It is mind boggling to see such a rift between a Government and its People.
It amazes me, the audacity that our leaders have, that can state that we achieved our goals, with a straight face.

Our leaders have called for a unilateral cease fire.  What the heck is a unilateral cease fire?  I've never heard of anything so absurd before.  Only our leaders, from Mars, could come up with that one.  And only our leaders from Mars, could say, without blushing, that we have achieved our goals when the Hamas is still in power, still launching rockets against us, firing at our soldiers, and Gilad Shalit is still being held captive.  What did we achieve other than killing some Hamas-nikim, but not the heads of the snake.  What did we achieve other than destroying some Arab buildings and tunnels?  The poisonous Hamas snake is still alive and it's venomous fangs are still intact. It amazes me, the audacity that our leaders have, that can state that we achieved our goals, with a straight face.

The people here are all upset, frustrated, and know there will be a repeat of this situation because we did not finish destroying 'the problem'.  They are angry that we are not allowed to complete the job of crushing the enemy so they will never be able to launch another missile at our population centers again.  Our army is made up of mostly reservists who have left their jobs and families, to come down and kick tuchus. Bush, Olmert, Obama and Barak have stopped them.

However, saying all this, let's be pragmatic.  We knew this operation would have to come to an end before Tuesday.  Bush didn't want to leave office with a war broiling in the Middle East and under his watch, and Obama doesn't want Israel and Gaza stealing the news headlines when the media should be focused on his inauguration! Add to that, the fact that Israel is not allowed to win, in order to keep us under the world's thumb.

And THAT, my friends, is the truth, short and sweet. There's a wide rift between the People and Government.   They are from Mars, we are from Venus. 

One of my favorite sayings is from the movie called, "'V' for Vendetta".  In the movie, 'V' states, "People shouldn't be afraid of their Governments.  Governments should be afraid of their People."  Maybe it's about time that all of us around the world who are being used as puppets, internalized that philosophy, and demanded that our governments really represent us, the People, and let us finish the job we need to do.

WARNING!  Disturbing video.  HAMAS KILL FATAH IN GAZA

This is hard to watch.  Maybe if some people who are still convinced that Israel is unjustified in going into Gaza, this will show them why.  Now, not to make a mistake, the Fatah is a terror organization as well, and both are our enemies and want our Land. Both murder Jews in terror attacks.  However, the reason I am showing this video is to show the savageness of these Klingon/Romulan/Alien Monsters, because if they do this to their own brother Arabs, just think what they would do to us!

Again, this very disturbing to watch, I cannot emphasize it enough! Don't view if you are squeamish.

Many of the soldiers who are in Gaza are still wearing the same uniforms they came in and unless they brought a change of socks and underwear… TMI   That's what I heard being talked about on one of the news shows trying to describe what our poor soldiers were going through in Gaza.  They have to sleep (if they even get a chance for sleep) on the cold tile or cement floors.  If they are lucky they might find a couch or bed left in an apartment where the Arab families have fled.

Tank-istim (soldiers in the Tank Corps) have it very hard as well. They have to stay in their tanks for long hours, sometimes days.  They have to eat, sleep, etc there.  It's hard in the winter, having to sleep on cold metal floors.  The rainy weather makes for mud and harder maneuvering.

Reservists are being called up to join the enlisted forces.  Their mission:  Find Hamas fighters, find tunnels, find weapons and neutralize.

Here's an arab school that the Hamas booby-trapped to kill IDF soldiers and/or to blame Israel in the media for 'targeting their children'.

Soldiers can't just walk into Arab homes through the front doors. Entering through the front doors could be deadly.  They might be booby-trapped.  Instead, entrances are blasted through the walls on the side of these Gazan houses.   For an amazing story I told today on my show about a 'miracle' that happened in Gaza and that is making its rounds within the Israeli people, listen to my show today. It will give you goose-bumps.

The TV news today show IDF soldiers tired, but motivated and in good spirits.  They are wearing all their gear; heavy backpacks, weapons, etc.  They have to walk, hunching forward, to balance the weight of their packs. After entering an abandoned house to set down for a while, many of the soldiers lighten their load setting down where they find a corner in the house and rest.  Some scenes show the soldiers standing together, prayer books in hand, and davening (praying) their morning, afternoon or evening prayers. Then it's time for the search and destroy (tunnel) mission.  Look what our soldiers have to contend with when trying to find tunnels in the 'innocent' arab civilian's homes….

One soldier on the news this evening, named Itai, tells his strange story:  After doing some time in Gaza, he returned home to his family's house in the south of the country. His 'welcome home' was a missile that slammed into his home.  What didn't find him in Gaza, almost found him at home.

The news just had a report on that brought tears to my eyes,  one that often happens when we find oursleves in a war situation. The country comes together.  A project is underway for Haredi Jews to 'adopt' a soldier to pray for him and study Torah in his honor.  An office was opened with Haredi women taking names by telephone, of mothers of IDF soldiers who are asking that their sons be prayed for.  Names are taken and then given out to the Haredi community.

Another project reported on shows Israeli kids and youth packing boxes of goodies to Israeli soldeirs.  Enclosed is a personal letter from the person who doanted the package with their phone number included.  The news showed the packages being handed out to very happy and appreciative soldiers.  One soldier read the letter from his package outloud for the cameras, and then seeing the phone number left there, whipped out a cell phone and called up the person to thank them.  A young woman answered the phone and was so moved that he took the time to call and thank her.  She said to this soldier -whom she doesn't know, that she prays that he return to his family safely and soon.  Almost both of them were in tears.  I know I was.

Later, a visit to the soldiers from the President of Israel had them saying a prayer and singing 'Am Yisrael Chai" The nation of Israel lives!

Please all, for one moment, let's all say or leave a prayer for the safety of our brave soldiers and all our brothers and sisters under missile and rocket attack.

This blog post has nothing to do with the war, politics, Israel, or anything I usually write about. Instead of focusing on battles and destruction, I am taking a break, and focusing on something beautiful. I'll get back to the war and the politcial situation soon, but just for now, ahhhhh. I am just giddy with the beauty and amazing feats Mankind can do in this world.

G-d is so awesome that He lets us discover, conquor and achieve! Here's two amazing videos I love to watch, and I can't help thinking how beautiful it is, and how it must please G-d when we get together and create such beauty.

I just got this next thing from a Brazilian friend. It takes a minute or two to load (load it completely so it doesn't buffer and ruin the effect.) It is slow at first, but be patient, this is one of THE most amazing things I have EVER seen in my life.
wingsuit base jumping from Ali on Vimeo.

Watch it here, but better to view it on a big window by clicking HERE ( http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1778399&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1 ) and then put up your speakers. Then return to the blog and write me some beautiful comments. I need to just breath in the beauty the world has to offer ...for today.

These people are not from our planet. 

Please, please, please, watch this video and then pass it on.  The begining is a bit slow, but stick with it, you won't be sorry.   (Link to video below) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UptNr0v1p3E

These people are not from our planet.  They have given up their humanity.  At least the Klingons and Romulans had SOME integrity and honor. These people???  I have no words.   If you do, post them.

(Thanks to Prof. Eidelberg who alerted those on his email list about this video.)