While Americans have been paying attention to their presidential race, things have been happening around them. Perhaps with the Palin wet t-shirt party raging in the press, nobody really wants to know. Sarah Palin brings everything a newsman wants in a story, controversy, sex and a pretty face. So, it falls to this writer to talk about the unpleasant things happening in and around the Middle East where pretty faces are as rare as pigs wearing lipstick.
First of all, an American consul general finally admitted what everybody has known for months and has been denying - that the Israeli government has been talking about splitting up Jerusalem in a so-called "peace" agreement. And according to the Jerusalem Post, the Kadima Party is in an uproar. Why they should be in an uproar is puzzling. These are the crooks and politicians who surrounded Ariel Sharon as he left the Likud Party specifically so that he wouldn't have to sing shtei gadót hayardén "Both Sides of the Jordan" (the Revisionist Zionists' anthem, adopted by the Likud) anymore and so that he could push the agenda of the Shlomtzion Party he had founded thirty-four years ago - a Arab State in Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
If that were the only bad news, well, one could live with it. The Israeli government has been committing treason since it agreed to surrender Judea and Samaria in the Oslo "Peace" Accords that have only cost 5,000 lives so far. So, what else is new? Traitors in Jerusalem is a story as old as the Book of Ezekiel and the Book of Kings. That is not really news. It's just that the piece of scum that sits in the prime minister's chair, whatever his or her name turns out to be, can no longer deny (even though they do deny) that Israel is negotiating over Jerusalem. And the SHAS Party, the pack of crooks who bring an evil name to the Middle Eastern Jews they allege to represent, the same pack of crooks who promised to leave the government if Jerusalem were to be negotiated, can no longer sit in the Cabinet without showing themselves to be the utter prostitutes most of us have known them to be ever since they voted to bring YitzHak Rabin to power in 1992.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - pleasexcusetheinterruption
Don't think for a second the U.S. will allow Israel to decide the time and terms of attack on Iran. That never has been and never will be the policy of any U.S. administration. You sound so indignant that we would restrict airspace and refuse to sell the necessary armaments. If we want the military capabilities of Iran preempted, we will do it ourselves, thanks.
2 - Ruvy
I don't have any illusions about America's policies, PETI. It is evident that it is not in America's interest to see this country survive, thrive or prosper. Your government shoved Stanley Fisher down our throats as the Governor of the Bank of Israel - so that he could be your rag-sheeny and buy up millions of worthless dollars to prop up a worthless currency.
You stuck your damned missile base in the Negev - and are barring Israeli personnel from it. Talk about imperial arrogance!
Your government is willing to be the guarantor of an Arab terror state. On OUR land, so that it can kill OUR people. We know all about your government's good intentions, PETI. Maybe you can sell einredenish to the guy who puts out Strategic Forecasting - but you can't sell it to me.
I know better.
Bottom line: your government lost its balls years ago, and has been in the business of betraying "allies" like Israel and Georgia for decades....
Don't worry, boychick. Payment for America will come soon.
3 - pleasexcusetheinterruption
You misunderstand me Ruvy. I don't think this administration has any qualms about a preemptive strike. They just don't want Israel doing our cost-benefit analysis for us. If we decide a preemptive strike on Iran is in OUR best interests, it will be done. The only reason the U.S. and Israel were ever and ever will be 'allies' is a coincidence of interests. States act rationally in their own self interest. There's no such thing as betrayal in foreign diplomacy.
4 - Ruvy
I don't misunderstand you at all, PETI. There are two cost benefit assessments to be done (which were figured out a long time ago). One deals with the Iranian missile threat to Israel. The second deals with the Iranian missile threat to America.
The natures of the two different threats are totally different. Having already had a small dose of the Iranian missile threat realized on our own soil, we have good reason to not want another. This is as true for the traitors who'll be hanging from a rope if Iran attacks again as it is for me, who would be happy to put these traitors' heads in the noose and kick away the chair.
America may not need to defang Iran. BUT WE DO.
Put very simply, America is preventing Israel from protecting itself. Whether this is wrong or right is not an issue. But the consequences, both in the secular sense and the religious one, endanger not Israel, even though we will suffer heavy loss of life when (notice that's when and not if) the Iranians attack, but rather America, which by its actions is cursing Israel. The bombardment of this country, whether by HizbAllah or by Iran directly, will cause America's enemies to see it as a weak helpless giant. Among those enemies is a wolf from the Spetsnaz, Vladimir Putin. Don't ever underestimate the viciousness or determination of this wolf.
5 - pleasexcusetheinterruption
We're not preventing you from doing anything we're merely assisting you on our own terms :). I also question how imminent any nuclear threat from Iran is.
There are reasonable Arabs. I have met many myself. And many can be persuaded by the influence of money. Even Ahmadinejad appears to be a rational man in his speech at Colombia University last year. He may have radical views, but all rational men can be reasoned with. And there are many more moderate Arabs who hope for peace or do not give a damn about Gaza. I think that unless something changes, and Ahmadinejad caves in to the most radical factions of his country, the U.S. is an adequate deterrent against Iran.
6 - Dave Nalle
PETI, I agree that there are many reasonable Arabs. Ahmadinejad is not an Arab and he's not reasonable. Put aside the line of bullshit he lay down at Columbia and think about the things he spews when he's safe in Iran. How about his holocaust denial conference? How about his statements about the total destruction of Israel? And don't forget that he's the front man for the Mullah's whose regime has made the Shah look like a sweetie.
But yes, the Iranians don't have nukes yet, except maybe for a couple they bought on the black market - but I hear those were in Syria and got taken out by the Israelis.
Dave
7 - Ruvy
From a different thread:
Irene,
This is what I found on Psalm 120
From another thread:
please see if you can find out what different rabbis have to say about "Mesech" and "Kedar." Psalm 120 is very much on my mind right now.
Psalm 120:
120:1 A Song of Ascents. In my distress I called unto the L-rd, and He answered me.
120:2 O the L-rd, deliver my soul from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue.
120:3 What shall be given unto thee, and what shall be done more unto thee, thou deceitful tongue?
120:4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals of broom.
120:5 Woe is me, that I sojourn with Meshech, that I dwell beside the tents of Kedar!
120:6 My soul hath full long had her dwelling with him that hateth peace.
120:7 I am all peace; but when I speak, they are for war.
It took a bit to find this, but here is the text for those who don't use a Bible.
Taken from the Jewish Publication Society translation of 1917.
Kedár is one of the sons of Ishmael. Méshekh is translated as the country that Gog comes from, as in méshekh v'tubál [Ezekiel 38]. This could be the United States - or it could be Russia. Opinions among rabbis vary. And of late, this subject has been the topic of lively discussion, as many rabbis think that George Bush is Gog. Others, looking at events, are not sure, noting that Bush' term is nearly over.
One result of these discussions is this from the Dreaming of Mashiach Website
Generally this site is one I follow carefully (again ironies abound in my life - this is a written by a Satmar woman - I couldn't stand the Satmar most of my life, and look where I'm turning for guidance!)
8 - Ruvy
PETI,
I see you fail to comprehend the import of the article you see above you. The import is not somebody from the Middle East whining that the Sarah Palin wet t-shirt party is taking all the attention away from what is important to him. I and my fellow Israelis count little in all of this.
The import is the threat that Russia presents to you in America. And damn it, it's about time you woke the hell up!
Russia is your enemy, and it is backing Iran, Syria and the HizbAllah in order to destabilize your power in the ME - what little is left of it. In addition, the Russians are setting up a base in Venezuela (Cuba's usefulness is probably gone by now - the Cubans hate this regime almost as much as they hated Batista).
What would cripple YOU would be an HEMP (or a pair of them) that knocks out your computer systems and electronics. It wouldn't knock out all of your C $ C systems (many of which are far underground, effectively shielded from EMP's), but would do for a start in inducing panic and chaos in your country. A Russian ship docked in Venezuela could deliver this blow if the Iranians couldn't be counted upon to do so.
That kind of a attack or series of them, mounted upon a month or two of "events" arranged by the present Russian equivalent of the Spetsnaz, all designed to lower morale in the States, is the kind of thing one can expect from somebody like Putin, a former member of the Spetsnaz himself.
Perhaps I'll have to spell this out for people who think that the big bad Russian bear disappeared with the disappearance of the hammer and sickle from the Russian flag. If you think this, you are sadly mistaken and badly in need of a wakeup call. The events in Gruzia (Georgia) should have served as that wakeup call.
Forget Gruzia. The Russian have moved in and hold the aces, and are now collecting the chips. Start paying attention to all the other places they threaten your country.
9 - Ruvy
NEWS UPDATES... NEWS UPDATES... NEWS UPDATES... NEWS UPDATES...
U.S. to 'guarantee' Palestinian state Letter meant to bind Israel, PA, next administration in Washington
The headline says it all. It won't matter what Palin says, what McCain says or anybody else, according to the intent of the letter. Condi Rice will bind America to the death producing Bush promise of an Arab terror state in our midst.
That was posted on 11 September in the World Net Daily
At the Cabinet meeting today (14 September), the "crime minister" said "we will not allow "pogroms" against non-Jews". The Jerusalem Post showing its true ideological colors, has been raging against "settler violence" for the last several days or so.
Looking at the articles it recommends as related, they read like this:
* Rise in settler violence feared
* Analysis: Taming the 'Wild West Bank'
* MK Dr. Ephraim Sneh: A militia of thugs
Uh huh... like these fools have any concept of what the Arabs who attack us want.
Looking at the talkbacks gives a taste of how the new one-sided reporting at the Jerusalem Post is received. Some samples:
2. Child wounded? 9 year old stabbed 5 times and house burned to bits
Court Jew back in action. Respect? Behind their backs he's collaborating to return lands once more. Rockets in the face in Gaza is not enough lesson. Does he draw borders clearly defined? Ff course not. The few against the many with the govt' of the few and the many against the few. all of Israel is divine decreed settlement - (09/14/2008 11:38)
3. Of course pogroms against sderot and western negev against Jewish residents are allowed
6. Olmert is showing his true colours.
He is little more than a mouthpiece for the Arab-Muslim enemy. This is the reality of Israel today: with "leaders" like Olmert, Ramon, and many others like them, who needs enemies?
But it's not all bad news. A bit of good news also in the mix. This is from Ha'aretz. U.S. to sell Israel Air Force new bunker-buster bombs
By Aluf Benn and Amos Harel
Apparently, amidst much misgiving, the Americans will allow Israel to buy the bunker-busting bombs it will need to destroy Iranian nuclear facilities.
10 - Joanne Huspek
Ruvy, this disturbs me and I don't even know the intricasies as well as you.
Unfortunately for all of us, the US usually REACTS not acts. And we (the country) have been guilty of shortsightedness and self-absorbtion.
I don't know what else to say about your article, except that your point of view is necessary.
11 - Cannonshop
Ruvy, this pisses me off. Maybe I spend too much time eating lunch and talking with ex-ARVN and SE asians who remember another manipulative betrayal, I'm gobsmacked, don't these assholes in D.C. learn Anything???
12 - pleasexcusetheinterruption
PETI, I agree that there are many reasonable Arabs. Ahmadinejad is not an Arab and he's not reasonable. Put aside the line of bullshit he lay down at Columbia and think about the things he spews when he's safe in Iran. How about his holocaust denial conference? How about his statements about the total destruction of Israel? And don't forget that he's the front man for the Mullah's whose regime has made the Shah look like a sweetie.
I know many of his views and the things he says are irrational. Part of it is culture. Part of it is politics. I think the man still has a rational interest in self-preservation. I may be wrong of course and we shouldn't base our entire policy on the assumption that he will act rationally.
13 - pleasexcusetheinterruption
The U.S. should guarantee Palestine. It prevents more aggression on the part of Israel which just makes them look bad to about 90% of the world.
14 - Cannonshop
um, PETI, if that line of reasoning worked, there wouldn't be rockets landing in Israel from the safe ground of the Palestinian Authority, there wouldn't be bus-bombings and student massacres.
There would already BE peace.
There isn't. Your line of reasoning is a bit like the idea that if homeowners would only surrender their arms and rely on the police, home-invasion robberies and rapes would go away because the poor criminals wouldn't need to be brutal, it's the kind of thinking that tells a young girl "Dont' resist the rapist, or he'll hurt you even more".
NO.
Appeasement does not work, PETI. It never has, it never will. It isn't working now, and pursuit of it won't in the future. Jerusalem was once divided, and while it was, it was used to stage attacks on Israel (that was the whole point of the 1967 war-to annihilate Israel.)
15 - pleasexcusetheinterruption
um, PETI, if that line of reasoning worked, there wouldn't be rockets landing in Israel from the safe ground of the Palestinian Authority, there wouldn't be bus-bombings and student massacres.
There would already BE peace.
I did not say guaranteeing Palestine and preventing attack by Israel would bring peace. I said it would stop Israel from looking bad to about 90% of the world. Please refrain from putting words in my mouth or stop posting if you cannot handle basic distinctions.
Wars are rarely won by brute force but by winning the hearts and minds of your allies. Even if Israel would be more secure by controlling Palestine, they cannot do so because on principle they have no right to do so.
Appeasement does not work, PETI. It never has, it never will. It isn't working now, and pursuit of it won't in the future. Jerusalem was once divided, and while it was, it was used to stage attacks on Israel (that was the whole point of the 1967 war-to annihilate Israel.)
This is bullshit. I couldn't count on both hands the number of times we appeased the Soviet Union during the Cold War. How about an explicitly reached missile trade? Ring any bells? The Cuban missile crisis was resolved by explicit appeasement by the Kennedy administration.
People always take the failure of appeasement during WW2 as a matter of gospel. One example doesn't make a thesis.
16 - Cannonshop
Okay, PETI, name ONE example where Appeasement did what it was supposed to do?
17 - pleasexcusetheinterruption
Lol. I just did. The Cuban Missile Crisis. We offered to remove our missiles from Turkey and promised to respect the sovereignty of Cuba for a withdrawel of Soviet missiles from Cuba. I could keep going.. the number of agreements we reached with the Soviet Union in which we made concessions to them is remarkable considering it was a 'cold war.'
18 - Cannonshop
Yeah, but the Soviets also gave (and honored) concessions-it's not appeasement if it's one-sided and both sides at least make the attempt to honor their agreements. THAT is called "Diplomacy".
So far, the Palestinian record for honoring cease-fires, agreements, and treaties is negative-numbers. Israel gives concessions, the Palestinian militants kill more israelis, israel gives more concessions.
YOu can't buy peace from someone determined to make you extinct.
19 - Ruvy
I don't know what else to say about your article, except that your point of view is necessary.
Joanne, you may not realize this, but that is the kindest compliment you could have paid me. My point of view is extremely unpopular because I talk about things most folks don't want to hear. But you - not I - said it was necessary.
Thank you!
20 - Ruvy
PETI,
Cannonshop has been making my arguments for me, and he is right on the money. I will add a point that he might not add, though.
I remember 1967. I remember how blacks in New York went around with huge Jewish flags to show their solidarity with the Jews of the world. I remember being numbed with joy and the shock of victory - and I was only a teenager in Brooklyn. But I was one damned proud Jew the first two weeks of June, 1967.
And I remember 1973. I remember how blacks condemned us and called our country "not natural". I remember African country after African country breaking off relations with Israel. I remember how country after country in Europe gave in to the Arabs with their oil boycott. Those are things I'll never forget.
And I learned a lesson from that, too. If the whole world hates you and wants you to die, you tell them to go fuck themselves; and when they bitch, you shoot them to shut them the hell up. You seize their property, you kick out their nationals, and you let them know in no uncertain terms that you do not need them - and that any act of hostility will be interpreted as an act of war, and be responded to accordingly. That is all the haters of Israel deserve.
When people hate you, what they think does not matter. All that matters is what we do. As ben-Gurion said, "It doesn't matter what the goyim think, it matters what we do."
And that is the bottom line. After a Nazi holocaust, after centuries of persecution from both Moslems and Christians, after an attempted genocide from the Romans, we Jews don't have to look good for any of you. None of you are worth it.
Of all the peoples in the world, only the Hindus did not try to kill us off or humiliate us, or steal our faith. Does that sound like I'm holding a grudge? Yeah, I am holding a grudge. And I have a right to.
21 - Jordan Richardson
Well, Ruvy, despite your hatred for everybody and everything, you still manage to drop a few nuggets of wisdom every now and then from your Ivory Tower. And this article is one of them.
Thank you.
22 - Ruvy
You are most welcome, Jordan.
23 - pleasexcusetheinterruption
Yeah, but the Soviets also gave (and honored) concessions-it's not appeasement if it's one-sided and both sides at least make the attempt to honor their agreements. THAT is called "Diplomacy".
You obviously do not know the definitions of either of the terms you are throwing around.
1) Appeasement IS diplomacy.
2) Appeasement IS when both sides make and honor concessions. See the definition of appeasement here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeasement
So far, the Palestinian record for honoring cease-fires, agreements, and treaties is negative-numbers. Israel gives concessions, the Palestinian militants kill more israelis, israel gives more concessions.
YOu can't buy peace from someone determined to make you extinct.
To compliment your simple understanding of the terms diplomacy and appeasement you have simplified the case of Palestinian attacks on Israel. Just because attacks continue when concessions are made does not mean tangible results cannot be achieved. Attacks are not made by all Palestinians.
It is not true that all Palestinians are determined to make Israel extinct. The Fatah party officially recognized Israel's right to exist. Moderate policies will enable those Palestinian moderates to grow in power.
Oh, and I hit "Publish" too soon- The other thing, is that the agreements were enforced by mutually-assured-destruction. The soviets didn't want to throw down because they didn't want to die anymore than we did, and they had no bigger partner that would save and support them. NOT the situation in the Middle-East.
I'm sure more than enough Palestinians have died to make the threat of Israel clear. In fact, the casualty rate of Palestinians may be higher than the casualty rate that the U.S. or the Soviet Union would have experienced in the event of nuclear war as a result of the Cuban missile crisis.
And I learned a lesson from that, too. If the whole world hates you and wants you to die, you tell them to go fuck themselves; and when they bitch, you shoot them to shut them the hell up. You seize their property, you kick out their nationals, and you let them know in no uncertain terms that you do not need them - and that any act of hostility will be interpreted as an act of war, and be responded to accordingly. That is all the haters of Israel deserve.
You've got a lot of killing ahead of you. Good luck with that.
24 - pleasexcusetheinterruption
And that is the bottom line. After a Nazi holocaust, after centuries of persecution from both Moslems and Christians, after an attempted genocide from the Romans, we Jews don't have to look good for any of you. None of you are worth it.
Of all the peoples in the world, only the Hindus did not try to kill us off or humiliate us, or steal our faith. Does that sound like I'm holding a grudge? Yeah, I am holding a grudge. And I have a right to.
Also I really REALLY don't give a damn what people did to 'your people' 1000, 500, 100 or even 50 years ago. I don't believe in group morality. And I certainly am not going to recognize any grudge you have against the descendants of any historical group. I don't think a bit less of Germans today, but I'd convict an old dying Nazi war criminal in a heartbeat.
25 - owashsawo
Ruvy
may your enemies be put under your feet
the time will come when the talking is over and action MUST be taken
I look toward that time with anticipation and dread