tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71815572012-01-07T19:25:45.458-05:00Dialogue and commentary on Iraq, U.S. politics, Western society, more. Note that the author is NOT a diplomat, U.S. government employee, or U.S. government contractor. The author does not possess the authority to represent the views of the U.S. government. © 2004 Solomon2.Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.comBlogger3251100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-20592868064999516822012-01-05T12:44:00.002-05:002012-01-05T12:47:58.768-05:00

at what point, exactly, did the West Bank become "occupied territory" rather than "disputed territory" under international law? After 1947 the annexation of Jordan wasn't recognized so Mandate Law was considered to prevail as far as the U.N. was concerned and in Mandate Law Jewish settlement was explicitly permitted (though from 1947-1967 the Jews were evicted). The post-SixDay War UNSC 242

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-62790899867761632672012-01-02T20:15:00.003-05:002012-01-02T20:20:11.783-05:00

“Having grievances does not justify violence. There are bodies to look into those grievances -"- Saudi Ministry of Interior spokesman Mansour Al-Turki link

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-28350168905396316062012-01-01T13:45:00.002-05:002012-01-01T13:48:29.157-05:00

Read the rest: link

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-54719444589825349182011-12-13T06:58:00.001-05:002011-12-13T06:58:28.363-05:00

Sam Tadros discusses the outcome in Egypt in the Tablet, best summed up as "Islamists’ electoral success vindicates the pessimists".I met Mr. Tadros in 2007, while demonstrating against Mubarak in D.C. If I recall correctly, he minimized the import of the Muslim Brotherhood then, and Salafis weren’t even in our minds; we were both under the spell of Natan Sharansky’s The Case for Democracy.Yet

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-42576302551294843682011-11-24T14:10:00.002-05:002011-11-24T14:12:19.156-05:00

http://www.dawn.com/2011/11/24/no-kosher-way-to-annihilate.html"Thou shall not kill" is NOT "Jews' "most sacred covenant". The commandment is "Thou shall not murder". We Jews are not forbidden the right to kill in self-defense nor the right to slaughter animals for food. "Thou shall not murder" is a commandment not to commit slaughter your fellow man out of hatred for him. This the Israelis

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-65394511145944003432011-11-15T21:29:00.004-05:002011-11-21T22:40:17.104-05:00

"During the 1967 War with Egypt and Syria, the Israeli Air Force knowingly bombed the USS Liberty — an American surveillance ship — and blamed it on the Egyptians." linkThe Liberty, operating just outside Egyptian waters, was indeed attacked by Israeli warplanes. It was a "fog of war" mistake: The Liberty was not far away when an ammo dump on shore suddenly exploded - thought to be by a

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-82948866433588423082011-10-15T20:20:00.006-04:002011-10-16T09:24:17.962-04:00

Ever since late 2008 I've spent most of my "Solomon2" time over at the Pakistani Defence Forum. I've also done a lot of reading on Pakistan. However, one exchange revealed I didn't that there are no jury trials in Pakistan.Jury trials are the very intersection of society and the institutionalized process of justice. Since I didn't know there were no jury trials, I concluded that I was missing

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-58613029661460348492011-09-13T12:12:00.000-04:002011-09-13T12:13:23.073-04:00

test post will be deleted shortly.

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-42735360291515582872011-09-06T09:56:00.002-04:002011-09-06T10:01:32.966-04:00

As a teenager, when I was supposed to be enjoying life, making friends, watching movies, playing games, socialising and talking about our little dreams, I was thinking of pleasing God and hating His perceived enemies“The only abnormality is the incapacity to love” — Anais Nin.According to Wikipedia, “Abnormality, in the vivid sense of something deviating from the normal or differing from the

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-15508858964453710362011-05-09T13:31:00.003-04:002011-05-09T13:37:14.019-04:00

Chomsky inked a column describing his reaction to the news that Osama bin Laden is dead. It's a good example of his sophism.Chomsky is by training a linguist. When I objected to a particularly egregious and damaging usage of words - the same phrase meant the opposite thing in two cultures, but the same op-ed was intended for both - he replied that it was "all part of The Game." "The Game"

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-5303027705306184752011-05-08T00:34:00.006-04:002011-05-08T16:04:20.092-04:00

“# Saudi Jawa Said: May:02:2011 - 14:13 What an interesting story. Not only in the developing details, but on its impact on the world. Americans are (understandably) celebrating, but the effect on Saudis (and Muslims in general) is curious indeed. Most Saudi and Muslims I’ve talked to seemed kind of shell shocked at the moment. While most of them did not agree with his acts, OBL had become a

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-21074610634608421312011-05-04T15:17:00.005-04:002011-05-04T23:53:04.873-04:00

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011. Seated, from left, are: Brigadier General Marshall B. “Brad” Webb, Assistant Commanding General, Joint Special Operations Command; Deputy National Security Advisor Denis McDonough

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-14877405762089983692011-05-02T00:36:00.001-04:002011-05-02T00:38:15.296-04:00

PARTY TIME!GWU students, I'll bet.

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-46950641928456309862011-03-28T13:10:00.003-04:002011-07-27T15:33:59.180-04:00

By Khaled Ahmed Published: March 26, 2011 Muslims seem to be blind to non-Muslim emotions; they are civilisationally inward-looking, but only go into denial when taxed with blame from the outside. If Muslims kill non-Muslims, they seem strangely unconcerned; when Muslims kill Muslims, as in Sudan, they turn their eyes away. It is only when non-Muslims kill Muslims, that

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-89316547388625477782011-03-20T13:00:00.009-04:002011-03-22T19:38:07.166-04:00

I have seen and read about the lives of the Palestinians in the US and other places. They are very successful in every field. And at the same time I saw the Arab countries at the bottom of the list in education and development. And I always ask the question: What if the Palestinians and the Arabs accepted the presence of Israel on May 14, 1948 and recognized its right to exist? Would the Arab

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-2898651489938908312011-03-13T13:09:00.003-04:002011-03-13T13:29:12.558-04:00

110218-N-9094S-186 PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 18, 2011) The U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) is underway in the Pacific Ocean. Blue Ridge serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 7/Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy's only forward deployed amphibious force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Brian A. Stone/Released)Friday:USS Blue Ridge Arrives

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-88675751590166318092011-03-13T10:27:00.006-04:002011-03-16T12:44:40.078-04:00

Marine Corps Bases Japan assistant chief of staff, G-3 operations, in the Base Emergency Operations Center in Okinawa, Japan, March 11, 2011, after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit mainland Japan. Talleri, along with special staff members, is monitoring the situation as it develops and coordinating Marine Corps actions.U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Matheus HernandezU.S. Air

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-73184351087902410602011-03-10T10:06:00.002-05:002011-03-10T10:14:19.782-05:00

General Thaddeus Kosciuszko 1746 - 1817Hero of America and PolandHe arrived in 1776, with a note of introduction and recommendation to George Washington by Dr. Franklin. " What do you seek here?" inquired the chief. "I come to fight as a volunteer for American independence," answered Kosciuszko. "What can you do?" asked Washington. "Try me," was the quick reply.Thaddeus Kosciuszko was born in

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-41562298770915059582011-03-04T12:05:00.001-05:002011-03-04T12:06:44.783-05:00

"Cowing down in front of extremism or being apologetic on their demands is what we have been doing. Abdicating responsibility and state power by agreeing to the demands of men of evil that block our streets to celebrate the murderer of a brave man who stood up for a poor Christian farmhand is what we have been doing."There is a way out of this. It is not something Pakistanis accept easily. I've

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-89316594103648458982011-02-27T21:43:00.004-05:002011-02-28T06:53:26.527-05:00

Mutee: We should implement Islam in our country [Pakistan] and lives and everything thing will be fine we don't need anyone except we should just seek guidance from islam.Solomon2: Who will clean the toilets under Islam? Mutee: u can if u want Solomon2: And if I don't, what then? Mutee: Every one with a good civic sense and everyone who feels he has an obligation towards the society not by just

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-90688872297371892452011-02-27T14:22:00.002-05:002011-02-27T14:28:39.590-05:00

As Nick Cohen at the Guardian finally voices the truth - his access to the Middle East safe now that democratizing revolutions are under way:Far from being a cause of the revolution, antagonism to Israel everywhere served the interests of oppressors. Europeans have no right to be surprised. Of all people, we ought to know from our experience of Nazism that antisemitism is a conspiracy theory

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-53752583196558149892011-02-10T19:41:00.009-05:002011-03-02T23:59:41.802-05:00

“Israeli officials, who have long viewed Mr. Mubarak and Mr. Suleiman as stabilizing influences in a dangerous region, have made clear to the administration that they support evolution rather than revolution in Egypt.” I’m a Zionist and I’ve cheered for this revolution for years. Hate-monger Mubarak has had too many chances. The M-B are not a concern while they are being swamped by the mass

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-5089049850715511832011-02-10T00:00:00.001-05:002011-02-12T19:05:34.240-05:00

From The Wall Street Journal:THE WEEKEND INTERVIEWFEBRUARY 5, 2011 Democracy's Tribune on the Arab Awakening A survivor of nine years in the Soviet Gulag, Natan Sharansky believes that liberalism can take root in Egypt—if the free world supports its transition.By DAVID FEITH 'If you want a glimpse of how I think about foreign policy, read Natan Sharansky's book, 'The Case

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-34617367039687300702011-02-07T13:26:00.001-05:002011-02-07T13:29:09.988-05:00

“muslims in the west will do whatever they want regardless of what the local law says/permits.” link George Washington: “…the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.” link Take a look at

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-34615269580221389412011-02-07T12:18:00.003-05:002011-02-07T12:23:41.719-05:00

For every father who as a boy imagined himself in the universe of Star Wars can sympathize.

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-32519656714449468812011-02-04T08:49:00.001-05:002011-02-04T08:51:38.912-05:00

Sandmonkey is highly principled. That is good for his self-image, but might be bad for Egyptian reform in general. The thing is, if Mubarak can’t reach a compromise with liberal forces he will seek one with the Brotherhood. And any compromise that the Brotherhood accepts entails them eventually reaching power and suppressing everyone else. The trick is to compel Mubarak to reach a

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-59502846982236447012011-02-03T08:05:00.007-05:002011-02-04T15:05:52.674-05:00

His account having been "suspended" - that is, hacked by the Mubarak regime - I am re-posting it from the Google cache: I don't know how to start writing this. I have been battling fatigue for not sleeping properly for the past 10 days, moving from one's friend house to another friend's house, almost never spending a night in my home, facing a very well funded and well organized

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-47044427469122933422011-02-03T06:01:00.001-05:002011-02-03T10:04:57.910-05:00

Sandmonkey's account has been hacked. Here is a previous post of his from August 25, 2009: Fundamentals! As far back as I can remember I’ve had this dream. Not much anymore, but for a while I had it all the time. There’s people on a rollercoaster and they’re having the time of their lives, and it’s loud and crashing, and there’s the

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-91515184772202204002011-01-07T10:07:00.003-05:002011-01-07T10:10:50.300-05:00

Sultan M Hali, Pakistan ObserverThere are various techniques in vogue by terrorists, which are being employed to subvert the uneducated youth and different methods are being utilized to infiltrate communities / masses to gain their support during planning and execution phases. How does a single individual go from standing on a street corner to flicking a switch and blowing himself up? The

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-35439743283055830282011-01-06T09:58:00.001-05:002011-01-06T10:00:43.892-05:00

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-50452682876137309632010-12-13T13:58:00.004-05:002010-12-13T14:09:55.237-05:00

The latest release from The National Archives, Hitler’s Shadow: Nazi War Criminals, U.S. Intelligence, and the Cold War. As The New York Times writes:...In chilling detail, the report also elaborates on the close working relationship between Nazi leaders and the grand mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, who later claimed that he sought refuge in wartime Germany only to avoid arrest by the

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-49665949056373072042010-12-04T18:00:00.005-05:002010-12-04T20:34:34.759-05:00

Pakistan soldiers stand in formation during a ceremony at Ghazi Aviation Base, Pakistan, Dec. 2, 2010. The ceremony marked the end of U.S. military humanitarian airlift flights in Pakistan. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Joshua Kruger/Released)U.S. Soldiers with Delta Company, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade pose for a photo before a ceremony at Ghazi Aviation Base, Pakistan, Dec. 2, 2010. The

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-10886244013212351252010-10-25T20:32:00.005-04:002010-10-25T21:03:19.123-04:00

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-54730993654669976962010-10-10T15:23:00.007-04:002010-10-13T08:18:30.135-04:00

100904-N-9565D-065 JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (Sept. 4, 2010) Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class William Thompson, assigned to the Star Warriors of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 209, receives a hug and kiss from his wife and son during a homecoming celebration at the Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility. VAQ-209 just completed a three month forward deployed tour to Afghanistan is support of

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-92032773258530563002010-09-17T11:42:00.001-04:002010-09-17T11:45:40.199-04:00

No, the helicopter isn't in battle; it's a precaution. Check out my thread at the Pakistan Defence Forum: link

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-33362717773622667732010-08-25T14:35:00.002-04:002010-08-25T15:25:42.246-04:00

I agree that, at the start, this was a badly considered decision. But when it turned into a judgment on all Muslims, the argument changed.Ah, that’s where we are on tough ground. However, the claim that “We cannot judge all Muslims” is also a kind of category error, isn’t it? Hardly anyone says, “We cannot judge all Al Qaeda”, yes? If Americans take on faith rather than experience that Muslims

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-8969002210775527602010-08-18T11:15:00.002-04:002010-08-18T11:29:44.190-04:00

The U.S. military is doing what it can, but it won't be enough. Airlift distributive capacity is probably under 900 tons per day. With 20,000,000 people displaced, Pakistan needs to distribute on the order of TEN THOUSAND tons per day - more like THIRTY thousand. They aren't going to make it. Unsmiling children like her are the lucky ones. I guess over half a million Pakistanis will be dead

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-37707983969668319722010-08-15T09:07:00.005-04:002010-08-15T11:45:45.635-04:00

Charles Johnson writes: Krauthammer can’t possibly be ignorant of these facts. So why is he still repeating the falsehoods?...Krauthammer should just come out and say it if he thinks the government should try to stop Cordoba House from being built, instead of indulging in this creepy sideways populism.The law permits Cordoba House to be built. That doesn't mean doing so is a good idea. Muslims

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-85728191251934555682010-07-29T14:08:00.006-04:002010-07-29T17:06:07.274-04:00

Hello everybody, First of all I would like to tell you that I am quite a frequent visitor of PDF. I like to read all the topics that are posted here. For the past 20-30 days I became a member of PDF and I was banned seven times. All I did was replying to those people who disgraced india, Hinduism and hindus. I am not at all posting this post out of frustration. I will speak only the truth.

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-47812843150287613622010-07-02T10:45:00.003-04:002010-07-02T11:00:10.065-04:00

The World Turned Upside Down: The Global Battle Over God, Truth, and Power is Melanie Phillips magnificent effort at explaining how the world, especially Britain, traveled from the scientific and liberating European Enlightenment attitude to the pro-tyranny and intolerant bent of many intellectuals and governments today. A timeless book, the current generation should read it and ponder now,

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-529877874077669892010-06-17T10:24:00.001-04:002010-06-17T10:30:18.059-04:00

I don't feel the founding of Israel was illegitimate. The facts are pretty clear if you go back and look - of course it was illegitimate. And the creation of Jordan, Syria and Iraq were just as illegitimate. No one polled the inhabitants and asked them what they wanted. The eviction of Jews from their ancestral lands in Iraq, Syira and Egypt was also an immense cultural crime. So was the

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-5124954158578047952010-02-26T15:42:00.003-05:002010-02-26T15:45:50.627-05:00

Thirty thousand dead. Only a fraction of them soldiers. Who killed them? The hand of death in almost all cases was Pakistani, yes? Was it terrorism that killed them or organized crime? Is there really so much of a difference? Could foreigners be at fault? If so, how?I look at the big picture. I start from Pakistan's creation. Jinnah wanted Pakistan for Pakistanis, yes, but a big reason why he

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-24099599144236775812009-12-20T18:34:00.002-05:002009-12-20T18:45:14.392-05:00

It is us [Pakistanis]. A timely tie-in with this thread at PDF. (h/t: PakMarine)

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-42663349684662994592009-12-13T16:22:00.002-05:002009-12-13T16:31:25.599-05:00

Consider first Barry Rubin's contention:Why if the Palestinians are suffering so much won't they make peace?Here's the answer: the Palestinian leadership wants total victory and Israel's elimination. They are willing to go on letting their people suffer for a century in pursuit of that goal. They hope that the world will give them everything they want without their having to make any

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-43243622209550892912009-12-04T08:53:00.009-05:002009-12-06T13:52:31.727-05:00

Courtesy of Solomonia:Update, 12/5/09: Welcome Pakistan Defence Forum readers! The deleted post in the "Israel's cruel face" thread contained the lower of the two cartoons above. It was in response to this comment by "Barrett":Israel is a zionist state, their policies are barbaric and satanic.Israel should stop killing innocent human beings -After the cartoon, I added the following, as close

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-30638665582403507352009-12-01T00:01:00.000-05:002009-12-13T16:02:42.362-05:00

Dubai crisis is the Arab economy’s opportunityWhat began as a pharaonic construction site is suddenly sinking in economic quicksand, its future as an archeological attraction possibly more promising than its pretensions as a global financial center.Dubai, which until last week loomed tall – literally – as an enterprising, cosmopolitan, glitzy and happy antithesis to the Middle East’s economic

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-35530597182515830152009-11-20T11:40:00.003-05:002009-11-20T11:54:38.150-05:00

An extract from the “Islam ≠ Fundamentalism” comment thread at Crossroads Arabia, out of a conversation with ever-bright "Sparky":Solomon2 I know you are Jewish but I don’t know if you are a Orthodox Jew but I wouldn’t ever be able to follow the strict rules Jews are supposed to. when I was a Christian, I had read the Torah numerous times and I thought God had wanted Jews to have some sort of

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-61272852296999825452009-11-11T07:26:00.004-05:002009-11-11T07:48:23.355-05:00

Your Excellency,Allow me to apologize to you for not being able to be present during your address to civil society at the hallowed campus of Government College University in my beloved city of Lahore. Much as I would have wanted to benefit from the wisdom of your analysis and foresight, I could not make the journey quickly enough from the remote town of Chilas where I was in consultation with the

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-16830054785510211062009-10-26T20:45:00.002-04:002009-10-26T20:55:27.123-04:00

Ignoring the practically obligatory anti-Israel stuff at the end, this has, pretty much, been my line of thinking for the past several years - except that I now know that "recalling some historical facts" will do nothing to reduce anti-Americanism (or anti-Zionism or anti-Semitism) unless a populace is ready emotionally to accept them....Similarly, some conspiracy theorists believe that Al Qaeda

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-3928250215101937752009-10-05T15:18:00.004-04:002009-10-05T15:57:27.448-04:00

"with what is now known about the costs in blood and treasure that the U.S.-Israeli relationship has imposed on the U.S., its key ally, Israel could fall within five years...Absent external pressure, Israeli behavior will not change."There's a lot of misinformation in this article, but especially misleading is the thinking that U.S. military and economic support keeps Israel alive. This probably

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-29174953948648193082009-10-01T12:45:00.002-04:002009-10-01T12:53:57.808-04:00

This time, it's in Geneva. I am not particularly impressed with the Inter-religious dialogue efforts to date. I suppose some conference invitees are thrilled with it because they get to press hands with heads-of-state, eat sumptuous food, and enjoy royal gifts. However, last year's conference ended on a sour note when the organizers tried to issue a final statement without approval of the

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-43364540406245999552009-09-29T01:02:00.002-04:002009-09-29T01:31:35.992-04:00

This massive 574-page report, originally commissioned by the (deeply-flawed) United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to explore exclusively Israeli wrongdoing (by design, taking Israel's actions out-of-context) and later pushed to its limits by its chief investigator, Richard Goldstone, to include some of the actions of Hamas and the Palestinians who Israel was actually fighting, seems to

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-23114168246066646952009-09-02T22:27:00.002-04:002009-09-10T13:05:56.533-04:00

By JEROLD S. AUERBACH linkNo theme is more deeply embedded in Jewish history than exile and return. The biblical exodus from Egypt to the promised land, the return from Babylonian exile, and, most recently, the establishment of the state of Israel all affirmed the enduring determination of the Jewish people to return to their homeland.Yet another wrenching exile and return, now rarely remembered,

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-24915945086660257052009-07-31T15:20:00.004-04:002009-07-31T15:56:35.010-04:00

As the U.S. withdraws from an active role in Iraqi affairs to military bases and then home, Iraqi leaders step up to the plate. Here's one story told by a U.S. soldier of a ceremony to re-open a bridge crossing an open sewer dividing Sunni and Shia communities, an event made possible only because Americans slogged it out hard with blood and spent treasure heavily for five years to reduce

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-34961744308400890952009-07-03T15:40:00.004-04:002009-07-03T16:23:27.997-04:00

Since April, the tide of Pakistani opinion has turned:"The Pakistani media had lost both its fear and its illusions about extremists, who had once been portrayed as ‘Robin Hood’ figures" linkIn contrast with earlier operations, the Pakistani Army is working very aggressively. link The turning point in Pakistani public opinion was the widely-circulated video of a teenage girl in Swat being

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-52784890850131477512009-06-21T12:24:00.006-04:002009-09-25T11:29:46.535-04:00

I grab a broken brick and throw. I’m amazed. I never thought I’d do it. I should practice. It was a very bad shot. I grab another one, the size of a pomegranate and keep it with me, hiding it behind my back. My feeling is a mixture of a university teacher and a hooligan -...There is a woman who is being beaten. She’s horrified and hysterical but not as much as the anti-riot police officer facing

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-23424176132876170592009-06-18T11:49:00.018-04:002009-09-25T11:16:18.591-04:00

· I have come due to concerns of current political and social conditions - to defend the rights of the nation· I have come to improve Iran's International relations· I have come to tell the world and return to Iran our pride, our dignity, our future· I have come to bring to Iran a FUTURE of FREEDOM, of HOPE, of fulfilment· I have come to represent the poor the helpless the hungry· I have come to

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-55997039721630353982009-06-16T15:41:00.005-04:002009-06-16T20:18:27.041-04:00

The tremendous events in Iran following its latest presidential election may be difficult to follow, but it seems life there will never be the same again. During one of the demonstrations yesterday a list of Seven Demands was circulated among the crowd. Number Three was the "temporary appointment" of Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri as Supreme Leader. Montazeri helped turn Iran into a

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-10917084793628858442009-06-10T14:20:00.009-04:002009-06-16T09:29:15.597-04:00

I was afraid of this but didn't expect things to happen so soon. An inevitable result of Obama's Cairo speech labeling Israel's "continued settlements" in the West Bank as "illegitimate" is massively increased danger to almost all Jewish-related targets: if the attackers make it to another country, they can fight extradition and prosecution on the grounds that they were attacking organizations

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-75617747761829794392009-06-01T01:00:00.001-04:002009-06-01T01:00:01.435-04:00

History creates and molds us Jews; Arabs create and mold their history.

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-70517613376382522572009-05-31T08:58:00.006-04:002009-06-01T13:52:25.971-04:00

I have been "eternally banned" from this forum, which I discovered a few weeks after the Mumbai Massacre. (I suppose it was something I wrote.) This post is provided for those forum members who still wish to discuss Pakistani issues with me.Some interesting articles:Corruption: "I own Karachi … and can sell it!" - parts 1, 2, and 3Neutrality of religious organizations: What? Are we not Muslims?'

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-27003547262518185042009-05-20T20:01:00.003-04:002009-05-21T20:36:44.531-04:00

An excellent article from Dawn. I couldn't put it any better:...as Pakistanis muster up their energies to face yet another humanitarian crisis they must also pause to reflect on Talibanisation and its relationship to our dysfunctional democracy. We need to give serious thought to the deep-seated causes behind the presence of the Taliban...The Taliban managed to make inroads not because they are

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-28707313407349778262009-02-06T11:19:00.003-05:002009-06-07T15:59:32.991-04:00

Were the Mumbai attackers creations of Pakistan's ISI? Over at the Pakistan Defence Forum, "Energon", whose logic appears impeccable to me, had this to say:The issue is very much about where these attacks are coming from. Kasab may not have official sanction of the nation, but he was recruited, trained and deployed by one of the institutions created by the state's agencies not too long ago, with

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-51267708264565469662009-01-23T13:05:00.001-05:002009-01-23T13:07:40.043-05:00

Dear neighbor,My name is David and I live in Israel, thirty minutes (or one minute rocket time) from you, in a beautiful house by the woods. I hope someday to have you over for a cup of tea. We have a lovely view from the balcony. On a clear day we can see our jets bombing your neighborhood.I think it’s time we had a heart to heart. It’s time you knew thetruth. After all, what are neighbors for?

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-5492071359415765132009-01-13T13:43:00.004-05:002009-01-13T14:18:34.379-05:00

"I think media should be abolished from, uh, you know, reporting"Priceless. But there is a kernel or two of truth: 1) Journalists are by definition beholden to their sources, and if a source has veto power over reporting - as Hamas has over the media representatives in its territory - then it is unlikely the reporting will not be very accurate. Winston Churchill, who wrote for newspapers

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-78508430744004978692008-12-18T13:38:00.003-05:002008-12-18T13:47:26.242-05:00

A short excerpt from Michael Totten's latest post:I heard Captain Looney's voice in the back room where the women and children had been corralled. The woman who had screamed when her door was broken down was crying hysterically.“I've been in Iraq too long for your crying to affect me,” Captain Looney said in a hard, even, and no-bullshit tone of voice.She stopped crying instantly. She didn't even

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-11671017851858332752008-12-15T14:17:00.010-05:002011-02-06T08:09:22.405-05:00

In our discussion of the fallout from the Mumbai Massacre, rabid anti-Zionist "DrM" produced this quote:“The world Zionist movement should not be neglectful of the dangers of Pakistan to it. And Pakistan now should be its first target, for this ideological State is a threat to our existence. And Pakistan, the whole of it, hates the Jews and loves the Arabs. “This lover of the Arabs is more

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-26233065457778414722008-12-03T13:08:00.004-05:002008-12-03T17:25:34.205-05:00

'The truth will make you free' is a principle that you young people should always keep in mind, especially today when, scorning the truth, freedom is relinquished..."...There is a greater and more subliminal danger than the terrorism of 'cut-throats.' It is the terrorism of the 'cut-tongues,' that is, the fear of affirming and divulging our faith and our civilization, and it brings us to

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-80781993307434795842008-12-01T10:53:00.002-05:002008-12-01T11:09:13.278-05:00

The Saudis appear to be reverting to the narrow definition of dialogue developed in June at the Mecca Preparatory Conference: that of dialogue as proselytization, rather than mutual and active listening. The U.N. Dialogue meeting is cited as "proof" of the monarchy's good intentions - thus letting the Saudis off the hook for any failure from this point forward. From here, I expect that the

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-21094525329693292292008-11-28T15:20:00.029-05:002010-08-03T09:52:59.357-04:00

Something smells here. It doesn't feel like an Al Qaeda attack because the groups were small and no big bombs went off. It doesn't feel like a Taliban or pirate attack because no targets-of-opportunity were engaged.This feels like a Spetsnaz-style diversionary assault: a platoon of men divided into groups of two to four dispersed to attack fixed targets in an economically or politically sensitive

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-23978110609905153412008-11-14T09:08:00.007-05:002008-12-14T09:03:10.572-05:00

This letter from the Pakistani newspaper Dawn deserves to be reproduced in full:Lack of toleranceA country hated all over the world for its policies and its administration; and a country which not long ago had two different laws for the White and the Black; where Black people were not allowed to enter various places or to sit in the same place as white Americans.This country has shown and

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-52119808715231185042008-11-11T16:17:00.004-05:002008-11-11T16:59:45.512-05:00

On the corruption of academia and education by foreign state-supported flacks and "believers". Too much to quote all its points, so read it all: An Area of Darkness. Here's a sample, but there's plenty more:When I was young, I was quite the little Arabist — cocksure, arrogant, wholly misguided. I grew up in Ann Arbor, Mich., and there were many Arab students — most of them Palestinian — in my

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-58784031451103258842008-10-31T16:02:00.005-04:002008-10-31T16:20:24.612-04:00

Over at Crossroads Arabia the proprietor, John Burgess, notes the increasing crescendo of interfaith dialogue events. One story in the English-language Arab News even headlines a story, "UN move proves success of Saudi initiative".I don't believe a word:The move to the U.N. is not a sign of the success of the Interfaith Dialogue Initiative, but the U.N.’s tribute to the Saudi King. Judge for

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-31341036627972326762008-10-23T20:47:00.004-04:002008-10-24T12:30:53.338-04:00

“It is a good thing to burn down the capitol and kill the King every now and then.”Yes. If Michael's interview with "resistance" fighters didn't convince me -Abdul, who can speak a little English, said that at first they liked the French and Americans because they were friendly and helpful. But he said that local people now see people who wear a uniform “all have one same face. ANA and NATO are

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-63140324021047063102008-09-26T12:17:00.002-04:002008-09-26T12:26:02.513-04:00

I was sitting in the office of the head of the Political Security apparatus in Damascus, to get an approval for a new passport...listening to him as he read out loud my father’s file, and counted the number of arrest warrants with his name. That was less than a week after my parents’ death.He rolled up in his big fancy leather chair, and said, “What exactly guarantees, that if we do give you a

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-13011530885558298442008-08-21T17:40:00.002-04:002008-08-21T17:53:01.514-04:00

I wonder how many of those worrying over SO and Abkhazia had the same feelings for Chechnya?...The US stood aside and let Russia pretty much destroy most of Chechnya, to this day Russians are still kidnapping and "disappearing" Chechans on a daily basis.I have many of the same thoughts you did, Marc. The main difference, of course, is that Chechnya wasn't considered an independent state but a

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-6374593266466671032008-07-17T10:27:00.006-04:002009-05-27T13:49:42.303-04:00

The Conference has a website, but it isn't very good, at least not the English version. I'm commenting on the event over at John Burgess' blog:July 13: Saudi Interfaith Conference to Start on Low Key. If the delegates emerge without giving their followers license to kill it will be counted a success, but please no empty "Kumbaya" moments!July 14: Problems for the Madrid Conference. Not "problems

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-59855229160921845792008-07-06T18:07:00.007-04:002008-07-14T00:32:37.680-04:00

More details of the upcoming Madrid Interfaith Conference have come out, and I'm starting to think there is a possibility that it can be constructive after all:Arab News, 6/22: According to Muslim World League Chief Abdullah al-Turki, the Madrid Conference will follow the program outlined at the Mecca Conference. It will last three days and topics will include social amity, international

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-72811533487493317682008-06-11T11:00:00.022-04:002008-11-17T13:38:20.025-05:00

The official Saudi Press Agency covered the Islamic Preparatory Conference on Religious Dialogue I discussed in my previous post. The Conference actually achieved quite a bit, and I'm not laughing about it any more. According to the SPA, the conferees:1) Recommended the establishment of "King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Center for Civilization Interaction" with the aim to disseminate the

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-76759414185122771002008-06-06T16:40:00.013-04:002008-06-15T00:54:35.350-04:00

First reports are in from the Islamic Prepatory Meeting on Inter-Religious Dialogue:““Yes, we should talk to different independent religious groups, but we should also talk to various personalities who are influential in their respective fields, such as media personalities, intellectuals and academics,” said Al-Turki.”I can’t wait till they interview Britney!Apparently the primary goal of

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-87441023272641244802008-05-28T21:05:00.001-04:002008-06-08T09:47:39.926-04:00

[T]here are non-violent ways of dealing with Israel and bringing justice finally for the Palestinians.Yes, BUT that would involve making crazy Arabs sane. If Israel gave back every square inch of territory and its population removed itself to the Moon, wouldn't Arabs and Muslims STILL be chasing around looking for "Zionist enemies", both internal and external, unless a better enemy came along?Not

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-53574659328932634072008-05-23T15:35:00.007-04:002008-05-23T17:33:53.356-04:00

"Religion captures the very best and very worst of who we are, and to see only the best or the worst of religion is a dangerous error. If you see only the good, you become an apologist and take no responsibility for the incredible violence that religion is so capable of unleashing. If you see only the bad in religion, then you miss all the biggest questions, the most profound longings, the

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-91600238112422590322008-05-15T08:43:00.002-04:002008-05-15T08:49:24.656-04:00

Why, since Arabs don't display the pity they claim for themselves towards others, do they merit consideration for this mewling?When Arabs are sorry for the peoples they displaced,the lives Arabs have destroyed,the wives Arabs have forcibly taken,the sorrows Arabs have created,the seeds of hatred Arabs have planted,the lies in the name of religion Arabs have advocated,the lies in the name of theft

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-76864866051155567732008-05-12T18:44:00.013-04:002008-05-14T16:22:11.092-04:00

Abu Muqawama admits to being stumped about what the U.S. should do about Lebanon, now that Hezbollah has launched its long-expected yet long-denied military putsch. My answer: nothing much right now, for the Lebanon is still (pardon the pun) a state in flux:I think the key here is that Lebanon isn't really a democracy, but a consociate; it only appears to have functioning democratic institutions

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-91490733773687335322008-04-10T21:44:00.003-04:002008-04-10T22:07:03.026-04:00

"You meant to blow them up?"Of course, why else would a grown man play with trains?""You do have natural talent, but that has nothing to do with learning or knowledge.""From dragons to toy guns to real guns to atom bombs! Thinking like yours can save the world!"

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-73088437808852539282008-03-25T12:57:00.007-04:002008-03-25T14:07:05.941-04:00

Why does Father Zakaria Botros rate such a title? Because (1) he is a fearless television personality, (2) he speaks in fluent classical Arabic, and (3) he has proved to be both irrefutable and irresistible. Thus he has changed the dynamic by making Islamic scholars accountable:The most dramatic example of this occurred on another famous show on the international station, Iqra. The host, Basma —

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-46047291521699015832007-12-25T15:41:00.000-05:002007-12-25T15:57:47.143-05:00

The Sandmonkey writes about his mother:[S]he is one of the most racist people I've ever known or met. She hates Blacks, Jews, Christians, Arabs, Indians, Asians...I once jokingly told her that when I will go to the US for college, I would find me a black Jewish wife and have like 3 babies with her, you know, just to mess with her. She looked me straight in the eye and told me that if I actually

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-92124571391087323272007-12-11T13:00:00.000-05:002007-12-11T13:54:52.011-05:00

Unlike most Americans, Solomon2 grew up with Muslims as his next-door neighbors. Solomon2's memories of them are as good people and happy, generous friends. About twenty years ago their humor took a darker turn. They told me their religion had moved in another direction and left them behind. They told me they were now proud to be considered "bad Muslims" by some of their co-religionists! At

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-38247936506282179332007-11-25T14:37:00.000-05:002007-11-25T15:10:59.294-05:00

A great story in The Washington Post: If Nasima ever met an Israeli pilot, "I would faint and die from fear."Yuval patted Ahmad on the head. The surgery would be soon. Later, Nasima called Yuval "our savior of the children."Yuval is a savior of children. He is also an attack helicopter pilot. It was Yuval in his Cobra -- though Nasima didn't know it -- hovering over her town, as Israeli troops

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-11797230677698176782007-11-25T11:11:00.000-05:002007-11-25T11:18:01.340-05:00

Much hullaballoo has been made of this week's upcoming Annapolis Conference. It seems very ill-defined, yet all the major players in the Middle East will be there, save Iran and possibly Syria.In his writings Henry Kissinger warned that poorly planned and staged summits carry the potential for political disaster. Maybe so, but mutual enemies like Israel and the Arab states don't have normal

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-91780502297065429992007-11-21T19:37:00.000-05:002007-11-22T06:45:21.420-05:00

My comments here. If you still doubt what I'm saying, watch this MEMRI video of Egyptian Nonie Darwish, "We must begin to view the Jews in a forgiving light":- and see what happened to her as a result of expressing her views. Even in America, the Muslim community insists on ostracizing her. She may be safe in Egypt for the moment only because of the posthumous respect accorded her shahid

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-44220476837868189152007-11-05T15:07:00.000-05:002007-11-05T15:21:16.179-05:00

Says Baron Bodissey over at Gates of Vienna:The topic simply cannot be discussed without my becoming a racist. We all know where the dangerous areas lie, and how to avoid them. We know that if we don’t stay away from them, we can lose our jobs, be publicly vilified, and in some cases be subject to arrest and prosecution......I am a racist. By these paragraphs I have proved it.Solomon2 looks

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-51902650397158929672007-10-26T14:32:00.000-04:002007-10-26T14:36:09.055-04:00

Any "consensus" candidate is sure to be a weak president. The reason is simply that if he wants to pursue some policy or make some decision that a party to the consensus disagrees with, he'll be accused of violating his legitimacy. A "temporary" president - one who takes office with the understanding that his exercise of Constitutional authority is limited until it can be exercised by the "

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-73096686550505256912007-10-08T14:23:00.001-04:002008-06-16T21:33:38.789-04:00

Mordechai Sorkin is a U.S. Army Ranger and platoon leader in Afghanistan. He explained "why I fight" on the anniversary of September 11th:In any event, at one point during the day I was sitting about 15 meters away from a detainee, watching our Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) talk to him. Now I’m not completely cold-hearted, but I’m definitely not buddy-buddy when it comes to handling

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-34298091908032487472007-10-06T21:40:00.000-04:002007-10-06T21:57:52.311-04:00

I keep thinking of Charles Malik's post from late last year:A core problem, and one of the reasons why Shia are so dead set against 14 March and support Hezbollah even though they don't support their entire agenda, is because of the sectarianism, classism, and tribalism of the 14 March parties. Sure, the Democratic Left is non-sectarian, but Future, the PSP, and the LF - the power 3 - carry the

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-1473888643493189292007-09-30T15:21:00.000-04:002007-10-06T20:20:37.946-04:00

"At that moment we couldn't fully understand what we had done," Chertok recalled. "We felt ecstatic about it only later, when the entire world ran amok. Only four or five days later did we realize that it was a turning point in the history of civilization."The surviving key men of the Soviet space program are finally free to speak. Secrecy related to nuclear and missile matters was so extreme in

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-82109432902453787422007-09-21T08:12:00.000-04:002007-09-21T08:16:30.384-04:00

Why stop at Ghanem? As long as assassins can't be caught and there is no political cost to the "other side's" agenda for such dastardly deeds, why shouldn't whoever wants to kill Lebanese democracy simply continue?Whats so frustrating here, besides the fact that once again a respected leader was mercilessly and anonymously murdered in broad daylight, is that we still have NO plan for Lebanon, and

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-32350778980758118502007-09-11T12:48:00.000-04:002007-09-11T13:11:21.682-04:00

Today many Afghan says God bless Osama Bin Landin who attacked the twin tower and drove the world to look at our country which was in burning and also they say God bless America that saved our live and brought democracy, freedom and security...Many Afghans says it is not important for us how many people have been killed in September 11 in twin tower in New York and Pentagon outside Washington but

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-9338084561282556312007-09-05T22:17:00.001-04:002008-06-16T21:48:19.126-04:00

This blog is premised on the basis that Solomon2 thinks he is wise. This post is proof that he is not, at least not all the time.Last night I learned about the death of a soldier in Iraq, 1LT Andrew Bacevich. Solomon2 had ripped into and unjustly insulted this young man's father in a post two years ago. (I am too embarassed to link to it, but the post remains up.) I now realize that because I was

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181557.post-46906918688584026272007-09-05T17:26:00.000-04:002007-09-05T18:10:55.225-04:00

I was discussing this recently with a european friend and he asked why Arabs were collaborators in their own decline ? I think the question is legitimate but at the same time, one has to consider that Arab countries were never decolonised.That statement only makes factual sense if it is taken to mean that most of the Arab states today consist of territory that was conquered, then colonized, by

Solomon2http://www.blogger.com/profile/15341059223792174505noreply@blogger.com0