Mike PouraryanThe Gaza Tragedy (Day 11)
January 6th 2009 05:06
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When will it all end?
The War in Gaza is entering its 11th Day. The U.N. is impotent, the Arabs are silent and the Israelis are continued their war on 1.5 Million People. It appears that Nicholas Sarkozy's magic touch has not made a difference, either. Israel continues to attack and bomb civilans with no end in sight. The Israeli lack of regard for World Opinion is mind boggling.
The official U.S. stance is that Hamas is to blame. While women and children are dying, the world is staying silent and Israel continues to attack. No matter what Israel says, the simple fact is that Gaza is the world's biggest prison. As I have commented throughout this war, Israel continues the land, the sea and the air. Israel says it left Gaza in 2005. But, it truly never left. It has continued to block vital supplies. The Gazans have no where to go. Yet, Israel continues to portray itself as the victim. The West Bank is not much better, either. Between the Wall, the checkpoints and the settlements, Israel has done whatever it wants without any regard for the international community.
As I have assessed the official U.S. Government response, I was especially taken aback by Dick Cheney's comments. In my view, the man lied yet again when he noted that Israel did not inform the U.S. before it launched the attack. Israel does not make a major move without consulting the United States. I also think that Mubarak probably was given a hint of what was to come. It is true that Hamas is not a UN member-state. But this is war no matter what spin the Israeli Government or U.S supporters say it is.
I view the stance by Hamas as nothing short of simply pathetic, though. The idea of resistance is understandable when people are under occupation. But, the idea of somehow thinking that Hamas would do what Hizbollah did was a profound strategic error for which Palestinian women and children are paying a very heavy price for it.
What continues to bothersome is the silence of the Arab Governments. Mere words will simply not do. Arabs were silent during Lebanon and continue to be silent now because they have no regard for Hamas. What must be realized is that Hamas cannot be bombed back to the stone age. It is a state of mind and a culture of resistance that will be ever more radicalized as this War continues.
NBC News had this earlier on the humanitarian toll on Gaza:
Al Jazeera continues to report on the plight of families desparate to save their loved ones. Not even UN institutions have been spared. The United Nations is telling the world that the world is faced with a humanitarian catasphore. As for the United States, it cannot sit silent and expect to retain the crediblity it needs to have in order to help broker a lasting peace. U.S. Policy has to reflect the broad regional implications and not be Israeli-Centric. Alistair Crook, the Middle East Expert, noted how this tragedy is Barack Obama's Bay of Pigs. I tend to agree.
What I worry about is Post traumatic Stress Order in the victims. What I also worry about is the increased radicalization of the Palestinians. I see no winners at all, only losers.
The official U.S. stance is that Hamas is to blame. While women and children are dying, the world is staying silent and Israel continues to attack. No matter what Israel says, the simple fact is that Gaza is the world's biggest prison. As I have commented throughout this war, Israel continues the land, the sea and the air. Israel says it left Gaza in 2005. But, it truly never left. It has continued to block vital supplies. The Gazans have no where to go. Yet, Israel continues to portray itself as the victim. The West Bank is not much better, either. Between the Wall, the checkpoints and the settlements, Israel has done whatever it wants without any regard for the international community.
As I have assessed the official U.S. Government response, I was especially taken aback by Dick Cheney's comments. In my view, the man lied yet again when he noted that Israel did not inform the U.S. before it launched the attack. Israel does not make a major move without consulting the United States. I also think that Mubarak probably was given a hint of what was to come. It is true that Hamas is not a UN member-state. But this is war no matter what spin the Israeli Government or U.S supporters say it is.
I view the stance by Hamas as nothing short of simply pathetic, though. The idea of resistance is understandable when people are under occupation. But, the idea of somehow thinking that Hamas would do what Hizbollah did was a profound strategic error for which Palestinian women and children are paying a very heavy price for it.
What continues to bothersome is the silence of the Arab Governments. Mere words will simply not do. Arabs were silent during Lebanon and continue to be silent now because they have no regard for Hamas. What must be realized is that Hamas cannot be bombed back to the stone age. It is a state of mind and a culture of resistance that will be ever more radicalized as this War continues.
NBC News had this earlier on the humanitarian toll on Gaza:
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Al Jazeera continues to report on the plight of families desparate to save their loved ones. Not even UN institutions have been spared. The United Nations is telling the world that the world is faced with a humanitarian catasphore. As for the United States, it cannot sit silent and expect to retain the crediblity it needs to have in order to help broker a lasting peace. U.S. Policy has to reflect the broad regional implications and not be Israeli-Centric. Alistair Crook, the Middle East Expert, noted how this tragedy is Barack Obama's Bay of Pigs. I tend to agree.
What I worry about is Post traumatic Stress Order in the victims. What I also worry about is the increased radicalization of the Palestinians. I see no winners at all, only losers.
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