JUST PUBLISHED-NEW BOOK by Dr. Steve Carol "Encyclopedia of Days: Start the Day with History"

Encyclopedia of Days: Start the Day with History
By Steven Carol

Foreword by
Tom Horne
Arizona State Superintendent
of Public Instruction

Encyclopedia of Days uses daily events as a lens through which to view the wide panorama of history. A gigantic 724 pages, it includes over six thousand entries for every day of the year, designed to both fascinate and educate.

Within its pages, you can learn that Bjarni Herjulfson was the first European “discoverer” of record to locate North America, Paul Revere did not complete his famous ride, the Battle of Bunker Hill was never fought there, Francis Hopkinson–not Betsy Ross–designed our first flag, and the U.S. did not buy Florida.

It covers over 3,000 years of history and a huge number of subjects illustrating geography, politics, international relations, economics, social events and popular culture. It is an important reminder of human frailties and triumphs, lending insight and perspective into the complex modern world. Thoroughly indexed, it contains a bonus of twenty-one detailed appendices brimming with additional information.

While other compilations are mostly specialty works, dealing with a specific subject or time period, this work is far wider in scope, yet detailed in content.

Encyclopedia of Days is designed for the layperson, students, parents, especially those who might be home teaching, libraries, those in the media, and just about anyone interested in obtaining a quick reference guide to history. It can be used as a basis for a fun game, it can be used as a motivational tool in the business world to inspire employees and it can be used as a classroom motivation to start the day.

This is an exceedingly practical and accessible volume, an indispensable reference for anyone that seeks a deeper understanding of both American and World history. All told, Encyclopedia of Days is a fun way to recall history and to learn some aspects of history that will amaze you. As such this unique reference belongs in everyone’s home library. If you like history, you will LOVE this book. If, in the words of the classic Sam Cooke song you ¯“Don’t know much about history. . .”¯ you need this book! It makes an excellent gift.

You can obtain a copy from (MAKE SURE TO TYPE IN THE ENTIRE TITLE - Encyclopedia of Days: Start the Day with History):

iUniverse at CLICK HERE

Amazon.com at CLICK HERE

or CLICK HERE

or CLICK HERE

Barnes & Noble at CLICK HERE

THE RIGHT QUESTION: IS THERE A BOTTOM?

THE RIGHT QUESTION:
IS THERE A BOTTOM?

by Dr. Steve Carol ©
December 23, 2007

As the Olmert government continues its obsession to basically ignore continued Arab rocket attacks on Israeli towns and citizens, to surrender additional territory including Jerusalem, and do the work of previous Arab/Muslim conquerors and uproot Jews from the Land of Israel even before the Arabs achieve victory -- news continues to flow in which raises the question again and again “Is there a bottom to the pit of depravity to which the current Israeli government will sink?”

In late breaking news, the Israeli government has now allowed Arab propaganda to be broadcast from the Temple Mount, this while it bans Jewish opposition radio (Arutz 7) from broadcasting from Israel. In 1988 Arutz 7 began broadcasting from the ship, MV Hatzvi, off Israel’s coast in international waters. The Israeli government tolerating no opposing viewpoints to its version of the news, seized and closed down Arutz 7’s broadcasting ship in 1998 to prevent an alternative Jewish radio news source. It is the double-standard at work. Thus while Israeli Jews are not able to listen to opposing Jewish viewpoints, the Israeli government aids and abets the Arabs in disseminating Arab propaganda to both Palestinian and Israeli Arabs, from the heart of Jerusalem.

To add insult to injury:

Member of the Israeli Knesset, Yossi Beilin, Chairman of the leftist Meretz Party, the architect of the Oslo process, now publicly regrets that the Zionist Jews did not accept Uganda, rather than the Land of Israel in which to re-establish the Jewish state. Bellin, who violated Israeli law and in effect committed treason by negotiating with a known terrorist organization – the PLO - says that his grandfather, a prominent early Zionist leader, made the mistake in not accepting the British offer of Uganda. If we cannot achieve peace with the Palestinians, Beilin has repeated many times, there is no future for the state of Israel. He assumes that peace is in Israel’s hands to make, and writes as if the attainment of peace, not the re-establishment of a state for the Jews, was the primary goal of Zionism.

MK Bellin, like his mentor Shimon Peres sees no value in history, overlooking the record that the “Uganda Plan” proposed in 1903 was in fact located on the Mau Plateau in what is today Kenya. This region historically came to be known as the “White Highlands.” It was precisely there that the Mau Mau Uprising of independence-seeking Africans took place 1952-1960 resulting in the explusion of the British from Kenya. But why let a little history get in the way of a leftist agenda?

But wait there is more – just when you thought you have heard it all, as the Israeli government pursues its national self-destruction course, comes the “piece d’resistance” as just reported in the Israeli press today.

The Israeli Sociological Society has announced its 2007 award for excellence bestowing it upon Tal Nitzan, a graduate student in the Department of Sociology at the Hebrew University. She received this award for her Master’s thesis. The thesis has been published as a bound booklet by the Shine Center for Social Studies of the Hebrew University.

And what you may ask is this thesis about? It stipulates that the Israel Defense Forces (the IDF) is racist because its soldiers do not rape Arab women. It concludes that the IDF has so dehumanized the Palestinian Arabs that they are not seen fit to rape. Further it postulates that the IDF does not rape Arab women out of the “patriotic duty” to prevent an Arab population increase!

Aside from supporting the long-standing Arab propaganda that the IDF engages in rape of Arab women, as part of the incitement of the Arab masses against the Jews, the real message conveyed is, that no matter what they do, Jews are immoral. “Jews cannot be moral, therefore they must be racist.” Is there no limit to the perversion being advocated? One should note that the news story included one public reaction calling for the reporter to be fired from his job for relaying this story. A classic case of “shoot the messenger.” Much of Israel is still in denial – and we are not speaking of the river in Egypt!

This line of thought is the product of the Israeli socialist-oriented, leftist bent, government educational system that has now inculcated at least two generations of Israeli youth. Americans should take note, as this same type of anti-nationalist, anti-patriotism, “America is to blame for all the world’s ills” mentality is being taught to our young students in many universities across the United States today. Such universities should not be supported.

What can be done in this case? American supporters of the Hebrew University should protest by e-mail, fax, letter and phone call. If this is what the Hebrew University encourages, they should withhold donations until such “aiding the enemy” type material ceases to be encouraged.

To reply to my own question at the start of this article, in keeping with this holiday season, and to paraphrase a famous newspaper column question (“Is There a Santa Claus?” - an editorial in the September 21, 1897 edition of the New York Sun) – My question was: “Is there a bottom?” My response is “No, there is NO BOTTOM!”

Dr. Steve Carol
Prof. of History (retired)
Middle East consultant for Salem Radio Network News
Associate Producer and Historian of Middle East Radio Forum www.middleeastradioforum.org

THE RIGHT QUESTION: IS THERE NO OTHER POLICY EXCEPT FOR A FAILED ONE? - By Dr. Steve Carol

THE RIGHT QUESTION:

IS THERE NO OTHER POLICY EXCEPT FOR A FAILED ONE?

by Dr. Steve Carol ©
August 7, 2007

The recent announcement of a planned U.S. $20 billion sale to Saudi Arabia and other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates –and the new, U.S. three-line deployment strategy, is being discussed and questioned globally.

However, once again we are witnessing the repackaging of old wine in new bottles, except that this time the wine is vinegar. Major components of the proposed sale and strategy have been tried before by the U.S. and failed.

In 1970, as part of the “Nixon Doctrine”, the United States introduced the concept of relying on “regional influentials” to safeguard American interests in the wide area of the Middle East. Assigned to this role was Iran, under the Shah, whose task was to protect the Persian Gulf region. Second was Israel that was to watch over the Eastern Mediterranean area and Suez Canal. The third was Ethiopia, under Emperor Haile Selassie, that was assigned the task of safeguarding the southern approaches to the Red Sea. Arms aid was given to all three nations.

In all three cases, the policy failed. The Shah faced unrest that resulted in a revolution that toppled the pro-American Pahlavi dynasty in 1978-1979. All of the American military equipment, much of it top of the line at the time, fell into the hands of the Islamic republic. Israel suffered the shock of military setbacks and subsequent diplomatic reversals that were the immediately result of the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Ethiopia faced civil war, drought and revolution that swept from power the Imperial monarchy, and replaced it with a Marxist regime, where again American aid fell into the hands of that anti-Western regime.

The policy of relying on “regional influentials” did not work in the 1970s. It will not work now. Saudi Arabia has but one goal first and foremost, to preserve the House of Saud. It will not be a “deputy U.S. policeman” to block and, if necessary, combat Islamic Iran’s air force, any more than the misguided U.S. policy of hoping that the Palestinian Fatah organization will control militant Hamas.

To further complicate and make matters worse, the U.S. will offer Egypt $13 billion as part of the arms package. The Egyptian armed forces, largely equipped with U.S.-made weaponry thanks to US aid totaling over $70 billion since 1979, trains for a war against the named “enemy” – Israel. According to the Congressional Research Service, Egypt purchased $6.5 billion worth of foreign weapons in the years 2001-04, more than any other state in the Middle East. In contrast, the Israeli government bought only $4.4 billion worth during that period and the Saudis $3.8 billion. If Egypt is at peace with Israel, what are all those weapons for? The answer to the question lies in Egyptian war doctrine which still views Israel as Egypt’s main, if not its only, enemy. In view of these facts, for what purpose does Egypt need an additional $13 billion to fund sophisticated top-of-the-line aircraft? Let one not forget that despite the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, the Arab League’s 1948 declaration of war to liquidate the state of Israel remains in force. Egypt is a member of the Arab League and subscribes to its decisions.
In an attempt to resuscitate the failed policy, the U.S. has added another failed strategy to the mix. As a sweetener to Israel (to swallow the bitter pill of a massive arms sale to the Arab states) and in order to get Congressional and Israeli approval to this pending deal, the U.S. administration has promised Israel an additional $30 billion in military aid over a 10 year period. While Israeli Prime minister Ehud Olmert was quick to praise the 25% US military aid increase as an important boost to Israel’s security, President Bush indicated that he could not guarantee this aid level beyond 2009! So much for 10 years of increased aid. Appeasement-minded Olmert added that President Bush had promised him Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region would be preserved. This may be wishful thinking on Olmert’s part, since the U.S. is now inclined to sell the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter-bomber to the Saudis, while only “considering” such a sale to Israel. In recent tests, a U.S. pilot using an F-22, engaged and defeated six F-15s in mock combat and that was repeated several times. The F-15 is the current top plane in the Israeli Air Force. Olmert, no doubt, is putting into practice Israeli President Shimon Peres’ infamously quoted statement that “It’s a great mistake to learn from history. There is nothing to learn from history.” (Maariv, May 23, 1996).

The Israeli Prime Minister has forgotten and ignored his nation’s history. In 1970, the United States and the Soviet Union brokered and guaranteed a cease fire that ended the 1,000 day War of Attrition (1967-1970). The Soviets and the Egyptians broke the agreement on the very first night it went into effect. To pacify Israel, the U.S. gave Israel more monetary aid and additional aircraft, much as it is promising now. The U.S. move was costly to Israel. The Israeli Air force witnessed 49 of its best planes shot out of the sky in the first two days of the Yom Kippur War. The additional American funds evaporated as the staggering costs of the war, both in life and expense, dramatically escalated. So Israel has had the experience of an American “pay off” to acquiesce to an American-Arab arms deal.

Also of importance in the pending U.S.-Saudi deal is a Saudi commitment to keep the new warplanes and missile systems away from Israel’s borders. Don’t hold your breath on that promise. A similar Saudi pledge offered in the 1990s for US F-15 warplanes was never kept despite reminders from Washington. The planes were housed at Tabuk close to the Jordanian border, Israel’s Red Sea port of Eilat and its Negev bases. Ultimately, Israel informed Riyadh through Washington that Tabuk would not be immune from attack in a fresh all-out Middle East conflict. All of this does not even begin to address the question as to how good an ally Saudi Arabia is. The arms deal was promoted despite the fact that Saudi Arabia was unhelpful to the U.S. in Iraq, opposed to U.S. policy in dealing with the Palestinians, and was unable or unwilling to stop suicide bombers reaching Iraq.

Thus the new U.S. proposed arms sale to Saudi Arabia is fraught with peril. Is there no other policy the U.S. Administration can pursue other than a failed one?

Dr. Steve Carol
Prof. of History (retired)
Middle East Consultant for Salem Radio Network News
Official Historian “Middle East Radio Forum” http://www.middleeastradioforum.org/
Scottsdale, Arizona

WHERE IS THE “SHUKRAN” (thank you) FROM THE ARAB WORLD? By Dr. Steve Carol

THE RIGHT QUESTION:
WHERE IS THE “SHUKRAN” (thank you)
FROM THE ARAB WORLD?

by Dr. Steve Carol ©
Feb. 27, 2006
(Published in the East Valley Tribune, Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona March 18, 2006)

The current discussion about the United States allowing Dubai Ports World, a United Arab Emirates (UAE) state-owned firm, to manage shipping in six major American port cities has different viewpoints. Some people, like Ken Mehlman, claim there is a need to demonstrate that moderate Arab nations can work with us to mutual benefit.[i] The UAE was Saddam Hussein’s second target after his conquest of Kuwait in 1990. It can't protect itself against extremist Islam, so the UAE depends on our military presence in its territory, which is mutually beneficial for both nations. This raises some important questions. Why must we outsource the managing of our port facilities to any foreign nation? If we wish to show our hope that moderate Arab nations can be allies, is there another way apart from giving them access to our port infrastructure?

The general public both here and in the Arab World needs to look at the historic record. Why hasn’t the Arab street noted how many times the United States has rescued Arab states and regimes? Why haven’t their history books even mentioned these events? Where are the signs of Arab friendship that underscores the mutual cooperation? Thus far we have hardly heard an Arab “shukran (thank you)” for these efforts.

Over the past five decades the American people have seen numerous images and stories in the media depicting many Arab demonstrations against the United States. US policies have been vilified, its flag has been burned, its citizen’s bodies desecrated and dragged behind vehicles. The U.S. has viewed the beheadings of Americans, and Arab adults dancing in the street, handing out candy to children in celebration of our tragedies. This was especially infuriating, for us, when the 9/11 attacks occurred.

Since the end of World War II, the United States has frequently, either alone or together with allies and friends, saved various Arab countries. One example of U.S. assistance occurred in 1956, when Egypt violated international treaties by seizing the Suez Canal. The U.S. pressured Great Britain and France to stop their response, an attack on Egypt. There was assistance again in 1957 after Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser deliberately sank ships to block the canal. Much of the cost of restoring operational use of the canal was borne by the U.S.

Later in 1957, the U.S. positioned the Sixth Fleet as a sign of support to Jordan’s King Hussein as he dealt with Egyptian-sponsored subversion, riots, strikes and an attempted coup against him. The next year, 1958, U.S. military intervention saved the government of Lebanon from being overthrown by Egypt’s Nasser.

During 1963 the U.S. sent an aircraft carrier to the Red Sea, off the coast of Saudi Arabia, as a sign of military support for the Saudi Kingdom against Nasser’s military threats and bombing of Saudi towns. In 1967, during the Six Day War started by Egypt’s Nasser, it was U.S. pressure on Israel that led to the latter’s halt of its drive into Syria and prevented a total Arab collapse. Later, in 1970, the U.S. created a plan with Israel to intervene if necessary to safeguard Jordan from a joint Syrian – Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) military attempt to overthrow the Hashemite monarchy.

During the Yom Kippur War of 1973, the U.S. imposed a cease-fire and forced Israel to halt operations. This move saved the Egyptian Third Army and allowed Egypt to claim a “victory” in that conflict. Still later in 1979 the U.S. brokered an Egypt-Israel peace treaty and began U.S. aid to Egypt, making that nation the second-largest foreign aid recipient for many years to come. The decade of the 1980s witnessed additional U.S. rescues of Arab regimes. In the spring of 1982 the U.S. gave weapons, technology, and intelligence assistance to Iraq to stave off imminent defeat by Iran, in the Iraq-Iran War. Later in 1982, the U.S. brokered a deal which saved the PLO from destruction in Beirut, Lebanon and enabled its leadership to flee to safety in Tunisia.
Perhaps the most noticed U.S. assistance to an Arab nation occurred in 1991 when a U.S.-led coalition liberated Kuwait and saved it from permanent Iraqi occupation.[ii] Most recently, in 2003, another U.S.-led coalition liberated Iraq from the despotic and murderous Saddam Hussein regime, and promoted the establishment of a democracy in that nation.

Thus over the span of recent history the United States has demonstrated time and again, that it is a friend of the Arabs. Thus far we have not seen the masses of moderate Arabs acknowledge and publicize this fact. Isn’t it time that they do so? Perhaps it is time for a “shukran.”

[i] Ken Mehlman, Executive Director, Republican National Coalition, on Sean Hannity show Feb. 22, 2006.
[ii]The government of Kuwait did thank the U.S. but it was not widely publicized throughout the Arab world.

Dr. Steven Carol
Prof. of Modern Middle East History (retired)
Senior Fellow: Center for Advanced Middle East Studies .ws
Official historian on The Middle East Radio Forum www.middleeastradioforum.org
Scottsdale, Arizona