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Health Care, Israeli-Style
August 9, 2012 | 58 comments
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My ‘Israeli’ Roots
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Israel’s Egypt Conundrum
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Report From an ‘Asymmetrical’ War
March 13, 2012 | 76 comments
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Still in Denial on Iran
February 20, 2012 | 137 comments
At Large
Kicking the Palestinian Addiction
Who’s in the mood for another Arab dictatorship?
The Palestinians have faded from view lately. There’s been an “Arab Spring,” an intensifying Iranian issue, elections in the U.S., economic travails. True, the Obama administration and the EU keep forking over funds to the Palestinian Authority. But the obsession with securing sovereign statehood for the Palestinians seems to have fallen off lately.
Will it return? That may — or may not — depend in part on who gets crowned U.S. president in November. For decades both Republican and Democratic administrations have — like much of the rest of the world — elevated Palestinian statehood into a supreme goal. But recent developments suggest that a rethink is necessary.
There is, to begin with, the “Arab Spring” itself. Not much more than a year ago, it was still seen in some quarters as a harbinger of democracy and progress. But by now this “spring” has dissolved into a spectacle of empowered Islamism, anarchy, and severe brutality — particularly, at present, in the daily atrocity stories from Syria.
Against this backdrop, it needs to be asked whether creating still another Arab state — a Palestinian one — would be either prudent or moral. Indeed, several of the already-existing Arab states were 20th-century Western creations. Of these, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, for instance, have been afflicted with internal strife sometimes escalating to the mass murder of tens of thousands of people. All the 21 sovereign states of the Arab League are dictatorships beset with corruption and poverty. Neither the “Arab Spring” nor the earlier, vaunted democratization project of President George W. Bush has changed this situation, suggesting how deep-seated the pathologies are.
The two already-existing Palestinian entities, of course, exhibit the pathologies. Semisovereign, Hamas-run Gaza is an Islamist dictatorship that fires rockets into Israel. The West Bank Palestinian Authority — autonomous under ultimate Israeli security control — is also a dictatorship, torture rampant in its prisons, journalists muzzled. Its corruption is notorious. And like Gaza, the West Bank PA is an incubator of anti-Israeli incitement and hatred. As for internal strife, already in 2007 Hamas and Fatah fought a vicious skirmish in Gaza, throwing each other off tall buildings.
Even apart from the seemingly intractable problem of the Palestinians’ bifurcation into Hamas-run Gaza and the Fatah-dominated PA, it is, then, hard to see how conferring full sovereignty on the Palestinians would promote peace with Israel, or U.S. and Western interests. Terror and possibly war with Israel, further destabilizing rather than stabilizing the region, would be much more probable from any empirical standpoint.
To this the likely objection is that the status quo is “untenable,” that Israel cannot keep “ruling” (i.e., maintaining security control over) the West Bank without losing its Jewish-democratic character.
“Untenable,” however, is a figment of Western and some Israeli imaginations. It essentially means “morally untenable.” But creating yet another Arab dictatorship is hardly a moral requirement. The fact that about four million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza live without the full sovereignty — for what it’s worth — formally possessed by over 300 million of their Arab brethren in the Arab dictatorships is not something to toss and turn at night over.
A variant of the “untenable” claim is the “demographic argument,” which says the Israeli Jewish population will soon be swamped by the total Arab-Palestinian population between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean. That argument, though, is irrelevant to Gaza now that Israel has left it. And as for the West Bank, the vast majority of the Palestinians in it live under PA jurisdiction in all areas of life including educational, religious, legal, administrative, and even most aspects of internal security.
They are, in short, not part of the Israeli polity and no more demographically relevant to it than their Gaza counterparts. Moreover, the latest data show that even the supposedly higher Arab-Palestinian fertility rate is declining while the Israeli Jewish rate is on the upswing.
There are, indeed, downsides for Israel in the current situation. Gaza with its fast-growing arsenal of rockets and other weapons is a security problem that may in fact become untenable, forcing decisive Israeli military action and possible partial or full reoccupation. And in the West Bank, the high degree of autonomy Israel grants has meant allowing PA hate education to continue, carrying the potential for security eruptions as well.
But these are problems for Israel to handle. For the U.S., there would be no upside to resuming the pressure on Israel to pursue a chimerical “peace.” Far too much U.S. and European attention has already been lavished on the Palestinians compared to other, truly distressed populations of the world. It’s time to kick the habit.
About the Author
P. David Hornik is a writer and translator in Beersheva, Israel, blogging at PDavidHornik.typepad.com.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (76) | Leave a comment
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Clint| 5.8.12 @ 6:43AM
Take Away All Of Their American Taxpayers Force Confiscated Paid For Rice Bowls.
Dr.Ron Paul,
"While President Obama’s demand that Israel
make hard concessions in her border conflicts may very well be in her
long-term interest, only Israel can make that determination on her own,
without pressure from the United States or coercion by the United
Nations.
“Unlike this President, I do not believe it is our place to dictate how
Israel runs her affairs. There can only be peace in the region if those
sides work out their differences among one another. We should respect
Israel’s sovereignty and not try to dictate her policy from Washington.
“The President also defended his unconstitutional intervention in Libya,
authorized not by the United States Congress but by the United Nations,
and announced new plans to pressure Syria and force the leader of that
country to step down.
“Our military is already dangerously extended, and this administration
wants to expand our involvement. When will our bombing in Libya end? Is
President Obama seriously considering military action against Syria? We
are facing $2 trillion dollar deficits, and the American taxpayer cannot
afford any of it.
“Our military’s purpose is to defend our country, not to police the
Middle East.
“As the President prepares to send even more support to Egypt, we should
be reminded that it was our foreign aid that helped Mubarak retain power
to repress his people in the first place. Now we have to deal with the
consequences of those decisions, yet we keep repeating the same mistakes.
“I am not the only one who can see the absurdities of our foreign
policy. We give $3 billion to Israel and $12 billion to her enemies.
Most Americans know that makes no sense.
“We need to come to our senses, trade with our friends in the Middle
East (both Arab and Israeli), clean up our own economic mess so we set a
good example, and allow them to work out their own conflicts.”
Jack in Wi.| 5.8.12 @ 7:12AM
The only solution for the problems in historic Palistine is a one state solution with equal civil, religious, and human rights for all. If the Israeli Jews didn't like the neighbors why did they steal the neighborhood, in the firstplace? The numbers of non Jews in historic Palistine is larger then the number of Israeli Jews already. Over 1 million Jews have left Israel already and many more have 2 passports. Zionism has always been a bad idea. It is only getting worse every day.
No one preached against the evils of apartheid in South Africa and segregation in this country then the Jews of those country's. It is now time to practice what you used to preach. Integrate all of all Palisitine now. The Torah in the book of Leviticus tells Jews to love their neighbors as themselves. In the same book it tells them to treat the alins among them as they do themselves. The answer is right in the Torah. Love and make peace with your neighbors. Jews have survived for 3000 years by being mostly useful and peaceful neighbors.
The Truth| 5.8.12 @ 8:03AM
"Springtime for Hitler and Germany"
-The Producers(movie)-1968
And now ladies and gentleman, fresh from the pages at Stormfront as the real life "Franz Liebkind(Ken Mars)"
I bring you, Jack(Hasbarats "R" them) from Wi.!!!!
Jack in Wi.| 9.10.11 @ 10:04AM
"Whatever good INDIVIDUAL Jews have done in the world pails in comparission to the bad of the last 200 years. Atheism, communism, Socialism, Nuclear Weapons, expansionist Zionism, nuclear blackmail and abortion"
---------
Jack in Wi| 11.3.11 @ 4:28PM
"I have never writen any anti-semitic coments on this site"
Jack in Wi. 4-26-12
"And they think we should be cry forever about the SO CALLED holocaust"
"At least Obama hates Netanyahu"
"It's alright to hate evil and the devil. Netanyahu is the devil incarnate. He is Hitler on steroids"
"Hitler didn't own most of the American political class, like Netanyahu does. That makes him as bad as Hitler probably worse anyday"
"Hitler never called out so blatanly for the mass murder of millions like is done everyday on this site. He had at least the DECENCY to not do that"(what a swell guy)
"I don't demonize any race"
Jack in Wi.| 5.1.12 @ 8:06AM
"It is time to make PEACE not war"
"Those who live by the sword will die by the sword"(can we say hypocrite?)
------
"We need a second WAR of independence'
"Hitler didn't have 500 atomic weapons and plans to use them"
(Huh? Ok, The Romans didn't have AK47's and a plan to use them!)
"He(Hitler) at least pretended to be for peace most of the time before the war"
"Hitler had the best poison nerve gas in the world, in large supplies, and DIDN"T use it" (Holocaust victims might disagree here)
"Wall and the Federal Reserve and their disastrous policies have been headed by Jewish people in many instances. hollywood and the media which pushed pro war propaganda prior to WW2 was and is headed in large by Jewish people."(they are everywhere folks, behind every tree, bush, or fence)
"Then there are the five Mossad agents dancing and high fiving on the Jersey shore as the World Trade Center collapsed. I have to believe that story.(it was those damn Jews again, can we say 9-11 truther?)
And Remember:
Jack in Wisc.
"I know more than everybody here including the editors"
(Can we say Hubris?)
And that is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
May God so help you.
Clint| 5.8.12 @ 5:16PM
The Truth.
" Ex-Israeli officials criticize Netanyahu’s bellicose stance on Iran
The former head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency has criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak for adopting a bellicose stance on Iran, according to the Haaretz daily.
Yuval Diskin, who was speaking at a public meeting in Beit-ul-Moqaddas (Jerusalem) on Friday, said Israel’s political leaders are exaggerating the effectiveness of a possible military attack on Iran, AP reported.
“I don’t have faith in the current leadership of Israel…,” he stated.
“I do not believe in a leadership that makes decisions based on Messianic feelings,” Diskin added.
Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan backed Diskin on Sunday, saying that he disagrees with Netanyahu’s policy on solving Iran’s issue, according to Haaretz.
He also called a strike against Iran’s nuclear program “stupid”, AP reported.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at a conference hosted by the Jerusalem Post in New York on Sunday that he is against an attack on Iran, criticizing Netanyahu’s policy on Iran, Bloomberg reported.
In addition, Israel’s military chief Lieutenant General Benny Gantz, in an interview with Haaretz published on April 25, said that he does not believe Iran will decide to develop nuclear weapons, describing the country’s leadership as “very rational”.
“I think the Iranian leadership is comprised of very rational people,” Gantz stated.
Jack in Wi.| 5.8.12 @ 6:25PM
I can defend everyone of those statments in context, even not in context. There is absolutly nothing anti-semitic about them. My whole time and writing here is about peace, universal brotherhood, and the quest for truth and justice. The fact that the propaganda ministry in Israel keeps file on me is quite a compliment. We all know what a pack of liars and spinners they are.
Clint keep up your fine work. We all know that many Jews in Israel and the diaspora want nothing to do with another war and want peace.
MikeG| 5.8.12 @ 7:30PM
We have Clint and Jack defending each other daily and both hate Israel.
Clint| 5.8.12 @ 10:00PM
Wrong, Israel Firster Smear Bund Liar, Micky G.
We Tea Party Patriots Are America Firsters.
We Don't Give A Rat's Ass About Your Israel Firster Traitor Bastard Agenda, Bibi Punk.
Alan Brooks| 5.8.12 @ 9:35PM
AS almost acts as if Clint and Jack are obligated to appreciate Israel; plus, the "Producer's" jab is getting stale, neither are Nazi-sympathizers-- you have to go to Dixie for that, to meet David Duke and his cohorts. Duke is one person who will come to a bad end: if there is a God, Duke will die a v. painful death, as so many Nazis did in 1945.
KyMouse| 5.8.12 @ 8:35AM
In December 2007, a survey that was part of the Israel Public Opinion Update found that most (62%) Arab citizens of Israel would rather remain Israeli citizens rather than become citizens of a future Palestinian state.
A poll conducted by Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government in June 2008 reported that 77% of Israeli-Arabs would rather remain in their native land as Israeli citizens than in any other country in the world.
Jack in Wi.| 5.8.12 @ 6:29PM
The vast majority of Israeli Arab citizens want equal rights before the law and a secular state, with all Palistine united. So cut out with the lies and nonsense. There are also a significant minority of the Jewish population who wants the same thing. If Integration and equal rights was good enough for South Africa and Alabama it is good enough for Israel.
Harry the Horrible| 5.8.12 @ 9:57AM
Riiiight.
The Palis won't elect an Islamist government the second they have a electoral majority in the "one state," to be followed by the extermination of the Jews. They're much better folks thnt Egyptians, Libyans, Yemenis, etc.
The CORRECT one state solution would have been to force Egypt and Jordan to take back Gaza and the West Bank, respectively.
Unfortunately, with an Islamist government forming in Egypt, that would just give the Egyptian army a jumping off point deep inside Israel.
The next best outcome would be to kick the Palis entirely out of Gaza and the West Bank and annex them. But "world opinion" won't allow such a logical move.
So we're stuck with what we have.
RCV| 5.8.12 @ 2:27PM
Jack - "Equal rights for all" is a laugh. There is no such state in the Arab Middle East. Islam dominates them. Christians are second-class, Jews virtually non-existant. And even the Arab Muslims in those states have fewer civil and political rights than Arabs in Israel. Can you even imagine a Jew in any existing Arab country getting elected to parliament (powerless as it is), standing up and then praising Israel and criticizing the Arab state -- Arab MPs in Israel criticize that state every day.
Your fantasy is an illusion - an illusion that would lead to the physical annihilation of Jews ... which would be just peachy with you.
Jack in Wi.| 5.8.12 @ 6:38PM
Baloney:Turkey has had a secular government for almost 90 years. It is an imperfect democracy just like Israel. Lebanon is also a secular democracy where several religions have divided rights. It also is an imperfect democracy. The Christian communities had a lot of freedom of worship and other rights uder both Saddam Hussain and the Assads in Syria. A lot better then they will have in the future. CBS on 60 minutes just had a segment on how bad the Christians in Israel are treated. We all know how disgusting the Israeli treatment of the Muslims under their control is.
The Jewish communities in most Muslim countries before Israels founding were often quite prosperous and well respected and had been for a long time. So cut out with all the lies and BS.
W| 5.8.12 @ 7:28PM
Jack
Name one Arab country where the Arabs have more civil rights and economic freedom than the Arabs in Israel.
Turkey has a history of the massacre of two million Armenians in 1917, preceeded by centuries of violent conquest. Turkey was moving slowly towards democracy but it seems the Muslim fundamentalist are taking over. Imperfect democracy is a good description of Turkey, but Israel is a real democracy.
Your hatred for Israel and Jews clouds all your facts and arguments.
RCV| 5.8.12 @ 9:29PM
Turkey is not an Arab country, Jack. Lebanon is a mess. Once the Maronite Christians lost power, it deteriorated into intra-Muslim anarchy. It has never been a functioning democracy. Your comments about treatment of Christians in Israel is utter nonsense, as anyone who has been there knows. And if you want to read up on the endless pogroms and attacks on Christians that reared up in every Muslim Arab country over the past two centuries with predictable regularity, you might learn something. It's not a pretty history.
Oldefarte| 5.8.12 @ 3:52PM
'.....Newsmax Israel Reacts to Campus Anti-Semitism Tuesday, May 8, 2012 12:24 PM
By: Herbert London At long last an attempt is being made to curtail blatant anti-Semitic commentary at American universities. The Israel Law Center warns that universities “may be liable for massive damage” if they fail to prevent anti-Semitism on campus.
The center sent hundreds of letters to university presidents drawing a line in the sand. This Israel civil rights center is carrying out this campaign in response to an alarming number of incidents against Jewish and Israeli students at U.S. universities.A center’s lawyer, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner said, “Anti-Israel rallies and events frequently exceed legitimate criticism of Israel and cross the line into blatant anti-Semitism, resulting in hateful attacks against Jews.” A student at Rutgers, to cite one example, said he was called “a racist Zionist pig” in a public Facebook posting. That comment was made when the student questioned a Student Assembly decision to donate money to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, a nonprofit organization with ties to the Holy Land Foundation, a foundation that has funded Hamas — a recognized terrorist organization.
University officials noted that free-speech provisions militate against disciplinary action; clearly a case can and should be made for the free and open exchange of ideas on campus. In fact, every provision should be made to foster free speech. However, intimidation is another matter. Using methods to stifle free speech is the overarching issue. As George Santayana noted, “The first duty of the tolerant person is to be intolerant to intolerance.” Ms. Darshan-Leitner contends that “perpetrators of hate” are exploiting academic freedom and First Amendment provisions to create an environment of intimidation, one that prevents Jews from exercising their free speech.
Presumably the warning distributed by the center will prompt U.S. colleges and universities to take appropriate action against the growing problem of campus hate.A former Brandeis student, Hershel Hartz, maintains that universities have a double standard in which anti-Semitism is protected as free speech while other designated ethnicities are scrupulously protected from discriminatory acts.
The center letter also points to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project which held it illegal to provide support to a terrorist organization, even for supposed humanitarian purposes (a clear reference to the Rutgers program).The center’s notice sets the stage for a responsible reaction to the rash of anti-Semitic actions on American campuses. As I see it, it is about time.........'
W| 5.8.12 @ 4:32PM
None of the Arab countries, such as Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, wanted the "Palestinians" in their countries. They, and the PLO, preferred to keep the Palestinians in refugee camps t0 keep alive the phony issue of Israel supposedly taking the Palestinians' land. In fact, Jordan expelled the Palestinians, who are Arabs. With all the land in the Middle East, why do the Arab countries insist that Israel, about 5 million Jews, must be destroyed?
RCV| 5.8.12 @ 5:35PM
And the Jordanians and Egyptians only started complaining AFTER they lost the Arab parts of Palestine to Israel in 1967. Before that, they refused to acknowledge that there was such a thing as a "Palestinian" nationality. Jordan insisted -- and correctly so -- that it was created to be Arab Palestine, and in fact the Palestinian National Congress endorsed that view when Jordan incorporated the West Bank into its country in 1948. Egypt went further, and under Nasser proclaimed that there was only one Arab Nation (remember the "United Arab Republic") - resurrecting the old Arab dream that TE Lawrence and other British Arabists fought for.
W| 5.8.12 @ 6:32PM
Yes, the UAR consisting of Egypt, Syria, and Iraq, the three countries that were always at war with Israel.
John786| 5.8.12 @ 6:51AM
Ahistorical fairy tales. A few corrections: the Arab spring came to the Palestinians first but was cruelly snuffed out; the Israelis never left Gaza but instead turned into the world's largest prison; the west bank is the southafrican equivalent of the Bantu states. Zionism is already dead: killed by its own overreach, failure to evolve, addiction to stealing Palestinian land. The Palestinians will succeed in their quest for civil rights and equality: the march for freedom is never easy. The indigenous peoples of Palestine will be free. And the refugees will come home.
Ryan| 5.8.12 @ 8:53AM
"Freedom..." Right. How are any in a Muslim-dominated country free? Free to speak? Free to worship?
Paul Kotik| 5.8.12 @ 9:13AM
This guy is promising! He might take out Jack in WI as the dumbest-ass commentor on this site.
Todd S| 5.8.12 @ 3:23PM
He is a Muslim Jew hater so naturally him and Jack agree
Herb| 5.8.12 @ 7:23AM
Our local Nazis are off to an early start this morning.
Vox pop| 5.8.12 @ 7:27AM
"Jews have survived for 3000 years by being mostly useful and peaceful neighbors." Yeah, like in Germany in 1933. Idiot!!!
Harry the Horrible| 5.8.12 @ 10:00AM
I don't know where he got that.
Last time I checked, for the last 1000+ years, Jews have endured pogroms, purges, discrimination, and oppression, culminating in the Holocaust.
Skippy| 5.8.12 @ 4:32PM
He got it from his fathers.
1400 years of Mohammed-approved inbreeding has made Arabs in general and Muslims in particular the stupidest, lowest IQ, most genetically damaged people on Earth.
Any wonder why Israel, with a fraction of the Arab population and weaponry, has managed to kick Arab ass for 64 years?
Dr. John| 5.8.12 @ 7:28AM
The idea for Jack and John is: dissolve the world's only Jewish state! Hmm, I wonder what sort of sentiments that stems from....
John786| 5.8.12 @ 7:59AM
I see that legitimate concerns regarding the civil rights & dispossession of the Palestinians are met with Nazi jibes by blind followers of Israel. very low indeed. The dreams of an exclusive ethno- religious state in the heart of the ME is going to flounder & is floundering on its own contradictions. Israel's friends should strongly advice it to recognise the rights of the Palestinian people: only then can we have closure on this open wound so that Jews & Arabs can walk as brothers in the land .
Ryan| 5.8.12 @ 8:55AM
Let the Palestinians cease randomly firing rockets into civilian areas while hiding behind women and children and mosques, first.
Let them denounce the Protocols of the Elders or Scion as the fraud it is first.
John786| 5.8.12 @ 10:19AM
If you know anything about gaza you will know that: the words hiding & gaza are an oxymoron. And yes that Palestinian should take a leaf out of the great, great Mahatma Ghandi and turn their struggle into a peaceful civil rights movement.
Skippy| 5.8.12 @ 4:34PM
"The dreams of an exclusive ethno- religious state in the heart of the ME is going to flounder & is floundering on its own contradictions"
Does that mean Iran has gone secular, or that you are a moron?
nathan| 5.8.12 @ 12:46PM
The rights of any given individual is not dependent on what someone else does. Since when do we assign blame to whole groups for the actions of a small numbers of individuals? The unalienable rights doctrine says we, a we which is universal and covers Palestinians too, are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights. We, individually, by our own actions can forfeit our rights by harming another individual, but they cannot be taken away from us unless we do so.
Individual Palestinians therefore are entitled to what we in this country consider "Fifth Amendment" rights regarding their land, rights that the Israelis systematically deprive them of. And the fact that a terrorist blows himself up does not mean all Palestinians are responsible. That's like saying all Irish were responsible for the IRA terrorism or all Germans were responsible for Bader Meinhoff or all southerners should have been thrown in jail for the actions of the Klan. No, we put people in jail, we take away property only when we accuse, try, and convict THEM and THEM alone of a criminal act.
By the way, what was the nominal religion of the people carrying out the Holocaust? It wasn't Islam was it? More Jews were murdered by the so called good guy Christians in six years than probably in the entire history of islam. So try to be a little less holier than thou here folks.
KyMouse| 5.8.12 @ 1:43PM
Nathan, it's odd that you say "more Jews were murdered by the so called good guy Christians in six years..." when you, Jack in Wi, Dmitry, and John786 appear to be the only people here who want to see the Jewish state of Israel harmed by her enemies, or at least vulnerable to them.
I would venture to guess that most of the rest of us are Christians who love and respect Israel, the Jewish homeland.
Dmitry Aleksandrovich| 5.9.12 @ 11:32AM
What about the Palestinian Christians who were forced off their land by the zionists. I know many Palestinian Christians personally and they have no illusions about the zionist state.
Ryan| 5.10.12 @ 8:19AM
Palestinians, as a group, are responsible for whom they allow to have political power over them - such as Hamas or Hezbollah, for taking money for Iranians, for allowing militant groups among them
Paul Kotik| 5.8.12 @ 9:15AM
I'll pay top dollar for the stuff you're smoking. Please contact me at 1-800-277-1000.
Paul| 5.8.12 @ 12:31PM
Speaking of nazis, maybe the name Haj Amin al-Husseini might ring a bell for you, father of the Modern Jihad and Nazi lover extraordinare. Check the net, lovely pics of him meeting with Hitler and the future boys from brazil. Nazi jibes, Huh?
USSAlabama| 5.8.12 @ 12:57PM
"Iran" (formerly known as Persia) is Persian for "Aryan".
Lend any clarity?
Bob K.| 5.8.12 @ 10:32AM
See the second paragraph, second sentence above: ". ........... --depend in part who gets CROWNED U.S. President in November."
Maybe it is starting to sink in! We have an elective Monarchy now! References like this are becoming more common place in American political writing.
Everything that happens now depends on who we elect King every election cycle. Since it takes a year and a half to determine this in order for the media make a fortune from it these problems will have to be decided by our Monarch during the first two and a half years of his regime while near anarchy takes over for the remaining year and half.
John Lukacs wrote an entire chapter about "The Degeneration of Popular Democracy into a Publicity Contest" in Chapter 7-"The Elective Monarchy" in his: A NEW REPUBLIC -- A History of the United States in the Twentieth Century."
The world being what it is, it is too serious a business to let our election process continue this long. We should be able to chose and nominate candidates and ultimately elect a President in 6 months at the most!
USSAlabama| 5.8.12 @ 10:54AM
Obviously none of you have been there. Not even as tourists.
It is far too easy to make imaginary political scenarios
that always work -- in your mind, because the mind is capable
of endless fantasies.
Until you have lived it ... seen with your own eyes,
had an attempt on your life where you feared you
would end as nothing more than a report on a cable news channel ---- just keep your fantasies to yourself!
It just makes you look as stupid as you must be to entertain ridiculous notions.
KyMouse| 5.8.12 @ 11:25AM
Very true, USSAlabama -- many Israelis, whether Jewish, Arab or tourist, are understandably concerned that a missle fired from Gaza (or other hostile place) might hit them.
Since January 2011, approximately 583 rockets and 300 mortar shells fired from Gaza have hit Israeli civilian areas.
(Source: the Jewish Virtual Library, "Terrorism" section)
USSAlabama| 5.8.12 @ 7:47PM
I was almost killed on a road leaving Jerusalem down to the Dead Sea.
The whole scenario has an effect not realized here in the States.
The car I was in, the color of my hair, how tall I appeared, ALL play in to the attempt on ones life, and much more.
You can NEVER know until you have experienced it.
Abdul Achmed Bin Sultan| 5.8.12 @ 11:00AM
"Who's in the mood for another Arab dictatorship?"
I am! I am! Make me dictator for a month and I will steal $15 million of UN money (can't be greedy), buy a Kwikee Mart franchise , and than disappear to LA. I wan't out of this hell-hole! The Jews can have it! I just want a life!
Ahma Becha Behan| 5.8.12 @ 12:56PM
Unlike you cradle muslims, I had to find Allah while being unjustly persecuted by the Man for my unsanctioned redistribution of wealth. You bring your bad self out to my part of LA and I’ll bust a cap in your infidel ass when I’m robbin’ your Quikee Mart.
Dmitry Aleksandrovich| 5.8.12 @ 11:46AM
We need to end the Israeli addiction. In fact we need to end foreign aid across the board to Israel and the P.A. alike. As for the idea of Palestinian statehood, Palestinians have more of a right to the land then the European zionists who currently occupy it.
KyMouse| 5.8.12 @ 3:23PM
That's classic, Dmitry. Classic hatred of Jews, that is.
Most of the Jewish people were forcibly driven out of their ancient homeland, and had to find somewhere else to live. For most of them, that meant Europe. Their ancestors didn't want to leave Jerusalem and the surrouding area, but they were forced to.
Today, people such as you say that they are merely Europeans -- but their ancestors would gladly have remained in their homeland. People such as you criticize them for something they couldn't help.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.....usalem.JPG -- file photo of the "sacking of Jerusalem" from the Arch of Titus in Rome.
See that menorah? The arch commemorates the destruction of JEWISH Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
Where are the "Palestinian" coins and artifacts from that time -- and from centuries before?
Dmitry Aleksandrovich| 5.8.12 @ 8:35PM
I forgot to add that the Palestinian Jews who were also native to the land have claim on it but the European zionists and their descendants do not. I don't hate Jews. Neither for their bloodline nor for their religion. However that does not mean that you will ever catch me waving an Israeli flag around because you won't. Free Palestine!
Kingofthenet| 5.8.12 @ 3:59PM
Dmitry, see you can't talk sense like that, didn't you know that it's Anti-Semitic, funny considering MOST Israelis aren't but most Palestinians ARE.
Dmitry Aleksandrovich| 5.8.12 @ 8:41PM
It speaks to the devious nature of the zionist (not the Jew but the zionist) and the ignorance and idiocy of the American gentiles who kiss their ass whether from their extremely flawed pseudo Christianity (championed by the likes of John Hagee) or from their view of the Jews as perpetual victims not realizing that the zionists victimized Palestinians both Christian and Muslim during and after the creation of the zionist state of Israel.
RCV| 5.8.12 @ 2:32PM
... ah, the heir of the authors of the "Protocol of the Elders of Zion" speaks.
Dmitry Aleksandrovich| 5.8.12 @ 8:41PM
I've never read the book.
RCV| 5.8.12 @ 9:31PM
It was concocted by the Russian government and still very popular there, as well as the Arab Middle East.
Occam's Tool| 5.8.12 @ 3:33PM
To the Palestinians: Molon Labe.
To the idiots like Jack, etc.---you want to destabilize the defense position of a supposed aggtressive state that has 400 nukes, go right ahead.
To Dmitry: My deceased grandmother had PTSD due to what scum like you did to her in the old country. I, however, am a completely different type, your Russian piece of vomit. Ne kulturny, shove your misshapen head up your swollen ass. You don't like what I say, come up to Northwestern Minnesota and find me.
Kingofthenet| 5.8.12 @ 4:05PM
Always the Victim, NEVER the Victimizer...
Remember Kids, 'Never Forget' ONLY applies to Jews, the rest of us can all die for all they care.
RCV| 5.8.12 @ 5:36PM
What garbage.
Dmitry Aleksandrovich| 5.8.12 @ 8:46PM
I am 30 years old Occam. I never met your grandmother (God rest her soul) and I think that their were injustices done by my fellow Orthodox Christians to your people and for that I would beg your forgiveness. However that does not mean I will not speak out on behalf of Palestinians and against the zionist abuses against them. I have nothing against Jews for their race or their religion as I have said before. It is highly unlikely that we will ever cross paths. If we do I have no animosity against you, but if you want to fight then we will.
Kingofthenet| 5.9.12 @ 2:34AM
Dmitry, you are a FAIR person, that will NOT do, when it comes to looking at the Israel/ Palestinian affairs....
Occam's Tool| 5.8.12 @ 3:34PM
Sorry: "aggressive." To Dimitry: you are a scum sucking goat screwing scumbag, like your sister/ mother.
Dmitry Aleksandrovich| 5.8.12 @ 9:07PM
I don't have a sister and you should leave mother's out of it. Maybe you should learn to debate instead of being a kneejerk moron.
Kingofthenet| 5.8.12 @ 3:57PM
The Author 'TRUE' goal is evident, it's the SAME as the Bibi, keep stealing the land and maybe someday expel ALL the Palestinians to some other Territory. It isn't going to happen, but Bibi can dream...
Skippy| 5.8.12 @ 4:46PM
Who's gonna stop him?
Arabs?
Ha!
Every time they try, they die in waves.
Which is fun to watch, but uses up a lot of valuable ammunition.
Dmitry Aleksandrovich| 5.8.12 @ 9:08PM
It's funny you are amused when Arabs die but not when Jews die. What a piece of shit you are Skippy.
Kingofthenet| 5.9.12 @ 2:40AM
Yeah, it's pretty simple for them, Dmitry.... they REALLY don't care....
Oldefarte| 5.8.12 @ 3:57PM
And once more for you anti-Semitic AH's out there:
'.....Newsmax Israel Reacts to Campus Anti-Semitism Tuesday, May 8, 2012 12:24 PM
By: Herbert London At long last an attempt is being made to curtail blatant anti-Semitic commentary at American universities. The Israel Law Center warns that universities “may be liable for massive damage” if they fail to prevent anti-Semitism on campus.
The center sent hundreds of letters to university presidents drawing a line in the sand. This Israel civil rights center is carrying out this campaign in response to an alarming number of incidents against Jewish and Israeli students at U.S. universities.A center’s lawyer, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner said, “Anti-Israel rallies and events frequently exceed legitimate criticism of Israel and cross the line into blatant anti-Semitism, resulting in hateful attacks against Jews.” A student at Rutgers, to cite one example, said he was called “a racist Zionist pig” in a public Facebook posting. That comment was made when the student questioned a Student Assembly decision to donate money to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, a nonprofit organization with ties to the Holy Land Foundation, a foundation that has funded Hamas — a recognized terrorist organization.
University officials noted that free-speech provisions militate against disciplinary action; clearly a case can and should be made for the free and open exchange of ideas on campus. In fact, every provision should be made to foster free speech. However, intimidation is another matter. Using methods to stifle free speech is the overarching issue. As George Santayana noted, “The first duty of the tolerant person is to be intolerant to intolerance.” Ms. Darshan-Leitner contends that “perpetrators of hate” are exploiting academic freedom and First Amendment provisions to create an environment of intimidation, one that prevents Jews from exercising their free speech.
Presumably the warning distributed by the center will prompt U.S. colleges and universities to take appropriate action against the growing problem of campus hate.A former Brandeis student, Hershel Hartz, maintains that universities have a double standard in which anti-Semitism is protected as free speech while other designated ethnicities are scrupulously protected from discriminatory acts.
The center letter also points to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project which held it illegal to provide support to a terrorist organization, even for supposed humanitarian purposes (a clear reference to the Rutgers program).The center’s notice sets the stage for a responsible reaction to the rash of anti-Semitic actions on American campuses. As I see it, it is about time.........'
Dmitry Aleksandrovich| 5.8.12 @ 9:11PM
So not standing by the zionist state of Israel is anti-semitism now, but injustices against semitic Palestinians by zionists is not anti-semitism. I think this is what George Orwell meant by double speak of which zionists and neo-cons are well skilled at.
Kingofthenet| 5.9.12 @ 2:43AM
Yup, are you surprised? It is a shame, no one cares, because the Jews were treated badly a long time ago....
Kingofthenet| 5.8.12 @ 4:00PM
How do you know when Bibi tells a Fibi?....his Lips Move.
Clint| 5.8.12 @ 5:18PM
Ex-Israeli officials criticize Netanyahu’s bellicose stance on Iran.
" Ex-Israeli officials criticize Netanyahu’s bellicose stance on Iran
The former head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency has criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak for adopting a bellicose stance on Iran, according to the Haaretz daily.
Yuval Diskin, who was speaking at a public meeting in Beit-ul-Moqaddas (Jerusalem) on Friday, said Israel’s political leaders are exaggerating the effectiveness of a possible military attack on Iran, AP reported.
“I don’t have faith in the current leadership of Israel…,” he stated.
“I do not believe in a leadership that makes decisions based on Messianic feelings,” Diskin added.
Former Mossad chief Meir Dagan backed Diskin on Sunday, saying that he disagrees with Netanyahu’s policy on solving Iran’s issue, according to Haaretz.
He also called a strike against Iran’s nuclear program “stupid”, AP reported.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said at a conference hosted by the Jerusalem Post in New York on Sunday that he is against an attack on Iran, criticizing Netanyahu’s policy on Iran, Bloomberg reported.
In addition, Israel’s military chief Lieutenant General Benny Gantz, in an interview with Haaretz published on April 25, said that he does not believe Iran will decide to develop nuclear weapons, describing the country’s leadership as “very rational”.
“I think the Iranian leadership is comprised of very rational people,” Gantz stated.
Mickey| 5.8.12 @ 7:31PM
KKKlinty is now defending Iran.
Clint| 5.8.12 @ 10:03PM
Call Bibi, Towel Boy, Little Micky.
Dr. John| 5.8.12 @ 5:21PM
Ex-IDF intelligence chief: A nuclear Iran more dangerous than military strike
At a conference in U.S., Amos Yadlin says Iran has a 'sophisticated' strategy to pursue nuclear weapons that is 'unfortunately' working.
By Natasha Mozgovaya Tags: Iran Iran nuclear Iran threat
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Former Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Yadlin said on Saturday that a nuclear Iran would be more dangerous than carrying out a military strike on Iran.
Speaking from the crowd in respone to a panel discussion at the Washington Institute's 2012 Weinberg Founders Conference in Virginia, Yadlin said Iran has a "sophisticated" strategy to pursue nuclear weapons and added his assessment that this strategy is "unfortunately" working.
Yadlin said he favored exhausting all other options before striking Iran's nuclear facilities but stressed that a "nuclear Iran is more dangerous than attacking Iran."
"If they can't be contained when they don't have nuclear weapon, how can they be contained when they do?" Yadlin said.
"I am sure they won't launch nuclear bomb the moment they get it, but the possibility as a result of miscalculations and lack of stability, they will launch nuclear missile - it's not a possibility you can ignore," Yadlin continued. "The flying time of a missile from Tehran to Tel Aviv is seven minutes and the temptation for first strike is huge."
"If you really want all options on the table, you need to be very credible with the military option," Yadlin said.
During the panel discussion, Dennis Ross, formerly U.S. President Barack Obama's senior Middle East adviser, said that diplomacy might succeed in stopping Iran's nuclear program.
"Why would it work now?" he said. "Now the Iranians are under pressure they've never been before. They are isolated internationally, the power balance in region has shifted against them…When they started making threats about shutting the Strait of Hormuz, a very blunt message was sent to them - and they backed [down]."
Jamie Fly, a former adviser to the George W. Bush administration, spoke about the need to prepare a robust military option.
"Are we as nation serious about preventing a nuclear Iran or just serious about talking about preventing a nuclear Iran? We don't want to spend decades in trying to contain a nuclear Iran," he said.
"We need to take a more serious look at the military option," Fly added. "I don't agree that we have time, diplomacy is unlikely to work given the record of the Iranians."
Clint| 5.8.12 @ 10:31PM
" Israel Is Not About to Attack Iran and Neither is the United States: Get Used To It
By Barry Rubin
So why are Israelis talking about a potential attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities? Because that’s a good way –indeed, the only way Israel has--to pressure Western countries to work harder on the issue, to increase sanction and diplomatic efforts. If one believes that somehow pushing Tehran into slowing down or stopping its nuclear weapons’ drive is the only alternative to war, that greatly concentrates policymakers’ minds. Personally, I don't participate--consciously or as an instrument--in disinformation campaigns, even if they are for a good cause.
If Israel attacks Iran would it have backing from anyone else in the world? No, in fact the United States strongly opposes such an operation. Iranian retaliation against oil shipping and terrorist attacks would lead (not overly brave and already appeasement-oriented) Western governments to blame Israel, not Iran. Launching such an attack would ensure a level of international isolation for Israel far higher than what exists today. The idea that a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq makes an Israeli attack more attractive is absurd."
Dr. John| 5.9.12 @ 12:24AM
Netanyahu boosts Israel’s deterrence
Analysis: New unity government reinforces Israeli deterrence ahead of possible strike in Iran
Ron Ben-Yishai
The unity deal worked out secretly by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz boosts our deterrence power on the Iranian front and Israel’s ability to press the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany not to compromise too much.
Political Drama
No elections: Kadima to join government / Attila Somfalvi
Late-night political drama: Early elections averted as Likud, Kadima agree on unity government. Shaul Mofaz appointed deputy PM, to take part in key security meetings. Coalition to promote haredi draft
Full story
The new unity government will attest to very broad support for the Netanyahu government, while the prime minister’s and defense minister’s position on Iran’s nuclear program is widely known.
This fact was certainly not lost on the US Administration and European governments, which are very anxious about potential Israel moves that may hinder their economic recovery. After all, an Israeli strike in Iran could prompt oil prices, which are currently going down, to skyrocket.
On the domestic front, the decision to form a unity government has even greater value. First, the official forum of decision-makers on Iran - that is, the security cabinet - has been reinforced with another official who possesses great defense experience. Shaul Mofaz has served as defense minister and IDF chief of staff in the past, and recent conversations with him indicate that he will not rush to pull the trigger
Mofaz will be joining the forum of top eight government ministers, which will now turn into a forum of nine entrusted with taking informal decisions on critical security and diplomatic issues; this also includes the decision on whether to strike in Iran. What we have here is another experienced hand, which will improve the decision-making process on the defense front.
Should a decision to strike Iran be taken, the existence of a unity government will reduce the danger of criticism should the operation fail or lead to unexpected results.
In the final analysis, we can assert that the formation of the new government – assuming it will function properly and survive the crises expected in the coming months – boosts Israel’s deterrent power and upgrades its leadership’s decision-making ability on the security and diplomatic front, topped by the Iran issue.
However, we must keep in mind that the Ulpana affair and mostly the issue of drafting the haredim into the IDF have not yet been resolved. Only once the government proves that it can contend with this issues, it will also enjoy greater credibility and deterrent power on the security front.
Skip| 5.10.12 @ 3:40PM
Haters gotta hate, right arseholes like Jack, Clint, Dmitry and the rest of the "smear bund" crowd?
"I don't hate all Jews, just the Zionists, yeah, that's it!" "Hey, most Ashkenazi Jews are Turkish!, Yeah, that's it!"
What a trio of morons. Your silly antiSemitism (yes, it most certainly is, despite your coy denials) is only outdone by your ineptitude.
Stay thirsty, my friends!
Dmitry Aleksandrovich| 5.11.12 @ 6:35AM
Maybe you are the one who hates Skip. Hatred of Palestinians is anti-semitism too do you know this Skip. You are the moron. There is no reasoning with zionists and neo-cons.