The question is whether the Khalidi flap will lead to a larger discussion of Palestinian human rights. I think it will, inevitably. But for the meantime we get this kind of judicious tweezerish on the one hand beancounterish stuff from the Washington Post where they "clear" Khalidi and Obama, saying it's "guilt by association gone haywire."
in Chicago in 2003 prior to his departure for New York that was
attended by Obama. As described by the Times, the event included the
recitation of a poem by a young Palestinian American accusing the
Israeli government of terrorism in its treatment of Palestinians.
But wait, where's the guilt? Why isn't someone allowed to make such a charge? "Targeted" assassination, confiscation of land, the shooting of demonstrators, collective punishment, etc. Jimmy Carter calls this "state-sponsored terrorism," and I agree. I'm voting for Obama. But we charge Palestinians qua Palestinians all the time with terrorism. And Israelis are pure as the driven slush, as Tallulah Bankhead used to say. Uh oh, another dated aphorism.
