Sunday, January 04, 2009

Gaza Day 9



Israel has now invaded Gaza. An almost invincible military power has invaded an almost defenseless city. The only worry on Israel's side is that its soldiers will be harmed. Certainly there will be more retaliation if that happens. (Against civilians, including children, of course.) The United States has blocked the Security Council at the UN from issuing a call for a cease fire.

Glenn Greenwald says it all this AM. It is tribalism at its worst. According to Jered Diamond, in Guns, Germs and Steel, the World has supposedly moved beyond tribalism, in most societies. Sorry, Mr. Diamond, you read the cards wrong on this one.

As sad as it is for children, the instability that this will introduce into the MidEast and, ultimately, the World is incalcuable. Bush's desire for a peace treaty by the end of his presidency has been entirely shattered.

The irony, of course, is that Israel has been planning this for months and has used bombs and money from the United States to carry out the attack knowing that it would destroy any chance for peace. Did Rice and Bush know? If not, why not? Will Clinton know? She is so deep in the pocket of the pro Israel lobby in the U.S. that the next four years look grim.

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