Jews central to UK Labor scandal

"A campaign financing scandal in which two of the principal players are Jewish is dealing a heavy blow to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s already weakened administration."

With M-16s on their shoulders, Jewish soldiers mark Chanukah in Iraq

"Jewish U.S. soldiers stationed at Camp Taji in Iraq prepared this menorah for a communal service celebrating Chanukah."

Huckabee wanted to isolate AIDS patients

"Republican presidential hopeful former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee speaks with supporters after a fundraiser Friday, Dec. 7, 2007, in Bluffton, S.C. Huckabee once advocated isolating AIDS patients from the general public, opposed increased federal funding in the search for a cure and said homosexuality could 'pose a dangerous public health risk.' As a candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in 1992, Huckabee answered 229 questions submitted to him by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)"

Rice warns Israel against East J'lem construction

"On Friday, Rice warned Israel that the construction plan threatened U.S.-backed efforts to achieve peace with the Palestinians."

Building of Jerusalem settlement to continue: Israel minister

A general view of the Jewish settlement of Har Homa in east Jerusalem 05 December 2007. Construction of the Jewish settlement in east Jerusalem will continue despite criticism from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, an Israeli minister said on Friday.(AFP/File/Ahmad Gharabli)

""Construction will continue at full flow, and our friends must be told this," Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman, a deputy premier, told public television."

Keith Olbermann: You sir, have no business being president

One of Keith's better "special comments." Keith is the best the MSM has to offer ~ the most disappointing is Hardball's Chris Matthews.

Iran’s pragmatic energy policy

An answer for those who asks, why does Iran need nuclear energy?

A drip-drip of revelations

"The waterboarding controversy has lifted the veil on the fact that the Bush White House gave the CIA a green light to use illegal torture techniques."

IDF to show US nuclear data on Iran

"Disappointed after failing to make their case on Iran and influence the outcome of the United States's National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) released this week, Military Intelligence will present its hard core evidence on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program on Sunday to the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff during a rare visit he will be making to Israel."

You mean the same type of "hard core evidence" they showed the US about Iraq's WMD program?

Don't believe your own 16 intelligence agencies, they've got it all wrong, they're conspiring against you ~ believe us...

Has US Abandoned Israel on Iran?

"A U.S. intelligence report made public this week has some Israelis wondering if Israel may be forced to go it alone in a possible military strike against Iran."

I certainly hope so... What is so conveniently left out of the oft repeated story that Israel "destroyed" Iraq's Osiraq nuclear facility is the fact that Iraq was neck deep in the war with Iran and more importantly, Iran had successfully attacked and damaged the facility a year earlier.

Rice criticises Israel's settlement expansion plan

"US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice criticised Friday an Israeli decision to expand a Jewish settlement in east Jerusalem. Referring to last week's Annapolis Middle East peace conference, Rice told a press conference in Brussels, "I made it clear that we are in a time when the goal is to build maximum confidence with the parties. "This is not going to build that confidence.""

Romney's 'Religious' American Government Leaves out the Equivalent of California and Virginia Populations

"Mitt Romney flatly ignored in his speech on religion today about 45 million Americans who profess no particular faith, and about 18 million of those who are absolutely certain there is no 'god' that Romney spoke of. In the speech that was supposed to calm evangelicals concerns about Romney being a Mormon, the country instead heard yet another GOP candidate for president who wears his religion on his sleeve for political gain."

A smart side to US intelligence

U.S. wants details on plan to build homes in East Jerusalem

Construction in the E. Jerusalem neighborhood of Har Homa. (Alex Levac)

"The U.S. has requested that Israel provide clarifications on its plan to build more than 300 new homes in an East Jerusalem neighborhood, Israeli officials confirmed to Haaretz on Thursday."

Two Israelis arrested in Thailand for possession of 23,000 Ecstasy pills

"Two Israelis were arrested Tuesday in Thailand after police found 23,000 Ecstasy pills in their possession, the foreign ministry said Friday. Israeli Consul Hanoch Amadi in Bangkok said he expected the two to be held for a long time for drug-dealing."

A GENEROUS OFFER TO THE PALESTINIAN REFUGEES?

"Anyone familiar with Israeli politics, was not surprised that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert did not acknowledge Israel’s occupation in his speech at Annapolis. What was surprising was, that, short of mentioning the “R” word- refugees,Olmert acknowledged the Palestinian refugee problem."

Anatomy of a Turnabout

"The Bush administration decided to release new National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) extracts reporting that Iran terminated its nuclear weapons program in 2003 at least in part because some officials feared leaks and accusations of a cover-up if the material were kept secret, according to current and former U.S. intelligence officials."

Helen Thomas: No nukes in Iran, just as in Iraq

"Israel is believed to have the only nuclear arsenal in the Middle East but has never permitted the U.N. to inspect its weapons program and has never signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Nor has any U.S. president publicly pressured it to do so."

Hayden says CIA videotapes destroyed

"The CIA videotaped its interrogations of two top terror suspects in 2002 and destroyed the tapes three years later out of fear they would leak to the public and compromise the identities of U.S. questioners, the director of the agency told employees Thursday."

'Homegrown Terror' Act an Attack on Internet Freedom?

"There are many causes for concern in HR 1955. The legislation specifically singles out the Internet for "facilitating violent radicalization, ideologically based violence, and the homegrown terrorism process" in the United States. Such language may well be the first step toward US government regulation of what we are allowed to access on the Internet. Are we, for our own good, to be subjected to the kind of governmental control of the Internet that we see in unfree societies? This bill certainly sets us on that course."

Iran: Why Won't We Take Yes For An Answer?

"The Lobby is frantically calling in all its chips in a desperate effort to repair the damage and get their war-wagon rolling again. Congress recently passed a "package" of sanctions on Iran proffered by Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Tel Aviv), who phrases his advocacy of isolating us from the Iranian people in terms of "talking" to Tehran in the language of "carrots and sticks." Which means: first the stick, and then – maybe – a skinny shriveled up little carrot."

American Christians come to Iran on journey for peace

"A multi-denominational Christian delegation from the United States has come to Iran to meet religious and political figures and the Iranian people in order to “build bridges of peace and security” between Iran and the U.S."

Muslim student spearheads "Bikes or Bust" a project to aid needy children

"Noor Khazendar, 17, "was the brainchild of the project," Peterson said. "I decided to help Bikes or Bust because everyone remembers how it feels to ride their first bike. I know I remember (mine). Riding it meant the world to me." Pedaling without a parent's helping boost is "a memory that you just don't forget." "I'm a Muslim and I remember when I took charge of this project it was during the month of Ramadan where Muslims do good deeds and give money to the poor," Noor said. She new Bikes or Bust "gave back to the less fortunate in our community. My family and I are all about helping others.""

Abrahams, Lord Levy and Mendelsohn: Some People Never Learn the Lesson

"The Labour Party did not learn its lesson following the Lord Levy ‘Cash for Honours’ scandal. Once again they let the supporters of Israel take care of their material needs, argues Gilad Atzmon."

House prices seen falling 30 pct

"Housing markets from Punta Gorda, Florida, to Stockton, California, will crash and suffer price drops of more than 30 percent before the housing crisis is over, a report from Moody's Economy.com said on Thursday."

Mitt and Mormonism

"As former Massachusetts governor and presidential hopeful Mitt Romney prepares to deliver a major address tomorrow night at the George Bush presidential library, he finds himself in an almost impossible bind. The subject of the talk is faith and politics. The bind: how do you sell Mormonism to conservative Christian primary voters in a way that will not later alienate less religious voters in a general election?"

Romney: No religious test for president

"Republican Mitt Romney declares in a speech being delivered Thursday that he shares "moral convictions" with Americans of all faiths, but should not have to explain his own religion just because he's striving to become the first Mormon elected president."

The more significant proposition here is not being addressed. This issue is being discussed in terms of "Christianity" but the real question is, would a "Christian" nation elect a "non-Christian" president? Of course, it may be assumed, at this point in time, that the "non-Christian" president would be Jewish. And, this leads to a much deeper question ~ would a "Christian" nation that holds Jesus as Saviour elect a president that attaches no particular significance to Jesus, and in some cases may deny his very existence?

Perhaps at this point, the "Christians" will finally realize how far apart Christianity and Judaism really is. After all, regarding Jesus, Christianity is much closer to Islam.

U.S. 'Marranos' unwelcome in Israel

"The authorities would probably call the 30 U.S. citizens who scoured the Negev last week Christian tourists. But the members of the group think of themselves as American Marranos, and they are determined to return to the faith they say their ancestors were forced to renounce and strike root in Israel."

Segregation at Petach Tikvah religious school

"Four Ethiopian girls isolated from other students in separate classes, recess, and transportation."

But, it's not like we're racists or anything...

Israel's Public Security Minister Dichter cancels U.K. trip over fears of 'war crimes' arrest

Israel's Public Security Minister Avi Dichter. (Dan Keinan)

"Public Security Minister Avi Dichter canceled a trip to Britain over concerns he would be arrested due to his involvement in the decision to assassinate the head of Hamas' military wing in July 2002."

Two States or One? - It's time to choose

"Almost immediately after the hollow show in Annapolis, a ray of hope has appeared from an unexpected source -- Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert."

Debunking Iran's Nuclear Program: Another 'Intelligence Failure' -- On the Part of the Press?

"Press reports so far have suggested that the belated release of the National Intelligence Estimate yesterday throwing cold water on oft-repeated claims of a rampant Iranian nuclear weapons program has deeply embarrassed, or at least chastened, public officials and policymakers who have promoted this line for years. Gaining little attention so far: Many in the media have made these same claims, often extravagantly, which promoted (deliberately or not) the tubthumping for striking Iran."

It Turns Out Ahmadinejad Was the Truthful One

President Bush meets with reporters at Tuesday’s White House press briefing. - AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais

"Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who took office as Iran’s president in August of 2005, two years after Iran’s nuclear weapons program ended, has now been vindicated in his claims that Iran has abandoned the weaponization program. Not so Bush, who has summarily dismissed the intelligence community’s findings and, using his favorite tactic in dealing with debacles, is sticking to his original story."

Empire and Nuclear Weapons

"Like cannibalism and slavery, nuclear weapons can be abolished. The question is whether we humans have the will and courage to choose life."

Losing and Restoring the Republic

"John Quincy Adams told the Congress that if America ever rejected its limited-government philosophy in foreign affairs and began going abroad “in search of monsters to destroy,” she would become a “dictatress” of the world, which would simultaneously damage the spirit of liberty that accompanies a free society."

Sounds like something Ron Paul would say...

Seven Days in December?

"Just because the facts on which he based his white-hot rhetoric about Iran possibly sparking World War III have been debunked, W. said with his usual twisted logic, why should his policy change?"

Okay, let's see ~

1. A major "re-direction" in the intelligence on Iran.

2. Israel was caught unawares of (a) the recent US sponsored UN resolution on the Mid-East Peace process, which they later objected to and (b) the "new" intelligence on Iran.

Might the differences in the NIEs issued previously on Iraq and Iran, and the more recent one on Iran be because the Israelis and the Zio-cons were kept OUT of the loop this time around?

U.S. report on Iran's nukes puts Israel in difficult position

"Israel says it will continue to scrutinize Iran's nuclear capabilities, including this facility at Bushehr, despite a U.S. report saying Iran froze its nuclear weapons program in 2003."

"With Israel's warnings about the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran having been undermined from the least expected source, Washington, Israeli officials are scrambling to figure out their Plan B."

I'll bet you a dollar to a donut that a similar picture is hanging somewhere in Ahmadinejad's office and the Iranians are keeping a close eye on the comings and goings at Israel's Dimona WMD facility.

Iran : Armageddon is postponed

"Bombing Iran, it seems, is now off the table. There's no other reasonable take on the latest National Intelligence Estimate that concludes Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003."

Analyst: New NIE shows US intelligence has 'rediscovered its spine'

"Appearing on the BBC World news program, Joseph Cirincione, the director of nuclear policy at the Center for American Progress, said that the US military and intelligence agencies were reasserting themselves as President Bush enters the final year of his administration. Cirincione agreed with the BBC host that intelligence had "rediscovered its spine.""

Bolton Calls For Congressional Witch-Hunt Into Anti-Bush ‘People In The Intelligence Community’

"Yesterday’s National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) concluded that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003, pouring cold water on neoconservative calls for bombing Iran. Like his ideological kin Norman Podhoretz, former U.N. ambassador and Iran war hawk John Bolton has been attempting to slander the U.S. intelligence community’s collective judgments."

Podhoretz’s ‘Dark Suspicion’: Intel Community Trying To Sabotage Bush With NIE

"Yesterday’s NIE proved Podhoretz’s claims were false. Rather than modify his views on Iran, Podhoretz — who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2004 — aired a nasty conspiracy theory yesterday, attacking the authors of the NIE and accusing the intelligence community of deliberately “leaking material calculated to undermine George W. Bush.”

You gotta give even the devil his due ~ The Zio-cons, rather than admit that they just may have been wrong about Iran, is suggesting that the entire intelligence community is conspiring against Bush to head off a war with Iran. Now, that takes chutzpa.

Are they suggesting that Bush fire the intelligence community and rely solely on them for information?

Bush calls on Iran to 'come clean'

President Bush makes a statement about Iran, and former Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, who is running for the Senate in Nebraska, not pictured, upon his arrival at Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2007. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Bush, trying to keep pressure on Iran, called on Tehran Wednesday to "come clean" about the scope of its nuclear activities or else face diplomatic isolation.

A wise man once said: "A man who knows and knows that he knows is a wise man and should be followed ~ A man who knows but doesn't know that he knows is confused and should be taught ~ But, a man who doesn't know and doesn't know that he doesn't know is a fool and is dangerous and should be shunned."

In which category would you put Bush? The President is either terribly delusional or has had another one of his up-close-and-personal chats with God about Iran's nuclear energy program? Either way, he's a clear and present danger to the world.

The man who knew too little

"The tragedy in the US policies, which is gradually turning the world into a graveyard, is never based on facts but on probabilities and possibilities. It is a sure thing that the situation could have been different in Afghanistan and Iraq if the US government had relied more on facts in their calculations."

Biden: Bush compulsive liar

"Are you telling me a president that's briefed every single morning, who's fixated on Iran, is not told back in August that the tentative conclusion of 16 intelligence agencies in the US government said they had abandoned their effort for a nuclear weapon in '03?" the Delaware senator said. "You cannot trust this president. He is not trustworthy," he added.

Ahmadinejad: Security Council is an example of injustice

"President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said here on Tuesday that the UN Security Council was not “established based on justice” and its administrative system is an example of injustice in the world."

A Dumbed-Down Civilization

"Watching last week's televised debate between the US Republican Party's presidential aspirants made me realize to what profound depths the level of American politics has fallen. Apart from Ron Paul, the Great Unknown, it seemed almost impossible to get a straight answer out of anyone. John McCain, as expected, was righteous and right on the question of torture, magisterially rebuking Mitt Romney for his reptilian evasion of the question of whether "waterboarding" is torture."

Jerry Falwell's Liberty University Used University Resources To Promote Presidential Candidate

"Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. violated federal tax law by using school resources to endorse Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, Americans United for Separation of Church and State told the Internal Revenue Service today."

Ordinary Palestinians Ruined By Gaza Siege, Hamas Not So Much

Palestinian police officer affiliated with Hamas collecting Israeli missiles after airstrike. Image Credit: Mohammed Omer, Rafah Today 2007-12-04.

"It pains me to see that all of my year's work was in vain, my options gone," said one of the farmers feeding his flowers to his camel. "I've been waiting all year for this season and in preparation for the expected sales, I've spent thousands of dollars on water, seeds, and on planting and tending flowers," he said, adding: "Israel has closed all borders with Gaza. Now, Israel doesn't even want us to export flowers to Europe, nor strawberries."

Rice won't respond directly to Ahmadinejad

"I am not going to comment on that comment except to say that what the National Intelligence Estimate shows, and the transparency with which the administration released it, is what it means to live in a democracy and I hope one day that the people of Iran will live in a democracy too," she said.

There's political spin and then there's neo-conic mombo-jumbo. This is neo-conic mombo-jumbo at it's best. Condi actually said this with a straight face ~ like Bush and the gang have been absolutely "transparent" with the American people. This NIE is actually a rebellion by the intelligence community. They are simply putting the powers that be on notice that this time around they will not be the fall-guys for the mis-adventures of Bush and the Zio-cons.

In Gaza, 'what's important is to kill' - Barak

"Israel vowed to keep targeting militants in Hamas-run Gaza Tuesday as it mulled launching a wide-scale offensive against the territory amid revived peace talks with the Palestinians."