Editorial
How to End the Tragedy in Gaza
As of late Friday the ceasefire in Gaza seems to be holding, if tentatively. While we should be pleased that this round of fighting appears temporarily on hold, we must realize that without changes in US foreign policy it is only a matter of time before the killing begins again.
It feels like 2009 all over again, which is the last time this kind of violence broke out in Gaza. At that time over 1,400 Palestinians were killed, of which just 235 were combatants. The Israelis lost 13 of which 10 were combatants. At that time I said of then-President Bush's role in the conflict:
"It's our money and our weapons. But I think we encouraged it. Certainly, the president has said nothing to diminish it. As a matter of fact, he justifies it on moral grounds, saying, oh, they have a right to do this, without ever mentioning the tragedy of Gaza.... To me, I look at it like a concentration camp."
The US role has not changed under the Obama administration. The same mistakes continue. As journalist Glenn Greenwald wrote last week:
"For years now, US financial, military and diplomatic support of Israel has been the central enabling force driving this endless conflict. The bombs Israel drops on Gazans, and the planes they use to drop them, and the weapons they use to occupy the West Bank and protect settlements are paid for, in substantial part, by the US taxpayer..."
Last week, as the fighting raged, President Obama raced to express US support for the Israeli side, in a statement that perfectly exemplifies the tragic-comedy of US foreign policy. The US supported the Israeli side because, he said, "No country on Earth would tolerate missiles raining down on its citizens from outside its borders." Considering that this president rains down missiles on Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistanand numerous other countries on a daily basis, the statement was so hypocritical that it didn't pass the laugh test. But it wasn't funny.
US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton traveled to Tel Aviv to meet with Israeli prime minister Netanyahu but she refused to meet with elected Palestinian leaders. Clinton said upon arrival in Israel, "America's commitment to Israel's security is rock-solid and unwavering." Does this sound like an honest broker?
At the same time Congress acted with similar ignobility when an unannounced resolution was brought to the House floor after the business of the week had been finished; and in less than 30 seconds the resolution was passed by unanimous consent, without debate and without most Representatives even having heard of it. The resolution, H Res 813, was so one-sided it is not surprising they didn't want anyone to have the chance to read and vote on it. Surely at least a handful of my colleagues would have objected to language like, "The House of Representatives expresses unwavering commitment to the security of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure borders..."
US foreign policy being so one-sided actually results in more loss of life and of security on both sides. Surely Israelis do not enjoy the threat of missiles from Gaza nor do the Palestinians enjoy their Israel-imposed inhuman conditions in Gaza. But as long asIsrael can count on its destructive policies being underwritten by the US taxpayer it can continue to engage in reckless behavior. And as long as the Palestinians feel the one-sided US presence lined up against them they will continue to resort to more and more deadly and desperate measures.
Continuing to rain down missiles on so many increasingly resentful nations, the US is undermining rather than furthering its security. We are on a collision course with much of the rest of the world if we do not right our foreign policy. Ending interventionism in the Middle East and replacing it with friendship and even-handedness would be a welcome first step.
l 
|
You must be a site member to submit suggested edits or post feedback. In addition to submitting edit suggestions and posting feedback, your Free Membership to The Daily Bell gives you access to our Member Zone where you will discover a plethora of other member benefits. Want to learn more? click here |
|||||
|
|
||||
 |
Posted by 1776 on 11/30/12 12:00 AM
This 75-minute lecture by Leonard Peikoff is a brief introduction to the philosophy of Objectivism. Following the lecture, Dr. Peikoff answers questions from the students.
Click to view link
|
Posted by 1776 on 11/29/12 08:41 PM
Ayn Rand Was NOT a Libertarian By Washington's Blog Global Research, November 29, 2012
Click to view link
 |
Posted by Danny B on 11/28/12 08:00 PM
"US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton traveled to Tel Aviv to meet with Israeli prime minister Netanyahu"
Yes, and what did he tell her?
Click to view link
|
Posted by Nustart on 11/28/12 06:40 PM
HumanBeing: "So what you're saying is you want to 'push the Palestinians into the sea', and 'wipe Palestine off the map'.
The Israeli nation is one of thieves, liars and murderers."
(1)No, I didn't say that at all. It is, however, duly recorded that exactly those sentiments - and possibly those very words, have been used by various Palestinian and other leaders in the Middle East with respect to Israel.
and
(2) Your last statement exhibits your extreme prejudice against Israel.
All countries have both good and bad. Israel is no exception.
and
(3)You fail to acknowledge that many Palestinians are a part of the Israeli nation; unless, of course, you consider that they are also all "thieves, liars and murderers"?
JMO.
|
Posted by chad2 on 11/28/12 03:45 PM
Ron, are you saying your an anti-semite? Are you saying America should be athiest in all its ways? How ugly is that? What are you saying? Are you saying a country, a people, are simply driven by economics and acedemia; that the USA has no spiritual founding or purpose? If so, what a sad view of America and life... You may have some interesting ideas Sir, but at the end of the day you are void of understanding.
|
Posted by mava on 11/28/12 09:45 AM
Lol, it is not our business to insure the survival of Israel. Instead, we should just let the locals decide what is going to be. Point is, this is simply none of our business.
Of course before turning neutral, we should deliver money and weapons to the palestinians, in the approximate amount that we had delivered to the Israelis.
And, don't worry about Israel. This is not the people anyone should be worrying about. They are the most brutal, vicious, and at the same time, dedicated, trained and organized bandits in the world.
For those who believe that we must have Israel, why don't you have it in Nevada then? How would you feel if Saudis have decided they must have Mecca, but in the middle of Austin, Texas, and started to kill everyone around that area who'd disagree?
 |
Posted by HumanBeing on 11/28/12 01:40 AM
"Nustart: We should pressure the arab countries to open up their sparsely occupied areas for the Palestinians who are stuck in Gaza and the West Bank."
So what you're saying is you want to "push the Palestinians into the sea", and "wipe Palestine off the map".
The Israeli nation is one of thieves, liars and murderers.
|
Posted by tjdetmers on 11/28/12 12:50 AM
The USA missed a huge opportunity when they chose to ignore Ron Paul. However... ..I think Dr. Paul will be allowed to enjoy his retirement now... ..and his family will not need to endure a Kennedy moment.
|
Posted by Frank on 11/27/12 06:21 PM
I agree with Ron Paul about ending our foreign policy of interventionism, including in the Middle East. We should end foreign aid to all, including Israel. But Israel is a special case among all the nations of the world... God will bless those who bless the descendants of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob & He will curse those who curse them. God also promised the land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob FOREVER. The Bible also prophesied about the descendants of Isaac & Jacob (led to the Jews) would be at odds with the descendants of Ishmael & Esau (led to the present day Muslin "Palestinians"). Thus the USA would be wise to NOT force Israel to give up land for peace because the Muslim occupants in the West Bank & Gaza have no intention to make peace with Israel & would like to push Israel into the sea.
So the question remains: How do we both remain even-handed between 2 people groups that will never make lasting peace while at the same time "bless Israel" by insuring their survival? Giving Israel billions of dollars in aid & weapons regardless of what they do might not be the best way to "bless them".
I have come to the conclusion that we should stop trying to force both Israel & the occupants of the West Bank & Gaza into some sort of solution. Let them deal with each other on their own. We should stop sending money to both sides & stop sending weapons to Israel. But I think we should make it crystal clear to everyone that any attempt to nuke Israel or to push them into the sea will be met with a full retaliatory strike by the USA. This way, Israel's survival is ensured , but we otherwise don't force our will upon either side. Any war of aggression on Israel's part won't get our support. Any attempt to annihilate Israel will trigger a response by us.
|
Posted by Hope on 11/27/12 03:48 PM
"We are on a collision course with much of the rest of the world if we do not right our foreign policy." This is correct, we are viewed as warmongers and the recent Benghazi tragedy has shown the rest of the world that our government will fabricate lies to justify our actions.
|
Posted by jsulliva on 11/27/12 03:39 PM
There are many areas in which I agree with Mr. Paul, but on this I disagree. Israel is surrounded by hostile groups/countries and has a right to defend itself. The Islamic countries (e.g. Iran, Syria, and now Egypt) that have been stoking the controversy by helping and arming various terrorist groups (e.g. Hamas, Hezbollah) could instead for the past 40 years have been helping Palestinians build or have something. It is they who kept them trapped there by refusing them entry to another country. This is not just Israel's doing. "If the Palestinians put down their arms, there would be peace. If Israel does so, there will be no Israel."
|
Posted by Nustart on 11/27/12 03:31 PM
I find myself in agreement with Ron Paul virtually all the time. His position on Israel is the exception. It seems to me that Ron places the blame for the sqalid living conditions in Gaza on the Israelis when the surrounding arab countries, possessed of vastly greater land availability, do absolutely nothing.
As all the borders of the Arab countries are just as much a western-power construct as is Israel, and since Jordan is mostly ethnic Palestinian anyway, why do they not open their arms to their palestinian brothers? Could it be that such an action would remove the primary tool they use to stir the worlds animosity against Israel? The same tactic is used by the people who fire rockets from civilian areas in Gaza. They fire knowing full well that Israeli retaliation will hurt civilians. They engineer the outcome in order to demonize Israel when civilians die. The true demons are those who fire the rockets.
We should pressure the arab countries to open up their sparsely occupied areas for the Palestinians who are stuck in Gaza and the West Bank.
|
Posted by 1776 on 11/27/12 12:51 PM
Texas Schools Teaching Boston Tea Party As Terrorist Act November 23, 2012
Click to view link
|
Posted by scousekraut on 11/27/12 04:22 AM
Exactly Ron Paul. But the House is largely paid for. Israel has dug its own hole and is still digging. When they stop digging they will see that there is perhaps a chance of a solution. But from where I am sitting the rulers of Israel are motivated by religious messianism and not by any desire for a lasting peace.
