Saudi Arabia’s pre-POTUS preparations

June 1, 2009

WARNING: ADULT CONTENT

So barry is heading to the Muslim world again. Hasn’t been to two continents – South American or Australia. Hasn’t been to Eastern Europe (except Russia on a Codel) or Japan or India or China or Central America or Ireland or Vatican City but he added on a stop to visit his old pal King Saudi so he can bend completely over in the privacy of a tent or a cave or a palace or wherever the women and “child brides” are slaves. He has yet to speak out on anything except the marital rape law in Afghanistan – and then only because he was pressured. He has not said anything while in the companies of Arabs. He has the courage and conviction of a gnat.

And how is the center of the Muslim World, the “moderate” and “progressive” land of Saudi Arabia preparing for his visit?

Public execution. In this particular case, the beheading was accompanied by a “crucifixion” – which his nothing to do with Christianity. It means the body is displayed in public as a “deterrent”.

GROSS WARNING: They are beheaded first and their head is sewn back on and the reassembled corpse is mounted on a pole or a tree and left for all to see. His was displayed “throughout the evening”.

2009 and there are still savages beheading folks – as in women, too – in public. [I don't know about Saudi Arabia but Iran executes folks who (allegedly) commit crimes as a minor.] They have a special square just for this purpose. It’s called “Chop Chop” Square (Deera Square) for obvious reasons. In the center is a drain so they can flush the blood and whatever else away when they’re finished. Cleanliness being next to Godliness. They used to be held on Fridays after noon prayers – now they take place unannounced but always at 9:00 am.

And the executioner?

The job is a coveted one, often passed from father to son.

What qualifies for the death penalty?

…many crimes, such as armed robbery, rape, adultery, drug use and trafficking, and renouncing Islam. There’s a woman on death row now for witchcraft, and the charge is based partly on a man’s accusation that her spell made him impotent.

In this case, the crime was “an offense of rebellion, one that basically rejected all of the rules of religion and society” and he was caught in the act. And what he did was truly evil and would probably qualify for the death penalty in some states.

And according to the article:

There is also no written penal code, so questions of illegality depend on the on-the-spot interpretations of police and judges.

Amnesty International’s Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui:

[The trial proceedings] usually take place behind closed doors without adequate legal representation. Convictions are often made on the basis of “confessions” obtained under duress, including torture or other ill-treatment during incommunicado detention.

But it appears (alot of) money talks.

At any time until the sword strikes, a victim’s family can pardon the condemned — usually for a cash settlement of at least two million riyals ($690,000 or so) from the convict or his family.

Usually though:

AI’s Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui: Those who are sentenced to death are often not informed of the progress of legal proceedings against them or of the date of execution until the morning when they are taken out and beheaded.

How common?

There were 102 executions in Saudi Arabia in 2008 and is aware of 136 people believed to be awaiting execution….”but nobody knows how many people are on death row.”

Sahraoui: King Abdullah should show true leadership and commute all death sentences if Saudi Arabia is to have any role to play as a global leader or member of the G-20.

Do you think that is on barry’s agenda?

Sources: BOLD links are to an article with a description of the beheading — towards the bottom. Amnesty International links are from a CNN article.

Katie Couric recently returned from Saudi Arabia. She gives a glimpse of the Square.

NOTHING GROSS

May 13, 2009

What’s more powerful: prayer or diplomacy?

May 8, 2009

What separates the world?

What is the biggest cause of violence?

What is used to justify the abuse and oppression of women and children?

What divides countries, pits tribes against tribes, neighbor against neighbor and family member against family member?

What threatens peace and safety throughout the world?

Religious extremism and religious intolerance.

And barry didn’t find it politically important enough to have a National Day of Prayer.

President Bush did it – political expedience dictates barry not do it.

So he didn’t.

Same as he did with his Iraq fairy tale and his “I didn’t know there was a vote about the Iranian Guard” no show.

He didn’t find it important enough to bring together religious leaders in one room for even one hour to force them to acknowledge each other’s legitimacy. To prayer together – each in their own way – to whomever and whatever they believe in. A simple ceremony to start a dialogue in order to bridge the divide.

Isn’t that what he wants to accomplish during his presidency?

In what country is every religion represented?

In what country does every citizen have the right to religious freedom?

In what country does every citizen have the right to assemble and discuss whatever beliefs they hold?

And yet nothing but a mandatory proclamation.

Seems his Kumbayaism does not involve a Higher Power…other than himself.

I guess he is going to solve the world’s problems. He is going to make the oceans rise and cosmos sing because he has the righteous wind at his back. He is the obamessiah – the one the world has been waiting for!

If nothing else, his behavior has made clear he was Wright’s disciple not the Church’s.

—————–

National Prayer Day?
Proclamation: National Day of Prayer
What National Prayer Day?

POTUS: "We are not at war with Islam"

April 6, 2009

barry may not be, but I am.

And any self-respecting woman, who enjoys freedom and believes women's rights are human rights should be.

Woman in the Muslim world right now are being beaten, stoned, raped, killed, forced to marry, sold into slavery, disfigured for wanting a divorce or striving to be educated and their daughters' genitals are being sliced and hacked at because of the "holy men's" interpretation of Islam.

Women and children abused in every fashion imaginable without threat of prosecution.

Fathers, brothers and husbands allowed free reign over women and children - theirs or not.

Precious little girls sold to men 2-8 times their age to settle their cowardly fathers' debts.

Holy men sanctioning every evil bit of it, nullifying the legitimacy of Islam as a religion.

No religion sanctions the enslaving and ritual abuse of women and children.

Men do.

Do they not realize what it is saying about them? About their (lack of) morals and values? About their country and religion?

Do they not realize how it reflects on their ancestors when they are willing to sell, mutilate, disfigure and murder their own DNA?

And just how impotent are Muslim men that they need to own a woman in order to keep her? That they need to rape and destroy a young girl before her sexual organs have even matured?

Have they no idea what this says about their manhood - literally and figuratively?

In what type of savage civilization does a 10 y/o have to run away to ask for a divorce only to find out that she can only do so when she becomes an "adult" at 15 - long after she has been ruined by the pedophile she was given to like a common farm animal.

How blind do these savage nations think the world is?

We see what they are doing. We hear their cowardly justifications that it is "custom" and "religion". We watch as woman after woman and child after child are mutilated for the sake of "honor".

And they expect us to "honor" their "religion"? Their "holy men"?

How are we to respect the rest of the Arab world - including Turkey - who sit by and do nothing?

No, the President was not speaking for this American citizen. I am very much at war with Islam and will be until one Muslim country says to the world that the savagery sanctioned by Islam: female genital mutilation, child marriages, and honor killings is inhuman and needs to be stopped and needs to be punished.

It is the Koran that the human detonators quote before they blow their cowardly useless selves up. Allah is great! It's time to find my 7 virgins in Allah heaven! And that's because it is the only place they can find virgins - the rest of the young girls have had their virginity sold and torn apart by shriveled pedophiles.

Do the suicide bombers really believe what they are doing is going to make them a martyr? The only people who remember them are the families of the innocent victims - not their own people. Why would they? They were just another pawn, just another exploded mist of DNA used by cowards to further their own agenda.

And where is the oh so courageous leader of the human detonators and hate-filled indiscriminate killing machines?

Hiding in a cave like the savage caveman he is.

And the rest?

Hiding behind scarves - obscuring their identities - so proud of what they've allowed themselves to become.

If their mission is from Allah, then why don't they have the courage to show their faces?

Because inside they feel shame. They know what they are doing goes against the laws of Nature and that no good life can come from perpetrating evil.

It is a blessing once their hate-filled flesh explodes. They can no longer beat and abuse their mothers, sisters, wives, nieces, daughters or throw acid into the faces of innocent girls on their way to school.They can no longer recruit and brainwash more ignorant savages. They can no longer propagate evil.

It is a blessing their sperm is vaporized along with their empty soul. They can never create more hate-filled boys and precious little girls to be sold into "marriage".

Child marriages are nothing other than unholy unions consecrated by sanctioned rape. And night after night after night after night, defenseless little girls weighing less than 100lbs are allowed to be raped - their yet unripened and already mutilated genitals invaded over and over and over and over by impotent shameful pigs.

Yes. I am very much at war with Islam - just as I am against polygamy and "religious" cults in the US, who think it's ok for children to be raped by adults - including their parents - in the name of free love and "God's will".

But they live in a country where they can potentially escape. Where someone can hear their pleas for help and provide them shelter and care. Where someone finds what is happening to them reprehensible. Where their rapists and savagers can be held accountable in a court of law.

Not so for Muslim women.

And that is wrong.

There will be no justice in the Arab world until women are the judges. And I will be long dead before that happens.

Yes. I am at war with Islam - my weapons, my words. And it is because I don't live in a Muslim country that I can wield them for those who cannot.

Those of you who have been leaving comments in Arabic, why don't you use the Google translation page so we can all see what you are saying? As is you just get deleted and we learn nothing.

=================

Hillary Rodham Clinton: "Womens's Rights are Human Rights"
Ranked #35 out of the top 100 speeches of the 21st Century

Female genital mutilation
While the Arab World Sits Silent
Child marriages go unabated in Arab World
Arab Carter on Human Rights - does not allow the marriage of 8 y/o girls and yet not a single Arab country demands it stop. They all signed it - therefore they are all violating it by not enforcing it.

By bowing, barry was saying this is ok

April 12, 2009

barry has yet to stand up for the oppressed women in the world. He said nothing in his Inauguration speeh, nothing in his pandering to the Arab media first presidential interview and nothing on his my name is Hussein I feel your pain tour of Turkey. He could tour a mosque but he didn’t have time to go to Normandy. That’s twice - on both tours of the cosmos barry has refused to honor the military. First he refused to visit the injured and maimed soldiers in the hospital at Landstuhl, which he lied about and tried to blame on the Pentagon. Howie Fineman who was there said he should have forgotten the media and just gone. And then his second trip he refused to go to Normandy. He didn’t want to upset Germany.

He is disgusting.

Go ahead. Have at me bots. I no longer care.

courtesy of uxaiz

And the bowing - yes bowing - it’s perfectly clear to anyone who is not obamerized, to anyone who is honest with themselves - was the final straw. He bowed to a pig who allows young girls to be sold into marriage - as young as 8 - knowing that their “husbands” are going to rape them night after night after night. He bowed to a savage who allows grown men to rip open and tear apart little girls’ hymens and vaginas that have not even matured.

And it doesn’t stop there - he bowed to a savage who sanctions the slicing off of innocent little girls’ genitalia.

That is savagery of the highest order.

And how do they justify their inhuman and inhumane acts? Islam. The Islam that barry is not at war with.

What type of father could bow to such a savage?

It could just as easily be Malia and Sasha. Both of then genitally mutilated and Malia even married. And Michelle would not be having been able to stop anything as the property of her husband.

I went into this in a post about “not being at war with Islam” that I just realized I haven’t posted yet.

This is what set me off this morning. A story that I had written about previously.

Saudi clerics deemed it legal for girls as young as 8 to be “married”. This particular 8 y/o girl was sold to a 47 y/o pig by her own pig of a father to settle his debt. Sold like a piece of meat by her own father. The mother has no rights and had no say in the matter as she is not the child’s legal guardian.

On December 24th, the judge, Sheikh Habib Al-Habib, refused to annul the “marriage”. But he made sure to ask the pig who “married” her to make a pledge to not consummate the marriage until she reaches puberty. Like that is realistic.

What age is considered puberty in Saudi Arabia and who decides it?

And when can she request a divorce? Once she reaches puberty, when she has already been ruined.

He upheld the ruling, which in effect means that it is legal for a 47 y/o man to rape an 8 y/o girl. And 8 y/o girl who was traded like an animal in 2008. And it doesn’t matter how long or how little he waits to rape her–there is no way an 8 y/o can “consent” to sex–she has been sold into slavery and had her childhood stolen by her own father.

And how long before she has her genitals sliced off - if she hasn’t already?

This is what barry said was ok when he bowed to the chief savage of a nation of savages. And by bowing he lowered himself to their subhuman level. He looked that little girl in the eye and said I bow to your great leader. I don’t care what happens to you. I don’t care enough to say anything or at least register my disdain. No, you don’t matter, little girl, because I want to rule the cosmos and I am willing to do whatever it takes, including betraying my nation and bowing to savages.

Anyone who doesn’t see it as such - I hope you don’t have daughters.

The horror of being mutilated in the name of Islam.

STEPHANIE SINCLAIR/NY Times

Traditionally done using what ever is handy: razors, glass, regular knives, sharp pieces of rusty metal. It is done without anesthesia with female relatives holding the child down, chanting Praise Allah! Afterward ashes or whatever is handy is rubbed in to help prevent hemorrhage. Some girls live the rest of their lives in constant pain from just clothing touching the area. Others are left incontinent. Some have their vaginal openings opened for intercourse and then sewed shut. Some die. All are traumatized and all are left with a physical reminder of what Islam means to the men in their society - Saudi Arabia included.

November 2008: 60% of girls/women around Kirkuk, Iraq (Kurds) had undergone genital mutilation.

***

barry irreparably disgraced the American People (video of bow)
Gibbs’ blatant lie about barry’s groveling
What needed to be in the Inaugural Address
barry’s interview with al Arabiya TV
As the Arab World sits silent
Child marriages continue unabated in the Arab World
Female genital mutilation

barry irreparably disgraced The American People

April 10, 2009

rant alert

I needed a few days not to go off on barry on this. He is disgusting and there is no longer any way around it. Why did he bow to that Saudi person? Why? I have posted before about the fact that neither he or Michelle know the proper etiquette but this was intentional. There is only one explanation: he is sympathetic to Muslims. Prove me wrong. That is all I am going to say on this. I haven’t watched the MSM’s take or heard barry’s lame excuse. He did not represent me on the world stage and what he did was beyond wrong - It was despicable and it can never be forgiven.

uxalz

Right around 0:50 he makes a deep bow even though the saudi person clearly extends his hand with the intent of a handshake - nothing more.

The commentary is in Italian - but it isn’t needed.

Would Lincoln, JFK, FDR or Reagan have done that?

And then he says “we’re” not at war with Islam? I sure the hell am and will be until they stop using it as justification to slice off their innocent daughters' genitals. Another post.

Shoe thrower's sentenced reduced

April 7, 2009

It was only a matter of time. They went through the charade of "justice" and now begins show thrower's gradual release from prison. A federal appeals court in Baghdad Monday reduced his sentence from three years to one. To include time served? He was found guilty of assaulting a foreign head of state on an official visit to Iraq, which carried with it a sentence of 15 years. Attempted assault is 1-5 years. So although he was found guilty of the more serious charge he was given the most minimal sentence under the lesser charge. Guess those 25 lawyers he had in court with him were worth something - a month a piece.

Source: CNN

President Bush attacked by shoethrower
Malaysian foreign minister praises shoethrower
Shoe party in the streets
Update: shoe thrower
First Lady Laura Bush reacts
Shoe thrower sentenced to 3 years
Indonesians welcome Madame Secretary of State with lame shoe toss
Shoethrower’s monument lasted less than 48 hrs
Shoe thrower's sentenced reduced from 3 to 1 year

6 Iraqi gay men "disowned" then murdered

April 6, 2009

There is nothing it seems that is going to liberate the arab world from their ancient cavemen beliefs. The "disowning" by their families led to the deaths of six gay men in Iraq. After they were disowned there was a "tribal meeting" of cavemen and the men were shot dead. And what kind of justice will there be? A gay cafe was torched as well.

What do they do with lesbians? Oh, that's right. Men can already do whatever they want to women - gay, straight, young, old - in the name of religion or custom.

Source: CNN's MOHAMMED TAWFEEQ

Malaysia: no tomboys allowed

2009 International Woman of Courage: Wazhma Frogh, Afghanistan

March 28, 2009

From the State Department website

2009 International Women of Courage Awardee

Wazhma Frogh, Afghanistan

“My goal is to really represent Islam. It’s not a religion that oppresses women.”

Wazhma Frogh believes in changing systems from within, and is willing to stake a lot on her beliefs. In 2002, when she visited a conservative district in northeastern Afghanistan, the activist overheard the local mullah urging male worshippers to stop her plans to start a literacy program for women. Ms. Frogh marched into the mosque, she told a Christian Science Monitor reporter, and challenged the mullah to hear her out. She recited a number of Koranic passages that supported education, and she decried the use of Islam to justify domestic violence and child marriage. The mullah listened, and then endorsed her plans to start the literacy program.

Ms. Frogh uses her scholarly knowledge of Islam to convince religious leaders to modify their views of women – views, she claims, that are often rooted more in provincial local traditions than in the real essence of the faith. “My goal is to really represent Islam,” she told the Christian Science Monitor. “It’s not a religion that oppresses women.”

Her activism began at a young age. In the eighth grade, she offered tutoring to her landlord’s children in exchange for reduced rent, so as to ensure that she and her sisters would be able to continue school. At age 17, she used her internship at a prestigious Pakistani newspaper to expose poor living conditions and abuses of women’s rights in Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan.

Ms. Frogh currently works as the Afghanistan Country Director for Global Rights, an international human rights organization. She’s launched public debates on domestic violence and marital rape in Afghanistan, both previously unmentionable topics in her country. She persuaded mullahs to join her in a month-long campaign of speaking out against domestic violence, and, by mobilizing a group of over 35 civil society organizations, convinced the government of Afghanistan to take action against child rape. Ms. Frogh also provides training to policewomen on issues surrounding domestic violence and child abuse.

Wazhma Frogh’s bold outspokenness for women, children, and social justice makes her a target in her conservative and volatile society. Her bravery creates safety for those whom the laws make vulnerable, and her commitment to peaceful change through the force of her intellect and persuasive skills creates both opportunity and inspiration for other women to do the same.

***

Madame Secretary Clinton: Women’s History Month
2009 International Women of Courage Awards
Poem presented to Madame Secretary Clinton: "Leaders"
2009 International Woman of Courage: Wazhma Frogh, Afghanistan
2009 International Woman of Courage: Mutabar Tadjibayeva, Uzbekistan
2009 International Woman of Courage: Norma Cruz, Guatemala
2009 International Woman of Courage: Suaad Abbas Salman Allami, Iraq
2009 International Woman of Courage: Reem Al Numery, Yemen
2009 International Woman of Courage: Veronika Marchenko, Russia
2009 International Woman of Courage: Ambiga Sreenevasan, Malaysia
2009 International Woman of Courage: Hadizatou Mani, Niger

Madame Secretary Clinton’s comments to Israeli PM Ehud Olmert

March 3, 2009

Jerusalem

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Note the first thing he says is how much experience Madame Secretary has - something he could not say about barry.

Transcript/video

OLMERT: Good evening. I welcome the Secretary of State of the United States of America to (inaudible) on her first visit to Israel in her new position. The Secretary of State has an excellent familiarity with the state of Israel and the entire Middle East, one which goes back many years. And I’m certain that she will know how to utilize all the experience and knowledge she acquired through the years, and as a leading senator in order to represent the United States’ interest and those of the entire free world, and to advance stability and quiet in the region, (inaudible) the goal we all share.

The friendship between the United States and Israel is close and long-lived. Throughout my entire tenure, our two countries nurtured and strengthened (inaudible) friendship. I’m certain that President Obama and the Secretary of State will work in cooperation with any Israeli Government and will remain committed to the well-being and the security of Israel as a Jewish state.

I expect that our discussion will undoubtedly deal with the bilateral relations between our countries as well as regional issues. The Secretary of State has arrived here at the prime minister’s residence after a day of discussions with the president of the state of Israel and with my colleagues, and I am certain that she heard about our concerns and hopes from all of them.

I will share our increasing concern about the Iranian threat with her. The position of Israel, as I’ve already outlined, is that Israel cannot tolerate a nuclear Iran. And I heard President Obama and the Secretary of State that they resolutely object to a nuclear Iran. We will discuss ways in which we can ensure this.

With regard to our hopes, I will share with the Secretary of State the position my government has taken to advance peace between us and the Palestinians, and together we will discuss ways to advance peace in the region as part of the two-states solution. This is the only solution. There is no doubt, and it reflects absolutely Israel’s supreme strategic interest, as well as the interest of the Palestinian people.

I will update the Secretary of State with regard to the peace negotiations we conducted with Syria through the Turkish mediation, and together we will discuss ways in which we can extricate as many countries in the region from extremism in order to weaken the strengths and influence of those countries which support terror and of terrorist organizations in the region.

I will certainly update her with regard to the situation in southern Israel and about our intention to continue defending ourselves from any terrorist organization on the part – or aggression on the part of Hamas and other terrorist organizations which, unfortunately, (inaudible) in the Gaza Strip. In fact, they continue almost on a daily basis to shoot against innocent Israelis living in the southern part of Israel. And this is, of course, something which is totally unacceptable and intolerable to us and to everyone who lives in the state of Israel.

Madame Secretary of State, I am pleased to have the opportunity to meet with you in your new position. Your courage, your commitment, your international experience, and the brave friendship you have demonstrated for the state of Israel throughout the years will certainly find expression in your new role and assist in your success.
I am totally convinced that you will continue to advance and strengthen the relations between Israel with the greatest friend we have in the whole world, the United States of America. Welcome.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Prime Minister, and it is indeed a personal delight for me to be here this evening. I thank you for the generous offer of hospitality. As you’ve pointed out when I came in, I have been to this home before, and it always reminds me of the many years of friendship and people whose lives have intersected with mine. I am grateful for this opportunity to return as my country’s Secretary of State on behalf of President Obama, and to have the opportunity you just briefly outlined to discuss the range of issues that are of concern to Israel and the United States.

I’ve had a wonderful day. As the prime minister pointed out, it started with an old friend, Shimon Peres, then I was honored to go to Yad Vashem to see some of the new parts of the museum and memorial, and to pay tribute there to the 6 million lives lost in the Holocaust, and to lay a wreath and pay respect to the eternal flame.
The United States and Israel face a number of serious challenges, and it was important for me to be here and to be with my delegation, including our Middle East Envoy Senator Mitchell – who has been here before and will be back numerous times in the future – to engage in in-depth discussions with Israel’s leaders on these matters of grave mutual concern.

But I also enjoyed the opportunity to have a discussion with a group of women entrepreneurs, just a short while ago at the hotel, who are being featured in a little video made for a contest that the United States State Department is running seeking interesting projects around the world. There were so many hundreds of them submitted. This project from Israel discusses a supportive community that helps women become entrepreneurs, particularly immigrant women, women from the former Soviet Union, women from Ethiopia and elsewhere.

As we discuss the critical issues of our time, it’s also important to remember why we do this. It is to provide the people, who both the prime minister and I are privileged to represent, with a chance to fulfill their own dreams, to live lives in safety and security, and to be given the opportunity to fulfill their own God-given potential.

When we sometimes discuss these serious matters of terrorism and extremism, of the threat posed by Iran’s pursuit of a nuclear weapon, we can’t disconnect it from what we are attempting to do – to make sure that the people of Israel have a chance to live and flourish in a safe and secure environment, and as the prime minister said, to seek a way that they can live next to their Palestinian neighbors in a safe and secure environment.

I am very grateful, once again, to be here in Israel and pledging not only my personal commitment, but that of my country, to the fundamental and unshakable bond that joins us to Israel’s security and to our enduring bonds of friendship.

Thank you so much, Prime Minister.

PRIME MINISTER OLMERT: Thank you

Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton sworn in (text)

Swearing-in Ceremony for Secretary of State (Part 2)

Part 1 took place in her office with Madame Secretary's childhood friend and DC Court of Appeals Associate Judge Kathryn Oberly swore her in on her father's Bible. Mr Bill was there. Below in the blue highlight is her friendly dig at Mr Bill. See the video. Mrs Rodham gets a chuckle and looks at S-I-L.

February 02, 2009
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC

(Applause.) Thank you all very much. Thank you. It is an overwhelming honor to be sworn in to assume this position on behalf of our country. I thank my dear friend, Vice President Biden, and I thank President Obama for investing the trust and confidence in me during a particularly challenging time in our nation's history. I look out and see so many friends and colleagues. I particularly want to thank the Speaker and the Majority Leader, Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid for being here and for providing the leadership that you both are doing in the Congress.

I also want to thank my colleagues in government and my former partners in the Congress. I am very grateful to all the members of the House who are here today, and particularly those with whom I served over eight wonderful years who represent New York. And I'm very grateful to all of you.

And to my friends in the Senate, I see the faces of people with whom I have shared so much, and I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you. But I have to single out the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee who, after all, presided over my confirmation, for which I am very grateful, Senator Kerry. (Laughter and Applause.)

[I would laugh at that line as well! - Susan] And I look forward to working with all of you, particularly the appropriators – (laughter) – who are here this afternoon. We have a lot of work to do and it is such important work that lies ahead. I also want to thank two wonderful friends of mine, governors, Governor Corzine from New Jersey, and Governor O'Malley from Maryland who are here. (Applause.)

And I am particularly honored to have four of my predecessors with us today. I have sought their advice and their counsel and I have to publicly thank each and every one of them. With us today, Secretary Kissinger and Secretary Baker and Secretary Eagleburger and, of course, my dear friend and fellow Wellesley alum Secretary Albright. (Applause.) And I also want to thank Secretary Rice and Secretary Powell and Secretary Shultz, with whom I had a wonderful visit just last week when he came to the seventh floor, and Secretary Haig – all of the former secretaries of state who have been so generous with their time. And I think I can predict I will be asking for advice as we move forward.

Because this ceremony takes place at a real hinge of history time, there is so much that lies ahead in terms of challenges, but also opportunities. When I came into this building for the first time a week or so ago now, I told the assembled State Department employees, and then repeated it again at USAID, that we are all on the same team, and it is America's team. And we have, in the leadership of President Obama, someone who wants us to reach out to the world, to do so without illusions, understanding that the difficulties we face will not be wished away, but meeting them forthrightly and smartly, and that we want to seize the opportunities that exist as well.

I talked in my confirmation hearings about smart power. Well, smart power relies on smart people, and we have an abundance of them in this building and at USAID. But I've also told my teammates in the State family that we're going to have to be smarter about how we do what we must for our country. There are many ways that we can improve on what we do on a daily basis. And I want to work with my friends in Congress on behalf of our Administration to really look for those efficiencies and those changes that will make what we do more effective, more cost-effective, so that we can be out there around the world delivering America's message, certainly doing all we must to protect and defend our security, but also advancing our interests and furthering our values.

So for me, this has been an amazing personal journey. As Joe laughingly referenced, neither one of us thought that we would be standing here together, doing what we are now doing together. Life has a funny way of unfolding and politics is even stranger. So we are joined in this incredible mission on behalf of our President and our country. And it's one where it's not only those of us holding positions, whether elected or appointed, must perform to the very best of our ability. We're asking everyone in our country to think about how each of you can make a contribution so that we ensure that America's future is even brighter than our storied past.

I'm excited by seeing so many familiar faces. There are friends in this audience who have known me my entire life. And there is the next generation, you know, my niece and my two nephews who are here. I get up every morning thinking about what I must do to make this world of ours safer and more prosperous and to make our country all that it can be. As difficult as the times are, I am an optimist. I believe that we can do what we set our minds to do. And so it is the power of our ideals and the intelligence and dedication of our people.

I could not be standing here before you today without all of you, but in particular, the three people who stand with me on this stage. It's literally true I wouldn't be here without my mother. (Laughter.) And so I – (applause) – I'm especially delighted that she can be with me. And to my daughter, who I am just bursting with maternal pride over, but who I look to also for advice and, frankly, for some cultural cues that I might otherwise miss. (Laughter.)

And finally, to my husband, who understands so well the awesome responsibilities resting on the shoulders of President Obama and Vice President Biden and all of us who serve with them. I am so grateful to him for a lifetime of all kinds of experiences – (laughter) – which have given me a – (applause) – which have given me an extraordinary richness that I am absolutely beholden to and grateful for.

So now, let me thank Gladys and her crackerjack protocol operation that put this together. We had to schedule it around two schedules that were hard to mesh: Vice President Biden and Chelsea Clinton. (Laughter.) When we finally got a time when both of them could be in the same place, we rushed to fill it. (Laughter.) So if you're wondering why you didn't get an invitation until Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it's because we just had to make sure that we had the main people here.

But I do want to greet all of you individually, and obviously, my family wants to say hello as well. So we're hard at work already, and we're working hard with a great team of people here in this building and at USAID. And we're looking forward to fulfilling the excitement and the promise that the Obama Administration represents here at home and around the world.

Thank you all very, very much.

(Applause.)

Mr President gives first interview to Arab TV

January 26 , 2009

barry gives first official interview as POTUS to Al-Arabiya's Washington bureau chief and Lebanese born, Hisham Melhem.

How much was the pay to talk? If the $2M ABC gave him for his first post-Inauguration chat wasn't enough to wake his obamerized press corps this certainly was.

PART 1

munashik

PART 2

Munashik

TEXT

barry golfed while Gaza burned

January 16, 2009

TIME has a You Tube collection of Bush being Bush. In the group is the infamous golf swing and the caption below.

courtesy of Leo120

Made famous by Michael Moore's documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, this scene from 2002 of Bush following up a screed against "terrorist killers" with a golf swing spelled disaster for his reputation. Really, Mr. President? Suicide bombings in Israel and you're showing off your form."

It seems they have forgotten our President-elect playing golf while Gaza burned, issuing not a single statement under the guise of "one president only" - even as he spoke out and was managing the economy.

Shhh...there's only one president at a time...when it comes to making a stand.

(Reuters)

It's time to drop the blinders and get real. Focus on what barry should be and hasn't been doing instead of what Bush has or has not done.

Egyptians and Jordanians:

[Personal view not associated with this site.]

January 4, 2008

Where are you and what are you doing?

Those are your neighbors.

Your land and people are just as vulnerable and yet you stay silent and expect others to calm what is happening and has been happening in your own backyard.

You are just as complicit by doing nothing.

How can you possibly condemn the West?

How many Hamas terrorists have come from within your borders?

How many are seeking refuge right this minute?

How many sick, hungry and injured women and children seeking care and refuge have you allowed through your borders?

How much aid have you sent in?

What has the Arab League done?

How dare you condemn the West when you sit on your hands and do nothing.

Your inaction has allowed this to escalate.

Take responsibility for what you have not done and are still not doing.

You cannot hide anymore.

Your cowardice has been exposed to the entire world.

How long will you allow it to continue?

When is the Arab world going to speak out against Hamas?

[Personal views not connected to this site]

January 4, 2009

Why is there no outrage until Israel defends itself?

Why do we only see women and children when they can be used as propaganda to incite more hate?

Where were the protests against Hamas when they fired indiscriminately without retaliation?

Who in the Arab world has done anything to stop them?

How many other countries have vowed to annihilate Israel?

How many secretly hope someone else will?

Who voted Hamas into power?

Why are they anyone else's fault but the people who brought them to power?

What have Gazans done themselves to root out Hamas?

Who has allowed Hamas to build tunnels and amass weaponry?

What has been done to prevent them from using innocent civilians as a shield to provoke more violence?

How are Westerners to feel when they hear Hamas vow to torture and kill Israelis and hear nothing but silence from the rest of the Arab world?

How can you demand the UN do something when you have done nothing to stop the hate yourselves?

When did the Arab League meet to try to reach a resolution?

And what is Hamas doing now?

Inciting with their words of unvarnished hate.

Words that have not been condemned.

How are these words to be taken?

ISMAIL RADWAN

You entered like rats. Your entry to Gaza won't be easy. Gaza will be a graveyard for you, God willing.

Gaza will not be paved with flowers for you. It will be paved with fire and hell.

A text message sent by Hamas' military wing, Izzedine al-Qassam, said "the Zionists started approaching the trap which our fighters prepared for them." Hamas said it also broadcast a Hebrew message on Israeli military radio frequencies promising to kill and kidnap the Israeli soldiers.

Be prepared for a unique surprise, you will be either killed or kidnapped and will suffer mental illness from the horrors we will show you.

Where was the outrage when these evil words were spit?

Where is your concern for the innocents he will allow to be injured and killed because of them?

One condones by saying nothing and doing nothing.

The whole world is watching and in the meantime thousands of people are suffering and more to come.

One week there is jubilance and honor bestowed on a man who attacked President Bush because of his involvement in Iraq and the next week there is outrage for his non-involvement in Gaza.

You can't have it both ways.

One must clean the rats out of one's own house before one complains about the filth in another's.

President Bush's radio address

January 2, 2009

President Bush's radio address:[emphasis added]

Over the past week, I have been monitoring the situation in the Middle East closely with the members of my national security team. Secretary Rice is actively engaged in diplomacy. And I've been in contact with leaders throughout the region -- including the King of Saudi Arabia, the King of Jordan, the President of Egypt, the President and Prime Minister of the Palestinian Territories, and the Prime Minister of Israel.

This recent outburst of violence was instigated by Hamas -- a Palestinian terrorist group supported by Iran and Syria that calls for Israel's destruction. Eighteen months ago, Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in a coup, and since then has imported thousands of guns and rockets and mortars. Egypt brokered a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, but Hamas routinely violated that ceasefire by launching rockets into Israel. On December 19th, Hamas announced an end to the ceasefire and soon unleashed a barrage of rockets and mortars that deliberately targeted innocent Israelis -- an act of terror that is opposed by the legitimate leader of the Palestinian people, President Abbas.

In response to these attacks on their people, the leaders of Israel have launched military operations on Hamas positions in Gaza. As a part of their strategy, Hamas terrorists often hide within the civilian population, which puts innocent Palestinians at risk. [utter cowards] Regrettably, Palestinian civilians have been killed in recent days.

The United States is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation facing the Palestinian people. Since Hamas's violent takeover in the summer of 2007, living conditions have worsened for Palestinians in Gaza. By spending its resources on rocket launchers instead of roads and schools, Hamas has demonstrated that it has no intention of serving the Palestinian people. America has helped by providing tens of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid, and this week we contributed an additional $85 million through the United Nations. We have consistently called on all in the region to ensure that assistance reaches those in need. And as I told President Mubarak, America appreciates the role Egypt has played in facilitating the delivery of relief supplies in recent days.

In addition to reducing humanitarian suffering, all nations must work toward a lasting end to the violence in the Holy Land, and a return to the path of peace. The United States is leading diplomatic efforts to achieve a meaningful ceasefire that is fully respected. Another one-way ceasefire that leads to rocket attacks on Israel is not acceptable. And promises from Hamas will not suffice -- there must be monitoring mechanisms in place to help ensure that smuggling of weapons to terrorist groups in Gaza comes to an end. I urge all parties to pressure Hamas to turn away from terror, and to support legitimate Palestinian leaders working for peace.

In the days ahead, the United States will stay closely engaged with our partners in the region, in Europe, and in the international community. My Administration will continue to keep the President-elect and his team informed. And America's objectives in the Middle East will remain clear: We seek security and peace for our allies, the free people of Israel. For the Palestinian people, we seek a peaceful and democratic Palestinian state that serves its citizens and respects its neighbors. For all in the region, we seek an end to terror. And we seek an enduring peace based on justice, dignity, and human rights for every person in every nation of the Middle East.

Cheney: Israel didn't seek clearance or approval

January 4, 2008

AP's BEN FELLER

VP DICK CHENEY:

[Israel] didn't seek clearance or approval from us, certainly.

They have said, now, for a period of months — they told me on my last trip over there — that they didn't want to have to act, where Gaza was concerned. They had gotten out of there three years ago. But if the rocketing didn't stop, they felt they had no choice but to take action. And if they did, they would be very aggressive, in terms of trying to take down Hamas. And that's exactly what's happened.

HARRY REID:

I think what the Israelis are doing is very important. I think this terrorist organization, Hamas, has got to be put away. They've got to come to their senses.

MITCH MCCONNELL:

Hamas is a terrorist organization. Imagine in this country (the U.S.) if somebody from a neighboring country were lobbing shells at our population. We'd do exactly the same thing. I think the Israelis are doing the only thing they can possibly do to defend their population.

While the Arab world sits...silent

January 4, 2009

[Personal view not associated with this site.]

CNN: UN Security Council - no agreement

Libyan Ambassador Giadalla Ettalhi:

Unfortunately, the delegation of the United States has a clear position that is against any product or outcome from this meeting.

And the daughter of Moammar Gadhafi awarding the shoe thrower a medal of courage?

Who can take you seriously?

Blaming the US isn't going to work this time.

The US has her own troubles and is tired of your senseless violence.

It is time the Arab world to police its own savages.

If Hamas wasn't allowed to exist then Palestinians would not be being attacked.

Why the sudden urgency now that Israel - a recognized nation - not a terrorist regime - is defending her citizens?

Is the entire Arab World afraid of Iran?

Where were the meetings of the Arab League when Hamas disregarded the cease fire and began their unprovoked bombing of Israeli civilians?

Where was the concern for the innocent Palestinians then?

The entire world now knows you are not interested in the plight of the suffering Palestinians.

Where is the call to Hamas to stop hiding like emasculated filthy vermin in the midst of innocent women and children?

Why do they stockpile food and medical supplies so the citizens have none?

Why have you been allowing it?

Why do we only see women and children on Arab TV when they can be used as propaganda to promote hate and more violence?

Why do we see groups of able-bodied men standing by and doing nothing to help the victims?

Why do non-Arab nations have to try to resolve something Arab nations have allowed to continue and even encouraged?

By doing nothing and allowing the violence to continue, the entire Arab world is guilty.

You cannot hide it anymore.

Anti-Semitic propaganda can't hide it anymore.

Hate for Western infidels cannot hide it anymore.

It is loud and clear.

As is the European Union's complacency and lack of involvement.

Only now are they stepping in when it is clear the US refuses to give in to terror.

How much money has France given toward humanitarian rescue of the innocent Palestinians?

How many Arab and European countries have opened their borders to the suffering Palestinians?

Egypt - is it easier to get arms in or allow refugees out?

Who in the Arab world has true courage?

Courage that does not involve human detonation?

Why type of mother allows her child to be used as an explosive device?

What type of mother willingly lies down with a man who seeks only to breed more hate?

What type of mother brings life into existence only to see her own flesh and blood willingly destroy another mother's flesh and blood?

How is that an honorable death? An honorable life?

How is that anything other than delusional madness?

Is there nothing sacred in the Arab world?

For if every human life is not sacred - even your enemy's - then none are.

Not even your own.

Arab women stand up for yourselves and stop the violence.

Now.

You hold the power of peace within your hands and your wombs.

The West sees your plight but you have to want to change.

You must stand up for yourselves and the human lives you willingly create.

Stop mutilating your daughters' genitals.

Have the courage to stand up and say no more.

It is not a custom unless you choose to perpetuate it.

It is an unnecessary act of savagery.

It is a crime against all women.

And it is an act against God who created your child as she should be.

Which Arab country is going to lead the way?

You have been exposed - every single one of you.

The whole world is watching you stand by and do nothing but scream more hate and promise years of retribution.

What is a moderate Arab nation when you do nothing to intervene before the violence escalates?

You are cowards.

You do not seek peace.

You thrive on violence, using Islam as a shield.

No true religion uses a Holy Book and Holy teachings to promote death and destruction.

None of you truly care about the Palestinian people other than as pawns to incite and justify violence.

How else to interpret your inaction?

How long before you give fleeing Hamas members refuge, money, weaponry and a ride to Iraq or Afghanistan or New York to displace their hate on Americans?

It will no longer work.

Your apathy and tacit approval has been exposed.

Your desire to incite hate and your now patently obvious reluctance to broker peace has been exposed.

Who among you would not be doing what Hamas is doing if you could get away with it?

How many of you are funding Hamas? Feeding them? Outfitting them with arms and intelligence?

Fighting alongside them? Allowing them to train in your lands?

Hamas is surrounded on all sides. They are not capable of violence without external assistance.

The Arab world is and has been helping them.

That cannot be masked with 24 hour news coverage of bloody victims.

What civilized nation shows such images simply to promote hate?

To ensure innocent children grow up hating like their parents just to keep the conflict breeding?

How many of your camera crews help the injured women and children they so callously film?

Have you no souls?

How much dignity does a woman or young girl have in the Arab world if her hair covering and clothing are ripped open while she lies suffering just to film her injury?

How is the world to respect you when you don't respect the dignity of your own women and children even in their naked moments of suffering?

Is there nothing sacred in the Arab world?

Where was your concern for the innocent Palestinians when weapons, men and money were smuggled in to Hamas?

How can you look at the world with an honest face and expect us to believe you knew nothing and contributed nothing to aid in their fight?

You are guilty.

All of you.

It can no longer be hidden.

Your laying blame on non-Arab countries will no longer work.

You have been exposed as nations who do not seek peace.

Therefore, you are nations who sanction war.

Nothing will change that.

Not even God or Allah as a justification for a "Holy War".

Have you no shame at your impotence?

Root out the pestilence within your own garden before you complain about your neighbor's infestation.

You have allowed Hamas to remain in power.

They are there because they serve your purpose: the complete destruction of Israel.

Just like Hezbollah, al Qaeda and other radical Islamic extremists who thrive unsanctioned within your borders.

It is your fault and your fault alone this is happening.

You allow terrorism to incubate and thrive, you suffer the consequences.

But it is the Palestinians suffering because of your laziness and cowardice.

You allow Iran to dictate the violence in your own backyards.

You are just as impotent as the Palestinians.

The West's sympathy is for the innocent victims - not the Arab World who sits by silent.

For that there is no disdain greater, no more wicked a sin.

The West now knows exactly who you are and what you are truly interested in.

You are not interested in the suffering of the Palestinians.

You are not interested in promoting peace.

You are not interested in affording your women and children basic human rights.

You are interested in the annihilation of Israel and her women and children.

You are interested in the destruction of democracy and equality under the law.

You are interested in promoting terrorism and indiscriminate death and destruction.

And for that you will aways be viewed as hate-filled nations and Islam - the allegedly justification you hide behind - will always be viewed as a religion of hate.

Do you want to change this perception?

Do something.

Do something that involves goodness - not hate.

Until then you will be viewed as despicable nations who do not value the sanctity of human life.

barry: Israeli-Palestinian conflict

January 4, 2009

Shh...there's only one president at a time...

(REUTERS)

2- 25-08 OBAMA statement

Barack Obama's longstanding support for Israel's security is rooted in his belief that no civilians should have to live with the threat of terrorism. In Gaza, Hamas continues to fire rockets indiscriminately at Israeli civilians every day, and that's why it is long past time that Hamas renounces terrorism, recognizes Israel's right to exist, and abides by past agreements.

3-2-08 OBAMA on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas suspended peace negotiations with Israel in reaction to an Israeli offensive in Gaza.

The violence in Gaza is the result of Hamas' decision to launch rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and Israel has a right to defend itself. I remain very concerned about the fate of civilians and urge Israel to do all it can to avoid civilian deaths and to keep its focus on Hamas, which bears responsibility for these events.

6-4-08 AIPAC

Our alliance is based on shared interests and shared values. Those who threaten Israel threaten us. Israel has always faced these threats on the front lines. And I will bring to the White House an unshakeable commitment to Israel's security.

That starts with ensuring Israel's qualitative military advantage. I will ensure that Israel can defend itself from any threat — from Gaza to Tehran. Defense cooperation between the United States and Israel is a model of success, and must be deepened.

...We should export military equipment to our ally Israel under the same guidelines as NATO. And I will always stand up for Israel's right to defend itself in the United Nations and around the world.

Across the political spectrum, Israelis understand that real security can only come through lasting peace. And that is why we — as friends of Israel — must resolve to do all we can to help Israel and its neighbors to achieve it. Because a secure, lasting peace is in Israel's national interest. It is in America's national interest. And it is in the interest of the Palestinian people and the Arab world. As president, I will work to help Israel achieve the goal of two states, a Jewish state of Israel and a Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security.

...The long road to peace requires Palestinian partners committed to making the journey. We must isolate Hamas unless and until they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel's right to exist, and abide by past agreements. There is no room at the negotiating table for terrorist organizations. That is why I opposed holding elections in 2006 with Hamas on the ballot. The Israelis and the Palestinian Authority warned us at the time against holding these elections. But this administration pressed ahead, and the result is a Gaza controlled by Hamas, with rockets raining down on Israel.

...I will strongly urge Arab governments to take steps to normalize relations with Israel, and to fulfill their responsibility to pressure extremists and provide real support for President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayyad. Egypt must cut off the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. Israel can also advance the cause of peace by taking appropriate steps — consistent with its security — to ease the freedom of movement for Palestinians, improve economic conditions in the West Bank, and to refrain from building new settlements — as it agreed to with the Bush administration at Annapolis.

Israel's security is sacrosanct. It is non-negotiable. The Palestinians need a state that is contiguous and cohesive, and that allows them to prosper — but any agreement with the Palestinian people must preserve Israel's identity as a Jewish state, with secure, recognized and defensible borders. Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.

...But Israel is strong enough to achieve peace, if it has partners who are committed to the goal. Most Israelis and Palestinians want peace, and we must strengthen their hand. The United States must be a strong and consistent partner in this process — not to force concessions, but to help committed partners avoid stalemate and the kind of vacuums that are filled by violence.

The threats to Israel start close to home, but they don't end there. Syria continues its support for terror and meddling in Lebanon. And Syria has taken dangerous steps in pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, which is why Israeli action was justified to end that threat.

...I also believe that the United States has a responsibility to support Israel's efforts to renew peace talks with the Syrians. We must never force Israel to the negotiating table, but neither should we ever block negotiations when Israel's leaders decide that they may serve Israeli interests.

.....Finally, let there be no doubt: I will always keep the threat of military action on the table to defend our security and our ally Israel. Sometimes there are no alternatives to confrontation. But that only makes diplomacy more important. If we must use military force, we are more likely to succeed, and will have far greater support at home and abroad, if we have exhausted our diplomatic efforts.

7-23-08 Sderot, Israel

Now let me just close by saying that I bring to Sderot, an unshakeable commitment to Israel's security. The state of Israel faces determined enemies who seek its destruction. But it also has a friend and ally in the United States that will always stand by the people of Israel. That's why I'm proud to be here today and that's why I will work from the moment that I return to America, to tell the story of Sderot and to make sure that the good people who live here are enjoying a future of peace and security and hope.

I continued to say that Jerusalem will be the capital of Israel. And I have said that before and I will say it again. And I also have said that it is important that we don't simply slice the city in half. But I've also said that that's a final status issue. That's an issue that has to be dealt with with the parties involved, the Palestinians and the Israelis. And it's not the job of the United States to dictate the form in which that will take, but rather to support the efforts that are being made right now to resolve these very difficult issues that have a long history.

What is also true is I believe it is strongly in the interests of Israel's security to arrive at a lasting peace with the Palestinian people.

Asked by the New York Times whether Israel should negotiate with Hamas in Gaza:

I don't think any country would find it acceptable to have missiles raining down on the heads of their citizens.

The first job of any nation state is to protect its citizens. And so I can assure you that if -- I don't even care if I was a politician.

If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I'm going to do everything in my power to stop that.

And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.

In terms of negotiations with Hamas, it is very hard to negotiate with a group that is not representative of a nation state, does not recognize your right to exist, has consistently used terror as a weapon, and is deeply influenced by other countries. I think that Hamas leadership will have to make a decision at some point as to whether it is a serious political party seeking to represent the aspirations of the Palestinian people. And, as a consequence, willing to recognize Israel's right to exist and renounce violence as a tool to achieve its aims. Or whether it wants to continue to operate as a terrorist organization. Until that point, it's hard for Israel, I think, to negotiate with a country that -- or with a group that doesn't recognize Israel's right to exist.

HAMAS Official:

[Obama's] remarks today give cover for the occupation's nonstop crimes against our people.

12-27-08 BROOKE ANDERSON, Chief National Security spokeswoman:

President-elect Obama is closely monitoring global events, including the situation in Gaza, but there is one president at a time.

OBAMA transition aide:

[Obama and Condolezza Rice] discussed the situations in Gaza and in South Asia. The president-elect appreciated the call and the information from Secretary Rice. He will continue to closely monitor these and other global events. The call lasted approximately eight minutes and was initiated by the president-elect.

Ehud Olmert & Ismail Radwan statements

January 5, 2009

CNN
Israeli Prime Minister EHUD OLMERT:

[The Israeli army's objectives were to] strike at the military infrastructure that Hamas has established and to take control of the areas from which most of the missiles have been fired at Israeli territory.

Hamas has fired 220 rockets into southern Israel in the past week from the areas of Gaza that Israeli troops have now entered.

In a responsible and determined country. It cannot be that the home front will be subject to attack and a daring, strong and well-trained military does not defend it.

We did not reach this conclusion lightly. For many months, we gave the calm a chance in the hope of avoiding a wide-ranging military operation. Our hopes were dashed.

This operation was unavoidable.

[Israel would not] allow a humanitarian crisis to be created in the Gaza Strip. We will help supply food and medicines like any enlightened and moral country must do.

The unenlightened: Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan with Fawzi Barhoum (Gaza Hamas) blinking in Morse Code next to him. His hands are so pale he must truly be living in a cave. Listen to their concern for the innocent civilians they are cowardly hiding amongst and watch the glee when he talks of killing.

To the Israeli Army: Your incursion in Gaza will not be a picnic. And we promise you that Gaza will be your cemetery. God willing.

You have no choice but to end this aggression and end the siege without any condition. You will not live in peace until our Palestinian people live in peace.

We will not abandon the battlefield, and we will stay on the thorny course, and we will fight until the last breath.

child marriages continue unabated in the Arab world

childhood marriages continue unabated in the Arab world