Jewish Journal


May 1, 2013

by Shmuel Rosner

May 1, 2013 | 3:33 am

President Obama yesterday, Reuters

The US



 A single nuclear weapon can indeed inflict massive destruction; a single chemical weapon cannot. For chemical weapons to cause extensive damage, many of them must be used -- just like conventional weapons. As a presidential advisory panel noted in 1999, it would take a full ton of sarin gas released under favorable weather conditions for the destructive effects to become distinctly greater than those that could be achieved with conventional explosives.

The muddling of the concept of weapons of mass destruction played a major role in the run-up to the 2003 war in Iraq. That campaign was mainly justified as a way to keep Saddam Hussein from obtaining uniquely destructive weapons. At least in the first instance, this meant chemical weapons, which Iraq had already shown itself capable of developing. Initial support for that war was impelled by the WMD confusion, and many analysts fear that alarm about chemical weapons could lead the United States into another disaster in Syria if they become the game changer that the Obama administration has proclaimed them to be.

Quote:  “People do not trust the president and his people. That's why we need a select committee”, Senator John McCain being blunt on Fox.

Number: 62, the percentage of Americans who don't believe that "the US has a responsibility to do something about the fighting in Syria between government forces and anti-government groups", according to a NYT/CBS poll.



Headline: 'Labor could join gov't if Arab proposal adopted'

To Read: According to Max Singer, believers in the two state solution should back the Levy report and the idea that Israel has the legal right to occupy the West Bank:

Opponents of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and supporters of a two-state solution should support the Levy Commission’s affirmation of Israel’s rights in the territories. The Commission concluded that “Israelis have the legal right to settle in Judea and Samaria and the establishment of a settlement cannot, in and of itself, be considered illegal.” It did not say, however, that the settlements should stay where they are.


Quote: "Unless the sword is literally on your throat, you don't use it" former IDF chief Gabi Ashkenazi talks about Iran in an interview for CNN.

Number: 2,000, the number of army reservists called up for a drill at Israel's northern front.


The Middle East

Headline: Kerry calls new Arab League peace stance 'big step forward'

To Read: George Friedmann believes that when it comes to Syria, interventionists from both sides of the political spectrum harbor illusions:


Quote: “Syria has true friends in the region who will not allow Syria to fall into the hands of the United States, Israel and ‘takfiri’ groups”, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nassrallah about forces at work in Syria.

Number: 140,000, the number of Syrian refugees in Egypt, according to the interior ministry.


The Jewish World

Headline: Obama cites liberties, Israel in Jewish American heritage month declaration

To Read: Tablet's Elliot Horowitz traces the apparently age old tradition of women praying at the wall-


Quote:  "As a Pope, I will not abide by any manifestations of anti-Semitism", Pope Francis making a clear statement on anti-Semitism.

Number: 40, the number of Holocaust survivors who celebrated a belated bar-Mitzvah on Monday.

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