At least one media outlet is giving the details of how the Obama regime is turning its back on Israel. We knew that Obama was more interested in international praise than standing up for an ally that has carried our water in the region for decades. It will only get worse, and if Obama is around after 2012 the U.S. will become an accomplice to the disastrous results that I really don’t want to think about.
Anne Bayefsky, Forbes.com 06.03.10, 05:28 PM EDT
“The Obama administration is pushing for an internationalized investigation of Israel's recent effort to preserve its naval blockade of Hamas-run Gaza. In an extraordinary interference with the sovereignty of a democratic society and its right of self-defense, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said Wednesday that the United States wants "a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation. ... We are open to different ways of assuring a credible investigation, including international participation ... "
Assistant Secretary of State Philip J. Crowley elaborated that the administration was demanding Israel produce "an investigation that is broadly viewed as credible by the international community." That would be the same international community which has condemned Israel without the facts, and which has refused to walk back their spontaneous reactions, though the video evidence of armed "civilian" attackers and martyr-seeking "humanitarians" now stares them in the face.
Late Monday night President Obama agreed to a unanimous U.N. Security Council presidential statement, which demanded "a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards." At the U.N. everyone knew that such language meant a new U.N.-sponsored investigation mirroring the infamous U.N. Goldstone Report on the 2009 Gaza war. That report was produced by four investigators who had all publicly declared Israel guilty before they began, and who operated under a mandate that incorporated a guilty verdict from the outset.
Right on cue--and encouraged by the Security Council statement--on Wednesday the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted a resolution deciding "to dispatch an independent international fact-finding mission to investigate violations of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian assistance."
In other words, once again the U.N. created a fact-finding mission to determine the facts it had already found. Among other things, the resolution states: "the Human Rights Council ... condemns in the strongest terms the outrageous attack by the Israeli forces."
While the Obama administration voted against the HRC resolution, it did not use its membership on the council to impede in any way the numerous breaches in procedure which made the debate and the introduction of the resolution to condemn Israel possible in the first place. Never in its history had the council held what was uniquely labeled an "urgent debate" on any human rights issue at all, anywhere. MORE
U.S. Interferes With Israel's Gaza Blockade
Anne Bayefsky, Forbes.com 06.03.10, 05:28 PM EDT
The Obama administration suggests international players investigate Israeli actions.
“The Obama administration is pushing for an internationalized investigation of Israel's recent effort to preserve its naval blockade of Hamas-run Gaza. In an extraordinary interference with the sovereignty of a democratic society and its right of self-defense, Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said Wednesday that the United States wants "a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation. ... We are open to different ways of assuring a credible investigation, including international participation ... "
Assistant Secretary of State Philip J. Crowley elaborated that the administration was demanding Israel produce "an investigation that is broadly viewed as credible by the international community." That would be the same international community which has condemned Israel without the facts, and which has refused to walk back their spontaneous reactions, though the video evidence of armed "civilian" attackers and martyr-seeking "humanitarians" now stares them in the face.
Late Monday night President Obama agreed to a unanimous U.N. Security Council presidential statement, which demanded "a prompt, impartial, credible and transparent investigation conforming to international standards." At the U.N. everyone knew that such language meant a new U.N.-sponsored investigation mirroring the infamous U.N. Goldstone Report on the 2009 Gaza war. That report was produced by four investigators who had all publicly declared Israel guilty before they began, and who operated under a mandate that incorporated a guilty verdict from the outset.
Right on cue--and encouraged by the Security Council statement--on Wednesday the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted a resolution deciding "to dispatch an independent international fact-finding mission to investigate violations of international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian assistance."
In other words, once again the U.N. created a fact-finding mission to determine the facts it had already found. Among other things, the resolution states: "the Human Rights Council ... condemns in the strongest terms the outrageous attack by the Israeli forces."
While the Obama administration voted against the HRC resolution, it did not use its membership on the council to impede in any way the numerous breaches in procedure which made the debate and the introduction of the resolution to condemn Israel possible in the first place. Never in its history had the council held what was uniquely labeled an "urgent debate" on any human rights issue at all, anywhere. MORE
For anyone who cares about our only friends and alllies in the Middle East this is a must-read article. The Obama regime has all but abandoned the Israelis, and that is shameful. I am still amazed at how Obama received 85% of the Jewish vote?
By YAAKOV KATZ Jerusalem Post
06/04/2010 06:13
“When St.-Sgt. S. fast-roped down from an air force Black Hawk helicopter onto the Mavi Marmara Turkish passenger ship on Monday morning, he did not expect to be landing in what he called “a battlefield” and facing off against a group of “murderous mercenaries.”
The 15th and last naval commando from Flotilla 13 (the Shayetet) to rappel down onto the ship from the helicopter, S. said on Thursday that he was immediately attacked by what the IDF has called “the mob of mercenaries” aboard the vessel, just like the soldiers who had boarded just before him.
Looking to his side, he saw three of his commanders lying wounded – one with a gunshot wound to the stomach and another with a gunshot wound to the knee. A third was lying unconscious; his skull was fractured by a devastating blow with a metal bar.
As the next in the chain of command, S., who has been in the Shayetet for three and a half years, immediately took charge.
He pushed the wounded soldiers up against the wall of the upper deck and created a perimeter of soldiers around them to begin treating their wounds, he said. He then arranged his men to form a second perimeter, and pulled out his 9 mm. Glock pistol to stave off the charging attackers and to protect his wounded comrades.” MORE
St.-Sgt. S: We had no choice
By YAAKOV KATZ Jerusalem Post
06/04/2010 06:13
“When St.-Sgt. S. fast-roped down from an air force Black Hawk helicopter onto the Mavi Marmara Turkish passenger ship on Monday morning, he did not expect to be landing in what he called “a battlefield” and facing off against a group of “murderous mercenaries.”
The 15th and last naval commando from Flotilla 13 (the Shayetet) to rappel down onto the ship from the helicopter, S. said on Thursday that he was immediately attacked by what the IDF has called “the mob of mercenaries” aboard the vessel, just like the soldiers who had boarded just before him.
Looking to his side, he saw three of his commanders lying wounded – one with a gunshot wound to the stomach and another with a gunshot wound to the knee. A third was lying unconscious; his skull was fractured by a devastating blow with a metal bar.
As the next in the chain of command, S., who has been in the Shayetet for three and a half years, immediately took charge.
He pushed the wounded soldiers up against the wall of the upper deck and created a perimeter of soldiers around them to begin treating their wounds, he said. He then arranged his men to form a second perimeter, and pulled out his 9 mm. Glock pistol to stave off the charging attackers and to protect his wounded comrades.” MORE
Reasonable political thinkers care about the big issues, not the daily brush fires. Johnnie knows that they are hungry for quality of information, not quantity, in these perilous times. Sifting through the daily 'blow by blow' coverage of politics and gossip can be tedious. Each weekend Johnnie examines the top stories looking for the truth hidden between the lines.
From the TreeHugger Website:
"With all the news and talk about the Gulf oil spill during the past two weeks, we've (unsurprisingly) been talking a lot about the science behind oil and oil production, the future of energy, and the economics behind the whole shebang. We talk about this stuff a lot anyway, but when you really think about, petroleum pervades almost every single aspect of our lives. It's what we use to power our cars and make machinery go, of course, but it's also seemingly omnipresent in thousands of unsuspecting products we use every day. And for women in particular, petroleum and petroleum-derived byproducts are hiding in some pretty sneaky places.Today, I took a walk through my house thinking just about my fashion and beauty regimen between breakfast and lunch - I consider myself pretty green, and a highly conscious consumer -- and I came up with dozens of things that are made from petroleum or petroleum byproducts. Let's be clear: petroleum in and of itself is not necessarily dangerous or evil. But if we really want to think about how we move toward a brighter green future, we better face the facts: This stuff is in nearly everything we use - even if you're using green beauty products, wearing green clothes, and eating wholesome foods, petroleum is likely lurking somewhere in or around your smart-consumer choices.
With all that in mind, I began to make a list of common fashion and beauty products most women use everyday that are either made from oil or contain petroleum byproducts. Take a look - it may surprise you. Then ask yourself, what's in my shampoo/eye shadow/underwear/etc? And could I live without it?
Petroleum is hiding in your closet in:" CLICK HERE FOR THE LISTS OF PRODUCTS MADE FROM OIL
I've had more than a few friends ask about Rick Scott. Most want to vote for anyone but Alex Sink or Bill McCollum. The strong anti-incumbency mood of the voters this year will bring about the election of many new poltical faces who have not been vetted, such as Rick Scott. Remember that's how we got Barry Obama.
Ugh! Most Republican Commissioners voted for this boondoggle that will suck up to $200,000,000 annually from the Hillsborough County economy killing private sector jobs and hitting those on a fixed income the most. I wonder if Hagan really supports the 'ballot box' would he push for a referendum to LOWER the sales tax? Now that would win the 'Good Listener' award.
Just a few facts to 'chew' on since there is a lot of hot air blowing out of the Gulf toward Tallahassee. Perspective always clears the thinking on a subject. Learn as much as you can about the Gulf of Mexico and how you and I use its energy.
You've gotta be kidding me! Let's see, what is $80 billion divided by 57? These doctors better lookout! As this Cato Institute article points out, the problem in Greece is high taxes. Yet, Greece's European-style solution is to raise its Value Added Tax from 11 to 23%. Note, Greece also has an income tax with top rate at 40%. I would like to say that Americans would never put up with this.....
THIS IS NO JOKE. U.S. debt as a percentage of GNP is coming close to 100% (only higher in WWII). Greece's debt is about 110% of GNP. Is anyone interested in putting together a consortium to purchase Anclote Key?
On a more serious note, the Heritage Foundation posts an excellent analysis giving 5 reason why Greece should not be bailed out.
On a more serious note, the Heritage Foundation posts an excellent analysis giving 5 reason why Greece should not be bailed out.
This story is a must read for any thinking conservative - I knew that ordinary hard working citizens (hunters) were somehow quietly funding the far left environmental movement. Just as farmers were the first conservationists, so are hunters the most responsible environmentalists.
Republicans should thank their 'lucky stars' that Obama made this statement. I can't imagine the unmerciful bludgeoning that would have taken place over the Gulf spill had Obama not been attempting a Bill Clinton-style 'triangulation' on the offshore drilling issue. If you are feeling mixed emotions relative to the Gulf oil spill, READ "Gulf Oil Spill: Washington’s Response Should Not Preclude Future Exploration" at Heritage Foundation.