"Iranian clerics: Gaza-based aid flotilla, factor of Zionist regime's collapse"

Khomeinist journalism is one of the factors of collapse of English language:

An Iranian clerics Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi said Asian aid convoy's movement towards Gaza Strip is one of the factors of collapse of Zionist regime.

The flotilla carrying 130 people from India, Pakistan, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Bahrain and Azerbaijan as well as Kuwait, Lebanon and Jordan is to reach Gaza Strip.

The convoy originating from India has also reached Iran and is now in Syria to arrive in Gaza Strip.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi in his message to the people onboard of the ship said, "your move will be recorded in the history forever."

"Once the issue of Israel was an Arab-Islamic matter, but then it has turned into a global subjects," he added. [...]

"Officials enjoy concert"

Let's see, exactly how would a concert "reflect" "revolutionary stamina"?

Officials enjoyed "Concert Celebrating December Holiday" given by the State Merited Chorus at the Mansudae Art Theatre on Dec. 26 and 27.

Audience included senior state officials, the chairperson of a friendly party and officials of the party, working people's organizations and ministries and servicepersons of the Korean People's Army. Creators, artistes and journalists in the fields of culture, arts and media also enjoyed the concert.

Colorful performance included numbers like "Comrade Kim Jong Il Is Our Supreme Commander," "Forest Is Swaying" and "Where Are You, Dear General?".

The performers loudly sang of the undying feats of General Secretary Kim Jong Il who strengthened the Korean People's Army into strong revolutionary army, defending the dignity of Songun Korea and laying a solid foundation for the prosperity of the country.

The concert mesmerized the audience as it reflected the tremendous mental power and the revolutionary stamina of the army and people of the DPRK.

I hear it went on for ten hours.

Update: The latest Haveil Havalim reflected tremendous mental power and revolutionary stamina.

Maan: Hamas "scheduled to meet with Palestinian factions in Gaza"

This sheds some light, perhaps, on the relationship between Hamas and the other "factions." Western news agencies keep referring to Hamas efforts to limit rocket fire from Gaza:

Hamas is scheduled to meet with Palestinian factions in Gaza Tuesday to discuss the recent escalation in attacks by Israel, senior Hamas leader Ayman Taha said.

Taha told Ma’an the factions would discuss how to respond to the increased violence against Gaza, and said Hamas would commit to whatever decision was reached. The meeting was not necessarily to discuss the ceasefire, but to evaluate the whole situation, he said.

"Other factions might suggest other tactics which Hamas might accept and commit to."

The Palestinian Popular Struggle Front confirmed receiving an invitation from Hamas to attend a meeting in Gaza City to discuss how to confront the increased tension.

"The real response to Israeli crimes is by ending rivalry and closing the ranks to restore national unity," spokesman of the Popular Struggle Front Anwar Jum'a said in a statement.

Juche Train in Vain

The little train that couldn't, even though it was giving even greater play to the might of Songun?

A train carrying birthday presents for Kim Jong-un, chosen successor to North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, was derailed, a radio station that broadcasts into North Korea said yesterday.

“A cargo train that left Sinuiju for Pyongyang on Dec. 11 was derailed somewhere between Yomju Station and Tongnim Station,” a source within North Korea’s National Security Agency was quoted as saying by Open Radio for North Korea. Sinuiju, a port city on the Chinese border, and Yomju and Tongnim are in North Pyongan Province, northwest of the North Korean capital city of Pyongyang.

“That incident put the North’s National Security Agency on emergency alert,” the source told Open Radio for North Korea.

Open Radio is an American nongovernmental organization based in Washington.

The train was comprised of more than 40 train coaches, and eight of them were derailed, the radio station reported. The train was filled with presents for Jong-un’s upcoming birthday, which falls on Jan. 8, including luxury goods such as wristwatches and televisions in bulk, it said.

I guess that clears up the mystery as to whether the presidential quarters have AC outlets.

The National Security Agency is pointing to the possibility that it was committed by “a group of people opposed to the succession scheme for Kim Jong-un,” Open Radio for North Korea quoted the source as saying.

“The damage of the section of the railway this time was so huge that it appears that somebody intentionally caused it at the time when the train passed by,” the source told Open Radio for North Korea.

The report came as the North is preparing a succession process amid speculation of the dwindling health of Kim Jong-il.

Although rare, antigovernment activities in the North have been reported or suspected previously, including a railway explosion in the town of Ryongchon April 22, 2004, that may have been a plot to assassinate Kim Jong-il. A train carrying Kim passed through the town hours earlier.

According to defectors, some in North Korea are unhappy with Kim Jong-un’s status as successor because of his youth and inexperience.

Right, who wants an inexperienced dictator? (h/t: Soccer Dad)

Update: The latest Haveil Havalim arrived with its cargo intact.

IRIB: "US, Israel conspiring to disintegrate Sudan"

I hope the ZOG R & D department is taking notes:

Sudanese Ambassador to Tehran Sulayman Abdut-Tawwab Az-Zain said on Tuesday that the US and Zionists are conspiring to disintegrate Sudan.

The Sudanese ambassador revealed the conspiracy in an interview with IRNA.

He said that the West is seeking to disintegrate Sudan as a prelude to implement the strategy to damage territorial integrity of the other Arab and Islamic states worldwide.

The Zionists along with some western states and the US in particular are determined to set up permanent base for themselves in South of Sudan, he underlined.

The ambassador said that the Zionists are endeavoring to find access to the Nile to exert pressures on Egypt.

He called on the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to render political, military and economic support to the Khartoum government.

Sheep flames smothered

You may remember a pretty hokey-sounding story that first appeared at Maan News about mean settlers torching sheep:

A farmer said he watched a group of settlers in the northern West Bank gather his sheep and set them on fire Saturday afternoon.

Now it turns out, according to Arutz 7, that the shepherd admits he was lying:

Fadel finally admitted to police the whole story was a lie and that he was responsible for the fire, which he set to burn thorns before it spread beyond control. Blaming Jews not only would have saved him from the embarrassment of having burned his own sheep, it also would allow him to claim damages from the government while being hailed as a hero among Palestinian Authority Arabs and left-wing anti-Zionists.

EOZ has a longer discussion of the incident and its denouement and a good list of links to anti-Zionist entities who helped disseminate the false story. A lot of the more skillfully-told lies undoubtedly never get exposed.

Abbas: "If there is an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, we won’t agree to the presence of one Israeli in it"

A companion to the previous post:

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Saturday that when a Palestinian state is established, it will have no Israelis in it.

“We have frankly said, and always will say: If there is an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, we won’t agree to the presence of one Israeli in it,” Abbas told reporters in Ramallah.

Abbas: We reached deal with Olmert on security
Washington Watch: Settlements are excuse, not obstacle

He was commenting on unconfirmed reports suggesting that the PA leadership might agree to the presence of the IDF in the West Bank after the establishment of a Palestinian state.

“We are ready to have peace on the basis of international legitimacy and the road map, which we have accepted, as well as the Arab Peace Initiative,” Abbas said. “But when a Palestinian state is established, it would have no Israeli presence in it.” [...]

Fars News: "Hamas to Israeli Leaders: Die or Leave Palestine"

The Asharq Alawsat caption for this photo is "Members of Al-Qassam brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, take part in a news conference in Gaza City December 25, 2010."

The Fars headline does a good job of boiling the story down to its essence. Hamas, you will recall, beat Fatah in the most recent Palestinian election.

A senior leader of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, warned the Zionist regime to give up imaginations about triumph over Palestinian resistance, stressing that dying or leaving the Palestinian territories are the only two options that Zionists have.

"As long as Zionists occupy Palestinian territories, they have no other option but dying or leaving Palestine," Head of the military wing of Hamas Ahmad Jaberi said on Saturday.

Jaberi also reiterated that the Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, has kept all options on the table in the war against the Zionist regime, and has always made its best efforts to activate resistance, release captives from Israeli jails and annihilate the criminal and usurper Zionist regime.

Stressing that resistance is not limited to the Gaza region, he said that the plan of resistance belongs to all the occupied Palestinian territories.

Earlier this month, the Ezzedeen Al-Qassam Brigades in a statement had also underlined resistance against the Zionist regime until complete freedom of the Palestinian territories from Israeli occupation.

In a statement issued on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the group underscored that resistance is a reaction to occupation, meaning that the Zionist regime merely understands the language of force and that it is stopped only by resistance. [...]

Israel should get on with winning the conflict.

Fars: "Hezbollah Hails 'Courageous Positions' of Iran's Supreme Leader on Lebanon"

In which we learn that "Ayatollah Khamenei's positions are legitimate and based on political principles":

The Lebanese resistance group, Hezbollah, appreciated the "courageous positions" taken by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Lebanon, stressing that such stances will seriously challenge enemies' plots in the region.

Ayatollah Khamenei's positions on the court investigating Hariri's assassination "are courageous", Hezbollah said in a statement on Wednesday, and added anyone willing to defuse the US and Israeli plots in the region would take a similar stance and would emphasize the regional nations' right of confrontation against the Zionist enemy's oppressive plots.

Underlining that Ayatollah Khamenei's positions are legitimate and based on political principles, the statement said that such stances reflect the real thoughts of the regional nations.

Meantime, the statement also underscored that the comments of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution on Hariri court do not run counter to the efforts made by Saudi Arabia and Syria to improve the internal situation in Lebanon.

"Rather, in his remarks Ayatollah Khamenei underscored the necessity for insightful public interaction to confront conspiracies so that such issues would not lead to the creation of rift and crisis among the Lebanese nation," it added.

Iran's Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei on Monday rejected as "unacceptable" any decree by the special international tribunal investigating the assassination of Late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri.

"The tribunal is a puppet court and any decree issued by it is unacceptable," Ayatollah Khamenei said in a meeting with visiting Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani here in Tehran on Monday.

"We hope that influential and relevant sides in Lebanon act on the basis of wisdom and rationality in order to avoid this issue turning into a problem," he added.

Ayatollah Khamenei further stressed that enemies' plots against Lebanon would not yield fruit, and said, "We are highly optimistic that the region's conditions will improve."

Divinely inspired, Big Guy!

Bad Bad Leroy 'Jad: "actually feminism is the cry of protest of crushed women in capitalism system"

The cry of protest of crushed English language in Khomeinism system?

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called feminism “cry of protest of crushed women in capitalism system.”

Speaking in the third meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) female ministers opened in Tehran on Sunday, Ahmadinejad criticized countries which have banned women from education and send them away in far areas for tough and hard military operations.

"Women are main victims of the ruling bullying policies, actually feminism is the cry of protest of crushed women in capitalism system," Ahmadinejad said in the first day of the three-day conference.

He called for drawing up a charter on the role of women and family in survival of human being.

Iranian President then asked for arranging a roadmap to launch a global movement to secure rights of human being and women.

Representatives of 37 member states of the OIC took part in the session joined also by the wife of Ahmadinejad. [...]

What capitalism does to women is so depressing. Here is a liberating image to cheer you up:

PressTV: PA Foreign Minister condemns killing of Salafist terrorists

The PA can't abide the killing of Al-Qaeda types in pre-launch mode when even Hamas claims it is holding-fire? How moderate!

A large number of Palestinian people have participated in the funeral of five Palestinians who were killed by an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of people attended the funeral in Deir-al Balah in central Gaza Strip on Sunday, chanting slogans against Israel.

Mourners carried the bodies of Ahmed al-Assar, Abdullah al-Shirehi and three others through the streets of Gaza, condemning the overnight attack, Palestinian sources said.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority (PA) Foreign Minister Riad al-Maleki denounced the Israeli airstrike, which was one of the deadliest strikes since the 22-day Gaza incursion.

Israel's attack against the coastal enclave, which began in December 2008, killed more than 1,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children.

The PA protests and condemns each Israeli attack against our people, Maleki said in a Sunday address broadcast by the Voice of Palestine radio station in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

"But despite the crimes of the occupation, we maintain the will to continue the process of construction and preparation for the proclamation of the Palestinian state regardless of the Israeli actions," he said.

Maleki also lauded the Palestinians' recent success in gaining independent statehood recognition from over 130 nations, including several South American countries, based on the 1967 borders -- the boundaries that existed before Israel captured East al-Quds (Jerusalem) and the West Bank.

"Palestinian efforts are currently focusing on rallying recognition of their state from the largest number possible of states across the globe, in preparation for seeking recognition from the United Nations," Maleki said.

Will recognition be forthcoming from the Hamas half of the Palestinians?

Dear Leader gives field guidance to Eels

They are making a great slither forward:

General Secretary Kim Jong Il gave field guidance to the Taedonggang Eel Breeding Farm of KPA Unit 522.

After being briefed on the farm before a huge map showing its panoramic view, he looked round various places of the farm including a combined control room, an analysis and experiment room and indoor fish ponds to learn in detail about its technical equipment and eel breeding and management.

The farm has put all its production processes on a high level of scientific and modern basis, thus getting the examination of water temperature and its quality and all other processes computerized, he said, adding that the farm is capable of substantially benefiting people as it is fitted with cutting-edge equipment and was built on the principle of profitability.

Noting that the KPA steering the era of Songun is playing a pace-setter's role in carrying out the Party's policy of fish breeding, too, he said with pride that it is none other than the servicepersons of the KPA who are pace-setters in breeding rare fishes including sturgeon and eel in a cutting-edge manner.

He advanced the important tasks to be carried out by the farm.

They don't call him Kim Jong Eel for nothing!

He said that the farm can turn into a leading eel production center in a short span of time if it designs its work under a long-term plan and minutely organizes it as the farm has laid a solid scientific and technological foundation and accumulated a wealth of experience.

In the spirit of Kim Eel Sung!

What is most important for boosting the production of eel is to establish a scientific system for breeding and management, he noted, adding that to this end it is necessary to intensify the researches and steadily raise the level of technical skills of technicians and breeders.

He underscored the need to put fish breeding on a scientific and intensive basis by steadily deepening the researches into fishes of other species now making successful progress on the farm in order to dynamically push forward the work for massively breeding not only eel but rare fishes by an industrial method.

He earnestly called on the farm to steadily boost the productivity at the existing fish breeding centers and build more modern fish farms to rapidly increase the production of freshwater fishes so that the people in the era of the Workers' Party may be provided with greater quantities of high quality fishes including tasty and nutritious eel.

He expressed expectation and conviction that the officials, workers and technicians of the farm would devote themselves to the building of a rich and powerful country and thus creditably perform their honorable mission and duty as true servants for the people. [...]

The latest Haveil Havalim has laid a solid scientific and technological foundation and accumulated a wealth of experience.

Salafist Qassam Squad killed, martyred, whatever

Here is the AFP version. Notice that the rocket-squad part is first presented as an IDF claim, although "witnesses contacted by AFP" seem to be saying substantially the same thing. And then, of course, there are the misleading statistics (see this) on Operation Cast Lead:

Five Palestinian militants were killed as Israeli warplanes struck the Gaza Strip late on Saturday, Israel's military and Palestinian sources said.

Warplanes hit central Gaza to take out a squad of militants about to fire rockets at Israel, the military said.

The strike was one of the most deadly since Israel's 22-day war against Gaza's Hamas rulers, dubbed Operation Cast Lead, which began at the end of December 2008 and cost the lives of 1,400 Palestinians, most of them civilians, and 13 Israelis, 10 of them soldiers.

Witnesses contacted by AFP said armed men preparing an attack on Israel were killed in the raid, while medics gave a death toll of five "martyrs". The raid targeted Deir el-Balah in central Gaza, they said. [...]

We learn their identities in paragraph 6:

The witnesses said the dead militants, former members of Hamas, Islamic Jihad or the Committees of Popular Resistance, belonged to one of the radical Salafist groups in Gaza that have recently stepped up attacks against Israel. [...]

The IRIB Radio version ("Israeli airstrike martyrs five in Gaza") is appropriately slanted, of course, for Khomeinists and their sympathizers, although there are interesting parallels with the AFP article:

At least five Palestinians have been martyred as a result of the Zionist regime airstrike on a town in the central Gaza Strip.

According to Press TV, witnesses said, the attack, the deadliest to hit the Gaza Strip in months, happened near the central town of Deir al-Balah late on Saturday night.

They added that the Zionist rgime drones flew over the Gaza Strip following the strike.

The Zionist regime waged a war against the coastal enclave from December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009.

More than 1,400 Gazans, mostly women and children, were martyred in 22 days of Israel's devastating air, land, and sea attacks, which also left thousands of people, injured and reduced dozens of buildings to debris.

That 1400 figure for the total casualties of Cast Lead is disputed by the side that has been vindicated in its statements about the number of militants killed.

Two Current Headlines

AP: "Palestinians still hope for state by summer"

AFP: "Palestinian negotiator says peace process in 'deep coma'"

Many narratives are possible . . .

Ahmadinejad: "the Zionist regime's main mission is to destroy the genuine cultures of nations"

Nazoid drool is what every humanitarian activist wants to hear:

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that the arrogant powers established the Zionist regime to extend domination over the Middle East and the world.

Addressing a ceremony to welcome the Asian Gaza Convoy, he further noted that settling the issue of Palestine and expelling the Zionist regime from the occupied lands is a universal and humane issue.

Members of Asian Gaza Convoy arrived in Tehran Sunday and paid tribute to martyrs in Behesht Zahra cemetery.

'Palestine fully reflects the situation facing the world,' he said.

Ahmadinejad also added that humiliation of humanity and depriving them of their basic rights are among the crimes committed by the Zionist regime.

Today all know that the Zionists are not Jews; rather they do not follow any divine religion, he said.

Ahmadinejad also said that the Zionist regime's main mission is to destroy the genuine cultures of nations. [...]

The Iran part of the project is going swimmingly.

Kim enjoys some Juche tunes

Not as funky as the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex Art Squad, but pretty Songun:

General Secretary Kim Jong Il enjoyed a performance given by company servicepersons of 586, 287, 604, 572, 529, 534 and 324 units of the KPA who proved successful at the 34th art festival of KPA servicepersons.

Put on the stage were such colorful numbers of diverse genres as narration and chorus "Glory to Our Great Party", female solo "Song of the Sea of Blood", narration and song "Where Are You, Dear General?" and chorus "The Victorious Parade."

The performers enthusiastically sang of the undying Songun leadership feats performed by Kim Jong Il and their happiness under his loving care. They powerfully demonstrated the iron faith and will of all the servicepersons of the KPA to devotedly defend the WPK Central Committee as a fortress and shield and accomplish the sacred revolutionary cause of Juche with arms.

After the performance was over, he waved back to the enthusiastically cheering performers and audience and congratulated the performers on their successful presentation.

Expressing great satisfaction over the fact that the company servicepersons presented a splendid performance rich in ideological contents and high in artistry with numbers of great cognitional and instructive value fully reflecting the WPK's idea, he highly estimated their success in the performance and extended thanks to them in the name of the Supreme Commander.

The soldier culture created by the KPA is replete with the spirit of the times, militant optimism and rich emotion and this has become typical of the socialist cultural life in the era of Songun, he said, underlining the need to continue making steady efforts to popularize the revolutionary soldier culture throughout the society.

Noting that the glorious history of the Korean revolution which started and advanced with songs represents a great victory of the music politics which strikingly demonstrated the might of arts, he set forth the tasks which would serve as guidelines for further developing mass performing activities. [...]

It is a pity that Eric Clapton ended up not performing in Pyongyang. The servicepersons and party officials would have highly appreciated his stretching out in a bluesy rendition of "Where Are You, Dear General?"

Monotheistic solidarity from Iran: Threat to destroy Queen Esther's tomb

Iranian officials are always proclaiming that Iran "respects all Divine religions." The claim is, of course, Khomeinist crap:

A group of Islamists demonstrated on Sunday at the tomb of biblical Jewish queen Esther in western Iran and threatened to destroy it if Israel damages Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem, Mehr news agency reported.

The agency identified the demonstrators at one of the most revered sites for Iranian Jews as members of the student basij, or hardline Islamist militia, at Bu-Ali-Sina university of Hamedan.

"Muslims beware that they have started the destruction of Al-Aqsa mosque while their second sacred site in Iran, the Esther and Mordecai tomb is at peace and no Muslims make a sound," the protesters said in a statement.

"We, the student basijis... warn Zionist regime leaders if they assault the Al-Aqsa mosque in any way we will destroy the tomb of these lowly murderers," they said. [...]

Dear Leader gives field guidance at "women's hosiery shop," department store and "Sanitary Goods Branch Factory"

What do you think those "sanitary goods" are?

After being briefed on the technical specification of the branch factory, he went round production processes furnished with cutting-edge equipment to learn in detail about its construction and production there.

Watching the work sites where cultured practices are ensured in production and hygiene on a high level and the compound of the factory that looks like a park, he highly praised its employees for having spruced up well the inside and outside of the factory. He said that the socialist homeland is turning into a land of bliss for people as the days go by as the soldier culture created in the era of Songun is kept in fuller bloom.

The officials, workers and technicians of the branch factory with a high capacity have been able to bring about a fresh boost in the production of sanitary goods by keeping production going at a high rate because they have waged a dynamic drive for introducing new technology true to the Party's idea of pushing back the frontiers of the latest science and technology while planting one's foot on one's ground and looking at the world, he noted, adding that this signal success clearly demonstrates the validity and vitality of the Party's policy of regarding science and technology as the lifeline for building an economic power.

He advanced the tasks to be carried out by the factory.

He underlined the need for the branch factory to properly work out management and business strategies and put production on a scientific basis as required by the principle of profitability so as to systematically cut down the norm of materials consumption per unit and increase the supply of quality sanitary goods to the people.

The second leg of his guidance was the Women's Hosiery Shop newly built at the Pyongyang Hosiery Factory.

After being briefed on the history of the factory in the room devoted to its history, he went round the weaving site, the processing site and the goods sample room to acquaint himself in detail with the construction and technological equipment and the production there.

He set forth the tasks facing the factory. [...]

The next leg of his guidance was the newly built Pothonggang Department Store.

He went round the inside and outside of the store for hours to acquaint himself in detail with its construction and goods on display there. [...]

He likes shopping, I guess. You'll want to explore the latest Haveil Havalim for hours to acquaint yourself in detail with its contents.

AP Headline: "Israel's leader does not want to share Jerusalem"

The headline concerns something that Netanyahu said, right? So why doesn't the story quote his statement?

Israel's leader on Sunday dismissed a call from a key government partner to share the holy city of Jerusalem with the Palestinians, a reminder of the obstacles facing already troubled peacemaking efforts.

Conflicting claims to east Jerusalem lie at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The dispute over the area, home to sensitive Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites, has derailed past peace talks and spilled into violence. Palestinians claim the sector as the capital of their future state.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reaffirmation of his intention to hold on to east Jerusalem drew criticism from the Palestinians and was likely to increase friction with the Americans. The White House Mideast envoy is scheduled to arrive this week in another attempt to push peace efforts forward. [...]

Palestinians blasted Israel's rejection of their claim to east Jerusalem.

"Mr. Netanyahu is distancing himself not from Barak, he is distancing himself from international consensus, he's distancing himself from international resolutions and distancing himself from international law," said Palestinian spokesman Husam Zomlot. "And most importantly, he's distancing himself from any possible negotiated settlement based on the two-state solution." [...]

I understand that Barak is the one, presumably, causing this to be framed as whether or not Israel will "share" Jerusalem. Notice, however, that "sharing" doesn't refer to Jews and Arabs living in the same city. It means slicing off part of Jerusalem for the express purpose of creating a zone which is uncontaminated by any Jewish presence.

Happy Eighth Night of Chanukah!

Happy Seventh Night of Chanukah!

Source of Image: Shturem.org

Juche sentence of the day

Giving even greater play to the might of Juche sentences:

Noting that the heroic workers of the complex brilliantly decorated this significant year by building a great structure in the era of Songun, he said that the laudable exploits performed by them, the devoted workers capable of flattening even a high mountain at one go in response to the decision and instruction of the party, will be recorded with brilliance in a page of the history of building a thriving nation.

Colonialist Zio-Settlers appropriate indigenous culture

First it was felafel, then the kefiyyeh and now this. They have even extended their hands to profane the sacred symbol of resistance. If Nasrallah were in a grave he would be turning over in it:Qassam Menorahs are easy to make at home. We suggest using a scud or a grad as the Shamash. (Hat Tip: Israel Matzav, Atlas Shrugs)

And now for some real news: Booze with a hechsher

Ever notice that your ultra-Orthodox shul serves almost any vodka, scotch, or bourbon in existence? Those days may be drawing to a close. Don't get me wrong, it will be good to know that the stuff you are drinking really is kosher to high standards, but expect a few whistful looks as people remember the old days:

Kosher drinkers have more to cheer about this holiday season as a growing number spirits producers seek — and receive — the seal of approval from Jewish dietary authorities.

“It’s an additional process and expense that raises the bar on quality,” said Ralph Mizraji, a Miami-based branding specialist who this year brought out a new vodka that is certified kosher by the Orthodox Union, the largest certifying body in the world.

Called L’Chaim — Hebrew for “To life!” — Mizraji’s vodka is a corn-based product imported from Israel and made according to a generations-old Russian recipe brought to that country by Jewish immigrants. [...]

Among those appreciatively watching the trend is Joshua Hatton, president and founder of the Jewish Single Malt Whisky Society. He was pleased to see single malt whiskeys from producers Ardbeg and Glenmorangie recently achieve kosher certification.

“You’re seeing it more and more,” he said, noting that there are two trends intersecting. More producers are discovering that there’s a market for kosher liquors. Meanwhile, more Jews are becoming interested in keeping kosher, something that seems to be related to the general increased interest among Americans in what they’re eating and drinking.

Hatton recently helped pour Glenmorangie at the Kosher Fest event in Secaucus, N.J. The tastings were popular, “not just because they were pouring booze, but some of the comments I heard were, ‘It’s so nice to see that this is certified kosher. It’s nice to know that someone’s watching my back.’”

At the New York-based Orthodox Union, Rabbi Moshe Elefant is seeing strong interest in kosher spirits, with certified alcoholic products growing by about 10 percent a year.

Unlike wine, which has to pass a number of regulatory requirements before being certified, liquor made from grain or sugar starts out relatively close to kosher.

For certification, the equipment must be inspected to make sure it meets standards — for instance if a tank held a product containing dairy ingredients for more than 24 hours, it would have to be sterilized — and there are business procedures which must be followed.

Flavored liquors require more scrutiny, since the ingredients may not be kosher. With whiskeys, the aging process has to be reviewed since use of nonkosher sherry, port or wine casks would be a problem.

Elefant finds that people are more interested in keeping kosher these days. But unlike earlier generations they’re not willing to sacrifice premium products. “They want the scotch and they want the liquor and they want the highest level of kosher,” he said. [...]

The Fifth Night of Chanukah

There is a Chassidic custom to regard the fifth night of Chanukah as special. It is the first night when most of the lights are lit. A more technical version of this point is that it is the first night when following the opinion of Beis Hillel to start with one candle and add one every night results in more flames than following the opinion of Beis Shammai (to light all the flames on the first night and take one away each day). The fifth night of Chanukah can never fall on Shabbos, which might be regarded as something negative, but one way of looking at it is this: The light of Chanukah can even overcome the darkness of never falling on Shabbos. One of my favorite stories about the Lubavitcher Rebbe includes this thought. Read it here. Another story about the fifth night is here.

Iran wants what?

Very strange story. Can you imagine the US complying with the request? The President affirmed today that the controversial Wikileaks documents appear to be genuine, but advised Iran "not to freak out or anything."

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki asked the White House leaders to make an explicit and official announcement on the authenticity of the documents released by the WikiLeaks website and openly declare if they approve the genuineness of these reports.

"Americans should explicitly declare whether they accept (authenticity) of these documents or not," Mottaki told FNA on Sunday.

Meantime, the Iranian minister reiterated that if authenticated, the revelations of the WikiLeaks should be viewed as a great scandal for the United States' diplomacy.

Many world countries have rejected WikiLeaks revelations about their states, saying that the site makes such claims in pursuit of politically-driven objectives desired by certain parties.

There are numerous ambiguities about the WikiLeaks and some analysts believe that the US deliberately publishes the reports in pursuit of suspicious goals.

Iranian officials and politicians have also warned of the so-called information released by the site and the hidden objectives behind the move.

So a statement from the US would be really useful in helping them calm down . . .

Angry Arab "can't wait"

He quotes this:

"Yesterday's catastrophe is just an example of the powerlessness that Israel's emergency services suffer from," said top-selling Israeli daily, Yedioth Ahronoth. "What would we have done if faced with dozens and hundreds of missiles that might have ignited fires in several areas, including urban areas with multi-story buildings?"

And his post title is "I can't wait."

On the majorness and minorhood of Chanukah

Aren't you tired of people who explain that Chanukah is a "minor holiday"? According to a no-doubt well-meaning fellow at Slate, "as any rabbi will tell you . . . Hanukkah has traditionally been a minor Jewish festival." And then there are the not so well-meaning. In the charmingly titled post "Notes on Hanukkah: The Maccabees and Zionism’s ‘invented traditions’" a Mondoweissnik explains to us that "Hanukkah is a very minor Jewish holiday." What do they want from Chanukah's life? Do they want melacha to be an issur kareis? Do they want to eat potato-starch sufganiyot because of the prohibition of chametz? Do they want to build another sukkah?

Chanukah is one of the two major Rabbinic holidays (the other one is Purim). The Synagogue service actually makes a big deal about it: Al Hanisim, Whole-Hallel every day, a special Torah-reading every day. Then there is the "ascending in holiness" Menorah-lighting itself with all its regulations about when and where and how to kindle the lights. If you are a Jew, your major spiritual preoccupation for the next 8 days is going to be Chanukah. Shabbos is going to coincide with Chanukah for 24 hours in an incredibly potent combination called Shabbos Chanukah. Here is a picture of a 32-foot tall Menorah:



Actually, nothing is "minor" in Judaism. I'd say that is one of the many themes of the holiday.

Iran particularly stung by assassination of nuclear scientist?

A Fars article compares the assassination of Majid Shahriari to that of arch-terrorist Imad Mughniyeh.

Iranian university professor Majid Shahriari, who was killed in Tehran yesterday, was assassinated through the very same method used for the assassination of Hezbollah's slain commander Imad Mughniyeh in Damascus two years ago, a senior Iranian lawmaker said on Tuesday.

"Based on investigations, the method used for the assassination of martyr Shahriari was the same method used for the assassination of martyr Mughniyeh," Head of the parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi told reporters.

Mughniyeh was killed on February 12, 2008 by a car bomb in the Kfar Suseh neighborhood of Damascus, the capital city of Syria. Hezbollah blamed Tel Aviv for assassinating the commander.

Lebanese political analysts believe that the terrorist blast had been arranged by the Israeli intelligence squad, Mossad.

Boroujerdi further underlined the terrorist nature of the Zionist regime of Israel, and accused the regime of assassinating Iranian lecturers and scientists.

Meantime, the lawmaker said that his commission has held a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Intelligence, the Iranian Law Enforcement Police and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) to study the recent terrorist attacks in Tehran. [...]

A current headline at PressTV proclaims "Iran will bring UNSC members to trial":

A day after the terrorist attacks against two Iranian scientists, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warns of bringing permanent members of UN Security Council (UNSC) to trial.

"By God, if such an incident takes place one more time, we will bring each permanent member of the United Nations Security Council to trial," said President Ahmadinejad in northern Iranian province of Mazandaran on Tuesday, IRNA reported.

"If the terror attack against Iranian scientists is repeated once more, we will pursue all cases before the Islamic Revolution, [in addition to] 160,000 martyrs of the Sacred Defense [in the Iraqi imposed war in the 1980's] and 40,000 martyrs in different parts of the country," he said.

"They think by taking away our nuclear scientists or scientists, our nation's momentum towards progress will stop,” he emphasized. “This time too, they committed a mistake."

The Iranian chief executive cautioned enemies of the Islamic Revolution and said, "You are mistaken. We hold those who imposed the resolutions accountable for such crimes because in [one] resolution, they mentioned the names of our scientists as subject of the sanction."

"It is obvious that the United Nations is in cahoots with Zionists (Israelis)," President Ahmadinejad underlined. [...]

Wikipedia mentions reports that Shahriari taught at something called Supreme National Defense University. I wonder if he possessed some big fishiness that has not come to light yet. (FWIW, some bloggers are pointing to this Debka item.)

IRIB Radio: "Iran slams Wiki-release as US psywar"

Ahmadinejad sees through the World Arrogance plot to make it seem that Sunni Arab oil sheikdoms are not thrilled by the prospect of Nuclear Mullahs:

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has questioned the recent 'leaked' documents published by Wikileaks website, describing them as part of a US "psychological warfare."

In response to a question by Press TV on Monday over the whistleblower website's "leaks," President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said "Let me first correct you. The material was not leaked, but rather released in an organized effort."

President Ahmadinejad told reporters on Monday "The US administration releases documents and makes a judgment based on them. They are mostly like a psychological warfare and lack legal basis."

The Iranian chief executive added at the press briefing in Tehran "The documents will certainly have no political effects. Nations are vigilant today and such moves will have no impact on international relations."

President Ahmadinejad stressed that the Wikileaks "game" is "not even worth a discussion and that no one would waste their time analyzing them."

Of course, if you just insist on wasting your time on Hegemonic Zio-Psy-Ops, you could do worse than reading this.