rssPaul Blasts U.S. Support of Gaza Blockade
Friday, June 04, 2010 at 10:42 am
- 21 Comments
The congressional reaction this week to Israel’s recent and deadly raid on an aid flotilla headed to Gaza has, for the most part, fit neatly into three camps: Most lawmakers have either (1) said nothing, (2) called cautiously for an investigation, or (3) staunchly defended Israel’s attack, despite the killing of a U.S. citizen.
Increasingly, though, a fourth camp is emerging — one that’s criticizing Israel for attacking a Turkish-flagged vessel in international waters (and also questioning America’s support for the Israeli blockade of Gaza). Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) was the first to step into this thorny territory, circulating a letter to President Obama Wednesday arguing that Israel’s right to self defense “does not extend to shooting innocent civilians anywhere in the world, anytime it pleases.”
And yesterday, GOP Rep. Ron Paul (Texas), a libertarian who thinks the U.S. has no business in most international affairs, also blasted Israel’s actions, telling radio host Don Imus that the blockade of Gaza is “atrocious” and America’s support of it makes us “morally responsible.”
“Preventing goods from going in, it’s actually an act of war,” Paul said. “It’s absolutely wrong to prevent people that are starving and having problems — that are almost like in concentration camps — [from receiving aid], and saying, ‘Yes, we endorse this whole concept.’
“I think it’s just terrible, and I don’t think we should be a part of it.”
There are signs that the White House is starting to feel the same way. In an interview with Larry King yesterday, President Obama spoke gingerly of the need to investigate the incident before drawing sweeping conclusions. “But,” he added, “it’s not premature to say to the Israelis and to say to the Palestinians, and to say to all the parties in the region that the status quo is unsustainable.
“We have been trying to do this piecemeal for decades now. It just doesn’t work.”
21 Comments
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Comment posted June 5, 2010 @ 1:03 am
very fringe and radical…totally loony to not want people to starve or get shot. only a racist would say stuff like that.
Pingback posted June 5, 2010 @ 11:48 am
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Comment posted June 5, 2010 @ 11:04 am
Ron Paul is p!ssing into the wind.He should know that USA is alot worse in world crimes than Israel. There is a connection between USA/Israel both are run by zionists and it does not matter who is in power. Fact: Israel is a USA military private X-Russian run base to over see/protect the middle east oil
Pingback posted June 5, 2010 @ 1:19 pm
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Comment posted June 5, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
President Pussy growing a set??? I'll believe it when I see it..
Comment posted June 5, 2010 @ 5:53 pm
@Jojoo: He does know. Rep. Paul is constantly berating the rest of the House on a myriad of unConstitutional and morally reprehensible things that our lovely government thinks it can do. In fact, odd choice of Kucinich to say that their right to self-defense “does not extend to shooting innocent civilians anywhere in the world, anytime it pleases” when that is precisely what Obama et al has “decided” somehow that they can order for American citizens… Beyond that little bit though, I concur with the rest of your summary. Reflexive and automatic felatio of Israel is a tired refrain for politicians from the last generation — time for them and their ridiculous policy to go the way of the dodo.
Comment posted June 6, 2010 @ 12:06 am
vera, you are right. That Paul guy should shut his trap and start acting like a “real” politician!
Comment posted June 6, 2010 @ 3:16 am
This is the first time I read the accurate text of what President Obama said on Larry King. What struck me, like a bludgeon, is that our President said absolutely nothing! He said to everyone that status quo is not sustainable. Now, everyone will go back and fill in the blank with their own favorite version of changing status quo. The avalanche of predictable forces will come out, filling the framework he created, that is, the status quo is “not sustainable”. Having given the usual power-brokers all the space to play, in the end, he will do what he is “advised”.
How about you, President Obama, tell us what you think should be changed as status quo is “not sustainable”? Why do you want to wait till all possible special interests fill in the blanks?
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Here at World Spinner we are debating the same thing……
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