A Peek into Others' mind » July 21, 2008

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(170 unread)

July 22, 2008
7:30
Ex-Bosnian-Serb Leader and War Crimes Suspect Radovan Karadzic Arrested
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

Serbia says it has arrested one of the world's most wanted war crimes suspects, Radovan Karadzic, who has been linked to Europe's worst massacre since World War Two

7:17
Iranian Ophthalmologist Awarded in US
» ‎ Persian Journal

Iranian Ophthalmologist Awarded in US
7:17
"F A R A V A H A R", Iran's most powerful spiritual symbol
» ‎ Persian Journal

"F A R A V A H A R", Iran's most powerful spiritual symbol
7:17
Iranian taekwondo team bags 6 medals in Belgrade
» ‎ Persian Journal

Iranian taekwondo team bags 6 medals in Belgrade
7:17
Solving the Iranian Crisis peacefully
» ‎ Persian Journal

Solving the Iranian Crisis peacefully
7:17
LIFE OF A BIRD (IN PERSIAN: ZENDEGI-E PARANDEH)
» ‎ Persian Journal

LIFE OF A BIRD (IN PERSIAN: ZENDEGI-E PARANDEH)
7:17
Top war crimes fugitive Karadzic arrested - Serbia
» ‎ Persian Journal

Top war crimes fugitive Karadzic arrested - Serbia
7:17
Mullahs' Agents Reportedly Trying to Hack Israeli Web Site
» ‎ Persian Journal

Mullahs' Agents Reportedly Trying to Hack Israeli Web Site
7:17
Iranian students finish 6th in Intl. Mathematical Olympiad
» ‎ Persian Journal

Iranian students finish 6th in Intl. Mathematical Olympiad
7:17
Iranian-American youth struggle to define themselves
» ‎ Persian Journal

Iranian-American youth struggle to define themselves
7:17
Damavand Registered as Iran's National Heritage
» ‎ Persian Journal

Damavand Registered as Iran's National Heritage
7:17
Iran to Double Refining Capacity
» ‎ Persian Journal

Iran to Double Refining Capacity
7:17
Iran: History and Civilization
» ‎ Persian Journal

Iran: History and Civilization
7:17
Oil prices rally
» ‎ Persian Journal

Oil prices rally
7:17
Playing Games with Iran
» ‎ Persian Journal

Playing Games with Iran
7:17
US hostility towards Iran
» ‎ Persian Journal

US hostility towards Iran
7:17
Iran FM: "Big Powers" Bully Through International System
» ‎ Persian Journal

Iran FM: "Big Powers" Bully Through International System
7:17
We're already talking to Tehran
» ‎ Persian Journal

We're already talking to Tehran
7:17
White House: Iran, North Korea still in 'axis of evil'
» ‎ Persian Journal

White House: Iran, North Korea still in 'axis of evil'
7:17
Archeologists: Sassanid Khosrow Palace walls unearthed in Iran
» ‎ Persian Journal

Archeologists: Sassanid Khosrow Palace walls unearthed in Iran
7:17
Peugeot 407 to hit Iranian market
» ‎ Persian Journal

Peugeot 407 to hit Iranian market

7:17
Jund Al-Sham Leader Wounded In Ein Al-Hilweh Clashes Dies
» ‎ Memri Latest Blogs

Jund Al-Sham leader Shehada Jawhar, who was wounded the night of July 19 during clashes at the Ein Al-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, died the morning of July 20. Two others were killed and four were wounded in the clashes between ...
July 21, 2008, 1:46 pm
7:17
Bahraini King: Kids Don't Belong In Street Demonstrations
» ‎ Memri Latest Blogs

Bahraini King Hamad bin 'Isa Aal Khalifa criticized the involvement of children in protest marches in Bahrain, saying that it incited them to use violence. Source: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, July 21, ...
July 21, 2008, 4:11 pm
7:17
Antisemitic Cartoon In Syrian Paper On Israel's Peaceful Intentions
» ‎ Memri Latest Blogs

Cartoonist: Fuad 'Ayash Source: Teshreen, Syria, July 20, ...
July 21, 2008, 3:20 pm
7:17
EU: Economic Agreement With Syria Conditional Upon Syria-Lebanon Exchange Of Ambassadors
» ‎ Memri Latest Blogs

The permanent French representative in the European Union, Pierre Sellal, has said that France has asked the EU to begin procedures that will lead to the signing of an economic cooperation agreement between the EU and Syria. However, knowledgeable ...
July 21, 2008, 3:00 pm
7:17
Following Assad's Paris Visit, Closer French-Syrian Economic Cooperation
» ‎ Memri Latest Blogs

Syrian deputy prime minister for economic affairs Abdallah Al-Dardari is to visit France today and tomorrow, July 21 and 22, to discuss with French officials economic and technological cooperation in the areas of transportation, flight, energy, ...
July 21, 2008, 2:58 pm
7:17
Newspaper Close To Hizbullah: As Long As Israel Exits, The Resistance Will Exist
» ‎ Memri Latest Blogs

Ibrahim Al-Amin, chairman of the board of directors of the Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, which is close to Hizbullah, stated in an article that in the new balance of power, the Lebanese resistance will exist as long as Israel exists. Source: ...
July 21, 2008, 2:57 pm
7:17
Hizbullah Deputy Leader: We Don’t Need Shab'a Farms Pretext To Fight Israel
» ‎ Memri Latest Blogs

Hizbullah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qasim said that Hizbullah did not need the pretext of the Shab'a Farms to fight Israel, and added that they needed no pretexts because Israel's existence is in itself an aggressive plan. Qasim made the ...
July 21, 2008, 2:41 pm
7:17
Syrian FM Invites Lebanese President To Damascus
» ‎ Memri Latest Blogs

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Al-Mu'alem met today, July 21, with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, and gave him an invitation to visit Damascus. Al-Mu'alem said that the visit opened a new stage in bilateral relations and in ...
July 21, 2008, 2:06 pm
7:17
Cartoon In Kuwaiti Daily: "Washington Announces Change In Policy Towards Iran"
» ‎ Memri Latest Blogs

On sleeve on arm on right: "Iran." On sleeve on arm on left: "America" Cartoonist: Stavro Jabra Source: Al-Jarida, Kuwait, July 20, ...
July 21, 2008, 2:00 pm
7:17
Senior Sudanese Regime Officials On Diplomatic Mission To Enlist Support In Dealing With ICC
» ‎ Memri Latest Blogs

The Sudanese government has sent three senior regime officials on diplomatic missions to Middle East countries in an effort to enlist their support in dealing with the International Criminal Court's accusations of war crimes against ...
July 21, 2008, 1:52 pm

7:14
Mideast Sees More of the Same if Obama Is Elected
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

From Jerusalem to Amman to Cairo, a sentiment is shared: the United States will ultimately support Israel over the Palestinians, no matter who the president is.

7:09
Kadima vote paves way to replace Olmert in September
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

Olmert reportedly calls Livni "a backstabbing liar;" FM: Corrupt politicians must pay with their office.

6:45
McCain, at Bush Home, Faults Obama on War Plan
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

John McCain told reporters that Barack Obama had “no military experience whatsoever,” as he hits his rival for being too green to be commander-in-chief.

6:39
A Rathergate Movie?
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

If they’re really going to make a movie about the Rathergate scandal, and base it on the ludicrous book by moonbat pseudo-journalist Mary Mapes, it’s going to be a bad joke.

The Media Mob has learned that a team of Hollywood insiders is currently working on a screen adaptation of Truth And Duty: The Press, the President, and the Privilege of Power—the 2005 book by former CBS News producer Mary Mapes, in which she defends the 60 Minutes II story by Dan Rather about President George W. Bush’s time in the Texas Air National Guard, which ran on CBS in September 2004 and eventually led to her ouster from the network.

Who would want to turn “Rathergate” into a feature-length film?

According to sources familiar with the situation, Producer Mikkel Bondesen, (his credits include serving as executive producer on the USA Network series “Burn Notice”) is actively working on the adaptation with screenwriter James Vanderbilt.

Mr. Vanderbilt wrote the screenplay for the 2007 serial killer movie Zodiac—based on the nonfiction book by Robert Graysmith—and is currently writing the screenplay for Spider-Man 4.

In the book, Ms. Mapes was highly critical of how her bosses at CBS and Viacom handled the aftermath of the wildly controversial story about President Bush’s military service. Along the way, she lays much of the groundwork for what could be a juicy White House conspiracy thriller.

“Money is the master,” wrote Ms. Mapes. “That is the bottom line to what happened at CBS that fateful fall when we aired a story that, like all stories, was imperfect, but was absolutely grounded in fact. It was well researched and well documented. But when Viacom saw that the story was not well received and that a conservative firestorm was threatening the corporation’s financial well-being, their collective wallets started itching. As a result, I believe CBS News, 60 Minutes, Dan Rather, and journalism itself got badly scratched.”

6:37
News Analysis: For Obama, a First Step Is Not a Misstep
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

After meeting Iraqi leaders and American officials, Senator Barack Obama seemed to have navigated the riskiest part of an international trip.

6:25
Elie Wiesel assault ruled a hate crime
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

New Jersey man convicted of anti-Semitic attack for accosting Nazi death camp survivor in hotel elevator.

6:17
Iran Offers 2 Pages and No Ground in Nuclear Talks
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

A two-page document that Iran distributed at nuclear talks in Geneva on Saturday ignored the demand on curbing Iran’s uranium enrichment and called for concessions from the other side.

6:11
'Decision on PM indictment very soon'
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

Lador says evidence to be handed to Mazuz shortly; Talansky loses more ground to Olmert's lawyers.
5:41
Olim can now get larger loans to start businesses
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

Startup now eligible for loans up to NIS 100,000; Finance Ministry adds NIS 7m. to budget.

5:24
SyriaComment.com: “Regional Players Bypass Washington In Brokering Deals,” by Jay Solomon
» ‎ Syria Planet

[Landis comment] Jay Solomon et. al,'s article (copied below) is excellent. My only nit to pick with it is the choice of ending with Walid Jumblatt's quote, "Where was America when Hezbollah took over in May?" The implication is that America should have done something. Solomon lets this criticism hang in the air - as if Jumblatt is correct and the US really should have sent troops to Lebanon to fight Hizbullah. I am sure Solomon does not believe that America's military footprint in the region is too small, but the WSJ is a conservative, Bush supporting newspaper. To criticize the Bush administration - even by pointing out that its ally, Jumblatt, was being completely unrealistic would be to ask too much.

The real criticism to be made of Washington is not that it has used too little military force or that it has drawn too few lines in the sand. On the contrary, Washington should never have led Jumblatt and Hariri down the garden path to believe that they could rely on US troops to defeat Hizbullah and Lebanon's other opposition parties. The US should have let Hariri, Jumblatt, and Siniora know early on that it could not defeat Hizbullah or overturn the Syrian regime on their behalf. Pumping them up in the false belief that the US would ride in with the cavalry was irresponsible and stupid. The March 14th forces were going to have to compromise sooner or later. Washington should not have been so naive as to think that brow beating, chest thumping, and moralizing by President Bush would magically make the most powerful forces in Lebanon cower in fear and disarm - especially not a militia like Hizbullah, which drove Israel out of Lebanon after 20 years of sacrifice and struggle and which stood up to Israel's full power in 2006 for over a month.
If anything, Solomon should have praised Hizbullah for its patience and sober restraint - normally an Israeli characteristic - for waiting 16 long months before pulling the plug on the March 14 forces. Instead, Solomon writes that "for nearly 16 months, Mr. Siniora's supporters refused to cave into demands by Hezbollah." Such praise only shows how far Washington has strayed from realism. As Bashar al-Asad said after the Doha agreement was signed, "The March 14 coalition could have signed the same agreement a year ago" and well they could have, without loss of life or the terrible economic price of letting the economy stagnate for 12 extra months. Instead, Siniora, Hariri, Geagea, Jumblatt and their American backers clung to a losing hand and refused to recognize the reality that was so clear once Israel had failed in 2006 to put a real dent into Hizbullah's power and supremacy in Lebanon. Hariri kept on repeating that Hizbullah and Lebanon's Christians led by Aoun intended to carry out a coup, but of course they did not. Quite the opposite, they wanted a compromise.

The reason they were so patient with the obstinate March 14 movement and the US was precisely because they did not want a coup. They did not want to use force to assert themselves. That is why they waited on Hariri and allies for so long. They waited until the Lebanese public were so fed up with political paralysis that they welcomed Hizbullah's move and the Doha agreement. They waited until Jumblatt made his fateful mistake and convinced Siniora to move against Hizbullah's security network, then in less than 12 hours Hizbullah and the Lebanese opposition pulled the plug on the March 14th government. They did not "take power" or carry out a "coup;" instead, they allowed Siniora to form a new government, giving the opposition the blocking third that they had insisted on for the better part of a year.
I am surprised that hard bitten Wall Street types who usually praise politicians and businessmen for knowing when to compromise are now siding with Jeronimo, or in Lebanon's case, Jumblatt. Does anyone really think that the US should have sent troops to Lebanon to keep Jumblatt from having to compromise with Nasrallah and Aoun?

(by the way - if anyone wants to know which Syrians are in town to meet with the State department, they are Daoudi, the lead negotiator with the Israelis in Ankara, Samir Taqi, the head of Syria's leading think tank, and Sami Moubayed, who needs no introduction to SC readers.)

Here is the WSJ article:

Mideast's Balance of Power Shifts Away From U.S.: Regional Players Bypass Washington In Brokering Deals
Wall Street Journal

By JAY SOLOMON in Washington, CAM SIMPSON in Jerusalem and FARNAZ FASSIHI in Beirut
July 21, 2008; Page A6
A handful of Middle East nations and groups are pursuing talks that are dramatically shifting the region's balance of power in ways that could undercut U.S. interests.

The various diplomatic efforts come as the Bush administration moderates its policy of isolating the governments of Iran, Syria and their regional allies. The State Department's point man on the Middle East is scheduled to meet this week with a delegation of Syrian academics and lawyers that includes the top legal adviser to the Syrian government team involved in indirect talks with Israel, according to Syrian officials.

And over the weekend, the State Department's third-ranking official met with European diplomats and Iranian officials as part of talks to restart negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program.

The weekend contact — the highest-level exchange between the two sides in years — ended inconclusively Saturday. Tehran refused to commit to halting its uranium-enrichment program in exchange for a set of economic incentives it was offered. European Union foreign-policy chief Javier Solana said negotiators gave Tehran another two weeks to respond more concretely.

Still, the presence in Geneva of William Burns, the U.S. under-secretary of state for political affairs, marked a significant course change in Washington's dealings with Iran.

It comes as regional players — both friends and foes of Washington — begin to work together to solve their own problems and those of their neighbors. The talks have supplanted what was once a key role for Washington: regional power broker.

As President George W. Bush's term in office approaches its end, his administration's diplomatic heft has predictably diminished. Washington's missteps in Iraq and Afghanistan have also sapped the region's confidence in the administration's vision. "In many ways, the countries in the region are looking past the Bush administration and seeking their own answers to the region's problems" said Imad Moustapha, Damascus's ambassador to the U.S., in an interview.

A collection of peacemakers, some unlikely, has stepped into the breach. In May, Qatar successfully pushed a peace deal in Lebanon that saw Iranian-backed Hezbollah gain extensive new political powers at the expense of Beirut's Western-backed government. Last month, Egypt brokered a military truce between Israel and the Palestinian faction Hamas, an Iranian ally that last year violently overran the Gaza Strip.

Turkey is mediating indirect peace talks between Israel and Syria. Even impoverished Yemen is getting in on the act, pushing for reconciliation between Hamas and rival faction Fatah.

Through the negotiations, say diplomats and analysts, Israel and Arab governments are positioning themselves for a shift in American foreign policy, no matter who wins November elections.

Hammering that home, Sen. Barak Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, is touring the Middle East this week. He has advocated stepped-up engagement with Iran and Syria.

"The U.S. administration is a lame duck, and regional players are working to serve their own interests," says Diaa Rashwan, a Cairo-based political analyst.

The State Department has denied that U.S. influence in the region is waning and said it welcomes the region's recent diplomatic efforts.

Israel, in particular, has seized the initiative from Washington. In recent weeks, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has moved to cut deals aimed at easing every national-security threat along Israel's borders, though Mr. Olmert may be too politically weak at home to see any of the deals through.

But his efforts come after Israel's once-unquestionable regional military superiority has been severely tested. In 2006, Hezbollah fighters bogged down a larger and more advanced Israeli army during a month-long battle in Lebanon. And Israeli military incursions into the Hamas-held Gaza Strip failed to dislodge rocket-firing militants.

In May, Israel said it was indirectly negotiating a peace deal with Syria, which, along with Iran, is a key supporter of both Hezbollah and Hamas. Last month, Israel agreed to a cease-fire with Hamas.

At the same time, Israel has sent much stronger signals than the U.S. about possible military intervention against Tehran. Last month, U.S. officials said Israel had conducted military exercises that appeared to be training for a possible attack against Iran.

U.S. officials are preparing a package of economic sanctions they hope they can push through the United Nations if Tehran fails to take up new talks on halting its nuclear program.

Perhaps no Middle East country has been the beneficiary of the region's diplomatic moves more than Syria. In March, U.S. allies Saudi Arabia and Egypt snubbed the country by refusing to send high-level representation to an Arab League summit in Damascus. The U.S. Treasury in February initiated a string of unilateral sanctions against some of Syrian President Bashar Assad's closest political and business allies. The U.S. and France, meanwhile, were closely working to limit Syria's political influence inside Lebanon.

Today, Syria has largely emerged from its diplomatic isolation. Mr. Assad was welcomed in Paris this month by President Nicolas Sarkozy. The two leaders talked about enhancing economic and strategic ties.

Damascus and Jerusalem are set to enter a second-round of Turkey-brokered talks to resolve their dispute over the Golan Heights this month. And many world leaders praised Syria's role in promoting a political pact for Lebanon in May.

Amid that backdrop, the State Department's point man on the Middle East, Assistant Secretary of State David Welch, is set to meet top Syrian academics and attorneys this week, according to Syrian officials. Mr. Welch's planned session is raising hopes Washington may more aggressively support the Damascus-Jerusalem peace track. The State Department didn't comment on the meetings.

Mr. Moustapha, Syria's ambassador, said the Bush administration's willingness to meet the Syrian delegation is a step in the right direction.

If Syria has gained the most from Washington's diplomatic absence, the West-backed government of Lebanese President Fuad Siniora appears to have lost out more than others.

In 2006, Israel launched a war in Lebanon, largely in response to the capture by Hezbollah of two Israeli army reservists in a cross-border raid.

The fighting ended inconclusively after 34 days, but Hezbollah's reputation for resistance against Israel soared. The Shiite political group — designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. — led a boycott of Mr. Siniora's coalition government.

For nearly 16 months, Mr. Siniora's supporters refused to cave into demands by Hezbollah for major concessions in a new government. When Mr. Siniora tried to crack down on the group in May the group took to the streets.

Qatar's emir stepped in. He pushed both sides to accept a deal that reinstalled Mr. Siniora as prime minister but also gave the Hezbollah-led opposition veto power.

"Where was America when Hezbollah took over in May?" complained Walid Jumblatt, the leader of the Lebanese Druze sect and an ally of the U.S.

–Mariam Fam in San'a, Yemen, and Margaret Coker in Abu Dhabi contributed to this article.

Write to Jay Solomon at jay.solomon@wsj.com,

5:23
Nancy Pelosi, How Do You Plead?
» ‎ Wake Up From Your Slumber - The Truth Will Set You Free

Nancy Pelosi was secretly briefed on
read more

5:22
Police allegedly stopped only 'Ethiopian' drivers
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

Witnesses tell Post dozens of drivers of Ethiopian descent pulled over only because of skin color.

5:17
The Week that America Woke Up to the Economic Crisis
» ‎ Wake Up From Your Slumber - The Truth Will Set You Free
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read more
	
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5:04
Radovan Karadzic arrested in Serbia
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

Ex-Bosnian Serb leader accused of masterminding Europe's worst massacre since World War II.

5:02
Mohammad Online: من فينا المعاق ؟
» ‎ Syria Planet

شاب سوري أنهى مرحلته الثانوية بامتياز و لكنه تعرض لحادث مأساوي أفقده القدرة على الحركة كليا باستثناء عينيه و لسانه فقط، و استطاع رغم إعاقته الشديدة و عبر جهاز ماوس خاص يحركه عن طريق لسانه من الإبداع في مجال الحاسب و البرمجة بكفاءة لا يقدر عليها أصحاب العقول و الاجسام الطبيعية. و طفلين سعوديين معاقين لا [...]

4:23
Obama tour
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

The BBC follows the Democratic hopeful on his world trip

4:17
Indicted war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic captured ...
» ‎ War and Piece

Indicted war crimes suspect Radovan Karadzic captured in Serbia. "Mr. Karadzics place of arrest was not announced, but Serbian government officials said Mr. Karadzic had been arrested by the Serbian secret police at a site not far from Belgrade, Serbias...

4:14
Death wish?
» ‎ Israel Matzav

I knew that Ahmadinejad was seeking to bring about an apocalypse that would bring the Twelfth Imam and that he was willing to sacrifice half his country in the process to destroy Israel (God forbid). But if this article is correct, Ahmadinejad may be seeking to bring about a little bit of death and destruction in his country for a whole different reason. At The Moderate Voice, Brij Khindaria

3:54
'UK to lead fight against nuclear Iran'
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

In Knesset address, British PM says: "For the whole of my life, I have counted myself as a friend of Israel."
3:51
Analysis: Brown's (endearingly mis)pronounced friendship
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

The British premier's mangled Hebrew barely distracted from his pronouncements, which were notable, too.

3:50
McCain: 'United States of America can never allow a second Holocaust'
» ‎ Israel Matzav

With Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Hussein Obama due to arrive in Israel on Tuesday, Republican Presidential candidate John Sidney McCain took to Israel's airwaves on Monday night. In an interview with Israel's Channel 2 (commercial) television, McCain promised Israel that the United States would never allow a second Holocaust to take place (Hat Tip: Hot Air). Asked about Israel

3:44
Arafat Developed Gaza Missile Capability
» ‎ IRIS Blog

Who would have thought that Yassir Arafat would renege on multiple agreements pledging non-violence and demilitarization?

PLO Official Abbas Zaki: When the Palestinian Authority returned to Gaza [in 1994], Hamas did not have even 20 guns, weapons, and Fatah did not have even 100 guns. Abu Ammar, Allah's mercy upon him, flooded everybody with weapons, and sent our experts to produce missiles and weapons for whoever who wanted to fight. One of our people, General Abd Al-Mu'ti Al-Sab'awi, was martyred when he was making a rocket for them and it went off. He was developing missiles for them. Unfortunately, they [Hamas] have turned their backs on us now.

Note the admission that Arafat "flooded everybody with weapons," belying the taqiyya that the various terror groups were at odds.

At the time, advocates of the Oslo Peace Process were using the argument "given how bad things are now, how could it get any worse?" Imagine a Gaza with less than 100 pistols in terrorist hands...

3:30
David Irving Spreads Holocaust Denial in US
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

No one seems to be asking the important question: who’s responsible for letting scumbag Holocaust denier David Irving give a speech at a Catholic church on the Upper East Side of Manhattan? Upper East Side Church Hosts a Holocaust Denier.

A Holocaust-denying historian appeared this month at an Upper East Side church, where he reiterated his claim that the Holocaust never happened.

David Irving, 70, spoke Wednesday at St. Stephen of Hungary Parish, a Catholic church on East 82nd Street. A clergyman there said the church was not aware of Mr. Irving’s views on the Holocaust and was told that a small group wanted the space to discuss a book.

“We had no idea whatsoever, and in fact they never told us the nature of their meeting,” Father Eric Carpine told The New York Sun. “We would never sponsor anyone who would ... discriminate against people.”

For some reason, the hardest of the hard left moonbats are opposed to Irving and his nonsense. Anarchist site infoshop.com has this account of the event from protesters:

Initially canceled at its original venue due to a phone jam initiated by Anti-Racist Action, Holocaust revisionist David Irving was able to dupe yet another New York City venue into hosting his hateful speaking tour. However, thanks to the great investigative work of members of Anti-Racist Action and our friends, we were able to properly greet David Irving and his fascist guests when they arrived at their back-up location - St. Stephen of Hungary Parish, 414 East 82nd.

Even with only about 10 hours notice, ARA was able to pull together a counter-demonstration outside the church and expose David Irving for the fascist, hateful neo-Nazi scumbag that he is.

Early Wednesday morning, Irving had announced that he would be speaking at Primavera Restaurant, 1578 1st Ave. Calls to the restaurant resulted in ARA realizing that Irving was just using Primavera as a meet-up location, and that the restaurant was not complicit in booking the Holocaust denier.

Arriving outside Primavera Restaurant at 6:30pm, we immediately noticed two people redirecting people from the restaurant to a location down the street. Not being very bright, these two Irving supporters were more then happy to inform ARA members were the talk was actually happening. We proceeded down the block to St. Stephen of Hungary Parish, but not before confronting the redirect people - taking their clipboard and fliers, and chasing them away from outside of the restaurant.

With that taken care of, we then concentrated our efforts on the church. Immediately upon arriving at the church, we took down the signs outside announcing Irving’s lecture, closed the doors and positioned ourselves in front of the entrance.

As the first people began to arrive, we informed them that the David Irving event had been canceled. Some people tried to force their way past us, all with no results. One person - so angered by our presence - resorted to pushing and shoving and typical neo-Nazi insults - “communist,” “homosexual” and so on. He even (tried) to grab at the camera we were using to take the picture of every person entering the event, and when that did not work, he (tried) spitting on him.

Wow. For once I find myself on the same side as infoshop.com. Mark this day in the record books.

But I’d still like to know who’s behind this US tour for a Holocaust denier. Irving’s not doing this by himself.

2:35
Weblog of a Syrian Diplomat in America: Bayan and Maya in Washington
» ‎ Syria Planet

Last month was the season for family visits. First came Bayan, Rafif’s brother and stayed with us for ten days, then came Maya, my sister, and stayed with us for a month. The score between me and Rafif was even: a blow for a blow. Bayan took this opportunity to visit Florida and New York as well. In Florida he had a medical conference he was participating in, and in New York he met with a number of his friends from Syria and spent some great time with each other. Despite the fact that he belongs to the enemy’s camp,...

2:03
DoD News: Contracts for July 21, 2008
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:03
Duke Field Airmen drop last 15,000-pound bomb
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:03
Top acquisition official & Tanker acquisition
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:03
Iraq Ops Update
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:03
AQ Khan Banned from Discussing Nuclear Proliferation
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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1:55
Shin Bet probes 'settler rocket fire'
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

Palestinians claim residents of Har Bracha and Yitzhar fired 2 projectiles into fields near Nablus.

1:46
U.S. Government Offers Evan Kohlmann As Expert in Hamdan Trial
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

The Hamdan trial began today at Gitmo - you can see a list of government exhibits at this Defense Department website. In one exhibit (500+ pages), the government offers Evan Kohlmann as an expert witness, along with the film he produced, The al Qaida Plan:
"Mr. Kohlmann will testify regarding the existence of facts to establish an armed conflict with al Qaeda during the charged period. This is an element of the charged offenses. Also, Mr. Kohlmann will be needed to confront the anticipated affirmative defense of lawful combatancy. The Defense has proffered, and the Military Judge has ruled that the accused may raise the defense of lawful combatancy, with respect to the accused. Through subsequent pleadings the Defense has narrowed the issue to whether the accused was operating as a “supply contractor” to a lawful fighting force operating near the city of Kandahar specifically the Taliban or “Ansars.” The Defense will put on expert testimony that the “Ansars” were a legitimate lawful fighting force. Mr. Kohlmann’s broad knowledge of al Qaeda and the transnational jihad movement is needed to confront this assertion.

Thus, Mr. Kohlmann must also prepare to rebut the Defense that this loose group of individuals (most of which are terrorists) that comprised the “Ansars” were not lawful combatants as defined under the Geneva conventions. Mr. Kolhman will rebut Dr. Williams and his testimony during the jurisdictional hearing that may be offered during the trial on the merits and will provide expert testimony on the so-called "Ansars" and/or the so-called "55th Brigade" as well as the role of the Taliban and other transnational fighters, jihadists and other fighters.

Mr. Kohlmann will offer expert factual testimony on the nature of these groups, whether factually they meet the elements of a lawful fighting force under the law of war and their historic acts of violence and terrorism that is antithetical to a lawful fighting force."

1:42
McCain: US won't allow 2nd Holocaust
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

Ahead of Obama's arrival, analyst cites "deep differences" between candidates' approaches to ME.
1:32
US official to meet Syrian negotiator
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

Washington downplays suggestions of further shift in US attitudes toward Middle Eastern adversaries.

1:24
Maysaloon:
» ‎ Syria Planet

Brown's arrogance is breathtaking as he stands like a pompous peacock in the Israeli Knesset, proclaiming his everlasting and undying love for the Zionist state. What I find amusing are his threats to Iran, made from the typically racist and colonial perspective that still permeates what is left of Britains tired "Establishment". The term Establishment means to me a washed out group of City Boys and financiers, over-educated at elitist establishments and imbibed with misplaced delusions of grandeur and their own self-importance. They still think that they have a say over the 'natives' of the Middle East, that they are smarter, stronger and more just in their cause. This misguided mockery of righteousness props up popular perceptions about the farce called the "international community" which is really the former colonial countries who have now graciously allowed some brown or yellow people to sit at their table sometimes. The poor buffoons, they still don't realise that the days of Empire are long dead.

1:03
Hitchens: The Blind Salamander
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Christopher Hitchens (yes, everyone knows he’s an unabashed atheist) makes an excellent point about a certain species of cave-dwelling salamander, related to a topic that keeps showing up in The LGF Creationism Cage Match—the evolution of the eye: How blind salamanders make nonsense of creationists’ claims.

Or in this case, the devolution of the eye, to adapt to an environment where vision is unnecessary for—even detrimental to—survival.

It is extremely seldom that one has the opportunity to think a new thought about a familiar subject, let alone an original thought on a contested subject, so when I had a moment of eureka a few nights ago, my very first instinct was to distrust my very first instinct. To phrase it briefly, I was watching the astonishing TV series Planet Earth (which, by the way, contains photography of the natural world of a sort that redefines the art) and had come to the segment that deals with life underground. The subterranean caverns and rivers of our world are one of the last unexplored frontiers, and the sheer extent of the discoveries, in Mexico and Indonesia particularly, is quite enough to stagger the mind. Various creatures were found doing their thing far away from the light, and as they were caught by the camera, I noticed—in particular of the salamanders—that they had typical faces. In other words, they had mouths and muzzles and eyes arranged in the same way as most animals. Except that the eyes were denoted only by little concavities or indentations. Even as I was grasping the implications of this, the fine voice of Sir David Attenborough was telling me how many millions of years it had taken for these denizens of the underworld to lose the eyes they had once possessed.

If you follow the continuing argument between the advocates of Darwin’s natural selection theory and the partisans of creationism or “intelligent design,” you will instantly see what I am driving at. The creationists (to give them their proper name and to deny them their annoying annexation of the word intelligent) invariably speak of the eye in hushed tones. How, they demand to know, can such a sophisticated organ have gone through clumsy evolutionary stages in order to reach its current magnificence and versatility?

Read the whole thing.

By the way, I also recommend the BBC Planet Earth documentary. I have the Blu-ray version and it’s one of the best films of its type ever made.

0:47
Maysaloon:
» ‎ Syria Planet

Three people constantly pop up when Fisk writes a story: Jumblatt, Abed (his driver), and 2nd Lieutenant Bill Fisk. To say I'm a little bit bored of reading about them is an understatement.

0:39
Open warfare
» ‎ Israel Matzav

Prime Minister Ehud K. Olmert has decided that if he can't be Prime Minister anymore, he will at least make sure that Foreign Minister Tzipi Feigele the Failure Livni (the woman who would be Prime Minister who thinks she's Golda Meir) doesn't get the job either. Monday night, Olmert launched an unprecedented personal attack on Livni. And I must admit - nearly all of it is true. Olmert unleashed

0:11
GlobalVoices Online - Syria: Syria: Nudity and Moral Decay
» ‎ Syria Planet

How much nudity on television can be considered as art, and how much of it contributes to moral decay? Syrian blogger Emad [Ar] tries to answer this question in the following post:

بحجة الفن اصبحنا نرى التعري على شاشاتنا العربيه دون ان نستطيع التكلم لأنه عند السؤال عن المشاهد (الساخنه)التي نراها يبررها اصحابها بأنها معالجه للواقع المؤلم او انها شرح لما يدور في مجتمعاتنا

لكن التسميه الحقيقيه لها هي (انحلال اخلاقي وتعري فاضح) وبعد ذلك تصبح بطلة الفيلم او المسلسل سيدة مجتمع وقدوه للكثير من الفتيات وعند حديثها في اي مقابله نرى كل الاحترام والتقدير من المشاهدين الكرام لجهودها المبذوله في سبيل الفن

وفي المقابلات والسهرات التلفزيونيه التي نشاهدها نرى بأن الفنانه الفلانيه تاخذ دور السيده الفاضله في المجتمع الفاضل وتبدأ بالتكلم عن الاخلاقيات والاصول والاتيكيت وكأنها (الامرأه المثاليه)

والمؤسف في الامر هو انه عند مشاهدة هكذا افلام وخصوصا من قبل الفئه الاكبر في مجتمعاتنا وهي الفئه (المكبوته والمنغلقه) نرى ان معظم الفتيات ينظرون الى العالم الخارجي من خلال ما يشاهدونه في هذا المسلسل او ذاك الفيلم مما يسبب الكثير من الانحلال الاخلاقي عند اعطاء الحريه لهذا النوع من الفتيات اللواتي يحسبن انهن بهذه الطريقه وهذه التصرفات سيكونون ……….سيدات المجتمع

Using art as an excuse, we now see nudity on Arabic television screens without being able to object against the 'steaming' scenes which we watch and its producers describe as ‘dealing with the harsh realities and describing what's really happening in our societies.'

The real description of what we watch on television is unethical behaviour and disgraceful nudity. After that, the heroine in the movie or soap opera becomes a lady of society and a role model for many girls, who appears on television interviews and enjoys the respect and appreciation of viewers for the efforts she exerts to promote art. In such interviews, she embodies the role of a respectable lady of society, and talks about ethics, etiquette and family origins, as is she were the model woman.

What is unfortunate in this is that the large majority of people who watch such programmes as those who are downtrodden and live in closed societies. This is why you see a lot of girls viewing the outside world through what they see in this soap opera or that movie. This causes a lot of moral decay, especially when such girls, who think that behaving in this manner will enable them to become ladies of society, are given their freedom.

0:06
Barak slams conduct of Nil'in shooter
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

Troops write letter lambasting officer involved in shooting of unarmed, bound Palestinian in W. Bank.

0:00
Israeli PM's party set for Sept. leadership vote
» ‎ Alarabiya.net English | Middle East

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's centrist Kadima party has voted to change its charter to pave the way for a September primary that could replace him, the party said on Tuesday. The decision was won by a narrow vote Monday night, with just 91 of the 180 members of the party's central

July 21, 2008
23:52
The last laugh?
» ‎ Israel Matzav

Before he gets around to suggesting that Israel will eventually kill Samir al-Kuntar, Daniel Pipes has some sobering words that ought to give pause to all Israelis. PRIME MINISTER Ehud Olmert endorsed the deal on the grounds that it "will bring an end to this painful episode," a reference to retrieving the bodies of war dead and appeasing the hostages' families demand for closure. In themselves,

23:35
Pat Condell: Islam is Not a Victim
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

“But let’s not be too negative here. Occasionally, just occasionally, a small oasis of sanity does emerge from this desert of bollock-brained Islamic appeasement.”
[Video]

A Peek into Others' mind » July 21, 2008

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