Author Archives: Soccerdad

About Soccerdad

I'm a government bureaucrat with delusions of literacy.

The great debate (about Israel’s influence)

The Washington Post reports on the withdrawal of Chas Freeman to head National Intelligence Council, Intelligence Pick Blames ‘Israel Lobby’ For Withdrawal. Walter Pincus, the reporter, correctly writes: Freeman’s angry rhetoric notwithstanding, the controversy surrounding the former U.S. ambassador to … Continue reading

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Sderot as a symbol

The Washington Post reports on Sderot as a “symbol” Perhaps a quarter of Sderot’s population has moved away in recent years. Of the 20,000 or so residents left, anxiety and other signs of post-traumatic stress are widespread. That’s the message … Continue reading

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The MSM on the Freeman withdrawal

After mostly ignoring the controversy over the appointment of Chas Freeman to head the NIC, the NYT and WaPo have now reported on Freeman’s withdrawal. As Meryl notes, he very clearly blames the Israel lobby. The Washington Post reports: In … Continue reading

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The NJDC responds to the Freeman withdrawal (satire)

In response to today’s withdrawal of Chas Freeman to be head of the NIC, Ira Forman of the NJDC issued the following statement: Today, the Obama administration accepted the withdrawal of Chas Freeman to head the National Intelligence Council By … Continue reading

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A first for Freeman

Jennifer Rubin observed: First, how long can the rest of the mainstream media hold out without reporting on an embarrassing debacle for the Obama administration? This is the John Edwards story on steroids — a virtual conspiracy of silence with … Continue reading

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Cohen: killing Jews is legitimate

After defending the Mullahcracy of Iran, Roger Cohen has followed his premise to its logical conclusion in Middle East Reality Check. Like Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah has long been treated by the United States as a proscribed terrorist group. This … Continue reading

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Fayyad finished?

Let me clear. I am no fan of Salaam Fayad. He’s made statements like this: “What is the essence of resistance, especially in light of the current occupation?” Fayad asked. “Does it not begin with all possible efforts to strengthen … Continue reading

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

The influence that dare not speak its name

One of the disturbing aspects of the Chas Freeman appointment is how it has exposed the true agenda of Israel’s critics. Outside of Israel, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical of this appointment. And yet the anti-Israel Left … Continue reading

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MacLeod’s cloudy recollection

Scott MacLeod has seen the future and the future includes Hamas. How does he know this? Because he recalls how well depending on Yasser Arafat and Fatah worked to create peace. The conference also highlighted a conundrum that always seems … Continue reading

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

Nattering Jewish Democratic cynics

In recent weeks the Obama administration has undertaken a number of initiatives that are damaging to Israel. The administration decided to engage the planners of the “Durban II” conference, it pledged nearly $1 billion to rebuild Gaza and apparently has … Continue reading

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Why be serious about Syria?

With the administration and its fawning media in a tizzy about the warming of relations between the United States and Syria, Bret Stephens warns that Syria really offers nothing to the United States, and that the U.S. engages Bashar Assad … Continue reading

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Unhelpful Hillary

In order to show that it is even-handed in its approach to the Middle East, the United States must show that Israel is in violation of its commitments as the Palestinians. The Washington Post reports that yesterday, Secretary of State … Continue reading

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Why Syria? Why now?

The United States is preparing to engage Syria. According to the NY Times: Middle East experts say they believe that conditions for an opening to Syria are ripe on both sides. “We’ve got a Syrian government that wants to engage,” … Continue reading

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The four suggestions

Barry Rubin writes at the end of Helping Hillary while keeping Israel safe: Of course, the two governments must begin to reach understandings about Iran. The new administration is determined to try engaging Teheran. Israel must convey the point that … Continue reading

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Another reason prisoner releases are bad

In August of last year, Nadav Shragai wrote about the dangers inherent in Israeli prisoner releases done in the name of “confidence building.” An investigation by the Almagor Terror Victims Association in Israel revealed that at least 30 of the … Continue reading

Posted in Hamas, Israel | Tagged | 2 Comments