Tag Archives: Middle East

All the Forces?

Posted on 03/05/2011 by Rabbi Kaufman

Speaking to a group of Jewish donors in Miami, according to the Jerusalem Post, President Obama said the following: “All the forces that we see building in Egypt are the forces that should be naturally aligned with the US, [and] … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Middle East | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Compare and contrast: Protests there and here

Posted on 02/24/2011 by Meryl Yourish

This is courage: In Zawiya, 30 miles (50 kilometers) west of Tripoli, an army unit attacked the city’ Souq Mosque, where regime opponents had been camped for days in a protest calling for Gadhafi’s ouster, a witness said. The soldiers … Continue reading →

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Oil Shale Economics

Posted on 02/23/2011 by Rabbi Kaufman

Thomas Friedman wrote today about the need for the United States to reduce our need for foreign oil, proposing a phased $1 tax on gasoline to help wean us from it. This would certainly reduce consumption, but it would not … Continue reading →

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Yes, it’s all Israel’s fault

Posted on 02/22/2011 by Meryl Yourish

Libyan troops are massacring protesters. Bodies are lying in the streets. The arms that Ghaddafy is using to murder his countrymen? Supplied by Britain and Italy. Hezbollah is now deeply intertwined with the Mexican drug cartels, teaching them advanced bomb-making … Continue reading →

Posted in Juvenile Scorn, Middle East | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Purim Katan – The Threat of The Mob

Posted on 02/18/2011 by Rabbi Kaufman

Everywhere in the world today, minorities are under threat. Some of you, no–many of you, would note, “They always are.” Yet, the truth is that such threats are relative and today, I am concerned. Americans believe that power is derived … Continue reading →

Posted in American Scene, Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome, Israeli Double Standard Time, Jews, Politics, Religion, United Nations, World | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Naive Foreign Policy

Posted on 02/17/2011 by Rabbi Kaufman

So the US proposed to back a resolution basically reaffirming what it should not have affirmed in 1979 about the legitimacy of settlements, though a weaker version. The current reported proposal would only condemn “continued” settlement building, something that hardly … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

So…What if?

Posted on 02/11/2011 by Rabbi Kaufman

Let us for a moment ask, “What if the Muslim Brotherhood comes to control Egypt?” Let us in addition argue that this would not be in the form of an Iran-esque theocracy, but a Turkish style Islamist democracy. I wrote … Continue reading →

Posted in Gaza, Israel, palestinian politics, Saudi Arabia, World | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

When is a Democracy not a Democracy?

Posted on 02/02/2011 by Rabbi Kaufman

Democracy is generally a good thing. It is generally better than the tyranny of a despotic ruler. Generally, not always. Sometimes, democracy can bring about a worse tyranny. The majority can install a government that is oppressive of minorities. Without … Continue reading →

Posted in Israel, World | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Not learning from mistakes – diplomacy in the Middle East

Posted on 11/13/2008 by Soccerdad

The short version. A longer version. Crossposted on Soccer Dad.

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Celine Dion on the Middle East

Posted on 07/06/2008 by Soccerdad

I’ve learned many important things from Barry Rubin. Last week’s column taught me something new: Celine Dion covered Eric Carnen’s “All by myself.” Dr. Rubin used the lyrics to illustrate the shifting sands of politics of the Middle East. For … Continue reading →

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