Interfaith organization puts gubernatorial hopefuls to the test

Last weekend I covered a forum organized by the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization that got all four candidates for the Bay State's highest office to answer "yes" or "no" regarding their support of the 3 ballot questions, as well as issues ranging from settling Haitian refugees, credit card usury, and funding youth programs. You can read my coverage of the event in The Jewish Advocate here...

U.S. to sell Saudi's $60b in weaponry

The Department of Defense has brought a deal before Congress to sell Saudi Arabia up to $60b in military hardware, including 85 F-15's, UH-60 Black Hawk's, and Apache attack helicopters. In addition to giving them more "birds in the air," the deal is expected to include advanced radar technology.

It's no secret that Iranian regional hegemony is a an equal, if not greater threat to Saudi Arabia than it is to the United States. Sunni Arab allies of the United States such as Egypt, Jordan, and the Saudi's are equally disturbed by the Shia Persian power's nuclear program, and this deal would boost the strength of its regional allies by providing a deterrent against an attack from any Ayatollahs who shall remain nameless.

LCD Soundsystem photo gallery

LCD Soundsystem came through Boston on what is rumored to be their last tour in support of their rumored-last album, and I was there on behalf of Glide Magazine to get a few photos. Enjoy!

Brandeis' President-elect discuses campus hate speech

I've had an article published on the address Frederick Lawrence, Brandies' President-elect gave to the ADL National Committee on hate speech on college campuses.

The former B.U. Law Professor and Dean of G.W. Law gave a very reasoned argument about why provocative, and often times offensive expression is encouraged on campuses. However, he noted that the line is drawn when people are meant to feel threatened or delegitimized

When asked how he would handle the recent suicide at Rutgers University, he noted that college president's are only "one phone call away" from being in their peers shoes, and for that very reason, he wouldn't critique that schools handling of the situation.

Foxman defends ADL's position on Lower Manhattan Mosque

Last week I reported on the Anti-Defamation League's National Conference at Boston's Sheraton Hotel for The Jewish Advocate. During the event, ADL National Director Abe Foxman was confronted by members in attendance who requested that the organization change it's position on the Lower Manhattan Mosque. Foxman, who feels as though their position has been misrepresented by the media, wrote an article in The Huffington Post to explain their position.


As for the question from his organization's member, Foxman replied: “I respectfully say to you, read what we said, not what others said we said.”

Marine Corps considering new class of Cyber-Warriors

Ever since the Department of Defense created its Cyber-Defense program in 2009, the US has been gradually catching up with the army of hackers countries like China have up their sleeve. The recent use of the Stuxnet virus against the Iranian nuclear program has demonstrated to the world how powerful cyber-warfare can be, and earlier today, Lt. Gen. George Flynn, deputy commandant for combat development and integration, told a House Armed Services Committee panel that a new breed of "Cyber-Warriors" is in our future.


The teams that pilot UAV's from Nellis Air Force Base could be considered Cyber-Pilots, so the announcement of Cyber-Warriors should be of no surprise. Flynn was tight lipped about the role these Tron-esque soldiers would play in future conflicts, but he did say that given the extensive training they would undergo, these recruits would be expected to serve for lengthy periods of time. 

Tom Donilon: Right guy for the job?

Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon is slated to replace his boss, General James Jones, when he steps down as President Obama's right hand man on all things threatening. Donilon has plenty of credentials to support his hiring, but according to Bob Woodward's "Obama's Wars," there are plenty of reasons this news will not be welcomed by defense insiders.


Jones was quoted telling Donilon, "You have no credibility with the military. The book also quotes Secretary of Defense Rober Gates as saying Donilon would be a "disaster" as a Jones' replacement. During an Afghanistan strategy pow-wow, Jones was said to be displeased with his deputy's conduct and asked to speak with him after the meeting. Jones' concern was that Donilon made far-reaching comments about Iraq and Afghanistan without having visited either country. He advised his deputy to see these places for themselves, telling him, "The White House, Situation Room, interagency byplay, as important as they are, are not everything."


Although there is cause for concern, his lack of street-cred does not necessarily rule him out as a competent advisor. After all, Condoleezza Rice, George W. Bush's first National Security Advisor/second Secretary of State, had little practical experience in defense issues. At Stanford University she was an assistant professor who specialized in Soviet Russia, which no longer existed when she served in the White House. That worked out in the end... didn't it?