Imran Khan on US Drone Attacks in Pakistan
June 25th, 2009 § 6 Comments
Democracy Now’s important interview with Imran Khan on the recent drone attacks and the general failure of US policy in Pakistan. Khan is the chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Pakistan Justice Movement), and is one of the very few politicians who dissented from the military operation in Swat which has now displaced more than 3 million people. (He is of course also a retired cricketing legend who led Pakistan to world cup victory in the early 90′s.) He offers a useful antidote to the otherwise unbroken parade of native informers who spew nonsense on mainstream media, progressive or conservative. Khan on the other hand provides useful context and realist alternatives to the present impasse. (Also see Pankaj Mishra’s excellent piece on the failed US policy that we ran here earlier).
The video clips for parts two and three and the transcript over the fold.
Part One (7.57)
Are British Jews ending their affair with Labour?
June 24th, 2009 § 2 Comments
David “I am a Zionist” Cameron, leader of the opposition, said recently, at the Conservative Friends of Israel (CfI) annual business lunch, that his belief in Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself was “indestructible”. No surprises there. He did however refer to old supporters giving a special thank you to some of the party’s biggest donors and, more importantly, he welcomed new arrivals such as Victor Blank. Victor, former chairman of Llyods Banking Group and one of Gordon Brown’s favourite businessmen, is more commonly associated with Labour Friends of Israel (LfI) and this switching of sides seems to have prompted the Guardian podcast show Sounds Jewish to ask “are British Jews ending their affair with New Labour and returning to the Tories?”
Stuart Polak, director of Conservative Friends of Israel (13:35): MP3
Iraq Inquiry: Freedman & Gilbert
June 24th, 2009 § 1 Comment
Notorious propagandist Martin Gilbert
The Iraq war was driven by the neo-conservative, Israel firsters, as the beginning of a plan to reshape the Middle East in Israel’s favour. In the Independent, Richard Ingrams explains that by having at least two Zionists, on a committee of five, the Iraq war inquiry is unlikely to explore this.
For more on Freedman and Gilbert see Michael Crick’s Newsnight blog where he opines that “critics of the war might argue Sir Lawrence was himself one of the causes of the war!”
Sir Martin Gilbert, the allegedly distinguished historian who is one of those appointed to investigate the Iraq war, has let it be known that one day in the future Bush and Blair might be seen in the same light as Roosevelt and Churchill. A good example of the rule that when it comes to talking nonsense it’s hard to beat a historian.
Joe Klein on Iran’s Election
June 24th, 2009 § 6 Comments
TIME Columnist Joe Klein discusses his 10-day trip to Iran to cover the election. It is interesting to note that even mainstream journalists like Joe Klein are offering much more sober and nuanced analysis than people like Juan Cole (and Pepe Escobar who basically reproduces as original analysis whatever he reads on Cole’s blog) who have opted for partisan, emotive propaganda.
Israeli left fails at logic
June 24th, 2009 § 1 Comment
Dahiyeh, south Beirut: IAF forced to compensate for lack of logic on Israeli left. (Photo by Amelia Opalinska)
In a June 24 article on the Haaretz website entitled “Leave the settlers there,” opinion writer Yair Sheleg condemns the Israeli left for comparing Jewish settlers to Hamas. According to Sheleg, the comparison is “based on the following logic: The Israeli majority is the equivalent of the Palestine Liberation Organization, which recognized Israel and is willing to make peace with it, while the settlers are equivalent to Hamas in their refusal.”
Sheleg’s review of the defects of this analogy does not include the most obvious one—that Hamas is more likely to recognize a Jewish state within the 1967 borders than are the settlers. He instead focuses on such issues as how “even the most moderate Palestinians have yet to voice consent to the ideas that most moderate Israelis have been promoting for many years – see, for instance, their demand for the refugees’ ‘return’ to Israel.” The argument is thus transformed into one in which not even Palestinians willing to embrace Israeli existence are moderates, and that the only moderate view—espoused by most moderate Israelis, who have been nobly espousing it for many years—is that there is no right of return.
Jimmy Carter’s Address to the UNRWA Graduation in Gaza
June 24th, 2009 § Leave a Comment
President Jimmy Carter with the media at the ruins of the American International School, which was destroyed during Israel's offensive in Gaza earlier this year. Photo: AP
Below is the transcript of former US President Jimmy Carter’s address to the United Nations Relief Works Agency’s Human Rights Graduation in Gaza, June 16, 2009. Carter is constantly criticized by both the left and the right for his peace plans on Israel/Palestine, but he is the only American official who has been consistently working on this project as a result of his own initiative for years while actually producing concrete proposals for both sides to consider. This 85 year old man also happens to be the only US President who has ever talked to Hamas officials and has recently reiterated that the peace process can only move forward if Hamas is involved and if they are removed from the U.S. State Department list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. He also continues to urge the Obama administration to enter into direct talks with Hamas without preconditions.
Director of UNRWA operations John Ging, thank you for inviting me to Gaza. Distinguished guests, children of Gaza, I am grateful for your warm reception.
I first visited Gaza 36 years ago and returned during the 1980s and later for the very successful Palestinian elections. Although under occupation, this community was relatively peaceful and prosperous. Now, the aftermath of bombs, missiles, tanks, bulldozers and the continuing economic siege have brought death, destruction, pain, and suffering to the people here. Tragically, the international community largely ignores the cries for help, while the citizens of Gaza are being treated more like animals than human beings.
Last week, a group of Israelis and Americans tried to cross into Gaza through Erez, bringing toys and children’s playground equipment – slides, swings, kites, and magic castles for your children. They were stopped at the gate and prevented from coming. I understand even paper and crayons are treated as “security hazards” and not permitted to enter Gaza. I sought an explanation for this policy in Israel, but did not receive a satisfactory answer – because there is none.
The Shock Doctrine and the Economic Crisis
June 24th, 2009 § Leave a Comment
Naomi Klein, interviewed by Bob McChesney, on her book the Shock Doctrine with respect to the financial crisis. Klein goes on to explain her current project, writing a piece on America’s boycott of the UN Durban II review conference on racism, and is critical of the US anti-war movement for ignoring the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Naomi Klein on the Shock Doctrine (52:45): MP3
Iran’s Election — A Debate
June 23rd, 2009 § 5 Comments
The only independent nationwide poll in Iran prior to the election was conducted by the New America Foundation and Terror Free Tomorrow. In the light of the developments since division has emerged among the various analysts at NAF. Yesterday NAF organized a forum where the two camps debated their respective positions. I have yet to watch the whole thing, so I’ll watch it with you all and post comments latter. However, I didn’t like the fact that Steve Clemons posted on his Facebook page a rather silly piece by a woman disparaging Flynt Leverett. (You can find stats on the elections here.)
Iran’s recent elections have sparked riots in the streets of Tehran and intense debate in the media and policy communities around the globe. Join us as some of the world’s leading experts share their varied views on how to interpret current events in Iran, and what they mean for US policy toward Iran going forward.
Aid Agencies Slam Gaza Blockade
June 22nd, 2009 § 1 Comment
Today marks the second anniversary of the criminal siege of Gaza. Here is a statement signed by over 40 NGOs, humanitarian and UN organizations denouncing Israel’s blockade:
We, United Nations and non-governmental humanitarian organisations, express deepening concern over Israel’s continued blockade of the Gaza Strip which has now been in force for two years.
These indiscriminate sanctions are affecting the entire 1.5 million population of Gaza and ordinary women, children and the elderly are the first victims.
The amount of goods allowed into Gaza under the blockade is one quarter of the pre- blockade flow. Eight out of every ten truckloads contains food but even that is restricted to a mere 18 food items. Seedlings and calves are not allowed so Gaza’s farmers cannot make up the nutritional shortfall. Even clothes and shoes, toys and school books are routinely prohibited.
Canadian companies face legal action for settlement building in Palestine
June 22nd, 2009 § 3 Comments
My Interview found below was originally published in Rabble.
On April 17 of this year the small and modest Palestinian village of Bi’lin (located 7 km West of the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank) lost one of its most loved and well-known members. Bassem Ibrahim Abu Rahmah was 30 years old when he was shot in the chest with a tear gas canister by an Israeli soldier.
On the day of his death Baseem was non-violently protesting Israel’s occupation of his land, something which he had been actively doing for the past four years. Joined by Israelis and international peace activists, Bi’lin villagers participate in non-violent demonstrations against Israel’s illegal separation barrier and settlements weekly. Despite suffering continuing psychological damage and always facing the threat of physical harm, the villagers and their supporters remain committed to peacefully resisting the Israeli government’s colonization of their land through protest as well as through legal action.
Since the Israeli courts refuse to hear Bi’lin’s case in its entirety, the village has enlisted the help of Canada to hold two Canadian corporations that are complicit in the occupation accountable. American-Israeli lawyer Emily Schaeffer, who works with a small human rights law firm located in Tel Aviv, is currently collaborating with a Canadian firm in presenting the lawsuit (initially filed in 2008) as it enters a crucial phase.
The lawsuit asserts that Green Park International and Green Mount International (not to be confused with Greenpark in Ontario), both Quebec-registered construction companies, are in violation of international and Canadian law and should be held accountable for their actions.
