Purim

Purim is a three-day carnival-like festival in Israel celebrating our deliverance from planned mass extermination by the Persians (now called the Iranians). It starts on Sunday, but I already saw some Tel Avivis in costume yesterday!

No cartoon on Monday. Next cartoon on Tuesday, March 2.

Happy Happy Joy Joy!!

The Eighties Begin (1980)

Today's "Golden Oldie" is from the start of the Eighties. I chose it because we are again at the start of a decade. Thirty years later.

The references to Iran and Afghanistan are interesting but I was stumped by the reference to "peace coming to a war-torn African state by setting up British colonial rule". So I had to do some research.

* * * Turns out that the "war-torn African state" was the white minority-ruled Republic of Rhodesia which, on June 1, 1979, was replaced by the bi-racially ruled Republic of Zimbabwe Rhodesia. However, the Lancaster House Agreement of December 1979 then returned control of the country to the United Kingdom in preparation for elections to be held in the spring of 1980. Zimbabwe Rhodesia became, once again, the British colony of Southern Rhodesia.

Four months later in April of 1980, the British colony of Southern Rhodesia became the independent Republic of Zimbabwe.

Simple Question

The sloppy NATO bombing attempt gets a big ho hum while the clean Dubai hit causes an international uproar. * * * The targeted bombing, according to Canadian sources:

"The air strike took place in Uruzgan province on Sunday, when NATO jets attacked a convoy of cars thought to be a group of insurgents. According to Afghan Interior Ministry spokesperson Zemeri Bashsary, the NATO attack hit three minibuses that were travelling along a road that is situated near the border between Uruzgan and Day Kundi provinces. Afghan officials say at least 21 people died in the attack, though the Afghan cabinet had reported that 27 people had been killed.

It was the deadliest NATO incident involving civilians since a German-ordered air strike killed dozens near the northern town of Kunduz last September..." -more

* * * The targeted execution according to Time:

"this one could have serious diplomatic consequences for Israel. It would appear that whoever was responsible underestimated Dubai's security capability. The city-state used sophisticated computer programs to quickly sift through its massive pool of security-camera footage and pinpoint the movements and travel documents of the alleged killers. More embarrassingly, the Dubai authorities are claiming that the hit team stole the identities of Israeli dual-national citizens, and traveled into Dubai using false British, Irish and French passports. Now the governments of those countries are promising swift investigations into the matter, while the European media — especially in Britain — are asking whether or not those governments were forewarned of the operation. Meanwhile, Dubai is demanding that Interpol issue an arrest warrant for the chief of Mossad. While such an action is unlikely, the moderate Arab city-state's commitment to pursue the case will be hard for its Western allies to ignore." -more

. . . with thanx to SB of Fairfax, CA for the cartoon idea.

Purim Snow (1987)

Today's Golden Oldie is a Dry Bones cartoon done for the run-up to Purim in 1987!

The past few days here in Israel have been gorgeously Spring-like. Next Sunday will be the holiday of Purim. The conversation in the cartoon is a conversation I've had dozens of times with other Israelis. In fact, I'd had the conversation so many times by 1987 that I decided to put it into a cartoon. In Tel Aviv it doesn't snow. Tel Aviv kids just get rained on, and occasionally get to see Jerusalem or Golan Heights snow on their TV screens.

I haven't seen the weather forecast in a couple of days. I've been too busy. But today the temperature dropped a bit. And as I felt the beginning of a chill in the air, I thought "Here comes Purim ...maybe there'll be snow."

Toyota Sales Department

The latest, according to the Financial Times:

Embattled Toyota Chief Agrees to Testify

"Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s embattled chief executive, agreed on Thursday to appear before a US congressional committee investigating his company as lawmakers stepped up their scrutiny of the Japanese carmaker with a subpoena for documents held by one of its former attorneys.

Mr Toyoda accepted a formal request, issued by the Democratic chairman of the House oversight committee, Edolphus Towns, to appear at a hearing next Wednesday.

“I look forward to speaking directly with Congress and the American people,” Mr Toyoda said." -more

* * * When I was a kid, something that was "made in Japan" was shoddily built and unreliable ...while American-made goods were reliable.

War is Hell

When I first heard the news of the capture of the Afghan Taliban number 2, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the word capture was used and the captors were NATO forces. Within hours it morphed from a "capture" to an "arrest" ... and instead of NATO it was credited to Pakistan.

Here's an initial report out of China (it uses both "capture" and "arrested") :

How important is Mullah Baradar's capture?

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- "The capture of the top Afghan Taliban commander Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Pakistan is not only considered as an important breakthrough in connection to the war on terror but also shows development in Pakistan-U.S. relations and regional solution to Afghan problems.

Pakistan army confirmed to Xinhua on Wednesday that Mullah Baradar has been arrested in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, but disclosed no more details due to security reasons. Mullah Baradar was described as ranking the second in influence only to Mullah Muhammad Omar, Taliban's supreme commander in Afghanistan.

Pakistani analysts believed that Mullah Baradar's catch and the information he provides could prove to be a blow to the Taliban in Afghanistan and tribal areas of Pakistan because he was holding important position and knew secrets of Taliban and their strategy." -more

Secrecy (2004)

Today's offering is from 2004.

I decided to broaden the definition of the "Oldies Department" to include all pre-blog material.

* * * Six years have gone by. They still have their secret plans and we still have our secret plans?!

Yikes!!

Solidarity

Reaction here in Israel to the announcement that President Obama is sending his Vice President to Israel is split.

Some of us believe that he's coming to pressure us to not get too upset about the Iranian nuclear threat. Others figure that he's coming to show solidarity with us.

A tiny minority of us are just eager for a chance to hear one of Biden's famous mis-statement flubs while he's here.

Obviously I'm in the third category.

And Then? (2004)

Today's offering is from 2004.

I began the Dry Bones Blog in August 2005 and much of my work in the year or two before that date is really current. So I decided to broaden the definition of the "Oldies Department" to function as the place to "reprint" all pre-blog material.

* * * So is this cartoon still accurate? Does the West still secretly hope that Israel will stop the Iranian threat? ...I'm starting to think that period is over. I'm starting to think that the West has lost the will to survive.

Your thoughts?

Hopes and Prayers

the latest from Canada's Globe and Mail:

NATO strikes kill 12 civilians in Afghanistan "NATO rockets missed their target and killed 12 civilians in southern Afghanistan on Sunday, as NATO and Afghan forces continued a massive attack on two Taliban-held regions.
U.S. General Stanley McChrystal, the top NATO commander in Afghanistan, apologized to Afghan President Hamid Karzai for the accident.
In a statement released by NATO, Gen. McChrystal said he regrets that innocent lives were lost in Nad Ali district.
Mr. Karzai issued a statement minutes earlier saying 10 members of the same family died when a rocket hit a house. Before the offensive began, Mr. Karzai pleaded with Afghan and foreign military leaders to be extra careful to avoid civilian casualties.
About 15,000 coalition troops are involved in Operation Moshtarak, named for a Dari word meaning “together” and launched before dawn Saturday. It’s one of the West’s biggest attacks since the start of the war in 2001." -more

RJO

Remember the "good old days" when the argument was "Who is a Jew"? Now it's "Which is really a "Jewish Organization"? And I figure this is only the start of the battle. Stay tuned for further developments.

Public Enemy Number One (2004)

I can't really describe today's offering as a "Golden Oldie". It's from 2004. So why am I posting it? I'll explain:

I began the Dry Bones Blog in August 2005 and much of my work in the year or two before that date is really current. But how to show them? The LSW (Long Suffering Wife) said "Just put them up as current cartoons. Why do you make things so complicated?" But putting them up as "new" seemed dishonest to me. So I decided to broaden the definition of the "Oldies Department" to function as the place to "reprint" all pre-blog material.

* * * For the next few Tuesdays and Thursdays I'll be running a few of these recent (but pre-blog) Dry Bones cartoons about the Iranian threat. Why does she say I make things complicated?

the Joke is on Us!

What's with the "New Israel Fund" you ask?
An update is provided by Grants Israel:

(IsraelNN.com) Senior reserve officers signed a petition Wednesday supporting Im Tirtzu's struggle against the organizations supported by the New Israel Fund that besmirched the IDF

"We deplore the false claim by 16 Israeli NGOs that the IDF carried out war crimes during operation Cast Lead,” the petition's text said. In fact, it said the IDF “was making superhuman efforts to avoid hurting innocent civilians. We therefore call upon the entire public to support us and strengthen the IDF and its commanders.”

The signatories include the former Head of the National Security Council, Maj. Gen. (res.) Giora Eiland; former Head of Southern Command, Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog; former Head of Ground Forces Command, Maj. Gen. (res.) Yiftach Ron-Tal; former Head of the National Security Council and Deputy Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. (res.) Uzi Dayan; former Head of Personnel Branch Maj. Gen. (res.) Elazar Stern; former Military Secretary to the Minister of Defense, Maj. Gen. (res.) Yakov Amidror, former Navy Commander, Maj. Gen. (res.) Micha Ram, former Head Artillery Officer and President of Industrialists' Federation Brig.-Gen. (res.) Oded Tira.

They added their signatures to that of Im Tirtzu's chairman and founder, Ronen Shoval, as did former UN Ambassador Dr. Dore Gold; former diplomat Yoram Etinger; former Chief of Police, Lt. Gen. (res.) Assaf Chefetz and others." -more

* * * What's "Im Tirtzu" you ask?
Caroline Glick explains:

" Late last week, the Zionist student movement Im Tirtzu published a detailed report demonstrating that 16 anti-Zionist NGOs funded by the post-Zionist New Israel Fund worked hand in glove with the UN Human Rights Council and Richard Goldstone to bring about the establishment of the Goldstone committee and give credibility to its allegations that Israel committed war crimes during Operation Cast Lead. According to the Im Tirtzu report, 92 percent of Israeli allegations that Israel committed war crimes in its campaign against Hamas came from these 16 NIF-funded organizations." -more

* * * And what does "J Street" have to say about it?
According to Rick's Cafe American:

"When the NIF sought statements of support from other major Jewish groups, only three had complied as of February 3: Americans for Peace Now, J Street, and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. -more

Charles Shulz (2000)

Today's Golden Oldie is from February 2000.

Charles Shulz, the creator of Peanuts had died two days earlier on February 12, 2000. The passing of this cartoonist genius saddened me. The amazing clarity of his simple line drawings, the absence of backgrounds, coupled with the attempt to tackle great issues with humor ...all were an influence on my work. In this cartoon Mr. Shuldig, my alter ego, speaks to Charlie Brown, Shulz's alter ego.

* * * Although I live and work in Israel, I am a card-carrying, dues-paying member of America's National Cartoonists Society. I've been invited to give a presentation at this year's National Awards weekend at the end of May. I haven't been to a convention in more than 30 years. Back then I met and swapped stories with the pros and the old timers. Great fun. but as I say that was a long time ago.

The story is that while in America on a recent speaking tour I met a friend who is a past president of the NCS. He convinced me to attend and give a seminar this year.

Here's how he convinced me. He said that most of the guys who knew Dry Bones were now dead. Therefore I had to speak to the new guys before I too was dead. It was a convincing argument. So I'm going. Now all I have to do is to figure out what I'm going to say.

I'll keep you posted.

Expanding J Street

From the Jerusalem Post:

J Street to 'expand notion of pro-Israel'
by E.B. Solomont
07/02/2010

On Thursday night, J Street said nearly 2,000 people turned out in more than 20 cities for simultaneous events to kick off J Street Local, the vehicle for members to carry out educational and advocacy work in their communities.

“We made a pledge in October that we would be silent no more when it comes to Israel,” said J Street’s executive director Jeremy Ben-Ami, in a speech that was broadcast to the other events.

In nearly two years, J Street has amassed 140,000 online supporters and hopes to spur them to action, following the recent merge with Brit Tzedek V’Shalom. “Tonight we are opening a new chapter in the struggle for tzedek and shalom, justice and peace in the world,” Ben-Ami said.

He said J Street and J Street Local seek to inject new voices into foreign policy discussion, express support for Israel in accordance with Jewish values and promote a more open debate about Israel in the American Jewish community. In particular, J Street seeks to “expand what it means to be pro-Israel.”
- more

* * * Your thoughts?

Hype

The last time that I was so offended by movie hype that I vowed never to see the film was back in 1997. The film that I refused to see back then because of the obsessive hype was Titanic. So now I discover that it, like Avatar, was also directed by James Cameron. * * * The last time that I saw and enjoyed a 3D movie was back in the early fifties. The movie starred Vincent Price. It was called The House of Wax. I was fourteen and the movie was super.

TV Coverage (1995)

Today's Golden Oldie is a Dry Bones cartoon done back in February 1995.

Fifteen years ago, here in Israel, we were totally occupied by the daily TV coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial ...and we would live in suspense for the following nine months. The verdict would not be handed down until October!! The intensity of our involvement with the case was, in retrospect, insane ...and according to the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law, most of the rest of the world shared our compulsive fixation:

The 133 days of televised courtroom testimony turned countless viewers into Simpson trial junkies. Even foreign leaders such as Margaret Thatcher and Boris Yeltsin eagerly gossiped about the trial. When Yeltsin stepped off his plane to meet President Clinton, the first question he asked was, "Do you think O. J. did it?" - more.

* * * For readers who were too young to have been O.J. junkies I can't explain the phenomenon. But for those of you who were caught up in the drama, here's a picture of one of the minor players:

Kato Kaelin

Goldstone Poison

According to Alan Dershowitz:

"The Goldstone Report is much more scurrilous than most of its detractors (and supporters) believe. According to the report, Israel used the more than 8,000 rocket attacks on its civilians merely as a pretext, an excuse, a cover for the real purpose of Operation Cast Lead, which was to target innocent Palestinian civilians -- children, women, the elderly -- for death. This criminal objective was explicitly decided upon by the highest levels of the Israeli government and military and constitutes a deliberate and willful war crime. The report found these serious charges "to be firmly based in fact" and had "no doubt" of their truth.

In contrast, the Mission decided that Hamas was not guilty of deliberately and willfully using the civilian population as human shields. It found "no evidence" that Hamas fighters "engaged in combat in civilian dress," "no evidence" that "Palestinian combatants mingled with the civilian population with the intention of shielding themselves from attack," and no support for the claim that mosques were used to store weapons.

The report is demonstrably wrong about both of these critical conclusions. The hard evidence conclusively proves that the exact opposite is true..." -click to read more

And to see earlier Dry Bones postings and cartoons about the Goldstone Report click here.

Dropping a Zero (1980)

Today's Golden Oldie was done 30 years ago in February 1980.

Back then Israel had decided to switch our national currency from the distinctly non-Hebrew "Lira" (plural Lirot)to the historically and linguistically correct "Shekel".

Think that's complicated? Not for us. We implemented two simple changes. One was to change the word Lira to Shekel on the banknotes. The second thing was to chop a zero off the numbers. So a 100 Lira note became a 10 Shekel note. But it looked the same. Almost. Got it? Maybe if I show you?

100 Lira banknote:
Front and Back

.

10 Shekel banknote:
Front and Back

* * * Understand? So now go back and read the cartoon again. You'll see that Mr. Shuldig understands the economic impact of the currency change right up until the very last panel.

J Street

Some background info about today's cartoon:

1.The "J" in J Street does not stand for "Jewish".

"K Street" is slang for Washington's lobbyists because so many major Washington lobbying firms are located there. But although there's an I Street and a K Street, J Street is missing. Hence the name chosen for the "missing" anti-Israeli lobby of American Jewry.

2.The J Street Iranian connection:

A National Iranian American Council board member gave at least $10,000 to J Street.The National Iranian American Council is widely viewed as the unofficial lobby in America for the Iranian regime. In other words, J Street is getting money and working with the group which supports President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the world's most powerful antisemite who seeks to wipe Israel off the map. -More from the Rubin Report.

3.The J Street Arab and pro-Arab connection:

One J Street supporter is Zahi Khouri, a wealthy Palestinian businessman, who considers AIPAC and Netanyahu "enemies of peace"

Another J Street donor is a board member of Human Rights Watch, an organization that targets Israel with unfair criticism, and which was recently exposed because it solicited funds from the Saudi government, enticing them by promising to continue its biased investigations of Israel.

J Street advisor Judith Barnett worked for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Trade, and became a registered agent for Saudi Arabia. -More from Stand With Us

* * * Your thoughts?