ISRAEL Comments turned off

Palestinians: The Arrests and Torture No One Talks About by Khaled Abu Toameh

Posted By on August 29th, 2022

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/18841/palestinians-arrests-torture

Abbas was obviously not thinking about these prisoners when he expressed concern over the conditions of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. He seems uncomfortable discussing the fact that his security forces are arresting and torturing Palestinians.

Instead, Abbas would like the world to focus only on the prisoners held by Israel and ignore the protests against the “political detentions” that take place every week not far from his office and residence in Ramallah.

Hours before Abbas’s remarks about the prisoners in Israel, the mother of Ahmad Hreash, a Palestinian man arrested by the Palestinian security forces more than 80 days ago, was rushed to hospital. She has been on hunger strike for 10 days to demand the release of her son from the Palestinians’ notorious Jericho Prison. The prison is infamously referred to by Palestinians as the “Jericho Slaughterhouse” because of brutal torture Palestinians say they have undergone while being held there by Abbas’s security forces.

“They keep extending his detention without us, or even the lawyer, knowing what the charges are.” — Mukaram Qurt, mother of Ahmad Hreash, Al Jazeera, August 25, 2022.

Palestinian Lawyers for Justice, a human rights group, said that it has documented 117 cases of “political detentions” by the Palestinian security forces since the beginning of June 2022.

The detainees include six Palestinians who had previously served time in Israeli prison for anti-Israeli activities and are currently being held in the “Jericho Slaughterhouse.” The group noted that the Palestinian security forces were continuing to imprison Palestinians because of their political affiliation of for criticizing and opposing the Palestinian Authority.

“They hit me with their legs and hands. They beat me with rubber hoses. They put me in a tiny cell with no mattresses or pillows. I had to use my shoe as a pillow while sleeping on the floor.” — Mujahed Tabanjah, Palestinian journalist, Facebook, August 16, 2022.

Alarmed by the ongoing crackdown on political opponents and other Palestinians, several Palestinian activists launched an online campaign titled “Political Detention is a Crime,” in protest of the arrests and torture in Palestinian prisons.

When Palestinians arrest or brutally torture other Palestinians, it does not appear to be “news that’s fit to print.” Palestinians who go on hunger strikes in Palestinian prisons are often ignored by the media, while those who protest against Israel receive wide coverage.

By ignoring the horrific human rights violations committed by the Palestinian Authority, the international community and media expose their hypocrisy in dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They are also doing an incalculable disservice to the Palestinian people, many of whom have been victimized by their own leaders.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on August 27 that he is concerned about the condition of Palestinians who are being held in Israeli prisons. He described the prisoners, many of whom have been convicted of carrying out or involvement in attacks against Israel and Israeli citizens, as “freedom fighters” and announced that the Palestinian leadership and the Palestinian people will continue to support them “until they gain their freedom.”

ANTI-SEMITISM Comments turned off

The Anti-Semitic and Racist Tweets of a Canadian Government Consultant Laith Marouf can always follow his own advice to Israelis – and “go back to where he came from.”Hugh Fitzgerald

Posted By on August 29th, 2022

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2022/08/consultant-canadian-governments-antisemitic-and-hugh-fitzgerald/

Laith Marouf is a Lebanese man living in Canada who has been working as an “anti-racism” consultant for the Community Media Advocacy Center (CMAC) on a project funded by the government of Canada. His antisemitic and racist tweets have now been exposed; they make for instructive reading. As a result, the Canadian government initially asked that the government-funded agency Canadian Heritage, that has been financing CMAC, look into his behavior and the suitability of his continued employment as a CMAC consultant. The government itself then decided – needing no further investigation —  to end its relationship with CMAC and to shut down its “anti-racism project.” Jihad Watch previously reported on Marouf yesterday and on August 17. A further report on Marouf’s tweets, and their consequence, can be found here: “Anti-Racism Consultant Hired by Canadian Government Agency Under Scrutiny for Antisemitic Tweets,” Algemeiner, August 22, 2022:

A Canadian government minister has said he will examine possible disciplinary action against an anti-racism consultant currently working on a federally-funded project for a series of antisemitic and racist tweets.

Only one kind of “disciplinary action” made sense in this case: Laith Marouf needed to be fired, and after some inexplicable delay, he was. The Canadian government not only ended its relationship with the Community Media Advocacy Center, but shut down the “anti-racism” program of which CMAC served as a consultant.

Now Marouf should be prohibited from working for any organization that is funded in whole or in part by the government of Canada. And any purely private entity that hires him should be exposed on social media, so that appropriate measures, including boycotts of that entity, can be undertaken to ensure that Marouf is discharged.

NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

Did Zuckerberg Prove the FBI Created the ‘Russian Disinfo’ Narrative on Hunter’s Laptop? The stunning significance of a revelation. Brad Slager

Posted By on August 29th, 2022

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2022/08/did-zuckerberg-prove-fbi-created-russian-disinfo-brad-slager/

It has become a really bad week for the FBI, and by extension the DOJ. With the release of the warrant affidavit the comically redacted document only further cast the Bureau in a mocking light.  From what can be gleaned out of the fragments revealed is that now the raid on Trump’s residence was inspired not by the revelation of state secrets missing or classified nuclear intel, but by the National Archives requesting more docs after receiving boxloads, and a local news affiliate that saw moving trucks at Mar-A-Lago. 

This means that the raid was justified with the thinnest of reasons. And the purpose was to simply acquire as much as they could from the compound in an effort to find…anything. Reports of the Feds going in with a specific agenda were blown out of the water when the warrant was found to have been signed off with the intent of obtaining anything at all from Trump’s entire time in office.

Adding to the embarrassments was the news of a whistleblower from inside the FBI revealing that the Bureau had shielded the knowledge of the laptop obtained from Hunter Biden. This is a story not receiving much media coverage, a telling departure from a press corps that normally gets rather excitable at the arrival of whistleblowers. The claim being made is the FBI elected to bury the laptop story for the reason of not wanting to influence the 2020 election. Then things became even more disturbing – and more ignored in the press.

On Joe Rogan’s podcast Mark Zuckerberg revealed that FaceBook had been approached by the FBI regarding the laptop story and to be wary of how the platform treats the information. The focus has been on the move by the FBI to direct social media to avoid the story.

MEDICINE AND HEALTH Comments turned off

The CON Game: Legal Tyranny Is Bad for Babies By Janet Levy

Posted By on August 29th, 2022

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2022/08/the_con_game_legal_tyranny_is_bad_for_babies.html

When Katie Chubb’s baby was due in early 2020, her husband Nicholas had to drive her from Augusta, Georgia, where they live, to a freestanding birth center in Atlanta — nearly 150 miles away.  During her pregnancy, she made 15 round trips to the center for prenatal care.  The Augusta area does not have centers for natural childbirth, so from her own experience, Chubb saw an opportunity for a small business to provide a much-needed service and decided to set up one.  But Georgia has denied the center permission to operate, so she is suing the state because the reason for denial — while valid under current state law — is unreasonable by the norms of free-market economics and violates important individual rights.

Imagine the authorities denying Wells Fargo permission to open a branch because the local Bank of America tells it the new outlet isn’t needed, as it would duplicate BoA’s services.  Seems unthinkable.  But Certificate of Need (CON) requirements in health care, created in the 1960s and in operation in 35 states and Washington, D.C., demand that hospitals in an area endorse the need for a new hospital or health care facility, even for the acquisition of new equipment.

For freestanding birth centers, which are legal in all states, CONs are required only in 15 states.  Such centers aren’t hospitals, but they handle low-risk deliveries on a midwifery and wellness model.  They do not provide general anesthesia or perform Cesarean sections or other surgical procedures.  Some offer alternative practices like water birth and lotus birth, with relaxing music playing and paternal participation in the process.  A doctor is on board for supervision and early identification of complications, and the centers typically have hospital transfer arrangements for emergencies.  Less expensive than hospitals, staffed with trained nurse-midwives, they provide a hygienic, low-stress setting for delivery.  Many women choose them over hospitals, and in poor or rural areas without hospitals, they serve to bring down infant and maternal mortality rates.

NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

Three Signs We’re in a Banana Republic By J.B. Shurk

Posted By on August 29th, 2022

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2022/08/three_signs_were_in_a_banana_republic.html

Satirist Sol Luckman defines “banana republic” in his irreverent glossary, The Angel’s Dictionary, as a “lawless society where the monkeys rule.”  

Looking around the United States today, it’s hard to say we don’t fit his meaning.  Nearly 80% of Americans believe we live under a two-tiered system of justice.  Likewise, in Gallup’s recent survey of Americans’ confidence in U.S. institutions, it notes, “This year’s poll marks new lows in confidence for all three branches of the federal government — the Supreme Court (25%), the presidency (23%) and Congress.”  Of sixteen institutions tested, confidence in the U.S. Congress sits at the very bottom with a scant 7%!  Even though there is now “record-low confidence across all institutions,” confidence in the Office of the Presidency suffered the largest year-over-year drop in 2022 — cratering 15%!  In other words, not only do Americans believe the country is lawless, they’re also convinced that it is being run by a barrel of monkeys!  Clearly, Americans “get” that we’re living in a “banana republic” today.  

Just consider these three telltale signs:  

(1) Manipulation of language and mandatory leftist religion:

The political Left’s most potent weapon is its penchant for undermining the meaning of words.  For decades Democrats have branded anything antithetical to their worldview as “hateful” and banned “offending” viewpoints from civic culture altogether.  When “authorities” deconstruct biological sex so preposterously that they can’t even tell the difference between boys and girls, though, they’ve lost the plot.  One school board in Wisconsin is so fearful of the language police crashing through its doors that it has replaced all references to “girls” with sterilized language concerning a “person with a vulva.”  When “teachers” are afraid to say “girl” out loud, it’s banana republic time! 

NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

The Dis-Unification Of America Continues: I&I/TIPP Poll Terry Jones

Posted By on August 29th, 2022

https://issuesinsights.com/2022/08/29/the-dis-unification-of-america-continues-ii-tipp-poll/

To look on the bright side, Americans don’t disagree about everything. One issue in particular seems to bring them together in near-perfect accord: Are we a unified nation after more than a year-and-a-half of President Joe Biden? Americans overwhelmingly answer no, the latest I&I/TIPP Poll shows.

To gauge the ongoing unity zeitgeist, each month the I&I/TIPP Poll asks Americans whether “the United States is: Very united. Somewhat united. Somewhat divided. Very divided. Not sure.”

The data make for depressing reading. Among those responding to the poll, taken Aug. 2-4 from online surveys of 1,335 adults across the county, 74% described the U.S. as “Divided,” versus just 24% who called it “United.” The poll has a margin of error of +/-2.8 percentage points.

And among all survey participants, the No. 1 response was “very divided,” with 43% answering this. No. 2 was “somewhat divided,” at 30%. By comparison, just 8% of the entire survey called America “very united,” while 16% described it as “somewhat united.” Just 2% were “not sure.”

NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

The Comey-Clinton Document Standard and Trump When Hillary kept classified information on her private email server, Justice and the FBI let her off.

Posted By on August 29th, 2022

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-comey-clinton-document-standard-fbi-investigation-donald-trump-mar-a-lago-classified-prosecution-justice-department-11661711673?mod=opinion_lead_pos3

“If Mr. Garland can’t make a compelling case that Mr. Trump’s transgressions are greater than Mrs. Clinton’s, with enough clear and convincing evidence to warrant a criminal charge, the better judgment is not to prosecute and put the country through the trauma of a political trial that half of America will suspect is a case of unequal justice.”

When Jim Comey held his July 2016 press briefing on Hillary Clinton’s emails, his conclusion was this: “Although there is evidence of potential violations of the statutes regarding the handling of classified information, our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case.”

In other words, Mrs. Clinton could have been indicted but wasn’t. That ended the Clinton email saga as a legal matter—with a lecture but without a prosecution. As we wrote at the time, this was an outrageous usurpation by the FBI director, whose role was to investigate and turn the evidence over to a U.S. Attorney or the Attorney General to decide on prosecution.

EDUCATION Comments turned off

In the Name of Equity, Schools Are Reintroducing Racism Jeff Charles

Posted By on August 29th, 2022

https://www.newsweek.com/name-equity-schools-are-reintroducing-racism-opinion-1737058

There was a time in America when racial discrimination and segregation were not only supported by the government but mandated. Restaurants had separate areas for Black and white Americans, people were only allowed to use restrooms and water fountains that were specifically designated by their skin color, and Black and white students were taught in separate school systems. It wasn’t until after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 that the nation began integrating its educational institutions and healing the wounds caused by the Jim Crow era, edging closer to a society that does not judge individuals based on their skin color or ethnicity.

But fast forward to 2022 and the pendulum has swung hard in the opposite direction. Today, in the name of “equity,” there is a major push to incorporate elements of the thinking that was pervasive in the Jim Crow era into today’s K-12 schools, but this time from people who cast themselves as social justice warriors, who are bringing race-conscious schooling back in the name of fighting racism.

Many school districts now promote racial affinity groups, which the Great Schools Partnership defines as “a group of people sharing a common race who gather with the intention of finding connection, support, and inspiration.” The ostensible purpose of these groups is to “provide participants support to survive the racial isolation that exists in many schools and institutions.”

Affinity groups are typically based on shared interests, but racial affinity groups are specifically designed to provide activities and meetings that include or exclude students based on their skin color.

HOMELAND SECURITY Comments turned off

Biden’ Open Door to Terrorists Daniel Greenfield

Posted By on August 28th, 2022

https://www.frontpagemag.com/point/2022/08/biden-open-door-terrorists-daniel-greenfield/

A few Republican senators are making an important point.

Ten Republican Senators sent a letter to members of the Biden administration this week demanding an explanation for a rule change that will allow some individuals who have materially supported terrorist organizations to immigrate to the U.S.

“We write because the American people deserve an explanation regarding the broad, open-ended nature of this authority for exempting individuals who would otherwise be barred from immigration to the United States for supporting a terrorist organization,” Sen. Bill Hagerty (Tenn.) and his colleagues wrote in the letter addressed to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

The point that they make in their letter is that Biden not only provided a waiver for terrorists, but made it as open-ended as possible.

The June 8 determination by the Departments of Homeland Security and State announced that people who have provided “insignificant” or “limited” material support to terrorist organizations in the past will no longer be barred from immigration.

CHARLOTTE'S NEWS WEB, NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

Donald Trump has enemies everywhere……..even inside his own house! Roger Kimball

Posted By on August 28th, 2022

https://spectatorworld.com/topic/donald-trump-enemies-everywhere-jared-kushner-peter-navarro/

I think that Michael Anton is correct that “the people who really run the United States of America have made it clear that they can’t, and won’t, if they can help it, allow Donald Trump to be president again.”

“The people who really run the United States”: that would be denizens of the Swamp, the bureaucratic elite, their media and academic mouthpieces, worker bees in the ambient welfare jelly and the nomenklatura who win elections and circulate in and out of the corridors of power.

It’s a powerful, nearly monolithic force, a monument to special privilege and two-tier justice — and the prospect of dismantling it is daunting to say the least. The fact that Donald Trump, from the moment he sailed down the elevator at Trump Tower to announce his candidacy in 2015, managed to open a bleeding fissure in that smug consensus shows why the ruling class considers him so dangerous. One man, almost without allies, inexperienced in the ways of the Swamp, dependent at every turn on ambassadors and front men from the very thing he had campaigned to destroy: how much damage could he really do?