Last year, Kulanu MK and former Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren received heavy criticism in some circles for his book Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israeli Divide.
With the release of the book’s Hebrew edition, Oren spoke to Arutz Sheva, discussing in depth the tensions between Israel and the Obama administration and the push back he received for the English edition.
The book, which created controversy for what some considered an unfair portrayal of President Barack Obama, elicited rare public condemnations from senior officials, including former US special envoy to the Middle Easy Martin Indyk.
“When I wrote [the English edition], Martin Indyk attacked me,” Oren told Arutz Sheva.
“People got angry at me. I can say that Obama did this because he thought that if these policies were adopted, then the Arabs would come to the table. But the results were the exact opposite – it actually pushed the Arabs further away. That’s because in the Middle East if someone gets concessions without paying a price, then why pay for it afterwards? [After] all of the concessions the Arabs got right from the start from Obama they spit at him in the face.”
“Only now, after interviews with former senior American officials like Dennis Ross, and after interviews with Obama, it’s become clear that what I wrote was correct."
Oren goes so far as to claim that Obama and his administration intentionally worked to create distance between the historic allies.
“Obama chose to create the crises [between Israel and the US],” said Oren.
“There were differences of opinion with America, as there have been for years. The disagreement regarding Jerusalem has been around since 1948, the disagreement over the settlements since 1967. The thing is he chose to deal with these disagreements publicly. He chose to put diplomatic distance between the US and Israel.”
More here
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Registration Opens for Run to Remember Memorial Day 5K
Salisbury, MD – Start the holiday weekend off with exercise that benefits the Wicomico War Veterans Memorial at the Run to Remember Memorial Day 5K.
The 5K begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 28, at the Wicomico War Veterans Memorial outside the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center in Salisbury. Check-in and race-day registration begin at 8 a.m., and walkers and leashed pets are also welcome.
The cost is $25 in advance and $30 on race day. Sign up by May 6 to be guaranteed an event shirt. For military who register in person with ID, the cost is $20.
Participants can enjoy refreshments after the race. Awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in the following age groups: 13 and under, 14 to 24, 25 to 39, 40 to 54, and 55 and over.
The annual Memorial Day Ceremony will be held two days after the 5K, at 10 a.m. Monday, May 30, at the Wicomico War Veterans Memorial. If it rains, the ceremony will be held in the Midway Room of the Civic Center.
Registration is available at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.) and online atwww.WicomicoRecandParks.org. For more information, contact Tammy Taylor at 410-548-4900, ext. 115, or atttaylor@wicomicocounty.org.
The 5K begins at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 28, at the Wicomico War Veterans Memorial outside the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center in Salisbury. Check-in and race-day registration begin at 8 a.m., and walkers and leashed pets are also welcome.
The cost is $25 in advance and $30 on race day. Sign up by May 6 to be guaranteed an event shirt. For military who register in person with ID, the cost is $20.
Participants can enjoy refreshments after the race. Awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in the following age groups: 13 and under, 14 to 24, 25 to 39, 40 to 54, and 55 and over.
The annual Memorial Day Ceremony will be held two days after the 5K, at 10 a.m. Monday, May 30, at the Wicomico War Veterans Memorial. If it rains, the ceremony will be held in the Midway Room of the Civic Center.
Registration is available at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center Box Office (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.) and online atwww.WicomicoRecandParks.org. For more information, contact Tammy Taylor at 410-548-4900, ext. 115, or atttaylor@wicomicocounty.org.
Let Today’s Spending Habits Foretell Your Retirement-Spending Needs
No single answer fits everyone. But it’s prudent to plan on spending at least the same amount the month after retirement as you spent the month before, says Ken Sutherland, president of LifePlan Group (www.lifeplangroup.com), an independent Registered Investment Advisory firm.
“I always ask clients to figure out how much they need to pay the bills and enjoy life prior to retirement,” he says. “That’s what they should figure they’ll need.”
Although a big worry is that monthly spending could go up, some factors can actually cause expenses to drop, says Sutherland’s son, Alex, a wealth advisor for LifePlan Group.
“Tax obligations may be less,” he says. “Also, retirees are no longer contributing to a 401k plan or to Social Security taxes, and their mortgage may be paid off.”
The Sutherlands say that when mapping out retirement spending:
• Expect to spend more earlier. Most people are healthier and more energetic in the first decade of retirement, so they may want to budget more for that period. As they get older, expenses may decrease because they are less active. One possible exception is medical expenses.
• Don’t assume a surviving spouse will need less. “For every widow I have worked with who spent less, there were others who spent more,” Ken Sutherland says. “Some of that is because they need to hire help for chores around the house. But they also may do more traveling and more dining out.” Make budget plans with that in mind.
• Use a modest inflation assumption. “Inflation has been high in the past and could be again,” Alex Sutherland says, “but in the near term inflation doesn’t impact you as much, and in the long term you likely won’t spend as much.” If you use a 5 or 6 percent assumption, which is much higher than today’s inflation-rate reality, you’ll conclude you need more money than you likely do. A 2 or 3 percent assumption would provide a more realistic scenario.
Subject: Israel Recruiting New Nuclear Scientists for 'National Needs'
Govt. offers scholarships for promising grad students. Bennett: 'They will help developments in numerous fields that are better left unsaid.'
The Council for Higher Education is starting a new program to recruit seven new nuclear scientists.
According to documents obtained by Walla! news, the project is designed to "rehabilitate the nuclear physics research and instruction for the national need."
A budget of seven million shekels ($1.8 million US) has been set aside to find the candidates, who will be chosen from outstanding physics graduate students. Those selected will receive generous scholarships and will become university faculty members within three years. According to the Council, two will be picked next year, followed by another two in 2018 and the final three in 2019.
An inside source explained to Walla! that Israel is falling behind in the field of nuclear engineering. "Israeli nuclear research needs to bring people into this field."
He added that the scientists will be affiliated with universities, but that their work could also involve national security issues. "These people are performing research, but part of their experiments will be with the nuclear reactor in Dimona."
More
The Council for Higher Education is starting a new program to recruit seven new nuclear scientists.
According to documents obtained by Walla! news, the project is designed to "rehabilitate the nuclear physics research and instruction for the national need."
A budget of seven million shekels ($1.8 million US) has been set aside to find the candidates, who will be chosen from outstanding physics graduate students. Those selected will receive generous scholarships and will become university faculty members within three years. According to the Council, two will be picked next year, followed by another two in 2018 and the final three in 2019.
An inside source explained to Walla! that Israel is falling behind in the field of nuclear engineering. "Israeli nuclear research needs to bring people into this field."
He added that the scientists will be affiliated with universities, but that their work could also involve national security issues. "These people are performing research, but part of their experiments will be with the nuclear reactor in Dimona."
More
CIA Fighting the Pentagon in Syria
The fractured situation in Syria is looking even more bleak as forces allied with different parts of the US defense establishment are fighting against each other.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is supported by the Pentagon, has been clashing with the CIA-backed Arab Fursan al-Haq militia near Aleppo.
"Any faction that attacks us, regardless from where it gets its support, we will fight it," said one of Fursan al-Haq's leaders.
SDF and Fursan al-Haq are only two of the dozens of groups that are fighting against dictator Bashar al-Assad and ISIS, yet cannot come to power-sharing arrangements among themselves.
The US and other Western countries see Assad and ISIS as the primary threats in Syria and have been arming rebel groups with little inter-departmental coordination over the groups' other aims.
More
The Los Angeles Times reports that the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is supported by the Pentagon, has been clashing with the CIA-backed Arab Fursan al-Haq militia near Aleppo.
"Any faction that attacks us, regardless from where it gets its support, we will fight it," said one of Fursan al-Haq's leaders.
SDF and Fursan al-Haq are only two of the dozens of groups that are fighting against dictator Bashar al-Assad and ISIS, yet cannot come to power-sharing arrangements among themselves.
The US and other Western countries see Assad and ISIS as the primary threats in Syria and have been arming rebel groups with little inter-departmental coordination over the groups' other aims.
More
Why Do Voters Say Hillary Clinton Is Untrustworthy?
Hillary Clinton is not trustworthy.
That’s the belief of many, many Americans – and in this case, let’s exclude the right-wing orthodoxy, who have hated Hillary since she first said she’d rather not stay home baking chocolate-chip cookies in 1992.
Forty percent of Democratic primary voters, according to March CBS/New York Times poll, believe that Mrs. Clinton is politically calculating; somone they don’t trust with the presidency. She’s been asked about it in debates and on the stump, and there’s awhole genre of literature devoted to her “fabrications.”
But even journalists like Jill Abramson, who has covered Clinton for decades as the the New York Times’ Washington bureau chief, managing editor and executive editor, have defended Clinton against mostly-baseless accusations that she is “dishonest.”
More
That’s the belief of many, many Americans – and in this case, let’s exclude the right-wing orthodoxy, who have hated Hillary since she first said she’d rather not stay home baking chocolate-chip cookies in 1992.
Forty percent of Democratic primary voters, according to March CBS/New York Times poll, believe that Mrs. Clinton is politically calculating; somone they don’t trust with the presidency. She’s been asked about it in debates and on the stump, and there’s awhole genre of literature devoted to her “fabrications.”
But even journalists like Jill Abramson, who has covered Clinton for decades as the the New York Times’ Washington bureau chief, managing editor and executive editor, have defended Clinton against mostly-baseless accusations that she is “dishonest.”
More
THOUSANDS PLEDGE TO GET ARRESTED IN D.C. PROTESTS NEXT MONTH
Those protesters signed an option on the coalition’s website explicitly stating, “I pledge to be one among thousands who will risk arrest to save democracy in DC between April 11 – 16.”
The leaders of Democracy Spring, a coalition of far-left groups plotting a mass civil disobedience movement to begin next month, told Breitbart News they have already confirmed 2,912 protesters who pledged specifically to risk arrest.
Those protesters signed an option on the coalition’swebsite explicitly stating, “I pledge to be one among thousands who will risk arrest to save democracy in DC between April 11 – 16.”
Other pledge options for protests include:
The leaders of Democracy Spring, a coalition of far-left groups plotting a mass civil disobedience movement to begin next month, told Breitbart News they have already confirmed 2,912 protesters who pledged specifically to risk arrest.
Those protesters signed an option on the coalition’swebsite explicitly stating, “I pledge to be one among thousands who will risk arrest to save democracy in DC between April 11 – 16.”
Other pledge options for protests include:
*I pledge to come to Washington DC to support the sit in through legal protest but cannot risk arrest.
*I want to join the march from Philadelphia to Washington DC, sometime between April 2 – 11.
*I want to volunteer to help organize this campaign.
23 PERCENT OF AMERICANS IN THEIR PRIME WORKING YEARS ARE UNEMPLOYED
What are we to make of all this?
Did you know that when you take the number of working age Americans that are officially unemployed (8.2 million) and add that number to the number of working age Americans that are considered to be “not in the labor force” (94.3 million), that gives us a grand total of 102.5 millionworking age Americans that do not have a job right now? I have written about this before, but today I want to focus just on Americans that are in their prime working years. When you look at only Americans that are from age 25 to age 54, 23.2 percent of them are unemployed right now. The following analysis and chart come from the Weekly Standard…
Did you know that when you take the number of working age Americans that are officially unemployed (8.2 million) and add that number to the number of working age Americans that are considered to be “not in the labor force” (94.3 million), that gives us a grand total of 102.5 millionworking age Americans that do not have a job right now? I have written about this before, but today I want to focus just on Americans that are in their prime working years. When you look at only Americans that are from age 25 to age 54, 23.2 percent of them are unemployed right now. The following analysis and chart come from the Weekly Standard…
Subject: 'Extraordinary' Success With Treatment Using Immune Cells to Target Cancer
Early trials of a potential cancer treatment in which white blood cells are modified to target certain types of the disease have been an "extraordinary" success, scientists said Monday.
In one study, 94 percent of participants suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) said their symptoms vanished completely after they were treated with the modified blood cells, known as T-cells.
In another study, 80 percent of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma responded positively to the treatment, while more than half ended up symptom-free.
"This is extraordinary," said lead researcher Professor Stanley Riddell from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. "This is unprecedented in medicine to be honest, to get response rates in this range in these very advanced patients."
The treatment involves removing the T-cells from patients, tagging them with "receptor" molecules that target cancer, and putting them back into the body in an infusion.The targeting molecules, known as chimeric antigen receptors or Cars, came from specially bred genetically engineered mice.
Once attached to the T-cells, they reduce the ability of the cancer to shield itself from the body's natural immune system.
Such reprogramming of the immune system is often considered a last-ditch option due to its dangerous side effects.
More
In one study, 94 percent of participants suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) said their symptoms vanished completely after they were treated with the modified blood cells, known as T-cells.
In another study, 80 percent of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma responded positively to the treatment, while more than half ended up symptom-free.
"This is extraordinary," said lead researcher Professor Stanley Riddell from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. "This is unprecedented in medicine to be honest, to get response rates in this range in these very advanced patients."
The treatment involves removing the T-cells from patients, tagging them with "receptor" molecules that target cancer, and putting them back into the body in an infusion.The targeting molecules, known as chimeric antigen receptors or Cars, came from specially bred genetically engineered mice.
Once attached to the T-cells, they reduce the ability of the cancer to shield itself from the body's natural immune system.
Such reprogramming of the immune system is often considered a last-ditch option due to its dangerous side effects.
More
Students Claim Pro-Trump White Board Message Is ‘Violence’
The message, which simply read “#Trump2016,” has been called an act of “intentional violence” in a university-wide email sent by Minjoo Kim, the student body president at Scripps College in Claremont, California.
SMH. @ScrippsCollege, are you trying to be the next Emory?! pic.twitter.com/bPObz6BOOs
— Hannah Oh (@hannahoh16) March 26, 2016
“This morning, a Mexican-American Scripps student woke up to find her whiteboard vandalized with the phrase ‘#Trump2016.’ This racist act is completely unacceptable,” Kim wrote. “Regardless of your political party, this intentional violence committed directly to a student of color proves to be another testament that racism continues to be an undeniable problem and alarming threat on our campuses.”
Kim claimed that the pro-Trump message violates Scripps’ goal of creating an “inclusive, safe, and welcoming community.” She recommended her peers seek out university counseling services if the 10 character message threatens their “mental and emotional health.”
More here
TED CRUZ DODGES QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER HE’S ‘ALWAYS BEEN FAITHFUL’ TO HIS WIFE
Cruz stood silently
Ted Cruz declined to answer a question on Monday about whether he has ever been unfaithful to his wife Heidi.
‘Senator Cruz,’ DailyMail.com asked him, ‘can you please swat down more definitively this National Enquirer piece by telling us on the record that you’ve never been unfaithful to your wife?’
The National Enquirer published a story last Wednesday that speculated about five women with whom the Republican presidential candidate was rumored to have had extramarital affairs.
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Ted Cruz declined to answer a question on Monday about whether he has ever been unfaithful to his wife Heidi.
‘Senator Cruz,’ DailyMail.com asked him, ‘can you please swat down more definitively this National Enquirer piece by telling us on the record that you’ve never been unfaithful to your wife?’
The National Enquirer published a story last Wednesday that speculated about five women with whom the Republican presidential candidate was rumored to have had extramarital affairs.
More
WBI Press Release 3/30/2016
Date of Incident: March 29, 2016
Location: 1424 Ballinadee Drive, Salisbury, MD
As a part of an ongoing investigation, the Community Action Team (CAT) applied for and was issued a Search And Seizure Warrant for the above listed address. This address had been identified as a residence of drug and common nuisance. The information learned was related to CAT. Additional information was developed and the warrant is the final result. Seized from the house was Heroin and Paraphernalia. The primary residents were also charged with the common nuisance.
Charges: Possession of Heroin, Common Nuisance, Controlled Paraphernalia Syringes and Paraphernalia
TOP GERMAN JOURNALIST ADMITS MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS COMPLETELY FAKE: “WE ALL LIE FOR THE CIA”
"I’ve been a journalist for about 25 years, and I was educated to lie, to betray, and not to tell the truth to the public."
With the increasing propaganda wars, we thought a reminder of just how naive many Westerners are when it comes to their news-feed.
As Arjun Walia, of GlobalResearch.ca, notes, Dr. Ulfakatte went on public television stating that he was forced to publish the works of intelligence agents under his own name, also adding that noncompliance with these orders would result in him losing his job.
He recently made an appearance on RT news to share these facts:
More
With the increasing propaganda wars, we thought a reminder of just how naive many Westerners are when it comes to their news-feed.
As Arjun Walia, of GlobalResearch.ca, notes, Dr. Ulfakatte went on public television stating that he was forced to publish the works of intelligence agents under his own name, also adding that noncompliance with these orders would result in him losing his job.
He recently made an appearance on RT news to share these facts:
More
Cruz Pens Letter Accusing Federal Government of Covertly Funneling Refugees
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) made time in the midst of an intense presidential campaign to issue a letter taking two high ranking government officials to task over the burdensome and high-cost refugee resettlement program.
“The United States resettles more refugees each year than any other nation. Since 2011, more than 330,000 refugees have arrived in the United States,” begins the March 24 Cruz letter addressed to Assistant Secretary of State Anne Richard and Office of Refugee Resettlement Director Robert Carey.
“A recent study of Middle Eastern refugees, for instance, found that, on average, each refugee cost taxpayers an estimated $64,370—or $257,481 per household—in the first five years.” The Cruz letter summarizes the makeup of these costs while pointing out the “welfare costs. It is estimated that 91% of Middle Eastern refugees receive food stamps, and 68% receive cash assistance.”
The letter moves on, speaking of those communities in which refugees are most frequently resettled and the disproportionate costs to those communities.
More here
“The United States resettles more refugees each year than any other nation. Since 2011, more than 330,000 refugees have arrived in the United States,” begins the March 24 Cruz letter addressed to Assistant Secretary of State Anne Richard and Office of Refugee Resettlement Director Robert Carey.
“A recent study of Middle Eastern refugees, for instance, found that, on average, each refugee cost taxpayers an estimated $64,370—or $257,481 per household—in the first five years.” The Cruz letter summarizes the makeup of these costs while pointing out the “welfare costs. It is estimated that 91% of Middle Eastern refugees receive food stamps, and 68% receive cash assistance.”
The letter moves on, speaking of those communities in which refugees are most frequently resettled and the disproportionate costs to those communities.
More here
Cops: Illegal Immigrant Arrested for Raping, Impregnating 12-Year-Old
An illegal immigrant has been arrested and charged with raping and impregnating a 12-year-old Texas girl, authorities say.
Prosecutors charged that in 2015 an illegal immigrant, Jose Alejandro Najarro, tried to convince his 12-year-old victim to have sex with him, but she refused. Refusing to take “no” for an answer, the suspect allegedly raped her at his home in Kyle, Texas.
Several months later, the girl was found to be pregnant and an investigation into her predicament was begun at that time. The girl told authorities she only had sex one time and that was with the suspect.
More
Prosecutors charged that in 2015 an illegal immigrant, Jose Alejandro Najarro, tried to convince his 12-year-old victim to have sex with him, but she refused. Refusing to take “no” for an answer, the suspect allegedly raped her at his home in Kyle, Texas.
Several months later, the girl was found to be pregnant and an investigation into her predicament was begun at that time. The girl told authorities she only had sex one time and that was with the suspect.
More
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