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I spent a couple of days in the 7th century A.D. with The Truth About Muhammed by the intrepid Robert Spencer.

Then I went back a few hundred years with A War Like No Other: How Athens And Sparta fought the Peloponnesian War by Victor Davis Hanson.

Excellent books, both. Instead of rote recitations of names, dates, and places which many historical books will bore one to death with, these two authors bring ancient history alive by writing with an eye towards the common schlub like me.

Now I'll fast forward to the 20th century A.D. with Delta Force by Col. Charlie A. Beckwirth.

If anyone has any suggestions for some good historical military reads, feel free.

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1 A People's Army by
Fred Anderson was a quick interesting read, about the Massachusetts
militia during the French and Indian War.  It focuses  more on who was
in the militia and why they joined than on the fighting.





Frontiersmen in Blue by Robert
M Utley was an interesting read, describing the United States Army in
the west in between the Mexican  War and Civil War.



Here are a couple more that I liked recently



The Village and No True Glory by Bing West

House to House by Kieth Nolan

1453 by Roger Crowley

Posted by: Moose at February 17, 2007 12:50 AM (3btGz)

2 Just finished "Flags of Our Fathers". James Bradley, son of "Doc" Bradley, one of six in "the picture". A timely read.

Imagine bailing out of Iwo Jima after 3-thousand fatalities.

Posted by: OregonGuy at February 17, 2007 12:51 AM (+o9uR)

3 "Band of Brothers," but you've probably already read it or seen the series.

Posted by: wooga at February 17, 2007 02:56 AM (2YapR)

4 Winston Groom's books on World Wars I and II - A STORM IN FLANDERS and 1942:  THE YEAR THAT TRIED MEN'S SOULS are both humane yet unsentimental, lay reader-oriented pieces of historical/military writing.  Jeff Shaara's THE RISING TIDE (WW II) and TO THE LAST MAN (WW I) are historical fiction, somewhat in the style of his father's books like GODS AND GENERALS, that describe the experiences of real characters.  In THE RISING TIDE, which I read just last week, he handles America's entry into WW II in a unique way, though spends around as much time on Rommel as he does on Patton and Eisenhower.  As a side note, I never knew before that likely the first soldiers killed in battle by Americans in the western theater were... French.  Since you seem more interested in non-fiction, I'll leave my fiction recommendations there- though good war fiction can be as illuminating as good non-fiction in my opinion - so instead I'll also recommend VDH's other books, most of which are more readable (less technical) than A WAR LIKE NO OTHER.  THE SOUL OF BATTLE and CARNAGE AND CULTURE are terrific.  BLOOD AND THUNDER is another very useful book about the Indian wars, specifically the American encounter with the Navajo and other tribes and the settling of the American West.  It's not at all afflicted by political correctness, but it's also far from uncritical - both of American amoraliy and, conversely, of misguided intentions.  It was kind of the background I always wanted to all of those Westerns.  The key figure is Kit Carson, and the key locations are in the environs of Santa Fe, but the story stretches all the way across the continent.  That's enough for now, though I'm sure I could think up a few others...

Posted by: Colin at February 17, 2007 03:00 AM (muz9j)

5 "The Commandos"  by Douglas C. Waller.   This gives a good look at our various elite troops. SEAL's, Delta Force, and more. I really enjoyed it. Hell Week! OMG!!!  You need to read this        
                        USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at February 17, 2007 05:55 AM (2OHpj)

6 Triumph Forsaken: The Vietnam War 1954-1965 by Mark Moyar.....a very thoughtful look back at how and when the wheels came off the trolley. A fresh re-evaluation of the conventional wisdom regarding our failures in that venture, and a timely work in terms of current events. Best, George

Posted by: George T at February 17, 2007 07:47 AM (aTRZb)

7 1. The Second World War - W.S. Churchill

2. The Great War in Modern Memory - Paul Fussell - also by Fussell - The Boy's Crusade, Thank God for the Atomic Bomb

3. MacCay - Extrordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds - Esp section on the Crusades

4. Lamb - Iron Men and Saints

Posted by: Mark Howell at February 17, 2007 08:25 AM (UkalP)

8 I just picked up a copy of "The War of the World--Twentieth-Century Conflict and the Descent of the West" by Niall Ferguson.  I have not had a chance to read it yet, but I heard the author interviewed on one of the radio talk shows (Hugh Hewitt?) and it promises to be quite an informative read.

Posted by: jeff m at February 17, 2007 08:49 AM (W42nz)

9 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Thermopylae

Battle of Thermopylae is extremley releavent to todays world.  A mere 300 Spartans did the impossible holding the thousands of the Persian/Muslim horde back from the Western World at a distant mountian pass only to be DEFEATED BY A TRAITOR that informed the Muslims of another mountian pass.

I am casuasly exited about the movie 300 it truley could be a great way for Hollywood to do there job of rallying the people.  The fact they have been openly in full Sedition mode worries me.

Posted by: C-Low at February 17, 2007 09:24 AM (esMSg)

10 Delta Force is a good read. I was going to mention a couple of other books that I liked, but I see Moose and Colin already wrote them down.

Posted by: V5 at February 17, 2007 09:33 AM (bP+3v)

11 Here is some obscure books that are driving the fight currently:
 
Counterinsurgency Warfare by David Galula
War of the Flea by Robert Taber
Sling and the Stone by Hammes
 
And if you are up for it Counterinsurgency and the War on Terror by Robert Cassidy.  It is a read that demands your attention (Something you can't read in small doses).  He is one of the few soldiers who has thought about what we are doing and how we do it.
 
I have more ideas, but I am tstop this here and prevent a TPS report
 
Pete

Posted by: Pete at February 17, 2007 09:40 AM (lmVx8)

12 To the Last Cartridge by Robert B. Smith was enjoyable, if slightly embellished.

And The Fringes of Power by (Sir) John Colville is a fascinating read.

Posted by: Kenneth at February 17, 2007 09:57 AM (BsFSR)

13

"We were soldiers once, and men" I found to be a good book.  Additionally "Operation Certain Death" was a book I found hard to put down.  "Spectator in Hell" and Frank McClynns "1066 The Year of Three Battles" are both well written books.  "Gates of Fire", although essentially a novel, is a fantastic read with regard the Battle of Thermopylae.

Posted by: Tim at February 17, 2007 10:10 AM (mm59k)

14 Carnage and Culture also by VDH.
 
Great lessons from numerous battles throughout history.
 
Book focuses on western military tactics as opposed to those from other cultures.  Book illustrates this by analyzing battles from Guagemela to Tet.

Posted by: catmman at February 17, 2007 10:17 AM (a/bsv)

15 Hi there; long time reader, first time commenter. Excellent work!

Two books that immediately spring to my mind are:

Seize The Fire by Adam Nicolson.
It's a moment-by-moment telling of the actions and motivations of the men on both sides of the battle. It also shatters the myth of Nelson's death.

Curse of the Narrows by Laura M MacDonald.
Probably the hardest book I've ever read, because it's a countdown to the Halifax Explosion in 1917.

Posted by: Duncan at February 17, 2007 11:08 AM (IB1hH)

16 The Great Siege: Malta 1565 by Ernle Bradford.

Excellent history and read on the Ottoman Empire attempt to obliterate the Knights of St. John on the island of Malta.

Posted by: jay at February 17, 2007 11:26 AM (/AXGz)

17 Savage Wars of Peace by Max Boot

Posted by: Bill at February 17, 2007 12:12 PM (a17bg)

18 The Rising Sun by John Toland is a great read, if you are at all interested in WWII in the Pacific. I loved this book, even if it was long. It was full of facts I was truly unfamiliar with, and was the first book I'm aware of that also gave a Japanese perspective of the war.

Posted by: templar knight at February 17, 2007 12:48 PM (LFjVi)

19 Robert Kaplans Imperial Grunts. Contemporary, not historical.

Posted by: W. Holger at February 17, 2007 01:34 PM (dEF+v)

20 Any biography of Richard Francis Burton except the Fawn Brodie one. The Epic Of Gilgamesh. (Not deliberate history, but illuminating nevertheless.) The White Nile. The Rise And Fall Of The Roman Empire. From Time Immemorial. The Travels Of Marco polo.


Too many to name.

Posted by: Jeff Bargholz at February 17, 2007 03:06 PM (Dt3sl)

21 The Frontiersman by Allen W. Eckert.  Excellent book about Simon Kenton, Daniel Boon, and the Shawnee Indians.  You'll really love the detailed account of how the indians burn their enemies at the stake (it's something we should do to terrorists).
 
 If you survive... by Joe Wilson (no not that one).  D-Day to the end of WW2.  When this soldier returned to the U.S. he had to be weened off of Army rations because his body couldn't handle regular food (talk about a long deployment).
 
About Face by Col. David Hackworth.  About his experiences in Korea and Vietnam.

Posted by: Derek at February 17, 2007 04:07 PM (iBkSm)

22 First time I'm going to ever print a comment thread. Thanks everyone!

Posted by: Vinnie at February 17, 2007 04:10 PM (fdAim)

23 Try "Jefferson's War - America's First War Agaisnt Terror" re: the Barbary pirates....scary parallels there!

Posted by: moriarti at February 17, 2007 08:49 PM (BkiKe)

24

For my fellow 'zionist pigs' I suggest "Fire & Steel" by Samuel M. Katz, detailing four decades of action by the Israeli 7th Armored Brigade.

Quote 'There were tanks we sent into battle with only half the amount of ammunition. I remember one of the young platoon commanders telling me "Brigade Commander, Brigade Commander, I don't have a full supply of ammunition,"  and I said to him "Never mind, the Syrians don't know how much ammunition you've got. You have forty shells! Get up there because we are pressed for time right now, we'll complete your ammunition supply while fighting" --a thing we really did.'

Lots of interesting stuff !                      USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at February 17, 2007 09:15 PM (2OHpj)

25 Josephus  The Jewish Wars
Tuchman  The Guns of August
Fussell  The Great War and Modern Memory
Keegan  Six Armies in Normandy

Josephus & Tuchman if you're serious
Fussell, if you have an IQ above 130
Keegan, to be drawn in and discover how it was

Posted by: John at February 17, 2007 11:10 PM (z7IER)

26 For an almost cinematic portrayal of the British Navy (believe me, you
will enjoy it) and how it shaped the modern world, try "To Rule the
Waves" by Arthur Herman. "The Sea Hawk" with Errol Flynn must have been
inspired by one of the early episodes in the Caribbean.

Posted by: Gospel Moody at February 18, 2007 11:36 AM (uensl)

27 Shit! I'm Impressed.

Posted by: greyrooster at February 18, 2007 08:14 PM (v+LdF)

28 Anything by Steven Pressfield.  For Example:
 
Gates of Fire - Novel about the Battle of Thermopylae
Tides of War - Alcibiades and the OPelloponnesion War

Posted by: SShiell at February 18, 2007 09:10 PM (WC4Rg)

29 catmman, I agree about carnage and culture, excellent book. Author littely pores over many major battles and major wars over history, especially in dealing why "Western" Societies produce MUCH better fighters than other cultures (example, why Greeks though far fewer in number were able to fend off and eventually destroy the Persian Empire, as well as explain why the Spanish Conquistadors could topple the Aztec Empire, and others...)
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnage_and_Culture
Wikipedia entry
http://victorhanson.com/
Author's official website
 
He wrote another book called "Guns, Germs, and Steel" along a similar vein.

Posted by: Henry at February 21, 2007 08:39 AM (1ii59)

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In the wake of the Salt Like City mall shootings by generically-religious Bosnian immigrant Sulejmen Talovic, Robert Spencer reminds us of a few prior incidents of domestic "non-terrorism":

On January 31, Ismail Yassin Mohamed, 22, stole a car in Minneapolis. ... During his rampage, Mohamed repeatedly yelled, “Die, die, die, kill, kill, kill,” and when asked why he did all this, he replied, “Allah made me do it.”

Omeed Aziz Popal, a Muslim from Afghanistan, who killed one person and injured fourteen during a murderous drive through San Francisco city streets in August 2006, during which he targeted people on crosswalks and sidewalks, identified himself as a terrorist after his rampage, according to Rob Roth of San Francisco’s KTVU. Later the murders were ascribed to Popal’s mental problems, and to stress arising from his impending arranged marriage.

On July 28, 2006, a Muslim named Naveed Afzal Haq forced his way into the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. Once inside, Haq announced, “I’m a Muslim American; I’m angry at Israel,” and then began shooting, killing one woman and injuring five more. FBI assistant special agent David Gomez stated: “We believe...it’s a lone individual acting out his antagonism. There’s nothing to indicate that it’s terrorism-related. But we're monitoring the entire situation.”

In March 2006, a twenty-two-year-old Iranian student named Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar drove an SUV onto the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, deliberately trying to kill people and succeeding in injuring nine. ... [H]e explained that he was “thankful for the opportunity to spread the will of Allah.” Officials here again dismissed the possibility of terrorism, even after Taheri-azar wrote a series of letters to the UNC campus newspaper detailing the Qur’anic justification for warfare against unbelievers, and explaining why he believed his attacks were justified from an Islamic perspective.

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Nice article in the Washington Times by our good friend R.S. McCain on a documentary that shows the history of the G.O.P. as an antislavery / anti-segregation party. Very necessary as my experience indicates that many, especially young people, have no clue.

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According to police, he wanted to "kill a large number of people":

Sulejmen Talovic, 18, wanted to "to kill a large number of people" and probably would have killed many more if not for the off-duty officer, police Chief Chris Burbank said.

Even Talovic's aunt, Ajka Omerovic, says the family doesn't know the man who could commit five murders and attempt many more.

Ajka Omerovic: "We only know him as a good boy, very patient and everything."

People who knew him said he showed up to work and acted like it was any other day, so they don't know what would set him off.

Police officers are still trying to determine why Monday night's deadly shooting happened. Even the family of the shooter can't seem to answer that question.

Sulejmen Talovic's family is baffled at what happened. When we spoke with his aunt she couldn't believe her nephew was capable of killing so many people.

Ajka Onerovic, Gunman's Aunt: "We want to know what happened just like you guys. We have no idea. He was such a good boy. We don't know what happened."

A family friend, who didn't want to be identified, told us Talovic's upbringing may have played a role. He was a Muslim-Bosnian, born in war-torn Bosnia. Talovic has lived in Utah for the past several years. He dropped out of high school in 2004.

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Most Westerners don't know that many Muslims emphatically deny the existence of ancient Israel. It's true. The underlying motivation is to show that modern Israel has no historic claim to the Holy Land since there was no ancient Israel. And here we find that one of them has published a University of Chicago Press book and is up for tenure at Barnard College.

Meanwhile, the leader of President Hosni Mubarak's National Democratic Party says the only way to stop the Jews from ruining al Aqsa mosque, constructed on the ruins of the (presumably non-existent) Temple Mount, is to nuke the Jews:

Nothing will work with Israel except for a nuclear bomb that wipes it out of existence.

HT: Ace

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Details here. (h/t : Glenn)

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Some at the State Department have said so, though the official "terrorist" designation apparently remains unchanged.

Is there any chance that this was just a random comment? Is this some sort of trial balloon?

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1 Israel is the only real resistance movement in the middle east.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at February 05, 2007 10:53 PM (8e/V4)

2

hamas is resistance to civilization. resistance to education. resistance to negotiation. resistance to just plain fucking anything past the 12th century.

Posted by: dr. akim ullshitbay at February 05, 2007 11:31 PM (Ax65U)

3 Hamas was a resistance movement as far as internal PLO politics wer concerned. I mean they fought each other a lot, when they weren't murdering Israeli civilians WITH INTENT!  They are terrrorists, and Rice mispoke, if you want my opinion                
                             USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at February 06, 2007 06:44 AM (2OHpj)

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Sometimes I really wonder what is going on in Chapel Hill, NC.

U. of N.C. Goofs, Tells 2,700 They're In (AP):

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) -- An admissions department e-mail sent from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill congratulated 2,700 prospective freshmen this week on their acceptance to the school.The problem is that none of the applicants have been admitted. They won't start finding out until March whether they've made the cut.

"We deeply regret this disappointment, which we know is compounded by the stress and anxiety that students experience as a result of the admissions process," Stephen Farmer, the school's director of undergraduate admissions, said in a news release.

Farmer said two employees accidentally sent the e-mail Tuesday. It began, "Congratulations again on your admission to the University."

The e-mail was intended to request midyear grades from high school students who already have been accepted to the school.

Admissions officials have sent follow-up e-mails apologizing for the error. They have also e-mailed admissions counselors around the nation to explain the mistake.

About 20,000 people apply each year to UNC Chapel Hill, and the school enrolls about 3,800 new freshmen.

Attention to detail is lost in today's society. I have a feeling someone might lose their job over this but it is the education system so chances are they'll get promoted. But, can you imagine the lawsuits some non-accepted students and their lawyers will be cooking up (rightfully so in some cases, I'm sure).

The larger question is why would you request high school seniors' grades via e-mail anyway? Is technology that great now that you can make significant requests of people via e-mail and them not question the authenticity? How many people's spam filters picked off this UNC e-mail, I wonder?

Originally Posted at

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A Message from Walid Shoebat:

ONTARIO, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- There is a growing and forceful campaign by CAIR and other Islamist organizations in Canada to silence the free speech of Zachariah Anani and undermine his legitimacy as a Canadian citizen, by calling for his arrest and deportation. Anani is a former terrorist-militant, a refugee from Lebanon and Muslim convert to Christianity. CAIR, an organization which claims to be the voice of moderation, should be embracing Anani's message against violence and the dangers of extremism instead of mounting a witch hunt against him.

It is no wonder that CAIR is attacking Anani, as it has been documented that many of the leaders of CAIR have openly supported the positions of Hamas, Hizballah and al-Queda -- all recognized terrorist organizations.

Recently, Anani spoke on the dangers of radical extremism at a church in Ontario. A backlash ensued, with CAIR and other Islamist groups pressuring political leaders to throw Anani and his family out of the country. Two members of Parliament, and one member of City Council joined the mayor of Windsor in denouncing Anani. None of these political officials, however, attended the lecture or even watched a video of it. The content of Anani's speech was almost exclusively from passages he read directly from the Koran.

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I continue to hear from lefties and Israelis that right-wing Christians support Israel because--and only because--the right-wing Christians believe that the State of Israel must be intact in order for Jesus Christ to return to the Earth. In other words, the argument is that Christians don't care about Israel or the well-being of the Jews per se, they only care about the Jews inasmuch as Jews are a necessary component of Jesus' plan for the Earth. The idea is, I suppose, that Jesus needs Israel, and so Christians need to make sure it's there when Jesus gets back.

Bill Maher argues that George W. Bush's support for Israel is based on this belief, though I've never heard W endorse it himself. Although I've heard this assertion from quite a number of lefties and Jews, I've never heard this from a Christian who believed it. I'm not saying there aren't Christians who believe this. I just haven't met any. Given this, I think it isn't a widespread viewpoint, but I don't know for sure.

Given the above, I have the following questions for our Christian readers:

Do you believe that Jesus Christ will adjust his plans to return to Earth based upon the current political situation in Israel? Put another way, do you believe that an adverse political climate in Israel might delay Christ's plans to return to Earth? Do you believe that Christians can hasten the timing of Christ's return by supporting Israel?

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1 Speaking as a Christian, I have never heard that argument before.  It is total bunk.  The apocalypse may very well be nigh, but it doesn't depend upon what who supports who or who undermines who.  It is foretold, and it WILL occur! (The timing is anyone's guess, but the recreation of Israel strongly supports a sooner rather then later scenario.)

HOWEVER, there are biblical reasons why Christians should (they have not always done so) support Jews and Israel.

The first is a general principle applied to all people.  Treat others the way you wish to be treated.  Extrapolating from that, I support just, lawful and orderly societies no matter who they are, whether they are Christian or not.

A more specific revelation is that the Jews are specially chosen for God's protection and purposes.  God chose Abraham and his descendants to bring mankind back to himself.  Because of this, those who bless Jews will be blessed, and those who curse Jews will be cursed.

What I don't understand is the Lefties constant undermining of Israel and support for policies that "feed the crocodile".  I suppose that if I reacted like they do, I would say it was anti antisemitism.  That might be part of the answer for some of them, but I think it is just one of the factors involved..

Posted by: Smashmaster at January 13, 2007 02:12 PM (jt1MA)

2

Posted by: Smashmaster at January 13, 2007 02:13 PM (jt1MA)

3 I think Smashmaster has pretty much hit the nail on the head.

Yes, Revelations does state that Israel will exist during the "End Times", However, it does not necessarily follow that is has to be the state of Israel in it's current form or location.  Revelations also implies that Israel as a whole will have converted to Christianity by then too.  Frankly I don't see that happening any time soon.

I have heard that we should support Israel and the Jews because they are God's Chosen People and as Christians it is our duty to defend those whom God favors.  I have also heard that we should support Israel as a form of international reparations to Jews as a whole for the crimes of the Nazis (and others).  I have NEVER heard that we should support Israel or the Jews simply because that will hasten the return of Christ.  As Smashmaster said, that's just a load of conspiracy-theorist and bigoted bunk.  Fairly typical of the crap we hear from the left these days.

Posted by: Wearyman at January 13, 2007 02:28 PM (4tfP8)

4 Yes, there is a subset of Christians who strongly believe that the current State of Israel is integral to the Second Coming of Christ.
 
As the previous commentor noted, the Second Coming has been prophesied, but as to the timing -- we really won't know for sure until it happens, nor how it will look, nor what will transpire in the details, regardless of what Tim LeHaye and others like him would say.
 
We just don't know, and whether the current State of Israel has anything to do with it is just the latest in a long line of apocalyptic assertions going back even as far as the Crimean War!
 
That some Christians believe that "we" have to "make" the conditions right for Christ's return is really just an admission by them that God is not sovereign -- and ultimately their faith is useless. I obviously do not have much patience with them.
 
My faith is not based on the current or continued existence of the State of Israel. My support for that nation has more to do with the messy realities of life on this planet.
 
Alan

Posted by: Alan at January 13, 2007 02:38 PM (OASgq)

5 Taking a Leftists word about christians is like taking David Duke's word about Jews, or Hesbollah's word about Israelis.  When it comes to christianity, they are both ignorant and malicious.  The worst of all combinations.
 
I hang out with evangelicals, and they support Israel for all the right secular reasons-- i.e., Israel is a democracy surrounded by a sea of Arab fascism, they have been persecuted for 2,000 years, they came out of the Holocaust, etc.  But they also support Israel for Biblical reasons. 
 
The Biblical reasons include Paul's admonition to the early church that the Jews are the branch and we are grafted into it-- not the other way around.  They are God's first born and children of the Covenant.  God does not forsake his firstborn nor renege on His covenants.  He has not forsaken His firstborn.  When evangelicals think of Jews, they think of the parable of the prodigal son.  To evangelicals, the Jews are the prodigal son.  They are beloved of God, even if they don't (yet) recognize the Messiah (Yeshua, Jesus).  They love Israel and the Jews because Jesus himself was a Jew and came to save his people.  To say evangelicals don't care about Israel except to bring back Jesus of prophecy is just plain ignorant and stupid.  They care deeply about Israel and the Jews.  Problem is many Jews don't want to be cared for in that way.  Oh well.
 
Re prophecy, the Bible-- in both the OT and NT-- speaks of Israel in the End Times.  So when the modern state of Israel was founded in 1948-- after 2,000 years of oblivion-- you can bet that Bible believers perked up real fast.  Does this play into their politics?  Obviously it does.  But to say that it's the only reason they care about Israel is, like I said, just plain ignorant and stupid.
 
 

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 13, 2007 02:42 PM (8e/V4)

6 and ps., evangelicals don't believe they have to make prophecy happen.  God doesn't need our help and it will happen no matter what.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 13, 2007 02:59 PM (8e/V4)

7 I went through 12 years of a Catholic education.. I have never heard of the concept that Israel needs to be Jewish for Christ to return, that  an Israeli government needs to be in existence for that purpose,  that He will not return if that real estate is comtrolled by Muslims, nor any other nonsense like it.  Bill Maher doesn't know any more about Catholicism than a jackass knows about the Musee des Beaux-Arts. I am not empowered to speak for the Catholic Church , but that is my experience. Other Christan faiths may speak for themselves.

Posted by: Fred Beloit at January 13, 2007 03:04 PM (Z7x7c)

8 Today's rapture index is 162 that is down 1
The highest number of individual hits received on one day by the rapture index was 2 million. (envy Rusty?)
http://www.raptureready.com/rap2.html
According to a recent Newsweek poll linked below 40% of all Americans think that creation science (Genisis) should be taught INSTEAD of evolution in schools. 15% say that Jesus will return to earth in their life time (the end times are here).55% say that every word of the bible is literally true, thus making the earth about 7000 years old. The Park Rangers at the Grand Canyon are no longer able to give an answer to visitors about the age of the Grand Canyon. If 15% of Americans DO think that Jesus will return to earth within their lifetime this might well represent about 1/2 of all of Bush's current "base".

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6650997/site/newsweek/

Posted by: John Ryan at January 13, 2007 03:09 PM (CARNi)

9  
Another thing about Leftists and christianity is that in addition to ignorant and malicious, they are consummate liars.  John Lyin illustrates perfectly.
 
From his link:  Sixty-two percent say they favor teaching creation science IN ADDITION TO evolution in public schools; 26 percent oppose such teaching, the poll shows. Forty-three percent favor teaching creation science instead of evolution in public schools; 40 percent oppose the idea.
 
Yet John Lyin claims christians favor teaching creation INSTEAD of evolution.  A lie.  Busted.  They simply want equal time.   Also notice he says "creation", rather than 'creation science' (Intelligent Design).  The former is the 6 day creation story, the latter is not.
 

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 13, 2007 03:22 PM (8e/V4)

10 Hey John,
 
from your link:  Seventy-nine percent of Americans believe that, as the Bible says, Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, without a human father, according to a new NEWSWEEK poll on beliefs about Jesus.
 
Oh, but wait, don't you Leftists constantly insist that we aren't a christian nation???  Apparently we are.  LOL.  Always have been.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 13, 2007 03:23 PM (8e/V4)

11 do you think Jesus is a toy? he gave his instruction, to love one another, not to kill one another, and not support one group to kill another group. you makeing me sick, I should look for another faith to adopt,
 

Posted by: fuck at January 13, 2007 03:31 PM (gPh3R)

12 Ragnar,

Certain prophecies had to be fulfilled about Israel before Jesus is to return and I believe those all have been now.

Israel is reborn into nation again - Matthew 24:32-33
Mat 24:32 Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; Mat 24:33 even so ye also, when ye see all these things, know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors.
The fig tree in the Bible is always symbolic of Israel. The tree's branches were barren for around 1900 years until new growth started in 1948 when Israel became a nation again.

Return of Jews from around the world - Jeremiah 23:7-8
Jer
23:7 And so, truly, the days are coming when they will say no longer,
By the living Lord, who took the children of Israel up out of the land
of Egypt;
Jer
23:8 But, By the living Lord, who took up the seed of Israel, and made
them come out of the north country, and from all the countries where I
had sent them; and they will be living in the land which is theirs. The Jews have returned to their homeland of Israel and continue to return (called Aliya) to this day.

Jerusalem no longer under Gentile rule - Luke 21:24 and Psalms 102:16
Luk
21:24 And they will be put to death with the sword, and will be taken
as prisoners into all the nations; and Jerusalem will be crushed under
the feet of the Gentiles, till the times of the Gentiles are complete.
Psa 102:16 When the LORD builds Zion, he will appear in his glory.
Zion in the OT is interchangeable with Jerusalem. In Hebrew it means permanent capital or mountain in Jerusalem. Israel
recaptured East Jerusalem during the Six Day War in 1967 after
capturing West Jerusalem in 1948. Finally all of Jerusalem was in its
rightful owner's hands, the Jews.

Those prophecies have been fulfilled as well as others not pertaining to Israel. Personally, I believe one more thing has to be completed yet before Jesus comes. In the Great Commission (Matthew 2 , Jesus commanded to go make disciples of every nation.  The Greek word ethnos is used for nation which also means tribe. So every tribe must hear the gospel. We must be close to that happening with all the missionaries dispersed around the world.

Jesus said he would come back in a generation's time when Jerusalem was restored from Gentile control. A generation in the Bible is usually 40 years. Jerusalem was restored in 1968 so that would mean Jesus should be here by 2008. We have all the signs Jesus talked about in the Olivet discourse in Matthew 24 with false prophets, wars and natural disasters.

Nothing we Christians can do or Israel does can delay or hasten Jesus' return. Only the Father knows when and when it is time He will send the Son, all according to His plan and perfect timing.

To answer your question about Jesus needing Israel, there's nothing that says He needs it. Everyone must remember that the Jews are the apple of God's eye. They are His children. He has a plan for their salvation too and they are included in Revelation 7 as well. We should help protect Israel because it's God's land and to show our allegiance to God. God also promised in Isaiah that He would punish those who attacked and divide up His land. We should help Israel so we can escape God's wrath. The US Roadmap to Peace divides up Israel and angers God. God will continue to punish America if it continues to help Israel lose land to the Philistines (Palestinians).

Israel must also still go through it's battle with Gog's army (Russia, Iran and the Islamic allies) which God supernaturally defeats and Israel doesn't have to lift a finger. Isaiah 17 says Damascus must be a ruinous heap. Whether that happens before or after the rapture is unclear. Solomon's temple needs to be rebuilt as well, Israel needs to sign a 7 year peace plan which will be broken half way through by the Bible's Anti-Christ (Muslim's Al-Mahdi) and he will take over the temple and establish his seat in Jerusalem (fulfilling prophecy from both religions). And so on and so on.

I'm no Bible scholar so feel free to pick apart what I've just written. I'm just laying out my interpretation. I'm going to sleep now.

Posted by: bigwhiteinfidel at January 13, 2007 03:50 PM (4rSdE)

13 I should look for another faith to adopt, 


You already have-- it's called Liberalism.

Posted by: dcb at January 13, 2007 04:09 PM (8e/V4)

14 What a load of crap. There's a reason the left cant cite a single Christian who holds such a belief. The simple reason is that it doesn't exist. The fact that Maher claims President Bush bases American/Israeli foreign policy on this slander shows how out of touch with reality the left really is.

Carlos is right. The left knows next to nothing about Christianity, and are more than willing to lie about it to further their social engineering agenda. It's not a coincidence that the left's anti-Christian slander matches that of the islamopithecines. Your average Christian hating atheist bigot doesn't even read the Bible, much less theological treatises concerning the relationship between Christians and Jews.


Stupid anti-Christian rumors like this get started by cranks and bigots, the same way anti-Semitic rumors get started.


The left picks up on them because most lefties desperately want to believe anything that makes Christianity look bad, especially the so called Christian right. They want their irrational hatred of the "other side" to be confirmed, because hatred is an integral part of their ideology. This gives them a feeling of moral or ethical superiority, which all insecure people need to assuage their fragile egos. (Not desire, but need--desperately.)


This is very similar to the left's unquestioning belief in the fake but accurate National Guard memo, burning shites fable, endless accusations of Israeli atrocities, etc. Anti-Semitism, anti-Christianity, and BDS are all rooted in the same dirty area of the human psyche.The same area that leads to pogroms, oppression and totalitarianism.


Acording to the Bible, the Jews are the chosen people of God. This means they were chosen to help humanity understand its relationship with its creator. They are meant to be teachers, and help others to lead a moral and spiritual life.


That's one of the reasons so many Christians consider themselves Christian Zionists, and so many other Christians refuse to practice bigotry towrd Jews or the Jewish homeland. Another reason is the Christian tenet of peaceful coexistence. "Love thy neighbor" is a prohibition against aggression towards other non aggressive nations. (It's not a command against just warfare, as the ever ignorant left would have you believe.)


Religious reasons aren't the only reasons most Christians support Jews, of course. Christians aren't one dimensional religious zealots who base all their decisions on Biblical scripture, no matter how hard the leftards push that malevolent fiction. Bigotry against innocent ethnic and religous groups is just plain wrong, and israel is obviously the victim in the islamic war against its existence. Obvious to anybody who has bothered to make even a cursory examination of the subject.

"Right-wing Christians" regularly donate time, money, and effort to help Israel and individual Jews--both in and out of Israel. They do not limit their aid to endeavors meant to ensure there is an Israel for Jesus to return to so he can start the Rapture, yadda, yadda, yadda.


Bill Maher and the other smarmy tards on the left are full of shit. If they spent half as much energy trying to help people as they do attacking Christians, the world would be a much better place. Of course, if they were interested in helping people instead of imposing their will on them, they wouldn't be leftists. They'd probably be good Christians.

Posted by: Jeff Bargholz at January 13, 2007 04:30 PM (abVz3)

15 Today's RETARD INDEX is presently 2 in 14 (.2 That's down from yesterday's high, but John Lyin and the aptly named Fuck will probably be joined by more tards eventually.


The Ignorance Quotient is presently at 7, which is a match for the Asshole Quotient.


John Lyin lied (natch,) about Christians and the Newsweak poll, and Fuck lied about being a Christian and the teachings of Jesus, so the Deceit Quotient is at 3.5


I'd say these figures correlate fairly well with national figures. The Christian hating Marxists are the lunatic fringe.

Posted by: Jeff Bargholz at January 13, 2007 05:06 PM (abVz3)

16 I support Israel for reasons that have nothing to do with eschatology (the end times, prophecy, etc.), but because they are the "good guys" in that part of the world. No, they're not perfect and they shouldn't be given a free pass -- but they are the current example of a pluralistic, liberal democracy in the Middle East. Arab Muslims have been elected, and served in the Israeli Knesset. Find me an Arab country that doesn't wish and work for Israel's demise as a country.

What I find mind-blowingly amazing is that if the lefties who consistently side with the Islamic fascists against Israel were to find themselves suddenly a citizen of one of these countries, they would be the first people to be persecuted, imprisoned, censored, or otherwise have their freedom restricted. Wake up, people.

Posted by: NewportPreacher at January 13, 2007 05:46 PM (IIU0p)

17 The Park Rangers at the Grand Canyon are no longer able to give an answer to visitors about the age of the Grand Canyon.
 
More Leftard lies.   Not really John Lyin's fault though.  He's just a bot repeating mindlessly what he's been told.  That's what Leftards do.  But I'm telling you folks, there isn't much you can take a tard's word on.
 
"If asked the age of the Grand Canyon, our rangers use the following answer. The principal consensus among geologists is that the Colorado River basin has developed in the past 40 million years and that the Grand Canyon itself is probably less than five to six million years old. The result of all this erosion is one of the most complete geologic columns on the planet. The major geologic exposures in Grand Canyon range in age from the 2 billion year old Vishnu Schist at the bottom of the Inner Gorge to the 230 million year old Kaibab Limestone on the Rim."

http://parkrangerx.blogspot.com/2007/01/dont-believe-everything-you-read.html
 

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 13, 2007 06:06 PM (8e/V4)

18 The Park Rangers at the Grand Canyon are no longer able to give an answer to visitors about the age of the Grand Canyon.
 
More Leftard lies and hysteria to turn folks against christians.  Not completely John Lyin's fault though.  He's just doing what a good Leftbots does and mindlessly repeating the Leftard lies he himself has been told.  I'm telling you folks, there isn't much you can take a tard's word on.  Here's what the park rangers tell people about the Grand Canyon:
 
"If asked the age of the Grand Canyon, our rangers use the following answer. The principal consensus among geologists is that the Colorado River basin has developed in the past 40 million years and that the Grand Canyon itself is probably less than five to six million years old. The result of all this erosion is one of the most complete geologic columns on the planet. The major geologic exposures in Grand Canyon range in age from the 2 billion year old Vishnu Schist at the bottom of the Inner Gorge to the 230 million year old Kaibab Limestone on the Rim."
 
http://parkrangerx.blogspot.com/2007/01/dont-believe-everything-you-read.html

 
http://parkrangerx.blogspot.com/2007/01/dont-believe-everything-you-read.html

Posted by: NewportPreacher at January 13, 2007 06:13 PM (8e/V4)

19 >>>>>The Park Rangers at the Grand Canyon are no longer able to give an answer to visitors about the age of the Grand Canyon.

More Leftard lies and hysteria to turn folks against christians. Not completely John Lyin's fault though. He's just doing what a good Leftbots does and mindlessly repeating the Leftard lies he himself has been told. I'm telling you folks, there isn't much you can take a tard's word on. Here's what the park rangers tell people about the Grand Canyon:

"If asked the age of the Grand Canyon, our rangers use the following answer. The principal consensus among geologists is that the Colorado River basin has developed in the past 40 million years and that the Grand Canyon itself is probably less than five to six million years old. The result of all this erosion is one of the most complete geologic columns on the planet. The major geologic exposures in Grand Canyon range in age from the 2 billion year old Vishnu Schist at the bottom of the Inner Gorge to the 230 million year old Kaibab Limestone on the Rim."

http://parkrangerx.blogspot.com/2007/01/dont-believe-everything-you-read.html

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 13, 2007 06:14 PM (8e/V4)

20 >>>>>The Park Rangers at the Grand Canyon are no longer able to give an answer to visitors about the age of the Grand Canyon.<<<<<<

More Leftard lies and hysteria to turn folks against christians. Not completely John Lyin's fault though. He's just doing what a good Leftbots does and mindlessly repeating the Leftard lies he himself has been told. I'm telling you folks, there isn't much you can take a tard's word on. Here's what the park rangers tell people about the Grand Canyon:

>>"If asked the age of the Grand Canyon, our rangers use the following answer. The principal consensus among geologists is that the Colorado River basin has developed in the past 40 million years and that the Grand Canyon itself is probably less than five to six million years old. The result of all this erosion is one of the most complete geologic columns on the planet. The major geologic exposures in Grand Canyon range in age from the 2 billion year old Vishnu Schist at the bottom of the Inner Gorge to the 230 million year old Kaibab Limestone on the Rim."<<

http://parkrangerx.blogspot.com/2007/01/dont-believe-everything-you-read.html

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 13, 2007 06:16 PM (8e/V4)

21 The National Park Service does, in fact, tell quite plainly how old the Grand Canyon is estimated to be based on geological evidence. Simply because a certain group with an agenda gets a press release published as story does not make their claims true. This is yet another "truth" the left is willing to accept without any verification simply because it fits their preconceived notion about what it means to be George Bush, Christian President.

WARNING: Cognitive dissonance may be experienced by any liberal who clicks on <a target="_blank" src="http://www.nps.gov/grca/historyculture/index.htm">the following link</a>. Reality may contradict what you already accept as true and if you are not the open-minded person you claim to be, DO NOT click here to see actual documented proof of the National Park Service forwarding the obvious heresey that humans occupied the Grand Canyon area TWELVE THOUSAND YEARS AGO.

IF and ONLY IF, any liberal is able to recover from the obvious trauma that the previous link caused, <a target="_blank" src="http://www.nps.gov/grca/faqs.htm#old">click here</a> to discover that the National Park Service does indeed make the obviously unbiblical and profane suggestion that the geologic features of the Grand Canyon are TWO THOUSAND MILLION YEARS OLD! Curse you, National Park Service, you heathen amongst us.

You see, no matter what you read, if you simply accept a story as true because you saw it in print, it means you are not educated. It means you are gullible. It means that you wasted your parents' or taxpayer money on your higher education.

Same goes for believing as true every poll result that is published.

As for Israel... believing Christians support Israel because Jesus cannot return unless Israel exists is simply much easier for a liberal to accept than believing that Christians support Israel because it is the only democratically controlled country in the region.

Posted by: w3 at January 13, 2007 06:20 PM (9TtwK)

22 Ah darn. Documented proof that I haven't coded HTML in a while. The shame! The humiliation!

Posted by: w3 at January 13, 2007 06:22 PM (9TtwK)

23

I am an American Christian who loves the Jews and supports Israel. The first time I heard of this I was attending a pro-Israel organization meeting. A Jewish woman in the room objected to my support for Israel based on the belief that I, as a Christian was only supporting Israel so that the Jews would return to Israel to get exterminated by the anti-Christ and this would usher in the 2nd coming of the Messiah (Jesus).  I was so flabergasted, hurt and embarrassed. My many Israeli friends welcome my family's support and love of the Jewish people and Israel. In addition, they are also surprised when I tell them that many American Jews believe that Christians have an alternative motive for their support. It is really sad and it is my feeling that this myth is perpertrated by the left to discredit Christians and discourage our support.

Posted by: Naarski at January 13, 2007 06:29 PM (DbI4N)

24

No; no one knows when Christ is coming back.  And I don't know anyone who lets post-millenialist speculation affect his view of Middle Eastern politics.

Posted by: See-dubya at January 13, 2007 06:41 PM (PeBZQ)

25 Yes & No.

I believe there must be some sort of "Israel" in existence when Christ returns -- but that isn't my reason for supporting Israel.

I believe that the blight that is the Dome of the Rock must be removed from Temple Mount and the Temple of David rebuilt before Christ returns -- but that isn't my reason for supporting those Jews who wish to see those things accomplished.

I love the Jewish People as my elder brothers and sisters in faith and pray that they may come to know Christ as the Messiah -- but not because of some weird prophetic scheme about the end of the world.

Indeed, I support Israel and oppose the Islamofascists because it is the right thing to do for my country -- and pray for the salvation of every individual regardless of their race or current religion because it is my duty as a Christian.

Posted by: Rhymes With Right at January 13, 2007 06:44 PM (tCngE)

26 "do you think Jesus is a toy? he gave his instruction, to love one
another, not to kill one another, and not support one group to kill
another group. you makeing me sick, I should look for another faith to
adopt"
Really? Jesus said not to kill?
Contrary to this common lefty belief... JESUS WAS NOT A HIPPIE!
This hippie-jesus myth ranks right up there with people quoting the King James bible for accuracy. The rule is against murder, a legally and morally different act from killing.
So I guess our friend here just proved Carlos' point: lefties like to blab about christianity, but know very little about it.

Posted by: wooga at January 13, 2007 07:13 PM (2YapR)

27 Firstly, Bill Maher has his head so far up his ass, he gets to chew his food, digest it, then chew it again. No wonder he always has that shit eating grin.

Allowing for my human weakness in despising Maher (who I used to like) As a Christian, on the right, I think humane compassion is virtuous. When bad guys attack good guys, our compassion should motivate us to try and help the one attacked. Even to the point of standing in their active defense. The Christian relationship with Israel is as simple as that.

The 'End Times' are up to God, not me, or anyone on this Earth. It could be another ten thousand years before they come. It could be a million years. Israel could rise, and fall a hundred more times before we see them. Islam could be dust a hundred thousand years gone, and humanity living on distant planets before the 'Second Coming'. The Anti-Christ could come in a form we never imagined. The Anti-Christ could be a machine. WE DON'T KNOW!

I fully suport the teaching of Evolutionary theory as science, because it is the most well supported of the theories. I do support teaching 'Intelligent Design' as part of a 'Philosophy' curriculum, because it is a philosophical arguement.

Currently, the science of evolution isn't in conflict with the philosophical arguement for an intelligent design theory. It is only in conflict with literal readings of most major religions, including Islam. Which is why many fear the idea of evolution in the first place.

For what it's worth, denial of the possibility of 'intelligent design' of any kind, is part of Atheist orthodoxy, and so they oppose teaching it as an open philosophical question. I say they are afraid of this idea, because it threatens their world view, or if you prefer, their religious view. In short, we reject what we fear.

Taken a step further, the Left thrives on fear, and hysteria. "Some religious nut case will take over and start WW3 because of GAWD!". Like no godless pragmatist would ever rationalize starting such a war ??? And Global Warming is more religion than science as well.

I've been reading about prehistory for ever. When I was three years old I was naming and describing 26+ dinosaurs to my parents friends, and I never lost my interest. The prehistoric world has had temperature changes, and huge spikes of CO2 many, many times. It will continue to do so, no matter what the high priests of Kyoto orthodoxy say.

Following this pattern, the Left tries to weaken American power on the international stage. When the cry that "Christians are hoping for the end times!" it is smoke and mirrors. There are two main movements that want to stop US freemarket, democratic, involvement with the larger world. They are Marxism, and Islamism. Because we are a threat to both. See above regarding evolution, and intelligent design.

The US works! It works well enough to reach superpower status, and stay there. Other systems have to borrow ideas from us. They have to copy our methods, because our way gets results.

Marxist socialism can't compete on a level field, thus the socialist elite can never acheive real power while the US continues strong. So they figure we need to be humbled.

Islamism is the same. The Mullahs need to keep screaming about our zits, while they try to conceal their huge deformed and cancerous growths. If one of our soldiers flushes a Quran, its the end of the world. If they stone to death a Christian woman for handing out religious pamphlets, its none of our 'imperialist' business. It's all about repeating lies, loudly, and often, till they are believed, and the Mullahs are pros!

The US legacy is real freedom, empowering the individual in ways Marx, and Muhhamed can only barely imitate. Israel is LIKE US, and under constant existential threat besides. It is no wonder we like Israel, whether we are Christians or not.

As for likeing Jews, just because they are Jews, I cry 'bullcrap'! Noam Chomsky can eat shit and die as far as I'm concerned. So can Israeli citizen Charles Enderlin.

This has always been about Freedom, over Marxism, Fascism, and Islamism. Israel is about Freedom. There you go!

USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at January 13, 2007 07:14 PM (2OHpj)

28 Let me add one more thing. There is nothing in the Bible that says Israel will be defeated after God has returned His people to the land which is theirs. Nothing to worry about.

I can't wait to see when God supernaturally kicks Russia, Iran, and the Islamic alliance's asses. Whether it's before or after the rapture, from an earthly or celestial view doesn't matter. They will know that He is the Lord.

Posted by: bigwhiteinfidel at January 13, 2007 08:18 PM (4rSdE)

29 I also think it is like the US and the UK, Jesus was a Jew, Just like most of our founding fathers were British. We tend to look favorably at our heritage.

Posted by: vmaximus at January 13, 2007 08:54 PM (X9iR2)

30 I think the lunatic left has been suffiently eviscerated. Good work, Gentlemen!

Posted by: templar knight at January 13, 2007 09:35 PM (634o6)

31 To answer your three questions:  No, No & No.

If I needed a religious reason to support Israel I would find it in Gen 12:3,  "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee, and in the shall all families of the earth be blessed."

But I supported Israel before I became a Christian.  Why?  Because they are a democratic nation, and have, I believe, acted always in self defense.

Posted by: tarheel at January 14, 2007 08:31 AM (kKrFz)

32 "Taking a Leftist's word about christians is like taking David Duke's word about Jews."
 
That is exactly correct.

Posted by: pst314 at January 14, 2007 12:25 PM (lCxSZ)

33 Any attempt to read God's mind is foolish, fruitless, and possibly sinful. God reportedly moves in mysterious ways - and good Christians should try to be good Christians and let God do what God will do in God's own time. Trying to predict what will affect the timing of the Second Coming so as to try and speed or delay the day smacks of gaming the system - rules lawyering God, if you will, which is probably really unwise.
 
For my own self, my support of Israel is not linked to faith. It's linked to the cultural commonality I feel with Israelis and their society, the ethical impetus to support any humans in their efforts to survive and prosper, and the geopolitical importance of the only free and democratic society in the region, one which also happens to be an ally.
 

Posted by: hiraethin at January 14, 2007 02:26 PM (hnFlP)

34 Several posts here make the point clear--it's just another caricature on the part of those who hate Christians, i.e., Bill Maher and Co. 

I'm a devout Christian--I love the Jewish people, period.  Just like I love and support freedom loving Palestinians--although sadly, there aren't many of them.  Palestinian Christians face much persecution--we would be wise not to forget them.  God is not a land broker--He calls us to love and to stay by those who are in need.  Israel needs our support since it is surrounded by genocidal factions who will not rest until Israel is gone.  If we do not come to Israel when they need us, we have violated the clear priniciple of loving our neighbour.

As for Jesus' Second Coming--the interpretation that states that he will return to Israel is one of several positions Christians hold to in terms of eschatology.  The return of Christ is the next great event, and nothing, and I mean nothing, can stop it--He can return at any time, regardless of the unrest, or lack thereof, in the region.

If only people like Maher would ask believers how they felt, he would not continue to spin this ridiculous accusation.  But, I guess that's how the left operates--thin on facts, strong on hysteria.

Posted by: Richard Romano at January 14, 2007 05:27 PM (/2Xsz)

35 My love for and support of Israel is akin to my love for and support of freedom-loving democracies wherever they may be found. As for my Christianity, if I worship Jesus and believe that He's all-powerful, then wouldn't He be able to come and go and do as He pleases regardless of the arbitrary borders of men? Maher is an idiot.

Posted by: GradualDazzle at January 14, 2007 06:32 PM (wsJ3l)

36 Jesus said love your neighbor and that includes the Jews.
 
Jews are the chosen people beccause GOD used his free will to start with Israel to bring the Messiah into the world so we may live life more abundantly. And the Biblical book of Romans says when the nation of Israel finally accepts Jesus then we finally will have the end of death and the raising of those who are dead, and that the troubles Israel faces now is to bring them to the point of realizing Jesus as the Messiah. The Bibical boork of Amos says in its last 2 sentences that Israel is in their land forever.
 
If necessary i will hide Jews to shelter them when the persecutions come despite the consequence to myself.
 
And the liberals are liars, the Bible says that man uses viper poison in their lips: how true of liberals - the barbara boxer attack on Condi Rice is the latest example of their using poisoned words.
 
signed
The_Creature_From_The_Mariana_Trench
 

Posted by: Creature_From_The_Mariana_Trench at January 14, 2007 06:43 PM (O2b8q)

37 On the one hand, I've seen Christians who soppurt us with words like: "Repent and accept Christ", like these ass holes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQEVTvY5IHY&watch_response. It makes my blood boil and I can't stand it. We never asked you to addopt our believes so why the hell would you think you can expect us to? Personally, my grandmother got to Israel dangerously low weight, after having hidden in Europe pretendending to be Aryan for 6 years, thanks to her being the only blond in her family she was the only one who survived,with the memory of her mother kicking her out saying: "you look German so go and live!" when she was only 14 crying and begging to stay with them. But through all of that starvation it was so important to her to be true to her parents and not forgetting where she came from that she risked her life, once by escaping the church she had taken refuge in, just so she won't have to pray infront of the cross, and once by one of her employers noticing she wasn't eating anything that might have meat in it, and started to suspect she was Jewish. So when I see "Repent your sins and accept Christ" like in this video, all I have to say is: "yeah well, don't hold your breath". Beggars can't be choosers and we need friends, but I think we can tell the difference between friends and those who think they can take advantage of what seems to them as a dead end for us.
 
On the other hand (or not really) about this "he who blesses Israel thing", an idea ran by me in one of my Hevrutas (Torah learning groups every Jew is soppused to make some time for) a few years ago, when we got into this great argument about a great Rabbi's comments on Clinton's visit to Israel and his speech in the knesset where he said his priest had ordered him to "not forsake Israel" before he died. The Rabbi had commented that USA had been falling under the Gmara definition of "Malhut Hessed" which in free translation means a kindom of flow of prosperity to the world  because it is righteous. Never mind the whole  argumentation. But since only some two or three have been decisively declared as such, one can learn from every example what the definition really is, since it has countless criterions and it is very hard to determine which is most important. So (at last) the rulling idea was that Israel is always in a situation when no state REALLY has interests to have alliance with her. It's not like we have any other cards to our chest. Lets face it: the whole Arab world has always prefered who ever was willing to hate us, there have been years of boycotting any company who does buisness with us by rich oil states, some still do so, and it is very hard to see anyone having any reall pragmatic interest in prefering relations with us over ALL of our haters (and that's alot). And no one really does prefer us. Europe has been conducting a Foreign Plicy of: "as long as you only go after Israel we'll say they had it coming and not interfere", and has really never gotten over its antisemitism. And the Soviets have hated Jews even more than they have Hitler. So it isn't like if America turned its back at us we would have any other options. You have the sae enemy, but it's not like we would have had any other option but fight him if you say turned your back at us, because he would still want to kill us. So, most of us decided that what made it easy to decide USA was Malhut Hessed, is the fact that aligns itself with us eventhough it might be more tempting to kick us in the ass. It's like the most popular guy in class deciding to be friends with the geek everyone gives him a hard time for associating with.Someone suggested that that's the reall meaning of "he who blesses Israel will be blessed", because Israel has always been a lonley nation with no one having real interest in helping. So because helping someone else even thought he can't really repay you, and you have no pragmatic interest in helping him is the very definition of Hessed, and those who do "Hessed"s prove they do things out of love for kindness or God, and so are being used as "tubes" of prosperity to mankind according to the Zohar (or Kabbalah), that's the logical meaning of "he who blesses Israel's..." and the way it works with the rules we know.
 
Man... that came out lllloooonnnnggg. Sorry.

Posted by: an Israeli at January 14, 2007 06:54 PM (Ty4gR)

38 To keep it simple...
 
There are Christians who think they SEE current events in Israel as to leading up to the rapture, not the mistaken notion of Christians only support Israel for this reason. 
 
Now, Jews did take better care of Joseph's Tomb and are not wont to destroy Christian religious symbols as Muslims are.  There could be something to that. 
 
The thing to remember is that Revelations is a very controversial book in the Bible.  Nobody has the same interpretation of it.  Truly.
 
As for me personally, I love my neighbors and treat them as I would have them treat me.  We all seem to get along well around here with the occasional spat between people who are human afterall.
 
My country is a bigger part of myself, and if radicalized Muslims in Iraq are blowing up Marines with IEDs, then they are blowing me up, too.  IMO, people like that need a hole in the head. 
 
I wonder what liberals think about Muslims who believe in Islamic end times prophecy like Iran's current president, who believes he will bring about the Madji (something like that). 

Posted by: Rep J at January 14, 2007 09:38 PM (L5LRS)

39

Rep J: the sunni's are awaithing Mahdi and the shia are awaiting the 12th iman.

Revealation does have some very clear statements in English predictions of the future of humanity such as how for 3 and a half days that all tribes on earth will give gifts to each other in clelebration becasue of the death of 2 men of GOD in Jerusalem and refuse them burial so they could look upon the dead bodies and refuse them burial [Rev 11 verse 8-10] NOTE this is now possible with satalite communication (and the olymics in 2006 was watched world wide via satalite like yassir arafat's funeral was like wise wathc worldwide via satalite0

Also Revealation makes very clear statements that there is a man worse than hitler comming, who will make everyone on earh worship him otherwise you will not get his mark on your skin without which you will not be allowed to buy or sell [thus you will starve to death without being able to buy food] [Revealation 13] Also Reveation states whoever recieves this mark will be sent to hell.  This person mentioned in Rev 13 is the same one who will make a 7 year peace treaty with Israel so the Jews can build their 3rd temple talked about elsewhere in the Bible.  In addition Revealation is very specific of the order the worldwide disasterrs to befall the earth during this 7 years.

 

signed

The Creature From The Mariana Trench 

Posted by: Creature_From_The_Mariana_Trench at January 14, 2007 10:12 PM (QAUrn)

40 How do you think JESUS would be treated after all he is not PC and he would be under attack by PETA,GREENPEACE,SIERRA CLUB,WORLD WILDLIFE FUND,PFLAG,NAMBLA,and AL GORE and many other liberal wussies

Posted by: sandpiper at January 14, 2007 11:31 PM (MNa1O)

41 I wasn't going to add anything else, but then I noticed I had been given Greyrooster's name and e-mail  automayically, and that if I commented without looking, I would have shown as Greyrooster. One of many glitches lately.    USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at January 15, 2007 12:24 AM (2OHpj)

42 How's about all of you guys (Christian, Muslim, and Jew), stop trying to run the world according to bronze age mythology? That'd be cool.

Posted by: John at January 15, 2007 01:10 AM (S3Rzh)

43 To think that anyone can pull anything useful out of revelations is silly. The bible states that even Jesus does not know the end time so how could any human possibly "hasten" the 2nd coming of Christ. Revelations itself has had dozens of different interpretations depending on which point in history you look at. In fact many of its versus are refering to events that had already occurred in churches oppression from Rome. Even the number 666 when applied as Greeks would have used it refers to Emporer Nero who may very well be the identity of the anti-Christ. It seems strange that another end times book would be written when it was already present in the old testament. Just my thought though.

Posted by: steve at January 15, 2007 01:19 AM (TlIfZ)

44 This note is for anyone interested in digging a little deeper into the bible than just  reading a Hal Lindsey book or the latest "End Times" fiction best seller. You might consider looking at some simple facts right in the Bible itself.  For instance, much of the quotes about the "end times/last days" are taken from Matthew chapter 24.
But look at what Jesus says vs 34:

"Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled."

There is no doubt that the understanding of this verse (which is repeated in other verses) is speaking of the time of those people.   That is why all through the New Testament there is a sense of urgency.  Look at what Jesus says to them in Luke 21:20 (Mat24:15)

"When ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh."
 
And he tells them to head to the mountains when this happens.  THIS HAPPENED The Romans sieged Jerusalem for over 3 years and destroyed it and the temple, all in THEIR generation.  This is not to happen again! Mat 24:21

I hope this helps some people to stop being so manic about world events.

Posted by: Ty at January 15, 2007 05:27 AM (v/WWd)

45 Darwin and Intelligent Design

Some interesting articles here:  www.discovery.org

Posted by: Ty at January 15, 2007 05:32 AM (v/WWd)

46 How's about all of you guys (Christian, Muslim, and Jew), stop trying
to run the world according to bronze age mythology? That'd be cool.

John,

you'd still be sacrificing children to your bronze-age gods if it weren't for judaism and christianity.  You'd still be slaughtering tens of millions for your 20th century atheistic dream of the "new man" if it weren't for christianity.  Godlessness had it's shot and it proved worse than anybody could ever have imagined.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 15, 2007 09:40 AM (8e/V4)

47 Carlos,

These atheists of the 20th C. even put Ghenghis Khan to shame with the millions slaughtered in the name Nazism, Communism, and Socialism. How about him and his stop trying to run the World with their totalitarianist mythology?

And comparing Christians and Jews to Muslims further highlights the complete ignorance of history this man betrays.

Posted by: templar knight at January 15, 2007 10:44 AM (634o6)

48 Apparently you didn't even try to find the Christians that you speak of because in 15 seconds I found these:
http://www.biblelight.org/sign.htm

http://www.therefinersfire.org/recent_prophecy.htm

This is my personal favorite:
http://www.pawcreek.org/articles/pna/GeorgeWBushAndBibleProphecy.htm

google - it's good

Posted by: No SPIN - REALLY at January 15, 2007 07:04 PM (D3aHR)

49 All Spin:


Like all anti-Christian bigots, you're a lying sack of shit. None of the sites you listed preached the exploitation of Jews to provide a landing pad for God in Israel. You thought you could slip in a lie on an old thread.


Truth. It's good.

Posted by: Jeff Bargholz at January 16, 2007 01:44 AM (abVz3)

50 All spin,

yup.  Good christians believe in Bible prophecy.  Has anybody disputed that?  Nope.  But like Jeff Bargholz points out, nothing in your links is exploitative of Israel or the Jews.  That is a Leftist lie.  You are Leftist and a liar.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at January 16, 2007 12:46 PM (8e/V4)

51

I have been wondering where the BIG WHITE INFIDEL AND BROTHER have been. Jump on the Christians and he will boot you in the ass.

 

I am not a Christian but my common sense tells me that I had better make damn sure the Christians win.
 
As for the Jews. I support them because they do not wish to kill or convert me. I know nothing about the Jewish religion.  But KINKY FRIEDMAN is a jew and he has a song that says they just want to doddle a Christian girl and they killed Gods only son. So I'll keep an eye on the little buggers.

Posted by: greyrooster at January 16, 2007 02:53 PM (w+w6p)

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They were planning to present the film "Obsession," and the administrators threatened to send the cops after them if they did. LGF has the details.

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Vandalism in Detroit in the wake of the Saddam execution. The vandalism was directed against Shi'ites. Coincidence?

H/t : LGF.

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1496 - Leonardo da Vinci unsuccessfully tests a flying machine.

1777 - George Washington defeats British general Charles Cornwallis at the Battle of Princeton.

1823 - Stephen F. Austin receives a grant of land in Texas from the government of Mexico.

1961 - The United States severs diplomatic relations with Cuba.

1962 - Pope John XXIII excommunicates Fidel Castro.

1988 - Margaret Thatcher becomes the longest-serving British Prime Minister in the 20th Century.

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UPDATE : Found some video of the Qana ambulances and a few more pics of ambulance 782--below the fold. (h/t: Allah, Dan Riehl and the HotAir commenters)

UPDATE 2 : Here's a pic of a SPIKE missile taking out a pickup truck. Notice what happened to the roof:

Here's a video of the ambulances taken this Summer. If there were holes in the floorpans of the ambulances, the journalists didn't see fit to get shots of them:

Here's a video of the victims in the hospital, which includes a shot of the stretcher which supposedly took a direct hit from a missile. While the mattress shows signs of damage, the stretcher appears intact:

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1 Hole, shmole! I have access to a blow torch too.

USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at December 29, 2006 06:55 AM (2OHpj)

2 I see the hole. It's in Human Rights Watch's story,m and it's HUGE.

Posted by: Jeff Bargholz at December 29, 2006 06:59 AM (abVz3)

3

Here's what I see as the biggest inconsistancy. The ambulance drivers remember seeing a giant fireball, yet there is clearly no evidence of an explosion. ANY explosive munition, including a DIME or a SPIKE would have obliterated the ambulance. But if it was a kinetic missile, some sort of mini LOSAT, there would be no 'fireball'. Finally, from the Israeli perspective, it still doesn't make much sense. Lets say you are an Israeli drone pilot and you see two Red Cross ambulances that you want to blow up. But your drone is armed with some sort of low grade mini missile that you should know will only cause minimal damage to an ambulance. Why open fire, knowing that you will do nothing other than punch a hole in the vehicle and possibly only kill or injure one person? Wouldn't it be easier to call in an artillery strike or an air strike of some sort? I mean, is he just screwing with the ambulances or does he want them destroyed. This whole attack is based on the theory that some evil Jew drone pilot was fvcking with Red Cross ambulances like a cat plays with a mouse before he eats it.

Posted by: BohicaTwentyTwo at December 29, 2006 09:17 AM (oC8nQ)

4 Not only is there no hole visible in these photos . . .take a look at the geurny.  I'm not certain which ambulance was involved but the story mentioned a guerny exhibiting visible damage from the 'missile' corresponding with a male patient's severe leg injury - which went unattended for an hour and forty minutes while the ambulance crew went hiding in a nearby bldg.  Note the lack of irony in the injury detail - the missile nearly amputates a leg and yet the patient didn't bleed to death during the extensive period he was left to float in and out of consciousness after the 'attack'.

Like a colander, there are way too many holes in this story to hold water.

Posted by: rtheyseryus at December 29, 2006 10:53 AM (MAPKL)

5 If there is a hole in the bottom of either ambulance, it is crude smoke and mirrors! If 'Human Rights Watch wants to insist that these ambulances were hit by missiles, they are idiots, or liars. Take your pick.

Disclaimer via http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/issues/2002/Aug/Stakes_Are.htm

"A U.S. industry official dismissed the notion that Spike ER could pose a serious challenge to TOW or Hellfire. Rafael claims that Spike ER is in service, but often the IDF is seen firing TOWs, the source said. Rafael is still “working out the kinks,” he said. “Rafael is trying to get customers to use Spike ER as it completes development."

Even if we allow that the 'Spike' may not be as badass as a Hellfire, these ambulances weren't hit by any type of anti-tank missile.

Details about the 'Spike' Missile from http://www.army-technology.com/projects/gill/

"After launch the missile follows a lofted trajectory and as it approaches the target it dives down to impact the target. The lofted trajectory and the tandem high explosive warhead enables the missile to penetrate tanks equipped with Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA)."

Israel has apparently only deployed the 'Spike-ER'. here is more from the above link;

"SPIKE-ER
The extended range (8km) version, Spike-ER, also has a larger warhead."
and
"Rafael has developed a version of Spike-ER with a Penetration, Blast and Fragmentation (PBF) warhead which only explodes after penetration of the target (e.g. a wall), minimising collateral damage."
So it would be designed to explode INSIDE the target.

THIS NEXT LINK SHOWS THE EXPLOSION OF A 'SPIKE-ER' MISSILE, as well as providing other useful information; http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/missile_systems/anti-armor/n-td/N-TD.html

and from http://www.tealgroup.com/samples/sample-wmb.pdf
"Spike-MR Manportable ATGMThe Spike-MR is a lightweightmissile in the same category as the US
Army’s Javelin. The missile uses a lofted trajectory for impact on the upper surfaces of the enemy tank. The warhead is a tandem, shaped charge type for penetration of roof-mounted reactive armor. "
Also
"Propulsion System The NT missiles are powered by an ejector motor and a flight motor. The ejector motor is located in the aft compartment of the missile. The solid sustainer engine is located in the forward portion of the missile body and is exhausted through two ports on the fuselage side."
So where does the rocket exhaust go when the missile enters a sheet metal box? Does it burn anything? Ignite anything?

From http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_SPIKE,,00.html
we get the following;
"In all three test flights on May 26, SPIKE's reduced-smoke motor propelled the missile from the launcher with barely a visible wisp of smoke. The missile accelerated to 600 miles per hour in under 1.5 seconds."

Weight of bag of cement = 94 lbs
Weight of 'Spike-ER' = 73 lbs
Imagine either one hitting a sheet metal box at 600 mph! Even if it doesn't explode.

Now to compare 'Spike-ER' with one of the missiles it is suppossed to replace.
From "Armored Cav" by Tom Clancy, Published Nov 1994;
"Hellfire is a larger missile than TOW, weighing in at 99.6lb/45.3kg. Unlike TOW, it is guided by the laser designator of the TADS/PNVS system in the nose of the Apache, which allows it to have a much longer range (in excess of 5 miles/8 kilometers) and a much higher speed---super-sonic. It also has a considerably larger warhead than TOW-2, with more than 20lb/9.1kg of high explosive in the tandem warhead (two shaped charges, one behind the other) of the AGM-114F version. If you are wondering just how much damage such a warhead can do, consider that the earlier AGM-114Cs, with a single-charge warhead, not only penetrated the armor of Iraqi T-72s, but blew them completely apart at the welds!"

Thank you Tom!

In short, twelve years ago, the Hellfire, in it's less powerful variant, would rip apart a Main Battle Tank. The mass of an M1 tank turret is 26 tons, and for a leopard tank, it is 20 tons, so to be extra fair, lets say a T-72 has only a 15 ton turret (don't have the right book handy or I could do better)

Now the closest type of ambulance I could find in "Jane's Military Logistics 1989" ( Sorry I didn't get a newer one) was the Renault B90, which weighs about 2 tons carrying six stretchers, and it even has a little dome on top. OH, and it isn't armored either.

So we are looking at a 7 1/2 to 1 ratio in mass, even allowing the weaker warhead, and remember, the more massive object is still ripped apart "at the welds"! If 'Spike' is only half as good, it should still demolish an amulance, by a 3.75 to 1 ratio!

We need to realize also, that if the missile penetrated the roof, and the floor, before detonating, there is such a thing as concussion caused by an object traveling at about 80% the speed of sound, weighing 73 lbs hitting your little sheet metal box. If the initial concussion were inflicted inside a closed ambulance, the occupants might become jelly. We can only imagine until a physics proffessor chimes in. Consider that a request.

Never mind that the missiles engine would still blast the inside with its thrust, as it passed through the body of the ambulance! That's the thrust that pushes the missile at 600 mph! That's a lot of thrust!

Never mind that if the missile flew all the way though to the ground, the warhead would end up going off UNDER the ambulance, still possessing the necessary force to wreck a tank! Never mind that there were claims that "two" missiles hit one ambulance! Oh! Thats a good one!

So what if there was a hole in the floor. I have access to a blow torch! I can fake it as well as they can! I bet I could do better! I at least know something about missiles! I could burn up the inside a bit, not just knock a few dinky holes in it.

If the anti-Israel crowd can't be convinced by facts, it is because they don't want to be. Any lefty trolls want to play, I've got more!

Here is a test for the lefties ... Do you know how an anti-armor shaped charge is suppossed to work? Do you have any idea what the temperatures are, at the point of contact, for a missile like the ones we are talking about?

I'll give you a hint ... its enough to instantly transform steel into molten mist! It is for sure enough to utterly destroy alluminum! For sure enough to twist remaining sheet metal into the origame of the damned! Forget the vinyl seat covers, and the dashboard! Maybe the ambulance driver was wearing his 'sunscreen' extra thick that day!?

Oh, and the fact the gasoline tank didn't rupture and burn in either ambulance just begs to be mocked! You aren't going to try and explain that away are you, friends of Hezbo-lies?

I could go on. I know the smart people here already agree with me. The HRW guys either are aiding and abetting, or they are just that dumb!

I intend to share this with others as well, so they don't just buy the AP version.

So have fun Jawa's. Add to this, and keep it coming! Defeat the lie!

USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at December 29, 2006 04:52 PM (2OHpj)

6 And I'm sorry I had to use so much space, but if this helps, I trust you will forgive me

USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at December 29, 2006 05:12 PM (2OHpj)

7 Can anyone produce a picture of a vehicle that has been verifiably hit by ANY kind of missile leaving the target in such great condition as the ambulance?

Posted by: Neil at December 29, 2006 06:35 PM (4sQOk)

8 Ragnor:
Did you see what I said about DIME, in the other thread?

Posted by: davec at December 29, 2006 06:59 PM (yaQM4)

9 davec

I saw that.  Thank you for the info.  HRW was the party asserting the existence of "the DIME missile" (see my update at the top).  My response to their assertion is that there is no missile known as "the DIME missile."  Just another example of rampant sloppiness on the part of HRW.

Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold, Pawn of the Illuminati at December 29, 2006 07:14 PM (c/4ax)

10 DIME=DenseInertMetalExplosive

You have a dense relatively inert powdered metal casing with a small amount of explosives.  It tears apart everything nearby when it detonates and since it is powdered metal it doesn't eject large amounts of shrapnel.

Now when you detonate any explosive currently in use by the major military  forces, you have a flame component.  The paint in these pictures shows no signs of scorching, bubbling, etc.  In other words, there was no explosion.  If there was all of the windows would have been blown out by the shock wave.  This is a farce.

Posted by: Perplexed at December 29, 2006 09:35 PM (nzqB7)

11 These ambulances were attacked by a bunch of ragheads with sledgehammers, in an effort to get the fools and accomplices in the press to report an Israeli missle attack. They succeeded, in spite of the evidence that should be obvious to all but fools and collaborators. You know where that puts the AP, HRW, and the mainstream media.

Posted by: templar knight at December 29, 2006 09:54 PM (634o6)

12 Hasn't anyone reading the Jawa report ever actually used anti-armor weapons? I wish we could get someone to come forward with a "it looks fake to me based on my first hand experience" type comment.

I understand details may be classified, and truth to tell, I also know a lot of the manuals for things don't say what the weapon will penetrate, or how hot the armor peircing jet gets, or any of that. That's probably so if guys like me get ahold of a manual, we don't accidentally reveal that sort of info to an enemy over the internet. Still ...

Non-classified anecdotes, or opinion, by experienced persons, would be really nice.

Any takers?

USA, all the way!

PS. I think Jeff has a point about the FOX news idea. People are thirsty for truth, and that is why FOX is popular.

Posted by: Michael Weaver at December 29, 2006 11:38 PM (2OHpj)

13 HRW is a willing participant in the hoax. When the old story was exposed as a fraud, it trotted out this new story about SPIKEs and DIMEs. The idea was to invent a plausible way to accuse Israel of an atrocity, but the stupid slugs who carried out the plot were too incompetent to pull it off.


HRW regularly proclaims that America and Israel are worse than the terrorists, so I'm sure none of you are surprised.


Ironically, HRW is a human rights abuser itself for slandering progressive countries, while excusing and covering up the crimes of truly oppressive ones.


Like most humanitarian HMOs, it started out with noble intentions, but has since been highjacked from within by left-wing extremists. HRW also employs plenty of islamopithecines, and they serve one master above all others. (Jihad.)


VINNIE, you should send these Qana/HRW expose's to Fox News. Fox is always on the lookout for stories like this. It uses them to scoop and denigrate the Establishment Media, which choose to cover up stories like this if they notice them. Usually Fox just steals these stories without crediting the blog source, but if it's offered freely, maybe it will cite the source. You cant buy publicity like that. The more publicity you get, the more readers you get, the more readers you get, the more your message goes out.


I think Jawa's message is important. That's why I read it.

Posted by: Jeff Bargholz at December 29, 2006 11:50 PM (abVz3)

14 I could also fake the 'one legged man' in the hospital bed. I took Stagecraft, and Drama in Highschool. All this weak video evidence they have from the hospital, is amusing.

Even if the injury is real, I saved some images from yahoo last summer that used a single child, obviously wounded, but the captions said he had been hit by gunmen, then a morter shell, that his family member was killed, or wounded, or missing. Whatever was convienient. Other images were used the same way.

For all we know, the one legged man lost his leg when the jack slipped while he was changing a tire. Clumsy bastard. It goes with the clumsy lie.

USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at December 29, 2006 11:51 PM (2OHpj)

15 Only JOOOOOOoooozzz could come up with a missile that destroys without destrying.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 30, 2006 09:19 AM (v3I+x)

16 Hey, how about HRW's picture of the guy with an amputated leg? May this link will give a clue how it was done:
http://www.golferssource.com/images/product/videos/humor/3651.gif

Posted by: Phil at December 30, 2006 10:34 PM (U4iBB)

17 Right on Phil!
 
USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at December 31, 2006 05:06 AM (2OHpj)

18 It's always interesting to me which threads attract trolls and which don't.

The ones where trolls can assert their moral superiority, climb upon their high horse and lecture others are often overrun.

Ones involving statements of fact, OTOH, not so much.

Facts---the ultimate troll repellant.

Posted by: Lurking Observer at December 31, 2006 12:48 PM (n7Wha)

19 In the eighteenth century, a 24-pounder smoothbore could develop a muzzle velocity of about 1,700 feet per second. One third the weight of Spike-ER moving about twice as fast. it could penetrate FOUR AND ONE HALF FEET OF PRIME OAK.

Also the shrapnel caused by this projectile striking oak, and other materials was ghastly. Oak was prefered on warships because teak shrapnel would 'go septic' far more readily.

This is non-exploding roundshot.

Just in case you cared.

Happy New year!
USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at December 31, 2006 06:44 PM (2OHpj)

20 Anyone consider that it was  a dud mortar round that hit the ambulances? Of course that would have been due to the civil war they are having in Palestine, but it seems more possible.

Posted by: Aaron at January 02, 2007 04:59 AM (Q/TWU)

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UPDATE : The Human Rights Watch report referred to the "SPIKE" and "DIME" missiles as follows:

Israel has continuously advanced its drone-fired missiles, such as the STRIKE missile and the still-experimental DIME missile, so that they are capable of limited damage to their targets.

According to the latest report from Human Rights Watch, the Qana ambulances weren't hit by Hellfire missiles launched from IAF airplanes. I seem to recall telling the world that four months ago. At any rate, now they're putting forth a new theory: the Qana ambulances were hit by SPIKE or "DIME" missiles launched from "Israeli drones."

The report doesn't specify what it means by "Israeli drones," but I'm assuming the authors meant Predator UAVs or something similar in use by the IAF. Other than the vague references to "Israeli drones," the report gives no attention to what forms of UAVs are presently in use by the IDF, what their various capabilities are, whether any armed UAVs were in service in the Qana area at the time of the attack, or what efforts were put forth by the authors to investigate any of the above.

The authors of the report didn't bother to authenticate whether there even is a version of the SPIKE missile or "DIME missile" suitable for use with UAVs. As near as I've been able to tell, there is no missile in the Israeli arsenal called "DIME." There is a "SPIKE" missile, produced by Israeli arms manufacturer Rafael. I did a little bit of research and determined that there is a version of the SPIKE missile which is compatible with UAVs. More info here. (Now, if the report authors had really cared to produce a real "in-depth report," my own independent research wouldn't have been necessary.)

Posted by: Ragnar at 01:50 AM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
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Transcript here.

Rago's column, if you haven't read it, is here. Excerpt:

The blogs are not as significant as their self-endeared curators would like to think. Journalism requires journalists, who are at least fitfully confronting the digital age. The bloggers, for their part, produce minimal reportage. Instead, they ride along with the MSM like remora fish on the bellies of sharks, picking at the scraps.

More success is met in purveying opinion and comment. Some critics reproach the blogs for the coarsening and increasing volatility of political life. Blogs, they say, tend to disinhibit. Maybe so. But politics weren't much rarefied when Andrew Jackson was president, either. The larger problem with blogs, it seems to me, is quality. Most of them are pretty awful. Many, even some with large followings, are downright appalling.

Every conceivable belief is on the scene, but the collective prose, by and large, is homogeneous: A tone of careless informality prevails; posts oscillate between the uselessly brief and the uselessly logorrheic; complexity and complication are eschewed; the humor is cringe-making, with irony present only in its conspicuous absence; arguments are solipsistic; writers traffic more in pronouncement than persuasion . . .

Because political blogs are predictable, they are excruciatingly boring. More acutely, they promote intellectual disingenuousness, with every constituency hostage to its assumptions and the party line. Thus the right-leaning blogs exhaustively pursue second-order distractions--John Kerry always providing useful material--while leaving underexamined more fundamental issues, say, Iraq. Conservatives have long taken it as self-evident that the press unfavorably distorts the war, which may be the case; but today that country is a vastation, and the unified field theory of media bias has not been altered one jot.

Leftward fatuities too are easily found: The fatuity matters more than the politics. If the blogs have enthusiastically endorsed Joseph Conrad's judgment of newspapering--"written by fools to be read by imbeciles"--they have also demonstrated a remarkable ecumenicalism in filling out that same role themselves.

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Given that the article having this title is hosted on the website for the "Institute for Social Policy and Understanding," an Islamic think tank in Detroit, I thought this was quite an interesting acknowledgement--until I read the article. Contrary to the title, the author doesn't argue that "some rights" must (not "should," MUST) be repealed. He argues that ONE RIGHT must be repealed (not limited, not constricted--REPEALED). Anyone wanna venture a guess as to which one he's convinced we MUST get rid of?

My question is: of all the liberties that are presently being abused, why focus on the Second Amendment as a right that "must" be "repealed?" Are terrorist shootouts really a big concern these days? A halfway clever terrorist could kill as many people with a two-dollar gallon of gasoline or a $50 bag of fertilizer as he could with a $500 rifle. Of all the things we need to fix to defeat terrorism, I don't see how getting rid of legally-owned tools of self-defense fits in the picture. I'm pretty sure, in fact, it'd be counterproductive. I'm sure our friends at the "Institute for Social Policy and Understanding" have the very best intentions of making the world a safer place, but this particular prescription is full of holes.

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1 This is the usual far-left lunacy, but with a twist.

Remember: If guns are outlawed, only outlaws -- and terrorists -- will have guns.

Perhaps these people want the terrorists to be able to mow down ordinary Americans with impunity.

Posted by: Michael Hampton at December 27, 2006 04:21 PM (FVbj6)

2 I wonder if they might have an ulterior motive for wanting everyone disarmed?
/sarc

Posted by: davec at December 27, 2006 05:04 PM (yaQM4)

3 "They fear the American street"

Well they had better! The anti-American vermin!

I like how the article seems to say that armed citizens can't do anything to regular armed forces, but if you look at other articles on the site, they seem to think that Iraqi 'insurgents' are pretty effective.

Oh my golly! I guess you have to be a Muslim to be effective.

As for any attempt to repeal the Second Amendment, our Founding Fathers gave us moral permission to fight back. Rather, they recognized we already had a moral right to fight back. Remember that the men who created our government walked the streets with 'THE PEOPLE' whose right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

What do you suppose made our Founding Fathers so willing to do that? Could it be that 'We The People' didn't just mean 'We the Elite'?

Could it be that the peoples right to bear arms somehow contributed to the following goals; "establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity," ??? Do yah think???

DO NOT EVER SURRENDER YOUR RIGHTS! DO NOT EVER DISARM YOURSELF! DEFEND YOUR FREEDOM!

When you resist weapon confiscation you are upholding the wisdom of our Founders, and the higher law they recognized in shaping our Constitution. Not 'tyrant's law'!


There is only one good reason to give up a weapon. I think you should always have one that the authorities can take, so they feel good, and go away. Then go get your hidden weapon, and choose the time and place for your counter attack. Let them have the old single shot 20Gg. Keep the deer rifle with the scope in a hard to find place. Nobody says you can't keep a chinese AK under a slab in your sidewalk. Get creative.

And as was pointed out above, you always have gasoline and matches. Aerosol cans, and leftover fireworks. Household cleaners. Fertilizer. Lots of possibilities. The 'insurgents' are using propane cylinders, and everyone thinks that is so damn creative. It's old hat. NOBODY takes this country from us unless we let them!

That ain't gonna happen!

USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at December 27, 2006 05:07 PM (2OHpj)

4 Islamic think tank in Detroit,

They fear the American street.

Posted by: Jesusland Carlos at December 27, 2006 05:11 PM (8e/V4)

5 Yes, that was the first thing Hitler did too.

Posted by: Howie at December 27, 2006 05:14 PM (YdcZ0)

6 An Islamic Think(?) Tank wants the US to repeal the 2nd Amendment. That, in itself, should make it clear that these people have ulterior motives, those motives being exactly the same as the Islamic Courts Union in Somalia. I suggest we take exactly the same action as Ethopia.

Posted by: templar knight at December 27, 2006 05:26 PM (634o6)

7 Islamic think tank: That in itself is a joke.

Posted by: Greyrooster at December 27, 2006 07:28 PM (7ANQo)

8 Wait a minute! What happened to get rid of all the lawyers?

Posted by: voirdire at December 27, 2006 08:09 PM (URUBe)

9

For proper care and maintenance of your islamic think tank:

 http://www.inspect-ny.com/septbook.htm

Posted by: Max Power at December 27, 2006 08:52 PM (PM8kH)

10 Islamic Stink Tank?  Did someone call for a plumber?

Posted by: Mr. Rooter at December 27, 2006 09:25 PM (BMrv8)

11 The very fact that the Jihadis want private gun ownership banned should be the reason we repeal 90% or more of current federal and state anti-gun ownership legislation.

Let citizens have full-auto weapons, sawed-off shotguns and silencers. Let them order them by mail.

If the Jihadis don't like it then let them go home.

Posted by: GI Joe at December 27, 2006 09:42 PM (0euLV)

12 This guy is a typical liberal.....no concept of what made this country great or of the basic difference between the USA and the euroweenies for example. I emailed the stupid moron and asked about the 42,000 highway deaths annually in this country and asked if we're supposed to ban the automobile? They are to be pitied....they have this concept that all we need is big government.

Posted by: dacoelec at December 27, 2006 10:49 PM (CeJKC)

13 You guys have such short comments.

You make me look like a wind bag

Well Happy new Year Anyway!

USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at December 28, 2006 12:32 AM (2OHpj)

14 Does anyone need any further urging to visit your local gun shop and
buy an AK and ammo? You don't have long, because as soon as the
lefturds are sworn in, the anti-gun legislation will fly, and we will
soon be disarmed, but don't let me bother you, because I hear there's a
new Paris Hilton video out which is much more important.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 28, 2006 08:17 AM (v3I+x)

15 I emailed the stupid moron and asked about the 42,000 highway deaths
annually in this country and asked if we're supposed to ban the
automobile?

No...thats the public transport liberals who want that.

Posted by: Randman at December 28, 2006 10:05 AM (Sal3J)

16 Reference comment by Improbulus Maximus:

The prices are sure to increase as well, so do as he says, take your Christmas money and buy guns and ammo. Learn to use them well. You will need them sooner than you think. Do not delay. Your life depends on what you do right now.

Posted by: templar knight at December 28, 2006 10:22 AM (634o6)

17 GUN CHOICES;

When choosing a weapon to resist terrorism and oppression, I recommend a good accurate hunting rifle. You want one that has a nice, flat trajectory so you can stand off at 500 yards and use a lot of cover. If you study, and practice with one, or if necessary with just a couple different cartidge loads, you can learn to comensate for the drop of the bullet at that range.

For example, .270 Win only drops about 35 inches at 500 yds so you should aim about 2/5ths of a body length high on your terrorist target. This gives a decent chance for head neck and upper torso hits on a terrorist target. Those would cause the most debilitating permanant injuries, and higher loss of blood.

Lots of good rifles are available in .30-06, and the Springfield rifle of WW1 vintage, as well as the M1 Garand, can be acquired at a lower price than you would spend for an AK.

Its been awhile since I checked but the muzzle energy of .30-06 should be about 25 to 35% greater than for the 7.62 soviet type round. That translates into higher penetration of any armor the terrorist might be wearing, and higher capacity to shoot through 'urban' cover the terrorist might hide behind.

Or you can put your energy into getting (building) a rifle that fires the .50 calibre MG cartridge. A round that will shoot through the engine block of a truck! What WILL your terrorist target hide behind? Whatever it is, it just became 'soft cover'.

For those who just have to have an AK, don't feel bad. You will have a high rate of fire, even if your using the semi-auto variant, and at 30 yards the power of the cartridge is plenty good. We went out with some Soviet style arms to have some fun, and we split a two foot across rock into chunks with rounds that went through the target. I bet that would sting a bit

I recommend pistols with a flat trajectory, and high muzzle energy as well. .357 Mag, or nearly any other Magnum pistol would be my recommendations. Avoid exotic types like the origional .44 automag unless you want to fiddle with making your own ammo.

If you care, the muzzle energy of the various .44 Magnum cartridges is close to that of the 5.56mm military round. If you can get a .454 , or .50AE you can get loads with the muzzle energy near that of a .300 Win Mag. Ever see the movie 'Alien Nation'? The .454 has been used to hunt ELEPHANTS!

If you have to use a .22, learn to hit targets the size of someones eye. Also, try to have a heavy enough gun that you can use it as an emergency club! It might come in handy. A friend once had an accident, and lodged a .25 auto bullet into the top of his leather boot. It barely broke the skin. He put a bandaid on it.

I bet everyone here already knows this stuff, but just in case ... I thought I'd be pesky

Happy New Year!
USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at December 28, 2006 12:03 PM (2OHpj)

18 OH yeah!

Some guns can fire more than one type of cartridge. For example, a pistol chambered for .357 magnum can fire .38's, but don't try this unless you are positive you know what your doing.

.357 magnum will not fit into .38, so you can end up hurt or disarmed by your own lack of experience. If you want to get a gun that shoots more than one kind of cartridge get the correct information, and make sure you understand it.

A note on the AK's and 'scary' looking guns. Those will be the first ones they go after, so there is added advantage in getting good with a 'sporting' arm, and stocking up on tht kind of ammo. If you need an assault rifle, maybe you can capture one from a badguy after you blow his paleolithic brains out with your 12Gg shotgun.

Good luck to all of you. Try not to get arrested. Make good choices, because so much depends on it.

Happy new Year!
USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at December 28, 2006 12:19 PM (2OHpj)

19 He mentions the Clancy book,but doesn't mention that Clancy had armed citizens going up against the terrorists & winning.
I bought more ammo yesterday.

Posted by: Frantic Freddie at December 28, 2006 12:53 PM (UH0jU)

20 A note on the AK's and 'scary' looking guns. Those will be the first ones they go after

Ah, yes the "Assault weapon ban" you know the ban that went after cosmetic features of a rifle: pistol grip, telescopic stock, bayonet mount fitting, or a threaded barrel -- the type of feature that make a weapon much more deadlier than a rifle without them?

It makes it easier to swallow to the sheeple if you call it the "Assault" weapon ban to make it like you're attacking a specific weapon, rather than "Rifle ban based on two or more cosmetic features"

Where are the rivers of blood we were promised when that particular ban expired?

Posted by: davec at December 28, 2006 02:58 PM (yaQM4)

21 Institute for Social Policy and Understanding

Is it me, or does that sound very 1984-ish?

Posted by: MegaTroopX at December 30, 2006 09:44 PM (v5fbO)

22 Good, cheap ammo can be ordered through www.aimsurplus.com and
www.cheaperthandirt.com; all you need is to send them a copy of your
driver's license to prove your identity, and you can get ammo cheap by
the case. A thousand rounds can be had for $200.00 or less, and that
much should last a good while, although several thousand rounds would
be better, because when the fighting starts all ammo sales will be
banned by our Nazi occupational government.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at December 31, 2006 09:34 PM (v3I+x)

23 Warning! To ALL.
 
 
There are laws on the books in many places that regulate the amount of ammo you can own, as a backdoor way to gun control.  In theory, you only need the extra large qualitities of ammo if your up to no good. In reality, your guilty till proven innocent, and being disarmed in a sideways fashion. Be careful how you buy ammo, and where you store it. No large caches! Check state, and local laws  covering you, and see what your working with. I read about this sort of thing from several sources a few years ago. Be cautious.
 
I will repeat this elsewhere!
 
USA, all the way!

Posted by: Michael Weaver at January 01, 2007 06:58 AM (2OHpj)

24 time for those liberal idiots like TED KENNEDY to read the 2ns amendment and not just interpent it for themselves

Posted by: sandpiper at January 01, 2007 09:51 PM (2cLBb)

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Despite all the blog buzz over Virgil Goode's letter, I had to dig a while to find the full text of the actual letter. Here it is:

Thank you for your recent communication. When I raise my hand to take the oath on Swearing In Day, I will have the Bible in my other hand. I do not subscribe to using the Koran in any way. The Muslim Representative from Minnesota was elected by the voters of that district and if American citizens don't wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran. We need to stop illegal immigration totally and reduce legal immigration and end the diversity visas policy pushed hard by President Clinton and allowing many persons from the Middle East to come to this country. I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims in the United States if we do not adopt the strict immigration policies that I believe are necessary to preserve the values and beliefs traditional to the United States of America and to prevent our resources from being swamped.

The Ten Commandments and "In God We Trust" are on the wall in my office. A Muslim student came by the office and asked why I did not have anything on my wall about the Koran. My response was clear, "As long as I have the honor of representing the citizens of the 5th District of Virginia in the United States House of Representatives, The Koran is not going to be on the wall of my office." Thank you again for your email and thoughts.

Sincerely yours,

Virgil H. Goode, Jr.

70 East Court Street

Suite 215

Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151

Posted by: Ragnar at 01:55 PM | Comments (11) | Add Comment
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Click here to search YouTube for 'noaccess,' who features anti-American, pro-Iran videos.

Click here to search YouTube for videos by Islamic filmmaker UmmahFilms.

Click here to search YouTube for Ahmed Bedier, spokesman for CAIR.

Click here to search YouTube for anti-jihad video activist 'CHARLESMARTEL732.'

Click here to search YouTube for The Jawa Report's own Sout al Kuffar.

Notice a pattern?

UPDATE : Bluto is also off the list of seachable accounts. Curiously, Vinnie is not.

UPDATE 2 : Allahpundit and Pamela both have active YouTube accounts, but a search for "allahpundit' or "atlasshrugs2000" turns up no videos by either.

Posted by: Ragnar at 01:13 PM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
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It's an open question. So far, the USDoT has generally sided with passengers alleging discrimination and against airlines. Will the case of the Flying Imams be any different?

When U.S. Airways is sued, will it stick up for itself, or will it roll over like the other airlines have? If it rolls over, what will it agree to do in order to avoid "undue vigilance?" What effect will that have on airport security?

If you care, I suggest you let some people hear from you. First, I recommend you express support for U.S. Airways and its employees who have worked to keep us safe:

Doug Parker, Chairman & CEO, US Airways
Scott Kirby, President, US Airways Corporate Headquarters Location
111 W. Rio Salado Parkway
Tempe, AZ 85281

Corporate Headquarters: 480-693-0800 (General information number)
Customer relations telephone: 866-523-5333
Customer relations fax: 480-693-2300

Mary E. Peters
Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Dept of Transportation
400 7th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20590

General Information Main Switchboard: 202-366-4000

dot.comments@dot.gov

Posted by: Ragnar at 09:46 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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A new United Nations report blames cattle and other livestock for greenhouse gas emissions

Meet the world's top destroyer of the environment. It is not the car, or the plane,or even George Bush: it is the cow.

A United Nations report has identified the world's rapidly growing herds of cattle as the greatest threat to the climate, forests and wildlife. And they are blamed for a host of other environmental crimes, from acid rain to the introduction of alien species, from producing deserts to creating dead zones in the oceans, from poisoning rivers and drinking water to destroying coral reefs.

Thank God Al Gore was born, in the nick of time, to warn us all.

Via Stop the ACLU.

Posted by: Bluto at 11:35 PM | Comments (21) | Add Comment
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An excellent and timely call for reform:

Because these imams and their handlers just don't get it, it's time we Muslims found leadership and organizations that do.

Our predicament is unique, fragile and precarious. We Muslims are a relatively new minority in a nation that gives us freedoms that no other Muslim nation would allow.

Whether we acknowledge it or not, a radical subset of our faith community is seeking to destroy the basis for this liberty.

Either we predominantly direct our passions against these radicals or Americans will not count us as allies in this consuming struggle.

Posted by: Ragnar at 05:50 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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