JERUSALEM --
"’There is nothing unusual about the navy being in those waters _ they often train there,’ said Shlomo Brom, a former Israeli general and a security expert at the Institute for National Security Studies.”
What was the former Israeli general speaking about so causally?
According an article in Newsmax’s Newsfront, “Two of Israel's Saar class missile boats crossed through the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea, Israeli defense officials said. Speaking on condition of anonymity because the move was not officially publicized, they said it was connected to ‘the navy's recent activities around the Red Sea.’"
Of interest was what that recent activity was. Whatever other ships were involved, one was an Israeli Dolphin class submarine. One had moved to the Red Sea..Egyptian officials said, a move that appeared to be a new signal to Iran that Israel's reach could quickly extend to its archenemy's backyard.
The Dolphin sub can carry a bigger threat. Some foreign media say, these subs not only have the ability to sink shipping, but they can fire nuclear-tipped cruise missiles. These subs allow Israel to launch nuclear weapons from afar even if the country itself is suffering a nuclear attack. So they serve as Israel's deterrent "second-strike" capability,
About the Israeli moves: "What is unusual, though, is that this information was made public,” Brom said. “ I believe it was likely leaked on purpose in order to signal to Iran that Israel has the capability of reaching them,".
KOINONIKOS
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
THEOCRATIC DICTATORSHIP SAYS; “PROTESTS MUST STOP”
U.K’s. The Guardian says:“Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says protests must stop.”
On the other hand, Washington Post’s Columnist Charles Krauthammer brings out: “Millions of Iranians take to the streets to defy a theocratic dictatorship...a self-declared enemy of America and the tolerance and liberties it represents. The demonstrators are fighting on their own, but they await just a word that America is on their side.”
The Guardian reveals some Iranian’s thoughts: “The most clear, straight speech I have ever heard from Seyed Ali Khamenei [the supreme leader]: he backs Ahmadinejad...definitely not going to annul the election, and now annulment is what we really want....I don't think people will do the same....Tomorrow is very important for Iran to see whether people dare to come out or not. If they come out, it's a clear no to the supreme leader”
The Guardian had a rather balanced presentation with another Iranian–a housewife’s thoughts: “Our great supreme leader, Khamenei, has always had the first voice in this country....It's finished. Nothing will happen by tomorrow. The supreme leader has accepted the results and has already called it divine, so we need to obey it, it's our religious responsibility to obey what our leader says.”
But yet another Iranian professional says this: “They have always tried to find an excuse to crack down on people. This time they had no excuse as the United States and the Europe were keeping silent and were not even condemning the vote fraud....they have no other excuse to put pressure on people other than accusing foreigners of meddling in our affairs...some analysts have criticised the west for not reacting enough...it's ridiculous that Khamenei is accusing the US or the UK for meddling in our affairs.”
I appreciate the Guardian for putting these quotes out there. Ahmadinejad, with his impending nuclear bombs, is the obviously threat to America or Israel, but apparently the real threat, and power propping Ahmadinejad, up is this great supreme leader, Khamenei, .
So what is Obama doing? Is he going to bow down to this Theocratic dictator?
OBAMA DID NOTHING TO HELP !! WHICH REALLY MEANT PROPPING UP AHMADINEJAD.
KOINONIKOS
On the other hand, Washington Post’s Columnist Charles Krauthammer brings out: “Millions of Iranians take to the streets to defy a theocratic dictatorship...a self-declared enemy of America and the tolerance and liberties it represents. The demonstrators are fighting on their own, but they await just a word that America is on their side.”
The Guardian reveals some Iranian’s thoughts: “The most clear, straight speech I have ever heard from Seyed Ali Khamenei [the supreme leader]: he backs Ahmadinejad...definitely not going to annul the election, and now annulment is what we really want....I don't think people will do the same....Tomorrow is very important for Iran to see whether people dare to come out or not. If they come out, it's a clear no to the supreme leader”
The Guardian had a rather balanced presentation with another Iranian–a housewife’s thoughts: “Our great supreme leader, Khamenei, has always had the first voice in this country....It's finished. Nothing will happen by tomorrow. The supreme leader has accepted the results and has already called it divine, so we need to obey it, it's our religious responsibility to obey what our leader says.”
But yet another Iranian professional says this: “They have always tried to find an excuse to crack down on people. This time they had no excuse as the United States and the Europe were keeping silent and were not even condemning the vote fraud....they have no other excuse to put pressure on people other than accusing foreigners of meddling in our affairs...some analysts have criticised the west for not reacting enough...it's ridiculous that Khamenei is accusing the US or the UK for meddling in our affairs.”
I appreciate the Guardian for putting these quotes out there. Ahmadinejad, with his impending nuclear bombs, is the obviously threat to America or Israel, but apparently the real threat, and power propping Ahmadinejad, up is this great supreme leader, Khamenei, .
So what is Obama doing? Is he going to bow down to this Theocratic dictator?
OBAMA DID NOTHING TO HELP !! WHICH REALLY MEANT PROPPING UP AHMADINEJAD.
KOINONIKOS
Monday, June 15, 2009
WATCH ISRAEL
TEHRAN -- WORST VIOLENCE IN DECADE
The violence is the worst seen in Tehran in 10 years.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner of Iran's presidential poll.
“The sky was thick with black smoke. Police attacked the crowd with sticks and maybe teargas.
Riot police used batons and tear gas against backers of Mir Hossein Mousavi...,” as one BBC reporter, John Simpson put it:
“Thousands of opposition supporters have clashed with police...”
Mousavi, who called the results a "charade.” has also claimed victory, as his supporters said the election had been stolen and vowed to appeal for a re-run.” But observers say this would have little chance of success.
Israel is running out of options. Ahmadinejad will very likely continue its efforts at making a bomb. And this will tighten the tension like a violin string.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been pressured by Obama into accepting the creation of a Palestinian state. And naturally Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas rejected the plan.
In fact, Mr Abbas's spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah said: "Netanyahu's remarks have sabotaged all initiatives, paralysed all efforts being made and challenges the Palestinian, Arab and American positions," Reuters news agency reported.
Netanyahu won’t go much further.
KOINONIKOS
The violence is the worst seen in Tehran in 10 years.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the winner of Iran's presidential poll.
“The sky was thick with black smoke. Police attacked the crowd with sticks and maybe teargas.
Riot police used batons and tear gas against backers of Mir Hossein Mousavi...,” as one BBC reporter, John Simpson put it:
“Thousands of opposition supporters have clashed with police...”
Mousavi, who called the results a "charade.” has also claimed victory, as his supporters said the election had been stolen and vowed to appeal for a re-run.” But observers say this would have little chance of success.
So what does all this mean?
Israel is running out of options. Ahmadinejad will very likely continue its efforts at making a bomb. And this will tighten the tension like a violin string.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has been pressured by Obama into accepting the creation of a Palestinian state. And naturally Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas rejected the plan.
In fact, Mr Abbas's spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah said: "Netanyahu's remarks have sabotaged all initiatives, paralysed all efforts being made and challenges the Palestinian, Arab and American positions," Reuters news agency reported.
Netanyahu won’t go much further.
KOINONIKOS
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Surprise–surprise! CIA didn’t buy Pelosi's excuses.
Pelosi Backpedals on CIA Criticism
Saturday, May 16, 2009 12:36 PM
“An unclassified chart released last month by the CIA describes a total of 40 briefings for lawmakers, including Pelosi, over a period of several years on enhanced interrogation techniques. The chart's indicate Pelosi was briefed as early as Sept. 4, 2002, when she was the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.
Stung by criticism by members of her own party as well as the GOP, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has backpedaled on claims that the CIA lied to her about the agency's use of waterboarding on suspected terrorists.
Pelosi now says she was trying to criticize the Bush administration, rather than intelligence officials.” by Newsmax
Pelosi's statement came hours after CIA Director Len Panetta, a fellow Democrat, defended his agency and said "it is not our policy or pracice to mislead Congress,"
How in the world did this person ever get as far as Speaker of the House? Isn’t this person third in line of succession for the presidency?
There’s little doubt Pelosi’s thought was criticism of the Bush Administration, “the most corrupt administration in history”–right? As I remember it, Bush usually responded to these criticisms by saying, “freedom to say that is the great thing about our country....” Maybe that’s what Pelosi was expecting from her lofty position.
Surprise–surprise! Apparently the CIA didn’t buy into that.
KOINONIKOS
Saturday, May 16, 2009 12:36 PM
“An unclassified chart released last month by the CIA describes a total of 40 briefings for lawmakers, including Pelosi, over a period of several years on enhanced interrogation techniques. The chart's indicate Pelosi was briefed as early as Sept. 4, 2002, when she was the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.
Stung by criticism by members of her own party as well as the GOP, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has backpedaled on claims that the CIA lied to her about the agency's use of waterboarding on suspected terrorists.
Pelosi now says she was trying to criticize the Bush administration, rather than intelligence officials.” by Newsmax
Pelosi's statement came hours after CIA Director Len Panetta, a fellow Democrat, defended his agency and said "it is not our policy or pracice to mislead Congress,"
How in the world did this person ever get as far as Speaker of the House? Isn’t this person third in line of succession for the presidency?
There’s little doubt Pelosi’s thought was criticism of the Bush Administration, “the most corrupt administration in history”–right? As I remember it, Bush usually responded to these criticisms by saying, “freedom to say that is the great thing about our country....” Maybe that’s what Pelosi was expecting from her lofty position.
Surprise–surprise! Apparently the CIA didn’t buy into that.
KOINONIKOS
Sunday, May 10, 2009
WELL HERE WE GO AGAIN–“THE MEDIA-ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX” PROBLEM
Sunday, May 10, 2009 11:49 AM
At the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, our president, President Barack Obama directed a snide comment toward Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, who was at the benefit dinner.
Obama asked: "Michael, for the last time, the Republican Party does not qualify for a bailout. Rush Limbaugh does not count as a troubled asset, I'm sorry,"
Not all that hostile in tone, but there was no doubt who the target was.
One Newsmax article quotes that “Comedian Wanda Sykes ripped into Limbaugh during her routine before an assemblage of politicians, celebrities and journalists.
"You've had your fair share of critics," she said of Limbaugh. "He just wants the country to fail. To me that's treason. He's not saying anything different than what Osama Bin Laden is saying. You might want to look into this, sir, because I think Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker but he was just so strung out on Oxycontin he missed his flight. ... Rush Limbaugh, I hope the country fails, I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? He needs a good waterboarding, that's what he needs."
That reminds me of a few comments made about that other president.
At the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, our president, President Barack Obama directed a snide comment toward Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, who was at the benefit dinner.
Obama asked: "Michael, for the last time, the Republican Party does not qualify for a bailout. Rush Limbaugh does not count as a troubled asset, I'm sorry,"
Not all that hostile in tone, but there was no doubt who the target was.
One Newsmax article quotes that “Comedian Wanda Sykes ripped into Limbaugh during her routine before an assemblage of politicians, celebrities and journalists.
"You've had your fair share of critics," she said of Limbaugh. "He just wants the country to fail. To me that's treason. He's not saying anything different than what Osama Bin Laden is saying. You might want to look into this, sir, because I think Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker but he was just so strung out on Oxycontin he missed his flight. ... Rush Limbaugh, I hope the country fails, I hope his kidneys fail, how about that? He needs a good waterboarding, that's what he needs."
That reminds me of a few comments made about that other president.
Friday, May 8, 2009
AMERICA IS NOT CHRISTIAN???
“Obama is pushing an anti-life and anti-family agenda, a Catholic archbishop says.”... “Dobson Slams Obama's Prayer-Day Absence.”
There seems to be a rather obvious direction this new president is going. But so what?
As America’s President Obama says, “America is not a Christian country....”
Some years ago, Dr. Charles Malik addressed the same topic in one of his book, "Christ and the Crisis." The "Cold War" was in full flower, and the good doctor told of his concerns.
"Surely every conceivable weapon should be employed in self-defense - military, political, diplomatic, economic, psychological. Now there are limits to self-defense, because mere self-defense could become self-defeating, and because, precisely in self-defense, one must at times pass to the offensive. What concerns us most here is the moral and spiritual weapon. And here too this dialectic of the defense and the offense is most apparent. Morally and spiritually... they make us feel guilty, and we supinely accept the terms of their debate. They talk in terms of capitalism," "imperialism," "colonialism," "monopolies," "profits, "exploitation," "means of production," - all purely economic, purely materialistic terms. And in answering them usually all we say is that the exploiting, capitalism of the nineteenth century no longer exists, imperialism has been liquidated, monopolies are now owned by the people, and as to profits, everybody now shares in them.
There is about this response a pathetic air of apology, a ring of feebleness, a sickly note of timidity....
This will not do. They should be answered, not apologetically, not on a materialistic basis, but in human, moral, and spiritual terms."
(Perhaps you are not acquainted with Dr. Malik. Charles Malik was a University Professor at The American University in Washington, D.C.. He received his B.A. from the American University of Beirut, and his M.A.and Ph.D. from Harvard. He was a Lebanese ambassador to the USA before his becoming president of the UN Security Council. Following that, he was elected as the president of the General Assembly of the United Nations.)
In a twist of fate that is bathed in irony, the American Christian Culture has one admiring source .
David Aikman--former Beijing Bureau Chief for Time Magazine, wrote in his book, "Jesus in Beijing,"some startling statements, made in a Beijing tourist's scene.
"We studied everything we could from the historical, political, economic, and cultural perspective. At first, we thought it was because you had more powerful guns than we had. Then we thought it was because you had the best political system. Next we focused on your economic system. But in the past twenty years, we have realized that the heart of your culture is your religion: Christianity. That is why the West has been so powerful. The Christian moral foundation of social and cultural life was what made possible the emergence of capitalism and then the successful transition to democratic politics. We don't have any doubt about this."
We don't have any doubt about this!
As Jounalist Aikman mentioned, "This was not coming from some ultraconservative from a think tank in Orange County, California, or from Jerry Falwell's Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. This was a scholar from one of China's premier academic research institutes, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Beijing, in 2002.
CHRISTIANITY IS REALLY AMERICA’S STRENGTH AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN!
KOINONIKOS
There seems to be a rather obvious direction this new president is going. But so what?
As America’s President Obama says, “America is not a Christian country....”
Some years ago, Dr. Charles Malik addressed the same topic in one of his book, "Christ and the Crisis." The "Cold War" was in full flower, and the good doctor told of his concerns.
"Surely every conceivable weapon should be employed in self-defense - military, political, diplomatic, economic, psychological. Now there are limits to self-defense, because mere self-defense could become self-defeating, and because, precisely in self-defense, one must at times pass to the offensive. What concerns us most here is the moral and spiritual weapon. And here too this dialectic of the defense and the offense is most apparent. Morally and spiritually... they make us feel guilty, and we supinely accept the terms of their debate. They talk in terms of capitalism," "imperialism," "colonialism," "monopolies," "profits, "exploitation," "means of production," - all purely economic, purely materialistic terms. And in answering them usually all we say is that the exploiting, capitalism of the nineteenth century no longer exists, imperialism has been liquidated, monopolies are now owned by the people, and as to profits, everybody now shares in them.
There is about this response a pathetic air of apology, a ring of feebleness, a sickly note of timidity....
This will not do. They should be answered, not apologetically, not on a materialistic basis, but in human, moral, and spiritual terms."
(Perhaps you are not acquainted with Dr. Malik. Charles Malik was a University Professor at The American University in Washington, D.C.. He received his B.A. from the American University of Beirut, and his M.A.and Ph.D. from Harvard. He was a Lebanese ambassador to the USA before his becoming president of the UN Security Council. Following that, he was elected as the president of the General Assembly of the United Nations.)
In a twist of fate that is bathed in irony, the American Christian Culture has one admiring source .
David Aikman--former Beijing Bureau Chief for Time Magazine, wrote in his book, "Jesus in Beijing,"some startling statements, made in a Beijing tourist's scene.
"We studied everything we could from the historical, political, economic, and cultural perspective. At first, we thought it was because you had more powerful guns than we had. Then we thought it was because you had the best political system. Next we focused on your economic system. But in the past twenty years, we have realized that the heart of your culture is your religion: Christianity. That is why the West has been so powerful. The Christian moral foundation of social and cultural life was what made possible the emergence of capitalism and then the successful transition to democratic politics. We don't have any doubt about this."
We don't have any doubt about this!
As Jounalist Aikman mentioned, "This was not coming from some ultraconservative from a think tank in Orange County, California, or from Jerry Falwell's Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. This was a scholar from one of China's premier academic research institutes, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) in Beijing, in 2002.
CHRISTIANITY IS REALLY AMERICA’S STRENGTH AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN!
KOINONIKOS
Monday, May 4, 2009
BLASPHEMY
“Enough is enough. It is about time the laws were repealed”, said Mr. Mall, pointing to the widespread abuse of the blasphemy laws.
He urged the international community to pressure Pakistan into repealing blasphemy laws.
In a special report by Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan of ASSIST News Service
In HARRAPA, SAHIWAL, PAKISTAN (ANS)
“A Muslim mob of 500 attacked a Christian village of Punjab province on May 1 at 11:00 am Pakistan time to avenge the alleged blasphemy....that they claim was committed by some five Christian men a few days ago.
Police arrested Christian men, including Ashfaq Gill, Naseer Masih, Harris Masih, Israr Wilson and Imran Masih on April 28 and April 29 after they were accused of tearing up pages of the Quran.
“An outraged Muslim mob invaded Christian village no. 90 near Sahiwal city to “kill” Christians,” the Voice of People UK’s Country Coordinator in Pakistan, Aneel Ashiq Chaudhry, told ANS by phone on May 1.
The Christian village is thought to be over 100 years old and most of the Christians still own lands despite the fact that some of them have sold their lands to Muslims.
Following an attack of Muslim mob in 1997 on Shantinagar, a predominantly Christian village in east-central Pakistan, Muslim extremists razed 800 homes and desecrated 13 churches in and around the town.
Possible loss of lives and damage to properties of Christians was averted due to intervention of the Police and Rangers, who dispersed the mob that included Islamists armed wi th weapons and clubs.
Police and Rangers are still patrolling the area to avert any possible eventuality during night.”
The same day Sunday, May 03, 2009, in a story by Sami Abraham of WASHINGTON:
“President Obama’s special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke is saying that Pakistan’s civilian government was fully capable of governing and resolving the issues being confronted by the country.”
Well maybe–but watch those blasphemy laws.
KOINONIKOS
He urged the international community to pressure Pakistan into repealing blasphemy laws.
In a special report by Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan of ASSIST News Service
In HARRAPA, SAHIWAL, PAKISTAN (ANS)
“A Muslim mob of 500 attacked a Christian village of Punjab province on May 1 at 11:00 am Pakistan time to avenge the alleged blasphemy....that they claim was committed by some five Christian men a few days ago.
Police arrested Christian men, including Ashfaq Gill, Naseer Masih, Harris Masih, Israr Wilson and Imran Masih on April 28 and April 29 after they were accused of tearing up pages of the Quran.
“An outraged Muslim mob invaded Christian village no. 90 near Sahiwal city to “kill” Christians,” the Voice of People UK’s Country Coordinator in Pakistan, Aneel Ashiq Chaudhry, told ANS by phone on May 1.
The Christian village is thought to be over 100 years old and most of the Christians still own lands despite the fact that some of them have sold their lands to Muslims.
Following an attack of Muslim mob in 1997 on Shantinagar, a predominantly Christian village in east-central Pakistan, Muslim extremists razed 800 homes and desecrated 13 churches in and around the town.
Possible loss of lives and damage to properties of Christians was averted due to intervention of the Police and Rangers, who dispersed the mob that included Islamists armed wi th weapons and clubs.
Police and Rangers are still patrolling the area to avert any possible eventuality during night.”
The same day Sunday, May 03, 2009, in a story by Sami Abraham of WASHINGTON:
“President Obama’s special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke is saying that Pakistan’s civilian government was fully capable of governing and resolving the issues being confronted by the country.”
Well maybe–but watch those blasphemy laws.
KOINONIKOS
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from My Side of The Mountain
From My Side of The Mountain