Outrageous.
And speaking of outrageous:
[Link: backspin.typepad.com...]

Pass

Sh*t! What are those idiots in the background doing?!?! Why are they not ducking for cover?! I'd be on the ground in an instant.

HEEEY MACARENA!

OT: i just had my resume professionally written. The writer - a British fellow with some Greek ancestry - told me to exclude the word "Jewish" from my resume, even though many of my former places of employment contained the word "Jewish" in their names. He said it just "made better strategic sense".

Go figure.

Ah, time for my morning nausea ...

#4

D, I hope you told him to pound sand ...

Heck, this goy would treat that sort of stuff as an **advantage** ...

Actually, as I understand it, Hamas & Co. have used kids to smuggle arms and explosives into Israel in the past, so this one's purpose might legitimately have been "unclear" as of the time he was intercepted.

this is insane.

AP - it is also unclear that the boy was intending on targetting Jews in Israel or if he just wanted to kill himself and happened to be passing through a checkpoint

OT -- POTENTIAL NEW THREAD

Charles, Just a couple columns down form Anzar's on the WSJ page is an interesting take on the Palis ...

Palestinians want us to forget that they're human.

There was supposed to be a sarcasm tag on the end of that last post (#9)

i just had my resume professionally written. The writer - a British fellow with some Greek ancestry - told me to exclude the word "Jewish" from my resume, even though many of my former places of employment contained the word "Jewish" in their names. He said it just "made better strategic sense".

That's funny Mr. Death---. I'm told all the time to exclude any reference to my Jewish ancestry because I'm not Jewish.

Go figure

The posts today on LGF are all damning.

UN Human Rights Commission defends Yassin. WTF?
Hamas is only kidding Uncle Sam.
10 year old suicide bomber. The Deathcult™ writes a new chapter in their evil diary.
Richard Clarke crows, then chokes. He's still going to get rich.
Spain surrenders. I thought the Spanish were Catholics, Just War anyone?
Aznar defends.

Good stuff Charles.

How do you disarm something like that?

I guess I don't really want to know.

"Palestinian teenager"

What -- he turned 13 last week? He's a frickin' **kid**

Actually, as I understand it, Hamas & Co. have used kids to smuggle arms and explosives into Israel in the past, so this one's purpose might legitimately have been "unclear" as of the time he was intercepted.

1. If he was "only" smuggling explosives across the border, I would expect that they might be... I don't know... hidden on his person as opposed to strapped in a big honking vest around his torso.

2. If he was "only" smuggling explosive... what the F*ck difference does it make... he's a 12 year old, for Jebus's sake

According to Haaretz...

The family of the boy, Hussam Abdo, said he was mentally slow. "He doesn't know anything," his brother, Hosni, said.

So they used a retarded kid, no less.

ISRAEL-- DO NOT SEND THE KID BACK!!!

Put him in a foster home with an Israeli-Arab family.

Let the Palis bitch and moan about how the Jews have kidnapped one of their children... let this kid become an "Arab Elian"... it will just focus media attention, day after day, on the fact that they sent a retarded kid to commit murder.

According to Israeli news, he was promised 72 virgins and that his mother would get 100 shekels. His mother is ill. So that explains everything. It was, afterall very humanitarian of the terrorists to offer to pay his mother's health bill. This is why these terrorist groups should really be called welfare groups.

Perhaps, the kid was trying to go to the St. Pancake memorial service?

Perhaps, martians rule the Whitehouse?

Perhaps AP is an anagram?

Wouldn't it be safer to just shoot the splodeydope's

explosive-packed belt

and let it detonate?

OT - Frawnce's chicken(s) may come home to roost:

Explosives found on French railroad track.

Just had to share this one: Saudi reaction to Yassin's killing. The most unintentionally hilarious part, in a report replete with unintentional hilarity, is the following statement from a Saudi flack:

Naseef praised Yassin, who became "acceptable to a growing number of people and nations because of his moderate views and rational approach.

You can't make this stuff up.

# 3 RoP really chappin' my hide

They're Paleostinians...

# 11 john jay

I thought that the AP actually wrote that and wondered why no one provided a link.

# 14 Rednek

They sent him a robot like they would use to disarm a bomb that was left and told him how to attach it to himself and let it disarm the bomb.

And by the way - that stuff about him being mentally disabled (I think it was the BBC that said that he was "mentally 12-years old") is a crock. The BBC noted that they gave him instructions in Hebrew. No "mentally disabled" 14-year old is bilingual.

Perhaps AP is an anagram?

SharkBlog calls it the AssPress.

#17 you were onto something there, but stopped short.

The Nazis euthanized mentally infirm people during their rule of Germany. The Palestinians, and Hamas in particular, have carried on that grand tradition, in addition to the usual anti-Jewish stuff they do on a daily basis.

Now, they get to kill two birds with one stone - kill Jews and mentally deficient kids at the same time.

#17

That's one of the points of the Stehpens WSJ piece -- they don't strap the bombs to their would-be Rhodes scholars -- they're using this as their own sort of crazed eugenics/political power play -- and too many people are totally ignorant of this ...

#3 RoP really chappin' my hide

Sh*t! What are those idiots in the background doing?!?! Why are they not ducking for cover?

Because they are Palestinians - and of course we know that an Arab would never hurt another Arab.

/sarcasm - was it ever on?

#14 redneck

How do you disarm something like that?

As the boy approached the roadblock, he was told to raise his hands. The vest was identified. Every one cleared away. The boy was frightened. A boms sapper gave him instructions how to take it off, but he wasn't successful. So they sent a robot to him with a knife and he was instructed to cut it off, which he did. The whole ordeal took about an hour. Before he was approached, he was told to undress to make sure he didn't have any more explosives. Then he was taken away. He asked if he gets the virgins anyway.

I guess I don't really want to know.

Whoops. Never mind.

Next thing you know - the DU guys will be trying to call the image a photoshop.

Someone make sure to get a cache of it, because i bet it gets pulled off the internet sooner than later.

Gracious, I would like to think there is hope for this child. On the cusp of manhood, so on the edge of being a victim himself and being someone fully able to discern right and wrong for whom I would shed no tear. I pray it isn't too late for him. But I'm thankful beyond words that I'm moved by this picture instead of one of another 3-mt-old who was blown apart on a bus. I still see Shmual Tabenfeld when I close my eyes sometimes.

#1 -- That's just the tip of the iceberg. Over the last several years (cable internet) I've learned all the anti-Semitic "classics" in political cartoons from around the world.

An award-winning British cartoon used the blood libel in depicting Sharon eating Palestinian children.

I should admit that as recently as three years ago I bought into the "poor peaceful Palis" myth. Then, I educated myself. They almost turned me into a newt. But I got better.

When will a European nation condemn the use of children as kamikazes? *holding breath in anticipation*

He had the mental capacity of a 12 year old? Wouldn't that make him a genius compared to the rest of Palestinian society?

#18 amir

very humanitarian of the terrorists to offer to pay his mother's health bill

The mother could have gone to Israel for FREE medical care. No joke. I've been in Israeli hospitals and they treat the Pals for FREE. I know that this runs counter to the Press/Euroweanies characterization of the blood fanged Joos, but that's the truth.

I really can't think of something to write because reading the board today has done nothing but fill me with disgust! Read the story about the "retard" in Reuters first and had to look at the comments to the story - sickening that folks were actually defending the use of 16 year olds. Mind you, not many on that thread but still even one is just sickening!!

How do you disarm something like that?

According to Haaretz -- they used a robot to bring him a pair of scissors, he cut the bomb off, the robot carried it away and sappers blew it up.

Responsibility for this noble plan, by the way, was claimed by local Tanzim, ie Fatah members.

#24 lawhawk

I think you are wrong. If the PLO-Arabs tried to kill all of the mentally deficient people in their society, there would only be about seven Palestinians left in the world.

# 30 Beagle

When will a European nation condemn the use of children as kamikazes? *holding breath in anticipation*

When the children aren't trying to kill Jews.

Absolutely sick. Kill every Hamas, IJ, Hezb leader and Arafish too. Kill, 'em. They spread this sickness. Using a child as a bomb.

Where is the fucking condemnation from Kofi and the boys...huh? Oh, that's right, they're busy holding a meeting, another special Israel bashing bazarre.

Oh yeah, and a pre-emptive fuck off to Jimmy Carter, too; 'cause I know that he and those of his ilk will no doubt find a way to blame incidents like this on the Jews.

#25 Buckaroo

Our hardcore left already practices eugenics. Ms. Sanger told them it was in the best interests of the future of the world. They believed her.

Even the Cosmic Justice jurists can't rationalize the dispatch of children to blow themselves up because some Hamas welfare clerk promised the child's mother some money. Will the perpetual poverty that shocks the Palestinians ever find the blame where it lies on the backs of HAMAS, IJ and AAMB who in fact control the poverty.

sickening that folks were actually defending the use of 16 year olds

There is a sizable contingent of the left that is virulently misanthropic ("More trees, fewer people" "Voluntary Human Extinction Movement" People who see humanity as a cancer on the Earth's eco-system.) It's unsurprising that they have no problem with the violent deaths of children and teens. One less mouth to feed is one less mouth to feed.

here was an ideal circumstance for the remote detonation capability we have heard about, just make sure that the explosion occurs before he separates from the Palli crowd.

If he was that crazy for the 72 virgins, couldn't they just trade him a Playboy for the bomb? It's a lot more cost-effective, and sure to be popular with the 12 year old boys.

Palestinian teenager Hussam Abdo

I thought he was 10. Have the inventors of zero created a new system for ten year olds to become teenagers?

Boy to say they never contribute anything to society.

#38 Axiom

"Will the perpetual poverty that shocks the Palestinians ever find the blame where it lies on the backs of HAMAS, IJ and AAMB who in fact control the poverty."

If we keep letting Sharon & the IDF do their thing we've got a better chance of folks seeing that than if we keep pussyfooting around ..

He could have been told that he was only bringing the explosives over the border to someone else in Israel to be used in an "operation" and that he wouldn't get into trouble even if he was caught, because he's just a kid.

He could have been wearing the belt (which he obviously didn't put on, since he couldn't get it off by himself) because his handlers thought it would be less conspicuous that way than if he carried it in a bag.

It says a lot that the terrorists have been reduced to bribing/tricking retarded kids instead of sending adults who have been "prepared" to "martyr" themselves.

One good thing about this - I have no doubt that the Israelis will find out who sent him.

#23 V the K

SharkBlog calls it the AssPress.

That's my least favorite machine at the gym.

Channel 4 "news" in the UK have just implied the whole episode might be an Israeli set-up...

Golda Meir said in 1957, before the National Press Club in Washington:

Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us.

It's been 47 years and they still hate Jews more than they love their children.

Hey, at least the AP says it was unclear. Reuters probably attached their standard "it was a toy" boilerplate, same as they do when kids with Kalishnakovs march in parades to honor Hamas.

any chance at all this story will ever make it into major media - NYT, CNN, NPR (oh, sorry, how silly of me). Seems to me that people who would send a 12-year old frightened retarded boy on such a mission might lose some sympathy.

/slap. OK I'm awake now.

today i was sitting in my daughters' school yard., having a soda and watching the kiddies.. my third grader still had class, while my 7th grader got out early( teachers strike) and she was in the library with her best friend.
i watched a bunch of 12- 13 year old kids having a very spirited basketball game, with lots of cute kid-isms, friendly backslaps and silly show- offing. kids being kids. at the same time, not to many kilometres away from this scene Jerusalem, in nablus, this was happening with another child. 12 year olds need to be playing, andbeing kids...
i cant describe the incredible sadness i see when i look in this poor deluded Childs face... he has been abused by his parents, and his whole sick society. as the mother of a 13 year kid, i know how much guidance this age group needs, how much love and affection, and understanding.. what did this poor kid get? what drives a child to be willing to kill himself? as a parent, i would throw myself in the way of anything to lay my own life down to save my children... the Palestinean death society,,, my lovely neighbours.. are too sick to ponder.

#32 Bubbaman

The mother could have gone to Israel for FREE medical care. No joke.

This is only partially accurate. I work in an Israeli hospital. Israeli hospitals don't work for free for anyone, Jews Arabs, Israelis or foreignors. If a Palestinian lands in an Israeli Emergency room they will get the treatment they deserve (or don't deserve) as human beings, and the hospital bills the Palestinian authority. Collecting is a totally different story.

#2 V the K 3/24/2004 11:12AM PST

I commend your "pass" I can't find any humor in this at all.

A mentally deficient kid, that is the lowest. What next pregnant women! (but that has already been tried).

With Charles posting so much, its hard to keep up with the regulars around here.

#17 HouTexJew

Euthanasia, Paleo-style:

The boy's brother, Hussam Abdo, said he was mentally slow.

[Link: www.jpost.com...]
I wonder what they use to measure IQ? Sounds to me this boy has more sense than the rest of them put together.

"He told us he didn't want to die. He didn't want to blow up," Milrad added.

I didn't see this comment until now:

The teenager's family in Nablus identified him as Hussam Abdo, and his brother, Hosni, said "he has the intelligence of a 12-year-old."

A teenager with the intelligence of a 12-yr-old. So he's a year or two behind is all. BFD.

#48 It also seems we love their children more than they love their children.

lizzy -

Shalom, chavera.

I know what you mean. Although when my son was 13 I often wanted to throw him out the nearest window, at the same time I was ready to go take on anyone who bothered him.

I think that this was a street kid (why else wasn't he in school? No special ed, despite the billions poured into Palestinian schools by the U.N.?), to whom 100 NIS was a fortune. He was considered expendable by the death masters.

His parents may have known nothing about it, although one of the articles says that the kid was a "member" of Tanzim, and that's something that his parents were likely to be aware of.

#56

Equally valid point!

It also seems we love their children more than they love their children.

J Lichty #42.

I don't know what his age is but if 10 is actually 13, then maybe he's 10 (base 10) and 13 (base 7).

Hamas probably uses base 7 to count with instead of base 10 because most of its adult members have lost a few fingers in "work related accidents". Or maybe he's 13 and Hamas uses base 13 to count with (so he's 10 (base 13)) 'cause...well, because they're idiots.

How did I do?

Lizzy, the kid may not have been truly aware that he was in danger of death. Kids seem to think they're immortal, though I don't know what kids might think who have seen fighting and death up close. Whatever the case, all the more shame to the disgusting creeps who sent a child to kill and die. (I don't know any term accurate enough to describe how low and contemptible they are, and that includes the worst swear-words I can think of.)

J. Lichty at No. 42 -- Refers to them as the people who invented the "0"

Actually, the concept of zero and the numerals misnamed "Arabic numerals" were developed in India.

In the early Middle Ages the Radanites -- the international network of Jewish merchants -- learned the numeral system and the zero in India, and taught them to the Arabs.

Now all your zeroes are belong to us.

(#47) blooKat

Isn't 'Channel 4' the public relations wing of the Palestinian Authority in the U.K.?

Oh wait, that's the Guardian. No, er, the Independent. Or perhaps the BBC.

It's so hard to keep track of all the Pali splinter groups in the U.K. these days. There are so many.

#22 Carl in Jerusalem

And by the way - that stuff about him being mentally disabled (I think it was the BBC that said that he was "mentally 12-years old") is a crock. The BBC noted that they gave him instructions in Hebrew. No "mentally disabled" 14-year old is bilingual.

I think many 12 years old Palestinians konw some Hebrew. So he can be "mentally 12 years old". It only means he's a bit slow, not severely mentally disabled.

I commend your "pass" I can't find any humor in this at all.

Don't get me wrong, I could totally milk humor from this if I chose to. But there's something just wrong about picking on retarded 12 year olds.

Except for postit.

Hhar, LMAO

#51 lizzy

lizzy, to me you are everything that's right about Israel.
G-d bless and protect you and your family.

64
thanks v the k for passing tonight.
this justmakes me want to cry, not find humour in it.
63
thats a very broad statment,, my neighbours have a borderline retarded child who speaks russain and hebrew fluently.

"Childhood is the most vital element in a person’s development. The Jesuits used to say, ‘Give me a child for the first seven years, and you may do what you like with him afterwards.’1 They knew that by the time a child had reached seven, his character would largely be set and, even at that tender age, you could ‘see’ the man

And, still, some persist in preaching that these cradle to grave barbarians are amenable to good will & compromise.
Link

awww, thanks papijoe

#22 - Carl in Jerusalem -

There's a difference between being bilingual and being able to understand a few simple commands. It wouldn't be surprising to me if even a retarded kid could understand such Hebrew words as "Stop!" "Hands on your head!" "Turn around!" and so forth. And Hebrew and Arabic are related - it's not like an English-speaking person being spoken to in Chinese.

maybe this sounds sick from me , but being so filled with anxiety for my own kids in the light of current events here in israel, if i could, i would take this child, and just hug him hug him hug him till i could hug his child hood back into him... hug away the poison hes been fed... stupid and pointless yiddehse mama fantasy, but this poor kid needs it.
thinking about the monsters that can condone this , or send a kid out to do this,, its doing my head in tonight,,, inhuman monsters
off to hug my zonked out kiddies instead,
class mock - pesach seder tommorrow night for my littlest one, who is very excited.

#42 J. Lichty

Actually, according to Israeli TV, he's 14.5 years old. But he looks small for his age. When he was questioned he said that since he's short they told him he has no chance to have sexual relations, thus the 72 virgins he would gain for the suicide attack is his only chance to have sexual relations...

#71 Lizzy

It doesn't sound sick at all. I wanted to do the exact same thing.

As for developmental delays and language: my friend's son is developmentally delayed but speaks and understands both Hebrew and English quite well.

This kid didn't look too suspicious did he?

According to the BBC news website, the boy is mentally handicapped, and according to Debka, he was given $23 to blow himself up.

Presumably the ISM, who believe all Palestinians have a right to kill Jews, would approve.

What next, babies dressed as suicide bombers? Mothers with pushchairs full of TATP? Ambulances used to smuggle weapons?

Ah... my mistake.

#71 lizzy

Not so sick. When I did outreach to the projects, we had a granny brigade that would sit in rocking chairs and offer to hold kids and rock them. We had kids as old as 12, and some would cry their hearts out. A lot of them had been sexually abused. Don't underestimate the healing power of a hug.

People that would send explosive laden children should obviously be given their own state. :/

Amazing. When Michael Jackson abuses a handful of kids, it's a media frenzy for months. When Hamas and IJ do worse to an entire generation of kids, nobody blinks. This should be front-page news everywhere. But at most it'll be a back-page item.

As a mom I really feel for these poor kids whose futures have been robbed from them by rabid monsters. Imagine if it were reversed - if Israel sent a Jewish kid to do something similar. (I know, the concept is laughable.) The world would be frothing at the mouth within minutes.

This world has simply gone insane.

Is there no depth of depravity too low for these people?

Jabs #61:

I was using the pun "the inventors of zero" to mock their untrue claim that they invented the zero by leaving open the possibility to interpret the statement that they invented zero things not "the concept of zero." I guess I was too clever by half.

#53 RoP . . .

A teenager with the intelligence of a 12-yr-old.

Which in "Falastine" makes him a genius.

#71 lizzy

It doesn't sound sick, I feel pretty much the same. I feel very sorry for him and the pictures of him trying to disarm himself of the explosive belt would just make you cry. He's a victim of vicious terrorists that won't stop at anything and will exploit anyone, children, kids with mental disabilitied, they just give a damn.

Palestinian's now denying boy bomber story is true.

He's a victim of vicious terrorists that won't stop at anything and will exploit anyone, children, kids with mental disabilitied, they just (don't) give a damn.

And it's precisely because LGFers want to put a stop to this that we are labelled racists, hatemongers, fascists and all the other epithets. Because we lack the compassion anuanced moral relativism that would enable us to understand the people who do these things.

F* that! I don't want to understand why people send a developmentally challenged kid to blow himself up... I want the bastards stopped.

That poor boy! Jesus had some pretty damning words about those who lead children astray. Millstones around the neck and all. Those people who did this to that kid are slug slime.

the new kid:

When he was questioned he said that since he's short they told him he has no chance to have sexual relations, thus the 72 virgins he would gain for the suicide attack is his only chance to have sexual relations...

That can't be right. The reason he couldn't get laid was not because he was too short but because of the evil OCCUPATION, APARTHEID, HUMILIATION, GENOCIDE, WAR-CRIME, TERRORIST STATE. Remember, you must be accurately when you are speaking to J. Lichty. Remember there is always a way to blame Israel.

.

74 Geepers

That's after they disarmed him. The soldiers gave him an IDF coat.

Next time on Palestinian Denial Zone...

Bears do not defecate in woods
The sky is pink with yellow polka dots
Moon made of felafel
Religion of peace
etc

It is particularly disgusting to pick on mentally retarded children for any reason, especially a "mission" of this sort.

Lots of people have children with developmental delays or disabilities-including myself-but only savages send children to their deaths and others in this way. I have to say that this behaviour is worse than animals.

The Nazis were also champions of killing mentally challenged/ill people. It really makes me shudder.

For more than one reason-we seem to be back in 1939 again.

Avi W (#86),

Thanks for the info. I thought he looked a little too ridiculous.

82 Judith

That's a different story from a week ago. They're not denying what happened today and the Tanzim even claimed responsibility for dispatching the kid. It wouldn't make sense to deny it since it's all caught on tape.

You're right. Too quick on the post button. Thanks for the clarification.

If he was worried about not getting any, maybe we could set up a fund that would help all the PLO-Arab children that feel like they have to explode to get laid. Let's call it "Goats for Gaza".

86
avi,,
and does the world recognise the compassion of our soldiers,( who are also our "little boys?")
they could have shot this child, let him explode, anything.. they risked themselves to humanley save him... after, they tried to comfort him...
its not in the israeli character to see a child harmed.
no matter what those monsters make up about us.

Maybe I'm in a really bad mood, but you are all being way to kind about this "kid" He was on his way to murder to get laid. An innocent robot was put at risk to save him. At least robots follow the three rules of robotics.

1) A robot may not injure a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2) A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3) A robot must protect its own existence so long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws. Asimov's idea is that these rules are so deeply embedded into the "brain" of every robot made, that if a robot were to break one of the rules, its circuitry would actually be physically damaged beyond repair. Assuming this is technically possible, and was embedded in every robot made, these rules are the only thing that would be sufficient to keep robots from taking over the control of the world from humans.

What rules of behavior was this child taught?

Ok, I'm being a hard ass. But we have a T-800 Terminator as govenor here and he is doing a wonderful job.

94,,piglet,, do you have a child? espcially a young teenager? if you did, you'd undertsand

It wouldn't make sense to deny it since it's all caught on tape.

True for most people, but not for the Palestinian Party People. The PPP know that the ISM, the moonbats, the BBC, and al-Guardian will eagerly parrot whatever their line is.

#17 HoutexJew:

I agree 100%. Why send the poor child back to the very community that tried to murder him? Putting him in a decent Israeli foster home (assuming he is not so thoroughly programmed that he would be dangerous and beyond redemption) would be a mitzvah. The Palestinian children need to be rescued from the self-perpetuating culture of death, for everyone's sake. Precious little is being done on that front.

Read about what his brother has to say:

Hosni Abdo said he was furious with whoever persuaded his brother to strap on the bomb vest.

"The ones who sent him are stupid, because the army will give him two slaps and he will tell them who sent him," Hosni Abdo said.

Source of Quote

It sounds like he is more upset over the willingness that his brother will have for giving the names of the terrorists than for the life of his brother.

It was unclear if Abdo was being sent as a suicide bomber or was acting as a courier.

thanks AP! at least you can clearly tell it was a toy!
/sarcasm

#93 lizzy

Exactly. If the IDF is so evil and treacherous like the media portray them to be, this kid would have been down for the count before there could be a picture taken. Just shows the humanity that Israelis possess and the paleos lack. Why risk your lives to save a child sent to bomb your people? Some folks will never know the answer to that and it is hard to put into words. I feel sorry for them. But not for the folks who would put a child up to this. Well, time to sit back and wait for the international outcry about this event.

waiting...

waiting...

waiting...

ps - thanks for the pic...it looked like a lovely day there.

Depressing picture.

FWIW: German newswire dpa quotes a Palestinian eyewitness, who claims the boy has Down-Syndrome (and it's a well-known kid from many demonstrations in Nablus)

[Link: de.news.yahoo.com...]

From the Haaretz article

Abdu's mother voiced astonishment at the incident.

"Hussam left home this morning to school, and this was the first we hear of what happened," Tamam Abdu told Reuters from the family home in Nablus, just north of Hawara. "This is shocking. To use a child like this is irresponsible, forbidden."

Irresponsible???

That's so ... understated.

lizzy

Your sentiments are not sick at all. palestinians kids need more love and way less hate.

I watched the incident on the noon news; absolutely disgusting is all I can say. The outmost in child abuse.

Why send the poor child back to the very community that tried to murder him?

If the IDF didn't send him back, the UN and Amensty International would have been all over them for holding a child prisoner. It would have been said to "shock the conscience of every civilized person."

I think this will really backfire on the Paleos. I think they were hoping that the kid would blow up and accomplish his mission (unless he was a courier), or that the IDF would shoot him, making them look bad.

Speaking of the Govenator, he'll be in Israel soon (or perhaps has already) to break ground for the new Weisenthal Center.

#52 amir

Right you are! Technically, bills are generated for any hospitalization, but as you astutely point out, the bills are almost never paid.

Therein lies my statement that the medical care is FREE!

I have never seen an Israeli hospital turn away a patient (Jerusalem, Baer Sheeba, Tel-Aviv) based on economic resources regardless of national origin. In fact, it is well known in the Beduin and Pal community that if one wants "good" medical care they should seek out an Israeli hospital.

Collecting from the PA is about as easy as retrieving one's stolen car which is now in Gaza.

amir or bubbaman

How does Israel's health system work? Do people pay premiums to the government or do they have private plans?

Just curious
MAr

If the IDF is so evil and treacherous like the media portray them to be, this kid would have been down for the count before there could be a picture taken.

Kinda throws a wrench in the story some troll was linking here the other day that the IDF shoots (for kicks) at Palestinian kids on their way to school.

#104 v the K:

Fuck Amnesty International and all of the others who stand by clicking their tongues at Israel while the PA and the Saudis and the Syrians and all of the other sick Islamist bastards go on their merry way destroying generation after generation of children (and turning them into Islamist bastards).

The civilized world needs to go after the schools, the radio and TV stations, the mosques and every printing press in Gaza and the West Bank (for a start).

Don't just fight the finished product. Destroy the manufacturing process.

#94 piglet - I'm with you.

People are being too kind to this "kid". "Kids" in their teens are perfectly capable of murder. They may lack sound judgement, but sure they are capable of a good deal of harm (see children warriors in Africa, etc.).
Declaring the "kid" developmentally slow, or mildly retarded takes the onus off his family, perhaps in order to avoid the bulldozer, or the wrath of his handlers.

This just in. The UN Commission on Human Rights, meeting in special session, has issued this statement:

We hereby condemn Israel for disarming the bomb strapped to this would-be martyr. This outrageous intervention preventing this boy, no more than an innocent child, from completing his task will have a profound, detrimental effect on his self-esteem. This is a clear violation of his human rights, and will not lead to peace.

/kofi

Others touched on it, but the child is not a teenager, that is more of the AP toning down the outrageousness of this whole incident.

According to the Israeli press, he is 14.

Yes, technically 14 is a teenager (hence the four-TEEN), but when a person hears "teenager", he immediately thinks 17-19, not 14.

The report should have said "a 14 year old boy" which is how they would have reported it if the IDF had blown him away.

50 thumper

Fox picked it up, and included a close-up of the kid. Man I feel sorry for him, looks/sounds like he was duped into almost killing himself.

al-CNN had a pathetic, sanitized version buried in their Middle East section here.

Fuck Amnesty International and all of the others

Once again... pass... the BO would be too much. It's not like I'm French.

Reading CastorOil and piglet's responses, it's safe to say that there are misanthropes on the right, as well. I mean, you can hate the people and the system that put the kid up to this, but sneering hatred directed at a retarded child is something I am not comfortable with.

110 Jheka

Put into terms that Curtis LeMay would love.

113 YY

Minor point I think, and anyway I disagree, I think of a 14-yr-old who still has a few years of schooling left. An 18-yr-old is "adult" (though most don't act it).

#4 Deathberg

I'm a professional business writer and I'm happy to work with you on your resume -- and leave in the Jewish references.

Lizzy. You are braver than I am. I'm just angry.
This kid could have killed a lot of people.
I don't know how to know if he is less evil if he is slow.

I know I am furious at the sucide bomber who backed out not because she could not kill, but because she was told to dress "immodestly" by the bomb providers.

Also I am mad at Eve Ensler for writing a poem lying about this woman.

I must agree with piglet. (#94)

This kid is old enough to differentiate good from evil and he chose evil (unless he really is mentally retarded, my impression that he is not). I have a 9 year old, 4 year old and 2 year old. My 9 year old is definitely old enough to understand that such a mission is pure evil, that no virgins are waiting in heaven for evil people and that 100 shekels can buy you virtually nothing.

115
sooo right v the k.
the poor kid was terrifed when he realised what was happening.
one just has to hang around a jr high school anywhere in the world to know what 12-15 year old boys are like. im always trying to explain that to eden what young teen boys are like when she gets insulted by her 13 year old classmates sometimes. and they can be a handful.
but taking advantage of that 14 year old bravado... epscially a retarded 14 year old, is a reflection on the societal illness of adults , no tthe kids. again, v the k, i dont htink peopel that say what piglet and castpr said either have kids , or associate much with kids.
sad

i understand, piglet
and amir
OY GEVALT!
wait till they hit kitah zayin!
all those cute littel boys in edens class ive known since gan or first grade.. the ones that came over to play soemtimes...
ARGHHH
they have all turned into testerone- driven , voice changing, bundlles of energetic chutzpah!
arghhh!!!
its like that english tv show, kevin the teenager.. my lord, what happened to them? they go to bed the eve of thier 12th bristhday cuties , and wake up,, teeennns! arghghghg
lol

lizzy,

I always read your comments and I wanted to tell you how much I admire your level-headedness. Please stay safe, and your family also. :-)

#108 mar

Every working man and woman pay 5% of their salary for the national health fund. (I'm not sure what the unemployed do - hope not to be there). Then you register with one of four or five HMO type organizations. The HMOs get money from the government based on the number of members they have. The law stipulates which treatments or medications are covered. Most are. The HMOs cannot refuse anyone membership, so they basically compete by trying to provide services to young healthy people since they are funded by the number of people that join regardless of their health conditions. Anyone can seek private medical services if they want, but they still must pay the 5% tax. Sometimes they can get partial reimbursement from their HMO even if they go to a private doctor or hospital.

lizzy, you well know that I am completely capable of being a 100% Grade A Prime A-hole, but I just can't bring myself to hate a 14 year old retarded kid the same way I would an adult bomber. Maybe not joining in the General George Custer-like "kill 'em all, women and children first" brigade marks me as being somehow soft on terror... but for Jebus's sake, my kids do stupid things and they test very well on the IQ scale. I can't hate this kid, no matter how vile the thing he was asked to do was. And if the IDF had had to kill him to stop him, I would still feel bad for him, although I would say they did the right thing. I hate the people who made him do this and if I would gladly take them on, Thunderdome style, and make damned sure I was the one who walked out at the end. And this kid may yet grow up to earn my hatred and disgust, but right now, today, looking at the picture, I see a dumb, terrified kid who didn't realize how much trouble he was in until just now. Anybody who looks at that picture and sees just another Palestinian cockroach has been gazing into the abyss for too long.

#98

I'm glad you picked up on that. It was the biggest thing to stick out in my mind. His brother IS more upset that the terrorists are going to be found out than the possibility of losing his brother.

Twisted.

#121 lizzy

ARGHHH HHH

But I hadn't seen this post! ;-p

Did anyone get the last part of the article, where the kid's brother sounded up set that all they had to do was "Slap him twice" and he would tell them everything? He sounded as if he was angry that his brother would spill the beans, not that his brother was gonna die in the first place.

wastes of skin, if you ask me.

aww, thanks zorkmidden
writing here is for me , as im sure it is for alot of you, therapy from the nastiness of alot of the daily stuff going on here and in the world.

#115 Vthe K - I question his "retardation" - until I hear it confirmed from an Israeli source. Until then, I think it's being used by his family as an excuse not to have the family home torn down.

From the Haaretz article:

"He told us he didn't want to die. He didn't want to blow up," the officer said.

It seems to me that he knew what the consequences of detonating the vest were - at least from his standpoint: he was going to die, and be a hero, have sex with 72 virgins, etc. He made a conscious decision not to detonate his vest. If that qualifies him as retarded, well...

Certainly the other child who was asked to carry a bag didn't know what he carried, we can assume he was used as a donkey, but this one knew.

Sorry, but I don't feel too sympathetic for him, nor do I feel sympathy for the 13 and 14 year olds who made anti-semitic phone calls to a Jewish home in Toronto the other day. At that age there is a level of comprehension that shouldn't be discounted.

Unless I hear from other sources that he was retarded - not just from his family, I don't buy it.

#116 RoP really chappin' my hide 3/24/2004 01:18PM PST

Put into terms that Curtis LeMay would love.

Speaking of GEN LeMay, I have his autograph in a WWII aviation book history book, but you won't see it on ebay soon! ITS Mine! all mine!

but seriously,

A quick look at the WaPost online shows that they have not picked up this story yet...waiting...

v the k, sooo right!
this whole situation is too sad in too many ways.

(#110) Jheka

Agreed. We need to disable their media - printing presses, radio, t.v., movies, mosque leafletting, the koran, etc...

And for a period of 20 years, make them all read this, over and over again.

V the K
I don't look at any human being and see a cockroach.
It's true that the primary blame should be placed on the adults. But, unless this kid is severely retarded, he knew what he was doing.

Thanks Amir.

I think we were all conflicted about whether the boy is victim or villain.

His age is in that gray area.

But he was planning on murder.

But...I don't know.

My #29 says as much. lizzy, in your #71 you wondered if wanting to hug him made you sick. CastorOil and piglet, we've noted that he was on a killing mission, we've wondered about the age. Old enough to know better? For me, my gut goes with victim. His face in the picture plus his question to the IDF if he still got his virgins. Doesn't sound like the question of someone who fully understood.

I don't think those who feel for him are too soft any more than I think those who have no sympathy for him are too harsh. Good people could come down on either side of this.

But we're all happy he was stopped, no? Yay, Border Patrol! Is it time for more pizzas?

castor oil.. all 14 year old boys are a bit common sense challenged , without having a disgusting terrorist organisation egging them on.
yesterday we went down to ein karem,, it has a beautiful, VERY NARROW natural spring( Mayan) which runs into the side of the hill for about 100 meters before coming out ,, somewhere... i saw two kids in shorts, with rucksacks filled with tins of corn and bamba snacks, and one teeny little torch. . going into this super narrow hole yesterday,, i asked them wheat they were doing,, " going in to look and come out the other end.."9 one hundered dark slimey meters on into the side of the hill)
had they done it before? no
was it very very narrow in there, slimy and pitch black..
yes
where they about to see sense about maybe just eat the corn and the bamba outside? of course not
( in the end i told the guy selling juice in ffront of the well to keep and eye out for hem if they got stuck.
that's kids
again
its a monster who corrupts that for his own evil purposes.
thats what happened to this kid today.

This photo made me think of that infamous picture from WWII, of that young Jewish boy with the haunting big eyes and his hands in the air at the point of a Nazi rifle somewhere in a European ghetto, having been robbed of his childhood, humiliated and forced to become an adult before his time.

This kid looks rightfully scared, knowing that he could be ripped to pieces at any second.

It is only a sick, depraved, diseased, degenerate society like a Nazi Germany or a "Palestine" that would do this - devour its own young, turn kids into cannon fodder.

I am the father of a 11 year old who just wants to play Yugioh and IM his friends. The thought of sending a kid his age to blow himself up is just unimaginable.

And yet, the world wonders why a civilized society wants to wall itself away from the savages.

I don't think feeling sorry for one scared, possibly retarded, certainly abused and brainwashed kid, is tantamount to sympathizing with the enemy.

V the K

I am completely capable of being a 100% Grade A Prime A-hole

I'll blame lizzy for making me sentimental.
I've always gotten a kick out of you, but every now and then you post something that pegs my personal Integrity Meter. Thanks for being a mensch

Now I better go listen to some Gunny Ermey wavs and butch up

;-)

Why terror?

If he were alive today, how might Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest apostle of non-violence, challenge Osama bin Laden's worldview?

Prospect Magazine

#135 Renna

If you think he asked the IDF if he still gets the virgins from my post #27, than I apologize, because I meant that as a joke. If he really did say that than, "I guess you can make this stuff up"

And Mar - you're welcome. Now come visit Israel, you will get free medical attention, which we hope you will not need.

BTW - when I was 14, the wildist thing I did was smoke a pack of cigarrettes with two friends of mine. Then I drank milk hoping to cover the smell on my breath. Went to my room and threw up.

#105 papijoe

I think this will really backfire on the Paleos.

The same must have ocurred to those who run the palestinian propaganda machine and their media supporters.

The BBC account isn't too bad (apart from their unbreakable addiction to those scare quotes) but as someone said earlier, UK Channel 4 is suggesting it is all an Israeli charade, meant to make the palestinians look bad. Well, it does make them look bad (maybe because they are indeed bad?) so a damage limitation exercise is starting to operate.

Sorry, no link - they don't even mention the story on their website.

They must really be desperate, the second child-dupe in a week. The first was only eleven, the second was retarded. Neither wanted to die.

[Link: www.jpost.com...]

Israel is clearly winning this war.

#135 Renna - I wouldn't qualify the "kid" as a victim unless he were truly retarded. But I would qualify him as a dumb teenager, smart enough to have doubts about dying vs. becoming a hero.
I haven't said he was on a "killing mission" - most likely he was on a self-fulfillment mission, getting the virgins and becoming a hometown hero. The problem was, that in order to accomplish those goals, he had to kill some Jews, not just commit suicide.
He's probably scared to death now to return, having so shamefully betrayed the family honor, forfeited the promised land, etc. and being even more bullied in school.
If Israel returns him to his family, he'll have to try harder next time, just to save the family honor.
From this standpoint, maybe, in the second phase he would qualify as a victim, given the stark choices.
But not a victim from the outset.
Unless, I repeat, he is truly retarded.

Ok so if Tanzim claimed responsibility for this and Tanzim is a faction of al-Fatah, who is the leader of al-Fatah? Maybe he needs a rocket lobotomy!

#141 - oops.

Doesn't really change my post, though. The age of accountability can be so hard to define, and of course will range.

#143 Mardukhai

They must really be desperate, the second child-dupe in a week. The first was only eleven, the second was retarded. Neither wanted to die.

It must have been an Arab face-saving thing. Same with the knife attacks and the 2 college students who tried to kidnap IDF soldiers. They didn't have anything big in the pipeline, so they had to scrape the bottom of the barrel. So much for the gates of hell.

Israel is clearly winning this war.

I agree. Please don't stop Israel.

I'm sure you've heard this a lot, Charles, but thank you for that photo and the point you made. This poor kid was wearing an explosive vest and didn't get shot!

And Israelis are the brutes and terrorists?

Somehow that picture made me think back to that (many times posted) photograph of hate-filled Rachel Corrie burning a flag in front of a group of indifferent or scared-looking children.

Although there is much criticism of the Arabs' own indoctrination of their children, another potent force is the function of the enablers from the west.

That is, Arab children who both fear and admire the west (and its culture) are confronted by an impressive looking westerner (like Corrie) eager to act out a protest fantasy and incite these children to violence and suicide.

And Corrie was not alone. There is an entire "tourist" industry of leftist idiots who want to participate in the Palestinian "struggle."

So in the end, was Corrie (and her ilk, like MP Tonge, for example) any different from a sex tourist that goes to Thailand or Cambodia to sexually exploit children? Aren't they just acting out their filthy fantasies at the expense of the poor children in this world?

I wonder who the world would blame, if the child had detonated the bomb accidentally while trying to take it off. This whole thing was filmed. The UN would probably be condeming Israel right now for sending a robot and not a person to take his vest off.

Fox News has the boy at 16. Still with the 12-yr-old mind twist, but attributes that info to the brother. This would be the brother whose first reaction was to worry his brother would rat out the cause. Link

Since the Israeli assassination of Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin

Arrggh!

As I said, I'm in a bad mood. I work in a gang area of LA and one of the kids here keyed my car. I think that if it wasn't aimed at me, but he merely decided to destroy a random persons car that is worse than
if it was intended to hurt me. If I catch him I may key his face. Yeah, really bad mood. I hope Lizzy doesn't think poorly of me now. Teens can be dumb. We have a new library here, cost more than a million dollars, 1 1/2 old and already the bathrooms trashed. They have free internet at the library and plenty of new books, they could study and go to Cal State schools almost free, plenty of scholarships. But they would rather be Tupac! Maybe these kids should go spend time in africa with the masai teens, learn what it really means to be a warrior. I see some good kids. I see many smart ones that blow their chances.

150
i know amir , its a totally no win situation. we just do what we have to do.
a whole pack of ciggerrettes? and milk? you naughty bugger!!!
im staying up late as we have to leave the house at 2 am to take my in laws to the airport,( they are going back to enlgand tonight .)
why are you up so late, young man?

#149 Jersey Devil

So in the end, was Corrie (and her ilk, like MP Tonge, for example) any different from a sex tourist that goes to Thailand or Cambodia to sexually exploit children? Aren't they just acting out their filthy fantasies at the expense of the poor children in this world?

Wow! Never thought of it that way before.

I have read about the boy and how the Israelis oppress the Palestinians on a daily basis.

I don't approve of sending a child to fight but I understand why they send children to blow up Israelis.

#150 Amir

The UN would probably be condeming Israel right now for sending a robot and not a person to take his vest off.

True - they could have sent someone expendable, like Kerry, Kofi, Jack Straw ...

#153

I was about to hit the sack about 5 minutes ago, when I found my four year has taken my place in bed. So I went back to see what's up on this thread. Trying to decide if I put her back in her bed (she had an "accident" but I really don't blame her, she's only four - though her bladder is more like three) which means I have to change her sheets or I'll just go to sleep in the living and let my wife take of things in the morning. I know you think I'm sexist, but I really am not. Lazy is the correct adjective.

piglet, you are so silly!
you just said what you think!i can see where you are coming from as well, as its an incredibly frustrating situation. beleive me, when i had to go to school last week and complain to the headmaster of my daughte.rs school becuase three%$#@$#@^$#^#^ errr... morons... from her class where bullying her, ( my little girl!!!rhgghghgh) i could have handed the three " kids will be kids' little @#$#%$#^$#^$#$# their heads on a plate. grrr
heres a hug for you
IM the huggin
MUM from jeurs-sa-LUM,,,
oy gevalt, that was bad

#152 piglet --- The homeboys in South Central are every bit as much the products of their (lack of) parenting and cultural indoctrination as the Palestinians are.

This is going to sound so bleeding heart it's gonna make you puke like a supermodel at Luby's Cafeteria, but when I was foster parenting, I did have one kid who came in all badass and attitude, but even underneath all that was still some hope and innocence that ultimately he showed me once he knew he could trust me. With my new son, some of the same sh*t... lots of defenses to get by, lots of distrust, but underneath that was just a desire to be safe and be loved. I think most kids are like that. I'm not so naive that I think children are incapable of being evil, but most of them are salvageable with the right care and attention.

amir.. leave it till the morning! nothing sexist about it,. its late,, and little girls make excellent cold feet warmers.
im an extremely cruel ima... maybe thats why mine only got into bed with us in the summer?

Did you note this INSANE comment by the boy-bomber's brother? He was mad at those who
gave his kid-brother the bomb, NOT because they were going to KILL his brother, but because they were STUPID in not realizing his naive brother would BETRAY them under interrogation, and that THEY -- the intigators -- might thus get caught.

Mar 24, 3:03 PM (ET)

By ALI DARAGHMEH

HAWARA CHECKPOINT, West Bank (AP) - A 16-year-old Palestinian with a suicide bomb vest strapped to his body was caught at a crowded West Bank checkpoint Wednesday, setting off a tense encounter with Israeli soldiers whom the army said he was sent to kill.

Abdo left his house Wednesday morning saying he was going to school, but never arrived there.

Hosni Abdo said he was furious with whoever persuaded his brother to strap on the bomb vest.

"The ones who sent him are stupid, because the army will give him two slaps and he will tell them who sent him," Hosni Abdo said.

oops.

I forgot to enter the /dumbass/ tag.

162
lol, ii thought a troll was aliasing under your name, ag!
olo

LGF ... mourning for the souls of the children that our enemies send to murder our people. My friends, that's a difference between us and them and it cannot be overemphasized.

It is a thoroughly diseased society that does not cherish their young. It is a society that does not believe in a future.

Mayby I finally understand how Rantisi can be a pediatrician. Pediatrician in his mind must equate with weapons maintenance and development engineer.

lizzy - somehow I don't believe that you're an extremely cruel ima.

amir.. lol
onyl when i dont have " artik" change in the afternoon.

#152 Piglet . . .

But they would rather be Tupac! Maybe these kids should go spend time in africa with the masai teens, learn what it really means to be a warrior. I see some good kids. I see many smart ones that blow their chances.

More and more, I'm thinking that this is one of the real problems of modern society: people are living in a fantasy world. They don't have a concept of reality. I blame this attitude for a lot of LLL thinking too--that's why they don't actually see a terrorist threat.

It's all just a TV show.

#158 lizzy:

Reminds me of a memorable day from my childhood. These days I'm about 5'11", 220 lbs. (need to get down to 190 or so) but in about the 3rd or 4th grade I got picked on a lot and came home with black eyes with some regularity (never did have the sense to back down from bad odds). Well, one day my mom came to my school. Now, mom is and was 5'2" and maybe 130lbs (sorr mom). Anyway, mom didn't go to the principal. She went to the lead bully, who was bigger than her even then, grabbed him by his shirt, threw him up against a wall and, while holding him there, in her best broken English, said things to that 12 year old boy that I cannot repeat here. Nobody expected it, especially me, and she was clearly so dangerously furious that no one, child or adult, said a thing to her. I never say a kid look so scared in his life. It was a thing of beauty. Not so much that she scared the crap out of that little bastard but the fact that this little woman loved me so much that she apparently didn't have a second thought about physically stepping up for her child.

Ah, mothrly love. These days she'd no doubt be arrested for something like that.

ot
bet alot of you folks didnt know that israel has many programs for underpvilaged kids, both our own, and these
---
BLACK TO THE PROMISED LAND follows 11 African-American teenagers from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, to Kibbutz Lehavot Habashan, Israel.

The 6 boys and 5 girls, ages 15 to 18, are students at the Bedford-Stuyvesant Street Academy, an alternative high school in one of New York City's toughest neighborhoods. Led by their Jewish teacher Stewart Bialer, the teenagers, full of misgivings ("Taking black kids to Israel?"), leave impoverished lives to spend 3 months as working kibbutzniks.

On the 1,500 acre kibbutz, the students, many of whom had never been outside of New York City, rise at 6 a.m. to tend cattle, turkeys, fish, and fruit orchards. As they work side by side with Israelis, the wariness felt by both groups about the other ("We stared at them, they stared at us.") breaks down. A young Israeli who thought "stealing, selling drugs" was the students' way of life decides "without them it will be terrible here. There will be no life." When the 3 months have passed, the Israelis are deeply attached to their guests. The American teenagers do not want to go home.

BLACK TO THE PROMISED LAND challenges myths and stereotypes. It is a fascinating study of the value of alternative education on disadvantaged youth, and a powerful portrayal of the importance of cross-cultural exchanges.
[Link: www.frif.com...]

"This heartfelt look at the successful juxtaposition of two

awww, jheka!
what a mom!

Ellen # 84

Those people who did this to that kid are slug slime

That comment is very insulting to slugs.

[Link: www.operationunity.org...]
The International Kibbutz Program
Teens from the Los Angeles Unified School District travel to Israel for a six-week stay, living and working in the cooperative environment of a kibbutz.

These 17- and 18-year-old youngsters, who travel with two teachers as supervisors, receive school credit for their experience. They fully participate in kibbutz life and each has an adopted family.

They also visit historical sites throughout Israel and participate in a specially-designed seminar at Givat Haviva (the Jewish/Arab Center for Peace), to further their knowledge of breaking down cultural barriers.

Operation Unity targets African-American, Latino, and other ethnic high school students recommended by their teachers and counselors.

They are students who are considered either "at risk," wish to hone their leadership skills, or are students who may simply blossom if given a chance.

They participate in an intensive orientation process, including diversity-training seminars.

Operation Unity's structured follow-up program allows the students to further develop their communication skills through our speakers forum. These young participants speak to their peers and others at schools, churches, synagogues, and other community organizations.

We have developed "The Young Ambassadors of Harmony," a traveling photo exhibit from the kibbutz program. It gives these young people a valuable tool, to assist them in dispelling myths and creating understanding among diverse groups of people.

They have received awards from the City and the County of Los Angeles, in recognition of their work in the area of positive intergroup relations.

California Kibbutz Program
The local version of our kibbutz program has transformed the international program into a 3-week project that simulates the kibbutz experience right here in California. Young participants from Los Angeles and Israel will explore their identities, their communities and their cultures within a training design that includes, team building, cooperative work projects, human relations training and experiential excursions to various cultural centers, ethnic communities as well as recreational activities. This project is a perfect fit for these times of conflict, confusion and bias on local, national and international levels. Operation Unity addresses the need for youth to move outside their literal and figurative urban and rural boxes (whether disadvantaged or benefited) and Operation Unity meets the young persons need to be given an ever-expanding view of their place and value in the world.

#168 Jheka

Awesome :-)

said things to that 12 year old boy that I cannot repeat here.

Good grief...

hmmm wonder why cnn never reports on stuff like my above pstings, ey/

OT OT OT:

ALL NYC area LGFers: our get together for this Sunday, March 28th is set. If you've already been in touch with me, you should have received an e-mail with all the details.
If you haven't received an e-mail about this, and you'd like to come, or if you haven't hear about it before now, please hit my nic, (it'll take you to my blog, hit contact me and send me an e-mail) and I'll get back to you with all the pertinent details.

Thank kew, thank kew, thank kew!!

He got his hair cut in the style his mother, Tamam, likes and told her he would do anything she wants.
...
"I just want you to be happy with me," he responded.
...
Hosni Abdu said he was furious with whomever persuaded his brother to become a suicide bomber. "The ones who sent him are stupid, because the army will give him two slaps and he will tell them who sent him," he said.

The brother sounds like he's working up to an honor killing because his brother failed. Sick to the marrow.

Husam Abdu, 14, he was willing to blow himself into hamberger but he was afraid to be shot by the Security Guards.

JPost article

I can't seem to deal with any of this today, I'm just sickened by it all.

Jheka, that's a fabulous story. Nothing like a mother's love, is there? I'm crazy about my mom, she's my favourite person in the world.

# 70 Amy

Yes, but... They were telling the kid how to dismantle a suicide belt. That isn't as simple as "stop" and "hands on your head."

# 71 lizzy

Go hug your own kids and forget about the little terrorist. Our 20-year old actually asked again tonight if one of us could drive her to school tomorrow (she's second year in university). She doesn't want to ride the buses right now.

# 92 BIG

LOL!

# 105 papijoe

This isn't the first time Arabs have tried this tactic. Kids carrying RPG's were routine in Southern Lebanon.

#123 amir

There's a minimum monthly payment for health insurance. That's what the unemployed (and the students) pay.

# 160 Lizzy and # 157 Amir

Our kids have never gotten into bed with us beyond infancy. They stay in their beds and we stay in ours.

#145 isayalotofthings

rocket lobotomy!

LOL!

Shiek, rattle n roll!

I was wondering just what kind of spin could the BBC put on this story.
They found an angle, saying that Israel "produced" this youngster in front of reporters under tight security, but they weren't allowed to interview him, to get his side of the story. Then they showed the youngster with the green coat and long sleeves saying "this is the face Israel wants us to see" or something very similar.
/spitting towards TV

The latest news on the story (anybody have a link to the video?)

"Blowing myself up is the only chance I've got to have sex with 72 virgins in the Garden of Eden," a 14-and-a-half-year-old Palestinian boy told his Israeli investigators after being caught wearing an 8kg explosives belt.

"They told me that this was the only way, and they promised that my mother would get one hundred shekels if I did this," Husam told his captors.

Even better was Dore Gold's response (shades of Golda):

"No matter how many times Israel learns of the use of children for suicide bombings, it is shocking on each occasion," said Dore Gold, an adviser to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

"Israelis do not understand how Palestinians are willing to sacrifice their own children in order to kill ours."

There has been much discussion around the world about "child soldiers" in Africa & Asia. We've all seen countless pictures of Palestinian kids throwing "stones" at Israelis. The Palestinian "adults" use teenagers as terrorists, shields and propaganda. The vast majority of the world has adopted the Palestinian mindset - we hate Jews more than we love Palestinians. It is a terrible shame, but this isn't enough to rouse the world's anger. I don't think anything is.

"Blowing myself up is the only chance I've got to have sex with 72 virgins in the Garden of Eden," a 14-and-a-half-year-old Palestinian boy told his Israeli investigators after being caught wearing an 8kg explosives belt.

Surely now the world will understand. His elders are monsters. This boy is in a cult. This strain of Islam is chillingly simple and effective for its purposes. What are its purposes? Why won't anybody listen? This could drive any sane person mad.

#4

" i just had my resume professionally written. The writer - a British fellow with some Greek ancestry - told me to exclude the word "Jewish" from my resume, even though many of my former places of employment contained the word "Jewish" in their names. He said it just "made better strategic sense".

Well, maybe sometimes it does. . . Look what happened when Moses applied for a postion as "Prince of Egypt".
He had all the right qualifications and career credits--
and lots of experience in the field (raised in
the palace, after all); but one look at that application--with "Hebrew" written on it--and it was all over--"no way!"--and he got the boot.
So, why take a chance?

We all know that Palestinian children are routinely indoctrinated and exploited by terrorist groups. But this one really stands out. The child had no idea what was flying. His frank explanation for why he was carrying out a suicide bombing is astonishing. The terrorists took advantage of his poor mental capability, dismal financial situation, and hormonal sex drive to kill innocent Israelis.

The left has routinely criticized Israel for "humiliating" Palestinians at checkpoints by telling them to lift up their shirts. This incident shows why it is necessary. Leftists might criticize Israel for this one as well (they always manage to find something stupid). The news might depict Israel as detaining another disgruntled Palestinian. They'll never put this face on the story though: Israel was saving this kid from an abusive background.

These so called "people" are the most disgusting barbarians on the face of G-d's earth.

There is no other so called culture that practices cannibalism or child murder as a part of day to day life. None.

Nowhere else on the face of the earth does any "culture" send children for sacrifice. Nowhere.

I'm supposed to sympathesize with these barbarians?

It's too bad this child cannot be adopted by a nice Jewish couple and brought up to be a member of the human race..

I don't want to hear about his "dispair".

Not too many years from now, it is inevitable he will be killed by an Isreali soldier. Great education for this youngster, thanks to the Saudomites and their stinking death cult.

In (small) defense of AP, their video available with the link to this is worth watching. It definitely shows the IDF in a good light, working intelligently and responsibly in a tense situation.

#186 Pork Eating Whisky Drinker (wish you'd shorten your nic!)
When I was in VIetnam, the VC would do similar things - send a kid towards a US base, strapped to his body some C-4 or equivalent. When the kid met the inevitably friendly GI's asking for candy (or more commonly, cigarettes) some MF in the bush would set off the explosive (a command detonated device) killing the kid and hopefully several GI's.
Sadistic, psycopathic murdering scum don't have ANY moral qualms as you and I do. To them, the end justifies the means; although it's usually "kid YOU go to the Americans and ask for candy" or "kid YOU go to the Israelies and..." It's hardly ever "I'll go to the Israelis and..." They're not just scumbags, they're cowardly scumbags.

I was quite surprised at the BBC website's coverage too(although I didn't catch the TV news)! I thought it was uncharacteristically remiss of them to overlook the way in which the evil and sadistic Jews degraded the boy by forcing him to strip in public - which is something I half expect the UN to issue a condemnation of sometime soon.
Slightly OT (and it may have been mentioned somewhere on here already) but on UK Channel 5 news the other night the newscaster could scarsely conceal her sneers when announcing the assasination of Saruman by the evil Zionists. They ran a telephone poll asking whether governments should have carte blanche to take out terrorists (and yes, they said terrorists - not the much cuddlier 'militants').
When the results came back on a later bulletin a pleasantly surprising 73% were in favour.
You could almost see the steam hissing out of the aforementioned newscasters ears!

Why didn't the IDF explode the damn bomb while this piece of excrement was still wearing it? Would have been more appropriate. Perhaps when he got to hell yassin would offer to lend him his wheelchair!!

You should see how the BBC has distorted this event to make the Israeli soldiers look cruel - its truly shocking.

Hey, the Paleos promised the kid would get laid by not one but but 72 virgins...now that would be a difficult offer to turn down...also considering what most palestinian women on earth look[and must smell] like, you could claim this kid isnt as crazy or retarded as we think...

At 14, in the United States, this child could be tried as an adult.

[Link: www.indystar.com...]

Prosecutors want to try a 14-year-old on adult charges in connection with the slaying of a Ball State student.

If a judge agrees, the juvenile could face the same standard 55-year prison sentence as Damien Sanders, 22, and Brandon Patterson, 18, who both are charged with murder in connection with the March 7 shooting death of Karl Harford, of Carmel.

You should see how the BBC has distorted this event to make the Israeli soldiers look cruel - its truly shocking.

Why do you say they made the soldier look cruel?

I just watched the BBC feed to the USA.

It was shocking, but the soldiers didn't look cruel.

I'd say they showed restraint.

Why didn't the IDF explode the damn bomb while this piece of excrement was still wearing it?

Because they had the option not to do so, and they made the right choice and took that option.

By not shooting the kid, they gained world sympathy, and showed themselves to be compassionate.

#191 treansferthem:

Because it would appear that the child is not the monster in this story and, more importantly, neither are the Israelis.

NYT thinks it is age discrimination, or something

In the propaganda battle that is always a component of the Middle East conflict, Israel is swift to highlight the Palestinian use of youths barely in their teens. In this case much of the drama was recorded by an Associated Press Television News cameraman, a Palestinian, who was among those waiting to cross the checkpoint.

Yes, the actual fact of the child's age is part of the ongoing "propaganda" war. Define "propaganda." I think the Old Grey Lady is getting Alzheimers.

I blame Israel for allowing this child to live. Had he been blown up, it's possible we might not have known his true age. *Shakes fist at Israel*

According to Ha'aretz, the 14-year-old bomber had been bullied for doing poorly in school. To redeem his dishonor, and lured by the promise of $23 and all those tempting virgins in Paradise, he agreed to strap on the bomb.
[Link: www.haaretzdaily.com...]

john- it is in their web site coverage of the incident that the distortion takes place

Doesnt anybody ever notice that whenever the IDF is in the Paleos neighborhoods,the thousands of angry,vengeful heroic martyr seeking Hamas,Al-Aqsa Bigades PFLP and other 20 paleo militia groups are nowhere to be found...? Instead in their place are 4-12 year olds throwing rocks defending the homeland...Everyday we see images of masked rifle grenade toting paleos shooting in the air...we saw 200,000 yesterday vowing revenge..BUT When the action starts, they're nowhere to be seen...? Sorta like the "elite" Republican Guard in Irag or Taliban in Afgan...The Paleos have to realize if they plan on destroying Isreal,they gotta show up to fight ...Jeez

REMEMBER RACHEL CORRIE !!! Seems like all this fuss about the sheik and tard kid knocked all the wind outa the terrorist slut Corrie festivities...Shame on us !

I keep looking at this picture and it appears to me that this boy may have Down's Syndrome. I have a profoundly retarded sister in the State School (though she's not Down's) and have seen a lot of people with Down's Syndrome. I think that he is retarded just from looking at his features.

Confused 14 Year Old In Search of a Blow Job

There's a bit more to Rantisi being a pediatrician, methinks. Take a look at the photos toward the end of the above story. Look carefully for the text in red.

The BBC's attempt to whitewash this case is remarkable. At one point, they write: "It is unknown which, IF ANY, Palestinian groups" were involved...

there is a blow by blow account (no pun intended Aaron) of their biassed web article on my blog...

Does it really matter if he is retarded or not? This is easily the most blantant evidence that the Palestinan "freedom fighters" are true barbarians.

I expect that Kofi is presently calling an emergency session to condemn this savagery.

Carl in Jerusalem -

You may be right. It may be that I just don't want to believe that a normal 14-year-old would willingly strap explosives to his body with the intent to blow himself up. Perhaps I'm naive, but something about this kid doesn't appear normal to me. Who knows what he was promised.

And unless a person is profoundly retarded (in which case he probably couldn't speak his own language, either), I don't see why he couldn't understand Hebrew.

Anyhow, I hope the kid does tell everything he knows, without having to be slapped. He's probably safer in Israeli custody than he would be at home, with those who sent him aware that he didn't carry out his mission.

He was described by Israeli tv news as having limited mental capabalities

Excerpts from article in 3/25 NY Times...Palestinian teenagers have taken part in attacks against Israelis throughout the three and a half years of fighting. The youngest suicide bomber to date was a 16-year-old from Nablus.

In the propaganda battle that is always a component of the Middle East conflict, Israel is swift to highlight the Palestinian use of youths barely in their teens. In this case much of the drama was recorded by an Associated Press Television News cameraman, a Palestinian, who was among those waiting to cross the checkpoint."ISREAL IS A PROPOGANDA MONGER THAT UNFAIRLY AND SWIFTLTY OVER REACTS IN AN EXAGGERATED MANNER TO CHILDREN BEARING BOMBS"

A wire believed to be a detonator cord dangled in front of his chest. Hussam called for soldiers to help, saying he did not want to blow himself up. But they remained in their fortified positions, shouting orders. " ONCE AGAIN ISREALIS ACT IN COWARDLY MANNER AND RUDELY SHOUT ORDERS "

Israeli military and government officials immediately invited journalists to the scene and then placed Hussam on display for several minutes."ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF ISREALIS ABUSING SOME POOR PALEO "
Throughout the conflict a solid majority of Palestinians has backed suicide bombings as a means for fighting Israel. The level of support has declined a bit as the fighting grinds on, and some Palestinians have spoken out against the use of teenagers."A SOLID MAJORITY CANT BE WRONG !! "

Last month the Israeli police arrested three boys, ages 13, 14 and 15, and said the youths had homemade firearms and were on their way to attack in the northern Israeli town of Afula. The youths left a note in their home village expressing anger at the separation barrier Israel is building in the West Bank.
"AND SAID..."

I wish there were someway I could put this chick tract in arabic to every little would be Palestinian suicide/homicide bomber. [Link: www.chick.com...]

LET TODAYS INCIDENT BE A WARNING , WHEREBY THE ISREALIS MADE THE 14YO STRIP IN FRONT OF THE WHOLE WORLD, REGARDING WEARING DIRTY UNDERWEAR...

My daughter and her highschool classmates were about 50-100 meters away from the scene of the action, at the local bus stop (not the one she actually needed, the soldiers didn't let them go there because it was exactly where the photos of the boy standing in front of the yellow-tipped barricade is; they had to wait at the bus stop in the opposite direction) and she said that the kid did look scared--but of course--very soon there were a ton of jeeps and lots of press swarming everywhere. There was a lot of Arabic being spoken, so she thinks the boy may have been getting his instuctions from an Arabic speaking soldier.

It was already getting cold out, and given what was happening, the girls had to wait at the bus stop for well over an hour. And they didn't get any coats--I suppose the soldiers were too busy giving a coat to a boybomb. I thank the soldiers for, in effect, saving my daughter's life, but it would have been nice if they'd have dispatched one soldier to check on the 14 year old Jewish girls instead of only the Arab boy and the media.

Amy (#207)

I was watching a program on A&E the other day and they interviewed two of the sweetest little Palestinian boys. That is until they opened their mouths. They aspire to be suicide bombers. It was sickening to hear the poison coming out of such angelic looking kids. The entire Palestinian society is poisoned, it's rotten to the core.

I'm skipping down here, and if someone already saw this and posted it, my apologies.

But on the same page as this story was a link to one about the Islamo-fascists using a ten year old boy to try and transport a bomb...and the kid didn't even know it.

Israeli soldiers found an explosive charge on a cart pushed by a 10-year-old Palestinian boy at the Hawara road block south of Nablus

sick sick sick sick sick

Here and in other blogs, some people described moment that decisively flipped the switch--from the L³ cognitive disonance to a sudden realization of reality.

This episode is one of such a watershed events, because many of the things that are not apparent form the second hand information sources were displayed in their naked, unmolested nature.

Why I think so? I've seen it with my own eyes, the effect of watching the event video on a unrepentable el cubo.

There was no outward diplay of sudden conversion, no. But the tone with which the el cubo said "This is disgusting" was a first sign and then I could see the whole inner world rerranging itself in the el cubo's eyes.

I said something like: "Yes, it's their modus operandi, Paleos', what did you expect?"

Any time before yesterday, we would end up in a shouing match, but not this time. El cubo wanted to respond, the breath was sucked in as if the barrage of insults would come any moment, but it never came out, just silence. There simply was nothing that would flip the switch backward, nothing that would cover the images with a haze of amnesia and replace them with a predigested, indoctrinated concepts.

Perhap there was trace of doubt seeded in our numerous shouting matches... like a deposit of grease that turned the switch loose, somewhat, waiting for the right moment to reverse its locked position.

I don't know if what I witnessed yesterday was repeated in countles loci across the land, but something tells me that, indeed, that may be the case.

#215 ordog - we hope!

They are now saying the boy is 16, with the mind of a 12 year old. - This is pitiful.

Abdo, though 16, looked far younger, and the Israeli military initially said it believed he was 10. His family said he acted strangely Tuesday, giving candy to them and to neighbours and refusing to explain why.

Abdo, visibly frightened and confused, cut off part of the vest and struggled with the rest. "I don't know how to get this off," he said in frustration before successfully removing it.

Abdo's family said the teenager was not affiliated with any militant group, going to rallies for all of them and identifying with whichever one carried out the latest attack on Israelis.

Whoever used this boy is pure evil.

From the national post

Lileks weighs in.

Attention, Palestinian public relations agents: exquisite timing, guys. You get a nice little bump when Sauroman gets converted into a pavement stain, and all the crocodiles who lead the nations of the world get out their pre-moistened towelettes and pretend to squeeze out a few tears. So how do you capitalize on this moment? The ”world community” is outraged that Israel smoked a guy who sent men to kill children, so naturally: you send a child to kill men.

Job security for the engineers of Hell. Ordinary Hell isn’t enough for the guys who send out these kids; they’re going to have to open a new wing of Extra Special Ultra Hell, aka Satan's Playroom. As I heard someone on the radio say the other day, for the 164,232nd time: they have no choice but to use suicide bombers, because they don’t have a conventional military. I have never quite understood that logic. Okay, so we should give them Apache helicopters so they can strafe buses from overhead?

If we give them lots of Stinger missiles, perhaps they will promise only to use suicide bombers who’ve completed puberty.

I saw the BBC feed on this last night. The studio reporter managed to report the story and its sickening reality, but the on-site reporter couldn't resist the opportunity to smear the Israeli military:

1. As they played the video of the kid standing alone in his bomb vest, the reporter sneered that "soldiers shouted at him to remove his vest while Palestinainas (the civilians in the background) were kept away." Could that have been for their own safety, since the little bastard was wearing a bomb?

2. The reporter recounted how after the vest was removed, the would-be killer was "paraded before the media."
In contrast of course, to when Palestinians parade severed heads of Israelis, or entrails of martyrs, or hands dripped in Jewish blood.

3. Then, she sneered how the kid was "obviously under tight control of the soldiers who whisked him away without letting reporters question him."
As if it's their right to allow them to "inverview" a criminal in custody.

In any event, despite the on-site reporter's obvious bias, they couldn't ignore the realities of the photos- a dopey kid willing to accept $23 to kill himself and murder others.

Sorry if this has been said -

Regarding:

and later disarmed the device

...Israelis had to send out a robot to the child and explain slowly to him where exactly to cut the wires using the robot so he actually wouldn't explode himself. The explosives were strapped on in a way that the child couldn't take them off by himself! Of course, his mental disabilities and mere young AGE would add be limiting factors as well.

THIS JUST IN!!!

Israel fabricated this whole story! There was no boy with a bomb!

From Haaretz' news ticker Thursday, quoting the effervescent Al-Jazeera:

15:47 Al-Jazeera: PA ministry says Israel `fabricated` story about teen caught with bomb belt at checkpoint

Update: Al-Je-Fuc*ing-zeera's "news" "story" link:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/8C7BCBC3-CA 2C-4F33-B27D-80AF0AF830E2.htm

Charles,

Is that a Peugeot surrendering in the background?

30 and 110

"Always do the right thing. This will gratify some and astonish the rest" -- Mark Twain

I'm not sure whether I'm more gratified or astonished by the following:

Amnesty to Palestinians: Denounce use of children

"Amnesty International has repeatedly condemned suicide bombings and other attacks against civilians by Palestinian armed groups as crimes against humanity. Using children to carry out or assist in armed attacks of any kind is an abomination. We call on the Palestinian leadership to publicly denounce these practices," the report said.

The Al-Guardian article:

A Palestinian teenager approached a crowded West Bank checkpoint wearing a suicide bomb vest Wednesday in what Israel said was a failed attempt to kill soldiers there.

Unlike 16 year old Palis wearing suicide vests and crossing checkpoints to buy comic books?

Or, is this to identify the suidide bombers who want to murder children from those that want to murder soldiers?

Al-link

In the newspaper interview, Abdo said he wanted to reach paradise, which he taught in school was was the reward for suicide bombers.

Dan Abrams had a report on this very story yesterday and today.
[Link: www.msnbc.msn.com...]
Today he read some of the letters in response and some of them were just sickening. Instead of while of getting angry at the terrorist leaders who brainwashed this poor little boy once again it was all Israel's fault.I was really angry at some of the responses.One nasty person wrote "these children and their families are victims of Israeli violence all the time shouldn't they have a right to protect themselves and their families"? Protect themselves from whom? Little girls sleeping in their beds or babies and grandmothers in ice cream parlors or old people at Passover seders? How can people be so cruel and hateful to always blame the victims? I can only imagine either their morals are totally messed up or they hate Jews and want them all dead.

Gotta feel sorry for kid dynamite...

Irshad Manji has written an excellent book, The Trouble With Islam: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith.

In it, she wrote:

As I view it, the trouble with Islam is that lives are small and lies are big.

Small lives, big lies.

I think that her observation applies also to the present situation.

Don't blame the comments that follow on Irshad Manji. It's my own interpretation of why her "small lives, big lies" conclusion applies to this event.

In school, the 16-year old human bomb Hussam Abdu was taught that his life was worthless, and that the most important thing was for him to give up his life in order to murder Jews. This is what was drilled into him constantly in his school career. The death cult taught him that his life was very, very, very small -- meaningless, without any value at all. Small lives.

In school, the 16-year old human bomb Hussam Abdu was indoctrinated with the fantastic lie that if he committed suicide and at the same time murdered lots of Jews, then his terrorist deity would see to it that Abdu went up to the Great Whorehouse in the Sky, where he would have sex with 72 virgins. That's what the radical Islamists say, even though the Quran forbids suicide; that's a whopper of a lie any way you look at it. And even though the correct translation of the source material for the Quran's discussion of paradise is thought to involve 72 raisins. Big lies.

Another big lie sweeping the Arab and Islamic world is that this event just didn't happen. The Israelis just made it all up, even though an Associated Press TV person, a Pali, caught the whole episode on video. Big lies.

What Islam is cannot be separated from how it is practiced, can it? And the way it is practiced is with small lives and big lies.

Or is the bad stuff in Islam really and truly and everlastingly inseparable from it?

If the bad stuff in Islam is just a culture thing, a temporary matter of the times we live in, then change is possible.

Muslims need to first of all get rid of the death cult mentality, the culture of death, and think about the possibility of enjoying life.

Muslims need to get rid of the idea of sacrificing their children and think about the possibility of loving them -- even loving children that are those of their neighbors, instead of considering them to be a human form of cannon fodder, or splodeydope human bomb material.

Muslims need to admit that according to the official interpretations of the Quran, Muhammed heard both words of Allah and words of Satan (the latter being the famous Satanic verses that are the explanation for some idol-worship stuff that found its way into the Quran). If Muhammad heard both words from Allah and words from Satan, then who knows which is which? It all depends on some human interpretation, especially since it is well known that Muhammed was illiterate, and therefore had to depend on others to write down the words of the Quran. Suppose there was some human error in all of this, with either Muhammed getting confused as to which were the words of Allah and which were the words of Satan. And suppose that the people writing down Muhammed's ideas made some mistakes. And perhaps the words written down at that time were fitting for the 7th century, but need to be re-interpreted for the 21st century. Aren't Muslims allowed to think for themselves?

One of the "News" sources said that Israeli's called all the reporters to come film this ( by implication keeping the3 boy in danger longer :-(). Gee and I thought that
the reporters were all hanging around lthe check point like vulchers waiting to see if Hamas would strike back. (Or that Hamas gave them a heads up!) Anyone have a photo link of the long view including the reporters?

zulubaby -

These kids are brainwashed. They are indoctrinated from the time they're tots to want to kill Jews. They are totally surrounded by exhortations to kill Jews from every adult they are taught to respect. How could they be otherwise?

Here's a follow-up on the story from the JPost:

[Link: www.jpost.com...]

Apparently, the kid knew exactly what he was supposed to do. He just chickened out at the end. The Israelis have arrested other boys from the kid's school who were apparently also involved. I hope those little jihadis are singing like canaries so that the Israelis can take out the monsters who sent him to die.