LOVE STORY

Hillary Clinton’s What Happened Tells the Story of Love in Unexpected Places

Few D.C. pols could have predicted that Hillary Clinton’s doomed presidential campaign would give rise to a sizzling love affair that now graces the pages of her new memoir.  What Happened is the story of both defeat and redemption.  Its passion rises above the petty politics that most associate with the 2016 election.  [More] 

MEDIA MATTERS

Hurricane Irma Exposes Cable News Networks

CNN and other cable news networks found that the worst Hurricane Irma devastation was not in Florida but in a worse place: their credibility.  After convincing the nation that Irma would devour the entire state of Florida, the hurricane fizzled in the Caribbean and left the hysterical media red-faced.  [More] 

IN THE TOILET

Houston Mayor Orders Residents to Flush More

In an executive order that conflicts with conventional wisdom and modern environmental ethics, Houston Mayor orders residents to flush their toilets more to help clear out floodwaters.  [More]

 

 

The LBT INTERVIEW: KHALED MASHAL (Continued)   

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the lbt:

Oftentimes food serves as a connection to one’s homeland.

MASHAL:

Ask me your questions.

the lbt:

Let’s focus on the violence in the Gaza Strip. Did you order the firing of short range rockets into Israeli territory from Gaza?

MASHAL:

It is God’s will. Any orders to shoot rockets were to fulfill God’s will to destroy the Zionists

the lbt:

If the rockets cannot destroy but a tiny portion of Israel and its people, is it worth the Israeli retaliation?

MASHAL:

The rockets might not destroy Israel, but they do other things. You are in Hollywood, yes? Hollywood does not export olives or cars or anything like this. It exports shows. In Gaza we have no farms, no factories. We also export shows.

the lbt:

The rockets are a show?

MASHAL:

They create an image for the bigger Muslim world. They see and it gives hope. They send us money to carry on our demonstration. They see our suffering and they send more.

the lbt:

So theater is a big part of the ongoing rocket campaign?

MASHAL:

No. Movies, movies, not theater.

the lbt:

But, I mean, it is for the effect on outside observers.

MASHAL:

The Iranians, the Egyptians. We fight for them to watch so their people can see. One day we will all crush Israel. Now the Palestinians create show for the rest.

the lbt:

Are you familiar with the work of Derrida because I think he would have found inspiration in your use of media?

MASHAL:

No, I do not know who this person.

the lbt:

So if you pledge to destroy Israel and fire rockets on them, how can you criticize their attacks on Gaza? Do they have the right to defend themselves against attack.

MASHAL:

We pledge to destroy them but for now we just send small rockets as a demonstration. If I hit you like this [leans forward and taps my arm] do you get gun to shoot me?

the lbt:

But what if you keep tapping me and refuse to stop? And it hurts?

MASHAL:

We will destroy Israel eventually but until we destroy it they must not commit war crimes by attacking with so much weapons.

the lbt:

So after the Muslim world destroys Israel it can finally fight back with its full military might?

MASHAL:

They must die. But until we destroy them they should not use their American-Jew weapons.

the lbt:

There are reports of Hamas leaders using children and hospitals as human shields. Is this true and, if so, how can this be explained?

MASHAL:

We are in the performance business, I said. [Leans forward.] The children… they are our best performers.

THE LBT