Why the Dems Have Failed Lebanon

Why the Dems Have Failed Lebanon
Stephen Zunes | August 9, 2006

Editor: John Feffer, IRC



Foreign Policy In Focus www.fpif.org

snip

The Democratic Party could seize upon these tragic miscalculations by the Bush administration to enhance its political standing and help steer America's foreign policy in a more rational and ethical direction. Instead, the Democrats have once again overwhelmingly thrown their support behind the president and his right-wing counterpart, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

snip

Hillary Takes the Lead
Yet another Democratic co-sponsor of the Senate resolution was Hillary Rodham Clinton, a front-runner for the Democratic Party presidential nomination in 2008. Speaking at a rally in New York City in support of the Israeli attacks against Lebanon, she praised Israel's efforts to “send a message to Hamas, Hezbollah, to the Syrians to the Iranians,” because, in her words, they oppose the United States and Israel's commitment to “life and freedom.”

Clinton's statements were challenged by her opponent in the Democratic primary for Senate, union activist Jonathan Tasini, who pointed out that “Israel has committed acts that violate international standards and the Geneva Conventions,” citing reports by a number of reputable human rights organizations, including the Israeli group B'Tselem. Clinton's spokesperson dismissed Tasini's concerns about Israeli violations of international humanitarian law as “beyond the pale.”

Tasini, a former Israeli citizen who has lost close relatives in the Arab-Israeli wars and Palestinian terrorism and whose father fought and was wounded in the Israeli war of independence, correctly observed that “Hezbollah's actions violate international law” as well. He argued that his criticism of Israel's policy of collective punishment and attacks on civilians comes from the perspective of being a “friend of Israel,” citing the Jewish tradition of Tikkun Olam, or “repairing the world.” Facing vicious attacks from Clinton supporters for his liberal views, Tasini has called for a debate with his opponent to demonstrate how her unconditional U.S. support for Israeli militarism actually threatens Israel's security interests. The Anglo-Saxon Protestant Clinton, who—like the vast majority of the overwhelmingly WASP Democratic Party leadership—has never lost a relative to the region's violence, has thus far refused the challenge.

Much more at:
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/3423

progressive. Seems to be church sponsored (FPIF is a joint project of International Relations Center & Institute for Policy Studies - "...for progressive research and action to create a more responsible society built around the values of justice, nonviolence...")

The site appears to need some DU volunteers - perhaps - as the web page links are broken and web pages are not written and loaded.

The quality of the writing that is accepted for publication appears excellent..

Of course, I disagree on most of what is said in this article beyond the humanitarian concern and that I do not believe any can disagree with. But it does set out its belief/analysis quite well.

Le kick.

Party's official position.

The author's careful probing of this sad reality was greatly appreciated.

I hope, if Democrats finally regain the House, enough pressure can be applied to keep Lantos out of the chairmanship of the International Relations Committee. He's shockingly out of touch. It's a great time to see someone coming forward to challenge this strange man.

Appreciate hearing the information on Clinton primary opponent Tasini, as it has been unavailable to casual readers until now.

campaign.

Which is sure to rankle and rile, if not actually enrage. So be it. There is no denying the face of it.

Thanking mom cat and K&R

most of the Democrats on this one.

This is an excellent article. Tisani is at 12% and nobody knows who he is. A furor over the ME will get his name out there and maybe he picks up another 5% in the nest few days. He could poll as high as 20% if his camp plays it's careds right. After all, why is Hillary ducking Tisani on the debates?:)

those weaknesses.

NT!