Our gov't personnel have been able to successfully hang their hat on the definition contained in this quote:
"For some act to count as “severe physical suffering” and therefore as torture, they wrote, the pain inflicted would have to be of a sort “ordinarily associated with a… serious physical condition, such as death, organ failure, or serious impairment of bodily functions."
Even with this flawed definition, why can't a case be made that torture occurred? Wouldn't water torture and rectal feeding fit within these definitions? Moreover, haven't some died; and some received broken bones and other serious injuries?
We need a betting pool on how many standing ovations Bibi gets from congress. I will take 3. Congress will only give him 3, because Congress will want to look "subdued" in light of the advanced criticism IMHO.
What is your bet?
I disagree with you. Of course, we are doing what is easily prone to failure: predicting what is going to happen. My view, first of all, is that ISIS is a band of mean punks whose esprit de corps is the thrill of gaining power by extreme brutality. Their reign is doomed by the fact that everywhere they go they make more enemies than friends (among Sunnis and everyone else). I don't claim to be a scholar of history, but cruel, murderous regimes invariably have a short shelf life so far as I know. Perhaps there exists an example to the contrary? The leaders of ISIS will meet a violent death...
...and the American people expect these kind of considerations. The American people respect politicians whose first political purpose is to get (re)elected. Moreover, most Americans would love to have a war with Iran.
So Boehner (and Bibi too) is playing his political cards very skillfully.
I agree that Inhofe is a crackpot. However, he appears to have the whole Republican party following his lead. Of course, the whole GOP is arguably a crackpot party.
As crackpots go, they are powerful. The GOP rolled in the last election, and Inhofe is the Senate's most powerful person on environmental issues (He is Chair of the Environment Committee!). Latest CNN poll says 57% of Americans do not consider global warming a threat.
I can understand why academics would be loathe to spend energy debating a crackpot. (Cue up: You Can't Argue With a Sick Mind, by Joe Walsh). However, I would still love to see somebody demolish all of his talking points, and for the main stream media to show it to the American people.
I agree that Inhofe is motivated to cheer for big energy/big oil.
He works hard at his job, and he does his homework. He even wrote a book to support his position.
Moreover, he is clearly very bright. He is one helluva cheerleader for big oil/big energy.
But nobody debates him! Or nobody that I know of.
I wish that somebody would tackle Inhofe's arguments, point by point. Inhofe's critics simply dismiss him as a buffoon or a moron or such.
Is there any critique of Inhofe's arguments?
"[H]ave right wing Republicans learned anything from the fiasco in Iraq?"
Yes! They have learned that there were no personal or individual consequences for support of the hostilities in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. So far as I know, no officeholder has lost her or his seat as a result of military, Iraq and GWOT. This is America. Support the American war force.
Dr. Cole said:
"So I figure this enterprise would cost at least 15,000 troops dead, 90,000 seriously wounded, and altogether $15- 24 trillion dollars over time (including health care for the 90,000 wounded vets)."
WOW, these are huge numbers! They would be pooh-poohed by the hawks.
There is no doubt that war is costly. However, even in the absence of war, health care costs for veterans continue to rise. All veterans are entitled to V.A. health care, and the government continues to build V.A. clinics all across America, in all manner of small towns. Disability payments for veterans, including their dependents may be a bigger whopper liability for the government. And these payments continue until the death of the veteran.
An Iran war could be a fatal blow to the American economy. Hello tea party?! You listening?
My own point of view is that the strike was to provoke Hizbullah (or Iran?) to retaliate. When that happens, then Israel will be engaged in hostilities accordingly. Coming up is the election in March, whereby Netanyahu as hawk-in-chief will keep his post.
The attack is quite simply a win-win for Bibi.
Where the U.S. does nothing but watch Israel expand settlement of the West Bank; for the U.S. to claim it is anything other than a cheerleader for Israel is simply hypocrisy.
The MSM completely ignores these activities.The caption in the video refers to these acts as "vandalism." This is much more than vandalism. These acts are clearly identifiable as terrorism. The destruction of olive trees is a destruction of livelihood. It is another way to drive the natives off of their land.
"The US complained that the resolution singled out one country for opprobrium but this allegation is frankly dishonest."
This is for sure! The U.S. has not had any difficulty in singling out Iran! At the very least, one would hope that the Nobel Peace laureate's country would agree that the world might be a better place without nuclear bombs at the ready in Israel---especially when the U.S. continues to give Israel the means (jets and missile technology) to deliver the bombs. The U.S. is not even remotely close to being an honest broker in the ME.
I suppose that the Koran, the Torah and other holy writs designate these consecrated venues to communicate with the Divine One? I further suppose that the Divine One insists on killing anyone who gets in the way of prayer on these hallowed grounds?
All true. But will America ever learn? How can we avoid the temptation for more military adventures?
Remember, that Americans keep voting for the same jokers.
Great comment.
Unluckily it just stays the same. I mean we thought that Obama would be a change, and he was more of the same (even enlisted Hillary as his Secretary of State!). Either party and any candidate will give total support for Israel, big oil, big banks and old school politics. We will continue to cultivate enemies, and "commies" and Islam are American classics.
"Does it get any better than this?" The more it changes, the more it stays the same.
"One would think that Israel is tired of all the killing and animosity, but it seems to me that they’re just getting started."
You are correct that Israel has a plan. It is the same program they have had since the get-go. Antagonize, nettle and provoke the natives until the natives angrily punch back; then blame the natives for being nasty, and attack and displace these "terroristic" natives in the name of "self-defense." Notice that kin folk of "terrorists" are punished by having their houses razed. How very special is that? After the houses are razed, there are now empty plots for new settlers!
And the beat goes on.
You said: "Israel is NOT as militarily capable as the myths say." Says who? Israel has atomic weaponry which they will use as needed. Moreover, what you want to bet that they don't have chemical and biological weapons of unimaginable efficacy---and the will to use them? Israel has all the military savoir faire that America has, plus Israel has its own secret super-duper stuff.
"And Israel can not really count on the US to protect it forever. Israelis can not grasp that a majority of their US supporters are dying off at the rate of over 2000/day." Say what? Who is dying at 2000 per day? American Christians (which is the vast majority of America) will always cheer for Israel, because of their biblical imperative. Furthermore, America's congress would give Bibi and his successors a standing ovation (as well as a blank check) anytime. Remember that Obama personally demanded that the Democratic platform proclaim that Jerusalem is the capital of israel. Jerusalem belongs to Israel already. If you don't believe that, just ask Congress and the president.
Has anybody ever thought about how much a financial blockade costs the American economy? A blockade hurts Iran, but it also hurts America if U.S. companies cannot do business with Iran.
Solar power is nuclear power. The sun is, simply speaking, the largest nuclear reactor in our part of the universe. This power plant supplies all of our energy needs. We just have not yet figured out the best way to harvest that energy. Someday we will no longer have any need for coal, other hydrocarbons, wind, water or nuclear fission for supplying our energy---if we don't first ruin the planet from toxins from old technology.
America has not learned, and America refuses to learn. I guess the name for this "illusion" (or delusion) is hubris. One would think that America would have learned from Korea and Viet Nam that overseas entanglements were not worth the price of blood and treasure. We still have not learned, even after Afghanistan and the many, many years of Iraq.
Sigh...
The only way that any of this makes since is as follows:one ISIL equals 100 finely honed warriors. So if ISIL has 1000 warriors at Kobane/Kobani, then that is equal to the ferocity of a force of 100,000.
This definitely poses a problem. Having said this, can't the Kurds muster a force of 100,000 or more? Remember that the Kurds are not abashed about using women in their military. Morever, a Kurd is surely equal to a well-honed combatant. I have read in the past how fierce they are. Of course, if the Kurds put 100,000 up in Kobane/Kobani, they can't keep doing that to confront ISIL in the many other "threatres" in the region.
The only answer is for the US to either forget about doing anything, or commit to an all-out half million or more warriors, including many boots on the ground.
Got a question though, if the sneaker-clad ISIL fighters don boots, how much tougher will they be?
Yeah baby, give me that olde tyme religion!
Reminds me of that man of God, John Ashcroft. http://preview.tinyurl.com/c6a22q9
Reminds me of those saintly Jews who require sequestration of the sexes, such as the uber-orthodox Haredim sect who all dress alike and who can't be seated next to a woman on a plane.
The US will quietly veto the petition to take this to the security council. If the US provides an explanation it will be on some hyper-technical grounds such as a procedural glitch, or an issue of legal standing, or whatever. The US got Israel's back
They are winning too. $22 Billion is pocket change compared with the full amount that the US WILL spend over there against ISIS, led by none other than THE incomparable Big Daddy (al-Baghdadi) himself!
If Big Daddy and his ilk can get America to sprinkle a few trillion dollars on the subject, then they will see serious cracks in America's culture---not to mention receiving the bin Laden AWARD for causing America to again flail wildly on a budget busting spending spree to kill EVIL.
Wouldn't it be nice if we just stopped worrying about who runs those places in the Middle East?
If ISIS gets control, then they will have to defend what they took. Plus ca la change....
America will fight for the good of the people whether the people like it or not!
I am guessing that the main tug of power (among the many tugs of power) is for the U.S. to prevent Iran from gaining greater "hegemony" in the Middle East---in addition to pushing ISIL back.
Everything said by the author of this article makes perfect sense, except for the conclusions drawn. I believe that Bibi is playing his cards perfectly. He, nor American congress, has no intention to give up control of Gaza and the West Bank. He plans on expanding until a 2 state solution is no longer viable. With over half million Jewish settlers in the West Bank, "the facts on the ground" are that a 2 state solution is no longer possible already. Bibi and his ilk will keep adding settlements to the West Bank until Israel annexes it all.
"Metaphorically, last night Obama announced a clumsy stroll through the Pottery Barn."
How true. I cannot, for the life of me, see this turning out for the better. I can certainly see it turning out poorly, very poorly. Does anybody know that invading Iraq, Syria and elsewhere costs a huge amount of money? Not to mention human casualties... And who amongst the people in those foreign lands will increase their love for America?
ISIS is a criminal organization. ISIS is a bunch of punks. ISIS is more like the KKK, or the Mob than anything else. Big Daddy (Al-Baghdadi) is a punk like Charlie Manson or Al Capone. He and his punks will burn out eventually. I fear that America's emphasis will wind up giving Big Daddy some valuable "street-cred" that will give him more strength than ever. Nevertheless, he will die, with or without America's involvement.
As I keep hearing about ISIS, ISIL and IS, allegedly one and the same bunch, I keep wanting to ask: Exactly who are these guys?
The answers I keep getting are that they are a bunch so tenacious and so ruthless that school children will be reading about them 1000 years from now. Their exploits join the tales of such hordes as Huns & Mongols.
Doing a little calculus on the back of an envelope, here is what I find: One ISIL soldier is equal to 100 well-trained warriors. The math works. 5,000 ISIL combatants can match a half million warriors. If you further realize that feeding an army of half million is exponentially huge compared to sustaining an ISIL army; then you know that there is indeed a problem!
Beware world!
Can Obama Resist Hawks’ Pressure to Rush to Syria Quagmire?
The answer is NO. Nor can congress resist the same pressure. America has already started with its many bombings, and about 1,000 extra "security" to Iraq. ISIL is winning, because America is reacting. If ISIL keeps up the beheadings, then America will keep committing blood and treasure. ISIL has a game-plan. America does not.
The political echo, for both Republicans and Democrats: "Israel has a right to defend itself" sounds like a broken record.
Latest real news (that the MSM, politicians and Zionist apologists will totally ignore) is that Israel is expropriating about 1000 acres more on the West Bank.
....and the beat goes on.
I did not know that John Bolton denies that Israel has any claim to Shebaa Farms. That is encouraging to know, since he has always appeared to have a neo-con vision of America cum Israel hegemony uber all of the MIddle East. What says he about Golan Heights?
Israel, of course, stole the Golan Hts, and the Shebaa (sp?) Farms from spoils of the war in '67. Israel actually annexed these areas. Does this mean that Israel has permanent rights to this? It seems safe to say that there is no de-annexation thereof in the future.
If matters get serious in the Golan Heights, then I predict that the U.S. will expand operations versus ISIS.
Quoting from above:
"...the conditions and...grievances in Muslim countries must...be addressed:
foreign boots on the ground, dictators supported by the US out of convenience, a failure to end a half century of Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, the treatment of Palestinians as a paradigm for treatment of other Muslims, the US employment of the region as an eternal cockpit for proxy wars — all of this is still ongoing." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfbmjUQOFxs
LOL. Play "The Beat Goes on" for your amusement.
The aforementioned conditions are "not, never" going to change---never in the foreseeable future.
...and the beat goes on.
With our country's mad, fanatical passion for guns, maybe it should be no wonder that police officers have a shoot first and ask questions later policy?
The impression I have is that these militia operations are entirely populated with disenfranchised, disenchanted young males. If not for being part of an organization that is revered---or at least feared---these males would be regarded as total losers. Comparisons that come to mind are biker clubs or the Symbionese Liberation Army (although the SLA did have women members). I am not sure that these comparisons are helpful. Yet, they all have more than their share of punks who are drunk with asserting their power.
Nobody ever said it was easy keeping the whole Middle East under American control. I have forgotten why we don't have lots of love for the Baath regime in Syria. I know my country well enough to know that it has to do with al-Assad being insufficiently obsequious. My suspicion is that Syria provides Mediterranean access for Iran. If he will pledge allegiance to America, and tell Iran to go play somewhere else, al-Assad can be our buddy.
Hoo boy! Let's America get rolling off to new wars, to keep the price of oil where we like it.
War, God and Oil. Three letter words to bring the great Rapture!
My last comment, a bit over the top, was refused for publication here. This was my point.
Have you others noticed how ISIS is portrayed by the MSM and politicians as the most vicious, richest, best armed, best organized, and well...the greatest threat to all of the world since the Russian commies? It sounds like psycho-ops by the establishment to get the American people to want all-out war in America's favorite playground: Asia. Anybody else wonder about this? (Compare the apparently false claims that Iraqis were killing Kuwaiti babies when America was contemplating going after Saddam in Iraq War I)
From what I keep hearing ISIS is a force with unimaginable force and ability. When ISIS grabs territory it immediately sets its tentacles into the area, with fully functioning schools, government social services, infrastructure---the whole gamut. ISIS has an elaborate public relations and media machine that is simply awesome. ISIS is rich in money, armaments, savoir faire, flair, fanaticism, ferocity, fervor...oh, where to stop in superlatives?
They are the living, breathing and growing inferno of a super civilization. Abandon all hope ye who enter their path. The Calphate will soon claim and rename Caliphornia...and then it will sprawl forward.
I understand how these state-less legions of extremists can inflict death and horror on people like Yezidis. The Yezidis are unsophisticated "hillbillys" in Iraq.
I still don't understand how these legions can threaten entire countries. Fighting wars and taking territory requires supply lines to assure that materiel and supplies continue to the front lines of the warriors. Lots of room for ambushes and Guerilla tactics by the home team.
Also, when the extremists spend troops and bullets on the Yezidis, then that is fewer to fight Kurds et al.
It seems like the IS would fail eventually against the Kurds and others.
Damn! This group led by Abu Bakr is a real kick-ass outfit! I thought that the Kurds were supposed to be well-organized and tough. How can this rogue band of bad-asses go into the territory of someone else and strike terror in their hearts and minds?
How many IS fighters are there? Where did they learn to be so skilled? Where do they get their money and their supplies? Successfully pulling off invasions should not be easy for anybody, much less a roving band of warriors without an apparent homeland base.
Lastly, why is it that only America can be the savior of the Kurds, et al?
The side that is winning on the sound bites in this war is the Amerisraeli side. Arguments are made, and then the Amerisraeli apologists always punch back with an unanswered roundhouse strike. That punch is that America would never put up with rockets firing from Canada, Mexico, etc. (And America did blow both Afghanistan and Iraq to smithereens after 9-11)
My recall of the chain of events is that Israel went bellicose crazy at the time that Hamas and the PA were endeavoring to consolidate, and when the 3 boys were abducted and killed. Rocket attacks by Hamas were essentially after Israel went into war mode (although perhaps some rogue rockets got sent at or before that time?) Where can one find a good chronological list of the chain of events?
Here is an explanation (taken from link below) by Bibi on why the UN school was hit:
"On Sunday, we were aiming at three militants on a motorcycle near the UN shelter in Rafah. If those guys insist on riding near the shelter, what are we to do? We have no choice but to strike them as well as we can. But have you any idea how hard it is to hit a motorcycle from way up in the air? Just once, just once, I wish the UN and all other critics of Israel could try to see things from our point of view."
Is this funny or what? Imagine a motorcycle zig-zagging around! ...And those Gazans using children to shield a motorcyle built for three! LOL Gotta laugh, since crying won't do any good.
"How Netanyahu Would Answer His Critics" from Huffingtonpost.com
You said we should cut off funding to Israel. That is about like saying that Catholics should renounce the Vatican. Last week, the Senate voted 100-0 for a resolution to support Israel AND denouncing Hamas. The House voted unanimously (except for a vote or 2) supporting Israel AND denouncing Hamas. If I understand it correctly, congress decided to pass similar resolutions this week as well.
Obama and all cabinet level persons have also proclaimed their allegiances toward Israel and against Hamas!
Israel R U.S.
The U.S. is resupplying Israel with weapons to continue the assault on Gaza, as reported today by various news agencies. So the U.S. says stop the shelling, and then delivers more shells to continue the shelling. Meanwhile, bipartisan congressional support for emergency appropriations to Israel is also taking place right now.
THIS IS a joint Israel-American campaign to raze ("mow the grass") Gaza.
It is so disheartening to see recent news:
Both the House and the Senate passed UNANIMOUS support for Israel. http://tinyurl.com/oozfvsu
Moreover, congress has now doubled the amount sought by Obama for defense appropriations for Israel---$621 million for Israel missile defense. This is in addition to the annual $3.1 billion welfare package to Israel.
Sequestration, fiscal discipline, nada to children at the border, repeal health care---all step aside as America cheers for the occupation and slaughter of Palestinians.
When it comes to Israel, the Tea Party, Party Poopers, Libertarians, Liberals, Conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, left wing, right wing...everybody in America has nothing but love, love, love for Israel.
Yes, Gaza killing R U.S.
How much lost tax revenue is involved from donations, tax deductible, to Israel? Of course the actual donation money is lost as well, by the fact that it is money that could otherwise support american institutions..
"For this reason, the Israel ground invasion of northern Gaza will be no more successful than the US invasion of Falluja."
I disagree, Professsor Cole.
Two things that are the same: The U.S. supported the ground invasion in both Falluja and Gaza.
One thing different: The U.S. is not prepared to occupy and control Falluja (or other "conquests") forever. The U.S. is prepared to forever support Israel which is prepared to forever occupy and control Samaria, Judea, Gaza, Golan Hts, Shebaa Farms, etc.
All true. Another point is that the U.S. is not ready for a resolution yet either. Haaretz, the newspaper, reports that Obama has given full support to Israel's operations, including the ground game.
Kerry's peace initiative was met with repeated announcements for more Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This is beyond bad faith. Of course, Israeli leaders speak of the West Bank as "Samaria and Judea." They intend to give up Samaria and Judea?" Wanna buy my swampland?
Don't forget that the U.S. Democratic party in 2012 formally adopted Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel.
This whole mess is bought and paid for, as a joint project of Israel and the U.S.A.
Americans should be ashamed.
Tell me the answer!
Terrible as this is, I see no turning back. Israel is not going to evacuate some 600,000 or more occupants from "Samaria and Judea" or "Eretz Israel" (as they will call it); Moreover, nobody (not U.S., not Europe, nor anybody) will demand it.
There is clearly not a 2 state solution.
So how does this circle get squared? Palestinians will have to leave, die or accept pitiful circumstances of residing on a restricted and guarded reservation of some kind.
This is an interesting factoid. I think I have heard it before. I have a question. Denial of Jews to America left many to be sent to Hitler's death camps. This is the cause-effect criticism. However, if Zionists connived to get Jews to go to Palestine instead of somewhere else, and they were able to go Palestine, then how does the U.S. take blame for those who were sent to Hitler's death camp?
Most people in America think that the whole situation is about Israel having to deal with a horrible onslaught of missiles by wicked "terrorists" targeting Israeli innocent people. So the narrative fits most people's perceptions.
Has ABC ever made a correction to this?
#boomerBob
You are on to something here.
I agree that the US should allow Palestinians to migrate here, and to give them reparations, etc. Assuming that there are 4 million Palestinians. $100,000.00 per person would be a good start. This comes out to about $400 billion dollars. For the amount of aid that we give to Israel and the amount of money for military preparedness that we are committed to spending, we will readily spend this much in 10 years anyway. I maintain that the $2 trillion Iraq debacle was a lot to do with weakening Iraq for the benefit of Israel.
How true. Bibi et al have called for revenge and others scream "price tag."
"Revenge over the blood of a small child is not the devil's work, and neither is revenge for the blood of a teenager or young man - who was on his way to meet his parents - and whom was never seen again," he added. "Hamas is responsible. Hamas will pay." ---Bibi Netanyahu.
The vengeance, including collective punishments, are also cold blooded wastes of humanity.
The cycle of violence works this way. This is how Western leaders act as adult leaders. Remember after 9-11, America (quoting Tom Friedman) said "suck on this."
It is all ugly. The blood is on the world's hands, as the world accepts Israel's inhumanity, including war crimes, toward Palestinians.
When will we ask our leaders to stop acting like Shakespearean monsters?
All comments here are well thought out---interesting. Below is a link to an interesting article in the Christian Science Monitor, which details the overwhelmingly lopsided coverage, and the especial sympathy for the 3 Israeli teens. These teens are literally wrapped in the Israeli flags, and vigils, wailing and eulogies are held all over the world. Sad and tragic.
Yet, the 10 or more (most or all innocent) Palestinians ruthlessly killed in the aftermath---their blood, their hearts, their lives, the feelings of their beloved---count for so little.
All of these deaths are tragic and heart-rending. Will the warrior hearts of humans ever notice this?
Lots of interesting and diverse commentary here.
One comment defies my understanding:
"[T]he Syrian Baath Party is . . . no threat to the US. ISIS is."
Just what kind of threat is ISIS to the US? Is it because it is a threat to Israel? Is it a threat because it can seize much of the oil assets and economy of the ME? Do we really think that ISIS will make a play to destroy America? My feeling is let the boys in the ME slug it out. Armed conflict is not the answer. All America has to offer is bigger guns..
"According to an Amnesty International Poll released in May, 45% of Americans believe that torture is 'sometimes necessary and acceptable' in order to 'gain information that may protect the public.' "
Our government has been telling us (at least since 9-11) that torture is necessary to save us from evil. Our government has learned from Madison Avenue---or vice versa---that attitudes can be manipulated through marketing. Examples:
There is no proof that cigarettes are bad for you.
Global warming is a lie.
Torture is good.
Taxing the rich will kill the economy.
If we don't bomb Saddam's country, we will all die. Propaganda by government, by big tobacco, big oil, etc. works.
Beware of mind control. Beware of the brainwashers.
Indeed, why can't we have a movement toward living by some manner other than war? Why is "war" a sexy word? All we know for sure is that America reveres its warriors, its warrior history and its capacity for waging future deadly conflicts.
It seems that our favorite tool is "munitions"; and we dwell on how to use our favorite tool in this world.
If our species lives long enough, the historians will obviously look back at the insanity of armed conflict as politics "by other means." If our species lives long enough it will be because a collective decision was made that war is not an answer.
"What if they gave a war and...America came and fought for both sides? Awesome. A war that America can't lose...and America can't win. All at the same time! This ought to be the ideal war for the neo-cons. Maybe it could even count as two wars? Viva America and war!
"Nimr Hammad, political adviser to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, demanded the US take "serious steps" against Israel."
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhahahahahahahahaha
This is totally laughable. If the U.S. wanted Israel to stop these settlements, it would have acted a long time ago.
"The last time the PLO sought a Security Council resolution against the settlements...the move...was blocked by a US veto."
What is the difference between Israel and the U.S.? Israel is honest when saying it wants to settle "Samaria and Judea." The U.S. is a liar when it says it wants Israel to stop. America has got Israel's back, and we all know it.
"
Israel is in great shape. Israel will show that there were attempts at a settlement, but failure... Failure will be blamed on Obama, as well as those pesky, unreasonable Palestinians. Now with Hamas on board, Israel will excuse itself from all talk of further negotiations. Israel will annex more land and continue to settle more land. If the Republicans take the Senate in the fall elections, then Israel can bank on U.S. congress' support. Israel can likely bank on U.S. congress support anyway! If the Republicans win the presidency in 2016, then Israel rides high for the rest of the decade. And Israel rides high if Hillary wins the presidency! Any way you look at this, Israel is in the catbird seat here.
I am not so sure that Inhofe is trying to score any points back in Oklahoma. Inhofe says and does what Inhofe believes., which is that Islam is evil; that America & Israel must fight evil, all as part of God's plan. Oh...also, those who support fossil fuels are God's chosen people, and entitled to great wealth.
Proof? Oklahomans will reelect Inhofe by more than a 2-1 margin. This will give Inhofe 6 more years of feeling deified.
Seeing those flags and capes showing that symbol known as the Star of David...such an eerie coincidence...formed from six straight lines, of equal length...same as a swastika...six straight lines, of equal length.
You gotta love the shameless hubris of the Dick. He was part of the presidency that was heedless to the warnings leading up to the 9-11 disaster. He was instrumental in the declaration of that whimsical invasion of Iraq, including the infamous torture program and the creation of concentration camp "Gitmo" down in Cuba---and so much more. Still, he knows something we don't know, since he operates with absolute impunity.
This is one of the most sickening developments in my country's history. How has America, and its leaders and lieutenants, been able to avoid punitive sanctions for this reprehensible activity?
I think you are right. At the same time, he seems to be saying that the Christian Bible is the only word of God, that the Mayflower folk were exclusively Christians, and "religion" pertains to the worship of Christ. Religious diversity consists of Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Protestant, etc...variations on Christianity in Moore's world. No Buddha. No Mohammed, etc. Moore is so full of crap. The original Pilgrims did not write the Constitution. Moore is wrong about so much. Where to begin?
The incredible thing is that Moore is the chief jurist of a state. He is supposed to be a brainy, learned, impartial interpreter of the law and an expert on the constitution. He is none of this. He is a Charlatan.
This is really confusing. Quoting Moore: "They didn’t bring the Koran over on the pilgrim ship,” The Mayflower came in 1620. It did not bring Thomas Jefferson who was born in 1743. Jefferson was truly intellectual, and had a huge library. He easily could have had a Koran in his library. Not sure what Moore meant---saying first amendment applying only to Christians. The amendment provides for both freedom of religion and quoting Jefferson: "a wall of separation" between gov't and church. Jefferson, Madison and others, were said to be Deists, and not Christians.
This will not change anything in Oklahoma. Um...it likely will cause some experimentation in how to do an execution, but it will not affect the political will to continue with lethal punishment. Oklahoma takes pride in striving to be the most "old school" state in America. The typical reaction is that a painful execution is the best kind of execution. On the other hand, people in other states will continue to question the barbarity of capital punishment.
I am wondering how wealthy Bundy is. 1000 cattle are likely worth more than $1 million. People must remember that the issues (of Bundy using the federal land rent free or not) have been litigated and a federal court ruled against Bundy. That is called due process.
I would not want to risk my life, in a gun fight with the government, in support of a wealthy rancher.
Hey, when the Republicans say it is not torture, then it is not torture. If they say abortion is murder, it is murder. If they say that guns don't kill, then guns don't kill. If they say that having health insurance is unhealthy, then it is unhealthy. The Republicans pretty much control language in America's death culture.
Actually, a perfect storm is blowing for Israel. There is tension in Crimea and Ukraine. There is fear of the old Commie Bear, rearing her paws. Israel has seriously ramped up settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. There is pressure for Israel to be conciliatory with the Palestinians. A deadline on the peace talks is coming up fast: April.
The Palestinian patience has all but run out, with Israel's aggression and settlement activity. The misdirection with Russia and Iran takes the spotlight off Israel's lack of good faith.
The deadline will come and go, and no concord will be made with the Palestinians. Israel will have run out the clock, and the American election year continues to simmer. Another year will be gone, and Israel will still be King of the Hill in the occupied territories. P.S. Israel will not attack Iran. It merely has to make serious threats to accomplish her goals.
Please help my mentally challenged world view, and explain why Iraq has a critical armament deficiency.
Here are some quotes from the article:
"Since 2005, the US has supplied Iraq with around US $15 billion worth of armaments."
Ummm...compared to a US military arsenal this is probably the equivalent of a few pellet guns. Still, it seems like 15 billion dollars of military implements would provide quite a lot for a country not having the anointed "exceptionalism" of Pax Americana.
"...the US was to blame for this because it was taking so long...[f]or example, it sends tanks without missiles – it only sends the missiles later."
And these badly needed tanks with missiles serve what sort of critical need for the good people of Iraq?
This country is the monster that we, as Americans, fear about our enemies. Perhaps America has always bullied those it wishes to control, and we ordinary citizens were just not aware---but the rest of the world must be very wary.
The 2012 Democratic National Platform (as pronounced at the Democratic Convention) declared Jerusalem the Capital of Israel. There had been some controversy about that in 2012, and it was reported that Obama insisted that the Democratic platform include the declaration about Jerusalem as the capital. The platform did not specify that "Jerusalem" includes East Jerusalem (although the 2008 platform did specify Jerusalem as an undivided city). The Republicans are, and have been, avowedly clear about undivided Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
This tells us that American policy is for Israel to have all of (East/West) Jerusalem for its capital. When Israel continues to develop East Jerusalem, it is conforming with American policy, is it not?
Wars don't cost money. Tea party people, fiscal conservatives and other Republicans are always talking about balancing the budget. They have never mentioned anything about costs of war. The idea that wars cost money is obviously more liberal poppycock.
Christie is either guilty of being involved in the "dirty tricks" of closing the lanes in a very busy bridge; or he is guilty of extreme incompetence by having a staff that would do such a terrible thing. BTW, Christie has shown outrage that he is blamed for this; but has he ever shown any outrage over the fact that the wicked act was executed?
It is definitely a mind boggle how Cheney et al escaped with impunity after having instigated (the war crimes of) a needless war and then committed torture...
I assume that the 13% does not include E. Jerusalem.
I assume that the 13% includes prime Palestinian territory.
Bibi is playing this really smart. He knows that the more Israel grabs the more the Palestinians will not accept the deal. As long as the Palestinians do not accept a deal, the more Israel can grab. Obama and Kerry do not matter anyway. Remember the *29* standing ovations Bibi got from the U.S. Congress in May 2011? Bibi remembers. America has Israel's back. Bibi knows.
Netanyahu asked: "The EU calls our ambassadors in because of the construction of a few houses? When did the EU call in the Palestinian ambassadors about incitement that calls for Israel's destruction?"
Such bizarre statements by Bibi. He refers to the thousands of settlements as "a few houses!"
Is it okay to permanently seize the land if it is only for a FEW developments?
He asks when the EU has complained about what the Palestinians have done. What is this? Two wrongs make a right? Has the EU recognized Palestinian ambassadors? Did Israel agree to let Palestine be given recognition in the UN?
If Israel thinks there needs to be a security buffer, is there something that keeps Israel from setting up a Maginot line on the Israel side of the border?
The president, either himself or through his State Department, by American tradition, takes the lead in foreign affairs. If congress wishes to undermine the President's agenda, then that is a radical congress. As lawmakers, these are not conservatives as Republicans love to proclaim. They should be called out as radical extremists who are anything but conservative.
Our gov't personnel have been able to successfully hang their hat on the definition contained in this quote:
"For some act to count as “severe physical suffering” and therefore as torture, they wrote, the pain inflicted would have to be of a sort “ordinarily associated with a… serious physical condition, such as death, organ failure, or serious impairment of bodily functions."
Even with this flawed definition, why can't a case be made that torture occurred? Wouldn't water torture and rectal feeding fit within these definitions? Moreover, haven't some died; and some received broken bones and other serious injuries?
We need a betting pool on how many standing ovations Bibi gets from congress. I will take 3. Congress will only give him 3, because Congress will want to look "subdued" in light of the advanced criticism IMHO.
What is your bet?
I disagree with you. Of course, we are doing what is easily prone to failure: predicting what is going to happen. My view, first of all, is that ISIS is a band of mean punks whose esprit de corps is the thrill of gaining power by extreme brutality. Their reign is doomed by the fact that everywhere they go they make more enemies than friends (among Sunnis and everyone else). I don't claim to be a scholar of history, but cruel, murderous regimes invariably have a short shelf life so far as I know. Perhaps there exists an example to the contrary? The leaders of ISIS will meet a violent death...
...and the American people expect these kind of considerations. The American people respect politicians whose first political purpose is to get (re)elected. Moreover, most Americans would love to have a war with Iran.
So Boehner (and Bibi too) is playing his political cards very skillfully.
I agree that Inhofe is a crackpot. However, he appears to have the whole Republican party following his lead. Of course, the whole GOP is arguably a crackpot party.
As crackpots go, they are powerful. The GOP rolled in the last election, and Inhofe is the Senate's most powerful person on environmental issues (He is Chair of the Environment Committee!). Latest CNN poll says 57% of Americans do not consider global warming a threat.
I can understand why academics would be loathe to spend energy debating a crackpot. (Cue up: You Can't Argue With a Sick Mind, by Joe Walsh). However, I would still love to see somebody demolish all of his talking points, and for the main stream media to show it to the American people.
I agree that Inhofe is motivated to cheer for big energy/big oil.
He works hard at his job, and he does his homework. He even wrote a book to support his position.
Moreover, he is clearly very bright. He is one helluva cheerleader for big oil/big energy.
But nobody debates him! Or nobody that I know of.
I wish that somebody would tackle Inhofe's arguments, point by point. Inhofe's critics simply dismiss him as a buffoon or a moron or such.
Is there any critique of Inhofe's arguments?
"[H]ave right wing Republicans learned anything from the fiasco in Iraq?"
Yes! They have learned that there were no personal or individual consequences for support of the hostilities in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere. So far as I know, no officeholder has lost her or his seat as a result of military, Iraq and GWOT. This is America. Support the American war force.
Dr. Cole said:
"So I figure this enterprise would cost at least 15,000 troops dead, 90,000 seriously wounded, and altogether $15- 24 trillion dollars over time (including health care for the 90,000 wounded vets)."
WOW, these are huge numbers! They would be pooh-poohed by the hawks.
There is no doubt that war is costly. However, even in the absence of war, health care costs for veterans continue to rise. All veterans are entitled to V.A. health care, and the government continues to build V.A. clinics all across America, in all manner of small towns. Disability payments for veterans, including their dependents may be a bigger whopper liability for the government. And these payments continue until the death of the veteran.
An Iran war could be a fatal blow to the American economy. Hello tea party?! You listening?
My own point of view is that the strike was to provoke Hizbullah (or Iran?) to retaliate. When that happens, then Israel will be engaged in hostilities accordingly. Coming up is the election in March, whereby Netanyahu as hawk-in-chief will keep his post.
The attack is quite simply a win-win for Bibi.
Where the U.S. does nothing but watch Israel expand settlement of the West Bank; for the U.S. to claim it is anything other than a cheerleader for Israel is simply hypocrisy.
The Southern "Christian" lobby is way bigger than the Israel lobby, and even more fevered about supporting Israel.
The MSM completely ignores these activities.The caption in the video refers to these acts as "vandalism." This is much more than vandalism. These acts are clearly identifiable as terrorism. The destruction of olive trees is a destruction of livelihood. It is another way to drive the natives off of their land.
"The US complained that the resolution singled out one country for opprobrium but this allegation is frankly dishonest."
This is for sure! The U.S. has not had any difficulty in singling out Iran! At the very least, one would hope that the Nobel Peace laureate's country would agree that the world might be a better place without nuclear bombs at the ready in Israel---especially when the U.S. continues to give Israel the means (jets and missile technology) to deliver the bombs. The U.S. is not even remotely close to being an honest broker in the ME.
I suppose that the Koran, the Torah and other holy writs designate these consecrated venues to communicate with the Divine One? I further suppose that the Divine One insists on killing anyone who gets in the way of prayer on these hallowed grounds?
All true. But will America ever learn? How can we avoid the temptation for more military adventures?
Remember, that Americans keep voting for the same jokers.
Great comment.
Unluckily it just stays the same. I mean we thought that Obama would be a change, and he was more of the same (even enlisted Hillary as his Secretary of State!). Either party and any candidate will give total support for Israel, big oil, big banks and old school politics. We will continue to cultivate enemies, and "commies" and Islam are American classics.
"Does it get any better than this?" The more it changes, the more it stays the same.
"One would think that Israel is tired of all the killing and animosity, but it seems to me that they’re just getting started."
You are correct that Israel has a plan. It is the same program they have had since the get-go. Antagonize, nettle and provoke the natives until the natives angrily punch back; then blame the natives for being nasty, and attack and displace these "terroristic" natives in the name of "self-defense." Notice that kin folk of "terrorists" are punished by having their houses razed. How very special is that? After the houses are razed, there are now empty plots for new settlers!
And the beat goes on.
Huh? The chronology video prominently shows the Israeli flag front and center. This is about the world according to Israel, and Israel's cheerleaders.
You said: "Israel is NOT as militarily capable as the myths say." Says who? Israel has atomic weaponry which they will use as needed. Moreover, what you want to bet that they don't have chemical and biological weapons of unimaginable efficacy---and the will to use them? Israel has all the military savoir faire that America has, plus Israel has its own secret super-duper stuff.
"And Israel can not really count on the US to protect it forever. Israelis can not grasp that a majority of their US supporters are dying off at the rate of over 2000/day." Say what? Who is dying at 2000 per day? American Christians (which is the vast majority of America) will always cheer for Israel, because of their biblical imperative. Furthermore, America's congress would give Bibi and his successors a standing ovation (as well as a blank check) anytime. Remember that Obama personally demanded that the Democratic platform proclaim that Jerusalem is the capital of israel. Jerusalem belongs to Israel already. If you don't believe that, just ask Congress and the president.
Has anybody ever thought about how much a financial blockade costs the American economy? A blockade hurts Iran, but it also hurts America if U.S. companies cannot do business with Iran.
Solar power is nuclear power. The sun is, simply speaking, the largest nuclear reactor in our part of the universe. This power plant supplies all of our energy needs. We just have not yet figured out the best way to harvest that energy. Someday we will no longer have any need for coal, other hydrocarbons, wind, water or nuclear fission for supplying our energy---if we don't first ruin the planet from toxins from old technology.
America has not learned, and America refuses to learn. I guess the name for this "illusion" (or delusion) is hubris. One would think that America would have learned from Korea and Viet Nam that overseas entanglements were not worth the price of blood and treasure. We still have not learned, even after Afghanistan and the many, many years of Iraq.
Sigh...
The only way that any of this makes since is as follows:one ISIL equals 100 finely honed warriors. So if ISIL has 1000 warriors at Kobane/Kobani, then that is equal to the ferocity of a force of 100,000.
This definitely poses a problem. Having said this, can't the Kurds muster a force of 100,000 or more? Remember that the Kurds are not abashed about using women in their military. Morever, a Kurd is surely equal to a well-honed combatant. I have read in the past how fierce they are. Of course, if the Kurds put 100,000 up in Kobane/Kobani, they can't keep doing that to confront ISIL in the many other "threatres" in the region.
The only answer is for the US to either forget about doing anything, or commit to an all-out half million or more warriors, including many boots on the ground.
Got a question though, if the sneaker-clad ISIL fighters don boots, how much tougher will they be?
If ISIS can roll 25 tanks into a town, what is the point of American airstrikes? What are the airstrikes focusing on? Weddings and schoolhouses?
Yeah baby, give me that olde tyme religion!
Reminds me of that man of God, John Ashcroft.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/c6a22q9
Reminds me of those saintly Jews who require sequestration of the sexes, such as the uber-orthodox Haredim sect who all dress alike and who can't be seated next to a woman on a plane.
The US will quietly veto the petition to take this to the security council. If the US provides an explanation it will be on some hyper-technical grounds such as a procedural glitch, or an issue of legal standing, or whatever. The US got Israel's back
They are winning too. $22 Billion is pocket change compared with the full amount that the US WILL spend over there against ISIS, led by none other than THE incomparable Big Daddy (al-Baghdadi) himself!
If Big Daddy and his ilk can get America to sprinkle a few trillion dollars on the subject, then they will see serious cracks in America's culture---not to mention receiving the bin Laden AWARD for causing America to again flail wildly on a budget busting spending spree to kill EVIL.
And the number one difference is that Hamas is fighting for land that Israel covets.
The U.S. will veto it...no matter what.
Wouldn't it be nice if we just stopped worrying about who runs those places in the Middle East?
If ISIS gets control, then they will have to defend what they took. Plus ca la change....
America will fight for the good of the people whether the people like it or not!
I am guessing that the main tug of power (among the many tugs of power) is for the U.S. to prevent Iran from gaining greater "hegemony" in the Middle East---in addition to pushing ISIL back.
Why should anybody offer to help fight, when they know that America wants war and is willing to go it alone?
Everything said by the author of this article makes perfect sense, except for the conclusions drawn. I believe that Bibi is playing his cards perfectly. He, nor American congress, has no intention to give up control of Gaza and the West Bank. He plans on expanding until a 2 state solution is no longer viable. With over half million Jewish settlers in the West Bank, "the facts on the ground" are that a 2 state solution is no longer possible already. Bibi and his ilk will keep adding settlements to the West Bank until Israel annexes it all.
"Metaphorically, last night Obama announced a clumsy stroll through the Pottery Barn."
How true. I cannot, for the life of me, see this turning out for the better. I can certainly see it turning out poorly, very poorly. Does anybody know that invading Iraq, Syria and elsewhere costs a huge amount of money? Not to mention human casualties... And who amongst the people in those foreign lands will increase their love for America?
ISIS is a criminal organization. ISIS is a bunch of punks. ISIS is more like the KKK, or the Mob than anything else. Big Daddy (Al-Baghdadi) is a punk like Charlie Manson or Al Capone. He and his punks will burn out eventually. I fear that America's emphasis will wind up giving Big Daddy some valuable "street-cred" that will give him more strength than ever. Nevertheless, he will die, with or without America's involvement.
As I keep hearing about ISIS, ISIL and IS, allegedly one and the same bunch, I keep wanting to ask: Exactly who are these guys?
The answers I keep getting are that they are a bunch so tenacious and so ruthless that school children will be reading about them 1000 years from now. Their exploits join the tales of such hordes as Huns & Mongols.
Doing a little calculus on the back of an envelope, here is what I find: One ISIL soldier is equal to 100 well-trained warriors. The math works. 5,000 ISIL combatants can match a half million warriors. If you further realize that feeding an army of half million is exponentially huge compared to sustaining an ISIL army; then you know that there is indeed a problem!
Beware world!
Can Obama Resist Hawks’ Pressure to Rush to Syria Quagmire?
The answer is NO. Nor can congress resist the same pressure. America has already started with its many bombings, and about 1,000 extra "security" to Iraq. ISIL is winning, because America is reacting. If ISIL keeps up the beheadings, then America will keep committing blood and treasure. ISIL has a game-plan. America does not.
This pondering is truly quaint: To wonder about legal authority for the U.S. to send in combat units into another country? LOL
The political echo, for both Republicans and Democrats: "Israel has a right to defend itself" sounds like a broken record.
Latest real news (that the MSM, politicians and Zionist apologists will totally ignore) is that Israel is expropriating about 1000 acres more on the West Bank.
....and the beat goes on.
Remember that numerous Americans join the IDF and fight with Israel. THIS is not controversial because IDF is an American tag-team.
I did not know that John Bolton denies that Israel has any claim to Shebaa Farms. That is encouraging to know, since he has always appeared to have a neo-con vision of America cum Israel hegemony uber all of the MIddle East. What says he about Golan Heights?
Israel, of course, stole the Golan Hts, and the Shebaa (sp?) Farms from spoils of the war in '67. Israel actually annexed these areas. Does this mean that Israel has permanent rights to this? It seems safe to say that there is no de-annexation thereof in the future.
If matters get serious in the Golan Heights, then I predict that the U.S. will expand operations versus ISIS.
Quoting from above:
"...the conditions and...grievances in Muslim countries must...be addressed:
foreign boots on the ground, dictators supported by the US out of convenience, a failure to end a half century of Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands, the treatment of Palestinians as a paradigm for treatment of other Muslims, the US employment of the region as an eternal cockpit for proxy wars — all of this is still ongoing."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfbmjUQOFxs
LOL. Play "The Beat Goes on" for your amusement.
The aforementioned conditions are "not, never" going to change---never in the foreseeable future.
...and the beat goes on.
With our country's mad, fanatical passion for guns, maybe it should be no wonder that police officers have a shoot first and ask questions later policy?
The impression I have is that these militia operations are entirely populated with disenfranchised, disenchanted young males. If not for being part of an organization that is revered---or at least feared---these males would be regarded as total losers. Comparisons that come to mind are biker clubs or the Symbionese Liberation Army (although the SLA did have women members). I am not sure that these comparisons are helpful. Yet, they all have more than their share of punks who are drunk with asserting their power.
Nobody ever said it was easy keeping the whole Middle East under American control. I have forgotten why we don't have lots of love for the Baath regime in Syria. I know my country well enough to know that it has to do with al-Assad being insufficiently obsequious. My suspicion is that Syria provides Mediterranean access for Iran. If he will pledge allegiance to America, and tell Iran to go play somewhere else, al-Assad can be our buddy.
Hoo boy! Let's America get rolling off to new wars, to keep the price of oil where we like it.
War, God and Oil. Three letter words to bring the great Rapture!
My last comment, a bit over the top, was refused for publication here. This was my point.
Have you others noticed how ISIS is portrayed by the MSM and politicians as the most vicious, richest, best armed, best organized, and well...the greatest threat to all of the world since the Russian commies? It sounds like psycho-ops by the establishment to get the American people to want all-out war in America's favorite playground: Asia. Anybody else wonder about this? (Compare the apparently false claims that Iraqis were killing Kuwaiti babies when America was contemplating going after Saddam in Iraq War I)
From what I keep hearing ISIS is a force with unimaginable force and ability. When ISIS grabs territory it immediately sets its tentacles into the area, with fully functioning schools, government social services, infrastructure---the whole gamut. ISIS has an elaborate public relations and media machine that is simply awesome. ISIS is rich in money, armaments, savoir faire, flair, fanaticism, ferocity, fervor...oh, where to stop in superlatives?
They are the living, breathing and growing inferno of a super civilization. Abandon all hope ye who enter their path. The Calphate will soon claim and rename Caliphornia...and then it will sprawl forward.
I understand how these state-less legions of extremists can inflict death and horror on people like Yezidis. The Yezidis are unsophisticated "hillbillys" in Iraq.
I still don't understand how these legions can threaten entire countries. Fighting wars and taking territory requires supply lines to assure that materiel and supplies continue to the front lines of the warriors. Lots of room for ambushes and Guerilla tactics by the home team.
Also, when the extremists spend troops and bullets on the Yezidis, then that is fewer to fight Kurds et al.
It seems like the IS would fail eventually against the Kurds and others.
Damn! This group led by Abu Bakr is a real kick-ass outfit! I thought that the Kurds were supposed to be well-organized and tough. How can this rogue band of bad-asses go into the territory of someone else and strike terror in their hearts and minds?
How many IS fighters are there? Where did they learn to be so skilled? Where do they get their money and their supplies? Successfully pulling off invasions should not be easy for anybody, much less a roving band of warriors without an apparent homeland base.
Lastly, why is it that only America can be the savior of the Kurds, et al?
The side that is winning on the sound bites in this war is the Amerisraeli side. Arguments are made, and then the Amerisraeli apologists always punch back with an unanswered roundhouse strike. That punch is that America would never put up with rockets firing from Canada, Mexico, etc. (And America did blow both Afghanistan and Iraq to smithereens after 9-11)
My recall of the chain of events is that Israel went bellicose crazy at the time that Hamas and the PA were endeavoring to consolidate, and when the 3 boys were abducted and killed. Rocket attacks by Hamas were essentially after Israel went into war mode (although perhaps some rogue rockets got sent at or before that time?) Where can one find a good chronological list of the chain of events?
Here is an explanation (taken from link below) by Bibi on why the UN school was hit:
"On Sunday, we were aiming at three militants on a motorcycle near the UN shelter in Rafah. If those guys insist on riding near the shelter, what are we to do? We have no choice but to strike them as well as we can. But have you any idea how hard it is to hit a motorcycle from way up in the air? Just once, just once, I wish the UN and all other critics of Israel could try to see things from our point of view."
Is this funny or what? Imagine a motorcycle zig-zagging around! ...And those Gazans using children to shield a motorcyle built for three! LOL Gotta laugh, since crying won't do any good.
"How Netanyahu Would Answer His Critics" from Huffingtonpost.com
You said we should cut off funding to Israel. That is about like saying that Catholics should renounce the Vatican. Last week, the Senate voted 100-0 for a resolution to support Israel AND denouncing Hamas. The House voted unanimously (except for a vote or 2) supporting Israel AND denouncing Hamas. If I understand it correctly, congress decided to pass similar resolutions this week as well.
Obama and all cabinet level persons have also proclaimed their allegiances toward Israel and against Hamas!
Israel R U.S.
The U.S. is resupplying Israel with weapons to continue the assault on Gaza, as reported today by various news agencies. So the U.S. says stop the shelling, and then delivers more shells to continue the shelling. Meanwhile, bipartisan congressional support for emergency appropriations to Israel is also taking place right now.
THIS IS a joint Israel-American campaign to raze ("mow the grass") Gaza.
It is so disheartening to see recent news:
Both the House and the Senate passed UNANIMOUS support for Israel.
http://tinyurl.com/oozfvsu
Moreover, congress has now doubled the amount sought by Obama for defense appropriations for Israel---$621 million for Israel missile defense. This is in addition to the annual $3.1 billion welfare package to Israel.
Sequestration, fiscal discipline, nada to children at the border, repeal health care---all step aside as America cheers for the occupation and slaughter of Palestinians.
When it comes to Israel, the Tea Party, Party Poopers, Libertarians, Liberals, Conservatives, Democrats, Republicans, left wing, right wing...everybody in America has nothing but love, love, love for Israel.
Yes, Gaza killing R U.S.
How much lost tax revenue is involved from donations, tax deductible, to Israel? Of course the actual donation money is lost as well, by the fact that it is money that could otherwise support american institutions..
"For this reason, the Israel ground invasion of northern Gaza will be no more successful than the US invasion of Falluja."
I disagree, Professsor Cole.
Two things that are the same: The U.S. supported the ground invasion in both Falluja and Gaza.
One thing different: The U.S. is not prepared to occupy and control Falluja (or other "conquests") forever. The U.S. is prepared to forever support Israel which is prepared to forever occupy and control Samaria, Judea, Gaza, Golan Hts, Shebaa Farms, etc.
All true. Another point is that the U.S. is not ready for a resolution yet either. Haaretz, the newspaper, reports that Obama has given full support to Israel's operations, including the ground game.
Kerry's peace initiative was met with repeated announcements for more Israeli settlements in the West Bank. This is beyond bad faith. Of course, Israeli leaders speak of the West Bank as "Samaria and Judea." They intend to give up Samaria and Judea?" Wanna buy my swampland?
Don't forget that the U.S. Democratic party in 2012 formally adopted Jerusalem as the capitol of Israel.
This whole mess is bought and paid for, as a joint project of Israel and the U.S.A.
Americans should be ashamed.
So the Palestinians are up to more evil---having their children run around on the beach, pretending to be militant terrorists.
Tell me the answer!
Terrible as this is, I see no turning back. Israel is not going to evacuate some 600,000 or more occupants from "Samaria and Judea" or "Eretz Israel" (as they will call it); Moreover, nobody (not U.S., not Europe, nor anybody) will demand it.
There is clearly not a 2 state solution.
So how does this circle get squared? Palestinians will have to leave, die or accept pitiful circumstances of residing on a restricted and guarded reservation of some kind.
This is an interesting factoid. I think I have heard it before. I have a question. Denial of Jews to America left many to be sent to Hitler's death camps. This is the cause-effect criticism. However, if Zionists connived to get Jews to go to Palestine instead of somewhere else, and they were able to go Palestine, then how does the U.S. take blame for those who were sent to Hitler's death camp?
Most people in America think that the whole situation is about Israel having to deal with a horrible onslaught of missiles by wicked "terrorists" targeting Israeli innocent people. So the narrative fits most people's perceptions.
Has ABC ever made a correction to this?
#boomerBob
You are on to something here.
I agree that the US should allow Palestinians to migrate here, and to give them reparations, etc. Assuming that there are 4 million Palestinians. $100,000.00 per person would be a good start. This comes out to about $400 billion dollars. For the amount of aid that we give to Israel and the amount of money for military preparedness that we are committed to spending, we will readily spend this much in 10 years anyway. I maintain that the $2 trillion Iraq debacle was a lot to do with weakening Iraq for the benefit of Israel.
How true. Bibi et al have called for revenge and others scream "price tag."
"Revenge over the blood of a small child is not the devil's work, and neither is revenge for the blood of a teenager or young man - who was on his way to meet his parents - and whom was never seen again," he added. "Hamas is responsible. Hamas will pay." ---Bibi Netanyahu.
The vengeance, including collective punishments, are also cold blooded wastes of humanity.
The cycle of violence works this way. This is how Western leaders act as adult leaders. Remember after 9-11, America (quoting Tom Friedman) said "suck on this."
It is all ugly. The blood is on the world's hands, as the world accepts Israel's inhumanity, including war crimes, toward Palestinians.
When will we ask our leaders to stop acting like Shakespearean monsters?
All comments here are well thought out---interesting. Below is a link to an interesting article in the Christian Science Monitor, which details the overwhelmingly lopsided coverage, and the especial sympathy for the 3 Israeli teens. These teens are literally wrapped in the Israeli flags, and vigils, wailing and eulogies are held all over the world. Sad and tragic.
Yet, the 10 or more (most or all innocent) Palestinians ruthlessly killed in the aftermath---their blood, their hearts, their lives, the feelings of their beloved---count for so little.
All of these deaths are tragic and heart-rending. Will the warrior hearts of humans ever notice this?
http://preview.tinyurl.com/q6o9s3z
Lots of interesting and diverse commentary here.
One comment defies my understanding:
"[T]he Syrian Baath Party is . . . no threat to the US. ISIS is."
Just what kind of threat is ISIS to the US? Is it because it is a threat to Israel? Is it a threat because it can seize much of the oil assets and economy of the ME? Do we really think that ISIS will make a play to destroy America? My feeling is let the boys in the ME slug it out. Armed conflict is not the answer. All America has to offer is bigger guns..
"According to an Amnesty International Poll released in May, 45% of Americans believe that torture is 'sometimes necessary and acceptable' in order to 'gain information that may protect the public.' "
Our government has been telling us (at least since 9-11) that torture is necessary to save us from evil. Our government has learned from Madison Avenue---or vice versa---that attitudes can be manipulated through marketing. Examples:
There is no proof that cigarettes are bad for you.
Global warming is a lie.
Torture is good.
Taxing the rich will kill the economy.
If we don't bomb Saddam's country, we will all die. Propaganda by government, by big tobacco, big oil, etc. works.
Beware of mind control. Beware of the brainwashers.
Another talking point by the neo-cons is that this is al Qaeda storming across Iraq.
What relationship is ISIS to al Qaeda?
As I read the article, titled "When will they ever learn...", the song with these words by Pete Seeger popped into my head:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y2SIIeqy34
Indeed, why can't we have a movement toward living by some manner other than war? Why is "war" a sexy word? All we know for sure is that America reveres its warriors, its warrior history and its capacity for waging future deadly conflicts.
It seems that our favorite tool is "munitions"; and we dwell on how to use our favorite tool in this world.
If our species lives long enough, the historians will obviously look back at the insanity of armed conflict as politics "by other means." If our species lives long enough it will be because a collective decision was made that war is not an answer.
"What if they gave a war and...America came and fought for both sides? Awesome. A war that America can't lose...and America can't win. All at the same time! This ought to be the ideal war for the neo-cons. Maybe it could even count as two wars? Viva America and war!
"Nimr Hammad, political adviser to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, demanded the US take "serious steps" against Israel."
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhahahahahahahahaha
This is totally laughable. If the U.S. wanted Israel to stop these settlements, it would have acted a long time ago.
"The last time the PLO sought a Security Council resolution against the settlements...the move...was blocked by a US veto."
What is the difference between Israel and the U.S.? Israel is honest when saying it wants to settle "Samaria and Judea." The U.S. is a liar when it says it wants Israel to stop. America has got Israel's back, and we all know it.
"
Israel is in great shape. Israel will show that there were attempts at a settlement, but failure... Failure will be blamed on Obama, as well as those pesky, unreasonable Palestinians. Now with Hamas on board, Israel will excuse itself from all talk of further negotiations. Israel will annex more land and continue to settle more land. If the Republicans take the Senate in the fall elections, then Israel can bank on U.S. congress' support. Israel can likely bank on U.S. congress support anyway! If the Republicans win the presidency in 2016, then Israel rides high for the rest of the decade. And Israel rides high if Hillary wins the presidency! Any way you look at this, Israel is in the catbird seat here.
I am not so sure that Inhofe is trying to score any points back in Oklahoma. Inhofe says and does what Inhofe believes., which is that Islam is evil; that America & Israel must fight evil, all as part of God's plan. Oh...also, those who support fossil fuels are God's chosen people, and entitled to great wealth.
Proof? Oklahomans will reelect Inhofe by more than a 2-1 margin. This will give Inhofe 6 more years of feeling deified.
I look forward to the day when the US of A decides that the future of Afghanistan does not belong to the US of A.
Ahhh, very clever. Take old guard corporate politics, and old tyme religion, and this is what you get!
Seeing those flags and capes showing that symbol known as the Star of David...such an eerie coincidence...formed from six straight lines, of equal length...same as a swastika...six straight lines, of equal length.
Did you know that Veterans for Peace have been banned from a Memorial day parade? It seems that advocating peace is like rain on the war parade! No this is not a story from the Onion!
http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/home/Veterans-group-denied-participation-in-Memorial-Day-parade-260185461.html
I am at a loss to comprehend this. I thought that all veterans were eligible for VA medical services. If not true, then who is eligible and who isn't?
You gotta love the shameless hubris of the Dick. He was part of the presidency that was heedless to the warnings leading up to the 9-11 disaster. He was instrumental in the declaration of that whimsical invasion of Iraq, including the infamous torture program and the creation of concentration camp "Gitmo" down in Cuba---and so much more. Still, he knows something we don't know, since he operates with absolute impunity.
This is one of the most sickening developments in my country's history. How has America, and its leaders and lieutenants, been able to avoid punitive sanctions for this reprehensible activity?
I think you are right. At the same time, he seems to be saying that the Christian Bible is the only word of God, that the Mayflower folk were exclusively Christians, and "religion" pertains to the worship of Christ. Religious diversity consists of Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Protestant, etc...variations on Christianity in Moore's world. No Buddha. No Mohammed, etc. Moore is so full of crap. The original Pilgrims did not write the Constitution. Moore is wrong about so much. Where to begin?
The incredible thing is that Moore is the chief jurist of a state. He is supposed to be a brainy, learned, impartial interpreter of the law and an expert on the constitution. He is none of this. He is a Charlatan.
This is really confusing. Quoting Moore: "They didn’t bring the Koran over on the pilgrim ship,” The Mayflower came in 1620. It did not bring Thomas Jefferson who was born in 1743. Jefferson was truly intellectual, and had a huge library. He easily could have had a Koran in his library. Not sure what Moore meant---saying first amendment applying only to Christians. The amendment provides for both freedom of religion and quoting Jefferson: "a wall of separation" between gov't and church. Jefferson, Madison and others, were said to be Deists, and not Christians.
Good question. Why DID Obama allow that embassy to get attacked in 1999?
This will not change anything in Oklahoma. Um...it likely will cause some experimentation in how to do an execution, but it will not affect the political will to continue with lethal punishment. Oklahoma takes pride in striving to be the most "old school" state in America. The typical reaction is that a painful execution is the best kind of execution. On the other hand, people in other states will continue to question the barbarity of capital punishment.
Bundy can't help it. Being devoutly Mormon, he thinks as a Godly man should. Do Mormons still disallow the Negro in their fellowship?
Too bad. We know who will win this holy war. The Jews/Israelis with the backing of American "Exceptionalism."
I am wondering how wealthy Bundy is. 1000 cattle are likely worth more than $1 million. People must remember that the issues (of Bundy using the federal land rent free or not) have been litigated and a federal court ruled against Bundy. That is called due process.
I would not want to risk my life, in a gun fight with the government, in support of a wealthy rancher.
Hey, when the Republicans say it is not torture, then it is not torture. If they say abortion is murder, it is murder. If they say that guns don't kill, then guns don't kill. If they say that having health insurance is unhealthy, then it is unhealthy. The Republicans pretty much control language in America's death culture.
Actually, a perfect storm is blowing for Israel. There is tension in Crimea and Ukraine. There is fear of the old Commie Bear, rearing her paws. Israel has seriously ramped up settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. There is pressure for Israel to be conciliatory with the Palestinians. A deadline on the peace talks is coming up fast: April.
The Palestinian patience has all but run out, with Israel's aggression and settlement activity. The misdirection with Russia and Iran takes the spotlight off Israel's lack of good faith.
The deadline will come and go, and no concord will be made with the Palestinians. Israel will have run out the clock, and the American election year continues to simmer. Another year will be gone, and Israel will still be King of the Hill in the occupied territories. P.S. Israel will not attack Iran. It merely has to make serious threats to accomplish her goals.
Please help my mentally challenged world view, and explain why Iraq has a critical armament deficiency.
Here are some quotes from the article:
"Since 2005, the US has supplied Iraq with around US $15 billion worth of armaments."
Ummm...compared to a US military arsenal this is probably the equivalent of a few pellet guns. Still, it seems like 15 billion dollars of military implements would provide quite a lot for a country not having the anointed "exceptionalism" of Pax Americana.
"...the US was to blame for this because it was taking so long...[f]or example, it sends tanks without missiles – it only sends the missiles later."
And these badly needed tanks with missiles serve what sort of critical need for the good people of Iraq?
This country is the monster that we, as Americans, fear about our enemies. Perhaps America has always bullied those it wishes to control, and we ordinary citizens were just not aware---but the rest of the world must be very wary.
The 2012 Democratic National Platform (as pronounced at the Democratic Convention) declared Jerusalem the Capital of Israel. There had been some controversy about that in 2012, and it was reported that Obama insisted that the Democratic platform include the declaration about Jerusalem as the capital. The platform did not specify that "Jerusalem" includes East Jerusalem (although the 2008 platform did specify Jerusalem as an undivided city). The Republicans are, and have been, avowedly clear about undivided Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
This tells us that American policy is for Israel to have all of (East/West) Jerusalem for its capital. When Israel continues to develop East Jerusalem, it is conforming with American policy, is it not?
So (Gaius Baltar) are you saying that we need to go to war with Iran to assure that the price of oil will be stable?
Wars don't cost money. Tea party people, fiscal conservatives and other Republicans are always talking about balancing the budget. They have never mentioned anything about costs of war. The idea that wars cost money is obviously more liberal poppycock.
Christie is either guilty of being involved in the "dirty tricks" of closing the lanes in a very busy bridge; or he is guilty of extreme incompetence by having a staff that would do such a terrible thing. BTW, Christie has shown outrage that he is blamed for this; but has he ever shown any outrage over the fact that the wicked act was executed?
It is definitely a mind boggle how Cheney et al escaped with impunity after having instigated (the war crimes of) a needless war and then committed torture...
I assume that the 13% does not include E. Jerusalem.
I assume that the 13% includes prime Palestinian territory.
Bibi is playing this really smart. He knows that the more Israel grabs the more the Palestinians will not accept the deal. As long as the Palestinians do not accept a deal, the more Israel can grab. Obama and Kerry do not matter anyway. Remember the *29* standing ovations Bibi got from the U.S. Congress in May 2011? Bibi remembers. America has Israel's back. Bibi knows.
Netanyahu asked: "The EU calls our ambassadors in because of the construction of a few houses? When did the EU call in the Palestinian ambassadors about incitement that calls for Israel's destruction?"
Such bizarre statements by Bibi. He refers to the thousands of settlements as "a few houses!"
Is it okay to permanently seize the land if it is only for a FEW developments?
He asks when the EU has complained about what the Palestinians have done. What is this? Two wrongs make a right? Has the EU recognized Palestinian ambassadors? Did Israel agree to let Palestine be given recognition in the UN?
If Israel thinks there needs to be a security buffer, is there something that keeps Israel from setting up a Maginot line on the Israel side of the border?
"The medium is the message." Marshall McLuhan
You own the medium; you own the message.
The president, either himself or through his State Department, by American tradition, takes the lead in foreign affairs. If congress wishes to undermine the President's agenda, then that is a radical congress. As lawmakers, these are not conservatives as Republicans love to proclaim. They should be called out as radical extremists who are anything but conservative.