Israel Flotilla Raid: Feinstein Calls For Inquiry

Congressional Quarterly :

In a significant departure from most of her colleagues, Sen. Dianne Feinstein called Tuesday for an "impartial inquiry" into the Israeli commando raid on a humanitarian flotilla carrying aid to the Gaza Strip that left nine activists dead, including one American.

Read the whole story: Congressional Quarterly

Comments

[eileenflemingWAWA]

08:38 AM on 06/13/2010

How about Congress also address the Dec/Jan 2009, 22 days of Israel's attack on the people of Gaza that was enabled by US-supplied weapons, that US TAXPAYERS provide over $3 billion annually to Israel although Israel has consistently misused U.S. weapons in violation of America's Arms Export Control and Foreign Assistance Acts.

And just before Christmas, Obama signed into law, G.W. Bush's negotiated deal with Israel to send another $30 billion in military aid to Israel over the next decade!

"Washington also provided F-16 fighter planes, Apache helicopters, tactical missiles, and a wide array of munitions, including white phosphorus and DIME. The weapons required for the Israeli assault was decided upon in June 2008, and the transfer of 1,000 bunker-buster GPS-guided Small Diameter Guided Bomb Units 39 were approved by Congress in September. The GBU 39 bombs were delivered to Israel in November (prior to any claims of Hamas cease fire violation!) for use in the initial air raids on Gaza."

"Twelve Days of Christmas and an Open Letter to The House" @

http://wearewideawake.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1523&Itemid=227

[vtopa]

05:41 PM on 06/11/2010

Finally, a Jewish politician who isn't owned by AIPAC (like Schumer, Weiner, and Waxman). Good for you Diane!

[joesphp]

12:05 AM on 06/11/2010

http://gazaflotilla.delegitimize.com/statements/activist-statements/exclusive-16-minute-footage-from-mavi-marmari/

Maybe Feinstein knows the whole sickening murder and slaughter is going to be released on the internet?

Refutes IDF claim they acted in self-defense. While their version of events and their video have played the world over of commandos rappelling down and being attacked, this will destroy that lie once and for all.

The 15min released (more tomorrow apparently) shows in the first 2-5min unexplained blood stains on a ladder, sounds of gunfire, commandos rappelling down from a helicopter. If the blood on the ladder is a passengers blood, wounded or dead before any commando set foot on the ship, that supports every single survivors testimony that they were attacked before being boarded.

It means, irrefutably, that the IDF deliberately provoked the passengers in order to achieve the outcome the IDF wanted, a confrontation leading to murder, mayhem, and a pre-determined justification of 'self-defense' by the IDF

The IDF, the JDL, the US congress, John Stewart, Glenn Beck, ABC, BBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, NBC, SkyNews, etc etc ad nauseam propagandists have barraged the world with "Israel acted in self-defense" Same old story. This video potentially destroys that completely. Thats why have to see it in its entirety.

And it continues -

http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2010/06/june-9-2010.html#

[Niall Pringle]

01:28 PM on 06/13/2010

"The 15min released (more tomorrow apparently) shows in the first 2-5min unexplained blood stains on a ladder"

I could be wrong but there was comment from the vid of the attackers using paint-ball guns to suppress the defenders. The red stains could be red paint from such weapons.

[Jezreel]

11:15 AM on 06/10/2010

EXCLUSIVE: New Video Smuggled Out from Mavi Marmara of Israel’s Deadly Assault on Gaza Aid Flotilla
In a Democracy Now! exclusive, we bring you a sneak preview of previously unseen raw footage from the Mavi Marmara that will be formally released at a press conference at the United Nations later in the day. The footage shows the mood and the activities onboard the Mavi Marmara in the time leading up to the attack, and the immediate reaction of the passengers during the attack. We are joined by filmmaker and activist Iara Lee, one of the few Americans on the Mavi Marmara ship. Her equipment was confiscated, but she managed to smuggle out an hour’s worth of footage.

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/6/10/exclusive_journalist_smuggles_out_video_of

[CigarGod]

03:39 PM on 06/09/2010

Please TAKE ACTION and DEMAND that the United Nations launch an independent investigation into the Israeli attack against unarmed relief ships in the Freedom Flotilla. DEMAND that the international community stop simply condemning Israel's brutal and illegal blockade of Gaza - and start doing something to end it!

CONTACT

UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon

The United Nations, New York NY 10017
tel: [phone]
fax: [phone] or 212-963-4879
email: un.orgorg -or- sg at un dot org

[MARYHOBE]

10:10 AM on 06/09/2010

An American senator with cohones. Not too many out there that are questioning the high cost of our ongoing friendship with Israel. We need a more balanced approach to advance the cause of peace in that area.

[last boy scout]

10:01 AM on 06/09/2010

Am I the only person considering the Israel to be hypocritical on that matter?
Check out this article — http://www.win.ru/en/ideas/4549.phtml

[atlantis1star]

01:19 PM on 06/09/2010

Israel is worse then hypocritical.

My objection is with America giving Israel $3 BILLION DOLLARS in aid while they kill Peace Activists with American weapons.

America is as much to blame as Israel. We need to take as tough a stand with Israel as we do with Iran.

At least Iran has not killed Americans Like Israel has.

[chuck becker]

12:51 AM on 06/10/2010

You wrote: "At least Iran has not killed Americans Like Israel has."

Okay, let's disregard the EMBASSY invasion, which ended when Ronald Reagan was inaugurated and Iran realized that their free ride in holding 50 of our diplomats for over 400 days was about to come to a shockingly abrupt end.

Let's disregard the three American college student hikers captured and held.

Let's just go directly this this:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1605487,00.html

Israel acts forthrightly, on their own behalf, so when they do something, the world knows about it. Iran acts only after establishing deniability, through surrogate, so when they do something it always looks like someone else did it. Except this time (above) they got caught.

[MohammedAhmed]

09:44 AM on 06/09/2010

Funny that many of the commenters are telling Israel what to do in order to "look good".
Israel always "looks good" when it is on the recieving end. Before 1967, after the war in 193. If Israelis are getting killed Israel is popular. If Israel hits back in self defense then it automatically becomes the aggressor bully. I for one prefer the latter.The first and foremost obligation of the Israeli government is towards its citizens. It has to see to it that Israelis recieve good education, health services, income, and so on. So far seems that they have been doing a good job by signing peace agreements with arab countries that were willing (Egypt and Jordan) and successfully intimidating the others (Lebanon, Syria and Palestinians) until the time that they realize that destroying Israel is not an option and peace is preferable.

And for all the leftie americans who cannot finish a post without referring to the Liberty. Grow up. It was an unfortunate incident from over 40 years ago. The ship had no business being in a war zone. And got zapped for it. Kind of reminds us of the Marmara Mavi. Had no business being there and 9 terrorists got zapped. Funny how history repeats itself

[Captai]

10:02 AM on 06/09/2010

The USS liberty was in international waters. Yes its funny how history repeats itself - Israel gets away with it again. Funny how that happens.

[Peter Noble 2]

11:21 AM on 06/09/2010

You are wrong. American ships have every right to monitor outside of Israeli waters. And this was a terrorist attack. Using your defense of Israel: if the IAF were simply in a war of self defense why attack an American spy ship that posed no threat? That's terrorism. The Americans died because they could not believe they were being attacked by Israel.

Also the lies about not knowing who the ship was is pathetic. Egypt did not have any ships like it. And the Soviet vessels were different in outline. This was deliberate.

But if Israel wants to use the argument that this is a dangerous area and all of use enter at our peril: a great argument to not visit or support Israel.

[Hutzpanit]

06:58 PM on 06/09/2010

So you're not really interested in human rights, you're interested to punish one people while rewarding another. Very humanitarian of you.

[muck-raker]

08:46 PM on 06/09/2010

Peter. The plan was that Israel was supposed to sink the Liberty and in a false flag attack blame it on Egypt so that the USA would come in on the side of Israel.
Here is Capt. Boston, Judge Advocate who heard all of the testimony of the survivors. You will find this report very disturbing because at one point Prez Johnson had our war planes turn a round as it would be embarrassing to Israel. a very good read.

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/us_ints/ul-boston.html

[cintirich]

09:11 AM on 06/09/2010

I find it interesting the HuffPost hasn't run this story today:

Reuters Admits Cropping Photos of Ship Clash, Denies Political Motive
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/06/08/reuters-fake-photos-ihh-gaza-blockade-commandos/?test=latestnews
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The British-based Reuters news agency has been stung for the second time by charges that it edited politically sensitive photos in a way that casts Israel in a bad light. But this time Reuters claims it wasn’t at fault.

The news agency reacted to questions raised by an American blogger who showed that Reuters' photo service edited out knives and blood traces from pictures taken aboard the activist ship Mavi Marmara during a clash with Israeli commandos last week. Nine people were killed and scores were injured in the clash.................."

[blutigeroo]

09:29 AM on 06/09/2010

Journalists and newspapers alike need to be held accountable for what they print (to some degree).

[LINY01]

10:37 AM on 06/09/2010

Yes. And we know to whom they must be accountable....

[Hutzpanit]

08:05 AM on 06/10/2010

Absolutely!

[sense oar sheep]

01:54 PM on 06/09/2010

read the hyper link: "test=latestnews"

there is no dispute that some passengers wielded knives, slingshots, and fabricated batons
yet, the fox news "test=latestnews" states:

"“That’s a very interesting way to crop the photo. Most people would consider that knife an important part of the context. There was a huge controversy over whether the activists were armed. Cropping out a knife, in a picture showing a soldier who’s apparently been stabbed, seems like a very odd editorial decision. Unless someone was trying to hide it,” the blog stated."

[totaldisbelief]

08:58 AM on 06/09/2010

Who's government does she really work for?
I've had plenty of Sen. Feinstein.

[BowlyJones]

09:55 AM on 06/09/2010

The US and I'm proud of her for standing up to the principles of truth and justice. What does Israel have to fear from an investigation if it's perfectly innocent? Problem is we all already saw the video of them attacking a multi national flotilla in international waters in the middle of the night, pirate style and executing at least nine people. The IDF has already been caught faking photos, video, audio and claims about the people on the boat.

[Angelaaaa]

08:50 AM on 06/09/2010

The Israeli government has established an inquiry where:

There is no right to compel witnesses;
There will be no ability to question the commandos;
The findings of the inquiry will have no legal validity.

Why bother?

[JPMP]

08:35 AM on 06/09/2010

Right, investigation, so she, or her lackeys, can control and whitewash it.

[blutigeroo]

09:35 AM on 06/09/2010

Israel rejected a Turkey-Israel-America led investigation, according to another poster.

[BowlyJones]

09:56 AM on 06/09/2010

Why are you afraid of an impartial investigation? The Israeli government has already been caught in lies and forgeries. They have proven to be unreliable.

[TheBurdicks]

08:32 AM on 06/09/2010

Read between the lines of these comments by another lousy Washington insider representing her handlers at the expense of all the rest of us, clearly in the pocket of only one side of this two party conflict.
An "impartial investigation" in Beltway double speak, means an investigation conducted by one side of the conflict, the one unequivocally supported by Mrs. Feinstein, without any active participation by the other side, or even impartial elements of the international community.
Another whitewash for sure. More blue smoke and mirrors from the masters of blue smoke and mirrors.

[BowlyJones]

09:58 AM on 06/09/2010

No, you need to look up the word "impartial." Do you honestly expect the Israeli government to be fair? They have already been caught faking photos and audio.

[blaharumph]

08:25 AM on 06/09/2010

thank you... and if it's serious, open and transparent, that's good too.

[Troubledwawa]

08:11 AM on 06/09/2010

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/obama-to-offer-abbas-fresh-aid-for-gaza-in-flotilla-aftermath-1.295093

"Obama to offer Abbas fresh aid for Gaza in flotilla aftermath
U.S. President to meet Palestinian counterpart at the White House on Wednesday to discuss heightened Middle East tensions, Gaza humanitarian situation.

The Obama administration has deemed "unsustainable" the three-year-old blockade, which Israel says is needed to stop weapons smuggling and Palestinians call collective punishment.

Expectations for a major breakthrough are low when the two leaders meet. But having pledged to help ease Gaza's plight, Obama will not send Abbas home empty-handed.

"The president and President Abbas will discuss steps to improve life for the people of Gaza, including U.S. support for specific projects to promote economic development and greater quality of life," a senior Obama administration official said.

Obama's pledge will include a "long-term strategy for progress that we will advance through consultations with the Palestinians, Israelis, Egyptians and other partners."
-------------------------------------------

Translation: Israel's options are getting smaller by the hour.