Latest news with #TeamIsrael
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Captain America's new coach
The writer is an author, entrepreneur and host of the satirical podcast 'The Nation Wants No More' Bibi's an edgy chap who's rewriting the playbook: Now every duck by a player is a coded attack signal America has just been made great again. It's thrown out the dusty constitution, the will of its simple hardworking people, and outsourced the brain of its executive. Its leadership no longer goes by the book. They go by Coach Bibi. No, not the fair-playing, rulebook-led grey-haired bloke you imagine. But an edgy chap who thinks every duck by a player is a coded attack signal. Bibi sees a threat everywhere – the kind that only he can spot. Limited edition Bibi-goggles, mostly trained on the barbecue fires in people's back yards, saw 'most dangerous weapons' being cobbled together. Bibi's words, not mine. The International Atomic Energy Agency brought its own binos to double-check. They faithfully reported it was meat, not plutonium – no heavy water in the mocktail mix. It wrote a memo too. But the voice of Coach Bibi was too loud, too repetitive. One has to, after all, listen to the force of civilisation. Enter Donald, uhh…Captain America to the world, who was really just a VIP bystander in the match in which Bibi was lead coach. Perfect opportunity, coach! Rope him in before your boys tire out, they haven't had a break for months now. Make Donald think Team America is playing in a match between Team Israel and Team Iran – a game America isn't even in. Confuse him, let him lend you his boys so you can end the match before the coin toss. So the coach muddies the playbook, which is easy to do. He starts with a few pre-game videos. Grainy stuff, with a bit of AI generated magic in which a bunch of unknowns are supposedly sloganeering 'Death to America', and some rookies are tripping and falling. A few knees bruised and so on; you know how it is when boys play rough. 'They think they can play rough?' says Captain America, 'Oh boy, I can play rougher.' 'Strike the barbecue pits to end the game,' whispers the coach. 'No food, no energy, no game.' And that's how we have all ended up watching a fixed match – big, beautiful, magnificent and utterly avoidable. Game on. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
Scoop
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
On Trump's Anti-Bomb Bombing Campaign
If the US really wanted to stop nuclear weapons proliferation in the Middle East, it would have long ago supported the moves to declare the region a nuclear weapon free zone, and allow the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to monitor it. Despite our anti-nuclear credentials, New Zealand has never supported the Middle East becoming a nuclear weapon free zone. At a press conference, I remember asking the then-PM Bill English why New Zealand didn't support the concept, and he answered that he could see what I was trying to get him to do i.e. to take sides against Israel, the region's only nuclear power. (Israel is not a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran is.) Basically, the West aims to ensure that Team Israel continues to be the neighbourhood's bully, thanks to its US backing, its overwhelming superiority in conventional arms and its nuclear arsenal, which reportedly consists of 90 nuclear warheads. we are seeing carnage in the Middle East because Iran has had a nuclear energy programme that might possibly, conceivably one day enable it to possess one such weapon – even though on all of the available US intelligence evidence, it had not done so, and was still engaged in talks to achieve trade gains for itself from not doing so. Moreover, if the Trump administration was ever serious about using peaceful means to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, it would have honoured the US side of the deal that the Obama administration signed with Iran back in 2015. At that time, Iran had agreed to limit nuclear enrichment at below weapons-grade levels, and to submit itself to regular IAEA monitoring, in return for the lifting of US/European trade sanctions. Instead, Donald Trump ripped up that deal, and confirmed the suspicions of the hardline clerics in Tehran that expecting the Americans to act in good faith was naive, and bound to end in disaster. Trump repeated this bad faith by engaging in diplomacy that - according to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth – it had engaged in as a form of deliberate 'mis-direction' and cover for bombing raids that the US had been planning for months. Incidentally, this underlines how pathetic it is for New Zealand to be now calling for diplomacy to resolve this crisis. The whole process of diplomacy has been hopelessly degraded by America's repeated displays of bad faith. History on repeat To an eery degree, the US is repeating the precedents it set in Iraq, in 2003. After the 9/11 attack, US President George W. Bush became obsessed with causing regime change in Baghdad, bypassed the IAEA and waged a ruinous war - on the basis of a bogus existential threat that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. Here we go again. After October 7.2023, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu became obsessed with causing regime change in Tehran, bypassed the IAEA, and is waging a ruinous war – on the basis of a bogus existential threat that Iran was about to possess a nuclear weapon of mass destruction. In reality, regime change in Iran has been front and central of Israel's plans for a very long time, whatever Iran tried to do to avert it. That is why, prior to its onslaught against Iran, Israel first chose to unilaterally attack and weaken Hezbollah in Lebanon. In both cases – and as in Gaza – Israel has had no compunction about bombing residential centres and inflicting large numbers of civilian casualties. Again, and as was also the case with the invasion of Iraq, delusionary beliefs have been expressed that the people of Iran will now rise up against an unpopular regime and embrace them as 'liberators.' Nothing could be further from the truth. Given Iran's proud history, the only thing capable of uniting the Iranian people behind the widely despised clerical regime would be an attack by a foreign invader. At this point, the situation in Iran looks a lot like the conditions in 1991, immediately after the First Gulf War. At that point in 1991, an oppressive regime in Baghdad had seen its military forces decimated by the US. Yet the West chose to leave Saddam Hussein in power for 13 more years, as a lesser threat to Western interests than a popular uprising that would be likely to put the oppressed Shia majority in power. For that reason, the West then sat by and watched while Saddam's forces slaughtered thousands of people who had risen up, in the mistaken belief that the West had wanted to see democracy triumph in Iraq. Similarly, the US may now be hoping that yesterday's bombing raids will be the sum total of its involvement, and that a weakened regime in Tehran can now be left to cling to power as best it can, within a ruined country. Yet if Israel does go ahead and bring about regime change, it will get bogged down – as it is already in Gaza – in administering the shattered remains of its field of 'victory.' Currently, Israel is getting away with committing genocide against the 2 million inhabitants of Gaza. But Iran is a country of 95 million people, and a genocide on that scale may be beyond even the Netanyahu government. If instead, Israel creates in Iran another failed state -another Libya of warring factions - then this will inevitably become a fertile recruiting ground for the likes of Islamic State. Except this time, Iran and Hezbollah will not be around to do the bulk of the fighting, and to help defeat the jihadis on the West's behalf. Israel may think regime change in Iran will solve its problems. But if it ' succeeds' in removing the clerical regime by military means, forces even more dangerous to its survival are likely to fill the vacuum. Neither the US or Israel appear to have a feasible end game in mind, for what they have started. Footnote One: Short term, what are Iran's options for retaliation? It could adopt Islamic State tactics and bring suicide raids and terrorism back to European cities, and to US diplomatic missions abroad. Iran's Doomsday option would be to mine the straits of Hormuz and bring international shipping trade – including global oil supplies – to a standstill. This would deal a serious blow to the world economy, and to Iran itself. One restraint against it doing so would be China, which is not only the sole remaining market for Iran's oil, but itself is not self-sufficient in oil. It has come to rely on the oil that it extorts at a cheap price from Iran. So under pressure from China, Iran might not play that final, desperate card in the straits of Hormuz. the thing. Iran may now have nothing left to lose. The Israeli bombing raids have targeted Iran's oil facilities. By doing so, Israel may have removed the key restraint against Iran taking destructive action to mine the sea lanes or sink its own ships to block the straits of Hormuz. After Iran's ability to pump and export its oil has been destroyed, there may now be no reason to abstain from shutting down the global economy. The Saudis? They have been doing nothing for Iran in its time of need. Nothing much for Iran to lose there, either. the very least, New Zealand should be taking a serious look at its oil supply chains, and at how long our current oil reserves might last. Footnote Two: As usual in any Middle East crisis, New Zealand's media coverage is being dominated by Israeli/US voices. To support the claim that Iran had posed an existential threat to Israel, the hoary old cliche has been repeated on RNZ that Iran does not recognise Israel's right to exist. For the record, this is an age-old argument about legitimacy, not about a current existential threat. When there is talk about a 'right to exist' what Iran and other regional powers are refusing to endorse is the legitimacy of Israel's seizure of Palestinian land, its forced displacement of Palestinian people, and the ongoing Israeli settlement encroachment onto Palestinian land that Israel illegally occupies in violation of UN resolutions. For exactly the same reasons – i.e. a refusal to put a stamp of legitimacy on the historical wrongs done to Palestinians - Saudi Arabia also does not recognise Israel's 'right to exist.' Yet Israel isn't bombing Riyadh. Instead, it is doing its best to normalise diplomatic relations with the Saudis. This diplomatic engagement has been sabotaged by Israel's ongoing aggressions in Gaza, in Lebanon and now, in Iran. Lets be clear. On the evidence, the expansionist power that is actively undermining the cause of peace, stability and diplomacy across the Middle East is Israel, not Iran. Bombardier Blues
National Post
05-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
World Series champion blasts AOC over response to Colorado attack
After the tragic events in Boulder, Col., earlier this week, a former MLB all-star known for earning walks isn't giving congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a free pass. Article content Kevin Youkilis, who earned the nickname 'The Greek God of Walks,' during his 10-year MLB career, called out the representative from New York for 'virtue signaling' with her social media post after the alleged antisemitic hate crime. Article content Article content Article content More than a dozen people were injured in a firebomb attack on Sunday in Boulder, with the horrific incident being treated by the FBI as a hate crime after suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman told police that he tried to kill demonstrators demanding the release of Hamas' Israeli hostages, according to an FBI affidavit. Article content AOC condemned the 'horrific attack' in a post on Monday. Article content Article content 'I am horrified by last night's horrific attack in Boulder. My heart is with the victims and our Jewish communities across the country,' she wrote. Article content 'Antisemitism is on the rise here at home, and we have a moral responsibility to confront and stop it everywhere it exists.' But her words were not enough for Youkilis, who is Jewish and served as the hitting coach for Team Israel at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Article content 'Jews are targeted with violence and it's the same virtue signal post time and time again,' he wrote on X. 'What have you done to confront those calling for intifadas in NYC? Until you create a plan of action, your repeated virtue signaling after the violence occurs holds no weight.' Article content Jews are targeted with violence and it's the same virtue signal post time and time again. What have you done to confront those calling for intifadas in NYC? Until you create a plan of action, your repeated virtue signaling after the violence occurs holds no weight. — Kevin Youkilis (@GreekGodOfHops) June 2, 2025 Article content Youkilis was apparently referencing pro-Palestinian rallies in New York, where chants of 'long live intifada' reportedly were chanted by demonstrators. Article content Article content 'Intifada' is an Arabic word for a rebellion used to describe Palestine's various uprisings against Israeli occupation. Article content Many claim the term and slogan 'Globalize the Intifada' inherently are antisemitic. Article content Youkilis, who has been an outspoken supporter of Israel, won two World Series during his time with the Boston Red Sox and made three all-star teams. Article content He also played for the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees during his career and is a brother-in-law of NFL icon Tom Brady after marrying his sister in 2012. Article content
New York Post
03-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
World Series champ Kevin Youkilis calls out AOC for ‘virtue signaling' in her response to Colorado terror attack
A former MLB star accused US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) of 'virtue signaling' over her response to the attack on Jewish protesters in Colorado. Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X that she was 'horrified' by the firebombing, adding: 'My heart is with the victims and our Jewish communities across the country. 'Antisemitism is on the rise here at home, and we have a moral responsibility to confront and stop it everywhere it exists.' 3 Kevin Youkilis was a hitting coach for Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Getty Images 3 Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez takes part in the New Queens Pride Parade in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens. on June 1, 2025. Luiz Rampelotto/ZUMA / 3 Colorado attack suspect Mohamed Sabry Soliman is seen as he launched a fiery attack on demonstrators at an outdoor mall, Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Boulder, Colorado. AP But World Series champ Kevin Youkilis found her words hollow, and slammed the lawmaker for failing to speak out against the same antisemitism running rampant in New York City. 'Jews are targeted with violence and it's the same virtue signal post time and time again,' he wrote on X. 'What have you done to confront those calling for intifadas in NYC? Until you create a plan of action, your repeated virtue signaling after the violence occurs holds no weight,' he added.
Fox News
28-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
American-born Team Israel Olympian praises Trump's fight vs antisemitism, but won't play for Team USA
Team Israel Olympic bobsledder Adam Edelman is looking to lead his team back to the Winter Games for the first time since Pyeongchang in 2018. If they qualify for Cortina-Milan next year, it would mark his and his teammates' return to the Olympics after failing to qualify for Beijing in 2022. It would also mark their first trip back to the Winter Games since their country was attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. "We were blessed to have a team ready to go on October 7 and when October 7 came, when it was perpetrated on Israel, every one of them had to be called to war. So it really changed the dynamic of the team over the last couple years," Edelman told Fox News Digital. "The goal of the team after October 7 was to exist." Edelman recalled his team adjusting to a new starter in every competition it participated in, for a time. All the while, he has had to live below the poverty line in order to maintain his commitment to leading the team for the last 12 years. He even says he had to sell all of his bitcoin, which he says would have been worth millions today if he held onto it. "It was all spent on bobsledding," he said. "I'd be a mega-millionaire if I still had it." Edelman admits could have made things much easier for himself if he, a Massachusetts native and MIT grad, competed for Team USA instead of Israel. In a sport that is so resource-dependent like bobsledding, nicknamed F1 on ice due to its hefty costs to be competitive, Edelman knows he would have had access to more resources for coaching, training, equipment and marketing. However, for him, that would have defeated the point of competing as an Olympian at all. "I don't add anything to the United States. If I were to join the United States, the only value that would have been added is to my own journey, but it makes my journey non-additive to other people's journeys," Edelman said. "My value to the world, and why God put me on this Earth, I genuinely feel is to use the skills that he gave me to impact others positively… so I'm solely motivated to represent Israel. I've thought about this a lot." Still, Edelman is a proud American and believes that the U.S. is "the greatest country to ever exist in the history of mankind." Additionally, as a Jewish American, Edelman has also taken pride in seeing President Donald Trump crack down on the wave of antisemitism that has erupted in the aftermath of Oct. 7. Edelman said he saw the antisemitism up-close when he went to Columbia during its pro-Palestinian protests in 2024. Trump's administration has frozen billions of dollars to Ivy League universities Columbia and Harvard, declaring the schools violated Jewish students' civil rights by enabling antisemitic campus protests amid the Israel-Gaza conflict over the last year and a half. The president has even launched a specialized Justice Department task force fronted by Leo Terrell to tackle the issue. "The appropriateness of what the Trump administration has asked for is just enforcing the law. It's just saying 'hey, these people are protected under the civil rights act' and you're blatantly not enforcing the civil rights act. If people take over, trespass, assault security guards on your campus, harass Jews on the way to class, set up Jew-free zones, you wouldn't tolerate that for another group," Edelman said. The Trump administration also announced earlier in April that it would halt more than $1 billion in funding for Cornell University and approximately $790 million for Northwestern University amid investigations into alleged civil rights violations. Roughly $510 million in funds for Brown University could also be on the chopping block, a White House official told The Associated Press April 3, due to allegations of antisemitism at the school. "I think the way that the Trump administration has approached many issues since he came to office is exactly the right way," Edelman said. "Some policies are good, some policies are bad, and this is an inexplicably good policy. Make sure that American institutions of higher education do not continue this pathway to being so inaccessible to Americans, but also indoctrination centers of anti-American values." As Edelman looks to push his team back to the Winter Olympics in Cortina Milan in 2026, he aspires to be a voice for Americans and Jews in a complicated time in history. He hopes the rest of the story can appreciate the underdog story that he and his teammates are sledding through. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
