The Micah Report Columns Thoughts Predictions About Micah Archives Contact
The Micah Report

« June 2021 | Main | August 2021 »

UAE Israel Oil Deal on Hold
By Micah Halpern

Tuesday July 27, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Israel’s Ministry of Environmental Affairs froze a deal with the UAE.

The ministry explained their actions saying that the standards Israel requested to protect the environment were not met by the UAE and until they are, the deal is frozen.

The deal was that the UAE would ship oil, by tanker, to the port of Eilat. From Eilat, a pipeline would take the oil inland to the port in Ashkelon where it would be shipped to Europe.

The pipeline was called the Med-Red Land Bridge, and it was a product of a joint Emirati-Israel company called Med-Red Land Bridge LTD.

Work on the pipeline has not yet begun, so the oil would have been trucked.
Details and safety aspects of the pipeline have not been made public. Therefore, the courts found that the safety of the environment was not guaranteed – and the deal was frozen.

This may push the push the parties to act quickly and responsibly.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Russia to Supply Syria to Fight Israel
By Micah Halpern

Monday July 26, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Russia is convinced that the new US administration disapproves of Israel’s bombing in Syria. And that opens the door for Russia to arm Syria to protect itself from Israel.

It appears, through certain Arabic press sources in London, that Russia wants to stop Israel’s bombing of Syria terror targets. To that end, Russia will supply Syria with better surface-to-air-missile systems.

The anonymously sourced report by the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat cited a “well-informed” Russian official saying that the Kremlin has “run out of patience” with Israeli air raids in Syria.

Israel’s objectives are clear - to prevent Iran from gaining a permanent military foothold on its doorstep and stop them from heavily arming Hezbollah.

Russia, a key supporter of the Assad regime, has built a strong military presence in Syria.

Israel needs to step in and diplomatically stop this and the way to do that is by going directly to the top – to Putin.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Israel Hits Keys Players In Syria
By Micah Halpern

Sunday July 25, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Reports that an Israeli air strike killed a senior Hezbollah commander and a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps commander have spread throughout Arabic and Iranian news.

We do know that a Hezbollah commander and commander in the Iranian-backed Liwa Fatemiyoun militia were both killed recently. The details of their deaths remain unclear as of Saturday night.

The Saudi news outlet Al-Arabiya reported that the two died in Syria.

Hezbollah-affiliated media reported on Saturday that the Hezbollah commander Imad al-Amin, from Deir Kifa in southern Lebanon, was killed while “carrying out his jihad duty,” without providing further details.

Iranian media announced on Saturday as well, that Ahmed Qureshi, a commander in the Liwa Fatemiyoun militia, died due to wounds he suffered while fighting in Syria.

These multiple reports seem to be reliable.

One of Israel’s objectives is to cut off the heads of the snakes. Israel’s intention is to eliminate terrorist leadership.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Gaza Getting Hot
By Micah Halpern

Saturday July 24, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Things have been relatively calm on the Israeli border with Gaza. Relatively calm, not completely calm.

Gaza has not returned to the once-daily routine of launching attacks against Israel.
There had been, however, balloon-fire bombs tossed into Israel. These were met with quick Israeli responses.

But now, over the past few days, Gaza has increased intensity in its balloon fire-bombs and they have successfully caused at least three serious fires.

On one of the balloons a message was scrawled. It read: “time is running out”.
Israel is again responding, hitting what they believe to be the sites from which the balloon fire-bombs are both launched and created.

Hamas has not yet learned their lesson. Or maybe they are not interested in learning.

There may very well be an escalation and another mini-war around the corner.


Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Ben & Jerry's
By Micah Halpern

Friday July 23, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream is owned by a gargantuan company called Unilever. The company is headquartered in England.

Unilever bought the ice cream company in 2000 and by some quirk, they allowed Ben & Jerry’s to maintain its own independent board – a special board to deal with social issues.

That board decided to stop selling ice cream to Israelis living in the West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria. With that decision, Ben and Jerry’s, and by extension Unilever, is subscribing to the BDS boycott. BDS stands for Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Against Israel, not other countries, just Israel.

Boycotts are illegal in the United States and almost 35 states have enacted laws preventing states from doing business, making investments or assisting companies that boycott Israel.

Here is one example of those laws, from Illinois, passed in 2015. The language is very simple and very clear and it reads: “‘Boycott Israel’ means engaging in actions that are politically motivated and are intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or otherwise limit commercial relations with the State of Israel or companies based in the State of Israel or in territories controlled by the State of Israel.”
That is the exact definition of the decision made by Ben and Jerry’s.

Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever should pay the price for their mistake. Texas and Florida are already investigating how they can divest from Unilever and do it ASAP.

That is how you answer BDS.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Moderna to Israel
By Micah Halpern

Thursday July 22, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

From the start, Pfizer was the only vaccine given to Israelis. That is no longer the case.

Israel has 200,000 Moderna vaccines in storage. And Moderna will now be the vaccines administered to Israelis 18 years old and under.

Moderna has already been administered to 120,000 Palestinian workers in the Jewish State.

One of the reasons for the switch is that the Pfizer vaccine that Israel has in storage is about to hit its expiration date of July 31st.

Israel sold 700,000 of those Pfizer vaccines to South Korea. The South Koreans were well aware of the expiration date and needed vaccines so badly and so immediately that, for them it was a deal worth making.

100,000 new Pfizer vaccines are scheduled to arrive in Israel on August 1st.
The overwhelming majority of the country is already double vaccinated.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Water Shortage in Iran
By Micah Halpern

Wednesday July 21, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

A water shortage in the Middle East, an arid, desert land, can lead to a very dangerous situation.

And this summer, Iran has been suffering from exactly that, a water shortage.

Iranians have taken to the streets to protest. They are protesting across cities and towns in Iran, making clear to Iranian leadership that they want the government to solve this problem.

During one protest in the city of Mahar shots were fired. A police officer was killed and a civilian was wounded, shot in the leg. This incident was reported in the official state media outlet IRNA.

It was the third shooting death that has occurred at protests calling on the Iranian government to get Iran more fresh water.


Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



70 yrs ago Jordan King Assassinated
By Micah Halpern

Tuesday July 20, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

It was a Friday. The date was July 20, 1951 and King Abdullah of Jordan was visiting Jerusalem. He stood on the steps of the Muslim Mosque of al Aqsa, what Jews called the Temple Mount. The King of Jordan had come to Jerusalem to speak to leaders of Israel.
But it was not to be.

Seventy years ago, while standing on those steps, in front of his grandson who would later become King Hussein, King Abdullah of Jordan was assassinated.

The assassin was a Palestinian named Mustafa Shukri Ashshu. He was a follower of the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem Haj Amin al-Husseini. The Haj Amin was anti anything Jewish. So anti that he forged a relationship with Adolf Hitler and was even hosted by him.

The Haj Amin and King Abdullah were arch enemies.
The ex-mufti supported the establishment of a Palestinian state. Abdullah annexed the West Bank. That act alone prevented the creation of a Palestinian state.

It was a season for assassinations. Just days before Abdullah’s assassination on the steps in Jerusalem, Riad al Sohl, the first prime minister of Lebanon, was assassinated in Jordan. Ali Razmara, prime minister of Iran, and Abdul Hamid Zanganeh, former education minister of Iran, had been assassinated days before.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



US Drones-Strike Iranian Militia
By Micah Halpern

Monday July 19, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

The United States used a drone to attack an Iranian backed militia truck which was, most probably, carrying weapons and ammunition along the Syrian/Iraqi border.

The attack was reported in Iraqi news and by human rights observers in Syria.

There are several hundred US forces on the Syrian/Iraqi border. Their mission is to fight terrorism.

US troops, especially US bases, have recently come under attack by Iranian backed Syrian fighters. The attacks came by way of drones.

And so the United States has begun to counter attack. They are targeting the group known as Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada.

According to reports, the US drone first shot a warning shot in the direction of the truck and the driver ran away. Then came a second shot that destroyed the truck.

As is the case in almost every incident, there are other reports that the driver was killed and that instead of weapons, and ammo the truck was carrying food.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Israel Enforcing COVID Rules
By Micah Halpern

Saturday July 17, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Israel has begun a new method of tracking people who are supposed to be in quarantine because of COVID.

The person in question will receive a text message and must respond by sending a photo in a return text message. The police will use that response to triangulate location and make certain that people are, indeed, where they are supposed to be.

If you do not respond to the text message, the police will come by and pay a personal visit.

Another change Israel has made is that indoor masking is now, once again, required. Weddings are included. This new rule applies to everyone, even double vaccinated Israelis.

Violators will be fined 5000 NIS.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



US Attacks Iranian Militia
By Micah Halpern

Sunday July 18, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Beitar Yerushalim, an internationally competitive soccer team, was to host Barcelona in a scrimmage match leading up to the World Cup which is known around the world as the Mondial.

Barcelona asked for a change of venue.

They did not want to play in Beitar’s home city - Jerusalem. They thought that playing in Jerusalem would give credence to the Israeli occupation of the city.
Barcelona wanted to play elsewhere – preferably in Tel Aviv.
Instead of collapsing under international pressure, Beitar’s owner, Moshe Hogeg, simply cancelled the match.

Hogeg was stunned that Barcelona played a “political card” - a very harsh political card, but Hogeg and Beitar would not be pressured.

This is a point of principle.

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Jerusalem is not an occupied city. If there were to be any discussion at all, it would be about East Jerusalem, not about West Jerusalem.

Barcelona was way out of line.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Jordan Needs Vaccines
By Micah Halpern

Thursday July 15, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

The United States has just sent 500,000 Pfizer anti-COVID vaccines to Jordan.

The delivery of these vaccines is not part of the World Health Organization/ UN COVAX program that is charged with delivering vaccines to the world.

Jordan is suffering. Jordanians cannot wait for all the red tape to be cleared, they cannot wait for the bureaucratic machine to decide to ship them vaccines. They need those vaccines now.

There are about 10 million people in Jordan and their median age is 23.8. Given these numbers there are about 2 million Jordanians at risk.

These half million Pfizer COVID vaccines will provide for 25% of those Jordanians in need. The United States is enabling Jordan to take an important step forward in protecting those most at risk in the Kingdom.


Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Iran Enriching Uranium
By Micah Halpern

Wednesday July 14, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

If you had any doubt that Iran was going to limit their uranium enrichment, the outgoing president of Iran removed all doubts. Rather than limit uranium enrichment, Iran will do exactly the opposite.

President Hassan Rouhani told his cabinet that "Iran's Atomic Energy Organization can enrich uranium by 20% and 60% and if one day our reactor needs it, it can enrich uranium to 90% purity.”

All this was reported in Mehr media, an official Iranian new outlet.

The percentages Rouhani spoke of are way above the 3.67% agreed upon in the famous nuke deal and the 20% permitted in research.

Iran is planning to move into nuclear technology. That is obvious. There is no way that they will walk back their enrichment numbers. Obtaining and then providing nuclear weapons to others is important to Iran.

Iran will continue to enrich uranium and continue their march toward nuclear weapons.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Plans to Attack Iran
By Micah Halpern

Tuesday July 13, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

The Hebrew media lit up over preliminary discussions on the budget.

The budget line that drew everyone’s attention was a request by the IDF for billions of shekel to be used to plan for and defend Israel against Iran.

Billions of shekel is quite a lot of money. The obvious question we must ask is: why was there was no allocation to deal with Iran set aside up until now? It’s no secret that Iran is a large and looming threat.

It appears that until this moment, until this budget discussion, Israel has not been totally prepared to strike and defend itself from Iran.

I find that frightening.

To clarify, there always were and there continues to be plans for old style attacks against Iran - especially assassinating nuclear scientists and sabotaging nuclear labs and centers. And we cannot forget that Israel smuggled out the Iranian nuclear archives. But as remarkable and as successful as smuggling that archive was – it is still old school.

Israel needs new school solutions. Kudos to the IDF for bringing this pressing need to the forefront of budget discussions.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Israel Holds Terror Money from PA
By Micah Halpern

Monday July 12, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Israel is freezing 597 million NIS of monies that are supposed to be transferred to the Palestinians. 597 million NIS is about $180 million.

The defense cabinet agreed that this was a wise and correct decision.

This is the exact amount of money - calculated by the defense cabinet – that the Palestinians paid to terrorists and to the families of terrorists now serving time in Israeli prisons.

The system has been dubbed “Pay to Slay”.

The Knesset, the Israeli Parliament, passed legislation in 2020 permitting Israel to freeze money being transferred to the Palestinian Authority that would go to terrorists. That is exactly what Israel just did.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Israel Hacked Iran's Transit
By Micah Halpern

Sunday July 11, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Israel – it must have been Israel, successfully hacked and brought down Iran’s rapid transit system.

The system is partly owned and operated by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. The IRGC ownership of the transit system made it a viable, justifiable and ethical target of attack.

This is just another example of many attacks against Iran. The attacks are not isolated incidents, they are part of an orchestrated plan to hurt and even cripple Iranian leadership.

There is a downside. An attack against Iran means a response from Iran. There is always a counterattack.

Iran has attacked Israeli ships on the open seas. Iran has hacked Israeli infrastructure, like the water system. Iran has unleashed their proxy Hezbollah and Hezbollah has launched rockets and drones into Israel.

I’m expecting Iran to unleash a cyberattack against Israel within the next week.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Israel Leaves Surfside
By Micah Halpern

Saturday July 10, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

The Israeli search and rescue team that came to Surfside and helped reshape and redirect the dig to more effectively discover bodies has returned to Israel. The work at Surfside is not yet complete, but the Israeli team successfully taught the Americans how to safely and effectively search for and find bodies in the aftermath of the building collapse.

The role of the Israeli team was essential to the success of the grueling and daunting task. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava thanked the Israeli battalion for their "unrelenting dedication" and presented them with an honorary "key to the county."

The team was divided into 2 sub teams and each sub team worked 12 hour shifts to find bodies.

As the Israeli team left Surfside they marched out in formation. People, family members, locals, clapped. It was a solemn clap, a sad clap of appreciation. The team marched and sang a Hebrew dirge, they sang “Ani Ma’amin”.
“Ani Ma’amin” means “I believe.” It was an extremely powerful moment.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Israel Hacked Hams' Bitcoins
By Micah Halpern

Friday July 9, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Israel has begun hacking and seizing Hamas’ Bitcoin accounts. The Israelis have also hacked into and seized other Hamas crypto-currency accounts.

How did they do it – how did Israel successfully hack and confiscate Hamas’ Bitcoins and other crypto-currencies? Notice I am not asking why – just how.

The US Justice Department is doing the same thing. Attempting to hack into and seize the accounts of as many terror groups as they can. So far, Israel has seized over 150 crypto-currency accounts while the US has seized over 300.

The answer as to how Israel broke into this supposedly super stealth Bitcoin system is brilliant.

While crypto accounts are nearly impenetrable, they have a weak spot. The weak point is the point of transfer. That is when the accounts, the information, the owners are easier - NOT EASY, just easier, for the white hat hacker to access.

That is where Israel entered the system and that is how they were able to seize millions and millions of terrorist assets.

Israel has frozen the accounts.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Delta Plus Variant
By Micah Halpern

Thursday July 8, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

We all know about the Delta Variant of the Coronavirus.

But have you heard of Delta Plus?

Delta Plus is a mutated form of Delta, too similar to get its own name – but still a little different.

Like Delta, Delta Plus was first discovered in India. And now a handful of cases have been found in Israel. If the Delta Variant is more contagious than the Alpha Variant, Delta Plus is even more contagious and deadly than Delta.

It is still too early to understand what is happening, but information and research about this new variant is coming out daily.

One would think that, by now, the medical community would know so much more about the Delta variant and be on top of this, but not so. The standard PCR test offered everywhere does not identify variants. The test just identifies the presence or lack the virus.

And that makes the work on understanding, tracking and determining the nature of the various variants so very difficult.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Israel Announces Lavish Room Discovered
By Micah Halpern

Wednesday July 7, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

The Israel Antiquities Authority has announced the discovery of a glorious and lavish set of rooms from the Roman era, adjacent to the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

The structure was built only a few decades before Rome destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple in 70CE.

The rooms were actually discovered decades ago, but they are only now being opened to the public. Now people can visit these rooms alongside other architectural finds at other sites near the Western Wall, like in the tunnels that run underground and parallel to the walls of the Temple.

The rooms, like all the digs in the tunnels next to the Wall were not “digs” per se.

Over the centuries or, more accurately, over two millennia the rooms and structures remained intact, they were never actually destroyed. They were filled in with dirt, sewage, rubble and remains from other destructions, but they survived.

That fill needed to be cleared out. And in the fill were items left over after the destruction of Jerusalem from other periods. The fill, which served to preserve the rooms, needed to be sifted and clearly identified. And that fill, those items discovered in the rooms, helps us understand what happened above ground, in the gloriously preserved and newly opened, Roman era rooms.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Hareidi Childcare Gets Cut
By Micah Halpern

Tuesday July 6, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Tensions are rising along one of the Israel’s perennial fault lines.

Subsidies to Hareidi families have been cut. Specifically, subsidies for childcare.
Minister of Finance Avigdor Lieberman has chosen to change the childcare entitlement program that has been in place as far back as memory goes.

The Lieberman plan now requires fathers to work or study in a non-religious educational accredited institution for at least 24 hours a week. None of the traditional Hareidi yeshivot are accredited.

The childcare credit amounts to between NIS 900 and NIS 1,300 per child. In total, around 130,000 families benefit from the subsidies every year. The Labor and Welfare Ministry spends some NIS 1.2 billion on these benefits, approximately a third of which traditionally went to Hareidi families.

Of the Hareidi population, 53% of working age men are employed as compared to 85% of working age men from the rest of the country.

Changing the eligibility criteria for the childcare subsidy will impact the economy.
The rationale behind the subsidy was always to put children in day care, thereby freeing up mothers/wives so that they could go to work. If not for subsidies, they would have to remain at home taking care of the children.

We will see what happens now. It’s way too early to tell.


Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Iran is Attacking the US
By Micah Halpern

Monday July 5, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Iran has, for all intents and purposes, declared war on the United States in Iraq and Syria.

Over the past several weeks, US forces have been targeted by Iran’s proxies almost every day. Even the US embassy in Baghdad has been attacked.

The attacks come in the form of missile strikes and drone strikes. The drones being used are becoming more and more sophisticated. To date, thankfully, no personnel have been killed.

And now, the United States has begun to strike back.

Iran has an agenda. Iranian leadership is ratcheting up tensions in order to force US involvement – to goad the United States into conflict with their proxies. Iran wants the US to hurt – Iran wants the United States to suffer the loss US lives.
That hurt will come as events escalate.

Iran does not care about the lives of their proxies, about those who will bear the brunt of US counter strikes. Iran cares about Iran, only and exclusively.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



US Shuts Iranian Websites
By Micah Halpern

Sunday July 4, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

The United States seized 36 Iranian websites. The seized the sites and they shut them down.

Why these websites? Because they were spreading lies and drawing people into their traps.

A few days later, the sites resurfaced. Just like they always do.

So the question begs asking: Is it really a good idea for the United States to remove Iranian websites. One thing for certain is that it certainly plays into the narrative that the US controls everything.

The best way to combat rhetoric is to replace it with better material - not by shutting its sources down.

Censorship is never a good idea unless a source, a website, goes over the red line that limits free speech. That red line is the direct instigation of violence.

Really evil groups use the dark web and, unfortunately, by their very nature. it is impossible to shut them down. The United States should certainly monitor those sites, and sometime even play with them and hack them.

But never take them down, never shut them down.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Iran Hits Another Israeli Ship
By Micah Halpern

Saturday July 3, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

The internet lit up with reports that Iran attacked an Israeli vessel in the Indian Ocean. The vessel was enroute from Jeddah to the UAE.
Israeli news N12 broadcast the story.

According to the N12 report, the crew was not hurt and the ship was not badly damaged. They cited unnamed sources within Israel's defense establishment for this information.

Lebanese, pro-Iranian, TV channel Al Mayadeen had also reported that the ship was attacked in the Indian Ocean.

This is a big story. It is very difficult to police and to protect the high seas.


Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Iran Electric Blackouts
By Micah Halpern

Friday July 2, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

Widespread electrical blackouts are crippling Iran.
The heat is excessive, air conditioners are running round the clock, people are staying indoors and they are one their computers.

This story was first covered by Iran International, a TV and web media outlet out of London. The outlet is trying to present balanced, insightful coverage of Iran.
Large parts of the Iranian capital Tehran and parts of Karaj, a city west of Tehran, as well as other, smaller, cities were plunged into darkness. Iranian leaders are announcing that there will be more blackouts.

But this widespread blackout, which started at 11:00 pm Saturday night, was not part of the scheduled power cuts that Iran has experienced in recent months due to insufficient electricity generation and rising demand. In some parts of Tehran the power outage continued until 5 am Sunday.

An unexpected and long power cut in mid-summer high temperatures could create discomfort in apartments where air conditioning is essential, as well as unforeseen problems in hospitals. The scheduled power cut was supposed to take place only between 8-10 pm on Saturday.

Iran’s power consumption this summer has topped 60,000 megawatts per day. That is more than a ten percent increase in power consumption compared to last year. Meanwhile, electricity generation in Iran has remained the same at 50,000-56,000 megawatts.

None of this bodes well for the people of Iran.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Israel Arrests Arrivals from Russia
By Micah Halpern

Thursday July 1, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

24 Israelis were arrested in Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport.

They weren’t arrested for drug trafficking and they weren’t arrested for smuggling.

They were arrested for buying tickets and almost boarding a plane for Russia.
40 other Israelis were fined 5000 NIS each, that’s approximately $2,000, for getting off a plane from Russia and trying to enter Israel.

Russia is a red state. Covid is rampant. It is forbidden for Israelis to come or go without special permission from the Exceptions Committee.

It might sound like Israel is becoming a police state. But the truth us that Israel is a country that takes the life and death of its citizens seriously.

No travel means no travel.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Israel Helps Surfside
By Micah Halpern

Wednesday June 30, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

The head of the IDF search and rescue team is Colonel Gidon Vach.

Vach spoke to a US media outlet and explained what the Israeli team is doing in Surfside and the value added by having Israelis on the ground at the site of The Champlain South building collapse.

Colonel Vach has been working search and rescue missions for more than 20 years. When speaking of the Surfside rescue operation he said: "It's one of the most difficult and complicated situations that I've ever seen."

He said that while one should never lose hope, you also have to be honest and there is “no chance” for finding survivors.

Vach described the 3-D model of The Champlain that Israel created even before arriving on the scene. He explained that the team is looking for bedrooms because people were asleep at the time of the collapse.

He also explained that the Israeli team replicated the collapse to determine how the building fell and then he said: "Our purpose is to get the first responder to understand, where exactly is he digging?"

That’s important. This way rescuers do not waste time and energy digging and removing rubble. Instead, they can target their dig so as to find people and bodies.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Fire Balloons
By Micah Halpern

Tuesday June 29, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

They are called incendiary balloons. In other words, the balloons sent over from Gaza ignite and cause fires in Israel.

These fires cause 10’s of millions of dollars of damage. They destroy crops and fields and endanger farming communities.

The balloons bombs are very low tech – in fact, they cost less than a dollar each to make. They are one of the least expensive weapons in the Middle East today. An exacto knife is more expensive.

On May 21 the latest conflict between Gaza and Israel ended. Both sides agreed a cease fire. And yet, these incendiary balloons are being launched with more and more frequency.

If they do not end, if the balloons do not stop, Israel will respond. This is not a prediction - it is an absolute inevitability.

Israel will strike Gaza from the air and hit the labs the make the balloons. Israel will target the leaders of the groups launching the balloons. They will shoot the people who are launching the balloons as they are being launched.

This is an absolute fact. Hamas must know this. And so, I ask: why does Hamas insist on continuing to launch fire balloons into Israel?

The answer is that Hamas has a need to always attack Israel. They simply cannot stop.

It is a real life version of the Aesop fable about the “Scorpion and the Frog”.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter



Fire Balloons
By Micah Halpern

Tuesday June 29, 2021
I've Been Thinking:

They are called incendiary balloons. In other words, the balloons sent over from Gaza ignite and cause fires in Israel.

These fires cause 10’s of millions of dollars of damage. They destroy crops and fields and endanger farming communities.

The balloons bombs are very low tech – in fact, they cost less than a dollar each to make. They are one of the least expensive weapons in the Middle East today. An exacto knife is more expensive.

On May 21 the latest conflict between Gaza and Israel ended. Both sides agreed a cease fire. And yet, these incendiary balloons are being launched with more and more frequency.

If they do not end, if the balloons do not stop, Israel will respond. This is not a prediction - it is an absolute inevitability.

Israel will strike Gaza from the air and hit the labs the make the balloons. Israel will target the leaders of the groups launching the balloons. They will shoot the people who are launching the balloons as they are being launched.

This is an absolute fact. Hamas must know this. And so, I ask: why does Hamas insist on continuing to launch fire balloons into Israel?

The answer is that Hamas has a need to always attack Israel. They simply cannot stop.

It is a real life version of the Aesop fable about the “Scorpion and the Frog”.

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah

To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com
Follow MicahHalpern on Twitter





Powered by Movable Type     Site design by Sekimori