There is said to be a rift between the Israeli Defense Ministry Director General Amos Yaron and the Pentagon’s Doug Feith. Feith calls for the resignation of Yaron because misleading him on (read: lying about) Israeli repair (read: upgrade) of a specific Chinese weapon system with US technology. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John Jumper has even canceled a trip to Israel because he would not meet Yaron.

Searching Google News for the story we find reports in Haaretz, Jerusalem Post, Zaman Turkey, Pakistan Daily Times, Asia Times, BBC and many many other non-US media.

In the US only the Moonies Washington Times has a UPI brief on the story.
Nothing in the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Knight Ridder, and any TV news site that I can find.

Is this piece of Likudnik laundry too dirty for the US public?

Fear factor: 44 percent of Americans queried in Cornell national poll favor curtailing some liberties for Muslim Americans

In a study to determine how much the public fears terrorism, almost half of respondents polled nationally said they believe the U.S. government should — in some way — curtail civil liberties for Muslim Americans…
…
Conversely, 48 percent of respondents nationally said they do not believe that civil liberties for Muslim Americans should be restricted.
…
[Professor] Shanahan notes: ".. our findings highlight that personal religiosity as well as exposure to news media are two important correlates of support for restrictions. We need to explore why these two very important channels of discourse may nurture fear rather than understanding."

Also from the study (PDF):

In November, 2004 37% of respondents believe a terrorist attack within the next 12 months is likely, compared to 90% in November 2002.

Nearly half  (47%) of respondents support greater power for the government to monitor Internet activities, while nearly two‐thirds (63%) agree that the government should be able to detain indefinitely suspected terrorists.

As now only 37% expect a terror attack, contrarian thinking lets me believe that there is one right around the corner. Even a small incident, propagandated as Muslim terror through the news media, would put the majority in the US into a very dangerous mood.

Time to recapitulate:

Helmut Schmidt, chancellor of Germany between 1974 and 1982, just published his new book "The Powers of the Future", meant as a global strategic overview. (So far it is only available in German.)

From the covertext:

"In the foreseeable future there is neither a strategic nor a moral reason for the majority of the continental-european nations to willingly subdue to a possible american imperialism … We shall not degenerate to compliable yes-men. Even if the USA for the next decades may be more capable of acting as the European Union, even if the hegemony of America will endure for a longer time, the European nations must keep their dignity. This dignity is based in holding fast to our responsibility in front of our own conscience."

This will sell like fresh baked bread.

…

It’s the last weekend before Christmas and lots of people will be out to buy, buy, buy. Here are some ideas on possible gifts – please add yours in the comments.

Cont. reading: Gift Ideas

William Kristol in WaPo:

Surely Don Rumsfeld is not the defense secretary Bush should want to have for the remainder of his second term.

Cont. reading: Rumsfeld Execution Continues

Remember the desecration of the Herrlisheim Jewish cemetery back in April?

It was, despite the national outcry of indignation and official protests, yet another sign of France’s (and Europe’s) growing antisemitism and treasonous behavior…

Well, a suspect has been arrested today, after a long investigation involving graphology and 15 investigators.

As it were, the suspect is a neo-nazi and a member of the Front National.

Of course, this does not fit in the frame of the growing restlessness of Muslim populations in France and their supposedly increasingly aggressive and increasingly tolerated behavior towards Jews, and, unsurprisingly, I have not found a single story about it in the press.

So, had you heard about it? Do you care?

Yukos thinks US civil law should reach from Houston to Moscow:
Yukos files for bankruptcy in the US

The embattled Yukos oil company has filed for bankruptcy in the United States and appealed for an injunction against the auction of its main production unit that is scheduled for Sunday.
…
"Yukos is asking the court for a temporary restraining order halting the planned Sunday auction of its Yuganskneftegaz subsidiary by Russian authorities," said the statement posted on Yukos’ Web site.

Cont. reading: International Jurisdiction

whatever …

The Defense Department spends $10 billion per year on Missile Defense.

Some 10 interceptor rockets are already stationed in Alaska, but the system has never been tested successfully. Those tests that occurred were are deemed unrealistic and even then three out of eight attempts failed.

A complete test was planed to take place late 2003.  It was delayed until yesterday and then – the system failed. The interceptor (pdf) did not even take off.

The first test in nearly two years of a multibillion-dollar U.S. anti-missile shield has failed after the interceptor missile shut down as it prepared to launch in the central Pacific, the Pentagon said.

…

The aborted $85 million test appeared likely to set back plans for activation of a rudimentary bulwark against long-range ballistic missiles that could be fired by countries like North Korea.

…

In 2002, President George W. Bush pledged to have initial elements of the program up and running by the end of this year while testing and development continued.
Reuters

Missile Defense

• is a system that does not function
• could be easily cheated by fake targets
• is useless against cheap kind of attacks like 9/11 or from cruise missiles fired from sea
• is useless against new Russian ICBM developments

It is the most useless way to waste money I can think of.

Today was inaugurated a truly spectcular bridge in Southern France, the Viaduc de Millau.

More pictures and plenty of very detailed technical data

Sometimes, it is good to also be able to celebrate man’s ingenuity and ability to reach for the sky…

Iraqi Resistance speech on videotape – December 13 2004
via Information Clearing House

… We have not crossed the oceans and seas to occupy Britain or the U.S. nor are we responsible for 9/11. These are only a few of the lies that these criminals present to cover their true plans for the control of the energy resources of the world, in face of a growing China and a strong unified  Europe. It is Ironic that the Iraqi’s are to bear the full face of this large and growing conflict on behalf of the rest of this sleeping world.

We thank all those, including those of Britain and the U.S., who took to the streets in protest against this war and against Globalism. We also thank France, Germany and other states for their position, which least to say are considered wise and balanced, til now.

Today, we call on you again.

We do not require arms or fighters, for we have plenty.

We ask you to form a world wide front against war and sanctions. A front that is governed by the wise and knowing. A front that will bring reform and order. New institutions that would replace the now corrupt.

Stop using the U.S. dollar, use the Euro or a basket of currencies. Reduce or halt your consumption of British and U.S. products. Put an end to Zionism before it ends the world. Educate those in doubt of the true nature of this conflict and do not believe their media for their casualties are far higher than they admit. …

There is an American exile billionaire sitting in Switzerland.  He expects some bad press about his business dealings in the Iraq Oil-for-Food program. A neutral investigation by the estimeed Paul Volker is looking into various, probably illegal, deals.

The billionaire calls up his old lawyer and buddy, who is in a high political position, and asks him to help to divert the developing scandal. The lawyer-buddy discusses the request with his boss.

Cont. reading: Reality Based Scandal

"There is no question in my mind that the coalition and the Iraqi people are winning."

Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez, Commander, U.S. military forces in Iraq
Press Briefing in Baghdad
December 13, 2003

Behind the discussions about the future of Social Security, the situation of the Trust Fund, the requirement for personal retirement accounts and other such financial instruments, you have some basic reality-based facts that are sometimes forgotten.

Below (the fold) is a simplified description of the social security problems that we face and how not to solve them – in non-financial terms.

Cont. reading: Social Security reform for dummies

When an administration is in dire need of an intelligence service does it mean it lacks intelligent people?

John Bolton, Neocon WMD hunter at the State Department, had the NSA spying on IAEA chief El Baradei’s phone calls with Iran (and others).  This is not unexpected, but is it really intelligent to have the spying and its fruitlessness printed in the Washington Post?

Cont. reading: Lack of Intelligence

News, views, opinions …

Karzai declares jihad on poppy cultivation and starts digging his grave.

"Poppy cultivation is more dangerous than terrorism, it is more dangerous than civil wars because this crop is not only a source of weakness, dishonour and defeat of Afghanistan, but also an internal danger."

Anti-narcotics agencies say some local warlords, government officials, police commanders and governors are implicated in the trade.

Cont. reading: Poppy Deal

"The enemy is operating in smaller cells with every bit as lethal capabilities as we have, but they can turn on a dime," Rumsfeld says in an interview.
Defense secretary shifts his focus to the Pentagon

FY 2005 – Department of Defense Budget (PDF):

Procurement:  US$ 75,905,000,000; R & D: US$ 68,942,000,000
;

If the enemy has every bit as lethal capabilities without such a budget there is finally proof that this spending is nothing more than buying big toys and company welfare. Ask for your taxes to be returned immediately.

Other news: