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July 31, 2006
Casualties of War
Thirty million civilians died in World War Two.
No war has ever been fought without civilian casualties. Civilian casualties are to be regretted, but nations do not refuse to go to war because there will be civilian casualties. If this was so, only tyrannies would rule for by definition, they care nothing about the lives of the innocent.
Witness the Hizbullah and how they cynically hide behind the civilian population of Southern Lebanon, putting Israel in the no-win position no matter what she does.
Those who insist that Israel is targeting civialins have conveniently forgotten that Israel dropped millions of leaflets urging the population of Southern Lebanon to flee.
Israel does everything she can to avoid killing civilians. This should be clear to everyone unless your vision is blinkered by ignorance or pure hatred.
It becomes clear that no matter what course of action the IDF takes, it is never good enough for these pathological Jew haters.
It must take a great deal of hatred and loathing to side with JIhadists against a truth driven Democracy that has, time and again, extended the hand of peace to its genocidal enemies.
Israel must never accept a cease-fire for that is only a hudna, and a hudna, for those who do not know, is just an opportunity for the Jihadists to strengthen the Muslim army, resupply, and then attack when they are once again strong enough. No cease fire until Israel's war aims are achieved: the destruction of Hizbullah, and the return of her kidnapped soldiers, a deep buffer zone in Southern Lebanon.
And no "International Force" has ever been successfull in patrolling any state's borders. That is just silly. No German or Italian soldier is going to risk his life by going up against Hizbullah to keep the peace between Lebanon and Israel.
Sure, some Frenchman is going to give up his life for Le Juif.
As always, the UN diplomats are sadly delusional.
I have a feeling that the Israeli government are using what's called "paradoxical therapy" on the diplomats. Saying yes, because they know that it will never happen. This way, Israel can never be blamed for a truly dumb non-starter.
Only a smart ground offensive with regular and elite troops will get the job done, annihilate Hizbullah, in the next few weeks. Let's hope that the current Israeli government will sieze the day, and realize that they have the support of the people of Israel, and the support of President George Bush and the people of America.
Chazak V'ematz.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 05:15 PM | Comments (3)
Hizbullah's Launcher's Wilt
The IDF assessed on Monday that Hizbullah's rocket launching capability was significantly compromised by the fighting that took place in the past three weeks. Read the rest of the story here.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 05:08 PM | Comments (0)
Never Forget
Watch this Video It is powerful. It takes a few seconds to load, but be patient.
And never forget that the barbarians who perpetrated 9/11 are the exact same savages Israel is fighting every single day. They call themselves PA, Hamas, Hizbullah, but they are all Islamic jihadists intent on destroying Jews, Israel, America, Christians, Western Civilization.
For them 9/11 was just the glorious beginning.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Shayne Zucker
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 04:34 PM | Comments (2)
Jaws of Defeat
The United States and Israel and every sentient being in the path of the Islamist crusade are teetering on the brink of a massive defeat in Lebanon and thus in the war on terror. Lest it be forgotten, this is a war that began with the Ayatollahs’ revolution in Iran in 1979 which established the first radical Islamic state whose masters’ war cry was “Death to America” and the establishment of a global Islamic empire...
Read the rest of David Horowitz's incredibly important Front Page essay here.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Our Jeremiah
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 04:12 PM | Comments (0)
The Good Guys
By Jeff Katz (Israeli tour guide)
Shalom,
I am writing this note on Monday afternoon. Yesterday was
the unfortunate incident in Kfar Kana.
I am feeling a little calmer now. You should have seen me
last night and this morning. It has to do with the bombing
in Kfar Kara and the 48 hour "no air strike" truce we agreed
to and Condoleeza's last press conference.
It's like we Israelis are stuck in some Greek tragedy or
some movie that has a sad ending with the hero dying. And no
matter how many times you see it, the ending is always the
same. It seems no matter who Israel is acting/fighting with
on the stage, we always end up being the bad guy and the
crowd hating our guts.
The true villain walks off with the
girl and the money. The play is cut short before we get to
finish the job we set out to do. I mean haven't we been in
this situation before, in 1996 in Lebanon. In 2002 in Jenin
(the phony "massacre")?
Have you seen the air force clips that were aired last
night? I will ask Benay, my wife, to attach them to the
bottom of this mail.
They show how the Hizbolla shoot rockets from behind
civilian apartment buildings and then, my friends, you watch
as the truck carrying the rocket launcher drives into a car
park under a house! How the heck does anyone expect us to
clear out these rockets without bombing the house?
The local Lebanese population was warned by Israel to leave the
area three days in advance. Some locals stayed because the
couldn't afford to leave. I read that Lebanese taxis charge
$1000 to go to Beirut. So someone please explain to me why
these locals didn't hide in a building where there were no
rockets or any ammo dumps?
This morning the reporter on Sky News asked our former
foreign minister why the Israeli army didn't go house to
house in Kfar Kana and confirm, room by room, just who is in
that room and then determine if that person is a civilian or
a combatant. For god's sake! Give me a break! Kiryat Shemona
was shot with 100 (one hundred) rockets in less than 1 hour
yesterday.
Did the Hizbollah go room by room looking for
civilians? If they had the chance, yes they would. They
would find the kids and make sure they shot each one. I know
it. You know it . We just lived through it. It was called
suicide bombers.
Afula Hospital (Emek Medical Center) prepares for War.
Anyone who has toured with me knows I love maps. But I
probably have never pointed out or mentioned Afula. It is a
small town dead in the center of the Jezreel Valley. It's
famous for "Golani Falafel" and until "Golani Falafel" is
publicly traded on NASDAQ, most of you will never hear of
Afula.
Last week Afula hospital was targeted by Hizbollah long
range missiles. How do I know it was "targeted"? 5 rockets
of the 5 shot landed near Afula hospital. Take a look at one
of the attached photos. There are no army bases or sensitive
facilities in Afula. Hizbollah targeted the Afula hospital.
Should you be surprised that Hizbolla targeted a hospital?
Well, they've already targeted Rambam hospital in Haifa and
hit the hospitals in Nahariya and Tsfat. So they
intentionally target our hospitals and the world expects us
to go room by room looking for civilians in Lebanon. But we
covered this topic in the first part of this mail.
Benay [Jeff's wife] volunteers in the ER of Afula hospital.
She has prepared 300 files for a mass-wounded situation. The
ER is in the basement of the hospital and it is built as one
huge bomb and chemical warfare shelter. Funny how there
isn't a single hospital in the Arab world that would even
consider the necessity to build a hospital in a bomb
shelter. Why? Because they know we would never target a
hospital.
Yesterday the hospital decided to empty out its top floors
and bring all the patients down to the lower levels. Lets
think what this entails. Cancel all unnecessary operations.
Kick out any patient you can. Double up on bed space in the
lower floors and have the staff and patients live and work
in 1/3 of the space they are used to. Wards are now
intermingled. Patient beds are doubled up. Have I mentioned
about privacy, sanitation, confusion...
Here's a quote from the instruction sheet given by the
hospital's director to the various wards:
- Dept. heads will do their utmost to lower the number of
patients in their departments.
- Social Services will encourage patients to go home.
- The operating rooms will perform only cancer and emergency
operations.
But how does the head of the hospital end her directive?
And here's the part that keeps me going:
"In this war we will be tested as a society, as an
organization (hospital) and as individuals.
Working together, in full cooperation, we will complete the
very complicated task before us:
- to clear the wards
- work in very tight surroundings
- give the best service that we can
- be prepared for a mass-wounded situation."
So what's the part that keeps me going, that makes me proud
of being an Israeli and a Jew? It's the fact that Afula
Hospital, that same hospital being targeted by Hizballah, is
used by Arabs and Jews. It is staffed by Arabs and Jews. 17%
of its Department Heads are Arabs, proportionate to their
percentage in the total population.
The Moslems and Christians and Druze and Circasians all work together and treat all their patients equally... and guess what? That won't change no matter how many rockets Hizbollah drops on the Afula Hospital. That's what makes us different from our enemies. That's what's makes me proud.
So you see, we are the good guys. And we have to win.
We're all in this together,
Jeff
Go to http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/ and click on the right
column
1) IDF Video: Hizbullah missile fire from within the village
of Kafr Qana
2) IDF Video: Hizbullah use of civilian shields
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Naomi Regan
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:23 PM | Comments (3)
Bad Omen
It seems to me the inescapable lesson of the current conflict is a depressing one for Israel and the United States. It ain't about land. In the 1990s, we were repeatedly told that Israel's problems could be solved via a geopolitical swap-meet. Everyone get together in back-slapping fellowship and trade land and, abracadabra, we'd have peace. It turns out, in Israel's case, this is nonsense. Hezbollah doesn't want land-for-peace, it wants genocide for peace. Read the rest of Jonah Goldberg's fine article here.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)
Atlas is my Hero
Atlas is in Jerusalem. Follow her happy-go-lucky adventures as she passes through security a check-point just to eat a salad, meets Muhammed in the Old City, runs into Rabbi David Wolpe, and then turns on CNN, and oh my the talons are sharpened.
I adore this woman. I'm going to ask her to be the next super chick in my next movie. I even love her Bronx (?) accent. The IDF should send her after Nasrallah, the guy wouldn't last a minute.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Lance
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 02:34 PM | Comments (3)
Human Shields: How To
From Judeoscope, by way of a far left German newspaper, a frightening look into exactly how Hizbullah uses human shields in Southern Lebanon. Just reading this makes my skin crawl. Anybody who supports these people has a pathological hatred for Jews, Israel and America. It's not Israel who has killed the Shia civilains in Lebanon, but by design, Hizbullah. To deny this is simply to deny reality.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Naomi Regan
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 01:52 PM | Comments (0)
Seraphic Quote
" I believe that forgiving Hizbullah is G-d's function. The Israeli's job is to arrange the meeting."
--General Norman Schwartzkopf
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 01:45 PM | Comments (3)
Hezbollywood
Hezbollywood? Evidence mounts that the Qana collapse and deaths were staged.
As we know, there is Pallywood. Now that Hizbullah are being absolutely annihilated by the the IDF they are desperate for a cease-fire, so they are doing what they do best--lie, and stage false massacres. From Israeli Insider.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 01:34 PM | Comments (0)
Israeli Hospital Bombed, Yup
I did not see in any foreign report, any picture, about the
bombing of Nahariyah Hospital and the destruction of its
fourth floor and the Department of Eye Diseases, in which
Arabs and Jews have been treated, and where Arab and Jewish
interns work.
Israeli propaganda is poor, weak and miserable.
Israeli propaganda even hides the truth.
Israeli propaganda depends mainly on this poor and
stammering lady, the speaker of IDF, a nice woman I would
not keep employed even to be a phone operator.
Israeli propaganda depends on the arbitrary opinions of
unofficial people.
Our defeat in the media is worse than a defeat on the
battlefield.
Best regards
Marcos Levin,MD
Kibbutz Matzuvah,
Western Galilee
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 01:25 PM | Comments (2)
The Moral Equivalence Brigade
From All Things Beautiful, a fine essay on those whose moral compass is completely broken.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 12:47 PM | Comments (0)
PA Label Rice "Black Spinster"
Yoni reports how the PA official media are using the most loathsome KKK type racist imagery to defame Condi Rice. Read this article and if you don't get sick to your stomach, well, immediately check into racial rehab.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 12:25 PM | Comments (3)
BBC Hires New Mideast Analyst
Police sources admit that Mel Gibson, when being arrested for drunk driving said: "The f**king Jews have caused all the f**cking wars in this world."
Mr. Gibson may be out of work in Hollywood, but he has just received an exclusive offer to be an on-air Mideast analyst at the BBC.
BBC spokesperson James L. Pitt said: "We are very proud that such a distinguished thinker will join our ranks."
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Jake Novak
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 12:13 PM | Comments (8)
Top 10 New Mel Gibson Movies in Production
By Jake Novak
10) Shame and Prejudice
9) What Jappy Women Want
8) Schindler's Big Mistake
7) We Were Soldiers… in all the Wars Started by Jews
6) Walk a Straight Line
5) Payback the Cheap Jews
4) Conspiracy Theory II: Just Blame the Jews
3) The Merchant of Venice II: Revenge of the Jew
2) The Chronicles of Hezbollah
1) Lethal Circumcision
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 11:57 AM | Comments (3)
Who is a Terrorist?
Seraphic Friend Treppenwitz asks Who is a Terrorist?
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 11:33 AM | Comments (0)
Don't Tell Mom
Seraphic Friend Chayyei Sarah will be traveling to the holy city of Safed in the next few days to write a story, but do not tell her parents or they will be worried sick. But do feel free to bring her, well read the story...
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 11:21 AM | Comments (0)
Hizbullah Executes "Spies"
"Counterterrorism Blog" reports that Hizbullah are executing Zionist spies.
I can pretty much guarantee that these guys are settling old tribal scores, or getting rid of some rival Christian or Sunni or Druze or Maronite or whatever of the 17 other religious groups who live in Lebanon. These guys don't have courts, they don't present evidence, they just yell "Zionist spy", lock and load, and ventilate some poor innocent schlub and then probably rape his sister.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Lance.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:54 AM | Comments (1)
A Very Special Army
Take a look at these photos. This army, ultimately, can only be defeated by spineless politicians.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Mordechai Schiller
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:49 AM | Comments (0)
They Were Soldiers
From Naomi Regan
Friends,
George is one of my oldest friends. We met over 35 years
ago, new immigrants, in a religious neighborhood in
Jerusalem.
By George M. Stanislawski, Jerusalem
My younger son's brother-in-law had a friend and neighbor,
Major Ro-ie Klein, who was one of the nine Israeli soldiers
killed in action last week. He was in his 30's, married with
3 children.
Ro-ie and some of his men were searching a house
for Hizbullah weapons when a terrorist lobbed a grenade
into their room.
On instinct Ro-ie threw himself on top of
the grenade absorbing the full blast. The other Israeli
soldiers in the room were lightly wounded. Had Ro-ie not
sacrificed himself, the casualties would have been more
tragic.
On Saturday afternoon, our Rabbi gave a lecture on Rambam
(Maimonidies) and Ramban (Nachmonidies) halachic rulings on
warfare when fighting for the Land of Israel. He opened his
remarks by relating the following story:
Two and half weeks ago, he came home to find a young man, in
uniform, barely 21, waiting for him. The young soldier
cheerfully greeted the Rabbi and said "my name is Yiftakh.
I'm your son's commanding officer. Can I meet the rest of
your family?"
Perplexed the Rabbi introduced the young officer to the rest
of the family. After learning all the family members' names,
Yiftakh asked if he could inspect the son's bedroom. The
Rabbi agreed and led him upstairs to his son's bedroom.
While in the bedroom he browsed through the books on the
shelf for several minutes, taking some down and thumbing
through the pages. Yiftakh then requested to be allowed to
go through the Rabbi's son's closet. Agitated, the Rabbi
asked "What do you want!?"
Politely Yiftakh answered, "I'll tell you when we get
downstairs". The two continued downstairs where Yiftakh
continued. . .
"Our unit will be going into battle shortly. This is my
first field command. I believe that to be a good officer.
I must first be a good educator and lead by example. I can
only do that by getting to know every detail about every man
in my squad. That's why I came here today." Our Rabbi stood
amazed by Yiftach's caring, insight and emotional maturity.
Unfortunately Yiftakh's military career was cut short 12
days later. He and 7 of his soldiers were killed in an
ambush in the southern Lebanese village Bint J'Bayel as they
were looking for Hizbullah missiles and rockets that have
wreaked havoc in Israeli population since this war began.
Unlike our superpower portrayal in the western media, Israel
is a small country outnumbered 200 to one by over 1 billion
Muslims. Everyone in Israel knows someone fighting on the
front at this moment. We don't have to look far to know
somebody who is connected to one of this war's casualties.
Our son's brother-in-law and our Rabbi are just two
examples.
Nevertheless, against all odds, we will achieve victory
because we have no other choice. Unlike other nations we're
not allowed the luxury to lose a single war. Against all
odds, we will be victorious because of brave men like Major
Ro-ie Klein and Lieutenant Yiftakh Shreier who valued life
above death.
Hassan Nassralah has often bragged that Hizbullah will win
this war because "the Jews consider life holy --
we, Hizbullah, glorify death". But soldiers like Ro-ie and
Yiftakh will prove Nassrallah wrong.
We will be victorious because historically, sanctifying life
has always triumphed over glorifying death. Intuitively,
Ro-ie and Yiftakh felt this way when they went to and gave
their lives in battle to help save others. We owe it to them
to continue their legacy.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:33 AM | Comments (0)
Israel as George Bush
In contrast to my more optimistic post, Jed Babbin will leave you, well, just totally depressed. Yup, count on Seraphic Secret for some serious manic moods.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Elliot Ganz
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:16 AM | Comments (1)
Bibi: Don't Stop War
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:54 AM | Comments (0)
Fear & Loathing in Northern Israel
This from Jameel in Northern Israel. It's gripping and filled with the kind of detail that puts you there.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:32 AM | Comments (0)
July 30, 2006
Encirclement
So I'm getting e-mails from Seraphic friends and relatives, everybody's really upset that Israel is suspending their air campaign for 48-hours.
I'm thinking, well maybe Olmert is just making nice-nice to Condi. Israel does need jet fuel, does need those excellent laser guides bombs that America manufactures.
And then I start hearing dim reports that certain IDF units are getting heli'd deep into Southern Lebanon. And then, reports of even more units being deployed.
And, oh joy, the cobwebs clear away from my tired brain.
Conclusion: Israel is suspending air strikes because it's moving special combat units into Southern Lebanon and the IDF do not want to kill their own soldiers with air strikes.
The IDF is doing what they do best: maneuver warfare, probably a double-envelopment pincer movement--I'm guessing the Nachal Brigade is involved--sealing off any escape route Hizbullah might have, thus annihilating this terrorist gang.
They will isolate them unit by unit, cut off their cummunications, then kill them to a man. Maybe take a few prisoners for intelligence information.
Just one screenwriter's humble opinion.
Chazak V'ematz.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:09 PM | Comments (14)
Timeline
Powerline asks a series of hard questions about the collapse of the building in Qana.
And this posting from Powerline about a rather huge poster of Condi for a presumably "spontaneous demostration."
What people must begin to understand about the Arab world is that lies dominate, and almost everything is carefully orchestrated for the gullbile, no let me amend that to: for the "useful idiots" of the western media.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 04:00 PM | Comments (2)
A Kingdom of Priests, Ruled by Dwarfs
by Jack Engelhard
Originally published by Arutz Sheva
Those of us who root for Israel are still waiting to exhale.
Where's the headline that tells us that Israel has delivered a knockout punch? We search for it on Fox, MSNBC, even CNN, and certainly in our local and national newspapers, but it just won't give. The bad news keeps on coming. Israel is being scorched by rockets and missiles and the IDF is fighting gallantly, but not as swiftly and as decisively as in the past.
We got spoiled in 1948, 1967, 1973 - wars with a beginning, a middle and an end. Entebbe marked Israel as a nation of heroes.
What happened?
My guess is that the magic left Israel the moment Yitzchak Rabin shook the hand of Yasser Arafat. From there, Israel learned retreat and defeat. Or rather, Israel's leaders conditioned the people to accept passivity and humiliation, all for the illusion of a "peace process."
Call it, rather, a softening-up process, whereby Israel has been drowsed by the lullabies of its rulers.
Ehud Barak pulled the IDF out of Lebanon in what the Arab world perceived as panic. Hizbullah moved in.
The same panic motivated the regime of Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert to flee from Gaza; and Hamas moved in.
These leaders (or their proxies), from Rabin onward, must answer for every Israeli life that's been lost as they, these leaders, went whoring after peace. Rabin, Barak, Binyamin Netanyahu, Sharon, Olmert, Shimon Peres - all must explain how it has come to this; this day when Israel is vulnerable to thousands of rocket attacks. Where were they when those underground tunnels were being built? Most were busy slandering religious Israelis.
Sharon and Olmert had no time for Hamas or Hizbullah, busy as they were bulldozing several thousand "nationalist" Israelis out of Gaza.
Today, Olmert speaks heroically. Too late, Mr. Prime Minister.
Also today, Israel's failed politicians continue to show up on our television screens as experts on this crisis; and that is disgusting. Mr. Barak, half of this is your fault. Please, stay out of our living rooms. Stay home and hide your shame.
Sharon and Olmert kept talking about "painful concessions"; and here it is, the pain. First came the concessions, and now, here's the pain.
But who knew the pain would be this bad, so bad that as the rest of us weep, Tony Kushner and the Washington Post's Richard Cohen may have reason to laugh? They've been saying that Israel (not the 22 tyrannical and fanatical countries that surround Israel) is a "mistake." Incredibly, they are joined in Israel by journalists, writers, filmmakers, academics, jurists, and, as always, the political elite. They too must be held accountable for their treachery.
I know the people of Israel first-hand, from my service in Haifa - yes, the same Haifa being bombed today. Israelis, 99 percent of them, are like Americans. They love peace, cherish liberty. They continue to advance all civilization in technology and science. They are, indeed, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.
They deserve better. And if there is a God in heaven... Well, if there is, He'd better hurry up.
Go here to get the latest installment of The Bathsheba Deadline - Jack Engelhard's latest novel and Amazon.com's first serialized novel. Haven't started reading it yet? Click the link and scroll down - all previous installments are there and ready to be downloaded.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Love of My Life, Karen
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:39 PM | Comments (3)
Pallywood in Lebanon
Hizbullah have made a huge mistake.
They forgot to read Mao's Little Red Book. A guerilla army never fights for territory. It's Rule # 1. Every idiot Commie in the world knows this one simple directive. A guerilla army hits the enemy, then "melts back into the countryside."
But Hizbullah want to be big shots. Arab honor and all that. They want to show the Arab world that they alone are able to stand up to the Is-ra-eli army. Excuse me, to the Zionist interlopers.
Which, of course, they can't.
For every single IDF casualty, Hizbullah have absorbed approximately 20 fatalities. Now, maybe in the Muslim world they can run around and call this victory. In the normal world where delusional thinking does not rule (NY Times included) this is called a crushing defeat.
Rockets can be easily replaced, but these death-loving Hizbullah terrorists cost millions to house and feed, and it takes years to train just one of these jihadists. And now the IDF have Hizbullah bottled up with no back door for escape.
As one IDF special forces soldier remarked: "Now it's just bug-hunting."
If only the Olmert government had the stomach to use the reserves, the IDF could annihilate Hizbullah and it would be over in five weeks. Unfortunately, the children of Israel are, in the words of Arutz Sheva, "Priests standing on the shoulders of dwarves."
There has just been a report of an IDF bombing that caused a building collapse killing scores of children. You know what?
Nonsense.
More Pallywood.
This is a big lie manufactured to hasten a cease fire to save Hizbullah.
This from Naomi Regan.
1. Tonight, an IDF spokesman showed aerial photos of rockets being fired from residential areas in Qana. It showed the portable rocket launchers being parked beneath residential buildings. The spokesman said that the bombs dropped on Qana were dropped at 1 a.m.
The reports of the building collapse took place at 7 a.m. Also, no bombs actually hit the building. So, who was responsible for the collapse of that building? Could Hezbollah weapons have exploded, destroying the building? Was it deliberate, a way to pressure Israel into a ceasefire the same way they did last time, in exactly the same spot? And why is no one in the media picking up on this time gap and asking questions?
2. The number of those injured is being supplied by Lebanese sources, and being quoted by all the news stations.
So far, only 26 bodies have been recovered. But news reports are saying the number was twice that, and half are children. That too is supplied by unknown sources and repeated by the major media.
3. At 7 a.m. a barrage of Hezbollah rockets hit the shopping center and buildings of Kiryat Shmona, unlike anything else the town has experienced. Altogether 1500 kilograms of bombs have hit the area's approximately 25,000 residents remaining in their homes Where is the outrage over that?
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 11:21 AM | Comments (14)
Cry to those Using Babies as Sheilds
By
My son is in the army.
He is not the type at all, believe me. Quiet, studious, a writer, a lover of Jewish history, Talmud, ethics. He spent two years in a pre-army program in the Galilee called Karmei Chayil. He made many good friends there from all over the country, and now he and all his friends are in the army.
One of them I know well. A bit chubby, with payot, and a great laugh. He and my son have become like brothers. While both of them tried out for the elite paratroopers unit, only he made it in. He and his unit are the ones in Lebanon.
They were there over a week, fighting under horrific conditions, running out of food and water. Even though the Israeli airforce dropped tons of leaflets warning civilians to flee because they were in terrorist territory and likely to be injured, they still encountered civilians.
My son spoke to his friend yesterday, and this is how he described it:
"The village looked empty, and then we heard noises coming from one of the houses, so we opened fire. But when we went inside, we found two women and a child huddled in the corner of the room. We were so relieved we hadn't hurt them. We took up base in one of the empty houses. And then all of a sudden, we came under intense fire. Three rocketswere fired at the house we were in. Only one managed to destroy a wall, which fell on one of us, covering him in white dust, but otherwise not hurting him. I spent the whole time feeding bullets to my friend who was shooting nonstop. We managed to killed 26 terrorists. Not one of us was hurt. Our commanding officer kept walking around, touching everybody on the shoulder, smiling and encouraging us: "We're are better than they are. Don't worry." It calmed us all down. And really, we were much better then them. They are a lousy army. They only win when they hide behind baby carriages."
Please remember this when you hear about the "atrocity" of the Israeli bomb dropped on Kfar Cana, killing many
civilians, a place from which Hezbollah has fired hundreds of rockets at Israel.
Unlike previous administrations, Mr. Olmert has my respect when he says: "They were warned to leave. It is the responsibility of Hezbollah for firing rockets amidst civilians."
Terrorists and their supporters have lost the right to complain about civilian casualties, since all they have done
this entire war is target civilians. Every single one of the more than 2,500 rockets launched into Israel, is launched
into populated towns filled with women and children. Just today, another suicide belt meant to kill civilians in
Israel was detonated harmlessly by our forces in Nablus.
So don't cry to me about civilian casualties. Cry to those using your babies and wives and mothers; cry to those who store weapons in mosques, ambulances, hospitals, and private homes. Cry to those launching deadly rockets from the backyards of your kindergartens and schools. Cry to the heartless men who love death, and however many of their troops or civilians die, consider themselves victorious as long as they can keep on firing rockets at our women and children.
Save your sympathy for the mothers and sisters and girlfriends of our young soldiers who would rather be
sitting in study halls learning Torah, but have no choice but to risk their precious lives full of hope, goodness and
endless potential, to wipe out the cancerous terrorist cells that threaten their people and all mankind. Make your
choice, and save your tears.
That terrorists have been unsuccessful in killing more of our women and children is due to our army, God and prayers, not to any lack of motivation or intention on their part. If you hide behind your baby to shoot at my baby, you are responsible for getting children killed. You and you alone.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 11:04 AM | Comments (0)
Pallywood
In the beginning there was Hollywood, then Bollywood, now Pallywood.
This is must-see TV.
This brilliant ducu-essay not only damns the Palis and their national aspirations, for any people who must lie and manufacture false images to get what they want are an unworthy people. But it also damns the the maninstream media for their stupidity, for their naivety, for their willingness to go along for so many years with grotesque stories that emanate form the depths of a jihadist tyranny. Time and again, Israel an enlightened Democracy, fighting the same war America is fighting, has been stained my the MSM. Time and again, Israel has been blood-libeled.
Will Bob Simon and his "60 Minues" buddies now revisit their old storie and rewrite them in a new light?
Sure, they will.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Kent Budge
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:49 AM | Comments (2)
July 29, 2006
The Dysfunctional Muslim World
Shavua Tov. This is an extraordinary speech, given in 2004. Although long, you really owe it to yourself to read it.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Cousin, Doris
The following was delivered by Haim Harari, Chair of the Davidson
Institute of Science Education and Past President of the Weizmann Institute
of Science
As you know, I usually provide the scientific and technological
"entertainment" in our meetings, but, our Chairman
suggested that I present my own personal view on events in the part of the
world from which I come.
I have never been and I will never be a Government official and I have no
privileged information. My perspective is entirely based on what I see, on
what I read and on the fact that my family has lived in this region for
almost 200 years. You may regard my views as those of the proverbial taxi
driver, which you are supposed to question, when you visit a country.
I could have shared with you some fascinating facts and some personal
thoughts about the Israeli-Arab conflict. However, I will touch upon it only
in passing. I prefer to devote most of my remarks to the broader picture of
the region and its place in world events. I refer to the entire area between
Pakistan and Morocco, which is predominantly Arab, predominantly Moslem, but
includes many non-Arab and also significant non-Moslem minorities.
Why do I put aside Israel and its own immediate neighborhood? Because Israel
and any problems related to it, in spite of what you might read or hear in
the world media, is not the central issue, and has never been the central
issue in the upheaval in the region.
Yes, there is a 100 year-old Israeli-Arab conflict, but it is not where the
main show is.
The millions who died in the Iran-Iraq war had nothing to do with Israel.
The mass murder happening right now in Sudan, where the Arab Moslem regime
is massacring its black Christian citizens, has nothing to do with Israel.
The frequent reports from Algeria about the murders of hundreds of civilian
in one village or another by other Algerians have nothing to do with Israel.
Saddam Hussein did not invade Kuwait, endangered Saudi Arabia and butchered
his own people because of Israel.
Egypt did not use poison gas against Yemen in the 60's because of Israel.
Assad the Father did not kill tens of thousands of his own citizens in one
week in El Hamma in Syria because of Israel.
The Taliban control of Afghanistan and the civil war there had nothing to do
with Israel.
The Libyan blowing up of the Pan-Am flight had nothing to do with Israel,
and I could go on and on and on.
The root of the trouble is that this entire Moslem region is totally
dysfunctional, by any standard of the word, and would have been so even if
Israel had joined the Arab league and an independent Palestine had existed
for 100 years.
The 22 member countries of the Arab league, from Mauritania to the Gulf
States, have a total population of 300 millions, larger than the US and
almost as large as the EU before its expansion.
They have a land area larger than either the US or all of Europe.
These 22 countries, with all their oil and natural resources, have a
combined GDP smaller than that of Netherlands plus Belgium and equal to half
of the GDP of California alone.
Within this meager GDP, the gaps between rich and poor are beyond belief and
too many of the rich made their money not by succeeding in business, but by
being corrupt rulers.
The social status of women is far below what it was in the Western World 150
years ago.
Human rights are below any reasonable standard, in spite of the grotesque
fact that Libya was elected Chair of the UN Human Rights commission.
According to a report prepared by a committee of Arab intellectuals and
published under the auspices of the U.N., the number of books translated by
the entire Arab world is much smaller than what little Greece alone
translates.
The total number of scientific publications of 300 million Arabs is less
than that of 6 million Israelis.
Birth rates in the region are very high, increasing the poverty, the social
gaps and the cultural decline.
And all of this is happening in a region, which only 30 years ago, was
believed to be the next wealthy part of the world, and in a Moslem area,
which developed, at some point in history, one of the most advanced cultures
in the world.
It is fair to say that this creates an unprecedented breeding ground for
cruel dictators, terror networks, fanaticism, incitement, suicide murders
and general decline. It is also a fact that almost everybody in the region
blames this situation on the United States, on Israel, on Western
Civilization, on Judaism and Christianity, on anyone and anything, except
themselves.
A word about the millions of decent, honest, good people who are either
devout Moslems or are not very religious but grew up in Moslem families:
They are double victims of an outside world, which now develops Islamophobia
and of their own environment, which breaks their heart by being totally
dysfunctional. The problem is that the vast silent majority of these Moslems
are not part of the terror and of the incitement, but they also do not stand
up against it. They become accomplices, by omission, and this applies to
political leaders, intellectuals, business people and many others. Many of
them can certainly tell right from wrong, but are afraid to express their
views.
The events of the last few years have amplified four issues, which have
always existed, but have never been as rampant as in the present upheaval in
the region.
A few more years may pass before everybody acknowledges that it is a World
War, but we are already well into it.
These are the four main pillars of the current World Conflict, or perhaps we
should already refer to it as "the undeclared World War III":
1. The first element is the suicide murder.
Suicide murders are not a new invention but they have been made popular, if
I may use this expression, only lately. Even after September 11, it seems
that most of the Western World does not yet understand this weapon. It is a
very potent psychological weapon. Its real direct impact is relatively
minor. The total number of casualties from hundreds of suicide murders
within Israel in the last three years is much smaller than those due to car
accidents. September 11 was quantitatively much less lethal than many
earthquakes More people die from AIDS in one day in Africa than all the
Russians who died in the hands of Chechnya-based Moslem suicide murderers
since that conflict started. Saddam killed every month more people than all
those who died from suicide murders since the Coalition occupation of Iraq.
So what is all the fuss about suicide killings? It creates headlines. It is
spectacular. It is frightening. It is a very cruel death with bodies
dismembered and horrible severe lifelong injuries to many of the wounded. It
is always shown on television in great detail. One such murder, with the
help of hysterical media coverage, can destroy the tourism industry of a
country for quite a while, as it did in Bali and in Turkey.
But the real fear comes from the undisputed fact that no defense and no
preventive measures can succeed against a determined suicide murderer. This
has not yet penetrated the thinking of the Western World. The U.S . and
Europe are constantly improving their defense against the last murder, not
the next one. We may arrange for the best airport security in the world.
But if you want to murder by suicide, you do not have to board a plane in
order to explode yourself and kill many people. Who could stop a suicide
murder in the midst of the crowded line waiting to be checked by the airport
metal detector? How about the lines to the check-in counters in a busy
travel period? Put a metal detector in front of every train station in Spain
and the terrorists will get the buses. Protect the buses and they will
explode in movie theaters, concert halls, supermarkets, shopping malls,
schools and hospitals. Put guards in front of every concert hall and there
will always be a line of people to be checked by the guards and this line
will be the target, not to speak of killing the guards themselves. You can
somewhat reduce your vulnerability by preventive and defensive measures and
by strict border controls but not eliminate it and definitely not win the
war in a defensive way. And it is a war!
What is behind the suicide murders? Money, power and cold-blooded murderous
incitement, nothing else. It has nothing to do with true fanatic religious
beliefs. No Moslem preacher has ever blown himself up.
No son of an Arab politician or religious leader has ever blown himself.
No relative of anyone influential has done it. Wouldn't you expect some of
the religious leaders to do it themselves, or to talk their sons into doing
it, if this is truly a supreme act of religious fervor? Aren't they
interested in the benefits of going to Heaven? Instead, they send outcast
women, naive children, retarded people and young incited hotheads. They
promise them the delights, mostly sexual, of the next world, and pay their
families handsomely after the supreme act is performed and enough innocent
people are dead.
Suicide murders also have nothing to do with poverty and despair.
The poorest region in the world, by far, is Africa. It never happens there.
There are numerous desperate people in the world, in different cultures,
countries and continents. Desperation does not provide anyone with
explosives, reconnaissance and transportation. There was certainly more
despair in Saddam's Iraq then in Paul Bremmer's Iraq, and no one exploded
himself. A suicide murder is simply a horrible, vicious weapon of cruel,
inhuman, cynical, well-funded terrorists, with no regard to human life,
including the life of their fellow countrymen, but with very high regard to
their own affluent well-being and their hunger for power.
The only way to fight this new "popular" weapon is identical to the only way
in which you fight organized crime or pirates on the high seas: the
offensive way.
Like in the case of organized crime, it is crucial that the forces on the
offensive be united and it is crucial to reach the top of the crime pyramid.
You cannot eliminate organized crime by arresting the little drug dealer in
the street corner. You must go after the head of the "Family".
If part of the public supports it, others tolerate it, many are afraid of it
and some try to explain it away by poverty or by a miserable childhood,
organized crime will thrive and so will terrorism.
The United States understands this now, after September 11. Russia is
beginning to understand it. Turkey understands it well. I am very much
afraid that most of Europe still does not understand it. Unfortunately, it
seems that Europe will understand it only after suicide murders arrive in
Europe in a big way. In my humble opinion, this will definitely happen. The
Spanish trains and the Istanbul bombings are only the beginning. The unity
of the Civilized World in fighting this horror is absolutely indispensable.
Until Europe wakes up, this unity will not be achieved.
2. The second ingredient is words, more precisely lies.
Words can be lethal. They kill people. It is often said that politicians,
diplomats and perhaps also lawyers and business people must sometimes lie,
as part of their professional life. But the norms of politics and diplomacy
are childish, in comparison with the level of incitement and total absolute
deliberate fabrications, which have reached new heights in the region we are
talking about. An incredible number of people in the Arab world believe that
September 11 never happened, or was an American provocation or, even better,
a Jewish plot.
You all remember the Iraqi Minister of Information, Mr. Mouhamad Said
al-Sahaf and his press conferences when the US forces were already inside
Baghdad. Disinformation at time of war is an accepted tactic. But to stand,
day after day, and to make such preposterous statements, known to everybody
to be lies, without even being ridiculed in your own milieu, can only happen
in this region. Mr. Sahaf eventually became a popular icon as a court
jester, but this did not stop some allegedly respectable newspapers from
giving him equal time. It also does not prevent the Western press from
giving credence, every day, even now, to similar liars.
After all, if you want to be an anti-Semite, there are subtle ways of doing
it. You do not have to claim that the holocaust never happened, and that the
Jewish temple in Jerusalem never existed. But millions of Moslems are told
by their leaders that this is the case. When these same leaders make other
statements, the Western media report them as if they could be true.
It is a daily occurrence that the same people, who finance, arm and dispatch
suicide murderers, condemn the act in English in front of western TV
cameras, talking to a world audience, which even partly believes them. It is
a daily routine to hear the same leader making opposite statements in Arabic
to his people and in English to the rest of the world. Incitement by Arab
TV, accompanied by horror pictures of mutilated bodies, has become a
powerful weapon of those who lie, distort and want to destroy everything.
Little children are raised on deep hatred and on admiration of so-called
martyrs, and the Western World does not notice it because its own TV sets
are mostly tuned to soap operas and game shows. I recommend to you, even
though most of you do not understand Arabic, to watch Al Jazeera, from time
to time. You will not believe your own eyes.
But words also work in other ways, more subtle. A demonstration in Berlin,
carrying banners supporting Saddam's regime and featuring three-year old
babies dressed as suicide murderers, is defined by the press and by
political leaders as a "peace demonstration". You may support or oppose the
Iraq war, but to refer to fans of Saddam, Arafat or Bin Laden as peace
activists is a bit too much. A woman walks into an Israeli restaurant in
mid-day, eats, observes families with old people and children eating their
lunch in the adjacent tables and pays the bill. She then blows herself up,
killing 20 people, including many children, with heads and arms rolling
around in the restaurant. She is called "martyr" by several Arab leaders and
"activist" by the European press. Dignitaries condemn the act but visit her
bereaved family and the money flows.
There is a new game in town: The actual murderer is called "the military
wing", the one who pays him, equips him and sends him is now called "the
political wing" and the head of the operation is called the "spiritual
leader". There are numerous other examples of such Orwellian nomenclature,
used every day not only by terror chiefs but also by Western media. These
words are much more dangerous than many people realize. They provide an
emotional infrastructure for atrocities. It was Joseph Goebels who said that
if you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it. He is now being
outperformed by his successors.
3. The third aspect is money.
Huge amounts of money, which could have solved many social problems in this
dysfunctional part of the world, are channeled into three concentric spheres
supporting death and murder.
In the inner circle are the terrorists themselves. The money funds their
travel, explosives, hideouts and permanent search for soft vulnerable
targets. The inner circles are primarily financed by terrorist states like
Iran and Syria, until recently also by Iraq and Libya and earlier also by
some of the Communist regimes. These states, as well as the Palestinian
Authority, are the safe havens of the wholesale murder vendors.
They are surrounded by a second wider circle of direct supporters, planners,
commanders, preachers, all of whom make a living, usually a very comfortable
living, by serving as terror infrastructure.
Finally, we find the third circle of so-called religious, educational and
welfare organizations, which actually do some good, feed the hungry and
provide some schooling, but brainwash a new generation with hatred, lies and
ignorance. This circle operates mostly through mosques, madrasas and other
religious establishments but also through inciting electronic and printed
media. It is this circle that makes sure that women remain inferior, that
democracy is unthinkable and that exposure to the outside world is minimal.
It is also that circle that leads the way in blaming every-body outside the
Moslem world, for the miseries of the region. The outer circle is largely
financed by Saudi Arabia, but also by donations from certain Moslem
communities in the United States and Europe and, to a smaller extent, by
donations of European Governments to various NGO's and by certain United
Nations organizations, whose goals may be noble, but they are infested and
exploited by agents of the outer circle. The Saudi regime, of course, will
be the next victim of major terror, when the inner circle will explode into
the outer circle. The Saudis are beginning to understand it, but they fight
the inner circles, while still financing the infrastructure at the outer
circle.
Figuratively speaking, this outer circle is the guardian, which makes sure
that the people look and listen inwards to the inner circle of terror and
incitement, rather than to the world outside. Some parts of this same outer
circle actually operate as a result of fear from, or blackmail by, the inner
circles. The horrifying added factor is the high birth rate. Half of the
population of the Arab world is under the age of 20, the most receptive age
to incitement, guaranteeing two more generations of blind hatred.
Some of the leaders of these various circles live very comfortably on their
loot. You meet their children in the best private schools in Europe, not in
the training camps of suicide murderers. The Jihad "soldiers" join packaged
death tours to Iraq and other hotspots, while some of their leaders ski in
Switzerland. Mrs. Arafat, who lives in Paris with her daughter, receives
tens of thousands of dollars per month from the allegedly bankrupt
Palestinian Authority, while a typical local ringleader of the Al-Aksa
brigade, reporting to Arafat, receives only a cash payment of a couple of
hundred dollars, for performing murders at the retail level.
4. The fourth element of the current world conflict is the total breaking of
all laws.
The civilized world believes in democracy, the rule of law, including
international law, human rights, free speech and free press, among other
liberties. There are naive old-fashioned habits such as respecting religious
sites and symbols, not using ambulances and hospitals for acts of war,
avoiding the mutilation of dead bodies and not using children as human
shields or human bombs. Never in history, not even in the Nazi period, was
there such total disregard of all of the above as we observe now. Every
student of political science debates how you prevent an anti-democratic
force from winning a democratic election and abolishing democracy. Other
aspects of a civilized society must also have limitations. Can a policeman
open fire on someone trying to kill him? Can a government listen to phone
conversations of terrorists and drug dealers? Does free speech protects you
when you shout "fire" in a crowded theater? Should there be death penalty,
for deliberate multiple murders? These are the old-fashioned dilemmas. But
now we have an entire new set.
Do you raid a mosque, which serves as a terrorist ammunition storage? Do you
return fire, if you are attacked from a hospital? Do you storm a church
taken over by terrorists who took the priests hostages? Do you search every
ambulance after a few suicide murderers use ambulances to reach their
targets? Do you strip every woman because one pretended to be pregnant and
carried a suicide bomb on her belly? Do you shoot back at someone trying to
kill you, standing deliberately behind a group of children? Do you raid
terrorist headquarters, hidden in a mental hospital? Do you shoot an
arch-murderer who deliberately moves from one location to another, always
surrounded by children? All of these happen daily in Iraq and in the
Palestinian areas. What do you do? Well, you do not want to face the
dilemma. But it cannot be avoided.
Suppose, for the sake of discussion, that someone would openly stay in a
well-known address in Teheran, hosted by the Iranian Government and financed
by it, executing one atrocity after another in Spain or in France, killing
hundreds of innocent people, accepting responsibility for the crimes,
promising in public TV interviews to do more of the same, while the
Government of Iran issues public condemnations of his acts but continues to
host him, invite him to official functions and treat him as a great
dignitary. I leave it to you as homework to figure out what Spain or France
would have done, in such a situation.
The problem is that the civilized world is still having illusions about the
rule of law in a totally lawless environment. It is trying to play ice
hockey by sending a ballerina ice-skater into the rink or to knock out a
heavyweight boxer by a chess player. In the same way that no country has a
law against cannibals eating its prime minister, because such an act is
unthinkable, international law does not address killers shooting from
hospitals, mosques and ambulances, while being protected by their Government
or society. International law does not know how to handle someone who sends
children to throw stones, stands behind them and shoots with immunity and
cannot be arrested because he is sheltered by a Government. International
law does not know how to deal with a leader of murderers who is royally and
comfortably hosted by a country, which pretends to condemn his acts or just
claims to be too weak to arrest him.
The amazing thing is that all of these crooks demand protection under
international law, and define all those who attack them as "war criminals,"
with some Western media repeating the allegations.
The good news is that all of this is temporary, because the evolution of
international law has always adapted itself to reality. The punishment for
suicide murder should be death or arrest before the murder, not during and
not after. After every world war, the rules of international law have
changed, and the same will happen after the present one. But during the
twilight zone, a lot of harm can be done.
The picture I described here is not pretty. What can we do about it? In the
short run, only fight and win. In the long run - only educate the next
generation and open it to the world. The inner circles can and must be
destroyed by force.
The outer circle cannot be eliminated by force. Here we need financial
starvation of the organizing elite, more power to women, more education,
counter propaganda, boycott whenever feasible and access to Western media,
internet and the international scene. Above all, we need a total absolute
unity and determination of the civilized world against all three circles of
evil.
Allow me, for a moment, to depart from my alleged role as a taxi driver and
return to science. When you have a malignant tumor, you may remove the tumor
itself surgically. You may also starve it by preventing new blood from
reaching it from other parts of the body, thereby preventing new "supplies"
from expanding the tumor. If you want to be sure, it is best to do both.
But before you fight and win, by force or otherwise, you have to realize
that you are in a war, and this may take Europe a few more years.
In order to win, it is necessary to first eliminate the terrorist regimes,
so that no Government in the world will serve as a safe haven for these
people.
I do not want to comment here on whether the American-led attack on Iraq was
justified from the point of view of weapons of mass destruction or any other
pre-war argument, but I can look at the post-war map of Western Asia. Now
that Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya are out, two and a half terrorist states
remain: Iran, Syria and Lebanon, the latter being a Syrian colony. Perhaps
Sudan should be added to the list. As a result of the conquest of
Afghanistan and Iraq, both Iran and Syria are now totally surrounded by
territories unfriendly to them. Iran is encircled by Afghanistan, by the
Gulf States, Iraq and the Moslem republics of the former Soviet Union. Syria
is surrounded by Turkey, Iraq, Jordan and Israel. This is a significant
strategic change and it applies strong pressure on the terrorist countries.
It is not surprising that Iran is so active in trying to incite a Shiite
uprising in Iraq. I do not know if the American plan was actually to
encircle both Iran and Syria, but that is the resulting situation.
In my humble opinion, the number one danger to the world today is Iran and
its regime. It definitely has ambitions to rule vast areas and to expand in
all directions. It has an ideology, which claims supremacy over Western
culture. It is ruthless. It has proven that it can execute elaborate
terrorist acts without leaving too many traces, using Iranian Embassies. It
is clearly trying to develop nuclear weapons. Its so-called moderates and
conservatives play their own virtuoso version of the "good-cop versus
bad-cop" game Iran sponsors Syrian terrorism, it is certainly behind much of
the action in Iraq, it is fully funding the Hezbollah and, through it, the
Palestinian Hamas and Islamic Jihad, it performed acts of terror at least in
Europe and in South America and probably also in Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia
and it truly leads a multi-national terror consortium, which includes, as
minor players, Syria, Lebanon and certain Shiite elements in Iraq.
Nevertheless, most European countries still trade with Iran, try to appease
it and refuse to read the clear signals.
In order to win the war it is also necessary to dry the financial resources
of the terror conglomerate. It is pointless to try to understand the subtle
differences between the Sunni terror of Al Qaeda and Hamas and the Shiite
terror of Hezbollah, Sadr and other Iranian inspired enterprises. When it
serves their business needs, all of them collaborate beautifully.
It is crucial to stop Saudi and other financial support of the outer circle,
which is the fertile breeding ground of terror. It is important to monitor
all donations from the Western World to Islamic organizations, to monitor
the finances of international relief organizations and to react with
forceful economic measures to any small sign of financial aid to any of the
three circles of terrorism.
It is also important to act decisively against the campaign of lies and
fabrications and to monitor those Western media who collaborate with it out
of naivety, financial interests or ignorance.
Above all, never surrender to terror. No one will ever know whether the
recent elections in Spain would have yielded a different result, if not for
the train bombings a few days earlier. But it really does not matter. What
matters is that the terrorists believe that they caused the result and that
they won by driving Spain out of Iraq. The Spanish story will surely end up
being extremely costly to other European countries, including France, who is
now expelling inciting preachers and forbidding veils and including others
who sent troops to Iraq. In the long run, Spain itself will pay even more.
Is the solution a democratic Arab world?
If by democracy we mean free elections but also free press, free speech, a
functioning judicial system, civil liberties, equality to women, free
international travel, exposure to international media and ideas, laws
against racial incitement and against defamation, and avoidance of lawless
behavior regarding hospitals, places of worship and children, then yes,
democracy is the solution.
If democracy is just free elections, it is likely that the most fanatic
regime will be elected, the one whose incitement and fabrications are the
most inflammatory. We have seen it already in Algeria and, to a certain
extent, in Turkey. It will happen again, if the ground is not prepared very
carefully.[NOTE HAMAS VICTORY RECENTLY] On the other hand, a certain
transition democracy, as in Jordan, may be a better temporary solution,
paving the way for the real thing, perhaps in the same way that an immediate
sudden democracy did not work in Russia and would not have worked in China.
I have no doubt that the civilized world will prevail. But the longer it
takes us to understand the new landscape of this war, the more costly and
painful the victory will be. Europe, more than any other region, is the key.
Its understandable recoil from wars, following the horrors of World War II,
may cost thousands of additional innocent lives, before the tide will turn."
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:46 PM | Comments (17)
July 28, 2006
Voting for Hizbollah or Hamas in a Free Election...
From the three most astute thinkers in the blogosphere: Sigmund, Carl & Alfred analyse the difference between free elections and tyranny.
Further, they go to the trouble of explaining to the weak-minded that there is no such thing as a disproportionate response to terror-- not because some animals took down the WTC, but rather, because there were far too many -- whole cultures and societies -- who rejoiced and celebrated evil and others that tried to excuse it. Read the rest of this fine piece here.
I'm not going to wish for Peace but for Victory.
Chazak V'Ematz.
And of course Karen and I wish you all a lovely and meaningful Shabbos.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 04:50 PM | Comments (1)
Yoni Updates
Yoni told Hugh Hewitt that the latest rocket fired from Lebanon was not Iranian but Syrian with a range of about a hundred miles. The Hizbullah fired about five of them today.
Yoni has a new blog: It's a good looking site and loads much better than the old site.
Mazal Tov, Yoni!
The Palis are jealous of Hizbullah and are stepping up their terrorist attacks. They hate that the world's focus have been taken away from them.
Thus:
Yesterday there was a terrorist attack in Jerusalem. A man with an infant in his arms approached two Israeli policemen, held the infant with one hand and shot the Israeli policemen. The condition of one the policemen seems to be satisfactory, thank G-d. But the other was critically wounded. The Israelis managed to kill the terrorist without injuring the infant.
A Jewish physician who provided free medical to Arabs was kidnapped, tortured to death, his body burned and shoved in the trunk of his car. His murderers have not been arrested.
Not yet.
For these barbarians, Israel should reinstate the death penalty.
Yoni also says that the level of tension with Syria is so high that one misstep by either country could set off a war between Israel and Syria. Hugh asked Yoni if Israel was worried? "Not really," Yoni shrugged. Syria's military is so degraded that the IAF can take out their air force pretty quickly, same for their tank corps, Yoni remarked.
I have to admit, I get nervous when I hear such over-confidence. That's how the IDF was talking before they met Hizbullah on the field of battle.
Better to respect your enemy. No matter what history indicates.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:22 PM | Comments (2)
Friends of the IDF
Every young man or woman entering the IDF gets a "kitbag" of basic toiletries from the Agudah LeMaan HaChayal (AWIS).
The funds for these bags comes from the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.
The FIDF initiates and helps support social, educational, cultural and recreational programs and facilities for the young men and women soldiers of Israel who defend the Jewish homeland. The FIDF also provides support for widows and orphans of fallen soldiers.
The Friends of the IDF also provide for emergency needs to soldiers and their families; washing machines, stoves, small stipends.
The Friends of the IDF also provides scholarships for higher education to indigent combat soldiers after their service.
The Friends of the IDF provides R & R at vacation villages a week at a time. A battle weary soldier-one who may have recently spent agonizing weeks in the field; in these times, perhaps he pulled a friend out of a burning tank, needs this time to recharge. Generous donors of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces from all over the US have provided this to thousands of young boys and girls.
At this time, the Friends of the IDF is conducting an Emergency Campaign. 100% of all donations designated EMERGENCY CAMPAIGN are disbursed for emergency needs due to this war.
To make online donation go to www.israelsoldiers.org.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 03:03 PM | Comments (2)
Arabs Unite Behind Hizbullah -- What a Shock
Okay, the moderate Arab states have spoken. They support Hizbullah. The terrorist gang that, up until 9/11, murdered more Americans, than any other terrorist group in the world.
Read this article. The Arab street is comparing Satan Nasrallah to, gasp, Nasser! Now there's a gold standard for you. Nasser led the Arab world to the most catastrophic defeat it has ever suffered at the hand of the Israelis, oops, excuse me, at the hands of the Zionist entity.
Nasser also, these people have very short memories, hanged a couple hundred of the Muslim Brotherhood, big brother to OBL, and the Jihadists. But look these loonies have very selectives memories. Nasser's Socialist economic policies were also, gee what a shock, completely disastrous for Egypt. I'm sure Nasrallah is as an astute economist as Nasser. Why just look at all the economic aid he has in place for the Shia refugees. Compare it to how Israel is taking care of her 300,000 refugees from the North.
Let's look at the Arab support for Hizbullah.
Jordan. The present King, has announced that he is going to send a medical unit to Lebanon "because of Israeli aggression."
How much do you wanna bet he sends a box of band-aids? Maybe. Truth is the Hashemites need the Israelis to stay in power. Without quiet Israeli support for the Jordanian Kingdom, the Palestinians, who make up 80% of his population, a restive and potentially hostile group, the current King stands a good chance of being assasinated by Muslim extremists who feel that he's way too cozy with America, and, well, not nearly extreme enough.
The Saudis? Not really a country. A family with a country. It has been estimated that the old man Al Saud butchered somewhere between 200 and 400,000 men, women and children from various tribes to consolidate his hold on power.
Those Al Saud didn't kill he made slaves. By the way, slavery wasn't outlawed in the kingdom until the mid-sixties. Lovely country.
I know, I know, who are we to judge another culture?
The Saudi ruling family have absolutely no interest in supporting Hizbullah. In fact, they hate and fear those guys more than the Israelis. But they sense which way the winds are blowing, and they are practical men so they make the right noises. Yaddah, yaddah, yaddah -- in Arabic.
As always, in this whacky kingdom, rhetoric replaces reality.
Look, these tyrants are interested in only one thing: staying in power. To do that, they use the Pali conflict as a whipping post. Some poor lice-ridden peasant in Yemen, who couldn't find Israel or Gaza on a map, is endlessly told by his Imam from childhood that he's poor and miserable and hungry because of the Jews, (what's a Jew?). Well, he's going to believe it. Same all over the Arab world. As it was in Germany sixty years ago.
This is not a complicated conflict.
Only the solution is.
Until the Arab world throws off the shackles of tyranny and reformation comes to extremist Islam, we in the west will be fighting these lunatics.
Do not be fooled by the smokescreen of "the occupation."
They are not talking about The West Bank. Just as they were not talking about Gaza. Look what happened as soon as Israel withdrew from Gaza. Did they build? Did they do anything constructive? Of course not? They immediately starting lobbing rockets over the border, and their apologists in the West blamed Israel for the "unilateral disengagement."
It matters not what Israel does. She will always be wrong, always be blamed -- for she is a Jewish State.
That's what happens when you deal with Jew haters.
The occupation they are talking about is, in fact, the entire state of Israel. They are not and have never been interested in a two-state solution. Timne and agians they have rejected this option. They had it in 1948, and in 1967. Both times the Arabs rejected it.
The Jihadists claim a Caliphite in Israel, in Spain, in France, in England, on the Continent of Europe.They want to destroy Western Civilization. They openly call for the death of every Jew on the Planet. Every Christian. Every Infidel.
Prepare for a very long war.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 12:30 PM | Comments (4)
Anti-Zionism Equals Anti-Semitism
You know those slick academics who are always going on about how they are anti-Zionists but really, some of their best friends are Jewish? And how dare you call them anti-Simetic? Why, the very thought is simply outrageous! Well, here's a nice piece deconstructing these pathalogical Jew haters.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 11:59 AM | Comments (2)
Strategy from a Shrink
ShrinkWrapped is a blog I have come to deeply respect. When he writes about, well, anything, I pay attention.
I want to call your attention to his thoughts on Israeli war strategy.
Too, we would very much like to hear from our military readers, concerning the use of ultrasound on Hizbullah bunkers, though my immediate reaction is that on the battlefield, it's the perfect set-up for an ambush. Ultrasound sounds nice in the classroom, but in the field, it simply won't work.
Again, would greatly appreciate hearing from our military readers.
Go to ShrinkWrapped to read this fine essay.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:22 AM | Comments (1)
Europe, Thy Name is Cowardice
By Matthias Döpfner
Appeasement cost millions of Jews and non-Jews their lives as England and France, allies at the time, negotiated and hesitated too long before they noticed that Hitler had to be fought, not bound to agreements. Read the rest of this incredible article written by a German journalist here.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:13 AM | Comments (4)
The Vocabulary of Untruth
Victor Davis Hanson reveals the Orwellian language used by today's elites as a modern blood libel against the State of Israel.
A “ceasefire” would occur should Hezbollah give back kidnapped Israelis and stop launching missiles; it would never follow a unilateral cessation of Israeli bombing. In fact, we will hear international calls for one only when Hezbollah’s rockets are about exhausted.
“Civilians” in Lebanon have munitions in their basements and deliberately wish to draw fire; in Israel they are in bunkers to avoid it. Israel uses precision weapons to avoid hitting them; Hezbollah sends random missiles into Israel to ensure they are struck. Click here to read the rest of the story.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Lance
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:56 AM | Comments (0)
Syria & Iran's Secret Pact
Before the War of Tammuz exploded, these two radical regimes signed a mutual defense pact designed to counter an Israeli strike against Iran's nuclear facilities. Read the full story here.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Lance
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:44 AM | Comments (2)
UN Ambulances Assist Guess Who?
By the way, two of my readers, Antoine Clarke and Rachel Lipson, both wrote to me and explained that Caerdroia is a Welsh word that means "castle of turns" or maze. "Caer" being castle in Welsh, as in Caerphilly, Caernavon etc. It is also the Welsh word for the city of Troy.
I have the smartest readers in the blogosphere. Thank you.
Anywhooo, from that luminous military blog Caerdroia,
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:08 AM | Comments (0)
Afula Hit
BEIRUT, Lebanon (AP) -- Hizbullah said it fired a new rocket, called Khaibar-1, striking near the Israeli town of Afula, south of Haifa. Israeli authorities reported that five rockets hit fields outside Afula, causing no casualties.
The strike came two days after Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech that Hizbullah would start a new phase in the battle striking beyond the Israeli city of Haifa, which has been hit several times in lethal rocket fire.
The area around Afula, 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of the Israeli-Lebanese border area has been struck before, but Israeli security officials said Friday's strikes were the southernmost so far.
From Jake's Pen: The name Khaibar is, unfortunately, very telling. The previously unknown weapon was named for an oasis where Islam's prophet Muhammed won a battle against Jews in the year 629. So much for this being a war against Zionists... it's a war against Jews, period.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Jake Novak
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:51 AM | Comments (5)
Israel: Keep Rolling
By Charles Krauthammer
What other country, when attacked in an unprovoked aggression across a recognized international frontier, is then put on a countdown clock by the world, given a limited time window in which to fight back, regardless of whether it has restored its own security?
What other country sustains 1,500 indiscriminate rocket attacks into its cities -- every one designed to kill, maim and terrorize civilians -- and is then vilified by the world when it tries to destroy the enemy's infrastructure and strongholds with precision-guided munitions that sometimes have the unintended but unavoidable consequence of collateral civilian death and suffering?
Hearing the world pass judgment on the Israel-Hezbollah war as it click here to read the rest of this wonderful story
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:45 AM | Comments (1)
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
In this very important article the Jerusalem Post's Caroline Glick argues that some generals who are currently in charge of the current war might best serve their country -- by being replaced.
By Caroline Glick
In his address to the Knesset last week, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert framed Israel's war in Lebanon as a war for "our right to be normal." His emphasis on our right to drink coffee led many to wonder if he understands the immensity of the threat we face as he curries favor with Israel's aging baby boomers.
As polls of the Arab and Muslim world's opinion of Israel make clear, The Jerusalem Post's Khaled Abu Toameh probably understated the magnitude of their desire to destroy Israel when he wrote on Thursday: "Throughout the Arab and Islamic world, hatred of Israel is so immense today that, if given the chance, tens of thousands of women and men would join Hamas and Hizbullah almost immediately. Click for the rest of Glick
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Lance
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:24 AM | Comments (0)
July 27, 2006
Yoni Update, Plus a Seraphic Rant
Let me say right from the outset that I myself did not hear Yoni. Karen filled me in a bit and so did Seraphic friend Lance, and I picked up some information through the internet. Here's what I've come up with. I apologize for any mistakes. They are mine and mine alone.
Yoni told Hugh Hewitt that there was a Security Cabinet Meeting in Israel.
During that meeting, a ground invasion was discussed and there was some apprehension about such an invasion.
IDF Chief of Staff Dan Chalutz said something about like, "We don't need to kill all of Hizbullah, that they can change."
Let me stop right here and say something I have been saying almost from the second week of the war: General Dan Chalutz must be relieved of command. Not since General Shmuel Gonen has Israel been saddled with a General so ill-suited to command the IDF in war. Not only is Chalutz an Air Force General, and thus parochial in outlook, and narrow in his strategic thinking, but he is known as a sniveling political animal. This commment about Hizbullah, a proudly genocidal terrorist gang, reveals him as a danger to the State of Israel -- and a moron.
PM Olmert should relieve Dan Chalutz of command immediately. To keep this incompetent as Chief of Staff reveals weakness and stupidity in the extreme. Moreover, has Olmert not realized that the war is in its third week and it is not going well?
Yoni, in disgust remarked that he wants a warrior not a social worker for the campaign.
On a more positive note Yoni said that the people of Israel are more united than he has ever seen in his life.
Seraphic Friend Lance reports that he heard from columnist Charles Krauthammer on FOX that there are serious divisions about the conduct of the war. The majority of Generals, not Dan Chalutz, want to go in and clean Hizbullah completely out with a full ground invasion. However, PM Olmert, Defence Minister Perz, and Tzippi Livni are getting squeamish. Krauthammer mentioned that he thought this would lead to a half victory that would leave Hizbullah intact to fight another day. The worst outcome possible.
Let us all remember that the present government is an accidental government, in office because of Ariel Sharon's illness. Ehud Olmert was a none too successfull Mayor of Jerusalem, a not very popular politician, a man widely perceived as a major political hack married to a leftist and dreadfully pretentious artist, with children who have either abandoned the state of Israel or who spend far too much time demostrating against the state, or harassing Israeli soldiers at check points. As for Defense Minister Amir Perez: he's a well known Socialist with absolutely no credentials to become Defense Minister. That Olmert, Perez and Chalutz are running The War of Tammuz is a national disgrace and explains why the IDF are stalled so seriously on the Northern Front.
I really I hope that I'm wrong, but I don't think so.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 04:36 PM | Comments (6)
Murder & Mutilation
The Arabs have stepped up their terror war against Israel. Israel has been on high-alert ever since the War of Tammuz began, the security services have received word that Hamas is "jealous" that their Shia'h rivals are pulling the world's focus from them. And so, to make sure that everyone remembers that the so-called Palestinian Arabs can be just as barabric as the Hizbullah, it appears that they have struck. Go to Yoni's blog to read the whole vile story.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 04:18 PM | Comments (0)
Major IDF Call-Up
I've just heard that the IDF have called up 30,000 reserves. This indicates that major ground operations will take place.
A few minutes ago, I wrote 50,000. This was incorrect and I apologize for my error.
The right flank with Syria will be protected, so that the IDF can have a free hand in Lebanon up to the Litani River. If the Lebanese Army attempt to join Hizbullah, a doubtful venture, they will be crushed by the IDF. More likely, they will sit this one out, as they sit out all major conflicts.
The Hamas terrorists in Gaza will be contained or eliminated. In the meantime, most of their leadership sit in Israeli jails.
We can expect a rise in attempted homicide bombers. Again, Israel will, as best as she can, deal with these barbarians.
No, the true battle, The War of Tammuz, the existential conflict, is with the Hizbullah jihadists, those Shia Iranian puppets, who have vowed to eradicate Israel, Jews, and America, from the face of the earth.
Hizbullah's best moments of combat will diminish day by day, hour by hour, until their psychotic motto: "We Love Death" will no longer be heard in the villages and wadis of southern Lebanon, for there will be no terrorists left to chant such nihilistic madness.
From The Prophet Joel:
"Announce this among the nations; prepare for war; arouse the mighty; let all the soldiers approach and ascend. Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning forks into spears; the weak shall say, I am strong."
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 02:01 PM | Comments (11)
Golani's 51st Battalion
The stories of the Eight courageous troops from Golani's 51st Battalion lost their lives on Wednesday during heavy fighting with Hizbullah operatives in the southern Lebanese village of Bint Jbail. Another brave officer was killed in a clash at Maron a-Ras. Here are their stories.
Baruch Dayan Emet
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 01:51 PM | Comments (0)
Nasrallah to Damascus
Satan Nasrallah is on his way to Damascus reports a Kuwaiti newspaper. Let's hope that the IAF has some eyes in the sky and can drop some heavy payloads on him.
Let's never forget that Hizbullah's catchy life-affirming motto is: We Love Death. D'you ever get the feeling that The Nas is like reallly bored with Mrs. Nas and is like really anxious to get his hands on those 72 virgins?
Just a thought.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Naomi Regan
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 01:12 PM | Comments (2)
Where the Bombs are Not Falling
Our Jeremiah has an invaluable map of Lebanon, a bird's eye view, that clearly shows where the IAF pin-point bombing campign is taking place. If you watch the MSM you, no doubt, believe that the entire state of Lebanon is in ruins.
Not true. Far from the truth.
In fact, most of Lebanon is night-clubbing, gambling, tooling around in their sports cars, drinking and dancing to all hours, imbibing various, ahem drugs, basically living it up.
So, you ask, why aren't these affluent Lebanese people coming to the aide of the refugees?
I hate to tell you this, but they couldn't care less. They pretty much despise Hizbullah, their supporters, and the Shia Muslims who have invaded Southern Lebanon.
You see, Lebanon is home to seventeen different religious groups, the majority of them loathe Hizbullah and their shadow Iranian government. Their attitude is, a plague on their house; they have brought this war on themselves.
On the news the other night, I forget which one, they showed the former Miss Lebanon, pulling up to a disco in her silver Porche, low cut gown, mini-skirt. The reporter asked her about the Israelis and Hizbullah and all the refugees. She looked bored, then took a deep breath and said: "Some of us just, ah, how do you say, do not get involved in po-li-tics." Then with the longest legs I have ever seen on a human being, she swept into the disco.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 12:33 PM | Comments (0)
Chocolate War
You're an Israeli soldier. You're tired and dirty and lonely. You're also in the middle of a life and death struggle with Hizbullah lunatics.
Suddenly, a package arrives from, well, you have no idea. You rip it open.
Oh my gosh. It's deep, dark, delicious chocolate from a complete stranger.
You rip it open and pop it in your mouth and let the chocolate melt in your mouth. You share the chocolate with the buddies in your platoon.
You all smile and sigh with satisfaction. You bless the stranger who was kind enough to send the chocolate. After the war you will send that person an e-mail, maybe even call them and thank them. But it's hard thinking that far in advance. It's good to know there are such good people in this world. Maybe good does outweigh evil.
"Let's go finish this job." you say.
And that's all it takes. Go to this link to help get the job done.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Toronto Pearl
And if you'd like to send Pizza and soda just click here.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friends, Doron Beckerman/Ari Kinsberg
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 12:11 PM | Comments (7)
Kodak Moments
Okey-dokey, Debbie Schlussel has some heart warming photos of Hizbullah kiddies taking their first cute little goose steps and Hitlerian salutes, and none other than Killer Kofi, what a shock, shaking hand with, well, I don't want to spoil the surprise. Just go to her website and take a look. It's a total stunner.
You'll have to scroll down to get to the photos for Debbie is constantly updating her site.
I'm waiting for the inevitable comment: "Mr. Avrech, context is everything!" Uh, huh. Right, with a terrorist organization who have vowed to destroy Israel, and by the way, the U.S.A.
We can always count on what Lenin (not John) termed, "useful idiots."
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 11:59 AM | Comments (2)
War Update
Jameel is in Miluim, but his blog is being posted by Litviche so the Muqata still gives us an hour-by-hour update on the situation in Israel. Stay safe Jameeel.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:11 AM | Comments (1)
A Meal with Hizbullah
Michael J. Totten sits down with Hizbullah and, gee willikers, what a shock, it's not exactly a Shabbos meal. No matter how hard they try a terrorist is still a terrorist. Click here to read the entire story.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 10:02 AM | Comments (0)
Hizbullah Horror
Seraphic Friend and contributor FERN SIDMAN provides us with a much needed timeline of the horrific history of Hizbullah and the litany of cold blooded attacks perpetrated by this genocidal gang who have sworn not only to destroy Israel but western civilization.
BY: FERN SIDMAN
As day 15 of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah terrorists concluded, it was reported that little was accomplished on the diplomatic front at the Rome summit. United States Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice was joined by the United Nations, European Union countries, Arab states such as Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia as well as Canada, Russia, Cyprus and Turkey in seeking a resolution the burgeoning war between Israel and Hezbollah.
According to CNN's John King, Secretary of State Rice was "under siege" by world leaders who pressed for an "immediate cease fire in the region". The position of the United States as voiced by Secretary Rice was that a cease fire must be "sustainable" and cessation of hostilities must be part of a wider plan to permanently disarm Lebanese Hezbollah militants.
CNN reported that, "one source involved in the talks said everyone but the United States wanted to press ahead with an immediate cease-fire, but Rice argued that taking that approach would leave Hezbollah in place and still armed with its rockets."
Rice also expressed concern over what she said was Iran and Syria's involvement in the conflict, while UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said that future dialogue should involve Tehran and Damascus.
The Israeli government, which was not invited to the Rome meeting, said Wednesday it hopes the "international community will act immediately to strengthen the Lebanese army" so that it can take charge of south Lebanon.
In its statement, Israel said it wants a U.N. resolution calling for Lebanese militias to be disarmed and a G8 statement calling for the release of all abducted soldiers.
"Israel is forced to continue to defend its citizens because of the failure to implement these resolutions until now," the statement read.
It was also reported by CNN's John King that Secretary Rice told the summit that she could convince Israel to agree to a cease fire if the international community would orchestrate efforts to pressure Hezbollah to disarm. The members of the summit rejected that proposal. Hezbollah has vowed to continue to wage war against Israel. King also reported that Secretary Rice would be returning to Israel by the weekend to assess whether Israel would be agreeable to a return of the Shebaa Farms region to Lebanon and to a prsioner exchange.
There is no question that the proverbial political heat has been turned on high and now the United States, under a tremendous amount of world pressure is considering the option of asking Israel to make territorial compromises and to discuss a possible prisoner exchange .So much for the global war on terror and the strident policy of isolation of terrorists. Those who were persona non grata just yesterday, may turn into negotiating partners tomorrow.
Let us look at the facts of who the United States would like to reward for its kidnapping of Israeli soldiers and its rocket attacks on Israel. The history of the Hezbollah terrorist network is replete with numerous and multiple attacks and murders of American military personnel and civilians as well as its legendary hatred and attacks on Israel. The facts are as follows:
July 19, 1982: The president of the American University in Beirut, Davis S. Dodge, is kidnapped. Hezbollah is believed to be behind this and most of the other 30 Westerners kidnapped over the next ten years.
April 18, 1983: Hezbollah attacks the U.S. embassy in Beirut with a car bomb, killing 63 people, 17 of whom were American citizens.
Oct. 23, 1983: The group attacks U.S. Marine barracks with a truck bomb, killing 241 American military personnel stationed in Beirut as part of a peace-keeping force. A separate attack against the French military compound in Beirut kills 58.
Sept. 20, 1984: The group attacks the U.S. embassy annex in Beirut with a car bomb, killing 2 Americans and 22 others.
March 16, 1984: William F. Buckley, a CIA operative working at the U.S. embassy in Beirut, is kidnapped and later murdered.
April 12, 1984: Hezbollah attacks a restaurant near the U.S. Air Force Base in Torrejon, Spain. The bombing kills eighteen U.S. servicemen and injures 83 people.
Dec. 4, 1984: Hezbollah terrorists hijack a Kuwait Airlines plane. Four passengers are murdered, including two Americans.
Feb. 16, 1985: Hezbollah publicizes its manifesto. It notes that the group's struggle will continue until Israel is destroyed and rejects any cease-fire or peace treaty with Israel.
June 14, 1985: Hezbollah terrorists hijack TWA flight 847. The hijackers severely beat Passenger Robert Stethem, a U.S. Navy diver, before killing him and dumping his body onto the tarmac at the Beirut airport. Other passengers are held as hostages before being released on June 30.
Feb. 17, 1988: The group kidnaps Col. William Higgins, a U.S. Marine serving with a United Nations truce monitoring group in Lebanon, and later murders him.
Oct. 22, 1989: Members of the dissolved Lebanese parliament ratify the Taif Agreement. Although the agreement calls for the "disbanding of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias," Hezbollah remains active.
Feb. 16, 1992: Sayyad Hassan Nasrallah takes over Hezbollah after Israel kills the group's leader, Abbas Musawi.
March 17, 1992: With the help of Iranian intelligence, Hezbollah bombs the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, killing 29 and injuring over 200.
July 18, 1994: Hezbollah bombs the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires again with Iranian help killing 86 and injuring over 200.
October 1997: The United States lists Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
May 23, 2000: Israel withdraws all troops from Lebanon after 18 years patrolling the "security zone," a strip of land in the south of the country. The security zone was set up to prevent attacks on northern Israel.
June 2000: United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan certifies Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon. Shortly thereafter, the U.N. Security Council endorses Annan's report. Hezbollah nonetheless alleges Israel occupies Lebanon, claiming the small Shebaa Farms area Israel captured from Syria during the 1967 war as Lebanese territory.
Oct. 7, 2000: Hezbollah attacks an Israel military post and raids Israel, kidnapping three Israeli soldiers. The soldiers are later assumed dead. In mid-October, Hezbollah leader Nasrallah announces the group has also kidnapped an Israeli businessman. In 2004, Israel frees over 400 Arab prisoners in exchange for the business man and the bodies of the three soldiers.
March 1, 2001: The British government adds Hezbollah's "military wing" to its list of outlawed terrorist organizations.
Dec. 11, 2002: Canada lists Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
June 5, 2003: Australia lists Hezbollah's "military wing" as a terrorist organization.
Sept. 2, 2004: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 calls for "the disbanding and disarmament of all Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias," a reference to Hezbollah.
December 2004: Both the United States and France ban Hezbollah's satellite television network, Al Manar. A U.S. State Department spokesman notes the channel "preaches violence and hatred."
March 10, 2005: The European Parliament overwhelmingly passes a resolution stating: "Parliament considers that clear evidence exists of terrorist activities by Hezbollah. The (EU) Council should take all necessary steps to curtail them." The European Union nonetheless refrains from placing the group on its list of terror organizations.
July 12, 2006: Hezbollah attacks Israel with Katyushas, crosses the border and kidnaps two Israeli soldiers. Eight other soldiers are killed. Israel launches operation to rescue the soldiers and push Hezbollah from its border. Hezbollah attacks towns across northern Israel with rocket fire.
Talk of any Israeli compromises at this juncture in time would be interpreted by the world community that Israel has indeed "behaved deplorably" in this war for the preservation of the nation of Israel. It would tell the world that Israel "owes" something to Lebanon for "the ravages of war". This kind of talk only defeats any chance at lasting peace in the region and would be an egregious regression in the US lead campaign against world terror.
It is true that the United States is buying time with the international community in order to allow Israel to push Hezbollah further into Lebanon and to eradicate its presence from the Lebanese-Israeli border. It is clear that the war against Hezbollah cannot be limited to a US timetable. It is a war unlike any other war that Israel has ever fought. Unlike the conventional armies of yesteryear, the battle to thwart and conquer these Hezbollah guerrillas requires patience and precise targeting.
Israel has stated that this conflict could last for "several more weeks". While the patience of the international community is running thin, the United States must not acquiesce to world pressuire for its own sake. Israel has also announced its intention to expand its offensive. While Israel has sustained many deaths and casualties thus far, a major ground offensive must not be ruled out.
While the pressure is mounting and these times are exceptionally tense for Israel, we must remember who Hezbollah is. Terror is their theology and hate is their mantra.
The greatest weapon we possess is our faith and loyalty to our Creator, the Almighty G-d of Israel. Our prayers, our adherences to His Torah and His commandments can and will be our only source of true deliverance from our enemies who are bent on our destruction. Let us remember the words of King David who said, "If only My people would heed me, if Israel would walk in My way, in an instant, I would subdue their foes and against their tormentors, lift My Hand" (Psalm 81).
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:36 AM | Comments (2)
Liberals and Israel
Oh dear, you're thinking, here we go again. Yup. Can't escape it. Israel is in an existential war and what do liberal bloggers have to say about it? Check out Howard Kurtz's article
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Mordechai Schiller
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:28 AM | Comments (0)
Who is a Civilian?
Alan Dershowitz argues that not all civilians are, well, civilians. Read the entire article here.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 09:05 AM | Comments (8)
New IDF Analysis from Caerdroia
I love the blogosphere.
I could not sleep last night. I was replaying the Yom Kippur War in my head. Remember, the first few days were a horror. Israel was taken by surprise on two fronts. Egypt crossed the Suez Canal, breached the truly stupud Bar-Lev line and with an umbrella of Russian anti tank weapons absolutely smashed the first onslaught of Israeli tanks that came heedlessly charging right at the Egyptian lines. It was a turkey shoot. On the Golan Heights, a handful of Israeli tanks held back hundreds of Syrian tanks from penetrating deep into Israeli territory.
The Israeli Air Force was shot out of the sky by Russian technology.
It took the IDF about two weeks to adjust their tactics and come up with a whole new way of fighting, but once they did, the Arab armies were roundly defeated.
The world is making lots of noise about Hizbullah's fighting prowess and the "massive" casualties Israel is taking.
Look, we're a people who value life. We're Jews. When we lose nine or ten or even one soldier it's a tragedy. But Hizbullah are dying by the roomfull. And with each day that goes by, the IDF are gathering intelligence, learning exactly how to fight and how to defeat these terrorists. It's not terribly comlicated. They don't have a lot of tricks. They have one thing in their favor: they are suicidal. So the IDF will give no quarter. When they approach a bunker they will not offer terms of surrender the way they would to honorable soldiers; they will blow it to smithereens and send the Hizbullah inside to Allah. It will take time, but the IDF are smart and they are imaginative, and they know how to make snap decisions in the field. I know these men, I know them well.
Now, the blogosphere. I was looking for a military analysis that made some sense. You won't find it out of Israel. No Israeli is going to blab about ongoing operations. Jews are too smart and disciplined for that. But I did find this blog: Caerdroia. These guys are obviously military. They know their stuff and best of all, they have a gut love and understanding of Israel and the way the Israeli mind works. Read their analysis. It's miles deeper than Stratfor. This is a great site! Do not miss it.
P.S. Can someone tell me what Caerdroia means, I could not find it in my dictionary?
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 08:19 AM | Comments (8)
Words for War
Okay, get ready to shed some tears.
The following are the words of an Israeli Officer delivered to his men before joining battle with Hizbullah terrorists on the Northern front. Every time I read Henry the V and come to the St. Crispian's speech, I choke up. This rousing monologue, short and true had the exact same effect on me. Go to this link at Israpundit and you will be very glad you did
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Lance
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:39 AM | Comments (8)
More Good News for Kofi
Well, all we can say is, Kofi, you've got top-notch people working for you. You aid and abet genocide in Rwanda, and Darfur. You've got a thousand people a day dying in the Congo, forget Sierra Leone, everybody else certainly has, so why shouldn't you? And Liberia? Oh, do you care about that hell hole? But look, let's drop all those icky and depressing African countries you left behind, that you're actually supposed to deal with, let's just talk about the people who work for you.
To which we can only say: What a shock.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Lance
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at 07:04 AM | Comments (3)
Kofi's Claim's May Unravel
By BENNY AVNI - Staff Reporter of the Sun
July 27, 2006
UNITED NATIONS — An apparent discrepancy in the portrayal of events surrounding the deaths of four unarmed U.N. observers in Lebanon threatens to unravel Secretary-General Annan's initial accusation that Israel "deliberately" targeted the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon. Read the rest of the story here.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, David Paulin
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at <