Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Monday, July 06, 2009
A Great Cartoon by Khalil Bendib: Free Gaza
(Click on cartoon to enlarge)
You see why Khalil is one of my favorite cartoonists.....
"Malcolm's House Negro versus Field Negro" -- You've got that right, Khalil!
PA uses foreign aid to scuttle human rights, civil liberties
By Khalid Amayreh in the West Bank
"On 11 June, members of the Palestinian security agencies detained Haitham Amr, a resident of the small village of Beit al-Rush, 25 kilometers south west of Hebron .
Two days later, Amr, 32 and father of three small children, was found dead in his cell at the Mukhabarat (General Intelligence) headquarters in downtown Hebron .
Amr apparently died after he was subjected to an unusually harsh session of torture resulting in a massive internal bleeding.
At first, PA security officials claimed that Amr had jumped from the second floor of the building in an attempt to escape. However, the claim seemed to have been totally concocted and contained no iota of truth.
The PA did carry out an autopsy on Amr’s body at al-Quds University Medical College immediately after his death. However, the forensic report has not been made public, despite the passage of nearly one month after the incident........
The western rationale for keeping the PA afloat, at least financially, is ostensibly to prepare for the creation of a Palestinian state.
However, it is obvious that the West is actually helping create a police state, and in the Palestinian case, a police state without a state, an entity that very much looks like a graveyard for human rights, civil liberties and simple human decency......"
"On 11 June, members of the Palestinian security agencies detained Haitham Amr, a resident of the small village of Beit al-Rush, 25 kilometers south west of Hebron .
Two days later, Amr, 32 and father of three small children, was found dead in his cell at the Mukhabarat (General Intelligence) headquarters in downtown Hebron .
Amr apparently died after he was subjected to an unusually harsh session of torture resulting in a massive internal bleeding.
At first, PA security officials claimed that Amr had jumped from the second floor of the building in an attempt to escape. However, the claim seemed to have been totally concocted and contained no iota of truth.
The PA did carry out an autopsy on Amr’s body at al-Quds University Medical College immediately after his death. However, the forensic report has not been made public, despite the passage of nearly one month after the incident........
The western rationale for keeping the PA afloat, at least financially, is ostensibly to prepare for the creation of a Palestinian state.
However, it is obvious that the West is actually helping create a police state, and in the Palestinian case, a police state without a state, an entity that very much looks like a graveyard for human rights, civil liberties and simple human decency......"
The Crooks Get Cash While the Poor Get Screwed
By Chris Hedges
"If you have defrauded banks and customers and investment firms of billions of dollars, as AIG or Citibank has, you get taxpayer money. If you are moral scum in America we take care of you. But if you are poor, if you are, say, Tearyan Brown of Trenton, N.J., you are in trouble......."
"If you have defrauded banks and customers and investment firms of billions of dollars, as AIG or Citibank has, you get taxpayer money. If you are moral scum in America we take care of you. But if you are poor, if you are, say, Tearyan Brown of Trenton, N.J., you are in trouble......."
Cry for the prisoners, express your outrage
Monday, 06 July 2009 08:59
The Free Gaza Movement
"There are 11,000 Palestinian prisoners, many without benefit of trial, many in prison for years without being able to see their families. Israel outdoes the U.S. in torture, imprisonment and brutality...."
"We are NOT the Story, Its Not Just Our 21 Kidnapped Passengers.
Palestine, the world's largest openair prison- episode 5
The kidnapping of 21 international human rights workers attempting to deliver needed aid to a besieged people is an outrage, but it is hardly an isolated one.
Since its founding in 1948 the State of Israel has regularly kidnapped and tortured Palestinians, throwing them into forgotten prisons where they can languish for years. Today, over 11,000 Palestinian political prisoners without benefit of due process, some never even charged - men, women, and children endure torture and isolation in Israeli jails, outdoor prison camps, and secret black sites. They come from all walks of life: doctors, journalists, parliamentarians, workers, resistance fighters, homemakers, students and others. They are our sisters and brothers.
From the first night, the Free Gaza 21 have been busy trying to get news out of the prison about the illegality of Israel's actions in relation to themselves and the other inmates inside Ramle Prison who have no voice.
Palestine, the world's largest open air prison are 5 episodes videos showing the actual prison like situation of Palestine. Edited by the Free Gaza Movement are available in ENGLISH, ITALIAN, FRENCH and SPANISH. PLEASE SEE PLAYLISTS TITLED IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE. "
The Free Gaza Movement
"There are 11,000 Palestinian prisoners, many without benefit of trial, many in prison for years without being able to see their families. Israel outdoes the U.S. in torture, imprisonment and brutality...."
"We are NOT the Story, Its Not Just Our 21 Kidnapped Passengers.
Palestine, the world's largest openair prison- episode 5
The kidnapping of 21 international human rights workers attempting to deliver needed aid to a besieged people is an outrage, but it is hardly an isolated one.
Since its founding in 1948 the State of Israel has regularly kidnapped and tortured Palestinians, throwing them into forgotten prisons where they can languish for years. Today, over 11,000 Palestinian political prisoners without benefit of due process, some never even charged - men, women, and children endure torture and isolation in Israeli jails, outdoor prison camps, and secret black sites. They come from all walks of life: doctors, journalists, parliamentarians, workers, resistance fighters, homemakers, students and others. They are our sisters and brothers.
From the first night, the Free Gaza 21 have been busy trying to get news out of the prison about the illegality of Israel's actions in relation to themselves and the other inmates inside Ramle Prison who have no voice.
Palestine, the world's largest open air prison are 5 episodes videos showing the actual prison like situation of Palestine. Edited by the Free Gaza Movement are available in ENGLISH, ITALIAN, FRENCH and SPANISH. PLEASE SEE PLAYLISTS TITLED IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE. "
Biden Says US Won't Stand in Israel's Way on Iran, Tehran Warns
Al-Manar
"06/07/2009 US Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview broadcast Sunday that the United States would not stand in the way of Israel in its dealings with Iran's nuclear program.
"Israel can determine for itself -- it's a sovereign nation -- what's in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else," Biden told ABC television's "This Week." "Whether we agree or not. They're entitled to do that... We cannot dictate to another sovereign nation what they can and cannot do when they make a determination, if they make a determination, that they're existentially threatened.".....
Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official, reacting to Biden’s comments, on Monday said his country would respond "in a very full-scale and very decisive way" if it were attacked by Israel......"That kind of erroneous judgment poses a threat to the entire Middle Eastern region and the world." He added: "If (an Israeli attack) occurred, then the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond in a very full-scale and very decisive way.""
"06/07/2009 US Vice President Joe Biden said in an interview broadcast Sunday that the United States would not stand in the way of Israel in its dealings with Iran's nuclear program.
"Israel can determine for itself -- it's a sovereign nation -- what's in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else," Biden told ABC television's "This Week." "Whether we agree or not. They're entitled to do that... We cannot dictate to another sovereign nation what they can and cannot do when they make a determination, if they make a determination, that they're existentially threatened.".....
Meanwhile, a senior Iranian official, reacting to Biden’s comments, on Monday said his country would respond "in a very full-scale and very decisive way" if it were attacked by Israel......"That kind of erroneous judgment poses a threat to the entire Middle Eastern region and the world." He added: "If (an Israeli attack) occurred, then the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond in a very full-scale and very decisive way.""
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Hiyam, a Gaza teenager killed as she offered aid
Rami Almeghari writing from the occupied Gaza Strip, Live from Palestine, 5 July 2009
"Thursday was as normal and quiet an afternoon as you get in Johr al-Deek village in the central Gaza Strip. "Prepare yourself for I will be taking you to the dentist in half an hour," Salim Abu Ayish recalled telling his 17-year-old daughter Hiyam.
Moments later everything changed. "At 5:30 PM an Israeli shell landed on my brother's house," the father told visitors who had come to offer condolences for his daughter at the family's home on Friday. The shell injured a nephew and Salim Abu Ayish rushed to render aid.
"I asked Hiyam to bring me the car key from my bedroom," Salim Abu Ayish said. As she went, he recalled, "suddenly another shell struck my room, killing Hiyam instantly, as shrapnel rippled through her body. I was injured with some of the shrapnel in my back and my neck."......"
Al-Jazeera Video: Gaza activist talks to Al Jazeera from Israeli jail - 4 Jul 09
"The Israeli prison guards are denying the right for Mairead to access her medicine. Continue to email and call Mark Regev and Shlomo Dror and express your outrage over the treatment of the FreeGaza21 while they are imprisoned. The women have no access to their luggage or their clothing.
Mairead is fasting, not just for her friends incarcerated along with her, but for the 11,000 Palestinians also thrown into jail, many without benefit of trial.
Hear her eloquent interview with Al Jazeera.."
"Fourteen people remain in custody after an aid ship bound for Gaza was seized by the Israeli navy on Tuesday. Among them are a nobel peace prize winner, and two Al Jazeera journalists. The Free Gaza movement sent the ship loaded with humanitarian supplies from Cyprus, in defiance of Israel's crippling 2-year blockade.
Mairead Maguire, a peace activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner spoke to us from inside Tel Aviv's Ramla Givon high security prison."
Mairead is fasting, not just for her friends incarcerated along with her, but for the 11,000 Palestinians also thrown into jail, many without benefit of trial.
Hear her eloquent interview with Al Jazeera.."
"Fourteen people remain in custody after an aid ship bound for Gaza was seized by the Israeli navy on Tuesday. Among them are a nobel peace prize winner, and two Al Jazeera journalists. The Free Gaza movement sent the ship loaded with humanitarian supplies from Cyprus, in defiance of Israel's crippling 2-year blockade.
Mairead Maguire, a peace activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner spoke to us from inside Tel Aviv's Ramla Givon high security prison."
The Israeli Idea of a 'Palestinian State'
By Saree Makdisi
Palestine Chronicle
Palestine Chronicle
"To judge by the next day’s headlines, Benjamin Netanyahu's policy speech last month was a great success. "Israeli Premier Backs State for Palestinians," declared the New York Times. "Israel Endorses Two-State Goal," said the Washington Post. "Netanyahu Backs Palestinian State," announced The Guardian.
He did no such thing, of course, unless by “state” one understands an amorphous entity lacking a definite territory, not allowed to control its own borders or airspace, shorn of any vestige of sovereignty (other than a flag and perhaps a national anthem), not allowed to enter into treaties with other states—and permanently disarmed and hence at the mercy of Israel......
The key moment in the speech came when he said that “the truth is that in the area of our homeland, in the heart of our Jewish Homeland, now lives a large population of Palestinians.” This attitude comes straight out of the primitive racialism and imaginary civilizational hierarchies of the nineteenth century. The Jews are a people with a homeland and hence they have a right to a state; the Palestinians are not a people at all, or certainly not one of the same order. They are merely a collection of vagabonds and trespassers intruding on the Jewish Homeland......"
He did no such thing, of course, unless by “state” one understands an amorphous entity lacking a definite territory, not allowed to control its own borders or airspace, shorn of any vestige of sovereignty (other than a flag and perhaps a national anthem), not allowed to enter into treaties with other states—and permanently disarmed and hence at the mercy of Israel......
The key moment in the speech came when he said that “the truth is that in the area of our homeland, in the heart of our Jewish Homeland, now lives a large population of Palestinians.” This attitude comes straight out of the primitive racialism and imaginary civilizational hierarchies of the nineteenth century. The Jews are a people with a homeland and hence they have a right to a state; the Palestinians are not a people at all, or certainly not one of the same order. They are merely a collection of vagabonds and trespassers intruding on the Jewish Homeland......"
A man of brutality and arrogance who knew how to play to American suspicions
By Patrick Cockburn
"The Saddam Hussein interviews are interesting for what they reveal and what they conceal. Probably right up to the end, Saddam was talking up the Iranian threat to Iraq, knowing that this would confirm American suspicions of Iran. The Iraqi leader would recall that a joint front against Iran had been the basis of Iraqi-American co-operation in the 1980s.....
The anti-Iranian theme is constant throughout, and no doubt Saddam believed it as well as saying it out of political calculation. Of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, he says: "Khomeini and Iran would have occupied all of the Arab world if it had not been for Iraq."
But US intelligence documents about Iraqi intentions in 1980 show Saddam Hussein and other leaders launching a surprise attack on Iran because they thought it was militarily weak following the Iranian revolution of 1979. In a disastrous miscalculation they believed the war would be over soon and they would win back territorial concessions they had made to the Shah in 1975......
Saddam Hussein's failing was not stupidity, but arrogance and brutality and this impression is confirmed by these interviews. He was a man of intelligence who came to believe that he had semi-divine attributes."
"The Saddam Hussein interviews are interesting for what they reveal and what they conceal. Probably right up to the end, Saddam was talking up the Iranian threat to Iraq, knowing that this would confirm American suspicions of Iran. The Iraqi leader would recall that a joint front against Iran had been the basis of Iraqi-American co-operation in the 1980s.....
The anti-Iranian theme is constant throughout, and no doubt Saddam believed it as well as saying it out of political calculation. Of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, he says: "Khomeini and Iran would have occupied all of the Arab world if it had not been for Iraq."
But US intelligence documents about Iraqi intentions in 1980 show Saddam Hussein and other leaders launching a surprise attack on Iran because they thought it was militarily weak following the Iranian revolution of 1979. In a disastrous miscalculation they believed the war would be over soon and they would win back territorial concessions they had made to the Shah in 1975......
Saddam Hussein's failing was not stupidity, but arrogance and brutality and this impression is confirmed by these interviews. He was a man of intelligence who came to believe that he had semi-divine attributes."
Current Al-Jazeera (Arabic) Online Poll
This poll asks:
Who do you support in the current Somali conflict, the government or the opposition?
With over 600 responding so far (it is early), 54% supported the opposition.
Who do you support in the current Somali conflict, the government or the opposition?
With over 600 responding so far (it is early), 54% supported the opposition.
حول ما يجري بعد الحرب
"- أثناء كل حرب سجلت فيها المقاومة صمودا هَزَمَ العدوانَ وأفشل أهدافَه كانت الناس تخرج للتظاهر تضامنا، مجترحة تعبيرات غير مسبوقة عن الغضب على إسرائيل وعلى العجز العربي. وأمل البعض أن يتحوَّل هذا المزاج الشعبي إلى إعصار، أو يستقر على الأقل كحالة دائمة من التضامن مع المقاومة ورفض التسوية. وفي كل مرة يثبت أمر آخر تماما. فالناس تعود إلى أشغالها، وهذا طبيعي. والجمهور لا يحترف التظاهر. تسييس حركة الاحتجاج هو ضمان ديمومتها. ولا يمكن تسييسها في غياب المشاريع السياسية الحاملة لأفكار المقاومة سوية مع هموم المواطن من ضمن مشروعها للنهوض بالأمة..
......
ونحن نعرف من سلوك الأنظمة مع شعوبها وقادة الطوائف مع أبناء طوائفهم والطوائف الأخرى من أبناء بلدهم بعض الأمور عن مدى حساسيتهم لمعاناة البشر. فهل يمكن أن تكون لدى هؤلاء حساسية فعلا لمعاناة الفلسطينيين؟
ترتبط ردود فعل القوى السياسية بما فيها الدول على الوقائع بموقفها السياسي وزاوية نظرها المختلفة بقدر ما ترتبط بالوقائع ذاتها. فبالنسبة لمن دعم في حينه حرب العراق على إيران لم تعن معاناة العراقيين والإيرانيين شيئا، ولم تنعت وسائل الإعلام العربية الداعمة مقتل مئات الآلاف في حرب عبثية بأنه إبادة شعوب، بل غضَّت النظر حين كان موقفها داعما للحرب التي كلّفت بعضُ أيّامها عشرات آلاف الضحايا.
وكذلك الأمر إبان العدوان الأميركي واحتلال العراق، لقد غضّت النظر عن حجم المعاناة الناجمة عن التدخل الأميركي بدايةً، أي حين كان الهدف إسقاط نظام العراق وضرب هذه الدولة (التي سقطت لأنها لا تملك سلاحا نوويا وليس لأنها تملك سلاحا كهذا).
يتم تحدي خصوم المقاومة بالصمود وتخفيف الآلام لا تضخيمها، وتطوير المقاومة وجعل الاحتلال يدفع الثمن، وتقليل خسائر المقاومة، وإظهار القوة على التحمل حين تقع الخسائر، والحفاظ على التواضع والعلاقة السليمة مع المجتمع دون تبجح وإملاء.
أما ما يسمى الشرعية الدولية والمؤسسات الحقوقية الدولية فتساوي بين المحتل وبين الاحتلال فيما يتعلق بجرائم الحرب. وهي في أفضل الحالات تصلح لضبط سلوك الدول في الحروب أو ضد المدنيين، أما المقاومة فليست هذه ساحتها
.....
لا تغيير في سياسات العرب الذين يصفقون لرئيس أميركا بغض النظر عما يطرح. وهم لن يعترفوا لنا بأننا نرى التغيير إلا إذا وافقنا على أن أميركا سوف تقوم بكل ما يلزم مع إسرائيل نيابة عن العرب
.....
خيار الدولة العربية القُطرية الأول هو التسوية، أو للدقة "عملية السلام"، ولو دون تسوية، وينقلب إلى تنسيق أمني من قبل أي كيان عربي مع إسرائيل ضد كيانات عربية أخرى في زمن الانحطاط... كما جرى بين الدولة الصليبية وبعض الكيانات المحيطة
......
المقاومة حين تندمج في المنطق القُطري القائم، أو في مسايرة ثقافته الطائفية والعشائرية القائمة، قد تضحي بالهدف حماية لنفسها. ولكن نفسها دون الهدف ليست نفسها
....."
......
ونحن نعرف من سلوك الأنظمة مع شعوبها وقادة الطوائف مع أبناء طوائفهم والطوائف الأخرى من أبناء بلدهم بعض الأمور عن مدى حساسيتهم لمعاناة البشر. فهل يمكن أن تكون لدى هؤلاء حساسية فعلا لمعاناة الفلسطينيين؟
ترتبط ردود فعل القوى السياسية بما فيها الدول على الوقائع بموقفها السياسي وزاوية نظرها المختلفة بقدر ما ترتبط بالوقائع ذاتها. فبالنسبة لمن دعم في حينه حرب العراق على إيران لم تعن معاناة العراقيين والإيرانيين شيئا، ولم تنعت وسائل الإعلام العربية الداعمة مقتل مئات الآلاف في حرب عبثية بأنه إبادة شعوب، بل غضَّت النظر حين كان موقفها داعما للحرب التي كلّفت بعضُ أيّامها عشرات آلاف الضحايا.
وكذلك الأمر إبان العدوان الأميركي واحتلال العراق، لقد غضّت النظر عن حجم المعاناة الناجمة عن التدخل الأميركي بدايةً، أي حين كان الهدف إسقاط نظام العراق وضرب هذه الدولة (التي سقطت لأنها لا تملك سلاحا نوويا وليس لأنها تملك سلاحا كهذا).
يتم تحدي خصوم المقاومة بالصمود وتخفيف الآلام لا تضخيمها، وتطوير المقاومة وجعل الاحتلال يدفع الثمن، وتقليل خسائر المقاومة، وإظهار القوة على التحمل حين تقع الخسائر، والحفاظ على التواضع والعلاقة السليمة مع المجتمع دون تبجح وإملاء.
أما ما يسمى الشرعية الدولية والمؤسسات الحقوقية الدولية فتساوي بين المحتل وبين الاحتلال فيما يتعلق بجرائم الحرب. وهي في أفضل الحالات تصلح لضبط سلوك الدول في الحروب أو ضد المدنيين، أما المقاومة فليست هذه ساحتها
.....
لا تغيير في سياسات العرب الذين يصفقون لرئيس أميركا بغض النظر عما يطرح. وهم لن يعترفوا لنا بأننا نرى التغيير إلا إذا وافقنا على أن أميركا سوف تقوم بكل ما يلزم مع إسرائيل نيابة عن العرب
.....
خيار الدولة العربية القُطرية الأول هو التسوية، أو للدقة "عملية السلام"، ولو دون تسوية، وينقلب إلى تنسيق أمني من قبل أي كيان عربي مع إسرائيل ضد كيانات عربية أخرى في زمن الانحطاط... كما جرى بين الدولة الصليبية وبعض الكيانات المحيطة
......
المقاومة حين تندمج في المنطق القُطري القائم، أو في مسايرة ثقافته الطائفية والعشائرية القائمة، قد تضحي بالهدف حماية لنفسها. ولكن نفسها دون الهدف ليست نفسها
....."
The Real Axis of Evil......Saudis give nod to Israeli raid on Iran
Times Online
"The head of Mossad, Israel’s overseas intelligence service, has assured Benjamin Netanyahu, its prime minister, that Saudi Arabia would turn a blind eye to Israeli jets flying over the kingdom during any future raid on Iran’s nuclear sites.
Earlier this year Meir Dagan, Mossad’s director since 2002, held secret talks with Saudi officials to discuss the possibility.
The Israeli press has already carried unconfirmed reports that high-ranking officials, including Ehud Olmert, the former prime minister, held meetings with Saudi colleagues. The reports were denied by Saudi officials.
“The Saudis have tacitly agreed to the Israeli air force flying through their airspace on a mission which is supposed to be in the common interests of both Israel and Saudi Arabia,” a diplomatic source said last week.
Although the countries have no formal diplomatic relations, an Israeli defence source confirmed that Mossad maintained “working relations” with the Saudis.
John Bolton, the former US ambassador to the United Nations who recently visited the Gulf, said it was “entirely logical” for the Israelis to use Saudi airspace.....
Arab states would condemn a raid when they spoke at the UN but would be privately relieved to see the threat of an Iranian bomb removed, he said......."
"The head of Mossad, Israel’s overseas intelligence service, has assured Benjamin Netanyahu, its prime minister, that Saudi Arabia would turn a blind eye to Israeli jets flying over the kingdom during any future raid on Iran’s nuclear sites.
Earlier this year Meir Dagan, Mossad’s director since 2002, held secret talks with Saudi officials to discuss the possibility.
The Israeli press has already carried unconfirmed reports that high-ranking officials, including Ehud Olmert, the former prime minister, held meetings with Saudi colleagues. The reports were denied by Saudi officials.
“The Saudis have tacitly agreed to the Israeli air force flying through their airspace on a mission which is supposed to be in the common interests of both Israel and Saudi Arabia,” a diplomatic source said last week.
Although the countries have no formal diplomatic relations, an Israeli defence source confirmed that Mossad maintained “working relations” with the Saudis.
John Bolton, the former US ambassador to the United Nations who recently visited the Gulf, said it was “entirely logical” for the Israelis to use Saudi airspace.....
Arab states would condemn a raid when they spoke at the UN but would be privately relieved to see the threat of an Iranian bomb removed, he said......."
