-
Iran Nuclear Watch: Israel Sending a “CLEAR” Message to Iran
In this image released by the Israeli Defense Force the crew of Israel’s Dolphin submarine, stand on deck during a ceremony Sunday, July 25, 1999 between Crete and Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea, commemorating the 69 crew members of the Israeli submarine Dakar which sank here in 1968. With the purchase of two more German-made Dolphin submarines, Israel is sending a clear message to Iran that it can strike back if attacked by nuclear weapons, military experts said Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006.
AP: Israel adds 2 nuclear-capable submarines
With the purchase of two more German-made Dolphin submarines capable of carrying nuclear warheads, military experts say Israel is sending a clear message to Iran that it can strike back if attacked by nuclear weapons.
The purchases come at a time when Iran is refusing to bow to growing Western demands to halt its nuclear program, and after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called for Israel to be “wiped off the map.”
The new submarines, built at a cost of $1.3 billion with Germany footing one-third of the bill, have diesel-electric propulsion systems that allow them to remain submerged for longer periods of time than the three nuclear arms-capable submarines already in Israel’s fleet, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The latest submarines not only would be able to carry out a first strike should Israel choose to do so, but they also would provide Israel with crucial second-strike capabilities, said Paul Beaver, a London-based independent defense analyst.
Israel is already believed to have that ability in the form of the Jericho-1 and Jericho-2 nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, which are buried so far underground they would survive a nuclear strike, he said.
“The Iranians would be very foolish if they attacked Israel,” Beaver said.
And Israel will use their NUKES.
A nuclear deterrence against Ahmadinejad and the Mullahs?
Perhaps
Israel is prepared to “go it alone” against Iran. The United States and Israel will ultimately deal militarily with Tehran.
Stay tuned…..Graphic of Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran has appeared heading for a showdown at the UN Security Council next week over its nuclear programme, facing the threat of sanctions after failing to freeze key fuel cycle work.
Previous:
Iran Nuclear Watch: Germany – Iran’s Response to P-5-Plus-1 Proposal is Unsatisfactory
Iran Nuclear Watch: P-5-Plus-1 – Will Likely Reject Tehran’s Terms for Talks
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran to Announce Nuclear “Breakthroughâ€
Iran Nuclear Watch: Showdown at United Nations Next Week?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Carrot and Stick?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Responds to the P-5-Plus-1
Michael Ramirez on Nuclear Iran and the United Nations
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Blocks United Nations Nuclear Inspections
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – Iran Will Continue Nuclear Program
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says It Will NOT Halt Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Military Exercises to Test Asymmetrical Warfare Combat Doctrine
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Information Blackout – Police Destroying Satellite Dishes in Tehran
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Discuss Suspension of Uranium Enrichment?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Cleric Ahmad Khatami Warns Israel of Missile Attack
The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, Ahmadinejad
-
Stop the ACLU Blogburst Watch: Interview With William A. Donohue
Stop The ACLU: Interview With William A. DonohueWilliam A. Donohue is the President of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights based in New York. He received his Doctorate in Sociology from NYU in 1980. He is the author of three books, two of which are very critical on and revealing of the ACLU. We have quoted from his books on numerous occasions so it was quite an honor when he returned my call requesting an interview.His first book, The Politics of the American Civil Liberties Union, was published in 1985. His second book, The New Freedom: Individualism and Collectivism in the Social Lives of Americans, was written while Bill was a Bradley Resident Scholar at The Heritage Foundation; it appeared in 1990. Bill’s third book, Twilight of Liberty: The Legacy of the ACLU, was published in 1994 by Transaction Press; a new afterward to this book was published in 2001. Source
It was an honor that Mr. Donohue took time from his schedule to allow us an interview. It was even more encouraging that he had heard of Stop The ACLU and expressed his appreciation for what we do. I recommend reading his books to anyone that is interested in learning more about the ACLU and how their actions are actually harming civil rights.
Our conversation was very laid back and informal. After some small talk and introductions I started the interview asking Mr. Donohue his general opinion of the ACLU. Mr. Donohue’s answers will be quoted in the American Flag quotes.
I believe that the American Civil Liberties Union is based upon a noble purpose. However, they often work against that very purpose due to a radical interpretation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I wrote about this extensively in my third book, Twilight of Liberty: The Legacy of the ACLU where I focused on how their view of liberty actually works against itself. They are an arm of the radical left. In my first book, The Politics of the American Civil Liberties Union, I also exposed just how phony their claim of being non-partisan is. The ACLU is not non-partisan. Social reform, in a liberal direction, is the sine qua non of the ACLU. Its record is far from showing impartiality. It is full of attempts to reform American society according to the ideals of liberalism. The truth of the matter is that the ACLU has always been a highly politicized organization.
In your opinion is the ACLU simply misguided or do they actually have a more malicious motive and agenda?
I have asked myself that question a million times or more. I guess that I think that some of them are just wrong headed and sincere while others are actually more malicious and seeking to actually destroy America from its foundation. Some that are just misguided yet sincere truly believe that they have to defend the extremist speech in order to protect all free speech. Others are actually malicious.
Norman Siegal is one of the few who I believe to be honest and sincere in their passion for civil liberties. He has at least come out and debated his point of view and that is something that is due some respect. So many others are cowards with another agenda that works against the best interest of the country.
At this point I asked Mr. Donohue about other ACLU members that had come into conflict with the organization over their own views and his opinion on their sincerity. I specifically asked about Natt Hentoff.
Natt Hentoff is a Jewish atheist who interprets the First Amendment entirely too loosely. He is one that wants “In God We Trust†off of our money. I do believe that Natt is one of the sincere civil libertarians who is very passionate yet misguided in his views. He has been very much involved in civil liberties. He came into conflict with the ACLU over his view on abortion. He came to the conclusion thinking in biological terms that unborn babies are human and do deserve the same civil liberty protections as everyone else. This is where he came into conflict with the rest of the organization. I think Natt Hentoff is a principled civil libertarian. He went bonkers when they tried to implement a policy that would censor critical speech from their own members, and rightly so.
Michael Myers is another principled civil libertarian. He is an African American man who I believe to be principled, honest, and sincere. He resigned after seeing much of the hypocrisy and censorship attempts at the ACLU. He is another one that is not playing politics with the Constitution.
In your book you often quoted from the ACLU Policy Guide. I have called them myself asking for this before and was told it was for internal purposes only and not for the general public. While they have this right, it makes me wonder what they are hiding. How did you get your hands on their policy guide?
Heh, yet it wouldn’t matter how secret or important to National Security a government document or information they are against was. They would still fight to have it published for all to see.
They cut me off from their policy guide about ten years ago. I first got access to their policies when I was a student at NYU in my twenties. I just asked until they revealed them to me. They opened up some of them but wouldn’t let me see all of them at first. They didn’t want me to see the FBI files on them. The FBI was more cooperative on that than the ACLU.
When I finally went to publish all the information I had gathered no one wanted to go for it. People said, “You can’t publish that! This is the ACLU you are talking about. You are in New York! No one will go for this!†I finally found a publisher through a friend at the Heritage Foundation in the 1982-1983 time frame.
I still received policy updates and was on one of the ACLU’s special mailing list for years before they cut me off. I guess they finally figured out that it was being used against them.
In reading your books I thought it was interesting that your knowledge and access to ACLU policies played a part in the election of President Bush (the father).
Yes, it was the 1988 Presidential campaign when the Democratic candidate, Michael Dukakis, proudly announced that he was a “card carrying member of the American Civil Liberties Union.†This announcement was soon used against him as George Bush decided to criticize Dukakis’s support and several ACLU policies. His campaign team got in touch with me, and I tracked down some of the policies for them.
In the first debate, Peter Jennings of ABC News asked George Bush why he continued to make an issue out of Michael Dukakis’s membership in the ACLU. Bush replied that he didn’t like most of the ACLU’s positions and offered four of them. “I simply don’t want to see the ratings on movies-I don’t want my ten year-old grandchild to go into an X-rated movie. I like those rating systems. I don’t think they’re right to try to take the tax exemption away from the Catholic Church. I don’t want to see the kiddie pornographic laws repealed. I don’t want to see under God come out from our currency. Now, these are all positions of the ACLU, and I don’t agree with them.â€
Of course several ACLU representatives came out and said he misrepresented their positions. However, I know that Bush was right. I know because I was the one who suggested these very policies to the Bush operatives who briefed the candidate before the debate, and I made sure to double-check my sources. I have the proof, taken from ACLU documents, that verifies that Bush was right. If anyone wants to check my sources I list them extensively in my book, The Twilight of Liberty.
One of the ACLU policies you revealed that particularly disgusts me is their policy in favor of legalizing the distribution and possession of child pornography.
Yes. The ACLU takes what I call an atomistic view of liberty. What they don’t seem to understand is that radical individualism actually works against liberty. There view on the First Amendment also covers what the call “Dwarf tossing†and women mud wrestling as freedom of speech. The purpose of freedom of speech has nothing to do with pornography or libel despite what the ACLU think. Anyone that believes it does is living in la la land.
I have written on their policy about Child Porn and many liberals just call me a liar. They want proof.
Well, you’ve got proof. It’s right there in my book.
That isn’t good enough for them. They will question your reliability or say that was an old policy. I doubt they would believe me if I put the current policy in their face.
Why don’t they explain to you what proof they have you are wrong? Why doesn’t the ACLU release this policy and settle the issue. It isn’t just you that has brought it up in the public before. They don’t deny it. Ask them why the ACLU doesn’t make this policy public and clear up the issue once and for all.
Barry Lynn, former legislative counsel for the Washington office of the American Civil Liberties Union, is on the Congressional record stating these positions. Lynn told the U.S. Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography that child pornography was protected by the First Amendment. While production of child porn could be prevented by law, he argued, its distribution could not be.
When you are dealing with the ACLU and many of its supporters you are going to find a lot of straight up liars. One time I debated them in a public forum of a college. I brought their policy guide with me on stage. I mentioned some of their more extreme policies. I think I mentioned their policy to legalize all drugs. The lady I was debating denied this was their policy. I said, “Stop the debate!†I called up one of the students to come to the stage. I said, “Someone on this stage is lying, and I want someone to be witness to who it is.†I got a student up there to read the ACLU policy. This lady left quite embarrassed.
You should tell those that doubt you have your facts straight to prove you wrong. The ACLU is a bunch of hypocrites. If they have nothing to hide then why don’t they just make these policies public? The funny thing is that there is not a single top secret document that they wouldn’t make public.
What would you say is encouraging in the fight to expose and stop the ACLU’s agenda?
The good news started in the 1970’s when more legal groups began to develop to oppose the ACLU. More and more Catholic and Protestant legal groups are appearing that battle the ACLU and have done a magnificent job. Our side is winning more and more of these battles where before the ACLU had a monopoly on civil liberty issues. There are several good organizations out there now including The Alliance Defense Fund, The American Center For Law and Justice, and the Thomas More Law Center just to name a few. There isn’t really one unified organization that opposes them, but several that fight them on different fronts. They are becoming more and more successful and this is good news.
It isn’t just the legal groups either. Cable and internet are doing a magnificent job, including your site, in an educational campaign to inform the public. FIRE (Foundation For Individual Rights In Education) is doing a great job of informing students of their rights on campuses. I know that our side is making great progress. Things were a lot worse.
The ACLU also doesn’t do as good of a job at reaching out to the public as they used to. Ira Glasser, who I am not a big fan of, did a much better job at public outreach when he was the Executive Director of the ACLU than the current one, Anthony Romero. They just don’t want to deal with the public. They have a few town hall meetings in elite and controlled environments, but they mostly avoid any kind of debate. I think that Anthony Romero was hired because of his ties with the Ford Foundation than for any talent towards public impact.
Can the ACLU be reformed?
No. They are entirely too corrupt. Norman Thomas, six time candidate of the socialist party and one of the founders of the ACLU, once said, “Instead of burning the American Flag, people should wash it.†The ACLU has gone far beyond this kind of talk into much more extreme realms. They are the legal arm of the political left. Even with a few whistle-blowers, the ACLU is more corrupt now than ever.
There are so many competing legal groups out there now fighting the ACLU’s agenda. I am pleased that the ACLU doesn’t own the entire field anymore. They still score, but our side has made a lot of progress. It is not from within that the ACLU can be defeated. There is way too much corruption to hope for that. It is from the outside that is the best way to beat them. With so many legal groups fighting them in courts, and internet sites like yours educating the public our side is making major progress. That is the way.
Stop The ACLU wants to sincerely thank Mr. Donohue for taking the time to honor us with this interview.
This has been a production of Stop The ACLU Blogburst. If you would like to join us, please email Jay or Gribbit. You will be added to our mailing list and blogroll. Over 200 blogs already on-board.
Technorati Tags: StopTheACLU -
Cox & Forkum: Profiled
Cox & Forkum: Profiled
Reuters: U.S. family says racially profiled at NY airport. (via Little Green Footballs)
The American Civil Liberties Union and a leading Islamic group on Wednesday accused security officials at New York’s JFK airport of racially profiling Muslims.
“The price to pay for racial profiling is too high,” Dennis Parker of the American Civil Liberties Union told a news conference. “All people should be treated in the same way regardless of their race, their ethnicity or their religion.”
The news conference, convened by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, highlighted the case of an Iraqi-born U.S. family, whose members said they were held for six hours, questioned and searched at John F. Kennedy Airport.
Arwa and Sumia Ibrahim and their mother, Nagham Alyaqoubi, said they were held with 200 other people at JFK after returning from holiday in Jordan on Aug. 15, days after Britain foiled a plot to bomb U.S.-bound planes.
The 20-year-old twin sisters, who traveled home via Dubai, said people from several other flights from different countries were also detained.
“Of the 200 people required to go through this procedure, we would estimate that 98 percent, if not more, were Arab, South Asian or Muslim,” Sumia Ibrahim said.
“We really do feel our rights were violated as U.S. citizens,” she said. She said she and her sister, who moved to the United States when they were five, were also asked their views on the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
The women said U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials took away their passports. They said they felt degraded and humiliated by the whole experience and are considering legal action.
Good Grief……as the lawsuits fly…….
Technorati Tags: Cox&Forkum, GlobalWaronTerror, Profiling, Profile
-
Iran Nuclear Watch: Germany – Iran’s Response to P-5-Plus-1 Proposal is Unsatisfactory
German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech in Berlin, August 22, 2006. Iran’s response to an international package of incentives meant to persuade it to give up uranium enrichment is not satisfactory, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a television interview on Thursday.
AP: Nations unmoved by Iran’s counter-offer
Germany said Thursday that Iran’s response to a package of incentives for halting its nuclear program appears unsatisfactory because it is missing a reference to whether Tehran will suspend uranium enrichment.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel told N24 television that “we are still examining” the Iranian response, “but from everything that I hear we cannot be satisfied.”
Iran has NO intention to halt uranium enrichment.
The United States should immediately disengage from these WORTHLESS exercises in futility.
Stay tuned…..
Previous:
Iran Nuclear Watch: P-5-Plus-1 – Will Likely Reject Tehran’s Terms for Talks
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran to Announce Nuclear “Breakthroughâ€
Iran Nuclear Watch: Showdown at United Nations Next Week?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Carrot and Stick?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Responds to the P-5-Plus-1
Michael Ramirez on Nuclear Iran and the United Nations
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Blocks United Nations Nuclear Inspections
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – Iran Will Continue Nuclear Program
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says It Will NOT Halt Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Military Exercises to Test Asymmetrical Warfare Combat Doctrine
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Information Blackout – Police Destroying Satellite Dishes in Tehran
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Discuss Suspension of Uranium Enrichment?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Cleric Ahmad Khatami Warns Israel of Missile Attack
The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, Ahmadinejad
-
Michael Ramirez on France, Lebanon and the United Nations
But, wait…..
France has pledged 1,600 more troops to Lebanon today.
Reuters: France pledges 1,600 more troops for Lebanon
France said on Thursday it was ready to send an extra 1,600 troops to bolster a revamped
United Nations force for Lebanon, bringing the total French contingent to 2,000 and making it easier to recruit other nations.France initially offered only to double its force in Lebanon to 400, disappointing many United Nations’ diplomats who had expected Paris to provide the backbone of the mission.
However, President Jacques Chirac said France decided to dispatch many more troops after winning assurances from the U.N. that the troops would be able to defend themselves fully if they came under attack and could use force to protect civilians.
UNSCR 1701 continues to be a joke.
Full scale hostilities may resume before these French boots hit the ground in Lebanon.
Stay tuned……
Technorati Tags: UNIFIL, France, UnitedNations
-
Survivor Watch: Segregated “Survivor” Divides Tribes By Race
AP: New ‘Survivor’ Divides Groups by Race
Get ready for a segregated “Survivor.” Race will matter on the upcoming season of the CBS show as contestants will be divided into four tribes by ethnicity. That means blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians in separate groups.
The announcement was made on CBS’ Early Show. Host Jeff Probst says the idea “actually came from the criticism that ‘Survivor’ was not ethnically diverse enough.” He says the twist fits in perfectly with what “Survivor” does, saying the show is “a social experiment. And this is adding another layer to that experiment.” Probst says contestants had mixed reactions to the racial divisions.
In this “politically correct” world, one would expect outrage from the “PC” crowd.
NOT a SOUND…..
Flap likes Scott Otts version of “Survivor” better.
Michelle has some comments about not watching.
Flap wouldn’t miss it…..Is Mike Wallace going to interview the winner along with Katie Couric?
Previous:
Survivor Winner Richard Hatch Gets Hammered by the Feds
Technorati Tags: Survivor, SurvivorCookIslands, JeffProbst
-
Senator George Allen Watch: Allen Apologizes for Offensive Remarks – FLAP Part II
AP: Sen. Allen apologizes for ‘macaca’ jibe
Sen. George Allen (news, bio, voting record) personally called an opponent’s aide and apologized for singling the man out almost two weeks ago with an obscure comment that has cast a shadow over the senator’s White House ambitions, his campaign said.
S.R. Sidarth, a Democratic volunteer of Indian descent, was videotaping an Allen campaign event when the senator pointed to him and twice called him “Macaca.” Macaca is a genus of monkeys that includes macaques, and is also considered a racial slur in some parts of the world.
“This fellow over here with the yellow shirt — Macaca or whatever his name is — he’s with my opponent,” Allen said.
He noted that his opponent, Democrat Jim Webb, was raising money in California, then told the crowd of about 100 supporters: “Let’s give a welcome to Macaca here. Welcome to America and the real world of Virginia.”
Sidarth, who was born just outside Washington in Fairfax County, Va., said he felt Allen was singling him out by race.
Earth to George Allen: You already apologized – let it go.
Now, you are going to stock the kid?
Allen on Wednesday tracked down a phone number for Sidarth at the University of Virginia, where the 20-year-old had returned for his senior year, and apologized to him, said campaign manager Dick Wadhams.
“Senator Allen made a heartfelt apology,” Wadhams said. “He told Sidarth he thought he would see him on the campaign trail, but Sidarth had headed back to U.Va., so we Googled his name, found his number and the senator called him this morning.”
Will Senator George Allen recover from this FLAP?
For the Senate: Maybe
For the Presidency: Forget about it.
Allah has more on “Macccagate.”
XRLQ says Allen should hire him to nuclear fisk James Webb and other Allen opponents.
Flap agrees…..
Previous:
Senator George Allen Watch: Allen Apologizes for Offensive Remarks – FLAP
Technorati Tags: GeorgeAllen, JimWebb
-
Iran Nuclear Watch: P-5-Plus-1 – Will Likely Reject Tehran’s Terms for Talks
An Iranian worker lifts a barrel of ‘yellow cake’ to feed it into the processing line of Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) in Isfahan, about 420 km (261 miles) south of Tehran, August 8, 2005. The United States said on Wednesday that Iran’s request for talks fell short of the U.N. Security Council’s demand for it to halt its nuclear program.AP: Envoys: Iran terms likely to be rejected
The six world powers studying Iran’s response to their offer of nuclear negotiations will likely reject Tehran’s terms for talks because they do not even touch on the possibility of freezing uranium enrichment, diplomats said Thursday.
The diplomats, who have been briefed on aspects of the Iranian overture, told The Associated Press that the 25-page response from Tehran does not even suggest an enrichment moratorium even once negotiations start beyond vague references to a willingness to discuss all aspects of the country’s nuclear program. The diplomats, who spoke from two European capitals, asked for anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the confidential Iranian proposal.
The P-5-Plus-1 will reject Iran’s counter-proposal, then what?
The United States should disengaged itself from any more discussions of Iran’s covert nuclear weapons program and bolster up its deterrent capabilities of its military.
Negotiations and engagement with Iran have been a success ONLY in that it has provided a small degree of diplomatic cover for the United States and demonstrated the fecklessness of the United Nations and the Europeans. Besides diplomatic cover the negotiations have been WORTHLESS to American foreign policy interests.
When the “POINT OF NO RETURN” is reached then the United States will have to make the call to launch a war against the Islamic Republic or Iran or not.
A NEW IRANIAN COLD WAR has begun……
Stay tuned…..
Previous:
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran to Announce Nuclear “Breakthroughâ€
Iran Nuclear Watch: Showdown at United Nations Next Week?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Carrot and Stick?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Responds to the P-5-Plus-1
Michael Ramirez on Nuclear Iran and the United Nations
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Blocks United Nations Nuclear Inspections
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – Iran Will Continue Nuclear Program
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says It Will NOT Halt Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Military Exercises to Test Asymmetrical Warfare Combat Doctrine
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Information Blackout – Police Destroying Satellite Dishes in Tehran
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Discuss Suspension of Uranium Enrichment?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Cleric Ahmad Khatami Warns Israel of Missile Attack
The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, Ahmadinejad
-
Israel at War Watch: Syria Opposes UNIFIL Force Along Its Border
AP: Syria opposes U.N. forces on its border
Syria on Wednesday opposed deployment of an international force along its border to prevent arms shipments to Hezbollah, and Israel called the situation in Lebanon “explosive.” A cease-fire was further shaken by artillery shells and explosions that killed three Lebanese soldiers and an Israeli.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora asked the U.S. to help lift an Israeli blockade on his country’s coast and airport — something Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said would not happen until U.N. troops deployed along the Lebanon-Syria border to block the flow of weapons. Hezbollah’s vast arsenal of rockets and other weapons, much of which is believed to originate in Iran, reaches the guerrillas across the Syrian border.
What cease-fire?
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701 is a JOKE. Hezbollah is NOT dearmed. Hezbollah is rearming and now Syria is refusing any international UNIFIL force to patrol its borders to prevent in-bound arms to Hezbollah.
An Israeli girl walks next to a metal cut-out statue of a firing soldier, left, in an army post from the 1967 war at Mt. Bental in the Golan Heights, overlooking Syria, Monday, Aug. 21, 2006. Speaking hours after an Israeli Cabinet minister called for renewal of negotiations with Syria and said Israel should give back the Golan Heights in exchange for peace, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday ruled out a resumption of peace talks at this time, denouncing Damascus as the ‘single most aggressive member of the axis of evil.’ Israel accuses Syria, along with Iran, of arming and supporting Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas who fired nearly 4,000 rockets at Israel in the 34-day war that ended last week.
This is a LULL in the war against Hezbollah. Israel will have an opportunity to rearm and re-equip the IDF to better combat the asymmetric warfare and Iranian anti-tank missiles of Hezbollah.
European Union ambassadors and deputies met in Brussels, Belgium, to drum up volunteers for the force, but tentative pledges reached just 4,200 troops by Wednesday — far short of the 15,000 called for by the U.N. cease-fire resolution. Deployment was likely take weeks or months.
Meanwhile, Syria indicated it might impose a blockade of its own.
“They will close their borders for all traffic in the event that U.N. troops are deployed along the Lebanon-Syria border,” Finland’s foreign minister Erkki Tuomioja said after meeting his Syrian counterpart, Walid Moallem, in Helsinki. Finland holds the rotating presidency of the European Union.
This cease-fire will NOT last much longer before full time hostilities resume.
Stay tuned…..
Previous:
Israel at War Watch: Iran and Syria Ready to Re-Arm Hezbollah
Israel at War Watch: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Expected To Give UNIFIL Teeth
Israel at War Watch: Israel Preparing for More Fighting?
Cox & Forkum: Disproportionate Response II
Israel at War Watch: Kofi Annan – Israel Raid Violates Cease-Fire
Israel at War Watch: Lebanon Warns Israel After Israeli Raid Against Hezbollah
Israel at War Watch: Lebanese Army Reaches Southern Border with Israel
Israel at War Watch: Lebanese Army Moves Below Latani River
Israel At War Watch: Israel Defense Forces To Withdraw Despite Plans To Leave Hezbollah Armed
Michael Ramirez on Israel-Hezbollah War
Israel at War Watch: Israel to STOP Pullout If Lebanese Army Fails to Deploy Timely
Israel At War Watch: Israel Threatens To Resume War If Hezbollah Refuses to Disarm
Israel At War Watch: Hassan Nasrallah – The Disarmament of Hezbollah Should NOT Be Discussed Now
Israel at War Watch: The Arab Street Rejoices – Mocks Israel And United States
Israel at War Watch: Conversation With Benjamin Netanyahu – Hezbollah Will NOT Disarm
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Cleric Ahmad Khatami Warns Israel of Missile Attack
-
Day By Day by Chris Muir August 24, 2006