"These aren’t defensive acts. These are acts of aggression. " War Crimes.

[chill_wind]

"(...) But Israel has now killed more than 50 Lebanese civilians, and it is destroying the civilian infrastructure of that country, along with Gaza’s. These aren’t defensive acts. These are acts of aggression.

These are war crimes, according to Amnesty International."

Bush and Olmert’s Dangerous Game
By Matthew Rothschild
July 14, 2006

Bush and Olmert are playing a dangerous game.

It’s the U.S. and Israel against all comers, especially in the Arab and Muslim world. But as mighty as the U.S. is, and as mighty as Israel is, both will lose this game in the long run.

Bush has been siding with the Israeli government for the past two weeks as it has made the population of Gaza suffer. Bush even vetoed a Security Council resolution condemning Israel’s “disproportionate use of force.” The United States was the only country to vote against that resolution, showing the world once again that Israel can get away with just about anything it wants so long as its godfather in Washington says so.

Bush has been repeating his mantra that “Israel has a right to defend herself,” both in regards to Gaza and to the new offensive against Lebanon. Yes, Hamas had no right to take an Israeli soldier captive, nor was Hezbollah justified in seizing two Israeli soldiers and killing eight others. But Israel has now killed more than 50 Lebanese civilians, and it is destroying the civilian infrastructure of that country, along with Gaza’s. These aren’t defensive acts. These are acts of aggression.

These are war crimes, according to Amnesty International.

more: http://progressive.org/mag_wx071406

Earlier in July:

Olmert Opts for Collective Punishment, Bush Winks
By Matthew Rothschild
July 2, 2006

(...)

Israel’s actions constitute collective punishment, outlawed by the Geneva Conventions, Amnesty International says.

“The wanton destruction of civilian infrastructure and property and the disproportionate restrictions imposed on civilians by Israeli forces amount to collective punishment on the entire population of the Gaza Strip, a violation of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits punishing protected persons for offences they have not committed,” said Amnesty International, which also denounced the hostage-taking by the Palestinians.

If you read the press coverage in the United States, you get a misleading idea about the balance of violence. But, as Amnesty International notes, “Since the beginning of this year, Israeli forces have killed some 150 Palestinians, including some 25 children, and Palestinian armed groups have killed close to 20 Israelis, including two children.”

article: http://progressive.org/mag_wx070206

[chill_wind]

1. Amnesty Int'l Report 2005, documents crimes & violence of both sides.

Israel and the Occupied Territories
Covering events from January - December 2004

(summary)

The Israeli army killed more than 700 Palestinians, including some 150 children. Most were killed unlawfully — in reckless shooting, shelling and air strikes in civilian residential areas; in extrajudicial executions; and as a result of excessive use of force. Palestinian armed groups killed 109 Israelis — 67 of them civilians and including eight children — in suicide bombings, shootings and mortar attacks. Stringent restrictions imposed by the Israeli army on the movement of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories caused widespread poverty and unemployment and hindered access to health and education facilities. The Israeli army destroyed several hundred Palestinian homes, large areas of agricultural land, and infrastructure networks. Israel continued to expand illegal settlements and to build a fence/wall through the West Bank, confining Palestinians in isolated enclaves cut off from their land and essential services in nearby towns and villages. Israeli settlers increased their attacks against Palestinians and their property and against international human rights workers. Certain abuses committed by the Israeli army constituted crimes against humanity and war crimes, including unlawful killings; extensive and wanton destruction of property; obstruction of medical assistance and targeting of medical personnel; torture; and the use of Palestinians as “human shields”.

The deliberate targeting of civilians by Palestinian armed groups constituted crimes against humanity.


background: http://web.amnesty.org/report2005/isr-summary-eng

[liberalhistorian]

2. Finally, journalists willing to tell it like it is!

They speak the absolute truth, and our media's blatantly biased "coverage" of the current upheaval is nothing short of a national embarrasment and disgrace.

[chill_wind]

3. I agree with the rest of what he goes on to say. It is fool's game!

It is madness.

[DELUSIONAL]

4. It is not in the Long term interest of the US to support Israel's

belligerent behavior.

The amazing thing about U.S. and Israeli policy is how shortsighted it is.

What is the endgame here?

There are two sets of rules -- one for the US and Israel and one for the rest of the world.

If any other country did to either the US or Israel what they have done to other countries (like invade, bomb or dominate) -- the other country is labeled a terrorist and Israel and the US??

Remove the names of the country and consider their actions -- with one set of rules for all countries.

[chill_wind]

5. Exactly n/t

[SensibleAmerican]

6. Amnesty International does not care about the atrocities commited ...

by the terrorists in Israel. Israel is defending itself from murdering thugs whilst the folks at Amnesty International sit in their safe, air-conditioned New York offices.

[chill_wind]

7. Palestinian crimes ="thugs and terrorists". Israeli disproportionate

retaliation and barbarism = "defending". Got it.

Did you read the whole report? Did you miss their charges and descriptions of hideous Palestinian acts that constituted crimes against humanity?

Do you have better facts on the actions and numbers than they do?

Most of all, do you believe the United States should unilaterally support Israel's latest agression from our air-conditioned offices in the White House?