Most Americans don’t delve deeply into the details of global conflicts. They rely instead on a hierarchy of common sense. I will kill you, for example, trumps I will be mean to you. Their preferences are governed by certain basic narratives. The competing details are inconsequential if one side loses a basic narrative. (more)
WASHINGTON – Ahead of her 90th birthday, veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas, who resigned following her offensive remarks against Israel, may be getting a statue in her honor at the Arab American National Museum in Michigan. (more)
While the dispute between North and South Korea over the torpedoing of a South Korean naval vessel has largely been overshadowed by events unfolding within the waters outside of Gaza, both incidents revealed just how divergent global reactions can be when confronting incidents of similar gravity. They also provide a disturbing glimpse into how the perceived instability of one nation affects the willingness of others to hold them accountable. (more)
Via Democast: Outside of the Los Angeles Israeli consulate on Memorial Day, a Jewish high school student proudly waved an Israeli flag to counter the protests of activists criticizing the country’s Gaza blockade. Several officers from the Los Angeles Police Department were on the scene and soon had to form in a line to protect Daniel in the event that the crowd’s growing anger turned violent. A Muslim protestor began to cry “Allahu akhbar,” meaning “God is Great,” as Daniel explained his reasons for appearing outside of the consulate. (more)
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected international criticism of a deadly raid against a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza earlier this week, saying the blockade of the Palestinian territory is needed to prevent missile attacks against Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. (more)
JERUSALEM – Israel began expelling all the activists seized during a raid on an aid convoy sailing to Gaza that has drawn international outrage, while officials vowed Wednesday to prevent any other ships from reaching the coastal territory. (more)
Israel said it would deport 682 activists from more than 35 countries detained after the assault in international waters on Monday on six aid ships bound for Gaza, where Hamas Islamists opposed to Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas hold sway. (more)
As Israel marked its 62nd anniversary, a familiar rift was occurring with a U.S. administration over the settlements issue. This time, the matter involved Jerusalem, specifically Israel’s expansion of existing settlement in the Old City. (more)
Mr Netanyahu made the decision after learning that Egypt and Turkey intended to raise the issue of Israel’s presumed nuclear arsenal, Israeli radio said. (more)
George Mitchell had been due to meet President Shimon Peres but the trip was put off in what was seen as a calculated snub designed to demonstrate continued US anger. (more)
The events of Election Day in Iraq were truly breathtaking. Despite repeated attacks around the country by the enemy that killed some 35 people to frighten Iraqis away from the polls, their perseverance showed. Miguel Marquez of ABC News summed it up this way: “Iraqis are really tough.” Walid Abid, a 40-year-old father of two, spoke as mortars landed several hundreds yards away from his polling station. “I am not scared and I am not going to stay put at home. Until when? We need to change things. If I stay home and not come to vote, it will get worse.” Another voter, Maliq Bedawi, said, “Iraqi people are not afraid of bombs any more. We took our children with us.” (more)
Iran’s defiance to cooperate with the world powers over its nuclear program clearly adds to an already dangerous situation. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs sent a clear warning on Tuesday that “time and patience is running out” for Iran to come clean on its nuclear program. But President Obama is right to declare that “the door is still open” for to Iran engage in serious negotiations. So far, both sides have blamed one another for the lack of a breakthrough in talks. Given its ever-increasing profile in the Middle East, Turkey is now trying to break this impasse. The question is, though, whether the current Turkish leadership has the capacity to play the game adequate to Turkey’s significance in the region. (more)
Speaking on Valentine’s Day before the U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton emphasized the importance of bringing new harmony to the to the wearying ballad of Arab-Israeli peace efforts. (more)
The mounting protests in Iran leave little doubt that the Tehran regime has entered its final decade. The mass expression of public dissent expected today coincides with the day 31 years ago when the Iranian revolution was launched. The Islamist theocracy that resulted commenced a low-intensity war against the United States and our allies, which has continued to this day and could soon get worse. (more)
BAGHDAD (AP) – Britain has banned the export of a hand-held bomb-detection device to Iraq and Afghanistan, months after the U.S. military warned that the product is ineffective and fraudulent. (more)
BAGHDAD (AP) – Britain has banned the export of a hand-held bomb-detection device to Iraq and Afghanistan, months after the U.S. military warned that the product is ineffective and fraudulent. (more)
