Contrast and compare the views expressed of Russia selling military materiel to various African countries to those not expressed concerning US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel and many others whose human rights records are less than exemplary.
US motives --
1. The Qatar pipeline that al-Assad opposes;
2. Weakening or eliminating the Irani support for Hizbullah for the benefit of Israel;
3. Getting the Russians out of their naval base in Tartus.
None of these have changed, yet Prof. Cole makes no mention of them in his assessment.
"All this does raise the question of why, if the US has such good intelligence on al-Qaeda in Syria, it isn’t bombing the group itself"
This question has presented itself from the outset of US involvement in Syria -- the 7500 ineffectual air sorties, the refusal to bomb ISIS oil infrastructure or the miles-long oil-truck convoys, etc, etc.
America's support of jihadi factions and its unwillingness to coordinate with Russia vs. ISIS are clear indications of its unwavering aim to get rid of al-Assad. The Americans failed to get Sevastopol in the Ukraine, but are still determined to get the Qatari pipeline.
Is the international community more horrified by Assad's "crimes against humanity" or by beheadings, sexual slavery. archaelogical destruction and on and on.
The following is a comment from CiF that seems appropriate here:
"Ethnic Cleansing is defined as the mass expulsion or killing of members of one ethnic or religious group in an area by those of another.
What exactly don't you understand here?
"We must use terror, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and the cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab population."
- David Ben-Gurion, May 1948, to the General Staff.
From Ben-Gurion, A Biography, by Michael Ben-Zohar, Delacorte, New York 1978.
"Spirit the penniless population across the frontier by denying it employment... Both the process of expropriation and the removal of the poor must be carried out discreetly and circumspectly."
- Theodore Herzl, founder of the World Zionist Organization, speaking of the Arabs of Palestine, "Complete Diaries," June 12, 1895 entry
"The blood of the Jewish people is loved by the Lord; it is therefore redder and their life is preferable."
- Rabbi Yitzhak Ginsburg, head of the Kever Yossev Yeshiva (school of Talmud) in Nablus
"Jewish villages were built in the place of Arab villages. You do not even know the names of these Arab villages, and I do not blame you because geography books no longer exist. Not only do the books not exist, the Arab villages are not there either. Nahlal arose in the place of Mahlul; Kibbutz Gvat in the place of Jibta; Kibbutz Sarid in the place of Huneifis; and Kefar Yehushua in the place of Tal al-Shuman. There is not a single place built in this country that did not have a former Arab population."
- David Ben Gurion, quoted in The Jewish Paradox, by Nahum Goldmann, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1978, p. 99"
Yacob, do not forget that your "home" was the homeland for Palestinians for centuries before it was invaded and occupied by European, and now Brooklyn, Jews
With US acquiescence, the Yinon Plan Is unfolding -
"The plan operates on two essential premises. To survive, Israel must 1) become an imperial regional power, and 2) must effect the division of the whole area into small states by the dissolution of all existing Arab states."
Part of the Hasbara Grand Plan -- unending demonization of the Muslims ( with Palestinians at the forefront) to advance the Israeli narrative and to make its odious actions and policies less unpalatable.
"So much for American “exceptionalism,” where we hold ourselves to a higher standard than the rest of the world."
US exceptionalism doesn't hold itself to a higher standard than the rest of the world, but rather a complete and utter disregard for the standards of the rest of the world.
It is probably true that the Iranians would not be able to permanently close the straits, but a combination of missiles and mines would wreak havoc to the extent that oil tanker traffic would be severely diminished -- apart from the danger of physical harm, marine insurance would be very difficult to obtain.
"You can't expect Israel to negotiate with a gun at its head while it discusses issues critical to its diplomatic and security interests."
However, you can expect the Israelis to demand that that the supposed honest broker put its thumb on the scale in Israel's favor in all respects in this sham of a negotiation.
Romney's statements simply gives voice to the Israeli "status quo" master plan - bullshit the world into believing that peace is being pursued while gobbling up Palestinian land and water resources.
If Israel attacks Iran, there will be thousands of missiles from Iran, Lebanon and probably Syria directed at the cities as well as the infrastructure causing massive destruction and loss of lives - bravado??
Again and again, the vile influence of AIPAC manifests itself.
In the face of the obvious collective punishment of the Gazans, the US Gov't, instead of attempting to correct that injustice, threatens its citizens who are trying to alleviate it. All in an effort to curry favour with this tiny minority of American Jews who somehow have gotten control of US foreign policy.
Egypt still receives very substantial US aid - while the US is compelled by Egyptian politics to accept a "notional" abrogation of the Israel-Egypt agreement, it would cut off aid if the border was completely opened.
Remember the 7,500 US air sorties that were alleged to have been launched at the outset -- what, if anything, did they accomplish?
The Todenhofer interview is an "Absolute Taboo" topic in the US and UK MSM -- crickets.
1. The Qatari pipeline
2. The Russians out of their naval base at Tartus
3. Weakening Hizbullah for the benefit of Israel.
Contrast and compare the views expressed of Russia selling military materiel to various African countries to those not expressed concerning US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel and many others whose human rights records are less than exemplary.
US motives --
1. The Qatar pipeline that al-Assad opposes;
2. Weakening or eliminating the Irani support for Hizbullah for the benefit of Israel;
3. Getting the Russians out of their naval base in Tartus.
None of these have changed, yet Prof. Cole makes no mention of them in his assessment.
"All this does raise the question of why, if the US has such good intelligence on al-Qaeda in Syria, it isn’t bombing the group itself"
This question has presented itself from the outset of US involvement in Syria -- the 7500 ineffectual air sorties, the refusal to bomb ISIS oil infrastructure or the miles-long oil-truck convoys, etc, etc.
Prof. Cole is profoundly anti-Assad and hence, anti-Russia, its main ally -- accordingly, the scare quotes for 'NATO’s “aggressive” actions'.
America's support of jihadi factions and its unwillingness to coordinate with Russia vs. ISIS are clear indications of its unwavering aim to get rid of al-Assad. The Americans failed to get Sevastopol in the Ukraine, but are still determined to get the Qatari pipeline.
Is the international community more horrified by Assad's "crimes against humanity" or by beheadings, sexual slavery. archaelogical destruction and on and on.
Again: can anyone explain what the US accomplished with their 7,000+ sorties prior to the Russian intervention?
Further: has the US ever outlined what ground force would counter ISIS and al-Qaeda if Assad is ousted and the SAA is disbanded?
"Syrian strongman Bashar al-Assad" vs. "duly-elected President of Syria".
Why the difference?
It sounds like a comment from the lame spokesman for the State Dep't.
"Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036."
Say no more.
For a truly cringe-worthy experience, Google "Maher Netanyahu" for his lap-dog interviews of Netanyahu.
By providing $500 Million in arms to "moderates" in Syria, is Obama indirectly supporting ISIS in Iraq?
Is this a conscious US policy?
The following is a comment from CiF that seems appropriate here:
"Ethnic Cleansing is defined as the mass expulsion or killing of members of one ethnic or religious group in an area by those of another.
What exactly don't you understand here?
"We must use terror, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and the cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab population."
- David Ben-Gurion, May 1948, to the General Staff.
From Ben-Gurion, A Biography, by Michael Ben-Zohar, Delacorte, New York 1978.
"Spirit the penniless population across the frontier by denying it employment... Both the process of expropriation and the removal of the poor must be carried out discreetly and circumspectly."
- Theodore Herzl, founder of the World Zionist Organization, speaking of the Arabs of Palestine, "Complete Diaries," June 12, 1895 entry
"The blood of the Jewish people is loved by the Lord; it is therefore redder and their life is preferable."
- Rabbi Yitzhak Ginsburg, head of the Kever Yossev Yeshiva (school of Talmud) in Nablus
"Jewish villages were built in the place of Arab villages. You do not even know the names of these Arab villages, and I do not blame you because geography books no longer exist. Not only do the books not exist, the Arab villages are not there either. Nahlal arose in the place of Mahlul; Kibbutz Gvat in the place of Jibta; Kibbutz Sarid in the place of Huneifis; and Kefar Yehushua in the place of Tal al-Shuman. There is not a single place built in this country that did not have a former Arab population."
- David Ben Gurion, quoted in The Jewish Paradox, by Nahum Goldmann, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1978, p. 99"
",,,for us it is home"
Yacob, do not forget that your "home" was the homeland for Palestinians for centuries before it was invaded and occupied by European, and now Brooklyn, Jews
With US acquiescence, the Yinon Plan Is unfolding -
"The plan operates on two essential premises. To survive, Israel must 1) become an imperial regional power, and 2) must effect the division of the whole area into small states by the dissolution of all existing Arab states."
Mary -- please don't forget the Litani River in S. Lebanon for which the Zionists have been lusting since 1948.
Bergdahl's father would fit right in on Duck Dynasty
Part of the Hasbara Grand Plan -- unending demonization of the Muslims ( with Palestinians at the forefront) to advance the Israeli narrative and to make its odious actions and policies less unpalatable.
"So much for American “exceptionalism,” where we hold ourselves to a higher standard than the rest of the world."
US exceptionalism doesn't hold itself to a higher standard than the rest of the world, but rather a complete and utter disregard for the standards of the rest of the world.
Nitpicking, but.... "straits".
It is probably true that the Iranians would not be able to permanently close the straits, but a combination of missiles and mines would wreak havoc to the extent that oil tanker traffic would be severely diminished -- apart from the danger of physical harm, marine insurance would be very difficult to obtain.
"You can't expect Israel to negotiate with a gun at its head while it discusses issues critical to its diplomatic and security interests."
However, you can expect the Israelis to demand that that the supposed honest broker put its thumb on the scale in Israel's favor in all respects in this sham of a negotiation.
Romney's statements simply gives voice to the Israeli "status quo" master plan - bullshit the world into believing that peace is being pursued while gobbling up Palestinian land and water resources.
Update - parliament re-convened and passed a resolution to appeal the ruling that dissolved parliament to a higher appeal court.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/11/world/middleeast/egyptian-parliamentary-deputies-defy-court-and-military.html?hp
"...this bravado is not justified"
If Israel attacks Iran, there will be thousands of missiles from Iran, Lebanon and probably Syria directed at the cities as well as the infrastructure causing massive destruction and loss of lives - bravado??
Again and again, the vile influence of AIPAC manifests itself.
In the face of the obvious collective punishment of the Gazans, the US Gov't, instead of attempting to correct that injustice, threatens its citizens who are trying to alleviate it. All in an effort to curry favour with this tiny minority of American Jews who somehow have gotten control of US foreign policy.
Egypt still receives very substantial US aid - while the US is compelled by Egyptian politics to accept a "notional" abrogation of the Israel-Egypt agreement, it would cut off aid if the border was completely opened.
"It is comprehensively sad that the Obama has turned out to be one bitter disappointment."
In a little over a year, so many promises have been broken - it is so disheartening that a man with so much promise would turn out in this way.