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TechnoratiPro-Palestinian Protesters at Obama's Hawaii House
KAILUA, Hawaii - A small group of placard-waving pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered near U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's vacation retreat in Hawaii on Tuesday to protest against the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
![[Protestor Ephrosine Daniggelis holds a placard in front of U.S. president-elect Barack Obama's vacation compound in Kailua, Hawaii December 30, 2008, during a protest against the Israeli attacks on Gaza. (REUTERS/Hugh Gentry)]](http://www.commondreams.org/files/article_images/gaza_obama_protest1230.jpg "gaza_obama_protest1230.jpg")
Obama has made no public comment on the strikes, which Israel launched on Saturday. Aides have repeatedly said he is monitoring the situation and continues to receive intelligence briefings but that there is only one U.S. president at a time.
Some critics, however, say Obama did choose to speak out after the attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai in November in which gunmen killed nearly 180 people, condemning them as acts of terrorism.
Obama, who takes office on January 20 from outgoing Republican President George W. Bush, has also spoken out on economic issues facing the United States.
"He is talking about how many jobs he is going to create but he is refusing to speak about this," said one of the protesters, Carolyn Hadfield, 66.
Hadfield was one of eight protesters standing with placards reading "No U.S. support for Israel" and "Gazans need food and medicine, not war" near Obama's rented vacation home in Kailua, an upmarket suburb on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where Obama is in the second week of a vacation with his family.
Obama had not left the compound on Tuesday morning and did not see the protest.
Obama has in the past called Israel one of the United States' greatest allies and has vowed to ensure the security of the Jewish state.
He has also said he would make a sustained push to achieve the goal of two states -- a Jewish state in Israel and a Palestinian state.
Israel on Tuesday pressed on with air strikes in Gaza that it says are in response to rocket fire by Hamas militants deep inside the Jewish state. Medical officials put Palestinian casualties at 383 dead and more than 800 wounded.
The Bush administration has so far backed Israel's actions in Gaza and demanded the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas stop firing rockets into Israel and agree to a lasting ceasefire.
"We are very upset with what is going in Palestine. There is a very great need for change in U.S. foreign policy toward Israel and Palestine. We need to stop giving Israel a blank check," said another protester, Margaret Brown, 66.
The protesters were rebuffed when they tried to hand a letter signed by dozens of U.S. activist groups to a Secret Service agent guarding the access road to Obama's beachfront compound.
Reporting by Ross Colvin; Editing by Cynthia Osterman
77 Comments so far
Show AllWhy would anyone who has one whit of sense think that Obama "change you can believe in" was a progressive? I invite anyone to explain what that campaign pledge even means. It is meaningless as 'war on terror'. What is it i am supposed to 'believe in' exactly? Did it occur to anyone that is very Orwellian sounding?
I know many here didn't vote for him but what truely thinking progressive american believed that the democratic party machine would allow a real progressive to be their man? Perhaps people who are very young and were voting for the first time and didn't really know any better, but give me a break for all those, including the staff here at CD.
The man voted for FISA for heaven's sake. He didn't have the chance to vote against the war. If he were in the senate then, my guess is he would have. He even admits that. He thinks the 'surge' worked and wants to rachet up the entire military. I mean, tell me something that made you think he was different aside from his personal narrative and genetics. How superficial is that?
By the way, he is on record as believing in american exceptionalism--does anyone get the meaning of that? So, why would so many people be surprised that he supports business as usual with Israel? He didn't even express anything different in his campaign speeches. So why would anyone think he will be transfigured in the next three weeks?
Well, we got what we deserved. A hipper Bill Clinton. Unfortunately, many people who were politicized because they hated George W., but were happy during the dot com bubble, have no problem with neoliberalism. They just didn't like George W. because he was so obviously stupid and crude. But if you put Obama out there, he can basically do the same and people will accept it.
He even voted to take the ban off of offshore drilling and pressured the black causcus to vote for the wall street bailout.
I am glad he is being visited by protestos now in his compound. However, notice he wants nothing to do with them. Just as it was with the veterans against the war at the democratic convention. I think the partying (including Code Pinksters) at the inauguration is sickening. "We did it!" Wow. America crashed economically so they voted for a democratic president. How radical. Mccain, the pathetic wreck of a human being and the pathological sarah palin didn't win. Aren't we enlightened!
Sorry for the rant, but....
Peace
thanks for the rant, I appreciated it a lot : ) too true.
I think people didn't really care to research and realize that the 2 presidential candidates were NOT chosen by the people. They were chosen by the corporate elite. Both Obama and McCain had already been vetted by the ruling status quo.
I hate to say I told you so, but... as you pointed out Obama was for the offshore drilling, for continuation of coal mining (and look what happened in Tennessee), for the bailout-thievery, and VERY PRO-ISRAELI--all before the elections.
BLOG: littlem85.blogspot.com
I love those protesters at the Obama compound. Thanks for this notice. Obama ain't no good.
It's not so much Obama. It's the fact that the US is a two party dictatorship (controlled by AIPAC) that is the real problem.
> As always, specifics and a polite tone work best. Point out the hypocrisy of Israel's relationship to the Geneva Conventions or UN Charter. Point out that our unconditional support of Israel is a big part of "why they hate us". Don't send abusive tantrums, they hurt our case.<
> If you think it won't matter and you don't speak truth to power, you are not doing what you can do to help.<
I don't think this is true though it is the conventional wisdom.
It has been my experience that you are ignored whether you are polite or not. I think it fair to speak in the strongest words possible. TELL THEM YOU DON'T WANT TO BE A PART OF A COUNTRY OF OPPRESSORS.
Hear! Hear! You are absolutely right
BLOG: littlem85.blogspot.com
Mr. change you can believe in Obama, puts on the beanie and sucks up to AIPAC, Joe I'm a Zionist Biden is his V.P. Rahm (my father Ben is a zionist terrorist)Emanuel is Obama's chief of staff. And you think there will be change you can believe in?
June 9, 1968, the day after the zionists murdered 34 sailors on the USS Liberty and wounded over 170 was the day America should have nuked Tel Aviv and hung any of the survivors of that scum bag government from light poles. Now America is nothing but a zionist tampon.
Still no statement from Obama - his paymasters are probably having trouble putting a positive 'spin' on the US position.
If he does, it will be to demand the Hamas stop their 'firecracker' missiles - just like Bush.
Meanwhile people are dying - just like our support of the Israel Lebanon offensive that we urged on them.
This whole plan could be lame-duck bush's last attempt at reaching a final solution(pun intended) by using the Falluja blueprint (which Israel gave us in the 1st place)
But I could be wrong !
I would like the question some of the language in this article. One doesn't have to be "pro Palestinian" to be anti-genocide and it looks like we are on the verge of one. I think that the Israeli government thinks of Hamas as their best friend - an excuse to do what they wanted to do in the first place.
393 Palestinians dead, 4 Israelis dead - 397 deaths too many!
The media is not allowed to cross the border into Gaza, but there is one reporter who was already in there before the borders closed from Aljazeera and she was interviewed on the CBC. They don't have the interview on their website yet, though.
Because of the lack of media in the region, Aljazeera is also relying on messages from people in Gaza to find out what is going on:
Gazans: 'We are living a nightmare'
http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2008/12/20081229103924975479.html
QUOTE: Yesterday, my sister's house was damaged in a strike on a target nearby. Every room was damaged except for the kitchen, where she and the children were. Allah kept them alive. / The world looks at unarmed Palestinian people as though they are a nation with an army, as though we are equal to the Israelis. They think we have real rockets that cause a lot of damage or have a big effect, but this is not true.
INDEPENDENT JEWISH VOICES CONDEMNS ISRAEL'S GAZA MASSACRE
http://ijvcanada.blogspot.com/
(French version first, English one below)
QUOTE: The Israeli military has unleashed its most vicious air assault against the people of Gaza in decades, killing over 280 Gazans and wounding over 700. Despite claims by the Israeli leadership that they are trying to avoid civilians the attacks have been concentrated on Gaza City and the towns of Khan Younis and Rafah. Israeli television reports that Israeli troops are massing on the border "in preparation for a supplementary ground offensive" / Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) condemns this murderous escalation of violence by the Israeli government.
When I wrote to Obama, Sen.'s Kerry and Kennedy, and Rep. Capuano, I definitely used the phrase "the terrorist nation of Israel" and also "stop the terrorism happening in Palestine". I know what we are up against: Rahm Emmanuel is in this man's cabinet (I wouldn't have voted for Obama under ANY circumstances) - I hope everyone is writing letters, protesting... if I could I would go there to help out. My heart hurts so much for everyone the U.S. is occupying, harming, killing, and supporting others who do so too.
It is time for the Messiah Obama to step up to the plate, dammit. I am so sick and tired of the safe political maneuvering of these duopoly clowns, measuring their words and responses while the downtrodden of the world are butchered with UNITED STATES MADE AND SUPPLIED WEAPONS!!!!!!
And what about you and me? Every Friday I am out in the streets in my little home town in the midwest, holding in my hands for the world to see, images of the innocents in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, maimed and killed, again by weapons made right here in our country! I implore you, all of you, to get the hell out there, wherever you are, like these 8 brave patriots in Hawaii! Fuck the cold! To hell with the abuse you may receive! It is the only way. Millions in the streets daily, bravely, go....
Kickapooviking,
You are a beacon of inspiration, and I am thoroughly impressed. Thank you for your efforts!
I have been sending all these articles over email and MySpace, with my added commentary. I have talked about it at work. I have posted at Obama's site. Let's all keep it up!
Blessings.
"You must unlearn what you have learned" - Jedi Master Yoda
Thank you for your efforts!!!!! BRAVO!!! And of course I agree - maybe a miracle will happen and Saint Barack will finally come to his senses...
Yes, thank you for everyone who is getting out there. I went and stood with about 6 other people in my hometown of Eugene, Oregon and held signs. Many, many motorists were giving the thumbs up and peace signs, a few the infamous 1 finger sign but just a few.
please participate people! Let the rest of the world judge us on what we the people do and say and act not on what Barack (i'm not the president yet and can choose what to comment on and what not to comment on)Obama does or says!
Have you (collective you) been on a sidewalk? if not please do so.
Happy new year to everyone.
Obama has showed throughout this whole episode that he is completely under the thumb of his "handlers". It is sad, but he is showing himself to be a willing puppet of the same gang that has been running Washington for decades. No choice has he made so far, except perhaps for Labor secretary, reflects any deviation from establishment-group think.
Yes I agree with you. The appointments made so far are so clintonite that it is a good thing he quit smoking cigarettes, better yet CIGARS(lol). He chooses to comment on what is not politically risky. No courage.
If Obama spoke out against Russia when it responded with excessive force to Georgia's attack, also against the terrorist attacks against India in Mumbai, then you must do so as well about the violence in the middle east. You must not be silent now using the worn out alibi that there is only one president at the time just because it is not politically safe. Is this a clue about what type of (Clinton)president he will be? We already have many of Clinton's cronies appointed to office. To think that I voted for Obama. I am so ashamed.
4 more years. Don't blame me I voted for Nader.
Don't blame ME! I voted for Kodos!
· Yr Obd't Servant
The article says, "Obama has made no public comment on the strikes, which Israel launched on Saturday. Aides have repeatedly said he is monitoring the situation and continues to receive intelligence briefings but that there is only one U.S. president at a time".
Sure, while playing golf, like the ruling corporatist-fascist elites of the U.S. government want him to be doing, and he plays the good new little slave of the elites?! Of course! As usual!
"As War Ravages Gaza, Silent Barack Works on Golf Game",
by Jason Ditz, antiwar.com, Dec 30 2008
http://www.uruknet.info/?p=m50155
Quote: "As Obama and family continue to enjoy a luxurious vacation in Hawaii, his attention seems far more focused on his golf game than the foreign policy crisis he is poised to inherit".
Of course! I didn't expect him to be this obvious, but it's still "of course" the way of the ruling corporate-fascist elites of the U.S. government, so while I didn't expect this, it's also not surprising at all.
And it tells us very clearly what we can and can't expect of him. He's just another figurehead, slave, ... "elect". Expect bad; expect nothing of noteworthy good! NOTHING!
Simply wondering what Obama would do if his daughters were living in Gaza today ...
Obama being elected shocked the powers to be. They simply misread the power of the street, and the power of the Internet. In these times and days, it is not that easy for Israel to continue to distort and sell half-truths to the media. And in due time, main street of America will learn how to filter for the truth.
It is not in our interest to continue to allow AIPAC- The American Israel Political Action Group - to dictate and control our Mideast policy. Our politicians and our media are simply terrified to criticise Israel.
Folks, the Palestinians are the Native Americans of the Middle East. They have historically been wronged, or to be more precise, ethnically cleansed. I thought that was a war crime. Fully 80% of the current population in Gaza today orignates not from Gaza but from Ashdod, Askelon, and other parts of historic Palestine.
Israel needs to address its conscience and ask it itself- are these the universal lesson that the Holocaust taught us...
The good news is that more and more Jews are speaking out against the policies and actions of apartheid and oppression practiced by the leaders of Israel.
As for Obama, he chooses to be silent on this issue but is quick to speak up on every other issue.
I hope my vote did not go to waste.
Personal thanks to common dreams for providing an alternative forum for folks to chat on.
"As for Obama, he chooses to be silent on this issue but is quick to speak up on every other issue.
I hope my vote did not go to waste."
Of course, similar thoughts dance through my mind. However, I realized that Obama would offer an improvement to what is, not perfection - so I supported him.
"All Nature's difference keeps all Nature's peace." Alexander Pope
I don't see anyone in Obama's cabinet or among his close advisors who would advise him to speak out. Certainly not Rahm Emmanuel who is also and Israeli citzen and fought in one Israel's many aggresive wars.
Personally, I would like to see some of the change Obama claims is going to "come from him" right now.
This isn't a war, it's shooting fish in a barrel. The Palestinians have been under seige by the Israelis for years. They have received no help from the world community, they have no army, no airforce and way to defend themselves from F-16s. What is happening is criminal.
Gaza is one of the most densely populated places on earth. Dropping bombs on such an area is in direct defiance of the Geneva Conventions. So is starving civilians and denying them medical attention.
Hamas was the elected government of the Palestinians until the Abbas faction conspired with Israel and the US to overthrow the election in rest of the ragged remains of Palestine. They weren't successful in Gaza so Abbas and Israel with the tacit support of the US are trying to pound it into submission.
Why in the world would anyone think Obama would denounce Israel's illegal war in Palestine and violation of the Genevea Convention?
Obama didn't even raise an objection when the President of his own country did virtually the same thing to Iraq.
The law is dead.
The President is King.
Chaos rules.
Obama says we cannot afford to look back.
I cannot bear to look forward.
None of this would be happening in Gaza if George Bush was sitting in a cell awaiting his date with a rope.
By responding to rockets attacks and targeting active militants who are hiding among civilians, Israel didn't break any international law. They are operating according to UN charter, article 51.
The Hamas however, when indiscriminately targeting civilians, clearly, and without dispute, commits war crimes according to the 4th Geneva Convention.
The list of Israel's war crimes would fill a large book. We can go all the way back to 1947 when the state of Israel was born on the blood and ashes of Palestinian villages decimated by Jewish terrorist groups. After the 1967 war, Israel continued to violate international law by building settlements in occupied territory. The land theft and targeted assassinations continue to this day. Israel broke the cease fire in November and has, for the past two years, placed a blockade on Gaza refusing to let in food and medicine--including cancer medicine. War crimes? Let's get straight who is the aggressor and who is the victim. Israel's game of playing the victim cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Even though our governments are in collusion with this criminal state, the people of the world see the truth.
.I understand that you are only doing your job with the numerous deceptive and increasingly slimy untruths you post here in defense of the indefensible, rough job it must be to bury your conscience so deeply.
Another and far more authoritative opinion:
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090112/falk?rel=hp_currently
Israel's War Crimes
By Richard Falk
December 29, 2008
Editor's Note: This statement was issued December 27 in response to Israel's attack in Gaza by Professor Richard Falk, United Nations special rapporteur for human rights in the Occupied Territories and a longtime member of The Nation's editorial board.
The Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip represent severe and massive violations of international humanitarian law as defined in the Geneva Conventions, both in regard to the obligations of an Occupying Power and in the requirements of the laws of war.
Share this article
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Israel's War Crimes
Richard Falk: Israel's airstrikes on Gaza are severe and massive violations of international law--and nations that have supplied weapons and supported Israel's siege of Gaza are complicit in the crimes.
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Those violations include:
• Collective punishment: The entire 1.5 million people who live in the crowded Gaza Strip are being punished for the actions of a few militants.
• Targeting civilians: The airstrikes were aimed at civilian areas in one of the most crowded stretches of land in the world, certainly the most densely populated area of the Middle East.
• Disproportionate military response: The airstrikes have not only destroyed every police and security office of Gaza's elected government, but have killed and injured hundreds of civilians; at least one strike reportedly hit groups of students attempting to find transportation home from the university.
Earlier Israeli actions, specifically the complete sealing off of entry and exit to and from the Gaza Strip, have led to severe shortages of medicine and fuel (as well as food), resulting in the inability of ambulances to respond to the injured, the inability of hospitals to adequately provide medicine or necessary equipment for the injured, and the inability of Gaza's besieged doctors and other medical workers to sufficiently treat the victims.
Certainly the rocket attacks against civilian targets in Israel are unlawful. But that illegality does not give rise to any Israeli right, neither as the Occupying Power nor as a sovereign state, to violate international humanitarian law and commit war crimes or crimes against humanity in its response. I note that Israel's escalating military assaults have not made Israeli civilians safer; to the contrary, the one Israeli killed today after the upsurge of Israeli violence is the first in over a year.
Israel has also ignored recent Hamas diplomatic initiatives to re-establish the truce or ceasefire since its expiration on 26 December.
The Israeli airstrikes today, and the catastrophic human toll that they caused, challenge those countries that have been and remain complicit, either directly or indirectly, in Israel's violations of international law. That complicity includes those countries knowingly providing the military equipment including warplanes and missiles used in these illegal attacks, as well as those countries who have supported and participated in the siege of Gaza that itself has caused a humanitarian catastrophe.
I remind all Member States of the United Nations that the UN continues to be bound to an independent obligation to protect any civilian population facing massive violations of international humanitarian law--regardless of what country may be responsible for those violations. I call on all Member States, as well as officials and every relevant organ of the United Nations system, to move on an emergency basis not only to condemn Israel's serious violations, but to develop new approaches to providing real protection for the Palestinian people.
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We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
Everyone should write to the Obama team and tell them what you think:
http://change.gov/page/s/yourvision
As always, specifics and a polite tone work best. Point out the hypocrisy of Israel's relationship to the Geneva Conventions or UN Charter. Point out that our unconditional support of Israel is a big part of "why they hate us". Don't send abusive tantrums, they hurt our case.
If you think it won't matter and you don't speak truth to power, you are not doing what you can do to help.
It is the waste of time to write to 0-bama. He knows what is right but he will only do what his masters from AIPAC tell him to do.
If you are fed up with Neocons, Zionists, and AIPAC (as everybody is by now) then next time vote for Kucinich, McKinney or Nader.
Cynthia McKinney cannot be bought by smelly AIPAC money. Neither can Ralph Nader. Do not vote for Clinton, Schumer, Bloomberg or anyone else who represents a foreign country at expense of the American people. They can legally run for Knesset.
OK, so go to a chatroom and bitch about how everything would be OK if the people who got less than 3% of the vote had won. Or, wait 4 more years and then vote again, but in the meantime spend your energy saying "I told you so" and doing nothing.
You call that being an activist?
Doing nothing = complicity.
I am fully aware that Obama himself does not read the messages. It is important that they get a flood of protest, in every form.
Or, go back to bed because your candidate(S) did not win.
Do you know how these responses are handled-----who reads them? What do they do with these "visions for the country"? Who is the "power" we are speaking to? I sent my vision in and got a response before my finger had time to leave the send key!
If this is the "power" that the (understandably) outraged gay/lesbian spoke truth to regarding their opposition to Rick Warren speaking at the inauguration, it doesn't bode well for "change" and the people being listened to.
Just curious.
You don't take a captive population within a restricted area, very heavy population density, and bomb the shit out of them for a couple of rockets, using this excuse. Repulsive, ugly, fascist, wrong. If Obama doesn't find killing women and children wrong he's lost me as a supporter.
The USA must deport all pro-Israelis from our country. Start with those in the House and Senate and then give walking papers to their three enclaves NY, Calf, and Florida. Resettle them in the Virgin Islands. We wonder why we are hated::: Look no further than our foreign aito Israel which allows them to be a bullt. We build houses for them with our tax dollars while their reps and senators in our confress haven't helped our own victims of Katrina.
Just compare the ACTIONS of Obama and his primary opponent Cynthia McKinney! Cynthia put her life on the line for her beliefs.
The wrong candidate was nominated if anyone really wanted change.
I guess AIPAC rules.
But I could be wrong !
Ok.
I know Obama is not President.
He's spoken out on other issues.
By not speaking out on this issue he is actually saying a lot=
America will continue down it's imperialistic path of oppression and domination.
I believe that it was Mark Twain who penned an old southern saying, which goes like this.
"A good reputation is worth its weight in gold; but--------------
a bad reputation is like having a turd in the punch bowl at the wedding reception".
If the USA were to "clean up its own house first"; it would have a "good reputation"; then they could "inform others on how to clean up theirs".
As it is now , when the USA speaks of the short comings of others;
they just "serve up a cup of that punch" mentioned above.
Israel has been an illegal state from 1948, and the USA has continued to send billions to them. Even the USA can't have it 'both ways' there---maybe here for awhile longer, but never 'over there'---
I do give the USA credit for one thing: Even when they are losers, they are persistent at it.
Good luck America, you really need it.
Nice quote from Twain.
"Israel has been an illegal state from 1948"
This is puzzling. I thought you supported the UN and International law? The UN voted Israel into existance in 48.
Not a rhetorical question.
The UN move was political in nature, and illegal.
The absurdity of the UN "giving" Palestine to the Jews, and evicting the legal owners the Palestinian People is the same logic that has the USA making arguments for a Democratically elected Palestinian Ruling party, then rejecting Hamas when they win the election.
If the UN ruled tomorrow that the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was null and void because the USA has not complied with the conditions of that treaty, and that Texas would be returned to Mexico in 90 days notice: would you still be so willing to accept the UN and international law, or would you be taking Spanish classes. Or most likely you would be preparing to "die for Texas".
You often make postings that not only contradict logic, but often border on the absurd.
And as much as you would like to; you cannot have it both ways.
Because with america the ONLY thing that matters is :
":AMERICA IS NEVER WRONG...she only makes mistakes".
Mark Twain also railed in his newsletters against America's first , or one of the first "overseas" imperial projects -- the subjugation of the Philippines under mckinley and T roosevelt - where he railed against the way the americans built what turned out to be the FIRST slave/concentration camp in the world - and the massacre of over half a million natives who - after the us defeated spain in imperial contests - also did NOT want ANOTHER foreign power.
there is a part near the end of Twain's novel : Huckleberry Finn, i believe, where his friend - the black boy - remarked after they many travels and experiences - meeting all kinds of people:
"why....huck....all this time. we've met so many o' these folks...so high and mighty,..the pastor, the rich ladies, the bankers....the businessmen....the judges..the police...the teachers...they're so educated and grown up and all....but huck....they' is all just plain RASCALS."
He is very nearly President, and he could drop hints. Sometimes I wonder if America isn't the tail being wagged by the Israeli dog.
He has an almost impossible task. I wish him luck.
"Sometimes I wonder if America isn't the tail being wagged by the Israeli dog."
It most definitely is. http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n06/mear01_.html
"All Nature's difference keeps all Nature's peace." Alexander Pope
"Sometimes I wonder if America isn't the tail being wagged by the Israeli dog."
Way way back the 1950 the answer would not have been so easy to give.
AIPAC was then called the "American Zionist Committee for Public
Affairs". Back in those days, Jewish Bankers began flexing their
muscles in America with overwhelming success. Without that success,
Israel would still be known as Palestine. Israel could not have formed
without American support.
Control of money can buy a lot of influence. ("Permit me to issue and
control the money of a nation and I care not who makes the laws." Mayer
Amschel Rothschild, founder of the Rothschild international Banking
Dynasty, 1790).
All major media organisations now have zionists in key positions. Bank
loans elevated Rupert Murdoch (a jew from his mother's side) from being
just another newspaper entepreneur to the major force he is today.
95% of our politicians enjoy all expenses paid trips to Israel. Take note
next time you see a politician taking a trip to Israel. They
also enjoy the campaign money that does not come directly from AIPAC
(They are not so stupid), but AIPAC has the power to turn the money on or
off, and to permit businesses owned by politicians suceed or not.
In general, perceived loyalty by a politician to some county other than
the USA would be a liability. The exception is Israel, where any
politician wanting to succeed MUST declare loyalty to Israel in order to
have a chance.
Today, Zionist influence over our media and our politicians is complete.
But to say so is to be labelled an antisemite. If you doubt this, then
watch videos of an AIPAC conference. See each politician, in turn, pay
homage to their true masters. All politicians must pay homage to
Israel, and further, to declare Israel's enemies as their own. Obama,
Pelosi and Clinton did. That is why they occupy powerful positions.
Ron Paul and Kucinich did not, that is why our media passed them over as
not serious candidates.
Just as an exercise, if you look closely at the motivations for the Iraq
war, you will find control of the world's oil supply there. Look
deeper, and you will find that it would not have happened without
zionist bodies such as PNAC, or without Rupert Murdoch. I am not a
historian, but what I know comes from this single issue. Who pushed
what into place in order to bring about the Iraq war. The Iraq war
has Israel's hands all over it.
"He has an almost impossible task. I wish him luck."
http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/black_man_given_nations
No one should be surprised about Obama's "no comment" response. If you paid the slightest bit of attention during his campaign he made it clear to whom he was going to support so please don't act surprised now and write how you feel that you've been let down.
but, the people of Gaza don't need progressives, liberals, radicals arguing with eachother on a website. they need us to turn out in massive support and show that we along with other members of this earth demand peace and love for all its citizens.
don't expect obama to change it. he is to busy working out in hawaii and playing golf with his friends. you must do it. many cities are having protests this afternoon. please participate. your online now. google your cities local peace party site and find out what you can do to participate.
one love. power to the people.
ps. get off your butt Obama and say something!
To all of you who want PE Obama to say something, do something, whatever, call your local news stations and the national talking-heads gasbag shows to insist that instead of talking about the PE eating ice cream on the beach, call the PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH to task for hiding out in TX.
OBAMA IS NOT THE PRESIDENT. GEORGE W. BUSH IS THE PREDIDENT.
If you don't know the obligations of the president vs the president-elect, the learn to use the google.
The very people who want the man who is not the president to do something or say something will be very same people who will be belly-aching about how Obama is usurping the man who president should PE Obama take a position.
IT IS NOT HIS JOB TO TAKE A POSITION. THE U.S. HAS A SITTING PRESIDENT.
His name is George W. Bush and the fact that he is hidding out in Texas in not Obama's concern.
Just because American schools no longer teach the subjects of Government and Civics is no excuse for so many people to not have learned, in 2008, how the government works. The best thing to do when you are clueless is to stop commenting. It is so tiring.
SammyW is a low-grade moron. It escapes his notice that what Israel is doing (with full support from both US parties) is a crime against humanity, & a violation of both the Geneva conventions & the Nuremberg Principles. The poor little dunce doesn't even recognize that it's state terror, mass murder, and genocide.
To simpletons like SammyW, the only issue is that Bush is still the official president. Well, I guess if you're dumb & insensitive enough to ignore genocide, you might see it in only those limited terms.
Has it occurred to you that Obama has already stacked his incoming administration with people who are just as zealously pro-Israel as the Bush administration? As far as blind backing for Israel is concerned, there's no difference between Rahm Emanuel and any of the PNAC neocons. Neither Hillary nor Biden are any better.
Hilariously, an imbecile like SammyW calls OTHER PEOPLE "clueless" and tells them to stop commenting! This is a real knee-slapper -- just what one would expect from someone dumb enough to support Democrats, and to believe that they're really much different from Republicans.
Sammy, I'm not going to get into a put down fest with you. it is not productive and not what anyone needs right now. Comment all you want on my perceived lack of education I don't mind. My point is, whether you are the president elect, or the current president or the guy behind the counter of the 7-Eleven shouldn't we all have a comment on what is going on? and if you campaigned on a platform of "change" wouldn't this be the time to actually show the world you meant it? as for calling out Bush to do something, that hasn't worked for 8 years on anything, so why would people expect him to do anything about it now?
Obama is AIPAC baby. Otherwise, he stands for nothing.
OBAMA IS NOT THE PRESIDENT. GEORGE W. BUSH IS THE PREDIDENT.
If you don't know the obligations of the president vs the president-elect, the learn to use the google.
"OBAMA IS NOT THE PRESIDENT. GEORGE W. BUSH IS THE PREDIDENT..."
- A thoroughly silly & vacuous remark. This poster imagines that the Israelis didn't check with the Obama team at all, before embarking on their latest murderous "operation."
The Israelis may be ruthless murderers, but they're not stupid. They're well aware that there's going to be a new president on January 21, and they NEVER would have done something like this without first running their plans by the incoming US administration. If Obama had seriously opposed it, they wouldn't have gone forward with it.
Everyone thinks that Obama is the Messiah--the man who will solve all problems and bring paradise to earth. In reality, Obama is a Chicago politician, nothing more, nothing less. (see Jesse Jackson, Mayor Daley, Sr and Jr. and Rod Blagoevich)
We have a disaster in Gaza. Obama is, has been and will be, Pro-Israeli. His chief of staff is an Isreali dual citizen, his foreign policy team in pro AIPAC. So is he.
Waiting for Obama to resolve the crisis in the Middle East is like waiting for Godot. It aint gonna happen.
What it to be done? Well, Israel feels insecurce, as well they should be, and Palestinians feel on the brink of disaster. We need UN/NATO/Someone intervention. We need to "Pull a Kosovo":
Every day Israel grows larger and Palestine grows smaller. They were supposed to share the land of the "Palestinian Mandate" -it's now Israel 80%, Palestinian 20%
Israel and US preach a two state solution but they practice the creeping erasure of the Palestinian people.
People rebel under such desperate circumstances. Let's hope there is some power to get Israel to stop just like NATO stopped the Serbs from attacking Kosovo.
Dr Wu, I'mn just an ordinary guy
When it comes to US Imperial Policy, the only difference between Obama and Cheney/Bush is skin color, a la Powell and Rice.
Please please please Obama, you are expected to be different. This is the first great test: don't fail the world.
It is so sad reading some of these comments. Today. 2008. In the U.S. With access to million and millions of sources of information, even that not learned in school.
Surely you folks belly-aching about PE Obama not solving "the middle east crisis" and not this uninformed.
George W. Bush is the President of the United States, not Obama.
Just what would have him do?
Not only that, but this is a bunch of backstabbing.
Obama promised to ensure the safety and security of Israel.
And we elected him on that platform.
Why is everyone so shocked and outraged?
It's not he has done anything drastic or unexpected. For example, he hasn't deployed any troops.
All this proves is that Obama is honest and a straight shooter. He is not just another lying politician.
Remember, he has also promised Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel - just warning you... Sheesh.
To you all.
Obama is not the President yet.
I didn't elect Obama; I opposed his election. So your "we" is totally wrong. It was very clear that Obama would become the new enemy of global peace and justice seekers along with the oppressed we champion. Now he is proving that to be the case.
Well, then I'm not referring to you, am I?
Apparently, you were helping to elect McCain.
Note here the helplessness & laughable stupidity of the Dem Party apologist.
Utterly blind & insensitive to the crimes committed by both US parties -- which equally support Israel's murdering of innocents -- Mr "joehope" can do no better than accuse a critic of Obama of "helping to elect McCain."
Actually, there's no difference at all between Obama, McCain & Bush regarding Israel's crimes. Obama's Cabinet & inner circle is every bit as supportive of the Israeli murderers as Bush's.
Dave,
I take your point about joehope.
I would not call Obama the same as McCain and Bush. While his cabinet is not the most forward-looking, this is no guarantee that Obama won't attempt to broker peace in a new fashion. We'll all see as time goes on. If Obama turns out to be the same, then I will have egg on my face. Though, I seriously doubt it will be as bad as if McCain had won.
"All Nature's difference keeps all Nature's peace." Alexander Pope
Joehope,
Mr. Obama has as Sec. of State Mr. Clinton's wife. She is rabidly pro Israeli. No change of policy will be had with the corporate shill Mr. Obama, you fool.
Please don't vote and don't reproduce. Save the world by not carrying on your stupid genes.
That's my point, not that he's a shill (why are you so insulting?), but that there is no change of policy. He's honest. Clearly, that makes him better than Bush.
And yes, Bush and Obama will agree on certain things (i.e. helping AIDS patients in Africa is a good thing). But just because they have some agreements does not mean they are the same. Obama is a million, nay, a trillion times better than Bush. Anyone can see that.
Just because you keep saying they are the same, doesn't make it true. You can't even back up your assertion with evidence. Possibly because you have none.
Obama is better than Bush or McCain. Period. End of discussion.
The US & Israel are committing war crimes on a daily basis. The president-elect has "no comment" about this, though he did send his chief spokesman, David Axelrod, to "Meet the Press" Sunday, to harmonize with the outright lies promulgated by the Bush & Olmert regimes, portraying Israel's action as "self defense."
Israel's action in Gaza is "self defense" in the same sense that the US military was engaged in "self defense" against the Indian "savages," in the 19th century, as it committed genocide & stole all the Indians' land. It's the same kind of "self defense" that Bush Jr unleashed against Iraq, in "defending" the US from the threat of Saddam's WMD. It's the same kind of "self defense" that Reagan directed against the Sandinistas in the '80's, who were of course posing such a mortal threat to the United States.
Obama's "no comment" about US war crimes speaks volumes. He's still 3 weeks away from being formally sworn in, but his enthusiastic support for the criminal Wall Street bailout, and his cowardly silence on the unspeakable horrors taking place in Gaza make all too clear what he's really made of.
Can someone tell me what Israel "our greatest ally" has done for us to deserve that title? Any country that allies itself with us in our current behavior (the last 50 years or so) I find suspect. I think Israel, who seems to play a large role in running this country, at least in Mid-East policy, is one of the greatest receipients of our aid and weaponry. We might be their greatest ally, but I don't think the sentiment is returned, and for Obama to pander to them in that way is disgusting. We have proxys in the Mid-East who cost less and do more. That is why I believe Israel plays such a large part in decisions made by our own government (such as who gets aid) One more lobby that directs our elected leaders attention away from "we the people". I wish our country was the greatest exporter of construction equipment rather than destruction equipment. We could be making the world a better place and would be more respected. The hand that feeds is seldom bitten. That is Homeland Security!
"Can someone tell me what Israel "our greatest ally" has done for us to deserve that title?"
"The USS Liberty incident was an attack on a neutral U.S. Navy technical research ship, USS Liberty, by Israeli jet fighter planes and motor torpedo boats on June 8, 1967, during the Six-Day War. The combined air and sea attack killed 34 and wounded more than 170 crew members, and damaged the ship severely. The ship was in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula, about 25.5 nautical miles northwest from the city of Arish.[1]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident
Maybe this helped the Israeli governments status with the ruling elite within the USA government. The ruling elite have been selling us out for decades.
I am surprised that people are surprised.
.I am far from a supporter of the President-Elect and have made my opinion known frequently here. However, this silence of his seems simply understood; he is not yet the President, we still have one of those ( however awful he may be) and for Obama to speak of policy, or to attempt to set or alter policy is not yet his right.
.
We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
If Mr. Obama does not want to speak as president elect, then he can rightfully speak as a US Senator. His actions show his diminution.
Sorry ardee, but I must say BS, as Obama has said much about various policies, especially domestic economics. I think it more realistic to say he's been hired to continue the killing of Palestinians, since that's the bottomline of US/Israel policy, and he's perfectly fine with that as he made clear in his AIPAC speech. The man is a fraud as many of us knew prior to the election and others are continuing to discover. From the Palestinian POV, it's clear there's no difference between Obama and McCain as both said they would do nothing to keep Israel from killing them.
The enemies of the people are the Global Economic Elite and the politicos they employ to do their deeds and stifle the democratic aspirations of people everywhere. From the elite perspective as Chomsky has pointed out again and again, real participatory democracy poses a grave threat as they would lose their status by the leveling nature of the socio-economic justice such democracy would enjoin. Obama is one of those politicos employed by the elite to maintain their status at all costs, with one of those costs being continued support for Israel's crimes.
karlof1
Ardee is completely right here. He and I frequiently disagree on some things, but Obama should say nothing about this except how terriblr it is. He is not President yet. And the awful one Ardee alluded to is. It would be absolutely wrong for Obama to speak about this at all.
And he certainly does not aupport Obama. I do, but voted for him at the last minute, so not a believer, just a hoper.
yet he can't even say how terriblr it is. how pathetic is that. you voted for him last minute? hmmmm, sounds like your a doper not a hoper
He is not supposed to say anything about it. It's pathetic that everyone would expect it and not know better.
.Perhaps getoffyourbutt should get off his butt and familiarize himself with the rules concerning proper and improper actions by a President Elect?
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We see things, not as they are, but as we are.
Anais Nin
Keep in mind the video footage of Obama wearing a skullcap when he visited Israel last year. I felt betrayed when I saw it, felt that his message of change was perhaps conditional, even hollow.
That he's remaining silent during the genocide in Gaza is revealing. If he's scared of the Jewish Lobby then he doesn't have the balls to be a great President. And if he's secretly supporting Israel's American-style imperialism and militarism, then get ready for WW3!
www.dangerouscreation.com
Obama will say nothing of importance as he cares not a whit for the fate of Palestinians as he made clear in his kowtowing AIPAC speech. As I wrote earlier, Obama is making it clear he's the enemy of those seeking peace and justice, which was also easy to discern prior to the election. Since he voted for all the bills providing Israel more monies and weapons to kill Palestinians, he is already covered in Palestinian blood, like most of the US government.
The only difference between Obama's swindle and Madoff's is the deadliness of Obama's.
karlof1,
As ardee alluded to below, Obama is not yet president. While I would like to hear him condemn the Israeli tactics (especially they're refusal to allow humanitarian aid), he is cognizant of the fact that multiple voices from the US will not help.
Also, it's important to note that there are two voices of diplomacy: One goes out for general consumption, and one goes through back-channel means. For all we know, Obama may have contacted the Israelis through back-channel methods. Of course, we don't know what he might have said, though I seriously doubt that he is pleased with Israel.
Finally, it is unfortunate that Obama had to kiss AIPAC's ass. He knew they were a key ingredient to the Jewish vote, which only proves just how influential the Israel Mafia is in this country.
"All Nature's difference keeps all Nature's peace." Alexander Pope