by Diane V. McLoughlin, April 22, 2011
To Members of Congress,
I would like to thank you for not co-sponsoring *H.R.1501, which seeks to withhold U.S. dues from
the UN until it retracts the findings of the UN Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict. I urge you to
continue to not support, or vote for, this resolution.
I would share with you that the crimes committed by Israel in 'Operation Cast Lead' were not
incidental. State-employed rabbis distributed leaflets to soldiers that enjoined them to show no mercy. [1]
The IDF, as well as the government of Israel herself, hold to something called the 'Dahiya Doctrine' -
overwhelming violence against civilians in the belief that this in some way provides deterrence from
attack against themselves. This military philosophy is contrary to international law. The Goldstone
Report confirmed that the Dahiya Doctrine was in force during Israel's 2008 attack and demolition of
Gaza, otherwise known as Operation Cast Lead. [2]
Thus, it should come as no surprise that the IDF committed atrocities. What does it mean when an
invading force deliberately destroys a third of a region's cropland? It's water and sewage treatment
facilities, which is a form of biological warfare? Schools? Food depots?
Youtube: One shocking scenario detailed by a representative from the International Red Cross
where the IDF impeded access to the dead and wounded. Rescued babies were found starving
beside their dead mothers
Results of IDF investigations to-date? An IDF soldier punished with seven months imprisonment - for stealing a credit card. Three other soldiers, who used a nine year-old boy to open bags the soldiers suspected were booby trapped, receive three-month suspended sentences. These, out of 490 incidents reported to the IDF's military prosecutor. [2a]
Americans should be told the real story. The people in Gaza are war refugees who were driven out in IDF military trucks at the point of guns out of their homes during the massive organized ethnic cleansing operation of 1948. Sderot used to be called Najd by its rightful Palestinian inhabitants now languishing in Gaza under illegal Israeli military siege. 1.5 million men, women, children have been held captive there for years now, while the world debates the definition of deprivation. The children's growth is stunted. Do we really need to know more?
Israel broke the ceasefire with Hamas in launching the Cast Lead assault, preparing for months during the ceasefire to betray this confidence-building calm, and we provided the weapons of Gaza's ruination. The more Hamas reaches out, the more Israel's right-wing elements react with extreme violence. Land or peace, they choose continued theft of Palestinian land.
Even though South African Judge Richard Goldstone, the chair of the commission, reconsidered his personal opinion on one of the 36 incidents documented in the 575-page report, the other commission members have noted correctly that:
“There is no justification for any demand or expectation for reconsideration of the report as nothing of substance has appeared that would in any way change the context, findings or conclusions of that report with respect to any of the parties to the Gaza conflict. Indeed, there is no UN procedure or precedent to that effect.”
But what would cause Goldstone, without consultation with the other members of the commission, to make conciliatory noises in his Washington Post op-ed? The pressure that has been applied against an honest accounting in the Report has been immense - pressure I feel certain we will never know to its fullest dimensions. However, we do know that South African Jewish leadership threatened to ruin, with a public protest, Goldstone's grandson's bar mitzvah if he refused to meet to discuss (influence?) the report into the Gaza assault.
Prominent Jews are on record as calling Goldstone everything from an anti-Semite (Israeli cabinet ministers), to a 'despicable human being' (Dershowitz.) [3]
So, again, to Members of Congress, I thank you and I urge you to continue to uphold the principle that human rights and international law apply to everyone - including Israel.
The shrillest howls of protest are heard when it is suggested that peace will flower in Israel-Palestine when they are brought together in one secular state with equal rights and the vote for both Jewish and Palestinian inhabitants. I cannot envision anything that would make them more strong and free. I wish I could find the words to impart to both sides this bright hope.
Yours,
Diane V. McLoughlin
_______________________
Notes
*To write your Member of Congress regarding H.R. 1501, click here. [Text of H.R. 1501, entitled, 'To withhold United States contributions to the United Nations until the United Nations formally retracts the final report of the ‘United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict’; April 12th, 2011; http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h112-1501 ];
[1] Article, 'Army rabbi 'gave out hate leaflet to troops'; by Ben Lynfield in Jerusalem; 27/01/09; The Independent; http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/army-rabbi-gave-out-hate-leaflet-to-troops-1516805.html ;
[2] 'Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict' - (otherwise referred to as The Goldstone Report); Sept. 15, 2009; see, for example, pg. 21 of 575 pgs. of the Advance Edited Version; http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/UNFFMGC_Report.PDF ;
[2a] Document, 'Amnesty International's updated assessment of Israeli and Palestinian investigations into the Gaza conflict'; Mar. 18, 2011; noting Amnesty International's call, that it, '...urges the General Assembly to call on the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Gaza to the International Criminal Court (ICC)'; http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE15/018/2011/en/d7e260da-008a-461b-be03-85c223634a90/mde150182011en.html ;
[3] Article, 'Goldstone family drawn into row over Gaza report'; Chris McGreal; 30/04/10; The Guardian; http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/30/richard-goldstone-south-africa-jews
April 22, 2011
April 18, 2011
Your 2010 Federal Taxpayer Receipt | The White House
Your 2010 Federal Taxpayer Receipt The White House More spent on war for empire than on anything else, while taxes on the rich are slashed. That would be why education, health care, infrastructure and the economy are going down the crapper (although an argument can be made that some salaries in the public sector are a bit rich, too.) The country is being bled dry to enrich the few - literally, as well as figuratively. - Diane V. McLoughlin
Australia - Slinging Mud at Marrickville for Defending Palestinian Human Rights
by Diane V. McLoughlin, April 18, 2011
Australia:
According to Australia's, 'The Daily Telegraph', a city council in a town called Marrickville voted last December in favor of participating in the international boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign in support of Palestinian human rights. [1]
BDS - boycott - by civil society around the world, helped bring to a peaceful end South Africa's racist apartheid regime. It is hoped BDS will hasten the end to Israel's illegal military occupation and takeover of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Since the December vote in favor, Marrickville Council has been under severe pressure to reverse their vote. It is stunning to note the high-level of political interference. The Premier himself, Barry O'Farrell, has reportedly threatened to fire the entire council if they do not reverse themselves (although I would be surprised to learn if he actually had it in his power to do so.) [2] In any event, the vote will apparently be revisted later today when council votes on what to boycott.
The New South Wales president of the Jewish Board of Deputies, Yair Miller, reportedly suggested that:
"The council should keep to what it was elected to do, take care of the interests of its ratepayers and not take sides in a foreign conflict." [1]
My impression of Australians as a whole is that they would not willingly sit on the fence when it comes to right and wrong - in foreign conflict, or anything else.
Standing in stark contrast to the
don't-take-sides position is the following Resolution adopted by Independent Jewish Voices Canada:
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions:
'Whereas there will be no lasting peace without implementation of international law, United Nations resolutions and respect for the human rights of both Palestinians and Jewish-Israelis, and
'Whereas the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed resolution 242 in November 1967, calling on Israel to withdraw from the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, which it had invaded and occupied in June 1967, and
'Whereas Israel has refused to implement resolution 242 and instead has illegally established Jewish-only settlements in these areas in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and
'Whereas Independent Jewish Voices is based on a strong commitment to social justice and universal human rights, and
'Whereas it is our view that the grave situation in the Middle East threatens the future of both Israelis and Palestinians as well as the stability of the whole region, and
'Whereas we support a negotiated peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples and oppose attempts by the Israeli government to impose its own solutions on the Palestinians,
'Therefore be it resolved that Independent Jewish Voices -Canada will
'Work towards an end to military assaults and other acts of violence that target civilians;
'Demand that the Israeli Government immediately and permanently withdraw from the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan and cease all discrimination against Arab Citizens in Israel.
'Call on the Canadian government to 1) cease its one-sided and uncritical support for Israel and 2) insist that Israel abide by international law in its relations with Palestinians.
'Support the Palestinian call for a campaign [of] boycott, divestment and sanctions until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and complies with the precepts of international law, including the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194. ' [3]
-----
While all the statements contained in the IJV resolution are true, it is also true that, due to the reluctance to report the whole truth on Israel by the mainstream press, many have no idea what the whole truth is. For example, in recent days there have been many reports about the cold-blooded murder of a Jewish settler family in a village called Itamar in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. But what people in the West did not hear about was that due to constant violent attacks by Itamar settlers, the majority of the Palestinians of the nearby village of Yanun even briefly had to abandon their own homes in 2002. (They returned with the supportive presence of peace activists.) [3a]
The 2002 catalogue of violence by Jewish settler extremists against Palestinians included:
'1. Repeatedly attacking people in their homes, throwing stones, shooting at windows and closed doors, terrifying young children and women.
'2. Attacking families on their farms. Here are a few examples of these brutal acts:
'a. In one of these attacks Galib Adel, 40 years old, was beaten brutally. He lost one of his eyes and had his leg broken, in addition to suffering several bruises. Atif Tawfiq, Rashad Saleem, and Inbisat Ahmad were also beaten in the attack.
'b. Moflih Adel was beaten severely and taken to the hospital unconscious.
'c. Gassan Abu Kaf, 38 years old, escaped murder and was shot in the leg.
'd. Ahmad Mahmoud, 80 years old, lost one of his eyes in a settler attack.
'e. Abdul Latif Yousif, the mayor of the Yanun Council, was beaten severely in an attack.
'f. Hani Hamdalla, 24 years old, was shot dead, while Fadi Fadil was injured in another attack by settlers.
'3. Killing hundreds of sheep using poisonous injections and live bullets.
'4. Blocking the main road to the village of Yanun.
'5. Spoiling the only natural source of water in the village.
'6. Burning down and destroying the only source of electricity, the electric generator that was donated by the Economic Development Group.
'7. Preventing farmers from getting to their farms and attacking them using fierce dogs and live bullets.
'8. Destroying the crops by ploughing the farmed land and burning crops that were harvested and ready to transport, as evidence of possession and control. At least three cases of burning have been recorded.
'9. In broad daylight, stealing olive trees that belong to local farmers.
'10. Imposing a seige around the natural pastures and preventing shepherds from getting to them.
'11. Preventing the relatives of the people of Yanun from visiting Yanun and shooting at the cars that go there, including the car of the mayor of Aqraba.
'12. Cutting off the main road from Aqraba to Nablus. This road, which was finished in 1935, is no longer safe to travel. [4]
Summing up pretty well the settler attitude toward Palestinians, when Palestinian farmers try to gain access to their fields:
"You are dead people." [5]
The following is my letter of support to Marrickville Council, dated April 16, 2011:
Hello,
An appeal has gone out to express support for you in taking the moral high ground - voting
to divest from companies that profit from the oppression of the Palestinian people in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories, otherwise known as the West Bank.
I salute you, and appeal to you not to cave in to any form of political threats or blackmail. I would
share that the West Bank has been categorized as worse than Apartheid South Africa of before by those
who lived it and know what they are talking about.
The occupation by Israel of the West Bank, as well as the siege of Gaza I would add, are both crimes against humanity by any definition.
You are not alone in courageously standing for Palestinian human rights. This, from the British Quakers:
'The settlements and infrastructure on Palestinian land are protected by the Israeli government and military and prevent or restrict Palestinians access to their land, water supplies, education, health services and more.
Extensive settlement infrastructure divides up Palestinian land, creating obstacles to peace...'
http://jfjfp.com/?p=22740&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=quakers-against-settlement-goods
Here, the Presbyterian Mission Network, public statement (2010):
'In response to a call to action from the Christians of the Holy Land, The Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN) of the Presbyterian Church (USA) [PC(USA) voted at its annual meeting to join the international boycott of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).'
http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/topics/economy-of-the-occupation/3045-presbyterian-mission-network-joins-bds-calls-for-boycotts-supports-kairos
Nov. 2010, TEEU Irish trade union:
'TEEU General President, Frank Keoghan, welcomed the motion saying: “It is an expression of the solidarity and empathy that members of the TEEU, and indeed all Irish people, feel for the suffering people of Palestine, that this motion received the unanimous support of our Conference.”
http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/topics/economy-of-the-occupation/3039-another-bds-victory-irish-trade-union-teeu-votes-to-boycott-israel
From a three million member-strong British trade union:
'"There are household names making profits on the backs of a war of oppression. Their hands are very dirty and we will demand that these companies verify their supplier," he said to multiple applause. '
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/95273
Norway: government-run pension fund drops two Israeli firms involved in developing settlements, as reported in the Israeli daily, Haaretz.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/norway-government-run-pension-fund-drops-africa-israel-group-shares-1.309874
You are not alone in your taking the moral high ground - far from it.
As with Apartheid South Africa, it is from the ground up that rejection of occupation comes - the established order only moves after the people so move.
I am, most sincerely and respectfully yours,
Diane V. McLoughlin, writer
____________________________________
Notes
[1] Article (interesting study in slanted reporting): 'Marrickville Council faces $4 million bill for Israel boycott'; Simon Benson; April 14, 2011; The Daily Telegraph; http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/marrickville-council-faces-4-million-bill-for-israel-bans/story-e6freuzi-1226038733018 ;
[2] Article: 'Marrickville Council's Israel boycott wilts under politics'; Josephine Tovey; April 16, 2011; The Sydney Morning Herald; http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/israel-boycott-wilts-under-politics-and-practicalities-20110415-1dhu6.html ;
[3] Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Resolution; 'Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) > IJV Positions'; resolution adopted March 22, 2009; http://ijvcanada.org/ijv-vji-positions/ ;
[3a] Blog, 'Palestine Pal: Yanun surrounded by the occupation (and some Danish stuff)'; Harrison Healy;
Feb. 11, 2006; http://palestinepal.blogspot.com/2006/02/yanun-surrounded-by-occupation-and.html ;
[4] Report: 'Settlers Force Desertion of Yanun Village';
Settlement Report Vol. 12 No. 6 November-December 2002; Foundation For Middle East Peace;
http://www.fmep.org/reports/archive/vol.-12/no.-6/settlers-force-desertion-of-yanun-village ;
[5] Article: 'It's the Pits'; Amira Hass; Haaretz; 25/10/02;
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/it-s-the-pits-1.30306 ;
[6] Report: 'Separate and Unequal'; VII Nablus District, Yanun and Itamar; Dec. 19, 2010; Human Rights Watch; http://www.hrw.org/en/node/95059/section/8
Australia:
According to Australia's, 'The Daily Telegraph', a city council in a town called Marrickville voted last December in favor of participating in the international boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign in support of Palestinian human rights. [1]
BDS - boycott - by civil society around the world, helped bring to a peaceful end South Africa's racist apartheid regime. It is hoped BDS will hasten the end to Israel's illegal military occupation and takeover of the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Since the December vote in favor, Marrickville Council has been under severe pressure to reverse their vote. It is stunning to note the high-level of political interference. The Premier himself, Barry O'Farrell, has reportedly threatened to fire the entire council if they do not reverse themselves (although I would be surprised to learn if he actually had it in his power to do so.) [2] In any event, the vote will apparently be revisted later today when council votes on what to boycott.
The New South Wales president of the Jewish Board of Deputies, Yair Miller, reportedly suggested that:
"The council should keep to what it was elected to do, take care of the interests of its ratepayers and not take sides in a foreign conflict." [1]
My impression of Australians as a whole is that they would not willingly sit on the fence when it comes to right and wrong - in foreign conflict, or anything else.
The hypocrisy of the message that we
'not take sides'
is most devastingly captured by political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff:
Standing in stark contrast to the
don't-take-sides position is the following Resolution adopted by Independent Jewish Voices Canada:
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions:
'Whereas there will be no lasting peace without implementation of international law, United Nations resolutions and respect for the human rights of both Palestinians and Jewish-Israelis, and'Whereas the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed resolution 242 in November 1967, calling on Israel to withdraw from the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, which it had invaded and occupied in June 1967, and
'Whereas Israel has refused to implement resolution 242 and instead has illegally established Jewish-only settlements in these areas in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and
'Whereas Independent Jewish Voices is based on a strong commitment to social justice and universal human rights, and
'Whereas it is our view that the grave situation in the Middle East threatens the future of both Israelis and Palestinians as well as the stability of the whole region, and
'Whereas we support a negotiated peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples and oppose attempts by the Israeli government to impose its own solutions on the Palestinians,
'Therefore be it resolved that Independent Jewish Voices -Canada will
'Work towards an end to military assaults and other acts of violence that target civilians;
'Demand that the Israeli Government immediately and permanently withdraw from the West Bank, Gaza and the Golan and cease all discrimination against Arab Citizens in Israel.
'Call on the Canadian government to 1) cease its one-sided and uncritical support for Israel and 2) insist that Israel abide by international law in its relations with Palestinians.
'Support the Palestinian call for a campaign [of] boycott, divestment and sanctions until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and complies with the precepts of international law, including the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN resolution 194. ' [3]
-----
While all the statements contained in the IJV resolution are true, it is also true that, due to the reluctance to report the whole truth on Israel by the mainstream press, many have no idea what the whole truth is. For example, in recent days there have been many reports about the cold-blooded murder of a Jewish settler family in a village called Itamar in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. But what people in the West did not hear about was that due to constant violent attacks by Itamar settlers, the majority of the Palestinians of the nearby village of Yanun even briefly had to abandon their own homes in 2002. (They returned with the supportive presence of peace activists.) [3a]
The 2002 catalogue of violence by Jewish settler extremists against Palestinians included:
'1. Repeatedly attacking people in their homes, throwing stones, shooting at windows and closed doors, terrifying young children and women.
'2. Attacking families on their farms. Here are a few examples of these brutal acts:
'a. In one of these attacks Galib Adel, 40 years old, was beaten brutally. He lost one of his eyes and had his leg broken, in addition to suffering several bruises. Atif Tawfiq, Rashad Saleem, and Inbisat Ahmad were also beaten in the attack.
'b. Moflih Adel was beaten severely and taken to the hospital unconscious.
'c. Gassan Abu Kaf, 38 years old, escaped murder and was shot in the leg.
'd. Ahmad Mahmoud, 80 years old, lost one of his eyes in a settler attack.
'e. Abdul Latif Yousif, the mayor of the Yanun Council, was beaten severely in an attack.
'f. Hani Hamdalla, 24 years old, was shot dead, while Fadi Fadil was injured in another attack by settlers.
'3. Killing hundreds of sheep using poisonous injections and live bullets.
'4. Blocking the main road to the village of Yanun.
'5. Spoiling the only natural source of water in the village.
'6. Burning down and destroying the only source of electricity, the electric generator that was donated by the Economic Development Group.
'7. Preventing farmers from getting to their farms and attacking them using fierce dogs and live bullets.
'8. Destroying the crops by ploughing the farmed land and burning crops that were harvested and ready to transport, as evidence of possession and control. At least three cases of burning have been recorded.
'9. In broad daylight, stealing olive trees that belong to local farmers.
'10. Imposing a seige around the natural pastures and preventing shepherds from getting to them.
'11. Preventing the relatives of the people of Yanun from visiting Yanun and shooting at the cars that go there, including the car of the mayor of Aqraba.
'12. Cutting off the main road from Aqraba to Nablus. This road, which was finished in 1935, is no longer safe to travel. [4]
Summing up pretty well the settler attitude toward Palestinians, when Palestinian farmers try to gain access to their fields:
"You are dead people." [5]
The following is my letter of support to Marrickville Council, dated April 16, 2011:
Hello,
An appeal has gone out to express support for you in taking the moral high ground - voting
to divest from companies that profit from the oppression of the Palestinian people in the
Occupied Palestinian Territories, otherwise known as the West Bank.
I salute you, and appeal to you not to cave in to any form of political threats or blackmail. I would
share that the West Bank has been categorized as worse than Apartheid South Africa of before by those
who lived it and know what they are talking about.
The occupation by Israel of the West Bank, as well as the siege of Gaza I would add, are both crimes against humanity by any definition.
You are not alone in courageously standing for Palestinian human rights. This, from the British Quakers:
'The settlements and infrastructure on Palestinian land are protected by the Israeli government and military and prevent or restrict Palestinians access to their land, water supplies, education, health services and more.
Extensive settlement infrastructure divides up Palestinian land, creating obstacles to peace...'
http://jfjfp.com/?p=22740&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=quakers-against-settlement-goods
Here, the Presbyterian Mission Network, public statement (2010):
'In response to a call to action from the Christians of the Holy Land, The Israel/Palestine Mission Network (IPMN) of the Presbyterian Church (USA) [PC(USA) voted at its annual meeting to join the international boycott of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).'
http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/topics/economy-of-the-occupation/3045-presbyterian-mission-network-joins-bds-calls-for-boycotts-supports-kairos
Nov. 2010, TEEU Irish trade union:
'TEEU General President, Frank Keoghan, welcomed the motion saying: “It is an expression of the solidarity and empathy that members of the TEEU, and indeed all Irish people, feel for the suffering people of Palestine, that this motion received the unanimous support of our Conference.”
http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/topics/economy-of-the-occupation/3039-another-bds-victory-irish-trade-union-teeu-votes-to-boycott-israel
From a three million member-strong British trade union:
'"There are household names making profits on the backs of a war of oppression. Their hands are very dirty and we will demand that these companies verify their supplier," he said to multiple applause. '
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/95273
Norway: government-run pension fund drops two Israeli firms involved in developing settlements, as reported in the Israeli daily, Haaretz.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/norway-government-run-pension-fund-drops-africa-israel-group-shares-1.309874
You are not alone in your taking the moral high ground - far from it.
As with Apartheid South Africa, it is from the ground up that rejection of occupation comes - the established order only moves after the people so move.
I am, most sincerely and respectfully yours,
Diane V. McLoughlin, writer
____________________________________
Notes
[1] Article (interesting study in slanted reporting): 'Marrickville Council faces $4 million bill for Israel boycott'; Simon Benson; April 14, 2011; The Daily Telegraph; http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sydney-nsw/marrickville-council-faces-4-million-bill-for-israel-bans/story-e6freuzi-1226038733018 ;
[2] Article: 'Marrickville Council's Israel boycott wilts under politics'; Josephine Tovey; April 16, 2011; The Sydney Morning Herald; http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/israel-boycott-wilts-under-politics-and-practicalities-20110415-1dhu6.html ;
[3] Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Resolution; 'Independent Jewish Voices (Canada) > IJV Positions'; resolution adopted March 22, 2009; http://ijvcanada.org/ijv-vji-positions/ ;
[3a] Blog, 'Palestine Pal: Yanun surrounded by the occupation (and some Danish stuff)'; Harrison Healy;
Feb. 11, 2006; http://palestinepal.blogspot.com/2006/02/yanun-surrounded-by-occupation-and.html ;
[4] Report: 'Settlers Force Desertion of Yanun Village';
Settlement Report Vol. 12 No. 6 November-December 2002; Foundation For Middle East Peace;
http://www.fmep.org/reports/archive/vol.-12/no.-6/settlers-force-desertion-of-yanun-village ;
[5] Article: 'It's the Pits'; Amira Hass; Haaretz; 25/10/02;
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/it-s-the-pits-1.30306 ;
[6] Report: 'Separate and Unequal'; VII Nablus District, Yanun and Itamar; Dec. 19, 2010; Human Rights Watch; http://www.hrw.org/en/node/95059/section/8
April 15, 2011
April 09, 2011
Question on corporate warfare for upcoming Canadian election debate
Diane V. McLoughlin, April 9, 2011
The Ottawa Peace Assembly recently e-mailed their subscribers to let them know that, by way of encouraging greater discussion and debate on Canada's participation in the wars, questions could be submitted to the media consortium hosts at question@electiondebate2011.ca.
Leaders of Canada's federal parties are participating in a televised debate, on April 12th, in English, and on April 14th in French (all the leaders, that is, except for Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party, who apparently proved so threatening to the status quo during last elections' debates that she has been shut out.)
Here is the debate question I submitted to the consortium:
'Will you commit your party to redirecting Canada's massive military spending, higher than at any point
since WWII at 22.3 billion [2010-2011] per year, away from financing military takeover and control of countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya - corporate welfare which sacrifices the lives of brave young men and women who serve in the armed forces who aren't told that the undeclared aim is to
control foreign mineral deposits such as oil; this military spending depletes our nation's financial reserves to enrich the few while making enemies abroad; will you commit to moving Canadian policy toward development of clean energy and greater energy efficiency, which would render our nation stronger, more prosperous and more secure?'
*Should a candidate try to object that we were never in Iraq, this is factually false. We were hip-deep in Iraq right from the beginning:
``````
Notes:
From Wikipedia's 'Canada and the Iraq War':
Though no declaration of war was issued, the Governor General-in-Council did order[ed] the mobilization of... Canadian Forces personnel to serve actively in Iraq.[1] On 31 March 2003, it was reported in Maclean's that in the previous month Canadian officers, aboard three frigates and a destroyer, had been placed in command of the multinational naval group Task Force 151, which patrolled the Persian Gulf region. A further 30 Canadians worked at the US Central Command in Qatar, and 150 troops were on exchange with US and British forces in proximity to combat.[2] North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) stationed Canadian Air Force pilots also flew combat missions with the US Air Force E-3 Sentry, and exchange officers fought with US units. In all, 40 to 50 Canadian military members participated in the conflict.
From, 'Canada's secret war in Iraq', by Richard Sanders:
On March 25, 2003, during the “shock and awe” bombardment of Iraq, then US Ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci admitted that “… ironically, Canadian naval vessels, aircraft and personnel... will supply more support to this war in Iraq indirectly... than most of those 46 countries that are fully supporting our efforts there.”
As then Secretary of State Colin Powell had explained a week earlier, “We now have a coalition of the willing… who have publicly said they could be included in such a listing.... And there are 15 other nations, who, for one reason or another, do not wish to be publicly named but will be supporting the coalition.”
Canada was, and still is, the leading member of this secret group, which we could perhaps call CW-HUSH, the “Coalition of the Willing to Help but Unwilling to be Seen Helping.” The plan worked. Most Canadians still proudly believe that their government refused to join the Iraq War. Nothing could be further from the truth. Here are some of the ways in which we joined the fray:
Escorting the US Navy: Thirteen hundred Canadian troops aboard Canada’s multibillion dollar warships escorted the US fleet through the Persian Gulf, putting them safely in place to bomb Iraq.
Leading the coalition Navy: Canadian Rear Admiral Roger Girouard was in charge of the war coalition’s fleet.
Providing war planners: At least two dozen Canadian war planners working at US Central Command in Florida were transferred to the Persian Gulf in early 2003 to help oversee the war’s complicated logistics.
Commanding the war: In 2004, Canadian Brigadier General Walt Natynczyk commanded 10 brigades totalling 35,000 troops. He was Second-in-Command of the entire Iraq War for that year. When Governor General Clarkson gave Natynczyk the Meritorious Service Cross, her office extolled his “pivotal role in the development of numerous plans and operations [which] resulted in a tremendous contribution… to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and… brought great credit to the Canadian Forces and to Canada.”
Helping coordinate the war: Canadian military personnel working aboard American E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System warplanes helped direct the electronic war by providing surveillance, command, control and communications services to US war fighters.
Providing airspace and refuelling: Countless US troop and equipment transport aircraft have flown over Canada, to and from the Iraq War, and many refuelled in Gander, Newfoundland.
Providing air transport: At least three Canadian CC-130 military transport planes were listed by US military to supply coalition forces during the Iraq War.
Freeing up US troops: Canada’s major role in Afghan war has freed up thousands of US troops for deployment to Iraq.
Providing ground troops: At least 35 Canadian soldiers were directly under US command, in an “exchange” capacity on the ground, participating in the invasion of Iraq.
Testing weapons and drones: Two types of cruise missiles (AGM-86 and -129) and the “Global Hawk” (RQ-4A) surveillance drone, used in Iraq, were tested over Canada.
Depleted uranium (DU) weapons: Canada is the world’s top exporter of uranium. Our government pretends that Canada’s uranium is sold for “peaceful” purposes only, but absolutely nothing is done to stop the US from using DU in their weapons. America’s A-10 Wart Hog warplanes have fired DU munitions in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Iraq, while each cruise missile contains three kgs of DU ballast. Providing RADARSAT data: Eagle Vision, a US Air Force mobile ground station, which controls Canada’s RADARSAT-1 satellite and downlinks its data, was used from the start of the Iraq War.
Diplomatic support: Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien supported the “right” of the US to invade Iraq, although Kofi Annan said it was an illegal occupation. Chrétien criticized Canadian citizens who questioned the war, saying they provided comfort to Saddam Hussein.
Training Iraqi police: Canada has spent millions sending RCMP officers to Jordan to train tens of thousands of cadets for Iraq’s paramilitary police force.
Training Iraqi troops: High-level Canadian military personnel joined the “NATO Training Mission in Iraq” to “train the trainers” of Iraqi Security Forces who are on the leading edge of the US occupation.
A Canadian colonel, under NATO command, was chief of staff at the Baghdad-based training mission.
Canada was the leading donor to this centre, providing an initial $810 thousand.
Funding Iraq’s interior ministry: Canada provides advisors and financial support to this ministry, which has been caught running torture centres.
Thousands of its officers have been withdrawn for corruption, and it has been accused of working with death squads that executed a thousand people per month in Baghdad alone in the summer of 2006.
Military exports: At least 100 Canadian companies sold parts and/or services for major weapons systems used in the Iraq War. Quebec’s SNC-TEC sold millions of bullets to the US military forces occupying Iraq. General Dynamics Canada, in London Ontario, sold hundreds of armoured vehicles to the US and Australia. Between October 2003 and November 2005, these troop transport vehicles logged over six million miles in Iraq. Winnipeg’s Bristol Aerospace sells cluster-bomb dispensing warheads used by US aircraft in Iraq.
Canada Pension Plan investments: Canadians are forced to invest their pension money in hundreds of military industries, including most of the world’s top 20 weapons producers, which are the leading prime contractors for virtually all the major weapons systems used in Iraq.
So the next time a proud fellow citizen tells you that Canada didn’t join the Iraq War, remind them of Mark Twain’s famous quip: “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” [From, 'Canada's Secret War in Iraq'; by Richard Sanders; as seen in Global Research.ca, February 17, 2008.]
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