Comments on: Ledeen: It’s 1938-1941, Hitler is Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, Khomeinists, Wahabis, Etc.

By: Kenneth Almquist

Kenneth Almquist — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:22:02 +0000

Ledeen takes it for granted that we are facing “evil enemies” whose identity he doesn’t make clear, and tries to explain why we don’t take these enemies more seriously. What makes this wingnut material is that he doesn’t even try to address the mainstream of America and make that case that these enemies should be taken more seriously. Instead, he writes a piece that has nothing to say to anyone who doesn’t share his wacky perceptions of the world.

By: Lester Ness

Lester Ness — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:59:20 +0000

And here I though that The Wall Street Journal was the Der Stuermer of our time! But with less humor.

Slightly seriously, don’t forget that the Nazis did include some legitimate scholars. Think of Gerhard Kittel. Even Erwin Kantorwicz put the swastika on the cover of one of his books.

Lester Ness

By: JES

JES — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 08:01:50 +0000

You seem to be oblivious to the fact that Israel pays plenty for its own defence. Again, US assistance to Israel is currently $2.5 billion, or approximately 1.3% of GDP. Military expenditures are about 7.3% of GDP, leaving Isaeli taxpayers to foot the bill for the 6% difference. Indeed Israel, and Israelis, pay for the lion’s share of our own defence. The US isn’t, so stop whining.

By: Bill K.

Bill K. — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 06:26:56 +0000

JES

“On the fact that Israel receives a few dollars from your annual tax bill – half of which, by agreement, returns to the US economy in the form of purchases – which amounts to a whopping 2% of Israel’s GDP.”

That is quite an interesting way of saying that Israel is a freeloader that gets weapons from the US for “free”! You seem to be oblivious to the point that Israel is not paying for its own defense, the US is!

By: Bill K.

Bill K. — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:34:48 +0000

Well I have to disagree. The “West” was not culturally superior to the Soviets, just more populous and had control of more of the World. The Russians led the Space Race up to the point they lost their top designer when he died.

By: Bill K.

Bill K. — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 05:13:17 +0000

JES

“My point is exactly that Ledeen wasn’t trying to make a political or military comparison! He was talking about Western culture and society and its relationship with evil, hateful – call them what you will – regimes who have universalistic ideologies and regional – or even global – aspirations.”

I bet you completely missed the point you made here about “Western Culture” and its Evil Militaristic/Imperialistic ideologies and aspirations of World Domination!

By: JES

JES — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:46:52 +0000

So, Bill, let me see if I understand correctly. You are claiming that these two posts somehow bolster a claim of Israeli organ harvesting. This is despite the fact that, if you actually read the articles in question (and primarily the latest one), the criminals involved (both Jews and Arabs) have been charged and will be tried. The same, I might add, is true of “human trafficking”.

Is bringing these issues up anti-semitic? Idiotic yes. Stupid yes. Laughable yes. But I don’t think it qualifies as anti-semitic.

All of this does remind me, however, of the Iranian TV show “Zahra’s Blue Eyes”. Now that was anti-semitic, in my opinon.

By: JES

JES — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:44:58 +0000

Test

By: Eugene Costa

Eugene Costa — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:33:53 +0000

One had never heard of “Megaphone” before the references above, nor is one much interested one way or another.

But is makes an interesting puzzle.

X is a participant in “Megaphone”.

The question arises whether X is a participant in “Megaphone”.

Does X say, and continue to be an effective participant, “Yes, I am a participant in Megaphone”?

Or does periphrasis, inviting construction as a denial, even if not an outright lie, serve the case much better?

By: JES

JES — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:12:05 +0000

So, Bill, let me get this straight. You think that because Israel has criminals (both Jews and Arabs in this case) who have paid people for their organs, that Israel (that is the country and its entire population) is involved in organ harvesting? Further, you think that somehow the two articles that Mr. Costa posted (although he hasn't apparently had the guts to explain why) somehow "proves" this point. This is despite the fact that, if you actually read these articles - and particlulaly the first one that our pedant posted here - you will see that the people involved are being charged, and will be tried, for the crimes they committed. The same is true, by the way, in cases of "human trafficking", and I don't think that Israel is unique in this business. I don't think that your approach here is necessarily anti-semitic. Stupid, idiotic and almost laughable, yes. Anti-semitic, not really. Of course, this whole issue is on-topic I guess, because it is reminscint of the Iraninan TV show , the premise of which is, indeed anti-semitic:

By: Eugene Costa

Eugene Costa — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:11:19 +0000

“I would say”–you didn’t just say it? “Final analysis”–when is that? “We”–who is “we”?

The speaker who “flavors” with empty rhetoric and weighted cliches and constructions accuses other speakers of being concerned with “flavor”–droll, very droll.

“Mr. Ledeen, meet Mr. Ledeen. And over there, Mr. Ledeen.”

“Inflating past payments” remains a chuckle.

Do it in reverse, from present to future and what is it called? Israelis beginning a new currency reserve initiative in Euros, among other things.

By: Bill K.

Bill K. — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 07:14:25 +0000

Yeah but that would be kind of wrong considering the US sat on the sidelines waiting for the Nazis to be defeated by the USSR and UK and then join in at the best time when casualties would be light and victories would be plenty.