Israel launches a new spy satellite, but a deeper analysis reveals that there is more to this story:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided not to delay the launch of Israel’s improved Ofek 10 spy satellite Wednesday night April 9, hours after the six powers and Iran wound up another round of talks in Vienna on comprehensive accord on its nuclear program. Israel decided to show some muscle over the Obama administration's consent to raise Iran’s weapons program at the next round of nuclear negotiations next month
President Barack Obama and National Security Advisor Susan Rice, wants Israel to carry the can for progress or for obstacles in negotiations with the Palestinians, while appeasing the latter and letting Iran off the hook on the concerns of Israel (and other Mid East nations).
Rice would have urged the US to pull out and lay the blame squarely at Israel’s door.
There is every indication that Prime Minister Netanyahu is at the end of his tether on what he regards as the Obama administration’s unfair appreciation of the concessions Israel made to keep the talks alive in the face of Palestinian negativism. Sources in Jerusalem say White House lenience toward the Palestinians hardens the intransigence of their leader Mahmoud Abbas and so undermines the entire peace effort.
Wednesday, Netanyahu punished Abbas for his unilateral application to 15 UN agencies to bypass negotiations with a dose of his own medicine. He ordered all Israeli ministerial contacts cut off with their Palestinian peers and the cancellation of VIP privileges for Palestinian high-ups.
For a show of Israeli muscle, he ordered the Israel military spy satellite Ofek-10 to be launched from the Palmachim air base Wednesday night. By Thursday morning, it was circling in earth orbit every 99 minutes from an altitude of 600 kms. Ofek-10’s improved surveillance capabilities include high-resolution cameras able to distinguish between objects of half a meter and operate in varying lighting and weather conditions.
That afternoon, the entry of the Samson cargo plane, the new Super Hercules C130J, into service with the Israeli Air Force took place in a public ceremony. Samson markedly extends the IAF’s ability to carry troops forces and hardware over any point in Iran.
The message the show was meant to convey was that Israel is again preparing to conduct a military strike on Iran’s nuclear program after being pressed by Obama into holding back for some years.
The old confrontation between Obama and Netanyahu is therefore back in full force. Will the Israeli prime minister continue to tough it out on either or both the Palestinian and Iranian nuclear tracks? That is anyone’s guess. But Wednesday, he was heard to say that a sovereign nation has the right to say no.
Israel launched the spy satellite “Ofek 10” into space on Wednesday evening. The launch was conducted by the Ministry of Defense at the Palmachim Air Force Base in central Israel.
"The successful launch of the 'Ofek 10' satellite is additional proof of Israel's remarkable technological capabilities," Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Thursday. "The 'Ofek 10' satellite will improve the State of Israel's ability to collect intelligence and allow the defense community to better manage threats near and far, at all hours of the day and in all weather conditions. We continue to strengthen our qualitative advantage and significant technological superiority over our neighbors.
"I would like to thank everyone – the Defense Ministry, Space Agency in MAFAT, Israel Aerospace Industries, Israel Military Industries, Elbit and Rafael – for their continued development of world-leading advanced systems designed to protect Israel and its citizens. Israel has been blessed with an exceptionally creative and professional military industry whose determination to guarantee the security of the State of Israel and its citizens, and ability to reach new technological heights time after time, has allowed us to flourish and grow."
Video released Thursday shows preparations for the launch and the launch itself, as well as an animated rendition of its subsequent entry into orbit.
Upon entering orbit, “Ofek 10” will conduct a series of tests to verify that it is up to the accepted levels of performance.
“Ofek 10” is an observation radar-based satellite, with advanced photocapabilities in both day and night and in all weather conditions.
The satellite is capable of photographing objects the size of half a meter and it will circle the earth once every 99 minutes.
The last spy satellite that Israel launched into space was the “Ofek 9” and that launching took place in June of 2010. The “Ofek 10” is the sixth spy satellite operated by Israel and it can be very helpful in monitoring sites across the world.
"The successful launch of the 'Ofek 10' satellite is additional proof of Israel's remarkable technological capabilities," Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Thursday. "The 'Ofek 10' satellite will improve the State of Israel's ability to collect intelligence and allow the defense community to better manage threats near and far, at all hours of the day and in all weather conditions. We continue to strengthen our qualitative advantage and significant technological superiority over our neighbors.
"I would like to thank everyone – the Defense Ministry, Space Agency in MAFAT, Israel Aerospace Industries, Israel Military Industries, Elbit and Rafael – for their continued development of world-leading advanced systems designed to protect Israel and its citizens. Israel has been blessed with an exceptionally creative and professional military industry whose determination to guarantee the security of the State of Israel and its citizens, and ability to reach new technological heights time after time, has allowed us to flourish and grow."
Video released Thursday shows preparations for the launch and the launch itself, as well as an animated rendition of its subsequent entry into orbit.
Upon entering orbit, “Ofek 10” will conduct a series of tests to verify that it is up to the accepted levels of performance.
“Ofek 10” is an observation radar-based satellite, with advanced photocapabilities in both day and night and in all weather conditions.
The satellite is capable of photographing objects the size of half a meter and it will circle the earth once every 99 minutes.
The last spy satellite that Israel launched into space was the “Ofek 9” and that launching took place in June of 2010. The “Ofek 10” is the sixth spy satellite operated by Israel and it can be very helpful in monitoring sites across the world.
Officials in Jerusalem were pessimistic on Friday about the possibility of the stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) resuming anytime in the near future.
Those officials told Channel 10News that there is “zero chance that an agreement will be reached in the coming weeks” that will allow the talks to continue beyond an April 29 deadline.
Those officials told Channel 10News that there is “zero chance that an agreement will be reached in the coming weeks” that will allow the talks to continue beyond an April 29 deadline.
Also on Thursday, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon signed official documents, confirming reception of and starting processing for PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's requests to join international conventions that are also signed by the UN. Ten of the 15 conventions the PA wishes to join are co-signed by the UN.
Hours after Ban signed the documents, an Israeli official said that Israel has enacted an additional sanction against the PA, by freezing the transfer of taxes Israel collects for the PA.
Further, the official noted that Israel is suspending participation with the PA to develop a gas field in the sea off of Hamas-controlled Gaza, and putting a cap on PA deposits in Israeli banks.
Hours after Ban signed the documents, an Israeli official said that Israel has enacted an additional sanction against the PA, by freezing the transfer of taxes Israel collects for the PA.
Further, the official noted that Israel is suspending participation with the PA to develop a gas field in the sea off of Hamas-controlled Gaza, and putting a cap on PA deposits in Israeli banks.
The “temporary flight restrictions,” revealed by a contributor to the Free Republic, bans all air traffic under an altitude of 3,000 feet in the vicinity of the ranch except for aircraft operating under the direction of the Bureau of Land Management.
The restrictions in full:
FDC 4/1687 ZLA NV..AIRSPACE MESQUITE, NV..TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS WITHIN AREA DEFINED AS 3NM RADIUS OF 364624N/1141113W (MMM71 RADIAL AT 4.3NM) SFC-3000FT AGL LAW ENFORCEMENT INVESTIGATION. PURSUANT TO 14 CFR SECTION 91.137(A)(1) TEMPORARY FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ARE IN EFFECT. ONLY RELIEF AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS UNDER DIRECTION OF BLM ARE AUTHORIZED IN THE AIRSPACE. BLM TELEPHONE 702-335-3191 IS IN CHARGE OF ON SCENE EMERGENCY RESPONSE ACTIVITY. LOS ANGELES /ZLA/ ARTCC TELEPHONE 661-265-8205 IS THE FAA COORDINATION FACILITY. 1404112140-1405111434
A map of the no-fly zone is available here.
Undoubtedly these flight restrictions are in response to the intense media presence now surrounding Bundy Ranch.
“Keeps the media choppers away so the BLM can do what it wants,” a contributor named SkyDancer pointed out on the Free Republic.
It’s quite obvious that this is the case considering that news helicopters routinely fly at an altitude under 3,000 feet in order to capture the best footage.
Recently, cowboys who are supportive of Cliven Bundy have been successful at rounding up Bundy’s cattle before the BLM could impound them, so it certainly appears that the agency is using the flight restrictions as a cover to target these cowboys without any fear of potential brutality being leaked to the media.
BLM agents have already assaulted several protestors, including a pregnant woman and a cancer victim, which was fortunately caught on tape.
The feds are attempting to regain control of the narrative surrounding the standoff, especially since it is now known that U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is behind the land grab for the future development of solar farms with Chinese energy companies.
It is also concerning that by interpreting the no-fly zone to the letter, the BLM could even delay medical helicopters from flying into the area to evacuate individuals who are severely injured.
Although air ambulances are typically exempt from temporary flight restrictions, pilots are still supposed to gain clearance before taking off, which in the past has kept medical pilots grounded until permission was granted.
This scenario is especially frightening considering Clark Co. Commissioner Tom Collins’ recent statement that those traveling to Bunkerville to support Bundy in his standoff against the feds “better have funeral plans.”
[See video in link]
Will the feds resort to staging violence in order to frame Cliven Bundy and his supporters?
With hundreds of “militia members” heading to Nevada, the possibility of the feds inserting provocateurs posing as protesters in order to demonize Bundy’s cause is a major threat.
Remember, Ed and Elaine Brown mistakenly invited U.S. Federal Marshals posing as supporters into their own home before they were arrested.
Last Thursday, Mozilla, the company that's home to the web browser Firefox, forced the resignation of CEO Brendan Eich. What, precisely, had Eich done wrong?
Back in 2008, Eich had donated $1,000 to the Proposition 8 effort backing traditional marriage in California. Dating website OKCupid posted a ban on Firefox traffic, issuing a message to Firefox users instead: "Those who seek to deny love and instead enforce misery, shame, and frustration are our enemies, and we wish them nothing but failure." That ban reportedly prompted the action at Mozilla.
Of course, it was the people pushing for Eich's ouster who were enforcing "misery, shame, and frustration." Eich had never brought his politics into the workplace. Mozilla had no history of treating homosexuals differently, and no single instance of Eich doing so could be documented. Nonetheless, he had violated the dictates of the Thought Police. And thus he was ousted.
It's a disturbing story, to be sure. But it's also just the tip of the iceberg: Unfortunately, the same folks administering the private Thought Police would love to extend their control into the realm of government. These are not libertarians arguing for the right to hire and fire as you see fit in the private market. These are power brokers seeking to use whatever means necessary to quash opposition.
That's why gay couples have sued photographers, bakeries and florist shops, attempting to shut them down if they refuse to cater to same-sex weddings. That's why the Obama administration has attempted to fine businesses that do not wish to pay for health coverage they deem sinful. The underlying idea: If the left dislikes what you do, the left can compel you not to do it. As Kevin Williamson of National Review writes, American society is quickly morphing into a system governed by T.H. White's totalitarian principle: "Everything not forbidden is compulsory."
Freedom is secondary to the yays and nays of the governing few in this vision. Freedom is merely that which the government allows — and the government should only allow you to do the bidding of the left. If you, recognizing that sometimes people will take action with which you disagree, believe that government should stay out of people's business, you must therefore be an advocate for discrimination and brutality.
To allow Eich to work is to discriminate against gays. To allow religious businesses to reject contraceptive mandates is to push women into back alley abortions. Forget the notion of disagreeing with your opinion, but defending your right to say it — in the view of the leftist totalitarians, such a notion is inherently unworkable.
When fascism comes, it will come not with jackboots but with promises of a better world. The jackboots come later, when we've all been shamed into silence — when we've been taught that to allow that with which we disagree is to agree with it, and when we've accepted that the best method of preventing such disagreement is government power.
We're on the verge. All it will take is the silence of good people — people on all sides of the political aisle — who fall prey to the ultimate temptation in a republic: the temptation to force their values on others utilizing the machinery of government. We're already more than halfway there.
Back in 2008, Eich had donated $1,000 to the Proposition 8 effort backing traditional marriage in California. Dating website OKCupid posted a ban on Firefox traffic, issuing a message to Firefox users instead: "Those who seek to deny love and instead enforce misery, shame, and frustration are our enemies, and we wish them nothing but failure." That ban reportedly prompted the action at Mozilla.
Of course, it was the people pushing for Eich's ouster who were enforcing "misery, shame, and frustration." Eich had never brought his politics into the workplace. Mozilla had no history of treating homosexuals differently, and no single instance of Eich doing so could be documented. Nonetheless, he had violated the dictates of the Thought Police. And thus he was ousted.
It's a disturbing story, to be sure. But it's also just the tip of the iceberg: Unfortunately, the same folks administering the private Thought Police would love to extend their control into the realm of government. These are not libertarians arguing for the right to hire and fire as you see fit in the private market. These are power brokers seeking to use whatever means necessary to quash opposition.
That's why gay couples have sued photographers, bakeries and florist shops, attempting to shut them down if they refuse to cater to same-sex weddings. That's why the Obama administration has attempted to fine businesses that do not wish to pay for health coverage they deem sinful. The underlying idea: If the left dislikes what you do, the left can compel you not to do it. As Kevin Williamson of National Review writes, American society is quickly morphing into a system governed by T.H. White's totalitarian principle: "Everything not forbidden is compulsory."
Freedom is secondary to the yays and nays of the governing few in this vision. Freedom is merely that which the government allows — and the government should only allow you to do the bidding of the left. If you, recognizing that sometimes people will take action with which you disagree, believe that government should stay out of people's business, you must therefore be an advocate for discrimination and brutality.
To allow Eich to work is to discriminate against gays. To allow religious businesses to reject contraceptive mandates is to push women into back alley abortions. Forget the notion of disagreeing with your opinion, but defending your right to say it — in the view of the leftist totalitarians, such a notion is inherently unworkable.
When fascism comes, it will come not with jackboots but with promises of a better world. The jackboots come later, when we've all been shamed into silence — when we've been taught that to allow that with which we disagree is to agree with it, and when we've accepted that the best method of preventing such disagreement is government power.
We're on the verge. All it will take is the silence of good people — people on all sides of the political aisle — who fall prey to the ultimate temptation in a republic: the temptation to force their values on others utilizing the machinery of government. We're already more than halfway there.
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