Staying Real in Israel
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What Does Rav Kook Say?…Is The Modern State of Israel the “Real Thing”?…Some would say “No Way, Keep on waiting for the miracles”…Rav Kook MIGHT not agree with that…And…The Changing Political Landscape in Israel…What Next?…Plus…Missile and mortar attacks, stolen lions, arabic-speaking parrots…

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Rav Kook

The first Chief Rabbi of Israel…

Torah scholar, mystic,
the Father of Religious Zionism…

He clearly saw the beginning of the in-gathering of the exiles and the Ultimate Redemption…

He heard the “footsteps” of the Messiah…

Believe it!

Har HaBayit,,The Holy Jewish Temple Mount,,,Jerusalem, Israel

Where it IS happening…

And where it WILL happen…

Soon, may it be, in our days…

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sHARON AND aBU mAZZEN

It was a stormy, windy, bitter cold Shabbat (Sabbath) in Israel this 5th of February, the 26th of the Jewish month of Shevat.

Marty surveys what’s been happening in Israel these days, including several successful terror attacks, and some that were prevented by the Israeli Army.

He also talks about hopes and fears regarding the greatly anticipated up-coming meeting in Egypt this week between Ariel Sharon and Abbas (Abu Mazen) of the PLO.

There’s even some time for a bit of Torah/Bible study, as Marty shares with you some insights from this weekly reading as you know only he can.

The show is a about 22 minutes long.

Today’s show talks about Iran, the fallout following Russia’s dramatic announcement that Putin will be selling uranium to fuel Iran’s nuclear reactor. This, hot on the heels of US President Bush’s trip to Europe, where he found rather un-supportive European and Russian leaders regarding the need to stop Iran’s nuclear development in its tracks.

Bushehr Nuclear Reactor

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Nuclear Explosion

Marty explores the possible meanings of statements coming out of Washington which seem to indicate a new tone of flexibility and readiness to keep on talking with Iran, even in the face of a REAL ticking nuclear bomb threat, one that could be set to go off in less than one year!!

Why is the U.S. so darned concerned about whether or not Israel builds homes for her citizens in the capital city of Jerusalem!!!

I think we are talking “Chutzpah” here…the Imperial Majesty of the United States of America is all in a tizzy because her vassal state of the Banana Republic of Israel will not bow to the demands of her master, the U.S., as to when, where and how to build homes…pretty unbelievable, if you ask me…

The Obama administration is snubbing the Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat by not receiving him in an appropriate, dignified official capacity (welcome to the club, Mayor Barkat, says Prime Minister Netanyahu) because he has the audacity to say that his country, Israel, will, indeed, continue to build homes for Israelis in the capital, Jerusalem. And HOW DARE such a peon openly express his dissatisfaction with the public dissing of Israel by the American administration…who does he think he is, anyway?…The Mayor of Jerusalem, or something like that???

And then, the Americans think that they can sidle up and make nice with the Interior Minister, Eli Yishai, in spite of the fact that it was, most likely, Yishai himself that was responsible for the announcement of the Jerusalem building plans during US VP Biden’s visit to Israel…the event that started the tempest in the teapot boiling away in the first place…

Seems the Americans think that we Israelis are not only unimportant and weak, but stupid as well…

Good for you, Mayor Barkat, for telling it like it is and doing the job that you were elected to do…looking after the interests of the Capital City of Israel, Jerusalem and her inhabitants…

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat

Jerusalem mayor shunned by top US officials


Following harsh statements against Obama Administration, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s request to meet with Clinton, Mitchell denied; Israeli official slams mayor’s remarks, says his actions undermine renewal of negotiations

Reprinted from YNetnews.com Yitzhak Benhorin

Administration rejected Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s request to meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Special Mideast Envoy George Mitchell, Ynet has learned.

Barkat, who is visiting Washington, continued his attacks on the US government Wednesday, further embarrassing the Netanyahu government.

In the interview, Barkat said his positions on the Jerusalem issue are identical to PM Netanyahu’s views; however, an Israeli official expressed anger at the mayor’s conduct “at such sensitive period in US-Israel ties, when every housing unit in Jerusalem gains prominence.”

Uncoordinated meetings
A senior Israeli official said “Jerusalem is a sensitive issue when we’re on the verge of entering talks.” Addressing Barkat’s visit and remarks, the official said: “He arrived here without any authority to engage in diplomatic issues and without any responsibility – he arrived and is causing damage.”

On Tuesday, Barkat met American reporters and was quoted as saying that President Obama’s move constituted a slap in Israel’s face.

While the Jerusalem mayor informed the Israeli embassy in Washington of his arrival, he independently coordinated meetings in Congress and with the US media, without coordinating his moves with Israeli diplomats in charge of these issues.

Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai

Minister Yishai officially invited to White House


US seeks closer ties with minister held responsible for controversial construction decision

Reprinted from YNetnews.com Roni Sofer

American bear hug? Interior Minister Eli Yishai has been officially invited to visit the White House.

The decision is apparently the result of the US Administration’s desire to forge closer ties with the minister they perceive to be behind the east Jerusalem construction turmoil during Vice President Joe Biden’s visit in Israel.

During Biden’s visit last month, the Interior Ministry approved the construction of 1,800 housing units in east Jerusalem’s Ramat Shlomo neighborhood.

The invitation was handed to Yishai by Dan Shapiro, Director of the Middle East department at the National Security Council.

Shapiro was also the one who reprimanded Yishai following the east Jerusalem construction decision, yet despite the harsh tones, the interior minister was asked to visit Washington at that time already. The official invitation, as noted, was extended Wednesday.

At the time, Yishai expressed his satisfaction in respect to the US holding him responsible for the east Jerusalem construction affair.

In an interview with Shas’ journal, he said that he “thanks the Creator for being given the right to be the minister who approves the construction of thousands of housing units in Jerusalem. This is the Jewish people’s capital. We built in Jerusalem for many years, and we’ll continue to build it.”

The First Israeli in Space: Ilan Ramon

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Ilan Ramon was Israel’s first astronaut. He was mission specialist on the crew of the Space Shuttle, Columbia, launched into space on the 16th of January, 2003. The Columbia and all of her crew were lost in a fiery explosion while re-entering the earth’s atmosphere two weeks later, on February first, after 15 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes in space.

Ilan Ramon

Ilan Ramon, z”l perished on February 1, 2003 with his crew friends during reentry of the Columbia shuttle, 16 minutes before scheduled landing. He was buried in Nahalal Cemetery in his homeland, Israel on February 11, 2003.

In 1981, IAF Col. Ilan Ramon flew one of the F-16 jets that blew up the Iraqi nuclear reactor in Osirak. In so doing he saved the country and perhaps the entire world from the specter of a nuclear holocaust.

Ilan Ramon Space Shuttle Crew

Ilan Ramon was not simply a Jew. He was an Israeli Jew. And, as a scientist and fighter pilot his was the face of Israeli exceptionalism. Ramon excelled in all he did. He was first in his class in high school. He was first in his class in flight school. He was first in his class in astronaut training. In a break from the Air Force in the 1980s, after completing his studies in electrical engineering and computer science at Tel-Aviv University, Ramon joined the team at Israel Aircraft Industries that developed the Lavi fighter jet. On the Columbia, Ramon conducted environmental research on desertification.

Petr Ginz

“Being the first Israeli astronaut — I feel I am representing all Jews and all Israelis”

Ramon made clear at every opportunity that he went to outer space, not simply as a citizen of the State of Israel, but as a Jew.

He took with him into Outer space several symbols of his Jewish identity:a picture of the Earth as seen from the moon drawn by a Jewish boy in Theresienstadt concentration camp, a torah scroll from Bergen Belsen, a microfiche copy of the bible, the national flag and a prayer book.

As the representative of the Jewish people he recited kiddush over wine on Friday night. As a Jew he said Shema Yisrael as the space shuttle orbited over Jerusalem. As a Jew he insisted on eating only kosher food in outer space.

And as a Jew he told the Prime Minister from his celestial perch,

Space Shuttle Columbia Launch

“I think it is very, very important to preserve our historical tradition, and I mean historical and religious traditions.”

Ilan Ramon

Ilan Ramon (1954-2003), the first Israeli astronaut

Born on June 20, 1954, Ramat-Gan, Israel (Parents, Eliezer and Tova Wolferman reside in Beer-Sheva).

Died on February 1, 2003 during reentry of the Columbia Shuttle into the atmosphere.

Survived by wife Rona, and four children, Assaf, Tal, Yiftah and Noa.

In the Torah portion “Yitro” (Jethro, who is the father-in-law of Moses), we learn of the Jewish People receiving The Law, The Torah (the Ten Commandments) from The Creator. Moses ascends Mount Sinai and communicates directly with The Almighty One.

The sages comment upon the fact that the millions of Jews encamped at the base of Mount Sinai were unified, as one man. From this we learn the virtue of unity of the Jewish Nation. But does this mean unity at all costs?

The Marty Roberts Show looks at this question in greater depth.

Torah Reading

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Or, just maybe, sometimes, not far enough…

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Two recent “South Park” episodes on Comedy Central satirized the Prophet Muhammad — one, showing Muhammad in a bear costume, left, elicited an ominous message from an Islamic group.

Web-based death threats against the TV producers of Comedy Central’s “South Park” series…Where is the American Constitution’s First Amendment when we need it?…And why are death threats being ignored?…

Also…Hamas TV cleric claims divine responsibility for the volcanic ash disaster in Europe…Divine…Yes…Anti-infidel…I don’t think so…

A message posted on SouthParkStudios.com, the Web site of Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s production company

Niqab Veiled Muslim Woman

And…They are banning the Islamic burka veil in parts of Europe…Governmental powers gone wild?…

Israel will be displaying her ground-breaking contributions to the fields of clean energy, medicine and technology in Boston next month.

Check it out if you are in the Boston area this May, 2010.

On the other hand, you COULD see it all, up close and personal in Israel…just takes an airline ticket…

Boston Museum of Science

Boston to host Israeli innovation exhibit

Museum of Science fair in May to highlight groundbreaking developments being made by Israelis, Israeli institutions in clean energy, medicine, and technology

Reprinted from Ynetnews.com

A weekend of programming showcasing Israeli innovation will culminate at 9 am on Sunday, May 2, during a technology fair at the Museum of Science in Boston.

The fair – co-sponsored by the Consulate General of Israel to New England – will include addresses by Prof. Peretz Lavie, president of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology; Dr. Rafael Beyar, CEO and Director General of Rambam Health Care Campus; Michael Granoff – Better Place; and many others.

The event will highlight the groundbreaking developments being made by Israelis and Israeli institutions in clean energy, medicine, and technology.

Visitors will be able to see Israel’s progress on its plan to be the first country to have a majority of electric cars on its roads; efforts to be a pioneer in solar and wind energy; and thriving innovative economy.

Educational exhibits will be sponsored by the following Israeli universities and institutions: The Technion-Israel Institute of Technology; Rambam Medical Center; Hadassah Medical Center; New England-Israel Business Council; Jewish Heart for Africa; Bloomfield Science Museum; and South Area Solomon Schecter Day School.

The Alan J. Tichnor Memorial Event will conclude on Sunday evening at 7:30 p.m. at Congregation Mishkan Tefila with a keynote panel discussion on the future of Israeli innovation and technology, featuring senior leadership from Israeli universities and moderated by Dan Senor, Author of Start-up Nation; The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle. The discussion will include greetings from the academic community delivered by Dr. Jehuda Reinharz, President of Brandeis University.

Sunday’s event at the Museum of Science requires Exhibit Hall Ticket, and is free to Museum of Science members. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.iiweekend.com .

Alzheimers is such a cruel disease, stealing our loved ones away from us right before our eyes…only they still are there…they just are not who they used to be any more…

But not for long, if Israeli researchers have anything to say about it…which they will…

A new Israeli drug…high hopes and great promise…

Alzheimers Brain

New Israeli Drug for Alzheimer’s Disease in Advanced Trials

A novel medication designed to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and improve its psychological symptoms is entering advanced clinical trials

Reprinted from Israelnationalnews.com Hana Levi Julian

The drug, Ladostigil, has proven in Phase I and II-A trials to be safe and well-tolerated, enabling the company to proceed with an additional 52-week proof-of-efficacy trial in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Israeli-based Avraham Pharmaceuticals received an infusion of $9 million that allowed the project to go forward. Investors include the Yissum Research Development Company — the technology transfer arm of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem — Clal Biotechnology Industries (CBI), Pontifax and Professor Marta Weinstock-Rosin.

If all goes well and the medication goes to market, Yissum and the Technion Research and Development Foundation (TRDF) – the technology transfer arm of the Technion Israel Institute of Technology – will exclusively license to Avraham the commercial licensing rights to the drug.

Ladostigil is a novel cholinesterase inhibitor, brain-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor and neuroprotective agent designed to slow the progression of the clinical symptoms of the disease for a sustained period. It may also possibly modify its pathology, as well as that of other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s.

It is a multi-functional medication that may also improve the behavioral and psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, that are associated with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, affecting one in every 20 individuals worldwide age 65 and older, and nearly half of those over age 85. In 2009, 5.3 million people were affected by Alzheimer’s disease in the United States, where some 360,000 people are diagnosed with it each year.

Professor Weinstock-Rosin, connected with Hebrew University’s School of Pharmacy, has been involved in Alzheimer’s research for years. She and Professor Moussa B.H. Youdim of the Eve Top and National Parkinson Foundation Centers of Excellence Rappaport School of Medicine at the Technion in Haifa collaborated on developing the concept for Ladostigil.

It was Weinstock-Rosin’s research that led to the discovery and development of Exelon, a medication used to treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, licensed to Novartis Pharma AG. Youdim was responsible for the discovery and development of Azilect, a new treatment for Parkinson’s, licensed to Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals.

Another warning about the growing influence of Islam in the United States…this time Jewish students face the threat of violence on American University campuses.

As militant, anti-semitic, anti-Israel Moslem organizations gain strength on U.S. campuses, their ongoing incitement to violence against Jewish students becomes more and more dangerous for the Jews studying there.

What will it take for a wake-up call?

When will common-sense prevail over the need for “PC-political correctness” and so-called “religious tolerance” towards the “religion of peace”, which has, time after time, proven to be NOT!

If I were a Jew in America, I might read the handwriting on the wall…By the way, it’s really nice for Jews in Israel these days…

UCLA Campus..Dangerous for Jewish Students?

Caution: Growing Threat to Jews on California Campuses

Two University of California professors warn that Jewish students face greater dangers as Muslim extremist organizations grow in campus influence.

Reprinted from Israelnationalnews.com Hillel Fendel

In an article on AmericanThinker.com, Leila Beckwith and Tammi Rossman-Benjamin – Professor Emeritus at the UCLA and Lecturer at the University of California Santa Cruz, respectively – write of the growth of Al-Awda, the presence of the Muslim Students Association or Muslim Student Union in nearly 600 North American colleges and universities, the activities of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), and more.

“Many of the activities of these groups specifically harass and intimidate Jewish students,” they write, and “it is not inconceivable that these groups’ anti-Semitic discourse and hostility could escalate into incidents of physical violence. Nevertheless, California administrators have been unwilling to respond to, or even acknowledge, the threats that Jewish students face on their campuses.”

Al-Awda, for instance, is an organization that opposes Israel’s right to exist, supports foreign terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hizbullah, organizes strongly anti-Israel rallies and events, and often features virulently anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic speakers and films at its events.

“Al-Awda has also made significant inroads on college and university campuses in North America,” the professors write, “by partnering with dozens of Muslim and pro-Palestinian/anti-Israel student groups. The first four of Al-Awda’s seven annual international conventions were held on university campuses (University of Toronto, Hunter College, UCLA, and San Francisco State University),” and its conventions and regional conferences are invariably sponsored by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and the Muslim Student Association (MSA).

In California alone, SJP and MSA groups from more than ten California public colleges and universities have collaborated with Al Awda in hosting events.

Speaker Boasts at Success in Silencing Israeli
A sample Al-Awda event was reported on by undercover reporter Lee Kaplan this past February. One speaker, Dr. Jess Ghannam, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Global Health Sciences at UC San Francisco and Adjunct Professor of Ethnic Studies at SFSU, gloated at the successful disruption of Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren’s speech at UC Irvine MSU. “Now, every single Israeli military official and politician will be afraid to speak publicly,” Ghannam said. “It’s huge!”

The MSA, founded by the extremist Sunni Muslim Brotherhood, has had speakers on college campuses who justify suicide bombers and jihad and/or have acted in support of Hamas. Both the MSA and the SJP have repeatedly promoted anti-Israel events that at times become openly anti-Semitic and voice support for suicide bombers. At UC Irvine, for example, the professors write, “the MSA has been involved in acts of physical aggression, harassment, and intimidation of Jewish students; has produced posters equating the Star of David with the swastika; and hosts speakers who compare Jews to Nazis and praise terrorism.”

Chancellors Condemn – But Only in Principle
The response of university officials has been weak, to say the least. For example, Beckwith and Rossman-Benjamin write that “all ten University of California Chancellors recently signed a statement condemning ‘all acts of racism, intolerance and incivility’ … Nevertheless, not one UC Chancellor has condemned the MSA/MSU or SJP groups on his or her campus for the hateful, anti-Semitic programs they mount, or the hostile and intimidating environment they create for Jewish students.”

At a special three-hour UC Regents meeting last month devoted to addressing recent acts of intolerance and bigotry on UC campuses, the discussion focused almost entirely on African-American students and other under-represented minorities. The “longstanding and intolerable harassment and intimidation of Jewish students by members of the Muslim and pro-Palestinian/anti-Israel student groups were not mentioned even once,” the professors write.

In addition, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education has refused to afford Jewish students the same protections against harassment and intimidation as it grants to every African-American, Latino, and Arab student. This policy is an above-board feature of Obama administration policy, said Kenneth Marcus, former director of the OCR, who quoted Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights Russlynn Ali as indicating that the Obama administration would not pursue cases of harassment against Jewish students.

Raising the Alarm
“The MSA/MSU and SJP chapters on many California campuses are unlike other official student groups,” the two professors conclude. “Their affiliations with organizations that support terror and seek to wage Islamic jihad make them a threat to every member of the campus community, but especially to Jewish students. The refusal of university and government officials to afford protections to Jewish students on California campuses is absolutely unconscionable and should be protested loudly and clearly by parents, donors, and taxpayers across the state and across the nation.”

When the United States of America National Security Adviser feels free to open his address to a Washington-based Middle East policy organization with an anti-semitic joke, one can only wonder what to expect next in the land-of-the-free.

U.S. President Obama’s openly hostile attitude towards America’s greatest ally, Israel, has apparently set the tone for what is and is not politically and socially acceptable today in America. Clearly, blatant attacks on the Jews have become the norm, with nary an eyebrow raised in Washington circles.

Unfortunately, the racist anti-semitic jokes and nasty anti-Jewish, anti-Israel words are all too often followed by physical acts of violence.

I know, I know…not in America…America is different…Yada yada yada…

That’s what they said in Germany…And in Spain…And in France…And in Portugal…And in England…
Feel free to pick your century…You have your choice of many…

(You can view video of the joke below)

U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones..Less Than PC

James Jones apologizes for ‘Jewish merchant’ joke after uproar

ADL says joke in which Jewish merchant swindles thirsty Taliban fighter ‘inappropriate and stereotypical.’ National security advisor: I wish that I had not made this off the cuff joke

Reprinted from YnetNews.com Yitzhak Benhorin

National Security Adviser James Jones opened his remarks at the 25-year anniversary gala of the Washington Institute For Near East Policy last weekend with a joke in which a Jewish merchant fleeces a thirsty Taliban fighter.

CBS reported that the joke, which many claimed was in bad taste, was conspicuously absent from the version of the remarks distributed to the media.

Here is how it went: “A Taliban militant gets lost and is wandering around the desert looking for water. He finally arrives at a store run by a Jew and asks for water.

The Jewish vendor tells him he doesn’t have any water but can gladly sell him a tie. The Taliban begins to curse and yell at the Jewish storeowner. The Jew, unmoved, offers the rude militant an idea: Beyond the hill, there is a restaurant; they can sell you water.

The Taliban keeps cursing and finally leaves toward the hill. An hour later he’s back at the tie store. He walks in and tells the merchant: “Your brother tells me I need a tie to get into the restaurant.”

Foreign Policy reported that the participants, many of whom were Jewish, laughed heartily, but conservative blogs and some Jewish community leaders pounced on the remark.

Anti-Defamation League head Abe Foxman called the joke “inappropriate,” saying, “It’s stereotypic,” he said. “Some people believe they need to start a speech with a joke; this was about the worst kind of joke the head of the National Security Council could have told.”

Jones apologized on Monday, saying, “I wish that I had not made this off the cuff joke at the top of my remarks, and I apologize to anyone who was offended by it. It also distracted from the larger message I carried that day: that the United States commitment to Israel’s security is sacrosanct.”

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the joke was not included on the transcript because the release was based on Jones’ prepared remarks.

Gibbs was quoted by CBS News as saying that the White House had not requested the apology and that it “rightly speaks for itself.”

Israel is becoming a popular stop on the concert tour of most major pop-music acts.

If you’re going to be in Israel this July, you might want to catch Seals’ show.

If you STILL need an excuse to get on that plane to Israel…

Seal...On His Way to Israel?

Seal to perform in Israel

Soul and R&B singer announces concert in Raanana on July 21st

Reprinted from YnetNews.com Or Barnea

British singer Seal will arrive in Israel and hold a single concert in the Raanana Amphitheatre on July 21st, his official website reported Sunday.

No confirmation has yet been received from Israeli producers.

The singer will arrive in the Jewish state after visiting Turkey as part of his July European Tour. It has not yet been reported whether he will be accompanied in Israel by his wife, German supermodel and TV presenter Heidi Klum.

Seal, 47, is best known for two chart-topping hits from the 1990s: “Crazy” and “Kiss from a Rose”. He has won multiple Grammy awards over the years for his achievements in music.

The singer has three children with Klum and has also adopted her daughter from a previous marriage.

His latest album, “Soul,” a collection of renditions of famous soul classics, was released two years ago. Last year he released a hits compilation as well as a DVD documenting one of his live shows in New York.

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Auschwitz...Popular Tourist Destination

Is the Next Step a Commercial Sponsor for the Nazi Death Camp Memorial?

Who paid how much to whom to have an individual memorialized at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Death Camp Memorial?

Also…Tel-Aviv…Now one of the world’s top ten party destinations

And…The Russians are replacing Americans as top tourists to Israel

Russian Circus Monkeys as Jews..Not Anti-Semitic?

Plus…Monkeys playing Jews in the Russian circus…and the local Jews don’t seem to care……All this and more on “The Marty Roberts Show”…Listen to the show below…

Even the U.S. seems to be awakening to the fact that it is only a matter of time…not only until Iran owns nuclear weapons, but also owns the means to drop an atomic bomb on American soil…

Apparently, the Iranian threat to the existence of the Jewish State of Israel is not adequate incentive for Obama and Co. to do something serious to destroy Iran’s nuclear capability…

Will an imminent threat to the safety and security of America’s homeland be enough reason for the ex-radical president of the U.S. to take military action against Iran’s atomic bomb program????

Or, just maybe, might he at least, give the green light for Israel to get the job done?…

Report: Iranian Missile Could Reach U.S. by 2015

U.S. Defense Department report also says Iranians have gone to great lengths to protect its nuclear infrastructure from physical destruction including using buried and hardened facilities.

Reprinted from Foxnews.com Mike Emanual

“With sufficient foreign assistance, Iran could probably develop and test an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capable of reaching the United States by 2015,” says a new 12 page unclassified report prepared by the Department of Defense on the Iran Military Threat.

The report says Iran’s military strategy is designed to defend against external or “hard” threats from the United States and Israel. “Iran’s nuclear program and its willingness to keep open the possibility to develop nuclear weapons is a central part of its deterrent strategy,” according to the report.

Iran continues being a disruptive force inside Iraq. “Iran continues to provide money, weapons and training to select Iraqi Shia militants despite pledges by senior Iranian officials to stop such support,” the report says. “Iran also offers strategic and operational guidance to militias and terrorist groups to target U.S. Forces in Iraq and undermine U.S. interests.”

It also outlines what Defense Secretary Robert Gates has called Tehran playing a “double game” inside Afghanistan. The regime makes big promises to the Afghan government trying to appear to be a good neighbor, and is also sending weapons into the country, and backing a wide range of groups so “it will have a positive relationship with the eventual leaders.”

Regarding the effectiveness of Iranian Conventional Forces, “Iran maintains very sizeable military forces, but they would be relatively ineffective against a direct assault by well trained, sophisticated military such as that of the United States or its allies.”

It does judge Iran’s unconventional forces, which include paramilitary forces, “would present a formidable force on Iranian territory.”

The report outlines Iran’s nuclear weapons capabilities and developments saying it is “keeping open the option to develop nuclear weapons,” which is consistent with what we’ve heard from a wide range of U.S. officials. It says the Iranians have gone to great lengths to protect its nuclear infrastructure from physical destruction including using buried and hardened facilities.

The final aspects of the report review the regime’s efforts to improve ballistic and cruise missile capabilities.

The Secretary of Defense is required as part of the National Defense Authorization Act to submit a classified and unclassified report on the current and future military strategy of Iran.

If the world press is to be believed, none other than Apple itself, Steve Jobs’ cash-cow baby, has become the latest target of the Zionist Conspiracy for world domination. They feel that this can be the only possible logical explanation as to why Israel has, thus far, banned the new Apple I-Pad from Israel’s wireless airspace.

Of course, the fact that Israel has said that the new device is not in conformity with wireless standards in the Jewish State just MIGHT have something to do with the decision, wouldn’t you think?

Sometimes a cigar REALLY IS just a cigar…

Israel’s iPad ban sparks media circus among foreign press

Nearly a week since the Communications Ministry announced it was banning Apple’s new tablet computer – the iPad – until further notice, technology lovers are still up in arms. Meanwhile, the ministry announced that customs authorities at Ben-Gurion International Airport have so far confiscated 20 of the devices.

Reprinted from HaAretz.com Bar Ben-Ari

The ministry has claimed that the iPad is being banned because it doesn’t meet European standards for wireless Internet devices. But in spite of all the clarifications and explanations offered, it seems quite a bit is being kept secret.

The Communications Ministry’s belated announcement on Apple’s latest gadget has launched a media circus in the foreign press.
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“There’s got to be more to this than that. Though what it is I don’t know,” wrote Jeff Goldberg for the Atlantic, in response to the announcement that the device was being banned because its wireless technology was not compatible with Israeli standards.

“Israel has raised eyebrows by picking a fight with Apple, one of the most influential and admired U.S. companies,” wrote the Atlantic’s Max Fisher. “But with Israel staring down the threat of war from Scud-armed Hezbollah, Steve Jobs is probably not the largest concern this week.”

“If you’re reading this on your iPad while waiting for a flight to Israel, we’re sorry to tell you this, but you’re in for a nasty surprise,” Stevie Smith of the Tech Herald wrote. “And, this isn’t a belated April Fool’s prank either (more’s the pity),” he added, in response to the astonishment the move has raised.

Technorati ran a piece with the headline “Israel to Apple: We’ll stick to stone tablets for now,” noting that the more modern version was not wanted here. “The country that first popularized the stone tablet is preventing immigration of iPads bought in the United States, telling travelers they will need to store them at customs or ship them home,” wrote Leslie Grandy.

Consumers whose iPads have been confiscated by customs officials have two options: To wait until the ministry changes its mind, or to send their iPads back to the United States and buy new ones when Apple launches the product internationally. Those who decide to wait will be charged a NIS 15 storage fee for every day their iPad is kept impounded, a tax authority official said.

Communications Ministry Director General Eden Bar Tal said that before the ban was announced, his staff had been unable to obtain technical information about the device from Apple’s Israeli importer, iDigital.

However, the specifications published by Apple indicate that the iPad meets both European and American standards.

iDigital refused to comment.