These are sick times; these are disturbing times. No news to you; no news from me. But enunciating the sickness and disturbance can, at times, act as an emetic, and what I want to touch on is the Democratic edition of sick 'n disturbed, where the "opposition party" plays the role of enabling party, sells the country's soul out, does it gleefully, thinks not a critical thought, mumbles tired words and goes on its way. As Mr. Burroughs mighty say, an ugly spectacle in any language.
Apparently, when it comes to Israel, every elected official, regardless of party, plays a game called "Who Can Prostrate Themselves Most Wretchedly?" Yes, this goes on in both parties, but I cannot begin to telegraph the shame and rage associated with watching Messrs. Clinton, Schumer and Dean play this game
so ass-kissingly,
so bereft of dignity or conscience...hard to watch, harder to hear, much harder to experience empathetically, via Israel's merciless destruction of Lebanon. These Democrats, deep in the Israel lobby's pockets, abject in the pits of their souls, do us a terrible disservice by endorsing Israel's murderous policies so resolutely and - here's the thing -
unthinkingly, because an opposition to the Bushies' bought-and-paid-for Israel stance is a requirement of the first order. (Although, again, almost every politician in Washington swims at the bottom of Israel's Kool-Aid pool, and that does make singling out Democrats tricky; I do realize that. But please bear with me.)
I thought an opposition party was just that - a party that, on principle, opposes another party. Maybe not always, but when it counts, when the shit is going down, when the party being opposed is violating basic fucking moral principles (as flouted in this case by an American ally, with the party Dems should be working against giving a thumbs-up to said ally's continuing killing). But what do we get instead? Mrs. Clinton shrieking her condemnation of Hezbollah and steadfast support of Israel, no matter the Lebanese innocents put through the shredder. Chuck Schumer says same thing, but (is it possible?) with an even shriller shriek. And then, here comes Howard Dean, a man I respect most of the time, a man I definitely wanted to be president, calling Iraq's prime minister an anti-Semite because Maliki won't blast Hezbollah while visiting the emperor - er, Pharaoh - er, president in Rome - er, Egypt - er, America (sorry, it's all so confusing these days). Those three magic words sum that one up: what the fuck? Like Maliki's gonna rail against Hezbollah in the palace of the most hated bastard(s) (and bitches!) on the face of this earth - at least, the most hated in Maliki's part of the world. Hey, if you want to see Maliki's head blown clean off his shoulders, step into the alternative-history machine and watch as Maliki blasts Hezbollah, goes home and gets, um, served hard-core. Mr. Dean, if that was king stupid, it was also massively disingenuous. Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Schumer, did it ever occur to you that Israel can sometimes be wrong? That it's shitfuckingly easy to condemn Hezbollah, but takes guts to tell a friend like Israel that their vicious campaign hurts - get this, Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Schumer - prepare - here it comes - oh you're gonna be woefully surprised - America and American interests? Do you remember which sovereign country you represent? I think you do 99% of the time, but that pesky 1% always has to do with Israel. And I for one am sick and disturbed by that.
Like I say, Hezbollah is easy to despise. (I won't go into the murky stuff that surrounds Hezbollah's status among jaded Lebanese, or Hamas's like status among jaded Palestinians; there's a reason they're [mostly] popular with the people, but that's a different discussion.) It's kind of like being anti-Manson, or, a no-brainer. But Israel, crushing Palestine under the hard leather of an occupying boot, decimating the entire country of Lebanon for the sins of a paltry few (and hey, don't America and Israel have Delta Force-type military commandos for the singular job of surgically, quietly and efficiently taking out bastards like the leader of Hezbollah...isn't that how you want to do it, if you're telling the truth about your overall aims?), well, it's always harder for our elected class to slap Israel's ass around, you know? And that's because of this: http://www.lrb.co.uk/.... It's tragic and idiotic and terribly sad and horribly lopsided and crazy motherfucking dangerous, because if our fortunes are tied to a client state, and that client state is whacking the shit out of a hornets nest...well, you see what I'm saying. Why should Israeli blowback = American blowback? Would someone mind telling me that?
Democratic leaders, if you want respect, criticize Israel. Look the shitbird in the eyes, gird yourself for the inevitable "Anti-Semite shitfuck!" epithets that'll be thrown your way, and stand up for what's right. And you know how you gauge, with precision, what's right? You ask yourself this question:
"Will a single innocent child die?"
If the answer is yes...well, if you can't figure it out from there, nobody can tell you. But dignity, honor and truth (remember those?) will cleave to you and radiate from you, should you answer correctly.
Peace.