Blog about politics (mideast and pro-Israel, Canadian and local Montreal), world events, and random thoughts.

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The World I Know is updated on a semi-regular basis by segacs.

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1:21 AM
And in other news

Momentary time-out from the tension of the Middle East to note that today was a banner day for the Habs. Not only did Gainey secure the netminders by signing both Danis and Aebischer (despite widespread speculation that Aebischer would be traded), we also signed free-agent Sergei Samsonov, adding a key player up front.

In other big news, Zednik won't be back next season; after a disappointing year, the Z-man is off to Washington.

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12:49 AM
Spiralling out of control

This afternoon, while baking in the hot sun waiting to get into Parc Jean-Drapeau to see Bon Jovi, we received a panicked phone call from a friend whose entire family lives in Israel. "They're attacking Haifa!" She calmed down a bit after speaking to her family and being assured that everyone was safe, but the fingernail-biting nervous tension didn't exactly dissipate.

Nor, I fear, will it for a while.

To say that the matzav has heated up would be putting it mildly. Nobody was injured in the Haifa attack, but sadly, in the North, people weren't so lucky; rocket attacks killed 2 people and injured at least 120. Meanwhile, Israel is attacking Beirut, targeting Hezbollah stronghold areas. Israel may be after Hezbollah, but it's Lebanon and Israel that are now engaged in what can only be called war.

Even as things escalate with the Palestinians, Hezbollah, and Lebanon, it's not ending there. Hezbollah's primary backers, Syria and Iran, are dancing close to the flame as well. Iran is threatening to retaliate if Israel strikes Syria. Meanwhile, Israel claims it has intelligence that Hezbollah is trying to transfer the kidnapped Israeli soldiers to Iran, which, of course, Iran is denying. The chances that Syria and Iran could get dragged into this mess are looking high.

Nor can Israel count on the unqualified backing of the United States. Bush is giving his cautious support even while Condi Rice is urging "restraint" - an all-too-familiar ploy that will end with Israel being falsely painted as the aggressor even by its allies.

Tonight, my friend's family is doing the only thing they can: bunking down, biting nails, and waiting. Millions of Israelis and their friends and loved ones around the globe are doing the same thing tonight, and, I fear, for far too long to come.

This isn't a song and dance about how war is never the answer. I'm not urging anyone to sit down and sing kumbaya. Israel needs to defend itself, and everyone here knows I support her actions 100%. But I can't help the fear, the trepidation, the sense of dread. Unlike Israel's enemies, who go straight into every war joyously envisioning wiping the "Zionist entity" off the map, Israel has never and will never go into war happily. Every war fought by Israel has been because there was no other choice, and every decision made by the Israeli government primarily considers the safety and security of the Israeli people. All I can do is echo the statements made in editorials and on blogs around the world: Israel will win because there is no other choice.

But I can't help being afraid.

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6:38 PM
Cringe

They're celebrating and dancing in the streets of Lebanon, because they've kidnapped Israeli soldiers and fired rockets. They see all-out chaos in sight, and they're celebrating.

In Gaza, Hamas is thrilled that they have more "martyrs" and more fodder for inciting hatred. They're stepping up their attacks as Israel is caught fighting on two fronts.

In Israel, nobody is celebrating. Olmert is talking and reacting tough against Lebanon; Bush is including Syria and Iran in his warnings.

The powder keg is simmering, and appears to be nearing a boiling point.

Lynn asks, is it war yet?

If it is, I have no doubt that Israel will stand strong and do what is required, but I cringe nonetheless. Anxious parents with sons and daughters in the IDF know that the country will not cave or yield, but it doesn't make the situation any easier. I fear this is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets any better.

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8:01 PM
Olmert's address to foreign media

In his own words, here's Ehud Olmert addressing the world media:

The main purpose of the Israeli operation in Gaza is twofold: One, is to take measures in order to allow the release of the Israeli kidnapped soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit, and the other is to stop the Kassam missiles from being shot at Israeli civilians in the south part of the country. Since about ten months ago, Israel pulled out entirely from Gaza back into the territory which is recognized by the international community as part of the State of Israel.

In other words, there are not any occupying forces in Gaza since August of last year. And since then, there wasn�t one day of rest for the people of Israel that live in the south part of our country. Almost on a daily basis, there are missiles shot at them, with one purpose in mind of those who are doing it. This is to kill innocent Israeli civilians in schools, or in their homes or in the streets as they are trying to do every day. This is something that is entirely intolerable. Israeli people like every other people, deserve to be protected.

More here.

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6:38 PM
Cynicism

I can't help it. But my first cynical reaction to today's horrific terrorist transit bombings in Mumbai was that the reaction in the Western media wouldn't be anywhere near as frenzied as it was for 9/11, 3/11, or 7/7, because to much of the world, India is just so far away and remote and different from us and an attack in India is not as immediate or threatening as an attack in New York or Madrid or London.

Of course, that's not really the case. We're one world and the reverberations of today's attacks will be felt everywhere. But the knee-jerk cynicism is there just the same, and it says otherwise.

Over 150 people are dead for no good reason today. Hopefully we won't lose sight of that.

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2:12 AM
Fluff

Sorry for the lack of weightier posts since my return to blogging. You surf over here looking for Gilad Shalit or North Korea, and instead you get treated to googling and hockey talk.

Well, I make no apologies, but I do have plenty of good excuses.

For one thing, it's bloody hot outside and, by extension, in here. Too hot to think, let alone rant.

For another, I'm still not caught up on the main news headlines since I've been away, let alone on all the zillions of bloggers who have been covering them. The travel bubble is all-encompassing, and it's ironically easier to learn about what's going on "out there" while "in here".

Besides, the news is kind of like a bad soap opera: stop reading it for a few months and pick it up again, and you'll realize that nothing much has changed. Same shit, different day. Frankly, it's exhausting.

So I'll probably be blogging about fluff for a while yet. But hey, it's summer, we can all use a little lighter fare these days, right? If not, you know where to go for your servings of meat.

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11:25 PM
Kinky grandma

And you thought the Governator was bad? Texas's race is shaping up to be a real battle of the nicknames:

Writer and musician Kinky Friedman, who once sang "They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore," may include the name by which he is best known on the ballot to choose Texas' next governor in November, the state's top election official said on Monday.

Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams said Friedman's nickname was not a slogan and thus did not violate state law. His name will appear on election ballots as Richard "Kinky" Friedman.

But Williams, a Republican, said Carole Keeton Strayhorn, who is also running as an independent against incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Perry, cannot include "Grandma" as a nickname on the ballot.

Strayhorn's campaign advertising calls her "One Tough Grandma."

Well, say what you will, but Kinky is certainly no Dubya:

"I support gay marriage," Friedman said in 2005. "I believe they have a right to be as miserable as the rest of us."

Let's hear it for equality!

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12:54 AM
Let's make a deal

How do you turn a paperclip into a house? Ask this guy.

Hmmmm... I wonder if he knows Rumpelstiltskin?

(Hat tip: Mark)

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10:20 PM
About time

It's official: Google is a verb.

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10:16 PM
Regularly-scheduled programming

Higgins will be back next season as well.

Gainey has been steadily signing most of last year's young talent to (mainly short-term) contracts. Still notably unsigned are Ryder, Perezhogin, and acquired-for-Theo Aebischer. More notably, we haven't been dipping too heavily into the free agent pool. Will next year's Habs be able to compete?

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8:48 PM
The shot heard around the world

One World Cup, many heroes, and one villain:


Zinedine Zidane headbutts Marco Materazzi

The horns are honking all over Montreal tonight. Congratulations, Italy.

I must admit, even for a clueless Canadian, the World Cup has been exciting once I got into it. But now it's over, so back to our regularly-scheduled programming (of off-season hockey trades and rumours).

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