Amazing DC event. Huge Cato Institute dinner, 800 folks in the Washington Hilton ballroom in black tie, for the awarding the bi-annual Milton Friedman award. Amusing and occasionally profound speeches by CATO head Ed Crane (plenty of Greece mockery) and George Will. Republican country here, knowledgeable people with strong minimalist government views. I enjoyed the video snippets of Friedman on 1970’s talk shows, when he really was an iconoclast.
This year’s award was given to Akbar Ganji, an Iranian author and democracy activist who spent six years in prison, some of it in solitary confinement. The introductory video showed a cell, one room with a toilet in it. He was released and came to the West in 2006. He’s a green advocate, an anti-fundamentalist, but he’s sure not playing any neocon role.
For his speech, Ganji stood at the podium with his green headscarved wife while a translation from Farsi was read. If anyone was expecting an America good-- Islam bad discourse, they went away confused.
Here at the heart of his speech, was the core bit of advice: don’t invade, don’t bomb, and bring justice to Palestine.
Entirely oblivious of the complications of Middle Eastern politics, President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair were under the impression that by invading a country and occupying it they can bring democracy to it. In Afghanistan and Iraq all such delusions went up in flames and burnt out in smoke. Even President Bush himself, during the last year of his presidency, kept repeating that the United States cannot be allowed to be defeated in Iraq. Today, which American politician can guarantee a clear vision for the future of Afghanistan and Iraq after foreign forces leave? Even President Obama, who came to office promising to withdraw from Iraq, is today entangled in the messy aftermath of the US invasion of that country and cannot deliver on his promise. And yet, unfortunately, it seems that invading Iran still seems to be an option that this administration is taking under consideration.
The fact that people in the Middle East feel threatened by the United States and the West, and are thus inclined towards their enemy, namely the fundamentalist, is not entirely because of this history of US support for secular tyrannies or in reaction to the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. The one-sided support of the United States for Israel has exacerbated this situation. The gushing wound of Palestine is the most appropriate site for the worsening of the infection of fundamentalism. A just solution to the Palestinian problem, and the formation of an independent Palestinian state, next to that of Israel, is definitive to a reconstruction of the image of the United States and preparatory for a transition to moving from these destabilizing decades and towards a realization of democratic institutions in the region.
Not a word, not a single word, about “they hate us for our freedoms.” He was applauded, a standing ovation, though not thunderous. The conventional, neocon soaked, Republican mentality will give way slowly. Other think tanks, the Times, the Wash Post, the Likudnik hive will put out boatloads of words to shore up their big lie: Israel has nothing to with our problems in the MidEast, it’s the liberty of American women they can’t stand. But it’s hard to discount a man who spent six years in a Tehran prison, the price for fighting for human rights in his country. Bravo to Cato, for a gutsy and important selection.
link to christianactionforisrael.org
Jordan is Palestine
This is the royal decree and sentiments of two of the kings of Jordan.
“Palestine and Jordan are one…” said King Abdullah in 1948.
“The truth is that Jordan is Palestine and Palestine is Jordan,” said King Hussein of Jordan, in 1981.
Let’s closely examine the facts of history from the Arab perspective, rather than the Jewish one, regarding Jordan and Palestine.
“Palestine is Jordan and Jordan is Palestine; there is only one land, with one history and one and the same fate,” Prince Hassan of the Jordanian National Assembly was quoted as saying on February 2, 1970.
Accordingly, Abdul Hamid Sharif, Prime Minister of Jordan declared, in 1980, “The Palestinians and Jordanians do not belong to different nationalities. They hold the same Jordanian passports, are Arabs and have the same Jordanian culture.”
In other words, Jordan is Palestine. Arab Palestine. There is absolutely no difference between Jordan and Palestine, nor between Jordanians and Palestinians (all actually Arabs).
This fact is also confirmed by other Arabs, Jordanians and ‘Palestinans’ who were either rulers or scholars.
“There should be a kind of linkage because Jordanians and Palestinians are considered by the PLO as one people,” according to Farouk Kaddoumi, then head of the PLO Political Department, who gave the statement to Newsweek on March 14, 1977. Distinguished Arab-American Princeton University historian Philip Hitti testified before the Anglo-American Committee,
“There is no such thing as ‘Palestine’ in history.”
According to Arab-American columnist Joseph Farah,
“Palestine has never existed – before or since – as an autonomous entity. It was ruled alternately by Rome, by Islamic and Christian crusaders, by the Ottoman Empire, and briefly by the British after World War I. The British agreed to restore at least part of the land to the Jewish people as their homeland. There was no language known as Palestinian. There was no distinct Palestinian culture. There has never been a Palestine governed by the Palestinians. Palestinians are Arabs, indistinguishable from Jordanians (another recent invention), Syrians, Lebanese, Iraqis, etc.”
These authoritative, honest statements are by Arabs, Jordanians and Palestinians, and absolutely must be taken at their face value and word.
All right, so you’re not quite into quotes. How about these tasteful tidbits of historical facts?
* Jews, not Arabs, have lived continuously in the ancient Biblical Promised Land of Israel, especially Judea and Samaria, for 3,700 years. This land was given as a gift by G-d to the Children of Israel (Hebrews, Israelites, Jews) and is so stated in all of the three monotheistic religions’ holy books – Old Testament, New Testament and Quran. Faithful followers of Judaism, Christianity and Islam all believe in the same one G-d and therefore must believe the word of their G-d. G-d does not make and break his promises. There is a very valuable lesson to be learned by all his children and faithful followers.
* The current queen of Jordan is an Arab ‘Palestinian’.
* Approximately half of Jordan’s prime ministers since 1950 have been Arab ‘Palestinians’.
* More than 2/3 of the Jordanian people are Arab ‘Palestinians’.
* The majority of citizens residing in the capital of Amman are Arab ‘Palestinians’.
* Arab ‘Palestinians’ constitute not less than one half of the members of the armed forces, according to the late King Hussein, as broadcast on Amman Radio February 3, 1973.
* The majority of other security forces are Arab ‘Palestinians’.
* Jordan occupies 77% of the original Palestine Mandate (originally promised to the Jewish people). The population density of Jordan is less than 61 people per square mile leaving lots of room to absorb many more of their brethren and cousins.
Want to delve even deeper? Let’s explore further. We all need to refresh our memory, as ‘short-term syndrome’ has taken over. Now for a little history lesson, for those who do not recall the reality of the past.
The British tried to placate the Arabs by giving them part of the land designated under the Palestine Mandate (originally allocated under the Balfour Declaration for the establishment of a Jewish homeland). Britain created an entirely new province by severing 77% of historic Palestine (and an additional 3% was also allocated to Syria), on the eastern bank of the Jordan River (some 35,000 square miles), and establishing the state of Transjordan.
Faisal, who had been King of Syria, was deposed by the French, so the British offered him the throne of Iraq, which he accepted. Faisal’s brother Abdullah was installed as the new nation of Transjordan’s ruler on April 1, 1921 (April Fool’s Day), thereby completing the appeasement of Arab rulers.
During the Arab-Israeli war of 1948, in which nine Arab nations attacked Israel, they took control of the ancient biblical territories of Judea and Samaria (Jewish territory, which was “occupied” for nineteen years until 1967, when it was liberated and reconquered in yet another defensive war).
On April 24, 1950, Abdullah formally merged all of Arab-held Palestine with Transjordan and granted citizenship to all Arab residents and settlers (the vast majority of whom arrived the 1920s for economic reasons).
The Hashemite Kingdom was no longer only across the river so the prefix “Trans” (meaning “across”) was dropped, and henceforth, the land became known as Jordan; i.e., Arab Palestine.
Remember, Jordan is Palestine. Arab Palestine.
Don’t take my word for it. Listen to King Abdullah, King Hussein, Prince Hassan, Farouk Kaddoumi, Phillip Hitti and Joseph Farah, Arab, Jordanian and Palestinian authorities on the subject; and listen to the historical facts, as well.
another trojan? hasbara virus in this site?
>> There is absolutely no difference between Jordan and Palestine, nor between Jordanians and Palestinians …
Jews lived in Palestine – Mandate Palestine – which, according to you, was really Jordan. So people of the Jewish faith are Jordanians, as are other Mandate Palestinians who are not of the Jewish faith.
>> (all actually Arabs)
What about the Christians? Did they convert to Islam or Judaism? Or did the disappear? Or were/are they just imaginary?
>> This land was given as a gift by G-d to the Children of Israel …
What a joke. A “god” is a mytho-religious-political entity created by men to consolidate power, to impose their collective will upon their communities and to justify their crimes of theft, aggression and slaughter. A “god” has no right or authority to give or to take away and, in the 21st Century, only fools or fanatics would look to a “god” to determine property rights (or anything else).
Whatever the Israelites had 2,000 years ago is long gone, as are the Israelites themselves. Jews are people of the Jewish faith. Their nationality is that of the nation in which they are born and reside. They are not exiled Israelites and they do not have any rights – god-given or otherwise -to some long-lost “kingdom”.
Drop the yoke of self-imposed, self-indoctrinated “exile” and “sorrow” and all that other “profound” self-flagellation and get on with life. Moaning and wailing and pining and intense contemplation of “scripture” does not turn a person of the Jewish faith into an Israelite and it does create for him an entitlement to something that does not belong to him.
>> and it does create for him an entitlement to something that does not belong to him.
Should have read “and it does not create for him an entitlement…
“This land was given as a gift by G-d to the Children of Israel ”
-I love this argument. It’s just sad and goofy in the current century. Oh God, ye holy & mythical real estate agent! Are we worthy enough! I didn’t know he was giving deeds out to his children. This idiotic line is as stupid as Manifest Destiny. Only the Jews ripped it off from US policy. Maybe that’s why eee is so persistent about our common linkages?
“This land was given as a gift by G-d to the Children of Israel ”
Accordiong to the Torah, he took it back.
On the other hand this war, as to the perspectives of the opposing side of contention, is a conflict in the spiritual realm between Israel’s ancient claim, and those who reject it… somehow the Jews and the fundamental Christians (zionists) are on the same side as against the rest of the contesting world… this is why there was this war at the first place.. and while this contest goes unresolved, the Palestinian Arabs suffer the brunt… It is just something like; you’re fence, my fence…
It is just like the story of Job… Israel is Job. He has this diseases … and yet he was fighting for survival not for himself, but fighting for a cause that has nothing to do with himself, but for the Almighty as against the Adversary… as it was a ‘heavenly’ contest… In this present case, Israel is standing pat on the Scriptural promise of a restoration… His opponents are fighting against that divine promise … The scriptures did not advocate for violence against other opposing countries, but only for the promise of the rebirth of the Jewish state… That is why this war is confined only on the issues within the state, and its territories…
So no matter the intensity of your denial to that Jewish faith, or the scriptures, the war continues… and tragically the Gazans suffer…
“On the other hand this war, as to the perspectives of the opposing side of contention, is a conflict in the spiritual realm between Israel’s ancient claim, and those who reject it… ”
Absolute rubbish.
You’re still taking your cues from your fictional genocide manual.
The dispute is entirely about territory.
“It is just like the story of Job… Israel is Job”
Yes septic and diseased.
If Phil wanted to get these pests off his site, I’d report the abuse, but since he doesn’t seem to care, there is not use in it.
“but since he doesn’t seem to care, there is not use in it.”
Phil runs a great blog as far as the front page posts are concerned, but he stinks as a comment section manager. No time or inclination for it, I suppose.
I don’t think it’s that bad is it? Posters are given enough rope to hang themselves.
OTOH I’m disappointed the entity that is Shamir hasn’t been booted – after annie brought up the issue of his rapid fire posting I went back and looked at his debut, 40 comments in less than an hour (faster than anyone could typ), a total threadjack. I reported it, he’s still here. Discussion with annie & others on Shamir:
link to mondoweiss.net
Postherd, the secret is to say something that could be interpreted as anti-Semitic. Then, Phil will come a-running!
“http://christianactionforisrael.org/isreport/janfeb04/jordan.html”
Bwahaha haha haha.
Hey Shamir, did Zamaaz put you into that one?
Shamir,
You’ve been reported for dumping irrelevant tripe once more in an effort to hijack the thread.
Get your own blog.
He and zamazz (assuming they are not one and the same person) could jointly create one, and they could call it “Shamazz!”
The exclamation mark makes it very exciting. :-)
I prefer “Shazam!” :-)
Shamir, why then the Palestinian Arabs in Gazan not allowed to migrate into Jordan? after the 1967 war?
“Shamir, why then the Palestinian Arabs in Gazan not allowed to migrate into Jordan? after the 1967 war?”
Any evidence that they even wanted to?
None… and Benny Morris, PhD, Professor of History at Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba, wrote it’s the opposite, so there war, and massacres in 1948…
And until now there is this war…
Since the theft of Palestinian land yes.
“This land was given as a gift by G-d to the Children of Israel ”
As credible as this:
“This land was given as a gift by Zeus to the Children of Israel ”
Let’s not forget that Zeus was the king of gods in the Greek mythology, if you don’t mind!
Shamir,
Firstly, if there is no Palestine, there is no Jordan or Lebanon or Syria either. Lebanon was formerly known as Mt Lebanon – Syria. Palestine was formerly Palestine – Syria and Jordan also was part of Syria. SYRIA was carved into statelets in 1920….Palestine, Lebanon, trans Jordan. So, when places become states, their people are given national identity. ie.. Lebanese, Jordanian, Syrian and PALESTINIAN. Today, those people formerly known as Palestinian have been stripped of national identity, and now are known as… Refugees.
Thank heavens for pre mandate documentation, which make a mockery of your “christianactionforisrael Jordan is Palestine”
Now, read some real facts instead of christians-with-a-prophecy-agenda.
Who could have predicted?:
The King-Crane Commission Report, August 28, 1919
link to wwi.lib.byu.edu
That was a masterful summary and rebuke Zed.
Oops, another righteous opinion slips out from the shadows. Thanks for the heads-up Scott. Now I can see the damage control and no-spin stories from the Post, Ny Times, etc.
File this one under :”A-Blazing-Glimpse-of-the-Obvious.”
This has been said tens of thousands of times, but is anyone listening?
It would appear that the answer is no.
In this corner of unmitigated cynicism we suspect that the ovation was motivated by a sense of politeness, not agreement [I'd hope otherwise, myself; but being a cynic, i no longer allow myself the luxury of hope].
Despite the iconoclastic image many libertarians like to dress-up in, they are as terrified of negative publicity from The Israel Lobby as any marginal politico and will do nothing except safely mouth the platitudes du jour of The Israel Lobby. The bravest among will screw up their courage and perhaps simply say nothing when it’s safe to do that.
I’m sure Ganji’s comments will live forever in some obscure footnote in some obscure academic treatsie.
Habibi, there may be a few Zionist inclined libertarians, as there may also be Flat Earth Society libertarians. We are tolerant and have no mechanism for tossing people out. But we agree that no one should choose friends and enemies for another. We do not like paying income tax to our own government, let alone foreign governments including the one that occupies Palestine. We are against foreign intervention and meddling. We believe in property rights and are against the powers of land confiscation through laws of eminent domain. We are against the imposition of religious tests. You will find that the overwhelming majority of Libertarians take a dim view of the Zionist experiment.
I say again, boycott, divest, and sanction Republicans and Democrats. Vote Libertarian.
Since the discussion is about Muslim fundamentalists, Akbar Ganji is right to a certain point only. Palestine plays an important part in the rise of fundamentalism for some but there are other factors equally important like poverty, frustration, ignorance, backwardness, deprivation, abuse by leaders and so on that turn people to fundamentalism. The Ayatollahs did not reach the top and topple the Shah because of Palestine. Muslim fundamentalists in Aceh Province don’t even know where Palestine is located on a map and Palestine is the last thing on the minds of Wahabists. Of course, some have taken up the Palestinian cause but for most, fundamentalists are looking to turn back the clock and not thinking about Palestine.
Walid, they have Al-Jazeera which reports foreign and regional news the way we did during the Vietnam war. The facts and images are powerful.
Walid, if the militants and rights activists have you level mindedness, and objectivism, it is easier to find many areas or points to level-off … I really wonder how you can think like that and others cannot… But it seems you are a rare isolation… that is why this tragedy goes on…
Am I correct?
re troop withdrawal: Juan Cole has an oped today that says Obama is on schedule.
link to juancole.com
“the Likudnik hive will put out boatloads of words to shore up their big lie: Israel has nothing to with our problems in the MidEast, it’s the liberty of American women they can’t stand. ”
Scott: Is it the Likudniks that turned down peace at Taba? Was it the Likudniks that refused Olmert’s over generous offer? An offer which included giving up half of Jerusalem and putting holy sites under international supervision.
Is it the Likudniks that expect 5 million Arabs to “return” to Israel and will not sign a peace treaty unless Israel commits suicide?
I realize it’s not PC to say this but the big lie is that the Palestinians will settle for anything less than everything.
Was it the Likudniks that refused Olmert’s over generous offer? An offer which included giving up half of Jerusalem and putting holy sites under international supervision.
julian, could you please link to a copy of olmert’s offer. i’d ike to review it.
Yes, lets hear a comprehensive explanation of this offer, since it is mentioned so often.
I’m sure Julian has all the details and citations.
“the Likudnik hive will put out boatloads of words to shore up their big lie: Israel has nothing to with our problems in the MidEast, it’s the liberty of American women they can’t stand. ”
-That was the best line of the post!@!**
Julian just can’t appreciate good sarcasm…
I’m sure Julian has all the cliches in his macros.
Cliff,
Yeah, and too bad Julian’s assessment doesn’t equal that of Daniel Levy’s, who was actually in the room.
There is a map the first link links to.
link to haaretz.com
link to washingtonpost.com
link to theaustralian.com.au
” link to haaretz.com”
The second headline reads:
Abbas tells Asharq Al-Awsat that land offered included no Israeli settlements or Israeli Arabs.
Of course, the Israeli settlements in the West Bank are built on the best land and control all the water supplies.
The Israeli only roads woudl remain, making a Palestinian state a non starter.
No mention of Jerusalem either.
“http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/28/AR2009052803614.html”
First paragraph reads:
“If there is to be a deal, Abbas must (1) agree on all the details of a two-state settlement with the new Israeli government of Binyamin Netanyahu, which hasn’t yet accepted Palestinian statehood”
“Ehud Olmert still dreams of peace”
Even after ordering the massacre of 1.400 Palestinians.
Stop making Israel look bad Julian, you anti Semite.
Julian – on the now legendary “generous offers”, please tell outline some of concessions Israel has made in peace negotiations.
Hmm, if outsiders invaded Austria, I’m sure someone could come up with plenty of quotes saying that Austrians are Germans and have no right to their land either.
I think you should use other much more accurate allegory, otherwise your arguments self-destruct… We cannot compare Austrians and Israel… Austrians have never underwent diaspora nor uprooting from their own country …. They were just subjugated by the Germans …
“Austrians have never underwent diaspora nor uprooting from their own country”
Neither has Israel. In fact, both have been the epicentre of colonialism aspiratins, territorial theft, war crimes and policies of genocide.
Oh and as a word of advice Zamaaz, anyone who believes the earth is only 6000 years old and that Adam and Eve rode dinosaurs to work shouldn’t be giving advice about arguments self destructing.
Your beliefs aremore primitive than the pagan superstitions they originated from.
excellent post Scott McConnell , and excellent news.
Ditto.
how did you write that MRW? every time i write a one word response i get this message telling me it’s not long enough to post. i’m jealous.
A few years back I attended a reception for Shirin Ebadi at a private home. It was attended primarily by upper class Iranian expatriots. These were people of considerable wealth that fled Iran after 1980. What struck me about this gathering is that there was not one person who supported US policy towards Iran and all that I asked believed Iran had the right to develop nuclear energy. These were people who though in opposition to the current government remained patriotic to Iran.
Quite a contrast to the Cuban and Eastern European refugees who fled the revolutions that stripped them of power.
I ‘spose with their multi-millenia history it’s easy for Iranians to take a long view and support what is good ultimately, not just in the moment. Did you poll for an opinion on nuclear weapons as well, or just n. energy?
Could it be that the people who applauded Mr.Ganji readily accept that there is a gushing wound (strikingly apt phrase, I’d say) but have still been persuaded by a barrage of propaganda that it is a self-inflicted wound rather than the result of injustice? So that they weep crocodile tears?
“remained patriotic to Iran.
Quite a contrast to the Cuban and Eastern European refugees who fled the revolutions that stripped them of power.”
That is interesting. Assuming it’s a general trend, I wonder what accounts for the difference?
I can only offer some generalities since I was surprised by their reaction.
The Iranians are similar to the Nationalist Chinese that fled to Taiwan. Though they accepted US military support, the Kuomington never did compromise their Han Chinese patriotism. For example, they would not accept the partition of China into red and white (which the US desired) and they also demanded that US not recognize Tibetan claims to independence. These people took the long view of the Han Chinese nation and realized if they ever accepted partition, they would be smeared in the history books for another 2000 years like a number of Chinese leaders who caused serious and long lasting division (e.g. the three kingdoms era).
I think the 4000 year history of Persia may give these Iranians a different perspective then would petty bourgeois Europeans and Cubans with their shallower history.
It does not matter how Palestinian Jordan is, or how Jordanian the Palestinians are.
People who were living in what is now Israel were driven out and had their property confiscated. Driving them out was wrong. Those people have the rights of retrurn and restitution.
People who are now living in East Jerusalem are being driven out. This is wrong.
People who are now living in the West Bank are being tormented. People who are now living in Gaza are being slaughtered and starved. This is wrong.