Terrorists with bylines?

Terrorists with bylines?

The New York Times flew its flag at half-staff recently to mourn the fate of three terrorists killed by Israeli airstrikes  in Gaza.

Of course, the Times won't call them terrorists — it insists the three dead members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad are actually "journalists."

According to Times media critic David Carr, Israel's military has been targeting the media for death, including Mahmoud al Kumi and Hussam Salama, who "worked as cameramen for Al-Aqsa TV, which is run by Hamas and whose reporting frequently reflects that affiliation."

Talk about a whitewash. The US government in 2010 designated the TV station a terrorist group and a full-fledged wing of Hamas. Israel has asserted that Salama is in fact a Hamas commander in Gaza.

And Mohamed Abu Aisha, whom Carr described as "director of the private Al-Quds Educational Radio"?

After Aisha's death, Palestinian Islamic Jihad published photos of him in militant garb and described him not as a journalist but an instructor for a brigade of its jihadists, hailing him as a martyr.

So, will the Times correct the record?

Fat chance.

Carr's excuse was that a gaggle of his press peers got the story wrong, too, including scribes from Reuters, The Associated Press — and, yes, even reporters and editors at the Times. Imagine that.

Some defense, huh?

Actually, it's more like a scandal in itself.

Pressed further, Carr told the online journal Tablet that all the evidence available still suggests these three were "journalists, however partisan."

It boggles the mind.

Indeed, Carr's explanation reminds us of Frau Farbissina — the character in the film "Austin Powers" who is introduced as the "founder of the militant wing of the Salvation Army."

According to the Times' logic, these terrorists were members of the "journalistic wing" of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Such a thing, of course, doesn't really exist — the terror groups merely use their press cards as a cover for their deadly crimes.

But Carr and the Times bought the lie hook, line and sinker.

And thus added to the slander of a nation trying to defend itself from terrorist attacks.

They should be ashamed.

And admit their error.

Original Page: http://m.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/terrorists_with_bylines_UfO7hwYpoqH1wEuVR46f9I

Shared from Pocket

Too little, too late

Too little, too late

ynetnews.com

Op-ed: Instead of obsessing about Israel, human rights groups should focus on real criminals of the world

Lilac Sigan

Congratulations. Human Rights Watch published a report this week blaming Hamas for firing at Israeli cities during Operation Pillar of Defense with direct intention to kill civilians. So why are congratulations in order? Because this organization chose to be blind for eight years while Hamas and other extremists continuously fired into civilian populated areas with intention to kill, nearly every day. Even when the report was finally issued, they chose to overlook this fact and only referred to the eight days of the operation, as if it was abnormal behavior.

The truth is Israel doesn't need the aid of human rights organizations - thank God for that. But if you really care about human rights, maybe it's time to realize that the attitude of many of these organizations is problematic, not necessarily towards Israel, but towards those who really need them. Maybe some figures would be the best way to make this point: If you Google "human rights violations" and add a different name of a country each time, it could make for an interesting comparison. These are the numbers I got: Human rights violations in Darfur - 10 million results.
Human rights violations in Sudan - 71 million results.
Human rights violations in Libya - 120 million results.
Human rights violations in Syria - 187 million results.
And the winner is - Israel, with 203 million results.
I can imagine what many will say about these results - how can you even compare? Israel is much better than these other countries and therefore should care a lot more about human rights. Well, I completely agree, but that's not the point. The point is that many organizations that are supposed to reduce the human rights violations in this world don't have their priorities straight.

The true problem is that as long as the spotlight is on Israel, making it seem like the worst criminal of all, the attention is no longer on the true criminals of this world. Hamas forces Sharia law in the Gaza Strip, and there are countless stories about its horrid methods of terror on the Palestinians: Arrests, executions, torture, lynch and rape, and seven-year-old girls who are sent to their weddings by their own parents. But how many results do we get when we Google human rights violations and Hamas? Nineteen million, less than 10% of democratic Israel.

So how have the most horrid stories become irrelevant? Why doesn't anyone expose these actions except for amateurs with short Youtube clips that don't interest many? For some reason, everyone seems obsessed with Israel and its checkpoint policy, and not with the terrorists.

Hamas, by the way, reacted cynically to this report: It's biased, they said, because we were only protecting ourselves. I guess that since the report fails to mention eight years of continuous shooting, not many realize that terrorists with a declared death wish don't blink when they lie. The problem is, Hamas lies a lot, and not only when they wish to hurt Israel.

Two months ago, Human Rights Watch published another report that didn't receive much media coverage, describing the horrific torture and execution techniques of Hamas towards the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas reacted in the same manner: The report doesn't mention the occupation, they said, and refused to answer questions. Hamas understands how things work and they're using it for their benefit: As long as they can deflect the blame towards Israel, there's no limit to the crimes they can continue to commit with nobody to stand in their way.

Do we really want human rights for Palestinians? Because if we do, it's time to stop looking solely at Israel's relatively petty violations, which account for a very small fraction of the Palestinian suffering. The worst crimes are quietly overlooked by politicians and journalists alike. As Jews and Israelis, we, more than anyone should fight to expose the terrible ways of Hamas.

If we do, we won't only be promoting the interests of the Palestinians as far as human rights are concerned. If Hamas terror is weakened and their true faces will be known and revealed, we may even be taking a small step towards that forgotten goal of ours - peace.

Original Page: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4325068,00.html

Shared from Pocket

U.S. civilian adviser killed by Afghan policewoman

U.S. civilian adviser killed by Afghan policewoman

by Sayed Salahuddi, washingtonpost.com
December 24th 2012 6:11 PM

KABUL — An American civilian adviser was killed Monday by a female Afghan police officer at the police headquarters in Kabul, according to U.S. and Afghan officials. The incident appears to be the first " insider attack " since October and the first carried out by a woman.

The adviser, Joseph Griffin, 49, of Mansfield, Ga., was shot as he was looking at a case full of decorative medals in the sprawling police compound, according to Afghan police officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the news media. "He was shot in his heart and died very quickly afterwards in the hospital," one official said.

The assailant was arrested soon after the attack, which was confirmed by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

"A civilian police adviser was shot and killed this morning by a suspected member of Afghan uniformed police outside the Kabul police headquarters," said Charlie Stadtlander, a spokesman for ISAF. "The shooter is in custody."

Stadtlander confirmed that the assailant was a woman.

According to an Afghan police official, the shooter's name is Nargis, and she is one of 1,850 female police officers trained in the country since 2002.

Griffin was an employee of Falls Church-based DynCorp International. He had "worked in support of several of the company's global training and mentoring programs since November 2000," according to a company news release.

"The loss of any team member is tragic but to have this happen over the holidays makes it seem all the more unfair. Our thoughts and prayers are with Joe's family, loved ones and colleagues during this difficult time," said Steve Gaffney, chairman and chief executive of DynCorp International.

Griffin formerly worked at the Afghan Interior Ministry, which controls the nation's police. The attacker also worked at the ministry, but in the department of gender rights, according to another Afghan official.

The motive behind the shooting was unclear; the attacker was still being questioned Monday.

More than 50 Western troops have been killed this year in insider or "green on blue" attacks, carried out by assailants who are members of the Afghan security forces. A recent Pentagon report to Congress said that many of the attacks stem from personal motives, rather than enemy infiltration of the Afghan police or military ranks.

If officially confirmed, Monday's incident would be the first insider attack carried out by an Afghan woman.

Earlier this year, two American advisers were killed in their heavily secured office at the Interior Ministry by a police officer who is still at large.

Foreign troops led by NATO and the U.S. military briefly suspended the training of some Afghan forces a few months ago in the face of rising insider attacks.

Kevin Sieff contributed to this report.

Original Page: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/us-adviser-killed-by-afghan-policewoman/2012/12/24/76566886-4d9f-11e2-950a-7863a013264b_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines

Shared from Pocket

UN Envoy calls for transitional government

Russia's envoy called for a transitional government in Syria that would run the government until elections could be held.
Lakhar  Brahimi didn't specify if the transition would include Assad.
He denied reports that there was an American-Russian plan being offered.

Islamic Fighters Cut off Assad's Escape Route

Reports indicate that Assad may be planning to form a breakaway Alawite Republic in Latakia province along the Syrian coast. This has been the enclave belonging to the minority Alawites for centuries. The Islamic Sunnis have already won control of much of this land. There is talk that an Islamic victory in this area would result in a bloodbath. THe Islamic opposition has already demanded and received ransom for Alawite hostages.

What, If Anything, Have We Learned?

Many of us are so disturbed by the mass shooting in Newtown that we try to block it out.
Tonight the President of the U.S. spoke at a service for the victims.
It was basically religious, although there was an indication that the.President will be pursuing political measures in an effort to prevent mass shootings in the future.
One thing seems certain, some regulation of certain types of weapons will be one such measure.
In addition, addressing mental health services and availability will be a major component.

We at IsraelAmerica wish to extend our heartfelt condolence to the people of Newtown.

The Girl Who Smoked Bin Laden

It's ironic, isn't it, that the CIA agent that tracked down the leader of one of Islam's most murderous misogynists, Bin Laden, was an American woman?
When Islamic criminals attacked a CIA compound in Afganistan, one agent, a female agent called Maya,said she felt she had survived for a reason.
Maya believed she was spared so she could finish the job. “I’m gonna smoke everybody involved in this op,” she says of the Camp Chapman attack. “And then I’m gonna kill bin Laden.”
Which she did.
The west utilizes the talents of women.
The Islamists believe women are inferior.
And so, Bin Laden is feeding the fishes at the bottom of the ocean, and many of his fellow criminals have joined him, thanks in large part to the skill and intelligence of free women.

Hamas Gang Leader Threatens Israel After Hamas Humiliated

It is tragic that criminals are in charge of the Arab world, criminals bent on the destruction of any semblance pf decency.              Hamas, after having been defeated twice, is once again threatening Israel with genocide, knowing full well that their fellow Arabians will be the most numerous victims . Hamas attacks, Israel responds, as any nation would, and Hamas claims victory in their twisted way, believing that since they sustain more casualties, they are the winners of the "PR" war. Hamas, ultimately, needs to be removed. They are a genocidal, criminal gang that uses murder to retain power in Gaza, and has boasted repeatedly that their goal is to exterminate Jews and Christians.