Should the US Continue Financial Support to the Israelis?
March 18, 2003
Last night President Bush gave “his” ultimatum on behalf of the United States to Saddam Hussein and his sons. I listened to his speech on my way to an Irish pub where I was celebrating St Patrick’s Day with friends like a true Irishman. I drank my Guinness, told jokes and laughed with friends all night.
This morning I started my day a little slower than usual over a cup of tea; black tea has a lot more caffeine than coffee. ;) While I was drinking my tea I started browsing the BBC’s Middle East section to see the latest goings on. Reading through the news I found out that while I was having a good time last night, 9 more people were killed in Palestine; three of them were children. It seemed so matter of fact. Nine people were gunned down last night and three of them were children . . . This follows the killing of an American woman and fellow Washington State resident two days ago; Rachel Corrie. She had gone to Israel to do what she could to stand up for the Palestinian people using non violent protest. It was this very method of protest that led to her death as she stood in front of a bulldozer in the Gaza strip. She was there to stop the indiscriminant destruction of Palestinian homes. She wore a bright red jacket and was screaming through a bullhorn when the bulldozer poured dirt and debris on top of her then proceeded to run over her body with the operator’s full knowledge of her being there. The bulldozer crushed her skull and chest. Rachele died later in the hospital at the age of 23.
Why? Because she stood in the way of what the Israeli Army wanted, the destruction of homes belonging Palestinian families, much like the homes destroyed the day before belonging to two elderly Palestinian women. They weren’t terrorist and they weren’t threatening the Army. They were just very humble dwellings that someone called a home . . . and to the Israeli Army that was worth the life of one 23 year old activist from Olympia Washington.
Since September 29th 2000 the Israeli Army and various settlers have been responsible for the deaths of 2,200 Palestinian civilians and injuring another 22,000 others. Over the last year the President of the United States has not only turned away from diplomacy in Israel but has guaranteed another 3 billion dollars in financial support for a nation that stands in direct violation of the UN. Much the same way Saddam Hussein has done.
The President tells us that he is going to War to “diminish” the threat against America and to free the people of Iraq from a dictator who has shown no regard for human life. Why is it then that we are willing to go to war against one dictator and supply $1.6 trillion dollars over 30 years to a country that has shown a flagrant disregard for human life?
The excuse that many people fall back on in the defense of Israel is that they are only defending themselves. I won’t take the time here to argue against that stand, because there is an incredible amount of evidence to show otherwise. (I encourage you to read it for yourself. There are links to various international news sites below) The Palestinian people have been the ones defending themselves against a military machine that has proven that Israel’s only desire is to rid Palestine of the Palestinian people and populate it with Israelis. If that were your home, wouldn’t you defend yourself?
The other excuse I hear so often is that this is a war that there will never be an answer to. I don’t believe that and I feel that this is a cop out, but again I won’t take the time here to argue this point because my desire is just to raise awareness. What I want to see happen is for the President of the United States to stop funding a country that is in direct violation of the UN and who is carrying out an increased effort to destroy the homes and lives of thousands of Palestinians. Our tax dollars could be better used else where.
I make no excuse nor hide my feelings regarding our president’s lack of diplomatic skills, but I believe that we all bare a responsibility to speak up and make our voices heard. Last night the President said that he wished to diminish the threat to America. Well I propose that the best way to do that is to act “justly.” If we act as a “just” nation then the argument that others have against us will not stand, but if we continue to support a nation that is killing thousands of people and destroying the lives of many more, we will continue to feed the fire of hatred that burns in the hearts of the men and women who are waging a war of terror against America. Terrorism is wrong! But the only way to stop it is to address the hopelessness that feeds that fire.
If you think that I am saying that we bare a responsibility for the terrorism in the world today, I am. We are feeding a fire that breeds contempt and hatred. The more we do that, the more likely we are to get burned by the senseless acts of terrorism that we have faced here and abroad. I want to see that threat of terror diminish much like the President spoke of last night, but I believe that is only possible by addressing the root of the problem.
Please write to your senators, congressmen and to the President. Use your voice. Let it be heard. Lets stop supporting nations that act with a disregard for justice and respect for human life.
Matthew P. McSheehy
Kirkland, Wa
*** Here are some alternative news sources:
http://electronicintifada.net/new.shtml