Comments on Reads 9/30

Caroline Glick: The Perils of a Remilitarized Sinai

Supported by the Obama administration, the Egyptians say they need to deploy forces in the Sinai in order to rein in and defeat the jihadist forces now running rampant throughout the peninsula. Aside from attacking Israel, these jihadists have openly challenged Egyptian governmental control over the territory.
So far the Israeli government has given conflicting responses to the Egyptian request. Defense Minister Ehud Barak told The Economist last week that he supports the deployment of Egyptian forces. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he would consider such deployment but that Israel should not rush into amending the peace treaty with Egypt.
Israel's Confusion over Egypt's strategic direction and interests echoes its only recently abated confusion over Turkey's strategic direction in the aftermath of the Islamist AKP Party's rise to power in 2002. Following the US's lead, despite Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's hostile rhetoric regarding Israel, Israel continued to believe that he and his government were interested in maintaining Turkey's strategic alliance with Israel. That belief began unraveling with Erdogan's embrace of Hamas in January 2006 and his willingness to turn a blind eye to Iranian use of Turkish territory to transfer arms to Hezbollah during the war in July and August 2006.
Still, due to US support for Erdogan, Israel continued to sell Turkey arms until last year. Israel only recognized that Turkey had transformed itself from a strategic ally into a strategic enemy after Erdogan sponsored the terror flotilla to Gaza in May 2010.
As was the case with Turkey under Erdogan, Israel's confusion over Egypt's intentions has nothing to do with the military rulers' behavior. Like Erdogan, the Egyptian junta isn't sending Israel mixed signals.

FP: Judging from Israel’s request to delay the UN report on the Marmara flotilla I would argue that Israel has yet to accept that Turkey is now an enemy. For quite a while Israel has refused to accept the hostility from both the Arab/Muslim world and the West. Its entire strategy is one of appeasement and wishful thinking, rather than offense to defeat its enemies. Not sustainable.

Claire Berlinski: Why the Government Shouldn't Be in the Real Estate Business

A Ricochet member posted this item on his Facebook page with an apposite comment: "Why the government shouldn't be in the real estate business: Buy high, sell low."

The largest transfer of wealth from the public to private sector is about to begin. The federal government will be bulk-selling the massive portfolio of foreclosed homes now owned by HUD, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to private investors--vulture funds.
These homes, which are now the property of the U.S. government, the U.S. taxpayer, U.S. citizens collectively, are going to be sold to private investor conglomerates at extraordinarily large discounts to real value.
You and I will not be allowed to participate.

FP: So much for the free market propaganda. The kleptocratic corporate welfare state in action. Robbing the taxpayer blind. After so many years of this, is there any wonder that the US is bankrupt and the big corporate shareholders filthy rich?

PowerLine: All in the family

The saga of the extended Obama family continues to amaze. In the closing days of the 2008 campaign, we met Barack Obama’s Aunt Zeituni, the woman whom he fondly recalled from his voyage to Kenya in Dreams From My Father. (Her name is Zeituni Onyango and she is the half-sister of Barack Obama, Sr.)
In the closing days of the campaign Aunt Zeituni was found, not in Kenya, but rather holed up in public housing in South Boston, living on welfare while residing illegally in the United States subject to a deportation order. Since that time, however, her immigration case has arrived at a happy ending, at least for her. She has been granted the status of a legal resident; taxpayers will continue to foot the bill for the pleasure of her company.
Now comes Aunt Zeituni’s brother, Obama Onyango — Uncle Obama, also known as Uncle Omar. Uncle Obama was apprehended for drunken driving in Framingham, Massachusetts, over the weekend when he had a near collision with a Framingham police officer outside the Chicken Bone Saloon a block from his Framingham home. “I think I will call the White House,” Uncle Obama said when the the arresging officer offered him his one phone call. He apparently hadn’t heard that his nephew was vacationing over in the Vineyard.
The Boston Herald reports that immigration authorities had been on the lookout for Uncle Obama and found him after he was busted for drunk driving. Uncle Obama too was subject to a pending deportation order. He’s currently locked up in Plymouth County Jail on an immigration warrant. He too is residing illegally in the United States, though the Herald also reports that he has possessed a valid Massachusetts driver’s license and Social Security number since at least 1992. He appears to be doing well, though the news reports have not yet identified the sources of Uncle Obama’s financial support.
…
Uncle Obama is represented in his immigration case by the same lawyer who represented Aunt Zeituni. One suspects that his immigration case will also have a happy ending, at least for him. Why not?

FP: Kind of explains Obama’s immigration and welfare policy, no?

Female soldiers told to leave unit after male yeshiva students join

Four female soldiers told to leave battalion because male yeshiva students said they were not permitted to serve in the same unit with women • Female soldiers: They are disposing of us not because we are not good soldiers but because we are women

Brawl erupts between Ramat Beit Shemesh religious groups

Fight breaks out when ultra-Orthodox parents arrive at school belonging to nationalist-religious parents • Ultra-Orthodox are protesting school's decision to admit girls as it is located near ultra-Orthodox neighborhood.

FP: Israel’s own dark ages and very dangerous social future.