Sunday, July 23, 2006

Can U.S. Conceivably Oppose Ceasefire?


The collusion of the United States and Israel couldn’t be clearer than what is represented by our refusal to support a cease-fire that would interrupt the devastation occurring at the moment in Lebanon and Palestine. Most, if not all countries, have condemned the actions of the Hezbollah. But we are alone in maintaining a position that a ceasefire is not warranted. Unfortunately and ironically, we are also the only nation that could require Israel to comply with such an action.

What might be considered even more convincing evidence that we condone the continuation of the strikes, is the New York Times report today (July 22, 2006) that the U.S. is accelerating the shipment of missiles and other arms to Israel. This country seems determined to strengthen Israel’s destructive power against Lebanon. What we’ve seen in collateral civilian deaths and widespread deterioration of humanitarian conditions so far cannot but accelerate.

The Lebanese government has made it clear that they will defend their land base from an incursion and re-occupation by Israel. What is our position regarding this development? We have pledged our support for the duly elected government of Lebanon and, in public, warned Israel not to de-stabilize it. Now, it appears that Israel is prepared to formal ground-based attacks across the southern Lebanon border. That should be quite a bind. I doubt, however, that it represents much of a dilemma for the present administration.

What peacemaker does not believe that a ceasefire can serve to initiate further negotiations? What peacemaker continues to supply one side (in fact, speeds up delivery of) weaponry while ostensibly looking for a lasting solution to a conflict?

But this potential “peacemaker” has a war of it’s own creation right next door in Iraq. It’s conduct is similar to Israel’s and it has rebuffed reported approaches of resistance fighters to introduce ceasefire arrangements—clinging to some wild notion that “victory” is achievable and anything less is a “cut and run.”

Our inability to face the truth of our foreign policy blunders has cost us dearly in the past. But it has cost others much more. Could we now, at least begin to see the pattern and break it? Occupation and oppression are very costly. They do not last. An occupied country’s people will not give up their struggle.

We, of all people, should understand this. Two centuries ago, having coalesced a “one-nation, indivisible” consciousness, we revolted against our occupier and oppressor. Against all odds. It took a long time. It was difficult. We lost many lives. But anyone reading this will know that today, if we still had not succeeded…we would still be trying. It is the human will and will never change.

Let us redeem ourselves. Let us close the gap between what we say are our values and how we conduct ourselves in the world. Let us be what we say we are. Let us leave Iraq and become honest brokers in our dealing in the Middle East and around the world.

13 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

We don't oppose a ceasefire. In fact, we're sending out top diplomat to help negotiate one.

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/07/23/mideast.diplomacy/index.html

I enjoy your postings - they're usually thought provoking whether I agree or not (it varies) - but only when they're honest.

2:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I feel like an idiot for the last post. I misread the article, my apologies. I stand by your comments on this matter, and can only pray that it does not escalate.

2:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

One would think that the architects of the Iraq war (and their cheerleaders and enablers)would be hiding in embarrassment these days somewhere between shameville and the lunatic fringe of society. But they are not...they are very much in control of the government and their useful idiots (the pundits on TV and radio and in print)still advocate yet more war (with other people's sons and daughters) as a solution to world strife. How many decades will it take the U.S. to repair the damage caused in just 5 years by this public flirtation with right-wing extremism via the government that this public now deserves? And how is it that rabid conservatives still have a ubiquitous, sought after voice on the airwaves - there must still be significant interest in their warmongering. What is wrong with this country? It seems you just can't buy a lesson these days...not with half a trillion dollars, 2500 young americans dead, thousands of americans with legs and arms blown off, a world now so much more dangerous for americans than ever before in history, and many more, not less, terrorists than ever before. Show me a Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld supporter, and I'll show you an idiot so profound, it sends shivers down your back.

6:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why do we support Israel so much?

Are we really ideologically so connected to a democracy that is centered around some notion of a race/ethinicity/religious group?

We give Israel billions of dollars each year to buy our weapons (normally we charge people up through the nose for these weapons, see Taiwan and $12 billion for 6 diesel subs we currently don't make!), and they now have an army that is ridiculously dominant in their region, and what do we get in return?

The plight of World War II Jews was very, very sad... but then to let them turn around and push out the Palestinians, form a nationalistic, ethnic/religious based state supported by mainly British/American powers... the Israel we have created has committed many thousands of human rights violations, massacres in the very Lebanon of today's conflict. Is it a wonder that people hurl rockets at Israel

I don't condone the actions of Hezbollah, but I do not understand how we can put up with the deaths of so many innocent civilians at the hands of a power we control and supply. Is it because they are conservative Muslims, so their lives don't matter as much as a Jewish one? Do we feel guilty that so many Jews died during World War II that we think it's okay for them to do what they want now? Does anyone think that the Iraq war is going to go any better now, given that it is clear that we don't value an Arab/Muslim life as much as we do that of an Israeli/Jew?

We have to call our representatives and put an end to this madness. Is the Israeli lobby in the US just that strong? Why aren't the voices for peace being heard?

My heart aches.

12:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The US government is elected by people in the US. The actions of the representatives of our government represent a majority of the people.
You and your supporters should move to a non-free, repressive Muslim state and live, it seems that a non-elected non-free society is what you want. ...
Oh wait, if you disagreed with the rules there, then you would be killed or imprisoned.

The roadmap to peace in the Middle East according to Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi, Arabia, Hezbollah and the PLO is a MiddleEast without Israel. Go figure !

8:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Maybe we should all take a moment to reflect on this question from a song penned by Pete Seeger more than 40 years ago. We're obviously still looking for the answer ...

How many deaths will it take till we know
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind
The answer is blowing in the wind.

1:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anonymous says "The US government is elected by people in the US. The actions of the representatives of our government represent a majority of the people."

If that is true, then all hope is truly lost. So, good night, and good luck.

2:53 PM  
Blogger antithaca said...

as difficult as it may be, ceasefire may not always be the best solution in the long term.

is it possible to negotiate with someone determined to destroy you?

there's a reason Great Britian didn't ask for a ceasefire after Dunkirk. They knew Germany would destroy them for sure if they did. oh, but this is different...is it? Hezbollah exists solely to destroy Israel. NOT to resist invasion. NOT to fight for freedom.

read more @ http://antisineman.blogspot.com

7:07 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Hezbollah exists solely to destroy Israel. NOT to resist invasion. NOT to fight for freedom."

I think that is a false statement. While I don't condone the actions of Hezbollah, I think its important to understand the cause behind all this. Hezbollah came into existence only as a response to Israeli occupation of Lebanon. Just because they are Arab, doesn't mean they aren't fighting for freedom.

7:07 AM  
Blogger antithaca said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

10:10 AM  
Blogger antithaca said...

While it may have begun under different circumstances, Hezbollah's current & publicly stated objective is the destruction of Israel. It is run by criminals and would-be tyrants.

Israel withdrew from Lebanon many years ago. EVERY other militia in Lebanon disbanded years ago in accordance with UN resolutions. Hezbollah did not. Why?

10:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I really admire your ability to post such continued nonsense. Had you had the power in WW II, you would not have bombed Japan or Germany because "innocents" would have been killed. In any war, the citizens of the aggressor are regularly killed. Lebanon ignored its responsibility to disarm Hizbollah -- a terrorist organization -- and it is paying the price. I am not aware that you expressed concern about civilian deaths when they were Jews in Israel, killed by Lebanese terrorists.

Professional "anti-war" fools like you never object to killings when the victims are Jews. I don't recall signs or blogs against suicide killings of innocent Jews.

Is your goal a peace without Jewish survivors?

Where were you when Israel was being attacked by terrorists.

Apparently 9/11 didn't wake you up to the threat that Islam poses to America's survival. But then we might have to kill a few barabarians to survive and that would be contrary to your warped thinking.

9:10 PM  
Blogger Dan said...

Sineman,
I just wanted to stop by and thank you for putting your signs up here in Ithaca, for standing up for reason in world affairs, and for putting up with deluded/hateful individuals such as "Sickened" in the above comment.

Cheers.

8:58 AM  

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