The idea that Bush ever seriously stood for democracy is pretty pathetic. Observing democracy here at home might have been a good start, but no-o-o-o!!!! We on the left hadda get shouted down when we said invading Iraq might not be a good idea! I’m no supporter of Hamas, but when they won the Palestinian election of January 2007, Bush & Co could have tried to have at least attempted to work with them. Instead, Bush demonstrated that his whole commitment to democracy was just so much hot air.
Why do we all feel compelled to add that disclaimer about not being a Hamas supporter before pointing out that after all, Hamas IS the legitimate, democratically elected government (whether or not Israel, the U.S., or our host on this website are willing to accept it)? :o}
Actually, as much as I dislike its religious agenda, and disagree with some of its methods, in the decades of its existence and rise to power (which was, by the way, helped enormously by financial and political support from the Israeli government), Hamas has proven virtually incorruptible, and has consistently provided essential services to the Palestinians living under Israeli occupation that no one, especially Fatah, has cared enough to make available. And that is why the majority of Christian and secular Palestinians as well as Muslims who were not Hamas supporters voted for Hamas in 2006.
Those infamous tunnels, for example, are far less for smuggling weapons than they are a lifeline for the 1.5 million human beings of Gaza, who have been increasingly deprived by Israel of the most basic necessities of life. And don’t think for a moment that the Israelis are unaware of what really gets smuggled in through those tunnels – food, medicine, medical equipment, generators (since Israel is so fond of knocking out the electrical infrastructure as collective punishment), fuel (since Israel is so fond of blocking fuel shipments), drinking water (needed because Israel pulls so much water out of the Gaza aquifers that much water available in Gaza is contaminated by seawater), chemicals for purifying water, cooking oil, gas for cooking, parts to repair medical and other equipment, fruits and vegetables, even live animals such as sheep, goats, and chickens. In other words, those tunnels have been used to shamefully violate the siege that was imposed to collectively punish the people of Gaza for voting the wrong way in 2006. And even before the siege was imposed, they were used to bring in necessities that were blocked or limited by Israel.
Oh yes, and why is it that just about the only thing people in the U.S. hear is the utter falsehood that Hamas wants to see every Jew in Israel dead (as Bill Moyers intoned a week or so ago)? That has actually never been Hamas’ position, and for at least the last three years since they have officially accepted in principle the two-state solution, it is certainly not their position, yet that is the one thing everyone in America “knows for certain” about Hamas.
The point is that there is a lot more to Hamas than the terrorist label put on them by the propagandists, and American people of good will would do well to learn about it.
I think it is safe to say that with a very few exceptions the whole world will be very grateful if Obama has given up the Bushian version of democracy-promotion.
Over the last eight years in particular I have wondered just why the Soviet agenda of spreading Communism was evil and the neocons’ agenda of spreading “democracy” by pretty much the same methods was not.
The comments are entertaining, though show signs of mass delusion.
yes, if what you’re looking for is wankery, pj media will deliver every time.
but this is really above and beyond the call of stupid.
Obviously, we are doomed.
::
that was pretty wankitudinal.
i do not think the word means what they think it means.
And of course, the fact that the NSA under Bush implemented mass surveillance on all Americans means nothing to them.
The idea that Bush ever seriously stood for democracy is pretty pathetic. Observing democracy here at home might have been a good start, but no-o-o-o!!!! We on the left hadda get shouted down when we said invading Iraq might not be a good idea! I’m no supporter of Hamas, but when they won the Palestinian election of January 2007, Bush & Co could have tried to have at least attempted to work with them. Instead, Bush demonstrated that his whole commitment to democracy was just so much hot air.
Why do we all feel compelled to add that disclaimer about not being a Hamas supporter before pointing out that after all, Hamas IS the legitimate, democratically elected government (whether or not Israel, the U.S., or our host on this website are willing to accept it)? :o}
Actually, as much as I dislike its religious agenda, and disagree with some of its methods, in the decades of its existence and rise to power (which was, by the way, helped enormously by financial and political support from the Israeli government), Hamas has proven virtually incorruptible, and has consistently provided essential services to the Palestinians living under Israeli occupation that no one, especially Fatah, has cared enough to make available. And that is why the majority of Christian and secular Palestinians as well as Muslims who were not Hamas supporters voted for Hamas in 2006.
Those infamous tunnels, for example, are far less for smuggling weapons than they are a lifeline for the 1.5 million human beings of Gaza, who have been increasingly deprived by Israel of the most basic necessities of life. And don’t think for a moment that the Israelis are unaware of what really gets smuggled in through those tunnels – food, medicine, medical equipment, generators (since Israel is so fond of knocking out the electrical infrastructure as collective punishment), fuel (since Israel is so fond of blocking fuel shipments), drinking water (needed because Israel pulls so much water out of the Gaza aquifers that much water available in Gaza is contaminated by seawater), chemicals for purifying water, cooking oil, gas for cooking, parts to repair medical and other equipment, fruits and vegetables, even live animals such as sheep, goats, and chickens. In other words, those tunnels have been used to shamefully violate the siege that was imposed to collectively punish the people of Gaza for voting the wrong way in 2006. And even before the siege was imposed, they were used to bring in necessities that were blocked or limited by Israel.
Oh yes, and why is it that just about the only thing people in the U.S. hear is the utter falsehood that Hamas wants to see every Jew in Israel dead (as Bill Moyers intoned a week or so ago)? That has actually never been Hamas’ position, and for at least the last three years since they have officially accepted in principle the two-state solution, it is certainly not their position, yet that is the one thing everyone in America “knows for certain” about Hamas.
The point is that there is a lot more to Hamas than the terrorist label put on them by the propagandists, and American people of good will would do well to learn about it.
I think it is safe to say that with a very few exceptions the whole world will be very grateful if Obama has given up the Bushian version of democracy-promotion.
Over the last eight years in particular I have wondered just why the Soviet agenda of spreading Communism was evil and the neocons’ agenda of spreading “democracy” by pretty much the same methods was not.