Judeopundit: April 2008

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

"World Revolutionary People Called upon to Hold High Banner of Socialism"

Is backsliding a big problem among the world revolutionary people? Besides Obama, I mean.

The world revolutionary people are called upon to hold aloft the banner of socialism, bearing in mind the truth of history that to defend socialism means a victory but abandoning it means death.

Rodong Sinmun Tuesday says this in a signed article.

It goes on:

If people lower the flag of socialism, departing from its path, they are bound to suffer misfortune and disaster and become slaves.

The experience of history clearly shows that when one makes one concession and retreat over the issue of the principle of socialism, one will be compelled to make ten, nay a hundred concessions and retreats and, in the end, the party of the working class is bound to go bankrupt and a socialist regime to collapse.

The road to socialism means one to independence, peace and national prosperity. Socialism is the only way for the developing countries building new society to eradicate the aftermath of the imperialist colonial rule and achieve independent development and national prosperity.

The reality of the DPRK where people-centred socialism based on the great Juche idea is in its best day demonstrates the advantages and invincibility of socialism. Korean-style socialism is the ideal society desired by humankind for such a long period of time and the social system in which the people's independence has come true in all spheres. Socialism is the lifeblood of the people in the DPRK as it is vital to them.

Irangrish title of the day: "Dolphin die after colliding another one"

That was courtesy of IRIB. Sharky the dolphin was martyred in the course of his heroic attempts to foil all plots of the World Arrogance and hegemonic powers by uniting the Dolphin Umma:

A dolphin died over the weekend at a SeaWorld sister park after colliding with another dolphin during a guest interaction program.

About 32 visitors were in the lagoon Saturday afternoon when the two dolphins swam into the deeper center and leapt from the water, Discovery Cove spokeswoman Becca Bides said Monday.

They collided and Sharky, a 30-year-old dolphin, died, she said.

In related news the Ayatollah described the Islamic Revolution as a "sea change":

The Islamic Revolution Leader described the Islamic Revolution as a landmark event in the course of the history of Iran and noted the fact that the Iranian people used to shun any rulers or authorities all time until the Islamic Revolution emerged.

"In the great Islamic Revolution event however, the people took the stage of power transfer and ushered a sea change through their faith and resolution," Ayatollah Kahmenei said, adding that the historical event and its implications must be reviewed by a macro and comprehensive approach.

So Sharky the Dolphin did not die in vain.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Reuters: Birds gotta peck, spuds gotta cool

Let's begin with the BBC on what may be the crucial details:

The Israeli army said it had "targeted from the air two Palestinian gunmen who were approaching the soldiers while carrying large bags on their backs.

"A big explosion erupted on the scene... indicating the presence of bombs and explosives in the gunmen's bags," the army said.

"As a result of this big explosion, extensive damage was caused to a house that was near the gunmen and uninvolved civilians were hit."

And now Reuters. This is an amazing demonstration of biased journalism. It builds one paragraph after another until finally reaching the sentimental novelistic dribblings about chickens and potatoes.

Israeli fire hit a house in the Gaza Strip on Monday while a family was eating breakfast, killing six Palestinians, including four children and their mother, residents and medical workers said.

Israel challenged the account, describing the deaths as tragic and saying they occurred when an aircraft fired at two militants carrying bags filled with munitions that detonated and destroyed the home in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun.

Local residents said no militants were killed in the explosion.

So much for that. That's the first of four paragraphs supporting the Palestinian point of view:

"They have wiped out my family," said the children's father, Ahmed Abu Meateq, blaming Israeli forces and weeping as the bodies were prepared for burial.

The carnage cast another shadow over Egyptian efforts to forge a ceasefire between Israel and militant groups and end violence threatening U.S.-brokered Palestinian statehood talks.

"This aggression does not serve efforts being exerted to achieve calm, and it obstructs the peace process," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, referring to Israel's military activities, said in a statement carried by WAFA news agency.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, without giving details of the raid in Beit Hanoun, said Hamas Islamists controlling the Gaza Strip bore overall responsibility for casualties among non-combatants because gunmen "operated among civilians."

Not scare-quotes exactly, but a similar effect. Even the supposed presentation of the Israeli side contributes to the overall pro-Palestinian thrust of the proceedings.

Medical officials and residents of Beit Hanoun, an area where militants frequently fire rockets at Israel, said an Israeli projectile smashed through the ceiling of a one-storey house where a family was having breakfast.

They said four children -- siblings whose ages ranged from 1-1/2 to 5 years old -- and their mother were killed in the house during what the Israeli military described as an operation against rocket launching crews and snipers.

"They were eating and they were hit," a neighbor said at the site, where chickens pecked at a bloodstained floor and cooked potatoes grew cold in a pot. [...]

After all those gestures meant to suggest journalistic balance, let's just lurch into sob-mode. Pass the kleenex. See EOZ for more on this event.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Sunday, April 27, 2008

'Youth and students" do the Songun shuffle

First you put your two knees way up tight
You show deep reverence for Kim Il Sung to the left
And deep reverence for Kim Jong Il to the right . . .

Dancing parties of youth and students were held in different parts of the country on April 25 in celebration of the 76th birthday of the heroic Korean People's Army.

Youth and students danced to the tune of such songs as "Long Live Generalissimo Kim Il Sung" and "May Korea Sing of This Pride" in the plazas of the Tower of the Juche Idea, the Monument to Party Foundation, the April 25 House of Culture and other places in Pyongyang, turning the venues into veritable seas of dancers.

One could read on the faces of the dancers the profound reverence for President Kim Il Sung who founded and developed the Juche-based revolutionary armed forces with his outstanding Songun revolutionary idea and leadership.

They also danced with deep reverence for General Secretary Kim Jong Il who has trained the People's Army into an invincible army and defended the country, the revolution and socialism with his unique Songun politics.

Similar dancing parties took place in various provinces, cities and county seats on the same day.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Did you end up at Target or Walmart armed with Blumenkrantz's Pesach guide?

"Buy some hair conditioner we can use on Pesach," my wife and daughters instructed me. I got to the conditioner aisle, only to be faced with an endless array of things with names like "Frizz-banishing High-Gloss Extrusion Asparagizer Gel for Incompletely-Deconstructed Hair-like Substance," "Kiwi-jolt Thickenizing Color-Developer Glaze Evolution Mousse and Moisturizing Tress-Matrix," and "N-Hexane Phase-V Nifsal Le'Achilas Kelev Sheitl-like Curl Inducer for Pogum Hair." Hmmm, maybe that last one.

Some of the littler ones had come along with permission to spend up to 10 bucks apiece on toys to keep them occupied during the final throes of Pesach-cleaning. One toy was the latest improvement on sidewalk chalk: sidewalk spray paint! That's a toy with a sub-text: Junior Gang-Graffiti Kit. It comes with glasses to induce a 3-D effect in the resultant sprayings.

We got to the cash-register, only to notice that the package for the three wooden spoons was open! The teenager running the cash-register was probably thinking "What's the big deal--the bag tore a little." My son ran back to get a new bag before the check-out guy was finished ringing us up. He made it back in time! My children looked very relieved.

That's what you call clinging to Religion. We Jews have been doing that ever since the brick factory closed down in Egypt.

I was thinking: Can you put out little half-ounce bottles of whiskey for bedikas chometz and drink them as you find them? Probably not. Remember: time is running out to drink all your chometz.

I usually don't post on Chol Hamo'eid.
See you when it's all over.

Kosher and freilechen Pesach!

MPAC-UK asks: "Why Are So Many Practicing Muslims Violent Thugs?"

The answer proposed by this article is that so many of their leaders are. Read on:

[...] How and why do so many religious Muslims act in this barbaric – way akin to the days of jahiliya before our Prophet PBUH swept this way filthy conduct that animals would shy away from?

The answer revealed itself to me when debating this weekend with a Mosque committee member from a mosque on Eastern Avenue in Ilford Essex. Upset about the documentary, he approached me to complain. I listened attentively and countered where I felt he was wrong.

He complained we were un-Islamic and used Allah and Islam to push his argument forward. All of which I countered.

Unable to find a logical and solid argument against me, the committee member said to me ‘if you tried to come to my mosque I would break your neck’ and stormed off.

He may not have known but one MPACUK member standing next to me as a cage fighter and would probably have broken his neck if it had gotten to it. Still it is not the way of Allah to have raised a hand at an innocent, and MPACUK has never done this.

I realised then, that when the Ummah has such leaders who were nothing more then street thugs or former gang members, or drug dealers, leading us, in our highest institutions is it any wonder that the rank and file Muslim thinks that acting like a street pimp or a football hooligan was acceptable as long as you had a beard and quoted Islam in a thobe. [...]

OK, thuggish leaders explain thuggish followers, but isn't that sort of a chicken-egg thing? Will we see further exploration of this train of thought at MPAC?

IRIB: "Iran denounces Google's plot forging name for Persian Gulf"

Use of the name "Arabian Gulf" provokes more over-the-top rhetoric from Iran than Fitna, the Prophet Cartoons, and Salman Rushdie put together. It's a "desperate attempt," a "failed and seditions conspiracy," and an "irrational and opportunist plot." Kinda makes you have more respect for Google--just joking Iranians!

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said Tuesday that Google's plot forging a name for the Persian Gulf is a desperate attempt to falsify historical facts.

Hosseini told reporters that forging a name for the Persian Gulf will definitely tarnish the reputation of the website in the eyes of Iranians and other nations worldwide.

The attempt to forge historical facts and legal documents of the international community, the United Nations, indicated the opportunist and ambitious attitude of directors of the website, he said, expressing regret over the failed and seditious conspiracy.

He noted that the Foreign Ministry has succeeded to foil such falsifying attempts through authentic historical documents and defended the identity of the Iranian heritage, the Persian Gulf, in international organizations.

Iranian nation has made all-out efforts to send online petitions to safeguard their territory, he said, adding that the nation showed national solidarity in this respect.

Hosseini further thanked all respected Iranians and expatriates abroad who resisted the irrational and opportunist plot of Google.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Al Qassam Brigades Information Office: "Rules of the game in Gaza have changed"

This is probably half-bluster and half-justified. Israel should do something about the justified part:

Ezzedeen Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Islamic resistance movement Hamas, warned the Zionist occupation forces that "rules of the game" in Gaza Strip have changed, and that any OF invasion of the Strip won't be a "picnic".

Ezzedeen Al Qassam Brigades warning came after OF officer of the elite forces was killed and two other soldiers were wounded during OF incursion into Khanyounis city, southeast of the Strip. One QB fighter was martyred in the armed clashes.

According to local sources, earlier OF attempt to advance into Jabalia city, north of Gaza city, was botched by Ezzedeen Al Qassam Brigades fighters who also forced the invading troops to retreat.

"The killing of the OF officer was a clear message to the occupation that any OF incursion into the Strip will cost it a high price as rules of the game have changed in Gaza Strip", asserted Abu Obaida, the spokesman of the Brigades.

"If the [Zionist] occupation wished to try invading the Gaza Strip once again, then they will lose a lot as they have seen what had happened to them in a limited incursion; yet, if the OF troops opted to continue their intrusions into the tiny Strip, then their losses will be more as the invasion of Gaza won't be a picnic for the Zionist occupation soldiers", the Brigades spokesman furthermore underlined.

Moreover, Abu Obadia disclosed that the Palestinian resistance capabilities were in continuous development, and Ezzedeen Al Qassam Brigades fighters along with other Palestinian fighters became also more organized and prepared.

That's true, no doubt.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Ex-first lady Rosalyn Carter to assume bodyguard duties for snubbed husband

Israeli leaders shunned former U.S. President Jimmy Carter during a visit because of his plans to meet Hamas and Israel's secret service declined to assist U.S. agents guarding him, U.S. sources said on Monday.

"They're not getting support from local security," one of the sources said, on condition of anonymity.

The anonymous source went on to explain that a little-known tradition of first-lady firearm expertise allowed ex-first lady Rosalyn Carter to capably take on security responsibilities.

Asked to confirm her gun-toting role and the tradition of first-lady sharp-shooting, Mrs. Carter replied, "Yes, it's true. Hillary thinks she's Annie Oakley, but you should have seen Lady Bird. Anyone who started up with her would have been pumped full of lead in a Texas minute."

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Source: Reuters, additional reporting by Yitz

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Clinton reveals she once accidentally shot a fellow hunter

Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, criticizing Barack Obama's remarks about bitter rural dwellers who "cling to guns," revealed that she once accidentally shot and wounded a campaign contributor during a weekend quail hunt on a friend's Arkansas ranch.

The 78-year-old wounded man ended up in intensive care at a Little Rock hospital after being hit by several pellets of birdshot.

After reiterating his regret for his choice of words, Obama turned the tables on Clinton — mocking, among other things, her sudden fealty to the rights of gun owners.

"She is running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsman, how she values the second amendment. She's talking like she killed a guy. We all know he lived."

Obama continued, saying "Hillary Clinton is out there like she's on the duck blind every Sunday and she has Gumbo Mudders on her 4-wheel drive and a winch on the front bumper and she chews Red Man Chewing Tobacco. Come on, she knows better. That's some politics being played by Hillary Clinton."

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Sources: AP, CNN, blend at medium speed for two minutes

At long last, a seder that celebrates freedom from non-local food sources

Every politically correct seder needs a new definition of freedom. Here is one in which slavery is not having a health food store to overcharge you for your produce and claim that it's locally grown:

Passover is also called the "Holiday of Spring," a time when green symbolizes new life. The color also represents all things eco-friendly, which serves as the inspiration for this year's Workmen's Circle community seder.

Each year the Pico-Robertson community center, which embodies progressive Jewish values, features a "third" seder with a theme, such as immigration or labor. This year's event, "The Sustainable Seder," will be held on April 27 and will be catered by Meg Dickler-Taylor, owner of Large Marge Sustainables, whose motto is "Fresh. Local. Organic. Don't Panic."

"Passover is a celebration of a lot of things, primarily the freedom of the Jews [from] enslavement of Egypt. Every year, if we are to create a dynamic civilization, we have to reapply that concept of freedom to what we're experiencing in our environment right now," she said.

Dickler-Taylor said she feels enslaved to relying on sources far from home for her food.

"If we can find a way to eat locally, in the coming years, we will feel more secure," she said.

Dickler-Taylor spoke at the Workmen's Circle on April 3 about how to create a sustainable, organic seder. [...]

The rest of the article tells you what to do: "Shop With Recyclable Bags," "Use Durable Table Settings," invite a western grey whale to the table, eat bitter organic seaweed to protest the right-wing smear-machine's exploitation of Obama's "bitter" remarks . . .

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Al-Hayat J: "Gaza is threatened with submergence in the dark compost in a few days"

This is auto-translated, with the usual lapses in readability, but the meaning is fairy clear:

Gaza - New Life - Douhan Hasan - and agencies - warned general manager power station in the Gaza Strip yesterday from the station stopped working entirely because of the fuel crisis facing the sector, a result of the closure Israel Nahal Oz crossing, which fuels with him.

He said Rafiq Maliha, director general power station "that the station would depend entirely on the work over several days will lead to complete paralysis in all sectors, unless Israel provide us with fuel."

He added, "the station stopped entirely depends on the amount of consumption by the citizens." The company began distributing electricity yesterday cut the electricity supply within the distribution areas of Gaza.

For his part, the spokesman Jamal Darsawi Electricity Distribution Company "If you do not enter the fuel there will be a real catastrophe because the power station would depend on what action deprive than 55 MB."

He continued: "This will ultimately drive to cut electricity periodically on citizens by no less than ten hours a day on each region."

As the independent MP Jamal al-Chairman of the People's face of the siege "to stop the power station means stop everything and comprehensive destruction in the Gaza Strip and stop health services, environmental, power outages and disruption of the cell phone and fixed communications."

"The stations and sewage treatment standstill and the material is pumped sewage into the sea directly."

According to Reuters, quoting various officials, the Palestinians are refusing to "distribute fuel in the holding tanks," so Israel can't supply any new fuel anyway. Where would it go? They need empty tanks to pump into:

Mahmoud al-Khuzundar, head of the Gaza Fuel Suppliers' Association, denied any Hamas role in the strike and said the association will not distribute fuel in the holding tanks until Israel increases the amount it supplies . . .

Israeli and Western officials said even if Israel agreed to restart the flow of gasoline and diesel to Gaza, it will not be able to do so until fuel tanks on the Palestinian side have been emptied out.

The Dark Compost reigns in Gaza, beware the Dark Compost . . .

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Ramattan: "Medics: 3 Palestinians killed, 4 Injured in Vague Blast"

The supremely watchful EOZ has already posted about this work-accident, but that phrase "vague blast"--it's priceless!

Three Palestinians were killed and four others injured in a vague blast on Sunday in the Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza strip, Palestinian medics said.

The Spokesman for the Israeli army claimed no responsibility for the Jabaliya blast.

Eyewitnesses said that they heard three consequent explosions in the home of Hasan al-Mtaweq, a leader of Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades.

Speaking of things insane, Carnival of the Insanities is up. So is Haveil Havalim 162. The theme of this edition is Pesach. Here's hoping you don't have any chometzdik work accidents in the course of your preparations.

Shalom Zachar tax in California?

The proposer of the bill is a Democrat, of course. The rationale: "The people who use alcohol should pay for part of the cost to society, just like we've accepted that concept with tobacco . . . " In a sane world, anyone who uttered a sentence like that would be out of public life forever. Just about everybody "uses alcohol" in this society, and the health and other problems generated by people who don't use it responsibly are already paid for to a large extent by the general public. And almost everything alcoholic that someone might buy instead of beer has a higher alcohol content. From Mercury News:

Joe Six-pack will have to pay a lot more to get his buzz on if Assemblyman Jim Beall has his way.

The San Jose Democrat on Thursday proposed raising the beer tax by $1.80 per six-pack, or 30 cents per can or bottle. The current tax is 2 cents per can. That's an increase of about 1,500 percent.

Beall said the tax would generate $2 billion a year to fund health care services, crime prevention and programs to prevent underage drinking and addiction.

"The people who use alcohol should pay for part of the cost to society, just like we've accepted that concept with tobacco," Beall said.

He added that the beer tax hasn't been touched since 1991, and the increase then was meager.

But the freshman lawmaker will have to lift the legislative equivalent of a full keg of beer over his head to get his tax enacted. That's because it would require a two-thirds vote in the Assembly and Senate - and then, because it's a constitutional amendment, it would have to be approved by voters. Republicans say it's a non-starter.

"I predict the shelf life will be very short," said Assemblyman Roger Niello, R-Sacramento, vice chairman of the budget committee. "It's a piecemeal approach to the budget that completely avoids any discussion of spending discipline, which is fundamentally why we have the problem that we have." [...]

Time is running short. I'm glad I got to do one last post about chometz before Pesach. (Hat Tip: Drudge)

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Friday, April 11, 2008

Ahmadinejad: "Israel has no way for survival"

Oh Mahmoud, I bet you say that to all the Muslim heads of state! From IRIB:

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that the allies hope for survival of the Zionist regime is waning.

Ahmadinejad made the remark in a meeting with his Senegalese counterpart Abdoulaye Wade in Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi province, adding that the countdown for fall of Tel Aviv regime has started, and that their strives are in full desperation.

The fake Zionist regime carries out the most ugliest crimes against humanity by massacring civilians in the occupied Palestine, he said, adding that the best way out for the current crisis is to hold referendum in the occupied land.

"The issue of Palestine is considered a benchmark for assessing sincerity of nations and governments in abiding by democracy, human rights and freedom," he noted.

Urging the Organization of the Islamic Conference and all Muslim nations to support the oppressed nation of Palestine, he said that the organization can play decisive role in different problems of the Islamic world.

Ahmadinejad further outlined Iran-Senegal relations as positive, constructive and growing, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran spares no efforts to put its experience at disposal of all friendly and brotherly countries including Senegal.

Wade, for his part, thanked Iran's all-out supports for Muslim nations, saying that after undertaking the OIC presidency, he preferred to seek advice from Iran as the first Islamic country. [...]

The bellicose rhetoric impressed him!

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Islamic Jihad: "If their fuel means humiliation for us, we don’t want it."

I believe the way to word that is "Please close my fuel account." The insanity keeps snow-balling. If I started launching attacks on the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, it would probably reconsider its commitment to supply me with energy. Why isn't that good enough for the Palestinians? From Arab News:

Israel yesterday cut off fuel supplies to Gaza following an attack by Palestinians fighters on its fuel depot in Nahal Oz crossing on Wednesday that killed two Israelis.

Though some Israelis demanded that Israel halt all supplies to Gaza, Israeli defense officials indicated that the fuel cutoff would not last past the weekend.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zawahri said yesterday that the attack on the fuel depot was one of the many choices Hamas had. "This was the first option, and the beginning of the eruption against the blockade," he said.

Yesterday afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators began flocking to main intersections of Gaza City to protest Israel’s blockade and economic sanctions.

Abu Ahmed of Islamic Jihad said the attack deliberately targeted the fuel depot on which Gazans depend. "This fuel (from Israel) is dipped in humiliation," he said, because people wait for it for hours. "If their fuel means humiliation for us, we don’t want it." [...]

The words of someone utterly certain that Israel won't have the guts to withhold the fuel.

"Thaw has begun in Mt. Paektu, the holy mountain of revolution"

It's spring in the People's Democratic Republic of Korea--or is that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea? Anyway, it's spring there.

Thaw has begun in Mt. Paektu, the holy mountain of revolution associated with the immortal feats of the peerlessly great persons and the soul of the revolutionary forerunners, presenting a spectacular view.

They're serious about that mountain. Put the word "Paektu" in the "Search Blog" window of this blog if you doubt it.

According to data available at the Paektusan Meteorological Observatory, the snow more than 80 centimeters thick began to melt on April 4, reducing it to 46 centimeters on the ninth.

Fascinating is the scene of Rhododendron spreading its green leaves in Mt. Paektu where spring has come half a month earlier than last year.

When the sun rises, snow rolls down in an avalanche from the Janggun, Hyangdo, Haebal and other peaks and myriad-shaped cliffs, adding to the scenic wonders of the mountain.

The surroundings of the hot spring of Lake Chon are veiled in water mist and spring water is melting the coat of ice covering the shore of the lake.

Global warming? Even on the holy mountain of revolution?

It's hard to believe that there is any room under there for new tunnels

From Ramattan:

Hamas Interior minister, Saed Siam said Thursday that Israel digs tunnel under Gaza strip to abduct Hamas' leaders.

Siam claims that Israeli intelligence purchased houses in Gaza through its spies in the strip that plan to use them to kidnap Hamas' officials to Israel.

"Israel has dug tunnels under the Gaza Strip in order to kidnap senior Hamas leaders," Hamas Interior Minister Said Siam told the London-based Arabic newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat.

According to the Hamas official, the security forces in Gaza recently arrested two Palestinians, a father and son, who are suspected of collaborating with the Israeli intelligence.

The two were arrested after they bought an apartment in Gaza City located near the house of Hamas military wing commander Raed al-Atar's sister.

IRIB: "Great economic evolution plan devised"

Sounds like they are going to give even greater play to the might of Songun in the spirit of Mt. Paektu--no, wait, that's North Korea:

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said at one of courtyards of Imam Reza's Holy Shrine that plan for country's economic evolution is devised and ready to be implemented.

President Ahmadinejad further stressed, "We need to prepare ourselves for a great economic surgery, fundamental reforms, and a great construction movement."

The President further reiterated that the Iranian nation is today a model, the witness to many internal and international great events, and the pioneer of justice seeking in the world, adding, "We need to eliminate our country's shortcomings rapidly hand in hand of one another, and to construct our dear Iran as best we could."

That should all be accomplished by about Tuesday.

He said, "We need to solve our country's economic, cultural, and development problems and then to heed the international responsibilities of our revolution."

Ahmadinejad added, "Our enemies are strongly annoyed due to rapid advancement of the Iranian nation, which is why resorting to various means and different plots they try to create obstacles in the way of our nation's further progress and development."

He considered resorting to nuclear issue, regional engagements in such countries as Iraq, Afghanistan and the like, as well as the issuance of numerous resolutions against the Iranian nation as pretexts aimed at blocking the path of our nation's advancement."

Yeah, the war in Afghanistan was just a pretext aimed at blocking Iran's development. Another item at IRIB announces "Era of IRI's enemies over- President." "Enemies are afraid of the grandeur and dignity of the Iranian nation," says A although "concern of the Western powers over development of a bomb by Iran is nothing." He concludes:

"What they are afraid of is a country which has raised against them in a world under their domination."

The president warned big powers against moving against the will of the Iranian nation, stressing, "If they continued their opposition to the will of the Iranian nation, they would receive a crushing response from the brave Iranian people."

Typical rhetoric about Iran's nuke program: deny and threaten. Meanwhile, the NY Times reports: "Hamas in Largest Arms Buildup Yet, Israeli Study Says." That is also largely Iran's doing. The clock is ticking. Even the trashing of Iran's civilian economy by that "evolution plan" won't slow it down.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

Ma'an News: "According to proposed law, Israeli war criminals could by tried in Palestinian court"

New horizons in justice. The barristers will wear ski-masks, and the judge will bring the court to order by firing his gun into the air.

The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) plans to approve a new law on Monday enabling the Palestinians to try Israeli war criminals, PLC officials said.

The PLC's legal committee has started drafting the bill to submit before the PLC for ratification.

Several lawmakers, attorneys and international law experts, and humanitarian activists took part in a session during which the new rule was been discussed.

The PLC is the "legislature" of the PA.

Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Nuke Day in Iran, Nukes "good experience for youth," "annihilation," etc.

Ahmadinejad's announcement that 6,000 more centrifuges have been installed at the Natanz nuclear site is getting a fair amount of press coverage today. It so happens that it's the jolly occasion of "National Nuclear Technology Day" in Iran, commemorating the first production of nuclear fuel at Natanz. Here's a typical story from IRNA: "Iran nuclear program, good experience for youth: MP"

A parliamentarian said on Tuesday that the national nuclear program, despite foreign pressures, is a good and useful experience for the young generation.

Reza Talaie-Nik, a member of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, told IRNA that peaceful nuclear program is an honor for the Iranian youth.

He added that the Islamic Republic of Iran's nuclear achievements have paved the way for the country's significant diplomatic and technological progress at international arena.

All Muslim nations praise Iran's nuclear achievements and express their support for Iranian nuclear program, the MP added.

Nothing delights Sunni Arabs more than the the thought of Persian Shias with nukes. The nukes are for purely peaceful purposes, right?

He expressed the hope that the Islamic Republic would gain more victories in its peaceful nuclear activities through national unity and Islamic solidarity.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated a ceremony marking the third anniversary of National Day of Nuclear Technology in Natanz nuclear site, the central province of Isfahan, Tuesday.

On this day two years ago, Iranian scientists produced uranium enriched 3.5 percent in its Natanz facility and the country became self-sufficient on production of fuel thanks to the efforts made by young talented experts. [...]

Here's a passage from an IRIB story entitled "IRI gains N-technology at highest level":

[...] "During the bullying period of some powers, the Iranian nation didnot entered the show of these powers and continued its independent path," [Ahmadinejad] said.

He underlined that the Iranian nation could break the satanic hegemony of these powers and this would be the focal point in extinction of them.

Funny how none of that rhetoric made it into the BBC or Reuters articles, isn't it?

"The speedy trend of fall of the bullying powers has been started," he said.

He advised the big powers to quit aggressive relations and stand by the nations because this would be in favor of them.

"If the big powers continue their aggressive approach, their annihilation will be near," he said. [...]

The thought of Iran's making all that peaceful technological progress will make them so mad that they'll just poof out of existence!

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Monday, April 07, 2008

Iranian Jew forced to pretend to care about prophet cartoons and/or Fitna

And he delivers such a perfect regurgitation of official Iranian propaganda-style that he does not even name what he is pretending to care about, instead substituting platitudes about "all religions." And if there is such a thing as Abrahamic solidarity, Iran is probably its biggest enemy. From Mehr News:

Iranian Jewish lawmaker Moris Mo’tamed on Monday called on the "followers of all religions" to protest against any sacrilege against divine religions.

"It is a rational principle in modern societies that anyone should respect the rights of others and remain mindful of other religions’ redlines," Mo’tamed told the Mehr News Agency.

"Duty is heavier for followers of Abrahamic religions to observe religious redlines and respect the beliefs of others because they enjoy the majority of the world’s religious makeup," he observed.

Mo’tamed suggested "holding dialogue between Abrahamic religions" in order to confront the problem of insulting religious beliefs.

It has been a central theme of conferences and symposiums around the world and Iranian government has also taken steps to promote the idea in Iran, he added.

The Jewish lawmaker said if the followers of various religions work together, they can help prevent the desecration of sanctities.

"When a journalist, cartoonist or filmmaker realizes that their work is not popular, they will no longer feel motivated to continue," Moris Mo’tamed stated.

He went on to explain that it is particularly important not to insult the sanctities of aggressive latecomer Abrahamic religions and all world divine religions should work together to confront prophet cart... er . . . desecration of all religions.

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Linkim 4/6/08

Haveil Havalim 161 is up! Carnival of the Insanities is up! Kosher Cooking Carnival 29 is up!

Isreally Cool: "Funding Anti-Israel Bias"

Judeosphere: "Hey, we're killing Jews. What more do you want?"

Israel Matzav: "Yes, Israel, there is a military answer to terrorism"

Steyn: "It's 3 A.M. Do you know where your campaign is?"

Daled Amos: "The Iranian Occupation Of Arab Land"

Kos: "Israeli Apartheid, American Enablers: HR 185" (Narrative meltdown)

Gulf News: "Rebels raid village and ransack Jews' homes in Yemen"

Just some news:

The Al Houthi rebels in north of Yemen on Sunday attacked Al Salem village, plundered properties of Jews staying there, witnesses said.

The Jews were not in the village at the time of attack. They have been living in a residential complex in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on the expense of the government since they were forced out of their village by rebels early last year.

The group of Jews number about 50, according to sources in their residence here in Sanaa.

The witnesses in Al Salem where battles are going on between the Al Houthi rebels and tribesmen loyal to the government, said they saw the rebels entering the houses and taking everything with them. [...]

Haddad-Adel calls for boycott of "West," Wilders film attacks Bill O'Reilly, Pope misunderstood "Organic Verses"

Fars News comes unglued over Fitna: "Speaker Calls on Muslims to Boycott Trade with West"

Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel said that the Muslim world should boycott trade with any country that allows insult to Islam.

That's just about every non-Muslim country there is.

Haddad Adel was quoted by press tv as stating that sacrilege of Islamic sanctities is the ugliest kind of cultural onslaught and violation of human rights.

Speaking at the first open parliament session in the new Iranian calendar year (started March 20), he pointed out that it is astonishing that the West has so vehemently targeted Islam in recent years.

"The Western countries are making optimum use of books, films, animations and their media to weaken the beliefs of Muslims and to insult Islamic sanctities," Haddad Adel said.

He expressed his opinion that the Western countries will reconsider their attitude toward Islam when they see their economic interests at stake.

The remarks by the Iranian parliament speaker followed a 17-minute-long anti-Islam film produced by the far-right Dutch politician Greet Wilders, which mocks at Islamic values.

The movie titled "Fitna" features shocking insults to Islam and Islamic values. It urges Muslims to tear out "hate-filled" verses from the Koran and starts and finishes with a cartoon of Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) with a bomb under his turban, originally published in Danish newspapers.

Last week, Iran summoned Dutch Ambassador Radinck van Vollenhoven to protest at the film.

The envoy, for his part, voiced sorrow about the broadcast of the "anti-Islamic" film and emphasized that it was condemned by the Dutch government.

Meantime, A Non-Governmental Organization in Iran has started production of a documentary called 'Beyond Fitna' to respond to the far-right Dutch politician's provocative dissertation.

According to FNA reports, the Iranian organization called 'NGO Islam and Christianity' has already started production of the documentary.

The NGO's documentary called 'Beyond Fitna' deals with incitement of violence in the Bible. Muslims believe that the book deemed holy by Christians today is a distorted version of the original Bible.

'Beyond Fitna' focuses on the orders given to worldwide Christians in the (distorted version of) Bible for stoking violence, committing genocide, attacking others, beheading and burning women and children who have been taken into captivity.

The documentary recycles film clips from crimes committed by extremist Christians under the inspirations of the said Bible teachings, and aims to provide a response to the allegations made by Pope Benedict XVI, who called Islam a religion of violence after misunderstanding certain Organic verses.

Isn't that a book by Salman Rushdie?

'Beyond Fitna' is produced while an overwhelming wave of protest is shown by worldwide Muslim and Christian communities against Wilder's movie.

Wilders' provocative movie sparked worldwide protests even before it hit the Internet on March 27.

Wilders' movie is a documentary-style exposé of American trash-journalist Bill O'Reilly's militant calls for violent demonstrations and reprisals against "unbelievers" who dare to oppose his dogma. [...]

Imam O'Reilly?

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Friday, April 04, 2008

As I pass 100,000 hits, I wonder: Have I been guilty of camel condescension?

As John Crace writes at the Guardian's Comment is Free:

You can always rely on Johnny foreigner to give us a good laugh. At least that's the only explanation for the fancy that! news story about Abu Dhabi holding a camel beauty contest making yesterday's BBC radio news bulletins and becoming the most emailed story on the BBC website. After all, it's not even as if it's a new story: this is the sixth year the camel pageant has been held in the United Arab Emirates, so you can only imagine that some half-witted editor must have decided we'd all had a bit of a foreign news overload with the Zimbabwe elections and could do with an effortless snigger of cultural superiority.

Now, I've no particular fondness for camels and the idea of holding a beauty contest for them strikes me as both absurd and obscene on many levels. But then I feel much the same way about dog shows - only you don't get the BBC taking the piss out of them. Quite the reverse, in fact. Every year the BBC devotes several hours of TV air time to the Kennel club's annual thrash and the Crufts supreme champion is invariably paraded on the news - with no hint of irony - as the last word in poochdom.

It would be bad enough if Crufts was just a Disneyfied anthropomorphic world of fluttering eyelashes and blow-dried fur. But it's much worse than that. It's a freak show. Years and years of abitrary aesthetics and pedigree dictats have turned many breeds into walking death zones. We Brits manage to be outraged by the treatment of battery hens that can barely walk and have severe health problems, yet we happily celebrate dogs that have been deliberately bred with similar characteristics. Some pedigrees have breathing and heart problems, others are prone to organ failure and all of them have a shorter life expectancy than your bog-standard mutt. [...]

I am reminded of an author who once described the Chihuahua as a "dinky cauldron of seething neurosis." That might also be a good description of the author of the excerpted article although it would be cruel and mental health-ist to say so. Have I been guilty of camel condescension? Not unless this counts. Crace would probably conclude that EOZ has been condescending about Camel beauty contests, but the post in question garnered an LGF-lanche. There's a lesson in there somewhere. Speaking of the 100,000 hits, thanks to everyone who stopped by to read or comment. Thanks also to supportive fellow bloggers.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

IRNA: Fitna "showed weakness of the Zionism"

Iran slams the Zio-Dutch:

A Majlis deputy said here Thursday that the wave of Islamic awareness and Islam-seeking dialogue caused fear for the West and the Zionism.

Speaking to IRNA, Javad Aryan-Manesh added that promotion of pure Islamic thoughts made both the West and the Zionists counter the Islamic awareness, thanks to victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran.

He stated that the Islamic Revolution hoisted the flag of justice, peace, theism and peaceful coexistence in the world.

Condemning release of an Anti-Islam film by a Dutch
parliamentarian blaspheming Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the Holy Quran, the MP said such moves showed weakness of the Zionism and the West. He added that it will have adverse consequence for them.

The member of Majlis Cultural Commission said that such moves would strengthen unity and convergence among all Muslims and freedom-seeking peoples throughout the globe.

He urged all Islamic countries to use their political, economic and cultural potentials to prevent such incidents.

He called on the world Muslim states, including Iran, to boycott the Dutch products in order to give a crushing response to such anti-Islam moves.

This article shows craziness of the Iran.

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Are soccer players addressed as "Your Excellency"?

According to people taking a recent BBC poll, Iran has the most negative influence of any nation in the world. (Guess who occupies the "second worst" position.) If only those poor, misguided poll-takers had read the following from IRNA:

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that Iranian people have always endeared Latin American nations' freedom movements against despotism and the hegemonic system.

In a message to Argentine soccer celebrity Diego Maradona, President Ahmadinejad thanked Legendary soccer player for supporting the Iranian nation and bestowing an autographed T-shirt on the Iranian nation as a sign of his affection for Iran.

In a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Buenos Aires Mohsen Baharavand in December, 2007, Maradona presented the T-shirt which read "With all my affection to Iranian people".

"I am with the Iranian people, from the bottom of my heart, I support them. I say it because I feel it, because I mean it," he added.

President Ahmadinejad's message to Maradona reads, "I am sincerely thankful for his Excellency's kindness towards the righteous and revolutionary Iranian nation. Latin America is the land of pure, hospitable, kind and oppressed nations, on whose body one can see deep scars of whips stroke by the arrogance for several hundred years. We are well aware of the heavy political pressures exerted on the Argentine government and nation to give up their legal rights, dignity and independence and pitting Argentine government against the independent, free and revolutionary governments."

"We are confident that the nice nation and revolutionary statesmen and politicians of the country will along with other sincere Latin American nations continue with their glorious resistance and make the ill-wishers unhappy in light of their unity and vigilance. We will always remain beside you and are confident that future belongs to nations."

He went on to say, "We do know that championship of the youth of the country in the sports arenas, especially in the field of football, is sign of the nations' strong and valuable talents and is an outcry against backwardness caused by domination of the arrogance."

Nothing thwarts the schemes of the World Arrogance like sports success!

He noted, "The Iranian nation has always been endearing and supporting the freedom seeking and liberation movements of the Latin American nations against the despotic and the hegemonic systems. We are thankful to God Almighty for growing awakening and the justice and independence seeking movements in that important part of the world." Concluding his message, Ahmadinejad prayed God Almighty for success of the famous figure, Maradona, in serving the great Argentinean nation and for victory, progress and success of the Latin American nations, especially Argentineans.

Isn't that sweet? Just brings tears to your eyes, doesn't it?

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Maan News: "Palestinian magician wants to walk through Israel's Apartheid wall"

What would be magic with a Palestinian flavor? Pulling a rabbit out of a keffiyeh? I know! Magic with a victimhood theme!

[...] A handsome and slightly boastful thirty-six-year-old, Elias Hzayneh from Bethlehem studied English literature at Bethlehem University. Five years ago Elias got married and has a two month old baby girl. While on a trip to Spain he was introduced to a magician who organizes conferences about magic. Since childhood Elias says he was crazy about magic.

His biggest dream is to use magic to both overcome and combat the effects of occupation . . .

When I asked him about Israel's Apartheid wall, he gazed into space for a moment and then answered: "Before three years I was about to start a project which is building a collage to teach magic and make workshops and conferences about magic but the construction of the wall ruined my plans so I traveled and left my dream behind the wall."

"I am always invited to conferences about magic in Jerusalem but I don’t have permit and so I can't cross the checkpoints so I am prevented from performing in Jerusalem and other parts behind the checkpoints," he added.

He said that people in Bethlehem left their business and came to watch his show at Al-Selizyan sports club in Bethlehem; he thinks that people here are frustrated and they lack cultural activities . . .

Can magic overcome oppression? Elias thinks so. "I am preparing to penetrate the Apartheid wall of Palestine the same as David Copperfield when he penetrated the wall of China."

Maybe he should make a daring escape from the tower of self-pity.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Iran's Press TV devotes three headlines to the idea of a coming war involving Israel and Lebanon

The first article doesn't sound as predictive of war as the headline does:

Israel 'all set for war with Hezbollah'

[...]Barak . . . claimed that "Hezbollah is getting stronger, but so is Israel", adding that "I would suggest that no one of the other side of the border mess with Israel, for their own good".

He also alleged that "Hezbollah, lurking on the other side of the border, is wary of firing at Israel at the moment, but continues to plot various schemes throughout the entire northern front".

Tension is high amid speculations that Hezbollah might deal a blow to the regime in retaliation for the assassination in Damascus of its top commander Imad Mugniyah.

Israel has been on high alert following the end of a 40-day mourning period for Mugniyah, having formerly threatened Lebanon to wage another war if Hezbollah retaliates for the killing of Mugniayah.

The next one is based on an al-Quds al-Arabi story from Wednesday, as the article explains:

Syria 'preparing to repel Israel attacks'

Syria is conducting wide-scale military exercises in preparation for an Israeli strike which might be combined with an attack on Hezbollah.

The Syrian army is closely monitoring the movement of Israeli forces along the northern border, the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper reported on Wednesday.

In addition to the military preparations, the sources said on the condition on anonymity, that Damascus has raised its security alert level over the concerns that Israeli forces would infiltrate its territories through one of its bordering countries, mainly referring to Lebanon.

The newspaper reported that Damascus viewed the Israeli media reports and statements made by senior Israeli officials as attempts to prepare the Israeli and global public opinion for a war against Syria.

Over the past few weeks, the Syrians have stationed three armored divisions, special forces and nine mechanized infantry divisions opposite Lebanon's western valley, as the Syrians estimate that a ground Israeli invasion may take place in that area. [...]

The next story presents Syria's denial of the report, although still quoting a Syrian spokesman that "there are indications that Israel is preparing a military assault against Syria with the US backing":

Syria denies reports of military drill

[...] "The report, which was published in [the London-based daily], Al-Quds Al-Arabi is totally false," Col. Ahmad Munir Muhammad, a member of the Syrian parliament's National Security Committee, told The Media Line on Wednesday . . .

"Syria is not massing forces [along the border] and is not summoning its reserves", although "there are indications that Israel is preparing a military assault against Syria with the US backing".

"The national Lebanese resistance movement [Hezbollah] has proven that it can thwart an Israeli attack on its own," he added.

The purpose behind such an Israeli invasion, said Muhammad, would be to divert the pressure of public opinion from the "American crisis in Iraq and the crises within Israel."

Is Iran about to order Hezbollah to start another war?

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

"Syria's presidency over the Arab Summit will help put an end to the ongoing crisis in Palestine"

Syria's presidency actually provoked a boycott from a number of Arab regimes, but Iran, as reported in this Fars News article, has high hopes that Syrian leadership will lead to "removal of Muslims' problems mainly in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon." I mean, who could be a better man for the job than Assad?

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki expressed hope that Syria's presidency over the Arab Summit will help put an end to the ongoing crisis in Palestine.

Mottaki made the remarks in a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, where the two sides discussed mutual relations, removal of problems of Muslim world and the current successful Arab Summit in Damascus.

He further conveyed warm greetings of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Syrian president and congratulated him on successful performance of the 21st Summit of Arab leaders and Syria's one-year presidency over the Arab League.

The Iranian top diplomat also hoped to witness removal of Muslims' problems mainly in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon during presidency of Syria over the Arab League.

Mottaki also extended an official invitation to al-Assad to visit Tehran.

The Syrian president, for his part said that the Arab League would address issues of the world of Islam particularly those of Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon.

Mottaki also conferred with a number of high ranking officials from other countries attending in Arab summit on Sunday on regional developments.

The 21st Arab Summit wound up on Sunday afternoon after one week of activities in the Syrian capital city of Damascus.