An "Outsiders" Newsflash: On #Iran, The Temple Mount, the US & Israel as #Obama sent letter to Iran's Khamenei, kept Israel in the dark - Diplomacy and Defense Israel News | Haaretz

The alleged Obama Letter reported by Haaretz is quite an interesting development especially as the Republicans are poised to take power in Congress.   It has been quite a week in US Political Circles.     This is as Jerusalem has seen a spate of attacks and the Israeli Prime Minister is working feverishly to calm tensions by assuring King Abdullah of Jordan that the status of the Temple Mount will not Change: 
Obama sent letter to Iran's Khamenei, kept Israel in the dark - Diplomacy and Defense Israel News | Haaretz 

What is further interesting is what the Israeli Foreign Minister has said on Right Wing Israeli Politicians provoking further tensions as he : "  berated right-wing politicians for exploiting tensions in Jerusalem, telling Israel Radio on Thursday that Israeli ministers and MKs visiting the Temple Mount was "idiocy" and was driven by "cheap headline seeking."   It is worth noting here as Mr. Lieberman has been at the forefront of stoking of the very tensions during his zealous advocacy of more harsh action during Israeli Operations in Gaza that has ended up costing Israel some $ 2 Billion in direct costs alone. 

 Ever so challenging times as we here @ #Outsiders continue to assess the post-election landscape in the US and its' implications for the World....

On Election Eve In the United States: Brief Thoughts & A "Thought 4 the Week"

It is Election Eve in the United States and the pundits are at it ever more.     It was interesting how Rachel Maddow on MSNBC  What is interesting as it comes down to the wire is this:  No one knows--although the polling-industrial complex has been quite busy with the Princeton Election Consortium coming out with its "final" forecast:

It will be truly an interesting night and we will have to see where it all goes as we remember these admonitions:

 & 

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us;
what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
- Albert Pike

What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?
- George Eliot

To leave the world a better place,
to know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived,
this is to have succeeded.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul
than the way in which it treats its children.
- Nelson Mandela

We must remember that one determined person can make
a significant difference,
and that a small group of determined people
can change the course of history.
- Sonia Johnson

An #outsider newsflash: On Anthony Bourdain in #Iran & the plight of Jason Rezaian

+Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown 's latest special was on Iran which aired on CNN earlier tonight in the United states.  Here  is a preview:



While on the "Grid", the discussions in the Iranian diaspora was quite vibrant.    As soon as the entire broadcast is available online, we will be featuring it here and commenting on it.   It was quite a masterful and engaging effort--and remembering the imprisoned +Washington Post Correspodent +Jason Rezaian that we added our voice to to insure that his predicament is not forgotten by the World:

A privilege to add my voice to urge #Iran t #FreeJason now..and hope all visit to do what can be done to help: http://t.co/BvNTh3O0b8
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) November 2, 2014