It's not often that I expect the Senate Minority Leader to make my points for me, yet here he is, echoing what I said the other day about Israel being like us.
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/01/08-9
The Senate passed a resolution expressing "unwavering" commitment to Israel, the article from Reuters says. Because, as Mitch McConnell puts it, "The Israelis ... are responding exactly the same way we would."
Which is precisely the problem. The situation the Israelis have been in for the last 60 years (ie. total INsecurity, constant threats, violence, etc.) is the predictable result of behaving this way. The only reason it hasn't caught up to us is an issue of scale.
But the really sad thing about this story is that if he thought about it, if he were really willing to try and put himself in the shoes of Hamas, he would realize that they, too, are "responding exactly the same way we would." As a Southerner, you would think he would get that a little more, that complete inability to let go of the grudge you have about your recent ancestors being humiliated on their own land. Hamas is acting just like we would too. Which is the other side of the problem.
As long as we're all going to insist on beating the other side in submission, all we're going to get is dead children. Or as the bumper sticker puts it, "War doesn't decide who's right, only who's left."
Peace now.
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Interesting discussion from Juan Cole on his blog Informed Comment, I first heard him on a Rachel Maddow podcast: http://www.juancole.com/
You know that Israel is on poor moral footing when the U.S.--the country of torture, warrantless wiretapping and shock-and-awe--can still hold its head somewhat higher. This is in part because our military holds itself to higher standards than the politicians who purport to direct their activities, as the marine's letter says (putting aside government-enabled mercenaries performing military functions like Blackwater who gun down civilians in the streets). But as the blog writes, the Israelis have a different, more complicated agenda than we do--one of "settler colonialism."
Cole also said the Israeli strategy--leveling Hamas civic infrastructure, especially police stations--will render Gaza a lawless land. He said it could create a Somalia on Israel's border.
The sound bites from the Senators sound like they're auditioning to be in a war movie. They are designed to intentionally dumb down our understanding of the present conflict. Toronto vs. Buffalo? Huh? Does that really illuminate the situation? These statements have calculated emotional impact, understandable by any Joe the Plumber who will cast a vote for the politician who promises to support violence in the name of moral righteousness.
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