Maybe Chickenshitgate (must credit "and that's the way it was") has left the Obama folks a little gun shy: The United States has described as "unfortunate" plans by the Israeli government to build 500 new illegal settler homes in East Jerusalem. The US response came after a panel of the Israeli Interior Ministry gave approval … Continue reading Um, that’s one word for it

Do you think the things that come out of Rick Santorum's mouth are this poorly conceived in his head, or is he just inarticulate? In an interview with the Christian Post, Santorum said that religious freedom in America is "under direct assault." "The government wants to tell you how to live your life," he said. … Continue reading Rick Santorum: America isn’t like Nazi Germany, but what if it WERE?

Sundown last night marked the beginning of the Islamic holiday of Ashura, the tenth day of the month of Muharram (ashr is "ten" in Arabic), when the Shiʿa Imam Husayn, son of Ali, was killed at the Battle of Karbala in 680 (it's also a holiday, albeit a less important one, for Sunnis, and anyway … Continue reading Holidays and anniversaries

My Alhurra appearance (I'll toss up the YouTube whenever it's online) went pretty well, I think, in no small part because I just felt a whole lot more comfortable (i.e., much less nervous) going in. About half of the show was focused on ISIS and the campaign in Syria, particularly the continuing lack of a … Continue reading Premature détente

I wouldn't blame you if you've missed this developing story in Israel/Palestine; after all, a lady and her boyfriend took a bicycle ride together yesterday, and we're about to elect some new people to Congress so they can get plenty more nothing done, and there's only so many (24) hours in a day to cover … Continue reading By the way, there’s an escalating crisis in Jerusalem right now

Remember how our friends, the moderate Syrian rebels, got mad at the U.S. for bombing targets associated with Jabhat al-Nusra in addition to ISIS targets, because they all said that Nusra was their ally against Assad (and let's not lose sight of what a blood-stained madman he is) and ISIS? Well, either those moderates seriously … Continue reading Is the battlefield shifting again in Syria?

As a matter of principle, I agree with Gabriel Arana when he writes this (fair warning, this is Bill Maher-related): But he should speak at Berkeley. I won’t argue that prejudice against Muslims isn’t "dangerous." But bad ideas, like family secrets, are less harmful when exposed. In this case, Maher's views should be aired and … Continue reading Staring down prejudice in your cap and gown

Jeffrey Goldberg may believe that "relations between the Obama and Netanyahu governments have moved toward a full-blown crisis," but for me I'm going to wait until somebody in the Obama administration actually does something more than say naughty swears about the Israeli PM before I'll believe it. Hey, if anybody at the White House is … Continue reading We’re being governed by children, part 2

My daughter has one of these freaking things, and I feel very comfortable assuming that this isn't the only time this has happened:

In this case, John Boehner. Speaker of the House isn't exactly a diplomacy-heavy job, I'll grant you, but come on: I’m not sure which is worse: the notion that House Speaker John Boehner says ridiculous things to get votes or that the Ohio Republican actually believes his own rhetoric.Take yesterday, for example. As Jay Bookman … Continue reading We’re being governed by children