AronT on March 31st, 2009

A detailed report by Seymour Hersh in the New Yorker, on opportunities and dangers facing the Obama administration: American and foreign government officials, intelligence officers, diplomats, and politicians said in interviews that renewed Israeli-Syrian negotiations over the Golan Heights are now highly likely, despite Gaza and the elections in Israel in February, which left the [...]

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AronT on March 30th, 2009

This sentence became the rallying cry for George Bush’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his support for the war crimes of Arik Sharon and his successors. Except the United States is far more authoritarian than many of its citizens and certainly its politicians care to admit. A shining exception is Senator Jim Webb: Let’s [...]

Continue reading about “They Hate us for our Freedom”

AronT on March 26th, 2009

As a follow up to yesterday’s post, one might ask why does this type of news article only appear in the UK’s Guardian? Is it not fit to print in the New York Times? Israel’s military fired white phosphorus over crowded areas of Gaza repeatedly and indiscriminately in its three-week war, killing and injuring civilians [...]

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AronT on March 25th, 2009

It never ceases to amaze me how the New York Times allows itself to serve as a mouth piece for Israeli propaganda. Considering the outcry, the paper couldn’t help to cover this story about Israeli soldiers admitting to happily participating in war crimes. Instead of focusing on the soldier’s testimonies, most of the article is [...]

Continue reading about Feature: “We Don’t Shoot, We Don’t Cry”

AronT on March 24th, 2009

It angers me that Guatanamo has become the focus of “liberal” outrage in this country. Every day thousands of people are tortured in US prisons in various ways. Yet little is written condemning these practices. On the contrary, they are glorified and justified in popular culture (cf. Con Air for one of thousands of examples) [...]

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Andrew Sullivan over at his blog on The Atlantic quotes a piece by Jeffrey Goldberg (of the same magazine) on why “Hamas will never be a partner for peace.” The details of Goldberg’s argument are irrelevant. It is just a tired variation on a tired theme. Every time I read silly articles like that, steam [...]

Continue reading about [Place your favorite Palestinian group here] Will Never Be a Partner for Peace

AronT on March 16th, 2009

Rafael is one of Israel’s sophisticated military industries. Apparently their international sales team is a bit less sophisticated. Recently they created a video promo for the India Air show, to promote their extensive business there. Ha’aretz tells the story: Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Israel’s armament development authority, has launched a promotional film that was dubbed [...]

Continue reading about What Were They Thinking?

AronT on March 14th, 2009

I missed this piece from last week. As always, Avnery’s characterizations of politicians is spot on, and he rips to shreds any false hope that the conference may actually help the Palestinians in Gaza. Given the economic crisis, the conference received little coverage here. I doubt the Obama administration wanted much press about their promise [...]

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AronT on March 11th, 2009

There has been a good deal of chatter regarding Mr. Freeman withdrawing his candidacy for the post of  chairman of the National Intelligence Council, including the man’s own comments blasting the “Israel Lobby.” He was attacked by both the “right” and the “left” to the point where he could not serve effectively. The best commentary [...]

Continue reading about The Chas Freeman Controversy

AronT on March 8th, 2009

From yesterdays New York Times: “Israel is transferring natural resources from the West Bank for Israeli benefit, and this is absolutely prohibited not only under international law but according to Israeli Supreme Court rulings,” said Michael Sfard, lawyer for the Israeli rights group Yesh Din, which is bringing the case to the high court next [...]

Continue reading about Stealing Land…Literally