The AP, Dead Gorilla In Coal Mine

 https://spectator.us/topic/decline-fall-associated-press-gaza/

A common old time expression was "the canary in the coal mine". Allegedly, miners kept a canary with them, and if it dropped dead, they got out. Supposedly canaries were more sensitive to lethal gases than humans, so they were an early warning system. 

The AP has been dead for a long time, but in this age of continuing to kick Trump and his supporters after he is long gone, a little "corpse abuse" is in order.

The latest example of AP’s troubled role involves its offices in the Gaza Strip, a territory controlled by Hamas. For some 15 years, the AP has operated out of an 11-story building in Gaza City, the al-Jalaa Tower, where al Jazeera also has offices. According to Israeli military intelligence, journalists weren’t the only ones in that tower. Hamas terrorists also had offices there and were using them to plan terror attacks on Jewish civilians. So, in the midst of Israel’s wider military campaign against Hamas assets, the Israeli Defense Forces told everyone to evacuate the building, which was then destroyed by aerial bombardment. No one was injured.

Remember how Trump was going to be disaster, especially in foreign policy? Is't it special that we now have the worst Palestinian situation since 2014? Gee, who was president then?

The column is worth a read, as Lipson usually is.

Israel, The Fog Of War

 https://spectator.us/topic/israel-worrying-descent-into-violence/

I like the Spectator because it admits it has a conservative bias (like there is such a thing as truth, life has meaning,  etc) ... that old fashioned stuff, while it valiantly tries to be even handed. 

This column admits that it is "possible" that Netanyahu had a hand in this escalation. It is clear however that violence in the region is a way of life. Israel isn't going away, and the Arabs are going to continue to attempt to erase it. It is widely thought that Israel has nuclear subs with nuclear missiles, in which case, "erasing" Israel would almost certainly result in the destruction of Tehran, and possibly Mecca. 

Muslims see that as a good thing. If they destroy Israel, and Israel kills them,  they are assured  that Muslim heaven will have a severe  run on virgins. Given that Muhammad's favorite wife had the pleasure of the marriage being consummated when she was  age 9. Does Allah simply create more virgins millions of Muslims are annihilated by nuclear fire? It has never been clear to me what female Muslim martyrs get, but I suppose that is not of any concern in their system. 

The Muslim respect for women knows no bounds. The American left just loves Islam, were women caught in adultery and gays are stoned. OTOH, they hate Christians that espouse horrible things like loving your enemies. 

If you think about how the left looks at lots of things ... like assuming we won't have an energy problem if we get rid of all fossil and nuclear, and go to wind and solar, perhaps this actually makes sense in context?