From the great Congressman Brian Baird, the clinical psychologist who represents Rachel Corrie’s district in Washington, and who has been to Gaza, warning his fellows about the vote today on a resolution to condemn the Goldstone report:
Before House Members vote on H.Res. 867, regarding the U.N. Goldstone report on the Gaza conflict, there are a few questions worth asking.
First, why are we bringing this resolution to the floor without ever giving former South African Constitutional Court Justice Richard Goldstone a hearing to explain his findings? Have those who will vote on H.Res. 867 actually read the resolution? Have they read the Goldstone report? Are they aware that Justice Goldstone has issued a paragraph-by-paragraph response, available on my Web site at baird.house.gov, to H.Res. 867 pointing out that many of its assertions are factually inaccurate or deeply misleading?
Since scarcely a dozen House Members have actually been to Gaza , what actual firsthand knowledge do the rest of the Members of Congress possess on which to base their judgment of the merits of H.Res. 867 or the Goldstone report?
What will it say about this Congress and our country if we so readily seek to block "any further consideration" of a human rights investigation produced by one of the most respected jurists in the world today, a man who led the investigations of abuses in South Africa, the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Kosovo, and worked to identify and prosecute Nazi war criminals as a member of the Panel of the Commission of Enquiry into the Activities of Nazism in Argentina?
As one of the first two American officials, along with Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), to enter Gaza shortly after the conclusion of major bombing from "Operation Cast Lead," then again several months later, I have seen firsthand the devastating destruction of hospitals, schools, homes, industries and infrastructure. Much of that devastation was wrought using U.S. manufactured and paid for weaponry. I have also spoken with health workers, average Gazans, nongovernmental organization relief workers and many others.
In addition, I have been to the Israeli town of Sderot , which has been the target of repeated rocket attacks, and to a number of Palestinian towns and Israeli settlements in the West Bank . Colleagues who have not been to the region may wish to view some of the images and interviews from these visits on my Web site.
With the information from these personal visits and on-the-ground knowledge, I read with care and interest the Goldstone report in its entirety, and my firm conclusion is that, although the findings may be unpleasant and troubling, they are, unfortunately, consistent with the facts and evidence. In my judgment, far from meriting the obstruction called for in H.Res. 867, the Goldstone report is without question worthy of further investigation.a
I know this conclusion is not easily accepted, and I know it raises serious charges against entities and individuals on both sides of this conflict, Israel and Hamas. But if our own country is truly to stand for human rights and the rule of law, and if facts matter, how can we do other than insist that legitimate questions and evidence are followed by further investigation and, if necessary and warranted, appropriate consequences?
H.Res. 867 is very serious business. If, as Goldstone asserts and the evidence I have seen supports, there were in fact gross violations of international law and human rights on all sides, we cannot in good conscience support H.Res. 867.
This is about much more than just another imposed political litmus test that we are all too often asked to perform. This is about whether we as individuals and this Congress as an institution find it acceptable to drop white phosphorous on civilian targets, to rocket civilian communities, to destroy hospitals and schools, to use civilians as human shields, and to deliberately destroy nonmilitary factories, industries and basic water, electrical and sanitation infrastructure. This is about whether it is acceptable to restrict the movement, opportunities and hopes of more than a million people every single day.
At the end of the day, this is also about our own domestic security. If we are seen internationally as condoning violations of human rights and international law, if our money and our weaponry play a leading role in those violations, and if we reflexively obstruct the findings of someone with the credentials, history and integrity of Justice Goldstone, it can only diminish our international standing and our own security.
Rep. Brian Baird (D) represents Washington’s 3rd district.
Diogenes, you can put down your lamp at last – here is an honest man!
I plan to send a campaign contribution to Rep Baird.
Me too. Here is his web site’s statement on Gaza situation, followed by his activities
visiting there and in Israel: link to baird.house.gov
This is that wonder of wonders, a conscientious congressman looking beyond merely taking what he can get from the system.
An inspiring statement, measured and assertive at the same time.
The vote will happen TODAY, so call your Representative and ask them to vote NO on H.Res. 867
link to endtheoccupation.org
Consider it done on my end of things, and I also encourage people to do the same. These phone calls matter!
Well, I just filled out an email form, even though some pundit recently said the only way to reach your congressmen is via snail mail–even telephone calls won’t do…
I think that depends upon the Representative. My Rep’s office has always been reachable by telephone, I’ve never gotten any sort of runaround from the staff (heck, actually, they’re very friendly) and I’ve consistently gotten responses back (by letter) from my phone calls.
Calls and emails matter. They generally aren’t read or passed along word for word but they are compiled by Congressional staff and the general sense of expressed public opinion is passed along. So numbers matter. Call!
Now, I remember. Chris Matthews has repeatededly said that nothing works except snail mail.
Brian Baird needs a donate button on his website.
link to actblue.com
Let put him on the Hot List.
[FastForGaza] Tell Congress to vote NO on H. Res. 867
From: fastforgaza.net on behalf of Rabbi Brian Walt
Sent: Tue 11/03/09 9:02 AM
URGENT! TO ALL PARTICIPANTS TAANIT TZEDEK – JEWISH FAST FOR GAZA
Act now to avert Congressional Resolution 0pposing the Goldstone Report
As you may have heard the U.S. Congress may vote as soon as tomorrow on a bill opposing the Goldstone Report. We urge you to join in efforts by B’Tselem, the Israeli human rights organization that recently became a co-sponsor of Jewish Fast for Gaza, to avert this action. Below you will find the letter from B’tselem that includes a link to a letter from Judge Goldstone to the members of Congress pointing out the many errors in the resolution. Please write or call your member of congress today.
If you have not already done so, please send an e-mail to your Representative urging him or her to vote “No” on this resolution. –
link to org2.democracyinaction.org
Congress is set to kill Goldstone Report
From: Cecilie Surasky, Jewish Voice for Peace (info@jewishvoiceforpeace.org)
Sent: Mon 11/02/09 2:48 PM
To: DICKERSON3870
I’m asking you to tell your representative to vote NO on H. Res 867 when it comes up for a vote tomorrow. Why? The resolution, which is riddled with errors and outright fabrications (see below), calls on President Obama to bury the Goldstone Report, which was commissioned by the United Nations to examine violations of international law during the Gaza conflict. This report offers the only pathway to accountability, and the campaign to demonize it and its authors is part of a larger effort to shred international law so that war crimes against civilians can be committed with impunity.
We urge you to to contact your representative today to tell them to vote NO on H. Res 867.
TO SEND E-MAIL – link to salsa.democracyinaction.org
Support Human Rights in Gaza: Oppose HR 867
From: American Association for Palestinian Equal Rights (info@aaper.org)
Sent: Mon 11/02/09 1:46 PM
To: DICKERSON3870
Let Your Member of Congress Know That You Support Justice and Accountability for Crimes Committed During Israel’s Attack on Gaza.
TO SEND E-MAIL – link to aaper.org
I did it, the second one today. Seems (from my prior expereinces) like the proverbial pissing in the wind; yet AIPAC does it, and look at them. Must be heavenly efficient to be so streamlined, so single-priority driven…, not handicapped
by dispersal of attention due to trying to think of “the best interests of the American people,” the proposition nation”. Tribal politics is so much easier, more efficient.
What is Congress afraid of?
From: CODEPINK Action (codepink@mail.democracyinaction.org)
Sent: Mon 11/02/09 4:52 PM
To: DICKERSON3870
Last week in a political move of the most cynical kind, Representatives Berman (D-CA) and Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), leadership of the U.S. House Foreign Relations Committee, introduced H Res 867, a bill that reads as though it were drafted by AIPAC, which it might well have been. H Res 867 is calling on the President and the Secretary of State to oppose unequivocally any endorsement or further consideration of the “Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict” in multilateral fora.
Call your Members of Congress TODAY at 202-224-3121 and tell them to vote NO on this flawed legislation. If they have already co-sponsored the bill (check here) and tell them to withdraw their support. You can also email your Representative directly here – link to salsa.democracyinaction.org
Congress is afraid of honest debate. Congress is afraid of the truth coming out.
Pingback: Baird on HR 867: ‘This is about whether it is right to restrict the movements and hopes of more than 1 million people every single day’ | Insurance mesothelioma structured settlement tax attorney student loan consolidation home loans refinanci
Here’s the important thing: it will be a victory to forestall a voice vote on this resolution. It will be a victory just to initiate debate on this resolution, to call Goldstone to testify. Because a debate on this issues is precisely what this resolution is intended to prevent. To bring such a debate to the floor of Congress would be a resounding victory.
Nice piece by the congressman. Articulate and intelligent.
And naive.
What makes anyone believe that the powers who call the shots in this country want “security” in the sense we mean it, i.e. freedom from threat? Are you kidding? Threat is what enriches them. Threat is what causes us to spend more than all other countries combined on our military. You don’t think there’s a ton of money in that, and that those who feed at the trough don’t wield a lot of power? They do. And do they want World Peace? Hell, no! Do they want peace in the Middle East? Hell, no. Do they want victory in the War on Terror to ever be declared? Hell, no.
Wake up, people — you’re looking at the surface of things. Follow the money if you want to connect with the truth!
While this may be true, they can’t say so. In public, they have to support peace.
Yep, JimBob, it does appear that USA foreign policy is always for war, and that Obama agrees. Ike warned us of this; of course he had the highest hawk credentials and nobody since has had anything close.
Sorry about the italics, I messed up the
from Cindy Corrie:
Friends,
Today, Tuesday, November 3rd, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.Res 867 which calls on President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton to bury the Goldstone report about Israeli and Hamas actions in Gaza in December and January.
113 Members of the House of Representatives have signed on as co-sponsors to this resolution. (See list below)
Yesterday, an article by Congressman Brian Baird of Washington State entitled Israel and Gaza Deserve Better Than H.Res. 867 was published in the Capitol Hill Roll Call and on the Congressman’s website. Please share this article with your members of Congress and ask them to follow the links at Congressman Baird’s website to Justice Richard Goldstone’s rebuttal of H.Res 867.
If your Congressman has not signed on as a co-sponsor to H. Res 867, call now to thank him or her, and ask for a “no” vote when the resolution comes to the House floor.
If your Congressman has signed on as a co-sponsor of H.Res 867, call now and ask that he/she withdraw co-sponsorship support and vote “no” on the resolution.
Tell your Congressman that you want the U.S. Congress to be associated with supporting human rights and accountability for human rights violations–not for impeding investigations.
Thank you and please forward!
Cindy Corrie
Berman feels the heat. He’s modifying his resolution.
link to washingtonindependent.com
Berman and Ros Lehtinen need to feel the heat. But this one is a critical one for them because in fact people (besides their AIPAC staff/friends) are actually reading and disecting what they are attempting to get passed.
I can’t emphasize enough that in the same way the neocons/Cheney hawks pushed us to war with Iraq this committee aided and abetted – the Judith Miller of the legislative branch. AntiCastro Cuban Republicans aligned with ProIsrael Democrats. I have always suspected that their offices were an AIPAC and friends beehive.
Now we see them in action with Goldstone. The last thing they would want is a hearing with Goldstone.
Berman has stepped up into Lantos’ place.
Exactly. And who was less American and/or Humanist First than Lantos?
Amy Goodman interviews Jeff Halper and Micha Kurtz on HR 867
link to democracynow.org
Pingback: » Congressman Baird’s Comment Opposing HR 867