There are fears, oft-discounted but still harbored by at least one Israeli intelligence official, that terrorists might use Google Street View to plan terrorist attacks. If so, Google’s offices in Munich are safer today, because they are blurred in Google Street View, according to CNET’s Technically Incorrect. Continue reading »
Mar 02
Israel’s Dubai hit undermines Obama
Americas, Australia, extrajudicial execution, Germany, Israel, Middle East, political violence, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
Comments Off
With assassination suspects possibly still on U.S. soil, the Dubai assassins have dragged America into row over fake passports, says Times Online in London.
With police investigations already underway in Australia, Ireland, and Germany, the Obama administration is going to deal with this. WashPost and NYT are still playing the story inside, appropriate in light of the fact that there has been no official U.S. reaction, but that’s not going to last long.
For the Obama administration, this is where the rhetoric of the president’s Cairo address meets the realities of Middle East decisionmaking. Of course, Israel has the right to defend itself, and of course the U.S. assassinates al-Qaeda leaders every day. But the leaders and the publics of Arab countries (like the United Arab Emirates, where the hit took place) that are open to peace with Israel (and some of whom want U.S. help to deter Iran) are not going to be satisfied by the talking points that go over well in Washington and on cable TV.
Feb 06
Karroubi: ‘This government Is unworthy’
Europe, Germany, Iran, Middle East
Comments Off
The Iranian opposition leader spars with SPIEGEL ONLINE . To wit:
SPIEGEL: Has the protest movement distanced itself from its leaders?
Karroubi: Mousavi and I have served the people in a number of positions of responsibility. As a result we have a certain amount of influence. But Mousavi does not have an organization behind him. I have a political party, but its work is restricted. The protest is a popular movement that is comprised of people from a wide variety of social classes and which acts independently …
SPIEGEL: … and which is now calling the entire system into question.
Karroubi: The Iranian people have a well-developed political consciousness. I place my trust in reason and people’s experience.
Nov 04
German chancelleor Angela Merkel talks a good game to the U.S. Congress but she won’t put Germany’s money where her mouth is. Spiegel Online.
Oct 28
A European Union president from some small, pathetic Caucasian tribe in the heart of whitest Europe…
Look, there’s one coming our way! (Handelsblad, Germany)
