The Famous City of Sidon, Lebanon Hit By Today's Israeli Drone

 Nadene Goldfoot                                               

                                                 Sidon, Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the Lebanese citizens to join Israel's fight against Hezbollah again.  Fighting has continued despite an April ceasefire which was not observed by either Israel or Hezbollah and a conditional truce announced last week after Lebanese-Israeli talks in Washington.  During this period, Israel bombed southern Lebanon and 12 people were killed yesterday, hopefully being Hezbollah.  A border town said 2 municipal employees of which one was a municipal councillor, apprehended by Israeli forces who had approached the IDF, were later released.  

"Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli strikes on more than 30 locations in southern and eastern Lebanon on Wednesday, including on Tayr Debba and Deir Qanun al-Nahr, and on three towns where Israel's military issued evacuation warnings."

Sidon is a coastal city far from the border that has been relatively spared in major Israeli attacks.  It hosts many displaced people.  An Israeli drone strike on a vehicle was reported, so someone high up the ladder of Hezbollah must have been known to be in it.  

Sidon is an ancient Syrian city now a part of Lebanon.  It was regarded as the capital of the Phoenicians who are termed Sidonians in the Bible and  i Homeric verse.  The city is even mentioned in the Tel elAmerna letters.  Jezebel was of Sidonian origin and introduced its Baal cult into Israel.  Sidon was occupied on several occasions by the Assyrians, and was subject to Persia and was captured by Alexander the Great.  Then later, after falling under Roman domination, it finally lost its independence.  

Sidon officially became part of the modern Lebanese state following World War I, when the League of Nations established the French Mandate of Lebanon in 1920. 

Historically, the city's inclusion in Lebanon's geographic and administrative borders took shape through several key eras: 

• The Ottoman Era (1516–1918): During the 17th century, Sidon heavily flourished and was rebuilt under the patronage of Fakhr ad-Dīn II, a renowned semi-independent ruler of Lebanon. 
• The French Mandate (1920): Following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Sidon was integrated into the newly created State of Greater Lebanon under French administration. 
• Independent Lebanon (1943): Upon Lebanon gaining independence in 1943, Sidon became one of the major cultural, historic, and economic hubs in the southern part of the country.                                                
  
                                        Prime Minister Nawaf Sllam
• Prime Minister Nawaf Salam: Serving as the Head of Government, the Prime Minister is historically a Sunni Muslim and directs the cabinet.

• Previously, he served as Lebanon’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations and represented Lebanon in the U.N. Security Council in 2010 and 2011. He was a member of the Lebanese National Electoral Law Commission, the Lebanese National Commission of UNESCO, and the executive bureau of the Socio-Economic Council of Lebanon. In addition to stints in private law practice early in his career, he taught at American University of Beirut and Sorbonne University in Paris. Salam is author of numerous books, essays and articles, including several works in the fields of international, constitutional, electoral, and Islamic law, as well as on international organizations and international affairs. In 2019, he gave the keynote address at the Harvard International Law Journal 60th Anniversary Symposium, titled “Reflections on International Law in Changing Times.”Born in Beirut in 1953, Salam belongs to a prominent family in Lebanon. Both his uncle and cousin served as the Lebanese prime minister. His wife, Sahar Baassiri, is a journalist who also served as Lebanon’s ambassador and permanent delegate to UNESCO. 

  
  
  
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President Joseph Aoun:  Serving as the Head of State, the President is historically a Maronite Christian. Joseph Aoun previously served as the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces.  The President  and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam rule Lebanon today. Both leaders assumed their roles in early 2025 following a period of political deadlock, taking office to help navigate the country through ongoing peace negotiations and economic recovery.  Lebanon operates under a parliamentary democratic republic that uses a sectarian power-sharing system. The formal powers of governance are divided among its top leaders: Joseph Aoun (born January 10, 1964, Sin el Fil, Lebanon) is the president of Lebanon (2025– ) and was previously the commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF; 2017–25). Having overseen the army amid popular unrest in 2019 and during Israel’s invasion in 2024, he is generally considered a neutral and trusted figure within Lebanon’s polarized and sometimes sectarian political system.

Hezbollah has never officially taken over the Lebanese state. Instead, it operates as a powerful political party, a heavily armed militant force, and a parallel organization that controls significant social services and institutions in the regions under its influence.

• 1992: Hezbollah participated in national elections for the first time, securing eight seats in the Lebanese Parliament. 
• 2005: The group entered the national cabinet for the first time. Since then, it has maintained an active role in government, frequently leveraging its political and military power to veto government decisions or collapse administrations when its demands are not met. 
2018: Hezbollah and its political allies reached the peak of their parliamentary influence, securing a majority in the general election. However, this coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the 2022 elections.

While Hezbollah’s formidable military and political presence heavily dictates Lebanon's broader governance, domestic affairs, and foreign policy, the country maintains a multiconfessional democratic system that includes a multitude of rival parties, factions, and a sovereign national government.

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Resource:

https://www.britannica.com/place/Sidon

https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260611-israeli-strikes-kill-12-in-lebanon-as-netanyahu-urges-fight-against-hezbollah

The Foreign Terrorist Organization of Syria, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) And What They Have Done

 Nadene Goldfooet                                          

Fighters from HTS train in Idlib Province, Syria.Photo: OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP/Getty Images

Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is a Salafi-jihadist militant group active in Syria. It emerged from the al-Qaeda terrorist affiliate, Jabhat al-Nusra, during the Syrian civil war. HTS is now the de facto governing body in northwestern Syria, particularly in the Idlib province, and has publicly distanced itself from al-Qaeda. The group has been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) by the US State Department. 

It was formed on 28 January 2017 as a merger of several armed groups: Jaysh al-Ahrar, Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, Ansar al-Din Front, Jaysh al-Sunna, Liwa al-Haqq and the Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement.  That's 6 different movements with 6 possible vying leaderships wanting to go  in 6 different ways. Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS or the “Organization for the Liberation of the Levant”) traces its beginnings to the outset of the Syrian civil war and has remained a dangerous opposition force throughout the duration of the conflict.

• Formation and Evolution:

  HTS was formed in 2017 as a merger of several Islamist militias, including Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra). Jabhat al-Nusra, in turn, was an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria. 
Shifting Focus:
While retaining a Salafi-jihadist ideology, HTS has publicly shifted its focus from global jihad to a more localized Syrian context. They've engaged in a public relations campaign to present themselves as a legitimate governing authority in Idlib. 
Governance in Idlib:
HTS has established itself as the dominant force in Idlib, controlling territory and providing some governance functions. 
Contradictory Actions:
Despite attempts to rebrand, HTS faces accusations of human rights abuses and continued violence against civilians. 


Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS or the “Organization for the Liberation of the Levant”) traces its beginnings to the outset of the Syrian civil war and has remained a dangerous opposition force throughout the duration of the conflict.

     Abu Mohammed al-Jolani spoke to supporters at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus hours after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.  Now Jolani is the President of Syria.  


 In May 2018, the group was added to the State Department’s existing designation of its predecessor, the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Today, HTS can be thought of as a relatively localized Syrian terrorist organization, which retains a Salafi-jihadist ideology despite its public split from al-Qaeda in 2017. This backgrounder provides an overview of the history, leadership, and current strategic goals of HTS.
 Jabhat al-Nusra: HTS’s precursor organization, was formed in Syria in 2011 as al-Qaeda’s affiliate within the opposition to the Assad regime. Nusra’s leader, Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, quickly established a capable organization, which secured its own donors in the Persian Gulf, collected revenue from taxation and asset seizures in the territories under its control, became adept at conducting insurgent attacks, and attracted a growing number of fighters.
Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), effectively took over Syria following a rapid rebel offensive that culminated in the toppling of the Bashar al-Assad regime on December 8, 2024, according to PBS and ABC News. This offensive began in late November and involved a series of swift victories in key cities, including the capture of Damascus. Following the regime's collapse, HTS-appointed figures, including al-Jolani, assumed leadership roles in the newly formed interim government. 
Update:9:30am Thursday 7/24/25
Hamas and the Assad regime in Syria have had a complex and at times strained relationship. Hamas sided with the Syrian opposition during the early years of the Syrian Civil War, leading to a rupture in relations and Hamas leadership leaving Damascus in 2012. After a period of estrangement, Iran and Hezbollah facilitated the reconciliation between Hamas and the Syrian government, with ties formally resuming in 2022. 


Resource:
https://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2025/07/goldfoot-benjamin-gantz-hebrew-9-june.html
https://www.csis.org/programs/former-programs/warfare-irregular-threats-and-terrorism-program-archives/terrorism-backgrounders/hayat-tahrir

Nazi How To Lie Program Spreading That Some Now Use

 Nadene Goldfoot                                            

Joseph Goebbels, a Nazi propagandist, is often credited with saying, "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it". This is a propaganda technique known as the "illusion of truth" effect.  Actually it was in Hitler's book, Mein Kampf, and that the Jews were accused of lying--and by the liars,

the Nazis, themselves.  

The OSS psychological profile of Hitler described his use of the big lie:

His primary rules were: 1. never allow the public to cool off; 2. never admit a fault or wrong; 3. never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; 4. never leave room for alternatives; 5. never accept blame; 6. concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong; 7. people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and 8. if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it.

The English follow the principle that when one lies, one should lie big, and stick to it. They keep up their lies, even at the risk of looking ridiculous.Randall Bytwerk argues that neither Hitler nor Goebbels would admit to lying.

Now our government is saying things not true:

Trump said, “We inherited from the last administration an economic catastrophe.” This wasn’t true.  prices of eggs just went up due to chicken flu now, all following price raising is an example.  Currently, prices are rising significantly on items like eggs, meat, coffee, travel, home insurance, streaming services, and many types of produce due to factors like inflation, increased production costs, and disruptions in supply chains; with some of the most noticeable price hikes occurring in the food sector, particularly for items like fruits and vegetables affected by weather events like droughts and floods. Inflation turned out to be the surprise villain of Joe Biden’s four-year presidency. It arrived with little warning in 2021, hit a 40-year high in 2022, and undoubtedly contributed to Vice President Kamala Harris’s loss in the 2024 presidential election.

Trump said, “We’re going to have growth in the auto industry like nobody’s ever seen. Plants are opening up all over the place.” That wasn’t true.  This is in the future, hasn't happened yet.  

Trump said, towns like Aurora, Colorado, and Springfield, Ohio, were “destroyed” by immigrants. That wasn’t true.  Cities are still standing;  As for Aurora, they are financially in the black.  The city pursues efficiencies, innovations, cost-savings and continuous improvements when managing its resources The city will: The city creates a budget to provide the best possible services within the resources available and maintain adequate reserve levels F I N A N C I A L  S T A B I L I T Y The city has a positive bond credit rating, which is a measure of credit worthiness of government bonds. In 2019, the national credit rating agency, Moody's, upgraded the city's credit rating from Aa1 to Aaa stable, which is the top rating available and speaks to the city's financial strength and well-managed finances. Truth in Accounting ranked Aurora No. 5 for Fiscal Health in the U.S. (No. 5 among Top 5 Sunshine Cities, meaning enough assets to cover the city's debt) Truth in Accounting WalletHub ranked Aurora the second best run city in Colorado in 2021 based on financial stability, education, health, economy, infrastructure,  It’s been a few weeks since Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance threw an ugly spotlight on the small city of 

Springfield, Ohio, by spreading unverified claims about Haitian immigrants killing and eating people’s pets. Since then, the city has seen multiple bomb threats, school closures and growing fear within the city’s immigrant community. William Brangham reports.

Trump said, in reference to Europe and aid to Ukraine, “[W]e’ve spent perhaps $350 billion, and they’ve spent $100 billion.” That wasn’t true. To date, the US has committed about $114 billion in Ukraine-related emergency funding, and could go to $240 billion.  

Trump said, “For the first time in modern history, more Americans believe that our country is headed in the right direction than the wrong direction.” That wasn’t true. Trump's shocking half the country at least into thinking this isn't the path we thought he was taking;  buying Panama Canal and Greenland when we are so deep in debt we have to give up so much to get out of it?  

Trump said, in reference to Biden-era inflation, rates were the worst “perhaps even in the history of our country, they’re not sure.” They are sure and that wasn’t true. Biden was criticized by many Republicans, including former president and current presidential rival Donald Trump, for telling CNN in an interview last Wednesday: “No president’s had the run we’ve had in terms of creating jobs and bringing down inflation. It was 9% percent when I came to office, 9%.”

Trump said the Biden administration imposed an “electric vehicle mandate.” That wasn’t true. The new rule will make it more difficult for gas-powered cars to keep up with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards, which will ratchet up over time, and they’ll need “more advanced technology that will drive up prices,” Abuelsamid said. At the same time, he noted, the increased production and availability of EVs will bring their average cost down. Other analysts disagreed. Amaiya Khardenavis, an EV charging infrastructure analyst with Wood Mackenzie, said he doesn’t expect prices to rise for gas-powered cars because the technology is already there.

Trump said, “I’ve stopped all government censorship.” That wasn’t true. But this claim couldn’t be further from the truth. Trump has consistently rewarded speech he likes while punishing speech he doesn’t. That kind of “viewpoint discrimination” is exactly what the First Amendment seeks to prevent. In fact, Trump’s actions run counter to the spirit—if not the text—of the First Amendment.

When someone lies so much they start believing their own lies, it's often referred to as "pathological lying" and is considered a sign of a mental health issue where they may lose track of reality and believe their fabricated stories as truth, sometimes due to the repetition of the lies they've told themselves and others. What Type of Liar Believes Their Own Lies? Both pathological and compulsive liars may believe their own lies. This can be why pathological liars won't admit to their lies or apologize for the things they have said because, in their minds, they are true.

The “big lie” is an expression coined by Adolf Hitler to describe his technique of telling a lie so colossal that no one would ever suspect it was not true. He first described this concept in Mein Kampf (German for “My Struggle”), the autobiographical manifesto outlining his plans for ruling Germany. He surmised most people would never think of fabricating colossal untruths, so they would not believe others had. In other words, Hitler understood that people would see the world through the lens of basic honesty and would assume that same trait in others.

Resource:

https://www.cato.org/blog/high-cost-war-ukraine-aid-could-top-240-billion?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAiaC-BhBEEiwAjY99qPjALZfdP6QzkL1cKct1tbdGKNkMSHNf610XfKx6yw2C9I6BtwJA9BoCT58QAvD_BwE

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/14/politics/fact-check-biden-inflation-when-he-became-president/index.html

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4545415-electric-vehicle-rule-epa-biden-administration-what-to-know/

https://time.com/7264811/trump-free-speech-joint-address-essay/

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-speech-fact-check-joint-address-congress-lies-rcna194848

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-life-in-springfield-has-been-disrupted-by-lies-about-its-haitian-community

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/joseph-goebbels-on-the-quot-big-lie-quot#:~:text=Joseph%20Goebbels%3A%20On%20the%20%E2%80%9CBig%20Lie%E2%80%9D&text=%E2%80%9CIf%20you%20tell%20a%20lie,eventually%20come%20to%20believe%20it.

https://icejusa.org/2019/12/04/the-big-lie-against-the-jew/?SC=24GOAD&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign={evergreen}&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAiaC-BhBEEiwAjY99qPGSOPMRS2hWsBEYNrvNp5oh5VEwmpLqJte769seg9GAhVGr