Boker tov, Boulder!

I think I'm having a Jenin-Massacre-Deja-Vu

I don't know about where you live, but in my town, today's editorial in the liberal (morning) paper is "Terrorism: Iraq war worsened it."

There is an absolute firestorm of news coverage over one bit of a classified document that was leaked by anonymous sources to the MSM. We don't know (nor do the reporters and editors) what the classified document actually says, nor in what context this supposed bombshell is found. We don't know who leaked it or why. In fact we know little to nothing, yet this story is already pumped and distributed. See for example, CNN's "Story Highlights" --

• Leaked intelligence report says Iraq war is increasing Islamic radicalism
• Democrats say report proves that U.S. war strategies must change
• White House says media reports mischaracterized full report
• Leak comes as terrorism, war in Iraq are top election issues

Two thoughts come quickly to mind. First, since we didn't find the WMD we expected to find in Iraq, shouldn't we be just a tad skeptical about American intelligence?

Secondly, if it is eventually found that umpteen intelligence agencies did conclude that the war in Iraq has increased terrorist activity rather than lessened it, what does that really tell us? I know, I know, it's a great club with which to further bash the Bush administration, but beyond that, what does it mean? It doesn't tell us that had we not gone into Iraq, this wouldn't have happened. Nor does it necessarily mean that withdrawing from Iraq is the answer. It doesn't help us more clearly understand the threat we face, nor does it tell us how to fight the terrorists more effectively.

The premature and hyperbolic nature of the news-swarm reminds me of the Jenin massacre coverage. The administration has just released a declassified version of the document, so let's see what that says and come back to this later, after the dust has settled a bit.

Abu Whasis: Britain Belongs to Allah

By Barry Shaw

Britain's Home Secretary, John Reid, was verbally attacked and abused when he visited a Muslim centre to address the local population. Leading the assault was radical Islamist, Abu Izzadeen, who was later interviewed on a BBC radio program. In this interview he said that Allah created the Universe and, therefore, Britain does not belong to the Queen, or to the British government. It belongs to Allah. He further claimed that his view is held by anyone in Britain who believes himself to be a true Muslim. This viewpoint confirms that the Islamic agenda is to convert Britain into part of the Ummah, or Worldwide Caliphate.

It is clear that the Muslim voice, in places like Britain, will be heard more loudly and more stridently than in the past. If Britain is to maintain its democracy it must decide NOW to stand firm against the ongoing erosion of Its cherished values. Abu Izzadeen told listeners that Muslims recognize the Islamic process, but not the democratic process, in Britain....

.... the Israeli Maariv newspaper printed an interesting article. The headline was "Who is killing the most Muslims?" The statistics are fascinating and should be used to answer the vacuous claim that America, Britain, and Israel, are in a war against Islam. The statistics reveal a different story. These are the figures quoted in this newspaper article of who killed Muslims around the World"

Muslims or Arabs killed by ISRAEL 60,000 In all conflicts since 1948.
Muslims killed by U.S.A. 70,000
Muslims killed by FRANCE 500,000
Muslims killed by RUSSIA 1,080,000
Muslims killed by MUSLIMS 8,410,000

We do not have the figures for Israelis, Americans, Russians and others, killed by Muslims. Based on these figures radical Islam is killing far more of their own. Most of the dead in conflicts involving Britain and the USA were armed combatants. Most of the dead killed by Muslims were non combatants.

Based in these figures, rather than claiming that Bush and Blair are carrying out a crusade against Islam, it appears that the Islamic Jihad is targeting other Muslims. The proof of this is to truly examine the figures of those killed in Iraq. The vast majority of the dead have been killed, not by British or American forces, and certainly not by Israel, but by Muslims themselves. The result of this Islamic Crusade leaves a trail of death that has swept the world. It is clear, listening to the views of people like Abu Izzadeen, that the future is bleak.

It is painfully clear that many more people, Muslim and non Muslim, will be killed either fighting for, or defending themselves against, this global Jihad.

The efficacy? of prisoner release

Palestinian Prisoners Released from Israeli Jails Killed 132 in New Attacks
By Amihai Zippor

(IHC News, 19 September 2006) According to a report released by the Almagor Terror Victims Association, security-related prisoners released by Israel that were not directly involved in the deaths of Israelis, later killed 132 and wounded hundreds more in new attacks.

Many of the prisoners were released in what were supposed to be confidence-building measures between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

“[Israelis should] not be led astray by formulations that take the terrorists' murderousness lightly,” the study said.

“[We cannot] console ourselves with the hope that the next terror attack will not hurt us or our immediate surroundings,” it added.

The Israeli government is considering releasing thousands of Palestinian prisoners from its jails in exchange for abducted IDF soldier, Gilad Shalit, who is being held somewhere in Gaza.

In the past, Israel has traditionally released a disproportionate amount of its bargaining chips for soldiers’ remains or information leading to their whereabouts.

The policy has been criticized, even though it has reunited families with their loved ones or provided information on the fate of soldiers missing in action.

Ramadan & the poorpalestinians

Palestinian militant leader Abu Abir, center, from a splinter group affiliated with the Popular Resistance Committee, speaks at a news conference at a mosque in Gaza City, Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006. The news conference was held by gunmen considered to be Islamic militants and they threatened to attack any Palestinian Authority coalition government they view as too moderate. 'We consider any government that recognizes Israel as a legitimate target,' said one of the gunmen, who would only identify himself by his nom de guerre, Abu Abir. Even though the gunmen represent only a small splinter group, it marked the first time Palestinian militants said publicly they are prepared to attack government officials. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

Palestinians mark Ramadan with sadness, anger (Middle East Times)

Black Ramadan for Palestinians in Gaza (Middle East Online)

Gaza Faces Bleak Ramadan (Zaman/Turkey)

No lanterns for Ramadan: Gaza families destitute (AP/Cleveland Plain Dealer)

It's a bleak season for Gaza Strip (Orange County Register)

Gaza is hungry - and not because of Ramadan (Haaretz)

See also also this interview with Palestinian pollster Khalil Shikaki at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR):

Hamas won the election in February. What is the result of the latest polling you’ve done? Are people satisfied with the Hamas government or are people now sorry they voted it in?

The public is highly critical of the performance of Hamas in law and order and on the economy by not being able to pay salaries, etc. But this does not seem to translate into less support for Hamas if and when new elections are held. Essentially, Hamas’ popularity is the same as it was three months ago, which is a little bit less than what Hamas won during the elections. Hamas won 44 percent of the popular vote on the day of elections in February. It went up a little bit after that. May was the highest point for Hamas with close to 50 percent telling us that if new elections were held they would vote for Hamas. This came at the peak of the international pressure on Hamas, but the more international pressure there was the more steadfast the public was in supporting Hamas.

More on the CFR (and Ahmadinejad) at Jewish Current Issues.

Rockets FALL (One wounded)

Rockets just "fall" out of the sky in the Holy Land.

Palestinian rockets fall in south Israel

JERUSALEM - Palestinian militants fired at least two rockets from the Gaza Strip into southern Israel early Tuesday, wounding at least one person, Israel Radio reported.

One of the rockets fell in the town of Sderot and wounded a woman in the stomach, the radio said.

The Israeli army's spokesman confirmed that one rocket fell near a farming community but did not immediately have details on a rocket falling in Sderot, or any injuries.

Palestinians fire rockets into southern Israel almost daily but they rarely cause casualties. Israel began a large military operation in the Gaza Strip at the end of June in an effort to stop the rocket fire.

These rockets no more "fall" into Israeli towns than did those airplanes "fall" into the World Trade Center. The dismissive attitude of the MSM toward attacks on Israeli civilians is mind-boggling. The people (I use the term loosely) who are making the rockets fall are doing their best to kill Jews. Hello. Boker tov. Nothing new this morning.

You have to go to the Israeli press if you want to know anything at all, cf. Arutz Sheva:

Two extra-powerful Gaza-fired rockets hit Sderot this morning, wounding a female soldier with shrapnel. Hamas threatens: Our Kassams will land far beyond Ashkelon.

One of the rockets, a powerful Al-Kuds model, hit Begin Square, near the city's open-air market. The woman was pounded with shrapnel in her leg and was evacuated to Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon. Several other people went into a state of shock. The second rocket landed in the yard of a home, pock-marking it with shrapnel. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

Residents reported that the rocket blasts were louder than usual - and were later reported to be Al-Kuds models, fired by Islamic Jihad.

In the meanwhile, Hamas is threatening to fire Kassam rockets deeper into Israel than ever before. "First they will hit Ashkelon," said Abu Ubaideh, spokesman for the Iz A-din Al-Kassam wing of Hamas, "and then we will act to ensure that they go further than that."

Abu Ubaideh spoke of the lessons that Hamas has learned from Hizbullah: "We carefully tracked what Hizbullah did, and we are proud of how its soldiers acted, while being aware of the differences between us and them. The bottom line is that there are some positive points that we must follow, such as the... secrecy with which they surprised the enemy, and the gradual escalation of their clash with the enemy; they did not show all their capabilities at the start. At the same time, we must take into account that the Palestinian resistance [terrorism] was more imaginative than the Lebanese - and despite the fact that it operates under fire, it had great achievements and was able to kidnap soldiers from within their tanks and fortifications." (Based on Palestinian Media Watch)

Pact of Umar

From the Medieval Sourcebook at www.fordham.edu, the terms of dhimmitude offered by Caliph Umar to the Christians of Syria in the 7th century:

In the name of God, the Merciful and Compassionate. This is a letter to the servant of God Umar [ibn al-Khattab], Commander of the Faithful, from the Christians of such-and-such a city. When you came against us, we asked you for safe-conduct (aman) for ourselves, our descendants, our property, and the people of our community, and we undertook the following obligations toward you:

We shall not build, in our cities or in their neighborhood, new monasteries, Churches, convents, or monks' cells, nor shall we repair, by day or by night, such of them as fall in ruins or are situated in the quarters of the Muslims.

We shall keep our gates wide open for passersby and travelers. We shall give board and lodging to all Muslims who pass our way for three days.

We shall not give shelter in our churches or in our dwellings to any spy, nor bide him from the Muslims.

We shall not teach the Qur'an to our children.

We shall not manifest our religion publicly nor convert anyone to it. We shall not prevent any of our kin from entering Islam if they wish it.

We shall show respect toward the Muslims, and we shall rise from our seats when they wish to sit.

We shall not seek to resemble the Muslims by imitating any of their garments, the qalansuwa, the turban, footwear, or the parting of the hair. We shall not speak as they do, nor shall we adopt their kunyas.

We shall not mount on saddles, nor shall we gird swords nor bear any kind of arms nor carry them on our- persons.

We shall not engrave Arabic inscriptions on our seals.

We shall not sell fermented drinks.

We shall clip the fronts of our heads.

We shall always dress in the same way wherever we may be, and we shall bind the zunar round our waists

We shall not display our crosses or our books in the roads or markets of the Muslims. We shall use only clappers in our churches very softly. We shall not raise our voices when following our dead. We shall not show lights on any of the roads of the Muslims or in their markets. We shall not bury our dead near the Muslims.

We shall not take slaves who have been allotted to Muslims.

We shall not build houses overtopping the houses of the Muslims.

(When I brought the letter to Umar, may God be pleased with him, he added, "We shall not strike a Muslim.")

We accept these conditions for ourselves and for the people of our community, and in return we receive safe-conduct.

If we in any way violate these undertakings for which we ourselves stand surety, we forfeit our covenant [dhimma], and we become liable to the penalties for contumacy and sedition.

Umar ibn al-Khittab replied: Sign what they ask, but add two clauses and impose them in addition to those which they have undertaken. They are: "They shall not buy anyone made prisoner by the Muslims," and "Whoever strikes a Muslim with deliberate intent shall forfeit the protection of this pact."

Quote of the Day

freelance radical:

They're Poodles facing PitBulls.

Read it all. Oh and btw, no offense to dogs.

It's JERUSALEM they want

Nasrallah in 2000, quoted by Robin Wright in the Washington Post:

"We have liberated the south.
Next we'll liberate Jerusalem."

A Hizbollah supporter holds a poster showing Iranian President Mohamoud Ahmadinejad (L), Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (C) and Hizbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during a rally organised by Hizbollah in a Beirut suburb September 22,2006. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir (LEBANON)

Lamont Campaign turned us down

I wrote to the Lamont campaign on Sept. 13th, inviting Mr. Lamont to "Meet the Bloggers," i.e. take part in a conference call much like the ones I've been participating in through One Jerusalem.

I got no answer, so I re-sent the invitation today. It seems he's too busy.

Here's what they said:

Anne – Thank you for your invitation. Right now because of the quickly approaching election and the massive amounts of scheduling requests we’re getting we are currently not able to accept this request.

EV

Edward Vale - Assistant Communications Director
Ned Lamont for Senate

What a bummer.

My invitation went like this:

I am a blogger (Boker tov, Boulder!) and advocate for Israel. As the Lamont campaign seeks to unseat such a prominent supporter of Israel as Joe Lieberman, and in light of what appears to be waning support for Israel among Democrats, there is enormous interest in Mr. Lamont's views on Israel, all across the country and reflected in the new media of the "blogosphere."

yadda yadda yadda... I'd like to invite Mr. Lamont to speak to a group of bloggers via conference call. --etc.

I guess they saw what happened to former Pres. Clinton in the clutches of maniacal right-wingers, and decided not to take any chances. It's too bad; I would have liked to know more of what he thinks:

Without negotiating with terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, President Bush and the Secretary of State ought to be working on a peace settlement with Israel, the Palestinians and others who might help. The outlines of a peace agreement are there; both sides agree: land for recognition, peace and security.

Does he mean Israel should re-take Gaza? I guess we'll never know.

Krauthammer's Law:

Everyone is Jewish until proven otherwise.

.... I've had a fairly good run with this one. First, it turns out that John Kerry -- windsurfing, French-speaking, Beacon Hill aristocrat -- had two Jewish grandparents. Then Hillary Clinton -- methodical Methodist -- unearths a Jewish stepgrandfather in time for her run as New York senator.

A less jaunty case was that of Madeleine Albright, three of whose Czech grandparents had perished in the Holocaust and who most improbably contended that she had no idea they were Jewish. To which we can add the leading French presidential contender (Nicolas Sarkozy), a former supreme allied commander of NATO (Wesley Clark) and Russia's leading anti-Semite (Vladimir Zhirinovsky). One must have a sense of humor about these things. Even Fidel Castro claims he is from a family of Marranos.

For all its tongue-in-cheek irony, Krauthammer's Law works because when I say "everyone," I don't mean everyone you know personally. Depending on the history and ethnicity of your neighborhood and social circles, there may be no one you know who is Jewish. But if "everyone" means anyone that you've heard of in public life, the law works for two reasons. Ever since the Jews were allowed out of the ghetto and into European society at the dawning of the Enlightenment, they have peopled the arts and sciences, politics, and history in astonishing disproportion to their numbers.

There are 13 million Jews in the world, one-fifth of 1 percent of the world's population. Yet 20 percent of Nobel Prize winners are Jewish, a staggering hundredfold surplus of renown and genius. This is similarly true for a myriad of other "everyones" -- the household names in music, literature, mathematics, physics, finance, industry, design, comedy, film and, as the doors opened, even politics.

But it is not just Jewish excellence at work here. There is a dark side to these past centuries of Jewish emancipation and achievement -- an unrelenting history of persecution. The result is the other more somber and poignant reason for the Jewishness of public figures being discovered late and with surprise: concealment.

Read it all, and just imagine all the tefillin concealed at the bottom of New York Harbor.

New York City date unknown