Obama's Jewish Problem

Obama's Jewish Problem: When Mitt Romney said in his speech at the Republican National Convention that, “Obama has thrown Israel under the bus,” Mitt obviously knew more than the rest of us. Within days of that speech, the picture of Obama's betrayal of Israel became clear. The story is shocking, as much for the betrayal of one of our strongest allies as for the timing

Democratic Party’s New Pro-Hamas Platform | FrontPage Magazine

Democratic Party’s New Pro-Hamas Platform | FrontPage Magazine: How bad would a second Obama term be for Israel? Really, really bad.

The campaign is generally not the time that crucial voting groups get thrown under the bus, but the Democratic Party’s new platform gives us a peek at what the next four years will be like if Israel’s best friend in the White House since Jimmy Carter gets another four years.

Palestinian Stimulus: Terrorists Get a Raise � Commentary Magazine

Palestinian Stimulus: Terrorists Get a Raise � Commentary Magazine: As of May 2011, the [Palestinian Authority] spent NIS 18 million ($4.5 million) per month on compensating Palestinian inmates in Israeli prisons and a further NIS 26 million ($6.5 million) on payments to families of suicide bombers. In all, such payments cost the PA some 6 percent of its overall budget, Israel’s Channel 2 news reported on Monday night, citing documentation signed by Fayyad.

A prisoner sentenced up to three years in prison now receives a base salary of NIS 1,400 per month, and for 3-5 years that rate increases to NIS 2,000, the report said. A NIS 300 bonus is added for a wife, and NIS 50 per child.

Israel: Coping with Its Gas Bonanza | Via Meadia

Israel: Coping with Its Gas Bonanza | Via Meadia
Experts are convinced that Tamar and Leviathan will not be the last big Israeli discoveries. They point to the US Geological Survey, which estimates that the subsea area that runs from Egypt all the way north to Turkey, also known as the Levantine Basin, contains more than 120 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Israeli waters account for some 40 per cent of the total. Should these estimates be confirmed through discoveries in the years ahead, Israel’s natural gas reserves would count among the 25 largest in the world, on a par with the proven reserves of Libya and ahead of those of India and The Netherlands. For decades a barren energy island, forced to import every drop of fuel, Israel today stands on the cusp of an economic revolution, fuelled by the vast riches that lie below its waters.

Report: Israeli PM Shouts at Obama's Ambassador - 'Time Has Run Out!'

Report: Israeli PM Shouts at Obama's Ambassador - 'Time Has Run Out!': Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly shouted "Time has run out!" at U.S. Ambassador Dan Shapiro, as the two met in Israel earlier this week and discussed the Obama administration's position on Iran.

The Israeli George Zimmerman and the Muslim Trayvon Martin | FrontPage Magazine

The Israeli George Zimmerman and the Muslim Trayvon Martin | FrontPage Magazine
Israel has its own No-Go Zones and in those territories, having an available firearm can mean the difference between life and death… as you are about to see in this video.

Netanyahu 'determined to attack Iran' before US elections, claims Israel's Channel 10 | The Times of Israel

Netanyahu 'determined to attack Iran' before US elections, claims Israel's Channel 10 | The Times of Israel: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is determined to attack Iran before the US elections,” Israel’s Channel 10 News claimed on Monday night, and Israel is now “closer than ever” to a strike designed to thwart Iran’s nuclear drive.

Is Bibi Bluffing on Iran Strike? � Commentary Magazine

Is Bibi Bluffing on Iran Strike? � Commentary Magazine: In Israel this week, people are lining up for gas masks, a new Homeland Defense has been set to work to deal with the task of readying the country for the possibility of attacks from Iran, Lebanon and Gaza, and pundits are working overtime trying to figure out whether the nation’s political leadership is serious about launching a strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities sometime this fall.

'Netanyahu, Barak mulling fall strike on Iran' - Israel News, Ynetnews

'Netanyahu, Barak mulling fall strike on Iran' - Israel News, Ynetnews: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak advocate an attack of Iran's nuclear facilities in the upcoming fall, Yedioth Ahronoth's senior commentators Nahum Barnea and Shimon Shiffer reported Friday.

Screw U: The Next Bubble May Be Higher Education | San Diego Reader

Screw U: The Next Bubble May Be Higher Education | San Diego Reader: In economics, a bubble is something that trades at prices far beyond its intrinsic value. Fasten your seat belt: the next bubble may be higher education.

Israel on Alert as Syria Moves Chemical Weapons to Border Positions

Israel on Alert as Syria Moves Chemical Weapons to Border Positions: In no uncertain terms Israel made things clear: "The moment we see that the Syrians transfer chemical and biological weapons to Hezbollah, this is a red line for us and from our point of view it's a clear cause for war."

Growing U.S. Military Presence in the Gulf Leaves Obama with Fewer Options | Via Meadia

Growing U.S. Military Presence in the Gulf Leaves Obama with Fewer Options | Via Meadia: The sabre rattling in the Persian Gulf continues with the deployment of the USS Ponce. Up until recently, the vessel was simply an aging transport ship destined for the scrap heap, but it appears that the Navy has retrofitted the ship, turning it into a command and control station for a variety of missions designed to put pressure on the Iranian regime. The New York Times reports:

A Comprehensive Supply List for Economic Collapse

A Comprehensive Supply List for Economic Collapse: The article M.D. posted in last week’s Friday Miscellany on living conditions in Greece really hit home with me. I did a bit more research. There are food shortages. There are shortages of life-saving medications. There are concerns about the power grid. And if the electric grid goes down, clean water may not flow from the tap. In an economic collapse, debit cards may not work; cash will be king. Once awareness of the situation sets in, rioting, looting and violent crime will be the new norm.

If Europe collapses, the United States is sure to follow. This makes me nervous. And when I get nervous, I make lists. This is my best shot at formulating a comprehensive supply list for prepping. Sure, there are other lists on the Internet that claim to be comprehensive. And I have learned much from the lists that I have read. But I wanted to come up with my own list and present it to the Pack. And now for the 50 million dollar question: what have I missed?

Is Israel the Last Jewish Ghetto? | FrontPage Magazine

Is Israel the Last Jewish Ghetto? | FrontPage Magazine: By the end of 2012, all of Israel’s borders, over a thousand kilometers, will be protected by walls, fences and barriers.

Aim High: 10 of the World's Most Impressive Paper Planes | Wired Design | Wired.com

Aim High: 10 of the World's Most Impressive Paper Planes | Wired Design | Wired.com: Back in elementary school, paper planes were the class clown’s preferred weapon and the bane of teachers everywhere. A few of those fold-and-fly amateurs have taken their school-time shenanigans to the pro level, becoming aeronautical engineers and origami artists who create record-setting gliders. From the biggest to the trickiest to the most intricately designed, here are 10 of the most impressive paper planes on the planet.

Russia, China & Israel against Islamism? :: Daniel Pipes

Russia, China & Israel against Islamism? :: Daniel Pipes: Israel and China today signed historic cooperation agreements to build the Eilat railway and future projects, including the inland canal port north of Eilat. … The main project on the agenda is construction of a cargo rail line that will link Israel's Mediterranean ports in Ashdod and Haifa with the Eilat Port. There are also plans to extend the line to Jordan's Aqaba Port. … [Israeli sources indicate that the Chinese] consider the project to be important, as it fits in with China's global strategy to strengthen critical trade routes. … Tonight, the Israeli delegation will be guests at a special dinner given by the Chinese government. The food will be kosher lemehadrin.

Bolivia in turmoil with police on sixth day of strike and indigenous people preparing to march on the capital | Mail Online

Bolivia in turmoil with police on sixth day of strike and indigenous people preparing to march on the capital | Mail Online: Bolivia is in turmoil with hundreds of police now on the sixth day of a strike and 1,000 indigenous protesters preparing to march on the capital.

The government is struggling to reach a deal with the police and has portrayed the action as a budding 'coup d'etat'.

Uniformed officers today continued to demonstrate in front of the gates of the heavily-guarded palace, while public workers showed their support for president Evo Morales at a rally in a square on the outskirts of La Paz.

Mirror, mirror... everywhere! How the world's biggest salt flat turns into giant reflective surface | Mail Online

Mirror, mirror... everywhere! How the world's biggest salt flat turns into giant reflective surface | Mail Online: A spot of reflection is always good for the soul. And judging by these pictures, there's plenty of room for that.

For this is the world's largest natural mirror, created when a thin film of water gathers on a vast plain of salt deposits.

So magnificent is the dream-like sight that the salt pans in the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia have been dubbed 'heaven on earth'.

Photographer Takaki Watanabe captured a series of pictures of spellbound travellers as they took in natural wonder and played around with their reflections.

Soak Fish in Milk for Odor-Free Cooking

Soak Fish in Milk for Odor-Free Cooking: When you're buying fish, it's important to make sure your fish smells like the sea, and not, well, like fish. That's one indicator of freshness. However, after the fish has come home, gone into the fridge, or been frozen and thawed, even your freshly bought fish may start to take on a fishy smell. The solution is easy: A quick soak in a bowl of milk, and that fishy smell is all gone.

Is Turkey Going Rogue? :: Daniel Pipes

Is Turkey Going Rogue? :: Daniel Pipes: In a Middle East wracked by coups d'�tat and civil insurrections, the Republic of Turkey credibly offers itself as a model thanks to its impressive economic growth, democratic system, political control of the military, and secular order.

But, in reality, Turkey may be, along with Iran, the most dangerous state of the region.

German Court Declares Judaism A Crime | Via Meadia

German Court Declares Judaism A Crime | Via Meadia: Hard to believe, but that’s what the decision handed down by the regional court in Cologne, Germany means: circumcising a child under the age of consent is a crime, notwithstanding the religious beliefs of the parents.

The Last Days of Jews in the Islamicized Europe | FrontPage Magazine

The Last Days of Jews in the Islamicized Europe | FrontPage Magazine: Anti-Semitism raises again its head in estern Europe. During the Holocaust, Europe dispatched its Jews to the gas chambers. Seventy years later, in the welfarist, multicultural and semi-Islamicized Europe, Jews have again come under attack. Enclaves of ultra-Orthodox Jews will likely survive in the main cities, but Jewish life as such has no future in Europe.

Oh No You Didn't: Mossad Agents Claim Obama Lying About Stuxnet

Oh No You Didn't: Mossad Agents Claim Obama Lying About Stuxnet: Israeli officials who were placed at risk by the Obama administration's leaks about the Stuxnet virus are disputing American claims that the cyber-weapon was jointly developed by the U.S. and Israel. Rather, they say, Israeli intelligence first started developing cyberspace warfare against Iran, only convincing the U.S.--with some difficulty--to join in. The Israelis allege that President Barack Obama claimed credit for Stuxnet to boost his re-election campaign.

Obama: ‘I Probably Know About Judaism More Than Any Other President’ - By Daniel Foster - The Corner - National Review Online

Obama: ‘I Probably Know About Judaism More Than Any Other President’ - By Daniel Foster - The Corner - National Review Online: In this story we get a twofer of POTUS rhetorical tics: Blaming every failure of his presidency on his last name, Republicans, and/or racism, and casually inserting himself into the pantheon of great presidents. If he had only pled with the Jewish leaders to let him be clear, I would have hit my Trifecta box.

Israel Can’t Solve Africa’s Problems � Commentary Magazine

Israel Can’t Solve Africa’s Problems � Commentary Magazine  
It is no small irony that a country like the United States that was built by and prospered because of immigration would come to regard the influx of foreigners to our shores as a problem. That is also true of the State of Israel which, much to its surprise, has found itself being swamped by unwelcome African migrants who have poured over the border with Egypt and presented the Israeli government with a ticklish dilemma. Anger about the influx bubbled over yesterday in a Tel Aviv protest that turned violent and where both demonstrators and some politicians in attendance uttered statements that could only be characterized as racist. Prime Minister Netanyahu was quick to condemn the tone of the protest as well as members of his own party for behavior that he rightly said “had no place” in the country.

Remembering Valerie Plame | Power Line

Remembering Valerie Plame | Power Line

Just a week ago the establishment media was aflutter with news that a CIA double-agent had thwarted a new type of underwear bomb attack targeting U.S. flights in a plot devised by al-Qaeda of the Arabian Peninsula.

But as the week progressed, a developing bombshell story got buried under President Obama’s gay marriage announcement. Not only is the supposed CIA asset not a CIA asset at all, but the entire operation was exposed prematurely and the double-agent’s life was immediately threatened by an intelligence leak that very well may have come out of the White House for political gain. …

The double-agent hadn’t been recruited and placed by the CIA, but by British intelligence, who also managed the operation. In fact, the Americans had only recently been made aware of the joint British-Saudi effort.

The leaks about the operation from the American side have infuriated British intelligence officials, who had hoped to continue the operation. The leaks not only scuttled the mission but put the life of the asset in jeopardy. Even CIA officials, joining their MI5 and MI6 counterparts, were describing the leaks as “despicable,” attributing them to the Obama administration.

We Are Swimming In Oil | Power Line

We Are Swimming In Oil | Power Line: America has more fossil fuel resources than any other nation. Russia is second, Saudi Arabia is third. On Thursday, a representative of the Government Accountability Office testified before the House Science Subcommittee on Energy and Environment that the Green River Formation alone–it is located at the intersection of the states of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, and mostly underlies federal lands–contains as much oil as the entire proven reserves of the rest of the world combined. America is uniquely blessed in its energy resources. Two questions remain: 1) will Obama finally abandon his moronic two percent claim, and 2) will Obama, in a possible second term, block the development of the resources that can assure America’s economic supremacy for generations?

Israel vs. Iran: 'Any Given Moment'

Israel vs. Iran: 'Any Given Moment': Israel's channel 10 is reporting that U.S. officials are working frantically to prevent a pre-emptive Israeli attack on Iran, which the new unity government could carry out at "any given moment," according to Israel National News:

Greece Melts | Via Meadia

Greece Melts | Via Meadia: The one policy option that Greece has now is to avoid a rupture with Europe but to go back to Brussels and try to get a better deal. This is the policy that Antonis Samaras, the leader of the party with the most seats in the new parliament advocated during the election campaign. Under the Greek constitution, he now has five days to form a government that will command a majority in parliament; if he fails, the anti-bailout “Coalition of the Radical Left” party which came in second gets a chance. And if they fail, the third place, pro-bailout Pasok (moderately leftist) gets a chance.

 If as now seems likely, nobody can get a majority, Greece votes again in in a few weeks. The trouble is that by that time, Greece could well be out of money to pay pensions and civil service salaries. Some think this would force Greece out of the eurozone; possibly the government would just pay employees and pensioners in scrip — a promise to pay later that could be used to pay certain bills or traded at a discount for cash.

Israel begins building wall on Lebanese border | Reuters

Israel begins building wall on Lebanese border | Reuters: Israel began building a wall on Monday along a 1-km (0.6 mile) -stretch of its border with Lebanon, saying the barrier was necessary to boost security for an Israeli frontier town across from a Lebanese village.

Israel is also building a security fence in its south, along the border with Egypt's Sinai desert, citing concerns over militant activity and smuggli

US Deploys World’s Most Advanced Fighter Jet 200 Miles From Iranian Border | The Gateway Pundit

US Deploys World’s Most Advanced Fighter Jet 200 Miles From Iranian Border | The Gateway Pundit: The U.S. is deploying F-22 Raptor fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates… Iran’s neighbor. Does the Obama administration know something and they’re not telling us? Are they guessing at Israel’s behavior and making sure they’re not blindsided? Or, are they actually assisting an ally against the Iranian threat?

Wendell Cox: California Declares War on Suburbia - WSJ.com

Wendell Cox: California Declares War on Suburbia - WSJ.com: Metropolitan area governments are adopting plans that would require most new housing to be built at 20 or more to the acre, which is at least five times the traditional quarter acre per house. State and regional planners also seek to radically restructure urban areas, forcing much of the new hyperdensity development into narrowly confined corridors.

Richard Branson launches journeys to the centre of the Earth through Virgin Volcanic - News - Virgin.com

Richard Branson launches journeys to the centre of the Earth through Virgin Volcanic - News - Virgin.com: Only 500 people have been to space, only three people have been to the bottom of the ocean, but no one has ever attempted to journey to the core of an active volcano. Until now.

Using patented carbon-carbon materials pioneered for deep space exploration, Virgin is proud to announce a revolutionary new vehicle, VVS1, which will be capable of plunging three people into the molten lava core of an active volcano.

California: Where You Need A Lobbyist To Build A House | Via Meadia

California: Where You Need A Lobbyist To Build A House | Via Meadia: Romney’s house sounds tacky and extravagant, but it’s not some kind of public safety hazard in urgent need of regulation. You shouldn’t need dedicated lobbyists to get permission to build buildings on property you legitimately own. At the end of the day, Romney is going to be able to hire the lobbyist and get his mansion built. But these same hurdles afflict people who might be interested in affordable housing for low-income people or simply regular old market rate structures for the middle class.

Azeris Strengthen Israel’s Hand on Iran � Commentary Magazine

Azeris Strengthen Israel’s Hand on Iran � Commentary Magazine: The potential for an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities may be a lot greater than skeptics may have thought. That’s the upshot of a story published yesterday in Foreign Policy that alleges Azerbaijan has granted the Israelis access to airbases in that country. If true, Israel’s ability to launch a strike from bases on Iran’s northern border would make the Jewish state’s military challenge in seeking to knock out Iran’s nuclear plants a lot simpler. The assistance of the Azeris would enable the Israelis to make repeated attacks and would eliminate the need to refuel their planes in midair in order to make the long flight from Israel to Iran.

The Global March for Jerusalem | The Weekly Standard

The Global March for Jerusalem | The Weekly Standard: Now, after two by sea, there will be one by land. The Global March to Jerusalem, slated for March 30 (Land Day for the Palestinians), is a coordinated attempt to breach Israel’s borders from surrounding Arab states—Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Participants are planning to arrive from around the globe –Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and even America. Their goal is to ensure that as many as one million people overwhelm Israeli border security and march to Jerusalem, where they will assert Muslim rights to the holy city.

But will this march result in bloodshed, like the first flotilla, or red tape, like the second?

The Secrets of the World-Record-Setting Paper Plane - John Collins, Paper Airplane Guy - Popular Mechanics

The Secrets of the World-Record-Setting Paper Plane - John Collins, Paper Airplane Guy - Popular Mechanics: This week a viral video spread across the Web (see below) featuring former Cal quarterback Joe Ayoob throwing a paper airplane across an entire warehouse, breaking the world record for longest flight with a distance of 226 feet, 10 inches. The man behind the plane is John Collins, the self-described “Paper Airplane Guy.” Here, he tells PM the secrets of his design.

Iron Dome Foils 90 Percent of Missiles - Defense/Security - News - Israel National News

Iron Dome Foils 90 Percent of Missiles - Defense/Security - News - Israel National News: The Iron Dome system has intercepted 90 percent of missile attacks on urban centers during the latest rocket bombardment from Gaza.

Israel’s New Bunker Buster Missile � Commentary Magazine

Israel’s New Bunker Buster Missile � Commentary Magazine: The U.S. military or its contractors long ago released videos of bunker buster bombs. While the Israeli military has requested advanced bunker buster bombs from the United States, the Israelis have also been manufacturing its own technology. They recently released this impressive video depicting a new concrete-busting missile which would presumably obviate the need for aircraft to fly over certain targets.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei last week said “actions speak louder than words.” That may not be the maxim of Western diplomats who prefer to kick the can down the road, but it seems the Supreme Leader’s words might ring true with the Israelis, who now signal the road has run out. If I were an Iranian nuclear scientist, I’d take out life insurance now.

US offered Israel advanced weaponry in exchange for delaying Iran attack: report - NYPOST.com

US offered Israel advanced weaponry in exchange for delaying Iran attack: report - NYPOST.com: The US offered to give Israel advanced weaponry -- including bunker-busting bombs and refueling planes -- in exchange for Israel's agreement not to attack Iranian nuclear sites, Israeli newspaper Maariv reported Thursday.

President Obama reportedly made the offer during Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington this week.

Under the proposed deal, Israel would not attack Iran until 2013, after US elections in November this year. The newspaper cited unnamed Western diplomatic and intelligence sources.

Israel Makes Preparations for War � Commentary Magazine

Israel Makes Preparations for War � Commentary Magazine: On a cold morning in late January, ambulances raced around Haifa, Israel’s largest port city. There had been an attack with a “dirty bomb,” armed with radioactive cesium 137. Doctors and paramedics cleaned up the survivors, while the authorities informed the public the “unthinkable” had happened in the heart of the Jewish State. It was just a drill, but the exercise code-named “Dark Cloud,” was part of the Israel Defense Force Home Front Command’s plan to prepare the country in case of war with Iran.

Israeli attack on Iran would be complex operation – USATODAY.com

Israeli attack on Iran would be complex operation – USATODAY.com: Flying over Iraq is the most direct route for Israeli pilots. Since the U.S. withdrawal, Iraq is not capable of effectively protecting its airspace, which potentially would give Israel a way to reach Iran while maintaining an element of surprise.

Rock Center with Brian Williams - Israel teams with terror group to kill Iran's nuclear scientists, U.S. officials tell NBC News

Rock Center with Brian Williams - Israel teams with terror group to kill Iran's nuclear scientists, U.S. officials tell NBC News: Deadly attacks on Iranian nuclear scientists are being carried out by an Iranian dissident group that is financed, trained and armed by Israel’s secret service, U.S. officials tell NBC News, confirming charges leveled by Iran’s leaders

Fresh & Easy Buzz: Breaking: Smart & Final Enters Into Agreement to Sell Henry's to Sprouts Farmers Market

Fresh & Easy Buzz: Breaking: Smart & Final Enters Into Agreement to Sell Henry's to Sprouts Farmers Market: LOS ANGELES, Feb. 16, 2011 - "Smart & Final Stores LLC today announced that an agreement has been reached by Smart & Final to sell its Henry's Farmers Market subsidiary to Sprouts Farmers Market. Private equity firm Apollo Management L.P. ("Apollo") will be the majority owner of the combined Sprouts-Henry's company. Apollo will also remain the principal equity owner of Smart & Final.

Israel embassies preparing for Iran strike? - Israel News, Ynetnews

Israel embassies preparing for Iran strike? - Israel News, Ynetnews: Diplomats stationed in Israel request gas masks, prepare contingency plans in case of missile attacks; envoys fear that thousands of dual-citizenship Israelis will seek evacuation

Turkey Paying a Price for Betrayal of Israel � Commentary Magazine

Turkey Paying a Price for Betrayal of Israel � Commentary Magazine: In response to the Turkish embrace of Hamas, Israel has reached out to both Greece and Cyprus. Greece was among the most hostile countries in Europe to Israel but has now achieved a better understanding of the Jewish state since the Turks have become its foe. To seal this new understanding, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning a visit to Cyprus next month.

Turkey is locked in a decades-long standoff with the Greeks in Cyprus. But now the Greek Cypriots in Nicosia are seriously considering an Israeli request to station military aircraft on their territory. As Morris writes, the Cypriots, who have faced intimidation from a superior Turkish military, are looking to Israel for help:

The Cypriots are apparently interested in Israeli assistance in monitoring the air space above the gas fields and drilling equipment and in augmenting their (small) navy’s patrols in their economic waters. [Israeli Defense Minister Ehud] Barak has asked the Cypriots to allow Israel to station aircraft in the Papandreu Air Base outside the town of Paphos in western Cyprus. And two months ago, the Israeli and Cypriot air forces held a joint exercise.

Russian drilling team close to reaching Antarctic lake hidden for 14 million years | Geek.com

Russian drilling team close to reaching Antarctic lake hidden for 14 million years | Geek.com: After more than twenty years of drilling, the Russian exploration team that has been working at Vostok station to reach the sub-glacial lake of the same name is on the precipice of success. They are just forty or so feet away from breaking through to a body of water that has not seen light for 14 million years, and in so doing, the team is poised to make history.

"Hidden" mortgage fee paying for payroll tax cut - CBS News

"Hidden" mortgage fee paying for payroll tax cut - CBS News: (CBS News)

Just before Christmas, American workers got a rare gift from Washington politicians - the current payroll tax cut would be extended for two more months.

At the time, both President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner lauded the move to avoid a tax increase for millions of working Americans.

But there's something the politicians weren't bragging about - the fact that they're paying for the two-month tax cut with what has turned into a brand new fee on home buyers.

The new fee is a minimum of one-tenth of 1 percent on Fannie Mae- and Freddie Mac-backed loans, and is likely to go much higher.

It will be imposed for the next 10 years on most mortgages and refinancing's and it lasts for the life of the loan.

For every $200,000, it amounts to an extra $15 dollars a month.

It's bad news for Patty Anderson, who's buying a home in Virginia.

Anderson will save a couple hundred dollars from having her payroll tax cut extended but her mortgage broker told her the new fee would cost her almost $9,500.

Krauthammer’s Take - By NRO Staff - The Corner - National Review Online

Krauthammer’s Take - By NRO Staff - The Corner - National Review Online: On Leon Panetta saying there is a “strong likelihood” that Israel will attack Iran in April, May, or June:

The fact that it was released is puzzling. But the substance is not.

The fact is I think people haven’t understood what the Israeli clock was. It wasn’t that the Israelis would strike when they thought Iran was in a position to break out and produce a weapon. It is earlier. It’s a different clock. It’s [when] the Israelis would calculate that Iran had so hardened its defenses and have put so much equipment inside, let’s say, the Qom facility under a mountain, such that Israel or anybody would never be able to attack it, and thus Iran would have a free ride.

And that is the moment that the Israelis believe is approaching. That’s what the “zone of immunity” is — that all the material and equipment will be so hardened that nobody will be able to attack it.

The question is why did Panetta release this? Was it a mistake? Was it a slip? He made a release yesterday about what we’re going to do in Afghanistan which looked as if it was a mistake. It was supposed to be announced in May.

But if it’s a deliberate leak, then why did he do this? Is he warning Iran to prepare its air defenses and shoot down Israelis? He’s quite specific about the month. Is it a warning against Israel, “don’t do this because we’re going to announce it and warn people about it in advance?” Is it a bluff against Iran — you better think about this and come and negotiate?

I’m not sure how to read it, but it is astonishing that he would give actual, specific dates of an ally attacking what it thinks is an existential threat.

Obama Leads From Behind Israel on Iran � Commentary Magazine

Obama Leads From Behind Israel on Iran � Commentary Magazine: Panetta believes there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June — before Iran enters what Israelis described as a “zone of immunity” to commence building a nuclear bomb. Very soon, the Israelis fear, the Iranians will have stored enough enriched uranium in deep underground facilities to make a weapon — and only the United States could then stop them militarily.

Though Israel knows it cannot do the job of setting back Iran’s nuclear program as well as the United States can, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Barak may have arrived at the same conclusion their Iranian enemies have come to in the last three years: Barack Obama is too weak and indecisive to be taken seriously when he threatens Iran. That means the only alternative to sitting back and waiting patiently as the Iranians run out the diplomatic clock on a feckless Washington-led effort to restrain them, is for Israel to strike.