Should the US Remilitarize Military Procurement?

Posted on: August 7th, 2012

Today, control over all major military spending decisions remain exclusively in the hands of political appointees, and soldiers, sailors and airmen are left with the job of trying to defend their country and themselves with the inferior results of decisions made by politicians.

Who’s Really Isolated? He Who Misunderstands Middle East Realities

Posted on: August 7th, 2012

Israel’s “friends” abroad simply can’t seem to get out of their minds the idea that the country faces such terrible threats that it must make big concessions and beg for peace with the Palestinians on just about any terms, or try to appease hostile surrounding countries in order to stave off their wrath.

J.E. Dyer: Peace in our time – Asian Navies Converging on the Mediterranean

Posted on: August 7th, 2012

India has just conducted an unprecedented four-day port visit in Haifa, during which Indian sailors roamed Israel as American sailors have for many years, and joint ceremonies were held with the local population. A naval visit to Israel is a big political signal; India would not be sending it lightly.

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How Liberal Democrats Who Support Israel Might Think about the Election

Posted on: August 6th, 2012

I will vote for the presidential candidate who I believe is best for America and for the world, and in making that calculation I will consider their policies toward Israel because I believe that strong support for Israel's security is good for America and for the world.

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Netanyahu Plays the Romney Card

Posted on: August 5th, 2012

Every few months, when the Israelis sense that US resolve in the sanctions department is weakening, or the Iranians enrich uranium to new levels, they ratchet up the rhetoric without any proper coordination, and cause political problems for the US President. This trick works because it forces Obama to prove that he is strong by pushing harder for stronger sanctions or else face the ire of potential voters and donors.

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Mordechai Kedar: Christians of the Middle East – Endangered Communities

Posted on: August 5th, 2012

The "Christian West" is perceived by traditional Islam as responsible for all of the ills of the region: the establishment of the State of Israel, its arming and its reinforcement, are perceived as a "Western" project and therefore also as a "Christian plot" and "modern crusade."

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Why I’ve Always Written So Much With Such Intensity And Why I Won’t Stop Now

Posted on: August 5th, 2012

A famous Jewish story about that is the tale of Rabbi Zosia who said that he did not expect God to berate him for not having been Moses—who he wasn’t—but for not having been Zosia.To me, that means we must do the best to be ourselves while trying to make ourselves as good as possible.

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EU ‘Upgrades’ Relations with Israel, Strangling Strings Attached

Posted on: August 5th, 2012

Israel should be under no illusion that the recent "upgrading" of bilateral relations with the European Union will end European hostility toward the Jewish state. Quite to the contrary; Israel should be expecting an increase in European meddling in its internal affairs.

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Turkey’s Trade Deficit Reveals an Economy in Deep Trouble

Posted on: August 5th, 2012

At 18% interest, consumers have to borrow to pay the interest on previous loans. In other words Turkish banks are capitalizing interest, and booking profits on loans that would go sour if they stopped lending additional money to borrowers to pay the interest. The much-vaunted strength of Turkey's banks appears to be an illusion.

The Spring of Islamic Fundamentalism

Posted on: August 2nd, 2012

Wouldn't it be logical to expect that before issuing an invitation to Morsi to visit him at the White House, President Obama would ask his future guest how, if he believes that the country must be subjected to Islamic Law, he intends to defend the secular constitution of Egypt?

Islam at the Olympics

Posted on: August 2nd, 2012

The latest anti-prostitution campaign in East London typifies an Islamist strategy, which is to create parallel communities for Muslims that do not interact with their non-Muslim neighbors. Islamists use these initiatives to present themselves as active members of the community, often picking on legitimate and understandable concerns. Their aim is to win new recruits and further their divisive agenda.

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Why Abbas Wants to Go Back to the UN in September

Posted on: August 2nd, 2012

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is now saying that he will resume his efforts in September to achieve, unilaterally, UN recognition of a Palestinian state. This time, however, Abbas says he will go to the General Assembly, where the Palestinians enjoy the support of more than 130 countries, with a request to recognize a Palestinian state as a non-member of the UN.

British Allow Anti-Semitic Iranian Propaganda in the UK

Posted on: August 1st, 2012

The British have been in the news lately for their stretched-to-the-limit political correctness concerning militant Islamists, and have even been jailing British subjects or fining them for allegedly making insulting remarks about Islam. Despite these convictions for "hate crimes" against Islam the British government seems perfectly willing to overlook the converse: anti-Semitic attacks by Iranian front groups against the Jewish community.

Romney Lays It Out: Progress and Success Versus Name-Calling And Bragging About Being Victims

Posted on: August 1st, 2012

Since Palestinian Authority leaders want to discuss culture, here’s one out of thousands of examples. Recently, at a cultural performance whose audience included the PA minister of culture, the songs and poetry spoke of how the main priority of raising children is to make sure they were ready to use guns—not computers—against you-know-who.

A Russian-Saudi-Turkish-Chinese alliance to contain the Muslim Brotherhood and Obama?

Posted on: August 1st, 2012

It appears that the Russians, the Turks and the Saudis will keep Syria at a low boil, making it difficult for either side to fully impose its will on the other, and impossible for a Sunni Islamist regime to emerge. What is remarkable, though, is the success of Russian diplomacy: despite all of the Obama administration's courtship, the Erdogan government has decided to signal its dependence on Moscow in the most visible -and, for Washington- humiliating way possible.

Muslim Polygamists to Get More Welfare Benefits in Britain

Posted on: August 1st, 2012

Although all marriages that take place in the United Kingdom must be monogamous, Muslim immigrants can and do employ countless evasions to practice polygamy without running afoul of British matrimony laws.

The ‘Culture’ Remark

Posted on: August 1st, 2012

So today there is a Palestinian culture which defines itself by opposition to Israel and Jews. Its heroes are Arabs who kill Jews because that is the culture’s highest value. It can express itself in religious terms, as in the Hamas charter‘s inclusion of a Islamic injunction to kill Jews “wherever you find them,” or in pan-Arab or Palestinian nationalist ones.

In Egypt, Just Whack the Jewish Piñata to Become a Star

Posted on: July 31st, 2012

Adel Imam - possibly the most famous Arab actor - has been blacklisted by Egyptian activists for apparently taking Hosni Mubarak's side in the Egyptian revolution that toppled him in 2011. Nonetheless, Imam has made a comeback with a miniseries that is full of anti-Semitism and demonization of Jews and Israel. Is this just plain hate for Jews or is it a stunt by Imam to win the public? And if so, what does it mean for Egypt and the Arab world?

What the Iranian People “Really Think”… and How to Help Them

Posted on: July 31st, 2012

Over the past year, more and more Iranians have been finding ways to communicate with their friends and relatives abroad in ways which should encourage the world to ratchet up the pressure on the regime.

The Olympic Story that Wasn’t News

Posted on: July 31st, 2012

If you buy into the concept that news is not news unless it is covered by the major media players, than I guess the fact that the Lebanese judo team refused to practice next to the Israeli team until the Olympic organizers erected barriers to divide the room and place the Israelis out of sight...wasn't news.

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