IRIB: "Chavez met Assad, urged fight against capitalism"

Chavez doesn't have his own gulag yet, but he's networking:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met with Syrian President Bashar Assad on Saturday and called on Latin America and the Arab world to fight America's imperialist and capitalist interests abroad.

During a meeting at Venezuela's presidential palace, Chavez told Assad it was an honor to host the Syrian leader on his first visit to Latin America.

The two leaders signed an agreement to create a $100 million trade and development fund.

"Arab civilization and our civilization, the Latin American one, are being summoned in this new century to play the fundamental role of saving the world from the imperialism and capitalist hegemony that threaten the human species," Chavez said.

Assad praised Chavez for standing up to the United States and supporting the Palestinian struggle.

"There are few politicians who are courageous to speak out when it's necessary," he said. [...]

Yeah, it's so hard to find pro-Palestinian politicians when you're an Arab dictator. Capitalism isn't the only evil that needs to be fought: EOZ noted the following at Fars News:

A senior Iranian commander took the US and the Zionist regime of Israel responsible for the spread of drug addiction in the world, stressing that they use drugs as a biological weapon against the freedom-seeking nations.

Not to worry--help is on the way. At ISNA we learn that passengers of the next flotilla might be singing the Song of the Volga Boatmen:

An Iranian law-maker said the country is examining dispatch of parliament members to Gaza through Caspian Sea and Volga River.

Iran has deleted Egypt from its options for sending parliamentarians to Gaza since it did not receive a written response from Egyptian officials, but the choice of Caspian Sea and Lebanon are being considered, said Mahmoud Ahmadi Bighash who is in charge of sending Iranian lawmakers to Gaza Strip.

"If we want to sail from Caspian Sea, we need to cross Volga Sea which needs Russia's agreement, but we have not received any written response from them yet." [...]

They're falling into our trap!



Crossposted on Soccer Dad

PressTV (Iran): Chavez: US "has sent a fleet to surround Iran," "put a bomb in a South Korean ship"

I wonder if this was written by adding details to a news agency story such as this one from AFP:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has warned of US military engagement in secret missions in North Korea and Iran while world focuses on the World Cup.

"They put a bomb in a South Korean ship, and the Yankees did it to try to start a war between the two Koreas and justify another invasion," Chavez said Saturday, quoted by AFP.

He was referring to an incident in March, when a South Korean vessel sank after a massive explosion in the Yellow Sea. About 46 people were killed in the incident. A multinational team, organized by the US-backed South Korean government, concluded that a North Korean torpedo caused the incident.

North Korea has fiercely rejected the accusation and has threatened an all-out war if the south takes any retaliatory measures.

The Venezuelan President also declared that the US was engaged in covert operations against Iran.

"While we are following football from around the world, the [US] empire has sent a fleet to surround Iran," Chavez said. "The whole zone is very threatened."

Chavez was echoing remarks made by former Cuban President Fidel Castro on a possible war in the Middle East.

"Fidel has been warning on an imminent war in the Middle East, because while the world is only paying attention to soccer, the US empire has sent its whole fleet to besiege Iran."

Chavez made the cautionary remarks in Ecuador, where he is attending the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of the Americas (ALBA) conference of Latin American nations. [...]

Will Chavez help the Mullahs smash all world arrogance plots? Will he get word to the illustrious commander of Mt. Paektu in time? Stay tuned . . .

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

"DPRK People's Struggle Supported by Liechtenstein"

The Songun mouse that roared?

Alois von und zu Liechtenstein, prince of the Principality of Liechtenstein, expressed his hope that the DPRK people would achieve greater successes in their efforts to build a great prosperous and powerful nation, noting that he is pleased with the fact that everything goes well in the DPRK.

He said this when receiving credentials from the DPRK ambassador to the Principality on June 17.

Noting that the Principality of Liechtenstein has always closely followed the situation in the Korean Peninsula, he said it is important to conclude a peace treaty between the DPRK and the U.S. to ensure lasting peace in the peninsula.

You'll be pleased with the fact that everything goes well in the latest Haveil Havalim.

North Korea demands "$75 trillion" from US

Can we deduct all the losses from counterfeiting? This is from ABC:

Cash-strapped North Korea has demanded the United States pay almost $US65 trillion ($75 trillion) in compensation for six decades of hostility.

The official North Korean news agency, KCNA, says the cost of the damage done by the US since the peninsula was divided in 1945 is estimated at $US64.96 trillion.

Here it is from the Songun horse's mouth:

[...] The Committee for Investigation into Damage Done by the U.S. to the Northern Half of Korea summed up all human and material damage brought by the U.S. imperialists to the northern half of Korea for the past six decades since they landed in south Korea on Sept. 8, 1945.

The total damages amount to 64 959 854 million U.S. dollars.

This calculation is based only on old records and official testimonies made by survivors. So it is presumed that there are much more damage that has not been ascertained.

The total amount will be incalculable if political, moral and cultural damages caused by slandering the sovereignty and dignity of the DPRK, destruction of treasures of lasting value including revolutionary sites, historic sites and relics and other precious cultural assets, infliction of moral pressure on the Koreans through the moves for a new war and threats of preemptive nuclear attack and vicious bourgeois ideological and cultural poisoning are included.

With nothing can the U.S. make full compensation to the DPRK for the damage it caused to the DPRK by impeding Korea's reunification after illegally occupying south Korea and, accordingly, inflicting moral pain and misfortune upon the Korean people for more than half a century-long tragic division and hindering the unified political, economic and cultural development of the north and the south of Korea.

The crimes committed by the U.S. imperialists against the DPRK are something beyond human imagination in view of their scope and protracted, barbarous and shameless nature.

The Korean Central News Agency releases a report on the newly surveyed and ascertained damage done by the U.S. imperialists to the northern half of Korea in order to disclose all forms of crimes committed against the Korean people and force them to pay for all of them. [...]

The article ends on an upbeat note:

The more reckless the U.S. becomes in its moves to hurt the dignified DPRK, far from apologizing and compensating for its crimes committed against the Korean nation, the higher the hatred of the army and people of the DPRK for it will mount and the stronger they will grow in their resolution to take revenge upon it. The provokers will get nothing but merciless destruction and death for their political and military confrontation.

The army and people of the DPRK who have grown to be matchless revolutionary ranks under the leadership of the Party and the leader will never pardon the crimes of the U.S. imperialists but force them to pay a thousand-fold price for them. They will bolster up the deterrent for self-defence in every way under the banner of Songun, firmly defend the peace in the Korean Peninsula and the rest of the world and build a great prosperous and powerful socialist nation on this land without fail.

Hmm, a "thousand-fold price." What's a thousand times a trillion?

IRNA (Iran): "Sending relief aid ship to Gaza still on the agenda"

You might have seen this from the AP:

Iran will not be sending a blockade-busting ship to Gaza in defiance of Israeli warnings, an Iranian lawmaker said Saturday, citing Israeli "restrictions."

IRNA, Iran's most official news agency, and as is fitting when the subject is a Khomeinist peace flotilla, muddies the waters:

Deputy Foreign Minister in Arab Affairs Mohammad Reza Sheybani said that the plan to send a relief aid ship to Gaza Strip by governmental or non-governmental organizations is still on the agenda.

According to Foreign Ministry Media Department on Saturday, Sheybani, reacting to reports of certain news agencies which have said Iran has dispensed with sending aid ships to Gaza due to Israeli threats, said that 'the plan is still on our agenda'.

He said that time of dispatching the ship would be coordinated with those who want to dispatch other ships from different parts of the world.

He added that sending aid by plane or through Egyptian borders to Gaza is still on the agenda.

He said that the issue has been proposed to Egyptian officials and 'we are waiting for their answer'.

Sheybani also discussed nature and aim of the Zionist regime military forces in confronting with recent humanitarian move by people and added that the Zionist regime is trying to cover its own problems by turning the issue to a political-security affair. [...]

Iran, of course, would never do anything to cover over its own problems.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

North Korea: We have a hostage

Most of the articles I post from (North) Korean News are funny in an apalling sort of way. This one isn't. The Cheonon is the South Korean ship that North Korea denies it sunk. Gomes is Aijalon Mahli Gomes, a Christian who was arrested and given a prison sentence for entering North Korea "illegally":

The U.S. is escalating the campaign to put international pressure upon the DPRK while persistently antagonizing the DPRK over the "Cheonan" case. Such moves have gone beyond the tolerance limit.

The DPRK had already solemnly declared that it would consider the prevailing situation as a war phase and handle all relevant issues according to a wartime law.

An institution concerned is now examining the issue of what additional measure it will take against American Gomes in line with a wartime law. He is serving a prison term in the DPRK for the encroachment upon its sovereignty.

The U.S. government is requesting the DPRK to leniently set him free from a humanitarian stand, but such thing can never happen under the prevailing situation and there remains only the issue of what harsher punishment will be meted out to him.

If the U.S. persists in its hostile approach toward the DPRK, the latter will naturally be compelled to consider the issue of applying a wartime law to him.

George Galloway attends seminar on Green Book studies

Sometimes I clean up the spacing and punctuation of these things, but here all I did was to separate the paragraphs--if you can call them paragraphs. Anyway, I think Galloway has found his true calling:

The World Center for Studies and Researches of Green Book organized this evening in Tripoli a seminar on '' Jamahiriya Theory and Temporary Humanitarian Issues ''

The seminar was attended by the Center's Secretary General , former British Parliament Member, '' George Galloway '', Director General of Jamahiriya Thought Academy, Coordinator of External Action at Revolutionary Committees' Liaison Office and a number of RCM members .

The seminar was also attended by some heads and members of political missions in Jamahiriya and a host of thinkers and intellectuals .

During this seminar , the discussion focused on topics and subjects concerning the Jamahiriya Theory and temporary humanitarian issues among them the vision presented by the leader of the Revolution about the solution to Arab Zionist conflict through the ( White Book ) , as well as analysis of international system in terms of its political , economic and social aspects .

The seminar also addressed the implications of the speech of the leader of the Revolution before the 64th Session of UN General Assembly General , as well as the Jamahiriya theory and its stance regarding all humanitarian issues as stated in the Green Book .

The seminar touched on the creative thoughts of the Jamahiriya horizon that gives real and practical solutions to world problems like wars , conflicts , oppression , minority control and domination in the fate of the majority of the masses on this earth .

And as Galloway sinks below the Jamahiriya horizon, we bid him farewell until his next appearance shilling for Iran or Libya or Hamas or who knows what else.

Some Interesting Stuff

Al-Ahram: "Would Hamas lift the siege?"

Jews sans Frontiers helps illustrate how extreme Ha'aretz is by helpfully presenting a translation.

Fars News: "Iran Renews Offer to Help US Harness Oil Spill"

MPAC-UK: "Israeli Army Stole Credit Cards From Flotilla Activists To Buy Alcohol"

Asharq Alawsat: "Death to Anyone who Watches the World Cup!"

Fars News: Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps "prepared to control the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico"

A fairly frequent theme in the Iranian press is that Iran is standing by to solve this or that problem. I'm including the picture of Qassemi, who looks like he can control the oil spill just by glowering at it.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) announced on Monday that its experts are prepared to control the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

"The experience of Iranians' presence in curbing oil spills in a number of neighboring states in the Persian Gulf, such as Kuwait, demonstrates Iranian capabilities and skills and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps is ready to help curb the oil spill (in the Gulf of Mexico)," Commander of the IRGC's Khatam ol-Anbia Headquarters General Rostam Qassemi stated.

Qassemi reminded the environmental threat posed by the oil spill to the Caribbean states and nations, and stated, "Despite new sanctions, IRGC is prepared to fulfill its humanitarian duty in this regard and use its exclusive and indigenous capability in the Gulf of Mexico."

Considering Washington and London's claims that they are economic and industrial superpowers, the US and Britain's inability to stop the oil spill two months after the initial incident is "humiliating and shameful", he reiterated.

Earlier on May 24, Iranian Oil Minister Masoud Mirkazzemi had voiced the country's preparedness to aid the US in cleaning the massive oil spill in Mexico's Gulf Coast which threatens the surrounding environment. [...]

Meanwhile, at IRNA Foreign Minister Mottaki explains that "Monday issuance of recent UNSC resolution was a political goof off for United States." I guess it sounded better in Persian. And at Iran's PressTV we learn that a "top Hamas official" is complaining that Israel still won't allow anything into Gaza you can build bunkers with:

"Allowing the entry of goods into Gaza while barring the construction materials is meaningless," he said. "We don't want snacks and chips. We need building materials."

And they'll probably get them after another martyrdom-seeking flotilla or two.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Hizbullah strikes a blow for modesty

Modesty in dress--that's a progressive value, right? The Guardian reports:

Israeli naval forces are on alert as an all-female ship prepares an attempt to break the blockade of Gaza. Organisers say the Mariam – named after the Virgin Mary – is to sail from Beirut in the next few days.

However one woman who will not be on board is Haifa Wehbe, a sultry and often scantily clad Lebanese singer. Wehbe's request to join the vessel has reportedly been vetoed by Hizbullah, the militant Lebanese Shia organisation, on the grounds that her "nudity, degradation and immodest dress" would damage the reputations of all the Arab and European women on board.

Arab observers dismissed the story – in the Kuwait daily al-Siyassah – saying it was designed to smear the humanitarian mission with a connection to Hizbullah, like the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip an implacable enemy of Israel. [...]

And if that's a credible dismissal why did the Guardian report the story in the first place? The flow of the reportage suggests that it is a just knee-jerk dismissal that doesn't reflect any real inside knowledge and that the Guardian is really convinced of the truth of the headline, but worried that they will come across as too Zionist-leaning unless some dissenting voice is brought in. But who knows . . .

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Dear Leader gives field guidance to lipstick factory

The (North) Korean News site frequently relates touching little stories concerning the solicitousness of the Dear Leader for all his subjects seemingly minor needs. Here he demands a great leap forward in the field of cosmetics:

One day in August Juche 92 (2003) General Secretary Kim Jong Il visited the Pyongyang Cosmetics Factory.

After looking around the production processes of the factory, he was guided to the sample room.

Exhibited in the room were different sorts of quality cosmetics produced by the factory.

He took a lipstick in his hand and looked at it.

He then told officials that the factory was producing lipsticks of only a few colors and that it should produce such cosmetics as foundation, lipstick and face powder in various colors so that women could take their choice suitable to their face color and taste.

Otherwise, Korean News has the usual sludge:

[...] Thanks to this effective ideological and theoretical weapon provided by Kim Jong Il the army and people of the DPRK have been able to decisively meet the political and military pressures and foil the ideological and cultural poisoning of the imperialists, hold high the socialist banner of Juche and glorify the nation's dignity before the whole world.

Preserving the Juche character and national character provides a fundamental guarantee for firmly protecting the independent dignity of the country and the nation and to preserve them is an important requirement for building a self-reliant thriving nation on the land of the country.

To give play to the Juche character and national character is a basic requirement for steadfastly preserving the true nature of socialism and giving full play to the advantages of Korean-style socialism. [...]

The latest Haveil Havalim has been able to decisively meet the political and military pressures and foil the ideological and cultural poisoning of the imperialists.

Moonbats trying to stop an Israeli ship from unloading in Oakland?

Here is the Kos diary.

Update: Live video of the great event.

Update: SFGate (h/t: Jawa Report) makes it sound as if the protest actually prevented loading:

Hundreds of demonstrators, gathering at the Port of Oakland before dawn, prevented the unloading of an Israeli cargo ship. [...]

The demonstrators want to block the unloading of the Zim ship for a full day. After convincing the day shift of longshoreman to honor the picket line, the demonstrators dispersed around 10 a.m., Becker said. The ship is scheduled to arrive in mid-afternoon, and the demonstrators plan to gather again around 4:30 p.m. and re-establish their picket line before the evening shift of longshoremen arrives at 6 p.m.

Some of the comments on the Kos diary made it sound as if the non-presence of the ship during the protest was a snafu for ANSWER and crew. This one is especially interesting:

The Zim ship scheduled to arrive in Oakland is NOT an Israeli ship. It's a British flag ship. And it hasn't even arrived yet (and obviously won't during daylight hours today). Right now, it's heading north off Monterey Bay.

Stay tuned . . .

Update: The ship is finally unloaded.

Double-standards abound

A good rule for intelligent blogging is to try not to make a double-standard point about absolutely any horror that resembles something that your group is criticized for.

Faux Rabbis still fasting for Hamas

They're still at it. I love the fact that they call it a "Ta'anit Tzedek." It is supposed to mean that their fast has something to do with Social Justice, but they just sound like a bunch of dorks who are calling themselves righteous. They are fasting for the lifting of a blockade against a territory whose semi-elected government proclaims in its charter that Rotary Clubs are a Jewish plot.

One day every month, from sunrise to sunset, members of Ta’anit Tzedek—Jewish Fast for Gaza, a self described “ad-hoc” initiative of over 100 rabbis and other faith leaders from all over the U.S., go on a political diet. They fast, refraining from eating or drinking anything except water, to raise awareness about Israel’s blockade of Gaza, a blockade they consider unjust.

“As Jews and people of conscience, we can no longer stand idly by Israel’s collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza,” says a message on fastforgaza.net, the group’s website.

Local rabbinical supporters of Jewish Fast for Gaza include Rabbi Leonard Beerman of Leo Baeck Temple in Los Angeles and Rabbi Steven Jacobs, rabbi emeritus of Temple Kol Tikvah in the San Fernando Valley.

The group fasts on the third Thursday of each month, and so the group’s members fasted today on Thursday, June 17. The first fast took place almost one year ago, on July 16, 2009.

Following the Israeli navy’s recent deadly raid of the Mavi Marmara, Rabbi Brant Rosen, the Illinois-based project coordinator at Jewish Fast for Gaza, criticized Israel’s handling of the flotilla and the country’s maritime blockade of Gaza.

We “call upon the government of Israel to turn away from the policies of occupation, siege and indifference to international law,” Rosen wrote in a blog post on the group’s site.[...]

Because if I am not for Jihad, who will be for Jihad?

At least they aren't sending their own flotilla

If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear a keffiyeh in your hair:

At their next meetings, the Richmond City Council and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors will consider resolutions condemning Israel for attacking the Gaza-bound flotilla.

Both bodies are scheduled to discuss the issue Tuesday, June 15.

Berkeley’s Peace and Justice Commission considered a similar measure at its meeting June 7.

Supervisor John Avalos sponsored the San Francisco resolution, and Supervisor Sophie Maxwell signed on to the eight-page document.

"This is the first time I can remember in my 10 years at JCRC that a city supervisor has authored and another has signed on to a statement that is so blatantly one-sided and lacking in any depth of understanding of the issues at play in the Middle East," said Abby Porth, associate director at the S.F.-based Jewish Community Relations Council. [...]

And if I'm not for Jihad, who will be for Jihad?

[...] Across the bay, Richmond Vice Mayor Jeff Ritterman, who is Jewish, sponsored the city council resolution.

"We have to say when our own people step out of line," Ritterman said. "We have to be the ones to say, ‘No, we can do better, we can be more moral, we can find a peace’ … and I don’t think this is the way to do it." [...]

People who use expressions like "when our own people step out of line" should be watched closely at all times.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Update: j. reports:

. . . the San Francisco Board of Supervisors didn’t vote on a resolution condemning Israel for its “military attack” on a Gaza-bound flotilla.

Just before midnight — after four-and-a-half hours of public comment — the resolution was sent to committee, where critics are hoping it will die.

Iran is sending a flotilla to provide the poor, beleaguered resolution proponents with much-needed supplies, such as 20 tons of copies of Chomsky's The Fateful Triangle.

MondoWeiss gets the "facts straight" on Hamas

Every so often I like to stroll over to the MondoWeiss olam. A current post proposes "Let’s get the facts straight on Hamas." Sounds good to me. How does Hamas feel about the "two-state solution" anyway? Meshaal is quoted from what we are told is a recent interview:

If Israel withdraws to the borders of 1967, and from East Jerusalem, that will become the capital of the Palestinian state with the right of self -- with the right of return for the refugees and with a Palestinian state with real sovereignty on the land and on the borders and on the checkpoints. Then we -- the Palestinian state will decide the future of the relationship with Israel. And we will respect the decision that will reflect the viewpoint of the majority of the Palestinian people both inside and outside Palestine.

Our intrepid Mondoweissnik comments:

Does that sound like "total war" against Israel?

Well yes, actually, it does. Did our intrepid Mondoweissnik read what he posted? Meshaal has stated yet again that if Israel meets all Hamas demands, it won't get anything definite in return.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

UC Irvine violates Geneva Conventions

From the LA Times:

The Muslim Student Union at UC Irvine should be suspended for one year for its involvement in repeated disruptions of a February speech by Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren, according to a disciplinary report released by the university . . .

The group's attorney Reem Salahi emphasized that a suspension has not yet been implemented but was still disheartened by the report’s recommendations. “It’s collective punishment,” she said . . .

Boston Globe on Helen Thomas and her "gift to Israel"

According to someone named Joanna Weiss:

. . . her words, delivered with matter-of-fact coldness, embody an idea that some of Israel’s most fervent supporters have long warned about: the nation’s critics aren’t gunning for its policies so much as its existence.

Can you guess where that's leading?

But Thomas also fits a little too easily into the current contours of the Israel debate, which in itself has served to keep many young Jews from getting engaged. The dialogue has long felt like a “zero-sum game," says Amy Spitalnick, spokeswoman for the pro-Israel lobby J Street: If you don’t support Israel unconditionally, you risk being labeled a hater or a naif.

After an approving citation of Peter Beinart, Spitalnick is quoted again

The existential threat to Israel right now is the lack of a [peace] agreement . . . . Should we not achieve a two-state agreement in the near term, there won’t be a Jewish Democratic Israel to fight for.

Spitalnick, of course, has failed to notice that there are already two states: Israel and the Grand Duchy of Gaza/Hamas. Handing territory over to Mahmoud Abbas to create a third one with a very short half-life probably won't placate the world's Helen Thomases (such as the ones who rule Iran and increasingly Turkey). Some sort of self-rule for the parts of the West Bank where the Arab population actually prevails might help things if people could think in those terms. The demands that the Palestinians must have a "viable state" when they can't come up with a unified and responsible national movement are probably making things worse.

If the J Street-ers actually valued the democracy that currently exists they would not be so eager to change the status quo. There are no easy solutions. One thing is certain, however: the J Street-ers and their cheering section at the Boston Globe are the ones who need to look beyond the easy "contours" of the current debate.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

"Bean-flour Drink Given to Children and Students"

This thing goes on and on about the wonders of "bean-flour drink," finally culminating in the "spectacular scene" of paragraph eight:

The Workers' Party of Korea and the state are entirely responsible for the healthy growth of the children in the DPRK. A large quantity of bean-flour drink is being mass-produced and provided to all children and students everyday as required by the science of nutrition.

The "time for bean-flour drink" for the children and students reflects the WPK's noble view on the younger generation and the true nature of the best Korean-style socialism in the world.

The Pyongyang Children's Foodstuff Factory has so far produced more than 300 million liters of nutritive bean-flour drink so it might be provided to the nurseries, kindergartens and primary and secondary schools in the city everyday.

The vans carrying bean-flour drink are called "vans for kings." The total distance covered by these vans reached a total of 14,150,000 kms which equal to 354 trips around the world.

President Kim Il Sung made sure that the above-said factory was built in the city and that even a workshop for nutritive milk was set up for children in Juche 68 (1979).

1986 witnessed the start of bean-flour drink at the factory.

General Secretary Kim Jong Il unraveled all the knotty problems arising in the production of the above-said drink. He set the best time from the viewpoint of the science of nutrition as the time for serving the drink and took a special measure for enabling all the children and students in the city to have the drink simultaneously.

This unfolded a spectacular scene in which the above-said vans run along the streets of the city under a well-regulated supply system. These vans are given top priority in traffic in all the streets so that they may reach their destinations without a hitch. [...]

Do you think General Secretary Kim Jong Il could unravel all the knotty problems of fixing the oil-leak in the Gulf of Mexico? Maybe not--look at the gunk that gushes from his news agency:

It is the strong resolution of the servicepersons and people of the DPRK to boldly dash ahead toward a final victory with confident pluck and fixed will to build a thriving nation on this land by completing at one go the job done by others by making a thousand tries.

Herculean are the tasks before us but the drive for building a great prosperous and powerful nation is sure to be crowned with victory as long as there are the experienced and tested leadership of the Workers' Party of Korea and the heroic fighting spirit of all the servicepersons and people single-mindedly united around the Party and the leader.

The latest Haveil Havalim and KCC boldly dash forward with confident pluck and fixed will.

Angry Arab is bothered . . .

. . . that Hizbullah doesn't have bigger missiles.

Kim Yong Nam sends message to "Leader of the Revolution of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya"

Do you think he read the message in his steadfast home?

Kim Yong Nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK, Thursday sent a message of greetings to Moammer el Gaddafi, leader of the Revolution of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the dismantlement of the U.S. military base in Libya.

Kim in the message wished the Libyan people greater success in their efforts to defend the dignity and sovereignty of the country and achieve its progress and prosperity, expressing belief that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries would grow stronger.

That's my kind of story. Speaking of Ghadaffi, did you ever see this?

All the really cool dictators have their own peace flotillas

No way Ghadaffi was going to be left behind. I mean, the man has a press agency distributing articles describing him as "suave":

A coordinative meeting was held in Tripoli on Wednesday to organize Libyan popular efforts to operate naval and ground convoys to relief the Palestinian people in Gaza and lift Zionist blockade and, participate in the humanitarian international popular efforts in this regard.

Present in the meeting were the Liaison Bureau of the Revolutionary Committee, unions, syndicates and vocational unions, and national associations, including the Red Crescent and the National Commission for the Support of the Palestinian People.
During the meeting, there was an agreement to effectively participate in the naval fleets that are being organized by the international popular and political activists, in addition to dispatching of Libyan ground convoys to deliver equipments, medical and food supplies to the Gaza Strip.

The meeting agreed to form three commission to organize the activities, the first for external communication and mobilization of masses, second for media, while the third for collecting donation, preparing material and making arrangements for naval and ground support.

Gotta mobilize those masses.

Exclusive! Penitent song-spoof draft

As you may have heard, and as a Guardian headline puts it, the Israeli government was "forced to apologise" for disseminating the "We Con the World" song-spoof about the Gaza Flotilla. We have now learned that it was originally felt that a new apologetic song was in order, that being the only thing that could adequately atone for the original offense. They then decided that this whole song-parody approach wasn't working out and was best abandoned. We have obtained a draft of the now never-to-be-completed apology song:

We're so sorry Peace Flotilla
We're so sorry if we acted somewhat brave
We're so sorry Peace Flotilla
But there are no beitzim here
And we believe we’re gonna cave
We're so sorry but we haven't had a spine all day
We're so Sorry Peace Flotilla
But if anything should happen we'll apologize away

We're so sorry Peace Flotilla
But we haven't done a bloody thing all day
We're so sorry Peace Flotilla
But to tell the truth takes guts and we're so easily called away

Iran applauds the martyrs (martyrs)
Qassams across the sky
Iran applauds the martyrs (martyrs)
Qassams across the sky
Uncle Recep notified me
He had to break the siege so he had to get to sea
I had another look and I had a cup of tea and some humble pie
(I used to have a spine, but I hung it out to dry)

Iran applauds the martyrs (martyrs)
Qassams across the sky
Iran applauds the martyrs (martyrs)
Qassams across the sky

Sail a little, be a gypsy, get around (get around)
Do be careful not to drown
Sail a little, get around
Sail a little, be a gypsy, get around (get around)
Do be careful not to drown
Sail a little, get around

Meanwhile, in other flotilla news, the Turkish Foreign Minister has declared that the Flotilla skirmish is "Turkey's 9/11." Other measured and cogent Zionism-related statements by Muslim national spokespersons include the recent revelation by a Syrian diplomat that Jewish children riding busses sing the following ditty:

With my teeth I will rip your flesh, with my mouth I will suck your blood.

An apology from the Israeli government for the children's crime is expected shortly, and other upcoming apologetic events include a new flotilla by a Jewish group. We also deeply regret the above post.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Time for a post about summer camp

It's getting to be time for camp. The Judeokinderlach have been getting ready: clothes, luggage, cameras, seforim. And meanwhile, in the Gt. Jamahriya, Summer Camp Youth have sent a cable to the Leader of the Revolution:

Youth Summer Camps for this Year expressed their pride of the big achievements realized by the leader of the Revolution and put Libya on the political, economic and social world map.

The participating youth in these summer camps underlined their firm adherence to science and technology in order to realize a better and brighter future for beloved Jamahiriya.

In a cable sent to the leader of the Revolution, Chairman of the Arab Summit, the youth said:

"We, Libyan youth of tomorrow and hope of the future, declare our adherence to your historical leadership of the Green Revolution, the Revolution of progress and its national principles, raising the banner of the homeland pride and welfare . inspired by your brilliant thoughts towards the salvation of humanity ... Highly commending the honor you gave us by charging Dr. "Saief al-Islam" to directly supervise and take care of the developmental program for Libya of tomorrow and Libya Youth of tomorrow.

Once again, we reiterate our sincere sentiments of love and loyalty to the leader of our Revolution".

In another current offering from JANA we learn that "Thousands of Palestinian Supporters of Palestinian People Took to the Streets in Central London Against Israeli Piracy Crime Against Freedom Ships":

Demonstration of anger continued worldwide organized by supporters of the Palestinian people in Gaza, who belong to different nationality in condemnation 0f the tight blockade imposed by Zionists and against the raids on Freedom Ships.

In this context, around ( 30.000 ) British protestors took to the streets of Central London demanding lift of the siege imposed by Zionists on the people of Gaza and voicing their condemnation of shameful Zionist Piracy operations against ships carrying humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.

The protestors raised Palestinian flags and posters calling for freedom for Palestinian people reading : "We Sail for Palestine" ... "Justice will Prevail" and "End blockade on Gaza".

Several British Activists spoke at this demonstration in front of 10 Downing Street-- among the speakers was the former British Minister and former MP "Tony Benn" who stressed that masses will always come out victorious.

On the other hand, British Activist, "George Galloway" former MP has announced that two big caravans are to be organized and head for Gaza, one by land and the other by sea after the next blessed month of Ramadan.

Some British protestors said in statements to JANA reporter in London that they strongly condemn the outrageous piracy crime the Zionist Terrorist Army Organization had committed against innocent unarmed civilian activists on board Freedom Fleet .
British nurse named, "Tania Adams said: "I wanted to join Freedom Fleet and to stay in Gaza".

She added: "What happened on board the ship "Marmara" was unbelivable where Israelis were intending to market this matter as being a mere incident, but they could not market these lies".

I cleaned up the strange punctuation and spacing, but not completely. I like seeing George Galloway with quotation marks around his name.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

On L'Affaire Thomas

Helen Thomas has now apologized for her remarks that Israelis should just "go home" to Germany or to Poland or to the United States. She has apologized for contradicting a bunch of platitudes about "respect and tolerance," but she has not corrected the basic distortion that makes her remarks so outrageous.

The great majority of Israeli Jews were born in Israel and conduct their daily lives speaking Hebrew. For them, Israel is the only place which is "home" in any meaningful sense. (And by the way, more Israeli Jews had ancestors who came from Morocco than from all the countries Thomas mentioned put together.)

Israelis constitute a unique nationality and for the most part they are natives to their land. (A "native" is someone who was born in a certain place.) There is a country called Germany, but the "home" for Israel's Jews called "Germany" is a chimera, a myth. Calling on someone to return to an imaginary home is akin to calling for him to breath imaginary air. It is a polite way of regarding him as having no legitimate interests, no humanity. Helen Thomas has not renounced her belief in such murderous fairy-tales. Why should she? She is at home in a vast and respectable mob.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

New horizons in revolutionary art

Prepare to have your little Juche heart warmed--this was the "best of the performances presented by art squads recently":

General Secretary Kim Jong Il enjoyed an art performance given by the art squad of KPA Unit 963 together with servicepersons of the KPA.

The squad put on the stage such colorful numbers of diverse genres as female quintet "We Serve the General", male solo and mixed octet "We Will Remain True to the Leadership of the Party", dialogic poem "Gigantic Footprints for Devoted Service", Oungum and female sextet "Bright Moon over Our Country", agitation through reminiscences "Comrades! Take This Revolver, Please!", serial of wartime songs "My Song in the Trench", "To a Decisive Battle" and "For My Only Motherland" and chorus "The Road of Victory".

The performers truthfully represented the invincible might of the strong revolutionary armed forces of Mt. Paektu which grew up to be a matchless army under the care of Kim Jong Il and the firm faith and will of the servicepersons of the KPA to devotedly defend the headquarters of the revolution and surely accomplish the revolutionary cause of Juche with arms under his leadership.

They also fully demonstrated the might of the soldier-artistes creditably performing their sacred mission as buglers in the Songun era.

Kim Jong Il congratulated the performers on their successful presentation and expressed great satisfaction over the fact that the members of the art squad of the unit staged a splendid performance rich in ideological contents and high in artistry with art works of great cognitive and educational value which truthfully and vividly reflected the servicepersons' inexhaustible mental power and noble moral traits and their worthwhile service.

Saying that the performers successfully represented the true picture of the revolutionary army of the DPRK dynamically advancing full of optimism and joy with transparent outlook on the leader and the revolution, he repeatedly appreciated their revolutionary style of creating art works.

The performance given by the art squad of the above-said unit, in particular, is the best of the performances presented by art squads recently, he noted, extending special thanks of the supreme commander to all the creators and artistes for having registered distinguished success.

Noting that the servicepersons of the KPA have grown to be indomitable fighters who cherish the spirit of devotedly defending the leader and the spirit of becoming human bombs as their unshakable faith, he stressed that socialism centered on the popular masses in the DPRK is invincible and the revolutionary cause of Juche is sure to emerge victorious as the defense line of the country is reliably defended by that matchless great army.

He advanced important tasks that would serve as guidelines for intensifying the revolutionary and militant art performing activities. [...]

"Comrades! Take This Revolver, Please!" was, of course, composed by Songun Art Union General Secretary, Comrade Hen-Hi Jong Man.

Update: The latest Haveil Havalim is of great cognitive and educational value, reflecting inexhaustible mental power.

Hamas heroically resists evil humanitarian aid

EOZ, as usual, has a good post on this subject. Here is the statement of the IDF Blog:

As of right now, the State of Israel has loaded 20 trucks with various types of aid found onboard the flotilla. Expired medication, clothing, blankets, some medical equipment and toys were among the aid found on the ships.

Unfortunately, the Hamas terror organization is unwilling to accept the cargo and the trucks filled with humanitarian aid have not been allowed to enter the Gaza Strip. It appears that Hamas is in fact stopping the transfer of the humanitarian aid.

(h/t: IMRA)

Meanwhile in North Korea: "Full Play to Heroic Spirit of Songun Korea Called for"

An interesting interweaving of the "great leap forward/prosperous nation" rhetoric and the more bellicose variety of Songun rhetoric:

Rodong Sinmun Monday editorially calls upon all the people to more dynamically step up the advance for a great surge in the spirit of wiping out the enemies as required by the prevailing situation and thus decisively frustrate their provocations and war moves and bring about great innovations and leap forward in building a thriving nation.

No force on earth can break the will of all the servicepersons and people of the DPRK to react to the "retaliation" of the enemies with stronger retaliation and to "punishment" with indiscriminate punishment of their style, the editorial notes, and goes on:

The anti-DPRK smear campaign being desperately staged by the U.S. imperialists and the Lee Myung Bak group of traitors is nothing but an extremely ridiculous farce orchestrated by them to hurt the high dignity and international prestige of the DPRK at any cost, much upset by its ever-increasing might. The U.S. imperialists and their servants have run the whole gamut of despicable plots to realize their aggressive and black-hearted intentions, wantonly violating the dignity and sovereignty of other countries and nations through lies and deception. This trite trick can never work on the DPRK.

The more frantic the enemies are getting in their moves to isolate and stifle the DPRK, the further it will intensify the drive for a great surge under the uplifted banner of self-reliance to decisively frustrate the enemies' sanctions and blockade and open the gate to a thriving nation without fail.

Single-minded unity means the strongest power of the DPRK and an ever-victorious treasured sword. No force on earth can break the single-minded unity of all the servicepersons and people around the headquarters of the revolution. [...]

The Imperialists are upset at the ever-increasing might of the latest Haveil Havalim.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry on the Flotilla skirmish

The following is the proper reply to all the current ranting about the Flotilla skirmish. My source is IMRA, but it is not their original content, so I am going to reproduce the whole thing. I assume the Israeli Foreign Ministry wanted it distributed:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs 31 May 2010 - distributed May 31, 2010 5:18 PM

A maritime blockade is in effect off the coast of Gaza. It has been imposed, as Israel is currently in a state of armed conflict with the Hamas regime that controls Gaza.

1. A maritime blockade is in effect off the coast of Gaza. Such blockade has been imposed, as Israel is currently in a state of armed conflict with the Hamas regime that controls Gaza, which has repeatedly bombed civilian targets in Israel with weapons that have been smuggled into Gaza via the sea.

2. Maritime blockades are a legitimate and recognized measure under international law that may be implemented as part of an armed conflict at sea.

3. A blockade may be imposed at sea, including in international waters, so long as it does not bar access to the ports and coasts of neutral states.

4. The naval manuals of several western countries, including the US and England recognize the maritime blockade as an effective naval measure and set forth the various criteria that make a blockade valid, including the requirement of give due notice of the existence of the blockade.

5. In this vein, it should be noted that Israel publicized the existence of the blockade and the precise coordinates of such by means of the accepted international professional maritime channels. Israel also provided appropriate notification to the affected governments and to the organizers of the Gaza protest flotilla. Moreover, in real time, the ships participating in the protest flotilla were warned repeatedly that a maritime blockade is in effect.

6. Here, it should be noted that under customary law, knowledge of the blockade may be presumed once a blockade has been declared and appropriate notification has been granted, as above.

7. Under international maritime law, when a maritime blockade is in effect, no boats can enter the blockaded area. That includes both civilian and enemy vessels.

8. A state may take action to enforce a blockade. Any vessel that violates or attempts to violate a maritime blockade may be captured or even attacked under international law. The US Commander's Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations sets forth that a vessel is considered to be in attempt to breach a blockade from the time the vessel leaves its port with the intention of evading the blockade.

9. Here we should note that the protesters indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade by means of written and oral statements. Moreover, the route of these vessels indicated their clear intention to violate the blockade in violation of international law.

10. Given the protesters explicit intention to violate the naval blockade, Israel exercised its right under international law to enforce the blockade. It should be noted that prior to undertaking enforcement measures, explicit warnings were relayed directly to the captains of the vessels, expressing Israel's intent to exercise its right to enforce the blockade.

11. Israel had attempted to take control of the vessels participating in the flotilla by peaceful means and in an orderly fashion in order to enforce the blockade. Given the large number of vessels participating in the flotilla, an operational decision was made to undertake measures to enforce the blockade a certain distance from the area of the blockade.

12. Israeli personnel attempting to enforce the blockade were met with violence by the protesters and acted in self defense to fend off such attacks.

The morality of Israel's actions in this incident is the same as that of Israel's Gaza blockade.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Flo-toon

Courtesy of MPAC.ie and MPAC-UK:

Flotilla boarded: Some number killed

This is going to dominate the news and the blogs for a while. The Jerusalem Post headline reads "Gaza flotilla: 2 dead, dozens injured in navy boarding."

Passengers tried to wrest weapons from soldiers, Army Radio reports; Turkish leadership call emergency meeting to discuss response to attack at sea, call in Israeli ambassador.

Passengers tried to grab weapons away from soldiers boarding the Gaza protest flotilla, starting the violence, Army Radio reported Tuesday morning, responding to accusations that Israeli commandos assaulted the ships guns blazing.

Activists aboard the ships repeatedly said they would not respond with violence to the navy's interception of their flotilla.

At least two activistswere killed and dozens more were wounded in clashes as hundreds of Israeli commandos boarded the ships, firing guns and employing gas, Turkish media and Al-Jazeera reported earlier Tuesday morning. [...]

There may be further clarifications to come. In the meantime, Iran's PressTV is reporting ten were killed:

sraeli forces have attacked the international aid convoy Freedom Flotilla en route to the besieged Gaza Strip, killing at least 10 people and leaving more than 50 injured.

The attack came on Monday morning after one of the six ships in the convoy was hit by Israeli navy forces before being stormed by commandos descending from helicopters.

The interception reportedly took place in international waters, more than 150km (90 miles) off the coast of Gaza. [...]

Al Jazeera is reporting "up to 16 people" killed:

Israeli forces have attacked a flotilla of aid-carrying ships aiming to break the country's siege on Gaza.

Up to 16 people were killed and more than 30 people injured when troops stormed the Freedom Flotilla early on Monday, the Israeli Army Radio said.

The flotilla was attacked in international waters, 65km off the Gaza coast.[...]

The news accounts probably won't vary so widely in the morning.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Update: IRIB Radio: "Israel attacks Gaza aid flotilla, 20 killed"



Update: J-Post is now reporting "at least 10" deaths.

Update: NY Times: "14 Deaths Reported as Israel Attacks Aid Flotilla"

Chomsky compared to Apartheid supporter

Angry Arab. (Who else?) So I suppose that blocking him from crossing into Israeli-controlled territory was a deeply progressive act.

MPAC.ie: making MPAC-UK look moderate

I've taken a keen interest in recent months in comparing the two Muslim Public Affairs Committees: MPAC.ie and MPAC-UK (MPAC.ie is actually a "Council.") Both have blog-like websites, and it happens to be an interesting moment for comparing the two. Both have posts, for instance, about the new Muslim Miss USA. MPAC.ie declares "Miss USA is NO MODEL for Muslim Women":

Of course Fakih’s no representative for anyone but her pitiable deluded self, but the hullabaloo and the mad rush by the kuffar to hail her as the ‘example’ Muslim woman speaks volumes, at least now they have revealed why they want to ban the hijab and other modest clothing options that cover Muslim women.

In contrast, the MPAC-UK article doesn't once use the word "kuffar," and it is even accompanied by a large picture of her smiling face. Their title: "Miss USA Targeted by Zio-Nazis." Isn't moderation grand?

A constant theme at MPAC-UK is that Muslims should get involved in the political process, and they are sometimes scathing against Muslims who think that "democracy is kuffar," as MPAC.ie puts it. MPAC.ie admits to once coming out in favor of voting, but they seem rather penitent in a recent article:

While accepting that democracy is kufr, we considered the act of voting as a lesser of two evils and considering the experiences of our brothers across Europe we felt that some participation might forestall anti-Muslim legislation . . .

Having witnessed the ineffectual and futile attempts of Muslims to influence the politics of kufr, in fact quite the opposite happened – the kufr of democracy unduly affected Muslims, led to compromises in the religion and with some even denunciation of the Divine Shariah, we have come to the conviction that political participation in democracy is not in the Muslims best interests.

MPAC-UK loves leftists who make common cause with Muslims. Perhaps the more conservative MPAC.ie might at least espouse something that we would consider conservative economic principles? No such luck. Another recent post is entitled "Beware the evils of Capitalism." Let us end with the most jaw-dropping current post at the MPAC.ie site: "In Praise of the Mutawwa":

There are few jobs in life that can be as rewarding as that of the Hai’ah (religious police), those tasked with enjoining the good and forbidding the evil. One can only look upon such individuals who risk life and limb with admiration as they work tirelessly to ensure that the insidious kufr of the west does not infiltrate the blessed land of the haramain.

And it’s a constant battle, as those desirous of introducing evil choose ever more clever methods. For example the Harry Potter books were rightfully banned in bookstores across the Kingdom, and the covers were instantly recognizable even to those Hai’ah who could not speak or read English. However some stores would import similar books that were not as ‘famous’ in the hope that they would go undetected and that is where Muslims from the west helped play a role in keeping the Kingdom kufr free.

The article is accompanied by three YouTube videos showing the admirable efforts of the Mutawwa. The titles: "DESTROYING AN ILLICIT KUFFAR ALCOHOL FACTORY," "ARRESTING SORCERERS," and "DEALING WITH FREE MIXING." I don't have the patience to watch. Feel free to watch and tell me what they're like in the comments section.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Someone at Pakistan Daily blogs about that mosque

This was inevitable, I suppose. Here's a paragraph:

Unless the Israel lobby groups succeed in their crusade to block the move – a group of Muslims under the guidance of Kuwait-born Muslim cleric, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, are planning to perform a miracle. They intend to build a 13-storey Muslim community center on the old site of Burlington Coat Factory at an estimated cost of US$100 million, just a few blocks away from the destroyed WTC – an Israeli false flag operation on September 11, 2001 for which Muslim were blamed. One Hasbara idiot even found out on EuropeNews (May 20, 2010) that Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf has Eyptian Muslim Brotherhood roots, just like several of Hamas leaders – I propose that building of the long-awaited Third Temple of Mount at WTC site would be more appropriate than an Islamic Centre 500 yards away from the WTC. And I bet, like the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC – American taxpayers’ would be more than glad to foot-in the bill.

When the Great Leader met the Supreme Leader

Oh, to have been there! I mean the original meeting, but these round-table talks were probably swell as well:

A photo exhibition, a film show and round-table talks were held at the Iran-Korea Friendship Magsal Agro-Stock Farm on May 19 to mark the 21st anniversary of President Kim Il Sung's meeting with Seyed Ali Khamenei, leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran.

On display in the venue of the events were photos showing the revolutionary histories of Kim Il Sung and General Secretary Kim Jong Il and their immortal exploits.

Attending the events were personages of the farm and the Islamic Revolutionary Proletarian Organization of Iran. Staff members of the DPRK embassy in Teheran were present on invitation.

The participants of the events looked round photos on display and watched a Korean film.

The manager of the farm said in a speech at the round-table talks that Kim Il Sung helped Iran both materially and morally when it was undergoing difficulties, thus greatly encouraging its people.

The Iranian people will always remember the immortal exploits performed by the President for the development of the friendly relations between Iran and the DPRK, he added.

I hate to bring everybody down after that exhilarating article, but the DPRK is not happy about this business with the torpedoed South Korean ship:

. . .the "story about the north's torpedo attack" is a whopping lie cooked up by the group of traitors to weather its crisis in a bid to kick off "north wind" and that the investigation into the cause of the sinking of the ship was not conducted on a scientific basis but unilaterally done to serve its purpose and it was not objective but was based on bias and arbitrariness. [...]

The group of traitors employed all control means, persistently brushing aside various conjectures and opinions not serving the purpose of the scenario worked out by it and threatening and blackmailing people in the whole period of investigation. [...]

The puppet group is working with bloodshot eyes to peddle story about "north wind" defying scientific evidence and objective procedures after cooking up such mean and clumsy charade in a bid to tide over the present crisis. [...]

All facts prove that the "story about the north's torpedo attack" is, indeed, a poor anti-DPRK farce orchestrated by the group of traitors to harm and stifle fellow countrymen and an undisguised burlesque for confrontation in a bid to realize its despicable ambition and black-hearted intention.

Its brigandish farce is a hideous crime to be recorded in the history of inter-Korean relations as it is an open negation and total rejection of the June 15 era of reunification.

The army and people of the DPRK are sharply watching the moves of the group of traitors, which seeks to stifle fellow countrymen while linking the cause of the sinking of the warship with the DPRK, and keeping themselves ready to take decisive counteractions.

If the south Korean puppet forces show any sign of the slightest provocation, political, military and economic, against the DPRK, backed by the U.S. imperialists, we will immediately react to them by the just tactics of wiping out one by one, eliminate all rubbish of the nation from the Korean Peninsula and build on it rich and powerful reunified Korea where all Koreans enjoy prosperity. [...]

Ah, so the South Koreans will get wiped out "one by one" and then live happily ever after in the bosom of the brilliant Songun Commander?

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Juan Cole post title: "Israel offered Nukes to Racist South Africa for Use on Black Neighbors"

This story is all over the place, but this offering by Juan Cole has the most apocalyptic-sounding title I've seen so far. In the body of the post he refers to "potential use against Black African neighbors." Are "use" and "potential use" the same thing? They weren't going to just load and fire the minute they had those nukes?

He also refers to "Iran’s peaceful nuclear enrichment program" and states that "Iran appears not to have a nuclear weapons program, according to US intelligence . . . " That appears to be a reference to the controversial 2007 National Intelligence Estimate. According to a February CNN article, "A soon-to-be completed U.S. assessment of Iran's nuclear program is expected to conclude that the government has resumed limited work on a nuclear weapon, according to a U.S. official."

Juan also informs us that the argument that Iran might proliferate to terrorists has been "demolished," but I'm not so reassured. Terrorist groups continue to pursue innovative delivery systems, and we wouldn't want to face the prospect of a nuke-laden donkey.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Founder of Jews for Molech dies

Source: LA Times--additional reporting by Yitz:

Marduk Rosen, a flamboyant and controversial convert to Molech-worship who founded the missionary group Jews for Molech, died Wednesday in San Francisco. He was 78.

"I don't like to think of the people he converted as con-victims--I prefer to think of them as customers of a successful salesman" explained Vernon Grounds, High Priest Emeritus at the Denver Molech Temple.

Rosen appealed to potential converts with music, humor and human sacrifice, an approach that resonated in the hippie culture that by the early 1970s was developing a strong spiritual component, with some youths turning to Eastern religions and others, like those in the "Ba'al people" movement, to forms of ancient Canaanite Idol Worship. Rosen saw himself as a kind of hybrid who did not regard a Jew who practiced human sacrifice as a contradiction.

Mainstream Jewish leaders never let up on their criticism, arguing that a Jew for Molech was as impossible as kosher pork. But Rosen insisted otherwise.

"You can take from me everything but my Jewishness and my belief in Molech," he said. "You can say I'm a nuisance, a cannibal, out of step with the Jewish community, but you can't say I'm not a Jew."

Rabbi Mark Twainsky, a spokesman for a certain Jewish organization, commented "We don't bear him any hostility in his current habitation. If we could give him a drink of water, we would."

"Kim Jong Il, genius of music and arts"

Can you imagine what his musical "field-guidance" must have been like? "Rule number one: All songs must be about me!"

The musical anecdotage "General Kim Jong Il and Songs" (second volume) was recently published by the Art and Literature Publishing House.

The five-part book contains 126 musical anecdotes about General Secretary Kim Jong Il's energetic guidance over the work of music and arts.

Part 1 carries episodes in him who provided tireless guidance to make sure that such songs praising the revolutionary life, undying exploits and noble personality of President Kim Il Sung as "Cantata to Marshal Kim Il Sung", "We Live in the Embrace of the Leader" and "Leader, the Night Is Far Advanced" resounded forth.

Part 2 deals with historic episodes which were told in the days when songs calling for devotedly defending the leader and songs praising the country, loved by our army and people, were created and disseminated under the far-reaching plan and energetic leadership of Kim Jong Il.

Part 3 carries touching episodes saying that Kim Jong Il, genius of music and arts, developed the Juche-oriented music and arts onto a new higher stage suited to the emotion of the era and the thinking and sentiments of the Korean people.

Parts 4 and 5 deal with moving stories telling that he wisely guided the work to make every song created in the era of Songun a powerful weapon encouraging the revolutionary cause of Juche to victory and a solemn march for the building of a great prosperous and powerful nation and that he showed profound trust and warm love for the creators and artistes.

The latest Haveil Havalim is "a powerful weapon encouraging the revolutionary cause of Juche to victory."

"Poems of Kim Jong Il's China Visit Created"

In which we learn that Kim is "revered by all people." Actually, almost all people think he's icky. His subjects do, too, I imagine, but they're obviously too scared to reveal what they really think.

Poems were created in the DPRK in congratulation of General Secretary Kim Jong Il's successful visit to China.

Lyrics titled "A Path Traveled with President Kim Il Sung" and "The Northeastern Fields and Mountains" impressively represent the personality of Kim Jong Il as a great man who left sacred footprints on the vast Chinese land true to the noble intention of Kim Il Sung who provided the tradition of the DPRK-China friendship.

Poems titled "Our General, the Great Man of the Century", "Though He Visited Quietly", etc. make poetic depiction of the energetic foreign activities conducted by Kim Jong Il, highly praising him as the sun of Songun and the peerlessly great man revered by all people.

There are also poems representing the iron will of the army and people of the DPRK to glorify Kim Jong Il's feats with achievements in building a thriving nation and the feelings of the Korean people eagerly longing for him who continues his field guidance without taking a rest after the long journey of visit.

Lucky North Koreans. He's back with them now.

Evil Zionist product in my cupboard of the week

I'm not in any position to buy a Caterpiller, and I don't have any use for a tractor or a bulldozer or a backhoe anyway. So I'll have to make do with these:

I call them "soup-nuts." My kids make faces at me and explain that they're called "mandelen."

Happy Shavuos!

The next two days, starting at sundown tonight will be the holiday of Shavuos (or Shavuot if you like), commemorating the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. One custom involves staying up the whole first night (tonight) reading something called Tikkun Leil Shavuos, which contains selections from the various parts of the Torah--something from every parshah, something from every tractate of the Mishnah, the Book of Ruth, some mysticism, etc. The idea is that the Jewish people fell asleep the first time, but we can make up for it every year by staying up since a holiday is a spiritual repeat of the original event. Sometimes I make it all the way through without falling asleep, sometimes I don't.

We also eat dairy foods for the festive meal of the first day, such as the blintzes and sour cream pictured above. There are numerous explanations for this practice, but it is worth noting that blintzes and cheesecake taste good. More info here and not just about blintzes. See you Thursday night (or Friday). Chag Sameach!

Chocolate Milk "one of the most powerful weight-loss tools in the nutritional universe"

Now they tell me.

Date-seekers phased out

What's the deal with Iranian military and security types and stubbly beards?

The Tehran police plans to start implementing a new phase of the Social Security Plan next week.

In this phase, the police will deal with people who drive down the street looking for dates, Tehran Police Chief Hossein Sajedi told the Mehr News Agency on Sunday.

These people will be taken to court and their cars will be impounded for two months, Sajedi said. [...]

Then they'll have to walk down the street?

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Juan Cole's little Nakba narrative

This is just one paragraph from a longish post, but it stands on its own, a little bauble of bias:

Thousands of Palestinians rallied in Gaza on Saturday to commemorate the Nakbah or national catastrophe of 1948, when European Jewish settlers brought into the Mandate of Palestine by imperial British policy expelled 700,000 Palestinians from what is now Israel and then sealed the border, confiscating all their property without compensation. These actions turned the bulk of the Palestinians into poverty-stricken camp dwellers and/or stateless persons living under the rule of others, and prevented the rise of an independent Palestinian state such as was envisaged by the League of Nations and the British government just a decade before.

Are Cole's academic employers capable of embarrassment? And speaking of those whose academic employers should be embarrassed . . .

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Chomsky unmuzzled?

There has been a big uproar on the left lately over a report that Noam Chomsky was prevented from entering the West Bank. Now it appears that Israel may let him in after all. Shucks!

Militant light comedy performed

I guess this was sort of an interlude while the heavy comedy shock brigade prepares its next offering to instill the youth and service-persons with revolutionary optimism:

The light comedy "Echo of Mountain", winner of Kim Il Sung Prize, has been staged before full house in Haeju, South Hwanghae Province since May 13.

The first day performance of the light comedy was given at the South Hwanghae Provincial Art Theatre. It was enjoyed by leading officials of party and power bodies and working people's organizations, officials in the field of agriculture and working people of different strata in the province.

The audiences were deeply impressed to watch the light comedy, noting that it is a masterpiece imbuing people with confidence that they can surely build a thriving nation on this land to be proud of when they make steady advances and bring about uninterrupted innovations by learning from the spirit of revolutionary optimism and enterprising and militant work style displayed by the people of the preceding generations. [...]

The latest KCC imbues people with confidence that they can bring about uninterrupted innovations by learning from the spirit of revolutionary optimism.

"'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean -- neither more nor less.'"

Here.

Manchester Israel-Palestine Forum: We now have the problem with intimidation of pro-Israeli viewpoints relatively under control

Remember the attack on Talya Lador-Fresher? Some Jewish activists at Manchester University feel that as a result of coverage in the Jewish and Israeli press (the only coverage there was) "a marginal event overshadow[ed] positive developments." According to Marco Schneebalg (guest posting at Harry's Place):

After the events, the Jewish Chronicle, Britain’s main Jewish weekly, and all of the big Israeli newspapers reported the attack in a very alarmist tone, making no further investigation on the matter. All the things reported in the articles are true. However, the talk went on quite peacefully and I feel that the situation in Manchester University is easing rather than getting more tense.

The rest is on the same vein, but you should enjoy the comments. You should also enjoy the latest Haveil Havalim.

Some guy at Huffpo: "Israel and North Korea: Separated at Birth?"

How's that?

Neither is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and both employ their nuclear weapons in elaborate games of peek-a-boo with the international community. Israel and North Korea are equally paranoid about outsiders conspiring to destroy their states, and this paranoia isn't without some justification. Partly as a result of these suspicions, both countries engage in reckless and destabilizing foreign policies.

Oh, I see. Well, he missed some obvious parallels: Both are achieving a great powerful prosperous nation with the might of Songun. They're both rallying close around the headquarters of the revolution and holding the leader in high-esteem. They're both flying like the wind with great revolutionary upsurge. Dancing parties of youth and students in both places demonstrate the militant stamina of the young vanguard. David Ben-Gurion is the eternal leader and benevolent teacher of humankind, just like Kim Il Sung. The Tel Aviv Symphony Orchestra is just like the Art Squad of the Hungnam Fertilizer Complex. Both have Youth Hero Motorways. I could just go on and on. (h/t: Protein Wisdom)

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Matthew Yglesias on Conservative Jews

Matthew Yglesias explains why Jews should not be Conservatives:

די פּראָבלעם מיט זייַענדיק אַ קאַנסערוואַטיוו איז ניט אַז עס קאַנטראַדיקץ ייִדיש אלנגעסזרטע. די פּראָבלעם מיט זייַענדיק אַ קאַנסערוואַטיוו איז אַז קאָנסערוואַטיווע ידעאָלאָגיע איז טעות און די קאָנסערוואַטיווע באַוועגונג איז שעדלעכע. וואָס איז ניט צו זאָגן אַז קאַנסערוואַטיווז זענען שטענדיק פאַלש. אָפטענטימעס יחיד קאַנסערוואַטיווז שרייַבן ינסייטפאַל ארטיקלען, אָפֿט אויף דעם ענין פון ווי די מיינסטרים קאָנסערוואַטיווע נעמען אויף עפּעס איז טעות (וואָס עס יוזשאַוואַלי איז). פונקט נעכטן, פֿאַר בייַשפּיל, וויליאַמסאַן זיך איז פּוינטינג אויס אַז קאָנסערוואַטיווע שטייַער פּאָליטיק איז לאַרגעלי וואָווען אויס פון מיטס. אבער ווי אַ פּראָגרעסיוו, איך טראַכטן קאַנסערוואַטיווז זענען פאַלש. סעפּאַראַטעלי פון וואָס, איך בין אויך ייִדיש. און ווי אַ איד, איך בין ניט ימיון צו אַ ביסל פון כלל שטאָלץ אין דעם פאַקט אַז אידן זענען אָוווערוועלמינגלי פּראָגרעסיוו און אַז זייער ווייניק יידן קלייַבן צו צייכן זיך פֿאַר די ראָנגכעדיד און שעדלעכע קאָנסערוואַטיווע באַוועגונג אין די פאראייניגטע שטאַטן. אבער עטלעכע יידן באַק דעם גאַנג און אַנדערמיין מיין מי בייַ כלל שטאָלץ, וואָס איך געפֿינען אַנויינג איבער-און-אויבן די פאַקט אַז קאַנסערוואַטיווז זענען נאָר פאַלש אַלגעמיין.

צו ציען אַ אַנאַלאַדזשי, קיינער זאָל זייַן עסן שלעכט בייגעלעך, אָבער עס ס ספּעציעל טרויעריק ווען איר זען יידן טאָן עס.

נו, איך טרעפן איך בין צופרידן ער טוט ניט ווי געזען יידן ינוואַלווד אין זאכן וואָס זענען "טעות" און "שעדלעכע," אָבער
געבן מיר אַ ברעכן, מתיא. מיינט איר קען מאַכן דעם אַ ביסל עמפּטיער ווו פאַקטיש ייִדיש וואַלועס און קאַנסעפּס זענען זארגן? קען יידישקייַט מיינען עפּעס בייַ אַלע צו איר ווייַטער פון פּראָגרעססיוועיסם און, אַהעם, בייגעלעך? (h/t: memeorandum)

School choice is good in and of itself

The last paragraph of an editorial you should read at the NY Times:

There are millions of parents out there who don’t have enough money for private school but who have thought just as sensibly and care just as much about their children’s education as affluent people do. Let’s use the money we are already spending on education in a way that gives those parents the same kind of choice that wealthy people, liberal and conservative alike, exercise right now. That should be the beginning and the end of the argument for school choice.

It has ring to it, don't you think?

MPAC-UK: "Foolish Anti-voting Brigade Will Allow Zionist Lobby Total Power." I didn't even watch the video attached to the post. I just don't have the patience.

Techiyas HaMeisim?

From Iranian Students News Agency. Which Rabbi Stephen Wise is this article talking about?

Anti-Zionists Jews Leader Rabbi Stephen Wise said Iran has always been friend of other countries despite the West’s false media propaganda.

In a meeting between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and a number of leaders of the US anti-Zionists Jews on the sidelines of the UN Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference, the rabbi appreciated Iran’s stance in the conference. [...]

Update: I've figured it out, I think. They are confusing Yisroel Dovid Weiss of the Neturei Karta with Stephen Wise! Here is Fars:

President Ahmadinejad, heading a high-ranking delegation, was in New York to take part in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference at the UN headquarters.

At the meeting with the anti-Zionist rabbis, President Ahmadinejad stressed that supporting the rights of the oppressed people against the arrogant powers sets a priority for the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He also reiterated Tehran's support for minority rights, and added, "We have always underlined the rights of minorities in Iran and we are supporting their rights."

During the meeting, Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, spokesman of Neturei Karta International thanked Ahmadinejad for the stances adopted and declared by Iran in the NPT review conference.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran have always been a defender of the right and despite the false propaganda launched by the western median, the government of Iran is a friend of the world nations," Weiss stressed.

Neturei Karta (Aramaic for "Guardians of the City") was founded nearly 70 years ago in Jerusalem by Jews who opposed the drive to establish the state of Israel, believing only the Messiah could do that. Estimates of the group's size range from a hundred thousand to less than a million. [...]

A lot less than a million, I'd say.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

No More Mister Nice Blog and the War on Murdoch-ism

Leftist blogger No More Mister Nice Blog has a current offering entitled "Oh, Now It's OK To Blame Terrorism on U.S. Actions?" What provoked him? A New York Post article stating that the Times Square bomber claimed to be retaliating for drone attacks against the Taliban in Pakistan. According to the Post:

Admitted terrorist Faisal Shahzad ... said he was driven to evil by the slew of deaths among leaders of the terror group, law-enforcement sources revealed yesterday....

Quoth NMMNB:

Wait -- "driven to evil" by American deeds? Hasn't it always been an ironclad rule in Murdoch Land that nothing we do can be the reason for anything terrorists do? Isn't any statement that asserts or implies anything to that effect an example of a "blame-America-first" mentality?

Shouldn't the Post be denouncing this attempt by Shahzad to fob blame off on brave, freedom-loving America, which seeks nothing but peace and righteousness and good for all the innocent people of the world?

One thing you have to say about NMMNB is that he's a lively writer. His "gotcha" point seems a little forced to me, however. The "blame America first" explanation for Shajzad's actions goes something like this: Muslims are born free but everywhere they are under occupation. Time Square bomber Faisal Shahzad proves once again that the true cause of terrorism is U.S. (or British) foreign policy. No longer able to stand his righteous indignation after his life unraveled, Faisal snapped . . . I may be just a dumb wingnut, but I don't think anyone worth arguing against denies that successful attacks against a terrorist group might give their subsequent operations a certain revenge-orientation. There is a difference between the motivation for this or that attack and how America got to be in the war to begin with. (h/t: Memorandum)

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Feminism, Angry Arab News Service, and the vicissitudes of "anti-Zionism"

Angry Arab News Service recently had a post title which read "Feminism in Israel????" I suppose the point of that is to scoff at the notion that an Apartheid Colonialist Settler Entity such as Israel could ever harbor such a thing as an actual feminist. His latest post on the women's struggle is called "sexism in the Middle East" and it consists of the following three sentences from this source:

In Afghanistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Syria and Yemen, women earn 25 cents or less for every dollar men earn. Saudi Arabian and Palestinian women earn only 16 and 12 cents respectively to the male dollar. In Mongolia, women earn 87 cents for every dollar men earn and in Mozambique they earn 90 cents.

There is something missing here that we would normally expect to see, and I don't mean the failure to refer to Libya as the "Gt. Libyan Arab Jamahiriya." What about Israel? Angry Arab is obsessed with Israel bashing. Every other post is something that makes Israel look bad with the title "This is Zionism." So how does Israel do when women's salaries are compared to men's? According to Ha'aretz, which is complaining about the situation:

"the Institute for Women's Policy Research, in a report last September [2008], found that women working in full-time, year-round positions nationwide earned 77 cents for every dollar a man earned."

In that respect the Lttle Satan appears to resemble the Big Satan. In the US in 2007, something called "The National Committee on Pay Equity" stated

among full-time workers, women make only 77 cents for every dollar paid to men.

So Israel does vastly better than every Arab country listed although not as good as Mongolia? Of course, according to this, the "Gross National Income (per capita)" of Israel is "$17,046.40 per person" while that of Mongolia is "$344.88" (and that of Mozambique is "$195.82 per person"). Men and women alike, it would seem, are paid enough for mere subsistence in those enlightened places. So now, as Paul Harvey would say, you have the rest of the story. Always glad to help out a blogging colleague.

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

What is the meaning of this post title?

Angry Arab: "Yemeni Jews: they dont want to leave, damn it"

Watch the Lag B'Omer parade

Here. For an explanation of the holdiay, see this. Another thought on Lag B'Omer.