Melissa's Musings(My opinionated view of life)

Cal Thomas What should be done with a man who infiltrated the terrorist group Hamas, spied for Israeli intelligence and broke up terror attacks, saving countless Israeli, as well as Palestinian, lives? Most people would say he should be honored. Not the U.S. government, it's trying to deport him. Mosab Hassan Yousef was more than a spy. He is the son of a founding leader of Hamas, which made him among the highest prizes for Israeli intelligence. Yousef and his Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) handler, Gonen Ben Itzhak, were in Washington last week, meeting with whoever would listen to them. Yousef told me -- and Itzhak confirmed -- that he never killed anyone and, in fact, prevented many from being killed, while providing useful information that thwarted numerous terror attacks. In San Diego tomorrow (Wednesday) before an immigration judge, the government will charge that because of Yousef's "terrorist associations," he should be deported. Yous...

White House vs. Boy Scouts, Part 2 (Editor's note: This is Part 2 of a three-part series on the White House and the Boy Scouts.) In Part 1 last week , I discussed a series of evidences regarding how President Obama is leading the White House pack in distancing his administration from the Boy Scouts of America, or BSA. As I pointed out, he has delayed Eagle Scout certificate signings, denied the invitation to go to the BSA's 100th Gala Anniversary, downplayed his acceptance of BSA's honorary presidency, dodged official White House communications about the BSA, not defended the BSA against cultural attacks and diminished his all-around role as BSA's honorary president. And, to boot, Obama's administration has followed suit, collectively believing as progressives that the BSA is behind the times or too traditional and conservative. For example, just a week after Obama denied the invitation to attend the BSA's 100th Anniversary Gala in his own b...

McChrystal violated not just protocol but Obama tenets on media management (Read: In other words, McChrystal was not Obama's puppet.) McChrystal allowed Rolling Stone's Michael Hastings to join his team all the way, and the reporter witnessed a general far away from Washington and the Obama ethic. Washington rules -- don't leave fingerprints on attacks against your political enemies, don't confide in reporters who don't depend on you for their beats, drink a single malt scotch and not a case of citrus-flavored lager -- didn't apply. The president has all but guaranteed that this won't happen again by turning to Petraeus. "Petraeus is a savvy person," said John McManus, a military historian at Missouri University of Science and Technology. "He is able to use the media to cultivate the image that he wants."

Israeli Ambassador Oren denies statement of 'rift' with U.S., despite reports By Glenn Kessler Washington Post Staff Writer Monday, June 28, 2010 Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren denied Sunday that he had told Israeli diplomats a "tectonic rift" was emerging between the United States and Israel -- incendiary words first reported in the Israeli press and then repeated in media outlets around the globe. In an interview, Oren said that he had spoken of a "tectonic shift in American foreign and domestic policies" under President Obama and that "Israel has to adjust to that." But he suggested that his description was much more benign than that reported by anonymous sources who heard his briefing, explaining that he was merely emphasizing that Obama is an ambitious change agent not satisfied with the status quo. Oren said the briefing, given in Hebrew at the Israeli Foreign Ministry, was no different from what he often says to various...

» Dear Helen: From One American Lebanese Journalist To another… - Big Journalism Dear Helen Thomas: With a great deal of disappointment I watched your interview , replayed over and over on television, in which you said that Jews should “go back home to Poland and Germany.” I find it both appalling and unsettling that someone with your level of journalistic accomplishment would lack a basic knowledge of Middle Eastern history. So please allow me to make the case as to why Israel has a historical, legal and moral right to exist as a Jewish state in the Middle East. According to the Arab-Palestinian-Muslim narrative, Israel is an alien colony recently planted in the Arab world by American and European imperialism. This narrative recognizes no history prior to the arrival of the first Zionist pioneers in the 1880’s, and emphatically denies any ancient historical connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel. This is the central lie, offered to justify uncompromis...

ChipIn: Tzitzit (Fringes) Distribution for Gilad Shalit! Tzitzit, Gilad Shalit and Redemption! We are praying for the redemption of Gilad Shalit and we hope that the Tzitzit (Ritual fringes) will stand as a merit for our brother in captivity! Please take this opportunity to make any size donation, to help us to distribute as many tziztit (Ritual fringes) as possible. Please read the short explanation for the connection between Tzitzit, Gilad Shalit and Redemption! ---The Midrash Agadah comments on Numbers 15:39 that the command of Tzitzit (Ritual Fringes) is related to Redemption. "God gave the command of Tzitzit (fringes) in order that Israel would remember the good that He did for them, when he took them out of Egypt and requited their enemies" ---Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki, great Biblical commentator, explained that the Mitzvah (Command) of Tzitzit (Ritual Fringes) is related strongly to redemption. 1. The 4 cornered garment on which the fringes are placed remin...

H.RES.1359 Title: Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who is held captive by Hamas, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Ackerman, Gary L. [NY-5] (introduced 5/13/2010)       Cosponsors (72) Latest Major Action: 6/24/2010 Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. Jump to: Summary , Major Actions , All Actions , Titles , Cosponsors , Committees , Related Bill Details , Amendments SUMMARY AS OF: 5/13/2010--Introduced. Demands that Hamas: (1) immediately and unconditionally release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit; (2) allow access to the Israeli captives by competent medical personnel and representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross; and (3) provide Gilad Shalit the humane treatment all captives are entitled to as a fundamental human right, including communication with his fam...

Caroline B. Glick: The Western way of war Missed in the hullabaloo over McChrystal's resignation are some important lessons about who we are and why we fight http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | US General Stanley McChrystal has paid a huge price for his decision to give Rolling Stone reporter Micahel Hastings free access to himself and his staff. But he performed a great service for the rest of us. US President Barack Obama fired McChrystal -- his hand-picked choice to command NATO forces in Afghanistan -- for the things that he and his aides told Hastings about the problematic nature of the US-led war effort in Afghanistan. But by acting as he did, McChrystal forced the rest of us to contend with the unpleasant truth not only about the US-led campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan. He told us the unpleasant truth about the problematic nature of the Western way of war at the outset of the 21st century. {Entire piece at above link}

Texas Dems Grapple With Their Own Alvin Greene South Carolina's unexpected Democratic nominee for the US Senate, mystery man Alvin Greene, says he wants to play golf with Barack Obama. But in Texas, another surprise Democratic primary winner, congressional nominee Kesha Rogers, wants to impeach the President. So while South Carolina party officials are still unsure of what to do about Greene's success at the ballot box, Texas Democrats have no such reservations — they wasted little time in casting Rogers into exile and offering no support or recognition of her campaign to win what once was Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay's old seat. (Continued at above link)

Just a Few Things BP Plant Does NOT Want You to Know The U.S. regulators who were responsible for oversight of drilling in the Gulf of Mexico accepted meals, tickets to sporting events and gifts from at least one oil company. A new report offers further evidence that the Minerals Management Service has what has been described as a culture of lax oversight and cozy ties to industry. You can click on The Star link below to see some of the devastating effects the oil spill has had on wildlife. The problem was not confined to the MMS. In 2007, a British Petroleum refinery in Indiana was allowed to continue to dump mercury into Lake Michigan by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. A permit exempted a BP plant from a federal regulation limiting mercury discharges into the Great Lakes. The New York Times reports: "In mid-2008, a minerals agency employee conducted four inspections on drilling platforms when he was also negotiating a job with the drilling co...

U.S. indirectly paying Afghan warlords as part of security contract

The most dangerous president in history Obama believes in the rule of law — his law. No other law is relevant. No other law matters. When Obama speaks, he expects the world to obey. In his Tuesday night performance, he said "I will meet with the chairman of BP and inform him that he is to set aside whatever resources are required to compensate the workers and business..." "Inform him?" Where does Barack Hussein Obama get the authority to issue orders to the CEO of a private corporation? There is no such authority in the Constitution. There is no law that empowers the president to "inform" the CEO of any corporation how he will spend the corporation's money. Obama couldn't care less about the Constitution or the law. There was no Constitutional authority for him to essentially take over General Motors and Chrysler, or the banks. Obama couldn't care less about the law. When he speaks, he expects the world to obey. There is...

McHenry County gets first Jewish cemetery - chicagotribune.com Isaac Bitton raised money to restore a neglected Jewish cemetery in his native Portugal , an example remembered by family and friends who opened the first Jewish cemetery in McHenry County , a small but historic plot where Bitton and his wife are now buried. The cemetery, with room for 300 graves, is tucked within Oakland Cemetery in Woodstock and was opened through the efforts of McHenry County Jewish Congregation and Herb Franks, an attorney from Marengo . Franks, who paid for the ground, said he knew his friend Bitton was upset when he had to bury his wife, Miriam, in a nonsectarian cemetery in 2004. Bitton himself died two years later at 80. Their bodies were reburied in the Jewish cemetery last month, the first burials there. Entire story at link above...

Israel's war is our war, too - USATODAY.com Cal Thomas is a conservative columnist. Bob Beckel is a liberal Democratic strategist. But as longtime friends, they can often find common ground on issues that lawmakers in Washington cannot. View the video version of this column at www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/default.htm or at USA TODAY's YouTube channel at youtube.com/usatoday. Today : Why Israel matters.

I am very sorry to say that I had to cancel my account with the US Bank's HAS Advantage Visa card due to their poor customer service.  I had done this previously with my first HAS account that I had for YEARS.  I thought, well I really would like to support Israel charities/organizations with my purchases so I will try again but unfortunately they proved just as difficult as the last time.   I have a dispute with a service a merchant recently performed poorly which I in good faith attempted to resolve with the aforementioned merchant.  I contacted US Bank right away regarding this issue at which time I was informed that I would need to wait until the charge appeared on the billing statement so at that time I requested they note my account.  I should have known I would have a difficult time with US Bank when they didn't even want to do this.  Today I received the statement on which the charge appears so I telephoned US Bank once again.  I...

Caroline B. Glick: How Hamas rises in the West Since the navy's May 31 takeover of the Turkish-Hamas flotilla, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his advisers have deliberated around the clock about how to contend with the US-led international stampede against Israel. But their ultimate decision to form an investigatory committee led by a retired Supreme Court justice and overseen by foreign observers indicates that they failed to recognize the nature of the international campaign facing us today. Led by US President Barack Obama, the West has cast its lot with Hamas. It is not surprising that Obama is siding with Hamas. His close associates are leading members of the pro-Hamas Free Gaza outfit. Obama's friends, former Weather Underground terrorists Bernadine Dohrn and William Ayres participated in a Free Gaza trip to Egypt in January. Their aim was to force the Egyptians to allow them into Gaza with 1,300 fellow Hamas supporters. Their mission was led by Cod...

White House rejected Israeli intel, blocked use of anti-riot gear against flotilla WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama stopped Israel from using anti-riot gear to prevent a Turkish-sponsored flotilla from breaking the siege on the Gaza Strip. Diplomatic sources said the White House rejected Israeli intelligence assessments that the six-ship flotilla contained weapons and Islamist fighters trained to resist any boarding operation. The sources, privy to Israeli-U.S. government communications, said Obama and his leading aides pressed Israel against any act that would be deemed excessive force. "The White House demanded that Israel exercise extreme caution and restraint in any scenario," a diplomatic source said.

A geopolitical game changer - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News A door has been closed. But amid the roar, the creak of an opening window was faintly audible. This window, a gigantic deposit of natural gas called Leviathan, 6.5 times the size of Tel Aviv, was found, roughly 100 nautical miles from where the flotilla fiasco took place and well within Israel's extended territorial waters.

The 'activists' wanted violence: Wiesel says we must honestly assess who is to blame I waited a week to write this commentary. I needed to gather more details about the unfortunate Gaza incident that caused the death of nine pro-Palestinian peace activists and instantly provoked the almost universal condemnation of Israel . Yes, at first, the news was devastating to those who believe in Israel's commitment to democracy. Is it possible, we wondered, that her legendary commandos just opened fire, unprovoked, on unarmed men and women bringing food and medication to the besieged inhabitants of Gaza? Surely Israel had to expect sharp criticism from all sides, foes and friends as well. By now the situation has become more transparent. From video clips made by both Israelis and their prisoners, and also from their testimonies, it appears that while the political attacks on Israel may have been understandable, they were surely hasty ...

Kass: Blago jury going down the Illinois Wonderland rabbit hole - chicagotribune.com Rod Blagojevich 's reality TV audience is a memory now, as are the women of "The View" who begged to touch his hair, and the listeners on his pro-Rod radio talk show. The former Democratic governor of Illinois now has only one audience to charm: his jurors. And they've had one heck of a week already, being dragged down the rabbit hole into the wonderland of Illinois politics. They watched Dead Meat perform from the defense table, sighing, shrugging and making faces at a former chief of staff testifying for the prosecution. Dead Meat was desperate to convince them he's just an honest man victimized by a pack of schemers.

Politcal Leaders Repsonse - AJC - Chicago Lawmakers from Illinois showed their solidarity with Israel this week in response to the deliberate provocation of Israel by the pro-Hamas activists who organized the Gaza flotilla last month.

Watch Patrick Kane's Stanley Cup-clinching goal Congrats to the Blackhawks for winning the Stanley Cup!

The Limits of Public Opinion: Arabs, Israelis and the Strategic Balance | STRATFOR Last week’s events off the coast of Israel continue to resonate. Turkish-Israeli relations have not quite collapsed since then but are at their lowest level since Israel’s founding. U.S.-Israeli tensions have emerged, and European hostility toward Israel continues to intensify. The question has now become whether substantial consequences will follow from the incident. Put differently, the question is whether and how it will be exploited beyond the arena of public opinion. The most significant threat to Israel would, of course, be military. International criticism is not without significance, but nations do not change direction absent direct threats to their interests. But powers outside the region are unlikely to exert military power against Israel, and even significant economic or political sanctions are unlikely to happen. Apart from the desire of outside powers to limit their involveme...

Dennis Prager With the exception of the United States, nearly all the world's nations; newspapers, radio and TV news stations; the United Nations; and the world's Leftist academics and organizations have condemned Israel over the Gaza flotilla incident. The characterizations of the Jewish state range from a society so evil that it should not be allowed to exist to a villainous nation that is responsible for a) the suffering of millions of innocent Palestinian men, women and children; b) the lack of Mideast peace; therefore c) the Muslim world's anger at the West; and therefore d) Islamic terrorism itself. Let's hope the world is right.

Oil spill and its long-term threat to our national security Public outrage over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is quite properly at a high level as we see pictures of dead wildlife and oiled-soaked birds struggling to breathe. Bad as that is, the far greater threat — in substantive and political terms — comes in the form of what that fallout portends for our national security.

Mark Steyn Jewish World Review June 6, 2010 / 24 Sivan, 5770 Contempt for Israel also contempt for U.S. By Mark Steyn http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | Foreign policy “realists,” back in the saddle since the Texan cowboy left town, are extremely fond of the concept of “stability”: America needs a stable Middle East, so we should learn to live with Mubarak and the mullahs and the House of Saud, etc. You can see the appeal of “stability” to your big-time geopolitical analyst: You don’t have to update your Rolodex too often, never mind rethink your assumptions. “Stability” is a fancy term to upgrade inertia and complacency into strategy. No wonder the fetishization of stability is one of the most stable features of foreign-policy analysis

Israeli Leaders Express Regret for Loss of Life Despite Pre-Meditated Attack - The Israel Project Statements by Israeli Leaders and Officials Expressing Regret for Loss of Life on the Mavi Marmara Ship Statement by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: No Love Boat Video footage of Gaza flotilla Despite the pre-meditated attack by pro-Palestinian extremists against Israeli soldiers aboard the Mavi Marmara ship on May 31, which was en route to Gaza, many Israeli leaders expressed sorrow for the loss of life that resulted from the incident. [1] “ Israel regrets the loss of life, ” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Leshno Yaar stated, “ The results of yesterday's events are tragic and unfortunate, and Israel regrets any loss of life. ” [2] Israeli soldiers boarded the Mavi Marmara with the intention of rerouting the ship to Ashdod, but they were immediately attacked by a mob armed with knives, iron bars ...

Thank you for your views and opinions regarding President Obama’s nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Solicitor General Elena Kagan began her remarkable career in law graduating with honors from Harvard School of Law. She then clerked for Abner Mikva of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and Justice Thurgood Marshall, who was the Solicitor General. She joined the faculty of the University of Chicago Law School as an assistant professor in 1991, and became a tenured professor four years later. Solicitor General Kagan also served as Associate White House Counsel for President Bill Clinton from 1995 to 1999. She held a dual position as Deputy Assistant as well as Deputy Director for President Clinton’s Domestic Policy. In 2003, Solicitor General Kagan was the first woman to serve as Dean of Harvard Law School. When confirmed to serve as Solicitor General last year, she received strong bipartisan su...

Israel was too easy on flotilla Weakness invites aggression. Any sign of weakness emboldens an aggressor. ~ Jeff Kuhner, radio host I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction. ~ Barack Obama, from his second biography– "Audacity of Hope" (2007)

White House linked to flotilla organizers A top adviser to President Obama is the contact person within the White House for communications with the Free Gaza Movement over plans to challenge Israel's blockade of the terrorist Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, according to a reputable source close to the Netanyahu government. The source, a career official whose reliability was established through his tips for the book, "Why Israel Can't Wait," identified John O. Brennan, deputy national security adviser for homeland security and counterterrorism, as the contact. The allegation raises the bizarre possibility that the Free Gaza Movement's flotilla action in the Mediterranean was being coordinated with the White House, something that would align with a shift in U.S. policy toward Israel being debated within the Obama administration. Mike Hammer, a National Security Council spokesman, told WND flatly the report "is not true."

 It is such a cliche, but true.  It recalls to mind something a former pastor of mine used to say, 'Small Picture' v 'Big Picture.'  Since G D is omniscient, HE always knows what's best and the perfect timing of the aforesaid which obviously is equivalent to the 'big picture.'  Man, being foolish and ignorant(although to many, wise in their own estimation of themselves) only sees the 'small picture' since truthfully he really couldn't fathom anything more-like the movie line, "You want the truth?  You can't handle the truth!"  This is also understandable if one is a good parent.  Your child may beg for something you know that is not beneficial for them, so you deny it OR  you will grant it but only when you feel they are ready for it. This was recalled to mind earlier when I viewed some current headlines-one about Israel and the truth of the flotilla incident, and the other about Drew Peterson, the police office who is suspected o...

World Jewish Congress - UN Human Rights Council condemns Israel's "outrageous attack" and demands probe In Geneva, the Human Rights Council of the United Nations has adopted a resolution proposed by Pakistan, Sudan and the Palestinian delegation which calls for an independent fact-finding mission into Israel’s interception of a Gaza-bound flotilla, in which nine activists were killed. The council also approved a resolution that condemns Israel for its "outrageous attack" on the ships. The resolution also calls on Israel to lift its blockade on Gaza. The text is similar to one passed by the council following the Gaza war in the winter of 2008-09 that led to the establishment of the controversial Goldstone commission. The resolution authorizes the president of the council to appoint members of the mission.

“Israel must have the right to defend itself from Hamas, and such self defense should include questioning those who seek to bring weapons for terror into Gaza using humanitarian aid as a shield,” Dold continued.    He concluded, “While the video available clearly shows Israeli soldiers placed in a position forcing them to respond in self-defense, I am nonetheless deeply saddened by the violence and the loss of life that occurred.  The world must recognize that Israel wishes to live in peace, but cannot afford to ignore provocations in the face of threats from hostile neighbors.   America must have the courage to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel and not allow the international community to use this tragic incident to further isolate and de-legitimize Israel.”   Entire article

WASHINGTON — Struggling to navigate a bitter split between two important allies, the Obama administration on Tuesday tried to placate an outraged Turkish government while refusing to condemn Israel for its deadly raid on a flotilla of aid ships bound for Gaza. President Obama telephoned Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey to express his “deep condolences” for the deaths of what may be as many as nine Turkish citizens in clashes with Israeli soldiers on the ship, the White House said. He told Mr. Erdogan that the United States was pushing Israel to return their bodies, as well as 300 Turks who were taken from the ship and being held in Israel. Mr. Obama called for a “credible, impartial and transparent investigation of the facts surrounding this tragedy,” the White House said. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said such an investigation could include international participation, something the Israelis said they opposed. Read more...