Tuesday, January 31, 2012

12 Things (1980)

June 27, 1980

Click on the cartoon below to open a larger, more readable version of this full page Dry Bones Special:
1980 Dry Bones cartoon 12 things not to worry about

The Israeli Cartoon Museum has decided to produce a travelling exhibit of Dry Bones cartoons. So the LSW (Long Suffering Wife) and I have been going through the more than 7,000 Dry Bones cartoons to select what should go into the show and catalog. The LSW suggested that I share some of our selections with you. So here's one of them. It's from 1980, is one of her favorites, and is Today's Golden Oldie.

Labels: , , ,

Monday, January 30, 2012

Buzzing Ahmadinedad

Dry Bones cartoon: Israel,  Iran, Nukes,Technology, Ahmadinejad, Drones
Successfully Fighting the Iranian Nuclear threat would take both precisely controlled miniature drones and massive bombs.

Drones? According to Reuters:

Buzz of Israel's drones resonates throughout region

(Reuters) - Service in the drone squadrons of Israel, the world's oldest military operator of pilotless aircraft, sometimes begins on the fields of teenaged model plane enthusiasts.

Veteran air force officers scout new talent among radio-controlled model clubs, a drone commander said Monday during a rare media tour of his unit.

"It's a small world, where everyone knows everyone," said Major Gil, who under censorship regulations could not be identified by surname.

"Those youths who show promise and pass the initial tests are admitted to the course (after their conscription)," he said.

Also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the drones that dot the skies of Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas of U.S.-led operations began as an Israeli idea for improving real-time battlefield intelligence after the 1967 Middle East war.

"We are the first air force that started to use UAVs in an operational way," Gil said.

Israel's drones, like those of a few foreign powers, have since evolved into a sophisticated fleet of long-range surveillance platforms that are ever-present over the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon.""-more

Massive Bombs? According to Russia Today:

US toothless against Iran rock: Pentagon seeks new superbomb

"Having considered the toughness of the rock-hidden Iranian nuclear facilities, America's Nutcracker military command has decided to save jaw and develop a new conventional superbomb, since the US still plans to do the job in Iran without nukes.

Washington has once again reminded Tehran that it has the military capability to crack Iranian hard-target nuclear sites with conventional weapons, leaking to the Wall Street Journal plans to develop an even more effective bunker-buster bomb.

The American military is no longer in love with the most powerful non-nuclear weapon it possesses, the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), a 13,600-kilogram mammoth capable of penetrating deep underground facilities.

The Pentagon paid around $330 million to Boeing to develop and produce 20 MOP bombs, specially developed to destroy bunkers in countries like Iran and North Korea.

Now, the Defense Department intends to spend another $82 million, to make those bombs even more effective.

An MOP is capable of penetrating 60 meters of reinforced concrete or 38 meters of hard rock, delivering 2,700 kg of explosives deep down, to reliably demolish anything manmade. Yet, in the case of Iran's Persian mountains, even this doesn't seem enough."-more

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Friday, January 27, 2012

Endangered Species

Dry Bones cartoon: Africa,  Islamism, Christians, jihad, Sharia Law, Nigerian,  Sudan
Recent developments, according to the (Irish) Independent:

Dozens killed in attacks on Nigerian Christians
"A FRESH wave of violence against churchgoers in Nigeria has left at least 27 people dead and heightened fears over security in Africa 's most populous country.

The religiously motivated massacres -- three since last Thursday -- targeted Christians in Mubi and Gombe, towns in the north-east where a state of emergency was declared by President Goodluck Jonathan last week. Some 17 other deaths have been reported in other regions .

There is growing concern that the government's inability to tackle the rising levels of sectarian violence, blamed on radical Islamic group Boko Haram , may result in hundreds of people fleeing their homes.

The group is now carrying out weekly attacks on churches and police stations in northern and central areas.

Islamic clerics who speak out against the violence have been assassinated."-more

And from Ecumenical News International there's this:

Sudan churches encounter more hostility after independence

Christians and churches in Sudan are facing increased restrictions and hostility, since the secession of the southern part of the country six months ago, according to some church leaders.

The leaders are highlighting arrests and abduction of Christians and threats directed at clergy, while warning of more challenges when the country implements Sharia (Islamic law).

“Restrictions in Sudan are not new, but we are worried things are getting harder since the secession of the south. With Sharia law we expect things to get even harder,” the Rev. Mark Akec Cien, the Sudan Council of Churches, deputy general secretary of the told ENInews on Jan. 20 in a telephone interview."-more

Labels: , , , , , ,

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Israeli Traffic Signs (1975)

October 10, 1975

(1975) Dry Bones cartoon: Israel, Driving, Drivers,
The Israeli Cartoon Museum has decided to produce a travelling exhibit of Dry Bones cartoons. So the LSW (Long Suffering Wife) and I have been going through the more than 7,000 Dry Bones cartoons to select what should go into the show and catalog. The LSW suggested that I share some of our selections with you. So here's one of them. It's from 1980, is one of her favorites, and is Today's Golden Oldie.

Labels: , ,

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Proliferation

Dry Bones cartoon: Iran, Shiites, Islamist, Sunni, Arabs, Turkey, North Korea, Nukes,
To REALLY understand what's going on right now, you'd have to look at it from a distance, but the entire planet is in on this one, so there's no "distance". The only other way to look at it objectively is from the perspective of history, but we haven't lived through it yet.

Of course after we have lived through it, this period in human history will be easily explained, and it will have a name. If I had the time, I'd run a contest to guess what that name would be. If I DID run such a What-name-will-future-historians-give-to-this period?" contest, (which I'm not) what would your entry/suggestion be?

Hmmm?

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Getting Religion (1980)

Dec 9, 1980

(1980) Dry Bones cartoon: religion, Sunni, Shi'ite, Zionist, Roman Catholic, Communism, Shuldig,1980
The Israeli Cartoon Museum has decided to produce a travelling exhibit of Dry Bones cartoons. So the LSW (Long Suffering Wife) and I have been going through the more than 7,000 Dry Bones cartoons to select what should go into the show and catalog. The LSW suggested that I share some of our selections with you. So here's one of them. It's from 1980 and is Today's Golden Oldie.

Labels: , , , , , , ,

Monday, January 23, 2012

Ho Hum

Dry Bones cartoon: Egypt,  Media,  Islamism, Islamists, Shuldig,
The 2012 falling of Egypt into the hands of the Islamists seems to be greeted with a big ho hum.

Labels: , , , ,

Friday, January 20, 2012

Advocacy Journalism

Dry Bones cartoon: Bibi, Journalism, Media, Shuldig, Israel, anti-Zionism, Double Standard, NY Times, Haaretz, Media, Netanyahu,
The latest, according to Globes, Israel's Business newspaper:
Netanyahu denies calling "NY Times," "Haaretz" Israel's biggest enemies

"Jerusalem Post" editor Steve Linde claims the prime minister told him "Haaretz" and "The New York Times" are the country's biggest enemies. . .

. . .The Jerusalem Post" editor Steve Linde told a conference in Tel Aviv of the Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO) on Wednesday, that Netanyahu made the remark to him about the newspapers at a private meeting "a couple of weeks ago" at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tel Aviv.

In a recording of Linde's speech provided to the "JTA", Linde said, “He said, ‘You know, Steve, we have two main enemies.' And I thought he was going to talk about, you know, Iran, maybe Hamas. He said, ‘It’s The New York Times and Haaretz.’ He said, ‘They set the agenda for an anti-Israel campaign all over the world. Journalists read them every morning and base their news stories … on what they read in The New York Times and Haaretz'."

Linde said he and other participants at the meeting asked Netanyahu whether he really thought that the media had that strong a role in shaping world opinion on Israel, and the prime minister replied, “Absolutely."-more

Your thoughts?

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Optimism Pessimism (1992)

May 15, 1992

(1992) Dry Bones cartoon: Optimism, Pessimism, Jewish, Messiah, Shuldig, 1992,
The Israeli Cartoon Museum has decided to produce a travelling exhibit of Dry Bones cartoons. So the LSW (Long Suffering Wife) and I have been going through the more than 7,000 Dry Bones cartoons to select what should go into the show and catalog. The LSW suggested that I share some of our selections with you. So here's one of them. It's from 1992 and is Today's Golden Oldie.

Labels: , , , , ,

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Unfair

Dry Bones cartoon: Iran, Holy War, War, Israel, Assassination, Ahmadinejad, Computer Virus, Nukes, Technology
Not only don't we fight fair, but neither does the Iranian government!

The Iranians are claiming that the CIA and British intelligence" did it, instead of our guys! According to Russia Today:

Iran ‘has evidence’ CIA masterminded nuke scientist murder

"Iran has sent two “letters of condemnation” in the wake of Wednesday’s killing of yet another Iranian nuclear scientist. Tehran is demanding a response from Washington and London for the attack, which was “guided” by the CIA and “assisted” by MI6.

We have reliable documents and evidence that this terrorist act was planned, guided and supported by the CIA," the Iranian foreign ministry said in a rare letter handed to the Swiss ambassador in Tehran, according to state television.

The Swiss Embassy has represented the USA in Iran since ties between the two countries were severed shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Another letter was sent to the British Embassy, claiming the British Foreign Intelligence Service, MI6, aided the CIA-led operation. The letter notes that the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists "started exactly after the British official John Sawers declared the beginning of intelligence operations against Iran," as quoted by the official Iranian Republic News Agency."-more

Do you think that's fair?

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

P.O. (1973)

July 11, 1973

(1973) Dry Bones cartoon: 1973, Post Office,
Today's Golden Oldie cartoon is from 1973. Thirty-nine years ago!! It was the first year of Dry Bones publication.

...And the Israeli Postal Service never really improved. It just got replaced by Fax machines, email, DHL, and Federal Express!

Labels: , , , ,

Monday, January 16, 2012

Choosing Sides

Dry Bones cartoon: Syria, Iran, Venezuela,Nicaragua, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, France, America, NATO, Russia, China, India, War, Ball Game
So when they choose sides, why is it that the one they never pick is Israel?

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sunday, January 15, 2012

We Can Do It

dry
Israel’s enemies try to erase the pre-1948 history of the Jews in the Land of Israel. But China has not yet been infected with this denial of Jewish History.

We propose to inoculate the 1.3 billion Chinese against this modern libel with exciting, popular, online, and free to download apps and eBooks …in a form and with content that will appeal to both the Chinese establishment and Chinese university students alike.

Yup! A unique project to bring China and the Jews closer together through educational, digital, Chinese-language, graphic works written and drawn by award-winning Dry Bones cartoonist, scholar, and political analyst Yaakov Kirschen (me)

We can do it ...but we need your help!

Instructions for Donors

1. Tax-deductible donations to Dry Bones Project should be made out to “REPORT, Inc.”
2. Important: Include a cover note stating that these funds are to be directed to Dry Bones Project.
3. Checks and the accompanying cover letter should be sent to:
REPORT, Inc.
PMB 309
100 Springdale Road, Ste A3
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003>
U.S.A.

Pay Pal
To donate to Dry Bones Project
through Pay Pal
click HERE

For Further information, or to let us know that you've sent in a donation, please contact us at blog@mrdrybones.com For details visit http://drybonesproject.com

The special website is at http://drybonesproject.com

Labels: , , , , ,

Friday, January 13, 2012

Iran's Problem

Dry Bones cartoon: Iran, Nukes, Assassination, WMD, Nuclear Energy,
The latest report from the Washington Post:

Iranian scientist involved in nuclear program killed in Tehran bomb attack

"TEHRAN — A scientist linked to Iran’s nuclear program was killed in his car by a bomb-wielding assailant on Wednesday, a bold rush-hour attack that experts say points to a further escalation in a covert campaign targeting the country’s atomic officials and institutions.

The precision hit in a northern Tehran neighborhood killed the 32-year-old chemical engineer employed at Iran’s main uranium-enrichment facility and brought to four the number of Iranian scientists killed by bombs in the past two years. No one asserted responsibility for the bombing, which prompted a swirl of accusations and denials as well as renewed concerns about worsening tensions between Iran and the West.

An Iranian nuclear expert was killed Wednesday by a magnetic bomb attached to his car, state media reported. Officials were quoted as accusing Israel in the attack, suspected as part of a covert effort to set back Iran's nuclear program.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that Iran's threats to close the Strait of Hormuz were provocative and dangerous. She also denied the U.S. had any role in the killing of an Iranian scientist.

Iranian officials immediately accused the United States and Israel of orchestrating the attack on scientist Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan, who was killed along with his bodyguard when an assailant on a motorcycle slapped a magnetic bomb on his car as he commuted to work, according to Iranian news reports. Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimiblamed the attack on “Zionists” and “those who claim they are against terrorism,” the semiofficial Fars News Agency reported."-more

Your thoughts?

Labels: , , , ,

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Lech Walesa (1982)

January 19, 1982

(1982) Dry Bones cartoon: Walesa, Poland, Solidarity, 1982,  Prison, Democracy
Today's Golden Oldie cartoon is from January 1982. Lech Walesa, a leader of the "solidarity" movement was being held in prison by the Polish Communist government.

Here we are, exactly 30 years later, Lech Walesa is the former president of a free and Democratic Poland!

...and, according to a report published just yesterday:

Walesa is ‘angry with democracy’
10.01.2012 1
"Solidarity legend Lech Walesa has declared that he is “angry with democracy” and that Poles are not sufficiently “engaged” in politics. The former president made the remarks in an extensive interview with Polish commercial radio station Radio Zet."-more

Your thoughts?

Labels: , , , , ,

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Winds of Change

Dry Bones cartoon: Presidency, presidential campaign, Left, Right, Elections,  Economy, economic crisis,  Elections, November
I decided to introduce a new character.
He's called the Whetherman (because his predictions are based on "whether" one event or another happens).

He could be a useful cartoon device because we live in a time of wild changes and so much of the future does depend on whether one or another of possible next steps takes place.

I don't know if I'll use him again, but it was fun to try him out.

Labels: , , , , , ,

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Appeasement (2002)

January 14, 2002

(2002) Dry Bones cartoon: Europe,  Appeasement, PLO, Terrorism, Palestinians, the West
Today's Golden Oldie cartoon is ten years old. I've been trying to decide how old ä cartoon has to be to be an "oldie". I think that I've decided on ten years.

So here's what I did 10 years ago this month ...in January of 2002.

Labels: , , , , ,

Monday, January 09, 2012

Owning Iran

Dry Bones cartoon: Iran,  Iraq, Afghanistan, Obama, Bush, War, Presidency, Elections, November
Developments in the Iran "situation" seem to be moving quickly.

"How does an American President campaigning for reelection handle the snowballing Iranian threat?" is a question that all of the players are assessing, and that includes the Iranians, the Saudis, the Israelis, and the campaigning President himself.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Friday, January 06, 2012

Poker

Dry Bones cartoon: Egypt, Arab Spring, Arabs, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Tunisia, Iran, Israel, poker
I don't play poker.
I don't know how to play poker.
I never learned to play poker.

Somewhere in Israel's defense and intelligence world our political and strategic experts are assessing our risks, figuring out the odds, and working out a game plan for Israel's survival in the rapidly changing situation.

I wish them well
but I wouldn't want to have their jobs.
It's too much like poker.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

Thursday, January 05, 2012

Pivotal Events (1977)

November 18, 1977

(1977) Currency, Sadat, Peace, Jerusalem, LSD, drugs, Egypt,
Today's Golden Oldie is from 1977. Thirty five years ago!

The words of the Bob Dylan song rang in our ears; "The times they are a-changin!" Our economy was being freed and Anwar Sadat was about to open the door to real peace with Egypt. The dream was about to become real.

* * *
So thirty five years have passed and peace and normalcy with the people and nation of Egypt is a dream that never really blossomed and seems about to die. Sad.

Labels: , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

His Passing

Dry Bones cartoon: Kim Jong Il Korea, North Korea, Shuldig,
I was working on this cartoon when I got a call informing me about the passing of a close friend of mine. His name was Newt Becker. You probably don't know his name, but you should. Newt was an innovative educator, a philanthropist, an inventor, a strategist, and my friend.

Many of the most important pro-Israel organizations had been set up or supported by Newt. Unlike others, he didn't want his name immortalized, and avoided having his picture taken with "important people". Newt invested in medical advances, backed cutting edge alternate energies, and helped people who needed his help. I'm proud to say that for the past 5-6 years Newt anonymously supported the Dry Bones operation.

I'm even prouder to say that he was my friend.

Labels: , , , ,

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Same Old News (1982)

January 6, 1982

(1982) Dry Bones cartoon: News, France, Rain, U.N., 1982, Shuldig,
It's always amusing when I find Golden Oldies that could be published today without change. I get a smile out of seeing that, somehow, the news never changes.

Today's Golden Oldie is from 1982. Thirty years ago! And the cartoon is saying that, somehow, the news never changes.! Thirty years ago!

By the way, heavy rains are continuing as I write these words, Bus fares and fuel prices went up this week, Europe is mad at us, and the Palestinians are about to launch an effort to have the U.N. meet to condemn us.

I haven't yet seen the "crop damage due to rains" story in the local papers yet. But I will.

Yikes!

Labels: , , , , ,

Monday, January 02, 2012

Ugliness

Dry Bones cartoon: Shuldig, Jews, Israel, Haredim, Culture, Women, religion, Segregation, demonstrations, Police, anti-Zionism,
The ugliness of "Religious" Jews spitting at women and Jewish demonstrators calling Israeli police "Nazis" is difficult to bear. I did today's cartoon hoping for a wry chuckle.

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,