Daily Archives: January 14, 2009

Jimmy Carter: ” I know from personal involvement that the devastating invasion of Gaza by Israel could easily have been avoided.”  Lawhawk takes on Carter’s poppycock.

I’m no expert in all the Mid-east craziness, and Carter definitely has a closer perspective than I, so I want to be cautious in my judgments.  But I do know one thing:  Hamas is not a group that you negotiate a cease fire with.  As evidence, look at these stats (provided by Lawhawk):

9,400+ rockets and mortars fired from Gaza since 2003.
3,200+ rockets and mortars fired from Gaza in 2008 alone.
6,500+ rockets and mortars fired from Gaza since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005.
543+ rockets and mortars fired from Gaza into Israeli territory during the ceasefire from June 19 to Dec. 19, 2008.

Any cease fire agreement reached with a group like this will play fast and loose with its word.  It will be a cease fire in name only.  Hamas doesn’t want peaceful coexistence with Israel; they want to wipe Israel out 100%, and they won’t stop until they get that.  When a bully is picking on someone, you don’t pull the two aside and say, “now you two stop fighting.  Kiss and make up.”  Do you really think the bully will stop his terrorizing?

As Chris Neiswonger points out, Israel could probably do a better job at avoiding civilian casualties, but Hamas, with its practice of using civilians as human shields, is putting Israel in a rock in a hard place, and I don’t see very many folks like Carter recognizing that.

A girl is trying to sell her virginity to the highest bidder online. And get this: she intends to use the money  to fund an advanced degree in marriage and family studies.  My word, what’s this world coming to.

The New York Times advocates for more government spending to combat the recession. You guys correct me if I’m wrong, but does the government have the cash to spend in the first place?

Methinks things are getting a little out of hand: Bush declares a state of emergency for Obama’s inauguration.