COLLECTIVE MADNESS
“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."
Brother, please. :) :)
ReplyDeleteLove is a many splendored thing
DeleteIt's the April rose that only grows in the early Spring
Love is nature's way of giving a reason to be living
The golden crown that makes a man a king
Once on a high and windy hill, In the morning mist
Two lovers kissed and the world stood still
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Yes, true love's a many splendored thing
Once on a high and windy hill, In the morning mist
Two lovers kissed and the world stood still
Then your fingers touched my silent heart and taught it how to sing
Yes, true love's a many splendored thing
Come on out, Rufus!
Literally Unfit For the Presidency!
ReplyDeleteCan't Walk, Needs Assistance, Can't Think, Often Confused, Can't See, Has Double Vision, Wears Long Coats to Hide Her Adult Diapers, Has Multiple Seizures On Camera, Left in Middle of Debate For Unexplained Reason, Called Donald Trump Her Husband, Massive Coughing Fits During Speeches...
The Madhouse:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVsCiEDF4cE#t=80.568821
Guy proves to be a wacko @ 4 minutes, but the video prior to that is creepy.
DeleteI almost choked on my peach when I got to the witch part. If you’re going to post stuff like that, please use some common sense and warn everyone not to be eating anything that they may choke on when watching. I’m still chuckling.
DeleteThis is very entertaining.
ReplyDeleteIt's a gas, once one has given up thinking 'The Good, The True and The Beautiful' has a fighting chance in this world....
DeleteMichael Phelps just got his 19th Gold.
ReplyDeleteYowzaa
Now, that's worth a bong toke.
DeleteRufus makes lame attempt to change subject......
ReplyDelete
DeleteNothing lame about Michael Phelps, Robert "Draft Dodger" Peterson.
One nearly comes to admire Huma in a way....Good Lord, think of what she has put up with.....the smells, the demands, the screaming, the incoherence, the hatred, the scheming (who knows when the wrath might be turned on oneself ?), the shame of it all.....
ReplyDeleteBut she gets to go home to Anthony.
DeleteAh, the one bright spot in an otherwise cloudy existence....and if she can't make it home, she can always see his dick on YouTube.....
DeleteA Turkish imam has been suspended after a leaked hospital report showed ‘pieces of cucumber’ were found in his rectum, say reports.
ReplyDeleteThe 39-year-old, who has not been named, has been suspended by a local branch of the Religious Affairs Directorate after reports claimed he was taken to hospital with severe abdominal pain and bleeding earlier this month.
http://metro.co.uk/2016/06/28/imam-suspended-after-pieces-of-cucumber-found-in-rectum-5971986/#ixzz4Ghz3fa64
Cucumber ?
DeleteHow in the world would a cucumber end 'up there' ?
It must be some strange cultural practice we in the West can't imagine....
Therefore we should all agree with Short Circuit and demand a 550% increase in muzzie immigrants....
Our strength is our diversity.
ReplyDeleteHickory costume shop owner Curtis Sigmon, 54, talks about his drag persona, Shana Nicole, the reigning Miss Gay Charlotte America
Deletehttp://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/article94139997.html#storylink=cpy
Hillary should bring a forklift along with her on the campaign trail.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea about the forklift. If I seen that suggestion I would have used it in mine below....
DeleteREMINDER: view pics of Short Circuit conquering stairs with lots of help from her 'assisstants' at Drudge --
ReplyDelete2016: HILLARY CONQUERS THE STAIRS
2012: FALLS AT HOME, BLOOD CLOT
2011: FALLS BOARDING PLANE
2009: FALLS GOING TO WHITE HOUSE, BROKEN ELBOW....DRUDGE
Just get her a wheel chair and mandate lifts on all staircases in USA.....
Nod to Doug:
DeleteDiesel Forklift is better.
An electric wheelchair lift might have the hazard of shorting out when coming into contact with Short Circuit.
Don't want to depend on Depends around electrical equipment.
DeleteOne might, indeed, be upended, if one so depended.
DeleteWeiner Trailer
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCoI3DdstZw
The Full Package
Delete:)o
Designed to rouse the voter's prurient interest....with a cast of 500 creeps....cameo appearances by BillyGoat, Fried Circuit, and Huma the Hummer.....
And to think....people like Rufus are willing to VOTE for people like these......
"We're sunk" as my wonderful Aunt used to say, cheerfully, always cheerfully....
The Iranian that helped the USA was discussed by Fried Circuit in her e-mail exchanges, read all over the world.
ReplyDeleteHe is now dead.
We need turn now to our crack criminologist Quirk to find out if an indictment is justified...
What's the take on this, the majority opinion at The Mafia Barber Shop, your safe space, where you are holed up now, Quirk ?
(Q has chosen his safe space well. The Mafia, during the wars, didn't put up with any shit from the Germans along the docks they controlled on the east coast. Nor do they put up with any shit from the muzz in Sicily. Q has chosen well....for 'safe' it probably beats my isolated Idaho Farm)
DeleteA report from the Barber Shop scene is requested, Q.
DeleteDid Clinton emails doom Iranian nuke scientist to death? - 8/7/16
DeleteClinton emails refer to the defector going back to Iran to spy for the US. More
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2016/08/did_clinton_emails_doom_iranian_nuke_scientist_to_death.html
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ReplyDeleteOn Ending the Syrian War: An Opinion Piece by the Guardian
A number of people here support the view expressed by the Guardian below that the US (all the parties really) must continue the fight in Syria until the war is won. The Guardian’s view is that the only way it will end successfully is if Assad is forced out. Others may define success differently, partition for instance.
It is not enough to bewail this dreadful situation, point the finger of blame at others, condemn the latest outrage, circle the western wagons against Isis and hunker down in the hope that, somehow, the war will burn itself out. Children are killed and maimed every day. A nation is suffering the most appalling trauma before our eyes. The ramifications of this conflict impinge directly on our everyday lives, with ever more inescapable, obvious consequences. If we do not feel the most acute shame, we certainly should. Yes, some are more at fault than others. Yes, it has been going on for more than five years and nothing seems to work. But yes, the responsibility of us all, moral, political and humanitarian, to try again, and again, and again if need be, to stop the killing has not diminished. It intensifies with every day that passes.
Talks on UN-supervised humanitarian access to Aleppo – where reports yesterday suggested that rebels may have broken the siege, at least temporarily – and other stricken areas are staggering on in New York. They must be given top priority by all governments. Discussions are also taking place about resuming the Geneva peace process. They, too, must gain new impetus, not least through a more constructive, non-judgmental engagement between the US and Russia. Countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia must face severe consequences if they continue to use Syria to pursue regional agendas. Most of all, the international community must unite in telling Assad to step down. While he remains in power in Damascus, there can be no peace. His departure could finally break the cycle of violence.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/aug/06/observer-view-syria-carnage-aleppo
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.
.
DeleteYes, it has been going on for more than five years and nothing seems to work. But yes, the responsibility of us all, moral, political and humanitarian, to try again, and again, and again if need be, to stop the killing has not diminished. It intensifies with every day that passes.
The Guardian offers us the R2P argument. But like all responsibility to protect adherents it fails to see that their arguments amount to an oxymoron. Moral, political and humanitarian responsibility? What is moral about destroying the village to save it? One only has to look at pictures of the bombed out remains of the cities we have ‘liberated’ to see the absurdity. What is politically correct about regime change where we replace one cruel and corrupt dick with one or more other equally cruel and corrupt dicks? What is humanitarian about trying to stop the deaths of tens of thousands of people by actions that contribute to the killing of hundreds of thousands of people and turning millions more into refugees.
As noted above, some here subscribe to this view, those who believe that the war offers us an intelligent display of the use of US power and those like out god-squad member that adhere to the pottery barn rule.
Others such as the author of the first comment posted to the Guardian editorial see the Syrian War as the consequence of our attempts to one more time apply the principles of…
A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm
I know there is at least one here who would agree.
On the other hand, I personally believe that while the US political/military/intelligence communities have the mendacity to support such a plan they lack the intelligence and capability to intentionally produce such a masterful clusterfuck. I instead chalk it up to their stupidity and incompetence driven by greed, arrogance, and a perverse belief in American exceptionalism.
The only solution I can see remains to revisit the ‘law of holes’ and try to understand its import to the ME then try to act on its message and get out. The guiding principle in this approach is a moral one, do no harm, or in this case, do no more harm.
.
.
You're pulling my leg.
DeleteI don't believe the people at The Barber Shop sit and read and even discuss the Guardian.
Any talk along this line:
Trump Voter Shot After Debate Turns Violent....Drudge
Said Would Be Good President....Drudge
Got to run....
Cheers !
Hey, Trump's at The Detroit Economic Club today. You ought to go hear him speak.
DeleteYou're a dick if you don't.
Delete.
DeleteI have been watching it.
He looks sane.
Hard to believe.
I've said I agree with many of his policy views. I only object to many of his weird and unrealistic approaches to solving those problems. Well, that and the fact that he is a narcissistic, demagogic, clown.
He offers an enigma. Would he have gotten as far as he did if he hadn't played the fool? Or, had he performed like today and offered it up in the same sane way, would he have been further ahead.
Obviously, had he acted like he did today AND was able to still get the nomination he would have likely been mopping up the floor with Hillary right now.
I still can't stop blaming him for the ultimate sin. Any sane GOP nominee could have beat Hillary this year. Trump appears to have ruined it not only for the GOP but for the nation.
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ReplyDeleteWeird Shit Athletes Do
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I lie on my stomach and a young woman evacuates my bowels every morning.
DeleteSaves me the stress of recovering from a traditional dump.
My Parents, many years ago, attending my First Evacuation:
Deletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BisYoRrjpNs
Report: Olympic kayaker capsizes after hitting a sofa
Deletehttp://www.sfgate.com/olympics/article/Report-Olympic-kayaker-capsizes-sofa-kayaksofa-9127435.php
Poll: Hillary Clinton widens her lead over Donald Trump
ReplyDeleteHillary Clinton has widened her lead significantly over Donald Trump since the period before the two parties held their conventions last month, according to a Monmouth University survey released Monday.
The survey found that Clinton leads Trump 46 percent to 34 percent among registered voters, with 7 percent supporting Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson and 2 percent backing Green Party candidate Jill Stein. Among likely voters, Clinton leads Trump 50 percent to 37 percent, with 7 percent supporting Johnson and 2 percent backing Stein.
A similar poll conducted by Monmouth just days before the Republican National Convention found that Clinton only had a narrow 3-percentage-point lead over Trump among registered voters and a 2-percentage-point-lead among likely voters.
The new poll found that Clinton now leads Trump 42 percent to 34 percent in 10 major swing states.
Clinton continues to maintain a strong lead among non-white voters with 69 percent of black, Asian, Hispanic and other voters of color supporting Clinton compared to only 10 percent of them who said they're for Trump. The GOP presidential nominee leads Clinton by 5 percentage points among non-Hispanic white voters -- however, Clinton leads Trump by 30 percentage points among white women with a college degree, a demographic Mitt Romney won handily in 2012.
More than 90 percent of Democrats said they will vote for Clinton, which is up from June and July, suggesting she is slowly unifying members of her party after a bitter primary battle against Bernie Sanders. The poll found 79 percent of Republicans are supporting Trump, which is virtually unchanged from the last few months.
Independent voters, meanwhile, are split between the two major candidates with 32 percent backing Trump and 30 percent backing Clinton.
Just over a quarter of voters said that Trump has the right temperament to serve as commander-in-chief and more than two-thirds said he does not. Clinton, by contrast, has the right temperament to serve as president, according to 61 percent of voters. Just over a third said she is not suited for the job.
The poll found voters are divided over whether Trump is too friendly with Russia. On the email scandal involving Clinton's use of private email servers as secretary of state, nearly two-thirds said she hasn't been honest about it, but about the same percentage said they are tired of hearing about the issue.
The poll surveyed 803 registered voters between August 4 and 7 with a 3.5 percentage point margin of error.
CBS News
Benjy Sarlin ✔ @BenjySarlin
DeleteWhy is Trump down 50-37 in new Monmouth poll? White women with college degrees: Romney WON them by 6 point margin. Trump is LOSING by 30.
12:01 PM - 8 Aug 2016
DeleteNot a good sign ... for Robert "Draft Dodger" Peterson's elitist from New York ....
Job-killer?
ReplyDeleteObamacare was passed 75 months ago, and we've had Private Sector Job Gains for . . . wait for it . . . 75 Straight Months.
Trump says there are 94 Million "Unemployed."
DeleteBLS says there are 7.7 Million.
BLS
Deletenakedirish Aug 08 · 12:45:07 PM
During today’s “speech”, Trump said that Michigan and Detroit are run at all levels by Democrats. I’ll just leave this here:
Follow
Jennifer Granholm ✔ @JenGranholm
Gov, House, Senate, AG, LG, Supreme Ct. Sec. of State -- ALL Republicans in MI
https://twitter.com/KatyTurNBC/status/762692977621921793 …
12:24 PM - 8 Aug 2016
DeleteA Letter From G.O.P. National Security Officials Opposing Donald Trump
50 of them signed and here is the opening paragraph.
The undersigned individuals have all served in senior national security and/or foreign policy positions in Republican Administrations, from Richard Nixon to George W. Bush. We have worked directly on national security issues with these Republican Presidents and/or their principal advisers during wartime and other periods of crisis, through successes and failures. We know the personal qualities required of a President of the United States.
None of us will vote for Donald Trump.
{ . . . }
Complete Letter
CNN Poll of Polls: Clinton tops Trump by 10
Delete(CNN)The post-convention polls are in, and they consistently show Hillary Clinton entering the next phase of the presidential election campaign with the upper hand over Donald Trump.
The CNN Poll of Polls incorporating the results of six major polls -- all conducted after the party conventions concluded in late July -- finds Clinton with an average of 49% support to Trump's 39%. When third party candidates Gary Johnson and Jill Stein are included, the margin remains the same, with both candidates losing the same amount of support to land at 45% for Clinton to 35% for Trump, with Johnson at 9% and Stein at 5%.
The new averages reflect a sharp increase in support for Clinton compared with pre-convention polls. The last CNN Poll of Polls, analyzing the results of five national, live-interviewer telephone polls conducted before the GOP convention began, found Clinton ahead 45% to 41%.
There was not enough polling in the short window between the end of the Republican convention and the beginning of the Democratic gathering for a Poll of Polls analysis to be conducted, but both live-interviewer telephone polls conducted in that time found Trump ahead by a small margin heading in to the Democratic convention.
But across nearly all polls released following the Democrats' nominating convention in Philadelphia, Clinton has regained a significant advantage.
The candidate holding a lead after both major party conventions are complete nearly always goes on to win the presidency in recent history. One exception was Al Gore in 2000, who held a 4-point lead in CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll conducted after the completion of his convention. Gore, the sitting vice president at the time, went on to win the popular vote by about half a percentage point while losing to George W. Bush in the Electoral College.
This year, however, there is more time than usual for voters to change their minds between the conventions and the elections. With parties hosting conventions in July this year, they are the earliest since 1960.
Comparing the two-way and four-way ballot tests, the Poll of Polls suggests Johnson is faring better than most third party candidates do once the chaos of the primary and caucus nomination process is over. Typically, support for third-party candidates dips once the major-party tickets are set, but Johnson's support appears to be holding. At 9% in the Poll of Polls average, he lags behind the 15% threshold he'll need to meet to get on stage at the presidential debates this fall.
This CNN Poll of Polls covers polls conducted between July 29 and August 4. All were conducted by telephone using live interviewers, with results representing the opinions of registered voters nationwide. Polls included are the CNN/ORC Poll, the CBS News Poll, the Fox News Poll, the NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll, the Marist/McClatchy Poll and the ABC News/Washington Post Poll. The Poll of Polls does not have a margin of sampling error.
CNN
Hillary Clinton to become the First Potential Female President to scale the 264 stairs of Verrückt.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/07/boy-dies-kansas-waterslide/88373128/
And she's not even Asian:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xykZYaMhctQ
(IraqiNews.com) Kirkuk – Mayor of Hawija in Kirkuk province Sabhan al-Jabouri revealed that ISIS set ablaze to a number of displaced persons who were arrested while they were trying to escape from the district.
ReplyDeleteJabouri in a press statement, said, “Accurate information indicates that ISIS members set ablaze eight (8) detainees in al-Bakara base that is located between Hawija district and al-Riyad vicinity in western Kirkuk. The detainees were transferred to that base after being arrested yesterday while they were trying to escape from ISIS control.”
Yeah, we certainly wouldn't want to drop a few bombs to slow these guys down, would we?
Delete:/
Thankfully, Obama would.
DeleteStrikes in Syria
Attack, fighter, and remotely piloted aircraft conducted six strikes in Syria:
-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed 83 ISIL oil tankers.
-- Near Manbij, four strikes struck four separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed seven ISIL fighting positions.
-- Near Mar’a, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL mortar system and an ISIL fighting position.
Strikes in Iraq
Fighter, remotely piloted aircraft and rocket artillery conducted eight strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq’s government:
-- Near Kisik, a strike destroyed an ISIL tunnel entrance.
-- Near Mosul, two strikes struck an ISIL headquarters and destroyed two ISIL fighting positions and degraded an ISIL tunnel.
-- Near Qayyarah, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL rocket systems, three ISIL assembly areas, an ISIL tactical vehicle and an ISIL mortar system.
-- Near Ramadi, a strike destroyed an ISIL mortar system, an ISIL supply cache and an ISIL fighting position.
-- Near Sinjar, a strike suppressed an ISIL mortar position.
-- Near Sultan Abdallah, a strike destroyed two ISIL weapons facilities, an ISIL headquarters and an ISIL vehicle bomb storage facility.
‘Clock Kid’ Files Lawsuit Against City Of Irving & Irving ISD
ReplyDelete"Honk 4 Equality"
(In your Hijab)
http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/08/08/irving-clock-kid-set-to-file-federal-lawsuit/
Florida Republican Party spokesman quitting because of Trump
ReplyDeleteThe chief spokesman for the Florida Republican Party, who is Hispanic, is leaving his job and joining a conservative organization due to differences with GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Wadi Gaitan, a former senior House Republican aide who focused on Hispanic affairs, becomes yet another high-profile Latino Republican official to leave his job because he can no longer tolerate defending and explaining Trump. The Republican nominee has spent much of the past year maligning immigrants, minorities and women, a strategy that helped him win the party's nomination but that has led to historically poor approval ratings among black and Latino voters.
Gaitan will be joining the LIBRE Initiative, a grass-roots organization backed by the industrialists Charles and David Koch.
"I’m thankful for my almost two years with the Florida GOP, however, moving on gives me a great, new opportunity to continue promoting free market solutions while avoiding efforts that support Donald Trump," Gaitan said in a statement.
The LIBRE Initiative and its executive director, Daniel Garza, remain active in Hispanic communities nationwide, spending millions of dollars in the past year trying to draw Latino voters to support conservative or libertarian policies. The group does not advocate for political candidates. Garza has said that Trump's combative anti-immigrant rhetoric has made his organization's outreach more difficult.
Gaitan, the son of Honduran immigrants, once served a critical role for the GOP on Capitol Hill. With debate over immigration reform dominating the discussion, he served as the lead Spanish-speaking spokesman for House Republicans and maintained close relationships with Spanish-language media outlets, including Univision, Telemundo and CNN en Español. He met regularly with lawmakers who were willing to speak out in Spanish, including Reps. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.), Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) and former congressman Trey Radel (R-Fla.), to tutor them on political lingo and prepare them for interviews. The outreach earned plaudits from the Spanish-speaking political press corps.
[From 2013: Republicans increasingly eager to get the word out — en Español]
In more recent years, he served as the Florida GOP's top spokesman as two of the state's political stars, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and former Florida governor Jeb Bush, ran unsuccessfully for president.
Many Hispanics active in national GOP politics have been hoping for months that Trump would tone down his broadsides against immigrants and minorities. But Trump's attacks have only intensified since he won the party nomination, most recently as he clashed with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the parents of a Muslim Army captain killed during the Iraq War.
Washington Post
Susan Collins: I will not support (or vote for) Donald Trump.
ReplyDelete60 year old Trump supporter shot for expressing the opinion that he likes Trump....
ReplyDeleteTrump Voter Shot After Debate Turns Violent....DRUDGE
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/08/08/trump-voter-shot-after-political-debate-spurs-shooting/
The debate didn't turn violent until the Hillary supporter went out to his car, got his gun, and came back in and shot the poor peaceful fellow....
Randi Weingarten ✔ @rweingarten
ReplyDeleteU of Michigan economists says Trump "has no coherent economic theory unless you repeal the rules of math”
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/trump-clinton-economy-226795#ixzz4Glf2NjjR …
7:04 PM - 8 Aug 2016
ObamaCare is failing.
ReplyDeleteRufus of course credits it for 'strengthening' the economy......
Ruf sure knows how the pass the gas.
The economy isn't strengthening.
DeleteIt is purring in neutral, at best.
As it has been doing ever since the Dodd/Frank housing collapse of eight years ago, which Bush warned the nation about in each of his 8 State of the Union speeches.
Whatever happened to all those 'shovel ready jobs' and a trillion thrown away on 'infrastructure'?
How is Solyndra doing ?
Has YOUR pothole been fixed ?
No, no, no cries the choir.....
Give Ruf his due.....
DeleteHe's not bad at making a silk purse out of a sow's ear, so to speak.
It's just that no one that has a clue buys a word he says....
Michelle Malkin had it right.
DeleteThe whole Obama Stimulus craparoo thing was 'a shit sandwich'.
DeleteNot a single reference for any of Robert "Draft Dodger" Peterson spurious claims
Par for the course
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack demands proof from all but himself....
DeleteOk so it doesn't rhyme....
But Jack's still a shit.. (that did)
I now have my new phone in hand.
ReplyDeleteI have now joined 'the eyes and ears of the world'.
When I see Fried Circuit supporters, most probably punky little 'millennial freaks', beating or shooting up Trump supporters, I shall post the video/audio evidence right here, first.
I am thinking of heading to Detroit, and sneaking in incognito to Q's Mafia Barber Shop safe space, and getting the goods on what is REALLY going on there....
DeleteCome now, Robert "Draft Dodger" Peterson ...
DeleteIdaho Bob Thu Jan 14, 05:57:00 PM EST
I'm for carpet bombing Detroit and environs as a necessary precursor to urban renewal.
"To destroy is to create" saith the Lord of Hosts and Urban Renewal.
You've wished Q dead more than once ...
You really are a sick puppy
Notice the lack of actual references?
DeleteNo proof that Idaho Bob said that.
Jack, did you not brag that you had DOZENS of avatars you could sign in and out of?
As for death threats?
Did I not report you to the AZ FBI for making death threats to me?
You are really one sick puppy...
HEAD OF PRIVATE CHARITY IN GAZA CHARGED WITH FUNNELING MILLIONS TO HAMAS
ReplyDeletehttp://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2016/08/head_of_private_charity_in_gaza_charged_with_funneling_millions_to_hamas.html
Hamas, we should recall, is pledged in its Charter to genocide the Jews.
The money spoken of above is said to have been used to build tunnels into Israel, buy weapons, ammo, explosives, the usual stuff of war....
One of the stipulations to young Ash if he takes advantage of my free one way trip to Gaza offer is that he must wander about in the public areas 8 hours a day for a month, wearing Jewish insignia....and never deny he is an Israeli.....
DeleteI am hoping to show by this real life experiment what a loving inclusive place Gaza actually is, against all the contrary propaganda, or, rid us once for all of silly shit Ash in the failed attempt...
.
Delete...wearing Jewish insignia...
Jeez, Bob, you just can't help yourself can you.
.
Bob's point is accurate.
DeleteAsh should take a walk in gaza wearing "Jewish insignia" (I guess that could be anything from a kippah to traditional Jewish garb or even a Star of David ((who knows)) )
Of course in Gaza it's a death penalty for some to do so...
:)
.
DeleteFor anyone who is actually planning a trip to Israel or the Occupied Territories here is what the State Department says about it...
Israel, The West Bank and Gaza Travel Warning
Last Updated: December 16, 2015
The security environment remains complex in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. U.S. citizens need to be aware of the continuing risks of travel to areas described in this Travel Warning where there are heightened tensions and security risks. The security situation can change day to day, depending on the political situation, recent events, and geographic area. A rise in political tensions and violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank has resulted in injuries to and deaths of U.S. citizens. The Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority both make considerable efforts to police major tourist attractions and ensure security in areas where foreigners frequently travel. Although these efforts to reduce the threat are not 100 percent effective, hundreds of thousands of U.S. citizens safely visit Israel and the West Bank each year for study, tourism, and business. This replaces the Travel Warning issued February 18, 2015.
The Department of State strongly warns U.S. citizens against travel to the Gaza Strip and urges those in Gaza to leave immediately when border crossings are open; U.S. government employees are not allowed to conduct official or personal travel to Gaza.
U.S. citizens should consider the rules U.S. government employees must follow when planning their travel:
• With the exception of Jericho and Bethlehem, U.S. government employees are prohibited from personal travel to the West Bank. There are some restrictions on the personal travel of U.S. government employees to Bethlehem, listed in the section below on the West Bank;
• U.S. government employees are prohibited from using public and inter-city buses (and associated bus terminals) throughout Israel and the West Bank. From mid-October until the end of November 2015, there was a temporary prohibition on using the Jerusalem light rail north of the City Hall stop on Jaffa Road; and
• U.S. government employees must obtain advance approval if they wish to travel to the following locations:
o within 7 miles of the Gaza demarcation line;
o within 1.5 miles of the Lebanon border;
o north and east of the Sea of Galilee;
o on or east of Route 98 in the Golan; and
o south of Be’er Sheva.
{...}
{...}
DeleteThe U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem are continuously monitoring the security situation. As conditions change, they can make adjustments, as necessary, to these travel restrictions on U.S. government employees. Please review the security messages at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem for the most current information.
Major Metropolitan Areas
Personal safety conditions in major metropolitan areas, including Tel Aviv and Haifa and surrounding regions, are comparable to other major global cities. Nonetheless, political and religious tension associated, in part, with access to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem has led to increased levels of violence, particularly in Jerusalem and the West Bank, not seen in those areas in a decade. Since October 2015, attacks on individuals and groups have occurred with increased frequency in East and West Jerusalem, Hebron, and Bethlehem, as well as various other places in the West Bank and Israel, including Tel Aviv. There is no indication that U.S. citizens have been specifically targeted based on their nationality, although perceived religious affiliation may have been a factor in some violent attacks on U.S. citizens. More than 12 U.S. citizens have been among those killed and injured in multiple attacks in 2014 and 2015. U.S. citizens involved in or observing demonstrations have sustained serious injuries. Therefore, the Department of State recommends U.S. citizens avoid all demonstrations for their own safety.
The Department of State also recommends that U.S. citizens maintain a high state of situational awareness, be aware of their surroundings at all times, avoid any unattended items or packages, and report any unusual or suspicious activities or items to police or other security officials. See below for specific safety and security information regarding Gaza, the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Israel’s northern region.
Travelers should be aware of the potential for military conflict between Israel and foreign terrorist organizations like Hamas. Such attacks can occur with little or no warning. During the conflict in Gaza in July and August 2014, long-range rockets launched from Gaza reached many locations in Israel and the West Bank – including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and cities in northern and southern Israel. The Government of Israel’s Iron Dome rocket and missile defense system successfully intercepted many rockets. However, rocket and mortar impacts also caused four deaths of Israeli citizens living near Gaza, as well as injuries and property damage. There have been additional small arms fire and mortar and rocket launches from Gaza into southern Israel on several occasions between September and December 2014 and again between May and November 2015 that resulted in limited property damage.
{...}
Delete{...}
Visitors to and residents of Israel and the West Bank should familiarize themselves with the location of the nearest bomb shelter or other hardened site. We advise all U.S. citizens to take note of guidance on proper procedures in the event of rocket attacks or other crisis events by visiting the website of the government of Israel's Home Front Command. Consult municipality websites, such as those for Jerusalem, for locations of public bomb shelters and other emergency preparedness information. Visitors should seek information on shelters from hotel staff or building managers.
Travelers should also be aware of the heightened state of alert maintained by Israeli authorities along Israel's border with Egypt. There have been cross-border incidents from Egypt, including rocket attacks and ground incursions, Rockets and mortars were launched from Sinai, Egypt in the direction of Eilat and Israel’s Negev region in January, July, and August 2014, and July 2015.
Jerusalem
U.S. citizens visiting and living in Jerusalem should be aware of the numerous political, cultural, and religious tensions that permeate the city. These sensitivities have the potential to fuel rallies, protests, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, and retaliatory attacks against groups and individuals.
Demonstrations are a regular occurrence throughout Jerusalem. Even peaceful demonstrations can turn violent with little or no advance warning. Since October 2015, there have been frequent clashes between protesters and Israeli authorities, checkpoints and barriers have been set up by Israeli security forces that restrict movement of residents, and acts of terrorism have taken place, resulting in death and injury, including to U.S. citizens. Travelers should be aware that protests and violence have occurred across Jerusalem, including in some West Jerusalem neighborhoods, and in East Jerusalem neighborhoods such as Sheikh Jarrah, Shufat, Beit Hanina, Mt. of Olives, As Suwaneh, Silwan, Shuafat Refugee Camp, Issawiyeh, Tsur Baher, and within the Old City. Skirmishes, violent clashes and demonstrations also have occurred in the northern parts of Jerusalem near the Qalandia Checkpoint, and Checkpoint 300 located in the southern part of Jerusalem near Bethlehem.
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DeleteFrom mid-October until the end of November 2015, U.S. government employees were temporarily prohibited for security reasons from using the Jerusalem Light Rail north of the City Hall stop along Jaffa Road. Travel to the Old City is also periodically restricted for U.S. government employees, including on Fridays during Ramadan. The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to exercise caution in and around the Damascus, Lions’, and Herod's gates to the Old City as these locations have been the scene of past attacks.
The number of violent incidents resulting in the death of bystanders remains high. The frequency of such incidents often increases following Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount access restrictions, in response to random attacks, or during Israel National Police (INP) operations in predominantly Palestinian neighborhoods. The INP often deploys a heavy presence in many of the neighborhoods that have seen clashes and may restrict pedestrian and vehicular traffic to some of these neighborhoods without notice. U.S. citizens are advised not to enter any neighborhoods restricted by the INP and to avoid any locations with active demonstrations, clashes, or a heavy police presence.
The clashes and violence have not been anti-American in nature. However, politically-motivated violence in Jerusalem claimed the lives of U.S. citizens who were inside a synagogue in November 2014 and a U.S. citizen who was riding a bus in October 2015. Other U.S. citizens have been injured in such attacks. In July 2015, an attack on participants at the Jerusalem gay pride march resulted in the death of one person and injuries to several others, including a U.S. citizen.
Travelers are reminded to exercise caution at Islamic religious sites on Fridays and on holy days, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan. The INP often imposes restrictions on visitors to the Old City’s Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount, and has closed access for temporary periods without advance notice. Many orthodox Jewish communities in and around Jerusalem restrict vehicle traffic on Shabbat, and entering these neighborhoods with a vehicle may result in protests and violence.
Northern Israel and Golan Heights
Rocket attacks and small arms fire into Israel from Lebanon have occurred without warning along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Heightened tensions persist along portions of the Disengagement Zone with Syria in the Golan Heights as a result of Syria’s internal conflict. There have been several incidents of rockets, mortar shells, and light arms fire landing on the Israeli-controlled side of the zone as a result of spillover from the fighting in Syria. Travelers should be aware that cross-border gunfire can occur without warning. Furthermore, there are active land mines in areas of the Golan Heights, so visitors should walk only on established roads or trails.
The West Bank
The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to exercise caution when traveling to the West Bank due to the complex security situation there. Increasingly frequent and violent clashes between Israeli security forces, Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents of the West Bank have resulted in the death and injury to U.S. citizens and others.
U.S. citizens considering travel to the West Bank should take into consideration the danger of death, injury or kidnapping of U.S. citizen residents and visitors in the West Bank evident from incidents in 2014 and 2015. On October 1, 2015, a U.S. citizen man and his Israeli wife were shot and killed on the road between Alon Moreh and Itamar, near Nablus. In November 2015, a U.S. citizen studying in Israel was one of three people killed by a gunman who fired shots into their vehicle in Gush Etzion, and another was injured by a gunshot near the Cave of the Patriarchs/Ibrahimi Mosque. In September 2015 five U.S. citizens were attacked and their car destroyed in Hebron.
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Demonstrations and violent incidents can occur without warning, and vehicles are sometimes damaged by rocks, Molotov cocktails, and gunfire on West Bank roads. U.S citizens have been injured or killed in such attacks in the past. There have also been an increasing number of violent incidents involving Israeli settlers and Palestinian villagers in the corridor stretching from Ramallah to Nablus, including attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian villages and attacks by Palestinians on settlements.
U.S. citizens can be caught in the middle of potentially dangerous situations, and some U.S. citizens involved in political demonstrations in the West Bank have sustained serious injuries. During periods of unrest, the Israeli government may restrict access to and within the West Bank, and some areas may be placed under curfew. All persons in areas under curfew should remain indoors to avoid arrest or injury. Security conditions in the West Bank may hinder the ability of U.S. government officials to offer timely assistance to U.S. citizens.
Personal travel in the West Bank by U.S. government personnel is permitted to the towns of Jericho and Bethlehem, and on Routes 1, 443, and 90. U.S. government employees traveling to Bethlehem must comply with the following additional security requirements: The Rachel’s Tomb/Gilo crossing and areas adjacent to the Ayda and Al Azza refugee camps are restricted; and travel in Bethlehem must be completed between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. These restrictions change periodically based on the current security environment. Please review the security messages at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv and the U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem for current information. The Rachel’s Tomb checkpoint between Jerusalem and Bethlehem has seen an increase in public demonstrations, which have the potential to become violent. U.S. government employees may also engage in personal travel to Qumran off Route 90 by the Dead Sea and to the Allenby Bridge crossing to Jordan, as well as stops at roadside facilities along Routes 1 and 90. All other personal travel by U.S. government personnel in the West Bank is prohibited. U.S. government personnel routinely travel to the West Bank for official business, but do so with special security arrangements.
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The Gaza Strip
The Department of State strongly urges U.S. citizens to avoid all travel to the Gaza Strip, which is under the control of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization. U.S. citizens in Gaza are advised to depart immediately when border crossings are opened; U.S. citizens who choose to travel to Gaza should not rely on the U.S. government to assist them in departing Gaza. U.S. citizen employees of the U.S. government are not allowed to travel to Gaza, in either personal or professional capacities. U.S. government travel in Israel within seven miles of the Gaza demarcation requires special security arrangements. The security environment within Gaza, including its border with Egypt and its seacoast, is dangerous and volatile. Exchanges of gunfire between the Israel Defense Forces and militant groups in Gaza take place intermittently, and civilians have been caught in the crossfire in the past.
Since October 2014, Egyptian authorities have closed the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt for extended periods, sometimes with little notice. When operating, the Rafah crossing normally allows for some passenger travel; however, prior coordination with local authorities - which could take days or weeks to process - may be required and crossing points may be closed for days or weeks. Travelers who enter the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing must also exit through the Rafah crossing, and those entering the Gaza Strip may not be able to depart at a time of their choosing. Many U.S. citizens have been unable to exit Gaza or faced lengthy delays while attempting to exit Gaza. Furthermore, the schedule and requirements for exiting through the Rafah crossing are unpredictable and can involve significant expense.
The ability of U.S. government personnel to offer timely assistance to U.S. citizens, including assistance departing Gaza, is extremely limited. The Consulate General and Embassy are often unable to assist U.S. citizens to exit Gaza via the Erez crossing to Israel.
Entry/Exit Difficulties
U.S. citizens planning to travel to Israel, the West Bank, or Gaza should consult the detailed information concerning entry and exit difficulties in the Country Specific Information.
Individuals registered in the Palestinian Authority population registry, who Israeli authorities believe may have a claim to a Palestinian ID, are denied entry into Israel or Jerusalem, regardless of other nationality or place of residence. These individuals seeking to visit the West Bank are required to enter from Jordan through the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge.
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Some U.S. citizens of Arab or Muslim heritage not on the Palestinian Population Registry or otherwise prohibited from entering Israel have experienced significant difficulties and unequal and hostile treatment at Israel’s borders and checkpoints. U.S. citizens of Arab or Muslim origin visiting the West Bank, including those not on the Palestinian Population Registry, have experienced restrictions by Israeli authorities from visiting Jerusalem or Israel.
Dual U.S.-Israeli citizens of military age who have not completed Israeli military service may be prohibited from departing Israel until service is completed or may be subject to criminal penalties for failure to serve.
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DeleteThe Israeli Travel Ministry probably should be complaining to the US State Department regarding these travel warnings.
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DeleteAlthough...
The security environment remains complex in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.
I believe that is what's known as an euphemism.
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Completing the barrier would make it much harder for Hamas to make use of its prime offensive asset, comparable in a way to the success of Iron Dome in reducing the damage from Palestinian rockets. For now, the IDF and the defense establishment are mostly busy searching for needles in haystacks — trying to locate and destroy tunnels with a method that does not ensure that the tunnels will be permanently put out of commission.
ReplyDeleteIsrael has proven ability to erect barriers and fences, as the construction of the Egypt border fence shows. In principle, the intention to allocate the necessary budget for the project is there.
What’s missing at the moment is synchronization of the plan, the objective, the timetable and the resources — in other words, a political decision that will then be backed up by determined action from the Defense Ministry to complete the project. Until then, in the absence of a clear decision to get moving on the project on a full scale, the underground breach in the defenses around Gaza will continue to beckon to the Hamas military wing.
It's time to fill the tunnels with natural gas without the sulfur addictive, then blow them up
DeleteWorld Vision has appointed external auditors to get to the bottom of allegations an employee in Gaza funnelled millions of dollars to militant group Hamas.
ReplyDeletePresident of World Vision International Kevin Jenkins said the charity has suspended its Gaza operations to conduct a full review.
What is "Occupation"Tue Aug 09, 01:11:00 AM EDT
ReplyDeleteBob's point is accurate.
Ash should take a walk in gaza wearing "Jewish insignia" (I guess that could be anything from a kippah to traditional Jewish garb or even a Star of David ((who knows)) )
Of course in Gaza it’s a death penalty for some to do so...
How idiotic. Millions of European Jews show up in Palestine, under the Star of David, occupy, kill and destroy Palestinian property, displace two million indigenous people and engage in a forty year campaign of a ruthless and cynical state sponsored taking, settlement, wall building, bulldozing campaign to destroy, steal and displace the Palestinians.
Post facto, it would be dangerous to walk in the crammed Jewish created ghettos, not yet stolen from the poor wretches behind the walls, wile you are strolled wearing the Mogen David.
No shit Sherlock, You think? Damn you must have been a National Merit Scholar at Haverford to have developed such thoughtful insight and academic analysis. The Palestinians would not be throwing Kosher jelly beans at you or baking and gifting you a knish as you strolled. What a nightmare!
The savages! What do you think happened to uniformed German Nazis taking solo stroll through occupied Parisian ghettos?
DeleteI'm just scheming to bump off Smirk'n'Quirk somehow, clean up this place a litte, and get away with it....if they go voluntarily to Gaza I don't see how I can be changed with anything....and if they follow my stipulations they certainly won't be returning.....
ReplyDeleteWin, win, win......is it not ???