International

Israel’s defensive shield against missiles changes Middle East’s strategic calculus

By Barry Rubin HERZLIYA, Israel — A factor up until now neglected in the Middle East strategic picture is Israel’s development of a strong, multi-level missile defense system aimed both against short-range rockets fired by Hamas and Hizballah as well as to guard against a future Iranian nuclear long-range threat. Many, unconsciously perhaps thinking of […]

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Middle East

U.S. once again declines to build embassy in Jerusalem

   WASHINGTON, D.C. (SDJW)—With expressions of warmth and friendship, the United States has dispatched aid to Israel to help that nation fight what has been described as the worst wildfire in its history. At the same time, in cold, formalistic words, President Barack Obama announced on Friday what his predecessors also have announced every six months

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Middle East

American Muslim group says military should exclude ‘Islamist’ chaplains

PHOENIX (Press Release) – The American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) expressed deep concern on Thursday, Dec. 2,  with the military’s process for vetting Muslim clerics admitted to the Chaplain corps of the United State Military. Congress needs to give serious consideration to the concerns raised recently by former DoD Inspector General Joseph Schmitz to

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USA

U.S. dispatches airborne assistance and materials for Israel’s wildfires

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – The U.S. Government, led by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is immediately dispatching U.S. Department of Defense aircraft to aid in the suppression of the raging wildfires in Israel.  Three U.S. Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard C-130 Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) aircraft will depart the

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Middle East

U.S. Ambassador picks wrong mosque in London to visit

By Barry Rubin   HERZLIYA, Israel–Almost a decade after the September 11 attacks, the U.S. government seem unable to tell the differences between moderate and radical Muslims, much less understand that it should support the former against the latter group. So when the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom visits a mosque, you just know this nice

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International, Middle East, USA

Unrepentant Helen Thomas renews attack on Jews; ADL fires back

  NEW YORK (Press Release)– The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Friday called on those journalism schools and professional organizations that have recognized journalist Helen Thomas to rescind their honors after she “clearly, unequivocally revealed herself as a vulgar anti-Semite” in remarks to an Arab American group. In a speech Thursday in Dearborn, Michigan, the former White House

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USA

Israel’s firefighting resources prove woefully inadequate

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–While the macro picture widely purveyed is global warming, the micro weathers determine who gets what. Europe is reporting record cold and snow, but it is still summer in this corner of the Middle East. Daily temperatures are ranging above 20 C (high 60s low 70 for Americans out of sync with the rest

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East

President Obama promises U.S. aid in fighting Haifa fire

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)–President Obama hosted a second-nigh Hanukkah reception on Thursday, Dec. 2,  at the White House, where he made he following remarks:   THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, this is a good looking group right here.  (Laughter.)  Good evening, everybody. AUDIENCE:  Good evening. THE PRESIDENT:  Welcome to the White House.  I want to thank all of you for joining

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Middle East

An S.O.S. for America

By Isaac Yetiv, Ph.D LA JOLLA, California —  “When the Athenians wanted not to give to Society but Society to give them…, when they wished freedom  FROM responsibility, then the Athenians ceased to be free.” (Edward Gibbon: The Decline and Fall of  the Roman  Empire) Two scores ago, I became, by choice, a U.S. citizen. No, it was not

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USA