Gary Fitleberg
Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.The US Secretary of State said he understood why Israel launched its military incursion into northern Gaza last week. "Israel has been under assault from rockets coming out of Gaza," he said Tuesday during an official visit to Brazil. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was acting in "self-defense," Powell said.
Nonetheless, the Americans wanted to see an end to it. "We have said to the Israelis that they have to be measured responses and they have to be proportionate, and we hope that whatever they are doing will be brought to an end quickly," Powell said. "We would not like to see an expansion; we would like to see the action brought to a conclusion."
I wonder what Colin Powell would say if Israel's counterpart wanted to see the US' action in Afghanistan or Iraq brought to a conclusion.
In matters of internal security matters, Bush's current administration sends many mixed messages on preemptive strikes, self-defense and the war on terrorism.
In the recent vice-presidential debates, Dick Cheney stated he is in favor of preemptive strikes, self-defense in fighting the war on terrorism, which leads him to believe George Bush is the best choice as commander-in-chief.
Why, then, would the USA consistently and continually restrict or issue statements against its only true ally and beacon of democracy and freedom in the very bad Arab/Islamist neighborhood known as the Middle East; replete with corrupt dictatorships, evil fanatic fundamentalists, human rights violators and ruthless repressive regimes and tyrannies?
Why is it okay for the US, for example, to "root out" terrorism abroad in Afghanistan and Iraq, but not okay for Israel to do battle and wage war with terrorism in its own back yard and in its streets? Why Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, and not Hamas, Hezbullah and Islamic Jihad? Or for that matter, the Palestinian Authority/Palestine Liberation Organization? Why is it all right to hunt down Osama Bin-Laden or Saddam Hussin, but not Yasser Arafat, Abdel Aziz Rantisi or Ahmed Yassin? What makes one terrorist qualify for international protection and not another?
After all, Arafat is the "Chairman of Terror" of the Fatah-led PA/PLO and its various so-called "security forces" (terrorist subsidiary forces), such as the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Force 17, Tanzim and the various sister organizations under his control and domination.
They don't call it the Palestinian Authority for nothing. Arafat's "occupation" of Gaza, Judea and Samaria is solely for the purpose of diverting attention away from his own personal corrupt dictatorship, in which greed and symbolism outweigh any honest concern for the children and people he rules with a blind eye and cold heart.
The US State Department, aka the US Hate Department, has clearly demonstrated its lack of clear, honest principles either morally or politically with Colin Powell as its director.
Like Arafat, Powell has consistently and continually spoken with two tongues when it comes to Israel and its fight against terrorism, and therefore, he can never ever be trusted.
Powell's policy towards terrorism and Israel can be reflected in his underlings' statements, as well.
The United States questioned Israel about a top aide to Ariel Sharon who said that leaving the Gaza Strip would "freeze" the peace process. Dov Weisglass told a newspaper that the Israeli prime minister's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip "freezes" the US-driven "Road Map" peace process, and prevents the establishment of a another Arab "Palestinian" state. The Bush administration backs the withdrawal as a means of advancing the Road Map, which would culminate in Palestinian statehood.
State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said that US officials called their Israeli counterparts to clarify the statements. "We certainly made it clear that it didn't coincide with what we thought the position of the government of Israel was," Ereli said.
Bush can not be believed in fighting the international war on terrorism unless his entire administration stops terrorism whenever and wherever it rears its ugly head, and especially, unless it supports America's only true blue ally in the Middle East.
No, I'm not talking about oil-rich Saudi Arabia. I'm definitely not referring to Egypt or Jordan. I'm talking about the only democracy in the Middle East - Israel. The only nation that clearly demonstrates and exhibits freedom in the vast sea of these tyrannies. A place where Arabs enjoy more privileges and rights than even in their own true, native homelands, such as Egypt, Lebanon or Syria. Jews have absolutely no rights in the very few Arab countries in which they reside. Let's be honest.
Let us concentrate on fighting terrorism, not on those who fight terrorism.
Let us clearly demonstrate a moral compass where good is favored over real evil.
Let us start today. This especially goes for the good old USA.