Robert,

Her words ring very strongly to someone, like myself, planning aliyah.

I think the Olmert government has no clue as to what it is doing....Olmert and the other Likud and Labor renegades who form Kadima, are much more concerned with coddling favor with the US and Europe than standing firm and protecting its citizens.

I asked my sister, Gail, how can I contemplate to move to a place where I have little.....and growing no confidence that they have the backbone to protect its citizens?

For example, just this morning, Israel time, Olmert, taking questions from the foreign press, made the comment that he is going forth with the unilateral withdrawal from Judea and Samaria, what the delusional call the "West Bank"...and that Mahmoud Abbas is not a terrorist....I almost fell out of my chair when I heard that one.

No...I am not cancelling my pilot trip set for September, for the High Holidays....but I am watching the events carefully...and I hope the doubts and questions I have sort themselves out.

Lance;

I believe this is the first that our Seraphic friends have heard of your plans for aliyah.

As to your lack of confidence in the government and your hesitations. Let me say this: one makes aliyah to The Land, not to a specific government. One makes aliyah for it is a mitzvah. If we all hesitated because of political doubts, well, no one would ever go.

Robert,

You are absolutely correct....and that is my motivation...among many others.

If I had to grade the concern....I would rate it in the lower half of my issues that need to be ironed out...but, it is troublesome when a leader can make a statement that flys in the face of reality.

As a side note....Olmert's irresponsible comment about disengagement created a firestorm in the knesset....even among his own party.

I just hope these same people have some cajones when the time comes to stand and make their vote for the record.

"1984"? To me, the whole world seems a lot more like 1938... and Neville Chamberlain is EVERYONE'S Prime Minister right now.

There's a very good column in today's NY Daily News by Michael Goodwin. Here's my favorite paragraph:

"I sound pessimistic because I am. Even worse than the problems is the fact that our political system is failing us. Democratic Party leaders want to pretend we can declare peace and everything will be fine, while President Bush is out of ideas. Witness Bush now counseling patience and diplomacy on North Korea. This from a man who scorned both for five years."

We're going to have a lot more kidnappings and terror attacks until we decide to make this a total war. That means no multiculturalism/handwringing peacenik crap, no leaking, no oil profiteering, no tax cuts, no partisan profiteering on every little thing, etc. etc. etc.

I'm still waiting for ONE leader who's willing to really get in this war.

I agree with the no peacenik crap....the less of that the longer and healthier we all live.

However, tax cuts and so called oil profiteering are not part of the problem.

Anyone can take part in these same profits by calling their local futures broker....and begin trading crude oil....

The real enemy is not the speculator....for without us the markets would not have the proper liquidity....the enemy is OPEC....the Arabs and their buddy Hugo Chavez who have been allowed to take advantage of the normal market situation.

Also....the tree hugging Democrats who care for a few caribou in Alaska....instead of allowing the US to tap our own supply.

All that being said...I agree with past comments that have called for research and development of alternative fuel sources....

Let's face it...if South American countries can have cars using ethanol, a fuel source from corn, certainly we have the capability to accomplish the same thing.

First, my heart breaks for Mrs. Wachsman, but what an incredible voice she has. I pray that she continues to have the strength to speak out.

Second, Lance, I wish you the best of luck with your pilot trip and eventual aliyah. You are one of my favorite Seraphic friends and I think the fact that you are even thinking about a return to Israel is wonderful. (P.S. I can ship anywhere!!).

Lance & Robert,

If only it were so simple! Get rid of the "reason" for antisemitism and it will go away! Right! It will take enough corn alcohol to blind us to the irrational hatred that is simply a law of nature. If it's not oil, it will be another reason. We've always been the world's scapegoats. America has been extraordinarily kind to us. And we must be grateful. But there will always be Father Coughlins to stir up hatred. Hate to "frum out" on you, but I think davening is a much more effective tactic than oil conservation.

Jake:

I disagree with Goodwin vehemently when he says that "Pres. Bush is out of ideas." The whole notion of "new ideas is simply preposterous.

President Bush had one idea after we were attacked on 9/11. That idea can be summarized as follows:
1. We must to respond firmly and forcefully to the Jihadists.
2. We have to fight this battle on their soil.
3. We had to remain steadfast.

You don't need "new ideas" to win this war.

You need resolve, and you need to stick to your original ideas. It's really quite simple. Only shallow thinkers have the temerity to call for "new ideas" as if they are at a fast food restaurant.

Mordechai:

I'd like to be less dependant on oil so that the US doesn't have to play footsie with Arabs anymore. Look, the only reason the US, Europe, and Japan pay any attention to the Arabs is because of oil. Self-interest drives states--as it should.

I don't, for a minute, believe that antiSemitism will lessen or go away. That's pure folly. But the Arab states are geographical freaks and if they weren't no one would pay them any mind whatsoever.

I'm not sure President Bush is out of ideas either... but he's clearly unable to push the issue vis a vis oil dependence. And that's tragic, because as a former oilman, his voice would be authorative like no other President other than his father.

Lance: by "oil profiteering" I was referring to the macro, i.e. our governments allowing for huge oil company profits going into the hands of our enemies. I'm all for commodities trading... it's the only sane part of the business!

And you're all right about "reasons" for Anti-Semitism. We can't be concerned with that, we just need to take the weapons away from our enemies when we can.

Her words are heart breaking. The government has no excuse for their deadly incompetence. Lance: Good luck on your Aliyah. The creation and continuation of Israel has always been a miracle. Despite an incompetent government - there is a Greater Power that sustains Israel. I'm all for making Aliyah - though not for "dancing on the boat." You go in with your eyes open, and not make foolish decisions that you'd never make in the States out of "idealism."
Robert: I don't understand why Israel takes prisoners at all? Wouldn't it be more effective to target 1,000 terrorists? And then hand out to Hamas the list of the next 1,000 names. That if the hair on any Israeli's head is touched - the next 1,000 terrorists will be hunted down and executed. And so on. Until they understand?

Yael:

Israel takes prisoners to collect intelligence. It's that simple. Most prisoners give up three to four other terrorists and those names lead to even more names. Thus entire terror cells are mapped and exposed. I agree that we should kill as many terrorists as possible--but giving them prior notice might not be a wise tactic. Besides, they know they're dead men, it's only when and where.

Robert,

I don't disagree with you and Lance about cutting back on oil use and dependence on oil states. I only took exception to the idea that solving the fossil fuel problem will solve "anti-Zionism."

Might as well try to cure cancer with petroleum jelly!

(Sorry about the bitterness. This article really got to me! Bsuros tovos!)

Mordechai

Michael Goodwin’s column that was mentioned by previous readers (Lance, Jake, and Robert) was pretty good but it got two things decidedly wrong. First, this is not World War 3.

This is World War 4.

Along these lines, I would recommend Norman Podhoretz’s fine piece in Commentary in Sept. 2004: "World War IV: How It Started, What It Means, and Why We Have to Win." http://www.commentarymagazine.com/podhoretz.htm)

Is Bush out of ideas? I disagree as well. In cases such as North Korea, Saudi Arabia, and – yes – Iraq, it’s not a matter of having a good idea or a bad idea. It’s a matter of choosing among options that are all bad, in one way or another.

Say what you will about Bush, he at least knows who he is and what he believes in. He calls evil by its right name. That’s imperative in a world that looks a lot like 1938 AND 1984.

In the old days they sat around a wobbly tables in drafty shacks in shtetls asking each other, themselves, and their G-d these questions. Today we belly up to 17" screens, wireless mouses ("mice"?) and keyboards for the same. We're no different.

Lance's profession and Robert's reply bring out my nagging suspicion that a degree of savagery and complexity (vs. jihad) lies ahead, one which we might shiver to admit. I fear that the "dogs of war" are being called out, but instead of warriors most world leaders are self-styled dog catchers.

That poor, bereaved mother. Doubt and dignity: What more does she have to offer? What right have we to expect anything more from her? What do we have to offer in return?

"1936" "1938" "Chamberlain" "Quisling" "Maginot Line" "Pearl Harbor" "My Lai" - we're still living in yester-century.

btw, the last time Italy won the World Cup (1982) Operation Peace for Galilee was in full tilt.

Robert,

Rabbi Emanuel Feldman (always worth stopping what you're doing to read) has a particularly trenchant piece in today's (July 11) Jerusalem Post: Signs of the times (http://tinyurl.com/pr23w).

Mordechai