Translate


Thursday, November 7, 2024

The Voters' Repudiation of Harris, the Democrats-and the Media

This article first appeared in New English Review.

"Mourning" Joe and Mika


 Now that the 2024 elections are over, Democrats are trying to figure out how they lost the presidential and senatorial elections so badly. There is finger-pointing by many at President Biden and his refusal to drop out until there were just over 100 days for Kamala Harris to put a campaign together. Some Democrats are conceding they need to do a lot of soul-searching, but it seems to center mostly around Biden's refusal to drop out until late in the game and their own failure to convey their message to the voters. (Never mind that Harris failed to articulate much of anything during her failed campaign.)

More than usual, I have been watching CNN and MSNBC to get their take. MSNBC has been particularly painful since they are little more than an echo chamber. Their talking heads feature nothing but Democrats and liberals, aside from a few disgruntled "Republicans" like Michael Steele and Joe Scarborough. Yes, Fox is pro-Republican, but they do have some Democrats like Marie Harf, Juan Williams, and Harold Ford. Fox is pretty much the only major news source conservatives can turn to aside from talk radio.

But as for all the analysis I am hearing on the part of the mainstream media, there are a few points I am missing. First of all, there is no admission that the Biden-Harris administration has been a huge failure. From the economy to the open border (and resultant crime wave), to a failed foreign policy, the last four years have been catastrophically bad for Americans and the world. 

In addition, it took the mainstream media three full years to admit to the public what we already knew: Joe Biden was in cognitive decline. Only after his disastrous debate against Donald Trump did they admit the obvious. To make things even more mysterious, it was literally seconds after the debate ended. It was as if somebody at the DNC called the networks in the middle of the debate and told them to switch to Plan B. Of course, after Biden dropped out, that discussion ended, let alone discussion over Harris' own misleading denials about Biden's state of mind.

In addition, once Harris took over, there was no criticism of her lousy campaign, her refusal to hold a news conference, how badly she handled the few easy questions that got through to her. She even blew a simple question appearing on The View! All we got from the media (Fox excepted) was how terrible a person Trump was. The race was neck and neck they told us. It wasn't.

Now they are scratching their heads trying to figure out just what it is the American voters have repudiated.  The Green New Deal? A wide-open border that has literally led to the rapes and/or murders of American citizens by gang members? Bidenomics?  The anti-Semitic outrages on our campuses? Wokism? That Harris is a far-leftist? None of that. 

But perhaps more importantly, the biggest thing the media refuses to face is that the voters also rejected them.

If Biden's debate performance against Trump put the exclamation mark on his cognitive unfitness to continue as president, this election puts the exclamation mark on the American public's rejection of the mainstream media and its blatant partisanship at the expense of true journalism. They can dismiss the majority of voters as white nationalists, MAGA extremists, and haters all they want, but it's pretty hard to label over 50 million voters as such, especially in light of the fact that Trump got votes from blacks and Latinos at a record number. 

What is clear is that the media tried to hide the obvious signs that Biden was in mental decline. They refused to discuss his failures. They refused to draw comparisons between the Biden economy and the Trump economy (at least prior to the pandemic). They refused to talk about the open border and the wave of criminals coming in from places like Venezuela and the would-be terrorists from other points on the globe.

They also refused to discuss the lack of qualifications of Kamala Harris to fill any position, let alone that of president of the United States. They refused to point out her evasions from press conferences, the dopey word salads she put out when asked even the easiest of questions from friendly reporters.

 The Biden-Harris administration has been a colossal failure, arguably the worst administration in history. But if all you do is stay inside and watch CNN or MSNBC, that would come as a surprise to you.

There is much to criticize about the Democrat party (the Republican party too, for that matter). I would hope that as the Democrats do all their soul-searching, they will consider how much to the left they have drifted. Hopefully, they will decide that it is time to move back toward the center. As for the news media, it is time for them to do some soul-searching as well. With few exceptions, they will not do it. They are too smug, too arrogant. This is a (liberal) culture too long in the making. They are attracting the wrong kind of people, activists rather than true journalists. Too many journalism schools in our universities are dedicated to turning out social justice warriors rather than true journalists; people dedicated to affecting societal change as opposed to reporting the news. The end result is that the difference between the front page and the Op-Ed section is blurred. And as a result of that, too many people lose the ability to read between the lines and separate fact from opinion.

This week, the American voters, even if they didn't like Trump personally, decided that the alternative was much worse. They repudiated the Democrats and their candidate. They also repudiated the mainstream media. Will the media admit that and use it as a learning experience? Don't bet on it. They are too focused on making their own transition from State-run press to opposition press.

Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Italy: Train Conductor Stabbed in Genoa

Hat tip Gates of Vienna and The European Conservative

What Rick Steves didn't tell you




There is no question that train travel in Europe has become more dangerous thanks to numerous stabbings and other assaults that have been occurring on trains over the past several years, mostly committed by migrants. On Monday, a train conductor in Genoa, Italy was stabbed by a 21-year-old Egyptian who refused to pay for his ticket. He was accompanied by a 16-year-old North African girl who reportedly has also been charged for participating in the assault.

In response, railway workers across Italy have gone on strike protesting the lack of safe working conditions.

The below article in La Repubblica is translated by Fousesquawk.


Train conductor stabbed, prosecutor: "The attacker remains in jail, he could do it again."

Caption: Search at site of stabbing of train conductor at Genoa, Rivarola, November 4, 2024

Hearing Thursday before the judge to validate the precautionary measures.

November 6, 2024 at 15:10 

The Prosecutor of Genoa has requested that Fares Kamel Salem al Shahat, 21, arrested two days for stabbing the train conductor, Rosario Ventura, at the Rivarolo station, remain in jail. According to the public prosecutor, Sabrina Monteverde, the young man could strike again given the ease in which he pulled out a knife and used it.   

Other than the risk of repeat offense, there would also be that of fleeing. The barber lives in the house of the mother of the minor who was with him on the (public transport) and who has been charged, (and) he has no regular employment. The Egyptian had applied for international protection.

The (custody) hearing is set for Thursday before Judge Camilla Repetto. The magistrate will decide whether to grant the request of the prosecution or grant a lesser measure. It is not certain whether Al Shahhat, defended by attorney Barbara Squassino, will answer the judge's questions. 




Judge Rules Lawsuiit Against Harvard for Anti-Semitism Can Begin


Harvard

A federal judge in Boston has ruled that a lawsuit brought against Harvard University for failing to deal with campus anti-Semitism can begin. The Louis D Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, which brought the suit, has the details here. 

This is certainly good news. These lawsuits should put our universities on notice that if they fail to protect Jewish students on campus from these pro-Palestinian bullies, there will be legal consequences. I hope to see many more such lawsuits brought against other universities.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

France: One Dead in Nightclub Shooting: Two in Custody

Saint-Peray, France


This past week, there was a shooting in front of a nightclub in southern France. One young man who was waiting to get into the club was fatally shot and two others were wounded. There were reportedly two suspects, one of whom fired into the crowd and a driver of a getaway car.

Two suspects are now in custody. One is believed to be the shooter, a 23-year-old man of French nationality, born in Tunisia. The suspected driver is a 19-year-old man from Italy.

The below article from RTL France is translated by Fousesquawk. Though no names of the suspects appear in this article, other sources identify one suspect as Hassan Youssef D., however, there are conflicting reports as to whether this person was the shooter or the driver.

One of the suspects was arrested at a known drug dealing location in Marseilles associated with the North African drug trafficking organization in that city, DZ Mafia. 


INFO RTL-Death of Nicolas: Two suspects arrested in Cavaillon and Marseilles

Four days after the shooting in front of a discotheque having produced one death, two suspects have been arrested in Cavaillon (Vaucluse) and Marseilles (Bouches-du-Rhone).

Four days after the shooting that occurred in front of a discotheque in Saint-Peray, in Ardeche, the investigation is progressing. Two suspects were arrested Monday, November 4th, RTL has learned from police sources. The alleged shooter, a 23-year-old  man born in Tunis, of French nationality, was arrested in Cavaillon in the Vaucluse (Department in SE France).

Another man, suspected of being the driver, age 19 from Italy, was arrested at a drug dealing location (identified) as belonging to the DZ Mafia clan in the Bricarde quarter of Marseilles. He is not listed in (French police criminal files).

The shooting produced one death, Nicolas Dumas, 22, died Saturday as a result of his wounds in the hospital of Valence (Drome). A 24-year-old woman and a 22-year-old security officer were wounded in the leg.

Nicolas was not the shooter's target according to several witness accounts.

Though the circumstances of the shooting remain blurred, the witness accounts gathered by the investigators at the scene suggest that Nicolas was not the target of the shooter, who was wearing a balaclava and was armed with an automatic weapon. The shooting is not believed to be linked to drug traffic.

One of the (theories) being examined by the investigators is that the shooter was refused access to the nightclub while he was accompanied by several individuals.

The death of Nicolas revives the wounds of the Rugby de Romans-sur-Isere club. A year ago, another player from the club, Thomas Perroto, died in Crepol (Drome). All the leaders point out that the two tragedies have no direct or indirect connections. A vigil will be organized in tribute to Nicolas by the club.





Monday, November 4, 2024

Anti-Semitic Vandalism at Simmons University

This article first appeared in Times of Israel Blogs.

Simmons University in Boston


Simmons University in Massachusetts has just experienced an act of vandalism on campus. Predictably, it was an act of vandalism committed on behalf of the Palestinian cause and against Israel. That is hardly uncommon these days.  It is noteworthy in that it involves vandalism not against an Israeli institution or location, rather against a Jewish religious symbol, that of the Jewish celebration of Sukkah that had been was put up by Hillel. The incident apparently occurred on the night of October 24. While it is noteworthy, it is not an isolated incident. Campus Reform and the Simmons campus newspaper, The Simmons Voice, have the respective reports here and here.

Contrary to the claims of the pro-Palestinian crowd, including, in this case, the campus chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, a radical, anti-Israel organization, the act does, indeed, constitute an act of anti-Semitism. When you attack a Jewish religious symbol, it is anti-Semitic. 

First of all, I would like to note that pro-Israel students on American campuses do not vandalize pro-Palestinian displays. Nor do they attack Islam. On this aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is a one-sided battle, at least here in America.

Secondly, I would never condone someone vandalizing a mosque or any other Muslim religious institution by displaying a pro-Israeli message. As another example, let's assume a Muslim Student organization put up a sign advertising a Ramadan event on campus and someone spray-painted, "Long live Israel" on it. I would condemn that. Not only is the act of vandalism wrong but using the Middle East conflict to focus upon and target a religious display is even more wrong. I say that even though I believe that religion plays a very large role in the Israel-Palestinian conflict and I have repeatedly stated that the pro-Palestinian movement in the US, particularly on our college campuses, is anti-Semitic. I have seen and heard too many anti-Semitic expressions on college campuses to believe otherwise. This act of vandalism at Simmons University just goes to prove me correct.

I also say that in spite of the fact that I am critical of political, militant Islam and its link to acts of terrorism carried out against innocent people. But there is a time and place for that kind of criticism, and it should be done without blaming all Muslims and while respecting their rights. With few exceptions, Jewish and pro-Israel students on our campuses have followed the rules of civilized discourse. The other side, unfortunately, has not. This latest example from Simmons University is just another example.


Sunday, November 3, 2024

Iran: Woman Strips Down to Underwear and Is Arrested

Hat tip Gates of Vienna and Vlad Tepes for subtitling. Translation by Fousesquawk.


On Saturday, an Iranian woman was involved in some sort of confrontation with police on the campus of Asad University in Teheran. The police reportedly tore her clothes and head covering. At this point, the woman stripped down to her underwear and walked back and forth in protest until she was arrested and turned over to the so-called "Morals Police".

The incident was picked up by the Belgian daily, HLN, which posted the videos taken by passersby. One video has Dutch subtitles which we have translated into English subtitles (pending).


Update: Here is the video.



Caption: A student protested in her underwear in Iran


Images of student who undressed in Iran go viral: Young woman arrested after "underwear protest"

On Saturday in Iran, a student reportedly stripped down to her underwear after a clash with police. The incident occurred at the private university of Asad in the capital city of Teheran, according to the human rights organization, Hengaw.

KVE-November 3, 2024, 08:10  Latest update: 12:27. Source: Barron's, Reuters, Belga, X

The woman was harassed at the university by members of the paramilitary unit, Basij, which is linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards.  They tore her clothes and her head covering, according to reports from various news outlets and social media channels outside Iran.

The student then removed her clothes in protest and went out to sit on a wall before walking up and down the street with her arms crossed to the surprise of passersby, which videos posted on social media show.

Pro-government media claimed that she had "mental" problems and reported that the university security service turned the girl over to the police.

In the Islamic Republic of Iran, there are strict dress codes for women. In public spaces, they must wear the headscarf. The morals police make sure the rules are followed, but the younger generation increasingly disregards them, especially in Teheran and other large cities.

"Arrested by force"

The human rights organization, Amnesty International, immediately called for the release of the woman who had undressed. "The Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release the university student who was arrested with force after she had removed her clothes in protest against the strict clothing codes and compulsory head covering," it said on X.

"Pending her release, the authorities must protect her from torture and other mistreatment and ensure that she can speak with a lawyer and her family."

Amnesty International added that the "accusations of mistreatment and sexual force during her arrest must be independently and impartially investigated".








Friday, November 1, 2024

Netherlands: Update on Ammonia Attacker in Amsterdam

Hat tip Gates of Vienna and Vlad Tepes for subtitling. Translation by Fousesquawk. 


On October 29, we translated an article from De Telegraaf on the efforts by Dutch police to identify a man who threw an ammonia bottle at police during a pro-Palestinian protest in Amsterdam last May. The article contained a video that we have now translated along with Gates of Vienna and Vlad Tepes.






Gaza City: Twinning With Irvine, California?

(No!)


Hat tip Middle East Forum and Islamist Watch

Irvine



This article first appeared in New English  Review.


I am cross-posting an intriguing article by Benjamin Baird in Middle East Forum/Islamist Watch on the efforts of Gaza City to establish a twin city relationship with Irvine, California.

I note with interest the apparent interest of Irvine politician, Larry Agram, in this proposal. For decades, Agran has alternated between being the mayor of Irvine and a city council member. He is considered the "man to see" in Irvine politics. A real "mover" if you get my drift.

Living very close to Irvine and having taught part-time at the University of California at Irvine (UCI), I am very familiar with the area. It is a bedroom community that was incorporated as a city only in the 1960s. In recent years, the area has become more cosmopolitan, but between homes, shopping, restaurants, hospitals, and UC Irvine (and Irvine Community College). it's hard to view it as a city in the traditional sense.

The way I see it, there is only one reason Gaza would reach out to Irvine. The University of California at Irvine for over two decades has been home to an aggressive push by the Muslim Student Union and Students for Justice in Palestine chapters in their movement against the state of Israel. For years, these two groups have invited a plethora of speakers to campus to trash the Jewish state and all-too-often insult Jews as well. To make things worse, pro-Israel events by Jewish and conservative students have been regularly disrupted by the aforementioned groups. The plight of Jewish students on the UCI campus has been well documented on this site since 2007. In addition, Irvine has seen an increase in the number of Arab/Muslim residents over the years. As pointed out in the article, Irvine City Council meetings have long been plagued by the presence of pro-Hamas characters pushing the anti-Israel agenda. 

Not surprisingly, anti-Semitic incidents at UCI have occurred over the past couple of decades, incidents which have been noted by the Israeli media and apparently, by Palestinians as well. The latter obviously feel they have a strong lobby in Irvine and want to build on it.

In light of the events of October 7, 2023, should the Irvine City Council accept this invitation, we can only conclude that they are in total sympathy with the terrorist forces in Gaza  (Hamas) who committed the worst anti-Jewish atrocity since World War 2, and who continue in their efforts to destroy Israel and murder every Jew living there. Should Irvine enter into such a relationship. they might as well enter into a similar relationship with Hezbollah in Beiruit, the mullahs in Tehran, and the Houthis in whatever city they call their stronghold in Yemen. In the wake of October 7, 2023 and the past year's pro-Hamas protests at UCI with the disgraceful encampment that had to be broken up by police, it would send a message that Irvine does not stand with its Jewish residents and is indifferent to the wave of anti-Semitism that has plagued the city (and the nation) for a year now.

This approach by Gaza City must be rejected if there is any decency left in Irvine.


Thursday, October 31, 2024

Chicago Mayor Under Fire (What Else Is New?)

Hat tip Algemeiner

Brandon Johnson


The mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, one of the most left-wing mayors in the country, is facing widespread criticism from the local Jewish community and beyond after his remarks in the wake of the shooting of an Orthodox Jewish man walking to a synagogue in Chicago last Saturday. Johnson failed to mention that the victim was Jewish, and all indications are that this was a hate crime not yet charged as such.*

While Johnson's statement in itself is not objectionable, it is recalled that after the horrific stabbing death of a 6-year-old Palestinian boy in October 2023, in Plainfield Township, Illinois, Johnson issued a statement and made a point of mentioning the boy's ethnicity and religion while referring to Islamophobia. That is what has many Jews in Chicago and elsewhere wondering why Johnson did not use this opportunity to condemn acts of anti-Semitic violence.

Is there a double standard here?

The alleged shooter, Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi (22), is a young man from Mauritania, who when confronted by police, reportedly shouted, "Allahu Akhbar" while exchanging gunfire. It is also being reported by some media that he is in the country illegally, having entered last year, processed by immigration authorities, and released.

To be clear, both of the above attacks committed in Illinois in the past year are deplorable. Last October, there was widespread outrage at the horrific attacks by Hamas against innocent Israeli civilians of all ages and genders. That, however, could never justify murdering a 6-year-old Palestinian child in Illinois or anywhere else. By the same token, shooting a Jewish man in Chicago on his way to synagogue cannot be justified because one is angry at Israel's military response against Hamas and other terrorist groups attacking the Jewish state.

 Mayor Johnson should have enough sense to know that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly after last year's attack by Hamas, has spurred bad feelings on both sides here in the US. I don't have a problem with him using last year's murder to speak out against anti-Muslim feelings or Islamophobia though I have problems with that word itself. Why he did not use Saturday's shooting incident to condemn the wave of anti-Semitism sweeping the country is beyond me. One would think that the mayor of America's third-largest city would know enough to understand the sensitivities and what each incident represents.

*Update (11-2-2024)

Based on follow-up investigation by Chicago PD, hate crime charges have now been filed. This is based on evidence that the suspect specifically was targeting Jews,



Italy: Gang Rape in Turin

Hat tip Gates of Vienna

Parco Valentino, Turin
(Before the sun goes down and it's presumably safe)


 On October 15, a 27-year-old Peruvian woman was allegedly gang raped by a group of 5-6 suspects tentatively identified as North Africans. A 19-year-old Egyptian man is in custody after having been identified by the victim from a photo spread of mug shots. Another suspect identified by the victim is being sought, as well as those not yet identified.

The below article in Today Cronaca  (Italy) is translated by Fousesquawk.

Manhunt in Turin

Girl raped and abandoned unconscious and semi-nude in a park, turn in the case: There is an arrest

An Egyptian (19) in handcuffs, already known to law enforcement for previous minor arrests of drug dealing and theft. Now the other members of the pack are being sought.

Caption: The place where the presumed violence was committed in Turin.

There is an arrest for the rape of a 27-year-old Peruvian woman, raped on the premises of a former nightclub, closed to the public for some time, in Valentino Park in Turin on October 15. It was the (victim) who recognized his face, together with that of another man still being sought, after having identified (them) among the mug shots of an album of profiles of "previously convicted or dangerous subjects" in custody of the authorities.

Manhunt

The 19-year-old alleged perpetrator of the rape was arrested last Monday in the Giardini Sambuy zone of Porta Nuova by officers of the Railway Police. The boy was already known to law enforcement for minor crimes of drug dealing and theft. Today, the judge validated his arrest. The second suspect alleged to be responsible is being sought: He was also identified by the victim of the rape.

The robbery and chase

The girl was allegedly the victim of unspeakable violence. According to her story, after having drunk alcohol, she was approached by a young North African man on via Nizza, who reportedly asked for help in finding an (ATM) machine. The 27-year-old trusted his directions and began to follow him. "He led me toward Valentino Park," the girl reportedly told the investigators, "but before arriving, he took (my) cell phone from my hands". To get it back, the girl reportedly chased him to the ruins of the former discotheque in the heart of Valentino Park. Here, the nightmare occurred. At this point, another 5-6 North Africans arrived and surrounded the young woman pushing her down onto a mattress. Two of them allegedly raped her. 

The victim said she lost consciousness and woke up in another part of the park minus some of her clothes. She was then rescued and transported first to Molinette Hospital and then to Sant'Anna. The medical examinations confirmed sexual (contact). Now the other members of the pack are being hunted.



Wednesday, October 30, 2024

"Peoples' Tribunal" at Stanford

"Where should we put the Palestinian flag?"


Remember when we were kids and little girls would play house? That's what the pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses remind me of. At Stanford, the little rascals have convened a "Peoples' Tribunal", protesting the arrest of the "Stanford 13", where they even charged the hapless university president with complicity in the "genocide" they claim Israel is conducting against the Palestinian people. Naturally, Students for Justice in Palestine is at the center of the controversy.


The campus newspaper, the Stanford Daily, has the report.

I propose that Stanford enlarge the size of the "Stanford 13" to a three-digit number.



Brown University Suspends SJP

 Hat tip Campus Reform



Brown University in Rhode Island has joined the growing list of universities around the nation to take action against Students for Justice in Palestine. The SJP chapter has been suspended while Brown investigates its actions during a protest on October 18. Hopefully, the suspension will be made permanent.

Campus Reform has the story with a link to the campus newspaper, the Brown Daily Herald.