Rep. Price votes for war in the Middle East! + updates

First some updates.  The Marxist Forum meeting on imperialism will be moved to some Saturday in August.  Some of the regular people weren't able to come and there didn't seem to be any new people.  I was 15 minutes late and I feel very bad if anyone came but thought the meeting had been cancelled.  Moving the meeting might be good anyway, since the suggested readings are pretty long. 

 

There will be a video showing and discussion this Thursday, the 27th, at the Peace Covenant Church in southern Durham at 601 E. Highway 54, just east of the Fayetteville Rd. intersection.  A notice is below, after the main part of this post.   

 

 

Rep. Price position on the US-backed Israeli war on Lebanon

 

I should have expected, but can't believe, that Rep. David Price voted for the defense of Israel bill last week!  This bill, House Resolution 921 (the bill is online at thomas.loc.gov in two versions that seem to be parts of what the Congress endorsed) supports Israeli aggression and occupation, and provides a pretext for war with Syria or Iran.  It does this through double standards, glossing over, excusing, or even approving of, Israeli actions that would be called aggressive or terrorist if Arabs did them.  Background on the conflict since the Palestinian elections is provided by Sharat G. Lin in his "A Chronology of the Latest Chrisis in the Middle East" at www.counterpunch.org/lin07252006.html, showing that Israel provoked and wanted this conflict.  On a longer time scale, the conflict is explainable by seeing that Israel is a theocratic colony created on stolen and ethnically cleansed land.  Every day there are reports of Israeli crimes in this war - it has killed about 400 Lebanese civilians, most not part of Hezbollah, targeted powerplants, bridges, all of Lebanon's ports and airports, and other infrastructure, attacked Red Cross and UN personnel, and is alleged to be using cluster bombs, chemical weapons (white phosphorus), depleted uranium and (I think I heard this on Democracy Now!) hyperbaric bombs that cause suffocation.  I don't see how bombing Lebanon will encourage it to disarm Hezbollah, or do anything but decrease the government's powrer to do so.  I would expect that it would encourage the opposite, but Lebanon is a poorly armed country, but for Hezbollah it seems (the Herald-Sun had a table saying Hezbollah has something like 10-20,000 missiles and Lebanon has...10.    

 

It is tragic that people are dying in this conflict and both sides should follow international law.  At the same time, it is just to fight oppression and colonization.  National liberation movements, Syria, and Iran, flawed as they are (they have oppressive governments and are not resolutely anti-imperialist, but they aren't great imperialists), are the primary blocks to the US controlling the Middle East.  Al-Qaida taps into just anger at foreign oppression, but al-Qaida is a reactionary creation of imperialism, and might still be connected to the Saudis and the CIA.  Because of this, it won't win, and is hurting the struggle against imperialism and for progress.  Control of the region would allow the US to dominate the world by denying energy to its enemies, since so much of the world's hydrocarbons are in the Middle East and Central Asia.  It is obvious that the US government wants this war, rushing to provide more weapons and diplomatic cover, as well as sickening bipartisan verbal support.  We already provide billions in aid to Israel.  They probably want Hezbollah taken care of, and they might be seeking pretexts for war with Syria or Iran (Ashraf Isma'il suggests this in his article, "Why Israel is Losing," posted online at  www.counterpunch.org).  Even if they don't want war, they might be led into it by the unfolding of this conflict.            

 

Price justifies his vote in his July 19th remarks to Congress, posted online at http://price.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=47369 .  He totally blames Hezbollah for this conflict, and says it is acting for Syria and Iran.  He defends Israel's actions and makes it seem like Hezbollah is the only and major killer of civilians in this conflict (shown to be false by articles on Counterpunch and Electronic Intifada's Lebanon site).  Price seems to be content with lip service about Israel needing to show restraint, but letting Israel do our dirty work in Lebanon, and perpetuating arguments that could eventually be used for new US wars, if we aren't drawn directly into this one.  Therefore I see this as advocating aggression and laying the basis for a US war.  Price voted against the Iraq War, but now he is voting for a Syria or Iran War.  Price's liberal position on the conflict is similar to the EU's I think.  We can't count on imperialists to completely stand up for justice in the UN. 

 

We, the public, need to expose Price's role and apply mass pressure for him to end his support of aggression, impeach Bush and Cheney to prevent future wars (and not support pro-war Democrats), end US aid to Israel, advocate honest negotiation to end Israel's occupation of Arab land, end the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, and stop supporting undemocratic governments.  I've publicized my viewpoint and written to Price.  I will take this message to anti-war vigils and GRIM.       

 

Below is a copy of H. Res 921 EH, with a few annotations where it has omissions, lies, and bourgeois arguments. 

 

Whereas on September 12, 2005, Israel completed its unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, demonstrating its willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of peace; (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)

HRES 921 EH

H . Res . 921

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

July 20, 2006.

Whereas on September 12, 2005, Israel completed its unilateral withdrawal from Gaza, demonstrating its willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of peace [there was some sacrifice, but Israel consolidated its hold on the West Bank and under international law it is still recognized as occupying Gaza];

Whereas more than 1,000 rockets have been launched from Gaza into Israel since Israel's disengagement [Israel has attacked the Palestinians];

Whereas in a completely unprovoked attack [see Lin's article] that occurred in undisputed Israeli territory on June 25, 2006, Israeli Defense Forces Corporal Gilad Shalit was kidnapped and is being held hostage in Gaza by a Palestinian terrorist group which includes members of Hamas;

Whereas Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal, in Damascus, Syria, has acknowledged the role of Hamas in holding Corporal Shalit hostage;

Whereas in a completely unprovoked attack that occurred in undisputed Israeli territory on July 12, 2006, operatives of the terrorist group Hezbollah operating out of southern Lebanon killed three Israeli soldiers and took two others hostage [see Lin's article];

Whereas Israel fully complied with United Nations Security Council Resolution 425 (1978) by completely withdrawing its forces from Lebanon [the Sheba Farms seem to be an issue and I thought Israel was forced out], as certified by the United Nations Security Council and affirmed by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on June 16, 2000, when he said, `Israel has withdrawn from [Lebanon] in full compliance with Security Council Resolution 425.';

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 (2004) calls for the complete withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon and the dismantlement of all independent militias in Lebanon;

Whereas despite the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559, the Government of Lebanon has failed to disband and disarm Hezbollah, allowing Hezbollah instead to amass 13,000 rockets, including rockets that are more destructive, longer-range and more accurate than rockets previously used by Hezbollah, and has integrated Hezbollah into the Lebanese Government;

Whereas the Government of Israel has previously shown great restraint despite the fact that Hezbollah has launched at least four separate attacks into Israel using rockets and ground forces over the past year;

Whereas the failure of the Government of Lebanon to implement all aspects of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 and to extend its authority throughout its territory has enabled Hezbollah to launch armed attacks against Israel and recently to kidnap Israeli soldiers;

Whereas Hezbollah's strength derives significantly from the direct financial, military, and political support it receives from Syria and Iran [I think this is disputed], and Hezbollah also receives important support from sources within Lebanon;

Whereas Iranian Revolutionary Guards continue to operate in southern Lebanon, providing support to Hezbollah and reportedly controlling its operational activities;

Whereas the Government of the United States has enacted several laws, including the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-175) and the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-172), which call for the imposition of sanctions on Syria and Iran for, among other things, their support for terrorism and terrorist organizations;

Whereas the House of Representatives has repeatedly called for full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559;

Whereas section 1224 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228) withholds certain assistance to Lebanon contingent on the deployment of the Lebanese armed forces to the internationally recognized border between Lebanon and Israel and its effective assertion of authority in the border area in order, among other reasons, to prevent cross-border infiltration by terrorists, precisely the criminal activity that has provoked the current crisis;

Whereas President George W. Bush stated on July 12, 2006, `Hezbollah's terrorist operations threaten Lebanon's security and are an affront to the sovereignty of the Lebanese Government. Hezbollah's actions are not in the interest of the Lebanese people, whose welfare should not be held hostage to the interests of the Syrian and Iranian regimes.', and has repeatedly affirmed that Syria and Iran must be held to account for their shared responsibility in the recent attacks;

Whereas the United States recognizes that some members of the democratically-elected Lebanese parliament are working to build an autonomous and sovereign Lebanon and supports their efforts; and

Whereas both Hezbollah and Hamas refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist and call for the destruction of Israel [this isn't completely true of Hamas at least]: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) reaffirms its steadfast support for the State of Israel;

(2) condemns Hamas and Hezbollah for engaging in unprovoked and reprehensible armed attacks against Israel on undisputed Israeli territory, for taking hostages, for killing Israeli soldiers, and for continuing to indiscriminately target Israeli civilian populations with their rockets and missiles;

(3) further condemns Hamas and Hezbollah for cynically exploiting civilian populations as shields, locating their equipment and bases of operation, including their rockets and other armaments, amidst civilian populations, including in homes and mosques [it might not be intentional];

(4) recognizes Israel's longstanding commitment to minimizing civilian loss and welcomes Israel's continued efforts to prevent civilian casualties [some effort!];

(5) demands the Governments of Iran and Syria to direct Hamas and Hezbollah to immediately and unconditionally release Israeli soldiers which they hold captive;

(6) affirms that all governments that have provided continued support to Hamas or Hezbollah share responsibility for the hostage-taking and attacks against Israel and, as such, should be held accountable for their actions [here is the call for aggression];

(7) condemns the Governments of Iran and Syria for their continued support for Hezbollah and Hamas in their armed attacks against Israelis and their other terrorist activities;

(8) supports Israel's right to take appropriate action to defend itself, including to conduct operations both in Israel and in the territory of nations which pose a threat to it, which is in accordance with international law, including Article 51 of the United Nations Charter;

(9) commends the President of the United States for fully supporting Israel as it responds to these armed attacks by terrorist organizations and their state sponsors;

(10) urges the President of the United States to bring the full force of political, diplomatic, and economic sanctions available to the Government of the United States against the Governments of Syria and Iran;

(11) demands the Government of Lebanon to do everything in its power to find and free the kidnapped Israeli soldiers being held in the territory of Lebanon;

(12) calls on the United Nations Security Council to condemn these unprovoked acts and to take action to ensure full and immediate implementation of United Nations Security Council 1559 (2004), which requires Hezbollah to be dismantled and the departure of all Syrian personnel and Iranian Revolutionary Guards from Lebanon;

(13) expresses its condolences to all families of innocent victims of recent violence; and

(14) declares its continued commitment to working with Israel and other United States allies in combating terrorism worldwide [the bourgeoisie's terrorist is often the working class' objectively allied national liberation fighter, such as in this case].

Attest:

Clerk.

 

Teach-in on Impeachment this Thursday

 

The Grass Roots Impeachment Movement (GRIM)
(www.grassrootsimpeachment.org) is hosting a video
showing and discussion, Thursday, July 27th, 7-8:30pm,
at the Peace Covenant Church in Durham on Highway 54
just east of Fayetteville Rd. (601 E. Highway 54).
The video, "How to Impeach a President" is by the
Center for Constitutional Rights.

You can sign a petition for impeachment online at
www.petitiononline.com/dsmnc/petition.html or at
the Durham Food Co-op or Internationalist Books
(updates at downingstreetactionnc.blogspot.com).  The
new signatures will probably be presented to Price or
his staff in September.  Allegedly the Durham City Council

doesn't want to vote on this because it won't pass unanimously. 

Maybe petitioning could help sway some Councilors. 

Some other ways to encourage impeaching Bush and
Cheney are by asking local governments to pass
resolutions, asking the State Legislature to submit
articles of impeachment, getting civic groups to pass
resolutions, writing to newspapers, attending upcoming
events, and wearing orange for impeachment on Fridays
(see orangetoimpeach.blogspot.com).