"One wouldn’t even complain about this aid if Israel weren’t using it in part to occupy the stateless Palestinians."
"in part"????? All the other "enemies of Israel" are its neighbours who don't like being invaded eg Lebanon, or who accept the Palestinians pushed out of Palestine.
There is NO MORAL REASON to provide arms and "defense" to a nation illegally occupying (and populating with its "own" ) a country whose people just want human rights and dignity in their own land.
The sooner the consuming countries develop methods to reduce/avoid fossil fuels, and the more their populations push them, the less will be the influence of Saudi Arabia, whose corrosive effects on climate change, wars, terrorism are far too large.
"Respectively, 90% and 86% wanted to know the prospective president’s position on terrorism and Daesh."
If the media were not so hyperactive and biased, this number would be much less, in keeping with the real dangers to the USA. Terror attacks are way down on the list.
Really frightening, even for the USA. War is assumed to be just an alternative taken for no reason at all, despite all the failures the USA has demonstrated especially in recent years. None of these gentlemen has the slightest clue about foreign policy, about peace or negotiations, about the welfare of the US public, let alone anyone else on the globe.
Daesh is only a danger because the USA/Europe need to pretend that Islamic Extremism is the only real enemy. Iran can somehow even be included, despite its real fight against Daesh, by the ignorant and biased US Repugs such as the potential POTUS candidates while Saudi Arabia is our precious ally, like Israel.
"But Ankara is finally in play against Daesh." by allowing the USA to bomb from its bases.
That is, if we really believe the wonderful efficiency and military success of the USA, as shown so well over the last 13 years.
Since Israel equates resistance to its illegal occupation by Hamas with terrorism on a grand scale by Daesh, and like the USA finds Saudi Arabia a reasonable partner in any venture in which their warped understanding does not see their own faults, the outcome seems doomed to fail.
Thanks Juan. If people choose to believe that God wrote the Bible and they can interpret it as they wish, and ignore any bits they do not like, so be it. These people should not have any power to affect any other human being.
How anyone can even contemplate voting for Graham is a mystery to people who live outside the USA. He has never used a gram of brainpower or understanding in any of his pronouncements or suggestions on any matter.
So good to see a leader, unlike the "Christians" infesting the powers that be in the USA, who actually knows something of what he is speaking of, and cares for the earth and its people, unlike those who want to sell it to the highest bidder.
Thanks Juan for a great article. It is hard to believe that over 300million people in an "advanced democracy" have such potential candidates for their Dear Leader.
It is refreshing and surprising to have someone like Jon Stewart criticise Israel, and infuriating that nobody is ever allowed to say a word against what they pretend is a real, normal country.
Why must we also hear what the criminal Netanyahu thinks of anyone else, when his refusal to follow international law, his cruelty and unfairness to all Palestinians and his lies about Iran show his complete lack of care for anyone but his bigoted followers?
"Iran had sent a convoy to the Houthis, but it was turned back by US naval intervention"
No mention that this was a cargo of much needed food and medical supplies, NOT arms, but of course the US had to interfere.
Drama indeed. Very sad for the murdered woman, but another nasty dig at Muslims by reiterating that he was from Algeria (like many millions of non-murderers in France).
Let us follow the Middle East Nuke free zone with the USA, France, UK, China, Russia, India and Pakistan ALL renouncing nukes. After all the MAD worked for a long time, and nukes, even if Dubya thinks so, cannot be used-they are for deterrence. All should be reduced as the NPT is supposed to provide for, then , surely, abolished. If only....
"Israel is currently the only nuclear power in the region, which makes it a regional hegemon, a position it might lose if it were one of many nuclear powers."
Of course, Israel is NOT, like Iran, a signatory of the NPT, and coyly does not admit its arsenal.
Half a million out of 11 million is less than 5%, and of these only 3 are the cause of the constant fuss made of the tiny number of men in this type of crime (like the three out of 7 million Muslims in France) leaves out all the other crimes, which seem unimportant compared to the concentration on "Islamic terror", the latest fear for all us white guys.
As Tomdispatch reports, Americans are more likely to be killed by a toddler than a terrorist, yet the high alerts and fearmongering,allied with hate speech as in Charlies and their followers, ensure peace and tolerance never become the norm.
Your description of Vietnam sounds exactly like the present day USA, so of course it is a fellow-democracy.
All the Latin American nations which the USA used to support also conformed to your description, and are now vilified and sanctioned eg Venezuela. Nobody can truthfully claim the USA is a force for good.
Luckily all the commenters realise the truth. The massacre by Israel, completely unjustified, was riddled with war crimes, even though it was not fought against an army, a navy, air power, imported high tech US weapons but against civilians trying to protect the tiny bit of land they still hold.
University, a place of freedom of ideas? Not exactly, and the israeli universities should NOT be supported by real seats of freedom; I suppose that is why US universities often encourage them.
"Bibi" pretends that Hamas, a resistance group against Israeli occupation and for liberation of Palestine, is some sort of "terror" comparable with IS. He may have to start facing reality.
Hardly surprising to anyone who is fair and honest, which excludes huge swathes of Mercans and others who support Israel and deny any facts.
Netanyahu's extreme position, his refusal even to accept a draft proposal for allowing Gaza to survive, his continuation with the vicious murders and destruction, along with the devastating lies comparing Hamas with IS, shows there is no good faith or any measure of understanding that the "jewish state of israel" has real human beings as neighbours and needs to find a way to overcome its perpetual violence and hatred.
The article still assumes that "fighters" are allowed to be targeted despite the fact that they do not have an official army, defence forces, imported high tech weapons from the USA, and in international law are permitted to defend themselves against illlegal occupation or invasion. Israel has no legal right to claim victimhood when it goads reponses by its constant attacks, then makes any incident a pretext for further disproportionate violence.
"self defense" must apply to all Palestinians, not just children
check it out- the rockets started well after the extreme reactions of the IDF against Hamas (as in previous "conflicts", it is the Israelis who attack first).
As all the settlements in the WB are illegal, the three "boys" were putting themselves in harm's way by their presence and actions. Hamas was accused at once with no evidence, but a vicious propaganda campaign of hate against any "Arab".
" In Israel, the Palpigs are firing rockets into civilian housing areas." Does Juan accept this kind of language and lie?
1. The rockets came after deliberate provocation of Hamas members, killings and arrests of alleged Hamas supporters.
2. As always, very little damage was done, while huge amounts of damage, destruction and death are rained on Gaza, where no defence is allowed, while the "IDF" is abundantly armed.
Modi is adequately described in Arundhati Roy's books and articles. "The world's largest democracy" is riddled with corruption and the votes and needs of the 800 million poor and uneducated people missing any benefits of the new, corporatised India will have no better results under Modi than under Singh.
Why is this extremist given such publicity? i saw the interview about her objection to clean, bacteria-free, non-cruelly treated "halal" turkeys , and she really is unhinged and dangerous.
Great comment from Cide Hamete above!!
India hardly needs policies even more corporation-friendly than those of the last twenty years. The points Juan has made make India sound just like the USA has become, and for the 800million poor people,those without land (given to transnationals to "develop") and the forest-dwellers ("Maoists"-internal security threat) life will be even worse. Check out Arundhati Roy's latest book or any article by Vijay Prashad.
Israel does not practice violent aggression against the Palestinians. Hello???? What is the "IDF" doing??? Self defence when the attacked party is not allowed weapons, or an army, or any rights??? Moral symmetry? What morals has Israel, the takeover invader?
There is no reasoning, moral value or commonsense in the USA's pretence that there is a valid "peace process" between Israel, which breaks every rule, and Palestine,which is trying to be recognised. The USA's stubborn support of the Zionist Entity reinforces the observation that the USA has no interest in peace, justice or fairness.
Not only that, but many others eg POTUS Obama, claim it was a "mistake", not a terrible crime based on deliberate lies. The results continue in "free, liberated" Iraq.
This is a wonderful book; so many Americans do not care what their leaders do around the world, but they do care about "our troops", and this book shows how much this is part of the wars the US insists on continuing.
"Surely this trend is due in part to the drumbeat of alarming news linking Muslims with violent events such as the Boston Marathon bombing, the attack on the American consulate in Libya, and civil wars in Syria and elsewhere."
The US MSM, POTUS, elected "leaders" of the USA assume that US actions against Muslim countries and Muslims in the USA.and Israel's illegal and cruel behaviour towards Palestinians and others are justifiable and moral. The tiny (in comparison) terrorist acts in the USA are used as an excuse. The USA always has to have enemies; Muslims just happen to be the convenient latest ones.
"never recognised by the international community." but the USA helps and encourages the illegal acts and the EU is nearly as bad.
This is an extremely provocative move, and each time less is left for the "Palestinian State" that is now not even allowed to be mentioned (see articles on Gazans needing medical care in israel or WB).
"If the US really can forestall permanently a nuclear-armed Iran," Juan, surely you do not believe all those lies?? You seem to praise a lot of the present and former US policies eg at the time of deGaulle, as if they were right!
I am lucky enough to know nothing of this bearded loon, but what have ducks got to do with human sexuality, which is an obsession with US law enforcers? Is sin really a topic for such a hero?
Thanks Juan. How anyone can believe the whoppers of the Paranoid Maniac of Israel amazes me. I suppose"US Reps" and "US Senators" are bribed enough or threatened enough.
The obsession that USans seem to have about "drugs", like the concentration on "moral issues" of sexuality, contraception, abortion, adultery, is very strange when violence, surveillance, poverty, inequality are much more dangerous to the health of society than people's personal habits if they are free to choose.
Not ony Muslims, but young men, black men, environmental activists, just normal Mercans trying to live their lives are so often stopped, arrested, harassed, even physically robbed or violated by "law enforcement officers" that living in the Homeland sounds like hell to me, as a person living in Europe and having NEVER been stopped for spurious reasons anywhere. The whole assumption that a person is likely to be a criminal, that any "offence" eg in traffic, allows immediate investigation for drug possession/stolen proerty/with no valid reason explains the position of the USA as a dangerous place to live unless you are one of the privileged few.
Thanks for the succinct summary, Juan. It certainly seems positive and Iran has been the one to be flexible. Surely only US religious extremists and neocons could continue to support the PM (Paranoid Maniac) of Israel now.
It is only a few years ago (I think 2006) that a series of interests managed to destroy a successful program of leased electric cars and physically pick up and grind to pieces every one of the vehicles. It is described in detail on the DVD "Who Killed the Electric Car?" GM and several other firms made the cars, the public in California approved them, a waiting list of potential users grew, points to plug in were installed, and when the cars were recalled a group of activists followed and filmed the disaster. Well worth buying and seeing. Now it all starts again.
You are right about the Congress persons. If they really represent the people and not corporations and lobbies, it says a lot about the lamentable state of knowledge and intelligence (brains!) of the USA as an advanced country.
Most, however, including nearly 100% of the Senate, seem completely under the thrall of AIPAC, regardless of the needs of the USA.
Iran has threatened nobody (except to retaliate for attacks ie defend themselves) yet proven criminal régimes like Israel and Saudi Arabia can sway the "international community" against the wishes of the populations in most countries and even the survival of us all.
Thanks for the explanation, Juan. I hope you are right about the reasons, as I was so infuriated to learn the facts, but it is true that few details have escaped and perhaps the whole deal is too weak for Iran to accept anyway.
The people who supplied Israel were doing it against the law, and De Gaulle was enraged when he found out.
Please do not think this represents France. I live here, and the socalled socialists, with Fabius whose incompetence caused a huge blood contamination scandal when he was in power decades ago, is a Zionist stooge like Hollande, NOT representative of the majority, but of all the élite in all parties.
Not only does the USA have NO interest in education, culture or science,as shown by its policies, but Palestine and Haiti are two of its most cruelly treated targets.
Kennedy was adamantly against Israeli nuke capability, but the Israelis kept secret what happened at Dimona. Some of the info came out when Mordechai Vununu made his famous disclosures in London.
Grumpy is right. Almost anything is better than WMD, but the USA keeps pretending it is in some existential danger which violence will solve. If the USA halved its Pentagon bill, it could solve most other real problems. Getting rid of all the bases and weapons would be even better!
I find it extremely sad that the MB in power were lukewarm in their attitude and actions towards Gaza, and now the military has destroyed virtually all the tunnels and closed the only crossing, thus aiding Israel in its continual cruelty to Palestinians, who have always found the Egyptian people to be their friends and allies.
Bill, you must know that the US actions, according to Brzezinski who carried them out, predated the USSR "invasion"(on the invitation of the Afghan government); the USSR was not a threat to the USA- it was the Cold War rhetoric. It was also not the only place "radical Muslims" were invited to fight on "our side". Check out Bosnia and its neighbours.
The article by Solomon is misleading, and even mcShane joins in the chorus "Israel has been a staunch ally of the U.S. for decades". What benefits have the huge gifts of the USA to Israel really given back? As Juan's picture of Zionism in the first post today shows, a big bloc of people who hate the USA.
DPRK is "tolerated" ie with 60 years of vicious sanctions, because it DOES have nukes. Iraq would not have been invaded if there really were WMD. Libya was invaded after removing them.
As North Korea has stated, of the 2000 nuclear tests undertaken in recent years, only the three by DPRK are criticised (and the zero by Iran).
Only one good thing!She realised that the joining of the two Germanies and the destruction of the Soviet Union were NOT something to be celebrated. Events eg Superpower USA, NATO expansion and Europe's woes, have proved her correct.
Israel left in 2005 since the forces needed to protect the few thousand Jews in the select parts of Gaza were excessive; instead Sharon expanded the takeover of the West Bank land of Palestinians. It is worse now that air, sea, land borders of Gaza are fully and cruelly controlled, stopping normal exports and movement of people, as well as violent attacks on the people. Egypt continues to aid israel eg by drowning the lifesaving tunnels into Gaza.
Seth, the IDF are the ones murdering children; as for martyrdom, the Gazans are murdered, NOT volunteering to be killed. Are you thinking of the long-abandoned suicide attacks? The Palestinians in Gaza are imprisoned by Israel, whose attitude and actions include brainwashing the "chosen"ones into thinking thinking that only Jews matter.
Juan, " I don’t care for Hamas or Haniya" is a rather unnecessary statement. It is for the Palestinians to choose their leaders and parties, and HAMAS was chosen by many for its policies to help them fight the occupation, not for militant Islam, and many Christians in Gaza support Haniyah.
Israel does not seem to believe in the possibility of legitimate resistance of a people, but the support by US/UK/Europe etc is the main reason they get away with it.
Tha other condition Turkey had insisted upon was the lifting of the siege on Gaza. Not only has that NOT happenend, but Angry Arab reports today that Israeli officials have said it may be tightened. So much for the word of the "jewish democratic state", and the wonderful impartiality of POTUS Obama, who also asked Abbas not to go to the ICC with a case against Israel for any reason.
Thanks Banen for this reminder. All the "experts"" like Bremer, Cheney and so many "journalists" care not at all for the Iraqis or any other real humans.
This just cannot happen, with the present government being probably the worst ever, and the settlers gaining more and ore power and land. Seeing the treatment of Palestinians now by the "chosen ones", living harmoniously just will not be possible. Israeli education does not allow acceptance of "Arabs" or any non Jjews as real humans.
Brennan easily accepted, Jacob Lew easily accepted, John Kerry, ditto, Mary Jo White, even a Walmart executive. It is obvious that Obama's poor judgment will have calamitous effects on the lives of working (or hoping to work, or retired) Mercans.
It is a pity Juan criticises much more than praises Chavez. What he did for the majority of his people (see angry arab blog for some hilarious examples of NYT etc faint praise)was hugely benefivial and effective, and the USA fought against him all the way. Juan, your support for the "rebels" in Libya, Syria, Iran is NOT universally agreed with by your readers. Many are completely against "humanitarian intervention" in the affairs of other nations. Jack's point (above) is valid; the USA supports, in so many cases, the most retrograde and dictatorial régimes, yet you castigate Chavez for his choices.
"Israel is compelled to take military action in (LOL) self-defense"since its EXISTENCE is in peril!!!!
One overarmed, nuke-holding, belligerent, threatening entity among countries that ALL want a nuke-free zone, and Israel pretends IT needs to destroy a sovereign nation with the help of the USA.
Two questions:
Why is the Muslim Brotherhood govt in Egypt flooding the tunnels which are Gaza's lifeline?
Do people like Mohammed Atta, alleged lead bomber on 9/11, count as Muslim fundies when they are renowned for their lack of piety?
What absolute conceit.
1. "We in the UK stopped our war with Irish republican Catholics" Remember the reason Northern Ireland had Protestants? They were colonists and land stealers- the sectarian difference was not the cause of the differences.
You did not just stop.
2. Don't pretend you are somehow more advanced than Muslims.
Have you never heard of WW1 and WW2? Western "christians" are the most bloodthirsty and greedy if you bother to follow the history.
You may like to rethink Srebrenica as well. Try Diana Johnstone "Fools' Crusade".
Lots of lovely western massacres as well, sedona.Not to mention the Shah.
I had no idea that the USA had such restrictions and therefore such unfair access to Internet. Thanks for the enlightening interview, and I will seek ou the book.
A point about WW2, which the US entered after two years and had 6 (six) civilian deaths compared with 20million in the USSR (on OUR side) and millions in all the other European countries, along with huge destruction. The USA seems to claim it won WW2, but lots happened especially on the Eastern Front before the USA, having made lots of money from both sides, actually found it in its interest to join.
Perhaps because the USA always goes out to war, that it made such a big issue of 9/11, a tiny incident in real war damage terms.
Do you really consider the AlQaida "threat" to be a problem on a par with real issues eg global warming, nuclear proliferation, loss of freedoms in the USA, inequality ruining any hope of recovery of the economy.....,
33 terrorism deaths of Mercans since 9/11, 170000 murders of Mercans.
"demilitarized Palestinian state" of course, and a vastly overarmed, murderous and vicious population of "settlers" and their supporters, with non-policies of Yair Lapid taken to mean he is a fair human. I find the views of Uri Avnery, one of the few real believers in peace in israel/palestine, more acceptable than those of this writer.
Do we? There is a lot of disagreement on the perps, but nobody with any power of thought could be surprised at the response and the terrible consequences. US policy has been able to destroy countries for decades, and the excuses change, but the violence extends.
Do we really have to have photos of this fat, whining traitor who now complains he has diabetes and wants to go to Israel?
It is interesting that this undesirable immigrant refused an invitation to become President of the new State of Israel.
"One wouldn’t even complain about this aid if Israel weren’t using it in part to occupy the stateless Palestinians."
"in part"????? All the other "enemies of Israel" are its neighbours who don't like being invaded eg Lebanon, or who accept the Palestinians pushed out of Palestine.
There is NO MORAL REASON to provide arms and "defense" to a nation illegally occupying (and populating with its "own" ) a country whose people just want human rights and dignity in their own land.
Why does the "GOP" ramble on about impossible situations? What could possibly happen to make a Muslim POTUS??
The sooner the consuming countries develop methods to reduce/avoid fossil fuels, and the more their populations push them, the less will be the influence of Saudi Arabia, whose corrosive effects on climate change, wars, terrorism are far too large.
"Respectively, 90% and 86% wanted to know the prospective president’s position on terrorism and Daesh."
If the media were not so hyperactive and biased, this number would be much less, in keeping with the real dangers to the USA. Terror attacks are way down on the list.
Really frightening, even for the USA. War is assumed to be just an alternative taken for no reason at all, despite all the failures the USA has demonstrated especially in recent years. None of these gentlemen has the slightest clue about foreign policy, about peace or negotiations, about the welfare of the US public, let alone anyone else on the globe.
Daesh is only a danger because the USA/Europe need to pretend that Islamic Extremism is the only real enemy. Iran can somehow even be included, despite its real fight against Daesh, by the ignorant and biased US Repugs such as the potential POTUS candidates while Saudi Arabia is our precious ally, like Israel.
"But Ankara is finally in play against Daesh." by allowing the USA to bomb from its bases.
That is, if we really believe the wonderful efficiency and military success of the USA, as shown so well over the last 13 years.
Since Israel equates resistance to its illegal occupation by Hamas with terrorism on a grand scale by Daesh, and like the USA finds Saudi Arabia a reasonable partner in any venture in which their warped understanding does not see their own faults, the outcome seems doomed to fail.
Thanks Juan. If people choose to believe that God wrote the Bible and they can interpret it as they wish, and ignore any bits they do not like, so be it. These people should not have any power to affect any other human being.
How anyone can even contemplate voting for Graham is a mystery to people who live outside the USA. He has never used a gram of brainpower or understanding in any of his pronouncements or suggestions on any matter.
So good to see a leader, unlike the "Christians" infesting the powers that be in the USA, who actually knows something of what he is speaking of, and cares for the earth and its people, unlike those who want to sell it to the highest bidder.
Thanks Juan for a great article. It is hard to believe that over 300million people in an "advanced democracy" have such potential candidates for their Dear Leader.
It is refreshing and surprising to have someone like Jon Stewart criticise Israel, and infuriating that nobody is ever allowed to say a word against what they pretend is a real, normal country.
Why must we also hear what the criminal Netanyahu thinks of anyone else, when his refusal to follow international law, his cruelty and unfairness to all Palestinians and his lies about Iran show his complete lack of care for anyone but his bigoted followers?
"Iran had sent a convoy to the Houthis, but it was turned back by US naval intervention"
No mention that this was a cargo of much needed food and medical supplies, NOT arms, but of course the US had to interfere.
Drama indeed. Very sad for the murdered woman, but another nasty dig at Muslims by reiterating that he was from Algeria (like many millions of non-murderers in France).
As well as all the negative aspects of his policy positions, Rand Paul must be one of the ugliest of the potential candidates.
Let us hope you are right. Why should US/GOP intransigence and stupidity continue to produce more unneeded problems?
Let us follow the Middle East Nuke free zone with the USA, France, UK, China, Russia, India and Pakistan ALL renouncing nukes. After all the MAD worked for a long time, and nukes, even if Dubya thinks so, cannot be used-they are for deterrence. All should be reduced as the NPT is supposed to provide for, then , surely, abolished. If only....
"Israel is currently the only nuclear power in the region, which makes it a regional hegemon, a position it might lose if it were one of many nuclear powers."
Of course, Israel is NOT, like Iran, a signatory of the NPT, and coyly does not admit its arsenal.
Half a million out of 11 million is less than 5%, and of these only 3 are the cause of the constant fuss made of the tiny number of men in this type of crime (like the three out of 7 million Muslims in France) leaves out all the other crimes, which seem unimportant compared to the concentration on "Islamic terror", the latest fear for all us white guys.
As Tomdispatch reports, Americans are more likely to be killed by a toddler than a terrorist, yet the high alerts and fearmongering,allied with hate speech as in Charlies and their followers, ensure peace and tolerance never become the norm.
Your description of Vietnam sounds exactly like the present day USA, so of course it is a fellow-democracy.
All the Latin American nations which the USA used to support also conformed to your description, and are now vilified and sanctioned eg Venezuela. Nobody can truthfully claim the USA is a force for good.
I suppose we don't know already because nobody would read Dubya's memoirs.
Does anything this man says warrant repeating?
Luckily all the commenters realise the truth. The massacre by Israel, completely unjustified, was riddled with war crimes, even though it was not fought against an army, a navy, air power, imported high tech US weapons but against civilians trying to protect the tiny bit of land they still hold.
University, a place of freedom of ideas? Not exactly, and the israeli universities should NOT be supported by real seats of freedom; I suppose that is why US universities often encourage them.
Arrogance from noori, I think. The Kurds are the only ones who have been keeping IS at bay.
I would like to know how many US citizens serve in the "IDF".
"Bibi" pretends that Hamas, a resistance group against Israeli occupation and for liberation of Palestine, is some sort of "terror" comparable with IS. He may have to start facing reality.
Hardly surprising to anyone who is fair and honest, which excludes huge swathes of Mercans and others who support Israel and deny any facts.
Netanyahu's extreme position, his refusal even to accept a draft proposal for allowing Gaza to survive, his continuation with the vicious murders and destruction, along with the devastating lies comparing Hamas with IS, shows there is no good faith or any measure of understanding that the "jewish state of israel" has real human beings as neighbours and needs to find a way to overcome its perpetual violence and hatred.
YES!!
The article still assumes that "fighters" are allowed to be targeted despite the fact that they do not have an official army, defence forces, imported high tech weapons from the USA, and in international law are permitted to defend themselves against illlegal occupation or invasion. Israel has no legal right to claim victimhood when it goads reponses by its constant attacks, then makes any incident a pretext for further disproportionate violence.
"self defense" must apply to all Palestinians, not just children
check it out- the rockets started well after the extreme reactions of the IDF against Hamas (as in previous "conflicts", it is the Israelis who attack first).
As all the settlements in the WB are illegal, the three "boys" were putting themselves in harm's way by their presence and actions. Hamas was accused at once with no evidence, but a vicious propaganda campaign of hate against any "Arab".
" In Israel, the Palpigs are firing rockets into civilian housing areas." Does Juan accept this kind of language and lie?
1. The rockets came after deliberate provocation of Hamas members, killings and arrests of alleged Hamas supporters.
2. As always, very little damage was done, while huge amounts of damage, destruction and death are rained on Gaza, where no defence is allowed, while the "IDF" is abundantly armed.
Spot on, Juan. Notice those that were wrong are the ones being invited to comment now. Even Wolfowitz! We must despair.
Modi is adequately described in Arundhati Roy's books and articles. "The world's largest democracy" is riddled with corruption and the votes and needs of the 800 million poor and uneducated people missing any benefits of the new, corporatised India will have no better results under Modi than under Singh.
Why is this extremist given such publicity? i saw the interview about her objection to clean, bacteria-free, non-cruelly treated "halal" turkeys , and she really is unhinged and dangerous.
Great comment from Cide Hamete above!!
India hardly needs policies even more corporation-friendly than those of the last twenty years. The points Juan has made make India sound just like the USA has become, and for the 800million poor people,those without land (given to transnationals to "develop") and the forest-dwellers ("Maoists"-internal security threat) life will be even worse. Check out Arundhati Roy's latest book or any article by Vijay Prashad.
Israel does not practice violent aggression against the Palestinians. Hello???? What is the "IDF" doing??? Self defence when the attacked party is not allowed weapons, or an army, or any rights??? Moral symmetry? What morals has Israel, the takeover invader?
There is no reasoning, moral value or commonsense in the USA's pretence that there is a valid "peace process" between Israel, which breaks every rule, and Palestine,which is trying to be recognised. The USA's stubborn support of the Zionist Entity reinforces the observation that the USA has no interest in peace, justice or fairness.
Not only that, but many others eg POTUS Obama, claim it was a "mistake", not a terrible crime based on deliberate lies. The results continue in "free, liberated" Iraq.
This is a wonderful book; so many Americans do not care what their leaders do around the world, but they do care about "our troops", and this book shows how much this is part of the wars the US insists on continuing.
The reply sounds just like one a POTUS McCain would have sent. This is diplomacy???
Juan, I first read it as fact, and was not even surprised since Gohmert is almost beyond parody. Thanks!
"Surely this trend is due in part to the drumbeat of alarming news linking Muslims with violent events such as the Boston Marathon bombing, the attack on the American consulate in Libya, and civil wars in Syria and elsewhere."
The US MSM, POTUS, elected "leaders" of the USA assume that US actions against Muslim countries and Muslims in the USA.and Israel's illegal and cruel behaviour towards Palestinians and others are justifiable and moral. The tiny (in comparison) terrorist acts in the USA are used as an excuse. The USA always has to have enemies; Muslims just happen to be the convenient latest ones.
"never recognised by the international community." but the USA helps and encourages the illegal acts and the EU is nearly as bad.
This is an extremely provocative move, and each time less is left for the "Palestinian State" that is now not even allowed to be mentioned (see articles on Gazans needing medical care in israel or WB).
How the USA can allow such "education" to be accredited is a blight on any country.
"she was studying at university in Israel."
Why on earth would an non-Jew want to study in Israel, be allowed to and for what purpose,?
"If the US really can forestall permanently a nuclear-armed Iran," Juan, surely you do not believe all those lies?? You seem to praise a lot of the present and former US policies eg at the time of deGaulle, as if they were right!
Read Ann Jones' new book "They Were Soldiers" to understand how some of the US troops "defending our freedoms" had to spend the rest of their lives.
I am lucky enough to know nothing of this bearded loon, but what have ducks got to do with human sexuality, which is an obsession with US law enforcers? Is sin really a topic for such a hero?
Why are USans insisting on skepticism on climate change, while being completely gullible on God being their personal saviour???
Castro descended to the level of shaking hands with a US President.
Thanks Juan. How anyone can believe the whoppers of the Paranoid Maniac of Israel amazes me. I suppose"US Reps" and "US Senators" are bribed enough or threatened enough.
The obsession that USans seem to have about "drugs", like the concentration on "moral issues" of sexuality, contraception, abortion, adultery, is very strange when violence, surveillance, poverty, inequality are much more dangerous to the health of society than people's personal habits if they are free to choose.
Not ony Muslims, but young men, black men, environmental activists, just normal Mercans trying to live their lives are so often stopped, arrested, harassed, even physically robbed or violated by "law enforcement officers" that living in the Homeland sounds like hell to me, as a person living in Europe and having NEVER been stopped for spurious reasons anywhere. The whole assumption that a person is likely to be a criminal, that any "offence" eg in traffic, allows immediate investigation for drug possession/stolen proerty/with no valid reason explains the position of the USA as a dangerous place to live unless you are one of the privileged few.
Thanks for the succinct summary, Juan. It certainly seems positive and Iran has been the one to be flexible. Surely only US religious extremists and neocons could continue to support the PM (Paranoid Maniac) of Israel now.
It is only a few years ago (I think 2006) that a series of interests managed to destroy a successful program of leased electric cars and physically pick up and grind to pieces every one of the vehicles. It is described in detail on the DVD "Who Killed the Electric Car?" GM and several other firms made the cars, the public in California approved them, a waiting list of potential users grew, points to plug in were installed, and when the cars were recalled a group of activists followed and filmed the disaster. Well worth buying and seeing. Now it all starts again.
You are right about the Congress persons. If they really represent the people and not corporations and lobbies, it says a lot about the lamentable state of knowledge and intelligence (brains!) of the USA as an advanced country.
Most, however, including nearly 100% of the Senate, seem completely under the thrall of AIPAC, regardless of the needs of the USA.
Iran has threatened nobody (except to retaliate for attacks ie defend themselves) yet proven criminal régimes like Israel and Saudi Arabia can sway the "international community" against the wishes of the populations in most countries and even the survival of us all.
Thanks for the explanation, Juan. I hope you are right about the reasons, as I was so infuriated to learn the facts, but it is true that few details have escaped and perhaps the whole deal is too weak for Iran to accept anyway.
The people who supplied Israel were doing it against the law, and De Gaulle was enraged when he found out.
Please do not think this represents France. I live here, and the socalled socialists, with Fabius whose incompetence caused a huge blood contamination scandal when he was in power decades ago, is a Zionist stooge like Hollande, NOT representative of the majority, but of all the élite in all parties.
Not only does the USA have NO interest in education, culture or science,as shown by its policies, but Palestine and Haiti are two of its most cruelly treated targets.
Thanks for the list, Juan. Right on the point.
Kennedy was adamantly against Israeli nuke capability, but the Israelis kept secret what happened at Dimona. Some of the info came out when Mordechai Vununu made his famous disclosures in London.
Full film of Unmanned is available on Information Clearing House site yesterday.Well worth seeing in full.
Grumpy is right. Almost anything is better than WMD, but the USA keeps pretending it is in some existential danger which violence will solve. If the USA halved its Pentagon bill, it could solve most other real problems. Getting rid of all the bases and weapons would be even better!
Bernie Sanders is practically the only worthwhile member of the US Congress.
Thanks Juan for that interview. Everyone needs to know about this, and Heather Gerken explained it very well.
700000 Syrian refugees in Jordan; the USA has accepted 33. Go figure.
Obama did not say that cruelty and aggression were part of Israeli DNA, however.
I find it extremely sad that the MB in power were lukewarm in their attitude and actions towards Gaza, and now the military has destroyed virtually all the tunnels and closed the only crossing, thus aiding Israel in its continual cruelty to Palestinians, who have always found the Egyptian people to be their friends and allies.
Bill, you must know that the US actions, according to Brzezinski who carried them out, predated the USSR "invasion"(on the invitation of the Afghan government); the USSR was not a threat to the USA- it was the Cold War rhetoric. It was also not the only place "radical Muslims" were invited to fight on "our side". Check out Bosnia and its neighbours.
The article by Solomon is misleading, and even mcShane joins in the chorus "Israel has been a staunch ally of the U.S. for decades". What benefits have the huge gifts of the USA to Israel really given back? As Juan's picture of Zionism in the first post today shows, a big bloc of people who hate the USA.
DPRK is "tolerated" ie with 60 years of vicious sanctions, because it DOES have nukes. Iraq would not have been invaded if there really were WMD. Libya was invaded after removing them.
As North Korea has stated, of the 2000 nuclear tests undertaken in recent years, only the three by DPRK are criticised (and the zero by Iran).
Only one good thing!She realised that the joining of the two Germanies and the destruction of the Soviet Union were NOT something to be celebrated. Events eg Superpower USA, NATO expansion and Europe's woes, have proved her correct.
Israel left in 2005 since the forces needed to protect the few thousand Jews in the select parts of Gaza were excessive; instead Sharon expanded the takeover of the West Bank land of Palestinians. It is worse now that air, sea, land borders of Gaza are fully and cruelly controlled, stopping normal exports and movement of people, as well as violent attacks on the people. Egypt continues to aid israel eg by drowning the lifesaving tunnels into Gaza.
Seth, the IDF are the ones murdering children; as for martyrdom, the Gazans are murdered, NOT volunteering to be killed. Are you thinking of the long-abandoned suicide attacks? The Palestinians in Gaza are imprisoned by Israel, whose attitude and actions include brainwashing the "chosen"ones into thinking thinking that only Jews matter.
Juan, " I don’t care for Hamas or Haniya" is a rather unnecessary statement. It is for the Palestinians to choose their leaders and parties, and HAMAS was chosen by many for its policies to help them fight the occupation, not for militant Islam, and many Christians in Gaza support Haniyah.
Israel does not seem to believe in the possibility of legitimate resistance of a people, but the support by US/UK/Europe etc is the main reason they get away with it.
Tha other condition Turkey had insisted upon was the lifting of the siege on Gaza. Not only has that NOT happenend, but Angry Arab reports today that Israeli officials have said it may be tightened. So much for the word of the "jewish democratic state", and the wonderful impartiality of POTUS Obama, who also asked Abbas not to go to the ICC with a case against Israel for any reason.
Thanks Banen for this reminder. All the "experts"" like Bremer, Cheney and so many "journalists" care not at all for the Iraqis or any other real humans.
who are the fanatics on the Palestinian side?
This just cannot happen, with the present government being probably the worst ever, and the settlers gaining more and ore power and land. Seeing the treatment of Palestinians now by the "chosen ones", living harmoniously just will not be possible. Israeli education does not allow acceptance of "Arabs" or any non Jjews as real humans.
Correct!
Just as stupid as the triggerhappy Yanks.
Brennan easily accepted, Jacob Lew easily accepted, John Kerry, ditto, Mary Jo White, even a Walmart executive. It is obvious that Obama's poor judgment will have calamitous effects on the lives of working (or hoping to work, or retired) Mercans.
It is a pity Juan criticises much more than praises Chavez. What he did for the majority of his people (see angry arab blog for some hilarious examples of NYT etc faint praise)was hugely benefivial and effective, and the USA fought against him all the way. Juan, your support for the "rebels" in Libya, Syria, Iran is NOT universally agreed with by your readers. Many are completely against "humanitarian intervention" in the affairs of other nations. Jack's point (above) is valid; the USA supports, in so many cases, the most retrograde and dictatorial régimes, yet you castigate Chavez for his choices.
"Israel is compelled to take military action in (LOL) self-defense"since its EXISTENCE is in peril!!!!
One overarmed, nuke-holding, belligerent, threatening entity among countries that ALL want a nuke-free zone, and Israel pretends IT needs to destroy a sovereign nation with the help of the USA.
Two questions:
Why is the Muslim Brotherhood govt in Egypt flooding the tunnels which are Gaza's lifeline?
Do people like Mohammed Atta, alleged lead bomber on 9/11, count as Muslim fundies when they are renowned for their lack of piety?
What absolute conceit.
1. "We in the UK stopped our war with Irish republican Catholics" Remember the reason Northern Ireland had Protestants? They were colonists and land stealers- the sectarian difference was not the cause of the differences.
You did not just stop.
2. Don't pretend you are somehow more advanced than Muslims.
Have you never heard of WW1 and WW2? Western "christians" are the most bloodthirsty and greedy if you bother to follow the history.
It is a great shame that 99% of USans, according to a recent poll, are terrified of Iran.
You may like to rethink Srebrenica as well. Try Diana Johnstone "Fools' Crusade".
Lots of lovely western massacres as well, sedona.Not to mention the Shah.
"social welfare nonprofits " ie more lies.
I remember that the word meteor is used for those that do NOT hit the earth-meteorites are those that do.
I had no idea that the USA had such restrictions and therefore such unfair access to Internet. Thanks for the enlightening interview, and I will seek ou the book.
A point about WW2, which the US entered after two years and had 6 (six) civilian deaths compared with 20million in the USSR (on OUR side) and millions in all the other European countries, along with huge destruction. The USA seems to claim it won WW2, but lots happened especially on the Eastern Front before the USA, having made lots of money from both sides, actually found it in its interest to join.
Perhaps because the USA always goes out to war, that it made such a big issue of 9/11, a tiny incident in real war damage terms.
Do you really consider the AlQaida "threat" to be a problem on a par with real issues eg global warming, nuclear proliferation, loss of freedoms in the USA, inequality ruining any hope of recovery of the economy.....,
33 terrorism deaths of Mercans since 9/11, 170000 murders of Mercans.
"demilitarized Palestinian state" of course, and a vastly overarmed, murderous and vicious population of "settlers" and their supporters, with non-policies of Yair Lapid taken to mean he is a fair human. I find the views of Uri Avnery, one of the few real believers in peace in israel/palestine, more acceptable than those of this writer.
Do we? There is a lot of disagreement on the perps, but nobody with any power of thought could be surprised at the response and the terrible consequences. US policy has been able to destroy countries for decades, and the excuses change, but the violence extends.
Let us hope you are right.