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The Gaza Flotilla Assault

By Bronwyn's Harbor on May 31, 2010 at 11:58 AM in Current Affairs

Weigh in. More key updates below the fold.

UPDATE (a POV via Hot Air):

The preferred media headline so far this morning has been “Israelis kill 10 peace activists in Gaza flotilla,” but that’s not quite what happened. The IDF attempted to head off a number of boats attempting to run the blockade on Gaza, a blockade necessitated by Hamas’ repeated attacks on Israel. They boarded the lead ship by helicopter, expecting to either convince the occupants to turn back or to commandeer the boat themselves. What they didn’t expect was to find armed “peace activists,” and a bloody melee ensued:

UPDATE II: An opposing POV important to read, via Haaretz: “A Special Place in Hell / The Second Gaza War: Israel lost at sea.”

Here’s a collection of reports and opinion pieces (being added live):

“Gaza Flotilla ATTACKED: Israel Storms Aid Ship, At Least 10 Dead”

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israeli naval commandos stormed a flotilla of ships carrying aid and hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists to the blockaded Gaza Strip on Monday, killing at least 10 passengers in a predawn raid that set off worldwide condemnation and a diplomatic crisis.

Israel said its commandos were attacked by knives, clubs and live fire from two pistols wrested from soldiers after they rappelled from a helicopter to board one of the vessels.

Dozens of activists and at least 10 Israeli soldiers were wounded in the bloody confrontation in international waters. …

Via Huffington Post:

Al Jazeera reporter Jamal Elshayyal was on board the aid ship ‘Mavi Marmara,’ which was trying to break an aid blockade that Israel has imposed on Gaza when it was stormed by Israeli soldiers.

From Al Jazeera’s blurb on the video:

Commandos lowered themselves from helicopters and onto the Mavi Marmara – the lead ship in a flotilla of six vessels which are carrying humanitarian aid for the Palestinian territory.

Elshayyal on board the Mavi Marmara sent this report before communications were cut.

Al Jazeera Video:

IDF video (“DATE: The Israeli Defense Force has released more video from the flotilla allegedly showing IDF naval personnel being attacked after they had boarded the flotilla.”)

More videos and accounts.

—————————-

Via Hot Air’s “Bloody clash off Gaza coast leaves 10 dead“:

The world will blame Israel for this, but the blockade exists to keep weapons out of the hands of Hamas, which continually attacks Israel despite the latter’s withdrawal from Gaza years ago. It’s a legitimate and necessary military response to Hamas’ terrorism, and the flotilla knowingly sailed itself into a military conflict — and carried arms into it as well. That makes them legitimate antagonists in the conflict and fair game for Israeli’s military.

Update: Say, it’s probably a good thing the IDF had its video cameras rolling:

Update II: Via Cubachi, the group behind the flotilla has a history of supporting violent jihad and anti-Westernism:

Prominent among the coalition organizations participating in the aid flotilla scheduled to arrive in the Gaza Strip in the coming days is the Turkish IHH (Insani Yardim Vakfi, IHH, “humanitarian relief fund”). It is a radical Islamic organization which was established in 1992 and formally registered in Istanbul in 1995. It is headed by Bülent Yildirim. …

In practice, besides its legitimate humanitarian activities, IHH supports radical Islamic terrorist networks. Inrecent years it has prominently supported Hamas (through the Union of Good). In addition, the ITIC has reliable information that in the past IHH provided logistical support and funding to global jihad networks.

IHH’s orientation is radical-Islamic and anti-American, and it is close to the Muslim Brotherhood(Hamas’ parent movement). IHH supports Hamas and does not hide the connection between them. Hamas also considers its links to IHH and Turkey to be extremely important, and regards Turkey as a target audience for its propaganda network (Palestine-Information, Hamas’ main website, has a Turkish version, and as of the end of 2009, the website of its military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, has also appeared in Turkish).

In recent years, especially since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip, IHH has supported Hamas’ propaganda campaigns by organizing public support conferences in Turkey. At those conferences, which featured the participation of senior IHH figures, the heads of IHH expressed their support for Hamas and its strategy (including the armed struggle it favors), in defiance of the Palestinian Authority, Hamas’ rival.

IHH is a member of the Union of Good, an umbrella organization of more than 50 Islamic funds and foundations around the globe, which channels money into Hamas institutions in the Palestinian Authority-administered territories. As a Union of Good member IHH has connections with other worldwide Islamic funds and foundations which support Hamas. Among other things, the support includes initiating and conducting joint projects whose objectives are to bolster the de facto Hamas administration in the Gaza Strip and Hamas’ civilian infrastructure in Judea and Samaria, which also supports terrorism (the infrastructure is under pressure from the Palestinian Authority security services). IHH, which has become an important factor in global fund-raising for Hamas, transfers significant amounts of money to Hamas institutions in Judea and Samaria, including the Islamic Charitable Society in Hebron and the Al-Tadhamun Charitable Society in Nablus (Hamas’ two central “charitable societies,” both outlawed by Israel).

IHH operates widely throughout the Gaza Strip. To promote its activities it opened a branch there, headed by Muhammad Kaya, who recently stated that IHH intended to send other aid flotillas to the Gaza Strip (See below). In January 2008 an IHH delegation met with Ahmed Bahar, a senior Hamas activist who is acting chairman of Hamas’ council in the Gaza Strip. At the meeting the delegation revealed the extent of the aid it had given Hamas in the Gaza Strip during the preceding year and said it intended to double the sum in the future. In January 2009 IHH head Bülent Yildirim met with Khaled Mashaal, chairman of Hamas’ political bureau in Damascus, and Mashaal thanked him for the support of his organization.

Israel expelled IHH from Gaza in 2008, along with 35 other organizations associated with the Union of Good.

Update III: And here we have a “peace activist” repeatedly stabbing an IDF soldier, via Orit Sklar on Twitter:

Yup, a really good thing the IDF brought along its video cameras …

…

  • sowsear
  • sowsear
  • HARP

    Unarmed peace activists my ass.

  • Bronwyn

    Here is another collection of stories at Memeorandum.

    Among those:

     Ron Ben-Yishai / Ynetnews:A brutal ambush at sea  —  Ron Ben Yishai recounts bloody clash aboard Gaza-bound vessel: The lacking crowd-dispersal means, the brutal violence of ‘peace activists,’ and the attempt to bring down an IDF helicopter  —  Our Navy commandoes fell right into the hands of the Gaza mission members.——————- Jerusalem Post:Navy escorts flotilla ships to Ashdod  —  IDF: Soldiers were met by well-planned lynch, concealed handguns.  ——————Melissa Clouthier / Liberty Pundits Blog:President Obama Abandons Israel; And Now, The Flotilla-UPDATED  —  How do we repair the damage?  It is absolutely heart-breaking to see the President of the United States abandon our staunchest allies: Poland, Colombia and now Israel.  President Obama backs a non-proliferation agreement that singles out Israel via Brutally Honest:

  • Bronwyn

    Video Update: Demonstrators Use Violence Against Navy Soldiers Boarding Ship  —  Early this morning (May 31) the Israel Navy intercepted the flotilla after passengers on board ignored Israeli warnings.  IDF forces met with severe pre-planned violence from the demonstrators, including use of live fire and light weaponry. ————–  

  • Bronwyn

    Jerusalem Post:Navy escorts flotilla ships to Ashdod  —  IDF: Soldiers were met by well-planned lynch, concealed handguns.

  • Armymom

    Exactly Harp. Poor poor terrorists. They start shit then cry foul when they can’t handle it. Sounds like our resident POS in chief.

  • HEP-T

    looks like the NorKs can be allowed to torpedo a RoK ship and kill half the crew but woe to the Israeli’s if they just board a ship and try NOT to injure or kill anyone unless attacked.
    Perhaps the Israeli’s should do as the NorKs did and just torpedo the ships, that appears to be allowed. :*

  • HARP

    In fact, they aren’t “peace activists” at all. One of the groups involved in this flotilla of boats bringing supplies to Hamas is the Turkey-based IHH (Insani Yardim Vakfi, IHH, “humanitarian relief fund”).
    According to the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center website, the IHH has been known to provide logistical support and funding to global jihad networks and is closely linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas’ parent movement.
    Because of its funding support of jihad and Hamas, Israel outlawed IHH in 2008.
    And these are the people involved in this flotilla of boats attempting to run the blockade that Israel has put around Gaza to prevent money and weapons from getting into the Palestinian Authority and into the hands of the terror group Hammas.
    So, while it was regrettable that anyone had to get killed, one wonders why “peace activists” were so heavily armed, were so immediately violent, and have supported terrorism in the past?

    http://www.publiusforum.com/2010/05/31/jihadis-killed-in-clash-with-idf-near-gaza/

  • carol haka

    Don’t concern yourselves. 
     
    Terrorist Loving Obama took time out of his vacation to issue an “official American Apology” to the terrorists – with the appropriate warning for the Israelies. 
     
    Be prepared though, he will probably chastise them during his speech this afternoon.

    >:o

  • Noogan
  • Noogan

    They were in international waters. Just like the USS Liberty, another ship of “terrorists” right Harp? 

    Israel is a rogue state, and they just committed a massacre on board a ship in international waters. 

  • don tufts

    before you make a compleate ass of yourself watch the videos if you dont want to then stfu.

  • Noogan

    You know, Bronwyn, I don’t mind that you demonize one point of view in your effort to propagandize people; but posting Ashkenzi’s lies as if they have merit, shows that you really don’t know much about what you’re posting here. If you don’t have a good background in who these people are and what they stand for, you ought to try to be more reasonable. Ashkenazi is a disgrace, and posting his version of the truth is like posting “Dick Cheney says…”

    Please endeavor to remember that there are a 1.5 MILLION human beings–women and children among them–in GAZA who are literally starving to death. One does not need to demonize 1.5 million people–women and children included–in order to propagandize for Israel. 

    At least have some sympathy for the reason these activists continue to try to get through the blockade. Israel is deliberately STARVING people in Gaza. Literally.

  • Ferd Berfle

    So, while it was regrettable that anyone had to get killed, one wonders why “peace activists” were so heavily armed, were so immediately violent, and have supported terrorism in the past?
    =====================
    Peace activist is just another euphemism designed to create sympathy for those who, by fostering violence, bring violence upon themselves in full measure.

  • carol haka

    The Arab nations are responsible for any atrocities the Palestinians are suffering – it is by their hand.

    The Palestinians have some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.  They had a society until the other nations decided to make them the junkyard dogs of the Middle East by carrying out “their” mission of hate and terror.

    >:o

  • Hokma

    Just like with the Gaza situation, the world media immediately will find any way to condemn Israel because of the ever growing worldwide anti-Semitism. The much later the facts come out that counter all the hyperbole spewed by the media and the anti-Israel government.

    In this case it will be interesting to see if they find more than the few Hezbollah weapons specialists that were detained.

  • Hokma
  • helenk

    Look at the different way two country’s leaders handle an emergency.
    Isreal cut short trip go home to handle the situtation.
    America go on vacations while a large party of the country is being damaged more and more every day.
    The mid-east will never have peace until both side recongise the right of the other to exist. No third party can make a difference.

    WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENECE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS

    PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE

  • carol haka

    Sarah Palin.

    We need you.

    Hillary is obviously being drugged and held hostage.

    Send help.

    Sincerely,

    Americans

    >:o

  • Diana

    Could do without the stfu quality comments. People here are allowed to have differing opinions.

  • jwrjr

    I was originally ready to condemn the Israelis for an unprovoked attack.  But with Obama sticking his nose like this I have to reconsider.

  • HARP

    OMG…. The jews will dominate the middle east….

  • HARP

    Gee….I can`t understand why the Jews feel threatened.

  • Cindy

    HARP—wow! what a terrific graphic! Thanks.

  • Sandra

    Israel is not a rogue state.

  • HARP

    And your concern for the Jewish children that were on this bus is…….

  • Trixta

    A leader who actually responds to a national emergency! Our leader goes golfing or throws hoops in the face of a such an emergency!

  • goldengrahme

    I agree, Carol; my opinion has always been–based on some research re the history of the Palestine issue–that Israel, with all its human flaws, has behaved judiciously in most cases.  Considering the constant violent assaults on her people, the drummed-up “world condemnation” largely engendered by the UN with it 57 or so Arab/Islamic majority nations, she has been a model of restraint.  Western oil consumption is the impetus for most of these incidents.  Arabs feel they have an ace in the hole (an oil hole).

    There is the schisim within modern Jewry that prevents solution, as well. Their Left is violently opposed to capitalism and have skewed the term ‘Zionism’ to reflect all that is evil in Israel and Israeli policy.  Origninally, as I understand the word, a Zionist simply wanted a country free of prejudice and continual oppression prevelant throughout Europe and the Western Hemisphere.  Arabs in the area now known as Palestine and Israel, sold
    land to migrating Jews who formed socialist style kibutzes; Israel has morphed since their independence into a viable, thriving country with modern cities. 

    The US supported and armed Israel to protect its oil interests in the Middle East.  When Israel ceases to fill that role, she will be dumped, no doubt, and a whole other regime will follow.  It is no wonder the Israelis are a bit paranoid and testy.  With the whole world watching and condemning every move–whether right or wrong–she stands alone, an island of fragile democracy in an ocean of hostile hoards who covet the land and the success of a few million Jews in a once barren desert.  It makes them look bad, very bad.

    Even the Egyptians have tired of tunnels which funnel arms as well as food into the Gaza Strip from Egypt.  They are attempting to close them–but there are hundreds and hundreds.  All Palestinians have to do is make a truce with Israel.  Their chances to acquire a better deal diminish each day they subbornly deny a peace process to go forward.  They have put their trust in the wrong leadership.  The Israelis simply mop up the carnage.

    The flotilla was the latest in decades of propaganda ploys meant to garner sympathy.  Let us wait and see how our State Department handles it.  I
    will hold my breath.  I do hope Israel won’t take the bait and unilaterally attack Iran. That would be a disaster for all.  Including the US.

    Just my take on a very disturbing problem.  I am not an expert on anything but I do try to ferret out obvious falacies.  A Jew is no better, no worse than any other ethnic group; they are just trying to retain identity and survive.

    And that seems to enrage many on our planet–not just Arabs.

  • Guest

    Agreed. The main issue here is not their ideology but the fact that the people on those boats were still to be considered unarmed civilians in international waters. When anyone boards a vessel in international waters without being invited it is an act of piracy. The people on the vessels had every right to take action against the invaders. This type of commando action on the part of Israel is not right.

    Imagine if iIran not Israel had carried out an attack on aid flotilla. We’d now be at war.

  • bayareavoter

    You are the one who bought the lies.

    Israel always has the worst PR on the planet but they are not starving in Gaza. The UN regularly brings supplies, food and medical supplies through Israeli checkpoints into Gaza. Hamas steals these supplies and is not distributing it to the populace. Israel doesn’t want the port opened because soon their will be more arms and guns than food coming on these flotillas.

  • bayareavoter

    my comment is a reply to noogan

  • lorac

    Nah, he cancelled his Memorial Day speech in Illinois.  It was raining, and he told the crowd he didn’t want them hit by thunder.  Not every rain shower is a thunderstorm, though – I’d be curious to know if there really was thunder – because my guess is they couldn’t use the teleprompters in the rain, and he had no idea what was written on them to say…

  • bayareavoter

    These were not peace activists. These were provocateurs.

    Israel always has the worst PR on the planet but they are not starving in Gaza because of Israel. The UN regularly brings supplies, food and medical supplies through Israeli checkpoints into Gaza, which Israel gave back without condition, forcing Jews to leave their homes and neighborhoods.

    Hamas steals these UN supplies and is not distributing it to the populace. Israel doesn’t want the port opened because soon there will be more arms and guns than food coming on these flotillas.

  • HARP

    So what do we call it when we do it fool?

  • HARP

    Who attacked who again. Hey Obama, maybe you should watch the evidece before you open your stupid fat mouth.

  • Armymom

    He always opens his mouth without knowledge. I’m surprised he didn’t say they “acted stupidly”. What a POS

  • No Longer Banned in Beantown

    The DNC see Obama as the best opportunity to turn the US into a Socialist Nation.

    The radical Arab Muslim world see Obama as the best opportunity wipe Israel off the map. They likely see Obama’s weakening support as a call to speed the attaks of Israel along.

    Whenever there is a cease fire in Israeli/Gaza/Lebanon Hamas, Fatah, PLO and their factions have always been the first to break it and provoke Israel. 

    If suicide bombers and rocket attacks stop flying into Israel from Gaza, Palestanians will have nothing to fear and blockades will be ended.

    If Israel reopens the dam of the blockade, the deluge of rocket and suicide attacks from Hamas and Fatah into Israel will follow.

    That is how it always has gone.

    This was a planned provacation of the well known Israeli blockade. The IHH had extremists at the ready on those ships to attack the Israelis that they knew would board and inspect the ships.

    The IHH protests in Turkey were also planned like clockwork to commence immediately at the first reports of the confrontation.

    This entire episode was coordinated and planned out by IHH from the confrontation and violence at the Israelis, to the protest that immediately followed. The protesters knew well in advance to be ready.

  • don tufts

    no its not,when you declare a navel blockaid and blockaid runners approch and do not turn back when advised to do so the blockaiding navy has the right under maritime law to board and detain the ship,that is unless you would prefer for them just to be sunk upon refusal?

  • don tufts

    unless he would like to come here with facts and not hamas taking points my comment stands.

  • Peggy Sue

    It’s my understanding that the Israelis boarded and inspected 5 ships without incident.  But on the 6th ship, the “peace” activists attacked the Israeli soldiers with small arms and knives.  If there was nothing to hide, why attack?  And the flotilla was warned repeatedly about breaking the blockade without an inspection.  And then, Israel gets the blame?

    Sorry, this was a provocation by the “peace” activists, another deadly PR stunt.  And when the President sides with this sort of nonsense, he only enboldens those who would love to continue terrorism ad infinitum and/or increase our chances for another war, this time with Iran.  I’m getting very nervous about the heightened prospects.  The USS Truman carrier and warship convoy is headed to the Middle East now.  Yesterday I read an article reportedly quoting Petraeus saying that the Iranians are and have been sending troops to Afghanistan to join the Taliban.

    It’s beginning to sound frightfully familiar.  And meanwhile, in addition to the blood spent in the Middle East, we have crossed the 1 trillion dollar mark in war expenditures over the last nine years.  Good investment?  I don’t think so.

  • HARP

    SPOT ON

  • HARP

    Barack Obama’s close family friends, terrorists Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn, and top campaign bundler Jodie Evans from Code Pink are top activists with the Gaza flotilla group that attacked the IDF today.

    http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/05/figures-obamas-pal-bill-ayers-top-bundler-jodie-evans-are-top-activists-in-gaza-flotilla-group/

  • POdVet

    That video truly shows who the aggressors were Harp! I’m beginning to think the muslim extremists aren’t going to be happy until they get the full scale war they want with the entire non-muslim world.

  • sowsear

    The mid-east will never have peace until both sides recognize the right of the other to exist. No third party can make a difference. 

    That is absolutely the truth, but given the “climate’ in the mid-East, it’s not going to happen anytime soon, if ever.

  • goldengrahme

    I wondered about that, too.  The Israelis boarded in international waters.
    Then it occurred that they were peacefully warding off an armed confrontation if or when the boats ventured into Israeli territory, believing it was better to warn than to assault.  (I am sure their own intelligence was aware of the mission’s pretend humanitarian agenda.)

    But the Turks in the flotilla were not interested in peaceful negotiations; they were interested in provoking an incident, which succeeded.  They knew in advance of the retrictions, yet pushed the mission.  You can only surmise they had ulterior motives. 

    Three American hikers are still in custody in Iran for straying across a border.
    Where is the hue and cry internationally for their release?  Nothing but eerie silence from the ‘righteous world community.’   An American college student was imprisoned under harsh conditions in Peru for fifteen years…finally released this month.  Her crime was protesting the treatment of indigeonous Peruvian Indians.  You had to go to alternative media to follow her story.
    Amy Berenger is in poor health but has not lost her zeal to help fellow humans.

    Outside protestors in Israel are questioned and released within hours or a few days, unless they pose a threat.  I just point these circumstances out in an effort to cite the double standared emposed on Israel.  Daniel Pearl, an American journalist, was beheaded for trusting militant Islamic ‘freedom fighters.’  His crime was being Jewish.

    Gets a little fuzzy, don’t it?

    I am aware of the USS Liberty tragedy.  Our then-president Johnson ordered the hit and directed the ship be sent to the bottom of the Mediterranean
    sea.  He was carrying out a false-flag event to involve Egypt in war games.
    Some Israeli pilots defied orders and broke off the attack; they sensed something was wrong and went with their humane impulses, not command decisions.  Who is more to blame?  The US or Israel?

    Johnson also accepted the false report re the Gulf of Tonkin incident.  Perhaps he was aware of all the particulars but wanted to escalate the Vietnam War.

    Things are not always as they appear.

  • Tony Stark

    Netanyahu will get more support from North Korea than from His Highness living in 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC.

  • EllenD

    Insani Yardim Vakfi, IHH, “humanitarian relief fund

    Emphasis on “Insani”.

  • connie

    I can’t believe that BO cancelled his speech because of rain?? I am telling you BO is sick, probably Aids.

    What is Hillary saying?? Has the US condemned Israel? THis clearly was self defense!

  • EllenD

    “We will have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us” Golda Meir

  • Guest

    Oh, you wait. Obama no more than “deeply regrets” the attack. North Korea will lash out in no uncertain terms. As will every other country in the world.

  • carol haka

    Wow, I decided to take a quick nap so that I wouldn’t hear the creep.

    I did listen to a nice speech from Joe Biden earlier.

    >:o

  • carol haka

    No shit Sherlock!

    Really, when is someone going to call for a trial for Treason?

    >:o

  • carol haka

    It’s the same bullshit as blaming Arizona for trying to protect it’s borders.

    We are really going to have to start playing like we are in real wars not just police actions.

    I have great respect for those in these countries who want to live in the 21st Century that might have to die to shock the shit out of the brains of their fellow countrymen.

    If Israel strikes, America had better back ‘em up or else.

    We have the power to stop these nuts, we had better us it.

    >:o

  • Onofre’s arm

    My guess is that there WAS thunder and lightning, and the forces of nature were simply waiting for someone to hand Obama a lightning rod. The Lord works in mysterious ways………….and Obama fears this.

    What I don’t understand though, is that if Obama can stop the seas from rising, and cause the Earth to heal, why would he allow a thunderstorm to mess up another chance for him to bask in the glow of his worshipers.

    This could be a wonderful sign that good truly does triumph over evil.

  • carol haka

    He looks like an addict. 

    I haven’t heard a word about Hillary – I called for her release earlier today.  She must be a hostage.

    Fuck all of them.

    If she stands by this bullshit, she can go to hell sooner than later.

    >:o

  • Onofre’s arm

    Shouldn’t “Gaza flotilla” be shortened to “Gazilla”? And shouldn’t the Japanese be filming this? They are of course the experts on Gazilla’s behavior. 

  • Ferd Berfle

    Spot on, Sandra. And use of the word “massacre” to describe the Israelis defending themselves against armed thugs is disingenuous at best.

  • Suzanne Goldstein, PhD

    The ruthless attack of the bloodthirtsy Israeli Army on innocent activists who came to care for Palestinians will go down in the annals of history as proof to the fascist/nazi nature of the illegal and inhuman zionist state of Israel. The Palestinians are the hungry, the starving, the dying, the raped, the disposessed, the beaten, the humiliated, the bleeding. Israelis are the starvers, the rapers, the beaters, the thieves. So one poor activist holds a can opener in his hand, and it becomes “a knife”? The zionist fascists are sure craven cowards!

    I can only pray that the Persian sex machine M. Ahmadenijad erases the zionist state off the map.

    My name is Suzanne Goldstein, I teach at Berekley, I am for peace and I approve of this message.

  • Justine

    I agree, Fred, and note that the same euphemism could be used for community organizer…
    .

  • Armymom

    Oh goody, one of our anti-semites “words of wisdoms”. haha as in sarc. The Palestinians are the blood thirsty, the lying, the terrorists, the humiliated because not even any of their Arab neighbors want them, waaaa, waaaa, waaaa.

  • Armymom

    You know, our men and women in uniform do not get to use the rain as an excuse, nor do they get to use cold, heat or anything else. POS in charge was a wussie because he couldn’t handle a little rain. What’s new?

  • Ferd Berfle

    That hadn’t crossed my mind but you are correct, Justine.

  • Onofre’s arm

    Gosh Dr. Goldstein, I googled your name, and I was directed to a wikipedia article about the metamorphic life cycle of flies, more specifically, the shit eating maggot stage. 
     
    May I sell you a toothbrush? 

  • carol haka

    Really.

    The Bachelor and his bride got married during a big downpour in Rancho Palos Verde.  All the guests got wet.

    Wusss!

    >:o

  • oowawa

    Beck is going to need bigger blackboards . . .

  • Maury Feldman, Certified Aromatherapy Consultant

    Peace, Shalom, Salaam.
    To all commenters in this most excellent blog of Mr. Larry Johnson, let us be kind to each other and show love, compassion, acceptance and respect to each other. We should show care and tolerance and not use harsh words, and express our opinions with gentle persuasion.
    As such, there is no need to throw the “ant-semite” label at anybody who is opposed to the appalling and immoral and murderous and blood-thirsty acts of the purely evil state of Israel.
    Israelis are murdering filth and blood-suckers and murderers and torturers of the first degree and should be executed with nuclear bombs coming from Iran, Iraq, Russia, China and Turkey.
    I pray in peace that Turkey gets a nuclear bomb and erases the Israeli filth off the map. Then we can have our hero president Obama give a peace nobel prize to the hero of Turkey, president Erdogan.
    Israel has no right to exist, and the people of Israel should drown in rivers and pools of feces.
    With blood and anger we shall free Palestine.
    When Israel is gone PEACE will come to earth.

  • carol haka

    Shut your filthy mouth.  How dare you use a Jewish name to spread your filthy lies?

    >:o

  • Armymom

    Certified Aromatherapy Consultant? OMG you’re killing me here. I can’t quit laughing. Go smell yourself.

  • carol haka

    You are a despicable piece of garbage.

    How dare you use a Jewish name?

    >:o

  • Jack

    “-in GAZA who are literally starving to death.”

    LOL.  You don’t have a clue.  the “blockade” is swiss-cheese and people in gaza live well on UN welfare as they have for 50 years.

    Why are you not complaining about Egypt’s real tough blockade?

  • Benjy Lowenstein

    I am a 8 year old. My daddy reads this web site.
    I am afraid. Are Israel going to kill all people in boats?
    My uncle Les Fishbein works on a boat. He is very funny. He dances dressed up like a woman in a big travel boat.
    I don’t want uncle Les to die.
    I don’t want people to die.
    Please can someone stop Israelis killing?
    My other daddy is going to the store tomorrow, are Israel going to kill him too?
    My daddy said a man called Erdogan is brave and stop Israel.
    Can Erdogan marry president Obama?
    Then together they can make peace and stop Israel.
    My mommy and daddy used to fight all the time. Now daddy and Josh never fight.
    Mommy was bad, like Israel.
    I want peace.
    Life should be fun. I like when Josh takes me to the shower with him. Then he kisses me and gives me ice cream. Maybe Israel does not have ice cream and they are mean.
    Is Israel the monster under my bed?
    President Obama – please protect us that Israel not do anything bad to us.
    I don’t want anybody to die.
    Maybe monster Israel yes, but not good people.

  • Ferd Berfle

    I am a 8 year old. My daddy reads this web site.  
    I am afraid. Are Israel going to kill all people in boats?  
    My uncle Les Fishbein works on a boat. He is very funny. He dances dressed up like a woman in a big travel boat….
    ===================================
    Cleanup on aisle 13. Another bot has gone off the deep end.

  • goldengrahme

    Funny stuff, OA…but we must consider why Obambi eschewed his visit to the Gulf coast for so long.  He wanted to see if the oil scum could be remedied before he walked on water. 8-)   It’s a shoe thingy….

  • carol haka

    My remarks were towards the garbage that infiltrated above my remarks.

    >:o

  • lorac

    Good one, oowawa!

  • ~~JustMe~~

    Wow who let that out?

  • lorac

    Ferd, I hit “flag” and it disappeared.  I must have been the lucky 5th!

  • Onofre’s arm

    Well little Benji, I can assure you that the entire state of Israel is not hiding under your bed. However, we have this here Bear Jooooew that we managed to stick in your closet next to your swastika posters.

  • Onofre’s arm

    Awe, come on guys, I’m having fun with this moron.

  • Ferd Berfle

    Go smell yourself.
    =============
    ROFLMAO–Keyboard cleanup time as my Becks spews over my desk.

  • Armymom

    Sorry….. :-[ . lol

  • lorac

    I think we should start checking IDs.  If they have a bot ID, they get shipped to one of the countries BO loves.

    I just heard a snippet on the news, I’m not positive but I think it was about Indonesia, and they’re handing out thousands of full length skirts to women who are wearing pants – even women riding motorcyles. 

    BO is supposed to go there on vacation next month (although if the oil is still flowing, he’s definitely tone deaf).  But I’m sure he’ll go over there and assure the women of their human rights to be forced to wear full length skirts, even on motorcycles.

  • getfitnow

    Aaron Klein and Brenda Elliott — yeoman work. Please read top 3 posts.

    http://therealbarackobama.wordpress.com/

  • Justine

    So, have we gotten Hillary Clinton’s take on this yet?  She is Secretary of State, right?  (Oh, maybe Obama won’t let her speak…)

    Where is Secretary Clinton, and what is she doing right now?  Korea?
    .

  • goldengrahme

    Correction; the MIT student imprisoned in Peru for the past 15 years is Lori Berenson.  Her story is fascinating.  She married a member of the dissident group and has a son by him.  They have separated and she will raise her son, Salvador, as a single parent.  They met in prison.  She is still under house arrest in Lima and cannot under the current ruling leave Peru for another five years.  Her parents are estatic that they can now visit their daughter and grandson and look forward to bringing them home to the NYC area.  They are both retired educators.  A happy ending!

  • carol haka

    I didn’t see the movie.

    It looked tooooo violent for me.

    >:o

  • carol haka

    She bound and gagged!

    Hoping to hear from Sarah Palin by tomorrow.

    >:o

  • imustprotest

    She is back from Korea.  I think she’s home now:

    On May 26, the Secretary traveled to the Republic of Korea and met senior government officials to discuss regional stability and other issues with our Korean ally. 

    The Secretary returned to Washington, DC, on May 26.

  • sowsear

    Do you think he’ll take Mo? I thought he couldn’t take his wife to a Muslim counry, but it would be great to see her wearing an offf the rack skirt forced upon her.

  • BuzzLatte

    Oh please, Homeland Security, do your magic and make that man cough up his documentation before he can re-enter the USA. O:-)

  • BuzzLatte

    Do you suppose the connection can be made to Ayers solidly this time??

    By the way, I’m reading The Manchurian President.  Many of the issues in the book have been presented at NQ!

  • donjo

    Sorry, to rain on the parade, but I will NEVER forgive Israel for the despicable attack on the USS Liberty.  This is just more of same arrogant b.s., but, this time, farther out to sea.  To call this an act of “self-defense” is nonsense. This is not going away anytime soon.

    2010 May 31
    by Ian Welsh

    If they actually do this, it is the very definition of throwing down.

    Wow.

    Does Israel want a war with Turkey? They can’t win it, short of using nukes, and Turkey is a NATO member, if Israel attacks NATO ships, Turkey can invoke Article V (in fact, they can invoke it already, since the ships were attacked by a non NATO power on the high seas.) If Turkey does so, of course NATO nations will refuse, but doing so will break NATO.

    This is high stakes.

    Update: I might add that in the case of a war between Turkey and Israel, if Turkey is serious, unless Israel uses nukes, my money is on the Turks. They have a huge armored corp, and the nations between Israel and Turkey aren’t going to say no if Turkey asks for access (because if they do, Turkey will just roll right through them.) Also if Turkey and Israel goes to war, it’s at least 50/50 the Egypt jumps in as well.

    Israel is really playing with fire on this one.

    Update 2: See Sean-Paul’s comments on the domestic reasons of Turkey’s reaction, and what the death of the Israeli/Turkish Entente means.

    Update 3: See this analysis (h/t Pogge) for the legalities. Short of it is that if the act wasn’t rogue, then this was an act of war, not an act of piracy.

  • helenk

    http://www.ianwelsh.net/holy-sweet-lord-turkey-has-announced-they-will-send-another-flotilla-to-gaza%E2%80%94escorted-by-the-turkish-navy/

    Turkey announces they will send another flotilla and it will be escorted by the Turkish Navy

    This is getting real ugly

    WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS

    PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE

  • carol haka

    Whatever. 

    Guess what?

    I heard the WH was looking for one of their village idiots.

    Don’t worry.  I will notify them that you showed up here.

    >:o

  • carol haka

    And, why don’t you post under your real name?

    >:o

  • carol haka

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident

    I didn’t hear that Israel was looking for your forgiveness.

    >:o

  • Jack

    “When anyone boards a vessel in international waters without being invited it is an act of piracy”

    OMG!  We must arrest and convict all Americans involved with the blockade of Cuba years ago!

  • Shoshana Himmelstein, Rabbi, Rhode Island

    Shalom,
    As a humanist and a lesbian I wish to declare a month of outrage against the murderers of Israel! Please join me and my congregation’s boycott against the illegitimate state of Israel by refusing to buy any Israeli products, and by spitting in the face of any Israeli you know. We plan to have a tour of universities and “out” and Israelis studying there. These Israeli Nazis have no right to study in the US, if they have any right to live at all. Please unite in our fight against the Racist Zionist Neocons represented by Netanyahu, Dick Cheney, and Charles Krauthammer. If you read the book called the holee bibly you will see that Jews never had any claim to Israel, it belonged to Palestinians. Jews were always invaders. The history of Zionist Judaism is a history of stealing, and we progressives cannot be a part of this lie! Show your love of justice, and kick an Israeli, if you know one.

  • Shoshana Himmelstein, Rabbi, Rhode Island

    Shalom,
    As a humanist and a lesbian I wish to declare a month of outrage against the murderers of Israel! Please join me and my congregation’s boycott against the illegitimate state of Israel by refusing to buy any Israeli products, and by spitting in the face of any Israeli you know. We plan to have a tour of universities and “out” any Israelis studying there. These Israeli Nazis have no right to study in the US, if they have any right to live at all. Please unite in our fight against the Racist Zionist Neocons represented by Netanyahu, Dick Cheney, and Charles Krauthammer. If you read the book called the holee bibly you will see that Jews never had any claim to Israel, it belonged to Palestinians. Jews were always invaders. The history of Zionist Judaism is a history of stealing, and we progressives cannot be a part of this lie! Show your love of justice, and kick an Israeli, if you know one.

  • helenk

    this sick twist and  backtrack’s rev wright would be a good pair. Both claim to have religion and then preach hate.

    WOMEN WITH INTELLIGENCE AND EXPERIENCE,MEN WHO SUPPORT THEM AND COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY ALWAYS

    PUMAS,BUBBAS,EQUALISTS AND THOSE PEOPLE RULE

  • Esther Frenkel-Goldwasser, Ramat Gan, Israel

    As a citizen of Israel I ask all progressives of the world to unite and kill Netanyahoo. All Israelis love Palestinians, and we would gladly give the whole country to the Palestinians because we love them, they love us, and peace would be ours if only our leaders give the land we occupy in return to peace. The problem is less than 1% of the people, who are Zionist fanatics and they are the ones controlling the country (just like when Bush stole the election in the US from Al Gore). Please help us, kill Netanyahoo and we will be free and the middle-east will be a land of peace, free of Israeli agression, and a thriving garden of Eden filled with Palestinians.

  • ~~JustMe~~

    It should never be allowed to walk the streets!

  • donjo

    Not worthy of a reply.  See Larry’s post above. 

  • Josh Berenbaum

    I have seen and suffered injustice my whole life: I came out when I was 8 and ever since then I have been called a “feygaleh” and a “fag” and a “strudel stuffer”. So I understand how Palestinians feel: oppressed, dispossessed, and to the abattoir lead. It is time we understand this is a matter of civil rights – Israel are the toothless racist southern hicks, and Palestine is Rosa Parks. It is time for all peoples of the world to stand up and fight Israel. I hope President Obama will lead the charge against Israel and order several B-52′s (airplanes, not the band) to bomb Israel all the way to Sunday morning. Enough is enough.

  • sowsear

    I hope Hillary is home, with the shades pulled down, plugs in her ears, asleep…

  • AnnieCarmel

    This is not the take I have about Lori Berenson.  It’s probably not a good idea to go to a Latin American country and get involved in leftist dissident politics. 

    I have to say I don’t know it this part is true but I was told she was a “red diaper” baby of extreme leftist teacher/parents.  Perhape you could enlighten me on this if it isn’t true.  In any case, she got in trouble by interfering in their politics…you pay the price.  The students on the Iran border…don’t know…probably just stupid rather than making mischief.  But you have to wonder who goes to Iraq on an adventerous vacation?

  • AnnieCarmel

    Love it! 

  • AnnieCarmel

    Unlike, 0zer0, I’m betting that Sarah will write/speak when she fully has the facts.

  • ~~JustMe~~
  • AnnieCarmel

    Ignore the above.  The nuts are all out today.  Just plain stupid stuff.  How many stereotypes can they find to fling around?

  • No Longer Banned in Beantown

    “The nuts are all out today.”

    They don’t celebrate Memorial Day and honor the sacrifices of those that gave our Nation freedom. They spew their hate instead.

    When they see Memorial day tributes it must make them hate even more.

  • Ciaran O’Houlihan

    I understand that the Christ-killing Jews have a strong army, but, what if the following countries attack them at the same time: Turkey, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Cyprus, Crete, Greece, Belgium and Luxembourg. I don’t think the Christ-killers will survive even if they have an army well-versed in Nazi tactics of Jew-Blitz-Krieg.
    America should supply weapons to all these countries, and bring the eve of destruction on the dirty Jews. If we all unite, we can make the Jews poop 10 pounds of Gefilte-Fish and croak. And have world peace.

  • Docelder

    This reminds me of the middle child syndrome when the middle child will antagonize and pick fights with the older siblings just waiting for the time the older siblings will hit back at the middle child… then the middle child turns to the parent for sympathy and to provoke punishment of the older child for retaliating and who should have known better.

  • No Longer Banned in Beantown

    If Turkey dos that, the Israeli’s should announce they will board and inspect the Humanitarian Ships and then do it. If the Turkish Ship interfere the israilis should sink them.

    The US should also announce it’s immediate support for Israel, and Israel’s right to defend its Nation.

    The US and Egypt support the Israeli blockade and todays incident should not deter that one bit.

  • AnnieCarmel

    I thought it was so-so.  Saw it on DVD because of he violence..tamer than the big screen.

  • beyond_words

    Your logic is refreshing Annie ;)

  • Ruth Mayer-Glassman

    This Israeli act of BARBARISM is an outrage!!! The World Court in Brussels should demand the Israeli government to turn in all the murdering commando soldiers for a trial for murder and inhumane acts against humanity.

  • John Kirkland

    OK what do you expect when the US govt is run by two Zionists, Axelrod and Emanuel? They report everything to Israel before they even talk with Obama! Obama is surrounded by Jews! Why is our economy in the tank? Because Jew financiers stole all of the American money and sent it to their masters in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem! Obama must quit supporting Israel, and go on the offensive! Otherwise this madman Netanyahu will end up invading the US!