Yeah, the Liberty - another case of letting criminal activity go by because of guilt over the Holocaust. Nietzsche comes to mind: “Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”
Wow. A further note: the NYT and other news outlets are making a big deal of Israel's opening another land route for humanitarian aid, but it doesn't say anything about PROTECTING the bearers of that aid once they cross into Gaza. I do hope Biden says "thanks, but not enough."
On misidentification--Israel is making comments that its "mistake" was because it is hard to see aid vehicle markings in the dark. There's a simple solution: Israel should provide all aid vehicles approved to travel with a LIGHT that shines on the markings, and makes them clear to even the most eye-challenged idiot. Israel should supply this because it is THEIR mistake and the aid organizations should not have to incur ANY expense in protecting themselves from Israeli "mistakes."
World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres statement to Reuters soon after the three strikes has me disregarding almost everything the media is regurgitating which is being fed to them as disingenuous Israeli spin. (i.e. Labelling the three individual strikes "an attack") https://youtu.be/ddoBO4KToSw
Sad to say that the most powerful nation in the world is looking rather weak just now, exposed as being manipulated in the way it has into the position of supplying munitions to one fascist that he is using to kill women, children and those trying to help them while denying the same munitions to another Jewish leader attempting to defend and protect his people from another fascist who has been doing the same to his people for two years.
American foreign policy has always been hypocritical and Russians have always been very good chess players.
Actions expose the hollowness of the spoken words.
Quite frankly, my stomach turns now every time I hear the phrase "not doing enough to protect civilians" when the IDF has been deliberately targetting the innocent, the majority of whom are women and children. Mealy mouthed platitudes that mean nothing from your "leaders" while they keep sending the the weapons that you pay for for them to do the evil with.
I saw on the news that Hamas rejected the last Israeli "offer" because it didn't include withdrawal of Israeli troops during the cease fire. My god--I drive farther to get to IKEA than it takes to go from the north to the south of Gaza. If Hamas breaches the ceasefire, the IDF can be back in MINUTES. But no--they've gotta stay put, with guns, ready to shoot the next kid they think is trying to throw rocks at them.
Obviously if the troops are withdrawn and there is still shooting of civilians, that will be on Hamas. And if there isn't--then all the crap about "Hamas is really doing it" will be even more unbelievable. What do they think Hamas is going to DO during a ceasefire? Members, including terrorists, won't be able to leave, weapons won't be able to come IN--Israel is still massed on the borders to stop that. Digging more tunnels? Not that easy to do, especially within the rubble. Sit around and make plans?
I want Israel to give the NAMES of the 500 terrorists they caught at al Shifa and the 200 they killed--along with evidence that everyone was in fact a terrorist. I have to say if I was a doctor and my patients were under assault, or those sheltering in my hospital for lack of anywhere else, I might myself pull out a gun--not that I know how to shoot. The IDF showed pictures of guns captured--even if that were true, there is no evidence of when they were PUT where they were found. All it shows is that at some time, someone thought they might have to defend the hospital. It could have been back in October.
I can't even begin to think what will happen if the IDF moves on Rafah. Biden has to be clear--no offensive weapons to Israel until there is it is clear that Israel won't move in. If Bibi does his bluster, say fine--no weapons. Andres said it truly: aid to Israel for defense within the country, but 2000 ton bombs? No way. I hope Biden takes this to heart.
Thank you Dave. I'm feeling angry and tearful at the same time. What is this bitter cynicism that is overtaking me? I suspect I'm not the only global citzen with 'no skin in the game' upset at the situation and frustrated by inability to affect it. I don't know how you within all bear it.
Were you around for Vietnam? It doesn't help a whole lot, but there are some advantages in having more perspective. We all have skin in the game and much more on the line than the people whose fortunes insulate them from many of the vagaries of life. There are times when I feel that the best move would be to take the failed insurrectionist out completely, but that would be playing by their rules and I like to think we're better than that. This may finally be the time that we get the changes made that we thought were accomplished when we got Nixon out of the White House. Wholesale alterations in the system and accountability for the transgressors.
Born between North Vietnam's invasion of Laos and the death of America's fist two "advisors' I was but a child for almost all of that war, attending high school and one year away from obtaining my driver's license (at age fifteen) when the last American troops were withdrawn in '73.
What memories and images I carry are therefore more of the documentaries, movies and books seen and read since than of those times. I recall the TV news coverage as being regular but brief. The one returned New Zealand volunteer soldier I later worked with in the 1980s refused to talk about it, understandably.
"Wholesale alterations in the system and accountability for the transgressors." There lie two fine cruxes. The Electoral College negating the popular vote, and enforcing S3 of the 14th amendment.
Those two would be a good start, especially if 14.3 was thoroughly enforced on members of Congress who supported the insurrection but apparently think themselves immune from sanction by virtue of being in control of the sanctioning apparatus.
I drew #19 in the first draft lottery and fortunately was judged physically unfit for service by virtue of being 6'5" and 139 lbs. at my pre-induction physical.
This 1967 incident sounds more like "another fine mess". Supposedly the US and Israel were allies, why didn't we inform Israel the Liberty was being sent there to monitor intelligence? Why didn't the Israelis ask the Liberty to identify itself before the attack? This is a general problem I have with war. People killed and property destroyed by "Friendly Fire" there is noting friendly about killing someone.
The WCK on the other hand was known to be there and Netanyahu has been warned by Joe Biden to cease and desist, especially from killing citizens.
Well, this is a case of knowing who you are selling guns to. Aside from ideologies there is protection of one's own environment, unwillingness to even think you should risk something in order to help someone else.
Nothing great happens without risk. But it is also a great feeling to work towards a common good, something for others as well as yourself. The enormous short sightedness, linked to self protection, shows weak leadership.
Governments who declare that examining this situation makes one anti semitic is another weak argument. Connected to climate (violence?). So there are motivations for keeping our eyes off violence. Nonrecognition.
Intersectionality: in Gaza there is Environmental Racism. There are personal accounts of loss of homes, an essential right, however if we refuse to look and examine, the ground in Gaza is being decimated, so that those who live there do not have safety, health, it is difficult to understand any of it when we live in so much comfort.
Social violence includes environmental racism, which is crossing social spaces over time. (also called domestic violence)
You know too much TC. It must be like watching sausage made, up close and all day, every day. Glad you can keep your senses and your sense of humor. Hope you can turn it off and pet a cat or two to reset your gyro…
My father did a couple of Med cruises in the early-mid 70s, and he told me it was still standard procedure to track any potential Israeli air/waterborne contacts as hostile and to feed a continual fire solution until they passed/resolved/identified themselves.
NEVER knew this piece of history. I read a publication called Jewish Currents, which is a progressive publication and their articles point to the deliberate strategy by the Israeli government to play Hamas against the PLO in order to continue taking Palestinian lands and displace those communities. Israel has actually given funds to Hamas over years. Israel closed Gaza after the last war around 2005 or so. In my mind the government of Israel is committing war crimes and genocide. Hamas is not the only terror group in Gaza at this point IMHO.
Yeah, the Liberty - another case of letting criminal activity go by because of guilt over the Holocaust. Nietzsche comes to mind: “Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”
Wow. A further note: the NYT and other news outlets are making a big deal of Israel's opening another land route for humanitarian aid, but it doesn't say anything about PROTECTING the bearers of that aid once they cross into Gaza. I do hope Biden says "thanks, but not enough."
On misidentification--Israel is making comments that its "mistake" was because it is hard to see aid vehicle markings in the dark. There's a simple solution: Israel should provide all aid vehicles approved to travel with a LIGHT that shines on the markings, and makes them clear to even the most eye-challenged idiot. Israel should supply this because it is THEIR mistake and the aid organizations should not have to incur ANY expense in protecting themselves from Israeli "mistakes."
World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres statement to Reuters soon after the three strikes has me disregarding almost everything the media is regurgitating which is being fed to them as disingenuous Israeli spin. (i.e. Labelling the three individual strikes "an attack") https://youtu.be/ddoBO4KToSw
Sad to say that the most powerful nation in the world is looking rather weak just now, exposed as being manipulated in the way it has into the position of supplying munitions to one fascist that he is using to kill women, children and those trying to help them while denying the same munitions to another Jewish leader attempting to defend and protect his people from another fascist who has been doing the same to his people for two years.
American foreign policy has always been hypocritical and Russians have always been very good chess players.
Actions expose the hollowness of the spoken words.
Quite frankly, my stomach turns now every time I hear the phrase "not doing enough to protect civilians" when the IDF has been deliberately targetting the innocent, the majority of whom are women and children. Mealy mouthed platitudes that mean nothing from your "leaders" while they keep sending the the weapons that you pay for for them to do the evil with.
That was an incredible video; thanks for sharing.
I saw on the news that Hamas rejected the last Israeli "offer" because it didn't include withdrawal of Israeli troops during the cease fire. My god--I drive farther to get to IKEA than it takes to go from the north to the south of Gaza. If Hamas breaches the ceasefire, the IDF can be back in MINUTES. But no--they've gotta stay put, with guns, ready to shoot the next kid they think is trying to throw rocks at them.
Obviously if the troops are withdrawn and there is still shooting of civilians, that will be on Hamas. And if there isn't--then all the crap about "Hamas is really doing it" will be even more unbelievable. What do they think Hamas is going to DO during a ceasefire? Members, including terrorists, won't be able to leave, weapons won't be able to come IN--Israel is still massed on the borders to stop that. Digging more tunnels? Not that easy to do, especially within the rubble. Sit around and make plans?
I want Israel to give the NAMES of the 500 terrorists they caught at al Shifa and the 200 they killed--along with evidence that everyone was in fact a terrorist. I have to say if I was a doctor and my patients were under assault, or those sheltering in my hospital for lack of anywhere else, I might myself pull out a gun--not that I know how to shoot. The IDF showed pictures of guns captured--even if that were true, there is no evidence of when they were PUT where they were found. All it shows is that at some time, someone thought they might have to defend the hospital. It could have been back in October.
I can't even begin to think what will happen if the IDF moves on Rafah. Biden has to be clear--no offensive weapons to Israel until there is it is clear that Israel won't move in. If Bibi does his bluster, say fine--no weapons. Andres said it truly: aid to Israel for defense within the country, but 2000 ton bombs? No way. I hope Biden takes this to heart.
Not vague at all Craig, and very well written. You're saying what a lot of us are thinking.
Thank you Dave. I'm feeling angry and tearful at the same time. What is this bitter cynicism that is overtaking me? I suspect I'm not the only global citzen with 'no skin in the game' upset at the situation and frustrated by inability to affect it. I don't know how you within all bear it.
About the only way we can, Craig, is work to change it - which is why it's important to save the system that lets us do that.
Were you around for Vietnam? It doesn't help a whole lot, but there are some advantages in having more perspective. We all have skin in the game and much more on the line than the people whose fortunes insulate them from many of the vagaries of life. There are times when I feel that the best move would be to take the failed insurrectionist out completely, but that would be playing by their rules and I like to think we're better than that. This may finally be the time that we get the changes made that we thought were accomplished when we got Nixon out of the White House. Wholesale alterations in the system and accountability for the transgressors.
Born between North Vietnam's invasion of Laos and the death of America's fist two "advisors' I was but a child for almost all of that war, attending high school and one year away from obtaining my driver's license (at age fifteen) when the last American troops were withdrawn in '73.
What memories and images I carry are therefore more of the documentaries, movies and books seen and read since than of those times. I recall the TV news coverage as being regular but brief. The one returned New Zealand volunteer soldier I later worked with in the 1980s refused to talk about it, understandably.
"Wholesale alterations in the system and accountability for the transgressors." There lie two fine cruxes. The Electoral College negating the popular vote, and enforcing S3 of the 14th amendment.
Those two would be a good start, especially if 14.3 was thoroughly enforced on members of Congress who supported the insurrection but apparently think themselves immune from sanction by virtue of being in control of the sanctioning apparatus.
I drew #19 in the first draft lottery and fortunately was judged physically unfit for service by virtue of being 6'5" and 139 lbs. at my pre-induction physical.
This 1967 incident sounds more like "another fine mess". Supposedly the US and Israel were allies, why didn't we inform Israel the Liberty was being sent there to monitor intelligence? Why didn't the Israelis ask the Liberty to identify itself before the attack? This is a general problem I have with war. People killed and property destroyed by "Friendly Fire" there is noting friendly about killing someone.
The WCK on the other hand was known to be there and Netanyahu has been warned by Joe Biden to cease and desist, especially from killing citizens.
We were not the allies in 1967 that we would become in 1968-69 during the Continuation War.
ok
TC can identify “fine messes” from any distance and any time period.
Agreed!
Well, this is a case of knowing who you are selling guns to. Aside from ideologies there is protection of one's own environment, unwillingness to even think you should risk something in order to help someone else.
Nothing great happens without risk. But it is also a great feeling to work towards a common good, something for others as well as yourself. The enormous short sightedness, linked to self protection, shows weak leadership.
Governments who declare that examining this situation makes one anti semitic is another weak argument. Connected to climate (violence?). So there are motivations for keeping our eyes off violence. Nonrecognition.
Intersectionality: in Gaza there is Environmental Racism. There are personal accounts of loss of homes, an essential right, however if we refuse to look and examine, the ground in Gaza is being decimated, so that those who live there do not have safety, health, it is difficult to understand any of it when we live in so much comfort.
Social violence includes environmental racism, which is crossing social spaces over time. (also called domestic violence)
You know too much TC. It must be like watching sausage made, up close and all day, every day. Glad you can keep your senses and your sense of humor. Hope you can turn it off and pet a cat or two to reset your gyro…
The recent 'mistake' by the Israelis was likely done with a Top Secret. US-made "Flying Ginsu" missile, via Lucian K. Truscott. https://luciantruscott.substack.com/p/top-secret-us-flying-ginsu-missile?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=255301&post_id=143274430&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=16jld&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
More that I missed. Thanks Tom.
My father did a couple of Med cruises in the early-mid 70s, and he told me it was still standard procedure to track any potential Israeli air/waterborne contacts as hostile and to feed a continual fire solution until they passed/resolved/identified themselves.
The IDF and Sixth Fleet were not on good terms
NEVER knew this piece of history. I read a publication called Jewish Currents, which is a progressive publication and their articles point to the deliberate strategy by the Israeli government to play Hamas against the PLO in order to continue taking Palestinian lands and displace those communities. Israel has actually given funds to Hamas over years. Israel closed Gaza after the last war around 2005 or so. In my mind the government of Israel is committing war crimes and genocide. Hamas is not the only terror group in Gaza at this point IMHO.
And as I and others keep pointing out: Hamas didn't come out of nowhere.
Holy crap. Never heard this one.
Thank you so much for this account TC. Very informative.
Thank you Tom.
Talk about the fog of war! Yikes!
Yikes.