Archives for July 2006

If you spend any time reading the news you’ll find many stories about Lebanese refugees. There are lots of pictures of people fleeing the war, of crying women and children, destroyed buildings and an explanation laying the blame at Israel’s feet.

As you review the stories you’ll typically see that there is some mention of Hezbollah having fired rockets upon Israel. It is often downplayed.
You don’t really see the pictures of the rockets. And you don’t see too many photos of the damage they cause.
It bothers me. There are two sides in this war and it is just not right to cover both of them.

Well Worth Reading- Thanks Dave!

A moving, powerful address an IDF Golani Brigade commander, Cap. Uri Lavie to his troops before going into battle against Hizbullah:

“This is our time to rise to the challenge, put on the helmets and the bullet proof vests and make sure that the northern border is secure.

We shall fulfill any mission in a most effective manner, in face of any challenge.

If we shall not fulfill our mission we shall forfeit the right to exist.

We shall not lose this war, which we did not start.

Our duty is to serve as a defense force of the Jewish People, and to secure the peace of mind of the civilians in northern Israel.

If we shall not do it, no one will do it in our place.

For two thousand years we waited for the establishment of the Jewish State, and we are not going to roll back because a bunch of terrorists assume that they can scare us.

He who cannot defend Liberty does not deserve Liberty.

If we will not be able to fight until our last drop of blood, in order to secure the Liberty of our People on its own soil, our People will not enjoy Liberty.

There is time to talk and there is time to act. At this time, when missiles and Katyushas afflict the North all the way to Haifa, in addition to the two kidnapped soldiers, the ten soldiers killed and the dozens injured, it is time to fight and not to talk. We are the force, which has been chosen to fight, and we shall perform in the most effective manner.

I will be the first one to enter the battle and the last one to come out, and will do everything in my power to get you out alive and well. On Friday, with G-D’s help, we will rejoin with our families. However, I cannot do it alone. Once we cross the northern border, you should exercise full alert and full responsibility toward your fellow soldier.” (Ha’aretz, July 27, 2006)”

I just took a snapshot of visitors from the last 15 minutes and noticed that my blog was mentioned in a chat room and has been getting more than its usual share of ME visitors.

Welcome. Salam. Shalom. Howdy.

	Num	Perc.	Country Name
	17	18.48%	Canada
	6	6.52%	Sweden
	5	5.43%	Germany
	4	4.35%	Egypt
	3	3.26%	Syrian Arab Republic
	3	3.26%	Israel
	2	2.17%	France
	2	2.17%	Norway
	2	2.17%	Netherlands
	1	1.09%	Denmark
	1	1.09%	Morocco
	1	1.09%	Saudi Arabia
	1	1.09%	Switzerland
	1	1.09%	Australia
	1	1.09%	Nigeria
	1	1.09%	Indonesia

(CNN) — One person was killed and five others were wounded, three critically, in a shooting at the Jewish Federation in downtown Seattle, Washington, police said.

Police have detained a suspect who is of Pakistani descent, said a law enforcement official.

Authorities do not believe the suspect was affiliated with any radical political or religious group, said FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Gomez.

“We believe, at this point, it’s just a lone individual acting out some kind of antagonism toward this particular organization,” he said.

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is helping with the investigation because the attack involved a religious organization, police said.

Several witnesses told The Associated Press they saw a man shoot a woman on a sidewalk near the building.

One witness on the first floor of the building told the AP she heard shots and crashing sounds on the second floor.

Five victims, all women, were taken to Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center, according to a media line at the hospital. Three victims required surgery for injuries to the knee, groin, abdomen or arm. The hospital listed them in critical condition.

The other two injured women were in satisfactory condition, according to Harborview Medical Center. The hospital said one of the two women is five months pregnant.

While responding Friday afternoon to reports of shots fired being fired at the center, police received a call from a man identifying himself as the gunman who said he was holding people hostage, Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel said. An officer “was able to talk him out” of the building, he said.

The suspect “was confronted by officers and peacefully gave up,” said Assistant Police Chief Nick Metz.”

Needless to say I am quite concerned about this. The AP is reporting the following:

“Staff members said they overheard him saying “‘I am a Muslim American, angry at Israel,’ before opening fire on everyone,” Meislin-Dietrich said. “He was randomly shooting at everyone.”

Police would not confirm the account.”