EMAIL SIGN UP!
Most Popular This Week
Popular content
Today's Top News
Obama, the 'Denier' of Israel’s Crimes
I listened to President Obama’s speech to AIPAC Sunday, March 4, 2012, while sitting outside the Washington Convention Center where AIPAC was holding its annual conference. We at OCCUPY AIPAC hooked up a PA system to a computer and listened to the live stream while watching tens of thousands of Israel’s American supporters arrive for their yearly intimidation of the U.S. Congress and the U.S. President to fund and protect Israel.
President Obama speaks before members of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Pete Marovich / EPA)
Much of the focus for others writing about the President’s pandering speech to AIPAC will be about the Iran nuclear program and, if weaponized, the threat to Israeli and U.S. security, in that order. I will leave the Iran nuclear program to them while I will write about a part of his speech that pertains to a part of the world that I know personally.
But one last comment about Iran-- Obama said the Iranian government denies the Holocaust.
I would say that Iranian government is not the only “denier.”
President Obama and his advisors are the “deniers” of incredible Israeli violence and horrific violations of international law.
In his speech, Obama said, "When the Goldstone report unfairly singled out Israel for criticism (after Israel attacked Gaza), we challenged it.”
Having been to Gaza within days after the 22-day Israeli attack on Gaza that killed 1440, wounded 5,000 and left 50,000 homeless (13 Israelis were killed-5 by Israeli fire), I know the Goldstone Report is accurate in its recording of endless Israeli attacks on Gaza by air, land and sea. President Obama must not know that the Goldstone report comments on the actions of all parties, not just the Israelis. How would Obama know whether the report is accurate or not, when not one Obama administration officer has visited Gaza to observe the destruction first hand, nor have they asked any of the American citizens who have travelled to Gaza for their observations.
In another event concerning Gaza, Obama recounted, “When Israel was isolated in the aftermath of the flotilla incident, we supported them.” I was a passenger on one of the six ships in the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla. I know personally that Israeli commandos brutally attacked all six ships in the flotilla. On the Mavi Marmara commandos executed 9 passengers and wounded 50 more. There were only civilians on the ships and there were no weapons on the ships. Israeli commandos murdered an American citizen shooting him 5 times. Despite the repeated requests of the family of the U.S. citizen, 19 year old Furkan Dogan, the Obama administration decided it did not need to conduct its own investigation but would rely on the Israeli government investigating itself. Israel was isolated by the world after their criminal behavior against the Gaza flotilla--and for good reason! I will add that the Obama administration did not contact any of the American citizens on the flotilla to ask for their comments on the Israeli attack other than a brief consular visit in the Israeli prison where we were held.
Obama said the U.S. protects Israel from “one-sided resolutions” in the United Nations Human Rights Council, yet the U.S. and Israel stand virtually alone as the rest of the nations of the world see clearly Israel's outrageous actions that are condemned by the Human Rights Council.
Obama stated the United States stands against divestment and boycott of Israeli goods, yet as boycott, divestment and sanctions actions by citizens demanding that organizations look at human rights records of companies in which they have invested, despite what Obama says, Israel is beginning to feel the pinch as citizen "sanctions" on Israeli companies that steal resources from Palestinian lands are implemented.
Finally, Obama said that the U.S. opposes those who “delegitimize” Israel. Yet it is the State of Israel that by its illegal actions against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, delegitimizes itself—Israel does not need anyone to help in delegitimization.
Obama ended that section of his speech with “when the chips are down, I have Israel’s back,” no doubt hoping that AIPAC supporters will contribute substantially to his re-election campaign because of his perpetual “denial” of the criminal actions of the state of Israel… a “denial” dangerous for the national security of the United States, and of the State of Israel.
Comments
Note: Disqus 2012 is best viewed on an up to date browser. Click here for information. Instructions for how to sign up to comment can be viewed here. Our Comment Policy can be viewed here. Please follow the guidelines. Note to Readers: Spam Filter May Capture Legitimate Comments...
37 Comments so far
Show AllAnn is a terribly strong voice on American foreign policy towards Israel. Her words ring true- both factually and from the heart.
"In another event concerning Gaza, Obama recounted, 'When Israel was isolated in the aftermath of the flotilla incident, we supported them.'"
________________________
This is a scurrilous and reprehensible extension of the logic of "My mother, drunk or sober".
It's reminiscent of a parent, sibling, or spouse piously declaring their enduring affection and loyalty for a serial killer who's finally been caught red-handed.
One might as well brag, "When Israel was isolated after its military buccaneers shamelessly and heinously hijacked a flotilla on a mission of peace, assaulted and murdered its passengers, and for good measure looted and stole their personal possessions while illicitly detaining them, we supported them."
It sounds to me more like a confession of being a felonious accessory after the fact than a shining example of commendable true comradeship.
So during this *isolation* of Israel, they acted again to stop the next flotilla and no one stopped them. Their economy grew at 4.5%, they didn't suffer any major terrorist attacks. They had joint war games with Italy and the US.... All in all not a bad year for Israel.
Yes, when I get govt handouts by the govt cab grow.....I do not have to worry about healthcare, education and even the R&D, as it is fully funded by the govt. Shit, only 4.5%....I think I can do a whole lot better.
Israel is growing only because of the handouts we give them. If that is taken away, Israel will sink like the titanic.
Obama's speech to AIPAC is one of the most craven things I have ever seen. The man doesn't have an ounce of honor in his entire body. He is an empty shell.
In "American Psycho", the Patrick Bateman character, bathed in the blue light of a tanning bed, attempts to answer the question of what is beneath his skin. His answer is "nothing". He is empty. Look closely at Obama. Beyond the blinding smile and the sing-song speeches. His eyes are like black holes.
Obama's antennae are exquisitely attuned to the demands of power. He serves the ruling class with absolute devotion. Castro recently compared him to a robot. It's a good comparison.
And while "liberals" and "progressives" continue to support this killer, and Bruce Springsteen writes ballads in his honor, this shell of a man, this reptile, is about to drag us into WWIII.
Durrutix
Your comment about Obama is reminiscent of one of the final scenes in the 1961 film The Hustler when Fast Eddie [played by Paul Newman] informs Minnesota Fats's manager Bert Gordon [played by George C. Scott] that he is a loser because he is empty and dead inside.
One has to wonder who is more of a loser because they have no soul, Obama for sucking up to AIPAC or Israel because of the oppressive Nazi-like policies that it has implemented against the Palestinian people. It could be that both Obama and Israel deserve to be given that label.
He s not a robot. He is a whore. And to sound racist, he is the WH n$$gger doing his master's bidding.
Empty suit indeed. And those that vote for him have blood on their hands.
With his dronings, invading other countries who are no threat to us, he is another war criminal.
How big of a whore to you need to be to excuse the murders of innocent, unarmed people?
Words fail me.
Uncle T'Obama
Interesting. Looking at the backs of heads in the photo accompanying this article, I see not a single yarmulke. No orthodox Jews in this crowd.
Thanks to Ann and to the thoughtful comments. I feel sick at reading the disgusting craven lies that Obama lets fall from his lips (no heart or soull present). I remember in 2008, when he spoke at Sderot (on top of demolished Palestinian village of Najd) about the rockets from Gaza, but never a word about the Palestinians from day 1, when he was elected on Nov 4 and the IDF killed 6 palestinians in Gaza, breaking the truce.
In 1948 the General Assembly of the U.N. barely passed a resolution considering the creation of the State of Israel. That resolution was NEVER passed by the Security Counsel. Clearly, the State of Israel is illegal. Therefore, Israel DOES NOT have a right to exist.
A minor quibble. But I don't think that the fact that any nation exists gives any of them the 'right' to exist. After all, if one nation has such a right than all of them do.
Turkey downright KNEW that breaking the blockade on Gaza would spark a deadly incident because they wanted to weaken ties with Israel in favor of Syria and Iran and thus be more popular in the Muslim world. Theyre strategy backfired because they looked stupid asking Israel to apologize while they would not apologize for attacks in Northern Iraq on the PKK nor own up to the Armenian genocide. And once Assad started killing his own people without reprimands from Iran, Turkey looked stupid again. Now they are isolated in the region and trying to buddy up with Egypt. With friends like Turkey, Israel doesn't even need the Palestinians..lol.
This women who wrote this article is an idiot and can't read between the lines. She's more focussed on the 9 Turks killed on the flotilla that was orchestrated by Turkey and was secretly applauded by Turkish officials than the thousands of Syrians now killed by Assad's regime. Assad had now killed more Syrians than all the Palestinians killed since the 1930's put together.
Typical hasbara ploy: point to others' bad behavior to excuse your own. The US has called out the Assad regime on its crimes (and quite hypocritically at that, consider how much Arab blood in on US hands); why the double standard with Israel? It's sick that you can excuse the slaughter of the Turkish nationals on the flotilla. And your claims about it being some Turkish-Syrian conspiracy are absurd. You embody the callous evil of Zionism.
And you are a fcking idiot too as you focused on the 9 turks but fail to mention the thousands of innocents killed by the IDF. Fcking hypocrite!
You might want to read this police report concerning 9/11 and the Israeli attitude.
Israeli 9/11
http://www.scribd.com/doc/66318931/9-11-FBI-Report-Dancing-Israelis-01
"Obama said the Iranian government denies the Holocaust."
Obomba is a liar. President Ahmadinejad simply posed the question as to why the so-called "Holocaust" can't be investigated like any other historical event. And more importantly, why the Palestinian people should suffer because of what Europeans did to the Jews. Holocaustianity has become a tool of the Zionists to suppress dissent. If the event really occurred the way they say it did, one has to wonder why the Zionists can revisit the same crimes on the Palestinians with such abandon.
Quick question: If Israel is conducting a holocaust of the Palestinians, what's taking them so long?
I didn't say that the Zionists were exterminating Palestinians en masse. I implied that they were using Nazi tactics--and they are. http://desertpeace.wordpress.com/2008/04/16/why-zionism-nazism-comparisons-are-legitimate/
There were 20 million in 1939...now there are 14 million
Hmmm
This must be that new math they are always talking about. There are all sorts of numbers when it comes to the Jewish population both then and now. One thing is certain your numbers are most likely false. Even Wiki gives different numbers. One thing is certain, questioning history when one considers just how many times it has been been rewritten, should never be a crime. Surely if the truth is being told, then it can stand up to scrutiny in the light of day. Or as our government is so fond of saying to us: If you have nothing to hide...........Oh gosh does this make me a Nazi to?
No I am not "denying" that Jews were targeted during WWII. Of course Palestinians have been targeted by Jews in Israel for decades, using many of the same techniques used by the Nazis.
In 1939 there weren''t even six million Jews living in Germany and Poland put together. Further, Jews were only one segment of society that was subjected to the camps. But we all know that the Jews were the most important people in the camps, right?
Italians died also.
Go back to stormfront, your comments will be welcomed there. What was that song by the Dead Kennedy's again...
The song's name is Nazi Punks. If you don't like foul language don't go there.
Good article and another article where the Obamabots and Demobots stick their heads in the sand.
Don't leave out the Ziobots!
they are such a sensitive bunch. we wouldn't want to hurt their feelings....
...peace...
A well written article, damn shame Obama and the rest of the corporate whores won't read it...
Powerful words from a brave woman.
So many great critiques, but where are the proposed solutions? You know, the ones that won't deliver the country wholesale into the fascist's clutches?
Direct democracy
Obama has wrested the crown of Worst President Ever™ from George W. Bush (or Dick Cheney, depending on who you think was President).
I knew we were screwed during the 2008 primaries, when the favorite tactic of Obama's supporters was to call their fellow Democrats racists.
Ann Wright,
thank you for writing this response to the president's aipac speech. thank you CD for publishing ann's essay. obama is not a friend of the palestinian people; he is not an advocate of social justice and peace. he is a tool of the elite used to further the interests of powerful people around the world (including wealthy zionist sympathizers in america). this speech literally made me nauseous.
the danger of the president's words goes beyond the truths ignored (he didn't mention any palestinan grievances - he will not speak at an arab american conference). his words provide a template for other people's interpretation of recent history.
i'm grateful to you and other members of code pink for protesting this pathetic expression of US foreign policy. the annual presidential speech at aipac is a media event - unfortunately most americans are oblivious to the facts on the ground. this year when they turned on their tv's and listened to the great deceiver - hopefully a few of them saw the courageous people like yourself who questioned the official narrative.
a beacon for us all.... hail code pink !!!!!
...peace...
The United States has committed more war crimes than any power on earth without suffering any consequences which makes them the perfect partner for the terrorist state of Israel.
Strange, isn't it? We started out as thirteen colonies of England and we've devolved into the fifty colonies of Israel!
It is a good, strong article. Too bad it has to end with the requisite apology: “denial” dangerous for the national security of the United States, and of the State of Israel.' What if it was just dangerous for the national security of the United States? What if it was just dangerous for Iran or the Palestinians or even humanity at large? Clearly that isn't enough, why?