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Saturday, Jul 4, 2009
Argh that the first comment (likely to be deleted soon, but still) is by such an anti-Semitic moron, thus fueling the ultimately unproductive fires of those earlier delightful talkbacks. Good times.
And the question, which I don't mean in any sort of smart-ass way, is this: while I recognize the importance of the Gaza situation on a worldwide level, I wonder, Glenn, if your focus on it (I haven't kept exact count, but I think more than half of your posts over the last couple weeks have been dedicated to the issue) doesn't in some ways detract from the (to my mind, much more central to America's present and future) questions of torture and its ilk that you've been considering in other recent posts.
Which is to say--I think any rational person who can read (ie, not that first commenter, but most of your readers) is very much aware of your position on the Gaza situation, and I'm not sure how much is to be gained by further posts on it, at least not in the next few days. On the other hand, the question of torture et al, and especially of where we go from here on those issues, is it seems to me much more evolving and thus needs much more your ideas and arguments over the next weeks and beyond. Does that make sense?
Ben
PS. I know it's possible to think and write, and to do so well, about multiple topics, as you always have. But in this case I feel that the Israel posts are likely to gain much more focus and passion, and thus quite possibly take attention away from the (again, to my mind) more significant and evolving and in need of your perspective topic.
"In 1996, Israeli jets bombed a UN building where civilians had taken refuge at Cana/ Qana in south Lebanon, killing 102 persons; in the place where Jesus is said to have made water into wine, Israeli bombs wrought a different sort of transformation. In the distant, picturesque port of Hamburg, a young graduate student studying traditional architecture of Aleppo saw footage like this on the news [graphic]. He was consumed with anguish and the desire for revenge. As soon as operation Grapes of Wrath had begun the week before, he had written out a martyrdom will, indicating his willingness to die avenging the victims, killed in that operation--with airplanes and bombs that were a free gift from the United States. His name was Muhammad Atta.
If Mr Cole wishes to wildly speculate or write fiction he should make it clear that that is what he is writing. WE DON'T KNOW what role if any Atta played in 9/11 apart from apparently being on the plane.
We have only been TOLD that he was responsible but we have been shown no evidence. Furthermore as an article in the Washington Post today informs us may never know. A Colonel has decided that lots of evidence offered will be classified. And worse still the testimony of Khalid and co defendants will be "presumptively classified" as well.
Honestly, its long passed the time that people of the calibre of you Glenn and Juan Cole started wisening up.
If they don't want us to see the evidence or be allowed to know what the defendants have to say for themselves, in the first place justice is not being seen to be done and in the second place it looks like someone has something to hide.
Even though the Villagers aren't interested in what us Serfs think, I'd still like to recommend a new Congressional Oath of Office as follows:
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Israel, and maybe sometimes the United States (only if it's in Israel's interest), against all Israel's enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to whatever Israel wants; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me Yahweh. Shalom frier!"
I posted this on the previous thread, but I suspect more of you might be here, so I'm re-posting.
If you are lurking, and any one of you has any clout, or access, or anyone they can contact, now is the time. The situation there is going from bad to worse, the UN is pulling out, the ICRC is suspending personnel movements. There are no foreign journalists there. There is very little water, fuel or food, and a shortage of medical supplies. Troops in such situations, without the bright clear lines of humanitarian law, don't act in ways that countries are proud of. Please do something if you can.
The Congress should be demanding U.S. diplomatic intervention, immediately. The precursors for something horrible are mounting, and the pressure from the Israeli political establishment on the troops to stop the rockets is going to make them do things they shouldn't do hoping it will work. The rockets won't stop, the pressure on Hamas to keep from losing by continuing to fire is just as great. Combine that with incessant propaganda about human shields, and those troops will kill just about anyone, as is starting to happen. Don't make monsters out of soldiers, end this.
"Capitol Hill is Israeli occupied territory." - Pat Buchanan, 1990
Hopefully more writing like this will make the public outcry against Israel's invasion force politicians to question their blind support for Israel.
What can be said? The elite control the press, and they therefore control the thoughts of the masses. The logic that to disagree with Israeli foreign policy means that you are an anti-smite is never questioned. The world is in a very sorry state when a people who had an ethnic cleansing committed against them can now justify their own cleansing of others.
Surely this is not what Jesus meant by turning the other cheek?
Why is our US Senate offering explicit support for a "Jewish state"?
Are there no people of other religions/races allowed in Israel?
That's seriously screwed up!
The Wasilla soap opera just gets weirder as Palin complains critics are "picking apart a good point guard"
The media outlet's use of Bush euphemisms sparks a much-needed debate on journalistic standards.
And so are his Fox News pals, who lambasted Sen. Al Franken's "stolen election"
An inflexible right wing is allowing the Golden State to drown in debt. But it's not alone
Thanks for sharing, Governor. Now please take a cue from Norm Coleman, and go away
Salon headlines in your mailbox
