It's a Day of Rage!

by Will Blesch

It's a Day of Rage!

Well, I think there should rightly be protests against the use of violent force by police officers during the Gilad Farm incident. Firing paint balls, or rubber bullets against Jews is wrong. This is especially true when considering the fact that the “Settlers” were unarmed! The police were under no threat to life or limb.

Itchy trigger fingers boys? Don't like these guys in kippot telling you that you don't have a right to tear down their homes?

Something's wrong here. Something's really wrong when Jews are shooting other Jews with sadistic glee. In one video, it looks like two policemen do the macho, “fist and elbow bump” in celebration of shooting someone. If true, it's just disgusting. There's nothing glorious, successful, or cool about hurting someone else just because you can. It's disturbing to see people of any stripe behave like they're doing something awesome at a rock concert, saying the equivalent of “rock on dude!” when what they've done is dishonorable.

Shame on the cops. Seems to be a worldwide trend though. In the U.S. There are many complaints of police brutality, and policemen behaving like thugs rather than upstanding citizens one should be able to trust.

With that said, let's go back to the “Day of Rage”. I was in Jaffa yesterday for a meeting. Something like 50 far right protestors marched down the street protesting the “Islamic Movement's Efforts to take over the city.” This is connected to the “Day of Rage” in that the settlers have been conducting “price tag” operations which target Arab property for destruction or vandalism. (Although the march in Jaffa was relatively peaceful.)

Once again, I can't begin to describe how stupid this idea is. “We're angry at the Israeli government, so we're going to hurt Arab property!”

I am baffled at how this helps the settler cause. You know, I can agree with protesting. I can agree with taking a stand, and showing the government that one can only be pushed so far. But surely this can be done without violence.

Don't these people understand that in Middle Eastern politics, it's the victim that gets sympathy? Don't they know that in the world of public relations, people surge to the side of the underdog? But if the underdog is busy beating other people up...when those people are not even the ones giving the orders the underdog hates so much...then the people on the outside looking in are going have a very dim view of the underdog.

So when the underdog gets kicked around, and abused, no one is going to care. The underdog has taken itself out of the “victim” mode and into the “aggressor” mode. These people need to understand that even victims can take a stand...and they can remain victims, as long as they're not physically lashing out at those around them.

Israel in general has always been really bad at PR. The Settlers in general are a million times worse.

What's the solution then? Hasn't it always been said that the pen is mightier than the sword? I've got some advice for the Settler movement.

Get some smart, and marketing savvy folks on your side, and start bringing people to your point of view. Otherwise, sit down and shut up before you get yourselves and others really hurt.

Clinton Warns of Iranian Efforts to fill ME Vacuum

by Will Blesch

Well, although I am no Democrat, I gotta say I wish that Democrats had elected Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama. The woman's brains are ten million times what the lackluster Obama's are.

With the upheaval of Arab Muslim regimes all over the Middle East, Mrs. Clinton has some smart things to say.

“There’s no doubt in my mind if we are not present, and present in resources, not just in rhetoric, not just saying what we’re for but being able to deliver on that, others will fill that vacuum,” - Hillary Clinton

“We are in a competition. I just stress over and over again, we’ve got to be there. We’ve got to fight back.” - Hillary Clinton

The above quotes were taken from her testimony before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee.

While I applaud the Republican desire to cut spending...they're wanting to cut a lot of that from foreign aid. This is where I somewhat disagree with them. This is also where I disagree with Hillary. Yes, the U.S. should be there for those it wants to be its allies. Yes, it should be there in resources and not just rhetoric.

However, if that aid comes in the form of money...the U.S. Needs to be assured that the money is going specifically and genuinely for the things that are going to advance pro-Western goals. If that cannot be assured, then the foreign aid should be delayed or cut off completely until those things can be assured.

The Republicans could focus their desire to cut spending on domestic programs that are threatening the fabric of American society if they really want to cut spending. Democrats should figure out which things are more important to them...progressive agenda at home...or progressive agenda abroad. They can't fight a cultural war on two fronts. They're running out of money to do so.

Choose one or the other, and let the Republicans be happy with cutting some spending somewhere.

Going back to Mrs. Clinton's testimony before the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, she “also indicated that the US was trying to take the initiative in ensuring that the implementation of more democratic governments would not be exploited by groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.” As to whether the Muslim Brotherhood could abide by democratic institutions, she said, “the jury is out.”

I disagree here. The jury is not out. Mrs. Clinton knows full well that the Muslim Brotherhood (often simply الإخوان Al-Ikhwān,The Brotherhood or MB ) is still looking to install an Islamic Republic style government in Egypt. No truly Islamic government, where the goals pushed by groups like the Muslim Brotherhood are implemented has ever been truly democratic.

The stated goals of the Muslim Brotherhood are: “to instill the Qur'an and Sunnah as the "sole reference point for ... ordering the life of the Muslim family, individual, community... and state"

Someone please point out to me a completely democratic nation where these principles are in effect. I bet you can't do it.

Statements like this coming from Mrs. Clinton can be excused when one knows who her friends in the Middle East have been. On the other hand, she comes across as strong, at least in comparison to her Commander – in – Chief, with regards to supporting pro-Western forces in Iran. She was quoted as saying:

“We have to go chapter and verse about everything that Iran is doing that abuses the rights of their own people and exposes their hypocrisy as they try to somehow identify with the legitimate aspirations for democracy and human rights in this region.”

Unfortunately, she tried to give her boss a graceful way out of his lack of a strong stance by saying that in the past, the administration had “modulated” its message because Iran would “basically paint anybody who opposed them as American stooges.”

At least Mrs. Clinton has some guts to say what she truly thinks from time to time. At least, Mrs. Clinton takes a clear stand on issues...and whether one agrees or disagrees, she doesn't come across as a wimpy, uninspired, morally downtrodden person with no backbone who apologizes for anything and everything America is or does.

I would not have wished for a Hillary Clinton administration. I wouldn't. But I would have given a lot to see this woman who is comparatively brilliant... versus the Schmuck sitting there now...in the Oval Office.

Gilad Farm Stupidity

by Will Blesch

01/03/2011

It seems to me that the issue of the Gilad Farm (built on land owned by Moshe Zar, a longtime friend of Ariel Sharon) in the so-called West Bank, is first of all...none of the U.S.'s business since it happens to be on privately owned land bought and paid for by the Zar family.

Secondly, the order to dismantle the “illegal” settlement of the Gilad Farm (which again, is on privately owned land) seems to me to be just as “illegal”. Ehud Barak has made a huge fuss over the “rule of law” and the fact that the “settlers” are upset because their homes are being dismantled and are showing a bit of a backbone in standing up to the “legally appointed authorities” who came to dismantle their homes.

I can tell you one thing. If this were Texas, those cops wouldn't stand a chance. If you come onto someone's private property without permission, you could get shot there...and to hell with whether those coming onto the property are from the government or not.

Thankfully, this isn't Texas. However, Ehud Barak and other left wing radicals should stop and think about what it might be like to have their homes...which they bought and paid for...on their own private land...torn down by properly appointed legal authorities because those homes just don't fit in with a foreign power's ideas about peace in their neck of the woods.

It's high time Israel found a way to get itself out of the grip of America. A large part of this could be done by no longer taking foreign aid from the U.S. If Israel no longer owed money, then it could probably stop acting like America's lapdog... “Yes sir, no sir...can you please just stand up for us one more time at the U.N. Sir?”

This would lessen the pressure Israel feels to kowtow to the U.S. State department.

While there is no doubt that it would be great to keep America as a close ally...that's the key word. Ally. Not a subservient...semi – U.S. State or protectorate that must do whatever D.C. Demands.

Regardless of what America says, the issue of the Gilad Farm is an internal Israeli matter. The left wing needs to be put in check. Their deep disdain for those who believe the Land of Israel belongs to Jews based on Biblical beliefs is leading them to behave in ways that are just not right. Isn't the left supposed to be about tolerance?

Despite the fact that I personally agree to a large extent that the uber religious also should have their power curtailed...(Mea Shearim anyone?)...there is no excuse for firing anything...whether paint balls, or rubber bullets, at other Jews. Period.

As for the religious Zionists of Gilad Farm, you my dear folks, are not helping your case by going on an overnight rampage and bashing Palestinian's windshields as “retaliation” for what the Israeli government has ordered. That's just flat out stupid, and you are hurting yourselves politically as well as hurting the ability of those who would be your allies to effectively stand for you. Get a grip.