Thursday 4 September 2014
Photo, above: The Celtic Manor golf course in Cardiff where, by amazing happenstance, Pres Obama was invited for a NATO summit. Here, the Twenty Ten course, where the Ryder Cup will be staged.
JOHN BATCHELOR SHOW
Co-host: Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents.
Hour One
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 1, Block A: Adam Ellick, New York Times video journalist, in re: the eight-minute vide drama of the almost-death and survival of Ali Hussein Kadhim, who was left for dead by ISIS among many hundreds, perhaps seventeen hundred, slaughtered. . . . Terrifying video. Best not to watch unless you need to for professional reasons. [Looks exactly like the pits in Byelorus n 1940.]
(CNN) -- Ali Hussein Kadhim was not supposed to live to tell his story or that of the hundreds of other Iraqi soldiers and Shiites who were massacred in June by ISIS militants in Tikrit.
But on the execution line that day the bullet destined for him whizzed past his head and he fell forward feigning to be fatally wounded. Kadhim lived to tell his story to the New York Times, which produced a gripping video offering a rare survivor's retelling of one of countless massacres carried out by the brutal Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
"It took 23 days from the day of the massacre until he was reunited with his family," Adam Ellick, a senior video journalist for the New York Times, told CNN Thursday. "I think the best way I would describe it is a combination Schindler's List-style escape and an Underground Railroad of local Samaritans sort of putting humanity before everything else."
Brutality has become a propaganda tool for the militants. It has included processions of soldiers making their way across the desert in their underwear before facing a hail of bullets, the beheading of American journalists and even crucifixions. The militants often capture the killings on videos distributed throughout the world like bloody calling cards of their cruel campaign.
Kadhim shares ISIS survival tale with New York Times Kadhim, 23, is the rare witness. Pretending to be dead among a pile of bodies, Kadhim told the Times that he waited for hours until he was able to escape. "It's one of those stories where every time you feel relaxed something else bad happens to Ali," Ellick said.
ISIS claimed it killed 1,700 Shiite soldiers that day, making the killings the deadliest sectarian atrocity in Iraq's recent history, according to the Times. On the video, Kadhim points to a computer screen showing footage of him among the pile of bodies during the Tikrit massacre.
"This is me," he said. "I'm 100% sure. Not only 100%. A million percent."
Kadhim was fourth in line for execution. The bullet buzzed past his head. His face already was splattered with the blood of others. He feigned death. "I thought it was the end," he told the Times. "There was nothing more to fear. But then I remembered my family. ... Who will care for them?" That gave him a will to live. Said Ellick: "He got lucky and I think his desperation worked in his favor." CNN story
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 1, Block B: Gene Countryman, KNSS Wichita, in re: It's a Race in Kansas: Democratic Candidate Drops Out Sen. Pat Roberts’ Democratic challenger abruptly dropped out of the race in Kansas Wednesday night, opening up a potentially competitive contest between the Republican and independent candidate Greg Orman.
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 1, Block C: Scott Atlas, MD, WSJ, in re: Where ObamaCare Is Going According to study, the UK NHS is he best healthcare system in the word, while the American one is worst. Study based on perceptions, not data. Spends £100 bil sterling – complaints from nurses, doctors, patients – despair. . . . Worldwide, socialized healthcare is working poorly, whereas private healthcare tends to work rather well. Healthcare will never be free. With Obamacare, people were told they could keep their doctor, but it turned out to be: higher deductible, limited networks – bait and switch. Distortion; deception. We still have no transparency about number of persons signed up. Intentional? Complete incompetence? Since we don’t know what it is, we can’t evaluate it. The Democrats were accurate about one thing: once it's in place, it’s almost impossible to remove. Now we're stuck with trying to fix it.
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 1, Block D: Devin Nunes, CA-22, in re: Rep. Devin Nunes: The bear out there. On my recent expedition to Eastern Europe and Ukraine, I was particularly affected by two things – people’s overwhelming fear of Russian aggression and the omnipresence of Russian state media broadcasts.
Consider this: On July 17, 2014, Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 aboard. Most of the world quickly recognized that Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine had brought down the plane. This conclusion was strongly supported by international media dispatches, declassified intelligence reports, and the separatists’ own social media posts claiming credit for the attack.
But at least one group of people heard a much different story. The audience of the Kremlin’s expanding media apparatus was treated to unsupported allegations and disinformation reminiscent of the extravagant untruths of Soviet-era Pravda.
Russia Today (RT), the Kremlin’s flagship international media outlet, insinuated that the Ukrainians perpetrated the attack, supposedly in an effort to bring down a separate aircraft flying Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At times claiming the Ukrainians shot the airliner down with a surface-to-air missile, other times arguing a Ukrainian jet fighter did the deed, the reporting followed the Russian state media’s party line on the Ukraine crisis – that is, at the behest of America, Ukraine has been taken over by bona fide fascists who are viciously persecuting the country’s Russian minority.
This shameless propaganda is crude but effective. Although the Ukraine crisis has severely damaged Putin’s international standing, his popularity has soared among Russians. It is no coincidence that, according to a Gallup poll, 99 percent of Russians who follow news about Ukraine consult Russian state media – and incredibly, they find that medium to be the most reliable source of information.
Moreover, the opportunity to consult other news sources is diminishing amid the Kremlin’s suppression of Russia’s few remaining independent media outlets. The Kremlin cracked down on independent Dozhd TV in January after it published a controversial poll, while a Kremlin stooge was appointed head of Ekho Moskvy radio. Even the Internet is subject to control via regulations on political bloggers, vague restrictions on political speech, and other laws that Reporters Without Borders have called “draconian.” Russia Today, which broadcasts in several languages throughout the world and was the first . . .[more]
Hour Two
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 2, Block A: Eliot Engel, NY-16, in re: Trip with Congr Royce to the Negev: morale is high because – what choice do they have? Upbeat because they have to be. The attack tunnels: frightening; esp the murder raid intended to overwhelm the state of Israel. Tunnels were constructed by competent engineers; designed to let Hamas enter kibbutzes, kidnap people, return to tunnels and hold hostages for ransom. Goal is to wipe out t Israel from the face of the Earth. Just before leaving on break, Congress passed 425 to 8 funding to replenish Israel's Iron Dome, which saved not only Israeli but also many Palestinian lives. Israel uses missiles to protect its people while Hamas uses its people as human shields. Iron Doe is Israeli-designed, financed by Israel and US. Sea-change 'twixt US and European opinion. JB: In Ashkelon: fist responders they were relentless and tireless. An astonishing amt of energy. I think that's where we're headed: rockets into civilian spaces. EE: Except for this show, the rest of the media doesn’t give Israel fair coverage. Important to know tat he missiles sent into Israel by Hamas come from command centers in the middle of heavily-populated areas, as they want many civilian casualties thinking that it'll help their propaganda.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/foreign-affairs-committee-leaders-to-visit-israel/
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 2, Block B: Danielle Pletka, AEI senior vice president for foreign and defense policy studies, in re: No. I think there's no serious concerted NATO discussion on how to deal with ISIS. Europeans are reluctant. Maybe some action from NATO summit, but nothing decisive. In the Free Syrian Army there are some decent people. The problem of leaving Iraq in 2011 as we did – an ending al cooperation at all levels – was that Sunni tribes were left high and dry; even had they not been, Washington wanted nothing to do with all of that. Qatar sent $11 bil in weapons. Saudis and Emiratis both pulled their ambassador out of Qatar. Washington has a soft spot for groups in bed with ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah. Worst elements of the Middle East, no matter what sect. . . .
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 2, Block C: Michael Herzog, IDF brigadier general (ret), & Washington Institute, in re: Al Sisi: first, hold fire; then come to Cairo and we'll discuss it all. Both Egypt and Israel control Gazan borders, both sealed it. PA isn’t strong enough to assume effective control over Gaza. Maybe ultimately PA reps can be stationed on the Palestinian side of crossings. I think that Hamas's strategic goal is to take over the Palestinian Authority. Have political infrastructure there. Post-Gaza war, gaining some public support in the West Bank, where those far from the conflicts approve the "resistance." Prepare themselves for the day after Mahmoud Abbas, much as Abu Ammar died and they one elections thereafter. Jordan: very precarious, because Jordan is under tremendous pressure following events from Syria, Over 1 mil Syrian refugees in Jordan in a total population of 6 mil. Much pressure on social fabric. Also, 60% of Jordanian trade went through Syria (now lost), so some goes through Israel. Further, Jordan got most of its gas from Egypt, but that pipeline in now destroyed. Need strong intl support, esp economically. Golan-Syrian border: Syrian gangs temporarily focused on fighting Syrian regime, but next could be Israel. ISIS's next target is Jordan – Sham: Lebanon, Jordan, historic Palestine (Israel). Estimated over 2,000 fighting in Syria. Jordan has an effective security service, but in southern Jordan, many young people attracted to jihadi groups.
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 2, Block D: Michael Singh, Washington Institute, in re: All the NATO leaders are meeting in Cardiff; is NATO facing ISIS: adequate? Welcome, but not sufficient. Regional states (Gulfies) need to be on board, also. Kurds? Local forces are critical since US doesn’t ant to put boots o ground. Kurds eager to fight, and a competent force; need arming. recall Syrian Kurds. ISIS is both Syria and Iraq. Need to enforce law and order in Syria? ISIS has much wider aspirations; can’t deal wit it only in Iraq, as it has safe haven in Syria and will expand. Need strategy anent instability in Syria and Iraq. US wants Iran to be constructive and stay out. Qatar and Turkey support ISIS? / Iran. Hezbollah. Multiple threats. / Kurds; Is the US now providing major weapons systems to Kurds? Probably not – they need arms and training, deployment of forces, et al. Germany sending small arms and bullets, but they need heavy arms. US has longstanding relations with pershmerga. Sudan.
Hour Three
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 3, Block A: Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents, in re: Gush Etzion (near Bethlehem) was historically a Jewish area. Many killed. Their children returned to their parents's homes after 1967 and re-established residence. Israel has announced that it was taking 998 acres: it had never been farmed, was barren land. On the West side of the separation barrier so by definition is part of Israel. Oslo does not say that it won't be developed. Israel also has just ceded ___ acres to Arabs (not widely reported). Success of Iron Dome. Islamic threats today: Lebanon – ISIS almost moved to the coast. Threat to Saudis; infiltrations into Jordan. ISIS says it'll take over the Temple Mount: Jordan is next, then Israel. Sept 17, 18: meetings n New York – Iran makes clear it'll not reduce number of centrifuges or capacity , in fact will increase. Rushing toward a 24 November deadline as Iran pursues an ever-harder line and vows to liberate al Aqsa. For fur years we've watched the US withdraw from the region. Last year, Pres Obama visited Riyadh and was kicked out. The West is the missing ingredient in resisting ISIS, Jemaah Islamiyah. Israel is increasing the protector of Jordan.
Haniyah beats Abbas in polling. Multiple ISIS attempts to send troops into Jordan. ISIS beheaded 800 troops in Ira in June. Force women to "marry" soldiers, send many to brothels across the Gulf.
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 3, Block B: Avi Issacharoff, Times of Israel, in re: ISIS and Nusrah are two takfiri jihadist groups. Do you set a fire to stop a fire? Hezbollah is in a not-new war with ISIS; its aim is to prevent these organizations from taking over parts of Syria on the Lebanese border – needs free transportation of fighters and Lebanon. One-third of Hezb fighting force is now in Syria. How can Israel clean out the Golan area? At present, Israeli policy is not to retaliate for mistaken bullets or mortar shells that fall in Israel. However, at some point if this campaign continues then they'll [fellows in Syria] have time and energy to fight Israel. How did a few hundred guys in pick-up trucks manage to scare the whole world? First, motivation: they're very motivated to eliminate every Muslim or other who' not a radical Sunni. Crazy. Second, no American strategy, so they didn't really have an enemy to deal with: Syrian army no use, and Iraqi army inferior. AS soon as the US air force began to bomb, ISIS would stop. Americans keep saying that this is a major threat to the US – hey, there's a few thousand guys n Toyotas, not even Humvees. These are the biggest danger in t e Middle East? Forget about Iran? Hunh?
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 3, Block C: Clair McDougall, al Jazeera America, in re: Liberia Lifts Ebola Quarantine Monrovia Slum NPR-Sep 3, 2014 Liberian authorities freed the West Point slum from its quarantine 10 days after imposing it. The military led the effort to isolate the impoverished ... Shocking moment runaway Ebola patient is bundled into back of ...
The unidentified man walked into a market in the capital Monrovia - which has been badly hit by the worst ever outbreak of the disease - only to ... Ebola-infected patient in Liberia escapes quarantine, enters ...
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 3, Block D: James Taranto, Wall Street Journal, in re: ISIS and the 'Bitter Clingers' Why Obama can't understand the threat.
Hour Four
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 4, Block A: Daniel Henninger, WSJ, in re: The President's Public Enemies
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 4, Block B: Michael Auslin, AEI, in re: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/386999/china-rips-its-mask-michael-auslin
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 4, Block C: Robert Zimmerman, behindtheblack.com, in re: Get Ready for Sunday's Close Flyby of Asteroid 2014 RC This graphic depicts the passage of asteroid 2014 RC past Earth on September 7, 2014. At time of closest approach, the space rock will be . . . Rosetta spots no surface ice on comet The first results from Rosetta’s ultraviolet spectrograph find the surface of Comet 67P/C-G to be surprisingly lacking in exposed ice patches. The lack is unexpected, considering that this same instrument has also detected evidence of water in the comet’s coma.
Thursday 4 September 2014 / Hour 4, Block D: Ken Croswell, Scientific American, in re: http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2014/aug/18/nearby-galaxy-harbours-rarest-type-of-black-hole