Clipmarks | masbury's 'israel' clips

Patrick Buchanan: US views of Georgia "ring hollow"

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 02:07:25 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "For a decade, some of us have warned about the folly of getting into Russia’s space and getting into Russia’s face. The chickens of democratic imperialism have now come home to roost—in Tbilisi."

Clip Source: www.truthdig.com

American charges of Russian aggression ring hollow. Georgia started this fight—Russia finished it

Russia’s response was “disproportionate” and “brutal,” wailed Bush.

True. But did we not authorize Israel to bomb Lebanon for 35 days in response to a border skirmish

Was that not many times more “disproportionate”?

Russia has invaded a sovereign country, railed Bush

But did not the United States bomb Serbia for 78 days and invade to force it to surrender a province, Kosovo, to which Serbia had a far greater historical claim than Georgia had to Abkhazia or South Ossetia

When the Soviet Union broke into 15 nations, we celebrated. When Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Kosovo broke from Serbia, we rejoiced. Why, then, the indignation when two provinces, whose peoples are ethnically separate from Georgians and who fought for their independence, should succeed in breaking away?

Are secessions

laudable only when they advance the agenda of the neocons

whom viscerally detest Russia?

Tags: war, georgia, russia

Ex-General, favored mass killings, for Israeli P.M.

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:57:22 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Once told Israeli troops to kill 70 Palestinians a day, 10 from each brigade.

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

Ex-Israeli General Who Called for Mass Killing Palestinians Launches PM Bid

In Israel and the Occupied Territories, a leading cabinet member and former Israeli army commander who once called for the mass killing of Palestinians has launched his candidacy for prime minister. Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz enters the race to replace Prime Minister Ehud Olmert just days after reports emerged he once instructed Israeli troops to kill seventy Palestinians a day during the Second Intifada. In May 2001, Mofaz reportedly gave a briefing to senior West Bank army commanders and said he wanted ten slain Palestinians a day in each of the seven territorial brigade areas. On Tuesday, Mofaz emphasized he is running on a platform of “security.”

Tags: israel, palestinians

Israel deports US academic for criticizing gov't

Mon, 26 May 2008 16:30:30 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Ah, the model democracy; deports son of holocaust survivor for talking naughty. Freedom is a myth in Israel.

Clip Source: www.commondreams.org

US Academic Deported and Banned for Criticising Israel

JERUSALEM - Norman Finkelstein, the controversial Jewish American academic and fierce critic of Israel, has been deported from the country and banned from the Jewish state for 10 years, it emerged yesterday.Finkelstein, the son of a Holocaust survivor who has accused Israel of using the genocidal Nazi campaign against Jews to justify its actions against the Palestinians, was detained by the Israeli security service, Shin Bet, when he landed at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport on Friday.

“I am confident that I have nothing to hide. Apart from my political views, and the supporting scholarship, there isn’t much more to say for myself: alas, no suicide missions or secret rendezvous with terrorist organisations. I’ve always supported a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders. I’m not an enemy of Israel.”

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel said the deportation of Finkelstein was an assault on free speech.

Tags: israel, democracy, palestinians, freedom

Obama: US should recognize Palestinians' "legitimate difficulties"

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:56:29 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Best interest of both Israel and Palestinians to do so

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

Sen. Barack Obama: “What I think can change is the ability of the United States government and a United States president to be actively engaged with the peace process and to be concerned and recognize the legitimate difficulties that the Palestinian people are experiencing right now. And recognize that it is not only in the interest of the Palestinian people that their situation improves, I believe it’s also in the interest of the Israeli people, because it is going to be very difficult for Israel ever to feel secure if you don’t have some sense of opportunity and prosperity and stability with its—its neighbors.”

Palestinian lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi

Hanan Ashrawi: "It’s the credibility of the US, the interest of the US has been adversely all affected by the last three years of American policy that has wreaked havoc in the region. We need re-engagement, but we need positive re-engagement in ways that would curb Israeli violations and would help produce a just and genuine peace.”

Tags: israel, palestine

Bush Admin may snuff General's report on Israel misconduct

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:08:22 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Top US official there issues report critical of Israeli settlements on Palestinian land. Will Bush "listen to the General on the ground" or quietly gag the best report they've got?

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

US Considers Quashing Report Critical of Israel

In other news, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports the Bush administration is debating whether to silence a forthcoming high-level report critical of Israel’s conduct in the Occupied Territories. The report is written by the top US official there, retired general James Jones. According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Jones has written a “scathing” report criticizing both the Israeli government and the White House. Israeli officials who met with Jones said they expect the report to be “very harsh, and make Israel look very bad.” Jones is said to be particularly critical of Israel’s claim to have security interests to justify its large settlement blocs on Palestinian land. Top administration officials are said to be so upset by the report they are debating blocking its release.

Tags: israel, palestine

Iran Literacy Quiz: A Decent Respect for the Opinions of Mankind

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:36:57 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: See the answers to these and other questions, as well as supporting material at the link. Those without answers listed are true-false questions.

Clip Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Iran Conflict Literacy Quiz

1. Iran's leaders have declared their intention to acquire nuclear weapons.

2. Iran is training, arming, financing, and politically supporting Al Qaeda in Iraq

3. Iran's leaders have declared that the acquisition of nuclear weapons would be contrary to Islam

about what proportion of Iranians believe that it is "very important" that Iran master the nuclear fuel cycle?

a) 1%
b) 2%
c) 3%
d) 81%

what proportion of the Iranian population think that Iran should pursue the acquisition of nuclear weapons?
a) 100%
b) 99%
c) 98%
d) 20%

8. Iran's leaders have pledged to destroy Israel.

9. In Iran's government system, the Leader with Supreme authority over the government, especially foreign and military affairs and the country's nuclear program, is
a) Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
b) President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad

10. In 1953, the democratic government of Iran was overthrown in a coup organized by the US Central Intelligence Agency

Tags: iran, foreign policy

Pentagon: Wait ten yrs, we'll give you "safer" cluster bombs

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:55:26 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: A hundred nations have banned them; Clinton admin had similar policy with 2005 deadline; Bushies postpone till 2018.

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

Pentagon Vows to Build “Safer” Cluster Bombs by 2018

In May, more than 100 countries agreed to ban cluster bombs. But the United States, Russia, China, Israel, India and Pakistan have refused to agree to the ban.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has signed a memo requiring that the US build so-called safer cluster bombs—but the rule won’t go into effect until 2018.

In 2001 a defense policy issued by then-Defense Secretary William Cohen called for a similar reduction in submunitions from cluster bombs by 2005. Leahy said, “Now the Bush administration’s ‘new’ policy is to wait another ten years.”

Tags: war

Jt Chiefs Chairman warns against striking Iran

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:20:10 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Scholar adds that such a strike "could be a political bonanza for Iran" "Just as Hezbollah became so popular [in the aftermath of the war between Hezbollah and Israel in the summer of 2006], Iran could gain credibility in the Arab street."

Clip Source: www.chicagotribune.com

WASHINGTON — The words Wednesday from Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were notable for their blunt pragmatism: An Israeli airstrike on Iran would be high-risk and could further destabilize the region, leading to political and economic chaos.

Mullen's words of caution underscored the Pentagon's belief that a move against Iran—by the U.S. or one of its allies—would have an undeniable effect on the ongoing U.S. missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Opening up a third front right now would be extremely stressful on us,"

An Israeli airstrike on its nuclear reactor sites might not be as damaging for Iran as it would be to the United States and Israel, said Vali Nasr, a professor of international politics at Tufts University.

"The upside could be a political bonanza for Iran," Nasr said. "Just as Hezbollah became so popular [in the aftermath of the war between Hezbollah and Israel in the summer of 2006], Iran could gain credibility in the Arab street."

Tags: iran

Another $170 million for poor Israel

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:37:57 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: And another reason I'll be changing from "D" to "I"

Clip Source: www.democracynow.org

Congress Approves Additional $170M For Israel

In news from Capitol Hill, Congress has approved giving Israel an additional $170 million in aid next fiscal year. This means the U.S. will give Israel a total of more than $2.5 billion next year. Israel remains the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid. The U.S. is planning to give Israel $30 billion over the next 10 years.

Tags: israel

Palestinian Loss of Land 1946-2005

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 04:51:22 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Remarkable maps

Clip Source: attendingtheworld.wordpress.com

Palestinian Loss of Land 1946-2005

Joseph Weitz, Director of the Land Department of the Jewish National Fund, 1940:

“It must be clear that there is no room in the country for both peoples… The only solution is a Land of Israel, at least a western land of Israel, without Arabs… There is no way but to transfer the Arabs from here to the neighboring countries, to transfer all of them, save perhaps for Bethlehem, Nazareth, and the old Jerusalem. Not one village must be left, not one tribe… There is no other solution.”

Dr. Salman Abu-Sitta, Author of Palestine Right Of Return, Sacred, Legal, and Possible, 1999:

“The Palestinian Holocaust is unsurpassed in history. For a country to be occupied, emptied of its people, its physical and cultural landmarks obliterated, its destruction hailed as a miraculous act of God, all done according to a premeditated plan, meticulously executed, internationally supported, and still maintained today…”

Tags: israel, palestine

Sen. Obama, please don't be McCain on Iran!

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:55:17 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Face the absence of evidence of nuclear weapons, and call out McCain on following the WMD-scare George Bush followed with Iraq.

Clip Source: www.lonestaricon.com

Iran stopped researching nuclear weapons in 2003.

The U.S. intelligence community knows this.

The U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency knows this.

The international community knows this.

If Iran researched nuclear weapons in secret until March 2004 as documents allege, the IAEA will investigate the matter with due diligence.

And if Iran is caught red-handed, she will comply with the IAEA processes accordingly.

In the meantime, as the Democratic nominee for U.S. president, Obama must change his tune from that of his Republican adversary Sen. John McCain on this issue.

Obama must say that McCain is lying about Iran just like the Bush administration lied about Iraq.

Neither Republican has any proof either Middle Eastern country has nuclear weapons.

Iran is smarter than to launch a nuclear strike on Israel anyway because the Jewish state would retaliate with her own secret nuclear arsenal.

Tags: obama, mccain

Germany's First Neo-Con Conference Pushes for War on Iran

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:42:48 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Likening Iran to Nazi Germany, they debate whether strikes on Iran should be nuclear or conventional

Clip Source: www.payvand.com

Germany's First Neo-Con Conference Pushes for War on Iran

"Bash these Islam-Nazis, put them in jail and kill them: That is anti-fascism!"

Anti-War Intellectuals as "Purchased Vassals" of the "Iranian Theocracy"?

Israel To Carry Out a Preventive Strike Against Iran

Following the so-called Begin Doctrine – named after a former Israeli Prime Minister and used as basis for the 1981 bombardment of the Iraqi nuclear plant »Osiraq« – his country would act preventively within one or two years from now: "I believe Israel will have to do it," Melman concluded. Not sharing Morris' suggestion of a nuclear attack on Iran, he stressed that conventional tools might be sufficient.

continued stressing that it was not the Iranian nuclear program that posed problem, but the very existence of the regime.

the "two fascisms" – Nazi-Germany and Iran – were the same and also equally dangerous

"bash these Islam-Nazis, put them in jail, and kill them" – a statement which was accompanied by large applause

Tags: iran, foreign policy

Tutu: Gaza blockade "abominable"

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 06:44:05 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "All we had heard about conditions in Gaza – deprivation, a sense of despair, the lack of economic activity – had not prepared us for the stark reality which we saw"

Clip Source: www.independent.co.uk

Tutu: Silence on Gaza blockade shames us all

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has denounced the international community for its "silence and complicity" on what he called Israel's "abominable" 11-month blockade of Gaza.

"All we had heard about conditions in Gaza – deprivation, a sense of despair, the lack of economic activity – had not prepared us for the stark reality which we saw."

He added: "The entire situation is abominable. I believe the ordinary Israeli citizens would not support this blockade if they knew what it really meant to ordinary people like themselves... My message to the international community is that our silence and complicity, especially on the situation in Gaza, shames us all. It is almost like the behaviour of the military junta in Burma."

But he said that events in both South Africa and Northern Ireland had shown that peace would come through negotiations "not with your friends. Peace can only come when enemies sit down and talk".

Tags: tutu, israel, palestine

Israel announces new expansion into West Bank

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:10:03 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: Despite US and UN pleas to stop

Clip Source: www.rawstory.com

Israel to build new homes in occupied West Bank

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel announced plans on Sunday to build hundreds of new homes in an area of the occupied West Bank the Israeli government considers part of Jerusalem, despite U.S. and Palestinian calls to halt settlement expansion.

The 2003 peace "road map," reaffirmed by Israeli and Palestinian leaders at a conference hosted by Bush in November, requires a halt to all settlement activity on occupied land where Palestinians seek statehood.

Housing Minister Zeev Boim instructed his office to publish a tender to build an additional 763 housing units in Pisgat Zeev and 121 housing units at Har Homa, an area Palestinians refer to as Jabal Abu Ghneim.

Yasser Abed Rabbo, a senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said Olmert's government "talks about peace while at the same time works on undermining the basis of peace by increasing settlement activity in Jerusalem and around it."

Tags: israel, palestine, foreign policy

Carter: Gaza Blockade a Human Rights Crime

Mon, 26 May 2008 20:09:32 GMT

clipped by: masbury
clipper's remarks: "one of the greatest ... on Earth."

Clip Source: www.payvand.com

Jimmy Carter: Gaza Blockade One of Greatest Human Rights Crimes

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has described Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip as "one of the greatest human rights crimes on Earth."

Mr. Carter was speaking Sunday at a literary festival in Wales. He told The Guardian newspaper that the Israeli blockade has led to what he calls the "imprisonment" of Gaza's 1.6 million Palestinians.

Mr. Carter said the European Union's lack of criticism of the Gaza blockade is "embarrassing." He said the EU should establish relations with Hamas if the group agrees to a cease-fire in Gaza.

Tags: carter, palestine, israel, foreign policy