A Peek into Others' mind » August 11, 2008

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(79 unread)

August 12, 2008
7:59
Next U.S. Commander in Iraq Cautious on Troop Cuts
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno said Monday that he hopes to recommend significant reductions in the number of American troops stationed in Iraq.
7:54
Use of Contractors in Iraq Costs Billions, Report Says
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

A report found that the U.S. will have spent $100 billion on contractors in Iraq since the invasion in 2003.
7:48
World Briefing | Middle East: Iran: ‘Even Israelis and Americans’
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

An Iranian vice president said in rare comments that Iran was a friend of Israeli people, newspapers reported on Monday.
7:47
World Briefing | Middle East: Yemen: Suspected Qaeda House Raided
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

Two Yemeni police officers were killed and several others were wounded Monday in a gun battle with suspected fighters from Al Qaeda.

6:56
Video: Creation Science 101
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Roy Zimmerman (no relation to Bob) performs “Creation Science 101,” and lo, it is good.
%%YT=uIwiPsgRrOs%%

6:41
Auditors Question Blackwater Contracts
» ‎ NYT > Middle East

The contractor, whose provision of private security in Iraq has come under scrutiny, may have improperly obtained $100 million in contracts meant for small businesses.

5:03
The Israeli Connection
» ‎ Wake Up From Your Slumber - The Truth Will Set You Free

Excerpted from: Israeli

read more

4:36
The Discovery Institute's Pro-Russian Agenda
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Earlier today I linked to this highly deceptive post at the anti-evolution Discovery Institute’s "Russia Blog," purporting to lay out a timeline for Russia’s brutal attack on Georgia. (I commented that it read like propaganda directly from the Kremlin.)

The Russia Blog titled their post, "Chronology Matters." And they're quite right. It does matter.

Here's the truth about the chronology of this crisis at La Russophobe, recounting the history of Russia's escalating provocations against Georgia with numerous links and citations: Special Extra — EDITORIAL: The Facts on Georgia.

La Russophobe has been keeping an eye on the DI's Russia Blog for quite a while. Here's a post about the manager of Russia Blog, Yuri Mamchur, who turns out to be very connected in Russia: The Further Misadventures of Screwball Yuri Mamchur, Neo-Soviet Con Man.
3:55
Obama Calls for UN to Pass Resolution Condemning Russia, Forgets Russia Has UNSC Veto
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

An astoundingly bone-headed statement from Barack Obama today, as he calls for the United Nations Security Council to pass a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Georgia.

Memo to the Obama campaign: Russia has veto power in the United Nations Security Council.

Oops!

3:49
The War At Home -- Spinning The Conflict In Russia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:49
Heated Words But No Action On UN Security Council
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:49
Russian Raids Continuing Despite Georgian Moves
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:49
Reports Say Fighting Undiminished In South Ossetia, Georgia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:49
Peace Deal Sought As Russian Troops Advance
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:49
West Fails To Deter Saakashvili From Playing Into Russian Hands
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:49
Former Soviet Sphere Shocked Into Silence By Conflict In Georgia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:49
The War At Home - Spinning The Conflict In Russia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:48
Virginia-Class Boats Sailing Into Action
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:48
DoD News: Contracts for August 11, 2008
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:48
DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for July 2008
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:48
Analysis: In Russia-Georgia Conflict, Balkan Shadows
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:48
Georgia-Russia Clash: A 'Bump' or 'Turn' in Road?
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:48
08/11/08 MND-North/1st AD Brief
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
DoD News: Contracts for August 11, 2008
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
DoD Announces Recruiting and Retention Numbers for July 2008
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
Virginia-Class Boats Sailing Into Action
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

Out of the nine fast-attack boats underway in the Atlantic Ocean, four of them are Virginia-class submarines.
3:39
Heated Words But No Action On UN Security Council
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
Russian Raids Continuing Despite Georgian Moves
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
Reports Say Fighting Undiminished In South Ossetia, Georgia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
Peace Deal Sought As Russian Troops Advance
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
West Fails To Deter Saakashvili From Playing Into Russian Hands
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
Former Soviet Sphere Shocked Into Silence By Conflict In Georgia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
Analysis: In Russia-Georgia Conflict, Balkan Shadows
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
Georgia-Russia Clash: A 'Bump' or 'Turn' in Road?
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
The War At Home -- Spinning The Conflict In Russia
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

Russia is waging a battle on two fronts -- one is purely military, the second ideological. one is purely military, the second ideological.
3:39
USAFCENT Aug. 10 airpower summary
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
Georgia's Saakashvili signs South Ossetia ceasefire plan
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
Russia says Georgian troops in S.Ossetia surrendering
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
Abkhazia issues ultimatum to Georgian troops in strategic gorge
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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3:39
U.S. criticizes Russia over 'disproportionate' Georgia response
» ‎ GlobalSecurity.org

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2:59
New McCain Ad: 'Fan Club'
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Mocking the wafflemeister.
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1:16
this is the difference between lebanon, gaza, and georgia
» ‎ Body on the Line

not only did bush and rice never ask the state of israel to halt is invasion of lebanon in gaza that began in 2006, but they encouraged them for 34 days in lebanon and ever since then in gaza. but here we find that bush is asking russia to end its military campaign. hmmm…could this [...]

0:23
Bush Speaks on Georgia-Russia Conflict
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

President Bush is now making a statement on the Russian invasion of Georgia...

UPDATE at 8/11/08 2:26:28 pm:

Well, that was nothing if not brief. A quote: “It is time for Russia to be true to its word, and to act to end this crisis.”

No action proposed.

0:12
on absorption
» ‎ Body on the Line

I’ve always found it very odd that the state of Israel uses the word “absorption” to describe the process of making more Jews colonists in Palestine. Of course, some people are more welcome than others. Much of this depends upon whiteness as per the state’s codified racist policies. Take today’s recent report that Eritrean refugees [...]

August 11, 2008
23:27
Obama 'Birth Certificate' Links Not Welcome
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

This is a public notice that I’m going to be deleting any posted spinoff links that try to promote the “Obama birth certificate” nonsense. I’ve mentioned this several times in comments, but it apparently hasn’t been heard by enough people.

The story is absolute garbage, and it’s being promoted now by Larry “Michelle Obama Whitey Tape” Johnson, who has zero credibility.

If you think I’m an idiot who can’t see what’s right in front of me, and want to continue chasing this rabbit down the hole, it’s a simple matter to start a blog at Blogspot or Wordpress. Then you can get all the credit for it. In the highly unlikely event that the story is proven to be true, you can bask in the glory, and I’ll have a nice dinner of crow. Until then, please don’t post this stuff at LGF or it will be deleted.

23:09
Getting secret “Operation Hide-A-Cat” underway
» ‎ Aliyah! Step-by-Step: Making a Life in Israel

Ronen, bless his heart, has offered to drive over and collect the beasts that will be stored at his house. Teeny tiny baby cat (needs a home, needs a home!!) will get her rabies shots while there and not-so-baby Batya is going to get spayed. Arie, Gingi and hopefully Mischa will simply cool their little heels in prison cells, that is, kitty carriers.

But, as in all secret operations, there is already a glitch. I shoved Tzofia into a carrier about an hour ago and just released her (and shoved in Gingi in her place) –she S-C-R-E-A-M-E-D non-stop for the full hour. I cannot subject Ronen to that all night long. And I’m still short on kitty carriers. Ronen has offered to bring some empties and so I need to decide who else besides Mischa should be incarcerated and removed from the premises. I’m not even going to worry about Shachori, Mitzi, and Tzeekahda because they will disappear under the bed and not emerge for hours at the sound of anyone not me entering the apartment. Matan and Tinoket are wild cards, however. Sometimes they hide and sometimes they don’t. Should I ship off one or both?

If, say Tzofia, Tinoket and Matan were to run around in evidence, how bad would that be ..ok, so 1 cat became 3 but 3 doesn’t seem like that many…or does it seem like that many? I mean, when you have eleven in your house, three seems like such a tiny, paltry number! But maybe it doesn’t to people who have none.

And my planned “gift” to Ronen for being so darn kewl, a nice hot loaf of freshly baked bread, is soooooooo not happening. I used this great recipe off the web that everyone and their dog (more than 600 complimenters can’t be wrong) said was the most delicious thing they’d ever baked. Only I forgot that my bread machine won’t actually like function if you have more than 2 cups of flour and the recipe had 3…yeah. I don’t have bread. I have two seriously messy and glutified breadpans waiting for me to figure out how I now get the mess out of them. Sigh.

22:37
Olmert Permits Symbolic 'Right of Return'
» ‎ IRIS Blog

The number of 'returnees' that Olmert agreed to repatriate in Israel is not important; the principle it establishes is key. Also, it supports the all-important myth that 'Israel is displacing Palestinian natives through occupation:'

One thousand exiled Palestinians will be allowed to reunite with their families in the West Bank and Gaza after Israel agrees to issue permits, Hussein Ash-Sheikh, head of the PA civil affairs department, said Saturday.

Reunification permits were to be issued to a thousand Palestinians living without permits in Palestinian areas, as well as Palestinians living abroad.

Israel agreed to issue the permits during a meeting between Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert last Wednesday.

21:54
Al Qaeda in Gaza?
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

Part of the three-part piece that I am writing for the Middle East Times on Al Qaeda's opportunistic strategy, I explored today Al Qaeda's alleged presence in Gaza.
In case you missed the first part, you can read it here.

You can read today's whole article here.
Here is an excerpt:

One of the alleged al-Qaida linked terror groups is the 400-man strong Army of Islam (AI). AI emerged for the first time in June 2006 with the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, in conjunction with Hamas. AI then claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of BBC journalist Alan Johnston in Gaza. While the organization denies being a part of al-Qaida, it acknowledges that it is influenced by al-Qaida, but does not have direct links to it.

Another of these jihadist groups that have recently surfaced, the Army of Believers, is holding the same speech: "We have no organic links with al-Qaida, but we share its ideology. Our goal is not only to liberate Palestine, but to spread Islam everywhere." It is obviously difficult to know how far the connection goes with al-Qaida, but what is sure is that there is a breeding ground in Gaza for such groups. In fact, according to Samir Zoquout, from the Human rights group al-Mezan: "One cannot say if al-Qaida is really present here, but more and more groups are adopting its radical ideology, sometimes as a cover for criminal activities."

But there is a worrisome trend: these jihadist groups are gaining strength. The jihadists feed on the decision of Hamas to become a party in government, in a territory where the Sharia (Islamic law) is not applied. Also some are very unhappy about the recent truce concluded with Israel.

Therefore, Hamas has lost members of its armed wing to the Brigades of Allah or the Islamic Army of Jerusalem that killed a Palestinian Christian and attacked an American school, which was holding a show featuring a coed crowd of boys and girls aged six to 12. In this attack, one bodyguard was killed and seven people were injured including three children after the terrorists started shooting.

But that is not all: the French daily Le Figaro recently revealed that a few dozen foreigners, including half a dozen Frenchmen, entered from Egypt in January 2008, during the 11 days when the border with Gaza was forced open.

21:44
Russian Foreign Minister: 'Saakashvili Must Go'
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Here’s a press release from the United States Ambassador to the UN, Zalmay Khalilzad, on a disturbing statement by Russian foreign minister Lavrov that reveals Russia’s true endgame in the Georgia conflict: Remarks by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Permanent Representative, on the situation in Georgia.

I want to focus however, on one point that Ambassador Churkin made. Ambassador Churkin referred to his minister’s phone conversation with Secretary of State Rice this morning. That conversation raises serious questions about Russian objectives.

In that conversation, Foreign Minister Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Rice that the democratically elected President of Georgia “must go”.

I quote again: “Saakashvili must go.”

This is completely unacceptable and crosses a line. I want to ask Ambassador Churkin, is your government’s objective regime change in Georgia, the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Georgia. Mr. President, Russia must affirm their aim is not to change the democratically elected government of Georgia and it accepts the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia .

Mr. President, Russia is threatening the territorial integrity of Georgia and this Council must act decisively to reaffirm the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.

21:32
AP: Russia takes Georgian city of Gori. ...
» ‎ War and Piece

AP: Russia takes Georgian city of Gori. "Gori is on Georgia's main east-west highway, about 60 miles west of the capital Tbilisi. By taking the city, Russia has the potential to effectively cut the country in half. Security Council head...

21:24
Applebaum on Georgia
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

Anne Applebaum has an interesting column on the situation in Georgia: A Threat Explodes In Georgia.

Both sides have deeper motives for fighting. The Russians want to prevent Georgia from joining NATO, as Georgia, a Western-oriented democracy — George Bush has called the country a “ beacon of liberty” — has long wanted to do. In this, they will almost certainly succeed: No Western power has any interest in a military ally that is involved in a major military conflict with Russia.

The Georgian leadership, by contrast, had come to believe that the constant pressure of Russian aggression, coupled with the West’s failure to accept Georgia into NATO, compelled them to demonstrate “self-reliance.” President Mikheil Saakashvili has indeed been buying weapons in preparation for this moment. Those who know him say he believed a military conflict was inevitable but could be won if conducted cleverly. As of last night, with Russian soldiers fighting in South Ossetia — only a few dozen miles from Tbilisi, the Georgian capital — it seemed as though he might have miscalculated, badly. Russia has not sent 150 tanks across that border in order to lose.

Still, the bottom line is this: Georgia should have stepped back from the brink — and should still do so if it has a chance — but Russia’s deployment of such a large and carefully prepared force, not only in South Ossetia but in the rest of Georgia as well, is totally unacceptable. The other indisputable conclusion? Wherever the blame for this week’s escalation is finally laid, the West has very little influence on the outcome. Saakashvili’s appeals for help and moral support — “ This is not about Georgia,” he told CNN, “this is about the basic values the U.S. has always preached” — aren’t going to amount to much unless Russia wants them to.

21:18
Israel to pay Hamas' 'civil servants' salaries?
» ‎ Israel Matzav

Gaza is short on yet another commodity and Israel has agreed once again to supply it. The commodity is New Israeli Shekels. Cash only please. A severe cash shortage gripped the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip on Monday as tens of thousands of people were unable to withdraw money from banks in the poverty-stricken territory. Israel promised to transfer more money to Gaza on Tuesday. But here comes

21:10
I’m back!
» ‎ Sabbah's Blog

It was a great long vacation on personal level. OTOH, I’ve missed my blog and my online friends and hoping to be active and corresponding back soon.

Being away for more than a month, I have a lot to catchup and do online before I’m actively writing here and posting on my other blogs, but I promise to make it as short as possible.

Thank you for staying around!

20:18
Palestinian Nose Cut Off to Spite Face…Again
» ‎ Israellycool

This pretty much epitomizes the palestinian mentality:

Twenty five former Al-Aqsa Brigades fighters set fire to their belongings and to a number of prison cells in the Palestinian Authority’s Juneid Prison, near the West Bank city of Nablus on Monday.

“This step came as a message to Palestinian officials in protest against negligence of our situation by Israel,” one of the detained activists told Ma’an.

Leaving aside the fact I have no idea what “in protest against negligence of our situation by Israel” actually means, this act ranks up there in the annals of dumbassry.

Take that, evil officials! You’ll think twice next time! Now if you don’t mind, I would like to borrow a toothbrush.

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19:38
A Look At the Resignation of Mazen Asbahi and the Muslim Brotherhood
» ‎ Counterterrorism Blog

In the week since the Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report (free registration required) revealed the ties of Mazen Asbahi to Muslim Brotherhood legacy groups and his immediate resignation as an adviser to the Obama campaign, it has been fascinating to watch the Brotherhood response, particularly those of CAIR and the Muslim Student Association.

This is relevant because of the MB's historical ties to radical Islamist terrorism and the ties of members of legacy groups in the United States to multiple terrorist cases, investigations, etc. The line of inquiry would have been just as valid had Mr. Asbahi surfaced in the McCain camp, or any major political campaign.

(For a more complete look at these groups and their history in the United States, see this report I co-authored for the NEFA Foundation during the Holy Land Foundation trial).

The tactics have been familiar to any who follow these groups: attack the messenger, despite the fact that the postings simply laid out Mr. Ashbahi's multiple ties to MB groups, based on SEC filing and public records-and made no allegations of any illegality or impropriety; attack the Wall Street Journal and Glenn Simpson for following up on the report, and having the nerve to call Mr. Asbahi for comment (which is now described as a right-wing expose-in-the-making, as if belonging to FOUR-not one MB groups, as has been widely reported-were not worthy of comment, or a story when the resignation happened); blame the media et al for Mr. Asbahi's resignation, as if an e-mailed question about the relationship from a journalist were somehow an unacceptable practice in seeking information; and paint the entire thing as anti-Muslim bash-fest by the far right (see this wildly inaccurate and deceptive piece by James Zogby in the Huffington Post; and, finally, fail to address ANY of the substantive issues such associations raise.

For a good critique of the Zogby piece and its factual misrepresentations of the original piece, go here.

One of the favorite tactics is to paint those pushing back against CAIR et al as right-wing zealots. Fortunately, that is not true, although it resonates among many in the Obama camp because it paints the issue, falsely, as one of civil rights.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), who recently invited Steve Emerson to testify at a hearing where I was also a witness, refused to buckle to the the groups' pressure tactics and protests aimed a silencing Emerson. See this Action Alert for a taste of their language.

Sens. Charles Schumer, Barbara Boxer and Richard Durbin-hardly the right-wing fringe of American politics-have distanced themselves from CAIR and other MB groups, and noted the ties to terrorism and HAMAS. So, another lie, but one that lives on. My full blog, including a reprint of the GMBDR factual outline of events, can be found here.

19:34
Jordan's king in first Iraq visit
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

King Abdullah of Jordan becomes the first Arab head of state to visit Iraq since the 2003 overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

19:08
The Politico: 7 worrisome signs for ...
» ‎ War and Piece

The Politico: 7 worrisome signs for Obama....
18:49
NYT: Georgians on the run questioning Bush/Cheney's ...
» ‎ War and Piece

NYT: Georgians on the run questioning Bush/Cheney's lofty rhetoric....

18:47
Russian Military Invades West Georgia
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

A very dangerous situation is getting worse, as the Russian military moves into Georgia from the west while Georgian forces are engaged in South Ossetia.

TBILISI, Georgia - Russia opened a second front of fighting in Georgia on Monday, sending armored vehicles beyond two breakaway provinces and seizing a military base and police stations in the country’s west, officials said.

The new forays into Georgia — even after Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili signed a cease-fire pledge — appeared to show Russian determination to subdue the small, U.S.-backed country, which has been pressing for NATO membership.

The latest developments indicate that Russian troops have invaded Georgia proper from the separatist province of Abkhazia while most Georgian forces are locked up in fighting around South Ossetia.

Meanwhile, the Russia Blog run by the anti-evolution Discovery Institute responds to my post pointing out that they support Russia’s assault on Georgia—by reaffirming their support for Russia’s assault on Georgia, in a post that reads like a press release from the Kremlin: Russia Blog: War in Georgia: Misreading Ossetia — Chronology Matters.

18:46
New Matt Yglesias url: ...
» ‎ War and Piece

New Matt Yglesias url: http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org....

18:18
Gaza tunnel collapse kills three
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

The bodies are recovered of three Palestinians who died when a smuggling tunnel under the Gaza-Egypt border collapsed.

18:10
Is John Edwards Still Lying?
» ‎ Little Green Footballs

I hope you’re sitting down, because ABC News has uncovered more evidence that John Edwards is continuing to lie about his extramarital affair: Is John Edwards Still Lying?

A one-time close friend of John Edwards’ ex-mistress says the former Senator is still not telling the whole truth about how his affair with Rielle Hunter began.

Edwards told ABC News’ Bob Woodruff last week that he and Hunter began their affair only after Hunter was hired for the campaign to produce a series of films for the internet and she began traveling with him.

“She was hired to come in and produce films and that’s the reason she was hired,” said Edwards.

But that version of events is now being challenged by a one time close friend of Hunter’s, Pidgeon O’Brien.

“The affair began long, long, long before she was hired to work for the campaign almost half a year before she was hired to work on those videos,” O’Brien said in an exclusive interview with ABC News.

O’Brien says Hunter told her that in late February, early March 2006 she met an amazing man from North Carolina named John at a New York City hotel bar. She referred to her new man as ‘Love Lips’, whom she said was married with small children and a wife who had been ill.

Some say Hunter, a devotee of new age spirituality, is given to exaggeration.

17:45
'Blockade-running' boats leave for Gaza Tuesday?
» ‎ Israel Matzav

I'll bet some of you were wondering what happened to those 'blockade-running' boats that were supposed to leave Cyprus on August 5. I was wondering too, so I went over to the Free Gaza website to get an update. It seems that they had an extra stop on the way. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty Arrive in Chania, Crete, Sunday, 10 August at 19:30 p.m. For further information,

17:41
In pictures
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Middle Eastern competitors in the Beijing Games

17:20
Check out this Washington Post account of ...
» ‎ War and Piece

Check out this Washington Post account of a UN emergency meeting on the Georgian crisis the US called yesterday. The US accused Russia of demanding in a confidential meeting with US Secretary of State Rice the removal of Georgian president...

17:19
Nissan caves in to the Saudis
» ‎ Israel Matzav

Nissan has caved in to the Saudis and will pull that Israeli ad with the Saudis beating up on a Nissan Tiida because it's fuel efficient. The Saudis had threatened Nissan with a region-wide boycott if the ad was not pulled (note - in the US the Tiida is called the Versa). The commercial, produced by the firm of Inbar-Merhav-Shaked, depicts a group of Gulf Arabs in traditional dress and surrounded

15:59
Sorry about the Disengagement...
» ‎ The Muqata

I wanted to blog on Tisha B'Av about it being 3 years since the "Disengagement", but the post didn't materialize.

Then I saw an article last week -- a letter from a soldier, "Maayan" who participated in removing people from their homes in Gush Katif. I wanted to translate and didn't have the time. Arutz Sheva translated it and saved me the effort. The soldier, from a left-wing kibbutz who had never stepped foot inside a settlement till she was sent to evacuate it -- publicized her story -- a request for forgiveness, in an interview with Yedidya Meir on the Kol Chai radio station.

The whole transcript in Hebrew is here. Parts of it are translated into English here (via A7)
"It began when we were sent to Bdolach to help pack up the nursery school. I was simply amazed to see the entire nursery still there, with all the toys and all the games as usual, despite the fact that they were supposed to be evicted three days later. Nobody had packed. While we were packing, a woman came and yelled at us, 'Go away, don't pack, who gave you permission?!' I wanted to talk to her and ask her why she was angry at me.
"Suddenly, she asked me, 'Do you know what they are planning to do with us, or where they're planning to take us?' I didn't have the answer, but I was sure that someone else did. I told her, 'I'll make sure that someone will take care of you. The State certainly has a place for you to live.' I was sure that if this turned out not to be true, we as an ideological movement and as citizens would organize to protest such a thing.

"Three years is not a short time, and things should have straightened out already. But year after year we see that this is not the case. I'm very ashamed to look these people in the eyes. I am ashamed that I represented the values of the State, while the State forgot these values."
Later, apparently the same day, Maayan's army unit was taken to another town-to-be-destroyed, Kfar Darom:
"We entered Kfar Darom. This was the first time I was in Gush Katif. I saw that it looked just like a Kibbutz - large lawns, very nice one-floor houses. I had always thought that 'settlers' meant caravans and poverty, but suddenly I saw how beautiful the place was.
We got to the houses of the families, and then it became very, very hard. The pain that was there, we also felt. We waited for a long time outside the houses, watching from the side as the officers went in and tried to talk with the families. There was one family that decided to leave on its own, but they had an 11-year-old boy who refused. He just yelled and cried and sobbed.

"At one point, his father and brother said they refused to let any soldiers come into their house, and that they would take the boy out by themselves. When they took him out, he simply cried and screamed and kicked. I could see that this was no show. He was doing this in his father's arms. He cried and asked, 'Why are you doing this? How can you leave the house?! Why are you listening to them?!'

"It was a traumatic experience. My [girl]friends started to cry, for the first time. One of them next to me said, 'You'll hear these cries of his as you're giving birth.' It was truly jolting. The cries of that boy are with me every day. They really are."
This reminds me of a post I wrote just after the Disengagement...
Gush Katif, Shirat Hayam. 18-August. The IDF and police have totally surrounded the Beit Knesset of Shirat Hayam, so that a sea of black, blue, and green totally hides the sand in all directions. Atop the shul's roof, is the loudspeaker poll, which allows for 360 degree announcements (which used to be used for security purposes). One of the newer residents of Shirat Hayam. who moved into a tent, 1 month earlier -- Moshe Feiglin, takes the microphone and addresses the soliders.

"I want to tell you a story which happened in the Shomron hills last year. As many of you know, the Israeli government has declared war on many settlements and outposts over the past years, and has used trememdous force to accomplish this objective. In one outpost, Border Police destroyed the house and expelled the family living there. Yet, something happened. One of the border policemen later on decided to be "chozer b'tshuva" and become closer to Judaism. He asked his rav, how to repent for demolishing a fellow Jew's home. His rav replied that he needed to find the family of the home he demolished, and ask their forgiveness. After searching for some time, he located the family, and explained his predicament. The family didn't forgive him, and the dejected policeman returned back to his rav for additional guidance. His rav told him that he would have to rebuild the home for the family.

For the past year, this policeman has left his job, and is building a home for this family, with his own 2 hands, brick by brick.

Soldiers and Police - I ask that you bring a pen and paper with you to every home you "visit" in Gush Katif, and write down a contact number for each family. For the day will come when you too will want to repent for what you are doing now, and you will need to find each family individually, and beg for forgiveness, and maybe even have to personally rebuild these homes.
Its been a G-d awful 3 years.

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

15:04
Vice and virtue
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

The rise of Yemen's new self-styled morality police
14:34
Four women die in Diyala bombing
» ‎ BBC News | Middle East | World Edition

Reports from Baquba, the capital of the Iraqi province of Diyala, say at least four women were killed in a roadside bombing.

14:18
iprcri again..
» ‎ East Med Sea Peace

thoughts while driving to tantur from beit hanina

there was another ipcri conference at tantur last weekend.. some of you may recall my glowing reports from the last two.. i only went for the second day out of the two and it was much more confusing for me than the previous two times..

apparently i missed a great night the night before.. a huge bunch of participants went out to party in bet lehem.. a town under palestinian control.. mas or menos.. everyone had a mad time.. really enjoyed it.. israelis internationals and palos together.. really really had a great time..

i was with a friend having a drink at the american colony.. an old hotel in arab east jerusalem.. right by the palestinian national theatre.. its such a stunning place.. but partying in palestine would have been a rare and wild experience.. my friend works for an NGO and in that context has spent many many days and nights in gaza over the past year.. he is not optimistic about the future of arab and israeli relations.. but that doesnt surprise me coming from someone immersed in the depths of the greatest misery this region can recall seeing..

but it was a heavy experience.. his heaviness is blatantly manifest.. i cant even imagine all the pain he has to confront on a daily basis.. and the contrasts that shock his system as he traverses the wafer thin borders that separate the lavish israelis lifestyle from the herendous gazan conditions that would repulse even the most forgiving pond scum..

i was afraid sleeping in beit hanina.. mildly.. but afraid.. on the cusp of panic.. but i didnt quite cross it.. since having my nigtmare night in the sinai where my fear took over my sense and stole my sleep.. see video below i also experienced a milder version in jordan one night while in the desert and had a similar but much milder version in beit hanina..

behold flash back

beit hanina has its fair slice of prominence in our conflict.. with the town producing high profile victims and perpetrators.. but in any event i made my way to ipcri with some serious thoughts and emotions cooking..

the second day of the conference opened with gavriel salomons lecture parts of which appear in the post below and all of which i highly recommend you view if you havent already.. and then went on to a series of other seminars..

in addition to catching up with old friends i also met some awesome new ones..

at the end of the event we took some people we had met from cyprus who had wone a scholarship to present a multinational youth peace camp program they had devised along with a bedouin friend of ours as well as an american and an israeli photo-journalist and me to a spring in the hills near ein carem.. which happens to be where my dad grew up.. it was awesome.. watching the sunset from the hills over jerusalem as we then made a bonfire and mellowed out..

i have more to say about the conf but itll probably filter through future posts..

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