A Peek into Others' mind » July 23, 2008

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(116 unread)

July 24, 2008
7:50
State 'launders' funding of yeshivot
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

Law legitimizes previously illegal funding of schools not teaching core subjects such as math, English.

7:05
Is Petraeus Preparing to Betray the Neo-Cons?
» ‎ LobeLog.com

The Wall Street Journal had a good news piece today on where things are going with respect to a U.S. withdrawal — at least of combat troops — from Iraq entitled “Consensus May be Nearing on Iraq Pullout: Target Year of 2010 Gains Some Traction Among Principals as U.S. Looks Toward Afghanistan.” I would add that, in addition to Obama, the Bush administration and now even the McCain Campaign, it appears that Gen. David Petraeus, who will take over as CentCom commander some time around Sep 1, is also preparing the ground for a move in that direction, suggesting in a Sunday interview with AP that al-Qaeda may “start to provide some of those resources that would have come to Iraq to Pakistan, possibly Afghanistan.”

“We do think that there is some assessment ongoing [by al-Qaeda] as to the continued viability of [its] fight in Iraq,” he said. “There is some intelligence that has picked this up,” he went on, adding, “It’s not solid gold intelligence.”

In fact, of course, evidence that al-Qaeda and its allies have shifted their focus back to Afghanistan and, more important from a strategic point of view, Pakistan has been accumulating for much of the past year; hence, Mullen’s and Gates’ increasing and increasingly vocal agitation about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan and the growing influence and infrastructure of al Qaeda and Taliban forces across the border in Pakistan. In the two weeks before Petraeus’ interview, AP, the always-excellent Christian Science Monitor, and the New York Times published articles providing detailed evidence that al-Qaeda made its assessment some months ago and has been acting on it by sending many more fighters to Southwest Asia, including Iraq war veterans. That Petraeus says that he believes al-Qaeda is only now making its assessment suggests the degree to which, as U.S. commander in Iraq, he has been focused exclusively on that theater and has fought tooth and nail against the Pentagon’s desire to accelerate its drawdown in troops there in order to free up more for Afghanistan.

Now, however, as commander-designate of Centcom, southwest Asia is about to become his responsibility, and he most certainly doesn’t want to lose — or be perceived as losing — there any more than he has in Iraq. In that respect, I think he is preparing to join the consensus, a consensus that, significantly, embraces the concept — pushed hard by Obama in recent days — that Afghanistan/Pakistan really does constitute the “central front” in the war on terror. (He may also believe that Obama is going to the next president and that continuing to insist that Iraq is the “central front” might be detrimental to his long-term career goals.) If Petraeus does indeed move into the Southwest Asia camp, it will mark a huge setback for the neo-conservatives — whose Israel-centered agenda has accorded paramount priority to the Middle East and the Gulf — and whatever residual hopes they harbor for a U.S. attack on Iran. Tehran’s capacity to cause trouble in Afghanistan and even Pakistan is considerable, and I think that is one reason why Mullen and Gates have pushed for dialogue and detente.

7:00
'Talibanized' dance troupe to sue J'lem
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

Group's lawyer to sue municipality for NIS 0.5 million over forcing dancers to cover hair during show.

6:42
Iraqi Measure on Provincial Voting Is Vetoed
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

Iraq’s president sent legislation on provincial elections back to lawmakers for revisions as political leaders continued to try to strike a deal that would allow the vote to be held this year.

6:41
The Syria News Wire: Human remains reach Syria - from Israel
» ‎ Syria Planet

114 coffins have been paraded in Damascus, a week after being released by Israel.

They are mainly Syrian and Palestinian fighters and civilians, killed over the past 40 years. They were transferred by the Red Cross over the Israeli-Lebanese border to Hizbollah last week as part of the prisoner swap.

Today, they were brought in slow-moving vehicles from Lebanon into Syria to be buried in their final resting place. Hundreds of relatives greeted the coffins - draped in the Syrian flag - at the Jedayda crossing on the Beirut-Damascus highway.

Even though some of the victims were civilian - they did not receive the attention that the two dead Israeli militants got last week.

5:57
UK Court Rejects Muslim Cleric's US Extradition Appeal
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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5:57
Bin Laden Driver Said to Have Known 9/11 Target
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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5:57
Iraq Ops Update
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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5:57
NATO, Afghan Forces Offensive in E Afghanistan
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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5:57
Afghanistan Ops Update
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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5:57
DoD News: Contracts for July 23, 2008
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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5:57
07/23/08 DoD News Briefing
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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5:35
SyriaComment.com:
» ‎ Syria Planet

Here is a silly proposal, which, in essence, counsels Washington not to change a thing in its Syria policy. Keep on pressuring Syria to change its behavior without promising a thing - that is what Bergman advises. The one piece of realism he has to offer is that the Israeli public does not want to give back the Golan under any circumstances, therefore, it would be stupid of Washington its regional policy on the notion that it can count on concessions from Syria in exchange for helping it get back the Golan. This may be true, but it is precisely why the US must get behind peace negotiations. If America pressures and bribes Israel — uses a carrot and stick — the Israelis will realize that it is not too much of a sacrifice to give back the Golan to its legal owners. Israelis are not stupid; they value good relations with the US and International Community. Allowing Israel to continue to flaunt international law because it is unpopular is not a foreign policy that the US should condone even if "Middle East Experts" such as Bergman say it is a wise thing. Realism must rule in engaging Syria By Michael Bergman July 23, 2008
THE DEBATE over whether or not to engage Syria is once again center stage this week as a Syrian delegation visits Washington for talks with American officials and academics. Syria's enthusiasm for engaging the next American administration offers the incoming president an opportunity to influence Syrian behavior. The next president would be ill advised to aim this silver bullet on an Israeli-Syrian peace treaty unlikely to be realized. Instead, the United States should aim at getting Syria to end its meddling in neighboring Lebanon and its support for Hezbollah militants.

President Bashar al-Assad is already positioning Syria toward a new administration. American forces have confirmed his cooperation along the Syria-Iraq border, and he is now engaging in indirect negotiations with Israel. He appears to be temporarily moderating his country's negative intervention in Lebanon's internal processes.

Engaging the United States inevitably risks new tension between Damascus and Tehran even without an American precondition of severing relations with Iran. Yet the Syrians seem eager to engage. While such engagement clearly offers mutual gains, it raises the question: What should America ask from Syria in their negotiations?

Many policy analysts argue that the "low-hanging fruit" is an Israeli-Syrian peace treaty. They recommend requiring Syria to actively pursue a peace treaty with Israel in return for full US engagement and resumption of full diplomatic relations. This strategy makes sense: a historic peace between Israel and Syria will significantly reduce the risk of a regional conflict and will destabilize the functions of Palestinian resistance movements headquartered in Damascus.

However, a look at the political dynamics in Israel reveals that such an agreement would not be imminent. The Israeli Parliament is considering a law that will require the government to bring any agreement pertaining to a withdrawal from the Golan Heights to a national referendum.

The issue of relinquishing the Golan Heights encounters three significant barriers. The first is a strong grass-roots lobby on behalf of Israel maintaining the Golan. The second is a lack of urgency in the Israeli public to resolve this dispute due to the absence of an occupied population in this area - significantly different from the approach to the West Bank. The third, and perhaps most important, is that the Israeli public views a withdrawal from the Golan as a significant security risk. Ingredients, no doubt, for nonagreement.

The Israeli prime minister, realizing he cannot pass a treaty in a national referendum, may avoid completing the negotiations - similar to Prime Minister Ehud Barak in 1999. Worse, there could be a treaty that fails to be ratified by the Israeli public. Either way, Syria will be able to circumvent blame, while gaining full relations with the United States.

Taking a broader look at Syrian interests might offer better opportunities for the United States. Syrian leaders have other items of higher priority on their agenda before a peace agreement with Israel. More important for them is regaining their dominance over Lebanon and breaking out of their international isolation through full engagement with the United States.

The United States should approach Assad with a different formula: Syria must choose between its top priorities. If Assad wants to pursue domination over Lebanon and his support for Hezbollah, he should find no friend in Washington. However, if he wants to engage the United States, he would need to end the weapons flow to Hezbollah, demarcate his borders with Lebanon, and establish full diplomatic relations with it - treating it as a fully sovereign state.

Negotiations will not be easy. The Syrians are not eager to "give up" their attempts at domination over Lebanon. But using the leverage of a US-Syrian relationship is the best way to achieve this American interest.

At the same time, the United States should make clear to both Syria and Israel that it will support negotiations and a peace treaty between the two countries. America should even be willing to back an agreement with resources and guarantees, if needed. But it must be made clear that negotiations and a resulting agreement are for Syria and Israel to pursue.

Michael Bergman is a Middle East analyst.

Can Lebanon's March 14 Reverse the Tide?
By David Schenker
July 23, 2008

This week, Lebanon's new national unity government is slated to announce its ministerial statement (bayan waziri), the policy document that will define Beirut's working parameters and agenda through the spring 2009 elections. For the pro-West majority March 14 coalition, the priority will be to incorporate into the statement a reference to UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701, which prohibits weapons movement to Hizballah and expands government sovereignty throughout Lebanon. Hizballah, for its part, will look to maintain the legitimacy of "the resistance." Although March 14 still maintains a government majority, three years of hostility and self-inflicted wounds have left the ruling party dramatically weakened, making it unclear whether the coalition will be able to prevent Hizballah from consolidating further political gains…..

Relations with Syria
Another focus of the negotiations is the future disposition of Lebanese-Syrian relations. March 14 leaders state that that they seek "good relations between Syria and Lebanon as two independent countries." In the aftermath of Kuntar's release, March 14 officials have also argued that the statement should refer to the Lebanese "missing" who are presumed to be in Syria. According to Support of Lebanese in Detention and Exile (SOLIDE), 643 Lebanese have been imprisoned by Damascus since the 1970s. The Lebanese parliamentary committee charged with investigating these detainees believes ninety-one remain alive.

March 14 leaders have also been adamant in their demand that the Syrian-Lebanese border be demarcated. In addition, another March 14 leader, Walid Jumblatt, has stated that the Higher Syria-Lebanon Council — a Syrian tool to manipulate Lebanon's defense and foreign policies — be abolished and its agreements abrogated. Damascus and its ally Hizballah oppose these demands, however, so it is unlikely that these points will reach the final text.

National Dialogue — Again?
Reports this week suggest that the new ministerial statement could be released as early as today. Yesterday, however, Lebanese press reports pointed to snags in the talks over bilateral relations with Syria and the weapons of the "resistance." If March 14 and the Hizballah-led opposition do not find acceptable language in the coming days, the most contentious issues will be referred to a national dialogue chaired by President Suleiman. Given the precedent of ineffective Lebanese national dialogues, this "solution" promises to be a prescription for deferred conflict (see PolicyWatch #1089).

Regardless of the outcome of the ministerial statement, it will constitute at best only a temporary ceasefire in the battle between the March 14 coalition and the opposition. While the compromise nature of the document will ensure that no party is entirely satisfied, it will also leave critical questions about Lebanon's future unresolved. No doubt, many Lebanese will breathe a sigh of relief when the statement is published, and start to look forward to the parliamentary elections — and a new government — next spring. But given developments of recent months, a weak statement will offer little comfort for March 14 and its constituent groups. Instead of providing a respite, these groups will likely focus on preparing — arming and training — for the inevitable next round with Hizballah.

David Schenker is director of the Program on Arab Politics at The Washington Institute.

5:32
Blast from the Past: vintage WWII Disney cartoon says if you don't pay income tax, you are a NAZI!
» ‎ Wake Up From Your Slumber - The Truth Will Set You Free

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4:22
FM Livni Was a Mossad Housesitter
» ‎ IRIS Blog

Tzipi Livni, the leading contender for head of Kadima, has kept silent as news reports presented her as 'a Paris agent for the Mossad' who 'traveled throughout Europe in pursuit of Arab terrorists.'

Here's the truth:

According to the report, Livni served in Mossad between 1980 and 1984, between the ages of 22 and 26.

Livni, according to Hasson, was hired to live in a Paris apartment simply so that the property would not remain empty. Intelligence agencies customarily hire low level agents to man apartments abroad so as not to raise municipalities' suspicions in case the properties remain abandoned and unused. Such agents need only to generate monthly utility bills to create the appearance that there is an active resident in the property.

After her sojourn in Paris, Livni returned to Israel to participate in a course which would qualify her as a field operative. While she was successful in the course, she did not conclude it, leaving the training - and the agency - in order to marry.

Unusually, Mossad issued a response corroborating Hasson's findings.

Of course, the "Mossad terrorist hunter" label appears in her Wikipedia entry, a page with which she herself is no doubt very familiar.

4:10
The Creation Museum
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Before we get to the real point of this post, here’s some background information on the Creation Museum in Kentucky:

The Creation Museum is a 60,000 square foot museum in the United States designed to promote young Earth creationism. The museum presents an account of the origins of the universe, life, mankind, and man’s early history according to a literal reading of the book of Genesis. Its exhibits reject evolution and assert that the Earth and all of its life forms were created 6000 years ago over a six-day period, and that man and dinosaurs once coexisted.

These views disagree with well in excess of 99.9% of the scientists in relevant fields. Also, the museum exhibits are at odds with the vast majority of scientists who accept that the Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old, and that the dinosaurs became extinct 65.5 million years before human beings arose. The museum has generated criticism by the scientific community, several groups of educators, Christian groups opposed to young Earth creationism, and in the general press.

The museum, which is said to have cost $27 million, is privately-funded through donations to the apologetics ministry Answers in Genesis and opened its doors to the public on May 28, 2007. Based on projections, the museum anticipated 250,000 paying visitors in its first year of operation. According to AiG, within its first month attendance surpassed 100,000 visitors by July 21, 2007 and 200,000 visitors on September 20, 2007. Visitor attendance also exceeded first year expectations only 5 months and 5 days after opening, with a total of 250,000 visitors on November 2, 2007.

The museum was originally marketed as the Creation Museum and Family Discovery Center. It opened in late Spring of 2007 as the “Creation Museum.” The museum is located in Petersburg, Kentucky, near the Greater Cincinnati International Airport on 49 acres of land; the Answers in Genesis main offices are attached to the museum. The facility’s stated mission is to “exalt Jesus Christ as Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer,” to “equip Christians to better evangelize the lost,” and to “challenge visitors to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.”

According to the founder of Answers in Genesis, Ken Ham, “One of the main reasons we moved there was because we are within one hour’s flight of 69 per cent of America’s population.” Ham also explains how the idea of the museum originated: “Australia’s not really the place to build such a facility if you’re going to reach the world. Really, America is.” Previously Ham worked for the Institute for Creation Research, which runs a creationist museum in Santee, California, with free admission.

With that introduction, a reader emailed a link to a Flickr photo essay by “astropop,” who visited the Creation Museum with a good camera and a good eye.

Here we see an animatronic cave girl happily coexisting with an animatronic vegetarian allosaur.

Here’s a slideshow of all the pictures. I recommend absorbing the entire message.

3:42
Al-Jazeera Celebrates Child Murderer
» ‎ IRIS Blog

Remember as you read this that al-Jazeera is treated as a mainstream Arab news source throughout the West:

Following are excerpts from a birthday party organized by Al-Jazeera TV for released Lebanese terrorist Samir Al-Quntar. Al-Jazeera TV aired this segment on July 19, 2008

Interviewer: Brother Samir, we would like to celebrate your birthday with you. You deserve even more than this. I think that 11,000 prisoners if they can see this program now are celebrating your birthday with you. Happy birthday, brother Samir.

Samir Al-Quntar: Thank you.

Interviewer: Go ahead... There is a picture here... If the camera can show this... Lets cut it... Does the camera show this clearly or not? We have a picture here... This is the sword of the Arabs, Samir. Dont cut the picture, cut on the side.

Samir Al-Quntar: Heres Abu Qassam [Marwan Barghouti].

Interviewer: Marwan is here.

Samir Al-Quntar: Abu Qassam is here with Ahmad Sadat. Thats our prison warden...

Interviewer: This one?

Samir Al-Quntar: Yes.

Interviewer: What is the wardens name?

Samir Al-Quntar: His name is... Never mind.

Interviewer: This is when you were released. Here you are with Wafiq Safa.

Samir Al-Quntar: Yes, this is Wafiq Safa. This is the most beautiful picture with Hassan Nasrallah. This is the most beautiful picture. There cannot be anything more beautiful. Me and the secretary-general the most beautiful picture of me ever taken.

Here is a video of the birthday party...

3:33
'US generals in Israel in turf battle'
» ‎ JPost.com Front Page Top Stories

Defense officials cite power struggles between Gen. (Ret.) James Jones and Lt. -Gen. Keith Dayton.

2:53
Transcript: DoD News Briefing
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:51
UN, Hezbollah & Terms for More Prisoner Exchanges
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:51
Turkey Detains 26 in Alleged Coup Plot
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

Turkish authorities have detained 26 people suspected of involvement in plots to overthrow the country's Islamic-leaning government.
2:50
Arrest of Karadzic: Why Now and Who's Next?
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:50
Colombia's Defense Minister & Talks with Rebels
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:50
Somalis Press UNSC to Send International Force
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:48
Israeli forces (humiliate?) Palestinian car loaded with bomb
» ‎ IMRA Middle East News Updates

Border Guard officers intercept car carrying explosives near Jenin
Efrat Weiss YNET Published: 07.23.08, 16:19 / Israel News
www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3572251,00.html

Border Guard officers operating near the West Bank city of Jenin intercepted
a car carrying a 24lbs explosive device. Three suspects riding in the car
fled the scene.

The device was detonated by police sappers.

2:48
NATO, Afghan Forces Offensive in E Afghanistan
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:47
UK Court Rejects Muslim Cleric's US Extradition Appeal
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

A British court has rejected an appeal by a radical Muslim cleric who has been trying to block his extradition to the United States
2:47
Bin Laden Driver Said to Have Known 9/11 Target
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

A military prosecutor at Guantanamo says Osama bin Laden's driver, Salim Hamdan, knew the target of the fourth jetliner terrorists hijacked on 9-11
2:46
Pakistani Leaders Support Dialogue with Militants
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:41
Israel bracing for US push to 'codify' status of PA talks
» ‎ IMRA Middle East News Updates

Israel bracing for US push to 'codify' status of PA talks
Jul. 24, 2008 Herb Keinon , THE JERUSALEM POST
www.jpost.com
/servlet/Satellite?cid=1215331076815&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

The US is interested in having Israel and the Palestinians codify the
progress in their talks up to now so there will be a lasting document to
serve as the basis for further negotiations following the changeover of
governments in Washington and - possibly - in Jerusalem, Israeli diplomatic
officials told The Jerusalem Post this week.

According to the officials, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will
convene a trilateral meeting in Washington on July 30 or 31 with Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni and the Palestinian Authority's chief negotiator, Ahmed
Qurei.

According to the officials, the document the US is interested in emerging
from Israeli-Palestinian talks would be in lieu of a finished
"shelf-agreement" that US President George W. Bush had said at November's
Annapolis Conference he hoped to see finished by the time he left office in
January 2009.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said last week that a trilateral meeting
was in the works, though the US has not formally announced one. Rice, who
has been here 21 times over the last three years, has not visited since
mid-June.

The officials said it was becoming increasingly evident to those involved in
the talks that it appeared unlikely a comprehensive agreement would be
reached by the target date set by Bush - partly because of Prime Minister
Ehud Olmert's political problems - and that the Americans were still
interested in something tangible coming out of the talks, if only a document
charting the issues that were agreed upon.

The officials said this was important for the Bush administration so it
would leave something for the next administration to begin working with, and
also because it would obligate both the Israelis and the Palestinians down
the road.

Israeli officials said PA President Mahmoud Abbas was interested in such a
document, but that there were divisions on the matter inside the Israeli
government.

According to these officials, while Olmert was interested in this document,
Livni was less enthused. Olmert's interest, the officials said, stemmed from
a desire to leave behind something positive if he were forced from office in
the near future.

On the other hand, the officials said, Livni did not want - just a few
months before Kadima's primary - to sign a document calling for Israeli
withdrawal from large swaths of the West Bank. The officials said this would
be seized upon by Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, and would cost her
votes on Kadima's right flank.

One diplomatic official said that the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem was
trying to downplay the importance of the planned trilateral meeting, saying
it would be just another routine meeting between Rice, Livni and Qurei. On
the other hand, the Palestinians, they said, had an interest in emphasizing
the importance of the meeting, because they wanted to see a document emerge
out of the current Israeli-Palestinian talks.

2:21
Mohammad Online: الشجرة المثمرة ترمى بالحجارة ( يحاربوني في ديني ) !
» ‎ Syria Planet

يبدو أني أصبحت أسبب هوس و قلق و استفزاز للبعض مما جعلهم يوجهون مدوناتهم خصيصاً للتشهير بي ، بل قاموا بكتابة تدوينات أكاد اجزم بانها اخذت منهم ساعات طويلة في كتابتها و اختيار الفاظها و قراءة كل ما كتبته في مدونتي و اقتباس منها ما يشبع غريزتهم الجشعة. بالطبع و أشهد الله بأني لم أقرا تدويناتهم [...]

2:09
Troops out
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

US scales down its military 'surge' in Iraq

2:08
ask and ye shall receive..
» ‎ East Med Sea Peace

i asked for it.. yes i in fact did.. this review came from a site called ask and ye shall receive.. im keen to hear more comments.. two years into the piece :)

what's the capital of israel?
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Our Lirun is a sensitive boy, but he needs a kick up the arse.

East Med Sea Peace is the stutter-inducing title of the blog which uses the tagline…

“WELCOME TO THE EASTERN CUL DE SAC OF THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA.. IN ITS CENTRE LIE ISRAEL AND LEBANON AND AROUND US WE HAVE EGYPT AND THE PALESTINIAN COAST IN THE SOUTH AS WELL AS SYRIA TURKEY AND CYPRUS FURTHER NORTH AND JORDAN HUGGING FROM THE EAST.. MY DREAM IS FOR US TO ALL LIVE IN PEACE..”

Thanks for frightening everyone off, and the geography lesson, but there’s no need. Scrap it, stick it on an ‘About me’ page, and fine tune it. Come to a conclusion, and tell us what the blog is about.

The layout is a simple template, poorly managed.

The navigation is a nightmare, impossible to navigate through posts in order unless you start at the latest and work your way back. This is an unmerciful pain in the hole if you want to check out something from the middle of last December.

Link your post titles for goodness sake, make it possible for me to link to one of them, without having to copy/paste the bloody title into the search box!

Your archive is a long list, and will just get longer, use a dropdown, or the standard blogger hierarchy to tidy it right up.

The ability to get to your blog's start page would also be kind of useful.

Giving you the benefit of the doubt, I'll say the lack of capitalization and full stops is somewhat intended, but you are a good writer, and you know better than that. That kind of stuff belongs on a t-shirt, not on a well written blog about politics and religion.

Never, ever, ever post entries like this or this. Link to external stories by all means, but at least give us the courtesy of introducing them.

Finally, I can get to the good stuff, content. You have a lovely quiet, whispering and rolling tone, very much in keeping with your belief in peace in the region, and in harmony on earth, and in chimes by your open bedroom window.

Unfortunately, this post sums you up. Lyrical, and soft, just nice, but with no bloody conclusion.

“i must confess that i am really struggling to form a view on this topic.. i have so many thoughts but so few convictions.. “ - Your own words.

All that aside, I really do like your voice. You have written some wonderfully poignant pieces, this being a special one and this opening up a world of a life story that I want to know more about. Touching and beautiful.

In the end, all the irritating things I mentioned about this blog are mostly cosmetic. Do yourself a favour and tidy them up, you’ll reap the benefits, trust me on that.
I wish you’d lose your 'zen' sometimes and roar a little bit, I’m an obvious outsider to the political and religious climate you write about, but overall the writing is thoughtful, always gentle, hushed, and lyrical. At times excellent.

I will be back to finish the archives if you make them accessible. In the meantime, even though they could have been more, stick these on your surf board. (two smiley stars)

1:41
Americans Organize to "Save Starbucks" as the Economy Slips into Recession
» ‎ Wake Up From Your Slumber - The Truth Will Set You Free

The dollar is crashing and the economy tanking; yet some American's are rallying to "save their Starbucks." Talk about denial.
By Max Keiser, Huffington Post
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1:14
Mullen Discusses Iraq, Afghanistan, Election
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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1:13
Obama firm on Iran nuclear plans
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

US White House hopeful Barack Obama says the world must prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

1:13
Gates & Truman's Military Desegregation Order
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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1:13
DoD Leaders & Improved Contracting Oversight
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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1:12
Military Tracks Hurricane Dolly, Readies Support
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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1:11
Iraq Ops Update
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

Coalition and Iraqi forces caught five suspected terrorists and seized two weapons caches in Iraq
1:11
Afghanistan Ops Update
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

Coalition and Afghan forces killed groups of enemy fighters during operations in Afghanistan
1:03
DoD News: Contracts for July 23, 2008
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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0:59
Investors worldwide are betting more than $1 trillion on a collapse in American stock prices
» ‎ Wake Up From Your Slumber - The Truth Will Set You Free

Americans should be experiencing nausea about right now, that's being induced from swirling around the toilet bowl faster and faster.

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0:57
Hurricane Hunters track Dolly
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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0:57
Texas military forces ready for Hurricane Dolly landfall
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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0:56
Ortega Steps Into the Breach with the FARC
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

While Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez seem content for the time being to keep is distance from his (erstwhile?) allies in Colombia, the FARC guerrillas-tied to international drug trafficking, kidnapping and assorted criminal and terrorist activities-Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega seems to have few such qualms.

Nicargua's leading newspaper, La Prensa, is reporting that a six-member FARC delegation visited Ortega earlier this month in Managua.

The aircraft carrying the FARC delegation left from Venezuela, and arrived in time to celebrate the July 19 anniversary of the 1979 Sandinista revolution. The delegation, while keeping a low public profile, met with Ortega, who has a long-standing relationship with the organization.

The flight from Venezuela was carried out despite an Interpol alert sent to Nicaragua and other countries that the FARC delegation that was about to travel was comprised of individuals with pending international arrest warrants, was en route to Managua.

The Interpol report, as reported by Colombia's leading newspaper, El Tiempo, says in part that:

We request your help in alerting immigration posts because these members of the FARC are internationally sought and have Interpol Red Notices pending.

While the Chávez-FARC relationship is the most significant and has received the most notice, the relationship of Ortega to the FARC is long-standing and strong. My full blog is here.

0:53
Texas Guard gears up for Hurricane Dolly
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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0:35
Holocaust Denial at YouTube
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Jihad videos? Yep, YouTube’s got ’em. Crackpot 9/11 Troofers? Yep, YouTube’s got ’em. Lots of ’em.

Holocaust deniers? YouTube - RevisionistsRus’s Videos.

0:27
Razaneyyat: رزان
» ‎ Syria Planet

لأنّها ذاكرتي.
View Original

0:13
Another Soon-To-Be-Nuanced Statement from Obama
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

John at Power Line notices another in a seemingly endless series of gaffes from the Naive Messiah: The Fine Line Between Pandering and Lying.

Obama continued:
Now, in terms of knowing my commitments, you don’t have to just look at my words, you can look at my deeds. Just this past week, we passed out of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, which is my committee, a bill to call for divestment from Iran, as a way of ratcheting up the pressure to ensure that they don’t obtain a nuclear weapon.
But Obama is not a member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Obama just made that up so he could count the committee’s action as one of “my deeds.”

UPDATE at 7/23/08 2:32:05 pm:

And here’s the video clip:
[Video]

July 23, 2008
23:41
Iraq president rejects election law
» ‎ AL JAZEERA ENGLISH (MIDDLE EAST)

Talabani says he will not accept the bill after Kurdish MPs boycotted vote.

23:35
TiU Radio 23rd July 08 Guest Daryl Bradford Smith
» ‎ Wake Up From Your Slumber - The Truth Will Set You Free

The Info Underground
TiU Radio

Wednesday 23rd July 2008
Special Guest Daryl
Daryl Bradford Smith (http://www.iamthewitness.com)

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23:31
ראש הממשלה אולמרט, ביום ד' (23.7), למועמד הדמוקרטי לנשיאות באראק אובמה: איראן תוכל לגשת להרכיב פצצה גרעינית כבר בסוף 2009, תחילת 2010.
» ‎ DEBKAfile

תיקדבקה: ראש הממשלה אולמרט ביום ד' (23.7) למועמד הדמוקרטי לנשיאות באראק אובמה: איראן תוכל לגשת להרכיב פצצה גרעינית כבר בסוף 2009, תחילת 2010. אולמרט אמר לאובמה, כי ההערכה המודיעינית הישראלית היא, כי לאיראן יהיו בתאריכים אלה כל הרכיבים הדרושים להרכבת פצצה גרעינית. בכיר ביטחוני ישראלי: איראן ערוכה כבר לקבל, כנראה בתחילת ספטמבר, מערכות טילי נ''מ רוסיים מדגם S-300, שיכולו לעזור לה להדוף התקפה על מתקני הגרעין שלה.

23:01
Samantha Power reviews Peter Scoblic's US vs. ...
» ‎ War and Piece

Samantha Power reviews Peter Scoblic's US vs. Them, and Matt Yglesias' Heads in the Sand....

22:59
SyriaComment.com: “U.S. to meet three Syrians, but no warming in ties”
» ‎ Syria Planet

[Landis Commentary] It does seem as if the Syrian delegation that was to include Riad Daoudi, a member of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, was disappointed by the cold reception it was to receive from the Americans. The Americans have been adamant that the meeting would not signify any improvement in relations because State Department officials would meet with the Syrians only as private citizens and not as members of a government.

The Syrian press has been depicting this meeting as if Jerusalem had been liberated. I guess that was a mirage. Damascus is still high on the liberation of Paris.

I am off to hear the three at Brookings. I will see what I can report later. Best, Joshua

U.S. to meet three Syrians, but no warming in ties
July 22, 2008
Washington Post

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The State Department said on Tuesday a U.S. diplomat will meet three Syrians on a private visit to Washington but made clear this did not signal warmer ties or greater U.S. interest in Israeli-Syrian peace talks.

"We have an interest in reaching out to the Syrian people. However, we are going to continue to limit diplomatic engagement unless the Syrian government takes concrete actions to end its destabilizing tactics," State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos told reporters.

The United States accuses Syria of sponsoring terrorism, permitting foreign fighters to cross into Iraq, allowing arms to flow into Lebanon, hosting Palestinian militant groups and violating human rights.

Gallegos said a meeting would be arranged between a U.S. diplomat and the three Syrians, whose U.S. visit is sponsored by the Search for Common Ground nongovernmental group that promotes conflict resolution.

The spokesman declined to provide a date or time for the meeting or to say which U.S. diplomat would attend.

On Monday, the State Department had said U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch, the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, was willing to meet the group.

However, a U.S. official who asked not to be named said Welch may not have returned from a Middle East trip in time to attend the meeting, which he said was tentatively set for Friday, and that someone else would likely meet the three.

Gallegos made clear that a meeting should not be seen as a token of renewed U.S. interest in Israeli-Syrian peace talks that are being sponsored by Turkey, saying that the U.S. focus was on "the Israeli-Palestinian track."

Syrian foreign ministry adviser Riad Daoudi, who has led the Syrian delegation in Turkish-sponsored indirect talks with Israel, is a member of Search for Common Ground's U.S.-Syria Working Group and was expected to visit Washington this week.

However, people familiar with the matter said he stayed behind in Damascus for consultations with Turkish officials.

The three Syrians who came to Washington were identified as Ahmad Samir al-Taqi, Samir Seifan and Sami Moubayed.

A Syrian embassy spokesman said Syria welcomed the visit but that the three did not represent the Syrian government, had no official positions and were visiting as private citizens.

Obama Shifts the Foreign Policy Debate

Sen. Barack Obama, on his first and likely only overseas trip as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, has remade the campaign's foreign policy playing field, neatly sidestepping Republican charges that he has been naive and wrong on Iraq and moving to a broader, post-Iraq focus on Afg…

(By Karen DeYoung and Jonathan Weisman, The Washington Post)

Joyce Karam (Alhayat) was told that the Syrian delegation asked to meet with AIPAC.

22:44
Swiss anger at Libyan 'reprisals'
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Switzerland protests to Libya over what it calls retaliatory measures for the arrest of Muammar Gaddafi's youngest son.

22:40
The Arab Version of the Bulldozer Attack
» ‎ IRIS Blog

Here is the taqiya (religiously encouraged mendacity) that the Palestinian News Network is spinning regarding yesterday's bulldozer attack in which 19 Israelis were wounded before the driver was killed:

As Israeli forces continue to bulldoze Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, this is the second Palestinian bulldozer incident ever. They both took place in West Jerusalem this month.

Ghassan Mustafa Abu Tair, just 23 years old, died Tuesday afternoon after being shot by an armed Israeli civilian and then shortly after by Israeli forces when he hit a bus and five cars near the King David Hotel. One of his co-workers stated, "Ghassan worked for seven years on the bulldozer and this seems to have been a traffic accident and no more." Members of the Israeli government are threatening to demolish the family home and revoke their Jerusalem identification.

The number of Israeli injuries are said to be at 19, but only one in serious condition, according to Israeli medical reports. Shortly after the operation, Israeli forces broke into his family home and arrested his father.

Abu Tair is the relative of imprisoned Palestinian Legislative Council member Mohammand Abu Tair. Israeli forces have held him in their prisons for approximately two years.

Ghassan Abu Tair is from the East Jerusalem village of Umm Tuba, one of many suffering under the Israeli policy of ethnic cleansing of the native Palestinian population.

This 'ethnic cleansing' policy is evidently based on reverse psychology, because Jerusalem's Arab growth rate is twice the Jewish one.

Shortly after he was identified, Israeli forces went to his family home and tore through its contents, investigated the family, and arrested his father, 47 year old Abu Ghassan Abu Tair. Israelis also attacked several Palestinian workers in West Jersualem with knifes shortly after the incident. Among the injured are the young man Abdullah Musa Ali Mustafa, his uncle Fadi Ali Musa Mustafa, and his cousin Ali Ahmed Mustafa. All are hospitalized.

The injured Israelis have been sent to hospitals while Ghassan is dead and the Palestinian official from his family remains in Israeli prison. Members of the Israeli government are threatening to demolish the family home and revoke their Jerusalem identification.

One of his co-workers stated, "Ghassan worked for seven years on the bulldozer and this seems to have been a traffic accident and no more, because Ghassan does not belong to any political faction." The area where the indicent occurred is heavy with traffic and several are saying that Abu Tair hit the bus on accident, and then lost control of the bulldozer causing him to hit the cars.

Here's what actually happened:

Terrorist Motioned to Woman to Cross and Then Tried to Run Her Over

The first person to encounter the bulldozer terrorist was an English-speaking woman named Sarah who was about to cross the street. The man in the bulldozer indicated with his hand that she could cross and then pressed on the gas pedal to run her over. Fortunately, she was only lightly bruised by the tire.

Here's another relevant story:

Eyewitnesses Describe the Bulldozer Attack

Witnesses described how the driver of the bulldozer had targeted pedestrians and vehicles before he was shot dead by a civilian and a Border Policeman Tuesday. "[The driver] tried to bring the blade of the bulldozer on the head of a pedestrian, but missed her by an inch," said one eyewitness. "Then he kept going in a zigzag down the slope of King David Street....One car flipped over and others were crushed."

The driver of the bus hit by the bulldozer said he was chased as the driver wielded the vehicle's shovel. "I was driving on the main road when the [bulldozer] hit me in the rear," the driver of the bus told Channel 10 TV. "After I passed him he turned round, made a U-turn and rammed the windows twice with the shovel. The third time he aimed for my head, he came up to my window and I swerved to the right, otherwise I would have gone to meet my maker."

Witness Moshe Shimshi said the bulldozer driver slammed into the side of the bus, then sped away and went for a car. "He just kept ramming into cars....The driver then headed for cars waiting at a red light and rammed into them with all his might."

22:32
Ahmad Bekdash Blog: المتعلمم…
» ‎ Syria Planet

ما هو حال العالم العربي اليوم سيجيب اغلبنا تخلفة . نحن متخلفون ولا شك , لكن الاسوا لم نذكره بعد , الاسوا يا اصدقاء هو ان يكون(المتعلممون ) (( نفرق كثيرا بين المتعلم والمثقف , فليس كل متعلم مثقف في العموم , رغم ان العكس قد لا يكون ...

22:30
LIEberman addresses CUFI, threatens bloggers and cheerleads for war against Iran
» ‎ Wake Up From Your Slumber - The Truth Will Set You Free

You thought Cheney was a bad SOB? Just wait until that hate-filled LIE berman gets his claws on the levers of power put in place by Cheney.

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22:04
Rice & Meeting with N. Korean Counterpart
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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22:04
China & nuclear plant in quake-hit province
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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22:04
US Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Terrorist Plot
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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22:03
Iraq Ops Update
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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A Peek into Others' mind » July 23, 2008

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