THE DIOGENES REPORT
The Wit, Wisdom & Wituperation of Emanuel L. Strunin
“a few steps ahead of the curve”
February 2004, VOL. IV, # 7
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KERRY’S TROUBLESOME RECORD

Just as this issue was ready to go to press, or, more correctly, to be posted on my website, I received an e-mail titled “John Kerry and the Pro-Israel Community—A Troublesome Disconnect.” I have never followed Kerry’s career, so I read this document carefully. It is not a baseless attack. It is a factual document with facts that are all on the public record. 

Just about every presidential candidate in the past and present saved their anti-Israel sentiments and actions until after they were elected. The only ones that I can think of who voiced anti-Israel sentiments during the campaign and/or the run-up to the campaign are Pat Buchanan, Ralph Nader and Howard Dean. Now we have a very likely Democratic candidate who has voiced opinions and taken stands in the Senate that, I believe, are harmful to the security of the State of Israel. While even this document notes that Kerry has usually been supportive of Israel, we should be very wary before we support him for President. His critics point out that he is often on both sides of an issue so we can be sure that there will be an all-out campaign to prove that he is a great friend of Israel.

Some problematic issues:

Two days after the signing of the “Geneva Accord” a meaningless agreement concocted by extremist left-wing Israelis and some Arabs (neither with any official sanction), Kerry spoke at the Council of Foreign Relations and applauded “private citizens as well as elected officials who have worked these last months to advance the peace process....” This so-called accord had been rejected by the Israeli Government and the majority of the Israeli people and Kerry knew it.

In another speech at the Council of Foreign Relations, Kerry pledged to appoint a presidential ambassador to the peace process, who would report directly to him and to the Secretary of State. He said,” There are a handful of uniquely qualified Americans I would consider appointing: President Jimmy Carter, President Clinton, or in the interest of bipartisanship, James Baker.” If you don’t understand the significance of Kerry’s choices, you should not be reading The Diogenes Report. Just in case you missed yhe Baker choice, that’s James “fuck the Jews” Baker.

Kerry voted against The Brownback-Wyden Resolution calling for support of democracy in Iran in 2002.

Kerry was not among the 55 signers of the Grassley/Lautenberg Letter urging Secretary Christopher to include Hamas in the terrorism report in 1993.

Kerry was not among the 45 co-sponsors of the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996.

Kerry was not among the 36 co-sponsors of the Middle East Peace Process Support Act of 2000.

Kerry was not among the 60 co-sponsors of the Peace Through Negotiations Act of 2000

All these pieces of legislation were meant for a sensible American Middle East policy..

If you want a copy of this document e-mail me at editor@diogenesreport.com



TIME IS ALWAYS ON OUR SIDE

It’s a siren song that Israel hears all the time from its “friends” and enemies: compromise (a code word for roll over and play dead or, more realistically, be dead) with the Arabs because time is on their side. You know the familiar refrain—the Arab population is growing faster than the Jewish population and they will, in time, overwhelm Israel. I have never believed that the Jews will be overwhelmed based on God’s word that the Jews will always survive. I have just come across some “scientific” information that backs God’s seemingly tenuous guarantee.

Based on the information I’ve gleaned from reading and from listening to travelers, the only reason that the “Palestinians” and other Arabs have support around the world is that they sit on oceans of oil. Eliminate the oil and nobody gives a damn about what happens to the Arabs. This is a feeling which comes from Europe and Asia and Texas. This feeling is even shared by the Arabs’ fellow Muslims in Africa—based on their past and present experience.

There is a new book, Out Of Gas: The End of the Age of Oil by David Goodstein, a physicist and vice provost of the California Institute of Technology. While I haven’t read the book, the review in the Sunday, Feb. 8, 2004 Book Review section of The New York Times presents the long-term picture for the future of oil based on the research of Goodstein, which the reviewer agrees is based on the immutable laws of physics.

Goodstein’s analysis predicts that the age of oil is ending. The supply will soon begin to decline and even if we substitute coal and natural gas for some of the oil, we will run out of fossil fuels by the end of the century. Oil production peaked in the U. S. in the 70s and has been declining ever since. Based on a proven analysis, global oil production will peak well within the next 20 years. He does not offer an encouraging picture of how the world will cope with the overall energy situation, despite potential technological developments.
This may seem like a mad scientist’s scenario, but the reviewer keeps emphasizing the strength of Goodstein’s evidence and his logical arguments.

However, the future of energy-lacking world is not my concern at this point. My point is that time is, as always, on the side of the Jews, so there is no need to compromise with the Arabs. In just 100 years, the Arabs and other Muslims will be out of oil and no one, but no one, will even remember who they were. And, on a more optimistic note, some authorities predict that Arab oil will disappear in just 50 years.



KEEP A ROUND EYE ON THOSE JUNKS FROM SHANGHAI

The Chinese are shipping a lot more than all the electronics, toys, clothing, nicknacks and all the other products we buy. China is a leading supplier of missiles and weapons of mass destruction technology to Syria and has been helping the Syrians develop solid-fuel missile technology. The Chinese also have held recent meetings with Kuwait, Sudan and Syria to provide military training for the Arabs. It looks like China is trying to replace Russia as the leading troublemaker in the Middle East. The hottest news around is that China has been supplying nuclear know-how and technology to the Arabs, Iran and North Korea over a period of years. Of course, playing footsie with the Middle East Muslims does not mean that China will treat its own Muslims any less harshly. Diogenes suggests that the round eyes should squint suspiciously when they deal with China. China is a lot more than colorful new year celebrations and bobble-head dolls.



AMAZING ISRAEL

The following has been making the rounds on the Internet for some time and I may have even reprinted it. But in the face of worldwide hatred and the continuing Arab attacks it is worthwhile to remind the world and each other what a gem we have in the Jewish state.
Remember, too, that all of this was accomplished without the millions of Jews who would have been the descendents of the 6,000,000 Jews who were murdered by the Europeans.

Israel, the 100th smallest country, with less than 1/1000th of the world's population, can lay claim to the following:

The cell phone was developed in Israel by Israelis working in the Israeli branch of Motorola, which has its largest development center in Israel.

Most of the Windows NT and XP operating systems were developed by Microsoft-Israel.

The Pentium MMX Chip technology was designed in Israel at Intel. Both the Pentium-4 microprocessor and the Centrino processor were entirely designed, developed and produced in Israel.

Voice mail technology was developed in Israel.

Both Microsoft and Cisco built their only R&D facilities outside the US in Israel.

The technology for the AOL Instant Messenger ICQ was developed in 1996 by four young Israelis.

Israel has the fourth largest air force in the world (after the U.S., Russia and China). In addition to a large variety of other aircraft, Israel's air force has an aerial arsenal of over 250 F-16's. This is the largest fleet of F-16 aircraft outside of the US.

According to industry officials, Israel designed the airline industry's most impenetrable flight security system. U. S. officials now look to Israel for advice on how to handle airborne security threats.

Israel's $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.

Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita.

Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to population in the world.

Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin - 109 per 10,000 people -- as well as one of the highest per capita rates of patents filed. The listings on the Internet of the scientific and technical papers from Israel’s colleges and universities is mind-boggling in terms of subject matter and numbers.

In proportion to its population, Israel has the largest number of startup companies in the world. In absolute terms, Israel has the largest number of startup companies than any other country in the world, except the US (3,500 companies mostly in hi-tech).

With more than 3,000 high-tech companies and startups, Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the world -- apart from the Silicon Valley, US.

Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the US.

Outside the United States and Canada, Israel has the largest number of NASDAQ listed companies.

Israel has the highest average living standard in the Middle The per capita income in 2000 was over $17,500, exceeding that of the UK.

On a per capita basis, Israel has the largest number of biotech startups.

Twenty-four per cent of Israel's workforce holds university degrees -- ranking third in the industrialized world, after the United States and Holland - and 12 per cent hold advanced degrees.

Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.

In 1984 and 1991, Israel airlifted a total of 22,000 Ethiopian Jews at risk in Ethiopia, to safety in Israel and the inflow has not stopped.

When the U. S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya was bombed in 1998, Israeli rescue teams were on the scene within a day -- and saved three victims from the rubble.

Israel has the third highest rate of entrepreneurship -- and the highest rate among women and among people over 55 - in the world.

Relative to its population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants come in search of democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity.

Israel was the first nation to adopt the Kimberly protocol, an international standard that certifies diamonds as "conflict free" so that diamond sales cannot be used to fund the civil wars that are plaguing Africa.

Israel has the world's second highest per capita of new books.

Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees, made more remarkable because this was achieved in an area considered mainly desert.

Israel has more museums per capita than any other country.

Medicine... Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation, diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.

An Israeli company developed a computerized system for ensuring proper administration of medications, thus removing human error from medical treatment. Every year in U. S. hospitals 7,000 patients die from treatment mistakes.

Israel's Givun Imaging developed the first ingestible video camera, so small it fits inside a pill. Used to view the small intestine from the inside, the camera helps doctors diagnose cancer and digestive disorders.

Researchers in Israel developed a new device that directly helps the heart pump blood, an innovation with the potential to save lives among those with heart failure. The new device is synchronized with the heart's mechanical operations through a sophisticated system of sensors.

Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with 145 per 10,000, as opposed to 85 in the U.S., over 70 in Japan, and less than 60 in Germany. With over 25% of its work force employed in technical professions, Israel places first in this category as well.

A new acne treatment developed in Israel, the ClearLight device, produces a high-intensity, ultraviolet-light-free, narrow-band blue light that causes acne bacteria to self-destruct -- all without damaging surroundings skin or tissue.

An Israeli company was the first to develop and install a large-scale solar-powered and fully-functional electricity generating plant, in southern California's Mojave desert.

.......... All the above was accomplished while engaged in regular wars with an implacable enemy that seeks its destruction, and an economy continuously under strain by having to spend more per capita on its own protection than any other country on earth.



HEADLINES AND COMMENTS
Headlines from the world’s press. Comments by Diogenes.

Unemployed Iraqis Say New Jobs Will Pay Off In Greater Security For All
What do the unemployed Americans say?

Critics Say Forest Service Battles Too Many Fires
Some people say that about the NYFD, the LAFD and the Detroit Fire Department.

Second Man Alleges Sex Abuse By Bishop
As chess players say, you can’t win if you confuse the bishop with the queen.

Federal Grant Funds ‘Sex Can Wait’ Program
I wonder if there are as much Federal funds behind this program as Pfizer has put behind its Viagra ‘Sex Can’t Wait’ program?

Seniors Invited To Valentine Lunch Program
If they get ptomaine, can we call it the Valentine Massacre II?

Regional Terrorist Groups Pose Growing Threat, Experts Warn
Name one of this group that isn’t Muslim. You can’t? Neither can I.

U. N. Team Arrives In Iraq To Study Plans For Elections
What’s their next stop...Florida?

Russians Seek Better Security After Blast
Will they ask the Israelis to build a fence around Russia?

Airline Pilot Stirs Christian Discussion
1. Not even the Muslim 9/11 pilots opened theological discussions.
2. New catch phrase: coffee, tea or Jesus.

How Did The Governor Do? Three Opinions
A 4th opinion: the headline should be: not “how” but “who” did the governor do.

German Court Convicts Internet Cannibal Of Manslaughter
I didn’t know that virtual cannibalism is a crime.

A Putin Election Challenger Disappears
Have they looked in Lenin’s tomb or the Gulag?

State Transportation Commissioner To Retire
Wow! A Connecticut public official retires without being pushed out.

Gays And Lesbians Deserve The Protections Of Marriage
Legal access to the divorce courts?

Area Towns To Seek Federal Funding For Snow Removal
Funds for snow removal? What you usually get from the Feds is a snow job.

Scientists Claim Cloning Success
Scientists Claim Cloning Success

After Attacks Iraqi Security Looks Unready
They are Arabs; they commit crimes; they don’t prevent crimes.

U.S. Aides Hint Afghan Voting May Be Put Off
1. Having a problem with one-man-one-vote?
2. We are aiming for 70% voter registration. We don’t get that in the U.S.

U.S. Nears Clash With Governors On Medicaid Costs
Never have the governors been so healthy and the Feds so sick.

Jockey Mourned 2 Victories Short Of A Milestone
When I die, take my saddle from the wall,
Put it on my pony, lead him out of his stall,
Tie my bones to his back,
Turn our faces to the west,
And we’ll ride for the milestone that you suggest..
(with apologies to “I Ride An Old Paint”)



QUOTES I LIKE
Diogenes considers them clever, not that he necessarily agrees with them.

Executive compensation contracts: The big print giveth but the small print giveth even more.
- Brian Foley

The great tragedy of science is the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact.
- Thomas Henry Huxley

Written apologies for their behavior by professional athletes: Considering that some of these people grunt to communicate, it’s funny how often they sound like Alistair Cooke on paper 
- David Whitley

My advice to Senators Kerry and Edwards is if Gore calls, don’t take the call. It may be an endorsement.
- Bob Dole

The greatest fear of a Muslim suicide bomber is that none of the 70 black-eyed beauties that are waiting for him in Islamic heaven will be virgins.
- Diogenes

Never stay at a motel where the room key is attached to a can of ‘roach kill’.
- B. C. (comic strip)

A book that furnishes no quotations is no book—it is a plaything.
- Thomas Love Peacock

I took a course in speed reading, learning to read straight down the middle of the page and was able to read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It’s about Russia.
- Woody Allen

It is much easier to repent of sins we have committed than of those we intend to commit.
- Josh Billings

What people say behind your back is your standing in the community.
- Ed Howe

The devil himself has not yet created a suitable vengeance for the blood of a slain infant.
- Menachem Begin

It is difficult not to write satire.
- Juvenal

The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.
- Albert Einstein

Test question: Name the king who had numerous wives,
Skylar: Larry.
- SHOE (cartoon strip)

It matters not one iota what political party is in power, or what president holds the reins of office. We are not politicians or public thinkers; we are the rich; we own America; we got it, God knows how; but we intend to keep it.
- Frederick T. Martin, corporation lawyer, 1911

The more you read and observe about this Politics thing, you got to admit that each party is worse than the other. The one that’s out always looks the best.
- Will Rogers

Oakland, CA: when you get there, there isn’t any there there.
- Gertrude Stein

Irreverence is the champion of liberty and its only sure defense
- Mark Twain

I don’t want to hear about same-sex marriages in San Francisco, tell me about their honeymoons.
- Diogenes

Comments welcome. e-mail to: editor@diogenesreport.com
All issues of The Diogenes Report are on the website -- 
www.diogenesreport.com