[wvns] Hesham Tillawi: Beam Me Up, Scottie
US Must Reevaluate Its Relationship With Israel
by Scott Ritter
http://www.antiwar.com/orig/ritter.php?articleid=12064
[Commentary on this article by Hesham Tillawi follows.]
I have for some time now publicly articulated my sympathy and support
for the state of Israel, even while criticizing those cases that I
believed constituted poor judgment and bad policy. My stance was based
upon my past experiences with Israel, which began indirectly in
1990-1991 when I was involved in counter-SCUD activities during
Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and continued in a much more
direct fashion as a weapons inspector with the United Nations Special
Commission (UNSCOM), charged with disarming Iraqi weapons of mass
destruction.
As a weapons inspector I made numerous visits to Israel for the
purpose of coordinating with the Israeli intelligence community on
matters pertaining to Iraqi WMD. I was greatly impressed not only with
the professionalism of the Israeli intelligence services, but also
with the Israeli people and society. During my time in Israel, I was
witness to numerous horrific events, including several terrorist
bombings and the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The
resilience of the people of Israel in absorbing these blows yet
continuing to live life to its fullest was remarkable, and worthy of
admiration.
As a firsthand witness to the remarkable vigor of the Israeli state
and its people, and as someone who considers himself to be their
friend, it saddens me to see just how poorly the current Israeli
government returns this friendship, not to me personally, but to my
country, the United States of America. The government of Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert has embarked on policies that are questionable at
best when one examines them from a purely Israeli standpoint; they are
nothing less than a betrayal of the United States when examined from a
broader perspective.
The insidious manner in which the current Israeli government has
manipulated the domestic political machinery of the United States to
produce support for its policies constitutes nothing less than direct
interference in the governance of a sovereign state. The degree to
which the current Israeli government has succeeded in this regard can
be tracked not only by the words and actions of the administration of
President George W. Bush and the American Congress, but also by the
extent to which a pro-Israel lexicon has taken hold within the
mainstream media of the United States. Witness the pro-Israel bias
displayed when discussing the situation in southern Lebanon, the air
strike in Syria, or the Iranian situation, and the retarding of any
effort toward a responsible discussion of anything dealing with Israel
becomes apparent.
One would expect such efforts to shape the domestic public opinion of
a state deemed hostile, but when the target of these Israeli actions
is its ostensible best friend, one must begin to question whether or
not the friendship is a one-way street. And if this is indeed the
case, then perhaps it is time for the United States to reconsider its
decades-old policy of strategic partnership with Israel.
It must be understood that the government of Ehud Olmert is acting in
a post-9/11 environment, with considerable facilitators in the
administration of President Bush, including the vice president. These
two factors combine to create a cycle of enablement that allows a
purely Israeli point of view to dominate American policy. If the
Israeli point of view were built on logic, compassion, and the rule of
law, then this tilt would not constitute a problem. But the Israeli
point of view is increasingly constructed on a foundation of
intolerance and irresponsible unilateralism that divorces the country
from global norms. In this day and age of nuclear nonproliferation,
the undeclared nuclear arsenal of Israel stands as perhaps the most
egregious example of how an Israel-only standard destabilizes the
Middle East. It is the Israeli nuclear weapons program, including its
strategic delivery systems, that is the core of instability for this
very volatile region.
The statements by Israeli officials concerning the recent National
Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran and its nuclear program are
perhaps the best manifestation of this reality. Avi Dichter, Israel's
public security minister, has condemned the NIE as a flawed document,
and in terms that link the American analysis to a cause-and-effect
cycle that could lead the Middle East down the path of regional war.
Like many Israelis, including the prime minister, Dichter disagrees
with the American NIE on Iran, in particular the finding that Iran
ceased its nuclear weapons program in 2003. The Israelis hold that
this program is still active, despite the fact that the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reached a conclusion similar to the
NIE's based upon its own exhaustive inspection activities inside Iran
over the past five years.
In threatening the world with war because America opted for once to
embrace fact instead of fiction, Israel, sadly, has become like a
cornered beast, lashing out at any and all it perceives to threaten
its security interests. The current Israeli definition of what
constitutes its security interests is so broad as to preclude any
difference of opinion. Israel's shameless invocations of the Holocaust
to defend its actions not only shames the memory of those murdered
over 60 years ago, but ironically dilutes the impact of that memory by
linking it with current policies that are cruel and intolerant. The
message of Holocaust remembrance should be "never again," not just in
terms of the persecution of Jews, but in terms of man's inhumanity to
man. The birth of the Israeli state, as imperfect and controversial as
it was, served as a foundation for the pursuit of tolerance. However,
Israel's current policies, rooted in ethnic and religious hatred, are
the antithesis of tolerance.
Israel at present can have no friends, because Israel does not know
how to be a friend. Driven by xenophobic paranoia and historical
grievances, Israel is embarked on a path that can only lead to death
and destruction. This is a path the United States should not tread. I
have always taken the position that Israel is a friend of the United
States, and that friends should always stand up for one another, even
in difficult times. I have also noted that, to quote a phrase well
known in America, friends don't let friends drive drunk, and that for
some time now Israel has been drunk on arrogance and power. As a
friend, I have believed the best course of action for the United
States to take would be that which helped remove the keys from the
ignition of the policy vehicle Israel is steering toward the edge of
the abyss. Now it seems our old friend is holding a pistol to our
head, demanding that we stop interfering with the vehicle's operation
and preventing us from getting out of the car. This is not the action
of a friend, and it can no longer be tolerated.
It is time for what those who are familiar with dependency issues
would term an intervention. Like a child too long spoiled by an
inattentive parent, Israel has grown accustomed to American largess,
to the point that it is addicted to an American aid package that is
largely responsible for keeping the Israeli economy afloat. This aid
must be reconsidered in its entirety. The day of the free ride must
come to an end. The United States must redefine its national security
priorities in the Middle East and position Israel accordingly. At the
very least, American aid must be linked to Israeli behavior
modification. The standards America applies to other nations around
the world when it comes to receiving aid must likewise apply to Israel.
Let there be no doubt: Israel and its considerable lobby of supporters
here in America will scream bloody murder if their aid is trimmed in
any fashion. But in the greater interest of what will best benefit the
security interests of the United States, and indeed the Middle East
and the entire world, the grip Israel has on American policymaking
must come to an end. It is up to the American people to make this
change, first and foremost by recognizing that a real problem exists
in American-Israeli relations, then by electing officials to Congress
who will deal responsibly with these problems based not on the
behind-the-scenes lobbying of Israel and its proxies, but rather the
legitimate interests of the United States.
If Israel decides it wants to be our friend, then it will change its
behavior accordingly. Absent this, America has no choice but to
declare its independence from a relationship that has destroyed our
credibility around the world and drags us dangerously down the path
toward another irresponsible military misadventure in the Middle East.
If, in the future, Israel desires to reestablish a relationship with
the United States built upon the principles of mutual trust and
benefit, then so be it. Such a relationship is something I could
embrace without hesitation. But one thing is certain: no such
friendship can truly exist under the conditions and terms that are in
place today, and for that reason the entirety of the American-Israeli
relationship must be reexamined.
===
Beam Me Up Scotty, I Am A Palestinian
Hesham Tillawi
"Did you read the latest article by Scott Ritter?" my friend excitedly
asked. Not wanting to rain on his parade, nevertheless I was as frank
as possible in my answer–"I don't like political prostitution." I
calmly answered. "What do you mean?" my friend asked, half-surprised
and half-not. "I don't like people going on at length with how much
they admire Israel before they critique her."
As much as I am glad to see him finally seeing and stating the
obvious, nevertheless there are a few things I would like to ask
Ritter were he here right now, such as "What about the Palestinians
Scott?" or "What do you have to say about the Holocaust taking place
against them right now, a continuation of what has been going on for
the last century? Is that okay with you?" Do they exist in your book?
Let us consider for a moment what Mr. Ritter wrote in his latest article–
"I have for some time now publicly articulated my sympathy and support
for the state of Israel, even while criticizing those cases that I
believed constituted poor judgment and bad policy."
Butt Kiss #1. Of course Scott could not start his article with
anything less than this, a way of bowing down before the master before
pointing out something that is painful yet true.
He continues–"As a weapons inspector I made numerous visits to Israel
for the purpose of coordinating with the Israeli intelligence
community on matters pertaining to Iraqi WMD."
Yes, and that is exactly why Saddam did not want you back in Iraq
Scott. You knew then how deep the Israelis were in our government.
Why are you waking up to this only now Scotty, to the fact that Israel
is no good for the US?
"I was greatly impressed not only with the professionalism of the
Israeli intelligence services, but also with the Israeli people and
society. During my time in Israel, I was witness to numerous horrific
events, including several terrorist bombings and the assassination of
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. The resilience of the people of Israel
in absorbing these blows yet continuing to live life to its fullest
was remarkable, and worthy of admiration." can you tell me what
bombings are you talking about in 90 and 91? you must had a back to
the future episode at that time, and just for the record, Rabin was
assassinated by a Jewish extremist settler.
Ok, at the risk of appearing base, nevertheless let me continue in the
same vein–
BUTT KISS # 2
Can you name those "horrific" events, the several terrorists bombings
you are talking about? I am wondering how many horrific events you can
recall that the Palestinians went through while you were enjoying
yourself on the streets of Tel Aviv? How many homes were demolished?
How many children became orphans, how many wives became widows and how
many Palestinians were kidnapped from their homes and taken to Israeli
prisons for no fault of their own and who as of yet have not had their
day in court? I guarantee you Scott, were you as aware of these items
as you were the `resilience' of the Israelis, you would be filled with
"admiration" for the Palestinians too.
"As a firsthand witness to the remarkable vigor of the Israeli state
and its people, and as someone who considers himself to be their
friend, …"
Kiss…well, never mind, you get the picture–#3.
"The government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has embarked on policies
that are questionable at best when one examines them from a purely
Israeli standpoint; they are nothing less than a betrayal of the
United States when examined from a broader perspective."
Just the government of Ehud Olmert, Scott????? What about the policies
of all Israeli governments, PERIOD? You don't think they were in
control of our White House when they forced (politically, of course)
to have our president recognize the "Jewish" state back in 1948 which
was contrary to our vital national interest, and the advice of the
vice-president and many others at the time? What about when they
torpedoed our USS Liberty and killed our own in cold blooded murder?
That was an `Okay' policy with you? You know our President at the time
felt like you and said it in plain English, that he DID NOT WANT TO
EMBARRASS AN ALLY.
The point is, they were in control back then Scott. Israel controlling
the Media and the government here as you implied in your article is
not something new brother, its been there, you just chose not to say
anything about it–until now of course, when it is safer to do so. You
knew it back in the early 90's when you were fooling around with Iraqi
SCUDS. And, by the way, Israel's role in 9/11 is yet to be known to
the public because you refuse to mention it in your many articles and
speeches. Or maybe the policies of Israel that brought Wolfowitz,
Perle, Feith, et al were okay, it's just Olmert's policies that are
really bothering you? Maybe attacking Iraq for Israel and loosing 4000
of our good Americans, killing a million Iraqis and sending 4 million
of them into refugee status in Jordan and Syria is an `okay' thing
with you. Losing one third of our dollar's value as a result of all
this madness may not be a bad thing, it's just Olmert that you are
having a problem with???
While we are doing some math, let's consider this–The Arabs are about
three hundred millions…The Muslims are a billion and a quarter and all
of them would have been consumers of American products, but now
because of your friends in Israel we alienated all of them and made
them enemies. All this waste, this lost opportunity unprecedented in
human history was done just to please Israel and keep our "selected"
officials elected. And yet, after all this you maintain that Israel
was your friend and if they will just change Olmert's policies they
can go back to being your good friend, something that you would like
to see again, as you stated in your article.
And now, bringing it back to what I told my good friend, this is what
I term `Political Prostitution.'
"The insidious manner in which the current Israeli government has
manipulated the domestic political machinery of the United States to
produce support for its policies constitutes nothing less than direct
interference in the governance of a sovereign state."
Scott, people reading this will think you have lost your mind. The
"Current Israeli government"? Are you saying this problem of
manipulating the domestic political machinery only happened by this
"current Israeli government"? I think that is what you are saying
Scotty. Did you forget JFK and his stand against the Israeli
government? He lost his life by the way for that stand. What about
when Bush, the father, not the son and the holy ghost, tried to stand
in their way and stipulated that they stop building the illegal Jewish
settlements on stolen Palestinian land, because it was an " obstacle"
to peace? I still remember Yitzhak Shamir when asked by a TV reporter
on the streets of Jerusalem to comment on President GHWB's decision to
withhold the 10 billion dollars in loan guarantees unless Israel stops
building the settlements, and he said "I WILL HAVE HIS JOB" and he
did. Don't you think back then they had that manipulation over our
Media, Government, and our Money?
"The degree to which the current Israeli government has succeeded in
this regard can be tracked not only by the words and actions of the
administration of President George W. Bush and the American Congress,
but also by the extent to which a pro-Israel lexicon has taken hold
within the mainstream media of the United States. Witness the
pro-Israel bias displayed when discussing the situation in southern
Lebanon, the air strike in Syria, or the Iranian situation, and the
retarding of any effort toward a responsible discussion of anything
dealing with Israel becomes apparent."
My friend you forgot to mention the Palestinians. THE PALESTINIANS
SCOTT, YOU FORGOT TO MENTION THEM. The Media has been wrong on the
Palestinian issues too. They were able to make the victim look like
the oppressor and the oppressor look like the victim. You yourself
eluded to that. It's been there Scott, and this is just another
example of what I call `political prostitution.'
"One would expect such efforts to shape the domestic public opinion of
a state deemed hostile, but when the target of these Israeli actions
is its ostensible best friend, one must begin to question whether or
not the friendship is a one-way street. And if this is indeed the
case, then perhaps it is time for the United States to reconsider its
decades-old policy of strategic partnership with Israel."
Poor Scott, he really thinks it's as easy as that. If it was that
easy, the Palestinians would have been free a long time ago. It is an
OCCUPATION Scott, not a relationship or `friendship'. Just ask the
Palestinians about that relationship, they will tell you that anything
short of an armed struggle will not free them from the "relationship"
with Israel.
At the risk of appearing condescending, let me make it easy for you to
understand, since you obviously are at a serious disadvantage here…
Once upon a time, the Palestinians were free people living on their
land in peace and harmony…Then came the Israelis who occupied them
militarily. Once upon a time there was a free nation called the United
States of America, living free on the land, and, like what happened to
the Palestinians, along came the Israelis and occupied them
politically. I came from the land occupied by Israel to the land of
the `free and the brave' that turned out to be occupied by Israel too.
"It must be understood that the government of Ehud Olmert is acting in
a post-9/11 environment, with considerable facilitators in the
administration of President Bush, including the vice president. These
two factors combine to create a cycle of ennoblement that allows a
purely Israeli point of view to dominate American policy."
Again, I don't want to beat a dead horse to death, if you don't like
Bush Administration, just look back at Clinton's.
"If the Israeli point of view were built on logic, compassion, and the
rule of
law, then this tilt would not constitute a problem."
In your opinion, the Israeli point of view is built on "logic,
compassion, and the rule of law" when dealing with the Palestinians.
If this is your definition of logic, compassion and rule of law, then
I would hate to see what you think are the opposites.
Israel, the only country to violate many UN resolutions demanding her
to leave the Palestinian areas, release Palestinian prisoners, stop
killing innocent civilians, return the Palestinian refugees back to
their lands, and tear down the Apartheid wall is all the product of
her `compassion, logic, and the rule of law?' I guess now you will
call Israel's killing of Palestinian children, a compassionate
killing. Let us have mercy on these starving, homeless Palestinians
and help them get rid of this horrible life they are under by
exterminating them. What book are you using for definitions on these
words, the Complete Ariel Sharon Annotated Dictionary of Zionist
Doublespeak? What compassion are you talking about? It's a Holocaust
Scott, worse than the one you mentioned in your article. You see
Scott, that one, the one that we hear about EVERY DAMN MINUTE OF EVERY
DAMN DAY we don't really have the full story on that one, but this one
involving the Palestinian Christians and Muslims is taking place
before our eyes EVERY DAMN MINUTE OF EVERY DAMN DAY. `Never again' you
say? Give us all a break–It's happening, over and over AND OVER AND
OVER, again and again, in Palestine, in Lebanon, in Iraq, in
Afghanistan, in Sudan, in Somalia, and many other places. Same
bullets, same plans, less outrage and less tears.
"If Israel decides it wants to be our friend, then it will change its
behavior accordingly. Absent this, America has no choice but to
declare its independence from a relationship that has destroyed our
credibility around the world and drags us dangerously down the path
toward another irresponsible military misadventure in the Middle East."
Again, I hate to rain on your parade Scotty, but just a mere
`declaration of independence' won't do it buddy. The Palestinians
learned that hard lesson a long time ago. If you really want to
liberate America from Israel, nothing short of another American
Revolution will suffice. America did not get its independence from
England just by declaring it, it earned it by fighting for it, and by
the way, England at the time had given us more freedom to govern and
did not take as much of our resources as Israel does today. If our
independence back then was worth the sacrifice, then our independence
now is well worth it also.
You're late coming to these conclusions Scott, just like many others
whom we have allowed to steer the ship of state. I want to give credit
where credit is due, but your latest `declaration' is nothing short of
being in the middle of hurricane Katrina as it is blowing everything
to bits and saying, "Hey, we have a real mess on our hands here" when
the rest of us were sounding the alarms much earlier.
Nevertheless, I suppose we should be grateful for every hand on deck,
even if they do show up late when the Captain gives the call for
battle stations, and in that spirit perhaps we should just end this
piece by saying `better be late than never.'
*********************************************************************
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