Behind the Lines: Israeli Libertarian

Friday, July 18, 2008

Ayn Rand/Nathaniel Branden

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Friday, July 04, 2008

To My American Readers - Thank You All

I make it a personal habit to congratulate my American correspondents, and people on forums I frequent, on the 4th of July. Usually, I try to find something important to say to them, but this year, I'm flat out. Maybe I'm just too cynical after some of the recent events, but I don't have anything to say outside of the obvious:

What happened in 1776 was not just important for Americans. It was an event that shook the world – because it proved that the idea of freedom isn't just yet another utopia. That freedom can work. That freedom is an option.

The tyrants can take over the world, and they can make us all slaves. But they cannot change the past. The very fact that at one point in the past, men risked their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to declare liberty, and then maintained this liberty for generations, is a blow to tyrannies of all kinds. And they know it. Men like Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams are dangerous to them, even two centuries later.

The message of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry and Samuel Adams is uniquely American – but it is also eternal. It reminds us overseas – it reminds all people in the world – that no matter what injustice we are subjected to, we are all, ultimately, free. We deserve to be free. We are no worms, crawling under the throne of some king or almighty leader, we are human beings, with human dignity and freedom inherent to our very nature. That is the message of America.

America is the land of endless opportunity – because America is the land of freedom.

America is the land of limitless wealth – because America is the land of freedom.

America is the land of almost unstoppable military might – because America is the land of freedom.

Never has this power, or this wealth, been America's share because it has some special resources, or minerals, or because its people have the right diet. Forever has America's message been: “Do what we do, accept our message of freedom, and you will be wealthy and powerful and happy, just like us.”

America's message is one that America can share with the world – freely – and does share, freely, without losing her wealth, or its power. Because freedom is not hoarded, nor is it rationed.

The message of freedom is universal. That message, above all else, is America's gift to the world.

Thank you, America.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Because They're That Awesome.

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Regarding the terrorist incident

Police said the incident was definitely terrorism, emphasizing that the perpetrator, Jabr Duwait, a 32-year-old father of two from East Jerusalem, was carrying an Israeli identity card.[4] He was being hired by a local construction firm for the Jerusalem Light Rail.



From Comrade Wiki, of course.

Previously it was said that one of the policemen involved was wounded by gunfire. This appears, as of now, not to be true.

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Wednesday, July 02, 2008

At least 4 killed, 36 hurt in J'lem bulldozer terror attack

From the Jerusalem Post

At least 4 killed, 36 hurt in J'lem bulldozer terror attack
Jul. 2, 2008
JPost.com Staff , THE JERUSALEM POST

At least four people were killed and 36 were wounded - two seriously, four moderately and 30 lightly - on Wednesday afternoon when a bulldozer driver went on a rampage in downtown Jerusalem.

Police said that the driver plowed his vehicle into two public buses, toppling them over, and slammed into several cars.

The driver was shot dead by an elite policeman, police said, adding that the incident was a terror attack. Police emphasized that the terrorist was carrying an Israeli identity card and was a resident of east Jerusalem.

Witnesses said the driver was killed after a brief struggle with two policemen.

One of the elite policeman was lightly wounded, apprently by gunfire, indicating that the terrorist was armed.

The attack, on the junction of Jaffa and Sha'arie Yisreal streets, set off a panic in the area. Dozens of people ran through the streets to flee the scene of the attack and a car was still stuck under the bulldozer. Police said it was unclear how many people were in the trapped vehicle.

The bulldozer was apprently being used for construction work on the Jerusalem light rail project.

MicroBalrog Notes:

1. Ban guns. They'll use tractors. And illegal guns.

2. Guns are even useful against guys with tractors.

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Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Less and less army recruits

According to the department of Human Resources Planning of the IDF, only 52% of the young men will be joining the army this year.

Year after year, the percentage of people avoiding military service increases - and yet, states the Army, "this situation will not hurt national security".

I suspect it will not hurt national security because we do not need these men anyway.

The more people opt out of 'compulsory' military service, the better - because the more of them opt out, the more pressure it puts on the army to switch over to a real, voluntary military.

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