Vanity, Thy Name Is Barry

Speaking with Israeli media following his meeting earlier in the week with PM Benjamin Netanyahu, President Obama attempted to explain the anxiety felt by some Israelis toward his administration:

"Some of it may be just the fact that my middle name is Hussein, and it creates suspicion."

For one who was supposed to transcend race and religion, he sure is quick-on-the-draw with the race and religion cards.

Putting aside President Obama's 'it's all about me' complex for a moment, maybe the anxiety felt by some Israelis has to do with Obama's reversal of his position on Israel's claim to Jerusalem, or his Kennedyesque Muslim outreach speech in Cairo (Ich bin ein Muslim!) where he sought to parallel the 'suffering' of the Palestinians with the Holocaust of the Jews, or the administration's very public rebuke of Netanyahu earlier in the year for Israel's decision to build settlements in East Jerusalem. Or perhaps some of it can be traced to NASA's recent mission change to prop up the Muslim world's eggshell-fragile self esteem.

Ugh, just what we need - giving Hezbollah and Hamas access to bigger and better rockets.

On The Israeli Boarding

I contributed to this blog post about the Israeli take-down attempt. From my perspective, it was not a good showing.

US/Israel Relationship Questions

Fascinating discussion on the radio program last night about our relationship with Israel, one that had me pitted against two callers, Mark and Big Fred. Both of them seemed to think that we were getting very little for our investment (financially, politically). I am a pretty solid pro-Israel guy, though their conduct of late has been questionable.

What do you think? Should we distance ourselves from Israel? Should we appear more of an "honest broker" by finding ways to demonstrate that distance? Is a strategic relationship with Israel in our national interest?

US Support For Israel Rises...

even as the Obama Administration continues to tilt away them. So let's see--Obama supports healthcare reform, America disagrees with him (or at least his version). Obama supports Cap and Trade, America disagrees with him. Starting to see a trend? (Instapundit)

Israel v. Iran--The Plot Thickens

A report on The Heron TP drone, which may in fact give Israel the strategic reach it needs to hold targets in Iran at risk.

H/T Instapundit.

Moving One Step Closer To An Israeli Strike.....

Iran does not fully appreciate the position in which it is headed; buy oil futures now.....

Iran Is In Israel's Crosshairs

With each and every step the Iranians take away from a deal on uranium enrichment, we get one step closer to Israel taking aggressive action.

Hey, That Wasn't In The Manifest!

A list of the weapons found by Israeli naval commando forces aboard the civilian freighter Francop from Iran en route to Hezbollah terrorist forces in Syria:

- 566,220 7.62 caliber rifle bullets

- 20,100 F1 fragment grenades

- 5,680 60mm mortar shells

- 2,316 81mm mortar shells

- 774 120mm mortar shells

- 690 122mm rockets

- 106 artillery shells

- 2,125 107mm rockets

- 685 rockets fuses

And a partridge in a pear tree.

Yes, these are the same Iranians who are developing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

H/T: Weekly Standard