Palestinian sources, quoting Israeli sources, are claiming an Israeli Lieutenant-Colonel killed in action yesterday.

Accompanying images show a uniform with the rank of full Colonel.

A Colonel in the IDF is the commander of a brigade.

In order to coordinate this massive attack, the phone chatter, etc., would have to have been huge. Neither Mossad nor the CIA knew about any of this and didn’t hear a single word.

You are assuming that terrorist organisations haven’t got the brains to learn from their mistakes.

“Sneakernet” rather than internet… everything done on paper rather than electronically, face to face or messages passed by hand. It’s not a big place 365 km2, and I’m sure that given the Arabic culture, all 2 million residents have a very low degree of separation (ie I might know you or anyone you know, but somebody I know does).

The bigger intelligence failure is the failure to detect the weapons buildups.

Dr. John Campbell

Cancer reactivation

and the full interview with Professor Dalgleish

Professor Dalgleish

One comment under the full interview –

The most important post-pandemic discussion of any! Thank you both for this and for your integrity!

America had intelligence on Pearl Harbour

May I refer you to https://youtu.be/V1fIuC1pp-Q?feature=shared. “Unofficial History of the Pacific war ep 1 Pearl Harbour Avoidable or Inevitable” where they go over what the US knew or guessed or predicted based on previous Japanese actions

Israel halts electricity supply to Gaza Strip: Energy minister

Palestinians ‘crushing Netanyahu’s expansionist aspirations’
Ben Packham
Ben Packham

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network has blamed Israel for the violence gripping the country, declaring Palestinians are “crushing (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s and Israel’s expansionist aspirations”.

Ignoring the fact that Hamas militants unleashed the latest brutal violence, APAN president Nasser Mashni said the evolving war between Israel and Gaza militants was a “clear result of Israeli escalation”.

“Just this week Israelis have invaded the most holy sites in Jerusalem (and) mobs of settlers have attacked Palestinian towns killing Palestinians while Israeli soldiers watch on.

“And this is on top of a 16-year illegal and inhumane siege on Gaza and 75 years of denial of Palestinian freedom, right of return and self-determination.”

TRUMP HERALDS U.S. SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL, PLEDGES TO GO AFTER PALESTINIAN TERRORISTS ON ‘DAY ONE’ OF PRESIDENCY

and talking of terrorists (and I don’t mean Putin) –

Putin Says Ukraine Wouldn’t Last a Week Without U.S. Aid

This is one comment under the IPA clip describing the New Zealand experience with the Maori Voice to Parliament.

@freehongkong2782
@freehongkong2782

The M?ori Voice to Parliament has driven policies which compromise community safety, through race-based policing which is soft on violent crime.

The Waitangi Tribunal has blamed the high incarceration and reoffending rate amongst M?ori on the New Zealand government, and on policing and enforcement leading to disproportionate outcomes. The effect of the Tribunal’s demand in its Report on the Crown and Disproportionate Reoffending Rates 2017 for the Crown to meet fixed targets for the reduction of reoffending, and that these targets be different between M?ori and non-M?ori, can only be met by refusing to incarcerate violent convicted criminals.

The M?ori Voice to Parliament has demanded preferential access to critical government resources for M?ori, which has put race ahead of need.

The Waitangi Tribunal has a track record of using its power to advise the parliament in order to demand that critical government resources, such as health care resources, are distributed on the basis of the race of the recipient, and not who needs those resources most. The decision in the Covid-19 Priority Report that vaccines should have been allocated based on race and not the age of recipients (on the basis that M?ori are statistically younger than non-M?ori New Zealanders), despite the elderly being most vulnerable to Covid-19, resulted in a change to government policy to prioritise M?ori. The decision in Hauora: Report on Stage One of the Health Services and Outcomes Kaupapa Inquiry led to the creation of a M?ori-only health system, with over a billion dollars in extra health and other funding.

The M?ori Voice to Parliament has threatened the rights of New Zealanders to use and enjoy national cultural symbols.

The Waitangi Tribunal’s approach to intellectual property rules undermines western legal norms which has the effect of restricting how New Zealanders are able to use and enjoy common national symbols, including depictions and use of the famous Haka, M?ori tattoo art, M?ori statues and famous historical M?ori figures. In the Report into Claims affecting M?ori Culture and Identity 2011 the Tribunal recommended the government change the law to give M?ori a near monopoly over certain symbols and native flora and fauna, to prevent ‘offensive’ usage. A similar outcome in Australia could mean the use of iconic Australian symbols like kangaroos, emus, Uluru/Ayers Rock or boomerangs would be limited to only Indigenous Australians, or that Indigenous Australians would have to approve of the use of such symbols. Even items common to Australian households, like tea towels with a depiction of Uluru/Ayers Rock, or boomerang fridge magnets, would become problematic, and it might even put in doubt the ongoing use of Australia’s coat of arms and the southern cross depicted in the national flag.

The M?ori Voice to Parliament decided that M?ori’s will have an explicit veto power over certain legislation, and that there are some laws that only M?ori can even suggest reforms to.

The Waitangi Tribunal has conferred on M?ori complainants an explicit formal veto power over a range of legislative matters that affect M?ori (Report on Claims about the Reform of Te Ture Whenua M?ori Act 1993-2016). This has meant that even laws intended to better manage competing M?ori interests in M?ori land, and the powers of the M?ori Land Court, are now off-limits. The Tribunal has even held in its Report on the M?ori Community Development Act Claims that reforms to certain existing legislation can only be proposed or initiated by M?ori, rather than parliament. In Australia, this would be the equivalent to requiring Indigenous consent to amend existing native title laws or national parks legislation and preventing the Commonwealth parliament from even initiating amendments.

The M?ori Voice to Parliament has an almost limitless scope in relation to issues it can be involved in.

The scope of the Waitangi Tribunal has expanded from its initial narrow focus on land issues, to being involved in nearly every aspect of New Zealand law, from pandemic policy (The Covid-19 Priority Report 2021) to the negotiation and interpretation of international treaties (Report on the Trans-Pacific Partnership 2016). In effect, any matter in which M?ori can complain of a breach of the Treaty of Waitangi will be heard by the Waitangi Tribunal.

Why would that preclude volunteering elsewhere?

Distance Bluey.
“Rural communities” aren’t a half hour drive from each other, with lotsa cute farmhouses along the way.

However it doesn’t preclude. Which of the two days of pre-poll voting should a bloke turn up to?
How far is an acceptable drive for such purpose?

Remember, most of the country is voting No. The Yes voting areas are so small they cannot be seen on a map of Australia in which they’re coloured red.
How many volunteers, in solid No country, does one need?

A decision to cancel a Russian-themed children’s dance troupe from the line-up of an upcoming South Australian multicultural festival has prompted accusations of “discrimination”, but has been defended by the state’s multicultural affairs minister as “difficult” but “necessary”.

You forgot to mention the decision was taken so as not to upset Ukrainian “refugees”
We is all equal but some are more equal than others …!
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/russian-themed-childrens-dance-performance-cancelled-from-sa-multicultural-festival/ar-AA1hLmpm

This does not devalue her German citizenship, however likely means Germany (were it so inclined) won’t have grounds to declare “Hamas has killed & desecrated a German”

I was discussing dual citizenship with my (formerly Somalian) support worker. Often not the accretion of rights people expect it to be. Plenty of detailed work required before undertaking in my opinion.

These barbarians are looters and slavers.

Before Partition, their grandfathers were ambushing and looting convoys
on the Jerusalem Road.
Meanwhile the soon-to-be-Israelites were scouring the world
for the necessities of a functional nation.
From telephones to cargo aircraft.

Before Partition, their grandfathers were ambushing and looting convoys
on the Jerusalem Road.

Jewish nurses roped, Jewish wounded murdered in the ambulances.

Oh, you mighty warriors of Islam!

https://www.michaelsmithnews.com/2023/10/greens-mehreen-faruqi-wont-be-silenced-about-justice-for-the-people-ofpalestine.html

and 75 years of denial of Palestinian freedom, right of return and self-determination.

Any word on their right to return across the Jordan River,
after the Hashemites realised they were unlikeable congenital idiots
and gave them the bum’s rush?

Yeah. I get what you’re suggesting except for one thing. I don’t think the bulk of younger Iranians are religious.

Also

The most significant of these elections was the Reichstag election of July 31, 1932, where the Nazi Party won the largest share of seats in the Reichstag (the German parliament). In this election, the Nazi Party received approximately 37.4% of the vote, making them the largest party in the Reichstag but still without an absolute majority.

Close to 40% is nothing to sniff at, Cronkers and I’d bet that up to about 1940, support would’ve been closer to 60%plus.

It wasn’t 10%.

Jordanian proverb –

“First Allah created the desert Arab, then he created the camel.

From the dung of the camel, he created the Palestinian.”

Okay, it is The Conversation, but this survey matches hunches.It appears to be fast becoming a population with secular views.

Since the revolution, literacy rates have risen sharply and the urban population has grown substantially. Levels of internet penetration in Iran are comparable to those in Italy, with around 60 million users and the number grows relentlessly: 70% of adults are members of at least one social media platform.

For our survey on religious belief in Iran, we targeted diverse digital channels after analysing which groups showed lower participation rates in our previous large-scale surveys. The link to the survey was shared by Kurdish, Arab, Sufi and other networks. And our research assistant successfully convinced Shia pro-regime channels to spread it among their followers, too. We reached mass audiences by sharing the survey on Instagram pages and Telegram channels, some of which had a few million followers.

After cleaning our data, we were left with a sample of almost 40,000 Iranians living in Iran. The sample was weighted and balanced to the target population of literate Iranians aged above 19, using five demographic variables and voting behaviour in the 2017 presidential elections.
A secular and diverse Iran

Our results reveal dramatic changes in Iranian religiosity, with an increase in secularisation and a diversity of faiths and beliefs. Compared with Iran’s 99.5% census figure, we found that only 40% identified as Muslim.

In contrast with state propaganda that portrays Iran as a Shia nation, only 32% explicitly identified as such, while 5% said they were Sunni Muslim and 3% Sufi Muslim. Another 9% said they were atheists, along with 7% who prefer the label of spirituality. Among the other selected religions, 8% said they were Zoroastrians – which we interpret as a reflection of Persian nationalism and a desire for an alternative to Islam, rather than strict adherence to the Zoroastrian faith – while 1.5% said they were Christian.
GAMAAN Religion in Iran 2020 – identifications.

Most Iranians, 78%, believe in God, but only 37% believe in life after death and only 30% believe in heaven and hell. In line with other anthropological research, a quarter of our respondents said they believed in jinns or genies. Around 20% said they did not believe in any of the options, including God.
GAMAAN Religion in Iran 2020 – beliefs.

These numbers demonstrate that a general process of secularisation, known to encourage religious diversity, is taking place in Iran. An overwhelming majority, 90%, described themselves as hailing from believing or practising religious families. Yet 47% reported losing their religion in their lifetime, and 6% said they changed from one religious orientation to another. Younger people reported higher levels of irreligiosity and conversion to Christianity than older respondents.
GAMAAN religion in Iran 2020 – changing orientations.

A third said they occasionally drank alcohol in a country that legally enforces temperance. Over 60% said they did not perform the obligatory Muslim daily prayers, synchronous with a 2020 state-backed poll in which 60% reported not observing the fast during Ramadan (the majority due to being “sick”). In comparison, in a comprehensive survey conducted in 1975 before the Islamic Revolution, over 80% said they always prayed and observed the fast.
Religion and legislation

We found that societal secularisation was also linked to a critical view of the religious governance system: 68% agreed that religious prescriptions should be excluded from legislation, even if believers hold a parliamentary majority, and 72% opposed the law mandating all women wear the hijab, the Islamic veil.
GAMAAN Religion in Iran 2020 – hijab.

Iranians also harbour illiberal secularist opinions regarding religious diversity: 43% said that no religions should have the right to proselytise in public. However, 41% believed that every religion should be able to manifest in public.
Woman walking towards large archway in Tehran.
Tehran’s Azadi Tower was finished in 1971. Five decades later, Iranians increasingly embrace secular values. Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

Four decades ago, the Islamic Revolution taught sociologists that European-style secularisation is not followed universally around the world. The subsequent secularisation of Iran confirmed by our survey demonstrates that Europe is not exceptional either, but rather part of complex, global interactions between religious and secular forces.

Other research on population growth, whose decline has been linked to higher levels of secularisation, also suggests a decline in religiosity in Iran. In 2020, Iran recorded its lowest population growth, below 1%.

Greater access to the world via the internet, but also through interactions with the global Iranian diaspora in the past 50 years, has generated new communities and forms of religious experience inside the country. A future disentangling of state power and religious authority would likely exacerbate these societal transformations. Iran as we think we know it is changing, in fundamental ways.

Close to 40% is nothing to sniff at, Cronkers and I’d bet that up to about 1940, support would’ve been closer to 60%plus.

It wasn’t 10%.

I should have clarified. The maximum membership of the Nazi party was ~ 8 million in 1945. The population of Germany in 1945 was over 80 million.

Okay.

Dot

I think I’ve read that it was hard to join and had to be nominated etc. Similar to the old Soviet Union. It gave you a lot of prestige and economic opportunities.

Daily Mail.

Israeli jets begin massive airstrikes on Gaza in retaliation for terror attacks that killed at least 300 as Netanyahu vows to wage a ‘long and difficult war’

Israel has launched a counterstrike against Hamas militants in the Gaza strip
Armored columns moved north toward Israel’s borders with Lebanon and Syria
‘We are embarking on a long and difficult war,’ said Israeli PM Netanyahu

“A pity she didn’t get the opportunity to say this on Insiders.”

She would never be invited onto Insiders.

That was my point, Cassie.

Meanwhile, there appear to be quite strong links between the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, and the aboriginal sovereignty movement.

10% of the population having party membership is absolutely massive; generally children cannot join up until 12-16 or thereabouts. They would also be selective and you could not dissent.

From professor Kessler’s essay:

Among Muslims worldwide today, about 10 to 15 per cent, it may be suggested, are modernist, reform-minded and democratic; perhaps another 10 to 15 per cent are militant, radical, extreme and potentially active in violent forms.

That is, they hold, as core Islamic doctrine has held from the outset in its Koranic foundations, that Islam embodies and carries forward all that was once good in Judaism and Christianity (a fact that now makes those predecessors superfluous and lacking in continuing spiritual value and authenticity); and that what it does not carry forward from them is not good (and was the expression of an earlier, incomplete and defective revelation or else the result of the subsequent faults, sometimes wilful, in the recording and transmission of the sacred revelation by rabbis and priests).

Islam is a cult, a huge, violent, mad cult. West leaders who capitulate to it should be castrated.

Cronkite

There doesn’t appear to be much radicalization in the Iranian diaspora in the US or here too. Granted, these people are the secular types.

They have other faults, especially their dress sense and appalling taste in homes and furniture, which should be a serious consideration for immediate deportation.

Apropos of the attack upon Israel, Noah Pollack wrote in The Free Press almost 24 hours ago.

A very good easy to read summation of events on the ground up to the time of writing.

Why do so many hostage takers look black? … What is going on?

Doing their practical exam, before heading off on a European vacation.

And as I said before, even if you know the enemy will strike, sometimes politically a country says “well we’re not going to strike first” because a) they want the high moral ground,

I don’t have an exact reference, but one of the accounts I read of the Yom Kippur War cited Israeli reconnaissance flights as reporting Egyptian troop and tank convoys moving down to the Suez Canal, before the attack. The Israeli High Command rejected a pre-emptive strike, after the negative international reaction, to such a strike in 1967.

In my opinion, [Islam] is also the world’s first fake religion, like scientiology.

Mormonism is the better comparison, imv.

(Aside from the theological points of comparison, the early Mormons used violence and terror as tools to control people & Joseph Smith advocated beheading as the purest form of capital punishment.)

5 minutes ago
Israeli flag to light up Sydney Opera House
Alexi Demetriadi
Alexi Demetriadi

In a mark of solidarity, the Israeli flag will be projected on the iconic Sydney Opera House on Monday night, the NSW Premier has confirmed.

Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, and a swath of federal and state MPs, had taken to social media across Sunday urging Premier Chris Minns to light up the sails in the white and blue of the Israeli flag.

On Saturday, Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate was illuminated in the flag, with other global landmarks following suit across the weekend.

“On Monday, the Sydney Opera House will be lit in solidarity with the Jewish communities of NSW, and those who may have family currently in Israel,” Mr Minns confirmed on Sunday.

The premier reiterated his condemnation of the “horrific” attack by Hamas and again committed his government to provide support to the state’s Jewish communities, as well as monitor the situation in the country, particularly with an eye to any NSW citizens who may be affected.

The Israeli flag will be projected on the Sydney Opera House at 7:30pm on Monday. It follows a similar initiative when Ukraine was invaded in February 2022, where that country’s flag was also illuminated on the house’s sails.

Boambee John
Oct 8, 2023 6:11 PM
Crossie

Black all over. or just black balaclvas, as worn by the AP reporter linked to earlier?

Black all over like Sudanese, no balaclavas, they didn’t seem to be concerned about being filmed. This film was in a Channel 7 news report.

Robert Sewell

That has to be the most naive thing spoken today.

That’s a very objective comment coming from you, Turtlehead. We’d expect no less. Tell us, when you had the heart transplant, did you also get a testicle transplant to replace the microscopic sized one? It’s great to see you venturing out of your dependency

Help me, help me Rhonda

thing you have going.

Interestingly they seem to be Greek. The Minoan sea peoples escaping the Thera disaster landed on the coast and have been there ever since.

A lot of water under the bridge since then, Bruce.

JC
Oct 8, 2023 6:13 PM
Cronkers

Understated Persian, I’d call it.

Excellent; some cute owls to celebrate. They would look terrific in that ear; but then they look terrific out of it.

You would have thought that it might occur to them (of all people) to keep their box heads down* and not try to draw attention to themselves.

The Germans have at least faced their collective guilt [Kollektivschuld] for the Holocaust.

Western countries generally (including Australia) have little to be proud of during the period in regard to Jewish immigration (pre and post war). We could have done a lot more.