Justifying Terror

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

A slew of apologists have emerged to justify/ white wash the terror attack that took the lives of seven innocent victims in Toulouse, France. The apologists are trying to suggest that Mohmmed Merah was not a bad person and even more, that he himself was a victim.

Writers, even a professor of Islamic Studies at Oxford, have written that "Merah was a misguided youngster in whose thought there were no values of Islam or racist and anti-Semitic ideas."

Misguided????

Mohammad Merah murdered three children all under 8 years old and claimed it was the happiest moment of his life. Merah said that he did not want to be a kamikaze, he said that he wanted to live in order to kill more Jews.

It is extremely troubling that so many people are not willing or able to define Merah and his actions for what they are. It is a black and white issue - Merah committed mass murder to promote a political and religious agenda. That is called terror.

Merah was a Muslim terrorist. He was trained to be a terrorist and he espoused terrorist values and teachings.

Micah@MicahHalpern..com

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Israel Has an Airstrip at North Border of Iran

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Israel just bought an airstrip/airbase on the northern border of Iran. This is a real game changer.
Israel now has use of an Azerbaijani air base. Israel will revamp it and bring to up to their specs.

It is still unclear if this airbase is one of the four, now abandoned, former Soviet bases in the area or if Israel now has an airbase that Azerbaijan was using up until the purchase.

What is perfectly clear is that Israel now has close access to Iran and can act totally independently, without asking or even informing the United States. Not surprisingly, the United States is livid.

Add to that Saudi Arabian frustration with US inaction on Iran and the desire of the Saudis to help Israel strike at Iran and the possibility that they might themselves provide landing strips for Israeli planes - and you have all the pieces of the Israeli puzzle falling right into place.

It's official. Iran is worried.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Palestian Land Day

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Land Day activities throughout the Middle East and around the world.
Land Day is a Palestinian protest day created to remember the year 1976 when Israel declared its intention to take over 20,000 dunam of Arab land and use it for settlement development.

There are supposed to be multiple peaceful rallies throughout the
Palestinian Authority. They are expecting tens of thousands of foreign visitors to fly in over the next few days to participate in their marches.

Around the world Arab groups are symbolically marching toward Jerusalem. Because of the nature of cities and borders and the PA and Israel, communities sometimes literally abut one another. So several weeks ago the Israelis sent messages to bordering neighbors to make certain that people stay away from Israel's fences.

Last year the Syrians tried to storm the Israeli border fence and rush into Israel.

Police in Israel are on high alert. They will have road blocks to make certain that the marches do not enter Israel and that the threat level remains low and Israelis are secure and safe.

The expectation is that rhetoric will be high but will not set off a third intifada.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Hamas & Iran

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

A Lebanese newspaper reported on Tuesday on a recent meeting between Hamas and Iranian leaders. The purpose of the meeting was to synchronize a response in the event of an Israeli strike against Iran.

Iran is expecting Hamas to rain rockets down on Israel.

In exchange for this support Hamas will receive an immediate $33 million and will once again be part of the Iranian led gravy train.

In addition Iran wants to sabotage the reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah. This is already in the works. Hamas leaders in Gaza were never keen on the decision of Hamas leaders outside of Gaza to fraternize with Abbas and Fatah.

This Lebanese report confirms the Fatah/Palestinian Authority news reports and analyses that has been circulating over the past few weeks that Iran is supporting Hamas and trying to drive a wedge between Palestinians and foil any chances of reconciliation.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Gas Crisis in Gaza

By Micah Halpern

 I've Been Thinking:

 

There is a severe gas crisis in Gaza. Taxis have ground to a halt, electric stations have stopped generating and cooking gas does not exist. There are black outs for 18 hours a day.

Israel will be blamed, but this is not Israel's fault. Israel actually just delivered 450,000 liters of diesel to Gaza. It is Egypt that supplies gas to Gaza. And Egypt has decided to abide by the traditional agreement that all gas must come through the Kerem Shalom crossing which is controlled by Israel.

Gaza does not want Israel to control their gas imports despite the stipulation in the treaty.
Egypt wants better control over the gas and does not want the gas to continue coming through the tunnels as has been happening since 2007.

Hamas is livid. They want the gas to come through the smuggling tunnels and are pushing Egypt to do what they have been doing since ousting the Palestinian Authority from Gaza. Only Egypt wants to be more responsible.

The potential for an explosion is enormous.

Until Hamas and Egypt come to an agreement, 18 hour blackouts will be the new norm in Gaza.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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He Loved To Kill Jews

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

According to a report in the French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche (The Sunday Journal), French terrorist Mohammad Merah was in a state of immense pleasure while brutally murdering Jews.

Just before the SWAT team stormed his apartment Merah explained to the police that he had hoped to murder many more Jews. He said he was sorry that he missed the day the students returned from vacation because then many more Jewish children would have been gathered in the entrance to the school.

Merah told the police that he did not want to end his life like a kamikaze. He wanted to live to kill more Jews. He said that during the killing he felt "endless pleasure."

He explained why he killed French soldiers in France as opposed to in Afghanistan where he was trained. Merah said that killing a French soldier in France is like killing six French soldiers in Afghanistan.

Do not misunderstand. This man was not crazy, he was not a lunatic. He was a cold blooded calculated mass murderer. He killed to achieve his political and religious goals.

Mohammad Merah was totally aware of his actions and of the ramifications of those actions.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Israel Operates in Iran

Sunday March 25, 2012

I've Been Thinking:

This goes into the hard to believe but certainly within the realms of the possible and even highly probable category:

The Sunday Times of London reported today that Israel is running an entire intelligence operation in Iran with significant numbers and extremely high technology. According to the report Israel's base of operations is in the Kurdish controlled province of Iraq.

From the Kurdish controlled areas Israel can cross into Iran and gather information and run/operate their agents to gather large amounts of intelligence.

According to the article and everyone who is analyzing this material-the idea is to find a smoking gun. Israel is looking to find real evidence of nuclear weapons and technology.

The teams, according to the Times of London report, have highly sensitive radioactive sensors and have even used black hawk helicopters to drop commandos into Iran to gather info. They are dressed as Iranian military and even use Iranian military vehicles.

Attention is focused on Parchin and Fordow ear Qoms. Parchin is where the IAEA last asked to take a look and were politely told to look elsewhere. Satellite pictures show that the earth around Parchin was plowed under and that major earth-moving vehicle were at works there.

Conventional wisdom is that the Iranians tested a neutron trigger in Parchin and then did their best to get rid of the evidence.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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They Honor The Terrorist

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

A teacher in a high school just north of Paris is facing disciplinary action.

The teacher asked her students to stand for a moment of silence to honor the memory of Mohamed Merah - the terrorist who murdered seven people in cold blood in Toulouse.

Some of the students walked out in protest, but some stayed to hear what their teacher was planning and to try to understand her point of view. She said that Merah was not a terrorist and that it was all a rouse contrived by the media and by President Sarkozy. She added that Merah had no al Qaeda connections. The students immediately wrote a formal complaint to their principal.

The brother of Mohamed Merah announced how proud he was of his brother and said that in his home were 10,000 Euros worth of weapons including a Kalashinkov machine gun.
A CIA source in Kandahar said that Merah had visited Israel and was stopped by Israeli security because of a knife he was carrying. US officials also confirm that he was on a no fly list for the United States.

France knew all about Merah but according to a statement made by the prime Minister they could do nothing - until he perpetrated a crime.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Madonna in Israel

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Madonna is adding a second concert to her Tel Aviv tour. It is called the Peace Concert. She said that if there is anything she or music can do to help bring about peace - she will try.

Several major peace groups have been called upon to attend and be part of the concert.

The first Madonna concert will be held on May 29 in Ramat Gan Stadium. The second concert is scheduled for May 31. Her newest album entitled MDNA is scheduled to be released on May 26.

Madonna last performed in Israel in 2009. She refuses to be intimidated by the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. The BDS and many other sanction supporters have tried to pressure and even blackball Madonna and other performers to cancel their concerts in Israel.

Some performers have caved under the pressure. Madonna did not succumb to the BDS pressure in the past and will not now.

In her own words: "It is my way of thanking those who are making so much effort toward bringing peace to the Middle East."

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Terror in France

By Micah Halpern
I've Been Thinking:

The terror attacks in France are extremely troubling - not just for the obvious reasons.

France is "the" bastion of democracy in modern history. It was in France that the concepts of freedom and equality first became a reality and the first real test case for those concepts was the Jews. Jews were emancipated in France as part of the French Revolution.

Now a Muslim terrorist, a member of al Qaeda, purposefully and willfully and violently murders seven people in Toulouse - three Muslim soldiers and four Jews including three children under the age of eight.

The terrorist murdered Muslims because they were soldiers fighting for France and in the eyes of al Qaeda that is a treasonous act punishable by death. And he took it upon himself to mete out that punishment.

The terrorist attacked a Jewish school to, in his words, "avenge the Palestinian children." The Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority Salam Fayyad responded by demanding that terrorists of this type cease and desist. He said: "It is time for these criminals to stop marketing their terrorist acts in the name of Palestine and to stop pretending to stand up for the rights of Palestinian children who only ask for a decent life."

These events have shaken France and they have shaken the Jewish world and everyone who believes in freedom and equality.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Iran Laud US Diplomacy

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told his people that sanctions against them would not work and that they must develop more domestically produced products.

The Supreme Leader also complimented US President Barak Obama. The Iranian leader said that he welcomed the stance of the US president that was embracing diplomatic solutions to the disagreements between their countries.

It is very important to understand this.

The diplomatic solution is by far the wisest resolution, but as the wheels of diplomacy slowly turn, the Iranians can be using the time to race toward nuclear proficiency.

For Iran talks are a win-win situation.

That is why the United States and the West must try to apply extremely costly and painful sanctions against Iran even and especially while the diplomatic option is explored.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Russia to Push Cease Fire

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The International Committee of the Red Cross, ICRC, has gotten a commitment from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to propose the concept of daily cease fires in Syria to Syrian leadership.

In principle this would mean several hours every day during which the ICRC can provide service to victims. It will be a time when they can evacuate the wounded and provide medicine and food to those in need.

Russia agreed that it was a good idea and that they would relay the message to Syria.

The idea of having several hours dedicated to life saving measures was something Russia felt that they could convince Syria to adopt.

In response to a question asking if Lavrov thought that Syria would respond positively to Russian pressure about this daily ceasefire, Lavrov responded "absolutely."

This may make a difference for the wounded.

This is certainly further proof of the influence Russia wields in Syria.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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The Jews of Iran

Monday March 19, 2012
I’ve Been Thinking:

In the backs of the minds of those who are planning and analyzing an Israeli strike on Iran is this question --- what will happen to the 23,000 - 25,000 Jews still living in Iran?

This is one of the huge questions that rests on the shoulders of Israeli decision makers.

Iran’s Jews have a history dating back 2,700 years. They are one of the oldest Jewish communities in the world. Today they live either in the city of Teheran or Shiraz.

In the year 2000, thirteen Iranian Jewish Hebrew teachers were arrested for spying. After years of persecution the case was dropped.

Iranian leadership has options. They could arrest Jews as they have done in the past. They could persecute them and arrest them on trumped up charges. They could run a smear campaign to foment public hatred and attacks against the Jews of Iran. They can forbidden the practice and teaching of Judaism.

A military attack is much more than a mere tactical and strategic maneuver.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com


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By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

According to a report in the French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche (The Sunday Journal), French terrorist Mohammad Merah was in a state of immense pleasure while brutally murdering Jews.

Just before the SWAT team stormed his apartment Merah explained to the police that he had hoped to murder many more Jews. He said he was sorry that he missed the day the students returned from vacation because then many more Jewish children would have been gathered in the entrance to the school.

Merah told the police that he did not want to end his life like a kamikaze. He wanted to live to kill more Jews. He said that during the killing he felt "endless pleasure."

He explained why he killed French soldiers in France as opposed to in Afghanistan where he was trained. Merah said that killing a French soldier in France is like killing six French soldiers in Afghanistan.

Do not misunderstand. This man was not crazy, he was not a lunatic. He was a cold blooded calculated mass murderer. He killed to achieve his political and religious goals.

Mohammad Merah was totally aware of his actions and of the ramifications of those actions.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Iran Call Israel A Barking Dog

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iran's speaker of the parliament Ali Larijani called Israel a "barking dog" earlier today.

Larijani was explaining that "Israel would never dare attack Iran."

He said Israel is like a dog it barks and does not intend to bite. He then echoed a repeated theme that has been developing over the last week or two by Iranian leaders. He said that if Israel were to strike Iran, it, Israel, would be playing with its own destiny.

The war of rhetoric is increasing in pitch.

Iran is pushing the don't attack model suggesting that Iran's counter attack against Israel would be too devastating and too costly to warrant a first strike.

This all happens as Swift, the largest international transfer-er of funds from banks disconnected 25 of Iran's banks from its services as of Monday. This could be a huge blow to Iran's already problematic foreign currency money flow.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Iran Warns Israel

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Yesterday, Ali Akhba Salehi, Iran's foreign minister was interviewed on Danish television TV-2. The Iranian minister's comments provide telling insight into the complex chess game that Iran is playing with the West.

Salehi said that an Israeli strike on Iran's nuclear facilities would result in the total destruction of Israel.

He said: "If Israel ever made this mistake, it would set the clock for the end of Israel. And the Israelis know this."

He continued: "Israel is such a small country it would not last even a single week in a real war. Not even one week."

This takes the "wipe off the map" comments much further. Iran's top diplomat, the man who is also the former head of Iran's Atomic Energy Agency, meant to intimidate and frighten the West - not Israel. His comments were directed specifically at the United States in order to try to make certain that Israel does not embark on an air strike.

Israel is fully aware of Iran's potential and the risks involved in a military strike. It is the United States that is still in the throes of decision making and so it is the United States that is open to influence through this rhetoric.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Turkey Bombs Kurds in Iraq

By Micah Halpern


Thursday March 15, 2012

I've Been Thinking:

Turkish planes flew into Iraq and dropped bombs on three regions. It happened late Tuesday night, early Wednesday morning. The targets were Kurdish separatist movement centers and bases.

This is an ongoing story, one that we do not see or hear much about.

The Kurds want their own state. They believe that part of that state should include sections of Turkey so to that end, the Kurds actively strike at Turkish targets. It emphasizes their point.

The Turks respond by attacking Kurdish centers. Part of the attack strategy of the Turks against the Kurds is to get at their support system in Iraq.

In Iraq the Kurds are almost totally autonomous. They live in predominately Kurdish regions, they have excellent oil resources and their province is relatively very quiet and peaceful. They are almost totally independent of Iraq - except that the Kurdish province is in the new country of Iraq.

Despite their autonomy in Iraq, the Kurds still want an independent country. Turkey disagrees.

Micah@micahHalpern.com

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Safe Zone in Syria

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has a plan to save innocent victims in Syria.

His idea is to create a "safe zone."

Sarkozy proposes to designate a section of Syria, including the city Homs, an area where the Syrian army may not go and may not fly over. Sarkozy suggests that the area be large enough to sustain 5.5 million people.

No foreign troops would be needed according to this plan. The entire area would be patrolled and protected from the air. Food and medical aid would be dropped down to those in need.

US President Obama rejected the idea. Without the United States this cannot happen, no local or other air force can handle the plan without the help of the US Air Force.

The idea was rejected because the United States is not convinced that Syria would respect the space- ground and air and is uncertain as to whether the area would turn into a battleground.

More significantly, the United States does not know if the Russians would simply stand by watching what happens or if they would come to the defense of Syria. A Russian aircraft carrier has been deployed in Tartus, Syria for this very possible eventuality.

The French are disappointed but honestly, Washington made the correct decision.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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222 Rockets Later

By Micah Halpern
I've Been Thinking:
After four days of a constant barrage of missiles from Gaza into Israel, there is finally a lull. Israel says that they will "answer quiet with quiet."
222 rockets were shot from Gaza into Israel. 56 rockets, about 25%, were intercepted by the Iron Dome anti rocket battery system.
Israel struck Gaza 37 times. Israel acknowledges 26 Palestinian deaths, fourteen of them members of the same Islamic Jihad cell, four of them civilian Palestinians.
In a stroke of unbelievable wonderment, the Palestinians also assert that four civilian Palestinians were killed. Never have the two sides agreed on casualties.

During the four days of bombardment over a million Israelis were in range of the rockets. 200,000 school children were kept out of school.

In Israel there were 40 casualties, two, both foreign workers, sustained serious injuries. Most of the injuries are a result of broken glass, and shock.

The situation is bad. Thankfully, it isn't worse.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Saudis Angry At Obama

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Saudi Arabia is really ticked off at the United States because of two huge policy decisions. So Saudi leadership wants to make President Obama pay at the gas pump - and higher gas prices may just be the kiss of death for Obama's re-election campaign.

The current US policy of advancing talks with Iran is seen by the Saudis as just giving the Iranians more time to enrich their uranium and develop their nuclear weapons. The Saudis also feel that the US policy to wait and watch in Syria is destructive to the region. Saudi Arabia wants to oust Assad of Syria as a message to Iran.

Their frustration with the United States is so intense that it may even drive the Saudis into a defense and intelligence alliance with Israel.

The Saudis believe that the US must stop Iran. If the US is unwilling, they will do it together with other players in the region. And that might be very upsetting to the United States.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Israel Will Hit Gaza with Force

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

After several days of rocket fire from Gaza Benny Gantz, the Israel chief of staff, made a comment that was somewhat surprising.

Gantz said that Israel would continue to respond to the rocket fire with "force and sensitivity."

What a poor choice of words. So many expressions could have been used - but to say sensitivity?

He could have said "with force and surgical precision." He could have said "responsibly." He could have used the international league term "commensurate force" or said "proportional response."

He could have coupled the term force with "wise" or "justifiable."

But sensitive? That is not what the IDF should be when it comes to Gaza and the indiscriminate shooting of rockets into Israel.

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More Rockets From Gaza

by Micah Halpern
I've Been Thinking:

Since Friday night more than 120 rockets have been launched from Gaza into Israel.

Over 20% of those rockets have been intercepted by the Iron Dome, Israel's anti rocket battery. And more Iron Domes are being deployed in order to continue to effectively intercept rockets.

Israel is striking at the terrorists in Gaza responsible for shooting these rockets. Israel is also targeting their arms depots. But it is still nearly impossible to prevent the rocket launchings.

Some of these rockets are 3 feet long. One video now on the web shows how the rocket was propped up against a large stone and then shot at Israel.

The Palestinian Resistance Committees has given a green light to all their people to fire at Israeli at will - that directive comes in response to Israel's targeting on Friday of their leader, al Qaisi.

If there is a silver lining in all this it is that the Israelis are now smarter about what Gaza is capable of sending their way. And they now have a true test of the effectiveness of the Iron Dome should they need to use it in the event of an Iranian attack.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Dozens of Rockets Hit Israel

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Last night Israel was hit by a barrage of rocket attacks fired from Gaza.

Of the tens of rockets that were launched into southern Israel at least 7 were intercepted. 4 Israelis were hurt, 1 critically.

Earlier in the day Israel successfully struck at and hit the man known as the General Secretary - the commander of the Palestinian Resistance Committees (PRC), Zuhir al Qaisi. Israel asserts that striking al Qaisi was a preemptive strike which helped to avert a serious terror attack which was about to go into motion.

The barrage of rockets launched on Friday night was clearly a response to Israel's strike. The PRC military wing, the Nasar Saha a Din Brigades, made it clear that it was they who sent out an order to fire and launch rockets at Israel.

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Russia Says 15,000 Al Qaeda in Syria

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

A Russia ambassador to the UN in Geneva came out with a very important statement about Syria yesterday.

He said that 15,000 foreign al Qaeda terrorists are in Syria fighting against Assad and his regime.

If correct, it highlights some interesting and essential points.

Few Syrians themselves are fighting against Assad. That would mean that these al Qaeda imports are trained and have an entirely different vision for Syria than the protestors.

Russia is an ardent supporter of the Assad regime. But that having been said, Russia is also trying to stop the killing and the Russians have serious resources in the region.

15,000 might be an exaggeration but half of that - 7,500, is a more realistic number.

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Iran Uses Neutron Trigger

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Three diplomats from the UN body responsible for monitoring nuclear development in Iran have anonymously asserted that Iran is cleaning up an area that is probably the site of a nuclear weapons experiment.

On Wednesday satellite photos were made public and the diplomats spoke to AP who reported their finding.

The location where the clean up is taking place is called Parchan. This is one of the sites that IAEA monitors wanted to visit during their last trip to Iran and were denied entry.

The assertion is that a neutron trigger was used in an experiment.

According to everyone in the nuclear world who studies this, there is only one use for a neutron trigger - activating a nuclear weapon. Its official name is an initiator and an initiator is what is needed to trigger the fission chain reaction of a nuclear weapon.

This is not news in the nuclear discussion world. People have been discussing Iran’s neutron triggers since 2007 and believe Iran had one as early as 2008.

The good news is that the polonium is very difficult to clean up and observers should be able to see what is happening in Iran.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Israel Does Not Understand Obama

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

It is now a day or so after the summit between Obama and Netanyahu. Now real critique is beginning to emerge.

The Israelis are baffled at how immature the Americans are. One of the chief concerns expressed by Obama is the rising cost of oil and the impact that will have on the gas pump.

In other words, a volatile Middle east means high priced gas at the neighborhood pump.

The Israelis were nearly speechless. How do you even respond? The United States is thinking about the comfort of their citizens, about their wallets. Israel is worried about the lives and deaths of Israeli citizens.

This little example shows just how large the chasm is between the countries, their leaders and their respective points of view.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com

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Bibi & Obama Meet

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Both President Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the AIPAC Conference. Both gave similarly themed speeches. And on Monday they met in the Oval Office.

There seems to be an no disagreement in DC, on the Hill or in the White House. There seems to be wall to wall consensus on Israel’s right to defend itself from Iran. There is even an understanding that Iran is a real threat and that the Iranian goal is to develop nuclear weapons.

So, I ask, where and why do the tension and the conflict come from?

It is all a matter of style, of honor, of pride. Both the prime minister's office and the White House feel that they were insulted by the other - not during this trip and the insults are too insignificant to even mention at this point, but never the less, those perceived insults linger and they alter the tenure of the relationship between the leader of Israel and the leader of the United States of America.

This meeting in the oval office between Netanyahu and Obama was described as somber and professional - hardly a meeting of old friends. But honestly, I prefer somber and professional to the childish and immature behavior which characterizes previous meetings between these two men who should, by all rights, have become friends.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Israeli Drones Over Syria

By Micah Halpern
I've Been Thinking:

Al Hayat has reported that the Hamas military base in Damascus is closed.

And the large and respected Arabic paper called Asharq al Awsat quotes Turkish sources saying that Israeli drones are flying in Syria. The paper speculates about why.

The best explanation is that the Russians are using the drones and launching them from their carrier group outside the port of Tarsus. The drones are remote control and Russia has purchased a significant number of them.

The drones would be of great use to the Assad regime enabling real time intelligence on movements and communication.

The paper suggested that that Israel was aiding the Assad regime.

There is nothing further from the realm of possible than that statement.

This is a major lesson in understanding and interpreting Arabic news sources and analysis. To even think that Israel would be helping Assad or that Assad would accept assistance from Israel is theatre of the absurd. To print and publish it in twelve different Arabic countries is way beyond absurd.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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China Asks Syria to Stop

By Micah Halpern
I've Been Thinking:

The situation in Syrian situation continues.

According to reliable reports several hundred Syrians have crossed the border into Lebanon to seek refuge and safety.

And the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement today published in Xinhau news, saying: "The Syrian government and all parties concerned should immediately, fully and unconditionally cease all acts of violence, particularly violence against innocent civilians."

Yes, the Chinese voted against international action in the Security Council and, yes, now they have issued this statement.

China wants to end the violence and protect civilians, but they do not want international intervention in Syria. They want to make certain that what is happening in Libya does not happen in Syria.

And the Chinese certainly do not want to open the door for the Security Council to interfere in any internal issues - even involving the gross violations of human rights.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Iran General Visits Lebanon

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Friday al Arabiya TV reported that Kasam Slimani, the Iranian head of the Al Quds Brigade of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, has just made a secret visit to Lebanon to speak with Hezbollah leaders.

The Al Quds Brigade is a highly elite section of the Revolutionary Guard. They are charged with special strikes and attacks.

According to al Arabiya the purpose of the visit was to coordinate and assess actions and reaction to an attack on Iran.

Iran probably made it known to Hezbollah that in the event of an attack by Israel they must respond by firing rockets and missiles into Israel. This would force Israel to spread its defense shield very thin in order to both protect from Lebanon on the north and Iran from the east.

Everyone, it seems, is making plans.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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Hamas Terorrist Gets TV Show

By Micah Halpern
I've Been Thinking:

It is a diplomatic nightmare. One of the terrorists freed in the Gilad Shalit exchange deal was deported to Jordan where she now hosts a weekly TV show about prisoners and about the former prisoners who were released along with her.

Ahlam Timimi was convicted and sentenced to 16 life terms for 15 counts of murder. It was she who drove the suicide bomber to Jerusalem on August 6, 2001 who then blew up the Sbarro restaurant. 15 people were killed and 130 were wounded.

At the time Timimi was a 20 year old university student and part time journalist. She dressed herself up as a Jewish tourist to successfully shuttle the terrorist to his target. Today she is a TV star on Hamas al Quds satellite TV out of Jordan.

After her release from prison she said that she had no regrets about her role in the terror attack.

The over arching theme of the show is to attack Israel and to kidnap soldiers. One of the guests on the show was Salah Arouri who was deeply involved in the Shalit deal. Arrouri says that the only way to impact Israel is through resistance. Resistance is code for terror. He says that kidnapping soldiers helps bring the Zionists to their knees.

It remains to be seen of the Jordanian will exert their power and shut down the show. Or will they turn a blind eye and let Ahlam Timimi continue on her mission.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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7 Americans Leave Egypt

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

An Egyptian judge lifted a travel ban on 7 of the 16 Americans who have been charged with numerous crimes including receiving external money to foment anti-government politics.

A charter plane waited to whisk the Americans out of Egypt and far from the grasp of anyone deciding to overturn the decision.

Included in the group of seven was Sam LaHood, son of Ray LaHood the current Secretary of Transportation in the Obama Administration.

The decision on Sunday to adjourn the trial until June and now this decision to release some of the prisoners should be taken as hopeful signs for the remaining Americans.

Unfortunately, it does not bode well for those 27 Egyptians who were employed by the American NGOs and are still being held prisoner.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com
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