George Bush is coming to town! People really are making a much bigger deal of this than they should, but I guess we have to feel something big is happening when the man who is responsible for so much suffering in this part of the world arrives. Security in Ramallah has been extra tight this week, with US security personnel pretty much out in the open. There will be a day-time curfew imposed on Irsal Street, Jerusalem Street and Nablus Street, the three largest arteries in Ramallah and Elbireh. Apparently, since I live near Abbashole’s Center of Collaboration (The Muqata, what?) I am liable to get popped in the skull by a Secret Service sniper if I dare stick my head out of the window. This shit all seems a bit much-Bush ain’t the first head of state to visit Ramallah, and we’ve always been nice to the others. Even Condi can have the Palestinian security services arrest and/or beat the Holy Living Shit out of anybody who dares protest against her. But this is Bush, and he can’t go anywhere without pissing the locals off in an unprecedented fashion. Unless they’re Israelis. They like him.
I caught his press conference with Olmert, and it’s sad that they don’t even try to hide their ulterior motives anymore. Praising Olmert continuously for his ‘efforts’ towards peace, Bush ignored the huge settlement projects announced by Israel since Annapolis, insisting that the biggest obstacle to peace is not occupation, oppression, land-theft, the denial of human rights, collective punishment, deportations, political prisoners, border closures, military operations and settlements, but that always convenient pain in the ass: terror. Olmert used the opportunity to announce to Abbashole that he would not tolerate Palestinian attacks on Israel, even from territories that his BFF doesn’t control. Then, without being prompted, they laid into Iran, Bush meekly assuring the Israelis that even though his own intelligence agencies tell him Iran’s threat to world security is considerably exaggerated, he trusts the Mossad more.
Oh, and he told the Arab countries to recognize Israel’s contributions to peace. I’m sure the Lebanese and Palestinians will vouch for it.
There really is a strong undercurrent of anger brewing here, at Bush and the Israelis naturally, but also at the Palestinian Authority, which is going out of its way to restrict freedom of speech. If people were allowed to, there would be thousands and thousands protesting in Ramallah tomorrow-but Salam Fayyad’s thugs don’t like people protesting.
17 comments:
...and the alternative Palestinian body politic you would like to see, Mohammad is...?
Palestinian nationalism was forged in strongman populist fascism and in fascism it remains.
If people were allowed to, there would be thousands and thousands protesting in Ramallah tomorrow
Because nobody knows how much the Palestinians hate Bush and the United States, right? And Palestinians NEVER get the opportunity to protest on television, right?
I'm sure you probably realize that the reason your leaders don't want you on television making a spectacle out of your disgust and loathing for the US is that they want to actually be able to get something from the US at some point in the future? But you probably feel entitled to unlimited free money from the US no matter what you do, right? We *owe* it to you.
Victor-- thanks for again for your enlightening commentary on the issues. What you said proves that Palestinians are idiots and very very bad and that Israel is always right. You should start a blog, like, somewhere else maybe, where you would be free to spread your retarded criticism. Oh, but wait, you are not as funny or as popular as Kabobfest, so instead, you are stalking us (the readers of Kabobfest) by staying home all the time so that you can always be the first commenter with lots of snarky one-liners. Thanks. I really would like to know why you have dedicated yourself to making sure that no one reads some else's voice without making sure that we're pounded once again with the Israeli side. Here in America, we almost never get to hear the Israeli side. It's like it's shut out of the media or something.
And Craig, no, we (and I'm not Palestinian, I'm a white American so some of them are actually my tax dollars) would just like Israel to stop being given ONE THIRD of the United States' total foreign aid, at a cost from 1949 to 1997 of about $15,000 per Israeli and billions and billions of dollars every year. Hey, you know, if we spent like 1/100th of that per African, we might actually be able to help save lives instead of helping to murder people, which Israel does very effectively with our nice little tax dollars. Shalom!
If we give Israel a third of our foreign aid every year, that means we give Egypt more than a quarter of it. It also means that Egypt and Israel combined receive over half of all the Foreign Aid money the US sends out every year. believe it or not, that does NOT make me happy. Especially in the case of Egypt. You aren't the only one who can think of more worthy recipients of that aid, anonymous.
However, that aid money to both Egypt and Israel is a condition of the camp David accords, and other than abrogating those accords I don't see what can be done about it.
you *owe* it to us? where on earth did i, or anyone else on this blog, or anybody that is not associated with abbas, claim that the USA owes us anything? all we want is for it to leave us alone.
all we want is for it to leave us alone.
You probably actually believe that, which is why I said what I said.
To clarify... I think you do believe the world (not just the US) owes you something. And I also think you believe if everyone just "left you alone", everything would be find. I think you believe Palestinians have no choice but to commit murders and other terrorist acts. I think you believe a lot of things, that I don't believe. That's why I don't think there's much point in discussing "issues" with Palestinian activists. I used to try, and then I realized I don't live in the same version of reality that Palestinians do.
But believe me when I tell you, 99% of Americans would like nothing better than to "leave you alone".
That's why I don't think there's much point in discussing "issues" with Palestinian activists.
This is absolutely true. "Dialogue" with first generation American Palis is not achievable. Divorced from the land and people, their vision and ideology drives their activism, regardless of context, consequence or humanity. However, they tend to be exceptional propagandists and offer high utility for honing debate and reasoning skills.
Then you'll have the sorry ass, can't put two words together token white blonde who tagged along for the ride because if she is anti-Israel enough the Palis will let her hang with them. These just tend to be deranged individuals; I'm very concerned about them strapping on bomb belts one day and going to town on the local Jewish community.
...and the alternative Palestinian body politic you would like to see, Mohammad is...?
There really is a strong undercurrent of anger brewing here
Which is different from the past 60 years how?
"Perpetual outrage— Google it!
It's true. A Pali friend was telling me in 2005 that the next Intifada was weeks away. She also said it would be pure as the wind-driven snow, true to 1st Intifada roots, and anchored in non-violent resistance.
I have good reason to believe that you pinkoPalis are way out of touch to the mood on the ground.
I believe that people under occupation shouldn't delude themselves with illusions of sovereignty-thats why I've called for the end of the Palestinian Authority.
I am not predicting another intifada right now-I'm talking about anger towards the Palestinian leadership here.
The world owes us nothing more than what it owes every other nation on earth-freedom and the right of self determination. end of story.
mohammad,
The world owes us nothing more than what it owes every other nation on earth-freedom and the right of self determination. end of story.
Well, for one thing, you don't have a state, yet. So you don't qualify as a nation.
For another thing, why would "the world" owe Palestinians freedom and the right to self-determination? The world didn't provide those things for anyone else! Those are things people get for themselves, historically! And Palestinians are not the only ones who don't have those things, right now.
Question, though. What do you think are teh biggest obstacles to Palestinian freedom and self-determination, today? I'm looking for a practical answer, not something off the wall that is never going to happen. I'm asking this question seriously, because I really don't have a clue. The whole situation seems hopeless to me, and it has for years. Neither side seems willing to make reasonable compromises.
Craig,
"For another thing, why would "the world" owe Palestinians freedom and the right to self-determination? The world didn't provide those things for anyone else! Those are things people get for themselves, historically! And Palestinians are not the only ones who don't have those things, right now."
Then why the hell did the U.S. send troops to fight the Germans during world WWII. Wasn't it to promote freedom and self-determination for the Nazi-occupied regions of that part of the world? This just shows your ignorance of your own history, especially when you emphatically say "historically!"
Mohammad, I completely agree with you that any notion of Palestinian sovereignty must be disposed of in the dustbin of history, immediately.
Nidalio, you really want to get into the causes American involvement in WWII? You're way off subject, but just to take down your thesis - since I am such a sweet guy - America entered the war not on behalf of the forces of freedom, though that motif was strong in galvanizing the hearts and minds for a brutal war.
We entered WWII in order to avert the emergency of a pan-European power that could challenge our economic and military strength - expressed particularly in control of the oceans.
It is a foundation of American foreign policy to prevent the emergence of a continent-wide power, or if it were to emerge (such as the Soviet Union) to undermine its stability by supporting lesser powers which oppose it.
For example, we allied with the Chinese against the Soviets, with the Iraqis against the Iranians, etc.
I could go on, but does anyone here really want to read another polisci paper from me? Enough to just say that you're wrong.
Getting back on subject, the Palestinians have lost every war they initiated against the Jews. They deserve nothing in defeat except their dignity and respect, but certainly not concessions, and most certainly not land.
It has become a paradoxical anomaly, unequaled in time or geography, that the surest way for Arabs to get what they want is lose a war to Israel.
Nidalio,
Then why the hell did the U.S. send troops to fight the Germans during world WWII. Wasn't it to promote freedom and self-determination for the Nazi-occupied regions of that part of the world?
No. The reason was, to defeat the Germans.
I'm curious, though, what you think of the fact that Muslims in general and Palestinians in particular stood in support of Germany, in World War II. Were the Germans supplying you with "freedom" and "self-determination"?
You obliquely bring up a relevant point, though. The world (in the guise of the UN) DID provide freedom and self-determination to Jews at the end of World War II. It's the only time I know of that it's ever happened. I can't think of a single case where anyone else has ever been gifted with an autonomous state.
Oh, wait. Yes I can. The UN created the autonomous states of Palestine and Jordan, at the same time. Jordan is still there. Where is Palestine?
This just shows your ignorance of your own history, especially when you emphatically say "historically!"
No, it just goes to show that you don't know how to make valid arguments :P
Have you ever heard me claim that the war in Iraq was fought to free Iraqis? No. Do you belive that yourself? No.
So why make this kind of non-sensical statement, Nidalio? I don't personally believe the primary purpose of war is EVER anything but defeat the enemy. Any otehr good that comes about is secondary. I also think that it would take a hell of a fool to actually PLAN on what is to be done in the aftermath of a war, before the war has been fought. There's no way to predict what's going to happen in a war. Having a wish-list is one thing, but for all those people who think teh US was supposed to have plans in place for everything the US wanted to accomplish in Iraq (fro instance) when the war was over, I say "put a sock in it". Post-war Iraq was not what we expected (or what we wanted) and I seriously doubt anyone could have predicted things in Iraq would turn out the way they did, after Saddam's government fell. Even now, all we hear is a bunch of lies to explain away all the sectarian violence that has been occurring in Iraq. I believe that violence was going to happen, one way or another. The only thing that could have prevented it, is if Sunni Arabs had realized from the beginning that they weren't going to be in control of the country, any more. Things certainly started getting better in Sunni areas, when the Sunni tribes realzied they couldn't defend themselves against the Shia militias without US help, didn't they?
Sorry, most of this is off topic, but you're the one who opened the door by positing a proposition about US involvement in World War II that you probably don't believe yourself.
Victor and Craig,
You're not telling me anything I don't know. Of course the US didn't go to free the oppressed, while oppressing part of its people (Black Americans). And, yes Craig, anyone with half a brain can reason that the US didn't go to Iraq to free the Iraqis from Saddam. Still, a lot of Americans "think" that the U.S. actually does care about freedom, but I didn't expect the two of you to be honest and admit imperialism. I'm impressed! I'm also amazed at the level of hypocrisy the two of you display in your comments, summarized as "if you're Jewish/Israeli, the world owes it to you that you have your freedom and land, but if you're Palestinian, the hell with you." Your sense of human rights and liberty is as pale as your skins.
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