Stammering Crowley to Matt Lee: ‘I’m going to leave it at that’

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1. pabelmont says:

   December 18, 2010 at 9:56 am

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   Who will join LEE on this? DoS must see, at long last, that it is in ITS interest (or the USA’s interest, if there is such a thing, and if they are different) to TALK ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS.

   So far, the USA is “into” destruction of human beings, not protection of their rights. Torture (called enhanced interrogation), assassination (called targeted killing, making the world-sensitive wonder about the good old days of non-targeted killing), drone attacks, massive attacks (e.g., on Fallujah .

   But it is good to try to imagine the USA returning to even the pretense of concern for the human rights of any Arab. Unless, perhaps, of a Jewish Arab.
   • Kathleen says:

     December 18, 2010 at 2:22 pm

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     No one seems to join him. Too bad

     Crowley never looks towards Lee when he is asking his questions the way he does with other journalist. He looks briefly and quickly looks away.

     Crowley sure kept making the north/south Korea mistake. Bet he will not get hammered like Sarah Palin does for making the same mistake. I can’t believe it I was just sticking up for Sarah Palin

     Juan Cole has a great read up
     Movement for Palestinian State gains International Momentum, to Dismay of US Congress

     link to juancole.com

     “The Congressional resolution came as a result of lobbying by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an umbrella group that directs PAC money to congressional campaigns and has been known to viciously punish any congressman who defies it by throwing money instead to his or her opponent in the next election. Since the constituents of most congressmen don’t really care what happens in the Mideast, many just take the money and sign the AIPAC-crafted resolution. This AIPAC move comes in response to the Palestine Authority’s own internationalization of its diplomatic push on the Netanyahu government to move forward in good faith with the implementation of the Oslo peace accords, which were signed by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and which envisaged Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza and the establishment of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu condemned Rabin’s signing of those accords, pledged to derail them, and has spent his political career ever since playing spoiler and ensuring that Palestinians continue to live under occupation or blockade and to have blighted lives. Netanyahu’s constituents include Israelis eager to foster colonies on Palestinian territory, either for religious or economic reasons.

     The other side of the coin came Thursday when it was announced that Norway has upgraded the representation of the Palestine Authority in Oslo to that of an embassy, more or less declaring Palestine a state in the eyes of the Norwegian government. That is, the PA representative in Oslo is now categorized as an ambassador. Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere announced at a meeting with Palestine Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayad, “We should all cling to the vision of 2011 being the year when we can see a new state on the world stage: the Palestinian state.” Stoere stressed the need for improvements in Palestine Authority security forces and procedures, educational infrastructure, and in governance: “For that to happen, institutions need to be solid, governance needs to be transparent, security, schools, all these elements need to come in place.”
     • annie says:

       December 18, 2010 at 3:39 pm

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       thanks kathleen, cole rocks:

       The US Congress, especially the new Republican-dominated lower house, would pass a resolution allowing Netanyahu to dine on Salam Fayad’s liver if Tel Aviv asked them to.
2. Avi says:

   December 18, 2010 at 12:24 pm

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   “I’ve finally got the information I needed” sounds a lot like “I went ahead and disturbed our AIPAC contact and his/her office has finally faxed me a statement, which I have just read”.

   And what’s with Crowley’s idiotic smile as Mr. Lee asks about Mr. Abu Rahme? Crowley would have put on a serious face had the imprisoned been Jewish/Israeli or American in China/N. Korea or other country.

   Crowley’s pathetic as usual.
3. bijou says:

   December 18, 2010 at 3:17 pm

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   The way he laughed and smirked as the question arose is just abominable, unconscionable, and unbecoming of a United States government official, when you know the facts of the case.

   He should be replaced.
4. Justice Please says:

   December 19, 2010 at 5:02 am

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   Lee might be getting the Helen Thomas-treatment soon – denounced as an anti-Semite(tm) by the usual suspects and thereby buried career-wise.

   If Americans don’t fight this lobby, they are doomed. The whole world starts watching stuff like this smirk, and sees clearly how beholden the whole political system in Washington is to a foreign, occupying power which defines itself along racial ideas.

   The Israeli government in its current form is a cancer to America that drags it down, similar to how the North Korean government is a cancer to China that damages Chinas reputation.

   Do you want to lose your status as a well-respected superpower because of a racist apartheid regime, hell-bent on war with its neighbours?
   • lareineblanche says:

     December 19, 2010 at 7:08 am

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     …well-respected superpower…

     * giggle * hee hee
     • Justice Please says:

       December 19, 2010 at 9:20 am

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       Okay, somewhat-respected should be more accurate :-)