Byliners

Attempted bombing was not a single criminal event but rather an act of war

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C. –It was bad enough that United States agents failed to take seriously the visit by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s father, a prominent banker, to the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria to report his concerns about his own son’s associates and behavior. It was bad enough that spokesmen for the U.S. government later […]

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Shoshana Bryen

OMA exhibit juxtaposes American dreams and realities

     Oceanside Museum of Art …. Photo: OMA _____________________________________________________ By Donald H. Harrison OCEANSIDE, California—The Jewish poetess Emma Lazarus is best known for the “New Colossus,” a poem that is engraved onto the base of the Statue of Liberty.  She expressed the promise that America held for immigrants in 1876, the American centennial year

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Donald H. Harrison, USA

Like every U.S. President, Obama becoming scapegoat for world's bad guys

By Shoshana Bryen WASHINGTON, D.C.–Adversaries of the United States blame the United States for their woes. THE President, not “this president,” or “that president,” receives the animus of those who need America to be their adversary. Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Nicaragua -to some extent Russia and China-all use the United States as a foil. In the

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Shoshana Bryen, USA

Is Israel overly preoccupied with Iran's nuclear goals?

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–An American friend, who some time ago showed his disappointment with Israel, has sent another note that includes: “I scan three Israeli newspapers every day (well, actually, their web sites, in English). It’s less like visiting a foreign country than like visiting a foreign planet. The obsession with Iran’s supposed nuclear weapons

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USA

Temple Solel offers buffet of Judaism to unaffiliated

By Donald H. Harrison CARDIFF BY THE SEA, California—The leadership of Temple Solel is helping to evolve the concept of Judaism as a spiritual buffet. First, the Reform congregation announced its Synaplex program in which on several Shabbat evenings throughout the year, congregants could go temple and find a number of simultaneous offerings – much

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego Calendar, USA

Winning battle for public opinion not the same as winning the real battle

By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM–“How many troops has the Pope?” If you are old enough to remember that question, you know that the answer is somewhere between “None,” and “Not too many.” The modern equivalent is, “How many troops has world public opinion?” Same answer, to the great sorrow of the Palestinians. Israel has not responded

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Ira Sharkansky, Middle East