Democrats, Republicans line up to back Israeli war crimes

[Karmadillo]

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2006/jul2006/wash-j24.shtml

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The congressional resolutions place full responsibility for the current violence in the Middle East on Hamas and Hezbollah. The House resolution denounces them for “engaging in unprovoked and reprehensible armed attacks against Israel.” The organizations are condemned for “continuing to indiscriminately target Israeli civilian populations with their rockets and missiles.”

The resolutions say nothing of the far greater civilian casualties inflicted by Israeli rockets, which have been deliberately targeted at civilian infrastructure, particularly in southern Lebanon. Instead, the resolutions repeat the pretext given by Israel for its policy of targeting civilians—that Hamas and Hezbollah are “cynically exploiting civilian populations as shields.” Israel, which has killed at least 380 people in Lebanon, overwhelmingly civilian, is praised for its “longstanding commitment to minimizing civilian loss.”

Particularly noteworthy is the bipartisan support for the Bush administration’s efforts to heighten pressure on Syria and Iran. The House resolution “commends the President... for fully supporting Israel as it responds to these armed attacks by terrorist organizations and their state sponsors” and “urges the President... to bring the full force of political, diplomatic, and economic sanctions available... against the governments of Syria and Iran.”

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The virtual unanimity of the Democrats and Republicans on the Israeli assault on Lebanon underscores that both parties defend the interests of US imperialism and its attempts to establish US hegemony over the entire Middle East. The support of the Democrats for Israel is of a piece with their support for the ongoing occupation of Iraq. While there may be tactical differences on how to go about it, all sections of the American political establishment are agreed on the need for the US to dominate the region and its rich supplies of oil.

Leading Democrats have for some time sought to criticize the Bush administration’s policy on Iran from the right, arguing that not enough has been done to halt Iran’s nuclear program. If and when the Israeli attacks on Lebanon lead to US or Israeli military action against Syria or Iran, there can be no doubt that the Democratic Party will support this as well.

[HereSince1628]

1. terrorist orgs and their state sponsors...

Not surprised at all. That is nearly iconic Neocon phraseology. I do believe it's place in history and politics textbooks has been forever secured for posterity just like the cold war phrase "domino theory."

[Jim__]

2. Our government - brought to you by AIPAC - n/t