Andrew Sullivan draws up to full 30-meter height in majestic indignation

You may have seen Sarah Palin's clever response to the criticism over her confused reference to "our North Korean allies." She strings together a number of Obama's verbal gaffes, thereby having some fairly gentle and tasteful laughs at the President's expense while making the defensive (in her case) and fairly broadminded point that every widely-quoted public figure makes verbal mistakes, even presidents generally regarded as verbally cogent and coherent. Sullivan, however, is incensed:

A simple respect for the office she seeks would not reflect itself in these increasingly callow, sarcastic, cheap jibes at a sitting president. But sadly, like so many now purporting to represent conservatism, there is, behind the faux awe before the constitution, a contempt for the restraint and dignity a polity's institutions require from its leaders.

There is no maturity here; no self-reflection; no capacity even to think how to appeal to the half of Americans who are already so appalled by her trashy behavior and cheap publicity stunts. There is a meanness, a disrespect, a vicious partisanship that, if allowed to gain more power, would split this country more deeply and more rancorously than at any time in recent years. And that's saying something.

It isn't just Palin--the whole country must be a bitter disappointment to a man of Sullivan's caliber.

North Korea: "Gone are the days when verbal warnings are served only"

Here is a statement from, get this, "the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea." North Korean rhetoric at its most bellicose:

The south Korean puppet group is now getting hell-bent on the wholesale racket for confrontation with the DPRK while groundlessly taking issue with the army of the DPRK over its due punishment meted to the group for its reckless military provocation.

In this regard, a spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea released a statement on Friday.

The recent military provocation by the puppet group is a product of the deliberate and premeditated plot hatched by it to save its smear confrontational campaign from total bankruptcy, tarnish the daily rising might of the DPRK, scuttle the efforts for improving the north-south relations and tide over the domestic and international isolation and crisis, it points out, and says:

The group perpetrated the recent provocation prompted by a sinister calculation that in case the DPRK did not make any reaction it would take it as "a tacit recognition" of the illegal "northern limit line" and make it a fait accompli and in case the DPRK took a military counter-action, it would use it as a pretext for kicking up anti-DPRK smear campaign.

This notwithstanding, the chief executive of south Korea did not bother to cry out for "much stronger punishment" while pulling up the DPRK. This is nothing but last-ditch efforts of those who were hit hard after making hasty provocation.

The prevailing situation clearly proves that the DPRK's warnings and domestic and foreign concerns that the seizure of power by the Lee Myung Bak group of conservatives would bedevil the inter-Korean relations and lead to a war were by no means for nothing.

If the puppet group insists on confrontation with the DPRK, the DPRK does not have any idea of dodging it at all.

It is the temperament of the DPRK to resolutely counter confrontation with confrontation and war with war.

The army and people of the DPRK are now greatly enraged at the provocation of the puppet group while getting fully ready to give a shower of dreadful fire and blow up the bulwark of the enemies if they dare to encroach again upon the DPRK's dignity and sovereignty even in the least.

The group should not run amuck, clearly understanding the will and mettle of the highly alerted army and people of the DPRK to wipe out the enemies.

Escalated confrontation would lead to a war and he who is fond of playing with fire is bound to perish therein.

Gone are the days when verbal warnings are served only.

We will respond to good faith in kind but punish the provocateurs encroaching upon our dignity and sovereignty with resolute and merciless counter-action.

What North Korea probably isn't doing

What famous person stated "we've got to stand with our North Korean allies"? I'd say it was Jimmy Carter.

Pyongyang has sent a consistent message that during direct talks with the United States, it is ready to conclude an agreement to end its nuclear programs, put them all under IAEA inspection and conclude a permanent peace treaty to replace the "temporary" cease-fire of 1953.

In other words, North Korea is being more self-isolating and militaristic because it really wants to be less isolated and militaristic. I don't think so. I think North Korea is being true to what it proclaims daily is its guiding philosophy. I don't have any glib suggestions for what to do about it.

Fars: "Leader Describes Basij as 'Undeniable Truth'"

According to Wikipedia, "Currently Basij serve as an auxiliary force engaged in activities such as internal security as well as law enforcement auxiliary, the providing of social service, organizing of public religious ceremonies, and more famously morals policing and the suppression of dissident gatherings." No wonder the Ayatollah loves them:

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei lauded Bajij's (volunteer forces) important role in defusing enemies' threats, and described the force as a "great and undeniable truth".

Addressing a large gathering of 110,000 Basij forces here in Tehran on Thursday, Ayatollah Khamenei said that Basij has presently become a "clear, great and shining truth" of the Islamic society of Iran "with no similar version".

"Basij is a gathering of hearts, a mobilization of faiths, souls and emotions," Ayatollah Khamenei stressed.

Elsewhere, the Leader underlined that Iran has become more powerful despite enemy plots over the past 30 years. [...]

Where are you?--A story for Yud Tes Kislev

On the 19th of Kislev, the Alter Rebbe, the founder of Chabad, was released from prison. See here to learn why this day is known in Chabad as the "Rosh Hashanah of Chassidism." Here is a story:

In 1798, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi was imprisoned on charges, put forth by the opponents of Chassidism, that his teachings undermined the imperial authority of the czar. For 52 days he was held in the Peter-Paul Fortress in Petersburg.

Among the Rebbe's interrogators was a government minister who possessed broad knowledge of the Bible and Jewish studies. On one occasion, he asked the Rebbe to explain the verse (Genesis 3:9): "And G-d called out to the man and said to him: 'Where are you?'" Did G-d not know where Adam was?

Rabbi Schneur Zalman presented the explanation offered by several of the commentaries: the question "Where are you?" was merely a "conversation opener" on the part of G-d, who did not wish to unnerve Adam by immediately confronting him with his wrongdoing.

"What Rashi says, I know," said the minister. "I wish to hear how the Rebbe understands the verse."

"Do you believe that the Torah is eternal?" asked the Rebbe. "Do you believe that its every word applies to every individual, under all conditions, at all times?"

"Yes," replied the minister.

Rabbi Schneur Zalman was extremely gratified to hear this. The czar's minister had affirmed a principle which lies at the basis of the teachings of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, the very teachings and ideology for which he was standing trial!

"'Where are you?'" explained the Rebbe, "is G-d's perpetual call to every man. Where are you in the world? What have you accomplished? You have been allotted a certain number of days, hours, and minutes in which to fulfill your mission in life. You have lived so many years and so many days," -- here Rabbi Schneur Zalman spelled out the exact age of the minister -- "Where are you? What have you achieved?"

Your local Chabad House or Chabad Center is probably going to be having a Chassidic Farbrengen this evening in honor of Yud Tes Kislev. If you've been meaning to experience one, this is the best opportunity of the year in most places. As Wikipedia says, "Farbrengens are public events open to non-Hasidim as well."

Soccer Dad closes shop

As you probably know by now, Soccer Dad has announced his retirement from blogging. Some of the other bloggers who are commenting have noted his knowledge, his writing ability, and his tendency to reach out to other bloggers. I was very honored to be asked to submit my own posts to his blog in recent years and have them appear along side of Soccer Dad's own posts and those of Daled Amos, his other, still-active, co-blogger. I was especially comfortable doing so because of another admirable quality of Soccer Dad's blogging: good taste and moderation. Hopefully, even if not actually blogging, he will continue some sort of presence in the J-blogosphere: through his behind-the-scenes e-mails, blog-comments, etc., and in the meantime his continuing influence is reflected by the ongoing blog-carnival Haveil Havalim. Check out the latest edition here.

BDS-goons go after Sabra Hummus

According to the Daily Princetonian:

The Princeton Committee on Palestine has sponsored a referendum in next week’s USG elections that asks Dining Services to sell an alternative to Sabra hummus in all its retail locations on campus.

The Strauss Group and PepsiCo each own 50 percent of Sabra Dipping Company.

In August, Philly Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, a Philadelphia group that encourages activism against Israel, released an open letter calling for a boycott of Sabra for the same reason.

Both PCP and Philly BDS take issue with The Strauss Group’s support of the Israeli Golani Brigade. Members of the Brigade have been reprimanded by the Israeli military for inappropriate behavior . . .

Abby Klionsky ’14 said she found the referendum’s language at odds with PCP’s rhetoric. “The Facebook group, posters and petition clearly state that PCP’s aim is to boycott Sabra hummus,” she said in an e-mail.

“I have a sneaking suspicion that this referendum is not about having multiple options of hummus to buy as a consumer option, but rather make the process of boycotting Sabra hummus easier,” she added. [...]

Meanwhile at DePaul:

Today marks another win for the global boycott, divestment, sanctions (BDS) movement against corporations that profit from severe human rights violations. Chicago’s very own DePaul University just announced that their dining services will be discontinuing the sale of hummus manufactured by Sabra, an Israeli brand known for its vocal and material support of Israeli Defense Forces. The administration has temporarily suspended the sale of Sabra products and will likely move towards permanently banning the brand from campus.

Oddly enough, Debbie Schlussel slams Sabra for "caving in" on the Israel support and urges her readers not to buy it for pro-Israel reasons. I have most of a "Family Size" container of Sabra Roasted Garlic Hummus in my fridge right now as part of my Shabbos left-overs. At this point, I'd say the pro-Israel thing to do is to keep buying Sabra. And it doesn't hurt that it tastes good.

North Korea invents cold fire

I wonder what the "new softening technology" is used on. Brains?

The Research Institute of Cinema Science of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea has recently developed a new softening technology.

After making researches for lowering the surface temperature of fire and acquiring a new color reagent, it succeeded in developing materials for cold fire, free from danger of burn.

If only they had the cold fire during the incident of the slogan-bearing trees!

In a test of the materials, an actor was neither burnt nor injured in raging flames with black smoke.

Step into those flames, Comrade, in the spirit of Mt. Paektu . . .

The new technology makes it possible to shoot vivid fire scenes at low cost with actors and actresses provided with safe conditions.

The institute has also developed harmless fog-making materials.

Amazing! Real fog is so deadly . . .

Angry Arab "dying for one Israeli book to be criticized in the US"

All Israeli books get "rave reviews in the US"? Is this true?

I was thinking this morning as I read yet another favorable review of an Israeli author in the New York Times. Is there ever an Israeli author who is not reviewed favorably in the US press? Ever? And do you notice that no matter what an Israeli writes (poetry, fiction, speeches, hate speech), he/she gets enthusiastic and rave reviews in the US. I mean, I am dying for one Israeli book to be criticized in the US. [...]

He sounds so pathetic, but maybe we can cheer him up. Anyone have links to non-rave reviews of Israeli books?

AFP doesn't seem interested in who Mohammed Yassin is

However, the lead sentence mantions that the attack occurred on Eid al-Adha:

One person was killed and another seriously wounded in an Israeli air strike on a car in Gaza City during the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday on Wednesday, medical sources and an AFP photographer said.

"Mohammed Yassin was killed and his brother Islam was seriously wounded in an Israeli strike on a car in the Samer area of Gaza City," emergency services spokesman Adham Abu Selmiya told AFP.

The body was seen by an AFP photographer at Gaza City's Shifa hospital.

A witness told AFP he saw an Israeli warplane fire towards a white car in the city centre.

The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the raid, which was the fourth air strike on Gaza within two weeks. [...]

The AFP goes on to mention the recent killing of "Mohammed al-Nemnem, a senior militant with the Army of Islam." Maan News has some idea bout Yassin's identity:

An Israeli military spokeswoman confirmed the assassination, which was the second in two weeks.

She said "a senior operative belonging to the terrorist group Army of Islam was targeted" because the group, a radical Islamist organization, was plotting to attack Israeli citizens in the Sinai.

Medics also said the two casualties were likely members of Jaysh Al-Islam.

Jaysh Al-Islam is the Army of Islam.

Wouldn't the Krugman and anti-Krugman have to be prevented from ever meeting?

Just saying.

Update: The anti-Krugman is a step closer.

"Historical resources are unanimous"

A paragraph from an IRIB Radio article entitled "Ka'ba, the center of monotheism":

Historical resources are unanimous that the Ka'ba was built by the Father of the human race, Adam. We read that after building the Ka'ba, on God's command, Adam circumambulated around it. In the subsequent centuries or millenniums, the Prophets of God would make the journey to the holy Ka'ba. In the great flood of the times of Prophet Noah, the Ka'ba was damaged. Centuries later, God assigned Prophet Abraham to reconstruct the Ka'ba as the manifestation of monotheism and to invite people to worship God. Ka'ba has been the symbol of monotheism throughout history. Abraham left his wife and firstborn son, Ishmael beside this supreme symbol of monotheism for holding prayer in order to be a base for the world monotheists.

I am not sneering at the above, but I suppose that the continued existence of Judaism is inconvenient for those who want people to believe it.

North Korea reaches highest stage

Can you imagine living in a country in which a considerable portion of the news is stuff like this?

The national power has reached the highest stage, a heyday of the greatest prosperity in the nation's history spanning 5,000 years has been ushered in the country and its dignity and pride have been fully demonstrated before the whole world under the Songun banner.

The power of Haveil Havalim has reached the highest stage.

Happier times for Happy Meals?

Here's a setback for San Francisco Moonbats, who have been preparing a sort of legislative Happy Meal. It includes, as you may have heard, a food item:

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a ban on sales of McDonald's Happy Meals with children's toys as too intrusive.

"Parents, not politicians, should decide what their children eat, especially when it comes to spending their own money," Newsom said Friday in announcing the veto.

The city's board of supervisors passed the legislation forbidding giveaways of toys with kids meals unless they met strict dietary criteria. McDonald's Happy Meals, seen as the target of the ban, do not meet the board's criteria.

The board could still override the mayor's veto. [...]

So for right now, the news is good for fans of non-metaphorical Happy Meals, but the Moonbats may still get the burger part of their legislative Happy Meal, which also features a toy: a limitation of medical and religious freedom and assertion of state prerogatives as true parental-unit:

It's the latest controversial initiative, coming from the city that's tried to ban everything from happy meal toys, to plastic grocery bags. Now one resident is working to ban circumcision and it’s stirring up controversy across the state.

“It's definitely a personal choice issue. The government doesn't have any right to be involved,” said Cathy Pope, a Merced resident.

"On a personal level, if I had a baby boy I would not be doing it. But if it's part of their religion and their tradition, then so be it, if they want to do it. Again, it's a parent's choice," said Armando Arredondo, the father of a nine-month-old girl.

But the author of the initiative, San Francisco resident Lloyd Schofield sees it differently. "His body doesn't belong to his culture, his government, his religion or even his parents," said Schofield.

The initiative would make it a misdemeanor to circumcise, excise, cut or mutilate the genitals of a minor under 18, punishable with a fine of up to $1,000 or up to one year in jail. More than seven thousand signatures are needed for the initiative to make it onto San Francisco's ballot next November. As for parents who circumcise their boys for religious reasons, the author says they would have to follow the law as well.

It almost certainly won't pass, but how would it work? I guess families and well-wishers would go out of the San Francisco city limits to have the bris and the ensuing Seudas Mitzvah/Happy Meal. Anyway, I'm sure they will have interesting things to talk about at the next Friday-night Happy Meal at the Shul of the Grateful Yid. (h/t: memeorandum)

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

The day the anniversary died

There were two recent news stories about attempts to stop commemorations of what Ma'an News terms "the death of anniversary of the death of Yasser Arafat." Oh well, we get the idea. I can't say for sure, but I think this one, ascribing anti-Arafat motives to Zionist Entity Forces, is false:

Israeli forces surrounded a school in the northern West Bank to prevent students from marking the death of anniversary of the death of Yasser Arafat, the late Palestinian president.

Forces threatened to raid the school if the celebration did not immediately end, the director of education at the Jeet Male Secondary School east of Qalqiliya said. The principal said the school was evacuated.

An Israeli military spokesman said forces were responding to rock-throwing. [...]

To my mind, the fact that Maan bothers to include this little contrary claim does not bode well for the veracity of the good Director of Education, but Angry Arab just quotes the first sentence and gives the post one of his famous "This is Zionism" titles. He obviously believes the Director. What can I say? I'm just a lowly Judeopundit, while he is a Professor of Political Science at the Tomato Cannery--I mean, California State University, Stanislaus. This Maan News article, however (h/t: EOZ), contains no contrary claim:

The Foreign Press Association in Israel condemned on Thursday the reported arrest of a television crew at a Rafah event celebrating the life of former Palestinian president Yasser Arafat.

In a statement, the FPA denounced "in the strongest terms," the detention of the journalists, who the association said were detained and ordered to turn over news footage to the authorities. [...]

If only Abu Amar were here. He'd make sure his death-anniversary was celebrated properly.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Ever victorious weapons, powerful tresured swords, impregnable socialism, etc.

Time for a Juche-oriented post. Consider this a test of your revolutionary mettle. If you emerge at the other end of reading this with your brain intact, then you, too, in your own way, will be as invincible as the DPRK:

The great army-people unity is an ever-victorious weapon of the DPRK holding the great illustrious commander of Songun in high esteem and an engine of bringing about leaping progress and innovation.

Rodong Sinmun today says this in an editorial. It goes on:

Today the DPRK is vigorously advancing with the might of the great unity between the army and the people.

They are working shoulder to shoulder in every important site of building a thriving nation in one mind and with one intention.

All the servicepersons and people are firmly rallied behind the headquarters of the revolution with the same ideology and will, the spirit of assisting the army and the people are being fully displayed and a high-pitched drive for effecting the great revolutionary surge is prevailing in the DPRK. It is the true picture of the era of Songun.

The great unity between the army and the people serves as a powerful treasured sword and a foundation of the society of the DPRK which helps overcome all sorts of ordeals to emerge victorious as it was consolidated in the whole course of the protracted revolution and further strengthened in the tempest of the Songun revolution.

The might of the great unity between the army and the people is inexhaustible as all the servicepersons and people share the destiny with the same ideology and fighting spirit.

They are now bringing about great innovation and leap forward in every site of effecting a great surge in order to translate into reality the plan and determination of General Secretary Kim Jong Il for building a thriving nation.

The Korean People's Army is creating a new Chollima speed in the era of Songun in the important fields for building a thriving nation and fully demonstrating its might as the pillar and the main force of the revolution and all the people are effecting a great upswing in the production and construction in the revolutionary solider spirit. It is the heroic stamina of Songun Korea.

The epoch-making changes and the great auspicious events in the DPRK under the banner of Songun are priceless fruitions of the devoted efforts exerted by the servicepersons who take the lead in making a breakthrough in the great revolutionary surge and the heroic struggle waged by all the people with the same spirit, disposition and mettle as displayed by the soldiers.

Korean-style socialism is impregnable as all the servicepersons and people are united around the headquarters of the revolution as firm as a rock and the DPRK is sure to build a thriving nation as it is advancing with the might of the unity.

Even though the latest Haveil Havalim is the "Falling Back Edition," it is an engine of bringing about leaping progress and innovation.

UNRWA closes machine-gun gap

Evil Imperialist UNRWA acquires weapons to commit crimes against humanity:

The defense establishment has taken the unusual step of granting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency approval to take four weapons into Gaza. The weapons, submachine guns, are to serve the security detail guarding the heads of the agency in Gaza.

The request to bring in the weapons was made three years ago and approved last week.

The director of UNRWA's activities in Gaza, John Ging, said on his website that his life is in constant danger and he needs more suitable protection than the handguns his bodyguards had been carrying. [...]

The organization told Israeli security officials that its personnel are being threatened by Hamas representatives . . .

ISM human shields dressed in Rachel Corrie-style red jumpsuits are being sent to Gaza on the next flotilla to protect the Hamas representatives from UNOWA (United Nations Occupation and Works Agency) bullets. One Israeli official commented, "Well, I guess if it's for humanitarian purposes, we'll have to let the ship through." (h/t: EOZ)

Zahar: "The Jews will soon be expelled from Palestine that same way they were kicked out by France, Britain, Belgium, Russia and Germany"

Hamas officials, with leftist connivance, often lie and say "We have no quarrel with the Jewish people." The truth about what Hamas really believes gets out pretty often also:

Hamas leader says Jews were kicked out by France, Britain, Belgium, Russia and Germany "because they betrayed, stole and corrupted these countries;” adds, "we will soon pray at Aqsa Mosque."

The Jews will soon be expelled from Palestine that same way they were kicked out by France, Britain, Belgium, Russia and Germany, Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said over the weekend.

"The only nation that received the Jews after they were expelled was the Islamic nation, which protected them and looked after them," Zahar said in a speech in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip over the weekend.

"But they have no place here amongst us because of their crimes. They will soon be expelled from here and we will pray at the Aqsa Mosque [in Jerusalem]."

Zahar claimed that Jews were expelled in the past "because they betrayed, stole and corrupted these countries." [...]

Jews were expelled from Ghent Belgium in 1549, by the way.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course, it was nice of the Islamic Nation to protect them and look after them. This calls for a reprise of "Thanks for the Dhimmitude":

Thanks for the Dhimmitude
The Jizya that we paid
Your spittle on my face
The beatings I received
Because I didn't know my place
How chastened I was

Thanks for the Almohades
We ran away from Spain
That is, if we weren't slain
We thought we had a golden age
Then it went down the drain
How golden it was

Thanks for the Massacres
Fez 1465
Eleven left alive
Granada in 1066
When most did not survive
How final it was

Thanks for "Convert or die"
In Yemen it was bad
Morrocco and Baghdad
Compulsion in relgion
Was really quite a fad
Transforming it was

There. As Uncle Moishy says, hakaras hatov is soooo important.

Conspiracies are everywhere

It's conspiracy time. As Dr. Seuss observes in the special Zionist edition of One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish: "From there to here, from here to there, conspiracies are everywhere!" It has always been our ongoing mission to enlighten our readers about the truly hidden stories at the bottom of everything going on in the world--the stuff you can't learn just from reading DEBKAfile. Our first entry concerns the recent US election:

Israel "intervened" in the U.S. midterm elections in order to scupper the peace process, a PLO official said.

Yasser Abed Rabbo, secretary-general of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's Executive Committee, said Wednesday that the election results "prove that Israel played a role in these elections and cooperated with U.S. elements in order to use the results to thwart the negotiations. More than anything, this testifies to the Israeli government's intentions in regards to the peace process."

Angry Arab, too, has conspiracies on his mind:

Lately, I am really consumed with the question of whether Nasser was assassinated or not. I am a critic of Nasser but believe that if we find evidence that he was assassinated, our worst fears and suspicions about Western conspiracies in our midst would be proven right.

And, of course, IRI President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is always delving below the surface:

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on the Iranian people to keep vigilant against enemies' cultural invasion, warning that a passive defense policy in this regard will fail.

"To subdue the enemy's cultural invasion, higher [divine] virtues must be introduced to people," Ahmadinejad said in Iran's northeastern province of Northern Khorassan. [...]

President Ahmadinejad said as the time passes, Iran's enemies further lose their scheming and conspiracy powers "to an extent that they do not dare to talk about harming the Iranian nation. So they hypocritically reach out to befriend us, but conspire against us on the other hand."

And then there's Roseanne:

people are saying that 9-11 was an inside bush job . . . that was done to destroy the enron and anderson books/records(bush's friends) that were kept inside the buildings. Right after that our economy was gutted.

That's all for now--the mind can only take in so much in one sitting.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Angry Arab posts more gender-gap statistics

He finally takes note of the Little Satan where respective male and female incomes are concerned. The post is entitled "Liberal feminists still find Israel to be cute" and it consists of the following two sentences from Ha'aretz:

"In terms of gross pay, in 2009 the average monthly salary for women was 24% less than the average for men. The average gross pay for women stood at NIS 11,498, while men averaged NIS 15,060 a month."

An intelligent reader would wonder: how does Israel compare to other world countries here? This site rates Western-style democracies based on 2007 figures and assigns letter-grades to different parts of its scale. The highest country in the A-range is Denmark, which had its embassies set on fire by angry mobs in several Arab and Muslim countries in 2006. Israel is not listed, but its record is similar to that of the US (which was at the bottom of the B-range in 2007 and which apparently has a slightly larger gender-gap now). Israel is a country where Western values generally prevail. Ironically, the statistics in Angry Arab's post actually illustrate this once they are contextualized with a few readily-available relevant facts.

Kinsley declares "U.S. is not greatest country ever"

Slate founding editor Michael Kinsley offers what amounts to a pretentious way to blame voters for the country's economic woes and continued Middle East turmoil:

Everybody will be talking in the next few days about the "message" of the elections. They mean, of course, the message from the voters. This is one of the treasured conventions of political journalism. Yesterday, the story was all about artifice and manipulation, the possible effect of the latest attack ad or absurd lie. Today, all that melts away. The election results are deemed to reflect grand historical trends. But my colleague Joe Scarborough got it right in these pages last week when he argued that the 2010 elections, for all their passion and vitriol, are basically irrelevant. Some people are voting Tuesday for calorie-free chocolate cake, and some are voting for fat-free ice cream. Neither option is actually available. Neither party’s candidates seriously addressed the national debt, except with proposals to make it even worse. Scarborough might have added that neither party’s candidates had much to say about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (except that they “support our troops,” a flabby formulation that leaves Americans killing and dying in faraway wars that politicians won’t defend explicitly). Politicians are silent on both these issues for the same reason: There is no solution that American voters will tolerate. Why can’t we have calorie-free chocolate cake? We’re Americans!

I think low-fat ice cream (or at least sensible food) is available, but neither party has served it for a long time. The Republicans have not served it because it doesn't taste as good and the Democrats have not served it because they are trying to emulate Michael Moore. Voters clearly want responsible economic policies and they got Obamacare and the non-stimulating stimulus instead. Democrats had a mandate of sorts, but little interest in fulfilling it. I think people roughly agree with how Iraq and Afghanistan are being handled simply because they don't have such high expectations anymore. This election is about economics and the Republicans will have back the same old mandate. If they get it right this time, the voters will be vindicated. We'll see. (h/t: memorandum)

An important development

Hamas now admits that a large number of the Cast Lead casualties were Al Qassam Brigades members. EOZ's title is "Hamas admits what we all knew." "We all" does not include the mainstream media, NGOs, Jimmy Carter, etc., but it does, I think, include anyone interested in the truth (and largely thanks to EOZ and a few others). The Jpost article is here. Even PressTV is covering the story, although they twist it to preserve the "mostly civilians" lie. How long will it take before all the lies about the Mavi Marmara incident are also packed away?

Fisk confused about Beethoven

Can you spot the error?

When President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad entered the palace dining room to eat with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri last week – Saad being the son of ex-premier Rafiq who was murdered by ... we'll come to that later – Saad made sure that Beethoven was on the public address system. It was the Ninth Symphony, the "Ode to Freedom". The moment the Iranian President sat down, he turned to Saad and said: "Let's skip the lunch. Let's have sandwiches and go to southern Lebanon together."

Angry Arab, commenting on Fisk, is not up on his Beethoven either:

And only an idiot or somebody who has not watched Sa`d Hariri for ten minutes would believe that idiot Sa`d Hariri would know the significance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

Sad.

"Arab Activist: Regional Nations Adore Ahmadinejad's Independent Stances"

That has to be the most Iranian headline of the week.

Former President of the Union of Arab Writers Ali Aqlah Arsan lauded the sincere attitude of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and said the Lebanese people extended him a surprising welcome during his recent visit to the country due to his righteous stances as well as his support for resistant groups.

"Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is fully honest in his statements. He is a man with anti-US, anti-Zionist and anti-suppression stances, and takes steps towards justice and supports resistance in the region," Arsan told FNA on Sunday.

Referring to Ahmadinejad's recent visit to the Lebanese capital city of Beirut, the Arab activist said, "The Iranian president's visit to Lebanon not only sparked no internal rift in the country but also served the national unity of Lebanon."

"These very same position-takings of Ahmadinejad encouraged the entire Lebanese nation and officials to welcome him to the country," Arsan stated.

He also lauded Ahmadinejad's transparent stance, specially in supporting Iran's rights of access to the peaceful nuclear technology, and said Ahmadinejad has won a wide admiration in the region because there is not political game in his position-takings. [...]

The way the grammar collapses in the middle of the biggest lies is almost Pinocchio-like. Or maybe there is a translator at Fars who is winking at us?

Update: The latest Haveil Havalim has won a wide admiration.

Ha'aretz: "Turkey lists Israel as a 'threat to its interests'"

More evidence that the new Islamist Turkey is increasingly hostile to Israel:

A document by the Turkish National Security Council defines Israel's policies as a threat to Turkish interests and policies, marking the first time Israel has been defined a potential threat by Turkey's most important body on national security.

According to the document, Israel's policies are destabilizing and leading to a regional arms race, so they are a threat to Turkey.

"This is not merely another statement by the prime minister or politicians, but a statement that is binding on the security forces," a Turkish source told Haaretz. [...]

Iran's IRIB gleefully picks up this story with the headline "Israel root of all evil in region: Turkey."

"Chopin Night observed in Tehran"

According to the Supreme Leader: "Although music is halal, promoting and teaching it is not compatible with the highest values of the sacred regime of the Islamic Republic." Mehr News and other officially Khomeinist News Agencies, however, like to present Iran as an arts-friendly place. There is a propaganda aspect, obviously, to this little disconnect, but that may not be all:

The world continues to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Frederic Chopin, piano virtuoso and one of the world’s greatest composers, and Iran is no exception.

Iranian Bokhara magazine in collaboration with the Polish Embassy in Tehran arranged ‘Chopin Night’ on Thursday at the Tehran Conservatory of Music where selections from compositions by the renowned child-prodigy pianist were played.

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849), the Polish composer and pianist of the Romantic period, is best known for his piano solos and concerti. Although he composed little music other than for piano, many of which are brief, Chopin ranks as one of music’s greatest tone poets by reason of his superb imagination and fastidious musical craftsmanship.

The ceremony was attended by Bokhara Managing Director Ali Dehbashi, Polish Ambassador to Tehran Juliusz J. Gojlo, Tehran Conservatory director Behzad Moafi, Polish collector Krzysztof Dydo and several musicians.

Dehbashi made the opening speech and said, "Musicians around the world are celebrating the 200th birth anniversary of Chopin, from his birth place in Poland, to Austria, France, and Britain and finally reaching as far as China and Japan. Not only has his music failed to fade away with the passage of time, but on the contrary it has increased in fame in today’s contemporary world."

Ambassador Gojlo next expressed his gratitude to Bokhara magazine, the major organizer of the event, and said, "Iran and Poland have a common background in history. Like Poland, our country also struggled for freedom. We are also proud of our history, Chopin is world famous, but he is also special for us since he is Polish." [...]

The sentence beginning "Like Poland" should read "Like Iran"? I sometimes wonder if anyone reads this stuff besides me.

"All churches, synagogues and mosques in the Chicago area should be vigilant for any unsolicited or unexpected packages"

Good thinking:

"All churches, synagogues and mosques in the Chicago area should be vigilant for any unsolicited or unexpected packages, especially those originating from overseas locations," the FBI said.

Obviously the terrorists don't like places of worship, right?

Kos Israel-bashers on strike

Say it isn't so! Who is going to speak truth to power now?

Sound the flute,
Blow the horn,
Pluck the lute,
Forward, mourn!

MPAC-UK defends Booth again: How would you guess they used the word "Rubensesque"?

Here is the first paragraph:

Rubenesque, second-rate hack, Julie Burchill, is at it again. Once more, the fat-fingered rotund one is showing her disdain towards anything to do with Islam. This time, her target isn't an oppressed Palestinian (although she's a very vocal supporter of their oppressors). No, this time Fleet Street's answer to a tub of lard is busy attacking recent revert, Lauren Booth.

And here are the last two sentences:

When Burchill has finished counting her chins she should consider that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. Sister Lauren has joined the most dynamic, joyous faith in the world and we welcome her salvation.

Somehow I can't help feeling that the assertion that one belongs to the "most dynamic, joyous faith in the world" shouldn't follow a series of dismally written insults.

Nasrallah: UN tribunal "spied for West, Israel"

This sounds like an escalation:

The UN tribunal, investigating the former Lebanese premier's assassination, has been channeling data on the country to the West and Israel, according to newer information released by Hezbollah.

Under the guise of solving the murder, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) has been penetrating every single sector within the country to obtain information, the Lebanese resistance movement's Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah said on Thursday.

It would then direct the data to the Western intelligence services and Tel Aviv, he added, addressing the people in the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

Nasrallah said in July that he had been informed by the slain leader's son and successor, Saad Hariri, that the court "will accuse some undisciplined [Hezbollah] members."

He rejected the allegation and warned that the plot was part of a dangerous project that is targeting the resistance. [...]

Yarmulkes, tefillin not allowed in Jordan

I looked unsuccessfully for the Ynet version, but here is the version from JTA:

Israelis have been asked to leave their yarmulkes at the border when entering Jordan, an Israeli news site reported.

An Israeli businessman told Ynet that his yarmulkes were taken and put in a safe upon his entry into Jordan, with a Jordanian policeman telling him that it was for his own good.

Tefillin and other religious articles also are not allowed into the country.

Yossi Levy, the director of communications at Israel's Foreign Ministry, told Ynet that there were "disagreements with our Jordanian counterparts in regards to Jewish religious objects" entering the country.

"We receive a growing number of complaints by Israeli visitors who report of religious items being confiscated at the border crossing 'for security reasons,'" Levy told Ynet. "[t]hey explain this by the need to protect visitors carrying 'obvious Israeli identification means.'"

This is either a story about Jordanian government religious discrimination or a story about how hostile the atmosphere of the country is to Jews. Maybe both.

Iran to help Bolivia "annihilate Imperialism soon"

How often do news headlines in Iran feature the word "annihilate"? Once a day?

Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Wednesday that his country would annihilate Imperialism soon with the support of anti-Imperialist states.

Speaking at Iran's Parliament, Morales endorsed anti-Imperialist states and said, "we will annihilate Imperialism soon with the help of anti-Imperialist countries."

"Imperialism has long ruled our economy, but I tried to change the infrastructures from the beginning of my term in office and I nationalized gas and petrol," he added.

He then turned to the US recent coup in Latin America, saying that, "their coup was defeated by Venezuela in 2002, they also mounted a coup in Bolivia in 2008 where we defeated them and expelled the US ambassador."

He also emphasized Iran's support for Bolivia and said, "we are in need of cooperation with Iran in all fields."

Bolivian President arrived in Iran on Sunday evening for a four-day visit.

He was officially welcomed by Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at presidential office on Tuesday.

Evo Morales leaves Tehran on Wednesday.

Iran and Bolivia are to sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on industry and agriculture.

Morales is the second Latin American President who has visited Iran over last week.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has visited Iran before Morales.

You've just spent a hard day annihilating imperialism. Time to relax with a little soccer (futsal, actually):

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his visiting Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales have taken part in an exhibition futsal match. [...]

In the match, Morales passed the ball to the Iranian president and Ahmadinejad scored a goal for the Iranian-Bolivian presidential team. [...]

The Supreme Leader was not able to participate due to a knee injury.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

MPAC-UK thinks Isreallycool illustrates that Zionists are "up in arms" about the Lauren Booth conversion

"Pro-Zionist sites are up in arms" they declare, with a link to this. They continue:

The level of hostility and the personal attacks on Lauren are quite disgusting.

Don’t be surprised though. Zionism teaches supremacy over others who do not subscribe to its corrupted way of thinking.

A number of commenters point out that Zionist sites are not "up in arms" so much as just making fun of her. I, for one, am disgusted at the reprehensible bigotry shown by my fellow Zionist bloggers to Booth and other transfidels. Make amends, Aussie Dave! Wish Booth an Eid Mubarak--or at least a Hosni Mubarak. Where's your sense of Abrahamic solidarity?

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Why FFBs put ketchup on Pizza?

The ketchup must react chemically with the Brooklynized water.

In other food news, a Hummus shortage seems to be on the horizon in Israel.

Yeah, this is turning into a round-up--what of it? Anyway here is an item on "Why Most Published Research Findings Are False" (h/t: Discarded Lies)

Actually, this should be called the "Anti-BDS Cookbook," but it looks worthwhile. (h/t: Divest this)

At (North) Korean News we learn of "Japan's Wild Ambition for Overseas Invasion": "Having built their military muscle, the Japanese reactionaries are going reckless, blinded by the wild ambition for overseas aggression just as a tadpole is bound to jump out of a pool as soon as it grows to be a frog." Later the article adds that the "Japanese militarists will not be able to escape the fate of tiger moths."

Telegraph: "Wikileaks: how Iran devised new suicide vest for al-Qaeda to use in Iraq."

LA Times: "UCLA's ongoing suspension of admissions to Islamic studies worries students." The fact that "Islamic Studies" still seems like a good idea to Muslims probably indicates that it still has not quite arrived as an independent academic discipline. Be careful what you wish for, O Muslims.

IRIB (Iran): Abdul Alim Musa declares "Muslims live under dictatorship in US"

Abdul Alim Musa is a name worth knowing. According to Wikipedia:

In a video aired by Fox News, Musa stated, from behind a podium at the University of California at Irvine on Sept. 9, 2001, that "If you don't stay out of our way and leave us alone, we're going to burn America down."

We also learn, courtesy of Wikipedia, that Musa is reported to have said "Yahuds are the enemy of humanity." "Yahuds" are folks like your faithful Judeopundit who like a nice sip of single-malt scotch with their shmaltz-herring after davening on Saturday morning. Musa is apparently a great supporter of Khomeinism and he makes an appearance in the following IRIB item:

Muslims live under dictatorship in America, said an African-American Muslim activist, ahead of a review of the US human rights records by the UN Human Rights Council.

In less than two weeks, the Human Rights Council will, for the first time ever, assess the human rights status of the United States in a Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

"We [Muslims] believe that it is our duty, it is our responsibility to stand up to what we call the US government's 'constitutional dictatorship'," activist and Imam of Masjid al-Islam Abdul Alim Musa said on Monday.

"When we say a constitutional dictatorship, we mean that they have a constitution, but with all of the new anti-terrorism bills, patriot acts, all of the homeland securities, all of the FBI memos... all of these new charges that they operate on allow them to go around all of the constitutional guarantees [for human rights,]" he added. [...]

If only America were more like Iran. In a similar vein, "Ahmadinejad on Monday stressed that the West’s programs and patterns . . . have been failed." Just savor that Irangrish. Irangrish, of course, is not just a matter of bad grammar, but also a certain grandiose vagueness. Let's read on and learn that "the Iranian culture is based on facts." (Although oddly, Ahmadinejad's speech, as reported here, doesn't seem to be overburdened much with factual content):

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday stressed that the West’s programs and patterns regarding various issues of Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan as well as economic and social subjects have been failed.

The President made the remarks while addressing a national seminar on soft war.

He underlined the need for setting forth Islamic-Iranian views and programs at the international arena regarding different global issues.

He said such programs are based on Islamic values and principles in one hand and the capabilities of the Iranian nation on the other.

Referring to Iran’s rich culture, the President reiterated that the Iranian culture is based on facts.

The Iranian experts and youth are capable of presenting to the world appropriate Iranian patterns which can replace the failed western ones, he added.

The Islamic Iran should be turned to the venue of elevated thoughts, appropriate human programs and revolutionary acts, he noted.

Today, an effective operation to counter soft war is impossible without a target-oriented, cohesive and integrated planning, President Ahmadinejad said.

He expressed hope that the Islamic Iran would turn to the theoretical source of thought, program and management throughout the globe.

I guess he looks forward to the time when everyone will take direction from Iran, provided they can figure out what those fluffy pronouncements mean exactly. Of course, I don't think the Yahuds will be much inclined to explain it to them.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Mehr: "Leader tells Basij members to avoid extremism"

He wants them to "avoid extremism"? I guess he means as much as you can avoid extremism and still be a good Khomeinist. Too bad he doesn't offer an example.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has urged the Basij volunteer forces to avoid carrying out extremist actions.

“It is essential for Basijis to refrain from extremism in practice, because extremist action is as harmful as inaction,” the Leader said in an address to a gathering of Basij members in Qom on Sunday.

“The revolutionary zeal of the Basiji youth should grow every day, but they should be careful to use it appropriately,” he stated.

Ayatollah Khamenei advised the Basij forces to be vigilant in the face of the enemies’ plots to distort the truth about Iran’s progress.

“Today, one of the main objectives of the enemies, in line with their soft war, is distorting the truth about the country,” he said.

However, the enemies’ approach shows their weakness in the face of the rapid and great progress of the Iranian nation in the right direction, he noted.

The Leader pointed to the massive propaganda campaign launched against Iran and said the enemy is trying to present a false and discouraging image of Iran’s economic situation and claiming Iran’s economy is in crisis.

Attempting to distort the truth about Iran is not a new approach and the enemies have followed this policy for the past 30 years, but they have stepped up their propaganda campaign because the current Iranian government officials are acting on revolutionary principles more diligently and seriously than ever, he stated. [...]

There is just not enough revolutionary diligence and seriousness in the world . . .

Rosy Futures in today's news

North Korea:

[...] The vitality of the above-said Korea-style drive has been strikingly demonstrated in the fact that it is developing the science and technology of the country under a long-term plan for the eternal prosperity of the country.

It calls for dynamically waging an all-out drive by means of ideology and intelligence. This is the main task and key to winning victory in the drive for pushing back the frontiers of latest science and technology.

Unfolding before us is a rosy future of thriving Songun Korea, a full embodiment of Kim Jong Il's idea of pushing back the frontiers of latest science and technology. [...]

Iran:

Islamic Revolution Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei told a large gathering of Basij forces Sunday in Qom city that enemies of the Islamic Republic appear to be lagging behind the fast advancing Iranian nation and thereby they resort to massive propaganda to play down the recent magnificent advances of the Islamic Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei noted however that unlike the desire of the enemies, the Iranian nation would continue the irreversible progress towards a bright future. [...]

"The unstoppable movement of the Iranian nation in the line of Islam and Quran promises a bright and progressive future for the Islamic Iran and this issue will affect the Islamic world and cause further awakening of Muslim nations," the IR Leader said.

The latest Haveil Havalim calls for dynamically waging an all-out drive by means of ideology and intelligence.

Galloway's convoy delivers Mavi Marmara ashes for sprinkling on Hamas graves?

Quite a symbolic development:

Members of the Islamic Hamas movement Saturday scattered ashes from the nine Turkish activists killed by Israeli naval forces during the interception of their Gaza-bound flotilla on the graves of Hamas militants killed in Gaza.

The dust of the Turkish activists was brought to Gaza by campaigners form the aid convoy Lifeline 5 - which arrived in the coastal enclave on Thursday, Hamas officials said.

Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas leader who scattered the ashes on Hamas militants' graves, told reporters that "this action reiterates the strong ties between the Turkish people and the Palestinians in confronting Israel."

He added "those campaigners of the freedom flotilla, had sacrificed themselves and their blood for breaking the siege imposed on Gaza. Today the dusts are mixed upon the request of the families of the Turkish victims." [...]

As some of the posts in the Ha'aretz comments section point out, cremation is evidently a no-no in Islam. What gives? (h/t: EOZ)

Fars News: "Iran Develops New Missile System with Longer Range"

Claims about weapons in the Iranian Press are frequently nonsense, and that could well be true of the claims in this story, but I think Iran is generally increasing its military capabilities:

The Iranian Defense Ministry announced on Saturday that it has succeeded in improving the range of its mid-range missile defense system named as 'Mersad'.

"The Mersad missile system is a highly important system and the range of its new generation will be more than the range of its current generation possessed by the Iranian Armed Forces," Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi told FNA today.

Elaborating on the features of the missile system which is capable of destroying advanced airplanes in low and mid altitudes, Vahidi reiterated, "The new generation of Mersad system covers higher altitudes and hits more targets simultaneously."

Iran first announced in April that it had built its first home-made mid-range missile defense system named as 'Mersad'.

"The Mersad air defense system that is ready for delivery to the Air Defense Base is a mid-range defense system capable of destroying advanced airplanes in low and mid altitudes," Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi told reporters in April.

Noting that the Mersad defense system enjoys superior and more capabilities than its western rivals like the Hag mid-range defense system, Vahidi reiterated at the time that Mersad is resistant to electronic warfare and can be used as part of a network of radar and air defense systems.

"The Mersad missile defense system is comprised of different target tracing and tracking radars, soft and hardware networks, launch pads for Shahin missiles and a command and control center," he added.

Iran has recently taken giant strides in building missile defense systems. Vahidi in May inaugurated the production line of a powerful missile defense shield to destroy incoming cruise missiles.

"Mesbah (Lantern) 1 air-defense system is designed and built to counter air attacks, different kinds of airplanes, cruise missiles, choppers and other air threats in low altitudes," he said at the time.

Iran also boosted its efforts to improve its missile defense system after Moscow's decision to annul the contract for the delivery of the sophisticated anti-aircraft S-300 missile to Iran.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev earlier in September issued a decree on the ban, which also prohibited exports of tanks, aircraft and sea vessels to Iran.

An Iranian top military commander had announced several months ago that Tehran is able to replace the Russian-made anti-aircraft S-300 missiles with other air defense systems.

"If they do not deliver S-300 defensive system to us, we have replacements and we can supply our operational requirements through innovative techniques and different designs," Deputy Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base for Coordination General Hassan Mansourian said in November.

Guardian guy adds smallish new wrinkle to bunch of arguments we've heard before about Ground-Zero Mosque

Of course, it isn't a Mosque and it's not Ground-Zero and there's a strip-club there and so forth. Here's the new wrinkle: a little trans-Atlantic flattery:

This is America, where no one has the right not to be offended. For God's sake, America, don't catch our European disease.

Fine, but that's no answer to those of us who are merely saying that Rauf and company shouldn't entertain any illusions about building bridges to go with the non-Mosque.

That's nice--"Iran to solve Venezuela housing crisis"

Whenever there's breaking news, PressTV is there:

"I hope the Iranian Minister of Housing and Urban Development could come to our country with his experts and find a solution to our problem just as they resolved the housing problem in Iran in such a short time," Chavez said during a visit to Prand City on Wednesday.

Juan Cole is impressed

Someone named M. Shahid Alam has just published a book called Israeli Exceptionalism. Juan just had to have an excerpt on his blog:

Israeli exceptionalism has many uses. It defends, obscures, explains away the ‘abnormal’ character of the Zionist nationalist project. When the Irish sought national liberation, their goal was straightforward. They wanted to regain national control over their lives and their country from a foreign power. No one had to convince the Irish that they are descended from the gods; that they possessed a unique essence which set them apart from all other peoples; or that their history, religion, race, language, morality or culture set them above their colonial masters. Occasionally, driven by exuberance or hubris, nationalists have advanced exceptionalist claims, but the success of their movement has not depended on their acceptance. The Irish claimed sovereignty because they knew that they are a nation with their own territory. In order to create their own state, they did not have to establish that they are exceptional.

The Zionists confronted two handicaps that Irish nationalists did not face. The diverse and scattered Jewish communities of Europe – and even more so, the world – did not constitute a single people. Instead, the Jews of the world were loosely united by their religious heritage, but they shared their languages, cultures and genes with their neighboring communities. Moreover, no Jewish community had its own country, a substantial and contiguous territory where it formed a majority of the population. Despite these twin Jewish deficits – the absence of a nation and a national territory – the Zionists were determined to ‘liberate’ the Jews of Europe and endow them with their own state.

The Zionists would remedy the first deficit by denying its existence. They knew that the Jews were not a nation, but it would be unwise to begin their ‘nationalist’ movement with the admission that a Jewish nation did not yet exist. They also did not think that this deficit was a serious hindrance to their movement. With help from anti-Semites, whose attacks had been growing in recent decades, the Zionists were convinced that they could quickly convince enough frightened Jews that they are a nation. [...]

The Hebrew language was probably a helpful prop in their little scheme. I wonder if Shlomo Sand is a commanding presence in the book's footnotes.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

IRIB: "Ahmadinejad, Chavez review int'l developments"

Did you know that "Independent countries have suitable capacities and if they unite with one another the capacities could increase their power against imperialism"? Articles such as this have an interesting texture: Orwellian and fluffy:

IRI President Ahmadinejad and visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday studied the regional and international key issues in a meeting Tuesday.

They called for coordination between independent nations, including Iran and Venezuela.

Ahmadinejad acknowledged Chavez stance on supporting Iran and said," The friendly stance of Venezuela in condemning arrogant powers' sanctions against the Iranian nation shows there is a deep and strong bond between the two countries."

"Today the Islamic Republic of Iran is in suitable conditions despite arrogant powers' pressures," President Ahmadinejad reiterated.

The Venezuelan President for his part said Venezuela seeks expansion of cooperation with Iran, adding," The two countries have many capacities and opportunities for expansion of ties in all fields."

He pointed to the current situation in the world and said," Independent countries have suitable capacities and if they unite with one another the capacities could increase their power against imperialism."

Chaves termed the ties between Iran and Venezuela as strong and brotherly, saying, "Venezuela will stand beside the Iranian nation under any circumstances."

Iranian Press articles are often devoted to the pronouncements of Hamas officials. One at Fars entitled "Al-Qassam Brigades Vow to Confront Israeli Aggression against Gaza" comes with a swell picture:

The picture nicely illustrates the claim that Israel "cannot stand to see a peaceful and quiet Gaza." Let's see what Mr. Peace and Quiet has to say:

The Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Islamic resistance movement Hamas, rejected the Zionist regime's claims that the resistance group has been equipped with new air-defense systems in the Gaza Strip, and warned that any Israeli aggression will receive a crushing response.

"The recent remarks by (Israeli Prime Minister) Benjamin Netanyahu that resistance brigades in Gaza have been equipped with anti-air defense systems are no more than an excuse to justify a new attack by this regime on the besieged Gaza Strip," Al-Qassam Brigades Spokesman Abu Obaida told FNA.

Abu Obaida further stressed that the Zionist regime raises such claims against resistance groups in an effort to divert the world public opinion from the realities of Israeli brutalities and oppression against the Palestinians.

He added that the allegations also aim to create fear and panic among resistance forces, and warned Israel against the dire consequences of any foolish measure.

Also earlier today, another Hamas leader, Esmayeel Rezwan, said that Netanyahu's claims about deployment of Palestinian air-defense systems along the Gaza Strip reveal that Israelis are always thinking of war and bloodshed and cannot stand to see a peaceful and quiet Gaza. [...]

I was concerned that Hamas really had those anti-aircraft missiles, but I feel much better now.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

"Kim Jong Il Provides On-site Guidance to Newly Built Okryu Restaurant"

Juche in the Box?

Kim Jong Il, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission, provided on-site guidance to the newly built Special Dish House of Okryu Restaurant.

The special dish house is another gift presented by Kim Jong Il to the Pyongyangites and all other people with his loving care as he always thinks of how to improve the people's diet.

With the appearance of the house which has a total floor space of more than 6 000 square meters and is capable of accommodating thousands of visitors, the area of Okryu Restaurant has turned into a street of catering facilities built in a peculiar Korean architectural style to be proud of.

Kim Jong Il looked round for hours the inside and outside of the elegant, magnificent and exquisite house, a good combination of national, classical and contemporary architectural styles, to learn in detail about its construction.

After acquainting himself in detail not only with the architectural style and substance of the house but with cooking utensils and furnishings in the dining rooms, he expressed great satisfaction over the fact that soldier-builders built the house at the highest level as required by the architectural beauty of the new century by fully displaying the revolutionary soldier spirit.

The house not only has good inner structure but it was constructed at a high level and it is flawless in its architectural substance and style, he said, extending high appreciation and thanks to the soldier-builders for having done good things for the sake of the people.

Noting that it is an astonishing miracle that they completed in a matter of half a year the modern special dish house, which will remain impeccable even in the distant future, he stressed that this eye-opening success is a striking demonstration of the inexhaustible mental power of the servicepersons, the creators of the revolutionary soldier spirit.

He was greatly pleased that the appearance of the best special dish house as an annex to Okryu Restaurant, the catering centre for the people, which has long earned its fame as an icon of Korea standing on the picturesque bank of the River Taedong, made it possible for the restaurant for the people to shed its rays as a precious treasure of the Korean nation and the world's leading restaurant both in name and reality.

Gigantic structures are now springing up one after another in various parts of the country and the wealth of the country is on the steady increase, enabling the Korean people to enjoy pleasure after undergoing pain, he noted, adding that the stirring reality of a thriving nation is on the horizon thanks to the inexhaustible mental power of the heroic Korean people who bravely weathered out all sorts of difficulties and trials.

Noting that Okryu Restaurant is a crystal of the great love, an embodiment of President Kim Il Sung's idea of believing in people as in Heaven, he said that it is the sacred duty and noble moral obligation to add shine to this valuable heritage generation after generation.

Okryu Restaurant has an important role to play in improving the people's diet and giving fuller play to the advantages of Korean-style socialism, he said, setting forth important tasks to be carried out to manage and operate the restaurant.

It is the intention and ideal of the Party to bring the level of the people's diet and food culture to the highest level as they will live in a thriving nation, he noted, underscoring the need for the special dish house of the restaurant to play the role as a pedigree eating house for the development of the country's culinary art.

He stressed the need for the special dish house to serve not only Korean national dishes but a variety of dishes including turtle, salmon, sturgeon, quail and bullfrog dishes.

When the house serves national and world famous dishes well, Okryu Restaurant will be more crowded with visitors and then famous dishes will spread across the country from here, he noted.

He stressed that if this modern house is to pay off profusely, it is necessary to steadily raise the technical skills of the cookers, make a sufficient supply of foodstuffs and other things, ensure the hygienic safety at the restaurant and also pay deep attention to the management of the facilities.

He together with the leading officials who accompanied him tasted Pyongyang cold noodle prepared by employees of the restaurant and appreciated it, saying that the original taste and tradition were preserved well in the noodle.

He then expressed expectation that the restaurant would faithfully fulfill its duty as a catering establishment. [...]

And that wasn't the first time we have accompanied the Dear Leader on a field-guidance tour of a sacred socialist beanery. How close has that inexhaustible mental power gotten them to prosperity? According to the Washington Post today, North Korea "has had a bad year economically with a disastrous revaluation of its currency. Food shortages and famine are still part of the landscape."

In any event, the latest Haveil Havalim will shed its rays as a precious treasure . . .

"Larijani: Israel is now sliding into annihilation"

I should make a collection of English Iranian press stories which use the word "annihilation" in connection with Israel:

IRI parliament speaker said Muslims' awakening, launching promising moves and resistance against the Zionist regime's oppression are the best assets to the Middle East region.

"The question of Palestine is the most painful issue in our history," Ali Larijani was quoted by the IRIB as saying at an international conference on Palestine which opened in Tehran on Saturday.

"We are witnessing blatant repression against Palestinians," the top parliamentarian underlined.

He said Palestinians have been forced from their motherland and subjected to suppression and killing.

Larijani added that Tel Avis was tasked by the US to create a fresh saga in the region and create a new Middle East.

"It was the time when the Zionist regime began to decline", Larijani continued.

Israel is now sliding into annihilation, the Iranian parliament speaker concluded.

How Huffpo introduces a North Korean photo slide-show

Can you spot the inanity?

When Associated Press photographer Vincent Yu traveled to North Korea for the 65th anniversary of the ruling Workers' Party, his resulting photographs offered a rare peek into one of the world's most mysterious nations.

Given its limited exposure to Western media, North Korea is often associated with political tension and militant strife. Yet the Pyongyang that Yu captured is one that is ready to celebrate, and this year marked not just the anniversary but also the named succession of Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong Il's youngest son. The city's inhabitants are seen enjoying picnics, live performances and even theme park rides.

See Vincent Yu's astonishing photographs here . . .

"Political tension and militant strife"? What is "militant strife," anyway? Is it something like poverty, oppression, and misery? Some of the photos are, indeed, stunning, but if you want to get a glimpse of the country's concentration-camp-like true character, read between the lines of the English output of its news agency. Some words, it seems, are worth a thousand pictures.

"Full Play to Might of Single-Minded Unity Called for"

It's always nice to read uncut Juche sludge:

The revolutionary surge in the DPRK at present which is effecting changes in all fields, working miracles without knowing impossibilities, means a great surge, a product of the single-minded unity. This means the power and victory of the DPRK. Rodong Sinmun Monday says this in an editorial article.

The single-minded unity of the DPRK has a long history and it has steadily grown stronger in the annals of the revolution, the article notes, and goes on:

The Korean revolution has always emerged victorious thanks to the unity of the Korean people in thinking and purpose and moral obligation based on the revolutionary idea of President Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il. The single-minded unity has grown exceptionally strong as it helped the entire party, army and people turn into a harmonious whole based on the monolithic ideology, faith and comradely love and sense of obligation in the era of Songun.

The harmonious whole of the leader, the party, the army and the people serves as a basic cornerstone of the state political system in the DPRK, basic roots of its society and a source for all the victories and miracles. The single-minded unity of the DPRK is the strongest revolutionary unity in history and an all-powerful treasured sword for winning only victory in any adversity. The invincible spirit of Songun Korea lies in that all the servicepersons and people form a community in which they share the common destiny with the leader and carve out a future of prosperity.

The single-minded unity of the DPRK is growing stronger in the historic advance for building a great prosperous and powerful nation of Juche under the uplifted banner of Songun.

This solid unity is based on the perfect unity among the leader, the army and the people in thinking and faith and has its source in the ardent longing and fascination of the army and people with the leader and it has become unbreakable despite the tempest of the times.

The single-minded unity of the DPRK has demonstrated its might in the general advance to open the gate to a thriving nation under the leadership of Kim Jong Il.

"When Korea Is Determined, It Can Do Anything!" The shout of this slogan now heard from every worksite for building a thriving nation represents the firm faith of the army and people of the DPRK that they have nothing to fear and can do anything as long as they are led by Kim Jong Il.

The DPRK is sure to always emerge victorious as it has the single-mindedly united ranks heroically advancing, performing matchless miracles and exploits in hearty response to the patriotic call of the leader

The latest Havel Havalim is an all-powerful treasured sword for winning only victory in any adversity while the latest KCC is effecting changes in all fields, working miracles without knowing impossibilities.

IRIB: "Ahmadinejad hits target on 9/11 issue"

Despite the attempts at damage-control of certain leftists, the Iranian Press is pressing ahead with the 9/11 conspiracism. You know you've really arrived when your ideas are endorsed by "Head of UTM's Polymer Engineering Department Azman Hassan":

A professor at the University of Teknologi of Malaysia (UTM) has said that the Iranian President hit the target when he mentioned his idea about the 9/11 events at the United Nations.

Head of UTM's Polymer Engineering Department Azman Hassan said that the passive reaction shown by the White House has indicated that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad hit the target on the issue when he questioned the reality of the terrorist attacks against the Twin Towers.

During his speech at the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, the Iranian President said the 9/11 terrorist attacks were organized by some segments of the US government and called for establishment of a fact-finding committee to probe into the event.

The Islamic Iran has mentioned some facts that the US had decided to forget, said the Malaysian professor noting that there was currently no doubt that the 9/11 was a fabricated issue.

Hassan stressed that many of the world nations would definitely support President Ahmadinejad's view on formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate the terrorist event.

And any time Muslims don't get along, that is a Western conspiracy, too. As we learn at Fars News, "Supreme Leader Warns about US, Israeli Plots to Create Rift among Muslims":

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei called on Islamic countries to keep vigilant about US and Zionists' plots, warning that enemies of Islam are seeking to sow discord among Muslims.

"Whenever Muslims come close to each other, the American and Zionist agents lurk to create a rift among them through different religious, ethnic, sectarian excuses and other pretexts," Ayatollah Khamenei said on Saturday. [...]

I guess all "sectarian excuses" in Lebanon have been resolved since the country, according to IRIB, quoting Nasrallah, is "eagerly waiting for Ahmadinejad's arrival":

Secretary General of Hezbollah said Lebanon will welcome warmly the arrival of the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran in order to fulfill our obligations toward the great nation of Iran.

And, of course, every single Lebanese citizen, no matter what his religion, is eager to fulfill those "obligations." Nice to know the conspiracy doesn't hold sway everywhere.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Iranian General: "US, Mossad played roles in 9/11 event"

A good chunk of the output of the Iranian press consists of stories of this sort. It just isn't worth blogging about every example, but this one has a sort of flaky grandeur:

Following the Iranian president's doubts on the 9/11 event, a top military adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution says the CIA and Mossad were involved in the attacks.

"The US and the Zionists developed the strategy of the September 11 attacks in an effort to counter the Islamic vigilance and to control energy resources in the Middle East," IRNA quoted Brigadier General Yahya Rahim-Safavi as saying on Saturday.

He further added that al-Qaeda and its leader Osama bin Laden did not possess the essential intelligence capacity anywhere near the level of CIA, Pentagon and the FBI in order to conduct the surprise attacks against sensitive centers in the United States on September 11.

According to General Rahim-Safavi, heads of Israel's Mossad and the US played roles in the event.

"The September 11 attacks in the US and the shameful act of Qur'an burning by the US and Zionist regime (Israel) were in line with Islamophobia efforts by enemies of Islam who have fears over the spread of Islam and the Islamic vigilance," he further explained. [...]

Breathtaking bit of conflation there, General. Ahmadinejad, as you may have heard, is planning to visit Lebanon. According to an IRIB Radio headline Ahmadinejad has declared "Iran likes all Lebanese people and groups." Awww:

President Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that Iran is interested in all Lebanese people and groups and intends to reinforce the two countries' mutual cooperation and to consolidate the national unity in this country.

According to IRNA, in a meeting with the Lebanese Minister of Water and Energy, Jamil Bassil, on Sunday, President Ahmadinejad lauded the resistance of the Lebanese nation against the Zionist regime and added that the wise and courageous steadfastness of different Lebanese groups and people against the Zionist regime of Israel is a source of honor. [...]

An IRNA headline asks the question which is uppermost in everyone's mind: "Why are Zionists worried about Ahmadinejad’s visit of S. Lebanon?"

According to IRNA office in Beirut, the Al-Akhabar Monday editorial reads, “Only a week is left to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit of Lebanon that would bring about heavy consequences for the Zionist regime.”

The Lebanese columnist adds, “This is a visit that would clearly put on display the defeat of the US policies and the conservative policies of the reactionary Arab countries, versus the victorious face of resistance in the region...

“That is why the Zionist regime dailies have been adopting intriguing stands regarding Ahmadinejad’s upcoming visit for weeks, particularly considering his visit of southern parts of Lebanon a threat against their own so called national security, encouraging the UN officials to make every effort aimed at canceling the visit!

The Lebanese daily referring to the probable warm welcome of the people in southern parts of Lebanon for the Iranian president, writes, "Ahmadinejad’s probable visit of the southern parts of the country, like Bebt Jubail and Maroun ur-Ra’s, which have been witnesses to the glory of the Lebanese Hezbollah’s victories in the course of the Zionist regime’s imposed 33 Day War in the year 2006 would particularly humiliate that regime all the more.

"The visit from the core stronghold of resistance in the region would take place at a time that the echo of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s officials’ for the annihilation of the Zionist regime is still echoing in the ears of the world nations…" [...]

Somehow I think Ahmadinejad's visit is particularly bad news for Lebanon, even if "Iran likes all Lebanese people and groups."

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Dis-entabernacle-ization

Each step of disassembling and putting away the Sukkah undoubtedly has homiletical significance. The removal of the s'chach reminds us of the transitory nature of human existence. Taking down the walls reminds us not to erect a wall between ourselves and our fellow beings. Putting the light away reminds us of the Ohr Haganuz--the Hidden Light. Leaving some boards for the kids to put away reminds us that "HaKadosh Baruch Hu does not come to burden His creations" (Avodah Zarah 3a). Actually, I wrote this post as an excuse to rest from taking down the Sukkah. Back to work! (From Unser Judeopundit Otzar of Golden Oldie Reposts)

Kim's "re-election" reflects "unanimous will and ardent desire of all . . . the people of the country"

Ever notice the this is the only blog that covers the truly "important" political events?

Leading papers Thursday editorially congratulate General Secretary Kim Jong Il on his reelection as general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea.

The Conference of the WPK reelected him as its general secretary reflecting the unanimous will and ardent desire of all the party members, the servicepersons and the people of the country and elected the central leadership body of the WPK.

Rodong Sinmun says that it marked an important political event that provided a landmark of radical turn in glorifying for eternity the ever-victorious history and tradition of the glorious WPK and giving steady continuity to the revolutionary cause of Juche, the cause of building a thriving socialist nation. [...]

The latest Haveil Havalim is a landmark of radical turn. (HH 284 also gave steady continuity to the revolutionary cause.)