Standing Against the 'Wrong is Right' Goldstone Resolution

Today we journey from Operation Cast Lead to Operation Cast Doubt. Almost as serious as committing war crimes is covering up war crimes, pretending that war crimes were never committed and did not exist.

Because behind every such deception is the nullification of humanity, the destruction of human dignity, the annihilation of the human spirit, the triumph of Orwellian thinking, the eternal prison of the dark heart of the totalitarian.

The resolution before us today, which would reject all attempts of the Goldstone Report to fix responsibility of all parties to war crimes, including both Hamas and Israel, may as well be called the "Down is Up, Night is Day, Wrong is Right" resolution.

Because if this Congress votes to condemn a report it has not read, concerning events it has totally ignored, about violations of law of which it is unaware, it will have brought shame to this great institution.

How can we ever expect there to be peace in the Middle East if we tacitly approve of violations of international law and international human rights, if we look the other way, or if we close our eyes to the heartbreak of people on both sides by white-washing a legitimate investigation?

How can we protect the people of Israel from existential threats if we hold no concern for the protection of the Palestinians, for their physical security, their right to land, their right to their own homes, their right to water, their right to sustenance, their right to freedom of movement, their right to the human security of jobs, education and health care?

We will have peace only when the plight of both Palestinians and Israelis is brought before this House and given equal consideration in recognition of that principle that all people on this planet have a right to survive and thrive, and it is our responsibility, our duty to see that no individual, no group, no people are barred from this humble human claim.

 

Comments

[pgmark]

Dennis -
You miss the point on this report.
Pure and simple it was too important a report to have members whose credibility is suspect.
I agree all parties involved need their rights protected, however how do you accomplish that task with a biased committee.
The UN should have gone out of there way to make sure those involved were beyond reproach.
If they had done therir job then the findings of the committee would have had some meaning.
The Goldstone report was wasted opportunity - peace and justice are needed in the middle-east -
you can only acheive this if you have true balance.
A new team should try again.

[Justtellthetruth]

The investigators WERE above reproach. Furthermore, If you disagree with the politics of one, it would not invalidate the findings of the entire report, especially when its lead author IS above reproach by ANYONE'S standards.

1400 dead, 1/3 of whom were children. destruction of water treatment and food productions facilities.
documented use of white phosphorous used as a weapon, dropped on a SCHOOL. The NYTimes documented the use of human shields and the wholesale slaughter of entire families.

If Israel truly wanted justice as opposed to simply avoiding it, they would have cooperated with the investigation. They did not.

[pgmark]

Please read
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1251804563198&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
or
http://www.thegoldstonereport.com/commissionmembers.html

My point is this was too important a commission to have questional members.
You may think they are beyond reproach - but far too may of us feel they are not.
Though I don't agree with assessment (you put no blame on how Hamas fights - i can show you film of them using the Palistinians as shields or what measures Israelis did take to warn civilians) I do believe both sides are flawed.
What made it worse was the commission was also flawed.
You need to open your eyes this is a two-sided struggle and if judgements are to be made find honest people who don't prejudge.

[Justtellthetruth]

God Bless you, Rep. Kucinich. The truth is very hard to come by in Washington, but you appear to have found some. Please keep up the great work.

[AwakeNow]

How do I appreciate Rep. Kucinich? Let me count the ways. Too many. Great Work! You are a genuine Statesman sir. Thank You.

[NeilPH]

Dennis Kucinich, you are a true hero, and one of the only US legislators worth their salt. Well done.

[who38]

Thank you, Rep. Kucinich. You are the best!

[MosheDayanHero]

A report whuich could not find a single instance of Hamas using civilians as human shields (despite hundreds TV reports all over the world) isn't worth the paper it is written on.

[BMo2xl]

So...you believe everything you see on TV? I also saw on TV reports that Isreal violated the cease-fire 6 times before the assault on Gaza. I also remember seeing on TV some years ago a report with actual film footage of Isreali soldiers sniping a 16 year old Palestinian girl on her way to school. But, I guess you only believe the things on TV that conform to your world view so the two things I saw are non-existant for you.

[RaWash]

You should note that NOT A SINGLE investigator found that Hamas used human shield, in fact ALL OF THEM concluded that only Israel did; also, what "TV reports" are you talking about? because i never saw such "reports" on any respectable news media.

[who38]

If Israel had not invaded, neither side would have used human shields........just a thought.

[ray01]

Perhaps the distinguished members of the House should see the below video:


FIRST SGT. AMIR: Not that I recall. There were no rules of engagement. The rules of engagement were to shoot. Those were the rules of engagement. You see anything suspect? Shoot.

AMY GOODMAN: “The rules of engagement were [to] shoot.” So said Amir, the Israeli soldier in Gaza, collected on the Breaking the Silence website. The significance of these soldiers speaking out after this last assault? How many were there? And the effect in Israel?

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/11/3/israeli_activists_criticize_us_house_for

[who38]

The distinguished members of the House probably did see the video; they were the ones that voted "No" on the Resolution. The others....including those who voted "Present".... would better be described in other terms.

[AwakeNow]

Agreed ........ x2!

[ray01]

Go Kucinich

Tell it like it is. A beacon of integrity in a night of darkness.

[111]

Congressman Kucinich,

I don't understand why a man with your integrity and courage is still a member of the Democratic party. Regardless, you are my hero.

Thank you for this post.

[holeybuybull]

If Dennis Kucinich were president, the US would be justified in claiming the designation of the "beacon of freedom" for the world.

[farru83]

I think if Kucinich were president, I'm sure he would not be saying such things. Obama is scared sh**less from the AIPAC and any other jewish organiztion to do anything. It's usually the people outside of the presidency who are able to speak frankly about the impact the jewish lobby has on congress. But if Kucinich were president, I'm sure his tone would be different.

[zaknick]

but that's exactly what Obama said he would do, speak truth to power and "change" "change" "change" (I'm describing the perfidious hypnosis I fell for during his campaign)....

I'm kidding, I'm sure he's a very nice man but just not up to the job or, as I read recently, is at the mercy of the power structure itself in this country.

[who38]

Kucinich will never be president because he is not scared sh**less of AIPAC. But , we all need to watch his back during his next election.

[dougnoll]

I am impressed with the Goldstone Report. The Mission members are credible international public figures with deep experience in international law and human rights violations. The methodology was well-designed. The standards against which the facts would be measured were based on conservative, well-accepted rules of international criminal and human rights laws. The conduct of the investigations was impartial and fair, despite the refusal of the Israeli government to cooperate in any fashion. Every interested institution, nation, or individual was given notice and opportunity to be heard, fulfilling basic due process rights. The report was thorough and detailed. Finally, the reporters understood and stated the limitations of the Mission clearly.

If the world seeks peace in the Middle East, reports like this must be weighed carefully. The passions, prejudices, beliefs, and biases of the extreme partisans of Israel and Palestine must be acknowledged and redirected if the atrocities in Gaza, the West Bank, and in Israel are to stop. At some point, the world will have to stop taking sides and say enough is enough. The U.S. Congress will have to have the courage to take the lead in this effort. Until then, the violence will continue.

[zaknick]

Fanned.

[BubbaC33]

Atrocities in Gaza do need to stop and the first step has to be the elimination of Hamas.

[Wisdo]

Can anyone tell me the difference between this congress and the previous republican controlled one?

[who38]

No. Remember that in 2010. It might be better if the Reps regained control; might force the Dems to retaliate with positions that are more traditionally progressive in nature.

[mulegino]

The right to whine party is out in full force, and now the House has officially CONDEMNED the Goldstone Report! Of course, members with integrity like Rep. Kucinich, Rep. Paul and a handful of others-36, I believe, voted against this resolution-in the face of all the cajoling, threats to be labelled "anti-semite", etc.-a now hackneyed term which is wearing thinner than old corduroy now, divested as it is of any true reference to political reality.
The world long ago woke up from its "dogmatic slumbers" vis a vis Palestine-the question is, will the U.S. join the growing world consensus, and become a true and impartial force for peace, or retrench itself even further as a champion of agression, oppression and injustice? I fear that that question can be too easily answered.

[Rog49Thomas]

A good article Brother Dennis, but one point in your post wasn't clear "it will have brought shame to this great institution".

Dennis, how on earth would that be any different from any other day in Congress when the peoples' representatives do the work of the rich and corporations?

[rissole]

President Kucinich.
Sounds good to me.