Byliners

Is President Obama the new George McGovern?

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Remember George McGovern? His clone is sitting in the Oval Office.   The 2008 campaign differed in several ways from 1972 that explain Obama’s victory. His speaking ability excels that of other politicians, including McGovern. Obama was running against a ticket with an intellectually handicapped vice presidential candidate, whereas McGovern was embarrassed […]

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Killing Al Qaeda now U.S. primary purpose in Afghanistan

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Post intoned on the front page, “Poll Finds Guarded Optimism on Obama’s Afghanistan Plan.” What plan? Plumbing the article, it turns out that support for the President on the issue has “plummeted” since the summer; more than half think “the war is not worth the cost”; and

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Shoshana Bryen, USA

Peace recedes as Obama policies harden Palestinian positions

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–Barack Obama was six years old when the Jordanian army opened fire on Jerusalem as its part in the 1967 war. Shortly after the fighting, Israel expanded the city’s boundaries. Four years later it began construction the Gilo neighborhood. Gilo was in the news early in the intifada that began in 2000, when

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

State Department bias favoring Palestinians shows in report on international religious freedom

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM—More than 40 years ago I chose public administration as my specialty in political science. I still poke at it, despite being interested in other things as well. Here I will poke at the 2009 Report on International Religious Freedom published by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor of the

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

In Star Trek, he was Quark the barkeeper; in The Seafarer, he’s a drunk

   By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—Some actors shy from the roles that made them famous.  I remember, for example, how  Henry Winkler practically growled at reporters at a United Jewish Federation event who wanted to talk about his role as  Arthur “The Fonz” Fonzarelli  on television’s Happy Days. Not so with actor Armin Shimerman.  He said he knows

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Donald H. Harrison, USA

In hands of extremists, Koran justifies Ft. Hood massacre

The Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran by Robert Spencer, Regnery Publishing, Washington, DC ISBN 978-1-59698-104-1, 2009, $19.95, p. 232 By Fred Reiss, Ed.D WESTMINSTER, California–President George W. Bush, in December 2006, issued greetings to the Muslim world on the occasion of the Islamic feast of Eid al-Adha, which commemorates both the Hajj and Abraham’s

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Fred Reiss, EdD, San Diego Calendar, USA

The thrill of an archive brought home to San Diego

By Donald H. Harrison SAN DIEGO—There is something enchanting about historical research. You can visit a library or an archive in almost any city and provided you read the local language with sufficient understanding, you can peel back the mysteries of the past in pleasant academic surroundings. For historians, genealogists and antiquarians, the lure of

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Donald H. Harrison, Lawrence Baron, San Diego Calendar

Washington Post chooses wrong commentators on Middle East

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–The Washington Post has published two views, claiming to be contrasting expressions of Israeli and Palestinian despair for peace. http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/11/israeli_despair_for_peace.html http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/guestvoices/2009/11/palestinian_despair_for_peace.html   Neither is what the headlines claim. They are not expressions by Israelis or Palestinians, but by Americans or individuals affiliated with American institutions (Simon Wiesenthal Center, and the American Task

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Obama's policies seen as 'childish' by some Israelis

By Ira Sharkansky   Consider the United States, with President Barack Obama trying mightily to break the bonds of lethargy identified with his predecessor.   An article in the New York Times describes his handicaps in Afghanistan. President Karzai is not cooperating with American goals of development and reform. Evidence is that Karzai stole the most

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA