Flotilla Update: Israel Attacks Convoy, Deaths Reported

[82_28]

Look. I don't know nuthin' about nuthin'. I am always skeptical with a view towards this, that and the other. I just always thought the whole "Camp Casey" thing was going down that it seemed peculiar. Do I have any proof? Of course not. I kinda maybe 35% looked at it as kinda a Jessica Lynch thing. 65% I was fully behind it. Maybe even 75%. Perhaps, as I said, if totally true, then 100%.

I thought it was odd to affect change via camping out near Dubya's house in TX. While all the while all of us fuckers marched on our city streets in the number of millions and were ignored, suddenly people can suddenly peaceably gather near the Bush family compound and affect some kind of change. She seemed to me to be some kind of a right wing villain-anti-villain- villain if you will. As in, not right wing, but a strawman of the right wing. I didn't like the "play up" to her -- it frankly seemed astroturfed. These are my opinions and I hope don't reflect negatively on who I am or even "portray" myself online. I am certainly not calling her out. But everything she's ever done has always seemed DOA. It's complicated. Forgive me, for not being able to quite hash it out at this point.

I do not hate or distrust Cindy Sheehan.

I basically wonder who greased the skids, whilst many, many, many of us just a couple years previous all pleaded likewise to not or ever go to war and were essentially ignored. Again, it's complicated. Don't hate me.

Sorry. But I'm not being a hater. I promise.

[82_28]

In related news:

Israel Stations Nuclear Missile Subs Off Iran

http://cryptogon.com/?p=15713

Three German-built Israeli submarines equipped with nuclear cruise missiles are to be deployed in the Gulf near the Iranian coastline.
The first has been sent in response to Israeli fears that ballistic missiles developed by Iran, Syria and Hezbollah, a political and military organisation in Lebanon, could hit sites in Israel, including air bases and missile launchers.

The submarines of Flotilla 7 — Dolphin, Tekuma and Leviathan — have visited the Gulf before. But the decision has now been taken to ensure a permanent presence of at least one of the vessels.

The flotilla’s commander, identified only as “Colonel O”, told an Israeli newspaper: “We are an underwater assault force. We’re operating deep and far, very far, from our borders.”

A terrorist state and the greatest threat to world peace, with the possible exception of the U.S.

I already had you covered on that one, Nordic. You fucking asshole. I'm leaving forever.

Just kidding. I love you homie. Seriously. Love to all!

[norton ash]

82-28, I'm not getting you at all. She gained attention by first speaking up and standing her ground as a bereaved mother.

Sheehan's appointment as a personality came later-- the name-recognition and popular support came later. She's an anti-war activist, for fuck's sake.

Not getting it.

[Jeff]

[MacCruiskeen]

My god. This is a moment of truth and horror.

Yet another of them. They're coming thick and fast now.

"Axis of Evil"? Right. That would be USA - Britain - Israel.

No joke.

[Nordic]

I already had you covered on that one, Nordic. You fucking asshole. !

Oops you're quite right. I jumped the gun, I was too mystified by your opinions as to Cindy Sheehan to notice.

[stefano]

Jesus. The BBC's lead story now has nothing about the rockets.

soldiers opened fire "after confronting those on board carrying sharp objects".

The last colonial power.

[82_28]

82-28, I'm not getting you at all. She gained attention by first speaking up and standing her ground as a bereaved mother.

Sheehan's appointment as a personality came later-- the name-recognition and popular support came later. She's an anti-war activist, for fuck's sake.

Not getting it.

OK. Forget I said anything. I really don't have any other opinion to offer. Like I said, in both comments I made, I am 100% behind her. Just something always seemed a little hokey about it all and I learned to tune her out over the years. Perhaps, only tuning her out because the of the attention the right wing gave to her. The fact she tried to go up against Pelosi in what I see as, as many of us do, an illegitimate government, as a left wing anti-war candidate seemed hokey as well. We'd already seen the death of Wellstone, the failed and feeble attempts of a Nader and a Kucinich. My overall opinion of her basically came during the days of the deep Bush bullshit -- seemed well Al Gore-ish a bit. Do I know in any which way other than what she says she stands for otherwise? Absolutely not!!! Again, it was the corporate and right wing's focus on her and her continuous stepping up to them that made me from time to time, look at her askance.

Perhaps she represents the end of the age of activism. Because I tried and will still try. I of course, do not know what it is like to lose a son in an illegal and immoral war. So, I do not know what I would do. I would probably do the same only with more rage. But once the fucking pathetic thinkers of the right wing began focusing on me, I would have given the fuck up. You know, you have to know, you are always going to play into their hands. And that, I will not do. Thus, when Sheehan began the TV circuit and all that, I lost, as I said about 35% of my faith in who she really was. I am not calling her out and I don't begrudge her a bit.

But where were the other mothers? Why is only Cindy Sheehan spearheading anything remotely anti-war in this country?

Where are the fathers?

Sure they're out there. But how did she gain such prominence while nobody else did. It always felt like some form of astroturfing -- even way back when. Forgive me for my opinions.

With you all in heart and soul. . .

[MacCruiskeen]

A noble act if real. But stupid too, if real. These motherfuckers don't give a shit about us. It could all be "psy-ops" of a sort. I dunno. I've never known about Sheehan. She always seemed too convenient, outlandish and stupid -- too in your face. God bless you if you are real Sheehan, but I've always had my doubts. Nothing documentable do I have. But I've never really bought it. I'm as anti-war etc as she claims to be. And as sexist as this may sound, we need more motherfucking men who give a shit. I can name names of those men who do, but men unfortunately for the most part are trying to get their "cheddar".

Again, not being sexist at all, nor misogynistic! But we need a strong anti-war man to come out of the shadows. Dennis Kucinich is the best we have. But, even to my eye, appears feeble. Wellstone may have been it. The one. You know, Neo.

Ahh well. We're going to the store and gonna make some dinner. My lady's waiting for me and doesn't understand my preoccupation with RI. . .

I'll be back. . .

as sexist as this may sound, we need more motherfucking men who give a shit.

Interesting choice of words there. You might reflect on it. (Not just the bolded word; the whole thing.)

Dennis Kucinich is the best we have. But, even to my eye, appears feeble

Yeah, man up, Dennis! Hie thee to that fitness studio. Tone up those abs and pecs and then buy a tight white t-shirt and a bomber jacket. Book a photo-op on an aircraft carrier. What the left really needs is a Strong Man At The Helm, a Top Gun. somebody with Motherfucking Cojones. A guy who looks and sounds like George Clooney, or Arnold Schwarzenegger, or War Hero John McCain. Or Dennis Hopper, maybe?

Or Horst Wessel?

My lady's waiting for me and doesn't understand my preoccupation with RI. . .

That's the thing with chicks. They just don't understand that a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

And why isn't Cindy Sheehan a MILF like Sarah Palin? Talk about an image problem.

"Why the long face, Cindy? LOL. Dennis, you're a dweeb!" - Somebody described Ayn Rand as "Nietzsche for Dummies". When is the left finally going to notice that much of Nietzsche is Nietzsche for Dummies?

At any rate, it's funny how sentimentality and brutality really do go hand-in-hand.

Wellstone may have been it. The one. You know, Neo.

Where to begin with this, really?

For christ's sake.

[MacCruiskeen]

Where's Wilhelm Reich when you really need him? Dead in a US jail, that's where.

[Sweejak]

Look. I don't know nuthin' about nuthin'. I am always skeptical with a view towards this, that and the other. I just always thought the whole "Camp Casey" thing was going down that it seemed peculiar. Do I have any proof? Of course not. I kinda maybe 35% looked at it as kinda a Jessica Lynch thing. 65% I was fully behind it. Maybe even 75%. Perhaps, as I said, if totally true, then 100%.

I thought it was odd to affect change via camping out near Dubya's house in TX. While all the while all of us fuckers marched on our city streets in the number of millions and were ignored, suddenly people can suddenly peaceably gather near the Bush family compound and affect some kind of change. She seemed to me to be some kind of a right wing villain-anti-villain- villain if you will. As in, not right wing, but a strawman of the right wing. I didn't like the "play up" to her -- it frankly seemed astroturfed. These are my opinions and I hope don't reflect negatively on who I am or even "portray" myself online. I am certainly not calling her out. But everything she's ever done has always seemed DOA. It's complicated. Forgive me, for not being able to quite hash it out at this point.

I do not hate or distrust Cindy Sheehan.

I basically wonder who greased the skids, whilst many, many, many of us just a couple years previous all pleaded likewise to not or ever go to war and were essentially ignored. Again, it's complicated. Don't hate me.

Sorry. But I'm not being a hater. I promise.

I believe you, but Sheehan is as genuine as it gets, She is singularly responsible for re-starting the pitiful anti-war movement, she is the one who greased the skids. She got on TV because she was in W's smirking face every day 24/7, permanently, not to mention invading a whole town. There is evidence of attempted hijacking, by lefties actually, but it's rather hard to determine intent and pedigree. No astroturfing that I could detect and I went up with a decidedly paranoid eye. I was there for Camp 1, 2 and 3. Let's camp out at Obomber's front lawn, not the Shite House, you'll get press.

As for women making up most of the vanguard, yes it's true. Plain fact. Ya'll can PC game it all you want but I even mentioned it to Col Ann Wright, currently being attacked in Gaza, and she just smiled. Why is this so? We don't know. But there were plenty of male activists, from security and media to cooks.

[American Dream]

Here are some early comments from Phan Nguyen, an activist in the United States:

So reports are still early with very little possible to confirm. We don't have a full body count. At the same time, Israel is working on propaganda to justify their latest fucked-up actions.

HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND:

1. The Free Gaza Freedom Flotilla was a completely nonviolent action.

2. The flotilla was publicized long in advance. It was fully public about its actions and its intents.

3. All prior ships launched by the Free Gaza Movement operated in complete nonviolence.

4. The ships were on international waters heading for the Gaza Strip. THEY NEVER CROSSED INTO ISRAELI TERRITORY. Israel claims that it does not control the Gaza Strip.

5. The Israeli military had ZERO AUTHORITY to intercept and board the ships at all.

6. This is not the first time nonviolent activists have been killed by Israel. Aside from the killings of Tom Hurndall and Rachel Corrie in 2003, several Palestinians have been killed by Israel during nonviolent demonstrations.

7. Israel denies that the 3-year Gaza Strip blockade has any negative humanitarian impact on the 1.5 million people living in Gaza, contradicting every credible human rights report -- most recently reiterated in the just-released Amnesty International 2010 Report, which states that Israel's blockade is a violation of international law. It has recently been revealed that Israel even determined the number of grams and calories of each kind of food each Gazan should be allowed to consume, broken down by age and sex.

8. A previous ship from the Free Gaza Movement that carried former US Congressperson Cynthia McKinney was rammed by an Israeli military boat, again on international waters. The US government did nothing.

9. The United States and we are totally complicit in these Israeli actions.

http://witnessgaza.com/

Article in Israeli paper Ha'aretz prior to the latest Israeli attack:
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/op ... y-1.292959

...

[82_28]

Look, Mac. I fucking hate fitness mavens. I voted Nader and Kucinich and then Kerry and then I never voted again. I probably never will again. I marched in five (2 of them massive) marches. I thought the media would cover it when I got home. No. They now cover tea party rallies of 50 idiots while "bat shit insane liberals" marched in the hundreds of thousands per each city a march was held to say we did not want to attack Iraq. I cried for a motherfucking week straight -- yeah choice of words again. I'm not being a dick here. But fuck! I got into arguments with liberals who could not tolerate my "fuck obama" attitude right after his election. I said, nothing is going to change and if anything it will get worse because of the long leash you've put him and the likes of him on. I am in the corner of Sheehan. Let me re-iterate that. I am in the corner of Sheehan!

I am and have been for years skeptical of the media attention she got while camped out by Bush's house, absolutely no mention was played to all the people who gathered with virtually no advertising world wide just a few months or years before! It says to me we're dealing with a situation where they have given presumably a leash to Sheehan. Remember the Bush years? We were afraid they'd bomb just about anything. I was afraid they would somehow wipe out Camp Casey. I remember listening to Mike Malloy way back when too, and his power went out. I literally thought he was being stormed, as did he. "The Bush Crime Family" was somehow behind something.

When it didn't come to pass as a storming by BCF operatives, I quit listening to him too.

The right is a demonic curse.

The left, sadly, is a joke.

But that's it right there! Air America is gone because we don't buy the politicization of bullshit and don't wanna listen to it day in day out, while right wing radio is still going fine and they are pouncing on this oil spill, racism, war, nukes etc as of now. Anyhoo. . .

[Sweejak]

The other mothers, sisters, daughters, fathers and sons were out there, as well as Iraq vets, monks, priests, poets and people who were merely traveling cross country and were so thrilled to hear about it that they headed down to Texas. That is as grassroots as I've ever seen.

Some pics. http://www.flickr.com/photos/svj/sets/7 ... 580356412/

You make an interesting point both about why the news was all Sheehan and that this may have been the last show of this kind of demo. I don't know though, we see it all over the world and to much greater effect. Why can't the US ever manage a general strike, the only proven way I know of to peacefully destroy a government?

Personally I think Sheehan's media coverage was given gas by the disgusting display of hatred toward her. In a smear-bite news cycle, one target is all the masses can handle.

[compared2what?]

With you all in heart and soul. . .

FWIW, and I with you. I didn't mean to throw an off-topic bomb into the thread. And I know you're not a hater. I just read your words, found them painful, and wanted to bring to your attention the reasons for that.

But you are absolutely, unquestionably and totally entitled to your opinions, as well as totally correct to stand behind them if you feel and believe that it's the right thing to do, even if you're not sure why. No one could expect more from you, and you shouldn't ask less of yourself.

Also please know that you're much too well-loved here to have to worry about suddenly being hated for holding a minority view on one issue. Because you are.

So....Maybe it'll come up some time on another thread. But for now. I totally vote for agreeing that there's a disagreement, and shelving it on this one.

Finally:

Please forgive me for the post that made an issue out of it. I didn't anticipate any response, didn't expect to have any impact, and didn't intend it to be in any way a personal assault on you. I wouldn't have barged in if I'd known it was going to be a thread de-railer. I was just objecting for the record.

And that's it. I say let's all declare peace and solidarity on all general principles of any importance and return to the topic I should have known better than to divert attention from. I regret having done so.

Okay?