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Saturday, December 21, 2024

'Biden Wanted to Save Assad'

 It was galling, to say the least, to see President Joe Biden, taking credit for the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Biden (and his administration) did everything he could to preserve Assad by restraining Israel and preventing it from destroying Hezb’allah, which served as his private army.  Biden did this by threatening Israel with U.S. and possible UN (and European) sanctions, ceasefire “deals,” and withholding vital weaponry.  

Despite protestations to the contrary, he had been slow-walking, if not denying, much-needed ammunition soon after the October 7 massacre in 2023.  Later in the conflict, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin even suggested that an invasion of Rafah (on the Gazan border with Egypt) would force the administration to “change the US calculus on security assistance to Israel.” That, of course, would alter a long-standing security alliance the U.S. and Israel have enjoyed at least since 1952.

It was the Obama/Biden administration that elevated Iran and its terrorist proxies in client states like Syria and Lebanon in the first place. Biden hired the same Obama team, his administration representing “Obama’s third term.”  These included Robert Malley as the “Iran Envoy” (since removed for ‘mishandling classified documents’), Jake Sullivan, Obama’s National Security Advisor, Anthony Blinken, now Secretary of State, and Pentagon spokesman John Kirby.  They are Iran-firsters. It has also been one of their obsessions to pursue the so-called Joint Coordinated Plan of Action (JCPOA ) that ultimatelyprovides a pathway to a nuclear bomb for the ayatollahs and Iran, an oil-rich nation with a radical Islamic regime -- that would render the region and world far less safe.  

They maintain an overbearing concern for Iran and seek to help the long-suffering Shiite Persians restore an ill-conceived notion of “balance” in the Middle East between the Sunni Arab states and Israel, on one hand, and Iran on the other.  That the ayatollahs can be found leading chants for “death to America” and “death to Israel” on a weekly basis is considered a plus for today’s Democrats. 

But their theories have come crashing down in the face of Israeli military power, moral vision, and will -- and Trump’s victory in November.  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is loathed by Biden/Harris and the Democrats at least as much as Trump, and the two hold similar statuses in their respective nations, as populist outsiders, despised by their own leftist/globalist establishment and deep state. 

The current cease-fire is Biden’s doing in the first place, and at a time when Israel was positioned to end Hezb’allah forever.  Hopefully, Israel will accomplish it anyway.  But it will have to overlap into Trump’s term, which is unfortunate.  Nonetheless, that should remain a goal of Israel -- and the U.S.  Not a sliver or a remnant of that terrorist organization, or Hamas, should be allowed to survive.  

Biden threatened Netanyahu with his own ceasefire deal in place of the more draconian ceasefire that would have come from the UN Security Council.  Most American administrations, however, would have vetoed such a resolution, being long familiar with the long-standing hatred of Israel by the UN; but not this administration or any Democratic Party regime to come.  

It has been the Obama/Biden policy to elevate Iran and its client states including Syria and Lebanon, and its terrorist proxies comprising Hezb’allah, Hamas, and the Houthis.  The Democratic party today is pro-Iranian, a legacy of Obama now carried forward into the Biden administration. They did not enforce sanctions on the sale of Iranian oil as was done during the first Trump presidency, which had brought Iran financially to its knees, leading to the “Abraham Accords” under Trump, an unprecedented era of peace in the Middle East.  Under the third Obama/Biden term, free to sell its oil, Iran was flush with money and able to fund its proxies.  The result was October 7 and war in the Middle East.  

But Israel has rendered it all moot.  They have decimated Iran’s terrorist proxies and ended their domination of Syria and Lebanon by destroying them militarily in a war as significant for Israel and the region as the Six Day War was in ‘67.  Hence the fall of Assad and a new opportunity for a Lebanon, free of the baleful influence of Hezb’allah.

Iran is now alone, defenseless after the first Israeli strike on their air-defenses, thus leaving their nuclear crown jewels exposed as they await the inevitable Israeli attack.  The geopolitical landscape has been completely altered through Israeli military prowess and Netanyahu’s decision to ignore Biden and the Democrats and go it alone: despite the Biden administration’s demands, threats, and withholding of needed military supplies in the midst of war. 

Biden sought not to retire Assad at all. Nor did he seek the fall of his regime.  It was his wish that Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and their terrorist proxies continue dominating the Middle East. He and his Obama era advisors wanted a resurgent Iran, with its terrorist proxies intact. In the twisted cult-Marxist mind of the Left, this was proper because the Shiite Iranians are conceived as “oppressed.” Obama/Biden sought a Middle East dominated not by Israel, a liberal democracy and the one Jewish state, but Iran and its terrorist proxies and client states. 

That strategic vision however has been overturned.  Israel is now the hegemon astride the Middle East, not Iran, despite the best efforts of Obama, Biden, and the Democrat Party.  The last thing Biden sought was for Assad to depart and his regime to fall.  Rather, he and his advisors, the Obama holdovers, wanted Israel and the Sunni Arab states diminished -- especially Israel, which the cultural Marxists of the Democratic party loathe and absurdly perceive as an “oppressor.”  It is the opposite of what he claimed.  But then he is shameless. Lies are his stock in trade. We cannot be rid of him soon enough. 

Richard Moss, M.D., a surgeon practicing in Jasper, IN, was a candidate for Congress in 2016, 2018, and 2024. He has written A Surgeon’s OdysseyMatilda’s Triumph, and Empire of Eunuchs: How the Republican Party Betrayed America, available on amazon.com.

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2024/12/biden_wanted_to_save_assad.html

The Democrat Trump-Musk Feud Strategy

 By Rajan Laad

It has been a triumphant phase for the MAGA movement. President Trump won a landslide electoral victory last month. The bogus cases against him, which were part of the establishment's attempts to outlaw political opposition, appear to be winding down. Trump had a triumphant return to the global stage during the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. He effectively won a case against vicious slander by ABC News and George Stephanopoulos which compelled the outlet to initiate a settlement payment of $15 million. Gorgeous George himself had to pony up $1 million. Trump won Time magazine's Person of the Year, which meant a lot to him and his supporters. Trump secured a $100 billion investment from the Japan-based SoftBank Group Corp which will create 100,000 U.S. jobs, doubtlessly encouraging other investors.

Hamas has expressed intentions to end the conflict with Israel. Canada announced new border security rules to avoid a 25% tariff after Trump threatened them. Trump was in command during his recent presser which sent a signal globally that the U.S. is back.

Elon Musk was an important ally in Trump's massive victory last month. Musk joined the Trump campaign after being impressed by Trump's exemplary bravery and defiance following the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania. Musk made X a free-speech platform, preventing the Democrats from manipulating the narrative on social media as they did in 2020. This time the public had access to all information and the lies were with 'community noted.'

Trump announced that Musk and Ramaswamy will lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a watchdog focused on cutting wasteful government spending and reducing bureaucratic impediments.

To sum it up, President Trump has had a triumphant start even before being sworn in. He seems on track to be delivering key campaign promises. DOGE is already on the job, both Musk and Ramaswamy have been vocal about the scandalous recent 1500-page spending bill.

The D.C. swamp could render DOGE irrelevant by preemptively mending its ways, but will not, because its existence is based on corruption and government excesses.

The swamp dwellers are now in a quandary. They know that they cannot misuse agencies to target Trump as they did before. Their media proxies aren't going to engage in blatant lies, after the ABC settlement. They desperately need to derail this Trump train.

So what do they do?

They resort to petty ploys. Following Trump's victory there were memes by some Democrat proxies that Musk was the new first lady. In time they attempted to suggest Musk was the equivalent of Vice President and that Vance was sidelined.

But neither of these had any impact.

Now they are pushing another hoax -- that Musk is the President and Trump is the Vice President. This is similar to the Trump-Russia collusion hoax where they attempted to credit Putin for Trump's amazing victory in 2016 and suggested that Putin was in charge. This time around, Putin has been replaced with Musk.

The usual hoaxers KinzingerSanders, the Lincoln ProjectDemocrat representatives, etc. are pushing this falsehood.

Democrats allies are posting memes depicting Trump as subservient to Musk. USA Today, the WaPoMSNBC, and CNN are also pushing this hoax.

This divide-and-rule tactic has been used throughout history to overcome seemingly invincible enemies. It may appear petty but it can be effective and it doesn't cost anything. All one has to do is sow seeds of division. 

This is depicted in Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece Yojimbo and its remake A Fistful of Dollars with Clint Eastwood. They are hoping that the constant bombardment of this narrative will enrage Trump. They are also hoping it will color his judgment about Musk, if he finds a comment or a Tweet that appears to be a difference of opinion, Trump will interpret it as an act of defiance. They are also hoping that Musk will succumb to the flattery and think of himself as a puppet master and make a display of it on X.

The main goal is to cause a massive feud which will lead to Musk's sacking and the dismantling of DOGE. Many Democrat proxies are openly declaring this on X. They are hoping that the rift will make Musk one of Trump's worst adversaries and that they will engage in a vicious war of words on social media.

In subsequent days, expect mainstream news outlets to use unnamed sources to declare a battle royale between Musk and Trump.

We will learn of 'sources' claiming that Musk ridiculed Trump among friends. 'Sources' will claim Trump is furious with the President Musk hoax and told allies he will 'kick Musk the f---k out of Mar-a-Lago and banish his a—forever.' In the coming weeks, months, and years both Musk and Trump have to be careful.

Musk must understand that Trump is the founder and will always be the leader of the MAGA movement. He was a great support and an ally. But it was Trump who won. 

During the early 80s, rock superstar Sting's manager Miles Copeland revealed that his primary job was to keep the egos of his Police bandmates in check. He said bandmates would complain they had better ideas than Sting and he had to remind them that if Sting dropped out, the concert would be canceled. But if any bandmate quit, he would be replaced and nobody would notice. 

Musk is a guitarist in the MAGA band, but Trump is the lead. Musk is a valuable bandmate, as is Lara Trump, Dan Scavino, Susie Wiles, Dana White, Vivek Ramaswamy, etc.

While exercising his opinions Musk must be clear that he reports to Trump in DOGE. Musk must not be seen to defy Trump in any way. Musk is accustomed to being the boss and doing as he pleases, and he will have to exercise restraint given this new role.

To be clear, Musk hasn't shown any disloyalty or defiance toward President Trump. There is also no indication that Musk is behind this hoax. Musk even praised Trump in a recent tweet.

Trump too must exercise caution while reacting to this hoax. During future pressers, he will likely be bombarded with questions about 'President Musk.' It would be a good idea to ridicule this premise without an answer while expressing support for Musk.

Trump, Musk, and the rest must remember that they thoroughly vanquished the Democrats last month.

The Democrats have nothing to offer but lies, petty ploys, and hoaxes.

Hopefully, everyone will remember a lesson that history frequently teaches us -- to be victorious, total unity is essential.

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2024/12/the_democrat_trump_musk_feud_strategy.html

Trump picks Tilman Fertitta as Italy ambassador

 U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday he will nominate billionaire Houston Rockets pro basketball team owner Tilman Fertitta to be his administration's ambassador to Italy.

Fertitta is the chairman and owner of Landry's, which operates a large collection of restaurants, hotels and casinos throughout the United States.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump lauded the 67-year-old Texas native as an "accomplished businessman" and philanthropist.

https://www.marketscreener.com/news/latest/Trump-picks-billionaire-Landry-s-chairman-as-Italy-ambassador-48641404/

Israel’s war with Hamas spurred cutting-edge, astonishing medical advancements

 After being shot in both legs by a Hamas sniper in Gaza, Israeli reservist and New York native Aaron Bours is among the many soldiers pioneering the use of cutting-edge rehabilitative technologies that have been a result of Israel’s war with Hamas.

Bours, now 34, moved from Long Island to Israel as a teenager to join the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and ended up staying in the country. 

He describes his first entry into Gaza — weeks after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel — as stepping into a Tolkien-esque apocalyptic landscape. “It’s like Mordor or the Upside Down of ‘Stranger Things,’ ” he told The Post.

Israeli reservist and New York native Aaron Bours is among the many soldiers pioneering the use of cutting-edge rehabilitative technologies that have been a result of Israel’s war with Hamas.courtesy of Aaron

Just two weeks into his service, Bours was shot while trying to rescue his commanding officer, who was killed at the scene.

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He barely survived, crawling to safety while dragging his smashed leg.

From the initial fear of amputation to transitioning to a wheelchair and then crutches and now to a cane, Bours credits Israel’s medical professionals and technology for his recovery and saving his legs.

In fact, Israel’s war in Gaza has spurred a wave of healthcare innovations that are reshaping both mental and physical recovery for soldiers and civilians.

From surgical robots that remove bullets and shrapnel to 3D-printed prosthetics tailored for rapid deployment, to a battlefield burn treatment developed from pineapples, these technologies are redefining modern medicine and saving lives. 

The need is dire: Since the war began,12,000 soldiers have entered the Defense Ministry’s Rehabilitation department, with 40% sustaining limb trauma and a third facing psychological injuries such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis. 

Bours was shot while trying to rescue his commanding officer, who was killed at the scene just two weeks after going into service.courtesy of Aaron

At the forefront of Israel’s rehabilitation push is Sheba Medical Center in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan, the Middle East’s largest hospital.

Here, rehabilitation efforts ranging from augmented and virtual reality to AI-driven PTSD treatments are being both researched and deployed as injuries from Gaza — and more recently, Lebanon — continue to mount.

Video-game therapy

At Sheba’s new Immersive Rehabilitation Room, Bours, who lost over three inches of bone in his right leg, has been busy mimicking a monkey catching bananas.

The space, like a video game reimagined for therapy, projects real-life scenarios onto walls and floors embedded with sensors.

“I broke a sweat like I hadn’t done in many months. It’s fun, so the results are that much better,” Bours said of the primate-inspired workout.

At Sheba’s new Immersive Rehabilitation Room, Bours does a video game-like therapy where it projects real-life scenarios onto walls and floors embedded with sensors.courtesy of Aaron

Therapists design these patient-customized scenarios to prepare them for civilian life — anything from navigating a simulated mall to meditating on a virtual beach.

“What we aim to do is practice daily activities, and this technology allows us to bring the outside world into the therapy room,”  said Maya Ehrlich, a Sheba rehabilitation psychologist and coordinator. She explained that, while much of the video rehab technology existed prior to the war, its use has been expanded for wartime rehabilitation. 

For soldiers who’ve required amputation, phantom pain often occurs when the brain repeatedly sends signals to move a limb that no longer exists, interpreting the lack of response as pain.

The MyMove system by Israeli startup 6Degrees alleviates that pain by “tricking” the brain into believing the missing limb is moving.

Patients wear lightweight bands and a VR headset, engaging in games where a virtual version of their limb performs actions.

This reactivates the brain’s motor and sensory circuits to reduce pain and a reliance on medications.

Clinical trials show 88% of users report significant pain relief.

For soldiers who’ve required amputation, phantom pain often occurs when the brain repeatedly sends signals to move a limb that no longer exists, interpreting the lack of response as pain.ourtesy Sheba Medical Center

Advanced 3-D printing

Another key wartime development is in the realm of three-dimensional printing, which now enables the rapid production of customized prosthetics and implants.

Although the technology existed previously, it has been integrated into hospitals to create prosthetics in hours rather than weeks.

At Sheba Medical Center’s 3D Center, a precisely designed skull model was manufactured to help surgeons reconstruct the facial structure of IDF officer Omri Rosenblit, who was severely injured in Khan Yunis when a building collapsed on him.

The technology also helped restore his vision.

Another key wartime development is in the realm of three-dimensional printing, which now enables the rapid production of customized prosthetics and implants.Courtesy Sheba Medical Center
Although the technology existed previously, it has been integrated into hospitals to create prosthetics in hours rather than weeks.Courtesy Sheba Medical Center

In another case, a 3D-printed personalized implant (PSI) by Synergy 3DMed helped reconstruct the shattered skull of a military dog injured during a Gaza operation.

Surgeons fitted the piece of the missing skull seamlessly — much like completing a puzzle — resulting in the dog’s full recovery. 

Robots and AI

Surgical robotic technology also isn’t entirely new but has been updated in a groundbreaking way at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem after the Oct. 7 attacks.

A robotic guidance system by Israeli company Medtronic was used to remove a bullet lodged in a soldier’s sacrum — the bone at the base of the spine — avoiding paralysis, nerve damage, and lead poisoning.

The minimally invasive procedure took just 90 minutes, which is a fraction of the time required for traditional surgery.

Artificial Intelligence powers Aidoc, a medical imaging system transforming real-time emergency care by quickly identifying and prioritizing critical trauma cases.

It played a key role in saving a 23-year-old Nova massacre survivor who was shot in the eye, with the bullet lodged in her brain. Aidoc mapped the bullet’s path in seconds and sent a push notification to an endovascular surgeon, enabling him to prioritize her treatment and save her life.

Surgical robotic technology also isn’t entirely new but has been updated in a groundbreaking way at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem after the Oct. 7 attacks.courtesy Rambam Medical Center

Kemtai is an online workout tool that transforms physical therapy by turning any device with a camera into a personal trainer.

The AI-driven platform tracks key body points via smartphone or laptop cameras, offering real-time feedback on exercise form and technique. The technology helps medical providers monitor injured soldiers’ progress and adjust treatment plans remotely.

Another innovation is EyeCon, currently being tested at Rambam Medical Center in the northern city of Haifa, the primary hospital treating soldiers and civilians injured in Hezbollah attacks from Lebanon.

Comprising a headband, earphone, and camera, EyeCon is helping bring soldiers out of comas by enabling them to communicate through eye gestures like blinking. The system uses EEG electrodes to monitor brain waves and eye muscle activity, translating these signals into prompts that allow patients with limited consciousness to express their needs and ultimately help pull them back into consciousness.

Battlefield innovations

Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical service, has introduced whole blood transfusions on the battlefield, making the IDF the first military to implement this life-saving practice.

By delivering comprehensive blood components — red and white blood cells, platelets, and plasma — at the point of injury, survival rates for soldiers suffering massive bleeding and trauma have reached an unprecedented 93%. According to Professor Eilat Shinar, MDA’s director of blood services, the practice could save lives globally, from victims of gun violence to car accident casualties.

A wounded Israeli soldier is evacuated after he was injured during action against Hezbollah guerillas in south Lebanon near the border village of Maroun al-Ras July 24, 2006.Getty Images

Also on the battlefield, the IDF has begun using chip-bearing dog tags to improve care for wounded soldiers.

Medics input treatment details and vital signs through tablets, and the data stays with the patient, ensuring seamless handovers between medics, evacuation teams, and hospital staff.

Revolutionary PTSD treatment

With over a third of soldiers in rehabilitation battling PTSD, the psychological toll of war is expected to cost Israel’s economy upwards of $53 billion in the next five years. To address this, the Defense Ministry has launched grants to support AI-driven mental health solutions.

One such innovation is LIV, a GenAI-powered platform at Sheba that eases the strain on overburdened mental health professionals. Patients interact directly with LIV, sharing their feelings and experiences as the system guides them with questions and prompts.

Using tools rooted in classic psychology, LIV helps patients explore their emotions while simultaneously gathering clinical data. By the time patients meet with a psychiatrist, LIV’s detailed summaries allow doctors to focus on decision-making rather than lengthy intake sessions.

Researchers at the Samueli Initiative for Responsible AI in Medicine and the Psychological Trauma Research Lab at Tel Aviv University have developed a self-guided version of the Immediate Stabilization Procedure (ISP) — a therapist-led, early intervention for trauma — into another self-guided app.

The platform, based on EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), is designed to prevent PTSD from developing after a traumatic event. Microsoft Israel R&D volunteered a team of engineers to bring this system to life.

Pineapple miracles

Anat Iosub Amir, director of healthcare investment at Israeli venture capital fund OurCrowd, said that many of these new technologies emerging from the war have applications far beyond the battlefield. “The war was the spark, but these technologies can grow into much bigger markets,” she said. “The unique technology developed for phantom pain in amputees, for example, could easily be adapted for broader pain management, physical therapy needs, or even gaming.” 

Hospital staff members move a patient to the underground parking of the Rambam Hospital.SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The new Israeli technologies are also primed for use well beyond Israel’s borders.

Last year, for instance, the US Department of Defense invested $15 million in the Yavne-based firm MediWound to develop a new version of its treatment, NexoBrid, which has been heavily deployed in Gaza.

Based on enzymes extracted from the stems of pineapple plants, NexoBrid removes dead skin cells from severe burns and was recently approved by the FDA for use in children.

The company has just completed a new manufacturing facility and plans to increase production levels by six-fold in the coming year; its stock has also almost doubled.

After five months as an inpatient at Sheba, Bours is now home with his wife, whom he married just weeks before Oct. 7, but still returns for intensive therapy three times a week.

Despite his journey, Bours refuses to give in to self-pity. “We’re a survivalist nation,” he said. “We have to be because otherwise we’d die.”

https://nypost.com/2024/12/21/world-news/israels-war-with-hamas-has-led-to-amazing-medical-innovation/