memeorandum: Iran orders Muslims to defend Palestinians (Ynetnews)

9:30 AM ET, December 28, 2008

Top Items:

Iran orders Muslims to defend Palestinians — Supreme leader issues religious decree in support of Palestinians; parliamentarian likens Israel's actions in Gaza to those of Hitler — Dudi Cohen — Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a religious decree to Muslims around the world on Sunday …

Discussion: Jihad Watch

Barak Ravid / Haaretz:

Disinformation, secrecy, deception: How the Gaza offensive came about — Long-term preparation, careful gathering of information, secret discussions, operational deception and the misleading of the public - all these stood behind the Israel Defense Forces “Cast Lead” operation against Hamas targets …

Discussion: Jerusalem Post, I*Consult, Associated Press, The Huffington Post, Aljazeera, Mondoweiss, Ynetnews, english.ramattan.net, Firedoglake, kuna.net.kw, TPMCafe, Macsmind and Israel Matzav

David Horovitz / Jerusalem Post:

Analysis: The policy of restraint is over — The Israeli air strikes on Hamas targets in Gaza on Saturday, hugely dramatic in their scope, nonetheless mark only the beginning of an ongoing, potentially lengthy operation aimed at restoring calm to the South, rather than a one-off response to the escalated Kassam rocket fire.

Discussion: Israpundit, Israel Matzav, Ynetnews and Yourish.com

Bradley Burston / Haaretz:

Bradley Burston / The worst anti-Israel charges you'll hear in wartime — It is, abruptly and again, wartime. Across the globe, the selective pacifists of the left and the recliner Rambos of the right are spoiling for their next battle, the war in Gaza. — They will fight one another …

Discussion: Sean Rayment's blog listings, Harry's Place, Preemptive Karma, Firedoglake and Pajamas Media

Michael Abramowitz / Washington Post:
Israeli Airstrikes on Gaza Strip Imperil Obama's Peace Chances

Discussion: Guardian, BBC, New York Times, The Huffington Post, Augean Stables, Commentary, Right Wing News, Israel Matzav and TalkLeft

Barak Ravid / Haaretz:
Israel to mount emergency international PR effort in wake of Gaza campaign

Discussion: Mondoweiss, Telegraph, Ynetnews, Israpundit and Yourish.com

Hana Levi Julian / Arutz Sheva:
IDF Releases Photos of Hamas Targets, Terror Training Facilities

Discussion: Jihad Watch, Ynetnews, Israpundit, Haaretz, Atlas Shrugs and Jerusalem Post

Jerusalem Post:
IDF amasses forces near Gaza ahead of possible ground op.

Discussion: Mere Rhetoric, Ynetnews, Time, Israel Matzav, Yourish.com, Gateway Pundit, The New Republic, Haaretz and Reuters

Ynetnews:
IDF mobilizing tanks in event of Gaza ground incursion

Discussion: Haaretz, Reuters, Yourish.com and Israel Matzav

Noah Pollak / Commentary:
What's at Stake in Gaza

Discussion: Jerusalem Post, Power Line, Little Green Footballs and CNN

Frank Rich / New York Times:

You're Likable Enough, Gay People — IN his first press conference after his re-election in 2004, President Bush memorably declared, “I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it.” We all know how that turned out. — Barack Obama has little in common …

Discussion: Prairie Weather and TalkLeft

Andie Coller / The Politico:

After Bush, will MoveOn live up to its name? — After more than a decade spent railing against the Republican machine, MoveOn wants to move on —even if it means leaving some of its high-minded ideals behind. — Last week, the group's members chose their top four priorities for the organization …

Discussion: Open Left and Patterico's Pontifications

Christopher Booker / Telegraph:

2008 was the year manmade global warming was disproved — Looking back over my columns of the past 12 months, one of their major themes was neatly encapsulated by two recent items from The Daily Telegraph. — The first, on May 21, headed “Climate change threat to Alpine ski resorts” …

Discussion: Don Surber, Ed Driscoll.com and NewsBusters.org

Michael D. Shear / Washington Post:

RNC Rivals Discuss Racial Song — Would-Be Chairman Who Sent CD With Parody Blames Media — Republicans who are vying to lead the national party offered a mix of reactions yesterday to the decision by one candidate for the job to mail out a music CD including the song “Barack the Magic Negro.”

Discussion: TPM Election Central, bastard.logic and The Caucus

Rebecca Sinderbrand / CNN:
RNC chairman condemns ‘Magic Negro’ song

Discussion: Ben Smith's Blogs, New York Times, La Figa, Buck Naked Politics, Political Machine and RedState

David S. Broder / Washington Post:

The GOP Goes South — As a rule, a new president's choice of a secretary of transportation makes few headlines, even when the appointee is a member of the opposition. In 2001, George W. Bush decided to name as transportation secretary Norman Mineta, a former representative from California …

Discussion: Washington Monthly and AMERICAblog News

Steve Connor / The Independent:

Scientific illiteracy all the rage among the glitterati — When it comes to science, Barack Obama is no better than many of us. Today he joins the list of shame of those in public life who made scientifically unsupportable statements in 2008. — Closer to home, Nigella Lawson …

Paul Mulshine / WSJ.com:

All I Wanted for Christmas Was a Newspaper — Bloggers are no replacement for real journalists. — Newark, N.J. — When my colleague at the Newark Star-Ledger John Farmer started off in journalism more than five decades ago, things were very different.

Discussion: Jules Crittenden, Instapundit, The Other McCain, Ed Driscoll.com and Fausta's Blog

Monique Garcia / Chicago Tribune:

Gov. Rod Blagojevich's lawyer criticized by lawmakers — Legislators say Ed Genson is trying to play impeachment committee, criminal case against each other with subpoena requests — Gov. Rod Blagojevich's attorney hasn't had his day in federal court yet, but critics say he's trying to use …

Discussion: CANNONFIRE