As you may recall, the brains heading up the British Israel Communications and Research Centre claimed in a recent(ish) letter to the Guardian that the death of Reuters cameraman Fadel Shana (pictured below) was "accidental" (see my earlier response here).

I came to this message board as a conservative, and still am a conservative.

I came to this message board as someone who disliked President Bush and thought he was an idiot, and I still think he is an idiot.

I came here liking some things about Obama, and disliking other things about Obama. I've engaged in many, many discussions with many, many of you. Some topics we've agreed, and other topics we have disagreed.

Some topics I have changed my mind on, others my views have become stronger on.

<more after the break>

BBC story on purported satellite launch

Iran claims to have launched a satellite, no word on whether this is real, or whether the satellite made orbit. However, if there is an Iranian satellite in orbit, there will be a lot of yelling and screaming tonight from the Wingnuts, so some careful analysis is in order.

Cross-Posted At Democrashield

Right now, Fox News is asking me "Which candidate is better handling the Georgia conflict?"

The growing consensus in the media seems to be that it's John McCain.  But, if you look at what's going on, it becomes immediately clear that Georgia is a losing issue for McCain.

Let's take a look at why...

Today I spent a few hours with a group of Armed Guard and Merchant Marine veterans.  Their monthly meeting is always held at Hoss’s though it is difficult to navigate a buffet with canes and walkers.  The group is 59 strong if all are in attendance – some bring their spouses or are driven there by a relative since they can travel 30 miles to be there.  

Mikhail Saakashvili is in the same position as Slobodan Milosevic.  The Kosovar and Ossetian conflicts are nearly identical, and Russia wants to put him on trial for war crimes... just like the West planned to do with Milosevic. Saakashvili has nothing to rely on but propaganda, press spin and the surprising restraint shown by Russia up to this point, along with the irrational support of a public that rallies around him when the country is at war.  The same thing happened in Yugoslavia... Serbs watched their country destroyed and rallied around the idiot who got them

The American people and in fact, all citizens of the world, should examine what we have done in the four years since reclaiming our government from the lobbyists and war criminals in the election of 2008. They will have to agree that the results have been unique in all history.

—Future Speech of Barack Obama

Four years are behind us. Look at what has happened during these four years. People are forgetful. They accept good and wonderful things as they happen — and then forget about them. But we do not want to forget how things were, and what has happened. This is the transformation which the whole world calls the American miracle. Let us look back and examine the unprecedented achievement and progressive policy that has occurred since the 2008 election.

What was it like four years ago? Think back on the great and moving events: how America was despised in the world, how millions responded to Barack's speech in Berlin with overflowing hearts and indescribable joy. Only people who have been freed from some burden rejoice like that. That is the message of change that Barack Obama has brought. That is the greatest thing a statesman can do: to bring hope to a country!

This is HUGE.

Israeli Newspaper Haaretz is reporting that the Bush Administration has turned down Israel's request for weapons to help it attack Iran's nuclear facilities.

U.S. rebuffs Israeli request for arms geared toward Iran strike

The American administration has rejected an Israeli request for military equipment and support that would improve Israel's ability to attack Iran's nuclear facilities.

The Americans viewed the request, which was transmitted (and rejected) at the highest level, as a sign that Israel is in the advanced stages of preparations to attack Iran. They therefore warned Israel against attacking, saying such a strike would undermine American interests. They also demanded that Israel give them prior notice if it nevertheless decided to strike Iran.

A red light from Bush makes an Israeli attack on Iran less likely. This also makes it less likely that the U.S. would be dragged into a regional conflict following an Israeli attack on Iran.

Becoming embroiled in a regional war would be too high a price for the U.S. to pay to preserve Israel's nuclear monopoly in the region (if that's what is even at stake here).

I am sure most Kossacks are much better versed in Geography than I am, but thought I would try to share my morning's journeys with maps.  Educated in the US after 8th grade, I have a shallow understanding of any region outside North America and Western Europe.

I will never forget when I first realized that Iran was sandwiched between Iraq and Afghanistan, well since Iran is considerable bigger than either - sandwiched may not be the right phrase.  That simple peek at a map transformed my understanding of the Middle East and gave me to believe that perhaps Iranian oil was the real target after all in all this.  Oh, how I long for an energy economy that eliminates all this intrigue.

More below the fold

Remember that "birth pangs" war, oh a mere two years ago, in the 21st century, mind you...

The U.S. backed negotiations between Israel and Palestinians have ground to a halt. Israel’s government is unwilling to talk about both peoples sharing Jerusalem as the capital of two States. Ahmed Qurie the Head Palestinian negotiator has come to the sad realization that the negotiations have been in vain. Qurie now knows that Israel is as unlikely to negotiate a Two State Solution in good faith. Now he is looking at a very different solution, a solution that rapidly is becoming the only path forward as Israel carves off more and more chunks of the occupied West Bank foreclosing any possibility of a contiguous State for the Palestinians on the occupied West Bank.

Palestinian negotiator considers binational state

"If Israel continues to oppose making this a reality, then the Palestinian demand for the Palestinian people and its leadership (would be) one state, a binational state," he added at the meeting held in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

His comments were carried in a statement issued after the meeting.

From Israel's Haaretz: PA: We may demand binational Israeli-Palestinian state

Last night I got embroiled in a discussion on an "I/P," or Israel/Palestine post.  I find such discussions sad and sometimes scary and always futile.  But I go to them, and this time I got more involved.  One of my comments was "hide rated," and hours later when I saw it I did some research on Arab involvement with the Nazis, looking for sites to link to, and got thoroughly depressed.  This morning, still feeling sad, I decided to write this diary.

Steve Clemons of The Washington Note recently interviewed Mustafa Barghouti, general secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, about the reality of the much-vaunted "Annapolis process":

UPDATE: This news may reflect a normal operational rotation. And, it might even be disinformation as well. But, we'd do well to keep a close eye on US military deployments to the Gulf area (and especially near Iran).

Consider the larger context of my story, especially Condoleeza Rice's apparent green light ( pro-war Israeli leaders seem to want to take it that way) for an Israeli strike on Iran. Much opinion holds that the most dangerous "window" for a UA and/or Israeli strike on Iran would be after the November US presidential election. But, the larger point of this post is that there are still many in the US and Israeli governments who want to attack Iran. Indeed, the coming election in Israeli may see the ascent of an even more pro-war prime minister to power.

Also, consider growing media fanfare concerning Iran's "intransigence" - a PR case claiming Iran to be a "rogue nation" is gradually being constructed. We've seen that before.

Har Homa and construction of the wall dividing Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

In defiance of the U.S. sponsored ‘road map’ for peace, Israel issued a tender for the construction of 447 housing units in Har Homa. This would effectively cut Har Homa off from the rest of the occupied West Bank. Arab East Jerusalem would be encircled by a wall of settlements.

Got a short and sweet email from my good friend Makbula Nassar (مقبولة نصار), a Palestine reporter who does radio and print out of Haifa.  She was recently interviewed by Haaretz.com and proudly sent the link to the buddies. I thought some of you might find it a great read, thus gladly I share.

More below...

So there was some violent infighting a few days ago in Gaza. Hamas blamed the recent car bombing there which killed 5 militants and a little girl on the Hilles clan, who were the last remaining Fatah stronghold there.

That's one violent reaction to a bombing. Raid an entire neighborhood with overwhelming force and send a dozen (of their own) Palestinian children to the hospital. Undoubtedly, Hamas used the bombing as a pretext to solidify thier iron grip on Gaza by driving out the Hilles clan - nobody knows who really did it, there won't be a trial , no appointed attorneys for defendants.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Hamas forces battled Fatah-linked fighters with mortars and machine guns in a crowded Gaza neighborhood Saturday, leaving at least four dead in the worst Palestinian infighting in nine months.

About 80 people were injured, 12 of them children, hospital officials said.