June 17, 2010
Give Me a Break
This has to be one of the biggest wastes of time I've ever heard of.
The State Department's two leading Twitterati, Special Advisor on Innovation Alec J. Ross (@alecjross) and Policy Planning staffer Jared Cohen (@jaredcohen), are in Syria this week leading a delegation of tech companies hoping to, as the Wall Street Journal's Jay Solomon puts it, "woo President Bashar al-Assad away from his strategic alliance with Iran" with offers of networking equipment, computer software, and the like.
Posted by Michael J. Totten at June 17, 2010 2:39 AM
Comments
lol
Posted by: Ali at June 17, 2010 3:13 am
MJT, have you met Alec Ross? He is a charismatic techie wiz kid. Dead serious. Alec oozes creative silicon valley start up. Kudos to State for hiring him.
President Bashar will want to see and talk to him, and then invite Alec to keep returning to see him. Alec is a brilliant guy and makes for fascinating conversation.
What practical affect this has on Bashar's relationship with Khamenei and the IRGC Kuds force is another matter.
Posted by: anan at June 17, 2010 3:26 am
President Bashar will want to see and talk to him, and then invite Alec to keep returning to see him. Alec is a brilliant guy and makes for fascinating conversation.
What practical affect this has on Bashar's relationship with Khamenei and the IRGC Kuds force is another matter.
... There are no words.
Posted by: Nate at June 17, 2010 3:26 am
Wow. We are officially governed by complete morons. Well, that's reassuring!
Posted by: Kyle at June 17, 2010 3:53 am
This is for real???? They're going to send geeks to dictators to change the world?
Hell, the State Dept. can try whatever it wants - who knows something might actually have some impact (though I would say so does demonstrating massive naiveté to your enemies.) But why would "a delegation of tech companies" waste their time?
So our people are wooed by the brilliance of their own government, but the world is laughing at it. To say I've compared the Obama administration to the Carter administration is becoming an insult to the Carter administration.
Posted by: Akiva at June 17, 2010 3:56 am
Hell, the State Dept. can try whatever it wants - who knows something might actually have some impact (though I would say so does demonstrating massive naiveté to your enemies.) But why would "a delegation of tech companies" waste their time?
So our people are wooed by the brilliance of their own government, but the world is laughing at it. To say I've compared the Obama administration to the Carter administration is becoming an insult to the Carter administration.
1930's, Nazi Germany, IBM - are any bells ringing out there? There should be. -S-
Posted by: DrShalit at June 17, 2010 4:05 am
great idea. just give Bashar an iPad. That should do it.
Posted by: Cranky at June 17, 2010 4:23 am
This has absolutely nothing to do with any hope of engaging Syria and/or Iran (and now Turkey)---and everything to do with the Obama administration's policy of further isolating Israel, of hanging Israel out to dry until....
The stealth mechanism works like this:
1. Claim that unlike the previous administration (influenced and under the thumb of the "Israel Lobby"), Obama will reach out, will engage, will talk to, will bargain with (in spite of the "Israel Lobby") to demonstrate that the era of the "(Zionist) tail wagging the (American) dog" is OVER. This is why the Obama administration must continue to reach out again and again.
2. In so doing, make it appear that Obama is doing something ultra-reasonable (after all, who in their right mind could oppose the idea of reaching out?), something that promotes peace instead of war (unlike those Zionist-inspired Neocons), or at least that promotes the chance of an elusive peace, that ends conflict and brings stability to a benighted region.
3. And in so doing, make it appear that Israel, by not reaching out, by objecting to such reaching out, by insisting on its security and self defense---and Israel's supporters, by questioning the wisdom and efficacy of Obama's policy of reaching out (even if, surely, it is not only Israel supporters that are questioning, or if so, that are not questioning solely because of their support for Israel)---that they are THE obstacles to Obama's oh-so-reasonable and oh-so-noble (not to mention oh-so-"realist" and oh-so-patriotic) foreign policy. The point, therefore, is to make it appear beyond the shadow of a doubt that Israel and the "Israel Lobby"---rather than Iran/Syria/Hezbullah/Hamas/the PA, and now Turkey---are the ones undermining not only the possibility of regional peace, but Obama's foreign policy, and ultimately, Obama personally.
Thus Israel---and those who support its right to exist---are being set up by a US administration that long ago decided it was no longer an ally of Israel; an adminstration whose actions---and inactions---speak far louder than the sweet talk and predictable reassurances. Those who continue to speak of "US" and "Israel" and "ally" in the same breath, in the same sentence, are, alas, deluding themselves (even if understandably so).
With the Obama presidency on a clear path to self-destruction, with the administration in meltdown and with the Democratic Party just a few months away from obliteration (with further obliteration down the road), Obama's animus towards the Jewish State is all that remains to salvage his standing, at least with those who share the increasingly global view of Israel as international pariah.
One should expect that he will attempt to exploit this convergence and this opprtunity to the max.
It is a strategy as vile as it is clever, and with potentially devastating ramifications. (But for whom?...)
(Might one say that it is a most fitting legacy for the winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace?)
Posted by: Barry Meislin at June 17, 2010 4:54 am
The stealth mechanism works like this:
1. Claim that unlike the previous administration (influenced and under the thumb of the "Israel Lobby"), Obama will reach out, will engage, will talk to, will bargain with (in spite of the "Israel Lobby") to demonstrate that the era of the "(Zionist) tail wagging the (American) dog" is OVER. This is why the Obama administration must continue to reach out again and again.
2. In so doing, make it appear that Obama is doing something ultra-reasonable (after all, who in their right mind could oppose the idea of reaching out?), something that promotes peace instead of war (unlike those Zionist-inspired Neocons), or at least that promotes the chance of an elusive peace, that ends conflict and brings stability to a benighted region.
3. And in so doing, make it appear that Israel, by not reaching out, by objecting to such reaching out, by insisting on its security and self defense---and Israel's supporters, by questioning the wisdom and efficacy of Obama's policy of reaching out (even if, surely, it is not only Israel supporters that are questioning, or if so, that are not questioning solely because of their support for Israel)---that they are THE obstacles to Obama's oh-so-reasonable and oh-so-noble (not to mention oh-so-"realist" and oh-so-patriotic) foreign policy. The point, therefore, is to make it appear beyond the shadow of a doubt that Israel and the "Israel Lobby"---rather than Iran/Syria/Hezbullah/Hamas/the PA, and now Turkey---are the ones undermining not only the possibility of regional peace, but Obama's foreign policy, and ultimately, Obama personally.
Thus Israel---and those who support its right to exist---are being set up by a US administration that long ago decided it was no longer an ally of Israel; an adminstration whose actions---and inactions---speak far louder than the sweet talk and predictable reassurances. Those who continue to speak of "US" and "Israel" and "ally" in the same breath, in the same sentence, are, alas, deluding themselves (even if understandably so).
With the Obama presidency on a clear path to self-destruction, with the administration in meltdown and with the Democratic Party just a few months away from obliteration (with further obliteration down the road), Obama's animus towards the Jewish State is all that remains to salvage his standing, at least with those who share the increasingly global view of Israel as international pariah.
One should expect that he will attempt to exploit this convergence and this opprtunity to the max.
It is a strategy as vile as it is clever, and with potentially devastating ramifications. (But for whom?...)
(Might one say that it is a most fitting legacy for the winner of the Nobel Prize for Peace?)
This reminds me of the first Die Hard movie, where a corporate spin-meister thought he could negotiate with the terrorists. When he started his spin on how this was no different that a hostile takeover with a poison pill, there was a look of bafflement on the bad guys faces.
That's the same look that Bashar will have when these folks arrive: what *are* these people talking about.
Of course, in the movie, there was evolution in action: the spin-meister is killed. Were that the real world were to be so straight-forward...
Posted by: John F. Opie at June 17, 2010 5:00 am
That's the same look that Bashar will have when these folks arrive: what *are* these people talking about.
Of course, in the movie, there was evolution in action: the spin-meister is killed. Were that the real world were to be so straight-forward...
There was a lot of debate about this before tech leaders went to Syria. Dell even went too. Assad knew of American objection to this move but what did Assad do?
"Meanwhile, Syria's leader says Israel's deadly raid last month on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla has destroyed any chance for peace in the near future. President Bashar Assad tells the BBC the raid has raised the risk of war in the region."
Get these guys out of Syria now. I will be forced to add more than IKEA to my banned list of goods.
http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/syrias-president-bashar-al-assad-israels-flotilla-raid-ups-chances-of-mideast-war/19519860
Syria once again as made the US look foolish and revealed the extent they are enemies to peace...
Posted by: Maxttrue at June 17, 2010 5:35 am
"Meanwhile, Syria's leader says Israel's deadly raid last month on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla has destroyed any chance for peace in the near future. President Bashar Assad tells the BBC the raid has raised the risk of war in the region."
Get these guys out of Syria now. I will be forced to add more than IKEA to my banned list of goods.
http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/syrias-president-bashar-al-assad-israels-flotilla-raid-ups-chances-of-mideast-war/19519860
Syria once again as made the US look foolish and revealed the extent they are enemies to peace...
Anan, you do understand that with the exception of occasional trolls, Kossaks and loonies, your comments are regarded by all as idiotic, disingenuous bullshit. The only reason I can think of for your consistently stupid remarks is an inept attempt as a self-appointed spokesperson for the Dark Side.
Posted by: Maxttrue at June 17, 2010 5:49 am
Interesting article. I would have liked the General to talk more about Syrian collusion with Iran and Hizb'Allah. He stays away from Turkey and Lebanon and of course the missed opportunity was in 2000, before 9/11 and a deeper understanding of the game the "axis" is playing. Much of the story feel on Clinton's watch...
http://coteret.com/2010/06/17/uri-saguy-tells-all-ctd-provides-an-insiders-account-of-baraks-missed-opportunity-with-syria-in-2000/
Posted by: Maxttrue at June 17, 2010 6:07 am
http://coteret.com/2010/06/17/uri-saguy-tells-all-ctd-provides-an-insiders-account-of-baraks-missed-opportunity-with-syria-in-2000/
Naïve as children.
Posted by: Simon at June 17, 2010 7:00 am
great idea. just give Bashar an iPad. That should do it.
They can call it the iBaath.
Posted by: Li'l Mamzer at June 17, 2010 7:16 am
They can call it the iBaath.
Michael,
With all that FMLN blow and plenty of Iraqi white-slave hookers, how can you say this trip to Syria is going to be a waste of time for the high-tech twitterati? You can't get that kind of adventure in DC anymore, and nobody but the Ba'ath party is going to have incriminating evidence.
Once again you're just not looking at the important things for academics turned power-brokers. There are just some things you can't get undergrads to do, and the Syrian Ba'ath party is glad to get the daughters of their Iraqi Ba'ath party brothers to "help the revolution".
Posted by: Patrick S Lasswell at June 17, 2010 7:24 am
With all that FMLN blow and plenty of Iraqi white-slave hookers, how can you say this trip to Syria is going to be a waste of time for the high-tech twitterati? You can't get that kind of adventure in DC anymore, and nobody but the Ba'ath party is going to have incriminating evidence.
Once again you're just not looking at the important things for academics turned power-brokers. There are just some things you can't get undergrads to do, and the Syrian Ba'ath party is glad to get the daughters of their Iraqi Ba'ath party brothers to "help the revolution".
Just to be clear, this is the side standing opposite Michael: http://www.counterpunch.org/hassen06172010.html
Twitterati? Great term Patrick, di you coin that? Note that Assad says he won't block twitter.....
I can see why.
Posted by: Maxtrue at June 17, 2010 8:07 am
Twitterati? Great term Patrick, di you coin that? Note that Assad says he won't block twitter.....
I can see why.
Michael. a few my posts did not appear including a rebuttal of sorts for glosnost. Was there something wrong with the comments or did they just get missed in the "holding process"?
I see the post above went through with no problem.
Posted by: Maxtrue at June 17, 2010 8:09 am
I see the post above went through with no problem.
are they taking a reset button with them?
Posted by: john from cinncinatti at June 17, 2010 8:33 am
If Alec Ross is the techie whiz kid anan(d) claims, then one need only point out his folly with the following words:
"Imagine a Beowulf cluster of these..."
The fact that he hasn't thought of that himself, does not speak well of him or his bosses.
Posted by: gus3 at June 17, 2010 8:45 am
"Imagine a Beowulf cluster of these..."
The fact that he hasn't thought of that himself, does not speak well of him or his bosses.
Well, if Hamas or Hezbollah start another battle with Israel, I really do hope the Israelis take out Assad and occupy Damascus ... until a Peace Agreement is signed by some Syrian gov't -- puppet or otherwise.
But I know this is just another pleasant nightmare among the many I keep having about Tel Aviv being nuked. Yeah, please, give Assad an iPad, an iPhone, and lots of iPorn or whatever digital vices he wants. (Maybe he'll declare war against evil Western imperialist copyrights, and create Syrian servers that offer free, downloadable copies of everything digital, better than pirate bay? Nah...)
I did see a note somewhere about Obama's logic in talking to the tough, evil guys making more sense than talking to wimpy not-so-evil guys. The evil guys will be more likely to have influence and power to make a deal, so if you do want to get a deal done, talking to them makes some sense.
But I think @Barry M. analysis of Obama wanting to delegitimize Israel is most likely, tho in their own rationalizations it is likely seen as "constructive criticism".
Posted by: Tom Grey at June 17, 2010 9:18 am
But I know this is just another pleasant nightmare among the many I keep having about Tel Aviv being nuked. Yeah, please, give Assad an iPad, an iPhone, and lots of iPorn or whatever digital vices he wants. (Maybe he'll declare war against evil Western imperialist copyrights, and create Syrian servers that offer free, downloadable copies of everything digital, better than pirate bay? Nah...)
I did see a note somewhere about Obama's logic in talking to the tough, evil guys making more sense than talking to wimpy not-so-evil guys. The evil guys will be more likely to have influence and power to make a deal, so if you do want to get a deal done, talking to them makes some sense.
But I think @Barry M. analysis of Obama wanting to delegitimize Israel is most likely, tho in their own rationalizations it is likely seen as "constructive criticism".
Where does the idea come from that friends have to criticise friends?
In my experience there are always enough enemies to be criticised by and friends are the people one needs to support even if everybody thinks they are wrong.
Posted by: Andrew Brehm at June 17, 2010 9:35 am
In my experience there are always enough enemies to be criticised by and friends are the people one needs to support even if everybody thinks they are wrong.
I thought I linked Assad's comment earlier today about the flotilla being the Syrian grounds for no more talk of peace. It will be years Assad states. He rails at the US and Israel. Are our CEO's tweeting that now?
Another slap down and I don't see why we aren't leaving fast.....
Posted by: Maxtrue at June 17, 2010 10:42 am
Another slap down and I don't see why we aren't leaving fast.....
"For example, according to Ross, on Tuesday Cohen challenged the Syrian Minister of Telecom to a cake-eating contest and called it "Creative Diplomacy." Match that, Tehran! "
I hope it was chocolate! Reminds me of the movie Mathilda when the fat kid, Brucie, had to eat the entire chocolate cake. You have to laugh.
Maybe Marie Antoinette was right (LOL)
Posted by: jb at June 17, 2010 11:23 am
I hope it was chocolate! Reminds me of the movie Mathilda when the fat kid, Brucie, had to eat the entire chocolate cake. You have to laugh.
Maybe Marie Antoinette was right (LOL)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/middle_east/10337041.stm
Sure he is happy to do business with the US....
Posted by: Maxtrue at June 17, 2010 11:23 am
Sure he is happy to do business with the US....
Who knew? Assad and his guys just wanted Twitter accounts? (Possible tweets: "Thinking of bumping another Lebanese leader today, but maybe urge will pass after breakfast" or "On Nasrallah, sure he is an idiot, but he is MY idiot!")
What these Obama-hypnotized buffoons don't understand is that less than a year after Assad drops Iran, he would be toppled by the Sunni majority in Syria. His alignment with Iran is not about ideology, but about survival.
Posted by: Joe at June 17, 2010 11:42 am
What these Obama-hypnotized buffoons don't understand is that less than a year after Assad drops Iran, he would be toppled by the Sunni majority in Syria. His alignment with Iran is not about ideology, but about survival.
True Joe, so what can the US offer? A retirement home on the Gulf? Our Gulf...
Posted by: Maxtrue at June 17, 2010 11:59 am
Glasnost, responded to your Polish bashing in a previous thread.
MJT, what is wrong with sending Alec J. Ross to Syria? Strikes me as a positive move. Techies like him should be the face of America around the world. People like Alec play very well in India, China, Russia, Israel, Latin America and Europe. He also plays well with Arab techies. There are many young Arab techies, or young Arabs who aspire to become techies.
I think a lot of the skepticism of Alec is a generational thing.
If Assad disses Alec . . . good. It makes Assad look silly among young people around the world. Soft power baby !!! :-)
Posted by: anan at June 17, 2010 12:45 pm
MJT, what is wrong with sending Alec J. Ross to Syria? Strikes me as a positive move. Techies like him should be the face of America around the world. People like Alec play very well in India, China, Russia, Israel, Latin America and Europe. He also plays well with Arab techies. There are many young Arab techies, or young Arabs who aspire to become techies.
I think a lot of the skepticism of Alec is a generational thing.
If Assad disses Alec . . . good. It makes Assad look silly among young people around the world. Soft power baby !!! :-)
These IT tech people are very naive.
Of course, Assad will allow himself to be razzled-dazzled with all of the new IT tech. Then when they leave, he will continue to do what he has done all along.
These people are so oblivious to history (and the whole family, clan, tribe thing) that it is astounding. Of course, Obama probably does not know history either, given the Chicago machine politician that he is, which brings up another point.
The tech geeks going to Syria cannot be blamed for their clueless-ness. They are, after all, tech geeks and cannot be expected to understand the nuances of human relationships. However, Obama has no such excuse. He made his career in the Chicago political machine, The Comprise, and therefor should understand the nature of human relationships and the nature of family, clan, and tribe. The fact that he is doing this makes clear that he understands full-well what he is doing to the Israelis.
Posted by: Abelard Lindsey at June 17, 2010 12:47 pm
Of course, Assad will allow himself to be razzled-dazzled with all of the new IT tech. Then when they leave, he will continue to do what he has done all along.
These people are so oblivious to history (and the whole family, clan, tribe thing) that it is astounding. Of course, Obama probably does not know history either, given the Chicago machine politician that he is, which brings up another point.
The tech geeks going to Syria cannot be blamed for their clueless-ness. They are, after all, tech geeks and cannot be expected to understand the nuances of human relationships. However, Obama has no such excuse. He made his career in the Chicago political machine, The Comprise, and therefor should understand the nature of human relationships and the nature of family, clan, and tribe. The fact that he is doing this makes clear that he understands full-well what he is doing to the Israelis.
Lighten up Lindsey :-) It's all good.
Rani, here is an article about Israeli [Ashkenazi] discrimination against Israeli citizens who are Arab Jews [Sephardim]:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/segregated-school-affair-fathers-arrive-in-jail-mothers-fail-to-show-1.296746
Rani, you know a heck of a lot more about this than I do, so look forward to learn from you and others as always.
Posted by: anan at June 17, 2010 1:00 pm
Rani, here is an article about Israeli [Ashkenazi] discrimination against Israeli citizens who are Arab Jews [Sephardim]:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/segregated-school-affair-fathers-arrive-in-jail-mothers-fail-to-show-1.296746
Rani, you know a heck of a lot more about this than I do, so look forward to learn from you and others as always.
I think a lot of the skepticism of Alec is a generational thing.
The dude is 38 anand. He doesn't qualify as a "young techie". Ask the young techies, they'll tell you :P
So, this guy is "Senior Advisor for Innovation" in the Department of State? I think that's the stupidest part of this whole thing: the Obama Administration thinks innovation is driven by the government. And based on reading his wiki bio, it seems he's never worked a day in the tech sector, let alone been responsible for any technical innovation. And the other dude is an author turned bureaucrat? This is Al Gore inventing the internet, part 2. I wonder how long it will take these two to discover then invented twitter?
As for the point of this mission - promoting communications tech in countries that are enemies of communication tech - I'd be pretty disgusted if it weren't for the fact I've given up on the Obama Administration.
Posted by: Craig at June 17, 2010 1:12 pm
The dude is 38 anand. He doesn't qualify as a "young techie". Ask the young techies, they'll tell you :P
So, this guy is "Senior Advisor for Innovation" in the Department of State? I think that's the stupidest part of this whole thing: the Obama Administration thinks innovation is driven by the government. And based on reading his wiki bio, it seems he's never worked a day in the tech sector, let alone been responsible for any technical innovation. And the other dude is an author turned bureaucrat? This is Al Gore inventing the internet, part 2. I wonder how long it will take these two to discover then invented twitter?
As for the point of this mission - promoting communications tech in countries that are enemies of communication tech - I'd be pretty disgusted if it weren't for the fact I've given up on the Obama Administration.
"oblivious to history"
"New" clashes with "student of history." Actually though, the real clash is between belief and established fact.
How many days until 4 Nov 2012? Don't dwell on that one too long.
Posted by: Paul S. at June 17, 2010 1:20 pm
"New" clashes with "student of history." Actually though, the real clash is between belief and established fact.
How many days until 4 Nov 2012? Don't dwell on that one too long.
Craig,
Havana next?
Words fail...
Posted by: Paul S. at June 17, 2010 1:22 pm
Havana next?
Words fail...
Words fail...
You're right, Paul. They do. I just wish they'd let me do the firmware for any free networking equipment we offering to Syria. Then this wouldn't be a complete waste of time at least, though the short-term embarrassment for the US would remain.
Posted by: Craig at June 17, 2010 1:39 pm
You're right, Paul. They do. I just wish they'd let me do the firmware for any free networking equipment we offering to Syria. Then this wouldn't be a complete waste of time at least, though the short-term embarrassment for the US would remain.
Just to let Anan understand: In Israel a Jew called Ashkenzi is generally Sepharadic. So the Army COS, called Askenazi is Sepharadic. We are realy mixed up. Basically if I, like Anan, was out to get Israel I will not build on that division.
What is going on in Israel now, Seph- Ashk wise is very hard to explain, but I will try. In Israel there are some religious schools to which the supper ultra orthodox send their kids. Now if one has a TV in his house, for example, other examples can be given, he is not good enough and his child can not be accepted, or so they say. It so happen that many Sepharsdic Jews are not as strict as some Ashkenazi Jews, or so it was said. so some Seph. kids were not accepted, but about 27% of the kids in that school were Sepharadic, but then some people say it was a secret quota system. So the supreme court said every body has to be accepted. So the supper ultra ortodox say that this is forced conversion and they are demonstrating and such. It is all within the very Religious ones, most Sepharadic Jews and or ashkenazi Jews could not care less. The real problem, as I see it, is too much freedom too much democracy. Even of something is good there can always be too much of it. I see what I wrote and realy it is a waste of time, I can not explain things that I dont understand my self. By the way some thing similar happened in the UK [realy in England not in the whole UK], and an English court forced a Jewish school to get a kid that they decided was from not good enough family, so by following that case [ perhaps it exists in the net ] one may get some idea about things like that. I wrote too much.
What strike me in today exhnage is that no body mentioned the best known Syrian Start Up, that little nuclear start up in the desert that went up in flames when Israel and Turkey were on better terms. I think that there is where this so called technical people from the USA should be brought, to that most famous syrian start up yet. Also if they can read Korean that may help too. But perhaps Obama and others and the USA media forgot all about that start up. If the people on this blog forgot who will remember?
Posted by: Rani at June 17, 2010 2:05 pm
What is going on in Israel now, Seph- Ashk wise is very hard to explain, but I will try. In Israel there are some religious schools to which the supper ultra orthodox send their kids. Now if one has a TV in his house, for example, other examples can be given, he is not good enough and his child can not be accepted, or so they say. It so happen that many Sepharsdic Jews are not as strict as some Ashkenazi Jews, or so it was said. so some Seph. kids were not accepted, but about 27% of the kids in that school were Sepharadic, but then some people say it was a secret quota system. So the supreme court said every body has to be accepted. So the supper ultra ortodox say that this is forced conversion and they are demonstrating and such. It is all within the very Religious ones, most Sepharadic Jews and or ashkenazi Jews could not care less. The real problem, as I see it, is too much freedom too much democracy. Even of something is good there can always be too much of it. I see what I wrote and realy it is a waste of time, I can not explain things that I dont understand my self. By the way some thing similar happened in the UK [realy in England not in the whole UK], and an English court forced a Jewish school to get a kid that they decided was from not good enough family, so by following that case [ perhaps it exists in the net ] one may get some idea about things like that. I wrote too much.
What strike me in today exhnage is that no body mentioned the best known Syrian Start Up, that little nuclear start up in the desert that went up in flames when Israel and Turkey were on better terms. I think that there is where this so called technical people from the USA should be brought, to that most famous syrian start up yet. Also if they can read Korean that may help too. But perhaps Obama and others and the USA media forgot all about that start up. If the people on this blog forgot who will remember?
Very interesting Rani. Thanks for the info. Thanks also for mentioning how Turkey did good by stopping the Assad bomb. :-)
Why doesn't Israel call itself an Arab country and demand to be treated as such by Arabs and the world in general? Israel can be Arab, European, Jewish, Sunni, Christian, Atheist and high tech all at the same time. Being Arab doesn't mean not being the other things that Israel is. Israel just happens to be many countries at the same time.
What is it that I don't understand?
Posted by: anan at June 17, 2010 3:00 pm
Why doesn't Israel call itself an Arab country and demand to be treated as such by Arabs and the world in general? Israel can be Arab, European, Jewish, Sunni, Christian, Atheist and high tech all at the same time. Being Arab doesn't mean not being the other things that Israel is. Israel just happens to be many countries at the same time.
What is it that I don't understand?
"What is it that I don't understand?"
Everything!!!!!
Posted by: Maxture at June 17, 2010 3:17 pm
Everything!!!!!
"What is it that I don't understand?"
HAhahahahahahahah!!! Sorry, I just have to get of the floor. I was laughing so hard I fell off my chair.
Now,
First of all you don't understand the irony in your comment, or the dreck in most of your postings!
Posted by: yesjb at June 17, 2010 3:23 pm
HAhahahahahahahah!!! Sorry, I just have to get of the floor. I was laughing so hard I fell off my chair.
Now,
First of all you don't understand the irony in your comment, or the dreck in most of your postings!
anan: Rani, you know a heck of a lot more about this than I do, so look forward to learn from you and others as always.
OK, I spat out my coffee when I saw that one. You lying sack of shit - you haven't demonstrated that you have learned one thing, ever, or that you even try. Pretenses aside, you are here only to spread your agitprop, and you fool no-one.
==================================
Why doesn't Israel call itself an Arab country and demand to be treated as such by Arabs and the world in general? Israel can be Arab, European, Jewish, Sunni, Christian, Atheist and high tech all at the same time. Being Arab doesn't mean not being the other things that Israel is. Israel just happens to be many countries at the same time.
What is it that I don't understand?
How about everything and anything? What is wrong with you - seriously - what is your problem?
Posted by: Li'l Mamzer at June 17, 2010 3:38 pm
OK, I spat out my coffee when I saw that one. You lying sack of shit - you haven't demonstrated that you have learned one thing, ever, or that you even try. Pretenses aside, you are here only to spread your agitprop, and you fool no-one.
==================================
Why doesn't Israel call itself an Arab country and demand to be treated as such by Arabs and the world in general? Israel can be Arab, European, Jewish, Sunni, Christian, Atheist and high tech all at the same time. Being Arab doesn't mean not being the other things that Israel is. Israel just happens to be many countries at the same time.
What is it that I don't understand?
How about everything and anything? What is wrong with you - seriously - what is your problem?
Anan: Why doesn't Israel call itself an Arab country
Why don't the Kurds call themselves Turks?
Why don't the Chechens call themselves Russians?
Why don't the Tibetans call themselves Chinese?
Why don't the Canadians call themselves Americans?
Why don't the Albanians call themselves Serbs?
Why don't the Irish call themselves English?
Why don't the Corsicans call themselves French?
Why don't the Falkland Islanders call themselves Argentines?
Why don't the Dutch call themselves Japanese?
Posted by: Michael J. Totten at June 17, 2010 3:57 pm
Why don't the Kurds call themselves Turks?
Why don't the Chechens call themselves Russians?
Why don't the Tibetans call themselves Chinese?
Why don't the Canadians call themselves Americans?
Why don't the Albanians call themselves Serbs?
Why don't the Irish call themselves English?
Why don't the Corsicans call themselves French?
Why don't the Falkland Islanders call themselves Argentines?
Why don't the Dutch call themselves Japanese?
Me thinks Anan must have been inspired by Col. Qaddhaffi's non-starer "Israestine" idea.
Posted by: semite5000 at June 17, 2010 3:57 pm
Anan,
I agree with you.
I see nothing wrong with the tech geeks going to Syria. As long as the tech geeks realize all they are doing is establishing business activities in Syria, then they're not clueless and everything is fine. If they actually have delusions that somehow impressing Assad with all of their IT is going to change his stance on Israel one wit, then I've got a great deal on a bridge for them.
Posted by: Abelard Lindsey at June 17, 2010 4:19 pm
I agree with you.
I see nothing wrong with the tech geeks going to Syria. As long as the tech geeks realize all they are doing is establishing business activities in Syria, then they're not clueless and everything is fine. If they actually have delusions that somehow impressing Assad with all of their IT is going to change his stance on Israel one wit, then I've got a great deal on a bridge for them.
The real reason Syria has been in a 30-year-old alliance with Iran is because Bashar isn't allowed to follow Ashton Kutcher on Twitter.
Posted by: Ali at June 17, 2010 4:49 pm
anan: Why doesn't Israel call itself an Arab country and demand to be treated as such by Arabs and the world in general? Israel can be Arab, European, Jewish, Sunni, Christian, Atheist and high tech all at the same time. Being Arab doesn't mean not being the other things that Israel is. Israel just happens to be many countries at the same time.
You keep hammering on Israel in a Bizarro-World way. I think you are a stalker living in your own obsessive and delusional Private Idaho.
You have a Jew-problem, and you're a full-blown creep.
,
Posted by: Li'l Mamzer at June 17, 2010 4:52 pm
You keep hammering on Israel in a Bizarro-World way. I think you are a stalker living in your own obsessive and delusional Private Idaho.
You have a Jew-problem, and you're a full-blown creep.
,
@ Ali--haha! Good one!
Posted by: semite5000 at June 17, 2010 5:06 pm
http://twitterati.alltop.com/ I guess they claim the origin of the word.....(certainly not FP)
Sometimes I need coffee in the morning Patrick....
Posted by: Maxtrue at June 17, 2010 5:56 pm
Sometimes I need coffee in the morning Patrick....
Abelard Lindsey, I agree with the conclusion of your comment, but I take umbrage with your off-the-cuff:
"The tech geeks going to Syria cannot be blamed for their clueless-ness. They are, after all, tech geeks and cannot be expected to understand the nuances of human relationships."
Believe me, I'd rather work on a factory bench with a geek, than with the star quarterback who's now twice divorced and wishing he could re-capture his glory days from high school.
Posted by: gus3 at June 17, 2010 7:31 pm
"The tech geeks going to Syria cannot be blamed for their clueless-ness. They are, after all, tech geeks and cannot be expected to understand the nuances of human relationships."
Believe me, I'd rather work on a factory bench with a geek, than with the star quarterback who's now twice divorced and wishing he could re-capture his glory days from high school.
http://www.youtube.com/user/LatmaTV#p/a/u/2/VmffgIqlAYA English translation version.....
Posted by: Maxtrue at June 17, 2010 9:18 pm
"Rani, here is an article about Israeli [Ashkenazi] discrimination against Israeli citizens who are Arab Jews [Sephardim]:"
All Israeli Jews, in fact all Israeli Arabs too and even the Palestinians and Gazans have way more human rights than anyone living in that bloody human rights shithole Syria.
But anand doesn't discriminate against Sephardim. He wants them just as dead as the rest of the Jews, preferably after torture and beheading so he can giggle his psychopathic, pointed little head off the way he did when Danny Pearl's head was sliced off.
Posted by: Gary Rosen at June 17, 2010 10:17 pm
All Israeli Jews, in fact all Israeli Arabs too and even the Palestinians and Gazans have way more human rights than anyone living in that bloody human rights shithole Syria.
But anand doesn't discriminate against Sephardim. He wants them just as dead as the rest of the Jews, preferably after torture and beheading so he can giggle his psychopathic, pointed little head off the way he did when Danny Pearl's head was sliced off.
In regards to the tech geeks, I didn't see it mentioned in that exactly what kind of technology we are trying to help the Syrians out with. If it's just SERVICE such as Google, Twitter, Facebook and etc... I don't really have a problem with that because there's nothing to steal and if they want to open up in Syria and risk getting shut down/arrested/held hostage/charged with crimes against the state and etc then that's up to them. If we're talking actual software development and/or technology R&D and manufacturing, that's a different story. I think any American tech company that wants to develop and produce actual products in Syria is being mismanaged, and should be boycotted for their own good.
Posted by: Craig at June 17, 2010 10:42 pm
"Israel just happens to be many countries at the same time."
Yes, a country filled with Jews you want dead, anand. As soon as that is accomplished you will love Israel.
Posted by: Gary Rosen at June 17, 2010 11:49 pm
Yes, a country filled with Jews you want dead, anand. As soon as that is accomplished you will love Israel.
"You lying sack of shit"
That is unfair, mamzer. Manure is actually useful.
Posted by: Gary Rosen at June 17, 2010 11:51 pm
That is unfair, mamzer. Manure is actually useful.
He wants them just as dead as the rest of the Jews, preferably after torture and beheading so he can giggle his psychopathic, pointed little head off the way he did when Danny Pearl's head was sliced off.
Good grief, Gary, knock that off, will you?
Posted by: Michael J. Totten at June 18, 2010 12:02 am
Good grief, Gary, knock that off, will you?
This could get interesting: http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=178694
It's one thing for a country with diplomatic relations with Israel to send ships to break the blockade, quite another when it's an enemy state.
Posted by: semite5000 at June 18, 2010 1:02 am
It's one thing for a country with diplomatic relations with Israel to send ships to break the blockade, quite another when it's an enemy state.
?It's one thing for a country with diplomatic relations with Israel to send ships to break the blockade, quite another when it's an enemy state.
Yes, you're right. They should be sunk in my opinion. At least, any Hezbollah vessels. Personally, I'd go that route with Iranian vessels as well, since the IRI can't be trusted not to turn a "cargo ship" into a giant bomb.
Posted by: Craig at June 18, 2010 2:34 am
Yes, you're right. They should be sunk in my opinion. At least, any Hezbollah vessels. Personally, I'd go that route with Iranian vessels as well, since the IRI can't be trusted not to turn a "cargo ship" into a giant bomb.
Well, anyway... I'd like to dedicate this groovy new song to Bill Ayers and the rest of the young tech gurus:
California Dreamin'
I think it's important to keep their spirits up while they are fighting the good fight, and I'm glad to see the younger generations coming out with songs like this.
Posted by: Craig at June 18, 2010 5:54 am
California Dreamin'
I think it's important to keep their spirits up while they are fighting the good fight, and I'm glad to see the younger generations coming out with songs like this.
Oops! Just realized they are actually Americans and that's Euro stuff!
Head Like a Hole (Black as your Soul)
Last try! Promise!
Posted by: Craig at June 18, 2010 7:01 am
Head Like a Hole (Black as your Soul)
Last try! Promise!
Hey Craig
What some countries might be asking themselves right now
Posted by: Maxtrue at June 18, 2010 7:34 am
What some countries might be asking themselves right now
Of course, wooing Bashar (and the gang) might prove to be a rather interesting adventure ....
Posted by: Barry Meislin at June 18, 2010 8:01 am
Of course, wooing Bashar (and the gang) might prove to be a rather interesting adventure ....
Sounds like they better not be planning on bringing any women with them on their junket. Which is a helluva situation for ex-hippies and wannabe hippies to be getting into, isn't it? I suppose they believe if they force western women to wear tents in a hot climate just to avoid being sexually assaulted on the street, they believe they are being "culturally sensitive", right?
Posted by: Craig at June 18, 2010 8:36 am
Sounds like they better not be planning on bringing any women with them on their junket. Which is a helluva situation for ex-hippies and wannabe hippies to be getting into, isn't it? I suppose they believe if they force western women to wear tents in a hot climate just to avoid being sexually assaulted on the street, they believe they are being "culturally sensitive", right?
Hey, while we're on the screwy, here's one for Render and Craig --- http://defensetech.org/2010/06/18/putin-declares-new-russian-built-pak-fa-stealth-fighter-better-than-f-22-raptor/#more-7736
Posted by: Maxtrue at June 18, 2010 9:12 am
http://www.aolnews.com/tech/article/us-may-unleash-microwave-weapon-in-afghanistan/19520919?sms_ss=email
IDF could clear decks with this. And Turks could keep children from throwing rocks....
Its a wacky world..
Posted by: Maxtrue at June 18, 2010 9:19 am
IDF could clear decks with this. And Turks could keep children from throwing rocks....
Its a wacky world..
http://defensetech.org/2010/06/18/putin-declares-new-russian-built-pak-fa-stealth-fighter-better-than-f-22-raptor/#more-7736
Putin should lay off the vodka. :-)
Posted by: anan at June 18, 2010 9:54 am
Putin should lay off the vodka. :-)
Thanks for the people talking for me. I also thank the owner of the blog for letting me in. As for a question what Anan does not undrstand? Well as a lier he does not understand that others dont lie. Israel is not an Arab country. It will be a lie to call Israel an Arab country. Why should Israel lie? That question he does not understnd, I dont think he can.
Posted by: Rani at June 18, 2010 10:07 am
Here Anan, I have a great site you can play at...
give em hell...
http://careandwashingofthebrain.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Maxtrue at June 18, 2010 1:19 pm
give em hell...
http://careandwashingofthebrain.blogspot.com/
It is called "Modern Strasserism" Anan.....
Posted by: Maxtrue at June 18, 2010 1:21 pm
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/16/radical-islamist-group-set-return-chicago-second-major-recruiting-conference/
Are you planning to attend Anan? I think you can meet some Twitterati there too..... and I think there will even be some WH staff atending......
Posted by: Maxtrue at June 18, 2010 3:53 pm
Are you planning to attend Anan? I think you can meet some Twitterati there too..... and I think there will even be some WH staff atending......
This is much worse than a "waste of time". We will give Assad high-tech equipment, which he will then use to further his goals and those of the Iranian mullahs.
The Syrians are governed by a lunatic; apparently we are governed by an idiot.
Posted by: jvon at June 19, 2010 12:58 pm
The Syrians are governed by a lunatic; apparently we are governed by an idiot.
Ah, but that's the whole point. He is not an idiot.
He is operating according to plan.
Washington's foreign policy is in the hands of those whose world view is informed by Stephen Walt, John Mearsheimer, Susan Powers, Robert Malley, Rashid Khalidi, Juan Cole (in his case, we might say "Informed") and Marc Lynch (among many others).
(And his internal policy?....)
Some, of course, are ecstatic. (Did I say, "Some"? Make that "Scads".)
Quite a few others are in "Deep, deep concern" mode, shaking their heads in disbelief. (But they are going to have to snap out of it. This is NOW.)
Repeat: Obama is operating according to plan.
One must pray (even atheists, even libertarians) that the US and the "free world" get lucky.
Posted by: Barry Meislin at June 20, 2010 1:22 am
He is operating according to plan.
Washington's foreign policy is in the hands of those whose world view is informed by Stephen Walt, John Mearsheimer, Susan Powers, Robert Malley, Rashid Khalidi, Juan Cole (in his case, we might say "Informed") and Marc Lynch (among many others).
(And his internal policy?....)
Some, of course, are ecstatic. (Did I say, "Some"? Make that "Scads".)
Quite a few others are in "Deep, deep concern" mode, shaking their heads in disbelief. (But they are going to have to snap out of it. This is NOW.)
Repeat: Obama is operating according to plan.
One must pray (even atheists, even libertarians) that the US and the "free world" get lucky.
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