Speaking this morning from the White House on the continuing war on Gaza, Condi Rice illustrated once again why she may be one of America’s worst, most ineffective and disingenuous Secretaries of State. CSPAN Video here.
In describing the situation, she simultaneously misrepresented current facts, distorted history and condemned Hamas exclusively, while never mentioning Israel’s role.
She first noted that Hamas was holding the Gazans "hostage," while never noting that Israel, with the full support of the White House, has imposed a strangling siege of collective punishment on Gaza, preventing anyone from exiting, denying sufficient food, electricity, fuel, and medical supplies, all to wide-spread condemnation from other capitals and humanitarian organizations. She said Hamas staged a coup, but never mentioned that Hamas had won a democratic election promoted by the US and sanctioned by its allies, a result all of them tried to undo through undemocratic means.
It was a totally distorted, one-sided view of the world that might have been written by an Israeli Ministry of Propaganda.
Rice then claimed the US was working with other world leaders to establish a cease fire. There is only one catch: as a condition, Ms. Rice said a cease fire should only occur if it does not return to "the status quo ante," and that it must be durable and sustainable.
What this means is that Israel just got approval from the US to continue its onslaught on Hamas and Palestinians trapped in Gaza. Israel does not need to worry about pressure from the US for a cease fire until Hamas agrees to accept all of the conditions for unilateral surrender to continued Israeli containment, isolation and stateless domination. It’s exactly the formula Rice used two years ago to delay cease-fire efforts in Lebanon and "authorize" Israel to continue its war against Hezbollah.
This is how thousands of people get killed, while those responsible for their deaths claim they were working to stop the killing.
Update: More WH comments give Israel a go-ahead for ground assault.
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Worst SOS Ever!
Lying witch. She belongs in jail, like the rest of the sociopaths who’ve ruined our country and the world over the past eight years.
Scarecrow,
I keep thinking of Darth Cheney final disaster trip to the Mideast and that this was all planned some time ago.
I appreciate your thoughts.
For what it is worth, Condi may be book smart, but that’s all. She will be the worst secretary of state along with President Bush being one of the worst presidents in American history. Shameful and totally ridiculous.
http://www.blackpoliticalthought.com
Gee no mushroom cloud threat. COS (crock of shit) Condi Rice should be kept away from microphones.
430 hrs & 8 min
And Scarecrow, what did you expect?
This is about as close a repeat of history as I’ve ever seen. U.S. also gave Israel permission to continue devastating Lebanon.
Dugg
I saw Condi on Fox Noise last Sunday, and I have to give her credit for being a masterful spinner.
She never answered any question directly, and twisted her long-winded replies so much I would frequently forget what the original question was. Of course, this being Fox, no hard-hitting follow up questions were asked.
Condi can spin dog poop into gold, and that’s what she’s been doing lately…how else can she defend the US positions in Iraq and elsewhere around the middle-east?
She’s as much of an enabler and failure as Gonzales, but I suspect she’ll come out the the Bush cesspool smelling like a rose!
And sad to say, even though Reid and Pelosi aren’t in any of the pictures, they’re both standing right beside Condi.
These clowns have outsourced the US foreign policy to Israel.
430 hrs & 5 min
You forgot to mention war crimes her and Henry are the only Sec of States who have to worry about the Hague.
Shorter Condi: You can send in the ground troops now.
Shorter Bush: Bring it on!!!!
Shorter Obama:
Boxturtle (Is there a person of wisdom in a position of power anywhere between the Mediterrian and Gulf of Sidra?)
She has also spun our reputation into dog poop
430 hrs & 3 min
Condi’s just there to help Israel to implement the hasbara apparatus…
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl…..ne-pr-spin
That trick only works if the state has total control of the media. We have blogs now. Also that trick only works if people have confidence in the Government, Bush and Condi to handle the problem, give them the straight story, and or things are going so good people don’t care to hear bad news.
Condiliar channeling Nero..
What? Are you saying that’s not the way the world works….
Oooops…meant to reply to 15.
Bullshit inc.
429 hrs & 58 min
Which I might add has been in the planning for months and months, giving the lie to the Israeli propaganda line that they were forced to attack Gaza…
Did Condi mention that the UN tried to have a vote on this and the WH vetoed it. Did Condi mention that DK in the House wants the UN to investigate possible war crimes?
OT
Naftali interviewing (Sir) David Frost on cspan2 right now. Turns out Frost now has a program on al Jazeera English. Just shows you where the good news medium is today.
These killers have totally lost me. I’m for Hamas. I guess I am a terrorist now too. Oh, well.
Everyone at the UN is against this … except the US.
Msnrc reporter in Israel is a mouthpiece for Israels “National Misinformation Directorate”
429 hrs & 50 min
You know they may not have laws about propaganda in Israel but they do in the US … though you wouldn’t know that from the last 8 years.
This is so depressing … what did the concern troll a few thread down say … oh yeah, he was decrying the ”breathless hysteria.”
Yeah, I’m experiencing breathless hysteria. I’m a human being with a soul.
Thanks Scarecrow!
Don’t forget the Republican mantra: It’s OK to lie for the “greater good”.
This is where Hamas — if it were smart — would stop firing missiles, period. This would remove the proximate cause for IDF incursion and thus undercut the rationale for WH support. (And given that these missiles have no military purpose or effect, it’s really quite, quite stupid to continue firing them anyway.)
Until this happens, any building identified as a firing point (or storage point) will probably be considered a military target by the Israelis, and I can’t say I disagree with that assessment.
For those who have yet to accept that Israel quite literally controls US foreign policy, how much more proof do you require?
OK – here you go:
http://plungerspeaks.blogspot.com
Hamas wants Israel to commit war crimes with Bush leaving all Obama has to do is not veto a UN investigation they want to test Obama to see if he will play fair.
That would be a foolish move for Hamas.
If Obama is willing to pay fair then Hamas will make deals with him if not expect 4 more years of this.
And then what?
If Obama is going to play fair, then what?
If Obama is not going to play fair, then what?
Is it possible that we are not the only ones counting down the hours until Jan. 20? Get everything either fixed or totally broken before then?
We don’t need any more deals, or ”fair play” … we need this crap to end. It’s way past time.
Israel got its PR ducks in a row for this mass murder months and months ago. There is no “proximate cause” that provoked them, except for blood lust. Rational and well-executed, of course.
Can Israel kill everyone in their leadership? The more Israel kills the more popular Hamas becomes the more people willing to join Hamas and become leaders of Hamas.
Talking has gotten them no where for years.
The U.S. support of Israel in this military action makes no particular sense, unless it’s all about the U.S. Jewish vote, or that other thing.
The Northern Ireland conflict would never have ended if one side thought a god chose them as his special people and gave all of the disputed real estate to them alone, and a major world power shared the same religion and armed them to the teeth and fought every U.N. resolution on their behalf. The U.S./Israel alliance, judging from Obama’s earlier statements and silence during the current bloodbath, will just motor on and on. The world’s goodwill for Obama’s election will evaporate just like Bush’s goodwill after 9-ll.
Yeah, January 20th is part of everyone’s thinking. But anyone who thinks anything can be fixed this way by then (or after then) is mad. Gaza is just about flattened already. Israel has the world’s powers in a trance. I don’t see any of this changing at all. You’d think at least the world would be saying Israel is going to far finally. I don’t see that thought getting any traction with any powers that be, just with those tilting at windmills.
They have crippled Hamas, Hezzies, PLO for periods of time by assassinating their leaders. Besides the proximate cause this time, Lipni’s election bid, I think the general Israeli plan is to prolong the low grade insurgency. It’s worked for 60 years, at a relatively low cost to Israel, or at least a cost it seems willing to pay.
If people didn’t think Israel went too far with Lebanon in 06, what makes you think anyone would protest (other than ineffectually) now?
Insanity. Obama cannot change a thing until January 20th. In fact, and I’m not saying what he will do or if he will even do anything good, but he has to wait until January 20th or they will start fighting him before he has the power to fight back. He would lose before he began, no matter how many were on his side.
If he plays fair then a Hamas gets a fair deal a seaport the dome of the rock and a state thats connected by land.
If not then more missile strikes and Lebanon will start launching missiles soon Israel invades now Lebanon launches.
That and all those moderate Arab governments get riots in the streets as support for Hamas gives the radical Muslim groups in all those countries new recruits.
Long term we could lose a few allies in the area.
I agree eCAHN, no one ever seems to think Israel has gone too far ever and I don’t see that happening now, either. It’s part of the disastrous equation.
Condi, Bush and Dick need to fill their blood spilled body count quota for the new year in only 20 days.
Cut ‘em some slack, the fun is almost over for them.
-G
What is going to be informative will be HRCs confirmation hearings if they occur before 1/20
429 hrs & 32 min
Something else that the Israeli National Misinformation Directorate has also been cooking up…yet *another* new holocaust film in which Jews fight Nazis.
http://www.associatedcontent.c…..tml?cat=33
You know, they’re the GOOD guys. Ja!
ThingsComeUndone: I don’t see how Israel will EVER agree to anything fair. And even without the US supporting them they will yield some power for some time. They would just defy the UN just as they defy everthing and everyone with propaganda and bombs. They are emboldened by these ”successes.”
1. Do you expect anyone to ask any Qs other than about her husband’s financial dealings with foreign leaders? (Well, maybe whether she murdered Vince Forster too.)
2. Do you expect to learn anything new, even if they do ask Qs about Israel? Can’t we write all her As in advance?
Is this going to be a self flagellation film? *g*
429 hrs & 26 min
Can Israel expect more American money? If the GOP and the Blue Dog Dems block Obama’s stimulus package our economy will sink even more and then aid to Israel will dry up.
We have not yet dropped to Great Depression levels but if we do what will Israel do then? Sure we will sell them weapons but we won’t be giving them the money to buy them anymore.
Even a 10 % drop in American aid will hurt the Israeli economy.
Israel should make a fair deal while they are strong. If Lebanon attacks Israel will have to respond air power did not work last time that means they would need a long ground war.
The losses would be bad politically and the loss to the economy would be bad as workers are called up to serve.
Then factor in a partial loss of American aid or just the current devaluing of the Dollar continuing a bad economy and a long war will convince Hamas to ask for more weakness always does.
Maybe so
429 hrs & 25 min
I wasn’t going to bring up WWII … but how better to muddy any embarrassing comparisons with earlier war criminals than to create more propaganda to remind everyone who the TRUE victims are supposed to be.
What I don’t understand is…
…why hasn’t Caroline Kennedy ended all the Mideast violence yet? She could do that, ya know. And Obama too for that matter!
As the U.S. unemployment rate continues to soar, Rs & Blue Dogs will cave in to stimulus. (Might be too late, but that’s how I see it playing out.)
Israel’s (& Egypt’s) bribes will continue to be paid unless the U.S. enters serious depression. They are rounding error in the U.S. govt budget (well, unless the domestic auto industry is the recipient).
Good point I don’t see them agreeing to anything fair either but a long war and a bad economy might change the political climate its working quite well for us here:)
Reverse Shock Doctrine Rules!
ThingsComeUndone: I do hold some (sick) hope that the economic crisis will worsen to the point where these choices will have to be made. I’m actually comforted that, as difficult as the ’new’ economy is and will become, this will create the ground for the changes we want to see. It’s worth it to me but I’m not sure how much starving we will have to have before Israel is challenged.
Yes, Reverse Shock Doctrine!
Or … Shock Doctrine for who? It’s got to hurt the ”powers that be” for there to be change.
Econ I hope you are right I’m still in the stock market because I am betting you are right. But is it to late if so and we go into a serious depression well the Israeli leaders have to take into account that possibility now is not the time to up the ante when your thinking checks might not come in.
You do have to know when to fold them sometimes to play the game. Not knowing when to fold is Bush league play I thought Israel was better than that.
Somewhere I heard that Israel is much more controlled by neocon sorts than the U.S., that its controlled by the group for whom nothing but control over the whole geography will do. Read it recently, but can’t remember where, so can’t link. Anyhow, Israel’s behavior is certainly consistent with that hypothesis.
Too late to sell stocks, unless we get a dead cat bounce and you figure it won’t last. Verrrry difficult to figure that out in advance.
A Reverse Shock Doctrine hurts the Powers that be and us but because of the political climate the powers must lose all creditability first (thank you Bush) the powers must take it on the chin give us reform, rights cash etc or to stop further failure’s in the system or they risk losing everything.
Think French Revolution style class warfare.
A normal Shock Doctrine is when the Powers that be and us suffer a crisis the Powers blame someone else Jews pre WW2, African Americans during the Reagan years and then while the masses blame the scapegoat the Powers screw the masses and take total control.
We can do a Reverse Shock Doctrine now the GOP and Blue Dogs fear another FDR so they block us Obama has to stop being nice to them! We need to replace Harry in the Senate and Nancy in the House.
Otherwise Obama reenacts the Carter Presidency.
I honestly don’t think most pay enough attention to the widespread belief in the Christian community, (Obama claims he is a Christian), that the god they share with Judaism gave the land to the Israelis. Jon Voight, a good Republican, was in Israel last year saying the same thing and that Israel should never exchange land for peace.
This is the real problem. It hardly ever gets mentioned. Everyone plays around with red herrings and meanwhile, there simply is no way that politicians who believe they’ll be going against their god’s will can really ever address the conflict in an objective fashion. Someday a reporter might ask the right question.
Great Israel has Neocons! Then nomatter what Obama does its a waste of time. As for the market I’m hoping 2 maybe 3 years maybe less in Obama comes through on new spending for green energy which is where I’m at.
Didn’t whats his name cheat his half brother the father of the Arabs out of his inheritance assuming there is a God that is Just that seems to be a very weak basis for a claim.
Still the cheating Brother should get something family should talk.
ThingsComeUndone: Obama as Carter … now you’re really scaring me.
Well, one way or another we ARE inching closer to some sort of revolution.
If Obama does only the Green Thing well enough that it takes off, it may be enough to shift all of this to a new equation by taking the power of oil out. That’s the wild card and I think it’s doable. If I had cash I would put solar up on my roof right now: read the other day even in clouds you can generate enough to make money. Again, I have learned I am not usually alone in my thinking or even an early adopter. We’re on the cusp.
All of Israel’s arguments seem to be based on 2,000 year old thinking.
It’s not a good enough excuse for killing women and children in 2008.
Foreign policy can be heard from just about any pulpit. One should never underestimate the human capacity for ignorance, and just like stocks, never fall in love with politicians. I’d like to hear Hillary asked what she thinks of the “promised land” claim and how that will impact foreign policy.
Sorry I have a gift for thinking about the worse possible thing to happen:) I agree on the green power either we go green or as oil runs out we fade as a world power and probably revolt.
I can’t think of any good reason to kill women and kids.
Ok bye pups Great thread:)
i doubt hamas has such complete control over all the various militant factions that it could order a halt. even during previous truces, there was always some faction that would lob a few.
War is hell. But Israel has,IMO, the absolute right to defend itself against all enemies. Hamas has sent suicide bombers, rockets and morters to kill Israeli citizens, yet the MSM and the world just stood by and said nothing. Now that Israel has said “ENOUGH” and has declared war on Hamas, the world comes out and condems them. There is no proportionality in war. Israel has the right and obligation to its citizens to protect them by waging total war, overwhelming war. “Shock and Awe”. Anything to end it quickly with the fewest number of Israeli citizens killed and injured. No country in the world should have to take suicide bombers and unguided rockets killing anyone who just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I note that Hamas has placed everything that would be a target next to a school or hospital. I also note that while Gaza is being attacked, all except for 1 leader has gone into hiding. I would also note that Egypt also has a border with Gaza that they also keep closed, yet everyone screams at Israel for closing their border after being attacked by bombers and rockets. Has any arab country come out to defend Hamas?…..crickets, anyone?
People always blame Israel when they use their high tech to attack their enemies, yet no one condems Hamas for taking power by killing all the PA employees who were not Hamas members. A wee bit one sided, no?
Rice says that Abbas won the election and Hamas has tried to pull off a coup??? Lies.
She and Bush (”we”) are talking with other world leaders….(all but Hamas, that is).
IMO the truth on this and other matters is the opposite of the words spoken by Bush/Rice/Cheney.
I see Israel as the husband that abuses his wife for questioning his conduct, then as she stand before him bruised, bloody and broken, he shouts at her, “NOW SEE WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!!!”
Dr. Rice must have, back when, written the dissertation one loathes to have to read- the kind of PhD. Herr Bush and crew apparently love to death. Our death. Good riddance and may Stanford students shit on you as much as you deserve.
It’s a wee bit one sided to equate the situation to a case of two independent soverign nations living side by side in peace when one suddenly and without provocation attacks the other, which simply defends itself.
I wonder what you would think if you woke up tomorrow and your neighbor had torn down your backyard fence and built a garage in your yard, and parked his car across your driveway.
You are quite right in that the missiles being fired on Israel have no military purpose or effect, from a Palestinian standpoint. If they are in fact being fired by Mossad agents, they serve a strategic military purpose: giving justification for the Isreali response.
Like 9/11 it’s another false flag operation, conducted by the same players.
Could well be, given the disorganization inherent in such situations. I suppose it’s entirely possible that some factions are determined to provoke retaliation for political reasons of their own, e.g., undermining Hamas. If that’s the case, though, it would seem to be in Hamas’ tactical and strategic best interest to stop the import of such weapons (through the tunnels or from the sea) and to communicate their intention to do so via back channels to the Israelis.
You make a number of interesting points, but perhaps the best is “There is no proportionality in war”. If anything, I’ve been taken with the restraint Israel has shown — not that hysterical commentators here and elsewhere have noticed. (Free clue for those: if Israel’s intentions were to simply kill as many Palestinians as possible, then they could have saved considerable time, expense and effort by merely carpet-bombing Gaza with anything/everything they had laying around…rather than actually selecting targets and trying to hit them with relatively precise weapons. This would be much quicker, probably much more effective in a military sense, and certainly a lot cheaper — guided munitions are expensive.) (Second free clue: it’s not an accident that we are seeing reports of collateral damage to schools, mosques, hospitals, etc.: it’s the result of deliberate actions by Hamas to locate what they know will be targets in precisely such places, partially as a deterrent to attack, and partly to score PR points with the gullible.)
Please explain to me where the non-civilian areas are in the Gaza Strip which is 4 miles wide and 25 miles long, and contains 1.4 million people.
And, the war mongers urge them on with talk of revenge and national pride and survival and the Holocaust and all the rest. How can you end a war when the opposition might get elected by calling you a coward or traitor?
It takes real leadership to do what’s good for the nation and it’s people DESPITE political consequences and personal feelings. Does Israel and the Palestinians have such leadership?
Some of those rockets are fired by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, which are associated with Fatah, resulting in false flags.