Hamas taking shots from some of their Arab bretheren. Finally.

Abdel Rahman Rashed, a Saudi national serving as general manager of the pan-Arab al Arabiya news channel, said Hamas is responsible for the suffering of some 1.5 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

Writing in a Brit Arab-language paper, Rashed said, "Hamas committed a stupid act when it gave the Israelis an excuse to launch attacks in retaliation for a few antique rockets."

Ya think?

The PA joined the dogpile. Information Minister Riad al-Malki said the latest crisis was the result of Hamas's "insistence on creating an Islamic republic in the Gaza Strip." He also accused Hamas of trying to evade responsibility for the situation in Gaza by blaming it on the PA.

Nice trick. Kick out the rivals, then blame them for your failure to replace them.

Maybe the most interesting part of this Jerusalem Post article is the nugget about the food and fuel situation in Gaza. Hamas will have you believe that Israel's semi-blockade of Gaza has fomented an enormous humintarian crisis, as there food and fuel stocks are dwindling rapidly.

According to the PA, Hamas has forced Gaza bakers to close their shops, even though there is sufficient stock to keep them baking for the next two months. In addition, again according to the PA, if there is a fuel shortage, its because Hamas has stolen most of the fuel in Gaza for their own vehicles.

Once again, we see how fundamentalist Islamic "leaders" place their agenda ahead of the welfare of their populace. They are more than willing to sacrifice their people in order to "save" them.

Suicide bombing in Israel

For the first time in more than a year, a Palestinian militant blew himself, and as many Israelis as he could, to little bits. This time it was in a shopping district in Dimona - coincidentally the home of Israel's nuclear facility.

The wall between Israel and the Palestinian territories seems to be doing its job, as this deluded cretin, and his accomplice, who was blown out of his socks by police, appears to have come over the much more porus border with Egypt. Israeli authorities are concerned that a number of militants used the recent chaos at the Gaza-Egypt border to sneak into Egypt. From there, they would be able to easily explot the long, impossible-to-control Israel-Egypt line.

In Gaza, the families of the murderers passed out sweets to celebrate their relatives homicidal activities while people danced in the streets.

And in other news from the area, Egyptian troops tried to seal off the badly breached border fence with Gaza, as the Egyptians try to get a grip on the border crossing which has turned into the Palestinian version of the Cincinnatti Who concert in recent days. Hamas, who's leaders have probably not yet finished the copies of How to Win Friends and Influence People, is pursuing an interesting path towards legitimzing their role as governors of Gaza.

I try to be charitable. I really do. But reading stories like these make it very difficult for me to find sympathy for the average Palestinian. Their lot in life is, for the most part, crap. They've been repeatedly shafted and relentlessly used by their own leadership and that of the larger Arab and Islamic world, and hope for them is nearly non-existent. But, by the same token, they've allowed themselves to be put in this position and, after 60 years, they have produced no credible alternative to the thugs and criminals who currently pass themselves off as "Palestinian leaders". So, who's really to blame for where they are?

Al Jazeera's fall progam lineup

Top notch comedy jokes from Jewlarious, guaranteed to further inflame passions on both sides...

A Jewlarious Entertainment Exclusive

DOAH, QATAR - Arab super station Al Jazeera proudly announced it will begin producing new and updated versions of currently cancelled former US shows. This fall's revival will see some of America's most beloved television characters resurrected under Sharia Law.

Al Jazeera's CEO Sheikh Hamad "The Chairman" bin Thamer Al Thani unveiled his station's new line-up beginning with the newly restructured 'Studio 60 on the Gaza Strip'. While the stations's execs were beaming with pride, Qatari critics were quick to call the Sheikh's judgement into question by broadcasting shows that seemingly glorified American culture and decadence.

Quickly changing gears to accommodate the mood in the room, he presented two new reality programs -- 'Who Wants to Be a Militant?' and 'Fatah Knows Best'.

But not before allowing time for his doctor proscribed sedatives to take effect. The Sheikh subsequently went on a rabid attack screaming, "I don't have to remind everyone here that there is still plenty of room on my Chopping Block... to axe a variety of television shows in development."

Below is a listing of Al Jazeera's upcoming shows, reprinted without permission as they were snatched out and away from The Sheikh's hands as he was being carted out of the room to a local sanitarium.


Al Jazeera's 2007 Fall TV Line-Up

STUDIO 60 ON THE GAZA STRIP

Show Synopsis: Two executive producers of a weekly sketch-comedy show find 'resistance' at every turn. This one hour comedy drama is best described as a twist of Aaron Sorkin with a modern Arab flavor. F.Y. I. Aaron Sorkin is an American screenwriter, producer, playwright and Jew who also created 'The West Wing'- not to be confused with Hamas' non-terrorist 'Charitable Wing'.

THE ELECTRIC COMPANY

Genre: Children's programming

Show Synopsis: Hey you guys!

Learning how to spell H-O-L-Y-W-A-R was never this much fun...That is until Israel got serious about terrorist assaults and finally cut off Gaza's electricity leaving the 'kids' to fend for themselves.

Turn out the lights and turn on The Electric Company.

I MARRIED A MARTYR

Genre: Comedy

Show Synopsis: He's a successful city planner who wants to build up his Arab town. She's his new bride who wants to blow it off the map. The comedy ensues when a wife obsessed with dreams of 72 eunuchs who want to blow up just about everything.

I LOVE LUNACY

Genre: Design and Fashion

Show Synopsis: Watch this team of Iranian "lunatics" give women the makeovers of their dreams: throw away that old drab black burqa and exchange if for a new drab black burqa. These gals can make anyone's toes look beautiful.

I DREAM OF JIHAD

Genre: Situation Comedy

Show Synopsis: A "moderate" Moslem rubs an antique lamp the wrong way, conjuring up the late spirit of Yasser Arafat to do his bidding.

SURVIVOR: LEBANON

Genre: Reality Program

Show Synopsis:

Who will be the ultimate survivor! Does anyone still care? They should. The winner continues to the next series' Survivor: Guantanamo Bay with Full Immunity!

THE FLYING NUN

Genre: Situation Comedy

Mayhem and gospel are spread over Judea and Samaria when a nun has nowhere to land because her church was burned to the ground after terrorists took refuge there.

YOU BET YOUR LIFE

Genre: Game Show

Show Synopsis: Contestants (hostages) plead in front of a camera for their safe release. Winners are announced after the ransoms are received from the 'Host' countries.

NEWS

Show Synopsis: Original Comedy Programming

Things get worse in Gaza

The Palestinian territory of Gaza, which has been a big, giant, violent mess since the Israelis evacuated it in Sept 2005, is currently witnessing what may very well be the beginning of the Palestinian Civil War.

Fatah and Hamas, the two leading Palestinian political factions, have been killing each other for some time now, but things have really spun out of control in the past few days. Today's news includes RPG attacks on the Hamas Prime Minister's home, shootouts in hospitals, and kindergarten classes caught in crossfire.

Oh, these guys are ready for a state of their own. Aren't they? The Family of Nations would be enriched by the presence of the Palestinians.

Israelis are watching this Wide World of Death with mixed emotions, no doubt. As we've said before, every bullet, grenade, mortar shell, etc used on a fellow Palestinian is one less shot, thrown, launched, etc at an Israeli. On the other hand:

1. What's left of the best and brightest of the Palestinian population is getting massacred. While the Palestinian birth-rate ensures there will always be a steady supply of cannon fodder, there's no question the gene pool is getting culled in a big way. Who survives this much violence? Only the most violent. All that's left is the thugs and the regular people. The gifted leaders (if there ever were any) who haven't been zapped by an IAF Hellfire missile are taking an AK-47 round in the melon from their next door neighbor.
   


2. If this turns into the long-anticipated fight to the finish, whoever emerges as the winner will be far stronger and in a far more secure position than now. It's difficult to imagine the rest of the world standing around, permitting a "fight to the finish", especially if Fatah appears to be coming out on the short end, but I suspect the Israelis have already thought this through.
   


3. More violence means more kids desensitized to violence, and another generation of martyrs is made.
   


4. Chaos is unpredictable. If it gets really nasty, and (especially) if Fatah is getting creamed, does Egypt step in to enforce a truce? If Egypt sends troops, what does Iran do? If Iran does something, what do the Saudis do? And Gaza is how close to Tel Aviv? Oh, about 45 miles.
   

What's truly amazing to me is the full circle Fatah has travelled. Back in the day, Fatah was reviled as a vicious, uncrupulous, manipulative bunch of savages. Now, they're the voice of reason and probably the best hope for peace (or at least less violence). I guess in comparison to true evil (which is what I consider Hamas), even Yassir Arafat's cronies look OK.

I really want to blog about happy stuff. This crap is wearing me out.

Hamas' cease-fire: Disingenuous, hypocritical, and homicidal

As you no doubt have heard, Hamas and Israel recently agreed to a truce. This was HUGE news when it broke, and raised my level of optimism about the Middle East nearly to levels not seen since the heady days of Yitzhak Rabin.

Here we are, six days into this historic truce, and we're beginning to see that Hamas is not even remotely serious about it, and has pulled another publicity stunt which will result in yet more civilians in both Israel and Gaza being killed. In other words, Hamas is still full of sh**, always will be full of sh**, and anyone who thinks they've become less full of sh** is delusional, stupid, or both.

I hate those guys. Just in case you hadn't noticed.

The latest is this: Islamic Jihad launches rockets from Gaza into southern Israel. Israel responds by closing the border. Hamas says Israel has broken the truce.

Wait a second. Wasn't the truce broken when the rockets were launched?

According to Hamas, no. Why not? Well, because Hamas didn't launch the rockets, Islamic Jihad did.

Hang on. Islamic Jihad launched the rockets. From Gaza. Where Hamas is the governing force (such as it is). Now I'm really confused.

Hamas has tried to allay my confusion by clarifying thus: Hamas has declared a truce with Israel. Hamas has called on all Palestinian groups to honor it. But Hamas will not be "Israel's policeman" by enforcing the truce on any of the other groups.

So, the guys who were wearing Hamas green last week now put on their Islamic Jihad t-shirts (red? orange? I don't know what color), scratch the Hamas slogans off their Iranian-made rockets and replace them with Islamic Jihad slogans, spin 'em up, and scatter some dirt and (hopefully not) body parts in Israel. Hamas is magically innocent of breaking the truce, and when Israel retaliates, Hamas gets to call a press conference to tell the world how the evil Israelis are not living up to their agreements.

No hypocrisy there, right?

Gaza reveals Palestinian agenda

We're posting very selectively here at CIT right now, but this one deserves notice in any circumstance.

Charles Krauthammer has an essay in next week's Time magazine which is stunning in it's simple hypothesis: The Israelis vacated Gaza about a year ago. What have the Palestinians done in that time? Built schools? Laid the foundations of a functioning society? Gone peacefully about their lives? No, no, and no.

Instead of these noble pursuits, Palestinians in Gaza have launched over 1,000 rockets into Israel (across the pre-1967 border, no less), dug tunnels under the border to facilitate ambushes and kidnappings, and generally kept up the violence as if nothing had occurred to deter it.

Please stop insisting the Palestinians just want their own, peaceful state in which they intend to raise their children and live their lives.

Tension mounts in Gaza - again

All kinds of stuff happening in Israel and Gaza today. The two biggest stories:

1. Tension between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza is escalating rapidly in response to the militants kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Israeli forces are massing near the border and the war of words is growing more heated by the hour. Israel has already implicitly threatened all of Hamas' leadership with assassination if Shalit is not released.

2. On the other end of the spectrum, Hamas' political leadership has agreed to a Palestinian-suggested peace plan that recognizes Israel's right to exist and proposes a two-state solution.

This is a MAJOR shift for Hamas, as it's stated goals all along have included utter destruction of Israel and complete rejection of negotiations.
There's no need to start polishing up the Nobel Prizes quite yet, as the "plan" endorsed by Hamas was originally authored by Palestinian militants currently residing in Israel's prison system. However, the shift in thinking is worth noting.

We'll be by the channel today to keep an eye out for more developments on either story. It seems likely something will happen in very short order w/ regard to Cpl Shalit's situation.

Stay tuned...

Daily YouTube: Hamas continues to spread peace and understanding...

Picked this up from Jewish Issues Watchdog today: Hamas has put on a little play at the Islamic University in Gaza, in which two actors dressed as Hasidim talk about how they hate the Muslims and want to drink and wash in Muslim blood.

First, I feel compelled to point out how chopped up the video is. I'm relying on the supplied sub-titles, and overlooking a great many, obvious edits. Is this thing REALLY as inflammatory as it appears? I don't know. We know this isn't much of a break in the normal tone of Hamas' "cultural education" agenda - any "culture" which can spawn a kids character as evil as Farfour, the martyred, hate-spewing Mickey Mouse ripoff, is certainly capable of staging a play about Jews drinking blood.

Second, I notice that the turnout for the play is not exactly SRO.

I'm not really sure what it is that we're seeing here. It may be something very different from what it appears.

But maybe its exactly what it appears to be. It is Hamas. It is Gaza.

At any rate, watch this little jewel and decide for yourself.

The rubble is flying in Gaza, again

The IAF fired on Hamas security compounds in Gaza earlier today, apparently with a great deal of success. An estimated 60 aircraft launched on at least 40 different Hamas targets across the territory. At least 155 Palestinians are dead, and many more wounded, the vast majority being Hamas "security personnel" (code for "guys who shoot rockets into Israel day after day").

However, as we all know, Hamas, in its mind-boggling cynicism, routinely places legitimate targets in the midst of civilians; generally, the closer to an apartment block, school, or hospital, the better. So, as usual, Israeli attacks on "security personnel" has resulted in civilian casualties. And, as usual, the Palestinian civilians, and the wider Arab world, fail to recognize how Hamas' bloody-minded grandstanding is at fault for their misery. They, predictably, are in the street shouting "Death to Israel".

Listen, I know I am biased on the Middle East. I am a secular Jew. I was raised during the golden days of Israel - I was 2 when the Six Day War occurred, 9 during the Yom Kippur War. I have received Israeli Bonds as gifts since I was born, and the one effective part of my Jewish education was to recognize and support the miracle of the State of Israel. I am no impartial reporter on this subject. I know that, and I try to be careful to point it out as often as I can in these diatribes.

But, with all that said, I am continuously SHOCKED at the ignorance and willingness to be led into ruin displayed by the sheep-like Palestinian populace. I am continuously shocked at the callousness and cynicism displayed by the Palestinian "leadership", none of whom seem to have any regard for the lives (or the quality of the lives) of their constituency. I am continuously shocked at the same attributes displayed on a regular, predictable basis in the wider Arab world. I am continuously shocked at the relentless dismissal of reality evidenced by European (and American) supporters of Palestine.

To me, it's this simple: If the Arabs stop shooting tomorrow, there's peace. If the Israelis stop shooting tomorrow, they are all dead. Is that simplifying things too much? Maybe, but maybe not.

Either way, stay tuned - it looks like there will be a follow-up ground operation, and no doubt additional Israeli "atrocities" about which I can vent to my hearts content.

Gaza intervention appears inevitable

It appears the IDF is going into Gaza in a big way, and in the near future. Nearly continuous rocket fire, in addition to last week's suicide bombing, have pushed the Israelis into an untenable situation.

From the Jerusalem Post, via Jewish Issues Watchdog, here's some analysis of the plans. I'm encouraged by the amount of talk dedicated to the exit strategy. If the IDF is going in, they need to know how to get out as well.

The end game between the Israelis and the Palestinians is harder to see right now than at any time in recent memory.

Tracking Operation Summer Rain

If you're interested in tracking events in Israel's current incursion into Gaza, there is no better place to do so than Vital Perspective.

I've subscribed to VP for some time now and find it to be an excellent source of info and events on the Middle East. The slant is pro-Israel, which is fine by me.

VP is providing literally minute-by-minute updates on doings in Gaza. Tune in and check it out.

Hamas tries to smuggle $800K into Gaza

Here's a weird one: A senior Hamas official was caught trying to smuggle over $800,000 in cash into the Gaza Strip on Friday.

Hamas is, of course, broke. This is due to pretty much the entire world cutting off aid to the Palestinian Authority since Hamas' election victory. One solution to the situation would be for Hamas to moderate a bit. The other solution is, apparently, to break the laws that Hamas itself is supposed to be enforcing, and risk further damaging the already-crippled Palestinian economy, by bringing boatloads of cash in via smuggling.

While I'm not especially sympathetic to the Palestinian Cause (big surprise to longtime CIT readers, I know), the Palestinian people deserve a hell of a lot better leadership than they've received since 1948. Whether they're elected like Hamas or defacto like Fatah, Palestinian leaders have done absolutely zero to improve their peoples' lives.

Another day, another Middle East diatribe...

I don't know about you, but I am beginning to suffer from tired-head at the mere mention of Gaza.

What's left to discuss, rant about, or debate? It seems very clear to me that Hamas played it's usual cards - hiding weapons in apartment buildings and schools, using civilians as human shields, trumpeting Israeli "atrocities" from the rooftops, whilst doing everything in their power to make more of those "atrocities" occur. The depravity and cynicism displayed by Hamas and their fellow-travelers is staggering, vomitous, and pretty much expected by now.

Truly, there is no workable compromise possible with these lying murderers.

So, I'm reading They Must Be Stopped by Brigette Gabriel. If you have not read this, I think you probably should. Not because every word in it is true, or that it contains any real enlightenment. But because it makes an argument that I have wondered about for a long time: Islam, according to Gabriel, is basically about conquest and subjugation of every other religion on the planet.

First things first: I have some basic suspicions whenever someone indicts an entire (major) religion as intolerant and bent on destruction of all competing religions. Jews have long experience with this sort of accusation (Protocols of the Elders of Zion, anyone?) and we, in particular, should be very hesitant to believe blanket, negative generalizations.

With that disclaimer in place, I have been waiting since at least 2001 (at least!) for a Muslim scholar to tell me, in specific terms, how AQ, Hamas, Hezbollah, etc differ from mainstream Islamic thought. If such a discussion or dissertation has been put forth, I have not seen it. Seems like a well-written piece of this nature would get a lot of play, wouldn't it?

If such a document, in fact, does NOT exist, why not? Is it because AQ et al really don't differ significantly from mainstream Islamic thought?

Hell, I don't know. I really don't.

However, I can't help but think our stifling political correctness prevents us from asking tough questions along these lines. Serious questions about religion (except for Christianity, I've noticed) are verboten in public discourse - ask a serious question about Islam's true inclination to participate in the peaceful co-existence dance party, and you get shouted down by all sorts of well-meaning pinheads.

I guess my point with all this stream-of-consciousness is this: Is the typical Ahmed-on-the-street willing to accept Israel's existence in exchange for some guarantee that the IDF isn't going to drive a Merkava or ten thru his front door every once in a while?

If the answer is yes, then this will someday pass, and it's just a matter of time. If the answer is no, then what? If we're going to have an Israel (and we ARE going to have an Israel, we have to), then is this the price? Does the IDF have to go flatten civilian areas every couple of years? Do we have to endure CNN telling us how evil Israel is? The Euros turning red in the face over another "atrocity" visited upon the poor, defenseless, innocent Palestinians?

It's this simple. If the Palestinians want peace, the situation can be resolved. If they will be satisfied with nothing short of the destruction of Israel, well, we can recycle the headlines from the last 30 days for the next 30 years.

Palestinian statehood – Boston Globe says “I don’t think so”

Jeff Jacoby, writing in the Globe Op-Ed section, wonders “… has any population ever been less suited for statehood than the Palestinians?”

He goes on to answer his own question with a resounding “no”.

To say this piece is uncharitable towards the Palestinians is like saying PW Botha was uncharitable towards blacks. However, I think it’s pretty accurate.

The Palestinians have had a defacto state in Gaza since 2005. Are you ready to fill out the change-of-address cards and move the family there? No? Are you, perhaps, a little concerned about the non-stop Palestinian-on-Palestinian violence? Are you worried about the abject poverty and near-hopeless economic situation, despite the billions of dollars in international aid delivered to the PA over the past few years? Are you a little depressed about the seeming non-existence of a competent, rational group or individual in leadership?

Yep, those Palestinians sure are doing a great job with their state, aren’t they?

Read the whole thing!

2007 Recap

As has become tradition around here at little CIT, I thought I'd do the year-end review thing. Not that anyone is interested - by now, you should know that's not the point of anything here. I do this whole bit for myself. If anyone else enjoys it, great. But, believe me, your enjoyment is entirely secondary to mine.

Most of you have probably already punched out, but for anyone who's made it this far, onward!

News Story of the Year

Many to choose from, as always: The takeover of Gaza by Hamas was a biggie. The downward spiral in Zimbabwe, while not as catastrophic as I thought it would be (but it ain't over yet) was also big. The crash of the housing market and the disintegration of the sub-prime mortgage sector had enormous impact which has not yet been fully played out. For me, it comes down to two major stories: The near-revolution in Burma and the turning of the tide in Iraq.

Personally, I was most caught up in the Burma story, although I know I'm in the very small minority. I can't explain my fascination with Burma, but I am enthralled. To see the monkhood defy the authorities as they did in late summer/early fall was exciting, even thrilling. The high point came when the monks marched by Suu Kyi's home/prison, with her silently watching, tears evident. Of course, it all came to naught as the fascist thugs in power turned the army's guns on the monks and civilians, and the world, after some lip-service, turned to other topics. Hope, which for a brief moment appeared to be turning into something more, is in very, very short supply on the streets of Rangoon these days.

In terms of world impact, of course, the situation in Iraq has far more impact. The right wing press has been saying, for some time, the tide has been turning. The troops on the ground started saying the same thing mid-year, and now the evidence seems obvious: Stability is emerging, and we dare hope for a reasonably happy outcome.

Worth the cost? Hell no. Not even close in terms of the money, equipment, good will, and, most of all, lives that have been squandered in this catastrophe. But a stable Iraq seems a real possibility now, which was the goal (I think) all along.

How will history judge this endeavor? I have no idea. Probably more favorably than we do now, but it's impossible to say with any certainty. The legacy of the GWB presidency is indelibly linked to the historical view of the Iraq effort. I think its a real possibility that, 20 years from now, the whole bit is viewed as a success, and maybe even a great success. Crazy? Stupid? Naive? Maybe. Call me in 2027 and lets compare notes, shall we?

Sports Story of the Year

Again, some contenders: The Cowboys' return to greatness (we'll see in January if its real or a parity-induced mirage), the Mavericks' fall from greatness (the window slammed shut in a hurry, didn't it?), the invincibility of the New England Patriots, the somewhat anti-climactic continued greatness of the Red Sox, Beckham in America (well, maybe), the rise of Sidney Crosby, and many other compelling events are all possibilities.

To me, the steroids brouhaha in baseball was the big one, even if it, too, was anti-climactic. From my perspective, the entire game of baseball has been sullied, and every major record achieved in the past 25 years is suspect. No one is surprised to hear Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, or any of the other names in the Mitchell Report. But think about it: Do you now doubt the true greatness of some, if not all, of the big stars of the recent past? Reggie Jackson? Tony Gwynn? Cal Ripken Jr? Even the hallowed and revered Nolan Ryan? I do. And I hate that.

Local Story of the Year

Oh, where to start (or end) here? The election of the great (I hope) Tom Leppert to the Dallas Mayor's office? The defeat of the revisionist Trinity River nay-sayers? The unveiling of the Jerry Dome and all that went with it?

I'm going with an obscure one, but one that hits very close to home, and one that I think has the potential to put a major crimp in the stratospheric growth of my home town of Frisco TX. And that is the failure of all involved to do something about Eldorado Parkway. This major east-west artery of Frisco has seen MASSIVE development over the past two years or so, with gigantic shopping and housing developments lining it nearly from stem to stern. And yet it remains a poorly lit, poorly paved, poorly controlled two-lane country road. The traffic jams on Eldorado Parkway at nearly any hour of the day or night are becoming the stuff of legend. I will go MILES out of my way to avoid it. The solution remains elusive, as the city of Frisco and TxDOT continue to wrangle over who should do what to relieve the situation. I feel for the people (good friends of ours included) who have built homes along Eldorado, in many cases BEAUTIFUL homes, but who's quality of life suffers dramatically from their inability to literally get out of their driveways during rush hour.

Story to Watch in 2008

There are the obvious ones, such as the US presidential election and (God, I hope) the resolution of the Iraq boondoggle, among many many others. However, the one I hope, and expect, to see is "The Beginning of the End of the Petroleum Era".

I think it's time, and I think, in 2008, we'll begin to see it. The rise of the hybrid (already well under way) and the all-electric car, the rebirth of nuclear, the advance of battery technology, and perhaps some things we're not thinking much about now, all will, I really hope and believe, start to move us away from our dependence on oil. Don't sell your Exxon stock yet - this is going to take many years - but I think we'll start to see some real movement in 2008.

On the Family Front

As Robynne and I celebrate our 16th wedding anniversary, our son is seven, our daughter turns 10, and we approach our 3rd year in Frisco, there is much to be thankful for and much to look forward to.

Professionally, 2007 saw Catapult Systems establish ourselves as a major player in the Dallas IT market, and the arrows are all pointing up precipitously for 2008. Robynne continued to add to her legend in the North Dallas pediatric community, the RES-Q Wedge finally became available online, and all trends for next year are positive. Our daughter, fast approaching the teenage years, has re found her stride academically and has matured so much I can't believe it. Our son continues in good health (Tyrosinemia Type 1 is very manageable thus far, thank God) and continues to charm everyone around him. We have great hopes for his emotional and behavioral growth in 2008.

The extended family had its ups and downs in 2007. Minor (mostly) health issues in some quarters, and perhaps somewhat less-minor marital issues in others were more than offset by professional successes, milestones like starting school, going away to camp, new jobs, and new opportunities. We got to see some family members we hadn't seen in some time, almost everyone got to travel a bit, with some mixed results, and I think we all enter 2008 looking forward to continued successes.

We end our family's 2007 with a net positive on all fronts, and look forward to continued good things in 2008. I wish you and your loved ones a very happy Holiday Season, and a happy, peaceful, and healthy 2008.

Aung San Suu Kyi to be charged and tried

The armed thugs who claim to be the government of Burma are, apparently, about to charge Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, along with her two live-in maids, with harboring a US national secretly in Suu Kyi's lakeside home for two days.

The Golden Land is full of nutty stories, but this is one of the nuttier I can recall.

It seems a John Yettaw, which may be a vaguely Burmese name, although I could be quite wrong on that, who is from the US, swam the lake to reach Suu Kyi's home. He stayed in the home for two days, and has since been arrested, although not charged. US diplomats were able to visit him, but haven't spoken publicly about the case yet.

The 63-year-old Suu Kyi, who has been under detention of one form or another for most of the past 20 years, has been rumored to be in poor health lately. According to her doctor, she suffers from dehydration and low blood pressure. Who knows what that really means.

There's some conjecture by the Beeb that this is an effort to put Suu Kyi away until after next year's "elections", which is as good an explanation as any. Suu Kyi pretty much is the opposition, such as it is, and locking her up where no UN or Western representatives can get a look at her would certainly prevent her from making any public noise.

Still, this represents something of a departure for Than Shwe and his minions. Up until now, they've been treating Suu Kyi with white gloves. They allow her no freedom, but they have resisted the notion of tossing her in the clink or any other drastic actions. They have to know that this is going to make some headlines in the West (not to mention spark the ire of certain bloggers, which I'm sure has them quaking in their Buster Browns), but since when has that stopped them from doing anything? Locking Suu Kyi up this far ahead of the elections makes sense, in their little dinosaur brains, in that it will have faded from attention by the time it matters.

In the pantheon of near-hopeless to hopeless situations, lost causes to causes well on their way to lost, from Zimbabwe to Gaza to GM, Burma has a place of honor: The spot on this little planet of ours furthest from any sort of hope at all.

Americans are stupid Muslim-haters, says CAIR. Again.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), those calm, non-reactionary types who gently remind Americans of their ignorance and intolerance whenever necessary, has a new event to be pissed off about.

This time, six Muslim imams were removed from a Northwest Airlines flight from Minneapolis to Phoenix. The reason? All six stood up from their seats and started praying in unison. The plane had not yet left the gate, so authorities were able to board and start asking questions. Ultimately, the six were taken for further questioning and the plane left without them.

OK, I get it. Muslims pray multiple times each day, and this is sacred to them. No problem. And I agree that it sucks for everyone when a group of men can't pray in public without raising suspicions. It shouldn't come to that in America.

But it has.

Had I been on the flight in question, I would have freaked out right along with some of the other passengers. I HATE to fly, I'm scared to death of it, and, these days, I'm not alone. Once that plane leaves the ground, everyone on it is incredibly vulnerable to any maniac who's cleared security. There's no such thing as a "minor" plane crash - you don't walk away with some bumps and bruises. Sure, flying is, statistically, safer than zipping your fly. It doesn't matter. When in-flight on a commercial airliner, you are more at the mercy of those around you than at any other time that doesn't involve you wearing diaper.

Given the situation, everyone on board should follow some very basic rules of etiquette. Passengers should just stay in their seats and shut the hell up. Don't do things you know are going to alarm those around you. Don't jump up and yell "fire!", don't drop on the floor and roll around in a fake seizure, don't run around singing "Wooly Bully", don't stand up as a group and start praying. All of these things freak your fellow passengers out. They are NOT cool.

And if you do feel the need to cause alarm, don't get all whiny irritated when people get freaked out, and when the authorities come hassle you. I don't really care about your rights - there are 100+ people around you who have a right not to be scared by your actions. Your rights are not more important than theirs.

And then there are those wonderfully helpful folks at CAIR, who over-react to anything they perceive as a slight to Islam.

We absolutely should have a group out there standing up for Islam in a non-violent way. There is clearly a need for someone to explain, in calm, rational terms, how, through our ignorance, we're putting a religion down unfairly. Too bad CAIR isn't that group.

This bunch of clowns has done more to poison Western attitudes about Islam than anyone west of Gaza and east of Jakarta. In their eyes, a Muslim has never done anything to warrant suspicion or questioning, and it's only American stupidity and insensitivity which causes conflict. I'm not sure how this casting of stones is supposed to help us all just get along. Does it really calm tensions and foster understanding to attack the vast majority of the country's populace whenever a minority draws attention to itself in a negative way?

This turned into quite a bit more of a rant than I had planned. I guess I'll close with this: I really do want to understand others around me, and I'm the ultimate get-along guy. But, at the same time, I realize this is America, where certain actions, beliefs, and conduct are the norm and other actions, beliefs, and conduct are not the norm. Everything is easier for everyone if we all try to meet in the center a bit more.

World news roundup for Christmas Day

Ah, Christmas morning - for a Jew, it's a day when you are guaranteed to have time to enjoy the coffee and the paper to your heart's content. No pressing errands, no sports to tune in; a nice, relaxing morning is a virtual certainty.

So, today I use this time to catch up on events from around this lovely little planet of ours (or not, if Keanu Reeves is to be believed), and the usual spots are all popping as much as ever.

In the Middle East - which, on Christmas Day ought to be a quiet, contemplative spot, but never is - Israel and Hamas are supposedly attempting to renew the recently-expired truce in and around Gaza. Someone (Good Lord, it couldn't be anyone from Hamas, now could it?) is tossing rocket after rocket into the Negev and southern Israel. The Israelis are trying to turn the other cheek, but the picture in this morning's DMN is of crying Israeli children running from a blast site. I remind you that Israel is a modern, democratic, industrialized nation, not unlike Western Europe in terms of lifestyle of its people. Do you think the Italians or the Danes would sit still for neighbors firing explosive devices across the border at their populaces? I know this is not an apples-to-apples comparison, but its not as far off as some of the Palestinian apologists would have you believe.

Long story short, it appears a military move is likely on the Israelis side. Another useless intervention which will further embitter the civilians on both sides and lead to more "Israeli butcher" headlines in the Euro and Arab press.

Will Obama be the game-changer here? It's hard to imagine how, and I STILL don't really understand his position on this one. But there sure isn't any hope anywhere else at the moment.

In southern Africa, Desmond Tutu has called for Mugabe's removal, by force if necessary, and has bashed his own government for sitting on its hands. The cholera news hasn't improved one bit, nor will it. Mbeki clearly isn't making any difference, and clearly won't unless someone lights a bonfire under his a**. And the rest of the world just doesn't have enough at stake to do more than make some noise and levy questionably-effective sanctions. Is it hopeless? No, Zimbabweans have been thru plenty of tough times, although nothing like this in the past 100+ years, and the place is at least still in the news, even if it page 17A of the DMN.

Up on the Horn of Africa, Somalia's warlord-turned-statesman (WHAT?) president Abdullahi Yusuf may or may not be stepping down, which may or may not either kick off full-scale civil war or pave the way for a unity government. This full-scale civil war sort of intrigues me. What, exactly, has been going on in Somalia for the past 20 years if it wasn't full-scale civil war?

The only reason Somalia hasn't become Helmand-South is, I think, it's too hot even for Al Qaeda. Think about that for a moment - the most effective international terror organization in the history of the world hasn't moved into a lawless, ungoverned, wide-open spot in a meaningful way because even they can't be sure they can protect themselves effectively.

That, my friends, is a FAILED state.

In slightly lesser news, some unknown Army captain (a CAPTAIN?) marched into Conakry at the head of a few thousand troops and announced himself as the new Grand Poobah of Guinea. This west African nation had been something of a quiet spot amidst the regional fireworks of the past 25 years, mostly because Dictator for Life Lansana Conte had kept his boot on the the lid pretty firmly. Conte recently keeled over, and now it's the traditional Sub-Saharan Africa scramble, with the guy who has the most guns and the least compunction about using them winning. The US is "examining options", which I take to mean we, at the senior State Dept level, don't know what the hell is going on there at the moment, and don't care too terribly much either.

Yes, indeed, the World pages do make for interesting reading. Count your blessings, fellow Americanos. We're in the midst of relatively tough times, but its one HELL of a lot worse in many, many places this Dec 25.

Tom Friedman, Smartest Man on Earth, says radical Islam is losing

Tom, you are my hero (well, you and Big Al). You make so much sense, suggest such brilliant solutions, and generally agree with me on almost everything. I would like to formally submit my application to join the "Tom Friedman Mentoring Society". I may also get a "Tom Freidman is My Hero" t-shirt to go along with the "Al Gore is My Hero" shirt already in my closet.

Not kidding about the t-shirt. The sentiment happens to be true; I am a supporter of We Can Solve It and Repower America, but the shirt itself is a good way to start an argument in good old suburban North Texas.

At any rate, My Other Hero Tom wrote in yesterday's NYT about the current state of the jihad. Did you notice the radical Islamists are losing the War of Terror? Well, they are.

As Tom so deftly points out, everywhere the the Beardy Boys have taken charge (Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, etc), they have brought with them total economic stagnation (if not outright retreat), lowered standards of living and education, unnecessary and unwanted violence, repression, etc etc etc. And now we're seeing militant Islamists lose elections (Lebanon, Iraq) or steal elections (Iran). The Paki middle class is tired of bombs in the streets of Peshwar and have withdrawn support for the Taliban and foreign rebels causing trouble in the Northwest.

The bad news is that the US' friends in the Arab world, those shining examples of secular, progressive, populist democracy like Egypt and Saudi Arabia, are not really "winning", despite their medieval rivals' decline. This lack of a better idea is what keeps the jihadists in business, albeit in a much more limited capacity.

Go read the op-ed, along with everything Tom Friedman has ever written. The man's a genius.

Israel vs. Hezbollah (and Hamas), Round 2

We're all Israel, all the time here at CIT this evening.

Colin Rubenstein, writing in Australia's The Age, predicts a renewal of hostilities between Israel and their playmates Hezbollah (in Lebanon) and Hamas (in Gaza) very soon.

I don't for one second dispute Israel's right to defend itself, especially since the "governments" of these areas don't seem to want to do anything to chill out the terrorists launching rockets from their nations' territory against Israel.

However, the Israelis cannot stop at half measures this time. Either the gloves come all the way off, and this gets prosecuted to resolution, or don't even bother. One would hope that the fallout of last summer's failed bit will have retaught that lesson.