Author Archives: Soccerdad

About Soccerdad

I'm a government bureaucrat with delusions of literacy.

Hugo the horrible

On May 1, Melanie Kirkpatrick wrote about the deteriorating condition of the Jews in Venezuela. In 1998, the year Hugo Chavez was elected president, there were 22,000 Jews in Venezuela. Today the Jewish population is estimated at between 10,000 and … Continue reading

Posted in Anti-Semitism, Jews | Tagged | 3 Comments

Why sanctions against Syria were renewed

Why did the Obama administration renew sanctions against Syria? According to the Washington Post: The revival of a transit route that officials had declared all but closed comes as the Obama administration is exploring a new diplomatic dialogue with Syria. … Continue reading

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The purple prose of Cairo

So President Obama has finally decided which capital he will address the Muslim world from. Cairo. The New York Time reports: Mr. Obama promised during the campaign that he would make a speech from a Muslim capital in the first … Continue reading

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What to look for

Like I did the other day, Jennifer Rubin wonders about the administration’s welcome realism about Syria contrasted with its apparent disregard for Israel. Regarding Israel she writes: There are, it seems, two possible ways to read this. The first is … Continue reading

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Serious about Syria?

While there is clearly reason to be concerned about the Obama administration’s approach to the Middle East, there is at least one bright spot. (via memeorandum) According to Barry Rubin the administration has been responding appropriately to Syria. The basis … Continue reading

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Monster Meshal

Earlier this week Khaled Meshal a leader of Hamas gave an interview to the New York Times. There have been a number of commentaries written about the interview. Now Charles Krauthammer weighs in. Just as Jonathan Tobin noted the other … Continue reading

Posted in Hamas, Israel | Tagged | 1 Comment

Papal bull

There’s been a lot of commentary about the Pope’s upcoming visit to the Middle East. The Pope has refused to be used for Palestinian propaganda. And the NY Times reports that while he’s in the Middle East he’ll be talking … Continue reading

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Has smart diplomacy outsmarted itself?

If newspaper reports are to be believed, the United States and Israel are on a diplomatic collision course. The Obama administration has decided that “smart diplomacy” means mollifying enemies and pressuring an ally. If this is what’s happening, then it … Continue reading

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Baker’s twenty

It’s been 20 years since Secretary of State Baker delivered his notorious “Greater Israel” speech to AIPAC. Looking over the speech now, it preserves a moment in time. It doesn’t seem as shocking now as it did when he delivered. … Continue reading

Posted in Bidenisms, Iran, Israel, Israeli Double Standard Time | Tagged | 1 Comment

Hamas: we’ll tolerate Israel for 10 years. max.

The New York Times visits Khaled Meshal in Damascus and offers him a microphone, Addressing U.S., Hamas Says It Has Grounded Its Rockets to Israel. “I promise the American administration and the international community that we will be part of … Continue reading

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

The Iranian priority

Ethan Bronner analyzes Israel’s foreign policy orientation in Israel Faces a Hard Sell in Bid to Shift Policy. The analysis begs two questions. The first is to what degree is there a difference between Israel and the Untied States? In … Continue reading

Posted in Iran, Israel | Tagged | 1 Comment

AIPAC dismissals and fallout

Meryl and Daled Amos have provided synopses of the AIPAC case. I’d just add that I understand why AIPAC dismissed Steve Rosen and Kenneth Weissman. Part of the bullying that the government engaged in was to threaten the organization with … Continue reading

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Oren appointed ambassador

Michael Oren: Last night, while packing my kitbag, I listened as foreign correspondents spoke of Israel’s plan to “divide and conquer” the West Bank and Gaza Arabs, that Israel had “starved” and “strangled” Gazans and forced them to lash out … Continue reading

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I’m kinda fonda Jane, I’ll missa

Earlier this month delegates from all over the world got together in Geneva for a conference on xenophobia, racial discrimination and racism. When the United States and some European nations boycotted the proceedings, Representative Barbara Lee objected: Those who supported … Continue reading

Posted in Anti-Semitism, Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome, Lebanon | Tagged | 1 Comment

Worrying about the soul of the Palestinian state

Forget for a moment that the party involved is the “moderate” Fatah faction. (via memeorandum) Forget for a moment that the case violates the Oslo Accords. The Jerusalem Post reported yesterday that a Palestinian man was sentenced to death for … Continue reading

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