Obama's Silence on Gaza is Deafening

Barack Obama must be given a lot of credit for his remarkable ascent to power, particularly in terms of the dignified way in which he did it. But there is a dark side to his rise to the Presidency, one progressives and liberals do not like to acknowledge.

Barack Obama had to do two things to persuade the powers that be that he was a viable candidate for President. The first was to assure the financial community that he would commit to a centrist economic platform, and the second was to sell out the Palestinians immediately and jump in bed with AIPAC.

Obama did both, and the consequences will be felt immediately. Economically, Obama has not surrounded himself with the type of people committed to real change. The enormous financial crisis has given him more room to move, but he won't do anything dramatic (like hold Wall St to account, or provide a meaningful bailout to the average American). The results during his Presidency will mean extraordinary pain for the middle classes and poor, while the burden is shifted from those who caused it. It would no doubt be worse under a Republican, but it will not be pleasant.

With the latest Israeli assault on the Gaza strip, Obama's wholesale sellout of the Palestinian people is being felt even more acutely. His unique position to speak up for a bitterly oppressed people has been wasted in the name of political convenience.

Western responses to the massacre has been pathetic to say the least. The U.S, U.K and European Union have done little to stop the Israelis pounding Gaza with it's hi tech weaponry, with the Bush Administration laying the blame squarely on Palestinians. "The United States strongly condemns the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and holds Hamas responsible for breaking the cease-fire and for the renewal of violence in Gaza," said Condoleezza Rice. "The cease-fire should be restored immediately." Gordon Brown merely asked the Israelis to 'Show restraint'.

And Obama's response? A half hearted critique of Hamas through former campaign manager David Axelrod on CBS, where Obama's allegiance to Israel was reiterated and belief that Israel has the right to respond how it likes to Palestinian attacks.

One of the writers on my site, Hugo Foster has written a brilliant analysis of the Israeli action in the Gaza strip, explaining why the incursion is basically counterproductive and unnecessarily violent:

Publicly, Israel has stated it wants to create a new security environment, to deliver the 'knockout blow' that will definitively destroy Hamas' rocket-launching capability. To be sure, Hamas' military infrastructure has been truly battered in the past couple of days. Yet toppling Hamas' rule in Gaza is just not feasible. Logistically it would require precisely the sort of costly ground fighting that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have tried to avoid since they withdrew from the territory in 2005. And given the close proximity of military and civilian infrastructure in Gaza, it would inflict a level of human damage (beyond the 56 civilian lives already lost) that would eventually weaken tacit international support for Israel's 'right to self-defence', as happened belatedly in Lebanon two years ago.

The brash move by Israel was clearly taken due to the economic turmoil in the West. While we concern ourselves with job cuts, food shortages and plummeting house prices, Israel has taken brutal measures that even the most hawkish U.S politicians would have tried to avert.  

Obama has massive political capital, and could have injected himself into the crisis before it happened. He did so during the beginning of the economic meltdown, and could have lent his credibility to a situation that has spiralled dangerously out of control. Obama has stated that 'There is only one President at a time', abdicating responsibility and essentially passing the buck.

Obama has pointed out the Qassan rockets Hamas has been firing into Israeli towns over recent months, but has failed to mention the illegal sanctions Israel has placed on Gazans, turning the already squalid land into a virtual prison of starvation and targeted assassinations. 

The massacre over the past few days will enrage Palestinians further, strengthen Hamas, and solidify hatred towards Israel and the United States in the Arab world. If Obama wants meaningful change in the Middle East, he must start speaking up. For now, his silence is deafening.

Ben Cohen is the Editor of The Daily Banter.com

Follow Ben Cohen on Twitter: www.twitter.com/thedailybanter

Comments

[lmorin]

"The massacre over the past few days will enrage Palestinians further, strengthen Hamas, and solidify hatred towards Israel and the United States in the Arab world."

...??? I was under the impression that Arabs already hated Americans and of course Israel. When has Palestine ever stood up for the United States and waved the good ole red, white, and blue without setting flame to it? And why do some of you believe that a single word from Obama could have averted VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST? Did he suddenly become the world's appointed savior with the divine power to bring about world peace? Even if he had spoken up before the first missles were fired, would Hamas have listened to an American? (I am truly killing myself with laughter at this point). I would like to know what words would any of you have for Israel to cease fire? What words for Palestine? What comments would you put in Obama's mouth to encourage a cease fire on both sides WITHOUT offending one or the other?

[whatever48]

And again I say in these crucial days:
Let Gaza live
Gaza always wanted peace but Israel as a neighbor; I don't see it happening, if you doubt this read the history of Israel and all its attacks on the Arab world.

[whatever48]

reply to Michale32086;
I guess you were only watching the American"= Israeli's "point of view on the attack on Gaza, now we are always are taught not to believe all the things that people "or media "tells us, But to search for the truth and decide witch side we sympathize with based on the facts,
One fact is: Gaza is the biggest prison on earth, Israel has surrounded it with walls all around the borders, the only supposed to be friendly side with Gaza is Egypt, witch are controlling Raffah Crossing, and they are not helping Gaza at all, only some publicity stunts…
Hamas is doing all that it can to help Gaza people live, the whole world have boycotted Gaza specially since June 2008 when the siege on Gaza began, If you think about it its really hard to smuggle weapon or food from these area's, if there was smuggling why is there such a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, now if you say that Israel has announce d that there is no humanitarian crises, guess what they aren't friends with the Palestinians and they haven’t allowed any press agency to go to Gaza so the world won't have proof on the horrible thing that are happening,
Please look at other point of views collect some facts, again not from the Israeli's point of view, hear the other part of the story..

[Michale32086]

@whatever48

}}}}
And it saddens me for all the hopes that I've put in Obama to discover that he is another politician that sells-out Palestinian people's right to live.
{{{{

The right to swing one's arms ends where someone else's nose begins.

In other words, the right to live doesn't require killing other people in terrorist attacks...

}}}}
At least he should condemn the brutal killings made by the Israeli side,
{{{{

Any "brutal killings" are the result of Hamas' choice to place military weapons and hardware inside of civilian areas...

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and to allow food and medicine to inter the Gaza stripe
{{{{

Hamas doesn't have ANY problem getting in weapons, missiles and other military hardware. Why don't they smuggle in foodstuffs and medicine for their people??

I'll tell you why. Because Hamas is more interested in killing Israelis than they are interested in feeding and clothing their people..

}}}}
LET GAZA LIVE
{{{{{

Gaza could live in peace side by side with Israel if only Gaza were content to live in peace side by side with Israel...

Michale.....

[Michale32086]

@bbrecht

}}}}
Collective punishment is not self defense, it is a war crime. Both Hamas and Israel are guilty of this war crime. Israel, unfortunately, thanks to US support is more dangerous than Hamas.
{{{{

There is no "collective punishment" in the acts of the Israelis..

It's not Israel's fault that Hamas chooses to place military hardware within civilian areas...

Michale.....

[whatever48]

And I don't want to forget I Agree with Ben Cohen, that Obama should say something as the "president elect" to stop the massacre. Since he will be the leader of the world next few weeks,- and since he has already made statements about the economy solutions- he must show us where he stands in this issue and find long term solutions that protects the Palestinian's right on the land, to make peace in the middle east.
And it saddens me for all the hopes that I've put in Obama to discover that he is another politician that sells-out Palestinian people's right to live. At least he should condemn the brutal killings made by the Israeli side, and to allow food and medicine to inter the Gaza stripe…
LET GAZA LIVE

[whatever48]

Hamas wasn't ever trying to start regional war, but it only tried to defend its right to live, so I suggest that you watch the news from other sources " not only the American news channels" BTW: even the militant want peace but not on the price of there freedom. Not on the price of there lands. And F.Y.I: I'm not a militant Muslim so don't try to accuse me with that.
There won't ever be peace if the Israeli part keeps braking agreements and assaulting defenseless people.
Now if you think that I'm just zooming in on Israel, and only blaming them for the massacre that it is causing to the Gaza people, No I also blame The Arab Governments for there deafening silence on the horrible attacks on Gaza, I specifically blame Egypt for not opening the only Arab port to Gaza to break the siege, not even sending food nor medicine, I Blame Saudi Arabia because it has all the power to stop the war now and even stop the conflict, but not doing anything.

[whatever48]

I have to say Yaqub, In my point of view,as a person living in the middle east, watching news and understanding politics, you're fed the wrong image of the unjust war that is brought from the Israeli side to the poor Palestinian side, on june,2008 Hamas have accepted the truce with Israel on the terms that Israel wont close the borders at them and to end the siege on Gaza, But instead the Israeli part didn't keep its part of the deal. Also starving Gazan's for whole 6 months not allowing food, medicine, fuel nor electricity. They even didn't pay the wages of the Palestinian people for all that time. So How can you blame Hamas for deciding not extent the siege on its people?. Not to except the humiliating terms to die by starvation?.
BTw: Hamas has every right to protect it self from the un-even war, the humanitarian horrors that the Gaza's people are witnessing are not acceptable.
Shame on you to blame the victim for its slayers crimes, how can it be right that these people starving, living below any standard of life, can you ever imagine living without electricity without food without fuel .I don’t think so… why should you tell these people that they are responsible for all that? why don't you accuse the real criminal, THE ISRAELI government that are making all these crimes.
STOP LOOKING AT THE VICTIM AND BLAMING THEM FOR THE ISRAELI CRIMES!

[Okay]

Obama has not taken office. Once he does take his place then what? He is facing some really complicated issues and much is expected out of him. And let us not forget he is probably one of the least experienced people ever to acquire the office. Anyone who watched his debates with Hillary in spring 2008 undoubtedly will know that this year up to present must have been one cram session after another. A scramble if you will, to catch up not only to world events and government functions....but to reality.

As Obama comes closer to inauguration many of his campaign policies appear to be wilting away to a more centrist view. I was not an Obama supporter during his campaign ( I was turned off by his spring debates with Ms. Clinton). But I'm thinking that many people such as myself are going to be less disappointed in the future than those who have allowed less room for an Obama error.

Time will tell us if we have been foolish in the placement of our hopes. In the interim give the man a chance to show us who he really is beyond the type of hype(for and against) found on campaign trails.

[bbrecht]

To be silent in the face of such atrocities is to be complicit, that does for everyone.

[Michale32086]

@betz55

I have already proven that the bombing of the King David Hotel was not terrorism.. It was a legitimate military operation against a legitimate military target.

As to the other acts you mention, I am sure they are more of the same. Military, insurgency or guerilla operations that you want to pass off as terrorism, but really aren't..

You people point to a violent act that you don't like and scream TERRORISM when it really has nothing to do with terrorism..

Michale.....

[betz55]

Americans, eventually, are going to realize that Israel is a rogue nation in the Middle East, is an undeclared nuclear power and receives a disproportionate amount of US taxpayer money to be a bully to her neighbors. The current policy of blind support of Israel blindly has now crossed the line to irrational.

If Mr Obama is really interested in "change" we can believe in then he needs to "change" the same old rhetoric, and dogmatic, unquestioned, unconditional support of Israel. Level the playing field and be an honest broker of the "change" he is espousing. Obama is no fool but it sounds like AIPAC is doing their best to bias Obama to be an Israel firster.

I will be proud of the day when the President can put the interest of America before the interest of Israel and not be crucified for it. It's a shame that American politicians are selected, not on their commitment to the best interests of America, but by vowing to put the interests of a foreign nation, Israel, first. The oath of allegiance that I said everyday in school was not to Israel, or any country but America.

The US should force Israel to end the occupation of the West Bank, stop repressing the legitimate national aspirations of the Palestinians, and stop warmongering. The time has come for the US to stop pandering to Israel and it's destructive, belligerent, failed policies.

[swansong50]

I for one am glad the PE is not 'speaking his mind" on such a serious crisis without the benefit of actual power and authority. He is not running a "shadow gov't" as proposed by Jeb Bush several days ago. He isdoing exactly what we hired him to do during the transition period, monitor situations and be responsible and accountable for your words and actions. Thank you PE for being I expect out of a leader.

God Bless!

[majii]

I believe PE Obama is making the correct decision in this matter.

This is a situation wherein if he speaks on this conflict, he'll be shredded by the MSM and the right for trying to usurp GWB's presidency.

If he doesn't speak out the way that some want him to do, he is also shredded by the MSM, some on the right, and some on the left.

By practicing restraint he shows respect for GWB's right to handle the situation. Sometimes it takes more courage to exercise restraint than it does to be impetuous.

I do not think anyone should think that PE Obama is not concerned about the situation,but should remember that the Constitution clearly states that a new president is not sworn in until January 20.

[Rightone11]

What in the world are the liberals going to do come Jan.20, 2009, when Obama becomesPOTUS? They wil have no one to pass the buck to, no more Bush, no more Cheney, it will be Obama's game. I can see it now: Well, if BUSH had done this, or if CHENEY had done that...sorry, the clock is ticking. Obama BETTER get his poop in a group. And if this transistion is any indication of what we can expect from a President Obama, we are in for a lllooonnnngggg four years. Waiting for Obama to make up his mind over things like "do you want paper or plastic'? He can't make a decision or take a stand on ANYTING. Empty Suit Obama, the name sure fits well, doesn't it?

[sticksnstones]

I understand you are still smarting over the drubbing the GOP took by the electorate on Nov.4. Poor baby .... But consider your comment about PE Obama : " Waiting for Obama to make up his mind over things like " do you want paper or plastic? " ". I think you may be conditioned to the kind of quick, Knee-Jerk decisions the current admin. is used to making, with the resulting unanticipated blowback on just about every one of those spot decisions. You see, Obama actually examines the issues, seeks wise council, and GOES FROM THERE. This is called change, and not a moment too soon.

[Rightone11]

Sorry, you are wrong in your opinion of me being "conditioned" to knee-jerk decisions. I AM, however, used to a POTUS being able to MAKE a decision. Which is the problem that I have with Obama. He has a habit of "voting present". It looks like he is continuing this habit.
You still have your rose-colored glasses on when it comes to Obama. With the Blago incident, all of his questionable friends and his inability to make decisions ON ANY LEVEL, I find it hard to have faith in our PE~