Comments on: Transitions: What Role Is Presidential Transition Playing in the Middle East http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/transitions-what-role-is-presidential-transition-playing-in-the-middle-east.html A Netzine About Ideas Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:03:09 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: liberalamerican http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/transitions-what-role-is-presidential-transition-playing-in-the-middle-east.html/comment-page-1#comment-11366 liberalamerican Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:56:06 +0000 http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/?p=2043#comment-11366 Unfortunately the folks who designed the spam filter--Akismet--have it set up so links are perceived as spam, so it would take someone who can write code to figure out a way to differentiate the good links from the bad ones. I am looking into a way to try it from the other end. As for the color scheme, it took a bit of manipulating, but I think visited links will show up better now. Thanks for the advice. As for your larger points, one of the chapters that was axed in the book Strange Death focused on the impact of the Christian Right on George Bush and his foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East. Many years ago they formed an open alliance with the Israeli groups intent on adding more territory based on a belief called dispensationalism, which dates back to the nineteenth century. It holds that Israel must return to its Biblical territory before the Last Days can begin. This alliance resulted in none other the late Jerry Falwell and former GOP representative Tom DeLay being honored by the Israelis. How much that has played a role in the current crisis is an interesting question. For example, it seems to be the consensus of many commentators that Israel has picked this fight and is refusing to participate in a cease fire because it views the Bush Administration as more pro-Israel than the incoming Obama team. Unfortunately the preliminary research I was able to do over the weekend, turned up little, so it remains a speculation. Unfortunately the folks who designed the spam filter–Akismet–have it set up so links are perceived as spam, so it would take someone who can write code to figure out a way to differentiate the good links from the bad ones. I am looking into a way to try it from the other end.

As for the color scheme, it took a bit of manipulating, but I think visited links will show up better now. Thanks for the advice.

As for your larger points, one of the chapters that was axed in the book Strange Death focused on the impact of the Christian Right on George Bush and his foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East. Many years ago they formed an open alliance with the Israeli groups intent on adding more territory based on a belief called dispensationalism, which dates back to the nineteenth century. It holds that Israel must return to its Biblical territory before the Last Days can begin. This alliance resulted in none other the late Jerry Falwell and former GOP representative Tom DeLay being honored by the Israelis.

How much that has played a role in the current crisis is an interesting question. For example, it seems to be the consensus of many commentators that Israel has picked this fight and is refusing to participate in a cease fire because it views the Bush Administration as more pro-Israel than the incoming Obama team.

Unfortunately the preliminary research I was able to do over the weekend, turned up little, so it remains a speculation.

]]> By: BL http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/transitions-what-role-is-presidential-transition-playing-in-the-middle-east.html/comment-page-1#comment-11364 BL Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:52:35 +0000 http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/?p=2043#comment-11364 A couple additional points... US funding of Israeli military (based on 2007 figures): over $6.4 million per day. Chart here: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/US_aid_to_Israel.gif And if you still think this unwavering support is just the Bush administration... <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed2/idUSN09303848" rel="nofollow">Few speak out for Palestinians in U.S. Congress</a> « Harry Reid, who leads the Democratic majority in the Senate, gave voice to the depth of the relationship when he said on Thursday, "Our resolution reflects the will of the State of Israel and the will of the American people." The Senate measure offered "unwavering commitment" to Israel. It recognized "its right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against acts of terrorism" and urged a ceasefire that would keep Hamas from firing rockets at Israel. » This resolution was passed unanimously in the Senate, and 390-5 in the House. And for the record, Hamas's publicly stated terms for a ceasefire on their part are "complete cease-fire lifting the siege and withdrawal of all the Israeli troops in addition to opening all border-crossings especially the Rafah-Egypt crossing." (<a href="http://www.imemc.org/article/58387" rel="nofollow">Source</a>) Question: Could you adjust your color scheme for the comments? The current settings cause visited links to be shown in white - i.e., invisible. A couple additional points…

US funding of Israeli military (based on 2007 figures): over $6.4 million per day.

Chart here:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/US_aid_to_Israel.gif

And if you still think this unwavering support is just the Bush administration…

Few speak out for Palestinians in U.S. Congress

« Harry Reid, who leads the Democratic majority in the Senate, gave voice to the depth of the relationship when he said on Thursday, “Our resolution reflects the will of the State of Israel and the will of the American people.”

The Senate measure offered “unwavering commitment” to Israel. It recognized “its right to act in self-defense to protect its citizens against acts of terrorism” and urged a ceasefire that would keep Hamas from firing rockets at Israel. »

This resolution was passed unanimously in the Senate, and 390-5 in the House.

And for the record, Hamas’s publicly stated terms for a ceasefire on their part are “complete cease-fire lifting the siege and withdrawal of all the Israeli troops in addition to opening all border-crossings especially the Rafah-Egypt crossing.” (Source)

Question: Could you adjust your color scheme for the comments? The current settings cause visited links to be shown in white – i.e., invisible.

]]> By: BL http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/transitions-what-role-is-presidential-transition-playing-in-the-middle-east.html/comment-page-1#comment-11363 BL Mon, 12 Jan 2009 04:01:36 +0000 http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/?p=2043#comment-11363 Two more deeply insightful/illuminating pieces: Gaza: Foreign Ministry Media Manipulation http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2009/01/05/gaza-foreign-ministry-media-manipulation/ Israel and White Supremacy http://www.raceandhistory.com/selfnews/viewnews.cgi?newsid1037324713,24836,.shtml Two more deeply insightful/illuminating pieces:

Gaza: Foreign Ministry Media Manipulation
http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2009/01/05/gaza-foreign-ministry-media-manipulation/

Israel and White Supremacy
http://www.raceandhistory.com/selfnews/viewnews.cgi?newsid1037324713,24836,.shtml

]]> By: BL http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/transitions-what-role-is-presidential-transition-playing-in-the-middle-east.html/comment-page-1#comment-11362 BL Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:58:27 +0000 http://thestrangedeathofliberalamerica.com/?p=2043#comment-11362 The rhetorical question I meant to add after that last quote: Do you think that timing was a coincidence? The rhetorical question I meant to add after that last quote:

Do you think that timing was a coincidence?

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