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OPEC To Cut Production?

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) may cut the cartel's output as crude oil risks falling under $100 a barrel, Middle East Online reports.

"The worsening economic outlook suggests that oil prices have further to fall, but OPEC... may act to prevent them from falling too far," the Centre for Global Energy Studies noted in a new report."There is a danger, though, that the Organization will over-react, cut its production too sharply and send oil prices back up."

OPEC, a consortium of thug-ocracies, maintains a stranglehold on American fuel, prompting analysts such as Gal Luft and Anne Korin to mull ways to set America free with new fuel technology. As this commercial called "Nozzle Rage" implies, this new technology cannot be implemented fasted enough.

By Jonathan Schanzer  |  Mon, 18 Aug 2008 at 10:36 AM  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)  |  TrackBack (0)

"Skunk" Disperses Palestinian Riots

Israeli border authorities unveiled a new method to disperse Palestinian riots called "skunk," Ynet News reports.

Police tested the method at a recent demonstration in the West Bank village of Naalin. "Skunk" is reportedly a foul-smelling liquid spraying machine. After being sprayed by it, the Palestinians protestors quickly fled to shower and change clothes.

In recent years, security forces have dealt with large numbers of demonstrations against the separation barrier in the West Bank. Until now, Israeli forces have used rubber bullets, tear gas, and shock grenades to disperse violent protestors - often children - who burn tires and throw stones. It is not known whether "Skunk" will replace other crowd-dispersal means.

By Jonathan Schanzer  |  Mon, 11 Aug 2008 at 5:58 PM  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)  |  TrackBack (0)

Nissan Car Commercial Invokes Saudi Ire

The Saudis are furious about this Israeli commercial that spoofs Saudi anger over an electric car. According to al-Arabiyya, the Saudis call the commercial "racist."

By Jonathan Schanzer  |  Thu, 7 Aug 2008 at 9:25 PM  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)  |  TrackBack (0)

Why Arabs Support or Ignore Darfur's Killers

Al-Jazeera recently ran a piece about the alleged failure of Arab journalists to cover the killing in Sudan's embattled Darfur region. It attacked the Middle East Media Research Institute (Memri) which stated that the violence in Darfur had "received scant coverage in most of the Arab media".

Moreover, as I noted in today's Weekly Standard Online, Hamas and Iran have long stood by Sudan, particularly after Sudan provided support to Hamas and helped Iran spread radicalism throughout the region. Read the whole piece here.

By Jonathan Schanzer  |  Wed, 6 Aug 2008 at 3:19 PM  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)  |  TrackBack (0)

Video of Hamas Training in Gaza

Below is revealing new video from Reuters on how Hamas is preparing for war with Israel, and possibly Fatah. From all indications, the period of calm is only strengthening Hamas.

By Jonathan Schanzer  |  Wed, 30 Jul 2008 at 5:35 PM  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)  |  TrackBack (0)

Muslim vs. Muslim

Attacks took place throughout the Muslim world this weekend. This time, however, all of the attacks were carried out by Muslims against Muslims:

Fatah members allegedly attacked Hamas members, killing 6, sparking mass arrests of Fatah members in Hamas-controlled Gaza.

Some 15 people were killed and 150+ injured when two bombs exploded on a busy shopping street in Turkey. Islamists are suspected.

Indian authorities arrested 30 in connection with bomb explosions in Ahmedabab that killed at least 45 people.

A female suicide bomber killed at least 8 in the Iraqi city of Baquba, leaving two dozen other people wounded.

As many analysts have noted, the battle against radical Islam is playing out less as a clash of civilizations, and more of a clash within Islam. We can only do our best to support the moderates in this battle.

By Jonathan Schanzer  |  Sun, 27 Jul 2008 at 11:00 PM  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)  |  TrackBack (0)

Calm At What Cost?

The period of calm Israel negotiated with Hamas appears to be backfiring.

Hamas has used the calm to fortify positions and increase its capabilities. Shin Bet Director Yuval Diskin stated today that "Hamas has been taking advantage of the truce in order to plant mines in wide areas in the Gaza Strip," and has acquired "missiles which can reach Kiryat Gat, and maybe even Ashdod."

Diskin further noted that the calm has backfired because: Hamas has not abandoned its long-term plans of destroying Israel; it has not halted smuggling efforts; and is not cooperating with Israel on the return of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

Hamas gloats that the calm is a triumph. The JPC noted the potential for these problems in mid-June with Palestinian Rocket Report #2.

By Cory Missimore  |  Tue, 22 Jul 2008 at 6:19 PM  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)  |  TrackBack (0)

A Flurry of BBC Iran Reports

The BBC's Middle East site has several good posts on Iran this weekend, highlighting Iran's many domestic and international challenges.

At least 8 women and 1 man have reportedly been sentenced to death by stoning by Iran's Mullahs for adultery and sex offenses. Last week, 6 people were publicly executed for similar crimes. Iran has been pressured by rights groups to end this practice.

Meanwhile, at talks in Switzerland, the US, EU and UN asked Iran to suspend uranium enrichment in return for pledges not to introduce new sanctions. Iran gave no guarantees it would halt its activities, so the diplomats gave Tehran 2 weeks to provide an answer.

Israel, for its part, has demonstrated a willingness to attack Iran if it does not cease its nuclear program.

By Jonathan Schanzer  |  Sun, 20 Jul 2008 at 2:33 PM  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)  |  TrackBack (0)

Another Morbid Celebration

As Israel mourns Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, Arabs from Gaza to Lebanon are celebrating the return of Samir Kuntar.

In 1979, Kuntar, along with 4 other terrorists, killed 2 Israeli policemen, Israeli citizen Danny Haran, and his 4 year-old daughter, by bashing her skull with the butt of a rifle.

To celebrate Kuntar's release, the Lebanese government declared Wednesday a national holiday for the "liberation of prisoners from the jails of the Israeli enemy," and for the "return of the remains of martyrs," referring to Dalal Mughrabi, a Palestinian woman who killed Israelis in a 1978 terror attack.

In Gaza, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh called Kuntar an "Arab nationalist hero," while Hamas lauded "a great victory for the resistance movements and to Hezbollah."

This video provides background on Kuntar's terrorist attack.

By Cory Missimore  |  Wed, 16 Jul 2008 at 2:39 PM  |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)  |  TrackBack (0)

Nozzle Rage!

Gal Luft, a contributor to inFOCUS, and co-director of IAGS recently sent this to us. It's a wildly funny 1-minute commercial with a vital message.

By Jonathan Schanzer  |  Mon, 14 Jul 2008 at 9:35 AM  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)  |  TrackBack (0)

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