Re: [Marxism] New York Times Falsifies Obama-Netanyahu Meeting

[Eli Stephens <elishastephens@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Finally, Gaza was much in President Obama's mind and on his conscience
at this meeting; so much so that he broke decorum and stepped out of
his way to mention it"

Well, that's true, as we can see from the transcript.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-President-Obama-and-Israeli-Prime-Minister-Netanyahu-in-press-availability/

He started by saying "I think the humanitarian situation in Gaza has to be 
addressed."

And what were the *very next words out of his mouth*? " Now, I
was along the border in Sderot and saw the evidence of weapons that had
been raining down on the heads of innocents in those Israeli cities,
and that’s unacceptable.  So we’ve got to work with the Egyptians to
deal with the smuggling of weapons and it has to be meaningful because
no Prime Minister of any country is going to tolerate missiles raining
down on their citizens’ heads."

He followed that touching expression of concern for the residents of Sderot 
with his not nearly as touching concern for the residents of Gaza:



"On the other hand, the fact is, is that if the people of Gaza have no
hope, if they can’t even get clean water at this point, if the border
closures are so tight that it is impossible for reconstruction and
humanitarian efforts to take place, then that is not going to be a
recipe for Israel’s long-term security or a constructive peace track to
move forward."

Note that what's happening to the residents of Sderot is "unacceptable"; what's 
happening to the people of Gaza is "not going to be a recipe for Israel's 
long-term security"! Even his "concern" for the people of Gaza is framed as a 
concern for Israel!!

Ironically, Obama spoke on a day when a 1-year-old and a 10-year-old resident 
of Gaza died, both as a result of the lack of appropriate medical equipment in 
Gaza and Israel's refusal to allow them to cross the border for treatment in an 
Israeli hospital:

http://www.imemc.org/article/60451

Obama failed to mention that the U.S. could do something about that blockade of 
Gaza overnight by withdrawing its *own* support and participation; they don't 
even need to "pressure" Israel or Egypt to do anything. Imagine, instead of the 
puny "Free Gaza" boats sailing into Gaza with a day or two's worth of supplies, 
if a U.S. warship (or peaceship if you prefer, but they'll need to be armed to 
make sure the Israelis take no action) filled with hundreds of tons of supplies 
were to sail up to Gaza.

I'd call what Obama had to say crocodile tears for Gaza, except honestly, I 
don't even think his sympathy extended that far; as noted, his "sympathy" for 
Gaza was actually a concern for *Israel*.


Feh.


Eli Stephens
 Left I on the News
 http://lefti.blogspot.com


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