100 Days, 199 Rockets

From the Sderot Media Center:

199 Missiles Fired at Israel Since Operation Cast Lead

by Jacob Shrybman

The weekly Jewish Sabbath intended for rest and rejuvenation was nothing of the sort this Friday and Saturday as more rockets and mortars struck southern Israel. One qassam and two mortars were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel prompting the Israeli Air Force to target 5 smuggling tunnels between Egypt and the Hamas controlled territory. The Israeli Defense Forces said that this targeting of tunnels was a clear message that there would be a response to every rocket fire.

In the 105 days since the end of the 21 day Operation Cast Lead on January 18th there has been 199 missiles fired at Israeli civilians. More specifically there have been 128 qassam rockets, 66 mortar shells, and 5 grad missiles. These most recent attacks only add to the well over 10,000 missiles that have been fired at Israeli civilians since January 2001.

Archive Photo

Head of Shaar Hanegev Regional Council Alon Shuster commented on the weekend’s rocket fire, “We have no reason to assume that the rocket fire will stop. We did not come to any agreement with or defeat our enemies. The rocket fire is a strategic threat that will follow us in the coming years.”

In a cease-fire both sides must stop all attacks. The Israelis stopped Operation Cast Lead as a favor to Barack Obama, yet they have gotten nothing in return. How much longer does Israel have to endure before they finally finish the job that they started last December?

War not over for PTSD victims in Sderot

by Anav Silverman

Much of the international community and even Israelis living outside the western Negev periphery, are under the impression that rocket fire against Sderot and southern Israel has completely ceased. Israeli news websites and radio stations have carried reports asserting that the number of rockets fired against Israelis in the south has reached all time lows.

While it is true that rocket fire has significantly decreased, Sderot and western Negev residents are still reeling from the impact of the war. The director of the Sderot Mental Health Center, Dr. Adrianna Katz told Sderot Media Center yesterday that area residents are streaming into her clinic, seeking therapy for developing ‘post-war’ trauma symptoms.

Dr. Adriana Katz

“Many new Sderot patients are coming in for help, even though they have lived with the rocket terror for eight years now,” says Dr. Katz. “PTSD symptoms among area residents emerge during periods of ‘quiet’ like now. Many seeking therapy had tried unsuccessfully on their own to suppress these symptoms of trauma during the past rocket escalations.”

PTSD or post-traumatic-stress-disorder is an anxiety disorder which develops after exposure to a terrifying event ordeal which physical harm occurred or was threatened. People suffering from PTSD have a severe an ongoing emotional reaction to extreme psychological trauma. Symptoms include flashbacks and nightmares, difficulty falling asleep, numbness and detachment-all of which impair social and familial relationships as well as performance at work.

Victims of PTSD often avoid stimuli associated with their trauma. In Sderot, it is often impossible for residents to escape the reality that has brought on the trauma symptoms because of the fragile quiet. Dr. Katz explained that recovering patients who hear the Color Red siren just once-the alarm that sends civilians fleeing to shelters-- will go back to experiencing PTSD symptoms.

Indeed, since the ceasefire in mid-January, the Color Red siren has been set off almost weekly in Sderot.

“During the war, my staff discovered a new type of anxiety that developed among Sderot residents, which we termed ‘optimistic anxiety,’“ said Dr. Katz. “Although residents were fearful of the rocket fire, they also experienced for the first time in years-- a sense of optimism that the operation would completely end the rocket terror.”

“However, Sderot residents do not believe that the operation brought about a complete nor lasting change as it was finished halfway. In fact, because the rocket attacks have spread as far as Netivot, Ashdod, and Be’er Sheba, Sderot residents feel even less secure,” Dr. Katz related.

“Many families left Sderot during the war and traveled to nearby cities which they believed were safe from rocket attacks, only to find out they were not. This fact, which was revealed during the war, has spurred on further anxiety among patients.”

Over 5, 500 patient files have opened in the Sderot Mental Health, who has a staff of four counselors, since Palestinian rocket fire on the city began in 2002. Out of those files, 2,500 are active, with many patients seeking treatment for the long term, said Dr. Katz. She did not have an exact number on how many new patients have come in for treatment since the war.

Dr. Katz believes that there are many more PTSD victims in Sderot who are not seeking help. Most residents who do come to Dr. Katz are referred to by a doctor or medical expert, while few arrive by their own initiative.

Dr. Katz offers a small smile when I ask her if she has any hope for a lasting peace in the region. “Not at this moment,” she says as she gets ready to greet her next patient.

PTSD is the most common mental disorder in Sderot. It affects men and women, young and old alike. Any where else in the world, levels of PTSD in a city's population would be considered epidemic with the Main Stream Media jumping over themselves to carry the story. Yet the media is silent about this. The media in the US is silent until Israel tries to stop the rockets, and then they condemn Israel. But you do not have to be silent. You have a voice. Make yourself heard! Contact your local paper, television station, CNN, Fox News, NBC, etc... Let them know that you don't accept that the perpetrators of these acts are NOT the victims! The true victims are the people of Sderot. Especially the children. Little ones who suffer from PTSD and have no voice in America.

And if you are able, please donate a few dollars to the Sderot Media Center. Just click on the logo at the top or bottom of this article. It will take you to their donation site.

The Children of Sderot have no voice. Will you be that voice for them?

Lets Play Pretend



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Saudi authorities contradict U.S. Park Service: mihrabs do NOT have to point exactly at Mecca

A Muslim consultant told the Park Service in 2006 that the Crescent of Embrace memorial to Flight 93 cannot be seen as a mihrab (the Mecca-direction indicator around which every
mosque is built), because the giant Islamic-shaped crescent does not point exactly at Mecca:

Mihrab orientation is either correct or not. It cannot be off by some degrees.

Saudi religious authorities recently had to address this question when observers noted that some 200 mosques in Mecca itself do not point directly at the Kaaba (the “Sacred Mosque” that all Muslims are supposed to face for prayer). Meccans who worried that their prayers might not count were assured by the Islamic Affairs Ministry that “it does not affect the prayers.”

The necessity for such a rule is obvious. Throughout most of Islam’s 1400 year history, Muslims who were any significant distance from Mecca had no accurate way to determine the direction to Mecca. Thus it became established religious principle that what matters is intent. It is the
mind of the believer that needs to face directly towards the Kaaba, and directly towards God. This principle applies in Mecca the same as anywhere else.

All the great mosques of the ancient world point well away from Mecca

Older mosques often point 10, 20, 30 or more degrees away from Mecca. The most famous mihrab in the world, the mihrab of the Great Mosque in Cordoba Spain, points more than 45° off of Mecca:


The Cordoba mihrab points south, while Mecca is east-southeast of Spain.

In contrast, the Crescent of Embrace points a mere 1.8° north of Mecca, ± 0.1°, which is highly accurate by Islamic standards.

The Muslim consultant who lied to the Park Service was a classmate of architect Paul Murdoch

Who told the Park Service that a mihrab has to point exactly at Mecca to be legitimate? It was Nasser Rabbat, a professor of Islamic architecture at MIT and an expert in the history of mosque design. No one knows better than Professor Rabbat that mihrab orientation does NOT have to be exact.

There is only one reason why Rabbat would lie to the Park Service about such a basic fact. He recognizes that the giant Mecca-oriented crescent at the heart of the Flight 93 memorial IS a legitimate mihrab, and he wants this al Qaeda sympathizing plot to succeed.

A look at Rabbat's background shows that he was a classmate of Crescent of Embrace architect Paul Murdoch, both getting masters degrees in architecture from UCLA in 1984 and both doing their masters work on Middle Easter subjects. (Murdoch wrote a “masters project” titled: “A museum for Haifa, Israel.” Rabbat wrote a master thesis on house design in Cairo and Damascus.)

This prior connection between Murdoch and Rabbat raises the possibility that Murdoch himself was able to orchestrate the Park Service investigation into warnings about his own design. By the same token, having the two classmates both show up in the Flight 93 memorial raises the possibility that Rabbat was Murdoch's source of expertise on how to incorporate the full complement of typical mosque features into his Crescent design. (For the dozen typical
mosque features, see Crescent of Embrace, chapter 5.)

The Crescent of Embrace also includes an exact Mecca-orientation

While exact orientation on Mecca is not a traditional requirement, modern mosque designers do generally employ now-available techniques for orienting their mihrabs more precisely on Mecca than was previously possible. Murdoch satisfies this modern norm (and provides hidden proof of intent) by including a true thematically-defined crescent that does point exactly at Mecca.

Murdoch's thematic explanation for his crescent design is that the circle was broken on 9/11 by the path of Flight 93. The terrorist-piloted airplane smashes our peaceful circle, turning it into a giant Islamic-shaped crescent (that just happens to point to Mecca). The terrorist-memorializing
implications of this theme are hardly less overt than the Islamic symbolshapes themselves. Nothing particularly subtle here folks.

The symbolic breaking of the circle occurs at the upper crescent tip, where the fifty-foot tall, thousand-foot long Entry Portal Wall is parted by the Entry Portal Walkway, which follows the flight path through the wall:



The section of wall to the right of the walkway in this image is symbolically "broken off" by the flight path. Remove this symbolically broken off part, and the remaining crescent structure points EXACTLY at Mecca, ± 0.1°:



What symbolically remains standing in the wake of 9/11: a giant Islamic-shaped crescent pointing EXACTLY at Mecca.

Rabbat knew about this too, since the original report that Rabbat was commenting on detailed both the slightly inexact Mecca-orientation of the full Crescent of Embrace, and the exact-Mecca-orientation that results when the symbolically broken-off parts are removed. Same for the Park Service. As the original recipient of Alec Rawls' report, the Park Service knew about both orientations. They also knew, because it was also in the original report, that a mihrab does NOT have to point exactly at Mecca. Yet they still publicly touted Rabbat’s claim that the crescent can’t be seen as a mihrab because it doesn’t point exactly at Mecca. A veritable web of self-conscious lies by Rabbat AND the Park Service.

The design is called a broken circle now, but the circle is still broken in the same place as before (where the flight path crosses the upper crescent tip). The unbroken part of the circle, what is symbolically left standing in the wake of 9/11, remains completely unchanged. It is still a giant-Islamic shaped crescent, still pointing exactly at Mecca.

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Lest We Forget: The Heroic Saga of the Philadelphia V

USS Philadelphia V



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A note from Radarsite: Unfortunately, the treasures of history are fragile bequests. Had it not been for my chance encounter with 86 year old ex-Seaman Anthony L. Simone in the laundry room of the apartment complex we share, the illustrious and action-packed career of the WWII light cruiser USS Philadelphia V might, for all intents and purposes, have been lost to all but the most ardent naval historians. And that would be a travesty of justice. For me, the heroic exploits of this fine ship and her loyal crew symbolize the courageous actions of all of our fine American WWII troops, all over the world. Unfortunately, these noble warriors are fast becoming a dying breed. Like so many similar remembrances, this great epic saga has, over the years, been reduced to a handful of all but anonymous family histories, built around these precious but all-too-fragile personal memories. And if we're not careful, if we don't personally take the time to record these precious WWII memories, then these fascinating personal stories, and the greater histories which they entail, will be lost to us forever. Here, thankfully, is one that didn't get away. I feel humbled and honored to be able to bring to you this exclusive Radarsite interview with my friend, ex-Seaman Anthony L. Simone.

First, the history of the ship. Then, the personal remembrances of one of her brave and highly-decorated crewmen. - rg
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The fifth Philadelphia, a light cruiser, was laid down 28 May 1935 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard; launched 17 November 1936; and commissioned at Philadelphia 23 September 1937, Captain Jules James in command. After fitting out, the cruiser departed Philadelphia 3 January 1938 for shakedown in the West Indies followed by additional alterations at Philadelphia and further sea trials off the Maine coast. Philadelphia called at Charleston, S.C. 30 April 1938 and hosted President Roosevelt the first week of May for a cruise in Caribbean waters. The President debarked at Charleston 8 May and Philadelphia resumed operations with Cruiser Division 8 off the Atlantic coast. She was designated flagship of Rear Admiral F.A. Todd, Commander Cruiser Division 8 Battle Force, 27 June. In the following months she called at principal ports of the West Indies, and at New York, Boston, and Norfolk. Transiting the Panama Canal 1 June 1939, Philadelphia joined Cruiser Division 8 in San Pedro, Calif. 18 June for Pacific coastal operations. She departed Los Angeles 2 April 1940 for Pearl Harbor, where she engaged in fleet maneuvers until May 1941.

Cruiser Philadelphia stood out of Pearl Harbor 22 May 1941 to resume Atlantic operations, arriving Boston 18 June. At this point she commenced neutrality patrol operations, steaming as far south as Bermuda and as far north as Halifax, Nova Scotia. She entered Boston Navy Yard 25 November for upkeep and was in repair status there when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Eleven days after the Japanese attack, Philadelphia steamed for exercises in Casco Bay, after which she joined two destroyers for antisubmarine patrol to Argentia, Newfoundland. Returning to New York 14 February 1942, she made two escort runs to Hafnarfjordur, Iceland. She then joined units of Task Force 22 at Norfolk 16 May, departing two days later for an ASW sweep to the Panama Canal. She then returned to New York, only to depart 1 July as an escort unit for a convoy bond for Greenock, Scotland. The middle of August found her escorting a second convoy to Greenock. Returning to Norfolk, Va. 15 September, she joined Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt's Western Naval Task Force. This force was to land some 35,000 troops and 250 tanks of General Patton's Western Task Force at three different points on the Atlantic coast of French Morocco. Philadelphia became flagship of Rear Admiral Lyal A. Davidson, commanding the Southern Attack Group. which was to carry 6,423 troops under Major General E. N. Harmon, USA, with 108 tanks, to the landing at Safi, about 140 miles south of Casablanca.

Philadelphia's task group departed Norfolk 24 October and set course as if bound for the British Isles. The entire Western Naval Task Force, consisting of 102 ships and spanning an ocean area some 20 by 40 miles, combined 450 miles off Cape Race, Newfoundland 28 October. It was to that time, the greatest war fleet sent forth by the United States. The task force swept northward 6 November, thence changed course toward the Straits of Gibraltar. But after dark a southeasterly course was plotted towards Casablanca, and shortly before midnight of 7 November, three separate task groups closed three different points on the Moroccan coast.

Philadelphia took up its fire support station as the transports offloaded troops in the early morning darkness of 8 November. Shore batteries opened fire at 0428, and within two minutes Philadelphia joined New York (BB-34) in bombardment of Batterie Railleuse [manned by our good friends, the Vichy French!] which, with four 130mm. guns, was the strongest defense unit in the Safi area. Later in the morning, Philadelphia bombarded a battery of three 155mm. guns about three miles south of Safi. Spotter planes from the cruiser also got into the act by flying close support missions. One of Philadelphia's aircraft discovered and bombed a Vichy French submarine 9 November in the vicinity of Cape Kantin. The next day the Vichy submarine Medeuse, one of eight that had sortied from Casablanca, was sighted down by the stern and listing badly to port beached at Mazagan, north of Cape Blanco. Thought to be the same submarine previously attacked off Cape Kantin, Medeuse was again spotted by a plane from Philadelphia and was subsequently bombed.

Departing Safi 13 November, Philadelphia returned to New York 24 November. Operating from that port until 11 March 1943, she assisted in escorting two convoys to Casablanca. She then joined Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk's Task Force 85 for training in Chesapeake Bay preparatory to the invasion of Sicily. A convoy escorted by Philadelphia and nine destroyers sortied from Norfolk, Va. 8 June 1943 and arrived Oran Algeria 22 June, where final invasion staging operations took place. The convoy stood out from Oran 5 July and arrived off the beaches of Seoglitti, Sicily shortly before midnight of 9 July Philadelphia assisted in furnishing covering bombardment as the troops of Major General Troy Middleton's 45th Infantry Division stormed ashore. By 15 July she had joined the gunfire support group off Porto Empedocle, where her guns were put to good use.
Read the rest at Radarsite:

A Tale Of A Fateful Trip.

It was destined to happen, I wrote that it would in August of 2008, but who knew that it would take almost a year for the Free Gaza Movement's ship The Leaky Hull The Dignity to finally sink.

A boat used by the leftist "Free Gaza" organization to challenge Israel's sovereignty over Gaza waters capsized on Monday. The ship, Dignity, was used “to protest the embargo” imposed by the IDF as a means of preventing Hamas terrorists from importing weaponry.

The group’s spokesperson, Ramzi Kysia, said that the 66-foot (20 meter) length boat capsized due to poor weather conditions. He added that he does not suspect that the boat was sabotaged in any way.

On December 29, two days after the IDF launched its counterterrorist Operation Cast Lead in Gaza, the Dignity set out from Cyprus, heading for the war zone with the stated mission of attempting to deliver 3.5 tons of medical supplies to its residents.

The boat was forced to turn back after a confrontation with Israeli naval vessels off the coast of Gaza. The movement claimed that Israeli warships rammed their vessel, and then fired machine guns in the water, a charged that Israel denied.

Since the incident, only superficial repairs were made to the boat, according to Kysia, who explained that repairs had been held up because negotiations with an Egyptian shipper had not been completed by the time the boat set sail.

The group said it intends to send another boat to Gaza on July 1 but did not specify which vessel would hit the high seas.

Read the full story here.

Everyone was wondering how Free Gaza could keep The Leaky Hull The Dignity afloat since they kept screaming they were running out of funds. It is amazing how they kept managing that feat of financing. For months this organization claimed it did not have enough money to keep their fleet of ships rust buckets afloat. Don't they understand that the world is in an economic crises? Don't they understand that people don't have money to throw around on stupid ideas. That most people don't care about Gaza. Especially after the antics that some of their supports have done.

Actually I am considering donating some funds myself to the rescue of a much more worthy ship. A ship with true dignity, with a stout crew, and passengers worthy of my funds:

SS Minnow

After all these years, they are worthy of my support!

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Obama Plan to Destroy Israel: Two State Solution

by Maggie at Maggie's Notebook

The following offers deep insight into the world's quest for a two state solution agreement between Israel and Palestine. Put your thinking cap on and delve in.


Obama's Plan to Destroy Israel
by Sultan Knish

If there's one thing that the Carter Administration can be given credit for, it's creating the new wave of Islamist terrorism, both Sunni, operating out of Afghanistan, and Shiite, operating out of Iran. The Carter Administration cracked down on Israel and put its "faith" in Muslim terrorists, who then went on to wage war on America, even while Carter was in office.

28 years after Carter was removed from office, we're in reruns again with the Obama Administration, which is not only following the Carter line, but whose plans greatly exceed it. 28 years ago, Wahhabi Sunni and Shiite terrorists were generally an afterthought when compared to the standard USSR backed Marxist terrorist groups, such as the PLO.

Today, thanks in part to the Carter Administration, they control several countries and have designs on several more. From Pakistan to Afghanistan, from Gaza to Lebanon, from the Middle East to Southeast Asia, the threat is very real and bigger than ever particularly as the race by both Sunni and Shiite groups to build and deploy nuclear weapons continues.

Like Carter before him, Obama has chosen to cut backdoor deals with the Mullahs in Iran, offering them power over Iraq and Afghanistan, in exchange for quieting things down enough to let him hang up a Mission Accomplished banner and pull the troops out. "Peace with honor", preferably before the next election. The rape law for Shiites in Afghanistan, the push for a US funded Hamas/Fatah Unity government in the territories and the rising expansion of the Taliban are all fruits of this arrangement.

If Iran is to be our new best friend under this arrangement, Israel is to be our new best enemy.

Obama stacked the deck by deploying Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State in a position that gave her an important title, but absolutely no power to go with it, while stacking the National Security Council and even the Pentagon with oil appointees in the pockets of the Saudis or his own left wing radical friends.

Israel electing a conservative government really put the ball into play, freeing up even more resources for attacking Israel. The strategy runs something like this.

The Obama Administration has broken down the Israel problem into two subsections, Israel itself, and American Jews.

Obama's people have studied the problem and understand where Carter went wrong. Obama does not want to have the same image problems as Carter in the Jewish community. Should that happen, the Beloved Leader and his lapdog press are fully prepared to unleash a Chavez style hate-on targeting American Jews. But that would be inconvenient and messy. Even with the changing face of America, there are significant differences between the average American and European or Venezuelan, and what kind of ugliness they are willing to tolerate. So Obama's people have split their attention in handling the two factors as two different problems.

American Jews - Obama has been clever about putting his Jewish appointees front and center. Like many minorities, some American Jews suffer from self-esteem problems that are soothed when they see a seeming acceptance. Of course what they fail to realize is that exploitation is not acceptance. And that Obama's appointees are creatures of his backers, Nazi collaborators like Soros, who have nothing but contempt for Jews, individually or collectively.

While outwardly courting Jews, Obama's people have also been quietly shoving Jewish organizations and their leaders into a corner. Within the Jewish organizational world there has been a silent but deadly takeover of major Jewish groups by left wing radicals. Former alumni of the far left wing and anti-Israel groups like Breira or Coname in the 70's have been elevated to key positions in such organizations as the UJA Federation. Behind the scenes any Jewish leaders who expressed even doubts about Obama during the primaries were intimidated and silenced.

Much as with conservatives, a list has been drawn up of those figures who can be won over, and those who cannot. The ones who can be won over are described as "moderates", the ones who cannot be won over are described as "extremists".

Meanwhile a bevvy of left wing Jewish In Name Only groups have been organized to play their part. Key among them is the Soros funded J Street, a group created as an anti-Israel lobby meant to eventually replace AIPAC. Meanwhile AIPAC itself has been kept on the ropes with such things as the well timed Harman leak. The message once again is fairly clear, cooperate and keep quiet, or we'll destroy you.

The multi-layered approach to American Jews can then be summed up as follows;

1.) Co-opt existing Jewish organizations and swing them to the left using old school 70's leftists.

2.) Create new "progressive" organizations to appeal to a younger generation of ethnically Jewish youth detached from any actual identity. Have these organizations generate attacks on the Israeli government and pro-Israel Jews, while creating phony polls indicating that most American Jews are behind them and Obama.

3.) Silence and intimidate remaining Jewish organizations and leaders behind the scenes.

The overall idea is to keep a happy face pasted on American Jewry while the knives are out in the dark.

Israel - The basic understanding in the Obama Administration is that Israel Must Go. In the worldview of the more moderate Obama appointees, Israel is a destabilizing factor in the Middle East. To the more left wing Obama advisors, Israel is a Western imperialist colonialist state that must be destroyed in the name of revolutionary justice. To the Islamist mindset, Israel is a Kufir state that has no right to exist in the Dar Al Islam.

While intractably hostile to Israel, the Obama Administration wants to avoid the kind of public confrontations that marked the Carter and Bush Sr administrations. Instead they would much rather model the way that the Clinton Administration waged a quiet war against Israel, removing one government, and forcing extensive concessions to terrorists, all the while keeping a happy face pasted on the whole affair.

On the one hand that means avoiding harsh public attacks on Israel, but keeping the pressure up for Israel to make extensive far reaching one sided concessions, to accept Saudi and Arab League "peace plans", to legitimize Hamas as the new government of the Palestinian Authority, and to insure that Israel does not reply to any rocket or terrorist attacks.

There are two forms of quiet leverage that the United States has on Israel, the first is financial and the second is military.

On the financial side, the goal will be to bring down the Netanyahu government coalition by destabilizing Israel economically. This is the surest and most direct path to bringing down Israel's conservative government and replacing it with a left of center coalition. The Obama Administration has a wide variety of tactics at its disposal for doing so, from the overt, such as targeting Israeli exports and imports, to the covert, that would involve targeting the Shekel. Additionally fundraising in the US could be investigated and groups such as the Jewish National Fund, prevented from raising money in the US. All of these have been in play before at one time or another.

On the military side, Obama's people will make their non-existent efforts to stop Iran's nukes conditional on more concessions to terrorists. Since Israel will never be able to make enough concessions and since Obama is working with Iran, rather than working to stop Iran's nukes, this is a hollow charade.

Furthermore while Israel has already been locked out of the military technology pipeline for anything cutting edge, it still remains dependent on US military equipment for parts and supplies. The decades of US foreign aid have also served to create dependency. Unlike many other countries, including even Sweden, Israel does not have its own jet fighter. Israel's Air Force is heavily dependent on US weapons, parts and equipment. Cutting Israel off, would leave the Israeli military dangerously vulnerable in the case of a war. This is an effective chokehold that has been used before to prevent Israel from attacking Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War, as well as preventing Israel from carrying out a preemptive strike against its enemies before the Yom Kippur War.

The overall Obama policy will be to push Israel to the brink, using financial and military blackmail against the Netanyahu government, while maintaining control over American Jews to prevent any protests or backtalk.

The more Israel will offer, the more the Obama Administration will tighten the screws. No offer will be good enough, and Israel will be blamed for every breakdown in talks and every bit of violence that takes place. The media will portray Israel and particularly Netanyahu as extremist and intransigent. Hamas will be slowly whitewashed in the media, the same way that Arafat's goons were, (assuming that they prove more willing to cooperate in creating a positive media image of themselves than Ahmadinejad is.)

The plan is to destroy Israel, and to do it by pushing Israel to the edge of the cliff and then over the cliff. Israel's enemies will be getting top of the line US military equipment. Israel will not. Israel will be squeezed economically until the Netanyahu government collapses, leaving a weak left wing leader like Livni in charge of Israel, and in charge of acceding to the new Pharaoh's demands.

Meanwhile so-called American Jewish groups will support Obama all the way, some because they were created precisely for that purpose, e.g. J-Street, and others because they have been hijacked, cowed or subverted.

That is the game plan and some of it's coming. The rest is already here.

Luton, England Islamic Centre Fire Bombed; Lionheart's Hometown

By Maggie at Maggie's Notebook

I know many of you follow Lionheart and his hometown of Luton's efforts to abate the probing and creeping Islamic influence in that community. Lionheart has been the center of the local government's focus on behalf of the Muslim community - meaning there is a plan to silence the objections of Lionheart and others who want their town to remain British. Now, an Islamic Centre there has been fire bombed. See a video below

Luton, England Islamic Centre Fire Bombed

Many in Luton believe certain Muslims are hoodlums, drug runners and worse. Now, I need to say this: nothing I say should be used to place Lionheart in any particular light other than a good one. I'm just an on-looker who would like to help but has no way to do so, SO, DO NOT hold Lionheart responsible for anything I say.

LutonToday is reporting that The Islamic Centre in Bury Park Road was set on fire and the police believe this is a case of arson. No one was injured but a lot of damage was done to the structure. A burned-out BMW 3-series was found nearby, and police believe the vehicle is connected to the fire.

This is frightening to me because I think there could be a scenario that attempts to implicate Lionheart and others in the fire bombing. This is just a guess on my part. I have no inside information. I have not corresponded with Lionheart. I just read. You also can read through Lionheart's archives to get the complete picture. You can glimpse some of the problem in the video below, as you see Muslims protesting the return of hometown military heros. Another part of the story continues to be that Luton police will not allow Brits to peacefully gather and march in protest to the Muslim agitators. Muslims are granted a license, Brits are not. God help Great Britain.

Whatever the situation or the realities of the police investigation, I am reminded that Lionheart and Luton needs to remain in my prayers. Please join me.

It Will Take Us 11 Days "To Wipe Israel Out of Existence!

This has been the cry of the Arabs towards the State of Israel. The same old tune, this time sung by Iran.

Iranian Army General Commander Ataollah Salehi: It Will Take Us 11 Days "To Wipe Israel Out of Existence"

Following are excerpts of statements by Iranian military commanders, from a TV report which aired on LBC TV on May 3, 2009. Click here to view this clip at MEMRI.

"I Do Not Think We Will Need More Than 11 Days to Wipe Israel Out Of Existence"

Voiceover: "Nothing can prevent Iranian missiles from targeting the heart of Israel, if Iran is subjected to a military strike by Israel. This was the response of the Iranian military commanders to the Israeli statements about a possible military strike against Iran, because of its insistence on obtaining nuclear energy. Yet an [Israeli] attack seems improbable to the Iranians, because Tel Aviv does not have the ability to go through a war with Tehran."

Iranian Chief-of-Staff General Hassan Firouzabadi: "We are fully prepared to confront any attack that would threaten the interests of Iran. We have sufficient means and the necessary force to defend our territory."

General Ataollah Salehi, general commander of the Iranian army: "The truth is that Israel does not have the courage to attack us. If we are subjected to any attack by Israel, I do not think we will need more than 11 days to wipe Israel out of existence."

Voiceover: "Tehran denies that its military preparations are aimed at attacking any neighboring country. Iran justifies its military preparedness as a means to defend Iran and the region, which may alleviate the fears and concerns of countries in the region."

"Our Military Capabilities Are Not Meant to Threaten the Neighboring Countries - But Only to Defend Iran"

General Yahya Rahim Safavi, Khamenei's chief advisor on military affairs: "Our military capabilities are not meant to threaten the neighboring countries, but only to defend Iran. Iran strives for peace, security, and stability with the countries in the region."

General Reza Pourdastan, commander of the Iranian army ground forces: "The neighboring countries can rest assured that by no means will we attack any country."

Voiceover: "But fears about Iran's missiles remain, especially among Western countries, concerned that Iran might arm its missiles with nuclear warheads, since the superpowers doubt that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful. This is categorically denied by Tehran, which says that according to the shari'a and the law, it is forbidden to obtain a nuclear weapon."

During operation Cast Lead it took the IDF 1 hour to destroy the top Hamas unit that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard personally trained. 1 hour!

During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980's, the Revolutionary Guard could not destroy Iraq's military machine in years of war. The Revolutionary Guard had problems tackling Iraq's Republican Guard. It took the US military only 10 days to destroy Iraq's military machine. 10 days!

Iran has missiles that will strike Israel and cause damage. But Israel has missiles too. And of the best Air Forces in the world. Something the Iranians cannot boast of. Something else, Iran has too many out of date weapons, aircraft, and ships. While some militaries could do wonders with obsolete equipment, but not Iran.

Iran is boasting. It is acceptable behavior in Iran to threaten to wipe out Israel once a week by members of the government. I guess that it is the militarys turn that week. I expect that we will hear more of this from Iran in the coming months.

Space Weather: Meteors From Halley's Comet.

METEOR SHOWER: Earth is entering a stream of dusty debris from Halley's Comet, the source of the annual eta Aquarid meteor shower. Forecasters expect the shower to peak on Wednesday, May 6th, with as many as 85 meteors per hour over the southern hemisphere. Rates in the northern hemisphere will be less, 20 to 30 per hour. The best time to look is during the dark hour before local sunrise on Wednesday morning.

If you live in the Southern Hemisphere you will enjoy the show that will happen on Wednesday morning.

Visit SpaceWeather for more information and pictures.

Barack Obama's World View and How it Affects America

by Maggie Thornton at Maggie's Notebook

How many times have you commented that Barack Obama voters knew nothing about him when they cast their vote at the polls? I've said it often. How well do you verbally size him up? Who is he? What is he up to? Can you put it into words, or explain it to your nephew or your daughter? See photos and a video below.

Barack Obama

Remember when Tom Brokaw and Charlie Rose sat down just three days before the November 2008 election and admitted they hadn't a clue who Barack Obama really is. Rose asks about Obama's "world view," and his views on China - both say they know nothing about either. They know nothing about Obama's "universe of thinking." It doesn't get more pathetic than these two S.O.B.'s admitting how they robbed the American people of vital information about Barack Obama. Brokaw says the media must be "vigilant," but they weren't. He said a reporter needed to bring "intellectual vigor" to this election, but they didn't - they didn't dare. You can see the video of that conversation below.

When I'm trying to explain what makes Obama tick, I know plenty.

I can talk about his father, his father's philosophy, his father's connections, his father's communism, his father's writings, and the Muslim influence in both of their lives. I can talk about Obama's own admission in his book Dreams From My Father, when he said he tried to take his father's "high blown ideals" as his own. He said he sought his father's attributes in himself. He needed to "prove" himself through political organizing, as did his father.

President Obama's Father, Barak Hussein Obama, Sr.

To discount his distant father's influence, and his ardor for communism is foolish, but that's just what America did. A quote from Obama Sr.:

...there is nothing that can stop the government from taxing 100% of income so long as the people get benefits from the government commensurate with their income which is taxed.

I do not see why the government cannot tax those who have more and syphon some of these revenues into savings which can be utilized in investment for future development.

Obama Sr. believed in the communal ownership of land, and the forced confiscation of privately controlled land. He wanted the nationalization of European and Asian owned enterprises, including hotels...and writing from Kenya for the East Africa Journal, Problems Facing our Socialism, published in July 1965, he wanted these operations handed over to the indigenous black population." He attacked the economic proposals of pro-Western ideals proposed by African leader Tom Mboya. Obama sided with communist-allied leader Oginga Odinga. You can view a pdf of the original document by following the links from Sweetness and Light.

Then there's the mother who loved Muslim men, who painted with broad, vibrant strokes, the son's father...and seeded those stories in the mind of the boy. There's the mother who left her son behind in Hawaii at a certain age to pursue her own self-interests.

I know about Barack Obama's years with with the Gamaliel Foundation and his gloried community organizing in Chicago. This article sums it up succinctly and offers credible links.

So knowing all this and more, I admit that I still find it difficult to put into words who I think Barack Obama is, or what I believe his motives to be, but another blogger has found those words and put them together ingeniously. The entire article wastes not a word. Here are some snippets from The Return of Scipio.

His life has been fully marinated in the world view of those who hate capitalism, call the US the source of much of the world’s evil, believe the Jews to be the main problem of the Middle East, see themselves as most qualified to govern “the people”, equate opposition with heresy and despise traditional religions and values. They are absolute and total creatures of government and could not survive outside of it. Indeed, this is the reason why all of their proposals involve government. The greater the size of government, the more power they have. The fact that liberty is reduced for the citizenry is irrelevant, since the ruing classes will always have the freedom to do what they wish.

Obama and his sorts exist in some bounteous ether where taxes, small cars, high gas prices, reduced incomes and the toil of daily life affect only those who do the actual work of the nation. They award themselves beautiful homes, large and fancy automobiles, excellent food and citizen subsidized foreign travel. Indeed, their entire lives are subsidized by the taxes they impose upon the masses. And with the increase of government—which really is an increase of job prospects of the ruling classes and their families—the numbers of these types will increase, as will the taxes imposed to maintain such sumptuous lifestyles of these rich, famous and powerful.

[omissions....]

The grand design of all these teeming intellectuals all over the globe is to create a world system where they and their type sit at all the tables of governance, control all the levers of power and distribute all the world’s wealth. Obama sees himself at the head of this motley throng. It is obvious that these types have no particular loyalty to any particular geographic area. Obama himself has nothing particularly American about him. Search all you like but in him you will find no Jefferson or Madison. He is really a citizen of that transnational body of intellectuals that imagines the entire world as its proper stage and the rest of us as mere bit players in its grandiose drama. The members of this elite regard the entire earth as part of their rightful inheritance and desire a world government composed of themselves.

Read every word at The Return of Scipio and thanks to Jim Simpson at Truth and Consequences.

Barack Obama's World View and How it Affects America(Video)

British Female Judge Converts to Islam - Video

by Maggie at Maggie's Notebook

A female District Judge in Britain, Marilyn Mornington, has converted to Islam. She specializes in violence against women and child abuse, and specifically abuse against women in the Muslim community. She involved herself in the lives of Muslims to learn more about it. She says as she began to read the Koran she had no choice in the matter. I believe she is saying it was inevitable that she would convert. She mentions that someone (name is inaudible) "had his eyes on me." If you know who she is talking about, please leave a comment. See the video below.

Mornington is talking to Imam Hamza Yusuf, an American. He teaches at the Zaytuna Institute in California. He was born Mark Hanson in Walla Walla, Washington, and converted to Islam at the age of 17.

One blessing is that we can choose how or if we will worship, and who we will worship. This lady has every right to convert, but I have to wonder, who will do the mediating for her when Islamic violence dogs her every step. What if she changes her mind? No chance of leaving Islam - and especially for a woman.

And, as a side note, can't you imagine how a Brit will feel standing in court in front of this woman?

Watch the two women looking on as this Judge speaks. By the way, have you ever seen a Muslim woman wearing yellow or red burqas? Perhaps these are not technically burqa's??? Have you ever seen a Muslim woman flaunting blonde bangs? Any color bangs?

Thank you to Holger Awakens

Mind That Bird!

What a strange name for a race horse, let alone the winner of the 135th Kentucky Derby. But it is true. In a stunning upset, Mind That Bird, trained by Bennie Woolley Jr. entered the race at 50 to 1 odds, and was fancied by no one to win the race. Instead, it was a resounding win, with Mind That Bird winning by nearly seven lengths, the biggest winning length since 1946.

The horse was such a long shot that before the race the experts wrote this of him:

Justin Dew's Picks:

"Too slow to be a factor."

John Asher's Picks:

"Derby is a huge step up for this Canadian champ."

Jill Byrne's Picks:

"Might as well give it a go anything can happen."

James Scully's Picks:

"Faces an extreme class hike."

Mind That Bird was bought for $9,500 when he was a colt. He was racing against horses that cost their owners in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. One of them cost a couple of million dollars. He was transported from his home in Arizona in a normal horse trailer, hitched to a pick-up truck and driven by his trainer Bennie Woolley Jr, who was hobbling around Churchill Downs with crutches (he broke his foot in a motorcycle accident a week ago).

Ridden by Calvin Borel, Mind That Bird was a 50:1 longshot. This is one time that it would have been wise to bet him to win. For that $2 bet paid out: $103.20 on the win.

For those of you who missed today's race, here it is for you to watch. Needless to say it is exciting.

Mind That Bird : Kentucky Derby 2009



View at YouTube

The first leg of the Triple Crown is completed. There are still 2 more legs to go. Will this be the year that a horse will win this prestigious title? The last winner of the Triple Crown was Affirmed in 1978. The sport and the title are long overdue.

The next leg of the Triple Crown is the Preakness Stakes. Will gold strike twice for Mind That Bird or will the dream of a Triple Crown winner end there. We will have to wait until May 16th to find out.

Maersk Alabama's Shane Murphy Leaves Comment About Rush Limbaugh

by Maggie at Maggie's Notebook

I recently responded to a comment made by Chief Mate Shane Murphy of the Maersk Alabama, which was taken hostage by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden on April 8th, 2009. Mr. Murphy dropped by Maggie's Notebook and left a reply to my blog post.

Once back to the homeland, Murphy made some comments critical of Rush Limbaugh's coverage of the hijacking, and the emotional hours that ensued as Maersk Alabama Captain Richard Phillips was held hostage in a lifeboat with four pirates.

As background, Chief Mate Shane Murphy accused Rush of "trying to make this [hijacking] into a race issue."

Here are Mr. Murphy's comments:

"It feels great to be home," said Murphy in an interview with WCBV in Boston. "It feels like everyone around here has my back, with the exception of Rush Limbaugh, who is trying to make this into a race issue...that's disgusting."

"You gotta get with us or against us here, Rush," Murphy said. "The president did the right thing...It's a war.... It's about good versus evil. And what you said is evil. It's hate speech. I won't tolerate it."

I responded with a blog post, defending Rush's statement that included the words "Black Muslim teenagers." You can read it here.

Mr. Murphy responded back to me, with the following comment on my blog post:

This is Shane Murphy the Chief Mate from the Alabama. I know the four men that came into my home with automatic weapons were black, I don't' know what their religion is. I don't' care really. Assumptions about people are dangerous. Don't assume I'm a liberal. I love and Respect George Bush and am one of his die hard supports. I'd like to think if he gave the order to save Captain Phillips he' be viewed as a hero as well. Mr. Bush is not a racist, he's proven that throughout his life. I probably do need to grow up politically, I sail half the year and the other half I watch movies sports or play with my boys. I don't listen to Limbaugh's program. I know he has a lot of loyal followers, many of whom I consider close friends. Don't assume anything about me and where I"m from, nobody knows my soul and what I've lived or experienced. What can I say you caught me on a bad day, I just got home after being HIJACKED by PIRATES yes thats not a story that really happened to me. I just want the other hostages to be set free, and to come up with a long term solution to the problem. I'm willing to help, sign me up, but aint' it great to live in a country where I can have my opinion, and the people that really know me, know that regardless of what was said, I detected race baiting. Baiting is something I know a thing or two about, and when you're trying to catch a fish, it's all in the bait. I'm just not falling for that one. Rush needs to be more carefull with his words, he has a powerfull voice and he can sway opinion one way or another, I don't mind an open discussion but lets stick to issues, this is not about race, it's about changing the culture of fear. I could easily close my door and tell people to read the news, but thats not being reported correctly, I'll tell the world what happened, and I'll tell it my way. I'm no politician, I'm a seaman and I can walk the street anywhere in the world and find a friend. We are ambassadors of America and I'm telling as someone who spends some time outside the country our image could use a makeover. This is a good story lets keep it out of the gutter, and honor the families that lived it and be greatfull that the support and will of the American people brought this to a quick ending. God Bless America.

Mr. Murphy got it right...this is a war, and it is about good versus evil. The Huffington Post report on Murphy's comments to WCBV said Murphy was responding to this comment from Rush:

"He was worried about the order he had given to wipe out three teenagers on the high seas," Limbaugh said. "Black Muslim teenagers."

One of my points Mr. Murphy, was that President Obama DOES NOT see Somali pirate hijackings as a war - so the President would disagree with you on that. A second point was that these men were teenagers, they were Black and the chances that they are Muslim are much greater than that they are not Muslim. The CIA Factbook doesn't even bother delineating religion in Somalia by percentages. It just says that Somali's "Religions" are Sunni Muslim" - there are no other religions there, and it is interesting to note that with the failure of a central government, the Somali's may be governed by "traditional Somali customary law, or Sharia (Islamic) law."

Mr. Murphy, you stated that you do not care about the religion of the pirates, and you make the point that "assumptions about people are dangerous." I think what you are missing, Mr. Murphy, and I say this with the greatest respect, is that we can and should make assumptions about criminals and terrorists, Muslims or not, who invade your sanctity or mine. If the likelihood is that the pirates are Muslim, and we know that radical Islam is behind many piracy's, then we should identify them as Muslim. If they are Black or Caucasian or Asian or Hispanic, it is reasonable to identify them as such. The politically correct stance is that these are starving young men who only want to eat, and feed their families. While it may be that simple, it probably isn't.

Chief Mate Murphy took exception to Limbaugh's assertion that had President Bush shot these teenage Black men in the open seas,

"I guarantee there would be hell to pay and war crime trials."

Mr. Murphy, you have said you would

"like to think "if he [President Bush] gave the order to save Captain Phillips he'd be viewed as a hero as well."

That's just not reality. The Obama administration is considering hauling Bush and his administration's officials into court for supposed "torture" techniques that didn't even come close to killing those being interrogated. Does it matter that terror plots were interrupted because of the intelligence gained? No, it doesn't matter. What does matter to this administration is that America "shape up," because this is a country to be apologized for. What matters is that we respect the terrorists and take the interrogators to court. That's just one more way to make apologies to the world. Each and everyone of those interrogated enemies are Muslim - radical Islamics. They are out to destroy our way of life. They hate us. They were heeding the call of their holy book.

In August 2008, Jihad Watch reported on "monetary jihad" and Somali pirates. EVEN the always-liberal Reuters reported on an "explosion" of piracy to funneling "hefty ransom payments to Islamic rebels...." That quote came a "maritime official." There is a lot of information about jihadist ties to Somali piracy. A google search yields some 268,000 results.

The spike in attacks at sea has coincided with a rise in assaults on land by radical al-Shabaab insurgents, including the capture on Friday of Somalia's strategic southern port Kismayu.

The United States say al-Shabaab is a terrorist group with close ties to al Qaeda. Experts say some of the businessmen and warlords who command the pirates are also funding the rebels.

"The entire Somali coastline is now under control of the Islamists," Andrew Mwangura, head of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme, told Reuters in an interview.

"According to our information, the money they make from piracy and ransoms goes to support al-Shabaab activities onshore."

The article goes on to explain that many of the pirates are considered "local celebrities," and their new-found avenue to wealth had allowed them to live lavishly, which includes "marrying extra wives," and driving "flashy cars." The Koran explains that all of this is okay when you are abusing an infidel. In otherwords, they are heeding the call of their holy book.

You have cautioned me to not assume anything about you because I do not know your "soul" or the experiences you have lived. To be fair, I assumed little, except that you were probably liberal. I knew you were young, so that was not an assumption. I think it fair, however, to assume that you meant what you said - Limbaugh was racist and disgusting and participated in hate speech.

Rush Limbaugh can say the same back to you - don't assume that he doesn't recognize good versus evil, and certainly do not assume that he uses hate speech or is a racist. There's such a thing as "context." You've said you do not listen to him. If you did, you would know that he is among the staunchest champions of human rights you'll find, regardless of race, color or creed. Without putting words in Rush's mouth, I see him as believing each of us must be responsible, do the most that we can do, and do it the best that we can. That is the way we pursue happiness, as guaranteed in our founding documents. We are not guaranteed that we will each achieve equal success. I heard Rush pummel many, but never based solely on color or ethnicity. If you listen to him long enough, you realize that he really does want everyone to be the best they can be, and you also learn that he is not tolerant of parasites.

Rush wasn't "baiting" anyone [my opinion]. I heard his comments. He is just brave enough, and serious enough about what he is doing, to say what absolutely none of the mainstream media will say...radical Islam is coddled by the politically correct. Rush will say it because radical Islam is an enormous threat to the entire world. It is critically important that America understand the threat. We cannot get around the many Islamic terrorist attacks attacks that were practically ignored before September 11, 2001.

That's what this is about, Mr. Murphy, and from your vantage point, I understand why you can't see it. You were, as you say, in your home and you were invaded. It was criminal - and you don't care the color of their skin or their religion. I really do understand that, but from the vantage point of those of us who are out here watching, every day - intently watching, just as you intently watch the open ocean ahead of you, or the port you are pulling into - we see the pattern, over and over and over. IF your hijacking was not connected to radical Islam, that is as improbable as it is probable - and no one will ever know the complete truth. You have the right to see it how you want to see it, as do I. This was an international event. It happened to you but it affected everyone who cares about violence against the West.

I do believe that you are a mighty ambassador for America. I am not of the mind, though, that America's image needs repair. You may see hate for America, but the truth is, America is the most benevolent country in the world. We are heads and shoulders above any other country. In Africa alone, our HIV/AIDS funds have had a tremendous affect in saving lives, although not slowing down the transmission of the disease. We needn't even mention the massive food and agricultural aid we provide, the healthcare we provide, the education we support. I do believe America is a force for good in this world. Just look at the cargo you were carrying. Someone bought and paid for it - either the taxpayers through the government or private enterprise, which is also funded by the taxpayer. The best way for all of us to raise the image of America, when among American haters, is to hold our heads high and testify to her greatness by defending her - just knowing a few facts gives us plenty to testify with. The truth is, everyone in these disadvantage lands would be here if they could. The want what you have.

You've asked that we honor the families involved. America grieved for these families, and most importantly, we prayed for these families. We thought about the many hidden somewhere on the Somali coast - hijacked individuals with families of their own. As you said, your captivity was short but many are kept for months, maybe years, against their will. It is time to end that scenario once and for all. That may not happen though because it isn't politically correct, so people in your industry will have to find a way to protect yourselves.

You've asked that we stick to the issues because this is not about race. The issue is, the Maersk Alabama was hijacked, and because you and your brave crew took action, you are not hidden away in the bowels of Somalia somewhere, wondering if and when you will be ransomed-out or rescued in some unbelievable act of bravery. Many Americans are fed-up with the terrorist motivations behind the attacks on the West and our culture. Many of us want to fight back against terrorism in all of it's forms and natures. Somali pirates are one of those forms. In Somalia, Islam rules - and that's one of the natures of the terrorism behind Somali piracy.

When you made your comments, the press loved it, and they hate Rush Limbaugh. It was a gleeful moment for them. Your comments about Rush were harsh. I believe exactly as Rush does and I'm not alone, so I take it personally when one of the few among us has the courage to tell the hard truth, and then is accused of evil hate speech. I intend to do my small part in standing up for Lady Liberty's warriors.

I thank you for coming by to clarify your position. I do understand that you had many more bad days than good ones for awhile. I do understand that you were a very busy man while we were close by the radio and television to catch every bit of information available. I am grateful that you and the crew of the Maersk Alabama lived through this terrible event. I am grateful that you are free to speak out. You have every right to do so. May God bless you and your family, Shane, and keep you safe in your journeys, and may God bless America.

Sderot: Remembering the fallen and the terror continues

From the Sderot Media Center:

Sderot elementary school students remember Israel’s fallen

By Anav Silverman

At Madaim Alon Elementary School, principal Leora Fima stands before her students, marking the beginning of Memorial Day for Israel’s Fallen service held at the school on Tuesday morning.

The 160 students, from first grade to sixth grade, sit quietly in the school hall-- one of the last areas of the school that remains unprotected by rocket attacks.

When Principal Fima tells the students that the siren will go off at any moment in remembrance of Israel’s fallen, a first grader in the crowd asks if she means the Tzeva Adom, or Color Red siren warning of impending rockets. “No, a different siren,” responds Principal Fima.

“The students were badly affected by the impact of the Gaza war,” Principal Fima later tells Sderot Media Center. “It was very difficult to get the students back on track in terms of studying. It was impossible to get them to concentrate and their motivation was completely gone.”

During the Gaza war, many schools in southern Israel including Sderot remained closed.

However, through outside financial contributions, Madaim Alon was able to establish an intensive psychological therapy program for the students. “Once a week, each child in our school undergoes an hour of psychological therapy,” says Fima. “This has helped the students tremendously. Since Passover vacation there has been a significant change in their behavior. The kids are noticeably more relaxed.”

Madim Alon Elementary School is the only school in the western Negev which offers such counseling for students-- many of whom suffer from PTSD symptoms that result from sirens and rocket attacks.

“The kids here understand, perhaps better than anyone else, the meaning behind Remembrance Day for the Fallen of Israel’s Wars,” says Fima.

” One student even told me earlier in the week that from war, can we can strive for peace. The kids know that these young soldiers gave up their lives for us to live here today.”

Indeed, the hall was completely quiet as a Madaim Alon student read off the names of Sderot’s fallen soldiers during the ceremony. When the names of the Sderot residents killed by rocket attacks were called out loud, the silence among the children was almost deafening.

“These kids have had to sacrifice so much already at such a young age. And yet they are not consumed by hatred or anger,” said Fima.

Last week Madaim Alon held a Peace Day for its students in light of Operation Cast Lead. The elementary school students organized sessions exploring how the recent Gaza war affected everyone including Palestinian children, Fima explained.

“There is a time for building bridges,” she says.

April Recap: Palestinian terror activities continue in Gaza Strip

By Anav Silverman

Color Red Siren Sounds in Sderot on Israel's Remembrance Day for Fallen of Israel's Wars

While those living outside of Sderot may be under the impression that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is going well, Sderot and western Negev residents continued to experience rocket fire during the recent Passover holiday and Israel’s Memorial Day for fallen soldiers earlier this week.

On Tuesday afternoon, April 28, the Tzeva Adom or Color Red siren blared throughout Sderot, sending residents racing to shelters.

On Wednesday April 16, a Qassam rocket slammed into the western Negev, with another rocket following 24 hours later. The second rocket was fired hours after the Israel Air Force struck a booby-trapped building in central Gaza.

Both rockets landed in the Eshkol region of the western Negev, in an open an area, causing no reported injuries or damages.

Since the ceasefire began on January 19, over 180 rockets including five grad rockets supplied by Iran, were fired at southern Israel according to the IDF spokesperson's office. There has been a marked decrease in the number of rockets fired at Israeli civilians since Operation Cast Lead. According to the IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, Hamas has been deterred from firing Qassam rockets into Israel since the operation.

"It is not coincidental that there is no [Kassam] rocket fire from Gaza, but we know that terrorism or attacks along the border fence, by sea or from the Gaza Strip into the Sinai Peninsula, are still on the agenda and we are therefore preparing with all the necessary measures," Ashkenazi stated on Monday, April 16, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.

Other terrorist activities have continued in Gaza. On Thursday April 13, Egyptian officials arrested nine Sinai Beduin near the Gaza border on the suspicion of smuggling weapons, merchandise and money to Hamas. Two of the suspects were caught at the Rafah border crossing in possession of more than $90,000.

Egyptian police had discovered the day before 900 kilograms of TNT hidden in 18 sacks near the Gaza border. Egyptian authorities also arrested three Palestinians on suspicion of infiltrating into the country.

On April 13, the Israeli Navy spotted an unmanned Palestinian fishing boat off the coast of the Gaza Strip. The boat was loaded with hundred of kilograms of explosives and remotely detonated as it approached an Israeli Navy ship, which distanced itself away from it. The fishing boat exploded seconds later, injuring no one.

In the past, Palestinian have tried to detonate explosives-laden ships next to Israel Navy vessels.

According to the Jerusalem Post, four Israeli sailors were wounded in 2002 when Palestinian detonated a fishing boat next to a navy patrol off northern Gaza.

In October 2000, a small ship exploded next to the USS Cole in Yemen, which killed 17 American sailors.

Also last week, Egyptian authorities cracked a Hezbollah-run terrorist ring based in Egypt. Thanks to intelligence information provided by Israel's Mossad and other foreign intelligence services including the CIA, the crackdown led Egyptian authorities to arrest dozens of suspects on Thursday April 16.

According to Ha'aretz, the head of the ring was Lebanese citizen Sami Shihab who was in touch with a special branch of Hezbollah for some time. Egyptian security sources said that the Hezbollah agents had planned a series of terrorist attacks against tourist sites in Sinai where western and Israeli tourists frequent. Egptian sources also noted that the Suez Canal was a target of the ring.

Egypt had been hunting for 13 members of the 49 member Hezbollah ring which included Lebanese and Sudanese citizens for some time. The men had taken shelter in the central Sinal town of al-Nakhl and authorities had feared that the men might escape north into Gaza located 120 miles away through secret tunnels or head further south.

A senior Egyptian source told Haaretz that "Egypt will take active measures against anyone who threatens its national security. We will not allow anyone to do this: Hezbollah, Iran or others. They sought to strike at the national security of Egypt, but luckily we stopped them and uncovered their plot."

The world does not care that over a million people live under the daily threat of rocket attacks from an entity that has sworn to kill each and every one of them. Instead it applauds and rewards the purveyors of the terror with massive amounts of financing in the guise of aid. The Obama administration alone has pledged to give $1.1 billion to help Gaza. US taxpayer funds that will go straight into the hands of Hamas. Obama is even orchestrating the means to put it directly into Hamas' hands. Funds that will not go to the people of Gaza, but to purchase the weapons of terror.

If you feel that funding terror is against the principles that this nation was founded on, then write Congress and let them know that. Let them know that you stand tall with the people of Sderot. That you do not want your tax dollars given to a known terrorist group. That $1.1 billion could be spent better here at home. Just don't be silent!


And like always, I ask you to donate to the Sderot Media Center. Just click on the logo at the top or bottom of this post.

It is time that the sirens fall silent over Sderot!

Jewish Defamers of Israel

Jewish Sociology and Global Studies Professor William Robinson of the University of Santa Barbara in California sparked massive controversy recently after sending his students an email comparing photos of Jews in Nazi concentration camps with Palestinians in war-torn Gaza Strip.

The email, sent during Operation Cast Lead and titled "parallel photos of Nazis and Israelis", was sent to 80 students in his class and included 25 photos of Nazi victims, compared with similar photos from Gaza.

The email also included an essay stating, "Gaza in Israel's Warsaw – one big concentration camp for Palestinian… What we are witnessing is the slow process of genocide."

Two Jewish students immediately dropped the class and filed a formal complaint against Robinson with the Academic Senate’s Charges Committee. Robinson has hired an attorney and the hearing has been set for May 14.

Read the full story here.

In a perfect world this professor would have his head handed to him by the administration of his school for blatant anti-Semitism. But with the ultra-left policies of 99% of US campuses, this professor will probably get an award and the students who protested the professors actions will get expelled.

This situation of permitting anti-Semitic attacks, both verbal and physical, on the campuses of the Universities of California has been and is continuing to be documented by many members of both the student bodies of these campuses, but also from members of the staff as well. A fine example of this has been (and is continuing to be) documented by Mr. Gary Fouse of Fousequawk. His article: UC Santa Barbara Professor Compares Gaza to Holocaust speaks out best against this professor and the others who act and think like him.

America's young men and women deserve educators who can and will keep their political views out of the classroom, not those who wish to disseminate hatred and bigotry.