sees it. And he does not like what he sees in this lame duck administration.

Over the past two or three years, we have been treated to one sensational threat after another about the likelihood of imminent war with Iran. All of these alarms and predictions have one thing in common: they never happened. Perhaps it is time for us to join Bolton in looking at the real indicators. When Bolton quits writing his jeremiads or when he begins to express satisfaction with the direction of US policy, that is when we should start to get worried.

With a few quibbles here and there, I think Dr. Sick gets it exactly right.

6:47
US may withdraw more Iraq troops
» ‎ AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (MIDDLE EAST)

Violence persists but US defence chief likely to recommend more reductions as 'surge' ends.

6:40
Separated at Birth: Heil Kuntar Edition
» ‎ Israellycool

Freed Lebanese murderer/terrorist Samir Kuntar, and you-know-who (no, not Voldemort).

(Thanks to Lila for drawing my attention to this picture).

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6:30
False Reports of Jihadists "Quitting" or Abandoning Islamic Supremacism
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

Another strategic error in the failure to address the ideological basis of Jihad in Islamic supremacism is that the lack of such a strategic debate allows a series of false and misleading reports about Jihadists allegedly "renouncing" jihad or abandoning Islamism. The point of these media reports are to suggest that either (a) there is no jihadist threat, or (b) what threat does exist is diminishing as "extremists" realize the folly of violence. Such reports have one clear purpose: quash public debate on the real ideological basis behind Jihad, with the secondary purpose of questioning Jihad as a "real threat."

The Jihadist who is still a Jihadist

One example is the July 13, 2008 UK Guardian/Observer article by Lawrence Wright "The heretic -- How Al-Qaeda's mastermind turned his back on terror." It is clear from a close reading of the article that the headline simply is not accurate, but the Guardian/Observer doesn't expect most of the public to read the article closely, they are simply looking for a headline to influence public opinion.

Mr. Wright's article is to "inform" the public how Sayyed Imam Al-Sharif, aka Dr. Fadl, has rejected terrorism. In Mr. Wright's first paragraph, he trumpets how Al-Sharif was "rejecting al-Qaeda's violence," having written in a 2007 fax that "[w]e are prohibited from committing aggression, even if the enemies of Islam do that." (The last part of Al-Sharif's sentence should have been a tip-off to the observant reader.) Mr. Wright goes on in "Part One" of his article about the importance of Al-Sharif to Al-Qaeda, and how important his alleged defection from "terrorism" is.

In "Part Two" of Mr. Wright's article, 75 paragraphs later, he writes that "[d]espite his previous call for jihad against unjust Muslim rulers, Fadl now says such rulers can be fought only if they are unbelievers, and even then only to the extent that the battle will improve the situation of Muslim." So, how does that make Al-Sharif against Jihad? Only if rulers are "unbelievers"? After all, per Mr. Wright's own article, Al-Sharif is the one with the historical ideology that identified virtually every Muslim who didn't agree with him as a takfiri (unbeliever).

Further on in "Part Two" of Mr. Wright's article, in paragraph 78, Mr. Wright states:
"Fadl [aka Al-Sharif] does not condemn all jihadist activity, however. 'Jihad in Afghanistan will lead to the creation of an Islamic state with the triumph of the Taliban, God willing,' he declares. The jihads in Iraq and Palestine are more problematic. As Fadl sees it, 'If it were not for the jihad in Palestine, the Jews would have crept toward the neighbouring countries a long time ago.'"

In paragraph 79, Mr. Wright goes on to state: "Speaking of Iraq, he [Al-Sharif] notes that without the jihad there, 'America would have moved into Syria.'"

In summary, Mr. Wright claims that Al-Sharif is against Jihadist terrorism, except for Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and rulers who are "unbelievers." This is how Al-Sharif "turned his back on terror." Anywhere else where Al-Sharif supports Jihad? Who knows where else Al-Sharif might call for Jihad if you asked him for more details? Thailand, Philippines, Somalia, etc? But the Guardian/Observer expects that its readers and the public will never get that far and will not realize that the article is merely a transparent attempt to discourage debate on the Jihadist threat.

6:28
Tourists shot in Amman attack
» ‎ AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (MIDDLE EAST)

Six people injured in Jordanian capital before attacker turns gun on himself.

6:27
News Analysis: Policy Shift Seen in U.S. Decision on Iran Talks
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

The decision by the Bush administration to send a senior official to talks with Iran infuses the negotiating track with new importance.
6:23
Blast Kills 20 in Shiite Neighborhood of Northern Iraq City
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

A car bomb exploded in a street market in the northern city of Tal Afar on Wednesday, killing 20 people, including 9 children.

6:17
More Letters to the Lizardoid
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Since the “We Got Mail” posts usually feature people who hate me, here’s a change of pace: a few of the emails I’ve received supporting my position on the “intelligent design” con artists.

Just wanted to send a thanks for representing conservatives who are not creationists, or at least conservatives who agree that creationism should be kept in the church and out of the schools.

There may well be a time and a place for teaching ID, but it isn’t in our classrooms funded by our taxes.

Thanks for showing that not all conservatives are painted with the same brush.

Dear Charles:

I’m a believer in ID and thus a Creationist, and I completely agree with your position on teaching ID in science classs. ID is being used as a Trojan Horse to shove Creationism down people’s throat, pure and simple.

I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it until my fellow believers cease and desist, matters of faith do not belong in the science classroom. Science has produced it’s best when left alone to be science.

Keep up the good work, Charles, hopefully these knuckleheads will get it eventually.

Land Shark

Charles,

As a born again skeptic, I am again impressed by your rationalism. Let this count as a full throated vote of support for your stance on evolution and aggressive pursuit of true even if the truth is in conflict with stated personal agendas.

I speak as a 47 year old male who has come to appreciate honesty that is fast disappearing in this society.

Carey

Ok, here’s a centrist-liberal who also appreciates your efforts re. evolution. My political/social position has shifted considerably in the past 7-8 years mainly in my intolerance of radical Islam and its fellow travellers (which is how I happened upon LGF).Still, I will probably end up voting for Obama this fall (I would have preferred Clinton) and we’ll just have to agree to disagree about that. But there is no room for disagreement about science and technology in the 21st century. They are essential to an informed, rational, progressive (in the original meaning of the word) society. Creationists are the troofers of our educational system; they must not be allowed to sabotage it. Thanks for your principled stand on these issues.

-David

4:52
Interview With My Father: Part One
» ‎ Israellycool

A number of years ago, my father was interviewed for the Jewish Migrant Oral History Project. Thankfully, I have a copy of the interview, and I will be publishing excerpts from it in his memory.

Interviewer: John can we begin the interview by you telling us your full name and where and when you were born please?

Dad: My full name, birth certificate, Joachim David —–. John David —–, born Lipke, L I P K E near Landsberg an der Watte, Province Brandenburg. Landsberg was the nearest town and Province Brandenburg about one million people, predominantly farming. Small farming.

Interviewer: Let’s talk about your family background. Who were your parents? Could you name them for us?

Dad: My father Hans David —– born 1896. Nicholai, Upper Salesia, Danzig Corridor. My mother Freida —– born Catowitz, also Upper Silesia – Danzig corridor. The importance of the Danzig Corridor being mentioned is it changed hands every war between Germany, Poland and whoever.

Interviewer: What was their background? How did they come to be in this part of the world?

Dad: My father’s family; his mother became a widow when my father was four and she lived with her brother Louie Berger. My father had schooling and then he went to war. He was the only Jew in the class and the whole class volunteered so he volunteered. He came back from the war and his relations there were quite well off. They were merchants. And because of them being so smug about everything my father developed an aversion to business people and he was going to study medicine. But lo and behold he didn’t have the money so he got into a veterinary course in Giessen. End of story he decided to really rub it in, he finished his veterinary course and then did a doctorate by working in an abattoir as director. He worked in the abattoir because that was close to where his mother lived and she was getting old and she hadn’t seen very much of her son.

I had assumed that the marriage was arranged because my father was 32 when he married, and my mother turned 21. Also my mother’s parents or family bought that practice in Germany, in Lipke. It was a government practice and he could have private patients if he wanted. It was a fixed income. So they moved there to Lipke after marriage. My mother found it a little hard at first because her family were closer to being more German than my father’s family who were ultra-religious. As my mother tells the story, she was introduced to my father’s family and the men sat in one part of the room, the women in the other. They moved to Lipke, and I was born in 1930 and all went well. My father belonged to all the organisations there, the ex-servicemen, the Front Line - that means active service - who have seen active service and had the medals. Due to my father’s background, my parents left Lipke and drove something like 15 kilometres to Landsberg, where there was a Jewish community, for the Sabbath. They drove there Friday afternoon and came back Saturday after the Sabbath. And they did this without thinking.

Part of my father’s work was servicing what they called a ‘gutt,’ a large property owned by, I won’t say nobility, but so-called junkers, the aristocracy. One was an ex-serviceman, ex-officer and he hadn’t married yet, and they were running wild, and doing things, but he was also like my father; he couldn’t sleep too well and he read a lot. So he and my father started exchanging books, but then he got married and domesticated and they became friends. He was the one later who told my father not to be crazy, to get out of Germany.

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3:48
Pat Buchanan: 'Intelligent Design' Advocate
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

When he isn’t writing antisemitic articles blaming high gas prices on Israel and AIPAC, or revisionist history defending Hitler’s invasion of Poland, or appearing on neo-Nazi radio shows, Pat Buchanan likes to attack the theory of evolution: Darwin’s Pyrrhic Victory by Pat Buchanan.

Darwinism claims, for example, that matter evolved from non-matter — i.e., something from nothing — that life evolved from non-life; that, through natural selection, rudimentary forms evolved into more complex forms; and that men are descended from animals or apes.

Now, all of this is unproven theory. And as the Darwinists have never been able to create matter out of non-matter or life out of non-life, or extract from the fossil record the “missing links” between species, what they are asking is that we accept it all on faith. And the response they are getting in the classroom and public forum is: “Prove it,” and, “Where is your evidence?”

And while Darwinism suggests our physical universe and its operations happened by chance and accident, intelligent design seems to comport more with what men can observe and reason to. ...

Darwinism is headed for the compost pile of discarded ideas because it cannot back up its claims. It must be taken on faith. It contains dogmas men may believe, but cannot stand the burden of proof, the acid of attack or the demands of science.

Where science says, “No miracles allowed,” Darwinism asks us to believe in miracles.

3:44
Hamas Using Former Synagogues to Train Gunmen
» ‎ IRIS Blog

If Israel's government had any sense, these terror camps would be demolished immediately by air:

When Israel pulled out of Gaza in September 2005, [sic] the government decided to leave public buildings, kindergartens, libraries, schools and other structures whole for the benefit of the Palestinian population. Terrorist organizations, most notably Hamas, have been using these buildings for training purposes. Several videos produced by various terror organizations present gunmen training at the sites of public buildings once used in Gush Katif. One of the structures identifiable is the Atzmona synagogue, in which terrorists train using live ammunition. The buildings also serve as the backdrop for kidnapping scenarios....

The mere existence of the buildings and their accessibility greatly contribute to the terrorist organizations. The structures are abandoned and isolated and far from the Palestinian civilian population.

If not for these buildings, the terrorists would have to construct buildings and special training areas for these purposes, just like the IDF does in order to conduct counter-terrorism drills.

They would have to evacuate an entire neighborhood from its Palestinians inhabitants in order to establish a similar area.

In order to understand the great benefits Hamas attained by using the deserted structures left by Israel, it is necessary to simply watch the documentation of the drill one of the terrorist groups conducted in their new, ready-made urban warfare camp whose walls were built solely with sandbags.

3:31
Joy and grief
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Strong emotions as Israel-Hezbollah swap prisoners

3:22
SyriaComment.com: “Interview with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia” by Alix Van Buren
» ‎ Syria Planet

Alix Van Buren of Italy's leading paper, La Repubblica, writes:

Just came back from Morocco, where I interviewed Saudi King Abdullah.

I was requested to join him in Casablanca where he stays for part of the Summer in one of his several Moroccan palaces. I'm enclosing a rough transcript of the interview in English, much as the Saudi Info Minister sent it. There are other questions I asked him verbally in Casà but those are in Italian in the published interview (out today). The verbal answers don't add much, except when he says:

"Listen to me carefully, I am speaking for myself and for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We were already very disappointed when the price of oil reached $100. Imagine now, that it is expected to climb up to $200".
Naturally, that is the sentence I used as the lead of the published interview… If you read the transcript between the lines, he has very harsh words for America. He's tough on Israel, but that we could expect. What is absolutely surprising is his opening to the other religions. In person, he said to me:
"I am deeply convinced that every Heavenly religion has good things for the benefit of humanity". Coming from the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques and from the Guardian of the Islamic orthodoxy, that is quite historic. Wouldn't you say?

Interview of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
with La Repubblica Newspaper (by Alix Van Buren)

QUESTION 1: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz: What prompted you to call for the convening the Madrid conference on dialogue of religions, and to invite believers of different religions and cultures from all over the world? What are the results you hope for? What makes you so concerned about the fate of humanity in this world?

ANSWER 1: The need for dialogue; between believers of different religions and cultures is called for by the current World conditions and the many crises faced by human communities. Also, the growing challenges that threaten to worsen existing economic, political and social problems and to deepen human suffering. Such condition prevails at a time characterized by wide spread of injustices, corruption and immorality, and the breakup of the family - the basic unit of all societies. Humanity is moving away from noble values and principles that form the essence of all religions and beliefs . We are part of this world. We influence and are influenced by it. We are a nation of a sublime mission and deeply rooted cultural heritage. Our religion urges us to embrace the principle of dialogue and call upon us to cooperate and coexist in peace with others, and promote understanding, peace, accord and good values among all humans. My optimism stems from the broad positive response to the call for dialogue on the part of many circles, both inside the Muslim world and at all level of various religious and cultural levels around the world.

QUESTION 2: You have organized an International Islamic Conference in Makkah. Do you see that Conference as one that provided an opportunity to improve relations between Muslim countries, as well as those between Sunnis and Shiites? You entered the Conference Hall holding the hands of the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, and the former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjan. Does this picture symbolize better understanding between the two countries and the two sects?

ANSWER 2: We always look forward to establish accord and peace not only among Muslims with their various sects, but also between the peoples of the world with all their beliefs. Muslim scholars have not encountered difficulties in their Islamic Conference in Makkah in terms of stressing the principle of dialogue, since dialogue is an integral part of our Islamic teachings. God   ordered   us   to   have dialogue in the Quran, and Our Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) also urged us to do the same. The policy of Saudi Arabia is also based on these principles.

QUESTION 3: What is the current status of dialogue with the Vatican after your historic visit to Pope Benedict XVI? Do you expect the coming dialogue to help heal up the deep wounds suffered by both sides, and ally Muslims' fear of new crusades, and Christians' fear of extremists who threaten values and cultures of the West? What is your response to al-Qaeda's denunciation of the dialogue among religions?

ANSWER 3: We can remove mistrust and suspicions from our minds through the principle of dialogue. A dialogue that underscores human commonalities which find their expression in all religions, beliefs and cultures. The all call for good in all its forms, and reject evil in all its manifestations. We will then realize that values and principles that unite us are more than those dividing us. The differences that exist between cultures and societies in general are a matter of course and an eternal fact of the universe.

But it is forces of extremism, injustice and darkness that often seek to exaggerate and exploit these differences for the purpose of instigating conflicts and wars, thus bringing about a chaotic situation around the world. That is why we find them always in panic when they feel that there is an effort to engage in dialogue and promote understanding instead of confrontation and rivalry. These same forces know that dialogue is the effective way to abort their evil plans that are contrary to all religions and human beliefs, and inherent human nature.

QUESTION 4: The G8 met after the Jeddah Energy Meeting, in an attempt to resolve the crisis of hiking prices of crude oil. But expectations are not optimistic and prices are continuing to rise. What bothers you most about the consequences of this international crisis? And what are, in your opinion, the main reasons for the continuous rise in oil prices?

ANSWER 4: Stability of the world oil market is the common goal of both the producers and the consumers, and we are striving hard to reach it. In spite of the fact that the Kingdom and a number of oil producing countries have raised their production capacity, we have not detected a positive response at the international oil market. This demonstrates the extent of the effect of other causes and factors on the market prices outside the framework of supply and demand.

Most importantly, speculations in the international oil market, and the imposition in many oil consuming nations of additional taxes on imported oil. Saudi Arabia called for a meeting of oil consuming and producing countries in Jeddah to discuss the current situation of the oil market. We believe that strengthening cooperation between the parties in tackling the global oil situation with all the variable that influence and impact the price of oil to the consumer is the guarantor to stabilize international oil market.

We followed-up closely the meeting of the G8, and the resulting resolutions, including a call for dialogue between producers and consumers. It may be important to note here that a World Energy Forum has already been established, with Riyadh hosting its secretariat-general to achieve the goals of dialogue and to coordinate between producers and consumers. In the context of our endeavor to protect the environment and address global climate change, Saudi Arabia has established the King Abdullah Center for Oil Research and Studies, in order to seek technology that would preserve the environment on one hand, and contribute to global economic growth on the other.

These efforts include a fund for energy, environment and climate change, as initialed by the Kingdom and announced during the third OPEC summit in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia contributed three hundred million dollars to this effort. I might add that this program will fund research in many areas including carbon emissions. We urge the G8 to support these existing programs and projects rather than make duplicate efforts in similar programs.

QUESTION 5: Food shortage is the second crisis affecting the world after the oil crisis. What is the scenario, which you see, that would occur in the future regarding the scarcity of food and causes of food shortage? Will Saudi Arabia follow the example of China and invest in the fertile lands in other countries to ensure food security in the future?

ANSWER 5: The world has to put this crisis on the top of its list of priorities. It must double the effort internationally to address the food crisis because it has a direct bearing on the life of every human being. Saudi Arabia has dealt with this crisis at three main levels:

First: It has supported the World Food Program (WFP) with 500 million US dollars in response to the world appeal to cope up with the increase in global fuel prices and food commodities.

Second: It is pursuing a medium-and-long-term strategy to launch agricultural investment initiatives aiming at development and enhancement of agricultural products in countries that have the prerequisites for agriculture. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has agricultural experience, technology, and capital to invest in this area. The initiative is not only limited to buying land or even leasing them, but it also includes technology transfer and exchange of expertise, and development of agricultural companies, and other steps that would contribute to increasing agricultural crops and providing food to the world in order to alleviate the crisis.

Third: We have been working to strengthen international cooperation to solve the crisis through our call at the Jeddah Conference to launch the "energy for the poor" initiative to enable developing countries to meet the increasing energy costs. We called on the World Bank to hold a meeting as soon as possible for donors' countries, as well as regional and international financial institutions, to discuss this initiative and put it into effect. We proposed to the Council of Ministers of the OPEC Fund for International Development to meet and consider the adoption of a parallel program and allocate one billion U.S. dollars to it. Saudi Arabia announced its readiness to financially contribute to these programs within the framework to be agreed upon.

Also, we have allocated $500 million U.S. dollars of low-interest loans through the Saudi Development Fund to finance projects that help developing countries obtain energy and initiate other development projects. Undoubtedly these objectives require efforts from all countries of the world.

QUESTION 6: The continuation of the Arab- Israeli conflict poses a third challenge. In case failure of the Annapolis conference, the only remaining peace plans on the table remaining is the Arab peace initiative presented by you in 2002. What made you put forward this peace initiative? Is this peace plan still in place and implementable? After 60 years of establishing the state of Israel, is it closer to live in peace with its Arab neighbors?

ANSWER 6: The Arab comprehensive Peace Initiative reflects the overall Arab sincere and serious will towards achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East on the basis of international legitimacy and laws. The Arab initiative is regarded as one of the main points of reference in the peace process, which the Riyadh Arab Summit re-emphasized. In addition to the Arab initiative, there are several international initiatives aiming at advancing the peace process in the region.

But all these efforts and initiatives are still colliding with an Israeli policy of rejection and of continuous seizure of more Palestinian land, building new settlements, expanding existing ones, and imposing all kinds of unjust restrictions and the imposition of a siege on the Palestinian people in clear defiance of all international laws and ethical principles. Whenever the Arabs and the world make a step forward towards peace, Israel embarks on polices of injustice, aggression against the Palestinian people. Therefore, the international community is urged, more than ever, to deal seriously with the Israeli intransigence, so that the longest crisis in modern history would find its way to solution.

QUESTION 7: Are you concerned about Iran's strengthening its power in Iraq and presenting its new strength in the region?

ANSWER 7: Iraq is in a dire need of being free from external interference in its internal affairs by any party, so that it can move forward in its efforts to achieve security, stability and prosperity and maintain its national unity and sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The Iraqi people are capable of achieving these objectives with a sincere and serious national will, and full sense of one country among all Iraqis, regardless of ethnic backgrounds and political and religious affiliations.

QUESTION 8; Has Iran the right to continue its nuclear program? What is the extent of the damage caused by President Ahmadinejad's statements concerning the elimination of Israel? Israel has recently conducted military exercises simulating an attack on Iran. What are the results of such an attack?

ANSWER 8: Nuclear proliferation in the region does not serve its security and stability. We hope that all countries of the region follow the policy of the GCC and the Arab League to make the Middle East and the Gulf region free from all weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons. As regards to the Iranian nuclear issue, we call for abandoning the language of tension and escalation, and the adopting of diplomatic solutions to this issue. As long as diplomatic efforts are still active and ongoing, I do not think there is room for discussing other options. The responsibility about statements made by certain countries lies in the countries making these statements.

QUESTION 9: Some people believe that the United States has lost its traditional influence in the region, because of its policies and because of the emergence of other competitive looking for a role. What do you think of this? Has it become difficult for America's friends to continue defending it?

ANSWER 9: We think that the situation in the region requires every possible international effort in light of the difficult crisis it faces. Whether this effort is American, Russian, European, Islamic or Arab, we will not hesitate to support it as long as it is sincere and serious in dealing with these crises, and as long as it aims at achieving regional security and stability and prosperity, including the legitimate rights of the people of the region. Our international friendships are based on the defense of those rights and interests of the region and its peoples and nothing else.

QUESTION 10: What has been achieved so far in Saudi Arabia in combating terrorism? Do you think that you have defeated AI-Qaeda end rid the country of its supporters? Or is there a need for more efforts to be exerted in this context? Is the world making enough efforts to fight terrorism?

ANSWER 10: Observers of the Saudi efforts in fighting terrorism must feel the significant achievements we have made in fighting this scourge sedition over the past years. These achievements would not have been possible without the blessing of God, and the courage and sacrifices of the security forces, and the Saudi people standing united in confronting this phenomenon extraneous to their religion, society and culture. Since the beginning of recent terrorist attacks in the Kingdom, we adopted a comprehensive strategy to fight it. This strategy does not depend on its security side only, but also it includes fighting the financing of terrorism, and dealing with its intellectual roots through the adoption of an integrated program for defying the deviant thought and rehabilitating its followers and giving counseling and advice to them.

In this regard we called for an international conference to combat terrorism, which was convened in Riyadh. The conference called for the establishment of a counter-terrorism center for the purpose of prompt exchange of information, and adopt preemptive measure to prevent terrorist action. However the proposed center is yet to be established in spite of the support of many members of the world community. In addition we are working assiduously towards closer regional and international cooperation to confront the phenomenon. We are continuing with our efforts in this strategy till completely eliminating this phenomenon and drying up its sources, and the deviant thought leading to it. We still believe that the international community can exert better efforts in close cooperation and coordination to tighten the noose on terrorist networks wherever they exist, and deprive them of any safe havens that could be used to threaten the international community. // END //

3:04
Iraq caveats
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Iraq is key issue for presidential candidates

3:00
Maysaloon:
» ‎ Syria Planet

Dalal Mughrabi...I'm embarrassed to say I hadn't heard of her before Hezbullah had requested her body be included in the prisoner exchange. It is shameful that Arafat and Abbas have never even given this matter any thought and that it is Hezbullah which had to ask for these, not that I have a problem with them. Resistance-wise their credentials are impeccable and they have always had my full moral support. Still, as someone dear to me pointed out, Nasrallah had also once demanded the release of all the Palestinian prisoners. I don't honestly believe he has sold the Palestinians out in the name of pragmatism, but this does raise a few eyebrows. Still, he has always gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure that whenever he promised, he delivered. I will adopt a wait and see attitude.
2:53
Maysaloon: Welcome home Samir et al...
» ‎ Syria Planet

The handover of the Lebanese prisoners, including Samir Kuntar, and the remains of Lebanese and Palestinian fighters represents a victory against Israel. Nasrallah had promised to return those prisoners and this is indeed the case. I think it silly how Western papers describe the Lebanese as 'trying to portray this as a victory' now that the prisoners are safely back home. Trying?!?! This is a victory over a country which till now has always believed that the only language the Arabs understand is force. This is a victory over a country which killed over 1000 Lebanese civilians in order to 'pressure' the Lebanese government and the world to 'act' against the resistance. A country which is slowly suffocating the people of Gaza and killing them slowly also to 'pressure' them into abandoning resistance. We can conclude with what has in fact been known all along, an entity like this only backs away when enough of this 'pressure' is applied on it to end it's occupation and go back to where it came from. Today is a defeat for Israel and all those who support colonialism and occupation.

2:26
Target Rich Environment
» ‎ Israellycool

Sickening.

Where’s a Hellfire missile when you need one?

Update: The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office has released this video on Kuntar:

ShareThis

2:08
a hero’s welcome
» ‎ Body on the Line

Last month when I was hanging out with a friend of mine in Al Quds he mentioned Samir Quntar. My friend was feeling reflective of the time he had spent in jail many years ago. He spent 11 years in an Israeli jail and from 1981-1984 he and Quntar were both in a prison in [...]

2:03
NEFA Foundation Report: "The July 21, 2005 London Transport Bombings - An In-Depth Look at the Planning, Execution, and Failure of the Attack"
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

As the third anniversary of the botched 7/21 bombings approaches, the NEFA Foundation is releasing a PowerPoint briefing, authored by NEFA Senior Analyst Josh Lefkowitz, titled, "The July 21, 2005 London Transport Bombings: An In-Depth Look at the Planning, Execution, and Failure of the Attack." Drawing on police surveillance photos, extensive CCTV footage, and other exhibits released by the Metropolitan Police Service during the course of the conspirators' trial, the report offers an unprecedented glimpse into the planning and execution of a terrorist attack. The briefing includes surveillance photos of the bombers training for jihad at a camp in Cumbria; pictures of the conspirators purchasing massive quantities of hydrogen peroxide; as well as images of their bomb factory, the interiors of the trains they attempted to blow up, their unexploded devices, and their flight from authorities. Further, the report documents the extensive support network that aided the bombers in the lead-up to and aftermath of the failed attack.
The report can be accessed via the NEFA Foundation website.

1:22
We Got Mail (From a Creationist Racist)
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Following our post this morning about the neo-Nazi radio show Political Cesspool, a reader in Toms River, New Jersey, used our contact form to send this note:

Thanks for the awesome new site.It has guts which your site has been severely lacking lately.I guess writing from a Euro perspective makes you a racist on the left and in your world. Keep up the ID= Radical Islam stuff too.It drives more real traditionalists away from your caleefornia, crunchy conservativeness.Currently deleting you from my favorites.

“Real traditionalists.”

1:17
Two Peer-Reviewed Scientific Papers Debunk CO2 Myth
» ‎ Wake Up From Your Slumber - The Truth Will Set You Free

Paul Joseph Watson
July 16, 2008

read more

1:08
CNN Whitewashes Monstrous Palestinian Child Abuse Video
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Here’s another mind-boggling example of CNN’s bias, as they show a horrific video of the indoctrination of 5-year old Palestinian children into terrorism—and clip out the worst part.

Here’s the CNN report, and here’s the full video of this depraved event:
[Video]
Second Draft has the full story behind the video, and CNN’s selective editing: CNN Cannot be Trusted- Here’s Why.

My last post about CNN correspondent Ben Wedeman’s July 10th report from Nablus warned that we were working on major aspects of this report and had serious concerns about the honesty and accuracy of it. There is now good reason to believe that Wedeman and CNN have seriously compromised their professional and ethical obligations in this matter.

It has been confirmed to Second Draft by reliable Israeli sources that the short clip of the Kindergarten graduation “festivities” that Wedeman used in that report is actually part of a much longer and extremely disturbing video which we at Second Draft have now posted on YouTube.

It has further been confirmed by Second Draft’s source that the full length video which had been confiscated by the Israeli Defense Force had been given to CNN as an exclusive with the understanding that it represented clear and undeniable evidence that the Palestinian Authority is not complying with one of the basic responsibilities it has undertaken as part of the ongoing negotiations to stop intentionally fomenting hatred and violence.

The sequence in the YouTube video that begins 6 seconds in is particularly horrific. The camera work is bad but you can clearly see that the children dressed as Palestinian “fighters” are acting out an assault on and murder of children dressed as and playing the role of unsuspecting Israeli soldiers. The “dead Israelis” are then dragged across the stage. The clip Wedeman used showed the dragging (without explanation of the uniforms) without the murder sequence.

0:50
Beirut welcomes freed prisoners
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Hezbollah's leader gives a personal welcome in Beirut to militants released by Israel in return for two soldiers' remains.

0:46
Hizballah's "Divine Victory" Accomplished
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

Phillip Smyth is the the CT Blog's Assistant Newslinks Editor and a contributor to the Aramaic Democratic Organization. He spent 2 months last summer in Lebanon talking with and interviewing anti-Hizballah NGOs in addition to Hizballah supporters, and he maintains contact with many there. He wrote the following about today's Hizballah-Israel prisoner swap.
---------------
It was a dark night on April 22, 1979 as an inflatable speedboat sped from the southern Lebanese port of Tyre to rendezvous with destiny in the Israeli border port of Nahariya. The four men on the boat all belonged to the pro-Iraqi Palestine Liberation Front (PLF), and were planning to assault the Israeli town, “to protest the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.” As the four men came ashore, an Israeli policeman discovered them; he was subsequently gunned down. The four then made their way into an apartment building, taking a man, Danny Haran and his four-year-old daughter hostage. Danny’s wife, Smadar, mother to that daughter hid from the PLF terrorists with her two-year-old daughter, Yael. As the two-year-old cried, Smadar covered her face so the PLF group wouldn’t hear them; tragically Yael soon suffocated. The party of four, along with their two hostages, made their way out of the apartment building and down to the beach. Soon the IDF and Israeli police arrived on the scene. Instantly two of the PLF terrorists were killed. Samir Kuntar, a Lebanese Druze and member of the terrorist group, tried to escape with the hostages and the last member of his group. Kuntar fired his AK-47 into the back of Danny Haran, killing him instantly. Kuntar then moved onto the remaining hostage, Danny’s four-year-old daughter Einat. Kuntar dragged Einat to a rock and proceeded to beat the little girl with his Kalashnikov until she died. Kuntar and his compatriot Ahmed al-Abras were captured (he was released in 1985 in a prisoner exchange), and for the murders Kuntar received four life sentences. Instead of serving his sentence, Kuntar was released this morning and driven to the Israel-Lebanon border into the arms of Hizballah. Furthermore, this was not the first, and will definitely not be the last time that kidnaps and exchanges will happen in the broader Middle East.

Kuntar has been at the center of a number of spectacular terrorist attacks and the recent 2006 Hizballah-Israel war. The infamous October, 1985 PLF hijacking of the liner, Achille Lauro, was launched by the PLF, in part, to free Kuntar. That operation resulted in the murder of wheelchair-bound Leon Klinghoffer. Since then, Kuntar became the cause célèbre not just of the leftist-Palestinian groups and broader Palestine Liberation Organization, but instead became the rallying cry of the Shia Islamist Hizballah. The original name of the operation that sparked the 2006 war was, “Freedom for Samir al-Kuntar and his brothers.” While the operation’s name was subsequently changed, the operation eventually achieved its stated goals.

Today, most of Lebanon has been officially shut down for a “hero's welcome” for Kuntar. Kuntar was to be greeted at Beirut airport sometime around 6pm (Lebanon time), dressed in military fatigues. Kuntar came about an hour late, arriving in a Lebanese Army helicopter (emphasis mine). (Please take note of CT expert David Schenker’s MESH blog entry on arming the Lebanese Army, and why it isn’t always a “reliable” organization.) His welcoming committee didn’t just include Hizballah or their leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah, but President Suleiman and Prime Minister Sanoria were also in attendence. This is ironic considering no more then 2½ months ago Hizballah and Sanoria’s militias fought each other in pitched street battles throughout Beirut. Suleiman, the accepted compromise president, said of Kuntar and other released terrorists that they were, “the freed heroes.” Kuntar was then driven to the Rayeh stadium, where the official Hizballah welcome commenced. Acording to an-Nahar, around 9:50pm Kuntar pledged his loyalty to Hizballah’s Nasrallah.

0:23
President Peres' Statement Following the Return of Eldad Regev and
» ‎ IMRA Middle East News Updates

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

--Boundary_(ID_KmFpK8+W+E7g8M/h8LTg0Q)
Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT

To: imra@imra.org.il
Subject:President Peres' Statement Following
the Return of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser

PRESIDENT OF ISRAEL SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE

Jerusalem, 16 July 2008

President Peres:

"Lebanon will yet be ashamed; a shame, which will be necessary for it to exist properly: We will bow our heads in memory of the valiant who fell and we will maintain our uprightness in accordance with that of a nation which has morality as its guiding principle"

President Shimon Peres delivered a special address to the nation following the return home of the kidnapped soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev ( http://tinyurl.com/6c7mkf ). At the opening of a special gathering of youth volunteers from the periphery, the President, along with Michal Sela, from Hashomer Hatzair Youth Movement, lit two memorial candles, and the hundreds of participants in the event stood for a moment of silence, in memory of the soldiers.

In his address to the nation President Peres said:

"I am following the events on both sides.

Lebanon celebrates 'Victory.' Heads of state and the leadership of Hezbollah are welcoming the return of Samir Kuntar ( http://tinyurl.com/5bhmbg ), a murderer who smashed the skull of a four-year-old girl, Einat, with his bare hands and the butt of his rifle and then shot her father in cold blood and never expressed regret.

In Israel, a whole nation is in tears. A nation that becomes a family - Goldwasser and Regev.

Israel paid a high price to bring back two fallen soldiers, Udi and Eldad. We wanted these brothers-in-arms to rest at home, with us, embraced by an entire nation.

Ostensibly, the media shows where agony and happiness lie. Where does the moral call reside? With those who welcome a terrible murderer? With a nation lighting memorial candles for two of its bravest soldiers, who fell defending their home?

The answer is clear.

Justice stands on the side of Israel.
Justice is the true form of human triumph.

May murderers rejoice no more. May the spirit of defenders in a just war remain proud.

Lebanon will yet be ashamed; a shame, which will be necessary for it to exist properly: We will bow our heads in memory of the valiant who fell and we will maintain our uprightness in accordance with that of a nation which has morality as its guiding principle."

--Boundary_(ID_KmFpK8+W+E7g8M/h8LTg0Q)
Content-type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable

approved: SUN
From: imra@netvision.net.il
To:=20
imra@imra.org.il
Subject:President Peres' Statement Following
    the Return of Eldad Regev and Ehud=20
Goldwasser
          &=
nbsp;           &nbs=
p; =20

PRESIDENT OF ISRAEL SPOKESPERSON'S OFFICE

Jerusalem,=
16=20
July 2008

President Peres:

"Lebanon will yet be=
=20
ashamed; a shame, which will be necessary for it to exist properly: W=
e=20
will bow our heads in memory of the valiant who fell and we will maintain o=
ur=20
uprightness in accordance with that of a nation which has morality as its=
=20
guiding principle"

President Shimon Peres delivered a special=
=20
address to the nation following the return home of the kidnapped soldiers, =
Ehud=20
Goldwasser and Eldad Regev ( href=3D"http://tinyurl.com/6c7mkf">http://tinyurl.com/6c7mkf ). At the =
opening=20
of a special gathering of youth volunteers from the periphery, the Presiden=
t,=20
along with Michal Sela, from Hashomer Hatzair Youth Movement, lit two memor=
ial=20
candles, and the hundreds of participants in the event stood for a moment o=
f=20
silence, in memory of the soldiers.

In his address to the nat=
ion=20
President Peres said:

=93I am following the events on both=20
sides.

Lebanon celebrates =91Victory.=92 Heads of state and th=
e=20
leadership of Hezbollah are welcoming the return of Samir Kuntar (=20
http://tinyurl.com/5bhmbg ), a murderer who smashed the skull of a four-yea=
r-old=20
girl, Einat, with his bare hands and the butt of his rifle and then shot he=
r=20
father in cold blood and never expressed regret.

In Israel, a=
=20
whole nation is in tears. A nation that becomes a family =96 Goldwasser and=
Regev.=20

Israel paid a high price to bring back two fallen soldiers, U=
di=20
and Eldad. We wanted these brothers-in-arms to rest at home, with us, embra=
ced=20
by an entire nation.

Ostensibly, the media shows where agony a=
nd=20
happiness lie. Where does the moral call reside? With those who welcome a=
=20
terrible murderer? With a nation lighting memorial candles for two of its=
=20
bravest soldiers, who fell defending their home?

The answer is=
=20
clear.

Justice stands on the side of Israel.
Justice is th=
e=20
true form of human triumph.

May murderers rejoice no more. May=
the=20
spirit of defenders in a just war remain proud.

Lebanon will y=
et be=20
ashamed; a shame, which will be necessary for it to exist properly: W=
e=20
will bow our heads in memory of the valiant who fell and we will maintain o=
ur=20
uprightness in accordance with that of a nation which has morality as its=
=20
guiding principle.=94

--Boundary_(ID_KmFpK8+W+E7g8M/h8LTg0Q)--
0:07
[Attacks Abbas?]PM Olmert's Statement Following the Return of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser
» ‎ IMRA Middle East News Updates

[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:

"Woe to the people that now celebrates the release of a human animal" -
including, perchance, "moderate" "peace partner" Mahmoud Abbas?

"the moral and ethical strength of the Israeli people...By virtue of that
strength, we decided to bring the boys home even at the heavy price of
releasing a reprehensible murderer." - This reflects an ongoing deliberate
and intentional self imposed avoidance of what Judaism's "moral and ethical"
position is on the issue of such trades. Judaism - blessed with a planning
horizon that spans beyond a news cycle - does not embrace the view that one
should "bring the boys home" at any price.]

PM Olmert's Statement Following the Return of Eldad Regev and Ehud
Goldwasser
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Following is Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's statement today (Wednesday),
16.7.08:

"Today, the entire people of Israel embraces the Regev and Goldwasser
families in their grief. The eyes brim with tears and the heart goes out to
the family members who struggled without any signs and who never lost hope
until the last minute.

This is a day for removing doubts; certainly regarding the fates of Udi and
Eldad ( http://tinyurl.com/6c7mkf ), may their memories be blessed, but also
for the moral and ethical strength of the Israeli people.

By virtue of that strength, we decided to bring the boys home even at the
heavy price of releasing a reprehensible murderer. A foreigner will not
understand what every Israeli knows full well: Mutual responsibility, the
concern for the fate of every one of our soldiers is the glue that joins us
together as a society and enables us to survive surrounded by enemies and
terrorist organizations. Happy is the people that has these values. Woe to
the people that now celebrates the release of a human animal
( http://tinyurl.com/5bhmbg ) that smashed the skull of a four-year-old
girl.

Today, my heart is with the Goldwasser and Regev families. May the boys'
memories be blessed."

July 16, 2008
23:53
Who is Samir al-Kuntar?
» ‎ Israel Matzav

For those of you who have been too lazy to follow the innumerable links I have posted to the story of how Samir al-Kuntar destroyed the Haran family, now I have it on video (Hat Tip: NY Nana). Let's go to the videotape.

23:46
Jasmine Of Damascus: Jasamina
» ‎ Syria Planet

I believe that everything happens for a reason, there is always something behind it!

Lately I was suffering from a huge load of work, social life pressure and the terrible weather but I knew deep inside that everything will be just fine, and it did become great today,, finally Well maybe I had to ignore some facts

“ضاقت فلما استحكمت حلقاتها فرجت، وكنت أظنها لا تفرج”

This is what Sayidna Ali said before almost 1400 years!!! I like, 7abbait walla this is so true and now I so much believe in it

There will always be a sun shining and a moon waiting for the right time to brighten the dark sky, there is always a right time for everything, we just have to be patient enough to get what we really deserve..

My Mj, I know that you won’t read this but I also know that you can read this in my eyes,, I love you so much, you are my angel..

23:31
Another TdF Rider Caught Doping
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Congratulations to Australia’s Cadel Evans for holding on to the leader’s yellow jersey, but I have to admit that my enjoyment of the Tour de France has been pretty much destroyed by the continuing drug scandals: Second rider tests positive at Tour.

Barloworld’s Moises Duenas has been pulled from the Tour de France after a urine sample provided after stage 4 showed signs of the blood booster erythropoietin.

Police later found banned substances in Duenas’ hotel room, according to a statement on the Barloworld Web site.

The Spaniard was in 19th place in the overall standings, 6:43 behind overall leader Cadel Evans, following Monday’s stage to Hautacam. The team was informed of the positive test by the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) on Wednesday morning and Duenas was immediately suspended from the team.

Duenas is the second rider to have failed a drug test for rEPO at the Tour after a sample provided by Liquigas’s Manuel Beltran showed evidence of the same drug.

23:12
Al-Jazzeera sympathizes with mother of mass murderer
» ‎ Israel Matzav

This is truly a sick video. Al Jazeera's Rula Amin - who is at Beirut International Airport - met the family of Dalal al-Mughrabi, the Palestinian Fatah terrorist who led the Coastal Road Massacre in 1978. Met isn't the word: She tries to get you to sympathize with the family of the 'symbol of the 'Palestinian struggle.'' Her remains were received on Wednesday by Hezbullah, along with almost

23:06
ah one-upmanship
» ‎ Aliyah! Step-by-Step: Making a Life in Israel

So at the beginning of the week I dragged my sorry little self back to the ulpan to see if there were any summer courses that I can take, given that I’ve got to start preparing to teach some upper-level psych courses in the dreaded language. They made me take an exam and I was thinking it was going to be along the lines of the first exam I took upon my arrival in the country –yah know, about 2 pages of fill-in-the-blanks and multiple guess. I got, however, a Gila-exam. Gila has been put in charge of testing people this summer and she created the tome she placed before each of the approximately 80 people. It was 12 pages long and included an essay. Then there was to be a spoken component afterwards. Yep, things have changed at ye olde ulpan.

Personally, I was wanting to go into a Bet class again. I’ve done gimmel way back when, well, half of gimmel before work made me quit, and know from experience that it is mostly reading and writing and I need help (still and always) with speaking. At least, speaking under conditions where I do not feel intimidated or as if I am being judged or where I could care less what the other person thinks of me. Under those (infrequent) and happy conditions, I can chatter along like a lark.

The test took me about an hour and a bit for the written part and then I had to sit about waiting my turn for the spoken part for about 3 hours. My turn finally came and Gila first checked my exam and marked the two I got wrong –smeekhoot, I hate those things and never have gotten them down. She read my essay. We had a nice, relaxed chat about what all I’ve been up to in the two years since she’s seen me and then pronounced, “You need to go into Hay, which we don’t have. If you take my dalet in the fall, I’ll give you additional advanced work but you might consider taking Hay through University TA.” Noooooo. No, Gila this is me, remember, the girl who can’t speak. I want in a bet class. “Yaeli, anyone who can write like this can speak. You’ve been speaking to for 10 minutes and you can speak perfectly well. It is psychological.” (Yes, I’m perfectly aware of that fact, thank you, but it does me no good when I’m unable to get out a sentence when speaking to my boss). It took another few minutes of pleading my case and then she caved. “Fine, the Bet plus class is full but you’ve got protekzia and you can start in it tomorrow. On condition you move into Dalet when it starts in September.” YES!!

And I’m loving the bet plus. I’m now one of those people who intimidated me into not speaking back when I took bet. I know all the words (well, almost all, we learned “malaria” today and I was equally clueless) and am happily defining them for the class when the teacher, Daniella, asks does anyone know this word…I’m taking an active part in the speaking parts of the class. I’m actually speaking without fear. I’m still making mistakes but, because I’ve got a sense of one-upmanship, knowing that my mistakes are fewer than the majority of others, I’m not afraid to go ahead and blurt out responses with mistakes in them.

And tonight I’ve made a pact with my new little ulpan friend Laura (pronounced lah’oo’rah since she’s Israeli-Italian) that we will start getting together and I will help her with deekdook (grammar) and she will help me with speaking (since she’s always spoken Hebrew in the home, she is fluent but doesn’t know grammatical stuff at all and has only just learned the written alphabet). Yeah, one-upmanship. I like it.

22:52
Hizballah's Military Wing Under Pressure Despite Political Gains
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

Hizballah has much to celebrate. With the formation of a national unity government in Lebanon last week, it is now well positioned to block any effort to dismantle its military wing. Today, the organization is celebrating the release of five Lebanese prisoners and the remains of several Hizballah and Palestinian militants. But even as Hizballah enjoys the political dividends of its successes, its military wing finds itself under pressure at home and abroad.

Notably, yesterday Britain's parliament approved a Home Office order issued earlier this month banning Hizballah's military wing, al-Muqawam al-Islamiyya or Islamic Resistance. Hizballah's terrorist wing, often called the Islamic Jihad Organization (IJO) or, as in Britain, the External Services Organization (ESO), was banned in 2001. Condemning "Hizballah's violence and support for terrorism," the ban outlaws raising funds, encouraging support for, or belonging to, Hizballah's military wing. Prime Minister Gordon Brown informed members of parliament that the decision to act now was based "on the sole grounds of new evidence of [Hizballah] involvement in terrorism in Iraq and the occupied Palestinian territories." According to reports in the British press, these include "planning to kidnap British security workers in Iraq," echoing the charges of two Iraqi parliamentarians claiming that Hizballah planned and oversaw the kidnapping of five Britons -- still missing -- from the Iraqi Finance Ministry in May 2007.

My complete article is available here.

22:50
Ex-Pentagon Aide Denies Favoring Torture of Prisoners
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

No description
22:50
N. Korea Stonewalls S. Korean Tourist Shooting Probe
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

No description
22:48
USAFCENT July 15 airpower summary
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

No description
22:48
UK MoD & Seawolf Air Defence System
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

No description
22:48
Boeing KC-767 Tanker & Fuel Prices
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

No description
22:48
RAF Tankers & IR Countermeasures
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

No description
22:48
Mine Detection System Takes Flight
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

No description
22:48
Northrop Grumman & A400M CEESIM
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

No description
22:48
JSOW-ER Captive Carry Test
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

No description

A Peek into Others' mind » July 16, 2008

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