You want to negotiate with these fools?

The actions of a rogue state (which is why the US-backed Palestinian Authority is so keen to sit down with them in early September): The Israeli government should immediately stop the arbitrary destruction of Palestinian homes and other property in the West Bank and compensate the people it has displaced, Human Rights Watch said today.…

Mercenaries are ripe for business

Leading private military contractor CACI were deeply involved in the Abu Ghraib scandal. In the world of America’s elite, the same company remains a key cyber-contractor in today’s new decade. CACI are like Blackwater; seemingly untouchable no matter how many alleged crimes they commit.

Less US involvement in the Mid-East is what’s needed

Page one story today from Israel’s leading paper, Yediot: The Obama administration intends to present Israel and the Palestinians with a new outline for ending the conflict. Yedioth Ahronoth has learned that the Americans will pressure the sides to sign a framework agreement for a final status arrangement within a year — but the agreement…

Sarkozy (doesn’t) reach out to Muslims

A curious and timely tale about the increasing disconnect between Muslims and Western leaders: Followers of Moroccan blogger Ahmed, who writes on Alash? [Ar] (Why?), know he is fond of the art of satire. Earlier this month he published a post about a supposed announcement by the French President Nicolas Sarkozy [Ar] of a series…

When will more Jews not back occupation and oppression?

Many Australian Jews see their role as simply backing anything Israel does. Nuke Gaza? No worries. Those Palestinians clearly deserved it. Here’s a letter in this week’s Australian Jewish News that perfectly captures the mood. Thanks for mentioning Independent Australian Jewish Voices! Thank goodness for the unswerving, if not always uncritical, support for Israel by…

Reporters should not be embedding

A rather curious position for a journalist to argue, this time by Lindsay Murdoch in Fairfax: Unless journalists are with the soldiers there will be little independent reporting of the war. Embedding [Australian] journalists at Tarin Kot would improve the level of respect and trust between Defence and the media, which has deteriorated over years.…

ABC talks about Afghanistan in a bubble

As news emerges of a key aide of Hamad Karzai being on the CIA payroll – along with the country’s spy service – and Australia suffering another combat loss, ABC radio features a “debate” on the war with three men who share roughly similar views. No anti-war voices and no figures clearly calling for withdrawal…

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