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Two House Dems: If Gaza Devastation Happened in America, 'There Would Be National Outrage'
We reported yesterday on the three Democratic lawmakers who visited the Gaza Strip yesterday, becoming the first government representatives to touch down in the area in more than three years.
Two of the three, Reps. Brian Baird (WA) and Keith Ellison (MN), have released a longer statement on what they saw in Gaza. They make a powerful plea for greater U.S. recognition of the human toll exacted by last month's outbreak of violence between Gaza and Israel. From Baird and Ellison's release:
If this had happened in our own country, there would be national outrage and an appeal for urgent assistance. We are glad that the Obama administration acted quickly to send much needed funding for this effort but the arbitrary and unreasonable Israeli limitations on food and repair essentials is unacceptable and indefensible. People, innocent children, women and non-combatants, are going without water, food and sanitation, while the things they so desperately need are sitting in trucks at the border, being denied permission to go in.
The two Democrats will head to the Israeli side of the border today.
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Josh
Elana
Matt
Eric
This is why we are hated in the arab world. The arab population sees the death, destruction and devastation on the nightly news every night and they hate us. This has to stop and I hope that the obama administration gets on this and stops the killing. It's horrible.
February 20, 2009 10:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
The full release is well worth reading. Sending them both a thank you this morning.
February 20, 2009 10:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Palestinian national experience has been nothing but tragedy for a century. That Americans are nearly entirely unaware and seemingly unmoved by this is nothing short of a national disgrace.
February 20, 2009 10:29 AM | Reply | Permalink
It seems like the situation of Palestinians in Gaza is gaining more attention. 60 Minutes recently did an excellent piece on Israeli soldiers randomly occupying houses and settlers driving inhabitants off their land. I just have this sinking feeling that the recognition in the greater American public is coming too late.
Incidentally, I really want to rub Vergil Goode's face in this statement for some reason.
February 20, 2009 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I saw that piece. It was pretty surreal. Now, I know there is a serious mistrust with suicide bombers. But the Israeli settlement issue is ridiculous.
I wish the next UN meeting would take a full week to iron out a solution for Israel and Palestine/Gaza once and for all. Get the settlers out of there and put in place a massive international force. I would think with five years of SERIOUS, and I mean serious global effort, a solution could be found.
This region is truly the focal point of much of the hatred around the world. Image if this region truly was at peace.
February 20, 2009 10:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
I saw that 60 Minute piece as well. Bob Simon lived in Israel for years, and says Israelis are just resigned to allowing the Israeli gov't - their own government - stay belligerent. Not too hopeful!
The problem is those bombers and explosives are seen by the Palestinians as if they had USA painted on their side. We are allowing the Israeli gov't paint our image. Only Obama can stop that, but the Israeli lobby is the most powerful of all.
Good for these two Congressmen! They are showing a lot of courage. And thanks to TPM for carrying this news release. You're the best!
February 20, 2009 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
The white phosphorus shells, which are dropped on civilians to asphyxiate and burn people, are made in USA by Martin Marietta :
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m929.htm
Everyone in the world saw the bright burning shower of white phosphorus multiple times ... people were burned and asphyxiated
Americans sat and watched, munching popcorn, as if it were Fourth of July.
February 20, 2009 1:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
"...put in place a massive international force."
What? More infidels occupying Arab land? That's an outrage....not to mention an Al Qaeda recruiting tool!
February 20, 2009 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Make it an Muslim international force then.
February 20, 2009 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
Most of the UN peace keeping forces are primarily muslim in any event. They draw troops from the poorer countries, which surprise, surprise are muslim. Total bs from the winger.
February 20, 2009 12:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
The chance of a peace agreement within five years, with Bibi about to be in power and with Hamas in power in Gaza, is just about nil. You can't impose peace on people who don't want it and right now there is no prospect for peace. There is the prospect for some interim agreements which Obama and Hilary will have to work hard at.
February 20, 2009 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's what they said about begin and sadat. Sadat attacked israel in fact. Begin was one of the most hardline hardliners. There was never a peace deal between israel and egypt, right?
February 20, 2009 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
The starvation of the Gaza civilians has been going on for a long, long time. Why did you think there were tunnels to the outside? Sure, they were to bring in rockets, but most were to bring in necessities.
I have lost all respect for the Israeli government and for our government as it looks the other way.
Didn't it bother you a bit when US supplied cluster bombs were used against civilians in Lebanon? Didn't it bother you a bit when civilians were targeted in Gaza?
Now we're back to starving the Gazans while the extreme right wing takes over the government in Israel. No matter how many Israelis and American Jews object to the torment of the Gazans, Likud is in the driver's seat now.
February 20, 2009 10:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
It may not have happened here, but this country did the same thing in Fallujah. There was no outrage.
February 20, 2009 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
And basra, and baghdad, and kirkuk, and mosel, and tikrit, and etc., etc., etc. Where was the media coverage and outrage? Hmmmm.
February 20, 2009 11:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
The two Democrats will head to the Israeli side of the border today.
Where they will instantly be persuaded that they didn't understand what they saw in Gaza.
*sigh* This conflict has no end because there is no way either side is going to win or lose.
God I hate this so much.
February 20, 2009 11:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess I am more optomistic than you, but I think that it does have an end. People are tired of the situation and want a resolution.
People said that egypt would never make peace and it did. Same with jordan. We just need active engagement and beat them over the head to make a deal, whatever it takes. Once a deal is reached, there will be some violence, but then it will taper off and low and behold the situation will be resolved.
The problem is that active engagement is necessary and critical by us, which we haven't done since carter. He started the ball rolling and then the b-movie actor dropped it. Bush I started the ball rolling and clinton dropped it and the king blew it up with a firecracker in his juvenile antics. Hopefully obama grabs a new ball, runs with it and sinks a huge three pointer. We just need engagement.
February 20, 2009 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I love my reprensentative! Keith Ellison and I we see eye to eye!! A big THANK YOU to him and Baird.
February 20, 2009 1:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gazans have only themselves to blame. They voted to put terrorists in government, and they cheer when Hamas fires rockets targeting civilians. Why any American would side with an authoritarian territory dedicated to the destruction of another state vs. one of the world's leading democracies is beyond me.
February 20, 2009 3:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
If Gaza happened here, rockets would not have been fired day after day, year after year, into the neighboring territory.
February 20, 2009 4:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with Representatives Ellison and Baird that "if Gaza happened here [in the US] there would be national outrage." However, that outrage would be directed at the source of 5,000+ missiles lobbed into the US, not at the American response to that provocation.
February 22, 2009 4:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Two Democrats pulling a Sean Penn and lending what tiny modicum of moral authority Liberalism has is sad. That such dupes were actually elected shows just how uttery lame the drive-by coverage of the Jihad to destroy the "Zionist Entity" really is.
Something like Gaza has ALREADY happened in the United States: it was called the Civil War (or, as my Southern ancestors and grandparents called it, "The War Between the States").
My great-great grandfather and six of his brothers fought for the South, two dying at Vicksburg Grant's siege. (Another, from GA, fought for the Union.)
The Union tore up the Confederacy, Sherman's March to the Sea being only the most well-known example. The North also blockaded the South as the Israelis have Gaza. Which is a legitimate tool of war and has been for centuries.
And just like Hamas-run Gaza, the South had it coming.
What exactly do you folks think the Israelis are supposed to do? The goal of HAMAS and the PLO is a Second Shoah. And, it's just that simple. Their ultimate dream, fantasy that is, is to see the smokestacks of a second Auschwitz fouling the clear blue sky of the Med.
If we, the US, stand-by and AGAIN watch madmen turn Jews into ashes, then we deserve the same fate. FDR refused to allow fleeing Jews into the US; in one infamous case they ended up in the tender embrace of the SS.
Sadat and Mubarrak have kept the peace with Israel because they are SANE (and they were tired of getting humiliated by the mighty Zahal; even when on the ropes, the Zahal--aka the IDF--defeated the Syrians and Egyptians in '73). Fateh and HAMAS are not. Their common goal is the death of every Jew in Israel and they are being abetted by Iran and Syria (and were being abetted by Iraq).
If the people of Gaza want to live normal lives HAMAS must be destroyed. With no rockets reigning down on Israel there's no reason to tear up Gaza. There are winners and losers in history and, unfortunate as it may be, the Arabs living in "Palestine" are among history's losers. Sorry, mais c'est la guerre. Grow up and play the hand Allah's dealt you.
And sure, Hillary may get some half-***** "truce" between the terrorists and Israel, but HAMAS will break it before its even signed, while its being signed and after its signed.
These people are lunatics and their destruction MUST be the first goal of all civilized nations--and that includes the largely Muslim ones too!! And that means you Jordan, Egypt, UAE!
February 23, 2009 3:42 AM | Reply | Permalink