Thursday, August 24, 2006

Talis & Tfillin on a plane / Amnesty International 8/24/06

I had heard conflicting reports regarding the ability to carry ones Talis and Tfillin as carry-on luggage during the current security situation.
I called my Congressman(and good friend),Eliot Engel (D-NY),to speak to the TSA in Washington for a definitive ruling.
He called this afternoon,and assured me ,that there is no problem with the T&T.However, if one was stopped ,they should request a "private screening".Therefore one should add another 30 minutes to the pre-boarding time,should that become necessary.
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How not unexpected is the attack on Israel by Amnesty International for its bombing campaign in Lebanon against Hezbollah,accusing them of" war crimes".
Not mentioned are the 4000 rockets against indiscriminate civilian targets in N.Israel.
Not mentioned are the 16,000 homes and civilian shops destroyed in that area by Hezbollah.
Not mentioned are the Israeli civilian casualties,and the 1 million Israelis forced
to endure for one month in shelters.
Not mentioned are the 1000 rockets by Hamas against civilian targets in S. Israel,starting the day that Israel withdrew from Gaza.
Not mentioned is the failure of Hezbollah and Hamas to allow Red Cross visitation to the kidnapped Israeli soldiers.
Not mentioned is the continuous violations of International law,when Hezbollah fighters.do not wear uniforms, and hide within civilian homes and areas ,and use their weapons of destruction intermittently (so as to allow Amnesty the ability to claim that Israel has violated international law,when they respond).

If anything as I wrote two days ago,too many Israeli military lives were lost because they went out of their way to avoid civilian casualties.

Where is Amnesty Int. as hundreds of civilians are slaughtered each day in Iraq, in the name of Islam?

Who is guilty of "war crimes"?
Israel trying to protect itself from an unprovoked attack, or Amnesty Intrnational protecting the 2006 version of Naziism?

One final point!
In international law the response of a nation that has been attacked,is not proportional to the damage incurred,but to the threat!

Monday, August 21, 2006

Gen Yaalon: Carpet bombing 8/21/06

This mornings NY Sun newspaper has a page one story on Gen. Moshe Yaalon ,former Chief of the IDF, returning to Israel to work for the Shalem Institute.The real significance, is his potential to rise to the top of the political ladder,when the govt. falls.It was this potential move that I wrote about only recently.The author of the piece,compares him to Gen Ike Eisenhower,prior to his running for President.
Gen Yaalon had a 90% positive polling numbers prior to being dismissed by Sharon for opposing the Gaza withdrawal.

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On my first Friday nite in Vietnam,I was staying at a hospital for two nights.Being tired from my trans-pacific flight, I went to bed early,and was awakened by the ground rumbling and shaking.I rolled out of bed , put on my helmet, and stayed under the bed for a few minutes.I was surprised that I heard no reaction from any of the officers in the vicinity.Twenty minutes later the rumblimgs started again.
In the morning, I inquired as to what had occurred.It seems that about 25 miles away, B-52's had done carpet bombing to annhilate Viet Cong villages and "formations".
It was not unlike the carpet bombing we utilized, to destroy Dresden in WW ii.
It was not as catastrophic as two atomic bombs we dropped on Japan to end the war.
NATO did not hesitate to bomb Bosnia,even without clear military targets.
How many innocent civilians lost their lives in the above attacks?
We all know that aside from Vietnam, such attacks led to earlier victories for our forces.Yet,many innocents were part of the casualties.
When it comes to Israel,which fights an enemy without uniforms,hiding behind civilian populations,there is an obvious double standard.

IT IS AMAZING, THAT LEBANON NEVER REPORTED A SINGLE HEZBOLLAH CASUALTY.
EVERY DEATH WAS CALLED "CIVILIAN".
COULD IT BE THAT 4,000 ROCKETS WERE FIRED BY "CIVILIANS"?

Hezbollah indiscriminately fires on civilian populations,sending 4,000 rockets that destroyed 16,000 homes and buildings and the world is silent.
In round two of this war,which will surely come,Israel must take off its gloves and fight as though they really are determined to destroy the enemy.Israel must totally destroy the building under which the bunkers lie.Let the terrorists suffocate and let not one Israeli soldier die, in the name of minimizing "civilian "casualties.
Justice, morality and the need to survive demands no less!

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Terrorism 8/17/06

There are those ( primarily Democrats ) who declare that our role in Iraq is the root cause of Islamic terrorism.
There are those who claim that Israel's occupation of the Golan/West Bank/Gaza is the cause of the Arab and Islamic desire to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.
And,there are those who believe that disaffected young unemployed,uneducated Muslims
who are not given a chance to assimilate into their respective communities ,as the
prime cause of suicide applicants in the islamo-fascist terrorist apparatus.


Sadly, these people do not study history,or they do not learn the lessons of the past.

World Trade Center 1 and 2 preceeded our involvement in Iraq.
The killings of Rabbi Meir Kahane and Ari Halberstam ,both preceded Iraq.
The Kobe Towers and the 1983 Beirut Marine massacre ,likewise preceded Iraq.
Multiple Taliban and Al Quaeda plots were hatched before Iraq.
The very same modus operandi of blowing up planes in mid-air using liquid bombs that was uncovered last week in London was aborted in the Pacific when Ramzi Yousef had a
"work accident" in the Phillipines ,again long before Iraq.


Arabs massacred Jews in 1929 in Palestine long before there was a Jewish state.
Arab nations attacked Israel many times before the "occupation".
When Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza,Hamas gave them a present of firing rockets into Israel, and capturing a soldier.
When Israel withdrew from Lebanon behind international borders we witnessed the Hezbollah response.
It is the non-acceptance of Israel that is the root cause ,which prevents true peace in the area.


Many of the suicide bombers, are highly educated,employed family people.They would prefer to sacrifice their lives and that of their children to satisfy a religious fanatisicm that will accept only the demise of all non-muslims.


We in the West,have tolerated and encouraged their growth and expansion in the name of "multiculturalism."We have refused to soundly criticize the Islamic Community for failure to condemn and isolate these radicals.


The war in Iraq was a just endeavor at its inception.Many tactical mistakes were made,including the number of US troops,and the disbanding of the Iraqi army.
The main lesson we have learned in Iraq and with the Palestinians,is that free elections among an unprepared electorate with no history of democracy,only serves the most organized and radical elements.
Yes ,we should get out as soon as possible.But,to run and set a fixed timetable
is a recipe for disaster for us, and victory for Iran.


Finally,if Democrats like Lamont,decry the Bush record on terrorism,let them outline their plans to control world terrorism.
Specifically they should be asked ;
Do you support ;
1. the Patriot Act ?
2. the NSA wiretapping (today held unconstitutional by a federal judge ?
3. profiling at airports ?
4. the methods used in England (holding suspects 20 days without charges)?
If not, -what are your proposals ?


Absent a real program,with tough measures,Americans should keep control of the Congress from the Democrats.
Can you imagine a SPEAKER PELOSI?

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Lebanese Relief, Jackie Mason-like/ some predictions 8/12/06

It is often exasperating to read left wing editorials,but this weeks Forward probably takes the cake.
They propose that "people of good will"could choose to direct some of their charity toward Lebanese relief,(not at the expense of Israeli donations,for after all the "cause of Israel is just and honorable")in the hope that other relief agencies will reciprocate.
I can imagine Saudi Arabia and Malaysa helping to rebuild Kiryat Shmoneh!
Perhaps if dedications were offered it might sound more palatable-such as $50,000 to build a new underground bunker, or a Hezbollah recreation room.
When this campaign is over we can help Hamas.!==============================================================
Though it is sad and not funny at all,PM Olmert's performance the last few days remind me of a Jackie Mason routine.
THE OFFENSIVE IS STARTING!
IT WILL START TONITE!
IT STARTED LAST NIGHT,BUT THATS NOT THE REAL OFFENSIVE!
THE OFFENSIVE HAS BEEN APPROVED ,ONLY PERETZ AND I HAVE NOT GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT!
I HAVE GIVEN THE GREEN LIGHT,BUT I CAN MAKE IT RED AT ANY MOMENT

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MY PREDICTIONS
I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS GOVERNMENT CAN LAST,BUT WHEN ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE TWO PARTIES WILL DISAPPEAR
A. KADIMAH and
B. THE PENSIONERS

LOOK FOR GENERAL YAALON WHO WAS OUSTED AS CHIEF OF STAFF BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO AGREE WITH DISENGAGEMENT ,TO BECOME A TOP FIGURE IN A REVITALIZED LIKUD.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Profiling-it's time to begin using it 8/10/06

Another sad day for the free world.We love life and look forward to a world where our children and grandchildren can grow up and enjoy the opportunities that are available,if only we work hard, and live a moral life.
But,there are those with hate and religious fanaticism that are prepared to die and kill as many innocent civilians as humanly possible.
This is our war ,and it is not a cliche but a condition.We are living in an era where the forces of darkness seek to return us to the middle ages,unless we convert and capitulate.Our only choice is to fight and be victorious.
It is interesting that the terrorists did not choose an El-AL flight as one of their targets,for EL-AL uses profiling as part of their security precautions.A 75 year old in a wheelchair is not going to blow themselves up.A 25 year old Pakistani student with a recent trip to Afghanistan or Iran etc should be looked at differently.
The ACLU be damned-Let's look at the statistics-the age-sex-country of origin-religion-travel to certain countries etc, and a pattern emerges.Whether in the WTC,the London bombing or the shoe-bomber==there is a pattern ,and Homeland Security knows it not unlike Israel.
Yes tighten security-
Yes stop toothpaste if thats a component of the new bomb-
YES START BETTER INSPECTIONS OF CARGO-
YES MORE CAREFULLY EXAMINE WHO CLEANS AND SERVICES THE PLANE, AND WHO LOADS THE LUGGAGE,

BUT LETS PROFILE THE POTENTIAL TERRORIST AND PAY HIM/HER FULL ATTENTION.THIS IS NOT THE TIME FOR POLITICAL CORRECTNESS!

I recall when the Presidents Conference went from Morroco to Tel Aviv,we switched planes in Amman.Because 100% of the baggage handlers were Palestinian, the Mossad insisted that each and every piece of luggage had to be opened and inspected in front of each of us,not only to look
for bombs,but to ascertain that everything in the bag was exactly as we had packed it.

Had the Ct. primary been held after this shocking news was released,there is a real possibility that Lieberman would have won.
After years of friendship,collegiality and partnership it is amazing to see his political buddiesabandon him.After he returns to the Senate, he can return the favor and vote to organize the Senate with the Republican Party.

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

The lesson of Joe ! 8/09/06

Much has been written, and much more will be written in the months ahead, regarding the Ned Lamont victory.
But one picture tells it all.The campaigners and celebrants pretty much portray Lamont.
Rev Al Sharpton ,Jesse Jackson , Cong. Maxine Waters, standing and campaigning with the victor.Together with DNC Chairman Dean, Michael Moore, George Soros and Move on.org, speak to the capture of the Democratic Party by the far-left.
It's too early to tell,but the 2008 election could really pit two diametrically opposing philosophies against each other.A strong national defense and a serious war on islamic fascism versus lip service to national security but primarily appeasement to the European and UN approaches to world conflict(surrendering our leadership of the free world),and looking upon terrorism as a criminal problem.
Perhaps more rational moderate Democratic leadership will stand up to the plate before then and save the party( and our country from such a divisive battle)
In the meantime --GO JOE-GO .

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Can Israel still win? 8/08/06

I have not written much about the war in Lebanon for two reasons.
Firstly I am sickened with the political/military performance of the government,to the point that I am watching less and less cable news.
Secondly, I am sensitive to the charges of many, that after all I am not a General, and should leave the war to the professionals.
My blog of July 27 quotes from Caroline Glick's JP column regarding the military leadership. The military shakeup today confirms these doubts.
It is not only the military that needs a shake-up but the security cabinet.It needs the addition of some seasoned military men or civilians who were involved in the Ministry of Defense.These include Moshe Arens, General Armidror (former head of military intelligence ) and Gen Yaalon (former military Chief of Staff). There are plenty of such men available.
Even the pace of Security Cabinet meetings appear to be routinely scheduled,instead of responding to the realization that things are not going well.(2-3 weeks ago)
Yes I am not a military man, but unless they get not 5000 but 15-20,000 additional
ground troops to seal the Litani ,Israel will have a hard time stopping the rockets into the north.
Hezbollah will only accept an international force in the south, if its force is degraded in that region.
After the war there must be real soul searching on failures in intelligence,training, tactics, and the weaponry and equipment supplied to reserve troops.

Monday, August 07, 2006

UPDATE/ LIBYAN HOSPITALITY 8/08/06

The Homowack Hotel was indeed sold to a group in Skwer,but for the time is remaining open under OU supervision under the name Spring Mountain Resort (certainly until the end of the holidays).



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I will be serving as a scholar-in-residence on a kosherica cruise to the Greek Isles at the end of the month.Costa Lines writes in their booklet that travelers on a cruise that stops in Libya and have an ISRAELI passport ,or a stamp from Israel in their PASSPORT,OR BORN IN ISRAEL,WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DISEMBARK.
ALL GUESTS OF AMERICAN NATIONALITY,OR OF ANOTHER NATIONALITY,BUT BORN IN THE USA WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO DISEMBARK IN TRIPOLI.
If Costa had some courage, they would tell the Libyans,that either all their passengers can get off safely,or they will simply skip their country.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Hypocrisy/ 8/03/06

Every day the NYT and other media reports on the loss of innocents in Iraq and now again in Afghanistan.Many victims are children ,while others are adults (non-combatants) blown up while attending funerals,religious services or trying to travel to work.Buses are hijacked ,and the occupants found blindfolded and slaughtered.
It is a rare day,that upwards of 100 civilians are not murdered in sectarian violence.
Strangely,we witness not a single demonstration or march in a Muslim Country or in Europe ,or Australia/New Zealand against such inhumanity.
When however Hezbollah,fighting without uniforms(thereby giving up any protection of the Geneva Convention),park their armementariun and rocket launchers within civilian populations (who they use as human shields),the world screams when Israel unavoidably injures or kills some civilians, in the course of self defense.(which is of course the aim of Hezbollah).
"Where do Jews get off defending themselves with such dispaportionality "screams the world.
"Jews are supposed to suffer and not be victorious or build a homeland"
"JEWISH BLOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN CHEAP"-and the world is prepared to say Amen.
As far as the world is concerned,it is only Pres. George Bush that is obstructing
the efforts of the French,the UN and the Arab world to bring about a Hezbollah victory(with a lot of Olmert/Peretz incompetence).
As we've said before anti-semitism is alive and flourishing.