Break

It's a blog break for a while I sort things out. Take care now.

Campaign in Iraq has increased terrorism threat, says American intelligence report

So some left pondians have finally woken up to the fact that the war in Iraq has nothing to do with the war on terror, nothing to do with WMDs and nothing to do with Al-Quaeda before the war and nothing to do with promoting democracy.

Right now , it's the biggest in-promptu terrorist training camp in the world.

Back again

We had a lovely break. Massage, alternative therapies, swimming and we lived in a tent. Looks like the world didn't change very much.

Heavy

It's 0342 and I'm at work. Yes, sad person I am, a 1 a.m. web meet with the guys from California. I expect to be there some time later this year with the company picking up the tab. As for Israel, well my head is completely in the bubble. I'll snap out of it during the three day break we have for the New Year.

Happy New Year everyone! The blog will be getting a long overdue facelift and tummy tuck.

Olmert: Kadima had no significant failure - News from Israel, Ynetnews

I'm not sure whether he's lying to us or lying to himself or both.

Global Day for Darfur

Seraphya asked me to blog about the Global Day For Darfur which, to my shame I missed entirely. There was a rally held in Jerusalem and I'll quote:

On Sunday night, designated as the Global Day For Darfur, a rally was held in Jerusalem protesting against the Genocide in Darfur. The rally was organised by Talmidim Against Genocide (TAG), an organisation created by overseas students spending the year studying in seminaries and yeshivot in Israel, with over 200 participants from many seminaries and yeshivot as well as universities.

Organisers of the rally had duel aims of publicising the genocide and espousing Global Day For Darfur's goals of increasing Security, Humanitarian Aid and total implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement.

The Rally consisted of a program of speeches, singing, chanting of psalms/prayers and ended with the recitation of Ma'ariv and the singing of Hatikva. During the evening, speakers focused on the aims of Global Day For Darfur, an update on the situation and the obligation of Jews, as victims of the Holocaust, to fulfil the pledge of "never again."

Many participants noted that they were shocked by the number of passers-by who asked "Who is Darfur?" However, the atmosphere of the event was undeniably uplifting with one participant from Sydney, Australia noting that the rally "renewed his faith in religious youth."

I should have been there.

Sderot: Person injured in Qassam attack - News from Israel, Ynetnews

Just to remind you, rockets fired by Arabs are still landing in Israel causing damage and minor injuries. In Umm al-Fahm , thousands gathered to celebrate the return of the Caliphate. The High Holidays grow ever nearer and it's still hot.

Ex-Israel Army Chief: Olmert Must Resign

Try as I can, I can't give you a link to the full interview with Moshe Yaalon, the ex Chief of Staff. He did not pull any punches, stated his position brutally and honestly. In spite of what I've posted about in the past, he's not going into politics. Yet.

The sole purpose of the operation that killed 33 Israeli soldiers at the end of the 34-day war against the Lebanese militia Hezbollah was to make it appear that Israel had won, Yaalon told the Haaretz newspaper.

Right.

Israel: UN deaths caused by map error - News from Israel, Ynetnews

Surpise, surprise. After 40 plus years of the most detailed aerial recon ever, the IDF admits it screwed up in bombing and kiiling four UN peacekeepers. This reinforces my belief that the IDF, as it stands, is dysfunctional. They failed in their primary mission. No more excuses.

Dilbert

Yes, Dilbert does have a blog and he's well worth reading for those who enjoy thinking sideways. Here's a snippet from a recent post which you can read by clinking above.

DILBERT PEACE PLAN:

On paper, Israel deeds all of its lands to Jordan – a relatively friendly Muslim country – and leases the land back for eternity. That way, Muslims satisfy their religious requirement that land once belonging (in their opinion) to Muslims, always belongs to Muslims.

In this plan, Israel would pay some manageable “rent” for all of the land it occupies, including the settlements. Think of it like a shop owner paying protection money to the local Mafia. It’s repugnant, but it works. And it’s cheaper than permanent war.

The rent money would go into a Muslim-managed fund that benefits health and welfare for the local Muslim population, or perhaps reparations for the Muslim families displaced when Israel was formed. The annual rent would never increase, so over time it would approach zero in real value because of inflation. 200 years from now, the rent would be almost entirely symbolic.

In return for this psychological concession by Israel, Iran would allow nuclear inspections, and all the major Muslim factions (Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, etc.) would recognize Israel’s right to exist – AS RENTERS.

How to Dissuade Yourself from Becoming a Blogger - WikiHow

A lovely article on 'How to dissuade Yourself from becoming a blogger'. It wouldn't have stopped me though.

It's odd, very odd

We gave fifty shekels to our local Lubbavitcher retired doctor for the poor. Sometime later, Mrs E. arranged for a surplus oven to be donated to her local Listening Circle for poor Arab families. 'Sshhhh.. ", she said "Don;t tell our visitors". Oh dear.

Ex-judge Winograd tapped to head gov't war probe - Haaretz - Israel News

He's getting there. Still inadequate though.

Sept 11th

I remember five years ago very well. I was at work when the boss came in saying 'something happened in New York'. All the normal web sites were overloaded so I went home. In those days we had a TV and I watched with horror what went on.

In those five years, I've written a lot and voiced a number of opinions. Now, I'll just remember the dead and especially the 67 UK deaths and the 5 Israeli dead.

Get it better

For those who couldn't get to the rally, you can sign the petition here and find out more. Only in Hebrew for the moment.

Thousands gather in Tel Aviv, call for state probe into war failures - Haaretz - Israel News

The Eggheads and friends went along to the rally last night in Tel Aviv. The strangest demo I've been to in Israel. Moshe Arens, Yossi Sarid, an Arab mayor from the Galilee, a rabbi from a yeshivi , grieving parents all shared a common platform and message.
Enough messing around and a State commission now. The crowd was touched by repeated calls by speakers for the hunger strikers to give up their strike and start eating. Israel needs dedicated caring people like that alive and fit.

Moderate earthquake felt across Israel - News from Israel, Ynetnews

The earth did not move for me.

Stupid bastard

I can't, will not believe that Olmert said something so stupid as:

Half of Lebanon is destroyed. Is that a loss?"

Would the person who keeps emailing me about the British night vision goggles found in Lebanan either explain the block 4 TOW anti tank missiles found there or shut the fuck up.

IDF: Lebanon war cost NIS 11.2 billion in military expenses alone - Haaretz - Israel News

The IDF fired 247,000 rounds of artillery ammunition? What was this , Stalingrad or the battle of Kursk? I hate to think of all those 155mm howitzers needing new barrels.

UK Politics

Bye bye Tony. What a shame it had to end like this, so, so similar to the ending of 'She Who Must be Obeyed'. I expect Olmert to follow suit sometime this year when his fragile coilition falls apart. Mrs E. feels physically sick when our own home grown facist Liberman is mentioned.

Spam + Blogs = Trouble

A new buzz word to amaze your friends and pick up beautiful woman. Splog. A blog created to get search term hits.

Coalition partners threaten to bolt government - Haaretz - Israel News

Us people in the State of Northern Israel still have to put up with various dignitaries siren-wailing their way to another photo op, while life is back to normal. The dead are buried, mourned, the schools are open and work is recovered.

The Government continues to show disarray, ineptitude and incompetence in sorting out how we, the people of Israel get to pay to the hundreds of ineffective tons of ordnance dumped on Lebanon to kill a few hundred Hezbollah and many hundreds of civilians. The PM would prefer that the poor, students and the disadvantaged cough up so that IDF staff continue to get new cars every second year. Peretz have belatedly remembered he's the leader of the Labour Party. Perhaps someone should tattoo it on his forehead so he sees it every day.

The North will get empty words, platitudes and a well staffed organisation that goes on fact finding missions and delivers nothing. In the meantime, the Knesset will spawn committees investigating the war dedicated to non attendance, expenses and final reports that everyone will read once then file and forget.

Welcome to Israel.

This war has taught us that Israel must revise its military approach

Mr Peres opines in the Guardian. The ending struck a chord.

There are no frontlines any more, in war or peace.

Holiday

I'm taking a few days off. See you next week.