The Civic Platform - A Political Journal of Ideas and Analysis

IHR News and Comment

A free public service of the Institute for Historical Review May 23, 2008

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McCain Rejects Backing of Pastor Over Remarks on Hitler
BBC News
http://news. bbc.co.uk/ 2/hi/americas/ 7416257.stm

US presidential hopeful John McCain has rejected the backing of a Church leader who said Hitler was carrying out “God’s will” in chasing the Jews from Europe. It comes after the comments by evangelical preacher Rev John Hagee, which were made in the 1990s, re-emerged on a US news website. In a sermon, Rev Hagee said the Nazi leader was carrying out a divine plan to gather Jews into the Holy Land.

California Economy Woes Signal Nation-Wide Trend
Reuters
http://www.iht. com/articles/ 2008/05/15/ business/ rtrcol16. php

As it did when the housing bubble began to burst, California is leading the way in the next leg: a consumer bust. Squeezed by rising unemployment, inflation in food and energy costs and plunging house prices, Californians are cutting back on spending. Besides causing woes for state and local government, this is giving California’s economy another knock and makes further job losses, home repossessions and banking problems more likely … Unemployment has risen by 24%, to 6.2%, in the same period. But most importantly, in the ten months to the end of April sales tax receipts in California are actually down in absolute terms.

Food Stamp Use in Illinois Hits Record
Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagot ribune.com/ news/local/ chi-food- stamps-16- may16,0,5263683. story

The number of Illinois households receiving food stamps has reached a record level, with almost 1.3 million people relying on the program to pay for daily staples such as milk, bread and eggs. State officials on Thursday said there might be a link between the increase and constantly rising food, gas and energy prices. Aid groups warned there are many more in need.

When Survival of the Jewish People Is at Stake, There’s No Place for Morals
Yehezkel Dror - Forward (New York)
http://www.forward. com/articles/ 13388/

There is little disagreement that every Jewish leader, organization, community and individual has a duty to help ensure the continuity of the Jewish people … When faced with such choices, the Jewish people ought not be captivated by political correctness and other thinking-repressing fashions … When important for existence, violating the rights of others should be accepted, with regret but with determination … In short, the imperatives of existence should be given priority over other concerns - however important they may be - including liberal and humanitarian values, support for human rights and democratization.

More Signs of Impending US Attack Against Iran
Newsmax
http://www.newsmax. com/newsfront/ Report_US_ to_Attack_ iran/2008/ 05/20/97545. html

Israel’s Army Radio is reporting that President Bush intends to launch a military strike against Iran before the end of his term. The Army Radio, a network operated by the Israeli Defense Forces, quoted a government source in Jerusalem. The source disclosed that a senior official close to Bush said in a closed meeting that Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney believed military action against Iran was now called for … Numerous signs point to a U.S. strike on Iran in the near future…

White House Denies Israel Report on Iran Attack Plan
The Jerusalem Post (Israel)
http://www.jpost. com/servlet/ Satellite? cid=121066868313 9&pagename=JPost% 2FJPArticle% 2FShowFull

The White House on Tuesday flatly denied an [Israel] Army Radio report that claimed US President George W. Bush intends to attack Iran before the end of his term … Army Radio had quoted a top official in Jerusalem claiming that a senior member in the entourage of President Bush, who visited Israel last week, had said in a closed meeting here that Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney were of the opinion that military action against Iran was called for.

US and Israel Agree on Need for `Tangible Action’ On Iran
Haaretz (Israel)
http://www.haaretz. com/hasen/ spages/984045. html

The United States and Israel agree on the need for “tangible action” to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s spokesman said Friday, after a visit by US President George W. Bush. “We are on the same page. We both see the threat … And we both understand that tangible action is required to prevent the Iranians from moving forward on a nuclear weapon,” Olmert spokesman Mark Regev said … Senior officials in Jerusalem said Thursday that Israel is fully satisfied with the results of Bush’s visit, including policy on Iran’s nuclear program.

Lies of Aggression

http://www.counterp unch.org/ roberts05162008. html

On May 15, the White House Moron, in a war-planning visit to Israel, justified the naked aggression he and Olmert are planning against Iran as the only alternative to “the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history.” But the White House Moron has the roles reversed. It is not Iran that is threatening war. It is Bush. It is not Bush who is appeasing. It is Iran. Iran has not responded in kind to any of Bush’s warlike moves and provocations … It is the US that is funding assassination teams inside Iran and using taxpayer dollars to fund dissident and violent organizations opposed to the Iranian government.

Jews and Power
Aaron David Miller - Forward (New York)
http://www.forward. com/articles/ 13323/

… Too many defenders of Israel pretend that Jewish political power has little to do with official American support for Israel (even while many know it does) … Jews have a powerful voice in shaping America’s Middle East policy…. The pro-Israeli community has won big-time. Bill Clinton was the most pro-Israeli Democratic president ever; George W. Bush, the most pro-Israeli Republican president ever. Regardless of whether Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama or John McCain wins in November, the American-Israeli relationship will remain strong and vibrant.

German Fire Team Criticized for Hitler Quote
Reuters
http://uk.reuters. com/article/ lifestyleMolt/ idUKL20748870200 80520

A youth team of firefighters in Germany has gotten into hot water after entering a contest with a famous quote by Adolf Hitler emblazoned on its T-shirts. Spectators at a weekend fire-fighting competition near Cottbus were shocked to see a team from the eastern city in a set of blue shirts that proclaimed Hitler’s description of the ideal German youth, authorities said on Tuesday. “Flink wie die Windhunde, Zäh wie Leder, Hart wie Kruppstahl” (Swift as greyhounds, tough as leather, hard as Krupp steel) ran in white gothic script across the backs of the eight-strong group from the Gross-Gaglow area of Cottbus.

Black Group Calls for School Ban on Confederate Flag
NBC25 - WHAG
http://your4state. com/content/ fulltext/ ?sid=6b9517ca89f 4ea3dd2f827b3342 58814&cid=16737

A group of black leaders is going before the Allegany County School Board [in Maryland] to request an all-out ban of the Confederate flag. Back in February, the principal of Fort Hill High School banned the flag from being displayed on school grounds amid major racial tension that led to several student suspensions. Tuesday night, a group of community and church leaders plans to ask the school board for a permanent, county-wide ban of the Confederate flag in all public schools.

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