Finally Israel Publishes PA Incitement Index

Jew Eating Palestinian Kid
Some of you may recall that four months ago, Israel announced that it had developed an index to measure 'Palestinian Authority' incitement against Israel and Jews. The index was quietly buried, probably to avoid infuriating the 'international community' by pointing out their obtuseness in insisting that the 'Palestinian Authority' is interested in anything resembling real price.

Unfortunately, now that five innocent people have paid the price of the government's cowardice, the Netanyahu government now says that it will publish the index.

The Security Cabinet decided Sunday to establish an index that would monitor Palestinian Authority incitement against Israel and the Jewish people. The "Culture of Peace and Incitement Index" was developed by professional Government and security establishment elements.

The announcement is linked to the horrific massacre in Itamar, which the government sees as resulting from PA incitement. Vice Prime Minister Moshe Ya'alon said Sunday that continued PA incitement would makes any agreement signed by it worthless.

The Index considers four main issues: Explicit incitement to violence, encouraging an atmosphere of violence and terrorism, incitement to hatred and demonization, and the failure to prepare people for positive processes.

It was agreed that the Index would be constantly updated and presented in various forums in order to influence the Palestinian Authority to stop its ubiquitous incitement to, and education for, violence.

The high-profile establishment of the Index could signal a shift in official Israeli policy vis-a-vis the PA. Israelis who favor appeasing the PA tend to ignore incitement activity, focusing instead on actual terror acts. These are usually not officially authorized by the PA, and are often carried out by groups whose connection to the PA leadership is difficult to prove. Moving the focus to incitement lays the blame for terror directly at the PA's doorstep and could put an end to the terrorist's shell game regarding responsibilty for the actual attacks.

Actually, it is far more likely that Israel will use the index to show why talking to the 'Palestinian Authority' is futile and that is a far better use than trying to influence the 'Palestinian Authority' to stop incitement. At this point, the incitement is so deeply ingrained in the 'Palestinian' populace that fifty years without it would not help - and that's without considering incitement they would continue to see by satellite from Hamas, al-Jazeera and other Arab networks.

Unfortunately, when our government claims that the 'Palestinians' are a 'peace partner' and are ready to make peace, the only ones it is fooling are those who are inside the government itself.

Labels: Fogel family massacre, incitement index, Itamar, media outlets, Palestinian terrorism, Palestinians

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:44 AM

US Media Retains Delusions About Venezuela

Allies of President Hugo Chavez's won a strong majority in Venezuela's local elections on Sunday, winning 17 of 22 state governorships and 265 of 327 mayoral races. The opposition made important gains, capturing the Caracas mayor's office and two of the most populous states. Meanwhile Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Caracas on Monday to meet with Hugo Chavez, just one day after a Russian fleet docked in the Venezuelan port of La Guaira. The Russian navy will be conducting joint naval maneuvers with Venezuela in the Carribean. The maneuvers are scheduled to begin on December first. In Caracas, Russian and Venezuelan officials signed a series of accords, including one pledging cooperation in nuclear energy for peaceful uses. The Real News Network spoke to Latin American Studies Professor Miguel Tinker Salas who says, the fact that the opposition was able to make modest gains means it's a victory for Venezuelan democracy, and the Venezuelan political process, and the maturity of the Venezuelan population who participated—over 65 percent in this regional election process.
Although the Chavez party won 55% of the vote, the US reports Venezuela is a one-party dictatorial system.
The Real News Network

A Critic Responds to My Article "Statesman Obama"

A Critic Responds

[Writings such as yours are] “the reason the world sees an ugly distortion of American reality. Drooling proagandists like yourself, Leftist media, educators, and politicians all work diligently at spreading these distortions. Or maybe I'm wrong and you are just a dupe who's been sucked into the mirage like **** who, I believe, is authentic in playing his role of useful idiot.”

July 21, 2008 5:41 PM (Israel Standard Time)

You confuse me with Bill O’Reilly. He leads public opinion and shapes it to his own devices.
On the other hand, I report on other peoples opinions from all over the world. What they think depends on how the USA has treated them. If the USA puts boots on the ground and helicopter gunships in the air, the people become frightened. When US companies triple the prices of basic food commodities, mothers worry how to feed their children. Nobody enjoys hearing threats that he will be annihilated.
America may be the best country in history, but foreigners do not attend US public schools. They receive many more US programs than you get foreign coverage.
The US media, educators, and politicians know next to nothing about the world outside the USA. They may discuss foreign issues, but only insofar as they effect Americans.

WYSIWYG As a result, Americans base policy decisions on misinformation and disinformation in the dark like mushrooms. For full information worldwide, I depend on Global Voices, Voices without Votes and Rising Voices.

A Democrat's Worst Nightmare

Robert Borosage, Tom Paine

Until a few days ago, David Broder was a respected Washington Post columnist. Here’s a part of what he wrote.

“Yet, in pointing to those vulnerabilities in her rival, Clinton has heightened the most obvious liability she would carry into a fight against McCain. In an age of deep cynicism about politicians of both parties, McCain is the rare exception who is not assumed to be willing to sacrifice personal credibility to prevail in any contest.”

What possibly could Broder be drinking? Has he forgotten:

• The John McCain who initially voted against the Bush tax cuts as irresponsible giveaways to the wealthy, but now embraces them, a change in position justified only by his desire to “prevail” in the “contest” for the Republican nomination?
• Or the John McCain who had the votes in his hand to outlaw the administration’s grotesque torture policies, and instead caved to support the bill that empowered President Bush to define what torture is, a flip-flop motivated only because of the potential cost of his position in the upcoming election?
• Or the McCain that went from denouncing Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson as “agents of intolerance” in 2004 to doing exactly what he denounced—“pandering to outer reaches of American politics—by kissing their rings in the run-up to the 2008 nominating contest?

Why the utter nonsense reported as accepted fact? Here as so often, Broder, the widely respected dean of Washington punditocracy, is a mirror of conventional wisdom. And as TV host Chris Mathews notes, “The media loves McCain. We’re his base.”

But can’t reporters love the guy without drinking the Kool-Aid? McCain has now put forth an economic plan that adds an astounding $300 billion dollars a year in corporate and top-end tax cuts to a commitment to make Bush’s tax cuts permanent. This is an utterly irresponsible and fantastical posture at a moment the economy is headed into recession and the dollar is already sinking.

The commentariat will have to decide whether their affection for McCain overcomes their commitment to common sense. Their choice should be instructive. If they follow Broder, that will be the Democrats' worst nightmare.