[Marxism] just when you thought the Dems couldn't get more craven ...

[Dbachmozart@xxxxxxx]

Glenn Greenwald -  Both parties cheerlead still more loudly for  Israel's War 
-
 
clip -- 
This afternoon, the Democratic-led U.S. Senate did just that by enacting  -- 
_via a cowardly voice vote_ 
(http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2009/01/us_senate_supports_israels_gaza_incursion.php)
  -- a completely one-sided,  
non-binding resolution that expresses unequivocal support for the Israeli  war, 
and 
heaps all the blame for the conflict on Hamas and none of it on  Israel.  
Harry Reid -- who jointly sponsored the Resolution  with GOP Leader Mitch 
McConnell -- proudly proclaimed: "When we pass  this resolution, the United 
States 
Senate will strengthen our historic bond with  the state of Israel."  On its 
website, AIPAC is already _patting the U.S. Senate  on its head_ 
(http://www.aipac.org/130.asp#20141)  for "for conveying America's unequivocal 
and steadfast 
support  for Israel's right to self-defense." 
The Senate resolution is _here_ 
(http://www.aipac.org/Publications/SourceMaterialsCongressionalAction/SenateRes.pdf)
  (.pdf).  The very similar House 
version that was  circulated earlier today was _drafted by Israel-centric House 
Foreign Affairs Chairman  Howard Berman (D-Calif.)_ 
(http://jta.org/news/article/2009/01/06/1002014/dems-plan-pro-israel-resolution)
 .  It is _here_ 
(http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/01/08/israel/index1.html) ,  and 
is 
expected to pass later today or tomorrow -- undoubtedly with overwhelming  
bipartisan 
support.   _ThinkProgess noted yesterday_ 
(http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/07/pro-israel-resolution/)  that Democrats 
took the lead in  drafting the 
Resolution because they did not want to be "out-hawked by  the Republicans," 
though 
it's hardly unusual for Democrats to march in  lockstep with Republicans on 
Israel more than any other issue. 
It's hard to overstate how one-sided this resolution is.  It "expresses  
vigorous support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, and  
survival 
of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state with secure  
borders."  Why should the U.S. maintain an "unwavering commitment  to the 
welfare" of 
a foreign country?  It  "lays blame both for the breaking of the 'calm' and 
for subsequent civilian  casualties in Gaza precisely where blame belongs, that 
is, on  Hamas."  It repeatedly mentions the various sins of Hamas -- from  
rockets to suicide attacks -- but does not mention a single syllable of  
criticism for Israel.  In the world of the U.S. Congress, neither the  4-decade 
occupation of Palestinian land nor the devastating blockade of Gaza nor  the 
ongoing 
expansion of Israeli settlements even  exist.  That may not be mentioned. 
The Resolution demands that Hamas take multiple steps towards peaceful  
resolution but demands that Israel do absolutely nothing.   It purports to call 
for 
a cease-fire in which the Palestinians make all the  concessions and Israel 
makes none.  Worst of all -- in light of the  Red Cross condemnation, 
yesterday's slaughter at the U.N. school, and  other similar incidents -- the 
Resolution disgustingly  praises Israel's conduct of the war, claiming that 
"Israel has 
 facilitated humanitarian aid to Gaza with hundreds of trucks carrying  
humanitarian assistance and numerous ambulances entering the Gaza Strip since  
the 
current round of fighting began on December 27, 2008." 
This one-sided, ostensibly "pro-Israel" bipartisan inflaming of tensions by  
the U.S. is nothing new.  Long-time Middle East negotiator Aaron  David 
Miller, in Newsweek, earlier this week made _one of the  most startling 
revelations 
in some time_ (http://www.newsweek.com/id/177716/output/print)  -- that in all 
the time the U.S. has  supposedly been attempting to forge a Middle East 
peace agreement over the past  25 years, it never once, in any meaningful way, 
raised with Israeli  leaders the damage that comes from Israeli settlements.   
Specifically, said Miller:  "I can't recall one  meeting where we had a serious 
discussion with an Israeli prime minister about  the damage that settlement 
activity â including land confiscation, bypass roads  and housing demolitions 
â 
does to the peacemaking process."
full --  
 
<_http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/01/08/israel/index.html_ 
(http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/01/08/israel/index.html) >
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