IRIS Blog Comments

laminat: Hamas Prepares for West Bank Takeover

anemnesty2@mail.ru (laminat) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:07:08 -0500

Barak: Olmert Steps Down

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 23:01:02 -0500

You ask the $64,000 question: how did Olmert last so long with single-digit popularity a country famous for its unstable coalition governments.

My own belief is what I had been predicting all along--Kadima is a "non-ideological"government, meaning that it has been held together by mutual self-interest. The government would have had to vote itself out of office, which parasites exploiting their power were far from likely to do.

As far as the anti-comment spam suggestion, we use the Serendipity anti-spam plug-in, but the comment spam attacks were apparently too powerful for it.

Wingless: Olmert Steps Down

wingless.aoriginality.com (Wingless) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:32:55 -0500

Olmert leaving is a good thing. I do have to wonder however, why wasn't the government brought down earlier. Israeli parties are plentiful so one party never gets a majority - the party with the most votes often has to form loose 'coalitions' with other parties to be able to govern effectively (o/w no bill would ever get the 51% and the government would be effectively powerless). THIS MEANS THAT IT'S MUCH EASIER TO BRING DOWN A GOVERNMENT.

Everyone knows Olmert is a corrupt, incompetent creaton, but why didn't Ehud Barake withdraw labour and bring down the government a long time ago?!

The answer is obvious: Bringing down the Olmert government would mean Netanyahu's party would likely win the early election, therby limiting Labour's power. Still, SINCE WHEN DO ISRAELI POLITICIANS, esp LIFELONG WAR HEROES LIKE EHUD BARAK PUT CAREER AHEAD OF COUNTRY?!

It's a very sad state of affairs.

BTW: Regarding spam, there are plenty of FREE anti-spam plugins you can use with almost every comment-program. We use AKISMET, it's excellent, it not only filters spam but also fraudulent TRACKBACKS/PINGBACKS from fake sites...

I am at:
wingless.aoriginality.com

Sam: Olmert Steps Down

barak@iris.org.il (Sam) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:11:32 -0500

Like Peres, Olmert is just real hard to get rid of.

Barak: Olmert Steps Down

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:25:35 -0500

At long last, we have re-enabled comments. Unfortunately unceasing comment spam attacks have forced us to disable this until now. Hopefully we won't have to disable them again soon...

Barak: Despite 'Global Warming' Record Cold Hits NYC

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:13:26 -0500

That's a wonderful sophistry. Hot weather is proof of Global Warming. Cold weather is proof of Global Warming. The only thing you're missing is an excuse to say that stable temperatures are proof of Global Warming. That's what's been occurring in the Southern Hemisphere: almost no change at all.

(Source: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1113608/posts)

oy: Despite 'Global Warming' Record Cold Hits NYC

oy@rread.il (oy) — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:27:48 -0500

look up the definition of global warming. it doesnt mean global heating, it means environmental impact. strange weather patterns - cold hot or otherwize are all part of "global warming". your headline expresses your ignorance of what global warming means.

Elisheva: Barack Obama: 'We're Just Air-Raiding Villages and Killing Civilians'

Dovid_Protect@yahoo.com (Elisheva) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:47:49 -0500

Greetings:
I noticed that you had Daniel Pipes on the radio show.
You also called him a "Middle east Scholar".
You should know that Pipes is anti-Israel, and should not be supported by anyone who cares about Israel.
He is part of the CFR clan.
He thinks that "land for peace" is a good equation, and that it is just a matter of time.
He has attacked Barry Chamish, in a lame effort to repress the press; and threatened to sue Reuven Korvet and his site, unless they stopped posting from Barry.

764210723: Hamas Sets Up New Security Force in Gaza

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Dan Friedman: Gaza Becomes Al Qaeda Hothouse

topcopy@mindspring.com (Dan Friedman) — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 19:42:59 -0500

"Prior to the Gaza withdrawal, the Left opined that 'ending the occupation' would eliminate the essential grievance fueling Palestinian terror."

And virtually every US conservative pundit thought Sharon had a brilliant idea too. And to this day virtually of them stick by their support then, or say nothing.

Leila: UK Muslim Honor Killing: Wife & Daughters Burned Alive

forallwomen@gmail.com (Leila) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 20:25:35 -0500

I've been reading up on all this, most recently a book entitled "Reclaiming Honor in Jordan" by Ellen R. Sheeley (available on Amazon), and honor killings actually predate Islam by far. They are believed to have their origins in misinterpretations of pre-Islamic tribal codes. Thus, it is a little unfair to blame either Islam or the tribes for this sorry state of affairs.

Nonetheless, Huda, you are correct in noting that in many Arab/Muslim countries, these crimes go virtually unpunished. In Jordan, three penal code articles actually offer leniency to the perpetrators. The murders are considered only misdemeanors, and the average sentence for them is only six months. In addition, most (but not all) honor killings occur in Arab/Muslim countries and in Arab/Muslim immigrant communities outside the Arab/Muslim world. So something is obviously breaking down, whether it's cultural, misunderstandings about what Islam does and does not condone, whatever.

Personally, I don't understand the lack of outrage in the Arab/Muslim community about these crimes. Sometimes it seems to me outsiders care more about our girls and women than we do.

Daniel Feiglin: Why Are We So Scared of Offending Muslims?

dilogsys@inter.net.il (Daniel Feiglin) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 09:31:00 -0500

The main problem with Islam, is that its canonical text, the Quran lack four critical words:

"Thou shalt not kill."

CaryK: Why Are We So Scared of Offending Muslims?

barak@iris.org.il (CaryK) — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:58:16 -0500

Let me flip the title question around to ask "Why do the Muslims suppose that they must defend their god?"

Who will be the Joash of our day?

Judges 6:30-31 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.