Category Archives: 99c Blogging

The ‘Metrics’ of Obama’s Vietnam

Why is the Administration conducting a “test run” for its metrics of success in Afghanistan? Because the metrics used will be those that provide the desired verdict Continue reading

Posted in 99c Blogging | 14 Comments

Is Israel Planning to Provoke Iran?


My, oh my, where would we be without a free press in Israel?

Haaretz’s Aluf Benn today not only outlines how Netanyahu is continuing to build momentum — and public expectation — for war with Iran, but he also offers some insights into just how the Israelis might go about positioning themselves for a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities — by making “a strike against a valuable target for the Iranian regime which leads Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Ahmadinejad to take action against ‘the Zionist regime.’ If Iran attacks Israel first, the element of surprise will be lost, but then Israel’s strike against the nuclear installations will be considered self-defense.” In other words, if you suddenly read that Israel has assassinated Hizballah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, you’ll know the wider game plan…

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Posted in 99c Blogging, Situation Report | 25 Comments

Can Bibi Force Abbas to ‘Recognize’ an Oxymoron?


Satmar Hasidim, burying their rebbe: If they don’t recognize Israel as a “Jewish State”, why should the Palestinians?

In his own version of the evasion game that has become tradition for Israeli leaders when pressed by the U.S. and others to conclude a two-state peace agreement, Bibi Netanyahu has insisted that before he’ll talk to Mahmoud Abbas, the PLO Chairman would first have to recognize Israel as a “Jewish State” and “the national home of the Jewish people”.

Excuse me?

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Posted in 99c Blogging, Situation Report | 21 Comments

Bet on a Pakistan Coup

When the head of the military warns the government to behave, you know what’s coming next. Particularly when the general appears to have Washington’s blessing Continue reading

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Israel & the Man Next Door…

Talking to Hamas is okay, as long as the negotiators are in separate rooms… Continue reading

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Oren, Historian Armed

The LA Times might list him as an academic, but Michael Oren’s op ed was quite literally in the line of military duty Continue reading

Posted in 99c Blogging | 19 Comments

‘Legimitizing’ Hamas

Tzipi Livni says Israel can’t have a cease-fire with Hamas because that would “legitimize” the organization. Actually, Hamas’ legitimacy is beyond question, having been democratically elected to govern the Palestinians in 2006. And Israel knows it will eventually have to … Continue reading

Posted in 99c Blogging | 6 Comments

Jonathan Alter is an Idiot

The Middle East sage tells us the main obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace is Yasser Arafat Continue reading

Posted in 99c Blogging | 3 Comments

U.S. Getting Real on Hamas?

Hamas leader claims indirect contact from Washington. About time, too! Continue reading

Posted in 99c Blogging | 12 Comments

Hamas as ‘Willie Horton’

By insisting that he never advocated talking to Hamas, Obama digs himself a hole — anyone who seeks peace in the Middle East will have to talk to Hamas Continue reading

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