We don't know that he isn't fighting back. He may have a lawyer, may have even had one going into the entire hiring process. He's just not speaking to the media.
I was glad to read this post by Cole, because I too have thought about the role of hyperbole in political criticism. It has a long and venerated history; it's just denied to Palestinian commentators. It's part of constantly monitoring Palestinian existence in the post 9/11 world on the part of "liberals," including those in the academy who refuse to stand up to Zionist political organizations and their threats, threats that are delivered as Cole argues, behind closed doors rather than in public.
I completely agree Tridant. The US's role is crucial. We have news today of a US citizen having been killed by the I.D.F. and the Obama administration like others before it is the in bizarre position of being silent about this death, except I suppose when they're forced to say they "regret it" by some reporters. Take a look at the behavior of the British govt. toward its citizens, Turkey, Ireland and you'll see how outlandish is the U.S. role. Increasingly, the U.S. is going to be isolated vis a vis Israel. But AIPAC and its subsidiaries will only be increasingly determined if not happy about this isolation, because they would take the U.S. to hell and back for the defense of Israel. Edward Said is right. Until this version of American Zionism is defeated here on our soil, the U.S. and that means all of us will be dragged again and again into Israel's muck.
This may sound callous to say after these brutal murders in international waters, but I do think it's possible that we are looking at a reconfiguration in process like Cole mentions--Turkey, Iran, Syria, Palestine, possibly also Qatar. I found it interesting that Egypt opened the border, and a sign that the military in that country was unhappy enough with the situation as well as opportunistic enough to see an opening for Egypt to try and play a role that it, along with the "important" Arab state regimes has lost. I don't see it though. I see D.C.'s Arab clients as more ineffective and stagnant than at any time in recent history. All over the streets of Ramallah, people held signs saying "thank you Turkey" and carried the Turkish flag. This says a lot about where public opinion is headed. It won't be good for the U.S. and its dictators, including Abbas.
We don't know that he isn't fighting back. He may have a lawyer, may have even had one going into the entire hiring process. He's just not speaking to the media.
I was glad to read this post by Cole, because I too have thought about the role of hyperbole in political criticism. It has a long and venerated history; it's just denied to Palestinian commentators. It's part of constantly monitoring Palestinian existence in the post 9/11 world on the part of "liberals," including those in the academy who refuse to stand up to Zionist political organizations and their threats, threats that are delivered as Cole argues, behind closed doors rather than in public.
I completely agree Tridant. The US's role is crucial. We have news today of a US citizen having been killed by the I.D.F. and the Obama administration like others before it is the in bizarre position of being silent about this death, except I suppose when they're forced to say they "regret it" by some reporters. Take a look at the behavior of the British govt. toward its citizens, Turkey, Ireland and you'll see how outlandish is the U.S. role. Increasingly, the U.S. is going to be isolated vis a vis Israel. But AIPAC and its subsidiaries will only be increasingly determined if not happy about this isolation, because they would take the U.S. to hell and back for the defense of Israel. Edward Said is right. Until this version of American Zionism is defeated here on our soil, the U.S. and that means all of us will be dragged again and again into Israel's muck.
And it will get worse. Wait and see.
World Body Demands release of Aid Activists, Ships
This may sound callous to say after these brutal murders in international waters, but I do think it's possible that we are looking at a reconfiguration in process like Cole mentions--Turkey, Iran, Syria, Palestine, possibly also Qatar. I found it interesting that Egypt opened the border, and a sign that the military in that country was unhappy enough with the situation as well as opportunistic enough to see an opening for Egypt to try and play a role that it, along with the "important" Arab state regimes has lost. I don't see it though. I see D.C.'s Arab clients as more ineffective and stagnant than at any time in recent history. All over the streets of Ramallah, people held signs saying "thank you Turkey" and carried the Turkish flag. This says a lot about where public opinion is headed. It won't be good for the U.S. and its dictators, including Abbas.