dennis the menace

Kucinich: Bush Administration Ignores Humanitarian Crisis
Israeli Military Prevents Emergency Ambulance Care for Four Days
WASHINGTON - January 8 - Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement on the House floor calling attention to a report in the Washington Post that the International Committee of the Red Cross has accused the Israeli military of preventing ambulances from reaching at least 15 emaciated people for four days:

“What is going on in America? We have trillions for a war machine and banks while our government stands by and sniffs at the slaughter of innocents in Gaza, where Israel is blocking aid for wounded Palestinians. Here’s today’s Washington Post it says: The International Committee of the Red Cross said Thursday that it found at least 15 bodies and several children, emaciated but alive - - in a row of shattered houses in the Gaza strip and accused the Israeli military of preventing ambulances from reaching the site for four days. ...12 corpses lying on mattresses in one home, along with four young children lying next to their dead mothers." That’s a quote

“Today U.S. tax dollars, U.S. jets and U.S. helicopters provided to Israel are enabling the slaughter in Gaza. The Administration enables Israel to press forward with the attack against defenseless civilians; blocks efforts promoting a cease-fire at the UN; and refuses to make Israel comply with conditions that arms shipments not be used for aggression. Israel is going to receive $30 billion in a ten-year period for military assistance, without having to abide by any humanitarian principles, international laws or standards of basic human decency. Wake up America.”

here is a rare politician that tells the truth. for that, he is considered to be living in a fantasy world. a co-worker of mine, a so called liberal enamored with obama, considered his spots in the democratic debates to be "comic relief." no, my friend, it is your child like enthusiasm for barack o'bomber, and the millions like you who share that enthusiasm, who provide the political laughs of our time. because kucinich speaks the truth, he received no coverage in the media. because kucinich speaks the truth, he received no funding for his campaign. because he speaks the truth, he was written off by a populace of know nothings. as it is, he soldiers on within a party that ignores his sage advice. why he does so is somewhat of a mystery, although it does allow him to receive a steady check and to get his ideas out to more people. let us think about his poor showings in the presidential election. surely, many of the more progressive people who voted for obama were closer in their views to kucinich. why then, did they not support him? did they take their cues from the media? were they doubtful that a short vegan could be president? in any case, compare this remark by kucinich with what most of the politicians are saying and doing, and then ask yourself who the serious and legitimate politicians are.

for example, the governor of ma, deval patrick, recently attended a gathering of about 1000 people in support of israel's actions, but has strangely been absent from the anti-war protests. more significantly, the u.s senate recently issued a joint statement, agreed upon by a wide majority in both political parties, (despite the fact that most democratic voters are opposed to israel's actions. but hey, if the views of the people mattered, we would leave iraq and have national health insurance) supporting israel and its "right to defend itself." funny, but our senate never seems to think that the palestinians have a right to defend themselves, despite the fact that they are 100 times more likely to be killed in the current conflict. israel can defend itself against hamas rockets, but palestinians can't defend themselves against the theft of their land, the stealing of their resources, and the brutalities of israeli invasion and occupation. and if our senate believes that israel can defend itself from hamas rockets that have so far killed 3 civilians, why don't they issue a statement in support of the iraqi insurgency? don't the iraqis have a right to defend themselves against bombs that have killed hundreds of thousands? hey, i'd settle for the senate agreeing to cut war funding, much less verbally condemning u.s imperialism, but one can dream, no?

so, on this day, let us ponder who has the right to defend themselves, and who has the right to offend others. interestingly, it seems only we or our allies have these rights, hence making a mockery of the word "rights." it makes one think of mao's "political power comes out of the barrel of a gun." sad but seemingly true. therefore, if the powerful have the freedom to bomb at will, what of the powerless? what are their rights?

come on u.s senate, i'm waiting for some feedback.