Category Archives: war

The destruction of Gaza

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Global News has photos up on the utter destruction of Gaza.  I can’t even imagine what they must feel like.  Well, I take that back–I do know how it feels to lose your home, but not by bombing.

My heart goes out to the Palestinian woman crying over losing her home.

The 7th photo shows an ambulance driver’s charred body from being hit by an Israeli rocket.  I’d like to see Netanyahu explain this away–he’ll say that the ambulance driver was a member of Hamas, I’m sure…./snarky to the extreme

Warning for the next photo–children who were bombed by Israel.  It is horrible.  I’m sure they were members of Hamas, as well/snark with disgust

Before, this, they were starving them.  Interfering with their ability to earn a living or blocking paychecks.  Now I learn that they were also restricting their water!  Water!

Do unto others as you would have done to you.

Blood on your hands, Israel.  Blood on your hands.

 

Why Hamas is launching the rockets…

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DN! has a good report up this morning on *why* Hamas is not backing down.  Palestinians don’t necessarily support Hamas, but they are left without any other means to break the blockade of Israel the bully.  It impacts their ability to get supplies, water, wages, etc.  It affects every single thing in their lives.

As President Kennedy said–when you make peaceful protest impossible, then violent protest is inevitable….

Israel bombs another hospital

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Report on DemocracyNow!

They are deliberately bombing hospitals. Stunning example of callous indifference.

And they bombed peaceful civilians that have nothing to do with Hamas at prayer time in the evening–I don’t think this was by accident.  A religious prejudice, it would seem.

I was watching NBC news last night, and the reporter, that was taken out of Gaza, but is now returned, showed EMTs losing it–they are used to see blood and bodies, but even they cannot stand what it happening.  There was utter chaos in the hospital with injured people being turned away because they have no room for any more.

This has to stop.  Has to stop. Now.

 

Michael Hastings interview

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I found this really interesting interview with Michael Hastings–note how the Gen. Kimmitt, who is now a private defense contractor, is blowing smoke about how “great” Iraq was, post-war—lying through his mossy green teeth about the situation.

I thought this was particularly relevant given the present situation in Iraq and the Middle East:

It shows how Michael was telling the truth as a journalist and how his slamming the lame “journalists” who just accepted whatever was fed to them about the wars. Piers Morgan’s actions here show that.

I agree with Michael’s statement that there were many reasons besides sex that should have forced the general to resign.  I really don’t give a crap if he had an affair–that’s between him and his wife–I care more about him lying to the White House, and the mischaracterization of Iraq before the war (their society was much more diverse than was portrayed).

DN! on Israel attacks

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DN! has the attacks on Gaza.  I wanted to link to it because it shows that not all Israelis are supportive of the bullying of the Palestinians.  Also–I wanted to be clear that Israel does have a right to defend itself–which it was doing with intercepting the rocket fire.  They don’t have a right to kill innocent people, despite what Netanyahu states.

 

Brian Williams trailed to interview

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So… was Brian Williams surprised by this?  If a news person is surprised by all that NSA/CIA is doing, then we’re in serious trouble, folks….

…and it shouldn’t surprise Williams that Snowden was “cagy”….Williams, et al, apparently can’t move about without detection, so Snowden is smart to keep information to a minimum.

The Definition of a Bully: Israel

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Definition of a Bully:

bul·ly1
ˈbo͝olē/
noun
noun: bully; plural noun: bullies
  1. 1.
    a person who uses strength or power to harm or intimidate those who are weaker.
verb
verb: bully; 3rd person present: bullies; past tense: bullied; past participle: bullied; gerund or present participle: bullying
  1. 1.
    use superior strength or influence to intimidate (someone), typically to force him or her to do what one wants.

Israel is pummeling the Palestinians…for what?  It’s like one kid throwing pebbles at another and the other pulling out a gun and shooting.

The death toll in Gaza jumped overnight, doubling to 80 dead and more than 500 injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The latest fatality was 5-year-old Abdullah Abu Gazal, who was killed in a midmorning Israeli airstrike in Beit Lahia.

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80 people dead, including children.  People watching the soccer games, minding their own business, struck dead. And once again, members of the media are targeted.  Not all Palestinians are in Hamas, yet Israel is shooting at anyone and anything.

And how many Israelis have been hurt?  No serious injuries reported.  None dead.  Repeat that–NONE dead.  There is absolutely no justification for the fierceness of the Israeli attacks.

Netanyahu said Wednesday Hamas was to blame, because it was “hiding behind civilians.”

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Stunning.

In other words….”it’s not my fault if stupid civilians get in the way of my bombs…”

Let them be.  Let them have their small parcel of land.  Treat them as you wish to be treated.

 

 

Iraq and Walorski

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Well, the radio station here has given Jackie Walorski even more free air time.  When I say that, I mean, not only do they “interview” her (by letting her go on and on without nary a hard question), but they repeatedly play soundbytes at every newscast.  And you never hear an opposing voice….you would think everyone in this entire area agrees with the opinions aired.

Well, hey, at least they have local news…

Anyway, the first newscast, the radio newsguy asks her how she would define success in Iraq.  Then he plays the soundbyte where she starts saying  (paraphrasing) “I don’t know how Obama defines success in Iraq.  It’s not news that ISIS is in Iraq.  It’s not news that fundamentalists are in Iraq. ”  She repeated that a couple more times.

Do you see where she completely avoided the question of her definition of success in Iraq?  Do we bomb the hell out of them?

What is her definition? She doesn’t tell us….because the minute she defines her idea, it would be much harder to backtrack on if  it failed.

Instead, she tries to get around it by bringing up Benghazi.  “We don’t want another Benghazi where people were left…”

Say what??

I’m sorry, I don’t get the connection.  Just another irritant to throw out there to assuage her rightwing bosses…

She also brings Saudi Arabia into the conversation–saying that they were financing the fundamentalists.  This is an inflammatory statement. By this account, it was not the intentions of the Saudis.  When President Obama expressed concern over Prince Bandar’s involvement, he was removed, and Prince Mohammad bin Nayef replaced him.  Prince Mohammad has been successful at quashing al Queda.  Just as all Americans don’t think alike, not all Saudis think alike.

And no, I’m not happy about what happened in Benghazi.  But I hold Hillary Clinton responsible for that.  She was warned.  They asked her for help.  But you know, she was impoverished and worried about her own finances…so you know, she can’t be held responsible. /snark

What difference does it make?

Yeah, that about says it all about the thoughtlessness.

 

More on the Middle East

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I’ve read a few good posts on the Middle East-– Iraq and the U.S.’s role in the mess there.

I have to agree with the writer’s premise–that we have made a mess of things and they need to work this out for themselves without us riding in on a white horse to only make matters worse.

They know how many Americans feel about Muslims–led by a biased media willing to portray them as all thinking alike.  That is as stupid as portraying all women as thinking alike. Or anyone, for that matter.

My other posts on Iran here and here.

Palestinians cry for help.

Presbyterian Church divests itself of U.S. corporations helping Israel to destroy the Palestinians.