Peace committed Palestinians fire barrage of rockets into Israel

That's how much they support the peace process. JERUSALEM, April 24 — The military wing of Hamas fired a barrage of rockets and mortar shells from Gaza into Israel today for the first time since the Palestinian faction committed to a cease-fire in November. A spokesman for the military wing in Gaza, who identified himself only as Abu Obeideh, declared the truce over. But more moderate political figures from Hamas who participate in the Palestinian unity government, including Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, said they were making efforts to preserve the cease-fire. And a spokesman for the Hamas movement in Gaza, Ismail Radwan, stopped short of calling off the cease-fire, saying today’s attacks were “a natural response to Israeli aggression and violations of the truce in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.” Over the weekend, Israeli forces killed up to nine Palestinians, mostly militants in the West Bank, in the course of military operations and confrontations. The November cease-fire agreement pertained only to Gaza. Palestinian leaders have asked to extend it to the West Bank, but Israeli officials have said that it must be implemented properly in Gaza first. Smaller Palestinian factions like Islamic Jihad, which rejected the cease-fire, have continued firing rockets at Israel on an almost daily basis. On. a. daily. basis. And the Paleswinian government terrorists wonder why there are confrontations at checkpoints. Maybe it because the Israeli government takes Paleswinian slime killing its citizens seriously. What a novel concept. What kind of response would you expect from a government after enemies sworn to the complete obliteration of not only the Israeli state, but the Jewish people as well, fire over 100 rockets and mortars into your cities. I'd say bombing begins in 10 minutes, but that's just me.

A story of heroism amid the tragedy

I heard this mentioned on the Dennis Prager show and found the article at LGF: professor and holocaust survivor died shielding students from the gunman. (IsraelNN.com) As Israel observed Holocaust Day, thousands of miles away, A Rumanian-born Holocaust survivor gave his life in another senseless murder - and apparently in an act of heroism. Among the 32 people killed by a lone gunman at Virginia Tech Monday is 77-year-old engineering professor, Liviu Librescu, a citizen of Israel. According to eyewitness accounts, Librescu ran to the door of his classroom and blocked it with his body – preventing the gunman from entering but getting shot to death himself as a result. Alec Calhoun, a 20-year-old student who had been in Librescu's class in room 204, told a reporter that at 9:05 a.m. the heard screams and a loud banging sound from the next-door classroom. When the students realized it was gunfire, he said, some hid behind tables, and others leapt from the classroom's windows. Calhoun himself was among the last to jump. "Before I jumped from the window, I turned around and looked at the professor, who stayed behind, maybe to block the door. He had been killed." He is survived by his wife of 42 years and two sons.

Is Obama taking a staunch position against Iran?

That's certainly what this Chicago Tribune headline makes it seem like: Obama calls Iran threat to U.S., Israel. Kinda makes him sound like he's the next JFK... Could it be true? Seeking to woo Jewish votes and contributions, Sen. Barack Obama told an audience in Chicago Friday that he considers Iran "one of the greatest threats to the United States, Israel and world peace" and pledged he would try to end that nation's uranium enrichment program. At least the ChiTrib is honest enough to note a political campaign promise when they see one. Still, Obama says Iran is one of the greatest threats to world peace. So far he's on the money... As he criticized the Bush administration's Iraq policies, the Democratic presidential candidate suggested that the danger posed by neighboring Iran has grown in recent years because of U.S. policy in the Middle East. Ahh the truth at last... It wouldn't be a Democratic fundraiser without a good ol' fashioned Bush-bash: Iran is our fault! So it's a back-assed view of national security. Yes, Iran's a threat, but because we screwed the region up. Nevermind that the region has been screwed up for centuries and we just got there... And then the annointed one speaks! "One of the most profound consequences of the administration's failed strategy in Iraq has been to strengthen Iran's strategic position, reduce U.S. credibility and influence in the region, and place Israel and other nations friendly to the United States in greater peril," Obama (D-Ill.) said before a regional gathering of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a major pro-Israel lobbying group. Obama is looking at the strategy completely backwards. Iran is stronger by default because we ahnililated the stronger military threat in the region, and they're in a strategic position now because we already took out Iraq that was in a more strategic position. And it's not like Iran just figured out Israel existed in the past three years since we've been in the Middle East. Israel's been a target since the country was founded, and they've been a target simply because they exist. America has probably done more to inhibit Israel than help Israel. US officials talk alot about our great ally Israel, but most of our foreign policies have been made to placate the Arab street at the expense of Israel. And Obama's audience ought to realize that if he or any other Democrat is elected, we'll be leaving the region shortly after they take office, and Israel will be left alone to defend itself. Again. So sure Obama sounds great. It's easy to sound great when you spew misconceptions and half-truths... UPDATE @ 10:22am: And good luck to Obama when he tries to play the black card to get elected. Especially since his white ancestors owned slaves.

BBC debunks the Loose Change loonies

LGF posted these three video clips of the BBC show meant to expose the "Truthers" (aka "Idiots" or "Weak Minded Fools"). When you've got 20 minutes or so, watch the BBC videos below. Thanks to LGF for the heads up... You never know when you'll run across a conspiracy whack-o and need a fact or too. I like the debunking of the "Jews stayed home that day" myth. Nevermind that the lie was started by a Hezbollah propaganda/news station. I'm sure they were totally objective when they perverted a Jerusalem Post story that simply tried to put a number on how many Israeli citizens were in the NYC and DC area.

Bloggers on staff with Sen. Edwards are giving him a bit of a headache

Two bloggers Sen. Edwards staffed put him in a bit of a sticky spot the other day... WaPo - Former senator John Edwards (D-N.C.) condemned comments made by two bloggers on his presidential campaign staff but chose not to fire the women, an incident that exposed the fault lines between the largely unfiltered world of new media and the highly regulated universe of national politics. At the center of the brouhaha are Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwen, both of whom were hired last month by Edwards to oversee his "Net roots" outreach. A loose conglomeration of liberal-minded bloggers have grown increasingly influential in Democratic politics. Before joining the Edwards campaign, Marcotte and McEwen each maintained personal Web logs on which they posted highly critical and profane thoughts about topics including the Roman Catholic Church. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League, called on Edwards to fire the duo, whom he described as "vulgar, trash-talking bigots." Wow... second chances abound for liberals who trash WASPs. Of course we were talking about Mitt Romney and some off his staffers popping off, we'd have a national outcry and the oh-so-tolerant left would demand he withdraw from the race, no matter how many apologies he and the staffers issued. And since the MSM isn't paying attention, this isn't the only issue Edwards has made for himself at the moment. He's getting himself in enough trouble talking out of both sides of his face (after all, he did learn from from the best in the business, John Kerry, who flipped flopped more than a fish out of water). 2 weeks ago, speaking at the Herzliya Conference in Israel Edwards addressed the issue of Iran and their pursuit of nukes quite firmly. "Let me be clear: Under no circumstances can Iran be allowed to have nuclear weapons . . . The vast majority of people are concerned about what is going on in Iraq. This will make the American people reticent toward going for Iran. But I think the American people are smart if they are told the truth, and if they trust their president. So Americans can be educated to come along with what needs to be done with Iran." He then took a page from John Kerry's playbook and proceeded to change his position. Q. Can we live with a nuclear Iran? A. "I'm not ready to cross that bridge yet... When [Bush] uses this kind of language 'options are on the table,' he does it in a very threatening kind of way - with a country that he's not engaging with or making any serious diplomatic proposals to. I mean I think that he's just dead wrong about that." How else should a military threat be made? What option does Edwards mean to leave on the table - a bouquet of flowers? On the February 4 edition of Meet the Press, Edwards was asked, "Would President Edwards allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons?" His response: "There's no answer to that question at this moment... We ought to negotiate directly with the Iranians, which has not been done...." Q. But they may get one. A. "I think we don't know, and you have to make a judgment as you go along." So he's gone from staunch position to a policy of jibberish flexible it's spineless. So Edward has become the protege of John Kerry. Only Edwards has charisma and better hair

Palestine calls for ceasefire with itself

I wonder if they had to bring Jimmy Carter in the broker this deal... Gaza City, Jan 30, 2007 (AFP) – The Palestinian ruling party Hamas and its rivals Fatah late Monday called a joint ceasefire after four days of vicious factional fighting left 33 people dead, the territories’ foreign minister said. […] The ceasefire statement also called for militants loyal to both parties to release hostages they have taken from each side over recent days. [Minister Mahmud] Zahar added that Haniay and Abbas would meet soon to relaunch a dialogue. The call came after the worst violence since Hamas won a landslide election a year ago. The unrest torpedoed on and off talks to broker power-sharing agreement and sparked Arab diplomatic efforts to appease the disturbances. Where else is 4 days of fighting, taking hostages, and 33 dead just another week of poltics as usual? And people wonder why this Palestinian blogger has just about given up, resorting to approving of Israeli military intervention. Israel poising to respond on Eilat attack, it could be by the aerial bombardment and artillery, or perhaps they will try to assassinate Palestinian resistance leaders, what a ironically, we really want that to happen quickly, it might be the only solution to stop the bloody fighting between brothers in the Gaza Strip. “They said that the shedding of Palestinian blood is a red line, which has happened to them, the Red waldem become everywhere in the streets, hospitals and houses of Gaza, what remains of taboos that they talked about! [...] It's defective to reach such thinking, to call Israel to stop this shameful chapter in the chapters of the Palestinian case, if there is case still after all that has already happened and is happening. So Israel, be merciful and stop the killing! Just go in a bomb the hell out of Gaza. It's the only solution. They said it... not me...

Zawahiri says elections are for the birds. Blowing up people is the way to go

That's what he told Palestinians. Nevermind that they elected Hamas into their government. They should stick to what they do best. Car bombs at pizza parlors. Dec. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Al-Qaeda's second in command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, urged Palestinians to reject elections and wage Islamic holy war to "liberate Palestine," warning that attempts to form a national unity government will fail. "Any road other than jihad will only lead to loss and failure," al-Zawahiri said in a videotaped message broadcast today on the Qatar-based al-Jazeera television channel. "Anyone trying to liberate the land of Islam through elections based on secular constitutions or on decisions to surrender Palestine to the Jews will not free a grain of sand," he said. Jihad is the only way. The sad thing is they'll keep the jihad as long as 40% of the population continues to be teenage boys, and as long as they hate the Jews more than they love their children (as the famous quote goes...). How else to you convince someone to commit suicide for you...

Love letters from Wackypants Ahmadinejad

Mahmoud "the madman" Ahmadinejad is at it again. And this time he penned a crap-filled letter to the American people. How sweet... Noble Americans, Wow. He sure knows how to butter up us freedom loving, capitalistic types... Were we not faced with the activities of the US administration in this part of the world and the negative ramifications of those activities on the daily lives of our peoples, coupled with the many wars and calamities caused by the US administration as well as the tragic consequences of US interference in other countries; Right, it's all Bush's fault. If it weren't for that meddling Texan, the Taliban would still be running Afghanistan instead of running for their lives, Saddam would still be in power instead of on trial for genocide, and Iran would be so much closer to nuclear weapons. Women would be busy being seen and not heard, wearing their burkas, and not *gasp* educating themselves, voting, holding hands with their boyfriends, or running for office. We'd still be stoning homosexuals in the streets and respecting the right of a father to kill his daughter should the mood strike. It must suck having the US make life better for so many people... Were the American people not God-fearing, truth-loving, and justice-seeking, while the US administration actively conceals the truth and impedes any objective portrayal of current realities; God-fearing? Don't you mean infidel or Great Satan? I'm confused... And since you're in such an open and honest, "truth-loving and Justice-seeking" frame of mind, let's talk about those nuclear weapons you think are your God given right... And if we did not share a common responsibility to promote and protect freedom and human dignity and integrity; And by freedom you mean killing courageous college students who've stood up against your regime? I don't recall that happening in the US... you must be confusing us some other ass-backwards tinpot dictator like Hugo Chavez or Fidel Castro... Then, there would have been little urgency to have a dialogue with you. While Divine providence has placed Iran and the United States geographically far apart, Thank God for small favors... we should be cognizant that human values and our common human spirit, which proclaim the dignity and exalted worth of all human beings, have brought our two great nations of Iran and the United States closer together. That "common human spirit" line may get you all the babes in Iran, it may even get you a date with Kofi Annan, but your humanity is in question until you can accept reality. You know... equality for women, freedom of religion, that the holocaust really happened and isn't just some Zionist conspiracy... Both our nations are God-fearing, truth-loving and justice-seeking, and both seek dignity, respect and perfection. Wait... didn't you say that already? Don't you have any other pick up lines? Both greatly value and readily embrace the promotion of human ideals such as compassion, empathy, respect for the rights of human beings, securing justice and equity, and defending the innocent and the weak against oppressors and bullies. Well we value human ideals at least... We are all inclined towards the good, and towards extending a helping hand to one another, particularly to those in need. We all deplore injustice, the trampling of peoples' rights and the intimidation and humiliation of human beings. We all detest darkness, deceit, lies and distortion, and seek and admire salvation, enlightenment, sincerity and honesty. The pure human essence of the two great nations of Iran and the United States testify to the veracity of these statements. You don't get to talk about my essence until you can stop lying about your nuclear ambitions, acknowledge that Israel has a right to exist, and confirm the simple fact that the Holocaust happened. Millions of Jews died in it. Until then keep your mitts off my essence. Perv. Noble Americans, Funny... I don't feel noble... I feel like I work for a living... Our nation has always extended its hand of friendship to all other nations of the world. And by friendship you must mean holding our diplomats hostage in our embassy, your subversive role in the Lebanese assassinations along with Syria, and your desire to wipe Israel off the map. I don't know how those were misinterpretted... Hundreds of thousands of my Iranian compatriots are living amongst you in friendship and peace, and are contributing positively to your society. Our people have been in contact with you over the past many years and have maintained these contacts despite the unnecessary restrictions of US authorities. And the funny thing about most of the people of Iranian descent here in the US is that they hate you and the mullahs. That's why they live here and not there... As mentioned, we have common concerns, face similar challenges, and are pained by the sufferings and afflictions in the world. There'd be a lot less suffering and affliction if you'd just dissapear. Too bad the CIA's been all sissified and won't take you out... We, like you, are aggrieved by the ever-worsening pain and misery of the Palestinian people. Persistent aggressions by the Zionists are making life more and more difficult for the rightful owners of the land of Palestine. In broad day-light, in front of cameras and before the eyes of the world, they are bombarding innocent defenseless civilians, bulldozing houses, firing machine guns at students in the streets and alleys, and subjecting their families to endless grief. It's the eeeeeviiil Jooooooos fault! Bombing civilians, buldozing houses, killing Palestinian students, yada yada yada... You forgot that the eeeeviil Jooos need the blood of the Palestinian babies to bake their matza. You ought to have your speech writer shot. No day goes by without a new crime. Palestinian mothers, just like Iranian and American mothers, love their children, and are painfully bereaved by the imprisonment, wounding and murder of their children. What mother wouldn't? Matza bread! What about the matza?! Famous quote: There will not be peace in the until Palestian parents love their children more than they hate Jews. How else do you explain 14 year old Hamas wannabes blowing themselves up in pizza parlors... For 60 years, the Zionist regime has driven millions of the inhabitants of Palestine out of their homes. Many of these refugees have died in the Diaspora and in refugee camps. Their children have spent their youth in these camps and are aging while still in the hope of returning to homeland. Yet the Palestinian government can't function to meet the basic needs of it's people without the Israeli government. How weird is that? You know well that the US administration has persistently provided blind and blanket support to the Zionist regime, has emboldened it to continue its crimes, and has prevented the UN Security Council from condemning it. Those evil Zionists at it again... Next you'll tell me they were behind 9/11... Who can deny such broken promises and grave injustices towards humanity by the US administration? Governments are there to serve their own people. No people wants to side with or support any oppressors. But regrettably, the US administration disregards even its own public opinion and remains in the forefront of supporting the trampling of the rights of the Palestinian people. How are they trampling the rights of the Palestinians? They had free elections. They elected Hamas terrorists into power. That's their right. And it's our right to decide to not deal with those terrorists now matter how fair the election. Next time maybe they'll think electing terrorists to office isn't a good idea when the rest of the world doesn't want to deal with terrorists. Let's take a look at Iraq. Oh goody... I can't wait... Since the commencement of the US military presence in Iraq, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed, maimed or displaced. Unfortunately lots have. And 99% of of those were killed by terrorists, insurgents, and other peace-loving Muslims... If only the US would get out so the religion of peace fanatics can really start killing. Terrorism in Iraq has grown exponentially. ...because they're too cowardly to actually come out and fight and have to resort to kidnapping, suicide bombs, car bombs, and booby trapping dead bodies... With the presence of the US military in Iraq, nothing has been done to rebuild the ruins, to restore the infrastructure or to alleviate poverty. Bullshit. We're building hospitals and schools. Rebuilding roads and refineries. If you're so concerned get off your ass, go to your neighbor nation, and help. The US Government used the pretext of the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, but later it became clear that that was just a lie and a deception. Weapons have been found, just not the quantity that was expected based on the huge friggin' stink Saddam put up about allowing inspections. Inspections were all we wanted to begin with. Invasion was the next option. He thought we were bluffing. Although Saddam was overthrown and people are happy about his departure, the pain and suffering of the Iraqi people has persisted and has even been aggravated. I'm sure they'll feel lots better after he's hung. In Iraq, about one hundred and fifty thousand American soldiers, separated from their families and loved ones, are operating under the command of the current US administration. A substantial number of them have been killed or wounded and their presence in Iraq has tarnished the image of the American people and government. While every US death is a tragedy, our casualty rate is far below just about any other war in our history. Their mothers and relatives have, on numerous occasions, displayed their discontent with the presence of their sons and daughters in a land thousands of miles away from US shores. American soldiers often wonder why they have been sent to Iraq. Should you, by some weird twist of fate, actually come face to face with a military mom and compare her to Cindy Sheehan, expect an ass-whoppin'. Cindy Sheehan does not speak for anyone other than herself. I consider it extremely unlikely that you, the American people, consent to the billions of dollars of annual expenditure from your treasury for this military misadventure. Don't worry. It's worth it. Freedom's not free and it's certainly not cheap... That's about all I can stand... If you really want to punish yourself and read the other half (yes that's only half of his letter), here's the link to page 2... UPDATE 12/1/06 @ 4:17pm: Cox & Forkum mocks wackypants too...

What to do with Iran...

It's funny to see this coming from the LATimes, but it's an op-ed that basically says diplomacy's failed, start bombing Iran. So if sanctions won't work, what's left? The overthrow of the current Iranian regime might offer a silver bullet, but with hard-liners firmly in the saddle in Tehran, any such prospect seems even more remote today than it did a decade ago, when students were demonstrating and reformers were ascendant. Meanwhile, the completion of Iran's bomb grows nearer every day. Our options therefore are narrowed to two: We can prepare to live with a nuclear-armed Iran, or we can use force to prevent it. Former ABC newsman Ted Koppel argues for the former, saying that "if Iran is bound and determined to have nuclear weapons, let it." We should rely, he says, on the threat of retaliation to keep Iran from using its bomb. Similarly, Newsweek International Editor Fareed Zakaria points out that we have succeeded in deterring other hostile nuclear states, such as the Soviet Union and China. Go figure... the MSM runs around in circles screaming "the sky is falling, the sky is falling." I don't know that I'd totally throw in the towel on revolutionary elements within Iran, but time is short. If that's still an option, something needs to happen there fast. Besides that, our options are bleak if we continue to put all our eggs into the diplomacy basket. Do we simply sit back and hope Israel can take out all of Iran's reactors? If that fails we're faced with a nuclear Iran, and what Koppel fails to realize is that this would be more than just a cold war. Iran would be more than willing to pass a nuke off to a terrorist group. Why else could they want an Iranian, Saif Adel, to take bin Laden's place as al Qaeda's leader? That'd certainly be convenient, wouldn't it? And what about the power shifft in the region? Israel's nuclear program is probably the only reason they still exist, along with their willingness to pre-emptively strike at those attempting to develop nukes. Would a nuclear Iran send Iraq's fledgling democracy into a tailspin? And Syria could easily hop on the coat tails of their nieghbor. Syria's going to continue to get bolder as we continue to wring our hands, so we'll get more demands from Syria, like their current demand for a timetable of our withdrawal from Iraq. Should we take bets on what Iran wants to discuss with this summit they've invited Syria and Iraq to? They say it's about the sectarian violence, but if you take what Ahmadinejad tells you at face value, I've got some great beach front property in Arkansas I'd love to sell you. I'd like to keep the "bombing Iran back to the stone age" option on the shelf, but we're painting ourselves into a corner here...

Hamas slime end standoff in mosque by hiding among women to make their escape

Michael Moore's noble freedom fighters at their best... Gaza gunmen flee hidden among protesting women GAZA CITY (CNN) -- Palestinian militants who had been in a standoff with Israeli soldiers escaped Friday, many of them slipping away in a crowd of women who had come to protest the Israeli action. The gunmen had been holed up in a northern Gaza mosque for hours mingling with a crowd of Palestinian women who had formed a human shield outside, the Israel Defense Forces said. Palestinian sources said some of the militants had put on women's clothes. The number and identities of those killed remained unclear Friday amid conflicting reports. (Watch women flee the gunfire and one fall dead -- 1:54 ) The group of women rallied outside a mosque in Beit Hanoun shortly after Hamas radio called on women and children to march in protest at the incident, IDF said. First they hide in a mosque then recruit women to come and hide them so they can flee to safety. Hamas: your friendly, neighborhood cowards...

Iran test fires missile capable of reaching Israel

It's a scary day to be in Jerusalem... TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards fired missiles carrying cluster warheads to shouts of "God is the greatest" at the start of 10 days of military maneuvers on Thursday, state television reported. Tehran had said the maneuvers, dubbed "The Greatest Prophet" and which will include drills in the Gulf and Sea of Oman, were to demonstrate "defensive strength." The article goes on the remind us that this isn't a display of newly developed technology, but it certainly doesn't make anyone feel good... unless you're a crazy Iranian trying to bring about the end of the world via the 12th imam... Then you're super-stoked. Plus you can kill lots of jews at the same time. So when do we stop him from destroying the Middle East?

And now we hear from the Iran wacko who wants nukes

Iran is North Korea from 10 years ago and Ahmadinejad is learning that he can get nuclear weapons if he plays the diplomtic game just like Ping Pong Kim Jong. And if wackypants Ahmadinejad gets nukes, Iran will destroy Israel. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Israel no longer has any reason to exist and will soon disappear. The latest threats are adding to Israel's already deep concerns about Iran's nuclear program. Israeli officials say the saber-rattling from Iran is another warning to the international community that the Islamic regime must not be allowed to get a nuclear bomb. At a pro-Palestinian rally in Tehran, Iran's president said Israeli leaders are a "group of terrorists," and he threatened any country that supports the Jewish state. He also said Israel is a fake regime that would soon disappear. It was a similar statement to one a year ago, when he threatened "to wipe Israel off the map." Iran will keep playing us until he gets exactly what he wants, and I'm afraid Israel will be the only nation with enough backbone to stand in Iran's way. Since we won't be directly affected immediately after Iran announces it has finally made a nuclear weapon, I'm afraid the US will stand by and watch (especially if we elect Democrats) as Israel has to act alone, again. Just like Osirak back in 1981. The US will play dumb while Israel saves the world. Ahmadinejad is telling us what he will do. Flat out. He will destroy Israel. Wipe them off the map. Make them disappear. When will we believe him and will we do anything about it? UPDATE @ 4:17pm: Cox & Forkum's latest on the supreme leader of Iran...

Who says the MSM is impartial?

Reuters continues its "fake but accurate" reporting from the Middle East (via Hot Air). On Tuesday, a Reuters cameraman was remanded to prison until trial for his part in rock-throwing attacks on security forces in Bil'in, where the separation fence is a constant target of protesters. The cameraman, Imad Muhammad Intisar Boghnat, was arrested and charged as a result of violent riots in the Arab village of Bil'in, in the Modi'in region, on October 6, 2006. A videotape that the prosecution presented to the judge shows Boghnat encouraging and directing rioters in Bil'in to throw large chunks of rock at Israeli vehicles in such a way as to cause maximum damage. The accused is heard shouting, "Throw, throw!" and later, "Throw towards the little window!" Wait a sec... I thought the press was simply supposed to report what was happening, not encourage people to do things so they've got something to report that fits their agenda. How silly of me...