OK, try this for size.
Either ...
Israel Defense Forces are totally inept, if not stupid, and are targeting known UNIFIL/civilian sites
OR ...
As is well known, IDF relies on a lot of covert information-gathering to find out what's going on behind the lines. We know this because they are so successful at catching suicide murderers before they get to their targets. They MUST have sources inside the various organizations we are fighting. Now what if Hezbolla are using this fact to plant false information with the expectation that Israel will probably act on it.
Imagine this scenario .........
IDF gets "inside information" that Hezbolla forces are occupying a specific site in Qana, maybe even that it's being used as a command-and-control center. At the same time, Hezbolla moves hundreds of civilians (at gunpoint) into the building, and keeps them there. Now Israel, believing the information, targets the building, and you know the result.
Is this paranoid, or is it a more likely scenario than the one Kofi Annan will have us believe, that Israel is deliberately aiming at the civilian population. If anyone goes for the latter argument, then tell me one thing, why have we only managed to kill 500? Why not 50,000?
Monday, July 31, 2006
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Why are we soooo bad at Hasbarah?
Time and time again Israel is slammed for it's actions. Today after 50+ people (mainly women and children) were killed in Qana there was outrage around the world and many more calls for an immediate ceasefire. Israel is once again being hailed as the unprovoked aggressor and embarrassed into cautious fighting - which does nothing but jeopardize the lives of it's brave soldiers.
One should start by asking, what could we have done differently in order to save the lives of innocent people in Qana today.
Should we have warned the residents that we were going to attack and told them to evacuate - check
Should we have used extreme caution in trying to pinpoint exactly where the rockets were being fired from yesterday - check
Should we have bowed to International pressure preventing us from expanding ground operations and use air force instead- check
Perhaps we should be shouting these questions:
Why aren't the foreign media and the so called International peacekeepers following up on many claims that Hizbullah fighters are trying to prevent (and even killing in some cases) residents of Southern Lebanon towns who are trying to flee?
Why were there so many civilians still embedded in towns such as Qana and why weren't they doing more to stop the Hizbullah fighters living amongst them from firing rockets?
If the Lebanese government is so adamant that they too wish to disarm Hizbullah but have never had the power to do so, then why don't they attack from the North and help Israel to destroy the terrorists?
When Israel is slammed for doing what it can to protect itself, when it is raked over the coals for "regretfully and not intentionally" killing innocent people in order to realize this goal. WHY are we unable to clearly and forcefully state our cause, hold our ground and still come out smelling like roses?
Today Israel invited leaders from the UN into it's situation room. Perhaps we should do that some more - invite the leaders of some of our biggest critics to sit in the situation room with us. Let them share in our frustrations and work with us to decide how to deal with the rocket attacks up North. Let them see what it's like to decide that Qana is a legitimate target - only to find out that 50 civilians were killed in the attack. No country is perfect, and Israel is under an awful lot of pressure to conform to so many different critics. The best thing that could happen to us right now would be silence, if everyone would just shut up we would be able to get this over with as soon as we can. Our sons, cousins, nephews, friends and colleagues would be able to return from the army, our Northern residents would be able to come above ground or go back home. But most importantly - innocent people would be allowed to go about their normal lives here and in Lebanon.
Just shut up and let Israel do what Israel has to do and UNIFIL, UN, and Lebanon have been too chicken to do themselves.
Wake up and smell the roses! (written by someone who believes in Peace, who believes the Palestinians have a right to their own state, who does not think it is a crime for Israel to give up land for peace, but who is realistic to know that we have to protect our right to exist as a Jewish homeland without the threat of terrorist attacks)
One should start by asking, what could we have done differently in order to save the lives of innocent people in Qana today.
Should we have warned the residents that we were going to attack and told them to evacuate - check
Should we have used extreme caution in trying to pinpoint exactly where the rockets were being fired from yesterday - check
Should we have bowed to International pressure preventing us from expanding ground operations and use air force instead- check
Perhaps we should be shouting these questions:
Why aren't the foreign media and the so called International peacekeepers following up on many claims that Hizbullah fighters are trying to prevent (and even killing in some cases) residents of Southern Lebanon towns who are trying to flee?
Why were there so many civilians still embedded in towns such as Qana and why weren't they doing more to stop the Hizbullah fighters living amongst them from firing rockets?
If the Lebanese government is so adamant that they too wish to disarm Hizbullah but have never had the power to do so, then why don't they attack from the North and help Israel to destroy the terrorists?
When Israel is slammed for doing what it can to protect itself, when it is raked over the coals for "regretfully and not intentionally" killing innocent people in order to realize this goal. WHY are we unable to clearly and forcefully state our cause, hold our ground and still come out smelling like roses?
Today Israel invited leaders from the UN into it's situation room. Perhaps we should do that some more - invite the leaders of some of our biggest critics to sit in the situation room with us. Let them share in our frustrations and work with us to decide how to deal with the rocket attacks up North. Let them see what it's like to decide that Qana is a legitimate target - only to find out that 50 civilians were killed in the attack. No country is perfect, and Israel is under an awful lot of pressure to conform to so many different critics. The best thing that could happen to us right now would be silence, if everyone would just shut up we would be able to get this over with as soon as we can. Our sons, cousins, nephews, friends and colleagues would be able to return from the army, our Northern residents would be able to come above ground or go back home. But most importantly - innocent people would be allowed to go about their normal lives here and in Lebanon.
Just shut up and let Israel do what Israel has to do and UNIFIL, UN, and Lebanon have been too chicken to do themselves.
Wake up and smell the roses! (written by someone who believes in Peace, who believes the Palestinians have a right to their own state, who does not think it is a crime for Israel to give up land for peace, but who is realistic to know that we have to protect our right to exist as a Jewish homeland without the threat of terrorist attacks)
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
just a reminder of UN position on Shebaa Farms
Since they are now starting to talk about making the "return" of Shebaa Farms a condition to any ceasefire, it's worthwhile remembering what the real UN postition on this subject is, since I'm sure they'll conveniently forget this when it comes to putting pressure on Israel to make a deal.
Letter dated 26 October 2005 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, pursuant to the request of the Security Council expressed in the presidential statement of 19 October 2004 (S/PRST/2004/36), that I continue to report on the implementation of the resolution to the Council every six months.
Many Lebanese continue to maintain that Hizbollah is in fact not a militia, but a "legitimate resistance movement," fighting for the liberation of the Shebaa farms area from Israeli occupation. This interpretation of the status of the Shebaa farms, as I have repeatedly outlined not only in my previous reports on the implementation of resolution 1559 (2004) but also elsewhere, continues to stand in stark contrast to the position of the United Nations (see annex). I confirmed in my report to the Security Council of 16 June 2000 (S/2000/590) that Israel had fulfilled as of that date the requirements of Security Council resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978) that it "withdraw its forces from all Lebanese territory". The Council endorsed this conclusion in the statement of its President (S/PRST/2000/21) of 18 June 2000. Both the Council and I have repeatedly stated the position that the Shebaa farms area is not part of Lebanon. Therefore, any Lebanese "resistance" to "liberate" the area from continued Israeli occupation cannot be considered legitimate. In addition, even if the Lebanese claim to the Shebaa farms area were legitimate, it would be the responsibility of the Government of Lebanon only to address this claim in conformity with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
Letter dated 26 October 2005 from the Secretary-General addressed to the President of the Security Council, pursuant to the request of the Security Council expressed in the presidential statement of 19 October 2004 (S/PRST/2004/36), that I continue to report on the implementation of the resolution to the Council every six months.
Many Lebanese continue to maintain that Hizbollah is in fact not a militia, but a "legitimate resistance movement," fighting for the liberation of the Shebaa farms area from Israeli occupation. This interpretation of the status of the Shebaa farms, as I have repeatedly outlined not only in my previous reports on the implementation of resolution 1559 (2004) but also elsewhere, continues to stand in stark contrast to the position of the United Nations (see annex). I confirmed in my report to the Security Council of 16 June 2000 (S/2000/590) that Israel had fulfilled as of that date the requirements of Security Council resolutions 425 (1978) and 426 (1978) that it "withdraw its forces from all Lebanese territory". The Council endorsed this conclusion in the statement of its President (S/PRST/2000/21) of 18 June 2000. Both the Council and I have repeatedly stated the position that the Shebaa farms area is not part of Lebanon. Therefore, any Lebanese "resistance" to "liberate" the area from continued Israeli occupation cannot be considered legitimate. In addition, even if the Lebanese claim to the Shebaa farms area were legitimate, it would be the responsibility of the Government of Lebanon only to address this claim in conformity with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
We was robbed!
Throughout the "liberal" media, the calls that Israel should be condemned for "disproportionate response" and "crimes against humanity" have been growing to a deafening roar. Clearly, there is consensus that Israel is going all-out to massacre civilians in Lebanon, and does not discriminate between military and civilian targets.
Given that in 14 days of fighting, about 400 deaths have occurred in Lebanon (although there's no clear distinction between Hizbollah fighters and Lebanese citizens), we can reach a very important conclusion - Israel should demand full refunds for all the military hardware it has bought and uses in this conflict, since it is clearly not performing up to specifications.
To take a simple example. The F15 fighter which is the backbone of Israel's air attack, is designed to carry the following armaments :
20mm 6 barrel cannon with 980 rounds of ammunition, capable of penetrating several inches of hardened steel
up to 12 air-to-ground missiles with sophisticated electronics to ensure accurate targeting
up to 15 tons of "smart" bombs.
Using one of these aircraft in a densely populated area, I think it is reasonable to estimate that it should have a kill-ratio of between 500 and 1000 people for one full load of munitions. Anything less than that would be a very poor return on investment. Since Israel freely admits to having flown over a thousand sorties over Lebanon, we should expect that about 50,000 and 100,000 people should have been killed by airstrikes alone. Add to this the tens of thousands of artillery and mortar rounds that the rest of the world say have been fired directly into densely populated areas, and any reasonable audit should expect that anything less that a quarter of a million casualties amongst the Lebanese is a sign of very poor planning by the Israeli command.
Clearly the equipment we have bought, that for all this effort has only managed to kill 400 people, is defective, does not meet it's design standards, and we should demand a refund!
Given that in 14 days of fighting, about 400 deaths have occurred in Lebanon (although there's no clear distinction between Hizbollah fighters and Lebanese citizens), we can reach a very important conclusion - Israel should demand full refunds for all the military hardware it has bought and uses in this conflict, since it is clearly not performing up to specifications.
To take a simple example. The F15 fighter which is the backbone of Israel's air attack, is designed to carry the following armaments :
20mm 6 barrel cannon with 980 rounds of ammunition, capable of penetrating several inches of hardened steel
up to 12 air-to-ground missiles with sophisticated electronics to ensure accurate targeting
up to 15 tons of "smart" bombs.
Using one of these aircraft in a densely populated area, I think it is reasonable to estimate that it should have a kill-ratio of between 500 and 1000 people for one full load of munitions. Anything less than that would be a very poor return on investment. Since Israel freely admits to having flown over a thousand sorties over Lebanon, we should expect that about 50,000 and 100,000 people should have been killed by airstrikes alone. Add to this the tens of thousands of artillery and mortar rounds that the rest of the world say have been fired directly into densely populated areas, and any reasonable audit should expect that anything less that a quarter of a million casualties amongst the Lebanese is a sign of very poor planning by the Israeli command.
Clearly the equipment we have bought, that for all this effort has only managed to kill 400 people, is defective, does not meet it's design standards, and we should demand a refund!
Kim Howells - Surgical Strikes can wait
British Foreign Office minister Kim Howells has criticized Israeli actions in Lebanon. Mr Howells told journalists Israel's air strikes over the past 11 days were "not surgical strikes".
It's sometime necessary to bear in mind that not everyone who speaks English has the same cultural background as ourselves, so the words they use may not mean the same for them that they do for us. In the case of Howells, it's important to understand what a phrase like "surgical strike" means in the context of a British Labour MP. After all, under the Labour government ruling Britain for the last 10 years, waiting lists for NHS patients seeking surgical procedures have nearly doubled. Under his party's leadership, people desperately in need of, for example, breast surgery, are experiencing an average delay of 107 days - that's nearly 4 months - in order to receive their life-saving operations. (To prove that I've not taken a "worst case" scenario to illustrate my point, the waiting time for colorectal surgery - an even more life-saving procedure - is 112 days and in some areas patients who can live that long have to wait 6 months.)
So, what does a "surgical strike" mean to Kim Howells. It means delaying taking any action until there's a better chance that your patient will die from "natural causes" than that he or she will be saved by the operation they need. For him, this is a positive outcome, since no doubt the death of Jews is a regrettable but unavoidable consequence of appeasement, just as it was in 1939.
For us in Israel, we'll do without the benefit of Howell's expertise in managing crisis situations. We'll take the action that we need to save our own lives, and not rely on his approval or otherwise, thank you very much.
It's sometime necessary to bear in mind that not everyone who speaks English has the same cultural background as ourselves, so the words they use may not mean the same for them that they do for us. In the case of Howells, it's important to understand what a phrase like "surgical strike" means in the context of a British Labour MP. After all, under the Labour government ruling Britain for the last 10 years, waiting lists for NHS patients seeking surgical procedures have nearly doubled. Under his party's leadership, people desperately in need of, for example, breast surgery, are experiencing an average delay of 107 days - that's nearly 4 months - in order to receive their life-saving operations. (To prove that I've not taken a "worst case" scenario to illustrate my point, the waiting time for colorectal surgery - an even more life-saving procedure - is 112 days and in some areas patients who can live that long have to wait 6 months.)
So, what does a "surgical strike" mean to Kim Howells. It means delaying taking any action until there's a better chance that your patient will die from "natural causes" than that he or she will be saved by the operation they need. For him, this is a positive outcome, since no doubt the death of Jews is a regrettable but unavoidable consequence of appeasement, just as it was in 1939.
For us in Israel, we'll do without the benefit of Howell's expertise in managing crisis situations. We'll take the action that we need to save our own lives, and not rely on his approval or otherwise, thank you very much.
Friday, July 21, 2006
From Jerusalem to Haifa
A few days ago I blogged that my family were coming from Haifa to Jerusalem for the week. This weekend we are to go up to Haifa for the Bar Mitzvah. Given the news of the last 20 min I am not sure how wise this is. I promise to write a full report on the weekend when I get back.
Let's all pray for a quiet weekend.
N
Let's all pray for a quiet weekend.
N
Thursday, July 20, 2006
The Ultimate Weapon against Hezbollah - Barry Manilow!
The IDF would do well to check out this article from the London Times of July 18.
Yes - force the Hezbollah to listen to Barry Manilow for hours on end. That will show em! In Edmund Blackadder's words - that would be "a fate worse than a fate worse than death!"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2274211.html
Up to a hundred hooligans had been gathering in the streets of the town and the council was concerned that their roaring engines and loud car stereos were giving its citizens sleepless nights and damaging trade for local restaurants. The council responded by erecting loudspeakers in the worst-affected streets. Bill Saravinovski, deputy mayor of Rockdale, said: “Barry’s our secret weapon. He does seem to be working.” A CUNNING scheme to prevent groups of boy racers plaguing a residential area by blasting them with Barry Manilow songs has met with a mixed response. The local council in Rockdale, near Sydney, has hailed the plan as a success.
Mr Saravinovski said that only the residents who lived closest to the loudspeakers were badly affected. But he admitted: “I am not disputing what the residents are saying. I myself can’t swallow some of Manilow’s songs, like Mandy.”
The Manilow playlist relies on the classics such as Copacabana, Mandy, I Write the Songs, Can’t Smile Without You and Looks Like We Made It. Research said to have been conducted in the United States for the FBI in the early 1990s suggested that the extended playing of Manilow’s songs could force people to flee. The FBI reportedly threatened to play Manilow at loud volume outside the Branch Davidian siege in Waco, Texas, in 1993. However, the siege ended before the plan could go ahead.
The Blacktown council in West Sydney, on the other hand, claimed success when it used Manilow’s music to prevent youths from loitering around a railway station.
The only problem with this scheme is that it could easily be defined as a war crime.
Yes - force the Hezbollah to listen to Barry Manilow for hours on end. That will show em! In Edmund Blackadder's words - that would be "a fate worse than a fate worse than death!"
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-2274211.html
Up to a hundred hooligans had been gathering in the streets of the town and the council was concerned that their roaring engines and loud car stereos were giving its citizens sleepless nights and damaging trade for local restaurants. The council responded by erecting loudspeakers in the worst-affected streets. Bill Saravinovski, deputy mayor of Rockdale, said: “Barry’s our secret weapon. He does seem to be working.” A CUNNING scheme to prevent groups of boy racers plaguing a residential area by blasting them with Barry Manilow songs has met with a mixed response. The local council in Rockdale, near Sydney, has hailed the plan as a success.
Mr Saravinovski said that only the residents who lived closest to the loudspeakers were badly affected. But he admitted: “I am not disputing what the residents are saying. I myself can’t swallow some of Manilow’s songs, like Mandy.”
The Manilow playlist relies on the classics such as Copacabana, Mandy, I Write the Songs, Can’t Smile Without You and Looks Like We Made It. Research said to have been conducted in the United States for the FBI in the early 1990s suggested that the extended playing of Manilow’s songs could force people to flee. The FBI reportedly threatened to play Manilow at loud volume outside the Branch Davidian siege in Waco, Texas, in 1993. However, the siege ended before the plan could go ahead.
The Blacktown council in West Sydney, on the other hand, claimed success when it used Manilow’s music to prevent youths from loitering around a railway station.
The only problem with this scheme is that it could easily be defined as a war crime.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Is there a Hebrew phrase for "foot-in-mouth disease"?
Abba Eban was a sophisticated, Oxbridge-educated man of great wit and charm, and unbeatable knowledge of Western diplomatic niceties. When he said "the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity", he knew he was speaking to similarly inclined Western ears, and they nodded appreciatively, understanding the nuance and subtlety of what he was saying.
Unfortunately, today his most famous witticism has been heard by non-Oxbridge, simple, non-English speaking Israeli politicians and military men, on whom subtlety and nuance are completely wasted. They have made a simple connection - Palestinians always miss opportunities, and Palestinians are vastly superior to Israelis when it comes to public relations and garnering support from foreign governments, media and NGOs. Therefore, for Israel to catch up, it's our duty to start missing opportunities.
A case in point - rarely if ever has Israel had such positive responses from the rest of the world than in the first few days of the current battle in Gaza and Lebanon. G8 leaders, western media, almost the whole world recognized that Hamas and Hezbolla had overstepped the mark by kidnapping and killing Israeli soldiers inside undisputed Israeli territory. While there were some mealy-mouthed words about "proportionate response" and "respecting civilian rights", the overwhelming feeling was that Israel has every right to go after the kidnappers and murderers. And as long as we spoke in public about "bringing our boys home", we had this support.
Compare that to now. The Israeli spokesmen are talking about "a few more weeks are needed to dismantle Hezbolla" and the hostages are hardly mentioned. Now the world is going back to the old pattern.
The New York Times today writes ... "The asymmetry in the reported death tolls is marked and growing: some 230 Lebanese dead, most of them civilians, to 25 Israeli dead, 13 of them civilians. In Gaza, one Israeli soldier has died from his own army’s fire, and 103 Palestinians have been killed, 70 percent of them militants. The cold figures, combined with Israeli air attacks on civilian infrastructure like power plants, electricity transformers, airports, bridges, highways and government buildings, have led to accusations by France and the European Union, echoed by some nongovernmental organizations, that Israel is guilty of 'disproportionate use of force' in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and of 'collective punishment' of the civilian populations."
Next, we'll see resolutions in the UN Security Council condemning Israel for its aggression against peace-loving Lebanon, which will only fail when (if?) the US vetoes it. And watching the White House briefing yesterday, it's obvious that the US government has run out of breathing space from the East Coast media, who are now asking their standard questions about US bias against the Arabs, about the influence of the "Jewish lobby" in steering foreign policy, and all the usual rhetoric that they trot out when dealing with Israel-US relations.
This is a plea to anyone to speaks in the name of Israel. Keep your foot out of your mouth. We are fighting in Lebanon for one thing - to bring our boys home safely. We are fighting in Gaza for one thing - to bring our boy home safely. No negotiations that do not start with that as unconditional prerequisites are tolerated, but no "secret agendas" -- PLEASE!.
Unfortunately, today his most famous witticism has been heard by non-Oxbridge, simple, non-English speaking Israeli politicians and military men, on whom subtlety and nuance are completely wasted. They have made a simple connection - Palestinians always miss opportunities, and Palestinians are vastly superior to Israelis when it comes to public relations and garnering support from foreign governments, media and NGOs. Therefore, for Israel to catch up, it's our duty to start missing opportunities.
A case in point - rarely if ever has Israel had such positive responses from the rest of the world than in the first few days of the current battle in Gaza and Lebanon. G8 leaders, western media, almost the whole world recognized that Hamas and Hezbolla had overstepped the mark by kidnapping and killing Israeli soldiers inside undisputed Israeli territory. While there were some mealy-mouthed words about "proportionate response" and "respecting civilian rights", the overwhelming feeling was that Israel has every right to go after the kidnappers and murderers. And as long as we spoke in public about "bringing our boys home", we had this support.
Compare that to now. The Israeli spokesmen are talking about "a few more weeks are needed to dismantle Hezbolla" and the hostages are hardly mentioned. Now the world is going back to the old pattern.
The New York Times today writes ... "The asymmetry in the reported death tolls is marked and growing: some 230 Lebanese dead, most of them civilians, to 25 Israeli dead, 13 of them civilians. In Gaza, one Israeli soldier has died from his own army’s fire, and 103 Palestinians have been killed, 70 percent of them militants. The cold figures, combined with Israeli air attacks on civilian infrastructure like power plants, electricity transformers, airports, bridges, highways and government buildings, have led to accusations by France and the European Union, echoed by some nongovernmental organizations, that Israel is guilty of 'disproportionate use of force' in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and of 'collective punishment' of the civilian populations."
Next, we'll see resolutions in the UN Security Council condemning Israel for its aggression against peace-loving Lebanon, which will only fail when (if?) the US vetoes it. And watching the White House briefing yesterday, it's obvious that the US government has run out of breathing space from the East Coast media, who are now asking their standard questions about US bias against the Arabs, about the influence of the "Jewish lobby" in steering foreign policy, and all the usual rhetoric that they trot out when dealing with Israel-US relations.
This is a plea to anyone to speaks in the name of Israel. Keep your foot out of your mouth. We are fighting in Lebanon for one thing - to bring our boys home safely. We are fighting in Gaza for one thing - to bring our boy home safely. No negotiations that do not start with that as unconditional prerequisites are tolerated, but no "secret agendas" -- PLEASE!.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Time to choose our spokespersons carefully
There is a tendency in crisis situations to let any old idiot speak on our behalf.
Yesterday I watch Bibi Netanyahu do just that. And while I admire the fact that he would not be drawn into a conversation, prompted by the presenter, as to whether or not he thinks Olmert is doing a good job. I have to admit it is a little bit, actually a lot, hypocritical to have him say "We withdrew from Gaza, we withdrew from Lebanon and now this is what we get."
My memory is hazy at the best of times, but I sure as hell remember that he wasn't one of the "we" agreeing to withdraw from Gaza, he was in fact the only one to resign from Government at such a critical time of the disengagement. So to use it now as moral grounds for fighting the war that we find ourselves in at the moment, OK.
But for Bibi to use it, well... seems a little hypocritical.
Yesterday I watch Bibi Netanyahu do just that. And while I admire the fact that he would not be drawn into a conversation, prompted by the presenter, as to whether or not he thinks Olmert is doing a good job. I have to admit it is a little bit, actually a lot, hypocritical to have him say "We withdrew from Gaza, we withdrew from Lebanon and now this is what we get."
My memory is hazy at the best of times, but I sure as hell remember that he wasn't one of the "we" agreeing to withdraw from Gaza, he was in fact the only one to resign from Government at such a critical time of the disengagement. So to use it now as moral grounds for fighting the war that we find ourselves in at the moment, OK.
But for Bibi to use it, well... seems a little hypocritical.
A war we don't want for many reasons
A very good friend of mine has written a heartfelt blogpost about the situation, with the simple plea that she does not want to send her man, any man to war.
It is so easy to understand and sympathize with her plea. As our PM Ehud Olmert succinctly said last night it in his address to the nation, "we don't want this war".
I was just saying to my husband last night that I am so grateful that he does not serve in the army, for that matter neither do either of my brothers. But I had to admit I felt a little guilty about saying/thinking/feeling that.
It is so easy to understand and sympathize with her plea. As our PM Ehud Olmert succinctly said last night it in his address to the nation, "we don't want this war".
I was just saying to my husband last night that I am so grateful that he does not serve in the army, for that matter neither do either of my brothers. But I had to admit I felt a little guilty about saying/thinking/feeling that.
Monday, July 17, 2006
anybody out there remember 1967 ??
There's talk now about an international stabilization force to be sent to the Israeli-Lebanese border to help end the fighting. Sounds good, doesn't it. The forces come in, and separate the two warring sides, and peace and tranquility reign. Does this sound in any way familiar?
In 1956, after British, French and Israeli troops invaded Egypt, the solution proposed was to station neutral UN forces in Sinai to keep the peace. For the next 10 years, the Egyptians sponsored fedayeen fighters to cross over the border and attack Israeli positions at will. The UN forces did nothing.
On May 15, 1967 President Nasser sent columns of tanks and troops across the Suez Canal and into Sinai all the way to the Israeli border. The following day Nasser ordered UN peacekeeping troops to leave the border region and they complied immediately, whereupon official Egyptian radio announced:
"As of today there no longer exists an international emergency force to protect Israel. We shall exercise patience no more. We shall not complain anymore to the UN about Israel. The sole method we shall apply against Israel is total war, which shall result in the termination of Zionist existence." (source : http://world.std.com/~camera/docs/backg/cdavid.html"
Before we agree to any such proposal by the UN, let's keep this history in mind. If the "peace keepers" will allow themselves to be bypassed at will, if their presence there is simply to act as a shield behind which Hezbollah can re-arm at its leisure, and worst of all, if the physical presence of foreigners will force Israel to hold back from responding to Hezbollah attacks, then we would be foolish, in fact criminal, to repeat the mistake of 1956.
In 1956, after British, French and Israeli troops invaded Egypt, the solution proposed was to station neutral UN forces in Sinai to keep the peace. For the next 10 years, the Egyptians sponsored fedayeen fighters to cross over the border and attack Israeli positions at will. The UN forces did nothing.
On May 15, 1967 President Nasser sent columns of tanks and troops across the Suez Canal and into Sinai all the way to the Israeli border. The following day Nasser ordered UN peacekeeping troops to leave the border region and they complied immediately, whereupon official Egyptian radio announced:
"As of today there no longer exists an international emergency force to protect Israel. We shall exercise patience no more. We shall not complain anymore to the UN about Israel. The sole method we shall apply against Israel is total war, which shall result in the termination of Zionist existence." (source : http://world.std.com/~camera/docs/backg/cdavid.html"
Before we agree to any such proposal by the UN, let's keep this history in mind. If the "peace keepers" will allow themselves to be bypassed at will, if their presence there is simply to act as a shield behind which Hezbollah can re-arm at its leisure, and worst of all, if the physical presence of foreigners will force Israel to hold back from responding to Hezbollah attacks, then we would be foolish, in fact criminal, to repeat the mistake of 1956.
Why do Western Liberals hate Israel
It's been a great mystery for decades. Given the obvious differences in world-view between first-world intellectuals who classify themselves as the intellectual elite, and the third-world despots who rule the Arab world, where does the bias and animosity toward Israel that they have in common have its foundation. Israel is a democracy, with many shared values in step with Europe, while the "Arab street" is a narrow-minded, rigid and uncompromising autocracy clearly dedicated to imposing its own (or its leaders') outlook on the rest of the world. How did we get to this situation, where the whole gamut of "advanced" organizations, from the World Council of Churches to the BBC to the range of European and American university faculties, which have completely different agendas and world views, come together on the single subject of evil Israel.
I have an idea about this that I haven't seen enunciated anywhere else, and for that reason alone, it's worth considering, since nothing else has accounted for this mystery (maybe I've been watching to many episodes of House MD, which follows this story line in all episodes).
Think back to the last time these various groups came to share an outlook so forcefully. Or rather, think first of the numerous instances where situations that clearly required a meaningful response from the "left-wing intellectuals" evoked nothing but a yawn. Chechnya, Bosnia, Rwanda, Tibet, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, North Korea, Eritrea, Congo, almost all the West African countries, Zimbabwe. The list is long, but not one of them, despite their death-tolls in the tens and hundreds of thousands, ever extracted more than a mild level of interest or rebuke. Just to put it in perspective, in the last 6 years of "savage fighting" between Israel and the Palestinians, about 3o00 people have died. In Chechnya in the same time, 20,000 out of a population on barely one million have died.
So, what's the difference between Israel vs the Palestinians and all these other conflicts. In one word, it is Race. All of the other wars are perceived to be between people of the same race. Whether it's "white" Serbians slaughtering "white" Bosnians, or "black" Ethiopians slaughtering "black" Eritreans, or "brown" Sri Lankans slaughtering "brown" Tamils, there's considered to be no racial element in the fighting. But Israel is (or rather, is perceived to be) a "white" country, while the Palestinians are "coloured". Now the massive chip on the shoulders of the European intellectual kicks in.
Europe has, deservedly, a conscience born from the centuries of racial subjugation and discrimination that they collectively perpetuated on the rest of the "undeveloped" world until the middle of the last century. Anything that today even slightly smells of racism ignites a flame in the guts of the left-wing that overwhelms any rational argument. Having a background of unmitigated cruelty and selfishness, which has never been completely expunged, they have lost all capability of examining this subject impartially. Thus, Israel is in the wrong no matter what we do, and the Palestinians and the Arab “brothers” are in the right, despite the manifest contradiction between this approach and the “facts on the ground”.
I have more to say on this subject, on how the chip on their shoulder got to be so big, but that's for later.
I have an idea about this that I haven't seen enunciated anywhere else, and for that reason alone, it's worth considering, since nothing else has accounted for this mystery (maybe I've been watching to many episodes of House MD, which follows this story line in all episodes).
Think back to the last time these various groups came to share an outlook so forcefully. Or rather, think first of the numerous instances where situations that clearly required a meaningful response from the "left-wing intellectuals" evoked nothing but a yawn. Chechnya, Bosnia, Rwanda, Tibet, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, North Korea, Eritrea, Congo, almost all the West African countries, Zimbabwe. The list is long, but not one of them, despite their death-tolls in the tens and hundreds of thousands, ever extracted more than a mild level of interest or rebuke. Just to put it in perspective, in the last 6 years of "savage fighting" between Israel and the Palestinians, about 3o00 people have died. In Chechnya in the same time, 20,000 out of a population on barely one million have died.
So, what's the difference between Israel vs the Palestinians and all these other conflicts. In one word, it is Race. All of the other wars are perceived to be between people of the same race. Whether it's "white" Serbians slaughtering "white" Bosnians, or "black" Ethiopians slaughtering "black" Eritreans, or "brown" Sri Lankans slaughtering "brown" Tamils, there's considered to be no racial element in the fighting. But Israel is (or rather, is perceived to be) a "white" country, while the Palestinians are "coloured". Now the massive chip on the shoulders of the European intellectual kicks in.
Europe has, deservedly, a conscience born from the centuries of racial subjugation and discrimination that they collectively perpetuated on the rest of the "undeveloped" world until the middle of the last century. Anything that today even slightly smells of racism ignites a flame in the guts of the left-wing that overwhelms any rational argument. Having a background of unmitigated cruelty and selfishness, which has never been completely expunged, they have lost all capability of examining this subject impartially. Thus, Israel is in the wrong no matter what we do, and the Palestinians and the Arab “brothers” are in the right, despite the manifest contradiction between this approach and the “facts on the ground”.
I have more to say on this subject, on how the chip on their shoulder got to be so big, but that's for later.
Telling it like it is - at last
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/17/AR2006071700187.html
President Bush should know that in Russia, someone is always listening. In this case, it was the rest of the world!
During a lunch with other leaders at the Group of Eight summit on Monday, Bush was caught on a live microphone talking in tough, occasionally profane terms with British Prime Minister Tony Blair about the latest conflict in the Middle East. Bush criticized the position taken by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, and said he would soon send Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the region.
"What they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit and it's over," Bush says with his mouth full as he buttered a piece of bread.
President Bush should know that in Russia, someone is always listening. In this case, it was the rest of the world!
During a lunch with other leaders at the Group of Eight summit on Monday, Bush was caught on a live microphone talking in tough, occasionally profane terms with British Prime Minister Tony Blair about the latest conflict in the Middle East. Bush criticized the position taken by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, and said he would soon send Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the region.
"What they need to do is get Syria to get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit and it's over," Bush says with his mouth full as he buttered a piece of bread.
From Haifa to Jerusalem
I never thought that Jerusalem would be considered that "safe" in war-time. But as I write this my sister-in-law and 3 kids (from Haifa) are making their way down South to stay with us until Thursday, afterwhich we will all go back up North (g-d willing) for my oldest Nephew's bar mitzvah this weekend.
Everything has been meticulously planned, he is meant to be called up to the Torah at Ahuzah shule and then a big family luncheon, culminating in a big party outside on Sunday night. Who knows what will now be, we may end up having the bar mitzvah in Jerusalem instead, but it won't be the same for him. He won't have all his friends there, he won't have the big party, and there won't be as many presents (a fact I am sure he is most upset about). Whatever happens I am sure we are all going to try and make this the best bar mitzvah no matter what. At least he will have quite a story to tell for the next 30 years.
So many people and things are affected by what is going on, and all we can do is take each day as it comes.
Everything has been meticulously planned, he is meant to be called up to the Torah at Ahuzah shule and then a big family luncheon, culminating in a big party outside on Sunday night. Who knows what will now be, we may end up having the bar mitzvah in Jerusalem instead, but it won't be the same for him. He won't have all his friends there, he won't have the big party, and there won't be as many presents (a fact I am sure he is most upset about). Whatever happens I am sure we are all going to try and make this the best bar mitzvah no matter what. At least he will have quite a story to tell for the next 30 years.
So many people and things are affected by what is going on, and all we can do is take each day as it comes.
THE LIFE-OF-RUBIN BLOG
THE LIFE-OF-RUBIN BLOG
Has a great link to a Norah O'Donnell interviewing John McCain.
It still amazes me how realistic the foreign press have remained (on the whole) during the last week.
Has a great link to a Norah O'Donnell interviewing John McCain.
It still amazes me how realistic the foreign press have remained (on the whole) during the last week.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
destruction destraction
Am I the only one who cannot concentrate or do any work today? I am waiting to find out if my nephews and neice from Haifa are coming to stay with me, but the waiting is a killer because I cannot seem to concentrate on work.
Anyway Miriam from bloghd had a baby girl on Friday :) She is very cute. See for yourselves.
Anyway Miriam from bloghd had a baby girl on Friday :) She is very cute. See for yourselves.
Mazal Tov
The happy (and a little jealous) sister-in-law
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
My take on the Gaza situation
Rumor of the past few hours is that after heavy katyusha and mortar fire up along the Northern border, 2 more soldiers have been kidnapped by Hizbullah.
So here we are having a problem in Gaza... Hizbullah has to get involved and start trouble up North... and the rest of the world looks on and says nu nu nu Israel for being aggressive.
What are we meant to do? What would you do if it was your child kidnapped and held for ransom? are they being fare to the kidnapped soldiers? If they are wounded - are they getting medical attention? Would the same be said of any Palestinian captured by Israeli's?
I don't have any answers - I am just frustrated and confused because I truly believe there must be a peaceful solution. But how can you make peace when there are people on both sides who are not prepared to compromise.
Why don't the majority of Palestinians realize that Israel is willing on the whole to compromise, surely a status-quo of relative peace and non-violence would bring about the release in time of the Palestinians who are being held in Israeli prisons. Surely the answer is not more terrorism, violence and war.
Let's pray for a safe return for all the soldiers and all Palestinians prisoners.
So here we are having a problem in Gaza... Hizbullah has to get involved and start trouble up North... and the rest of the world looks on and says nu nu nu Israel for being aggressive.
What are we meant to do? What would you do if it was your child kidnapped and held for ransom? are they being fare to the kidnapped soldiers? If they are wounded - are they getting medical attention? Would the same be said of any Palestinian captured by Israeli's?
I don't have any answers - I am just frustrated and confused because I truly believe there must be a peaceful solution. But how can you make peace when there are people on both sides who are not prepared to compromise.
Why don't the majority of Palestinians realize that Israel is willing on the whole to compromise, surely a status-quo of relative peace and non-violence would bring about the release in time of the Palestinians who are being held in Israeli prisons. Surely the answer is not more terrorism, violence and war.
Let's pray for a safe return for all the soldiers and all Palestinians prisoners.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
So Farewell then Top of the Pops
I will always associate Top of the Pops with the Six Million Dollar Man. Why, you may ask?
Well, back in the mid 70s, on Thursday evenings, when I were a wee laddie, I would be watching the Six Million Dollar Man on TV. Seconds later, my big sister would walk into the lounge and turf me out, because she wanted to watch Top of the Pops! I was most upset.
The irony is that a few years later, as the 1980s came along, I became obsessed with the pop charts, and Top of the Pops was part of that obsession. In fact, to this very day, I still watch TOTP! So I was saddened to hear that the BBC is going to axe the show at the end of July. What a shame!
The truth is, I felt that TOTP lost its purpose, when they started tinkering with the format, and introduced acts from outside the charts. The whole point of the show all these years was to reflect the songs that were moving up the charts. These days, maybe 2 out of the 9 or 10 songs featured will be chart acts. What is the point of that?
Well, for those nostalgia freaks out there (and I am one of them!), you can watch hundreds of archive TOTP appearances on Youtube.com and pretend that nothing has changed. Is it any surprise that I never do any work?
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
And you thought Ali G. was funny?
Check out this guy. If you don't laugh I will eat my own....
www.ahmed-ahmed.com
www.ahmed-ahmed.com
Saturday, July 01, 2006
YAY I win!
I love the ad in the right-hand-corner!
oops... they did! Do I win 100 pounds?
Unfortunately this does not mean the end of football on the TV every night. I am just glad that it only happens every 4 years.
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