Kucinich wants Obama to 'call Israel to an accounting'

[slipslidingaway]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/06/02/gaza.kucinich

"Washington -- Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, called Wednesday on President Barack Obama "to call Israel to an accounting" for its attack Monday on a Turkish ship that was traveling in international waters laden with humanitarian goods for Gaza.

Israel's conduct "constitutes an act of belligerence against Turkey, which at one time Israel considered an important ally," the Ohio Democrat wrote. "It also undermines United States troops' efforts in Iraq, since your administration's efforts to achieve stability in the region and to withdraw troops from Iraq has depended upon Turkey's cooperation through use of its air bases."

He called for the United States to "begin to redefine its relationship" with Israel and for Israel to face diplomatic and financial consequences for the attack, which killed nine people.

"If our nation fails to act in any substantive way, the United States licenses the violence and we are complicit in it and our own citizens will be forced to pay the consequences," he wrote...


...Hundreds of items of equipment procured by WHO and other organizations have been waiting to enter Gaza for up to a year, said Tony Laurance, head of WHO's office for Gaza and the West Bank..."

[timtom]

1. "Killed 9 people..."

That figure is closer to 20, according to news sources not under the Israeli thumb.(Crap. Just saw this and now I can't find it...)

Anyway, K & R. Thanks for posting.

<Edited to change "new sources" to "news sources.">

[aquart]

3. Anyone can spread a rumor. Give me the names.

Show me their pictures.

[timtom]

7. I believe there is enough information here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2010/06/02/DI2010060202027.html

"Rockville, Md.: Most credible foreign news agencies are saying 19 aid workers were killed, but the American MSM, taking their cue from the Israeli embassy, is telling us 'at least 9 people were killed'. 19 vs 9 makes a huge difference. Why can't the American MSM give us a definite number?

Adam Shapiro: Really, the number is not known. Israel refuses to identify the dead, let anyone identify the dead or provide any further information. Aside from the four confirmed Turkish citizens about whom confirmation was only given today."

I don't know where the figure of 19 comes from, but the bolded text reveals something quite significant to me. You, on the other hand, like many Americans of good will, should continue to demand to know the number, the names, and the pictures of the dead. Perhaps if you communicate with Israel directly, they might supply you with that information.

[rhett o rick]

15. Anyone can claim that the nine dead is a rumor. How sad. Do you have any proof

that no one was killed?

[sabrina 1]

18. Today's reports say that under international pressure, Israel

released all of the kidnapped peace activists, including those they had intended to file charges against. But three are 'being held' one from Ireland, one from Italy and I believe the third is from Australia. No news on why.

Also not released are seven others who are said to be in Israeli hospitals too ill to be transported yet.

That is ten people still in Israel.

[flvegan]

2. Kucinich!

[Alamuti Lotus]

4. And the pathetic response: "Obama: Let Israel probe Gaza flotilla raid with U.S. observer"

What a nincumpoop.

[tango-tee]

8. Yep, let the fox investigate

why all the chickens are dead. That's the way to find out what *really* happened!

[TheKentuckian]

5. I don't know about Obama but my accounting is that if you run a blockade

that you are going to be interdicted or sunk. SURPRISE!!!!

Turkey is playacting that they can make that run and not be acting in an aggressive posture themselves and if you fight to maintain control of your craft then the interdicting force is assuming command then that force is going to take action to maintain control. If you use even blunt weapons or hurt a troop then there is a very, very high chance that deadly force will be used.

Do people actually think that if you "passively" run a blockade that they are supposed to let you go or something?

I call it restraint that the boats still float. You cannot passively engage in an act of war and certainly if you cease being passive then people are going to get hurt.

[AndrewJacksonFaction]

16. The Ships were in INTL waters. They were nowhere near the blockade line.

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. at least one member of the U.S. Congress has guts and a conscience

There are somethings in this world that no amount of loony rationalization or wild, crazy excuse making can EVER justify, no tortured sophistry will ever be convincing. Storming ships in international waters and murdering activists and kidnapping hundreds of other activist and holding them without any ability to communicate to the outside world, ships that are carrying aid to desperately impoverished people who are living in a place where Israel claims they withdrew from and no longer occupy - but still blockades - a place where every credible and legitimate humanitarian organization in the world, without one single exception, say are desperately suffering because of this internationally condemned and illegal blockade.

[sabrina 1]

17. + 1000 n/t

[L. Coyote]

9. As it should be, in the interest of national security.

[bigwillq]

10. K and R (nt)

[Mari333]

11. ah, dennis. we occupy 2 countries, torture, murder, send drones to kill people

and hire mercenaries to do our dirty work. what possible credibility does obama have left now? none.

[Lance_Boyle]

12. The only thing Israel's a-counting are billions of misspent US tax dollars annually

and maybe a running tally of bulldozed and otherwise slaughtered innocents in their unceasing war on not-Israel.

[bvar22]

13. Why are there no photos of DK pandering to AIPAC?

Why are there no photos of Dennis Kucinich pandering to AIPAC?

....because he doesn't pander to AIPAC.


”Unlike the other candidates, I am not funded by those corporate interests.
I owe them no loyalty, and they have no influence over me or my policies.” ---Dennis Kucinich

[OhioChick]

14. K&R n/t

[slipslidingaway]

19. I'm late in saying so, but thanks to all who replied and recommended :) n/t

[Karmadillo]

20. K&R

nt