Conservatives deal with facts and reach conclusions; liberals have conclusions and sell them as facts.
I have been engaged in a Facebook exchange with someone who believes that killing civilians is always immoral. This moral stance means that, because Israel is killing civilians more effectively than Hamas, he believes Israel is morally more culpable than Hamas in the current conflict. He therefore cannot support her,
Continue readingA Facebook friend of mine posted the following: I’m confused — Who are the real Palestinians? ISRAELI LEADERS: BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, Born 21 October 1949 in Tel Aviv, Israel (formerly Mandate of Palestine) EHUD BARAK, Born 12 February 1942 in Mishmar HaSharon , British Mandate of Palestine ARIEL SHARON, Born 26
Continue readingIsrael has destroyed 31 tunnels. With her purpose in entering Gaza over, she’s pulling out, leaving a three-day ceasefire in her wake. It remains to be seen whether Hamas will lose patience before the three days are up. At this point, Hamas has pretty much shot its bolt. Although the
Continue readingImagine you have two perfectly matched militaries. One fights on behalf of a country that values the individual, liberty, and civil rights. The other fights on behalf of a theocratic dictatorship that hates, demeans, kills, and/or taxes everyone and everything that doesn’t conform precisely to the theocratic ideology. Which country
Continue readingAs you’ve probably noticed, I’ve re-jiggered these portmanteau posts, with a new name and a new image. I’d like to thank all of you for your suggestions. I’ve gone with a vaguely newsy title and a picture from one of my favorite illustrators, and it just feels right. I’ll continue
Continue readingIt’s worth pointing out that the pro-Israel people never stooped to violence to rout their ideological opponents. They use violence only when necessary, not for the rapture of destruction.
Continue readingAt a military level, Hamas’s advantages in the war with Israel are minimal. Its rocket strikes were ineffectual against Israel because of the Iron Dome missile defense system. In the ground war, it is certainly able to kill Israeli soldiers (most recently, three died in a booby-trapped UN building), but ultimately Israel
Continue readingThe Times of Israel has published what is alleged to be a transcript of a leaked telephone call between Obama and Netanyahu. Both Netanyahu and Obama are denying its truth, but I wonder. The substance is entirely consistent with Obama’s and Kerry’s public pronouncements, although much ruder, hectoring, hostile, and autocratic
Continue readingI’ll be spending this afternoon happily enjoying the company of relatives visiting from out of town. When I was younger, I didn’t appreciate these relatives that much. Now that I’m older, I’m know how important it is to keep up contact with people who knew you way back when. There
Continue readingIf you read only one thing today (and tomorrow too), I think you should read Sam Harris’s “Why Don’t I Criticize Israel?” In it, Harris, who is renowned for his very well-articulated atheism, explains that one doesn’t have to believe in Israel’s religious right to the land in order to
Continue readingThere is a project afoot for Jews all over the world to say the Shema for Israel at 7:00 p.m. Israel Time. (That would be Noon on the East Coast and 9 a.m. here in California.) The idea is that this most powerful prayer, if said by Jews all over
Continue readingPlus ça change, plus c’est la même chose. These timeless words apply with unusual accuracy to John Kerry and the role he’s chosen to assume in the current war between Israel and Hamas. David Horovitz describes Kerry’s despicable conduct in his self-appointed role as peace negotiator between Israel, a recognized
Continue readingI have so many stories on Israel lined up that I’m dedicating this entire open thread to Israel issues. Here goes: ** 1 ** The mainstream media is catching on to the fact that one of the things that’s different about this war is that Israel, instead of the usual
Continue readingTwo weeks ago, I introduced you to Sol Giggleweed, a representative of DemProg passion in politics and society. I chanced to meet up with Sol today — or, more accurately, with a real human being whose views march in lockstep with Sol’s, but who doesn’t wish to have his name
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