"Optics of the Middle East War" -- Wanna hear how bad we're fucked?

[Armstead]

An epidsode of Open Source with Christopher Lydon, broadcast on Public Radio International.

http://www.radioopensource.org/the-optics-of-this-war/

You can listen online. It's all about how the media and the Arab world now sees the US, in the wake of the invasion and bombing of Lebanon, and the Unites States' complicity in it.

This is one of the more sobering radio programs I've heard about how much the current war in the Middle East has fucked the US Big Time, in terms of our relations with the Arab world.

The most depressing quote. A professor who monitors the Middle East media saying the message that is coming from the moderates in the Arab world who have been supportive of the general goal of democratizing the ME and fostering better relations: "United States -- How could you do this to us?"

I suggest you listen, but have a stash of Prozac handy.

[Armstead]

1. Kick because this is an important program...

[spindrifter]

2. Christopher Lydon has had some great commentators

since the Lebanon-Israel action started--including a woman blogger from Beirut, as well as the usual academic commentators. Open Source has been very helpful in drawing together a lot of different perspectives on the issues.

[Gloria]

3. I think it was in the Oman Times yesterday---"America is the

Kiss of Death."

Sigh.

[Nikki Stone 1]

4. This is the biggest reason to get the neocons out!

:kick:

[Armstead]

8. ASAP

[CatWoman]

5. a kick for Armstead

:kick:

:loveya:

[Armstead]

6. Kick Armstead?

Oh, a kick for Armstead. Whew.

[CatWoman]

7. I would never kick you, Hon

:hi:

[chill_wind]

9. We will pay. And our children will pay even much more. nt

[Armstead]

10. After listening to this show, I tend to agree

It's disgusting how in five short years we have unleshed the bull in the china shop over there.

[chill_wind]

12. We aren't the only ones appalled and worried.

See next link.

[chill_wind]

11. "The 'refugees' fury will be felt for generations to come..."

week ending August 5 2006

destruction and hatred


‘Israel is sinking into a strident, nationalistic atmosphere and darkness is beginning to cover everything....Lebanon... is being destroyed by our planes and cannon and nobody is taking into account the amount of hatred we are sowing. In international public opinion, Israel has been turned into a monster, and that still hasn't been calculated into the debit column of this war. Israel is badly stained, a moral stain that can't be easily and quickly removed. And only we don't want to see it’ wrote Gideon Levy.

(...)

Karma Nabulsi predicted that “the refugees’ fury will be felt for generations to come”.

link:

Jews for Justice for Palestinians
http://www.jfjfp.org/news.htm


"Israel is seeking to cast itself as the victim even as it expels the people of Lebanon and Gaza from their homes."

Karma Nabulsi
Wednesday August 2, 2006
The Guardian

People walk the dusty, broken roads in scorching summer heat, taking shelter in the basements of empty buildings. In Gaza and Lebanon, in the refugee camps of Khan Younis, Rafah and Jabaliya, in Tyre and Beirut, in Nabatiyeh and Sidon, hundreds of thousands of men, women and children seek refuge. As they flee, they risk the indiscriminate wrath of an enemy driven by an existential mania that can not be assuaged, only stopped. Ambulances are struck, humanitarian relief convoys are struck, UN observers are struck. Warning leaflets are dropped from the sky urging people to abandon their homes, just as they were in 1996, 1982, 1978, 1967 and 1948. The ultimately impossible decision in Gaza and Lebanon today is: where does a refugee go?


link http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1835121,00.html

[Armstead]

13. Yep. And the real problem for us is that...

the people who are being pushed out and infuriated at Israel are also being infuriated at the US.

Before public opinion was divided about the US in the Middle East and Muslim worlds. But we are rapidly bringing them together -- against us.