Author Archives: Soccerdad

About Soccerdad

I'm a government bureaucrat with delusions of literacy.

Racism imagined; antisemitism ignored

There’s a joke about a man who goes to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist starts with a Rorschach test. Each image the man is shown is described as a “naked woman.” Finally, in exasperation the psychiatrist says, “Mr. Jones, you have … Continue reading

Posted in Anti-Semitism, Israel, Israel Derangement Syndrome | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Diplomatic follies

The Guardian’s Ian Black inteviewed the Syrian dictator, Bashar al-Assad in Syria’s strongman ready to woo Obama with both fists unclenched. There is some obvious silliness in the interview: Intriguingly, he says, in one of ­several thoughtful asides: “You can’t … Continue reading

Posted in Iran, Politics | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Senators in Syria

In addition to Senator Kerry, another group of senators has gone to Syria. Senator Ben Cardin, my Senator is one of them. MIDDLE EAST TRAVEL: As Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), I … Continue reading

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When outrage is in short supply

Thomas Friedman’s No Way, No How, Not Here praises Indian Muslims for refusing to bury the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks. To be sure, Mumbai’s Muslims are a vulnerable minority in a predominantly Hindu country. Nevertheless, their in-your-face defiance … Continue reading

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Experience not politics

I think that Bradley Burston – though he puts it a lot differently than I would – is making the same point I have. Or as his interviewee says (via memeorandum): “In other words,” Alkalai concludes, “the majority vote was … Continue reading

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

Turning Durban II?

According to the Obama administration, it is getting involved in the planning of the Durban II conference with the intent of changing it. “The intent of our participation is to work to try to change the direction in which the … Continue reading

Posted in Anti-Semitism | Tagged | 1 Comment

Forecast: chilly?

The Washington Post has a sensible editorial about welcoming Hosni Mubarak, Watch that Welcome. Mr. Obama will not want to openly spurn the Egyptian leader. But it’s vital that he not grant Mr. Mubarak an unconditional invitation. Governments throughout the … Continue reading

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Abrams on the Middle East

One of the big problems with how foreign policy (and politics generally) gets reported is that it’s reduced to turf battles. A says this. B says that. A has the President’s ear. B says that A is an ideologue. By … Continue reading

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What could be worse than Hamas?

Three years ago in advance of Palestinian elections, the Washington Post heralded the participation of Hamas, in “Pre-election turmoil“: Already, too, democracy is showing its benefits. Faced with the possibility of defeat by Hamas, Fatah has been forced to overhaul … Continue reading

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A high degree of confidence

In late 2007 the United States intelligence agencies issue a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) that Iran had stopped seeking to build a nuclear weapon. In a column The myth of the Mad Mullahs, David Ignatius wrote that the most important … Continue reading

Posted in Iran | Tagged | 4 Comments

Scenes from a premiership

From 1996 to 1999, Binyamin “Bibi” Netanyahu was Prime Minister of Israel. During his term in office he was viewed with skepticism, if not hostility by the Clinton administration, much of the American media, the foreign policy establishment and the … Continue reading

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Ring around the planet?

70% of all catalogued objects are in low-Earth orbit (LEO), which extends to 2000 km above the Earth’s surface. To observe the Earth, spacecraft must orbit at such a low altitude. The spatial density of objects increases at high latitudes. … Continue reading

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The Washington Post self-corrects

I was bothered earlier this week with a report from the Washington Post about the travails facing the Jews of South America. The article, I thought, put the onus of blame on their plight on Israeli actions and underplayed the … Continue reading

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Right? Right! Wrong!

It’s an article of faith that the results of Israel’s election this week show that the country has moved to the right. And yes, on one level the electorate shows a shift to the right from the current configuration. However, … Continue reading

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Ain’t democracy great? Part II

After Hamas won legislative elections three years ago, the Washington Post reported: “The hope is that there is a government that is really committed to peace with Israel,” said one senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because … Continue reading

Posted in Israel, Israeli Double Standard Time, Media Bias | Tagged | 3 Comments