BREAKING: Obama's National Security Advisor to Retire

Obama's National Security Advisor, General James Jones, is set to retire today, according to David Makovsky, Director of the Project on the Middle East Peace Process at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

He is currently speaking as I write this at the Anti-Defamation League's Annual National Committee Meeting, discussing the peace process between Israeli's and Palestinians. He has spoken in depth about the leadership gap facing the Arab world when Egypt's Hosni Mubarak and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah pass away.

I will continue to follow this story as it unfolds...

iPhone coming to Verizon?

According to The Wall Street Journal, "Apple Inc. plans to begin mass producing a new iPhone by the end of 2010 that would allow Verizon Wireless to sell the smartphone early next year,' said people briefed by Apple."


Apple fans have been waiting for the worlds most popular smartphone to disseminate to other wireless providers since its launch in January, 2007. Buzz has been building that Verizon would be the next network to carry the iPhone since word went out that Apple decided to use Qualcomm Inc. to supply CDMA technology as an alternative wireless technology for non-AT&T iPhones.


No official word has come from the notoriously secretive Apple about whether or not they will be launching a Verizon iPhone in the first quarter of 2011... but having the Journal getting into this conversation is certain to stimulate the rumor mill even more.

Israeli Tilt-Roter UAV Debuted

Israeli Aerospace Industries unveiled the Panther tilt-rotor drone today, providing the Jewish State with another notch on its belt as a world leader in UAV Technology.  Like the V-22 Osprey, the Panther can take off like a traditional helicopter and then fly like a fixed wing aircraft once in the air. Aviation Weekly reported, "An intriguing option is the Panther's ability to hover or land quietly in enemy territory, conduct surveillance like a ground sensor and then take off again." The IAI has produced large, long-range UAV's, as well as the Mosquito, which weights 1.1 lbs and has a flight average of 30-40 minutes. The Panther was designed to fill in the operational gaps between their largest and smallest UAV's. 

NFL throws a flag at Russ Feingold

The NFL has asked Senator Russ Feingold to stop using footage of players dancing in the end zone as part of a campaign ad that targets the GOP's premature celebration prior to the upcoming election. It's no coincidence that Feingold, who represents Wisconsin, utilized footage of then-Minnesota Viking Randy Moss pretending to moon the crowd because the Vikings are the arch rivals of the Green Bay Packers. GOP-mouthpiece The Weekly Standard chose to run this news as an opportunity to slam the Democratic incumbent for misconduct, even though he has championed campaign reform and co-wrote the McCain-Feingold law on campaign finance.

I don't blame the NLF for continuing their policy of enforcing the copyright of past footage, but I will give a tip of the hat to Feingold's people for creativity.

Taliban infiltrates Afghan forces

Seeing as low-level soldiers in the Taliban and Afghan army have been known to work for the highest bidder, this should come as no surprise.

ADL slams Pink Floyd's Roger Waters for anti-Semstic imagery

Roger Waters of Pink Floyd is currently touring the world, performing the entirety of his pseudo-autobiographical double album, The Wall.


Music journalists are raving about the massive spectacle the tour presents, including high definition visuals and a massive wall that Waters' crew gradually constructs behind him, and tears down during the shows climax. 


However, Abe Foxman of the Anti-Defamation League is none-too-pleased with some of the images Waters uses during the show. During "Goodbye Blue Sky," the visuals projected on The Wall are used to protest the Israeli-West Bank Barrier. The visuals feature images of planes dropping bombs in the shape of Jewish Stars of David followed by dollar signs. 


In a statement released by the ADL, Foxman said, "While [Rogers] insists that his intent was to criticize Israel’s West Bank security fence, the use of such imagery in a concert setting seems to leave the message open to interpretation, and the meaning could easily be misunderstood as a comment about Jews and money."


This is not the first time Waters has used his platform to protest the State of Israel. During his 2006 "Dark Side Of The Moon Tour," Waters performed a song called "Leaving Beirut" that protested Israel's conduct during the Second Lebanon War.

"I Can Change" by LCD Soundsystem

Video of LCD Soundsystem's performance in Boston last night. A review from your truly will be coming soon enough to Glidemagazine.com