If there is anything at all to be glad about this week, it’s that the Israeli Propaganda Machine (IPM) has been completely discredited, in spite of the ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza (an action determined illegal by Israel’s own Supreme Court). Much of this has to do with some advances in New Media. A good indication of Israel’s PR failure at containing shameful news is the eminently absorbing Facebook News Feed. If you have any pro-Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, European, sane, or nice friends, your News Feed is at this point most probably chock full of indignant status updates and disturbing images of Gaza’s victims, its injured, its destroyed infrastructure, and other moving expressions of protest and rage. What with the ballooning size of Facebook and its ever more dense interconnectivity, it will prove difficult for even the most ardent Zionuts to find shelter from the rhetorical assault careening through the Face-sphere. With only the BBC and Al-Jazeera (among major news outlets) maintaining reporting offices in Gaza prior to the ban, Facebook has become an increasingly rich repository of incriminating images– not found anywhere else– posted by Gaza residents, then their family members, and then flowing on outwards via their friends. To borrow from the gay bald French thinker Foucault, a “discourse” is forming… a discourse that is its own agent and operates according to a principle of power which resides in all places at all times, animated by an electrical charge with the potential to strike unpredictably. In Foucault’s analysis as well in the case of Gaza, the spread of information is impossible to control. And Thank God for that.
After the initial struggle of sparking the fire, that is, of getting people talking, the fire grew larger according to its own logic, with the Israeli forest rangers in over their heads trying to contain a 21-st century media inferno while only equipped with unconvincing and disingenuous PR spots which, rather than win over the world to their side, make them sound as honest as car salesmen at Rent-a-Wreck.
Trouble is, there have been increasing reports among Facebook users of censorship when it comes to pro-Palestine speech, as Global Voices Online has highlighted. It would be wise for Facebook and its dapper young entrepreneurs to think long and hard about whether they want to be on the right side of Internet History and make good on the promise of total freedom of information. If the claims of censorship are true, I really wonder what kind of arbitration or peer-review processes are at work. If the average, hypothetical Facebook Peer is an Ivy-educated, latte-sipping liberal who gets squeamish when the word “Israel” gets too close to the word “terror”, the people who are down with Palestine are in for an uphill battle. Thank God Facebook is now popular in other countries with other languages and better politics: Livre du Visage, Gesicht Buch, كتاب الوجه, pick your favorite.
Thanks to video phones (check out Beyoncé’s), Youtube, Skype, and media translation services like Mosaic on Link TV and AlJazeera English, official Israeli narratives of “righteous” destruction are being subverted. As in this very telling BBC exposé of a big, fat lie when the IDF claimed to have successfully targeted militants: instead of destroying Hamas rockets, harmless oxygen tanks had been blown up. Does this mis-recognition of weapons of mass destruction sound at all familiar? An Associated Press story about the Media War and Youtube appears to highlight the same incident but inexplicably neglects to mention that the Israeli version of events has been debunked by the BBC.
Thankfully now, a typical statement from Israel’s Defense Ministry like “IDF strike takes out militant leader” can be laid bare in all its erroneous glory, so that the real meaning comes out: “US-funded F-16 drops megaton bomb on apartment building, killing 22 women and children as well as Hamas garbage collector”. The IDF public relations strategy of spewing and spitting the word “Hamas” almost as many times as the word “Terror” (both of which are assassinated a hundred times over by the Israeli accent) ceases to be so convincing. There should be drinking games based on these words if that suggestion weren’t so sad. The Khamas Tekhor opekhation khefuses to khelent and will give up khockets for lent, three Khamas schoolgirls, four tekhokhist donkey carts, five Khamas Falafels! Whoops I’m drunk…
Related posts:
- ISRAELI PROPAGANDA: Che Guevara would be just as fat as Ariel Sharon if he were still alive
- The Myth of Israeli “Response”
- Israeli Firm Cuts Palestinian Gas Supply
- Israeli Meteorology
- Reuters: Israeli Forces Enter Gaza
Abou, it’s very telling that you don’t understand the difference between suicide bombers who deliberately seek to murder as many innocent civilians as they can, and unfortunates who get caught in the crossfire during a war.
There’s an understanding of basic morality there that you just don’t get. Is there really no difference between accidentally killing somebody, and deliberately killing somebody, in your mind?
You should not be accusing others of atrocities. You are, yourself, an atrocity waiting to happen. I assume you are a Muslim… do I need to quote to you the verses from the Quran that prohibit murder? Because, I will, if it will help.
Posted by programmer craig | January 5, 2009, 1:06 amI am amazed that you cannot see that Hamas does not care about civilian deaths. In fact the opposite, the more the better. The graphic images they can produce, and some of the fabricated as has been proven, are their weapon. It is a total western folly to think about Hamas in rational western terms. Any truce for them is just an intermission for the final solution, destruction of Israel.
It is also interesting that when pro Hamas or now even regular Palestinian supporters are asked if it is OK to shoot rockets to Israel, they never answer. They instead ask back about the siege. Today’s situation is a proof that the siege was not effective enough. I can guarantee, that if Palestinian people would use open boarders to build their economy instead of smuggling rockets, Israel would be more than happy to open them up.
Posted by Anonymous | January 5, 2009, 1:40 amAnnndddddd the Zionuts are already on this justifying the mass murder in Gaza.
Incredible! Here are some tidbits from Anon 1:40 =P
“It is also interesting that when pro Hamas or now even regular Palestinian supporters are asked if it is OK to shoot rockets to Israel, they never answer.”
Wow, making a claim that is unverifiable. Good job!
“I can guarantee, that if Palestinian people would use open boarders to build their economy instead of smuggling rockets, Israel would be more than happy to open them up.”
I can guarantee that if Israel opened the borders, Palestinians would first obtain bread that wasen’t made from animal feed, obtain medicines, and then try to rebuild an economy that was destroyed by a brutal inhuman blockade. *I hope you realize the bottle rockets are a response to the blockade that makes life in Gaza hopeless.*
And Professor Craig had this to say:
“and unfortunates who get caught in the crossfire during a war.”
uhm… LOL
and this:
“Is there really no difference between accidentally killing somebody”
Amazing! I guess the thousand upon thousands of dead Palestinians were all accidentally killed by Israel! Wow, I feel so enlightened!
You guys can continue to blame the victim or grow the fuk up and realize that the only cockblock to peace here is yours truly: Israel.
Keep em comin guys, its hilarious.
Posted by Super Sayyin | January 5, 2009, 1:55 amDear Super Sayying,
Do you think this response to the siege is a rational one and to the best interests of the Palestinian people in Gaza?
Posted by Anonymous | January 5, 2009, 2:05 amI agree with Mehammed About Mack.
Palestinian (and at this point, Hamas=Palestine) propaganda has been highly successful, particularly in snaring the naive western liberals. That will require a long term effort to overcome.
PC, you are absolutely right, these people have lost the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, because they no longer have the utility for right and wrong. All they see is body counts, and the side that is willing to sacrifice more dead children is deemed morally superior.
It is absolutely critical that Israel finish the job in Gaza – exterminate Hamas. If it takes another 50,000 troops, then these should be called into action. If it takes another month, so be it.
The military units of Hamas – 15,000 men – must be wiped out. Recent reports indicate that at least 150 Hezbollah fighters are in Gaza City, preparing to lead Hamas squads against the IDF. I pray for the safety of Israeli soldiers who have to go after these fuckers, but there isn’t an alternative. The only thing worse than losing the media war is losing the real war.
Will wrote in the past, what is the endgame for Israel? Who will rule Gaza if Hamas is eliminated? Why should anyone rule Gaza? Let them devolve to the clans in Gaza; a process already under way. The destruction of Hamas will only strengthen the power of the clans. They and al Qaeda will fill the vacuum. A parting gift from Hamas to the Palestinians of Gaza.
To all those who claim that there is no military solution… You were proven wrong in the West Bank in Operation Defensive Shield. You were proven wrong in Iraq during the surge. There is ALWAYS a military solution, and this time, it is the only solution.
I pray for the success and safety of Israeli soldiers who have to shoot their way into this hornet’s nest from hell, the same way American soldiers had to level Fallujah to the ground. The time has come to finish Hamas.
Posted by Victor | January 5, 2009, 2:24 amcraig,
give up, they won’t get what you’re saying until you’re blue in the face. These ‘bloggers’ on jihadfest have a particular agenda that they are implementing. the more ghazan and jewish babies killed the merrier, to them dead arab babies make great television and a dead jew is always a good jew.
so they will keep spewing hatred and disinformation to their salafi hearts content. god bless our country the USA for giving them the freedom to do so!
Posted by sausagefest aka kabobfest | January 5, 2009, 4:35 amCriminal negligence, at the very best, is what characterizes IDF actions in Palestine. When you target civilian areas with extremely brutal and heavy artillery (one ton bombs, cluster bombs), humanitarian concern goes out the window. Criminal negligence (which is INTENTIONAL negligence) from a modern militarized state is, for me, way worse than the improvised resistance methods of an imprisoned, impoverished Gazan population. And once again, the number of dead prove it.
You guys should admit that you consider Israeli lives more valuable than Palestinian, and then check into Racism Re-hab.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 9:06 amCriminal negligence, at the very best, is what characterizes IDF actions in Palestine. When you target civilian areas with extremely brutal and heavy artillery (one ton bombs, cluster bombs), humanitarian concern goes out the window. Criminal negligence (which is INTENTIONAL negligence) from a modern militarized state is, for me, way worse than the improvised resistance methods of an imprisoned, impoverished Gazan population. And once again, the number of dead prove it.
You guys should admit that you consider Israeli lives more valuable than Palestinian, and then check into Racism Re-hab.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 9:06 amCriminal negligence, at the very best, is what characterizes IDF actions in Palestine. When you target civilian areas with extremely brutal and heavy artillery (one ton bombs, cluster bombs), humanitarian concern goes out the window. Criminal negligence (which is INTENTIONAL negligence) from a modern militarized state is, for me, way worse than the improvised resistance methods of an imprisoned, impoverished Gazan population. And once again, the number of dead prove it.
You guys should admit that you consider Israeli lives more valuable than Palestinian, and then check into Racism Re-hab.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 9:06 amCriminal negligence, at the very best, is what characterizes IDF actions in Palestine. When you target civilian areas with extremely brutal and heavy artillery (one ton bombs, cluster bombs), humanitarian concern goes out the window. Criminal negligence (which is INTENTIONAL negligence) from a modern militarized state is, for me, way worse than the improvised resistance methods of an imprisoned, impoverished Gazan population. And once again, the number of dead prove it.
You guys should admit that you consider Israeli lives more valuable than Palestinian, and then check into Racism Re-hab.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 9:06 amCriminal negligence, at the very best, is what characterizes IDF actions in Palestine. When you target civilian areas with extremely brutal and heavy artillery (one ton bombs, cluster bombs), humanitarian concern goes out the window. Criminal negligence (which is INTENTIONAL negligence) from a modern militarized state is, for me, way worse than the improvised resistance methods of an imprisoned, impoverished Gazan population. And once again, the number of dead prove it.
You guys should admit that you consider Israeli lives more valuable than Palestinian, and then check into Racism Re-hab.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 9:06 amCriminal negligence, at the very best, is what characterizes IDF actions in Palestine. When you target civilian areas with extremely brutal and heavy artillery (one ton bombs, cluster bombs), humanitarian concern goes out the window. Criminal negligence (which is INTENTIONAL negligence) from a modern militarized state is, for me, way worse than the improvised resistance methods of an imprisoned, impoverished Gazan population. And once again, the number of dead prove it.
You guys should admit that you consider Israeli lives more valuable than Palestinian, and then check into Racism Re-hab.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 9:06 amCriminal negligence, at the very best, is what characterizes IDF actions in Palestine. When you target civilian areas with extremely brutal and heavy artillery (one ton bombs, cluster bombs), humanitarian concern goes out the window. Criminal negligence (which is INTENTIONAL negligence) from a modern militarized state is, for me, way worse than the improvised resistance methods of an imprisoned, impoverished Gazan population. And once again, the number of dead prove it.
You guys should admit that you consider Israeli lives more valuable than Palestinian, and then check into Racism Re-hab.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 9:06 amCriminal negligence, at the very best, is what characterizes IDF actions in Palestine. When you target civilian areas with extremely brutal and heavy artillery (one ton bombs, cluster bombs), humanitarian concern goes out the window. Criminal negligence (which is INTENTIONAL negligence) from a modern militarized state is, for me, way worse than the improvised resistance methods of an imprisoned, impoverished Gazan population. And once again, the number of dead prove it.
You guys should admit that you consider Israeli lives more valuable than Palestinian, and then check into Racism Re-hab.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 9:06 amsausagefest! that’s hilarious
PC, how wed are you to this format? Would you be interested in doing some blogging of your own? If you respond yes I’ll contact you with more info.
Posted by Anonymous | January 5, 2009, 9:25 amCriminal negligence, at the very best, is what characterizes IDF actions in Palestine.
Cool. That makes it a proportional response to the rocket attacks. I feel better.
By the way, if Hamas would renounce targeting civilians and using civilians for cover, I’d be on the side of negotiating with them. I’d feel sympathy for the Palestinians, who, instead of suffering because they keep prosecuting a war they can’t win, might be suffering for other reasons, like Israel being senselessly harsh to them.
Posted by Roy | January 5, 2009, 10:03 amAnan 9:25, I take too many breaks and for too long to try to be a blogger
Posted by programmer craig | January 5, 2009, 10:41 amFREE Movies, TV, Music, Good Games, Virtual Worlds, and FREE College Educations! InternetSurfShack.com
Posted by MoneyBonanza | January 5, 2009, 10:58 amAnonymous said…
Dear Super Sayying,
Do you think this response to the siege is a rational one and to the best interests of the Palestinian people in Gaza?
_______
Do you think the Israeli response to the rocket attacks is a rational one? The Israeli-dominated media makes as if all Israelis are living in intense fear of death and destruction, as if it could come at anytime because Hamas, an elected body, is a “terrorist organization bent on the destruction of Israel”. Roughly 500 Palestinians living in Gaza currently don’t have a chance to be scared, because they’re dead, and thousands more are injured. One can only imagine how you’d all be railing against Hamas if they responded to a 5-people dead scenario and ended up killing scored of Israelis.
The problem is, you don’t think of Palestinians and Israelis as being equal. You regard Arabs as dirty, somehow degenerate monsters so knee-deep in their probably Muslim religious beliefs that they are leagues below having the value of one of “us.” Israelis, in your mind, are perceived as a civilized democratic body, undeserving of violent attacks, and righteous in their right to “defend” themselves.
Look past the words you hear on Fox News, brother. This is nothing more than state terrorism.
Posted by Spex | January 5, 2009, 12:15 pm“Do you think this response to the siege is a rational one and to the best interests of the Palestinian people in Gaza?”
You mean the bottle rockets? If so, not really but then again the Palestinians don’t have many options.
Palestinian options during this brutal blockade are to either:
1)sit around and die to starvation due to a inhuman blockade.
2)or they can try something.
Incidentally the “bottle rockets” do give Hamas a form of leverage in negotiations with Israel. Which is ironic given the virtual non-lethality of these weapons.
You retards really need to stop blaming the victim.
Posted by Super Sayyin | January 5, 2009, 12:19 pmDear Super Sayyin,
I think every life is as important. I do not think Arabs are dirty, my uncle is Egyptian, my worker is from Libya. I think Hamas does not value life of their own people as much as people in Israel do. They must have known the result of their increased rocketing and it seems now that their aim is to emulate Hizbollah “victory” regardless of the human sacrifice.
If Hamas really cared about their own people, they would not hide among civilians and give comments like Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida, who said on Monday that the group has “thousands” of fighters and will welcome Israel into #Gaza “with fire and iron”.
Of course I care about human life and you do as well. But there is a point when free people who try to avoid loss of human life must brace themselves and cut the head of the snake. This is what the rest of Europe and USA had to do the stop the evil nazi empire, which got its power in a democratic election (sound familiar?) but practiced and preached hatred toward jews and everybody else not arian. The same is true with radical muslims who preach hatred towards jews. Or do you think it is valuing human life to call jews bigs and dogs?
Whatever is your political point of view or religion our common enemy is extremism and hatred and view of life in which human life has no value.
Posted by Anonymous | January 5, 2009, 1:25 pmYou retards really need to stop blaming the victim.
Says the guy who thinks it is great when Israeli civilians get killed in suicide bombings…
Posted by programmer craig | January 5, 2009, 1:25 pmYou mean the bottle rockets?[...]
Palestinian options during this brutal blockade
You mean this slap on the wrist?
either:
1)sit around and die to starvation due to a inhuman blockade.
2)or they can try something.
And you think that “try something” means attack civilians. How’s that working out for them? Making things better?
How about trying not being worse than the Israelis regarding civilian safety? How about behaving as if they know how to participate in civilized society, and then making a case?
Hell, hopping on one foot and whistling “Camptown Races” would be a “do something” that would have had better results than the rockets (which you still have been unable to explain in any way).
Posted by Roy | January 5, 2009, 2:12 pm“Says the guy who thinks it is great when Israeli civilians get killed in suicide bombings…”
When have I ever said that PC? Please, skim through the archives on Kabobfest and find a single time I have ever said that, or even indicated that. You truly are beyond sick.
“If Hamas really cared about their own people, they would not hide among civilians”
There hasen’t been any proof in this massacre that Hamas fighters have hid within civilians populations.
I’ve been to Israel, there are army bases smack dab in the middle of Tel Aviv, does that mean Hamas has the right to fire rockets at Tel Aviv? I would say no. However, trying to compare Hamas bottle rockets to Israeli F-16′s is starting to get old.
“This is what the rest of Europe and USA had to do the stop the evil nazi empire, which got its power in a democratic election”
Seriously? Are you comparing Hamas to Nazi Germany? Hamas has stated over and over and over again it is willing to accept a peace based on the Arab Initiative of 2002 (which is a peace based on the 1967 borders, which is the same peace that the roadmap is based on). Here is a link describing the initiative:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_Peace_Initiative
The peace would entail:
1) 67 borders as the basis for borders.
2) Just solution for the refugee’s
3) and peace between the two countries.
4) and the best part: Full normalization with all nations in the MENA including Iran. Oh, and all Islamic countries would be on board as well.
Hamas agreed to this several times. Guess what Israel said? “We will think about it.”
“Hamas’ spokesman Ismail Abu Shanab said on the same day that his organization would accept the initiative: “That would be satisfactory for all Palestinian military groups to stop and build our state, to be busy in our own affairs, and have good neighborhood with Israelis.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/04/28/MN222422.DTL
Oh and did I forget to mention? the Peace deal with Hamas on board was presented again in 2007. Israels response? “we’ll think about it.”
Instead Israel imposed a crippling blockade on the Gaza strip that led to people eating bread made from animal feed, doctors performing surgery without anesthesia or gloves, and the complete destruction of the Gaza economy. On top of that Israel peppered the strip with F-16 missile attacks, killing hundreds.
And in the West Bank, where Abbashole is in power, settlements increased. 70,000 new settlers have entered the West Bank since Abbashole began peace talks with Olmert.
When Palestinians see this? What do you think they think? Palestinians are not going to allow Abbashole to legalize the situation in the West Bank and Gaza. Because at the moment, that is the only type of peace that Israel is willing to accept.
You guys can keep blaming the victim for their misery or you can grow up, get constructive and try to really end this conflict.
Posted by Super Sayyin | January 5, 2009, 2:31 pmYou guys can keep blaming the victim for their misery or you can grow up, get constructive and try to really end this conflict.
Right back atcha. When people point out that Sderot shouldn’t be rocketed, you say “Have you asked why?”
Blame those victims, and never call for an end to the rocketing, which you kinda-sorta admit above is wrong. But you’ll never say it.
Fact is, it’s the only 100% certain, 100% unjustifiable war crime going on. And if your heroic lions of Islam would stop their brave, resolute, heroic attacks on civilians, this whole mess would be over.
But it’s just too much to ask, isn’t it? That they adhere to minimum standards of decency is just too much to ask of the poor, poor victims (Hamas)?
Posted by Roy | January 5, 2009, 2:45 pm“the only verifiable war crime”? are you blind and/or nuts? Carpet bombing, collective punishment, targeting civilian neighborhoods, starvation, targeting infrastructure, targeting refugee camps, all of these are verifiable war crimes. If only journalists were actually allowed to do their jobs and could display it in the mass media like the Israeli PR machine is able to do, showing the same light building damage and semi-injured people over and over. This is not to say that no one has died on the Israeli side, but once again, proportionality seems not to matter when Palestinians are involved. As if the rockets can ever be stopped… Israel knows that and yet continues its inhumanity. The rockets are only a pretext. When the silly Zionuts on my campus held a rally with red balloons for each rocket fired, I had to laugh, not just because it looked like a birthday party but because it was ridiculous in light of the hundreds of Palestinians who had died at the same time. Maybe we should have had a birth-day party for them.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 3:42 pm"the only verifiable war crime"? are you blind and/or nuts? Carpet bombing, collective punishment, targeting civilian neighborhoods, starvation, targeting infrastructure, targeting refugee camps, all of these are verifiable war crimes. If only journalists were actually allowed to do their jobs and could display it in the mass media like the Israeli PR machine is able to do, showing the same light building damage and semi-injured people over and over. This is not to say that no one has died on the Israeli side, but once again, proportionality seems not to matter when Palestinians are involved. As if the rockets can ever be stopped… Israel knows that and yet continues its inhumanity. The rockets are only a pretext. When the silly Zionuts on my campus held a rally with red balloons for each rocket fired, I had to laugh, not just because it looked like a birthday party but because it was ridiculous in light of the hundreds of Palestinians who had died at the same time. Maybe we should have had a birth-day party for them.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou& | January 5, 2009, 11:42 am“the only verifiable war crime”? are you blind and/or nuts? Carpet bombing, collective punishment, targeting civilian neighborhoods, starvation, targeting infrastructure, targeting refugee camps, all of these are verifiable war crimes. If only journalists were actually allowed to do their jobs and could display it in the mass media like the Israeli PR machine is able to do, showing the same light building damage and semi-injured people over and over. This is not to say that no one has died on the Israeli side, but once again, proportionality seems not to matter when Palestinians are involved. As if the rockets can ever be stopped… Israel knows that and yet continues its inhumanity. The rockets are only a pretext. When the silly Zionuts on my campus held a rally with red balloons for each rocket fired, I had to laugh, not just because it looked like a birthday party but because it was ridiculous in light of the hundreds of Palestinians who had died at the same time. Maybe we should have had a birth-day party for them.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 3:42 pm“the only verifiable war crime”? are you blind and/or nuts? Carpet bombing, collective punishment, targeting civilian neighborhoods, starvation, targeting infrastructure, targeting refugee camps, all of these are verifiable war crimes. If only journalists were actually allowed to do their jobs and could display it in the mass media like the Israeli PR machine is able to do, showing the same light building damage and semi-injured people over and over. This is not to say that no one has died on the Israeli side, but once again, proportionality seems not to matter when Palestinians are involved. As if the rockets can ever be stopped… Israel knows that and yet continues its inhumanity. The rockets are only a pretext. When the silly Zionuts on my campus held a rally with red balloons for each rocket fired, I had to laugh, not just because it looked like a birthday party but because it was ridiculous in light of the hundreds of Palestinians who had died at the same time. Maybe we should have had a birth-day party for them.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 3:42 pm“the only verifiable war crime”? are you blind and/or nuts? Carpet bombing, collective punishment, targeting civilian neighborhoods, starvation, targeting infrastructure, targeting refugee camps, all of these are verifiable war crimes. If only journalists were actually allowed to do their jobs and could display it in the mass media like the Israeli PR machine is able to do, showing the same light building damage and semi-injured people over and over. This is not to say that no one has died on the Israeli side, but once again, proportionality seems not to matter when Palestinians are involved. As if the rockets can ever be stopped… Israel knows that and yet continues its inhumanity. The rockets are only a pretext. When the silly Zionuts on my campus held a rally with red balloons for each rocket fired, I had to laugh, not just because it looked like a birthday party but because it was ridiculous in light of the hundreds of Palestinians who had died at the same time. Maybe we should have had a birth-day party for them.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 3:42 pm“the only verifiable war crime”? are you blind and/or nuts? Carpet bombing, collective punishment, targeting civilian neighborhoods, starvation, targeting infrastructure, targeting refugee camps, all of these are verifiable war crimes. If only journalists were actually allowed to do their jobs and could display it in the mass media like the Israeli PR machine is able to do, showing the same light building damage and semi-injured people over and over. This is not to say that no one has died on the Israeli side, but once again, proportionality seems not to matter when Palestinians are involved. As if the rockets can ever be stopped… Israel knows that and yet continues its inhumanity. The rockets are only a pretext. When the silly Zionuts on my campus held a rally with red balloons for each rocket fired, I had to laugh, not just because it looked like a birthday party but because it was ridiculous in light of the hundreds of Palestinians who had died at the same time. Maybe we should have had a birth-day party for them.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 3:42 pm“the only verifiable war crime”? are you blind and/or nuts? Carpet bombing, collective punishment, targeting civilian neighborhoods, starvation, targeting infrastructure, targeting refugee camps, all of these are verifiable war crimes. If only journalists were actually allowed to do their jobs and could display it in the mass media like the Israeli PR machine is able to do, showing the same light building damage and semi-injured people over and over. This is not to say that no one has died on the Israeli side, but once again, proportionality seems not to matter when Palestinians are involved. As if the rockets can ever be stopped… Israel knows that and yet continues its inhumanity. The rockets are only a pretext. When the silly Zionuts on my campus held a rally with red balloons for each rocket fired, I had to laugh, not just because it looked like a birthday party but because it was ridiculous in light of the hundreds of Palestinians who had died at the same time. Maybe we should have had a birth-day party for them.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 3:42 pm“the only verifiable war crime”? are you blind and/or nuts? Carpet bombing, collective punishment, targeting civilian neighborhoods, starvation, targeting infrastructure, targeting refugee camps, all of these are verifiable war crimes. If only journalists were actually allowed to do their jobs and could display it in the mass media like the Israeli PR machine is able to do, showing the same light building damage and semi-injured people over and over. This is not to say that no one has died on the Israeli side, but once again, proportionality seems not to matter when Palestinians are involved. As if the rockets can ever be stopped… Israel knows that and yet continues its inhumanity. The rockets are only a pretext. When the silly Zionuts on my campus held a rally with red balloons for each rocket fired, I had to laugh, not just because it looked like a birthday party but because it was ridiculous in light of the hundreds of Palestinians who had died at the same time. Maybe we should have had a birth-day party for them.
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 5, 2009, 3:42 pmThe rockets are only a pretext.
Then why not end the pretext and stop firing rockets.
The bottom line is that you all started out as secular commies and fascist baathists, and ended up supporting a radical salafist Islamist terrorist organization.
Your heyday was in the 70s and 80s. And when this is all over, Hamas will remember who gave Israel the target sets for that first day of airstrikes.
At the end of the day, Gaza will teeter on lawlessness, as clans battle a weakened Hamas struggling to rebuild. Meanwhile, the west bank prospers.
Posted by Anonymous | January 5, 2009, 4:25 pmWhen have I ever said that PC? Please, skim through the archives on Kabobfest and find a single time I have ever said that, or even indicated that.
How could I do that, when you change your handle every day or two? lol. If you want to disassociate yourself from the group-think on this blog, you haven’t been doing a very good job of it. And if not… well, the position of these bloggers is pretty well known.
Posted by programmer craig | January 5, 2009, 4:41 pmCarpet bombing, collective punishment, targeting civilian neighborhoods, starvation, targeting infrastructure, targeting refugee camps, all of these are verifiable war crimes.
Want to break that down?
Carpet bombing
Not a war crime. Also, hasn’t been done (anywhere) since the Vietnam War.
collective punishment
War crime. The only ones guilty of it in the current crisis are Hamas, though. Do you need me to explain the ways Hamas has used collective punishment against both Israelis and Arabs, or can you puzzle it out yourself?
targeting civilian neighborhoods
Not a war crime, when fighting is occurring in those civilian neighborhoods. How could you think it was? I estimated even your intelligence to be higher than that.
starvation
Inhumane, yes. War crime? No. Israel is not legally responsible for providing for the health and welfare of its enemy. Neither is the UN legally responsible for feeding Palestinians in Gaza, though the UN does it anyway.
targeting infrastructure
Not a war crime, ever. Under any circumstances. Did you just pull that one out of your ass, or what?
targeting refugee camps
Not a war crime, when those camps are used to house combatants. Again, how could you honestly think that it was? You *are* an honest person, are you not?
all of these are verifiable war crimes.
So much for your list! Wanna try again? Maybe next time you can make a list of war crimes that Hamas as committed. Should be pretty easy, since they don’t even try to deny it.
Posted by programmer craig | January 5, 2009, 4:53 pmcriminal negligence is an acceptable description of what is going on in gaza , thus incriminating those f16s killing civilians in good intention
Posted by Anonymous | January 5, 2009, 7:11 pmYou all realize, of course, that the only reason Israel flies F-16s is that Boeing and Lockheed did not want competition on the international arms market from an indigenous Israeli aircraft design that was developed by Israeli aerospace company Rafael – called the Lavi program.
The US promised to supply Israel with advanced fighter jets so that Israel would not offer its own aircraft, highly comparable to the F-16 on paper, on the world markets and thus compete with American industry.
Many in Israeli aerospace are bitter about what they feel is second rate American technology being force-fed to them.
For example, the only thing Israel buys from the US are the airframes. All the avionics/electronics are replaced with indigenous Israeli systems, both on the F-16s and F-15s.
Highly successful Israeli military technology programs which have been adopted by the US military are the areas of missile defense, UAVs, EW and many others. In fact, Israel has practically pioneered the concept of dominance of the electromagnetic spectrum, which has been adopted wholeheartedly by their American counterparts.
An example of this is the strike on Syria a year ago, when Israeli aircraft penetrated Syrian airspace thought to contain dense air defense coverage. Not only did the Syrians not know what hit them, Israel actually fried the air defense radars on Syrian systems as they left. The Syrians had to call in Russian specialists to figure out what even happened.
Posted by Anonymous | January 5, 2009, 8:48 pmProgrammer Craig, have you read the Protocols of the Geneva Convention? Wait, I’m sorry — I should ask a more appropriate question, given the cynical, reprobate quality of your comments on “war crimes”: Programmer Craig, do you know what the Protocols of the Geneva Convention are? Clearly, you do not, given your psychopathic claims, but you should review them. They are easily found online, and they support M. Mack’s assertions.
M. Mack, it is plainly easy to recognize that Programmer Craig’s imbecility concerning international legal standards of warfare would be comical, if said imbecility were not infused with such moral degeneracy in his disregard for basic civilian rights and contempt for international law. Why bother arguing with a moral pervert?
Seriously, P. Craig — making a statement, with total certainty on your part, that starving civilians is not a war crime? If you believe, and support, such a philosophy, how do you sleep at night?
Posted by DiamondDave | January 5, 2009, 10:18 pmWhat I don’t get is that nearly everyone who comes on this blog to defend Israeli policy assumes that those who oppose it are supporters of Hamas. I don’t remember one time anyone writing articles on this blog expressed any true support for Hamas, it’s policies, especially the rocket launching. (Before anyone goes off, please distinguish between true support and understanding it as a response.)
What is up with this? I for one have many problems with Hamas, but I do not see that as giving Israel or any other country the right to invade their territory and eradicate them, let alone kill innocent people in large numbers in the process.
Posted by alfannaan | January 5, 2009, 11:39 pmSeriously, P. Craig — making a statement, with total certainty on your part, that starving civilians is not a war crime?
That isn’t what I said. What I said is that Israel has no legal obligation to provide for the health and welfare of Gazans.
I have read the Geneva Conventions, the Hague Conventions, and the International Laws of Land Warfare. In fact, I was tested on my knowledge of them both in boot camp and in Infantry Training School. I can still cite some important passages from memory, and it’s been many years. I can accurately summarize all of the important concepts, to this day.
You, on the other hand, can’t even paraphrase a comment somebody made 2 hours ago without getting it out of context. *shrug*
Posted by programmer craig | January 5, 2009, 11:39 pmOh…and ya Mack…you made me howl with this:
There should be drinking games based on these words if that suggestion weren’t so sad. The Khamas Tekhor opekhation khefuses to khelent and will give up khockets for lent, three Khamas schoolgirls, four tekhokhist donkey carts, five Khamas Falafels! Whoops I’m drunk..
Posted by alfannaan | January 5, 2009, 11:41 pmAlf, you’re an idiot. People are dying and you’re making fun of an accent?
There are 1.5 million Palestinians in the West Bank. 500+ of them are now dead. That’s 0.03% of the population. Yet, there are many Palestinians, Arabs and their supporters who are falling over backwards to say this is a genocide.
A genocide of 0.03% of the population? Israel must have the absolute WORST plan for genocide in the history of mankind!
There is no genocide in Gaza, and everyone knows it. Words cannot express the pain when one of your own is being killed. The number is not important. It could be one or one thousand or one million. When it is your own, it is a genocide no matter what dictionary.com says.
So let me tell you this. I’m a Jew. I don’t have time for your bullshit about whether you support Hamas rockets or you “understand” Hamas rockets. My people are under the rockets. I don’t give a shit how this came about, and the long protracted and ultimately meaningless discussion about who is right and who is wrong.
A thousand years ago, you could massacre a village of Jews and walk away. We bleed like any others. We mourn like any others. We die like any others. Except that my generation is fucking tired of dying. So, today if you murder one of us we will find and kill you.
Death of innocents is terrible. I don’t remember you crying much for our innocents. I don’t remember Arabs protesting in the streets when my people’s blood was flowing. No one was counting our innocents, and I am not going to count yours.
We Jews are tired of dying while you decide if you support Hamas or if you understand Hamas. As long as the rockets keep coming our bombs will keep coming. End of story.
Posted by Anonymous | January 6, 2009, 1:33 amstarvation
Inhumane, yes. War crime? No.
Article 54: Protection of Objects Indispensable to the Survival of the Civilian Population
1.Starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is prohibited
2.It is prohibited to attack, destroy, remove or render useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuffs, agricultural areas for the production of foodstuffs, crops, livestock, drinking water installations and supplies and irrigation works [i.e., infrastructure] for the specific purpose of denying them for their sustenance value to the civilian population or to the adverse Party, whatever the motive, whether in order to starve out civilians, to cause them to move away, or for any other motive.
3.The prohibitions in paragraph 2 shall not apply to such of the objects covered by it as are used by an adverse Party:
a.as sustenance solely for the members of its armed forces; or
b.if not as sustenance, then in direct support of military action, provided, however, that in no event shall actions against these objects be taken which may be expected to leave the civilian population with such inadequate food or water as to cause its starvation or force its movement.
targeting civilian neighborhoods
Not a war crime, when fighting is occurring in those civilian neighborhoods. How could you think it was? I estimated even your intelligence to be higher than that.
Article 51: Protection of the Civilian Population
4. Indiscriminate attacks are prohibited…
5. Among others, the following types of attacks are to be considered as indiscriminate:
a.an attack by bombardment by any methods or means which treats as a single military objective a number of clearly separated and distinct military objectives located in a city, town, village or other area containing a similar concentration of civilians or civilian objects; and
b.an attack which may be expected to cause incidental loss of civilian life, injury to civilians, damage to civilian objects, or a combination thereof, which would be excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.
Posted by DiamondDave | January 6, 2009, 11:39 amDD, relax, no one is taking Israel to the Hague. UNRWA and WHO are saying that their storehouses in Gaza are FULL of food.War is always an atrocity for the side getting its head blown off. If you can't stomach it, don't start it.Hamas wanted "resistance"? They got it.
Posted by Anonymous | January 6, 2009, 8:00 amto anon who called me an idiot:
you say:
“A genocide of 0.03% of the population? Israel must have the absolute WORST plan for genocide in the history of mankind!
There is no genocide in Gaza, and everyone knows it. Words cannot express the pain when one of your own is being killed. The number is not important.”
make up your mind already.
you say:
“I don’t give a shit how this came about..”
clearly, you don’t.
and to read the rest of your post is like watching a game of ping-pong.
then,
“We Jews are tired of dying while you decide if you support Hamas or if you understand Hamas. As long as the rockets keep coming our bombs will keep coming. End of story.”
with a view towards what exactly? that’s the end of your story? keep the bombs coming? and what about that occupation and settlement building over in the part of Palestine still illegally occupied? do you think that could have anything to do with this entire mess? oh yeah, you don’t give a shit how any of this came about. I’m almost tempted to call someone an idiot but i will mind my manners.
Posted by alfannaan | January 6, 2009, 4:48 pmthanks for the smiles al fannaan. i found out you know a friend of mine by the way.
programmer craig, YOU are a war crime, you can suck it
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 6, 2009, 11:06 pmthanks for the smiles al fannaan. i found out you know a friend of mine by the way.
programmer craig, YOU are a war crime, you can suck it
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 6, 2009, 11:06 pmthanks for the smiles al fannaan. i found out you know a friend of mine by the way.
programmer craig, YOU are a war crime, you can suck it
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 6, 2009, 11:06 pmthanks for the smiles al fannaan. i found out you know a friend of mine by the way.
programmer craig, YOU are a war crime, you can suck it
Posted by Mehammed "Abou" Mack | January 6, 2009, 11:06 pm