The Peanut Gallery

Statements, comments and forecasts that have no substance, but just might turn out to be relevant.


Fun Fact: Israel became a nation in 1312 BC, two thousand (2000) years before the rise of Islam. 


1.An Egyptian judge involved in the investigation of foreign nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Egypt indicated Feb. 8 that Cairo intends to try the 43 NGO workers indicted Feb. 5, many of whom are Americans. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces is using the NGO investigation to signal to Washington that the council wants to manage Egypt's transition to democracy without foreign interference. The potential for U.S. aid workers to be imprisoned in Egypt has jeopardized the more than $1.5 billion in U.S. aid Egypt receives each year as well as the two countries' strategic relationship. PG: The Egyptians would not have taken this step unless they had the financial backing of the Saudi's. The Gulf states have recently gifted Egypt with $15 billion. The American aid is a pittance compared to this. Looks like the Islamic Spring continues to implode (For CNN, at least)


2.Saudi Arabia would launch a military nuclear program immediately if Iran successfully developed atomic weapons, The Times of London reported Friday. While Riyadh signed an agreement with the US in 2008 stating that it would only pursue nuclear power for civil purposes, the Saudi government is likely to abandon the deal if Tehran had a nuclear bomb. PG: So apparently the US concern is not only for Israel, as some would have us believe.


3.The Romney campaign is better at dismantling than mantling. They're better at taking opponents apart than building a compelling candidate of their own. They do not seem capable of deepening his meaning, making his stands and statements more textured and interesting. He comes across like a businessman who studied the data and came up with the formula that will make the deal. Read more http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203824904577212832724317096.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read

4. MK Avi Dichter (Kadima) warned that Israel must prepare itself for an influx of Syrian Alawite refugees in the aftermath of Syrian President Bashar Assad's inevitable downfall. Speaking at the Shabbat Culture event at the Tel Aviv Museum, the MK explained that once Assad, an Alawite, is ousted from power, the country's Sunni majority will begin a mass execution of the minority Alawite sect. PG: Dichter was head of Israel's Shin Bet Intelligence. He is correct that Israel is preparing for this situation. Long live the Islamic Winter! The world is now seeing the real reason there is no peace in the Middle East.


5.Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri, in a video recording posted on the Internet on Sunday, urged Syrians not to rely on the West or Arab governments in their uprising to topple President Bashar Assad. In the eight-minute video, titled "Onwards, Lions of Syria" and posted on an Islamist website, the Egyptian-born Zawahri also urged Muslims in Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan to come to the aid of Syrian rebels confronting Assad's forces. PG: What say you, Anderson Cooper, Barack Obama and co? The islamic spring working out for you? Or maybe for everybody but you.....


6.An Iranian man carrying explosives blew off his own legs and wounded four other people in two blasts Tuesday in Bangkok, Thai authorities said. Stratfor: Monday's events merely reinforce the existence of an already obvious campaign on both sides. But the remarkable aspect is the disparity between the two efforts. By and large, Stuxnet as well as the larger sabotage and assassination campaign against Iran have been consistently professional and effective. On the other hand, the Iranian counterattack has been repeatedly foiled or exposed as ineffective or even inept. 


7.Iran's state-run Press TV says the country has cut oil exports to six European Union countries. It's not yet known which EU countries are affected. PG: The price of oil stays steady at $100 a barrel after the announcement. Interesting how the markets rate Iran in today's scheme of things.

8.Oprah Winfrey is exploring the Hasidic way of life on her new show. Shterna Ginsberg, 38, one of the women featured in the show, cynically addressed the infamous "hole In the sheet" myth, saying "that was how the more lenient Jews had sex, while the stricter Jews had sex through fax and email." She explained that according to Jewish law, there cannot be a partition between the couple. Read more http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4189744,00.html

9.CUPERTINO, Calif.—Apple Inc. Chief Executive Tim Cook wants to make its Mac more like an iPhone. He said the next version of Apple's Macintosh OS, "Mountain Lion," due in late summer, would incorporate features from the software that powers Apple's hit mobile devices, Jessica Vascellaro reports on digits. In an interview at the company's headquarters here, Mr. Cook unveiled a new version of the company's Macintosh operating system that include Apple's messaging service, notifications app, gaming center, sharing features and integration with the company's online service iCloud—all pioneered for the iPad and iPhone, which use the software known as iOS. PG: We love Apple. Long live the one percent.


If you owe your bank a hundred pounds, you have a problem. But if you owe a million, it has - John Maynard Keynes

PG: And that, ladies and gentlemen is how we arrived at this point in time...