Saturday, February 28, 2009

Baghdad Night Life Returns

...with pub crawls and both men and women dancing together in nightclubs.

Photos

Good Riddance

And then there was one

James Dobson and Focus On the Family together are a creepy bunch. I'm glad this organization is faltering. We may very well still have Republicans in power in Washington DC if it wasn't for the likes of these. May they permanently fade into the horizon and go down with the sinking sun.

Friday, February 27, 2009

Irshad Manji on Honour Killings

Can we have more like her, please?

NOW is a pretty far leftist organization. Maybe it's finally beginning to penetrate the thick skulls of the "progressive" set.

For the "torture is never justified" crowd

...the definitive answer about why they are so wrong.

Reading Between the Lines Now...

You tell me if there's any there there.

Israel's Netanyahu Fails to Bring Moderates into Coalition

"Mr. Netanyahu opposes the creation of a Palestinian state on grounds that it would threaten Israel's security, but he said he is ready to compromise for the sake of unity.

Mr. Netanyahu said he intends to continue peace talks with the Palestinians, though he did not elaborate on what approach he would take. He said a broad unity government is necessary to confront the serious security and economic challenges facing Israel. He specified the growing nuclear threat from Iran.

Without Livni, Mr. Netanyahu may have no choice but to form a right-wing government with smaller parties that support settlement expansion in the West Bank and oppose territorial concessions to the Palestinians.

While Mr. Netanyahu may sympathize with those views, that is not the government he wants because it could put Israel on a collision course with the United States, which is hoping to help Israel and the Palestinians forge a peace agreement."
Okay, folks. Reread my theory and tell me whether this story fits. Netanyahu has the balls to take out the Mad Mullahs. Once they are gone the whole dynamic of the Middle East will change. Then and only then, will Israel be able to achieve a lasting peace with the Palestinians. Condi, we all know how hard you worked structuring "a set of incentives and disincentives." Who cares if Obama and Shillery get the credit. Your work may yet pay off.

What Will the Real Racists Do...

...when the free world abandons them? The Obama administration makes a decision that I can heartily endorse.

U.S. will not attend U.N. conference on racism

Times are looking up.

Gotta Love This Headline!!

It's Bush's Fault. Go Iraq!!!!

A Few Things

First, my 'puter died a few days ago, or at least is very sick. It's in the hospital and there is no diagnosis as of yet. Sooooo, I've managed to hook up an old painfully slow clunker of a computer. So anyway, here goes.

Second, great video of Glenn Beck interviewing Geert Wilders. (h/t Israpundit) How anyone can suggest that Gilders is on the wrong side of things, is beyond me.



You might want to check out this from Israpundit, too. Double Standard: Le Pen is welcome in Britain, Wilders is not

And third. Is there anyone out there that didn't see this coming? You're a fool if you didn't.

Hamas firing rockets into Israel
"Terrorists in Gaza have fired more than 65 rockets and mortars at Israel since the ceasefire began last month. Not all of the terrorists are Hamas operatives. There are multiple terrorist groups in Gaza."
You're also a fool if you don't believe this: Livni: Iran arms trading one of the main problems And, yay Cyprus!!

Finally, I sure hope this is legit: Iraqi professor asks Israel for shipment of Hebrew books

Have I told you lately what my theory is about the real reason for the Iraq war? A might of a leap, mind you, but I still think it might have been part of the mix. So here it is again. Saddam Hussein was one of the, if not THE, biggest supporters of terror against Israel. The decision to take him out was, in part, in my humble opinion, to put Israel in a position where it owed the US bigtime, and would/should be willing to make concessions to settle with the Palestinians.

Of course, the Pals, with their various permutations of anti-Israel "Jews are pigs and dogs" ideology, will do anything to prevent that from happening and the various dictators, kingdoms and theocrats have a vested interest in seeing that the status quo is maintained.

Israel needs to take out the Mad Mullahs, NOW!!

Sunday, February 22, 2009

BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Go read Iraq Pundit.
"The media are scrambling to patch up their earlier argument at Moqtada Al Sadr is the most powerful dude in Iraq. After the results of last month's elections showed that the prime minister won a clear victory, the press have been rewriting their stories."

Free Speech for Me...

...But Not For Thee.

Gates of Vienna nails it. Note comment #5:
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't this Harper guy supposed to turn things around?

What did I miss?"

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Good Grief!!

Even Bishop Desmond Tutu suffers BDS and its opposite, the Obamassiah Complex. Funny that he hopes Obama will "be tough on African dictators", but at the same time wants him to apologize to Iraqis for the US being tough on their dictator. I once considered him a hero of mine. Oh well. I still have several others worthy of that distinction.

One of them is Hameed Abid, a lowly engineer, living in exile in Great Britain, and a long-time commenter at Iraq the Model. This is what he had to say in the comments just a little over a month ago:
"One of the regrets is that people writing in this ITM, who could not or would not be in Iraq right now, could not feel and touch the profound changes that have taken place since the liberation of Iraq inside and outside of Iraq.

Iraqis inside and those outside are behaving differently from the pre liberation times.

My own family in Baghdad has changed beyond recogniton from five years ago.

Whilest they were wispering their displeasure at Saddam's regime, in fear, few years ago,some of them ended in the mass graves and eaten up by the acids in the torture chambers, and shot at point blanc range, now they shout their approvals for their freedom and democracy and their ability to practice their brands of religions without fear or intimidatins.

The boys - nephews and nieces sons and have married several wives from the other families and religions and the other Iraqis not Arabs/Muslims.

All thanks to the American and coaltion soldiers.

The Bush/Blair decision to go to war on Iraq with, or without whatever and pretext of WMD or other reasons or excuses, will be seen - Historically-as one of the most far sighted decisions taken by a USA/UK leaders in favour of the promotion and support of freedom and democracy for centuries past present and the future.

The majority of the Iraqi people will forever, be grateful to Bush and the American soldiers and their Coaltion Colleagues for what they achieved so far in Iraq.

There are so many unseen benefits, they are too numerous to mention."
So, Mr. Tutu. Take that and shove it where the sun don't shine. I hope Obama comes down hard on African dictators, too. But don't forget what George W. Bush did for Africa, you ungrateful wretch.

Interesting Developments in Israel

What a dramatic change in the Middle Eastern dynamic would result should Netanyahu make good on his threat. (h/t Spirit of Man)

Iran has been meddling ever since the imposition of the theocracy in that country in 1979. Thirty years now! It would be like removing the kingpin. The structure will come crashing down, but what will follow? Still, I can't help but hope it will happen. One of the other kingpins has already been dealt with:

Saddam Dossier Archive

And so far the results look promising.

Time is of the essence.

I Say We Retaliate

Obama thanks Canadians who crossed the border to work on his campaign

I'm sure said Canadians would be of a left leaning persuasion, wouldn't you say?

Well, how 'bout the next time we have an federal election, which likely isn't too far away, we open the flood gates to the Republican hoards. Set some quotas, like no less than 25% have to be the evil Christian fundis - Jerry Falwell types, to be sure. What would Canadians say about that? Wouldn't CBC have a field day!! Why, they'd be positively drooling!!!!

Really. What an egregious violation of another country's sovereignty!! Of course, I suppose Bushitler's party, and that Christian woman, Sarah Palin, especially, just had to be stopped!! Weapons of mass destruction, those two. I mean look at all the mass graves, political prisoners, huddled and frightened exiles seeking safety in their neighbouring country to the north. How could we not interfere?

Friday, February 20, 2009

Closer Than You Think

Iran and the Bomb

UPDATE:

Sigmund, Carl and Alfred have some interesting analysis and links on this issue. Worth a read, IMHO. I'm especially interested in this link. Remember the theory that Saddam Hussein hid his WDM in Syria? This is not the first time a WMD factory in Syria has been under Israel's microscope, either. Remember?

I wonder how The Second Coming will dance around this? Somehow, I don't think soaring oratory will do the trick.

The Second Coming!

"We're going to be okay now. Everything is going to be alright."
Who would have guessed that it would happen in little old Canada.

More fun. Obama buys a beaver tail at the By-Ward Market.

And all along, he thought he was in Iowa.

Hey. I can have some fun, can't I?

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Iraqi Voters Prove Something...

...but of course, the MSM misses it.

I scanned the Google.news headlines just now and couldn't find any story about results of Iraq's provincial elections which were released today. Soooo, I had to type in the word Iraq and do a search on the news button. Lots of stories out there, of course, but just none that were fit to put at the top of the fold.

Try these ones for starters:

Iraq MPs allies win control of oil hub Basra

Good news, of course, since Maliki is a centrist with a commitment to democracy. The Sadrist will be sad. Mucky and his sponsors, the Mad Mullah's, must be dizzy with rage.

US-backed Sunni group takes Anbar

Really bad news for al Qaeda, if there is anything left of it. The Sunni's have secured their place in provincial politics and will likely be a major force come the country wide national elections at the end of the year.

Maliki list tops Iraq poll but needs alliances

Well, well. No more dictatorships for Iraq. Alliances and cooperation have won the day.

Keep going Iraq!!! The Cradle of Civilization is rising again.

Hamas is Just Like Us



h/t Barce Pundit

Related: Here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Is the Great...

...back in Great Britain? Well, put it this way. They seem to have found a another piece of their backbone. Reconstruction is under way.

Deport radical cleric, orders UK Court

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Jason Kenney for PM

Funds Lost Over Hatred

"Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is poised to slash federal funding to Canada's largest Arabic group after its president called him a "professional whore" for supporting Israel.

In an exclusive interview with Sun Media from London, England, where he is to speak today at an international conference on anti-Semitism, Kenney said groups are free within legal bounds to say what they like. But groups whose leaders say intolerant or hateful things shouldn't get taxpayer funding.

"We should not be rewarding those who express views that are contrary to Canada's best liberal values of tolerance and mutual respect."

One of those groups, said Kenney, is the Canadian Arab Federation whose president Khaled Mouammar called him a "professional whore" after Kenney criticized the presence of Hezbollah and Hamas flags at anti-Israel rallies in Toronto.

Kenney said the same group criticized Liberal MP Bob Rae because of his wife's involvement in Canada's Jewish community."
Hmmmm. I wonder if Taleban Jack can help the Federation.



h/t Blazing Catfur

Friday, February 13, 2009

Geert Wilders Update

Really. I can't pass this up. It's classic modern day, politically correct doublespeak.

Geert Wilders: Martyr for free speech of public safety threat

(Typo "of" in the original, probably should be "or")

"He had been invited to show the House of Lords his film “Fitna,” which argues that the Koran incites violence, but was told his opinions could “threaten community harmony and therefore public safety” and sent back home again when he arrived at Heathrow."
...which kinda proves his point, doesn't it.

I just love it when the purveyors of political correctness get trapped in their own closed loop.

Need a Cliche-Bot?

The Indian Industry keeps churning them out.



Fifteen full minutes of every mindless and contradictory cliche ever invented by the Industry.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Unintended Consequences

Well, apparently Wilders has been refused entry into Britain. Freedom of expression is under assault in jolly old England, the home of my ancestors. Great Britain has now become Grovelling Britain. Leaping Lord Jesus, what is this world coming to? I'm ashamed. I'm sad. I'm frightened and I'm horrified. Give me a Dane, any day.

But there is a bright side. Wilders and his film are getting a heck of a lot more exposure.

Wilders on CNN.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Interesting Developments

UPDATE: Scroll down for a YouTube video from Pat Condell on the Netherlands and its wimpish government. h/t Downeast Blog

-------------------Original Post Starts Here-----------------

Regular readers may recall the post were I copied verbatum two letters I had written about Geert Wilders. If not, go read it here.

One was to The Kingdom of the Netherlands Embassy in Ottawa and the other was to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Yesterday I received a response from the Embassy. Kudos to them for their quick reply. I will copy parts of it here for you to ponder, adding emphasis where I think it counts:
"Please allow me to explain what this case is and is not about.

The Court of Appeal in Amsterdam ordered the criminal prosecution of Mr. Wilders on 21 January 2009, for incitement to hatred and discrimination based on his statements in various media about Muslims and their belief. In addition, the Court considers criminal prosecution obvious for the insult of Islamic worshippers because of the comparisons made by Mr. Wilders between Islam and Nazism. The Dutch Public Prosecutor will follow the Court's order.

Last year the Dutch Government respected the decision of the Prosecutor to refrain from prosecution. Likewise, the Government will respect the Court's decision of 21 January. We respect the separation of powers in the Netherlands, as is the case in Canada.

Please be aware that Mr. Wilders has not been sentenced as yet. It is the Dutch penal judge who will render judgment in due course in a public criminal trial after having answered the question whether there is ground for a conviction, and if so, to which extent. The Government has always had a clear position on the content of Fitna, Mr. Wilders' film, in which violence is put on a par with Islam. The Government rejects his interpretation, and therefore regrets that the film was distributed. At the same time, the Government would like to underline that feeling insulted can never be an excuse for violence and threat. The Government is in favour of an open dialogue, in which everybody can refer to the freedom of expression. This freedom goes hand in hand with respect for everybody's deepest convictions."
Not a bad response, I suppose. It pays appropriate lip service to fundamental Western values, such as the rule of law and freedom of expression. But what is this bit about "the Government's" interpretation of and position on the content of the film, Fitna? Isn't that a betrayal of the impartiality they are trying to claim for themselves? Has the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands become one giant clone of Canada's Human Rights Commissions? Is this response not illustrative of some pretty blatant hypocrisy? I mean, do they want Dutch citizens to respect the deepest convictions of those who advocate violent Jihad??? I get the feeling they are experiencing some mighty hot pressure and are on the defensive, just like Canada's Human Rights Czars are. That might explain not only their quick response but the almost formulaic tone of the language. Like so many, they just cannot bring themselves to condemn violent Jihad and admit that its source is Quranic, which is the principle point Wilders tries to make.

Anyway, still no response from Harper's office. Perhaps he's trying to avoid dealing with my "pot calling the kettle black" assertion. Yo!! Mr. Harper. Get thee a backbone!

In any case, yesterday we also learn that Geert Wilders has been invited to speak "with members of the British Parliament, explaining to the Peers and MPs why he made Fitna and to engage in an open and frank discussion with them." Meanwhile, "Mr. Wilders received a letter from the British Embassy in The Hague [see below] saying that he is a “persona non grata” in the United Kingdom", to which Wilders responds "screw you, I'm coming anyway", and the "Dutch government has protested to the British government over the unprecedented barring of an EU parliamentarian by another EU country". I guess the Dutch government can't be all bad, but it seems the Brits are just cowering in fear:
"The meeting of Mr. Wilders and members of the British Parliament had originally been planned for 29 January, but was postponed. Lord Nazir Ahmed, a Muslim member of the House of Lords (Labour), had threatened to mobilize 10,000 Muslims to prevent Mr. Wilders from entering the British Parliament. Lord Ahmed boasted in the Pakistani press that the cancellation of Mr. Wilders’ visit was “a victory for the Muslim community.”"
God help the old countries and allow their men to develop balls at least half the size of those hanging from Geert Wilders.

The "highly offensive film" can be viewed here.

And now, have a listen to Pat Condell.



Anyway, have a nice day, everyone. Cowering submission may be coming to a theatre near you. Don't miss it.

Monday, February 09, 2009

Tres Cool!!

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Will Wonders Never Cease!!

The UN makes two good decisions in a single day!!!

UNRWA suspends aid to Gaza after Hamas again seizes supplies
"UNRWA informed the IDF on Friday it is suspending humanitarian aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip after Hamas stole it had transferred to the Palestinian territory.

The seizure of 200 tons of supplies, included flour and other staples, took place on Thursday night. In response, UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency) officials informed the IDF's Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration that it was suspending the deliveries until further notice.

The transfer of 40 truckloads of humanitarian supplies - some 800 tons - planned for Sunday has already been canceled.

Officials in Jerusalem said the announcement by UNRWA constituted UN agreement with Israel's position that Hamas was using the Palestinian population in Gaza "cruelly and cynically" and was solely responsible for the hardships there."
[---]
"It was the second time this past week that Hamas stole UN supplies meant for impoverished Gazans."
UN Chief, Maliki discuss lifting Iraq sanctions
"UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon discussed Friday with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki the lifting of sanctions imposed on Iraq during Saddam Hussein's regime."
[---]
"The United Nations had imposed severe sanctions on Iraq after Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990. Some sanctions were actually lifted but others like arms embargo and some financial restrictions are still in place."

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Do the Rules of War...

...need to be declared obsolete?

Janice Stein on Hamas

The meaning of war crimes needs to be better understood since battlefields no longer exist. Combatants deliberately expose civilians to harm so as to raise a hue and cry from citizens who still think in terms of battlefields. And thanks to the poorly informed among us, it works.

Friday, February 06, 2009

Okay. So I'm Reliving My Youth Tonight

Here's another tribute to the great Bob Dylan. I wonder if Saskboy can figure out what this means:

But I was so much older then. I'm younger than that now.

My Back Pages

Crimson flames tied through my ears
Rollin' high and mighty traps
Pounced with fire on flaming roads
Using ideas as my maps
"We'll meet on edges, soon," said I
Proud 'neath heated brow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth
"Rip down all hate," I screamed
Lies that life is black and white
Spoke from my skull. I dreamed
Romantic facts of musketeers
Foundationed deep, somehow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

Girls' faces formed the forward path
From phony jealousy
To memorizing politics
Of ancient history
Flung down by corpse evangelists
Unthought of, though, somehow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

A self-ordained professor's tongue
Too serious to fool
Spouted out that liberty
Is just equality in school
"Equality," I spoke the word
As if a wedding vow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

In a soldier's stance, I aimed my hand
At the mongrel dogs who teach
Fearing not that I'd become my enemy
In the instant that I preach
My pathway led by confusion boats
Mutiny from stern to bow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats
Too noble to neglect
Deceived me into thinking
I had something to protect
Good and bad, I define these terms
Quite clear, no doubt, somehow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

Boy!! Was I on a Roll or What?

I just reread the series of my blog entries that come up when you do a search with the term "Lancet". I wouldn't change a single word.

Just for You, Indigo



Old hippies never die. We just grow up.

This one's even better. The original recording. Recording studios can do wonders with not so great voices.

Speaking of the Lancet Study

Even Dictators Have Their Moments

This one's for my friend, Indigo Red, and for Vladimir Putin, too. I mean, who doesn't like ABBA?



Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister, secret ABBA fanatic.

And speaking of dictators having their moments, this one is hilarious. Qaddafi is such a character. I wouldn't trust the snake for split second, but he does know how to make me chuckle. Just like Indigo. Thanks for the smile, bud.

So They Finally Figure It Out

The World is Unfolding As It Should

"The results also showed that what had been Iraq's dominant political party, the Supreme Council of Iraq — which is closely allied with Iran, where it was founded — suffered an enormous defeat.

The Supreme Council's loss was most apparent in Baghdad, where Maliki's State of Law coalition won 38 percent of the votes and the Supreme Council of Iraq took only 5.4 percent."
Pro Iran party loses big in Iraq local elections

Now, let's dust off that arrest warrant and watch at the border for this creep:



Betcha he won't be returning any time soon.

PS: Betcha his breath stinks, too. This guy hasn't cleaned his teeth in while.

Thursday, February 05, 2009

A Liberal With Some Common Sense

I just goes to show that there are some Liberals who haven't completely abandoned their principles.

Canada should prosecute Iran for inciting genocide

At least he means well. Even if it was just the regime that controls that country, not the entire county, who's gonna arrest them and deliver them to the court in The Hague, or wherever? Empty rhetoric, even though it sounds good.

Yup.

It's raining. What did I tell ya? This macabre dance has become so commonplace and predictable that's it's darn well boring. Go get 'em Israel. What ever sympathy I once had for the Palestinian cause was gone long ago. WIPE. THEM. OUT!!! After a quick detour over Iran, of course.

Remember that Lancet Study?

The one that estimated the number of excess deaths in Iraq to be astronomically higher than any other count? Well, it's still in the news and the main criticism still stands:

Nondisclosure cited in Iraq Casualties Study: Controversial Survey Author Rebuked for Failing to Disclose Details of His Work
"In a highly unusual rebuke, the American Association for Public Opinion Research today said the author of a widely debated survey on "excess deaths" in Iraq had violated its code of professional ethics by refusing to disclose details of his work. The author's institution later disclosed to ABC News that it, too, is investigating the study."
[---]
"Burnham did not reply to e-mail and telephone messages.

AAPOR's standards committee chair, Mary E. Losch, said the association, acting on a member's complaint, had formally requested from Burnham "basic information about his survey, including, for example, the wording of questions he used, instructions and explanations that were provided to respondents, and a summary of the outcomes for all households selected as potential participants in the survey."

Losch said Burnham gave some partial answers but "explicitly refused to provide complete information about the basic elements of his research."
[---]
"Questions about the studies have included the sampling approach, the estimate of baseline deaths (necessary to compute an "excess" figure) and the sheer level of deaths reported – in 2006, the equivalent of more than 500 a day for more than three years, far outstripping other estimates.

In AAPOR's statement, its president, Richard A. Kulka, said: "When researchers draw important conclusions and make public statements and arguments based on survey research, then subsequently refuse to answer even basic questions about how their research was conducted, this violates the fundamental standards of science, seriously undermines open public debate on critical issues, and undermines the credibility of all survey and public opinion research."

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Hamas Visits Sugar Daddy

No doubt to report on their great victory and rally the troops. As long as the supply routes remain unfettered, the missiles will rain down on Israel and Israel will defend herself. The Arab Parallel Universe in action.

h/t to The Spirit of Man for the photos.

PS: Was there a sale on black suits and blue shirts?

Monday, February 02, 2009

Cultural Relativity

Bumped up and updated.

Irshad Manji and Salman Rushdie (about 48:30 minutes in) about multiculturism and cultural relativism. Good discussion. Also listen to Manji's lament about Canadian political correctness, even within police operations (beginning at 1:24:16).

Iraqis Vote

Yet Another Example

This how Palestinians keep the peace.
"Israeli jets have bombed a Hamas target in the Gaza Strip, the Islamist group said.

There were no casualties from the attack, which came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised a "disproportionate" response to rocket and mortar fire from Gaza.

Witnesses said a missile struck after dark in a cluster of caravans that served as a Hamas security headquarters in Mughraqa, a village at the centre of the coastal enclave.

They said the site had been evacuated, apparently after Israel telephoned warnings to Palestinians in Gaza to leave any buildings where weapons were located.

The attack came after three Israelis were wounded by mortars fired from Gaza, wounding two soldiers and the first Israeli civilian hurt since a truce on January 18 ended Israel's 22-day offensive in the Hamas-run coastal enclave.

Two rockets struck southern Israel earlier on Sunday, causing no damage or casualties.

The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a group belonging to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction, claimed responsibility for that attack. No group made an immediate claim for the mortar shootings.

Mr Olmert said: 'The government's position was from the outset that if there is shooting at the residents of the south, there will be a harsh Israeli response that will be disproportionate.'
"

Sunday, February 01, 2009

The Third Jihad

Part 1



Part 2




Part 3



Part 4

Some of Us Knew This...

..., some of us would rather we didn't know this:

"During the recent Gaza war, while all eyes were on Israel, the United Nations heedlessly repeated Palestinian accusations that Israeli forces had fired on its facilities in the Hamas-ruled territory without provocation.

Now that the war is over, and fewer people are paying attention, UN officials are admitting otherwise.

Speaking before the UN Security Council on Tuesday, UN Humanitarian Affairs Chief John Holmes blasted Hamas for making "cynical" use of public civilian facilities across Gaza during the fighting.

"The reckless and cynical use of civilian installations by Hamas and indiscriminate firing of rockets against civilian populations are clear violations of international humanitarian law," said Holmes.

Holmes also acknowledged that it is Hamas meddling that is largely responsible for humanitarian aid not reaching the people of Gaza.

Unsurprisingly, the mainstream international media brushed aside most of what Holmes had to say and focused only on his call for Israel to fully throw open the border crossings into Gaza."