Why not. It whitewashes its
own. Washington is a rogue terror state. So is Israel. It denigrates non-Jews.
It's waged war on Palestine for decades. It's guilty of high crimes and
misdemeanors. Its rap sheet makes serial killers look saintly.
On May 31, 2010, Israeli commandos committed premeditated murder. They
killed nine humanitarian activists. They did so in cold blood. They executed
them in international waters. Doing so also constituted piracy.
Activists were trying to bring vitally needed aid to besieged Gazans.
It included food, medicines, medical supplies, clothing, educational and
construction materials, kitchen utensils, mattresses, toys for children,
and other items.
Eighteen-year old Turkish-American Furkan Dogan was on board. Israel marked
him for death. A UN Human Rights Council (HRC)investigation determined
that he and eight other Turkish nationals were murdered in cold blood.
Israeli commandos did it execution-style. They did so "at point blank
range," it said. He was "lying on the deck in a conscious or semi-conscious
state for some time."
He was shot in the face. His body was riddled with bullets. The autopsy
report was damning. Weeks later, Turkey gave it to the US embassy. It
went to the Justice Department. It was done to decide if an investigation
was warranted. Whitewash followed.
A State Department official spoke on condition of anonymity, saying:
HRC's "tone and conclusions (were) unbalanced. We urge that this report
not be used for actions that could disrupt direct negotiations between
Israel and Palestine that are now underway or actions that would make
it not possible for Israel and Turkey to move beyond the recent strains
in their traditional strong relationship."
In mid-June, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Israel
"should be allowed to undertake an investigation into events that involve
its national security."
Its military justice system "meets international standards and is capable
of conducting a serious and credible investigation."
Official Israeli policy is coverup and denial. Whitewash followed. Justice
was systematically denied.
On May 24, 2011, the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) filed a FOIA
lawsuit.
It sought "immediate release of documents that the United States government
has refused to provide regarding its knowledge of and role in the deadly
May 31, 2010 attack by Israeli commandos on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla."
Center for Constitutional Rights v. Department of Defense, et al was filed
in the Southern District of New York. Initial FOIA requests were submitted
nearly 11 months earlier. Only two federal agencies responded. Both were
inadequate.
CCR Senior Staff Attorney Katherine Gallagher said:
"One year after the deadly attack on the humanitarian flotilla, the American
public has been told nothing about what actions, if any, the United States
undertook to ensure that US citizens and other civilians were protected
when they sailed towards Gaza."
"A US citizen was killed and the US has not conducted an independent investigation
into his killing in international waters by a foreign military."
"Indeed, the State Department did not even mention the killing of Furkan
Dogan in its recently released Human Rights report on Israel."
"We need to know what our government is doing to protect us - and hold
those to account who harm US citizens."
Co-counsel University of Virginia International Human Rights Law Clinic's
Jessica Lee added:
Israel's blockade "cannot be reconciled with principles of international
law."
"Regardless of how one determines Israel’s legal obligations with respect
to Gaza, civilians have the right to receive food and medical supplies."
"And United States citizens who participate in non-violent humanitarian
missions have the right to know what protections they can expect their
government to provide in international waters."
CCR's legal complaint in part said:
"On May 31, 2010, a six-boat flotilla, carrying more than 700 civilians
from almost 40 countries seeking to bring humanitarian and rebuilding
supplies to the Gaza Strip as well as to break the Israeli blockade of
Gaza, was overtaken by Israeli commandos in international waters."
"Nine passengers were killed, including one Turkish-American citizen."
"The underlying blockade and the attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla both
constitute serious violations of international law."
"Through advocacy, legal analysis and educational materials, and Freedom
of Information Act requests, CCR is seeking information regarding these
breaches of international law, answers about the US role in and knowledge
of the attack and its position vis-à-vis the continued blockade,
and an end to the illegal policies and practices that result in the 'collective
punishment' of the people of Gaza and attacks on civilians seeking to
assist Palestinians in Gaza."
Furkan and 15 other US citizens were on board. Many were beaten and injured.
Pathology Professor Ahmet Dogan is Ferkan's father. He seeks justice,
saying:
"Furkan was an American citizen of Turkish origin, and the American government
hasn't done anything for him."
"I want the United States to demand justice for its citizen, and support
decisions related to this (injustice) at the UN."
"We are very disappointed by the way the US has handled the events until
now, because in theory the US is supposed to view all of its citizens
equally."
"What if this was Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton's child? Would there
be an American investigation into the matter?"
"As far as they are concerned, their ties with Israel are more important
than my son, and he was an American citizen."
"If my son was an Israeli who was shot by Turks in international waters,
how would the US react? That is what I would like to ask the Americans."
Dogan condemned Israel's internal investigation. It "was full of lies,"
he said. "It pandered to the Israeli and American publics."
Furkan just finished high school. He was "granted a place at the medical
school of a prestigious university. Why was such a young, successful boy
killed by Israeli soldiers in the middle of the night?"
"When he applied to go on the Mavi Marmara, he asked me for permission.
It was a very difficult moment for me."
"But we let him go because he cared and wanted to help. He was a very
moral boy. I think that no parent could say no to such a request."
"Besides….we did not expect Israelis to attack the ship….We thought (at
worst they'd intern it at) Ashdod, and because my son was an American
citizen and there is a close relationship between Israel and the US, they
would not do anything to him."
"He had big plans. He was very ambitious…How would you feel if it happened
to your son?"
Dogan "want(s) those responsible….to face justice." Nothing less is acceptable.
So far it's been denied.
CCR recently received documents its FOIA suit sought. They contain new
information on Washington's involvement. It reflects complicity with Israel,
coverup, and denial.
Emails between US officials in Istanbul and Washington were exchanged.
Ankara's US Consul General Richard Appleton confirmed America's knowledge
of Furkan's death.
"Here is what we know," he said. "Turkish-American Furkan DOGAN DOB 20OCT91
was one of the killed in the Gaza Flotilla event."
In a separate email he said "his family had been calling at least twice
a day for several days….Before we contact we are going to get confirmation
thru" Israel's Foreign Ministry.
These and other emails confirmed Washington's complicity with Israel.
America abandoned one of its own. It's longstanding policy. Israel matters
more. Its worst crimes are supported and financed.
In February, CCR headlined "Gaza Flotilla FOIA Production Guide: the US
Passengers." It discusses FOIA documents. It includes emails between Appleton
and Washington.
Other information revealed FBI involvement. Counterterrorism agents investigated
561 flotilla participants. Details were largelyredacted. So was other
material throughout the report.
Co-counsel Lee said those related to Furkan "reveal that the US has an
unquestioning deference to" Israel. It's true "even when the life of an
American teenager is at stake."
"Despite this barbaric murder," Washington declined to investigate. Dorgan's
demands went unaddressed.
On February 23, 2011, he met with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for Overseas Citizens Services James Pettit. Months earlier, documents
showed Israel "provided (no) detailed information."
Pettit told Dorgan that Washington wouldn't investigate Furkan's death.
"As a rule," he said, America doesn't do so for its citizens overseas.
In June 2010, then State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said "we have
the option of evaluating the circumstances, and if we think a crimes (was)
committed, then working with the host government we have the option of
our own investigation."
Dorgan told Pettit about the UN's damning report. It said Furkan and eight
others were executed at point blank range. An internal Turkish investigation
produced similar conclusions.
Pettit was dismissive. He called the UN report "rushed." US government
documents discussed consular official Eve Zukerman. Her training includes
identifying remains of deceased victims.
She visited Israel's morgue. CCR said "instead of viewing the bodies of
the deceased passengers, she was shown what she was told were photos of
nine men killed during the attack, which were frontal photos from the
shoulders up."
"None of photos of the deceased showed evidence of bullet wounds, damage,
or distortion, except for bruises and hematomas."
At America's Tel Aviv embassy, she viewed Furkan's photo. She saw no one
in Israel's morgue resembling him. Israeli officials tried suppressing
his murder.
FOIA documents also contain information pertaining to electronic equipment
Israel seized. It includes Furkan's video camera. He filmed Israel's assault.
CCR said: "As of February 2013, property belonging to the US passengers
aboard the 2010 Gaza flotilla remains missing, presumably within Israeli
custody."
Washington did nothing to get it returned. Failure provides more evidence
of complicity and coverup. Justice remains denied.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled "Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity."
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour
on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
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