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January 08, 2009
It Can (and is) Happening Here
H/T Australian National Resource via David Suissa
Seraphic Secret will be updating all day, just keep scrolling down for the latest war news, morale boosting pics of you know who, and of course, our popular, totally random, and deeply whacky Hollywood anecdotes.
My in-depth article The Real Battle of Algiers, is now up and live on the new and exciting conservative blog Big Hollywood.
Here's a summary:
The Real Battle of Algiers is a two part essay that illuminates the skillful jihadist propaganda that is Gillo Pontecorvo's film, The Battle of Algiers. I examine the true historical record, the inconvenient facts excluded from the film, including the horrifying Muslim Jew-hatred that helped fuel the battle of Algiers, and the eventual expulsion of Algeria's entire and ancient Jewish community by the Algerian terrorists after the French surrendered.
As I've said many times, movies are a moral landscape.
The Battle of Algiers is a movie that inhabits a deeply immoral and dishonest landscape. It's a beautifully crafted film, but at the core it is a stealth piece of Jihadist propaganda. Like Leni Riefenstahl's work for the Nazis and Sergei Eisenstein's films for the Soviet Communists, Pontecorvo's movie is in service to a totalitarian and genocidal ideology.
To ream my complete article, please click here.
Summary of IDF operations from last night:
The operation in the Gaza Strip continued throughout the night, with Infantry Corps, Armored Corps, Engineering Corps, Artillery Corps and Field Intelligence Corps forces operating in large numbers throughout the Gaza Strip, with air and naval support of the IAF and the IN.
The IAF attacked a number of targets, based on IDF and ISA intelligence, including the house of Yaser Natat, who was in charge of the rocket firing program in the Rafah area, and the house of Muhammad Sanuar, the commander of the Hamas Han Yunes Brigade.
In addition, the IAF struck approximately 60 targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including:
* A mosque used as a weapons storage facility and as a meeting place for Hamas terror operatives
* A Hamas Police structure
* Fifteen tunnels used by Hamas terror operatives against IDF forces, some of which were located under houses
* Ten weapons storage facilities
* A number of armed operatives
* Fifteen launching sites and underground launching pads used to fire mortar shells at IDF forces
The Navy, Air Force and Artillery Corps continued to support the Ground Forces throughout the Gaza Strip, striking Hamas targets, groups of gunmen and terrorists identified in rocket launching areas and located near the forces.
One mortar shell was fired into the western Negev overnight.
One IDF soldier was lightly wounded during the overnight activity.
Jean Harlow as Lola Burns in Bombshell.
TCM Alert: This coming Saturday, Jan. 9, the film I picked as the best I screened in 2008: Bombshell with Jean Harlow. Here's what I wrote:
Bombshell, (1933) Starring Jean Harlow, Lee Tracy, Frank Morgan, Una Merkel and Franchot Tone. Harlow plays Harlow. That’s what this film is really about. Harlow, all wisecracks and fed-up with Hollywood’s merry-go-round insanity, is Lola Burns, a Hollywood sexpot. Her father and brother are always angling for handouts, and the studio publicity flack cooks up outrageous stunts to add heat to an already overheated reputation as a smoldering blonde bombshell. Harlow, a hugely appealing and gifted comedienne, delivers the best, most energized performance of her career. In truth, like Lola, Harlow yearned for a normal life, husband and children, but was thwarted by bad judgment in men, and a monstrously overbearing mother who controlled every aspect of her daughter’s life and career. The great director Victor Fleming with ace screenwriters John Lee Mahin and Jules Furthman cooked up this Hollywood tale as a thinly disguised look at Fleming’s former lover, the great silent film star Clara Bow. Fleming observed that Bow’s life, on the surface was Hollywood glamorous, but when Bow went home at night, her mansion was filled with dog droppings and her deeply unstable family soaked her for every penny she earned. Bombshell is actually a screwball comedy before Hollywood invented that most entertaining genre.
Set your TIVO, your DVR, or hey, watch it in real time, but do not miss this great, entertaining movie. Check local listings for time of broadcast.
Ah, the religion of peace, home to a certain element who make their opinions known in orderly and dignified protest. As in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, where it was strongly suggested that “Jews should go back to the ovens.” This morning, Dennis Prager pointed out the upside to this Islamic filth: a defacto admission of the Holocaust. Ever get the feeling that the year is actually 1933? H/T Seraphic sister-in-law Elana Singer
More on Hamas, but this time a video made by fellow Arabs. This is a must-see, and rarely seen look at the terror group's steel grip on Gaza. H/T Aussie Dave.
Warning: This is an extremely disturbing video, but, hey, so are the Hamas.
Yesterday, Seraphic Secret promised to post the Hollywood picture of your choice to every reader who sends a pizza to IDF troops. Christoper did send a steaming hot pizza—wonderful!—and requested a pic of silent star Betty Blythe in The Queen of Sheba, specifically, Betty in her notorious pearl gown. Hmm, we are quite familiar with said gown. Problem is, Seraphic Secret does not post risque photos. And gee-willikers that pearl gown leaves very little to the imagination. But look, we have located a rare and dazzling photo by Albert Witzel of the divine Blythe and hope this satisfies our end of the bargain.
Until 1924, Witzel was the premier portrait photographer in Los Angeles who frequently worked as a still photographer for movie productions. Among his famous subjects were Charlie Chaplin, Olive Thomas, Bessie Love, Lila Lee, Theda Bara—real name Theodosia Goodman, Billie Burke, and Francis X. Bushman, a massive star, now forgotten. Witzel's original prints are eagerly sought by collectors.
The ever-vigilant Jack is up and live with his Gaza War Update numero 12.
11:08 am PST Meanwhile, in Israel, our hard-working blogger-buddies Aussie Dave and The Muqata continue live-blogging the war.
11:30 am PST Wow, Jack is on a roll. Gaza War Update 12.5 is up and live. Check. It. Out.
12:36 pm PST Yours truly was chatting with Omri of Mere Rhetoric about what year this is. I know, you think it's 2009. But I told Omri that it's 1933, and the threat to civilization by the Islamists is as great as the threat from Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. Omri countered that we're well past 1933, that we're into 1938. You know what, he's right.
12:49 pm PST By now you probably know that missiles were fired into Israel from Lebanon. Everybody's scrambling—including IDF spokesmen—to put out the narrative that Hizbullah are not responsible. In short, everyone's terrified that Israel will strike back. IDF reserves have been called up, and the IAF already have a long list of targets against Hizbullah/Iran who run Lebanon. Let's be clear, Hizbullah terrorists might not have launched the missile, but they certainly gave the nod to the thugs did. As Joshua Pundit explains, nothing happens in Lebanon without Hizbullah's okay.
1:06 pm PST Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles, is an eloquent spokesman for Israel and Judaism. Karen and I have been friends with Rabbi Hier ever since we moved to Los Angeles over 20-years ago. We have shared lunch with Rabbi Hier and his lovely family on Shabbat. His is the voice of decency and common sense in a world that seems to devalue these qualities.
In the Wall Street Journal—the New York Times and the L.A. Times are busy shilling for Hamas—Rabbi Hier explains that Jews Face a Double Standard.
Many people ask why there are so few Israeli casualties in comparison with the Palestinian death toll. It's because Israel's first priority is the safety of its citizens, which is why there are shelters and warning systems in Israeli towns. If Hamas can dig tunnels, it can certainly build shelters. Instead, it prefers to use women and children as human shields while its leaders rush into hiding.
And then there are the clarion calls for a cease-fire. These words, which come so easily, have proven to be a recipe for disaster. Hamas uses the cease-fire as a time-out to rearm and smuggle even more deadly weapons so the next time, instead of hitting Sderot and Ashkelon, they can target Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
The pattern is always the same. Following a cease-fire brought on by international pressure, there will be a call for a massive infusion of funds to help Palestinians recover from the devastation of the Israeli attack. The world will respond eagerly, handing over hundreds of millions of dollars. To whom does this money go? To Hamas, the same terrorist group that brought disaster to the Palestinians in the first place.
For the complete article, please click here.
3:18 pm PST This is how the IDF treats Hamas terrorists who have been discovered in tunnels as they bring in weapons to kill Jews. The horror, the horror. H/T Kishke
3:26 pm PST As Israel fights Hamas, Islamic terrorists are busy, busy, busy torching the homes of Christians in The Philippines. No doubt, this is because the peaceful Muslims of The Philippines are reacting to the war in Gaza—or some such post-modern nonsense.
3:33 pm PST Oh, speaking of Hamas tunnels, Jimmy "Jihad" Carter has informed the world that the tunnels are, um “defensive.” Jimmy, Jimmy, don't you know that G-d curses those who hate the Jewish people? Sigh. Hell's waited too long for this terrorist-enabler.
3:38 pm PST After posting about the former President—thanks so much for Robert Mugabe, and the Islamic State of Iran—we definitely need a morale booster.
Brigitte Bardot contemplates her next hand.
5:28 pm PST Here's a knowledgeable military analysis of the Israeli Air Force, Lessons Learned:
The Israelis are using more high resolution targeting pods, including some using high rez (SAR) radar for all-weather ground surveillance. This gave them more information, more quickly. This was aided by greater use, than ever before, of UAVs. The Gaza battle areas have been under intense UAV surveillance 24/7 since operations began. This explains how the air force is now able to generate a constant supply of new targets. Hamas is suitably shocked, or so it appears from what Arab language reporters are broadcasting from within Gaza. There's a higher than expected use of faked bomb victim stories, which is largely attributable to the greater precision with which the air force is identifying and hitting targets. Hamas appears to be in disarray, having been hit with a more devastating attack than their Hezbollah advisors had endured. As a result, Hezbollah is getting nervous about what a second round of fighting in southern Lebanon might do to them.
For the entire story, please click here.
5:44 pm PST Get clued in to how the Israeli Air Force carries out its precision bombing, and the technology that makes it all possible:
One of the more potent weapons Israel has developed for its current war with Hamas, is a detailed and very current GIS (geographic information system). Such systems are common for use by businesses (for marketing, site selection and so on), and the military has adapted that technology to their use. A GIS is a combination of aerial photography and other databases (land ownership, telephone and utility customers and military intelligence data.) The GIS is stored and accessed as a digital file, and updated frequently (sometimes in real time.) Israel has used their GIS to select targets in Gaza, and then to call the civilians in the target building to tell them to get out before the smart bomb hits. Hamas made these residences into targets by storing weapons and other military equipment there. Some buildings didn't get a phone call, because the building was used by Hamas as a headquarters or barracks.
This use of the GIS explains how Israel bombed over 500 buildings, while killing fewer than 200 civilians. The GIS is equally useful for ground units, making it easier to move through the crowded cities of Gaza, or identify structures encountered in the open areas. Naturally, Israel isn't releasing many, if any, details of their GIS. But it is known that the United States has used a similar system in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the U.S. and Israel have been sharing lots of ideas about how best to fight these kinds of urban battles.
Source: Strategy Page
6:08 pm PST Hamas are desperate for a cease-fire. No kidding. Hamas are only good at killing women and children, Jew and Muslim alike.
While some Hamas leaders have been openly signaling their readiness to accept a new cease-fire, others are still calling for pursuing the fight against Israel "until victory."
What is clear is that Hamas is now desperate for a lull in the fighting. But it is also eager to score some kind of a "military victory" before a cease-fire is reached.
Hamas can't accept a new cease-fire without having proved to the Arab and Muslim masses that it was capable of making Israel pay a heavy price for its military offensive.
Hamas is fighting for its survival and its leaders know that their collapse would constitute a severe blow not only to the movement, but also to its patrons in Teheran and Damascus.
For the complete story, please click here.
8:53 pm PST The UN has approved a cease fire resolution. Yup, anything to save Hamas and hammer home the message that Israel, unlike every other country on the face of the earth, has no right of self-defense. Let's hope that Israel ignores this infamous resolution and completes the mission.
9:06 pm PST IDF troops battle their way through the streets of Gaza.
H/T The Muqata
9:37 pm PST Noah Pollak succinctly and eloquently nails the so-called journalists who are covering and commenting on Gaza:
Allow me to propose a metric for evaluating whether a journalist is behaving responsibly or not: If he reports that Israel bombed a UN school and killed 30 civilians, he is irresponsible. If he reports that Hamas used a UN school as a weapons cache and base of operations for launching mortars at the IDF, and the IDF’s return fire killed the Hamas cell along, tragically, with a yet-unspecified number of civilians, then he is behaving responsibly. If he wishes to be particularly scrupulous, he might additionally note that Hamas had rigged the school with explosives which detonated after the IDF took out the mortar team, killing a large additional number of civilians. And he might add that you can go to the IDF’s Youtube channel to view footage from 2007 of Hamas using the very same school as a mortar-launching base.
Journalists who abjure reporting the vital details of this story should be called what they are — activists masquerading as reporters.
Source: Commentary
9:41 pm PST Say goodnight, BB.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at January 8, 2009 01:43 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
Daniel Finkelstein says what needs to be said. Brilliant article. (Credit to Samizdata for the link.)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/daniel_finkelstein/article5461544.ece
Posted by: William at January 8, 2009 05:11 AM
Robert -
Thanks for the heads-up on "Bombshell." Next to "Girl From Missouri," it's my favorite Harlow movie.
And thanks for the mention yesterday of the IDF pizza delivery, which I did not know about. I could only afford a little bit, but I did send pizza and hope they enjoy it. So. . .if you could post that wonderful picture of Betty Blythe wearing only a string of pearls in "The Queen of Sheba," I'd love it. But failing that, you've got excellent taste, so I defer to your pick!
Posted by: Christopher at January 8, 2009 07:01 AM
Jimmy Carter has an op-ed in the Washington Post blaming Israel for not delivering medical supplies and food to Gaza and then blowing up a 'defensive tunnel' killing six Gazans.
Once again he reminds me why he was the worst president in my lifetime and is now the worst ex-president ever.
Hey Jimmy, get a clue. Can you see a border between Gaza and Egypt? Do you ever wonder why Egypt isn't helping Gaza by delivering food and medicine?
Carter is only good for getting his own show on CNN or MSNBC.
Posted by: Johnny at January 8, 2009 07:46 AM
Johnny,
Carter does have assets, as this little gem demonstrates: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpKRKDuGoMQ
(I miss this show; I imagine their take on Palin-o-phobia would have been priceless.)
Posted by: Michal at January 8, 2009 08:33 AM
Michal:
Obama is looking for that historian right now to chronicle his presidency. He wants to make sure he gets credit for everything that goes right under the Palin administration.
I miss that show too.
Posted by: Johnny at January 8, 2009 09:02 AM
Yes the video is important for sure, but it is horribly disturbing IMO, so heads up to people who are sensitive. It shows Hamas murdering other Palestinians, like a groom on his wedding day. May those murdering thugs rot in hell.
Posted by: Alice at January 8, 2009 10:28 AM
Ah, Robert, had I known SS's rules of decorum, I'd never have asked for that particular photo :) But the Witzel you posted is absolutely lovely; I adore the little arched eyebrow - it's almost as if she's saying "I know I'm gorgeous, but isn't this a silly pose?" As I said, I defer to your taste (frankly, I'd have donated even without the offer of photos. I only wish I'd known about the IDF pizza before)
I am fortunate to own two original Witzels, both autographed photos of Theda Bara in "Cleopatra." Sadly, one of them is (as I was told by the woman who framed them for me) "silvering" away as the chemicals in the photo gradually eat away at the image and reduce it to nothing but a silver blank. A rather appropriate fate for Miss Goodman.
Posted by: Christopher at January 8, 2009 10:33 AM
Let's not forget the tremendous work the Carter Center has done to eradicate river blindness that afflicts millions, quite separate from Carter's misguided views on the Middle East. Let's call a spade a spade.
Posted by: Bromide at January 8, 2009 12:46 PM
What does it say about me that I watch the video of the murders at the wedding celebration and don't throw up? What does it say about me that I'm not surprised by the actions from members of the 'religion of peace'?
But what does it also say about those defending Hamas that they are so particular about what outrages them and causes them to protest in the streets? Israel (like the U.S.) is not a perfect country but can anyone honestly say that such actions as seen in the video would be tolerated in Israel or the U.S., much less applauded?
Posted by: JEB at January 8, 2009 01:24 PM
I was going to send an email to the machers at Big Hollywood telling them to check out your blog and approach you about writing for them. I see that they were wise enough to figure that out before I was called upon to make any effort in that regard!
Posted by: Bookworm at January 8, 2009 07:39 PM
You know I rarely post, so I apologize for being critical, but -
I found the reference to Halal in the Australian video disturbing.
When people start viewing dietary religious laws being widespread but only practiced by a small minority as a way that that minority is trying to "take over," then we all know who is going to be suffering.
And it is not going to be Islam.
Have a good Shabbos.
Moshe Murray
Posted by: Moishe3rd at January 9, 2009 07:23 AM
The passing years have graced Brigitte Bardot with a more mature beauty. Perhaps we may see more recent photos of her? Mature BB
Posted by: John Simpson at January 12, 2009 02:03 AM