I think Israel is likely using WP in the same way it was used in Falluja. Three short-and-easy stories:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4442988.stm

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/11/9/164137/436

http://www.indcjournal.com/archives/002123.php

Argument has ensued regarding whether WP is classed as a chemical weapon or not. Regardless of how the weapon is classified, its indiscriminant use within cities--as an offensive weapon-- needs to be part of the record of what is going on in Gaza.

Back when we were giving aid to Sadam Hussein (during the Iraq-Iran war), we also were careful to support Iran, I believe.

With that in mind, are we also supporting the Palestinian government to any extent, along with our Israeli aid?

"Support Israel Because it's Cheaper then Iraq".

Is that what you heard? That has got to be prize-winner of some sort.

Damn straight Belgium is different. I think their policies are actually more in our US interests than are Israel's. For one thing, they don't chant ceaslessly.

Personally, I think Belgium is a better foreign-aid value.

Belgium is our ally too. Where's their three billion?

I do support Israel, at least in the sense that my tax dollars help purchase the munitions and the machines that deliver them, into Gaza. What is it--3 Billion bucks? Highest per capita recipient of US free money?

when I suggested we continue chanting, I was not seriously suggesting we continue chanting. I was trying to point to the futility of chanting. we know all the chants. they don't work.

Let's keep repeating our separate chants about recognition and dead civilians until we're all dead. Will that work for you?

Israel...

holds the keys to their, and their civilians, destruction. Stop bombing and rocketing civilians. Acknowledge a democratically-elected Palestinian government's right to exist.

They are responsible for what is happening to themselves.

Multiple examples of WP use.

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2009/01/04/nasr.gaza.arab.persp.cnn

Hard to see how these are smoke rounds, which are considered legal. These are relatively indescriminant and used over urban residential blocks.

Israel could claim they are using WP for smoke only, but to claim they are not using it at all is simply unbelievable.

http://www.unita.it/index.php?section=news&idNotizia=74848

Israelis deny using phosphorus

Richard Norton-Taylor The Guardian, Tuesday 6 January 2009

Israeli military spokesmen deny that their forces have used phosphorus in Gaza, despite photographs and film of munitions showing similar characteristics to the potentially lethal shells.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/06/gaza-israel-palestine-munitions

A preposterous statement by Israel. They've been using WP since the very beginning of this incursion--what are they thinking?:

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=UVY4NUKowzg

There appear to be some interesting moves to circumvent the security council via the general assembly, in re: UN statement on Israel/Gaza.

Also, some very good relevant reporting at Democracy Now, today's broadcast.

http://www.alternet.org/story/117568/unprecedented_numbers_of_americans_question_israel%27s_actions_in_gaza/

But while Israel's PR machine cranked its Mighty Wurlitzer to full blast, drowning out all opposing voices with its droning sound, a surprisingly substantial portion of the American public decided to dance to its own tune. According to a December 31 Rasmussen poll (so far the only measure of US opinion on the Gaza assault), while Americans remained overwhelmingly supportive of Israel, they were split almost evenly on the question of whether Israel should attack Gaza -- 44% in favor of the assault and 41% against it. The internals are even more remarkable.

While Republicans supported the assault on Gaza by a large margin, a predictable finding, only 31% of Democrats did. Members of the Democratic base thus stood in sharp contrast to most of their elected representatives (freshman Rep. Donna Edwards is a notable exception), who backed the latest Israeli assault in lockstep, and seem to support Israel no matter what it does. The rift between the progressive base and the party played out on Barack Obama's Change.gov site, which was deluged in recent days with demands for a statement condemning Israel's assault on Gaza.

I wonder if one aspect of this reputed shift in public opinion may be associated with the recent confirmation that America has resoundingly rejected Bush. Bush's continued strong vocal support for Israel is a gift to any opponents to the Gaza invasion.

...Congress should pass a forward-looking resolution censuring President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for executive aggrandizements or abuses that have reduced Congress to vassalage and shredded the rule of law.

Nader and Fein need to rethink this, imo. Congress should have first initiated an impeachment proceeding against these two--and on conclusion, determined whether there were sufficient grounds for proceeding. But regardless of what they found, congress should have then censured itself for criminal neglect.

A censure for the heads of the first and fourth branches of govt. by congress would have zero effect on future executive leaaders. And would only enshrine this congress as more pathetic than the last one. Which in reality is probably not possible within the laws of man, God, or nature.

"Instead of trying to negotiate a compromise with Congress that would meet both our intelligence and privacy concerns, it is easier to threaten with fear."

Because it worked. When things really had to move, Cheney et al. would:

1. round up the usual congressional suspects (the 'gang of X');

2. get them into a small room;

3. scare the shit out of them with dire information;

4. schedule the signing ceremony for the resulting bill.

I can think of two occasions where this was done--FISA wiretapping, and the 700 billion bailout bill. Maybe torture as well.

Works like a charm.

Ironically, the Congressional leaders went along with Bush's tactic with fairly minimal back-talk. But now that the Democrats have one of their own in the WH, they feel free to bicker.

She went to Yale. She knows that and will almost certainly act act accordingly.

She'll continue to lose football games to Harvard?