This Week in the News

This week in the News:

By Media Watcher

When not if
Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, visited President George W. Bush's Ranch home this week in Texas. According to Rowan Scarborough of the Washington Times in his article of April 26, 2002, Dick Cheney's tour of eleven Arab countries last month actually did gain support of moderate Arab countries for an attack and ousting of Saddam Hussein. Rowan quotes an unnamed source as saying, "All the stuff you heard publicly, turn it upside down," this official said. "The Cheney trip was a very good trip. Look where Prince Abdullah is today." The question is when and by what means we will attack Iraq. No doubt it will be soon. This writer predicts before Christmas this year. Hold on to your hats boys and girls, its gonna be a bloody Ramadan.


Sharon’s Play Book
President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon continue their political minuet, while U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan is rebuffed while attempting to cut in. On the topic of investigating just what happened in Jenin, (the Israeli story and the Palestinian stories aren't even close to the same), PR Sharon has balked at the composition of the U.N. fact-finding team. Sharon trumpets the tired anti-Semitic song and dance to criticize some members of the team. U.S. General Colin Powell encourages PR Sharon to allow the U.N. inspection team to conduct their investigation, because he says he has not seen any evidence of a massacre and that it will be better for Israel to allow the facts to be recorded. Recently however, Annan has decided to change the team to better fit with Sharon's needs. No attempt to consult Palestinians on the make-up of the fact-finding team has been made by Annan. It should be noted that Jenin was a hotspot for infamous Palestinian bomb-makers. The bombs made in labs in Jenin were used by suicide bombers and against tanks. Stiff resistance by Palestinians fighters in Jenin was more than the IDF expected, although in the end the IDF was victorious and left a several square blocks of a neighbor in utter ruin. The IDF claims it discovered and destroyed up to 20 bomb-making facilities and confiscated many weapons. Despite the possibility of a massacre by IDF in Jenin, at least part of Sharon's objective of "rooting out terror infrastructure" seems to have been accomplished. Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip is set for an onslaught. The people living in the Gaza strip expect to be attacked and are making preparations. The Ha'aretz (Israel's equivalent of the New York Times) has speculated over the last few days on what Sharon's intentions are. Some believe that Sharon is hinting at attacking the Gaza Strip as he did the West Bank. It is likely a decision will be forthcoming in the next week. But no one knows what will be enough to satisfy Sharon's furious army. Will they build walls? Are they attempting to exterminate their neighbors? Will Israel ever recognize a Palestinian State? These are secondary considerations. The first concern is where and how to attack next.

Desperation in the Territories
Talking to Internationals, Palestinians say they are proud of their fighters and martyrs. Even children have great admiration and attempt to emulate them. Over the last week, Palestinian authorities have become concerned that children are taking up knives, grenades, and guns and undertaking martyr attacks. Tragically, Israeli soldiers shot three young teenagers as they attempted to get into a Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip this week. The Hamas asked all clerics, teachers and parents to encourage children to leave fighting to the adults. Additionally, more than one Palestinian interviewed this week indicated that they no longer trust Israel and they want vengeance. One West Bank woman, who said she was secular and didn't even believe in God said that after the West Bank operation, she could see herself blowing up in Tel Aviv. Extremism is not dead in the Palestinian territories. But what will they do next?

U.S.A the Free and the Brave?
At home, the fruits of the new Homeland Defense mentality in Lawmaking are ripening. In Michigan two laws passed allowing local law enforcement to search homes and private property without telling the owners why or showing they have a search warrant. While they still have to obtain a search warrant, they do not have to present it to the owners, nor discuss any aspect of their investigation to those whose property is being searched. Interestingly, Detroit, MI contains the largest Arab population in the U.S.A.