Target Centermass

Author: Gunner

  • Israel to Sideline EU after UN Vote on Security Fence

    Fed up with the partisan U.N. vote against its security barrier, Israel has said the European Union is possibly kaput as a player in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

    Israel made clear to senior European officials at United Nations headquarters yesterday that “it will be very difficult in the future to include the EU as a party in efforts to advance the peace process,” after the European Union joined the sweeping majority that passed an extreme resolution on the separation fence.

    In a round of talks with EU representatives, Israeli diplomats stated that “the atmosphere created at the UN following passage of a one-sided resolution makes it doubtful that the EU, UN, and Quartet will be able to play the role of honest broker.”

    Israel said that by backing the resolution, “EU countries ignored even Israel’s right to defend itself. How can Israel place its future in your hands?”

    Right now, why would anyone place their security in the hands of Europe. Even the likes of Britain, Poland and the Czech Republic refused to side with Israel or, at the very least, abstain (kudos to Australia for their nay vote, and a mild golf clap Canada for their abstention).

    Playing their usual role, the Europeans immediately took their traditional two steps backwards.

    Several European ambassadors tried to assuage Israel’s anger. “We succeeded in balancing the wording of the resolution,” a senior European diplomat told an Israeli colleague.

    Senior EU officials also pledged that “we won’t support additional measures that [Nasser] al-Kidwa is planning,” referring to the PLO observer to the UN.

    I’ve studied a lot of history, but I have yet to come across the moment in time when so many Europeans became invertebrates.

  • Al-Zarqawi Group Warns Japan to Withdraw

    Having tasted success from the Philippines’ submissiveness, the terrorists have now set their sights on Japan.

    “To the government of Japan: do what the Philippines has done. By God, nobody will protect you and we are not going to tolerate anybody,” said an online statement signed by the Khalid bin al-Waleed Brigade, the military wing of the Tawhid and Jihad group.

    “Lines of cars laden with explosives are awaiting you; we will not stop, God willing,” said the statement, carried by an Islamic forum, known as a clearinghouse for statements by extremist groups.

    “You didn’t come to support the people of Iraq but to protect the Americans. Your destiny will be the same of Americans,” the statement said.

    Japan has dispatched about 500 troops to southern Iraq for non-combat duty to rebuild local schools, provide medical supplies and supply clean water.

    Thanks, Philippines, for joining Spain in the Coalition of the Wilting. You’ve helped to make the world a more dangerous place.

  • Back in Yellow

    Go, Lance!

    Lance Armstrong retook the overall lead in the Tour de France today, outsprinting his top two challengers to win the first stage in the Alps and close in on a record sixth straight title.

  • The $6 Million Cutthroat Payoff

    Move over, Steve Austin. We apparently have a new six-million-dollar man.

    A tip of the CVC to Michelle Malkin for her post on a possible additional clause to accompany the Philippine withdrawal from Iraq for the sake of hostage Angelo de la Cruz.

    A ransom of $6 million was offered and paid out to the Iraqi rebels holding Filipino truck driver Angelo de la Cruz hostage, to ensure his release before President Arroyo’s scheduled State of the Nation Address on July 26, a high level Philippine intelligence officer told the Tribune yesterday. This offer was alleged to have been approved by the President herself, who then tapped Malaysian emissaries for the job, the intelligence officer, who asked for anonymity, said.

    Of the $6-million payoff, $5 million was shouldered by Malaysia and $1 million by the Landbank of the Philippines, the officer added.

    An Asian diplomat, also on condition on anonymity, held the view that this was a very “dangerous” move made by the Philippine government since Mrs. Arroyo has, by negotiating with terrorists on a financial recompense level, opened up the possibility of more kidnap groups in Iraq as well as in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East seeing the overseas Filipino worker as “easy prey” for them.

    De la Cruz’s whereabouts are unknown, with no words about his condition emanatin [sic] from the Arab TV al-Jazeera, although it is believed that he remains under the custody of the Iraqi rebels.

    Fine, you’ve cowered before the threats of terrorists, surrendered to their demands and slipped them some green for their trouble. You think your people are safe now? Do we even know that de la Cruz is safe? What about the next time these scumbags need a little cash? Nice precedent.

    EDIT: Mr. De la Cruz has been freed. One lucky man traded for who knows what kind of weaponry and logistics $6 million can finance.

  • Kerry aide: Bush ‘flat-out lied’ on Iraq

    Ummm, okay.

    According to “badly wounded Vietnam war veteran” and ousted Senator Max Cleland, President Bush led the U.S. into the Iraq war on a “pack of lies.”

    Cleland said that Bush went to war “because he concluded that his daddy was a failed president and one of the ways he failed was that he did not take out Saddam Hussein (news – web sites)” in the 1991 Gulf war. “So he (Bush junior) is Mr. Macho Man.”

    He added that Kerry, from Massachusetts, agreed with the assessment of Bush’s credibility. “About a year ago John Kerry said,’The president lied, he lied to me personally,’” said Cleland, a badly wounded Vietnam war veteran.

    The response from the Bush team was simple:

    The Bush campaign issued a statement denouncing Cleland’s “rage-filled rant” and accusing Kerry of playing politics with national security, while White House spokesman Scott McClellan shrugged off the Democrats’ attacks.

    “I would remind you that the president’s opponent looked at that same intelligence and made the same decision to support the use the force to remove that regime from power,” McClellan said. “I know he’s all over the map since that time.”

    So much bitterness on the left side of the aisle these days. Check that, Cleland no longer sits left of the aisle.

    By the way, I have yet to find any specifics from Cleland as to what the president’s “lies” were.

  • Militants Burn Building in Protest Aimed at Arafat

    Continuing to feel the repercussions of their long dance with the terror devil, the Palestinian Authority continued to scramble amid protests over their latest display of cronyism.

    Members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades burned down offices of the Palestinian intelligence services Sunday in southern Gaza, protesting a security shake-up announced by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

    The Palestinian Authority president announced a major restructuring of security services Saturday.

    The changes included consolidating more than 12 security agencies into three main units and replacing two top security officials. One was replaced with Arafat’s cousin, Musa Arafat.

    Within hours of Saturday’s announcement, leaders of Arafat’s Fatah movement in southern Gaza resigned and about 2,000 demonstrators took to the streets, many of them armed, accusing Arafat of replacing “corruption with more corruption.”

    I don’t yet believe the PA is in danger, but two things are obvious. First, the Palestinian Street is finally growing tired of false reforms and the game of musical chairs being played by Arafat’s inner circle. Second, when you allow terrorism to grow and blossom because of the convenience that said terrorism is aimed outward, don’t be surprised when the day comes when the bastards turn and look over their shoulder at you. We may be seeing it in the Palestinian areas soon. We’ve seen it in Saudi. We’ve seen plots stopped in Jordan. The lesson should have been obvious from the start; unfortunately, I’m not sure any of the Arab states have truly learned it.

  • Sharon Urges Jews in France to Leave as Anti-Semitism Grows

    The French may not disagree, but Ariel Sharon is urging Jews to leave France.

    The Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon yesterday urged Jews to flee France to escape a rising tide of anti-Semitism. While acknowledging that the French government was fighting racial violence, Mr Sharon warned of “the spread of the wildest anti-Semitism” in France.

    Speaking to visiting American Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, Mr Sharon said: “If I have to advocate to our brothers in France, I will tell them one thing – ‘Move to Israel, as early as possible’. I say that to Jews all around the world, but there [in France] I think it’s a must and they have to move immediately.” He added: “In France today, about 10 per cent of the population are Muslims … that gets a different kind of anti-Semitism, based on anti-Israeli feelings and propaganda.”

    France is home to Western Europe’s biggest Jewish and Muslim communities with 600,000 Jews and five million Muslims. But it has been troubled by attacks on Jewish people and property in recent years, some of it blamed on youths of North African origin angered by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

    The latest French Interior Ministry figures show 510 anti-Jewish acts or threats in the first six months of 2004 – compared to 593 for all of last year.

    Yes, it may seem silly to urge Jews out of France to the safety of Israel. However, urging Jews to leave France, ever growing more hostile for them, is not a bad idea and, if current trends continue, may increasingly become a very good idea. At least in Israel, they would have a home that would fight for their protection.

  • How a Serial Liar Suckered Dems and the Media

    Doffing the CVC to little green footballs for finding this column about the lies of Joe Wilson and lgf’s possibly intriguing look at his supporters.

    The story of ex-ambassador Joe Wilson, who deliberately “sexed down” Iraq’s attempts to purchase yellowcake uranium from Niger, continues to be utterly ignored by mainstream media even as source after source proves that he lied about a very serious threat to US security. Mark Steyn has the goods

  • Arafat’s Panel Declares State of Emergency

    Is the Palestinian Authority in a more dire position than I thought?

    A security panel headed by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (news – web sites) declared a state of emergency in the Gaza Strip (news – web sites) early Saturday after a wave of kidnappings involving a Palestinian police chief, a security official and four French citizens.

    Although most of the hostages were later freed, the crisis raised questions about the future of Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia’s government, which will meet Saturday in a session that could determine its future, a Palestinian official said on condition of anonymity.

    The declaration by the Palestinian security council called for increased protection around government facilities and canceled all leave for security officials.

    The deteriorating situation reflected the growing disagreements among militant groups and individuals trying to strengthen their positions before Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (news – web sites) fulfills his pledge to withdraw Israeli forces and some 7,500 settlers from Gaza late next year.

    You can dance with the Devil but, sometimes, he wants to lead.

  • Passengers’ Good Will Turned Soldiers’ Trip Home into a Flight of Fancy

    The Dallas Morning News is reporting a surprising display of respect for American soldiers.

    It all began with a chance encounter at an airport, a glance, an offer, a quiet chat.

    What’s your seat number, soldier?

    It’s 23-B, sir, the soldier told the businessman.

    No, son, that’s my seat. Yours is in first class.

    As more soldiers boarded, similar offers quickly came from the other first-class passengers.

    And eight soldiers heading home from Iraq for two weeks of R&R found themselves with their officers in the big seats up front instead of the center seats in coach.

    That spontaneous act of good will transformed American Airlines Flight 866, from Atlanta to Chicago, on June 29.

    “The soldiers were very, very happy, and the whole aircraft had a different feeling,” said Lorrie Gammon, one of the Dallas-based flight attendants working the trip.

    “There were 14 seats in first class, and there were 12 soldiers there. The other two first-class passengers wanted to give up their seats, too, but they couldn’t find any more soldiers.”

    Flight attendant Candi Spradlin of Conway, Ark., said she was impressed with how passengers treated the soldiers.

    “If nothing else, those soldiers got a great homecoming,” she said.

    The soldiers were so surprised they barely knew what to do, said Ms. Gammon, who lives in Frisco.

    “They were so humble and thankful – they spent the whole flight saying thank you,” she said.

    “But we should have been saying thank you to them for what they’re doing for us.”

    Almost sounds like an urban legend but, if true, this is very cool.