July 3, 2010
Fourth of July
Happy Independence Day to my American readers (and no hard feelings to my British readers).
Posted by Michael J. Totten at July 3, 2010 5:28 PM
Comments
May all Americans celebrate and preserve the Founders precious legacy. The freedoms we inherited are not free.
Posted by: Paul S. at July 3, 2010 6:18 pm
Hey Michael,
It is a wonderful day we celebrate. God blessed this nation because we had a purpose. That purpose was to stand with Israel. Unfortunately, It seems our present government could care less about that purpose.
But, God is still in control and as long as True Believers are here, We will stand with Israel.
I have no idea where you stand in that area but I do like the articles you write. So for that I say Thank you. I have posted a few of them on my site.
Thanks again
Rocco T
Posted by: Rocco T at July 3, 2010 8:35 pm
It is a wonderful day we celebrate. God blessed this nation because we had a purpose. That purpose was to stand with Israel. Unfortunately, It seems our present government could care less about that purpose.
But, God is still in control and as long as True Believers are here, We will stand with Israel.
I have no idea where you stand in that area but I do like the articles you write. So for that I say Thank you. I have posted a few of them on my site.
Thanks again
Rocco T
God blessed this nation because we had a purpose. That purpose was to stand with Israel.
Um, I support Israel in a general sort of way, but, you know, Israel didn't exist in 1776. And I don't really go for True Belief with capital letters. But happy 4th all the same!
Posted by: Michael J. Totten at July 3, 2010 8:48 pm
Um, I support Israel in a general sort of way, but, you know, Israel didn't exist in 1776. And I don't really go for True Belief with capital letters. But happy 4th all the same!
As someone known here for being a fervent advocate for Israel Rocco's statement is a little extreme even for me. But it is worth remembering that for all of Israel's faults it is far closer to American values than her enemies, most of which are miserable human rights hellholes.
Posted by: Gary Rosen at July 4, 2010 12:44 pm
Holy Shiite! It is reported that Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah had died. Any speculation as to the ramifications?
Posted by: crosspatch at July 4, 2010 4:38 pm
Crosspatch,
My guess is there won't be many ramifications, but we'll see.
Posted by: Michael J. Totten at July 4, 2010 5:07 pm
My guess is there won't be many ramifications, but we'll see.
rare youtube video about Israely army activity in hebron!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJxAyEVIY3k&feature=player_embedded
:)
smile and happy 4th of july
Posted by: littleTinSOldier at July 5, 2010 3:58 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJxAyEVIY3k&feature=player_embedded
:)
smile and happy 4th of july
America is not anti-Israel--not even remotely. The changes we're seeing in the relationship are not so much about Obama having it in for Israel as it's about a realignment of US foreign policy in general. A lot of other countries around the world are also a little bit miffed/confused about US FP direction under Obama. Obama is simply trying to do the whole multi-lateral-cooperating-with-the-world-and-world-governing-institutions-thing.
Meanwhile, it looks like the Iran sanctions might work. If they do, what will the people who have been hyper critical of Obama say?
(This doesn't mean I'm endorsing Obama, I'm just trying to be fair and sober).
Posted by: semite5000 at July 5, 2010 8:16 am
Meanwhile, it looks like the Iran sanctions might work. If they do, what will the people who have been hyper critical of Obama say?
(This doesn't mean I'm endorsing Obama, I'm just trying to be fair and sober).
In any event, Happy Birthday America!
Posted by: semite5000 at July 5, 2010 8:16 am
semite5000,
You wrote, "it looks like the Iran sanctions might work".
Could you explain what you mean by success (=work), please? Iran shuts down its centrifuges and gives away all of its enriched product? Or is success just some nominal ineffective sanctions, officially in place? Or something else?
Posted by: del at July 5, 2010 8:25 am
You wrote, "it looks like the Iran sanctions might work".
Could you explain what you mean by success (=work), please? Iran shuts down its centrifuges and gives away all of its enriched product? Or is success just some nominal ineffective sanctions, officially in place? Or something else?
I don't think Iran will stop the centrifuges; I think if the sanctions work, the average Reza will feel the pinch so much that it will finally tip the scales against the Mullahs--and they will be overthrown. Already airports are starting to refuse to refuel Iranian commercial jets because the all petroleum products are targeted by the sanctions.
Posted by: semite5000 at July 5, 2010 10:50 am
"Meanwhile, it looks like the Iran sanctions might work. If they do, what will the people who have been hyper critical of Obama say?"
They might say that the program put in by Bush and continued under Obama worked but somehow I doubt that will be the meme.
I don't expect the new sanctions to amount to much as Iran has new refineries coming on line that will replace any refined products that are denied under the new sanctions. Another way of looking at it is that Europe waited until Iran didn't need anymore refined product imports and then cut them off.
These new refineries will improve Iran's balance of payments. While they will somewhat reduce oil exports, the difference between selling crude and importing refined fuel is great. By producing this fuel domestically, Iran will actually make out well and nobody is mentioning cutting off the purchase of Iranian crude.
What will be more interesting over the longer run with be the influence of Iraqi Shiite theologians in the region in contrast to Iranian theologians. The influence of Najaf in contrast to the influence of Qom will be an important detail over the coming decades.
Posted by: crosspatch at July 5, 2010 11:26 am
They might say that the program put in by Bush and continued under Obama worked but somehow I doubt that will be the meme.
I don't expect the new sanctions to amount to much as Iran has new refineries coming on line that will replace any refined products that are denied under the new sanctions. Another way of looking at it is that Europe waited until Iran didn't need anymore refined product imports and then cut them off.
These new refineries will improve Iran's balance of payments. While they will somewhat reduce oil exports, the difference between selling crude and importing refined fuel is great. By producing this fuel domestically, Iran will actually make out well and nobody is mentioning cutting off the purchase of Iranian crude.
What will be more interesting over the longer run with be the influence of Iraqi Shiite theologians in the region in contrast to Iranian theologians. The influence of Najaf in contrast to the influence of Qom will be an important detail over the coming decades.
I know Israel wasn't around in 1776...lol
This nation was blessed more than any other in History. I believe that is because our nation was based on Judeo-Christian Values.
Standing with Israel is not the ONLY purpose God had for America, I used that as an example because to me, it is one of the most important purposes.
Michael, You may not be believer yet, but I'll be praying for you.
Rocco T
Posted by: Rocco T at July 5, 2010 2:16 pm
This nation was blessed more than any other in History. I believe that is because our nation was based on Judeo-Christian Values.
Standing with Israel is not the ONLY purpose God had for America, I used that as an example because to me, it is one of the most important purposes.
Michael, You may not be believer yet, but I'll be praying for you.
Rocco T
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