A clandestine undertaking on behalf of Israel, the Jets and the Jews.

 
Weekend Thoughts

1. During the 1980's and the first few years of the 90's - even after Oslo - confederation between Jordan and the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria was the international community's favored approach.

This potential solution - which is not to be confused with the "Jordan Is Palestine" argument espoused by Ariel Sharon prior to Israel's peace agreement with Jordan - was eventually replaced by the notion that the nonsensical "two-state solution" is the only way out of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

For years I have arguing that a Jordan-Palestinian confederation - with Jordan taking a primary security role in Judea and Samaria in exchange for billions in annual U.S. aid, is a far more realistic and attainable model for achieving resolution (or at least alleviation) of the conflict.

While thanks to President Bush and Secretary of State Rice the two-state solution unfortunately remains the only official game in town, talk of confederation is beginning to be heard. Indeed, confederation is briefly considered in today's Haaretz, and has also been discussed in Arab newspapers and on blogs authored by Jordanians.

We can only hope that common sense prevails over Condi Rice's myopia sooner rather than later.

2. The Mets' losing streak is frustrating, but teams do sometimes go through deep slumps.

What is infuriating about this team is its complacency and apathy.

It starts from the top. Willie Randolph has nothing to say except nonsense like "we'll be fine" and "we know we're a first place team." This message is conveyed to his players, who respond by going through the motions and losing series after series.

Contrast this to the Yankees, where losing is never acceptable. I happen to think that after 12 straight playoff appearances, the Yankees won't be able to recover this season. But Brian Cashman, Joe Torre, and Yankees players know that they must win and that if they don't, major changes will be made.

The Mets' laid back approach has been a problem since the latter part of the Davey Johnson era, and is the main reason why in sharp contrast to the winning organization in The Bronx, the Mets have not won a World Series since 1986.
posted on 6/22/2007

 
Four Comments

1. How ironic that Omar Minaya is featured in a fawning SI article just as the Mets pay the inevitable price for his terrible offseason. Moises ($9 million) Alou can thank Omar for his very well paid vacation, as can Brian Bannister, Heath Bell and Royce Ring for being given opportunities to excel elsewhere, but Mets fans must now watch this team implode on account of the complacency and arrogance of Minaya and Willie Randolph.

While the Mets' season is of course not over, their deep slump clearly shows that even if they win the NL East, they probably have too many holes to be World Series champs.

2. Perhaps the Jets should have quietly given guard Pete Kendall the raise his wants before his discontent became public, but now that Kendall has ripped the Jets organization and made clear that he won't honor his contract, the team must set an example of him by making him languish on the roster before cutting him as close to the season as possible.

Kendall is a bit overrated; by now he's an average offensive lineman at best. Still, the Jets offensive line remains mediocre, and Kendall is probably better than what they have on the bench.

3. Ehud Barak's election as Labor party leader became inevitable once Amir Peretz endorsed Ami Ayalon. Still, it's shocking even for Labor that a man who failed as badly as PM as Barak did would be invited back to lead the party and be its next candidate for PM.

4. On an emotional level I must admit to enjoying the spectacle of Hamas and Fatah terrorists killing each other. But what is happening in Gaza is not good for Israel.

Most frustrating is the insistence of Condi Rice and George W. Bush that "progress" be made in talks with PA leader Mahmoud Abbas.

No matter how clear it is that Israel has no peace partner, the international community demands that Israel pretend it is engaged in a "peace process," with the "process" taking priority over all else.
posted on 6/14/2007

 
Update

If I had even a little time, I'd post to expose Avrum Burg for the phony that he is, and vent about Willie Randolph's terrible moves over the past week. Alas, I barely have time even to write that I have no time. Things will remain this way for a while, so posts will be infrequent in the near future.

I did take MoC's advice and bought tickets to Israel. Not only did I pay an exorbitant price for airfare, I purchased the tickets yesterday despite being informed earlier this week that already absurdly high prices were set to increase then. Alas I couldn't get my act together in time and paid an extra $400.

At least I will, G-d willing, be going to Israel in August.
posted on 6/08/2007