Here are two articles with opposing view points on the matter of a Hamas
Hezbollah combined attack strategy. Israeli leaders interpretations of events to come no doubt presents a variety military, diplomatic, and political ramifications for everyone involved.
What will happen?
Decide for yourself:
Article 1, from the Guardian: Faced with a doomsday scenario, Israel must sit down with Hamas
Article 2, from Strategypage : Hamas Seeks a Blaze of Glory
In any case, no matter what develops we can only be certain that our "leadership" will make the wrong choices, or at very best approach a decent policy only to fumble the ball early on, never to recover it.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Jonathan Rosenblum on the Supreme Court
Jonathan Rosenblum is good.
Here is a great piece he wrote on the Supreme Court, undressing that institution and its members down to what they really are: Sanctimonious Illiberal Crypto-Fascist Oligarchs:
Our Illiberal Court
by Jonathan Rosenblum
Jerusalem Post
March 4, 2008
"The Supreme Court has been widely regarded as Israel's most stalwart liberal institution since Barak took over as its president in 1996," wrote Calev Ben-David last week in these pages. Had he described the Court as Israel's most left-wing institution he would have been on safer ground (though all those academic departments in which a traditional Zionist can never gain appointment might contest the title).
One can be both left-wing and fundamentally illiberal. European human rights councils and university speech codes that would forbid quoting the Koran, in the name of protecting against Islamophobia may be left-wing. But they are not liberal.
Plato will never be listed among the philosophers of liberalism. Yet under Barak, the justices assumed the role of Platonic Guardians, or, in former Court President Moshe Landau's description, "governing elders." That task, Landau added, is one for which they had no training and showed little aptitude.
Click here to read more...
Here is a great piece he wrote on the Supreme Court, undressing that institution and its members down to what they really are: Sanctimonious Illiberal Crypto-Fascist Oligarchs:
Our Illiberal Court
by Jonathan Rosenblum
Jerusalem Post
March 4, 2008
"The Supreme Court has been widely regarded as Israel's most stalwart liberal institution since Barak took over as its president in 1996," wrote Calev Ben-David last week in these pages. Had he described the Court as Israel's most left-wing institution he would have been on safer ground (though all those academic departments in which a traditional Zionist can never gain appointment might contest the title).
One can be both left-wing and fundamentally illiberal. European human rights councils and university speech codes that would forbid quoting the Koran, in the name of protecting against Islamophobia may be left-wing. But they are not liberal.
Plato will never be listed among the philosophers of liberalism. Yet under Barak, the justices assumed the role of Platonic Guardians, or, in former Court President Moshe Landau's description, "governing elders." That task, Landau added, is one for which they had no training and showed little aptitude.
Click here to read more...
Article: "Diplomacy: War and piecemeal"
Here is a Jpost article from the Friday edition that sheds a little bit of light on the piecemeal factor I have been talking about.
It cannot be understated just how demoralizing this type of war fighting can become on troops and commanders, as well as citizens. It will result in a reverse attrition in terms of morale, upon us. Decisive action is required to reach even minimal goals and Olmert has been completely incapable of achieving them in any form. He has failed time and time again in two separate theaters of combat--pointlessly risking our civilian soldiers lives.
Imagine the same piecemeal strategy employed against Iran (which is what is happening based on the fact that Hamas and Hezbollah are both Iranian proxies). I can see Olmert sending bombers out over Iran just to call them back as they are about to drop their payloads just so he can announce on TV: "See we could destroy their weapons if we wanted to, now they will see just how serious we are and destroy them themselves. Now they have seen our power!"
Ridiculous.
Diplomacy: War and piecemeal
By Herb Keinon
Throughout a tense and dramatic week - a week of battles in Jabaliya and Grad missiles falling on Ashkelon - the government's leaders have repeatedly deflected questions about Israel's tactics and strategy in the Gaza Strip by saying they don't want to give the enemy any foreknowledge of what the country will do.
"Everything is possible: aerial and ground raids, special operations and other operations; everything is up for discussions," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday. "We will not be revealing what we are considering, or when, because we don't want to give our enemies the chance to prepare," he continued.
Fair enough. But there is one collateral problem: Not only is the enemy confused; so are the country's citizens. If asked what their government was trying to do in Gaza this week, most people would probably say the policy was aimed at protecting the citizens of the South and stopping the rocket fire. But follow-up questions - whether Israel was trying to topple Hamas; whether Israel wanted to go back into Gaza; whether Israel was aiming not only to stop the rocket fire, but also end the massive arms buildup there - would probably be met with befuddled looks, a scratch of the head, and a goofy "I dunno."
Click here to read more…
It cannot be understated just how demoralizing this type of war fighting can become on troops and commanders, as well as citizens. It will result in a reverse attrition in terms of morale, upon us. Decisive action is required to reach even minimal goals and Olmert has been completely incapable of achieving them in any form. He has failed time and time again in two separate theaters of combat--pointlessly risking our civilian soldiers lives.
Imagine the same piecemeal strategy employed against Iran (which is what is happening based on the fact that Hamas and Hezbollah are both Iranian proxies). I can see Olmert sending bombers out over Iran just to call them back as they are about to drop their payloads just so he can announce on TV: "See we could destroy their weapons if we wanted to, now they will see just how serious we are and destroy them themselves. Now they have seen our power!"
Ridiculous.
Diplomacy: War and piecemeal
By Herb Keinon
Throughout a tense and dramatic week - a week of battles in Jabaliya and Grad missiles falling on Ashkelon - the government's leaders have repeatedly deflected questions about Israel's tactics and strategy in the Gaza Strip by saying they don't want to give the enemy any foreknowledge of what the country will do.
"Everything is possible: aerial and ground raids, special operations and other operations; everything is up for discussions," Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday. "We will not be revealing what we are considering, or when, because we don't want to give our enemies the chance to prepare," he continued.
Fair enough. But there is one collateral problem: Not only is the enemy confused; so are the country's citizens. If asked what their government was trying to do in Gaza this week, most people would probably say the policy was aimed at protecting the citizens of the South and stopping the rocket fire. But follow-up questions - whether Israel was trying to topple Hamas; whether Israel wanted to go back into Gaza; whether Israel was aiming not only to stop the rocket fire, but also end the massive arms buildup there - would probably be met with befuddled looks, a scratch of the head, and a goofy "I dunno."
Click here to read more…
Friday, March 07, 2008
And the beat goes on...
"The attack drew international condemnation, including from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel said that the attack would not derail peace talks."
Uhhh…
There is so much that is F'd up with this bite of information that I really don’t know where to begin...it is simply the absolute height of absurdity in every notion of the word and therein encapsulates the hysterically insane and psychologically fraught nature of this country’s distorted national psyche.
In case I haven’t made this clear, the people of Israel have been so intellectually and morally disarmed by this country’s ruling class for so many years in its efforts to sustain its dominance over the people that Israelis are by and large incapable of drawing healthy conclusions on political/national issues.
The elitist oligarchs have kept this state’s proverbial body strong and mind incredibly weak, so much so that even in the face of yesterday’s travesty many Israeli’s will take solace in the ridiculous notion of a condemnation made by either terrorist icon Abu Mazen or the “international community”.
The state of Israel is like a man being devoured by a pack of hungry wolves who pleads with them not to devour his vital organs in the off chance that they will just eat his legs instead and leave the rest of him alone--stupid and dying.
I would also like to add that I will remain unimpressed by any “reprisal” made by Israel as a result of this attack on us--if there should even be one. Don’t let any cheap action on this government’s behalf buy you off either.
I would like to end with a prayer:
GD Bless The Souls So Brutally Taken From Within Our Midst, On Our Watch, As result Of Our Pathetic Inadequacies As A Nation, And May He Avenge Their Cruel Slaughter For All To Behold If Shall We Fail To Do So.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
F**k Olmert!
The full scale tragedy of tonight's events have yet to unfold, however one thing remains abundantly clear: our enemies must pay for this blood and yet, they will be rewarded instead.
They will and so will all of our other enemies. Anyone who suggests talking instead of domination on any and all fronts is a f**king waste of life.
More than that, our enemies will be rewarded as will those who reward them, with continued power and continued strangulating control over this nation.
I can scarcely endure the deterioration of this country any longer. A country with as much potential as Israel for being a guiding force to the world, that yet remains incapable of realizing that mantle can only be referred to as evolutionarily inadequate.
This country has become the f**kin' abyss.
F**k Olmert, F**k the Arabs, and F**k the capitualtors.
Kahane Tzadak...more and more every day.
They will and so will all of our other enemies. Anyone who suggests talking instead of domination on any and all fronts is a f**king waste of life.
More than that, our enemies will be rewarded as will those who reward them, with continued power and continued strangulating control over this nation.
I can scarcely endure the deterioration of this country any longer. A country with as much potential as Israel for being a guiding force to the world, that yet remains incapable of realizing that mantle can only be referred to as evolutionarily inadequate.
This country has become the f**kin' abyss.
F**k Olmert, F**k the Arabs, and F**k the capitualtors.
Kahane Tzadak...more and more every day.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Israeli Cab Diary: The Non Sequitur Cab Battle
OK, so I order a cab for what should be a normal ten minute drive and it shows up late as usual, but then…
I get in the car, the driver, a Sephardic man in his late forties with nose hair protruding in sickening bushes from both nostrils says:
I could barely contain myself. But I thought, what am I gonna do, just sit here and listen to this guys Non Sequiturs without throwing a few back of my own like some kind of wimp?
I make it a point to never back down from a Non Sequitur cab battle challenge.
So I spit this at him:
He answers back:
And there I was. Bested by a true genius in his element. It was beautiful.
All I could add was:
And it was over, just like that...I was served.
My friends, you might think that a Non Sequitur cab battle is harmless fun, but I'm here to tell
you that she is a soulless temptress to be respected and feared.
But I already know what you're thinking, if it weren't for the honor I too would have forgone the pleasure.
I get in the car, the driver, a Sephardic man in his late forties with nose hair protruding in sickening bushes from both nostrils says:
I don’t know what do about it, you know, I mean I can see but I just can’t see that well when I’m driving. If I get too close too something just tell me. I can see but not when I get to close to things, so the doctor wants me to wear these glasses but they are so expensive, you know the brand I’m talking about…what’s it called…um…you know…just tell me already…um…well anyway he gave me an interesting thing with it, here, you know, to clean the glasses with, but who needs it. Here look at it, it’s in the glove box, I’ll find it for you…Ok here it is, do you know anything about this kind of stuff? Well in any case my son is in Jenin you know and he’s a great kid he’s been there for a few days. What do you say about that? Kids are so spoiled today. The fact of the matter is you have to understand the way UEFA works, the rules are very detailed and its crazy you know? Wow, I saw this awesome car, a Ferrari, but I would just smash it to pieces I don’t know how though, that’s just the way it is though in this city…
I could barely contain myself. But I thought, what am I gonna do, just sit here and listen to this guys Non Sequiturs without throwing a few back of my own like some kind of wimp?
I make it a point to never back down from a Non Sequitur cab battle challenge.
So I spit this at him:
Well I got to tell you, a tiger just escaped from the San Diego Zoo and its going crazy, killing people and other nonsense, eating ice cream and the such, you know what a tiger does to ice cream, tears it to pieces and leaves you bloody to die, one guy got his leg torn right off, but that’s nothing where I’m from there’s already a meter of snow on the ground, a meter, wow, but here it’s a sunny day, I don’t understand how it works, and I’ve got to tell you I don’t let anyone get in my way when I have to piss, if you’re there you’re in trouble…but you know how it is, my shoulder hurts and I cant carry stuff, so everyone on the road can go to hell with the penguins who I F’n hate anyway…you know what I mean…
He answers back:
Those damn fire trucks…
And there I was. Bested by a true genius in his element. It was beautiful.
All I could add was:
Touché sir, touché…
And it was over, just like that...I was served.
My friends, you might think that a Non Sequitur cab battle is harmless fun, but I'm here to tell
you that she is a soulless temptress to be respected and feared.
But I already know what you're thinking, if it weren't for the honor I too would have forgone the pleasure.
More American Hypocrisy
People's beliefs in the amusing notions that the US wouldn’t stand by and watch Israel go down in flames and that Fatah is a force of moderates/peace partners are for me reminiscent of hamsters running a wheel, no matter how fast those beliefs get them no where they keep going and going and going...
Fairly decent article that touches on both issues and upon Hamas' use of American weapons seized in the takeover:
Will the State Department Side with American Terror Victims or Yasser Arafat?
As Abbas brags about Fatah’s terror legacy, we wait and watch.
By Andrew C. McCarthy
After nearly 3,000 Americans were murdered in the atrocities of September 11, 2001, President Bush boldly announced that the United States would not distinguish between terror networks and the regimes that support them. They would all be regarded as hostile and dealt with accordingly.
What a sad commentary it is that, less than seven years later, we are left to wonder whether our State Department will stand with the American victims of terror or join forces with the other side: a regime with a long, remorseless record of practicing terrorism, preaching terrorism, and murdering Americans.
Click here to read more...
Fairly decent article that touches on both issues and upon Hamas' use of American weapons seized in the takeover:
Will the State Department Side with American Terror Victims or Yasser Arafat?
As Abbas brags about Fatah’s terror legacy, we wait and watch.
By Andrew C. McCarthy
After nearly 3,000 Americans were murdered in the atrocities of September 11, 2001, President Bush boldly announced that the United States would not distinguish between terror networks and the regimes that support them. They would all be regarded as hostile and dealt with accordingly.
What a sad commentary it is that, less than seven years later, we are left to wonder whether our State Department will stand with the American victims of terror or join forces with the other side: a regime with a long, remorseless record of practicing terrorism, preaching terrorism, and murdering Americans.
Click here to read more...
Monday, March 03, 2008
Talk about Piecemeal Conflict...
This is spectacularly amusing!
Olmert is already pulling out. "That fast?", you ask? Indeed that fast. Seems almost a bit premature, doesn't it?!
He's attempting to micro manage the conflict to protect his image. Olmerta's (kind of like Omerta, but his code of silence is in never admitting he made a mistake, which if he did might balance out his favor a little in more feeble Israeli minds) goal here is redemption. He wants to redeem his failures in Lebanon by doing the exact apposite of everything he did there--or so he will portray. But since he is a crummy leader and a crummy poker player too he F'd up again by allowing Hamas to declare a victory over Israel.
I cant wait for his pathetic spin on the issue that will probably transmogrify over the next several days if not weeks in ever more feeble attempts to justify his leadership.
Even if he goes back in, he will never get passed the shame of this premature withdrawl, which any man who is half his salt knows is a garaunteed recipe for...well... you get the idea.
Here is more validation for me:
http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5078
Israeli troops abruptly withdraw from Gaza. Seven-story Ashkelon building hit by Katyusha Monday
March 3, 2008, 11:59 AM (GMT+02:00)
Shortly after Israel’s withdrawal, Monday, March 3, the Palestinians stepped up their cross-border attacks. One of three Katyusha rockets fired from Gaza at Ashkelon hit a seven-story building sending a dozen people into shock and sowing wide panic in the city of 120,000. Four missiles exploded in the Eshkol farmland area south of Sderot, while mortar fire was aimed at Sderot, Kibbutz Yad Mordecai, Nahal Oz and Netiv Ha’asara.
DEBKAfile reports: Prime minister Ehud Olmert suddenly decided on the pullback of Israeli ground and armored units from northern Gaza before dawn Monday before they reached their goal of halting Palestinian fire. Stage one of Operation Hot Winter was announced at an end. He was later attacked by members of the Knesset foreign affairs and security committee for aborting the operation in contradiction of the pledges he and the defense minister made Sunday. Both had vowed that military ground action would press on until the Hamas missile-rocket offensive against Israeli civilians was stamped out.
Up until late Sunday night, Qassam rockets continued to explode in Sderot and surrounding villages and Katyusha rockets in Ashkelon at the average rate of 50 per day since Wednesday. The three-day Israeli infantry, tank and air incursion left more than 100 Palestinians dead, most Hamas combatants, some civilians and children. Two Israeli soldiers were killed.
DEBKAfile’s military sources report: Aborting this action in mid-stream leaves Israel with the options of air, surface missile and artillery raids - or short, shallow forays – all of which have long proved ineffectual.
Olmert’s order to the Israeli ground force to turn around and withdraw in mid-offensive was astonishing and unprecedented. Senior officers fully expected the Palestinian Hamas terrorist leaders to rush into declarations of victory and claims that they had beaten the Israeli army into a retreat. And indeed, Hamas staged a victory march in Gaza City later Monday.
Our political sources disclose that Olmert, during his absence in Tokyo last week, was far from happy with the way acting PM Tzipi Livni and Barak handled the sharp spike in Palestinian missile attacks. He felt they had caused an unnecessary escalation of the crisis to the point that a major military operation became unavoidable.
Olmert insisted that short, sharp military strikes would have defused the crisis and obviated the need for a broad military offensive in Gaza, which he had consistently prevented.
By aborting the operation Monday night, he rapped them both and also moved to put down the incipient revolt in his government and Kadima party, spearheaded by two senior ministers – Avi Dichter, internal security and former Shin Bet chief, and Shaul Mofaz, transport, ex-defense minister and chief of staff. Both publicly urged a stepped-up ground offensive to crush Hamas rule of Gaza, arguing that all other tactics - military, sanctions and siege - had failed.
DEBKAfile’s political sources report that Hamas won useful points in the propaganda war by getting images and footage of Palestinian women and children casualties of Israeli strikes onto TV screens and front pages way ahead of the suffering of Israeli civilians from the gratuitous Hamas blitz.
This eased the way for Washington to lean hard on the prime minister to break off the operation. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice threatened to call off her visit on Tuesday, March 4, and laid the blame on Israel for the breakdown of peace talks with the Palestinians, although it was Mahmoud Abbas who formally suspended all contacts with Israel. She accused Israel of undermining the Bush administration’s entire Middle East strategy. Olmert found it politic to bow to this pressure.
Olmert is already pulling out. "That fast?", you ask? Indeed that fast. Seems almost a bit premature, doesn't it?!
He's attempting to micro manage the conflict to protect his image. Olmerta's (kind of like Omerta, but his code of silence is in never admitting he made a mistake, which if he did might balance out his favor a little in more feeble Israeli minds) goal here is redemption. He wants to redeem his failures in Lebanon by doing the exact apposite of everything he did there--or so he will portray. But since he is a crummy leader and a crummy poker player too he F'd up again by allowing Hamas to declare a victory over Israel.
I cant wait for his pathetic spin on the issue that will probably transmogrify over the next several days if not weeks in ever more feeble attempts to justify his leadership.
Even if he goes back in, he will never get passed the shame of this premature withdrawl, which any man who is half his salt knows is a garaunteed recipe for...well... you get the idea.
Here is more validation for me:
http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=5078
Israeli troops abruptly withdraw from Gaza. Seven-story Ashkelon building hit by Katyusha Monday
March 3, 2008, 11:59 AM (GMT+02:00)
Shortly after Israel’s withdrawal, Monday, March 3, the Palestinians stepped up their cross-border attacks. One of three Katyusha rockets fired from Gaza at Ashkelon hit a seven-story building sending a dozen people into shock and sowing wide panic in the city of 120,000. Four missiles exploded in the Eshkol farmland area south of Sderot, while mortar fire was aimed at Sderot, Kibbutz Yad Mordecai, Nahal Oz and Netiv Ha’asara.
DEBKAfile reports: Prime minister Ehud Olmert suddenly decided on the pullback of Israeli ground and armored units from northern Gaza before dawn Monday before they reached their goal of halting Palestinian fire. Stage one of Operation Hot Winter was announced at an end. He was later attacked by members of the Knesset foreign affairs and security committee for aborting the operation in contradiction of the pledges he and the defense minister made Sunday. Both had vowed that military ground action would press on until the Hamas missile-rocket offensive against Israeli civilians was stamped out.
Up until late Sunday night, Qassam rockets continued to explode in Sderot and surrounding villages and Katyusha rockets in Ashkelon at the average rate of 50 per day since Wednesday. The three-day Israeli infantry, tank and air incursion left more than 100 Palestinians dead, most Hamas combatants, some civilians and children. Two Israeli soldiers were killed.
DEBKAfile’s military sources report: Aborting this action in mid-stream leaves Israel with the options of air, surface missile and artillery raids - or short, shallow forays – all of which have long proved ineffectual.
Olmert’s order to the Israeli ground force to turn around and withdraw in mid-offensive was astonishing and unprecedented. Senior officers fully expected the Palestinian Hamas terrorist leaders to rush into declarations of victory and claims that they had beaten the Israeli army into a retreat. And indeed, Hamas staged a victory march in Gaza City later Monday.
Our political sources disclose that Olmert, during his absence in Tokyo last week, was far from happy with the way acting PM Tzipi Livni and Barak handled the sharp spike in Palestinian missile attacks. He felt they had caused an unnecessary escalation of the crisis to the point that a major military operation became unavoidable.
Olmert insisted that short, sharp military strikes would have defused the crisis and obviated the need for a broad military offensive in Gaza, which he had consistently prevented.
By aborting the operation Monday night, he rapped them both and also moved to put down the incipient revolt in his government and Kadima party, spearheaded by two senior ministers – Avi Dichter, internal security and former Shin Bet chief, and Shaul Mofaz, transport, ex-defense minister and chief of staff. Both publicly urged a stepped-up ground offensive to crush Hamas rule of Gaza, arguing that all other tactics - military, sanctions and siege - had failed.
DEBKAfile’s political sources report that Hamas won useful points in the propaganda war by getting images and footage of Palestinian women and children casualties of Israeli strikes onto TV screens and front pages way ahead of the suffering of Israeli civilians from the gratuitous Hamas blitz.
This eased the way for Washington to lean hard on the prime minister to break off the operation. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice threatened to call off her visit on Tuesday, March 4, and laid the blame on Israel for the breakdown of peace talks with the Palestinians, although it was Mahmoud Abbas who formally suspended all contacts with Israel. She accused Israel of undermining the Bush administration’s entire Middle East strategy. Olmert found it politic to bow to this pressure.
The Israeli news obsession
I’m sick of the Israeli news obsession.
Every hour on the hour Israeli radio breaks for a news update, which 9 times out of ten is identical to the previous 10 hours of news. Yet lo and behold, no matter where you are as soon as the broadcast begins every last Israeli stops and listens intently with a deliberately strained concentration projected from their concerned faces.
It makes me sick.
If you’re in an Israeli friends car or cab the driver will turn up the sound to their highest audible threshold and give you a loud SHHHH if you're not quiet enough for them to consume their tenth helping of news that day. Same thing goes in the Makolet, the car mechanic, or the Steakia.
Half the time the news is about complete and utter bullshit:
“Madonna is in town (she likes Kabala, which is Jewish so that means she must like us, yay!)…Leo is in town (he is dating an Israeli, which means he must like us and our country, yay!)…Israel didn’t make it to Eurovision (Europe hates us, oh no! What will we do?)…The Oscar awards were given out last night (Beaufort didn’t win, oh well, at least we made it to the big house of our gentile master)…”
[Israelis care entirely too much about ridiculous pop culture. It is sickening.]
Or
“Terrorists killed Jews today (Again!)…Rockets “landed” (or exploded) in Sderot (they are never fired or shot a us from an enemy determined to kill us)…Olmert is under investigation…(big F**king surprise)…”
[Same shit different day]
Often times I’ll tell the person I’m with exactly what the news announcer is going to say verbatim just before the broadcast starts so that I wont have to endure this tortuous experience yet again—but it never works.
So I ask why, why must you listen to the same news 20 times in a row?
The answer:
“Because in this country you never know what’s going to happen minute to minute, we could be at war before you know it.”
To this I ask:
Have you ever voted for any Israeli party or Prime minister (for those few years when it was separate and the illusion of choice was more pronounced) that supported talks with Arabs, or the Oslo process, or one that supported withdrawals and beatings of right wing activists, or one who wanted to disengage Jews from their homes?
If yes then I say:
“Oh yeah, then F**k you, you earned this bad news you sanctimonious son of a b**ch!
If they say no:
F**k them anyway, anyone who is stupid enough to get their news from the army censored, highly sanitized, non threatening Israeli radio broadcasts is a worthless human being who should not be allowed the option to vote in the first place.
There is absolutely no reason to consume any of the Israeli broadcasted or printed media other than to learn just how badly we are doing. It is an utter joke. Moreover, the deliberate concentration Israelis pay to their radio broadcasts is something I find incredibly amusing. If they only took voting as seriously as they take these stupid excuses for information then this country might look a little bit different.
BTW—And, if you listen to Israeli news then F**K you too! You’re a worthless scumbag.
Every hour on the hour Israeli radio breaks for a news update, which 9 times out of ten is identical to the previous 10 hours of news. Yet lo and behold, no matter where you are as soon as the broadcast begins every last Israeli stops and listens intently with a deliberately strained concentration projected from their concerned faces.
It makes me sick.
If you’re in an Israeli friends car or cab the driver will turn up the sound to their highest audible threshold and give you a loud SHHHH if you're not quiet enough for them to consume their tenth helping of news that day. Same thing goes in the Makolet, the car mechanic, or the Steakia.
Half the time the news is about complete and utter bullshit:
“Madonna is in town (she likes Kabala, which is Jewish so that means she must like us, yay!)…Leo is in town (he is dating an Israeli, which means he must like us and our country, yay!)…Israel didn’t make it to Eurovision (Europe hates us, oh no! What will we do?)…The Oscar awards were given out last night (Beaufort didn’t win, oh well, at least we made it to the big house of our gentile master)…”
[Israelis care entirely too much about ridiculous pop culture. It is sickening.]
Or
“Terrorists killed Jews today (Again!)…Rockets “landed” (or exploded) in Sderot (they are never fired or shot a us from an enemy determined to kill us)…Olmert is under investigation…(big F**king surprise)…”
[Same shit different day]
Often times I’ll tell the person I’m with exactly what the news announcer is going to say verbatim just before the broadcast starts so that I wont have to endure this tortuous experience yet again—but it never works.
So I ask why, why must you listen to the same news 20 times in a row?
The answer:
“Because in this country you never know what’s going to happen minute to minute, we could be at war before you know it.”
To this I ask:
Have you ever voted for any Israeli party or Prime minister (for those few years when it was separate and the illusion of choice was more pronounced) that supported talks with Arabs, or the Oslo process, or one that supported withdrawals and beatings of right wing activists, or one who wanted to disengage Jews from their homes?
If yes then I say:
“Oh yeah, then F**k you, you earned this bad news you sanctimonious son of a b**ch!
If they say no:
F**k them anyway, anyone who is stupid enough to get their news from the army censored, highly sanitized, non threatening Israeli radio broadcasts is a worthless human being who should not be allowed the option to vote in the first place.
There is absolutely no reason to consume any of the Israeli broadcasted or printed media other than to learn just how badly we are doing. It is an utter joke. Moreover, the deliberate concentration Israelis pay to their radio broadcasts is something I find incredibly amusing. If they only took voting as seriously as they take these stupid excuses for information then this country might look a little bit different.
BTW—And, if you listen to Israeli news then F**K you too! You’re a worthless scumbag.
Aiming For the Brain
Whereas "aiming for the brain" is an effective way of temporarily limiting capabilities it does not solve the strategic problem in the long run. It's like using a band-aid to heal cancer: not going to work.
It’s really just another form of the age old tactic of keeping the body (of the general populace where the terrorist recruits come from) strong and the mind (their current terrorist leadership/infrastructure) weak, all in the hopes of eventually breaking the peoples will to support terrorist groups and getting them to the negotiating table—but in the entirely misguided, inconsistent, and poorly strategized Israeli way.
Below is an article from Jim Dunnigan's site that goes into a bit of depth on the current Israeli military tactics.
I am reposting this assessment in its entirety, but you can find it at:
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/israel/articles/20080228.aspx
February 28, 2008:
As a democracy, Israel cannot ignore threats to its citizens. So the continued rocket attacks on southern Israel create a public outcry for a solution. Moving Israeli troops out of Gaza three years ago was supposed to be a solution, but it wasn't. Israelis can access Palestinian media, and all they see is the same old "kill the Jews and destroy Israel" propaganda (from both Fatah and Hamas, although the Hamas stuff is more strident and abundant.) So Israel is increasingly applying the same tactics in Gaza (go after the terrorist leadership and technical experts) that worked to stop the Palestinian suicide bombing campaign that began in 2000 (and was defeated by 2005). Even most pacifist Israelis have given up on trying to make deals with the Palestinians. There are too many Palestinian factions, conditioned by a century of "kill the Jews" propaganda, that will not abide by any deal, and will keep trying to kill Israelis.
Defensive measures often have serious limitations. For example, the Palestinian rocket attacks on the town (Sderot) closest to Gaza, continue to kill and wound and Israelis. The "Iron Dome" anti-rocket system Israel is building will not, it turns out, protect Sderot, because the town is too close (two kilometers) to where the rockets are launched. Iron Dome is designed to take down missiles fired from at least four kilometers away. That might change, because the basic problem is time. Missiles fired from two kilometers away arrive in 9-10 seconds, which is before Iron Dome can react. Some Israeli army commanders want to reoccupy part of northern Gaza, to force the Palestinians to launch their rockets four kilometers from Sderot. In the last year, these rockets have killed two Israelis, and wounded dozens more. Israeli attacks on the terrorist groups responsible have left over 300 Palestinians dead. The Israeli shift to mainly targeting the terrorist leaders and technicians has the best chance, in the near term, of crippling the Hamas attacks. The increased Israeli attacks are apparently the result of improved intelligence within Gaza, probably the result of Fatah ordering its supporters there to aid the Israelis in targeting the Hamas leadership.
In the meantime, Israel continues its blockade of Gaza, allowing only food and medical supplies through. This has made Gaza Palestinians angry, but also apathetic and fearful. Hamas is running a police state, so the feelings of the average Palestinian have little impact. The blockade has enraged many Europeans, who are calling for diplomatic, economic and legal moves against Israel for "war crimes." Many Israelis see this as the old European anti-Semitism, which led to the Nazi mass murder of six million Jews during World War II (with the cooperation of officials and citizens in many European countries). But the Palestinians see such support as one of the few weapons they have left. However, an increasing number of Arabs are getting tired of the Palestinian inability to work out a peace deal. These Arabs have come to recognize that the Israelis are trying harder to make a deal than the Palestinians are. Moreover, Arabs public opinion has turned against the Islamic terrorists, mainly because of the murderous tactics used by Islamic terrorists in Iraq, and elsewhere in the Arab world. The Palestinians are running out of allies, and options. It's the Palestinians who are best able to control the radicals, whose violence is preventing any peace deal from being made, or kept. Fatah is trying to organize a "resistance" against Hamas, within Gaza. But so far, Hamas has proved too powerful for that to work. But after a few months of concentrated Israeli attacks on Hamas leadership, that may change.
Fourteen members of the Al Asqa Martyrs Brigades "escaped" from a Palestinian prison in the West Bank. The men were terrorists working for Fatah, and had been in jail for a month. Such incidents are all too common, and are the main reason Israel does not trust Palestinian efforts to crack down on terrorism. The terrorists were supposed to spend three months in a Palestinian prison in order to get taken off Israeli lists of known terrorists. But the men, who can leave the prison during the day, say the living conditions are not adequate and refuse to abide by the deal.
Meanwhile, Fatah accuses Hamas of allowing al Qaeda to set up shop in Gaza. Hamas denies this, but more non-Palestinian Islamic terrorists are showing up in Gaza, which has become one of the few sanctuaries in the world for these guys. Groups claiming to be allied with Al Qaeda are openly operating in Gaza.
In Lebanon, Hizbollah is still fuming over the recent killing of terrorist leader Imad Mughniyeh in Syria. Now Hizbollah threatens to make attacks against Israeli targets outside of Israel. This has not been done much in the past because Hizbollah relied on fund raising and recruiting among Moslems (especially Shia) living outside the Middle East (especially in the West). But in the past few years, Western counter-terror efforts have cracked down on both of these activities anyway. So there is real fear that the furor over Mughniyeh's death will encourage Hizbollah to branch out into international terrorism. The downside of this is increased international efforts against Hizbollah. Logic, however, does not always play with Hizbollah and the Islamic radicals in the Iranian government who provide money and weapons for the Lebanese based Hizbollah. Then again, the Iranian Islamic radicals are on the defensive at home, where Iranians are increasingly angry over how the religious dictatorship has mismanaged the economy, and stepped up use of religious police to enforce rules on how people are supposed to live (no entertainment, dress codes for young men and women, press censorship, etc). Going international with their terrorism would be a big mistake for Hizbollah, but they just might do it.
It’s really just another form of the age old tactic of keeping the body (of the general populace where the terrorist recruits come from) strong and the mind (their current terrorist leadership/infrastructure) weak, all in the hopes of eventually breaking the peoples will to support terrorist groups and getting them to the negotiating table—but in the entirely misguided, inconsistent, and poorly strategized Israeli way.
Below is an article from Jim Dunnigan's site that goes into a bit of depth on the current Israeli military tactics.
I am reposting this assessment in its entirety, but you can find it at:
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/israel/articles/20080228.aspx
February 28, 2008:
As a democracy, Israel cannot ignore threats to its citizens. So the continued rocket attacks on southern Israel create a public outcry for a solution. Moving Israeli troops out of Gaza three years ago was supposed to be a solution, but it wasn't. Israelis can access Palestinian media, and all they see is the same old "kill the Jews and destroy Israel" propaganda (from both Fatah and Hamas, although the Hamas stuff is more strident and abundant.) So Israel is increasingly applying the same tactics in Gaza (go after the terrorist leadership and technical experts) that worked to stop the Palestinian suicide bombing campaign that began in 2000 (and was defeated by 2005). Even most pacifist Israelis have given up on trying to make deals with the Palestinians. There are too many Palestinian factions, conditioned by a century of "kill the Jews" propaganda, that will not abide by any deal, and will keep trying to kill Israelis.
Defensive measures often have serious limitations. For example, the Palestinian rocket attacks on the town (Sderot) closest to Gaza, continue to kill and wound and Israelis. The "Iron Dome" anti-rocket system Israel is building will not, it turns out, protect Sderot, because the town is too close (two kilometers) to where the rockets are launched. Iron Dome is designed to take down missiles fired from at least four kilometers away. That might change, because the basic problem is time. Missiles fired from two kilometers away arrive in 9-10 seconds, which is before Iron Dome can react. Some Israeli army commanders want to reoccupy part of northern Gaza, to force the Palestinians to launch their rockets four kilometers from Sderot. In the last year, these rockets have killed two Israelis, and wounded dozens more. Israeli attacks on the terrorist groups responsible have left over 300 Palestinians dead. The Israeli shift to mainly targeting the terrorist leaders and technicians has the best chance, in the near term, of crippling the Hamas attacks. The increased Israeli attacks are apparently the result of improved intelligence within Gaza, probably the result of Fatah ordering its supporters there to aid the Israelis in targeting the Hamas leadership.
In the meantime, Israel continues its blockade of Gaza, allowing only food and medical supplies through. This has made Gaza Palestinians angry, but also apathetic and fearful. Hamas is running a police state, so the feelings of the average Palestinian have little impact. The blockade has enraged many Europeans, who are calling for diplomatic, economic and legal moves against Israel for "war crimes." Many Israelis see this as the old European anti-Semitism, which led to the Nazi mass murder of six million Jews during World War II (with the cooperation of officials and citizens in many European countries). But the Palestinians see such support as one of the few weapons they have left. However, an increasing number of Arabs are getting tired of the Palestinian inability to work out a peace deal. These Arabs have come to recognize that the Israelis are trying harder to make a deal than the Palestinians are. Moreover, Arabs public opinion has turned against the Islamic terrorists, mainly because of the murderous tactics used by Islamic terrorists in Iraq, and elsewhere in the Arab world. The Palestinians are running out of allies, and options. It's the Palestinians who are best able to control the radicals, whose violence is preventing any peace deal from being made, or kept. Fatah is trying to organize a "resistance" against Hamas, within Gaza. But so far, Hamas has proved too powerful for that to work. But after a few months of concentrated Israeli attacks on Hamas leadership, that may change.
Fourteen members of the Al Asqa Martyrs Brigades "escaped" from a Palestinian prison in the West Bank. The men were terrorists working for Fatah, and had been in jail for a month. Such incidents are all too common, and are the main reason Israel does not trust Palestinian efforts to crack down on terrorism. The terrorists were supposed to spend three months in a Palestinian prison in order to get taken off Israeli lists of known terrorists. But the men, who can leave the prison during the day, say the living conditions are not adequate and refuse to abide by the deal.
Meanwhile, Fatah accuses Hamas of allowing al Qaeda to set up shop in Gaza. Hamas denies this, but more non-Palestinian Islamic terrorists are showing up in Gaza, which has become one of the few sanctuaries in the world for these guys. Groups claiming to be allied with Al Qaeda are openly operating in Gaza.
In Lebanon, Hizbollah is still fuming over the recent killing of terrorist leader Imad Mughniyeh in Syria. Now Hizbollah threatens to make attacks against Israeli targets outside of Israel. This has not been done much in the past because Hizbollah relied on fund raising and recruiting among Moslems (especially Shia) living outside the Middle East (especially in the West). But in the past few years, Western counter-terror efforts have cracked down on both of these activities anyway. So there is real fear that the furor over Mughniyeh's death will encourage Hizbollah to branch out into international terrorism. The downside of this is increased international efforts against Hizbollah. Logic, however, does not always play with Hizbollah and the Islamic radicals in the Iranian government who provide money and weapons for the Lebanese based Hizbollah. Then again, the Iranian Islamic radicals are on the defensive at home, where Iranians are increasingly angry over how the religious dictatorship has mismanaged the economy, and stepped up use of religious police to enforce rules on how people are supposed to live (no entertainment, dress codes for young men and women, press censorship, etc). Going international with their terrorism would be a big mistake for Hizbollah, but they just might do it.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Holocaust Shmolocaust!
"The more Qassam fire intensifies and the rockets reach a longer range, they will bring upon themselves a bigger holocaust because we will use all our might to defend ourselves."
-- Israeli Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai
I'll say it again: Holocaust Shmolocaust.
After the last several years of Israeli piecemeal military/police actions no enemy of Israel can be expected to take these words seriously. Israel is dominated by piecemeal war doctrine that makes it incapable of fighting and winning a protracted conflict, much less eradicating an enemy threat.
According to this theory, Israeli “leaders” (fearing potentially destabilizing international or local criticism of their governments drawn by taking action against terrorists) wait until enough Jews are murdered in high profile slaughtering (not those pesky low profile events that don’t make CNN) before they feel confident enough to temporarily disrupt Arab terrorist capabilities.
Frankly, not a single military action in the last 30 years has fallen outside of the Israeli piecemeal paradigm and neither will any action taken against Gaza.
Israel desperately requires a strategic goal in this conflict here folks and it assuredly ain't got one better than nitpicking through Gaza on the hunt for “militants” and “activists” and taking them out in residentially merciful, martyr status inducing, precision attacks.
Pushing all of Gaza’s inhabitants onto the Sinai Peninsula through the open border is a strategic aim worth having. Combing through Gaza like a school nurse in a kindergartners hair in hot pursuit of lice is not a goal, it’s a pathetic tactic best left to the nurses.
The entire notion is a ridiculous and pathetic joke. We shouldn't have left Gaza to begin with, Olmert shouldn't be in office, and no IDF soldier should be forced to risk his or her life because of this stupid prime minister and his stupid predecessor’s insane self-serving policies.
I would love nothing more than to see all of the men deployed lay siege to Olmert’s office, the Knesset, and supreme court until the people in those offices agreed to take up arms and fight Hamas on the front lines.
Ultimately, even if Hamas is wiped out--which is more than doubtful, a vacuum will remain in its place eventually to be filled by another "Islamist" organization waiting in the wings to take its place, which it inevitably will. Their major claim for leadership will be that Fatah is no more than an Israeli pawn and must be opposed. Not ironically, this will again sway many distorted Israeli psyche's into thinking that the enemy of my enemy is my friend and hail Fatah still as a partner in peace as they do now with Abu Shmazen.
Additionally, something else that really grinds my gears:
Something that few may point out is the cultural double standard to be evoked by the utter absence of broad reaction to Villainous Vilnai’s statement by the Israeli media.
Had anyone identifiable with the right wing dared to use the “H” word in the same sense the media would have publicly flogged them until the cows came home.
Not Vilnai though, an establishmentarian apparatchik if there ever was one. He gets a free pass.
Imagine Bibi making the same statement. Every hack Israeli publication would have vilified him by drawing comparisons to Hitler and denouncing him as a Nazi racist till the very end. To be Frank, they would have been as merciless as hungry Russians in a pork store.
It makes me sick.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Being a Prepared IDF Soldier
If you’re in the IDF or plan on it there are some things you need to understand about it.
First
It’s a civilian army. Meaning that few of its members are professional. Many of the people who are there don’t want to be there, or at least wouldn’t be there if not for the draft. There is a widely fluctuating spectrum of discipline and morale amongst each individual. So do not maintain any romantic illusions about the nobility of IDF soldiers as individuals. Many including myself have had loaded magazines stolen from them by other soldiers who had foolishly lost their own in an environment where lives could easily have depended upon that crucial equipment at a moments notice. So be prepared.
Second
You may be poorly outfitted in terms of gear. So here is a list of recommendations for items that are either superior to IDF standard issues or not issued in any form whatsoever. These have been recommended to me by people far more knowledgeable than myself--my own homework has validated those wise reccomendations. Where brand names are mentioned they are done so for a reason and should not be disregarded. AND btw, be smart, do your own research on the topic. This should only be considered a primer, if the topic is new to you. If you’ve got better ideas I’d like to hear them. Honestly.
Water/filter/purifier options (one of these, or something similar):
First choice - Blackhawk! makes some of the best designed/toughest operator gear there is. Don't know this product, but would assume it is top notch, BlackHawk® Hydrastorm™ In-Line Filter:
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=6038&TabID=548
Second choice - Camelbak makes good stuff. Very good filter, a little pricier than the Blackhawk! one, Camelbak HydroLink™ In-Line Microfilter:
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=8296&TabID=548
Third choice - polarpure:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet ProductDisplay?productId=13879&memberId=12500226
Fourth choice - Bulkier but cheaper:
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=6349&TabID=1287
Finally, as a last resort and by far the cheapest, lightest, simplest water carrying and purification system there is a Ziplock bag. I use heavy-duty Ziplock freezer bags. Fill with biologically questionable water. Let sit in sunny place until water gets very hot (160+ F or 71+C). Let cool. Drink. Much better than nothing.
MAKE FIRE:
Cost $10-15, weight about one ounce. Something like this:
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=10715&TabID=1287
SEE IN THE DARK:
A waterproof, tough, teeny red LED flashlight, about $10-15, weighs less than one ounce. Similar to one of these. Gerber used to make a very nice one, can’t find
it now.
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=6995&TabID=548
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=7943&TabID=548
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=5992&TabID=548
If you want bigger/better, SureFire G2, maybe the one with the red filter, about 6 inches long.
GO THE RIGHT WAY (not to Ramallah):
An inexpensive Silva or Suunto compass with luminous points. Cost $10-20, weight 1-2 ounces. Don’t get an off brand compass.
MULTITOOL:
Leatherman Wave or equivalent, or equivalent Gerber, around 6-9 ounces, around $50-70. At least a little pocketknife or cheap multi-tool knockoff. But I’d
recommend not;go with a Leatherman or Gerber. Don’t get a Swiss army knife, even a good one (for these purposes).
STOP BLEEDING:
Either of these is a bit bulkier and weightier. Worth thinking about having one or both of these:
I think this is a US version of the Israeli Trauma Bandage, which is probably better, and about which I have repeatedly heard great things:
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=11187&TabID=1287
Also some of the new, improved Celox type products (not quickclot) are worth looking into:
http://www.celoxmedical.com/
You can find Celox in bunches of places, even on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/CELOX-Hemostat-Blood-Coagulent-Packet/dp/B000KCPXNM/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-1632979-6609405?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1189520699&sr=8-2
Be careful of comparable brands.
Another is an Asherman Chest Seal. Asherman was a Navy Seal. Lots of places (EMT supply stores or military stores—probably the best bet) carry them. They run $10-$20. For example here:
http://www.firstrespondersupplies.com/asccustompages/products.asp?ProductID=153
The dead guy in picture 4 is why you might carry one. Here's quick and dirty on how to deal with that wound (expedient or using an Asherman Chest Seal):
http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/OperationalMedicine/DATA/operationalmed/Procedures/TreataSuckingChestWound.htm
The Bottom Line:
If I was going somewhere where I was seriously worried about getting shot/etc. I would try to find a way to carry an Israeli trauma bandage (maybe 2, depending on space available), 2-3 packs of Celox and (maybe) a chest patch (or at least some easily accessible duct tape). Ideally, they should be easily accessible, like in a pocket/thigh rig/ammo pouch or something, but not obvious, so people who did not learn from the grasshopper and the ant do not expect you to share. You are a soldier, not a medic. I'm not suggesting never providing direct pressure or soothing words in the absence of hostile threat. But, this is enough for you maybe treat one serious wound. If you treat someone else and then you get hit, and there is no help around, you will not be able to help yourself.
If you want to fix other peoples wounds, become a medic. If not, substantiate Darwin.
First
It’s a civilian army. Meaning that few of its members are professional. Many of the people who are there don’t want to be there, or at least wouldn’t be there if not for the draft. There is a widely fluctuating spectrum of discipline and morale amongst each individual. So do not maintain any romantic illusions about the nobility of IDF soldiers as individuals. Many including myself have had loaded magazines stolen from them by other soldiers who had foolishly lost their own in an environment where lives could easily have depended upon that crucial equipment at a moments notice. So be prepared.
Second
You may be poorly outfitted in terms of gear. So here is a list of recommendations for items that are either superior to IDF standard issues or not issued in any form whatsoever. These have been recommended to me by people far more knowledgeable than myself--my own homework has validated those wise reccomendations. Where brand names are mentioned they are done so for a reason and should not be disregarded. AND btw, be smart, do your own research on the topic. This should only be considered a primer, if the topic is new to you. If you’ve got better ideas I’d like to hear them. Honestly.
Water/filter/purifier options (one of these, or something similar):
First choice - Blackhawk! makes some of the best designed/toughest operator gear there is. Don't know this product, but would assume it is top notch, BlackHawk® Hydrastorm™ In-Line Filter:
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=6038&TabID=548
Second choice - Camelbak makes good stuff. Very good filter, a little pricier than the Blackhawk! one, Camelbak HydroLink™ In-Line Microfilter:
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=8296&TabID=548
Third choice - polarpure:
http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet ProductDisplay?productId=13879&memberId=12500226
Fourth choice - Bulkier but cheaper:
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=6349&TabID=1287
Finally, as a last resort and by far the cheapest, lightest, simplest water carrying and purification system there is a Ziplock bag. I use heavy-duty Ziplock freezer bags. Fill with biologically questionable water. Let sit in sunny place until water gets very hot (160+ F or 71+C). Let cool. Drink. Much better than nothing.
MAKE FIRE:
Cost $10-15, weight about one ounce. Something like this:
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=10715&TabID=1287
SEE IN THE DARK:
A waterproof, tough, teeny red LED flashlight, about $10-15, weighs less than one ounce. Similar to one of these. Gerber used to make a very nice one, can’t find
it now.
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=6995&TabID=548
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=7943&TabID=548
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=5992&TabID=548
If you want bigger/better, SureFire G2, maybe the one with the red filter, about 6 inches long.
GO THE RIGHT WAY (not to Ramallah):
An inexpensive Silva or Suunto compass with luminous points. Cost $10-20, weight 1-2 ounces. Don’t get an off brand compass.
MULTITOOL:
Leatherman Wave or equivalent, or equivalent Gerber, around 6-9 ounces, around $50-70. At least a little pocketknife or cheap multi-tool knockoff. But I’d
recommend not;go with a Leatherman or Gerber. Don’t get a Swiss army knife, even a good one (for these purposes).
STOP BLEEDING:
Either of these is a bit bulkier and weightier. Worth thinking about having one or both of these:
I think this is a US version of the Israeli Trauma Bandage, which is probably better, and about which I have repeatedly heard great things:
http://www.uscav.com/Productinfo.aspx?productID=11187&TabID=1287
Also some of the new, improved Celox type products (not quickclot) are worth looking into:
http://www.celoxmedical.com/
You can find Celox in bunches of places, even on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/CELOX-Hemostat-Blood-Coagulent-Packet/dp/B000KCPXNM/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-1632979-6609405?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1189520699&sr=8-2
Be careful of comparable brands.
Another is an Asherman Chest Seal. Asherman was a Navy Seal. Lots of places (EMT supply stores or military stores—probably the best bet) carry them. They run $10-$20. For example here:
http://www.firstrespondersupplies.com/asccustompages/products.asp?ProductID=153
The dead guy in picture 4 is why you might carry one. Here's quick and dirty on how to deal with that wound (expedient or using an Asherman Chest Seal):
http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/OperationalMedicine/DATA/operationalmed/Procedures/TreataSuckingChestWound.htm
The Bottom Line:
If I was going somewhere where I was seriously worried about getting shot/etc. I would try to find a way to carry an Israeli trauma bandage (maybe 2, depending on space available), 2-3 packs of Celox and (maybe) a chest patch (or at least some easily accessible duct tape). Ideally, they should be easily accessible, like in a pocket/thigh rig/ammo pouch or something, but not obvious, so people who did not learn from the grasshopper and the ant do not expect you to share. You are a soldier, not a medic. I'm not suggesting never providing direct pressure or soothing words in the absence of hostile threat. But, this is enough for you maybe treat one serious wound. If you treat someone else and then you get hit, and there is no help around, you will not be able to help yourself.
If you want to fix other peoples wounds, become a medic. If not, substantiate Darwin.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Zionist Revolution? (A Frank Musing)
Zionism did not bring Jews to Israel.
Persecution drove Jews to Israel, just like it did to many other countries--as refugees. Zionist endeavors created an additional place for those refugees to turn to.
Zionism did not bring the refugees of the Shoah, nor the Sephardim of MENA (middle east-north Africa), nor the Russians. All of these had few choices as where to go.
Combined these 3 groups represent the vast majority of Israel today. They were not Zionist ideologues and neither were their children after them, who were born and raised on this soil. For those youths the word “Zionism” was a mantra that held far less meaning or value for them than the desperate immigrant refugee needs for sustenance and security.
Zionism didn’t bring them here, it didn’t sustain them here, and it didn’t protect them here. And in the mouths of elitist labor apparatchik politicians it became a cheap rhetorical tool.
Moreover, as the labor oligarchs have infected and disassembled this country’s morale and fighting spirit through the inanity of its policies and its stranglehold on freedom and democracy, they too infected Zionism with their virus and squeezed the very life out of it--be reminded of Kastner, Altalena, Oslo and now Gush Katif. Thus, in the broader national and cultural senses Zionism has remained a wholly arrested and unrealized movement since nearly its inception.
Understandably so, Zionism has little value much less meaning as a term in Israel today. It continues to exist only within the fringes of society as it did at its conception, where it remains incubated though unrealized, like a Jew in a European ghetto holding on for that long suffered for Redemption.
Thus, immigrant culture has been the defining characteristic of the Israeli experience, punctuated by a delusional impatience and hyperactive distorted individualism--a Magiah Li culture as some have put it.
So, to those today that speak of carrying on or renewing a Zionist revolution you must ask: Amongst whom? Zionism has long been spoiled in the eyes and minds of this country’s inhabitants as a call to action.
Zionism isn’t enough anymore. A revolution on a grander scale is required.
Persecution drove Jews to Israel, just like it did to many other countries--as refugees. Zionist endeavors created an additional place for those refugees to turn to.
Zionism did not bring the refugees of the Shoah, nor the Sephardim of MENA (middle east-north Africa), nor the Russians. All of these had few choices as where to go.
Combined these 3 groups represent the vast majority of Israel today. They were not Zionist ideologues and neither were their children after them, who were born and raised on this soil. For those youths the word “Zionism” was a mantra that held far less meaning or value for them than the desperate immigrant refugee needs for sustenance and security.
Zionism didn’t bring them here, it didn’t sustain them here, and it didn’t protect them here. And in the mouths of elitist labor apparatchik politicians it became a cheap rhetorical tool.
Moreover, as the labor oligarchs have infected and disassembled this country’s morale and fighting spirit through the inanity of its policies and its stranglehold on freedom and democracy, they too infected Zionism with their virus and squeezed the very life out of it--be reminded of Kastner, Altalena, Oslo and now Gush Katif. Thus, in the broader national and cultural senses Zionism has remained a wholly arrested and unrealized movement since nearly its inception.
Understandably so, Zionism has little value much less meaning as a term in Israel today. It continues to exist only within the fringes of society as it did at its conception, where it remains incubated though unrealized, like a Jew in a European ghetto holding on for that long suffered for Redemption.
Thus, immigrant culture has been the defining characteristic of the Israeli experience, punctuated by a delusional impatience and hyperactive distorted individualism--a Magiah Li culture as some have put it.
So, to those today that speak of carrying on or renewing a Zionist revolution you must ask: Amongst whom? Zionism has long been spoiled in the eyes and minds of this country’s inhabitants as a call to action.
Zionism isn’t enough anymore. A revolution on a grander scale is required.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Burn Baby, Burn!
OOOHHH!
I wish something like this would happen in Israel every time a foreign state or multi-national organization would attempt to impose itself upon (the myth of) Israeli sovereignty.
These Serbians have got the right idea.
Enjoy the Frankness!
I wish something like this would happen in Israel every time a foreign state or multi-national organization would attempt to impose itself upon (the myth of) Israeli sovereignty.
These Serbians have got the right idea.
Enjoy the Frankness!
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Yehezkel Dror and The Winograd 5
"I'm an elitist. Eighty percent of the critical decisions affecting Israel are shaped by maybe 100 or 200 people, 300. These are my clients. These are the people I want to read the report and discuss it. The other people, I also want them to read it, but I'm more interested in those few hundred...Because a few can make a difference."
-- Yehezkel Dror, Winograd Commission Member.
Dror and his Winograd colleagues are no more than apparatchik cogs in a corrupt system. Nothing that emits from within the lair of corruption that is the Olmert Prime Ministry should be regarded with any validity. The Winograd report defies the freedom and just right of this people to attain truth and closure over a war so pathetically managed. It is a mock report drafted by a mock committee.
An extreme example to illustrate an identical point: Imagine Joseph Stalin appointing a commission to examine the truth behind claims that he was in fact murdering political “criminals” and insubordinates—the purges. Would you consider that committees findings valid??? No. Would you expect that their findings, even if truthful, would bear any affect on that man??? No, not at all.
The same is true in Israel.
There are obvious reasons why the Winograd 5 wouldn’t condemn Olmert scathingly. The most germane being that to do so would be to turn their backs on their own elitist political agendas, which Olmert now clings to like a life preserver. As apparatchiks (some actions of Ruth Gavison notwithstanding) of the elitist oligarchy no more could ever be expected from them.
The questions you have to ask: Who really runs this country? Does the nation control the government or does the government control the nation?
The great Paul Eidelberg has the distinction of being the only man on the face of the earth to site this country’s system of governance for exactly what it really is: a self perpetuating oligarchy.
I add that this country’s method of governance and apparatus is solely sustained through a deeply entrenched decadent elitist plutocracy. Change that and everything else will follow.
Dror knows this and he has been proud to serve its deplorable agenda:
"Someone told me "Winograd is a chance in a lifetime." I corrected him. Once in a hundred lifetimes. I told my friends, if Mephistopheles had approached me in a Faustian trade and told me, "You get the appointment [to Winograd] but I shorten your lifespan by a couple of years," I would have agreed immediately. Life is not only a matter of the years, but what you do with them...The Winograd Committee
is for me a peak in my life, an opportunity to learn, improve my thinking and advance what I believe is a contribution to the [well-being] of Israel."
There is no freedom or truth under this burden.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Poker vs Chess
A friend recently asked me to justify the opinion that Poker is a greater game of strategy than chess, which he foolishly feels is the ultimate game of war.
The Frank Justification continues here...
Well my friend, allow me to spell it out:
In poker you stand to actually lose something (your hard earned money). In chess you lose nothing (but pride and pieces). The potential risk of being parted with tangible assets enhances all game-play factors. IF you lose, you can lose everything—not just cards or pieces.
In chess your archaically inspired pieces represent nothing different than what the pieces in a Parcheesi game represent. In poker your chips symbolize hard cash. Even when playing for chips instead of cash the symbolism remains and is as real to the players as live fire war game skirmishes are to the military.
In chess you don’t consolidate a victory by taking anything more than an empty board in which you are alone in victory. In chess you win bragging writes. In poker you take your enemies assets to celebrate with at your leisure. In poker you relish the fact that your hated competitor may end up homeless that night due to his loses. In chess you just stare at the other guy a lot.
Unlike war to which chess is so often compared, chess is a one on one game. Like war Poker is a multi player experience involving multiple skill levels, skill sets, agendas and resources.
A poker player maintains an arsenal of tools that are employed solely for the purposes of destroying multiple competitors in a continuously shifting playing field where winner takes ALL. Some players rely on luck; some rely on balls, some on the depth of their pockets, yet others rely on odds, and others on their knowledge of their combatants (i.e. Intel). Like war, and unlike chess, no contest begins on an even playing field. Like war poker is a game based upon multiple forces of attrition and aggressive intent.
Poker maintains all factors that make chess the great game it is and many others that it does not.
Chess is a game like golf or tennis, elegant and sophisticated, yet no one will watch it on TV. Poker is like the Superbowl exciting and dangerous and made for men only. Pansies don’t play poker and if they did they would be eaten alive inside of a minute.
If likened to alcohol then chess is vodka and poker is single malt scotch.
If either can be likened to war then Chess is Clausewitz and Poker is Sun-Tzu.
I have found no game or sport that reveals more about a participant’s character than poker.
That’s the bottom line.
The Frank Justification continues here...
Well my friend, allow me to spell it out:
In poker you stand to actually lose something (your hard earned money). In chess you lose nothing (but pride and pieces). The potential risk of being parted with tangible assets enhances all game-play factors. IF you lose, you can lose everything—not just cards or pieces.
In chess your archaically inspired pieces represent nothing different than what the pieces in a Parcheesi game represent. In poker your chips symbolize hard cash. Even when playing for chips instead of cash the symbolism remains and is as real to the players as live fire war game skirmishes are to the military.
In chess you don’t consolidate a victory by taking anything more than an empty board in which you are alone in victory. In chess you win bragging writes. In poker you take your enemies assets to celebrate with at your leisure. In poker you relish the fact that your hated competitor may end up homeless that night due to his loses. In chess you just stare at the other guy a lot.
Unlike war to which chess is so often compared, chess is a one on one game. Like war Poker is a multi player experience involving multiple skill levels, skill sets, agendas and resources.
A poker player maintains an arsenal of tools that are employed solely for the purposes of destroying multiple competitors in a continuously shifting playing field where winner takes ALL. Some players rely on luck; some rely on balls, some on the depth of their pockets, yet others rely on odds, and others on their knowledge of their combatants (i.e. Intel). Like war, and unlike chess, no contest begins on an even playing field. Like war poker is a game based upon multiple forces of attrition and aggressive intent.
Poker maintains all factors that make chess the great game it is and many others that it does not.
Chess is a game like golf or tennis, elegant and sophisticated, yet no one will watch it on TV. Poker is like the Superbowl exciting and dangerous and made for men only. Pansies don’t play poker and if they did they would be eaten alive inside of a minute.
If likened to alcohol then chess is vodka and poker is single malt scotch.
If either can be likened to war then Chess is Clausewitz and Poker is Sun-Tzu.
I have found no game or sport that reveals more about a participant’s character than poker.
That’s the bottom line.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Manifesto of the Judean Dictatorship: A Frank Musing
Democracy can be great. It presents an open marketplace for ideas, speech, and agendas. This competition, as in evolution, creates an atmosphere in which weak agendas may be weeded out when they fail to stand up to public scrutiny and credible agendas receive their deserved podium. Ideally, the most qualitative ideas are given an equal footing in which to struggle, fight, and grow. Society may choose poor directions within which to move, but the option for another answer, another way, was always there or at least could have been presented—thus, a society itself can be blamed for its choices having had options or potential options available all along. Democracy can be great in short, because it presents options.
A free and independent media is perhaps the greatest asset of an open democracy. It is the forum; it is the coliseum in which ideas, ideologies, and politics do battle. It is crucial to democratic processes.
Moreover though, democracy is reflected within the nature of states political institutions and political leaders: Are they open to scrutiny by the public? Are public officials chosen in open and competitive elections? Are they accountable to the people? Do the people matter or do the leaders and institutions ignore their pleas, ignore their suffering, and ignore their indignity like some Russian Tsar or French King or British Monarch?
Ultimately, you must ask yourself: Is this government for the people and by the people? Is it truly democratic or are we slaves to yet another despotic master?
In ancient times, the Kingdom of Israel was run down by generations of idolatrous and decadent hacks. No different is the state of Israel today. We are controlled by a system that flaunts fairness, that flaunts justice, that flaunts dignity, and makes a mockery of the name in which claims an essentially divine right to lead: Democracy. But, democracy is no god. Democracy is in fact nothing but an idea in theory and an adjective in practice. Thus it is totally dependent upon human thoughts and actions.
Unlike the forces of gravity or electro magnetism, democracy possesses no life force of its own. Its merit is reliant entirely upon human action. Invoking its name in an effort to justify leadership or the continuation of leadership is a meaningless act if not buttressed by a measurable history of real democratic behavior.
Terms like democracy and the rule of law are often invoked by Israeli apparatchiks in efforts to promote one person, party, or agenda while stifling another. If someone proposes an issue outside of the apparatchik consensus then they are not being “democratic”. If one recommends that a certain process or institution need be replaced or changed then they are hampering “the rule of law”.
As ancient priests and witch doctors, Israeli apparatchiks invoke these powerful and vague names and ideas in an effort to confound the conscience of the simple man. As conmen and crooks they convince the simple man that their trickery is lawful and just. In time we all become the simple man and lose the stomach to fight the apparatchiks, or worse fight them on their own grounds.
The state of Israel was formed no differently than the way gang members carve out territory for themselves. Groups like the labor Zionists sunk their roots deeply into the DNA of this state through Altalena and Kastner affairs. They did it through betrayals and crude manipulations. They desperately held onto power for years all the while entrusting their minute elite with control of the bureaucracy, media, industry, and statecraft. To this day we suffer the results of the many controlled by the few.
Our ingrained simpleton like weakness allows them to reduce options, force agendas, and restrict our freedom. This is because this state is no democracy. It is an elected despotism and it will grind us all into the ground before it has breathed its last breath if we choose not to stop it.
This subtle oligarchy has led this nation from degrading debacle to another. It has fostered disunity by making bigotry and nihilism into respectable creeds all in effort to squabble amongst themselves over state budgets, diplomatic, military, and political posts with as little interference from their anathematic rivals as possible.
Our nation, not long after having suffered the incomprehensibility of the Shoah has been rebuilt. We have constructed a new body; A strong body that reverberates with political and economic muscle. But, the heart is confused, because the brain is weak.
Years of kowtowing to pathetic labor agendas have turned our analytical faculties to mush. Thus we have been dragged through the indignity of a peace process with an enemy who tears at us as wolves on a weak prey. Yet as they pull at us from every which way we plead with them to stop, or at least focus their hunger on a part of our body that can stand to suffer a bit longer that our most vital organs.
There is only one solution: a real democracy. Yet the way to this democracy must be paved. It must be hewn. It must be rise from the ashes of our current form like a phoenix. It can be only thus.
The Dictatorship of the Judean State will arise from a military coup or civilian uprising. Its sole purpose will be to effectively alter the nature of our proverbial mind irreversibly. The left wing elite will be removed from influence and its leadership deposed. Its academics will be replaced and its institutions reformed beyond recognition. Only thus will the necessary conditions for a Judean Democracy be achieved. The people will rally behind this purpose, and those who are unable do so as a result of years under putrid labor corruption will be remedied of their inability to participate.
Our dictatorship will be led by a leader of strength, supported by a Judean council of the strong—yet his power absolute. We will trust in him, our Ben Yosef, until he has completed his work and is able to relax control and hand power over to our Ben David. Then a truer democracy will not be known.
Why will it be called the state of Judea? Because Judea is the polar opposite of Israel. Judea fought until its fiery and bloody destruction against enemies who defiled it and yet it shall remerge in fire and blood again if necessary. Judea is the Phoenix of the Jewish soul. Israel is a sickness of the exile amputated and forced into Judea’s rightful place.
After the revolution has washed over our people like a tidal wave regression will be impossible. After the revolution we will be one.
If you will it…it is no dream.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)