Opposing the Bombing is NOT Support for Hezbollah
Just because somebody opposes the bombing of Israel, it does not mean they support Hezbollah. From what I have seen of the group their ideology is almost totally opposite to what I personally believe. They are racist (anti-semitic), sexist and homophobic. I don't want to live in a world dominated by such ideologies or groups. So why am I opposing the Israeli bombings, especially as they claim they just need a few weeks and they will have finished the job?
Well firstly its a fantasy that Israel will destroy Hezbollah in a few weeks. The group fought Israel when it occupied southern Lebanon for about 20 years – why is this few weeks of war going to be any different? The reports are that the Israel army is facing a foe far more dangerous that it anticipated, who are waiting in secure bunkers for the ground troops to invade. Hezbollah have been preparing for this for years, thus the tactical thing to do is not blunder into their trap, as Israel is doing. This war, so far, has not weakened Hezbollah, has not stopped the rocket attacks; but has strengthened it, boosted its image and further degraded the Israel image. I also oppose it moral grounds plus the pragmatic view that an attempt to destroy a group that kills about 10 civilians (predominantly women and kids) for each alleged Hezbollah fighter it gets, is not going to stop the problem. If just two of each victims family pledge revenge (If you want a graphic account of how a civilian who is the victim of state terror turns to terrorism read Killing Rage by Eamon Collins) then Israel is may well be creating more fighters/terrorists that it is killing. Occupation created the problem of Hezbollah. has Israel occupied south Lebanon to get another group - the PLO - who were also created by occupation. Thus it follows logic that if occupation created the problem, dealing with occupation can end it. Drain away the grievances against Israel and you drain the supply of recruits and supporters and fanatics. This mean a meaningful peace that does not simply throw people the scraps of land that Israel does not want and removed the ethnic apartheid that it has created. Israel has been trying the military solution to its problem for decades and is no closer to peace. How many have to die before this changes? I cite Israel as having to change as it is the dominant power in the region and without it changing nothing else will.
More news on this issue:
Israeli strikes cause massive environmental disaster
http://www.gnn.tv/articles/2455/Oil_Spill_Hits_Lebanon_s_Beaches
Sistani Threatens US over Israeli War on Lebanon
http://www.juancole.com/2006/07/what-is-hizbullah-western-and-israeli.html
A War Without End?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/072706H.shtml
Israel bans reporting of use of "unique" weapons in Lebanon
http://www.redress.btinternet.co.uk/israel_censor.htm
http://www.granta.com/shop/product?usca_p=t&product_id=33
Monday, July 31, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
The Media War
We are now the targets of as vast media war being fought for hearts and minds. There is a vast push of information that leads us to decide who is right and wrong in the current middle east war.
Is Bliar and Co right to oppose a cease fire? I would say no. They are wrong. They blither about a 'lasting ceasefire' but each time I see images of dead children, I can't help but think they would still be alive with a cease fire. But then what should we expect from a bunch of neo-con, privatization warmongers. Bliar is not allowed (by Bu$h) to go to Lebanon, but does have time to go a see Rupert Murdoch. Its all about priorities. Dead arab kids are not one of Bliars.
Is Israel wrong to defend itself? People (not states) have a right to self-defence. This is not self-defence, it is terrorism. Self-defence is to pursue the best strategy to protect you and yours. Fighting is not always the best strategy. So far, a a cost of hundreds dead, the rockets still reign down on Israel and they have handed a PR victory to their enemies and exposed the weakness of the IDF. Not a great strategy. Given that Israel faces resistance groups that were founded in occupation and feed off occupation - the solution is and always has been to end the occupation.
Don't Israel's opponents want to wipe it off the map? People talk about the various extremist groups wanting to wipe Israel off the map - physically they can't as Israel has the 4th most powerful army in the world (behind US, Russia and China) and they have nukes. They cannot be wiped off anywhere. They are the dominant power (backed by the US) and so they are the ones with the power to create peace.
Is this not all about anti-semitism? No. That's a bullshit cover that atrocity is hiding behind. I have no doubt that there are various people pushing anti-semitic ideas, the problem is that by Israel's actions is that it is creating a fertile ground for such claptrap to flourish. This is not a problem created by anti-semitism, it is created by occupation. Both resistance movements that Israel is facing were created by its own policies. The root issue, not peripheral issues, need addressing.
Some interesting posts on the war:
Israel's Attacks Helping the Enemy?
http://www.gnn.tv/headlines/10157/Israel_s_Attacks_Helping_the_Enemy
Israel claims it's justified in bombing civilians because Hezbollah mingles with them. In fact, the militant group doesn't trust its civilians and stays as far away from them as possible.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/07/28/hezbollah/index_np.html
Israel Drops White Phosphorus Bombs, Littlest Victims Suffer
http://gnn.tv/headlines/10114/Israel_Drops_White_Phosphorus_Bombs_Littlest_Victims_Suffer
Meanwhile Iraq, Afganistan and Global Warming rummble on in the background...
We are now the targets of as vast media war being fought for hearts and minds. There is a vast push of information that leads us to decide who is right and wrong in the current middle east war.
Is Bliar and Co right to oppose a cease fire? I would say no. They are wrong. They blither about a 'lasting ceasefire' but each time I see images of dead children, I can't help but think they would still be alive with a cease fire. But then what should we expect from a bunch of neo-con, privatization warmongers. Bliar is not allowed (by Bu$h) to go to Lebanon, but does have time to go a see Rupert Murdoch. Its all about priorities. Dead arab kids are not one of Bliars.
Is Israel wrong to defend itself? People (not states) have a right to self-defence. This is not self-defence, it is terrorism. Self-defence is to pursue the best strategy to protect you and yours. Fighting is not always the best strategy. So far, a a cost of hundreds dead, the rockets still reign down on Israel and they have handed a PR victory to their enemies and exposed the weakness of the IDF. Not a great strategy. Given that Israel faces resistance groups that were founded in occupation and feed off occupation - the solution is and always has been to end the occupation.
Don't Israel's opponents want to wipe it off the map? People talk about the various extremist groups wanting to wipe Israel off the map - physically they can't as Israel has the 4th most powerful army in the world (behind US, Russia and China) and they have nukes. They cannot be wiped off anywhere. They are the dominant power (backed by the US) and so they are the ones with the power to create peace.
Is this not all about anti-semitism? No. That's a bullshit cover that atrocity is hiding behind. I have no doubt that there are various people pushing anti-semitic ideas, the problem is that by Israel's actions is that it is creating a fertile ground for such claptrap to flourish. This is not a problem created by anti-semitism, it is created by occupation. Both resistance movements that Israel is facing were created by its own policies. The root issue, not peripheral issues, need addressing.
Some interesting posts on the war:
Israel's Attacks Helping the Enemy?
http://www.gnn.tv/headlines/10157/Israel_s_Attacks_Helping_the_Enemy
Israel claims it's justified in bombing civilians because Hezbollah mingles with them. In fact, the militant group doesn't trust its civilians and stays as far away from them as possible.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/07/28/hezbollah/index_np.html
Israel Drops White Phosphorus Bombs, Littlest Victims Suffer
http://gnn.tv/headlines/10114/Israel_Drops_White_Phosphorus_Bombs_Littlest_Victims_Suffer
Meanwhile Iraq, Afganistan and Global Warming rummble on in the background...
Saturday, July 22, 2006
A Guide to Middle East Insanity
I can't believe the shit I am hearing from the airwaves and on the net. To hear a UK or US official speak – you'd think they had been gestated from a spin training camp only a week ago; "All this started when Hamas/Hezbollah kidnapped Israeli soldiers..." WHAT? What? You what? So before that, it was all peaches and cream? It would be funny if people were not dying. It is time to put things in perspective...
This DID NOT just begin when Hamas/Hezbollah kidnapped Israeli soldiers: It goes way beyond that. It did not even begin in 1948 when the state of Israeli was created by displacing sections of the ethnic population. Ultimately you have to lay the blame of the various colonial wars and games played in the region of decades. I am sad to say Britain has a huge part in why this is all such a mess. The kidnapping of the last few weeks is simply the latest in a long line of acts by various sides. You could say the escalation began with the kidnapping – but again you would be wrong. Hamas did attack a post and kidnap a solider, but then they would say it was in response to the ongoing Israeli campaign against them. The Israeli campaign is a response to..and so on back into history.
The solution is not to disarm Hamas/Hezbollah: Bu$h and Bliar seem to think so. The weasley Kim Howells on the Today program echoed this view is a shameful display of cross-logic and cowardice. He said the problem was that Lebanon has not implemented UN the resolution to disarm Hezbollah. (He also said he would not defend the Israeli actions but did not support calls for a ceasefire. Huh?) That the solution was to disarm Hezbollah and Hamas and the for the Israelis to make the occupation a little nicer. This is the key point – occupation.
The issue is OCCUPATION: Occupation, occupation, occupation. Nobody in power in UK/US really want to say it but that is the key. Why was Hezbollah created? They were created to resist the Israeli occupation of South Lebanon. To think that Israeli will be able to destroy an organisation that was spawned by their militarily aggression and fought their occupation for 20 years by more occupation and military aggression is INSANITY. Why was Israel occupying South Lebanon? To try and kill of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Why was the PLO created? To resist the Israeli occupation of Palestine. (On a side note it is interesting that Hamas were nurtured in their early days by the Israeli intelligence people as they wanted a counter to the secular PLO – and like the occupation of south Lebanon, that too has bitten them on the ass).
No justice, no peace: The solution is an end of the occupation. Anything else is simply dancing round the fire.
I can't believe the shit I am hearing from the airwaves and on the net. To hear a UK or US official speak – you'd think they had been gestated from a spin training camp only a week ago; "All this started when Hamas/Hezbollah kidnapped Israeli soldiers..." WHAT? What? You what? So before that, it was all peaches and cream? It would be funny if people were not dying. It is time to put things in perspective...
This DID NOT just begin when Hamas/Hezbollah kidnapped Israeli soldiers: It goes way beyond that. It did not even begin in 1948 when the state of Israeli was created by displacing sections of the ethnic population. Ultimately you have to lay the blame of the various colonial wars and games played in the region of decades. I am sad to say Britain has a huge part in why this is all such a mess. The kidnapping of the last few weeks is simply the latest in a long line of acts by various sides. You could say the escalation began with the kidnapping – but again you would be wrong. Hamas did attack a post and kidnap a solider, but then they would say it was in response to the ongoing Israeli campaign against them. The Israeli campaign is a response to..and so on back into history.
The solution is not to disarm Hamas/Hezbollah: Bu$h and Bliar seem to think so. The weasley Kim Howells on the Today program echoed this view is a shameful display of cross-logic and cowardice. He said the problem was that Lebanon has not implemented UN the resolution to disarm Hezbollah. (He also said he would not defend the Israeli actions but did not support calls for a ceasefire. Huh?) That the solution was to disarm Hezbollah and Hamas and the for the Israelis to make the occupation a little nicer. This is the key point – occupation.
The issue is OCCUPATION: Occupation, occupation, occupation. Nobody in power in UK/US really want to say it but that is the key. Why was Hezbollah created? They were created to resist the Israeli occupation of South Lebanon. To think that Israeli will be able to destroy an organisation that was spawned by their militarily aggression and fought their occupation for 20 years by more occupation and military aggression is INSANITY. Why was Israel occupying South Lebanon? To try and kill of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. Why was the PLO created? To resist the Israeli occupation of Palestine. (On a side note it is interesting that Hamas were nurtured in their early days by the Israeli intelligence people as they wanted a counter to the secular PLO – and like the occupation of south Lebanon, that too has bitten them on the ass).
No justice, no peace: The solution is an end of the occupation. Anything else is simply dancing round the fire.
Friday, July 21, 2006
The Parasite
There is a good write up about breakcore in XLR8R magazine;
It’s there [at crazzy parties] that [breakcore] artists, the majority of whom perform live, unleash their sonic assault and some serious antics: singing, screaming, moshing, telling jokes, tearing their clothes off, bashing their heads on tables and then bleeding on the audience, making the most of thrift store bins for crazy costumes, and, bizarrely, almost always wearing funny hats. Breakcore artists are some of the most thoughtful, inventive, and politically progressive people making music today, but on stage they are a bunch of fucking loons.
Oh yes. It also gives a good profile of my mate and co-labo8tor Parasite;
Parasite
It’s hard to believe that the royal ruckus known as Parasite is actually breakcore's hardest-working bloke. The affable bloodsucker (Armin Elsaesser to his mom) is best known for helming the consistently great Death$ucker label, which boases the scene’s best and most eclectic roster (with releases from Bong-Ra, knifehandchop, Monkey Steak, d’kat, and DJ Ripley). He’s also the head honcho of DSWAT distro, one of the most active online mailorder stores, and a driving force behind the Toxic Dancehall parties in his hometown of Bristol, England. A testament to breakcore’s increasing popularity, these raucous affairs grew from 30 people in the basement of an Indian restaurant to crowds over a thousand strong at the Black Swan in just three years.
Toxic Dancehall is now defunct, but Parasite and his partner Anakissed are starting a new party called The Goat Lab. "The name was directly inspired by the U.S. military’s research into psychological warfare using de-bleated goats as a test bed," says Elsaesser, who, like many in the scene, has a strong political streak. "Breakcore, by its very nature, is political!" he says. "The very fact that the majority of breakcore tunes are a copyright infringement [case] waiting to happen is proof of this. Also, political opinions can be heard in a wealth of breakcore tunes today. Look at artists like Aaron Spectre, Noize Punishment, and The Bug, to name a few–all have a political message to convey. Certainly in Bristol whenever an anti-Blair/Bush sample gets dropped, the reaction from the audience is generally positive, with shouts of acknowledgment. Personally, I try to remain active in a political sense in that I regularly play benefit gigs, support political causes, and attend political rallies, [and] I also sell political material [through DSWAT]."
On the subject, I have heard an early version of Parasite's Big Joan remix - owch! its good. Very good and its going to rock the clock...
There is a good write up about breakcore in XLR8R magazine;
It’s there [at crazzy parties] that [breakcore] artists, the majority of whom perform live, unleash their sonic assault and some serious antics: singing, screaming, moshing, telling jokes, tearing their clothes off, bashing their heads on tables and then bleeding on the audience, making the most of thrift store bins for crazy costumes, and, bizarrely, almost always wearing funny hats. Breakcore artists are some of the most thoughtful, inventive, and politically progressive people making music today, but on stage they are a bunch of fucking loons.
Oh yes. It also gives a good profile of my mate and co-labo8tor Parasite;
Parasite
It’s hard to believe that the royal ruckus known as Parasite is actually breakcore's hardest-working bloke. The affable bloodsucker (Armin Elsaesser to his mom) is best known for helming the consistently great Death$ucker label, which boases the scene’s best and most eclectic roster (with releases from Bong-Ra, knifehandchop, Monkey Steak, d’kat, and DJ Ripley). He’s also the head honcho of DSWAT distro, one of the most active online mailorder stores, and a driving force behind the Toxic Dancehall parties in his hometown of Bristol, England. A testament to breakcore’s increasing popularity, these raucous affairs grew from 30 people in the basement of an Indian restaurant to crowds over a thousand strong at the Black Swan in just three years.
Toxic Dancehall is now defunct, but Parasite and his partner Anakissed are starting a new party called The Goat Lab. "The name was directly inspired by the U.S. military’s research into psychological warfare using de-bleated goats as a test bed," says Elsaesser, who, like many in the scene, has a strong political streak. "Breakcore, by its very nature, is political!" he says. "The very fact that the majority of breakcore tunes are a copyright infringement [case] waiting to happen is proof of this. Also, political opinions can be heard in a wealth of breakcore tunes today. Look at artists like Aaron Spectre, Noize Punishment, and The Bug, to name a few–all have a political message to convey. Certainly in Bristol whenever an anti-Blair/Bush sample gets dropped, the reaction from the audience is generally positive, with shouts of acknowledgment. Personally, I try to remain active in a political sense in that I regularly play benefit gigs, support political causes, and attend political rallies, [and] I also sell political material [through DSWAT]."
On the subject, I have heard an early version of Parasite's Big Joan remix - owch! its good. Very good and its going to rock the clock...
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Yo Bliar!...A Word from Lebanon
With the current crisis in the middle east - amidst all the comment and statements of groups and countries and factions it is easy to forget that behind each batch of casualty figures are real lives and real deaths. Even those who are not killed or wounded, still suffer from the trauma of war. If anything in the fucked up situation we see unraveling around us means anything at all, I think perhaps we need to listen to the voices of ordinary people. This is an email written by Raida, one of IndyMedia Lebanon's volunteers;
Hi Petros
Thank you for writing to me, I am fine, and all the members of my family are fine, some of them had to sleep in the shelters as they live close to the bridge that was attacked twice yesterday and today by Israel, the house of my sister was damaged seriously yet she and her family are fine, of course the children are terrified.
As for my coworkers in the Palestinian camps in the south, I am not able to reach them by phones, I lost contact with them in the 2nd day of the Israeli war, I hope they are fine. Israel destroyed Lebanon completely. We have electricity for 2 hours per day yet other regions have no electricity at all.
I think you are following the news, 4 massacres till now, two families were killed, all members of the families, two civilian cars also were attacked and many were killed, till now 100 civilians were killed among them there is many children.
Israel says this war will continue for two weeks, this means the attacks will reach every region in Lebanon. Iraqis, Syrians and Kuwaities were killed also in the attacks. The photos attached are of people displaced or killed in the israeli shelling and bombing.
I will end my email now because I fear the electricity will be cut again now. Thanks again for your email and concerns, I salute you and Sue and all the other friends by your side hope always to hear from you
Salaam
Raida
Contrast the words of ordinary people ("...of course the children are terrified...") with our beloved leader, Bliar. This is his assessment of what to do to stop the killing (death toll currently over 300 in total); "Well... it's only if I mean... you know. If she's got a..., or if she needs the ground prepared as it were... Because obviously if she [condi rice] goes out, she's got to succeed, if it were, whereas I can go out and just talk." Does that mean you can't achieve jack-shit Mr.Blair? I think it does. It shows in full effect that the UK is a client state of the US. Blair is toothless to stop the killing and Bu$h just does not give a shit, after all its the Syrian's fault. None of which stops the killing.
I also checked out Israel Indymedia to see what was being written there, but at the moment it seems to be under a spam attack by people opposed to its coverage and so you can't get much from it.
I notice that there will be a show solidarity with people under Israeli attack called by Bristol Stop The War Coalition: Friday 21st July between 5.30pm and 6.30pm on the Centre opposite the Hippodrome.
Images of the bombing here...
With the current crisis in the middle east - amidst all the comment and statements of groups and countries and factions it is easy to forget that behind each batch of casualty figures are real lives and real deaths. Even those who are not killed or wounded, still suffer from the trauma of war. If anything in the fucked up situation we see unraveling around us means anything at all, I think perhaps we need to listen to the voices of ordinary people. This is an email written by Raida, one of IndyMedia Lebanon's volunteers;
Hi Petros
Thank you for writing to me, I am fine, and all the members of my family are fine, some of them had to sleep in the shelters as they live close to the bridge that was attacked twice yesterday and today by Israel, the house of my sister was damaged seriously yet she and her family are fine, of course the children are terrified.
As for my coworkers in the Palestinian camps in the south, I am not able to reach them by phones, I lost contact with them in the 2nd day of the Israeli war, I hope they are fine. Israel destroyed Lebanon completely. We have electricity for 2 hours per day yet other regions have no electricity at all.
I think you are following the news, 4 massacres till now, two families were killed, all members of the families, two civilian cars also were attacked and many were killed, till now 100 civilians were killed among them there is many children.
Israel says this war will continue for two weeks, this means the attacks will reach every region in Lebanon. Iraqis, Syrians and Kuwaities were killed also in the attacks. The photos attached are of people displaced or killed in the israeli shelling and bombing.
I will end my email now because I fear the electricity will be cut again now. Thanks again for your email and concerns, I salute you and Sue and all the other friends by your side hope always to hear from you
Salaam
Raida
Contrast the words of ordinary people ("...of course the children are terrified...") with our beloved leader, Bliar. This is his assessment of what to do to stop the killing (death toll currently over 300 in total); "Well... it's only if I mean... you know. If she's got a..., or if she needs the ground prepared as it were... Because obviously if she [condi rice] goes out, she's got to succeed, if it were, whereas I can go out and just talk." Does that mean you can't achieve jack-shit Mr.Blair? I think it does. It shows in full effect that the UK is a client state of the US. Blair is toothless to stop the killing and Bu$h just does not give a shit, after all its the Syrian's fault. None of which stops the killing.
I also checked out Israel Indymedia to see what was being written there, but at the moment it seems to be under a spam attack by people opposed to its coverage and so you can't get much from it.
I notice that there will be a show solidarity with people under Israeli attack called by Bristol Stop The War Coalition: Friday 21st July between 5.30pm and 6.30pm on the Centre opposite the Hippodrome.
Images of the bombing here...
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