The following is the official response to the comment made by Rasool Snyman on the post “Hot Topic: Gaza/Israel – Published the 10th of January 2009″.

The original article can be viewed at the following URL’s:

1. http://sweetbru.com/2009/01/hot-topic-gaza-israel-noel-harrison/
2. http://www.noelharrison.net/archives/93

Hello Rasool,

Let me handle your questions that you asked in the previous post, then I will come to what I have to say about the long article that you attached;

I want you to know, that to me, what I am discussing here has nothing to do with the religion (however this could be a massive debate backing to ages ago, and of course you will have a conflicting view to me on this too) , I am not a Jew, Muslim or a Zionist. However I see that you are a member or some sort of affiliate and a sympathizer to the people of Palestine – seen in your Palestine Support Group and your pro-Palestine poetry, so of course you are going to do absolutely anything to defend anything that is done against Israel, where as myself, I am not a member of any pro this or that groups and I do not share a religion or faith with any of the groups. I have taken the time to look into the history and have identified that;

a.)Hamas has committed acts of terrorism
b.)Hamas has been classified and is internationally recognized as terrorist organization, and not only by America, but by many of the other countries in this world. So I think that you need to stop trying to say that Hamas is not a Terrorist organization
c.)Rasool (now I dont want you ducking from this question, its really important that the readers get an answer to this) What does your religious book say about the Infidel? Correct me if I am wrong – All followers of Allah have been commanded to to kill everyone who is not of your faith so they can have a place in heaven? Is that correct?
d.)Did you know, that according to International – INTERNATIONAL law, Israel is still within their boundaries legally.
e.)My answer to the apartheid question would be – different. One is done out of hate of a group of people, however, what Israel is doing is out of pure defense and out of pure protection for their people. I dont think that you would be vocal at all if this war was the other way around.

Answer these questions for me before you make any more statements;

1. Where were the protest marches all those years Hamas was firing rockets into Israel?
2. If you see a group of kids playing in the park… not harming anyone, would you be upset if someone constantly fired rockets at them, killing a few here and there?
3.If your neighbor was firing rockets into my back yard putting your children in danger, what would you do, would you just leave it because maybe only one or two of your children get hit and die?

As expressed by many readers, I feel sorry for those who die in the pursuit of peace, bu that it what happens very often in order to secure peace, you critiqued me on this point a while ago, but let me back it up;

When Hitler was disrupting peace and taking over masses of land and killing thousands and thousands of people, do you think the rest of the world should of said, well in order to make peace there we should do nothing and lets say, just let things work themselves out? I think not!

Now to the article, Rasool, I am sure that you will agree with me, that in every group of people, Jewish, Muslim and so on, you will have extremists and then you will have people who are not. This is probably written by one of those kinds of people.

This is how I see the situation in a step by step guide;

1. Israel has agreed to a peace treaty
2. Hamas breaks the peace treaty
3. Israel does nothing, but maybe warns Hamas
4. Hamas is not interested in the warnings, no they know what their objectives are – to see Israel destroyed! TO SEE ISRAEL DESTROYED!!!
5. So they continue firing their rockets, and Israel does nothing.
6. One day Israel thinks enough is enough, we need to deal with the treat and the constant fear that our people live in
7. They vow to attack until certain objectives are met
8. The rest of the world (well actually not, America does not) backs Palestine? Why did they not back Israel when Israel was being attacked

Rasool, stop trying to debate the fact that Hamas is not a terrorist organization, they have been declare one, and in fact that is a generally agreed upon things – Hamas is a terrorist organisation

It is so clear that you are a Palestine Supporter and therefore, of course you will not be willing to see any fault on the behalf of Hamas. Your opinion and your understanding of the situation seems to overshadow anything that has happened to Israel, and you continue to ignore certain select statements and questions I have made. I want to answers to those questions, I answered your, now you answer mine.

Noel Harrison

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The following is the official response to the Hot Topic: Gaza / Israel comment by Rasool Snyman, which aired on both noelharrison.net and sweetbru.com on the 10th of January 2009;

Direct URL Links:

1. http://sweetbru.com/2009/01/hot-topic-gaza-israel-noel-harrison/
2. http://www.noelharrison.net/archives/93

Rassool – Thanks for your comment. I had done plenty research into the topic as I saw that comment coming up about me checking the facts, and here is the thing, nothing in this post can be disputed. Everything is backed up factually, go check your sources (which are backed up in multiple places, so even you will find it easy to see that what I have said), go read the Koran, go do your research and then come back to the debating table, I feel that you are actually the one who is in “not know” category and until you can back your statements made, you remain in that category in the eyes of me and by the other comments, it seems in the eye of the general readers of this blog.

You know, I feel that the stated aim of Hamas is enough for Israel to take such actions, their goal: See Israel Destroyed? How would you react to this, put yourself in the position of Israel and think, if you had a group wanting to kill you, and not hiding the fact they want to kill you, what would you do.

I recommend that you look past what you hear in the media, I recommend that you look past the common beliefs and I recommend that you look past the popular opinion and actually do hours and hours of hard research and then, and only then are you ready to come back to the debating table, don’t come here with your insults, until you know the facts, do not come here and make accusations. More so, you must of never heard the saying “No pain, no gain”, that I feel covers the war for peace comment.

Now to be honest with you, I posted this post on my personal blog, and subsequently was asked to post it here, so I admit that I am siding with Israel, although I do not share their belief, I have looked at the clearly stated facts, and have made my decision as to whom to support, and my choice is Israel. I look forward to your read up response.

Noel Harrison

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Before we go into the actual discussion of this particular unrest, I feel that it is important to get a fuller understanding of the situation that had been developing in Israel and Gaza before Israel began firing rockets and attacking Gaza in full force.

General Background:

Gaza is a heavily populated area of land holding approximately 1.5 million people in the size of about two times the size of Washington. The United Nations organization has estimated that the area’s unemployment rate is sitting close to 50%. Many sanctions have been placed on them which has caused much damage to the economy and to their economic growth.

The main usage of the ground is for the cultivation of citrus. Other main crops are olives and wheat. This is exported. Their main language is Arabic but they also speak English and Hebrew.

The Gaza was occupied by the Israeli troops from 1967 until 1993 when the forces removed and limited power was handed over to the Palestinians. Hamas a political faction in the area took control by force in 2007 pushing out the government of President Mahmoud Abbas who was a part of the opposition group of Hamas. The United States has declared Hamas as a terrorist group.

Geographical Positioning:

Hamas Control of the Gaza Strip:

By the June of 2007, the Gaza Strip was “completely overrun by Hamas” which now basically controls the Gaza Strip and has declared itself the legitimate government of the Palestinian National Authority. The Palastinian President however did not agree with this and immediately declared a state of emergency and disolved the unity government and reformed but this time without the participation of Hamas. The government of Abbas won large international support.

According to Amnesty International, Hamas closed down newspapers and harassed journalists. Christians had also been threatened and assaulted. The owner of a Chrisitian book shop was abducted and murdered and on the 15th of February 2008, the Chrisitian Youth Organisation’s library was bombed.

Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza continued to attack Israel across the border with Quassam rockets and according to Israel, between the Hamas take over of the Gaza Strip and the end of the January of 2008, 697 rockets and 822 mortar bombs were fired at Israeli towns and cities. Israel’s response to this was to declare the Gaza Strip a “hostile entity”. By doing this, it made it “ok” for Israel to cut the fuel and electricity supplies to the Gaza Strip. This lead to power shortages in the Gaza Strip. Hamas has used many public buildings such as schools and hospitals as staging grounds for attacks and retaliations.

Now that we have a better understanding of the canvas of the current unrest in the Gaza Strip / Israel, I am going to enter into the current situation and give my opinion on the matter;

1. At this point in time, I do not feel that peace is the answer. I believe that sometimes in order to reach peace, (which by no terms the Gaza Strip was before Israel attacked) one needs to go to war. In order to achieve great peace, we very often need great sacrafice. The common saying is no pain, no gain.
2. Hamas has been sending rockets into South Israel. Even though only a few of these missiles have hit a target and even though very few Israelis have died in such a manner, the rockets cause fear to those living in Israel.
3. These attacks are one of Israels strategies to ensure that Hamas fails in the governing of the Palestinian people who chose Hamas to elect them in the beginning. Also another thing, if the people elected them into power, surely these people are backing Hamas and then directly are backing the attacks on Israel, so when we speak of the innocent being killed, in fact how innocent are they? The people deserve the government that they choose, so should that government lead them into war, the people should accept the consequences that come with that government.
4. If you were being bombed and attacked by a neighbour for 8 days, what would you do? I think the answer is reasonably clear. You are going to retaliate, you are going to fight, and you are not going to fight lightly.
5. Hamas is Muslim, In the holy Koran, the killing of the infidel is supported. This means that the Muslim religion supports the killing of anyone who is not Muslim. Israel is a predominately Jewish country, so how should they take that? I think that for that reason, one could say the attacks by Israel are purley defensive.
6. Hamas has refused to accept a the ceasefire, and have openly stated that one of their requirement is to see Israel destroyed. Hamas does not want peace!
7. Between the 19th of June and the 4th of November, Israel and the Gaza Strip were meant to be at peace, however, Hamas still insisted on firing 65 rockets into Israel, Israel had done nothing in retaliation, until now! (Thank you DarkAl for some of these facts from answers.yahoo.com)

All in all, I feel that the attacks on the Gaza Strip is the right thing to do. I think it shows terrorists (Hamas) that they can not do as they please, and I think that it is a pity that so much of the world are giving them sympathy and worse so pointing fingers and becoming angry with Israel. Go Israel! Go until the terror stops!

Noel Harrison

The book – Business the Richard Branson Way (by Des Dearlove – ISBN: 978-1-841-12764-4) is a short, but never the less a great read. Its tag line is “10 secrets of the world’s greatest brand builder”.

Richard Branson is supposedly Britain’s best known entrepreneur, what is his secret? “In the modern world of business, Richard Branson stands alone. In a era dominated by strategists, he is a opportunist” Branson who is now in his fifty’s has been in many issues of the Forbes magazine which is the list of the worlds richest men. His personal wealth has been said to be estimated at over $3 billion.

Richard Branso at one stage floated his company on the stock market decided that he did not like this, so he went to a massive effort to re-privatise his company, which was a great cost to him, but it gave him back the control that he desired over his company.

His company has been called the worlds first universal brand and Branson has been tagged – The Corporate Rock star.

Branson has put much emphasis on the following four competencies;

1. The ability to identify appropriate growth opportunities
2. The ability to move quickly
3. The Willingness to give daily management control to relatively small teams
4. The ability to manage and create effective joint ventures

So here we go, Im going to give the points (very briefly though) that the book highlights as his 10 secrets to great brand building;

1. Pick on someone bigger than you: “At Virgin, we have a strategy of using the credibility of our brand to challenge the dominant players in a range of industries where we believe that consumers are not getting value for money” – Richard Branson

   - “Picking on the big guys is almost an article of faith for Virgin”
   - The big guys are in the high profit zones, so if you pick on them, and pick at their market, there is usually big money to be made
   - Virgin very often will play the under dog as it gets Virgin the positive media and the competition the big bad guys image
   - Although they “fight”, Virgin does say that it is important to choose your battles
   - Hit them where it hurts (use guerrilla tactics against the bigger players in the market)
   
   

2. Do the hippy, hippy shake:
   
   “Staff should come first; if it means making” 5 million euros “less, then its the right decision to make” – Richard Branson

   - There is more to business than just money
   - Don’t dress up, rather dress down – Branson very seldom will be seen in a suit and tie, he prefers to be dressed informally
   - Put the people first
   - Rather than imitating, innovate
   - Shake up markets that you enter

3. Everything is negotiable:“Anyone who thinks Virgin is a charity should think again. Branson may not be an accountant, but he has always surrounded himself with people who can do sums”

   - Nice guys finish first – Bransons negotiating skills are backed by his “charm” which has been known to put the most hardend negotiators of guard
   - Never take no for an answer – words such as no, never and impossible are not words that Branson will be heard saying all that often
   - Talk softly, but carry a big stick – He may look nice on the outside, but apparently when you come down to doing business with him, it is not all that pleasant

4. Make work fun:“He captivates the pubic and employees by the unexpected prospect of making the grey world of work sparkle with fun and excitement” – Alan Mitchell

   - It pays to play
   - Let the employees loose – Branson has always surrounded himself with clever people (which some claim makes up for his lack of it). Branson also gives people freedom, and this has paid back well in the past
   - Encourage informality
   - Enthusiasm is contagious
   - Make business and adventure

5. Do right by your brand:“I believe there is almost no limit to what a brand can do, but only if used properly” – Richard Branson

   - A good brand travels
   - Brand elasticity is infinite
   - Love, honour and cherish your brand

6. Smile for the cameras:“There are some people who believe in his own charmingly haphazard way, Branson runs the slickest public relations operation in Britain” – Andrew Davidson

   - Understand what the media is wanting, then give it to them
   - Think in pictures
   - Pop up at un-expected moments of public drama
   - Be involved in public enhancement projects / philanthropy
   - Know when to duck under the radar

7. Don’t lead sheep, herd cats:“Virgin staff are not mere hired hands. They are not managerial pawns in some gigantic chess game. They are entrepeneurs in their own right” – Richard Branson

   - Be a back seat leader
   - Act as a catalyst
   - Surround yourself with talented people
   - Encourage Chaos
   - Constantly keep an eye open for new opportunities

8. Move faster than a speeding bullet:
   
   “He just says Yes or No. He doesn’t spend valuable time farting about trying to convince a bunch of middle managers it’s a good idea. “ – Rowan Gormley

   - Avoid paralysis by analysis
   - Leap before you look
   - Streamline decision making
   - Get plenty of help
   - Don’t be afraid of making mistakes

9. Size does matter:“Every time a business gets too big, we start a new one. Keeping things small means keeping things personal” – Richard Branson

   - Grow your own business. Branson is a builder not a buyer
   - Keep it simple
   - Keep HQ’s to a minimum (HQ = Headquaters)
   - Ensure that the sum of the parts makes a greater whole
   - Run each business as a seperate entity

10. Never loose the common touch:“There’s this approachability about him, not like a pop star or other business men” - Mick Brown

    - Listen to people
    - Don’t let sucsess go to your head
    - Use your customers as consultants
    - Treat everyone as a equal
    - Be what people want you to be

So thats my brief summary of the book. I would reccommend that you go and buy the book, it is not expensive and is a great read for just about anyone, hopefully I did not give to much of the book away for you.

Noel Harrison

I was emailed this wonderful opinion of the war / attacks going between Hamas and Israel. I am not all that clued up on the topic, but I understand a basic jist of what is going on, and by what I can see, I feel that Israel is doing the right thing. I have attached this email which was originally authored by Gary Bauer.

- START EMAIL –

To judge by much of the world’s response to Israel’s actions since being besieged by Hamas rocket attacks is to answer in the affirmative. But while much of the media and political Left continue to present the radical Islamists as “David” and Israel as “Goliath,” a closer look shows that Israel waited as long as it could before responding to an enemy whose sole reason to exist is to ensure that the Jewish State won’t.

For months, Hamas thugs in Gaza have fired missiles and mortars into southern Israel, subjecting hundreds of thousands of Israelis to a campaign of 24-hour terror. This was done in clear violation of an Egyptian-negotiated cease-fire to which Hamas had agreed. Hamas ended the truce even against the wishes of some Muslim heads of state. Then after pounding Israel for a week, and after Israel warned it would respond,

Hamas did nothing but continue bombing, targeting civilian centers across southern Israel.

So while the world collectively yawned during months of Hamas attacks against Israel, when Israel did what any sovereign nation would do under the same circumstances — striking back at those responsible for the aggression — it was met with a chorus of condemnation. The American Left is planning to hold “Gaza solidarity” rallies today in 26 states; thousands demonstrated in Washington D.C.; protestors met outside the Israeli embassy in London; and 2,000 Germans demonstrated against Israel in Berlin.

The Israel-bashers argue that, since most rockets and mortars fired by Hamas into Israel have missed their targets, Israel should not respond effectively. But under international law, any nation can respond at a level sufficient to meet the threat. Hamas rocket attacks are destroying normal life and have made daily routines impossible for countless Israelis whose children cannot go to school. Israel has every legal and moral right to demolish the terror infrastructure that supports the daily rocket attacks on its people.

Of course, we’ve seen this movie before. The same scenario has been played out numerous times. In August 2005, Israel spent billions of dollars relocating thousands of its own citizens from settlements in Gaza, only for that act of beneficence to be interpreted by Hamas as validation of their brutal terrorism. Gaza was transformed into, in Benyamin Netanyahu’s words, “a huge base for terror.” In February 2007, Hamas used Gaza to launch thousands of rockets that hit civilians in Ashkelon.

And, just as night follows day, each time Israel responds with force, it is condemned for its “disproportionate response.” This time around, more than 300 Palestinians have been killed, against four Israelis. But here’s why. Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas of the world, and Hamas is infamous for hiding among its constituents, using them as human shields. Weapons are being stored in mosques. The only university in Gaza has turned its labs over to the terrorists, who are using them to make bombs and mortars. These cowards intentionally set up their bases near schools and hospitals to maximize the number of casualties to gain sympathy in the media.

Gaza is hell, but not because of Israel. Its conditions are unbearable because its people elected Hamas — an organization with no economic plan, no educational ideas, nothing to offer at all except to kill the Jews, kill the infidel and destroy Israel.

Gaza, in recent years, has been turned into “Gazastan,” an Islamic republic that educates its own children to seek death in martyrdom operations. Gaza TV airs children’s shows that teach six and seven year-olds to kill Jews. The Gaza government just instituted a new legal code based on Sharia Islamic law that permits crucifixion for certain crimes against Islam.

Hamas exists to wreak havoc and destroy Israel. And it has acted accordingly since its inception. Between 2000 and 2004, Hamas was responsible for the deaths of 400 Israelis, according to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The Hamas charter states that “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.” And, “[t]here is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.” Hamas also is a proxy of Iran, whose president denies the Holocaust and vows to “wipe Israel off the map.”

Tuesday, Israel rejected international pressure to end air strikes against Hamas, which continues to hit Israeli civilian centers across Southern Israel. Though the number of Israeli casualties may be small, Hamas doesn’t really mind if its missiles fail to hit their targets. As long as Israel hits its targets, and as a consequence more Palestinian civilians are killed, Hamas is content, because images of dead Palestinians helps Hamas in the eyes of its real target, public opinion.

The New Year will bring nothing new to Gaza so long as Hamas is allowed to perpetuate the same old vicious cycle of provocation, reprisal and international outrage against Israel.

- END EMAIL –

Images from www.cnn.com

Dear Apple Community,

For the first time in a decade, I’m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I’ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.

As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.

Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause—a hormone imbalance that has been “robbing” me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.

The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.

I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple’s CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.

So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.

Steve

The book - How Toyota became #1 (by David Magee; ISBN: 978-1-59184-179-1) in my opinion is a great book for students and business leaders and anyone else who is interested in Toyota’s amazing results over the last 70+ years (UPDATE: Toyota has just reported their first loss in approximately 70 years).

This book covers many of the Toyota systems such as the TPS (Toyota Production System) and their continuous improvement policies which include the following; (Edited from the actual book)

1. Challenge: we form long-term vision, meeting challenges with courage and creativity to realise our dreams;- Values through manufacturing and delivery of products and services
   - Spirit of challenge
   - Long-range perspective
   - Consideration in decision making
2. Kaizen: We improve our business operations continuously, always driving for innovation and evolution; (Kaizen: Japanese for improvement)- Kaizen mind and innovative thinking
   - Building lean systems and structures
   - Promoting organizational learning
3. Genchi Genbutsu: We practice Genchi Genbutsu (Definition: Go to the source to find the facts and make correct decisions, build consensus, and achieve goals at our best speed)- Genchi Genbutsu
   - Effective consensus building
   - Commitment to achievement

Another important part of their company is respect. According the the book, it is said that no matter how important you are in the company (or un-important) you are still treated with respect. So with that in mind, the following two points are made;

1. Respect: We respect others, make every effort to understand each other, take responsibility, and do our best to build mutual trust;- Respect for stakeholders
   - Mutual trust and mutual responsibility
   - Sincere communication
2. Teamwork: We stimulate personal and proffesional growth, share the opportunities of development, and maximise individual and team preformance ;- Commitment to education and development
   - Respect for the individual; realising consolidated power as a team

This book also talks about Toyota’s introduction into the American market (with its competitors such as Ford and General Motors.) It was an initial struggle, but once in, Toyota has become unstopable, trumping (in wonder if that phrase comes from Donald Trump? just joking ) both Ford, General Motors and just about any other motor car company on the planet.

It mentions how Ford and or General Motors executives make use of private jets to fly around and still recieve large (really large) bonuses, while their companies are making huge losses. Compare this to Toyota, which located their office blocks near a train station (The Japanese Head Office) so that employees can catcg the train to work, why? Because it is one of the most effecient methods of transport in Japan, and they do not believe that they should live extragantly.

Lastly, it was interesting. The executives / management do not make decisions depending on their figures of the stock exchange, they say that the the figures are a result of what they do, so they dont watch their figures as closely as Ford or General Motors might. That is when bad decisions are made in their opinion.

Anyway, I would reccommend that you buy the book and read it, it has many great principles (one that I have forgot to mention is the elimination of waste – a huge thing at Toyota, but you will have to read the book to find out more about this) which anyone can apply to their businesses, no matter how great or small.

My next book that I am reading is Choice, not Fate – The life and Times of Trevor Manuel

Noel Harrison