Comment by Larry Ross, August 8, 2006

Every day it becomes clearer that the U.S. and Israel are engaging in a joint war on Muslim countries in the middle east. Israel's assault on Lebanon is the latest example. Bush & Co. are acting for Israel diplomatically, justifying all it's atrocities, while blocking an effective U.N. resolution and action.

Today, Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert called on all Jews to unite behind Israel "which was fighting for it's life" and prepare for more sacrifices.

How could anyone believe such falsehoods? Israel is the strongest power in the middle east with enough nuclear firepower to annihilate any state that dared attack it. With it's 200-500 nuclear weapons, Israel could destroy most of the world. Nevertheless enough people will believe this pro-war rubbish and propaganda and support Israel's war. This will make it possible for Olmert to continue his unprecedented barbarism.

Olmert also blamed Iran and Syria for helping Hizbollah. These countries are the next U.S.-Israeli targets. The U.S. war in Iraq, now expanded to include Lebanon and Palestine, may become one of the largest wars in history. That it will expand further, and involve U.S. and Israeli use of nuclear weapons
is likely. This plan has been exposed and condemned by many authoritative articles on this website. Can the two nations get away with it and threaten the world for the indefinite future?

So long as the media keep most people in a cocoon of ignorance, print pro-war propaganda and suppress criticism, the war criminals may succeed.

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"If this is not terrorism, what is?"

An open letter to the American president
By Salim al-Hoss, Special to The Daily Star, August 3, 2006

Dear Mr. Bush,

We heard you express your regrets regarding the casualties of Israel's ravaging war against my country, Lebanon.

I hope you have been furnished with a true profile of the atrocities being perpetrated in my country. You pose as being at war with terrorism. Let me honestly tell you: Charity starts at home.

Israel is wantonly indulging in the most horrendous forms of terrorism in Lebanon: indiscriminately killing innocent civilians at random; not sparing children, elderly or handicapped people; demolishing buildings over their residents' heads; and destroying all infrastructure, roads, bridges, water and power arteries, harbors, air strips and storage facilities. Nothing moving on the highways is spared, not even ambulances, trucks, trailers, cars or even motorcycles, all in violation of the Geneva Conventions and human rights.

The displaced population has reached more than one fourth of the total population of my country - all suffering the harshest and most miserable of conditions. The victims include thousands of killed and maimed.

If this is not terrorism, what is?

Israel's savage assault has been labeled retribution for Hizbullah's abduction of two Israeli soldiers. This smacks of collective punishment, which constitutes a brazen violation of the Geneva Conventions and human rights. Furthermore, the alibi is far from plausible. The two Israeli soldiers were abducted for the express purpose of reaching a swap of hostages with Israel. In fact, Israel had acceded more than once to such swaps in the past. Why would a swap of prisoners be acceptable at one time and a taboo, rather a casus belli, at another? This created a conviction among the Lebanese that the sweeping assault against them was premeditated, and the abduction was only a tenuous excuse.

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