IRIB: "Hezbollah enjoys weapon of martyrdom"

Happy Martyr Day!

Lebanese Islamic Resistance Movement enjoys a weapon better than missile arsenals and that is the will to sacrifice, a high-ranking official of the movement said on Tuesday.

Al-Minar TV network quoted Sheikh Nabil Kawooq as saying that Hezbollah enjoys martyrdom-seeking weapon which no one would be able to confront with.

Speaking at the occasion of "Martyr" day, representative of Hezbollah in southern Lebanon reiterated that the victory of Resistance is near.

He described Ahmad Qasir's martyrdom-seeking operation as one of the greatest and most significant operations during the history of combat against the Zionist regime.

Ahmad Qasir was a front runner in conducting martyrdom-seeking operations and gaining victory, Kawooq said adding Qasir opened the door to the eventual defeat of the Zionist enemy.

Ahmad Qasir conducted the first martyrdom-seeking operation in Nov. 11, 1982 against 'Israel' after driving a vehicle loaded with explosives into the Israeli military compound in the city of Soor.

Ahmadinejad: "The Zionist regime is like an out-of-date car"

Show me a country with a "Students' New Agency" and I'll show you "the world's biggest prison for journalists." Here Ahmadinejad "urges Obama to confront Zionists":

Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, urged his US counterpart to confront Zionists.

Referring to US President, Barack Obama's pledges for change, Ahmadinejad said in a press conference held in Turkey that the changes must happen in practice asserting, "Iran aids the US to create fundamental changes."

"Supporting the Zionist regime and befriending regional nations are not compatible, Obama must confront Zionists," he said.

"The Zionist regime is like an out-of-date car, the more time passes the more it harms Israel because the first issue in the region is Quds," he stated.

Also saying the era to use nuclear bombs is over, he noted, "those who stock pile nuclear bombs are foolish."

Mind changed

Megan McArdle, who blogs at the Atlantic, gained some current notoriety for writing about the Fort Hood massacre "there is absolutely no political lesson to be learned from this." Now she writes a follow-up:

. . . I have since changed my mind. That's because there's growing evidence that the army and the CIA knew he was a crazy fanatic who wanted to get in touch with Al Qaeda. It sort of seems like someone could have done something about that.

"It sort of seems like someone could have done something about that"?? We need very badly to figure out why nobody did.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Fort Hood gunman actually made previous massacre attempt, but his gun jammed

OK, that's not true, but this is.

"the spirit of becoming human bullets and bombs and the self-blasting spirit"

The Dear Leader visits a KPA unit and happily observes that all the soldiers there are willing to blow themselves up just for him:

After watching the servicepersons' training at the unit, he was greatly satisfied to see all the servicepersons grown to be a-match-for-a-hundred fighters fully prepared politically and ideologically and in military technique to firmly safeguard the socialist motherland. He set forth the tasks to be fulfilled by the unit to increase its combat capability in every way.

Our servicepersons have grown to be fighters strong in ideology and faith as all of them cherish the spirit of devotedly defending the leader, the spirit of becoming human bullets and bombs and the self-blasting spirit as their unshakable faith, he noted, adding that the revolutionary cause of the DPRK is sure to triumph as this great elite army is standing guard over the defence line of the country as firm as an invulnerable fortress.

The latest Haveil Havalim is fully prepared politically and ideologically.

On Goldstone's asymmetrical obtuseness

Moshe Halbertal, an Israeli philosophy professor who was involved in formulating the IDF ethics code, presents a serious analysis of the Goldstone report. In the opening paragraphs he rather scathingly notes that Goldstone can't bring himself to admit that Hamas practices asymmetrical warfare:

[...] This new form of struggle is now called “asymmetrical war.” It is defined by an attempt on the part of those groups to erase two basic features of war: the front and the uniform. Hamas militants fight without military uniforms, in ordinary and undistinguishing civilian garb, taking shelter among their own civilian population; and they attack Israeli civilians wherever they are, intentionally and indiscriminately. During the Gaza operation, for example, some Hamas militants embedded in the civilian population did not carry weapons while moving from one position to another. Arms and ammunition had been pre-positioned for them and stored in different houses.

In addressing this vexing issue, the Goldstone Report uses a rather strange formulation: “While reports reviewed by the Mission credibly indicate that members of the Palestinian armed groups were not always dressed in a way that distinguished them from the civilians, the Mission found no evidence that Palestinian combatants mingled with the civilian population with the intention of shielding themselves from the attack.” The reader of such a sentence might well wonder what its author means. Did Hamas militants not wear their uniforms because they were inconveniently at the laundry? What other reasons for wearing civilian clothes could they have had, if not for deliberately sheltering themselves among the civilians? [...]

Read the rest, needless to say. (h/t: Yaacov Lozowick)

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Atonal Purim Spiel Presented

The New York City Opera put on a work featuring Mordechai, Esther, Haman, and 12 of your favorite tones!

. . . the company opened its season Saturday night by reviving an atonal opera that it premiered back in 1993 — Hugo Weisgall's "Esther."

A bold move, but far from a foolhardy one. "Esther," based on the biblical story of the Jewish queen of Persia who saved her people from annihilation, is an impressive piece of work.

Its strength begins with a powerful English-language libretto by Charles Kondek, which retells the story in a series of short scenes spread over three acts. Within the acts, each scene melts into the next in cinematic style, creating a sense of headlong momentum toward catastrophe — or catastrophe narrowly averted. Kondek admirably avoids sentimentality in his treatment of Esther and the plight of the Jews, and there's a minimum of Cecil B. DeMille-like biblical pageantry.

Weisgall's music, though challenging for an audience accustomed to hearing conventional tunes and harmonies, is grand and ambitious. There are arias, duets, choruses — even a ballet. And Weisgall, in what would be the last opera he completed before his death in 1997, displays a striking ability to define characters by their musical accompaniment and vocal line.

Esther's progression from dreamy-eyed young girl to concubine and wife to Xerxes and finally to heroic savior of her people is charted in music filled with yearning and uncertainty. Vashti, the wife Xerxes banished because she refused to dance naked before his followers, sings to rhythms that pulsate with her sense of injustice and self-pity. And Haman and his wife, Zeresh, spin their evil plot against the Jews to music that is scherzo-like in its ebullience. [...]

From a Jewish-standpoint it wasn't very time-of-year appropriate, but nobody who cares probably went to see it anyway. And I'm glad to hear that Vashti projects "self-pity" rather than something that panders to the Vashti-cult.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

MPAC.ie: "Reclaiming Al Andalus Stone by Stone"

Thanks to Elder of Ziyon, I see that MPAC-UK has an Irish sister organization called MPAC.ie. They want to reclaim Al-Andalus, otherwise known as Spain:

In the 1400s the Muslim reign in Spain came to an abrupt and bloody end. For over 600yrs Islam had dominated the Spanish landscape, bringing to the west learning and sciences that made Medieval Europe look positively barbaric. Despite the inculcation of a largely egalitarian society based on Islamic mores, Christian kings in the north plotted a reconquest, one that would give rise to one of the darkest moments in European history – the Inquisition.

The last few hundred years of Muslim rule in Spain weren't that tolerant either.

Today the rich tapestry of Islamic art and architecture of Al Andalusia draws hundreds and thousands of tourists who marvel at the wonders of a bygone era. However, it is also of great interest to Muslims and the area has seen a surge of interest from European Muslims seeking to settle in a former Muslim homeland.

In recent years, schools and communities have been established and Muslim influence is gaining momentum. Recently a request was made to the Catholic Pope to allow Muslims to once again worship in the mosque of Cordoba. We lost this land over 600yrs ago, inshaAllah this new resurgence will see our reclaiming of our former homeland.

The wealthy among us can facilitate this by purchasing land and property in the area, and then making this available to Muslims seeking to reside in Islamic communities. Play your part in restoring our former glory.

Andalus was having trouble/What a sad sad story/Needed a new leader to restore its former glory . . .

For more information on what you do to facilitate this reclamation, contact MPACIE and info@mpac.ie.

Operators are standing by.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

MPAC-UK: "The planet earth is in real danger of being controlled by the Zionist thought-police"

Just when I start thinking they don't love me anymore, they post this:

The Zionist state is accelerating its Hasbara campaign, by forming “Internet Warfare Squads”, their sole remit: to post pro-Israel responses on websites worldwide. This assault on free speech and effectively muzzling any criticism of Israel is a tool which will be used in the public relations war, the Zionist thought police are only a click away.

Ynet news reports that the Israel Foreign Ministry intends to hire young people who speak at least one language and who study communication, political science, or law – or alternately, Israelis with military experience gained at units dealing with information analysis.

"Young people who speak at least one language"--wow, those are hard to come by!

A budget of $150,000 has been set aside to pay the bloggers who will serve the Zionist state. [...]

I could use some of that dough.

This anti-democratic initiative is typical of the Zionist state, one that flies in the face of their self proclamation of being the only democracy in the Middle East. Any attempt to plant talkbacks online must fail. Especially if the State is behind it. Not only because it’s easy to identify responses made on behalf of someone, but also because it’s anti-democratic. When the Israel Electric Company or other companies do it, it’s annoying. Yet when the State does it, it’s dangerous.

Impostors on behalf of the government are threatening free discourse even if they only wander through the virtual space. The Internet was meant to serve as an open platform for dialogue between people, rather than as a propaganda means.

Something worrisome is happening here lately. We see the accumulation of silencing attempts. The Nakba Law, the bill calling for a ban on protests outside the homes of politicians, Lieberman’s Loyalty Law, and the biometric information database.

The free speech hunting season is on. [...]

Never mind a Big Brother state.

This is far more dangerous.

The planet earth is in real danger of being controlled by the Zionist thought-police.

So what is MPAC-UK worried about? They have no thought to control.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Farrakhan having Gt day

Gt news!

The Leader of the Nation of Islam Lewis Farrakhan arrived in Gt Jamahiriya at the head of a delegation to attend the 5th session of the General Conference of the World Islamic People's Leadership which will open in Tripoli on Thursday.

Farrakhan was welcomed at the airport by the Secretary of the World Islamic Call Society in Canada.

"Iran Views US as No. 1 Enemy"

In which we learn that "We hate America day" is almost here:

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) in a statement issued on Monday lashed out at the US for the numerous plots it has hatched against Iran's Islamic establishment since the onset of the Islamic Revolution in the country.

"The honorable nation of the Islamic Iran considers the US - the Great Satan - as the main contributor to problems in the Muslim world and source of plots and conspiracies against the Islamic Republic and the Islamic Revolution," the IRGC statement said.

Pointing to the US-led soft war against Iran, the IRGC underlined that the Iranian nation will make its unwise and incapable enemies face with a tough defeat through their wide-scale and strong support for the Islamic establishment to be displayed in their wise and dedicated presence on the scene, including massive anti-US rallies on November 4.

The statement came two days before countrywide rallies in Iran to mark the 30th anniversary of the seizure of the US embassy in Tehran.

Iranian students seized the United States' espionage center at its embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979. The two countries have had tense relations ever since.

November 4 has emerged as an anti-American day in Iran with thousands of Iranian students gathering annually outside the former US embassy complex in Tehran to shout slogans against the United States and Israel.

Elsewhere in the Iranian press we learn from ISNA, "US budget for soft war in Iran due to Zionism pressure":

Former Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel said the US ratification of a 55-milion dollar budget for launching soft war in Iran is due to Zionism pressure on the US management and major decision-making.

He said these issues will destroy the influence of the motto of change by the US President Barack Obama.

After the eight-year war imposed on Iran, World Arrogance came up with the conclusion that it should invade Iranians' thoughts through media and internet instead of military attack, the Parliament Member said.

Invading Iranian thoughts! That has Zionist fingerprints all over it!

"There are a lot of hands in the US for making decisions which show Zionism's pressure on management and major decision-making in the country." [...]

The only thing that doesn't require stimulus.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Next year in Jerusalem!

Al-Ahram succumbs to the current Arab hysteria about the Temple Mount:

Government-backed Jewish religious extremists have stepped up their efforts to seize a foothold at Al-Aqsa Mosque esplanade in East Jerusalem, ostensibly in order to erect there a Jewish temple.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is one of the three holiest Islamic sanctuaries. The other two are the Sacred Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet Mohamed's Mosque in Medina in Saudi Arabia.

On Sunday, 25 October crack Israeli soldiers stormed the Al-Aqsa site, firing rubber-coated bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters at Muslim worshipers. The troops also savagely beat Palestinian worshipers, including women and children. The paramilitary police, known as the Border Guard, also briefly shut off the Noble Sanctuary (the 141,000-square metre court housing Islamic holy places), barring Muslims from accessing the site.

More than 20 were injured, some badly, and dozens of others arrested. The Israeli occupation authorities also cut off electricity to the Old City of Jerusalem, including Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The new violation of the holy site by Israeli forces followed a call by Muslim leaders in Jerusalem alerting inhabitants to go to the mosque and maintain a presence there to repulse a fresh attempt by Jewish extremists to storm the Noble Sanctuary and seize a foothold to practise Jewish rituals. Jewish extremists, along with some government officials, hope that persistent provocations at the exclusively Islamic holy site will allow them to worship at the site and eventually build a Jewish temple.

Many Jews believe that the ancient Temple of Solomon stood where Al-Aqsa Mosque was built more than 1,300 years ago. Destroying Al-Aqsa Mosque and building a Jewish temple in its place is said by some extremists to be a condition for the second coming of Christ.

Hmm, I'd say they're a bit confused.

In recent days and weeks, Talmudic extremists placed a huge menorah -- a Jewish religious symbol -- opposite the Dome of the Rock Mosque.

The only reference I can find to a "huge menorah" placed "opposite the Dome of the Rock" is this article. Oh well.

Other extremists erected at the same place a model of the so-called Temple of Solomon. Israeli occupation authorities made no effort to stop the manifestly provocative acts.

Meanwhile, the religious Zionist camp in Israel, which spearheads anti-Islam provocations at Al-Aqsa esplanade, held a meeting in West Jerusalem during which Jews were urged to descend to the Islamic holy place and wrest it from the hands of the "goyem" (a derogatory epithet for non-Jews).

At the beginning of last week's Torah-portion, Hashem tells Avraham that He is going to make him a "goy gadol"--a "big goy."

The meeting was attended by several prominent rabbis affiliated with the settler movement, as well as several Knesset members and other extremist leaders.

Following the meeting, a statement issued called on Jews to maintain a presence at the "Temple Mount" to prevent Arabs from turning the site into "a theatre of violence". Participants urged Jews interested in "changing the status quo at the Temple Mount" to "work more and speak less" and to carry out their task "quietly and through subterfuge". [...]

No more huge menorahs, in other words . . .

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Dear Leader gives field-guidance at playground

He highly appreciated the Songun swing set:

General Secretary Kim Jong Il gave field guidance to the newly-built Mt. Myohyang Recreation Ground.

After being briefed about the ground before its guide map he toured the long tourist course extending from the entrance to Habiro to Manphok Ravine for hours to acquaint himself in detail about its construction.

This is the life! No more boring stints of giving invaluable field-guidance to dreary youth power stations and smelly old pig farms!

After feasting his eyes on the tourist route, pavilions, a flyover built in a peculiar style and resting places in perfect harmony with beautiful natural scenery, he expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the youth shock brigade members have spruced up Mt. Myohyang to be a wonderful recreation ground for the people.

Nothing like a little sprucing up from the youth shock brigade.

All the architectures including the flyover high up in the sky were designed in a peculiar way and the quality of their construction was ensured on the highest level, he remarked, adding that it is an admirable miracle that the province built such a wonderful recreation ground in a matter of six months with its own efforts. He extended thanks to the builders, highly appreciating their feats.

Nothing you can't do with scientific socialism and a militant do-or-die spirit!

The Mt. Myohyang Recreation Ground has been spruced up better as one of eternal value, enabling the Korean people to fully enjoy cultural recreation in the world famous mountain, he said, adding that the laudable feats of the builders who contributed to the happiness of the people and the country's prosperity with all their wisdom and enthusiasm will be handed down together with the history of the building of a thriving nation.

Still not thriving, are they?

Triumphant events are taking place one after another on all fronts to the delight and excitement of the people this year, a year of drastic changes in which everything goes well, he said, stating with pride that this is the stirring reality of the prospering country approaching close to the gate of a thriving nation. [...]

The latest Haveil Havalim is a triumphant event taking place on all fronts to the delight and excitement of the people.

Great Moments in Great Leaderhood: Songun Underwear

"Anti-Japanese heroine Kim Jong Suk" is the invariable North Korean News way of referring to the Dear Leader's mother. More creepy sycophancy that North Koreans are supposed to find inexpressibly moving:

The anti-Japanese heroine Kim Jong Suk was engaged in knitting by a campfire one night in November of Juche 26 (1937).

A guerrilla silently approached her and said that she should have a rest as the night was far advanced.

She made haste with her work, saying that it should be finished within the night.

He was surprised to see what she was doing.

She was knitting gloves by unraveling her woolen underwear.

The underwear was presented to her by members of a revolutionary organization.

She came back to the unit after carrying out the underground work a few days ago. Then she told guerillas that she was moved to tears by the sincere souvenir the people had arranged by sparing every penny in dire poverty and would preserve the underwear with care and make revolution with credit until the day of the national liberation and live up to their expectation. And she had kept it in her knapsack with care.

Next morning she handed to an orderly of the headquarters a package of the gloves which she had knitted all night.

She asked him to give the gloves to General Kim Il Sung without fail when it got colder and detailed him how to protect the General on march and during break.

Later General Kim Il Sung was told about the story. Then he stood still for a long time, thinking of days of trial she had to undergo in the terrible winter without the underwear.

"Great," he thought, "I'll be warm, my wife will freeze--nothing like being the Great Leader . . ."

Haaretz becomes right-wing and more from the Mullah-sphere

This is from a PressTV article about European moonbats making lists of Israeli "war criminals":

The list includes military officers holding ranks of battalion commander and higher who were in command during various stages of Operation 'Cast Lead,' the right-wing Israeli daily, the Haaretz reported, adding that the number of officers and their identities were not released.

Elsewhere in the Iranian press we learn that, according to one Ayatollah, "Wahabies’ crimes" are "worse than Zionists’":

Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani condemned the recent terrorist blast and reiterated that Wahabi sect's resorting to such cruel massacres is worse than Zionists' crimes.

According to IRNA, the Source of Jurisprudence made the comment at his high level jurisprudence course before beginning his lesson, adding, "This sect, with the endless and brutal massacres it has begun launching, has ashamed the Muslims and gained dignity for the Zionists."

He stressed that it makes no difference whether they call themselves Al-Qaeda, Taliban, or any other name, but they have gone so far that the Muslims in both Islamic lands, and in non-Islamic world do not dare to declare their Islamic identity. They have unjustly defamed Islam and the Muslims.

Why can't they be moderate like Iran? Speaking of Iranian moderation, the Iranian Press regularly gives a sympathetic presentation of Palestinian terror-rumblings. IRIB currently features articles entitled "Hamas urges renewing martyr ops on Israel" and "'Quds Brigades committed to Shaqaqi's path."' It's PIJ founder Fathi Shaqaqi's "14th martyrdom anniversary." According to Wikipedia, "Among the Sunnis, Fathi Shiqaqi was the first individual who published a booklet which legitimized, for the first time the justification of suicide in jihad." Finally, at Fars we learn that "Ahmadinejad Lauds Erdogan's Anti-Israeli Stance":

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday praised Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his stance against the Zionist regime of Israel.

"Your clear stance against the Zionist regime (of Israel) produced positive effects in the world of Islam and the entire world, and no doubt this position of yours gladdened all nations," Ahmadinejad said in a meeting with visiting Turkish prime minister.

Erdogan arrived in Tehran Monday night heading a high-ranking delegation which includes several cabinet ministers, parliament members, representatives of the private sector and media.

"The reality is that the Zionist regime is a threat to all nations, and if it finds the chance, it will annex all regional states," Ahmadinejad went on saying. [...]

Erdogan is evidently Mahmoud's kind of guy, and he, in turn, recently revealed that "'Lieberman threatened to nuke Gaza.'" Maybe I need to start covering the Turkosphere.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

"The Green Book Emancipates Humanity From its Bonds"

That's the "theme" of "The First International Conference of the World Association of Supporters of the Green Book." The Green Book, you will recall, is just like Mao's Little Red Book except that it is green, written by Libya's Muammar al-Gaddafi, and easily five times as liberating. If humanity is going to get emancipated from its bonds, the least I can do is merge the first JANA article in this series with a few of its addenda and fix up the spacing a bit for your reading and emancipation pleasure:

The First International Conference of the World Association of Supporters of the Green Book kicked Off in Tripoli Sunday afternoon under the theme "The Green Book Emancipates Humanity From its Bonds".

The opening session was attended by a host of writers, professors and those interested in the thought of the Green Book from Libya and from Europe, Asia, North America, South America Australia and Africa.

***

The Secretary General of the Association saluted the Leader of the Revolution Muammar Gaddafi who initiated the world Third Universal Theory, the thought of the Green Book.

He said "in your name I salute the Leader of Gt al Fateh Revolution, the Philosopher, and the author of the Third Universal Theory whose thought ushered in the era of the peoples . . . the masses who have the power, wealth and arms.

"we have been honoured by his patronage of this event and call on him to participate in the proceedings of this conference.

***

The Secretary General of the Association expressed pride of the leader's speech before the UN General Assembly.

He pointed out that during this First International Conference a work plan will be set up for its members and branches worldwide and to get informed about its statute and the Green Charter which is the guideline of this Association in carrying out its functions.

He added: "During this conference, a future plan is to be worked out aiming at spreading the Third Universal Theory.

On the other hand, he underlined that this conference assumes the responsibility of establishing the most important scientific, intellectual and cultural association in modern time, namely International Association for the Supporters of the Green Book, in addition to establishing branches for this association in all continents and countries of the world.

Meaning that there will be continental branches in addition to the national ones, or that the continents will be included automatically once the national branches are all in place? No need to worry--we'll know soon enough (unless we're so busy being emancipated that we don't notice).

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

That's about it for imperialism

It says so at Korean News, the news source powered by "invincible Songun politics"!

It is definite and a matter of time for the doom of imperialism to become a reality. With no machination can the imperialists bring under control the situation in the world political arena which has already turned unfavorable to them.

Rodong Sinmun Friday says this in a signed article.

It goes on:

The imperialists are driven into an uncontrollable crisis at present and the fact that the popular masses are getting awakened in a revolutionary manner is a clear proof that the doom of imperialism is coming nearer.

The contradictions and conflicts among the imperialist powers to dominate markets and expand the sphere of their influence are now festering and the imperialists are hard hit by the strong resistance of people in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The balance of forces in the world is tipped more favorable to the side of the revolution and that of progress and independence while the anti-imperialist independent forces are decisively prevailing over the reactionary forces of imperialism.

Even the working people in the capitalist countries are intensifying their struggle for democratic freedom and right to existence, greatly inspired by the present trend of the times in which the desire of progressive mankind for independence is growing exceptionally stronger and the world is heading for it.

Socialist Korea emerging victorious and displaying its might thanks to Songun serves as a beacon of hope and banner of victory for the world people aspiring after independence, the article notes, stressing that the invincible Songun politics is injecting strength and courage into the progressive people and precipitating the downfall of imperialism.

The latest editions of Haveil Havalim and KCC are also a beacon of hope and banner of victory for the world people.

The chickpea war

The latest salvo:

Hundreds of garlic-loving Lebanese came together on Saturday to make the largest hummus serving on the world's biggest plate, claiming ownership of the dish with a new Guinness world record.

A Guinness representative was on hand to certify the record set by 250 Lebanese chefs and their trainees, who joined efforts to mix over two tonnes of the chickpea-based dip.

Under the watchful eyes of the adjudicator, they poured 1,350 kilograms (2,976 pounds) of mashed chickpeas and 400 litres (13,525 ounces) of lemon juice into the mega-sized pottery dish, cheered on by hundreds of onlookers.

The chefs gathered around their dish upon receiving the Guinness certificate and sang an a capella version of the national anthem before joining hands to dance the traditional dabke in celebration.

Organisers have hailed the event as "a patriotic event of national scale.

"El Hommos Lebnaneh (Hummus is Lebanese) is an attempt to break the current Guinness world records of hummus and tabbouleh, reaffirming the Lebanese proprietorship of these two dishes," said a statement issued by the industrialist association and food syndicate, which planned the event.

A battle over hummus and tabbouleh between Lebanon and Israel -- two neighbours still technically at war -- emerged last year and efforts have been underway ever since to clearly identify such dishes as exclusively Lebanese. [...]

And what better way to prove that than cooking tons of the stuff with a lot of press coverage? Sorry to tell you this, guys, but every country in which hummus and tabouleh might have been invented, even Lebanon, had a Jewish community. Those countries account for about half the ancestry of Israel's current population. Israel has as much right as anyone else to claim hummus as its national dish. This seemingly trivial story is a good example of a common difficulty: that of seeing Israelis as anything other than transplanted Europeans.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

North Korea goes off the deep end

They've been pooling their resources:

The well-arranged Indoor Swimming Pool of Kim Il Sung University is crowded with teachers, staff members and students building up their physical strength and enjoying a cultural rest.

A rest from culture?

It has a wading pool and a large-sized swimming pool equipped with high-grade facilities for international games.

If you enter the central hall through an automatic revolving door you can see a large-sized Korean painting showing the beautiful sea scenery on the opposite wall.

The swimming pool has eight runways and diving towers. Water temperature of the pool is 27 degrees C and the indoor temperature is 28 degrees C at all times.

And will always remain so, even when the Dear Leader assumes room temperature.

There are recumbent water concussors and shower bath facilities in the wading pool with nearly 50-meter-long slide.

Do you have any idea what this means?

It has also modernly furnished public service facilities such as far infrared ray sauna and other saunas and shower, bath and medical rooms.

North Korea is sure to make a splash with this great leap off the Songun diving board!

Strange Fars Headline: "Presidential Aide Adores Iran's Success in N. Row with West"

They're so adorable and invincible:

A senior aide of the Iranian President on Wednesday lauded the country's success in the nuclear standoff with the West, describing it as an illustration of the Iranian nation's invincibility.

"Today, Iran's nuclear issue is a symbol of national resolve, invincibility, political capabilities, courage of the nation and pursuit of honor and glory by the Iranian Leader, authorities and nation. The issue is a manifestation of our people's national identity," Seyed Mojtaba Samareh Hashemi said, addressing a conference dubbed as "Iran's nuclear successes: cultural aspects and national identity" in Tehran today.

He dismissed western allegations about Tehran's nuclear program, and noted, "The arrogant countries knew that we are not after the acquisition of the nuclear weapons and that our nuclear energy is peaceful, yet they issued resolutions (in the UN Security Council) and asked for suspension of activities in our nuclear plants in an effort to impose their will on us."

Washington and its Western allies accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program, while they have never presented any corroborative evidence to substantiate their allegations. Iran denies the charges and insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

The US had long demanded a suspension of Iran's nuclear activities as a prerequisite to talks with the Islamic Republic, but after Barack Obama ascended to power, the White House withdrew its pre-conditions and attended direct talks with the Islamic Republic.
Samareh Hashemi further reiterated that Iran will never back off from its rights because Tehran's experiences prove that bullying powers will retreat when they see Iranians are resolute in defending their rights.

He could still be proven wrong, but I'm not holding my breath.