Tuesday, 05 June 2007
 

Where is Moshe Dayan when the world needs him?
Contributed by Bill Faith

Folks, if you only read one thing today make it The Six Day War in real time.

If you have time for some related reading check out:

• A war that never ends. (H/T: John Hinderaker)
• The Six-Day War  (ditto)
• No Pyrrhic Victory

I was 17 in '67 with a newly acquired car and an even more newly acquired girlfriend, but one riddle from that summer still sticks in my mind:

Q: How do you tell an Israeli tank from an Arab tank?

A: Arab tanks have backup lights.

I also remember a rather tasteless joke about Israel taking over the Viet Nam War ... for cost plus 10%. Maybe we should have taken them up on it. Where is Moshe Dayan when the world needs him?

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 5, 2007 at 01:12 AM in Israel | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Thursday, 05 April 2007
 

Introducing David Hazony
Contributed by 72nd TCS

The "Opinion Journal" newsletter of the Wall Street Journal for Wednesday, April 4 had a long article by guest-author David Hazony. Mr. Hazony, who deserves to be better-known to American readers, is the Editor-in-Chief of AZURE, which originally published his column here. AZURE is a quarterly produced in Israel and bears a strong resemblance to the American monthly Commentary. Like Commentary, AZURE specializes in solid, well-written think-pieces. The right-hand sidebar of its home page [cf. initial link above] links to authors covering the entire spectrum of reasoned commentary, ranging from George Soros by way of Fouad Ajami and Bernard Lewis to Mark Steyn. It offers the think-piece maven just the intellectual fare needed to turn many a night of insomnia into brilliant day.

Mr. Hazony's article, in particular, makes the startling case that the Iranian mullahs have been and are waging a Cold War against the West, comparable to the Soviet pressures that kept us on tenterhooks for four decades. Given the huge discrepancy in size, population, and military might beween the former Soviet Union and Iran, anyone who lived through that era is bound to regard the analogy at first as more than a bit strained.  Even so, the most skeptical reader cannot fail to be impressed by the cogency of  the author's arguments in favor of his thesis. The mere excerpts that follow cannot hope to do justice to this presentation.  They are presented simply as bait, to entice the reader to Read The Whole Thing..

Mr. Hazony comes on strong right at the outset: NOTE: in what follows, block quotes are taken directly from the Hazony article. Intercalated text, aligned flush left, are comments and other asides from 72nd TCS.

A new Cold War is upon us. Though there is no Soviet Union today, the enemies of Western democracy, supported by a conglomerate of Islamic states, terror groups and insurgents, have begun to work together with a unity of purpose reminiscent of the Soviet menace: not only in funding, training and arming those who seek democracy's demise; not only in mounting attacks against Israel, America and their allies around the world; not only in seeking technological advances that will enable them to threaten the life of every Western citizen; but also in advancing a clear vision of a permanent, intractable and ultimately victorious struggle against the West--an idea they convey articulately, consistently and with brutal efficiency.

The term "clear vision" crops up again and again as this article progresses. Sadly, in the context of the response of Western leaders to the Islamic extremist onslaught, the author mentions it only to stress its absence among the elites of our world. Continuing, he writes...

It is this conceptual strategic clarity that gives the West's enemies a leg up, even if they are far inferior in number, wealth, and weaponry. From Tehran to Tyre, from Chechnya to the Philippines, from southern Iraq to the Afghan mountains to the madrassas of London and Paris and Cairo, these forces are unified in their aim to defeat the West, its way of life, its political forms and its cause of freedom. And every day, because of this clarity, their power and resources grow, as they attract allies outside the Islamic world: In Venezuela, in South Africa, in North Korea.

At the center of all this, of course, is Iran. A once-friendly state has embarked on an unflinching campaign, at considerable cost to its own economy, to attain the status of a global power: through the massive infusion of money, matériel, training and personnel to the anti-Western forces in Lebanon (Hezbollah), the Palestinian Authority (Hamas and Islamic Jihad), and the Sunni and Shi'ite insurgencies of Iraq; through its relentless pursuit of nuclear arms, long-range missiles and a space program; through its outsized armed forces and huge stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons; through its diplomatic initiatives around the world; and through its ideological battle against democracy, Zionism and the memory of the Holocaust. For the forces of Islamic extremism and political jihad, Iran has become the cutting edge of clarity.

Muddled thinking, by contrast, is the Order of the Day in Israel, the EU, and the United States...

The West, on the other hand, enjoys no such clarity. In America, Iraq has become the overriding concern, widely seen as a Vietnam-style "quagmire" claiming thousands of American lives with no clear way either to win or to lose. (As the bells of the 2006 congressional elections continue tolling in American ears, it is hard to hear the muezzins of the Middle East calling upon the faithful to capitalize on Western malaise.) Europeans continue to seek "diplomatic solutions" even as they contend with powerful and well-funded Islamists in their midst and their friends among the media and intellectual elites--forces that stir public opinion not against Iran and Syria, who seek their destruction, but against their natural allies, America and Israel.

Throughout the West we now hear increasingly that a nuclear Iran is something one has to "learn to live with," that Iraq needs an "exit strategy," and that the real key to peace lies not in victory but in brokering agreements between Israel and the Palestinians and "engaging" Syria and Iran. The Israelis, too, suffer from a lack of clarity: By separating the Palestinian question from the struggle with Hezbollah and Iran, and by shifting the debate back to territorial concession and prisoner exchange, Israelis incentivize aggression and terror, ignore the role Hamas plays in the broader conflict, and send conciliatory signals to the Syrians. Like the Americans with Iraq, Israelis have allowed themselves to lose sight of who their enemies are, how determined they are, and what will be required to defeat them.

At this point, one thing is eminently clear--Mr. Hazony knows exactly what he thinks, and never permits political correctness or pious sentiment to fuzz his message.  We now skip past many lines of closely reasoned discourse, to the bottom line.  Those who take up and read, and learn how he gets from here to there, will find the effort exceedingly rewarding.

Yet there can be no question that today, it is Iran that has earned the greatest admiration, given the global jihad its greatest source of hope and funds, and racked up the most impressive victories, taking on the West and its allies throughout the Middle East--and especially in Iraq, where its proxy insurgencies have frustrated American efforts and even brought about a shift in the internal politics of the United States. Iran is not the only foe, but it is the leader among them. It is only through Iran's defeat that the tide of the Second Cold War will be turned.

There you have it--clear, cold and bracing--like a shot of vodka taken in the classic Russian manner.

Contributed by 72nd TCS on April 5, 2007 at 12:22 PM in Current Affairs, Dem Dumbness, Hezbollah, Iran, Iraq, Israel, John "72nd TCS" Werntz, War? What war? | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Thursday, 18 January 2007
 

Speaking frankly about Abu Carter -- Update 8
-- Jimmy Carter Interceded on Behalf of Nazi SS Guard (?)
-- Dershowitz to rebut Carter's Brandeis speech
Contributed by Bill Faith

Ya gotta give Abu Jimmy credit for one thing, anyway. Once he was bought and paid for he stayed bought and paid for. Nobody's found the pictures of him in bed with Arafat yet but they'll turn up eventually. How different would the world be today if there'd been a man in the Oval Office in '79?

Continue reading "Speaking frankly about Abu Carter -- Update 8

***

See also:

Speaking frankly about Abu Carter -- Update 9
-- Jimmy Carter Interceded on Behalf of Nazi SS Guard (?)
-- Commentary Magazine: Our Worst Ex-President

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 18, 2007 at 12:40 PM in Bill Faith, Dem Dumbness, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Monday, 15 January 2007
 

Ahmadinejad kisser's wife files for divorce
Contributed by Bill Faith

[An item posted here in error has been moved to Bill's Bites.]

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 15, 2007 at 01:11 PM in Bill Faith, Iran, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 07 January 2007
 

Israel not planning nuclear strike on Iran?
Contributed by Bill Faith

See previous: Making the Mullahs' Wishes come True?, "Revealed: Israel plans nuclear strike on Iran"

Oy, vey! And I went to sleep on such a high!

Israel Denies Claims It's Preparing Nuke Attack on Iran

Israel's Foreign Ministry is denying a British newspaper report that claims Jerusalem has drafted plans for a low-level nuclear strike on Iran to wipe out its uranium enrichment facilities using nuclear-tipped "bunker busters." ...

Bummer. I'll update my longer post here if/as I learn more.

Contributed by Bill Faith on January 7, 2007 at 01:42 PM in Bill Faith, Iran, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Saturday, 06 January 2007
 

Making the Mullahs' Wishes come True?
Contributed by George Mellinger

I did not want to know this. At least not now. Not yet. But I desperately want this to be true. Good things should be kept as surprises. And of course you can always count on a reporter to spoil the fun. But now that everyone else knows, you might as well read it too.

ISRAEL has drawn up secret plans to destroy Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities with tactical nuclear weapons.

Two Israeli air force squadrons are training to blow up an Iranian facility using low-yield nuclear “bunker-busters”, according to several Israeli military sources.

The rest is here.

For the longest time I've been insisting that if Amadinnerjacket wants a nuke we should just give him a few. Is somebody finally paying attention? Of course its not an American.

The Emperor Misha I has a thing about buying Pizza for the Israeli Defense Forces every time they snuff a terrorist. Wonder what he'll do if they pull off this deed? It'd deserve something more'n pizza.

Mazel tov!

-Rurik

Contributed by George Mellinger on January 6, 2007 at 07:09 PM in George Mellinger, Iran, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Friday, 29 December 2006
 

Breath of the Beast - a New Blog
Contributed by George Mellinger

Let Old War Dogs be among the first to welcome Breath of the Beast to the blogosphere. His first post was only yesterday.  True, one post does not a blog make, but Yaacov writes well

We always get a warning that is clear and unequivocal when evil is stalking us. It is up to us to notice. Warnings are all too easy to dismiss. It is a grave responsibility to pay heed to real warnings. It seems so much easier to convince yourself that the warning is not for you, or that the danger is remote and small.

When Hitler, for example, wrote Mein Kampf, in 1925. He left no doubt as to his intentions. The world dismissed the book as the ravings of a mad man. When he got his opportunity to reach power ten years later, much of the world was surprised that he actually did what he said he would. If they had believed him in the first place and acted on that knowledge with resolution and intelligence millions of lives could have been saved.

The good news is that all you have to do is pay attention, believe what you see and hear and have the strength not to deny it. Evil will almost always inform you of its presence and intentions. I was given a very personal warning twenty-five years ago by a particularly profound form of evil. That evil presence has grown and prospered in the world since then. It has grown and become powerful and menacing and yet, even today, in spite of incontrovertible evidence of its existence many people find it altogether too easy to deny.

It clear that he is a friend, and he seems to be off to a promising start. Let's watch this guy and see what elsle he does. He may become someone significant. Mazel tov!

-Rurik

Contributed by George Mellinger on December 29, 2006 at 04:22 PM in Current Affairs, George Mellinger, Iran, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Tuesday, 12 December 2006
 

Speaking frankly about Abu Carter -- Update (Updated)
Contributed by Bill Faith

See previous: Speaking frankly about Abu "Holier than das Juden" Carter.

The third post in my series is up:

• Speaking frankly about Abu Carter -- Update

Plagiarism's just the beginning. Not only did Abu Carter steal maps from another author, he relabeled them to make them fit his own personal "truth." It's long piece, which excerpts and links to an even longer piece, but I think you'll find it interesting reading.

***

Those of you who love Johnny like I do may also enjoy Kennedy Backs Away From Kerry

*** Added 2006.12.10:

• Speaking frankly about Abu Carter -- Update 2

Contributed by Bill Faith on December 12, 2006 at 12:43 AM in Bill Faith, Books, Dem Dumbness, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel, Jean Fraud Kerry | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Monday, 11 December 2006
 

The Village Elders
Contributed by The Gray Dog

It has been just over five days since my last post which has caused me a great deal of angst.  If I don’t write something at least every two or three days I start going through withdrawal.  Unfortunately, sometimes “life happens.”  Since most of you have one of your own, no further explanations should be necessary.  Suffice it to say, this past week has presented a number events that have caused me to pause and ponder the dubious joys of aging.  Perhaps, beyond the personal, the most significant event was the report released by the Iraq Septuagenarian Group.  This much anticipated work was delivered with the same sincerity and passion as a kiss from your sister; while its message of “Early Withdrawal,” promotes a policy of failure any pregnant sixteen year old girl understands.

Continue reading, "The Village Elders"

Contributed by The Gray Dog on December 11, 2006 at 01:57 PM in Current Affairs, Iraq, Israel, Politics, The Gray Dog | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 10 December 2006
 

Speaking frankly about Abu "Holier than das Juden" Carter
Contributed by Bill Faith

Since John broached the subject here and I brought it up again here I guess I should mention that I've done two more related posts at my place:

• Jimmy Carter in La-La Land

• Speaking frankly about Abu "Holier than das Juden" Carter

Contributed by Bill Faith on December 10, 2006 at 01:41 PM in Bill Faith, Books, Dem Dumbness, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Friday, 08 December 2006
 

Jimmy Carter Caught Plagiarizing in New Book
Contributed by Bill Faith

See previous: Jimmuh Gets a Well-Merited Comeuppance

Errors, omissions, inventions, falsehoods, and theft
Paul Mirengoff

Former Middle East envoy Dennis Ross has accused Jimmy Carter of improperly publishing maps that did not belong to him. Ross says he commissioned the maps for his use, but that Carter appears to have ripped them off for use in his book, Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid. ...

Continue reading "Jimmy Carter Caught Plagiarizing in New Book"

***

See also: Speaking frankly about Israel and Palestine

Contributed by Bill Faith on December 8, 2006 at 01:50 PM in Bill Faith, Dem Dumbness, Israel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Thursday, 07 December 2006
 

Jean Fraud Kerry In Secret Talks With Hamas? (Updated 2006.12.11)
Contributed by Bill Faith

I wasn't going to mention the "secret talks" rumor on this site till I realized who I think's involved. Check out my post here for information.

We haven't forgotten, Johnny. We'll quit kicking you while your down when you quit trying to get up. I'll dance on your grave, Johnny; it's what keeps me going.

***

See also: Top Palestinian advisor: Yes, Hamas really did meet with the Democrats

Contributed by Bill Faith on December 7, 2006 at 12:20 AM in Bill Faith, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel, Jean Fraud Kerry | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Wednesday, 06 December 2006
 

Jimmuh Gets a Well-Merited Comeuppance
Contributed by John Werntz

H/T: Glenn Reynolds

PowerLine reports the resignation from the Carter Center of Professor Kenneth Klein of Emory University, a long-time associate of Jimmy Carter and the original Director of the Center. It seems that the highly-regarded academic was dismayed by the many untruths and the propagandistic tone of Mr. Carter's latest effusion: Palestine: Peace, not Apartheid.

Power Line offers the full text of Professor Klein's resignation statement, which should be read in its entirety.  A brief excerpt follows.

President Carter's book on the Middle East, a title too inflammatory to even print, is not based on unvarnished analyses; it is replete with factual errors, copied materials not cited, superficialities, glaring omissions, and simply invented segments. Aside from the one-sided nature of the book, meant to provoke, there are recollections cited from meetings where I was the third person in the room, and my notes of those meetings show little similarity to points claimed in the book. Being a former President does not give one a unique privilege to invent information or to unpack it with cuts, deftly slanted to provide a particular outlook. Having little access to Arabic and Hebrew sources, I believe, clearly handicapped his understanding and analyses of how history has unfolded over the last decade. Falsehoods, if repeated often enough become meta-truths, and they then can become the erroneous baseline for shaping and reinforcing attitudes and for policy-making. The history and interpretation of the Arab-Israeli conflict is already drowning in half-truths, suppositions, and self-serving myths; more are not necessary. In due course, I shall detail these points and reflect on their origins.

***

Bill Faith adds: Don't miss the related cartoon I just posted here.

Contributed by John Werntz on December 6, 2006 at 02:51 PM in Dem Dumbness, Israel, John "72nd TCS" Werntz | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Thursday, 30 November 2006
 

The Shadows of Enlightenment
Contributed by The Gray Dog

The shimmer of Enlightenment glowed brightly through the land,
The promise of fulfillment was most certainly at hand,
What started as a flicker, quickly brightened like a flare,
Alas, the poor Enlightened Men were blinded by the glare.

Tolerance and diversity became their clarion’s call,
But the path lit by Enlightenment would lead them to their fall,
Forgetful of their birthright and neglectful of their duty,
Enlightened Men still failed to see our nation’s stately beauty.

A beacon of liberty once shined throughout the world,
A star filled banner stained with blood once proudly flew unfurled,
It now is nothing more than a Common Man’s lament,
A flag that hides in shadows cast long by Enlightenment.

-- The Gray Dog

Continue reading "The Shadows of Enlightenment"

Contributed by The Gray Dog on November 30, 2006 at 09:30 PM in Current Affairs, Dem Dumbness, Iran, Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel, Jean Fraud Kerry, Patriotism, Peacenik Stupidity, Poetry, Politics, The Gray Dog, War? What war? | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wednesday, 01 November 2006
 

The Greatest of all Evils.
Contributed by The Gray Dog

On November 7th, Election Day, there will be three great evils that voters should consider.  The first two are well known to the electorate and are usually lumped together, specifying one, implying the other.  So, what the hell am I talking about?  The lesser of two evils.

It would seem that the conservatives have tired of voting for the lesser of two evils.  I know it grates on me at the polls every election day.  Bush spends like a drunken sailor, Frist couldn’t lead a conga line, Foley is a pervert and Hastert should have acted sooner to bust him.  Could, should the American electorate expect and deserve better choices?  Hell yes!  How do we get them?  By opting for the greater of two evils?  Hell no!

Look at the last paragraph and then think of the opposites.  The greater of two evils!

Would anyone have been content with President Al Gore on 9/11 or the second coming of JFK to wrap it up in Iraq?  Would Tom Daschle or Harry Reid offer you any comfort.  Does the thought of Nancy Pelosi, just two heartbeats away from the presidency lift your skirt? 

What is left is the third evil; the greatest evil of all.  Teach those worthless pretend conservatives a lesson; stay home, don’t vote.  Throw our country into endless Democratic investigations and hearings, let them set the agenda; roll back tax cuts, withhold funding for the war on terror, impeach W, repeal the Patriot Act, stop NSA eavesdropping on terrorists cells, keep the southern borders open, enter new bi-lateral talks with North Korea and Iran (give them more nuclear technology to make them play nice), turn foreign policy over to France and the U.N., abandon Israel, close down Wall-Mart, raise minimum wages to $20/hr, socialize healthcare, neuter the CIA, prosecute our troops, leave Iraq to Al-Qaeda, publicly fund Air America, resurrect CNN and MSNBC, replace Christmas with Xmas, Easter with spring break, and finally 4th of July with mid-summer holiday. 

What’s really hysterical about this attitude is that conservatives will do this purportedly to increase their chances of success in keeping the White House in 2008.  Guess what idiots?  All you’ve done is bring it back full circle.  The lesser of two evils.

So two years of upheaval, backslide, turmoil and chaos is worth it for what? 

A chance to vote in 2008 for the lesser of two evils again?

Speak out.  Visit the forum to chime in.  Don’t be shy!  www.oldwardogs.org

Contributed by The Gray Dog on November 1, 2006 at 09:45 PM in CIA/NSA Treason, Current Affairs, Dem Dumbness, DisUnited Nations, G W Bush, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jean Fraud Kerry, Patriotism, Politics, The Gray Dog | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Friday, 22 September 2006
 

Gene Harrison: New Israeli War Plan Intercepted
Contributed by Bill Faith

Bumped in honor of the pending holiday. Originally posted 2006.09.19.14:52

[An original work by Gene Harrison, translated from MS Word to HTML by Bill Faith]

Intercepted

New Israeli War Plan intercepted, decrypted and translated.

We have intercepted an order of battle that describes the new Israeli Military War Plan, for implementation on the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashona). The code name for the War Plan is three Hebrew alphabetical symbols: Tet² Fe Tet. The translation that follows is a descriptive approximation, insofar as our decryption and translation technologies are somewhat limited. Translators notes or other ambiguities are parenthesized. Help was received from contacts in Atlanta.

The primary function of this War Plan is defensive, however responses to attack are inherently part of any defense. Regardless of the precision of a defensive response, Israel can in no way guarantee that non-combatants, including civilians, children, or the sick and wounded will not be hurt or killed as a result of an attack upon the nation of Israel.

The War plan (transliterated) Tet² Fe Tet is an open document. This means that anyone can read and understand the nature of our defense posture. This will result in savings for any enemy of Israel, insofar as they will not need spies or intelligence in order to anticipate our response to hostilities.

Section I: The geography of any (all?) potential enemy of the State of Israel will be partitioned into (roughly) square segments of a size contingent on our selection of a reactive weapon. One may construe this as a division of the enemy geography as a checkerboard. Each square in the checkerboard is assigned a unique numerical identifier, e.g., Lebanon 6219.

Section II: Each square of an enemy’s land mass is a potential target for a retaliatory strike that may include air strikes, missiles, artillery fire, infantry assault, etc. The selection of a retaliatory weapon is completely discretionary, but will normally conform to a minimum use of force.

Section III: The central principle of Tet² Fe Tet is the method of selection of the number of squares to be targeted, N_i, and the identifiers of the target locations T_j (as described in Section I).

Section IV: Determination of N_i; this number is calculated as follows:

                        For each incursion, I of a hostile nature, the value of N_i = I²

Section V: Determination of target locations T_j:

A computational equivalent of a roulette wheel with slots equal in number to the location numbers, T_j will be “spun” I² times, each outcome defining the strike point of the retaliatory force. You will note that for a single (possibly accidentally hostile) event, I² = 1, and so the retaliation is as minimal as the incursion.

Section VI: We list some consequences to foreign nationals who are present in a country that attacks the State of Israel.  This list is intended to prevent unnecessary potential loss of life or property because of Israel’s defensive actions.

1. The probability of accidental death to a foreigner in an enemy’s country is proportional to the square of the magnitude of the attack.
2. Israel can accept no responsibility for loss of life, or destruction of property engendered by anyone harmed by an Israeli Tet² Fe Tet response to military action by an enemy state.
3. In the case of stateless organizations (terrorists) the state from which their attack is launched will be the selected target of the Tet² Fe Tet response. It is not Israel’s intention to place blame or to harm any nation for a terrorist attack originating in a putatively neutral state, only to increase the cost to any nation that does not ferret out terrorists and bring them to local justice.

This concludes the translation of the new Israeli defense position, but we did note that insofar as their position on war and peace is clearly defined, it is the responsibility of the world community, and the world media to understand the principles described here.

The translators have concluded that the new Israeli War Plan is similar to an old American cold war targeting plan for nuclear retaliation, or first strike target selection, first proposed by a (still secret) RAND memorandum prepared by John von Neumann, the inventor of “game theory.” This game strategy is commonly designated “tit for tat” and may be the appropriate significance of the Israeli Tet² Fe Tet designation raised to the power of 2.

Contributed by Bill Faith on September 22, 2006 at 05:06 PM in Bill Faith, Gene Harrison, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Wednesday, 20 September 2006
 

Good PR
Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf

There are lessons to be learned. Taking a page from western marketing and public relations gurus the Palestinian Authority is producing videos to aid in the recruitment of martyrs.

The Israeli-based monitor Palestinian Media Watch reports the video, airing on television controlled by Abbas' Fatah party, depicts a Palestinian woman who is shot in the back by Israeli soldiers. The woman then is transported to "paradise" where she joins white-robed "maidens" dancing in water while waiting to marry a male Palestinian who "martyrs" himself.

In the next scene, according to PMW, a grieving Palestinian man is shot in the back by Israeli troops while visiting the grave of the woman killed at the start of the video. The man immediately is brought to "heaven" where he is rewarded with several white-robed "maidens," including the original woman he was mourning.

Read the article

You can watch the video and get more details here.  The quality ain't so hot, but it's watchable.

Maybe our government and the military in particular could hire some Hamas members to get OUR message out?

Bill Faith adds: Allahpundit has also made the video available here.

Contributed by Zero Ponsdorf on September 20, 2006 at 11:15 AM in Current Affairs, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel, Zero Ponsdorf | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Saturday, 09 September 2006
 

Remembering September 10, 2001
Contributed by The Gray Dog

For the next several days, ink splatters on newsprint, pixilated images wafting through the airwaves and burning brightly on millions of computer monitors will commemorate the emotional events of 9/11. As it is my nature to avoid crowds, I choose to focus on the America that existed on September 10, 2001.

In looking back, it is difficult to contemplate 9/10 outside the context of 9/11.  While researching the headlines from our last days of innocence, I expected to find some significant contrast to the news stories of today.  After 9/11 and nearly five years into the Global War on Terrorism, I instinctively felt that America had to be fundamentally changed, more focused, perhaps more mature. But, then again, perhaps not.  The following Chicago Tribune headlines from the thirty days leading to September 10th in both 2001 and 2006 tell the story.

Immigration

2001 - “Immigration deal ‘must be fair,’ U.S. says White House will target lawbreakers.”
2006 – “Why this immigration rights march is brought to you by Miller.”

While the White House has maintained a ‘fair but tough” stance on illegal immigration, no new laws or enforcement of existing laws appears to be imminent.  Meanwhile, illegal aliens have become the envy of many hapless sports franchises, by picking up corporate sponsorship from a major beer distributor.  After a rough week crossing through arid deserts and swimming the Rio Grande, “It’s Miller Time.’”

President Bush

2001 - “Lawmakers battle Bush over secrecy; Executive privilege debate rages anew.”
2006 - “NSA Wiretaps ruled illegal.”

“Well, the liberals still have not forgiven Bush for ‘stealing’ the 2000 election.  Their hatred is so blinding that they still will imperil our national security in an attempt to undermine our chief executive.”

Israel

2001 - “Bombs rattle Jerusalem; Palestinians say blasts are reprisal for leader’s death.”
2006 - “Israel accused of truce violation.”

“Israel still can do no right.  It has no right to defend itself.  It has no right to exist.”

Osama bin Laden

2001 - “U.S. citizens alerted about possible threat.”  Richard Boucher declined to comment on whether the threat came from Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, wanted in the 1998 U.S. Embassy attacks.
2006 – “Video shows Osama bin Laden meeting with September 11 plotters.”

“I’m waiting for the shrewd investigative reporter to announce that bin Laden has discovered a secret method of traversing the Space/Time continuum.  How else does one explain that all headlines continue to report his activities of three to five years ago?”

Rumsfeld

2001 - “’Rumsfeld poised to dump 2-war strategy.  New Goal: Defeat one enemy, repel a second.”
2006 - “Seeing through Rummy’s fantasy.”

“Strategy or fantasy?  Have we defeated an enemy or repelled them?  The same questions remain unanswered.”

North Korea

2001 - “North Korea proposes to renew talks with South.”
2006 - “Soldiers exchange shots along border.  South Korean soldiers fired back six rounds.”

“I guess the South decided to talk back.”

Iran

2001 - “Iran cracks down again; detains liberal filmmaker.”
2006 - “Iran’s president: ‘Purge universities.’”

“Where is the ACLU when you need it?  How can anyone worry about nuclear programs at a time like this?”

UN/Kofi Annan

2001 - “U.S., Israel abandon UN race summit; Powell denounces ‘hateful language’ in proclamation.”
2006 - UN Chief can’t sway Iran; Ahmadinejad and Kofi Annan meet Sunday in Teheran.  Little progress was reported.”

“Still the model of diplomatic efficiency, this anti-Semitic gathering of third world tyrants do nothing more than legally evade millions of dollars in NYC parking fines.”

NY Yankees

2001 - 9/10: Yankees lead Boston in the A.L. East by 13 games.
2006 - 9/9:   Yankees lead Boston in the A.L. East by 9 games.

“Some things never change.”

My research was intended to discover a naïve and narcissistic country five years ago.  I am disheartened to admit that I only had to look at today to find it (so who is naive?).  It is no wonder that we have not progressed.  While we are engaged in a multi-front Global War on Terrorism, Americans at home are unaffected.  There are no shortages, rationing, blackouts or shelters.  Instead, we are blessed with a strong economy and abundance as we smugly sit in our comfortable living rooms anxiously awaiting a new season of American Idol.

Except for the men and women of our military and their families and friends, there is no visible sign that America is in a struggle for its very survival. For most Americans, the biggest battle anticipated this weekend is between Peyton and Eli Manning.  Are you ready for some football?

While others rightfully remember the atrocities of 9/11, we should be mindful of 9/10.  Nothing has really changed.  Isn’t it time?

Contributed by The Gray Dog on September 9, 2006 at 03:08 PM in 9/11, Best of Old War Dogs, Caring about our troops, Current Affairs, DisUnited Nations, G W Bush, Iran, Israel, Politics, The Gray Dog, War? What war? | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Monday, 04 September 2006
 

Thoughts on the need for total war
Contributed by George Mellinger

You cannot be objective about an aerial torpedo.  And the horror we feel of these things has led to this conclusion:  if someone drops a bomb on your mother, go and drop two bombs on his mother.  The only apparent alternatives are to smash dwelling houses to powder, blow out human entrails and burn holes in children with thermite, or to be enslaved by people who are more ready to do these things than you are yourself; as yet no one has suggested a practicable way out.

—George Orwell, reviewing Arthur Koestler’s Spanish Testament

for the magazine Time and Tide, Feb. 5, 1938.

John Derbyshire is not a jolly man, but he is a very serious man.

These troubling thoughts came up while I was watching TV coverage of the fighting in Lebanon.  It would be a wonderful thing if the Israeli Defense Force could kill only Hezbollah operatives, leaving the civilian population alone.  They can’t, of course, and civilians are dying.  It would be a much less wonderful thing—though still, so far as I am concerned, an acceptable one—if the Israelis could reduce their enemies to the condition of abject, unconditional surrender we reduced Germany to in 1945.  But they can’t do that, either.

For Israel this is a “crisis war”, at least as much as WWII was for us.  Hezbollah has been firing missiles into Israeli cities, killing Israeli civilians.  Eighty percent of the population of South Lebanon voted for “Resistance Party” candidates in last year’s election—that’s mainly Hezbollah, joined with a few like-minded groups.

And this applies to us as well, in Iraq, Iran, and eventually other places yet to be imagined.

Rurik's first rule of war, if you're not prepared to do what is necessary to win, then don't even pretend,  just resolve to lose from the beginning and get it over with honestly.

-Rurik

Contributed by George Mellinger on September 4, 2006 at 09:30 PM in Current Affairs, George Mellinger, Hezbollah, Iran, Iraq, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel, Lebanon, The American Warrior, War? What war? | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Two Posts on Lebanon from Debka
Contributed by George Mellinger

First the proviso. Debkafiles is a well known but controversial site, It is wide rumored to have ties to Israeli Intelligence, the Mossad, though nobody knows for certain. As in the old Zen paradigm, "He who speaks does not know, he who knows does not speak."  Debka has been accused of spreading disinformation and propaganda on occasion. or perhaps that is only how you explain error by a source which usually seems to have prime inside information. Debka is very worth auditing, though you should always do so with skepticism. Of course, you really should do that with everything you find on the web, even the authoritative insights of Rurik. Except of course for the ranting at DU and the Daily Kotz, which you know to be always nonsense.

Today there are two items from Debka, which offer cause for concern. the first discusses the naval build-up off the coast of Lebanon.

The extraordinary buildup of European naval and military strength in and around Lebanon’s shores is way out of proportion for the task the European contingents of expanded UNIFIL have undertaken: to create a buffer between Israel and Hizballah.

Close investigation by DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources discloses that “Lebanese security” and peacemaking is not the object of the exercise. It is linked to the general anticipation of a military clash between the United States and Israel, on one side, and Iran and possibly Syria on the other, some time from now until November. Continue reading here.

In this case, I cannot help but wonder if the description of the size of the fleet is either exaggerated or distorted by short memories. But it does suggest that something may be a-building. Even more notable is the unusual mix of national fleets. (Note - where they refer to the warships as including "...5 Italian, 2-3 Green, 3-5 German..." I presume that is a typo for Greek, since I have never heard of the Environmentalist Navy.)

The second article, Some Lebanon War Riddles Solved and Their Relevance to Moves on Syria in Jerusalem Explained is even more alarming and considers Israel's sudden desire to negotiate with Syria's Bashir Asshat, and raises questions of why the Israeli military conducted such a limited war in Lebanon. Certain Israeli leaders (sic) are singled out, and accusations are also leveled at some American Administration figures. if even some of the accusations are true, it is troubling. but remember, this article may be intended for its political impact, both in Israel and America.

A tip of the helmet to TACAN.

-Rurik

Contributed by George Mellinger on September 4, 2006 at 07:41 PM in France, George Mellinger, Germany, Hezbollah, Iran, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel, Lebanon, US Marine Corps, US Navy | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Tuesday, 29 August 2006
 

Here We Go Again!
Contributed by Jim Bartimus

Everybody seems to be an armchair quarterback when it comes to the Middle East. The theme is always the same and if you pay attention to our lovely MSM news sources or our Liberal champions on the Left, you probably won’t question that America and Israel are at fault. And in certain ways we are. Jimmy Carter was one of the first to drop the ball and it’s been rolling down hill gathering muck ever since. And yes, I realize it was already mucked up in the first place, but nobody seems to consider that point.

Truth be known, the UN has done more damage than anybody else in trying to deal with this mess. Kofi Annan is now making another whirl wind tour to set things straight, but will only cause us bigger problems down the road. At some point we need to tell the UN to get out of the way and deal with the problems emanating from that region. He’s doing more damage than good as usual and only postponing the inevitable.

The following is from Jeb Babbin at The American Spectator

What could possibly make the Lebanon situation worse today than it was yesterday? Only yesterday the hapless Israeli defense minister, Amir Peretz, said that Israel expected the "international community" to take control of Lebanon's border crossings. Peretz's pointless whine was in response to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's statement on Saturday that the new UN force in Lebanon won't either disarm Hizballah terrorists or try to interdict shipments of weapons to Hizballah from Syria. But what Peretz said changed nothing. The Son of UNIFIL force won't do anything to inconvenience Hizballah or its Syrian and Iranian suppliers.

I really doubt this is going to do us any favors or contribute to a solution.

Read "On the Road Again" here

Contributed by Jim Bartimus on August 29, 2006 at 08:38 PM in Hezbollah, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel, Jim Bartimus, Lebanon | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sunday, 27 August 2006
 

Bruce Kesler: "Proportionate Results = Just Desserts"
Contributed by Bill Faith

The just desserts being visited upon Israel’s enemies is serving to deter them, at least until the next time.

Congressman Tom Lantos, as often, seems to be one of the few in power trying to prevent a next time. Lantos is blocking U.S. aid to Lebanon’s reconstruction to pressure Lebanon’s Hezbollah-scared government to allow UNFIL blocking the Syria border crossings to rearm Hezbollah.

[Read the whole thing.]

Contributed by Bill Faith on August 27, 2006 at 07:03 PM in Bill Faith, Hezbollah, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel, Lebanon | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

"Them," or "us?"
Contributed by Bill Faith

When I saw the link to this a little after midnight this morning I assumed it was just another al-WaPo pablum piece and didn't bother reading it. Thank you Allahpundit for pointing out my error: In Israel, a Divisive Struggle Over Targeted Killing. Read it. All of it. Before clicking the "Continue reading ..." link. Give it some thought and then please do click the link.

The article raises a very important issue: How many innocent "them" is it acceptable to kill or maim to protect "us?" For me the calculus is easy. I'd have dropped the larger bomb, then followed with several more to make sure the job was finished. Likewise, if I knew dropping massive thermonuclear weapons on a few Muslim cities would prevent the detonation of one primitive A-Bomb in an American or Israeli city, I'd have no problem at all giving the order to do it, nor would I have a problem with announcing in advance that for each WMD attack in an American, European, or Israeli city two important Muslim cities will cease to exist, starting with Mecca. Would that George Bush had the balls to make such and announcement.

Comments are open.

Contributed by Bill Faith on August 27, 2006 at 06:37 PM in Bill Faith, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Oops!
Contributed by Bill Faith

Hezbollah head didn't foresee such a war

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said in a TV interview aired Sunday that he would not have ordered the capture of two Israeli soldiers if he had known it would lead to such a war. ... "We did not think, even 1 percent, that the capture would lead to a war at this time and of this magnitude. You ask me, if I had known on July 11 ... that the operation would lead to such a war, would I do it? I say no, absolutely not," he said in an interview with Lebanon's New TV station.

[Read the whole thing. H/T: Allahpundit]

***

Captain Ed comments here.

Contributed by Bill Faith on August 27, 2006 at 01:57 PM in Bill Faith, Hezbollah, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel, Lebanon | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

"Israeli general plots war with Iran"
Contributed by Bill Faith

Gary "Boomer" Adams emails:

Is there any doubt that an 'event' is likely in the Middle East that might make what is going on in Iraq seem like child's play?

It's a no-brainer...a no choice deal for Israel.  It's a sad @ss shame that a little nation such as Israel, who only wants peace in it's own land, has to pick up the sword and do battle with a world class kook when other larger nations sit back and let him have his way.   

I hope the United States is not one to sit idly by and let Israel go it alone.  This has world-wide implications and both China and Russia should be very concerned as well for their own well being.  They cannot allow their dislike of the world's only super power to influence their decision whether or not to abort Iran's evil plan.

Wearing a sheet and a rag on my head holds no appeal for me.  And I still love to look at beautiful ladies too.

It would be nice if the dissidents in Iran that would like to see a regime change could prevail.  Pigs will fly before the maniac in charge is deposed/disposed of.  Maybe an assassination is in order.  Barring that an all-out conflict is likely.  I feel for the good people of Iran.

Israeli general plots war with Iran

JERUSALEM -- Israel has appointed a top general to oversee a war against Iran, prompting speculation that it is preparing for possible military action against Tehran's nuclear program.

Maj. Gen. Elyezer Shkedy, Israel's air force chief, will be overall commander for the "Iran front," military sources told the London Sunday Telegraph.

News of the appointment comes just days before a United Nations deadline expires for Iran to give up its nuclear program, which Western governments fear will be used to produce atomic weapons. ...

[Read on.]

Contributed by Bill Faith on August 27, 2006 at 12:13 PM in Bill Faith, Boomer, Iran, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

At last!
Contributed by Bill Faith

Captors Release Two FOX News Journalists
Kidnapped in Gaza Aug. 14

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Two FOX News journalists were released by their kidnappers Sunday, nearly two weeks after they were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip.

Steve Centanni, 60, and Olaf Wiig, 36, left Gaza and have since crossed into Israel after their release. The men left Gaza through the Erez border crossing.

The freeing of Centanni, a correspondent, and Wiig, a cameraman, ends the longest-running drama involving foreign hostages in Gaza.

[Read on.]

I've been following this story all along without making any attempt to blog about it. I got to the party late, other blogs were providing excellent coverage, and to tell the truth I wasn't very optimistic about the outcome and couldn't see providing the jihadis with any more press than they were already getting. I can't let this happy occasion pass, though, without adding my voice to the chorus of joyous well-wishers. Steve and Olaf, welcome back to the civilized world.

***

More coverage at OTB, Hot Air, Michelle Malkin, Captain's Quarters, Blackfive

Contributed by Bill Faith on August 27, 2006 at 11:07 AM in Bill Faith, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Saturday, 26 August 2006
 

"Reuters Van Hit by...Something...in Gaza"
Contributed by Bill Faith

Israeli rocket hits Reuters car

An Israeli air strike on a car in Gaza City during a security operation has injured a Reuters news agency cameraman and a local journalist.

At least one rocket hit the car as the cameraman was filming, knocking him unconscious, while the second man received serious leg wounds.

Reuters says the vehicle was clearly marked all over as media.

The Israeli army said the car had not been identified as press and expressed regret that journalists had been hurt.

[...]

"During the operation, there was an aerial attack on a suspicious vehicle that drove in a suspicious manner right by the forces and in between the Palestinian militant posts," Israeli army spokeswoman Capt Noa Meir said.

"This car was not identified by the army as a press vehicle. If journalists were hurt, we regret it."

[Read the whole thing.]

Allah's following the situation here.  SeeDubya has his doubts we're getting the whole story.

If, if, innocent journalists were injured in the process of trying to provide neutral coverage of a legitimate news event they have my sympathy and best wishes for a speedy recovery. I presume more information will become available as time goes on.

Contributed by Bill Faith on August 26, 2006 at 08:59 PM in Bill Faith, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

UNIFIL spied for Hezbollah during war
Contributed by Bill Faith

What did you do in the war, UNIFIL?
You broadcast Israeli troop movements.

[Read on.]

DURING THE RECENT month-long war between Hezbollah and Israel, U.N. "peacekeeping" forces made a startling contribution: They openly published daily real-time intelligence, of obvious usefulness to Hezbollah, on the location, equipment, and force structure of Israeli troops in Lebanon.

UNIFIL--the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, a nearly 2,000-man blue-helmet contingent that has been present on the Lebanon-Israel border since 1978--is officially neutral. Yet, throughout the recent war, it posted on its website for all to see precise information about the movements of Israeli Defense Forces soldiers and the nature of their weaponry and materiel, even specifying the placement of IDF safety structures within hours of their construction. New information was sometimes only 30 minutes old when it was posted, and never more than 24 hours old.

Meanwhile, UNIFIL posted not a single item of specific intelligence regarding Hezbollah forces. Statements on the order of Hezbollah "fired rockets in large numbers from various locations" and Hezbollah's rockets "were fired in significantly larger numbers from various locations" are as precise as its coverage of the other side ever got.

Contributed by Bill Faith on August 26, 2006 at 08:03 PM in Bill Faith, Hezbollah, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel, Lebanon, UNuseful | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

63% of Israelis say Olmert must go
Contributed by Bill Faith

Popular clamour for Cabinet heads to roll

DISCONTENT over Ehud Olmert’s handling of the war with Hezbollah has risen sharply, to the extent that most Israelis now believe that the Prime Minister should resign.

An opinion poll in Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper yesterday showed that 63 per cent of those questioned want Mr Olmert to go. In contrast, support for his rival Binyamin Netanyahu and his Likud Party has risen sharply.

The steep decline in Mr Olmert’s popularity has gathered momentum as the ranks of protesters dismayed by his Government’s management of the conflict have grown since the United Nations’ ceasefire began 12 days ago.

Under mounting pressure from angry reservists returning from the front and families of bereaved soldiers, Mr Olmert is due to make a decision tomorrow on the scope of an inquiry into the 34-day war.

[Read on.]

See related: Captain's Quarters, Hot Air

Contributed by Bill Faith on August 26, 2006 at 05:46 PM in Bill Faith, Israel, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Friday, 25 August 2006
 

Run Silent, Run Kosher
Contributed by Bill Faith

Israel, alone among all the civilized nations in really taking Iran as seriously as it deserves, has just ordered two more nuclear-capable Dolphin submarines from the Germans.

I do not except even the United States. I believe that George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice, and Donald Rumsfeld truly take Iran as seriously as they ought; but they're not the whole government or even the whole of the Executive. In particular, Congress does not really grasp the enormity of the threat from Iran. And since we are not a dictatorship, the president cannot simply decree an appropriate response.

But Israel lies under such immediate and obvious existential threat, that there is likely not a single member of the Israeli cabinet who does not feel Persian fear in the pit of his stomach. They may disagree over what to do, but that is for the same reason that different bomb-squad members may disagree over which wire to cut: everybody understands how dangerous a bomb is, but nobody wants to snip the wrong wire.

However, there are some things everyone in Israel can agree upon; and one of those is that they desperately need a "second strike" capability. To the extent that the Iranians have any rational survival instinct left, if they believe they would be wiped out by Israeli retaliation, they might think a second time about launching a first nuclear strike, should they manage to obtain (by cyclotron or A.Q. Khan) nuclear weapons.

[Read on.]

Of course the Israelis wouldn't need their own second-strike capability if George Bush would do what he should have done months ago and promise that the day a nuke goes off in Israel the U.S. will incinerate the capitols of every Islamic nation in the Mideast.

Contributed by Bill Faith on August 25, 2006 at 08:27 PM in Bill Faith, Iran, Islamism Delenda Est, Israel | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack