by Stephen LendmanPosted on 02 November 2011
State terror embraces many forms of lawlessness, duplicity and depravity. They include violence; war; conquest; colonization; plunder; targeted killings; torture; financial, political and social terrorism, and more. Washington and Israel fine-tuned it. Both nations redefined the degeneracy of Western societies. They and others benefit from death, destruction, exploitation, and human misery.
Their policies spurn core democratic values, including life, liberty, equity, justice, truth, and government of, for and by the people. All are non-starters.
Ordinary people are exploited, not served. Only wealth and power matter, regardless of the body count to accumulate maximum amounts and secure more of both.
Wickedness has no bounds. Practitioners seek new ways to do malevolent things to more people. Nothing is off limits. Rhetoric masks sinister destructive agendas.
Gandhi was asked what he thought of Western civilization. "I think it would be a good idea," he responded. Maybe he had Washington and Israel in mind. Both give new meaning to rogue state depravity.
Their "new target: Silencing the free press through the threat of libel suits that would jeopardize the economic foundations of the media outlets."
The Knesset Law and Justice Committee approved a first reading for legislation to raise libel compensation six-fold "with no need to prove actual damage."
It could increase another five-fold if complainant responses aren't published in full. Opponents of free expression call for protecting people from "the great power of the media."
At issue is suppressing dissent, truth, and controlling the message. America faces similar threats with congressional extremists wanting Internet freedom curtailed.
If reactionary elements in both countries succeed, press freedom's last frontier may disappear, and with it fragile free societies in America, Israel and elsewhere.
Israel's latest injustice involves journalist Anat Kamm. At issue is prosecuting whistleblowers. She like Bradley Manning exposed criminal wrongdoing. He awaits trial. Kamm was just sentenced.
Originally accused of espionage, Tel Aviv's District Court gave her 54 months imprisonment plus another 18 months suspended sentence on charges of collecting, holding and passing on classified material without authorization.
Prior to being convicted, she spent two years under house arrest. Like Manning, she obtained documents while on active military duty. Some were marked "top secret." They involved approved targeted Palestinian assassinations. Ordering them violated international law and Israel's High Court.
On December 14, 2006, High Court President, Justice Aharon Barak, ruled no one should be assassinated or harmed in lieu of nonviolent workable alternatives. "In other words," he said, "a person should not be assassinated if it is possible to arrest him, interrogate and indict him."
Israeli General Yair Naveh was quoted saying, "Don't bother me with High Court orders." In other words, rule of law inviolability and Supreme Court rulings don't matter.
America is much the same. Preemptive war against nonbelligerent countries is official policy. So is torture and targeted killings. Everyone, including US citizens, is at risk. In Israel, exposing classified material means up to 15 years in prison. Holding it alone can bring seven.
Imprisoned awaiting trial, Manning's been brutalized in solitary confinement. If convicted on all or most serious charges, possible life in prison may follow for exposing state crimes.
He and Kamm are heros. America and Israel call them criminals. The malevolence of both nations knows no bounds.
UNESCO Punished for Doing the Right Thing
Another issue involves UNESCO members voting overwhelmingly for full Palestinian membership despite intense US and Israeli opposition.
Israel called it a "tragedy." Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said it was "a big diplomatic car crash." Israeli ambassador Nimrod Barkan claimed UNESCO performed "a great disservice."
Ahead of the vote, Washington called admitting Palestine "counterproductive (and) premature." Retaliatory measures followed, America's usual response.
State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said America's $60 million contribution (22% of UNESCO's budget) won't be paid this month.
Members supported Palestine anyway. US 1990 and 1994 laws mandate defunding UN agencies granting Palestine full membership.
Legislation passed in 1990 prohibits funds "for the United Nations or any specialized agency thereof which accords the Palestinian Liberation Organization the same standing as a member state."
The 1994 law bars funding "any affiliated organization of the United Nations which grants full membership as a state to any organization or group that does not have the internationally recognized attributes of statehood."
Palestine's had them for over six decades. Nonetheless, full recognition's been denied. Israel (through its Lobby) pressured Congress for both laws.
Washington's subservience to Israel is longstanding and pernicious, especially since the 1960s. Whatever Israel wants, it gets, even when US interests are harmed. Both dance together destructively, living by the sword. One day perhaps they'll perish by it.
From 1984 to 2003, Washington boycotted UNESCO, claiming the organization was corrupt, anti-Israel, anti-Western, and critical of major media sources.
A previous article said lawless extremists infest Congress like crabgrass besets lawns. Rep. Eleana Ros-Lehtinen (R. FL) is one of the worst. She called UNESCO's vote "reckless," "anti-Israel", and "anti-peace."
She and other bipartisan extremists defiantly support wrong over right. Discussions now include new legislation to restrict overall UN funding, cut off Palestinian aid entirely, and punish nations voting for Palestinian membership.
Nonetheless, cheers erupted at UNESCO's General Assembly after the vote. One delegated shouted "Long live Palestine!" in French. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki called membership:
"the beginning of a road that is difficult, but will lead to the freedom of our land and people from occupation," adding it "help(s) erase a tiny part of the injustice done to the Palestinian people."
A significant symbolic victory was achieved. Others perhaps will follow.
On November 2, Haaretz said Palestine seeks membership in 16 more UN agencies, including the World Health Organization, International Labor Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization, International Telecommunication Union, and 12 others.
Hopefully full de jure UN membership will follow. It's decades overdue.
A Final Comment
On November 1, the International Middle East Media Center said Israel may impose sanctions on Palestine following admittance to UNESCO, saying:
"....Netanyahu decided to convene with his 'cabinet of eight' on Tuesday to discuss a series of sanctions against the Palestinian Authority (PA)...."
An unnamed Israeli official said punishments may include canceling VIP privileges for senior PA officials, additional settlement construction, and halting tax revenue transfers due Palestine.
Also under consideration is suspending future cooperation with UNESCO.
Israeli and US governance is so out-of control perhaps declaring war is next. Why not. Both countries thrive on it. America's agenda embraces permanent war. Israel is a modern-day Sparta.
Together with like-minded partners they plan world conquest and dominance. Why worry about UNESCO with those goals in mind.
Neither tolerates embarrassment. Anything ahead is possible. None of it will be humanitarian or socially beneficial. Expect new broadsides any time when least expected. That's how rogue states operate.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
Uprooted Palestinian
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