We really have NO president currently. Both Bush and PEBO are on vacation. Despite the briefings both claim to be getting, neither is speaking up as innocents die on both sides of this insanity in Gaza. Who will speak for peace?

The BBC has an excellent report. Herewith an excerpt: One-Minute World News

Page last updated at 17:28 GMT, Tuesday, 30 December 2008

Gaza aid boat ‘rammed by Israel’

The damaged boat arrives at a Lebanese port

A boat delivering 3.5 tonnes of Cypriot medical aid to the Gaza Strip has been rammed by Israeli naval vessels in international waters, activists say.

The Free Gaza campaign group, which operates the Dignity, also claimed shots were fired towards the crew.

The boat later docked in Lebanon after sustaining serious damage to one side.

Israeli officials confirmed there had been “physical contact” but denied reports of shooting and said the crew had not responded to radio calls.

The 20m (66ft) Dignity was carrying 15 civilian passengers, including several doctors, journalists, a former US congresswoman and a member of the Cypriot parliament, says Free Gaza.

‘Heavy gunfire’

Crowds turned out to greet the Dignity as it arrived in Tyre port.
The organisation sent out an urgent statement on Tuesday saying the vessel had been surrounded by at least six Israeli military ships.

“They are firing live ammunition around the Dignity, and one of the warships has rammed the civilian craft causing an unknown amount of damage,” said the statement~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BBC

Bush has never interupted a vacation except for a brain dead woman. PEBO is not President yet. I wish he were.

I can only hope that he will adopt a more realistic approach to this situation which recognizes fault on both sides and repudiates Israel’s policy of grossly disproportionate retaliation. That said, I have no way of interpreting his silence, other that it is promising and a strong departure from the normal pro-Israeli lockstep of American politicians.

It is difficult seeing the carnage in Gaza and Obama golfing, even knowing that Bush is President. It reminded me of Michael Moore’s clip of Bush golfing. It is about the message that silence sends as a response to the continuing death and destruction.

Hopefully we will have what the world needs – an adult in charge.
500 hrs & 25 min

Israeli patrol boat collides with aid ship off Gaza
AFP – 24 minutes ago
TYRE, Lebanon (AFP) – An Israeli naval vessel collided on Tuesday with a boat carrying activists and medical supplies that was trying to break the blockade of Gaza, forcing it to divert to a port in Lebanon.
Video: Damaged Gaza aid boat docks in southern Lebanon – 30 Dec 08 AlJazeeraEnglish
Gaza aid boat ‘rammed by Israel’ BBC News

While hoping that Jane’s cautious interpretation is in the general vicinity of “correct”, it amazes me that President-elect Obama continues to fail to utilize what must be a unique “opportunity”, in the annals of American history, given the empty hole of anything remotely resembling “moral” leadership, to, at least appeal to “better angels” and speak to the preciousness of life, and the fragility of peace and understanding.

One would hope that such thoughts are on his mind, Teddy.

let me say something I haven’t seen mentioned;

this president wants to mire the next president in middle east unrest

we’ve had posts here speculating that the president emboldens israel to go on the offensive, israel is doing this while they can, it’s going to be hard for obama to stop them but it wouldn’t have been hard for obama to keep them from starting.

isn’t an attack on one of our vessels an act of war?

We really have NO president currently. Both Bush and PEBO are on vacation. Despite the briefings both claim to be getting, neither is speaking up as innocents die on both sides of this insanity in Gaza. Who will speak for peace?

Scott Horton speculates that Bush may have urged the Israelis on in this Gaza travesty.

Does anyone remember the U.S.S. Liberty? There are leaders in Israel who see us as nothing more than a cash cow. They have similar interests to the United States, but they will kill Americans as quick as they kill Arabs if Americans get in the way of their interests. I feel this is the hawk leaders of Israel taking a last shot before Obama comes into office. The historical irony is how much the Gaza Strip has similarities to the Warsaw Ghetto…people within a walled area beaten into submission or worse.

Is it a certainty that the vessel in question is “ours”?

The U.S.S. Liberty certainly was …

And, no doubt, perris, you will recall “our” response to that “incident”?

The Dignity is registered in Gibralter and had a British captain.
500 hrs & 17 min

Thanks, Jane.

I took comfort too in considering exactly what Axelrod was willing to say.

Bush is President now. Obama is right. I know we want Obama to speak out and speak forcefully and use his power. But I really think any attempt to speak as President now will only blunt his power on January 20th. He’s only a voice until then. Unfortunate but true.

It’s really stunning. Israel is stepping so far over the line and continuing to lie in the boldest ways. It really shows how arrogant they have become with the unquestioned backing of the US political class. They think they are beyond questioning. I guess they think they can truly do no wrong. Both the US and Israel ”need to be taken down a notch.” And I say that as an American.

I hope Obama will be a good friend to all and say how all of this has gone terribly wrong. But for Obama to outline that before January 20th will only invite dismissal.

It’s a waiting game.

Golfing is a good thing for Obama to do right now. The frustration will prepare him for the job ahead. What’s his handicap? Anyone know?

Whereas Lovable Laura claims that GW Clusterfuck is a “natural athlete” despite the fact that cheerleading was his only succesful sport, Obama may actually BE an athlete given what we’ve seen of his basketball skills

IIRC Foreign policy is the one place the prez-elect stays away from. I think it has always been this way. Of course, in the past you could assume that the sitting prez would not do anything to screw up but not so much this time. I believe that Obama is wise to stay out of it right now – January 21 is a different story.

Cynthia McKinney just on CNN said that the Dignity was rammed three times.
Definitely sounds like an accident to me. /s
500 hrs & 12 min

A serious question that’s been dogging my heels (pun intended, I guess). Do all y’all think that anyone from Camp Obama is assigned to read FDL (and other blogs of note) to get a feel for progressive grassroots thinking? Or is that supreme bubble munching on my part?

Also, the whole “Obama camp/McCain camp/Coleman camp/Franken camp” etc. is starting to get on my nerves. The military metaphor colors the whole landscape and makes combatants of us all, it seems. Hmmmph.

If Obama wanted Israel to stop, all it would have taken is a three minute phone call, while waiting to tee off. They are using U.S. helicopters and U.S. fighter jets and U.S. bombs, provided by the U.S. taxpayers. I believe Israel is aware that Obama is the president elect.

So, it’s “watch what I don’t say, not what I don’t do”?
The problem with Obama’s Rohrschach-test technique
of political communication is that,
in a few week, the US is going have only one president.
And then Zen-like utterances won’t cut it.

Obama said to be a 16 handicap- Clusterfuck claims to be a 15- a number I don’t believe.

Condi says that she is a 22

Holy crap! Israel’s Navy rammed Cynthia McKinney’s boat? And didn’t sink it?

You’d think they would have learned from the USS Liberty incident!

http://www.gtr5.com/

They are sooooooooo fucked!

Giving that woman a microphone and an international platform to get even with the pricks that got her tossed out of office is a massive strategic blunder.

http://www.independentpolitica…..ey-others/

Like Cinderella, then, we nervously await a certain mid-night, when the Purity Ball shall end?

Always a pleasure to “see” you, Twain.

;~DW

Obama will have plenty of opportunities to run the foreign policy of this nation beginning in just under three weeks. In the meantime—hit em long an straight!! You deserve a break!!!

If I were Obama I would not want to step into this shitstorm hornet’s nest without the mantle of President.

The Franken/Coleman shoot out continues. The state of Minnesota will have it all squared away in six months or so.

“I don’t think there is such a thing as an independent Israel doing anything, because I think no matter what they do its our money, its our weapons, and their not going to do it without us approving it and if they get into trouble we’re going to bail them out, so there is no separation between the two.” Ron Paul, 12/28/08

Exactly!

No way that Obama should be engaging world leaders on matters of substance right now- would border on treason..WAS treason when Tricky Dicky did it.

Without support from the US, Israel would last about 22 seconds….You have to grow a lot of fruit to support a nation.

OT. CNN quoting e-mail from Reid saying they will not seat anyone appointed by Blago.
500 hrs & 4 min

We Swedes are very methodical.

Hi, DW. If the goddess is good, the purity prez will go home to Big D and stay there. I love Mike’s ticking clock. The witching hour is approaching. :)

Indeed, and not ones to be stampeded into action.

Thanks Jane.

A lot of our traditional backing of Israel had to do with the belief that we could use force to extract inexpensive sweet crude from the ME. That belief has been exposed for the lie it was.

I’m the furtherst thing from a ME expert, but the collapse in the price of oil may make all sides more receptive to negotiation.

OfT, vertical farming is a low-water, low cost approach to organic farming. There are a lot of signals that it could really help places such as the Middle East to become more self-sufficient wrt food production. That’s good for everyone.

Hey! Did you just insult my people? Now I’m gonna have to declare war on you and your people, whomever they may be. /s

“Ollie’s off countin again- jah- he’ll be back in an hour for a nap then back ta the countin”

Jane,

I guess it is always nice to be optimistic about the future on the day before New Years Eve, but I suspect you’re reading too much in Axelrod’s words. We have no other indications whether or not they were carefully parsed.

That being said, I am a teeny bit optimistic. Relatively speaking – Bush vs. Obama, it is hard not to be. But if the Palestinians get the same “justice” from Obama they got from Clinton, the suicide rate in Gaza City will go way, way up.

Since I don’t know who the hell “my people” are either- you’ll have to do some research first..My people may be gettin insulted all the time and I have no fuckin idea!!

LOLOLOL

We’ve never had a prez with the guts to say to Israel—”Hey- cut that shit out or the fuckin money stream is gonna stop for good”

At least I can’t remember one.

rwcole @ 28: thanks, indeed, that’s the depth of feeling I have about it ~ I cannot fault Obama for silence at this juncture. It’s important that he and we honor our traditions and the Constitution at this time in our history. Even BECAUSE Bush has been so bad.

I didn’t read anything into Axelrod’s word — I simply concluded that those who were listening for reassurance that he would toe the party line were surely disappointed.

Why, yes. Yes it is.
Was there a point to that question?
*sigh*

OT: Blago sez he’s just doin’ his duty!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

OT: Burris taking questions!!!!!!! It’s a full court press!!!!

So, he should refrain from thinking “aloud”, merely as a “citizen”?

Because that would make things worse?

Seeing as America’s “virtue” has been “owned” by the NeoCons, generally to be sold to the highest bidder, we might need to be prepared for “bad” to become much “worse” (or even, “worser”) over the next, um, 500 hours, but then, we may imagine that after that time that we will no longer be “compromised”?

I sincerely, and audaciously, hope that you are correct, seeing as the word “right” has connotations which preclude its use in polite conversation.

;~D

OfT, vertical farming is a low-water, low cost approach to organic farming. There are a lot of signals that it could really help places such as the Middle East to become more self-sufficient wrt food production. That’s good for everyone.

Last years crops rotted on the trucks because of the blockade.
499 hrs & 56 min

The only members of my family that I can trace are Frank and Jesse James and a gooper congresscritter from Missouri. It isn’t clear which to be the most ashamed of.

McKinney herself compare the boat incident to that of the USS Liberty. Huge game changing event!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/…..index.html

Watch the video on CNN!

rwcole @ 40: yup, and IF I were the President who was going to say that … I surely would not let on during the transition, during a crisis, given the complexity of all the dynamics in play. And especially as Israel was showing their true colors.

Jesse James is a true American hero of the West. No?

YAY! We’re under 500 hours!

Did Harry Truman support the concept of Israel?

Ot: Burris is on board. Totally. In the tank. ”That’s the process … we’ll deal with next step in the process.” Got the call on Sunday night!!!! ”No comment on the Governor’s circumstances … innocent until proven guilty.”

OT: Burris joking about money to ”give” on the second fucking question!!!!!

OT: Blago sez ”the law requires me to to do this.”

Jesse was a son of the south who really enjoyed the civil war and didn’t want to stop havin fun just because of Appomatax.

He stole a lot of yankee gold- but he may not have been too particular as to who the lawful owners were.

It isn’t clear which to be the most ashamed of.

Oh it’s not that hard a decision is it?

Jane @ 43: I think you were clear and that’s how I understood you.

New Jane upstairs on Burris and the Senate

Well- if you consider Missouri and Kansas “the West”- then I guess so….

No one could ever figure out if they were northern or southern- let alone eastern or western.

And that would affect him, how???

Ah, they even made a pass through central MN, where Northfield celebrates its annual “Jesse James Days” community thingie.

I happen to like Obama reminding people that we have only one president at a time. At the moment, like it or not, that president is George W. Bush.

I don’t believe most of this crap about Bush making life as difficult as possible for Obama. That may be a consequence, but it isn’t the motivation.

I don’t quite understand why Obama gets a pass on this. He doesn’t need to do anything other than place a private call, expressing his displeasure with the bloodshed and continuing campaign including the talk that it is still in the early stages. I do not see how this would be inappropriate in any way. I also do not see why it would be inappropriate to express public displeasure over the carnage without giving those cute little winks and nods to Israel. He wasn’t very shy about the auto industry problems.

OT: this is freak show, Bobby Rush weighing in talking about ”lynching” … egads.

From Turkish Weekly
By Yesim SAHINER (JTW) –“Although Barack Obama has kept its statements about the Gaza crisis to a minimum, his team but has provided assurances of its support for Israel. Daid [sic] Azelrod, [sic] a senior advisor to Mr Obama argued that Israel is a more important ally than Turkey or any Arab states in the region for the US.

David Axelrod said that President-elect Barack Obama is going to work closely with the Israelis. “They’re a great ally of ours, the most important ally in the region” he added.

Mr Axelrod told the CBS Sunday talk show Face the Nation that Obama will also work for peae[sic] in Palestine.”
http://www.turkishweekly.net/n…..-east.html

It is interesting that during the buildup to invasion of Iraq, politicians,pundants and media proclaimed Iraq of breaking a record number of UN resolutions, when in fact Israel held the record. Until we in the US understand Israel is not our friend or ally, we will stuck in a loop of terror and violence locally and internationally.

500 Miles, er hours.

Seems like a one way alliance. What did Israel ever do to help the USA?

They help in co-governance.

Actually, he was not! At least according to the true records and documents of the era. The dime novels of the era did much to romanticize the notion of these allegedly heroic men, but for the greater part ,they were simple thugs, murderers and thieves. James actually never set foot west of the Mississippi River! I live in one of the great western historical areas and have a substantial collection of old books. I have been fortunate enough to have several of the finest historical libraries which specialize in that era located nearby, as well. There were no noble Old West Stage Coach Robbers, except on the Silver Screen!

The story of Jesse James remains one of America’s most cherished myths… and one of its most wrong-headed. Jesse James, so the legend goes, was a Western outlaw, though, in fact, he never went west; America’s own Robin Hood, though he robbed from the poor as well as the rich, and kept it all for himself; and a gunfighter whose victims, in reality, were almost always unarmed.

Less heroic than brutal, James was in fact a product, from first to last, of the American Civil War; a Confederate partisan of expansive ambition, unbending politics and surprising cunning, who gladly helped invent his own valiant legend. A member of a vicious band of Missouri guerrillas during the war, James sought redemption afterwards. But as this American Experience production reveals, year by year, he rode further from it, redeeming instead the great and glorious memory of the Old South. In a life steeped in prolific violence and bloodshed, he met what was perhaps the most fitting end; like so many of his own victims, James himself was an unarmed man, shot in the back.

Golfing is a good thing for Obama to do right now. The frustration will prepare him for the job ahead. What’s his handicap? Anyone know?

Remember the old saying: “Playing golf is ‘a good walk’ ruined.”