ISRAEL IS NOT MAKING THIS EASY FOR ME AND I'M GLAD

According to a report on MSNBC, Israel hit a UN school today with artillery fire killing at least 30 people many of them children. According to the report, hundreds of people were holed up in the school as a shelter from the artillery and air strikes. Read the story here.

As I posted earlier, I have been an ardent supporter of Israel, and its right to exist. I understand the conflict Israel has with Hamas, and vice-versa. But as I sever my ties more and more with the right wing, I am seeing reality (as best as I can from 8000 miles away) on the ground in Gaza. It is a virtual prison camp of 1.5 million people. It would be like walling off the greater metropolitan area of Memphis, Tennessee, or Portland, OR with no one being allowed in or out, period. Then cut the gas off. Then cut the water off. Then reduce food supply. What would result is all out war against the people doing the oppressing. Much like what we might see in the United States if we continue down the same route.

Israel has a problem with Hamas. The US has a problem with Hamas. The people that do not have a problem with Hamas is the million or so Gazans, who when allowed to choose their own ruling party, chose Hamas. I remember the election. I remember the outcry by this Administration about the Gazans' choice. BUT IT WAS THEIR CHOICE. They elected Hamas to represent them. ELECTED. It was free and fair.

This reminds me of a quote from then Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, (which indicated then and continues to define the supreme arrogance of the US government) regarding the Chilean people:

"The US will not accept a Marxist government just because of the
irresponsibility of the Chilean people."

I read that and thought, "You arrogant fuck." There were approximately 5,000 people killed in the US Government, and this really infuriates me, US Corporation backed coup to overthrow President Allende in '73, and perhaps 30,000 killed in 1974 after the installation of the monster Augusto Pinochet. But that's okay, 'cause we makin' money now! What a nightmare.

In other words, if the people elect a government and the lone Superpower doesn't like it, war will ensue. The problem is, and this has also helped me open my eyes to US imperialism, is our policy of "Nation Building." The United States only wants a government elected by the people if they elect the government selected for them by the United States. Otherwise, they are deemed irresponsible, negligent, backwards, or worse and are in danger of destruction. Observe the current conflict with Ecuador, Venezuela, as well as other nations throwing off the capitalistic yoke.

No one should be subject to a Master, not Arabs, not Jews, not Africans, no one. I say stand up people, don't let these bastards grind you down, fight and take what is yours.

I voted for this administration, and I have been a staunch supporter of US policy through the years. No More. There has to accountability, there has to be change, and after January 20, 2009, there ought to be some high level Bush Administration arrests and trials, including Bush and that worthless Cheney, for a number of things, not the least of which is crimes against humanity. But there probably won't be. This, however, is inspirational to me in the sense that I can break the law, even heinously, and have an excuse. Everyone does it, even the President!

Peace-

BTW here is more reading regarding Chile and Latin America's 9/11 (yes, they had one too.)
Wikipedia
Renegade Eye Blog
The Shock Doctrine

And any history book worth a damn.

Onward!

REPOST FROM SHANNYN MOORE, ALASKA BLOGGER

Great post-had to repost it from Shannyn Moore:


While Alaska endures a Constitutional Crisis, Governor Sarah Palin is working with a “suspended campaign”. Our Governor spent today in New York. She was asked about her support of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, who now finds himself in a Washington DC federal courtroom defending a seven count indictment. She blew off the question saying, “Ted Steven’s trial started a couple days ago…we’ll see where that goes.” I wasn’t surprised she squirmed out of that question. She has been cozy with Stevens when it has served her political agenda, even headed up his 527 organization . With her new public persona of being a “Good Ole Boy” crusher, she is in a quandary.

She was asked another question and Americans ought to pay attention to her answer. Palin was asked if she thought the U.S. presence in Iraq and Afghanistan was helping to mitigate terrorism. “I think our presence in Iraq and Afghanistan will lead to further security of our nation. Again, because the mission is to keep the fight over there. Do not let them come over here and attempt again what they accomplished here and that was some destruction. Terrible destruction. On that day. But, since September 11th, Americans uniting and rebuilding and committing to never let that happen again.”


Why would Sarah Palin link the current occupations to September 11th? Does she not know? Even George W. Bush has stated Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with the attacks on that day. The hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt, and The United Arab Emirates.

It was neither Iraqi nor Afghani Citizens who crashed into our soil, our buildings, and our history. She should know this. Do you think it was a slip?


At her son’s Fort Wainwright deployment ceremony, the Governor also linked the Iraq war to the attacks of September 11, 2001. She told the Iraq-bound brigade of soldiers that included her son that they would “defend the innocent from the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the deaths of thousands of Americans.” She continued, “America can never go back to that false sense of security that came before September 11, 2001.” One could argue that ‘the false sense of security’ is repeating the Neocon idea that killing people in a different country makes you safer. One could also argue that breaking the backbone of the Constitution in exchange for “security” is a false sense of patriotism.


Palin highlighted her “trip of a lifetime” to Iraq in the Charlie Gibson interview to exhibit her foreign knowledge and experience. Maybe if she would have actually gone to Iraq, and not the border crossing on the Kuwait side, she could have discovered these facts. The chest pounding, not blinking, gut checking, fact ignoring policy results in a lack of “exit strategies” for the devastating wars, the economic crisis and the emerging environmental catastrophe.


For her to reference a link between 9/11 and the Iraq and Afghanistan wars is either deliberately disingenuous or completely and unabashedly ignorant. America has endured eight years of the Bush Administration who have intentionally and continually misled the American people to believe this relationship exists. It has cost us dearly; some more than others.


Sarah Palin may not know what the Bush Doctrine is, but she sure understands the Bush Philosophy.