Tuesday, February 16, 2010

1. Great Work - Report: Top Taliban cmdr. captured and Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar - Cliff May - The Corner on National Review Online - I like this comment:
"He probably has a lot to tell — and the Pakistanis will not read him his Miranda rights."
2. Iran - constantly in the news, constantly on our minds.
I think that notwithstanding Mrs. Clinton's warning, the IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) have been at the forefront of things for a long time. I think that there is a fair analogy to be made between the role of the IRGC in Iran to that served by the SS in Nazi Germany - protect the regime, ensure its philosophical purity, provide units to the armed forces, and be intricately involved in the economic life of the state. Someone agrees with me - The Cutting Edge News.


3. Meanwhile, We Have Our Own Problems - Women of Wall called ‘Nazis’. Shameful.



5. Do You Mean Morally or Financially? Al Qaeda Crippled as Money Is Cut Off - DailyFinance


6. George Galloway - This amazing letter to the Editor was published in yesterday's Halifax newspaper:
Stick to news, not names

In the Feb. 8 article "Diplomat opposed banning Brit MP," the Canadian Press calls George Galloway "a rabble-rousing politician and outspoken supporter of the Palestinian people."

Merriam-Webster defines rabble-rouser as "one that stirs up (as to hatred or violence) the masses of the people." Galloway has spoken out and worked against the deadly sanctions on Iraq, the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the current blockade of Gaza, but I am not aware that he has incited hatred or violence. CP should either provide evidence in the article to back up this charge or refrain from making it.

Furthermore, juxtaposing rabble-rousing with support for rights and justice for the Palestinians is disgraceful. Past and present treatment of the Palestinians is a blight on mankind and a major obstacle to peace. Given what is at stake, this subject should be discussed in a serious and respectful manner. This piece was presented as a news article. So why are we subjected to name-calling and innuendo? I would hope for more professional journalistic standards from The Chronicle Herald in the future.

Jackie Leppard, Simms Settlement

Editor’s note: After checking 18 online dictionary sites and two print editions, I was able to find only three whose definitions of "rabble-rouser" included the words "violence" and/or "hatred." Most defined "rabble-rouser" as "a leader or speaker who stirs up the passions of the masses," or similarly, and many added "typically for political reasons."
Here is the response that I submitted and that I hope will be printed. I have since been advised that in the context of the recent organ theft blood libel, Galloway also compared Jewish doctors to Josef Mengele, the infamous "Angel of Death".
"To the Editor:

So Ms. Leppard wonders whether the characterization of George Galloway as a “rabble rouser” is fair since she is unaware that he has ever incited hatred or violence.

One can easily cite many examples, but perhaps the most loathsome thing that Galloway has said is “[t]oday the Palestinian people in Gaza are the new Warsaw Ghetto, and those who are murdering them are the equivalent of those who murdered the Jews in Warsaw in 1943.” If that ridiculously inaccurate statement does not incite hatred or violence against Israelis and Jews, I do not know what would."



9. Current Reading - An amazing book - I'm about half-way through it. It is not a light and airy read, but it supplements and cements what I have read in other recent studies of Nazi Germany such as Hitler's Beneficiaries and Richard Evans' trilogy - The Coming of the Third Reich, The Third Reich in Power and The Third Reich at War. I submit that in order to truly understand what took place in Nazi Germany, it is essential to understand not just the military side of things or the Shoah by themselves, but the economic and political side of it as well so that there is a full context - such as the unbelievable plundering of every conquered country, the voodoo theories of race, economics and other topics, the court intrigues and rivalries, the corruption, and, of course, the utter disdain for human life.


10. Bittersweet Note - Doug Fieger, the lead singer of the rock group The Knack died the other day. Hands down, the group's most famous song was "My Sharona" - here is some background on the song - 'My Sharona': the real Sharona remembers late Knack singer Doug Fieger | EW.com - as well as a video.

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Monday, February 15, 2010

1. Don't Let me Be Misunderstood - Slaughter the Jews call 'misunderstood'. Yeah. Right. Kindergarten kids come up with better excuses. But don't worry - it's the UK - you'll probably get a gentle rub on your knuckles, if anything at all - I mean - look at your comrades At UCI - Salam Al Marayati: Free 11 Muslim Students Representing America's Conscience.

Note that Mr. Al Marayati, the Executive Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council - DC had the unmitigated gall to state:
"One may disagree with the style and tactics demonstrated by the 11 students, but the central issue is not responding to the disruption by the students. Rather, the main focus should be on understanding what led to that action. The protest of Ambassador Oren's speech did not occur within a vacuum, but rather as a reaction to a string of numerous attempts to stigmatize Muslim students of UCI and squelch their free speech."
He also went on to complain about institutional harassment of Muslim students "as they engage in campus activism". Spare me. Ever been to York? When, if ever, was the last time you heard of pro-Israel activists interrupting a pro-Palestinian or pro-Arab speaker, let alone physically assaulting them? When, if ever, did you hear of a Jewish student trying to kill his fellow university students?

What a bunch of disingenuous crap.


2. There's No Fatwa Like An Old Fatwa - Rushdie death fatwa turns 21 - Jihad Watch



4. Stunner Of The Day - Corruption in the PA

5. Peace, Love & Understanding - Islamists want to prohibit non-Muslims from referring to God as Allah. - By Christopher Hitchens - Slate Magazine - complicated by the fact that in the Malay language, the word for G-d is "Allah".




8. Oh Yeah - Iran -


10. They Know The Subject Well - If Hamas, Syria and Iran know anything, it's murder - Hamas probing Dubai murder with help of Iran and Syria - Haaretz - Israel News


11. Great Song From The Olympics Opening Ceremony - I was quite moved by k d lang's version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" - there does not seem to be a good video version of Friday night's performance available on the net - so here is her singing the song in 2004 - man, can she sing!


12. More Trouble For Toyota? Do they even make lawn mowers?



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Sunday, February 14, 2010 - Olympic Edition

1. The Olympics Are Underway - marred, sadly and tragically, by the death of the Georgian luge athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili (pictured below):


It has also been marred by protesters. Guys, you want to protest - fine. You think that the Olympics are a rich man/woman club - fine. You think that the money should have been spent elsewhere, on schools, health care, etc. - fine. Protest peacefully all you want. But when you intentionally damage property or try to provoke confrontations with police or disrupt the rights of others - well, that's another story.



As far as I am concerned, the authorities should go to the places of residence of the violent protesters and damage their property - the more the better. Besides, don't most of the protesters think that "property" is a bad thing? Check out this comment:

"Many activists appeared peaceful. But a sizeable contingent of black-clad protesters with covered faces used newspaper boxes as battering rams to smash storefront windows. Activists tussled with police and several were hit with wooden batons.
Hill was unapologetic about the actions of militant protesters. “I don’t think buildings have feelings. They are not comprised of vital organs and tissue,” he said."

As usual, one can count on Rex Murphy for a good general perspective - Rex Murphy: Faster. Higher. Stronger. Dumber. - Full Comment
"It turns out some 90 buses rented from California were judged not to be quite capable of making the grade up to Cypress Mountain. What did they expect — they’re California buses, probably all very green, with the carbon footprint of a ball of lint and emission standards lower than a rock. California buses don’t have engines: They have pedals."
2. Anti-Israel Week - Many of the idiotic professional protesters who are busy trying to gum up the Vancouver Games will need to make sure that they get some rest before their next major gig - Israel Apartheid Week - coming soon to a campus near you. In fact - maybe it has already started - The Canadian Jewish News - York security called to Hasbara event. In any event, we'd better get ready too - The Canadian Jewish News - Are we ready for Anti-Israel Week? - Professor Troy makes some excellent points. In the video below, he states his support for Zionism:


3. Zachor (Remember) - a very interesting initiative in Germany - Remembering their past mistakes.

4. The Fall Of Rome - What Can Be Learned? - Works and Days » Why Did Rome Fall—And Why Does It Matter Now?




7. When In Doubt - Blame Israel! - Abbas aide suspended over sex scandal


8. Hey, I've Got An Idea - Ex-IDF commando teaches survival at UC Irvine - why not give him a few minutes with those disgusting pukes that interrupted Ambassador Oren - see how tough they really are.


9. Stick To Your Knitting - Choice A - speak up for real victims of ongoing crises or Choice B - Bash Israel. Most human rights organizations choose B. Commentary » Blog Archive » The Voiceless Victims.



11. No, I Did Not Forget About Iran! - never any shortage of material here.

12. How Can One Use "United Nations" and "Integrity" In The Same Same Sentence? - Op-Ed Contributor - A U.N. Betrayal in Beirut in Case of Rafik Hariri - NYTimes.com. I am shocked!



14. "Word Fetish" and Political Correctness - The case against banning the word 'retard' - washingtonpost.com

15. Andrew Sullivan Responds - the guy who thinks that the US should impose a military solution on Israel - - - - - yes, Israel. Andrew Sullivan's Response - Jeffrey Goldberg

16. More Analysis of Goldstone Idiocy - specifically, that Hamas launched "like two" rockets at Israel just before "Operation Cast Lead" - Commentary » Blog Archive » Re: Goldstoned

17. The Despicable George Galloway - oh, and unbelievably irresponsible journalism - CAMERA: CAMERA Responds to Galloway Coverage in Boston Paper.


18. Funny Video - OK - I think it's funny - from The Onion - some discretion required - also - read the script at the bottom of the screen.

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Friday, February 12, 2010 - pre Shabbat edition

1. Nasty Stuff, Part 1



2. Nasty Stuff, Part 2



4. Iran Really Wants The World's Attention - and the world should give it the attention it deserves.

5. Interesting Dilemma - At the South Pole, The Sabbath Is Welcome Even When the Sun Shines – Forward.com. Which reminds me of the following joke:
The first Jewish astronaut returned from a six week space shuttle mission in which he had orbited the earth every four hours. "So, how do you feel?" the reporter asked. "Exhausted," replied the astronaut. "Do you know how many times I had to say shachris, mincha, and maariv?"

6. Worldwide Jewish Conspiracy Alert - Costa Rica Elects Jewish V.P. – Forward.com




9. Obsession - Something Much Darker | The New Republic - Andrew Sullivan has a problem - Israel




12. The Next Frontier - Human rights' next frontier: Your parking lot - Are you kidding me?

13. You Must Be High - Commentary » Blog Archive » Iran to the UN Human Rights Council!! This defies belief, though I suppose in a world where Syria had a stint on the UN Security Council and Libya was on the Human Rights Council, I suppose anything is possible.


14. Another Amazing Israeli Advance - Haifa scientists’ find may help millions


16. MASHAV (the Hebrew acronym for the Center for International Cooperation) - Institute for Global Jewish Affairs – Global Antisemitism, Anti-Israelism, Jewish Studies - I wonder if Israel's neighbors do this?


17. Living Well Is The Best Revenge - 'I look at the good' - Haaretz - Israel News

18. Peyton Manning - He is not my favorite quarterback, but this shows he has a sense of humor (it's a bit off-color, but I think it's hilarious).

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