Robert and Heather, thank you both for your informed opinions on Biden and the Israel conflict. I am also confused regarding Biden’s confusing statements and Israels’s horrendous behavior in the war. Wars always kill a vast number of civilians, but a lot of them in this situation could be spared. I remember the slogan “The Whole World Is Watching” and that is certainly the case in this situation. This virtually assures that there never will be a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The surviving children who will soon become fighters will always hate them and certainly never forget the horror raining down on Gaza.
For displaced and oppressed Arabs everywhere this is a Goliath overwhelming David and into the future it will be their “Remember the Alamo” moment to motivate them to continue the fight. In the short term Israel can win the battle but in the long game they lose the legitimacy as a people who have the ability to show any mercy.
Daniel, you are correct, but the kid’s, mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers do. Just because Hamas acts with such depravity, does not necessarily mean that Israel could or should act with the same disregard for human life. If some modifications of how they engage in this war could be implemented and save some innocent lives, then they are acting more honorably than Hamas.
"The same disregard for human life." is bullshit. Most of the reporting is one sided by and for antisemites. No evidence that prisoners are murdered by Israel. No evidence that Israel does not honor white flags of surrender.
During the time that hostages were released there were pauses.
I agree Hamas needs to be stopped and eliminated but politely pointing out that herding Palestinians into smaller and smaller areas and then hitting those areas as has been reported by non-Fox entities is disregard for life.
If I remember correctly Israel told them to evacuate to the south but now they’re bombing Khan Younis and Rafah? Khan Younis has now been told to evacuate to an even smaller al-Mawasi?
This isn’t going to produce peace and safety for Israel.
I am not an apologist, but there is no evidence that bombing is indiscriminate and plenty of evidence that Israel is seeking prisoners to get intelligence that would lead to finding hostages.
Who is Hamas but maybe RW Netanyahu mercenaries to get an out of jail pass? Netanyahu knew what Hamas had planned cause he planned it. No one just walks into Israel killing people. Be careful this story is full of holes just like Iraq. Fool me once...
I support Israel, their right to exist but I do think they are bombing indiscriminately. An Israeli soldier shot three of the hostages even though they carried a white flag, were shirtless, had no weapons and one had red hair. That sounds over-the-top to me. I pity the Palestinians who have lousy leadership and have suffered an occupation for quite a while. Lousy leadership.
I fear that Putinyahu’s plan is to herd the Gaza Palestinians into a small enough space that they can take them all out economically, with one tactical nuke: a Final Solution to the “Palestinian question.”
Ouch Greg; that's a 'dark' supposition / theory. I do have to say though, seeing what we can of events on the ground, that it 'could' be seen that way. I hope not.
The surrounding nations are very aware that the children are schooled in terrorist activities from a very young age! As in Germany, the parents have no control over this! Many Palestinians also side with HAMAS! For this reason they consider taking them in, not good for their own safety!
There is a controversy brewing over who to support, Ukraine or Israel? How about both. The troubles in those two areas are distinctly different in nature but both equally require our continued assistance. To abandon either one of the two would suggest our country has limitations regarding its involvement in the promoting of free and healthy Democracies elsewhere in the world. The MAGA derangement syndrome is acting like a clog in this country's sewer system. It is denying the free flow of vital information within our country that would reflect the truth. Their ignorance needs a good dose of "Drao," that is swallowed not injected. Their false sense of negativity is the source of Biden's poor approval ratings. Santos may be gone but the Republican's ability to spread lies is still with us.
Pauses yes, because of US pressure. Non-the-less, food and medicine deliveries were catastrophically diminished and hospitals were rendered inoperative.
Daniel, actually my comment on your reply comes after the Israeli army shot three Israelis, who were waving a white flag. unfortunately, it proves that the Israeli do not always honor the white flag of surrender. I understand. It is an isolated and tragic incident, but in the heat of a war, there are always a lot of unfortunate casualties.
Honestly, I am in complete agreement. Any mention of the fucking settlements makes my blood boil. Have your goddamn religious ethno- state, seal yourself up behind your borders, armed to he teeth, paranoid as hell. Just quit killing people and lying about it. Israeli lies are so bad, so distorted, so shameless it sickens anyone exposed to them - oh! but question the lies and you are an anti-Semite. It’s Stalinism through the looking glass thought all over again.
Representative Tlaib is now a target for AIPAC wrath, which has offered two potential challengers two million a piece to launch campaigns against her re-election. The fascist Netanyahu boasts before the Knesset that he OWNS the American Senate. He’s right. He does. Lock, stock and stinking fucking barrel!
This country is complicit in genocide (again). If we aren’t actually doing it, we’re orchestrating it, or turning a blind eye to it. Disgusting. Disgusting. Disgusting behavior!
Posterity will not be kind to this period in our history. This is madness!
There are laws on the books of some US states not allowing any discussion about Israel claiming it is anti-semitic. How dare any state (like GA) allow that from another country. It is tyranny period.
As a matter of fact I KNOW hundreds of Arabs. Most are in my home town -- mostly Maronite Christians' who got out. They fear Hamas, Islamic Jihad, because they knew they were next. I knew the lawyer who got them out. I know how they got them out.
I’m surprised by the number of antisemites on this venue. It seems that many are misinformed. Hamas declared war on Israel and war is vicious and hell. I’ve been studying war since the 60’s and my conclusions about war are rooted in interpersonal relations. My story illustrating the point is as follows: suppose you lived 5 feet from a neighbor who constantly said that he/she wanted to kill you and your family. The neighbor constantly tried to goad you into reacting and made your life miserable. One day he jumped the fence and confronted you by shooting your family pet. Then he pointed his gun at you. What would anyone do at that point? Of course anyone would shoot the person. Seems simple to me. I don’t understand why these people are victim blaming. Israel is the victim of pure antisemitism. It is simply going to war against its oppressors. We killed hundreds of thousands of children in World War II. Why is Israel blamed for collateral damage? That is survival in all wars.
Could be false info, truth as victim of war, but. It is my impression “pointed a gun at you” and odds are even, may shoot, so, as it is YOU the gun points at, having taken at least most of their ancestors’ property to put your home 5-feet from theirs, rather than solve the moment (brokered 2-state solution or something) just do what always wanted, blow their home up, their neighbours, everyone. Satisfying, and reward is everything that was theirs, all dead.
Blow smoke from tip of your cannon, “Knife?” said Crocodile Dundee, “Why, here’s a knife.” So the assailant was cowed. Threat and exit-route open, where is that? Where was it as Settlers dealt with their own government for unilateral “decisions”?
Pressure-cooker, life as prison, neighbours as jailers, “Let them eat cake?” distain. Saw it coming, sniffed at the idea, Who would be suicidal enough to try. Desperate angry fed-up caged young or old with nothing to anticipate for their life’s purpose and energy. “It was not anticipated. They made victims of innocent people,” a lifetime of put-downs, who do you think you are? Ask “me” and I’ll decide whether “you” have a case, stacked deck.
“I don’t need an opportunity; just open the DOOR, I’ll get it myself.” It gets late. Impatience, seeing nothing on horizon. Purpose, membership, autonomy, as motivators. Not unexpected.
Yes. It is MUCH easier for elements like Hamas to point out the obvious: it is Israel that's killing your kids. Can you imagine being in the position of the racist Zionist pretending that Palestinians don't care about their kids?
Israel was in FULL control of their own response to an attack by Hamas on a south that Israel LEFT undefended. On October 6, Hamas was no serious threat; On October 8, they are painted as an existential one.
non sequitur. Israel has killed thousands of innocent children and will kill thousands more. Racists can pretend the Palestinians don't care about these children.
Nope. Relatives of the slain children believe that the deceased are martyrs and will be sent to Heaven because they are Muslims. It is an ideology that makes heavenly salvation paramount. They subordinate the pleasure philosophy of the West to their belief in salvation after death.
If you belief THAT (martyrs in heaven makes death, when fighting oppressors, just fine), … then you get to feel smug about deaths, because you decide to pretend to think they AREN’T trying for a better life. You get to pretend to imagine, all oppressed Muslims want is to die and go to heaven—meantime they struggle with a boot on their head. “So, give them what they want,” disgusting. Stop the fighting. 2-state solution brokered by whoever the sides agree. Stop pretending serving death is what you generously valiantly provide. Incredible. No credibility. See why it’s hard to see your point (it’s because you mock suffering).
I wish it was possible. War is terrible, but sometimes it produces a positive result. For example, the Civil War helped to end slavery in the US, but at an admittedly terrible cost in lives and material. I hope the Israel-Hamas war will end up producing a positive result for both Israel and the Palestinians.
and sometimes it does not produce a positive result. If we are to advocate for policies resulting in many deaths here and now, as we speak, we should have some confidence that in the longer term it was worth it. I am pretty bad at figuring out the future, as are most people.
A lot depends on what Israel does after destroying Hamas. I hope they handle Gaza like the US and the Allies did with Germany and Japan after WW 2. But I don't have much confidence in the present Israeli government to do this!
I am going to quote Golda Meir. "Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us." That seems to be the case in Jordan, Egypt, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. It may be the case soon in Saudi Arabia but that pesky, old attack on October 7th may have messed it up.
I think it will eventually happen with the Palestinians. It may happen tomorrow like the falling of the Berlin wall. But I'm guessing that it won't happen in my lifetime.
The dehumanization of the enemy is necessary for humans to kill each other, especially children. If "Hamas doesn't give a shit about whether Palestinian children die" do you, Daniel? Your post dehumanize the Palestinians. You are in the perfect frame of mind to walk point into My Lai.
I agree my suggestion is not without risk. Israel has attacked US Navy ships in the past- remember the USS Liberty.
I have written my representatives to try to get the Navy to send over our hospital ships off of GAZA. No tunnels, no command and control centers, no arms supplies or rockets, no excuses. Send the Comfort and the Mercy to the Mediterranean. Stat. For them, it will be good training and an introduction to results of war. It sends a different message than two aircraft carrier strike groups.
Against RW Israel who feel they should kill and prosper on death. I don't blame those protestors in the streets of Israel. They have Netanyahu's game right.
Netanyahu has only one way to get out of the mess he’s in - the mess he created - and that’s with mountains of dead Palestinians, rivers of their blood rushing into the sea, and it is within his grasp.
Someone in this thread said earlier that the world is sick of this violence and it has to end. Perhaps the world is, but Netanyahu is fighting for his political life, his legacy, his name: and for those things he’s willing to commit genocide.
So you know this firsthand? I think Israel doesn't care if Palestinian kids die as they have shown for decades, including prior to Hamas even being an organization. The propaganda that has come out of Israel since 1948 that dehumanizes every single Palestinian is vile.
I don't condemn any freedom seeking organization in this world. You seem to believe everything the US media shoves down our throats by your comment. No matter how the Palestinians protest their occupation and oppression the IDF murders them. March of Return ring a bell? Peaceful protests are met with violence. The West Bank settlers use unimaginable force and violence towards the indigenous population.
There is so much here that is twisted. Jews have been dehumanized for millennia. Why did the Palestinians not accept the 2 state solutions and form a real government instead of always a terrorist one. The West Bank Settlers are horrific but the people they are forcing out are not indigenous but that is who was living there and should remain there. The Arab propaganda is nauseating too. Why do the Arabs treat their own so miserably? Why are Palestinians in Syria still refugees in camps and not given citizenship as goes on in other Arab countries? The reason is because Arabs have a horrific caste system which we never speak of and in their sick caste system Palestinians are near the bottom. Decades ago some Arab leaders decided a great way they could get each other to stop killing each other was to have a common enemy and the Jews (because it’s always the Jews) were the perfect scapegoat. I know this not from Israeli propaganda but from my close Saudi friend of 48 years whose father was one of its architects.
Yes you literally just twisted facts and threw in your whataboutism. Not sure who you think you’re talking to but I don’t care what your “close friend “ from SA says. I literally have studied history since I could read, 50 years of seeking truth instead of being a dolt like yourself. How many Muslim or Arab countries have you travelled to? None by the of looks of your uneducated comment. Don’t comment back because I don’t need your false information.
I’m not confusing one with another; we are just used to the word being equated with the Hindu one. There are many caste systems in the world including one right here in America that many of us fight to end. The Arab (they are tribal)and really the entire Islamic world has a caste system. In this “caste” system the Saudi’s are on the top.
Yeah because Israel has been so kind to them right? Maybe do some research and see how they treat peaceful protesters. Also Hamas wasn't around for decades when they were slaughtering and stealing from Palestinians. I also don't think oppressors have a right to call anyone who fights for freedom terrorists. The standard trope of colonizers. It's the same regurgitated rhetoric. My ancestors would have been called terrorists when they stood up to the British during the revolutionary war!!
You don't pay attention. This stuff has been happening for 75 plus years. Maybe start taking Prevagen if you "can't recall". You sound like Ronald Reagan. You can't recall because all you do is watch mainstream Zionist media. Some of us have been paying attention for decades. Obviously that isn't you. Bye Karen.
Well, the Palestinians are choice of leadership in Hamas has obviously failed. If Palestinians can learn to negotiate with Isreal, they will have better luck, but their whole religion will have to change, mature, become accountable. Violence against Israel is a waste of time and energy. First, though, they will have to give Israel a good reason to trust them, and I can't imagine how they will do that. Pretending to negotiate for peace and making a sneak attack at the same time has ruined any credibility they might have had.
You literally are putting the blame on everyone but Israel. Israel is the problem and if you are too obtuse to see this then that is your problem. You obviously listen to mainstream media instead of doing the actual research yourself. Israel is the one that stole the land to begin with. Israel is the one that has broken international law, never followed rules, has killed hundreds of thousands over the last 7 plus decades, including peaceful protesters. You are just a yapping know nothing. Calling the kettle black with your failed leadership call. The United States is a failed nation and you might want to check yourself. The world doesn't trust Israel or the US at the moment because we know damn well it does nothing but lie. Sit this one out Karen.
Pretending to seek peace with Isreal and then making a sneak attack when Isreals guard was down is what caused such an angery response. Hamas tried a childish trick; Isreals response was quick and justified. Cowardly Hamas then used it's women and children as it's defense.
BS perceived enemies. Take a person's land and kill their family over 75 yrs and you will get blow back. Jews are growing in number few are killed off.
Then I'll let them speak for themselves. Eretz Israel has always been their goal. Here is the Likud Founding Charter.
The Right of the Jewish People to the Land of Israel (Eretz Israel)
a. The right of the Jewish people to the land of Israel is eternal and indisputable and is linked with the right to security and peace; therefore, Judea and Samaria will not be handed to any foreign administration; between the Sea and the Jordan there will only be Israeli sovereignty.
b. A plan which relinquishes parts of western Eretz Israel, undermines our right to the country, unavoidably leads to the establishment of a "Palestinian State," jeopardizes the security of the Jewish population, endangers the existence of the State of Israel. and frustrates any prospect of peace.
Settlement
Settlement. both urban and rural. in all parts of the Land of Israel is the focal point of the Zionist effort to redeem the country, to maintain vital security areas and serves as a reservoir of strength and inspiration for the renewal of the pioneering spirit. The Likud government will call on the younger generation in Israel and the dispersions to settle and help every group and individual in the task of inhabiting and cultivating the wasteland
The National Religious Party–Religious Zionism and the Jewish National Front have always had the same declared goal.
But I know that the Chair of Likud is the Prime Minister of Israel and that enough Israelis voted for Likud candidates or candidates from further right nationalist parties to put together a governing coalition in the Knesset. I know that those parties dictate much of the Israeli government's policies--even in the face of weekly demonstrations for more than 6 months. against some of those policies.
I also know that Netanyahu backed the policy of fostering Hamas to prevent a negotiated peace settlement.
Netanyahu's current finance minister, West Bank settler Belazel Smotrich, explained the approach to Israel's Knesset channel in 2015: "Hamas is an asset, and (Palestinian Authority leader) Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) is a burden."
On March 12, 2019, Netanyahu defended the Hamas payments to his Likud Party caucus on the grounds that they weakened the pro-Oslo Palestinian Authority, according to the Jerusalem Post:
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel's regular allowing of Qatari funds to be transferred into Gaza, saying it is part of a broader strategy to keep Hamas and the Palestinian Authority separate, a source in Monday's Likud faction meeting said," the Post reported.
"The prime minister also said that 'whoever is against a Palestinian state should be for' transferring the funds to Gaza, because maintaining a separation between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza helps prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state."
Like both of you have said, I do not think that the good news on the economy is getting out to those voters in the swing states who will decide the election. They will not come out for him in droves unless Biden “comes out swinging,” so to speak. He is being seen as equivocating on numerous issues, but here is an issue where he can tale a strong stand for the middle and lower working classes. It may mean he might lose some corporate financial support, but he has to come across as a populist also for those that need black and white messaging.
I would not vote for the present 'Republican' party, or a third party, as Liz Cheney is suggesting, and risk tfg getting back in. IMHO , the Supreme Court is aiding and abetting tfg if they do not disqualify Donald John Trump from the ballot ASAP! To not do this soon is to put our entire Republic in jeopardy!
Biden may have some surprises for us as the election comes nearer. Let the clown car chauffer put on a noisy comedy act for now while Biden uses his time to govern wisely. This is not the time for him to campaign because he has serious work to do. I have faith that voters will choose rational leadership over that hysterical pirate
We will never get the progressive policies passed with the current structure. If Trump gets in, after 4 years the American people will be disgusted and ashamed. The vote will be overwhelming for the Democrat party (provided we have a very eloquent nominee) and we will get these policies passed.
If Donald Trump wins in 2024, there will never again be a fair and free election - end of story. IF polls are true, Americans are so stupid, we deserve what is coming. 1930’s Germany is upon us. There will be no NATO and after Europe is gone Putin will kiss his useful idiot trump goodbye and Russia and China will conquer the United States. Does no one understand how Nazi Germany came to be.
the lack of education and understanding among so many Americans is mind-boggling, which leaves them naively vulnerable to demagogic rhetoric - Americans are staring down the barrel of a wannabe-dictator and they're more concerned about the price of peanut butter.
Whatever positive things Biden and the Dems have done, I think they have failed miserably at promoting their achievements; they need to seriously upgrade their communications game - they are truly getting Foxed Up.
C'mon Joe and Co, get into the communications game, ASAP.
If we had another fair election after 2024. Trump & his fellow fascists (Bannon, Stephen Miller, Carlson, Vance, Flynn, etc.) will make sure we won't. There will be show elections but they'll all be sham elections. We can't risk Trump or any other like-minded Republican (the vast majority of them) come back to power or we will turn into a replica of Nazi Germany.
I think that we saw that when Biden was elected and congress was heavy Dem leaning your observation is an accurate one. What we have seen in 2022 is that the election which typically leans against the presidents party was no landside. Perhaps I am polyannish, the 2023 election and all these horrible decisions and grand standing the GOP have done is really pissing people off. 2024 is going to be a dem landslide. I believe senate retained by a slim margin and congress with an overwelhming majority. Would another 4 years of Trump make a heavier Dem landslide oh for sure! If Trump ever gave up power which is highly questionable. I am completely onboard with what you said. those are the exact thoughts I had about the 2016 election. If Hillary was elected we wouldnt have had a lot of the BS we had and Dems probably would not have as many positions that they do. The main thing is that the problems that we currently have would not be so WELL defined if it wasnt for Orange Julius Cesear making the fight between the Oligarchs and the other 314 million of us so obvious.
How do we even begun to address the problems the last President has left behind for us to deal with. Who has that many answers to that many issues? However, all the others aside I find one particularly disturbing. The blind allegiance of his "drugged" followers is a cause for concern. I used the word "Drugged" because that is the only way I can explain their stupidity. Bob Costa has a theory that stands out as plausible, he calls it the "MAGA derangement syndrome." Need I saw more?
AFTERTHOUGHT: I thought I'd include this, not because it's relevant to anything. It's just 3-1/2 minutes of brilliantly presented pure beauty: https://youtu.be/MNmLn6a-jqw?si=XzJwD2GOnhuMJaBe (Just to remind us all that such a thing still exists in these troubled times!)
you're probably right, Jennifer, so that gives me hope that women women have the same success in defeating Trumpism.
From watching a Netflix documentary on Taylor Swift, I learned that she is adamantly pro-women's rights, so maybe she can transform some of her celebrity power into voting power in 2024.
I don't think of it as escapism. I consider it sharing a little laugh and a few minutes of beauty. Think of video games and spectator sports, by comparison.
There will never be peace as king as long as Muslims are ruled by infidels. There may be a truce, but it is only temporary, lasting only until Muslims can conquer and control non-Muslims. Such is the political ideology of Islam.
You can't blame this or any other war on any ideology alone (in this case, Islam).
I think the root cause of war lie mostly with psychopathic leaders who use it as a means of maintaining and solidifying their own narcissistic power. Hamas leaders live in luxury in Qatar. It's not their Islamic beliefs, it's their lust for power.
Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Putin, eventually Trump - non are Muslims.
ps, Ruth Ben-Ghiat's "Strongmen" shows how individuals gain and exploit power for their own ends. Example, Trump doesn't want to be President to "save America", he wants to be President to "save himself" from prison and bankruptcy.
Too simplistic to blame the age-old conflicts in the Middle East on Islamic ideology alone. It's the leaders who exploit religion for their own ends.
I agree with your opinion. It has to stop but not now. The ceasefire should be predicated on the release of the remaining kidnapped people. One abominable alternative is to sacrifice the kidnapped and flood the tunnels. There will be no need to continue bombing the civilian Palestinians. War is very cruel and throughout all war tough decisions have to be made. It will be the end of
This has been a hostile situation from 1948. The Arabs are guilty of doublethink: they know that Hamas must be eliminated but refuse to accept that publicly.
"Doublethink is a manipulation mechanism by which people come to think two contradictory things at the same time, without even realizing it". It requires using logic against logic or suspending disbelief in the contradiction."
(So are the weak republicans who support Trump through fear. Doublethinkers)
Regarding the horrific death toll: It has to stop. I am no diplomat but unless the bombing ceases there will be no possibility of discussing with the Arab nations a solution for their Palestinian brothers and sisters. (And the Arabs will have to help rebuild a new Palestine.) Israel will not have met their objective.
Here is an abominable solution: Sacrifice the prisoners in Gaza, flood the tunnels with sea water. There will be no need for further bombing.
Another: Get the prisoners released via ceasefire. When Hamas and the other terrorists break the ceasefire as they will, flood the tunnels.
It's time to negotiate another ceasefire for an indefinite period.
Yes Marc all this death and destruction is creating more terrorists, so much more hatred and mistrust. I’m sure the Israeli people do not want war for decades to come.
You e got your David and Goliath confused. Israel is surrounded by 47 nations whose religion demands they kill all the News. And as for any surviving children, they will want peace. Desperately.
Professor Reich, I have to say, I was appalled when I read that the United States was blocking the UN wanting a humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas! Why would we not want that as well? I hurt for those poor men, women, and children caught in the middle of this senseless war!! Especially the children! I am very angry that our country would be the country to try and block that!! Why? The whole world is watching as we, the country of the free and the brave, are saying no to a humanitarian ceasefire!! Why?
Because a cease fire would allow Hamas to rearm, kidnap and kill more Israeli citizens and disappear never to be found again. Its an outcome that is unthinkable after the October massacre.
I would think that Hamas would smuggle arms into Gaza using their extensive tunnel system. As long as Hamas exists as a fighting force, you cannot say that Israel "totally controls Gaza".
If that is true, then why isn't Israel going after Hamas's supply of weapons, rather than bombing and starving children to death? Are you saying that Israel, with the most powerful military in the Middle East, is incapable of shutting off Hamas's supply of weapons?
Some statements from high ranking Israeli government officials: “We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly,” “Human animals must be treated as such,” “There will be no electricity and no water. There will only be destruction."
From a retired IDF major general, with no expressed government opposition: “The State of Israel has no choice but to turn Gaza into a place that is temporarily or permanently impossible to live in.” “Creating a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a necessary means to achieving the goal.” “Gaza will become a place where no human being can exist.”
That does not sound like targeting Hamas militancy for self-defense to me. Sorry.
Israel has no foolproof method of finding enough of those tunneled arms, much less eliminating them. Netanyahu should not have turned a blind eye while Qatar was funding Hamas.
So Israel's solution is just to blow up all the women and children. Israel tries to put all the blame on Hamas, but Hamas isn't forcing Israel, with a far, far more powerful military, to starve people to death or to blow them to smithereens. Israel doesn't have to target women and children for slaughter. That's Israel's choice. Israel has killed more children in two months than were killed in conflicts worldwide in all of 2022. I'm ashamed that U.S.-supplied weapons and taxpayer money are facilitating this disaster.
Hmm. Yes, I guess if we want to parse the word "total", then Israel will only have complete control when they eliminate every Palestinian in Gaza - by killing them, starving them, eliminating all medicine/hospitals/health care so that disease can run rampant, obliterating infrastructure so the place is uninhabitable, flooding tunnels with saltwater which ruin their water supply, etc, Then forcing what's left of the population in Gaza into the Sinai. Only then will the Israelis have total control. And I think that is precisely Israel's intention - with the help of Joe Biden and the US taxpayer.
In fact in a 10/20 letter from Biden requesting $14.3 billion dollars in additional aid for Israel, he also mentioned Palestinians moving from Gaza.
From Aljazeera:
"The letter, addressed to Congress and sent on October 20, goes on to say that the Israel-Hamas war “could well result in displacement across border and higher regional humanitarian needs, and funding may be used to meet evolving programming requirements outside of Gaza."
And Robert Reich wonders why Joe Biden doesn't demand a ceasefire....
Okay, so Hamas would say ceasefire but not actually do it? These Hamas are terrorists and I am beginning to see that you cannot negotiate with terrorists. But, as Daniel said, this fighting is over land not people.
The negativity found in the polls regarding how people view President Biden's political position is nothing but hog wash. The Republican's inability to field a qualified candidate to oppose President Biden in the 2024 election has resulted in an exhaustive campaign of misinformation geared toward degrading any effort put forth by the President to accomplish any positive accomplishments. The Republican party has reverted itself to little more than roadkill. Worthless self indulgent idiots, hell bent on the destruction of our country. Led by Donald Trump and his dream of creating the 4th Reich here in this country. The man is more of a danger to our people than any pandemic produced by nature. I find it is sad that assassins always pick people of quality as targets, leaving fools like Trump to contaminate our society with their stupidity. Not to suggest that someone off the orange guy, but it would be in this country's best interest, if not the worlds. Did you know Hitler had 42 attempts on his life and all failed. Think of the lives that would have been saved if any of them had succeeded. Being bad seems to provide an individual with a free get out of jail card. We'll see how Trump plays his
Netanyahu has blocked any attempt to achieve a two-state solution while claiming to support it. The Palestinians have the inept PLO and homicidal Hamas to speak for them. Are you volunteering to support them?
Do I really have a say who we support as a US taxpayer? Pretty sure AIPAC and the US Defense Industry has WAY more sway than any of us. Israel is the largest US recipient of foreign aid to the tune of billions. And as you know Biden just requested another $14.3 billion in October.
So to answer your question, we already support Biden's team: Israel. And our largesse extends beyond the financial since we've also covered their war crimes at the UN numerous times, including just yesterday where the vetoed the call for a ceasefire.
Okay, the Palestinians are not Hamas. I have read a little bit about the Oslo Accords and it was aimed at negotiating peace between Israel and Palestine. What is needed here is more negotiating between Israel and Palestine? But then, what would happen with Hamas? Would they stand down?
Phil Clark: Correction for closer to accuracy: Destruction of the state of Israel that displaced 700k+ of them from their ancestral lands and thereafter has gone on to displace thousands more and encroach on most of the rest of their lands
Phil, is this commitment for the destruction of the Jews based on their history? Is it something they have fought about for many years? Why do they want to destroy the Jews?
The October Massacre? How about the December Genocide! Israel’s response is out of all proportion to the events of October 7, violates all rules of conduct, every single rule of international law. Israel learned its belief in exceptionalism from the master of that trade - the United States.
Obviously, I can't read Biden's mind, but it seems to me that being unequivocally pro-Israel, regardless of its behavior, is an integral part of Biden's political persona, something that has been part of him for at least 50 years. He prides himself on, as he sees it, being zealously anti-antisemitism, a great friend of the Jews. He appears to regard Palestinians, in contrast, as lesser human beings.
What Israel is doing will create, not get rid of, more Islamic terrorists, even if they are not called Hamas. Crowd of people are demonstrating against Israel in countries across the Middle East. And Israel's excessive aggression will likely result in the deaths of the remaining Israeli and American hostages.
Read history: Israel has committed serial slaughters of that trapped population. So, Hamas digs tunnels? Israel has stealth bombers, long range missiles and Nuclear weapons. And we’re sending more weaponry as of this writing. Who knows? We’re not being told the truth about what our government is up to.
There are people living all over the streets, under bridges, in parks, sprawled on sidewalks. And we’re sending our tax money to fund slaughters in Gaza, Ukraine and who knows where else?
Israel IS a colonial settler plant hatched by Britain and inherited by the U. S.
The PLO/Hamas/Islamic Jihad has been waging a PR campaign lo these many years. Most of it is based on lies, half truths. Especially effective on people with a collective racial subconscious to be antisemitic. It was the same in 2000 ( when waves of suicide bombers murdered civilians in the 2nd Infatada), 2007, 2014. Israeli Arabs are not protesting against Israel re Gaza. Palestinian Arabs who happen to be Christians or Druze or Zoroastrians etc. aren't either.
So far, Blinken has made 2 trips to Ramallah. Egypt, Jordan have made peace. Lebanon to some extent. It's possible we are trying to put a deal together with UAE, Saudis who we know were negotiating with Israel.
The PLO is not in the same company as Hamas. Post Arafat, they dropped the elimination of Israel as a goal. Try to distinguish between wolves and goats.
Mr. Solomon, your contention is exactly backwards and gaslighting. There clearly has not been a more effective propaganda operation in the U.S. for decades than the pro Israel/pro Jewish one (two parts which overlap but are not the same). One does not have to be antisemitic to notice that. And calling observing it as it is "antisemitism" is manipulative misdirecting. Let's face and stick with the facts, historical and current, not with knee jerk defensiveness. People who were unspeakably traumatized did not then nor do they now have a right to unspeakably traumatize another people so they could/can imagine themselves safe -- they are precluding safety ever after by their own actions. One ethnic group craving land does not have the right to progressively murder another. This is a universal bloody human mistake.
That's BS. I don't endorse Netanyahu, but Israel is a democratic country, does not have apartheid, does not advocate extermination of an entire people as the Arab League/Arab Legion/PLO did and Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, etc do now. More than 2,000,000 Israeli Arabs and other non Jewish citizens of Israel have greater civil rights than Arabs in any Moslem country.
The allegation "progressively murder another" applies to Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad.
Israel is behaving despicably. A cease fire negates the (little?) harm done to Hamas thus far and resolves nothing. Israel needs to limit the scope of the bombings and the weapons used.
A more reasonable security council resolution would try to limit Israel's ferocity. A
The US should cut its funding for weapons and also reduce its funding by some reasonable multiple of the cost of whatever building goes on in the West Bank.
It will be too bad if we get the Rump in 2024 due to Biden's blindness/ cowardice.
You should check out Chris Hedges substack, he sounds antisemitic but explains the history -- much of it unknown
or previously unreported, and all of it shocking. I am trying to take it with a grain of salt because it's from the Palestinians' perspective, but even so....really appalling.
Chris Hedges is not antisemitic. He tells the truth, and he's anti-war; that's not the Palestinian perspective. The fact that you, like me, find so much of what he says about the world and how the US operates in it, to be relevatory, previously unknown, and downright shocking to you as an American, is precisely why, despite his vast experience reporting in war zones, the mainstream media in the US won't publish him. He tells truth to power, and the oligarchy doesn't like it.
Biden's Pentagon just bypassed Congress to emergency authorize sending 14,000 tank shells to Isr.. One wonders what they believe Isr. has left to flatten in Gaza.
“Senseless war” is what those who are on the sidelines say. All wars are senseless except for those who are defending themselves or fighting for something. Immoral war, self defeating war, tragic war, cycle of war ...but when I read “senseless “ I think the writer doesn’t get it that it is anything but senseless to the people who are in it.
Daniel, it wasn't Hamas calling for a ceasefire, it was the UN calling for a humanitarian ceasefire and the United States blocked it! I don't understand. Innocent men, women and children are dying and for me, that must stop! All hostages must be released!! This is absolutely tragic and I am upset that our country would not want a humanitarian ceasefire. I just don't understand.
All hostages must be released… including the 4 million Palestinian hostages living under Israeli guns and collective torture in the OPT: some families for 75 years.
I am thinking about those who are mow targeted in Southern Gaza. And any others in the North who are out in the open without food, water, sanitation or defense of any kind. They are 'shooting fish in a barrel' : it's a massacre of innocents of all ages! War crime! Everything that is possible to do to get them out is necessary. Biden should shut off the 'aid' of weapons!
Laurie, it makes me sick to think about it. I hope a resolution comes soon. It is the same in Ukraine. Nobody asked Putin to attack them, but he did. I would like to see that come to an end as well.
Peggy Freeman : The weapon supply to Gaza should be blocked, too, if at all possible. It makes me sick that there are 'people' making money on this war by selling weaponry to Hamas. Biden should make good at denying support in the form of arms when they kill unarmed men, women and children who cannot even escape!
The war machines don't care about human lives it's all about the money they can rake in . Listen to President Eisenhower warning about the military industrial machine . He was prescient.
But wouldn't a humanitarian ceasefire give both Israel and Hamas time to negotiate and work out the return of hostages? I also thought that the UN had already declared Hamas a terrorist organization and was not representative of Palestine. I'm sorry, I am confused about a lot of this. I am just a peaceful person and the atrocities committed in war makes me downhearted. In Ukraine and Israel and Palestine there are babies, children caught in the deadly crossfire and I am sure they are frightened, hungry, and hurting. Maybe I shouldn't comment on this simply because I just don't understand. Thanks, for trying to explain.
I fear a repeat of the Iranian hostages, who were released after Carter was defeated. "Trump our savior got the hostages back", or some such propaganda victory by Putin/Iran. We'll see.
Biden doesn't want a ceasefire. Neither does AIPAC. War and an endless supply of civilians to kill is also REALLY good business for the US defense industry. None of us on this thread are truly Biden's constituency, no matter what he says or what a decent man you think he is. I'm shocked than any reasonable person can think that about a man who sold billions of dollars of weapons to a Fascist regime intent on annihilating a captive civilian population so they can take the rest of their land, but then I remember that at that other war criminal Kissinger's 100th birthday bash this summer, many of the political glitterati were present, including current Secretary of State Antony Blinken. So much for morals, values and ethics.
To quote journalist Chris Hedges:
"Biden’s real base is not disenchanted voters but the billionaire class, corporations, such as the weapons industry, which is making huge profits from the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and groups such as the Israel lobby. They determine policy, even if it means Biden’s defeat in the next presidential election. If Biden loses, the oligarchs get Donald Trump, who serves their interests as doggedly as Biden."
That's why I like Professor Reich's articles and essays! They allow me to ask questions and gives me insight on a broad range of topics. I love to learn and the people here are so intelligent! I want to see the big picture but sometimes it is difficult!
Gaza Woman on TV Calls Out Hamas for Keeping Aid: 'Let Them Shoot Me' Dec 08, 2023 at 8:25 AM EST Not everything done in war is done in front of a tv camera. Not everything on TV is true. Hamas (Iran) has been killing Israelis and Palestinians and saying its them killing each other. There will be no peace in Palestine with Persians in the Levant.
Peggy Freeman ; I wonder who in our government is responsible for this policy!? Let me guess ; did 'Congress' have anything to do with it? Our Commander in Chief has said he would not support violations of rules banning war crimes. Of course, war IS a crime. What part of war is not a crime? Only necessary self defense? Netanyahu wants more land for more settlements. Biden said he only supports a two state solution. We have an aircraft carrier off the Gazan coast : why can't people be evacuated?
Now, Netanyahu, as the Prime Minister of Israel wants more land but President Biden says he only supports Israel and Palestine as a two state solution so how would that come about? If we do have the aircraft carrier that can evacuate these people, we should do that.
To all those calling for Plsts. to be evacuated to mercy U.S.ships. Nice thought but: 2 million people?
And when the destruction is over, what to do with the ones on ships? How many would bet on Netanyahu letting them back into Gaza once they're out? It will take a while for the Israeli public to get rid of Netanyahu --IF. He will be sitting there with tanks -- will the U.S. MAKE him stand down and accept repatriation of Gazans? And what if the Gazans on ships say "No way!"? Will we throw money at them to make them go back to the ruins of what was? Best believe Netanyahu is playing for the permanent exile of Gazans to the Sinai, which Egypt has resisted. Wonder - what al Sisi will get in exchange, besides a blind eye to his abuses.
I served in Vietnam aboard the Hospital Ship USS Sanctuary (AH-17). The conflict in GAZA reminds me of this service. In Vietnam we used the body count to demonstrate progress. Q: How do you know they're Viet Cong? A: They're Dead. Q. How do you know they're Hamas? A: they're dead. Thank you, Henry Kissinger.
I wrote to my representatives: I write to ask you to try to get the Navy to send over their hospital ships off of GAZA. No tunnels, no command and control centers, no arms supplies or rockets, no excuses. Send the Comfort and the Mercy to the Mediterranean. Stat. For them, it will be good training and an introduction to compassion in the middle of a war. It sends a different message than two aircraft carrier strike groups.
I also served in the Navy with Nixon as my first commander in chief. Vietnam service, including Operation Frequent Wind under Ford. (And folks think our departure from Afghanistan was a cluster..)
Not only do I like your idea, I have advocated that many of our Navy's auxiliary ships be used for humanitarian purposes.
Do you happen to recall a US Navy ship -- the USS Liberty (AGTR-5)?
Trumps Gaffs are not Gaffs they are deliberate and calculated to help the Orange Jeasus 😡 avoid/Reduce Jail Time. This kown as the ALZHEIMER DEFNSE. The Orange Jeasus knows he will catch at Least one solid Convection for his attempted coupe ; tax evasion , corruption and corrupt practices.
Hell he is paying $900,000 dollars for a professor to Justify Trumpets history of deliberate misstating the size and value of his assets depending upon which deliberate misrepresentation benefits him the most.
The Orange Jesus is calculating and enacting a plan to “Get Out Of Jail FREE”
As part of His Long Range Plan to avoid the Consquences of his DELIBERATE Criminal Acts. His Next step will be to Use Doctors and Brain Specialists to Fool the Judges to Reduce/Nullify/ Avoid Hard Jail Time. You Can’t Pertend To Be The Savior if The Orange JESUS IS A FELON Serving time in Prison .
From the Orange Makeup 💄 on his Nose to his Flat ( draft avoiding ) Feet, 🦶 The Orange Jesus is laying the Ground Work For his Appeals certain to come in the future post conviction.
The Funds to buy the Medical Experts will come not from Trumpets 🎺 Pockets but from the Campaign Funds he Collected to Stop The Steal…
All The Orange Jesus is Concerned about is himself and His Wallet…
Professor Reich don’t join in with Megan Kelly and start the Drum Beat of Poor Alzheimer impaired Donald Trump…
Can Trumps Presidential Library be located within a Federal or State Prison or will his conviction negate that and His Secret Service Protection for the rest of his life ???
Jay ; tRump has nothing to do with Jesus. except that he waves upside down bibles around, and gets prayed for by followers who lay hands on him who forgot who they were 'worshipping'.
I returned from Vietnam duty to watch "All In the Family" which was not unlike culture shock. Norman Lear produced on entertainment TV, a scathing picture of American bias. It was self deprecating humor aimed at American society and was more effective than psychoanalysis. Thank you, Norman Lear, for your patriotic service to your country in wartime and in peace.
I think it was a reflection of the divided country over Vietnam. (I'm a vet from that era too.)
There was a movie prior to AITF -- "Joe" -- with Peter Boyle and Susan Sarandon, that tried to convey the murderous impulses that "conservatives" had for "hippies." 1970.
Thank you, Robert & Heather - your friendship is a delight and your klatch brings us all into the immediacy of the work that you are doing every day, tirelessly it seems. Thank you for sharing your sparkle!
Many Republicans are compromised by Russians. That is part of their change regarding Russia. Another is their general acceptance of dictators & abandonment democracy. They have become our version of the Nazis.
I am glad to see you connect Gaza and Ukraine. With all the horror expressed at children dying in Gaza, NO ONE, these days, is talking about the children in Ukraine who are also dying. All attention is turned on Gaza and the children who are there, and on the Israeli government for causing these deaths. I see NO attention to the war in Ukraine, which continues every day, during which children die, rape is used as a weapon of war, homes are destroyed, children are kidnapped and never see their parents again, ships carrying grain bound for markets are destroyed so that many thousands of people are hungry, on and on. The war in Ukraine continues with the same savagery as last year, but with little to no media attention. At the same time that huge amounts of attention, hatred, name-calling are directed to Israel, and to Jews in general, all over the world, Mr. Putin murders and destroys, children are killed and maimed, every day, and not a word appears anywhere. I hear that Mr. Putin is very friendly with leaders of the MAGA Party, who are supporting him by blocking U.S. aid to Ukraine in the U.S. Congress. Could it be that an effort is being made to block any mention of Ukraine in the papers? I also hear that Mr. Putin has connections with Hamas. So he may have influenced the attack on Israel in October. So all the children who have died in Gaza, not to mention all the adults, not to mention the rise across the world in acts of anti-Semitic hatred, could all originate with Mr. Putin and his war in Ukraine, which is now proceeding without media coverage. A world wide scheme to fool voters in every country.
The 75 yrs of conflict in Gaza has resulted in mostly children and mothers being left. In Ukraine it is not the same but a horror that is for sure. Rapped mothers and dead fathers every where in Poland, etc. and Ukraine.
War is no a win for anyone but the arms dealers and bankers.
I am in my 80s. I was born during WWII. Right after the WWII the Cold War started and we had fear of bombs, etc. Then N. Korea and Vietnam in my youth. Conflict in Israel most my life and theirs. These wars are destroying our earth and people's lives. Stop it.
Remember guys: President Biden MAY be a few years old than the ex-president, but the later is AT LEAST twenty years older in BODY.
Biden just stopped riding his bike recently, while Bunkerboy is afwaid exercise will . . . deplete his finite battery? President Biden occassionally trips, as I do at 36, or slurs because he is a reformed stutterer, also as I am. On the other hand, Ttump cannot go 5 SENTENCES without shlurring or stumbling or gaffing! [sic]
When humanity choose power over life society is reduced to various wars because the public choose strong men who play power games. When we choose power over good fair justice we all become prisoners of the ruling fascist.
When government is bought by Billionaires, we have fascism, and rule by wealthy corrupt tyrants. when humans are misled in the media, and not taught the truth in schools, they can be swayed by the kind of demagogues we see now. Take Putin. for example. He was installed by Oleg Deripaska and other like minded billioaire oligarchs. Democracy is weakened by wealth inequality.
Hey, Bernie Sanders showed up on Fox recently, and was a hit. Of course, Bill O'Reilly is long gone, but Sanders was a hit! Robert, you were good, and subtly gave 'em hell!
This is a complex issue with right & wrong on both sides. There is no easy solution & Bernie is not one to rush to judgment. He thinks issues over carefully before coming out with a well thought out statement that offers solutions based on what is morally right & achievable in a very tough situation.
You do know mean while 17K Gazans are dead so far in what six weeks? There is a reason to where you stand. It has been 75 yrs to think about the genocide there is there not? RW Israel is not changing their settlements, etc. They just surge ahead. We give them billions. Who is paying for those settlements and free health care? US.
"Voters want to hear that Biden is on the side of the people rather than the powerful. Why isn’t Biden making this case? Why isn’t he advocating higher corporate taxes on companies with the highest ratio of CEO pay to median worker pay?"
Because the rich are the people paying for his time as President.
And we did not get to current rates overnight and we won't get to 90% again overnight either. At least Biden is pushing in the right direction and higher rates would have been a complete non-starter politically.
It's always good to push for the extremes that you want in negotiating. Most likely you will end up with a compromise below that figure, but by starting low, you'll end up with an even lower figure. Republicans realized that long ago, which is how they moved the Overton window so far to the right.
Tax rate been going down since Reagan. 40 plus years. Now the few have to pay very little...some none at all. And their children pay no wealth taxes so the money goes for generations of elite and power brats.
People can look at the chart you provided and make their own judgement. I was talking about the period post WWII which tends to be a common focus on this particular substack.
It took 25 years from 1963 to get rates from 91% top marginal rate down to the 30's. Though you are correct that rates can change quickly and dramatically given the right circumstances like WWI, the depression. and WWII.
We have circumstances today that justify much higher rates but the GOP mental midgets in Congress will likely only respond until things have gotten truly terrible, if then.
The Baby Boomers paid extra out of their checks cause it was predicted they were so large. Then Bush and Greenspan robbed the "Baby Boomer Lock Box". It is not the Boomers fault. Pay it back Bush and Greenspan. There is no reason why the rich shouldn't pay more or something to SS. They gotten huge tax breaks all these years. Those billionaires just got richer on the pandemic using insider information. They donated nothing but wanted more profit for themselves. Unlike the Fortune 500 of the last century they have never knew how to be philanthropists. A world pandemic? How do I cash in?
The CEOs give money to the RW so they don't have to pay taxes. Corporate money is not all theirs but under a charter whose workers, shareholders, communities money it is. These people are all different types and parties. The CEO rob it for their own agenda. Seems like fraud to me. Crap corporate governess. Patents and markets are off shored and are illegal. Where are those corporate lawyers? Oh right behind closed doors for the WTO, etc. without our permission. Rob America of good jobs and wealth for the few.
You know who the Carylye Group are? They are huge. They make money on war. 911 and Iraq\Afganistan were lies. Israel wanted us to go to war for them. Look how well that turned out after 20 years?
All Democrats advocate higher taxes for the very rich. They increased the IRS to do so but GOP want it cut. They want no rules and laws. Guess it is back to the Dark Ages for them.
Stirling S Newberry ; Because President Biden is not in a position to dictate taxes ; He can suggest things like a wealth tax, but cannot enact laws regarding taxation nor enforce such things. As far as I know. If we are at war, maybe that changes. The war powers act gives him special war powers. Not sure exactly what that means.
Both houses of Congress does not guarantee that a bill would pass. Besides, the president does not legislate. there were those who oppose things their party vote for, too. I guess it depends on where they get their contributions.
I know it was a gaffe, but many fear President's Biden age and believe it is his conceit and love of bing president that has him running for reelection rather than being the bridge president he alluded too initially. He is not doing this for us. We are in a bind. He has been a great president. The pull out of Afghanistan was poorly done, and this full throated support for Israel when they are committing genocide in response to the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas are disappointments. Other than that he has done well. We are grateful, but would prefer now that he step aside. He has lost the youth vote. We can't win without it. We don't want the trump autocracy.
Robert and Heather, thank you both for your informed opinions on Biden and the Israel conflict. I am also confused regarding Biden’s confusing statements and Israels’s horrendous behavior in the war. Wars always kill a vast number of civilians, but a lot of them in this situation could be spared. I remember the slogan “The Whole World Is Watching” and that is certainly the case in this situation. This virtually assures that there never will be a lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The surviving children who will soon become fighters will always hate them and certainly never forget the horror raining down on Gaza.
For displaced and oppressed Arabs everywhere this is a Goliath overwhelming David and into the future it will be their “Remember the Alamo” moment to motivate them to continue the fight. In the short term Israel can win the battle but in the long game they lose the legitimacy as a people who have the ability to show any mercy.
Hamas does not give a shit whether Palestinian kids die.
Daniel, you are correct, but the kid’s, mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers do. Just because Hamas acts with such depravity, does not necessarily mean that Israel could or should act with the same disregard for human life. If some modifications of how they engage in this war could be implemented and save some innocent lives, then they are acting more honorably than Hamas.
"The same disregard for human life." is bullshit. Most of the reporting is one sided by and for antisemites. No evidence that prisoners are murdered by Israel. No evidence that Israel does not honor white flags of surrender.
During the time that hostages were released there were pauses.
I agree Hamas needs to be stopped and eliminated but politely pointing out that herding Palestinians into smaller and smaller areas and then hitting those areas as has been reported by non-Fox entities is disregard for life.
If I remember correctly Israel told them to evacuate to the south but now they’re bombing Khan Younis and Rafah? Khan Younis has now been told to evacuate to an even smaller al-Mawasi?
This isn’t going to produce peace and safety for Israel.
I am not an apologist, but there is no evidence that bombing is indiscriminate and plenty of evidence that Israel is seeking prisoners to get intelligence that would lead to finding hostages.
You can be against what the Israeli government does and criticize their actions without being antisemitic the two don't necessarily equate.
Who is Hamas but maybe RW Netanyahu mercenaries to get an out of jail pass? Netanyahu knew what Hamas had planned cause he planned it. No one just walks into Israel killing people. Be careful this story is full of holes just like Iraq. Fool me once...
I support Israel, their right to exist but I do think they are bombing indiscriminately. An Israeli soldier shot three of the hostages even though they carried a white flag, were shirtless, had no weapons and one had red hair. That sounds over-the-top to me. I pity the Palestinians who have lousy leadership and have suffered an occupation for quite a while. Lousy leadership.
Netanyahu is lousy as well. Just a smarter trump.
You are indistinguishable from an apologist.
I fear that Putinyahu’s plan is to herd the Gaza Palestinians into a small enough space that they can take them all out economically, with one tactical nuke: a Final Solution to the “Palestinian question.”
I cannot believe Daniel Solomon’s response drags out “blood libel”.
Or, the Palestinians could just walk across the border into neighboring Muslim states.
Ouch Greg; that's a 'dark' supposition / theory. I do have to say though, seeing what we can of events on the ground, that it 'could' be seen that way. I hope not.
Sure sounds like that old time blood libel.
Gaza Woman on TV Calls Out Hamas for Keeping Aid: 'Let Them Shoot Me'
Dec 08, 2023 at 8:25 AM EST
Not everything done in war is done in front of a tv camera.
Not everything on TV is true.
Hamas (Iran) has been killing Israelis and Palestinians and saying its them killing each other.
There will be no peace in Palestine with Persians
in the Levant.
Why don't the adjoining Muslim nations take in the Palestinians?? They are just as guilty of letting them die.
The surrounding nations are very aware that the children are schooled in terrorist activities from a very young age! As in Germany, the parents have no control over this! Many Palestinians also side with HAMAS! For this reason they consider taking them in, not good for their own safety!
I think people are confusing Hamas and Israel's dictatorial regime with ISRAELIS at large! COMPLETELY seperate entities!
There is a controversy brewing over who to support, Ukraine or Israel? How about both. The troubles in those two areas are distinctly different in nature but both equally require our continued assistance. To abandon either one of the two would suggest our country has limitations regarding its involvement in the promoting of free and healthy Democracies elsewhere in the world. The MAGA derangement syndrome is acting like a clog in this country's sewer system. It is denying the free flow of vital information within our country that would reflect the truth. Their ignorance needs a good dose of "Drao," that is swallowed not injected. Their false sense of negativity is the source of Biden's poor approval ratings. Santos may be gone but the Republican's ability to spread lies is still with us.
I truly love that handle.
Pauses yes, because of US pressure. Non-the-less, food and medicine deliveries were catastrophically diminished and hospitals were rendered inoperative.
Pauses in exchange for release of hostages. Not due to US pressure.
Daniel, actually my comment on your reply comes after the Israeli army shot three Israelis, who were waving a white flag. unfortunately, it proves that the Israeli do not always honor the white flag of surrender. I understand. It is an isolated and tragic incident, but in the heat of a war, there are always a lot of unfortunate casualties.
Honestly, I am in complete agreement. Any mention of the fucking settlements makes my blood boil. Have your goddamn religious ethno- state, seal yourself up behind your borders, armed to he teeth, paranoid as hell. Just quit killing people and lying about it. Israeli lies are so bad, so distorted, so shameless it sickens anyone exposed to them - oh! but question the lies and you are an anti-Semite. It’s Stalinism through the looking glass thought all over again.
Representative Tlaib is now a target for AIPAC wrath, which has offered two potential challengers two million a piece to launch campaigns against her re-election. The fascist Netanyahu boasts before the Knesset that he OWNS the American Senate. He’s right. He does. Lock, stock and stinking fucking barrel!
This country is complicit in genocide (again). If we aren’t actually doing it, we’re orchestrating it, or turning a blind eye to it. Disgusting. Disgusting. Disgusting behavior!
Posterity will not be kind to this period in our history. This is madness!
That's antisemitic.
I'm an American. You don't speak for me.
There are laws on the books of some US states not allowing any discussion about Israel claiming it is anti-semitic. How dare any state (like GA) allow that from another country. It is tyranny period.
Marc, you will find that Daniel Solomon has a special blindness and disregard for Palestinian life and that only Israel is a victim in his mind.
As a matter of fact I KNOW hundreds of Arabs. Most are in my home town -- mostly Maronite Christians' who got out. They fear Hamas, Islamic Jihad, because they knew they were next. I knew the lawyer who got them out. I know how they got them out.
I am in a Facebook group with several Arabs in Gaza who want to get out. All I could do is refer them to the office of refugee resettlement. I don't practice law anymore. https://www.usa.gov/agencies/office-of-refugee-resettlement
Much of the crap you spread is actionable. I can sue your ass.
I’m surprised by the number of antisemites on this venue. It seems that many are misinformed. Hamas declared war on Israel and war is vicious and hell. I’ve been studying war since the 60’s and my conclusions about war are rooted in interpersonal relations. My story illustrating the point is as follows: suppose you lived 5 feet from a neighbor who constantly said that he/she wanted to kill you and your family. The neighbor constantly tried to goad you into reacting and made your life miserable. One day he jumped the fence and confronted you by shooting your family pet. Then he pointed his gun at you. What would anyone do at that point? Of course anyone would shoot the person. Seems simple to me. I don’t understand why these people are victim blaming. Israel is the victim of pure antisemitism. It is simply going to war against its oppressors. We killed hundreds of thousands of children in World War II. Why is Israel blamed for collateral damage? That is survival in all wars.
You wonder how mentally sick a brutal, decades-long occupation makes the occupier. Who stole the neighbor's land and put them behind that "fence?"
Could be false info, truth as victim of war, but. It is my impression “pointed a gun at you” and odds are even, may shoot, so, as it is YOU the gun points at, having taken at least most of their ancestors’ property to put your home 5-feet from theirs, rather than solve the moment (brokered 2-state solution or something) just do what always wanted, blow their home up, their neighbours, everyone. Satisfying, and reward is everything that was theirs, all dead.
Blow smoke from tip of your cannon, “Knife?” said Crocodile Dundee, “Why, here’s a knife.” So the assailant was cowed. Threat and exit-route open, where is that? Where was it as Settlers dealt with their own government for unilateral “decisions”?
Pressure-cooker, life as prison, neighbours as jailers, “Let them eat cake?” distain. Saw it coming, sniffed at the idea, Who would be suicidal enough to try. Desperate angry fed-up caged young or old with nothing to anticipate for their life’s purpose and energy. “It was not anticipated. They made victims of innocent people,” a lifetime of put-downs, who do you think you are? Ask “me” and I’ll decide whether “you” have a case, stacked deck.
“I don’t need an opportunity; just open the DOOR, I’ll get it myself.” It gets late. Impatience, seeing nothing on horizon. Purpose, membership, autonomy, as motivators. Not unexpected.
Yes. It is MUCH easier for elements like Hamas to point out the obvious: it is Israel that's killing your kids. Can you imagine being in the position of the racist Zionist pretending that Palestinians don't care about their kids?
Israel was in FULL control of their own response to an attack by Hamas on a south that Israel LEFT undefended. On October 6, Hamas was no serious threat; On October 8, they are painted as an existential one.
You've previously exposed yourself. Jews didn't cause the black plague and Jews don't cause global; warming.
non sequitur. Israel has killed thousands of innocent children and will kill thousands more. Racists can pretend the Palestinians don't care about these children.
Hammas did nothing to defend thousands of innocent children. In fact they used them as human shields.
What???
Nope. Relatives of the slain children believe that the deceased are martyrs and will be sent to Heaven because they are Muslims. It is an ideology that makes heavenly salvation paramount. They subordinate the pleasure philosophy of the West to their belief in salvation after death.
BS. Now that is anti-semite.
If you belief THAT (martyrs in heaven makes death, when fighting oppressors, just fine), … then you get to feel smug about deaths, because you decide to pretend to think they AREN’T trying for a better life. You get to pretend to imagine, all oppressed Muslims want is to die and go to heaven—meantime they struggle with a boot on their head. “So, give them what they want,” disgusting. Stop the fighting. 2-state solution brokered by whoever the sides agree. Stop pretending serving death is what you generously valiantly provide. Incredible. No credibility. See why it’s hard to see your point (it’s because you mock suffering).
Check it out. Marc is correct
Daniel Solomon ; War should be illegal, like pollution! only worse!
War is a failure to negotiate and a crisis to the environment and people. It stinks for our survival.
No kidding
I wish it was possible. War is terrible, but sometimes it produces a positive result. For example, the Civil War helped to end slavery in the US, but at an admittedly terrible cost in lives and material. I hope the Israel-Hamas war will end up producing a positive result for both Israel and the Palestinians.
17K dead Palestinians it not good in the end. So many homeless children and woman.
and sometimes it does not produce a positive result. If we are to advocate for policies resulting in many deaths here and now, as we speak, we should have some confidence that in the longer term it was worth it. I am pretty bad at figuring out the future, as are most people.
A lot depends on what Israel does after destroying Hamas. I hope they handle Gaza like the US and the Allies did with Germany and Japan after WW 2. But I don't have much confidence in the present Israeli government to do this!
Israel should've already done that years ago. The current leadership, as you hinted, is not so inclined.
Perfect
I am going to quote Golda Meir. "Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us." That seems to be the case in Jordan, Egypt, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan. It may be the case soon in Saudi Arabia but that pesky, old attack on October 7th may have messed it up.
I think it will eventually happen with the Palestinians. It may happen tomorrow like the falling of the Berlin wall. But I'm guessing that it won't happen in my lifetime.
To the US and Israel, I would reply:
I and the public know/What all schoolchildren learn,” W.H. Auden wrote. “Those to whom evil is done/Do evil in return.”
The delusion in this country is downright dangerous.
the only possible positive outcome I can see would be an international "rebuilding" of Gaza into a safe, modern, democratic state.
But I won't hold my breath on that.
BS.
Ron Kasman: Careful, Golda Meir is also quoted as having said Israel can do anything it wants.
Here is the report of Medicins Sans Fontiers (MSF) https://www.doctorswithoutborders.ca/gaza-the-un-security-council-must-end-its-complicity-in-the-ongoing-carnage/ Israel has destroyed 21 of 35 hospitals in all of GAZA, a violation of international law and the laws of war. Al Jazeera's report is similar: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/13/patients-are-dying-what-we-know-about-gaza-hospitals-under-israeli-siege
The dehumanization of the enemy is necessary for humans to kill each other, especially children. If "Hamas doesn't give a shit about whether Palestinian children die" do you, Daniel? Your post dehumanize the Palestinians. You are in the perfect frame of mind to walk point into My Lai.
I agree my suggestion is not without risk. Israel has attacked US Navy ships in the past- remember the USS Liberty.
I have written my representatives to try to get the Navy to send over our hospital ships off of GAZA. No tunnels, no command and control centers, no arms supplies or rockets, no excuses. Send the Comfort and the Mercy to the Mediterranean. Stat. For them, it will be good training and an introduction to results of war. It sends a different message than two aircraft carrier strike groups.
Is it against international law for the enemy to hold command centers underneath hospitals?
Actually they do. The more dead the better the headlines against Israel.
Exactly! That's their whole game.
Against RW Israel who feel they should kill and prosper on death. I don't blame those protestors in the streets of Israel. They have Netanyahu's game right.
Netanyahu has only one way to get out of the mess he’s in - the mess he created - and that’s with mountains of dead Palestinians, rivers of their blood rushing into the sea, and it is within his grasp.
Someone in this thread said earlier that the world is sick of this violence and it has to end. Perhaps the world is, but Netanyahu is fighting for his political life, his legacy, his name: and for those things he’s willing to commit genocide.
So you know this firsthand? I think Israel doesn't care if Palestinian kids die as they have shown for decades, including prior to Hamas even being an organization. The propaganda that has come out of Israel since 1948 that dehumanizes every single Palestinian is vile.
I don't condemn any freedom seeking organization in this world. You seem to believe everything the US media shoves down our throats by your comment. No matter how the Palestinians protest their occupation and oppression the IDF murders them. March of Return ring a bell? Peaceful protests are met with violence. The West Bank settlers use unimaginable force and violence towards the indigenous population.
There is so much here that is twisted. Jews have been dehumanized for millennia. Why did the Palestinians not accept the 2 state solutions and form a real government instead of always a terrorist one. The West Bank Settlers are horrific but the people they are forcing out are not indigenous but that is who was living there and should remain there. The Arab propaganda is nauseating too. Why do the Arabs treat their own so miserably? Why are Palestinians in Syria still refugees in camps and not given citizenship as goes on in other Arab countries? The reason is because Arabs have a horrific caste system which we never speak of and in their sick caste system Palestinians are near the bottom. Decades ago some Arab leaders decided a great way they could get each other to stop killing each other was to have a common enemy and the Jews (because it’s always the Jews) were the perfect scapegoat. I know this not from Israeli propaganda but from my close Saudi friend of 48 years whose father was one of its architects.
Yes you literally just twisted facts and threw in your whataboutism. Not sure who you think you’re talking to but I don’t care what your “close friend “ from SA says. I literally have studied history since I could read, 50 years of seeking truth instead of being a dolt like yourself. How many Muslim or Arab countries have you travelled to? None by the of looks of your uneducated comment. Don’t comment back because I don’t need your false information.
Heidi,
Are you confusing India caste system with Islam? I think Islam prohibits a caste system?
I’m not confusing one with another; we are just used to the word being equated with the Hindu one. There are many caste systems in the world including one right here in America that many of us fight to end. The Arab (they are tribal)and really the entire Islamic world has a caste system. In this “caste” system the Saudi’s are on the top.
The Palestinians should have protested against Hamas. Hamas has done them no favors
Better talk with RW Netanyahu about that. He created them. His mercenaries like Putin.
Yeah because Israel has been so kind to them right? Maybe do some research and see how they treat peaceful protesters. Also Hamas wasn't around for decades when they were slaughtering and stealing from Palestinians. I also don't think oppressors have a right to call anyone who fights for freedom terrorists. The standard trope of colonizers. It's the same regurgitated rhetoric. My ancestors would have been called terrorists when they stood up to the British during the revolutionary war!!
I can't seem to recall a time when Israel initiated violence, but they always respond. When will the Palestinians learn to use words?
You don't pay attention. This stuff has been happening for 75 plus years. Maybe start taking Prevagen if you "can't recall". You sound like Ronald Reagan. You can't recall because all you do is watch mainstream Zionist media. Some of us have been paying attention for decades. Obviously that isn't you. Bye Karen.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/gaza-protests-take-off-ahead-of-new-us-embassy-inauguration-in-jerusalem/2018/05/14/eb6396ae-56e4-11e8-9889-07bcc1327f4b_story.html
https://www.france24.com/en/20180609-gaza-israeli-forces-kill-palestinians-protest-border
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2021/06/israeli-police-targeted-palestinians-with-discriminatory-arrests-torture-and-unlawful-force/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2019/mar/29/a-year-of-bloodshed-at-gaza-border-protests
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2019/02/no-justification-israel-shoot-protesters-live-ammunition
Well, the Palestinians are choice of leadership in Hamas has obviously failed. If Palestinians can learn to negotiate with Isreal, they will have better luck, but their whole religion will have to change, mature, become accountable. Violence against Israel is a waste of time and energy. First, though, they will have to give Israel a good reason to trust them, and I can't imagine how they will do that. Pretending to negotiate for peace and making a sneak attack at the same time has ruined any credibility they might have had.
You literally are putting the blame on everyone but Israel. Israel is the problem and if you are too obtuse to see this then that is your problem. You obviously listen to mainstream media instead of doing the actual research yourself. Israel is the one that stole the land to begin with. Israel is the one that has broken international law, never followed rules, has killed hundreds of thousands over the last 7 plus decades, including peaceful protesters. You are just a yapping know nothing. Calling the kettle black with your failed leadership call. The United States is a failed nation and you might want to check yourself. The world doesn't trust Israel or the US at the moment because we know damn well it does nothing but lie. Sit this one out Karen.
I am not sure we know who Hamas is today. So many mercenaries fight just to make money. I still have questions about 911 and Iraq.
Good point. Some of the actions are not Hamas, but everything bad seems to be attributed to Hamas. Media are lazy. Unconscionably lazy. Negligent.
Debbie,
Who cares, they all seek the eradication of the Jews
It seems that 1200 innocent Israeli MURDERS is far more tragic than the 17,000+ MURDERS of ALSO Innocent Palestinians.
Pretending to seek peace with Isreal and then making a sneak attack when Isreals guard was down is what caused such an angery response. Hamas tried a childish trick; Isreals response was quick and justified. Cowardly Hamas then used it's women and children as it's defense.
BS perceived enemies. Take a person's land and kill their family over 75 yrs and you will get blow back. Jews are growing in number few are killed off.
We all seek. Subconscious drives can be managed in light of reality if leaders led.
Netanyahu started and paid for Hamas. Who are they? Mercenaries like Russias?
Whereas Netanyahu, Smotrich, and Gvir celebrate every Palestinian child who dies as bringing them one death closer to Eretz Israel.
BS.
HS
I don't think you can speak for them.
Then I'll let them speak for themselves. Eretz Israel has always been their goal. Here is the Likud Founding Charter.
The Right of the Jewish People to the Land of Israel (Eretz Israel)
a. The right of the Jewish people to the land of Israel is eternal and indisputable and is linked with the right to security and peace; therefore, Judea and Samaria will not be handed to any foreign administration; between the Sea and the Jordan there will only be Israeli sovereignty.
b. A plan which relinquishes parts of western Eretz Israel, undermines our right to the country, unavoidably leads to the establishment of a "Palestinian State," jeopardizes the security of the Jewish population, endangers the existence of the State of Israel. and frustrates any prospect of peace.
Settlement
Settlement. both urban and rural. in all parts of the Land of Israel is the focal point of the Zionist effort to redeem the country, to maintain vital security areas and serves as a reservoir of strength and inspiration for the renewal of the pioneering spirit. The Likud government will call on the younger generation in Israel and the dispersions to settle and help every group and individual in the task of inhabiting and cultivating the wasteland
The National Religious Party–Religious Zionism and the Jewish National Front have always had the same declared goal.
Do you think all Israelis agree with Locud Founding Charter? Does the Licud dictate policy?
No, of course not.
But I know that the Chair of Likud is the Prime Minister of Israel and that enough Israelis voted for Likud candidates or candidates from further right nationalist parties to put together a governing coalition in the Knesset. I know that those parties dictate much of the Israeli government's policies--even in the face of weekly demonstrations for more than 6 months. against some of those policies.
I also know that Netanyahu backed the policy of fostering Hamas to prevent a negotiated peace settlement.
Netanyahu's current finance minister, West Bank settler Belazel Smotrich, explained the approach to Israel's Knesset channel in 2015: "Hamas is an asset, and (Palestinian Authority leader) Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) is a burden."
On March 12, 2019, Netanyahu defended the Hamas payments to his Likud Party caucus on the grounds that they weakened the pro-Oslo Palestinian Authority, according to the Jerusalem Post:
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel's regular allowing of Qatari funds to be transferred into Gaza, saying it is part of a broader strategy to keep Hamas and the Palestinian Authority separate, a source in Monday's Likud faction meeting said," the Post reported.
"The prime minister also said that 'whoever is against a Palestinian state should be for' transferring the funds to Gaza, because maintaining a separation between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza helps prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state."
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/netanyahu-israel-gaza-hamas-1.7010035 cbc.ca
There are 32 Licud members in the Knesset, 10 Arab members out of a possible 120.
And the Israeli government does?
Like both of you have said, I do not think that the good news on the economy is getting out to those voters in the swing states who will decide the election. They will not come out for him in droves unless Biden “comes out swinging,” so to speak. He is being seen as equivocating on numerous issues, but here is an issue where he can tale a strong stand for the middle and lower working classes. It may mean he might lose some corporate financial support, but he has to come across as a populist also for those that need black and white messaging.
I would not vote for the present 'Republican' party, or a third party, as Liz Cheney is suggesting, and risk tfg getting back in. IMHO , the Supreme Court is aiding and abetting tfg if they do not disqualify Donald John Trump from the ballot ASAP! To not do this soon is to put our entire Republic in jeopardy!
Biden may have some surprises for us as the election comes nearer. Let the clown car chauffer put on a noisy comedy act for now while Biden uses his time to govern wisely. This is not the time for him to campaign because he has serious work to do. I have faith that voters will choose rational leadership over that hysterical pirate
Well, this is going to upset all.
We will never get the progressive policies passed with the current structure. If Trump gets in, after 4 years the American people will be disgusted and ashamed. The vote will be overwhelming for the Democrat party (provided we have a very eloquent nominee) and we will get these policies passed.
If Donald Trump wins in 2024, there will never again be a fair and free election - end of story. IF polls are true, Americans are so stupid, we deserve what is coming. 1930’s Germany is upon us. There will be no NATO and after Europe is gone Putin will kiss his useful idiot trump goodbye and Russia and China will conquer the United States. Does no one understand how Nazi Germany came to be.
the lack of education and understanding among so many Americans is mind-boggling, which leaves them naively vulnerable to demagogic rhetoric - Americans are staring down the barrel of a wannabe-dictator and they're more concerned about the price of peanut butter.
Exactly! They’re Foxed up beyond all recognition (FUBAR).
Whatever positive things Biden and the Dems have done, I think they have failed miserably at promoting their achievements; they need to seriously upgrade their communications game - they are truly getting Foxed Up.
C'mon Joe and Co, get into the communications game, ASAP.
If we had another fair election after 2024. Trump & his fellow fascists (Bannon, Stephen Miller, Carlson, Vance, Flynn, etc.) will make sure we won't. There will be show elections but they'll all be sham elections. We can't risk Trump or any other like-minded Republican (the vast majority of them) come back to power or we will turn into a replica of Nazi Germany.
I think the quote of the year is Timothy Snyder's comment (in "On Tyranny") that "any election can be the last."
Here's my short Substack book review:
https://neofascism.substack.com/p/on-tyranny-by-timothy-snyder
I think that we saw that when Biden was elected and congress was heavy Dem leaning your observation is an accurate one. What we have seen in 2022 is that the election which typically leans against the presidents party was no landside. Perhaps I am polyannish, the 2023 election and all these horrible decisions and grand standing the GOP have done is really pissing people off. 2024 is going to be a dem landslide. I believe senate retained by a slim margin and congress with an overwelhming majority. Would another 4 years of Trump make a heavier Dem landslide oh for sure! If Trump ever gave up power which is highly questionable. I am completely onboard with what you said. those are the exact thoughts I had about the 2016 election. If Hillary was elected we wouldnt have had a lot of the BS we had and Dems probably would not have as many positions that they do. The main thing is that the problems that we currently have would not be so WELL defined if it wasnt for Orange Julius Cesear making the fight between the Oligarchs and the other 314 million of us so obvious.
How do we even begun to address the problems the last President has left behind for us to deal with. Who has that many answers to that many issues? However, all the others aside I find one particularly disturbing. The blind allegiance of his "drugged" followers is a cause for concern. I used the word "Drugged" because that is the only way I can explain their stupidity. Bob Costa has a theory that stands out as plausible, he calls it the "MAGA derangement syndrome." Need I saw more?
A little irrelevant/irreverent levity for you all in this holiday season in these contentious, nerve-wracking times: https://youtu.be/MgIwLeASnkw?si=6v4KKu6Dd7ccS1HH
AFTERTHOUGHT: I thought I'd include this, not because it's relevant to anything. It's just 3-1/2 minutes of brilliantly presented pure beauty: https://youtu.be/MNmLn6a-jqw?si=XzJwD2GOnhuMJaBe (Just to remind us all that such a thing still exists in these troubled times!)
yes, DZK, we all need a little escapism
Maybe that explains the huge success this year of Barbie and Taylor Swift.
No that was about women
you're probably right, Jennifer, so that gives me hope that women women have the same success in defeating Trumpism.
From watching a Netflix documentary on Taylor Swift, I learned that she is adamantly pro-women's rights, so maybe she can transform some of her celebrity power into voting power in 2024.
Speaking of which, you may enjoy: https://youtu.be/CVyJkKKfRFs?si=hPLosHTE7hrvX-nL 🤣
I don't think of it as escapism. I consider it sharing a little laugh and a few minutes of beauty. Think of video games and spectator sports, by comparison.
There will never be peace as king as long as Muslims are ruled by infidels. There may be a truce, but it is only temporary, lasting only until Muslims can conquer and control non-Muslims. Such is the political ideology of Islam.
I think that's too simplistic, Marc.
You can't blame this or any other war on any ideology alone (in this case, Islam).
I think the root cause of war lie mostly with psychopathic leaders who use it as a means of maintaining and solidifying their own narcissistic power. Hamas leaders live in luxury in Qatar. It's not their Islamic beliefs, it's their lust for power.
Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Putin, eventually Trump - non are Muslims.
ps, Ruth Ben-Ghiat's "Strongmen" shows how individuals gain and exploit power for their own ends. Example, Trump doesn't want to be President to "save America", he wants to be President to "save himself" from prison and bankruptcy.
Too simplistic to blame the age-old conflicts in the Middle East on Islamic ideology alone. It's the leaders who exploit religion for their own ends.
Marc,
I agree with your opinion. It has to stop but not now. The ceasefire should be predicated on the release of the remaining kidnapped people. One abominable alternative is to sacrifice the kidnapped and flood the tunnels. There will be no need to continue bombing the civilian Palestinians. War is very cruel and throughout all war tough decisions have to be made. It will be the end of
This has been a hostile situation from 1948. The Arabs are guilty of doublethink: they know that Hamas must be eliminated but refuse to accept that publicly.
"Doublethink is a manipulation mechanism by which people come to think two contradictory things at the same time, without even realizing it". It requires using logic against logic or suspending disbelief in the contradiction."
(So are the weak republicans who support Trump through fear. Doublethinkers)
Regarding the horrific death toll: It has to stop. I am no diplomat but unless the bombing ceases there will be no possibility of discussing with the Arab nations a solution for their Palestinian brothers and sisters. (And the Arabs will have to help rebuild a new Palestine.) Israel will not have met their objective.
Here is an abominable solution: Sacrifice the prisoners in Gaza, flood the tunnels with sea water. There will be no need for further bombing.
Another: Get the prisoners released via ceasefire. When Hamas and the other terrorists break the ceasefire as they will, flood the tunnels.
It's time to negotiate another ceasefire for an indefinite period.
Ceasefire would be seen as a win for Hamas. Don't give Hamas anything. Send them back to Iran. Let the Palestinians negotiate returning the hostages.
Genocide your plan eh. Doesn't surprise me.
Seems like a duplicated a section! Sorry
Yes Marc all this death and destruction is creating more terrorists, so much more hatred and mistrust. I’m sure the Israeli people do not want war for decades to come.
You e got your David and Goliath confused. Israel is surrounded by 47 nations whose religion demands they kill all the News. And as for any surviving children, they will want peace. Desperately.
Professor Reich, I have to say, I was appalled when I read that the United States was blocking the UN wanting a humanitarian ceasefire between Israel and Hamas! Why would we not want that as well? I hurt for those poor men, women, and children caught in the middle of this senseless war!! Especially the children! I am very angry that our country would be the country to try and block that!! Why? The whole world is watching as we, the country of the free and the brave, are saying no to a humanitarian ceasefire!! Why?
Because a cease fire would allow Hamas to rearm, kidnap and kill more Israeli citizens and disappear never to be found again. Its an outcome that is unthinkable after the October massacre.
So, Israel is not allowing food, water, and electricity for children into Gaza, but will allow in arms for Hamas? Israel totally controls Gaza.
I would think that Hamas would smuggle arms into Gaza using their extensive tunnel system. As long as Hamas exists as a fighting force, you cannot say that Israel "totally controls Gaza".
If that is true, then why isn't Israel going after Hamas's supply of weapons, rather than bombing and starving children to death? Are you saying that Israel, with the most powerful military in the Middle East, is incapable of shutting off Hamas's supply of weapons?
Some statements from high ranking Israeli government officials: “We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly,” “Human animals must be treated as such,” “There will be no electricity and no water. There will only be destruction."
From a retired IDF major general, with no expressed government opposition: “The State of Israel has no choice but to turn Gaza into a place that is temporarily or permanently impossible to live in.” “Creating a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza is a necessary means to achieving the goal.” “Gaza will become a place where no human being can exist.”
That does not sound like targeting Hamas militancy for self-defense to me. Sorry.
Stop the killing both sides. Stop the settlements it violates international law.
1. Killing. Hamas can stop it. So can Saudis, UAE, Qatar, etc.
2. Settlements. Land for peace. subject to negotiation. PA rejected Oslo Accords. Maybe it now has an attitude adjustment.
3. International law is UN Resolution 242. Oslo Accords.
Israel has no foolproof method of finding enough of those tunneled arms, much less eliminating them. Netanyahu should not have turned a blind eye while Qatar was funding Hamas.
Maybe he wasiving Hamas enough rope to hang itself, and this is the result.
The only way is intelligence from prisoners and witnesses.
Hamas hides it's supply of arms behind Palestinian women and children, under the hospitals. Hamas makes targets of the people it pretends to defend
So Israel's solution is just to blow up all the women and children. Israel tries to put all the blame on Hamas, but Hamas isn't forcing Israel, with a far, far more powerful military, to starve people to death or to blow them to smithereens. Israel doesn't have to target women and children for slaughter. That's Israel's choice. Israel has killed more children in two months than were killed in conflicts worldwide in all of 2022. I'm ashamed that U.S.-supplied weapons and taxpayer money are facilitating this disaster.
Hmm. Yes, I guess if we want to parse the word "total", then Israel will only have complete control when they eliminate every Palestinian in Gaza - by killing them, starving them, eliminating all medicine/hospitals/health care so that disease can run rampant, obliterating infrastructure so the place is uninhabitable, flooding tunnels with saltwater which ruin their water supply, etc, Then forcing what's left of the population in Gaza into the Sinai. Only then will the Israelis have total control. And I think that is precisely Israel's intention - with the help of Joe Biden and the US taxpayer.
In fact in a 10/20 letter from Biden requesting $14.3 billion dollars in additional aid for Israel, he also mentioned Palestinians moving from Gaza.
From Aljazeera:
"The letter, addressed to Congress and sent on October 20, goes on to say that the Israel-Hamas war “could well result in displacement across border and higher regional humanitarian needs, and funding may be used to meet evolving programming requirements outside of Gaza."
And Robert Reich wonders why Joe Biden doesn't demand a ceasefire....
@ Carolyn. None of that is true.
A lie.
Are you high?
Insults will not convince anyone of anything, except your propensity for substituting insults of those with whom you disagree for cogent argument.
Okay, so Hamas would say ceasefire but not actually do it? These Hamas are terrorists and I am beginning to see that you cannot negotiate with terrorists. But, as Daniel said, this fighting is over land not people.
Biden's approval ratings--
Donald Hodgins <silencenotbad@gmail.com>
10:57 AM (0 minutes ago)
to Thomas, carol, Barbara, Bob, Marilyn
The negativity found in the polls regarding how people view President Biden's political position is nothing but hog wash. The Republican's inability to field a qualified candidate to oppose President Biden in the 2024 election has resulted in an exhaustive campaign of misinformation geared toward degrading any effort put forth by the President to accomplish any positive accomplishments. The Republican party has reverted itself to little more than roadkill. Worthless self indulgent idiots, hell bent on the destruction of our country. Led by Donald Trump and his dream of creating the 4th Reich here in this country. The man is more of a danger to our people than any pandemic produced by nature. I find it is sad that assassins always pick people of quality as targets, leaving fools like Trump to contaminate our society with their stupidity. Not to suggest that someone off the orange guy, but it would be in this country's best interest, if not the worlds. Did you know Hitler had 42 attempts on his life and all failed. Think of the lives that would have been saved if any of them had succeeded. Being bad seems to provide an individual with a free get out of jail card. We'll see how Trump plays his
Palestinians haven't negotiated since the Oslo Accords. If a responsible entity would, that could be the basis for a ceasefire.
Netanyahu has blocked any attempt to achieve a two-state solution while claiming to support it. The Palestinians have the inept PLO and homicidal Hamas to speak for them. Are you volunteering to support them?
Do I really have a say who we support as a US taxpayer? Pretty sure AIPAC and the US Defense Industry has WAY more sway than any of us. Israel is the largest US recipient of foreign aid to the tune of billions. And as you know Biden just requested another $14.3 billion in October.
So to answer your question, we already support Biden's team: Israel. And our largesse extends beyond the financial since we've also covered their war crimes at the UN numerous times, including just yesterday where the vetoed the call for a ceasefire.
Okay, the Palestinians are not Hamas. I have read a little bit about the Oslo Accords and it was aimed at negotiating peace between Israel and Palestine. What is needed here is more negotiating between Israel and Palestine? But then, what would happen with Hamas? Would they stand down?
Never. They are committed to the destruction of the Jews.
Phil Clark: Correction for closer to accuracy: Destruction of the state of Israel that displaced 700k+ of them from their ancestral lands and thereafter has gone on to displace thousands more and encroach on most of the rest of their lands
But then, why was it that 'they', (Israel), financially supported Hamas when they were, (reportedly)/ 'supposed' to be opposing the P.L.O.?
BS.
Phil, is this commitment for the destruction of the Jews based on their history? Is it something they have fought about for many years? Why do they want to destroy the Jews?
Nor has RW Israel.
They did but Israel wouldn't do it.
Bull. 75 yrs of killing okay with you? We pay for it in the US. I'm fed up.
The October Massacre? How about the December Genocide! Israel’s response is out of all proportion to the events of October 7, violates all rules of conduct, every single rule of international law. Israel learned its belief in exceptionalism from the master of that trade - the United States.
Again who is Hamas? I don't trust RW Netanyahu.
Hamas has no plan to disappear. Disappearing would be giving up power.
To who?
Obviously, I can't read Biden's mind, but it seems to me that being unequivocally pro-Israel, regardless of its behavior, is an integral part of Biden's political persona, something that has been part of him for at least 50 years. He prides himself on, as he sees it, being zealously anti-antisemitism, a great friend of the Jews. He appears to regard Palestinians, in contrast, as lesser human beings.
What Israel is doing will create, not get rid of, more Islamic terrorists, even if they are not called Hamas. Crowd of people are demonstrating against Israel in countries across the Middle East. And Israel's excessive aggression will likely result in the deaths of the remaining Israeli and American hostages.
Read history: Israel has committed serial slaughters of that trapped population. So, Hamas digs tunnels? Israel has stealth bombers, long range missiles and Nuclear weapons. And we’re sending more weaponry as of this writing. Who knows? We’re not being told the truth about what our government is up to.
There are people living all over the streets, under bridges, in parks, sprawled on sidewalks. And we’re sending our tax money to fund slaughters in Gaza, Ukraine and who knows where else?
Israel IS a colonial settler plant hatched by Britain and inherited by the U. S.
The PLO/Hamas/Islamic Jihad has been waging a PR campaign lo these many years. Most of it is based on lies, half truths. Especially effective on people with a collective racial subconscious to be antisemitic. It was the same in 2000 ( when waves of suicide bombers murdered civilians in the 2nd Infatada), 2007, 2014. Israeli Arabs are not protesting against Israel re Gaza. Palestinian Arabs who happen to be Christians or Druze or Zoroastrians etc. aren't either.
So far, Blinken has made 2 trips to Ramallah. Egypt, Jordan have made peace. Lebanon to some extent. It's possible we are trying to put a deal together with UAE, Saudis who we know were negotiating with Israel.
The Israelis are the real masters. It's called hasbara. The link below explains it.
The art of deception: How Israel uses ‘hasbara’ to whitewash its crimes
The Israelis have long relied on a public diplomacy strategy to dominate the arena of narrative control and information manipulation.
https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/the-art-of-deception-how-israel-uses-hasbara-to-whitewash-its-crimes-46775
The PLO is not in the same company as Hamas. Post Arafat, they dropped the elimination of Israel as a goal. Try to distinguish between wolves and goats.
Until Oslo they most certainly were. Split into factions.
In 2000, sent suicide bombers, kids, to fight.
Mr. Solomon, your contention is exactly backwards and gaslighting. There clearly has not been a more effective propaganda operation in the U.S. for decades than the pro Israel/pro Jewish one (two parts which overlap but are not the same). One does not have to be antisemitic to notice that. And calling observing it as it is "antisemitism" is manipulative misdirecting. Let's face and stick with the facts, historical and current, not with knee jerk defensiveness. People who were unspeakably traumatized did not then nor do they now have a right to unspeakably traumatize another people so they could/can imagine themselves safe -- they are precluding safety ever after by their own actions. One ethnic group craving land does not have the right to progressively murder another. This is a universal bloody human mistake.
That's BS. I don't endorse Netanyahu, but Israel is a democratic country, does not have apartheid, does not advocate extermination of an entire people as the Arab League/Arab Legion/PLO did and Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, etc do now. More than 2,000,000 Israeli Arabs and other non Jewish citizens of Israel have greater civil rights than Arabs in any Moslem country.
The allegation "progressively murder another" applies to Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad.
Israel is behaving despicably. A cease fire negates the (little?) harm done to Hamas thus far and resolves nothing. Israel needs to limit the scope of the bombings and the weapons used.
A more reasonable security council resolution would try to limit Israel's ferocity. A
The US should cut its funding for weapons and also reduce its funding by some reasonable multiple of the cost of whatever building goes on in the West Bank.
It will be too bad if we get the Rump in 2024 due to Biden's blindness/ cowardice.
You should check out Chris Hedges substack, he sounds antisemitic but explains the history -- much of it unknown
or previously unreported, and all of it shocking. I am trying to take it with a grain of salt because it's from the Palestinians' perspective, but even so....really appalling.
Chris Hedges is not antisemitic. He tells the truth, and he's anti-war; that's not the Palestinian perspective. The fact that you, like me, find so much of what he says about the world and how the US operates in it, to be relevatory, previously unknown, and downright shocking to you as an American, is precisely why, despite his vast experience reporting in war zones, the mainstream media in the US won't publish him. He tells truth to power, and the oligarchy doesn't like it.
I think you are right, MJ.
Just curious but why do you take a perspective “with a grain of salt” just because it is Palestinian and not judge it on the merits?
Biden's Pentagon just bypassed Congress to emergency authorize sending 14,000 tank shells to Isr.. One wonders what they believe Isr. has left to flatten in Gaza.
“Senseless war” is what those who are on the sidelines say. All wars are senseless except for those who are defending themselves or fighting for something. Immoral war, self defeating war, tragic war, cycle of war ...but when I read “senseless “ I think the writer doesn’t get it that it is anything but senseless to the people who are in it.
If Hamas wants a ceasefire, give up a few American hostages.
Daniel, it wasn't Hamas calling for a ceasefire, it was the UN calling for a humanitarian ceasefire and the United States blocked it! I don't understand. Innocent men, women and children are dying and for me, that must stop! All hostages must be released!! This is absolutely tragic and I am upset that our country would not want a humanitarian ceasefire. I just don't understand.
All hostages must be released… including the 4 million Palestinian hostages living under Israeli guns and collective torture in the OPT: some families for 75 years.
Our Commander in Chief should tell the Ford aircraft carrier to help the innocents get out, if possible, (and I know it is!).
Laurie, how would President Biden do that? Would he negotiate with Hamas to get those people out?
I am thinking about those who are mow targeted in Southern Gaza. And any others in the North who are out in the open without food, water, sanitation or defense of any kind. They are 'shooting fish in a barrel' : it's a massacre of innocents of all ages! War crime! Everything that is possible to do to get them out is necessary. Biden should shut off the 'aid' of weapons!
Laurie, it makes me sick to think about it. I hope a resolution comes soon. It is the same in Ukraine. Nobody asked Putin to attack them, but he did. I would like to see that come to an end as well.
Peggy Freeman : The weapon supply to Gaza should be blocked, too, if at all possible. It makes me sick that there are 'people' making money on this war by selling weaponry to Hamas. Biden should make good at denying support in the form of arms when they kill unarmed men, women and children who cannot even escape!
The war machines don't care about human lives it's all about the money they can rake in . Listen to President Eisenhower warning about the military industrial machine . He was prescient.
Stop selling weapons to all sides involved in killing in the ME period. Suadis killing Yemen people, etc.
I agree!
Berceuse some of the hostages are Americans. The UN should first censor Hamas
But wouldn't a humanitarian ceasefire give both Israel and Hamas time to negotiate and work out the return of hostages? I also thought that the UN had already declared Hamas a terrorist organization and was not representative of Palestine. I'm sorry, I am confused about a lot of this. I am just a peaceful person and the atrocities committed in war makes me downhearted. In Ukraine and Israel and Palestine there are babies, children caught in the deadly crossfire and I am sure they are frightened, hungry, and hurting. Maybe I shouldn't comment on this simply because I just don't understand. Thanks, for trying to explain.
Hamas does not give a shit whether Palestinian kids die.
Saudis, UAE, Qatar can stop it in a minute, So can Palestinian Authority. All they have to do is say the words: land for peace.
First of all...to all you kill em now. Who is Hamas? Netanyahu knew their plans cause????
So this war is mainly about land?
In fact, the Palestinian authority has NO sway in Gaza, they were kicked out of Gaza by Hamas.
I fear a repeat of the Iranian hostages, who were released after Carter was defeated. "Trump our savior got the hostages back", or some such propaganda victory by Putin/Iran. We'll see.
They have.
Stop the killing. Do you not hear the world?
Biden doesn't want a ceasefire. Neither does AIPAC. War and an endless supply of civilians to kill is also REALLY good business for the US defense industry. None of us on this thread are truly Biden's constituency, no matter what he says or what a decent man you think he is. I'm shocked than any reasonable person can think that about a man who sold billions of dollars of weapons to a Fascist regime intent on annihilating a captive civilian population so they can take the rest of their land, but then I remember that at that other war criminal Kissinger's 100th birthday bash this summer, many of the political glitterati were present, including current Secretary of State Antony Blinken. So much for morals, values and ethics.
To quote journalist Chris Hedges:
"Biden’s real base is not disenchanted voters but the billionaire class, corporations, such as the weapons industry, which is making huge profits from the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and groups such as the Israel lobby. They determine policy, even if it means Biden’s defeat in the next presidential election. If Biden loses, the oligarchs get Donald Trump, who serves their interests as doggedly as Biden."
So many Americans don't see the big picture. Well, at least you're asking.
That's why I like Professor Reich's articles and essays! They allow me to ask questions and gives me insight on a broad range of topics. I love to learn and the people here are so intelligent! I want to see the big picture but sometimes it is difficult!
Just to up date you all, From Newsweek:
Gaza Woman on TV Calls Out Hamas for Keeping Aid: 'Let Them Shoot Me'
Dec 08, 2023 at 8:25 AM EST
Trucks were sent...who took it? Netanyahu?
Gaza Woman on TV Calls Out Hamas for Keeping Aid: 'Let Them Shoot Me' Dec 08, 2023 at 8:25 AM EST Not everything done in war is done in front of a tv camera. Not everything on TV is true. Hamas (Iran) has been killing Israelis and Palestinians and saying its them killing each other. There will be no peace in Palestine with Persians in the Levant.
Peggy Freeman ; I wonder who in our government is responsible for this policy!? Let me guess ; did 'Congress' have anything to do with it? Our Commander in Chief has said he would not support violations of rules banning war crimes. Of course, war IS a crime. What part of war is not a crime? Only necessary self defense? Netanyahu wants more land for more settlements. Biden said he only supports a two state solution. We have an aircraft carrier off the Gazan coast : why can't people be evacuated?
Now, Netanyahu, as the Prime Minister of Israel wants more land but President Biden says he only supports Israel and Palestine as a two state solution so how would that come about? If we do have the aircraft carrier that can evacuate these people, we should do that.
To all those calling for Plsts. to be evacuated to mercy U.S.ships. Nice thought but: 2 million people?
And when the destruction is over, what to do with the ones on ships? How many would bet on Netanyahu letting them back into Gaza once they're out? It will take a while for the Israeli public to get rid of Netanyahu --IF. He will be sitting there with tanks -- will the U.S. MAKE him stand down and accept repatriation of Gazans? And what if the Gazans on ships say "No way!"? Will we throw money at them to make them go back to the ruins of what was? Best believe Netanyahu is playing for the permanent exile of Gazans to the Sinai, which Egypt has resisted. Wonder - what al Sisi will get in exchange, besides a blind eye to his abuses.
Not "try and block". Used its veto.
I served in Vietnam aboard the Hospital Ship USS Sanctuary (AH-17). The conflict in GAZA reminds me of this service. In Vietnam we used the body count to demonstrate progress. Q: How do you know they're Viet Cong? A: They're Dead. Q. How do you know they're Hamas? A: they're dead. Thank you, Henry Kissinger.
I wrote to my representatives: I write to ask you to try to get the Navy to send over their hospital ships off of GAZA. No tunnels, no command and control centers, no arms supplies or rockets, no excuses. Send the Comfort and the Mercy to the Mediterranean. Stat. For them, it will be good training and an introduction to compassion in the middle of a war. It sends a different message than two aircraft carrier strike groups.
I also served in the Navy with Nixon as my first commander in chief. Vietnam service, including Operation Frequent Wind under Ford. (And folks think our departure from Afghanistan was a cluster..)
Not only do I like your idea, I have advocated that many of our Navy's auxiliary ships be used for humanitarian purposes.
Do you happen to recall a US Navy ship -- the USS Liberty (AGTR-5)?
Norman Lear should also be remembered for working and creating right up to the very end of his illustrious life; it is never too late to contribute.
Trumps Gaffs are not Gaffs they are deliberate and calculated to help the Orange Jeasus 😡 avoid/Reduce Jail Time. This kown as the ALZHEIMER DEFNSE. The Orange Jeasus knows he will catch at Least one solid Convection for his attempted coupe ; tax evasion , corruption and corrupt practices.
Hell he is paying $900,000 dollars for a professor to Justify Trumpets history of deliberate misstating the size and value of his assets depending upon which deliberate misrepresentation benefits him the most.
The Orange Jesus is calculating and enacting a plan to “Get Out Of Jail FREE”
As part of His Long Range Plan to avoid the Consquences of his DELIBERATE Criminal Acts. His Next step will be to Use Doctors and Brain Specialists to Fool the Judges to Reduce/Nullify/ Avoid Hard Jail Time. You Can’t Pertend To Be The Savior if The Orange JESUS IS A FELON Serving time in Prison .
From the Orange Makeup 💄 on his Nose to his Flat ( draft avoiding ) Feet, 🦶 The Orange Jesus is laying the Ground Work For his Appeals certain to come in the future post conviction.
The Funds to buy the Medical Experts will come not from Trumpets 🎺 Pockets but from the Campaign Funds he Collected to Stop The Steal…
All The Orange Jesus is Concerned about is himself and His Wallet…
Professor Reich don’t join in with Megan Kelly and start the Drum Beat of Poor Alzheimer impaired Donald Trump…
Can Trumps Presidential Library be located within a Federal or State Prison or will his conviction negate that and His Secret Service Protection for the rest of his life ???
Citizen J
Not Jesus. Orange Antichrist.
A He Touches It Dies .. . in Alt Reality Disguise . .Worthy of The Damien Franchise ..
# Karma Shave . ..
Daniel Solomon ; Yes, it has been foretold, and leave it to him to fit the bill.
Jay ; tRump has nothing to do with Jesus. except that he waves upside down bibles around, and gets prayed for by followers who lay hands on him who forgot who they were 'worshipping'.
The Orange Antichrist is, in fact, the exact opposite of Jesus, opposing everything Jesus supposedly stood for.
Jaime; it sure looks that way!
Religion is evil if it kills and deprives. Dictator.
Judith Stephens ; Dictators have been known to kill and deprive. tRump has caused deaths with his vile lies and rhetoric.
J, please refrain from the use of Jesus in connection with the "mango wanker", the "Tangerine twatwaddle", the orange fecal pile.
Let's not dirty the name of Jesus.
I returned from Vietnam duty to watch "All In the Family" which was not unlike culture shock. Norman Lear produced on entertainment TV, a scathing picture of American bias. It was self deprecating humor aimed at American society and was more effective than psychoanalysis. Thank you, Norman Lear, for your patriotic service to your country in wartime and in peace.
I think it was a reflection of the divided country over Vietnam. (I'm a vet from that era too.)
There was a movie prior to AITF -- "Joe" -- with Peter Boyle and Susan Sarandon, that tried to convey the murderous impulses that "conservatives" had for "hippies." 1970.
Thanks, Thomas. I will look for the movie "Joe" with Peter Boyle and Susan Sarandon.
I had NO IDEA that Norman Lear founded People For The American Way!
Another wonderful contribution for all of us.
Thank you, Robert & Heather - your friendship is a delight and your klatch brings us all into the immediacy of the work that you are doing every day, tirelessly it seems. Thank you for sharing your sparkle!
Many Republicans are compromised by Russians. That is part of their change regarding Russia. Another is their general acceptance of dictators & abandonment democracy. They have become our version of the Nazis.
Trump fascists. Dictator on day one.
I am glad to see you connect Gaza and Ukraine. With all the horror expressed at children dying in Gaza, NO ONE, these days, is talking about the children in Ukraine who are also dying. All attention is turned on Gaza and the children who are there, and on the Israeli government for causing these deaths. I see NO attention to the war in Ukraine, which continues every day, during which children die, rape is used as a weapon of war, homes are destroyed, children are kidnapped and never see their parents again, ships carrying grain bound for markets are destroyed so that many thousands of people are hungry, on and on. The war in Ukraine continues with the same savagery as last year, but with little to no media attention. At the same time that huge amounts of attention, hatred, name-calling are directed to Israel, and to Jews in general, all over the world, Mr. Putin murders and destroys, children are killed and maimed, every day, and not a word appears anywhere. I hear that Mr. Putin is very friendly with leaders of the MAGA Party, who are supporting him by blocking U.S. aid to Ukraine in the U.S. Congress. Could it be that an effort is being made to block any mention of Ukraine in the papers? I also hear that Mr. Putin has connections with Hamas. So he may have influenced the attack on Israel in October. So all the children who have died in Gaza, not to mention all the adults, not to mention the rise across the world in acts of anti-Semitic hatred, could all originate with Mr. Putin and his war in Ukraine, which is now proceeding without media coverage. A world wide scheme to fool voters in every country.
You are absolutely right! This is by far the best, most accurate & most important comment here!
The 75 yrs of conflict in Gaza has resulted in mostly children and mothers being left. In Ukraine it is not the same but a horror that is for sure. Rapped mothers and dead fathers every where in Poland, etc. and Ukraine.
War is no a win for anyone but the arms dealers and bankers.
I am in my 80s. I was born during WWII. Right after the WWII the Cold War started and we had fear of bombs, etc. Then N. Korea and Vietnam in my youth. Conflict in Israel most my life and theirs. These wars are destroying our earth and people's lives. Stop it.
Remember guys: President Biden MAY be a few years old than the ex-president, but the later is AT LEAST twenty years older in BODY.
Biden just stopped riding his bike recently, while Bunkerboy is afwaid exercise will . . . deplete his finite battery? President Biden occassionally trips, as I do at 36, or slurs because he is a reformed stutterer, also as I am. On the other hand, Ttump cannot go 5 SENTENCES without shlurring or stumbling or gaffing! [sic]
When humanity choose power over life society is reduced to various wars because the public choose strong men who play power games. When we choose power over good fair justice we all become prisoners of the ruling fascist.
When government is bought by Billionaires, we have fascism, and rule by wealthy corrupt tyrants. when humans are misled in the media, and not taught the truth in schools, they can be swayed by the kind of demagogues we see now. Take Putin. for example. He was installed by Oleg Deripaska and other like minded billioaire oligarchs. Democracy is weakened by wealth inequality.
Get the book, Strong Men: Mussolini to the Present by Ruth Ben Ghiat
Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a well respected scholar on Authoritarians and Fascists. Her book is on my list.
Excellent book
I lived it being 83 yrs. old from WWII to "King Donald the victim".
Well said!
Hey, Bernie Sanders showed up on Fox recently, and was a hit. Of course, Bill O'Reilly is long gone, but Sanders was a hit! Robert, you were good, and subtly gave 'em hell!
I love Bernie
I'm having my doubts regarding RW Israel support.
Bernie is right in the center on this conflict, making reasonable, humanitarian proposals on behalf of the citizens of both Israel & Gaza.
Finally?
No cease fire by them is there.
This is a complex issue with right & wrong on both sides. There is no easy solution & Bernie is not one to rush to judgment. He thinks issues over carefully before coming out with a well thought out statement that offers solutions based on what is morally right & achievable in a very tough situation.
You do know mean while 17K Gazans are dead so far in what six weeks? There is a reason to where you stand. It has been 75 yrs to think about the genocide there is there not? RW Israel is not changing their settlements, etc. They just surge ahead. We give them billions. Who is paying for those settlements and free health care? US.
"Voters want to hear that Biden is on the side of the people rather than the powerful. Why isn’t Biden making this case? Why isn’t he advocating higher corporate taxes on companies with the highest ratio of CEO pay to median worker pay?"
Because the rich are the people paying for his time as President.
Actually, his proposal to increase the top US corporate income tax rate to 28% is projected to raise $1.3 trillion over 10 years. https://www.pwc.com/us/en/services/tax/library/president-biden-fy2024-budget-renews-call-for-corporate-rate-increase.html
Biden Tax Proposals Would Correct Inequities Created by Trump Tax Cuts.
https://www.americanprogress.org/article/biden-tax-proposals-would-correct-inequities-created-by-trump-tax-cuts-and-raise-additional-revenues/
What was the top tax rate under Kennedy?
70%
Liberal not Neoliberal.
When I was a kid, long ago, the top tax percentage was 90%.
And we did not get to current rates overnight and we won't get to 90% again overnight either. At least Biden is pushing in the right direction and higher rates would have been a complete non-starter politically.
It's always good to push for the extremes that you want in negotiating. Most likely you will end up with a compromise below that figure, but by starting low, you'll end up with an even lower figure. Republicans realized that long ago, which is how they moved the Overton window so far to the right.
This is not what history tell us.
https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/whole-ball-of-tax-historical-income-tax-rates
In one year in jumped from 15% to 67% and later to 25% to 63% and made it to 79% in only 4 more years.
Now you are just lying. For shame for shame. What is next, quoting from the Bible?
Tax rate been going down since Reagan. 40 plus years. Now the few have to pay very little...some none at all. And their children pay no wealth taxes so the money goes for generations of elite and power brats.
People can look at the chart you provided and make their own judgement. I was talking about the period post WWII which tends to be a common focus on this particular substack.
It took 25 years from 1963 to get rates from 91% top marginal rate down to the 30's. Though you are correct that rates can change quickly and dramatically given the right circumstances like WWI, the depression. and WWII.
We have circumstances today that justify much higher rates but the GOP mental midgets in Congress will likely only respond until things have gotten truly terrible, if then.
Lo, I have spoken.
Once we had to pay of WWII. Now we have to pay of the baby boom.
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/GFDEGDQ188S
The Baby Boomers paid extra out of their checks cause it was predicted they were so large. Then Bush and Greenspan robbed the "Baby Boomer Lock Box". It is not the Boomers fault. Pay it back Bush and Greenspan. There is no reason why the rich shouldn't pay more or something to SS. They gotten huge tax breaks all these years. Those billionaires just got richer on the pandemic using insider information. They donated nothing but wanted more profit for themselves. Unlike the Fortune 500 of the last century they have never knew how to be philanthropists. A world pandemic? How do I cash in?
The CEOs give money to the RW so they don't have to pay taxes. Corporate money is not all theirs but under a charter whose workers, shareholders, communities money it is. These people are all different types and parties. The CEO rob it for their own agenda. Seems like fraud to me. Crap corporate governess. Patents and markets are off shored and are illegal. Where are those corporate lawyers? Oh right behind closed doors for the WTO, etc. without our permission. Rob America of good jobs and wealth for the few.
The baby boom did just fine.
But not the Reagan taxes. 40yrs of GOP tax cuts for the top elite.
The pro war & pro Israel lobbies are bigger & richer than the pro Muslim & pro peace lobbies.
No excuse to do genocide.
You know who the Carylye Group are? They are huge. They make money on war. 911 and Iraq\Afganistan were lies. Israel wanted us to go to war for them. Look how well that turned out after 20 years?
The Caryl Group did not invade Afghanistan or Iraq. They do not force people to drive gasoline cars.
All Democrats advocate higher taxes for the very rich. They increased the IRS to do so but GOP want it cut. They want no rules and laws. Guess it is back to the Dark Ages for them.
Maybe it's because Rs vote down any attempt to raise taxes on corporate profits, their CEOs, & million/billionaires..
Well folks that is what we Americans called Fascism during WWII.
Stirling S Newberry ; Because President Biden is not in a position to dictate taxes ; He can suggest things like a wealth tax, but cannot enact laws regarding taxation nor enforce such things. As far as I know. If we are at war, maybe that changes. The war powers act gives him special war powers. Not sure exactly what that means.
He did not do it when he had both houses of congress. Ergo, it just was not important.
Both houses of Congress does not guarantee that a bill would pass. Besides, the president does not legislate. there were those who oppose things their party vote for, too. I guess it depends on where they get their contributions.
There is a simpler method that explains decades of inaction:
The donks are conservative.
The phants are reactionary.
The liberals are a tiny piece of the donks who pray that the least evil is done.
This has been going on for over 40 years.
It is not that hard.
That was fun! Robert Reich will not be stopped! (Fortunately)
I know it was a gaffe, but many fear President's Biden age and believe it is his conceit and love of bing president that has him running for reelection rather than being the bridge president he alluded too initially. He is not doing this for us. We are in a bind. He has been a great president. The pull out of Afghanistan was poorly done, and this full throated support for Israel when they are committing genocide in response to the horrific terrorist attack by Hamas are disappointments. Other than that he has done well. We are grateful, but would prefer now that he step aside. He has lost the youth vote. We can't win without it. We don't want the trump autocracy.
Supporting Thomas for a Supreme Court justice was a long-ago blunder, Anita Hill was right- he is a wretch.