IAF Flyover on Yom HaAtzmaut

Here's a group of IAF F-16I's flying in formation as part of the Independence Day flyover.

Independence Day from Canadian Prime Minister

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement to mark Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebrations:

“Today, on the 63rd anniversary of Israel’s independence, I extend warm regards to the many Canadians who are celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut.

“Since its creation in 1948, the world has witnessed Israel’s unwavering dedication to affirm its right to exist and to achieve peace and security with its neighbours.

“This day offers an opportunity to remember the constant struggles facing Israel and its citizens, and to reaffirm our commitment to strengthen the bonds of our partnership. Through trade, investment and the exchange of knowledge in areas such as innovation, green technology, medicine and law, our nations can continue to grow together.

“Our Government understands the realities of the Middle East and we will not falter in our continued support of Israel, Canada’s friend and ally, in defending the values that both nations share – freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

“As we celebrate the creation of the State of Israel and the return of the Jewish people to their homeland, I call on all Canadians to wish them peace and prosperity in the year ahead.”

I think we have a winner.

We Have Slept for Sixty Years

The last major event for me was Statehood for Israel in 1948. I've been grateful to live in a place removed from gas chambers.

Other events form a repetitious jumble in my head. They came as hope, lingered for a while then sank into despair. The Bush Administration shed new light for me. It collected the evil excesses of the centuries and dropped the chaos directly on our heads.

Julius Caesar, Pontius Pilate, Pedro the Cruel, Torquemada, Blackbeard, Vlad the Impaler, John Dillinger and Dick Cheney are alive and thriving in Washington DC.

Since most Americans have slept through the last sixty years, I doubt if many of them will rise from their slumbers before the Messiah comes.

by Jason Paz

Bush Mars Israel's Birthday and Insults Her People

Bush Attempts to Frighten Israelis as He Does with Americans

Bush Suggests Obama is an Appeaser

Ed Henry, CNN

JERUSALEM (CNN) – President Bush launched a sharp but veiled attack Thursday on Sen. Barack Obama and other Democrats, suggesting they favor "appeasement" of terrorists in the same way some Western leaders appeased Hitler in the run-up to World War II.

The president did not name Obama or any other Democrat, but White House aides privately acknowledged the remarks were aimed at the presidential candidate and others in his party. Former President Jimmy Carter has called for talks with Hamas.

"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along," Bush said at Israel's 60th anniversary celebration in Jerusalem.

"We have heard this foolish delusion before," Bush said in remarks to Israel's parliament, the Knesset. "As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: 'Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.' We have an obligation to call this what it is — the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history."

The remarks seemed to be a not-so-subtle attempt to continue to raise doubts about Obama with Jewish Americans. Those doubts were earlier stoked by Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee in the 2008 presidential election, when he recently charged that Obama is the favored candidate of the Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas, which the U.S. government has listed as a terrorist group.

Obama last week called the Hamas allegation a "smear" and lashed out Thursday at Bush's speech in Israel.

Note: Anyone interested in Barack’s eloquent refutation of Mr Bush’s remarks has several links to them.

Mr Bush chose our 60^th birthday to launch his tired propaganda. Since his political party may cease to exist shortly, he desires justification and institutionalization of preemptive war as a replacement for diplomacy.

Others have tried this approach – including the Emperor of Japan, Mussolini and Hitler – only to fail miserably.

Targeting these villains by attacking anyone who would argue with them is the coward’s way out. Mr Bush is afraid to confront his supposed adversaries man to man so to speak. He hides behind two oceans, the US Navy and 27,000 nuclear weapons.

The POTUS operates in the style of Senator Joe McCarthy. His fear mongering reduces the US populace to so much putty unable to resist his control or question his guidance.

The POTUS has been assured by his Jewish American henchmen his scare tactics will work in Israel.

They are wrong, because the dangers Israelis face are real and omnipresent. We have lost 27,000 citizens in nine wars and endless terrorist attacks. Armed guards search everyone before he enters a public institution. The people do not congregate in shopping malls etc. We do not make easy targets; we carry firearms. Almost everyone has served in the military.

American fears are of the most harmful kind. They are imaginary. They are the product of press agents, media hacks and armchair Pentagon warriors.

There is no such thing as a war on terror.