In an agitated region, Israel-Gaza conflict has dangerous potential; U.S. leadership needed
While we sort out who in our national security and defense hierarchy has been sleeping with whom, it appears Israel and terrorists in the Palestinian-controlled Gaza Strip are heading into a full-fledged war. As night falls in the region, Israeli officials have confirmed the first rocket attacks on Tel Aviv since the 1991 Gulf War. The Times of Israel has a running live blog of the action.
Those attacks followed yesterday’s Israeli strikes on terrorist targets in Gaza, including one that killed the leader of the military arm of Hamas. Both Hamas and another group called Islamic Jihad previously had ramped up their sporadic firing of rockets into southern Israel; as of mid-October, Israeli officials said there had been more than 800 rocket attacks on their country from Gaza this year.
Given the civil war in Syria, to Israel’s east; the new Egyptian government’s support of its fellow Muslim Brotherhood affiliate, Hamas; and Iran’s ties to both the Syrian government and the Gaza-based terrorist groups, it doesn’t seem likely that this conflict will be as contained as in previous flare-ups in recent years.
One thing is certain: The various actors in this conflict will be looking to see what the U.S. response is. President Obama’s initial engagement — voicing support for Israel’s right to self-defense, and urging the Egyptian government to work to de-escalate matters from the Palestinian side — was good. He’ll need to hold that line in the days to come and give stronger measures of support for Israel. I very much hope that stops short of involving our own military, but anything less than absolute support for Israel could trigger a war that engulfs the entire region.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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351 comments Add your comment
Hiram
November 16th, 2012
9:12 am
you don’t say
Needn’t worry, he will reappear as td.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 16th, 2012
9:13 am
Folks who work for a living and pay America’s bills “bash” Obozo.
The rest just hope he keeps their handouts coming.
cc
November 16th, 2012
9:15 am
carlosgvv@8:37 am:
“Fully modern humans appeared about 50,000 years ago, NOT 4.5 billion years ago. Looks like home schooling just isn’t working out very well for you.”
Note the following . . .
Hiram@10:42 pm:
“In your parallel universe, about how old is the earth, and man?”
cc@11:00 pm:
“4.55 billion years, +/-1%”
I have no idea what you mean by “Fully modern humans”. Actually, man (homo sapiens) has been here about 250,000 years. Homo erectus is believed to have appeared approximately 400,000 years.
As far as your comment about my schooling, I recommend a remedial reading comprehension course for you.
md
November 16th, 2012
9:19 am
“Latino, yes, but Cuban. That will be a negative with other Latinos unless he proposes some real immigration relief.”
Doubtful…..it’s human nature to identify with people that are like themselves……some Cubans are latins as well. On the census form, they are all grouped together.
Whites are not all from the same place or have the same heritage, but identify with other whites, same with blacks, same with many asians……
We just elected the first “black” President……and the identifier was a HUGE deal. Next in line using the identifier as the model will be a woman, an asian, or a Latino/Hispanic….
iggy
November 16th, 2012
9:19 am
“IRVING, Texas —
The maker of the iconic U.S. snack Twinkies said Friday it is going out of business and laying off all of its 18,500 workers after a national strike crippled its operations.
The company, founded in 1930, was fighting battles beyond labor costs. Competition is increasing in the snack space, and Americans are increasingly conscious about healthy eating.”
OMG….My sides are aching from laughter. I bet those employees are speechless, dumbfounded, flabbergasted. Sew the wind, REAP the WHIRLWIND!!! The employees bad attitudes and selfishness has now landed them in the unemployment line but they will now be able to take advantage of that wonderful ObamaCare!!
Congratulations!!
cc
November 16th, 2012
9:22 am
iggy:
At least the Twinkies have been sacrificed in a just cause!
iggy
November 16th, 2012
9:26 am
Agreed cc. Every now and then I love a good ole twinkie and I will miss them. However, and as Our Grand Leader has stated so often, “we all must make sacrifices.”
I just hope the 18,500 former union/protected employees have learned their lesson.
JDW
November 16th, 2012
9:31 am
@LBB..”Obozo’s increased annual spending by about $500 billion since taking office. And most of that is, in fact, gifts to his loser parasite base.”
Repeating a lie over and over again does not make it true…
In the 2009 fiscal year — the last of George W. Bush’s presidency — federal spending rose by 17.9% from $2.98 trillion to $3.52 trillion. As Kyle and I have thrashed out before only about $200 billion of that was as a result of the stimulus, the remaining $3.32 was directly from Bush’s budget.
In fiscal 2010 — the first budget under Obama — spending fell 1.8% to $3.46 trillion
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Historicals
southpaw
November 16th, 2012
9:36 am
Stephenson Billings @8:50
Eastern Airlines was beyond saving, even if the unions hadn’t gone on strike. My dad was a pilot for them at the time. When the strike was called, he was planning to cross the picket line. Then he saw a video from Farrell Kupersmith, of the accounting firm then known as Touche Ross (since merged into Deloitte). Mr. Kupersmith showed how a corporate raider was looting Eastern in order to build up Continental and line the pockets of his holding company, Texas Air. Eventually my dad decided to honor the picket line–not to try to bring Eastern down, but to try to save it. Somehow I doubt he was the only one (or even close to it) trying to save Eastern.
carlosgvv
November 16th, 2012
9:39 am
cc – 9:15 “I have no idea what you mean by fully modern humans”
Your lack of proper schooling is clearly shown by this statement.
Fully modern human means people exactly like us not only physically but mentally. It’s believed that humans who lived earlier that 50,000 years ago approx. were lacking in language and artistic abilities as compared to us modern humans.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 16th, 2012
9:40 am
JDW, thanks for confirming my claim. Our President Bush’s last budget was less than $3 trillion, and Obozo is now spending $500 billion more, every year. All this, four years after the end of the recession.
It’s the spending, stupid.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 16th, 2012
9:47 am
I just hope the 18,500 former union/protected employees have learned their lesson.
They did. What they learned was “If you don’t pay us a decent living wage with benefits, you don’t deserve to be in business.”
They shut that mutha down!
Bye Bye Cheesy Grits
November 16th, 2012
9:53 am
Fully modern human means people exactly like us not only physically but mentally. It’s believed that humans who lived earlier that 50,000 years ago approx. were lacking in language and artistic abilities as compared to us modern humans.
Your wasting your time with “Science” and “Facts” with these folks.
They wont get it.
iggy
November 16th, 2012
9:55 am
“They shut that mutha down!”
And thats there last mistake with this company. The owners/officers, senior mgmt and union reps will parachute out with plenty. The line workers, middle/lower mgmt screwed themselves and are out of a job. This is no time to be seeking employment, especially since its and employers market.
Those that are lucky enough to find jobs will probably take a 30% pay cut if not more. Yeah…they really showed those business owners.
Dusty
November 16th, 2012
9:59 am
Well, close the blinds and turn out the lights!! NO MORE TWINKIES!! And not to mention, thousands of more unemployed Twinkie-makers. All the unions would not approve a new contract which had various cuts on employee benefits. It was an effort to save the company. Union officials say it was bad management.
Anyway, no more Twinkies and more unemployment. They would not bite the bullet! ZAP! What next? Will ice cream and popcorn disappear? Will we be more healthy?
We may be more healthy but not near as much fun!! Farewell TWINKIES!! You were delicious in your day!
JDW
November 16th, 2012
9:59 am
@LBB…”Our President Bush’s last budget was less than $3 trillion”
I guess you missed the part where Bush’s last budget spent $3.52 trillion…must be nice living in a fantasy world. Enjoy the rubber walls.
Stephenson Billings
November 16th, 2012
10:00 am
“They shut that mutha down!”
Yup, just like the parasites they are, they ended up killing their host. Brilliant strategy.
Stephenson Billings
November 16th, 2012
10:02 am
There will still be Twinkies. I mean, they can last a few hundred years
.
But, I’m sure the new deal was paying the employees a lot more than they will be making with unemployment. Brilliant!
Stephenson Billings
November 16th, 2012
10:05 am
Petraeus Said CIA’s Talking Points Were Edited to Play Down Terrorism
http://mrctv.org/videos/king-petraeus-said-cias-talking-points-were-edited-play-down-terrorism
iggy
November 16th, 2012
10:05 am
And lettuce not forget our other Capitalistic Hero, Papa John. Remember today is “Pizza for Papa Day”.
Be sure to get your orders in and maybe buy and extra pie for your poor unemployed neighbor.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 16th, 2012
10:11 am
they really showed those business owners.
Cons sound like a bunch of scared walking dead. Wilt like a flower in the heat. Folks, fight for what you need or why bother living? To make a paycheck?
Fat, drunk , and stupid is no way to go through life.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 16th, 2012
10:12 am
An interesting take on the trojan horse also known as “Charter Schools”.
http://www.salon.com/2012/11/13/phony_school_reform_agenda_takes_a_beating/
cc
November 16th, 2012
10:13 am
Another hero, iggy, is the CEO of Denny’s who said there will be a 5% Obamacare surcharge added to each bill. At the least, they will tell the customer what he/she is paying for!
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 16th, 2012
10:14 am
Regarding Papa Johns,
Are you folks willing to pay $.03 to $.016 more per pizza so that the employees of that company can have health insurance?
I mean, just how stingy, mean, and un-christian like can you get?
You Don't Say
November 16th, 2012
10:16 am
Papa John’s Pizza sucks. I do not care what the CEO is saying about Obamacare or anything else.
Good luck to them, but there are numerous locally owned non-chain establishments in my area. They are much better.
So glad there are choices
iggy
November 16th, 2012
10:16 am
“Folks, fight for what you need or why bother living? To make a paycheck?”
Suicide…now there is a viable option, but in this case I guess financial suicide is the next best option.
Good thinking, finn!!
cc
November 16th, 2012
10:17 am
Slow day at the office, Finn?
You Don't Say
November 16th, 2012
10:18 am
cc
What is the average Denny’s meal? $7.00. I doubt many who can afford the $7.00 will be shocked by $7.35.
Prices rise all the time. This will be the 1st time that Denny’s or Papa John’s have raised their prices.
Why cry? Just do it.
iggy
November 16th, 2012
10:18 am
“Are you folks willing to pay $.03 to $.016 more per pizza so that the employees of that company can have health insurance?”
Whats the problem…Obama has provided a remedy. Why should the business owner be responsbile when Daddy LongLegs is providing.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 16th, 2012
10:19 am
All politics aside, that Papa Johns is some nasty tastin’ stuff. But it’s not as salty + nasty tasin as that Pizza Hut tripe.
Like eating greasy cardboard.
iggy
November 16th, 2012
10:20 am
““Are you folks willing to pay $.03 to $.016 more per pizza so that the employees of that company can have health insurance?””
Please post your source for your numbers.
jezel
November 16th, 2012
10:20 am
Hiram…good point about man’s evolution or non evolution in rational thought.
Does not really matter how long man has been around or where he came from or what religion he practices. The fanatics in all religion are dangerous to mankind. This planet is all of ours and we have to learn tolerance and how to live with one another.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 16th, 2012
10:20 am
iggy wants the pizza but not if some “employee” might get some health care out of his purchase.
figures.
Dusty
November 16th, 2012
10:23 am
What next on the Benghazzie affair? Susan Rice will say that she reported exactly the info Petraeus gave her right after Petraeus said her report was different?
I do believe Congress is finally getting really fed up with this administration (already!). Diane Feinstein (D) is very angry because she heads a committee that should have gotten this attack informationon right away. They did not and she does not like it.. Sounds like the Obama administration FORGOT to tell Congress what was going on. Oh well………………which is about what we will hear concerning this messup.
iggy
November 16th, 2012
10:23 am
“Pizza Hut tripe.”
Now on that we can agree. Then there is Dominoes…the only pizza prepared in specially configured toilets.
nelson
November 16th, 2012
10:25 am
It is not the Israelies in need of U.S. leadership, it is the U.S. in need of leadership. Israel takes the initiative when attacked. It can be counted on 100%. No diplomacy, straight forward movement with the military.
When an Israel airstrike hits civilians they know it is because that is where the aggressors are hiding, with the women and children. The women should kick their aggressive spouses out of the house and let them carry on their activities without endangering the families.
Let us face it, for a tiny, miniscule country surrounded by hostile peoples, they stand their ground.
I could add two of our best[4star generals] are indisposed at present, Patraeus and Murphy.
Stephenson Billings
November 16th, 2012
10:30 am
Who is John Galt?
Companies plan massive layoffs as Obamacare becomes reality
“Freedom Works has put together a list of companies that will be laying off employees as a result of President Barack Obama’s health care law:
Welch Allyn – 275
Dana Holding Corp.
Stryker – 1170
Boston Scientific – 1200-1400
Medtronic – 1000
Smith & Nephew – 770 layoffs
Abbott Labs – 700 layoffs
Covidien – 595 layoffs
Kinetic Concepts – 427 layoffs
St. Jude Medical – 300 layoffs
Hill Rom – 200 layoffs
Tangible examples of Obamacare causing a reduction in full-time workers:
Darden Restaurants
JANCOA Janitorial Services
Kroger
http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/watercooler/2012/nov/8/picket-companies-plan-massive-layoffs-obamacare-be/
Stay jobless, my friends….
Banderson
November 16th, 2012
10:31 am
iggy – here’s your link on papa j’s pizza prices. I guess mike will have to come back under a new name today.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/calebmelby/2012/11/12/breaking-down-centi-millionaire-papa-john-schnatters-obamacare-math/
Hillbilly D
November 16th, 2012
10:31 am
This situation should have been resolved long ago by someone other than the two groups.
My opinion would be 180° from that. Those two groups are the only ones who can resolve it. Until both sides get tired of the killing nothing is going to happen. And it takes both sides, not just one or the other. Hard to see how that will ever happen, when one side doesn’t recognize that the other has the right to exist.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 16th, 2012
10:31 am
I could add two of our best[4star generals] are indisposed at present, Patraeus and Murphy
hey, I believe Captain America is between film shoots….
Dusty
November 16th, 2012
10:36 am
Iggy
We have the best pizza in the neighborhood. I make it. A big one is gone before it even cools down.
It isn’t hard to make, even when you start with “stuff” out the refrigerator and a can or two.
Biscuits are another homemade favorite. I”m not bragging. They are easy!!!
I like Papa John’s effort but homemade is better ( and cheaper).
Dusty
November 16th, 2012
10:39 am
Hey, I believe Finn is still on the Dem payroll. If not, he should be.
Lil' Barry Bailout - OBAMAPHONE!!!
November 16th, 2012
10:40 am
Wrong again, JDW. Obozo took Our President Bush’s sub-$3 trillion budget and blew it up with stimulus and handout spending, and SHAZAM, he’s still spending that much every year, just as Republicans warned in 2009 during the “stimulus” debate.
Bush: Superior to Obozo on controlling spending.
curious
November 16th, 2012
10:41 am
Herman Cain knows how to make pizza.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
November 16th, 2012
10:41 am
And all those companies are run by people who aren’t willing to budge and maybe give up some of their own over-the-top pay to allow their employees to have health care coverage.
Maybe the company can do without that second private jet?
That list, to me, is the no-shop list.
iggy
November 16th, 2012
10:44 am
OR…perhaps the workers could do without jobs. No doubt the unemployed Hostess Twinkies, with tears in their eyes, are now re-evaluating their lack of proper decision making skills.
JDW
November 16th, 2012
10:48 am
@LBB..”Wrong again, JDW. Obozo took Our President Bush’s sub-$3 trillion budget and blew it up with stimulus and handout spending, and SHAZAM, he’s still spending that much every year, just as Republicans warned in 2009 during the “stimulus” debate”
That a Boy LBB…keep on sticking with that lie…you remind me of Chico Marx…”Who are you going to believe me or your own eyes”
Except in this case it is the actual numbers from the audited US expenditures that you believe are lying.
1961_Xer
November 16th, 2012
10:49 am
Obama will sit on his hands, on the fence, until whatever the U.S. does to intervene looks like it will not rub off on him. That means he will not intervene until a “winner” is evident. Israel is on its own, now. But that is what the Jews in this country voted for, so if Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Gaza and Egypt want to have a go at Israel, more power to them.
Dusty
November 16th, 2012
10:51 am
Finn,
“Do without a second jet?”
Sometimes you are so absurd I wonder if you just want attention. The cost of a jet could hardly pay all the “good” health benefits of a large company. Smaller companies don’t have “jets” and they are shutting down too.
What next? Unions should be running business, not management?
Dusty
November 16th, 2012
11:00 am
JDW
Why don’t you tell us about the great results made by Obama’s “stimulus” ? I’m sure you have found some.