Divining the News

Not Mainstream News

Assad belittles Washington

Posted by morris108 on June 5, 2008

Q. What is your assessment of the impact of US negative statements on Syria?

Asad: In the early days of such statements people used to base their decisions on them, either politically or even economically. Now, the US administration has lost all credibility and is viewed as illogical.

The US weapons are not that effective on the political terrain. We keep explaining to unofficial US visitors this lack of credibility problem in the region. John F. Kennedy in the sixties sent a delegation to the French president with an envelope including photos of Russian nuclear missiles in Cuba. The French president refused to see the photos and said that the credibility of the US president is enough for him to make a decision accordingly. The current impact of these negative statements is non-existent. On the contrary in 2000 the [economic] growth rate in Syria was almost 0 percent. It increased to more than 6 percent today despite these statements.

http://joshualandis.com/blog/?p=735
Where there is more of the interview.

Posted in Middle East, Syria, economy, hegemony | Tagged: , , , | No Comments »

Summary of last 7 days posts

Posted by morris108 on May 27, 2008

The power of religion is rarely discussed openly, save for gossipy comments of the wealth of the Vatican. Or the wealth of the British throne which is head of the Church of England. Or looking at pictures of Presidents and Prime Ministers with Rabbis. Clearly there is a power there, so any insight into how they think would be useful. What follows is an excerpt of a review of just what life and death meant in the Bible times.
When business, politics, private life are all rolled into one. Then we have judge jury and prosecutor all rolled into one. When power revolves around a knowledge of people’s private lives, then that is authoritarian. If it is highly effective, then we must ask: ‘what has gone wrong?’. (see post for more)
You are blessed with being quick on your feet. When everything is changing, you can alter course in a ‘concerted’ way. Now is the time. Hush hush and damage limitation will no longer work. When the tide is changing due to an unforeseen enemy (the internet). (see post for more)
After Bush leaves office there will be a clamour for prosecuting him & his colleagues for war crimes. Also the US will be in the midst of a recession and there will be a cry for justice there.
Olmert says only those hallucinating can think of keeping post 67 territories. (Haaretz later changed the word hallucinating to delusional) It seems everything is up for grabs. (see post for more)
wattsupwiththat.wordpress.com Picture of the day 9/11
“I propose leasing the Golan from the Syrians for 25 years. If they are serious about peace they have nothing to lose,” Israeli interior minister Meir Sheetrit said on Sunday” Maybe he should be put on the front line. see post for more
The people with the real power keep themselves well out of sight. And until you speak nicely about them, you are watched 24 hours a day. Essentially framed to be involved in some form of criminal or perverse activity everyday.
Now we find ourselves in a consesus of doom. Everyone is anticipating an end to the era we are in. Those in power might fret about calls for justice, but they are still in power, every minute of every day right now. The whole shabang is creeking, weather, resourses and wars. Increasingly debates on internet forums focus on the Industrialists, on the multinationals. The speculators (read: financiers) are singled out as responsible for rising food and oil costs. Well none of the above are going to relinquish…
see post for picture and text
http://www.naturalnews.com/023274.html Depleted Uranium Shells Used by U.S. Military Worse Than Nuclear Weapons Tuesday, May 20, 2008 by: David Gutierrez Since the first Gulf War, the rate of birth defects and childhood cancer in Iraq has increased by seven times. More than 35 percent (251,000) of U.S. Gulf War veterans are dead or on permanent medical disability, compared with [...]
Israel couldn’t leave settlers in Golan in a peace agreement. They would report back that living under Arab rule has its advantages. This would be anathema to the Israeli establishment. For this reason any withdrawal will be staged over years, and generous compensation will be given. Any settlers allowed to remain would be cherry picked for [...]
The free west, sex for sale, drugs for sale, money is the religion. And everyone can be made to play the game, very simply, by honing in on a person’s weakness or prejudice. It is possible to drive a person crazy. After all when money is the only legal tender, anything goes. All under the illusion of being liberal.
Maybe being a Doctor, apart from an obvious desire to help others, also gives one the self confidence to oppose the mediocre mainstream, to be a pioneer.
nderstanding the magnificent rewards of a free society makes us unbashful in its promotion, fully realizing that maximum wealth is created and the greatest chance for peace comes from a society respectful of individual liberty. ” [ ... ]
Western sovereign funds needed. Even if the oil industry were nationalised. The state could continue to invest overseas. No country refuses this, not Burma nor Iran. With a nationalised oil industry, there would be less calls for war, we wouldn’t be dependent so much on the vanity of private shareholders. The wealth would come to the Government. And the western Governments could operate their sovereign funds, just like the Sheiks do.
We have a dissident, he is concerned about the Palestinians. He says not in his name. Where does he live? And who are his family? Where does his family work? (see post for more)
Jamie Spector, 32, a social worker with the San Francisco Unified School District, has been held in detention at Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv since she landed Saturday Kate Raphael Bender was arrested Dec. 14 during a protest against Israel’s controversial security barrier at the village of Bil’in, near Ramallah in the West Bank. She has spent the last month in a detention center awaiting a hearing and preparing her appeal against deportation. (see post for more)
No matter what happens from now on, the Israeli character has been established. Whether the diaspora supports it or not, whether Israel loses allies or not.
Finkelstein is known as one of the most prominent academic critics of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
It seems we are in a time of vacuum and inertia. No real direction. But a good sprinkling of fear and erosion of rights.
We will fizzle from corruption, and then lose the values we are proud of like womens rights, and a host of other western freedoms. As we all know, the gap between rich and poor is getting bigger and bigger.
Judaism without political and economic power must be amazing. Now we are at the zenith of Judaic power, I just wonder if Jews themselves are feeling a divide, as if they are not a part of the ruling elite. And that decisions being taken are not in their best interests.A feeling that a secretive group of people would happily dupe another Jew into a false sense of identity, by appealing to a base nationalistic instinct. There is a human craving ‘to belong’. Maybe it needs to be recognised as exactly…
Food quiz: 10 questions (and answers) …
And I have also been thinking our capitalist system seems and feels Jewish, then I discovered Marx had written an essay ‘on the Jewish question’, what follows are two extracts, the first from an Israeli website, the second extract from Wikipedia. Do the extracts relate to capitalism? At least a little they do.
Frankly it means no world war. As long as there was an alliance between the Anglo Saxons: The US, Australia, the UK. It meant war after war. The relics of the Bush administration as in Condi Rice still bemoan when peaceful agreements are reached, like the one in Lebanon now. Unfortunately, the Israelis think only the right can make peace, So all eyes are on a successor to Olmert, and people will think the Likud types are the answer.They say Begin made the peace with Egypt, well Avnery points out Egypt had…
New York Times May 7, 1920, p. 11
Vanunu got sentenced to solitary confinement. I have read there are noticeable effects on his speech and behaviour from all the time he spent incarcerated alone. Also I think I read he is going to be able to go to Norway. Well anyway the point of this post is with modern surveillance it is not always necessary [...]
Would Israel be clever enough to take a diminished Middle East role? To be just another small nation in the Middle East. Or will it accept nothing less than an economic hegemony. Trade is the cement for peace agreements, we all know Israel would like oil flowing from Iraq. In the Camp David agreements with Egypt, Israel secured guarantees for Egyptian oil.
Being undesirable: Having undesirable politics, leads to being watched 24 hours a day, and any and all relationships broken and corrupted. The local police are always available to join in. The human is a social animal. So ultimately the victim obligingly enters into conversation with whomever is receptive. However this receptive third party is surely involved in some underhand activities, or is known for some form of perversion. It is not for nothing that dark times … (more in post)

This summary created using
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Posted in Bush, Divining the News feeds, Hamas, Iraq, Jews, Middle East, Palestine, Peak Oil, Syria, Zionism, activism, economy, israel, news, religion, war | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Israeli minister offers to lease Golan: Presstv

Posted by morris108 on May 26, 2008

Israel can lease Golan from Syria’
Sun, 25 May 2008 18:58:42

“I propose leasing the Golan from the Syrians for 25 years. If they are serious about peace they have nothing to lose,” Israeli interior minister Meir Sheetrit said on Sunday”

www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=57304&sectionid=351020202

If this is for domestic consumption, then allow us to dismiss the comment. Assign the statement to the general dumbing down of society, just to reinforce the contempt that leadership shows for its citizens.
If on the other hand the statement is designed to enhance the peace negotiations. Then we must enquire about his IQ, and from where did he develop such arrogance.
Maybe he should be put on the front line. He can treat his own with contempt, but to imagine the Arabs or anyone else to take this seriously is a mistake. Bombs away is what this statement brings, another missile placed at the Israeli population, that’s all Mr Interior Minister got today.

Posted in Middle East, israel | Tagged: , , , | 1 Comment »

Israel couldn’t leave settlers in Golan in a peace agreement.

Posted by morris108 on May 25, 2008

Israel couldn’t leave settlers in Golan in a peace agreement.

They would report back that living under Arab rule has its advantages. This would be anathema to the Israeli establishment. For this reason any withdrawal will be staged over years, and generous compensation will be given. Any settlers allowed to remain would be cherry picked for their loyalty.

After all the notion of freely intermingling is not part of the current Israeli psyche. Anyone doing so, needs to be on a mission for the government. So deep is the embedded racism.

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Golan Heights to go back to Syria from Israel

Posted by morris108 on May 21, 2008

Syria to get the Golan heights back? Here are some snippets of articles all saying the same thing.

It wouldn’t be wise to make a bet either way. Assuming everything stays the same, perhaps it is possible. What could change a plan for peace? Gaza or Lebanon flaring up would change things. Syria has also stated a just solution to the Palestinian issue is necessary.

So it is looking like all or nothing. A comprehensive peace with all of Israel’s enemies or none. Iran is too clever to be left out, and is clever enough to take a diminished role as well. Its strength is anyway growing in Iraq.

Another issue which could upset the apple cart. That is; unrest in the US. sods law could prevail, feeling like an attack from behind, the American people tire of rising prices, the diminishing dollar and civil rights.

Then the US crumbles as a Middle East power.

Would Israel be clever enough to take a diminished Middle East role?

To be just another small nation in the Middle East.

Or will it accept nothing less than an economic hegemony.

Trade is the cement for peace agreements, Israel would like oil flowing from Iraq. In the Camp David agreements with Egypt, Israel secured guarantees for Egyptian oil.

Water is the most important issue of all and Syria and Lebanon have more water than Israel. Perhaps Israel will insist on water?

Following the whole thought process through leaves me wondering about the settlements, they are the issue that leave a good or bad taste, after the signing.

It would seem that US policy is acting in tandem with Israeli policy (surprise surprise):

Re Syria’s policy to the US…


Posted in Middle East, Palestine, Syria, iran, israel, lebanon | Tagged: , , , , , , | No Comments »

Will Israel let Syria go in Lebanon?

Posted by morris108 on May 8, 2008

Will Israel let Syria go in Lebanon?

And in Israel, they say they do not want a war. Yet they don’t speak out about the Iraqi conquest. The two are totally connected. The power behind the continuation of the conquest, is the same power that would be happy if there is a civil war in Lebanon, that would be happy if Syria intervened, and would then be happy to attack Syria.
The military and Oil industries depend upon conflict.
If Iran were to assist Syria in such a conflict, then certainly the US will attack Iran. This must all be common knowledge to the intelligence communities on all sides.
Would anyone assist Iran? Unlikely, but the candidates are Pakistan, Russia, China and least likely Turkey.
Syria’s best hope would be having sophisticated missiles from Iran. And thereby disabling the Israeli airfields.
Hassan Nasrallah is giving a speech now. Everyone will be listening. The likelihood of a conflict in Lebanon is increasingly likely. And it is unlikely not to spread.
To stop an Israeli Syrian war, it is necessary to oppose, Bush, Rice and all NeoCons, it is necessary to oppose the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Peace with Syria?

Posted by morris108 on April 29, 2008

In israel, Syria is famous for never having fired a shot across its border since the 1973 war.
For the Israeli establishment to believe that Syria could retake the Golan and maintain a ceasefire is no doubt understood.
But the israelis also want servitude: Cheap labour like in Jordan factories.
Military subservience like how Egypt keeps the Gaza border sealed.
And the free flow of capital.
Perhaps a free trade agreement.
And Israel has clearly stated it wants Syria to severe its links with Iran and Hezbollah.
So we can expect a war.
Jordan has a small population, so it seems unable to be independent, it has even been pressed to pass laws offering US servicemen immunity from prosecution.
Egypt by ALL predictions is likely to have major social upheavals, in no small measure due to the price of food.
Syria manufactures missiles with Iran. It is pretty large. It’s hard to understand how it could be defeated militarily.
Given that the population could endure more pain than the Israelis.
No doubt the rights of Israeli settlers on the Golan feature as an issue.
Why doesn’t Israel just settle for the free movement of people and nothing else.
A peace with a bitter taste is not a peace.
In a war would Israel use banned weapons? Would the world do anything?

The role and capability of the Russian military base in Syria is not much publicised.

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When is a war a war ?

Posted by morris108 on April 10, 2008

For weeks there has been killings in the Gaza strip. Every other day or every day. Sometimes also inside Israel. Yesterday I think it was two Israelis killed and nine Palestinians. These are generally summarised as ‘incidents’.
Clearly there reaches a point of escalation, where it is no longer incidents.
It would be hard to imagine the Gaza conflict ever being more than a conflict, even with an invasion by Israel, the Gazan response would still be asymetrical, rather than two armies facing each other.
Although the unity between Hamas and other Arab forces is probably higher than ever. Then we could expect Hezbollah and possibly Syrian involvement. Then there is a war.
While Israel has attacked Lebanon about three times including 1982. It was nevertheless Israel invading. Israel has not been Invaded, although the Arabs tried in 73, but even that onslaught was on occupied territories.
The prospects for a war are pretty high now.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Hezbollah’s web site

Posted by morris108 on April 4, 2008

It is surprising how unantagonistic Hizbollah’s web site is.
It is just observing and reporting news issues related to Hizbollah. But without any rallying calls that we would expect from a terrorist group.
Some years ago there was pressure to have it’s TV channel, one of the most popular television networks in the Arabic-speaking world banned in the West, And it was removed from Eutelsat.
One story it has today, is also available all over the web. Israel Changes Tone Concerning Military Escalation
Although the same story is all over the web, it does not make sense, Would Israel consider a land invasion through Lebanon, after the 2006 experience? Would Syria expose thousands of troops to Israeli air power? It makes more sense that it is a show of force towards the part of Lebanon’s Christian community and their allies, who are viewed as proxies (and perhaps patsies) of the Imperial west.

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