IRIS Blog

Saudi Official: Marrying Infant is Permissible

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-08-04T15:06:52Z

Western apologists parrot the line that extremists twist the Koran, when it is they who are doing the spinning:

There is no minimal age for entering marriage. You can have a marriage contract even with a one-year-old girl, not to mention a girl of nine, seven, or eight. This is merely a contract [indicating] consent. The guardian in such a case must be the father, because the father's opinion is obligatory. Thus, the girl becomes a wife...

But is the girl ready for sex or not? What is the appropriate age for having sex for the first time? This varies according to environment and traditions. In Yemen, girls are married off at nine, ten, 11, eight, or 13, while in other countries, they are married off at 16. Some countries have legislated laws forbidding having sex before the girl is 18....

The Prophet Muhammad is the model we follow. He took 'Aisha to be his wife when she was six, but he had sex with her only when she was nine."

Christian Pogrom Incited Over Mosque Loudspeakers

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-08-04T14:55:35Z

Here is an update on a previous story. It should be noted that because of universal persecution, the only non-Muslim population growing in a Muslim-majority area is Israel. All others are fleeing:

For a second consecutive night some 580 students from the Arastamar Evangelical School of Theology (SETIA) in East Jakarta slept in the lobby of Indonesias parliament yesterday following demonstrations against the school that left at least 17 students injured.

Urged on by announcements from a mosque loudspeaker to drive out the unwanted neighbor, hundreds of protestors shouting Allahu-Akbar [God is greater] and brandishing machetes, sharpened bamboo and acid continued to attack 1,400 students and school staff members even as they were evacuated over the weekend (July 26-27).

Besides the students in the parliamentary building, hundreds of others were evacuated to area denominational and medical facilities. The violence took place in spite of the efforts of 400 police officers summoned after tensions erupted on Friday (July 25).

Students and school staff taking refuge in the parliament building lobby asked government officials to return them to the college and guarantee their safety there. They talked with members of parliament, particularly from the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS), a Christian party led by Karol Daniel Kadang.

The parliamentary members promised the students, staff members and their lawyers that they would contact the head of the National Police Department to file a complaint about officers who failed to protect them during the July 25-27 violence that caused 85 million rupiahs (US$9,325) in damages.

Lawyers for the students and staff members also demanded capture of those responsible for the violence, as well as the firing of the mayor of East Jakarta, known as Murdani, for blaming the Christian students whom he referred to as a minority group that should behave.

A seemingly harmless incident touched off the protests. Local sources said that at 10:30 p.m. on Friday (July 25), two SETIA students, Julius Koli and Jonny Gontoh, returned to their dormitory to find a large rat, and one of them threw his sandal at it. The sandal fell onto a neighbors property, and when the two went there to retrieve the sandal, area residents shouted Thieves!

By midnight mobs had formed and were attacking two male dormitories. At 2:30 a.m., mobs had reached the third floor of one of the dormitories and were trying to burn it down. Local sources said that when they set the building on fire, gasoline spilled onto the leg of one of the attackers, and they ran away.

Hamas Prepares for West Bank Takeover

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-08-04T14:33:15Z

Here are two articles that show the writing on the wall. The PA is essentially a front for the receipt of Western cash and Israeli land concessions, which will be left in place as long as it serves the interests of Hamas:

Peace Talks with PA Purely Cosmetic

According to the IDF General Staff, the IDF is the only force preventing a Hamas takeover in the West Bank. The talks between Israel and the PA are purely cosmetic, since Israel's negotiating partner does not represent any real political force.

Anyone who is counting on Fatah to reform itself in order to serve as a counterweight to Hamas in the West Bank is fooling himself.

If Israel frees Hamas' West Bank political leadership - which was arrested two years ago in the wake of the kidnapping of Cpl. Gilad Shalit - in a prisoner exchange for Shalit, this will only help Hamas to take over of the West Bank.

This article confirms the above assessment:

Hamas Prepares for West Bank Takeover
With the most recent fighting, Hamas has ended the role of Fatah in Gaza and is patiently organizing toward the next stage, which includes the takeover the West Bank.

This is to occur after the completion of a prisoner-exchange deal for Gilad Shalit, in which key Hamas cadres and parliament members will be released from jail and return to the West Bank.

Hamas' Christian Convert: I've Left a Society that Sanctifies Terror

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-07-31T19:48:47Z

Yet another person who risked his life to convert from Islam has risked his life to speak the truth about the societal obsession with genocide that Israel (and the world) faces:

Masab, son of West Bank Hamas leader and MP Sheikh Hassan Yousef, has become a Christian. He says, "You Jews should be aware: You will never, but never have peace with Hamas. Islam, as the ideology that guides them, will not allow them to achieve a peace agreement with the Jews. They believe that tradition says that the Prophet Mohammed fought against the Jews and that therefore they must continue to fight them to the death." "An entire society sanctifies death and the suicide terrorists. In Palestinian culture a suicide terrorist becomes a hero, a martyr. Sheikhs tell their students about the 'heroism of the shaheeds.'"

Journalists Begin to Question Coverup of John Edwards Scandal

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-07-31T18:50:09Z

John Edwards, a liberal Senator and short-list contender for the Vice Presidency, was caught by seven reporters of the National Enquirer in a hotel at 2 am as part of what appears to be a major personal scandal. I have a distaste for personal muckraking, so I won't repeat the specifics directly (although one can easily follow the link in this post).

In more than a week since that event, no major mainstream media source has even mentioned the story, but a handful of reporters from minor newspapers have noticed that Edwards has been evading their questions and that neither party has denied the allegations.

One courageous left-of-center reporter, however, has blogged the events in the scandal and is admitting quite openly to the coverup by the like-minded liberal media.

Take a look and then consider the media feeding frenzy that occurred over the scandals of Republican politicians Larry Craig, Dan Quayle and Newt Gingrich. Each of them was turned into a laughingstock through non-stop abuse by media personalities long after the events had transpired.

MSM Rebels on Edwards
Oddly, some journalists want to know the truth

The phenomenon of left-wing media bias is common to all Western countries, which is why this story is worth mentioning in an Israel-oriented blog. Like a one-way valve that is designed to close should blood flow in the wrong direction, leftists only grant like-minded colleagues entry into influential positions in the media, civil service, academia, and other institutions of cultural influence. Because they systematically exclude the most talented applicants, many of these institutions disintegrate without ever taking corrective action. For example, all the news media would have to do to recover would be to cut out the liberal bias.

Police: Olmert Knows We have Him

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-07-31T15:07:05Z

In what will be the fourth round of questioning in several months, police interrogators will go to the Prime Ministers residence in Jerusalem to interview Olmert on the latest corruption scandal, police sources told Haaretz. In the so-called Olmert Tours affair, Olmert is accused of receiving duplicate funding for trips abroad for himself and his family, and investigators seem more confident than ever that they will have enough information to serve an indictment.

You may be wondering why IRIS is "piling on" now that Olmert has announced he is stepping down.

As I wrote yesterday, Olmert's announcement is nothing more than a cynical ploy to cling to power for as long as possible. It is conceivable that he could remain until March of next year.

There are few things more dangerous to a country than a corrupt leader who has nothing to lose. On a small scale, America experienced this when Bill Clinton issued mass pardons to friends, personal financial contributors and terrorists for leftist causes as he was leaving office.

In this case the stakes are much higher. Olmert not only has the power to continue looting for personal financial gain. The keys to his future pardon are held by Shimon Peres, who is obsessed by giving away land to appease jihadists.

Those who believe the Olmert threat to Israel's security is passed now that he is officially a "lame duck" are quite mistaken.

Prediction: Olmert will accelerate his efforts to give away Israel's land now that he has announced he will step down.

Exclusive: IRIS Source Confirms Olmert 'Multiple Billing' Allegations

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-07-31T13:28:54Z

An exclusive IRIS source has confirmed that the practice of billing multiple non-profit organizations and government agencies for the same travel expenses was routine in the Jerusalem Mayor's office at the time of the the most recent allegations. This practice was questioned at the time by at least one staff member.

Olmert Steps Down

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-07-30T20:00:40Z

Exactly as predicted an hour before the surprise news conference, Ehud Olmert has announced the inevitable. He will not run in the Kadima primaries that he is forecast to lose anyway. This will enable him to procrastinate and remain Prime Minister for the longest amount of time feasible (conceivably, until March 2009).

Ironically, he is preening that he is doing this for the good of the country, even though he fought bitterly against the scheduling of the Kadima primary that has become the catalyst for his exit.

The beginning of Olmert's announcement was a summary of his accomplishments as Prime Minister, including, ironically, taking credit for the peaceful situation in the north of the country. Hezbollah has seized de facto control of Lebanon, and Olmert's requested UN "disarmament force" has resulted in an inventory of several times the pre-war missile stockpile aimed at Israel.

PM announces he will resign after Kadima elects new leader

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert held a special press conference on Wednesday at 8 p.m. where he announced he will not run in the Kadima primary scheduled to take place in September.

Olmert said he would resign from office upon selection of a successor, and would allow his successor to attempt to form a coalition.

The premier lashed out at his political adversaries without naming any of them - either from Kadima or other parties - personally.

Olmert opened his speech by expressing his pride to be a citizen of Israel: "As a citizen in a democracy I have always believed that when a person is elected prime minister in Israel, even those who opposed him in the ballot want him to succeed....

The winner in the Kadima primary will have until October 26 to submit his new government for approval by President Shimon Peres.

In case the elected leader fails, the president customarily grants another 90 days to form a government; after the 90 days are through, in case no coalition is formed, a general election is scheduled, thus potentially allowing Olmert to remain in power until March 2009.

After the primary Olmert will remain in office as prime minister of a transitional government, until his successor in Kadima manages to forge a new coalition or until general elections are held.

Prediction about Olmert's Impending 'Personal Announcement'

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-07-30T19:00:32Z

Speculation is raging that Olmert is about to announce his resignation at an abruptly announced press conference. There's only one way that could be true--if he wants to annoint the next Prime Minister in exchange for some major personal benefit (like the promise of a Shimon Peres pardon). He still has the power to hand over the reigns of power the way he earned it--by becoming acting PM first and exploiting the power of incumbency.

Prediction: Olmert will hang on to the end and announce that he has decided not to run in the Kadima primary. The polls show he will lose anyway, and this way he will deflate the pressure on him to step down immediately.

Update: Here's a clue:

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who is currently in Washington, announced that she will be holding an unscheduled press conference two and a half hours after Olmert's.

Update 2: The word "unscheduled" above was an error on the part of the Jerusalem Post.

Barak: US Will Provide Missile Defense; Obama: I'll Kill It

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-07-30T15:04:09Z

Defense Minister Ehud Barak has today announced that Israel's greatest security vulnerability will soon be fixed, courtesy of new agreements with America. The Lebanon War provided shocking proof that Israel (and all democracies) are completely vulnerable from missiles that rained down on the country.

Barack Obama, on the other hand, has vowed to cut off funding for missile defense, because it's "unproven."

This is rather perplexing because Obama has pledged his great love for Israel and surely he knows that "if you love someone you know what hurts him."

Every Israeli worries that much of Israel will turn into Sderot with the re-opening of hostilities with Hizballah and its estimated 40,000 missiles, not to mention a rapidly arming Hamas.

Leaving considerations of Israel aside, should Americans not care that Obama does not understand that the job of the military is to develop new (i.e. unproven) technologies for defending against new forms of attack?

Israel's Demographic Situation Continues to Improve

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-07-30T14:53:11Z

The chief pretext for ceding parts of tiny Israel is to divest of the Arabs living there to stem the mythical "demographic tide." (Only a certain presidential candidate believes that it will obviate Arab animosity.) Here's the truth:

Anyone suggesting that Jews are doomed to become a minority west of the Jordan River is either grossly mistaken or outrageously misleading.

According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, the annual number of Jewish births has increased by 40% between 1995 (80,400) and 2007 (112,543), while the annual number of "Green Line" Arab births has stabilized around 39,000 during the same period. The secular Jewish sector is mostly responsible to the impressive increase, especially Soviet Olim, who shifted from Russian fertility rate of 1 child per woman to the secular Israeli Jewish rate of 2.2 children. Arab-Jewish fertility gap has been reduced from 6 children per woman in 1969 to 0.7 child in 2007! Arab fertility rate (3.5 births per woman) has declined 20 year faster than projected - due to successful integration into Israel's health, educational, financial and commercial infrastructures - while Jewish fertility rate is rising (2.8 births per woman). Arab-Jewish fertility rates have converged in Jerusalem - 3.9 births per woman - for the first time since 1948. Currently, Israel's Jewish fertility is the highest in the industrialized world.

Read the whole thing...

Jihadists Rape Women to Force them into Suicide Bombing

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-07-30T14:11:25Z

All of this is permitted when the chief religious goal is jihad:

Marriage, Blackmail, Rape: Al-Qaeda's Methods for Recruiting Female Suicide Bombers in Iraq

A woman pretending to be pregnant walks up to a hospital in one of Iraqs most dangerous regions and blows herself up.

Minutes later a man, also laden with explosives, attacks the rescue workers who rushed to the scene in Diyala province, north of Baghdad. Thirty-two people are killed and 52 wounded.

The co-ordinated bombings that ripped through the town of Baladruz in May are one of twelve attacks involving thirteen women suicide bombers to strike Diyala so far this year a huge jump, signalling a new tactic by insurgents. US officials suspect that al-Qaeda has built a network of cells that recruit women and turn them into killers.

Women are the perfect weapon in a country where it is frowned upon culturally for a man even to approach a woman without her husband or father in tow, let alone frisk her for weapons at one of the many checkpoints that are the bombers favourite targets. In addition, it is easy to hide a vest packed with explosives under the traditional Islamic robes worn by women in Iraq without drawing suspicion.

In total, there have been 24 attacks involving women suicide bombers since January, including four on Monday in Baghdad and the northern city of Kirkuk that left scores dead. Al-Qaeda is a very adaptive enemy, a US Special Forces captain based in Diyala said. They will try to use whatever works best for them to attempt to exploit whatever political or cultural restrictions we have.

In the past, al-Qaeda fighters have used mosques to hold meetings and hide weapons, knowing that the US military will not raid religious buildings. Now theyve adapted to try to use female suicide bombers.

The military believes that al-Qaeda employs a variety of tactics to get women to become suicide bombers. Some are easy prey because their husband or children have been killed or detained by US forces, said Captain Matthew Shown, the intelligence officer for Sabre Squadron, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armoured Cavalry Regiment, which is based in southeast Diyala.

Another method is for a member of al-Qaeda to marry a woman and then dishonour her in some way, such as letting someone else rape her. This would leave her with no choice but to end her life, Captain Shown, 34, said.

There are also reports of women being told that their husband or child will be killed unless they agree to become suicide bombers.

Eliminating the threat of female suicide attacks in Diyala is a priority for US and Iraqi forces, who began a large offensive yesterday across the province against al-Qaeda and pockets of Shia militias.

There have been a few successes. Last month Iraqi police arrested the alleged leader of the suicide cell that orchestrated the twin blasts on May 2 in Baladruz. Video footage of attacks on US forces was found at his home. Officers believe the material was used to indoctrinate female recruits.

The US military is also hiring women to stand alongside male guards at checkpoints to ensure that all women get a full body search.It is not possible for males to search females. It is a cultural thing, said Staff Sergeant David Schlicher, who works in civil affairs at Forward Operating Base Caldwell, a US camp in the middle of a much larger Iraqi army base in the desert in southeast Diyala. So this closes that loophole.

The woman guards will complement a workforce of about 80,000 men who are paid by the US military to protect their neighbourhood under a programme that encouraged many former Sunni insurgents to turn against al-Qaeda.

There are few female volunteers, however, just as there are not many women in the police and Army because it is not part of their culture.

The female bomb threat appears to be changing attitudes. In Baladruz, twenty-five women are due to start civilian guard duties this week, and an appeal has been made for another ten.

Dhimmi Watch provides context:

Here, al-Qaeda is exploiting the injustices of Sharia law -- including the subjugation of women, and the danger of reporting a rape without four witnesses -- and the culture it creates to trap women into doing their bidding to advance the cause of imposing Sharia in Iraq.

Muslims Storm Christian School, Injuring 265

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-07-29T17:07:51Z

There is a site, Jihad Watch, filled daily with just these kind of stories:

Police evacuated the Christian Theological Arastamar Institute (STT SETIA) which is located in an eastern district of the Indonesian capital after it suffered damages during clashes between Christians and Muslims over the week-end. At least 1,500 students were moved to nearby police headquarters and a local Christian-based political party. The situation remains critical and further violence between opposite factions cannot be ruled out....

Last night hundreds of residents from the village of Kampung Pulo had taken up arms threatening to storm the school after being instigated by an imam at a local mosque who claimed that a bunch of Christian gangsters were coming to protect the school after it was attacked on Saturday by a Muslim mob, causing damage to the building and hurting hundreds.

In an attempt to solve the problem East Jakarta District Chief Murdani held a close door meeting with the warring parties to discuss the issue. At the same time though, he said that police would conduct a thorough investigation and check if the schools legal status was in order and that it respected all building regulations. In case of violations he would issue orders to demolish the unlawful structures.

At present hundreds of agents are guarding the school and have orders to stop any act of violence and disarm people....

Tensions between Christians and Muslims flared up on Saturday following rumours that a SETIA student had stolen a motorcycle that belonged to a Muslim from a neighbouring village.

Senny Manafe, a spokesperson for the school, rejected the accusation, claiming instead that the attacks were triggered by a trivial incident. In an attempt to chase a mouse in the street, a student threw a slipper against a house owned by a local Muslim. Outraged by the deed, the latter kicked and punched the student as people gathered drawn by the rumour that a Christian student had tried to steal the Muslims motorbike.

Many students suffered various injuries to the head. Others were burnt by Molotov cocktails, Manafe said.

The violence and charges against SETIA are the work of Risman Hadi, chairman of Muslim Brotherhood Forum of Kampung Pulo Village, who in the past opposed the opening and continued existence of the Christian institute.

Obama Endorses Myth of Palestinian Centrality

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-07-29T16:48:01Z

Even in Barack Obama's carefully scripted talking points, he can't hide his dangerous beliefs. Here's quote #1:

If we can solve the Israeli-Palestinian process, then that will make it easier for Arab states and the Gulf states to support us when it comes to issues like Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is a polite endorsement of the myth of Palestinian Centrality, which has been the guiding principle behind the unrelenting pressure on Israel to appease its jihadist enemies with land.

Here's quote #2:

Question: The current Israeli prime minister told me in an interview a few months ago that the great advantage of the Bush administration on that issue was that they looked at Israel on the basis of "67-plus" - that their starting point was that maybe Israel can expect or deserve support for a slightly larger sovereign presence than the pre-1967 Israel. Do you think of Israel in its final-status incarnation on the basis of "67-plus"?

Answer: Look, I think that both sides on this equation are going to have to make some calculations. Israel may seek "67-plus" and justify it in terms of the buffer that they need for security purposes. They've got to consider whether getting that buffer is worth the antagonism of the other party.

In other words, Palestinians are "antagonized" if central Israel is more than nine miles wide. Obama just justified the rationale for anti-Israel terror (but not the tactics, obviously). The basic belief of the anti-Israel Left is that anti-"occupation" terror is fundamentally justified as long as central Israel is more than nine miles wide.

Here is an absolute must-read on the theory of Palestinian Centrality:

Virtually not a day has passed recently without some famous person declaring that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the key to solving all the problems of the Muslim world - from Kofi Annan ("As long as the Palestinians live under occupation so long will passions everywhere be inflamed") through Henry Kissinger ("a restarted Palestinian peace process should play a significant role" in resolving the Iranian nuclear crisis) to Tony Blair (an Israeli-Palestinian settlement is "the core" of any effort to resolve other Middle East problems and defeat "global extremism.")

It is astonishing that so many intelligent people could seriously espouse such an obvious falsehood. Do they really believe that Sunni Muslims and Shi'ite Muslims - whose views on Israel are identical - are slaughtering each other in Iraq because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Or that anti-Syrian politicians in Lebanon - who are no less anti-Israel than the pro-Syrian sort - are being assassinated by Syria and threatened with a coup by Hizbullah because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

That Arab Muslims are committing genocide against black Muslims in Sudan because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

That Taliban Muslims are murdering non-Taliban Muslims in Afghanistan because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

That Chechen Muslims took Russian schoolchildren hostage in Beslan because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

That Muslims and Hindus are killing each other in Kashmir because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

That Muslims worldwide rioted over Danish cartoons because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? The list could go on for pages.

But the theory of Israeli-Palestinian centrality is not only false, it is dangerous - because it prevents the world from addressing the real root cause of all these conflicts, including the Israeli-Palestinian one: a widespread culture in the Muslim world that views violence and threats of violence as legitimate means of resolving disputes.

Read the whole thing...

Obama's 'Private' Note to God Was a Media Stunt

barak@iris.org.il (Barak) — 2008-07-29T14:26:09Z

On Sunday I detailed to one friend and newspaper columnist how I was nearly certain that the private, humble, pious note of Barack Obama to God was a cynical publicity stunt. I didn't publish it here because I, too, am guilty of trying to appear "moderate" and maintain my credibility. I also thought that further publicizing the story would be counterproductive, by repeating the chillul Hashem that Jews allegedly violated Obama's sacred privacy.

My reasoning was simple: who leaves a private note to God trailed by a phalanx of people on King David Hotel stationery? That makes it identifiable as genuinely his to anyone skeptical of the note's authenticity.

Here is the official statement to that effect by Maariv:

Obama's note was published in Maariv and other international publications following his authorization to make the content of the note public. Obama submitted a copy of the note to media outlets when he left his hotel in Jerusalem.

What is despicable is that Obama allowed a "yeshiva student" and an Israeli newspaper to be painted as villains for days in the international media rather than admitting that he himself encouraged its publication.

For months there have been credible stories of how Obama has thrown a parade of people close to him under the bus, including his own grandmother ("a typical white person" with fear of blacks).

Now we see that Obama can't even have talk to God without using Him for a publicity stunt.

Here is the article about the incident prior to the concrete confirmation from Maariv:

What initially seemed to be a journalistic scoop of dubious moral propriety now seems to be a case of an Israeli paper being played by the Barack Obama campaign. Maariv, the second most popular newspaper in Israel, was roundly criticized for publishing the note Obama left in the Kotel. But now a Maariv spokesperson says that publication of the note was pre-approved for international publication by the Obama campaign, leading to the conclusion that the "private" prayer was intentionally leaked for public consumption....

If the Maariv statement about pre-approval of publication of the note is true, it would mean that the Obama campaign had managed the event brilliantly, if deceptively, getting the double benefit of appearing to be victimized by the invasive Israeli press and prayer-thieving Jew while at the same time leaking out his humble Christian plea to the Lord.

Already by the weekend, a (relatively) slick video appeared on YouTube that blended Obama's Western Wall prayer with various church scenes, crosses aplenty, a dove of peace, and a soundtrack based on Amazing Grace. The video closes with a "vote" button and an invitation to visit the official campaign website

Revelation of this latest Obama collaboration with the media might detract a bit from the perceived sincerity of the prayer and strike some as an especially cynical use of the Kotel and an obstensibly private prayer to the Deity as a campaign prop.