Blog

My running commentary on events: local, national, and international. Areas of special interest include Israel, Iraq, and dissidents in the Muslim world.

Punxsutawney Phil Says No Global Warming

ph2009020101842.jpg

Granted, he’s no Ph.D. But then again, he calls ‘em like he sees ‘em and is not influenced by partisan politics or ego. Who knows what the future will bring, but with a severe snowstorm on its way to New York City this weekend, we are battening down the hatches …

The Legendary J.D. Salinger, Dead at 91, Did it His Way

salinger.jpg

Last week the author J.D. Salinger died at age 91. I hesitate to eulogize him for fear, as Salinger once told Elia Kazan when the latter asked for permission to produce a play version of Salinger’s masterpiece “The Catcher in the Rye,” that “Holden wouldn’t like it.”…

Coast Guard Academy Law Prof. Proposes Hybrid Court for Dealing With Guantanamo Detainees

President Obama’s self-imposed January 20th deadline for the closing of the U.S. Detention Facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has come and gone. Although the President is taking heat from the left for this action (or lack thereof), it seems to me one of his wiser moves (non-moves?) of late.  After all, he does not want …

Israel, Iceland Lead the Way in Providing Earthquake Relief to Haiti

 

Thank Yoo, Mr. Yoo!

john_yoo_21240409785.jpg

John Yoo, former deputy assistant attorney general in the office of legal counsel of the U.S. Department of Justice during George W. Bush’s first term, sat down with me Tuesday evening prior to his talk before a Manhattan audience of the Federalist Society to promote his book, “Crisis and Command.” …

Good Morning, Mr. President, Would You Like Some Security With Your Coffee?

president-obama.jpg

Looks like President Obama is waking up to some harsh realities.

Earlier this week the President announced he would not be sending any Guantanamo Bay detainees home to Yemen, an impoverished Arab country that has emerged as a hotbed of terrorist activity. The would-be Christmas Day bomber had recently …

Sister of Human Rights Attorney Detained During Week That Iranian Mullahs Kill 12

iranian-demonstrators.jpg

During this week of uprising that left 12 pro-democracy protestors dead in Iran, the sister of Nobel laureate Shirin Ebadi, a human rights attorney and activist, was detained by the Iranian government because of her sister’s human rights work, according to Ebadi.

In a statement, the Nobel Prize winning human rights …

Ahmadinejad Mocks President Obama as Iran Steps up Aggression

During the Bush years, some thought the main obstacle to successfully negotiating with Iran was President Bush. In fact, Bush was condemned by some for his unwillingness to engage Iranian leaders.

Fastforward a year. President Obama has extended to Ahmadinejad one olive branch after another and been rebuffed. Wednesday night in an interview with the United …

Conservative Michael Moore Shines Light on U.N. Corruption

Ami Horowitz’s documentary “U.N. Me” screened at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam in November to rave reviews. Horowitz, who co-directed and co-produced the film, says he’s inspired by Moore although he doesn’t share his views.

Apparently the documentary deals with many instances and levels of corruption at the United Nations, ranging from the oil …

Iraqi Parliamentarian Warns, Obama’s Vision to Become ‘A Joke and a Tragedy’ if Iran Gets the Bomb

 mithal_alalusi_926654067.jpg

Distressing news out of Iran yesterday as that nation’s theocratic leaders continue to defy the international community by testing a long-range missile that could reach Europe or Israel.

In a number of interviews I have conducted with him since September, Iraqi Parliamentarian Mithal al-Alusi has warned that Iran is much closer to …