Minihan's World

Israel proposes to deport 'activitists' supporting Palestinian Freedom

April 13, 2012 Arlington VA

What about the Israeli activists crowding our airlines here? Do we deport them?  No, We are a democracy, not an iron-curtain government.

CNN is reporting on YNET stories from Israel that the Israeli Government is determined to deport any activitists intending to support "Welcome to Palestine 2012" this coming weekend.  They report " Israeli security forces are preparing to deport hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists expected to arrive at the country's main international airport beginning Sunday to protest Israel's policies in the occupied West Bank. Israeli Police will be implementing measures inside and around Ben Gurion airport from the weekend in order to deal with the arrival of activists into the country," Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld told CNN .

"We believe, like prisoners in prisons, we are entitled to receive visitors and Palestinians under Israeli occupation are also entitled to receive visitors," said event coordinator Mazin Qumsiyeh. "So we are entitled to get international visitors to come and visit and show solidarity with us to learn about the situation, but Israel chooses to prevent these people from coming,"

Israel's public security minister, Yitzhak Aharonovitch, has called the activists "provocateurs" and Israeli news portal Ynet was told they would "be dealt with in a determined and quick way," by Aharonovich, "If they arrive in Israel they will be identified, removed from the plane, their entry into Israel will be prevented and they will be moved to a detention facility until they are flown out of Israel."  Now that's the way a democracy acts!

What the US and other countries need to do is ban the myriad of Israeli politicians, speakers, and other 'activitists' that are pro-Israel from accessing our shores, our people, our media, and prevent them from stirring up anti-Palestinian sentiment.  Myabe then Israel will begin to realize that it needs to live by international rules if it expects to be taken seriously.  Of course, that won't happen because the Western nations don't have the guts to do it--they would rather listen to Netanyahu and his minions praise the genocide going on in Gaza and the West Bank.

Comments?

Media says Iran is ready to talk Nuclear

Arlington VA 17 February 2012

Multiple media outlets have been reporting on iran's apparent willingness to talk about it nuclear program over the last 24 hours.  it seems, in their view, that the sanctions are working.

Don't be fooled by the by the wanderings of Ahmadinijad and his crazy set of ayatollahs.  They have offered before to so the same thing and then find a way to slap the face of the US and  .  Their latest set of bombings (One incident that occurred by someone with an Iranian passport) show that they are still the exporters of terrorism.  if they are afraid, it is not of the US, but of  Israel, which is clearly preparing for a major strike over the next couple of months.

Israel has iran dangling, and deservedly so.  It is simply amazing to me that Iran has no fear of the major superpowers, but is clearly afraid that Israel, with nothing to lose, and a superpower providing the weapons, will conduct a devastating set of strikes on Iran.  They (Israel) have the will, the guts, and the emerging requirement to do what their allies should have done a long time ago but lack the gumtion to complete

Your thoughts

The Stupid Awards - US Health & Human Services

Arlington VA  16 February 2012

It has been a while since I have seen anything base enough to earn one of my stupid awards.  This time, it is the Department of Health & Human Services, and its Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, who I had previously thought a reasonable politician.   However, the recent annoouncement, greeted warmly by religious leaders, that contraceptive and other types of care, including abortion counselling, etc, would be mandated for religious organizations that provided health care tipped the hat to this award.

 

While I am fervently a pro-life person, this is not my principal reason for the award.  Secretary Sebelius is simply doing her boss Obama's bidding to implement as much of Obamacare as is possible before the Supreme Court rules.  Please remember that this is the law written by the insurance companies for the insurance companies and includes such 'benefits ' for the American public as forced insurance, fines for not having commercial insurance, higher costs for drugs, reduced medicare and medicaid benefits, and a wealth of other things that only Obama and the insurance companies have decided to include in their best interests.  Even the then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi indicated that no one had read the bill before it was passed.

Now we have Sebelius stirring up virtually every religious group, who are resisting on freedom of religion grounds, and will eventually vote in drovesd to oust Obama.  That is not smart politics.  As a former governor she should know better, but then a good number of Obama appointees follow his socialistic pronoucements in lock step.  She is an immense disappointment-- A LOSER like her collegues.

Still here and working

October 22, 2011

So many significant events ha ve been happening since I last wrote.  mostly, I have been busy working on a new book that should come out early in the year.  Have also been re-editing my first book, Bernie Minihan's DIlemma, and a new version of that volume should reach the public about March 1st.  Hope you will all respond to those new issues as you have in the past.

 

Well, let's see what is going on in the Middle East and Mediterranean area

The biggest news is probably the death of Mohamar Quaddafi in Libya  (Have anybody ever figured out the real spelling of his name?).  It came after a long series of battles across the desert, ending, for all practical purposes in Sirte as he was captured, beaten, and then carted away to an ambulance where a mysterious bullet ended up in his skull.  One son and his Chief of Staff were also among the dead hauled out of a series of culvert pipers where they had been hiding after a strafing run from a NATO drone.  Good riddance to Uncle Mohamar, but one has to wonder who the new strongman will be as the Transitional Council gets down to the real work of governing.  Only time will tell, but Hillary Clinton is there to help them sort it all out.

There is Egypt, of course, which first threw out Mubbarak and then the generals simply started a new ruling council, promising elections that will either never come, or be limited to those candidates the generals want elected.  Net plus up for the people - ZERO.  great frevolt though.

Syria, who acts as if it  doesn't care about the rest of cthe world continues to shoot and bomb its people to keep Assad in power, and, with the rest of the world simply looking on, seems to be winning at doing that.  We, of course, issued a strong condemnation, but no real action.

Israel finally got back Sgt Shalit from Hamas. They in turn got a promise of 1,000 arabs being held in Israeli jails (They must have large jails with still another 4,000+ remaining in their jails).  Several of the more prominent arab bombers were on the itial freedom list of over 400, with the rest to be released in stages.  Wonder how long it will take Israel to find a pretext for not returning the rest, and, conversely, for Hamas to take another prisoner?  Will israel now loosen its stranglehold on Gaza (as it promised months ago for the release of the soldier) or will it continue with its blockade  and international piracy that continues to starve and kill Gazans?  Again, only time will tell.

Abbas and the Palestinian Authority went to the UN seeking membership and creation of a Palestinian homeland.  In this situation the facts really get perverse.  The US has threatened a veto in the Security Council on full membership.  The Israeli prime Minister, Netanyahu was quoted as saying negotiations were the answer to Palestinian statehood and not the UN.  How quickly we forget that in 1946-7, when the Palestinians still held on to their land, Israelis asked for membership and a homeland, and the UN , led by the US ripped a space our of Palestine and called it Israel.  The US and most of Europe that were decidedly anti-semitic at the time, embarassed by the Holocaust, and not wanting back their jewish emigres, could not wait to create the state.  The Palestinians, many of them farmers on the land for generations were simply kicked out with no compensation.  Now they want their mand back, and have at least a chance at doing so.  The stupidity of politics at its best.  Sort of reminds you of the plight of the American Indians doesn't it?

More later.

Life as Usual in the Middle East

Arlington VA April 5, 2011

Gadhafi's son scrambling to be the next leader in Libya.

Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, has been not-so quietly offering proposals for him to take over from his father in exchange for peace in the country.  You remember Seif, he indicated a few weeks back on international television that there would be a bloodbath in the cities if the rebels did not capitulate.  Now he wants to be seen as a healer of his 'beloved country.'  The rebels are not buying it, so don't expect a Gadhafi in power for too much longer.

There were explosions in the major Gadhafi compounds in Tripoli on the weekend, and it appeared to some media stationed there that either an aborted coup was moving or some action being taken to prevent more of the major players from deserting the Supreme leader.  Who knows.

(In the rest of the Middle East...

Syria still has thousands marching in the streets each day.  Bashar Assad has promised reforms and a new government, but the killing goes on.  Soon, he will outreach his father's totals in killings.

Yemenhas apparently split into two countries--if you read the al-Quada press.  an 'Islamic Emirate' has been formed from part of the country, while gassing of protesters and indiscriminate shooting still occurs daily in the streets.  Now the Government has introduced a stronger version of tear gas that has, so far, injured over two hundred, and perhaps more.  The US has now dropped any pretenses of supporting the Government.

In Oman,a group of terrorists took over an ammunition factory and blew themselves up--another result of good training which killed over 75 people outright.  All in the cause of democracy.

Bahrain, meanwhile is still in the grip of their dictator/strongman who has banned the opposition and closed some newspapers.  it does not seem to be stopping the people however, and one has to wonder what are the next steps here.  The US carefully watching this nation, since the Fifth Fleet is based there in the harbor.

And in Israel..

Lots going on in that peace-loving nation.  With the palestinians calling for the General Assembly to grant their their own nation, Israel is broadly hinting that it will simply annex the West Bank and other lands where vthere are mixed settlements, and the palestinians will get nothing--the rest of the world be damned.  And, oh yes, we need more munitions, planes, and bombs from the US.

Netanyahu, the Israeli PM is now demanding the US abrogate the Goldstone report on the atrocities in Gaza since Lord Goldstone has revised his personal view of what happened.  Not sure why Goldstone changed, but the numbers in the cemeteries have not, and the deaths are still attributable to Israel.

Iran is quiet, but still sending funding and fighters wherever it will help overturn governments and create fundamentalist regimes.

 

More on the King Investigation

March 14, 2011 Arlington VA

It is coming up on a week after Rep. Peter King (R-NY), started his investigation on the radicalization of the American Muslim population with the first hearings that made him look completely foolish.  At least Senator Joe McCarthy, in the early 50's, waved a few pieces of paper in the air which he claimed were lists of communists and their sympathizers.  King could not even do that.

 

A New Gallup Poll indicates that 52 percent of Americans say these hearings are appropriate, though support is split along party lines. Sixty-nine percent of Republicans say the hearings are the right thing, while only 40 percent of Democrats say they are appropriate. Independents' views track closely to the national average at 51 percent supporting the hearings. Overall, 49 percent of Democrats polled on Tuesday say the hearings are not appropriate, compared to 42 percent of independents and 23 percent of Republicans.  From that perspective, King has support for his views.

However, what King did not do--favoring a more general, sensationalist view--was to clearly define the purpose of his committee hearings.  Those hearings should be on radicalization of Americans across a number of groups who preach hate and destruction--including those terrorist groups that happen to be Muslim.  Instead he painted the Muslim community separately with a broad brush and that hurts everyone--not those he should have identified and exposed.

Rep. King has a long history of shooting off his mouth--starting hearings, or making claims, and eventually letting them peter out after he gets the publicity he seeks.  That is what these hearing are really all aobut--publicity for mr. King.  if he had the perspective, he could do good things with his hearings--but I will bet he won't, and the results of his efforts will be meaningless--except perhaps to get himself re-elected.

More gutless commando work and other topics

June 7, 2010

Another ship taken in International waters

The MV Rachel Corrie is yet the latest ship forcibly taken in International Waters by the masked goons of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).  This masked group tries to play at being commandos--they shot ten people--mostly from behind, in the Freedom flotiilla taking, and have now swept down on the Rachek Corrie to do the same thing--still masked of course.  Some many remember that Rachel Corrie was the woman crushed to death by an IDF bulldozer as she protesting Israeli construction on arab land several years ago.

The moves have incensed much of the Middle Eastern landscape, extending into Europe and Asia as more countries are demandi ng that the UN take action.  of course, Israel, protected by its mentor, the US, will veto any real effort to condemn Israel.  For now, they get to continue to act as lawlessly as they choose.

Egypt will keep the Rafah Gate Open.

Egypt, which had been supporting israel on the blockage has now decided that the blockage is useless and serving no good purpose--rapidly becoming unenforcible.  So, it has decided to keep open idefinately the Rafah Gate through which Palestinians from Gaza can travel to and from Egypt.  It is still unclear how much in the way of humanitarian supplies will move through the gate as well, although for now Egypt says it will not allow bulk supplies to enter.  Another of israel's 'friends' join Turkey in moving a distance away from Israel.

Egypt better be careful here--the same Israeli goons that descended on the ships can easily descend on the gate area and try to close it.  Wonder if they will be masked as well.  more important, will the Egyptians fire back?

Israel has been falsifying footage and press information from the Freedom Flotilla.  News reports from Israel indicate that the IDF doctored footage taken from the Freedom Flotilla to show that the civilians on the Mara were actually preparing for the arrival of the Israeli goons.  They also issued press releases indicating they had information that many of the 'civilians' were actually al Quaeda operatives.  After Max Blumenthal, a noted reporter and commentator called the IDFs hand, the videos were withdrawn and the press releases changed to eliminate the al Queda references.  That, of course, now leads to the inevitable question of what to believe when it comes from the IDF or the ISraeli Government.

Israel names Reserve general to probe the actions of the Freedom Flotilla Massacre.

Israel still conti nues to refuse to allow a complete international investigation of the massacre of the Freedom Flotilla passengers, but it has announced that a reserve general wiull lead a probe--limited in nature--to see what lessons can be learned from the action.  So much for Israel's boast that it would conduct a credible probe and did not need international supervision or direction.

Still more Israeli goons attack Helen Thomas

For those of you who don't know Ms. Thomas, she is, at 89 years old, the dean of the Washington DC Press Corps, and has been a WHite House Press Correspondent for over 60 years.  Yet, because someone put a microphone before her and she made offhand comments on Israel, the goons, in the form of Ari Fleischer and Lanni Davis, both directors of AIPAC (Israel-America Public Affairs Committee) and forced her retirement.

Ms. Thomas's sentiments, that many of those who called themselves Israeli, but were actually from Europe until WWII, should stop occuping arab land and move back where they came from to let the Palestinians live in peace.  If this were a comment about almost any other country, it would be laughed off.  No so among the Israeli-loving communities.  Ari Fleischer, former press secretary for George W Bush was the first, demanding that Hearst Newspapers fire her immediately.  Then came Lanni Davis, who worked for Bill Clinton, demanded that the White House remove her credentials.  Both were ready to respond before she announced her retirement.

At least this incident is different --these goons had the guts to not wear masks.

More later.

On terrorism

April 2, 2010

A few thoughts on the state of the art

Over the past several years, both through this blog and my books, I have attempted to stress that there is far more to terrorism than a few individuals laying mines and arranging the detonation of IED's.  Acts of terrorism have several attributes that are important to recognize so that steps can be taken to mitigate the risks involved.

First, there is the nature of terrorism itself.  The definition in Webster says, "The systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion."  That means terrorism occurs in many places beyond established battlefields--in fact, it clearly can make the traditional battlefield an obsolete anachronism of the past.

Second, the asnychronous character of terrorism needs to be considered.  There are no 'rules' to terrorism.  of course, there are many books from mostly weekend and armchair warriors that propose to 'teach' people terrorism--many call it 'urban warfare' or some other glorifc term that still means the same thing--injure and kill as many innocent people as possible.

Third, the sense that terrorism can be practiced by anyone, in any given  circumstance, and under any conditions needs to be examined.  We have seen too many highly educated people turning to terrorist activities to disregard this aspect of the problem.

My first book, Minihan's Dilemma, sets the tone for my thoughts on terrorism as it is practiced--not as it is publicized in the media.  I see the conflict among parties as one of two intelligent and dedicated groups (or more in some cases) who have what they perceive to be urgent needs and complaints that require some solution.  I also see a number of highly intelligent people on both sides applying their skills to defeat the other.  This is certainly true of the American--Bernie Minihan-- and is equally true of his protagonist Fatool.  Each has been schooled and gained experience in their 'brand' of terrorist/anti-terrorism actions.  Both believe they are right; both believe they know the other's game plan; both believe they will win over time.  yet, the best they can do is essentially a draw.  Why?

Looking back to the Minihan-Fatool duels, it is clear that both rely on rules of engagement--but that those rules are vastly different.  Minihan relies on established practice of an organized agency--bending them as he chooses, but keeping those rules as the central pole of his actions.  Fatool, conversely, has the zeal of his religious beliefs, which are often contradictory, and is limited only by his ability to construct scenarios and actions that meet his purpose--for Fatool there are 'rules' unless he creates them.

What allows the success that Minihan achieves--however fleeting--is his ability to try to put himself in Fatool's head and see what Fatool sees, think like Fatool thinks, and move to counteract what he perceives might be Fatool's course of action.  As they act and react against each other, they learn from each other, respect each other, and continue to operate.  neither becomes complacent--instead, they adapt and change into new ansychronous behaviors that require constant rethinking by the other.

Applying my views on Minihan to the more general view of terrorism described above, it is clear to me that much of our policy to date has been to try to establish parameters within which we expect terrorist activities to be bounded, and we are not being successful in that endeavor.  For that matter, nor are the Europeans, the Israeli's or anyone else who claim to have a handle on this issues involved.  Instead, we apply palliatives to the problem to make it look less dangerous, such as reacting to specific situations (We take off shoes in airports because of Reed, etc.) instead of doing the harder work of looking at broader trends and trying to gain an undestanding of how the Arab mind (or any other mindset which spawns terrorists in any country, including some of our own allies) acts and reacts when stimulated.

One final point is that terrorism is generally a cycle.  One action produces a reaction, and another action and another reaction--until people have forgotton the origin of the conflict.  Most of the time, such as the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza this morning, we simply start the cycle moving again without regard to consequences.  In other instances, we try to apply other pressures, such as sanctions, to force a change in attitude or action.  In still others, we think that reliance on International bodies, such as the UN, will, by their nature, force change.  Witness only the reaction of Iran to UN and US threats to see the wisdom of that approach. 

Breaking the cycle is the way to stop terrorism.  That requires some honest broker(s) who will listen to the parties with respect and not condescension; have the ability to put the parties together in discussion, and not in other rooms or other cities; and who will listen to  ALL of the issues in trying to fashion a solution.  Real solutions take time and until they are apparent, terrorism will continue to be a useful way to bring issues to the public.  it will go away in the mainstream when its value as a method declines.

Comments?

In the latest news

February 18, 2010

Killings in Dubai  -  Interpol on the trail of the killers

Interpol is now involved in the search for the killer of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. last week in Dubai, reports Ha'aretz, a Jerusalem media source.  "Interpol should issue a warrant to help locate and arrest the head of Israel's spy agency Mossad if the organization was responsible for the killing of a Hamas militant in Dubai, the emirate's police chief said on Thursday.

In comments to be aired later on Dubai TV, police chief Dahi Khalfan Tamim called for Interpol to issue "a red notice against the head of Mossad ... as a killer in case Mossad if proved to be behind the crime, which is likely now."   A "Red Notice" connotes the highest level of Interpol activity, and is similar to the US FBI "Most Wanted" Listing.

Placing the possibility of a Red Notice being issued for the Director of Mossad is only the most recent action by Dibai, whose Foreign Ministry called in the Israeli Ambassador late last week over the matter--something that indicated at the time that Dubai seriously considered this killing to be a Mossad act.

Also calling in Israeli ambassors were Britain, France, and Ireland, who each demanded to know what the Israeli Government knew about the use fraudlent passports by the killers, and to state in strong terms that they would not put uith such tactics by anyone--including Mossad--that used this type of ruse in the future, CNN reported.

Other media sources also reported on this issues involved in the killing, which has taken second place to the diplomatic angst surrounding it.  These included Reuters, which also called for the arrest of the Mossad chief if Mossad were involved; The LA Times, which reported the statements of the Dubai Chief of Police who implicated Mossad days ago; and YNET News, a Jerusalem-based outlet that reported on both the Interpol Red Notice and original Guardian article that started the political furor.

It remains to be seen if Interpol will issue the Red Notice for the Chief of Mossad.

In other international News.....

CNN reports the upcoming meeting with the Dalai Lama at the White House.  "President Obama will meet the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, on Thursday at the White House despite strong objections from the Chinese government.

The meeting has the potential to complicate Sino-U.S. tensions further, which have been rising in recent months.

China has warned the meeting will certainly damage ties with Washington.

"It will seriously undermine the Sino-U.S. political relations," Zhu Weiqun, a senior Communist Party leader in charge of ethnic and religious affairs, said recently. "We will take corresponding action to make relevant countries see their mistakes."

Caning in Malaysia...

The Christian Science Monitor is reporting the first canings in Malaysia for adultery.  They reported, "Malaysia caned three Muslim women convicted of adultery by a court of Islamic law, the first time that women in the multi-faith country have been subject to the punishment.

Last August, a similar sentence against a Muslim woman caught drinking was deferred amid complaints that shariah courts had overstepped the mark. That punishment is still pending.

Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein said he wanted to publicize the case of the three women, who also received short jail terms, because of “too much hype” over the earlier case.

“People are saying that no woman has been caned before… today I am announcing that we have already done it,” he told a press conference. He added that the women didn’t suffer any cuts or bruises from the caning and had “repented” for their offenses. Four men were also convicted of “illicit sex” and sentenced to whipping.

Wonder what the ACLU would think of that here in the good ole US of A?

This is shaping up to an interesting week.  More later

JT

 

When you can't do it any other way....Arrest them

January 19, 2010

Israeli Police arrest protestors who object to the theft of Palestinian land  by illegal settlers.

The Israeli Government has now developed a new tack to continue settlements, and, at the same time, reduce the number of protestors over illegal confiscation of Arab land in the West Bank.  Midnight raids into homes, and brutal arrests are just the thing to reduce protests by anyone opposed to the continued illegal confiscation of land by a Government that claims to be a democracy.

According to the Washington Post today, Israeli spokesmen say the protests are illegal and they have even arrested many of their own citizens--including the head of the Israeli Civil Rights organization to prove their point.

Since the summer, dozens of Palestinian and Israeli activists have been picked up, including those organizing weekly protests against Israel's West Bank separation barrier as well as others advocating international boycotts of Israeli goods.

Some of the Palestinians were released without charge only after weeks and months of questioning.

The arrests come at a time of shifting tactics in the protests against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and annexation of east Jerusalem, territories the Palestinians want for their future state. Israel captured both from Jordan in the 1967 Mideast war.

The violence of the second Palestinian uprising, with mass marches and violent attacks, has given way to carefully calibrated protests and legal action in which Israeli and Palestinian activists now often work together.

The main protest efforts are Friday demonstrations against the West Bank barrier in the Palestinian villages of Bilin and Naalin and vigils in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheik Jarrah, where Palestinians have been evicted.

There appears to be an increased police crackdown on the protests with greater numbers of activists being arrested.

In the West Bank, troops fire tear gas, stun grenades, and live rounds - even midnight arrest raids - to disperse anti-barrier protesters. Israel says the protests are illegal, and the harsh tactics are a response to stone-throwing and violent rioting.

In east Jerusalem, police have arrested some 70 demonstrators during marches in recent months, according to Israeli rights groups. On Friday's protest, police arrested 17 Israelis, including Hagai Elad, head of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.

Meanwhile, the Jerusalem Post is calling the continued isolation and mistreatment of the citizens in the Gaza Strip "Collective Punishment, pointing out the recent report by Amnesty International on the continuing blockages that are letting few trucks of humanitarian supplies through to the Strip.  Israel claims there has been an increase in traffic, which Amnesty International only partially accepts.  Gaza presently has an over 40% unemployment rate, due primarily to the intense shelling that left Gaza City nearly destroyed.

What is there to make of a country that claims to be peacefuk--but only if you agree with them and, of course, are not palestinian

Only time will tell.

Overdoing it with the Media

January 8, 2010

In a recent interview on BBC, Ted Koppel, news reporter for ABC News, made the observation that recent activities by the White House to publicize both the apprehension of the last would-be bomber and the failings of the intelligence community was 'overkill'.

Here, I have to agree, but for perhaps different reasons.  Koppel was apparently referring to the attempts by the White House to contain the damage from a whole series of events--the capper of which was the attempted bombing on the Northwest jet to Detroit.

However, I believe Koppel missed the real point here.  That point is what the bombers and other terrorists really want from their acts.  Some, it is true, are religious zealots who truly believe they are doing the will of God.  Most however, just want the publicity that surrounds every attempt to do damage.  As well, they want the agitation and unrest that follows because they know the world's media will eat it up with gusto--extending what would have been its normal life with interminable dissections of information they are often not sure is even correct.  The terrorists get to instill both publicity and fear in people's hearts.  Those are the true results of announcing and amplifying every event that occurs.

The Obama administration is contributing to this as well.  They have no discernible intention of punishing or dismissing anyone who has been involved in the lagtest series of fiascos.  Obama coming out with his 'buck stops here' speech is decidely NOT reminiscent of Harry Truman, nor will he and his cronies ever be close to the quality of a Truman presidency. 

What needs to happen in a ratchetting down of publicity on these events--putting them in their true perspective, and then moving on.

Rallies with real meaning

January 2, 2010

Happy New Year to all.  let's see what is happening on this aupicious occasion.

Rallies first...

You may recall the Iran rally in Tehran the other day that was decidedly pro-government.  Of course, they provided a bus, lunch, and a bullet if you didn't attend 'voluntarilly.'  Thousands who did not want to die chanted fervently in favor of the idiots running that country.

Now North Korea has been quick to respond.  Huge rallies came out for New Year's day in the capital, Pyongyang and elsewhere.  They also provided a bus, free lunch, a flag, and a picture of the 'dear leader' to wave.  Wonder if they borrowed the buses from Iran?

The South Koreans hel their own rally near Panmunjom, the militarized border to protest the NK leadership.  The poster says "Murderer Kim Jong-il."

In any case, the usual New Years message from the leadership, broadcast in the three major parrty daily newspapers (Which everyone apparently reads fervently while they are starving) proclaimed that it was time to cease hostilites and increase friendship with the US.  Must be very cold in Korea right now--they usually start this kind of thing as people begin to both starve and freeze.  Only the leadership and the army gets sufficient food, fuel, and other comforts.  That's how 'democratic republics' work.

We should give neither country any compassion or assistance.  Everytime we do, they lie their way out of agreements, or run a few cheap rockets into the air as if that is scaring anyone, other than themselves.  Then they put themselves on alert as if they are about to be attacked.  The media makes heyday out of it and the resulting publicity gets everyone edgy even more.

On to Israel...

China View, A Chinese online journal is reporting a story that Israel has decided to apply its version of the Bush Doctrine--grab someone, hold them without trial, deny them rights, and then hold them even after they get a trial--and is applying it to those that were arrested during the recent Gaza incursion and massacre.  The Israeli parliament passed an 'illegal warrior' law that apprently allows them to do this.,  Two are being held from the lebanon incursion for no other reason to have bargaining chips on the soldier still held there.  The Palestinian Authority (PA) has been complaining to international bodies about the law, but to no avail.

An then to the inept would-be plane bomber..

President Obama has now decided, apparently on good evidence, that al-Qaeda is reponsaible for aborted bombing to the Delta jet coming into Detroit a week ago.  You tube is showing a video, shown below on this issue.

Obama has also, according to the Associated Press, promised the alleged bomber a fair trial.  That remains to be seen.

What a grerat start to the New Year.  And, wehaven't even heard from Hillary Clinton or Jimmie Carter yet.

The Decade in Retrospect

December 31, 2009

The trigger to the decade's woes did not come out of the sky over Manhattan and Washington in 2001. There were many precursors, but they were ignored or misinterpreted. Like the bombings in Madrid and London, these attacks brought the best out of ordinary people – witness the heroism of the New York firefighters – and the worst out of their governments. Al-Qaida's attacks may have looked and felt like a declaration of war (the Guardian said so in its headline) but that, in retrospect, was the least appropriate reaction.

The quote above from today's issue of the Guardian (UK), along with the rest of the article that follows tells an important story and describes a perspective of the "War on Terror" that we don't often see in major media.  Nonetheless, it is an important story, and bears quite a bit of thought.

Most of us who think in the mainstream (at least I like to think I do) would agree that the bombing in new York, Washington, London, Khobar, and elsewhere deserved a response that would inhibit or prevent future actions.  Regrettably, those reactions resulted in no appreciable decrease in terror activities, and an appreciable increase in the types, intensity, and results of more recent activities.  Just today (12/31) there are reports of a bomber blowing up a soldier and eight CIA agents, including the base chief, in Afghanistan.  To most, these are men who died for their country, and to others they are needless deaths.  it all depends on your perspective--and the Taliban perspective is decidedly in favor of more such actions.

As we go into the next decade of the 21st century, perhaps it is time to consider thinking and planning our reactions--and those of our coalition partners who are, after all, also losing valuable resources-- before we react to Taliban provocations.  I'm not saying we should not react--only that we should assess first the near and possibly long term consequences of our actions--and not just be surprised and angry when they occur.

This is the last of my comments for 2009.  See you tomorrow in 2010.

JohnT

Reality in Iran - of sorts

December 30, 2009

Reuters is reporting huge pro-government demonstrations across Iran yesterday and early today.

According to Reuters, "Hundreds of thousands of government supporters rallied across Iran on Wednesday, swearing allegiance to the clerical establishment and accusing opposition leaders of causing unrest in the Islamic state."

"You should repent ... otherwise the system will confront you as a 'mohareb' (enemy of God)," cleric Ahmad Alamolhoda told a Tehran rally, directing his remarks at reformist leaders, state TV reported. Under Iran's sharia (Islamic law) the sentence for a mohareb is death."  The situation in Tehran and elsewhere is rapidly deteriorating, from reports broad cast over You Tube and Al Jazeera, among others. 

The article continued, "In Tehran, crowds burned American and British flags, condemning what they said was interference by Washington and London in Iran's internal affairs.

Semi-official Fars news agency said a group of hardliners gathered in front of the British embassy in Tehran, chanting "the British embassy should be closed down".

Iran's top authority accused the West of basing its actions toward Iran on "distorted realities".

"They are under influence of foreign and Zionist (linked to Israel) news agencies' reports," Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, the students news agency ISNA reported.

There was no word of any opposition supporters on the streets on Wednesday, despite talk of demonstrations on reformist websites. Foreign media are restricted from moving around to report on such protests, which are illegal.

In Iran's bloodiest unrest since the aftermath of the disputed June 12 presidential election, eight people were killed on Sunday and at least 20 pro-reform figures, including three senior advisers to Mousavi, were arrested.

United Nations Human Rights chief Navi Pillay called on the Tehran government on Wednesday to curb excess use of force by its security services and expressed shock over violence."

Read the entire article here to see the extent of the mess.

Meanwhile, the US continues to pursue its plans to seek more stringent sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program.  However, Reuters reports that this approach is not without danger to the broader situation evolving there. The Huffington Post in today's editions, discusses at length the rope balance between human rights and nuclearization that the Obama Administration has to walk to have any reasonable effect at all.  Right now, it seems for the most part that Iran could care less about US threats.  It remains to be seem if that view changes.

The Washington Post, on Monday, December 28th, had written about the impact of the anti-government demonstrations and deaths on Ashura--a high religious holiday for the Shi'ite Sect, and how this could mold opinion in that country.  The Post calls the events of last weekend  a turning point--one from which relations among the various Pro and Anit-government groups will never recover , at least until one of the other succeeds in eliminating the other and taking or retaining control.  That could mean significant unrest for years to come, and has implications for the other area states with significant Shi'ite populations.

We will continue to cover events in Iran as they unfold.

More on Iran

December 28, 2009

Things have been getting really dicey in Iran over the past few days. Following initial demonstrations, sparked in part over the 'disappearance' of the body of the nephew of former presidential candidate Mir Hossein Musabi last weekend, and the refusal of the current regime to allow a funeral for late Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, a popular religious figure by the current religious dictator, Ayatollah Ali Khamaenei.

What is estimated as 'thousands' took to the streets in several cities, fighting the police, burning their vehicles, and getting the message out that all is not well in the Islamic Republic.  Roving bands of police, revolutionary guards, and their cohorts on motorbikes have arrested what is reported as over a thousand people.  In additin, police at every hospital and clinic are taking names and escorting injured out.  Several who have died have had their bodies removed by the police--preventing their burial as required by Islamic Law.

So far Ahmadinijhad has not ordered the arrest of the rest of the former presidential candidates,  but two other notables, Ebriham Yazdi, former foreign minister, age 78, and several high-level aides to Musabi were detained at u nknown locations.  Those arrests only further inflamed the crowds.  Thre official Irani Press, mostly controlled by the Revolutionary Guards, reported only on some reported pro-government demonstrations in Tehran and Qom.

President Obama was quick to denounce the brutal crackdowns, saying that the US "joins with the international community in stronlgy condemning the violent and unjust supprerssion of innocent Iranian citizens."

All is not well in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Getting close on Iran

December 23, 2009

With the so-called 'informal' deadline approaching on the US/UN requirement that Iran agree to sending its uranium to another country to be processed into commercial use rods, and Iran's continuiing refusal to respond, you have to increasiningly wonder what the real next steps will be.

From my own perspective, I believe that the US will go to the UN and the EU for increased sanctions--probably get them from the EU, but less so sure it will happen in the UN since Russia and China will bring their own views to bear there.  Some sanctions will follow that Iran will also disregard.

Then, some morning in the next month or two, Israel will stage an early morning raid on the Irani nuclear plants and try to surgically take them out--with the help of US intelligence and AWACS.  They will get most of those know about, but probably not all of them that are still covered or hidden.

What happens after that is even more unclear.  Will at least part of the Arab world rise up in some fashion?  Will Chavez in Venezuela come to support Iran and cut off the heavy oil needed here and elsewhere for heating?  Will OPEC do the same to some degree?  Then, of course, what will be the military response, if any?

The rest of the Arab world will surely not let Israel take those steps without some response--even if most do have some dislike of Ahmadinajad and his religious cohorts that prop up that regime.  They hate Israel even more, and even with Egypt in the Israeli camp, someone or group is bound to decide that retribution is needed.

The next few weeks may be very interesting.

UN says settlements freeze has 'no significance'

December 17 2009

Robert Serry, the United Nations special coordinator for the Middle East peace process said Thursday that recent activities by both Israel and the Palestinians are not contributing to settling their conflict and confidence remains low as 2009 draws to a close, according gto reports by Schlomo Shamir in Ha'aretz, an Israeli paper.

"Even the genuine progress taking place in parts of the West Bank runs in parallel with negative trends. We are in a race against time to overcome the contradictions on the ground and the crisis of confidence between the parties, and move decisively towards a political end game," he said.

The Associated Press, in its releases today, has a story about the village of Quariout, caught in the middle of the changing landscape as Israel rapidly continues to build settlements, where before there were only small arab villages.  In this village, what once had been pasture and farmland, owned primarily by arabs, now splotches of red-roofed settlements have broken up the landscape in and near the village.  The arabs call it the taking of their land, and the new Israeli settlers insist that it is nothing more than their return to their biblical homeland.  The real questions is who is right?  An even more important question is when the Israelis will actually produce on their commitment to stop the settlements and get on with negotiations.

My bet is that real negotiations will never take place--and whatever discussions do occur will only be from a position of strength for the Israelis, and crippling restrictions imposed on the arabs by Israel and their puppy dog, the US.

Comments?

Iran - True Global Terrorists

December 3, 2009

The Irani Governmnet, which has been eager to show its true colors to affront the rest of the world, has now started harassing and mistreating its own citizens around the world through threats to them and their families, reports the Wall Street Jounral in its Middle East Edition today.

The Journal reports a series of incidents where Iranis living abroad have received e-mail threats, phone calls, and seen their families detained and imprisoned for activities in various world countries outside Iran.  Most of these are protestors who have been active on Face Book, Twitter, UTube and others, and represents a new dimension in their passioned efforts to still opposition and remain in control.

The article, by Farnaz Fassihi draws comparisions on the current dissent to that during the period of the overthrow of the Shah and the Intallation of Ayatollah Knomeini in the 70's.  They, of course, deny that anything is occuring, but it seems well documented in the article.  Read the who article here.

When will the civilized world step in and crush this mess of ignorant, deceitful, and merciless thieves and murderes?

Comments? 

Bad day at the Security Council

October 15

Israel had a bad day at the Security Council in NY yesterday as the monthly meeting took up the discussion of the Goldstone Report.  Alone, except perhaps for the US, Israel used every complaint, suggestion, and mis-statment it could to stop the proceedings.  Among them are the following:

"We have a right to Self-defense."  Certainly they do, and the missiles coming from various places in Gaza should be stopped--but not at the expense of over 10,000 homes and over 1,000 killed and more wounded for a bunch of missiles whose most critical hit was a fountain in a southern Israeli town.  Israel, it seems believes it has the right to defend itself, but the Palesti nians are simply supposed to roll over and take what they get.  Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gabriela Shalev made this comment, in which she also called the madate of the Commission "Too Broad."

"This discussion belongs in the Human Rights Council, not the Security Council."  That also is probably true-- EXCEPT for the simple fact that war crimes charges and referral to the World Criminal Court can be made by the  Human Rights Council WHEN the parties are signatories to the treaty creating the court.  Otherwise, the only body with referral authority is the UN Security Council.  Israel has thus far, as has the US, refused to sign the treaty. This particular argument was presented by Deputy US Ambassador Alejandro Wolff.

Then two others, "The Report is one-sided", and "The Report blames Israel more than the Palestinians" are really interesting.  First the Report blames BOTH Israel and the Palestinians for War Crimes activity, and recommends that both conduct REAL investigations of their own actions.  The second argument is even more specious.  Some Israeli commentators complain that more pages of the report are devoted to Israel than Hamas.  This is certainly true, since the sheer volume of alleged crimes, witness statements to support them, and descriptions of the results of the utter destruction of Gaza has to be more comprehensive than the description of the fountain destroyed in Israel.

The final argument "The adoption of this report would encourage terror" is the most interesting of all.  The levels of terror surrounding the Gaza invasion and massacres is itself terror against a mostly innocent population who could not escape since Israel had closed all exit points when they invaded.  This does not absolve the Hamas destruction, or even the previous bombings by them that seems to have started the invasion.  What matters is the sheer magnitude of response that becomes terror in itself.

We all know there are no simple answers here, but the Israeli position is to let it go away because, after all,, Israel is the good guys and the palestinians are the bad guys here.  Believe it if you will.

Co mments?

Today in the Middle East

October 13th)

Israel - The Israeli PM, Netanyahu, told the Israeli Knesset that Israel is "seriously considering restricting travel to Europe by its senior officials and military officers.." in reaction to the possibility that they might be arrested for war crimes, according to today's Washington Times.  His statement comes just  before the Goldstone Report is scheduled to be discussed in the UN Security Council and, a long way before any possible action could occur, seems to be aimed more at swaying US and other Council members than being engtrenched in reality.  A splinter group did try to have Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak arrested in London recently, but neither the UK Government or the police took that effort seriously.

"While the Goldstone Report accuses both Israel and Hamas of suspected war crimes, Israeli offiicals see themselves as the biggest targets and charge that Mr. Golstone's findings effectively deprive the Jewish State of the right to self-defense.," continued the Times Article.

Conservative estimates of deaths range from 900  to 1300 among the residents of the Gaza Strip--invaded by Israel to try to stop rocket attacks--with the Israeli death total at about 20.  Some sources thank this is clearly indicative of the Israeli intent to simply go in and punish the population rather than stop rocket attackes--while killed no one, and did little real damage.  Converselt, thousands of homes, utilities, and public facilites were simply leveled by Israeli armor and artillery.

The Ti mes report is far from objective, with the reporter Eli Lake, making a number of statements that referred to the Goldstone Report as commissioned by  'authoritarian states', suggesting that attention is being focused on israel while the crimes in Sudan go unnoticed and unpunished, and that the "Israeli Defense Forces sought to minimize those casualties..", a statement in significant conflict from testimomy from a number of solidiers on the group during that invasion.

Netanhayu's views are not shared throughout Israel, and are often at odds with the facts.  The Israel Blog  Has a broader view--quoting several sources, such as the Economist, which said:

"It concludes that “While the Israeli government has sought to portray its operation as essentially a response to rocket attacks in exercise of its right to self-defence, the Mission considers the plan to have been directed, at least in part, at a different target: the people of Gaza as a whole.”"

"The purpose, the mission added, was “punishing the Gaza population for its resilience and for its apparent support for Hamas”. It held that Israel’s partial blockade of the Gaza Strip since Hamas took power there three-and-a-half years ago amounted to collective punishment and violated the Geneva Conventions."

Read the Israel Blog.  Several of its writer/readers have incisive comments on the overall situation in Israel following the invasion.

On the Arab side, al Arabyia had several comments in its latest editions, including:

"Is there no limit to the wiles of those dastardly anti-Semites?
Now they have decided to slander the Jews with another blood libel. Not the old accusation of slaughtering Christian children to use their blood for baking Passover matzoth, as in the past, but of the mass slaughter of women and children in Gaza."

"And who did they put at the head of the commission which was charged with this task? Neither a British Holocaust-denier nor a German neo-Nazi, nor even an Iranian fanatic, but of all people a Jewish judge who bears the very Jewish name of Goldstone (originally Goldstein, of course). And not just a Jew with a Jewish name, but a Zionist, whose daughter, Nicole, is an enthusiastic Zionist who once “made Aliyah” and speaks fluent Hebrew. All this in order to defame the most moral army in the world, fresh from waging the most just war in history!"

"The official Israeli reaction to the Goldstone report would have been amusing, if the matter had not been so grave." That last line sums it all up.  Why not let the UN conduct its inquiry, participate in it, and suggest solutions--other than stifling it totally.  Israel still has the feeling that anything it does is right, and anyone opposing them is wrong.  That will get them no where these days.  Bit if Israel cdid nothing in violation of International Law, why be worried about prosecution of its leaders? Fatah vs. Hamas - Another tinderbox, but for a different reason.  Egypt has been attempting to broker a cease fire between the two Palestinian factions, and finally seemed to make progress.  Fatah has agreed with the major points and also agreed to sign the accords.  Hamas has yet to respond on its own.  That will unfold further over the next several days, but be hopeful that some form of reconciliation actually occurs.  It will not happen, nor will it be successful with Abbas continuing to be a stooge for the Israeli Government and the US. Palestinians vs. Israel -  With Fatah at least willing to enter into an accord with Hamas, the Israeli Government has not raised the ante on a settlement agreement-- the palestinians must now not just recognize Israel as a state, but as a "Jewish State".  That brings everything back to 1948 with the original screwing of the Palestinians by the UN and the US.  Do things never change?

Will Pakistan ever get it RIGHT?

The US continues to consider Pakistan is favored ally, even in the face of almost certain sympathies for the Taliban among its Government and people.  Seems in many ways like the days of Vietnam.  Oh well, its only money, arms, and supplies.  What the hell.

Today's Washington Times says it well in its front page article by Raza Khan.  in that article, "Pakistan Improves position to fight terrorists", the author attributes the continued infiltration of the Taliban by CIA and other clandestine operatives, along with increased accuracy of the drones for what the US claims to be the reduced influence of the Taliban in Pakistan.  He cites Turkistan Bhitani, a tribal leader, recently broken with the Taliban in Pakistan as an example of leaders coming over to the Government in the face of attacks.

Well, the long history of Pakistan and is widely disparate tribal groups, has often seen splits from a central controlling figure or group, often in the face of attack. However, breaking with the main group has more often than not meant that several independent groups were now waging conflict against the central government where before there had been on ly one.  No net gain for the  Government unless each of the groups can be subdued and neutralized as an opponent.  That the Pakistani Army has been slow to do, even with US drone attacks and other support.  Why then should we assume it is the case now?

In another front page article, Brent Snowcroft, former National Security Advisor to Republican administrations praised the Obama efforts thus far, but counseled that he had to stay focused on the ultimate objectives.  That would seem to be at least an indirect slap at the disorder in the inner circles right now, with VP Biden arguing for less troops and more airpower, a dramatic departure from the recommendations of the commander in the field--GEN McCrystal.  No one knows who will win this battle, but my hunch is that it will not be Biden.

Meanwhile, the Taliban chief in Pakistan, Hakimullah Mehsud, thought by some to be dead in intra-Taliban leadership fighting, emerged to be interviewed this past week. The Taliban militants has tapped Hakimullah to replace the group 's previous chief, Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in a U.S. drone attack in his South Waziristan stronghold on the Afghan border on Aug. 5. 

China Views reported that Hakimullah Mehsud said his group would avenge the killing of Baitullah Mehsud and strike back at Pakistan and the United States for the increasing number of drone attacks in the tribal areas along the border with Afghanistan.  “We have respect for Al Qaeda and the jihadist organisations — we are with them,” he added. Hakimullah said the TTP was “united and stronger than before”. “Our basic aim is enforcement of Islamic law and if thousands of human lives need to be sacrificed, we will not hesitate,” he warned.

Finally, in a show that demonstrated their continuing resolve and strength, the Taliban militants claimed responsibility Tuesday for the deadly suicide bombing at the U.N. food agency's heavily fortified compound in Islamabad, saying international relief work in Pakistan was not in "the interest of Muslims." The attack killed five workers for the World Food Program on Monday, pushing the U.N. to temporarily close its offices in the country. It also exposed the vulnerability of international relief agencies helping millions of Pakistanis ahead of an anticipated military offensive against the Taliban in their South Waziristan stronghold.

The bottom line here may be that the US, as it has in the past, is quickly becoming unjustifiably overconfident in its assessment of the state of pakistan in its fight with the Taliban.

Comments?