Are we talking about something from The Onion? No, it's actually rather splendid news, genuine if improbable—sounding. The Cossacks of Ukraine, who, as the czar's storm troops, historically terrorized Russia's Jews confined to the Russian Pale of Settlement, have now come out publicly in support of Israel. Cossacks met with Israeli officials and said they planned a solidarity mission with the Jewish state. According to the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS, they say they now want to stand up for Israel in its fight against terrorism. That's a breath of fresh air, not only compared to their historical record, but compared to the cowardliness of most nation states who are content to let Israel do their terror—fighting for them, without so much as a word of support. Cossacks, for all their czarist history, are brave, direct soldier people of the steppes, so it's in character for them to understand clearly the concept of 'with us or against us.' It's likely that the...(Read Full Post)