AUTHOR:G.
DATE:3/22/2003 11:01:00 PM
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Also posting at
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’ve started posting also over at The Command Post, a joint weblog with Links and breaking news keeping the rants for each contributor own home blog. You know this isn’t a hard-core news blog, and so it will remain. At the command post I’m posting breaking news from the Israeli media not (yet) available anywhere else. Israeli media coverage of the Arab world is pretty good. Arab world experts in each channel and newspaper are considered to be top reporters/commentators (needles to say they are fluent Arabic speakers).
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:3/22/2003 10:49:00 PM
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BODY:
Israeli gas masks for sale in Arab states
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sraeli gas masks are being offered for sale via e-mail to Persian Gulf Arab countries via e-mail. According to The Times of India (link via Meryl) the e-mail says the offered mask is “coveted Israeli Government Issue Gas Mask. Not available in stores. Discover why the Israeli model is the world's most sought after respirator! The Respirator is designed with durable, lightweight materials and fit comfortably and effectively when worn for NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) contaminant protection.”
Funny isn’t it. I, by the way, am not so sure the Israeli gas masks are so good. After the last Gulf War it was revealed that many gas masks were defective, and who knows what is the quality of today’s masks.
Alert level in Israel is still high and we’re still supposed to take our gas masks with us but only a few carry it with them. I didn’t take mine when I went to play basketball and I’m not going to take it tomorrow to University and work. Only in a couple of days when it will be clear that the Americans have full control over west Iraq and there is absolutely no chance of Iraqi missiles being fired upon us – only then the alert level will be lowered.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:3/21/2003 11:45:00 PM
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And the Palestinians continue
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a’aretz: “Thousands of Palestinians on Friday demonstrated across the West Bank and Gaza Strip in support of Iraq, waving Iraqi flags, holding pictures of Saddam Hussein and Yasser Arafat and calling on the Iraqi leader to "burn Tel Aviv."“
Ynet reports that some of the demonstrators carried pictures of Osama Bin Laden. Another report over at the Jerusalem post.
I liked Alison’s conclusion on that issue: “ Nice move. They shoot themselves in the foot so often, they must have no toes left.”
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:3/21/2003 11:26:00 PM
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Gas masks left at home
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oday more and more Israelis have left their gas mask kits at home and didn’t carry it with them as requested, and that was before the news on H-2 and H-3 bases being captured by the Americans.
If you read Hebrew Ynet has a nice summery of the mood in different Israeli cities. Here are a few quotes that I translated:
Tel Aviv - Maya, 42, Arrived to the Azrieli big shopping mall with he 12 year old daughter Moran to look for a birthday present. “After living with terror, do we need to be scared by a missile coming from Iraq? If we went to shopping malls when there were terror attacks, there is no reason to stop now when there is a war (in Iraq)”
Ashdod – Only a few people were in the local shopping mall yesterday but this morning people showed up as usual. Mira Ivgi, a saleswoman in clothing shop, “People understood that things are not so bad and they are trying to live as usual. The funny thing is when ever someone said he heard something new (on Iraq), everybody rush to the electricity shop to watch TV”.
Jerusalem – A grocery shop owner: “If Saddam won’t kill us, we’ll die of a heart attack that the media will cause us”.
Talks of lowering the alert level have already begun. And of course the usual “we should of done this”, “we shouldn’t have done that” already started (link via Balagan). This is just the usual blah blah. I’m sure that if they had decided not to tell the public to open their gas mask kits there would have bee high-ranking officers criticizing that decision as well.
I think they did right telling people to open the kits. Although the probability is very low the damage if a chemical missile will hit is enormous. Former IDF’s Intelligence corps, Amos Malka, said yesterday that the decision was right when considering the probability multiplied by the possible severity of chemical attack.
They gave the okay to open the kits and who ever was nervous got his chance to try it on to relax a bit, those who were insouciant didn’t open the mask. Very simple. They did the right thing letting each one decide.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:3/21/2003 10:53:00 PM
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BODY:
Bingo?
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iane corresponding with Salam in Baghdad brings this e-mail by Salam:
“ look, the absolute biggest best most wanted brain-stuff-specialist (i am sure it has a name can't think of it now) is a neighbor of my cousin. he has been called and taken to a location outside baghdad, he called his family and said he can't come back tonight.
something has happened to someone.”
Looks like a high ranking Iraqi was hit. Saddam? Uday?
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:3/21/2003 10:37:00 PM
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BODY:
The Iraq – Haifa pipeline
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s the American attack proceeds the danger of Israel being hit is reduced. According to reports US-British forces have taken control over Iraqi airfields bases H-2 and H-3 in Western Iraq. From the surroundings of those airfields Iraq launched missiles on Israel in 1991.
So the news of those military bases being conquered is spirit uplifting. But that doesn’t mean the missile threat has been totally removed. There still could be scud launchers hiding in some god-forsaken wadi. The area from which missiles can hit Israel is about the same size like Israel, not too big, but not too small. The control of the airfields doesn’t ensure 100% missile launce prevention.
I don’t know how many of you know but the letter H in H-2 H-3 airfields’ names stand for the Israeli port city of Haifa. During 1931-1935 an oil pipeline was built from the Iraqi oil fields in the north of the state city of Kirkuk to Haifa and to Tripoli in Lebanon. H-2 and H-3 were pumping stations along the oil pipeline. The oil running through that line boosted Haifa’s status, which led to its bombardment 25 times the Axis during WW2. In 1944 a decision was made to broaden the diameter of the pipeline but that plan was never carried out. Diane found an original Guardian article from 1935 about the opening of the pipeline. Interesting reading.
And if you'll allow me a moment of optimism: maybe one day this pipeline will be operating once again.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:3/20/2003 09:04:00 PM
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BODY:
Just a quick brief on semi-regular issues
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n the midst of all the reports flowing out of Iraq you might have skipped this one: Palestinians hail Saddam, burn U.S. flags in Gaza protest. Our old pals the Palestinian continue to behave stupidly, today hundreds of them cheered for Sadam and chanted: "Death to America, death to Bush," and "We will sacrifice our soul and our blood for Saddam." No wonder those fools support him, only today 210,000 US$ were distributed by Saddam Hussein to the families of Palestinians killed in fighting with Israel some of them terrorist responsible for the death of dozens of Israelis. Till today Saddam already gave 35 million dollars to the Palestinians encouraging them to blow themselves up.
A different issue. Avodah leader, Amram Mitzna, is really making a fool out of him self (and you know I wasn’t too harsh on him before). Today he said that he wasn’t ruling out joining a national emergency government, though if Sharon will ask him to do so. Come on! Sharon begged you to join the government a only a few weeks ago and you declined. Everybody knew war in Iraq in inevitable and in a short time. Mitzna could have joined but he refused. So what does he want now? Sharon didn’t announce on a dramatic move with the Palestinians and Israel isn’t part of the war on Iraq (not yet anyway) so what made him change his mind? What little respect I had for him has disappeared. I really don’t understand him.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:3/20/2003 08:08:00 PM
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What a bizarre way to begin a war
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revious night passed calmly here in Israel. People seem to be less stressed now that the attack has begun and no missiles were fired on Israel. Not that it means we’re off the hook, if I recall right last time in 1991 we were attacked on the second night of the American attack.
As I told you yesterday Israelis were instructed to carry their gas mask kits with them at all times. I took mine with me to work this morning, but it seems not many people carry them around. I work in Ramat Gan, a city neighboring Tel Aviv from northeast. In the first Gulf War Ramat Gan was hit the most by Iraqi Scuds, so one might expect that its people will be more edgy these days. As far as I saw more than half of the people in the streets didn’t take their gas masks with them as instructed. Imshin noted the same in Tel Aviv and in Jerusalem according to Tal only about 1 in 10 non-school kids was carrying a gas mask. Harry's and Civax's report on the number of people with gas masks in Jerusalem is similar to Tal’s. Also for full display on how to put a gas mask check this Civax’s post.
I think stress levels in Israel have really dropped, the anticipation was killing us and now that it has begun there is somewhat of a relief.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:3/19/2003 10:37:00 PM
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BODY:
Gas Mask model
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kay this is me wearing my gas mask (without the filter, saw no use to open it now). Lovely isn’t it? I don’t believe in this gas mask to much though, but it’s better than nothing. Anyway it took me 2 seconds to recall how to put it on the right way.
So tonight’s the night its gonna happen. I think there is a very low probability that Israel will get hit. If so the first night is probably the most dangerous for us. The ultimatum expires at 3 AM Israel time, I’ll be dreaming (hopefully nice dreams) when it happens, I got no intention to stay awake, especially because I’m waking up for work at 6 AM.
Jennifer wondered if the statements by the army generals and PM Sharon that the odds of Israel being attacked are very small calm people or maybe they don’t buy it. I think that most of the people believe that the probability is indeed low but have a ”healthy and normal” worry when facing a possible attack. I think most people are at this moment in control, not panicking. Stressed – yes, worried – yes but not freaking out, not yet at least ;-)
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:3/19/2003 09:20:00 PM
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BODY:
This is just in
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DF’s Home Front Command ordered all Israelis to open their gas mask kits, try them on, so that each person could modify its gas mask to his/her face and practice how to put it on fast now when there’s no pressure. We were also ordered to take the gas kits with us where ever we go at all times.
I shaved my beard off and my cheeks are smooth like a baby’s behind! Time to open my gas mask kit and try it on. I promise to post a photo of that later tonight.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:3/18/2003 09:07:00 PM
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BODY:
Waiting
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hings are warming up rapidly. Today Home Front Command instructed people to prepare a sealed room, tomorrow it is expected they’ll ask us to open are gas masks kits so you could practice putting it on. I heard that when the American attack begins Israelis would be asked to take their gas masks everywhere they go.
It was Purim today and surprisingly there was no terror attack. The Palestinians get their kick from blowing Israelis on Jewish holidays, especially the happy ones like Purim. It took me long to get to work this morning because a Police roadblock to catch terrorists created a traffic jam. At work things were as usual except for the traditional Purim Gifts that we exchanged with each other.
Talking on Purim: Israblog, the Israeli version of Blogger dressed up for the holiday as Blogger. Another prank for Purim is this adjusted Google Israel screen shot.
Back to the Iraqi issue. I didn’t shave in the last couple of weeks but I’m thinking of shaving the beard off because it will harm the sealing effectiveness of my gas mask (if and when).
The government decided that school kids will continue to go to school as usual and Students to Universities. When war breaks the decision will probably change.
The first days of the American attack will be the crucial ones as far as Israel goes. If Saddam won’t fire in those first days he’ll probably won’t be able to do so later when Western Iraq will be cleared. Trying to convince myself that he wont shoot: Saddam will probably try to stall time, prolonging the American attack as much as possible and inflicting many casualties among US and British soldiers and Iraqi civilians. By that he expects to generate fierce worldwide protest against the US that will stop the American attack while he is still in power.
If Saddam will fire missiles on Israel he will prove the US claim that he was fooling the UN inspectors and thus the war against him is justified.
But then again anything is possible in the crazy Middle East.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:3/17/2003 10:31:00 PM
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BODY:
It looks like time is running out
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reparations for war is kicking into high gear today in Israel. Ha’aretz: “ Hundreds of IDF reservists in Home Front Command and anti-aircraft units received emergency call-up orders Monday evening, ahead of a possible U.S. strike on Iraq. A wider call-up of reservists is expected in the coming days. At almost the same time, the Home Front advised Israelis to stock up on all the materials needed to seal a room in their homes against potential biological or chemical attack.”
Bush speech will be on 3 AM local time so we will probably wake up for the declared ultimatum.
People haven’t begun to panic, as far as I’ve noticed things (still) goes on as usual. Today in university I didn’t hear people talking about it except for a bizarre occurrence around noon.
I had 2 hours off between classes so I decide to put full use of them and catch a very necessary nap in today’s warm beautiful sun. As I walked to one of my favorite nap places I noticed two noisy groups of people moving along shouting and making noise. The first one I saw was a bunch of students dressed up for Purim dancing and singing and bringing smiles on people’s faces. At first I thought the other group was the same as the other one – not really. It was a group of around 40 people carrying signs demonstrating against the war in Iraq. I’ve noticed they are members of Ta’aiush, an Israeli-Arab extreme left group who can basically described as caring very much for Palestinians and do not care at all of Israelis.
They chanting the most stupidest slogans, calling Sharon a murderer making fun of Bush, calling for the UN to get its inspectors to check Dimona not Iraq and so on.
It was pathetic, no one paid attention to them. They were standing outside the campus' main gate but no one gave a damn shit about them. In the meanwhile I’ve located myself in a comfy place and zonked out to the caressing sun rays. I was only 20 meters away but could early hear them. After ten minutes they got tired and left. I've noticed that one of those fools is a girl I know, a lovely girl, very bright. She stayed at the end with another guy to pick up their signs or something like that. I thought of going to speak with her but I was embarrassed for her, so I decide not to. She knows what I think about her crazy super leftie opinions anyway.
Beside that bizarre event I so no out of the ordinary. As a deadline will be declared people will start to get really stressed out. I have to admit that even a calm guy like myself is starting to get the jitters out of all of this, remaining calm though.
I don’t believe Israel will get hit this time and I’m pretty sure the Americans are going to kick serious ass in Iraq and get rid of this mustached motherfucker.
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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:3/17/2003 09:43:00 PM
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Retribution
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he Belgians have been pissing off everybody here in Israel with their preposterous illegal legal-hunt of Sharon. Anyway an angry Israeli decided to leave a message on the Belgian consulate in Jerusalem. Check it out.
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