Action Alert: Thank Ron Paul for a courageous stand on House Resolution re Israel/Palestine
This comes from Mideast Web via a Green Party listserv. I'm not a Ron Paul enthusiast, although I appreciate his stands on war, empire, and civil liberties.
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THANK REP. RON PAUL FOR HIS COURAGEOUS STAND
On March 5 the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution 951, "Condemning the ongoing Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations, and for other purposes," by a count of 404-1.
The lone voice of dissent was Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), who not only cast the lone vote against the bill, but rose to speak on his opposition to wording of the legislation that "oversimplifies the Israel/Palestine conflict" and "is more likely to perpetuate violence in the Middle East than contribute to its abatement."
We commend Representative Paul for his understanding of the issue, his commitment to principle, and his determination to speak out. If more elected officials acted with the same clarity and even-handedness with regard to Israel and Palestine, we would be closer to a just and sustainable peace in the region.
To express your agreement and appreciation to Representative Paul, call his Washington, DC office at (202) 225-2831, send him an e-mail, or visit his congressional Web site.
To engage officials from your state and district on the issue, visit the House of Representatives directory or the Senate directory.
The full text of H. Res. 591 is available here on the House of Representatives Web site.
Ron Paul Statement on Gaza Bill March 5, 2008
Madam Speaker: I rise in opposition to H. Res. 951. As one who is consistently against war and violence, I obviously do not support the firing of rockets indiscriminately into civilian populations. I believe it is appalling that Palestinians are firing rockets that harm innocent Israelis, just as I believe it is appalling that Israel fires missiles into Palestinian areas where children and other non-combatants are killed and injured.
Unfortunately, legislation such as this is more likely to perpetuate violence in the Middle East than contribute to its abatement. It is our continued involvement and intervention -- particularly when it appears to be one-sided that reduces the incentive for opposing sides to reach a lasting peace agreement.
Additionally, this bill will continue the march toward war with Iran and Syria, as it contains provocative language targeting these countries. The legislation oversimplifies the Israel/Palestine conflict and the larger unrest in the Middle East by simply pointing the finger at Iran and Syria.
This is another piece in a steady series of legislation passed in the House that intensifies enmity between the United States and Iran and Syria. My colleagues will recall that we saw a similar steady stream of provocative legislation against Iraq in the years before the U.S. attack on that country.
I strongly believe that we must cease making proclamations involving conflicts that have nothing to do with the United States. We incur the wrath of those who feel slighted while doing very little to slow or stop the violence.
- wpeltz's blog
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Nader on Gaza
It says something sad when the only presidential candidates that speak to this unspeakable issue are those who are way out on the margins.
March 8-9, 2008
The Silent Violence of Gaza's Suffering That Candidates and Congress Ignore
By RALPH NADER
The world's largest prison -- Gaza prison with 1.5 million inmates, many of them starving, sick and penniless -- is receiving more sympathy and protest by Israeli citizens, of widely impressive backgrounds, than is reported in the U.S. press.
In contrast, the humanitarian crisis brought about by Israeli government blockades that prevent food, medicine, fuel and other necessities from coming into this tiny enclave through international relief organizations is received with predictable silence or callousness by members of Congress, including John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The contrast invites more public attention and discussion.
full article at: http://www.counterpunch.com/nader03082008.html
Hooray for Ron Paul!
and boo hissss to the rest of the House. Surely the rest of them do know what this vote means, do they not care? Or are they so blinded by Israeli campaign contributions they can't see?
A while back I was talking to my representative, Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX3) and obviously we weren't talking about this, I don't even remember what we were talking about, but in response to something I'd said, he answered back "I want us to get in there, send troops to protect Israel from the Palestinians."
Say what?? (Okay so not all representatives know what they're doing.) And just where is he going to get these troops? It's not like we've got extra units just lazing about. Rockets into civilians is never a good thing, no matter who is firing them, no matter that Israel has a lot more rockets to fire. War is bad. Peace is good.
I can see how Palestinians, after some 40-odd years of being occupied, wouldn't resist too much a group (say, Hamas?) that tells them they can end the oppression. And how many more years before the Palestinians grow their own David Ben-Gurion or Ariel Sharon? Or perhaps a David or a Moses.