- John Edwards, in his - "debate" with Richard
Cheney, made many good points, Unfortunately, he like Kerry last week,
has a moral blind spot when it comes to Israel and the killing and maiming
of hundreds of Palestinians every week. This killing has been going on
for months, but none of our vaunted politicians or media have screamed
with outrage about this ongoing massacre of Palestinians in their own land.
-
- Let's get some points straight for the sake of history.
-
- The series of suicide bombers from Palestine did not
begin until Israel invaded Palestinian lands, killing and maiming people
and destroying water, electrical and hospital works. All of this is illegal
under international law.
-
- Yes, some Palestinians did commit moral crimes by attacking
civilians. This was bad, but they used the only major weapon they had,
their bodies as human bombs. Remember, Israel has, as gifts from America,
F15s, F16s, Abrams Tanks, Apache and Blackhawk Helicopters which they use,
on a daily basis, to kill and maim Palestinians.
-
- How is it that an Israeli death is worse than the death
of 30 or more Palestinians? That's what's going on. How can this be alled
- "defending Israel" when Israel is the one doing the major
killings and maimings?
-
- Obviously, Kerry, Edwards, Bush and Cheney prefer not
to see the illegal, immoral and brutal acts of Sharon's Israel - they keep
glossing over these actions with, - "Israel has a right to defend
itself." Kerry's crocodile tears about the Israeli kids was too one-sided;
how about the hundreds of Palestinian kids and mothers who have been butchered
by Sharon and his storm troopers? We all agree, Israel may have a right
to defend itself, but it does not have a right to invade and brutalize
the Palestinians. It has gotten so bad, that even Kofi Annan has called
for a halt to the Israeli brutality and invasion of Palestine - but America
keeps getting in the way and supports all the illegal and immoral acts
of Israel - the US gives Sharon carte blanche.
-
- Interestingly, America has adopted the Israeli method
of brutality in Iraq. How come we changed, or did we? I remember the carpet
bombing of Viet Nam. I remember Agent Orange and the deaths it caused.
I know that the depleted uranium shells we are using in Iraq have a half
life of 4.5 billion years - yes, billion, not million. So, many Iraqis
will die from cancer because of the DU; many American troops will die of
the same DU; many children will be born deformed, to Iraqis and to Americans
from the DU - yet, thought there are no Iraqi tanks or planes, we keep
using DU shells and bullets - ignoring all the science that says there
are hundreds of times more DU in the ground of Iraq and that we should
stop poisoning the country and the people in this way.
-
- Finally, it is apparent to all except the most ignorant
that Bush, Cheney, and if they get into office, Kerry and Edwards, if they
follow their plans for more troops in Iraq and continued support for Israel,
will all be guilty of war crimes. But, of course, being the biggest bully
in the world right now, allows America to get away with these evil acts.
Some day, and it won't be too long, China will be the biggest kid on the
block, then we'll see what the neo-cons and their children will do when
we get ur face slapped and we are threatened with annihilation or the destruction
of most of our country and its infrastructure and population.
-
- Europe and Asia are now having more joint continental
talks, moving toward closer alliances, with America being left out. Even
South Korea has become wary of American interference in its attempt to
re-unite with North Korea, not to mention the Muslim nations that are now
putting distance between themselves and the United States. These nations
know that America has gone berserk and is already the biggest terrorist
in the world. Their unification of plans, and possible military and economic
might will isolate America in time, and perhaps its cousin in crime, England.
This is something that most Americans are not aware of at this time, but
these meetings have been taking place at an increasing rate since America
went into Iraq and has increased its brutality and violation of international
laws in the Middle East and elsewhere.
-
- * * *
-
- Why the American people and the American media and politicians
can't see the human suffering being inflicted on Iraqis is a puzzle to
me. Our people seem to have gone into a constant state of denial when it
comes to Iraq and Palestine; not just the media and politicians, but also
ordinary people who treat the Arabs and Muslims in these two countries
as less than human and less human then Israelis. It is ironic that Israelis
and Palestinians are cousins, both being children of Abraham (a proven
DNA and genetic fact).
-
- I lay part of the blame for this denial on the U.S. media;
it has consistently portrayed Israel as the good guy, moral, democratic
and just, and the Palestinians are - "terrorists," - "suicide
bombers," and - "uncivilized." These stereotypes are wrong,
but they are repeated so often, that after a while, as Goebbels said, the
lie is repeated so often that after a while it gains the credibility of
truth. Certainly, our media has to be cleaned up, but as long as it's owned
by the major corporations that own our media outlets, the lies will continue
and anyone who opposes our big business brothers, part of the military/industrial
complex, will be seen as the enemy and demonized on our media.
-
- What may be a good sign is that more and more people
are turning off their television sets and looking for alternative news
sources on the internet, or turning on foreign stations on short-wave or
getting those stations on the internet as well. This may help, but there
is also growing fear that the government will try to control the internet
through work with Microsoft and others. Let us hope that won't happen.
But don't bet on it.
-
- It is time that America recovered from this blind spot
toward the brutality and immoral and illegal behavior of Israel. If not,
this will ultimately destroy us, for it unfortunately leaves us with -
"leaders" who are ignorant, immoral and looking for money and
votes, not working for justice, peace or for the long term good of our
country. Eventually, our bad deeds in the world, and our support for such
evil men as Sharon of Israel will backfire. As Chalmers Johnson points
out in his book, BLOWBACK, the blowback is certain to come and it won't
be good for America or its people. I hope our media and our - "leaders"
wake up in time to help save our country and the good people who inhabit
it.
-
- ----------
- Sam Hamod is an expert on the Middle East and Islam;
he is a former advisor to the U.S. State Department; editor of 3rd World
News; professor at Princeton & Michigan; and edits www.todaysalternativenews.com
- Look for his new book of essays, ESSAYS IN TIMES OF WAR
in 2005 (Ishmael Reed Publishing Co.). He may be reached at shamod@cox.net
-
-
- http://www.todaysalternativenews.com/index.php?
event=link,150&values[0]=&values[1]=1934
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