Israel Protects Moslem Worshippers

Over 100,000 Arabs converged on Jerusalem today for the first Friday prayers of the month of Ramadan. The prayers took place on the Temple Mount, the site of the two Jewish Temples. The second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in the year 70. Since then, Islam has hijacked the holy site, claiming that Mohammad flew to heaven from there. Thousands of Israeli policeman were on hand to secure the event. Nothing but nothing is mentioned in MSM about Jews safeguarding an Islamic prayer session in Israel.

Can you imagine this happening in Gaza? Can you imagine Hamas policemen protecting Israeli's during prayer? It will never happen. Anything that is holy to the Jews that are located in the "territories" has either been destroyed or declared off limits to Jews.

Joseph's Tomb, a sacred site to Jews for almost 3,000 years, was attacked and burned to the ground by Palestinian terrorists. An ancient synagogue in Jericho (only 2500 years old) was burned to the ground. The Arabs did make time to remove the Torah scrolls and burn them one by one. These are only two examples of many such tragedies.

Is Islam a monotheistic religion of peace? No. It's paganism at its finest. It is the worship of blood, death and destruction.

Syria To Continue Supporting Terror

Syria has made it clear that they have no intentions of complying with US and Israeli demands to stop supporting terrorism. This is a clear violation of UNSCR 1701. The statement comes just days before the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to be in the Middle East. Rice had threatened earlier this week that the US will toughen sanctions on Syria if they continue to support Hamas and Hezbollah. The sanctions that have been in place since 2004 include bans on selected exports to Syria, the banning of Syrian planes from entering the US and severed banking relations.

An editorial in Syria's ruling Baath Party newspaper said on Thursday;

"Syria is more determined (than ever) to stand by the resistance until the land is liberated and Israel is defeated. Absolute US support for Israel is one of the main causes behind regional instability. The United States has helped Israel in the United Nations stand against any proposal for a comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict."

Note that the editorial states that US support for Israel is one of the main causes for behind regional instability. Taking into account that Syria continues to back two organizations whose sworn goal is to destroy Israel, you can figure out what the other main cause is.

Ironically, Syrian President Bashar Assad told a German magazine earlier this week that he wants peace with Israel. We all know what piece he wants. He wants it all.

Don't Do It Condi

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is expected to visit the Middle East next week. Details will not be finalized for another couple of days. Rice is expected to focus her efforts on both the Iranians and Palestinians. It appears that she will urge "moderate" Arab nations (Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan) to pressure a Palestinian Unity Government of the PA and Hamas to accept the three conditions of the Quartet; The recognition of Israel, the renouncement of terrorism and the acceptance of previously signed agreements with Israel.

My advice to Secretary Rice is don't do it. How many times must you hear Hamas say that they will never recognize Israel? They left PA Chairman Abbas out to dry after he addressed the UN and stated that Hamas will join a Unity Government and recognize Israel. It only took until the next morning for Hamas to deny Abbas' claims. There is no pressuring or negotiating with a group whose whole existence is based on the platform of destroying Israel and establishing Sharia law. Hamas is "Little Iran".

Any support shown to Abbas for his willingness to form a Unity Government is an indirect vote of confidence for Hamas. Rice should be pushing for Abbas to disband the government and call for new elections.

If it's true as the UN claims, that the situation in Gaza is catastrophic, then give the Palestinians a chance to vote Hamas out. Give them a chance to prove they are willing to make a change. Recent polls indicate that Hamas would still win the elections but not in the same sweeping manner as they did last time.

The EU and US sanctions are taking a heavy toll on Gaza. It is no time to let up now. Despite the desire of most Palestinians to see Israel wiped off the map, this time around they are more likely to vote with their empty stomach than with their corrupted heart.

Hamas is not to be spoken to, directly or indirectly. Hamas is to be destroyed. Don’t do it Condi. They are on the verge of imploding. Do not come to their rescue.

Siniora, Shabaa And The Truth

During Lebanese PM Fuad Siniora's address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday, he called on the EU to apply more pressure on the US to help find solutions to the Middle East crisis. Siniora didn't miss the opportunity to blame all of Lebanon's woes on Israel. He called the continued presence of Israeli troops in Lebanon "the mother of all ills". He is of course referring to the troops in Southern Lebanon that are expected to withdraw in the near future, and the Israeli positions in the Shabaa Farms. We will get to Shabaa in just a bit.

Siniora claims that Lebanon is doing all they can to ensure that the government is exercising sovereignty over all Lebanese territory, and that no group other than the Lebanese Army will bear arms. Sure Fuad. Meet Hezbollah.

Siniora explains that once the Israeli "occupation" has ended, "there won't be any valid argument then for the continuation of weapons in the hands of Hezbollah", and it the end of the occupation would "pull the rug from beneath the feet of the extremists".

There were skeptics amongst the EU diplomats as to the connection between Hezbollah and the occupation.

"In Lebanon you have something like a state within a state. It is unacceptable for us ... This would be unacceptable anywhere. We have great misgivings about this kind of things." Hans-Gert Poettering, chairman of the European People's Party

"The presence of a militia outside of the structures of a democratic state is not part of democratic vocabulary. You cannot get peace by launching missiles from houses." Cristiana Muscardini, Italian Deputy

The Hezbollah Chief Spokesman Ezzeddin disagrees. It's not about Shabaa at all. Here is a piece from a New Yorker interview;

Ezzeddin seemed to concede that the Hezbollah campaign to rid Shabaa of Israeli troops is a pretext for something larger. "If they go from Shabaa, we will not stop fighting them," he told me. "Our goal is to liberate the 1948 borders of Palestine," he added, referring to the year of Israel's founding. The Jews who survive this war of liberation, Ezzeddin said, "can go back to Germany, or wherever they came from." He added, however, that the Jews who lived in Palestine before 1948 will be "allowed to live as a minority and they will be cared for by the Muslim majority."

So what are the Shabaa Farms and who does it legally belong to? Here's a little background. Shabaa is a 10 square mile piece of farmland that sits at the junction of Israel, Syria and Lebanon. Israel has controlled Shabaa since the 1967 war when it was captured along with the Golan Heights from Syria.

(Map Courtesy of Wikipedia)

In 1923, England and France signed the Anglo-French Demarcation Treaty, designed to set permanent borders between Syria, Lebanon (French controlled) and Israel (English controlled). In this treaty, Shabaa was designated as Syrian territory. Official French maps from 1933 and 1945 also clearly designate Shabaa as Syrian territory. The 1949 Armistice Agreement between Israel and Syria designated Shabaa as Syrian territory.

After Israel completed its withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, UN Security Council Resolution 1553 designated Shabaa as Syrian territory. Even UN Special Envoy to the Middle East Terje Larsen, who is not known as having a soft spot in his heart for Israel, has said Shabaa is Syrian. After all he claims, Israel captured it in 1967 in a war that Lebanon did not even participate in. Even Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara said in 2000 that Israel no longer occupied Lebanese territory despite the presence in Shabaa, because Shabaa was Syrian territory.

Not until Resolution 1701, when Kofi Annan said that the Shabaa issue must be resolved was there any doubt as to the fact that Shabaa was not Lebanese. Shabaa was Syrian. Siniora distorts the fact to mask his inability and lack of desire to deal with Hezbollah. Hezbollah distorts the fact as a pretense to continue their terrorist activities. The only honest one in the whole bunch is Ezzeddin.

Worth A Thousand Words

Thanks to Brooke at NeoCon Command Center.

Be Nice To The Terrorists

More nonsense from the Washington Post. In today's column, William H. Taft IV (gotta love the name), presents three arguments why the US should work closely with the Red Cross (ICRC) in regard to terrorists held in what are now known as secret prisons. Taft 4 proposes that the US notify the ICRC of who is exactly being held so that the ICRC can visit them (just like Hezbollah allows), and family members can be notified. How thoughtful.

Unfortunately, it is imperative that the enemy not know who is being held. The prisoner might be able to divulge information leading to the capture of others who could otherwise flee in they knew there buddy was getting the washboard. In short, notification could totally eliminate the element of surprise so desperately important when trying to catch a snake under a rock.

Taft 4 lists three benefits to letting the ICRC in on the "secret";

"First, it would reassure friends and allies that the United States will comply with the generally recognized rules for treatment of persons captured in armed conflict".

"Second, it would avoid creating an unfortunate precedent for our own service members who might be captured in battle".

"Third, it would reduce the temptation for those in charge of detainees to abuse them or even deny any knowledge of them if they die in our custody, accidentally or otherwise".

As the famous philosopher Jules Winnfield once said; "Allow me to retort".

First; our friends and allies know all to well that not only do we comply with the "generally recognized rules"; we sometimes comply to a fault, even at the expense of our own military.

Second; I am really not too concerned about setting precedents for the Jihadists. Will they start giving Novocain injections before beheadings as a sign of good will?

Third; this is a slap in the face to all the hard working men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting you and me. They are trained professionals who do a great job. Taft 4, you should be down on your knees thanking God you have these men and women watching your tail. Enough with the whining already, your way does not work.

UN Sandbags Israel, Again

In a report filed by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Special Rapporteur John Dugard reports that Israel is guilty of committing serious human rights violations in the "Palestinian Territories". He described the situation as "intolerable, appalling, and tragic for the ordinary Palestinian". In this shamelessly one sided report, not one single word was mentioned about Palestinian terror. As a point of reference, here is a partial list of the enlightened countries who serve on the Human Rights Council; Algeria, Bangladesh, Cuba, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Morocco, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. Of course, all of the countries are renowned for their high standard of human rights and social justice.

When Israeli Rep Itzhak Levanon asked why the report is so blindly one sided, Dugard responded as follows;

"On the comments by the Israeli Ambassador, who had accused the Special Rapporteur of being one-sided, this was inevitable, as the Special Rapporteur investigated human rights and described them. There were unfortunately many of these violations by the Israeli authorities, and it was the Special Rapporteur’s duty to report on these. The report therefore could appear to be one-sided, but it was due to his commitment to the mandate that he held."

The whole intention was to sandbag Israel, as there was not even a mandate to investigate the violation of Israeli civil rights.

"Israeli justifications for their actions, namely the kidnapping of the Israeli soldier and the firing of rockets into Israeli territory, had been offered, but the response had been excessive."

Again this nonsense of excessive force. So Dugard would have no qualms with Israel if it wantonly fired rockets into Palestinian civilian town and villages? Is that the kind of equal force the UN is looking for?

"In the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Palestinians accused Israelis of terrorism, and in Israel the Hamas Government was accused of terrorism. The use of the term was not helpful, and both sides should use other terms to describe each other and justify their actions in terms of other norms."

If everyone would stop calling each other names, we could all be friends. Absurd.

Here are the alleged violations perpetrated by the Israelis:

"Some 9,000 prisoners remain in Israeli jails."

Imprisoning criminals is a human rights violation? They should visit prisons in Saudi Arabia or Malaysia where innocent people are beheaded!!

"Movement is seriously restricted by the wall, elaborate terminals through the wall, and checkpoints. Restrictions on the freedom of movement are in large measure responsible for the prevailing humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territory."

The wall is meant to keep Palestinians out of Israel. This was not even a thought before the Palestinian uprising began in 2000. Tens of thousands of Palestinians used to work in Israel proper before the fighting began. When Palestinian workers started slaughtering their Israeli employers, the game was up. Now they complain they are unemployed. If it's job security you are after, it's better not to kill your boss.

"In Gaza, since the capture of Corporal Gilad Shalit on 25 June, the people had been subjected to continuous bombardment and military incursions in which over 100 civilians had been killed and many hundreds wounded. Three quarters of the population was unable to feed itself and was dependent on food aid."

Human shields and terrorists not wearing uniforms. The MSM reports and photographs their deaths as if they were the local librarian. Lies. And the kidnapping is not even condemned.

In short, the UN was out from the start to sandbag Israel. There anti-Israeli stance is well documented. However, that anti-Israeli stance translates into a pro-terror stance. By condemning the victim you justify the actions of the criminal. No wonder that Hamas feels no need to recognize Israel's right to exist. Neither does the UN.

Palestinians Show Their Colors

A recently released poll taken by Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah showed that 63% of the Palestinians polled agreed that they should follow Hezbollah's lead and launch rocket attacks against Israeli cities. 75% of those polled supported the kidnapping Israeli soldiers to be used as bargaining chips.

As I have written many times in the past, whoever claims that the Hamas government is not representative of the Palestinian street, is mistaken. Time and time again, the polls have proven that the Palestinians want terror. With or without a unity government, there is no room for negotiations with the Palestinians. They have had 14 years since the Oslo Accords were signed to change their murderous ways. They have not. It may take another 14 years. Maybe more.

Did Condi Break From The White House?

Not two months have passed since Condoleezza Rice broke ranks with the White House. As the war in Lebanon neared its finale, Rice pushed a bit too hard for a very questionable ceasefire. President Bush was irate and made that very clear to Rice when he summoned her to Crawford for a Texan dressing down. I am beginning to wonder if Condi has done it again.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Rice was asked what she thought of a gasoline embargo on Iran. Due to a shortage in refining capacity, Iran must import up to 40% of its gasoline. A gasoline embargo would have a crippling effect on the ability to wage war as well as on the economy.

Here is the Secretary's answer;

Well, I just – I don’t think that it was anything that you have to look at it in the near term and I’m not sure that it would have the desired effect. One of the problems that we have is if indeed you would like not to have a situation in which you reinforce the leadership’s desire to make their people feel that America is anti-Iranian people, then you want to stay away from things that have a bad effect on the Iranian people to the degree that you can. You know, we’ve talked – people have talked for instance about barring Iranian students or barring Iranian – there was at one point the World Cup, you know, bar them from the World Cup or something like that.

I wonder if this is the White House speaking. The US has taken a firm stance against the Euro-appeasers. The UN deadline has long passed. The time for sanctions has come, and Javier Solana and the EU are dragging their feet having fallen prey to Iran's tactical stalling.

Regime change has been a popular mantra in US foreign policy. Regime change can come about from either within or from outside sources. In the case of Iran, military intervention that would lead to regime change similar to Iraq is not in the cards. The US military is currently overstretched and there is the question of whether the President could gather the political power to approve such an action with the elections just around the corner. That leaves just one option. From within.

The key to success is based on the average Iranian citizen. The facts are that the ruling Mullahs are not backed by popular support but instead rule by fear. The Western culture is well embedded in Iranian society. Many remember the heady days enjoyed under the rule of the Shah. Strictly by the numbers, a secular revolution is not out of the question. A large majority of the citizens are against the current state of affairs. What they need is a spark. A gasoline embargo would be just that.

What does Condi have in mind? Sanctions on Cable TV? Impound the money of the rich? Most of that is long offshore by now. Sanctions with teeth are what is needed. Sanctions that are powerful enough to break the will of the leadership. Powerful enough to set the street ablaze. Powerful enough to affect real change. I wonder what President Bush thinks.

Israel Air Force To Continue Surveillance

The IDF announced today that the Air Force will continue its air surveillance activities in Lebanon until Resolutions 1559 and 1701 are fully implemented, the kidnapped soldiers are released and the border crossings with Syria are closed to weapons trafficking. Flyovers will continue even after Israel completes its withdrawal of the ground troops.

The Jerusalem Post reports that Brigadier General Udi Dekel, head of the IDF's Strategic Planning Division will meet with UNIFIL commander General Alain Pellegrini and representatives of the Lebanese Army on Tuesday. They will discuss what actions UNIFIL will take in the event of Hezbollah hostilities. On Friday, Pellegrini was quoted as saying that UNIFIL would not engage Hezbollah even during an attack on Israeli interests.

UNIFIL's response was predictable. They accused Israel of repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement. As usual, there were no complaints leveled against Lebanon or Hezbollah. The kidnapped soldiers are still being held hostage. Hezbollah has not been disarmed. Arms are flowing illegally to Hezbollah. All are clear violations of the Resolution. To UNIFIL, only Israeli violations count. Kofi, we will miss you.

UNIFEEBLE

UNSC Resolution 1701 was eulogized long before its actual birth. Nobody except Kofi Annan and his merry men believed it would be a long term solution to a longer term problem. 1701 is akin to a band-aid on an amputation; it's only a matter of time before the doctor is paged to the Emergency Room.

More evidence to that effect comes from today's New York Times. Interviews with UNIFIL officials on the ground show just how far the force has strayed from its UN mandate. As a reminder, this is what 1701 empowers UNIFIL to do;

12. Acting in support of a request from the Government of Lebanon to deploy an international force to assist it to exercise its authority throughout the territory, authorizes UNIFIL to take all necessary action in areas of deployment of its forces and as it deems within its capabilities, to ensure that its area of operations is not utilized for hostile activities of any kind, to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council, and to protect United Nations personnel, facilities, installations and equipment, ensure the security and freedom of movement of United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers and, without prejudice to the responsibility of the Government of Lebanon, to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence;

Here it is in black and white. UNIFIL is to take all necessary action to ensure that South Lebanon is not utilized for hostile activities (i.e. Hezbollah's ability to wage war, transfer of weapons).

Here is what the men on the ground are saying;

“There’s a lot of misunderstanding what we are doing here,” said Lt. Col. Stefano Cappellaro, an Italian commander with the San Marco Regiment. “When you don’t know each other’s procedures (Lebanese Army/UNIFIL), you can not overlap.”

This is in response to claims that they cannot set up checkpoints, search cars, homes or businesses or detain suspects. If they see a truck transporting missiles, for example, they say they can not stop it.

What are they doing exactly?

“We will not get involved in any domestic or regional politics,’’ said Milos Strugar, senior adviser to the force.

Nothing. We will not get involved with anything political. That's the mother of all catchall disclaimers.

UNIFIL is in place and doing nothing. Hezbollah is in place and biding their time. A Hezbollah rally on Friday brought out 800,000 screaming groupies. An anti-Hezbollah rally held on Sunday (barely covered by the MSM) only drew tens of thousands. It's clear which way Lebanon is leaning. It's just as clear that UNIFIL will do nothing to help stop Lebanon's fall.

Irish Academics Accuse Israel Of Ethnic Cleansing

The Jerusalem Post reports that Israeli professors have lashed out at a call for the EU to boycott Israeli academic institutions. The call to the EU was made by 61 Irish academics in a September 16th letter. I quote from the Post;

While complaining that "The Israeli government appears impervious to moral appeals from world leaders and to longstanding United Nations resolutions," the petition called for "a moratorium on any further [cultural and academic] support to Israeli academic institutions, at both national and European levels."
The petition cited what it called Israel's "policy of violent repression against the Palestinians in the Occupied Territories, and its aggression against the people of Lebanon," and urged that the "moratorium should continue until Israel abides by UN resolutions and ends the occupation of Palestinian territories."

No such boycott was proposed against Palestinian Academics (is there?) for not speaking out against terrorism.

Prof. James Bowen, of the Department of Computer Science at University College Cork, had this to say in defense of his signing the petition;

"The accusation of genocide against Hamas is libelous. The responsibility for ending the conflict lies with the aggressor. Israel is the aggressor." Bowen went on to say that, according to "a perception in the outside world," Israel "has been implementing a policy of slowly tightening the noose [around the Palestinians] in order to get them to emigrate." This policy, Bowen said, was a kind of "slow ethnic cleansing" that must be opposed through "boycotts, divestments and sanctions."

Ethnic Cleansing.

A little background on Bowen. He is a professor of Computer Science at the University College Cork, Ireland. Ironically, he is the Chairman of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign. I have provided the link for all to see the absolute distortion of the truth on their website. Bowen's outright anti-Israel/anti Semitic bias drives him to embarrass himself and his University. He might as well be a spokesman for the UN. He lies.

Email Gregory Provan, Department Head and tell him what you think.
g.provan@cs.ucc.ie

False Accusations

The torture debate continues. Legality, morality and effectiveness are the issues. Unfortunately, homeland security and the government's sacred duty of protecting the welfare of its citizens are not nearly garnering the attention of the liberal biased media. To the misinformed, protecting the so called rights of the terrorists and their enablers is the true American way.

Ariel Dorfman of the Washington Post has taken this fallacy one step further. Not only does he presume that torture is wrong and ineffective, he convicts every one of us as a criminal because our government is guilty as he charges and we did not nothing to stop it.

I will leave others to claim that torture, in fact, does not work, that confessions obtained under duress -- such as that extracted from the heaving body of that poor Argentine braggart in some Santiago cesspool in 1973 -- are useless. Or to contend that the United States had better not do that to anyone in our custody lest someday another nation or entity or group decides to treat our prisoners the same way.

I find these arguments -- and there are many more -- to be irrefutable. But I cannot bring myself to use them, for fear of honoring the debate by participating in it.

Can't the United States see that when we allow someone to be tortured by our agents, it is not only the victim and the perpetrator who are corrupted, not only the "intelligence" that is contaminated, but also everyone who looked away and said they did not know, everyone who consented tacitly to that outrage so they could sleep a little safer at night, all the citizens who did not march in the streets by the millions to demand the resignation of whoever suggested, even whispered, that torture is inevitable in our day and age, that we must embrace its darkness?

Are we so morally sick, so deaf and dumb and blind, that we do not understand this? Are we so fearful, so in love with our own security and steeped in our own pain, that we are really willing to let people be tortured in the name of America? Have we so lost our bearings that we do not realize that each of us could be that hapless Argentine who sat under the Santiago sun, so possessed by the evil done to him that he could not stop shivering?

Dorfman draws on the story of some poor Argentinean who suffered electric shock treatment on his genitals. The comparison of the brutal torture of an innocent individual to the not so comforting treatment that terrorists and suspected terrorists receive by US agents is laughable. As far as I am concerned, I would blast the Red Hot Chili Peppers in the ears of every Muslim in the world if it saved the life of one American.

And yes, we are so in love with our security, because we hold life as the most precious thing in the world. We even extend this belief to the treatment of the enemy in the battlefield who receive medical treatment that most American can only dream of. We would be morally deaf, dumb and blind if we were negligent of our duty to do everything possible to protect every American citizen. We know who started this war. We know who beheads innocent civilians. If you want to lay the blame of the so called torture at someone's feet, don't play the dhimmi. You know the address.

A Very Happy New Year To All

Hamas Just Says No To Israel

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas addressed the United Nations yesterday. He told them everything they wanted to hear. The new National Unity Government he was planning to form with Hamas would meet all the preconditions set by the Quartet. The new government would recognize Israel, renounce terrorism and honor all previously signed agreements between Israel and the PLO. He was lauded by President Bush as a "man of peace". US Deputy National Security Adviser Elliott Abrams said that if the Palestinian government did not accept the three conditions, "our relationship to it will not change, or you might say our lack of a relationship with it will not change."

Hamas Prime Minister Haniyah has been quoted within the past hour as saying that Hamas would NOT recognize Israel, dashing all hopes of a unity government. To anyone at all following the situation, this should not come as a surprise. At no time has Hamas even hinted that they would even consider recognizing Israel's right to exist. Their official Charter calls for nothing less than the destruction of the "Zionist Regime".

Over and over, the US and Israel have made overtures to Abbas in order to strengthen his position in the eyes of the Palestinian public. They both view him as a "moderate" or someone to negotiate with, despite his lurid history. What both the US and Israel have still failed to understand is that the warm embrace of the West is interpreted as a kiss of death by the Palestinians. Abbas is nothing less than an ugly mask used to cover the murderous representative of the Palestinian public we know as Hamas.

Once again the West gets duped. Time for a wake up call. Palestinians are Hamas are Abbas. The names might change but the song remains the same. No deals, no negotiations. The fight is on.

The Dhimmicrats Are Groping For Questions

The anti-war, anti-American, liberal dhimmicrats have no answers. They have offered no concrete plan to fight terrorism. They have no clue on homeland security. The issue of illegal immigrants is way beyond their scope. What they do have is questions.

According to Bill Arkin of the Washington Post, the most absurd question of "Why are we in Iraq" has suddenly fallen out of style. The trendy new question is "Why are we leaving so early?" After the President has said that the Iraq war was "the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century" Arkin doesn’t understand how it's now possible to remove the troops. Here's the gist of it;

If Bush were serious, why would the administration be willing to leave Iraq before the totalitarian enemy was defeated? Why would they be so willing to "handover" security to an uncertain Iraqi government?

In other words, the Bush administration is promoting the very policy of retreat and weakness that it claims to condemn. After his survival at Tora Bora, Osama Bin Laden said: "If all the forces of world evil could not achieve their goals on a one square mile area against a small number of mujahedeen … how can these evil forces triumph over the Muslim world?"

In early 2006, Ayman Al-Zawahiri Zawahiri responded to an unsuccessful U.S. attempt to kill him in Pakistan: "Bush, do you know where I am? I am among the Muslim masses enjoying their care with God's blessings and sharing with them their holy war against you until we defeat you." Are we now to believe, particularly after Hezbollah's "victory" against Israel, that a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, no matter how it is politically described at home, is not going to be seen by the bad guys as weakness? As retreat?

This is not an argument to stay. It is just to say that it is hard to accept that the administration actually believes what they are saying. If the Bush team believed their rhetoric then they would have to insist on fighting in Iraq until the last enemy was defeated. Otherwise, by their own logic, we not only appease those who survive, but we signal weakness, thus encouraging more to take up arms against us.

What rubbish!! The stated goal of the war in Iraq was to topple Saddam's regime and put in place a democratic government. Last I checked, Saddam is unemployed and Iraq has held free elections.

You will never kill every single Islamist just like we did not kill every Nazi. The Germans did not consider the Allied pullout "weakness" nor did it encourage the remaining German troops to take up arms. Pullout does not always signal weakness.

As the President said, this is a decisive battle in the war on terror. It is not the last. The Islamists have taken a pounding and they know it. The Arab culture offers no room for talk of defeat or surrender. Bin Laden would still record videos for the media even if he remained as the only standing survivor.

If you read between the lines, Arkin is saying the following; The President laid all the cards on the table when he quantified how crucial the war is. Despite enormous pressure from me and my liberal cronies, he prosecuted it until solid gains were achieved. I argued how wrong it was to be there in the first place. Since that didn't work out to well, I must change course. Now we'll get on him for leaving early. After all, I don't have any idea myself as how to deal with the problem.

A Change In Policy?

Much to Israel's dismay, The International Quartet declared its support of PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' plan to form a National Unity Government with the internationally recognized terrorist organization Hamas. Despite repeated Hamas claims that "no recognition of Israel" would be coming anytime soon, the Quartet hopes the new government will recognize Israel, renounce terrorism and honor previously signed agreements.

The Jerusalem Post reports that Former Israeli Foreign Minister Shalom called the move a "political collapse". This is the first time that the US has given any indication of support for a government with Hamas.

President Bush; "I fully understand that in order to achieve this vision, there must be leaders willing to speak out and act on behalf of people who yearn for peace, and you are such a leader, Mr. President (Abbas). I can't thank you enough for the courage you have shown."

The President then called him a Man of Peace. Other George W. Bush "Men of Peace" include Pope John Paul II, Ariel Sharon and Muhammad Ali. Interesting grouping.

Abbas is no man of peace as proven here. Supporters of the move claim that this is a way of helping to alleviate the alleged financial crisis in Gaza without directly supporting Hamas. I call it capitulation. Bush has larger fish to fry in Iraq and Iran. He is playing give and take at the expense of the only true democracy in the Middle East. The Palestinians voted for Hamas. Recent polls suggest that they would do so again. The Palestinians need to learn that you can't have your pita and eat it too.

Rest In Peace 2

More Islamic Tolerance

British Home Secretary John Reid (right) was verbally assaulted by a Moslem protestor in a speech to London Moslems. The speech was intended to promote unity between Moslems and non-Muslims. Reid said;

"There is no nice way of saying this. These fanatics are looking to groom and brainwash children, including your children, for suicide bombing, to kill themselves in order to murder others. Look for the telltale signs now and talk to them before their hatred grows and you risk losing them forever. In protecting our families we are protecting our community. Victory in this ideological battle - this battle of values - is the only victory that will secure true peace."

This was too much for Abu Izzadeen – aka Trevor Brooks (right) who simply lost it. Ranting and raving over Reid's voice he shouted;

"How dare you come to a Muslim area! State terrorism by the British police. They are going to come in the morning to your house, kick your door down when you’re in bed with your own wife, then drag you from your own bed."

Izzadeen is the leader of Islamist group Al Ghurabaa and has described the London bombers as "completely praiseworthy," and openly admits wanting to die as a suicide bomber. He was eventually led away by police. Some other quotes from Moslem onlookers;

"Muslims do not need British values." "We believe Islam is superior, we believe Islam will be implemented one day." "It is very rich for you to come here and say we need to monitor our children when your Government is murdering people in Iraq and Afghanistan."

After the meeting, Reid, not to be undone said; "Believe it or not, I have actually enjoyed it."

Time To Hit The Road

It is time to say goodbye to the UN. It is time that the United States tell the UN that they have overstayed their welcome. The events of the last two days have reached a new level of absurdity that is shocking even according to UN standards. The US gives visas to individuals who if not for the fact they were heads of state, their pictures would be prominently featured on the FBI's website. At a time when the US has incurred huge costs in waging the war on terror, the UN annually rapes the US for nearly an additional $1.5 BILLION. I won't even mention the unpaid parking tickets in New York City.

Today's featured guest is Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez. Some quotes from his address to the General Assembly;

"The devil (President Bush) came here yesterday. He came here talking as if he were the owner of the world." He accused the US of "domination, exploitation and pillage of peoples of the world." He added “The United States empire is on its way down and it will be finished in the near future, inshallah."

He made Khrushchev's 1960 statement of "We will bury you" sound like pillow talk. At least the US and Russia were fighting the Cold War.

Ahmadinejad's presence at the UN is another joke. Regardless of what he said during his address, the fact that the man who openly flaunts UN Resolutions and is considered the biggest threat to global security is given a visa to the US is a travesty.

The US should not be giving visas to these criminals. The US should not be hosting an organization that at every turn has given us the shaft. The US should not be paying out such huge sums of money to finance corruption and large scale waste.

It's time to give the UN the boot. They have come to our shores and made fools of us all. They are guests who have long overstayed their welcome. Good riddance.

Nuclear Egypt?

At a conference held in Egypt today, Jamal Mubarak, son of president Hosni Mubarak and odds on favorite to one day replace him said that Egypt should strive to attain nuclear power. Egypt finds itself in a precarious situation. If Iran should go nuclear, then along with Israel there would be two nuclear countries in the Middle East of which neither of them are Arabic.

Iran is Islamic, but the Sunni-Shia rift is much stronger than the Islamic tie. This is the same reason that Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt were quiet supporters of Israel in the war against Hezbollah.

This eerily reminds me of Vietnam and dominoes. If one goes, they all go.

Israel Bashing At Its Finest

The Non Aligned Movement (NAM) has issued a final document which praises Lebanon for its "heroic resistance" to Israeli aggression. Quote;

"The Heads of State or Government expressed solidarity with and support for the Government and people of Lebanon, hailed their heroic resistance to the Israeli aggression, and emphasized the primordial importance of Lebanon's national unity and stability."

"Strongly condemned Israel's continuation and escalation of its military aggression against the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip" and said that "such unlawful actions by the occupying Power constitute grave breaches of international law, i.e. reported war crimes, for which the perpetrators must be held accountable and brought to justice."

As usual, no mention of the fact that Hezbollah got the ball rolling. As usual, no reference to Hezbollah war crimes. As usual, no mention of the fact that Hamas refuses to "respect the importance of Israel's national unity and stability", let alone recognize its existence. As usual, Israel is referred to as the "occupying power" in the Gaza Strip despite their unilateral withdrawal last year.

While most of the 118 countries in NAM would be considered "fourth world" at best, there are two names that stand out; India and the Philippines, both of which with have strong ties to Israel. Israel has lodged formal protests against this document.

Kofi Annan would be proud.

Another Palestinian Vote for Terror

In a survey conducted by the Khalil Shikaki Research Institute in Ramallah last week, 67 percent of Palestinians polled stated that Hamas should not recognize the right of Israel to exist. This is a pro-Hamas vote as Fatah has recognized Israel. 38% said that they would vote for Hamas if elections were held today. Recall that just over a week ago, 61% polled were in favor of continued "military operations" (suicide attacks) against Israel.

The Palestinians claim they are starving to death. Civil employees claim they have not been paid by the government in six months. Yet, they want to stay the course. Their well being takes a back seat to the destruction of Israel. You vote Hamas, you got Hamas. When you starve to death, don't blame Israel, the US or the EU. You got exactly what you asked for.

To Torture or Not

The Torture Bill has taken center stage in Washington. The debate revolves around the question of how much physical/mental pressure should be applied to detainees; in order to extract what might be life saving information. Much valuable information has been gathered by such methods. To be fair, some disinformation was probably gathered as well.

An op-ed piece in today's Washington Post argues against the Torture Bill for all the wrong reasons. The logic is backed by lies and misstatements. Here's some of it (bold italics are quotes from the article);

There should be no need to spell out the practical reasons against torture, but, for the record, they are legion. As Powell and others have argued, if the United States unilaterally reinterprets Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions to permit torture, potential adversaries in future conflicts will feel justified in doing the same thing. Does the president want some captured pilot to be subjected to the tortures applied in the CIA prisons?

In the current conflict, there is no issue of the Geneva Convention. Islamic terrorism is neither a signatory of the Convention, nor do they abide by its rules. As a result, the Coalition forces are released from any obligations to honor the convention.

As far as retribution, since when has that mattered? Ask non combatant Daniel Pearl or the two marines who were found mutilated by Islamic barbarians. Ask the North Vietnamese who were bound by Geneva and committed unspeakable horrors to our POW's. The bottom line is that the world knows that the high level of moral standards that the US Armed Forced keeps will never allow it to abuse POW's. Therefore the enemy has always done what they please, knowing there will be no retribution.

So the question should be reversed. Maybe we should torture their captives to show them the ramifications of their continued brutality.

And, as has been pointed out by experts, torture works -- far too well. Torture victims will tell what they know, and when their knowledge is exhausted they will tell their torturers what they want to hear, even if they have to invent conspiracies. The president says that torturing al-Qaeda kingpins foiled serious plots against America, but how do we know those plots were real? How can we be sure that some of the detainees at Guantanamo aren't shopkeepers or taxi drivers who were snatched because Khalid Sheik Mohammed ran out of real terrorists to implicate and began naming acquaintances so he wouldn't get waterboarded again?

This argument works for the death penalty. Kill the wrong guy and you can't bring him back. Waterboard the wrong guy and he's at the dinner table by six. I would rather waterboard them all and get valid intelligence that arrests 100 suspected terrorists and find out later that only the first 99 are a threat. How many American lives will be saved that way? War's a bitch, and innocent people die. Rather them than us.

But we shouldn't have to talk about the practicalities of torture, because the real question is moral: What kind of nation are we? What kind of people are we?

I'll tell you what type. The type that will leave no stone unturned in the defense of its citizens and borders. The type that will hunt down these animals to the four corners of the globe. The type that will never, ever submit.

France Surrenders, Again

I have to give the French credit. It actually took a whole 18 days to pass since the UN imposed Iranian deadline before they surrendered. President Jacques Chirac played the role almost to a tee. The only thing he forgot to do was to drop his gun and raise his hands.

Chirac today in Paris:

“Iran and the six countries together, we must first find an agenda for negotiations, then start a negotiation. During this negotiation I propose that on the one hand the six refrain from referring the issue to the Security Council, and that Iran refrain from uranium enrichment during the duration of the negotiation.”

In other words, despite the Security Council demand that Iran unconditionally stop any nuclear activity before, during or after negotiations, Chirac is giving the Iranians a pass. Once we start talking, please, pretty please, stop. As we speak, Ahmadinejad is wetting his robe. France is the first member of the Security Council that has suggested an alternate path other than the one that was voted on. Can't shake history, Jacques. Once French, always a defeatist.

As far as sanctions, Benedict Chirac had this to say; "I am never in favor of sanctions. Nothing replaces dialogue, you know." How French.

Once again, the Continental Eurotrash has left the US hanging out to dry. They all agreed to the resolution knowing all to well that they had time to pull out before they had to dirty their little European hands. Once again, the US finds itself in the proverbial catch-22. Do nothing, and Iran is nuclear. Attack, and the world screams aggression.

Just once, I would like to see the US leave Europe hanging out to dry. After all, how many times in the past century have we had to bail them out of their appeasement driven disasters. Of course we will bail them out again, even against their will. Parents usually know what's best for their children.

Death Threats to the Pope

The Moslems have reached a new low today. According to the Jerusalem Post, Muslim leaders in the Gaza Strip have warned Pope Benedict XVI that he must accept Islam if he wanted to live in peace.

Muslim clerics said the pope's statements were "the result of his hatred for Islam and not the result of ignorance."

The Jerusalem Post continues:

One of them, Dr. Imad Hamto, called on the pope to "repent and ask for forgiveness." He added: "We want to use the words of the Prophet Muhammad and tell the pope: 'Aslim Taslam'" Aslim Taslam is a phrase that was taken from the letters sent by the Prophet Muhammad to the chiefs of tribes in his times in which he reportedly urged them to convert to Islam to spare their lives.

The implications are clear. The Pope must "repent" or convert to spare his life. Is there any end to the madness?

Islam: Religion of the Damned Part 2

Islam continues to define itself today as it unleashes a new wave of violence in response to the Pope's speech last Tuesday. An Italian Catholic nun and her bodyguard were shot to death today in a children's hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. I guess that will teach the Pope a lesson. Islamist spokesman Bedri Hashi said the killing may have been "orchestrated by people to discredit the Islamic Courts (Somalian leadership)." Of course, Islam is a religion of peace. It couldn't be them.

Two more churches were attacked in the West Bank on Sunday, bringing the two day total to seven. One attack destroyed the interior of a 170-year-old church in the town of Tulkarem (see picture); and the second partially burned a church in the town of Tubas. Once again, neither church is Catholic.

In response to the all these peaceful demonstrations, the Pope had this to say today;

''At this time I wish also to add that I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address at the University of Regensburg, which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims.''

Notice that the Pope is not apologizing for what he said but rather he is sorry about the response. I am sorry too. Nobody deserves the fate of being at the mercy of the peaceful Islamic people. And by the way, the Pope has nothing to apologize for. He told the truth.

Another day has gone by and not one message from any Islamic leader calling for his followers to show restraint. Not one. This should not come as any surprise. Restraint is the antithesis of Islam.

An interview on Israel TV Channel 2 news today featured a Moslem leader from a Tel Aviv suburb. When asked the question that I posed yesterday, that doesn't the Islamic reaction prove the Pope's quote to be true, he replied in typical Islamic fashion. The violent response from millions of Moslems around the world does not reflect the true spirit of Islam, he said. Sure. Neither does Al-Qaeda, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Islamic Brotherhood etc. Needless to say he did not condemn any of the violence. They never do.

It is important to understand that the Pope really had nothing to do with this. Islam is at war with the West. This has been said repeatedly by Islamic leaders around the world. This is just an excuse for a new wave of violence. This has nothing to do with Israel or occupations. This has nothing to do with oil or the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. This has everything to do with the nature of Islam.

Islam: Religion of the Damned

Any doubts that you may have had as to what Islam stands for and what Islam has up its sleeve should have evaporated over the past two days. In case you were sleeping, the Pope on Tuesday repeated criticism of the Prophet Mohammad by the 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, who said "Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." True. Jihad is not a term coined by the West.

The Moslem response was not long to come. The Swords of Islamic Right threatened to blow up all churches in Gaza, this after they shot up a church on Friday. On Saturday, two churches (not even Catholic!!) were firebombed in the West Bank city of Nablus. In Basra, a bomb exploded at the Assyrian Catholic Church on Friday evening. A previously unknown group announced that they would begin killing Iraqi Christians in three days unless the pope apologized.

And the whole "moderate Islamic world" remains silent. Not even one leader has either spoken out against the violence or tried to quell it. The silence speaks for itself. There really is no moderate Islamic world. The Koran is the Koran is the Koran. Jihad is Jihad is Jihad.

The Pope's apology was not long in coming. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone said, "The Holy Father is very sorry that some passages of his speech may have appeared offensive to Muslims and were interpreted in a way he hadn't intended them to be.''

The Moslems are enraged because the Pope quoted that Mohammad commanded to spread the faith by sword. Instead of protesting or even denouncing the comments, they turn to the sword!! Time and time again, the Moslems have never missed an opportunity to prove, that what they believe to be slurs or lies is actually the absolute definition of who they really are!! "We are a religion of peace" they claim, "and if you say otherwise we will behead you!" Never before has civilization been confronted by such a murderous group of self righteous animals, whose whole essence of being is based on death, lies and more death. Death and destruction is their name. Hell is their destiny.

How Do You Define Democrat?

This is the ultimate definition of a Democrat. Pay attention to the very end. Thanks to Mike at Islam is the Problem.

Nuclear Iran

In a very interesting expose in the Jerusalem Post, Giora Eiland, the recently retired head of Israel's National Security Council states that Iran will ultimately possess nuclear weapons.

"The political process vis-a-vis Iran has more or less exhausted itself. The efforts being made now to try and reach some kind of agreement with the Iranians are really the final efforts. In my opinion, they will fail. In the end, Iran will attain a nuclear capability. The international opportunities of a few years ago were not exploited, and today it's too late. I don't regard the [international diplomatic] processes unfolding now as being strong enough to stop them, or even to temporarily suspend them."

Eiland was quoted three weeks ago as follows;

"that Ahmadinejad, if he ever became the supreme decision maker, would sacrifice half of Iran for the sake of eliminating Israel."

Eiland goes on to explain that both remaining options of either doing nothing, or attacking are "terrible". He does not hesitate in laying some of the blame on Washington. The stick, he says, was not strong enough. The US did not show enough intention or preparation for any sort of military strike. On the other hand, the carrot wasn't sweet enough. The US has refused to negotiate directly with Iran (and rightly so, JT).

A spokeswoman for Israeli PM Olmert immediately refuted the claim that the diplomatic route has run its course. Iran can still be deterred, she claims.

Eiland may be right. At this pace, Iran will go nuclear. The EU has still not faced the reality of it all, and believes that despite the clear message that resounds daily from Teheran, they can somehow come to agreement. We are two weeks past the UN deadline and absolutely no progress has been made towards any sort of sanctions. China and Russia are drifting further away from the US position. Start the clock.

Coming Soon to a Theater Near You

Here is a clip (might be disturbing) which will give you a little more insight into that peace loving religion we know as Islam. Thanks Amy Proctor.

Al Dura Returns

French state run TV Channel 2 is suing the individuals who claimed that the videotape of the alleged shooting of Palestinian boy Muhammad Al-Dura was staged. Yes, that one from 2000, when the helpless little boy huddles against the wall with his father. We all know it was staged. Maybe this court trial will finally bring out the truth. Here is the truth.

John Bolton; Red White and Blue

According to the Washington Post, officials believe that President Bush's nomination of John Bolton as Ambassador to the United Nations "appears increasingly endangered in the senate". Bolton's temporary term expires in January. Last week, Senator Chafee (R-RI) delayed a vote which has given the White House cause for concern. "John Bolton's been a tireless advocate for the United States at the U.N.," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. That, I believe, is a gross understatement. He has been fabulous.

The main issue here is what some call Bolton's "brash style of foreign policy". He apparently is not diplomatic enough. Also a concern is the disdain in which he holds the UN. Here's a gem;

"There is no such thing as the United Nations. The United States makes the U.N. work when it wants it to work. If the U.N. secretary building in New York lost 10 stories, it would not make a bit of difference."

Here's another;

"The European arguments against the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act demonstrate that some Europeans have never lost faith in appeasement as a way of life. It is clear that Iran is cynically manipulating gullible (or equally cynical) Europeans to advance its development of weapons of mass destruction."

And maybe the most important of all which only shows how much he truly understands his job and the perverse workings of the UN;

"Diplomacy is not an end in itself if it does not advance U.S. interests."

I believe that John Bolton is a breath of fresh air in the foggy world of politics. In a time when so much is at stake, I feel it is of the utmost importance that the US has such a talented individual to represent the country in that house of horrors we know as the UN. Bolton is clearly the man to bring out the message. The US is alive and well. The US will bring all to account. The US will not submit.

Hezbollah: Guilty As Charged

If I didn't see it I wouldn't believe it. Amnesty International has awoken from their coma. Here is the gist of it from a report filed today out of their London office.

"Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel amounted to deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian objects, as well as indiscriminate attacks, both war crimes under international law. Its attacks also violated other rules of international humanitarian law, including the prohibition on reprisal attacks on the civilian population. "

However,

"This briefing does not address Israeli charges that Hezbollah used the civilian population as a cover for its military activities and that it must therefore be held responsible for the harm caused to civilians by Israeli attacks. Specifically, Israel accuses Hezbollah of having bases in tunnels and other facilities within towns and villages; of storing Katyusha rockets and other weapons there; of firing Katyusha rockets from close proximity to civilian houses; and of having prevented civilians from fleeing their villages."

The report is very condemning of Hezbollah. It brings many quotes from head butcher Nasrallah which they use as evidence of the war crimes. The report gives a very detailed account of the damage suffered by Israel, be it injuries and fatalities or displaced citizens. I wonder how many enlightened European lawyers have started gathering evidence to prosecute Hezbollah officials on war crimes charges. I bet the answer is zero.

Rest In Peace

The Court is in Session

As reported here on September 5th, the AP reports that "evidence" is being gathered throughout Europe in order to prosecute Israeli officials for war crimes. London attorney Kate Maynard: "There is impunity in Israel. The only place they will be tried is outside Israel." Maynard has in the past represented Palestinians in cases against Israel.

No comments from Maynard, Amnesty International or Human (Arab) Rights Watch on possible charges against Hezbollah. Intentionally firing 4,000 rockets into civilian centers is OK. Kidnapping is OK. Defending yourself is a crime.

Europe Plays the Fool

Hamas is already beginning to see results from their latest ploy which is known as a National Unity Government. I wrote in yesterday's post that they are planning to form a government with the Palestinian Authority in order to put a more moderate face on Hamas which would be more acceptable to the West. It seems to be working.

This from Ahmed Yusef, political adviser to Hamas Prime Minister Haniya;

"The European states have promised to reconsider their stance regarding the boycott of the Palestinian government. Following the war in Lebanon there is greater understanding in Europe that they must present a more balanced stance regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict."

His response to whether Hamas would recognize Israel's right to exist?

"To date, Israel has not recognized the 1967 lines as its legal border. When it does so, I will tell you whether we recognize Israel."

Right.

The U.S. State Department said that it would not deal with the new Palestinian unity government unless it met the three conditions (ending violence, recognizing Israel and accepting previous accords between Israel and the Palestinians) and so far, it seems that the Palestinians are not complying with the demands.

The Europeans however, are a different story. Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos told Haaretz on Tuesday that the unity government between Hamas and Fatah "is a positive step" which demands that the countries of Europe re-examine their stance on the Palestinian Authority. In other words, despite the fact that Hamas is officially a terror organization, it's time to discuss whether we should start sending them hundreds of millions of Euros.

Abba Eban once said; "the Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity". The Europeans never miss an opportunity to appease. Never have, never will.

Hamas' New Ploy

It is expected that Hamas and the Palestinian Authority will announce within the next two days that they will form a national unity government. It is intended to fool the West into believing that the PA will have a larger role as a "moderate voice" in the governing body. It is simply a ploy to alleviate the financial crisis in the territories. Hamas believes that under this new agreement, donations from the US and Europe will once again flow freely into the personal accounts of elected officials. According to terms of the impending deal, Hamas leader Haniyah will retain the position of Prime Minister.

Hamas still refuses to recognize Israel's right to exist, a position repeated Monday by a Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, when he said: “Hamas will still have its political agenda. We will never recognize the legitimacy of the occupation." And according to the Hamas Charter (courtesy of MEMRI) that means all of the land between the Jordan River and the Sea. So don’t pay too much attention to their calls for negotiations. All they want to do is buy time Hezbollah style. Once they smuggle enough weapons into Gaza, the fight is on.

Nasrallah Vents

Al-Jazeera will air tonight a taped interview with lead Hezbollah terrorist Nasrallah. Today marks the ninth anniversary of his son's death. He was killed in battle by Israeli troops. Nasrallah appears in brown sackcloth, a sign of mourning. He has in the past smiled playfully when speaking about his son. He considers his death to be "his personal sacrifice" in the Jihad against Israel.

In regard to the Blair visit to Lebanon he addresses Lebanon PM Siniora;

"You bring him home to me and to my family and you give a great reception? If there was an invitation made for Tony Blair to visit, then this is a national disaster. This Tony Blair is an associate in the murdering."

As for the Siniora Government, he has this to say about the apparent lack of concern for the average citizens;

"Do not these [Lebanese officials] have feelings, calculations, brain or heart? Are people made of stone in Lebanon? Is this country vacant of people? Are we only hotels, concrete, roads and bridges?"

Interestingly enough, Nasrallah uses the old Nazi slogan when he says the Lebanese Government "stabbed him (Hezbollah) in the back" by not supporting their fight. Hitler for many years claimed that Germany lost WWI because the government stabbed the Army in the back. We can only speculate as to the fallout from this public outburst. It is possible that this can lead to a split in the government, or more importantly a split in the street. Time will tell.

Is North Korea Helping Hezbollah Rearm?

Cypriot authorities have impounded a ship of Panamanian registry that was on the way from North Korea to the Syrian port of Latakia. All 15 crew members have been arrested. Interpol had notified Cyprus that the ship was suspicious and might possibly be smuggling weapons. When the ship stopped for refueling, Cypriot officials found twenty mobile radar systems on board. This system can be mounted on vehicles and is much more suitable for guerrilla warfare than the standard radar systems. The radars are used for air defense.

The shipping documents had indicated that the vessel was carrying "meteorological equipment" to be delivered to the Syrian Government. Syria, as a standing army, does not have any real need for mobile radar systems. It is interesting to note that the major difficulty that Hezbollah had in the recent war was their total inability to deal with Israeli aircraft. The mobile radar would have been very useful for Hezbollah. It looks like they are preparing for the next round. It looks like the other partner in the "axis of evil" is lending a hand.

Osama Hangs

Here are some pictures from the "Osama Hanging" from the UAC event in Culver City, California. See Jihad Watch for the whole scoop.

September 11, 2006

A very appropriate quote for today comes from Edmund Burke (1729-1797). He was an Anglo-Irish statesman and a friend of the American Revolution.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Need I say more.

The Traitors Within

Israel's Attorney General has announced that he will investigate three Arab Members of Parliament for visiting Syria without prior government approval. In 2001, Israel passed the "Infiltration Law", which forbids political officials from visiting enemy states. Syria and Israel are still technically in a state of war. The three MP's are Azmi Bishara, Jamal Zahalka and Wasil Taha. They called the visit "friendly". The met with political figures and "spiritual leaders".

They may not be household names, but they are not too far off from having their pictures hung on the wall in the Post Office. Wasil Taha (pictured) has in the past, encouraged Palestinians via on-line chat rooms to kidnap Israeli soldiers. Azmi Bishara has made many such trips in the past, and due to those trips the law was enacted. While in Syria, Bishara told the Syrian Foreign Minister that Israel was planning to attack Syria in many different locations.

"It is our right and the right of Arabs in Israel to remain in contact with other Arab nations," said a Balad (Arabic Party in Knesset) spokesman. In other words, it is their right to break the law when they see fit. A spokeswoman for the Party appeared on Israel Channel 10 this evening and essentially said that Israel has no right do deny contact between members of the Arab nation. Israel has no right to tell Arab Israelis what to do.

These are the same Arabs who claimed (falsely) that Israel did not provide them with warning sirens during Katyusha attacks. These are the same Arabs who milk the Israeli welfare system and then claim that the government has no right to pass laws that interfere with there devious plans. I have one suggestion for you all. If you don’t like it here, go to the true Palestinian State, Jordan.

Palestinians Vote for Terror

The Jerusalem Post reports that the latest public opinion poll taken in the West Bank by Palestinians shows that 61% of Palestinians support "military operations" in Israel. We know that the term "military operations" translates from the Arabic original to English as "terrorist attacks". The poll was conducted by the Center for Opinion Polls and Survey Studies at An-Najah University in Nablus. This is the first poll in many years that shows an increase in the percentage of Palestinians who are in favor of terrorist activities. 36% of those surveyed who were against Palestinian rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip explained that the reason was it "hurt the Palestinian cause". No reference was made to the loss of civilian Israeli lives. Many have tried to differentiate between the Hamas government and the average Palestinian citizen. Apparently, they are one and the same.

France and the UN Strike Again

Call it naivety, lack of leadership or just plain old stupidity, Israel has once again let itself fall prey to France and the UN. Since the start of the Lebanese war, Israel has had in place a sea and air blockade of Lebanon. This strategy is employed in a state of war in order to weaken the enemy. Supply lines are cut. Arms shipments are halted. The economy suffers. The enemy is weakened.

Israel announced from the outset that the purpose of the blockade was to prevent the transfer of arms to Hezbollah and to prevent the two kidnapped soldiers from being transferred out of Lebanon. After the ceasefire, Israel informed the UN that once the UNIFIL force was in place and would take over the job, Israel would lift the blockade.

This from yesterday's press release from the Office of Kofi Annan:

"Further to discussions on the implementation of Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) with the Government of Lebanon, as well as the Governments of France, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom, the Secretary-General welcomes the imminent deployment of an interim naval task force off the Lebanese coast to assist in securing the maritime border and maritime entry points of Lebanon."

According to the UN, the force will "assist in securing" entry points.

Later that day, the French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy made these comments: "We're going to make sure there are no deliveries of arms to Hezbollah. We have accepted Annan's offer."

Later on Thursday, Israel begins to lift the sea blockade upon assurances from the UN and France that the French will patrol the waters off Lebanon, and according to the French, will prevent arms from reaching Hezbollah.

Now Vichy France strikes. The Jerusalem Post reports that France has announced that the international naval force would not be authorized to employ force to stop ships from entering or leaving Lebanon. A spokesman for the French defense ministry said that the international craft would only provide assistance for Lebanese ships, and would not interfere with other nations' boats.

In other words, if an Iranian ship loaded with weapons entered Lebanese waters, the French would just wave them through. Even a Lebanese ship would not be searched. The French are there to "just provide assistance". This is clearly not how the UN described the mission, and surely not the assurance that Israel was given before the blockade was lifted. Israel has lifted the blockade and no one is filling the void.

I'm sure Kofi Annan is smiling somewhere and feeling so proud of himself that he is helping Lebanon rebuild. The fact that he is helping Hezbollah rearm is not a concern at all. The fact that the UN is once again played for a fool is not a concern at all. After all, that's exactly what we expect from both the UN and France.

More Liberal Nonsense

In regard to the war on terror, nothing irks me more than Americans who thrive on creating divisiveness amongst their fellow citizens. Sure you have nut cases like Cindy Sheehan spewing lies and anti–American propaganda, but we have become immune to her nonsense. When I see it appear in respected newspapers almost on a daily basis, it turns my stomach. I wrote here about a ridiculous piece in the Washington Post from a few days ago. I decided to go check again today and found more of the same. Really no surprise. Apparently Eugene Robinson is one of them. I quote from today's piece on the transfer of the 14 terrorists to Guantanamo;

Oh, one more thing the president didn't mention, for some reason: Those 14 most-wanted terrorists who were kept in the secret prisons? As far as we know, not a single one was captured in Iraq.

The sordid implications are clear. Being in Iraq is wrong. They could have been captured where they were, without having conducted military operations in Iraq. Our troops should not be in Iraq. The war is wrong.

Here are a few points the reader should take into consideration. The amount of intelligence that was acquired in Iraq is enormous. Since the huge intelligence cuts made by The Hillbilly Clinton Administration, we found ourselves buried behind the eight ball. It's not a stretch to assume that without this newly found intel, we would not have known half of them even existed. Even if we did, it's not very likely we would know much more than that, let alone capture them.

The invasion of Iraq weakened terrorist groups all across the globe. Ousting Saddam cut off financing, weakened the communications link between Jihadists and took away one safe harbor. They suddenly found themselves on the run. A criminal on the run is much more exposed and much more likely to make that fatal error which facilitates their capture.

Once the US showed just how serious they were in their conduct of the war on terror, other countries stood up and took notice. I seriously doubt that a country such as Pakistan would have offered help (no matter how little that might be) if the US was sitting across the Atlantic. I wonder how many heads of state have thought twice before harboring one of these murderers. Everyone knows they will have a large bill to pay if caught red handed. Still think being in Iraq is wrong?

Jihad 3, Civilization 0

According to my tally, that was the final score in yesterday's war on terror. Of three separate new items that crossed the wires, all were indicative of a Jihadic victory. In the title I have referred to the losing side as civilization and not the "west" because that doesn't seem to be a fair description anymore.

French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin was quoted addressing the parliament as follows; "Against terrorism, what's needed is not a war. It is, as France has done for many years, a determined fight based on vigilance at all times and effective cooperation with our partners. But we will only end this curse if we also fight against injustice, violence and these crises." When I first read this I almost fell off my chair. I was able to quickly regain my balance when I asked myself; it's the French, what did you expect? De Villepin is saying that vigilance is the key. Keep your eyes open at all times and you will defeat Islam. No guns needed. And what do you think he means by "injustices"? It means that our actions have caused the Moslems to feel so slighted that we can sympathize with their reactions. We have brought on the terror and they are the victims. How perverse. How French. Jihad 1, Civilization 0.

Israel began lifting its air and sea blockade of Lebanon today. According to Israeli PM Woe-lmert the purpose of the blockade was twofold. It was designed to prevent the illegal transfer of weapons to Lebanon, as forbid by UNSCR 1701 and two prevent the two kidnapped Israeli soldiers from being transferred out of Lebanon. The soldiers are still held hostage and weapons are still being smuggled. Despite this, Woe-lmert lifted the blockade due to "international pressure" (a catch all phrase for, "I'm not French, but I really do want to surrender"). How Woe-lmert. Jihad 2, Civilization 0.

Ironically, France announced today that they will monitor the coast to ensure no movement of weapons. I am sure they will monitor it vigilantly.

Third time election winner British PM Tony Blair announced his resignation from office, effective whenever. Recent government scandals may have broke the camels back but let's not be naïve. Blair's unwavering support for President Bush in the war on terror was finally too much for the liberals to accept. The London terror attacks seem like light years ago. Ironically, Blair swept into office with the help of none other than Slick Willie Clinton, a liberal's liberal. The US has just lost a major partner in the war on terror. How Liberal. Jihad 3, Civilization 0.

Democratic Dribble

I ran across an article in the yesterdays Washington Post which is so indicative of everything that is wrong in the world of the left wing, Democratic, peace loving journalist. They create problems which don’t really exist, yet they downplay real serious problems that do. They knock every attempt to solve the problems, yet they offer no solutions of there own. And when someone tries to stress how serious the problem is, they claim he has ulterior motives.

Let's get a bit more specific. Here are some select bits of Eugene Robinson's piece:

Who Set the Wayback Machine for 1939?

With George W. Bush talking so much about Nazis and fascism, Donald Rumsfeld warning ominously against lily-livered appeasement and Dick Cheney quoting Franklin Roosevelt on the "dirty business" of war, one might worry that this direction-challenged administration has wandered into some sort of time warp. Somebody's going to have to break it to them that Churchill and Stalin are gone and the Dodgers don't play in Brooklyn anymore.

Do we discern a pattern? The lavish attention being paid to veterans' groups isn't about what year it is, it's about what month it is. Unless the Republican base is somehow energized and the rest of us somehow scared stiff by November, the Democrats have a decent chance of taking the House of Representatives and even an outside shot at the Senate.

That's where all the administration rhetoric about Nazis, commies, fascism and appeasement has to be coming from, because, absent the political context, it makes no sense. It's all heat and no light.

Interesting. Here we have a situation where the President and his most senior staff are carrying out there most sacred duty of warning the nation of the seriousness of the threat that terrorism is. They have been doing everything in their power for the past five years to combat this disease. The comparison to Nazis is unfortunately all too accurate. Their goals were exactly the same as today's Jihadists, death and destruction to anyone who doesn't fit into their plans. No questions asked. Yet this journalist believes that this round of speeches is an election ploy. One thing is certain. If you did not hear the President and Co. mention the words terror or Iraq for a day or two, this same journalist would note that they are quiet on the matter because they are losing the war on terror. Robinson claims election ploy while I smell a Democrat grasping at straws.

To those who point out that Iraq wasn't a nexus of terrorism until we invaded, Cheney responds, "They overlook a fundamental fact: We were not in Iraq on September 11th, 2001, and the terrorists hit us anyway."
Huh? The terrorists who attacked on Sept. 11 didn't come from Iraq. Except in Cheney's mind, I don't know where the fact that we were attacked by terrorists trained in Afghanistan (and sent by Osama bin Laden, who's probably now in Pakistan) somehow mitigates the fact that we've made Iraq a hotbed of terrorism.

Obviously, Cheney didn’t mean that the terrorists physically came from Iraq. Yet nobody can deny the general support that the terrorist movement had from an Iraq with Saddam at the helm. Hey Robinson, we did not make Iraq into a hotbed of terrorism. The terrorists existed long before Iraq. Actually, they are the same group of guys that your friend Clinton ignored for eight years because he was too busy poking around somewhere else. It’s a good thing they have gathered in Iraq so the good old USA can crush them once and for all. Think about that for a while when you go to your quiet little home and don’t have to worry that someone is going to come knocking in the middle of the night.

Nobody wants to appease terrorists. But some people have a different idea of how to fight them. The president is right when he says this conflict is unlike other wars, but he seems to miss the essential difference: It has to be fought in a way that doesn't create two new terrorists for each one who is killed.

Spoken like a true liberal. Some people have a different idea how to fight them? The only idea I heard out of the Dem camp is retreat and take cover. How do you propose we fight as not to create two new terrorists? Talk to them nicely? Appease them? Tell me please. You have added nothing that I haven’t already heard from some weak kneed Democratic contender, all complaints and no solutions. I bet you miss Jimmy Carter, circa 1979.

Hear No Evil

I think this pretty much sums up the state of politics in Israel. How sad.

A Man's Man

Kudos to Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. Romney announced that he will not use state funds to finance the security detail for ex-Iranian president Khatami. He ordered all state agencies to decline any requests for support on Khatami's scheduled September 10th visit to Harvard University. Romney said, "State taxpayers should not be providing special treatment to an individual who supports violent jihad and the destruction of Israel.'' Finally someone gets it. The governor also called Harvard's hosting of Khatami "a disgrace to the memory of all Americans who have lost their lives at the hands of extremists, especially on the eve of the five-year anniversary of 9/11.''

If hard earned tax dollars are going to be spent on this guy, I can think of a few better ideas than a security detail. How he got a visa is beyond me. Why did Harvard invite him? Spokeswoman Melodie Jackson explains, "The school nonetheless believes that active and open dialogue is a critical part of effective education and policy.'' Spoken like a true Democrat.

Europe Bends at the Knees

The Jerusalem Post has reported that some EU officials are considering lightening up on their demands of Hamas as a precondition for talks. The three conditions previously established by the EU were; ending terrorism, compliance to signed agreements and recognition of Israel. These officials believe that if the conditions would be met over time and not simultaneously, Hamas could use this opening as a rationale to talk.

Following the long standing tradition of European appeasement, the official was quoted as follows;

"No one is questioning the need for the three conditions, but maybe if you cannot get wholesale adherence by Hamas to these three conditions, why not start with one, and see where that gets us. But this [recognition of Israel] is not something that needs to be up front."

Of course recognition of Israel by Hamas does not need to be up front. In a sense, half of Europe does not recognize Israel. To think that the EU would go soft on an organization that even liberal Europe classifies as a terrorist group is outrageous. What kind of message does this send? The Hamas Charter openly calls for the destruction of Israel. What is there to talk about? How many prisoners do you want freed when you kidnap the next Israeli?

The official continues:

"There is some realization, that putting things so bluntly wasn't constructive and drove Hamas into the arms of the radical wing in Damascus."

This is ridiculous!! As if Hamas was a branch of the Red Cross before these conditions "drove them into the arms of the radical wing". One thing to Hamas' credit is that unlike the Palestinian Authority they never hid their true intentions. Hamas is, and always has been, a ruthless murder machine.

When will the Europeans finally get it? Apparently London and Madrid were isolated events which will not happen again any time soon. One thing I know for sure. When Europe does receive that wake up call and finally wipe the sleep from their eyes, all fingers will be pointing at Israel. After all, Europe would never hold the Arabs responsible.

More European Justice

AP reports that the head of the El Al Pilots Union sent a letter to PM Olmert on Sunday in which he claims that some European countries are not allowing the refueling of El Al jets that ferry weapons from the US to Israel. This forces Israel to reduce the weight load on these flights from 90 tons to nearly 45 tons. The countries mentioned are Italy, Britain, Portugal, Spain and Germany. Ironically, some of these same countries participate in UNIFIL and do nothing to prevent the transfer of weapons from Syria and Iran to Hezbollah.

Responses came from the Europeans today. Spain's government said they are aware of no such rules. A spokeswoman for German Transport Ministry said that there were no landing restrictions for El Al flights. Italian civil aviation authority ENAC said it has not received orders to put restrictions on any El Al flights. Portugal did not comment. The British Transport Department said that planes have been allowed to refuel under specific guidelines. Notice that there was not even one flat out denial.

Seems to me that this is yet another example of the anti-Israel fever that has a hammerlock on Europe. The continent seems to have forgotten who kicked off this melee. Perhaps Europe is continuing to pander to the Jihadists hoping that they will look elsewhere when they get the itch to kill hundreds of innocent civilians. Europe has yet to learn that there is no music to soothe the wild beast we know as Islam. The only way to deal with this beast is to put him to sleep.

European Justice

The Legal Council of Israel's Foreign Office suspects that war crimes charges will be filed in some European nations against Israeli Army officials and politicians. One of the charges is "ethnic cleansing". This is based on statements made by politicians who said that towns from which Katyushas are fired should be "crushed". Lebanese and Human Rights Organizations are looking into filing charges in Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, France and Britain. This is based on the ridiculous European precedent that allows charges to be filed even in a country where the alleged crimes were not committed. European defense lawyers are being retained by Israel's Foreign Office in anticipation of such lawsuits. Contact has already been made with representatives of some of the above mentioned countries who are interested in avoiding this embarrassing situation.

Of course, no mention is made of any charges to be filed against Hezbollah. More to follow...

Prisoner Swap?

PA Chairman Abbas is quoted by Bahrain daily El-Halij that a deal has been struck between Israel and the kidnappers holding soldier Gilad Shalit. According to Abbas, Shalit is to be released and transferred to Egypt. He would be held there until Israel releases up to 800 Palestinian prisoners. It is known that two Egyptian security officers are in the Gaza Strip and are in direct contact with the kidnappers. An unnamed government official said he knew nothing of the deal. A Labor Party official said he could not verify the facts (the implications are obvious).

I have written here what I think about prisoner swaps. If true, the price for the two soldiers held by Hezbollah has just risen dramatically. So much for Olmert's claim of not accepting a ceasefire until the soldiers were freed unconditionally.

Palestinian Humor

The Palestinian News Agency "Ma'an" apparently feels that hostage Gilad Shalit is eating a bit too well in captivity. The caption reads, "I'm not Israeli, I'm French". Amusing.

Look Out Below

If Israel PM Woe-lmert is hearing creaking sounds, he should probably be checking the thin branch he is standing on. Never before in his short candidacy has he found himself in such dire straits. The three lead stories in tonight's evening news were as bad as could be for the punch drunk politician. Here they are:

The State Comptroller in a letter to the Attorney General has recommended that PM Olmert be investigated for questionable job assignments he made while serving as Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor. The Comptroller wrote that he "identifies suspicions of crimes". He charges that unqualified individuals with strong ties to the Likud Party were given cushy jobs without any due process. Some of these positions did not even exist until they were allegedly created by Olmert and filled by party cronies. One such job was given to the ex-girlfriend of the current Minster of the Treasury. This story broke last night but took a more serious turn today as reports note that new evidence was discovered this afternoon which directly ties Olmert to the job appointments.
Prognosis: AG has six months in which to decide whether or not to serve Olmert with an indictment. Until then, its business as usual. Someone will take the fall and it probably won't be Olmert.

The evening's second story is the developing 2007 budget crisis. Drastic cuts are being planned to help finance the war cost. As always, budget cuts hit the lower class first. Social programs will suffer and government layoffs as well as a hiring freeze are planned. There is the rub. Olmert was only able to form a working coalition with the Labor Party when he promised a more "socially responsible" government. Many Labor Ministers are already sharpening the long swords and threatening to leave the government. Olmert finds himself in the untenable position of financing the war and social programs without raising taxes. Don’t forget that the cost of the Gaza Disengagement was also deferred from last year's budget, so that bill must be paid too.
Prognosis: Heavy political pressure from the left on the budget, together with existing pressure from the right on the war leaves Olmert with very few friends. Maybe the most serious of his current problems.

Last but not least. Sources close to Olmert claim that the West Bank realignment plan is off the table for now. This leaves Olmert without his election platform. He only won the election on the promise of following the misguided ways of Sharon. Even that has now gone by the wayside.
Prognosis: Olmert may be looking at an indictment, has lost his political supporters and has no message. How long do you think he'll last?

Damnesty International

In their August 31 press release, Amnesty International called on Israel to immediately provide maps of the areas of Lebanon into which they fired cluster bombs in order that they can be located and cleared to prevent civilian casualties. They further call on Israel to cooperate in a "full and impartial" investigation into their use of the bombs. After looking further into their press release, I began to understand what Amnesty's understanding of "impartial" really is.

The calls followed a report from the United Nations that 90 percent of Israeli cluster bomb strikes occurred in the last 72 hours of the conflict when a ceasefire was in sight. The U.N. Mine Action Coordination Center has so far identified more than 400 bomb strike areas that are contaminated with as many as 100,000 unexploded bomblets. Amnesty International delegates in Lebanon have found numerous unexploded cluster bombs in villages and even, in some cases, inside homes."The use of cluster bombs in the heart of where people live clearly violates the prohibition on indiscriminate attacks and is therefore a grave violation of international humanitarian law," said Kate Gilmore, Executive Deputy Secretary General of Amnesty International.

Apparently the UN report is what got AI a little hot under the collar. Is having a ceasefire "in sight" a reason to stop fighting? Did Hezbollah cut back on Katyusha fire because the ceasefire was in sight? AI reports that bombs were even found in homes. I wonder when was the last time that AI visited homes in Northern Israel that have unexploded Katyushas sitting in the living room. I wonder how Gilmore would categorize the firing of Katyushas intentionally into civilian areas.

Six-year-old Abbas Yusef Shibli described to Amnesty International delegates how a cluster bomb exploded as he tried to pick it up in the village of Blida on 26 August. Speaking from a hospital bed, Abbas said he was playing with three friends when he tried to pick up what looked like a “perfume bottle”.

Here is what looks like a perfume bottle. I wonder who the ghost writer of this story is.

At another hospital, Amnesty International visited 13-year-old Hassan Hussein Hamadi who remains in a coma after surgery. His family said that, on 27 August, he and his five brothers and sisters had been playing in the front yard of their home in the village of Deir al-Qanun south of Tyre when he picked up a canister type cluster bomb that then exploded.

In the front yard? If his father wasn't in a Hezbollah camp somewhere, he would have found time to clean his front yard. And my favorite "testimony" is this one:

In the next room, Mahmud Yaqub, a 38-year-old shepherd, lay with his leg in plaster having had it shattered when he stepped on a cluster bomb. Mahmud said he’d lost four of his 21 goats during the Israeli attacks as they were unable to get to water.

The poor soul lost four goats? This is what raises the hair on AI's necks? Not one Israeli death has been mentioned in this entire press release and you are worried about four goats??? In order to be "impartial", here is AI's wrap-up:

Amnesty International reiterated that Israel's use of cluster bombs underlined the need for an immediate and comprehensive UN investigation into this and other violations of international humanitarian law committed by both Israel and Hezbollah during this conflict.

And I thought that they forgot about Hezbollah.

These stories would be half believable if they were in some sort of balanced context. Amnesty has been known to bend the truth in the past. Their rabid anti-Israel bias takes away any credibility from this "human rights" group. What a fair and "impartial" organization they are.

The Continuing Capitulation of Europe and the UN

Time, it seems, on the side of the Jihadists. With every passing day, Europe finds a new way to raise the white flag. Call it impatience or an unexplainable lack of desire; apparently Europe has no stomach for this war. Be it due to pressure from the liberals or the general surrender mentality of the Europeans, what should be a world coalition against Islamic terror is simply melting away in the desert sun.

Today's headlines were rife with the symptoms of this chronic disease. Kofi Annan visited that den of iniquity we know as Iran. After a series of meetings, Kofi had this to see about possible sanctions on Iran for violating the August 31 UN deadline:

"I do not believe that sanctions are the solution to all problems. There are moments when a bit of patience produces lots of effects. I think that is a quality we must exercise more often."

He is not alone in his little world of allusions. Russia’s defense minister Ivanov said that the issue of sanctions was “not acute,” Russia’s foreign minister Lavrov said that Russia "favored continued negotiations and not punitive measures." The Europeans also asked for a turn to wave the white flag. EU Chief Foreign Affairs official Javier Solana said that "there would now be a period of talks over the conflict with Iran", and is unreasonable to discuss sanctions at this point. French PM de Villepin said that Iran's response to international demands was "totally unsatisfying", but it remains possible to go ahead with the dialogue. Totally unsatisfying? It sounds like he is describing some bad cheese he ate.

The EU announced today that they are giving Solana two weeks to "try to clarify Iran's stance on halting uranium enrichment". Maybe I'm missing something here, but doesn't Ahmadinejad broadcast almost daily what his evil intentions are. He is not what I would describe as shy. The only thing that the EU will find in two weeks is that Iran is two weeks closer to the bomb.

While Teheran goes about its dirty business, Europe buckles at the knees. Negotiations, concessions; anything to buy more time to avoid putting themselves in the uncomfortable position of having to make a tough decision. Iran laughs as its enemies fall by the wayside, without a shot having being fired. Iran is on the verge of conquering a continent of people so blind, that they are totally unaware that it is happening to them. At this rate, the EU's official language will be Arabic.

I'm Kofi, Fly Me

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan made a stop in Syria yesterday as part of his psychedelic journey through the Middle East. Annan has gotten to the point that his mind behaves as if it is so infused with hallucinogenic drugs that he is willing to believe anything. He had the distinct pleasure of meeting the peace loving Syrian dictator Assad. Annan, as usual, exited the meeting in a state of euphoria. Assad, he claims, has given his full assurance that he would "take necessary measures" to help prevent the sale or transfer of weapons to Hezbollah. Assad said he also will increase Syrian Army patrols along the border to prevent the transfer of weapons, and will work together with the Lebanese army. When asked by Annan to use his influence to help in the release of the kidnapped Israeli soldiers, he brought up the issue of Syrian terrorists held in Israel.

Another political coup for Annan, he asked for and got Syrian compliance. The irony, however is striking. While Annan thinks Assad's troops are there to stop the weapons transfers, they are the ones who are more heavily involved in the illegal trade than anyone else. The amount of Syrian troops present at the border is inversely proportionate to the chances of an Israeli air strike on the vehicles moving the goods. The Syrians are actually offering a military escort to ensure timely delivery of Iranian arms to Hezbollah. Assad doesn't have any oil. He makes his money in brokerage commissions.

On a side note, Annan asked Israel for detailed info on where the cluster bombs were dropped so UN forces can clear the unexploded ammo. Annan did not ask Lebanon for detailed info on where Hezbollah bunker and rocket stashes were so they can be removed. He didn't have to. He already knows they are right along side his UN watchtowers.