The Reliability of Local Security Forces in the West Bank and Afghanistan
By Dr. Ehud Eilam, JINSA Visiting Fellow
States are evaluated through many parameters, the economic factor being a major one. Thus, the Palestinian Authority (PA) – judged by its economic progress in recent years – is almost a state, while Afghanistan is barely one.
Another major criterion for assessing a state is its national security. How do the PA and its counterpart in Afghanistan measure up?
In September 2011, the PA plans to request that the United Nations recognize it as a state. Israel opposes this Palestinian move, but does not wish the PA to fail as a representative of the Palestinians. Similarly in Afghanistan, Western powers, led by the United States, strive to help the Kabul government stay on its feet.
Ensuring the survival of both the PA and the Afghan government requires reliable local security forces capable of imposing law and order and confronting a powerful internal rival: Hamas for the PA, and the Taliban for the Afghan government. In fact, the...
National Jewish Democratic Council Silent on Obama’s Omission of Israel from Terror Victim List
by Bill Levinson
NJDC asked to call out Obama Administration’s glaring omission of Israel from list of terrorism victims concluded on September 2,
If the National Jewish Democratic Council wishes to stand behind its promotion of Mr. Obama as a supporter of Israel (or even as somebody who opposes terrorism in general with more than lip service), it needs to get him to clarify his position on whether Israel is a victim of terrorism.
As of today, we have not received a response nor has the National Jewish Democratic Council posted anything on its Web site. This reinforces our belief that NJDC’s support for Israel, and indeed for common decency, ends where the left wing of the Democratic Party begins.
Soccer Dad’s Middle East Media Sampler
1) Drezner on Goldberg
Yesterday, Jeffrey Goldberg got everyone’s attention by reporting that former Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates considers Israel to be an “ungrateful ally.” Ron Kampeas of the JTA linked to a followup piece in Foreign Policyby Dan Drezner “explaining” (rather tendentiously) what Netanyahu’s thinking is.
I have no inside information about the Netanyahu regime’s internal thinking, but I’d wager that it sounds something like this:
1) All else equal, we prefer an administration that’s ideologically sympatico with us — which, in the current moment, means neocon-friendly Republicans;
2) The likelihood that Obama will be re-elected in 2012 is diminishing by the day;
3) Through our strategy of bitching to the media about Obama, we have succeeded in getting every viable GOP contender for president to complain that Obama is “throwing Israel under the bus.”
4) No U.S....
National honour does serve our strategic interests.
Israeli intelligence urges return to peace talks with Palestinians
HAARETZ
Foreign Ministry, Shin Bet, Mossad and MI documents recommend progress vis-a-vis Palestinians in order to tone down tensions and anger, and improve Israel’s diplomatic standing.
In recent weeks the Foreign Ministry, Military Intelligence, the Shin Bet security service and the Mossad have distributed a number of documents stating that a return to negotiations would tone down tensions and anger against Israel.
The documents, issued ahead of the expected UN vote on a Palestinian state, also state that while changes in the Arab world could be a threat to Israel, they also represent opportunities for Israel to improve its diplomatic standing.
Netanyahu, Abbas, Obama
“All the documents recommend progress vis-a-vis the Palestinians,” a source close to Defense Minister Ehud Barak said.
In recent meetings of the eight senior cabinet ministers, Barak told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and...
Militant Islamic Awareness Week Continues: Jihad Stopped at Vienna!
September 12, 1683: Militant Islam’s high water mark in civilized Europe
by Bill Levinson
“Then the Husaria broke into a wild gallop and the heavy mass of men and horses cascaded over the Turkish ranks, bowling over the first, slicing through the second… The Grand Vizir leapt on to a horse and made his own escape moments before the winged riders thundered up to the tent and the banner was struck” (Adam Zamoyski, The Polish Way, p. 3).
September 11 marked the beginning of militant Islamic Awareness Week, as it should every year. September 12 is the anniversary of the Battle of Vienna, the high water mark of Islamic expansionism. It is why militant Muslims must now do to Europe with demographics (immigration and uncontrolled breeding) what they were unable to do by force.
Jan Sobieski Day, September 12
King Jan Sobieski’s address to his soldiers:
Brave and Valiant Gentlemen of Poland, it is not here only requisite to make good the Glory...
Cheney: Israel Will Attack a ‘Nuclear’ Iran
Israel will attack Iran’s nuclear facilities if necessary to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon, former Vice President Dick Cheney tells Newsmax TV in an exclusive interview.
“I think they would,” Cheney said when asked about the possibility. “I think Iran represents an existential threat, and they’ll do whatever they have to do to guarantee their survival and their security.”
When asked if his opinion was based on discussions with Israeli leaders, Cheney responded, “I can’t attribute it to any one particular Israeli leader. I wouldn’t want to do that.” But he said, “I’ve had a number of conversations with a lot of Israeli officials, and I think they correctly perceive Iran as a basic threat.”
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell has accused Cheney of taking “cheap shots” by saying in his book that he learned that Powell was opposed to the war in Iraq yet “never once in any meeting did I hear him voice...
More Recent Articles
- Militant Islamic Awareness Week Begins on 9/11
- Obama is offended
- Religious intolerance in … Israel
- Pat Condell targets the UN and OIC
Ted Belman
Jerusalem, Israel
Posts
