The Israeli Lobby 5-31-2006

31, May 2006 The Israeli Lobby 

A recent study, “The Israeli Lobby and US Foreign Policy”, conducted by two distinguished political science professors (Professor Stephen Walt of Harvard University and John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago), allege that US foreign policy is being unduly influenced by the powerful Israeli lobbyists. The authors accuse the pro-Israeli lobby, primarily AIPAC, of unduly influencing the media, and silencing critics by accusing them of anti-Semitism. 

AIPAC campaigned aggressively to ensure passage of the “Anti-Hamas” bill which cut-off all funding to Hamas. This will doubtless cause enormous suffering for the already suffering Palestinians. Congresswoman Betty McCollum of Minnesota, one of the few dissenters, received a threatening call from AIPAC that “support for terrorists will not be tolerated.”   

It is time for the US to insulate itself from undue Israeli influence and demand responsible behavior and accountability from both Israel and Hamas. The U.S. should withhold the more than $3 billion annual aid money given to Israel until they withdraw from occupied Palestinian land, abide by the World Court to demolish the wall and follow the strict guidelines of the Geneva Convention in its treatment of the Palestinians. It is time to apply pressure on both sides of the conflict to reach a just and lasting settlement. Hamas must in turn recognize the right of Israel to exist and be held accountable to their public pledge to halt further attacks on the Israeli civilian population. 

Dixie Chicks 5-26-2006

26, May 2006             Dixie Chicks

At the Academy of Country Music awards last Tuesday, the host, Reba McEntire, made a snide, outrageously unfunny comment wishing to ingratiate herself to the neocons and religious right - "If the Dixie Chicks can sing with their foot in their mouths, surely I can host this sucker." More than three years ago, Natalie Maines, the Dixie Chicks' lead singer, told a London audience, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." It seems many Americans now share this unflattering opinion of George Bush. The comment, delivered less than two weeks before the invasion of Iraq, set off a fire storm in the entire country-music establishment.

Maines and her two partners have become the country-west music pariahs suffering from lost performance appearances and a wide spread ban of their music on country radio, including their latest album, "Taking the Long Way" (Open Wide/Columbia).  Attempts to stifle freedom of speech, is an appalling reflection on the country-music establishment. It is encouraging that high profile performers like, the Dixie Chicks, should place principle ahead of popularity and profit. A lesson we should all emulate.

Torture of Prisoners 5-24-2006

24, May 2006 Torture of Prisoners
It is time for the citizens of this great country to demand an immediate ban on all forms of torture and a shutdown of the ‘medieval’ prisons at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Abu Ghraib in Iraq and Bagram in Afghanistan. Our government officials are behaving like hoodlums and clones of Saddam Hussein by allowing these despicable practices to continue. The practice of rendition, whereby victims are kidnapped and sent to brutal interrogation facilities (black sites), must be halted immediately. The 460 prisoners held at Guantanamo Bay have been imprisoned, for almost four years without charge. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, most of the prisoners, some young teenagers, are innocent of any crimes. Their continual detention makes a complete mockery of our claim to be a law abiding nation. Our government should heed the UN panel which recently called for the immediate closure of Guantanamo and an end to the abusive treatment of prisoners. The U.S. ratified the treaty to ban all forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in 1994. It is time for our government to hear our collective voices. We do not have the right to remain silent on issues of human dignity. 

Israel demanding US taxpayers fund illegal settlements 5-23-2006

23, May 2006        Israel demanding US taxpayers fund illegal settlements

In a startling new twist to the ongoing Middle East tragedy, the newly installed Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert, arrives in Washington this week to meet his generous US backers and benefactors with an extra-large empty money bag. Olmert, a lifetime hard-liner, plans to evacuate 250,000 settlers from most of the West Bank seized illegally from the Palestinians. The land theft has always been opposed by successive US administrations and UN resolutions but sadly these objections were ignored by Israel. As early as 1976, the U.S. ambassador, William Scranton, stated in a United Nations Security Council debate, “that the settlements were "illegal under the Fourth Geneva Convention." 

Olmert is now making the outrageous request that the evacuation of the illegal Israeli squatters from the West Bank should be bankrolled by the U.S. taxpayers to the tune of $50 billion! Israel would like us to reward them for violating international law! What audacity! The US treasury is badly overdrawn to the tune of $10 trillion!  

Israel must unconditionally withdraw from occupied Palestinian lands and offer massive reparations to the rightful landowners. It is time to usher in a new Middle East policy based on justice not U.S. supplied military weaponry.

General Michael Hayden 5-22-2006

22, May 2006             General Michael Hayden

Gen. Michael V. Hayden's responses to the Senate Intelligence Committee was couched with the usual vague language and obfuscation used by Alberto Gonzales and others in their confirmation hearings. When the occasional ‘hard question’ was posed’, Hayden lifted his ‘national security shield’ to avoid a truthful response and promised to give details in ‘closed sessions’.

The American public will never be privy to the details of these closed sessions because a gag order will be imposed on all attendees. Thus, the dark secrets of this administration will remain sealed to avoid further embarrassments. What was sorely needed was some courageous lawmakers to pose scorching questions on illegal domestic spying of Americans and the appalling abuse of prisoners at Guantanamo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Alas, this did not happen. Instead fawning Republicans and cowed Democrats demurred to Haden with ‘soft questions’ to ensure his confirmation and placate their constituents back home. 

Libya 5-18-2006

18, May 2006 Libya
   
In yet another bizarre twist that defies comprehension, our government has decided to kiss and make up with Libya, who for more than 25 years has been on the forefront of fomenting terrorism. Our nemesis, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, used his oil wealth to finance coups, assassinations, and promote a virile form of radical Islam. Has the world so quickly forgotten the 207 passengers killed in the 1998 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie or the terrorist bomb that killed 170 people in Africa? Many Libyans have suffered the wrath of Qaddafi’s reign of terror and must be equally perplexed by the US decision to reestablish diplomatic relations with their country.   

While our officials huff and puff and threaten to unleash its military power on Iran, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, called Libya an "important model as nations around the world press for changes in behavior by the Iranian and North Korean regimes."  How wonderfully forgiving our nation has become when issues of trade arise, especially Libya’s rich supply of liquid gold (oil) which we so covet.

Pork Spending 5-18-2006

18, May 2006 Pork Spending

It seems nothing will stop the profligate spending habits of our lawmakers. Unaffected by the crippling costs of the Pentagon war machine, Katrina, and a $10 trillion debt ceiling, pork spending goes on unabated. $92.2 billion was slipped under the radar of public scrutiny as an “emergency” supplemental, principally for the Iraq war and Katrina.   This pot of money includes a fuzzy line item of $782 million for military research and development, $782 million of emergency funding to relocate railroad operations in New Orleans to make room for casinos and tourist facilities. Another staggering $594 million emergency Katrina funding was encumbered for highway projects, $4 billion for farm disasters - all unrelated to Katrina. 

Even more egregious emergency budget items - $150,000 for the Bronx Council of the Arts, $1.8 million to boost interest in art in West Virginia, and $500,000 for the Montana World Trade Center. A recent poll revealed approval of Congress plummeted to 22%. Who are these mysterious 22%? What further actions - beside waging unnecessary wars, torture, illegal wiretapping, trashing the Constitution, running up record deficits - can Congress and the president take to lose support of this stubborn minority?

Honor women 5-16-2006

16, May 2006                                      Honor women

The central theme of Ayaan Hirsi All's recently published book, "The Caged Virgin, offers compelling food for thought, namely its 'IT'S NOT TOLERANT TO TOLERATE intolerance'. This is a valuable lesson that we, as Indo-Americans, would be wise to follow. Ali, a young member of the Dutch parliament excoriates her adopted country for responding to radicalized hostility to women with passivity and indifference. Ali, a victim of intolerance, escaped from her native Somalia and a planned marriage to a distant cousin, in 1992. Since arriving in Holland, Ali has demonstrated enormous courage in voicing her fierce opposition to Islamic customs which dishonors and relegates women to mere chattels and playthings of their men folk. Ali make a strong appeal to the Dutch and western world to intercede on behalf of her Islamic sisters to free them from the bonds of slavery and persecution. It is encouraging that Holland and other western nations are taking heed of Ali's message and are perhaps willing to make policy changes to adopt a less tolerant attitude to religious fundamentalism. Ali articulates a persuasive message - abandon strict interpretations of the Koran and glorify God through right thinking and noble actions.

Attempts to silence those who take a contrary view and oppose a literal interpretation of the Koran is to enhance negative stereotypical attitudes. Islam is certainly not alone in subjugating women and proselytizing their faith at the barrel of a gun. History is replete with appalling acts of violence committed to force feed Christianity to non-believers. Tens of thousands of non-Christians perished during the Christian Crusades in a grotesque spectacle of promoting Christ's universal message of love and tolerance. Christian missionaries and religious marketing gurus have also been adept at promoting 'one stop' drive through spiritual fast food outlets where the non-believer or sinner is offered salvation by uttering 'lord pul chuk maf (forgive me)' and accepting Christ as the gatekeeper to heaven and - lo and behold - all is forgiven!

More recently, Deepa Mehta's encountered fierce opposition filming WATER. The riveting movie chronicles the lives of windows who endure enormous suffering and deprivation on the demise of their 'saintly male spouses', following the 'sacred religious text of Manu'. The movie set had to be relocated from Banaras to Sri Lanka after religious fanatics destroyed the movie set. It is a national shame that our society tolerates the cruel and archaic custom which imprisons a staggering 43 million widows to unnecessary suffering. The widows are forced to shave their heads, and discouraged from appearing in public lest their 'impure' presence or indeed their shadows should defile the public at large. Alas, these 'children of God' are given three choices according Manu, die on the husbands pyre, marry the deceased's younger brother, or live in isolation in a widow's home. Often these women are loaned out for sexual favors to generate additional revenue.

It is time for enlightened Indians to demonstrate their utter revulsion to these grotesque practices which sadly are sanctified by religious texts written by men to undermine the basic human rights of widowed women.

Response to local letter writer RE: Israel 5-14-2006

14, May 2006 Response to local letter writer RE: Israel

What a pity Sheree Roth chose to criticize ‘Break the Wall’ rally at Stanford (Daily, May 12) through her pro-Israeli blinkered vision. It is doubtful that Roth was present at the rally otherwise she would have observed a large number of ‘non-Arabs’ (including several Jews) who were voicing their solidarity with their Palestinian brothers and sisters in opposition to Israel’s repressive policies. 

Roth seems to be unaware that the separation wall will cut off a staggering 55,000 Palestinians and according to a ruling of the International Court of Justice at The Hague is a complete violation of international law. Roth also ignores the fact that Israel, as the occupying power, under the third Geneva Convention, is responsible for the safety and the welfare of the entire Palestinian population under occupation. 

Roth conveniently ignores Israel’s illegal theft of Palestinian lands, its disdain for international laws and violation of a staggering 65 UN resolutions. Roth seems to be unaware that Israel has accumulated a huge stockpile of WMD’s largely ‘hidden’ from the international community. Roth also seems to be unaware that a disproportionate number of Palestinians have been killed and injured. Oxfam International issued a dire warning that withholding funds belonging to the Palestinians will only worsen the humanitarian crisis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. This unlawful action will not punish Hamas but simply give the Palestinians another reason to regard Israel as an aggressive and repressive occupying power and give rise to more violence and hatred. 

Hamas 5-10-2006

10, May 2006 Hamas
The United States claims to promote democracy to the Middle East and then chooses to punish three-and-a-half million Palestinians by supporting Israel’s decision to withhold funds and aid belonging to the democratically elected government of Hamas. What blatant hypocrisy! 

Oxfam International warned that the humanitarian crisis in the West Bank and Gaza will only worsen in response to international aid cuts. Oxfam is providing the only source of clean water to about 140,000 Palestinians families in the Occupied Territories, 60% of them live on about $2 a day. 

Israel is obligated by international law to provide money that was rightly due to the Palestinians. The taxes from Palestinian workers, according to the agreements, must be transferred to the Palestinian Authority. It is unconscionable that Israel has illegally deducted large portions of these funds. This illegal withholding has been continuing for 39 years. This blatant theft of funds has been ignored by the international community. 
It is outrageous that our tax dollars continue to support the  oppressive polices of Israel while dismissing the needs and aspirations of the Palestinians with disdain and indifference. 

Rumsfeld Challenged 5-6-2006

6, May 2006                           Rumsfeld Challenged

Former senior CIA official (and co-founder of the Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity), Ray McGovern, should be nominated the ‘man of the year’ by Time magazine for his courage in confronting the shadowy, defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld who was on a speaking engagement at the Southern Center for International Studies, Atlanta. McGovern accused Rumsfeld of consistency lying to the American people in the run up to the war in Iraq. Rumsfeld had never been confronted by such hostility and looked thoroughly uncomfortable. Fortunately, there were enough sycophants in the largely screened audience who saved Rumsfeld from further embarrassment after he gave a most disingenuous response to McGovern’s accusation.

Other antiwar demonstrators had managed to voice their anger before being escorted from the premises. Before entering the hall, McGovern was handed a ‘protocol card’, which stated that “there will a question-and-answer period, but please adhere to these guidelines. Refrain from using the word ‘lie’ in relation to the war in Iraq. Do not question the secretary’s personal responsibility for torture. And please don’t discuss first use of nuclear weapons against Iran. If you violate these guidelines, you'll be immediately removed from the auditorium, flown to an undesignated prison location somewhere in Eastern Europe and tortured. Thank you for your cooperation.”

How far our nation has fallen from the “land of the free and home of the brave.” 

Steven Colbert at Correspondents' Association Dinner 5-3-2006

3, May 2006         Steven Colbert at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

The decision of the mainstream media to ignore reporting Stephen Colbert’s stinging rebuke of Bush’s polices and the media, at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, is disquieting, but not surprising. Colbert, aided and abetted by the ever-feisty but courageous Helen Thomas, exposed the D.C. press corps’ reluctance to aggressively challenge the Bush administration’s disastrous domestic and foreign polices.

Bush looked visibly uncomfortable as Colbert launched into his tirade. The media chose to ignore Colbert’s razor-sharp barbs in favor of Bush’s light hearted exchange with his alter-ego, Steven Bridges. Democracy is not well served by a media cowered to silence by the attack dogs of the White House. I urge readers to pick up a copy of Boehlert's new book, Lapdogs, which is a scathing indictment of the media’s timidity during the Bush presidency which has allowed so many of his failed polices to be ignored or unchallenged.