tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-206761842024-03-19T00:21:00.484-04:00Trina's KitchenTrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comBlogger3778125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-5641853398083787342024-03-19T00:20:00.000-04:002024-03-19T00:20:28.676-04:00Bloody Mary Shrimp in the Kitchen<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Corbin e-mailed to note <a class="yiv7400695200ydpc252140fyiv7543291948" href="https://twocloveskitchen.com/bloody-mary-shrimp/?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=25%20one-pan%20meals%20that%20saved%20this%20lazy%20cook%27s%20life" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Two Cloves Kitchen's recipe for Bloody Mary Shrimp</a>:</span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Ingredients:</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2 slices bacon optional</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 tablespoon olive oil use only if omitting bacon</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4 cloves garlic </b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 pint cherry tomatoes</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2 tablespoons vodka [Trina says: optional]</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 cup tomato juice or tomato and vegetable juice mix</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 tablespoon horseradish prepared or creamed</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce </b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 pound shrimp raw, deveined, outer shells removed</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 lemon</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>fresh herbs like parsley, basil or dill, optional</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Instructions</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1)
Add the chopped bacon to a pan over medium heat and cook until almost
crisp, about 4 minutes. If not using the bacon, just start with a
tablespoon of olive oil.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2) Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3) Add the cherry tomatoes and vodka. Cook for about 5 minute.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4)
Pour in the tomato juice, horseradish and Worcestershire sauce. Bring
the heat down to medium-low. Taste for seasoning, adding salt and pepper
if needed, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the sauce thickens a
bit and the alcohol has burned off.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5) Add the shrimp, season it with salt, and cook for about 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until opaque.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>6)
Take the blood mary shrimp off the heat, squeeze over the juice of half
a lemon [squeeze juice from a half-lemon over the shrimp], taste for
seasoning and serve with fresh herbs, lemon wedges, and your choice of
pasta, rice, or bread.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've put optional by the vodka remembering that not everyone lives in an area where they can buy alcohol. It cooks down in the recipe and you can make it without vodka if you need to. </span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Question: What idiot Tweeted the following:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #0f1419;">Congratulations
and grateful to the Russian people and President Vladimir Putin! I am
here safe by the grace of their welcome. They have been steadfast in
their resolve to build their country internally, create positive
economic bridges with other countries and support one another in the
process. The election was peaceful, organized and with integrity. The US
could learn by Russia’s example. The will of the people is the true
heart of democracy. The Russian people have spoken!</span><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did
you guess roly-poly, fat fat the water rat Tara Reade? Then you are
correct. She doesn't need to ever be allowed back in the US. People
like that? We're better off without them. And is the liar trying to
say that Joe didn't win in 2020? Crazy, I get it, you think -- THINK --
he assaulted you. You have no proof and your characters is so low that
no one believes you. But Joe won the election. Did Putin? I have no
idea. But chances are that would be in his country that they would have
bigger problems with secure and honest results. He's been the president
since 2012 and, no, that is not natural nor is normal.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
Putin apologist belongs in Russia and should never be allowed back in
the United States. I am concerned with the way she's stroking Putin's
ego. Will she next accuse him of assaulting her? Is that what Tara
does? Praise male leaders and then accuse them of harassing her? They
have psychologists in Russia. Hopefully, Tara will see one.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/iraq-snapshot_01815138904.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Monday:</p><p><br /></p><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
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Monday, March 18, 2024. The Israeli government attacks Al Shifa
Hospital and beats up a journalist in what they claim is another
'precise operation,' thousands turned out Saturday throughout Israel to
protest War Criminal Netanyahu, UNCIEF warns that the 13,000 children
who've been killed will be a small number and that even those who
survive risk being "stunted for life," and much more.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div>As
we noted last night, day 163 finds the Israeli government again
breaking international law as they attack another hospital with their
military. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/palestine-israel/2024/03/18/live-israel-gaza-war-al-shifa/">THE NATIONAL reports</a> on the attack of Al Shifa Hospital:</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><p><b>It said that around 30,000 displaced and wounded people and medical teams are still besieged inside the building.</b></p><p><b>It
added that a fire has erupted at the gate of the hospital and there
were cases of suffocation among displaced women and children at the
facility and communications were cut off.</b></p><p><b>The government media office in Gaza has condemned the operation.</b></p><p><b>"The
Israeli army's storming of Al Shifa Hospital with tanks, drones and
weapons and shooting inside it is a war crime," it said.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/18/israels-war-on-gaza-live-ceasefire-push-as-rafah-invasion-looms">ALJAZEERA adds</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>A Palestinian journalist trapped inside al-Shifa Hospital has
described the situation in the facility as “catastrophic” amid “intense
clashes” and gunfire.</b></p>
<p><b>Wadea Abu Alsoud made the comments in a video posted to Instagram.</b></p>
<p><b>“This might be my last video,” he said. “We’re now besieged inside
al-Shifa Hospital. We’re being heavily shot at. The occupation suddenly
raided the hospital and its vicinity. As you can hear now, there are
intense clashes in the vicinity of al-Shifa Hospital. We’re hearing
sounds coming from the gate. There are shrapnels falling over the
hospital’s yard.”</b></p><p><b>He added: “We’re currently besieged. Pray for us to get out safely.
These are clashes as you can hear… we don’t know what’s going on outside
al-Shifa hospital, but the situation here is catastrophic.”</b></p></div><div>This morning, <a href="https://thesun.my/world/gaza-health-ministry-calls-on-un-to-stop-israel-s-massacre-at-al-shifa-hospital-BC12230441#google_vignette">THE SUN notes</a>, "Gaza’s Health Ministry on Monday called on the United Nations (UN) and
other international institutions to stop Israel’s ongoing operation in
the area of Al-Shifa Hospital that has killed patients, refugees, and
medical personnel." <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2024/03/18/israel-hamas-war-shifa-hospital-raid-gaza-aid-struggles-scholz-says-situation-desperate">EURO NEWS adds</a>, "The ministry says around 30,000 people are sheltering at the hospital,
including patients, medical staff and people who have fled their homes
seeking safety." <a href="https://www.straitstimes.com/world/middle-east/israeli-military-says-troops-raid-gazas-shifa-hospital">THE STRAITS TIMES explains</a>, "Al-Shifa, the Gaza Strip’s biggest hospital before the war, is now one
of the only healthcare facilities that is even partially operational in
the north of the territory, and is also housing hundreds of displaced
civilians." <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/1342e91a-6af5-43a1-a1c8-9bed61a6fadb">Andrew England and Neri Zilber (FINANCIAL TIMES OF LONDON) remind</a>,
"Israel previously raided al-Shifa in Gaza City in November, forcing
thousands of people who had sought sanctuary at the hospital to flee.
That raid drew widespread condemnation from aid agencies as Israel’s
air, land and sea offensive pushed Gaza’s health system towards a state
of collapse." That raid, remember, was based on the Israeli's claims
that Hamas fighters were using the hospital. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/18/israel-hamas-war-news-gaza-palestine/">Rachel Pannett and Hajar Harb (WASHINGTON POST) explain</a>, "A <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/21/al-shifa-hospital-gaza-hamas-israel/?itid=lk_inline_manual_12&itid=lk_inline_manual_25" target="_blank">Washington Post investigation</a>
in December into whether the civilian harm caused by the IDF’s campaign
against the hospital complex was proportionate to the assessed threat
found no immediate evidence of a command and control node. Rooms
connected to the tunnel network discovered by the IDF showed no
immediate evidence of ongoing military use by Hamas and no evidence that
the tunnels could be accessed from inside hospital wards." <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/mar/18/middle-east-crisis-live-israel-gaza-palestine-al-shifa-live-updates">THE GUARDIAN notes</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Al
Jazeera reports that Israeli forces have arrested on of its journalists
at al-Shifa hospital. Other local media have also reported that Ismail
al-Ghoul has been detained.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Al Jazeera writes:</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>We’re
getting reports that Israeli forces have arrested Al Jazeera Arabic’s
correspondent Ismail al-Ghoul from inside the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza
City. According to Palestinian writer and journalist Imad Zaqqout and
other witnesses, al-Ghoul was beaten severely by Israeli soldiers before
he was arrested with dozens of men and women within the hospital.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/18/israeli-army-opens-fire-inside-gazas-al-shifa-hospital-officials-say">Here's ALJAZEERA</a>:</div><div><p><b>Al Jazeera Arabic reported that the hospital’s surgical building was on fire following the Israeli bombing.</b></p>
<p><b>According to Palestinian writer and journalist Imad Zaqqout and other
witnesses, Israeli forces arrested Al Jazeera Arabic’s correspondent
Ismail al-Ghoul from inside the hospital.</b></p>
<p><b>The witnesses said al-Ghoul was beaten severely by Israeli soldiers
before he was arrested with dozens of men and women within the hospital.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VK21bX6WW9c?si=X1NeYmi0-YfHzgRd" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Over the weekend, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-17-24/index.html">Israelis took to the streets to protest their government</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Thousands
of protesters filled the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem Saturday
night, with two separate groups calling for the government to resign and
demanding the release of hostages held in Gaza. </b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>In Tel Aviv:
Demonstrators on two main streets of Tel Aviv called on the Israeli
government to resign, with some protesters also seen burning fires and
scuffling with police in the city.</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Protesters
blocked Ayalon Highway — a major inter-city freeway in Gush Dan,
Israel, in the metro Tel Aviv area — and chanted, "There is nothing more
important. Every hostage must come back." Na'ama Lazimi, a member of
the Knesset, Israel's parliament, was seen among the protesters on the
highway. </b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>In Jerusalem and Caesarea:
Thousands of family members of hostages still held in Gaza demanded the
release of their loved ones on Saturday evening. A social media video
captured arrests of protesters who were calling for elections near
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence in
Caesarea. Israeli police said they arrested four in Caesarea and two in
Jerusalem. </b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>What police say:
Israel Police said it approved the request to hold the protests, but
added that "a number of protesters gathered illegally on Menachem Begin
Road and began to violate the order by lighting fires on the road and
blocking the movement of vehicles."</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>"At
the same time, a number of protesters went down to Ayalon and blocked a
part off the road while confronting the police," the statement said,
adding that police then "announced that the demonstration was illegal
and that they should clear the traffic routes. At this stage, the
rioters did not listen to the instructions and the police had to use
measures to disperse the rioters in order to stop the offense."</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Netanyahu also has problems in the US. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-16-24/index.html">CNN reports</a>, "US President Joe Biden described <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/15/politics/schumer-israel-speech-analysis/index.html" target="_blank">Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s floor speech</a> criticizing Netanyahu as 'good,' saying the New York Democrat '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-15-24/h_f73270abacd68fb620b7fb3ea6404d78" target="_blank">expressed serious concern</a>' that is shared by many Americans. Biden said Schumer had contacted his
senior staff beforehand to let the White House know he’d be making the
speech." Saturday, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/16/biden-senator-chris-van-hollen-israel-gaza-aid">Lauren Gambino (GUARDIAN) reported</a>:</div><div> </div><div><b>Joe
Biden should use his leverage and the law to pressure Israel to change
how it is prosecuting the war in Gaza, the Democratic senator Chris Van
Hollen said.</b></div><div><div class="dcr-ch7w1w" data-gu-name="body"><div class="dcr-v4ay52"><div class="dcr-lw02qf" id="maincontent"><div class="article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1g5o3j6"><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat,
is among a group of senators urging Biden to stop providing Israel with
offensive weapons until it lifts restrictions on the delivery of food
and medicine into Gaza, where <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-malnutrition-famine-children-dying-israel-palestinians-2f938b1a82d7822c7da67cc162da1a37">children are now dying of hunger</a> and famine looms.</b></p><div id="sign-in-gate"><b><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-island-status="hydrated" deferuntil="visible" name="SignInGateSelector" priority="feature" props="{"contentType":"Article","sectionId":"us-news","tags":[{"id":"us-news/joebiden","type":"Keyword","title":"Joe Biden"},{"id":"us-news/us-politics","type":"Keyword","title":"US politics"},{"id":"world/israel","type":"Keyword","title":"Israel"},{"id":"world/gaza","type":"Keyword","title":"Gaza"},{"id":"world/world","type":"Keyword","title":"World news"},{"id":"us-news/us-news","type":"Keyword","title":"US news"},{"id":"world/palestinian-territories","type":"Keyword","title":"Palestinian territories"},{"id":"world/middleeast","type":"Keyword","title":"Middle East and north Africa"},{"id":"us-news/democrats","type":"Keyword","title":"Democrats"},{"id":"type/article","type":"Type","title":"Article"},{"id":"tone/news","type":"Tone","title":"News"},{"id":"profile/lauren-gambino","type":"Contributor","title":"Lauren Gambino","twitterHandle":"laurenegambino","bylineImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/05/25/Lauren_Gambino.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=7d2d8bb32a958d36fbc83615a446dd48","bylineLargeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/05/25/Lauren_Gambino.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=3833532f3081d9984bd879152f17b9f6"},{"id":"tracking/commissioningdesk/us-news","type":"Tracking","title":"US News"}],"isPaidContent":false,"isPreview":false,"host":"https://www.theguardian.com","pageId":"us-news/2024/mar/16/biden-senator-chris-van-hollen-israel-gaza-aid","idUrl":"https://profile.theguardian.com","switches":{"lightbox":true,"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":true,"remarketing":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed2":false,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"abOscarsNewsletterEmbed":false,"registerWithPhone":false,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":true,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"automaticFilters":true,"twitterUwt":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abSignInGateAlternativeWording":true,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":true,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"discussionInApps":false,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"headerTopNav":true,"googleSearch":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"darkModeInApps":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"crosswordMobileBanner":true,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"redplanetForAus":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"dcrTagPages":true,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"abMpuWhenNoEpic":false,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed1":false,"webFonts":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"disableAmpTest":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"mobileDiscussionAds":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"boostGaUserTimingFidelity":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true,"abSectionAdDensity":true,"remoteBanner":true}}"></gu-island></b></div><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>“We
need the president and the Biden administration to push harder and to
use all the levers of US policy to ensure people don’t die of
starvation,” Van Hollen said in an interview on Friday.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>This week, <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-sanders-merkley-and-five-colleagues-urge-president-biden-to-enforce-us-law-with-netanyahu-government#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%93%20Amid%20the%20ongoing%20humanitarian,requiring%20Netanyahu's%20government%20to%20stop">Van Hollen and seven of his colleagues</a>
sent a letter to the president arguing that Israel was in violation of
the Foreign Assistance Act, a section of which prohibits the sale and
transfer of military weapons to any nation that restricts the delivery
of US aid.</b></p></div></div></div></div></div><div> </div><div><p>Gaza remains under assault. Day 164 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.livemint.com/news/world/gaza-war-israeli-offensive-has-killed-at-least-31-726-people-in-palestine-so-far-73-792-injured-since-october-7-11710750478163.html">MINT notes</a>, "Israel has killed over 31,726 people in Palestine since October 7, as
per the Gaza health ministry. Israeli military offensive has also
injured an additional 73,792 people since the Gaza war started, as per
an official statement on March 18." Months
ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</p><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." <br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/mar/18/middle-east-crisis-live-israel-gaza-palestine-al-shifa-live-updates">THE GUARDIAN's Lisa O'Carroll reports</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><strong>The
EU’s chief diplomat Josep Borrell condemned Benjamin Netanyahu this
morning for creating what he said was a “manmade famine” in Gaza, and
urged Israel to allow road deliveries of food immediately.</strong></div><div><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Arriving
at a summit of foreign ministers in Brussels, he said European leaders
have told the Israeli prime minister they cannot stand by and watch
Palestinians starve to death.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b><br /></b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><i><b>In Gaza we are no longer on the brink of famine, we are in a state of famine affecting thousands of people.</b></i></p><blockquote class="dcr-1kg3fts">
<p><i><b>Chancellor Sholz told Benjamin Netanyahu ‘we cannot stand by and
watch Palestinians starve’. This famine is not a natural disaster. It is
not a flaw. It is not an earthquake. It is entirely manmade.</b></i></p>
<p><i><b>Chancellor Scholz is saying Europeans cannot sit and watch
Palestinian starving, when on the other side of the border there is food
for months accumulated in stocks, while on the other side of the road
there are people dying of hunger. This requires some action.</b></i></p>
</blockquote><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>The EU, which funds much of the aid
to Gaza, said the land border used to handle 500 tonnes of aid a day
before the war. At present it was functioning at a level of 100 tonnes a
day.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Borrell added: “Before the war, Gaza was the greatest open air prison. Today it is the greatest open air graveyard”.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday, UNICEF's Catherine Russell <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/catherine-russell-unicef-executive-director-face-the-nation-transcript-03-17-2024/?intcid=CNR-01-0623">appeared on CBS' FACE THE NATION</a>:</div><div><br /></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZYKM6Jr1isY?si=Td3kg32C8zovwAGx" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>MARGARET BRENNAN: According to UNICEF, 81% of households in Gaza
don't have enough access to clean water, and nine in 10 people do not
have enough food to survive. The organization's executive director is
Catherine Russell, and she's here with us. Welcome to Face the Nation.</b></p><p><b>CATHERINE RUSSELL: Thank you very much, thanks.</b></p>
<p><b>MARGARET BRENNAN: You focus in particular on the children. We heard
this week from the leaders of the US intelligence community that there
will be a generational impact from what is happening in Gaza. The
implications of that they were looking through the national security
lens. From your perspective, what does that mean? What does the
generational impact mean?</b></p><p><b>CATHERINE RUSSELL: Well, it means- it
means that what's happening now is more than 13,000 children already
have been killed, which is an astronomical horrifying number. Thousands
more have been injured, or we can't even determine where they are, they
may be stuck under rubble. Thousands more have lost one or both parents,
some of these children, you've seen them on the news. They're just by
themselves managing their younger siblings. I mean, it's a horrifying
situation. So when you think about the impact of that on those children
as they grow up, even on their- their children, right, it is an impact
that is so profound, because of the stress that they're living under and
the grief and the loss and the fear that they're living under. It's
bound to have impacts on them the rest of their lives.</b></p><p><b>MARGARET BRENNAN: Since October 7, 33 Israeli children have been
killed in those horrific attacks of that day. As you just said, 13,000
in Gaza that you know of--</b></p><p><b>CATHERINE RUSSELL: --That we know of.</b></p><p><b>MARGARET BRENNAN: That's just horrific–</b></p><p><b>CROSSTALK</b></p><p><b>CATHERINE RUSSELL: You know, honestly, the- the children who were
killed in Israel, the- the children who were taken hostage, yeah, there
are still children who have not been returned to their families in
Israel, all horrific, right. Every one of those cases is so
heartbreaking for that child and that family. I- I think these numbers
that we're seeing out of Gaza are just staggering. I mean, we haven't
seen that rate of death among children in- in almost any other conflict
in the world. It's really shocking.</b></p><p><b>MARGARET BRENNAN: So your
organization says 31% of children, one in three under the age of two, in
northern Gaza suffer from acute malnutrition. This isn't just trauma,
this is- this is stunting them for life.</b></p><p><b>CATHERINE RUSSELL: Well,
if they survive. And I have to say I've seen a lot of children,
unfortunately, in my job around the world who suffer from malnutrition,
and it is a shocking thing to see. I mean, essentially, the body starts
to consume itself because it has nothing else and it's a painful,
painful death for children. I've been in wards of children who are
suffering from severe anemia malnutrition, the whole ward is absolutely
quiet. Because the children the babies have don't even have the energy
to cry. I mean, it is a devastating thing to see. And you're right, if
they survive it, if we can manage to get what we do is provide
therapeutic feeding for them. If we can get that to them, they can
survive, but often they're stunted for life. And stunting means that
your- your- your ability, your cognitive ability is impacted as well. So
it is a lifelong challenge for these children, if they survive, but we
know now that children are dying from malnutrition in- in Gaza.</b></p><p><b>MARGARET
BRENNAN: The CIA director testified about children starving in Gaza.
What are you able to actually get in at this point? And we know there
are airdrops happening. You can't airdrop vaccines, you can't airdrop
things that need to be refrigerated. So- so what's getting in and what
do you need to get?</b></p><p><b>CATHERINE RUSSELL: Well, first of all, the one
thing we know for sure is not enough is getting in and the airdrops
are, as you say, some things are coming in that way, some things came in
through this maritime corridor, but it's a drop in the bucket in both
cases. And what we need to get in for children is what I said, this
therapeutic feeding which is something called Plumpy'nut, I don't know
if you've ever seen it, but it's fantastic and it can save their lives.
But we need to get it to them and we have so little access right now.
And it's very challenging. We also are facing very great bureaucratic
challenges, moving trucks in. Trucks and moving things by land is by far
the most efficient, effective way to get aid in. But there are a lot of
challenges to that where we can't, you know, I think, excuse me,
Senator Van Hollen mentioned if things are dual use, sometimes they get
rejected, so we can't get plastic pipes in, we can't get some medical
kits if they have a little scissors in them. I mean, it's- it's
completely, almost Kafkaesque sometimes trying to figure out how we get
things into this bureaucratic mess. And I think at the end of the day,
those are choices that are made, right. If the choice is--</b></p><p><b>MARGARET BRENNAN: --Those are political choices.</b></p><p><b>CATHERINE
RUSSELL: They are choices. And I think if the choice is to say we need
to get as much humanitarian aid flooded into this area as possible,
everyone can do better in that regard. And I think that the population
there is suffering in such a terrible way. And I think one of the big
challenges is, because there's such limited access--</b></p><p><b>MARGARET BRENNAN: --Yeah.</b></p><p><b>CATHERINE RUSSELL: For the press, in
addition, it's hard to see that, right. And I think it would be great
if there were more transparency, if everyone could see what the
challenges are, what the legitimate bottlenecks--</b></p><p><b>MARGARET BRENNAN: --Yes.</b></p><p><b>CATHERINE RUSSELL: Are, and how we could all do better.</b></p><p><b>MARGARET BRENNAN: We rely on our producer who lives in Gaza, Marwar al-Ghoul, but we cannot get in--</b></p><p><b>CATHERINE
RUSSELL: --Which is not right. You should be- you should be able to get
it and you should be able to see what's happening. The world should be
able to see what's happening and make their own judgments about what's
going on.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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faye dunaway
</a>
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The Official Jody Watley Website</a>
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3 days ago </div></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-81142110351987210162024-03-15T00:57:00.003-04:002024-03-15T00:57:45.234-04:00Tomato Mac and Cheese in the Kitchen<p> Sam e-mailed to note <a href="https://www.campbells.com/prego/recipes/tomato-mac-and-cheese/">a recipe he likes from the Campbell Soup website</a>:</p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></p><h2 class="mb-zero"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> Ingredients</span></h2><div class="recipe-ingredients">
<ul>
<li><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">
1
can (10 1/2ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup </span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">
1
cup Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce </span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">
1/3
cup milk </span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">
2
cups cooked elbow macaroni, drained </span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">
1/4
cup grated Parmesan cheese </span></b></li>
</ul>
<div class="chicory-order-ingredients"><div class="chicory-button-container chicory-noprint">
</div></div></div><div class="recipe-ingredients"><div class="chicory-order-ingredients"><div class="chicory-button-container chicory-noprint"><span style="color: #888888; font-family: inherit;"><b> </b></span></div></div>
</div><h2><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">
Instructions</span></h2><p>
</p><div class="recipe-instructions">
<ul>
<li>
<p class="recipe-instructions__step">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">
Step 1
</span></b></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Heat the soup, sauce, milk and pasta in a 3-quart saucepan over
medium heat until the mixture is hot and bubbling, stirring
occasionally. Serve with the cheese.</span></b></p>
</li>
</ul></div><p><br /></p><p>If you used a cup of Prego's meat sauce mixture, you could have Tomato Mac and Beef and Cheese. </p><p><br /></p><p>News? <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/14/headlines">This is from today's Democracy Now!</a></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Longtime LGBTQ+ activist and political adviser David Mixner has died
at 77. A friend said the cause of death was complications of long-term <span class="caps">COVID</span>.
David Mixner was famously close friends with Bill Clinton, on whose
presidential campaign he worked. But the relationship fractured after
Clinton walked back his promise to end discrimination against <span class="caps">LGBTQ</span>
people in the military, which Mixner harshly condemned. He was arrested
at a 1993 protest against Clinton’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy
outside the White House. This is David Mixner on Democracy Now! in 1996.</b></p><p>
</p><blockquote>
<p><b>David Mixner: “And we’ve got to get our act
together. You know, the Christian Coalition has been organizing. They’ve
been taking over school boards. They’ve been taking over water boards.
They’ve been taking over taxation boards at the local level. And for
years, I think, on the progressive movement and on the left, we have
accepted the criteria that they’re better than the other guy. And so, we
have always been put in that position of accepting someone just a
little better than someone worse. And I think we shouldn’t accept that
anymore.”</b></p></blockquote><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/iraq-snapshot_01676269499.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Thursday:</p><p><br /></p><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5808217201771630333" itemprop="articleBody">
Thursday, March 14, 2024. Starvation and famine continue in Gaza, a
child takes their own life in the US because of a climate of hate, and
much more.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There is nothing good about
the assault on Gaza. It's still surprising, however, just how rotten
everything about the assault is. <a href="https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2024/03/12/721749/explainer-how-israel-war-gaza-spawned-environment-climate-disaster">Maryam Qarehgozlou (PRESS TV) observes</a>, "Beyond the colossal human toll of the deadly war, an environmental
catastrophe is also unfolding across the blockaded territory, triggered
by indiscriminate bombings and a crippling siege for more than five
months." The Israeli government is consuming a huge amount of fossil fuels to assault Gaza. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/14/global-oil-industry-impact-israel-gaza-war">Nina Lakhani (GUARDIAN) reports</a>: </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Israeli jets and tanks bombarding Palestinians are
being fueled by some of the world’s most profitable fossil fuel
companies – and US tax-payers, according to research.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Israel
relies on crude oil and refined products from overseas to run its large
fleet of fighter jets, tanks and other military vehicles.</b></p><div id="sign-in-gate"><b><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-island-status="hydrated" deferuntil="visible" name="SignInGateSelector" priority="feature" props="{"contentType":"Article","sectionId":"world","tags":[{"id":"world/israel-hamas-war","type":"Keyword","title":"Israel-Gaza war"},{"id":"business/oilandgascompanies","type":"Keyword","title":"Oil and gas companies"},{"id":"world/palestinian-territories","type":"Keyword","title":"Palestinian territories"},{"id":"world/israel","type":"Keyword","title":"Israel"},{"id":"world/world","type":"Keyword","title":"World news"},{"id":"us-news/us-news","type":"Keyword","title":"US news"},{"id":"business/business","type":"Keyword","title":"Business"},{"id":"world/middleeast","type":"Keyword","title":"Middle East and north Africa"},{"id":"type/article","type":"Type","title":"Article"},{"id":"tone/features","type":"Tone","title":"Features"},{"id":"profile/nina-lakhani","type":"Contributor","title":"Nina Lakhani","twitterHandle":"ninalakhani"},{"id":"tracking/commissioningdesk/us-news","type":"Tracking","title":"US News"}],"isPaidContent":false,"isPreview":false,"host":"https://www.theguardian.com","pageId":"world/2024/mar/14/global-oil-industry-impact-israel-gaza-war","idUrl":"https://profile.theguardian.com","switches":{"lightbox":true,"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":true,"remarketing":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed2":false,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"abOscarsNewsletterEmbed":false,"registerWithPhone":false,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":true,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"automaticFilters":true,"twitterUwt":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abSignInGateAlternativeWording":false,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":true,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"discussionInApps":false,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"headerTopNav":true,"googleSearch":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"darkModeInApps":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"crosswordMobileBanner":true,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"redplanetForAus":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"dcrTagPages":true,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"abMpuWhenNoEpic":false,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"oscarsNewsletterEmbed1":false,"webFonts":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"disableAmpTest":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"mobileDiscussionAds":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"boostGaUserTimingFidelity":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true,"abSectionAdDensity":true,"remoteBanner":true}}"></gu-island></b></div><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>The research, which was commissioned by the non-profit <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://priceofoil.org/?p=43555">Oil Change International</a>
and shared exclusively with the Guardian, examines this fuel supply
chain, which since the current conflict in Gaza began appears to have
relied heavily on fossil fuels from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia,
Brazil, Gabon and the US. The analysis by <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://datadesk.eco/">Data Desk</a>,
a UK-based tech consultancy firm investigating the fossil fuel
industry, suggests the major oil companies facilitating the fuel
supplies include BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalEnergies.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>The analysis suggests that Israel has received
three US tankers of JP8 jet guel in the form of military aid since
October 2023. One left the US before the current assault on Gaza began,
departing from the Bill Greehey refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, on 22
September.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Vessels delivering oil and fuel
recently appear to have been turning off their automatic identification
system (AIS) signal before reaching Israel, possibly for security
reasons.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>The other two departed after the
conflict was underway: one appears to have departed on 6 December 2023,
when more than 16,000 Palestinians had already been killed. The third
left Texas on 9 February 2024 – two weeks after the International Court
of Justice’s <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/26/un-court-orders-israel-to-ensure-acts-of-genocide-are-not-committed-in-gaza">interim ruling</a> that Israel <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/26/world-courts-interim-ruling-on-genocide-in-gaza-key-takeaways-icj-israel">could plausibly be committing genocide</a>
against 2.3m Palestinians in occupied Gaza. A satellite image appears
to show the tanker at Israel’s Ashkelon terminal on 6 March, when the
Palestinian death toll had risen to 30,000.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Israel’s
bombardment of Gaza has continued since the ICJ ordered the Israeli
government to prevent any genocidal act. The ICJ ruling has legal
implications for countries and corporations, which must ensure they are
not complicit in genocidal acts.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Last week, <a href="https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/03/06/the-un-is-investigating-the-environmental-impact-of-the-war-in-gaza-heres-what-it-says-so-">EURO NEWS noted</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>The United Nations is investigating the environmental impact of the
war in Gaza, which has caused a catastrophic spike in land, soil and
water pollution.</b></p><p><b>It is hard to know where to begin, since the
conflict has no end in sight. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been
killed by relentless Israeli strikes since 7 October, when Hamas-led
militants killed around 1,200 Israelis and took 250 people hostage.</b></p><p><b>[. . .]</b></p><p><b>In recent days, devastating reports have emerged of malnourished and dehydrated babies <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2024/03/05/children-in-northern-gaza-dying-of-starvation-says-who">dying</a>
in the Northern Gaza Strip. “These tragic and horrific deaths are
man-made, predictable and entirely preventable,” Adele Khodr, UNICEF
regional director for the Middle East and North Africa said in a
statement on 3 March. </b></p><p><b>Environmental concerns pale beside such
suffering. But they are also inseparable from the unfolding humanitarian
disaster. Water pollution from the bombardments, for example, means a
dearth in safe <a href="https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/01/18/half-of-bangladeshi-drinking-water-is-polluted-with-arsenic-and-climate-change-is-making-i">drinking water</a> and a rise in water-borne diseases.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>On
Monday, a number of US senators objected to US President Joe Biden
supplying the government of Israel with military equipment when the
Israeli government has continued to block aid to Gaza. This is a press
release on the letter from Senator Mazie Hirono's office:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><div class="js-press-release RawHTML mb-5">
<p><b>WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie
K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen
(D-MD), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN),
Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM), in sending a letter
to President Joe Biden urging him to enforce federal law by requiring
Netanyahu’s government to stop restricting humanitarian aid access to
Gaza or forfeit U.S. military aid to Israel.<br /><br />In the letter, the
senators make clear that Netanyahu’s interference in U.S. humanitarian
operations in Gaza violates Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961, also known as the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act. The law
states: “No assistance shall be furnished under this chapter or the Arms
Export Control Act to any country when it is made known to the
President that the government of such country prohibits or otherwise
restricts, directly or indirectly, the transport or delivery of United
States humanitarian assistance.”<br /><br />“According to public reporting
and your own statements, the Netanyahu government is in violation of
this law,” wrote the senators. “Given
this reality, we urge you to make it clear to the Netanyahu government
that failure to immediately and dramatically expand humanitarian access
and facilitate safe aid deliveries throughout Gaza will lead to serious
consequences, as specified under existing U.S. law.”<br /><br />“The United
States should not provide military assistance to any country that
interferes with U.S. humanitarian assistance,” the senators continued.
“Federal law is clear, and, given the urgency of the crisis in Gaza,
and the repeated refusal of Prime Minister Netanyahu to address U.S.
concerns on this issue, immediate action is necessary to secure a change
in policy by his government.”</b></p>
<p><strong>The full text of the letter is available <a href="https://www.hirono.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_president_biden_on_humanitarian_aid_access_to_gaza.pdf">here</a> and below.</strong></p>
<p><em><b>President Biden,</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>The severe humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza is nearly unprecedented in modern history.</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>As Vice President Harris said on March 3rd, “We have seen reports
of families eating leaves or animal feed, women giving birth to
malnourished babies with little or no medical care, and children dying
from malnutrition and dehydration.”</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>Your Administration has repeatedly stated, and the United Nations
and numerous aid organizations have confirmed, that Israel’s
restrictions on humanitarian access, both at the border and within Gaza,
are one of the primary causes of this humanitarian catastrophe.</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>The Netanyahu government’s interference with humanitarian
operations has prevented U.S.- financed aid from reaching its intended
recipients in a safe and timely manner.</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>In recent weeks, humanitarian access has seriously deteriorated.
That reality was underscored by your decision last week, which we
support, to begin air dropping supplies to desperate civilians in north
Gaza.</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>The Netanyahu government’s interference in U.S. humanitarian
operations violates the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act — Section 620I of
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 USC 2378-1). The law is clear:
“No assistance shall be furnished under this chapter or the Arms Export
Control Act to any country when it is made known to the President that
the government of such country prohibits or otherwise restricts,
directly or indirectly, the transport or delivery of United States
humanitarian assistance.”</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>According to public reporting and your own statements, the
Netanyahu government is in violation of this law. Given this reality, we
urge you to make it clear to the Netanyahu government that failure to
immediately and dramatically expand humanitarian access and facilitate
safe aid deliveries throughout Gaza will lead to serious consequences,
as specified under existing U.S. law.</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>People are starving. As you have said, “We’re going to insist
that Israel facilitate more trucks and more routes to get more and more
people the help they need. No excuses. Because the truth is, aid flowing
to Gaza is nowhere nearly enough.”</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>The United States should not provide military assistance to any
country that interferes with U.S. humanitarian assistance. We note that
the language of the statute does not preclude U.S. assistance for
missile defense, such as the Iron Dome, or other defensive systems
provided to Israel pursuant to the provisions of the National Defense
Authorization Act.</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>Federal law is clear, and, given the urgency of the crisis in
Gaza, and the repeated refusal of Prime Minister Netanyahu to address
U.S. concerns on this issue, immediate action is necessary to secure a
change in policy by his government.</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>Sincerely,</b></em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>###</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And it's not just that group of US senators calling for accountability. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/u-s-arms-sales-to-israel-2667506147">Brett Wilkins (COMMON DREAMS) reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b> More than two dozen human rights groups on Tuesday implored U.S.
President Joe Biden "urgently comply" with domestic law by suspending
arms sales to Israel and pressuring its far-right government to end its
genocidal policy of blocking aid to starving Palestinians in <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza.
</a></b></p><p><b>
In a<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/03/13/joint-letter-president-biden-continued-us-security-assistance-israel" target="_blank"> joint letter</a>
to Biden, the 25 organizations asserted that his administration's
"unconditional arms transfers and other security assistance" to Israel
apparently "violate Section 620I of the <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/22/2378-1" target="_blank">Foreign Assistance Act</a>
(22 U.S.C. § 2378-1), which prohibits the United States from providing
security assistance or arms sales to any country when the president is
made aware that the government 'prohibits or otherwise restricts,
directly or indirectly, the transport or delivery of United States
humanitarian assistance.'"
</b></p><p><b>"U.S. weapons, security assistance, and blanket political support
have contributed to an unparalleled humanitarian crisis and possible
war crimes in Gaza," the groups wrote. "We demand that you urgently
comply with U.S. law, end U.S. support for catastrophic human suffering
in Gaza, and use your leverage to protect civilians and ensure the
impartial provision of humanitarian assistance."</b></p><p><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://help.rescue.org/donate/evergreen-crisis-ME?ms=gs_ppc_fy24_gaza_mmus_mar&initialms=gs_ppc_fy24_gaza_mmus_mar&utm_campaign=fy24_gaza&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwMqvBhCtARIsAIXsZpbevjTiJ3imCwxnRAibclymMnZRq3f4dQm_fpOwZvQRoZ5YJ6pJiS0aAmyhEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds">The International Rescue Committee notes</a>, "Over half a million Palestinians are suffering from severe malnutrition,
and children are dying of starvation. Right now the IRC and its
partners are working to deliver urgently needed emergency food, medical
supplies and other crucial humanitarian aid to displaced families." <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/mar/14/middle-east-crisis-live-updates-israel-gaza-khan-younis-tel-aviv">THE GUARDIAN notes</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><strong>A senior official at the European Commission has said there are already pockets of famine happening in <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/gaza">Gaza</a>.</strong></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Reuters reports Janez Lenarčič,
the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management,
told the media that famine could spread to the whole of the region.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/14/death-trap-israeli-forces-kill-six-aid-seekers-in-gaza-city">ALJAZEERA reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>Israeli forces have shot dead at least six Palestinians and wounded
83 in Gaza City as they were waiting for food and humanitarian supplies
at the Kuwait Roundabout, an area where large groups of people gather
for arriving aid trucks.</b></p>
<p><b>The attack on Thursday took place hours after at least five people
were killed by an Israeli air strike on a food distribution centre in
Rafah, southern Gaza, run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency
for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/1/what-is-unrwa-and-why-it-is-important-for-palestinians">UNRWA</a>), which is the main humanitarian agency in Gaza.</b></p></div><div><b>There has been an uptick in fatal assaults by Israeli troops on crowds of starving <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2024/3/5/the-blood-was-everywhere-inside-israels-flour-massacre-in-gaza">civilians lining up</a> for aid in recent weeks. On Monday night, Israeli forces killed 11 people waiting for food aid at the same roundabout.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Netanyahu's
attack on UNRWA has been non-stop. Yesterday, the agency released a
statement noting the attacks that have taken place:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>At least one UNRWA staff member was killed and another 22 were
injured when Israeli Forces hit a food distribution centre in the
eastern part of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip.</b></p>
<p><b>“Today’s attack on one of the very few remaining UNRWA distribution
centres in the Gaza Strip comes as food supplies are running out, hunger
is widespread and, in some areas, turning into famine. Every day, we
share the coordinates of all our facilities across the Gaza Strip with
parties to the conflict. The Israeli Army received the coordinates
including of this facility yesterday,” said UNRWA Commissioner-General
Philippe Lazzarini. </b></p>
<p><b>Since the war began five months ago, UNRWA has recorded an
unprecedented number of violations against its staff and facilities that
surpass any other conflict around the world. </b></p>
<p><b>· At least 165 UNRWA team members killed including while in the line of duty;</b></p>
<p><b>· More than 150 UNRWA facilities were hit, some totally destroyed, among them many schools;</b></p>
<p><b>· More than 400 people killed while seeking shelter under the UN flag;</b></p>
<p><b>· Tunnels have reportedly been found under UNRWA facilities and installations used for military activities;</b></p>
<p><b>· UNRWA staff have reportedly been mistreated and humiliated while in Israeli detention centres.</b></p>
<p><b>“The United Nations, its personnel, premises and assets must be
protected at all times. Since this war began, attacks against UN
facilities, convoys and personnel have become commonplace in blatant
disregard to international humanitarian law. I am calling once again for
an independent inquiry into these violations and the need for
accountability,” added Lazzarini. </b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Let's note <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/13/michelle_alexander_revolutionary_love">this from yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QljJ8ac60xo?si=H3EmbiO_bFqPFULK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.</b></p>
<p><b>Civil rights advocate Michelle Alexander has a new <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/mlk-vietnam-war-speech-gaza-democracy/">piece</a> in <em>The Nation</em>.
It’s headlined “Only Revolutionary Love Can Save Us Now.” Michelle
Alexander begins, “This moment feels different. Something new is in the
air. Of course, everything is always changing. Impermanence is the way
of life. Philosophers, theologians, and poets have reminded us for
centuries that the only constant is change.”</b></p>
<p><b>Michelle Alexander joins us now for more, the best-selling author of the book <em>The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness</em>.</b></p>
<p><b>It’s great to have you back with us, Michelle. If you can —</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">MICHELLE</span> <span class="caps">ALEXANDER</span>: Thank you. Thanks for having me. I’m always happy to be here.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
It’s great to see you. If you can talk about what gives you hope right
now, even as you write about what’s happening in Gaza, as you talk about
what’s happening with issues of police brutality and mass incarceration
through the United States? Talk about movements and your references to
Dr. King.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">MICHELLE</span> <span class="caps">ALEXANDER</span>:
Well, what gives me hope right now is that, despite everything,
revolutionary love is bursting and blossoming in all kinds of places and
spaces. Years of relentless and patient organizing and deep learning
about each other’s histories and struggles have led to a moment when
Black activists are showing up at protests organized by Jewish students
who are raising their voices in solidarity with Palestinians who are
suffering occupation and annihilation in Gaza. And, you know, this is
due to connections that have been made over the course of years between
liberation struggles on the streets of Ferguson and those occurring in
Palestine. And these small acts of revolutionary love are leading to
movements, are building movements that just might help us change
everything.</b></p>
<p><b>And, you know, we see this in communities everywhere, where people
are connecting dots between climate change and racial and gender
injustice. We see it in the movement to stop Cop City in Atlanta. We see
it in movements for clean water and food. And we see that people are
making connections between liberation struggles here at home and those
occurring around the world, as well as connections between the violence
of policing and incarceration and the violence of militarism and the
relentless assault on Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b>So, you know, people are turning towards really promising forms of
movement building, incredible acts of courage in this moment, speaking
unpopular truths. And that gives me hope, even in a time when there is
so much reason for fear and anxiety, that can be paralyzing.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: Michelle, but you also raised in your <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/mlk-vietnam-war-speech-gaza-democracy/">article</a>
that all of this is happening right now in the midst of a presidential
election here in the United States. And what do you see as the impact of
the policy of the Biden administration in terms of — especially in
terms of Gaza and the genocide there, and what the impact may be on the
result of our election?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">MICHELLE</span> <span class="caps">ALEXANDER</span>:
Well, you know, tens of thousands of people have been killed in Gaza in
just a few months with our bombs — you know, mass murder funded by our
government, aided and abetted by our military, paid for, in large part,
by our tax dollars. And while we have been told by our government that
we are not witnessing genocide, you know, I and millions of people
around the world have watched. You know, as videos have traveled around
the globe, we’ve watched, you know, as mothers have pulled body parts of
their dead children out of rubble, as people have had their limbs
amputated, sawed off, without anesthesia because the hospitals have been
destroyed and there’s no medicine, including pain medication, to be
found. We’ve watched as people facing starvation have been shot at by
Israeli soldiers as they approach vehicles carrying aid.</b></p>
<p><b>And so, you know, the Biden administration seems to be surprised that
people who are not Palestinian care as deeply as we do. And I think if
the Democratic Party and the Biden administration is serious about
winning this next election, they must not only insist upon a ceasefire,
but end the aid for the military support and the bombs, and must invest
and ensure that the people who are starving and who are suffering there
get the aid that they need to survive. We must end the occupation of
Palestine and commit to the thriving of all of the people who have been
subjected to relentless war and occupation for decades now. And so,
yeah, I do think it’s an important issue in this election year.</b></p>
<p><b>And, you know, as I point out in the <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/mlk-vietnam-war-speech-gaza-democracy/">piece</a>,
that there are many, many things that are weighing on the minds and the
hearts of the American people right now. It is the mass killing in
Gaza, you know, more than 10,000 children, and the destruction of
hospitals, schools, churches, mosques, universities, museums and nearly
all the basic infrastructure. It is the memories of the killings that
occurred on October 7th, memories that many continue to carry along with
deep grief and fear. But there’s also, you know, fears of the threats
to our democracy, to the very ideas of diversity and inclusion. And
there’s the threat of climate change. You know, 2023 was the hottest
year on record, and it seems we may have already passed a critical
tipping point, and yet the five biggest oil companies last year raked in
record profits, nearly $200 billion in profits, more than the economic
output of most countries. And, you know, if all that wasn’t enough, we
keep learning more and more that AI just might destroy humanity.</b></p>
<p><b>And, you know, I find that people often ask me, as I speak about
issues related to climate change and the war in Gaza and the threats
related to the rise in technology: What does any of this have to do with
mass incarceration or police violence, the issues and causes that have
been most pressing and most important to me for much of my life? And
what I always say is that these issues have everything to do with mass
incarceration. These are existential crises that we face because we have
persisted in treating people and all of creation as exploitable and
disposable, unworthy of our care and concern. We are lost in the
delusion that we can solve problems or do justice or achieve peace and
security simply by locking people up, throwing away the key, destroying
their lives and families, getting rid of them, declaring wars on them,
wars on drugs, wars on crime, wars on Gaza. And that’s why I keep
returning again and again to the speech that Martin Luther King gave
near the end of his life, the speech where he condemned the Vietnam War
and was immediately canceled. That’s what my <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/mlk-vietnam-war-speech-gaza-democracy/">piece</a> in <em>The Nation</em> is ultimately about.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Michelle, we want to end with and get your final comment on Dr. King’s
speech that he gave at New York’s Riverside Church opposing the War in
Vietnam a year to the day before he was assassinated. This is Dr. King
speaking about why he opposed the War in Vietnam.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">REV</span>. <span class="caps">MARTIN</span> <span class="caps">LUTHER</span> <span class="caps">KING</span> JR.:
As I have walked among the desperate, rejected and angry young men, I
have told them that Molotov cocktails and rifles would not solve their
problems. I have tried to offer them my deepest compassion while
maintaining my conviction that social change comes most meaningfully
through nonviolent action. But they ask, and rightly so, “What about
Vietnam?” And they ask if our own nation wasn’t using massive doses of
violence to solve its problems, to bring about the changes it wanted.
Their questions hit home. And I knew that I could never again raise my
voice against the violence of the oppressed in the ghettos without
having first spoken clearly to the greatest purveyor of violence in the
world today: my own government.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Dr. King, after which, you point out in the <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/mlk-vietnam-war-speech-gaza-democracy/">piece</a>, Michelle, that he was canceled, from the major papers, <em>The New York Times</em> to <em>The Washington Post</em>, attacked for his opposition to war.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">MICHELLE</span> <span class="caps">ALEXANDER</span>:
Yes, that’s absolutely right. I mean, it’s difficult to overstate the
political risk that he was taking in that moment. Our nation had been at
war with Vietnam for two years. Ten thousand American troops had
already been killed. And the war had enthusiastic bipartisan support
within the political establishment. Anyone who dared to criticize the
war were often labeled communist and subjected to vicious forms of
retaliation and backlash. Many of his friends and his allies told him
not to speak out against the war, saying he’d jeopardize the very
fragile and brand-new gains of the civil rights movement.</b></p>
<p><b>And he said, you know, those people, those voices didn’t understand
the depth of his moral commitment, but they also had no real
understanding of the nature of the world in which they lived. And he
said basic morality demands that we speak for the weak, the voiceless,
the victims of our own nation, especially the children, including those
our nation calls enemy, for they are no less our brothers and sisters.
He condemned the moral bankruptcy of a nation that doesn’t hesitate to
invest in bombs and warfare around the world but can’t ever seem to find
the dollars to eradicate poverty at home.</b></p>
<p><b>But, for me, you know, what makes King’s speech essential in this
moment is that he was arguing in that speech that if we, as a nation, do
not awaken from our collective delusions, we are doomed. You know, he
said we must rapidly shift from a thing-oriented society to a
person-oriented society. You know, he said when machines and computers,
profit motives and property rights are considered more important than
people, you know, the giant triplet of racism, extreme materialism and
militarism will never be conquered. You know, if we fail to make this
turn, if we fail to awaken, we are doomed. And he was right. Whether
we’re talking about climate change, AI, mass deportation, mass
incarceration, the wars in Gaza or the wars on drugs, he’s right, that
if we don’t turn away from the corrupting forces of capitalism,
militarism and racism, and embrace a truly revolutionary love for all
people and all creation, we are doomed. Towards the end of that speech
at Riverside, he said there is such a thing as being too late. You know,
he said over the bleached bones and jumbled residue of numerous
civilizations are written the pathetic words “too late.”</b></p>
<p><b>And yet his message wasn’t a hopeless one. He was calling us to
embrace a revolutionary movement, one that was grounded in an ethic of
love. Just as bell hooks once said, you know, as long as we refuse to
embrace love in our struggles for liberation, we will not be able to
create a culture of conversion where there’s a mass turning away from an
ethic of domination. And that, ultimately, is what revolutionary love
is all about and why I believe it is the only thing that can save us
now.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Michelle Alexander, thank you so much for joining us, civil rights advocate — </b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">MICHELLE</span> <span class="caps">ALEXANDER</span>: Thank you.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: — author of the best-selling book <em>The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness</em>. We’ll link to your <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/mlk-vietnam-war-speech-gaza-democracy/">piece</a> in <em>The Nation</em>, headlined “Only Revolutionary Love Can Save Us Now.”</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><div><p>Gaza remains under assault. Day 160 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/mar/14/middle-east-crisis-live-updates-israel-gaza-khan-younis-tel-aviv">THE GUARDIAN notes</a> "the total death toll since <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/israel">Israel</a> launched its military offensive in the Gaza Strip [is] 31,341. Additionally, 73,134 people have been wounded." Months
ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</p><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>In other news . . . </div><div><br /><br /></div></div><div><a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/13/headlines">Yesterday on DEMOCRACY NOW!, Amy Goodman noted</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="social"><b><a class="facebook popup" data-ga-action="Share Tools: Facebook - Individual Headline" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/13/headlines/florida_settles_dont_say_gay_lawsuit" title="Share on Facebook"></a><a class="twitter popup" data-ga-action="Share Tools: Twitter - Individual Headline" href="https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/13/headlines/florida_settles_dont_say_gay_lawsuit&text=Florida+Settles+%E2%80%9CDon%E2%80%99t+Say+Gay%E2%80%9D+Lawsuit&via=democracynow&lang=en" title="Share on Twitter"></a><a class="reddit popup hidden-xs" data-ga-action="Share Tools: Reddit - Individual Headline" href="https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/13/headlines/florida_settles_dont_say_gay_lawsuit" title="Share on Reddit"></a><a class="email hidden-xs" data-ga-action="Share Tools: Email - Individual Headline" href="mailto:?body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.democracynow.org%2F2024%2F3%2F13%2Fheadlines%2Fflorida_settles_dont_say_gay_lawsuit&subject=Florida%20Settles%20%26%238220%3BDon%26%238217%3Bt%20Say%20Gay%26%238221%3B%20Lawsuit" title="Send via Email"></a></b></div><div class="headline_body"><div class="headline_summary"><p><b>Florida’s
school teachers will be allowed to discuss sexual orientation and
gender identity — under the condition the topics are not a part of
formal classroom instruction. The clarification came as part of a
lawsuit settlement reached by Florida’s education officials and a group
of LGBTQ+ rights advocates and families. Opponents of Florida’s “Don’t
Say Gay” law had argued the measure’s vague language sparked fear and
confusion among educators and students, who were unsure if even sharing
personal details about their lives, such as drawing a picture of their
same-sex parents for a school project, would be a violation of the law.</b></p></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>This
was never, ever about helping children. It was about hate merchants
spreading their hate. And we see across the country the effects of
that. Nex Benedict was one of the children targeted with this hate.
Marcia has been covering Nex's case at her site and, in last night's "<a href="http://sickofitradlz.blogspot.com/2024/03/ryan-walters-is-responsible-for-death.html" target="_blank">Ryan Walters is responsible for the death of Nex Benedict</a>,"
rightly calls out hate merchant Ryan Walters who seems to think the
initial autopsy finding that a child took their own life because of the
abuse that they were experiencing is somehow vindicating him. It's no
vindication, it is an indictment. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://glaad.org/oklahoma-superintendent-of-public-instruction-ryan-walters-book-ban-record/">Earlier this month at GLAAD, Jae Moore noted</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>The tragic death of high school sophomore <a href="https://glaad.org/live-updates-the-death-of-nex-benedict-and-community-response-in-oklahoma/">Nex Benedict</a> last month cast a spotlight on the <a href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2023/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">relentless bullying</a> LGBTQ students face <a href="https://www.glsen.org/sites/default/files/2024-02/510345_GLSEN_Nex_Benedict_Convo_Educator_Guide_m1.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">in schools</a> <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/vp-harris-white-house-speak-nex-benedicts-death/story?id=107480756">nationwide</a>, and on the <a href="https://glaad.org/releases/glaad-releases-anti-lgbtq-records-of-oklahoma-governor-kevin-stitt-and-state-education-superintendent-ryan-walters/">records</a>
of Oklahoma’s elected leaders in targeting transgender students,
including the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters.</b></p>
<p><b><a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/oklahoma-education-superintendent-ryan-walters-fire-anti-lgbtq/story?id=107626475" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Walters told</a>
ABC News, “we’re not going to lie to students. And we’re not going to
push a gender ideology.” Walters’ repeated false claims about “gender
ideology” and “only two genders” conflict with the history of Two Spirit
people in his own state, which have long recognized and honored
multiple genders. Walters’ comments also crucially fail to acknowledge
Nex Benedict’s Choctaw heritage and the impact of Walters’ rhetoric and
policies on Two Spirit, transgender, and gender nonconforming (2STGNC+)
students like Nex.</b></p>
<p><b>Walters’ comments and policies attempting to ignore the existence and
history of 2STGNC+ people in his state are consistent with his record
of attempts to eliminate inclusive books. More than 350 organizations
including GLAAD have called on state legislative leaders to <a href="https://glaad.org/justice-for-nex-benedict-letter-from-350-organizations/">remove Walters</a> and investigate the unsafe climate in Oklahoma schools for 2STGNC+ students.</b></p></div><div><p><b>GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said Walters “dangerously
and recklessly prioritized escalating attacks against LGBTQ, indigenous,
and vulnerable youth, promoting lies, spreading disinformation, and
pushing broad scale discriminatory policies that do nothing to improve
education, [with] rhetoric and policies to erase the culture and history
of entire communities of Oklahomans … in alignment with national
anti-LGBTQ groups like Moms for Liberty and extremists on social media.”</b></p>
<p><b>At last month’s Board of Education meeting, the first since the news
of Nex’s death, business owner and Vice Mayor of The Village, a suburb
of Oklahoma City, <a href="https://www.advocate.com/news/oklahoma-nex-benedict-viral-video">Sean Cummings</a> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@_dofd/video/7338532198858886442?lang=en">addressed Walters</a>’ anti-LGBTQ record. Walters’ actions include <a href="https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/politics/2024/01/23/chaya-raichik-libs-of-tiktok-oklahoma-public-education/72324642007/">appointing</a>
Libs of TikTok creator Chaya Raichik to the state Library Media Review
Committee in January, despite a history of anti-LGBTQ posts that have
reportedly preceded more than <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/libs-tiktok-x-chaya-raichik-bomb-threat-twitter-of-libsoftiktok-rcna102784">30 threats of violence</a>
against schools in Oklahoma and nationwide, as well as libraries and
childrens’ hospitals. Raichik does not live in Oklahoma, does not have
children in Oklahoma schools, and has no proven background in education.</b></p>
<p><b>“You and your rhetoric and your inability to do anything as a board
here are partially responsible for emboldening bullies to jump a
[student] in the bathroom,” Cummings told Walters. “You have actual
blood on your hands.”</b></p></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://progressive.org/public-schools-advocate/whos-to-blame-for-nex-benedicts-death-thompson-20240212/">Tuesday at THE PROGRESSIVE, John Thompson noted</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="lead"><b>e are learning more about the death of <a aria-label="Link opens in new window (Nex Benedict)" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nex-benedict-dead-oklahoma-b2501844.html" target="_blank">Nex Benedict</a>,
a non-binary high school student who died on February 8, the day after
they were beaten in the school bathroom in Owasso, Oklahoma. We are also
learning about ourselves, as Oklahomans, as we deal with the tragedy.
But we are not alone. This bitter attack is a case study in the cruelty
being spread across the nation by right-wing extremists. </b></p>
<p><b>Vigils <a aria-label="Link opens in new window (were held)" href="https://apnews.com/article/nonbinary-student-death-nex-owasso-oklahoma-vigils-fd7695afb780d09c00b823fa0618e79f" target="_blank">were held</a> across the nation in honor of Nex, who has a Choctaw heritage. The diverse crowd I witnessed at the <a aria-label="Link opens in new window (Oklahoma City vigil)" href="https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2024/02/25/hundreds-at-okc-praye-vigil-show-love-honor-for-nex-benedict/72688425007/" target="_blank">Oklahoma City vigil</a>
was so large that I could barely hear the speakers. We still don’t
fully know everything about Nex’s death, but it is clear that it must be
viewed within the context of vicious attacks on LGBTQ+ youth by State
Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and Governor Kevin
Stitt as well as the fifty-plus <a aria-label="Link opens in new window (Republican legislative bills)" href="https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/politics/2024/02/20/oklahoma-legislature-considering-54-bills-targeting-lgbtq-issues-list/72597155007/" target="_blank">Republican legislative bills</a> attacking LBGTQ+ rights across the country.</b></p>
<p><b>Since he was elected in 2019, Governor Stitt has <a aria-label="Link opens in new window (signed)" href="https://glaad.org/releases/glaad-responds-to-release-of-9-1-1-calls-school-surveillance-video-owasso-police-body-cam-footage-and-new-reporting-cascade-of-failures-at-school-local-government-and-law-enforcement/" target="_blank">signed</a>
laws that restrict access to public school bathrooms; ban health care
for transgender people under eighteen; ban transgender girls and women
from school sports; and prohibit Oklahomans from obtaining nonbinary
gender markers on official documents. He also signed, as the LGTBQ+
rights group GLAAD <a aria-label="Link opens in new window (reported)" href="https://glaad.org/releases/glaad-releases-anti-lgbtq-records-of-oklahoma-governor-kevin-stitt-and-state-education-superintendent-ryan-walters/" target="_blank">reported</a>, “an <a aria-label="Link opens in new window (executive order)" href="https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2022/05/19/oklahoma-passes-bill-limiting-school-bathroom-use-gender-birth/9843619002/" target="_blank">executive order</a> that defunds diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and programs in state agencies, including public colleges.”</b></p>
<p><b>Walters has a similar record: He has <a aria-label="Link opens in new window (depicted)" href="https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/education/oklahoma-department-of-education-video-paints-transgender-students-as-threat-to-school-safety/article_14c16b4a-1763-11ee-8703-b7942e856e32.html" target="_blank">depicted</a> transgender students as a threat in schools, and approved a permanent <a aria-label="Link opens in new window (rule change)" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/oklahoma-ryan-walters-transgender-teen-school-records-rule-rcna130816" target="_blank">rule change</a> that requires schools to get state approval before altering gender markers in a student’s records. Walters has <a aria-label="Link opens in new window (advocated)" href="https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/education/2023/04/04/oklahoma-lgbt-books-school-library-rules-ryan-walters-gentner-drummond/70080835007/" target="_blank">advocated</a> for book bans and described LGBTQ+-themed books as “pornographic material.” He also <a aria-label="Link opens in new window (appointed)" href="https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/chaya-raichik-libs-tiktok-oklahoma-schools-committee-1234952518/" target="_blank">appointed</a>
Chaya Raichik, the founder of anti-LGBTQ+ social media account Libs of
TikTok, to the education department’s Library Media Advisory Committee.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/03/anti-lgbtq-hate-crimes-in-schools-have-quadrupled-in-states-with-laws-targeting-the-community/">John Russell (LGBTQ NATION) notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>Incidents of anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes in schools have risen sharply in
the U.S. in recent years, more than quadrupling in K–12 schools in
states where Republican lawmakers have enacted legislation targeting the
community.</b></p>
<p><b>The alarming finding comes from report published in the <em><a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/03/12/school-lgbtq-hate-crimes-incidents" rel="external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Washington Post</a></em> this week based on an analysis of FBI data. The <em>Post</em>
found that the nationwide average number of reported anti-LGBTQ+ hate
crimes in schools, including those on college campuses, rose from 108
between 2015–2019 to 232 between 2021–2022, more than doubling. In
states that have enacted anti-LGBTQ+ laws, the average tripled.</b></p><p><b>Even more troubling, in the 28 states where Republicans have passed laws
restricting access to gender-affirming care for minors, bans on trans
people accessing bathrooms and participating in sports, and “Don’t Say
Gay” laws, reported incidents of anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes on K–12
campuses more than quadrupled.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>The hate merchants
were never, ever concerned about children. If the events unfolding
across the country have not made that clear, let's note
blood-on-his-hands Ryan Walters statement he issued in response to the
finding that Nex committed suicide:</p><p><br /></p><p><b></b></p><p><b>The
loss of our student in Owasso is tragic for the family, the community,
and our state. The LGBTQ groups pushing a false narrative are one of the
biggest threats to our democracy and I remain, more than ever,
committed to never backing down from a woke mob.</b></p><p><b> </b></p></div><div>A
child is dead, a child from a school he oversees and the child is dead
because of his actions. Instead of taking accountability, promising to
learn from this, he stays confined and imprisoned by his delusions.
He's a hate merchant.</div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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</div></div></li></ul></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-59119369206475573682024-03-14T00:52:00.000-04:002024-03-14T00:52:31.966-04:00Chicken Diane in the Kitchen<p>Carla notes <a href="https://www.recipegirl.com/chicken-diane/">Recipe Girl's recipe for chicken Diane</a>: </p><p><b><br /></b></p><h3 class="wprm-recipe-header wprm-recipe-ingredients-header wprm-block-text-bold wprm-align-left wprm-header-decoration-none">Ingredients</h3><div class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-group"><ul class="wprm-recipe-ingredients"><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="0" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">4</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">large (6 to 8 ounces each)</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">boneless skinless chicken breast halves</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="1" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">½</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">teaspoon</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><a class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-link" href="https://rstyle.me/+8nbLq0oCE7qDWO_mD_XPIQ" rel="nofollow">salt</a></span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="2" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">¼</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">teaspoon</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">pepper</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="3" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">2</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">tablespoons</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><a class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-link" href="https://rstyle.me/+mxsvNVinRVEQILFLF4WttQ" rel="nofollow">butter,</a></span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">divided</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="4" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">tablespoons</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><a class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-link" href="https://rstyle.me/+hvRq4vVZIZcznbv78HMOyg" rel="nofollow">olive oil</a></span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="5" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">3</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">tablespoons</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">chopped green onions</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="6" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">medium</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">limes,</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">juiced</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="7" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">3</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">tablespoons</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">chopped parsley</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="8" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">2</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">tablespoons</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">brandy</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">(optional)</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="9" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">2</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">teaspoons</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">Dijon mustard</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="10" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">¼</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cup</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">chicken broth</span></b></li></ul></div><p>
</p><div class="wprm-recipe-instructions-container wprm-recipe-58522-instructions-container wprm-block-text-normal" data-recipe="58522" data-slot-rendered-recipe="true"><h3 class="wprm-recipe-header wprm-recipe-instructions-header wprm-block-text-bold wprm-align-left wprm-header-decoration-none">Instructions</h3><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-group"><ol class="wprm-recipe-instructions"><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-58522-step-0-0" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>Place
the chicken breast halves between sheets of waxed paper or plastic
wrap. Pound slightly with mallet until they are of even thickness.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper.</b></span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-58522-step-0-1" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon each of butter and oil.</b></span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-58522-step-0-2" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>Cook
the chicken over high heat for 3 minutes on each side, or until cooked
through. Do not cook overcook the chicken or it will be dry. Transfer
the chicken to a warm serving platter and cover with foil.</b></span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-58522-step-0-3" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>Add the onions, lime juice, parsley, brandy (if using), and mustard to the skillet. Cook 15 seconds, whisking constantly.</b></span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-58522-step-0-4" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>Whisk in the broth. Stir until the sauce is smooth. Whisk in the remaining tablespoon of butter.</b></span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-58522-step-0-5" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>Pour the sauce over the chicken. Serve immediately.</b></span></div></li></ol></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Carla explains she likes the recipe above because brandy is optional. "I have nothing against drinking," she wrote, "I just live in an area where they only sell beer and wine. I don't have time to drive two towns over to get brandy."</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Living in Boston, I've never had that problem. I don't think I've offered any recipes with anything other than white wine but I could be wrong. I will keep an eye out for that in the future. Also, if you want the brandy taste but live somewhere that it's not sold, there is a brandy type seasoning -- Brandy Flavor. So you can also use that.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">News? </div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">That filthy "Dr" Naomi Wolf is
promoting her Libs of TikTok again because that's what cheap trash
does. Once upon a time, Naomi pretended to be left and pretended to
care about reproductive rights and the rights of LGBTQ+ people. Now she
pretends she's a doctor. (Her doctorate was based upon a thesis that
IS FALSE. Her doctorate should have been pulled. She turned her
doctorate into a book. The publisher had to pulp the book -- destroy it
-- because she was wrong about pretty much everything she wrote --
which lets you know how low the standards at Oxford are that no one
caught that when it was a dissertation.) </div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">So
filthy Naomi is just disgusting. There is no comeback for her. She
could apologize tomorrow and it would be too late. She's promoting Libs
of TikTok -- an account that has led to bomb threats in schools, an
account that attacks LGBTQ+ people. She's dirt, she's trash, there is
no come back. She's as crazy as cult member Tulsi Gabbard. </div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">Speaking of filthy and disgusting, Senate Republicans. <a href="https://newrepublic.com/post/179802/senate-republicans-block-another-ivf-bill-lankford" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tori Otten (New Republic) reports</a>:</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /><br />
Despite insisting that they are “pro-life” and support in vitro fertilization, Senate Republicans have blocked a second bill that would have expanded access to the treatment.<br />
Washington Senator Patty Murray tried to pass a bill Tuesday that would allow all veterans to access IVF and other fertility treatments at Veterans Affairs facilities. Currently, in order to qualify for VA treatment, veterans must prove their infertility is due to a health issue caused by their military service.</b><br /><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;">Murray
had tried to pass her bill via unanimous consent, which is the fastest
way to get a measure through the Senate but also the riskiest, because
just one “no” vote can tank legislation. And that’s exactly what
happened Tuesday: Senator James Lankford objected to the bill.</span><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div></div><span style="letter-spacing: -0.09px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">“I
understand it’s become vogue in this current season right now to be
able to say Republicans are somehow opposed to life because they’re
opposed to IVF,” Lankford said. “I just don’t find that.”</span></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">This is Senator Patty Murray's response to the GOP nonsense:</div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><div class="elementor-element elementor-element-a9c1037 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-content" data-element_type="widget" data-id="a9c1037" data-widget_type="theme-post-content.default">
<div class="elementor-widget-container">
<p><em><b>On Monday, VA announced limited expansion in covered IVF
services, Murray’s bill would expand IVF access to broader veteran and
servicemember population and ensure a future administration cannot roll
back IVF access</b></em></p>
<p><em><b>Senator Lankford blocked Murray’s <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/senators-murray-duckworth-reps-larsen-jacobs-reintroduce-legislation-to-help-veterans-start-their-families-provide-major-expansion-to-covered-fertility-care-services-at-dod-and-va/#:~:text=The%20Veteran%20Families%20Health%20Service,families%20in%20the%20Armed%20Forces.">Veterans Families Health Services Act</a>,
legislation she has worked on for over a decade that would expand DoD
and VA health care to include comprehensive family-building assistance
for servicemembers and veterans—including IVF</b></em></p>
<p><strong><em>***</em></strong><strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJBDyQyrb7E&feature=youtu.be">WATCH</a>:<em> Senator Murray speaks on Senate Floor***</em></strong></p>
<p><b>Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray
(D-WA), a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Committee, sought unanimous consent on the Senate Floor to pass her
legislation, the <em><a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/senators-murray-duckworth-reps-larsen-jacobs-reintroduce-legislation-to-help-veterans-start-their-families-provide-major-expansion-to-covered-fertility-care-services-at-dod-and-va/#:~:text=The%20Veteran%20Families%20Health%20Service,families%20in%20the%20Armed%20Forces.">Veteran Families Health Services Act</a></em>,
that would expand in vitro fertilization (IVF) care to all veterans and
servicemembers who are unable to conceive without assistance—as well as
expand access to other fertility treatments and family-building
services. Senator James Lankford (R-OK) blocked the legislation.</b></p>
<p><b>On Monday, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) <a href="https://news.va.gov/press-room/va-expands-in-vitro-fertilization-for-veterans/">announced</a>
that VA will soon be able to provide IVF services to eligible unmarried
veterans and eligible veterans in same-sex marriages, and allow
veterans to use donated gametes in IVF services—following a <a href="https://www.military.com/daily-news/2024/01/25/defense-department-expand-fertility-treatment-single-troops-same-sex-couples-amid-ongoing-lawsuit.html">similar move</a>
by the Department of Defense in January. In order to be eligible for
care under current policy, veterans must have a service-connected injury
or illness. Senator Murray’s legislation would drop this requirement
and expand eligibility for covered IVF services to nearly all
servicemembers and veterans who cannot conceive without assistance; her
legislation would also protect existing access to IVF treatment for
veterans and servicemembers—ensuring that a future administration could
not roll back the recently-announced expansions in care. Murray’s
legislation previously passed through the Senate in 2015.</b></p>
<p><strong>“Right now, the majority of House Republicans are cosponsors
of a national abortion ban that would enshrine fetal personhood in
federal law, endangering IVF treatment everywhere,” </strong>Murray said on the Senate floor.<strong>
“But if Republicans really do, now, want to support IVF… if they really
do want to help people who are trying to grow their family, why not
start with our veterans and servicemembers? These are the men and women
who fought to protect our families—why don’t we make sure they have all
the support they need to grow theirs?”</strong></p>
<p><strong>“I would hope that every one of my colleagues would agree
that our country should keep that basic promise we make to our
servicemembers to take care of them when they come home. That when a
soldier comes home with injuries and subsequently needs IVF because of
that to start a family—or really when any soldier needs IVF to start a
family, they should be able to get it. So how about we take action
right now to make that a reality. This should not be
controversial—especially if Republicans are serious, even just in the
slightest, about supporting IVF,” </strong><b>Murray said.</b></p>
<p><b>Senator Murray’s <em><a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/senators-murray-duckworth-reps-larsen-jacobs-reintroduce-legislation-to-help-veterans-start-their-families-provide-major-expansion-to-covered-fertility-care-services-at-dod-and-va/#:~:text=The%20Veteran%20Families%20Health%20Service,families%20in%20the%20Armed%20Forces."><em>Veteran Families Health Services Act</em></a>, which Republicans blocked today,</em> would
expand VA and DoD’s current fertility treatment and counseling
offerings in a major way and empower servicemembers and veterans to
start families when the time is right for them. This legislation would:</b></p>
<ul>
<li><b>Permanently authorize and significantly expand fertility
treatment and counseling options, including assisted reproductive
technology like IVF, to more veterans and servicemembers and ensure that
veterans’ and servicemembers’ spouses, partners, and gestational
surrogates are appropriately included in eligibility rules.</b></li>
<li><b>Allow servicemembers to cryopreserve (freeze) their
gametes (eggs or sperm) before deployment to a combat zone or hazardous
duty assignment and after an injury or illness—an important proactive fertility service that is not currently covered under DoD health care.</b></li>
<li><b>Expand adoption assistance at VA, providing more family-building options for veterans with infertility.</b></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Provide support for servicemembers and veterans to navigate their fertility options, find a provider that meets their needs, and ensure continuity of care after a permanent change of station or relocation.</b></li>
<li><b>Require VA and DoD to facilitate research on the long-term reproductive health needs of veterans.</b></li>
</ul>
<p><b>As the daughter of a disabled World War II veteran, Senator Murray
knows firsthand the sacrifice that military service demands—Murray
specifically asked to be seated on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Committee when she first came to Congress and was the first woman to
serve on the committee and the first woman to later Chair the Committee.
Murray has been fighting to expand access to IVF care for veterans and
servicemembers for well over a decade—she has previously <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/veterans-senator-murray-reintroduces-comprehensive-legislation-to-repeal-vas-outdated-ban-on-ivf-for-veterans-with-service-connected-injuries/">introduced</a> legislation that
would address many of the challenges veterans face when it comes to
starting a family following their service, and in 2012, she secured <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/murray-bill-to-provide-fertility-treatment-to-veterans-passes-senate/">Senate passage </a>of a provision to end the ban on IVF services at VA. Since the Supreme Court struck down <em>Roe v. Wade</em>, Senator Murray has consistently <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/senator-murray-urges-colleagues-to-vote-against-gop-bill-to-cut-off-abortion-access-for-veterans/">fought to protect </a>servicemembers’ and <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/senator-murray-urges-colleagues-to-vote-against-gop-bill-to-cut-off-abortion-access-for-veterans/">veterans’</a> access to the full range of reproductive care they deserve, including abortion care.</b></p>
<p><strong><em><u>Senator Murray’s full remarks, as delivered, are below:</u></em></strong><strong><em><u></u></em></strong></p>
<p><b>“Mr. President, I rise today in hopes of passing a bill, in a few
minutes, that would support our veterans and our servicemembers by
making sure that, when they want to grow their families, they can get
the care and services they need—including IVF.</b></p>
<p><b>“The recent chaos in Alabama, caused by far-right ideology, put a
national spotlight on just how crucial IVF is to so many women and
families who are desperately hoping, and trying, to have children. </b></p>
<p><b>“The first thing we heard after IVF was thrown into uncertainty in
Alabama, was the horror of women and their families who had their dreams
turned into nightmares as appointments were canceled, tens of thousands
of dollars, months of appointments, were callously tossed out the
window by Alabama’s Supreme Court.</b></p>
<p><b>“Its decision rested on extreme ideology—an ideology Republicans are working right now to enshrine into law nationwide.</b></p>
<p><b>“Next, we heard Republicans tripping over themselves to proclaim that
they stand for IVF—even while still standing by the same, extreme
‘fetal personhood’ laws that caused all of this chaos in the first
place.</b></p>
<p><b>“I have said this before—but given how Republicans refuse to publicly
disavow fetal personhood, it clearly bears repeating: when Republicans
support legislation that says a fertilized egg has the same rights and
protections as a living, breathing, human person—that is fundamentally
incompatible with supporting IVF! That is the very ideology that caused
the disaster in Alabama!</b></p>
<p><b>“And right now, the majority of House Republicans are cosponsors of a
national abortion ban that would enshrine fetal personhood in federal
law, endangering IVF treatment everywhere. </b></p>
<p><b>“But if Republicans really do, now, want to support IVF, if they
really do want to help people who are trying to grow their family, why
not start with our veterans and servicemembers?</b></p>
<p><b>“These are the men and women who fought to protect our families—why
don’t we make sure they have all the support they need to grow theirs?</b></p>
<p><b>“I reintroduced a bill with Senator Duckworth last year, the Veteran Families Health Services Act, that would do just that.</b></p>
<p><b>“I’ve been working to pass this bill for well over a decade now. It
has gone through countless rounds of technical edits and review, and it
is more than ready for prime time. And this is exactly the kind of
straightforward, legislation that we should pass through unanimous
consent. It hasn’t just passed Committee before—it actually passed the
Senate before!</b></p>
<p><b>“The goal of this bill is simple—it expands the fertility treatments
and family-building services that are covered under servicemembers’ and
veterans’ health care.</b></p>
<p><b>“That means finally having the coverage that gives servicemembers and
veterans the option to freeze eggs or sperm before deployment. It means
expanding adoption assistance at the VA, and Mr. President—it means
expanding access to IVF for all of our veterans and servicemembers.
Current coverage policies for VA and DOD still leave out many committed,
loving people who want to start a family.</b></p>
<p><b>“We are talking about a bill that would help our wounded warriors get the care and coverage they need to start a family.</b></p>
<p><b>“I’m really glad DOD and VA have been taking some steps under
President Biden to offer this care to more people—including the
expansion that the VA announced just yesterday—but we still have a long
ways to go.</b></p>
<p><b>“I would hope that every one of my colleagues would agree that our
country should keep that basic promise we make to our servicemembers to
take care of them when they come home—that when a soldier comes home
with injuries, and subsequently needs IVF because of that to start a
family—or really when any solider needs IVF to start a family, they
should be able to get it.</b></p>
<p><b>“So how about we take action right now, today, to make that a reality.</b></p>
<p><b>“This should not be controversial, especially if Republicans are serious—even in the slightest—about supporting IVF.</b></p>
<p><b>“This bill is just saying, ‘yes,’ we want to make sure all our
veterans—all our servicemembers have access to family-building services
and fertility treatments they need.</b></p>
<p><b>“Given all that we have heard in recent weeks—this should be hugely
bipartisan. If you stand by our veterans, if you stand by IVF, if you
want to see our military families growing and thriving, we need to send
that message now—and send this legislation, that I will be asking
unanimous consent on shortly, to the President’s desk as soon as
possible.”</b></p>
<p><strong><em><u>After Senator Lankford blocked passage of the bill, Senator Murray said:</u></em></strong><strong><em><u></u></em></strong></p>
<p><b>“Mr. President, I am deeply disappointed but not surprised. Let the
record show I have been trying to pass this legislation into law for
well over a decade—it wasn’t yesterday, it wasn’t last year, for well
over a decade. And for the entire time, Republicans have been the ones
who have blocked efforts to include this bill in any kind of legislative
package.</b></p>
<p><b>“I really hoped after the outpouring of public statements in support
of IVF from my colleagues across the aisle, they might finally change
their tune. But the American people understand that actions speak louder
than words.</b></p>
<p><b>“On the unofficial CBO score that was mentioned, let’s just say—I
think it’s a real overestimate of how many people dealing with
infertility would make use of IVF and other fertility services, at that
cost.</b></p>
<p><b>“And my understanding is, it also adds the cost of children conceived
through IVF being covered on VA health care for the rest of their
childhood, which doesn’t make a lot of sense since many of those
families will have children one way or the other, anyway.</b></p>
<p><b>“So, I dispute that. But I will say, it’s pretty clear Republicans do
not support IVF, despite their language—not even for wounded
servicemembers and for veterans.</b></p>
<p><b>“But having said that, Mr. President, my door is open, I am
determined. If a member of our country goes overseas and is wounded and
comes home and cannot conceive a family, we should be there to provide
services for them. It is our promise to our veterans that when they
serve us, we will take care of them when they get home. What is not more
basic than making sure they can have a family after serving our
country?</b></p>
<p><b>“So, I am disappointed once again, but Mr. President, I will not stop working on this—it’s the right thing to do.” </b></p>
<p><b>###</b></p>
</div></div></div><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/iraq-snapshot_068707529.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Wednesday:</p><p><br /></p><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7247792416263827118" itemprop="articleBody">
Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Gaza remains under assault and the planned
crime of starvation considers, Donald and Joe seize the nominations of
the duopoly parties, GOP hate (and silence from so many who pretend to
be of the 'left') has resulted in an America unsafe for LGBTQ+ kids, and
much more.<div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/03/12/1238033721/donald-trump-joe-biden-nomination-delegates">Stephen Fowler (NPR) reports</a>:</div><div><p><b>The general election rematch between former President Donald Trump and President Biden is now official.</b></p> <p><b>Both men have now secured the required delegates to be their respective party's nominee.</b></p> <p><b>Biden
and Trump won nearly every contest in the presidential nominating
calendar so far but the important threshold of winning a majority of
delegates to the party conventions this summer has finally been met.
Tuesday's contests included primaries in <a href="https://apps.npr.org/primary-election-results-2024/states/GA.html">Georgia</a>, a key swing state for both parties, as well as <a href="https://apps.npr.org/primary-election-results-2024/states/WA.html">Washington </a>state and <a href="https://apps.npr.org/primary-election-results-2024/states/MS.html">Mississippi</a>. </b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Which
means we're in for months of Donald Trump's sour, little girl voice.
If there's a masculinity crisis in America, it can be found at every
MAGA rally. He's forever their pampered and spoiled little princess. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Marianne Williamson remains in the Democratic Party presidential race and she explains why in the video below.</div><div><br /></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qMGIb-CQ8Ag?si=Hl0_D7pPBKFsmqGd" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><b>Marianne
Williamson: Well with his win in Georgia tonight, the President has
won the Democratic nomination for the presidency. I congratulate him.
But I'm not doing the performative 'Oh now let's endorse the President
and let's go beat Donald Trump in 2024!' I won't do it. I know too much.
And I've seen too much. I'm going to continue. I will be on the road.
I'm on my way to Chicago. I'm on my way to Louisiana. I'm on my way to
Arizona. I'm on my way to New York. Because the things that this
campaign has been talking about and that I will continue to talk about
are the things that will actually defeat Donald Trump in 2024. The
Democratic establishment doesn't seem to have any clue what's really
going on in this country. We are at such risk of losing to Donald Trump
in 2024. Not because of people voting for Trump but because of people
staying home, people voting for Bobby Kennedy, people voting for Cornel
West, people voting for Jill Stein because people have had it. People in
the United States do not have health care. People in the United States
do not have tuition free college and tech schools -- both of which a
majority of Republicans as well as Democrats want and which are afforded
to the citizens of every other advanced democracy. People in this
country need childcare -- subsidized childcare -- and paid family leave
universally -- not just talking about it. People in this country want to
ramp down -- not ramp up -- fossil fuel extraction. People in this
country want guaranteed sick pay, guaranteed living wage. People in this
country want to repudiate the forever war machine. People in this
country want to face what's really going on in this country. My campaign
has always addressed the ubiquitous despair of so many people in this
country and that is why the political media industrial complex
peripheralized, invisiblized and erased my candidacy. Well I know I'm
supposed to be a really nice girl now and say, 'Well, it was just great
to be a part of this and thank you so much.' No. No. No. Believe me, if
the Democratic establishment does not hear what I am saying now, they
sure will hear it in November because it will be expressed by the
electorate. So I'm continuing. And I hope that you will show up to vote
for me because remember still if I get enough votes to get delegates and
to get at the convention then we can wield influence -- perhaps we can
be in the platform, part of the conversation and hopefully President
Biden himself will hear us. Somebody over the Biden administration is
listening to me cause I hear so many of my lines even in the State of
the Union. So we need to offer the American people Medicare For All --
got that guys? We need to offer the American people tuition free college
and tech school. We need to offer the American people subsidized
childcare. We need to offer the American people guaranteed sick pay. We
need to offer the American people a jobs guarantee and a guaranteed
living wage. When you have 39% of Americans saying that they are
skipping their meals regularly in order to pay their rent, when 70% of
Americans say they're living with chronic economic anxiety, when half of
American renters say they cannot afford their rent. No, it's not enough
to just try to make somethings better. No. No. No. No. No. Just making
something's better will not win it for the Democrats in 2024. The agenda
you gave us at the State of the Union guys? Congratulations on the fact
that the president was able to deliver it well. But in terms of the
content of the conversation that's not enough. I'm not the enemy. Don't
shoot the messenger here. I'm telling you, we have to offer the American
people a whole lot more if the Democrats are going to win in 2024.
That's why I'm going to continue in the race. I hope all of you will go
to <a href="http://marianne2024.com/">MARIANNE2024.COM</a> and show up to
vote for me in the primary. The more we get, with every vote, that can
lead to influence, it can lead to leverage of some kind. It can
hopefully convince some people who can make a difference that we're
going to have to offer the American people so much more if we're going
to win in 2024. Otherwise, this is going to be like 2016. I think I'm
the one here saying 'Oh my god, don't you understand the fascists are at
the door.' Don't throw that back at me. 'Williamson, shut up. The
fascists are at the door!' I think Williamson needs to speak even louder
because the fascists are at the door. And so that's what I'll be doing
for the rest of this primary season. I hope you'll vote for me. The
president has the nomination but we have the truth in our hearts on a
level that is not currently being addressed by the Democratic
establishment. Let's make some noise. We're the ones making the good
trouble. We're the ones speaking the deeper truth -- the deeper truth of
the heart, speaking to the yearning and also speaking to the suffering
of so many millions of Americans. This is not the time to stop. Thanks
so much.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Marianne got 3% in the Georgia primary yesterday and 2.7% in Washington state. </div><div><br /></div><div>Cornel
West continues his vanity campaign. In California, he tried to grab
the Peace & Freedom Party's presidential nomination but Claudia de
la Cruz easily beat him. He plans to soldier on while insisting he's
not a spoiler. He's also not a winner. </div><div><br /></div><div>Did someone say Jill Stein? Apparently the 2024 Green Party platform is: We got nothing.</div><div><br /></div><div>That's
why two-time loser Jill Stein is trying to grab the gold for three-time
loser. The Green Party nationally is becoming as pathetic and inbred
as SEP. If the best they can do is the loser they already served up in
2012 and 2016, the Green Party would be better off putting any funds
into state-wide and local candidates. </div><div><br /></div><div>And
then there's Junior. Baby no nads Kennedy is teasing out an
announcement of who will be his running mate. He'll do anything for
attention. One-term governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura is one of the
name's whispered and don't use all your giggles on that choice. The
other's Aaron Rodgers. That would be hilarious and I would love to see
that pick only to hear hecklers yell out, "Where's Kevin!" Kevin being
Kevin Lanflisi -- Aaron's one-time roommate that departed Casa Rodgers
with a series of Tweets that led the press to speculate he was Aaron's
boyfriend. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Rumors regarding
Kevin have been the only humanizing thing about Aaron. Otherwise, we're
left with an alienating idiot who mistakenly believes he has an
education. Sounds like the perfect fit for Junior. </div><div><br /></div><div>That
his campaign would even put forth Rodgers goes to how out of his
element Junior is. Aaron has experience to be the vice president --
next in line for the presidency -- based on what?</div><div><br /></div><div>Junior's still a dirty joke but he's also become a tired one.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Dropping back to <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/12/israel_palestine_yousef_hammash_francesca_albanese">yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ufvUQ3X_Ee0?si=dNdv1joSzeRLeHoP" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.</b></p>
<p><b>We turn now to Gaza, where Al Jazeera is <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/3/several-killed-in-israeli-attack-on-aid-truck-in-gaza-report">reporting</a>
Israeli forces have killed at least nine people who were waiting for
aid in Gaza City. Twenty injured people were taken to Al-Shifa Hospital.</b></p>
<p><b>This comes as Israel continues to restrict aid coming into Gaza,
which is on the brink of famine. The U.N. is reporting one truck was
recently denied access to Gaza because it contained scissors inside
medical kits. <span class="caps">UNRWA</span> head Philippe Lazzarini
criticized the decision, saying, quote, “Medical scissors are now added
to a long list of banned items the Israeli Authorities classify as 'for
dual use.'” He went on to say, “The list includes basic and lifesaving
items: from anesthetics, solar lights, oxygen cylinders and ventilators,
water cleaning tablets, cancer medicines and maternity kits,” unquote. <br />
Meanwhile, an aid ship bound for Gaza has set sail from Cyprus with 200 tons of food supplies. The <span class="caps">UAE</span>-funded mission was organized by two aid groups, World Central Kitchen and Open Arms.</b></p>
<p><b>Inside Gaza, Palestinians marked the first day of Ramadan Monday.</b></p>
<p><b>For more, we go directly to Rafah to Yousef Hammash. He is advocacy officer in Gaza for the Norwegian Refugee Council.</b></p>
<p><b>Welcome back to <em>Democracy Now!</em> Thank you so much for joining
us, Yousef. Can you explain what’s happening on the ground right now?
Talk about the issue of famine and hunger, and what you think needs to
happen.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">YOUSEF</span> <span class="caps">HAMMASH</span>: First of all, thanks for hosting me again and giving me the chance.</b></p>
<p><b>And, unfortunately, since we last spoke until now, nothing have
changed, only except for the worse. More families have been displaced by
the ongoing bombardment all across Gaza. Situation in Rafah has
deteriorated day by day. We are not able to fulfill the basic needs for
families here. People are scattered in the streets everywhere. So, it’s
an unimaginable situation for displaced families in Rafah. And we have a
different situation for the middle area and the northern part of Gaza,
which, unfortunately, even from media, is kind abandoned, while families
and children are on the verge of a famine, and over 25 people were
killed from hunger.</b></p>
<p><b>The situation in Gaza is going into unclear vision in the horizon. We
don’t understand what’s coming next. All what we are having is a daily
basis of madness, violence, bombardment and a death toll that’s
increasing on a daily basis. And unfortunately, so far we are not seeing
any real intervention from outside so at least we could have a glimmer
of hope that this will end soon.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: And, Yousef
Hammash, how do you respond to Prime Minister Netanyahu’s claim denying
that there’s starvation and alleging that it is groups under Hamas in
Gaza that are preventing the delivery of aid?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">YOUSEF</span> <span class="caps">HAMMASH</span>:
I work for the Norwegian Refugee Council, and we operate on the ground,
mainly in Rafah currently, because we don’t have any access for the
northern part of Gaza. And we didn’t see any evidence related to this
allegation. All what we are looking for is open the checkpoints, the
Israel restrictions that have been put to split Gaza into three pieces
now. And we don’t have access to Khan Younis now, and there is no access
to Gaza City and the northern part of Gaza. And we are talking about
over half a million who are trapped there, dying to fulfill their
children’s basic needs.</b></p>
<p><b>People have — we had the first day of Ramadan yesterday. And I was
reaching out for friends and colleagues in the northern part of Gaza,
and I was trying to understand exactly what they could find to have
iftar, merely a piece of bread with tea. The situation in the south is
also chaos and chaotic and getting worse every day. But in the northern
part of Gaza, people are literally on the verge of famine. People are
dying to find a piece of bread there.</b></p>
<p><b>And it’s unacceptable that we could — we start to put these
allegations here and there. There is a need on the ground that’s very
clear. If we go to social media, media outlets, wherever you go, you
could see exactly what’s going on there. So, it’s unrealistic, and it’s
unacceptable, actually, just to ignore and deny that there is a famine
in the north.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: I wanted to go to Khalil Abou Ziyada, a Palestinian currently in the Al-Shati Camp in Gaza.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">KHALIL</span> <span class="caps">ABOU</span> <span class="caps">ZIYADA</span>:
[translated] My feeling is that of a person who was displaced from his
house. I’m 71 years old, and I have never experienced Ramadan with this
feeling. It’s an awful feeling. At times like this during Ramadan, I
used to prepare the dining table to eat at sunset. But today there’s no
food, and I don’t have money to get food for iftar at sunset.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
So, Yousef Hammash, the United States, President Biden, has been
authorizing the dropping of food, airdropping it — five people were
killed, crushed to death by a malfunctioning parachute that was carrying
one of the food drops — and now has proposed this pier, where they say
they’ll get food in, unclear how, considering what Israel has been
doing. All of their ports of entry or all of their crossings are closed
and not allowing food to come in from Rafah. Why would the pier be any
different, especially given that the U.S. continues to provide the bombs
and the ammunition that is dropped on the Palestinians?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">YOUSEF</span> <span class="caps">HAMMASH</span>:
That’s what make it you don’t understand exactly what’s going on. First
of all, any help to feed even one single family or one single child in
the northern part of Gaza or Gaza or in the south is very welcome and
much appreciated. But let’s go be realistic. Spending all of these
efforts building the port or airdropping, which is not efficient,
unfortunately — and you have mentioned exactly what happened in that
incident killing five people. And imagining that all of media show all
of that, what we saw related to the airdropping, was less than two aid
trucks.</b></p>
<p><b>Why the United States didn’t use its influence to its closest ally,
while it’s weaponizing them, and using that influence in a proper way to
force them, to impose on them to remove restriction on aid? And it’s
going to be more simple, more realistic and more efficient if the United
States have pushed the Israelis to allow aid trucks to go in to people
in need in the northern part of Gaza and Gaza City. And imagine the
distance between Rafah crossing and the northern part of Gaza is half an
hour by drive. So, why we need to spend all that amount of effort
building a seaport or airdropping, while we have a realistic option
that’s put in front of us, but there is just some restriction by the
Israelis? And so, that’s what makes it unimaginable, why we are going to
that option, while already we have different options on the ground, and
it’s still in place, running and functioning in place since almost the
beginning of this chaos. The only issue that we are facing in delivering
the aid on the ground is the restriction that the Israelis put on it
for Gaza City and the northern part of Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: And, Yousef
Hammash, how are you faring, your family and your own children, under
these conditions? What kind of aid do you have access to?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">YOUSEF</span> <span class="caps">HAMMASH</span>:
In Rafah, there is kind of affordability. But, unfortunately, the
prices also are not affordable somehow. There is some people who could
get some of the food items, especially into Rafah. Again, there is kind
of availability, but, unfortunately, the inflation of prices make it
unaffordable for the majority of the families here.</b></p>
<p><b>We are living day by day here. Our cycle of life is one day. We
fulfill our basic needs as responsibles toward our children and extended
families, and then we will look for the next day. As an example,
yesterday, I had to search, after my working hours, up to the iftar
timing, just to look for some vegetables, and I couldn’t find it. Maybe I
was late, because there is one million and a half are in Rafah, this 55
square kilometers, and we are competing to find food for our families.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Yousef Hammash, we thank you so much for being with us, advocacy
officer in Gaza for the Norwegian Refugee Council, joining us from
Rafah.</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Starvation as a tool of war is a War Crime. These are real people suffering. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-13-24/index.html">CNN’s Ibrahim Dahman and Sana Noor Haq report</a>, "Ayman Al-Zanat, 28, worries that his young nephew, Fadi, will not make it through the night. The
Palestinian boy, age 6, clutches his chest while lying on a blue
hospital bed in Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. He is suffering
from severe malnutrition and dehydration, according to the health
ministry in Gaza." </div><div><br /></div><div>The starvation is an intentional and planned outcome that the Israeli government has been seeking for months. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68550937">James Gregory (BBC NEWS) reports</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><section class="sc-189fa0a-0 insmih" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-e1853509-0 bmLndb"><b class="sc-ed73b9f2-0 jhhdRT">Starvation is being used as a weapon of war in Gaza, the EU's foreign policy chief has claimed. </b></p></section><section class="sc-189fa0a-0 insmih" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-e1853509-0 bmLndb"><b>Josep Borrell described the lack of aid entering the territory as a "manmade" disaster.</b></p></section><section class="sc-189fa0a-0 insmih" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-e1853509-0 bmLndb"><b>A
Spanish ship carrying desperately needed food supplies has left Cyprus
for Gaza, but the UN says this cannot replace the delivery of aid by
land.</b></p></section><section class="sc-189fa0a-0 insmih" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-e1853509-0 bmLndb"><b>Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has meanwhile vowed to press on with an offensive in southern Gaza.</b></p></section><section class="sc-189fa0a-0 insmih" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-e1853509-0 bmLndb"><b>The
quickest, most effective way to get aid into the territory is by road,
but aid agencies say Israeli restrictions mean a fraction of what is
needed is getting in.</b></p></section></div><div><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/mar/13/middle-east-crisis-live-starvation-being-used-as-a-weapon-says-eu-official">THE GUARDIAN quotes</a> Borrell stating, "This humanitarian crisis … is not a natural disaster, is not a flood, is not an earthquake, it is manmade."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The Israeli government continues its attack on aid agencies. <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/13/israels-war-on-gaza-live-netanyahu-vows-to-finish-the-job-in-rafah">ALJAZEERA reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>Palestinian journalists have shared footage documenting people
bringing in victims of an Israeli bombing in central Rafah to the
Kuwaiti Hospital.</b></p>
<p><b>The journalists say an UNRWA aid distribution centre was shelled in
Rafah City. The footage, which has been verified by Al Jazeera, shows
people being evacuated in vehicles bearing the UNRWA logo.</b></p></div><div><div><p>Gaza remains under assault. Day 159 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/13/israels-war-on-gaza-live-netanyahu-vows-to-finish-the-job-in-rafah">ALJAZERA notes</a>, "The
number of people killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since the start of
the war has risen to 31,272, according to the latest figures by the
Health Ministry. An additional 73,024 have been wounded, the ministry said." Months
ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</p><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We started the snapshot with the US and we'll go back to the US for <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/anti-lgbtq-hate-crimes">Julia Conley (COMMON DREAMS) report</a> on what the hate merchants have been up to:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>The Republican Party's hateful policies are having a predictable result: more hatefulness.</b></p><p><b>The
GOP's current targeted attacks on transgender and nonbinary youths are
relatively new, with right-wing governors and legislatures in the last
few years prioritizing legislation barring young people from living
according to their gender identity—but federal data shows the impact the
push is already having on the safety of LGBTQ+ kids, with school hate
crimes surging in states where attacks on their right to exist have
passed. </b></p><p><b><a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/03/12/school-lgbtq-hate-crimes-incidents/" target="_blank">According to</a> FBI data analyzed by<em> The Washington Post</em>,
in states where LGBTQ+ rights have been restricted, an average of about
28 anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes at K-12 schools and colleges were reported
annually between 2015-19. The number tripled to an average of 90 in
2021-22. </b></p><p><b>In just K-12 schools, the average number of hate crimes
went up from 13 per year between 2015-19 to 61 per year from
2021-22—more than quadrupling. <br /></b></p><p><b>Overall, across the country,
there was an average of 108 hate crimes at schools reported annually
between 2015-19. Between 2021-22, the average more than doubled to 232. </b></p><p><b>At
the same time, counseling services like the Trevor Project and the
Rainbow Youth Project have seen a sharp rise in calls from young LGBTQ+
people distressed by the political rhetoric that's seeped into their
schools. </b></p><p><b>"My government hates me," "my school hates me," and
"they don't want me to exist" are among the fears that young people in
states hostile to LGBTQ+ rights regularly report, Lance Preston, founder
and executive director of the Rainbow Youth Project told the <em>Post. </em></b></p><p><b>"That... is absolutely unacceptable," he said. "That is shocking."</b></p><p><b>The
surge in anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes did not come as a surprise to
advocates including Mark Pitcavage, senior research fellow for the
Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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Music</a>
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<a href="https://npr.org/2024/03/13/1238034051/tiny-desk-concert-jennifer-koh-and-missy-mazzoli" target="_blank">
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</div></div></li></ul></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-58147292520883456602024-03-13T01:05:00.002-04:002024-03-13T01:05:29.642-04:00Frico CA-do Toast in the Kitchen<p>As always, California Avocados has great recipes. <a href="https://californiaavocado.com/recipe/frico-ca-do-toast/">This one is for Frico CA-do Toast</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><div class="tabbed tablet:col-span-3 print:col-span-4 print:flex print:justify-between print:mt-12"><section class="tablet:w-10/12 print:w-4/12 print:block" id="section1">
<div class="recipe-ingredients">
<div class="ingredients-container">
<h2 class="hidden text-xl w-full text-bumpy font-articleTitle font-bold mb-5 tablet:block laptop:w-1/3 print:block print:p-0">Ingredients</h2>
<b><span class="ingredients_list">
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty=""></span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="" data-singular="">
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
<span class="my-2 block">Frico:</span>
</span>
</span>
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty=""></span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="invisibles" data-singular="invisible">
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
Vegetable spray </span>
</span>
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="4">4</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="cups" data-singular="cups">
cups
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
shredded Parmesan cheese </span>
</span>
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="4">4</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="cups" data-singular="cups">
cups
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
shredded Cheddar cheese </span>
</span>
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="1/4">1/4</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="cups" data-singular="cup">
cup
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
everything but the bagel seasoning </span>
</span>
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty=""></span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="" data-singular="">
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
<span class="my-2 block">California Avocado Smash:</span>
</span>
</span>
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="6">6</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="" data-singular="">
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
ripe, Fresh California Avocados, seeded and peeled </span>
</span>
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="3 1/2">3 1/2</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="tsp." data-singular="tsp.">
tsp.
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
salt-pepper-garlic seasoning </span>
</span>
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="4 1/2">4 1/2</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="oz." data-singular="oz.">
oz.
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
fresh lime juice </span>
</span>
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty=""></span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="" data-singular="">
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
<span class="my-2 block">Frico CA-do Toasts:</span>
</span>
</span>
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="48">48</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="slices" data-singular="slices">
slices
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
fresh tomato </span>
</span>
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="3">3</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="" data-singular="">
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
ripe, Fresh California Avocados, seeded, peeled and quartered </span>
</span>
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="10">10</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="" data-singular="">
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
hard-boiled eggs, diced </span>
</span>
</span>
</b></div>
</div>
</section>
<section class="tablet:w-10/12 print:w-7/12 print:block" id="section2">
<div class="recipe-instructions">
<div class="flex flex-col laptop:flex-row justify-between tablet:mt-6 print:my-0">
<div class="instructions w-full laptop:w-5/6 mr-8 print:w-full print:m-0 print:text-xs">
<h3 class="text-xl font-articleTitle font-bold text-bumpy mb-5 hidden tablet:block print:p-0 print:block">
Instructions
</h3>
<div class="leading-relaxed" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><p><strong class="text-bumpy">Frico:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><b>Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line two half sheet pans with foil or non-stick baking mats and spray with vegetable spray.</b></li>
<li><b>In a bowl, mix the Parmesan and Cheddar. Divide it between the two pans, spreading the cheese mixture evenly.</b></li>
<li><b>Sprinkle both pans with everything seasoning.</b></li>
<li><b>Bake until the cheese is fully melted and lightly browned on both pans, 8 to 10 minutes.</b></li>
<li><b>Remove from the oven and use a pizza cutter to cut each pan into 12 squares. Let cool.</b></li>
</ol>
<p><strong class="text-bumpy">California Avocado Smash:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><b>Halve the California Avocados and smash them in a bowl with the garlic seasoning and lime juice. Leave the mixture chunky.</b></li>
<li><b>To store, place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the smash and refrigerate until needed.</b></li>
</ol>
<p><strong class="text-bumpy">Frico CA-do Toasts:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li><b>For each serving, use two Fricos. Spread about 2 Tbsp. Avocado Smash on each one.</b></li>
<li><b>Thinly slice 1/4 avocado.</b></li>
<li><b>Top each Frico with 2 slices of tomato, a few slices of avocado and 1 Tbsp. diced egg. Serve 2 toasts per order.</b></li>
</ol>
<p><b><span class="text-bumpy">Serving Suggestion:</span> Balance the rich frico with a clean, light lager or Sauvignon Blanc.</b></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
</div><div class="shopping-list laptop:mt-10 print:hidden">
<div class="w-full flex flex-col items-center space-y-2 tablet:sticky tablet:top-header">
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<p class="tablet:mr-2 laptop:w-5/6 print:w-7/12"><b>*Large avocados are recommended for this recipe. A large avocado
averages about 8 ounces. If using smaller or
larger size avocados adjust the quantity accordingly. </b> </p></div><p><br /></p><p>News? <a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/03/12/the-2024-election-is-about-the-rich-stealing-from-the-public/">Sonali Kolhatkar (CounterPunch) reports</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>There are many issues on the line this election year but one that gets little attention is former President Donald Trump’s <a href="https://u36605228.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.irwnA1ZB8N-2BHNL3jUmYY-2BN-2B8y3WrStvRfgjR1SZmefI22R5DCjJMb6b8wl1uNS2PCBHAGqZgiCN9SzNCbuB7QKVLCfTAfKeLNbzBK2VT66-2FeLUacwCMzRq0qt1M9HqGQu-2BOzLW62wP8JXSRlFOPhyIeLiYnrTTmSHDqZFufAm84-3DQeXD_pb-2B40bGv8VszgSLSxZSae2hniLAOGi35ajohLqdIu8wIVCP-2FjsifAGPrnz8TzLY-2BDs4sslBLifAcfjfjjv6ArTI4-2FTzuUxtpSV2Xawf1Gh3-2B5Jxild8D8WmbfU5r22m9rt1tqM4vsY3zQZSNIGAQi0GXTufa-2FMkUx6KUr3RTxg1jIGx1ORsNK5V8vZfznB8LzEM4K6sS-2B-2BGPmEfmGOE0hhwBWQptfRJCBchWBGNTUTBV3eeHp2DkNO7yn29NuJIiWz62efbe3cJleVUrB0x-2BdLhJssu6VketMDSq-2B2O80B3BPV-2BOhEiciP5avwqeBTy15otNArTMlRkXaP3TjdYQFnr5SpJbEMpHs2HLemcmNAbbP-2FJGi2cTYSuCVmaswH8FIRZJdsNNPfoUt6Q-2FdqwoxlcMnT78DAG7YjCgB8aixH7Ha00mZ5DgBK-2FQa66efusJqzOX5SZDj4O-2B2CJUW60B7fKA9MJjfzyt9ILY6-2BCHyg3LnaVp9JMIixxwZKHbT7Lo2cDxxTWOGkPQv-2FgnZDKjyNCfMukCyWU2RcLLLpdWVinAE42ttTUPqCZRiK0EHucmmaG5-2FlrcKtPY5T62L0ax8bu4EawSAiTt-2F-2FCvo2wweBrV-2FJFdmGqgZqbRmPu5GSbp3qe0YykbsohW72mA8YGlO7ijcDsZu7Oiu6yMaRbyox-2BN81vzTB6zHKbdqRilu1gTaUbpR6OdnEKHYZ5YDCpTwTY05jdKjxRV7mLe6jGv6SGbyjtLWLb7DJQi6moi3-2Bw9DxbrfwKx5PW4iMgvqld0Jw3q7XxKA7e8yJP15b6o2EpEp-2BFU2i30szWPrXA82PxG">2017 tax reform law</a>
that cut taxes on the wealthiest Americans and corporations. The Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act permanently reduced the tax rate for big corporations
from an already-low 35 percent to a ridiculously minuscule 21 percent.
It also lowered tax rates for the wealthiest people from nearly 40
percent to 37 percent. Several provisions of that law are set to expire
in 2025, making this November’s Congressional and Presidential elections
particularly <a href="https://u36605228.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.irwnA1ZB8N-2BHNL3jUmYY-2BCNEA-2BzENonSI5cnqV1bUG8j6O3Kfb-2BHrcxfQnvO1lW8so0ZCva-2BVxJDBrVubGConO9IB2MHtdMtjYm02UoZvPFWgjn4OZK9Oj1DZyLJsty-2Fp4hs_pb-2B40bGv8VszgSLSxZSae2hniLAOGi35ajohLqdIu8wIVCP-2FjsifAGPrnz8TzLY-2BDs4sslBLifAcfjfjjv6ArTI4-2FTzuUxtpSV2Xawf1Gh3-2B5Jxild8D8WmbfU5r22m9rt1tqM4vsY3zQZSNIGAQi0GXTufa-2FMkUx6KUr3RTxg1jIGx1ORsNK5V8vZfznB8LzEM4K6sS-2B-2BGPmEfmGOE0hhwBWQptfRJCBchWBGNTUTBV3eeHp2DkNO7yn29NuJIiWz62efbe3cJleVUrB0x-2BdLhJssu6VketMDSq-2B2O80B3BPV-2BOhEiciP5avwqeBTy15otNArTMlRkXaP3TjdYQFnr5SpJbEMpHs2HLemcmNAbbP-2FJGi2cTYSuCVmaswH8FIRZJdsNNPfoUt6Q-2FdqwoxlcMnT78DAG7YjCgB8aixH7Ha00mZ5DgBK-2FQa66efusJqzOX5SZDj4O-2B2CJUW60B7fKA9MJjfzyt9ILY6-2BCHyg3LnaVp9JMIixxwZKHbT7Lo2cDxxTWOGkPQv-2FgnZDKjyNCfMukCyWU2RcLLLpdWVinAE42ttTUPqCZRiK0EHucmmaG5-2FlrcKtPY5T62L0ax8bu4EawSAiTt-2F-2FCvo2wweBpG8OsrD-2FSdsVbxAPaOoTCJAYsJP55zenYwPHc0TWt8133iagIsKa8azMf28m-2BkpWc2ERzGlkKnwWb-2FwB-2BLMyJUPoRKwIZ0ljWL7fFpldTz-2BKv0ztQau1k24w9EQ68YO12-2FqF1J4Cz72EdAnl8XOFAaOCN9R0I2zKX3rHdohqhDYMm0IJnnT0MlXX-2BlchOmRP-2FZ1bkWJdENIZPuIpGHvEGp">critical</a> to issues of economic fairness and justice.</b></p><p><b>A few months after Trump signed the bill, he <a href="https://u36605228.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.irwnA1ZB8N-2BHNL3jUmYY-2BIEmOE3l7xBsu-2BvxRgZajq04rNzNdqlD-2BWylPOMGJYtVvaRimB7f6O3qMNz1hCjOIw-3D-3DoXaK_pb-2B40bGv8VszgSLSxZSae2hniLAOGi35ajohLqdIu8wIVCP-2FjsifAGPrnz8TzLY-2BDs4sslBLifAcfjfjjv6ArTI4-2FTzuUxtpSV2Xawf1Gh3-2B5Jxild8D8WmbfU5r22m9rt1tqM4vsY3zQZSNIGAQi0GXTufa-2FMkUx6KUr3RTxg1jIGx1ORsNK5V8vZfznB8LzEM4K6sS-2B-2BGPmEfmGOE0hhwBWQptfRJCBchWBGNTUTBV3eeHp2DkNO7yn29NuJIiWz62efbe3cJleVUrB0x-2BdLhJssu6VketMDSq-2B2O80B3BPV-2BOhEiciP5avwqeBTy15otNArTMlRkXaP3TjdYQFnr5SpJbEMpHs2HLemcmNAbbP-2FJGi2cTYSuCVmaswH8FIRZJdsNNPfoUt6Q-2FdqwoxlcMnT78DAG7YjCgB8aixH7Ha00mZ5DgBK-2FQa66efusJqzOX5SZDj4O-2B2CJUW60B7fKA9MJjfzyt9ILY6-2BCHyg3LnaVp9JMIixxwZKHbT7Lo2cDxxTWOGkPQv-2FgnZDKjyNCfMukCyWU2RcLLLpdWVinAE42ttTUPqCZRiK0EHucmmaG5-2FlrcKtPY5T62L0ax8bu4EawSAiTt-2F-2FCvo2wweBpyglykVn6nq0Wr1EOnzPEGz5GOyrYZIGwOj8EXcPPGtPdjLW9iIaloZGR0aXCnCk-2B9F09eFNs-2Fn3Wbx3pgjr31FPqGlbSMYXiszGu22WSOqUbxZhKNTwLPlq-2BoHxHcLEOp81MdDiss546R-2F3GaRCJRFUfmQllcAnmwwEtAnSex-2FQlj1lE6FMI0dHE39mwD-2B84qCaa7N7YsJwPwQk4af8nR">boasted</a>,
“We have the biggest tax cut in history, bigger than the Reagan tax
cut. Bigger than any tax cut.” It became a common refrain for him when
touting his achievements. But, Trump, who was known for <a href="https://u36605228.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.irwnA1ZB8N-2BHNL3jUmYY-2BKREhaCjtfJhocJ1GS-2F6htQlAMMOBYNRmcJWakTt5ZTlwJj35fLOJHSuBF9b9wbuVIpI9E7lsq1J1vkK9vPF3rjsZxthdPF47bZq0tQul82FQzmIurilkIBeuwJKMhn6dnXa0rW8LrUhg-2BCZQZOZWf0-3Dnfqt_pb-2B40bGv8VszgSLSxZSae2hniLAOGi35ajohLqdIu8wIVCP-2FjsifAGPrnz8TzLY-2BDs4sslBLifAcfjfjjv6ArTI4-2FTzuUxtpSV2Xawf1Gh3-2B5Jxild8D8WmbfU5r22m9rt1tqM4vsY3zQZSNIGAQi0GXTufa-2FMkUx6KUr3RTxg1jIGx1ORsNK5V8vZfznB8LzEM4K6sS-2B-2BGPmEfmGOE0hhwBWQptfRJCBchWBGNTUTBV3eeHp2DkNO7yn29NuJIiWz62efbe3cJleVUrB0x-2BdLhJssu6VketMDSq-2B2O80B3BPV-2BOhEiciP5avwqeBTy15otNArTMlRkXaP3TjdYQFnr5SpJbEMpHs2HLemcmNAbbP-2FJGi2cTYSuCVmaswH8FIRZJdsNNPfoUt6Q-2FdqwoxlcMnT78DAG7YjCgB8aixH7Ha00mZ5DgBK-2FQa66efusJqzOX5SZDj4O-2B2CJUW60B7fKA9MJjfzyt9ILY6-2BCHyg3LnaVp9JMIixxwZKHbT7Lo2cDxxTWOGkPQv-2FgnZDKjyNCfMukCyWU2RcLLLpdWVinAE42ttTUPqCZRiK0EHucmmaG5-2FlrcKtPY5T62L0ax8bu4EawSAiTt-2F-2FCvo2wweBptOxcoi56xZKWVA8ZZbvROq8n5qmpm3h1qLf4fgw22yiydtVRBYuE77erxcxvrFzElPuTqBhJwXKur99fvPOm2-2FJPmjTAsvl4GyeWnDHFcp5roiCA8MUpdfXc532VwK-2BU9BU58EOIccIdkXKolQhoPhC5AdAzZ2fDQZAQHb-2BSoBwxkUIM74R2YFkwkll-2FzdvOxhxk4odAjJLSSh4K44eOl">breaking all records on lying</a>
to the public while in office, conflated many different facts to come
up with a positive-sounding falsehood in a nation already primed by the
likes of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton to view taxation as anathema.
Trump’s tax cuts as a whole were the eighth largest in history. But his
corporate tax cut was in fact the single largest reduction ever in that
category.</b></p><p><b>Wealthy corporations have for years lobbied for and won so many
carve-outs and loopholes to the U.S. tax system, and hidden so much
money in offshore tax havens that their pre-2017 effective tax rates
were already <a href="https://u36605228.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.irwnA1ZB8N-2BHNL3jUmYY-2BBWz6QlBC98LPM-2FLhDqSVT6-2FvE5OmZrn3QmWMxD71UBbqw0WkKKfqUaEkkeF-2B9p2CR94zGS-2F3L87PFpkxvNJTo-2BhU-2B6szesr5vaEeJGY6rmITD1l6fIGHLLwqtp18gi1kJbX2COfw315EYgavLyY-2Frs-3Do871_pb-2B40bGv8VszgSLSxZSae2hniLAOGi35ajohLqdIu8wIVCP-2FjsifAGPrnz8TzLY-2BDs4sslBLifAcfjfjjv6ArTI4-2FTzuUxtpSV2Xawf1Gh3-2B5Jxild8D8WmbfU5r22m9rt1tqM4vsY3zQZSNIGAQi0GXTufa-2FMkUx6KUr3RTxg1jIGx1ORsNK5V8vZfznB8LzEM4K6sS-2B-2BGPmEfmGOE0hhwBWQptfRJCBchWBGNTUTBV3eeHp2DkNO7yn29NuJIiWz62efbe3cJleVUrB0x-2BdLhJssu6VketMDSq-2B2O80B3BPV-2BOhEiciP5avwqeBTy15otNArTMlRkXaP3TjdYQFnr5SpJbEMpHs2HLemcmNAbbP-2FJGi2cTYSuCVmaswH8FIRZJdsNNPfoUt6Q-2FdqwoxlcMnT78DAG7YjCgB8aixH7Ha00mZ5DgBK-2FQa66efusJqzOX5SZDj4O-2B2CJUW60B7fKA9MJjfzyt9ILY6-2BCHyg3LnaVp9JMIixxwZKHbT7Lo2cDxxTWOGkPQv-2FgnZDKjyNCfMukCyWU2RcLLLpdWVinAE42ttTUPqCZRiK0EHucmmaG5-2FlrcKtPY5T62L0ax8bu4EawSAiTt-2F-2FCvo2wweBoSAycIPu3j2XzWcTnQ-2B8MIEnEgm6lpx-2Fh0oQx-2BSgHP63doigaNEt5RiOBJvuIyuQ3aQdJLFFmjKvvV-2B1-2BHmE8a2BE8wbG-2BenIZaBpqhoQo84XaJeN0d-2BOvfyGxeKbb25c4bvHAY6gEyqUGvvNH2coC-2BkFC0tE8uEa3WmRnaCt8-2BMk-2F21rJk-2FU3LV9qR7jva9K-2BYBKD9nxngqutEt3ibhZN">far lower</a>
than the official rates. Then, Trump lowered them even more. Imagine
telling the American public that you are responsible specifically for
the biggest tax cuts to the biggest corporations in U.S. history. It
wasn’t a good look. And so, he lied, saying that he signed history’s
biggest tax cut overall.</b></p><p>
</p><p><b>In the simplest terms, taxes are a way to pool collective resources
so we can have the things we all need for safety and security.
Progressive taxation is when wealthier individuals (and corporations)
are taxed at higher-than-average rates because the richer one is, the
less excess money one needs beyond one’s basic necessities. Progressive
taxation ensures that wealth inequality doesn’t spiral out of control
and helps ensure money that’s being sucked upwards, gets redistributed
downward. When wealthy elites pay fewer taxes, they are effectively
stealing from the public.</b></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/iraq-snapshot_12.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Tuesday:</p><p><br /></p><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
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Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Steve Coll takes a break from attacking Julian
Assange in order to serve up lies and revisionary history on the Iraq
War, Iraqi Christians want safety (not a new church), starvation
continues in Gaza, and much more.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Steve
Coll. Usually we're further into March, close to the anniversary of the
start of the Iraq War before the quacks come out with their lies.
Coll's not a name you're familiar with when it comes to Iraq because
he's never weighed in. That's because he's the kind of centrist War
Hawk that was okay with the war. He didn't lack a position or space to
speak from. He just didn't feel like calling it out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now
he's written a really bad book explaining that the reason the Iraq War
started was Saddam Hussein. Not Bully Boy Bush, mind you. No, in fact
the whore told PBS' NEWHOUR, "<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-achilles-trap-offers-a-new-look-at-saddam-husseins-relationship-with-the-u-s">And
he ended up in a dispute with the Kuwaiti royal family and then decided
basically to sack the country. Of course, George H.W. Bush organized an
international military coalition to successfully expel him from Kuwait.
But he survived in power. And that became the unfinished business of
the 1990s that George W. Bush inherited on 911.</a>"</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, he's a War Hawk. Of course, he's also a chicken ass. </div><div><br /></div><div>He
wants you and your children to be sent off to war but Princess Steve
doesn't want to put his ass on the line and never has. He's part of the
school that wants to use revisionary tactics to try to sell future
wars. The Iraq War was a worldwide nightmare and it has really slowed
down efforts to go full out War Hawk for these crazies so they're trying
to water it down and now it's about how crazy old Saddam brought the
whole Iraq War down on Iraq. Not Bully Boy Bush, you understand, it was
all crazy old Saddam. It was crazy old Saddam controlling THE NEW YORK
TIMES and crazy old Saddam controlling CNN and THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW
and every other US outlet that was pimping war -- or that's what Steve
Coll wants you to believe.</div><div><br /></div><div>He's being hailed as
left and he's not left. He's a man of little ethics (don't sleep with
'fellows' of the institute you're president of and, no, marrying them
doesn't make it any better -- <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6948349/Pulitzer-executive-denies-winner-nonfiction-book-prize-chosen-husband-sits-board.html">don't use your position on the Pulitzer board to give your wife a Pulitzer</a>) and that probably explains why this 'left' man is <a href="https://fedsoc.org/contributors/steve-coll">part of The Federalist Society</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Looking at his WIKIPEDIA history, my favorite item that fell out is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Coll&oldid=314381730">this from September 16, 2009</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>He was arrested on August 15 2008 for having sexual intercourse with a
horse. As result much of his previous prestige and dick, has been lost.
Tod this dat he is working to reobtain his old public love. The court
has issued a restraining order; he must saty 50 feet away from all farm
animals. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>Woah, Nelly!</div><div><br /></div><div>Presumably, that was someone being creative -- for the sake of the horse, I pray it was someone being creative. </div><div><br /></div><div>But <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Steve_Coll&oldid=425970772">this is accurate</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Atlantic_(magazine)" title="">Atlantic</a></i> contributor <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Samuels_(writer)" title="David Samuels (writer)">David Samuels</a> criticized Coll's "shameful attacks" on <a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikileaks" title="Wikileaks">Wikileaks</a> head <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Assange" title="Julian Assange">Julian Assange</a>. According to Samuels, Coll "sniffed that 'the archives that <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WikiLeaks" title="WikiLeaks">WikiLeaks</a> has published are much less significant than the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagon_Papers" title="Pentagon Papers">Pentagon Papers</a>
were in their day' while depicting Assange as a 'self-aggrandizing
control-freak" whose website 'lacks an ethical culture that is consonant
with the ideals of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_the_press" title="Freedom of the press">free media</a>.'</b></div><div><br /></div><div>And it was up for years before Steve had it pulled. Someone should restore it. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Cindamuse">Cindamuse</a> is the one who pulled it from Coll's entry.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Of
course, Steve Coll would hate WIKILEAKS and Julian Assange -- they told
the truth about the Iraq War. Now here comes Coll to try to lie and
invent a revisionary history that will soften reality and allow the US
to return to large scale war.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That's
what the New America Foundation has always been about and it's why Coll
was a president there and why the disgusting Anne-Marie Slaughter is
president (and CEO) of it now -- though it calls itself New America now
(having dropped the foundation -- the thing that Coll once swore was
going to save journalism). </div><div><br /></div><div>A liar like Steve
Coll promotes wars so he'll be invited onto all the programs while
Julian Assange rots in a UK prison. That's what happens to truth
tellers versus whores.</div><div><br /></div><div>Earlier this month, <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/03/ukus-time-end-prosecution-julian-assange-un-expert-says">the United Nations issued the following</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="node-news__body">
<div class="wysiwyg-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p><b>GENEVA (1 March 2024) –
A UN expert today expressed concern that the possible extradition and
imminent prosecution in the United States of WikiLeaks founder Julian
Assange could have serious implications for freedom of expression.</b></p><p><b>“Gathering,
reporting and disseminating information, including national security
information when it is in the public interest, is a legitimate exercise
of journalism and should not be treated as a crime,” said Irene Khan,
the Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression.</b></p><p><b>The Australian
editor, publisher and activist is awaiting the decision of the High
Court in the United Kingdom on his appeal against extradition to the
United States, where he is facing 17 charges under the 1917 Espionage
Act for publishing classified information on the WikiLeaks platform. The
charges carry a maximum sentence of 175 years in prison.</b></p><p><b>“I am
concerned about the use of the Espionage Act in this case, as this
statute provides no protection for the publication of information in the
public interest,” Khan said.</b></p><p><b>She noted that if extradited, Julian Assange would be the first publisher to be prosecuted in the US under the Espionage Act.</b></p><p><b>“It
would set a dangerous precedent that could have a chilling effect on
investigative journalism in the United States and possibly elsewhere in
the world,” the Special Rapporteur said.</b></p><p><b>“International human
rights law provides strong protections for whistle-blowers, journalistic
sources and reporting in the public interest,” Khan said. “I call on
the United States and the United Kingdom, which profess to uphold the
right to freedom of expression, to uphold these international standards
in the case of Julian Assange.”</b></p><p><b>The expert urged the UK authorities not to extradite Assange and the US Government to drop the charges.</b></p><p> </p></div></div></div><div>Yesterday, <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2024/03/the-press-freedom-case-of-the-century/">Kevin Gosztola published</a> an essay about Julian and noted:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>Assange was 38 years of age when WikiLeaks garnered praise for
publishing disclosures from US Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning.
Assange was an ardent, nimble, and sharp-witted advocate for the truth.
But at 52, Assange is increasingly frail as delays in proceedings
compound physical and mental health problems that he must endure in
Belmarsh prison.</b></p><p><b>President Joe Biden’s administration may prefer
the limbo to an unprecedented trial that will invite global
condemnation. No Biden official has expressed any reservations when it
comes to charging Assange.</b></p><p><b>Biden officials still sidestep
reporters, who ask why the US government won’t drop the charges against
Assange. Biden’s National Security Council spokesperson <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2023/10/24/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-and-nsc-coordinator-for-strategic-communications-john-kirby-23/">said</a> in October, “This is something the Justice Department is handling, and I think it’s better if you go to them on that.”</b></p><p><b>But
the State Department has not always been so disciplined. On World Press
Freedom Day in 2023, State Department spokesperson Verdant Patel <a href="https://thedissenter.org/state-department-finally-comments-on-assange-case-world-press-freedom-day/">endorsed</a> the prosecution that was launched under President Donald Trump.</b></p><p><b>“The
State Department thinks that Mr. Assange has been charged with serious
criminal conduct in the United States, in connection with his alleged
role in one of the largest compromises of classified information in our
nation’s history. His actions risked serious harm to U.S. national
security to the benefit of our adversaries,” Patel stated.</b></p><p><b>Patel added, “It put named human sources to grave and imminent risk and risk of serious physical harm and arbitrary detention.”</b></p><p><b>What
the State Department uttered was familiar. This is how officials
responded when WikiLeaks first published US diplomatic cables in 2010.</b></p><p><b>To
be clear, Assange’s “role” was that of a publisher who received
documents from Manning and engaged in standard newsgathering activities.</b></p><p><b>A 2011 <a href="https://www.truthdig.com/articles/ap-review-downplays-threat-from-wikileaks-disclosures/">Associated Press</a> review
of sources, whom the State Department claimed were most at risk from
publication of the cables, uncovered no evidence that any person was
threatened. In fact, the potential for harm was “strictly theoretical.”</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Julian
remains imprisoned for the 'crime' of truth telling while Steve Coll
makes the media rounds trying to resell the Iraq War and reform Bully
Boy Bush's image. I think Coll should volunteer to swap places with
Julian -- the world would be better off with Coll and his ilk behind
bars.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you really want to be disgusted, check
out his infomerical at The Wilson Center where not only is Bully Boy
Bush excused for lying about WMDs, not only is Saddam blamed for WMDs
but so is the Clinton administration. Shame on The Wilson Center. They
don't have much to their reputation but who knew they'd throw in with
Coll to put more blame on the Clinton administration than that of Bully
Boy Bush for the Iraq War that started in 2003. Coll is a liar and a
danger to any honest exchange.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Let's stay on Iraq for a minute more. <a href="https://www.sightmagazine.com.au/news/iraq-hopes-to-lure-christian-pilgrims-with-new-church-in-ancient-ur/">REUTERS noted</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><p><strong>The bell of a new church built near Iraq’s ancient city of Ur
chimed for the first time last week as part of a push to lure back
pilgrims to a country that is home to one of the world’s oldest
Christian communities.</strong></p>
<p><b>The church is part of a complex that rises from a desert plain in the
shadow of the pyramid-shaped Ziggurat of Ur, a city traditionally
believed to be the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham that was visited by
Pope Francis three years ago.</b></p></div><div><p><b>Construction of the church is to be completed this month. Last week,
the large bell was fixed into its steeple, which is made of traditional
Iraqi yellowish mud brick. Workers polished the large, brightly-coloured
stained-glass windows.</b></p>
<p><b>On his historic visit to Iraq in March, 2021, Pope Francis held an
inter-religious prayer at a site in Ur believed to have been the house
of Abraham – the father of Christianity, Judaism and Islam.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, we're hailing it as historic now, are we, REUTERS?</div><div><br /></div><div>Because
it was historic but in real time while we could say that -- and did say
that -- the press was tut-tutting the visit because the US government
wasn't behind it. Go back and read their reporting. It was a historic
visit.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out the rest of the article --
including the headline -- and REUTERS is still stupid. A new church is
not what Iraqi Christians need or have needed. <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-03/christians-in-iraq-still-fearing-insecurity.html">Jean Charles Putzolu and Lisa Zengarini (VATICAN NEWS) note</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>In a country of around 40 million people, the Christian population
has been steadily declining for decades, from around 1.4 million in 2003
to about 250,000 today.</b></p>
<p><b>Archbishop Najeeb explained that, though Pope Francis brought them
comfort and encouraged expatriated Iraqi Christians to resettle
following the military defeat of ISIS in 2017, many still hesitate, and
families continue to emigrate from the Nineveh Plain and Iraqi
Kurdistan, due to ongoing insecurity.</b></p>
<p><b>He said that Christians in the region continue to endure intimidation
and violence from local militias, and that most of their houses which
were destroyed during the ISIS occupation are still in rubble. </b></p><p><b>“Christians don’t want to restart their life in a place that is still unsafe for them and that the government can’t control”.”</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Staying with Iraq and the Church, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/2024/03/12/head-of-catholic-church-in-iraq-calls-for-a-new-political-system/">Sinan Mahmoud (THE NATIONAL) reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="default__StyledText-sc-1jtxuc8-1 jQghZF body-paragraph"><b>The leader of the Chaldean Catholic Church in <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/iraq/" target="_blank">Iraq</a>,
Louis Sako, called for a complete overhaul of the country’s political
process, which has been in place since the 2003 US-led invasion.</b></p><p class="default__StyledText-sc-1jtxuc8-1 jQghZF body-paragraph"><b>Cardinal <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/iraq/2023/07/16/head-of-catholic-church-in-iraq-leaves-baghdad-amid-heightened-tension-with-militia-leader/" target="_blank">Sako</a>’s
remarks coincide with the country's upcoming commemoration of the 21st
anniversary of the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein's regime and the
introduction of an ethno-sectarian quota system.</b></p><p class="default__StyledText-sc-1jtxuc8-1 jQghZF body-paragraph"><b>“There
must be a reconsideration of the entire political process,” Cardinal
Sako said, while extending his congratulations to Muslims on the start
of <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2024/03/12/ramadan-2024-hundreds-break-fast-at-iftar-tents-under-uae-humanitarian-drive/" target="_blank">Ramadan</a>.</b></p><p class="default__StyledText-sc-1jtxuc8-1 jQghZF body-paragraph"><b>“A new nonsectarian agreement needs to be reached based on full
citizenship, ensuring a better future for Iraqis and preserving the
[society's] components and their rights."</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Turning to Gaza, Ramadan began Monday. <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2024/03/12/israeli-strikes-kill-at-least-67-palestinians-on-first-day-of-ramadan">The Israeli government celebrated the start of the holy month by killing 67 Palestinians</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/world/middle-east/2024/03/12/israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-latest-news/">THE IRISH TIMES notes</a>, "UN secretary general António Guterres has reiterated his calls for an
end to hostilities in Gaza and the increased delivery of humanitarian
aid, describing international humanitarian law as in tatters." <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/12/israel-hamas-war-news-gaza-palestine/">Kendra Nichols, Cate Brown and Leo Sands (WASHINGTON POST) report</a>, "An
aid ship has departed Cyprus for the Gaza Strip carrying nearly 200
tons of food, the relief organization World Central Kitchen said Tuesday
morning on <a href="https://x.com/WCKitchen/status/1767443235033563602?s=20" target="_blank">social media</a>.
The aid is a fraction of the amount required to stave off a famine in
Gaza, but -- if successfully delivered -- would mark the first shipment
into the Strip via a new maritime route."</div><div><br /></div><div>Everyone
needs to stop pretending this just happened. Starvation was the plan
of the Israeli government all along -- certain leaders made remarks
making that clear. Various UN aid agencies warned what could happen,
the World Health Organization and Human Rights Watch warned what could
happen. The attack on UNRWA by the Israeli government was part of the
plan to starve Palestinians. After so many lies, it is way past time
the the mainstream press stop treating pronouncements by the Israeli
government as believable. (Check out <a href="https://fair.org/home/us-media-and-factcheckers-fail-to-note-israels-refutation-of-beheaded-babies-stories/">David Knox's article at FAIR</a>
for more on how there is no accountability in the mainstream media for
the various lies they've promoted.) They brought on this starvation and
they intended to bring it on. </div><div><br /></div><div>On UNRWA, <a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/03/12/aid-wars-over-gaza-resuming-funding-to-unrwa/">Binoy Kampmark (COUNTERPUNCH) notes</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>The steady and ruthless campaign by Israel
to internationally defund the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine
Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), is unravelling. The lynchpin in the
effort was a thin, poison pen dossier making claims that 12 individuals
were Hamas operatives who had been involved in the October 7
attacks. Within a matter of days, two internal investigations were
commenced, various individuals sacked, and US$450 million worth of
funding from donor states suspended.</b></div><div>
<p><b>As the head of the agency, Philippe Lazzarini, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-04-2024-a93b77e949d3bdc459311fd84d0f90ba&source=gmail&ust=1710260097452000&usg=AOvVaw0myioqC5aADXZHCh7ZG8Lu" href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-03-04-2024-a93b77e949d3bdc459311fd84d0f90ba">explained</a> at
a press conference on March 4, he has “never been informed” or received
evidence of Israel’s claims substantiating their assertions, though he
did receive the prompt about the profane twelve directly from Israeli
officials. Every year, both Israel and the Palestinian authorities were
furnished with staff lists, “and I never received the slightest concern
about the staff that we have been employing.”</b></p>
<p><b>Had Israeli authorities signed off on these
alleged participants in bungling or conspiratorial
understanding? Certainly, there was more than a pongy whiff of
distraction about it all, given that Israel had come off poorly in The
Hague proceedings launched by South Africa, during which the judges
issued an interim order demanding an observance of the UN Genocide
Convention, an increase of humanitarian aid, and the retention of
evidence that might be used for future criminal prosecutions for
genocide.</b></p>
<p><b>An abrupt wave of initial success in
starving the agency followed, with a number of countries announcing
plans to freeze funding. In the United States, irate members of
Congress accused the agency of having “longstanding connections to
terrorism and promotion of antisemitism”. A <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/unrwa-exposed-examining-the-agencys-mission-and-failures/&source=gmail&ust=1710260097452000&usg=AOvVaw246q-ZGcdlVXaIgWhDHec1" href="https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/hearing/unrwa-exposed-examining-the-agencys-mission-and-failures/">hearing was duly held</a> titled
“UNRWA Exposed: Examining the Agency’s Mission and Failures” with
Richard Goldberg, a senior advisor of the Foundation for Defense of
Democracies <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.congress.gov/118/meeting/house/116769/witnesses/HMTG-118-FA17-Wstate-GoldbergR-20240130.pdf&source=gmail&ust=1710260097452000&usg=AOvVaw35PM52rZkkfRGQJQ1krTy7" href="https://www.congress.gov/118/meeting/house/116769/witnesses/HMTG-118-FA17-Wstate-GoldbergR-20240130.pdf">frothing at an agency</a> that
supposedly incited “violence against Israel, subsidizes US-designated
terrorist organizations, denies Palestinians their basic human rights,
and blocks the pathways to a sustainable peace between Israel and the
Palestinians.”</b></p>
<p><b>The attempt to cast UNRWA into gleefully
welcomed oblivion has not worked. Questions were asked about the
initial figure of twelve alleged militants. News outlets <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/2/9/watching-the-watchdogs-israels-legacy-of-media-deception-stumbles&source=gmail&ust=1710260097452000&usg=AOvVaw0NyHpvApqpvUi-cnP7lMyq" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/2/9/watching-the-watchdogs-israels-legacy-of-media-deception-stumbles">began questioning</a> the numbers.</b></p>
<p><b>The funding channels are resuming. Canada, for instance, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68518468&source=gmail&ust=1710260097452000&usg=AOvVaw07p29tVp0r0PtBx81SeQdp" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68518468">approving</a> “the
robust investigative process underway”, also acknowledged that “more
can be done to respond to the urgent needs of Palestinian
civilians”. The initial cancellation of funding to the agency, <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/8/canada-lifting-freeze-on-unrwa-funding-after-weeks-of-protests-criticism&source=gmail&ust=1710260097452000&usg=AOvVaw1uI0GRIA210QEHSacxjdo9" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/8/canada-lifting-freeze-on-unrwa-funding-after-weeks-of-protests-criticism">charged</a> Thomas
Woodley, president of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle
East, had been “a reckless political decision that never should have
been made.”</b></p>
<p><b>The Swedish government <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.government.se/press-releases/2024/03/government-issues-disbursement-of-sek-200-million-to-unrwa-following-new-agreement-on-stricter-controls/&source=gmail&ust=1710260097452000&usg=AOvVaw3cyXJjVW3rFFuAaqzcj-Kz" href="https://www.government.se/press-releases/2024/03/government-issues-disbursement-of-sek-200-million-to-unrwa-following-new-agreement-on-stricter-controls/">was also encouraged</a> by
undertakings made by UNRWA “to allow independent auditing, strengthen
internal supervision and enable additional staff controls”, promising an
initial outlay of 200 million kroner (US$19 million)</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/12/israels-war-on-gaza-live-2000-medical-staff-starving-in-north-ministry">ALJAZEERA notes</a>:</div><div><p><b>The UN refugee agency for Palestinians has said there is no other
agency that is able to respond to the humanitarian needs in Gaza at
UNRWA’s scale.</b></p>
<p><b>The <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/1/what-is-unrwa-and-why-it-is-important-for-palestinians">UNRWA</a> runs more than 150 shelters and has at least 3,000 working staff in Gaza, the agency said in a post on X.</b></p>
<p><b>“We are the backbone of the humanitarian response,” the statement said.</b></p>
<p><b>“With over two million people in dire need of life-saving
humanitarian assistance in Gaza, no other agency is able to respond at
the same scale,” it added.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p>Gaza remains under assault. Day 158 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/12/israels-war-on-gaza-live-2000-medical-staff-starving-in-north-ministry">ALJAZEERA notes</a>, "At least 31,184 people in Gaza have been killed and 72,889 wounded by
Israeli attacks on the enclave since October 7, according to the Health
Ministry." Months
ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</p><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-12-24/index.html">CNN's Pauline Lockwood reports</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Children
in Gaza are experiencing "relentless mental harm" after five months of
war, hunger, displacement and years of a blockade, according to
nongovernmental organization Save the Children, which talked to mental
health services and four parents in the strip. </b></div><div><div><div class="sc-bdVaJa post-content-rendered render-stellar-contentstyles__Content-sc-9v7nwy-0 erzhuK"><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>In <a href="https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/document/trapped-and-scarred-the-compounding-mental-harm-inflicted-on-palestinian-children-in-gaza/?_ga=2.30177597.387362827.1710233819-2044310761.1710233819&_gl=1*10wsatl*_ga*MjA0NDMxMDc2MS4xNzEwMjMzODE5*_ga_646SWQJ0VB*MTcxMDIzMzgyMC4xLjAuMTcxMDIzMzgyMC42MC4wLjA.*_ga_GRKVSTV36C*MTcxMDIzMzgyMC4xLjAuMTcxMDIzMzgyMC42MC4wLjA." target="_blank">a report</a> released on Tuesday, one parent told the organization:</b></p><div class="sc-bdVaJa sc-RefOD bkVmOx"><blockquote class="sc-dnqmqq hJIoKL"><b>"I wouldn’t even say that their mental health has deteriorated – it’s been obliterated. Complete psychological destruction.”</b></blockquote></div><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Another said:</b></p><div class="sc-bdVaJa sc-RefOD bkVmOx"><blockquote class="sc-dnqmqq hJIoKL"><b>"Children
here have seen everything. They’ve seen the bombs, the deaths, the
bodies – we can’t pretend to them any more. Now they understand and have
seen everything. Now, my son can even tell what types of explosives are
falling – he can hear the difference.” </b></blockquote></div><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>According
to the report, the collapse of healthcare and psychological services in
Gaza limits the possibility that children will get the treatment they
need to recover. </b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Director
of Save the Children for the Occupied Palestinian Territory Jason Lee
said there is hope the psychological impacts of the war could be
reversed with support, but added that "none this is possible without an
immediate, definitive ceasefire and safe, unfettered aid access so that
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</div></div></li></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-4304104869437194912024-03-10T03:56:00.000-04:002024-03-10T03:56:26.074-04:00Cabbage (Fried and Rolls) in the Kitchen<p>Cabbage? I like it. I wish we had it more at my table. As it is, we have it in salads with other greens, we have it as cabbage rolls, we'll have it as corned beef and cabbage and with roast and potatoes as well as via coleslaw and egg rolls. On cabbage rolls, I use <a href="https://www.bmc.org/recipes/stuffed-cabbage">this recipe from Boston Medical</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><h2>Ingredients</h2><div><a href="https://www.bmc.org/nourishing-our-community/teaching-kitchen/substitution-guide" hreflang="en"><b>Substitution Guide</b></a></div><p>
<b><br />
</b></p><div class="recipe-ingredients list--style-none">
<b><span class="list-label">Rice-</span>
<span class="list-value">1 ½ cups brown rice, cooked </span>
<span class="list-label">Cabbage</span>
<span class="list-value">- 1 medium, green cabbage head </span>
<span class="list-label">Oil</span>
<span class="list-value">- 3 Tablespoon olive oil, divided</span>
<span class="list-label">Onion</span>
<span class="list-value">- 2 medium yellow onions, diced </span>
<span class="list-label">Garlic</span>
<span class="list-value">- 3 cloves, minced</span>
<span class="list-label">Salt</span>
<span class="list-value">- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided </span>
<span class="list-label">Ground_protein</span>
<span class="list-value">- 1 lb ground turkey, ground chicken, or crumbled extra-firm tofu</span>
<span class="list-label">Pepper</span>
<span class="list-value">- ½ teaspoon, ground black pepper </span>
<span class="list-label">Spices</span>
<span class="list-value">- 2 teaspoons Lebanese 7-Spice (sub spice blend of choice)</span>
<span class="list-label">Sugar</span>
<span class="list-value">- 1 Tablespoon (granulated or brown) </span>
<span class="list-label">Diced_tomatoes</span>
<span class="list-value">- 1, 28-ounce can, no salt added </span>
<span class="list-label">Butter</span>
<span class="list-value">- 1 Tablespoon</span>
</b></div><h2>Instructions</h2><div class="recipe-instructions list--style-none">
<div class="list-label"><b>Step 1</b></div>
<div class="list-value"><b>Preheat oven to 350 °F.</b></div>
<div class="list-label"><b>Step 2</b></div>
<div class="list-value"><b>Combine rice, protein, spice blend, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper in a bowl. </b></div>
<div class="list-label"><b>Step 3</b></div>
<div class="list-value"><b>Place cabbage in a large pot,
half-filled with water. Cover and bring water to a simmer. Turn off heat
and let steam for 10-15 mnutes, covered. </b></div>
<div class="list-label"><b>Step 4</b></div>
<div class="list-value"><b>Place oil in a large skillet over
medium heat. Add onion, garlic and ¼ teaspoon salt. Mix frequently to
caramelize the onions (about 10-15 minutes).</b></div>
<div class="list-label"><b>Step 5</b></div>
<div class="list-value"><b>Add half the onion mixture to the
rice mixture. Pour the diced tomatoes into the skillet with the rest of
the onions. Add 1 Tablespoon sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt. </b></div>
<div class="list-label"><b>Step 6</b></div>
<div class="list-value"><b>Gently remove cabbage leaves from
the head. Fill each one with about ½ cup of the filling (rice and
protein mixture). Place in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Repeat until you
have no more filling. </b></div>
<div class="list-label"><b>Step 7</b></div>
<div class="list-value"><b>Pour the tomato mixture over the cabbage, and cover the dish with foil. Bake for 1 hour. </b></div>
<div class="list-label"><b>Step 8</b></div>
<div class="list-value"><b>In the meantime, wipe out the
skillet and add 1 Tablespoon butter and 1 Tablespoon oil over medium
heat. Chop the remaining cabbage, removing the hard core. Saute in the
oil/butter mixture until slightly browned and softened (about 10
minutes). Add salt to taste. </b></div>
</div><h3 class="h3">Notes</h3><p>
</p><p><b>Kosher salt has larger granules than table salt (also called
iodized salt). These instructions are for kosher salt. If using table
salt, cut the quantities in half.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Cabbage is a good vegetable that has a lot to offer. <a href="https://www.eatingwell.com/health-benefits-of-cabbage-8557536">Eating Well notes</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>
When it comes to vegetables, cabbage is an unsung hero. With its layers of green or purple leaves, this humble vegetable—the brunt of many childhood dinner complaints—is in fact a nutrient powerhouse.
Despite its unassuming appearance, cabbage plays a starring role in a diverse number of dishes, from tangy sauerkraut to spicy kimchi—and don't forget the hearty coleslaw for your backyard barbecue. </b></p><p><b>[. . .]</b></p><p><b>1 cup of raw, shredded cabbage contains the following nutrients, according to the USDA: </b></p><p><b> Calories: 18
Total </b></p><p><b>Carbohydrates: 4 g </b></p><p><b>Dietary Fiber: 2 g </b></p><p><b> Total Sugars: 2 g </b></p><p><b>Protein: 0.8 g </b></p><p><b> Total Fat: 0 g </b></p><p><b> Saturated Fat: 0 g </b></p><p><b> Sodium: 13 mg </b></p><p><b> Calcium: 28 mg </b></p><p><b> Magnesium: 8 mg </b></p><p><b> Vitamin C: 25 mg </b></p><p><b> Vitamin K: 53 mcg </b></p><p><b> Health Benefits of Cabbage
May Improve Immune Health </b></p><p><b> Cabbage is a natural source of vitamin C, a nutrient that plays a role in white blood cell production, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Including vitamin C in your diet by eating foods that contain this nutrient, like cabbage, may help support a robust immune system.</b></p><p><b> May Provide Anti-Cancer Nutrients </b></p><p><b> Cabbage packs plant compounds that are crucial for our overall health. These include glucosinolates, which are transformed into isothiocyanates in the body. Isothiocyanates are known for their protective effects against certain cancers, according to a 2023 review in International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Cabbage also contains another cancer-protective nutrient called sulforaphane, notes additional research in 2019 in the Journal of Medicinal Food. </b></p><p><b>May Help with Better Gut Health </b></p><p><b> As a natural source of dietary fiber, cabbage aids digestion and promotes regular bowel movements, reducing the risk of constipation. Furthermore, cabbage is a natural source of prebiotics, an indigestible fiber that acts as “fuel” for live and beneficial probiotics. Prebiotics may also decrease the gut pH, potentially preventing potentially harmful bacteria, like E. coli, from thriving, according to a 2019 review in Foods. If you eat your cabbage as an ingredient in kimchi or certain types of sauerkraut, you will also reap the benefits of the probiotics found in this fermented food. </b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>May Reduce Inflammation </b></p><p><b> Did you know that, according to 2022 research in Frontiers in Pharmacology, crushed cabbage leaves are one of the most widely used anti-inflammatory remedies in Polish folk medicine? This veggie is packed with antioxidants, including vitamin C, as well as anti-inflammatory compounds sulforaphane and anthocyanins, which are known to tamp down inflammation. </b></p><p><b>May Improve Total Cholesterol </b></p><p><b> Approximately 25 million Americans have high total cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Having high blood cholesterol raises the risk for heart disease, the leading cause of death. According to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Phytotherapy Research, after evaluating nine studies, researchers found that eating brassica vegetables, like cabbage, appears to have a positive effect on total cholesterol levels. </b></p><p><b>May Support a Healthy Pregnancy </b></p><p><b> Folate is a nutrient that is encouraged on a pregnancy-friendly diet, as this nutrient appears to support the healthy development of the spinal cord. One serving of cabbage provides 10% of your Daily Value of folate, helping pregnant people get this key nutrient in their diet simply by including this veggie in their dishes. </b></p><p><b>May Sharpen Eye Health </b></p><p><b> Cabbage is a natural source of lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that are linked to a reduced risk of macular degeneration, according to research in 2022 in Nutrients. This leafy vegetable is also a source of beta carotene, another carotenoid that supports healthy vision as you age.
</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Oregon State Univeristy's <a href="https://foodhero.org/sites/foodhero-prod/files/monthly-magazines/Cabbage%2021%20%20Monthly.pdf">FoodHero.org notes</a>:</p><p><b>
Cabbage is low cost and
available year round. Find
Oregon-grown cabbage at local
markets July through October.
Choose cabbage with leaves
that are firm, not wilted. Avoid
cabbage with outer leaves or
stems that are soft, yellow or
brown.
Green, red and savoy cabbage
should feel heavy for its size,
with leaves that are tightly
packed. For napa cabbage, look
for crinkly leaves that are more
loosely packed. For bok choy,
look for leaves that are firmly
attached to the stems.
A bag of shredded cabbage
usually costs more per pound
than a head of cabbage. It may
be a good buy when you need
a small amount or want to
save time.
A head of cabbage
can weigh from
1 to 9 pounds.
1 pound of cabbage =
about 4 cups shredded =
2 cups cooked.
</b><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Keelen notes this video recipe for making cabbage with an egg.</p><p><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AShFeKnEOGw?si=_ocsAoMk5bIx7lT9" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>And what started this post on cabbage was Hannah e-mailing to note <a href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/fried-cabbage/">Budget Byte's recipe for fried cabbage</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><div class="wprm-recipe-ingredients-container wprm-recipe-ingredients-no-images wprm-recipe-91581-ingredients-container wprm-block-text-normal wprm-ingredient-style-regular wprm-recipe-images-before" data-recipe="91581" data-servings="4" data-slot-rendered-recipe="true" style="overflow: visible;"><h3 class="wprm-recipe-header wprm-recipe-ingredients-header wprm-block-text-normal wprm-align-left wprm-header-decoration-none">Ingredients</h3><div class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-group"><ul class="wprm-recipe-ingredients"><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="0" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">4</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">oz.</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">bacon</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">($1.33)</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="1" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1/2</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">head</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">green cabbage (about 1.25 lbs or 6 cups chopped)</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">($0.99)</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="2" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">yellow onion</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">($0.37)</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="3" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1/4</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cup</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">chicken broth</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">($0.52)</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="4" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1/2</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">tsp</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">seasoning salt</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">($0.05)</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="5" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">Tbsp</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">butter</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">($0.13)</span></b></li></ul></div></div><p>
</p><div class="wprm-recipe-instructions-container wprm-recipe-91581-instructions-container wprm-block-text-normal" data-recipe="91581"><h3 class="wprm-recipe-header wprm-recipe-instructions-header wprm-block-text-normal wprm-align-left wprm-header-decoration-none wprm-header-has-actions">Instructions </h3><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-group"><ul class="wprm-recipe-instructions"><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-91581-step-0-0" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>Add
the bacon to a very large skillet and cook over medium heat until the
bacon is brown and crispy. Remove the bacon from the skillet and drain
the excess bacon fat, leaving about <span class="wprm-dynamic-quantity">2</span> Tbsp in the skillet (reserve the drained fat for later).</b></span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-91581-step-0-1" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>While the bacon is cooking, finely dice the onion and chop the cabbage into 1-inch pieces. </b></span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-91581-step-0-2" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>After
removing the bacon from the skillet, add the diced onion and continue
to sauté over medium heat until the onions become soft and translucent
(about 5 minutes). The moisture from the onions will begin to dissolve
the browned bacon bits from the bottom of the skillet.</b></span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-91581-step-0-3" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>Once
the onions are soft, add the chopped cabbage and chicken broth.
Continue to let the cabbage cook over medium, stirring occasionally,
until it has softened, most of the liquid has evaporated, and the edges
begin to brown. If the skillet dries up before the cabbage is soft, add 2
Tbsp of water and continue to sauté until softened. </b></span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-91581-step-0-4" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>Once
the cabbage is soft and the liquid has evaporated, add the butter to
the skillet and stir until it has melted and coated the cabbage. Turn
the heat off and add the seasoning salt, starting with <span class="wprm-dynamic-quantity">¼</span> tsp, then adding more to taste.</b></span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-91581-step-0-5" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>Finally,
crumble the cooked bacon and stir it back into the cabbage. Give the
cabbage a taste and adjust to your liking. Garnish with some freshly
cracked pepper, serve, and enjoy!</b></span></div></li></ul></div></div><p><br /></p><p>Cabbage is a good vegetable for all of us. That includes diabetics. Over 38% of Americans have diabetes. In "<a href="http://ohboyitneverends.blogspot.com/2024/03/type-ii-diabetes-books.html" target="_blank">Type II Diabetes (books)</a>," Stan reviews four books on diabetes. </p><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/iraq-snapshot_8.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Friday:</p><p><br /></p>
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Friday, March 8, 2024. Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union
Address, Gaza remains his biggest problem, while he scored some
successes last night and delivered the remarks perfectly he has still
not seriously addressed Gaza, though the media hasn't noted it, Super
Tuesday wasn't a bad day for Marianne Williamson, and much more.<div><br /></div><div>In the US last night, President Joe Biden delivered the Constitutionally mandated State of the Union Address. How was it?<br /><br />For Joe, pretty damn good.</div><div><br /></div><div>It could have been the night he was destroyed. Some might feel it should have been. <a href="https://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/iraq-snapshot_01094844515.html">Yesterday's snapshot</a>
was up about a half hour before the first call came in -- from a DNC
friend -- asking, "What the hell are you talking about?" I explained
the FOX NEWS headline. We walked it through and it would have been the
end of Joe's chances at re-election. </div><div><br /></div><div>Fortunately
for Joe Biden, the GOP is a bunch of idiotic malcontents. They had the
way to take him down last night. They were too interested in
performative and not in action.</div><div><br /></div><div>Joe has a month
or two where he can end the assault on Gaza (and should end it today)
but if not don't be surprised if even idiots like the current make up of
the Republican Party stumble upon to a victory strategy.</div><div><br /></div><div>How can Joe demand a cease-fire, how can he make it happen?</div><div><br /></div><div>That's what I heard over and over in the calls that followed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize we were all pretending we still had our virginity.</div><div><br /></div><div>Take
Netanyahu out. That doesn't mean murder. That means we have
information, we have a spy network, he's a shady character already
facing corruption chares in his own country. He grows increasinly
unpopular. Political murders are no longer done with bullets, they're
done with gossip.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tut-tuting from the newly
chaste was the response -- to which I replied, "So you don't want to be
part of my dinners this month?" That's right. That's where I go to DC
and drop gossip.</div><div><br /></div><div>For example?</div><div><br /></div><div>You:
A Republican star in Congress. So thrilled and focused on your
future. Me? The celebrity you bothered at a wedding back when you were
a young man. The celebrity your boyfriend bothered. Although I felt
sorry for him because he was a little younger than you and I got the
distinct impression that you affair began while he was underage. Donna
the disgusting women who kept trying to get you in pictures with me. I
meet millions of people. The joke is I know everyone. I don't. And I
don't remember everyone. But too bad for you, you made it into a recent
snapshot and there I was just spit balling, doing a little parody of
you in the snapshot, giving you a home town in the snapshot and the
person I'm dictating the snapshot to asks for a pause and he looks it up
and that is your small town. How did I know it? That's when it all
comes rushing back to me. And I have the photos. I don't throw out
photos. I put them in my journals. I was there for a friend's wedding
And you were there with your fifty-something hag and your boyfriend.
And I have the pictures. I'll be dining out with various politicians
over the next few weeks explaining who you really are when you're not
verbally attacking LGBTQ+ people. Every time you speak to attack them,
you're going to know that your colleagues know your full of crap and,
most importantly, they're going to conclude -- like I have -- that your
young life affair continues to this day since your lover is still around
though you pass him off as something other than your lover of several
decades. I like doing this. It tends to make the target a little jumpy,
tends to hem them in and make them watch their vile little mouths a
little more closely. Now at some point, this always happens, someone
whispers to the press. That's not my problem. I didn't whisper to the
press. I just made sure everyone knew that the man screeching about gay
people was in fact a gay man himself -- despite the wife. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's what I like to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>I
use the truth. (I used a lie once, for the Iraq War, I've told this
story here before, we needed to remove a newspaper's support for Bully
Boy Bush and I said we could do it in one dinner. On a dare, I proved
it. But, yes, I did lie then. Again, we've talked about that before.
The only time I've used a lie but we needed to strip him of support on
the Iraq War and when I said how it could be done and several Dem
heavyweights scoffed it became, "Oh, you think you know better than me?
Let me show you how it's done." It took one dinner only. The paper
immediately dropped its support for Bully Boy Bush and his illegal
war.) </div><div><br /></div><div>So the point is, I don't want to hear anymore excuses from or for the White House. </div><div><br /></div><div>The
assault needs to end. Netanyahu is in a weak position. Confront him
with possible exposure over whatever US spy agencies have on him (I have
no idea what they have him on but I know they've got stuff).</div><div><br /></div><div>The US government regularly pressures leaders in Haiti to step down, they can manage to twist Netanyahu's crooked wrist.</div><div><br /></div><div>And if they don't? </div><div><br /></div><div>Republicans
these days are very stupid but even they are eventually going to catch
on with how to end Joe's political career. He dodged a bullet last
night. I don't think he'll be that lucky again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Could
be wrong, though. Wouldn't have thought Marjorie Taylor Greene would
show up to the State of the Union looking like the butchest lesbian at a
tailgate party but there she was last night working some intense LOVE
LIES BLEEDING mood.. </div><div><br /></div><div>Making a spectacle out of herself. The way the woman in Texas did. That's the loser that <a href="http://likemariasaidpaz.blogspot.com/2024/03/dean-phillips-and-tim-tebow.html">Elaine was writing about this week</a>.
I was able to call that race a few weeks ago because it was so
obvious. You're a conservative woman and you're hating a man and
forgetting the place you try to consign women to in your conservative
world.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm a feminist. I believe women can do anything.</div><div><br /></div><div>Marjorie's
not a feminist and she is not for women's rights and does not believe
in equality. Her core audience supports her on that. So when 'the
little woman' forgets her place in public and starts booing and hissing a
man, it doesn't always play the way they think. She was the fat girl
getting laughs but now the pep rally's over and she has to deal with the
fact that none of the guys like her or find her attractive in any
manner. </div><div><br /></div><div>Watching her act that way in public
-- even forgetting that embarrassing outfit -- you really have to marvel
over the self-denial of Marjorie Taylor Greene that allows her to think
she can court the crowd she does while acting the way she does.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jill
Dutton thought just like Marjorie. She thought she was coming on
'ballsy' or something. Nope. She just looked like a woman attacking --
and, yes, nagging -- a man (Brent Money). These anti-women women don't
seem to grasp that their natural constituency expects them to be
'respectful' of men and to 'know their place.' They get out there in
the real world and want to act like fully empowered people. But their
political statements and stances make that impossible for them to do.
Jill came off like the nightmare image of every conservative man and she
thought that was going to deliver her votes?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's Paul Rudnick's take on the the State of the Union Address.</div><div><br /><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1765973060081836415" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1765973060081836415&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F&sessionId=86c0a7d01ab553f4bf2a67d788e5db6a90fabde8&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 696px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Joe
promised ROE V WADE would be restored -- most likely by codifying it --
if he were elected. That's a promise he better be held to. Barack
Obama promised codifying ROE would be the first thing he did if elected
president but he left the White House after eight years of being
president without ever having even attempted to codify it. Joe gave a
promise that the cost of a month's insulin would be brought down to
thirty-something dollars a month. His speech had strong moments (and his
delivery of it was perfection). <a href="https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/03/bidens-state-of-the-union-tells-trans-americans-i-have-your-back/">Daniel Villareal (LGBTQ NATION) reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address told transgender
Americans, “I have your back.” He also spoke against book-banning and
“erasing history,” and told Congress to pass the Equality Act,
legislation that would enshrine LGBTQ+ civil rights into federal law.</b></p>
<p><b>“Stop denying another core value of America our diversity
across American life,” Biden said, about midway through his speech.
“Banning books — it’s wrong! Instead of erasing history, let’s make
history! I want to protect other fundamental rights! Pass the Equality
Act, and my message to transgender Americans: I have your back!”</b></p><p><b>His speech starkly contrasted the American “core values” of “honesty,
decency, dignity, [and] equality” with that of “resentment, revenge, and
retribution” held by “some other people my age,” a veiled reference to
former President Donald Trump (whom he never mentioned by name).</b></p><p><b>“I know the American story,” Biden said. “Again and again, I’ve seen
the contest between competing forces in the battle for the soul of our
nation: between those who want to pull America back to the past and
those who want to move America into the future.”</b></p><p><b>“Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and
democracy been under assault at home as they are today,” he noted. Then,
after mentioning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s continued invasion
of Ukraine — something Putin has justified with anti-LGBTQ+ bigotry —
Biden then mentioned the January 6, 2001 insurrection at the U.S.
Capitol carried out by Trump’s followers.</b></p><p><b>“Insurrectionists stormed this very Capitol and placed a dagger at
the throat of American democracy,” Biden said. “We all saw with our own
eyes these insurrectionists were not patriots. They had come to stop the
peaceful transfer of power and to overturn the will of the people. “</b></p><div class="adb-ln-inarticle" data-adbridg-ad-class-ctr="1" data-adbridg-ad-class-loaded="adb-ln-inarticle" data-adbridg-phase="detected@793ms;vp_no_size@793ms" id="adbridg_ad_adblninarticle_1"></div><p>
</p><p><b>“January 6th and the lies about the 2020 election, and the plots to
steal the election, posed the gravest threat to our democracy since the
Civil War,” Biden continued. “But they failed. America stood strong and
democracy prevailed.”</b></p></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/tlaib-bush-raise-stop-sending-bombs-signs-as-biden-pledges-more-aid-for-gaza">Jake Johnson (COMMON DREAMS) offers</a> this take on SOTU address:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>Progressive Reps. <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/rashida-tlaib">Rashida Tlaib</a> and <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/cori-bush">Cori Bush</a>
raised signs calling on President Joe Biden to "stop sending bombs" to
the Israeli military as he pledged during his State of the Union address
Thursday night to provide more humanitarian aid to Gazans and decried
the war's grisly death toll.</b></p><p><b>"This war has taken a greater toll on innocent civilians than all previous wars in <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a>
combined. More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of whom
are not Hamas," Biden said. "Thousands and thousands of innocents, women
and children. Girls and boys also orphaned. Nearly two million more
Palestinians under bombardment or displacement."</b></p><p><b>As expected,
Biden announced that the U.S. military will construct a temporary port
on Gaza's coast to facilitate the delivery of food, water, medicine, and
other humanitarian assistance as Israel obstructs aid shipments on the
ground, fueling the spread of malnutrition and disease. Critics blasted
the plan as a <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/state-of-the-union-gaza-port" target="_blank">PR stunt</a> that wouldn't do nearly enough to relieve one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in modern history.</b></p><p><b>"A
U.S. port delivering meager amounts of humanitarian aid and empty
rhetoric mean nothing when they are delivered alongside U.S. bombs," <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://twitter.com/JvpAction/status/1765945651714458111" target="_blank">said</a> Jewish Voice for Peace Action late Thursday.<br /></b></p><p><b>The
president also called for a six-week cease-fire—far from the "lasting
cease-fire" that Tlaib and Bush demanded during Biden's speech.</b></p><p><b>"The only cease-fire that is morally acceptable is a lasting cease-fire," Bush <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://twitter.com/RepCori/status/1765942233214206144" target="_blank">wrote</a> on social media. "It is inhumane to pause the violence for six weeks and then continue sending bombs right after."</b></p></div><div><p><b>While decrying the <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.dci-palestine.org/17_palestinian_children_starve_to_death_in_gaza" target="_blank">immense suffering</a>
in Gaza as "heartbreaking," Biden did not acknowledge the critical role
that U.S. weapons have played in Israel's monthslong assault. Since the
deadly Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, the Biden
administration has <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/biden-weapons-sales-israel" target="_blank">quietly approved</a> more than 100 separate arms sales to the Israeli government, which has used American weaponry to <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/amnesty-us-munitions-gaza" target="_blank">massacre civilians</a>.</b></p><p><b>Ahead
of Biden's speech, hundreds of activists demanding an arms embargo on
Israel blocked the route of the president's motorcade as he traveled to
the U.S. Capitol.</b></p></div><div>Gaza is not going away and needs to
be addressed. Joe's speech succeeded because the GOP is so damn stupid
and because he had certain things he needed to convey and did so. But
Gaza is not going away. And <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna142399">this summary sentence from NBC NEWS highlights</a>
why Joe can't sell his actions on Gaza to the American people, "Biden
also called for an immediate, temporary cease-fire in Israel's war
with Hamas and pointed to hostages' families in attendance at the
speech, but hopes for a new truce deal by the Muslim holy month of
Ramadan have faded after no breakthrough in the talks in Egypt." He's
calling for an immediate, temporary cease-fire. It's a pause, not a
cease-fire, stop lying to us.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/03/07/hawaii-democratic-caucus-results-biden-uncommitted/72876598007/">Jeremy Yurow (USA TODAY) reports</a>:</div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><b><br /></b></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><b><a class="gnt_ar_b_a" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/07/joe-biden-hawaii-democratic-presidential-caucuses/72868934007/">President Joe Biden cruised to victory in Hawaii’s presidential caucus</a>
on Wednesday, receiving 66% of the vote with 99% reporting. However,
just over 1,500 residents cast ballots, and “uncommitted” received 29.1%
of the vote, the highest percentage in any statewide contest thus far.</b></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><b>While
Hawaii Democrats acknowledged that Biden would almost certainly win the
party’s nomination, the select handful of voters who took to the polls
described the contest as a “referendum.”</b></p></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><a href="https://inthesetimes.com/article/uncommitted-democratic-voting-state-list">IN THESE TIMES notes</a>
that March 12th will see the state of Washington vote in their primary
and that "uncommitted" is on the ballot as it will be for the Democrats
Abroad.</div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"> </div><div class="gnt_ar_by">In
Hawaii on Wednesday, Marianne got 3.2% of the votes. She could be
relaxing by the pool. She knows she's not going to win. She didn't get
back in to win, she got back in to make sure that certain issues are
being raised. </div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_Fe69XdReCc?si=jocbGnso9mFASoZt" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div class="gnt_ar_by"><b><br /></b></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><b>Marianne
Williamson: The possibilities are enormous. We have everything we
need in this country. The possibilities are endless. We have the people
and the best practices and the projects. People who know how to do
organic and regenerative farming, who know how to reclaim the Earth,
who know how to reclaim our food, who know how to reclaim our land, who
know how to repair us after the ravages of 50 years of corporate
dominance in which the very thought that short term corporate profits
should take precedence over our safety, our health and our well being,
that those economic ideas -- soulless as they are -- should take
precedence over the will of the people. To the point that in the last
50 years there has been a transfer of wealth to the tune of
fifty-trillion dollars. And it has ravaged American middle class. As
soon as they started with this 'trickle down' economic paradigm and as
soon as CITIZENS UNITED Supreme Court decision, gave those corporate
interests the power to basically buy and sell and turn Washington into a
system of legalized bribery. All that money was transferred into the
hands of 1% of Americans. At this point, that level of economic
injustice has ravaged us. It has ravaged our middle class. It has
ravaged our environment. It has put carcinogens in our food, toxins in
our air. We don't have universal healthcare like every other advanced
democracy does because of the insurance companies. Over a million
people in the United States, ration their insulin. You don't have that
in any other advanced democracy because they have universal healthcare.
But all of that because of the greed of the pharmaceutical companies.
Look what has happened to Iowa because of the greed of Big Agriculture
and big food companies and big banks. I don't need to tell you that
there is no state in this country that is not experiencing the ravages
of an old way of doing things and the possibilities of something new.</b> </div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by">It's
amazing that she's not news to the media. In Virginia this week? She
got 7.8% of the vote. Do you realize how many Republicans who never
got anywhere near that much have been shoved down our throats by the
media? In Utah this week, she got 5.2% of the vote. 4.3% in Vermont,
4.5% in Texas, 9.12% in Oklahoma, 1.4% in Minnesota, 3.2% in
Massachusetts, 2.9% in Colorado, 3.4% in California, 4.8% in Arkansas --
how is this not news?</div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by">It's
not just better than she did in 2020 on Super Tuesday, it's better than
Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, the repellant Tulsi Gabbard and others
did in 2020 on Super Tuesday. </div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by">Hopefully,
poli sci students are paying attention -- especially graduate students
because this is a good topic for political science journals. This
weekend, Marianne will be in Atlanta:</div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><b><br /></b></div><li><div class="padbottom">
<h3>Atlanta, GA<br /><a href="https://events.marianne2024.com/eventid_20240309">[FREE] Come hear Marianne in Atlanta! </a></h3>
<b><span style="font-family: Poppins;">When: Saturday, March 9 at 5:00 pm EST</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Poppins;">Where:
<a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=1201+West+Peachtree+St.+NW%2C+Atlanta%2C+GA+30309%2C+United+States" target="_blank">Joie De Vivre Counseling & Therapy, Calcutta Conference Room (get directions)</a>
</span>
</b><div class="padtop"><a class="submit-link" href="https://events.marianne2024.com/eventid_20240309"><b>Learn More</b></a></div>
</div>
</li>
<li><b>
</b><div class="padbottom">
<h3>Atlanta, GA<br /><a href="https://events.marianne2024.com/eventid_20240310">[FREE] Join Marianne in Atlanta at Hillside International Truth Center!</a></h3>
<b><span style="font-family: Poppins;">When: Sunday, March 10 at 10:00 am EDT</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Poppins;">Where:
<a href="https://maps.google.com/maps?q=2450+Cascade+Road%2C+Atlanta%2C+GA+30311%2C+United+States" target="_blank">Hillside International Truth Center (get directions)</a>
</span>
</b><div class="padtop"><a class="submit-link" href="https://events.marianne2024.com/eventid_20240310"><b>Learn More</b></a></div></div></li><div class="gnt_ar_by"><b> </b></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by">Dropping back to <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/7/josh_paul_israel_gaza_war">yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><b><br /></b></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><b><br /></b></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Amy Goodman, with Nermeen Shaikh.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>:
Over the past few weeks, the Biden administration has been publicly
voicing reservations over the mounting death toll in Gaza, calling on
Israel to protect civilians and allow in humanitarian aid. But behind
the scenes, the Biden administration has quietly approved and delivered
more than 100 separate weapons sales to Israel over the last five
months, amounting to thousands of precision-guided munitions,
small-diameter bombs, bunker busters and other lethal aid, this
according to a new <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/03/06/us-weapons-israel-gaza/">investigation</a> by <em>The Washington Post</em>.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Only two approved foreign military sales to Israel have been made
public since the launch of Israel’s assault on October 7th, amounting to
over $250 million worth of tank shells and ammunition, which the
administration authorized using emergency authority to bypass Congress.
But in the case of the hundred other weapons sales, known as Foreign
Military Sales, the arms transfers were made without any public debate,
because each fell under a specific dollar amount that requires the
executive branch to individually notify Congress.</b></p>
<p><b>For more, we’re joined by Josh Paul, a veteran State Department
official who worked on arms deals and resigned in protest of a push to
increase arms sales to Israel amidst its assault on Gaza. Josh Paul is
the former director of congressional and public affairs for the Bureau
of Political-Military Affairs in the State Department, where he worked
for 11 years. He’s now a nonresident at <span class="caps">DAWN</span> — that’s Democracy for the Arab World Now. He’s joining us from New Haven, Connecticut.</b></p>
<p><b>Josh, welcome back to <em>Democracy Now!</em> Can you talk about the significance of this <em>Washington Post</em> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/03/06/us-weapons-israel-gaza/">exposé</a>,
what we’ve learned about the U.S. flooding Israel with weapons as
President Biden talks about saying he’s putting pressure on Israel to
let food aid in?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JOSH</span> <span class="caps">PAUL</span>: Thank you, and thank you for having me.</b></p>
<p><b>I think what we’ve learned from this story shouldn’t be a surprise to
anyone. It is that the president continues to facilitate the flow of
arms to Israel despite a change in tone. You know, we have certainly
heard the administration call for more humanitarian assistance, for, you
know, at least a temporary ceasefire. But at the same time, it
continues to provide the arms that enable Israel to continue its
operations. So, I think that’s pretty consistent, frankly, with what the
White House has said, including John Kirby from the podium this week,
that this remains U.S. policy.</b></p>
<p><b>I think many of your viewers may be shocked to hear that there have
been a hundred sales in the last few months since October 7th. But here,
I don’t think anyone in the State Department will be particularly moved
by this story. Much of the process does, unfortunately, move like a
production line when it comes to cases that do not require, under law,
congressional notification. So what we really have here is both a policy
problem but also a lack of transparency that is built into the system,
and which can only be remedied by a change in law.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>:
Well, let’s go to what national security communications adviser John
Kirby said. He was questioned at the White House by the journalist
Andrew Feinberg, a correspondent for <em>The Independent</em> in Britain.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">ANDREW</span> <span class="caps">FEINBERG</span>:
What is preventing the president from communicating to the Israeli
government that if they don’t allow aid, we will not continue supplying
weapons? Why is that not a fair trade: no aid, no bombs?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">JOHN</span> <span class="caps">KIRBY</span>:
Because the president still believes that it’s important for Israel to
have what it needs to defend itself against a still viable Hamas threat.
Maybe some people have forgotten what happened on the 7th of October,
but President Biden has not.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>: So, Josh Paul, your response, both to the question and to Kirby’s response?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JOSH</span> <span class="caps">PAUL</span>:
I mean, there you have it. And I think the question could also have
noted that under U.S. law, under Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance
Act, it is actually illegal to provide military assistance to a country
that is restricting U.S.-funded humanitarian assistance. And we know
that this is the case with Israel, because Jake Sullivan himself, the
national security adviser, has said that this is a problem, and, of
course, we would not be airdropping aid into Gaza, were we leaning on
Israel to open the humanitarian aid routes. So, you know, I think there
is a clear case to be made here that we are not in accordance with U.S.
law, certainly out of step, I think, with international law. And at the
same time, the Biden administration position remains: We will continue
to provide arms to Israel, whatever it requests and requires.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>:
Well, if you could explain, Josh: How much does this differ from the
procedure that’s been in place regarding U.S. arms transfers to Ukraine?
I mean, in this case, as we’ve said, only two approved foreign military
sales to Israel have been made public. What about to Ukraine?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JOSH</span> <span class="caps">PAUL</span>:
Yeah. So, for the most part, the procedures and processes through which
we provide arms to Israel versus Ukraine are different. Ukraine
requires an authorization under presidential drawdown authority, as well
as new and novel funding to, for example, Department of Defense’s
Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Those have expired. We are out
of, essentially, both of those. And so, without additional funding, we
will not be able to provide arms to Ukraine.</b></p>
<p><b>Israel, on the other hand, is perfectly capable of using its own
money to procure weapons through the Foreign Military Sales system,
through the direct promotional sales system, which, by the way, <em>The Washington Post</em>
didn’t touch on. And it’s quite possible that there’s a hundred more
sales through that other channel to Israel that we don’t know about.
And, of course, you know, we are providing Israel with military ground
assistance, which it can also tap into and knows that it will be able to
tap into, because it has a 10-year commitment from us to continue
providing billions of dollars a year, unlike Ukraine. So it’s a slightly
different situation and much easier, I think, for Israel to continue to
receive weapons even in the absence of a supplemental, unlike Ukraine.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Democratic Colorado Congressmember Jason Crow told <em>The Washington Post</em>
the Biden administration should apply, quote, “existing standards”
stipulating that the United States, quote, “shouldn’t transfer arms or
equipment to places where it’s reasonably likely that those will be used
to inflict civilian casualties, or to harm civilian infrastructure.”
Crow, a former Army Ranger who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, told the <em>Post</em>,
“I am concerned that the widespread use of artillery and air power in
Gaza — and the resulting level of civilian casualties — is both a
strategic and moral error.” Now, Crow is not usually a dove on all of
these issues, but it’s very interesting to see him talk about his
response, his critical response to the U.S. when it comes to Israel.</b></p>
<p><b>And this is particularly interesting on the day of President Biden’s
State of the Union address tonight. We don’t know exactly what he’s
going to say. We know there are a number of Americans who have family
members who are being held hostage in Gaza. We don’t know if the Biden
family or the administration will be inviting any Palestinians, and that
Biden wanted to be able to announce a ceasefire tonight, which is
clear, it looks like, will not be happening. But your response to all of
this and how these weapons sales, do you feel, perpetuate the war?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JOSH</span> <span class="caps">PAUL</span>:
Yeah, I mean, I think that people who have served in the military or
worked in the Middle East, people like Representative Crow, also,
frankly, like Secretary of Defense Austin, understand that what Israel
is doing is not going to lead to success on Israel’s own terms, as
Secretary of Defense Austin has said. It will lead to strategic failure.
And that is why I think the same is true on the Israeli side, where you
have former heads of Mossad, for example, saying that this is a
dead-end road, that what they are doing is damaging to their own
interests.</b></p>
<p><b>But I think that is separate from the political question here. And
the political question is one in which we have a president and, you
know, a set of policies and, frankly, a Congress, as well, for the most
part, that remains set on this course, regardless of the harm it is
doing to Israeli security and to American global interests and, of
course, to so many Palestinians.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Josh Paul, you were in the State Department for 11 years, and you were
involved with these kind of arms deals. You resigned in protest of a
push to increase arms to Israel. But I wanted to ask you: How much does
protest on the ground affect what’s going on in the State Department, in
the White House? How much do you hear it? I mean, there is a massive
amount of protest in the United States. And no matter who wants to
insulate Biden from it, almost everywhere he goes he is hearing the
chants of “ceasefire.” I mean, tonight, one of his guests will be the <span class="caps">UAW</span> President Shawn Fain. The <span class="caps">UAW</span> was one of the early unions to call for a ceasefire. How much does it matter?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JOSH</span> <span class="caps">PAUL</span>:
I think protest is very important, I think particularly protest when it
manifests at the ballot box, in terms of, for example, the
“uncommitted” vote or the “other” vote that we have seen in states and
will continue, I hope, to see in the coming days, because that signals
to the Biden administration that they really have a political problem
here. And that is really one of the only means we have of getting this
administration to change course in the time that it has left. So I think
that is very important. I think it’s most important when it manifests
directly in the political process, and when it comes with organization. I
think there is a momentum around this issue now, and we have to
maintain that momentum for the, frankly, months and years ahead, because
this is not going to be a long-term pole to shift where American policy
is and has been for many years.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Finally, you were inside for years the State Department. Now that
you’ve resigned — and we sort of ask you this every time since then —
how many people inside the administration have reached out to you? Do
you feel that that’s increasing? And how many times do they tell you
that they’ve been discussing this with Biden or the inner circle of
Biden, and what their views on this are? I mean, Biden was no fan of
Netanyahu from the beginning. And so, yet he is embracing him now. What
they are saying?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JOSH</span> <span class="caps">PAUL</span>:
Yeah, I mean, I’m still hearing from people I had not heard from
previously, to be clear, who are saying that, you know, “This is not
working. I feel sick to my stomach of being involved in this. And, you
know, I’m trying to make changes, and it’s just not working.” I had
several of those conversations just in the last week with people I’ve
not spoken to before on this issue. So I think the internal pressure,
the internal disgust, frankly, is still there.</b></p>
<p><b>But I think, you know, the White House and the president have
surrounded the president with, you know, a council of advisers who are,
for the most part, like-minded with him. And I don’t know how much of
that dissent is actually breaking through, and, even if it did, how much
it would change the president’s decision-making. I think he is where he
is. And, you know, absent significant political pressure, that is not
going to change, unfortunately.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Josh Paul, we want to thank you for being with us, veteran State
Department official, worked on arms deals, resigned in protest of a push
to increase arms sales to Israel and its siege on Gaza. He’s the former
director of congressional and public affairs for the Bureau of
Political-Military Affairs in the State Department, where he worked for
11 years, now a nonresident fellow with <span class="caps">DAWN</span> — that’s Democracy for the Arab World Now.</b></p></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eC1QJRNnWmE?si=1pW6v1SGzrLNr2j7" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><br /></div><div class="gnt_ar_by"><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 154 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/day-154--30-800-martyrs--over-72-000-wounded--72--children-a">ALMAYADEEN notes</a>, "The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported on Friday that 30,878
Palestinians have been killed and 72,402 wounded by the Israeli
occupation as the genocide enters its 154th day." Months
ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." <br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Today is International Women's Day. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-08-24/index.html">CNN's Celine Alkhaldi and Ibrahim Dahman report</a>:</div><div class="sc-bdVaJa post-content-rendered render-stellar-contentstyles__Content-sc-9v7nwy-0 erzhuK"><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"> </p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>At
least 9,000 women have been killed in Gaza since October 7, the
Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said in a statement Friday.</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Here's what else the statement said about the conditions of women in Gaza:</b></p><div class="sc-dnqmqq render-stellar-contentstyles__List-sc-9v7nwy-1 eUPcFX"><ul class="cnn_rich_text"><li><b>About 60,000 pregnant women in the Gaza Strip suffer from "malnutrition, dehydration, and lack of appropriate health care"</b></li><li><b>About 5,000 pregnant women in the Gaza Strip give birth every month in "harsh, unsafe, and unhealthy conditions"</b></li></ul></div><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>The
UN's Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which is the main aid agency in
Gaza, also posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying an average
of 63 women are killed in the enclave per day. "On
#InternationalWomensDay, the women in #Gaza continue to endure the
consequences of this brutal war," it said.</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>UNRWA's
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said more work is required to
support and protect women. "An immediate ceasefire is the minimum," he
wrote.</b></p></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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</div></div></li><li style="display: block;"><div class="item-time"><br /></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-70832379487847350902024-03-08T02:05:00.000-05:002024-03-08T02:05:27.259-05:00Steamed Clams in the Kitchen<p>Gail e-mailed because her local grocery store is now getting clams in the fish section of the market. She found a r<a href="https://www.foodiecrush.com/how-to-make-steamed-clams/">ecipe for steamed clams at Foodie Crush</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><h3 class="wprm-recipe-header wprm-recipe-ingredients-header wprm-block-text-bold wprm-align-left wprm-header-decoration-none">Ingredients </h3><div class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-group"><ul class="wprm-recipe-ingredients"><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="0" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">3</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">tablespoons</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">butter</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-faded">, divided</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="1" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">¼</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cup</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">minced garlic</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="2" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">¼</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cup</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">chopped green onion</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="3" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">2</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">pounds</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">small clams or cockles</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="4" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1 ½</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cups</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">white wine</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="5" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">2</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">chicken bouillon cubes with 1 ½ cups water or 1 ½ cups chicken broth</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="6" style="list-style-type: disc;"><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><b>juice of ½ lemon</b></span></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="7" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">½</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cup</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">cream or half and half</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="8" style="list-style-type: disc;"><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><b>Chopped parsley for garnish</b></span></li></ul></div><div class="wprm-recipe-instructions-container wprm-recipe-35899-instructions-container wprm-block-text-normal" data-recipe="35899"><h3 class="wprm-recipe-header wprm-recipe-instructions-header wprm-block-text-bold wprm-align-left wprm-header-decoration-none">Instructions </h3><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-group"><ul class="wprm-recipe-instructions"><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-35899-step-0-0" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>In
a large sauté pan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add
the garlic and green onion and cook for 3-5 minutes or until softened,
stirring occasionally. Add the cockles and cook for another 5 minutes.
Add the white wine and bouillon cubes with water or the chicken broth.
Bring to a boil then reduce to a rolling simmer and cook until the clams
open up, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir in the
lemon juice. Add the remaining tablespoon of butter and the cream and
stir. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately. Serve with sourdough
bread.</b></span></div></li></ul></div></div><p><br /></p><p>She thought others might enjoy it and maybe they are seeing clams in their local supermarkets right now -- she lives in South Dakota. That's a great idea. And, to answer your question, Gail, I love clams.</p><p>There are many great things about living in Boston. And our access to sea food? Might be top of the list. </p><p>I love steamed clams, I love fried clams. I love clams. I love scallops. I love cod, I love bluefish, striped bass . . . Fish is good for you. <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fish/">This is from Harvard</a>:</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Fish is a very important part of a healthy diet. Fish and other
seafood are the major sources of healthful long-chain omega-3 fats and
are also rich in other nutrients such as vitamin D and selenium, high in
protein, and low in saturated fat. There is strong evidence that eating
fish or taking fish oil is good for the heart and blood vessels. An
analysis of 20 studies involving hundreds of thousands of participants
indicates that eating approximately one to two 3-ounce servings of fatty
fish a week—salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, or sardines—reduces
the risk of dying from heart disease by 36 percent. (<a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fish/#1">1</a>)</b></p><p><b>Eating fish fights heart disease in several ways. The omega-3 fats in
fish protect the heart against the development of erratic and
potentially deadly cardiac rhythm disturbances. They also lower blood
pressure and heart rate, improve blood vessel function, and, at higher
doses, lower triglycerides and may ease inflammation. The strong and
consistent evidence for benefits is such that the Dietary Guidelines for
Americans, the American Heart Association, and others suggest that
everyone eat fish twice a week. (<a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fish/#2">2</a>, <a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fish/#3">3</a>)</b></p><p><b>Unfortunately, fewer than one in five Americans heeds that advice.
About one-third of Americans eat seafood once a week, while nearly half
eat fish only occasionally or not at all. (<a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fish/#4">4</a>)
Although some people may simply not like fish, the generally low
consumption is likely also caused by other factors, including
perceptions about cost, access to stores that sell fish, and uncertainty
about how to prepare or cook fish. Still others may avoid seafood
because they worry that they—or their children—will be harmed by
mercury, pesticide residues, or other possible toxins that are in some
types of fish.</b></p><p><b>Should you forgo fish because of the contaminants they might carry?
It’s a controversial topic that is often fueled more by emotion than by
fact. Here’s what’s known about the benefits and risks of eating fish
and other seafood:</b></p><p>
</p><ul>
<li><b> Known or likely benefits: In a comprehensive
analysis of human studies, Harvard School of Public Health professors
Dariush Mozaffarian and Eric Rimm calculated that eating about 2 grams
per week of omega-3 fatty acids in fish, equal to about one or two
servings of fatty fish a week, reduces the chances of dying from heart
disease by more than one-third. (<a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fish/#1">1</a>)
Both observational studies and controlled trials have also demonstrated
that the omega-3 fats in fish are important for optimal development of a
baby’s brain and nervous system, and that the children of women who
consume lower amounts of fish or omega-3’s during pregnancy and
breast-feeding have evidence of delayed brain development.</b></li>
<li><b> Possible benefits: Eating fish once or twice a
week may also reduce the risk of stroke, depression, Alzheimer’s
disease, and other chronic conditions. (<a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fish/#11">11</a>)</b></li>
<li><b> Possible risks: Numerous pollutants make their way
into the foods we eat, from fruits and vegetables to eggs and meat.
Fish are no exception. The contaminants of most concern today are
mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and pesticide
residues. Very high levels of mercury can damage nerves in adults and
disrupt development of the brain and nervous system in a fetus or young
child. The effect of the far lower levels of mercury currently found in
fish are controversial. They have been linked to subtle changes in
nervous system development and a possible increased risk of
cardiovascular disease. The case for PCBs and dioxins isn’t so clear. A
comprehensive report on the benefits and risks of eating fish compiled
by the Institute of Medicine calls the risk of cancer from PCBs
“overrated.” (<a href="https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fish/#5">5</a>)</b></li></ul><p><br /></p><p>Being Catholic, we do fish on Friday every week. In addition, we have clams probably at least twice a month. We eat some kind of shrimp dish every week. We have calamari rings with pasta at least twice a month. So that's 13 helpings of fish a month if we only have fish once on Friday. If I'm going to the hospital cafeteria, I have it twice on Fridays. I also have -- not the family, just mean -- canned tuna at least once a week, sometimes twice.</p><p>I love fish fillets. I wasn't big on catfish until C.I. shared a wonderful recipe with me about ten years ago. I could have that fish and fruit with rice dish every day, in fact. It's so tasty. </p><p>If you like fish, there's a lot out there.</p><p><br /></p><p>One thing I can't eat though -- this is me, I'm not judging anyone else, is baby octopus. I sometimes see that in the sushi section. Tiny little octopus and, sorry, I can't eat it. I feel bad. But again, that's me. Other than that, I don't think there's a fish I don't like except I do not eat tilapia because of it's possible connection to Alzheimer's. That runs in the family so I do not use aluminum pans or eat tilapia. (And I don't think there's an established link -- just a causal one; however, it does run in the family, so it's something I factor in when planning meals.)</p><p>If you haven't already, please read Kat's "<a href="https://katskornerofthecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/ive-had-with-black-power-media-and-its.html" target="_blank">I've had it with BLACK POWER MEDIA and its attack on African-American</a>" which is a really important piece. </p><div class="blog-title"><a href="https://katskornerofthecommonills.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"></a>
</div>
<p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="https://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/iraq-snapshot_01094844515.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Thursday:</p><p><br /></p>
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4454889474523529581" itemprop="articleBody">
Thursday, March 7, 2024. In the US and around the world the outcry for a
cease-fire grows louder, starvation grows worse in Gaza as the Israeli
government continues to disrupt the flow of aid, and much more.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/06/uncommitted-vote-israel-ceasefire-super-tuesday">At THE GUARDIAN, Rachel Leingang notes</a>: </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>A protest vote against Joe Biden gained more traction around the country on <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/super-tuesday">Super Tuesday</a> as voters in several states sought to send a message to the Democratic president to support a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.</b></div><div><div class="dcr-ch7w1w" data-gu-name="body"><div class="dcr-v4ay52"><div class="dcr-lw02qf" id="maincontent"><div class="article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1g5o3j6"><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Grassroots groups organized quickly after a similar effort <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/28/michigan-uncommitted-vote-biden-israel-support">in Michigan</a> last week far exceeded its goal of 10,000 votes for “uncommitted” brought in more than 100,000 votes, or 13% of the vote.</b></p><div id="sign-in-gate"><b><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-island-status="hydrated" deferuntil="visible" name="SignInGateSelector" priority="feature" props="{"contentType":"Article","sectionId":"us-news","tags":[{"id":"us-news/super-tuesday","type":"Keyword","title":"Super Tuesday"},{"id":"us-news/us-elections-2024","type":"Keyword","title":"US elections 2024"},{"id":"us-news/republicans","type":"Keyword","title":"Republicans"},{"id":"us-news/democrats","type":"Keyword","title":"Democrats"},{"id":"us-news/michigan","type":"Keyword","title":"Michigan"},{"id":"us-news/minnesota","type":"Keyword","title":"Minnesota"},{"id":"us-news/northcarolina","type":"Keyword","title":"North 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class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>A smattering of Super Tuesday states – Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/northcarolina">North Carolina</a>
and Tennessee – had an option on the Democratic ballot where voters
could decide not to commit to a specific candidate. These options
included “uncommitted”, “noncommitted delegate” and “no preference”.</b></p></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>And, still in the US, <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/03/06/st-paul-city-council-passes-gaza-ceasefire-resolution">Kyle Stokes (AXIOS) notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><span data-schema="smart-brevity"><b><p>The St. Paul City Council unanimously approved a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-click-url="https://stpaul.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6565425&GUID=97DE8D08-7285-4873-9044-953016B26540&Options=&Search=&FullText=1" data-vars-content-id="1ee14b6b-0a71-4d71-8054-61bf7904a43d" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-headline="St. Paul City Council passes Gaza ceasefire resolution" data-vars-item="in_content_link" data-vars-link-text="non-binding resolution" data-vars-sub-category="story" href="https://stpaul.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6565425&GUID=97DE8D08-7285-4873-9044-953016B26540&Options=&Search=&FullText=1" target="_blank">non-binding resolution</a> Wednesday calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel.</p><p>Why it matters: St. Paul's vote is the latest sign of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/06/biden-uncommitted-vote-protests-states-map" data-vars-content-id="1ee14b6b-0a71-4d71-8054-61bf7904a43d" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-headline="St. Paul City Council passes Gaza ceasefire resolution" data-vars-item="in_content_link" data-vars-link-text="discontent on the left" data-vars-sub-category="story" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/03/06/biden-uncommitted-vote-protests-states-map" target="_self">discontent on the left</a> with the Biden Administration's policy toward the Israel-Hamas war.</p></b></span><p><b>The big picture: A growing list of U.S. cities — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/01/23/minneapolis-city-council-gaza-ceasefire-resolution" data-vars-content-id="1ee14b6b-0a71-4d71-8054-61bf7904a43d" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-headline="St. Paul City Council passes Gaza ceasefire resolution" data-vars-item="in_content_link" data-vars-link-text="including Minneapolis" data-vars-sub-category="story" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/01/23/minneapolis-city-council-gaza-ceasefire-resolution" target="_self">including Minneapolis</a> — have passed similar resolutions.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.startribune.com/st-paul-city-council-poised-to-pass-ceasefire-resolution/600348896/">Katie Galioto (STAR TRIBUNE) adds</a>, "Dozens of cities in the United States already have passed resolutions calling for a cease-fire, including <a href="https://www.startribune.com/minneapolis-city-council-overrides-freys-israel-hamas-veto/600341994/" target="_blank">Minneapolis</a>, <a href="https://www.startribune.com/hastings-city-council-approves-resolution-calling-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-israel-hamas/600336345/?refresh=true" target="_blank">Hastings</a>
and Columbia Heights. Council President Mitra Jalali characterized the
council's vote as a "major departure" from St. Paul's usual approach to
international issues."</div><div><br /></div><div>Dozens of cities -- in fact many more than that -- have also seen protests throughout the US. <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/education/story/2024-03-06/thousands-of-pro-palestinian-demonstrators-demand-end-to-war-in-gaza-in-one-of-the-largest-protests-in-ucsd-history">Gary Robbins and Caleb Lunetta (SAN DIEGO UNION_TRIBUNE) report</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b> In one of the largest demonstrations in campus history, about 2,500
pro-Palestinian protesters marched across UC San Diego Wednesday,
demanding an end to the war in Gaza and pressing the student government
not to do business with companies they regard as hostile to
Palestinians.</b></div><p><b>The Associated Students board was considering a resolution Wednesday night that would comply with the protesters’ demand.</b></p><div>The disgust mounting is not just in the US. <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/china-calls-war-gaza-disgrace-civilisation-4177581">CNA notes</a>, "China described the war in Gaza as a 'disgrace to civilisation' and
called on Thursday for an immediate ceasefire as the conflict stretched
into its sixth month despite efforts by mediators to reach a truce." <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/7392be54-fbe6-4f22-95ec-94c5309e26ff">Raya Jalabi (FINANCIAL TIMES OF LONDON) reports</a> on Arab reaction:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br />
A recent Arab Opinion Index poll, which involved 8,000 people from 16
countries across the region, showed anger over the Gaza war and
America’s response at record highs, with 76 per cent of respondents
saying their position towards the US had become “more negative”. The
pollsters said the survey showed “the Arab public has lost confidence in
the US”. </b></div><div><b>Young Arabs have boycotted US brands,
including Starbucks and McDonald's, over their alleged support of
Israel, scrapped plans to study in the US and turned down jobs at US
companies. Anti-US protests have been held, particularly in Yemen and
Iraq, where the US has launched strikes against Iran-aligned armed
groups.
</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/mar/07/middle-east-crisis-live-us-gaza-israel-ceasefire-deal-can-be-reached-talks">Daniel Hurst (GUARDIAN) covers</a> another voice dismayed:</div><div><br /></div><div><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><strong>Malaysian prime minister, <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/anwar-ibrahim">Anwar Ibrahim</a>,
has criticised the west for its attitude to the situation in Gaza
during a speech at the Australian National University in Canberra. He
said countries should not apply international law selectively.</strong></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>“Unfortunately, the gut-wrenching tragedy that continues to unfold in the <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/gaza">Gaza</a> Strip has laid bare the self-serving nature of the much-vaunted rules-based order,” Anwar said.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>“The differing responses by the west to human suffering defy reasoning.”</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Anwar
questioned why the west had been “so vociferous, vehement and
unequivocal in the condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine,
while remaining utterly silent on the relentless blood-letting inflicted
on innocent men, women and children of Gaza”.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>“Sure,
there are exceptions, but they are few and far between,” he said as he
delivered the 2024 Gareth Evans Oration, named after a long-serving
former foreign minister.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>US Senator Bernie Sanders says it is time to tell War Criminal Netanyahu "no."</div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4rtDwSu2GPU?si=uffckXubCHl7w7kU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/sanders-gaza-leverage">Jake Johnson (COMMON DREAMS) reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b> Flanked by photos of hungry children and destroyed buildings, U.S. Sen. <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/bernie-sanders">Bernie Sanders</a>
said in a speech Wednesday that the Biden administration must stop
merely asking the Israeli government to halt its indiscriminate bombing
of <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a>
and begin using real leverage to bring about an end to the war and
ensure the free flow of aid to the territory's starving population.
<br /></b></p><p><b>
"The U.S. government should make it clear that failure to open up
access immediately and feed starving people will result in the Netanyahu
government not getting another penny of U.S. taxpayer military aid,"
said Sanders (I-Vt.), who noted that "right now we have the incredible
situation where a U.S. ally is using U.S. weapons and equipment to block
the delivery of U.S. humanitarian aid."
</b></p><p><b>
"And if that's not crazy," the senator added, "I don't know what is."</b> </p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In
this environment, US President Joe Biden prepares to deliver the Statue
of the Union Address. And he doesn't even see what may be coming
politically. The GOP is most likely setting a trap wherein Joe becomes
ineffective and unable to lead. That's how they're going to try to
portray him -- and he's helping them out. His inability to call out the
Israeli government has left him wide open to the campaign that they are
probably about to run on him. It's worked on others. If it works, it
will only work because Joe has spent all these months truly doing
nothing. He has created the perception for his political rivals to
build upon. I hope I'm wrong. And I'm being tentative here because I'm
hoping that. But in the last four hours, FOX "NEWS" has a new
headline. I saw it on Google as I was warming up (I usually exercise
while I'm dictating the snapshot). "That's interesting," I thought,
"they haven't headlined that topic since the October 7th attack and
suddenly that's their focus." No, they haven't made that their focus.
But it does fit in with a new attack and, again, one used successfully
against a sitting president before. That Joe and his handlers could
allow this possible attack to come about is appalling. Again, I hope
I'm wrong but I think I know the GOP 'response' to tonight's State of
the Union Address. If I'm right, the only thing that would save him is
to call for an immediate cease-fire. If they're trying to paint him as
ineffective and a dilly-dally, the only path through that is for him to
demand a cease-fire in tonight's speech. And maybe curb John Kirby
because if you think about his statements on Tuesday, it's as though
he's working to aid the GOP. </div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>In other news, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hamas-war-children-starving-famine-warning-death-destruction-rcna141813">Alexander Smith (NBC NEWS) writes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>Five months after <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-says-palestinian-militants-are-infiltrating-gaza-rcna119315" target="_blank">Hamas launched multipronged attacks on Israel</a>,
almost half of Gaza’s buildings lie in ruins and at least 30,000
Palestinians have been killed, according to the enclave’s Health
Ministry, which, along with aid agencies, is warning that some of the
most vulnerable children in the territory have begun to starve to death.</b></p><p><b>The Israeli military controls swaths of the Gaza Strip, and it has threatened to attack <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hamas-war-rafah-gaza-ground-assault-palestinians-desperation-rcna138795" target="_blank">Rafah</a>,
a southern city where 1.5 million Palestinians have fled, unless a
cease-fire deal is reached by next week. Israel has not achieved its
military goals: destroying <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/hamas-know-group-deadliest-attack-israel-decades-rcna119628" target="_blank">Hamas</a>
in response to its Oct. 7 attacks, which killed 1,200 people, and
rescuing the 100-plus remaining hostages taken that day. It is unclear
whether either is even possible.</b></p><div id="taboolaReadMoreBelow"></div><p><b>Abroad, the worsening humanitarian tragedy has heaped international pressure on <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/biden-increases-criticism-israel-gaza-still-provides-military-aid-rcna141775" target="_blank">Israel</a>.
Even friends such as the U.S., which gives Israel $3 billion in weapons
and other military aid every year, have joined the chorus, rhetorically
at least, pressuring Israel urgently to allow more aid into the
enclave, where Palestinians are huddled in encampments and sleeping on
the streets.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/06/middleeast/israel-gaza-starvation-siege-mothers-babies-intl/index.html"><span class="byline__name">Sana Noor Haq</span>, <span class="byline__name">Ibrahim Dahman</span>, <span class="byline__name">AbdulQader Sabbah</span> and <span class="byline__name">Abeer Salman (</span>CNN) report</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> As Israel’s severe restrictions <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/01/middleeast/gaza-aid-israel-restrictions-investigation-intl-cmd/index.html">on aid</a>
entering the Gaza Strip drain essential supplies, displaced
Palestinians told CNN they are struggling to feed their children.
Starving mothers are unable to produce enough milk to breastfeed their
babies, doctors say. Parents arrive at overwhelmed health facilities
begging for infant formula. In northern Gaza, people rush to grab aid
from infrequent humanitarian drops. Health workers say they <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/02/middleeast/israel-gaza-war-palestinian-parents-children-intl-cmd/index.html">cannot offer</a> life-saving treatment to malnourished Gazans because Israel’s bombardment and siege has crushed the medical system.</b></div><div><b>The Ministry of Health in Gaza said Tuesday that since the beginning of
the war, 364 health workers had been killed; 269 medical staff arrested;
155 health facilities “destroyed,” and 155 ambulances “targeted.” CNN
cannot independently confirm the numbers due to the lack of
international media access to Gaza.</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>From <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/6/gaza_update">yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wF_SXWbk0-Q?si=rdiIGh9dmfIyE-9f" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.</b></p>
<p><b>A U.N. convoy of food trucks trying to bring 200 tons of food into
northern Gaza was turned back by the Israeli military today. A convoy of
14 trucks waited for three hours at the Wadi Gaza checkpoint in central
Gaza before it was turned away by the Israeli military and later
stopped by a large crowd of desperate people who, quote, “looted the
food,” according to the World Food Programme. This comes as Israeli
forces have repeatedly opened fire on Palestinians seeking to get aid in
northern Gaza, killing at least 119 people in the most deadly attack
February 29th.</b></p>
<p><b>Hunger has reached catastrophic levels in Gaza. The Palestinian
Health Ministry said today the death toll from malnutrition and
dehydration has risen to 18, adding, quote, “The famine is deepening and
will claim thousands of lives if the aggression is not halted and
humanitarian and medical aid is not immediately brought in,” unquote.
Children, pregnant women, those with chronic illnesses are most
vulnerable.</b></p>
<p><b>Meanwhile, the Israeli bombardment continues, with shelling and
airstrikes today in cities across the Gaza Strip, including in Rafah,
Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah and elsewhere. At least 30,700 Palestinians
have been killed, over 72,000 wounded in Gaza over the past five months.
Nearly the entire population has been displaced from their homes.</b></p>
<p><b>For more, we go to Cairo, Egypt, where we’re joined by Susan
Abulhawa, a Palestinian novelist, poet and activist, author of several
books, best known for her debut novel, <em>Mornings in Jenin</em>, an
international best-seller translated into 32 languages, considered a
classic in Palestinian literature. She’s the founder and co-director of
Playgrounds for Palestine, a children’s organization, and the executive
director of Palestine Writes Literature Festival. She just returned from
Gaza after spending two weeks there, is now in Cairo.</b></p>
<p><b>Susan, welcome to <em>Democracy Now!</em> If you can talk about what you saw? You have <a href="https://electronicintifada.net/content/history-will-record-israel-committed-holocaust/45006">written</a>,
“Some are eating stray cats and dogs, which are themselves starving and
sometimes feeding on human remains that litter streets where Israeli
snipers picked off people who dared to venture within the sight of their
scopes. The old and weak have already died of hunger and thirst.”
Describe your trip.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">SUSAN</span> <span class="caps">ABULHAWA</span>: So, that part of the <a href="https://electronicintifada.net/content/history-will-record-israel-committed-holocaust/45006">essay</a>
is in the northern region, where nobody really is allowed to go. Trying
to venture into the north is a suicide mission. There are tanks and
snipers positioned, and anyone trying to get there is basically killed.
As you just mentioned, aid trucks are not getting in, either. They are
intentionally stopped. And it’s an intentional starvation, basically. I
was primarily in the south, in Rafah. I was able to go to Khan Younis
and to Nuseirat and a few other places in the middle region, but that
became increasingly more dangerous.</b></p>
<p><b>I want to say that the reality on the ground is infinitely worse than
the worst videos and photos that we’re seeing in the West. There is a —
you know, beyond people being buried alive en masse in their homes,
their bodies being shredded to pieces, these kinds of videos and images
that people are seeing — beyond that, there is this daily massive
degradation of life. It is a total denigration of a whole society, that
was once high-functioning and proud and has basically been reduced to
the most primal of ambitions, you know, being able to get enough water
for the day or flour to bake bread. And this is even in Rafah.</b></p>
<p><b>And the people in Rafah will tell you that they feel privileged
because they’re not starving to death, while their families in the
north, the ones that they can reach, because Israel has basically cut
off 99% of communication — what remains are basically communications by
people who have, you know, set up some ingenious ways to keep internet
in the north. But most people in the north have no idea what’s
happening. As a matter of fact, at one point — I’m sure you all know
Bisan Owda, who is on Facebook. She explained to me she often goes up to
the border between Khan Younis and the middle area in the north where
you can’t go beyond, and she explained to me that an aid truck, that
sort of pushed its way through but was eventually fired on, had — people
came up and ran up, thinking that the war was over and people were
returning to the north. So, most people in the north are in total
darkness and hunger and really have no way of communicating, no way of
figuring out where to get food.</b></p>
<p><b>And, you know, what we’re hearing on the ground is surreal. It’s
dystopic. What I witnessed personally in Rafah and in some of the middle
areas is incomprehensible. And I will call it a holocaust — and I don’t
use that word lightly. But it is absolutely that.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: Susan Abulhawa, I want —</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">SUSAN</span> <span class="caps">ABULHAWA</span>: The stories I heard from people are — sorry, go ahead.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: Yeah, no, Susan, I wanted to ask you — you write in your <a href="https://electronicintifada.net/content/history-will-record-israel-committed-holocaust/45006">article</a>,
“At some point, the indignity of filth is inescapable. At some point,
you just wait for death, even as you also wait for a ceasefire. But
people don’t know what they will do after a ceasefire.” Could you talk
about that, even if there is a ceasefire —</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">SUSAN</span> <span class="caps">ABULHAWA</span>: Yeah.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: — the level of destruction that the people face now in terms of being able to rebuild their country?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">SUSAN</span> <span class="caps">ABULHAWA</span>:
I mean, that’s how much people have been reduced. I mean, the ceiling
of their hope at this point is for the bombs to stop. And, you know,
everybody wants to go back. They talk about pitching a tent on their
homes and figuring things out. But a lot of people are trying to leave.
There is a brain drain, basically. Those who can afford it, those who
can raise the money, those who are able to get jobs elsewhere, who have
professional skills, are trying to leave. They have children. All the
schools have been destroyed. College students have nowhere to go.</b></p>
<p><b>You know, what’s happening to people isn’t just this death and
dismemberment and hunger. It’s a total denigration of their personhood,
of their whole society. There are no universities left. Israel
intentionally bombed schools and blew them up, presumably to ensure that
rebuilding could not take place, that reestablishing a society cannot
take place without the infrastructure of education, of healthcare, and,
basically, foundational structures for buildings.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Susan, I wanted to follow up on what you said about a holocaust. And
you also used the term “genocide.” And you say, “Genocide isn’t just
mass murder. It is intentional erasure.” Can you take that from there?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">SUSAN</span> <span class="caps">ABULHAWA</span>:
Exactly. I mean, one of the — like I said, one of the things that
Israel has been keen to do in Gaza is to erase remnants of people’s
lives. So you have, on an individual level, homes, complete with
memories and photos and all the things of living. And I’m sure you know
Palestinians typically live in multigenerational homes. We’re not a
mobile society. And so, these homes have several generations of the same
family completely wiped out. On a societal level, you have — Israel has
targeted places of worship — mosques, ancient churches, ancient
mosques. They have targeted the museums, cultural centers, any place
that — libraries. Any place that has records of people’s lives, has
remnants and traces of their roots in the land, have been intentionally
wiped away.</b></p>
<p><b>You know, it’s really frustrating for us to read Western media talk
about, you know, Israel is targeting Hamas and whatnot. They’re not.
This has always — and when you’re on the ground, you understand this has
always been about displacing Palestinians, taking their place and
wiping them off the map. That has been Israel’s stated goal, I mean,
even in this instance and before, in 1948. It has always been their aim,
to destroy us, remove us, kill us and take our place. And that’s what’s
happening now in Gaza. It’s what happened in 1948, in 1967. And every
new Nakba, every new escalation, is greater than the one before. And
here we now arrive at a moment of genocide and holocaust, because the
world has allowed Israel to act with such barbarity with impunity.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: Yeah, I
wanted to ask you also — you mentioned the world reaction. More people
have died in Gaza in less than five months than have — civilians — than
have died in Ukraine in over two years, in the war in Ukraine, and
Ukraine has 40 times the population of Gaza. I’m wondering your sense of
the failure of the — especially of the Western nations, of Europe and
the United States, to act?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">SUSAN</span> <span class="caps">ABULHAWA</span>:
The Western world has lost any semblance of moral authority, if they
ever had any. Or, you know, I think that maybe there was an illusion of
moral authority previously, but I think — you know, what we have always
known is that we are dealing with genocidal colonizers. But I think that
is more apparent to the rest of the world at this hour. And I think
what’s also happening is that Americans are coming to understand,
increasingly, though not nearly enough, that they’re being lied to.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
And we’re going to take up that issue in <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/4/gaza_starvation_akram_al_satarri">Part 2 of our discussion</a>,
which we’ll post at <a href="http://democracynow.org/">democracynow.org</a>. Susan Abulhawa, Palestinian
novelist, thanks so much.</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-07-24/index.html">CNN notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="sc-dnqmqq render-stellar-contentstyles__List-sc-9v7nwy-1 eUPcFX"><ul class="cnn_rich_text"><li><b>Suffering in Gaza: <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-07-24/h_9de55e22b1281619dd66f316693ed83b" target="_blank">At least 20 people have died</a> in Gaza due to malnutrition and dehydration since the war began, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-06-24/h_5ec9fac914e9b943e6c9016776a4068e" target="_blank">including a 15-year-old boy</a> who was declared dead at the Al-Shifa medical complex on Wednesday, the enclave's health ministry said. Gazans <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/06/middleeast/israel-gaza-starvation-siege-mothers-babies-intl" target="_blank">told CNN</a>
their children are starving to death and mothers cannot breastfeed
their babies. In the southern city of Rafah, a displaced health worker
has warned thousands of babies could die of starvation if Israel
continues its <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/01/middleeast/gaza-aid-israel-restrictions-investigation-intl-cmd/index.html" target="_blank">severe restrictions</a> on food, fuel, water and medication from entering Gaza. </b></li><li><b>Israel blocking aid: The United Nations said almost 40% of aid missions it coordinated in Gaza were <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-07-24/h_cadc4dd121de88bece6dc3efb09706e5" target="_blank">denied or impeded by Israel last month</a>.
In February, 86 of the 222 missions in areas that needed coordination
were denied or impeded by Israel, said the agency's humanitarian affairs
arm. In response to the deepening humanitarian crisis, European
Commission President <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2022/09/21/ursula-von-der-leyen-european-union-russia-sanctions-amanpour.cnn" target="_blank">Ursula von der Leyen</a> will travel to Cyprus this week to discuss creating a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-06-24/h_12178f49ab443c6ea4da537b979e7a22" target="_blank">maritime aid corridor to Gaza</a>. </b></li></ul></div></div><div><br /></div><div>And <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/7/israels-blocking-of-aid-creating-apocalyptic-conditions-in-gaza">ALJAZEERA notes</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>Israel has generated “famine-like conditions” in the Gaza Strip
“while obstructing and undermining the humanitarian response”, according
to a new report by humanitarian group Refugees International.</b></p>
<p><b>The group’s research in Egypt, Jordan and Israel revealed that Tel
Aviv “consistently and groundlessly impeded aid operations within Gaza,
blocked legitimate relief operations and resisted implementing measures
that would genuinely enhance the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza”.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 153 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/7/israels-war-on-gaza-live-20-starve-to-death-in-gaza-more-feared-dead">ALJAZEERA notes</a>, "At least 30,800 people have been killed and 72,298 wounded by Israeli
attacks on Gaza since October 7, the Palestinian Health Ministry said." Months
ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We'll wind down with <a href="https://truthout.org/articles/israel-didnt-even-try-to-defend-the-legality-of-its-occupation-to-world-court/">this from Marjorie Cohn's latest TRUTHOUT column</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>For six days, more than 50 countries, the League of Arab States, the
African Union and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation presented <a href="https://www.icj-cij.org/case/186">testimony</a>
to the International Court of Justice (ICJ, or World Court) about the
legality of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory. The
overwhelming majority of them, largely from the Global South, told the
court that the occupation was illegal.</b></p>
<p><b>The historic hearing, which took place February 19-26, was held in
response to the United Nations General Assembly’s December 30, 2022,
request for an <a href="https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/186/186-20240226-pre-01-00-en.pdf">advisory opinion</a> on the following questions:</b></p>
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">
<p><b>(a) What are the legal consequences arising from the ongoing
violation by Israel of the right of the Palestinian people to
self-determination, from its prolonged occupation, settlement and
annexation of the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including
measures aimed at altering the demographic composition, character and
status of the Holy City of Jerusalem, and from its adoption of related
discriminatory legislation and measures?</b></p>
<p><b>(b) How do the policies and practices of Israel … affect the legal
status of the occupation, and what are the legal consequences that arise
for all States and the United Nations from this status?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>The General Assembly asked the ICJ to discuss these issues with
reference to international law, including the UN Charter; international
humanitarian law; international human rights law; resolutions of the
Security Council, General Assembly and Human Rights Council; and the
2004 advisory opinion of the ICJ finding that Israel’s wall on
Palestinian land violated international law.</b></p><p><b>Israel regularly thumbs its nose at the World Court. It ignored the court’s <a href="https://www.icj-cij.org/public/files/case-related/131/1677.pdf">ruling</a>
that the wall was illegal and refuses to implement the ICJ’s
provisional order to refrain from committing genocidal acts and ensure
humanitarian aid to Gaza.</b></p><p><b>Before the hearing, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted
the court: “Israel does not recognize the legitimacy of the proceedings
of the international court in The Hague regarding ‘the legality of the
occupation’ — which are an effort designed to infringe on Israel’s right
to defend itself against existential threats,” he <a href="https://www.jurist.org/news/2024/02/palestine-calls-for-end-to-israeli-occupation-as-icj-begins-hearings-on-un-advisory-opinion-request/">said</a>.
“The proceedings in The Hague are part of the Palestinian attempt to
dictate the results of the diplomatic settlement without negotiations.”</b></p><p>
</p><p><b>Although Israel didn’t appear at the hearing, it submitted a <a href="https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/186/186-20230724-wri-08-00-en.pdf">five-page statement</a>
which called the General Assembly’s questions “a clear distortion of
the history and present reality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
Israel didn’t even attempt to defend the legality of the occupation,
focusing instead on why the ICJ should not render an advisory opinion.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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Ann's Mega Dub</a>
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1 day ago </div></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-763485667362022852024-03-07T00:34:00.000-05:002024-03-07T00:34:34.867-05:00Green Pea Salad With Cheddar Cheese in the Kitchen<p>Cassie e-mailed to note <a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/240465/green-pea-salad-with-cheddar-cheese/">All Recipe's green pea salad with cheddar cheese</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><div class="loc heading"><h2 class="comp mntl-structured-ingredients__heading mntl-text-block" id="mntl-structured-ingredients__heading_1-0">Ingredients</h2></div><p> </p><ul class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list"><li class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list-item" data-id="12437"><p><b><span data-ingredient-quantity="true">3</span> <span data-ingredient-unit="true">(14.5 ounce) cans</span> <span data-ingredient-name="true">sweet peas, drained</span></b></p><b><div data-v-2de2c288="" style="background: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline;"></div></b><p></p></li> <li class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list-item" data-id="16323"><p><b><span data-ingredient-quantity="true">3</span> <span data-ingredient-unit="true"></span> <span data-ingredient-name="true">hard-cooked eggs, chopped</span></b></p><b><div data-v-2de2c288="" style="background: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline;"></div></b><p></p></li> <li class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list-item" data-id="16215"><p><b><span data-ingredient-quantity="true">¾</span> <span data-ingredient-unit="true">cup</span> <span data-ingredient-name="true">Cheddar cheese cubes</span></b></p><b><div data-v-2de2c288="" style="background: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline;"></div></b><p></p></li> <li class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list-item" data-id="6294"><p><b><span data-ingredient-quantity="true">⅔</span> <span data-ingredient-unit="true">cup</span> <span data-ingredient-name="true">mayonnaise</span></b></p><b><div data-v-2de2c288="" style="background: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline;"></div></b><p></p></li> <li class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list-item" data-id="4397"><p><b><span data-ingredient-quantity="true">½</span> <span data-ingredient-unit="true">cup</span> <span data-ingredient-name="true">onion, chopped</span></b></p><b><div data-v-2de2c288="" style="background: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline;"></div></b><p></p></li> <li class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list-item"><p><b><span data-ingredient-quantity="true"></span> <span data-ingredient-unit="true"></span> <span data-ingredient-name="true">salt and ground black pepper to taste</span></b></p></li></ul><h2 class="comp recipe__steps-heading mntl-text-block" id="recipe__steps-heading_1-0">Directions</h2><p>
</p><div class="comp recipe__steps-content mntl-sc-page mntl-block " id="recipe__steps-content_1-0"><ol class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--OL" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0">
<li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_2-0">
<p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_3-0"><b>
Mix sweet peas, hard-cooked eggs, Cheddar cheese cubes, mayonnaise, and
onion together in a bowl until ingredients are coated in mayonnaise;
season with salt and pepper.</b></p></li><li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_2-0"><p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_3-0"><b>Enjoy! </b></p></li></ol></div><p><br /></p><p>Cassie wondered if she had to use frozen or fresh peas and noted that every other recipe insisted upon it.</p><p><br /></p><p>No. Fresh is always better in terms of nutrition.</p><p><br /></p><p>In terms of the environment?</p><p><br /></p><p>Canned is better unless you're dealing with local produce. Frozen requires it travel in a cooled shipping device. Canned foods don't need that. </p><p><br /></p><p>There's nothing wrong with using canned peas. If that's what you like, you do that and don't sweat it.</p><p><br /></p><p>And, to be honest, I used cans all my life but sneered at them until the 90s when I read an essay by Barbara Kingsolver where she wrote about food delivery and how it impacts the environment. She stressed eating local and eating crops that were in season. She noted that shipping foods created a carbon footprint and that canned goods were the smallest since they don't require refrigerated cars for shipping.</p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/iraq-snapshot_01681166956.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Wednesday:</p><p><br /></p><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
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Wednesday, March 6, 2024. The day after Super Tuesday, the Supreme
Court's lousy decision, starvation continues in Gaza, and much more.<div><br /></div><div>The
Supreme Court made a lousy decision this week. The decision was lousy,
but the whole thing was lousy. That's the case put forward, that's the
media coverage, that's what Congress did at the start of 2021. If you
ever wanted proof that our society was infected with idiots, all you had
to do was follow the nonsense.</div><div><br /></div><div>I planned to be nice and just hold my tongue but there are too many e-mails on the topic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Was
there an attempted insurrection? I believe there was and I didn't rush
to that decision. I do not like Donald Trump but I did not rush to
that decision. When the legal cases against him began to get play, that
clarified his role behind the scenes and, no, it's not stretch to see
him as the ringleader. </div><div><br /></div><div>But there were other issues there as well and the press, and the lawyers and the Congress elected to ignore them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's drop back to January 20, 2017.</div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_v7GIWtX8us?si=co17Tqp7E5QaGt_M" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>What
a sad and poorly dressed family. But the key take away is that Donald
took the oath of office. He was sworn in as president.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is the oath they all have to take:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the
Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my
Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United
States.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>You saw the video, Donald took the oath.</div><div><br /></div><div>Donald then broke the oath.</div><div><br /></div><div>He took an oath to uphold the Constitution. He broke that oath. Article II is part of the Constitution:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li><ul><li></li></ul></li></ul><ul><li id="II_S1_C2"><strong>Clause 2 Electors</strong></li><li><div class="clause"><p><b>Each
State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may
direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and
Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but
no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or
Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.</b></p></div><ul> <li><b><a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S1-C2-1/ALDE_00013798/">ArtII.S1.C2.1</a> Overview of Electors Appointment Clause</b></li> <li><b><a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S1-C2-2/ALDE_00013799/">ArtII.S1.C2.2</a> Historical Background on Electors Appointments Clause</b></li> <li><b><a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S1-C2-3/ALDE_00013800/">ArtII.S1.C2.3</a> State Discretion Over Selection of Electors</b></li> <li><b><a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S1-C2-4/ALDE_00013801/">ArtII.S1.C2.4</a> Legal Status of Electors</b></li> <li><b><a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S1-C2-5/ALDE_00013802/">ArtII.S1.C2.5</a> Discretion of Electors to Choose a President</b></li></ul></li></ul><ul><li id="II_S1_C3"><strong>Clause 3 Electoral College Count</strong></li><li><div class="clause"><p><b>The
Electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by Ballot for
two Persons, of whom one at least shall not be an Inhabitant of the same
State with themselves. And they shall make a List of all the Persons
voted for, and of the Number of Votes for each; which List they shall
sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the Seat of the Government of
the United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The
President of the Senate shall, in the Presence of the Senate and House
of Representatives, open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then
be counted. The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the
President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors
appointed; and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and
have an equal Number of Votes, then the House of Representatives shall
immediately chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person
have a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House
shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President,
the Votes shall be taken by States, the Representation from each State
having one Vote; A quorum for this Purpose shall consist of a Member or
Members from two thirds of the States, and a Majority of all the States
shall be necessary to a Choice. In every Case, after the Choice of the
President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the
Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there should remain two or
more who have equal Votes, the Senate shall chuse from them by Ballot
the Vice President.</b></p></div><ul> <li><b><a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S1-C3-1/ALDE_00013598/">ArtII.S1.C3.1</a> Electoral College Count Generally</b></li></ul></li></ul><ul><li id="II_S1_C4"><strong>Clause 4 Electoral Votes</strong></li><li><div class="clause"><p><b>The
Congress may determine the Time of chusing the Electors, and the Day on
which they shall give their Votes; which Day shall be the same
throughout the United States.</b></p></div><ul> <li><b><a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S1-C4-1/ALDE_00013599/">ArtII.S1.C4.1</a> Timing of Electoral Votes Generally</b></li></ul></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Click
on anything you need to in order to expand the above. He broke it. He
came up with fake electors, he plotted and schemed. Every thing he did
to try to avoid leaving office was illegal and unconstitutional. The
Constitution outlines the process. It did not permit him to do what he
did. What he did was actually treason. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's
a strong word and it's one I don't toss around lightly because it
carries the penalty of death. But his actions qualify as treason. He
put himself above the country and that's not allowed. And that's what
should have been hammered home.</div><div><br /></div><div>Is he fit to
serve? Four years earlier when he was presumably more aware of his
surroundings, he was ready to destroy democracy to hold onto a second
term. He broke his oath to the Constitution. Clearly, he is not fit
for office.</div><div><br /></div><div>They didn't hit on it. They didn't
cover it that way. Maybe they just don't care about what's termed the
supreme law of the land? </div><div><br /></div><div>Must be because the media ignored that aspect, the attorneys did, the Congress did. </div><div><br /></div><div>It
is your first duty in office, to take the oath of office. And you fail
at keeping that oath then you have no business running for office
again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Would it have mattered? I think it
would have swayed more people. We know what he did. We have video of
him taking the oath. We know he broke it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I
don't think it would have mattered to the Supreme Court. It's a corrupt
Court and the best that you can say for the three center-left justices
is that they're scaredy cats.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course the state can determine who is on their ballot.</div><div><br /></div><div>What f**king would do those lying justices live in?</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sorry Baby Kennedy Junior wants to be on the ballot. Who's he fighting with? States. </div><div><br /></div><div>States are determining whether he can be on their ballot or not. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, states have that right and they always have.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's an embarrassment of stupidity all around.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's
note Super Tuesday before we move on. A number of states held
primaries yesterday. In California? The general election in November
will now determine whether Adam Schiff or Steve Garvey gets the seat.</div><div><br /></div><div>It better be Schiff. And if it's not, he better be crucified by the press.</div><div><br /></div><div>Steve Garvey is a faded pin up from decades ago. </div><div><br /></div><div>He is now on the ballot in November because of Adam Schiff.</div><div><br /></div><div>Adam wanted to run against him. Not against Katie Porter, not against Barbara Lee. He elevated Garvey for that reason.</div><div><br /></div><div>What could go wrong?</div><div><br /></div><div>2016
Team Hillary wanted her in the White House and they elevated Donald
Trump for that reason. Look how that worked out. And has she or her
team faced serious questioning on this? No, of course not.</div><div><br /></div><div>Schiff better win. If he doesn't, the press should descend upon him like pack of jackals. </div><div><br /></div><div>He knows what that's like and will probably learn even more about it judging by last night's 'victory.'</div><div><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AdqUcxGfkA8?si=42pDrBKh4wwNLrwS" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
</div><div><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i10utZ2rRU8?si=7ig7zEosk_JVOYm_" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
</div><div><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CRly23HYdSw?si=PwFvAnA2D1_MSNIF" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
</div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6H03z2qBlIs?si=c0qQuZcw_tWkcMpt" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Across the states, US President Joe Biden faced challenges. <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/03/06/super-tuesday-heres-how-the-uncommitted-protest-vote-fared-against-biden/?sh=5fd7116360b4">Siladitya Ray (FORBES) breaks it down</a>:</div><span class="fs-author-name"><div class="contrib-label-container"><span class="contrib-byline-type"></span></div></span><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="key-facts">
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<p><b>In six of the 14 states that held Democratic primaries on Tuesday,
the “uncommitted” or “no preference” option garnered the second highest
number of votes—beating longshot contenders Marianne Williamson and Rep.
Dean Phillips (D-Minn.)</b></p>
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<div class="key-facts-element animate-line">
<p><b>The “uncommitted” vote drew unexpectedly strong support in Minnesota, <a aria-label="garnering" class="color-link" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/minnesota/?r=25869" href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/minnesota/?r=25869" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/minnesota/?r=25869">garnering</a> nearly 46,000 or 19% of the votes—driven by support from Muslim American voters and young progressives, <a aria-label="according to" class="color-link" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/05/us/politics/biden-uncommitted-protest-vote-minnesota.html" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/05/us/politics/biden-uncommitted-protest-vote-minnesota.html" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/05/us/politics/biden-uncommitted-protest-vote-minnesota.html">according to</a> the New York Times.</b></p>
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<p><b>In North Carolina, where Biden was the sole candidate on the ballot, more than 88,000 chose ‘No Preference’—<a aria-label="accounting" class="color-link" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/north-carolina/?r=34653" href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/north-carolina/?r=34653" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/north-carolina/?r=34653">accounting</a> for 12.7% of the vote.</b></p>
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<p><b>More than 54,000 voters, or 9.4%, <a aria-label="picked" class="color-link" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/massachusetts/?r=24548" href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/massachusetts/?r=24548" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/massachusetts/?r=24548">picked</a> “No Preference” in the Massachusetts primary, with the protest vote beating both Williamson and Phillips by handy margins.</b></p>
</div>
<div class="key-facts-element animate-line">
<p><b>With 73% of the ballots counted, “Noncommitted delegate” <a aria-label="looks set" class="color-link" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/colorado/?r=7393" href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/colorado/?r=7393" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/colorado/?r=7393">looks set</a> to finish second place in the party’s Colorado primary, having garnered 8.1% of the votes.</b></p>
</div>
<div class="key-facts-element">
<p><b>“Uncommitted” received 7.9% of the votes in <a aria-label="Tennessee" class="color-link" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/tennessee/?r=43449" href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/tennessee/?r=43449" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/tennessee/?r=43449">Tennessee</a>—where Biden was the sole candidate—and it also beat Phillips to finish second in <a aria-label="Alabama" class="color-link" data-ga-track="ExternalLink:https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/alabama/?r=1817" href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/alabama/?r=1817" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/alabama/?r=1817">Alabama</a>, with 6% of the votes.</b></p>
</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On the topic of elections, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/iraq/2024/03/03/iraqi-kurdistan-region-to-hold-parliamentary-election-in-june/">Sinan Mahmoud (THE NATIONAL) reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="default__StyledText-sc-1jtxuc8-1 jQghZF body-paragraph"><b>The Kurdistan Region of <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/iraq/" target="_blank">Iraq</a> will hold long-overdue parliamentary elections on June 10, according to a decree issued by regional presidency on Sunday.</b></p><p class="default__StyledText-sc-1jtxuc8-1 jQghZF body-paragraph"><b>“The
decree is effective immediately, and all necessary measures must be
taken from today, upon its issuance," President Nechirvan Barzani said.</b></p><p class="default__StyledText-sc-1jtxuc8-1 jQghZF body-paragraph"><b>The
semi-autonomous region was supposed to hold parliamentary elections in
October 2022, but disagreements between the major ruling parties, the
Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, pushed
back the date.</b></p></div><div><b>The two parties, which have a delicate power-sharing arrangement, later
agreed to extend the parliament's term for a year so they could continue
negotiations over issues such as amending the elections law and the
sharing of tax and oil revenues.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Let's
move over to Gaza, specifically fish faced Pramila Patten and her
lies. She didn't conduct an investigation. She doesn't use terms like
evidence but instead uses "information" as she insists that rapes took
place during the October 7th assault in Israel. She doesn't do much of
anything -- fake asses rarely do -- the lying alone wears her out and
chafes her under carriage. <a href="https://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/iraq-snapshot_5.html">We covered her nonsense yesterday</a>. And we noted that <a href="https://www.passblue.com/2024/01/09/un-envoy-on-sexual-violence-in-conflict-to-visit-israel/">January 9th, Dawn Clancy (PASS BLUE) reported</a>:</div><div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>She was invited by the government to visit the country more than a
month ago to hear first-hand testimonies from Israeli survivors of
sexual violence allegedly committed during the brutal Hamas and
affiliated militia attacks in Israel on Oct. 7.</b></p>
<p><b>Patten, according to a <a href="https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/press-release/gaza-strip-sexual-violence/">press release</a>
in early December, had “responded positively” to the initial invitation
to visit Israel. But it’s unclear if she will investigate alleged
sexual violence and rape that was committed by the militias three months
ago.</b></p>
<p><b>[Update, Jan. 10: UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric
told reporters that Patten would conduct a “mission” to Israel and the
West Bank at the end of the month “to gather information on sexual
violence, reportedly committed in the context of the attacks of 7
October and its aftermath” The mission “will be conducted in the
exercise of her mandate, in accordance with her standard UN
methodology.” She’ll be accompanied by experts in “safe and ethical
interviewing, forensic evidence, digital analysis, and accountability,”
but she is not mandated to “investigate”]</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes,
she was invited in by the Israeli government. At a time when they were
nixing other UN agencies, refusing to allow them to probe, they reached
out specifically to Patten. That tells you what you need to know about
her.</div><div><br /></div><div>The propaganda outlet YNET offers "<a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/ryuruob6t">Unbiased, professional and fair: the UN official behind Hamas sex crime report</a>"
the text of which is a full two paragraphs (that was sarcasm) and maybe
that's because when she hides the fact that the government of Israel
specifically chose her, that lack of disclosure influences how we see
her and her non-findings based on information and her fat gut.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hamas has issued the following response to Patten:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>We, in the Islamic Resistance
Movement (Hamas), reject and strongly condemn the report issued by U.N.
official Pramila Patten, regarding the claim and allegations of
Palestinian resistance fighters committing “rape and sexual violence”
incidents during the events of October 7.</b></p>
<p><b>This came after failed “israeli”
attempts to prove this false charge, which was confirmed to have no
basis in truth, except to demonize the Palestinian resistance and to
cover up the United Nations rapporteurs’ report about the existence of
conclusive evidence of horrific human rights violations suffered by
Palestinian women and girls by the “israeli” occupation forces. </b></p>
<p><b>Despite Ms. Patten’s claims and her
false and baseless accusations against the Palestinian fighters, her
report did not document any testimony of what she calls victims of those
cases, but relied in her report on “israeli” institutions, soldiers,
and witnesses selected by the occupation authorities, to push toward
trying to prove this false charge, which was refuted by all
investigations and international reports. </b></p>
<p><b>Ms. Patten’s claims are clearly
contradicted by the testimonies of “israeli” women about the good
treatment by the fighters towards them, as well as the testimonies of
the released “israeli” female prisoners, and what they confirmed of the
good treatment they received during their captivity in Gaza. </b></p>
<p><b>This false accusation will not
succeed in obscuring the ugliness and horror of the “israeli” crimes
committed in the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the killing of about
40,000 Palestinians, most of them women, children, and civilians, in a
mass crime and ethnic cleansing, and a deliberate disregard for the
resolutions of the International Court of Justice and other
international reports, which documented parts of the crimes and
atrocities committed in Gaza by the new Nazis. </b></p>
<p><b>Central Media Office </b><b>for </b><b>the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine </b></p>
<p><b>The statements made by U.N. Envoy Patton are disgraceful, false, and biased towards the entity.</b></p>
<p><b>The Popular Front for the Liberation
of Palestine has strongly condemned the statements made by U.N. Envoy
Pramila Patton that accused “the resistance factions in Gaza of
committing sexual violence crimes, torture, and harsh treatment against
hostages and detainees on October 7.” These statements are shameful, far
from the truth, and biased towards the entity.</b></p>
<p><b>The Front clarified that the purpose
of these statements is to cover up the brutal crimes and practices of
the occupation against our Palestinian people, which are fully
documented by the United Nations and international institutions. By
contrast, this U.N. envoy did not rely on any reliable evidence of the
resistance factions having committed any such practices; instead, she
relied on reports and testimonies of Zionist origin that have been
proven false.</b></p>
<p><b>The Front added: “Since the beginning
of its war of genocide on the [Gaza] Strip, the zionist enemy, in its
attempt to justify this crime against the Strip, has spread
lies and fabricated narratives and stories about the resistance
factions on October 7. However, in light of the absence of clear
evidence, the publication of fabricated videos, and their exposure to
the global public opinion, it forced heads of states, international
institutions, and media entities to apologize.”</b></p>
<p><b>The Front emphasized that the resistance, with testimonials from
international institutions and even by the admission of the released
detainees and hostages, ensured to uphold ethics
and good treatment of detainees, providing all forms of comfort and
even protecting them from Zionist bombing and treachery. </b></p>
<p><b>At the same time, the world was shocked by the proven and<a href="https://t.me/PalestineResist/29783"> documented reports</a>
and testimonies of the occupation committing sexual violence and
torture against a large number of women during their arrest and
detention in Khan Younis and other areas penetrated in the Gaza Strip.</b></p>
<p><b>The Front concluded its statement by
calling on the U.N. envoy to retract and apologize for these dubious
statements, to cease the double standard policy and equating the victim
with the executioner, and to conduct a serious investigation into the
ongoing practices of genocide in the Gaza Strip – not to cover up these
crimes or attempt to absolve the occupation, which has been intensified
due to the lawsuit filed by South Africa in the International Court of
Justice, revealing the atrocious reality of these crimes to the entire
world.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68483180">David Gritten (BBC NEWS) reports</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><section class="sc-189fa0a-0 insmih" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-e1853509-0 bmLndb"><b class="sc-ed73b9f2-0 jhhdRT">"What
is the fate of the children suffering from hunger? Will they find
someone to save them or will they die? My son Ali has already died."</b></p></section><section class="sc-189fa0a-0 insmih" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-e1853509-0 bmLndb"><b>The
father of Ali, a Palestinian baby boy who recently died of malnutrition
and dehydration at northern Gaza's only paediatrics hospital, has
appealed for help for the other children being treated there, as the UN
warns of famine if aid deliveries are not substantially increased.</b></p></section><section class="sc-189fa0a-0 insmih" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-e1853509-0 bmLndb"><b>"Ali
was born in wartime and there was no food or anything for his mother to
eat - a matter which caused his kidneys to fail," the man - who did not
want to be named - said in an interview recorded for BBC Arabic's Gaza
Lifeline radio service.</b></p></section><section class="sc-189fa0a-0 insmih" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-e1853509-0 bmLndb"><b>"Ali's
life got worse day after day. We tried to get him treated at hospitals,
but there was no help... Ali died in front of the entire world, which
kept watching him pass away."</b></p></section></div><div><br /></div><div>We
stop it there because the BBC can't count. That's it, right? They
wouldn't just be lying, right? 10 kids? It was more than ten by the
start of the work week. But in the next paragraph the BBC wants to use
ten. <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/6/israels-war-on-gaza-live-un-food-convoy-blocked-from-north-gaza-by-israel">Here's ALJAZEERA</a> (and they can count):</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="card-live__content"><div class="wysiwyg-content"><div class="wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content css-1kw180w" id="wysiwyg"><p><b>The Palestinian Health Ministry says the death toll from malnutrition and dehydration in Gaza has risen to 18.</b></p>
<p><b>“The famine is deepening and will claim thousands of lives if the
aggression is not halted and humanitarian and medical aid is not
immediately brought in,” it said in a statement.</b></p>
<p><b>It added that Israel was “deliberately” starving thousands of hungry
people in northern Gaza and called on the international community and
the UN to halt the war and avoid a “health catastrophe”.</b></p></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 152 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/6/israels-war-on-gaza-live-un-food-convoy-blocked-from-north-gaza-by-israel">ALJAZEERA notes</a>,
"The death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,717, with more than
72,156 wounded in Israeli attacks since October 7." Months
ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." <br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-06-24/index.html">CNN reports</a> this morning:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><li><b>Starvation in Gaza: Israeli forces <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-05-24/h_4c6f3570afaaeec0a20e60b719003071" target="_blank">turned away</a>
a food aid convoy from traveling to northern Gaza on Tuesday, the
United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) said. It comes after UN
experts <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-05-24/h_72c40d0d53b3b0116ac53cc557be671d" target="_blank">accused Israel</a>
of "intentionally starving the Palestinian people" in Gaza. The World
Health Organization said limits to aid deliveries have resulted in
roughly 90% of children under the age of 2 experiencing severe food
poverty, with <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-05-24/h_3a2849329158ee01109dbdd393a133b0" target="_blank">child malnutrition levels</a> in northern Gaza being "particularly extreme." The main UN relief agency in the strip is <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-05-24/h_987a2ce7a5910ddde0946133ead094c7" target="_blank">unsure if it will be able to pay</a> its staff so they can deliver food to Gazans. Multiple countries <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/01/middleeast/unrwa-halt-operations-gaza-israel-hamas-intl/index.html" target="_blank">paused funding</a> when some staffers with the agency were accused of taking part in the October 7 Hamas attack. </b></li><li><b>Food airdrops: The US and Jordan <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-05-24/h_a63c38d0eae8fd0e1c78da3674e17a85" target="_blank">again airdropped meals</a> into the enclave on Tuesday. The Pentagon said the US and its international partners are also <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-05-24/h_38fff4f1e74a9ba17acb8c121a342b7b" target="_blank">considering a maritime corridor</a> to get aid into Gaza. US ally Israel continues to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/01/middleeast/gaza-aid-israel-restrictions-investigation-intl-cmd/index.html" target="_blank">obstruct the bulk of aid deliveries</a> to the strip. </b></li><li><b>Aid line shooting: Israeli forces opened fire on people <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/05/middleeast/israel-fire-palestinians-aid-northern-gaza-intl/index.html" target="_blank">waiting for aid</a> on
Monday night in northern Gaza, eyewitnesses told CNN. The shooting took
place in Gaza City shortly before midnight, said one eyewitness, who
had traveled there to try to get flour. A local journalist said there
was "sporadic fire." CNN has reached out to the Israel Defense Forces
for comment. It’s unclear if there were any casualties. It comes after <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/29/middleeast/gaza-food-truck-deaths-israel-wwk-intl/index.html" target="_blank">more than 100 Palestinians were killed</a> trying to access food aid trucks amid Israeli gunfire in Gaza City last Thursday, according to Gaza health officials.</b></li></div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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<div class="item-time">
7 hours ago
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7 hours ago
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7 hours ago
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7 hours ago
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7 hours ago
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<a href="http://likemariasaidpaz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
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The sad and the pathetic
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7 hours ago
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<a href="http://annsmegadub.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Ann's Mega Dub</a>
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<a href="http://annsmegadub.blogspot.com/2024/03/stuck-in-this-world-with-lot-of-hateful.html" target="_blank">
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<div class="item-time">
7 hours ago
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<a href="http://sickofitradlz.blogspot.com/2024/03/nex.html" target="_blank">
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7 hours ago
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<a href="https://jodywatley.net/2024/03/05/jody-watley-new-single-everlasting-has-a-global-groove/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=jody-watley-new-single-everlasting-has-a-global-groove" target="_blank">
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</div></div></li><li style="display: block;"><div class="item-time"><br /></div></li><li style="display: block;"><div class="item-time"><br /></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-68554174009792463332024-03-06T00:32:00.000-05:002024-03-06T00:32:00.236-05:00Radish Salad in the Kitchen <p>Paulina e-mailed to note "a vegetable recipe because we all need more vegetables in our diet." She is correct there. Most Americans do not get the recommended amount of vegetables in their daily diet. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/division-information/media-tools/adults-fruits-vegetables.html">This is from the Center for Disease Control</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risk
of many leading causes of illness and death, such as cardiovascular
disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and obesity. Despite these
positive health benefits, few adults meet the recommendations.</b></p><p><b>Only 9% of adults ate the recommended amount of vegetables and 12% of
adults ate the recommended amount of fruit, according to a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6645a1.htm?s_cid=mm6645a1_w">CDC analysis</a> of data from the 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Results showed that consumption was lower among men, young adults, and adults with lower incomes.</b></p><p><b>The study also found variations by state. For example, adults meeting
fruit or vegetable recommendations ranged from 6% in West Virginia to
16% in Washington DC.</b></p><p>
</p><p><b>Overall there were no significant differences between different
race/ethnicity groups for meeting the vegetable recommendations.
However, in 10 states, a significantly higher percentage of people who
were Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black met recommendations for fruit
intake than did people who were non-Hispanic White.</b></p><p><b>Continued efforts are needed to identify and address barriers to
fruit and vegetable consumption. Previous studies have found that high cost, limited availability and access, and perceived lack of cooking/preparation time can be barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption.<br />
The <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/downloads/strategies-fruits-and-vegetables.pdf" target="new">CDC Guide to Strategies to Increase the Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables <span class="sr-only">pdf icon</span><span aria-hidden="true" class="fi cdc-icon-pdf x16 fill-pdf"></span><span class="file-details">[PDF-2.06MB]</span></a> suggests 10 strategies to increase access to fruits and vegetables, including these:</b></p><ul>
<li><b>Start or expand farm-to-institution programs in childcare, schools, hospitals, workplaces, and other institutions.</b></li>
<li><b>Improve access to retail stores and markets that sell high quality fruits and vegetables.</b></li>
<li><b>Ensure access to fruits and vegetables in cafeterias and other food service venues in worksites, hospitals, and universities.</b></li>
</ul><p>
</p><p><strong>Time and money don’t have to be barriers to eating well. Visit <a class="tp-link-policy" data-domain-ext="gov" href="https://www.myplate.gov/">MyPlate<span class="sr-only">external icon</span><span aria-hidden="true" class="fi cdc-icon-external x16 fill-external"></span></a> from the US Department of Agriculture to learn how to make every bite count.</strong></p><p><br /></p><p>With that in mind, <a href="https://www.loveandlemons.com/radish-salad/">this is Love and Lemons' radish salad recipe</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Ingredients</b></p><div class="wprm-recipe-ingredients-container wprm-recipe-ingredients-no-images wprm-recipe-48421-ingredients-container wprm-block-text-normal wprm-ingredient-style-regular wprm-recipe-images-before" data-recipe="48421" data-servings="4"><div class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-group"><ul class="wprm-recipe-ingredients"><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1 1/2</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cups</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><a class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-link" href="https://www.loveandlemons.com/how-to-cook-beans/" target="_blank">cooked navy beans</a></span>, <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">drained & rinsed</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">¼</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cup</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><a class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-link" href="https://www.loveandlemons.com/lemon-vinaigrette/" target="_blank">Lemon Vinaigrette</a></span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">9</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><a class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-link" href="https://www.loveandlemons.com/roasted-radishes/" target="_blank">roasted radishes</a></span>, <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">halved or quartered</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">2-3</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">thinly sliced red radishes</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1/4</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cup</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">pine nuts</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">tablespoon</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">capers</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1/4</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cup</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><a class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-link" href="https://www.loveandlemons.com/radish-greens/" target="_blank">Radish Green Pesto</a></span>, <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">(or any <a href="https://www.loveandlemons.com/pesto-recipe/">pesto</a>)</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1/4</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cup</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">fresh mint leaves</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">2</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">tablespoons</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">shaved pecorino or Parmesan</span>, <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">optional</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-type: disc;"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">Additional lemon juice</span>, <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal">optional</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-type: disc;"><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><b>Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper</b></span></li></ul></div></div><div class="wprm-recipe-instructions-container wprm-recipe-48421-instructions-container wprm-block-text-normal" data-recipe="48421"><h3 class="wprm-recipe-header wprm-recipe-instructions-header wprm-block-text-bold wprm-align-left wprm-header-decoration-none">Instructions</h3></div><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-48421-step-0-0" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>In a medium bowl, toss the beans with 2 tablespoons of the Lemon Vinaigrette. </b></span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-48421-step-0-1" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>Assemble the salad on a platter with the beans, roasted radishes, sliced raw radishes, pine nuts, capers, and dollops of pesto. </b></span></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-48421-step-0-2" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span style="display: block;"><b>Drizzle
with remaining dressing and top with fresh mint and pecorino, if using.
Season to taste with more salt and pepper and extra squeezes of lemon,
if desired.</b></span></div></li><p><br /></p><p>Because of the topic, I'm going to again note my son's weekend post "<span class="item-title"><a href="http://wwwmikeylikesit.blogspot.com/2024/03/container-gardening-book-review-idiot.html" target="_blank">Container Gardening (book review), Idiot of the Week, and Kylie Minogue
performed at the Brit Awards</a></span>" -- it's about gardening in pots and other containers and how you can benefit from that. In addition, you can also see "<a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/book-talk-mike-ava-and-ci.html">Book Talk (Mike, Ava and C.I.)</a>" where Ava and C.I. discuss the book with him. Also check out Ava and C.I.'s "<a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/tv-elsbeth.html">TV: ELSBETH</a>."</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="https://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/iraq-snapshot_5.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Tuesday:<br /><br /></p>
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Tuesday, March 5, 2024. A UN 'report' backs up Israel but are we the
only ones who'll point out that the laughable report was written by a
woman the Israeli government selected back in December (no, that's not
how investigations work) and much more.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Where to start? Where to start?</div><div><br /></div><div>How about with this: The First Lady of Israel was raped! </div><div><br /></div><div>What's that? She wasn't. Then why does the UN offer speaking to her as proof of anything?</div><div><br /></div><div>If
you missed it, the UN sent a stooge with a team to Israel to supposedly
learn if rapes took place October 7th. You or I might call that an
"investigation." The UN didn't. That's your first raised eyebrow --
the repeated insistence that this is not anything to take seriously. If
you wade through the actual . . . can we call it a 'report'? Is that
okay with the UN? If you wade through <a href="https://news.un.org/en/sites/news.un.org.en/files/atoms/files/Mission_report_of_SRSG_SVC_to_Israel-oWB_29Jan_14_feb_2024.pdf">it</a> you find 23 pages of nothing. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>They
found no evidence as the Israeli government led them by the hand to
various people (none of them rape survivors). They found no physical
evidence. </div><div><br /></div><div>They found nothing:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>The
main challenge was the limited number of and access to
survivors/victims of sexual violence, and to survivors and witnesses of
the 7 October attacks. While the mission team was able to meet with some
released hostages as well as with some survivors and witnesses of the
attacks, it did not meet with any survivor/victim of sexual violence
from 7 October despite concerted efforts encouraging them to come
forward.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>They found nothing:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><b>In the Nahal Oz military base, the mission team reviewed reports of sexual violence</b></div><div><b>including a case of rape and genital mutilation, neither of which could be verified. With respect</b></div><div><b>to the latter instance, while the forensic analysis reviewed injuries to intimate body parts, no</b></div><div><b>discernible pattern could be identified, against either female or male soldiers. However, seven</b></div><div><b>female soldiers were abducted from this base into Gaza.</b></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>They found nothing:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><b>The mission was neither intended to, and nor could the mission team, in such a short</b></div><div><b>period of time, establish the prevalence of conflict-related sexual violence during and after the 7</b></div><div><b>October attacks. The overall magnitude, scope, and specific attribution of these violations would</b></div><div><b>require a comprehensive investigation by competent bodies</b></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, an investigation would require "competent bodies" and clearly the United Nations team sent in did not qualify. </div><div><br /></div><div>The report is pathetic and laughable.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><b>For the purposes of this mission and report, “conflict-related sexual violence” is defined</b></div><div><b>in accordance with the framing definition used in successive reports of the Secretary-General on</b></div><div><b>conflict-related sexual violence. The term thus refers to “rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution,</b></div><div><b>forced pregnancy, forced abortion, enforced sterilization, forced marriage, and any other form of</b></div><div><b>sexual violence of comparable gravity perpetrated against women, men, girls, or boys that is</b></div><div><b>directly or indirectly linked to a conflict. </b></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Forced
abortions? I'm sorry, is that supposed to suggest that Hamas was also
carrying out field abortions during the October 7th attack? </div><div><br /></div><div>The UN team can't get off the First Lady of Israel:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><b>The mission team met with a wide range of national authorities including the President of</b></div><div><b>Israel and the First Lady, relevant line ministries including Foreign Affairs, Welfare and Social</b></div><div><b>Affairs, Health, and Justice. </b></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Again,
was the First Lady raped? Then why do you keep bringing her up. A
ceremonial post with no power and you keep trying to inflate her.
Reminder -- not all women are feminist and there's a reason that no
one's ever called Pamila Patten a feminist. What is she? Someone that
determined this March report would decide rape took place. She made
that clear in repeated interviews going back to January. <a href="https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1sajwrqa">Here's YNET news reporting on from February 5th</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text_editor_paragraph ltr" data-block="true" data-editor="1mudu" data-offset-key="95c54-0-0"><div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="95c54-0-0"><b><span data-offset-key="95c54-0-0">According
to Pramila Patten, the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
and Special Envoy for Sexual Violence in Conflicts, she has been unable
to sleep for a week since viewing the </span><a aria-label="47-minute video compiled by the IDF of the atrocities - open in a new tab" data-uw-rm-ext-link="" href="https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syfz9bcz6" id="rJzL1RZ9Vaa" target="_blank" uw-rm-external-link-id="https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syfz9bcz6$47-minutevideocompiledbytheidfoftheatrocities"><span data-offset-key="95c54-1-0">47-minute video compiled by the IDF of the atrocities</span></a><span data-offset-key="95c54-2-0"> committed on </span><a aria-label="October 7 - open in a new tab" data-uw-rm-ext-link="" href="https://www.ynetnews.com/topics/October_7" id="B17LyCbcVT6" target="_blank" uw-rm-external-link-id="https://www.ynetnews.com/topics/october_7$october7"><span data-offset-key="95c54-3-0">October 7</span></a><span data-offset-key="95c54-4-0">.
The scenes continue to haunt her. "Only after I saw the video did I
understand things that I didn't understand before in terms of the
magnitude of the disaster that happened."</span></b></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Poor Pramila, ugly and stupid.</div><div><br /></div><div>(And she truly is ugly.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Her
laughable report fails to note so much. Such as the reality that
Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights (OHCHR),
repeatedly contacted the government of Israel to conduct an
investigation into events and was refused. But the government of Israel
asked for Pramila. Maybe they love eye bags or pinched faces or purple
lips, who knows? But they asked for Pramila.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, and they asked for her in December. <a href="https://www.passblue.com/2024/01/09/un-envoy-on-sexual-violence-in-conflict-to-visit-israel/">January 9th, Dawn Clancy (PASS BLUE) reported</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>She was invited by the government to visit the country more than a
month ago to hear first-hand testimonies from Israeli survivors of
sexual violence allegedly committed during the brutal Hamas and
affiliated militia attacks in Israel on Oct. 7.</b></p>
<p><b>Patten, according to a <a href="https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/press-release/gaza-strip-sexual-violence/">press release</a>
in early December, had “responded positively” to the initial invitation
to visit Israel. But it’s unclear if she will investigate alleged
sexual violence and rape that was committed by the militias three months
ago.</b></p>
<p><b>[Update, Jan. 10: UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric
told reporters that Patten would conduct a “mission” to Israel and the
West Bank at the end of the month “to gather information on sexual
violence, reportedly committed in the context of the attacks of 7
October and its aftermath” The mission “will be conducted in the
exercise of her mandate, in accordance with her standard UN
methodology.” She’ll be accompanied by experts in “safe and ethical
interviewing, forensic evidence, digital analysis, and accountability,”
but she is not mandated to “investigate”]</b></p><p><b>[. . .]</b></p><p><b>Patten, a 65-year-old lawyer originally from Mauritius, said in another <a href="https://www.un.org/sexualviolenceinconflict/press-release/un-special-representative-of-the-secretary-general-on-sexual-violence-in-conflict-ms-pramila-patten-calls-for-the-immediate-safe-and-unconditional-release-of-remaining-hostages-after-75-days-in-h/">press release,</a>
on Dec. 21: “All forms of sexual violence and the taking of hostages
are strictly prohibited under international humanitarian and human
rights law. Accordingly, all the horrific reports of sexual violence
allegedly committed by Hamas on 7 October must be promptly and
rigorously investigated, and the United Nations reiterates its readiness
to independently investigate any such violations.”</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Is there anything sadder than a 65 year old whore? Well, a whore with a fish face but we already told you she's ugly. </p><p><br /></p><p>So
she didn't do an investigation. She spoke to no one of value and she
was invited in by the Israeli government as it attacked other
officials. Hmm. Also, don't claim you filed an ethical report when you
failed to disclose in your 23 pages that the government of Israel
invited you in and did so in December.</p><p><br /></p><p>A lazy whore exposed herself and, at 65, no one wanted to see it. Sana Saeed dissects it in the following thread of Tweets.</p><p><br /></p><p>
</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1764774039678050448" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1764774039678050448&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%3Fupdated-max%3D2024-03-05T13%3A00%3A00-08%3A00%26max-results%3D3&sessionId=05007223596f1e8b7a23bbd82aa09c8809490324&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 835px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div>
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<br /><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1764782321142530077" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-9" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-9&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1764782321142530077&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%3Fupdated-max%3D2024-03-05T13%3A00%3A00-08%3A00%26max-results%3D3&sessionId=05007223596f1e8b7a23bbd82aa09c8809490324&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 527px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In
an unsigned, ridiculous report for the BBC, all claims are treated as
researched and substantiated -- they are not -- yet there's no mention
of my point above: The whore was invited in by Israel in December -- at
a time when they were refusing requests from UN figures. It's a
conflict of interest that needs to be noted. They selected her for a
reason. People learning the unsubstantiated claims of her 'report' need
to know that. It goes to trust and its unethical not to disclose it.
It undercuts the claims so they want to keep it quiet but that's not
journalism.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, look, well known liar <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/04/europe/un-team-sexual-abuse-oct-7-hostages-intl/index.html">Richard Roth writes a 'report' for CNN</a>
that also hides the reality that Pramila was invited in by the Israeli
government. If only all criminals could pick and choose who
investigates them, right?</div><div><br /></div><div>And let me add
something else as a rape survivor. Five months? My what delicate
flowers Israeli women must be. Five months after an alleged rape --
excuse me, rapes -- multiples -- none of the women can come forward.
Help me out on that, I don't see myself as exceptionally strong. Other
rape survivors, does that track for you because it doesn't for me. It
does go the sexist mind set that would use claims of rape to sell a
war. It does go to their injured manhood that would claim that a rape
would turn a woman into a body of dysfunction to be shrouded and hidden
away. Or maybe they all just had an attack of the meses? That's about
the level of maturity Pramila and the Israeli government's nonsense
reaches.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 151 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/5/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israeli-attacks-on-aid-seekers-continue">ALJAZEERA notes</a>, "The Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip says the death toll of
Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since October 7 has risen to
30,631, with 72,043 others wounded." Months
ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Lets drop back to <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/4/gaza_starvation_akram_al_satarri">yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
We begin today’s show in Gaza, where Palestinian health officials say
at least 16 children have died in recent days from starvation and
dehydration as Israel’s assault continues. <span class="caps">UNICEF</span> warns the number of child deaths will likely “rapidly increase” unless the war ends.</b></p>
<p><b>Palestinians in Rafah searched Sunday under the rubble of a family
home hit by an Israeli airstrike the night before that killed as many as
14 people, including a father and twin babies born in the last few
months.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">PALESTINIAN</span> <span class="caps">WOMAN</span>:
[translated] We want the United States to get away from us. We don’t
want anything from them. We don’t want anything from the United States.
They are lying and conspiring against us. God is my suffice and the best
deputy.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Here in the United States, Vice President Kamala Harris Sunday called
for a ceasefire in Gaza. She made the comments in a speech in Selma,
Alabama, marking the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">VICE</span> <span class="caps">PRESIDENT</span> <span class="caps">KAMALA</span> <span class="caps">HARRIS</span>:
And given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an
immediate ceasefire, for at least the next six weeks, which is what is
currently on the table. This will get the hostages out and get a
significant amount of aid in. This would allow us to build something
more enduring to ensure Israel is secure and to respect the right of the
Palestinian people to dignity, freedom and self-determination. Hamas
claims it wants a ceasefire. Well, there is a deal on the table. And as
we have said, Hamas needs to agree to that deal. Let’s get a ceasefire.
Let’s reunite the hostages with their families. And let’s provide
immediate relief to the people of Gaza.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Vice President Harris spoke three days after the United States blocked a
U.N. Security Council statement condemning Israel after Israeli
soldiers opened fire on Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza City, in a
massacre that left at least 118 people dead. On Sunday, officials in
Gaza accused Israeli forces of killing and wounding dozens more aid
seekers who had gathered at the Kuwaiti roundabout in Gaza City. Facing
growing international criticism, President Biden Friday announced the
United States would begin airdropping food aid into Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b>Negotiations for a temporary ceasefire faced another setback Sunday
when Israel boycotted talks in Cairo after Israeli Prime Minister
Netanyahu accused Hamas of failing to provide a list of all living
Israeli hostages.</b></p>
<p><b>Meanwhile, Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz is in the U.S.
for what’s being described as an unauthorized trip to hold talks with
Vice President Harris, Tony Blinken and other top officials. Gantz is
seen as a rival to Netanyahu, who reportedly lashed out at Gantz for
making the trip without his approval.</b></p>
<p><b>All of this comes as the official death toll in Gaza has topped 30,500.</b></p>
<p><b>For more, we go to Rafah for an update from Akram al-Satarri, the Gaza-based journalist.</b></p>
<p><b>Akram, your brother was at the aid convoy when Israeli soldiers
opened fire. What did he explain to you happened, what’s being now
called the flour massacre, for the flour that people were coming to get
to make bread?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKRAM</span> AL-<span class="caps">SATARRI</span>: Good morning, Amy.</b></p>
<p><b>Yes, indeed, my brother was one of the people who were targeted by
the Israeli tanks and artillery fire in that area of al-Rashid Street,
particularly al-Nabulsi roundabout, when they were trying to seek food
for their children. To start with, it is the very personal story of my
brother in mind, who was in direct contact with me, seeking to secure
any help whatsoever for his children. He was taking that unsafe trip
towards al-Nabulsi roundabout. He was waiting there. He was waiting from
3:00 in the afternoon. He was hoping that he would get at least some
wheat flour for his children, because they have not eaten bread for
around 25 days or even more than 25 days. He saw many people there
coming from the Gaza north, as well, in the hope that they can secure
some food for their children.</b></p>
<p><b>All of a sudden, the bombardment started — not the bombardment;
rather, the tanks’ gunfire started. And, of course, the tanks are using
1.5-millimeter caliber guns, and those guns are very lethal. They can
split a person into two halves. The fire started. The tanks never
stopped shooting at them. And the observation that was — the observation
that was made by the people who were there, including my brother, that
the number of the tanks that were present in that particular time was
[inaudible], in the sense that in the last few days they knew tanks were
like there, but not in the large number that was in that particular
day. The fire started. The fire never stopped. People were shot. People
were falling on the ground. People were running. And some of the wounded
people were grabbing the legs of the other people, asking them to save
and help them. The ones even whose legs were pulled were shot, as well,
and were killed. So, people were crawling. My brother told me that he
was crawling for around 1.5 kilometers, from this al-Nabulsi roundabout
up to al-Shalihat roundabout, which is an area that is around 1
kilometer or 1.2 kilometers far away from the area that they were in.
The firing never stopped.</b></p>
<p><b>And to him, it looked like that was preplanned and that the massacre
that was planned, according to the description of my brother and any
other people, was intentional. And the firing never stopped 'til that
very large number of people were killed. And a very large number of
people also was injured. Some of them are dying every day. And this
specific incident was replicated the day after this massacre took place
and the day, three days or even four days after that. So it looks like
this is a policy that is followed by the Israeli occupation army, and it
looks like the objective is to continue the starvation of the people of
Gaza and to kill them when they dare to think that they can secure
something to feed their children. So they were killed when they're
trying to get the wheat flour. They were killed while they were seeking
life.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
So, the Israeli military says it started a preliminary review and that
Israeli forces did not attack the convoy, but that most of the
fatalities were caused by a stampede. At the same time, the director of
the Al-Awda Hospital told the United Nations some 80% of the wounded
brought into the hospital had been shot. If you could respond further,
Akram?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKRAM</span> AL-<span class="caps">SATARRI</span>:
Well, according to the preliminary diagnoses of the hospital and of the
people who were there, most of the people who were there were suffering
from upper body parts injuries, which is indicative of the gun that was
used, of the fire that was used against them. Some were hit also by
shrapnel because of the — by artillery fire that was hit at them.</b></p>
<p><b>Of course, if I were Israel or if I were the occupation, I would tell
the world that I have already started a preliminary investigation, and
they might also [inaudible] came from us, and shoot the Palestinians,
who were not using any arms and who were seeking to feed their children.
That’s typical. That’s normal. This is the Israeli habit. They will say
— because they targeted the Baptist Hospital, and they also said that
was not them, that was an Islamic Jihad rocket, missile, that hit the
people and killed around 600 people. That’s normal.</b></p>
<p><b>But the issue now, if the international community is failing to
compel Israel to conduct a scrutiny into the things that happened, I
think the international community failed before and is still failing to
stop the ongoing atrocities and is helping somehow. When they are
condoning the ongoing bombardment, they are failing to do justice for
the people of Palestine, and they are failing to observe the
international humanitarian law coordinates — the international
humanitarian law dictates, that asks the government to take whatever
precautions are needed to protect the civilian population, civilian
population that is living in Gaza, extremely difficult conditions
[inaudible] food [inaudible]. They were not [inaudible] in a fire
exchange. They were seeking food for their families and for their
children and for themselves, and they ended up being killed.</b></p>
<p><b>So, Israel will deny. And I wouldn’t be surprised also if Israel said
that they were killed by other Palestinians. That is a scenario, I
think, that is extremely acceptable for Israel. And Israel allies would
buy anything from Israel. So, no need. The ones who were killed are just
Palestinians, Palestinians who were treated as second-grade humans, who
are still besieged, who are still starving, who are still killed, who
are still displaced for around second or six or seven or eight times,
and who are expecting more of the misery and the death and displacement.</b></p>
<p><b>So, the international community is failing, and I don’t think the
Palestinians trust any statements made by the Israeli army about any
preliminary investigation, because there were many preliminary
investigations to be done, but they were never done, and there was many
justice that is expected to be done for the Palestinians but was not
done.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Akram, if you can comment on the United States working with the
Jordanian Air Force, dropping 38,000 ready-to-eat meals, largely on the
beach in Gaza? If you can respond to — we just played clips of mass
protest, that there was protest around the world, but one person in
Washington, D.C., commented on the fact that while the U.S. is
providing, is dropping this food, they should stop providing Israel with
the bombs they drop on Palestinians.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKRAM</span> AL-<span class="caps">SATARRI</span>:
The clear analysis of this situation when it comes to the
cause-and-effect relationship between Israel and the misery that the
Palestinians have been living, the United States and the misery that
Palestinians have been living, three C-103 planes were dropping food on
the Palestinians, while countless number of F-16s, F-15s, F-22s and
F-35s, also with the most advanced technology and with the ammunition
that are provided by the United States to the Israel — so, in one hand,
they are providing people with food, and in the other hand, they are
providing people with death, taking their lives.</b></p>
<p><b>I think the United States should be reconsidering its position when
it comes to providing Israel with killing ammunitions and thinking that
they are providing people in Gaza with around 35,000 or 36,000 meals
that are ready to eat. The Palestinians might not be able to eat them.
And some of the airdropped assistance that was dropped in Gaza went to
the sea. And one of the people that I was talking to, he was joking and
mocking the whole situation we are living in. He was saying the fish is
very grateful for the American administration because they dropped the
food that was sent to Gaza to the fish in the Gaza Sea. And I think a
president that is dropping the aid for the Ukrainians while the Gaza is
the target is, in a way — needs to reconsider everything about that, and
they need to make sure that they provide unhindered access through the
recognized crossings of Gaza for the people who are displaced, in the
Gaza south and in the Gaza north. So, somehow, it’s — Palestinians find
it ridiculous. Palestinians find it a way that needs to be reviewed and
changed.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
What word are you getting of ceasefire negotiations? And also, what is
happening on the ground where you are, in Rafah, right now? Al Jazeera
reporting at least 11 were killed, 50 wounded, after an Israeli air
attack on a tent housing displaced people next to an entrance to a
hospital in Rafah city, not far from where you are standing.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKRAM</span> AL-<span class="caps">SATARRI</span>:
Well, the negotiations are still underway. It looks like Israel has
some demands to make. Some of them were not agreed upon in the past, but
now they are coming up with them. Palestinians don’t have high
expectations when it comes to the negotiation.</b></p>
<p><b>Palestinians are extremely busy now trying to survive because of the
expansion of the ground operation. In Khan Younis area, they have
already targeted — the Israeli occupation targeted Hamad City area and
also the al-Qarara area, which is an expansion of the ground operation
that has been already starting in Khan Younis for the last — have been
already rolling in Khan Younis for the last three months. The Israeli
occupation forces targeted a tent by a hospital in the Rafah west area,
and they also targeted a home. The number of people who were killed in
Rafah for the last 24 hours is more than 50 people in different
incidents taking place in different parts of Rafah.</b></p>
<p><b>So, the misery is continuous, and the bombardment is continuous. And
the number of Palestinians who are killed because of that and the number
of people who are displaced because of that is increasing, I would say,
by the second, not by the minute.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Finally, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has the
negotiating team boycotting the negotiations now in — the ceasefire
negotiations in Cairo, because he says Hamas has refused, as part of the
deal, to provide the list of living hostages. Your thoughts on this and
where these negotiations stand?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKRAM</span> AL-<span class="caps">SATARRI</span>:
As a matter of fact, that — I’ve been following the news about this
from the Israeli media sources and from the Palestinian media sources,
as well. That specific request was not made by the Israeli security
forces, security agencies in the past. Now Netanyahu is inventing
something new for the sake of just continuing the delay.</b></p>
<p><b>It looks like this delay is taking place for some purely political
reasons where Netanyahu is interested in prolonging the war. They have
disputes. They have issues. One of the top leaders is now in the U.S.A.
Netanyahu is busy calling Blinken and calling other people, telling them
that it is an unauthorized trip. It looks like there is something that
is internally happening in the Israeli political arena that Netanyahu
wants to stop and prevent from happening. And that’s why everything that
he wants to do eventually reflects on the Palestinians, now more
killing, more displacement, now refusing the request to provide some
names — now asking to provide some names.</b></p>
<p><b>So, I think we will see a great deal of procrastination like the one
that we have been seeing for the past few months. Netanyahu is
interested in his personal safety when it comes to his political career,
political life, and I think that’s why even the Israeli security
forces, that are not being able to end this military confrontation with
the Palestinian factions in Gaza, are now trying to, through the
political means, to come to, I would say, honorable end for this, but
they are failing to do so.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
You’re talking about Benny Gantz being in Washington now to meet with
today Kamala Harris, Tony Blinken — she’ll be meeting with — and other
officials. I wanted to, finally, ask you about the issue of famine,
about the number of children who are dying of hunger and dehydration,
and how the Palestinians are dealing with this at this point.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKRAM</span> AL-<span class="caps">SATARRI</span>:
Well, according to the statistics that were released by the Palestinian
Ministry of Health, around 1 million Palestinians have developed some
diseases of any kind, be them some diseases that have to do with the
digestive system, with the respiratory system, with the upper
respiratory system, which is indicative of the quality of life, where
quality of life has reached in Gaza, and what is the situation of the
public health. When you don’t have water desalination plants, when you
destroy the water purification systems, when you destroy the solar
panels that are on top of the houses of the people, when you destroy the
heavy vehicles that are used by the municipalities to remove the waste,
when you are destroying everything that has to do with the life of the
Palestinians, this result is normal and is projected, and it will
continue to deteriorate.</b></p>
<p><b>Now, with the children, 18 children have died in northern Gaza. More
children are dying in southern Gaza. People cannot get decent food for
their children. When people are drinking the water, the water is
polluted, and it causes them some serious public health issues. And now
the children are the most vulnerable people within the community. We
have 1 million child in Gaza, 1 million child that do not have
appropriate shelter, do not have appropriate feeding systems. They don’t
have appropriate water systems, and they end up consuming water that is
polluted, food that is polluted. They end up exposed. The twins that
were killed yesterday, they were just twins. They were children. They
were killed with their father. So they were deprived from the right to
live, and they are still deprived from the right to access decent water,
shelter and food supplies. So this is the situation in Gaza as it is.
It is an ongoing suffering because of the fact that the Israeli
occupation denied them the right to be treated as humans. This is the
whole issue.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Akram al-Satarri, we want to thank you so much for being with us, a
Gaza-based journalist, speaking to us today from Rafah. Please be safe.</b></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Where's
the video? We posted it yesterday. For a few hours you could stream
it. YOUTUBE's now put a warning on it. The Israeli government can kill
but YOUTUBE won't allow the damage to be shown.</p></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/05/israel-hamas-war-news-gaza-palestine/">Frances Vinall (WASHINGTON POST) notes</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><b>A severe lack of food led to the deaths of 10 children at Kamal Adwan
Hospital in northern Gaza, the head of the World Health Organization <a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1764652624492515832" target="_blank">said Monday</a>, a day after the Gaza Health Ministry reported that <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/03/israel-hamas-war-news-gaza-palestine/?itid=lk_inline_manual_26" target="_blank">15 children there have died</a>
of malnutrition or dehydration. Visits to two hospitals in the area —
the first the WHO has been able to make since October — revealed “severe
levels of malnutrition, children dying of starvation, serious shortages
of fuel, food and medical supplies, hospital buildings destroyed,”
Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on social media.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>New content at THIRD:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul class="posts">
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/truest-statement-of-week.html">Truest statement of the week</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/truest-statement-of-week-ii.html">Truest statement of the week II</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/a-note-to-our-readers.html">A note to our readers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/gaza.html">Gaza</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/tv-elsbeth.html">TV: ELSBETH</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/book-talk-mike-ava-and-ci.html">Book Talk (Mike, Ava and C.I.)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/book-list.html">Book list</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/2024-passings.html">2024 passings</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/tweet-of-week.html">Tweet of the week</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/music-elaine-covers-sonny-chers-look-at.html">Music: Elaine covers Sonny & Cher's LOOK AT US</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/evan-ross-my-wonderful-sons-who-are.html">Evan & Ross, my wonderful sons who are loving men,...</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/iraq-unregistered-marriages-harm-women.html">Iraq: Unregistered Marriages Harm Women and Children</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/this-editions-playlist.html">This edition's playlist</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/highlights.html">Highlights</a></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
<div class="widget-content">
<div class="blog-list-container" id="BlogList1_container">
<ul id="BlogList1_blogs">
<li style="display: block;">
<div class="blog-icon">
<img data-lateloadsrc="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sjg5Mx-2dgH07tOLW4bw9gAiGE2zXUwAuUMQBN87QjiGQMmvjJtwLeEOaqFmjyjxaDttBrA3iDaDTL-PyJDJxR7FVu=s16-w16-h16" height="16" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sjg5Mx-2dgH07tOLW4bw9gAiGE2zXUwAuUMQBN87QjiGQMmvjJtwLeEOaqFmjyjxaDttBrA3iDaDTL-PyJDJxR7FVu=s16-w16-h16" width="16" />
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<div class="blog-title">
<a href="https://kbla1580.com/" target="_blank">
KBLA - Tavis Smiley's talk radio</a>
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Jay Shetty, monk turned author and lifestyle coach, under scanner for
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</a>
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2 hours ago
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Music</a>
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<a href="https://npr.org/2024/03/05/1197959147/all-songs-considered-the-contenders-vol-4" target="_blank">
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<div class="item-time">
5 hours ago
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Oh Boy It Never Ends</a>
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<div class="item-time">
6 hours ago
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Mikey Likes It!</a>
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<div class="item-time">
6 hours ago
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Salsa in the Kitchen
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6 hours ago
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Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude</a>
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ivf
</a>
</span>
<div class="item-time">
6 hours ago
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</div>
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<div class="blog-title">
<a href="http://ruthsreport.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Ruth's Report</a>
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<div class="item-content">
<span class="item-title">
<a href="http://ruthsreport.blogspot.com/2024/03/donald-trump-and-mondays-always-get-me.html" target="_blank">
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</span>
<div class="item-time">
6 hours ago
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<img data-lateloadsrc="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tUJcXyfTJJCq1NTKVl48pNQalnPJ99ab44fAYujKwBLquDeO6EJOdbViuAG0Yx0tsgA5ApoiFDcmh9v2Djz5GFiAKpb-uEafJKpROrp4HPjQGN=s16-w16-h16" height="16" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tUJcXyfTJJCq1NTKVl48pNQalnPJ99ab44fAYujKwBLquDeO6EJOdbViuAG0Yx0tsgA5ApoiFDcmh9v2Djz5GFiAKpb-uEafJKpROrp4HPjQGN=s16-w16-h16" width="16" />
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Like Maria Said Paz</a>
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<span class="item-title">
<a href="http://likemariasaidpaz.blogspot.com/2024/03/racist-marjorie.html" target="_blank">
Racist Marjorie
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</span>
<div class="item-time">
6 hours ago
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</div>
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<div class="blog-title">
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SICKOFITRADLZ</a>
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<span class="item-title">
<a href="http://sickofitradlz.blogspot.com/2024/03/nex-benedict.html" target="_blank">
Nex Benedict
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<div class="item-time">
6 hours ago
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</li>
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Third Estate Sunday Review</a>
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<div class="item-content">
<span class="item-title">
<a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/03/tv-elsbeth.html" target="_blank">
TV: ELSBETH
</a>
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<div class="item-time">
6 hours ago
</div>
</div>
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</li>
<li style="display: block;">
<div class="blog-icon">
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Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills)</a>
</div>
<div class="item-content">
<span class="item-title">
<a href="http://katskornerofthecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/diana-ross-raye-cher.html" target="_blank">
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<div class="item-time">
6 hours ago
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Thomas Friedman is a Great Man</a>
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A Talk With Crooked Clarence
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<div class="item-time">
11 hours ago
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Cedric's Big Mix</a>
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<span class="item-title">
<a href="http://cedricsbigmix.blogspot.com/2024/03/crooked-clarence-rolls-around-in-his.html" target="_blank">
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</a>
</span>
<div class="item-time">
11 hours ago
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</div>
<div style="clear: both;"></div>
</li>
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Ann's Mega Dub</a>
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<span class="item-title">
<a href="http://annsmegadub.blogspot.com/2024/03/fat-ugly-and-coward-clarence-thomas.html" target="_blank">
Fat, ugly and a coward -- Clarence Thomas
</a>
</span>
<div class="item-time">
11 hours ago
</div>
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<div style="clear: both;"></div>
</li>
<li style="display: block;">
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<a href="http://theworldtodayjustnuts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
The World Today Just Nuts</a>
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<span class="item-title">
<a href="http://theworldtodayjustnuts.blogspot.com/2024/03/crooked-cowardly-clarence-thomas-has.html" target="_blank">
Crooked Cowardly Clarence Thomas has NEVER served his country
</a>
</span>
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</div></div></li><li style="display: block;"><div class="item-time"><br /></div></li><li style="display: block;"><div class="item-time"> </div></li></ul></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-71000314845733210802024-03-05T01:57:00.000-05:002024-03-05T01:57:07.450-05:00Salsa in the Kitchen<p>Katie e-mailed a <a href="https://www.thecookierookie.com/blender-salsa-easy-homemade-salsa-recipe/">salsa recipe that she found on The Cookie Rookie</a>:</p><h3 class="wprm-recipe-header wprm-recipe-ingredients-header wprm-block-text-normal wprm-align-left wprm-header-decoration-none">Ingredients<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3><div class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-group"><ul class="wprm-recipe-ingredients"><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="0" style="list-style-type: none;"><b><span class="wprm-checkbox-container"><input aria-label=" 56 ounces (2 cans) whole, peeled tomatoes drained (I prefer San Marzanos)" class="wprm-checkbox" id="wprm-checkbox-0" type="checkbox" /><label class="wprm-checkbox-label" for="wprm-checkbox-0"><span class="sr-only screen-reader-text wprm-screen-reader-text">▢ </span></label></span><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">56</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">ounces</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">(2 cans) whole, peeled tomatoes</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-faded">drained (I prefer San Marzanos)</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="1" style="list-style-type: none;"><b><span class="wprm-checkbox-container"><input aria-label=" 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves rough chopped" class="wprm-checkbox" id="wprm-checkbox-1" type="checkbox" /><label class="wprm-checkbox-label" for="wprm-checkbox-1"><span class="sr-only screen-reader-text wprm-screen-reader-text">▢ </span></label></span><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cup</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">fresh cilantro leaves</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-faded">rough chopped</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="2" style="list-style-type: none;"><b><span class="wprm-checkbox-container"><input aria-label=" ½ medium white onion rough chopped" class="wprm-checkbox" id="wprm-checkbox-2" type="checkbox" /><label class="wprm-checkbox-label" for="wprm-checkbox-2"><span class="sr-only screen-reader-text wprm-screen-reader-text">▢ </span></label></span><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">½</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">medium white onion</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-faded">rough chopped</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="3" style="list-style-type: none;"><b><span class="wprm-checkbox-container"><input aria-label=" 2 jalapeno peppers seeds, stem & membranes removed" class="wprm-checkbox" id="wprm-checkbox-3" type="checkbox" /><label class="wprm-checkbox-label" for="wprm-checkbox-3"><span class="sr-only screen-reader-text wprm-screen-reader-text">▢ </span></label></span><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">2</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">jalapeno peppers</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-faded">seeds, stem & membranes removed</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="4" style="list-style-type: none;"><b><span class="wprm-checkbox-container"><input aria-label=" 1 clove garlic skin removed" class="wprm-checkbox" id="wprm-checkbox-4" type="checkbox" /><label class="wprm-checkbox-label" for="wprm-checkbox-4"><span class="sr-only screen-reader-text wprm-screen-reader-text">▢ </span></label></span><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">clove</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">garlic</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-faded">skin removed</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="5" style="list-style-type: none;"><b><span class="wprm-checkbox-container"><input aria-label=" 1½ teaspoons kosher salt or coarse sea salt if using table salt, use ½ teaspoon" class="wprm-checkbox" id="wprm-checkbox-5" type="checkbox" /><label class="wprm-checkbox-label" for="wprm-checkbox-5"><span class="sr-only screen-reader-text wprm-screen-reader-text">▢ </span></label></span><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1½</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">teaspoons</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">kosher salt or coarse sea salt</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-faded">if using table salt, use ½ teaspoon</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="6" style="list-style-type: none;"><b><span class="wprm-checkbox-container"><input aria-label=" Juice from 2½ limes" class="wprm-checkbox" id="wprm-checkbox-6" type="checkbox" /><label class="wprm-checkbox-label" for="wprm-checkbox-6"><span class="sr-only screen-reader-text wprm-screen-reader-text">▢ </span></label></span><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">Juice from 2½ limes</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="7" style="list-style-type: none;"><b><span class="wprm-checkbox-container"><input aria-label=" ¾ teaspoon ground cumin" class="wprm-checkbox" id="wprm-checkbox-7" type="checkbox" /><label class="wprm-checkbox-label" for="wprm-checkbox-7"><span class="sr-only screen-reader-text wprm-screen-reader-text">▢ </span></label></span><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">¾</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">teaspoon</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">ground cumin</span></b></li><li class="wprm-recipe-ingredient" data-uid="8" style="list-style-type: none;"><b><span class="wprm-checkbox-container"><input aria-label=" ½ teaspoon granulated sugar" class="wprm-checkbox" id="wprm-checkbox-8" type="checkbox" /><label class="wprm-checkbox-label" for="wprm-checkbox-8"><span class="sr-only screen-reader-text wprm-screen-reader-text">▢ </span></label></span><span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">½</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">teaspoon</span> <span class="wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">granulated sugar</span></b></li></ul></div><h3 class="wprm-recipe-header wprm-recipe-instructions-header wprm-block-text-normal wprm-align-left wprm-header-decoration-none">Instructions<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-group" data-slot-rendered-recipe="true"><ul class="wprm-recipe-instructions"><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-31260-step-0-0" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text"><b>Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until you get the desired consistency (12-18 pulses should do).</b></div><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredients wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredients-inline wprm-block-text-faded"><b><span class="wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient-31260-0" data-separator=", " style="margin-bottom: 5px;">56 ounces (2 cans) whole, peeled tomatoes, </span><span class="wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient-31260-1" data-separator=", " style="margin-bottom: 5px;">1 cup fresh cilantro leaves, </span><span class="wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient-31260-2" data-separator=", " style="margin-bottom: 5px;">½ medium white onion, </span><span class="wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient-31260-3" data-separator=", " style="margin-bottom: 5px;">2 jalapeno peppers, </span><span class="wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient-31260-4" data-separator=", " style="margin-bottom: 5px;">1 clove garlic, </span><span class="wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient-31260-5" data-separator=", " style="margin-bottom: 5px;">1½ teaspoons kosher salt or coarse sea salt, </span><span class="wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient-31260-6" data-separator=", " style="margin-bottom: 5px;">Juice from 2½ limes, </span><span class="wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient-31260-7" data-separator=", " style="margin-bottom: 5px;">¾ teaspoon ground cumin, </span><span class="wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient wprm-recipe-instruction-ingredient-31260-8" data-separator="" style="margin-bottom: 5px;">½ teaspoon granulated sugar</span></b></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-31260-step-0-1" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text"><b>Taste test and season to taste</b></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-31260-step-0-2" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text"><b>Place
the salsa in an airtight container and refrigerate. The salsa is best
after one hour of refrigeration and gets even better after 24 hours.</b></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-31260-step-0-3" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text"><b>The salsa will keep up to 7 days, refrigerated.</b></div></li><li class="wprm-recipe-instruction" id="wprm-recipe-31260-step-0-4" style="list-style-type: decimal;"><div class="wprm-recipe-instruction-text"><b>Enjoy!</b></div></li></ul></div><p><br /></p><p>I've actually never made salsa with canned tomatoes. That said, I have used Rotel straight out of the can for salsa dip. I mean, I've got some tortilla chips and realize I have no salsa, so I'll empty a can of Rotel into a bowl and use that as salsa.</p><p><br /></p><p>I generally use one to one half onion, 13 Roma tomatoes, 2 cloves of garlic, one medium jalapeno pepper. I put that into the food processor -- a little at a time -- and pulse it. When I've processed all the ingredients, I usually sprinkle some sea salt over it and eat it. I don't make it that often. We've got a full house of children and grandchildren. I'd be making fresh salsa all day. </p><p><br /></p><p>Please read my son's Mike's "<a href="http://wwwmikeylikesit.blogspot.com/2024/03/container-gardening-book-review-idiot.html" target="_blank">Container Gardening (book review), Idiot of the Week, and Kylie Minogue
performed at the Brit Awards</a>" about a project he and my granddaughter are doing.</p><p>News? <a href="https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/03/protestors-interrupt-a-moms-for-libertys-fascist-book-banning-meeting/">Daniel Villarreal (LGBTQ Nation) reports</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Protestors interrupted a recent meeting by a Howard County, Maryland
chapter of the anti-LGBTQ+ “parents’ rights” group Moms for Liberty
(M4L).</b></p><p>
</p><p><b>The chapter met at a local library to discuss plans for
getting LGBTQ+-inclusive books banned from school libraries. The group’s
chair, Lisa Geraghty, said she plans on continuing with the plan
despite the protest.</b></p><p><b>On February 26, the M4L members met at the Howard Central Branch library in Columbia, <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/moms-for-liberty-howard-county-book-removal-TSJHK5JPYVBBPP3P7IZRFL4SSQ/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>The Baltimore Banner</em> reported</a>. Their guest speaker was Jessica Garland, an M4L member who led <a data-wpel-link="external" href="https://www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/carroll-county-maryland-schools-moms-for-liberty-ISZJNQBQKRAPFD35ZEAG3X47KY/" rel="external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a successful monthslong campaign</a>
to get 56 allegedly “sexually explicit” books removed from nearby
Carroll County public schools. Many of the removed books were written by
queer people and authors of color.</b></p><p><b>An hour before the meeting, however, protesters crowded the library’s
entryway, wearing rainbow-colored flower garlands, flags, and signs
with messages that included “Books not bigots” and “Only fascists ban
books.” One protestor who called himself “Rainbow Spartacus” wore a
rainbow-colored Roman soldier outfit and a rainbow cape.</b></p><p>
</p><p><b>Protestors began filling the room’s seats, sitting on the floor, and
standing against the walls. When Geraghty began the meeting by
describing M4L as “nonpartisan and nonpolitical,” audience members
chortled. The audience also began speaking over her after she said, “We
equate social justice ideologies to a religion.” The audience erupted in
disapproval when Garland told audience members, “You are the abnormal
ones [for allowing your children to read sexually explicit books].”</b> </p><p><br /></p><p>Oh, Moms For Bigotry. None of us like them. They thought they were going to run over everyone in this country. But their hate has pulled them under, as it always will. We believe in equality in this country.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/iraq-snapshot_4.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Monday:</p><p><br /></p><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1619883472050484343" itemprop="articleBody">
Monday, March 4, 2024. US Vice President Kamala Harris calls for a
'cease-fire,' the US government -- as they did when Nazi Germany caused
starvation -- has resorted to airdrops of food, the assault on Gaza is
never ending, THE NEW YORK TIMES and CNN stand accused of biased
coverage and of refusing to listen to their own employees, and much
more.<div><br /></div><div><p>US Vice President Kamala Harris is in the news for remarks made Sunday in Selma. From the official White House transcript:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>So, before I begin today, I must address the humanitarian crisis in
Gaza. (Applause.) What we are seeing every day in Gaza is
devastating. We have seen reports of families eating leaves or animal
feed, women giving birth to malnourished babies with little or no
medical care, and children dying from malnutrition and dehydration.<br /><br />As
I have said many times, too many innocent Palestinians have been
killed. And just a few days ago, we saw hungry, desperate people
approach aid trucks, simply trying to secure food for their families
after weeks of nearly no aid reaching Northern Gaza. And they were met
with gunfire and chaos.<br /><br />Our hearts break for the victims of that
horrific tragedy and for all the innocent people in Gaza who are
suffering from what is clearly a humanitarian catastrophe. (Applause.)<br /><br />People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane. And our common humanity compels us to act.<br /><br />As
President Joe Biden said on Friday, the United States is committed to
urgently get more lifesaving assistance to innocent Palestinians in
need.</b></p><p>
</p><p><b>Yesterday, the Department of Defense carried out its first airdrop of
humanitarian assistance, and the United States will continue these
airdrops. And we will work on a new route by sea to deliver aid.<br /><br />And
the Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow
of aid. (Applause.) No excuses. They must open new border crossings.
They must not impose any unnecessary restrictions on the delivery of
aid. They must ensure humanitarian personnel, sites, and convoys are
not targeted. And they must work to restore basic services and promote
order in Gaza so more food, water, and fuel can reach those in need.<br /><br />As
I have said repeatedly since October 7th, Israel has a right to defend
itself. And President Joe Biden and I are unwavering in our commitment
to Israel’s security. <br /><br />Hamas cannot control Gaza, and the threat
Hamas poses to the people of Israel must be eliminated. Hamas is a
brutal terrorist organization that has vowed to repeat October 7th again
and again until Israel is annihilated.<br /><br />Hamas has shown no regard
for innocent life, including for the people of Gaza, who have suffered
under its rule for almost two decades. And Hamas still holds dozens of
hostages, for nearly 150 days now — innocent men and women, including
American citizens, who were brutally taken from their homes and from a
concert.<br /><br />I will repeat: The threat of — Hamas poses to the people
of Israel must be eliminated. And given the immense scale of suffering
in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire — (applause) — for at
least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table.<br /><br />This
will get the hostages out and get a significant amount of aid in. This
would allow us to build something more enduring to ensure Israel is
more secure and to respect the right of the Palestinian people to
dignity, freedom, and self-determination. (Applause.)<br /><br />Hamas claims it wants a ceasefire. Well, there is a deal on the table. And as we have said, Hamas needs to agree to that deal.<br /><br />Let’s
get a ceasefire. Let’s reunite the hostages with their families. And
let’s provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza. (Applause.)</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That's
not a cease-fire. It's a pause. Six weeks is not a cease-fire. A
pause? A pause could allow medicines and food in an area sorely in need
of both. But let's not pass a pause off as a cease-fire. This was
rather weak but to get the White House to this point -- even to this
point, the American people had to reject blind support for the
government of Israel. <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna141594">Peter Guo (NBC NEWS) reports</a> on
a new Gallup poll whose findings are coming out this morning, "A total
of 58% of Americans view Israel favorably, down 10% from last
year, the poll found. It is the lowest rating to the U.S. ally in more
than 20 years. "</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's remember that not only
is the White House refusing to call for a true cease-fire, they are
continuing to supply weapons for the Israeli government to carry out
killings. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/starvation-is-taking-place-sanders-demands-biden-cut-off-all-military-aid-to-israel">Joe Queally (COMMON DREAMS) explains</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>Sen. <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/bernie-sanders">Bernie Sanders</a>
on Sunday accused Israel of standing in clear violation of the U.S.
Foreign Assistance Act by creating the conditions for mass starvation
within the <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a>
Strip as he called on the Biden administration to halt all military aid
to the country until Palestinians are granted the life-saving
humanitarian relief they urgently need.</b></p><p><b>"Starvation is taking
place in Gaza," Sanders said in a statement. "Israel is prohibiting aid
convoys from delivering desperately needed food and water."</b></p><p><b>While the U.S. government <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/us-gaza-airdrops" target="_blank">initiated</a>
airdrops over the weekend with the aim of providing tens of thousands
of meals for those starving and suffering malnutrition in the besieged
territory of Gaza, relief agencies said the effort was only a drop in
the bucket of what is needed to stem what the UN Relief and Works Agency
for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) on Sunday called a "<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://twitter.com/UNRWA/status/1764356343299719303" target="_blank">hell on earth</a>" situation.</b></p><p><b>Sanders
on Friday was supportive of airdrops—an effort he said would "buy time
and save lives"—but added that "there is no substitute for sustained
ground deliveries of what is needed to sustain life in Gaza."</b></p><p><b>The
government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Sanders, "must
open the borders and allow the United Nations to deliver supplies in
sufficient quantities. The United States should make clear that failure
to do so immediately will lead to a fundamental break in the
U.S.-Israeli relationship and the immediate halt of all military aid."<br /></b></p><p><b>On Sunday, as <em>Common Dreams</em>
reported, UNICEF issued a warning to the world that ten child deaths
from starvation had already been documented, that others had likely
occurred, and many more should be expected if conditions on the ground
were not immediately addressed.</b></p><p><b>"Horrific reports confirmed that, over the last few days only, at least 10 children died of malnutrition in Gaza," the agency <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-child-deaths-unicef" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">said</a>. "These deaths are man-made, predictable, and entirely preventable."</b></p><p><b>Agnes Callamard, secretary-general of <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/amnesty-international" target="_self">Amnesty International</a>,
called the situation in Gaza an "engineered famine" created by Israel
and its international allies who have stood aside or provided backing to
Netanyahu.</b></p><p><b>[. . .]</b></p></div><div><p><b>As Sanders' office noted in its Sunday statement, Israel's ongoing
blockade of food, water, medical supplies, and fuel as the civilian
population suffers at such levels is a clear violation of Section 620I
of the Foreign Assistance Act, which states: </b></p><blockquote><b>No
assistance shall be furnished … to any country when it is made known to
the President that the government of such country prohibits or otherwise
restricts, directly or indirectly, the transport or delivery of United
States humanitarian assistance.<br /></b></blockquote><p><b>"Today," said
Sanders, "I urge President Biden to implement this law and make it clear
to Israel that, if aid access is not immediately opened up, he will
impose consequences under the Foreign Assistance Act and stop military
assistance to Israel."</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Back to Kamala's speech.</div><div><br /></div><div>"And convoys are not targeted."</div><div><br /></div><div>That's
probably the strongest part of the remarks. Last Thursday, over 100
people were killed by Israeli forces as they tried to get aid. <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna141539">NBC NEWS explains</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><li><b>Rescuers continue to recover bodies from Nabulsi roundabout in Gaza City, where more than 100 people were killed when <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hamas-war-aid-convoy-gaza-city-dead-idf-opened-fire-rcna141195" target="_blank">Israeli forces opened fire near a crowd of Palestinians</a>
hoping to get food. The Israel Defense Forces both confirmed and denied
shooting into the crowd and blamed most of the deaths on a stampede. </b></li><li><b><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna141493/rcrd35770?canonicalCard=true" target="_blank">Aid agencies</a> and <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna141493/rcrd35765?canonicalCard=true" target="_blank">health workers</a> said “<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna141493/rcrd35767?canonicalCard=true" target="_blank">a large number</a>” of the dead and injured from the aid convoy violence had gunshot wounds.</b></li></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What
a shocker. We're left yet again with the truth versus what the Israeli
government says happened. A close reading of Kamala's remarks make
clear that the US government has rejected the claims of the Israeli
government. Among the many others pushing back on the Israeli
government's lie? Amnesty International.</div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MnSqwQIj1Uc?si=EdbrHsTK1VTy3ShF" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-03-04-24/index.html">CNN's Helen Regan, Ibrahim Dahman and Amy Cassidy report</a>:</div><div><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>A
growing number of children in Gaza are dying from dehydration and
malnutrition, the Palestinian health ministry said Sunday, amid
desperate conditions due to Israel’s <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/01/middleeast/gaza-aid-israel-restrictions-investigation-intl-cmd/index.html" target="_blank">throttling of aid</a> and destruction of the besieged enclave — reinforcing the urgency of this week’s ceasefire talks.</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>A Palestinian
Ministry of Health spokesperson said the number of children who have
died of dehydration and malnutrition in northern Gaza has risen to 15.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In
the face of the starving taking place, US President Joe Biden decided
to join with Jordan's King Abdullah II in providing aid to Gaza via an
airdrop. Saturday, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/03/02/1235485952/gaza-aidrops-us-military-humanitarian-aid">D. Parvaz (NPR) reported</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><p><b>The U.S. military on Saturday said it began dropping food over the
Gaza Strip, a war-torn enclave desperate for humanitarian aid.</b></p> <p><b>A
"a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Gaza" of over 38,000
meals along the coastline using C-130 aircraft was conducted by U.S. and
Jordanian air forces, U.S. Central Command said <a href="https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3693216/united-states-central-command-and-royal-jordanian-air-force-conduct-combined-ai/">in a statement</a>.</b></p> <p><b>"We are conducting planning for potential follow-on airborne aid delivery missions," CENTCOM said. </b></p> <p><b>President Biden <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1763702007469085066">on Friday said</a>
the U.S. would carry out airdrops in coming days, "redouble our efforts
to open a maritime corridor, and expand deliveries by land."</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/03/03/gaza-aid-convoy-israel-war/?itid=lk_fullstory">Claire Parker (WASHINGTON POST) notes</a>, "The remarkable scene of American aid bundles floating down to starving
Palestinians was the starkest illustration yet of the rift that has
grown between the Biden administration and the Israeli government over
the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/israel-hamas-war/?itid=lk_inline_manual_3&itid=lk_inline_manual_29" target="_blank">Gaza war</a>.
For months, Israel has resisted pressure from Washington to allow more
humanitarian aid into the enclave, even as it relies on U.S. bombs and
diplomatic support to carry out its punishing military campaign there."
Airdrops are nothing new, of course. Then a brutal regime -- the Nazis
-- occupied the Netherlands, the US government resorted to airdrops to
get aid in. For a little over a week, Operation Chowhound were
carried out. Again, this was a brief operation and that was because it
was seen as lacking so it was replaced with Operation Faust -- a ground
operation.</div><div><br /></div><div>The airdrop has been criticized by some as insufficient. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/chef-jos-andrs-pushes-back-criticism-airdrops-gaza/story?id=107747205">Rebecca Gelpi-Ufret (ABC NEWS) reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> Chef and humanitarian José Andrés, whose nonprofit World Central Kitchen has been sending significant aid <a class="zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE" data-testid="prism-linkbase" href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas-war/?id=107535302" target="_blank">into Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war</a>,
on Sunday pushed back on criticism that airdrops into the Palestinian
territory are wrong because they are hypocritical and insufficient
compared to broader solutions.</b></div><p class="EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy"><b>"We
need to bring food into Gaza any way we can," Andrés told ABC News
"This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl, calling the situation there
"desperate."</b></p><p class="EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy"><b>According
to the U.N., more than 570,000 people in Gaza are on the brink of
experiencing famine levels of hunger due to the continuing conflict.</b></p><p class="EkqkG nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy"><b>While
Andrés said the broader goal should be to simply allow a "daily,
constant and massive" flow of trucks into Gaza, "I don't think we need
to be criticizing that Jordan, America are doing airdrops. If anything,
we should be applauding any initiative that brings food into Gaza."</b></p><div><br /></div><div>As the assault on Gaza continues, people want a cease-fire. Again, a six week break is not a cease-fire. <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/3/4/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israel-repeats-attacks-as-children-die-of-hunger">ALJAZEERA reports</a> on Sunday remarks by Pope Francis:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="card-live__content"><div class="wysiwyg-content"><div class="wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content css-1kw180w" id="wysiwyg"><p><b>Pope Francis has appealed for an end to the conflict in Gaza, urging the world to say: “Enough please! Stop.”</b></p>
<p><b>Addressing believers in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City, the pope
expressed concern over the consequences of the conflict on children and
asked for the release of all the captives taken during Hamas’s raid on
October 7.</b></p>
<p><b>“Each day, I carry in my heart with pain the suffering of the
populations in Palestine and Israel due to the ongoing hostilities,
thousands of dead, injured, displaced,” Francis said.</b></p>
<p><b>“Do you really think you can build a better world in this way? Do you
really think you will achieve peace? Enough please! Let us all say
enough please! Stop!”</b></p></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Also
on Sunday, US Senator Raphael Warnock did not get a warm welcome in his
home state of Georgia. The Democrat was sworn in as a US Senator back
in 2021. The senator is also a Baptist preacher and he was delivering a
sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta that was also being
livestreamed when people began walking out. <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna141539">Doha Madani and Tavleen Tarrant (NBC NEWS) report</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><b>TikTok
creator Erynn Chambers, whose username is @rynnstar, posted a video to
her account of the group, whose members identified themselves as part of
the protest. The video offers a clear angle to the back of the shirts,
which say "Stop arming Israel" and "Permanent ceasefire now."</b></div><div><p><b>A representative for Chambers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. </b></p><p><b><a href="https://twitter.com/thinkpiecetribe/status/1764319119824781773" target="_blank">An X user also posted what appeared to be the same video</a>,
saying the demonstration included various members of Atlanta's Black
community, including students and alumni of the Atlanta University
Consortium. The user did not immediately respond to a request for
comment. </b></p><p><b>The user wrote on X that they voted for Warnock
because they believed he would stand for what's right but said Warnock
has "failed the Palestinian people," as well as his constituents in
Atlanta. </b></p><p><b>Warnock is among more than a dozen<a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-ossoff-rev-warnock-colleagues-sign-letter-in-support-of-ongoing-us-diplomacy-to-free-hostages-restore-mutual-ceasefire-agreement-in-gaza" target="_blank"> senators who signed a letter last month addressed to President Joe Biden</a>, urging diplomatic efforts to ensure a cease-fire as well as a hostage release. He also called for a cease-fire as recently as <a href="https://twitter.com/senatorwarnock/status/1763006975426642396?s=46" target="_blank">last week in a speech</a> on the Senate floor. </b></p><div class="styles_hidden-show-more-content__37qyQ"></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 150 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna141594">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Gaza’s death toll has <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hamas-gaza-war-death-toll-reaches-30000-palestinians-rcna140843" target="_blank">passed 30,500</a> , according to the enclave's Health Ministry, amid <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/fears-famine-grow-gaza-aid-agencies-suspend-deliveries-rcna140175" target="_blank">surging fears of starvation</a> in the north of the territory." Months
ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." <br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>In other news, <a href="https://www.newarab.com/news/cnn-employees-criticise-gaza-coverage-leaked-recording">THE NEW ARAB reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="selectionShareable" style="margin-bottom: 11px;"><b>Employees at <em>CNN </em>have expressed their discontent with the channel’s coverage of <a href="https://www.newarab.com/news/gaza-truce-possible-24-48-hours-if-israel-accepts-terms">Israel’s war on Gaza</a> during a meeting with network executives, a leaked recording obtained by <em>The Intercept</em> has revealed.</b></p>
<p class="selectionShareable"><b>The employees confronted a panel of executives during the meeting at <em>CNN</em>’s
London Bureau on 13 February, berating the seniors and telling them
they felt "devalued, embarrassed, and disgraced" by the channel's
coverage of the war.</b></p>
<p class="selectionShareable"><b>Among the staffers who criticised <em>CNN </em>was renowned news anchor Christiane Amanpour, who according to <em>The Intercept</em>, was identified in the recording after someone said her name.</b></p>
<p class="selectionShareable"><b><a href="https://www.newarab.com/news/cnn-reporter-sees-horror-modern-war-inside-gaza"><em>CNN </em>correspondents</a> have been confronted in and outside Gaza for what Palestinians say is biased news coverage in Israel’s favour.</b></p>
<p class="selectionShareable"><b>This, the employees said during the
February meeting according to the leaked recording, was creating a
"hostile climate for Arab reporters".</b></p></div><div>In other news of media bias, we're dropping back to <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/1/nyt_anat_schwartz">Friday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a> where Amy Goodman, Ryan Grimm and Jeremy Scahill addressed the questionable 'reporting' of THE NEW YORK TIMES.</div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BMNV0Csj46Q?si=IJfiGRUIn2aTFgac" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Amy Goodman.</b></p>
<p><b><em>The New York Times</em> is reportedly conducting an internal
investigation to identify the source behind leaked information about its
coverage of Israel and Gaza. According to <em>Vanity Fair</em>, the internal investigation follows a <a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/01/28/new-york-times-daily-podcast-camera/">report</a> in <em>The Intercept</em> about the <em>Times</em> shelving an episode of its podcast <em>The Daily</em> over doubts regarding the accuracy of a highly controversial blockbuster <em>New York Times</em> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.html">article</a> published at the end of December alleging Hamas members committed widespread sexual violence, weaponized it, on October 7th. <em>Vanity Fair</em> <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/new-york-times-israel-gaza-leak">reports</a> that in recent weeks management of <em>The New York Times</em> have questioned at least two dozen staffers, including producers of <em>The Daily</em>, the podcast, in an attempt to understand how internal details about the podcast’s editorial process got out.</b></p>
<p><b><em>Democracy Now!</em> asked <em>The New York Times</em> about the
internal investigation. The paper’s international editor, Phil Pan, said
in a statement, quote, “We aren’t going to comment on internal matters.
I can tell you that the work of our newsroom requires trust and
collaboration, and we expect all of our colleagues to adhere to these
values,” end-quote.</b></p>
<p><b>The <em>New York Times</em> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.html">article</a>
at the center of the controversy was published December 28th. It was
headlined “'Screams Without Words': How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence
on Oct. 7.” In it, the <em>Times</em> reported they had found evidence
of systematic sexual violence orchestrated by Hamas and that their
two-month investigation, quote, “uncovered painful new details,
establishing that the attacks against women were not isolated events but
part of a broader pattern of gender-based violence on Oct. 7,” unquote.</b></p>
<p><b>However, not long after the highly publicized article was published,
major discrepancies began to emerge, including public comments from the
family of a major subject of the article, contradictory claims from a
key witness, and criticisms over a lack of solid evidence in the overall
investigation. Then news emerged last week that one of the three
authors of <em>The New York Times</em> piece, named Anat Schwartz, had
liked multiple posts on social media advocating for violence against
Palestinians, including one that called for turning Gaza into a
slaughterhouse. Anat Schwartz is an Israeli filmmaker who had no prior
reporting experience before she was assigned by the <em>Times</em> to work on the major investigation along with her relative Adam Sella and veteran <em>Times</em> reporter Jeffrey Gettleman.</b></p>
<p><b>On Wednesday, <em>The Intercept</em> published another in-depth <a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/02/28/new-york-times-anat-schwartz-october-7/">investigation</a> that further questions the <em>Times</em>
article and the reporting process behind it. It’s headlined “'Between
the Hammer and the Anvil': The Story Behind the New York Times October 7
Exposé,” and the two <em>Intercept</em> reporters who wrote it join us today. Jeremy Scahill is a senior reporter and correspondent at <em>The Intercept</em>. He’s joining us from Germany. And Ryan Grim is <em>The Intercept</em>’s bureau chief in Washington, D.C., where he joins us from.</b></p>
<p><b>We welcome you both to <em>Democracy Now!</em> Jeremy, let’s begin with you. Can you lay out first the significance of the <em>New York Times</em> article that’s at the center of the controversy, and then talk about your latest piece, that looks into how it all came about?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JEREMY</span> <span class="caps">SCAHILL</span>:
Well, Amy, in early December, you had the death toll skyrocketing in
Gaza. You had a number of nations, including those that are allies with
Israel, starting to speak out about the death toll among women,
children, the elderly. And part of a pattern of what we’ve seen
throughout the course of these five months of scorched-earth attacks
against Gaza is that whenever Israel perceives itself to be losing the
narrative war or when it needs to remind the public of its perception
that Israel is the only victim in this story, they unload a new round of
attacks against a variety of individuals or organizations that are
working in Gaza or living in Gaza, human beings. We saw that with the
attacks against <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>. We saw that with the attacks against Al-Shifa and other hospitals.</b></p>
<p><b>And in early December, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his
government really began an intense propaganda campaign to convince the
world that Hamas had engaged in a systematic campaign of rape aimed at
Jewish women and girls. And then they launched this fake criticism of
feminist organizations, saying that they had all systematically failed
to stand up and denounce this systematic rape regime that had been
intentionally implemented by Hamas in the October 7th attacks. And on
the day that Netanyahu made his most prominent statement about this,
President Biden was at a fundraising event in Boston, and he issued — he
made a statement at his speech that echoed what Netanyahu said, and
said the world, you know, can’t turn away and ignore this.</b></p>
<p><b>Well, what was happening at that very moment was that <em>The New York Times</em>,
with one of its most prominent international correspondents, Jeffrey
Gettleman, he had recently hit the ground in Israel, and he was working —
Gettleman enlisted the help of two individuals that were going to work
with him there. And Gettleman had proposed three lines of investigation,
and one of them was the issue of sexual violence. And the two
individuals that Gettleman was working with, one of them is a very young
person who’s only recently gotten into journalism, Adam Sella, and he
had mostly been like a food journalist and has a background in looking
at agricultural issues, etc. He had started to write some freelance
pieces that were dipping into the waters of politics and the conflict,
but a quite inexperienced reporter. And then, the other was someone with
no reporting experience outside of making some documentary films, and
that is Anat Schwartz. It’s unclear how Anat Schwartz, in particular,
got involved with this project.</b></p>
<p><b>And as you mentioned, she had, early on in the Israeli attacks
against Gaza, liked a tweet that actually was cited by the International
Court of Justice as a potentially — a statement of potential genocidal
incitement. She also liked the tweet from the Israeli government
promoting the debunked allegation that 40 babies had been beheaded on
October 7th, which is entirely false, as well as another tweet that
said, “We must just refer to Hamas as <span class="caps">ISIS</span>.”</b></p>
<p><b>And so, they start off on this investigation, and our understanding
from sources is that the overwhelming majority of the interviews and
reporting that was being done on the ground was being handled by Anat
Schwartz and Adam Sella.</b></p>
<p><b>And we discovered a podcast interview with Anat Schwartz in Hebrew
that she gave, where she — it’s a shocking podcast in how much detail
she offers about the process that they used when they were reporting it.
And just to put it in a nutshell, she describes how the first thing
that she did was start to call around to what she describes as all of
the Israeli hospitals that have facilities that are called Room 4
facilities. These would be the intake places where people who have been
victims of sexual crimes, including assault and rape, etc., where they
would be examined or their cases would be referred. And she said that
not a single one of them reported that they had any reports of sexual
assault or rape on October 7th.</b></p>
<p><b>She then started calling around to a rape crisis hotline and
describes how she had this, what she described as an intense
conversation with the manager of the rape crisis hotline in that part of
Israel, where she was dumbfounded when he was saying he didn’t have any
calls reporting sexual assault or rape. And she’s saying, “How is this
possible?”</b></p>
<p><b>And then she starts talking — she goes to a holistic therapeutic
center that was established at a former high-end retreat center outside
of Tel Aviv, where mostly people from the Nova rave, where there were
attacks and where a couple of hundred people were killed — it was a
place where people could do alternative medicine and yoga, relaxation
therapy — I mean, people who were highly traumatized. And she goes
there, and her characterization was that she sensed what she called a
“conspiracy of silence” among the therapists, because none of them were
telling her, “Yes, we’re treating people who were raped or had
experienced sexual assault.”</b></p>
<p><b>And so, when she went through all the official channels, the places
where you would reach out to see, if you’re exploring if there’s a
pattern here, what then happened is she starts to look at who’s been
interviewed about alleged rapes during the October 7th attacks, and ends
up then going and reinterviewing a handful of people who already had
made assertions that they witnessed rapes. And some of these people had
told varying versions of their stories — which in and of itself does not
necessarily mean that they didn’t witness something. I mean, these are
people that were in the midst of an incredibly violent episode. But more
central to that is that some of the people that <em>The New York Times</em>
relied on to assert that there was a systematic, intentional campaign
of rape weaponized by Hamas were people that have no forensic
credentials, no crime scene credentials. These were people that are not
legally permitted in Israel to determine rape, that they relied on these
individuals to make this claim that there was a systematic rape regime
implemented.</b></p>
<p><b>And some of those people, Amy, have well-documented track records of
promoting very incendiary narratives about atrocities that occurred on
October 7th that were flagrantly false. Just two examples. One of the
most prominent or ubiquitous figures that has emerged in Israel’s
narrative that Hamas committed systematic rape is an architect from New
Jersey named Shari Mendes, who is living in Israel now and is a member
of the Israeli Defense Forces rabbinical unit. And she was deployed to
prepare women’s bodies for burial in the bases where Hamas attacked
military facilities. And she’s been quoted widely saying that they saw
widespread evidence of rape and that she personally saw it. She
described broken pelvises, not just among, you know, soldiers, but among
grandmothers and children. But Shari Mendes also was quoted by the <em>Daily Mail</em>
as saying that a pregnant woman had a fetus cut out of her body and
that the fetus was beheaded and then the mother was beheaded. This is
entirely false. We’ve gone through all of the official records that
Israel has put out on people who died that day. There was no pregnant
woman killed that day. That’s been thoroughly debunked. She also relied
on Yossi Landau, a senior official at Zaka. Zaka has been — it’s an
ultra-Orthodox private rescue organization. It’s been exposed by <em>Haaretz</em>,
the newspaper in Israel, as one of the leading promoters of false
information and also that they contaminated the crime scenes by moving
evidence around that actual professionals could have done. They also had
promoted the beheaded babies stories, etc.</b></p>
<p><b>So, <em>The New York Times</em>, they can’t find anyone who works in
the rape crisis centers, at the hospitals, among therapists, that are
coming forward and saying, “Yeah, we saw this,” or “We have
documentation of this,” so they go to people who already were known to
have promoted false information, and then they start relying on their
testimony to paint this tapestry, this notion that there was a
systematic rape regime. And in the <em>New York Times</em> article, they
do not ever disclose that their key witnesses have serious credibility
problems. So, this is, at a minimum, we are looking at a <em>New York Times</em>
piece that failed to inform its readers about severe credibility issues
among some of its premier “witnesses,” quote-unquote, that it put
forward in this story.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
I wanted to go to part of a podcast interview that Anat Schwartz did on
January 3rd, produced by Israel’s Channel 12. It was conducted in
Hebrew. Here, Anat talks about the difficulties and pressures in
reporting the story.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">ANAT</span> <span class="caps">SCHWARTZ</span>:
[translated] Maybe the standard that we have to meet may not be
realistic. Maybe it won’t be this complete big story that is told from
beginning to end and is complex and has details and nuances and
characters. And maybe we are aiming too high. Then there was the U.N.
woman and the silence, and there was a lot of preoccupation with it. So,
I said, “We’re missing momentum.” Maybe the U.N. isn’t addressing
sexual assault because no outlet will come out with a declaration about
what happened there, and that it will no longer be interesting. And at
some point, after one of the rewrites, we said, “OK, that’s it.” And
then I already informed all the people in the Israeli police who are
waiting to see what was going on. What? Was <em>The New York Times</em> not believing there were sexual assaults here? And I’m also in this place. I’m also an Israeli, but I also work for <em>The New York Times</em>. So, all the time, I’m like in this place between the hammer and the anvil.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
That’s Anat Schwartz, speaking on a podcast on January 3rd. She said
she felt “between the hammer and the anvil,” which, Jeremy, you choose
as the title of your <a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/02/28/new-york-times-anat-schwartz-october-7/">piece</a>.
Talk about the significance of that and, again, the relationship
between Anat Schwartz and other reporter, the young reporter, Adam
Sella.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JEREMY</span> <span class="caps">SCAHILL</span>:
Well, another part of this story is that one of the main victims that
was featured in this is referred to as “the woman in the black dress.”
Gal Abdush is her name. And, in fact, her family members are the
individuals in the feature photo on the piece. And another thing that
we’ve learned from Israeli researchers who published this is that when
Anat Schwartz and Adam Sella went to a woman that had taken photographs
of Gal Abdush that day, they told this photographer that it was her duty
under Israeli <em>hasbara</em> to cooperate with <em>The New York Times</em> and let them have all of her photos. And ”<i>hasbara</i>”
is the term for public diplomacy, but what it really is is the notion
that Israel should engage in externally focused propaganda in order to
win over international audiences, primarily Western, the United States
and powerful countries, to Israel’s point of view. So, she is using this
term, going and trying to encourage someone to cooperate with <em>The New York Times</em>, not because <em>The New York Times</em> is, you know, the most important news organization in the world, but because it’s their duty under Israeli <em>hasbara</em>.
So, when she talks about being caught between the hammer and the anvil,
what she’s saying is she’s caught between her duty to be honest and a
journalist and her duty to serve the agenda of the Israeli state.</b></p>
<p><b>And her partner in this, Adam Sella, is the nephew of Anat Schwartz’s partner, and they’re not married. In fact, Amy, <em>The New York Times</em>,
they requested a correction from us, because we had initially said that
it was her nephew, which I think in the context of America and other
countries you would say. If you’re somebody’s longtime life partner, you
would say, “Oh, yeah, this is my nephew.” OK, they’re not blood
relatives, and they emphasize that she’s not married. Fine, we corrected
that.</b></p>
<p><b>My question is: Where are the corrections in <em>The New York Times</em> piece? <em>The New York Times</em>
has grave, grave mischaracterizations, sins of omission, reliance on
people who have no forensic or criminology credentials to be asserting
that there was a systematic rape campaign put in place here. And to
publish this article at a moment when Israel was intensifying, after
that brief pause where captives were exchanged — intensifying its
genocidal attack against the people of Gaza, this played a very, very
significant role. And the more we learn about this, the more we discover
that the reporting tactics that <em>The New York Times</em> used are
certainly not up to the standards that the newspaper claims to be
promoting. They will not issue any corrections on what has already been
documented to be very problematic sins of commission and omission in
this piece.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: We’re going to break and then come back to this conversation. We’re talking to Jeremy Scahill, senior reporter at <em>The Intercept</em>. Next up, he’ll be joined by Ryan Grim, who is the Washington bureau chief of <em>The Intercept</em>, and we want to talk to Ryan about what’s happening in <em>The New York Times</em>
now in response to this story, and the leak investigation that’s going
on, and why a podcast based on their story, their own podcast, <em>The Daily</em>, didn’t air. Stay with us.</b></p>
<p><b>[break]</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: “I’m from Here” by Amal Markus. This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Amy Goodman.</b></p>
<p><b>We’re speaking with <em>Intercept</em> reporters Jeremy Scahill and Ryan Grim about their <a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/02/28/new-york-times-anat-schwartz-october-7/">exposé</a> into <em>The New York Times</em> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.html">article</a> that was published at the end of December. They published another one in January.</b></p>
<p><b>We asked <em>The New York Times</em> for a response to your article,
and the international editor, Phil Pan, responded, quote, “Ms. Schwartz
was part of a rigorous reporting and editing process. She made valuable
contributions and we saw no evidence of bias in her work. We remain
confident in the accuracy of our reporting and stand by the team’s
investigation. But as we have said, her 'likes' of offensive and
opinionated social media posts, predating her work with us, are
unacceptable,” end-quote.</b></p>
<p><b>Ryan, if you can respond to this and talk about what’s going on internally in the <em>Times</em>, and also talk about this leak investigation that’s going on within the paper of record?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">RYAN</span> <span class="caps">GRIM</span>:
[inaudible] by her own admission, in that podcast interview she had,
significant violence, because there are two ways to think about what
happened on October 7th. The first way is that it was a day of
extraordinary mayhem and violence. The Israeli defenses melted away. Not
only did you have several thousand Hamas fighters stream across the
fence, but you also had hundreds of civilians, some associated with
gangs, come across. And in that context, the idea that there would be no
sexual assault is not taken seriously by pretty much anybody who
understands kind of war and violence. That’s one way to think about
October 7th.</b></p>
<p><b>The other way to think about it is that Hamas intentionally and
systematically designed a kind of strategy of weaponizing rape and
sexual violence. That was what Anat Schwartz and <em>The New York Times</em>
kind of believed going into the investigation. And oftentimes as
journalists, we have something that we think we’re going to be able to
prove, we report it out, and then we can’t quite get it. Like, it just
— we just don’t land the story. But what the <em>Times</em> did is they wrote the story anyway.</b></p>
<p><b>But that gets you then to <em>The Daily</em> episode. So, this article comes out at the very end of December. As <em>The New York Times</em> always does, its landmark pieces get turned into episodes of their flagship podcast, <em>The Daily</em>.
But immediately after the story came out, it started coming under
criticism, because, as Jeremy pointed out, a lot of the named subjects
of the story have enormous credibility problems. And so this starts
getting pointed out. Inside the <em>Times</em>, the producers of <em>The Daily</em>
have their own kind of fact-checking process where they go over the
stories. And the original script that was produced for that first
episode had to be discarded, because the producers there couldn’t stand
behind it, so they redrafted a second script, which had a lot of caveats
and was closer to the first version that I laid out just now, which is
an interesting podcast episode, and it’s something worth exploring. But
if they had aired that, it would have raised questions about why they
were walking away from the certainty of the original piece.</b></p>
<p><b>So, we <a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/01/28/new-york-times-daily-podcast-camera/">reported</a> on the kind of machinations inside <em>The New York Times</em> about this, the controversy, the disputes that were going on. And since then, as <em>Vanity Fair</em> <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/new-york-times-israel-gaza-leak">reported</a>, <em>The New York Times</em>
has — rather than reviewing the kind of journalism that went into this,
they are launching a leak investigation to try to figure out who’s
talking to us.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: In February, one of the reporters behind <em>The New York Times</em>
investigation, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Jeffrey Gettleman,
spoke at a conference on conflict-related sexual violence hosted by
Columbia University. He talked about the piece.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">JEFFREY</span> <span class="caps">GETTLEMAN</span>:
I did some stories about hostages. And pretty soon, I mean, maybe, I
don’t know, within the first few days of this attack, we were hearing
reports of rape and mutilations of women. We heard it right away. And I
don’t — maybe people in this room remember those videos of the female
soldiers being taken away and the body of that one woman, Shani Louk, in
the back of a pickup truck half-naked. Right away, it just — it just
— there was obviously crimes against women that happened.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>So, because, sadly, I have some experience doing this, I began
looking to see what we could find out. And I worked with two other
colleagues, and we interviewed almost 200 people over the course of two
months. And what we found, I don’t want to even use the word “evidence,”
because evidence is almost like a legal term that suggests you’re
trying to prove an allegation or prove a case in court. That’s not my
role. We all have our roles, and my role is to document.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: So, I wanted to get a response to what he is saying there. He’s talking, by the way, to Sheryl Sandberg, the former <span class="caps">COO</span> of Meta, Facebook. Jeremy Scahill, if you can talk about what he sees his role as a reporter?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JEREMY</span> <span class="caps">SCAHILL</span>:
I mean, this is an astonishing comment from Jeffrey Gettleman. I mean,
what is he talking about, that it’s not the job of journalists to
uncover evidence? If you’re going to have a headline that — by the way,
let me just say this. The “Screams Without Words” headline comes from a
source named Raz Cohen, who was at the Nova music festival, and he
claims to have witnessed a rape of a woman that he said was — and he’s a
special forces, Israeli special forces, veteran, and he has been very
adamant that the people who he saw committing this crime were not Hamas,
that they were ordinary people. And he has said that in numerous
interviews. But to have, then — and he’s the one who said it was like
“screams without words.” They’re using a headline from a person whose
testimony undermines the thesis of their blockbuster story. So, just to
put that on the table.</b></p>
<p><b>But for Gettleman to say that it’s not the job of journalists to
produce evidence, when you’re going to say, in the middle of a war,
where civilians are being starved and killed in an operation that is
under review now by the International Court of Justice for genocide — if
you’re going to then make an allegation that Hamas implemented a
systematic rape campaign, and you say it’s not your job to produce
evidence, then what is the job of a journalist in a situation like this?
Because, honestly, if you really read their piece carefully, much of it
is innuendo. Much of it is based on sources who have either credibility
issues or lack professional credentials to weigh in on these matters.
This is a grave, grave situation. This is one of the most important
pieces of journalism that has been produced during this war, and one of
the most consequential. And for the lead reporter, who himself has won
the Pulitzer and is an experienced war correspondent, to say that it’s
not the job of <em>The New York Times</em> to present evidence in an article asserting that Hamas systematically raped women, it’s astonishing. It’s astonishing.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: And also, the prestigious Gorge Polk Award for Foreign Reporting this year was awarded to the staff of <em>The New York Times</em>, the citation reading, in part, quote “for unsurpassed coverage of the war between Israel and Hamas. <em>Times</em>
reporters used firsthand accounts to demonstrate how brutal and well
planned the Hamas attack was,” end-quote. And this article in question
that we’re talking about, “'Screams Without Words,'” was apparently part
of the package submitted by <em>The New York Times</em> that won the award. Ryan Grim, if you can talk about that and the dissent within the <em>Times</em> itself?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">RYAN</span> <span class="caps">GRIM</span>:
Before I answer that, I did want to add one thing to what Jeremy was
saying. It is remarkable that Sheryl Sandberg was on that panel with
Jeffrey Gettleman, because on December 4th — and Jeremy talked about how
this campaign was rolled out — on December 4th, Sheryl Sandberg and the
Israeli ambassador to the United Nations hosted an event at the U.N.
that launched the campaign against these feminist organizations for not
standing up and condemning, you know, Hamas’s systematic use of rape.
The next day, it was Bibi Netanyahu and then Biden who piled on that
campaign. That same day, on December 4th, Sheryl Sandberg penned an
op-ed in <span class="caps">CNN</span>. She also gave interviews or was quoted in <em>The New York Times</em>
on that same day in an article by Jeffrey Gettleman, Anat Schwartz and
Adam Sella. So, they were all working together on December 4th to launch
this campaign.</b></p>
<p><b>The December 4th <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/04/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-israel-hamas-sexual-violence.html">article</a> in <em>The New York Times</em>
had a much softer headline. It said, you know, “What Do We Know About
the Use of Sexual Violence” or “About Sexual Violence on October 7th?”
And people can go back and read that story. They reported at the time
that Israel had enormous amounts of forensic evidence that they were
going through that would establish all of the claims that they were
making. On December 8th or 9th, they very quietly corrected that story
to say, “Correction: Israel does not have forensic evidence to back up
these claims. It is relying on eyewitness testimony.” Anat Schwartz had
previously reported in the <em>Times</em> that they had, quote, “tens of
thousands of eyewitnesses” that they were going to bring forward to
make these claims. So, they front-loaded this campaign with these major
claims that there was forensic evidence and thousands of witnesses. Then
their final article comes out at the end of the month, and, to a casual
reader, you would come away from reading it, saying, “Well, they proved
it. They made their case. This barbaric terrorist organization did use
rape systematically against Israeli women.” And that was used to justify
the continuation of the war on Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b>But then, as you said, when <em>The Daily</em> tried to look closer
at the article, they realized they couldn’t actually stand up the claims
that were being made in it. And so, inside the <em>Times</em>, you have this extremely intense debate going on. And I think leaders at the <em>Times</em>
have been surprised. They’re used to external criticism, but the amount
of internal criticism they’re getting has them on the back foot.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: And finally, Jeremy, we just have 30 seconds, but even the use of the term “terrorist” within <em>The New York Times</em> and the stepping back of one of the leading editorial directors?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JEREMY</span> <span class="caps">SCAHILL</span>:
Yeah, I mean, there’s a lot of — there’s a lot of concern right now,
particularly among reporters who do work on an international level, that
there has been a politicization of this war internally within the
newsroom that is impacting the coverage. And I think it’s pretty clear.
You can see that in some of the journalism. And now <em>The New York Times</em> — <em>The New York Times</em> has —</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Five seconds.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JEREMY</span> <span class="caps">SCAHILL</span>:
— has ended up walking back the major claim that they made, and now
they’re saying hedge words: It may have occurred. That’s one of the most
significant things we uncovered here.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Jeremy Scahill and Ryan Grim, they are the co-authors of the <a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/02/28/new-york-times-anat-schwartz-october-7/">piece</a>, “'Between the Hammer and the Anvil.'”</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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2 days ago </div></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-22943968522837552762024-03-04T02:10:00.000-05:002024-03-04T02:10:16.705-05:00Tex-Mex Pork Chops and Rice Skillet in the Kitchen<p>Roy e-mailed to note a pork chops recipe. Pork chops can be very tasty but they can also be dry. Roy loves this recipe because he says: "It never results in dry pork chops." <a href="https://www.allrecipes.com/tex-mex-pork-chops-and-rice-skillet-recipe-7567945">From All Recipes, this is Tex-Mex Pork Chops and Rice Skillet</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><h2 class="comp recipe__steps-heading mntl-text-block" id="recipe__steps-heading_1-0">Directions</h2><p>
</p><div class="comp recipe__steps-content mntl-sc-page mntl-block " id="recipe__steps-content_1-0"><ol class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--OL" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0">
<li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_2-0">
<p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_3-0"><b>
Heat olive oil over medium heat in a 12-inch skillet. Season both sides
of pork chops with taco seasoning, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt.
</b></p>
<div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_4-0"></div>
</li>
<li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_6-0">
<p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_7-0"><b>
Place chops in the hot skillet and cook, turning once, until browned on
both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove to a plate, and keep warm.
</b></p>
<div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_8-0"></div>
</li>
<li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_10-0">
<p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_11-0"><b>
In the same skillet, cook and stir onion and bell pepper, until the
vegetables just begin to pick up a little color, about 2 minutes. Add
garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
</b></p>
<div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_12-0"></div>
</li>
<li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_14-0">
<p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_15-0"><b>
Pour in diced tomatoes and green chilies, with their juices, and stir,
being sure to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet.
</b></p>
<div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_16-0"></div>
</li>
<li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_18-0">
<p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_19-0"><b> Add chili powder and black pepper to the chicken broth, and stir in.
</b></p>
<div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_20-0"></div>
</li>
<li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_22-0">
<p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_23-0"><b>
Add thawed corn kernels, sliced zucchini, and uncooked rice. Stir until
vegetables are evenly distributed, and make sure all the rice is
submerged in the cooking liquid. Bring to a boil.
</b></p>
<div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_24-0"></div>
</li>
<li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_26-0">
<p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_27-0"><b>
Nestle pork chops into the skillet contents, and add any accumulated
juices from the chops. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer about 20
minutes.
</b></p>
<div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_28-0"></div>
</li>
<li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_30-0">
<p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_31-0"><b>
Remove cover, and continue to simmer until rice is tender and all the
liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes more. An instant-read thermometer
inserted into the center of pork chops should read 145 degrees F (63
degrees C).
</b></p>
<div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_32-0"></div>
</li>
<li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_34-0">
<p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_35-0"><b> Garnish with flat-leaf parsley or cilantro and lime slices. Serve warm. </b></p></li></ol></div><p><b><br /></b></p><p><br /></p><p>Let me address a few e-mails. What vegetables do I eat the most?</p><p>Probably the three As -- avocados, artichokes and asparagus. I usually have a serving or a whole bowl of beans each day but not the same beans. Right now, I'm eating my second bowl of 10 bean soup. Beans from Sprouts. I was in the mood for 15 bean soup and thought I'd bought some but it was two bags of pinto beans. So I had some delivered (more than just that though because you have to meat that certain price for delivery -- I got several bottles of Green Goddess dressing because I'm having trouble finding them in some grocery stores lately). In the average week, I'll usually have a serving or bowl of black beans, a serving or bowl of pinto beans, a serving or bowl of red beans (often with brown rice), a serving or bowl of chick peas, two bowls of lentils and then either navy beans or lima beans or black eyed peas or, like right now, 10 bean soup (actually, usually 15 bean soup). </p><p><br /></p><p>And while I'm happy to note the ones I eat, you eat the ones that are best for you. I can't stand Brussel sprouts, for example. So I don't eat them. If you love them, by all means, eat them. In fact, I ate them until 2013. What changed? I ate them because they're good for you.</p><p>In 2013, my friend Ximena had a potluck dinner at her home. A woman I don't care for was among the guests. She brought steamed Brussel sprouts and made a big deal out of it. She insulted a mushroom dish someone else brought -- "mushrooms are slimy and disgusting" -- and she insulted guacamole -- "avocados are disgusting" -- and it went on and on. I had spooned on some sprouts to a plate and was going to eat them because they're good for you. But with the way the woman acted, I instead said, "You know what? This is a disgusting vegetable. I can't eat it." And I haven't since.</p><p><br /></p><p>Kaywinn wonders about sardines. Her son likes them, are they good to eat? <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/news/sardines-healthy-just-one-loaded-033403216.html">NBC's Today just did a story on them</a>:</p><p><br /></p><p><b>According to the <a class="link" data-rapid_p="13" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="slk:U.S. Department of Agriculture;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" href="https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Agriculture</a> database, one serving (or about a half-cup drained) of the average store-bought sardines packed in oil provides about:</b></p><ul class="caas-list caas-list-bullet"><li><p><b>200 calories</b></p></li><li><p><b>22 grams of protein</b></p></li><li><p><b>13 grams of fat</b></p></li><li><p><b>0 grams of carbohydrates</b></p></li><li><p><b>0 grams of fiber</b></p></li><li><p><b>0 grams of sugar</b></p></li><li><p><b>250-350 milligrams of sodium</b></p></li></ul><p><b>The
standard serving size of sardines is one can, which is about 3 ounces
or 85 grams. Canned sardines can be eaten whole, as the bones are small
and soft enough to digest.</b></p><p><b>In addition to protein and healthy
fats, sardines are rich in vitamin D, vitamin B12, calcium, phosphorus
and selenium, Julia Zumpano, registered dietitian with the Cleveland
Clinic’s Center for Human Nutrition, tells TODAY.com. They're also
packed with potassium, iron, zinc and choline.</b></p><h3>Are sardines a good source of protein?</h3><p><b>Sardines are an excellent source of protein, <a class="link" data-rapid_p="14" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="slk:Frances Largeman-Roth;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" href="https://www.franceslargemanroth.com/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Frances Largeman-Roth</a>, a registered dietitian nutritionist, tells TODAY.com.</b></p><p><b>Just
one can packs more than 20 grams of it. Healthy adults should consume
0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight daily, <a class="link" data-rapid_p="15" data-v9y="1" data-ylk="slk:TODAY.com previously reported;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" href="https://www.today.com/health/diet-fitness/high-protein-foods-rcna130229" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">TODAY.com previously reported</a>. For an adult weighing 150 pounds, that’s about 54 grams of protein per day.</b></p><p><b>Canned
sardines are also very affordable, says Largeman-Roth, starting at
around $3 per can — which will last for years unopened.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>So, yes, they are good for kids, they're good for adults. I like to eat a can with crackers. </p><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="https://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/03/iraq-snapshot.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Friday:</p><p><br /></p>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8790760533821838619" itemprop="articleBody">
Friday, March 1, 2024. Marianne Williamson delivers a major speech in
San Francisco, THE NEW YORK TIMES mythical rape 'report' continues to
fall apart, instead of answering questions about that report the paper
is trying to figure out who is speaking to the press, and much more.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Marianne
Williamson announced Wednesday that she was unsuspending her campaign
for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination and was back in the
race.. She spoke at an event in San Francisco last night.</div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mtyENfg6hy8?si=OiJtsEwtbbQuHdnD" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>Excerpt.<br /><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Marianne
Williamson: The Battle of Gettysburg was the battle at which it was
decisive. Once the North won that battle, it was decisive that the
Union would in fact survive. So Abraham Lincoln himself went to the
battlefield. And his words, of course, in The Gettysburg Address is
that the men who died there -- for the North -- he said that they had
given their last full measure of devotion so that a government of the
people and by the people and for the people would not perish from the
earth. My message to you is, once again, although we don't already know
this, is it's perishing now. It's perishing on our watch because we
are for all intents and purposes a government of the corporations and by
the corporations and for the corporations. And ever since particularly
CITIZENS UNITED and the unlimited permission given to corporate forces
to flood our political system with the undue influence of their money,
at this point, they hold Washington hostage. Washington is a system of
legalized bribery. I can tell you from being in the belly of that
beast, this is how the system operates. If you don't have, I mean huge
money -- I don't mean money, I mean huge money -- Remember the President
has a billion dollars for this campaign. If you don't have either huge
amounts of money or access to people with huge amounts of money, you
don't have a chance of being anywhere near the pinnacles of power in
this country. And that's why you might ask yourself, 'Well given all
the things we've been talking about tonight, why don't they pass
policies in Washington that make it better? Why don't they pass
policies that help the average American?" That's because there are so
few average Americans in that place. And how much power is exerted to
make sure the average American either doesn't get in or once they do get
in they're manipulated to the point where there's just more suckers for
the same establishment? There's only one way to override this at this
point. And that is for a peaceful revolution -- a peaceful revolution at
the ballot box. John F. Kennedy said that those who keep us from
peaceful revolution make violent revolution inevitable. So I believe
that we are at a crossroad. I think we all know that we're at a
crossroad. But like I said before, this is a moment for data analysis. I
didn't say anything tonight that everybody here doesn't already know. I
mean maybe I gave a statistic or two that you might not have
considered. But in general it's like the dots are scrambled. It's not
like the dots aren't there. And it's not that we're stupid people.
It's that we've been trained -- we've been trained to expect too
little. We've been trained to farm out our best critical thinking. And
we've been -- even those of us who are Democrats -- we've been trained
to give up the democratic process. We've returned to Tammany Hall
politics -- to men around a table a hundred years ago who got together
with cigars and decided who the candidates would be and would come up
with these ridiculous policies like, "Oh, no, no, we don't primary an
incumbent president." Tell that to those of us who remember Lyndon B.
Johnson because Eugene McCarthy primaried him, Bobby Kennedy Sr.
primaried him. We didn't think that was weird. We thought it was
democracy. People primary sitting senators all the time. People
primary sitting Congress people all the time. But we've just been 'oh!
oh! oh!' This is codependency now. Because the DNC said "Oh, no, we
have to go with Joe. The DNC says we're going with Joe." Who the hell
is the DNC? I'll tell you something, political parties are not
mentioned in the Consitution. And George Washington, in his farewell
address, warned us about them. He said, he predicted -- and, man, this
one rings true -- he said they could form factions of men who were more
loyal to their party than to their country. John Adams would then say
he saw political parties as the greatest threat to our democracy. And I
-- many of us in this room -- grew up in a time when political parties
sat in the background. We still honored that democratic principal that
political power lies in the hands of the people. The people would make a
decision in a primary who to nominate. The party would have nothing to
do with it until the people had chosen and then they would step in.
But, of course, they decided once Bernie Sanders came along, "Oh, we're
not going to have any of that." And then they got away with that. And
then they did it the next time and they got away with that. And now
they don't even pretend. Now they don't even pretend. And we're just
going along. So I ran for president because I feel that we need an
economic u-turn -- an economic u-turn in this country. Because I feel
we're like a ship headed for the iceberg here and that one major party
just heads right towards it and another major political party heading
more slowly and will hit it at a different angle. We have one major
political party representing a total nose-dive for our democracy because
you can't have a thriving democracy where you don't have a thriving
middle class. And the other major political party is moving in the
direction of a managed decline. These political parties do not just chop
wood and carry water for these corporate forces, they are huge
corporate forces. So seems to me we need to turn the ship around. Now I
was very enthralled by Franklin Roosevelt's Economic Bill of Rights
which would include universal healthcare, Medicare For All, tuition free
college and tech school, a complete elimination of the college loan
debt by using The Higher Education Act. It would include all of the
things we've mentioned. It would include things like ramping down
fossil fuel extraction rather than ramping it up which all of those
presidents of the modern era -- Democrats and Republicans -- end up
falling in line with Big Oil. Now one of them pretends not to. See,
one of them has learned what we want to hear so will say things like
"I'm the Climate President" and will even make sure that there are
healthy investments in green energy in The Inflation Reduction Act and
we say, "Oh, that's so good! There are these wonderful, wonderful, very
beneficial in the Inflation Reduction Act. Oh, yes. Oh, yes." Guess
what? It's a classic purse thief distraction technique. That same
president has given more oil drilling permits than even Trump did. That
same president okayed The Willow Project. That same president must
know that all of the investment in dirty energy completely nullifies the
investments in healthy, green energy. We are suckers if we're okay
with that. And all of the presidents in the modern era -- Republican or
Democrat -- are willing to fall in line -- obviously -- with the defense
industries. And so what we need is a guaranteed living wage. What we
need is guaranteed sick pay. All of those things. And we need to
repudiate the permanent war machine. Americans are figuring this out.
We need to play peace games, not just war games. We need a peace
academy, not just military academy. We need armies of peace builders
just like we have armies of military personnel. We need a peace academy,
not just a military academy, because we need to learn to wage peace.
Even Donald Rumsfeld said we need to learn to wage peace. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The
speech was broadcast live on YOUTUBE (2,844 views -- those may not
include live views) and TWITTER (9448 views). (TWITTER -- I don't work
for Elon Musk and I don't have to indulge him.)</div><div><br /></div><div>It
was a major speech covering many important topics and explaining why
she was back in the race -- a candidate unsuspending their campaign is
news -- it's always news in the rare times that it happens. Most
infamously, it happened in 1992 when H Ross Perot came back into the
race.</div><div><br /></div><div>So news outlets can hire reporters to
cover just Taylor Swift or just Beyonce, but there's no one who could
cover a speech in a major US city -- one also broadcast live over the
internet?</div><div><br /></div><div>That's rather sad and one more sign of a democracy in peril.</div><div><br /></div><div>And
I'd rather money be spent covering the arts than covering sports so
let's add in all the reporting that took place after the Superbowl
ended. I think everyone who wanted to see it, watched it. The coverage
in the days after the game was not needed.</div><div><br /><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1763555845978063032" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1763555845978063032&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%3Fupdated-max%3D2024-03-01T13%3A00%3A00-08%3A00%26max-results%3D3%26start%3D3%26by-date%3Dfalse&sessionId=d21c020f06bc940cfaf38da1c1f267192d22e764&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 368px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div>
</div><div><br />
<div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1763563308194426900" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1763563308194426900&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%3Fupdated-max%3D2024-03-01T13%3A00%3A00-08%3A00%26max-results%3D3%26start%3D3%26by-date%3Dfalse&sessionId=d21c020f06bc940cfaf38da1c1f267192d22e764&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 272px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div>
</div><div><br /><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1763553370218889456" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1763553370218889456&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%3Fupdated-max%3D2024-03-01T13%3A00%3A00-08%3A00%26max-results%3D3%26start%3D3%26by-date%3Dfalse&sessionId=d21c020f06bc940cfaf38da1c1f267192d22e764&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 926px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Gaza.</div><div><br /></div><div>ELETRONIC
INTIFADA continues to cover the mythical rapes of October 7th that have
still not been documented. And the revelations that THE INTERCEPT and
others have turned up in the last days.</div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gfE3vasBQyE?si=qgvkRGczAJf2RCpe" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://mondoweiss.net/2024/02/extraordinary-charges-of-bias-emerge-against-nytimes-reporter-anat-schwartz/">James North (MONDOWEIS) notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>New doubts are emerging about the <em>New York Times</em>’s coverage
of sexual violence during the October 7 Hamas-led attack — and the paper
owes its readers an open and transparent explanation. </b></p>
<p><b>What’s more, its reporting on this issue has become so questionable
that it should assign new reporters to go over the entire story again.</b></p>
<p><b>The latest questions are centered around Anat Schwartz, an Israeli
who co-authored several of the paper’s most widely circulated reports,
including the now <a href="https://mondoweiss.net/2024/01/family-of-key-case-in-new-york-times-october-7-sexual-violence-report-renounces-story-says-reporters-manipulated-them/">well-known and scrutinized</a> December 28 article headlined: “<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.html">‘Screams Without Words’’ How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7.</a>”</b></p><p><b>Independent researchers <a href="https://twitter.com/stephenWalt/status/1761580980584730984">scrutinized the online record</a>,
and raised serious questions about Schwartz. First, she has apparently
never been a reporter but is actually a filmmaker, who the <em>Times</em>
suddenly hired in October. You would expect the paper to look for
someone with actual journalistic experience, especially for a story as
sensitive as this one, written during the fog of war. Surely the paper
had enough of its own correspondents on staff who could have been
assigned to it.</b></p><p>
</p><p><b>Next, the researchers found that Schwartz had not hidden her strong
feelings online. There are screenshots of her “liking” certain posts
that repeated the “40 beheaded baby” hoax, and that endorsed another
hysterical post that urged the Israeli army to “turn Gaza into a
slaughterhouse,” and called Palestinians “human animals.”</b></p><p><b>(Just this morning, more evidence emerged online; Schwartz apparently also served in Israeli Military Intelligence.)</b></p><p><b>Finally, one of her co-authors on two of the reports was Adam Sella, who is her nephew. ********* [see note added below]*****</b></p><p><b>Let’s pause here. What would happen if the <em>Times</em> suddenly
hired a Palestinian filmmaker with no journalistic background, who had
recently publicly “liked” posts that called for “pushing Israeli Jews
into the sea,” to co-write several of its most sensitive and contested
reports? </b></p><p><b>(We don’t have to speculate. <a href="https://mondoweiss.net/2022/10/palestinian-photog-says-nyt-fired-him-for-expressing-support-for-resistance/">The <em>Times</em> fired Palestinian photojournalist Hosam Salam</a> in 2022 after one of the pro-Israel media watchdog groups protested about his social media posts.)</b></p><p><b>After Anat Schwartz’s online history became public, she locked down
her accounts and then deleted much of the incriminating content.</b></p><p>
</p><p><b>The <em>New York Times</em> imposes strict rules on its reporters to
maintain the appearance of objectivity. Reporters are not supposed to
attend demonstrations of any kind, wear campaign buttons, or post
opinions on social media. By hiring Anat Schwartz, the paper clearly
violated its own guidelines, and it should publicly explain and
apologize.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>***********[Added 3/1/24 2:49 PM EST, not her nephew. <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/1/nyt_anat_schwartz">Jeremy Scahill explained that on today's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></p><p><b>And her partner in this, Adam Sella, is the nephew of Anat Schwartz’s partner, and they’re not married. In fact, Amy, <em>The New York Times</em>,
they requested a correction from us, because we had initially said that
it was her nephew, which I think in the context of America and other
countries you would say. If you’re somebody’s longtime life partner, you
would say, “Oh, yeah, this is my nephew.” OK, they’re not blood
relatives, and they emphasize that she’s not married. Fine, we corrected
that.</b></p><p>
</p><p><b>My question is: Where are the corrections in <em>The New York Times</em> piece? <em>The New York Times</em>
has grave, grave mischaracterizations, sins of omission, reliance on
people who have no forensic or criminology credentials to be asserting
that there was a systematic rape campaign put in place here. And to
publish this article at a moment when Israel was intensifying, after
that brief pause where captives were exchanged — intensifying its
genocidal attack against the people of Gaza, this played a very, very
significant role. And the more we learn about this, the more we discover
that the reporting tactics that <em>The New York Times</em> used are
certainly not up to the standards that the newspaper claims to be
promoting. They will not issue any corrections on what has already been
documented to be very problematic sins of commission and omission in
this piece.</b></p><p><a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/3/1/nyt_anat_schwartz">Use the link for Jeremy and Ryan Grimm's discussion with Amy Goodman on today's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a>]</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/02/28/new-york-times-anat-schwartz-october-7/">Jeremy Scahill, Ryan Grim and Daniel Boguslaw (INTERCEPT) reported</a> Wednesday:</p></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><b><br /></b></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><b><br /></b></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><b> Inside the newsroom, the article was met with praise from editorial
leaders but skepticism from other Times journalists. The paper’s
flagship podcast “The Daily” attempted to turn the article into an
episode, but it didn’t manage to get through a fact check, as The
Intercept previously <a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/01/28/new-york-times-daily-podcast-camera/">reported</a>.
(In a statement received after publication, a Times spokesperson said,
“No Daily episode was killed due to fact checking failures.”)</b></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><p><b>The fear among Times staffers who have been critical of the paper’s
Gaza coverage is that Schwartz will become a scapegoat for what is a
much deeper failure. She may harbor animosity toward Palestinians, lack
the experience with investigative journalism, and feel conflicting
pressures between being a supporter of Israel’s war effort and a Times
reporter, but Schwartz did not commission herself and Sella to report
one of the most consequential stories of the war. Senior leadership at
the New York Times did.</b></p>
<p><b>Schwartz said as much in an <a aria-describedby="targetBlankDescription" href="https://www.glz.co.il/%D7%92%D7%9C%D7%A6/%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%9B%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%95%D7%AA/%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%95-%D7%A6%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A8/%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%95-%D7%A6%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A831-12-2023-1001/%D7%9E%D7%A7%D7%91%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%94-%D7%AA%D7%92%D7%95%D7%91%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%90%D7%99%D7%AA-nyt-%D7%A2%D7%9C-%D7%AA%D7%97%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%A8-%D7%94%D7%90%D7%9C%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%AA-%D7%91-710" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">interview</a>
with Israeli Army Radio on December 31. “The New York Times said,
‘Let’s do an investigation into sexual violence’ — it was more a case of
them having to convince me,” she said. Her host cut her off: “It was a
proposal of The New York Times, the entire thing?”</b></p>
<p><b>“Unequivocally. Unequivocally. Obviously. Of course,” she said. “The
paper stood behind us 200 percent and gave us the time, the investment,
the resources to go in-depth with this investigation as much as needed.”</b></p>
<p><b>Shortly after the war broke out, some editors and reporters
complained that Times standards barred them from referring to Hamas as
“terrorists.” The rationale from the standards department, run for 14
years by Philip Corbett, had long been that Hamas was the de facto
administrator of a specific territory, rather than a stateless terror
group. Deliberately killing civilians, went the argument, was not enough
to label a group terrorists, as that label could apply quite broadly.</b></p></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><p><b>Corbett, after October 7, defended the policy in the face of
pressure, newsroom sources said, but he lost. On October 19, an email
went out on behalf of Executive Editor Joe Kahn saying that Corbett had
asked <a aria-describedby="targetBlankDescription" href="https://talkingbiznews.com/media-moves/ny-times-makes-editorial-changes-in-standards/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">to step back from his position</a>.
“After 14 years as the embodiment of Times standards, Phil Corbett has
told us he’d like to step back a bit and let someone else take the
leading role in this crucial effort,”<a aria-describedby="targetBlankDescription" href="https://www.nytco.com/press/an-update-on-our-standards-team/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank"> Times leadership explained</a>. Three newsroom sources said the move was tied to the pressure he was under to soften coverage in Israel’s favor. <a aria-describedby="targetBlankDescription" href="https://twitter.com/LailaAlarian/status/1761376892244967789/photo/2" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">One of the social media posts</a>
that Schwartz liked, triggering the Times review, made the case that,
for Israeli propaganda purposes, Hamas should be likened at all times to
the Islamic State. A Times spokesperson told The Intercept, “Your
understanding about Phil Corbett is flatly untrue.” In a statement
received after publication, “Phil had asked to change roles before Joe
Kahn even became executive editor in June 2022. And it had absolutely
nothing to do with a dispute over coverage.”</b></p>
<p><b>Since the revelations regarding Schwartz’s recent social media
activity, her byline has not appeared in the paper and she has not
attended editorial meetings. The paper said that a review into her
social media “likes” is ongoing. “Those ‘likes’’ are unacceptable
violations of our company policy,” said a Times spokesperson.</b></p>
<p><b>The bigger scandal may be the reporting itself, the process that
allowed it into print, and the life-altering impact the reporting had
for thousands of Palestinians whose deaths were justified by the alleged
systematic sexual violence orchestrated by Hamas the paper claimed to
have exposed.</b></p>
<p><b>Another frustrated Times reporter who has also worked as an editor
there said, “A lot of focus will understandably, rightfully, be directed
at Schwartz but this is most clearly poor editorial decision making
that undermines all the other great work being tirelessly done across
the paper — both related and completely unrelated to the war — that
manages to challenge our readers and meet our standards.”</b></p></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">The
story never should have run. There were no facts. There was no
evidence. We have stated over and over here that it is mythical rapes
until they have survivors or victims (victims if the females died).</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><a href="https://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2023/12/iraq-snapshot_01968698163.html">Let's drop back to December 8th</a> [<b>Corrected: this originally said "December 9th" -- it was the December 8th snapshot</b>]:</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><div><b>I'm sorry I'm not in the mood for crap. I'm going try to be nicer
than I was to the actress who called me last night and begged me to help
with the effort on those mythical rape victims. But I can't make any
promises.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>That was last night. This morning"</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div dir="ltr"><b>One
e-mail changed a little bit in the 43 times it was sent. You got the
wrong one. You can't shame me. Not on the topic of the assault. I get
it, you want us to all grab the Israeli government's hymnal and sing
the chorus to "Rapes Took Place October 7th And My Heart Knows It
Happened." You got the wrong one.</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>(A)
I was assaulted years ago as a child. So I really don't need to hear
from you sentences like, "Imagine if you were assaulted . . ." _____, I
was. I don't have to imagine. And what kind of sicko (a) wants me to relive that trauma? (B) "You have said over and over,
'Believe all women.''' One more time: You got the wrong one. I never
said that and I never would say that. Check the archives and you'll see
that I have long rejected that nonsense. I do not believe in that
blanket nonsense. Some men lie, some women lie. More to the point, I
am a thinking person and I would be an idiot to turn off my brain and
march along blindly. There are women who came forward with charges
against Donald Trump. I don't like Donald and never have. I believed
some of the women, I didn't believe them all. If you were serving on a
jury, you'd listen to the information and process it using your best
skills. That's not "believe all women." I've never argued that and I
never would. Some women I believe, some I don't. Some I can't
determine. (C) "It is your duty to call out these rapists." What
rapists? As with the women who allegedly were raped, we don't know
anything about who raped anyone. </b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>I hear your claims. I've heard them repeatedly in the media. Where's your proof?</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5HOfaSSIVcE?si=x2rBdyi1fgA4-JeF" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>Some of you liars on this are bringing back in the beheaded babies lie.
That is a lie. There is no proof to that. But it could have happened.
A sword swipe, a head comes off. Yeah, that can happen. But you're
telling me that in the hours an assault took place on October 7th, as
Israelis scrambled to get to safety and hopefully Israeli forces scrambled to fight the attack, Hamas took
time to rape. And to gang rape. Wow. </b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>Doesn't
play. Doesn't mean it didn't happen. But it doesn't play. If you
pitched me that, I'd say that was a huge plot point error and that the
audience will never believe it. This was
an attack lasting hours not days. That the audience -- aware of all the
money that's gone into the Israeli military alone would never believe
that attackers would gang rape on site of the attack because they would
be in fear of being caught. They might drag someone away to rape them
after the attack but to stop everything and conduct a gang-rape? Again,
it doesn't play. Doesn't mean it didn't happen. But it doesn't play.</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div></div></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">It didn't play. It was never believable. </div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">Recently,
the United Nations raised the issue of Palestinian girls and women
being abused and raped in Israeli custody. That likely has happened. A
woman being held somewhere is much more likely to be assaulted than a
woman out in the open in the midst of a raid, attack, charge whatever. </div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">If evidence emerges that it did happen, we'll note that evidence. We did note the UN announcement because it is news.</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">But,
please note, I didn't use it to slam feminists or the women who pretend
they're feminists even though they're just Me-ists. Feminism is only
to be acknowledged and practiced by Me-ists when they can personally
benefit from it. Like the joke about certain African-American male
celebrities who reach out to the Black community only when they're in
the midst of a scandal and therefore, the joke goes, suddenly remember
they're Black.</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">Part
of the propaganda on the rape myth (it's a myth until they find females
who were raped) was to try to turn woman against woman. And, in the
US, various ugly spirited women -- and balding women if you think about
it -- used their celebrity to sneer at other women for not embracing
and standing up for these non-existent rape victims.</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">And
that was bad enough. I don't need some egotistical bitch who made
everyone miserable on her so-so TV show and was such a bitch that they
weren't willing to meet her quote so she'd pop up on the spin-off
lecturing me about feminism. A queen bee who persecutes other women
telling me what feminism is?</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">That was bad enough. But then we had others coming forward and damning feminists for promoting the mythical rapes.</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">Excuse
me. I'm a feminist. I'm not the feminist. Ava and I, at THIRD,
present a feminist view on the media, we don't write "the" feminist
view.</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">Because there's not one universal voice or opinion. </div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">It
was amazing to watch as a narrative emerged that bashed feminists for
(a) not speaking out for the mythical rape victims and (b) bashed
feminists for speaking out on the mythical rape victims.</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">That's what it finally came down to.</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">A lot of writers who never do a thing for feminism or feminists kept attacking us -- regardless of what we did or did not do.</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">I
think it's highly more likely that women in custody were raped -- it's
true of women in custody in any country including the US. So I won't be
surprised if the investigation the UN is calling for -- on what has
happened to Palestinian women in Israeli custody -- finds actual
evidence and proof. But as a feminist and as a rape victim, this
feminist does not use rape for propaganda. </div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">We
should wait for proof. Listen to women, absolutely. But there were no
women to listen to with regards to October 7th and what I'm left with
is the impression that women were used to sell war (how it has looked
the entire time) and that's not about feminism. THE NEW YORK TIMES has a
lot to answer for as do various American celebrities -- Julianna, Mayim
and other balding actresses.</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">Instead of answers from THE TIMES, they're circling the wagon and trying to figure out who's talking to the press. <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/new-york-times-israel-gaza-leak">Charlotte Klein (VANITY FAIR) reports</a>:</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><b><br /></b></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><p class="has-dropcap"><b><em>The</em> <em>New York Times</em> is conducting a leak investigation following a <a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/01/28/new-york-times-daily-podcast-camera/">report</a> in The Intercept about a yet-to-be-aired episode of <em>The Daily</em>
addressing explosive claims of sexual violence committed by Hamas on
October 7. Management in recent weeks has pulled at least two dozen
staffers, including <em>Daily</em> producers, into meetings in an
attempt to understand how internal details about the podcast’s editorial
process got out, according to multiple sources familiar with the
matter. The investigation, I’m told, is being led by Charlotte Behrendt,
the paper’s director of policy and internal investigations.</b></p><p><b>In late January, The Intercept reported that the <em>Times</em> had planned to air an episode of <em>The Daily</em> weeks earlier that was based on a December <em>Times</em> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/28/world/middleeast/oct-7-attacks-hamas-israel-sexual-violence.html">investigation</a>, led by Pulitzer Prize–winner Jeffrey Gettleman and coauthored by freelancers Anat Schwartz and Adam Sella,
about how Hamas “weaponized sexual violence” in the October attack on
Israel. But the paper shelved that episode “amid a furious internal
debate about the strength of the paper’s original reporting on the
subject,” according to The Intercept, which noted that a new script was
drafted that “offered major caveats, allowed for uncertainty, and asked
open-ended questions that were absent from the original article, which
presented its findings as definitive evidence of the systematic use of
sexual violence as a weapon of war.” The Intercept’s Daniel Boguslaw and Ryan Grim
suggested that producers and the paper faced a conundrum: “run a
version that hews closely to the previously published story and risk
republishing serious mistakes, or publish a heavily toned-down version,
raising questions about whether the paper still stands by the original
report.” (<em>Times</em> spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander
told The Intercept that the paper does not comment on ongoing reporting
and that “there is only one ‘version’ of any piece of audio journalism:
the one that publishes.”)</b></p><p><b>It’s highly unusual for the <em>Times</em> to conduct a leak
investigation, with multiple staffers saying this is the first such
internal probe they can recall taking place. “It’s not something we do,”
said one. “That kind of witch hunt is really concerning.” Though
information has leaked out in the past—it’s par for the course for a
newsroom as sprawling and influential as the <em>Times</em>—this
disclosure presumably cuts deeper because it described internal
decision-making around a story that had yet to be published.</b></p></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">That's
not a good look for any outlet. It's an especially poor look for THE
TIMES. It was four years ago, remember, that they were dismissing the
Hunter Biden laptop. But more to the point, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/18/business/media/new-york-post-hunter-biden.html">it was October 18, 2020 that they published an article everyone wants to forget</a>
-- a fairy tale about how THE NEW YORK POST -- a threadbare publication
that has nowhere near the newsroom THE TIMES does -- had massive
pushback on their own Hunter Biden laptop article. [Added 3/1/24 at
10:23 PM actual date of NYT 'report' on the NY POST article and also
provided link And, by the way, 'tabloid' is not an insult or broadside.
It's what THE POST is and has been going back to the days of Dorothy
Schiff -- there are tabloids and there are broadsheets.] That
anonymice 'report' was questionable for the lack of facts and
on-the-record sources -- and the pretense that NY POST has an actual
newsroom of any significance -- they're run on the cheap. But it's even
more appalling when you grasp that THE TIMES believes it can
investigate and report on other outlets but that no one should do the
same on them.</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><b>[Added 3/1/24 at 2:53 pm -- I think we need Jeremy and Ryan's discussion with Amy on today's DEMOCRACY NOW!</b><br /><br />
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BMNV0Csj46Q?si=KU53pYPuxF0nHQZp" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><b>
We'll note it in Monday's snapshot -- and it will go up here in about
two hours in its own post but since the snapshot is reposted I want to
be sure the video of their discussion is in this snapshot.]
</b><br /><br />
</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><div><span class="Link"></span>Gaza remains under assault. Day 147 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." AP
noted yesterday that the death toll stood at 30,035 with
over 70,000 injured and thousands missing. Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna141305">NBC NEWS reports</a>:</div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><b><br /></b></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><p><b>At least 13 children are dead in Gaza because of malnutrition and hunger, Hamas said, citing data from the Gaza Health Ministry.</b></p><p><b>The
deaths are "a declaration of failure of the international community and
the United Nations in carrying out their tasks in protecting children
from starvation," it said in a statement today. </b></p><p><b>"We
renew our call on the United Nations and international relief
institutions to take urgent action to save children and civilians in the
Gaza Strip, especially in the Gaza and North governorates, and not to
submit to the dictates of the criminal Zionist occupation," Hamas said,
referring to Israel.</b></p><p><b>The organization also urged the
international community to help deliver food aid and medical assistance
to the enclave urgently "to avoid the increasing catastrophe of famine."</b></p></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2"><br /></div><div class="article-byline__authors text-accentDynamic mb-2">The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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<a href="http://likemariasaidpaz.blogspot.com/2024/03/groomer-lauren-boebert-at-heart-of-sex.html" target="_blank">
Groomer Lauren Boebert at the heart of sex tape scandal
</a>
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8 hours ago
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<img data-lateloadsrc="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vbFtYdT4JhoEbo7-qD2Pq5LvttqXuxevfkeV0gcmbzeig8H8mVx7oeKBxSIcMizE2I4wccX9oCfQ_yqojDY1YbipqXshJS_xQaY98orl0U1chQetcKKKgaF2ewrQ=s16-w16-h16" height="16" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vbFtYdT4JhoEbo7-qD2Pq5LvttqXuxevfkeV0gcmbzeig8H8mVx7oeKBxSIcMizE2I4wccX9oCfQ_yqojDY1YbipqXshJS_xQaY98orl0U1chQetcKKKgaF2ewrQ=s16-w16-h16" width="16" />
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<a href="http://katskornerofthecommonills.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills)</a>
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<a href="http://katskornerofthecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/melissa-manchester-dolly-parton-and.html" target="_blank">
Melissa Manchester, Dolly Parton and Rhiannon Giddens
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8 hours ago </div></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-54893940874827775802024-03-01T00:59:00.000-05:002024-03-01T00:59:22.014-05:00Quick Chicken Quesadillas in the Kitchen<p>Kevin is 14 and learning to cook. His mom has taught him four recipes so far and this is the favorite one (he notes she got it <a href="https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/quick-chicken-quesadillas/ac094e78-144a-41f2-9340-29da94b5f665">from Betty Crocker)</a>:</p><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></p><h2><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Ingredients</span></h2><p>
</p><div class="rdpIngredients" data-deferid="r8790e486d6224943ade4ac18ea645690" id="r8790e486d6224943ade4ac18ea645690">
<h3></h3>
<ul>
<li class="ingredient">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="quantity">6</span>
<span class="unitOfMeasure"></span>
<span class="description">
oz refrigerated cooked Southwest-flavor chicken breast strips (from 9- or 12-oz package) </span>
</span></b></li>
<li class="ingredient">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="quantity">1/2</span>
<span class="unitOfMeasure"></span>
<span class="description">
cup thick & chunky salsa </span>
</span></b></li>
<li class="ingredient">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="quantity">1</span>
<span class="unitOfMeasure"></span>
<span class="description">
package (11 oz) Old El Paso™ Flour Tortillas for Burritos (8 Count) </span>
</span></b></li>
<li class="ingredient">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="quantity"></span>
<span class="unitOfMeasure"></span>
<span class="description">
Cooking spray </span>
</span></b></li>
<li class="ingredient">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="quantity">2</span>
<span class="unitOfMeasure"></span>
<span class="description">
cups finely shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese blend (8 oz) </span>
</span></b></li>
<li class="ingredient">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="quantity">1/4</span>
<span class="unitOfMeasure"></span>
<span class="description">
cup sour cream </span>
</span></b></li>
</ul></div><div class="rdpSteps">
<h2><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Steps</span></h2>
<div data-deferid="rcb37e473345142e8be750f3886f3fa94" id="rcb37e473345142e8be750f3886f3fa94"><div class=""><ul class="recipeSteps"><li class="recipeStep"><div class="stepIndex"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">1</span></b></div> <div class="stepDescription"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">
Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. In small bowl, mix chicken and salsa.
</span></b></div></li> <li class="recipeStep"><div class="stepIndex"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">2</span></b></div> <div class="stepDescription"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">
Spray 1 side of 1 tortilla with cooking
spray; place sprayed side down on work surface. Layer with one-fourth of
the chicken mixture and 1/2 cup of the cheese. Top with another
tortilla; spray top of tortilla with cooking spray.
</span></b></div></li> <li class="recipeStep"><div class="stepIndex"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">3</span></b></div> <div class="stepDescription"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">
Cook in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium
heat 4 to 6 minutes, carefully turning after 2 minutes, until golden
brown. Repeat with remaining tortillas, chicken mixture and cheese. To
serve, cut quesadillas into wedges. Serve with sour cream and, if
desired, additional salsa.</span></b> </div></li></ul></div></div></div><p><br /></p><p>That's a good recipe to master and it's a good memory to have. Years from now, that memory will still be there. If you have kids -- your children or nephews or nieces or grandkids -- make a point to teach them to cook. You're creating memories and you're teaching them a valuable skill.</p><p><br /></p><p>News? <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/report-warns-killer-robots">Thor Benson (Common Dreams) reports</a>:</p><p><b>A <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/public-citizen">Public Citizen</a> <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.citizen.org/article/ai-joe-report/" target="_blank">report</a>
released on Thursday outlines the risks of the Pentagon adopting the
use of autonomous weapons on the battlefield and how this could occur in
the not-too-distant future.</b></p><p><b>The report focuses on the Pentagon's
efforts to utilize artificial intelligence in various ways and the
American military contractors that are developing weaponry that utilizes
AI, including autonomous weapons.</b></p><p><b>"The single greatest concern
involving AI and the Pentagon is the integration of AI into weapons
systems such that they can function autonomously, delivering lethal
force without intervention or meaningful human control," the report
state. "The most serious worry involving autonomous weapons is that they
inherently dehumanize the people targeted and make it easier to
tolerate widespread killing, including in violation of international
human rights law."</b></p><p class="pull-quote"><b>"Autonomous weapons are already in development around the world and racing forward."</b></p><p><b>Though
the Pentagon has instituted some policies to ensure AI will be used
ethically by the military, the report states, these policies don't go as
far as to ban the use of autonomous weapons—often referred to as
"killer robots."</b></p><p><b>Furthermore, the report notes that military
contractors like General Dynamics, Vigor Industrial, Anduril Industries,
and others are currently developing unmanned tanks, submarines, and
drones. </b></p><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_29.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Thursday:</p><p><br /></p>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-622572818847038153" itemprop="articleBody">
Thursday, February 29, 2024. Marianne's back in, Joe's slow on the
uptake, Junior steps on more corpses as he tries to climb the political
ladder, the 30,000 mark has been passed in Gaza and much more.<div><br /></div><div>We start in the US with major campaign news. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKaEeTz0qVk&t=2s">Marianne Williamson announced yesterday</a> that "as of today, I am unsuspending my campaign for president of the United States." </div><div><br /></div><div>The
moment is important for a number of reasons. First, if you suspend you
campaign, you can start it back up. Something Ron DeSantis reminds
himself daily as he waits to see Donald Trump convicted. So it's
teachable. Second it also shows the need for something more. Marianne
suspended her campaign. And then we ended up with Michigan's primary
this week which was noteworthy for a number of reasons including that
despite having suspended her campaign on February 7th, this week she
still got 3% of the vote. She beat the forgettable and unlikable Dean
Phillips who was still in the race. She didn't campaign, she did do
meet-and-greet, buy ad time, phone bank, media, you name it. And she
beat Dean Phillips giving it presumably his best shot.</div><div><br /></div><div>There
is a hunger for something more and there is a need to push the
Democratic Party presidential candidate -- whomever that may be -- to
fight for the American people. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yesterday, her campaign <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKaEeTz0qVk&t=2s">released a video</a> of her explaining why she was unsuspending. You can also read that at <a href="https://marianne2024.com/">her website</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="copy"><b>As of today, I am unsuspending my Presidential campaign.</b></p>
<p class="copy"><b>All of us have noticed America’s political dynamics are
moving in a disturbing direction. Donald Trump’s power is on the
incline, and President Biden’s is on the decline. More and more people
are saying the quiet part out loud: that despite the fact that the
President deserves credit for many of his accomplishments, he is clearly
a weak candidate to defeat Donald Trump in 2024.</b></p>
<p class="copy"><b>I, however, am not. My ability to arouse in Americans
the angels of our better nature is the most powerful antidote to Trump’s
dark and authoritarian vision.</b></p>
<p class="copy"><b>I suspended my campaign because we were losing the horse
race. But there is something much bigger than the horse race that’s at
stake here. In the words of Mohammed Ali, ‘When the mission is right,
the odds don’t matter.”</b></p>
<p class="copy"><b>We cannot sit idly by while the D.C. political class
sleepwalks this country into disaster. Too many have followed the
directives of the status quo for too long, but we are awakening now. We
are ready to act, to take the wheel of history into our hands and turn
it in another direction.</b></p>
<p class="copy"><b>We need a President who stands for a new beginning in
America, and whether I can help do that as President or in some other
way, unsuspending the campaign is a necessary next step.</b></p>
<p class="copy"><b>We will win on the promise of restoring America’s middle
class and waging peace both domestically and internationally. From
#MedicareForAll to #CeasefireNow in exchange for the hostages, from
tuition free college and tech school to a guaranteed living wage, from
waging peace to repudiating America’s forever war machine, from
subsidized child care to ending America’s War on Drugs, our platform is
the winning one.</b></p>
<p class="copy"><b>I will respond to the cult-like personality of Donald
Trump with a light-filled vision of hope and possibility. We will become
once again a “government of the people, by the people, and for the
people” at a time when corporate interests have taken Washington
hostage.</b></p>
<p class="copy"><b>I hope you are as moved by this vision as I am. You have
supported the campaign before, and I hope you feel moved to support it
again.</b></p>
<p class="copy"><b>We must rise to the occasion like never before; so much
is riding on what we do now. Even if the most I can do is influence the
President, that in itself is a goal worth striving for. For those of us
who are deeply committed to Trump not returning to the White House,
it’s imperative that we do everything possible to help mount a winning
campaign in 2024.</b></p>
<p class="copy"><b>I hope you will help me do this. There is no time to
waste. Please give generously so we can restart the engines and race to
the top.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>They also released the video below that gets to why she is running and why you should care.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OzggH8WADpw?si=rjH82wMoJM6VSLJL" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Marianne
Williamson: I'm Marianne Williamson and when I was growing up, America
had a vibrant middle class. The average American worker had decent
benefits, could afford a home, could afford a car, could afford a yearly
vacation, could afford for one member of the couple to stay home if
they wished and could afford to send their kids to college. But over
the last fifty years, there's been a massive transfer of wealth to the
tune of 50 trillion dollars from the bottom 90% of Americans to the the
top 1% -- decimating America's middle class. We all owe President Biden
a debt of gratitude for defeating President Trump in 2020. But with
the things that they're going to be throwing at us in 2024? We need to
submit to the American people an agenda of fundamental economic
reform: universal healthcare, tuition-free colleges at state colleges
and universities, higher education including tech schools, paternity and
maternity leave, free child care and a guaranteed living wage. These
are things that are considered moderate positions in every other
advanced democracy . But in the United States, people have been trained
to expect too little. The American people have been played. What the
Democratic Party should do is to truly return to the principles of
Franklin Delano Roosevelt -- not just alleviate their suffering but
offer them genuine economic reform, not just help people survive in an
unjust system, the Democratic Party should end an unjust system.
Washington DC, with a few brave exceptions, is filled with two major
categories of leaders: Those who don't even care about all the suffering
that is going on out there and those who do not have the moral courage
to fix it. Let me in there, I will.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That's a powerful message and she's speaking to us. </div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know a kind way to say this so let's not try to pretty it up: Who the hell is Junior speaking to?</div><div><br /></div><div>My
phone hasn't stopped ringing since the e-mail his campaign sent out
late yesterday afternoon "Let’s send a powerful message" (afternoon my
time -- PST). </div><div><br /></div><div>Marianne just spoke about the needs of the American people.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bobby Kennedy Junior can't do that. </div><div><br /></div><div>Junior yammered away for over 1600 words and the only time "you" were mentioned was to beg for money.</div><div><br /></div><div>What did he offer instead?</div><div><br /></div><div>More
attempts to climb on top of the shoulders of his father and the late
President John F. Kennedy. For variety, he threw two more men in the
mix -- Martin Luther King Jr. -- mentioned only in passing -- and
Malcolm X. The last one, that was the most offensive. </div><div><br /></div><div>Right
now, as you read this, you're in the world and you're trying to learn
and grow. Some people stop. Junior stopped growing long ago. Which is
why he offers the Whitest and most insulting take on Malcolm X you
could imagine. I can remember when, in the 80s, his take began to
become a dominant take. Articles and books appeared. It was a
different take than the spit-on-Malcolm take that was so popular among
many. But I don't know that it was a better take. At least when the
enemy spits on you, they realize you're a force -- even in death -- to
be reckoned with. The new Malcolm was more like a child who returned
from a journey and was petted on the head. That's 'history' in Junior's
warped mind.</div><div><br /></div><div>In fairness, it's history he was
'taught.' Lucy Hughes-Hallett wrote an excellent book entitled
CLEOPATRA: HISTORIES, DREAMS AND DISTORTIONS. The 1990 book is a must
read for critical thinkers and traces how history is flexible and how in
one time period one thing is emphasized and in another it's something
else. Same person: Cleopatra. But the history and the stories a
society tells itself change over time. </div><div><br /></div><div>Bobby's
become fixated on the last century and that's becoming ever more
clear. It's the 21st century and he can't cope with it. </div><div><br /></div><div>And
it's bad enough that Junior keeps trying to pretend he can speak for
his father (who does have eight other living children) and his uncle but
now he's trying to speak for MLK and Malcolm as well? </div><div><br /></div><div>"What's next?" a friend asked over the phone, "His donation plea where he channels the ghost of Kitty Genovese?" </div><div><br /></div><div>Exactly. </div><div><br /></div><div>He's useless as THE DAILY SHOW made clear this week. </div><div><br /></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/chuGDDdJLbk?si=p_fHSq7aQk3f1K0E" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div> Back to the real world, the Michigan primary was important this week. Let's note <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/28/michigan_2024_primary_uncommitted_biden_gaza">this from yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fsZkS0GiWP0?si=DxTpusYw4QZdwJ-4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
We begin today’s show in Michigan, where President Joe Biden won the
Democratic primary Tuesday but faced a significant backlash over his
support for Israel’s assault on Gaza. Biden won about 81% of the vote,
but over 100,000 voters, or more than 13%, cast their ballots for
“uncommitted.”</b></p>
<p><b>In recent weeks, the group Listen to Michigan urged Democrats to vote
“uncommitted” to pressure Biden to call on Israel to end its assault on
Gaza. Organizers of the campaign had said they were hoping for 10,000
“uncommitted” votes, pointing to Donald Trump’s win of less than 11,000
votes in 2016, to show the significance of that number. Tuesday’s vote
shows they got 10 times that amount.</b></p>
<p><b>Michigan is the first major battleground state in the general
election to hold its primary. It’s also home to one of the largest Arab
American populations in the country. Top White House officials visited
Michigan earlier this month to meet with Arab and Muslim leaders after a
number of them refused to meet with Biden’s campaign manager.</b></p>
<p><b>The movement to vote “uncommitted” will likely spread to other
states. Organizers of the movement are holding a call with supporters in
Minnesota, which will vote next week, and Washington state, which holds
its primary March 12th.</b></p>
<p><b>For more, we’re joined by two guests. James Zogby is president of the Arab American Institute. His new <a href="https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2024/02/28/why-the-usa-continues-to-fail-the-arab-world/">opinion piece</a> for <em>Pakistan Today</em> is titled “Why the <span class="caps">USA</span>
Continues to Fail the Arab World.” He’s joining us from Utica, New
York. We’re also joined by former Democratic Congressmember from
Michigan Andy Levin. He’s joining us from Southfield, Michigan.</b></p>
<p><b>We welcome you both to <em>Democracy Now!</em> You’re a former
congressmember, Andy Levin. You’re also a former synagogue president.
Talk about this “uncommitted” campaign. For every six votes President
Biden got yesterday in the primary, “uncommitted” got one. Talk about
the organizing effort and what message that you hope that those who
supported “uncommitted,” like yourself, sent to President Biden.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">ANDY</span> <span class="caps">LEVIN</span>: Well, good morning, Amy and everyone. I don’t have much of a voice left, so sorry about that.</b></p>
<p><b>It was really an incredible thing, Amy. You know, I’ve been
organizing for peace for 40 years, and I’ve rarely seen such an organic
and authentic movement come together in, as you say, just three weeks.
And we got over 100,000 people to vote “uncommitted.” This was something
that grew up out of the Arab American and larger Muslim communities in
Michigan, but it had great power among progressives, among Jewish
people, Christians, Muslims, people of other faiths, people of no faith.
College campuses were aflame about this.</b></p>
<p><b>And the idea was that Michigan has this “uncommitted” box on our
ballot, because, remember, this is a presidential primary, and some
other states do the same thing. You’re voting to send delegates to a
convention, so you could vote to send delegates “uncommitted.” And, in
fact, we won so many votes, I believe we will send at least one delegate
from two congressional districts: the 6th District, represented by
Debbie Dingell, and the 12th District, represented by Rashida Tlaib.</b></p>
<p><b>I think the significance of this, Amy, is that the president’s
people, and maybe the president himself, there’s a danger that they see
this as sort of like a political problem: “We need to send surrogates.
We need better messaging. People just need to realize what a disaster
Trump would be, which, of course, we can never let him get near the
White House again. So they’ll come around all of this.” No. This is war.
This is the killing of tens of thousands of innocent people, leveling
whole neighborhoods, most of the Gaza Strip. We don’t just want you to
use a better message.</b></p>
<p><b>The message from us to the president yesterday was: You must change
course. You must change course for the sake of your political reelection
and because it’s the right and necessary thing to do from every point
of view, including U.S. national security interests, for God’s sake. The
message to the president is: Stop treating what Bibi Netanyahu says as
the boundary of the possible. You’ve got to move towards an immediate
and permanent ceasefire and an end to this carnage, free all the
hostages, free political prisoners among the Palestinians, including
leading longtime prisoners who — if you don’t like Hamas, free Marwan
Barghouti, who’s been in prison for so long, whom many Palestinians
might support to change the situation there. So, we really need actual
change in policy, and I think we sent that message strongly last night.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: Andy Levin,
I wanted to ask you — I was particularly struck by the turnout. The
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said this was a record
turnout on Tuesday for a presidential primary. Compared to, for
instance, South Carolina, where only 4% of Democrats voted in the
primary, here we had over, it looks like, 50%? Could you explain this
issue of turnout, as well?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">ANDY</span> <span class="caps">LEVIN</span>:
Well, one thing is that there were more — quite a greater number of
Republicans voting, or people voting in the Republican primary than the
Democratic primary. That’s also something that’s not great for President
Biden. But there was some sense of a contest on that side, right? Even
though we all know that Nikki Haley was going to trail by a wide margin.</b></p>
<p><b>But it is remarkable, Juan. Think about it. We have an incumbent
Democratic president running for reelection. We all know he’s going to
be the nominee. Most Democrats feel like maybe he’s done a really great
job in other areas. Personally, I was really proud to serve with him in
the 117th Congress. I’m proud of the Investing in America agenda that we
passed, having some, at least a semblance of, industrial policy in
America for the first time in many decades, and on and on. But what’s
remarkable is that this 100,000-plus people who voted “uncommitted,”
almost all of them, Juan, wouldn’t have showed up but for this. They’re
mad at the president. They would have stayed home.</b></p>
<p><b>And our message was: Wait a minute. That would be a disaster if you
stayed home. He won’t get the message. He won’t understand. Come out and
express your rage. Shake your fist at the president and say, “Look,”
for most of them, “I voted for you in 2020. I’m really mad at you right
now, and I have to tell you.” So, that, I think, juiced turnout.</b></p>
<p><b>And look at East Lansing, where Michigan State University is. Look at
Ann Arbor, where the University of Michigan is. It’s not just Dearborn
and Hamtramck, with our incredible, beautiful concentration of Arab
American and other Muslim voters. It’s also young people across the
state and progressives across the state who said, “We’re your base. We
want to win in November. In order to win, we want peace now.”</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Andy Levin, the last time we talked to you, you were a congressmember. You were running for reelection. <span class="caps">AIPAC</span>,
the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, had invested millions in
Democratic primaries to defeat progressives who supported Palestine. You
were one of those they were trying to defeat. You’re a self-described
Zionist who supports a two-state solution. But earlier, before that
primary, a former president of <span class="caps">AIPAC</span> described
you as “arguably the most corrosive member of Congress to the
U.S.-Israel relationship.” Can you talk about what happened to you then?
You lost that election. But do you see your point of view being
embraced much both in Michigan and around the country in a way that <span class="caps">AIPAC</span> never imagined?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">ANDY</span> <span class="caps">LEVIN</span>:
I do, Amy. I mean, basically, they spent millions of dollars of dark
money. They raised a huge amount of so-called hard money for my opponent
in that primary, who basically toed the <span class="caps">AIPAC</span>
line completely. And now they say they’re going to spend $100 million
in 2022, and evidently they’ve already raised $44 million to take out
progressives in Democratic primaries. And much of their money is coming
from Republican billionaires, who don’t have any place in a Democratic
primary. And shame on us, as Democrats, if we continue to allow
Democratic candidates to take Republican money in Democratic primaries.</b></p>
<p><b>But here’s the situation. This avalanche of mostly dark money coming
to try to interfere with Democratic primaries is running into a tsunami
of upset by Democratic base voters who say, “The Jewish people deserve
self-determination. What about the Palestinian people? And, in fact,
there is no peace and security for the Jewish people in the Holy Land
unless and until we realize the political and human rights of the
Palestinian people. And we have to love each other. We have to support
each other. We have to find a way to live together.” And, yes, this is a
huge rebuke to that point of view that we must support the Israeli
government no matter what they do.</b></p>
<p><b>I mean, why are we letting Bibi Netanyahu set the boundary of the
possible? This man has never been for a just peace for one day in his
life. He has actively opposed Palestinian self-determination his whole
career. Like some other people we know, he’s fighting to stay in office
so that he doesn’t go to jail. I mean, come on. You can support the
people of Israel and the people of Palestine without supporting these
horrible policies and this horrible war.</b></p>
<p><b>I mean, you know, think of the average — I think of myself, Amy, 40 years ago, when I was a college student. And if I read what <em>The New York Times</em> reported, for example, that the U.S. was supplying 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, and the <span class="caps">IDF</span>
was dropping them not just on densely populated areas but on places
where they had told the Palestinians to flee, and then, at the end of
the article, “By the way, we’ve sent 5,000 more of one type of
2,000-pound bombs to Israel since October,” that Andy Levin 40 years ago
is not unlike college students and other young people all around
Michigan’s campuses and working people, saying, “Whoa! This is
unacceptable.” And we showed the president that we don’t accept it
yesterday.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: Yeah, I’d
to bring in James Zogby to the conversation, get your reaction to the
vote in Michigan, and also whether you think that this “uncommitted”
movement could spread across the country, especially now as we head into
Super Tuesday on March 5th.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JAMES</span> <span class="caps">ZOGBY</span>:
Well, look, number one, I want to thank Andy Levin for his leadership.
He made an enormous difference here, and we’re so pleased to be
partnering, as we were, in this campaign.</b></p>
<p><b>Secondly, I think, message sent. A hundred-plus thousand
“uncommitted” votes, much larger than anyone anticipated, makes a point:
President Biden, you ignore this vote at your risk.</b></p>
<p><b>And thirdly, I think, there, frankly, is not a need to go any
further. And I think that it’s very clear. We can extrapolate from the
rest of the states what the turnout would be in November if we ignore
this issue and continue to ignore this issue, not only, as the
congressman said, with the Arab American vote, but with young voters,
Black voters. We’ve done polling. My brother John has done polling on
this among American voters, not just Arab American voters. The impact
that the Gaza war is having on voters under 29, the impact it’s having
on Black, Latino and Asian voters, who are core to the Democratic
coalition, is very clear.</b></p>
<p><b>We just wanted to make a point in Michigan. It was the place to make
the point. But, frankly, it can also be read in Virginia. It can be read
in Georgia. It can be read in Pennsylvania. You ignore this war, and
you continue to offer nothing but anodyne, “Well, we’re really with you,
and we feel bad, too, and we’re paying attention and working every
day,” that does not cut it at this point. There is genocide unfolding.
People want it to end. The president either is going to have to act
decisively to end it, or it’s going to have an impact in November.</b></p>
<p><b>And as the congressman said it, as the organizers of this movement
have been very clear, this is not the abandon Biden movement. This is
the, for God’s sake, shape up or you might lose in November Biden
movement. And the fact is, is that the president has to listen and
change. It’s going to be too late for some. The fact that 30,000 have
already died, that famine is on the way, that genocide has continued is
going to mean a lot of people are going to say, “I can’t do this. I just
can’t do it.” But if there’s to be any effort at all made to bring some
voters back, something dramatic has to happen and change from the White
House to say, “Let’s give him another shot.”</b></p>
<p><b>But, frankly, right now we’re having trouble finding that message.
And I think Michigan sends a very strong signal, that doesn’t have to be
repeated anywhere else. Look, when I saw the Emerson College poll out
the day before this vote, I said, “Message sent.” They had 11%. We got a
little — you know, we did a little better than that. They said youth
vote was voting “uncommitted.” We did that. We showed that. In college
towns across the state, we won. “Uncommitted” won in Dearborn. It beat
Joe Biden. “Uncommitted” won in Hamtramck. It beat Joe Biden. Those are
the two concentrations of Arab American voters. The president needs to
pay attention. And I hope he does. And, you know, I hope he does in a
way that is decisive and clear and actually turns the corner.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: And, James
Zogby, of course, in Michigan, the participation of elected officials
like Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and other local Michigan officials did
have an impact on that vote. Do you see other Democratic Party officials
in other states following that lead?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JAMES</span> <span class="caps">ZOGBY</span>:
Well, look, we’ve already seen city councils in 70 cities do this. And
that number is growing. There is, not just among Arab American, like
— you know, we saw a lot of that in Michigan. We also saw Black
officials. We saw progressive Jewish officials. And as important as
Rashida was, Andy Levin was an important message sender here that this
is a broader movement for justice. And let’s not forget that. City
councilwoman in Detroit came out just a couple of days before the vote,
saying, “I am with 'uncommitted.'” That’s important, having Black
elected officials, Arab American elected officials, progressive Jewish
elected officials saying, “We want this to end, and we want President
Biden to make a difference.” That’s important.</b></p>
<p><b>And so, yeah, I think this is going to have a sort of an effect
across the country. And we don’t need to do it in other states. We just
don’t, because the message is very clear. Number one, you know in
Michigan there’s no way to create an electoral map that you win in
November. But, number two, we can extrapolate what happens in Michigan
and say, “Hmm, it’s going to happen in Virginia. It’s going to happen in
Georgia. You’re going to lose youth vote, Black vote, Arab American
vote. And you don’t win Pennsylvania if that’s the case.”</b></p>
<p><b>So, I think, you know, I’ve been doing this for a long, long time,
and I know that these voter groups have to have a reason to turn out. I
think what was important about this — and, Congressman, I thank you and
others for it — was that you gave people a reason to turn out. These
“uncommitted” voters would not have turned out, and they would not turn
out again in November, if they didn’t have a reason to turn out. We gave
them a reason with “uncommitted.” Joe Biden’s got to give them a reason
in November.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
And talk, Jim Zogby, about the other states. Talk about Minnesota and
other states who are now, apparently, adopting this “uncommitted” vote.
But in Michigan, what’s different — right? — is it’s actually printed on
the ballot. And I think you can also add — I mean, most people didn’t —
they talked about Dean Phillips, but Marianne Williamson, who suspended
her campaign, came in third, and she was the one Democrat for a
ceasefire. So you could probably add her votes to the “uncommitted”
votes.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JAMES</span> <span class="caps">ZOGBY</span>:
[inaudible], for example, the Arab community said, “Let’s back Marianne
Williamson, even though she dropped out,” because she’s on the ballot
and there is no other option. Look, let me say, I’m not going to
discourage anybody from trying to do it in other states. I just — like I
said, I don’t think you need to. And I would rather have energy focused
on city council resolutions and getting people to sign on to ceasefire
resolutions across the board.</b></p>
<p><b>There is a — I did the Palestine statehood resolutions in 1988 with
Jesse Jackson. We passed them in 11 states. We got to the national
convention, had the first-ever debate from the podium on a minority
plank. After that, everybody continued doing it, but without Jesse in
the mix, we never had the momentum to carry it through.</b></p>
<p><b>We had a number of ideal things come together in Michigan: a huge
concentration of Arab Americans, the support of elected officials, local
elected officials, mayors, state reps, etc., city council people. We
also had Congressman Levin, who was great on college campuses in terms
of mobilizing and bringing people forward, and a great collection of
organizers and a budget to make it happen. We’re not going to have that
in Minnesota. We’re not going to have that in other states. And so, I
don’t want to see people set up for failure. And so, I think you take
what happened in Michigan, you extrapolate it to your state, you send
the message to President Biden: “It happened here. It can happen
elsewhere.” There’s no need to try to replicate what can’t be
automatically replicated, given the ideal composition of forces in
Michigan that made this happen.</b></p>
<p><b>And so, I, frankly, think — I don’t know what’s going to happen in
other states, but I don’t want to take a defeat in Minnesota, because
it’s not even on the damn ballot, and say, “Oh, look, it’s” — and give
the other side a crowing rights. They’re going to try whatever they can
do to crow and say we really didn’t — “They didn’t accomplish anything,
because 81% still voted for Joe Biden.” Well, of course 81 voted for Joe
Biden. But that’s not going to mean November, because in the Emerson
poll, Joe Biden is losing by two points. Eleven percent “uncommitted,”
and Joe Biden loses by two points, hmm, does that — DMFI, Democratic
Majority for Israel, don’t you get what that means? That means that you
need that 11% to come to your side in order to put you over the top. We
can say that in every state without having to go through this whole
process, especially when it’s not even on the ballot and you can’t
really get the same outcome you get in Michigan.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
We’re going to end with Andy Levin. You come from a political dynasty.
Your uncle was the late senator who headed the Armed Services Committee,
Carl Levin, I’m sure a close friend of President Biden; your father a
congressman, as well, Sandy Levin. What do you think they would say at
this point about this movement, about this demand and grassroots
organizing?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">ANDY</span> <span class="caps">LEVIN</span>:
Well, Amy, Uncle Carl passed away, as you know, several years ago. My
dad is 92 and going strong. And he is really proud of what I’m doing.
He, you know, was involved in helping Soviet Jews flee to Israel. You
know, he supported U.S. policy for a two-state solution forever. But I
think he understands that there is no way now, after 54 years of
occupation and things going in the wrong direction, there’s no way
forward unless the president of the United States steps up and leads
much more strongly as a peacemaker.</b></p>
<p><b>And, look, I’m going to end on a hopeful note. Joe Biden, with this
long history of chairing the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate
— and, you know, he says he’s known all the Israeli leaders, all the
Palestinian leaders. You’ve got to step up, Mr. President, and now end
this carnage and lead a diplomatic effort, not a military effort, to end
this conflict. It can be done. You’ve got to step up and do it, both
because it’s the right thing to do and because your politics depend on
it. As Jim Zogby said, the other states are fine. Michigan is a must-win
state. Minnesota isn’t, you know, for example. He’s going to win
Minnesota anyway, I think. But you’ve got to win Michigan to put the
Electoral College math together. And I think it’s just going to be hard
to do unless you change course. So let’s get going.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Well, clearly, President Biden is hearing people. When he was with Seth
Meyers the other night, the late-night comic, in an ice cream store, as
he was licking his mint chip ice cream, a reporter asked a question
about a ceasefire, and he said, yes, he thinks it’s going to happen on
Monday. That surprised both Israel and Hamas. We’ll see what happens.
But it was on the eve of the Michigan primary that he said that. Andy
Levin, I want to thank you for being with us, former Democratic
congressmember from Michigan, and James Zogby, president of the Arab
American Institute.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/29/thursday-briefing-joe-biden-israel-gaza-war-michigan-voting">At THE GUARDIAN, Nimo Omer writes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Over the next two newsletters I’ll look at very
two different elections that are thousands of miles apart but similarly
fractured by the war in Gaza. Today we will be in a midwestern state in
the US, and tomorrow we’ll be in a small town in the north of England.
Stay tuned.</b></p><div id="sign-in-gate"><b><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-island-status="hydrated" deferuntil="visible" name="SignInGateSelector" priority="feature" props="{"contentType":"Article","sectionId":"world","tags":[{"id":"world/series/first-edition","type":"Series","title":"First Edition newsletter"},{"id":"world/series/guardian-morning-briefing","type":"Series","title":"Guardian morning briefing"},{"id":"campaign/email/morning-briefing","type":"Campaign","title":"First Edition (newsletter signup)"},{"id":"world/world","type":"Keyword","title":"World news"},{"id":"us-news/joebiden","type":"Keyword","title":"Joe Biden"},{"id":"us-news/michigan","type":"Keyword","title":"Michigan"},{"id":"us-news/us-news","type":"Keyword","title":"US news"},{"id":"us-news/democrats","type":"Keyword","title":"Democrats"},{"id":"us-news/us-elections-2024","type":"Keyword","title":"US elections 2024"},{"id":"type/article","type":"Type","title":"Article"},{"id":"tone/newsletter-tone","type":"Tone","title":"Newsletters"},{"id":"tone/news","type":"Tone","title":"News"},{"id":"profile/nimo-omer","type":"Contributor","title":"Nimo Omer","bylineImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/04/11/Nimo-Omer.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=d9ef57729024fc40d89d1045f70dc35d","bylineLargeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/04/19/Nimo-Omer,_L.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=a4b0d09d332df8f5a704ffb6d789b477"},{"id":"tracking/commissioningdesk/newsletters","type":"Tracking","title":"Newsletters"}],"isPaidContent":false,"isPreview":false,"host":"https://www.theguardian.com","pageId":"world/2024/feb/29/thursday-briefing-joe-biden-israel-gaza-war-michigan-voting","idUrl":"https://profile.theguardian.com","switches":{"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"lightbox":true,"ophanNext":true,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":true,"remarketing":true,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"registerWithPhone":false,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":false,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"automaticFilters":true,"twitterUwt":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":true,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"discussionInApps":false,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"headerTopNav":true,"googleSearch":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"darkModeInApps":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"crosswordMobileBanner":true,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"redplanetForAus":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"dcrTagPages":true,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"abMpuWhenNoEpic":false,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"webFonts":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"disableAmpTest":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"mobileDiscussionAds":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"boostGaUserTimingFidelity":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"remoteBanner":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true}}"></gu-island></b></div><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Normally,
an uncontested Democratic primary race with an incumbent president
running is not big news. But in Michigan a group of relentless
grassroots activists turned what was supposed to be an uneventful
election into a symbol of the dissatisfaction and anger at <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/joebiden">Joe Biden</a> over his continued support of Israel in the war in Gaza.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Though the president has sharpened <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/14/biden-netanyahu-israel-gaza-advice">his criticism</a> of Israel’s military response, the damage, in the minds of many voters, has been done. <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/20/us-vetoes-un-resolution-ceasefire-israel-gaza#:~:text=The%20US%20has%20vetoed%20a,forward%20on%20Tuesday%20by%20Algeria.">Vetoing</a>
the latest UN security council resolution that called for an immediate
ceasefire and supplying military aid to Israel has earned Biden the
stark moniker of “genocide Joe”, a reference to the <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/26/how-south-africas-genocide-case-against-israel-played-out-in-the-hague">allegations</a> made by South Africa that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, which Israel has strongly denied.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>The
campaign, Listen to Michigan, started just a few weeks before the
primary election, urging the public not to vote for Biden and instead
vote uncommitted, to pressure the president to support an immediate and
permanent ceasefire. They were more effective than even they had hoped,
with the uncommitted movement receiving more than <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/27/biden-wins-michigan-primary-election">100,000 votes</a>.
Though Biden still won by 80%, the uncommitted movement has rattled the
White House, as they wonder if this is a sign of what is to come in the
run up to the November general elections.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-29-2024-f9b5a62a80d8b83eac4946d3c85af58b">Wafaa Shurafa and Kareem Chehayeb (AP) report</a>, "Israeli troops fired on a crowd of Palestinians waiting for aid in Gaza
City on Thursday, witnesses said. More than 100 people were killed,
bringing the death toll since the start of the <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Israel-Hamas war</a></span>
to more than 30,000, according to health officials." The horrors in
that single sentence. The assault continues, the death toll is now over
30,000 and those in need were fired on by Israeli forces. It's
horrific. </div><div><span class="Link"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Link">And
it's never ending and Joe Biden's not demanding a cease-fire. We need
Marianne in this race now more than ever -- see Betty's "</span><a href="http://thomasfriedmanisagreatman.blogspot.com/2024/02/all-in-for-marianne.html" target="_blank">All in for Marianne</a><span class="Link">" and Revecca's "</span><a href="http://sexandpoliticsandscreedsandattitude.blogspot.com/2024/02/we-need-to-find-our-way-maybe-mariannes.html" target="_blank">we need to find our way - maybe marianne's the answer</a><span class="Link">." Of the 30,000, </span><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/29/middleeast/gaza-death-toll-30000-israel-war-hnk-intl/index.html"><span class="byline__name">Rob Picheta</span> and Abeer Salman (CNN) report</a>:</div><div><span class="Link"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Link"><p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clt6pxqee00033b6hfdrs2srj@published"> </p><p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clt6pxqee00033b6hfdrs2srj@published"><b>The towering figure underscores a horrific, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/10/middleeast/khan-younis-devastation/">months-long ordeal</a>
for Palestinians inside the strip, during which Israel’s bombing and
ground campaigns have displaced the vast majority of the population and
created a dire humanitarian crisis.
</b></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clt75actl00033b6hlmpnflqg@published"><b>
In all, 30,035 people have been killed so far, the ministry
said Thursday, adding that the number of injured is over 70,000. </b></p></span></div><div><span class="Link"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Link">30,000. </span>Gaza remains under assault. Day 146 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." As
noted earlier in the snapshot, the death toll now stands at 30,035 with
over 70,000 injured and thousands missing. Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Link"><br /></span></div><div> If the bombs and the bullets don't kill you in Gaza, there's still starvation. <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/28/children-die-of-malnutrition-in-gaza-hospitals-health-ministry">ALJAZEERA reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="p1"><b>Six children have died from dehydration and malnutrition
at hospitals in northern Gaza, the Health Ministry in the besieged
Palestinian territory has said, as the catastrophic humanitarian
situation in the besieged enclave worsens.</b></p>
<p class="p1"><b>Two children died at al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the
ministry said on Wednesday. Earlier it reported that four children died
at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, while seven others
remained in critical condition.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna141090">Larissa Gao (NBC NEWS) reports</a>,
"Reports that at least six more children in northern Gaza
have died of dehydration and malnutrition are 'horrendous,' the U.N.
agency for Palestinian refugees said on X today. The United Nations
Relief and Works Agency also called for 'unimpeded access' across the
enclave and an immediate cease-fire." <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/defunding-unrwa-us-genocide">At COMMON DREAMS, Phyllis Bennis addresses this topic</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b> Earlier this year, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel’s actions in <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a> <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/26/1227078791/icj-israel-genocide-gaza-palestinians-south-africa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">plausibly constitute genocide</a>. The world’s most influential judicial body ordered Israel to stop killing civilians and to admit more humanitarian aid.
</b></p><p><b>
Unfortunately, Israel was <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/02/26/israel-not-complying-world-court-order-genocide-case" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">having none of it</a>. Israel’s killings have continued, with <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/25/gaza-death-toll-set-to-pass-30000-as-israel-prepares-assault-on-rafah" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">over 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza now dead</a> and tens of thousands more at risk of dying from <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/28/at-least-576000-people-in-gaza-one-step-away-from-famine-un-says" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hunger and disease</a>. <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/28/at-least-576000-people-in-gaza-one-step-away-from-famine-un-says" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Precious little aid</a> is getting in.
</b></p><p><b>
And worse, the U.S. has joined Israel’s efforts to incapacitate Gaza’s most important relief agency.
</b></p><p><b>
Just hours after the Court’s decision was announced, Israel alleged
that 12 Gazan employees of the UN’s Relief Works Agency (UNRWA)—the
primary body responsible for providing humanitarian support to <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/palestine">Palestine</a> refugees—were Hamas members connected to the October 7 attacks.
</b></p><p class="pull-quote"><b>
Defunding the agency further undermines Palestinians’ access to water, food, medicine, shelter, and fuel.
</b></p><p><b>
For more than half a century UNRWA has provided all the services in
Gaza that would ordinarily be provided by a government. Most of Gaza’s
doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, and street sweepers are UNRWA
employees. Without UNRWA, all the other U.N. agencies and nonprofits
would be unable to carry out their crucial work in the region.
</b></p><p><b>
UNRWA employs thousands of people in Gaza. Israel’s claim about 12 of them was dubious—and <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/22/us-intelligence-unrwa-hamas" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the country’s government offered no evidence for it</a>.
</b></p><p><b>
In fact, the names of all UNRWA employees had been <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/why-donors-should-not-suspend-aid-unrwa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">provided to Israel earlier in the year</a> for vetting and no concerns were raised. But just in case, UNRWA immediately announced it was <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/26/middleeast/unrwa-fires-staff-members-october-7-attacks-intl/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">firing the named employees</a> (minus two who’d been killed). And <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://thehill.com/policy/international/4449083-un-review-unrwa-neutrality-allegations-staff-ties-hamas/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the U.N. launched</a> two separate investigations.
</b></p><p><b>
Instead of waiting for these investigations to play out, <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/01/30/biden-gaza-food-aid-hamas-civilians-strategy/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Biden administration immediately cut</a>
its entire aid allocation to UNRWA, despite the agency’s irreplaceable
role in getting desperately needed aid into Gaza. Many key U.S. allies
followed suit, and <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://truthout.org/articles/senate-passes-bill-to-defund-unrwa-as-israel-assaults-last-safe-place-in-gaza/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the U.S. Senate voted to explicitly bar UNRWA</a> from receiving future humanitarian aid.
</b></p><p><b>
Some in Washington suggested they might redirect UNRWA funds to organizations like <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-suspending-unrwa-funding-us-aims-to-send-aid-to-other-groups-operating-in-gaza/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">UNICEF and the World Food Program</a>,
but UNICEF and WFP together have less than 70 staff on the ground in
Gaza—UNRWA has over 13,000. U.S. officials themselves had admitted
earlier that UNRWA was <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-02-13/ty-article/.premium/u-s-senate-passes-massive-aid-bill-for-ukraine-israel-but-path-ahead-unclear/0000018d-a281-d8e9-a3bf-f3a182000000" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">“the only game in town”</a> in terms of getting any significant aid into Gaza.
</b></p><p><b><a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://theconversation.com/cutting-unrwas-funding-will-have-dire-humanitarian-consequences-222586" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The impact of these cuts</a>
on the already threatened lives of 2.3 million displaced Gazans—as well
as millions more Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Jordan,
Lebanon, and Syria—can hardly be overstated. Defunding the agency
further undermines Palestinians’ access to water, food, medicine,
shelter, and fuel—and alongside ongoing U.S. military support for
Israel, makes Washington complicit in genocide.
</b></p><p><b>
Thousands of Palestinians—especially babies, children, pregnant women,
and the elderly—will die as a result of these cuts. And the millions of
Palestinian refugees throughout the region will lose the only
international agency in the U.N. system that’s mandated to protect their
rights, including their right to return someday to their homes in
what’s now Israel.</b> </p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As
we wind down. Aaron Bushnell. He took his own life on Sunday to protest
the assault on Gaza. That is news. It needs to be noted and we did
note it. Some of you are e-mailing asking what I think about it? I
really haven't. I've noted it here but refrained from offering personal
thoughts. Clearly, he weighed his decision. Clearly, it's sad when
anyone takes their own life. Clearly, as well, sometimes, in the world
we live in, there is no choice involved in suicide. Conditions, lack of
access and opportunities, and realities being what they are, a person
is forced into that decision. It is news, his action was news, and we
covered it. Some of you don't want to hear about it in the snapshot
anymore and I can understand and that's why I'm putting this at the
bottom so you could read the above before bailing. </div><div><br /></div><div>I
don't know him and I don't know his friends or family. I won't try to
speak for him and I am bothered that others have. So I can understand
why some of you are sensitive to the coverage -- any coverage -- of
this. When I learned Monday that a group was organizing some sort of
'memorial' for this weekend, I found that sad and distasteful. That may
be for others but it's not for me. It feels like someone trying to use
the death to promote themselves. </div><div><br /></div><div>This same
group, by the way, was egging on a US veteran to kill himself a few
years back. You may remember that and remember that we called them out
for it. Tomas Young did not end up taking his own life. He died of
natural causes. It was his decision to make but, it became clear if you
paid attention, that he was moving away from taking his own life -- but
people weren't paying attention to Tomas, they just saw the headlines
and the news coverage to come and kept pushing suicide as a political
protest to Bully Boy Bush. That's why we called it out. When he
initially announced his decision, that was his decision and I believe we
covered it here as that. But, again, it became obvious that he was
moving away from that decision despite various 'personalities' --
including a 'rocker' as well as the elderly girlies -- demanding that it
happen.</div><div><br /></div><div>If there's a news development, we will
certainly note it but I do understand that for many of you -- for
various reasons -- this is a topic you'd prefer we close the book on now
that it's been covered here. Heard and respected.</div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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23 hours ago </div></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-11992244362349598202024-02-29T01:31:00.001-05:002024-02-29T01:31:28.330-05:00Easy Bean Soup in the Kitchen<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sylvia found <a class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528" href="https://www.nutrition.gov/recipes/easy-bean-soup" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this recipe for Easy Bean Soup at the US Dept. of Agricultural website</a>:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--name-ingredients yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--type-entity-reference-revisions yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--label-above" style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--label"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--items"><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--item"><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92paragraph yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92paragraph--type--ingredients yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92paragraph--view-mode--default"><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--name-ingredients yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--type-ingredient yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--label-hidden yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--items" style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--item"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92quantity-unit">1 tablespoon</span> <span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92ingredient-name">olive oil</span></b></span></div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--item"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92quantity-unit">1 teaspoon</span> <span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92ingredient-name">garlic (minced)</span></b></span></div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--item"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92quantity-unit"><span style="line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">1</span>/<span style="line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">4</span> cup</span> <span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92ingredient-name">onion (finely chopped)</span></b></span></div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--item"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92quantity-unit">2 cans</span> <span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92ingredient-name">beans (15.8 oz cans, great northern beans, rinsed and drained)</span></b></span></div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--item"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92quantity-unit">1 can</span> <span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92ingredient-name">diced tomatoes (14.5 oz can, with basil, garlic and oregano)</span></b></span></div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--item"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92quantity-unit">1 can</span> <span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92ingredient-name">vegetable stock (14 oz can, low-sodium)</span></b></span></div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--item"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92quantity-unit">4 cups</span> <span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92ingredient-name">kale (torn into small pieces )</span></b></span></div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--item"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92quantity-unit">1 tablespoon</span> <span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92ingredient-name">lemon juice</span></b></span></div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--item"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92quantity-unit"><span style="line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">1</span>/<span style="line-height: 0; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">2</span> cup</span> <span class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92ingredient-name">grated parmesan cheese</span></b></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--name-recipe-instructions yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--type-text-long yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--label-above" style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--label"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Steps</b></span></div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--item"><ol style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 1.5em;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>In a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat and sauté garlic and onion for 3 minutes or until onion is tender.</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Add beans, tomatoes and broth to saucepan. Stir and simmer for 5 minutes. Add kale and cook until tender, for about 2 minutes.</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Mix in lemon juice and Parmesan cheese just before serving. Optional, garnish with finely chopped fresh basil or dried basil.</b></span></li></ol></div></div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--name-recipe-notes yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--type-text-long yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--label-above" style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--label"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Notes</b></span></div><div class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528ydp7fa53a92field--item"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Cooked,
dried beans may be substituted for canned beans. Using prepared dry
beans in place of canned will reduce sodium in this dish. If you can’t
find diced tomatoes with basil, garlic and oregano, use regular diced
tomatoes and add dried versions of these seasonings.</b></span></p></div></div></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank
you to Sylvia for that and a good reminder that there are so many
resources online for recipes -- including the US government. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">News? <a class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528" href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/shrinkflation-fight-dems-launch-bill-saying-shoppers-pay-more-for-less-at-stores/ar-BB1j1Yrs?cvid=132c6212e0a94fb78be27c3483268339&ei=13" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rachel Looker and Paul Davidson (USA Today) report</a>:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>President Biden looked decidedly peeved in his <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/02/25/consumers-are-fighting-back-against-inflation/72737028007/#:~:text=The%20White%20House%20has%20also,a%20%E2%80%9Crip%2Doff.%E2%80%9D" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Super Bowl ad</a> earlier this month.</b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"I've had enough of what they call <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/02/25/consumers-are-fighting-back-against-inflation/72737028007/#:~:text=The%20White%20House%20has%20also,a%20%E2%80%9Crip%2Doff.%E2%80%9D" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">shrinkflation</a>," he said during the commercial. "It's a rip-off."</b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Rising prices are a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/11/01/economy-2024-voters-biden/70704428007/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">top concern among voters</a> heading
into the 2024 presidential election and many of them blame Biden for
inflation. But with price increases slowing, some consumer advocates and
lawmakers are joining the president and focusing their ire on a new
target: shrinkflation. It's the practice of reducing the size of
consumer goods while charging the same price, fattening the
manufacturer's profits.</b></span></p></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"Some
companies are trying to pull a fast one by shrinking the products
little by little and hoping you won't notice," Biden added. "... I'm
calling on companies to put a stop to this."</b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., <a href="https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/stop-shrinkflation-casey-introduces-legislation-to-crack-down-on-big-corporations-shrinking-products-without-reducing-prices" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">introduced a bill Wednesday to fight shrinkflation</a> of household consumer goods that American families routinely purchase like cereals, chips, detergents, cookies and <a class="yiv7057532905ydpe71f9487yiv7124832528" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/09/07/shrinkflation-toilet-paper-rising-prices-size-shrinks/8009683001/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">toilet paper</a>.</b></span></p><div><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: inherit;"><b>The
bill faces an uphill battle in Congress because of Republican
opposition. But the proposal underscores that while inflation has eased
since peaking in June 2022, Democratic lawmakers continue to blame big
companies for intensifying price run-ups by excessively raising prices
above their wholesale costs, or providing less product, to pad their
profits.</b></span></div></div><p><br /></p><p>So nothing will be done about this? The price gouging started during the pandemic and continues. And they'll just get away with it?</p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_0115293905.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Wednesday:</p><p><br /></p>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-956532148190133436" itemprop="articleBody">
Wednesday, February 29, 2024. Another hospital shuts down in Gaza,
Michigan voters send a message by voting "uconommitted," Senators Patty
Murray, Tammy Baldwin, Tammy Duckworth, Amy Klobuchar and Chuck Schumer
address the need for IVF, and much more.<div><br /></div><div><div> </div><div>Yesterday,
voters in Michigan turned out for the primaries. When the polls
closed, Lavora Barnes -- Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party --
released the following statement: </div><div> </div><div><b>“The energy and enthusiasm we saw around this early primary in
Michigan is why we fought so hard for it. Now we will bring this energy
forward to the general election where the choice between Joe Biden and
Donald Trump couldn’t be more clear. Do we want a President who spreads
hate and division or a president who fights for all of us? We look
forward to making our voices heard again in November when we will reject
Donald Trump’s MAGA extremism and ensure that Joe Biden and Kamala
Harris can continue to deliver for Michiganders. Michigan Democrats are
ready to get to work from now through election day because the stakes
could not be higher.”</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>With
almost all the votes counted (99%), the results were 2.7% for Dean
Phillips, 3% for Marianne Williamson, 13.3% for uncommitted and 81.1%
for Joe Biden. </div><div><br /></div><div>13.3%? If Ron DeSantis could have posted that in a Republican primary (not a caucus), he'd still be in the race. </div><div><br /></div><div>Michigan voters sent up a flare. The Biden campaign is run by idiots if they don't address it. </div><div> <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/uncommitted-michigan-primary">Jake Johnson (COMMON DREAMS) notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b> More than <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/02/27/us/elections/results-michigan-democratic-presidential-primary.html" target="_blank">100,900 Michigan voters</a>
marked "uncommitted" on their ballots during the swing state's
Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday, a signal to President Joe
Biden that his continued support for Israel's war on <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a> is angering key elements of his base and potentially threatening his reelection chances.
</b></p><p><b>
Leaders and supporters of the Listen to Michigan campaign made clear
that their goal was not to harm Biden's general election prospects, but
rather to convince him to change course on Gaza, where the U.S.-armed
Israeli military has killed nearly 30,000 people in less than five
months.
</b></p><p><b>
In 2020, Biden defeated former President Donald Trump—his likely
general election opponent in November—by 150,000 votes, and Trump
defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton four years earlier by
roughly 11,000 votes.
</b></p><p><b>
"We need Joe Biden to listen to the voice of Michiganders," Layla
Elabed, campaign manager for Listen to Michigan and the sister of Rep. <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/rashida-tlaib">Rashida Tlaib</a>
(D-Mich.), told reporters late Tuesday. "Listen to the voice of his
core constituents and demand a permanent cease-fire now and the ending
of this unconditional, unchecked funding to Israel." </b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="wpds-c-PJLV"><div class="dib items-center" data-qa="author-byline"><span class="left"><div class="dib font-xxs" data-cy="name-with-optional-link" data-qa="name-with-optional-link"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/28/israel-hamas-war-news-gaza-palestine/">Kelsey Ables and Andrew Jeong (WASHINGTON POST) explain</a>, ""More than 100,900 Democratic presidential primary voters (13.3 percent)
were uncommitted after 98 percent of the votes had been counted early
Wednesday. In the last two presidential elections, the number of
uncommitted Democratic primary votes in Michigan has hovered around
20,000, and not passed 2 percent of the total vote." <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/poll-permanent-ceasefire">Julia Conley (COMMON DREAMS) adds</a>:</div></span></div></span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>In the latest sign that the Biden administration's continued defense and support of Israel's assault on <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a> leaves it representing a shrinking minority of Americans, a new poll out Tuesday found that
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2024/2/27/voters-support-the-us-calling-for-permanent-ceasefire-in-gaza-and-conditioning-military-aid-to-israel" target="_blank"> 67% of Americans</a> of all political affiliations want the United States to join the international call for a permanent cease-fire.
</b></p><p><b>
That's up six points from progressive think tank Data for Progress's
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2023/12/5/voters-want-the-us-to-call-for-a-permanent-ceasefire-in-gaza-and-to-prioritize-diplomacy" target="_blank"> last poll</a>, taken in November.
</b></p><p><b>
Support for a cease-fire among Democratic voters remains strong, with
77% saying U.S. President Joe Biden should demand a permanent cessation
of hostilities and a de-escalation in violence. Sixty-nine percent of
Independents said the same, up from 61% in December, as well as 56% of
Republicans, up from 49%. </b></p><p><b>oth Democrats and Independents were far more likely to disagree with
the idea that the U.S. should wait until Hamas is defeated to call for a
cease-fire. Since October, Israel has killed at least 29,878
Palestinians, including
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2024-02-04/ty-article-opinion/.premium/11-500-children-have-been-killed-in-gaza-horror-of-this-scale-has-no-explanation/0000018d-6fe9-d4f1-a18d-fff9c4010000" target="_blank">more than 11,500 children</a>. A near-total blockade on humanitarian aid has pushed about a quarter of the enclave's population to "the edge of famine,"<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/27/israels-war-on-gaza-live-biden-comments-turn-focus-back-to-gaza-ceasefire" target="_blank"> according to</a> U.N. humanitarian affairs chief Ramesh Rajasingham.
</b></p><p><b>
Biden said Monday that he is hopeful for a cease-fire "by next Monday,"
but current talks between Hamas and Israel, which are being mediated by
Qatar, are
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-says-hopes-see-cease-fire-monday-israel-hamas-war-rcna140597" target="_blank">reportedly</a> about a temporary cessation in violence.</b> </p><p><br /></p></div><div><a href="https://inthesetimes.com/article/michigan-biden-uncommitted-palestine-gaza-voters-primary">Ahead of the vote, IN THESE TIMES hosted a discussion</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><strong><br /></strong></div><div><b>EMAN ABDELHADI: Is Michigan lost to Biden? Is there anything Biden could do to win it back at this point? </b></div><div><div class="max-w-article mx-auto px-4 smaller">
<p><b>LAYLA ELABED: Before we can even talk about Biden
getting support at the ballot box, the very minimum that the Biden
administration would need to do, for us to talk about what support would
look like come November, is support a permanent cease-fire and
a reevaluation of our policy of unchecked, unconditional military
funding to Israel.</b></p>
<p><b>ABDELHADI: How did the <span class="push-double"></span><span class="pull-double">“</span>Vote Uncommitted” campaign come about? What has your role been?</b></p>
<p><b>ELABED: I’m the campaign manager for Listen to Michigan’s <span class="push-double"></span><span class="pull-double">“</span>Vote
Uncommitted” campaign. This came about because of the frustration and
the discontent that so many Democratic voters feel right now. Especially
because some <span class="numbers">80</span>% of Democratic voters are
pro-cease-fire. Talking with other Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, our
pro-ceasefire community, our anti-war community, we really were like, <span class="push-double"></span><span class="pull-double">“</span>What can we do? How can we leverage our political power at this point with the Michigan primary election coming up?” </b></p>
<p><b>The methodology around <span class="push-double"></span><span class="pull-double">“</span>Uncommitted” really came out of the <span class="numbers">2008</span> Obama campaign. In <span class="numbers">2008</span>,
Obama did not make the ballot in the Michigan primaries, but his
campaign was able to mobilize young voters, Black voters and voters of
color to vote <span class="push-double"></span><span class="pull-double">“</span>Uncommitted”
as a rejection of Hillary Clinton, and it really embarrassed the
Clinton campaign. And so we took that and applied it to our current
Democratic primary with Joe Biden. </b></p>
<p><b>One of the reasons it’s not okay to vote for a different Democratic
candidate is because the whole institution of the Democratic Party has
really turned on their constituency, has turned on their base. We can
see the majority of our Democratic leaders, our Democratic elected
officials haven’t supported a cease-fire, and haven’t been vocal enough
about ending the genocide. We have our champions like Cori Bush and
Rashida Tlaib (note: Elabed’s sister). But on the whole, especially at
the federal level, we’re not seeing condemnation of Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing government. So that’s how
this came about. We had a group of young and old Michigan organizers
and this campaign is not only multi-generational, it’s multi-faith, it’s
multi-racial, and it’s really, really grassroots. It’s being led by
community organizers in Michigan and supported by national folks,
national organizations, national organizers. But it really is organic.</b></p>
</div>
<div class="pb-8 px-0 md:px-4 z-30 relative">
<div class="flex flex-col lg:flex-row">
<div class="flex-1 px-4 py-2 md:py-4"> </div><div class="flex-1 px-4 py-2 md:py-4"><span class="authorBy"></span><a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/anderson-cooper-draws-backlash-for-snapping-at-nina-turner-after-she-mentions-gaza-plight-completely-shameless-101709111613402.html">Shweta Kukreti (HINDUSTAN TIMES) notes</a> that not everyone can handle discussing the events in Michigan: </div><div class="flex-1 px-4 py-2 md:py-4"><br /></div><div class="flex-1 px-4 py-2 md:py-4"><h2 class="sortDec"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">American broadcaster Anderson Cooper surprisingly
snapped at a guest discussing the plight of Gazans & asserted that
“we don't need to debate” on the conflict.</span></h2><div><b>At a time when the world is pushing for truce talks amid the ongoing
Israel-Hamas war, American broadcaster Anderson Cooper surprisingly
snapped at a guest discussing the plight of <a class="manualbacklink" href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/thousands-of-gazans-beaten-humiliated-by-israeli-forces-un-says-101705670276987.html" target="_blank">Gazans</a> and asserted that “we don't need to debate” on the conflict.</b></div><div><div class="storyParagraphFigure"><div class="adMinHeight313"><div class="storyAd ht-dfp-ad1 roadBlock" data-google-query-id="CP3Ws4qHzoQDFUc8swAdcHAB8g" id="div-gpt-ad-story"><div id="google_ads_iframe_/1055314/Hindustantimes_Desktop_News/HT_Desk_News_Details_A_300x250_0__container__" style="border: 0pt;"><b><iframe aria-label="Advertisement" data-google-container-id="7" data-load-complete="true" frameborder="0" height="1" id="google_ads_iframe_/1055314/Hindustantimes_Desktop_News/HT_Desk_News_Details_A_300x250_0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" name="google_ads_iframe_/1055314/Hindustantimes_Desktop_News/HT_Desk_News_Details_A_300x250_0" scrolling="no" style="border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: bottom;" tabindex="0" title="3rd party ad content" width="1"></iframe></b></div></div></div> </div> <p><b>During
a CNN panel discussion on Tuesday, Cooper interrupted former Ohio State
Senator Nina Turner as she acknowledged some Arab-Americans' hesitancy
to support incumbent President Joe Biden. Following this, the host
asserted that the viewers "don't really need a lecture on the problem"
and would like to know more about "the politics of this tonight.</b></p><p><b>[. . .]</b></p><p><b>As the discussion progressed, CNN panel members emphasised the 'uncommitted' protest vote, which had reached nearly 16 percent.</b></p><p><b>Turner then went on to target Biden by reflecting on the pain of the Arab-American and <a class="manualbacklink" href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/what-would-a-new-palestinian-government-in-the-west-bank-mean-for-the-war-in-gaza-101708999426335.html" target="_blank">Palestinian</a> community.</b></p><p><b>“And
so while this president was in the ice cream shop saying, ‘I think
there’s going to be a ceasefire,’ 30,000 people have been slaughtered.
People are living in famine. They can’t get medical care. So it can’t
come soon enough for them, and that was really the weight that I picked
up on when I was in Dearborn, [Michigan],” she said.</b></p><p> </p><p><b>Copper jumped in when Turner highlighted the efforts of <a class="manualbacklink" href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/us-house-votes-to-censure-rep-rashida-tlaib-for-unbelievable-falsehoods-about-greatest-ally-israel-101699417043466.html" target="_blank">Rashida Tlaib</a> and other Congress members who have been calling for a ceasefire.</b></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/anderson-cooper-cuts-off-guest-discussing-gaza-carnage-on-cnn-panel">William Vaillancourt (DAILY BEAST) adds</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>“All I‘m saying is that at a certain point after October 7, it
becomes clear. I mean, you have a right-wing prime minister,” she began,
before Cooper interrupted.</b></p><p><b>“Right. We don’t need to debate the issue,” he claimed.</b></p><p><b>“I’m
not denying anybody’s pain,” Turner continued. “What I am saying is
that this president—and our country—has the power to say to [Benjamin]
Netanyahu: We need a permanent ceasefire.”</b></p></div></div><div class="flex-1 px-4 py-2 md:py-4"><br /></div><div class="flex-1 px-4 py-2 md:py-4"><div> Gaza remains under assault. Day 145 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna140842">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "More than 29,900 people have been killed in Gaza <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-orders-rafah-evacuation-ground-invasion-netanyahu-gaza-war-rcna137863" target="_blank">since the war began</a>
, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. More than 70,300 have
been injured, and thousands more are missing and presumed dead." Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning, ALJAZEERA notes<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/28/israels-war-on-gaza-live-thousands-could-die-in-days-as-israel-blocks-aid">:</a></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="card-live__content"><div class="wysiwyg-content"><div class="wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content css-1kw180w" id="wysiwyg"><p><b>Al-Awda
Hospital in the city of Jabalia, northern Gaza, has announced the
complete suspension of all its medical services due to severe shortages
of fuel and medical supplies, according to the Wafa news agency.</b></p>
<p><b>The director of the monitoring and evaluation department in al-Awda,
Dr Muhammad Salha, warned in a press statement that the development
would lead to “a complete deprivation of basic health services for
citizens, especially in light of the cessation of service by all
hospitals in the north”, according to the report.</b></p>
<p><b>He urgently appealed to all international, humanitarian and human
rights organisations to put pressure on Israel to supply the hospital
with medicines, consumables, medical supplies and fuel.</b></p>
<p><b>The Israeli forces besieged al-Awda Hospital for 18 days, causing
severe damage to the upper floors of the building, in addition to
destroying a number of ambulances, the report said.</b></p></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna140842">Henry Austin (NBC NEWS) reports</a>:</div><div> </div><div><p><b>NBC News has joined broadcasters and other media
organizations from around the world to call for access to Gaza to report
on Israel's war with Hamas. </b></p><p><b>“Almost five months into
the war in Gaza, foreign reporters are still being denied access to the
territory, outside of the rare and escorted trips with the Israeli
military," the letter says.</b></p><p><b>“We
urge the governments of Israel and Egypt to allow free and unfettered
access to Gaza for all foreign media. We call on the government of
Israel to openly state its permission for international journalists to
operate in Gaza and for the Egyptian authorities to allow international
journalists access to the Rafah Crossing.”</b></p><p><b>Entry to the
enclave for journalists has been all but impossible without the
permission and supervision of the Israeli military. </b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Palestinians are being increasingly targeted in the US. Let's drop back to <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/26/anti_terror_laws_palestine_israel">Monday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C5hJPVljTJk?si=EEn0TmrinjkcKxY7" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, <a href="http://democracynow.org/">democracynow.org</a>, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Amy Goodman.</b></p>
<p><b>We look now at how Palestinians are being increasingly targeted by
U.S. anti-terrorism laws amidst ongoing efforts to conflate
pro-Palestinian activism with so-called terrorism. The Anti-Defamation
League, the <span class="caps">ADL</span>, has called on university presidents to investigate Students for Justice in Palestine, known as <span class="caps">SJP</span>, chapters for, quote, “material support for terrorism.” <span class="caps">ADL</span> <span class="caps">CEO</span> Jonathan Greenblatt has even compared <span class="caps">SJP</span> to the Hitler Youth.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">JONATHAN</span> <span class="caps">GREENBLATT</span>: Anti-Zionism is antisemitism. And the <span class="caps">SJP</span>
and these kids who are pushing it are like the Hitler Youth. Sorry, I
know people don’t like it when I say that, but it’s true. And what Shai
said before is spot-on.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Meanwhile, several American universities have suspended or banned
Students for Justice in Palestine. In an interview in January with CNN’s
Dana Bash, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed, without evidence,
some protesters demanding a ceasefire in Gaza are connected to Russia,
and urged the <span class="caps">FBI</span> to investigate them.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">REP</span>. <span class="caps">NANCY</span> <span class="caps">PELOSI</span>:
For them to call for a ceasefire is Mr. Putin’s message. Mr. Putin’s
message. Make no mistake: This is directly connected to what he would
like to see. Same thing with Ukraine. It’s about Putin’s message. I
think some of these — some of these protesters are spontaneous and
organic and sincere. Some, I think, are connected to Russia. And I say
that having looked at this for a long time now, as you know.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">DANA</span> <span class="caps">BASH</span>: You think some of these protests are Russian plants?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">REP</span>. <span class="caps">NANCY</span> <span class="caps">PELOSI</span>: I wouldn’t say they’re plants. I think some financing should be investigated. And I want to ask the <span class="caps">FBI</span> to investigate that.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: She later would say, when people were protesting in San Francisco, “Go back to China.”</b></p>
<p><b>For more, we’re joined by two guests who have been following all of
this closely. Darryl Li is an anthropologist and lawyer teaching at
University of Chicago. He’s the author of the new <a href="https://ccrjustice.org/anti-palestinian-core-origins-and-growing-dangers-us-antiterrorism-law">briefing paper</a>,
“Anti-Palestinian at the Core: The Origins and Growing Dangers of U.S.
Antiterrorism Law,” jointly published with the Center for Constitutional
Rights and Palestine Legal. And we’re joined by Dima Khalidi, founder
and director of Palestine Legal.</b></p>
<p><b>We welcome you both to <em>Democracy Now!</em> Darryl Li, let’s start with you. Talk about what you found.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DARRYL</span> LI: Good morning, Amy. It’s good to be with you.</b></p>
<p><b>Well, I think many viewers of <em>Democracy Now!</em> are probably
familiar with the way that Palestinians have been slandered and
stereotyped as terrorists for a long time. What this report does is it
reaches back and connects the dots of a longer history, going back
almost 50 years, showing how the very foundations of terrorism law in
the United States, at key moments of their development, were crafted
with the agenda of opposing or crushing Palestinian liberation in mind.</b></p>
<p><b>The first time the word “terrorism” even shows up in federal law is
in a 1969 statute, and it’s, unfortunately, very relevant today. This
statute restricts U.S. aid to <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>, the U.N.
body that provides humanitarian aid to refugees, and it uses the word
“terrorism” essentially as a synonym for Palestinian resistance. And one
of the chief sponsors of this legislation, Congressman Leonard
Farbstein from New York, made a speech on the floor of the House of
Representatives where he peddled the stereotype of <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>
schools and Palestinian refugee camps, essentially, as hotbeds of
terrorism that are brainwashing the sort of next generation of
terrorists. So, in light of today’s campaigns to defund <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>
and to deprive Palestinians of humanitarian aid, we can see that this
is part of a much, much longer campaign that extends in many different
directions.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Can you talk about who is pushing these laws and what their agenda is, Darryl Li?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DARRYL</span> LI: Yes. One of the
other key aspects of the story is the role of organizations like the
Anti-Defamation League in pushing for this legislation over time. And
again, this is relevant for one of the clips that you just played, the
clip of Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the <span class="caps">ADL</span>, accusing student activists, <span class="caps">SJP</span> of terrorism support — of being terrorism supporters. There’s a bit of a coming-full-circle moment here, because the <span class="caps">ADL</span>
was actually one of the organizations that lobbied very heavily for the
passage of this law that criminalizes so-called material support to
terrorist organizations. The material support statute is actually the
most commonly used charge in federal terrorism cases. And the reason why
it’s prosecutors’ favorite tool is because it is incredibly broad. It
criminalizes ordinary activity that would usually be covered and
protected by the First Amendment. So it’s a very, very convenient
weapon. And it was passed in the 1990s as the result of a long-running
campaign by the <span class="caps">ADL</span> and other groups to
essentially crack down on Palestinian community organizing and
Palestinian solidarity organizing in the United States.</b></p>
<p><b>And what they did, actually, was they exploited the outrage following
the 1995 bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City. Now, many
people will recall, of course, that the people who carried out that
bombing were U.S. citizens, essentially right-wing white nationalist
militia members. But the law that was passed as a result of the Oklahoma
City bombing included — it was mostly a sort of get-tough-on-crime,
crack-down-on-immigration bill that included the material support law
that was proposed by the <span class="caps">ADL</span> as part of a larger package of measures that were all about, essentially, targeting Palestinian liberation movements.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
And, Dima Khalidi, head of Palestine Legal, let’s be clear: It’s not
only Students for Justice in Palestine that have been banned on some
campuses, but also Jewish Voice for Peace.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DIMA</span> <span class="caps">KHALIDI</span>:
That’s right, Amy. We’ve seen over the last several months multiple
efforts to shut down student activism. And that is a direct result of
efforts by groups like the <span class="caps">ADL</span>, but also by
statements by President Biden himself that have said that he will — he
is mobilizing federal law enforcement to surveil campus activism. And
these threats of surveillance, that Pelosi herself made, as well, are
serious, and they reflect what we are saying in this report is a
fundamentally anti-Palestinian agenda.</b></p>
<p><b>When the U.S. government, instead of stopping military aid to Israel to stop this genocide, is stopping funding for <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>,
that is a lifeline for Gazans, this is the result of decades of
anti-Palestinian rhetoric that has allowed these laws to develop, and
that is, ultimately, in this moment when people are mobilizing to stop
this genocide, a cover for the genocide. It is a justification for the
dehumanization of Palestinians and their allies, to tar them with
criminal or discriminatory intent. And that’s the intention of this
report, is to really expose this anti-Palestinian agenda that is driving
efforts to really expand these laws to target First Amendment activity
that is trying to mobilize people for justice.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Palestine Legal has received multiple reports of the <span class="caps">FBI</span> harassing Palestine advocates for their social media posts. Can you describe some examples, Dima?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DIMA</span> <span class="caps">KHALIDI</span>:
Well, we and other legal organizations that are supporting people who
are facing increasing repression are getting multiple reports of people
being visited by the <span class="caps">FBI</span>, often because of
social media posts that they make, because of their activism on the
streets. And people have even been visited by <span class="caps">ICE</span>,
immigration enforcement agencies. And this is a direct result, again,
of this rhetoric, of this increase in surveillance resources to law
enforcement agencies. And as we know from the post-9/11 era, the impact
on our communities is enormous. It has a huge chilling effect on people,
on First Amendment rights. But it also is a signal of an erosion of a
whole host of constitutional rights when law enforcement is mobilized in
this way, as we saw in the 1960s with <span class="caps">COINTELPRO</span>, as we saw in the post-9/11 era.</b></p>
<p><b>So, this is just the beginning, we think, of what is a massive
mobilization of state resources against this movement. And this is why
we’re publishing this report now, to really encourage lawmakers to
protect First Amendment rights, to roll back these laws, which are only
shielding Israel from accountability and scrutiny and undermining
fundamental First Amendment rights for everybody.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Can you talk about the anti-Palestinian bills that are in front of
Congress, one of them that would possibly radically expand deportations
of Palestinians at this time, Dima?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DIMA</span> <span class="caps">KHALIDI</span>:
Yeah, we’re seeing legislatures around the country, not just Congress,
but state legislatures, threatening, presenting bills that are trying to
justify an erosion of constitutional rights and First Amendment rights
by noting terrorism, supposed terrorism, threats, right? And certainly
after October 7th, we saw an increase in these kinds of bills — one that
wanted to deport all Palestinians. And we see this rhetoric from our
elected officials, as well.</b></p>
<p><b>So, we are very clear that the reason that this is allowed to happen
is because this anti-Palestinian sentiment has been cemented not only
into U.S. law, but into the minds of people. And that’s why these kinds
of bills are proposed with hardly anyone blinking an eye, while
Palestinians are being obliterated in Gaza as we speak. So, this is a
very concerning moment and one where we must all stand up and recognize
that our laws have been built and are being used and exploited to
further Israel’s own agenda and, you know, the United States’ complicity
in what Israel is doing right now.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Darryl Li, can you talk about what most surprised you, in this last minute we have, in doing the research for this report?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DARRYL</span> LI: Yes, well, I
think one of the surprising episodes is the one that I referred to
earlier about the way that the material support law was passed after the
Oklahoma City bombing. Essentially, what happened was that the Clinton
administration proposed a sort of general anti-terrorism law that
included the things that the <span class="caps">ADL</span> wanted, that
essentially targeted Palestinians, but also included things that you
would like expect, like expanded law enforcement authority, regulation
of firearms and explosives, and so on. And the House-led — sorry, the
Republican-led House of Representatives essentially gutted that bill and
replaced it with all the provisions that they wanted. And immediately,
the Democrats and the <span class="caps">ADL</span> pushed back, lobbied
very hard, and the parts of the original bill, only the ones that
pertained to so-called international terrorism, that were essentially
targeting Palestinians, were put back into the bill. So it’s a really
sobering example of how anti-Palestinian animus is one of the most
enduring areas of bipartisan appeal in Washington.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Well, I want to thank you both for being with us. We’re going to link to your <a href="https://ccrjustice.org/anti-palestinian-core-origins-and-growing-dangers-us-antiterrorism-law">report</a>.
Darryl Li, lawyer, associate professor of anthropology and social
sciences at the University of Chicago, and Dima Khalidi, founder and
director of Palestine Legal. The new briefing paper is “Anti-Palestinian
at the Core: The Origins and Growing Dangers of U.S. Antiterrorism
Law.”</b></p>
<p><b>That does it for our show. To see all our video and audio <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/pages/help/podcasting">podcasts</a>, you can go to democracynow.org. And congratulations to our whole team as we just surpassed 2 million YouTube viewers. <em>Democracy Now!</em>
produced with Renée Feltz, Mike Burke, Deena Guzder, Sharif Abdel
Kouddous, Messiah Rhodes, Nermeen Shaikh, María Taracena, Tami Woronoff.
I’m Amy Goodman. Thanks so much for joining us.</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And we'll wind down with this from Senator Patty Murray's office:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>February 27, 2024</b></div><div>
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<h1 class="elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Senators
Murray, Duckworth, Schumer, Baldwin, Klobuchar Lead Press Conference
Denouncing Alabama IVF Decision, Calling for Passage of Legislation to
Protect Right to IVF </span></h1> </div>
</div>
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<div class="elementor-widget-container">
<p><b><a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/new-legislation-from-senators-murray-duckworth-would-protect-right-to-access-ivf-other-assisted-reproductive-technology-in-the-face-of-republican-attacks/"><em>ICYMI</em></a><em>:
New Legislation From Senators Murray, Duckworth Would Protect Right to
Access IVF, Other Assisted Reproductive Technology in the Face of
Republican Attacks</em></b></p>
<p><b><em><u>Senator Murray</u></em><em>: “Women aren’t just going to
‘forget’ who is responsible for this—who ripped away their dreams of
building their families. This is not hyperbole. This is not
hypothetical. This is happening.”</em></b></p>
<p><strong><em>**VIDEO from press conference </em></strong><strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=116OMcVvbnk">HERE</a><em>***</em></strong></p>
<p><b>Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Patty Murray
(D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL),
Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
held a press conference responding to the Alabama Supreme Court ruling
on Friday that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization
(IVF) are considered “extrauterine children” under state law, and
calling for passage of <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/new-legislation-from-senators-murray-duckworth-would-protect-right-to-access-ivf-other-assisted-reproductive-technology-in-the-face-of-republican-attacks/">legislation</a>
that would establish a statutory, nationwide right to access IVF
treatment. The decision sparked concerns that embryos that are destroyed
or damaged could lead to civil liability, which would have sweeping
implications for fertility treatment—since the ruling, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/university-alabama-pauses-ivf-services-court-rules-embryos-are-childre-rcna139846">at least three</a> IVF providers in Alabama have suspended IVF services.</b></p>
<p><b>At the press conference, Senator Murray forcefully denounced the
Alabama ruling and the far-right ideology of “fetal personhood”
underlying the decision—an ideology supported by many <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/431/cosponsors">Republican politicians</a> that has <a href="https://www.pregnancyjusticeus.org/resources/when-fetuses-gain-personhood-understanding-the-impact-on-ivf-contraception-medical-treatment-criminal-law-child-support-and-beyond/">terrifying consequences</a> for the humanity and rights of pregnant women and could <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/personhood-bills-ivf-restrictions-alabama-rcna140228">put an end</a> to people’s ability to build families through IVF. IVF is overwhelmingly popular with Americans—<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/republicans-trump-try-contain-backlash-alabama-fertility-ruling-2024-02-23/#:~:text=STRONG%20IVF%20SUPPORT%20IN%20POLLS,among%20those%20who%20oppose%20abortion.">recent polling</a> found that 85 percent of Americans support increasing access to fertility-related procedures and services. A <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/09/14/a-growing-share-of-americans-say-theyve-had-fertility-treatments-or-know-someone-who-has/#:~:text=As%20the%20average%20age%20when,new%20Pew%20Research%20Center%20survey.">survey</a>
from Pew Research Center in September found that 42 percent of adults
say they have used fertility treatments or personally know someone who
had—up from 33% five years ago.</b></p>
<p><b>“Imagine going through years of trying to get pregnant, to no
avail, maybe going through the heartbreak of a miscarriage, often,
multiple times. Then turning hopefully to IVF, allowing yourself to hope
‘maybe this time,’ only to have some right-wing judges pull the rug out
from under you,” Senator Murray said at the press conference today.
“My heart truly goes out to all of the women in Alabama who are
suffering right now. And let’s get one thing straight—Republicans cannot
pretend this is some surprise. They have fought for decades to overturn
<em>Roe</em>, knowing full well it would create situations like this.”</b></p>
<p><b>“Women aren’t just going to ‘forget’ who is responsible for
this—who ripped away their dreams of building their families,” Murray
continued.
“This is not hyperbole. This is not hypothetical. This is happening. If
Republicans seriously want to help fix the chaos and devastation they
have worked so hard to create, they can help us restore the rights
enshrined in <em>Roe</em>—which they overturned to make all this possible—and they can help us pass my legislation to protect and expand IVF care.” </b></p>
<p><b>Just last month, Murray and Duckworth introduced their <em><a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/new-legislation-from-senators-murray-duckworth-would-protect-right-to-access-ivf-other-assisted-reproductive-technology-in-the-face-of-republican-attacks/">Access to Family Building Act</a>,</em>
which would protect every American’s right to access IVF and other
assisted reproductive technology (ART) services that millions of
Americans rely on to have children. Building on the <em>Right to Build Families Act</em>the
lawmakers had introduced in previous Congresses, the new legislation
would establish a statutory right to access IVF and other ART services,
thereby pre-empting any state effort to limit such access and ensuring
no hopeful parent—or their doctors—are punished for trying to start or
grow their family.</b></p>
<p><b>After the Supreme Court’s disastrous <em>Dobbs</em> ruling, many
women have not only seen their constitutional right to abortion ripped
away from them as a result of state abortion bans, but their ability to
get treatment for <a href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/press-release/abortion-bans-may-limit-access-to-certain-drugs-used-to-treat-women-with-cancer-autoimmune-diseases-and-ulcers/">cancer</a>, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-science-health-medication-lupus-e4042947e4cc0c45e38837d394199033">lupus</a> and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2022/08/08/abortion-bans-methotrexate-mifepristone-rheumatoid-arthritis/">more</a>—and
to access IVF and other assisted reproductive technology in order to
build a family—are also under threat. The new patchwork of state
abortion bans has <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/07/21/1112127457/infertility-patients-fear-abortion-bans-could-affect-access-to-ivf-treatment">created</a> <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/09/doctors-ivf-abortion-bans">significant confusion </a>among
patients and providers alike about what services doctors can and cannot
provide in states with the most restrictive laws, leading IVF centers
to <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/23/ivf-lobby-post-roe-landscape">call for</a> new protections.</b></p>
<p><b>Senator Murray is a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/05/15/patty-murray/">longtime leader</a>
in the fight to protect and expand access to reproductive health care
and, after the Supreme Court’s disastrous decision in Dobbs v. Jackson
Women’s Health Organization overturning <em>Roe v. Wade</em>, Murray <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/murray-democrats-push-biden-for-bold-action-to-protect-abortion-access-in-a-post-roe-america/">has led</a> <a href="https://www.help.senate.gov/chair/newsroom/press/murray-warren-to-president-biden-we-need-an-executive-order-to-defend-americans-right-to-an-abortion-now">Congressional</a> <a href="https://www.help.senate.gov/chair/newsroom/press/republican-senator-blocks-bill-to-codify-americans-right-to-contraception-">efforts</a> <a href="https://www.help.senate.gov/chair/newsroom/press/republican-senator-blocks-cortez-masto-murray-effort-to-protect-right-to-travel-">to</a> <a href="https://www.help.senate.gov/chair/newsroom/press/republican-senator-blocks-bill-to-protect-doctors-providing-legal-abortion-care-from-extreme-attacks-">fight</a> <a href="https://www.help.senate.gov/chair/newsroom/press/republican-senator-blocks-murray-smith-effort-to-pass-commonsense-family-planning-bill-">back</a>. Murray <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/senator-murray-rallies-with-senate-democrats-patients-providers-advocates-to-keep-up-fight-for-reproductive-rights-we-are-not-going-anywhere/">led her colleagues</a>
at the outset of this Congress to make crystal clear that Senate
Democrats are continuing to fight to protect every American’s
reproductive rights and will be a firewall against Republicans’
continued attacks on women’s rights—and that’s exactly what she’s doing
now. Murray <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/murray-duckworth-bush-pressley-introduce-bicameral-bill-to-help-women-with-disabilities-access-reproductive-health-care/">has</a> <a href="https://www.baldwin.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senators-baldwin-murray-introduce-legislation-to-create-reproductive-health-travel-fund">introduced</a> <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Let-Doctors-Provide-Reproductive-Health-Care-Act-One-Pager.pdf">more</a> <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/murray-duckworth-hirono-reintroduce-each-act-to-help-guarantee-abortion-coverage-for-millions-of-americans/">than</a> a <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/senators-murray-smith-reintroduce-legislation-to-protect-reproductive-health-care-funding/">dozen</a> pieces of legislation to protect reproductive rights from further attacks, <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/murray-schrier-reintroduce-legislation-to-ensure-doctors-can-provide-legal-abortion-care-protect-providers-from-out-of-state-extremists/">protect providers</a>, and help ensure women <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/senators-murray-baldwin-introduce-reproductive-health-travel-fund-act/">get the care</a> they need and <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/murray-leads-senate-democrats-in-pushing-commonsense-bills-to-protect-womens-fundamental-freedoms-speaks-on-senate-floor-about-dobbs-fallout/">repeatedly sought</a> unanimous consent to pass common-sense bills to protect women’s fundamental freedoms; she also co-leads the <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/senator-murray-reintroduces-womens-health-protection-act-slams-republicans-for-creating-and-worsening-post-roe-health-crisis/">Women’s Health Protection Act</a>, which would restore the right to abortion nationwide, and has been <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/murray-sanders-wyden-baldwin-lead-44-senators-in-urging-the-biden-administration-to-require-insurers-to-fully-cover-over-the-counter-birth-control-with-no-out-of-pocket-costs-or-prescription-barri/">leading</a> <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/murray-hirono-cortez-masto-rally-for-over-the-counter-birth-control-reintroduce-affordability-is-access-act/">Congressional efforts</a> to make over-the-counter birth control affordable. In January, Senator Murray led Senate Democrats in <a href="https://www.murray.senate.gov/senators-murray-schumer-stabenow-klobuchar-baldwin-warren-cortez-masto-host-abortion-rights-briefing-ahead-of-roe-v-wade-anniversary-we-will-not-let-anyone-turn-away/">hosting a briefing</a>
on the State of Abortion Rights across America, where senators heard
powerful testimony from individuals who had been personally harmed by
Republicans’ abortion bans.</b></p>
<p><strong><u>Senator Murray’s full remarks</u></strong><strong><u>, as delivered at today’s press conference, are below:</u></strong></p>
<p><b>“First of all, thank you to Senator Duckworth who’s been such a champion on this issue and for your amazing words this morning.</b></p>
<p><b>“Ever since IVF access in Alabama was thrown into jeopardy by
Republicans’ extreme ideology, women have been sharing the most
heartbreaking stories about how their dreams of becoming a mother have
been turned into a complete nightmare. </b></p>
<p><b>“Imagine going through years of trying to get pregnant, to no avail,
maybe going through the heartbreak of a miscarriage, often, multiple
times. Then turning hopefully to IVF, paying thousands—often tens of
thousands—of dollars, taking your shots, allowing yourself to hope
“maybe this time.</b></p>
<p><b>“Only to have some right-wing judges pull the rug out from under you
because they believe a frozen embryo kept in storage at an IVF clinic is
the same—and should have the exact same rights—as a living, breathing,
human person, because they want everything that’s happening in doctors’
offices and fertility clinics to conform to their extreme ideology—one
that would make services like IVF impossible.</b></p>
<p><b>“My heart truly goes out to all of the women in Alabama who are suffering right now. </b></p>
<p><b>“And let’s get one thing straight—Republicans cannot pretend this is some surprise.</b></p>
<p><b>“Republicans fought for decades to overturn Roe, knowing full well it would create situations like this. </b></p>
<p><b>“Democrats have been warning about this for years. </b></p>
<p><b>“It’s been incredible to watch Republicans now scramble over the
weekend to suddenly support IVF while many of these same Republicans are
literally, right now, cosponsors of legislation that would enshrine
fetal personhood—the very concept that caused all of the chaos in
Alabama—and would make IVF unavailable nationwide. </b></p>
<p><b>“You cannot support IVF and support fetal personhood laws. They are fundamentally incompatible! You are not fooling anyone! </b></p>
<p><b>“Women aren’t just going to ‘forget’ who is responsible for this—who ripped away their dreams of building their families. </b></p>
<p><b>“This is what happens when Republican politicians take away women’s power over their own bodies. </b></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p><b>“This is not hyperbole. This is not hypothetical. This is happening.</b></p>
<p><b>“If Republicans seriously want to help fix the chaos and devastation
they have worked so hard to create they can help us restore the rights
enshrined in Roe—which they overturned to make all this possible—and
they can help us pass legislation to protect and expand IVF care. </b></p>
<p><b>“And our bill—the Access to Family Building Act—is a great place to start. </b></p>
<p><b>“It just does not get more straightforward than this: if Republicans
seriously support the right to build families through IVF, they can
prove it tomorrow on the floor.”</b></p>
<p><b>###/</b></p>
</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><li style="display: block;">
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<a href="https://kbla1580.com/" target="_blank">
KBLA - Tavis Smiley's talk radio</a>
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2 hours ago
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<div class="item-time">
3 hours ago
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8 hours ago
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8 hours ago
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<a href="http://annsmegadub.blogspot.com/2024/02/tennessee-gets-worse.html" target="_blank">
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</div></div></li><li style="display: block;"><div class="item-time"><br /></div></li></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-72133814222278689032024-02-28T00:07:00.002-05:002024-02-28T00:07:28.246-05:00THE DAILY SHOW<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g8BNtN_2fbQ?si=uyynIQ4GD3BINp2W" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><p> </p><p>I got online to note the 'report' on Bobby Kennedy Junior. I don't see it up at THE DAILY SHOW's YOUTUBE page yet. So I'll just note that for now. But they have a hilarious report on Junioe.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_0974774457.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Tuesday:<br /><br /></p><p><br /></p>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3048580581720100536" itemprop="articleBody">
Tuesday, February 27, 2024. Starvation in Gaza as the assault continues.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/26/no-aid-delivery-in-northern-gaza-since-more-than-a-month-unrwa">ALJAZEERA notes</a>,
"Famine is stalking Gaza as aid agencies struggle to deliver food to
the north of the enclave, the head of the United Nations agency for
Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has warned. Humanitarian aid has not
reached people in northern Gaza for more than a month, Philippe
Lazzarini said on Sunday." Need examples? From <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/26/gaza_starvation_mosab_abu_toha">yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW</a>! </div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BFYcH3iNS1k?si=HtyHupJRJiHtE7xn" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Amy Goodman.</b></p>
<p><b>We begin today’s show with Israel’s war on Gaza, where a famine is
unfolding. The United Nations said today the great majority of some
400,000 Gazans who are at risk of starving are, quote, “actually in
famine,” not just at risk of famine. The U.N. World Food Programme says
the flow of aid into Gaza from Egypt and the distribution of food that
does get through has slowed in the past two weeks.</b></p>
<p><b>This comes as the Shehab news agency reports a 2-month-old
Palestinian boy named Mahmoud Fattouh died from starvation Friday in
northern Gaza, just days after the United Nations warned of an explosion
in child deaths due to the lack of food and water.</b></p>
<p><b>This is a displaced Palestinian mother sheltering at a school in the Jabaliya camp in northern Gaza.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">PALESTINIAN</span> <span class="caps">MOTHER</span>:
[translated] My son is 1 year old. He’s asking for bread, for baby
bottle milk. He’s going after me everywhere, asking for a bottle. What
would I feed him? There is no milk. There is no bread. There is nothing.
There is no food. What will I feed him?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Meanwhile, in central Gaza, there are two young siblings from Gaza City
who are now living in a tent camp near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir
al-Balah. They describe being forced to eat animal feed.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">SERAJ</span> <span class="caps">SHEHADA</span>: [translated] When we were in Gaza City, we used to eat nothing. We would eat every two days.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">SAAD</span> <span class="caps">SHEHADA</span>:
[translated] My mother, brother and aunts were martyred. We are the
only ones left, my father and my two brothers. Due to hunger and
poverty, we secretly came to Deir al-Balah. We did not tell our father.
After we came here, our grandmother called and started shouting at us. …
We used to eat bird food. It was bitter. We did not want to eat it. We
used to do so forcibly. We used to have a small loaf every two days. We
did not like it, as it was bitter. … We did not have clean water. We
used to drink saltwater, and we got sick. We did not have water to wash
nor clothes to wear. Where could we have gotten those? We came here.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: The boys are 11 and 9 years old.</b></p>
<p><b>This comes as U.N. chief António Guterres warned Monday against a
full-scale Israeli military operation in Rafah, where well over a
million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge, saying it would
deliver, quote, “the final nail in the coffin,” unquote, for aid
programs in Gaza, where humanitarian assistance remains, quote,
“completely insufficient.”</b></p>
<p><b>For more, we go to Cairo, Egypt, where we’re joined by Mosab Abu
Toha, a Palestinian poet, teacher, author and founder of the Edward Said
Library in Gaza. His new <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/essay/my-familys-daily-struggle-to-find-food-in-gaza">piece</a> for <em>The New Yorker</em>
magazine is headlined, “My Family’s Daily Struggle to Find Food in
Gaza.” In it, he writes about a message that his brother Hamza posted on
social media earlier this month, which included a picture of what he
was eating that day: in his words, quote, “a ragged brown morsel, seared
black on one side and flecked with grainy bits.” He translates his
brother’s Arabic caption, quote, “This is the wondrous thing we call
'bread' — a mixture of rabbit, donkey, and pigeon feed. There is nothing
good about it except that it fills our bellies. It is impossible to
stuff it with other foods, or even break it except by biting down hard
with one’s teeth.”</b></p>
<p><b>Mosab Abu Toha, welcome back to <em>Democracy Now!</em> If you can
start by responding to what you heard — you got out of Gaza with your
children — when you heard that a 2-month-old boy starved to death on
Friday in Gaza?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">MOSAB</span> <span class="caps">ABU</span> <span class="caps">TOHA</span>:
Well, in fact, this is very scary, because most of the population in
Gaza are children. And all my cousins and most of my nephews and nieces
are younger than 10. So, none of them would survive if they didn’t have
any good food or clean water for days.</b></p>
<p><b>Yesterday, I got a video from my brother Hamza showing that my mother
and my in-law were digging through the rubble looking for some food,
but all they could find were some books that were in my home. So, people
are returning to their bombed houses, which is not a safe place to
search for food, looking for some food that they used to have in their
houses. And the news about the death of some children is really scary,
because, as I mentioned, most of the people in Gaza are children.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
So, talk more about your brother’s family and what he’s facing right
now, and how you’re dealing with this, with your boys and your wife in
Cairo.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">MOSAB</span> <span class="caps">ABU</span> <span class="caps">TOHA</span>:
Well, one startling thing is that my 8-year-old boy, whenever we sit to
eat or whenever we get a phone call or whenever we try to call our
family in Gaza, the first thing my son asks is, “Does my family in Gaza
have food? Are they eating?” So, he doesn’t think about anything that
has to do with the war itself. He doesn’t say that, “Are they in a safe
place? Is there no bombing anymore, God willing?” No, he asks about
food, because he knows what it means to have little food when we were
living in Gaza, before we left in December. So, every time he hears us
talking to our family in Gaza, he would ask, “Does my grandfather have
food? Does my grandmother?” Then he starts to mention his cousins’
names. “Is Mustafa, is he eating? Is Nahida eating?” So he starts to
mention them by name.</b></p>
<p><b>And for me, I feel really, really depressed whenever I go out in the
street and find food. So, two days ago, I went and I bought two loaves
of bread for about less than a dollar. If I’m taking this, these two
loaves of bread, to Gaza right now, I would make a fortune. I would sell
them for about maybe $50 — I’m serious — because one — so, yeah, this
is very recent news. One sack of bread, which weighs 25 kilograms, is
sold for $1,500, because there is no wheat flour. This is yesterday. And
now I think the government in Gaza — though there is no government, but
some people who worked with the government — are threatening people who
are selling these things for very, very staggering prices.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Has your sister-in-law given birth yet?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">MOSAB</span> <span class="caps">ABU</span> <span class="caps">TOHA</span>:
Yes, she gave birth to a boy. His name is Ali. And now the boy is 10
days old. And my brother could find something like a gift for his wife.
He could find a few pieces of beef and a few grains of rice for $100.
So, this wouldn’t even be enough for his wife, who gave birth just 10
days ago. So, although it’s a very expensive thing, he could find these
things after a week of search.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: The last time <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>
was able to deliver food aid to northern Gaza was January 23rd. Since
then, together with other U.N. agencies — this is a tweet from Philippe
Lazzarini, the head of <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>. He said, “The
last time we have warned against” — it says, “Since then, together with
other UN agencies, we have warned against looming famine, appealed for
regular humanitarian access, stated that famine can be averted if more
food convoys are allowed into northern Gaza on a regular basis. Our
calls to send food aid have been denied & have fallen on deaf ears.
This is a man made disaster. The world committed to never let famine
happen again. Famine can still be avoided, through genuine political
will to grant access & protection to meaningful assistance. The days
to come will once again test our common humanity and values.” Again, a
post on social media by Philippe Lazzarini, head of <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>, coming as the World Food Programme has also paused its aid delivery to northern Gaza, and, of course, <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>
under siege. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long
tried to get rid of the U.N. agency. And now nearly 20 countries have
defunded it, including the country that gave <span class="caps">UNRWA</span> the most money, the United States. Mosab Abu Toha, your response?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">MOSAB</span> <span class="caps">ABU</span> <span class="caps">TOHA</span>:
Well, I would like the whole world to listen to this. Now Israel is not
allowing food into the northern part of Gaza so people would regret not
having left it, as Israel was encouraging people to — or, ordering
people to leave. And now people are thinking, “OK, if we leave the
northern part of Gaza, would it be safe to be in the south?” So, because
the first few days and few weeks Israel was telling people and ordering
people, “OK, you are safe now. You can take the Salah al-Din Street or
the C Street and go to the south, because this would be a safe place for
you,” and many, many people left, including me. And I was kidnapped on
the way. But many people left, and now they are crowded in Rafah in
tents. I have one brother who’s a bodybuilder and weightlifter. He’s a
champion. He was a champion in Gaza. And he wrote me yesterday. He said,
“Brother, I haven’t left my tent for a week. I’m depressed. I’m about
to die.” So, he’s in Rafah, and he’s depressed. And he thinks that he’s
going to die very soon. This is one thing.</b></p>
<p><b>And the other thing: How many food trucks have been halted from
getting into Israel? How many weapons trucks, how many weapon, arms
shipments were halted from getting into Israel? Why could Israel stop
food trucks from getting in to civilians, when we know that most of
these civilians are children, while all the people in the world could
not stop the shipping of weapons, destructive weapons, into Israel? I’m
not talking here about stopping food trucks from going into Israel, but
I’m talking here about weapons. I mean, where is the mind of the people
in the world? How could you allow this to happen? You are funding Israel
with more weapons and more food, of course. But you are not — we are
not asking people to allow weapon trucks into Gaza. I mean, we are not
asking for this, because we don’t want this to continue. What we are
asking for is that people in Gaza have food and have medicine. And we
need to lift the siege on Gaza, because this siege, which has now
intensified, did not start today. Gaza has been under siege since 2007.
And now we are in the bleakest stages of this siege. Gaza is not only
now under siege, but it’s under genocide. So, this is very scary. And I
hope the world will not continue to watch and just show us that they are
helpless in the face of Israel. And if you can’t get food into Gaza,
can you please stop the shipping of weapons into Israel? Because they
are killing us every day.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
I wanted to ask you about the International Court of Justice, which has
just concluded its six-day hearing on Israel’s occupation of the
Palestinian territories. This is Ralph Wilde, a representative of the
League of Arab States.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">RALPH</span> <span class="caps">WILDE</span>:
The occupation must end. Israel must renounce its claim to sovereignty
over the Palestinian territory. All settlers must be removed
immediately. This is required to end the illegality, to discharge the
positive obligation to enable immediate Palestinian self-administration,
and because Israel lacks any legal entitlement to exercise authority.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Second, in the absence of the occupation ending, necessarily,
everything Israel does in the Palestinian territory lacks a valid
international legal basis and is, therefore, subject to the Namibia
exception, invalid, not only those things violating the law regulating
the conduct of the occupation. Those norms entitle and require Israel to
do certain things. But this doesn’t alter the more fundamental position
from the law on the use of force and self-determination that Israel
lacks any valid authority to do anything. And whatever it does is
illegal, even if complying with or pursuant to the conduct regulatory
rules.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>I will close by quoting Palestinian academic and poet Refaat Alareer
from his final poem, posted 36 days before he was killed by Israel in
Gaza on the 6th of December, 2023. “If I must die, you must live to tell
my story.”</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
That was Ralph Wilde, a representative of the League of Arab States,
quoting the late Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer. Mosab Abu Toha, you
were a close friend of Refaat. Can you respond to what he said?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">MOSAB</span> <span class="caps">ABU</span> <span class="caps">TOHA</span>:
Well, I’m still wondering how Israel could be still a member of the
United Nations when we know that it is occupying Palestinian land. I
mean, this is, I think, one condition through which Israel joined the
United Nations, I think, in the early 1950s, was to stand by, you know,
the borders that were set after the partition plan. But now Israel
occupies more than 90% of the Palestinian land.</b></p>
<p><b>I think what Refaat is asking is how the world is — you know, is
unable to control a state that they continue to fund. I mean, they can’t
control it, but they continue to fund it. And they continue to cut the
funds to the United Nations organization that is trying to support the
Palestinian people, not during this genocide, but <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>
has been supporting people, and I was educated in their schools, and I
went to their clinics and got medications for free. And now they are
cutting their funding during the most critical time of our lives in
Gaza, and also in other parts of the world. So, this really drives me
insane, because the world is pretending to be unable to do anything, but
they do the opposite: They continue to fund Israel. They send it
weapons. They send Israel more fruit and more vegetables and more wheat
flour and more gas, but they say, “OK, we can’t stop Israel from killing
the children.” And, I mean, I hope that someone — someone — someone
would come to explain this to me one time.</b></p>
<p><b>And also, one last point before I end with my answer, is that: How
many officials from the world came to Gaza to meet with the real people
there? If they are saying that Gaza is all Hamas, can you please come to
Gaza and meet my mother, my brother, my sibling, Ali, who is now 10
days old? Can you come and meet them and listen to them, what they’re
asking for? But it was easy for them to go to Israel and meet with the
monsters there who are waging the war and who are inciting to kill more
and more people. But they never came to Gaza. I think there is one
reason for that: because Gaza does not have an airport. So it was easy
for them to fly and land in the land of Israel, because they have an
airport. But maybe one reason they couldn’t come to Gaza is that Gaza
does not have an airport. I mean, I could try to understand that.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Mosab Abu Toha, we want to thank you for being with us, Palestinian
poet, author, teacher, founder of the Edward Said Library in Gaza. We
will link to your new <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/essay/my-familys-daily-struggle-to-find-food-in-gaza">piece</a> in <em>The New Yorker</em> magazine, headlined “My Family’s Daily Struggle to Find Food in Gaza.” His award-winning book is titled <em>Things You Mays Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza</em>.</b></p></div></div><div><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna140624">NBC NEWS' Larissa Gao reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>The risk of “genocide” in northern Gaza is increasing amid
rising fears of famine in the region, Oxfam warned in a statement
yesterday. </b></p><p><b>Israel “is ignoring one of the key provisions
of the International Court of Justice,” which is to provide “urgently
needed basic services and humanitarian assistance,” said Sally Abi
Khalil, Oxfam’s Middle East and North Africa director.</b></p><p><b>The
two-month-long golden time of agriculture in the enclave has been
“destroyed” under Israeli operations, and the country has restricted
lifesaving aid from entering the city, the statement said. </b></p><p><b>It
added that the worst results might come for some 300,000 people in
northern Gaza if no proper management and supplementation have been
addressed immediately.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/26/politics/hamas-demands-gaza-negotiations/index.html"><span class="byline__name">Alex Marquardt</span> and <span class="byline__name">Donald Judd (</span>CNN) report</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clt3j1te600003b6hkamo6pon@published"><b>US President <a href="https://www.cnn.com/politics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>
said that he hopes there’ll be a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict
by “next Monday,” as the death toll in Gaza approaches 30,000,
according to health officials.
</b></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clt3j3y3h00023b6h3m2nchlj@published"><b>
“Well I hope by the beginning of the weekend, I mean, the
end of the weekend,” Biden said after being asked when a ceasefire might
start during an appearance on Monday at an ice cream shop in New York
City with comedian Seth Meyers. “My national security adviser tells me
that we’re close. We’re close, it’s not done yet. And my hope is that by
next Monday we’ll have a ceasefire,” Biden added. </b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Do you hope so, Joe? Do you hope so? It's a pity you're not in a position to make it happen, right? Oh. Wait. You are.</div><div><br /></div><div>And while he may be to addeled brained to grasp that, Americans are not. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/50-arrested-in-jewish-led-protest-of-gaza-genocide-at-biden-tv-taping">Brett Wilkins (COMMON DREAMS) reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>The historic wave of Jewish-led protests against U.S. complicity in Isreal's genocidal war on <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_self">Gaza</a> continued Monday as members of the group Jewish Voice for Peace were arrested for occupying <em>NBC</em>
headquarters in New York City in a bid to disrupt the taping of
President Joe Biden's appearance on a popular late-night TV show.</b></p><p><b>
JVP activists wearing shirts reading "Not In Our Name" unfurled banners
and chanted slogans inside 30 Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan,
where Biden was taping an interview with the eponymous host of the
"Late Night Show With Seth Meyers."
</b></p><p><b>
"Biden, Biden, you can't hide, you are funding genocide," the
protesters chanted. Banners implored the president to "Stop Arming
Genocide" and push for a "Lasting Cease-Fire" in <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a>,
where more than 100,000 Palestinians have been killed or wounded and
around 90% of the population has been forcibly displaced since the
October 7 attacks on Israel.</b> </p></div><div><div class="rm-col-center col sm-mb-1" style="width: 100%;"><div class="widget__body clearfix sm-mt-1"><div class="body js-expandable clearfix js-listicle-body css-listicle-body-2667370056" data-headline="50 Arrested in Jewish-Led Protest of Gaza Genocide at Biden TV Taping"><div class="body-description"><p><b> "President Biden's deadly foreign policy has expedited weapons sales to
Israel," said Jewish Voice for Peace New York, which also criticized
the administration for ignoring the International Court of Justice's <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/watch-live-international-court-of-justice-delivers-ruling-in-israel-genocide-case" target="_self">provisional ruling</a> last month that Israel is "plausibly" perpetrating genocide, <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/unrwa-funding" target="_blank">suspending funding</a> to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/palestine">Palestine</a> Refugees in the Near East, and <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/us-vetoes-ceasefire" target="_blank">vetoing</a> three U.N. cease-fire resolutions.</b></p><p><b>"The
president needs to start answering to the American people—not the
far-right Israeli government indiscriminately bombing the people of
Gaza, destroying 70% of infrastructure, including hospitals,
universities, and the electricity and water grids," the group added. </b></p><p><b>
Jay Saper of JVP said Monday that "our Jewish tradition teaches us that life is precious."
</b></p><p><b>
"As Jewish New Yorkers, we are absolutely outraged that President Biden
is actively supporting a genocide against the Palestinians of Gaza," he
added. <br /></b></p><p><b>
In addition to taping Tuesday's "Late Night" episode, Biden and Meyers
visited the on-site Van Leeuwen ice cream parlor, where the president
ordered mint chip in a sugar cone. While there, a reporter asked when
there would be a cease-fire in Gaza.
</b></p><p><b>
"My national security adviser tells me that we're close, we're close;
it's not done yet," Biden replied. "My hope is by next Monday we'll have
a cease-fire."
<br /></b></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e348d3debee5322663d910aecfd64f0f" id="3c8ec"><div class="rm-embed-container rm-embed-twitter rm-loaded"><b><span class="rm-embed-spacer rm-embed-spacer-desktop" style="padding-bottom: 117%;"></span></b><div class="rm-embed-holder"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1762248423665717757" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1762248423665717757&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2F50-arrested-in-jewish-led-protest-of-gaza-genocide-at-biden-tv-taping&partner=rebelmouse&sessionId=838f8d8483c04d81dbcfd0f7b11a6e3ddeca9475&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 631px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div></div></div></div><p><b>
Early in the war, Biden
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/07/statement-from-president-joe-biden-condemning-terrorist-attacks-in-israel/" target="_blank">proclaimed</a>
his "rock-solid and unwavering" commitment to Israel while refusing to
call for a cease-fire. As Israeli bombs and bullets killed and maimed
tens of thousands of Palestinians—mostly women and children—the
president <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/biden-request-arms-israel" target="_blank">asked for</a>
over $14 billion in additional U.S. military aid to Israel, which
already receives nearly $4 billion from Washington annually. Biden also <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/u-s-aid-to-israel-2666833315" target="_blank">repeatedly circumvented</a> Congress to expedite emergency military assistance to the key Middle East ally.<br /></b></p><p><b>
Even after calling Israel's bombardment of Gaza "<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/israel-indiscriminate-bombing" target="_blank">indiscriminate</a>" and "<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/biden-israel-over-the-top" target="_blank">over the top</a>," Biden has continued to provide the country with military and diplomatic support. </b></p><p><b>Demonstrations led by JVP and other Jewish-led groups, chiefly IfNotNow, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/jewish-protests-for-gaza" target="_self">filled the streets</a> of cities from coast to coast, <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-protests-nyc" target="_self">shut down</a> major transit hubs, <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-protests-2666166026" target="_self">occupied</a> landmarks, <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/biden-gaza-cease-fire" target="_self">disrupted</a>
Biden's campaign events, and much more in the name of demanding an
immediate cease-fire and an end to U.S. complicity in the Gaza genocide.
<br /></b></p><p><b>
"The president needs to start answering to the American people. Not the
genocidal Israeli government," JVP activist Eve Feldberg said on
Monday. "And the people have made it clear: We want a cease-fire now and
weapons embargo on Israel."</b> </p></div></div><span data-authors="Brett Wilkins" data-elid="2667370056" data-headline="50 Arrested in Jewish-Led Protest of Gaza Genocide at Biden TV Taping" data-page-title="50 Arrested in Jewish-Led Protest of Gaza Genocide at Biden TV Taping | Common Dreams" data-post-url="https://www.commondreams.org/news/50-arrested-in-jewish-led-protest-of-gaza-genocide-at-biden-tv-taping"></span></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>As noted <a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_0389705138.html">yesterday</a>, Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire to protest the treatment of Palestinians. <a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/national-security-daily/2024/02/26/what-a-self-immolation-says-about-bidens-gaza-problem-00143308">At POLITICO, Matt Berg and Alexander Ward write</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>There is no more visceral symbol of the growing displeasure with America’s Israel policy than an <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/26/air-force-member-fire-death-israeli-embassy-00143269" target="_blank">active-duty airman’s self-immolation</a> outside Israel’s embassy in D.C.</b></p><p><b>The
Air Force member doused himself with a flammable substance and screamed
“Free Palestine!” adding that he no longer wanted to be “complicit in
genocide.” The airman died Sunday from his injuries.</b></p><p><b>This, of
course, was one person’s action, and the airman’s views don’t
necessarily reflect those others criticizing the Biden administration
over its handling of the Israel-Hamas war. But the self-immolation is an
escalation of the anger from within the government, which until now
manifested itself in resignations and hastily called group meetings.</b></p><p><b>The dramatic moment comes at a precarious time for President JOE BIDEN. While he’s making increasingly strong statements <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/12/biden-israel-rafah-attack-00141035" target="_blank">against Israel’s approach in Gaza</a>, those aren’t necessarily keeping up with anger being felt by some of his key constituencies.</b></p><p><b>There’s
a protest campaign going in Michigan, home to many Muslim-Americans, to
write in “uncommitted” instead of ticking the box next to Biden’s name.
Michigan Gov. GRETCHEN WHITMER said she’s “not sure” what will happen during Tuesday’s primary.</b></p><p><b>The
airman’s very public act could lead those who work in the
administration or are members of the services to become more outspoken. </b></p><p><b>“You’re
trying to shock the consciousness” with self-immolation, said DAVID
CORTRIGHT, a longtime expert in nonviolent social change who was an
active duty soldier <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/08/magazine/vietnam-war-protest-1969.html" target="_blank">when he protested</a> the Vietnam War, told NatSec Daily. “The desire to inspire is absolute there”</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/5-facts-about-us-air-force-soldier-aaron-bushnell-who-set-himself-on-fire-over-gaza-war-5135080">NDTV offers</a> this summary of Aaron:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><strong>Who was Aaron Bushnell?</strong></p><ul><li aria-level="1" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Mr
Bushnell, originally from San Antonio, Texas, was raised in
Massachusetts and went to public schools on the Cape Cod peninsula. <a data-mce-href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68405119" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68405119">https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68405119</a></b></li><li aria-level="1" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Aaron Bushnell studied <a class="skimwords-link" data-group-id="0" data-skim-creative="300003" data-skim-node-id="168:AaronBushnellstudied_1" data-skimwords-id="2157309" data-skimwords-word="computer%20software" href="https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=computer%20software" occurrence="1" target="_blank" title="Shopping link added by SkimWords">Computer Software</a></b><span style="position: absolute;"></span><span style="position: absolute;"></span><b>
Engineering at Southern New Hampshire University and took Computer
Science courses at the University of Maryland Global Campus. <a data-mce-href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-bushnell-875897280/" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-bushnell-875897280/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-bushnell-875897280/</a> </b></li><li aria-level="1" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Aaron
Bushnell worked as a cyber defense operations specialist in the Air
Force's 70th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing. He
served with the 531st Intelligence Support Squadron and had been on
active duty since May 2020. <a data-mce-href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-air-force-member-set-fire-israeli-embassy-dc-died-rcna140455" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-air-force-member-set-fire-israeli-embassy-dc-died-rcna140455">https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/us-air-force-member-set-fire-israeli-embassy-dc-died-rcna140455</a></b></li><li aria-level="1" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><b>Mr Bushnell was also an "aspiring software engineer" according to his <a data-mce-href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-bushnell-875897280/" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-bushnell-875897280/">LinkedIn</a> profile. He had been employed at a San Antonio-based company called DevOps from March 2023 until the current month. </b></li><li aria-level="1" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;"><b>In
his LinkedIn profile, Mr Bushnell mentioned graduating "top of class"
from Air Force basic training in November 2020. He had a “talent and a
passion for solving complex problems with code.” </b></li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div> Gaza remains under assault. Day 144 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna140444">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "More than 29,780 people have been killed in Gaza <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-orders-rafah-evacuation-ground-invasion-netanyahu-gaza-war-rcna137863" target="_blank">since the war began</a>,
according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. More than 70,000 have
been injured, and thousands more are missing and presumed dead. ." Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>New content at THIRD:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul class="posts">
<li><a href="https://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/tv-lorne-michaels-tries-to-shift.html">TV: Lorne Michaels tries to shift the overton window</a></li>
<li><a href="https://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/truest-statement-of-week_27.html">Truest statement of the week</a></li>
<li><a href="https://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-note-to-our-readers_27.html">A note to our readers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/aaron-bushnell.html">Aaron Bushnell</a></li>
<li><a href="https://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-talk-ann-marcia-trina-ava-and-ci.html">Book Talk (Ann, Marcia, Trina, Ava and C.I.)</a></li>
<li><a href="https://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/from-tesr-test-kitchen_27.html">From THE TESR TEST KITCHEN</a></li>
<li><a href="https://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-list.html">Book list</a></li>
<li><a href="https://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/music-kat-reviews-melissa-manchesters.html">Music: Kat reviews Melissa Manchester's new album</a></li>
<li><a href="https://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/this-editions-playlist_27.html">This edition's playlist</a></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
<div class="widget-content">
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</li><li style="display: block;"><div class="item-time"><br /></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-26415649644445666162024-02-27T07:54:00.004-05:002024-02-27T07:54:37.745-05:00Nut job<p>News? I'm outraged. And I was already outraged by the nonsense from the Alabama judge over in vitro. <a class="yiv6650976360ydpced26950yiv7378173167" href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/alabama-supreme-court-justice-who-wrote-opinion-that-says-embryos-are-children-does-interview-with-qanon-conspiracy-theorist/ar-BB1iSdz9?cvid=f522bec719504b2facc1c681f085a0f6&ei=16" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Ann Hoang (uInterview News) reports</a>:</p><div><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>A<span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: UI sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">labama Chief Justice </span><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: UI sans-serif; font-size: 17px;">Tom Parker</span><span style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: UI sans-serif; font-size: 17px;"> sat
for an interview with a QAnon conspiracy theorist on the same day that
his ruling that frozen embryos hold the same rights as children was
issued.</span></b><div><div style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: UI sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><b>The interview was conducted by Johnny Enlow for his show <em>Someone You Should Know</em>. Enlow is a Christian natonalist influencer and avid supporter of Donald Trump. In the interview, Parker claimed Christianity should be incorporated into American government.</b></div></div></div><div dir="ltr"><div><p style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: UI sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><b>Parker
discussed the Seven Mountains Mandate, the belief that Christianity
should oversee seven elements of American life. These include media,
business, education, entertainment and government.</b></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: UI sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><b>“God created government,” Parker stated.</b></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: UI sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><b>The interview went live on social media the same day <a href="https://uinterview.com/news/alabama-hospitals-stop-ivf-procedures-after-state-supreme-court-rules-that-frozen-embryos-are-children/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that fertility clinics can be held liable in wrongful death lawsuits</a> if embryos are harmed or destroyed.</b></p><p class="yiv6650976360ydpced26950yiv7378173167ydpd1dbe51fcontinue-read-break" style="color: #2b2b2b; font-family: UI sans-serif; font-size: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><b>Parker,
who is pro-life and anti-abortion wrote, “Human life cannot be
wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of a holy God.”</b></p></div><br /></div><div dir="ltr">So
some nut job is the reason this is happening? If you're QAnon, you
don't need to be in government and shouldn't be. And you certainly
don't need to sit on the bench.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_0389705138.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Monday:<br /><br /></p><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4862434624864271138" itemprop="articleBody">
Monday, February 26, 2024. Aaron Bushnell of the US Air Force set
himself on fire in DC in front of the Israeli Embassy, calls grow to
vote "uncommitted" in Michigan's upcoming Democratic Party presidential
primary, the death toll in Gaza gets closer to 30,000 (it's probably
passed it long ago but we're talking about the official death toll which
does not account for those who have been listed as missing for months
now), and much more.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In the
US, President Joe Biden still can't come to the aid of the
Palestinians. More and more people just can't stomach anymore of the
killing. Aaron Bushnell was one such person.</div><div><br /><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1762091490015379807" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1762091490015379807&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%3Fupdated-max%3D2024-02-26T11%3A00%3A00-08%3A00%26max-results%3D3%26start%3D6%26by-date%3Dfalse&sessionId=de9ea6679ea99ac485895be0a0b3f03eee419e91&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 708px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div>Yesterday reports emerged about the actions Aaron took. <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/israeli-embassy-air-force-member-sets-himself-on-fire/">Jordan Freiman (CBS NEWS) reported</a>, "An active-duty U.S. Air Force member is in critical condition after
he set himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C.,
on Sunday, officials said. The man set himself on fire around 1
p.m. ET and both the U.S. Secret Service and Metropolitan Police
Department responded, the agencies said." <span class="Link"><a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-us-embassy-fire-c49922e38d51727af736e60e3bb21dd5">Didi Tang and Michael Balsamo (AP) added</a>, "</span>Law
enforcement officials
believe the man started a livestream, set his phone down and then doused
himself in accelerant and ignited the flames. At one point, he said he
'will no longer be complicit in genocide,' the person said. " And <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/26/us-airman-sets-self-on-fire-in-protest-over-israels-genocide-in-gaza">ALJAZEERA noted</a>, "In December, a protester set herself on fire outside the Israeli
Consulate in Atlanta. A Palestinian flag was found at the scene, and the
act was believed to be one of 'extreme political protest'." <a href="https://time.com/6821425/israel-embassy-air-force-protest-fire-self-immolation-aaron-bushnell-latest-updates/">Chad De Guzman (TIME) became the first reporter at a US outlet to name Aaron</a>, "The burn victim, who identified himself in video of the incident as
25-year-old Aaron Bushnell, reportedly succumbed to his injuries on
Sunday night, according to independent journalist <a href="https://twitter.com/taliaotg/status/1761956302543016071">Talia Jane</a>, who posted on social media that she is in contact with Bushnell’s family and friends." </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhHFQpv3J2A">MIDDLE EAST EYE has posted the video</a>.
As he walks up to the embassy, he explains what has led to this. He
then pours gasoline on himself and then sets himself on fire. Here are
his final words.</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><div><b>Aaron
Bushnell: I am an active duty member of the United States Air Force and I
will no longer be complicit in genocide. I'm about to engage in an
extreme act of protest. But compared to what people have been
experiencing in Palestine at the hands of their colonizers is not
extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be
normal. Free Palestine. Free Palestine! Free Palestine! Free
Palestine!</b></div><div><br />
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</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 143 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna140444">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "More than 29,700 people have been killed in Gaza <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-orders-rafah-evacuation-ground-invasion-netanyahu-gaza-war-rcna137863" target="_blank">since the war began</a>,
according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. More than 69,800 have
been injured, and thousands more are missing and presumed dead." Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.axios.com/2024/02/25/biden-gaza-israel-arab-democrat-voters">Samuel Robinson and Andrew Solender (AXIOS) report</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><span data-schema="smart-brevity"><b><p>Michigan activists want to shock
and shame the Biden campaign in the state's Tuesday primary to take
seriously the risk of losing the support of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/04/michigan-arab-american-voters-biden-israel" data-vars-content-id="dc5d9de4-a54c-4bdf-ae65-2f4097c98e3f" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-headline="Arab Americans in Michigan could deliver Biden's first blow" data-vars-item="in_content_link" data-vars-link-text="Muslim and Arab Americans" data-vars-sub-category="story" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/11/04/michigan-arab-american-voters-biden-israel" target="_self">Muslim and Arab Americans</a>. </p><p>Why it matters: The war in Gaza has hurt President Biden's support among <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-click-url="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/muslim-voters-michigan-biden-trump-2020_n_5fa41369c5b6f1e97fe77a1f" data-vars-content-id="dc5d9de4-a54c-4bdf-ae65-2f4097c98e3f" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-headline="Arab Americans in Michigan could deliver Biden's first blow" data-vars-item="in_content_link" data-vars-link-text="the same voters" data-vars-sub-category="story" href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/muslim-voters-michigan-biden-trump-2020_n_5fa41369c5b6f1e97fe77a1f" target="_blank">the same voters</a> who were crucial to him flipping the state from Trump in 2020.</p></b></span><p><b>Activists want voters to back "uncommitted" instead of Biden.</b></p><ul><li><b>Biden
has lost the community "at a fundamental level," says Abbas Alawieh, a
spokesperson for the Listen to Michigan campaign, during Israel's
military strikes — described as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-bombs-destruction-death-toll-scope-419488c511f83c85baea22458472a796" data-vars-content-id="dc5d9de4-a54c-4bdf-ae65-2f4097c98e3f" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-headline="Arab Americans in Michigan could deliver Biden's first blow" data-vars-item="in_content_link" data-vars-link-text="the most destructive in recent history" data-vars-sub-category="story" href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-bombs-destruction-death-toll-scope-419488c511f83c85baea22458472a796" target="_blank">the most destructive in recent history</a>. </b></li><li><b>"[T]his
is a warning to Biden like, get your s--t together or you're going to
lose," said Adam Abusalah, a Dearborn native who worked on Biden's 2020
campaign and is also pushing an "uncommitted" vote.</b></li><li><b>Local Arab American leaders <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/biden-campaign-arab-american-support-israel-michigan-cf331a82f907fe70e22d5f0aa6d7346e" data-vars-content-id="dc5d9de4-a54c-4bdf-ae65-2f4097c98e3f" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-headline="Arab Americans in Michigan could deliver Biden's first blow" data-vars-item="in_content_link" data-vars-link-text="refused to meet" data-vars-sub-category="story" href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-campaign-arab-american-support-israel-michigan-cf331a82f907fe70e22d5f0aa6d7346e" target="_blank">refused to meet</a> with a top Biden campaign adviser last month.</b></li><li> </li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/25/michigan-gretchen-whitmer-biden-israel-gaza-war">Sam Levine (GUARDIAN) reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat who is the only Palestinian-American serving in Congress, <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/18/rashida-tlaib-joe-biden-michigan-democratic-primary">urged Democrats last week</a> to vote “uncommitted” in Michigan’s 27 February primary.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>“We
don’t want a country that supports war and bombs and destruction. We
want to support life. We want to stand up for every single life killed
in Gaza … This is the way you can raise our voices. Don’t make us even
more invisible. Right now, we feel completely neglected and just unseen
by our government,” she said in a video posted to her Twitter account.
“If you want us to be louder, then come here and vote uncommitted.”</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Tlaib’s sister, Layla Elabed, is the campaign manager for <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.listentomichigan.com/supporters">Listen to Michigan</a>,
the group that has been leading the effort to get people to vote
uncommitted. The group has the support of 30 elected officials across
south-east Michigan, including Abdullah Hammoud, the mayor of Dearborn,
which has a large Arab American population.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>“Biden
must earn our vote through a dramatic change in policy,” the group says
on its website. “President Biden has been a successful candidate in the
past by representing a broad coalition, but right now he’s not
representing the vast majority of <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/democrats">Democrats</a> who want a ceasefire and an end to his funding of Israel’s war in Gaza.”</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><p> <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/beto-o-rourke-uncommitted-biden-michigan">Joe Queally (COMMON DREAMS) reports</a>: </p><p><b>Texas Democrat Beto O'Rourke became the latest high-profile member of
the party to back the push for Michigan voters to tick the
"uncommitted" box on the primary ballot next week as a way to protest
President Joe Biden's unconditional support of Israel's unyielding
assault on the people of <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a>.</b></p><p><b>"I
do think it makes sense for those who want to see this administration
do more, or do a better job, to exert that political pressure and get
the president's attention and the attention of those on his campaign so
that the United States does better," said the former congressman who has
run for both president and the U.S. Senate.</b></p><p><b>In an <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://michiganadvance.com/2024/02/24/beto-orourke-supports-uncommitted-campaign-in-michigans-tuesday-presidential-primary/" target="_blank">interview</a> with the <em>Michigan Advance</em> on Friday, O'Rourke explained that he was partly influenced by a recent <em>New York Times</em> op-ed by Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud which <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/20/opinion/biden-dearborn-michigan-gaza.html" target="_blank">argued</a>
that "no amount of landmark legislation" passed by the Biden
administration "can outweigh the more than 100,000 people killed,
wounded, or missing in Gaza. The scales of justice will not allow it."</b></p><p><b>O'Rourke said he agrees "with the aims and the goals" of the <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/michigan-officials-uncommitted" target="_blank">grassroots </a><a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/michigan-officials-uncommitted">campaign</a>
in Michigan that is urging Democrats to use Tuesday's primary contest,
in which Biden faces no real opponent, as a way to express the deep
frustration many voters in the state are feeling over the carnage in
Gaza.</b></p><p><b>"We should have a ceasefire, there should be a return of
each [and] every single one of those hostages [taken by Hamas], there
should be an end to this war and there should be a negotiated solution
to Palestinian statehood," O’Rourke told the news outlet. "All of that
needs to happen, and I share the concern that the United States is not
doing close to enough to bring those things to pass."</b></p><p><b>Polls have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/americans-want-cease-fire-new-poll/" target="_blank">shown</a>
a strong majority of Democratic voters support an immediate cease-fire
in Gaza, something Biden has steadfastly refused. Disagreement with the
administration's policy is especially high among younger voters as well
as the Arab American and Muslim Americans who represent a sizeable bloc
of Michigan voters.</b></p></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday night on CBS, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/american-doctor-on-gaza-devastation-from-israel-hamas-war-60-minutes-transcript/">60 MINUTES addressed</a> the humanitarian crisis:</div><p><span class="sc-d63d5cd8-3 faMHro" data-testid="byline-name"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><b>When the terrorist group Hamas unleashed its barbaric attack inside
Israel last October, the response by the Israeli government was swift.</b></p><p><b>Israel launched thousands of troops, tanks and more than 45,000 bombs into Gaza, decimating entire cities.</b></p><p><b>The
Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health says more than 29,000 people have
been killed and nearly 2 million displaced - numbers many in the Israeli
press and the United Nations are reporting.</b></p><p><b>Israel has barred journalists from independently accessing the Gaza
strip, defying the long-standing precedent of allowing reporters into
war zones.</b></p><p><span class="sc-d63d5cd8-3 faMHro" data-testid="byline-name"><b>
</b></span></p><p><b>Aid workers say a "catastrophic" <span class="link"><a data-invalid-url-rewritten-http="" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doctor-aid-workers-describe-gaza-devastation-60-minutes/" target="_blank">humanitarian crisis is unfolding</a></span> in Gaza, but reporting on it has been challenging.</b></p><p><b>So we asked aid workers, including two Americans – to share their view from inside Gaza over the last 142 days.</b></p><p><b>A warning -- it is difficult to watch.</b></p><p><b>This was the scene at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza in late January.</b></p><p><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I_xwnBNW_BI?si=_5-a7LiEUDfMC0ow" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p> </p><div>This morning, Human Rights Watch issued the following:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="mb-8 md:mb-14"><div class="article-body article-body--contained rich-text mx-auto"><p><b>The <a href="https://www.hrw.org/middle-east/north-africa/israel/palestine">Israeli</a> government has failed to comply with at least one measure in the <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/01/26/gaza-world-court-orders-israel-prevent-genocide">legally binding order</a>
from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in South Africa’s
genocide case, Human Rights Watch said today. Citing warnings about
“catastrophic conditions” in Gaza, the court <a href="https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240126-ord-01-00-en.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ordered</a>
Israel on January 26, 2024, to “take immediate and effective measures
to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and
humanitarian aid,” and to report back on its compliance to the specific
measures “within one month.”</b></p>
<p><b>One month later, however, Israel continues to obstruct the provision
of basic services and the entry and distribution within Gaza of fuel and
lifesaving aid, acts of <span aria-label="Explain glossary term collective punishment" class="onomasticon onomasticon-cursor-default" data-once="enable_tooltips" data-tooltip="Collective punishment in international law describes any form of sanction that is imposed on targeted individuals or groups for actions they did not personally commit. For example, an entire group of people is punished for alleged actions committed by members of the group." tabindex="0" title="collective punishment">collective punishment</span> that amount to <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/18/israel-unlawful-gaza-blockade-deadly-children">war crimes</a> and include <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/18/israel-starvation-used-weapon-war-gaza">the use of starvation of civilians as a weapon of war</a>.
Fewer trucks have entered Gaza and fewer aid missions have been
permitted to reach northern Gaza in the several weeks since the ruling
than in the weeks preceding it, according to <a href="https://www.ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-reported-impact-day-140" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs</a> (OCHA).</b></p>
<p><b>“The Israeli government is starving Gaza’s 2.3 million Palestinians,
putting them in even more peril than before the World Court’s binding
order,” said <a href="https://www.hrw.org/about/people/omar-shakir">Omar Shakir,</a>
Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch. “The Israeli
government has simply ignored the court’s ruling, and in some ways even
intensified its repression, including further blocking lifesaving aid.”</b></p>
<p><b>Other countries should use all forms of leverage, including sanctions
and embargoes, to press the Israeli government to comply with the
court’s binding orders in the genocide case, Human Rights Watch said.</b></p>
<p><b>Human Rights Watch <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/18/israel-starvation-used-weapon-war-gaza">found</a>
in December 2023 that Israeli authorities are using starvation as a
weapon of war. Pursuant a policy set out by Israeli officials and
carried out by Israeli forces, the Israeli authorities are deliberately
blocking the delivery of water, food, and fuel, willfully impeding
humanitarian assistance, apparently razing agricultural areas, and
depriving the civilian population of objects indispensable to its
survival.</b></p>
<p><b>Israeli authorities have kept its supply of electricity for Gaza <a href="https://www.ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-reported-impact-day-122-0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">shut off</a>
since the October 7 Hamas-led attacks. After initially cutting the
entire supply of water that Israel provides to Gaza via three pipelines,
Israel resumed piping on two of its three lines. However, due to the
cuts and widespread destruction to <a href="https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-101-enarhe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">water infrastructure</a> amid unrelenting Israeli air and ground operations, only <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/gaza-strip-brink-public-health-catastrophe-health-and-wash-clusters-reassert-calls-immediate-long-lasting-ceasefire" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">one of those lines remained</a>
operational at only 47 percent capacity as of February 20. Officials at
the Gaza Coastal Municipalities Water Utility told Human Rights Watch
on February 20 that Israeli authorities have obstructed efforts to
repair the water infrastructure.</b></p>
<p><b>According to data published by OCHA and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the <a href="https://www.ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-reported-impact-day-140" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">daily average</a>
number of trucks entering Gaza with food, aid, and medicine dropped by
more than a third in the weeks following the ICJ ruling: 93 trucks
between January 27 and February 21, 2024, compared to 147 trucks between
January 1 and 26, and only <a href="https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZTVkYmEwNmMtZWYxNy00ODhlLWI2ZjctNjIzMzQ5OGQxNzY5IiwidCI6IjI2MmY2YTQxLTIwZTktNDE0MC04ZDNlLWZkZjVlZWNiNDE1NyIsImMiOjl9&pageName=ReportSection3306863add46319dc574" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">57</a> between February 9 and 21. A <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/snapshot-deprivation-humanitarian-aid-gaza-strip-january-2024" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">survey</a>
of impediments to the entry of aid faced by 24 humanitarian
organizations operating in Gaza between January 26 and February 15
pointed to a lack of transparency around how aid trucks can enter Gaza,
delays and denials at Israeli crossings and inspection points, and
concerns about safety of trucks.</b></p>
<p><b>By comparison, an <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-war-inflicts-catastrophic-damage-infrastructure-economy-2023-11-17/#:~:text=On%20average%20500%20trucks%20of,21." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">average of 500 trucks of food and goods</a> entered
Gaza each day before the escalation in hostilities in October, during
which time 1.2 million people in Gaza were estimated to be <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/world-cannot-stand-starvation-used-weapon-war-gaza" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">facing acute food insecurity</a><u>,</u> and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/25/un-report-80-per-cent-of-gaza-inhabitants-relied-on-international-aid-before-war" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">80 percent of Gaza’s population</a> were reliant on humanitarian aid amid Israel's more than <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/06/14/gaza-israels-open-air-prison-15">16-year-long unlawful closure</a>.<br /><br />
High-ranking Israeli officials have articulated a policy to deprive civilians of food, water, and fuel, as Human Rights Watch <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/12/18/israel-starvation-used-weapon-war-gaza">has documented</a>. The Israeli government spokesperson <a href="https://twitter.com/EylonALevy/status/1744051926453346699" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">said</a><u> </u>more recently that there are “no limits” to aid entering Gaza, outside of security. Some Israeli officials <a href="https://twitter.com/EylonALevy/status/1760357301855175020?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">blame</a> the UN for distribution delays and <a href="https://www.arabnews.com/node/2463496/middle-east" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">accuse</a> Hamas of diverting aid or Gaza police for <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/21/world/middleeast/gaza-aid-convoys-ambush.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">failing to secure convoys</a>.</b></p>
<p><b>The Israeli government cannot shift blame to evade responsibility,
Human Rights Watch said. As the occupying power, Israel is obliged to
provide for the welfare of the occupied population and ensure that the
humanitarian needs of Gaza’s population are met. The Israeli human
rights group Gisha <a href="https://gisha.org/UserFiles/File/letters/Letter_Israel_must_provide_for_all_needs_northern_Gaza_English.pdf?mc_cid=04f1429477" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">challenged</a>
the Israeli government’s claims that it is not obstructing entry or
distribution of aid and also found that it is not complying with the ICJ
order.</b></p>
<p><b>Israeli authorities have also obstructed the aid that enters Gaza from reaching areas in the north. The <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/snapshot-deprivation-humanitarian-aid-gaza-strip-january-2024" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">survey</a>
of humanitarian organizations found that “almost no aid is distributed
beyond Rafah,” Gaza’s southernmost governorate. On February 20, the
World Food Programme <a href="https://www.wfp.org/news/un-food-agency-pauses-deliveries-north-gaza" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">paused deliveries of lifesaving food</a> to the north, citing lack of safety and security. Israeli forces struck a <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/02/1146192" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">food convoy</a> on February 5, the UN <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/02/1146192" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">said</a> and CNN <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/21/middleeast/un-food-convoy-gaza-israel-strike-cmd-intl/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">documented</a>.</b></p>
<p><b>Between February 1 and 15, Israeli authorities <a href="https://www.ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-124" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">only facilitated</a>
2 of 21 planned missions to deliver fuel to the north of the Wadi Gaza
area in central Gaza and none of the 16 planned fuel delivery or
assessment missions to water and wastewater pumping stations in the
north. <a href="https://www.ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-123" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fewer than 20 percent of planned missions</a>
to deliver fuel and undertake assessments north of Wadi Gaza have been
facilitated between January 1 and February 15, as compared with <a href="https://www.ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-98" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">86 percent of missions</a> planned between October and December, according to OCHA.</b></p>
<p><b>“Israel’s ground forces are able to reach all parts of Gaza, so
Israeli authorities clearly have the capacity to ensure that aid reaches
all of Gaza,” Shakir said.</b></p>
<p><b>Since the ICJ order, Israeli authorities have also apparently destroyed the offices of at least <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/snapshot-deprivation-humanitarian-aid-gaza-strip-january-2024" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">two humanitarian organizations</a> in Gaza and taken steps to <a href="https://twitter.com/TalalAlhaj/status/1760713081594720279/photo/2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">undermine the work of UNRWA</a>, the <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/01/31/gaza-suspending-unrwa-aid-risks-hastening-famine">largest provider</a> of humanitarian aid in Gaza, which <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/snapshot-deprivation-humanitarian-aid-gaza-strip-january-2024" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">more than half</a> of other humanitarian organizations rely on to facilitate their operations. The head of UNWRA, Philippe Lazarini, <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/letter-commissioner-general-president-general-assembly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">said</a> in a February 22 <a href="https://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/official-statements/letter-commissioner-general-president-general-assembly" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">letter </a>to
the UN General Assembly president that the agency has reached a
“breaking point” due to multiple government suspensions of funding and
Israel’s campaign to shut the agency down.</b></p>
<p><b>Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, <a href="https://x.com/bezalelsm/status/1757457717206134790?s=20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">said</a> on February 13 that he had blocked a US-funded flour shipment to Gaza, because it was going to UNRWA. Israel has <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/world/unrwa-funding-gaza-suspended/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">alleged</a> that at least 12 of the agency’s 30,000 employees participated in the October 7 attacks, which the UN is investigating.</b></p>
<p><b>In late December, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification
(IPC), a multi-partner initiative that regularly publishes information
on the scale and severity of food insecurity and malnutrition globally, <a href="https://www.ipcinfo.org/ipc-country-analysis/details-map/en/c/1156749/?iso3=PSE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">concluded</a>
that over 90 percent of Gaza’s population is at crisis level of acute
food insecurity or worse. The IPC said that virtually all Palestinians
in Gaza are skipping meals every day while many adults go hungry so
children can eat, and that the population faced famine if current
conditions persisted. “This is the highest share of people facing high
levels of acute food insecurity that the IPC initiative has ever
classified for any given area or country,” the group said.</b></p>
<p><b>On February 19, The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) <a href="https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/childrens-lives-threatened-rising-malnutrition-gaza-strip" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">found</a>
that 90 percent of children under age 2 and 95 percent of pregnant and
breastfeeding women face “severe food poverty.” On February 22, Save the
Children <a href="https://www.savethechildren.net/news/gaza-families-forced-forage-food-left-rats-11-million-children-face-starvation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">said</a>
families in Gaza “are forced to forage for scraps of food left by rats
and eating leaves out of desperation to survive,” noting that “all 1.1
million children in Gaza [are] facing starvation.”</b></p>
<p><b>In response to a <a href="https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240212-wri-01-00-en.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">request by South Africa</a>
for additional provisional measures following Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu’s order for Israeli authorities to explore a possible
plan to <a href="https://x.com/bezalelsm/status/1757457717206134790?s=20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">evacuate Rafah</a> ahead of a ground incursion, the ICJ <a href="https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20240216-pre-01-00-en.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">said</a>
that the “perilous situation demands immediate and effective
implementation of the provisional measures” throughout Gaza – but not
new measures – and highlighted Israel’s duty to ensure “the safety and
security of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.”</b></p>
<p><b>Beyond enabling the provision of basic services and aid, the measures
in the ICJ’s binding order require Israel to prevent genocide against
Palestinians in Gaza and prevent and punish incitement to commit
genocide. The ICJ issued these measures “to protect the rights claimed
by South Africa that the Court has found to be plausible,” including
“the right of the Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of
genocide.” Although South Africa asked the court in its oral arguments
during <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/01/10/world-court-hear-genocide-case-against-israel">January hearings on the provisional measures</a> to make any report it ordered public, the court did not indicate that it has done so.</b></p>
<p><b>Between January 26 and February 23, more than 3,400 Palestinians were killed in Gaza, according to figures from Gaza’s <a href="https://www.ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-125" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Health Ministry</a> compiled by OCHA.</b></p>
<p><b>South Africa’s case against Israel for genocide is distinct from the <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/02/16/world-court-review-57-year-israeli-occupation">proceedings</a> on the legal consequences of Israel’s 57-year-occupation, which began at the ICJ on February 19.</b></p>
<p><b>“Israel’s blatant disregard for the World Court’s order poses a
direct challenge to the rules-based international order,” Shakir said.
“Failure to ensure Israel’s compliance puts the lives of millions of
Palestinians at risk and threatens to undermine the institutions charged
with ensuring respect for international law and the system that ensures
civilian protection worldwide.” </b> </p></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><p></p><p><a href="http://katskornerofthecommonills.blogspot.com/"><b>Kat</b></a>'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/kats-korner-melissa-manchesters-back.html">Kat's Korner: Melissa Manchester's back</a>" went up today. The following sites updated:</p><p><br /></p><li style="display: block;">
<div class="blog-icon">
<img data-lateloadsrc="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AJ0KDdXHhcwND9penB5FpvauyZKjZ9cBgGMxIQ-Lxo48jDIhoXPwvWBrdbvqVohw0uyrlUXS_7D710dc2irk8GtO3qnZzeSB=s16-w16-h16" height="16" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AJ0KDdXHhcwND9penB5FpvauyZKjZ9cBgGMxIQ-Lxo48jDIhoXPwvWBrdbvqVohw0uyrlUXS_7D710dc2irk8GtO3qnZzeSB=s16-w16-h16" width="16" />
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<a href="https://kbla1580.com/" target="_blank">
KBLA - Tavis Smiley's talk radio</a>
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<span class="item-title">
<a href="https://kbla1580.com/a-bikepacker-whos-been-on-the-road-for-8-years-says-hes-turned-his-lifestyle-into-a-business-that-covers-his-costs-heres-how/" target="_blank">
A bikepacker who’s been on the road for 8 years says he’s turned his
lifestyle into a business that covers his costs — here’s how.
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3 hours ago
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<a href="http://sickofitradlz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
SICKOFITRADLZ</a>
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<a href="http://sickofitradlz.blogspot.com/2024/02/nex-benedict-and-dime-doe.html" target="_blank">
Nex Benedict and Dime Doe
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14 hours ago
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<a href="https://npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1039" target="_blank">
Music</a>
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<a href="https://npr.org/2024/02/25/1233771262/spanish-singer-bad-gyal-on-her-debut-album-and-discovering-reggaeton-in-spain" target="_blank">
Spanish singer Bad Gyal on her debut album and discovering reggaeton in
Spain
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17 hours ago
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<a href="http://likemariasaidpaz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Like Maria Said Paz</a>
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<a href="http://likemariasaidpaz.blogspot.com/2024/02/stevie-nicks.html" target="_blank">
Stevie Nicks
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<a href="https://gorilla-radio.com/" target="_blank">
Gorilla Radio</a>
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<a href="https://gorilla-radio.com/2024/02/25/ape-goes-to-victoria-gaza-solidarity-march-and-rally-day-140-february-24-2024/" target="_blank">
Ape Goes to Victoria Gaza Solidarity March and Rally Day 140 February 24,
2024
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<a href="http://wwwmikeylikesit.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Mikey Likes It!</a>
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<span class="item-title">
<a href="http://wwwmikeylikesit.blogspot.com/2024/02/pamela-salem-kim-brown-and-idiot-of-week.html" target="_blank">
Pamela Salem, Kim Brown and . . . Idiot of the Week
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1 day ago
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<a href="http://annsmegadub.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Ann's Mega Dub</a>
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<a href="http://annsmegadub.blogspot.com/2024/02/j-rany-taraborrellis-awful-beyonce-book.html" target="_blank">
J Randy Taraborrelli's awful Beyonce book
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1 day ago
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<a href="http://sexandpoliticsandscreedsandattitude.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude</a>
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<div class="item-content">
<span class="item-title">
<a href="http://sexandpoliticsandscreedsandattitude.blogspot.com/2024/02/we-all-suffer-when-religious-freaks-try.html" target="_blank">
we all suffer when religious freaks try to control our lives
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<div class="blog-content">
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<a href="http://ohboyitneverends.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Oh Boy It Never Ends</a>
</div>
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<a href="http://ohboyitneverends.blogspot.com/2024/02/all-of-us-strangers.html" target="_blank">
ALL OF US STRANGERS
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2 days ago
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<a href="http://katskornerofthecommonills.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills)</a>
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<a href="http://katskornerofthecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/beyonce-judas-priest-and-non-comeback.html" target="_blank">
Beyonce, Judas Priest, and the non-comeback kid Justy Timberlakes
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2 days ago
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padding: 0px;"><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">Tbsp</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><a class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-link" href="https://amzn.to/3WsanNt" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="padding: 3px;" target="_blank">olive oil</a></span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal" style="color: #616161;">($0.16)</span></b></span></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">lb.</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-name">ground beef</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal" style="color: #616161;">($5.49)</span></b></span></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-name">yellow onion</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal" style="color: #616161;">($0.37)</span></b></span></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">4</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cloves</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-name">garlic</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal" style="color: #616161;">($0.32)</span></b></span></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cup</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-name">frozen corn</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal" style="color: #616161;">($0.47)</span></b></span></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">2</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">10oz. cans</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><a class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-link" href="https://amzn.to/414iwLv" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="padding: 3px;" target="_blank">diced tomatoes with green chiles</a></span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal" style="color: #616161;">($2.00)</span></b></span></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">15oz. can</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-name">pinto beans, drained</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal" style="color: #616161;">($0.79)</span></b></span></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">15oz. can</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-name">black beans, drained</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal" style="color: #616161;">($0.79)</span></b></span></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">packet</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><a class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-link" href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/taco-seasoning/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="padding: 3px;" target="_blank">taco seasoning*</a></span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal" style="color: #616161;">($0.49)</span></b></span></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">packet</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><a class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-link" href="https://www.budgetbytes.com/homemade-ranch-seasoning-mix/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="padding: 3px;" target="_blank">ranch seasoning*</a></span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal" style="color: #616161;">($0.69)</span></b></span></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">3</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">Tbsp</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-name"><a class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-link" href="https://amzn.to/3HjMrr2" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="padding: 3px;" target="_blank">tomato paste</a></span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal" style="color: #616161;">($0.27)</span></b></span></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient" style="list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">2</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cups</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-name">water</span> <span class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp1039625bwprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-normal" style="color: #616161;">($0.00)</span></b></span></span></li></ul></div></div><div><h3 class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-header yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instructions-header yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-block-text-normal yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-align-left yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-header-decoration-none yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-header-has-actions" style="clear: none; font-weight: 400; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 40px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>INSTRUCTIONS </b></span></span></h3><div class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instruction-group"><ul class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instructions" style="counter-reset: cwp-counter 0; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instruction" id="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-76174-step-0-0" style="counter-increment: cwp-counter 1; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="display: block; font-family: inherit;">Add
the olive oil and ground beef to a large soup pot. Cook over medium
heat until the beef is fully browned. If using a high-fat content beef,
drain the excess fat from the pot.</span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instruction" id="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-76174-step-0-1" style="counter-increment: cwp-counter 1; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="display: block; font-family: inherit;">While
the beef is cooking, dice the onion and mince the garlic. Add the onion
and garlic to the pot with the beef and continue to cook until the
onions are soft and translucent.</span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instruction" id="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-76174-step-0-2" style="counter-increment: cwp-counter 1; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="display: block; font-family: inherit;">Add
the frozen corn, pinto beans (drained), black beans (drained), and
diced tomatoes with green chiles (with juices), and stir to combine.</span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instruction" id="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-76174-step-0-3" style="counter-increment: cwp-counter 1; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="display: block; font-family: inherit;">Add
the tomato paste, taco seasoning, ranch seasoning, and water to the
pot. Stir to combine. Turn the heat up to high, place a lid on the pot,
and bring the soup up to a boil.</span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instruction" id="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-76174-step-0-4" style="counter-increment: cwp-counter 1; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="display: block; font-family: inherit;">Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-low and let the soup simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.</span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></li><li class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instruction" id="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-76174-step-0-5" style="counter-increment: cwp-counter 1; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="yiv4013297807ydpaa7759a0yiv7638490763ydp630d045ewprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="display: block; font-family: inherit;">Serve hot with your favorite toppings!</span></b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></li></ul></div></div><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">My granddaughter wanted soup. I'd just gotten home and was about to fix dinner and she stopped me to ask for soup. So we made that recipe -- Ann highlighted it <a href="https://annsmegadub.blogspot.com/2023/12/taco-soup-and-christmas-cranberry-cake.html">here</a>. It's a solid recipe. It was getting chilly outside (it's probably 37 degrees right now) so it hit the spot and everyone was happy and there was nothing left, it all got eaten. </span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">So an e-mail asked what my favorite Stevie Nicks song was?</span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I don't know. It's be a toss up I'm sure. Here the five favorites that come to mind.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">1) "Juliet"</span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">2) "Landslide"</span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">3) "Sara"</span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">4) "Blue Water"</span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">5) "Gypsy"</span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">On the last one, here's a video.</span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4dSJQdDqv0s?si=LyNALkj92Xym2nPk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_0890411476.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Thursday:</p><p><br /></p>
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Thursday, February 22, 2024. Gaza death toll nears 30,000, Israel
military lawyers warns of possible criminal prosecution for IDF forces,
the Israeli government destroys a mosque, hate merchants in the US
continue their attacks, and much more.<div><br /></div><div>Starting with
this: 18-year-old Jack Johnson of Louisiana arrested for murder. Police
were called to the Benton, LA home of Speaker of the House Mike
Johnson's earlier this morning when a screaming woman phoned to report a
homicide. When they arrived on the premises, the screaming woman
turned out to be a very high strung Speaker Johnson who had discovered
his son in an exhausted state of bliss, the younger Johnson having just
jerked off. "All of those children! Dead!" wailed the Speaker as he
waved his son's still damp cum rag in the faces of the responding
officers. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That is where Alabama's latest nonsense leads, right? <a href="https://feminist.org/news/alabama-supreme-court-rules-that-embryos-outside-of-the-womb-qualify-as-human-beings/">Hannah Irvine (FEMINIST MAJORITY FOUNDATION) reports</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><p><b>The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that embryos outside of the womb
qualify as human beings in a ruling that further thwarts reproductive
freedom in the state. In the <a href="https://publicportal-api.alappeals.gov/courts/68f021c4-6a44-4735-9a76-5360b2e8af13/cms/case/343D203A-B13D-463A-8176-C46E3AE4F695/docketentrydocuments/E3D95592-3CBE-4384-AFA6-063D4595AA1D">131 page opinion </a>Alabama
judges quoted the Bible and listened to complicated theoretical legal
arguments before ultimately coming to the 7-2 decision. </b></p> <p class="nitro-offscreen"><b>The
case comes after two Alabama couples pursuing IVF sued the Alabama
Mobile Infirmary Medical Centre after a patient was able to break into
the hospital’s cryogenic facility and subsequently dropped two embryos.
The embryos at this stage have been chosen as suitable for possible
transfer into the uterus. Even though they have passed this hurdle, they
are still 50% likely to fail when transferred. </b></p></div><div><p class="nitro-offscreen"></p> <p class="nitro-offscreen"><b>The two plaintiffs filed their complaints under Alabama’s <a href="https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/2022/title-6/chapter-5/article-22/section-6-5-391/">Wrongful Death of a Minor Act</a>.
The judges used this act as the legal basis for their decision, citing
that the “Wrongful Death of a Minor Act applies on its face to all
unborn children, without limitation.” This landmark ruling not only is a
clear product of a pro-life agenda strengthened by religious propaganda
but also serves as a reminder of the strict grip that Alabama lawmakers
want to have over reproductive health in the state. </b></p> <p class="nitro-offscreen"><b>This
ruling further tightens abortion regulations and it will also serve as a
barrier to the people of Alabama who wish to go through the IVF
process. Hospitals view the ruling as a huge risk, making it almost
impossible to run an IVF clinic without the constant fear of causing a
“death.” One thing is clear – the state of Alabama has offered women yet
another haunting warning, they can and will take control of their
reproductive rights as they see fit.</b></p></div><div>The idiots of the
Alabama court are trying to destroy reproductive rights. It never ends
for them. These nut jobs live on the slippery slope. </div><div><br /></div><div>In fact, here's footage of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito trying to use that slope to further erode equal rights.</div><div><br /></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2NZs91E3wNM?si=T-WJOLqOzuZoVbxs" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I wasn't the only one rooting for the crocodile to catch Alito, was I?</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/02/20/alito-jurors-homosexuality-sin/72672733007/">Maureen Groppe (USA TODAY) reports</a>:</div><div><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><b>Supreme Court <a class="gnt_ar_b_a" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/02/20/alito-jurors-homosexuality-sin/72672733007/">Justice Samuel Alito</a>
attempted an “I told you so” on Tuesday when he criticized a judge’s
dismissal of potential jurors in a workplace discrimination case because
they believed homosexuality is a sin.</b></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><b>Alito said that’s exactly the type of outcome he warned against when, against his objections, the <a class="gnt_ar_b_a" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/06/26/supreme-court-gay-lesbian-marriage/28649319/">Supreme Court ruled in 2015</a> that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage.</b></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><b>Alito
said he’d anticipated that Americans would be labeled as bigots unless
they hid their traditional religious beliefs about “homosexual conduct.”</b></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><br /></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Was that his inner voice warning him or just the ravings from a syphilis plagued mind?</p></div><div>All Alito wants is to live in a world where he can be a bigot but not get called one. Is that so wrong?</div><div><br /></div><div>Yeah, it is. You're lying, hypocritical ass is so wrong and so disgusting.</div><div><br /></div><div>Alito,
please note, voted for Lori Davis. He said that 'religious' people --
homophobes -- could refuse to do work for gay people. Now he says that
homophobes should be allowed to sit on a jury to rule as to whether or
not LGBTQ+ rights have been broken. Does no one else the blatant
hypocrisy?</div><div><br /></div><div>It's about time -- damn time -- that
someone explained to Alito that freedom of religion in the US included
freedom FROM religion. </div><div><br /></div><div>He's an evil man and
hopefully he will die soon. Maybe he'll break his neck rushing down one
of those slippery slopes. The world will be a better place with one
less bigot.</div><div><br /></div><div>In "<a href="http://sickofitradlz.blogspot.com/2024/02/theyre-killing-trans-kids-with-their.html" target="_self">They're killing trans kids with their words and their hate</a>," Marcia noted Nex Benedict. <a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/nex-benedict-everything-we-know-about-16-year-old-oklahoma-students-death">Lex McMenamin (TEEN VOGUE) reports</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>Nex Benedict, <a href="https://www.advocate.com/news/transgender-student-death-raichik-walters#toggle-gdpr">a 16-year-old Oklahoma high school sophomore</a>,
was beaten by three girl classmates in the bathroom of Owasso High
School on Feb. 7. On Feb. 8, Nex – who identified within the <a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/gender-variance-around-the-world">Two Spirit, transgender, and gender nonconforming (2STGNC) umbrella</a> – was declared dead at the hospital.</b></p><p><b>Now LGBTQ+ Oklahomans are mourning the loss of a straight-A student, a Minecraft fan, and animal lover – a teenager – in <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nex-benedict-dead-oklahoma-b2499332.html">a school district previously targeted by Libs of TikTok’s Chaya Raichik;</a>
Raichik now sits on the statewide library advisory board. In 2023,
Oklahoma censured the state’s only nonbinary representative — not to
mention signing into law a bill forcing public school students to use
the bathroom associated with their gender assigned at birth; advocates
are currently closely watching several anti-trans pieces of legislation.</b></p><div><div aria-hidden="true" class="ConsumerMarketingUnitThemedWrapper-iUTMTf jssHut consumer-marketing-unit consumer-marketing-unit--article-mid-content" role="presentation"><div class="consumer-marketing-unit__slot consumer-marketing-unit__slot--article-mid-content consumer-marketing-unit__slot--in-content"></div><div class="journey-unit"></div></div></div><p><b>Before
Benedict’s name was made public, a source who claimed to be the mother
of Benedict’s best friend told a local outlet the cause of death was
“complications from brain trauma,” and that “three older girls were
beating the victim and her daughter in the girl’s bathroom.” (We are not
linking because the story uses Benedict’s deadname. <a class="external-link" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLink","outgoingURL":"https://www.freedomoklahoma.org/news/nex-benedict"}" data-offer-url="https://www.freedomoklahoma.org/news/nex-benedict" href="https://www.freedomoklahoma.org/news/nex-benedict" rel="noopener" target="_blank">According to Freedom Oklahoma</a>,
it’s not presently clear which pronouns Benedict used, so this story
will refrain from using pronouns for Nex.) The anonymous source also
alleged that Benedict couldn’t “walk to the nurses’ station” without
assistance and that the school did not call an ambulance, while the
school claims they were unaware of the fight until informed by a parent;
<a class="external-link" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLink","outgoingURL":"https://www.owassops.org/apps/news/article/1887342"}" data-offer-url="https://www.owassops.org/apps/news/article/1887342" href="https://www.owassops.org/apps/news/article/1887342" rel="noopener" target="_blank">on Feb. 20, the school backtracked</a>, acknowledging that students saw the school nurse after the fight.</b></p><div class="Container-bkChBi byNLHx" data-event-boundary="click" data-event-click="{"pattern":"CNEInterludeEmbed"}" data-in-view="{"pattern":"CNEInterludeEmbed"}" data-include-experiments="true"></div><p><b>Texts allegedly sent by Nex after the fight to a family member, <a class="external-link" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLink","outgoingURL":"https://www.fox23.com/news/family-member-shares-messages-sent-by-16-year-old-owasso-student-day-before-death/article_a08a9600-d069-11ee-a555-a721a9701cad.html"}" data-offer-url="https://www.fox23.com/news/family-member-shares-messages-sent-by-16-year-old-owasso-student-day-before-death/article_a08a9600-d069-11ee-a555-a721a9701cad.html" href="https://www.fox23.com/news/family-member-shares-messages-sent-by-16-year-old-owasso-student-day-before-death/article_a08a9600-d069-11ee-a555-a721a9701cad.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">published by an Owasso Fox affiliate on the 20th</a>,
began, “I got jumped at school 3 on 1 had to go to the ER… They had
been bullying me and my friends and I got tired of it so I poured some
water on them and all 3 came after me. School did not report to the
police and is probably getting sued [redacted].”</b></p></div><div><p><b>Benedict’s grandmother Sue, who also adopted Nex, brought Nex to the
hospital after the fight, then home again; the next day, Nex was brought
back to the hospital and was pronounced dead. Sue told <em>The Independent</em>
that Nex was suspended for two weeks from school on the day of the
fight; Sue also mentioned that Nex had been bullied throughout this
school year.</b></p><div class="inline-recirc-wrapper inline-recirc-observer-target-1 viewport-monitor-anchor" data-attr-viewport-monitor="inline-recirc" data-event-boundary="click" data-event-click="{"pattern":"InlineRecirc"}" data-in-view="{"pattern":"InlineRecirc"}" data-include-experiments="true"></div><p><b>“Nex
did not see themselves as male or female. Nex saw themselves right down
the middle. I was still learning about it, Nex was teaching me that,”
Benedict <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nex-benedict-dead-oklahoma-b2499332.html">told <em>The Independent</em></a>. “I was so proud of Nex. They were going some place, they were so free.”</b></p><p><b><a class="external-link" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLink","outgoingURL":"https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/2/18/2224306/-Libs-of-TikTok-targeted-a-district-then-a-non-binary-student-was-killed-on-campus"}" data-offer-url="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/2/18/2224306/-Libs-of-TikTok-targeted-a-district-then-a-non-binary-student-was-killed-on-campus" href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/2/18/2224306/-Libs-of-TikTok-targeted-a-district-then-a-non-binary-student-was-killed-on-campus" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Multiple outlets</a> and individuals, including <a class="external-link" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLink","outgoingURL":"https://twitter.com/wsuares/status/1759631745291346247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1759631745291346247%7Ctwgr%5Eea1e0e686b9f9537b4e79aa413163d2ac753f5ee%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advocate.com%2Fnews%2Ftransgender-student-death-raichik-walters"}" data-offer-url="https://twitter.com/wsuares/status/1759631745291346247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1759631745291346247%7Ctwgr%5Eea1e0e686b9f9537b4e79aa413163d2ac753f5ee%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advocate.com%2Fnews%2Ftransgender-student-death-raichik-walters" href="https://twitter.com/wsuares/status/1759631745291346247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1759631745291346247%7Ctwgr%5Eea1e0e686b9f9537b4e79aa413163d2ac753f5ee%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advocate.com%2Fnews%2Ftransgender-student-death-raichik-walters" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Oklahoma newscaster Wendy Suarez</a>, as well as Freedom Oklahoma, the state’s LGBTQ+ advocacy org, connected Benedict’s death to the appointment of Raichik, <a class="external-link" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLink","outgoingURL":"https://www.losangelesblade.com/2024/02/08/labeled-stochastic-terrorism-libs-of-tiktok-attacks-nbc-for-same/"}" data-offer-url="https://www.losangelesblade.com/2024/02/08/labeled-stochastic-terrorism-libs-of-tiktok-attacks-nbc-for-same/" href="https://www.losangelesblade.com/2024/02/08/labeled-stochastic-terrorism-libs-of-tiktok-attacks-nbc-for-same/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">who’s been accused of “stochastic terrorism,</a>" <a href="https://www.advocate.com/news/transgender-student-death-raichik-walters#toggle-gdpr">to the state’s</a> “Library Media Advisory Committee” in January <a href="https://www.dailydot.com/debug/ryan-walters-nex-benedict-libs-of-tiktok/">by the state’s Secretary of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters</a>. According to <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nex-benedict-dead-oklahoma-b2499332.html">the Independent</a>,
a “teacher who Nex had greatly admired” resigned in 2022 after Raichik
targeted them on social media. Raichik has denied any responsibility in
Benedict’s death, and <a class="external-link" data-event-click="{"element":"ExternalLink","outgoingURL":"https://twitter.com/AriDrennen/status/1759982447092216089"}" data-offer-url="https://twitter.com/AriDrennen/status/1759982447092216089" href="https://twitter.com/AriDrennen/status/1759982447092216089" rel="noopener" target="_blank">has instead misgendered Nex repeatedly</a> in social posts. <a href="https://www.dailydot.com/debug/ryan-walters-nex-benedict-libs-of-tiktok/">As for Walters</a>,
in a 2023 video released by the Oklahoma Department of Education, he
utilized transphobic rhetoric. He has also banned students from changing
their gender on school records.</b></p></div><div>Last week, in Iraq, a blogger was murdered:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><mark class="beyondwords-highlight bwp id-73cc8c27-cb52-499a-9f22-8fea957def61" style="background: rgb(238, 238, 238);"><b>A trans blogger, known as “Simsim”, has been killed in the Al-Qadisiyah governorate of Iraq, a security source has said. </b></mark></div><div><b>The blogger was killed by unknown assailants, the source told <a href="https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq-News/Transgender-blogger-Simsim-assassinated-in-Diwaniyah">Iraqi publication Shafaq News</a>. The 28-year-old victim was stabbed several times, near the mural roundabout in the centre of the city of Diwaniyah.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1758604722309632388" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1758604722309632388&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%3Fupdated-max%3D2024-02-22T11%3A00%3A00-08%3A00%26max-results%3D3%26start%3D3%26by-date%3Dfalse&sessionId=d49c3db9d53ade202ec94052ab52163cdcf46c9a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 832px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So
these lunatics think what? That when they die, they'll meet their
maker and their savior is going to high five them for killing an LGBTQ+
person? They're as sick as the people who flew the planes into the Twin
Towers. </div><div><br /></div><div>And sick minds are the reason for the continued assault on Gaza. This morning <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/22/israel-militarys-top-lawyer-warns-troops-over-improper-conduct-in-gaza">ALJAZEERA reports</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>The Israeli military’s top lawyer has issued an unprecedented warning to troops against “improper conduct” in <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/israel-war-on-gaza/">Gaza</a> which includes the unjustified use of force and looting among other “criminal” actions.</b></p>
<p><b>Major-General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, the military advocate general,
issued the warning in a letter on Wednesday, as reported by the Haaretz
newspaper, saying it was “difficult to exaggerate” the “severity” of the
soldiers’ actions over nearly five months of the war.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>They should be very worried about facing charges. War Crimes are being carried out. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/israel-rafah-famine">Jake Johnson (COMMON DREAMS) reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b> Israeli airstrikes on the severely overcrowded <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a> city of Rafah on Thursday destroyed a
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://twitter.com/QudsNen/status/1760585477524959369" target="_blank">mosque</a>
and several houses as the leaders of aid groups and key United Nations
agencies issued their latest warning over deteriorating humanitarian
conditions across the Palestinian territory.
</b></p><p><b><em>Reuters</em><a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-hits-gazas-rafah-hamas-chiefs-trip-raises-truce-hopes-2024-02-22/" target="_blank">reported</a> that Rafah residents described the latest flurry of Israeli attacks as "one of their worst nights yet."
</b></p><p><b>
"Mourners wailed over at least seven corpses in body bags, laid out on
cobbles outside a morgue in the city," the outlet reported. "Gaza health
authorities said 97 people were confirmed killed and 130 wounded in the
last 24 hours of
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/israel-hamas/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Israeli assaults</a>,
but most victims were still under rubble or in areas rescuers could not
reach. The al-Farouk mosque in the center of Rafah was flattened into
slabs of concrete, the facades of adjacent buildings blasted away."
</b></p><p><b>
Rafah is currently home to around 1.5 million people, most of whom fled
to the small city from elsewhere in the Gaza Strip to escape Israeli
bombs and ground forces—only to face airstrikes and the threat of a
ground assault not long after arriving. Starvation and disease are
spreading rapidly in the city, which rests near Gaza's border with
Egypt.</b> </p></div><div>Last night, <a href="http://wwwmikeylikesit.blogspot.com/2024/02/we-should-all-be-ashamed-of-butcher.html">Mike noted</a>
US President Joe Biden's refusal to demand a cease-fire, "A cease-fire
now is the only answer -- right now. If Joe's too senile
to grasp that, he doesn't deserve a second term. If he just doesn't
care about Palestinians, he doesn't deserve a second term."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Joe's inability to find a spine was debated on <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/21/michigan_primary">yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OKgAALBt5UQ?si=6mNx2ev-7S-AOqP-" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.</b></p>
<p><b>The United States on Tuesday vetoed a widely supported Security
Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The vote
was 13 to 1 in favor of the resolution, with the United Kingdom
abstaining. It marked the third time the U.S. has vetoed a Security
Council resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. The vote came a day
after the U.S. circulated a rival resolution calling for a temporary
ceasefire linked to the release of all Israeli hostages.</b></p>
<p><b>Nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s assault on
Gaza over the past four-and-a-half months, with thousands more missing
and presumed dead under the rubble. Nearly 70,000 people have been
wounded. Eighty percent of Gaza’s population has been displaced, while a
humanitarian crisis continues to worsen, with a quarter of Palestinians
in Gaza facing starvation.</b></p>
<p><b>The Biden administration’s support for Israel in its assault on Gaza
has come under fierce criticism both around the world and here at home.
In Michigan, which is a key battleground state, home to one of the
largest Arab American populations in the country, a campaign is growing
to vote “uncommitted” in next week’s Democratic primary in protest of
President’s Biden’s policies backing Israel.</b></p>
<p><b>For more, we’re joined by two guests. Michigan state Representative
Abraham Aiyash is the Michigan House majority floor leader, the
second-ranking Democrat in the Michigan House. Representative Aiyash was
among several Arab and Muslim leaders who met with Biden officials in
Dearborn last week, after refusing to meet with Biden’s campaign
manager, Julie Chávez Rodríguez. He’s also joined more than 40 other
Michigan elected officials in pledging to cast a vote for “uncommitted”
in Michigan’s February 27th primary. He’s joining us from Detroit.
Joining us from Washington, D.C., on his way to Michigan, is Democratic
Congressmember Ro Khanna. He’s the deputy whip of the Congressional
Progressive Caucus and is going to Michigan tomorrow to meet with Muslim
and Arab American leaders in the state.</b></p>
<p><b>We welcome you both to <em>Democracy Now!</em> Abraham Aiyash, let’s
begin with you. What are you demanding — as the Michigan House majority
floor leader, what are you demanding of the Biden administration? You
don’t usually take such stands against your own party, but right now the
Democratic Party is really dealing with enormous pressure at this
point. Can you talk about what you want to see happen?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">REP</span>. <span class="caps">ABRAHAM</span> <span class="caps">AIYASH</span>:
Look, I think our demands are simple. We just don’t want our
government, our country to support, to aid, to abet any operation that
kills innocent men, women and children. It is not a radical idea for us
to suggest that the richest and most powerful country in the history of
the world should not be funding what we see as a genocide, that we have
seen nearly 30,000 dead Palestinians at the hands of the U.S.-funded
Israeli missiles and bombs, and we want our leadership to not engage in
that type of moral failure and that degenerative act that does not
dignify the humanity of the Palestinian people. So, you know, more than
anything, we’re not standing against anyone, but we’re simply
reaffirming our stance for humanity and for the basic tenets of human
rights, which says it is not a crazy concept that we should not be
supporting any effort that is killing any innocent person in the world,
especially to the magnitude that we’ve seen in Gaza, where more people
have died in this conflict than any war since World War II, which is
just a devastating toll.</b></p>
<p><b>And we’re hoping to exercise our right. We’re going to use the ballot
box on February 27th to show that we are going to not support any
effort that is supporting a genocide and that we’re going to stand firm
and, hopefully, allow this administration to change course before the
November election.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: Well, I
wanted to ask Congressman Ro Khanna, who’s with us, as well — you’ve
said that, for example, that President Trump is too dangerous to not
support President — I mean, former President Trump is too dangerous to
not support President Biden. Your response to those Democrats who cannot
in good conscience vote for President Biden, at least in this primary?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">REP</span>. RO <span class="caps">KHANNA</span>:
Well, first of all, I have a tremendous amount of respect for
Representative Aiyash, and I’m looking forward to seeing him in
Michigan. I do believe the administration needs to change course in
foreign policy in the Middle East in order to gain the trust of people
who we have lost. You can’t just meet with the Muslim American or Arab
American community and then veto in the United Nations a resolution
calling for a ceasefire and, by the way, an unconditional release of the
hostages. This is the third time we have vetoed that. It is hurting our
moral standing. It is hurting our commitment to human rights. And it is
not giving confidence to people that you’re hearing them and changing
course.</b></p>
<p><b>So, my hope is, in my meetings with Representative Aiyash and others,
that we can come up with a strategy that helps change course in the
Middle East so we get a permanent ceasefire, so we have a release of the
hostages, so we get aid into Gaza, and we have more peace and justice
in the region.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: And,
Representative Aiyash, I wanted to ask you about the meeting you had
with Biden officials earlier this month in Dearborn. What did you get
out of those talks?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">REP</span>. <span class="caps">ABRAHAM</span> <span class="caps">AIYASH</span>:
We were firm in reiterating our points. We want to see an immediate,
permanent ceasefire. We want to see humanitarian aid delivered to the
people of Gaza through entities like <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>.
And we want to see restrictions and conditions on the aid that is sent
to Israel. You know, it is unfathomable that we just send a blank check
with no conditions to a country that has violated human rights, that has
violated international law over and over and over again.</b></p>
<p><b>And we reminded the administration that, one, they showed up 124 days
into this conflict. They visited a state that happens to be the swing
state. So, we are not seeing the level of support. We’re not seeing the
level of concern that our communities have demonstrated for months. And
we reiterated those messages once again.</b></p>
<p><b>And unfortunately, just four days after that meeting, we saw the
Netanyahu regime did one of the worst attacks on the Rafah region, and
the United States still did not put the type of pressure on that regime
to stop these heinous acts.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Let me ask Congressmember Khanna: Do you think the Biden administration
made a mistake in vetoing yet another ceasefire resolution? And I want
to go a little further. Right after the U.S. ambassador to the United
Nations issued that veto, President Biden was in Los Angeles at a
fundraiser. He was attending a high-dollar fundraiser with the media
mogul Haim Saban, well-known Democratic, pro-Israel billionaire. The
dinner — the meeting was at, what, $3,300, to cost as much as $250,000.
I’m looking at a <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/biden-fundraiser-israel">piece</a> now in <em>Common Dreams</em>.
Your thoughts on this and on President Biden continually saying he’s
putting enormous pressure privately on Netanyahu, yet their private acts
continue to be against the kind of ceasefire that was put forward and
vetoed at the United Nations?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">REP</span>. RO <span class="caps">KHANNA</span>:
It was a mistake to veto the United Nations resolution. At the very
least, we could have abstained. I mean, you have 15 countries on that
Security Council. Thirteen of them are voting for a resolution for a
permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages, which is the
sentiment not just in the world, it’s the sentiment about the majority
of American people. And we are the lone “no” vote in the global
community. It is hurting America’s standing in the world, especially an
administration that is committed to multilateralism and rebuilding
international institutions. What does this say about the credibility of
the U.N. if we aren’t going to participate in those institutions?</b></p>
<p><b>The other issue is that I appreciate that there has been some
movement in the administration because of many of us in Congress who
have called for a permanent ceasefire, who have called for the
humanitarian aid to Gaza. There has been movement in recognizing the
value and dignity of Palestinian lives and the humanitarian concerns.
But now we need action. There needs to be clear consequences to
Netanyahu and his very far right-wing government. I mean, people in his
government are way to the right of Donald Trump, and that is important
to understand, people like Ben-Gvir. It needs to be clear to Bibi: He
can’t go into Rafah. Our secretary of defense doesn’t want it. Our
president doesn’t want it. Who is he to defy the United States of
America and then expect us to continue to provide military aid to do
that? So we need to be very, very clear of the consequences, and that is
not what has happened so far.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ:
Representative Aiyash, I wanted to ask you —— in December, you embarked
on a hunger strike and joined a demonstration outside the White House to
call for a ceasefire. Why is this issue so deeply personal to you?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">REP</span>. <span class="caps">ABRAHAM</span> <span class="caps">AIYASH</span>:
Look, my chief of staff [inaudible] — her two aunts were one of the
victims of the Nakba. And I remember her telling me the story where her
father and his two sisters walked across the Jordan Valley, only for the
two aunts to pass away from dehydration. You know, there is a real pain
and a real history behind the dehumanization of the Palestinian people.</b></p>
<p><b>And we’ve seen people all across this country stand up and say our
country should not be looking by while all these innocent men, women and
children are suffering at the hands of a right-wing regime that,
Congressman Khanna mentioned, that we are funding. You know, if you look
at the facts, a majority of Americans — 80% of Democrats support a
ceasefire. Over 60% of Americans support a ceasefire. Yet we see a
majority of Congress and this White House just seem to ignore the will
of the American people. You know, that is just a uniquely un-American
concept, when you have folks for months who have protested, folks for
months who have stood up and said, “We demand that our country lead with
moral conviction and say that no innocent man, woman and child should
be murdered at the hands of U.S. weaponry,” and our leaders just seem to
ignore it.</b></p>
<p><b>And I’m grateful for leaders like Congressman Khanna, who has stood
firmly in supporting human rights, who stood firmly in saying that
Palestinians deserve just as much dignity as the Ukrainians, as the
Israelis, as anyone in this world. But to see our leaders continue to
ignore the will of the American people is extremely disheartening. And,
you know, that is why this issue is so important for so many people
across this country, because it is a reminder that we are going to
continue to fight for our democracy and continue to fight for democratic
values and ideals, and it is through things like voting “uncommitted”
and continuing to organize and protest for peace all across the world.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Congressmember Khanna, you said there needs to be consequences to
affect Israeli policy. Do you think that the U.S. should cut off
military aid to Israel, to Prime Minister Netanyahu, for what they’re
doing in Gaza right now? And if you can talk about the big meeting
you’re going to have tomorrow evening with Rashida Tlaib, the “Take Back
Our Power” campaign, Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American
member of the U.S. Congress?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">REP</span>. RO <span class="caps">KHANNA</span>:
Well, I voted “no” on the blank check, $17 million of unrestricted
money to Israel, just a week or two ago. And I certainly don’t think we
should be giving them more of the precision missiles, which would go to
attack people in Rafah. I don’t see how we can bypass Congress, which
has been happening, to provide offensive military weapons to undertake
strikes that our own government is saying should not happen.</b></p>
<p><b>Let me just say this: I’m really looking forward, first, to meeting
people like Representative Aiyash and other Arab American, Muslim
American leaders. He is not just a representative. He is the leader in
the Michigan House. He’s going to be a future governor, a future
senator, a future member of Congress. And this is the point. The
coalition of the modern Democratic Party is not the coalition of 1972.
It is a coalition that includes young people, progressives, Muslim
Americans, Arab Americans, Jewish Americans, young folks. The <span class="caps">AME</span>
Black church has come out for a ceasefire. And we better wake up to
that fact, because the future of the Democratic Party is going to demand
justice for two states, a Palestinian state living side by side with
the Israeli state, and is going to demand concrete actions for a
ceasefire and recognizing the humanity of both Palestinians and
Israelis. The conversation with Rashida Tlaib is one about electricity
and power and justice on that, though I’m sure other topics will come up
at that town hall.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
We want to thank you both for being with us, California Congressmember
Ro Khanna, headed to Michigan tomorrow, and Abraham Aiyash, speaking to
us from Detroit, the Michigan House majority floor leader. The Michigan
primary is February 27 — that’s next week — in Michigan.</b></p>
<p><b>When we come back, <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/21/african_union_palestine">leaders
at this years’s African Union Summit condemn Israel’s assault on Gaza.
We’ll get the latest and also hear decisions they made around Sudan,
around the Democratic Republic of Congo and more</a>. Stay with us.</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 139 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna139928">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "More than 29,400 people have been killed in Gaza <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-orders-rafah-evacuation-ground-invasion-netanyahu-gaza-war-rcna137863" target="_blank">since the war began</a>,
according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. More than 69,400 have
been injured, and thousands more are missing and presumed dead." Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://theworldtodayjustnuts.blogspot.com/">Isaiah</a></b>'s THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/isaiahs-world-today-just-nuts-jim.html">Jim Jordan Has More Free Time</a>" went up last night. The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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</div></div></li><li style="display: block;"><div class="item-time"><br /></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-46224166738106828442024-02-21T21:36:00.000-05:002024-02-21T21:36:21.895-05:00Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread in the Kitchen<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/194475523@N05/53544219221/in/dateposted-public/" title="jim jordan"><img alt="jim jordan" height="542" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53544219221_f5815002f6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><b><a href="http://theworldtodayjustnuts.blogspot.com/">Isaiah</a></b>'s THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/isaiahs-world-today-just-nuts-jim.html">Jim Jordan Has More Free Time</a>" went up about 70 minutes ago. It's true, groomer Jim Jordan has time to return to the locker rooms -- the ones where he didn't see the abuse, remember? </p><p><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Years
ago, there was a community blog A WINDING ROAD. It was before my site
started. Folding Star from that site e-mailed to note that his college
-- Oregon State University in Corvallis -- has recipes online and he
notes <a class="yiv8942128752ydpc38ea3c8yiv1079476385" href="https://foodhero.org/recipes/whole-wheat-zucchini-bread" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">this recipe for Whole Wheat Zucchini Bread</a>:</span></p><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div class="yiv8942128752ydpc38ea3c8yiv1079476385ydpac8591cbfield yiv8942128752ydpc38ea3c8yiv1079476385ydpac8591cbfield_ingredients" style="color: #0a0a0a; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"><h2 class="yiv8942128752ydpc38ea3c8yiv1079476385ydpac8591cbtitle" style="color: #0d5257; line-height: 1.4; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Ingredients</span></h2><div class="yiv8942128752ydpc38ea3c8yiv1079476385ydpac8591cbsection" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 1/2 cups <span style="line-height: inherit;">whole-wheat flour</span> or all-purpose flour (try a combination)<br />1/2 teaspoon <span style="line-height: inherit;">baking powder</span><br />1/2 teaspoon <span style="line-height: inherit;">baking soda</span><br />1/2 teaspoon <span style="line-height: inherit;">salt</span><br />1 1/2 teaspoon <span style="line-height: inherit;">cinnamon</span><br />1/2 teaspoon <span style="line-height: inherit;">nutmeg</span><br />1/2 cup <span style="line-height: inherit;">vegetable oil</span><br />1/2 cup <span style="line-height: inherit;">brown sugar</span> or honey (see <span style="line-height: inherit;">Notes</span>)<br />2 <span style="line-height: inherit;">eggs</span><br />1 teaspoon <span style="line-height: inherit;">vanilla</span><br />1 1/2 cups grated <span style="line-height: inherit;">zucchini </span>(squeeze out some moisture after measuring)<br />1/2 cup chopped <span style="line-height: inherit;">nuts </span>or seeds, any type (optional)<br />1/2 cup <span style="line-height: inherit;">raisins </span>or dried cranberries (optional)</b></span></p></div></div><div class="yiv8942128752ydpc38ea3c8yiv1079476385ydpac8591cbfield yiv8942128752ydpc38ea3c8yiv1079476385ydpac8591cbfield_instructions" style="color: #0a0a0a; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><h2 class="yiv8942128752ydpc38ea3c8yiv1079476385ydpac8591cbtitle" style="color: #0d5257; line-height: 1.4; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Directions</span></h2><div class="yiv8942128752ydpc38ea3c8yiv1079476385ydpac8591cbsection" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><ol style="line-height: 1.6; list-style-position: outside; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Wash hands with soap and water.</b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly greast a 9x5-inch bread pan and set aside.</b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.</b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>In a separate bowl, combine oil, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla and zucchini. Mix until well combined.</b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Add
the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir until the dry
ingredients are moistened, without overmixing. Gently add nuts and
raisins, if desired.</b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Pour batter into pan and spread into the corners. </b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Bake 45 to 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.</b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Remove pan from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.</b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Remove bread from pan and let cool completely on a rack. Slice to serve.</b></span></li><li style="margin: 0px 0px 15px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Wrap to store for several days or freeze for up to 1 month.</b></span></li></ol></div></div></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Folding
Star notes that I don't note bread often. I believe that's right.
There are two breads I make myself and they're both from Diet For A
Small Planet (not the version released in the last five years). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">News? Trashy Garbage is in the news. <span face="Segoe UI, SegoeUI, Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #2b2b2b;"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/tulsi-gabbard-called-out-by-marine-combat-fighter-pilot/ar-BB1iF9EN?cvid=c08176c754e6419ab1b2cb81c5a798a1&ei=10" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lucy Strathmore (2paragraphs) reports</a>:</span></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span face="Segoe UI, Segoe UI Midlevel, sans-serif" style="color: #2b2b2b;">Former U.S. Representative from Hawaii</span><span style="color: #2b2b2b;"> Tulsi Gabbard</span><span face="Segoe UI, Segoe UI Midlevel, sans-serif" style="color: #2b2b2b;"> complained
about NATO “free riding on U.S. taxpayers” during an appearance on Fox
News. The former Democrat-turned-Independent and U.S. Army Reserve
officer said: “They expect us to put up the lives of my brothers and
sisters in uniform to protect them when they are not even willing to do
that for themselves.”</span><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span face="Segoe UI, Segoe UI Midlevel, sans-serif" style="color: #2b2b2b;">Former
Marine F/A-18 pilot Amy McGrath, replied: “Hey Tulsi, I realize you
didn’t deploy to Afghanistan. But I did twice and I can tell you that
our NATO brothers and sisters were right there alongside us for two
decades.”</span><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span face="Segoe UI, Segoe UI Midlevel, sans-serif" style="color: #2b2b2b;">A
U.S. military trailblazer, McGrath was the first woman to fly a combat
mission for the Marine Corps, as well as the first to pilot
the F/A-18 on a combat mission. During her 20 years of service in the
Marine Corps, McGrath flew </span><a class="yiv8942128752ydpc38ea3c8yiv1079476385" href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/amy-mcgrath-a-marine-combat-fighter-pilot-on-a-new_b_59821830e4b02be325be02d3" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">89 combat missions against al-Qaeda and the Taliban</a><span face="Segoe UI, Segoe UI Midlevel, sans-serif" style="color: #2b2b2b;">.</span></b></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Poor Trashy Garbage. I'm sure she's too busy with her cult to think about it but she got served. And then some.__</span></div></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_0562775115.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Wednesday:</p><p><br /></p><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
<div class="post-header">
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1432516807563684673" itemprop="articleBody">
Wednesday, February 21, 2024. For the third time, the US government
vetoes a cease-fire, CNN reports on a War Crime with documented
evidence, and much more.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div>England's Prince William may have joined the call for a cease-fire but the US government hasn't. </div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KVvqRi8M9oY?si=h_snwYjTVwzPe6pK" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>As the BBC notes, the US government vetoed the resolution. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-israel-palestinians-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-vote-350c86ef261bf1a00a2515cf22764de5">Edith M Lederer (AP) explains</a>,
"The United States on Tuesday vetoed an Arab-backed and widely
supported
U.N. resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in the
Israel-Hamas war in the embattled Gaza Strip, saying it would interfere
with negotiations on a deal to free hostages abducted in Israel." 13
nations voted in favor of the cease-fire. The US voted against it. And
the UK?</div><div><br /></div><div>Apparently unconcerned that the future
kind of England -- William -- is calling for a cease-fire --
unconcerned despite his father's health scare -- they decided to
abstain. </div><div><br /></div><div>At the UN, the UK stood with the US. In England this morning, most Brits are expressing agreement with William.</div><div><br /><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 560px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1760279119042859291" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1760279119042859291&lang=en&maxWidth=560px&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%3Fupdated-max%3D2024-02-21T12%3A00%3A00-08%3A00%26max-results%3D3%26start%3D3%26by-date%3Dfalse&sessionId=9476adaaa647554ed1fc79e611e4a1773f9c6666&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 316px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 560px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> </div><div><br /></div><div>Prince William is not the only official in England calling for a cease-fire. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68346129">BBC NEWS reports</a> that the Laobur Party is as well:</div><div><br /></div><div><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b class="sc-7dcfb11b-0 kVRnKf">Labour
has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza for the
first time since the outbreak of the conflict in October.</b></p></section><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b>The move comes after days of party debate on how to vote in Parliament on an SNP motion calling for a ceasefire.</b></p></section><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b>Ten Labour frontbenchers quit in order to vote for the SNP's previous call for a ceasefire in November. </b></p></section><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b>Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said Labour had shifted because the situation in Gaza had "evolved".</b></p></section></div><div><br /></div><div>On the vote at the United Nations, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/20/us-vetoes-un-resolution-ceasefire-israel-gaza">Julian Borger (GUARDIAN) notes</a>, "Washington was widely lambasted for using its veto again at a time when
nearly 30,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2 million
people are under threat of famine." <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/20/u-s-vetoes-gaza-ceasefire-resolution-00142229">Mona Zhang (POLITICO) adds</a>, "Meanwhile, Arab states are weighing their next steps and considering
bringing some version of the vetoed Algerian resolution to the floor of
the U.N. General Assembly." <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/21/world-condemns-uss-latest-un-security-council-veto-on-gaza-ceasefire">ALJAZEERA reminds</a> that this was the US' third veto of a cease-fire at the UN Security Council and:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>France’s UN envoy Nicolas de Riviere expressed regret that the
resolution “could not be adopted, given the disastrous situation” in
Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b>De Riviere added that France, which voted for the resolution, would
continue to work towards all captives being released and for a ceasefire
to be “implemented immediately”.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/biden-fundraiser-israel">At COMMON DREAMS, Julia Conley reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>Hours after his ambassador to the United Nations vetoed the third
cease-fire resolution to be proposed at the U.N. Security Council since
Israel began its U.S.-backed bombardment of <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a>
in October, President Joe Biden was scheduled to attend a high-dollar
fundraiser at the home of an influential pro-Israel billionaire on
Tuesday.</b></p><p><b>Tickets for the event hosted in Los Angeles by media mogul Haim Saban <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://deadline.com/2024/02/biden-fundraising-los-angeles-haim-saban-1235831530/" target="_blank">started</a>
at $3,300 and cost as much as $250,000. Other exclusive fundraising
events for Biden, who is seeking reelection in November, have been
disrupted in recent months by protesters demanding that the U.S. end its
support for Israel, which has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians in
Gaza since October</b></p><p><b>Co-hosts of the fundraiser include attorney Cliff and Leslie Gilbert-Lurie, whose <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://deadline.com/2024/02/biden-fundraising-los-angeles-haim-saban-1235831530/" target="_blank">own event</a> in November was marked by <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-protesters-heckle-fundraiser-1845569" target="_blank">demands</a>
for a cease-fire from people in a crowd as Vice President Kamala Harris
spoke. Demonstrators also displayed fake blood at the Gilbert-Luries'
home. <br /></b></p><p><b>Nicole Mutchnik, a vice chair of the Anti-Defamation
League, is also a co-host of Tuesday's event. Mutchnik's staunchly
pro-Israel organization has frequently accused pro-Palestinian rights
groups of anti-Jewish sentiment, equating anti-Zionism with
antisemitism. <br /></b></p><p><b>Jewish-led Palestinian rights group IfNotNow
pointed out that Saban has been quoted as suggesting the U.S. should
"scrutinize" Muslims "to get them to admit they are or they're not
terrorists."</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>But the US government's refusal to call for a cease-fire isn't just about money and greed. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/andy-ogles-gaza">Jake Johnson (COMMON DREAMS) makes that clear</a> in his reporting on the words of a member of Congress:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b> Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee said Tuesday that "we should
kill 'em all" after an activist pressed him to respond to atrocities
that the U.S.-backed Israeli military is committing against Palestinians
in <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a>, including children.
</b></p><p><b>
"I've seen the footage of shredded children's bodies," the activist
told Ogles. "That's my taxpayer dollars that are going to bomb those
kids."
</b></p><p><b>
"You know what? So, I think we should kill 'em all, if that makes you
feel better," Ogles responded. "Hamas and the Palestinians have been
attacking Israel for 20 years. It's time to pay the piper."</b> </p></div><div>Tennessee trash. Whomever dropped it in DC, can you come pick it up? The country doesn't need him.</div><div><br /></div><div>As the US veto continues to outrage, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/21/middleeast/un-food-convoy-gaza-israel-strike-cmd-intl/index.html"><span class="byline__name">Katie Polglase</span> and Muhammad Darwish (CNN) report</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="source inline-placeholder" data-article-gutter="true" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/source/instances/clsuk63qr001fivpahr1298pl@published"><b><cite class="source__cite">
</cite>
</b></div>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clsuk8j8800073b6hx8gkk8fz@published"><b> </b></p><p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clsuk8j8800073b6hx8gkk8fz@published"><b>Israeli forces fired on a <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-02-05-24/h_cb28c9762353d6b31a6dc2a6be971b11">United Nations convoy</a>
carrying vital food supplies in central Gaza on February 5, before
ultimately blocking the trucks from progressing to the northern part of
the territory, where Palestinians are on the verge of famine, according
to documents shared exclusively by the UN and CNN’s own analysis.
</b></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clsuk8j8800093b6hvk29axt3@published"><b>
CNN has seen correspondence between the UN and the Israeli
military that show the convoy’s route was agreed upon by both parties
prior to the strike. According to an internal incident report compiled
by UNRWA, the main UN relief agency in Gaza, which was also seen by CNN,
the truck was one of 10 in a convoy sitting stationary at an IDF
holding point when it was fired upon.
</b></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clsuk8j88000a3b6hfgl2cwak@published"><b>
No one in the convoy was hurt, but much of its contents –
mainly wheat flour desperately needed to bake bread – were destroyed.
Tracing the strike offers a window into the major challenges that
humanitarian efforts face in <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/11/middleeast/why-only-a-trickle-of-aid-is-getting-into-gaza-mime-intl/index.html">getting aid to Gaza’s</a>
more than 2 million people – nearly 85% of whom are internally
displaced – amid Israel’s nearly five-month bombardment of the strip.
</b></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clsuk8j88000b3b6hwlldt24m@published"><b>
“A convoy that had food on it, heading to the northern parts
of the Gaza Strip. That convoy on its way in what we call the middle
areas, it got hit. One of the trucks carrying supplies was hit by
Israeli naval fire,” Juliette Touma, global director of communications
for UNRWA, told CNN.</b> </p></div><div><br /></div><div>War Crimes.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 138 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/21/israels-war-on-gaza-live-us-ceasefire-veto-a-new-low-as-hunger-spreads">ALJAZEERA notes</a>, "At least 29,313 people have been killed and 69,333 wounded in Israel’s
attacks on Gaza since October 7, the Palestinian Health Ministry
reported." Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." <br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning, Cindy McCain, <span class="css-1qaijid r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 r-poiln3" style="text-overflow: unset;"> Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme, Tweets:</span></div><div><br /><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1760211554778091713" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1760211554778091713&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%3Fupdated-max%3D2024-02-21T12%3A00%3A00-08%3A00%26max-results%3D3%26start%3D3%26by-date%3Dfalse&sessionId=9476adaaa647554ed1fc79e611e4a1773f9c6666&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 946px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> </div><div><br /></div><div>The
conditions get worse and worse. A cease-fire? That would have allowed
the delivery of aid. But Joe Biden had to go soak up big bucks from
corrupt donors and hope he can buy his way into a second term after his
actions make clear that he doesn't deserve one.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna139713">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "The World Food Program is pausing the delivery of food to northern Gaza
until conditions are safe, saying its drivers were shot at and faced
looting and beating. The agency said this decision would add to the
'unprecedented desperation' in Gaza, after earlier warning the enclave
is at risk of famine. UNICEF warned yesterday that Gaza faced an <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/house-centrists-unveil-bipartisan-border-aid-deal-ukraine-israel-rcna139071" target="_blank">'explosion' in child deaths</a> due to malnutrition and illness." This morning, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/feb/21/middle-east-crisis-live-israel-gaza-palestine-lebanon-un-the-hague">THE GUARDIAN notes</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Also Wednesday, the aid group Doctors Without Borders said that two
people were killed when a shelter housing staff in the Gaza Strip was
struck during an Israeli operation in an area where Palestinians have
been told to seek shelter.<br /><br />“While details are still emerging,
ambulance crews have now reached the site, where at least two family
members of our colleagues have been killed and six people wounded. We
are horrified by what has taken place,” the group said in a post on
social media.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="wpds-c-PJLV"><div class="dib items-center" data-qa="author-byline"><span class="left"><div class="dib font-xxs" data-cy="name-with-optional-link" data-qa="name-with-optional-link"><span class="wpds-c-cNdzuP" data-qa="attribution-text"></span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/21/israel-hamas-war-news-gaza-palestine/">Kelsey Ables and Niha Masih (WASHINGTON POST) report</a>:</div></span></div></span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy" data-el="text" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null"><b>The International Court of Justice, also known as the World Court, is holding the
third day of hearings Wednesday into the legal consequences of Israel’s
policies and practices “in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.” Dozens
of countries are expected to present oral arguments during the hearings,
which span six days, and deal with questions of Israeli control over
the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. While the proceedings are not
directly about the war in Gaza, they could intensify pressure on Israel over its military campaign there.</b></p></div><div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy" data-el="text" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null"><b>Palestinian
officials offered impassioned remarks on Monday, with one arguing that
“successive Israeli governments have given the Palestinian people only
three options: displacement, subjugation or death.” Israel said it does
not recognize the legitimacy of the hearings and will not attend. The
United States is slated to speak Wednesday.</b></p></div><div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy" data-el="text" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null"><b>Here’s what to know.</b></p></div><div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body" data-qa="article-body"></div><p class="PJLV italic font-light mb-md font-copy left"><b>This is an excerpt from a full story.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>For more on the International Court of Justice, let's note <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/20/icj_palestine_ahmed_abofoul">yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3t2LmlN0YIo?si=CR7D1KYbiFVRVY2i" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.</b></p>
<p><b>We go now to The Hague, where the International Court of Justice is
holding a six-day hearing as over 50 countries are testifying against
Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. It’s the
largest-ever participation in the World Court’s history.</b></p>
<p><b>Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said Monday, quote, “The
genocide underway in Gaza is a result of decades of impunity and
inaction.” Riyad Mansour, Palestinian envoy to the U.N., delivered
emotional testimony Monday.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">RIYAD</span> <span class="caps">MANSOUR</span>:
The state of Palestine appeals to this court to guide the international
community in upholding international law, ending injustice and
achieving a just and lasting peace, to guide us towards a future in
which Palestinian children are treated as children, not as demographic
threat, in which the identity of the group to which we belong does not
diminish the human rights to which we are all entitled, a future in
which no Palestinian and no Israelis is killed, a future in which two
states live side by side in peace and security. The Palestinian people
only demand respect for their rights. They ask for nothing more. They
cannot accept nothing less and nothing else. The future of freedom,
justice and peace can begin here and now.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
That was Palestine’s permanent representative to the United Nations,
Riyad Mansour, addressing the International Court of Justice Monday.
Earlier today, South African Ambassador Vusi Madonsela addressed the
court.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">VUSI</span> <span class="caps">MADONSELA</span>:
The inordinate delay in achieving a fair and just settlement has
resulted in an unending cycle of violence. A clear legal
characterization of the nature of Israel’s regime over the Palestinian
people can only assist in remedying the ongoing delay in achieving a
just settlement. … We, as South Africans, sense, see, hear and feel to
our core the inhumane discriminatory policies and practices of the
Israeli regime as an even more extreme form of the apartheid that was
institutionalized against Black people in my country.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: For more, we’re joined from The Hague, where the <span class="caps">ICJ</span>
hearing is taking place, by Ahmed Abofoul, legal research and advocacy
officer at the Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq. He
contributed to their advisory opinion on the case.</b></p>
<p><b>Welcome back to <em>Democracy Now!</em> It’s great to have you with
us. This is historic, what’s taking place right now, Ahmed, at the
International Court of Justice. More than half the world’s countries are
participating in this. Talk about the significance of this. And
although we just played the South African envoy’s comments, this is not
to be confused with that other case, the South Africa bringing the case
around genocide against Israel in the court, that just happened a few
weeks ago.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AHMED</span> <span class="caps">ABOFOUL</span>: Sure. Well, first of all, thank you for having me again, Amy, and congratulations on <em>Democracy Now!</em>’s
28th anniversary. In this dystopian age of misinformation and biased
media, especially in the West, we value your work, and we congratulate
you and hope your viewers will continue to support your important work.</b></p>
<p><b>You’re absolutely right, Amy. This is a historical moment. For over
57 years, Israel has been perpetuating its occupation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories, dominating every aspect of their lives and
maintaining this occupation to further facilitate and impose this
apartheid regime, imposed on the Palestinian people as a whole. One of
the important features of this occupation is that it is colonial in
nature. So, it’s combined with the continued, unabated building of
settlements and the theft of land and the demographic manipulation and
engineering of the Occupied Palestinian Territory in an attempt to empty
it from its Indigenous people — a very common feature of colonial
regimes and projects trying to steal the land without the people.</b></p>
<p><b>This is a historical moment, Amy, because this is, as you mentioned,
the most — the case with the most interest by states in the history of
the advisory opinion procedure before the court. And it shows you that
the world has something to say about this occupation.</b></p>
<p><b>The whole body of occupation — of the law of occupation shows us that
occupation was not intended to last that long. Occupation is temporary
in nature. But the way Israel perpetuated the occupation shows that
Israel is not interested in ending that occupation, but it actually
needs that occupation to further implement its strategy to acquire more
land by force with as least Palestinians as possible.</b></p>
<p><b>And therefore, the premise of this case, I think there are three main
legal arguments that Israel is violating what we call international
law, peremptory norms from which no derogation is permitted. So, the
first norm that Israel is violating is the acquisition of territory by
force or the threat of the use of force. The second is Israel’s
violations of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination,
which is also a peremptory norm. And the imposition of regime of racial
discrimination and demographic manipulation in the Occupied Palestinian
Territory and beyond, that is a regime of apartheid imposed on the
Palestinian people as a whole, denying them their unalienable rights,
including Palestinian refugees, who continue to be denied their right to
return to their homes and villages.</b></p>
<p><b>So, this is an important moment, where for the first time we would
have the principal organ of the United Nations telling us the legal
consequences of Israel’s occupation. And it will be extremely difficult
for Israel’s allies after that to justify Israel’s actions in any way
possible. Israel has been instrumentalizing the rules of international
humanitarian law, the body of law that governs the situation of
occupation, to further its settler-colonial project in Palestine. I
think after this decision, which I have no doubt that the court will
decide that Israel’s occupation is illegal, it will be very difficult to
support Israel and its policies by Israel’s allies, including the U.S.
So, all eyes on the U.S. and how it will react to this important ruling.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: And, Ahmed
Abofoul, I wanted to ask you: For those who are not familiar with these
international legal bodies, could you briefly summarize the difference
between the International Court of Justice proceedings and the separate
case that South Africa filed, the complaint of genocide at the
International Criminal Court [<i>sic</i>] against Israel, especially in
terms of the jurisdiction or the powers of the court to have any direct
effect on Israel’s actions?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AHMED</span> <span class="caps">ABOFOUL</span>:
Yes, absolutely. I think you meant South Africa’s genocide case before
the very same court, the International Court of Justice, and these are
two different proceedings. The International Court of Justice can look
into advisory proceedings, where any organ of the United Nations can ask
the court to provide a legal opinion on what the court thinks of a
certain matter. Usually such rulings are nonbinding for states, but they
are of particular importance as they guide the whole United Nations and
the member states in how to approach a certain matter or a certain
question.</b></p>
<p><b>The other type of procedure is contentious cases, where states take
each other to court when they have a disagreement on a matter of
international law, so, for example, a disagreement on the interpretation
of a particular convention to which both are parties and have accepted
the court’s jurisdiction. And that’s exactly what South Africa did in
the genocide case against Israel on the interpretation of the Genocide
Convention, where it took Israel to court. So it’s a case between South
Africa and Israel, while in the advisory opinion proceeding, there are
no two parties. There is only the court that is deciding on the matter
of question. And all states around the world are invited to provide
their written statements, their oral interventions, to tell the court
what is their position, what is their interpretation of the law on that
particular matter, because international law is made by the practices of
these states and what states around the world have accepted to be
customary international law and have accepted to be the common
interpretation of international law.</b></p>
<p><b>So, the law on occupation, as I said, is clear that occupation was
not intended to last that long and is temporary in nature, but it didn’t
set any time limit in which occupation has to end. So, that’s how
Israel has been perpetuating this, often described as, prolonged
occupation — it’s the longest occupation in modern history — claiming,
under the mutual security pretext, that it needs to continue its control
and needs to continue its domination of the Palestinian people and its
violations of the peremptory norms.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: And what is the role of the public in these cases? Is there any?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AHMED</span> <span class="caps">ABOFOUL</span>:
Of course, of course, absolutely. The public, you know, don’t have a
standing in procedure, or, like, civil society organizations, for
example, like the one I’m proudly associated with — that is, Al-Haq
— can always submit to the court, but these submissions are not part of
the proceedings. They are available at the seating of the court for
states participating in the proceedings, but also for judges to read
them and consult them. And we have already published a position paper
outlining the key legal arguments in this case and our view on how the
court should approach this case.</b></p>
<p><b>But if you’ll allow me, these rulings are usually of particular
importance to be used after, so how, for example, the state in question
will utilize this ruling in its diplomatic efforts, whether taking this
ruling to the General Assembly to adopt a resolution to the same effect,
or perhaps to the Security Council, although there will always be the
U.S. veto. So, what comes after that decision, I think, is also of
particular importance.</b></p>
<p><b>And historically, the <span class="caps">ICJ</span> cases have served
in a way to provide guidance on what international law says and how
states should behave. Obviously, not always the states have listened to
such rulings, or they tried to disobey them. But, for example, in the
situation in South Africa and the ruling on the illegal presence of
South African apartheid in Namibia, it served and it created momentum
for the mobilization on the ground which eventually led to the end of
that regime. So, hopefully, this advisory opinion is also another step
forward to ending Israel’s settler-colonial and apartheid regime imposed
on the Palestinian people as a whole.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Can you talk, Ahmed Abofoul, about the response of the court? This is
when it was run by Joan Donoghue, and important to point out. She came
out of the State Department. She’s the head of the International Court
of Justice. But she is no longer the head of the Court of Justice, but
it was under her and it was her reading of the preliminary decision
around South Africa bringing its genocide case to the court. If you can
talk about who’s the new head of the court? And then I want to ask you
about what just happened in Israel in the Knesset, voting not to expel
Ofer Cassif, the lawmaker who’s a member of the Hadash party supporting
the genocide case against Israel at the <span class="caps">ICJ</span>. I just wanted to play a clip of the Knesset member, Cassif, <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/1/12/ofer_cassif_israel_genocide_case_icj">speaking</a> to <i>Democracy Now!</i> about facing expulsion, which didn’t happen.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">OFER</span> <span class="caps">CASSIF</span>:
They want me and my friends to shut up. They don’t want us to raise our
voice against any kind of violence, because, as I said a million times,
as someone who continuously for years object and oppose the Israeli
occupation and siege against the Palestinian people, we said, I said,
explicitly, that even the crimes of the siege and the occupation cannot
and will never justify the massacre committed by Hamas. We added that
the massacre, the criminal massacre by Hamas, cannot justify the
massacre and assault of Israel on Gaza, in which around 30,000 people
are already dead, were killed. The vast majority, more than 70%, are
innocent civilians, around 10,000 children.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
So, that’s a member of the Knesset, who remains so because they lost
the vote to expel him, Ofer Cassif. And if you can respond to the new
president, Nawaf Salam, who’s replacing Joan Donoghue?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AHMED</span> <span class="caps">ABOFOUL</span>:
Yeah. Well, as you said, Judge Nawaf Salam, who’s a Lebanese judge, he
has been a member of the court since February 2018 and newly elected as
president of the court since 6th of February, 2024. He is now the
president of the court.</b></p>
<p><b>But if you’ll allow me, whether him or the American judge, judges before the <span class="caps">ICJ</span>,
they don’t serve as agents of their state of nationality. They serve as
independent judges who provide their personal views about international
law and the interpretation of international law, after hearing the
positions of the states. So, it’s not — it is not, in a way, usual to
presume that because of the nationality of the president of the court,
that the position would be aligned with the foreign policy of the state
of that judge. That is not the case, whether American or Lebanese or any
other nationality of the president of the court. It is presumed, and
the presumption is of their professional, you know, way of work and
deliver on their mandate in accordance with the law.</b></p>
<p><b>As to the voting to expel Ofer, the member of Knesset, it also — in
my view, it shows you how radicalized Israeli society has become. So,
even the very tiny minority that you have, where Israeli Knesset members
are calling for the end of the occupation, are calling for the bare
minimum of human decency — that is, a ceasefire — the rest of Knesset
members, from the Israeli members, are mostly against that, and such
tiny minority of those who call for Palestinian rights are often
attacked. And as you said, there was an attempt to even remove him from
the Knesset.</b></p>
<p><b>And I think it’s very telling to see also how supportive Israeli
society has been in the genocide against the Gaza Strip. Amy, we need
not to forget that right before the war, the Israeli society mobilized
hundreds of thousands in the streets because of Netanyahu’s plan to, you
know, attack the judiciary or to minimize their authority in reviewing
government’s decision. But when it comes to Palestinians who are being
oppressed, who are only a few meters away, the Israeli society somehow
is unable to mobilize or call for the end of the occupation. So, in a
way, it seems that the Israeli society has been radicalized into
believing that for them to enjoy the privileges of this apartheid
regime, they don’t mind the Palestinians being oppressed.</b></p>
<p><b>And unfortunately, the foreign policy of states that claim to be
friends to Israel, I think, have contributed profoundly to such
radicalization, simply because they’ve been ensuring impunity for Israel
and Israeli war criminals who have been committing crimes for the past
decades. So, I think, in a way, the reason that we have such extreme
government at the moment, one of the most extreme and right-wing in the
history of Israel, which has ministers who are proudly self-described as
Islamophobic and homophobes and fascists and racist ministers, like
Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, is a result of — in my view, of the U.S. and
European foreign policy ensuring that Israel enjoys an exceptional
treatment, that Israel is untouchable. It enjoys prevailing impunity
where Israel can commit crimes, but no one is held accountable.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Ahmed, I’m so sorry that, well, when we last spoke, you had already
lost some 60 members of your family. Born and raised in Gaza, you are.
And I wanted just to ask, in this 30 seconds, about Benny Gantz’s
comments, part of the war council, saying if the hostages are not home
by Ramadan, which is like March 10th, the fighting will continue
everywhere, including Rafah.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AHMED</span> <span class="caps">ABOFOUL</span>:
Yeah, well, it shows you also the character and the behavior of Israel.
Israel is behaving like a pariah, is behaving like a rogue state, is
not listening to anyone, is not listening to its closest allies.</b></p>
<p><b>Israel needs to have the humility to understand that the Palestine
people are a free people, are not colonial subjects. They’re entitled to
their rights. And Israel at some point will need to sit and listen with
seriousness and consideration to the aspiration of the Palestinian
people. The Palestinian people, Amy, are not asking for a favor. They’re
asking for their unalienable basic human rights. And I think the world
for long has misunderstood the Palestinians. We’re not even asking.
We’re demanding those rights. We’re entitled to those rights, regardless
of what Israel think about that.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Ahmed Abofoul, we want to thank you for being with us, legal research
and advocacy officer at the Palestinian human rights organization
Al-Haq, speaking to us from The Hague.</b></p>
<p><b>Next up, <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/20/dr_irfan_galaria_gaza_hospital">we turn to a surgeon who’s just returned from Gaza, wrote an <em>L.A. Times</em> op-ed headlined “I’m an American doctor who went to Gaza. What I saw wasn’t war — it was annihilation</a>.” Back in 20 seconds.</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://theworldtodayjustnuts.blogspot.com/">Isaiah</a></b>'s THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/isaiahs-world-today-just-nuts-i-sabby.html">I Sabby The Fool</a>" went up last night. The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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1 day ago </div></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-37800159639721450912024-02-20T21:40:00.000-05:002024-02-20T21:40:52.123-05:00Black Bean Fajita Skillet in the Kitchen<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/194475523@N05/53541231242/in/dateposted-public/" title="sabby the fool"><img alt="sabby the fool" height="638" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53541231242_aa06134b60_z.jpg" width="549" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p><br /></p><p>From earlier tonight, that's <b><a href="http://theworldtodayjustnuts.blogspot.com/">Isaiah</a></b>'s THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/isaiahs-world-today-just-nuts-i-sabby.html">I Sabby The Fool</a>."</p><p><br /></p><p>Kimba e-mailed <a href="https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/7886570/black-bean-fajita-skillet/">a recipe -- vegetarian and she notes it's been "forever" since I've included one -- from Eating Well for Black Bean Fajita Skillet in the Kitchen</a>:</p><p><br /></p><div class="comp mntl-structured-ingredients" id="mntl-structured-ingredients_1-0"><div class="loc heading"><h2 class="comp mntl-structured-ingredients__heading mntl-text-block" id="mntl-structured-ingredients__heading_1-0"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Ingredients</span></h2></div> <ul class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list"><li class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list-item" data-id="6e95889f3017bc7f1ababe3e9454c4ed"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span data-ingredient-quantity="true">1</span> <span data-ingredient-unit="true">tablespoon</span> <span data-ingredient-name="true">olive oil</span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><div data-v-2de2c288="" style="background: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline;"></div></b></span><p></p></li> <li class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list-item" data-id="da4ecab98b13cbf730e6498ec7252047"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span data-ingredient-quantity="true">1</span> <span data-ingredient-unit="true">(12-ounce) package</span> <span data-ingredient-name="true">sliced fajita vegetables (bell peppers and onions)</span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><div data-v-2de2c288="" style="background: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline;"></div></b></span><p></p></li> <li class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list-item" data-id="21543f98a9833d246f5b131b2933ec1b"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span data-ingredient-quantity="true">1</span> <span data-ingredient-unit="true">(15-ounce) can</span> <span data-ingredient-name="true">no-salt-added black beans, rinsed</span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><div data-v-2de2c288="" style="background: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline;"></div></b></span><p></p></li> <li class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list-item" data-id="95479013e57f5522d209c3fee84271bf"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span data-ingredient-quantity="true">½</span> <span data-ingredient-unit="true">teaspoon</span> <span data-ingredient-name="true">salt-free Southwest-style seasoning blend</span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><div data-v-2de2c288="" style="background: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline;"></div></b></span><p></p></li> <li class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list-item" data-id="ceb20772e0c9d240c75eb26b0e37abee"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span data-ingredient-quantity="true">¼</span> <span data-ingredient-unit="true">teaspoon</span> <span data-ingredient-name="true">salt</span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><div data-v-2de2c288="" style="background: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline;"></div></b></span><p></p></li> <li class="mntl-structured-ingredients__list-item" data-id="a6e75737985215022e13c9a3293d6cf4"><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span data-ingredient-quantity="true">¼</span> <span data-ingredient-unit="true">cup</span> <span data-ingredient-name="true">coarsely shredded Cheddar cheese (1 ounce; optional)</span></b></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><div data-v-2de2c288="" style="background: white; cursor: pointer; display: inline;"></div></b></span><p></p></li></ul></div><div class="cal-app-container local-offers-v3" id="cal-app"> <v-else class="cal-app-offers"><div class="cal-on-sale"><div class="cal-on-sale-top local-offers-v3"><div class="cal-on-sale__header"><div class="cal-on-sale__header--icon"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><svg fill="none" height="20" viewbox="0 0 14 20" width="14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"></svg></b></span></div></div></div></div></v-else></div><div class="cal-on-sale__header"><h3 class="cal-on-sale__header--text"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Directions</span></h3></div><div class="comp recipe__steps mntl-recipe-steps mntl-block" id="recipe__steps_1-0">
<div class="comp recipe__steps-content mntl-sc-page mntl-block " id="recipe__steps-content_1-0"><ol class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--OL" id="mntl-sc-block_1-0">
<li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_2-0">
<p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_3-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add fajita vegetables and sauté until tender, about 10 minutes.
</b></span></p>
<div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_4-0"></div>
</li>
<li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_6-0">
<p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_7-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> Stir in black beans, seasoning and salt; cook, stirring, until heated through, about 1 minute.
</b></span></p>
<div class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-adslot mntl-block" id="mntl-sc-block_8-0"></div>
</li>
<li class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-startgroup mntl-sc-block-group--LI" id="mntl-sc-block_10-0">
<p class="comp mntl-sc-block mntl-sc-block-html" id="mntl-sc-block_11-0"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> Divide the vegetables and beans between two bowls and top each with 2 tablespoons cheese, if using. </b></span></p></li></ol></div></div><p><br /></p><p>That's a very straight forward recipe and it's tasty. </p><p><br /></p><p>News? ESPN is all about the homophobia and the bigotry. <a href="https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2024/02/sports-commentator-caught-making-homophobic-comment-on-hot-mic-espn-hasnt-apologized/">Greg Owen (LGBTQ Nation) report</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Outside the octagon on Saturday for a pay-per-view UFC 298 event in
Anaheim, veteran UFC fighter and commentator Michael Bisping was hanging
with rightwing podcaster Joe Rogan and breaking down new undefeated
featherweight champ Ilia Topuria, who had just taken down Alexander
Volkanovski in a headline bout.</b></p><p>
</p><p><b>That’s when things got too gay.</b></p><p><b>Turns out that seemingly innocuous compliment about another man was
delivered with too much enthusiasm, either for Bisping’s taste or for
those around him.</b></p><p><b>After a long pause, Bisping was caught adding: “That’s f**king gay.”</b></p><p><b>Days later, neither Bisping, the UFC, nor ESPN have apologized for the homophobic hot mic moment.</b></p><p><b>Bisping and many other UFC fighters are well known for their anti-gay hostility.</b></p><p>
</p><p><b>The veteran fighter has used homophobic language in and out of the
octagon, calling opponents “fa***t” during matches (in violation of UFC
rules) and making homophobic comments online.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks for clearing up your homophobia, ESPN. You just lost my family as viewers until you address this issue and apologize. Who am I? Just a mom. With eight kids. Just a sister with 7 brother and sisters. Just a woman in Boston with tons of friends and tons of family.</p><p><br /></p><p>We don't need you. We rally around our family. That includes my gay son. So have fun ESPN. </p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_01912498362.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Tuesday:</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7867275601413616066" itemprop="articleBody">
Tuesday, February 20, 2024. The world watches as the assault on Gaza continues.<div><br /></div><div>This morning, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/feb/20/middle-east-crisis-live-israel-gaza-yemen-houthi-lebanon-hague-court-justice">THE GUARDIAN notes</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><header class="dcr-88va8u"><h2 class="dcr-1dco55w">WHO accuses Israel of hindering medical rescue missions to Nasser hospital, says destruction is 'indescribable'</h2></header><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><strong>The
World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a lengthy statement on
social media this morning describing a mission to transfer patients
within the Gaza Strip, and reporting that its staff said “the
destruction around Nasser hospital was ‘indescribable’”. It accused <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/israel">Israel</a> of hindering and refusing its attempts to provide medical services to Gaza’s population.</strong></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/19/middleeast/gaza-nasser-hospital-doctors-strip-idf-intl/index.html"><span class="byline__name">Kareem Khadder</span>, <span class="byline__name">Alex Stambaugh</span>, <span class="byline__name">Richard Allen Greene</span> and Kareem El Damanhoury (CNN) report</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="source inline-placeholder" data-article-gutter="true" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/source/instances/clst9nuz6000qcgqegspkbf6i@published"><b><cite class="source__cite"> </cite>
</b></div>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="on" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clst9nuz6000rcgqea3qxck0v@published"><b>
Israeli troops forced doctors and other medical staff to leave the <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/16/middleeast/gaza-nasser-hospital-israel-raid-intl/index.html">Nasser Medical Complex</a>
in Gaza, strip down to their underwear, and wait in the cold for hours
before the troops allowed five doctors to go back into the building to
treat patients, an eyewitness told CNN on Monday.
</b></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="on" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clstirtty000p3b6houmeblqj@published"><b>
The incident comes as the Israeli military said it had
arrested hundreds of militants at the hospital, which is in Khan Younis,
including some posing as doctors.
</b></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clst9u8h400043b6h1xnhok2a@published"><b>
Israeli forces also said they found medications with the
names of Israeli hostages on them inside the hospital, releasing a video
of soldiers showing medicine boxes with inscriptions and sometimes
photos on the labels of who they apparently were prescribed to.
</b></p><div class="teads-adCall"></div>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clst9u8h400053b6h0hymna89@published"><b>
The eyewitness spoke to CNN in a rare telephone interview
from the area of Nasser hospital, where there are few ways to
communicate with the outside world.
</b></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clst9u8h500063b6hyfc0y59n@published"><b>
The source said when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) took
control of the hospital last week, they broadcast a message saying:
“Doctors, come outside.”
</b></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clst9u8h500073b6hwhn8j71r@published"><b>
When the medics came out and were ordered to take off their
clothes, they protested because of the frigid conditions.
</b></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clst9u8h500083b6hvauu4e0g@published"><b>
“Take off your clothing,” the witness said the doctors were told.
</b></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clst9u8h500093b6h4tugbc1u@published"><b>
The doctors then removed their clothes in the cold and were
kept outside for several hours before Israeli troops chose five doctors
to return to the complex to take care of patients. The eyewitness does
not know what happened to the other doctors.
</b></p>
<p class="paragraph inline-placeholder" data-analytics-observe="off" data-article-gutter="true" data-component-name="paragraph" data-editable="text" data-uri="cms.cnn.com/_components/paragraph/instances/clst9u8h5000a3b6h2al3hapx@published"><b>
That left five doctors to treat dozens of patients in the
old building of the compound, said the eyewitness, who has been inside
the hospital and asked not to be named for fear of retribution.</b> </p></div><div><br /></div><div>The
world watches and the outrage builds. There is no high ground for the
government of Israel. Nothing redeems nor justifies its actions. <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/19/headlines">Amy Goodman (DEMOCRACY NOW!) notes</a>, "In the U.S., the African Methodist Episcopal Church Bishops Council
called on the Biden administration to end funding for what it called
Israel’s 'mass genocide.' In Michigan, Rashida Tlaib, the only
Palestinian American member of the U.S. Congress, is urging Democrats to
vote “uncommitted” in next Tuesday’s presidential primary to protest
President Biden’s complicity in Israel’s assault on Gaza." <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/uks-cameron-warns-fighting-in-gaza-must-stop-right-now/">Bethany Dawson (POLITICO) adds</a>,
"The U.K.’s top diplomat [David Cameron\ said conflict in Gaza must
stop 'right now,' amid mounting international pressure on Israel not to
launch a ground
offensive in Rafah." <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/lord-cameron-gaza-foreign-secretary-hamas-israeli-b1140174.html">David Hughes (THE STANDARD) quotes</a> Cameron stating, " “We are calling for a stop to the fighting right now, we think that
what we need is a pause in the fighting and the hostages to come out and
aid to go in. That should happen straight away." <a href="https://www.vox.com/24055522/israel-hamas-gaza-war-strategy-netanyahu-strategy-morality">Zack Beauchamp (VOX) observes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p id="OTcLyQ"><b>The blame for this failure lies with Israel’s terrible wartime leadership: an extremist government headed by <a href="https://www.vox.com/23910085/netanyahu-israel-right-hamas-gaza-war-history">Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu</a>, a venal prime minister <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/4/netanyahu-corruption-trial-to-resume">currently on trial for corruption</a> who has placed his personal interests over his country’s even during wartime.</b></p>
<p id="utGn0g"><b>“You couldn’t have had a worse government to respond to a worse moment,” says <a href="https://polisci.ucla.edu/person/dov-waxman/">Dov Waxman</a>,
the director of UCLA’s Center for Israel Studies. “People like to
separate the war from the government that’s running it, but I think you
can’t.”</b></p></div><div>For more on the Israeli government's attacks on medical facilities in Gaza, let's note <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/19/nasser_hospital_closed_dr_ahmed_moghrabi">this from yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BjL0yX_3YV0?si=wcyVfqJOSJlByDw0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, <a href="http://democracynow.org/">democracynow.org</a>, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Amy Goodman.</b></p>
<p><b>Israel’s unrelenting assault on the Gaza Strip has killed over 29,000
Palestinians and injured another 69,000 since October 7th. We begin
today’s show in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, where the Gaza
Health Ministry is reporting one of Gaza’s largest hospitals, Al-Nasser
Hospital, is no longer functional amidst a dayslong Israeli raid on the
facility over the weekend. At least eight people at the hospital have
reportedly died since Israeli soldiers cut off electricity and oxygen
supplies.</b></p>
<p><b>The head of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus, posted on X Sunday, quote, “Nasser hospital in #Gaza is not
functional anymore, after a weeklong siege followed by the ongoing
raid. Both yesterday and the day before, the @WHO team was not permitted
to enter the hospital to assess the conditions of the patients and
critical medical needs, despite reaching the hospital compound to
deliver fuel alongside partners. There are still about 200 patients in
the hospital. At least 20 need to be urgently referred to other
hospitals to receive health care. Medical referral is every patient’s
right. The cost of delays will be paid by patients’ lives. Access to the
patients and hospital should be facilitated,” end-quote. The World
Health Organization says it’s still trying to evacuate the remaining
patients in the hospital in Khan Younis to other facilities.</b></p>
<p><b>On Friday, the Gaza Health Ministry said an aid convoy led by the
United Nations was detained for seven hours and prevented from reaching
the hospital. The ministry said Saturday Israeli forces, quote,
“arrested a large number of the directors and staff” of the hospital
while they were tending to the wounded. Up to 100 people were reportedly
arrested.</b></p>
<p><b>On Sunday, Dr. Ahmed Moghrabi at Nasser Hospital sent <em>Democracy Now!</em> a video describing what happened when the hospital was stormed by Israeli troops.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b>DR. <span class="caps">AHMED</span> <span class="caps">MOGHRABI</span>:
At 1:30, I was at the third floor with my family at the surgical
building. We heard lots of quadcopters over our heads at the hospital.
They were asking us by megaphone actually to evacuate the hospital
immediately. Immediately. And after like five, 10 minutes, I heard a
very big explosion. Actually, they bombed and shelling the third floor,
where I’m staying. Exactly, they targeted the orthopedic department. And
I took my phone. I recorded some couple of videos, and I posted on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dr.ahmed.moghrabi/?hl=en">Instagram</a> how did people as a result of this explosion. It was like chaos, everybody running there and there.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>So, I realized that it is invasion of <span class="caps">IDF</span>
as I started hearing some dogs at the hospital yards. And actually,
yeah, they destroyed the back wall of the hospital and released their
dogs. I changed my scrub immediately, and I took this, my clothes.
Actually, I brought this, my clothes. And I ran away from the hospital
with my family, with many of patients, many of people, some of my
medical staff there. And can you guess? It was like 2 a.m., early
morning. It was cold.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>And there was a checkpoint away from the main gate of the hospital,
about like 50 meters only. There was tanks, soldiers, dogs. And they
started checking everybody there. Everybody. So, it’s not allowed to
cross the checkpoint without checking you. So, when my turn comes, I —
actually, they asked me to go forward or to come to the checkpoint, me
and other four people. Actually, I told my wife, my children that I
might be arrested, so don’t worry. Maybe it will take two weeks, one
month. So, I’ll be fine, blah, blah, blah. And they asked us — they
asked us to look at the camera, big camera, in front for 30 minutes.
It’s not one camera; it’s lots of cameras are there. You have to look
forward for 30 minutes, half-minute. During this time, actually, they
told us actually to move and leave my nurse. My nurse was standing next
to me or beside me. And they took my nurse. They asked him to take off
all his clothes — all his clothes — at this cold. And they took him
inside. And they ordered me and others actually to go and to keep
moving, just keep moving.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>And I walked with my family about 10 kilometers that night. Ten
kilometers, nothing remain in Khan Younis. Nothing. It’s like horror
movies. No streets, no buildings are there. Only dead bodies all over
around. Only dead bodies.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>By the way, I was hearing my friend Rami was screaming. They were beating him, not only him, many, many, many. They took many.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>I managed to get to Rafah early morning, and I spent that day on the
street. On the street. Who remained of medical staff, actually, all of
them are arrested. They arrested all the medical team who remained at
Nasser Hospital. We don’t know the fate of my colleagues. Actually, from
my department, from my department, they took one GP doctor, my
assistant, Dr. Mahmoud. They took two nurses from my department, Rami
and Mohammed. They took, I think, around 100. Around a hundred of
medical staff already have been arrested by <span class="caps">IDF</span>.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Now I’m at Rafah. I came here actually to <span class="caps">IJH</span>
hospital — EJH hospital in Rafah to say hello to my friends, actually.
And this is the situation here. I built a tent, by the way, for my
family. I went to the <span class="caps">MSF</span> shelter with my wife and my children. I’ll keep you updated. Thank you.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
That was Dr. Ahmed Moghrabi, speaking Sunday from Rafah. He was forced
to leave Al-Nasser Hospital with the Israeli raid. He was the head of
plastic surgery there.</b></p>
<p><b>Last week, <em>Democracy Now!</em> was able to receive updates from
one of the last remaining surgeons inside Al-Nasser Hospital, Dr. Khaled
Alserr. This is the last video Dr. Alserr posted on his <a href="https://www.instagram.com/khaled_serr/">Instagram</a> page from Friday evening.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b>DR. <span class="caps">KHALED</span> <span class="caps">ALSERR</span>: This <span class="caps">ICU</span>
patient have just died because they cut all electricity at Nasser
Medical Hospital. And aother six patients is awaiting the same fate.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
We are looking at a dead patient. During the dayslong Israeli raid on
Al-Nasser Hospital this weekend, people were unable to reach Dr. Khaled
Alserr, raising concerns he had possibly been abducted. This morning <em>Democracy Now!</em>
was able to reach Dr. Khaled Alserr’s cousin, Dr. Osaid Alser. He’s a
Palestinian refugee from Gaza and a surgeon resident in training in
Lubbock, Texas. We asked him if he’s heard anything from his cousin at
Al-Nasser. This is what he shared with us.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b>DR. <span class="caps">OSAID</span> <span class="caps">ALSER</span>:
Hi. This is Dr. Alser. This is just an update about Dr. Khaled Alserr,
who’s my cousin. So, yesterday he texted in our group chat, where we
have a telemedicine group to discuss trauma cases. And he reported that
he is relatively OK, and he was not abducted, which is amazing. But it
sounds like some of his colleagues were abducted, and some of the
patients, as well. But he is still in Nasser Hospital taking care of the
remaining patients in the orthopedic and burn units.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: That is Dr. Osaid Alser, cousin of Dr. Khaled Alserr, still in Gaza.</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-child-deaths">Jake Johnson (COMMON DREAMS) reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>With malnutrition and infectious diseases spreading rapidly, United Nations officials warned Monday that child deaths in the <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a> Strip are set to surge if Israel's war and blockade are allowed to continue. <br /></b></p><p><b>In a <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.who.int/news/item/19-02-2024-children-s-lives-threatened-by-rising-malnutrition-in-the-gaza-strip" target="_blank">joint statement</a>,
the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Program
(WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) said that "food and safe
water have become incredibly scarce" in Gaza, imperiling the health of
children as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women.</b></p><p><b>The U.N. organizations cited a recent <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.nutritioncluster.net/sites/nutritioncluster.com/files/2024-02/GAZA-Nutrition-vulnerability-and-SitAn-v7.pdf" target="_blank">analysis</a>
by the Global Nutrition Cluster, which found that children in northern
Gaza and Rafah—a severely overcrowded city that Israel is preparing to
invade—are facing particularly severe malnutrition. But "while there are
differences in the data from different governates," the analysis
stressed, all the available evidence "indicates a dire nutrition
situation for the entire population of Gaza."</b></p><p><b>The Global Nutrition
Cluster found that more than 90% of Gaza children between the ages of 6
and 23 months are facing "severe food poverty," eating "two or fewer
food groups each day." At least 90% of children under 5 years old have
been impacted by one or more infectious diseases, the analysis
estimated.</b></p><p><b>Infectious diseases are spreading among children in
part due to the lack of clean water, a scarcity fueled by Israel's siege
and <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/15/water-related-violence-russia-israel-report" target="_blank">attacks on the enclave's water infrastructure</a>.
"An increased number of infants now rely on formula milk for
survival—which requires safe and clean water," the analysis notes.</b></p><p><b>Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO's emergencies program, said Monday that "hunger and disease are a deadly combination."</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 137 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/palestine-israel/2024/02/20/live-israel-gaza-houthi-attack-rubymar/">THE NATIONAL notes</a>, "Gaza Health Ministry said on Tuesday that 29,195 Palestinians have been
killed and 69,170 wounded in Israeli air strikes on Gaza since October
7." Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="sc-d63d5cd8-3 faMHro" data-testid="byline-name"><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68346027">Nada Tawfik and James FitzGerald (BBC NEWS) report</a> a new development:</span></div><div><br /></div><div><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b class="sc-7dcfb11b-0 kVRnKf">The US has proposed a draft resolution at the UN Security Council which calls for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza.</b></p></section><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b>It has also warned Israel against invading the overcrowded city of Rafah.</b></p></section><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b>The
US has previously avoided the word "ceasefire" during UN votes on the
war, but President Joe Biden has made similar comments.</b></p></section><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b>However, the US plans to veto another draft resolution - from Algeria - which calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.</b></p></section></div><div><br /></div><div>A
vote is expected to take place today. Again, the US government has
come out in favor of a 'pause' -- that is not a ease-fire. A pause is
what took place earlier this year. It did not last. I favor a
cease-fire, not a pause. However, a six week pause could allow some
food, medical supplies and other aid -- all of which is sorely needed in
Gaza -- to get in. <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna139513">Chantal Da Silva (NBC NEWS) notes</a>, "Over 90% of babies ages 6 to 23 months and pregnant and breastfeeding
women are eating two or fewer food groups a day, according to the report
from the Global Nutrition Cluster, a coalition of humanitarian groups." <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2024/02/20/gaza-death-toll-hits-grim-milestone-as-un-votes-on-ceasefire" rel="nofollow">EURO NEWS also notes</a> the "<a href="https://www.nutritioncluster.net/sites/nutritioncluster.com/files/2024-02/GAZA-Nutrition-vulnerability-and-SitAn-v7.pdf"><strong>report</strong></a> released by the Global Nutrition Cluster" which has found, "Over
80 percent of households in Gaza have access to less than one litre of
safe water per person per day, according to the report, which also says
there has been an increase in food insecurity, lack of diet diversity,
and deteriorating infant feeding practices." <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/palestine-israel/2024/02/20/live-israel-gaza-houthi-attack-rubymar/">THE NATIONAL reports</a>, "The Palestine Red Crescent's Al Amal Hospital in Khan Younis is running
out of essentials and only has drinking water for three days after
Israeli attacks, the organisation said."</div><div><br /></div><div>As the atrocities pile up, it's worth noting <a href="https://thewire.in/world/legal-foundations-of-the-world-are-collapsing-in-gaza">observations from Sukumar Muralidharan (THE WIRE)</a>: </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Every hospital in Gaza has been in Israel’s narrative, a Hamas control
centre where sinister terror acts are plotted in an underlying network
of tunnels. It is a story-line that even the credulous U.S. media has
had difficulty swallowing. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/21/al-shifa-hospital-gaza-hamas-israel/">An investigation by the <em>Washington Post</em></a>, published December 23, found Israel’s claims collapsing at the slightest scrutiny. There was nothing to suggest, the <em>Washington Post</em>
found, that the Al-Shifa tunnels were not for anything but routine
storage and internal transportation of kit and equipment. The rooms
connected to the tunnel network “showed no immediate evidence of
military use”. None of the five hospital buildings identified as Hamas
control centres “appeared connected to the tunnel network”, nor was
there any “evidence that the tunnels could be accessed from inside
hospital wards”.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Lastly, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/20/israels-war-on-gaza-live-un-fears-explosion-in-child-deaths-in-gaza">Zena al Tahhan (ALJAZEERA) reports</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><p><b>Abdullah al-Zaghari, head of the Palestinian Prisoner’s Society, has
shared these updates at a news conference in Ramallah today:</b></p>
<ul class="spaced-bullet-spacing">
<li><b>There are testimonies and indicators that Palestinian men and female
prisoners have been sexually assaulted. The statement issued by the UN
yesterday pointed out for the first time that female prisoners are being
violated in a grave manner, and serious crimes are being committed
against them.</b></li>
<li><b>There are at least two female prisoners from Gaza who were raped.
Many others threatened with rape, and have suffered sexual assault and
strip-searches.</b></li>
<li><b>This is in addition to testimonies we received surrounding male
prisoners who have been exposed to severe sexual assault including
extreme beatings on genitals and attempts of rape as well as humiliating
strip searches.</b></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Al-Zaghari called for an independent international investigation into
the developments, “one that will hold the occupation accountable and
prevent it from continuing to carry out these crimes”.</b></p>
<p><b>Palestinian prisoner groups also stress that these crimes are
happening in parallel and within the context of the horrific crimes
being committed as part of the aggression against people in Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b>At least eight prisoners have died as a result of systematic torture policies, al-Zaghari added.</b></p></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div> </div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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6 hours ago
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1 day ago </div></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-69367187601455595712024-02-20T01:45:00.000-05:002024-02-20T01:45:26.521-05:00Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza in the Kitchen<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lulu e-mailed to note <a class="yiv8405277537ydp21c6c215yiv9182149348" href="https://munchygoddess.com/air-fryer-tortilla-pizza/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Munchy Goddess' air fryer tortilla pizza</a>:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1/2 teaspoon olive oil</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 eight-inch flour tortilla</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 tablespoon pizza sauce</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>10 pepperoni slices</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> </b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1) Place the flour tortilla into the air fryer basket and brush the outer edges with olive oil.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2)
Spread pizza sauce onto the tortillas one inch from the edge then top
with pepperoni, then mozzarella cheese, then sprinkle with Italian
seasoning.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3) Cook in air
fryer at 400 degrees for 3 minutes or until pizza is brown and bubbly.
Be sure to check it after 1 minute to ensure the pizza does not
overcook.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4) Remove pizza from air fryer, let cool, and slice into triangles.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5) Serve and enjoy!</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That does seem easy, doesn't it? </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">News? <a class="yiv8405277537ydp21c6c215yiv9182149348" href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/workers-go-on-strike-at-fort-worth-molson-coors-brewery/ar-BB1irRK0?cvid=76b41337103f4739e6efa639b2cc3e39&ei=25" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Olivia Leach (CBS News) reports</a>:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Production stopped at one of the country's largest breweries and its North Texas workers are on the picket lines.</b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>More
than 400 members of Teamsters Local 997 walked off the job at the
Molson Coors facility in Fort Worth to protest on Saturday and Sunday. </b></span></p></div><div><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The
union workers say they are striking for better wages and benefits after
months of unsuccessful negotiations with their employer over a new
three-year contract. </b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"We've
taken care of this employer many years all through the pandemic we
actually had a member that died he got COVID here and he unfortunately
passed away," said Rick Miedema, the secretary-treasurer of Teamsters
Local 997. </b></span></p></div><div><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Since
November Teamsters Local 997 has been in negotiations with Molson Coors
on a new contract. They want to see a pay raise for members, and the
elimination of two-tiered health care and retirement benefits. But the
union says Molson Coors' latest offer was insulting and included a less
than $1 per hour wage increase for most union workers. </b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>"We made them a lot of money during the pandemic we made them even more money recently," said Miedema. </b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Molson Coors reported six years of profit growth in 2023 alone.</b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">And <a class="yiv8405277537ydp21c6c215yiv9182149348" href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/nike-axes-1500-jobs-joins-trend-of-large-companies-in-mass-layoffs/ss-BB1iwmBO?cvid=76b41337103f4739e6efa639b2cc3e39&ei=25" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Haley White (From Frugal to Free) reports</a>:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="color: #2b2b2b;">The company’s CEO took responsibility for the decision to lay off 2% of their workforce.</strong><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #2b2b2b;"><b>Joining
several other large companies making severe cuts to their staff, Nike
has announced a round of layoffs that will affect over 1,500 people.</b></span><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
thought the White House was insisting that the economy had gotten
better. What happened to that? In the first case, it appears corporate
greed. I'd argue that's probably true of Nike as well.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_0123564643.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Monday:</p><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-8542350753551921817" itemprop="articleBody">
Monday, February 6, 2024. The number of people killed in Gaza since
October 7th stands now at over 29,000, protests took place over the
weekend, activists call for a boycott of McDonalds, the Israeli
government refuses to allow the World Health Organization to inspect
Nasser Hospital, and much more.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/brazils-lula-accuses-israel-of-genocide-in-gaza-netanyahu-reacts-5083944">AFP reported Sunday</a>,
"Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused Israel Sunday of
committing 'genocide' against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip
and compared its actions to Adolf Hitler's campaign to exterminate
Jews." They also note that Israeli President Isaac Herzog is having a
pissy fit over the comment. This is a genocide and the abused, over
time, can become the abusers. That's nothing new in the world of
psychology. But Herzog does realize that the state of Israel was created
in 1948, right? Not during the Holocaust. <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/israel-hamas/2024/02/18/israel-hamas-war-gaza-live-updates/72651919007/">Jorge L Ortiz (USA TODAY) adds</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><b>Netanyahu said on social media that the Brazilian
ambassador to Israel would be called in for “a stern reprimand,” and
said Lula crossed “a red line.”</b></p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><b>In a
translation of his post in Hebrew, Netanyahu called Lula’s statements
“shameful” and added. “This is about trivializing the Holocaust and
trying to harm the Jewish people and Israel’s right to defend itself.”</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Netanyahu is murdering innocents and facing legal charges of corruption but he's calling Lula "shameful"? </div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/16/gaza_hind_rajab_palestine_red_crescent">From Friday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YpmQrFSSLqc?si=-cy8NWxMXKJOzjq0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, <a href="http://democracynow.org/">democracynow.org</a>, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Amy Goodman.</b></p>
<p><b>We turn to Gaza, to a case that’s reverberated around the world. Two
weeks ago, January 29th, 6-year-old Hind Rajab climbed into a car with
her aunt, her uncle and her cousins in Gaza City as they prepared to
flee to the southern part of Gaza. But as they were in the car, an
Israeli tank approached them and opened fire. Hind’s 15-year-old cousin
Layan called the Red Crescent for help. These were her last words,
recorded on the call with a Red Crescent dispatcher.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">LAYAN</span> <span class="caps">HAMADEH</span>: [translated] Hello?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">RED</span> <span class="caps">CRESCENT</span> <span class="caps">DISPATCHER</span>: [translated] Hello, dear?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">LAYAN</span> <span class="caps">HAMADEH</span>: [translated] They are shooting at us.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">RED</span> <span class="caps">CRESCENT</span> <span class="caps">DISPATCHER</span>: [translated] Hello?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">LAYAN</span> <span class="caps">HAMADEH</span>: [translated] They are shooting at us. The tank is next to me.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">RED</span> <span class="caps">CRESCENT</span> <span class="caps">DISPATCHER</span>: [translated] Are you hiding?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">LAYAN</span> <span class="caps">HAMADEH</span>: [translated] Yes, in the car. We’re next to the tank.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">RED</span> <span class="caps">CRESCENT</span> <span class="caps">DISPATCHER</span>: [translated] Are you inside the car?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">LAYAN</span> <span class="caps">HAMADEH</span>: [translated] [screaming]</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">RED</span> <span class="caps">CRESCENT</span> <span class="caps">DISPATCHER</span>: [translated] Hello? Hello?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
That was 15-year-old Layan’s last words, killed along with the rest of
her family. The only one who remained alive was 6-year-old Hind.
Wounded, she called the Red Crescent back, pleading with the dispatcher
to be rescued.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">HIND</span> <span class="caps">RAJAB</span>: [translated] Come take me. You will come and take me?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">RED</span> <span class="caps">CRESCENT</span> <span class="caps">DISPATCHER</span>: [translated] Do you want me to come and take you?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">HIND</span> <span class="caps">RAJAB</span>: [translated] I’m so scared. Please come. Please call someone to come and take me.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">RED</span> <span class="caps">CRESCENT</span> <span class="caps">DISPATCHER</span>: [translated] OK, dear, I will come and take you.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
After seeking approval from the Israeli military, two emergency workers
with the Palestine Red Crescent, Yusuf Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun, went
to try to rescue 6-year-old Hind. But dispatchers lost contact with the
medics.</b></p>
<p><b>Nearly two weeks later, Israeli forces finally withdrew from the
area, and on Saturday Hind’s surviving family ventured back to the
neighborhood. They found Hind dead inside the car alongside the bodies
of five of her family members. The car riddled with bullet holes. The
bodies of the two emergency workers were also found in an ambulance
nearby, appear to have been killed by Israeli fire just yards away from
the car. This is Hind’s mother, Wissam Hamadah, after she learned of her
daughter’s killing.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">WISSAM</span> <span class="caps">HAMADAH</span>:
[translated] My heart is completely destroyed over my daughter. Two
weeks! They killed them. Two weeks, they were in that car! I’ve told the
world from day one, “Please go get Hind.” God is the only one
sufficient for us. Everyone failed us. I will tell God on the day of
judgment about my daughter. I swear I will never forgive you or any
human involved or any human rights organization.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
For more on this case, we’re joined now by Nebal Farsakh, spokesperson
for the Palestine Red Crescent Society, joining us from Ramallah in the
occupied West Bank.</b></p>
<p><b>Nebal, thank you so much for joining us. Tell us everything you know about this case.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NEBAL</span> <span class="caps">FARSAKH</span>: Good evening. Thanks for having me.</b></p>
<p><b>We at the Palestine Red Crescent were heartbroken and devastated
again after learning the fate of our colleagues, Yusuf Zeino and Ahmed
al-Madhoun. The ambulance was found bombed just meters away from the car
where Hind was trapped.</b></p>
<p><b>The story began after we have received a call from the uncles of Hind
and Layan, who live overseas, reporting that there’s two little girls
are still survived after their family car was targeted by the Israeli
tanks. He gave us a phone number. We called, and then Layan picked up
the phone. And this is the call which you just previewed. Layan was
killed while she was over the phone with our dispatch center.</b></p>
<p><b>And then we have called the number again, and Hind picked up the
phone. Hind was supposed to turn into 6 years in May, and now she has
lost her life. Over three hours, Hind was over the phone with our
dispatch center. She was repeatedly seeking help, repeatedly appealing
for our teams to come and pick her up.</b></p>
<p><b>It took us all of this time, over three hours, in order to coordinate
safe access for our ambulances. And once the green light was given, the
ambulance headed to the location. And upon its arrival, they have
reported that there is a green laser on them, that the Israeli
occupation force is pointing a laser on them. And then we have heard a
sound of gunfire or a bombardment. It wasn’t that much clear. And the
connection was lost.</b></p>
<p><b>For over 12 days, we were uncertain regarding the fate of our
colleagues, Yusuf and Ahmed, and the little girl, Hind. We were thinking
that they might be arrested. There was so many questions, like if they
were succeeded to rescue Hind or not, because, basically, also they have
confirmed that they can see the car of Hind and they were so close to
Hind. I was just devastated to learn that Hind passed away alone. She
was killed alone and scared, and our rescue teams were only meters away
from her.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: And can you explain the weapon found by the ambulance?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NEBAL</span> <span class="caps">FARSAKH</span>:
We’re not sure regarding the weapon found next to the ambulance.
According to reports, it is an artillery shelling, U.S.-made, was found
next to the ambulance, which was bombed by the Israeli occupation forces
while they were trying to save 6-year-old Hind.</b></p>
<p><b>It’s just so much sad to see paramedics losing their life while they
are trying to save people’s life. What was the fault of Yusuf and Ahmed?
Their fault was they went in a rescue mission to save a 6-year-old
girl. It was a coordinated mission, and the green light was given, and
the Israeli occupation forces intentionally bombed the Palestine Red
Crescent ambulance, which has clearly the Red Crescent emblem on top of
the ambulance and from all the sides. There was no way or no option to
be by mistake. It is an intentional targeting. Since the beginning of
the war, we have lost 14 <span class="caps">PRCS</span> members. All of them were killed while they were on duty trying to save people’s life.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
And what has the Israeli military explained to you, given that you got
permission for your rescue workers to go rescue Hind, as the world heard
her 6-year-old pleas for help?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NEBAL</span> <span class="caps">FARSAKH</span>:
Up to this moment, the Israeli military didn’t comment or reply at what
happened. And even during the 12 days, we have tried repeatedly, even
through the <span class="caps">ICRC</span>, to ask the Israeli
occupation forces regarding what happened to Hind and the rescue team.
And all the time they were mentioning they don’t have info regarding
this incident. To turn out, after 12 days, they have bombed the
ambulance, and still they don’t have info regarding the incident.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
I want to turn to another case. The Palestine Red Crescent has just
posted new video online as evidence that their ambulance was shot at and
its staff were, quote, “brutally assaulted” by Israeli forces. <span class="caps">PRCS</span>
said the video was taken around a week ago and shows a Red Crescent
paramedic with two black eyes sitting in an ambulance that is pockmarked
by bullet holes. The organization says the attack happened as the
ambulance crew was delivering oxygen cylinders to Al-Amal Hospital in
Gaza. It also stated that Israel had claimed they had transferred the
oxygen cylinders to Al-Amal Hospital. Can you explain what took place
here in this video that we’re watching?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NEBAL</span> <span class="caps">FARSAKH</span>:
Yes. For over a week, Al-Amal Hospital was run out of oxygen. This has
resulted to three of our patients died because of the lack of oxygen.
After we managed to coordinate getting oxygen cylinders to the hospital
via the <span class="caps">ICRC</span>, our ambulance had to bring the
oxygen cylinders from Nasser Hospital and transport them to Al-Amal
Hospital. On its way, the ambulance — Israeli occupation forces opened
fire at the hospital, and they insult and beat our paramedic, who was
trying to move and transport this oxygen cylinder, which is life-saving,
for our patients.</b></p>
<p><b>This is not the first attack, because at that moment, also a week
ago, the Israeli occupation forces raided Al-Amal Hospital. They have
destroyed medical equipment, and they dehumanized the medical staff,
patients and their companions. They arrested nine of the Palestine Red
Crescent members from Al-Amal Hospital, including four doctors and a
nurse. They have beaten the staff, denied them — not allowing them to
drink water or even to go use the toilet, and they tie their hands on
their backs. The situation is extremely dangerous inside Al-Amal
Hospital. We are still extremely worried regarding the safety of our
teams who were arrested from Al-Amal Hospital. Today, two of them were
released, but seven of our <span class="caps">PRCS</span> members are
still detained up to this moment who were arrested from inside Al-Amal
Hospital. Al-Amal Hospital is under besiege and continuous attack for
the 25th day. Today, Israeli occupation forces targeted the second floor
of the hospital with artillery shelling. Gladly, it only damaged for
two of the nursing rooms, but there was no injuries among the staff or
the patients. But the situation remains very dangerous, with Israeli
tanks are in front of the hospital, besieging the hospital, continuous
gunfire and bombardment surrounding the hospital. No one is able to go
in or go out of the hospital. There is no food, no water, extreme
shortage of medicine and medical supplies inside the hospital. The
situation is beyond dire.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Nebal, I asked you about Israeli response. I want to ask you about the
U.S. government response and how important it is. This is a clip of
State Department spokesperson Matt Miller at a news conference on
Wednesday. He was questioned about the killing of 6-year-old Hind and
her family by a reporter from <em>The Intercept</em>, Prem Thakker.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">PREM</span> <span class="caps">THAKKER</span>:
It’s been over two weeks since Israeli forces attacked Hind Rajab’s
family, killing her aunt, uncle and cousins, leaving her trapped alone
in her vehicle. We heard her pleas to the Red Crescent Society. Two
medics were sent, all to be blown up, allegedly, by Israeli forces. I
wanted to ask about the status of the inquiry into this, just because it
seems if the Israeli government, you know, which seemingly does have a
pretty sophisticated operation, is prioritizing this — if they don’t
already know which soldiers to interview, for instance, they have Red
Crescent calls, timestamps, the location of the Red Crescent staff to,
you know, question and rely on — plenty of material to figure out who
exactly to inquire with and to figure out who to hold accountable. So I
want to first ask about the status of this investigation.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">MATTHEW</span> <span class="caps">MILLER</span>:
Sure. So, I think that question is appropriately directed to the
government of Israel. I will say, on behalf of the United States, we
have made clear to them that we want that incident to be investigated.
They have told us they are investigating it. It’s our understanding that
investigation is not yet complete. You should direct questions to them
about where it stands. But we want to see it completed as soon as
possible. And as I said from this podium several days ago, if
accountability is appropriate, we want to be — we want to see
accountability put in place.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Nebal Farsakh, we just have 30 seconds. That’s the State Department
spokesperson. How important is pressure from the United States on
Israel, as you talked about a U.S. weapon being found near the shelled
ambulance?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NEBAL</span> <span class="caps">FARSAKH</span>:
It is extremely important. The life and the story of Hind should not be
end in this way. We’re talking about 6-years-old girl. She was trapped
in her family car for hours, after everyone was killed and targeted by
Israeli occupation forces. During this, even two paramedics who went to
rescue the 6-year-old girl was also targeted, and their ambulance was
found. We need to see actions happen and to put Israel accountable for
committing such crime against a 6-year-old girl and civilians who were
trapped in their car, along with targeting our ambulance.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Nebal Farsakh, we thank you so much for joining us, spokesperson for Palestine Red Crescent.</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Netanyahu
is responsible for that six-year-old girl's death, the deaths of her
family and two rescue workers. But, he insists, Lula is the one who
crossed "a red line"? This morning, <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-19/benny-gantz-israel-war-cabinet-rafah-offensive-gaza-ramadan/103486664">Australia's ABC notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb"><b>The suggested timing for the
offensive came as Israeli strikes across Gaza continued, killing at
least 18 people overnight into Sunday, according to medics and
witnesses.</b></p><p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb"><b>A strike in Rafah
killed six people, including a woman and three children, and another
killed five in Khan Younis, the main target of the Gaza offensive in
recent weeks.</b></p><p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb"><b>The bodies were seen by journalists with the Associated Press.</b></p><p class="paragraph_paragraph___QITb"><b>In
Gaza City, which suffered widespread destruction early in the war, an
air strike flattened a home, killing seven people, including three
women, according to relative Sayed al-Afifi.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In other news, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/19/israels-war-on-gaza-live-food-trucks-surrounded-as-hunger-spreads-in-gaza">ALJAZEERA reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="card-live__content"><div class="wysiwyg-content"><div class="wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content css-1kw180w" id="wysiwyg"><p><b>In
a statement, the UN rights office says there are “credible allegations”
of arbitrary detention, executions and sexual assaults of Palestinian
women and children in the Gaza Strip, calling for an urgent and
independent investigation.</b></p>
<p><b>The report by UN Special Rapporteurs Reem Alsalem, Francesca Albanese
and others said at least two female Palestinian detainees were raped
while others were “threatened with rape and sexual violence” by Israeli
soldiers.</b></p>
<p><b>Women and girls were also reportedly held in cages during rain, with
no access to food, or executed at their places of shelter while waving
white flags.</b></p>
<p><b>“Those responsible for these apparent crimes must be held accountable
and victims and their families are entitled to full redress and
justice,” said the report.</b></p>
</div></div></div><div class="card-live__byline"><div class="liveblog-update"><div class="combined-share"><div class="combined-share__wrapper"></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 136 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/19/israels-war-on-gaza-live-food-trucks-surrounded-as-hunger-spreads-in-gaza">ALJAZEERA notes</a>, "At least 107 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes across
Gaza in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 29,092 since October
7, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry on its Telegram channel said a total of 69,028 others
have been wounded since Israel launched its devastating campaign in the
strip." Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p> </p><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/19/israels-war-on-gaza-list-of-key-events-day-136">ALJAZEERA offers</a> this morning:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><li><b>On Monday, the state of Palestine <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/19/whats-the-icj-case-against-israels-illegal-occupation-of-palestine">will be the first</a> of 52 countries to speak as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) begins six days of hearings on Monday.</b></li>
<li><b>This <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/19/icj-to-hold-hearings-on-israels-occupation-of-palestinian-territories">case focuses</a> on Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem since 1967.</b></li>
<li><b>Separately, the United Nations Security Council is expected to vote
on Tuesday on an Arab-backed resolution demanding an immediate
humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, which the United States announced it
will veto.</b></li></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Over the weekend, protests took place around the world against the continued assault on Gaza.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DK5buekeceE?si=EIq4dk6_fcWOOa2D" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"></h3>
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-6251430125663271131" itemprop="description articleBody"><p> Saturday
in Turkey, as ALJAZEERA reports in the video above, hundreds
(thousands) marched against the ongoing assault on Gaza. <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/israel-gaza-airstrikes-hospital-arrests-1.7118647">REUTERS added</a>, "G7 ministers called for 'urgent action to address the catastrophic
humanitarian crisis in Gaza, particularly the plight of 1.5 million
civilians sheltering in Rafah, and they expressed deep concern for the
potentially devastating consequences on the civilian population of
Israel's further full scale military operation in that area,' according
to a statement released by Italy." The G7? <a href="https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/g7/index.aspx?lang=eng">The Canadian government describes</a> the group, "<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">The </span><a href="https://www.g7hiroshima.go.jp/en/" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #284162;">Group of Seven (G7)</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> is
an informal grouping of seven of the world’s advanced economies,
including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and
the United States, as well as the European Union.</span></span>" <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/scottish-labour-unanimously-backs-immediate-ceasefire-in-gaza-13073951">Dylan Donnelly (SKY NEWS) noted</a>:</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Scottish Labour has unanimously backed an immediate ceasefire in
Gaza, with MSPs calling for "unequivocal" support and putting pressure
on the rest of the party.</b></p><p><b>All delegates backed Scottish Labour
leader Anas Sarwar's calls for an immediate end to the Israel-Hamas war
at the party conference in Glasgow.</b></p><p>[. . .]</p><p><b>The vote came as thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through Glasgow to protest outside the conference.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>A march also took place in London on Saturday. <a href="https://www.itv.com/news/london/2024-02-17/eleven-arrested-at-pro-palestine-demonstration-in-central-london">ITV NEWS notes</a>, "Between 200,000 and 250,000 people were expected at the demonstration,
according to a spokesman for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The
Metropolitan Police put the number at 30,000." <a href="https://socialistworker.co.uk/palestine-2023/palestine-march-in-london-9/">SOCIALIST WORKER adds</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p class="p1"><b>Around 250,000 people poured onto the streets of London on Saturday. And they would have <a href="https://socialistworker.co.uk/palestine-2023/shut-down-the-israeli-embassy-in-london/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">brought their fury to the Israeli embassy</a> if the cops hadn’t prevented them from gathering directly outside it.</b></p><p class="p1"><b>The march was part of a global day of action, with
organisers saying there would be demonstrations in 100 cities in 45
countries. Around 10,000 marched in Glasgow (see below). </b></p><p class="p1"><b>The imminent Israeli ground <a href="https://socialistworker.co.uk/palestine-2023/a-plea-from-rafah-under-the-bombs/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">offensive in Rafah</a>
added to people’s determination on the demonstration, which marched to
near the embassy. “It’s unreal that Israel is preparing for an all-out
assault on a place where over one million are crammed into a tiny area,”
said hospital worker Eileen. </b></p><p>
</p><p class="p1"><b>“We know it’s happening, everyone knows it will be a
massacre and yet the US and Britain make only ineffective noises.” She
added that her Unison union needs to do more to put people on the
protests.</b></p><p><b>[. . .]</b></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>The London protest was part of a global day of action that saw protests in 145 cities and hundreds more towns.</b></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>From Sydney in Australia through Seoul in
South Korea to Turkey, solidarity was everywhere. In Oslo, Norway,
hundreds gathered in -15 degree Celsius temperatures. </b></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Up to 50,000 people took to the streets
of Dublin. Karen Gearon, who was a shop steward for the Dunnes Stores
strikers who protested against apartheid in South Africa in the 1980s,
was among those leading the march. She said that there should be
sanctions against Israel in the same way there were against South
Africa.</b></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Across Ireland, there were protests including Ennis, Cork, Armagh, Drogheda, Skibbereen, Clonakilty, and Waterford.</b></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Cities in Italy saw protests, with a large demo in Turin. Thousands marched in Munich, Germany. </b></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>The US saw a wave of demonstrations
against president Joe Biden’s backing of Israel. In New York there was a
protest following a walkout of school students the day before.
Washington, Houston, Philadelphia and San Fransisco all saw lively
demonstrations of solidarity.</b></span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>In Paris over 10,000 marched and
protesters repeatedly focused on the shop chain Carrefour which provides
goods for the Israeli army. </b></span></p><p>
</p><p class="p1"><span class="s1"><b>Some 3,000 people took to the streets in
the capital of the Spanish state, Madrid, chanting, “Free Palestine,
killer Israel.” Six government ministers took part, five from the left
party Sumar and one from the Labour-type Socialist party.</b></span></p></div><div>And <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/19/israels-war-on-gaza-live-food-trucks-surrounded-as-hunger-spreads-in-gaza">ALJAZEERA reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>A large banner hung in the centre of the Spanish capital is part of a
campaign calling for a boycott of McDonald’s over the company’s alleged
support to the Israeli army in its war on Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b>Five people were briefly arrested for the protest, activists said.</b></p>
<p><b>McDonald’s came under fire in October when videos on social media
showed the franchise handing out free meals to the Israeli army.</b></p>
<p><b>Earlier this month, McDonald’s <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/2/6/mcdonalds-blames-israels-war-in-gaza-for-missing-sales-target">announced</a> missing its first quarterly sales target in nearly four years, citing Israel’s war on Gaza as a factor.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Over
the weekend, Nasser Hospital continued to be assaulted as the Israeli
government continued its attack on medical facilities. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68331988">Alice Cuddy (BBC NEWS) reports</a>:</div><div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b class="sc-7dcfb11b-0 kVRnKf">Doctors
across Gaza have described operating on patients without anaesthetic,
turning people with chronic conditions away, and treating rotting wounds
with limited medical supplies.</b></p></section><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b>"Because of the shortage of painkillers we leave patients to scream for hours and hours," one told the BBC.</b></p></section><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b>The World Health Organization (WHO) has described the state of healthcare in Gaza as being "beyond words".</b></p></section><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b>It said 23 hospitals in Gaza were not functioning at all as of Sunday - 12 were partially functioning and one minimally.</b></p></section><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b>The health agency said air strikes and a lack of supplies have "depleted an already under-resourced system".</b></p></section></div><div><br /></div><div><p> <a href="https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-02-16/rafah-gaza-hospitals-surgery-israel-bombing-ground-offensive-children">At THE LOS ANGELES TIMES, Dr Irfan Galaria writes</a>:</p><p><br /></p><p><b>In late January, I left my home in Virginia, where I work as a
plastic and reconstructive surgeon and joined a group of physicians and
nurses traveling to Egypt with the humanitarian aid group MedGlobal to
volunteer in Gaza.</b></p><p><b>I have worked in other war zones. But what I
witnessed during the next 10 days in Gaza was not war — it was
annihilation. At least <a class="link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/us/politics/gaza-peace-lobby-washington.html" target="_blank"><u>28,000 Palestinians have been killed</u></a>
in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. From Cairo, Egypt’s capital, we drove
12 hours east to the Rafah border. We passed miles of parked
humanitarian aid trucks because they weren’t allowed into Gaza. Aside
from my team and other envoy members from the United Nations and World
Health Organization, there were very few others there.</b></p><p><b>Entering southern Gaza on Jan. 29, where many have fled from the north,
felt like the first pages of a dystopian novel. Our ears were numb with
the constant humming of what I was told were the surveillance drones
that circled constantly. Our noses were consumed with the stench of 1
million displaced humans living in close proximity without adequate
sanitation. Our eyes got lost in the sea of tents. We stayed at a guest
house in Rafah. Our first night was cold, and many of us couldn’t
sleep. We stood on the balcony listening to the bombs, and seeing the
smoke rise from Khan Yunis.</b></p><p><b>As we approached the <a class="link" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/doctors-gaza-hospital-have-prioritise-patients-most-likely-survive-2024-02-06/" target="_blank"><u>European Gaza Hospital</u></a>
the next day, there were rows of tents that lined and blocked the
streets. Many Palestinians gravitated toward this and other hospitals
hoping it would represent a sanctuary from the violence — they were
wrong. </b></p><p><b>People also spilled into the hospital: living in hallways,
stairwell corridors and even storage closets. The once-wide walkways
designed by the <a class="link" href="https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-213398/" target="_blank"><u>European Union</u></a>
to accommodate the busy traffic of medical staff, stretchers and
equipment were now reduced to a single-file passageway. On either side,
blankets hung from the ceiling to cordon off small areas for entire
families, offering a sliver of privacy. A hospital designed to
accommodate about 300 patients was now struggling to care for more than
1,000 patients and hundreds more seeking refuge.</b></p><p><b>There were a limited number of local surgeons available. We were told
that many had been killed or arrested, their whereabouts or even their
existence unknown. Others were trapped in occupied areas in the north or
nearby places where it was too risky to travel to the hospital. There
was only one local plastic surgeon left and he covered the hospital
24/7. His home had been destroyed, so he lived in the hospital, and was
able to stuff all of his personal possessions into two small hand bags.
This narrative became all too common among the remaining staff at the
hospital. This surgeon was lucky, because his wife and daughter were
still alive, although almost everyone else working in the hospital was
mourning the loss of their loved ones.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p></div><div>Nasser
Hospital is in Rafah. The Israeli
government, in the last week alone, began shooting at people leaving
the hospital. It then blew out a wall and raided the hospital. Those
who haven't been killed by the bullets from Israeli guns die in other
ways. <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20240218-%F0%9F%94%B4-live-us-threatens-to-block-new-un-security-council-resolution-on-gaza">FRANCE 24 notes</a>
"that a WHO team was not permitted access to the Nasser Hospital in
Khan Younis." Yes, the Israeli government does not want the World Health
Organization to see the crimes being carried out. <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-19/israel-gaza-war-updates-nasser-hospital-shut-down/103482198">Australia's ABC adds</a>,
"Mr al-Qidra said water supply to
the hospital had halted because generators had been out of action for
three days, sewage was flooding emergency rooms and the remaining staff
had no way of treating intensive care patients. Lack of oxygen supplies
and no power has caused the deaths of at least seven patients, he
said." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-02-18-24/index.html">CNN notes</a>, "Around 200 patients remain in the medical facility, which WHO teams were
not permitted to enter on Friday or Saturday, and at least 20 patients
need to be 'urgently referred' to other hospitals for medical treatment,
according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus." <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/18/israels-war-on-gaza-live-palestinians-fleeing-rafah-face-israeli-strikes">ALJAZEERA reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="card-live__byline"><div class="article-b-l under-title" style="border-color: rgb(250, 144, 0);"></div></div><div class="card-live__content"><div class="wysiwyg-content"><div class="wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content css-1kw180w" id="wysiwyg"><p><b>Osaid
Alser, a Gaza surgeon and medical resident at Texas Tech University,
says he has never seen any military activity while working at several
medical centres in Gaza since 2010, including at the al-Shifa and Nasser
hospitals.</b></p>
<p><b>“When we talk about tunnels and all of that, I think this is Israeli
propaganda that everybody should get used to at this point,” he told Al
Jazeera.</b></p>
<p><b>“Anybody who has worked in any of these hospitals, they can easily
say this is just nonsense. We never had our access limited to any area
in these hospitals. We could go to literally any area in the hospital
and nobody would say stop.”</b></p></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><a href="http://theworldtodayjustnuts.blogspot.com/">Isaiah</a></b>'s THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/isaiahs-world-today-just-nuts-charm.html">Charm Free Marjorie</a>" went up Friday. The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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<a href="https://jodywatley.net/" target="_blank">
The Official Jody Watley Website</a>
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<a href="https://jodywatley.net/2024/02/17/grammy-award-winning-jody-watley-honored-by-los-angeles-county-board-of-supervisors/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=grammy-award-winning-jody-watley-honored-by-los-angeles-county-board-of-supervisors" target="_blank">
Jody Watley Honored by Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors
</a>
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1 day ago
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<a href="http://katskornerofthecommonills.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills)</a>
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Allison Russell and Paramore
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Ann's Mega Dub</a>
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Disgusting and creepy Matt Gaetz
</a>
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<a href="http://ohboyitneverends.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Oh Boy It Never Ends</a>
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<a href="http://ohboyitneverends.blogspot.com/2024/02/madam-web_16.html" target="_blank">
MADAM WEB
</a>
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2 days ago
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<a href="http://ruthsreport.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Ruth's Report</a>
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<a href="http://ruthsreport.blogspot.com/2024/02/alexander-smirnoy.html" target="_blank">
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<a href="http://likemariasaidpaz.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
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<a href="http://likemariasaidpaz.blogspot.com/2024/02/its-official-we-all-find-marjorie.html" target="_blank">
It's official, we all find Marjorie Taylor Greene pathetic
</a>
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<div class="item-time">
2 days ago
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<div style="clear: both;"></div>
</li>
<li style="display: block;">
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<a href="https://www.latinousa.org/" target="_blank">
Latino USA</a>
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<div class="item-content">
<span class="item-title">
<a href="https://www.latinousa.org/2024/02/16/castrotum/" target="_blank">
The Matter of Castro Tum
</a>
</span>
<div class="item-time">
3 days ago </div></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-10148357854078765042024-02-18T01:37:00.000-05:002024-02-18T01:37:03.567-05:00Spring Green California Avocado Ramen in the Kitchen<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/194475523@N05/53533820278/in/dateposted-public/" title="MTG"><img alt="MTG" height="387" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53533820278_28b83e7002.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><p><br /></p><p>Yesterday, <b><a href="http://theworldtodayjustnuts.blogspot.com/">Isaiah</a></b>'s THE WORLD TODAY JUST NUTS "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/isaiahs-world-today-just-nuts-charm.html">Charm Free Marjorie</a>" went up. </p><p>Isn't she gruesome?</p><p><br /></p><p>Moving on to something nicer, from <a href="https://californiaavocado.com/recipe/spring-green-california-avocado-ramen/">California Avocados, here's a recipe for Spring Green California Avocado Ramen</a>:</p><p> <b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></b></p><section class="tablet:w-10/12 print:w-4/12 print:block" id="section1">
<div class="recipe-ingredients">
<div class="ingredients-container">
<h2 class="hidden text-xl w-full text-bumpy font-articleTitle font-bold mb-5 tablet:block laptop:w-1/3 print:block print:p-0"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Ingredients</span></h2>
<span class="ingredients_list"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="4">4</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="" data-singular="">
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
large eggs </span></span></span></b></span></div><div class="ingredients-container"><span class="ingredients_list"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient"><span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy"></span></span><span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient"><span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="6">6</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="cups" data-singular="cups">
cups
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
chicken broth (I like Kitchen Basics Chicken Broth) </span></span></span></b></span></div><div class="ingredients-container"><span class="ingredients_list"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient"><span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy"></span></span><span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient"><span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="4">4</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="" data-singular="">
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
cloves garlic, thinly sliced </span></span></span></b></span></div><div class="ingredients-container"><span class="ingredients_list"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient"><span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy"></span></span><span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient"><span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="1">1</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="" data-singular="">
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
ripe Fresh California Avocado, seeded, peeled and cut in half </span></span></span></b></span></div><div class="ingredients-container"><span class="ingredients_list"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient"><span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy"></span></span><span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient"><span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="12">12</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="oz." data-singular="oz.">
oz.
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
dried chuka soba noodles (or chow mein noodles),
cooked according to package directions, then rinsed under cool water
and drained thoroughly </span></span></span></b></span></div><div class="ingredients-container"><span class="ingredients_list"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient"><span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy"></span></span><span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient"><span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="1">1</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="" data-singular="">
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
ripe Fresh California Avocados, seeded, peeled
and cut into thin slices </span></span></span></b></span></div><div class="ingredients-container"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="ingredients_list"><span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient"><span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy"></span></span><span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient"><span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="1">1</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="cups" data-singular="cup">
cup
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
watercress leaves </span>
</span>
<span class="ingredient text-base text-palm block py-2 print:text-xs block" itemprop="recipeIngredient">
<span class="ingredient-qty font-bold qty align-top break-words" data-qty="8">8</span>
<span class="ingredient-measures font-bold align-top" data-plural="" data-singular="">
</span>
<span class="tracking-wide text-bumpy">
scallions, thinly sliced </span>
</span>
</span>
</span></b></div>
</div></section><p><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></p><h3 class="text-xl font-articleTitle font-bold text-bumpy mb-5 hidden tablet:block print:p-0 print:block"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> Instructions
</span></h3><p>
</p><div class="leading-relaxed" itemprop="recipeInstructions"><ol>
<li><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fill a 4-quart saucepan with water and bring the water to a boil on
high heat. Gently lower the eggs into the boiling water with a slotted
spoon. Lower the heat to medium-high and let the eggs cook for 6
minutes, then transfer them to an ice bath and let them cool completely.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put the broth and garlic in another saucepan and bring to a boil
over medium heat, then reduce the heat to medium-low to maintain a
simmer and continue cooking for 3 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the
heat.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put half of the avocado in the jar of a blender. Pour half of the broth over the avocado and blend until creamy.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pour the broth into a clean saucepan and repeat with the other avocado half and the rest of the broth.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Carefully peel the eggs.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Separate the cooked noodles into four bowls. Ladle equal amounts of the avocado broth over the noodles in each bowl.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Slice an egg in half and place the halves on top of the noodles in one of the bowls. Repeat with the remaining eggs.</span></b></li>
<li><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finish by topping each bowl with avocado slices, watercress leaves and sliced scallions. Serve immediately!</span></b></li></ol></div><p> </p><p>News? <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/opinion/raise-the-cap-on-social-security">Gerald Scorse (Common Dreams) reports</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Social Security has been a financial rock for seniors ever since
benefits first began flowing in 1940. For decades though, for those
above an income <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.ssa.gov/oact/progdata/taxbenefits.html#:~:text=Under%20legislation%20enacted%20in%201983,jointly%20with%20incomes%20over%20%2432%2C000" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">threshold</a>, pieces of that rock have been chiseled away: a 1983 law makes up to 50 percent of benefits subject to federal income taxes.</b></p><p><b>Levying
a tax on benefits was a new idea at the time, promoted as one of the
ways to help save Social Security for future generations. The system’s
trust fund was only months away from running out of money, and revenue
from the tax would be dedicated to keeping the program solvent. The
reform was <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.ssa.gov/history/InternetMyths2.html#:~:text=The%20taxation%20of%20Social%20Security,an%20overwhelmingly%20bi%2Dpartisan%20vote" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">overwhelmingly</a> approved by Congress and signed into law by President Reagan. As he said at the signing, it “<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.ssa.gov/history/reaganstmts.html#1983" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">demonstrates</a> for all time our nation’s ironclad commitment” to Social Security.</b></p><p><b>It also demonstrates, in 2024, the unfairness of never adjusting the income threshold for inflation. When the levy first began, <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/info-2023/social-security-taxes.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fewer</a>
than 10 percent of recipients had to pay taxes on any of their
benefits. Today that number has risen to roughly 56 percent. Putting it
simply, a threshold that hasn’t changed in 40 years is forcing millions
of retirees with modest incomes to pay higher taxes than they should. </b></p><p><b>Now
let’s look at Social Security’s second unfairness, letting workers with
huge incomes pay lower taxes than they should. Ironically, the only
fair thing about this unfairness is that an annual adjustment <em>is</em> made.</b></p><p><b>Most
workers pay Social Security taxes on every dollar they make. Big
earners, though, avoid those taxes by the billions: there’s a dollar cap
on earnings subject to the Social Security tax. The cap rises yearly at
the same rate as average wages. This year’s cap is <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/social-security-tax-wage-base-jumps#:~:text=In%202024%2C%20the%20Social%20Security,amount%20that%20exceeds%20that%20limit." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$168,000</a>, up from $160,200 in 2023.</b></p><p><b>For those in the earnings stratosphere, Social Security taxes literally begin and end on New Year’s Day. As the headline in a <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/teresaghilarducci/2024/01/02/200-people-already-paid-their-social-security-taxes-happy-new-year/?sh=6b6c810b148f" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">piece</a>
by retirement expert Teresa Ghilarducci put it, “200 People Already
Paid Their Social Security Taxes: Happy New Year!” By her calculations,
Elon Musk hit the 2024 earnings cap at 12:04 a.m. on New Year’s Day; for
Tim Cook of Apple, it took all of two hours.</b></p><p><b>Inevitably, the cap
has become a serious drag on the program’s long-term fiscal health. The
trust fund is once again running low, set to reach zero in 2033. Unless
Congress acts, <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.ssa.gov/oact/trsum/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">benefits</a> will then have to be cut to 77 percent of current levels.</b></p><p><b> </b></p><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_01086588801.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Friday:</p><p><br /></p><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-7879143107033336270" itemprop="articleBody">
Friday, February 16, 2024. Will the world recoil from the horrible
findings about the deaths of journalists in 2023 or will they face up to
the need for accountability, the attack on Nasser Hospital left
patients dead, the insanity must stop.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://cpj.org/reports/2024/02/israel-gaza-war-brings-2023-journalist-killings-to-devastating-high/">At The Committee to Protect Journalists website, Kathy Jones explains</a> the latest findings:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>More than three quarters of the <a href="https://cpj.org/data/killed/all/?status=Killed&motiveConfirmed%5B%5D=Confirmed&motiveUnconfirmed%5B%5D=Unconfirmed&type%5B%5D=Journalist&type%5B%5D=Media%20Worker&start_year=2023&end_year=2023&group_by=year">99 journalists and media workers</a> killed worldwide in 2023 died in the <a href="https://cpj.org/full-coverage-israel-gaza-war/">Israel-Gaza war</a>, the majority of them Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza. The<em> </em>conflict <a href="https://cpj.org/2023/12/israel-gaza-war-takes-record-toll-on-journalists/">claimed the lives</a> of more journalists in three months than have ever been killed in a single country over an entire year.</b></div><div><div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis: 66.66%;">
<p><b>Investigating the circumstances of these war-related deaths – which also included <a href="https://cpj.org/data/killed/all/?status=Killed&motiveConfirmed%5B%5D=Confirmed&motiveUnconfirmed%5B%5D=Unconfirmed&type%5B%5D=Journalist&type%5B%5D=Media%20Worker&cc_fips%5B%5D=LE&start_year=2023&end_year=2023&group_by=year">three Lebanese</a> and two <a href="https://cpj.org/data/people/roee-idan/">Israeli</a>
journalists – was particularly challenging, not only because of the
large number of deaths in a short time, but also because of the loss of
those who could have provided more information. Many journalist victims’
families were killed along with them in Gaza, their colleagues died or
fled, and Israeli military authorities adamantly deny targeting
journalists or provide only scant information when they acknowledge
press killings. Critical information about their lives and work may have
been lost forever. (See more about our methodology for documenting
journalist deaths <a href="https://cpj.org/data-methodology/">here</a> and <a href="https://cpj.org/faqs-on-cpjs-data-about-killed-journalists-and-annual-prison-census/">here.</a>) </b></p>
<p><b>The 2023 global total – the highest since <a href="https://cpj.org/reports/2015/12/journalists-killed-syria-france-most-deadly-countries-for-the-press/">2015</a> and an almost 44% increase on <a href="https://cpj.org/data/killed/all/?status=Killed&motiveConfirmed%5B%5D=Confirmed&motiveUnconfirmed%5B%5D=Unconfirmed&type%5B%5D=Journalist&type%5B%5D=Media%20Worker&start_year=2022&end_year=2022&group_by=year">2022’s figures</a> – includes a record number of journalist killings – <a href="https://cpj.org/data/killed/all/?status=Killed&motiveConfirmed%5B%5D=Confirmed&type%5B%5D=Journalist&start_year=2023&end_year=2023&group_by=year">78</a> – that CPJ research determined were work-related, with eight more still under investigation. <a href="https://cpj.org/data/killed/all/?status=Killed&motiveConfirmed%5B%5D=Confirmed&motiveUnconfirmed%5B%5D=Unconfirmed&type%5B%5D=Media%20Worker&start_year=2023&end_year=2023&group_by=year">Thirteen media workers</a> also were killed last year. </b></p><p><b>[. . .]</b></p><p><b>Almost all of the journalists killed in the Israel-Gaza war were Palestinian, and CPJ has<a href="https://cpj.org/2023/12/israel-gaza-war-takes-record-toll-on-journalists/"> raised concerns</a> about the deliberate targeting of members of the media by the Israeli military. </b></p><p><b>Cases include that of <a href="https://cpj.org/data/people/issam-abdallah/">Issam Abdallah</a>, a Lebanese visual journalist for Reuters. <a href="https://cpj.org/2023/12/cpj-calls-for-accountability-after-reports-find-israel-likely-targeted-journalists-in-lebanon/">Independent investigations</a>
by international news organizations and rights groups found evidence
indicating that Israeli forces targeted a group of reporters – killing
Abdallah<em> </em>and injuring six others – in southern Lebanon on October 13. The journalists, all wearing press insignia, were covering <a aria-label="External link: border crossfire" href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hezbollah-lebanon-hamas-gaza-war-b7bac0bb9890681b538ca95cd9d792b9" target="_blank">border crossfire</a>
between the Israel Defense Forces and pro-Hamas militants from
Lebanon’s Hezbollah group in the days after Israel responded to Hamas’ <a aria-label="External link: deadly October 7 incursion" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67039975" target="_blank">deadly October 7 incursion</a>
by launching devastating retaliatory strikes on Gaza. The
investigations found that Abdallah’s group was reporting from a location
where no fighting was taking place when they were hit by two Israeli
shells.</b></p><p><b>In January 2024, journalists <a href="https://cpj.org/2024/01/cpj-calls-for-probe-into-whether-hamza-al-dahdouh-and-mustafa-thuraya-were-targeted-in-drone-strike/">Hamza Al Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya</a>
were killed in what Israel acknowledged was a targeted attack on a car
in which they were traveling. It accused Al Dahdouh, who worked for
Al-Jazeera, and freelancer Thuraya of being members of terrorist groups –
a charge <a aria-label="External link: strongly denied" href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/01/11/al-jazeera-rejects-israeli-claims-that-journalists-killed-were-terror-operatives_6424925_4.html#" target="_blank">strongly denied</a> by Al-Jazeera and the men’s family and colleagues. In CPJ’s May 2023 report <a href="https://cpj.org/reports/2023/05/deadly-pattern-20-journalists-died-by-israeli-military-fire-in-22-years-no-one-has-been-held-accountable/">“Deadly Pattern,”</a> CPJ noted several cases in which journalists killed by Israeli forces were <a href="https://cpj.org/reports/2023/05/deadly-pattern-20-journalists-died-by-israeli-military-fire-in-22-years-no-one-has-been-held-accountable/#accused-of-terrorism">accused of being terrorists</a> and in which no credible evidence was ever produced.</b></p><p>
</p><p><b>CPJ, along with other organizations, is now investigating whether a dozen other journalists – and, in some cases, <a href="https://cpj.org/2023/12/father-of-al-jazeeras-anas-al-sharif-killed-in-gaza-after-journalist-receives-threats/">members of their families</a> – killed in the Israel-Gaza war also were targeted by the Israeli military. These cases include Al-Jazeera cameraperson <a href="https://cpj.org/2023/12/al-jazeera-cameraperson-samer-abu-daqqa-killed-correspondent-wael-al-dahdouh-injured-in-drone-attack-in-khan-yunis/">Samer Abu Daqqa</a>, who <a aria-label="External link: bled to death" href="https://theintercept.com/2024/01/12/al-jazeera-journalist-israel-gaza/" target="_blank">bled to death</a>
after Israeli authorities blocked efforts to evacuate him. The probes
into these killings are taking place against the backdrop of the <a href="https://cpj.org/reports/2023/05/deadly-pattern-20-journalists-died-by-israeli-military-fire-in-22-years-no-one-has-been-held-accountable/">“Deadly Pattern” </a>report,
which found that members of the Israel Defense Forces had killed at
least 20 journalists over the past 22 years and that no one had ever
been charged or held accountable for their deaths.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>With that in mind, <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/15/rafah_update_akram_al_satarri">from yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></p><p><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wQMZW-B-k1w?si=U0fF5TxGZ8X4KJIF" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><br /></p><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>:
The raid on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis comes as fears are mounting
that Israel will act on its plans to launch a ground invasion into
Rafah, the southernmost part of Gaza that Israel had previously declared
a safe zone.</b></p>
<p><b>Over half of Gaza’s population, some 1.4 million people, including
over 600,00 children, are crammed into Rafah after being displaced from
their homes and driven south during Israel’s brutal assault. There are
now massive tent encampments pushing up to the Egyptian border.</b></p>
<p><b>International pressure is mounting for Israel to call off its ground
invasion. The U.N.’s top humanitarian official, Martin Griffiths, said
that an assault on Rafah, quote, “could lead to a slaughter.”</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: We go now to Rafah, where we’re joined by journalist Akram al-Satari.</b></p>
<p><b>Akram, welcome back to <em>Democracy Now!</em> We have just heard
these chilling reports from inside Nasser Hospital right before Israel
occupied it and the bombing of it. You’ve sent out a picture of some of
the ammunition used by the Israeli military. Explain what happened
inside and also what’s happening around you in Rafah.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKRAM</span> AL-<span class="caps">SATARRI</span>:
Well, the situation continues to be extremely dire in the vicinity and
inside Nasser medical complex. The Israeli occupation forces have been
targeting the vicinity of the area, including some of the <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>
shelters not far away from the hospital. They are destroying and they
were destroying the walls of the hospital, the exterior wall of the
hospital. They targeted the wards of the hospital. They’re in wards of
the hospital. They targeted the surgery department in the hospital and
injured at least one surgeon while he was inside the surgery department.</b></p>
<p><b>They asked people to leave the hospital, and when they were leaving
the hospital, they shot them dead. They asked one guy, whose hands were
tied, and he was sent to the people inside the hospital, to the
internally displaced people, asking them to leave the hospital. And
then, when he ended up speaking to the people and returning to the
Israelis, because he was fearful from death, he was killed, and he was
left on the ground.</b></p>
<p><b>Around 80 bodies are laid right in front of the outer gate of the
Nasser Hospital, up to some 200 meters away from the hospital. Fear,
death and shock are enclaving and encircling the people in that area.
The Israeli occupation forces continue their operation, continue
targeting Nasser Hospital, continue to ask people to leave, and then
when they are leaving, they snipe them. There are some disturbing images
and footage of the people — of the bodies of the people being eaten and
devoured by the dogs and by the stray cats. People who were just
communicating with their relatives were describing the horrors, and they
were also documenting those horrors.</b></p>
<p><b>Israel continues to target the hospitals. They target Nasser
Hospital, and they are still targeting Al-Amal Hospital not far away
from Nasser Hospital, around one, 1.5, two, 2.5 kilometers, in Al-Amal
neighborhood. And they continue the very same policy, the policy of
targeting the medical complexes, targeting the medical personnel,
targeting the patients, targeting the escorts, and spreading the fear
and destruction in that area. Some of the people who were inside Khan
Younis were rushing, were pulling the beds of their dears, some of them
in the orthopedic department that was targeted, some of them in the
general surgery department. And they were carrying or pulling the beds
for around five or six or seven kilometers to reach Rafah.</b></p>
<p><b>As you can see, now the Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital, where I am
located now, has been receiving numbers of the people who were inside
Nasser Hospital and Al-Amal Hospital. They received them. They are
trying to expand the bed capacity of the hospital. They are trying to
accommodate to the influx of people who are fleeing from Nasser
Hospital, who are fleeing for their safety, who are fleeing for their
life. And they end up staying in tents like those, where sanitation is
at question, where the quality of the medical care provision is at
question, too, where the large number of people who are already staying
inside the hospital prevent them from absorbing or accommodating any
other additional number of people injured. The health system at large
has been struggling.</b></p>
<p><b>The infrastructure of the whole city of Rafah cannot absorb or
accommodate the large number of Palestinians inside Rafah. Around 1.2
million Palestinians were staying in Rafah. Now tens of thousands of
them are leaving Rafah and heading towards Khan Younis and towards
Gaza’s central area, with doubts of the continuous and with fear of the
looming ground invasion that is likely to be a replication of everything
that was done in Gaza in the north and everything that was done in Khan
Younis.</b></p>
<p><b>People were hopeful that the <span class="caps">ICJ</span>,
International Court of Justice, would bring them justice or would at
least make Israel reconsider its tactics when it comes to protected
objects, human objects, and health facilities, also journalists. But it
looks like Israel is continuing the very same approach. It’s continuing
the very same way of targeting. We were hopeful, as journalists, that
Israel wouldn’t be targeting Nasser Hospital or Al-Amal Hospital. But,
unfortunately, the targeting is still continuous.</b></p>
<p><b>And a large number of people, tens of thousands of people, who were
stuck in Khan Younis, are now being targeted, either by the artillery
fire or by the quadcopters or by the F-16 or by all the other means, and
they are being killed, and they are being left — even the ones who are
injured are being left to die on the ground. People were describing the
atrocities they have been seeing. People have been crying over their
dears, who were screaming for help, but they couldn’t help them. People
are now crying over their dears who are still waiting in Khan Younis and
cannot be reached, cannot be rescued, cannot be saved, and they are
likely to lose their life, like many others who lost their life the very
same way.</b></p>
<p><b>As to Rafah, Rafah is the place now for around, as I said, 1.2
million Palestinians. The area is underserved, no good infrastructure,
no organized camping, no organized tents, no organized service of
provision. And the pressure resulting from this massive number of people
is overburdening the municipalities, is overburdening the civil
defense, is overburdening the Ministry of Health and is overburdening
the international organizations. The concern has been voiced by the <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>, by the World Food Programme, by the <span class="caps">UNICEF</span>,
by the United Nations Development Programme. And they are all warning
that any ground offensive targeting Rafah is going to result in a
catastrophe, a catastrophe that is bigger and much, much more bigger
than the one that took place in Gaza in the north and the one that is
taking place right now in Khan Younis.</b></p>
<p><b>People in Gaza believe that no single international power is able now
to bring an end to the ongoing misery that has been caused by the
ongoing occupation and the indiscriminate — this indiscriminate
targeting, as described by some of the Palestinians. Some of them are
already on the beds recovering. Some of them are struggling for their
life. And some of them are deprived from the very basic humanitarian
need to food and water. Water is missing in Gaza. Food is missing in
Gaza. And people have been struggling, not for their own food need, but,
rather, for their children’s food need, for the elderly people’s food
need. So, the situation is dire. And it continues to aggravate into
something that is extremely life-threatening, that needs an imminent
— that needs an imminent intervention for the sake of stopping any
atrocities that are likely to happen and stopping the atrocities that
are taking place now.</b></p>
<p><b>And I’m quoting many of the Gazans that I spoke to, many of the ones
who are worried about their dears, many of the ones who are worried also
about their own safety, many of the ones who are worried about the
future and what it holds for them. They think it is about time that
something happens. They think they have suffered enough. They think they
have died enough. They think they have been hungry enough. They think
they have been thirsty enough. They think they have been homeless
enough. And this is the outcry not only of the 1.2 million Gazans who
are staying in Rafah, but also of [inaudible] million Gazans who are in
Gaza in the north, who are in [inaudible] in Khan Younis, and who are in
Rafah. People have been deprived from the access to very basic,
essential food supplies and water supplies. They have been struggling.
They have been facing famine. They have been seeing children who are
dying from the hunger. And this is an outcry from them to the whole
world that this needs to stop. And the madness that is taking place in
Gaza — and I’m again quoting the people who are talking to me — the
madness needs to come to an end.</b></p>
<p><b>As I’m talking to you, the unmanned drones are hovering all around
the Gaza Strip, day and night, continuous bombardment in different parts
of Rafah, in different parts of Gaza Strip at large, and they continue
to take the lives and hopes of the Palestinians. Palestinians who are
living in Rafah and who are living in Gaza alike have been exhausting
all the negative and positive coping mechanisms. The number of people
who are injured is unconceivable. The number of people killed, and the
way they are being killed, is also unconceivable. And people continue to
suffer. And they expect that more suffering is coming, if the
international community fails once again to protect them.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>:
Akram al-Satarri, if you could — you, yourself, right now are standing
outside a hospital. We can hear possibly a drone overhead. If you could
describe the situation there? And you mentioned how people,
Palestinians, there are lacking even the most basic essentials — food,
water. Tell us what humanitarian aid is getting in, if any.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKRAM</span> AL-<span class="caps">SATARRI</span>:
Well, I can describe the situation. I will have to describe the way I’m
feeling about things and how things are unfolding. Every single time I
walk one step in Gaza, I always imagine myself being blown up by an
unmanned drone or by F-16 missile or by a quadcopter or by whatever
weapon that is used by Israel. Every time I’m walking and every single
home I pass by, I feel that this home might be targeted, and I might be
ending up dying and killed under the rubble of that house, every single
place I stay. I moved from my home six times. So I am homeless and
displaced six times now. And I’m waiting what would happen in Rafah.</b></p>
<p><b>People in Rafah, as I told you, people are deprived from everything,
even the very basic, essential things, the very essential things that
are needed to lead a normal life or a seminormal life or a life of
internally displaced people. Even the internally displaced people in
Gaza are unique and different than any other internally displaced people
all over the world. All over the world, people are receiving and
accessing food and water supplies, according to the Sphere book. The
Sphere book is a book that has been developed for the sake of just
identifying the quantities that are needed and the calories that are
needed for the people to stay alive at a time of famine or at a time of
conflict, man-made or natural disaster. So, people are not even
accessing that very limited — the threshold of food that is needed for
the people in Gaza is not met, because the U.N. agencies that have been
helping the Gazans are now tarnished, are now assaulted, are now
attacked, and now the funding that is going to them is suspended.</b></p>
<p><b>So, people in Rafah and other areas have to do what they — what would
they have to do to survive? Some of the people in the Gaza in the north
had to do to use to food — to feed, of the animals, to ground it, the
corn, to ground it, to make sure that they can bake some bread for their
families. They don’t have rice. They don’t have water. They don’t have
canned food. They don’t have anything.</b></p>
<p><b>And they have been calling for the world to stop that. And they have
been even — the very emotional thing about that is that everything that
is happening, including the most and profoundly shocking things, are
happening live on air. People are just documenting their death. People
are documenting their suffering. People are documenting their hunger.
People are documenting their thirst. People are documenting their
injury. People even documenting the hospitals when they are being raided
and stormed in by the Israeli occupation forces. And the whole world —
they have a feeling that the whole world is watching and that it’s not
doing anything. And that feeling of helplessness is another way to kill
the Palestinians. So, if they’re killed once, they are killed twice
— once by the ongoing bombardment that has been taking place, that has
been documented, and the second time by not offering the fitting homage
for those people by serving justice and by stopping aggression, like was
said by the many people that I talked to.</b></p>
<p><b>The situation is extremely dire. You will never be able to imagine
the things that are happening, when you’re walking down the streets;
when you see small children out crying for food; when you see lining up
hundreds of people for a very limited one pot of rice or one pot of
food, and they are struggling to get some of that to bring back to their
families; when you see small children staying unaccompanied because
they lost their whole family; when you see one man who buried his whole
family and who’s walking down the street, like, losing his mind because
he lost all that he dreamt would grow up with him, which is his children
— he lost his wife, he lost his father, he lost his mother, he lost his
house, he lost any hope in life that he can clutch to. I saw many
people talking to themselves down the streets. I saw many people crying
because they have no one to cry to. They have no shoulder to cry over.
They have no one to look after them. They have no one to console them.
They have no one even to offer them some kind word to look after them.
And they are going to — and they are driven insane because of that.
Situation is unconceivable. It has affected all aspects of life of
Gazans. And it continues to affect them. And it has destroyed many
lives, and it continues to destroy life. And it is likely to destroy any
hope that Gaza would survive. And I think this is the plan, to break
Gaza and to make Gaza uninhabitable and to destroy any possibility for
Gazans to relive or to rebuild or to just retake their life again.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Gaza now has the highest percentage of people facing acute food
insecurity anywhere in the world. Finally, Akram al-Satarri, as we watch
you on the ground there in Rafah — and we thank you and your cameraman
— we understand the very serious risks you face. I’m wondering if you
question whether even to wear the vest you are wearing that says
“press,” in light of the latest news just this week, bringing to
possibly over 120 the number of Gaza-based journalists killed. The
Israeli drones struck a pair of Al Jazeera journalists on Tuesday,
seriously injuring correspondent Ismail Abu Omar — he’s had his leg
amputated — and his cameraman, Ahmad Matar. They’re in European
Hospital. Then you have yesterday, Palestinian journalist Mutaz
Al-Ghafari killed in Gaza City in an Israeli airstrike that also killed
his wife and his child. Did you know these reporters? How are you
protecting yourself?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKRAM</span> AL-<span class="caps">SATARRI</span>:
Well, as a matter fact, Ahmad Matar is a friend of mine. The last time I
shook hands with him was three days ago. He shook my hand. But,
unfortunately, he has no hand now, because his hand and his arm was
amputated, and he’s struggling for his life right now. He’s one of my
neighbors. He’s one of my friends. I know him very well. He’s such a
very nice and kind person. I know also Ismail Abu Omar, the one who’s
struggling for his life now because of unexpected hemorrhage because of
his injury. I know many other journalists who were targeted and killed
because of the Israeli ongoing bombardment. I know they have lives. I
know they have families. I know they have a career that should be
protected, according to Geneva Conventions. And I know they were
targeted and killed despite the fact that they are protected.</b></p>
<p><b>And I know also that it’s not only the journalists who were killed.
There are also some humanitarian aid people who were killed. There were
also some <span class="caps">UNRWA</span> people who were working to
serve the population that is displaced, and they were killed also. I
know many other people who were caring for other people, and they ended
up being killed. The killing is massive. The killing is thorough. And I
think no one in Gaza is protected, no safe haven. And I think there is
— every single person in Gaza now lacks that sense of safety and
security. And we all understand that we are going to be suspended killed
people, and we know it’s just a matter of time when Israel will reach
any one of us and would kill any one of us, either our dreams or
ourselves or our families or our friends or our acquaintances.</b></p>
<p><b>This is the situation. It is as dire as it sounds. But it’s different
when it’s felt. It’s different when it’s about the people you know.
It’s different when about the people you love. It’s different when about
the people who shake their hands, smile — shake your hands, smile at
your face, say “Good morning” or “Good afternoon” or even “Good night.”
It’s the personal stories of the people that makes us sometimes at the
verge of collapse and breaking.</b></p>
<p><b>But we understand that we have a mission to fulfill, which is to
communicate the voice of the voiceless in Gaza, which is to show the
real suffering the people has been enduring — they have been enduring,
without no guilt that have been committed by them. It’s a story of a
whole population. It’s not just Ismail or Ahmad. It’s not just Akram or
any other one. It’s a story of a whole nation that has been under
considerable fear and horror because of discriminate fire. And it’s the
duty of the world to continue to work towards ceasing the fire and
ending this atrocity now, because I think the consciousness of the world
has been stained by the ongoing atrocities. And I think the ones who
were killed, the ones who were guiltless, the ones who were hoping that
they would survive and build their life and continue growing and loving
their friends, and ended up killing, I think they deserve a fitting
homage, which is serving justice and ending this ongoing aggression and
enhancing and bringing about a ceasefire.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Akram al-Satarri, I want to thank you so much for being with us. I
can’t believe what we are talking about now, as you’re risking your life
to bring us this report. Akram is a Gaza-based journalist, joining us
from Rafah in southern Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b>Next up, <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/15/gaza_kenneth_roth">we speak with the former head of Human Rights Watch, Ken Roth</a>. Stay with us.</b></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div><div>Yesterday, Akram
al-Satarri told DEMOCRACY NOW!, " I know many other journalists who
were targeted and killed because of the Israeli ongoing bombardment. I
know they have lives. I know they have families. I know they have a
career that should be protected, according to Geneva Conventions. And I
know they were targeted and killed despite the fact that they are
protected." And the facts back him up. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.euronews.com/2024/02/15/gaza-war-propels-journalist-deaths-toward-annual-record-report">EURONEWS notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>The war in Gaza has seen journalists struggle to gain access to
crucial areas, making it hard to convey the scale of the conflict's
devastation while keeping reporters safe. But the CPJ also says that
there is evidence journalists have been specifically targeted by the
Israeli military.</b></p><p><b>"CPJ has raised concerns about the apparent
targeting of members of the media by the Israel Defense Forces and is
investigating whether a dozen journalists killed in the Israel-Gaza
war were deliberately targeted by Israeli soldiers," the NGO said in a
press release.</b></p><p><b>"As shown by CPJ’s May 2023 'Deadly
Pattern' report, the Israeli military has a long record of killing
journalists with impunity, with at least 20 journalists killed over 22
years and no one held accountable for their deaths. CPJ has demanded
swift, transparent, and independent investigations into all journalist
killings by the IDF and has repeatedly cautioned warring parties that
journalists are civilians under international law and deliberately
targeting them is a war crime."</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/15/nearly-75-of-journalists-killed-in-2023-died-in-israels-war-on-gaza-cpj">ALJAZEERA speaks with CPJ president Jodie Ginsberg and reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="p1"><b>Ginsberg said she was “disappointed … at the lack of
public solidarity that we have seen” with Palestinian journalists during
the ongoing war.</b></p>
<p class="p1"><b>She said Western “hesitancy” to show solidarity with those
targeted and killed in Gaza was “sadly unsurprising” given that Israel
is “the country, the issue that has divided international media,
international politicians more than anything”.</b></p>
<p class="p1"><b>But she emphasised: “I think it’s really important that we
let our colleagues inside Gaza as well as in the region know that we
stand with them, that we are there to support them, so that we can make
sure that press freedom and journalists are protected not just at this
crucial moment in Gaza but also globally at a time when journalists are
under threat everywhere.”</b></p></div><div><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/16/israels-war-on-gaza-live-17000-children-torn-from-parents-un-says">ALJAZEERA also notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="card-live__content"><div class="wysiwyg-content"><div class="wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content css-1kw180w" id="wysiwyg"><p><b>The
number of journalists killed in Gaza has risen to 130 since the start
of Israel’s war on the enclave, according to Gaza’s press office.</b></p>
<p><b>It released the names of the two media workers recently killed.</b></p>
<ul>
<li><b>Zaid Abu Zayed – killed in the bombing of a house in the Nuseirat camp, along with his wife and children.</b></li>
<li><b>Yasser Mamdouh – killed by an Israeli sniper in the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis.</b></li>
</ul>
<p><b>“The immense loss suffered by Palestinian journalists in this war
will have long-term impacts for journalism, not just in the Palestinian
territories but for the region and beyond. Every journalist killed is a
further blow to our understanding of the world,” said Jodie Ginsberg, of
the Committee to Protect Journalists.</b></p></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's
outrageous. And we have made clear here that we are speaking of the
Israeli government. We have made clear since this site started that a
government is not its people. (We started when Bully Boy Bush occupied
the White House and he did not represent my beliefs.) I'm bringing this
up now because to sell this criminal war a lot of supporters are trying
to make an abusive and corrupt right-wing government (that is what is
in place in Israel) synonymous with being Jewish. If you're worried
about the rise in hatred, then stop conflating the two. They are not
synonymous. Killing journalists is not something applauded by sane and
rational people of any race, any ethnicity, any country.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In his weekly column, <a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/02/16/313485/">Jeffry St. Clair (COUNTERPUNCH) writes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>First Hind Rajab went missing, then her rescuers.</b></p>
<p><b>But missing isn’t the right word. Hind is missed. So are the people who tried to save her.</b></p>
<p><b>So much depends on using the right words now. On being precise.</b></p>
<p><b>Hind didn’t go missing. Her rescuers didn’t go missing.</b></p>
<p><b>Hind was trying to escape. Her rescuers were trying to save her.</b></p>
<p><b>But you can’t escape from a tank in a small
black Kia. Not a tank filled with soldiers who’d fire on a small black
Kia, driving away from them. Not a tank armed with the latest explosive
shells provided on an emergency order by the US government. Not a tank
that would shoot at a frightened young girl.</b></p>
<p><b>Six-year-old girls who like to dress up as
princesses in pink gowns don’t simply go missing in Gaza City these
days. They don’t just disappear. They <em>are</em> disappeared.</b></p>
<p><b>Hind Rajab was in her own city when the
invaders in tanks came. What was left of it. By late January, 60 percent
of the homes in Gaza City had already been destroyed by Israeli
missiles and bombs. Hind’s own kindergarten, which she’d recently
graduated from had been blown up, as had so many other schools, places
of learning, places of shelter and places of safety in Gaza City. (78%
of school buildings in Gaza have been directly hit or damaged amid
Israel’s incessant bombing, according to a new report by Relief.net. The
162 school buildings directly hit served more than 175,000 kids.)</b></p>
<p><b>But to be a child in Gaza City now is to be
a target. There are no safe streets, no sanctuaries. The places where
you once felt most at home are now the most likely to be bombed. There
are no escape routes. Every corner you turn might put you face-to-face
with a tank or in the laser-sights of a sniper or under a Hermes drone.</b></p>
<p><b>Hind was missed, but she wasn’t missing.
Hind was hiding. Hiding in a car shredded by shrapnel and bullets.
Hiding in a car with dead and dying relatives: her aunt, her uncle,
three of her cousins. Hiding in a car bleeding from wounds to her back,
her hands and her foot. Hiding with her 15-year-old cousin Layan
Hamadeh, who was also hurt, bleeding and terrified.</b></p>
<p><b>Layan had grabbed her dead father’s phone
and called the Red Crescent Society. She begged them to come rescue her
and Hind. “They are shooting at us,” Layan pleaded. “The tank is right
next to me. We’re in the car, the tank is right next to us.” Then there
was the sound of gunfire and the line went silent. The dispatcher asked,
“Hello? Hello?” There was no answer. The connection had cut out.</b></p>
<p><b>The Red Crescent operator called back. Hind
answered. She told them Layan had been shot. She told them everyone
else in the car was now dead. She stayed on the line for three hours.
The dispatcher read her lines from the Koran to calm her.</b></p>
<p><b>“I’m so scared,” Hind said. “Please come, come take me. You will come and take me?”</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>No
sane person applauds the way Hind suffered or the way she died. And
the media needs to stop conflating the illegal and brutal actions
carried out by the Israeli government with the Jews of the world. They
are not one and the same. And this effort to portray them as such -- an
effort at propaganda to drive up support for the slaughter of Gaza --
only endangers Jewish people around the world. (The Debra Messings also
endanger the Jewish people around the world but there's no hope for the
criminally insane or, in Debra's case, the criminally stupid.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 133 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20240215-%F0%9F%94%B4-live-canada-australia-nz-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-ahead-of-rafah-assault">FRANCE 24 notes</a>, "at least 28,663 people have been killed and 68,395 wounded in <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/tag/israel/" target="_self">Israeli</a> strikes on the enclave since October 7, the vast majority women and children." Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div><div><br /></div><div>The assault on Gaza includes the
assault on many, many hospitals. This week, we can especially
add Nasser Hospital to the list of medical facilities assaulted by the
Israeli government. <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/15/nasser_hospital_stormed_gaza">From yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /></div></div><div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yO6SAuM9w8Y?si=ORg-CMdFktRQtrAz" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><div> </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>:
Israeli troops stormed the main hospital in southern Gaza today after a
dayslong siege. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis was the largest
functional hospital in Gaza. Thousands of displaced Palestinians have
been taking shelter there among hundreds of wounded.</b></p>
<p><b>Gaza’s Health Ministry spokesperson, Ashraf al-Qidra, said in a
statement that Israeli forces demolished the southern wall of the
complex and stormed the hospital, adding that they turned it into a
military barracks. He said troops targeted ambulances, tents of the
displaced, and bulldozed mass graves inside the hospital. Israeli troops
have also ordered medical staff to transfer all patients to another
wing of the complex, including patients in the intensive care unit and
the nursery. Hours earlier, Israeli forces bombed a wing of the
hospital, killing one patient and wounding several others.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: <em>Democracy Now!</em>
was able to receive updates from inside Nasser Hospital several hours
before Israeli troops stormed inside. Dr. Khaled Alserr is one of the
last remaining surgeons inside the hospital. He described the bombing of
the hospital, as well as an incident when a quadcopter drone opened
fire on doctors inside. You can hear the bombs falling in the background
as he speaks.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b>DR. <span class="caps">KHALED</span> <span class="caps">ALSERR</span>:
There was a direct bombing to the hospital. They forced people inside
the hospital, including patients, relatives — oh, Allah — patients,
relatives and healthcare workers, to evacuate immediately. And you can
hear in the background the continuous bombing in the hospital.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Every minute and every hour, we have a new update. Just one hour ago
— now the time here is 3 a.m., after midnight. At 2 a.m., Israeli army
bombed the hospital directly with a rocket, which hit directly into the
patient wards. Six patients were injured again, and one of the patients
died on his bed.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Israeli army is trying to communicate with the people inside the
hospital every time to warn them and threaten them to evacuate
immediately, even if it’s after midnight. The speakers on the drone
shouting on people that they have to go out the hospital immediately, or
they will bomb the hospital. And unfortunately, they have committed
their warning and bombed the hospital directly just one hour ago.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>The situation here is getting worse every time and every minute.
Yesterday I tried to evacuate my parents from the hospital, because I
have them here with me inside the hospital, but through a secure
passage, as they claim that it’s a secure passage for people and
refugees to be evacuated through, in front of tanks and snipers and
soldiers. The bulldozer and a tank tried to approach the people, so they
were afraid and came back to the hospital here, as a lot of the
refugees.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Actually, the situation here in the hospital at this moment is in
chaos. All of the patients, all the relatives, refugees and also the
medical staff are afraid because of what happened. We could not imagine
that at any time the Israeli army will bomb the hospital directly, and
they will kill patients and medical personnel directly by bombing the
hospital building. Yesterday also, Israeli snipers and Israeli
quadcopters, which is a drone, carry on it an AR, and with a sniper,
they shot all over the building. And they shot my colleague, Dr. Karam.
He has a shrapnel inside his head. I can upload for you a CT for him.
You can see, <em>alhamdulillah</em>, it was superficial, nothing serious. But a lot of bullets inside their bedroom and the restroom.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b>Because I’m not easily getting internet access, you can share my
voices or edit them to spread the news and spread the truth and what’s
happening to us right now.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>:
That was Dr. Khaled Alserr, one of the last remaining surgeons inside
Nasser Hospital. Israeli troops stormed the hospital a few hours after
he sent in those reports.</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div>On the continued assault on the hospital, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/oxygen-nasser-hospital">Jake Johnson (COMMON DREAMS) reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b> Several oxygen-dependent patients at southern Gaza's largest hospital
died Friday due to a power outage at the facility, which Israeli forces <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/idf-storms-nasser-hospital" target="_blank">raided and shelled</a> 24 hours earlier as thousands of people who were sheltering at the complex scrambled to flee.
</b></p><p><b>
Gaza's Ministry of Health <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.facebook.com/MOHGaza1994/posts/pfbid02ZaXodRGfex7Krxw6wNpZDPY8aBH4pLhemEus1tR4E3xRKLQXakbLPCurTExU3QHkl" target="_blank">wrote on social media</a>
that at least five patients have died at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis
"as a result of a power outage" and the shutoff of electric generators,
which medical facilities across the Palestinian enclave have relied on
to keep their operations running amid Israel's massive bombing campaign,
ground assault, and blockade.
</b></p><p><b>
Israel has only allowed <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-allow-two-fuel-trucks-day-into-gaza-official-says-2023-11-17/" target="_blank">limited fuel</a> into <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a>, forcing many of the territory's hospitals to <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/21/no-functional-hospital-left-in-northern-gaza-who-says" target="_blank">shut down</a>.</b> </p></div><div><br /></div><div>This
insanity has to stop. The world is demanding it stop -- even when
world leaders aren't listening. It has to stop. This is going to be a
very shameful time when people look back at this. The right-wing,
corrupt government of Israel is terrorizing a people, is a murdering a
people, is targeting a people. In full view, as the world watches this
is taking place and it is outrageous. <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68306915">Jake Horton and Daniele Palumbo (BBC NEWS) report</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b class="sc-7dcfb11b-0 kVRnKf">New satellite images reveal large craters in the city of Rafah in southern Gaza following Israeli strikes. </b></p></section><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b>Some of the craters are only about 130m (426ft) away from rows of tents, where many people displaced by the war are sheltering.</b></p></section></div><div>It
is a densely populated area. There's no way you can be dropping bombs
there and keeping civilians safe. Let's all stop indulging the liars
and admit that this is terrorizing a people, this is targeting a
people. This is not an action of peace or, for that matter, a sane
action. This is criminal. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-02-16-24/index.html">CNN reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Displaced
Palestinian woman Daiana Al-Bukhari told CNN’s Michael Holmes on Friday
that people in the southern Gaza city of Rafah were living in dire
conditions and she feared they were "all going to be wiped out."</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Rafah is the <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/02/14/middleeast/rafah-international-opposition-israel-ground-offensive-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank">last major population center</a>
in Gaza that is not controlled by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The
city is now the enclave's most populated, with more than a million
people sheltering in tents and UN facilities facing severe shortages of
essentials.</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>“The
first thing I do, I think [whether] I'll get water today or not … Then I
think about food. Will we eat food today or not,” Al-Bukhari said,
adding she typically has to queue “for hours” to get bread, a shower, or
even to use the toilet.</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Al-Bukhari told Holmes she feared for the future of Palestinians in Rafah.</b></p><div class="sc-bdVaJa sc-RefOD bkVmOx"><blockquote class="sc-dnqmqq hJIoKL"><b>“I
think we’re all going to be wiped out. Can you imagine 1.5 million
refugees in such a small area like Rafah? ... I don't know what's gonna
happen. I hope [this] does not happen," 22-year-old Al-Bukhari said.</b></blockquote></div><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Looming ground offensive: Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/09/middleeast/israel-rafah-evacuation-gaza-intl/index.html" target="_blank">directed the country’s military</a> to
plan for the “evacuation of the population” from Rafah after saying the
IDF would “soon go into Rafah, Hamas’s last bastion."</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>His plan has <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-02-16-24/h_82bf8655151c747ef1c02ab1551fe6a9" target="_blank">drawn</a> international <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-02-16-24/h_2fe29103f6a6acc97158aa5a7cea0cd4" target="_blank">criticism</a>. </b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Al-Bukhari’s
regular updates on life in Gaza have attracted a large following on
social media, including over 70,000 followers on Instagram. </b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>When
asked what she would like to tell people across the world, she said to
“trust the stories and evidence of Palestinians in Gaza.”</b></p></div><div><br /></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IaNHVspn-Yc?si=SdFEVW4SAc8_hg2A" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
<div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/15/gaza_kenneth_roth">That's Kenneth Roth on yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a>
and we don't have space or time for the transcript this morning. We
don't have space for a lot lately. Jon Stewart will be addressed at
THIRD. I did write about it this week to go up here -- well dictated it
-- and we tried to squeeze it in yesterday with no luck and again
today. So it'll just go to THIRD and be a post over there. Anyone
wondering or confused, no, I'm not piling on Jon and I'm bothered by the
nonsense some people are pulling.</div><div><br /></div><div><br />We have to deal with another issue and it'll be quick and way too brief. Trina's covered an appalling assault on a
child:</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="widget-content" id="Feed1_feedItemListDisplay"><ul><li><span class="item-title"><a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_01086588801.html" target="_self">Iraq snapshot</a></span></li><li><span class="item-title"><a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/jess-glynne-enough-official-video.html" target="_self">Jess Glynne - Enough (Official Video)</a></span></li><li><span class="item-title"><a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/israels-war-on-gaza-day-132-latest.html" target="_self">Israel's War on Gaza... Day 132... The LATEST UPDATES (02/15/24)</a></span></li><li><span class="item-title"><a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/outside-of-their-damn-minds-tenn-house.html" target="_self">Outside Of Their DAMN Minds: Tenn. House Repubs BLOCK Black Grammy Winner
Resolution | Roland Martin</a></span></li><li><span class="item-title"><a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/taylor-swift-celine-dion-matteo-lane.html" target="_self">Taylor Swift & Celine Dion - Matteo Lane & Nick Smith / I Never Liked You
Podcast Ep 11</a></span></li></ul></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Utah's
Natalie Cline, an adult, let her hatred run and free and targeted a
girl. She didn't think the girl was a girl. So she thought she'd put
her on blast and try to ruin her life. If the girl had been trans,
Natalie moves would still be disgusting. Adults do not target
children. Adults do not whip up a frenzy to create a mob that goes
after children. The girl's life became horrible and she required police
protection at school. There's no excuse for what Natalie Cline did. </div><div><br /></div><div>I would've liked to have had space here to cover
that and I'm glad that Trina covered it. Iraq has largely moved into
the community newsletters (my coverage of it) due to the assault on
Gaza. But I do want to weigh in on Moms For Bigotry and the others who
try to ban books and render LGBTQ+ people invisible.</div><div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">I want us all to grasp what these parents are saying which is:</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><b>I
am the worst parent in the world. I can neither manage nor raise my
child. I need the nanny state to do the work for me. Yes, the nanny
state that I deride and mock and throw fits over. That's because I am a
lousy parent and my children will not listen to me -- not even on
something as simple as, "I don't want you to read this book." I am a
lousy parent who cannot set boundaries or deliver effective punishments
-- this despite the fact that my neighbors report me for beating my
children. I am just that lousy and that lazy. So since I'm not able
to do my job, I need all of you to do it for me. I'm a lousy parent and
a pathetic cry baby.</b></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">So
the next time you hear these Moms For Bigotry targeting a school library
or regular library, just grasp that they've failed as parents and offer
them a sympathetic nod while encouraging them to please, for the sake
of society, not have any more children.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"> The following sites updated:</div></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><h2 class="title"></h2>
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7 hours ago
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7 hours ago
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THIS JUST IN! MTG: FAT AND SMELLU
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The Supreme Court, Donald Trump And The 2024 Election
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15 hours ago </div></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-48061167414071881672024-02-16T01:46:00.000-05:002024-02-16T01:46:24.521-05:00Chickpea Salad in the Kitchen<p> Loraine e-mailed to note <a href="https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a42939128/chickpea-salad-recipe/">The Pioneer Woman's recipe for Chickpea Salad</a>:</p><p><br /></p><div class="css-1nrgze0 e7k5zd2"><h2 class="css-17384kz eno1xhi6"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Ingredients</span></h2></div><div class="ingredients-body css-0 eno1xhi4"><div class="css-0 eno1xhi3"><h3 class="css-fio36n eno1xhi5"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">For the salad:</span></h3><ul class="ingredient-lists css-xm7ys2 eno1xhi2"><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>15-ounce cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed</b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>6 oz. </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>feta, cubed</b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>English cucumber, cut into half moons</b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 pt. </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>cherry tomatoes, halved</b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>orange bell pepper, diced</b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1/2 </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>small red onion, thinly sliced</b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2 </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>avocados, cubed</b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 c. </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>chopped Italian parsley</b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1/2 c. </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>torn basil</b></span></p></li></ul></div><div class="css-0 eno1xhi3"><h3 class="css-fio36n eno1xhi5"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">For the dressing:</span></h3><ul class="ingredient-lists css-xm7ys2 eno1xhi2"><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1/3 c. </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>olive oil</b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3 tbsp. </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>red wine vinegar</b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2 tbsp. </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>fresh lemon juice</b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>grated garlic clove</b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1/2 tsp. </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>kosher salt</b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1/4 tsp. </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>ground black pepper </b></span></p></li><li class="css-1dqk1tm eno1xhi1"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1/4 tsp. </b></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>red pepper flakes</b></span></p></li></ul></div></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></p><h2 class="css-1jnw1e0 evb48wp5"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Directions</span></h2><ul class="directions css-j01fd6 evb48wp4"><li class="css-1vobrp0 evb48wp3"><ol class="css-9wvcvc et3p2gv0"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-0 eagam8p0"></span><span class="css-e01yau evb48wp0">1 </span><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-13o7eu2 eagam8p1"></span>For
the salad: In a large bowl, fold together the chickpeas, feta,
cucumber, tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion, avocado, parsley, and basil.</b></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-0 eagam8p0"></span><span class="css-e01yau evb48wp0">2 </span><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-13o7eu2 eagam8p1"></span>For
the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar,
lemon juice, garlic, salt, black pepper, and pepper flakes until
combined. Pour over the salad and gently fold to combine. Serve
immediately.</b></span></li></ol></li></ul><p><br /></p><p>Loraine wondered if I watched The Pioneer Woman anymore?</p><p><br /></p><p>No. </p><p><br /></p><p>And that has nothing to do with Ree Drummond. I think she has great recipes and I think she does a great job on her show making it fun and easy to follow. </p><p><br />Why don't I watch anymore?</p><p><br /></p><p>Valerie Bertinelli. </p><p><br /></p><p>This is why The Food Network had to fire Valerie. </p><p><br /></p><p>Valerie brought her husband on, brought her step-children on, made them part of the show, so wonderful, so happy, great people . . . Oops now I hate him so let me say awful things about him.</p><p><br /></p><p>She's a damn fake ass.</p><p><br /></p><p>Ree? I think she loves Ladd (her husband) and her family. But after that performance and all those lies from Valerie, it does make me not to want to buy the image. </p><p><br /></p><p>And that's why they had to fire Valerie and why they were right to fire her.</p><p><br /></p><p>Her little stunt destroyed the brand.</p><p><br /></p><p>I used to watch Valerie and then Ree -- usually on Sundays -- right in a row and I enjoyed both programs.</p><p><br /></p><p>But to watch a liar attack her ex -- that she suddenly doesn't love when she's trying to pretend she's Eddie Van Halen's widow (she wasn't, he had a wife of many years when he died) -- and to know that she's attacking him publicly in a way that's hurtful to the people who were her step-kids?</p><p><br /></p><p>She crossed a line and then some. </p><p><br /></p><p>Ree hasn't. And I'm sure she's authentic and real. But Valerie destroyed The Food Network for me and I'm still not able to go back.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>News? In an update to a story that we've been following, <a class="yiv9884272720ydp51431b88yiv4714396589" href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/utah-school-board-seeks-resignation-of-member-who-questioned-athlete-s-gender/ar-BB1il2OV?cvid=d936ea494e83404cd8f1bbb596ecda7d&ei=29" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AP reports</a>:</p><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="ltr"><div><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Utah State Board of Education has voted to censure and seek the resignation of a board member whose social media post <a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-athlete-utah-school-board-member-governor-0aefa9baeb3cb5787687c8db02bf6241" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">questioning the gender</a> of a high school basketball player incited threats against the girl.</span></b></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
board voted unanimously Wednesday to reprimand and censure board member
Natalie Cline and ask for her resignation by Feb. 19. The board will no
longer allow her to attend meetings, serve on committees or put items
on the agenda.</span></b></p></div><span style="color: #2b2b2b;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Utah
Republican Gov. Spencer Cox had urged the board to take action against
Cline, saying she embarrassed the state. The censure resolution said
that any authority to impeach or remove Cline from the elected board
rests with the Legislature.</span></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="color: #2b2b2b;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></span></div><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_01278335499.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Thursday:</p><p><br /></p>
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Thursday, February 15, 2024. On campuses and around the world, at the
Vatican, at the Arab League the assault on Gaza is being rightly called
out.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Kenneth Roth -- former executive director of Human Rights Watch -- Tweets:</div><div><br /><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1758089348497494239" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1758089348497494239&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%3Fupdated-max%3D2024-02-15T13%3A00%3A00-08%3A00%26max-results%3D3%26start%3D6%26by-date%3Dfalse&sessionId=a019a456da1d69591ad13feab7d14cffc0419e47&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 712px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> </div><div><br /></div><div>Kenneth is now a professor at Princeton and on the topic of colleges, CIA-farmer/recruiter MIT is in the news with <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/mit-suspends-student-group-for-protesting-against-israels-military-campaign-in-gaza/articleshow/107713665.cms">THE TIMES OF INDIA noting</a>,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has supsended a student
group, the Coalition Against Apartheid (CAA), for organizing a
demonstration [. . . .] against the possiblity of an Israeli military
ground invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza [which] occured amidst ongoing
nationwide university protests against the war." And, still on campus
actions, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/joe-biden-on-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>More than <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1rgigYoedD9KauZW0fHIROS2XgeQsjNoW1awxLB-WcBc/preview?urp=gmail_link" target="_blank">3,600</a>
university and college faculty, instructors, fellows, and research
associates from across the United States have signed on to a Wednesday <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.newenglandscholarsspeak.org/" target="_blank">letter</a> urging U.S. President Joe Biden to prevent genocide in Israel's war on the <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a> Strip.</b></p><p><b>After detailing how the Israeli assault has <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/famine-gaza-ceasefire?draft=1" target="_blank">devastated</a>
Gaza, the scholars wrote that "we therefore urge your administration to
apply human rights, international humanitarian law, and U.S. pressure
consistently, not only when it comes to the attacks committed by Hamas
or other militants on <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231215-israel-social-security-data-reveals-true-picture-of-oct-7-deaths" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">October 7, 2023</a>, which killed an estimated 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals, including 36 children."</b></p><p><b>"Upholding
this basic moral and legal principle demands that American officials
also condemn the Israeli military's siege and bombardment of Gaza that
has <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-109?_gl=1*1y34xt6*_ga*MTg1NjQ2Nzg2LjE2OTgzMjU1NzQ.*_ga_E60ZNX2F68*MTcwNjk2NDIxOC4zNi4wLjE3MDY5NjQyMTguNjAuMC4w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">now</a> killed over 27,000 Palestinians, including <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.savethechildren.net/news/gaza-10000-children-killed-nearly-100-days-war" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">at least</a>
10,000 children," the scholars asserted. "Yet, Mr. President, you have
not only failed to condemn the ongoing massacre in Gaza. You have
enabled it."</b></p></div><div>[. . .]</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>The scholars are calling on Biden to:</b></p><ul class="ee-ul"><li><b>Demand an immediate and permanent cease-fire and an end to Israel's blockade of Gaza;</b></li><li><b>Call for the peaceful release of all hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian political prisoners through further negotiations;</b></li><li><b>Refrain from <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/12/opinion/israel-icj-genocide-south-africa.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">dismissing</a> legal proceedings underway at the ICJ;</b></li><li><b>Support the authority of the ICJ and the <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.icc-cpi.int/about/the-court" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">International Criminal Court</a> (ICC) to investigate alleged genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes; </b></li><li><b>Restore funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/palestine">Palestine</a> Refugees (UNRWA); and </b></li><li><b>Halt the transfer of weapons, munitions, and other military equipment to any parties of the conflict.</b></li></ul><p><b>"We are not alone in our concerns," the scholars stressed, pointing to an October warning from <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://legalscholarceasefire.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">over 300 U.S. legal experts</a> about supporting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war, a November request from <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_president_biden_on_gaza.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">26 U.S. senators</a> for assurances about the legality and viability of Israel's military operations, and a December <em>New York Times</em> opinion piece in which <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/opinion/international-world/us-government-gaza-humanitarian-aid.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">humanitarian leaders</a> described the nightmare conditions in Gaza and argued that "the U.S. government must act now."</b></p><p><b>"Mr.
President, with all due respect, there is simply no explanation that PM
Netanyahu—or you—could offer to justify this ongoing massacre and <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/01/over-one-hundred-days-war-israel-destroying-gazas-food-system-and" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">weaponization of humanitarian aid</a> against the people of Gaza," the scholars wrote Wednesday</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20240215-%F0%9F%94%B4-live-canada-australia-nz-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-ahead-of-rafah-assault">FRANCE 24 notes</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><li></li> <li><b>The
leaders of Canada, Australia and New Zealand on Thursday called for an
immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, according to a joint statement
released in response to reports about Israel's planned military
operation in Rafah.</b></li> <li><b>The 22 Arab countries at the United Nations also urged the UN Security Council to demand an immediate ceasefire in <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/tag/gaza-strip/" target="_self">Gaza</a>.</b></li></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/15/israels-war-on-gaza-live-four-dead-as-israel-hits-city-in-lebanons-south">ALJAZEERA notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>The head of the Arab League warned an Israeli ground offensive into
Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah would lead to “a humanitarian
disaster” and threaten stability in the region.</b></p>
<p><b>“We are calling on all parties that understand the gravity of the
situation to act immediately in order to stop these crazy plans,” Arab
League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said in a statement.</b></p>
<p><b>More than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has sought refuge in Rafah after fleeing elsewhere in the coastal enclave.</b></p>
<p><b>“What is the meaning of justice and international organisations if
they remain unable to enforce a ceasefire and to put an end to these
daily gruesome massacres?” he said.</b></p><p><br /></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 132 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20240215-%F0%9F%94%B4-live-canada-australia-nz-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza-ahead-of-rafah-assault">FRANCE 24 notes</a>, "at least 28,663 people have been killed and 68,395 wounded in <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/tag/israel/" target="_self">Israeli</a> strikes on the enclave since October 7, the vast majority women and children." Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Currently, Nasser Hospital is under attack. Yesterday, <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/14/headlines">Amy Goodman (DEMOCRACY NOW!) noted</a>,
"In the city of Khan Younis, the Israeli army has forced hundreds of
patients, staff and displaced Palestinians to evacuate Nasser Hospital,
which has been under an Israeli siege for weeks. Israeli snipers killed
at least three people at the hospital on Tuesday." Today, <span class="Link"><a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-15-2024-d3a25caf6b60fe560e1a31d4f8f6b45e">Wafaa Shurafa and Bassem Mroue (AP) explain</a>,
" Israeli forces stormed the main hospital in southern Gaza on
Thursday, hours after Israeli fire killed a patient and wounded six
others inside the complex." <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/4d7e2894-e854-46a8-9d63-e08e30046feb">Two journalists at THE FINANCIAL TIMES OF LONDON manage to type</a>, "</span>During
Israel’s retaliatory air, land and sea offensive in Gaza, which has
killed more than 28,000 people, according to Palestinian officials,
Israeli forces have targeted numerous hospitals, accusing Hamas of using
medical facilities for military purposes." If that's an attempt at
context it's missing a phrase that would be "while denying they had
attacked hospitals early in the assault." Because that is what
happened.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Grasp that.</div><div><br /></div><div>An
attack on a hospital is illegal. It is against all rules of
engagement. And early on when the Israeli government was terrorizing
Gaza and attacking hospitals, they denied it. And the gullible and
whorish press would try to prop up the denial. But in a matter of
weeks, the horrors have been so outrageous that the Israeli government
doesn't even try to deny the assaults on hospitals anymore. And the
world is just in shock. It's outrageous and people need to stand trial
for it.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/middle-east/2024/0215/1432413-gaza-israel/">RTE notes</a>, "Attacks on medical facilities in Gaza have caused particular concern
throughout the conflict, including Israeli raids on hospitals in other
cities, shelling in the vicinity of hospitals and the targeting of
ambulances." <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68304979">Per the BBC</a>
" the Israeli military had demolished the southern wall of the hospital
complex and entered that way." The Israeli government wants to destroy
all of Gaza and that's obvious by what they've done. If you're not
getting how far from humanity these actions are, <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/15/middleeast/nasser-hospital-israeli-snipers-khan-younis-intl-hnk/index.html">Kareem Khadder, Lauren Izso and <span class="byline__name">Sana Noor Haq (</span>CNN) report</a>,
"The news [of the assault] came after doctors and medical officials in
southern Gaza said
Israeli snipers had shot dead a number of people as they tried to flee
the Nasser Medical Complex. An eyewitness to the shootings, who is a
trauma surgeon at the hospital, said at least two people were killed by
snipers on Tuesday, with more shot and injured." Multiple press reports
are citing an unnamed trauma surgeon at the hospital who states one of
the at least two killed was a 16-year-old boy. <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/15/israel-hamas-war-news-gaza-palestine/">Adela Suliman and Claire Parker (WASHINGTON POST) add</a>, "Updates from the Gaza Health Ministry said Israeli troops were putting
lives in danger by seeking the transfer of intensive care patients and
by instructing employees to evacuate amid bombings. It said the
emergency doctor was injured when a drone fired at the room in the
surgery department on the third floor of the Nasser Medical Complex." <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/feb/15/middle-east-crisis-live-rafah-offensive-ceasefire-talks-israel-gaza-latest-news">THE GUARDIAN notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Humanitarian chiefs stressed that states and especially <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/israel">Israel</a> could not “offload” responsibility for the horrors unfolding in Gaza onto aid workers.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>The Red Cross chief Mirjana Spoljaric told a Geneva briefing for diplomats on events in <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/gaza">Gaza</a> that their countries were responsible for ensuring the Geneva Conventions are upheld.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>“It is not in your interest to offload (that) responsibility... onto humanitarian actors,” she said.</b></p><div><b>“If
the way operations are conducted today limit our operational space to a
minimum... we will not be able to resolve the problem,” she added. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/15/israels-war-on-gaza-live-four-dead-as-israel-hits-city-in-lebanons-south">ALJAZEERA notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>In a front-page editorial in the Vatican newspaper L’Osservatore
Romano headlined “Stop the Carnage”, editorial director Andrea Tornielli
challenged Israeli leaders on the ongoing Gaza attack.</b></p>
<p><b>Tornielli quoted a Rome-based Holocaust survivor, Edith Bruck, who
has been highly critical of the Israeli government’s war, which she
blames for the rise in anti-Semitic acts against Jews around the world.</b></p>
<p><b>“No one can define what is happening in the Strip as ‘collateral
damage’ from the fight against terrorism,” Tornielli wrote. “The right
of defence, the right of Israel to ensure justice for those responsible
for the October massacre, cannot justify this carnage.”</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>From <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/14/suliman_hamed_cair">yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/II9vMBkF3lk?si=kFJyMWC20-zbokUG" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.</b></p>
<p><b>A Palestinian American detained in the West Bank by the Israeli
military last week was beaten in custody and denied medication. This is
according to her family. Samaher Esmail was detained near the Silwad
village area in the West Bank February 5th. The family said she was
dragged from her home by Israeli soldiers and badly beaten. They also
said her home was destroyed in the raid. The Israeli military confirmed
Esmail’s detention, saying she was arrested for, quote, “incitement on
social media,” but did not respond to the allegations of mistreatment
raised by the family.</b></p>
<p><b>The family is calling on the State Department to gain consular access
to her and to secure her release. At a press briefing, the State
Department said it could not address any specifics about the case.</b></p>
<p><b>Samaher Esmail’s case is just one of a number of Palestinian
Americans detained, attacked or killed, both in the occupied West Bank
and in the United States. And we’re going to go through some of those
cases.</b></p>
<p><b>We’re joined now by Samaher Esmail’s son, Suliman Hamed. He’s joining
us from New Orleans. And we’re joined from Atlanta by Edward Ahmed
Mitchell, a civil rights attorney and national deputy director of <span class="caps">CAIR</span>. That’s the Council on American-Islamic Relations.</b></p>
<p><b>We welcome you both to <em>Democracy Now!</em> Suliman, can you tell
us about your mother? Where was she when she was detained? What’s
exactly happened to her? Have you been able to communicate with her in
the Israeli jail that she’s being held?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">SULIMAN</span> <span class="caps">HAMED</span>: Hi. Yes. So, I’m Suliman Hamed. I can give you a little bit of insight on that.</b></p>
<p><b>So, it was Monday morning, February 5th, Jerusalem time. They came in
the middle of the night, raided our home, dragged her out of the house
in her pajamas, didn’t even give her a chance to wear her hijab. They
broke stuff all inside the house. They came in with muddy shoes on
purpose. And long story short, they came and took her, and ever since,
we have not had any communication with her. It’s been very traumatic,
very anxiety-inducing. Yeah, so that’s what happened.</b></p>
<p><b>And, you know, we’re hearing there’s not even a formal charge. On
Monday, the judge ruled that she’s not a security threat, and there was
no charge, so he allowed her to get put out on bail. And I’m not sure
exactly who, either the <span class="caps">IDF</span> or the Israeli
military commissions, somebody appealed it, and they have an automatic
appeal process. So, once that happened, she had to be in detention for
what I believe is at least another four days, maybe up to another week.
And from there, we’ll what — they’re just trying to find a charge now to
charge her with, even though she’s been in custody for a week. And this
past week, she’s been, you know, questioned, interrogated, all that.
You know, it seems like they’re just trying to find something to pin
her, just because they’re annoyed with her for speaking her mind. So,
yeah.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: So, when
they came into your home, there was no explanation whatever why they
were there? Or were they specifically looking for her, or were they
seeking other people when they came into your home?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">SULIMAN</span> <span class="caps">HAMED</span>:
No, no. I mean, apparently, they were looking for her, but we had no
knowledge. Like, she would have been fine with coming in. And, like, if
they had something against her, she would have definitely, like, came in
and handled the situation. But, no, we had no idea she was wanted or
they were looking for her. They did come into my village that day, and
they took multiple people, all for, what it appears to be, like, social
media, just something that they may have liked that they don’t like, you
know, something just supporting Palestine. So, that’s all I know about
that.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Well, let’s bring in Edward Ahmed Mitchell to talk about Samaher
Esmail’s case. And then we’re going to talk about the other cases.
Another young man from your community itself, from Gretna, a Palestinian
American, was just killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank.
But first, let’s continue with Samaher’s arrest. Edward Ahmed Mitchell,
you and Suliman and others held a news conference on Monday in
Washington, D.C., demanding the State Department deal with these
Palestinian Americans. Can you talk about what they’re saying about
Samaher Esmail?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">EDWARD</span> <span class="caps">AHMED</span> <span class="caps">MITCHELL</span>: Thanks for having me, Amy.</b></p>
<p><b>So, the Israeli government is completely out of control. They’re not
only committing a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, but they are
targeting, kidnapping, even killing Palestinian Americans in Gaza and
the West Bank. This attack on Samaher is just the latest example of
that.</b></p>
<p><b>And our State Department is, to be frank, not doing enough. They
claim they are working behind the scenes to look into the issue. They
made general statements about the importance of protecting American
citizens abroad. But the reality is they are not publicly condemning or
taking any concrete action to hold the Israeli government accountable
for abusing American citizens. And if even Palestinian Americans are not
safe, you can imagine that Palestinians are not safe at all.</b></p>
<p><b>And so, that’s the condition we’re in. The State Department is just
making general vague statements, you know, that they could say about
anything, boilerplate statements, but they’re not using any concrete
action to protect American citizens who are being attacked by the
Israeli government.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
We’re going to go to break and then come back to this discussion and
talk about a young man from Gretna, Louisiana, just like Samaher Esmail
is from Gretna, Louisiana, but this teen was killed. We’re talking to
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, civil rights attorney and national deputy
director of <span class="caps">CAIR</span>, the Council on American-Islamic Relations. And we’re speaking with Samaher’s son, Suliman Hamed. Stay with us.</b></p>
<p><b>[break]</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: “That Moment When” by Adnan Joubran. This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.</b></p>
<p><b>The family of — we’re looking at calls for the U.S. State Department
to address the killing, the arrests and attacks on Palestinian
Americans, both in the Occupied Territories and here at home. We just
spoke about the case of Samaher Esmail, a Palestinian American woman
from Gretna, Louisiana, forcibly taken by Israeli soldiers in the
occupied West Bank earlier this week.</b></p>
<p><b>Meanwhile, the family of two Palestinian American brothers say the
pair, their Canadian father and three other relatives have been detained
after an Israeli raid on their home in Gaza. The brothers, Borak and
Hashem Alagha, are aged 18 and 20. National security spokesperson John
Kirby said the U.S. will talk to Israel about the detention of the
brothers, as well as Samaher Esmail.</b></p>
<p><b>We also learned about the stabbing in Texas, the Sunday stabbing in
Austin, of 23-year-old Palestinian American Zacharia Doar, which is
being called a hate crime.</b></p>
<p><b>For more, we continue with Edward Ahmed Mitchell, civil rights attorney and national deputy director of <span class="caps">CAIR</span>,
the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and Suliman Hamed, Samaher
Esmail’s son. If you can talk about this arrest, killing and detention
and attacks on Palestinian Americans, what the State Department is
saying in each case? We’ve also learned about the killing of two
Palestinian American teens, one in Biddu — the State Department is just
saying they’re looking into this — as well as another young man from
Gretna.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">EDWARD</span> <span class="caps">AHMED</span> <span class="caps">MITCHELL</span>:
Amy, sadly, you have described what the State Department is saying, and
it’s what they say every time this happens — “We’re looking into it. We
care about American citizens abroad” — and that’s about all you get
from them, no condemnations of the Israeli government, no concrete
action, nothing. And so, whether it’s the shooting of the young man from
New Orleans, who was shot in the head while driving in a car with his
family, whether it’s the kidnapping of the two Palestinian Americans
from Gaza, one of them who already had a broken leg and whose home had
been destroyed twice by Israeli bombing, you don’t get much from the
State Department other than “We’re looking into it, and we care about
the safety of American citizens abroad.”</b></p>
<p><b>What they need to be doing is very clearly and explicitly condemning
the Israeli government for attacking not only American citizens who are
in Palestine, but also Palestinians in general. And as long as the
Israeli government feels that the American government will not hold them
accountable for even targeting American citizens, then, of course,
they’re going to target everyone, without any sort of — with impunity,
sadly. And that’s what we’re seeing happen.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: I wanted to
ask Suliman — the efforts by — all the attention so far in world press
coverage has been on Gaza, for the most part, not on what is happening
to Palestinians in the West Bank. You mentioned that when your mother
was taken, was arrested, there were others in your same town that were
arrested by the <span class="caps">IDF</span>. Can you talk about what life is like for those living in the West Bank today?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">SULIMAN</span> <span class="caps">HAMED</span>:
Yeah, of course. It’s filled with just humiliation, harassment by
Israeli forces. They come in — they come in in the middle of the night
and take your little boy, take your little girl, take your mom, take
your dad. They have no respect for us. They have said on record multiple
times that they see us as animals. And that’s how it feels, like we’re
second-class, even third-class citizens to them. And like you said,
like, this was all in the West Bank. This isn’t a war zone. There’s no
Hamas. There’s nothing like that over there. So, it’s just — again, they
treat us poorly.</b></p>
<p><b>And I want to actually add something, because I forgot to mention
this. But, you know, about my mom’s condition, her lawyer had said that
she had been beaten in prison. She witnessed and wrote an official
statement, that we got, to the U.S. Embassy that said that she had
bruises, black and blue all over her body, specifically on her hands and
back. She was shaking from lack of, like, I guess, medication and the
abuse she’s received. They’ve had her medication for over seven days now
— now it’s like day nine — and they still have yet to administer it.
You know, they’re just cruel. They’re cruel. And, you know, it’s not a
way to treat a person, first of all, and not a way to treat a U.S.
citizen. And I want to see the embassy, you know, speak up about that
and —</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: I want to go —</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">SULIMAN</span> <span class="caps">HAMED</span>: — go see my mom.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: I want to go to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller addressing reporters on Tuesday.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">MATTHEW</span> <span class="caps">MILLER</span>:
When we see reports of U.S. citizens that have been detained, have been
arrested, that have been killed, have been in any way potentially
mistreated, we first gather information. If it’s appropriate, we ask for
a full investigation. If that investigation shows that there ought to
be accountability, we call for accountability measures. I will also
state that when it comes to activity in Israel, we — the United States
has shown that it is willing to impose its own accountability measures
when we think it’s appropriate.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
So, that’s Matthew Miller. And I want to address this to the lawyer,
looking also at the case of Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, the 17-year-old
Palestinian American shot and killed in the occupied West Bank last
week. Tawfic was born, again, in Gretna, Louisiana, across the river
from New Orleans. He and his family returned frequently to their
ancestral home in the village of al-Mazra’a ash-Sharqiya in the occupied
West Bank. On January 19, Tawfic and a friend were driving in a pickup
truck on a dirt road near the village when they came under fire from at
least 10 shots hitting the truck. One of the bullets struck the Tawfic
in the head. The car skidded off the road, flipped several times before
coming to a stop. He was pronounced dead when he was brought to the
hospital in Ramallah. Israeli police didn’t identify who fired the
shots, but described incident as, quote, “ostensibly involving an
off-duty law enforcement officer, a soldier and a civilian.” The White
House has called for a transparent investigation into the killing.
Edward Ahmed Mitchell, if you can tell us more about this case? And then
we’ll talk about just what happened outside Austin, Texas, a case
you’re representing, as well.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">EDWARD</span> <span class="caps">AHMED</span> <span class="caps">MITCHELL</span>:
Right. So, it’s been almost a month since that young man was shot in
the head and killed. Has the State Department done anything more? Has
the Israeli government announced charges against those responsible? No,
because they’re not going to do it. You don’t ask the abuser to
investigate himself. What the State Department is doing is releasing
boilerplate statements after these incidents occur, and then nothing
happens.</b></p>
<p><b>And you know this because you can go back even further. We all
remember the assassination of Shireen Abu Akleh, what, a few years ago.
Has anyone been charged with killing her? Has the Israeli government
held anyone accountable? No. In fact, the Israeli government has said
they’re not going to charge anyone with killing her, even though it was a
sniper who did it, she was wearing a press vest, and even the people
who tried to save her were then shot at. The Israeli government is not
going to hold itself accountable. Only the American government can do
that, but the American government is refusing to do so.</b></p>
<p><b>And so, whether it’s, again, the young man who was shot in the head,
the two people who were kidnapped in Gaza, or Samaher, who was kidnapped
in the West Bank, you see the same pattern over and over and over
again. The State Department says something very basic and generic, and
then they don’t do anything about it, and they wait for the story to
fade away. And that sends the message to Israel: You can do whatever you
want, even to American citizens, and no one will hold you accountable.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
And how significant is it that the Austin police have declared a hate
crime of the attack on Zacharia Doar and his friends in Austin? Explain
what happened. You are involved with this case, Edward?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">EDWARD</span> <span class="caps">AHMED</span> <span class="caps">MITCHELL</span>:
Yeah. So, this is a case I’ve been helping with. So, on February 4th,
there was a pro-ceasefire protest held in Austin. After this event,
Zacharia and three of his friends were traveling home in a car. They had
the keffiyeh, a keffiyeh flag hanging out of their car, with “Free
Palestine” written on it. They had other signs of Palestine on the car.
When they got to a stop sign, a man named Bert Baker approached their
car, attempted to rip the flag off the car, and then attacked them,
opened the back door, pulled Zacharia out of the car. A fight ensued.
His three friends jumped out and tried to help him. They subdued the
guy, the attacker, and then he pulled out a knife. And Zacharia actually
jumped in the way of one of his friends and saved them, but was stabbed
in the process. So, the police department, relatively quickly,
confirmed what we knew and what we had said and we asked them to say,
which is that it was a hate crime.</b></p>
<p><b>And this is just the latest example of an anti-Palestinian or
anti-Muslim hate crime in the United States. We all know about the
6-year-old boy, Wadea, who was stabbed and killed outside of Chicago
back in October by his anti-Muslim landlord. We know about the shooting
of the three Palestinian college kids in Burlington, Vermont, who were,
again, wearing the keffiyeh in public and just shot on the street.</b></p>
<p><b>This is happening again and again because, Amy, there is not only a
war happening against Palestinians in Gaza, there is a war happening
against Palestinian Americans, a war on their right to free speech, a
war on their culture. And that is designed to silence them. And you
can’t weaponize anti-Muslim bigotry and anti-Palestinian racism against
people in Gaza without it having blowback here in America on people
right here at home. And that’s what we’ve been seeing over the past four
months.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Suliman, your final comment, as we wrap up this segment? If you can talk about your mother?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">SULIMAN</span> <span class="caps">HAMED</span>:
Yeah, sure. My mom, I mean, she’s the sweetest lady. Everybody knows
her in our community. She’s a teacher — she was a teacher, a
businesswoman, a mother of four. She raised us with good morals. She
raised us to be good kids, professionals. Again, just the sweetest
woman, a helper. She just — again, she expresses her opinion, and
sometimes she demands justice. And, you know, I applaud her for that.
She’s my hero for that. I don’t think it’s anything for her to be in
prison about.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Well, Suliman Hamed, we want to thank you for being with us. We’ll
continue to follow your mother’s case. And Edward Ahmed Mitchell, civil
rights attorney and national deputy director of <span class="caps">CAIR</span>, the Council on American-Islamic Relations.</b></p>
<p><b>That does it for our show. We want to thank all those who
participated in producing today’s broadcast: Mike Burke, Renée Feltz,
Nermeen Shaikh, Deena Guzder, Messiah Rhodes. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan
González. Go to democracynow.org for all transcripts and podcasts.</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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</span>
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1 day ago </div></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-70818626787211758092024-02-14T21:00:00.001-05:002024-02-14T21:00:00.121-05:00Instant Pot Shrimp <div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm guessing shrimp's on a lot of people's minds. :D
Katy e-mailed to say she loved the shrimp recipe on Monday and that she
also loves to make <a href="https://allwaysdelicious.com/instant-pot-shrimp/?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=msn" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Always Delicious' Instant Pot Shrimp</a>:</span></div><div dir="ltr"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ingredients:</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="ltr"><div><ul class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredients" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><li class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em !important; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">2</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">pounds</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">frozen raw shrimp</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-notes-faded">peeled and deveined</span></span></b></li><li class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em !important; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">2</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">tablespoons</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">olive oil</span></span></b></li><li class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em !important; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">tablespoon</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">minced garlic</span></span></b></li><li class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em !important; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">teaspoon</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">kosher salt</span></span></b></li><li class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em !important; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">½</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">teaspoon</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">freshly ground black pepper</span></span></b></li><li class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em !important; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">½</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">teaspoon</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">paprika</span></span></b></li><li class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em !important; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-amount">1</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-unit">cup</span> <span class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpac9115d5wprm-recipe-ingredient-name">boiling water</span></span></b></li></ul></div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Instructions:</span></b></div><div dir="ltr"><div><ul class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dwprm-recipe-instructions" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;"><li class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dwprm-recipe-instruction" id="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dwprm-recipe-54171-step-0-0" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em !important; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;"><div class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dwprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Place the shrimp, olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper,paprika, and water in the Instant Pot.</span></b></div></li><li class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dwprm-recipe-instruction" id="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dwprm-recipe-54171-step-0-1" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em !important; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;"><div class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dwprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Set the pot to cook for 1 minute on high pressure.</span></b></div></li><div class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dadthrive-ad yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dadthrive-recipe-sticky-container yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dadthrive-recipe yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dadthrive-recipe-1" id="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dAdThrive_Recipe_2_desktop" style="background-color: #fafafa; clear: right; float: right; line-height: 0; margin: 10px 0px 10px 10px; max-width: 320px; min-height: 250px; min-width: 300px; padding-bottom: 0px; position: relative; text-align: center; z-index: 1;"></div><li class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dwprm-recipe-instruction" id="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dwprm-recipe-54171-step-0-2" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em !important; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;"><div class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dwprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">When the cooking time is up, quick release thepressure and drain off Drain off any excess liquid.</span></b></div></li><li class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dwprm-recipe-instruction" id="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dwprm-recipe-54171-step-0-3" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em !important; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 32px !important; padding: 0px !important; position: relative;"><div class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809ydpf27c0b6dwprm-recipe-instruction-text" style="margin-bottom: 5px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Serve immediately or let cool for severalminutes and then chill in the refrigerator and serve cold.</span></b></div></li></ul></div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #3a3a3a;">You
can serve this shrimp right out of the pot with a flavorful dipping
sauce. Or you can chill it and serve it with a horseradish-y cocktail
sauce.</span><br /></span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I do love shrimp and, as Katy pointed out, it's an instapot recipe. </span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">News? <a class="yiv4654640948ydp4ed860eyiv3311226809" href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/18-companies-laying-off-mass-numbers-of-employees-right-now-to-start-2024/ss-BB1hgmaJ?cvid=ac94e444f1794e4fb04a2c62b98b7a0b&ei=11" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Money & Investing notes</a>:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #2b2b2b;">In
recent times, a worrying trend has emerged in the corporate world, with
a growing number of companies announcing mass layoffs. This wave of job
cuts, affecting a wide range of industries, reflects deeper economic
challenges and shifting market dynamics. As employees face uncertainty,
the impact of these layoffs extends beyond individual livelihoods,
signaling a significant shift in the global business landscape.</span><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #2b2b2b;">eBay
announced in January 2024, it’s facing a slowdown in business amid
broader challenges in the tech industry, is cutting 1,000 jobs, about 9%
of its workforce. The company’s CEO, Jamie Iannone, stated that this
decision was necessary as staff sizes and expenses had grown faster than
the business itself. Additionally, eBay is terminating relationships
with many external contractors as part of its strategy to become more
agile in a competitive and evolving e-commerce landscape.</span><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #2b2b2b;">Macy’s,
the renowned U.S. department store chain, is undergoing a significant
operational change. The company has announced plans to lay off 2,350
employees, which constitutes about 3.5% of its total workforce. This
move is part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and adapt to
the evolving retail environment. These strategic decisions by Macy’s
reflect the ongoing shifts in the retail sector, where companies are
continuously adapting to changing consumer behaviors and the competitive
landscape</span><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #2b2b2b;">Since
January 10, 2024, Google has laid off over a thousand employees from a
range of departments, with CEO Sundar Pichai indicating the likelihood
of further reductions. Pichai emphasized in an internal memo the
company’s intention to invest in major priorities, necessitating these
difficult decisions. The layoffs have affected various teams including
hardware, ad sales, search, shopping, maps, policy, core engineering,
and YouTube, but they are not as extensive as last year’s cuts of 12,000
jobs.</span><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #2b2b2b;">BlackRock,
the world’s largest asset manager, announced a significant reduction in
its workforce, laying off approximately 600 employees, equating to
about 3% of its global staff. This decision is part of a wider trend in
the financial industry, where firms are making strategic adjustments in
response to the changing market conditions and economic uncertainties.
The layoffs at BlackRock, which manages trillions in assets, are part of
the company’s efforts to adapt to these challenges and focus on areas
of growth such as technology investing and alternative products.</span><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reading
the above, I'm confused how Joe Biden thinks he has an economy to brag
on. Oh, well, at least he's not supporting the murder of children,
right? Oh. Yeah. He is.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_01652675892.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Wednesday</p><p><br /></p>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-5738689648924891260" itemprop="articleBody">
Wednesday, February 14, 2024. Hate merchant Selma Blair pretends to
apologize (and pretends it was a one time thing), Joe Biden has no plan
at all with regards to stopping the assault on Gaza, and much more.<div><br /></div><div>Hate
Merchant Selma Blair is back in the news and -- Sadly? I think that's
the term. Not for Selma, but for so-called news outlets. I see a ton
of them. I only see DEADLINE getting it right. Domnic Patten's "<a href="https://deadline.com/2024/02/selma-blair-apology-islam-comments-1235825073/">Selma Blair Now Claims Ignorance Was Cause Of Her Vitriolic Rant Against Islam & 'Terrorist Supporting Goons'</a>" explains, "<a data-tag="selma-blair" href="https://deadline.com/tag/selma-blair/" id="auto-tag_selma-blair_1">Selma Blair</a>
is trying to dramatically walk back her self-admitted rage filled rant
against Islam and members of the US Congress from a week ago." That's what it is. It's not an apology.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is not an apology, "I mistakenly and inadvertently conflated Muslims with Radical Islamists
and fundamentalists, a terrible err in my words, and resulted in
hurting countless people I never meant to, and I deeply regret this." Mistakenly and inadvertently? Oh, was it a typo, dear? </div><div><br /></div><div>She typed up hate speech and this wasn't her first time attacking Muslims online. </div><div><br /></div><div><br />
<div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1753346776503894054" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1753346776503894054&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F&sessionId=d0d8de2eaa9e54650be0a6ce5c1286785ee12c0f&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 690px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div>
</div><div><br /></div><div>All those favorites she did to Tweets
attacking Muslims. Inadvertent as well? "Islam: the religion of evil
created in hell"? Look at the Tweets she's been liking. This was not a
one time thing or even a one day thing.</div><div><br /></div><div><br />Like
many around the world, I'm laughing at her claim to have received
feedback from her mythical Muslim friends. She slurred a people with
her racist stereotyping and called for their deaths. Quit acting like a
piece of correction tape is going to make things alright.</div><div><br /></div><div>You projected hate and you meant to. Here are some reactions.</div><div><br />
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And some people were bothered by that -- by one name included it.
Barbra Streisand. On Selma, people are sending e-mails with Tweet
suggestions and some contain Barbra's name. I have no trouble holding
Barbra accountable -- I did with her nonsense about "her" A STAR IS BORN
actually being about something as opposed to Bradley Cooper's (I know
Bradley and I know Barbra). No. As I noted here, that's exactly why so
many in the industry will not give her another Academy Award or even
nominate her. She can be an ego maniac. Joan Didion and John Gregory
Dunne were the ones who came up with the idea ("Carly Simon and James
Taylor in a rock and roll version of A STAR IS BORN") and wrote the
first screenplay and several more. What Barbra claimed credit for as
she attacked Bradley was not her credit to claim. She added the garbage
b.s. to that dreadful film -- it makes me physically sick to watch that
movie -- as she tried to include her abusive relationship with Jon
Peters in that film. As you can see, I'm not holding back. And I
didn't hold back when Ava and I reviewed her awful book ("<a href="https://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2023/11/media-my-name-is-barbra.html">Media: MY NAME IS BARBRA, my game is pity party</a>").</div><div><br /></div><div>So
I'm not rescuing her. Barbra has publicly and repeatedly called for a
cease-fire. For that I applaud her. If you're unaware of that, you may
be uninformed or you may be guilty of your own stereotyping ("She's
Jewish! She's not going to call for a cease-fire!"). She's made public
calls (plural) for one. I applaud her for that. She has been trashed
for doing so. It would be nice if those who want a cease-fire could
stop smearing her falsely.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was happily
surprised she called for a cease-fire. It is in keeping with her larger
view of the world; however, I was still surprised due to the parties
involved and the rhetoric and climate.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.amnesty.org.uk/">Amnesty International</a> is also calling for a cease-fire:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><h3 class="fw-bold"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Countless lives have been shattered, ripped
apart, and upended due to the crisis in Gaza, Israel and wider Occupied
Palestinian Territories. In the face of such devastation and suffering,
humanity must prevail.</span></h3></div>
<div class="d-none d-md-block js-cl-toggle-hide">
<div><p><b>Right now, civilian deaths in Gaza are rising at a
staggering rate. The Israeli authorities' 16-year-long illegal and
inhumane blockade has trapped 2.2 million people in Gaza, including
children, the elderly, and disabled, under relentless bombardment by
Israeli authorities. With nowhere to go, they face losing everything.</b></p>
<p><b>After horrific attacks in Israel by Hamas and other armed groups
that, according to Israeli authorities, resulted in 1,200 people killed
and the abduction of civilians, at least 200 hostages held in Gaza also
remain in danger, and ongoing indiscriminate rocket fire into Israel
places civilians at risk.</b></p>
<p><b>Humanitarian pauses of a few days will bring a brief respite. But
halting the fighting for a matter of days is nowhere near enough to
address the catastrophic suffering or relieve the horrifying harm to
civilians. We must act now.</b></p>
<p><strong>A negotiated ceasefire would:</strong></p>
<ul><li><b>Put a stop to unlawful attacks by all parties, halt the mounting
death toll in Gaza and enable aid agencies to get life-saving aid,
water and medical supplies into the strip</b></li>
<li><b>Allow hospitals in Gaza to receive life-saving medicines, fuel and equipment they desperately need and to repair damaged wards</b></li>
<li><b>Provide opportunities to negotiate the release of all hostages detained in Gaza</b></li>
<li><b>Allow for independent international investigations to take place
into war crimes committed by all parties to help end long-standing
impunity, which continues to produce further atrocities</b></li>
</ul><p><b>Palestinians and Israelis deserve a future where they can live
free from violence and see an end to the fatal human rights violations
that continue to destroy so many lives. Challenging the Israeli
authorities' system of apartheid over Palestinians is now more urgent
than ever.</b></p></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Again,
I have no problem calling Barbra out and have many times -- including
to her face -- but I hope I'm also the first one to give her credit when
she's earned it.</div><div><br /></div><div>Selma Blair is lying and has
not apologized. We see her for what she actually is. If there's any
further use to her in this discussion, it's in the crowd she plots
with. WASHINGTON MONTHLY, can you explain your journalists' Tweets? </div><div><br /></div><div>Let's move on. <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/13/dr_yasser_khan_gaza">From yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9TbSRxVNOpE?si=_VzZRV3aOD_Q_bmw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.</b></p>
<p><b>We turn now to Gaza, to Israel threatening to launch a ground
invasion of Rafah, where over a million displaced Palestinians have
sought refuge. On Monday, President Biden hosted King Abdullah of Jordan
at the White House. During public remarks, Biden initially described
Israel’s operation in Rafah as, quote, “our operation.”</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">PRESIDENT</span> <span class="caps">JOE</span> <span class="caps">BIDEN</span>:
As I said yesterday, our military operation in Rafah — the major
military operation in Rafah should not proceed without a credible plan, a
credible plan for ensuring the safety and support of more than 1
million people sheltering there.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Jordan’s King Abdullah condemned Israel’s plan to attack Rafah and
called for a ceasefire and the creation of a Palestinian state.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">KING</span> <span class="caps">ABDULLAH</span> II:
We cannot afford an Israeli attack on Rafah. It is certain to produce
another humanitarian catastrophe. The situation is already unbearable
for over a million people who have been pushed into Rafah since the war
started. We cannot stand by and let this continue. We need a lasting
ceasefire now. This war must end. … Seven decades of occupation, death
and destruction have proven beyond any doubt that there can be no peace
without a political horizon. Military and security installations are not
the answer. They can never bring peace. Civilians on both sides
continue to pay for this protracted conflict with their lives.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
We go now to Toronto, where we’re joined by Dr. Yasser Khan. He’s a
Canadian ophthalmologist and eye surgeon who recently returned from a
humanitarian surgical mission at the European Hospital in Khan Younis in
Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b>Dr. Khan, welcome to <em>Democracy Now!</em> If you can describe what
you saw there in Khan Younis, the level of the injuries, how crowded
the European Hospital was, the threats people were facing there?</b></p>
<p><b>DR. <span class="caps">YASSER</span> <span class="caps">KHAN</span>: Thank you very much for having me.</b></p>
<p><b>Well, you know, I look at the impending invasion of Rafah and the
attacks on Rafah, and I know, because I’ve seen it — I know what’s going
to happen. I know the casualties, and I know how much worse it’s going
to get.</b></p>
<p><b>When I was in Khan Younis a few weeks ago — I’ve been to over 40
different countries, you know, doing humanitarian work, anywhere from in
Africa, Asia and South America. And what I saw in Khan Younis were the
most horrific scenes in my entire life, and I hope I never see them
again. It was just — you know, the bombings were going on every few
hours at that point in time. The Israeli forces were about a kilometer
away. And the mass casualties kept on coming in.</b></p>
<p><b>And it was mostly — I mean, the majority of the patients that I
treated were children, anywhere from the age of 2 to 17. I mean, I saw
horrific eye and facial injuries that I’ve never seen before, eyes
shattered in two 6-year-old children with shrapnel that I had to take
out, eyes with shrapnel stuck inside, facial injuries. I saw orthopedic
injuries where — you know, limbs just cut off and dangling. I saw
abdominal injuries that were just horrific. And it was just mass chaos.
There was children on the floor, unattended to, with head trauma, people
suturing patients without anesthesia on the ground. It was just mass
chaos and really horrific, horrific scenes.</b></p>
<p><b>And I know that now with the bombing going on in Rafah and scenes of
children hanging exploded and, you know, half their bodies cut off and
hanging on a wall because they’ve been exploded — I mean, those are
scenes going on now. So I know exactly what my colleagues are going
through right now in Rafah and in Gaza, basically.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JUAN</span> GONZÁLEZ: And,
Doctor, you were working shifts of 12-, 13-hour days. Can you talk about
the conditions of the medical staff and the doctors you worked
alongside with? Where did you sleep? Were you able to eat? Could you
talk about those conditions you faced?</b></p>
<p><b>DR. <span class="caps">YASSER</span> <span class="caps">KHAN</span>:
Well, the doctors were amazing. I mean, the Palestinian doctors were
amazing. Their dedication and their will to resist dying and staying
alive was amazing. They’re talented. But they have nothing. There’s no
antibiotics. There’s no painkillers. On the last day I was leaving, we
ran out of morphine, which is very important in a lot of orthopedic
injuries.</b></p>
<p><b>So, patients were — I mean, the whole European Gaza Hospital was, at
the time — now everything I’m saying and — everything I saw is much
worse now. But, basically, it was overcrowded, about 300, 400% over
capacity. There was patients and bodies lying all over the hospital
floor, inside and outside. They had orthopedic devices coming from their
legs or their arms. They were getting infected, they were in pain,
because they were on the floor, so the conditions weren’t very sterile.
And if they survived amputation the first time, the infection would get
them, because then they’d have to be amputated after.</b></p>
<p><b>A lot of the kids that I saw — and more than 60% of the patients I
saw were children — they’re thin. They had no fat on them. They’re
starving, because, as you know, Israel has had a food blockade since
this war on Gaza started. And so, they’re all thin, with no fat,
starving. And they were coming in, and, you know, it was just — and we
didn’t have enough supplies, enough gauze, enough antibiotics, enough
instruments even — the instruments are rusting — to kind of, you know,
deal with the mass trauma.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Dr. Khan —</b></p>
<p><b>DR. <span class="caps">YASSER</span> <span class="caps">KHAN</span>: I stayed in the hospital — yes, please.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Dr. Khan, this is Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland
speaking Monday ahead of a vote on the $95 billion aid package to
Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">SEN</span>. <span class="caps">CHRIS</span> <span class="caps">VAN</span> <span class="caps">HOLLEN</span>:
Madam President, I want that to sink in. Kids in Gaza are now dying
from the deliberate withholding of food. In addition to the horror of
that news, one other thing is true: That is a war crime. It is a
textbook war crime. … And that makes those who orchestrate it war
criminals.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
That’s Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen on the floor of the U.S.
Senate. Dr. Khan, you’re talking about the thinness of the children, of
the whole population.</b></p>
<p><b>DR. <span class="caps">YASSER</span> <span class="caps">KHAN</span>:
Yeah. Well, you know, Amy, it’s — you know, from what I saw and what I
experienced when I was on the ground, speaking to officials, speaking to
the doctors there, and this whole — you know, one of the whole aspects
of this war on Gaza, you know, the genocidal intent of Israeli
politicians, the Israeli army has been clear. What is really bizarre is
they haven’t hid it. They have openly called for it. They have openly
called for epidemics.</b></p>
<p><b>And so, as a healthcare professional, the attack on the healthcare
system has been unprecedented. I mean, the viciousness of it, the
killing machine that Israel has unleashed on the healthcare system, I
think, is unprecedented. Hospitals have been bombed. When the doctors
have tried to repopulate them, they’ve been — you know, sniper fire with
drones has prevented them from going in.</b></p>
<p><b>They’ve attacked the sewage system, the water system, so the sewage
mixes with the drinking water. And you get diarrheal diseases, bacterial
diseases. You know, cholera, typhoid is not far away. Hepatitis A is
epidemic there now. They’re living in cramped spaces.</b></p>
<p><b>They have killed over 300 or 400 healthcare workers, doctors, nurses,
paramedics. Ambulances have been bombed. This has all been a systematic
sort of — you know, by destroying the healthcare system, you’re
contributing to the genocide.</b></p>
<p><b>What’s going on is now there’s 10,000 to 15,000 bodies that are
decomposing. So, it’s raining season right now in Gaza. So all the
rainwater mixes with the decomposing bodies, and that bacteria mixes
with the drinking water supply, and you get further disease.</b></p>
<p><b>They have kidnapped about 40, 45 doctors, that have been specifically
targeted. They have targeted specifically specialists who are, you
know, one-offs. So, like, the one nephrologist in the Gaza Strip was
targeted. The pathologists, hospital chiefs and directors have all been
targeted through drones or targeted missile strikes.</b></p>
<p><b>And, you know, so the whole thing is that if the bombings are not
going to get you, then disease will surely get you, because they’re all
malnourished. So, as you know, if you’re malnourished, your immune
system is weaker, so you’re more susceptible to disease. But there’s no
antibiotics.</b></p>
<p><b>You know, the amount of amputations I saw in children, for example —
both arms, one arm, one leg, both eyes gone, you know, both eyes
amputated, basically, out of their eye socket — you know, it’s amazing. I
mean, it takes about — you know, if this was done properly in a nonwar
scenario, one amputation in a child, a child will need about nine to 12
surgeries by the time they’re an adult, you know, for prosthetic fitting
and whatnot. Now, in this case, first of all, it’s a war situation.
They have not been done properly, fair enough, because you have to rush
it. But secondly, who is going to take care of these children? Most of
them mostly children. Because their parents are gone. Their uncles are
dead. Their grandfathers and grandmothers are dead.</b></p>
<p><b>And so, you know, the Israeli killing machine has been vicious. I
mean, they’ve used drones. When I was there, I was speaking to doctors
who were there, and they told me that they’ve used drones like the
Hellfire drone, that is an explosive drone. It fires off these discs
once it implodes or explodes. And these discs are very unique, and they
cause unique amputations. Most amputations occur at the weak points,
like the elbow or the knee. But they cause, you know, mid-thigh, mid-arm
amputations, which are much more complicated. And they fire off this
shrapnel.</b></p>
<p><b>And, you know, from what the doctors are telling me, that what I
believe is that they’re using weapons on the civilian population that
have never been used before, because from what I heard, based on my
experience, you know, Israel has a very strong defense industry, and
buyers like weapons that are battle-tested. So, if you can put a label
to your new weapon that it’s battle-tested, that increases the value of
it. And they’re experimenting with these weapons, from what I’ve heard
and from what I saw, in a civilian-dense population. So, it’s just —
it’s been vicious, really, really vicious.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Dr. Yasser Khan, I want to thank you for being with us, Canadian
ophthalmologist, eye surgeon, based in Toronto, Canada, just recently
returned from a humanitarian surgical mission at the European Hospital
in Khan Younis in Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b>When we come back, <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/13/climate_scientist_michael_mann_defamation_lawsuit">we’ll
be joined by climate scientist Michael Mann, just awarded a million
dollars in a defamation lawsuit against two right-wing critics</a>. Back in 20 seconds.</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/14/my-son-asks-me-what-will-be-left-when-we-return-to-gaza-the-answer-only-rubble-and-memories">At THE GUARDIAN, Ghada Ageel writes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="dcr-vmkf2w"><b>Each Palestinian home has two hearths: the space
where the family eats and the kitchen, where the food is prepared. These
rooms are where the fires of life and hospitality burn most brightly.</b></p><p class="dcr-vmkf2w"><b>When I visit Khan Younis, one of the popular family meals we enjoy together is <a data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/mar/01/palestinian-upside-down-rice-recipe">maghluba</a><em class="dcr-vmkf2w"> </em>(“upside
down” in Arabic): a large, savoury cake of rice, vegetables and chicken
cooked in a large pot. When the meal is ready, the pot is turned upside
down and the family gather around to await the unveiling, when the pot
is lifted off to display the yellow rice, red tomatoes and deep brown
aubergines. Every dish of maghluba is a family celebration.</b></p><div id="sign-in-gate"><b><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-island-status="hydrated" deferuntil="visible" name="SignInGateSelector" priority="feature" props="{"contentType":"Article","sectionId":"commentisfree","tags":[{"id":"commentisfree/commentisfree","type":"Blog","title":"Opinion"},{"id":"world/israel-hamas-war","type":"Keyword","title":"Israel-Gaza war"},{"id":"world/gaza","type":"Keyword","title":"Gaza"},{"id":"world/palestinian-territories","type":"Keyword","title":"Palestinian territories"},{"id":"world/israel","type":"Keyword","title":"Israel"},{"id":"world/middleeast","type":"Keyword","title":"Middle East and north Africa"},{"id":"world/world","type":"Keyword","title":"World news"},{"id":"type/article","type":"Type","title":"Article"},{"id":"tone/comment","type":"Tone","title":"Comment"},{"id":"profile/ghada-ageel","type":"Contributor","title":"Ghada Ageel","bylineImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/11/01/Ghada_Ageel.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=39b515a5d650f2b076f96f8f802353e8","bylineLargeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2023/11/01/Ghada_Ageel.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=8cfbf310445ccd6881d5d68cb72d796b"},{"id":"tracking/commissioningdesk/uk-opinion","type":"Tracking","title":"UK Opinion"}],"isPaidContent":false,"isPreview":false,"host":"https://www.theguardian.com","pageId":"commentisfree/2024/feb/14/my-son-asks-me-what-will-be-left-when-we-return-to-gaza-the-answer-only-rubble-and-memories","idUrl":"https://profile.theguardian.com","switches":{"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"lightbox":true,"ophanNext":true,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":true,"remarketing":true,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"registerWithPhone":false,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"deeplyRead":false,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":false,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"automaticFilters":true,"twitterUwt":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"abConsentlessAds":true,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abIntegrateIma":true,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":true,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"discussionInApps":false,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"headerTopNav":true,"googleSearch":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"darkModeInApps":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"crosswordMobileBanner":true,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"redplanetForAus":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"dcrTagPages":true,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"abMpuWhenNoEpic":true,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"webFonts":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"disableAmpTest":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"abPrebidKargo":false,"boostGaUserTimingFidelity":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"remoteBanner":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true}}"></gu-island></b></div><p class="dcr-vmkf2w"><b>Today,
with the destruction of Khan Younis, and of my family home there, it
feels like my life has been turned maghluba. My youngest son, Aziz,
cannot understand how a home can disappear. He still carries all the
emotions and the fond memories of his auntie’s kisses. “Mom?” he asks
incessantly. “Who will be left when we visit this summer? What will be
left?”</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 131 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/14/israels-war-on-gaza-live-afraid-to-leave-as-israel-fires-on-hospital">ALJAZEERA notes</a>,
"Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 28,576 people with at least
68,291 others wounded, Gaza Health Ministry says. The latest toll
includes 103 people killed over the past 24 hours, a ministry statement
said." Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." <br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/biden-israel-rafah-invasion">At COMMON DREAMS this morning, Jake Johnson writes</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><p> <b>President Joe Biden and other leading American officials have publicly urged Israel not to invade the overcrowded <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a>
city of Rafah without ensuring the protection of civilians, but the
administration reportedly has no plan to impose consequences if the
Netanyahu government launches the ground assault without heeding U.S.
warnings.
</b></p><p><b>
Three unnamed U.S. officials
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/national-security-daily/2024/02/13/us-wont-punish-israel-for-rafah-op-that-doesnt-protect-civilians-00141013" target="_blank">told</a><em>Politico</em>'s
"National Security Daily" newsletter on Tuesday that "no reprimand
plans are in the works, meaning Israeli forces could enter the city and
harm civilians without facing American consequences."
</b></p><p><b>
Trita Parsi, executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://twitter.com/tparsi/status/1757518589123244285" target="_blank">wrote</a> in response to <em>Politico</em>'s reporting that "Biden can stop this but chooses not to."<br /></b></p><p><b>
"Instead, he only resorts to <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/biden-disparages-netanyahu-private-hasnt-changed-us-policy-israel-rcna138282" target="_blank">calling</a> Netanyahu an 'asshole' behind his back," Parsi added. "This is leadership?" </b></p></div><div><p><b> Around 1.4 million people, most of them displaced from other parts of
the Gaza Strip, are currently in Rafah, which is roughly a quarter the
size of the U.S. city of Baltimore.
Some are
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rafah-gaza-offensive-rcna138759/rcrd34034?canonicalCard=true" target="_blank">desperately trying to flee</a> ahead of an Israeli invasion, gathering their few remaining belongings and leaving the city without any clear direction or <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/netanyahu-evacuation-rafah" target="_blank">assurance of safe passage</a>.<br /></b></p><p><b>
"They need to be protected," Biden
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/02/12/remarks-by-president-biden-and-his-majesty-king-abdullah-ii-of-jordan-after-a-meeting/" target="_blank">said</a> of Rafah's civilians following a White House meeting with the king of Jordan on Monday.
</b></p><p><b>
But that same day, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said during a
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2024/02/12/press-briefing-by-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre-and-white-house-national-security-communications-advisor-john-kirby/" target="_blank">press briefing</a>
that "we are going to continue to support Israel" after a reporter
asked whether Biden has "ever threatened to strip military assistance
from Israel if they move ahead with a Rafah operation" that doesn't
protect civilians.</b> </p></div><div><br /></div><div>Clueless Joe? Try useless Joe. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-02-14-24/index.html">CNN's Niamh Kennedy reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Leo
Varadkar, Ireland's Taoiseach (or prime minister), strongly criticized
Israel Tuesday, accusing the country of becoming "blinded by rage" as it
doubles down on plans to launch a ground offensive on the southern Gaza
city of Rafah, where Israeli forces previously told hundreds of
thousands of displaced Palestinians to seek shelter.</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Speaking
to lawmakers in the Irish parliament, Varadkar said it was "very clear"
to him that Israel is "is not listening to any country in the world,"
even the United States. </b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>"They
[Israel] have become blinded by rage. And they are going to, I believe,
make the situation much worse for their own security in the long term
by going down the path they are going," the Irish leader said. </b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Varadkar
said an Israeli ground offensive on the border city of Rafah "should
not happen," drawing attention to the 1.3 million Palestinians who are
"taking refuge there." </b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Other members of the Irish government joined Varadkar in condemning
Israel this week including Trade Minister Simon Coveney, who accused the
country of acting like a rogue state and behaving "like a monster to
defeat a monster."</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Lastly, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/02/14/israel-hamas-war-news-gaza-palestine/">Leo Sands (WASHINGTON POST) reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy" data-el="text" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null"><b>The
United States is monitoring Israel’s military activities in Gaza under a
recently established program that “systematically” tracks reports of
suspected civilian harm by forces using U.S.-made weapons, State
Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.</b></p></div><div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body" data-qa="article-body"></div><div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body" data-qa="article-body"></div><div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy" data-el="text" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null"><b>“We
do seek to thoroughly assess reports of civilian harm by authorized
recipients of U.S.-provided defense articles around the world, including
under the Civilian Harm Incident Response Guidance, the CHIRG,” Miller
said during a <a href="https://www.state.gov/briefings/department-press-briefing-february-13-2024/" target="_blank">news briefing</a> Tuesday.</b></p></div><div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy" data-el="text" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null"><b>As <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/09/13/state-department-chirg-civilian-deaths/?itid=lk_inline_manual_11" target="_blank">The Washington Post first reported</a>
in September, the CHIRG system provides a way for officials to formally
investigate reports of civilian harm by partner governments suspected
of using U.S.-origin arms and recommend penalties in response —
including the suspension of weapons sales. The system, which was
introduced before Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack and Israel’s military response
in Gaza, is intended to reduce civilian collateral damage incidents.</b></p></div><div class="wpds-c-PJLV article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p class="wpds-c-cYdRxM wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css overrideStyles font-copy" data-el="text" data-testid="drop-cap-letter" dir="null"><b>In
Tuesday’s briefing, Miller specified that the process was “not intended
to function as a rapid response mechanism.” Instead, he said, the
system was designed to shape future policies and to pressure U.S.
military allies to follow international humanitarian law during warfare.</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><li style="display: block;">
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2 hours ago
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6 hours ago
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</span>
<div class="item-time">
6 hours ago
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6 hours ago
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Desperate Donald
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<div class="item-time">
6 hours ago
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<div class="item-time">
6 hours ago
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6 hours ago
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<a href="http://trinaskitchen.blogspot.com/2024/02/slow-cooker-cajun-chicken-pasta.html" target="_blank">
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6 hours ago
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19 hours ago
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How I Made It: Las Cafeteras
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<div class="item-time">
1 day ago </div>
</div></div></li></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-75864001346338792772024-02-14T01:25:00.005-05:002024-02-14T01:25:58.461-05:00Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta <div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><span face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">Lara notes </span><a href="https://www.upstateramblings.com/slow-cooker-cajun-chicken-pasta/?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=msn" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="color: #196ad4; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Upstate Ramblings' Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Pasta:</a><br /></div><b><br /></b></div></div><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>Ingredients </b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>2 boneless skinless chicken breasts</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>2 cups heavy cream</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>2 tablespoons butter</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>1 can chicken broth 14.5 ounced</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>1 teaspoon paprika</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>3 cloves garlic minced</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>1 cup frozen peppers and onions </b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>14 ounces andouille sausage sliced into rounds</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>1 1/2 cups shredded Parmesan</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>1 pound penne pasta</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>salt and pepper to taste</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b><br /></b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>Instructions</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>1) Put the chicken, heavy cream, butter, and broth in your slow cooker.</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>2) Sprinkle the Cajun seasoning and paprika all over. Add the garlic, pepper and onions. Then add the sliced sausage.</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>3)
Cover and cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 4 hours. Remove the
chicken, slice it into bite-sized pieces, and set aside.</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>4) Add the pasta, stir and cover. Let the pasta cook for 30 minutes until tender.</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>5)
Add the parmesan cheese and the chicken back to the slow cooker. Stir
to combine. Then cover and let it cook for a few minutes.</b></div><div dir="ltr"><b>6) Season with salt and pepper to taste.</b></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">That sounds yummy.</div><div dir="ltr"><br /></div><div dir="ltr">News? Let's return to the vile and disgusting Utah State Board of Education member Natalie Cline who, as an adult, thought the thing to do was to harass a young girl -- a student. She posted the students photo to social media and implied that the girl wasn't a girl. An uproar ensued and the girl required police protection just to go to school. Now the girl wasn't trans.. Had she been, it wouldn't have made what Cline did right -- no adult should be attacking a child -- especially an adult on the board of education. But the girl was a girl who was born a girl in a female body and she was vilified and threatened because of the insane actions of Natalie Cline. People have called for Cline to resign but, not only does she refuse to do so, she also plans to run for re-election. <a class="yiv0686865818ydpe59e8fd5yiv8266566966" href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/school-board-member-who-questioned-teen-s-gender-faces-calls-to-resign/ar-BB1i85lu?cvid=f2bf3f658e794521f0160396b5a4212c&ei=8" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">Kim Bellware (WASHINGTON POST) reports</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div> </div><div dir="ltr"><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Al and Rachel van der Beek, the girl’s parents, said Cline owes their family an apology beyond what she expressed on Facebook.</b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>In
her Feb. 7 social media post, Cline shared a flier for a girl’s high
school basketball game that featured an image of the van der Beeks’s
daughter and wrote in the caption, “‘girls’ basketball …”</b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The van der Beeks, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday, <a class="yiv0686865818ydpe59e8fd5yiv8266566966" href="https://ksltv.com/620977/parents-of-female-student-athlete-at-the-center-of-controversial-school-board-member-post-speak-out/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">told</a> NBC’s
Salt Lake City affiliate KSL TV that officials at their daughter’s
school alerted them the next morning about Cline’s post and the torrent
of threats that followed.</b></span></p><div dir="ltr"><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>“It
was cyberbullying at its finest,” Al van der Beek told the station,
calling the comments about his daughter “disgusting.” The van der Beeks
described their daughter as a “tomboy” who wears her hair short, wears
baggier clothes and regularly hits the gym.</b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>“To
look at someone’s outer appearance and make an assumption that they’re
either playing in the right arena or not, based on how someone looks, I
don’t think is appropriate,” Rachel van der Beek told the station.</b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The
van der Beeks said their daughter, whose name and school were not
identified to protect her privacy, does not have social media on her
phone. They broke the news to her after school the next day.</b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Al
van der Beek told the TV station that his daughter was lucky to have
support from her family and community because the mental health
implications from such cyberbullying could have been catastrophic.</b></span></p><div class="yiv0686865818ydpe59e8fd5yiv8266566966ydp62031b15intra-article-module" style="color: #2b2b2b; position: relative; width: 868px; z-index: 97;"></div><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>LGBTQ+
youths who face physical threats because of their gender identity or
sexual orientation reported triple the rate of suicide attempts compared
to those who were not threatened, <a href="https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2023/#intro" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">according to</a> the
2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People
conducted by the Trevor Project, an LGBTQ suicide prevention nonprofit.</b></span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Cline
was elected in 2020 to represent parts of Salt Lake City and a northern
portion of Utah County after campaigning on religious liberty and
culture war issues such as anti-LGBTQ+ policies.</b></span></p></div></div><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_0780923283.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Tuesday:</p><p><br /></p>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-631001031534911181" itemprop="articleBody">
Tuesday, February 13, 2024. Two Aljazeera journalists are attacked by a
drone, the Israeli government makes a mockery of Joe Biden, the Church
of England weighs in on the slaughter, and much more including you can
Tweet Debra Messing's buddy and the director of her upcoming
'documentary' on hate.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/13/israels-war-on-gaza-live-jordans-king-urges-ceasefire-in-biden-meeting">This morning, Hani Mahmoud (ALJAZEERA) reports</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="card-live__content"><div class="wysiwyg-content"><div class="wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content css-1kw180w" id="wysiwyg"><p><b>Our
colleagues, Ismail Abu Omar, an Al Jazeera correspondent, as well as
his cameraman Ahmad Matar in northern Rafah, were documenting the living
conditions of displaced Palestinian families.</b></p>
<p><b>They were documenting the horror that they experienced within the
past 24 hours as massive air strikes on major parts of Rafah city –
where close to 100 people were killed – when they were directly targeted
by a missile fired by a drone.</b></p>
<p><b>They were transferred to Gaza European Hospital, where they underwent immediate surgeries.</b></p>
<p><b>Unfortunately, Omar went through surgery where his leg had to be
amputated as the shrapnel fractured his bones to the point that [his
leg] was not attached properly. The doctors had to amputate his leg to
save his life.</b></p>
<p><b>This is not the first incident and we are expecting this is not the last one. There is ongoing, systematic, almost consistent <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/1/un-experts-condemn-disturbing-attacks-on-journalists-in-gaza">attacks on journalists</a> – there are more than 100 journalists since the beginning of this war who have been targeted.</b></p></div></div></div></div><div><p>The death toll continues to climb. At least 85 journalists have been
killed in Gaza. Ayat Khadoura was killed on November 20th and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/interactive/2024/israel-gaza-war-journalists-killed-cpj/">THE WASHINGTON POST notes her and others killed</a>. </p><p><br /></p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1756356228215714122" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1756356228215714122&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024_02_04_archive.html&sessionId=a9ac4dfe6ae3b3a927cd70fa65e02869346a31ac&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 897px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> <p><br /></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/catcontentonly/status/1756358782769152174">Radio Free Amanda notes</a>,
"85 was the number two months ago -- CPJ tends to be slow at processing
and releasing these figures. According to UN reports and Gaza's own
Government Media office, the number is at least 122 journalists killed
by Israel at this point." <a href="https://rsf.org/en/gaza-four-months-war-palestinian-journalism-has-been-decimated-impunity">Reporters Without Borders notes</a>:</p><div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-chapo field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>The
toll of four months of war in Gaza on journalism is nothing short of
horrifying: Palestinian journalists killed, wounded, and prevented from
working without any possibility of safe refuge. Reporters Without
Borders (RSF) strongly condemns the eradication of journalism and the
right to information in Gaza by the Israeli army, and calls on States
and international organisations to increase pressure on Israel to
immediately cease this carnage.</strong></p>
<p> </p>
</div><p>
</p><div class="field field--name-field-contenu-editorial field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items">
<div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--texte-riche paragraph--view-mode--default">
<div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-texte-riche field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><b>In
124 days of conflict, at least 84 journalists have been killed in Gaza,
including at least 20 in the course of their journalistic work or in
connection with it, according to RSF’s data. Journalists are being decimated
as the days of this interminable war go by, through incessant Israeli
strikes from the north to the south of the Gaza Strip. Journalists who
have survived these four months are living a daily hell: In inhumane
conditions, they suffer shortages of all kinds, particularly of
equipment, as well as regular media blackouts.</b></p></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Just
a reminder that Selma Blair is trying to hide out after making her
anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim statements. While she hides out, let's
not forget that there are others. <a href="https://www.salon.com/2024/02/10/selma-blair-receives-backlash-for-islamophobic-comment-endorsed-by-fellow-celebrities/">Kelly McClure (SALON) notes</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>In the since deleted comment, Blair writes, “Deport all these
terrorist supporting goons. Islam has destroyed Muslim countries and
then they come here and destroy minds. They know they are liars. Twisted
justifications. May they meet their fate.”</b></p>
<p><b>In a series of replies beneath her own, actor Michael Rapaport chimes
in with "Love it," and actress Debra Messing adds her own endorsement
of the controversial sentiments with, "THANK YOU."</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Like
Selma, Debra Messing also thinks she can pretend it never happened and
hide out. And, of course, no one wants to leave a Tweet for Michael
Rapaport because we all know any word having two or more syllables will
go right over his head.</div><div><br /></div><div>So what to do? What to do? </div><div><br /></div><div>As Ava and I noted in "<a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/tv-hate-spreaders.html">TV: The hate spreaders</a>,"
Debra Messing -- of all people -- is producing a 'documentary' about
the rise in hate. And, no, it's not called THE DEBRA MESSING SHOW:
WHERE I EXPLAIN HOW I HATEFUL AND ISLAMAPHOBIC I TRULY AM. It could be
called DEBRA MESSING: ANYTIME I TRY TO PART MY HAIR MY BALDNESS SHOWS.
She wants to call it PRIMAL FEAR and joining her in this 'documentary'
will be director Wendy Sachs. </div><div><br /><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1755787927508894073" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1755787927508894073&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%3Fupdated-max%3D2024-02-13T12%3A00%3A00-08%3A00%26max-results%3D3%26start%3D6%26by-date%3Dfalse&sessionId=f1fd217bed45a1bf3103e4ea6e1f457079d9eb28&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 348px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> </div><div><br /></div><div>She's thanking her friend Todd Richman -- the one with the face only a mother could love, the one who is co-chair of <a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/%3Cblockquote%20class=%22twitter-tweet%22%3E%3Cp%20lang=%22en%22%20dir=%22ltr%22%3EThank%20you%20Todd!%20%3Ca%20href=%22https://t.co/KicmUNjGrX%22%3Ehttps://t.co/KicmUNjGrX%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E&mdash;%20Wendy%20Sachs%20(@wsachs)%20%3Ca%20href=%22https://twitter.com/wsachs/status/1755787927508894073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22%3EFebruary%209,%202024%3C/a%3E%3C/blockquote%3E%20%3Cscript%20async%20src=%22https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js%22%20charset=%22utf-8%22%3E%3C/script%3E">Democratic Majority For Israel</a> -- a UN hating body of Americans dedicated to another country. How sweet.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wendy
Sachs will be directing Debra's fictional 'documentary' and I'm sure
Wendy's happy to hear all feedback and promote her 'documentary.' So
feel free to visit her <a href="https://twitter.com/wsachs?lang=en">Twitter base</a>.</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>On Twitter, the prosecutor at The International Criminal Court has left a lengthy Tweet:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>I
am deeply concerned by the reported bombardment and potential ground
incursion by Israeli forces in Rafah.
My Office has an ongoing and active investigation into the situation in
the State of Palestine. This is being taken forward as a matter of the
utmost urgency, with a view to bringing to justice those responsible for
Rome Statute crimes.
All wars have rules and the laws applicable to armed conflict cannot be
interpreted so as to render them hollow or devoid of meaning. This has
been my consistent message, including from Ramallah last year. Since
that time, I have not seen any discernible change in conduct by Israel.
As I have repeatedly emphasised, those who do not comply with the law
should not complain later when my Office takes action pursuant to its
mandate.
To all those involved: my Office is actively investigating any crimes
allegedly committed. Those who are in breach of the law will be held
accountable.
I also continue to call for the immediate release of all hostages. This
also represents an important focus of our investigations.</b></span></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1757081372680700206" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1757081372680700206&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2Fsearch%3Fupdated-max%3D2024-02-13T12%3A00%3A00-08%3A00%26max-results%3D3%26start%3D6%26by-date%3Dfalse&sessionId=f1fd217bed45a1bf3103e4ea6e1f457079d9eb28&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 368px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>From <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/12/evacuation_from_rafah">yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/schGG2p--ek?si=a84_rqIwXlf5Vcz2" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Palestinian health officials say overnight Israeli strikes on Rafah in
southern Gaza have killed at least 67 people as concern grows Israel
will soon launch a full-scale ground invasion. Over a million displaced
Palestinians have sought refuge in Rafah, which borders Egypt, after
Israel claimed it was a safe zone. Palestinians in Rafah say a mosque
and several houses were hit by the overnight Israeli strikes.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">KHALED</span> AL-<span class="caps">TAWEEL</span>:
[translated] It was an Apache firing with a really loud noise. The
F-16s fired, the Cobra, the drone, all kinds of aircraft. Terror,
terror, so much terror. They wiped out mosques, people, and displaced
people. They kept saying, “Go to Rafah. Go to Rafah.” And people came
here. And then you target them?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Over the weekend, Israel carried out numerous airstrikes on Rafah,
including one that leveled a five-story home, killing at least eight
people.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">ENAS</span> <span class="caps">AMER</span>:
[translated] My sister and her husband are sleeping in the room, and my
mother and my other sister with her children in the living room, me and
my father in the room over here. Suddenly, a rocket fell on us. My
sister, her husband and their children, including my niece, who is 2
months old, all gone.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
The overnight airstrikes came as Israeli forces carried out an
operation in Rafah to free two Israeli Argentine hostages, who were
found to be in good condition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
faces increasing pressure at home to secure the release of the
remaining hostages in Gaza. Earlier today, a relative of the two men
freed in Rafah called for Israel to reach a deal now.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">EDAN</span> <span class="caps">BEGERANO</span>:
And we know about the discussions in Cairo, or in Paris, in others,
between the Hamas and between Israel, with the mediators. Please, be
serious and strike a deal. The Israeli people need the deal done — not
yesterday, not tomorrow, today. We want it done as soon as possible in
order for to give us some breath. We must breathe a little bit here.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
On Sunday, President Biden spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, warning against Israel launching a ground invasion
of Rafah. Aid agencies fear the offensive would cause massive
casualties, while <span class="caps">UNICEF</span> has warned an
escalation of Israel’s attacks in Rafah will cause hunger and disease to
skyrocket. Hamas cautioned an Israeli invasion of Rafah will torpedo
ongoing negotiations for a truce. Authorities in Egypt have also
threatened to suspend a key peace treaty with Israel if Rafah is
invaded.</b></p>
<p><b>For more, we’re going directly to Rafah to speak with Duha Latif.
She’s a 29-year-old teacher from Gaza trying to evacuate Rafah with her
young children, 6-year-old Ameer and 1-and-a-half-year-old Kareem.</b></p>
<p><b>Duha, welcome to <em>Democracy Now!</em> Especially under these
difficult circumstances, we appreciate you being with us. You are a
native of Rafah. Can you describe the situation there now?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DUHA</span> <span class="caps">LATIF</span>: Hello, Amy. Thanks for hosting.</b></p>
<p><b>I’m sure most of you saw the news yesterday. And what happened in
Rafah, it was the worst night in my life, and I really cannot believe
that I am still alive. And actually, situation here is very terrible.
Rafah is a small city, and now 1.5 million people in Rafah, and Rafah is
just 55 square kilometers, which means that per square kilometers in
Rafah, there are around 24,000 Palestinians. Just imagine this, Amy.
Therefore, it is very difficult to get food, water or medicine, in
addition to the spread of diseases, because of a large population. Also,
Rafah is a city with no hospital, no electricity, no bakeries since
four months. This is the situation here.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: You are 29 years old. You’re a teacher, Duha, in Rafah?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DUHA</span> <span class="caps">LATIF</span>: Yes, that’s right.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
The city has swelled to four times the population. Can you talk about
your attempts to get out with your two little ones, your
1-and-a-half-year-old and your 6-year-old?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DUHA</span> <span class="caps">LATIF</span>:
The issue of leaving Rafah and evacuation to Egypt is very complicated,
and it’s very, very expensive, because we need the approval of the
Egyptian side to grant us exit arrangements, which costs a large amount
of money. And this is what we don’t have at the present time. And this
is what got me created a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-evacuate-my-kids-from-gaza-war">GoFundMe account</a>, because we don’t have money to get out from Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: What do you mean? How much money does it cost to leave Gaza? What are you raising money for?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DUHA</span> <span class="caps">LATIF</span>:
In fact, I can’t determine that exactly, but I can tell you that’s the
amount required to be paid to exit Gaza. It’s considered somewhat high,
very high, especially in our current case. This amount includes the
travel cost and the expensive coordination, in addition to what is
required when we arrive in Egypt side — of course, if we’re still alive
— such as renting a place to stay and buy clothes and food and children
needs. Actually, we don’t know to whom this money goes, and I cannot
mention specific site. But what I know, it’s that we have to pay this
amount for one of Egyptian offices.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Can you talk about your little ones and how they are processing what’s
happening right now? Do you hear bombing, shelling around you?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DUHA</span> <span class="caps">LATIF</span>:
Yes, yes. Last night, maybe you see this in the news. And it was
terrible. And we are all — that my children was scared all the night,
and they’re crying. And maybe you see what’s happened in the news. And
what’s happened, really, is very, very hard and difficult.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
I’m wondering if you heard the relative of the two Israeli Argentine
hostages who the Israeli military freed in Rafah. Their relative said,
“Please, have a truce now. It is not enough that you have freed our two
loved ones.”</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DUHA</span> <span class="caps">LATIF</span>: Yes. No, I don’t hear of this. And I am like you: I hear this just from the news.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
So, if you can talk about, at this point, what message you have for
President Biden? You may have heard that his aides are saying that he’s
made mistakes in dealing with the Middle East. What message do you have
for President Biden?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DUHA</span> <span class="caps">LATIF</span>:
I will send a message. I have two children, and they are always nervous
and afraid from the voices they hear around us, and always ask me
questions I don’t have the answers for it: “Mom, when can we get out?
Mom, when we will eat burger? Mom, when we can go back to school?” And
it’s difficult to calm children while the mother needs somebody to calm
her. So, my message to President Biden: We are innocent civilians, and
we have no fault in what is happening. Our children deserve to live a
normal life like the rest of the world’s children. Just one word,
President Biden: ceasefire now. You have the power to make it happen
right now.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
And, Duha, do you have access to clean water? Also, have you taken in
refugees from other parts of Gaza at this point into your own home?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DUHA</span> <span class="caps">LATIF</span>:
And actually, Amy, yes, I have, but there is only canned foods, beans
and tuna, for four months. My children are in a growing stage and need
healthy and useful food, like an egg, milk, fruits. And all of this
doesn’t exist at the present time. There is no clean water. Because of
this, my young son Kareem, 1-and-a-half years, suffered intestinal <em>khatar</em>.
And also, there is also no medicine for this. Also, about the refugees,
yes, our situation like the situation of thousands people here in
Rafah. Yes, I have many refugees in my home. They are my relatives from
Gaza, in northern Gaza. Every home in Rafah is full of refugees.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Well, I thank you so much for taking this time, speaking to us from Rafah.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DUHA</span> <span class="caps">LATIF</span>: Amy, I want just to say a word. Can I?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Yes.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">DUHA</span> <span class="caps">LATIF</span>: We are urgently trying to leave Rafah, but we need money to leave. We have a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-evacuate-my-kids-from-gaza-war">GoFundMe account</a>, if people want to support us by donating or sharing or help my family. We need to leave to keep my family safe.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Well, Duha Latif, I thank you so much for being with us, 29-year-old
teacher from Rafah, trying to evacuate there with her young children,
her 6-year-old Ameer and her 1-and-a-half-year-old Kareem.</b></p>
<p><b>When we come back, <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/12/noura_erakat_rafah_gaza">we’ll
speak with Palestinian human rights attorney Noura Erakat, as the U.S.,
the European Union, countries around the world warn Israel against a
ground invasion of Rafah</a>. Stay with us.</b></p></div></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning, <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1813874/irresponsible-illegal-and-inhumane-pressure-mounts-on-israel-for-gaza-ceasefire-following-raid-in-rafah">DAWN notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>Pakistan has condemned Israel’s “military aggression against Rafah
city in Gaza and the resulting destruction and massacre of the
Palestinian people”.</b></p>
<p><b>In a statement, the Foreign Office said: “Israel’s offensive in Rafah violates the <a href="https://www.dawn.com/news/1808971">provisional measures</a> indicated by the International Court of Justice to protect the people of Gaza from “genocide”.</b></p>
<p><b>“It will further aggravate the humanitarian disaster witnessed in
Gaza over the last four months and jeopardise the ongoing efforts for a
potential ceasefire,” the FO warned.</b></p>
<p><b>Pakistan urged the “international community, especially the UN
Security Council, to take urgent measures to bring an immediate end to
Israeli aggression and its incessant crimes against humanity”.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 130 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-cia-chief-gaza-cease-fire-deal-egypt-rcna138536">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "More than 28,400 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/gaza-hospitals-collapsing-rcna132439" target="_blank">More than 68,000 have been injured</a>, and thousands more are missing and presumed dead." Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div><div><br /></div><div>As the assault goes on, US President Joe Biden tut-tuts and does nothing. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/feb/13/middle-east-crisis-live-updates-israel-gaza-ceasefire-deal-truce-agreement-joe-biden-prevent-rafah-offensive-latest-update-news">Harriet Sherwood (THE GUARDIAN) reports</a>:</div><div><header class="dcr-88va8u"><div class="dcr-dzkvsd"><span class="dcr-1ewflve"><b><br /></b></span></div></header><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Church of England bishops have added their weight to calls for an immediate ceasefire in the war between <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/israel">Israel</a> and Hamas</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>In
a statement on Tuesday, the bishops said: "With the onset of Israel’s
ground offensive into Rafah, we call for an immediate ceasefire. The
relentless bombardment of <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/gaza">Gaza</a>
and its huge cost in civilian lives and civilian infrastructure must
stop. The manner in which this war is being prosecuted cannot be morally
justified.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>"We urge Israel to adhere to the
ICJ order and to ensure that Palestinians have access to food, water,
healthcare, and safety, that have long been denied to them. We welcome
the [UK] foreign secretary’s recent call for an immediate pause in the
fighting and would also welcome further representation to the government
of Israel about the way that it is exercising its right to self-defence
and to affirm adherence to international law.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>"We continue to advocate for the release of the remaining hostages and an end to the missile attacks on Israel by <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/hamas">Hamas</a>.
All sides must begin to imagine a future beyond this conflict: for a
just peace for Israelis and Palestinians. This war can’t result in the
consolidation of a system of occupation that has for too long denied
Palestinians their rights and freedoms.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>"In
praying for all those in Israel and Palestine living in the midst of war
and the fear of war, we pray particularly for the Palestinian Christian
communities, that they may know strength and the presence of the Spirit
of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>"As we
consider the impact of the current conflict in the Middle East on
community relations here in the UK, we again condemn all antisemitic and
anti-Muslim sentiment. We are horrified by the growing threats and
abuses of Jews on university campuses, in our neighbourhoods, and
online. We appeal to our communities to be safe for all people whatever
their nationality, ethnicity or religion. For our own part, we commit to
working alongside our fellow faith leaders for the common good, despite
and with our differences."</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Of Namby Pamby Joe, the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68281213">BBC notes</a>, "<span class="sc-7dcfb11b-0 kVRnKf">US
President Joe Biden has said civilians who are 'packed' into Rafah in
the Gaza Strip are 'exposed and vulnerable' and must be protected. </span>Israel
must make 'credible' efforts to protect the more than one million
Palestinians sheltering in the southern Gazan city, he said." The Israeli government isn't even pretending to listen. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-02-13-24/index.html">CNN's Alex Stambaugh reports</a>,
"The Israeli military has not yet presented its plan to the government
for the evacuation of Rafah, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense
Forces (IDF) told CNN on Tuesday." If no plan's been presented, Joe's
insisting (meekly) that a plan for evacuation needs to be in place
before the assault starts? They've blown off Joe. They're not
listening. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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<a href="http://wwwmikeylikesit.blogspot.com/2024/02/x-men-movies-cray-cray-gop-politicians.html" target="_blank">
X-Men movies; cray cray GOP politicians
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<div class="item-time">
7 hours ago
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<a href="http://trinaskitchen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Trina's Kitchen</a>
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<a href="http://trinaskitchen.blogspot.com/2024/02/sheet-pan-fajita-shrimp-in-kitchen.html" target="_blank">
Sheet Pan Fajita Shrimp in the Kitchen
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7 hours ago
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<a href="http://ruthsreport.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Ruth's Report</a>
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<a href="http://ruthsreport.blogspot.com/2024/02/sad-man-donald-trump.html" target="_blank">
Sad man Donald Trump
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7 hours ago
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<a href="http://sexandpoliticsandscreedsandattitude.blogspot.com/2024/02/extreme-idiots.html" target="_blank">
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7 hours ago
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7 hours ago
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Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills)</a>
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Ann's Mega Dub</a>
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<a href="http://annsmegadub.blogspot.com/2024/02/mother-tucker-carlson.html" target="_blank">
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<a href="http://thomasfriedmanisagreatman.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
Thomas Friedman is a Great Man</a>
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7 hours ago
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SICKOFITRADLZ</a>
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<a href="http://sickofitradlz.blogspot.com/2024/02/north-carolina-has-real-lunatic-who.html" target="_blank">
North Carolina has a real lunatic who wants to be governor
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</div></div></li><li style="display: block;"><div class="item-time"><br /></div></li><li style="display: block;"><div class="item-time"> </div></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-65890229616133481722024-02-13T01:02:00.000-05:002024-02-13T01:02:16.976-05:00Sheet Pan Fajita Shrimp in the Kitchen<p>Let's start with a good recipe, Sheet Pan Fajita Shrimp in the Kitchen: </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Ingredients:</b></p><p><b>2 tablespoons chili powder</b></p><p><b>1 tablespoon sea salt</b></p><p><b>2 medium red bell peppers, seeded and cut into 2-inch strips</b></p><p><b>1 medium yellow or green bell pepper, seeded and cut into 2-inch strips</b></p><p><b>1 large onion, peeled, halved, and thinly sliced </b></p><p><b>3 tablespoons olive oil, divided</b></p><p><b>1 1/3 pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>Instructions</b></p><p><b>1 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.</b></p><p><b>2 In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder and salt. Set aside.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>3 In a large bowl, toss together the bell peppers and onions. Drizzle with 1 1/3 teaspoons of olive oil and half the chili powder mixture. Toss to coat evenly.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>4 Spread the seasoned peppers and onions on the baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>5 While the vegetables are baking, place the shrimp in the same large bowl you tossed the peppers and onions in. Drizzle the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil over the shrimp and sprinkle with the remaining chili powder mixture. Mix well.</b></p><p><b>6 After the peppers and onions have been in the oven for 15 minutes, removed the baking sheet and add the shrimp in an even layer. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 6 to 8 minutes, or until the shrimp are pink and tender.</b></p><p><br /></p><p>That recipe is one of the many great recipes that you can find in Lisa Grant's Super Easy Cookbook for Beginners: 5-Ingredient Recipes and Essential Techniques To Get You Started. The book is available for no additional charge to those who pay for the Kindle Unlimited service on Amazon.</p><p><br /></p><p>Grant spends the first two chapters going over basics. You're reading a recipe that calls for you to broil something. I don't think twice. I've been cooking forever. And sometimes, it is easy to forget that broil is not something we have all learned. She addresses the terms and what they mean. </p><p><br /></p><p>And then she provides recipes that are easy to follow. The book more than achieves what it set out to do and I highly recommend it.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_0343595742.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Monday:</p><div class="date-posts"><div class="post-outer"><div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting">
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<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-1399134875773455189" itemprop="articleBody">
Monday, February 12, 2024. Hate merchants Selma Blair, Michael Rapaport
and Debra Messing take the masks off to go full KKK, a missing
six-year-old girl is discovered in Gaza days after the IDF killed her,
despite Joe Biden's begging the assault on Rafah has begun, and much
more.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Saturday, <a href="https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-condemns-actress-selma-blairs-anti-muslim-remarks-invites-her-to-dialogue/">CAIR issued a statement</a>:</div><p><b> </b></p><p><b>The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s
largest Muslim civil rights organization, today condemned anti-Muslim
remarks made by actress Selma Blair and encouraged her to apologize and
dialogue with the Muslim American community.</b></p>
<p><b>CAIR also called on film studios and talent agencies to stop
punishing artists who express support for Palestinian human rights while
ignoring hateful remarks by artists who support the ongoing genocide in
Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b>In a comment on Instagram, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/selma-blair-facing-backlash-islamophobic-comment-goes-viral-rcna138185" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Blair reportedly wrote</a>: “Deport all these terrorist supporting goons. Islam has destroyed Muslim countries and then they come here and destroy minds. </b></p>
<p><b>They know they are liars. Twisted justifications. May they meet their fate.”</b></p>
<p><b>According to allegations posted online, Blair has also allegedly
liked other posts on social media that expressed anti-Muslim and
anti-migrant sentiment.</b></p>
<p><b>In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:</b></p>
<p><b><i>“No one is born a bigot, and we should never assume that someone is doomed to remain a bigot. </i></b></p>
<p><b><i>“Based on the hateful and ignorant remarks that Ms. Blair made,
we doubt that she has ever engaged in any meaningful interactions with
her Muslim colleagues in Hollywood or other members of the American
Muslim community. We encourage Ms. Blair to apologize, and we also
invite her to dialogue with our community. </i></b></p>
<p><b><i>“We also call on Hollywood studios and agencies to stop punishing
artists who express support for Palestinian human rights while ignoring
hateful comments by artists who support the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”</i></b></p>
<p><b><a href="https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-new-data-shows-the-end-of-2023-was-a-relentless-wave-of-bias-community-resilience-is-impressive/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CAIR recently released new civil rights data showing that it has received 3,578 complaints</a> during
the last three months of 2023 amid an ongoing wave of anti-Muslim and
anti-Palestinian hate. Most recently, in Austin, Texas, a man screaming
racist slurs attacked a group of Palestinian American Muslims who had
just attend a pro-ceasefire protest.</b></p>
<p><b>On Monday, Feb. 12, (noon ET), <a href="https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-to-hold-d-c-news-conference-with-family-of-u-s-citizen-kidnapped-beaten-by-israeli-forces-in-gaza/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">CAIR plans to hold a news conference with the sons of Samaher Esmai</a>l,
an American citizen and grandmother from New Orleans who was recently
kidnapped, beaten, and denied access to medicine by Israeli forces in
the West Bank.</b></p><div><br /></div><div>Some may be saying "Who?"
because, yes, she is a little nobody. She's been wrongly billed, over
the weekend, as a star of CRUEL INTENTIONS. That film and the films
before it and the novel have three main characters, she's not playing
any of those three. She's a supporting actress in that film. She's a
hacktress who got fired by Charlie Sheen (from the TV show ANGER
MANAGEMENT). She rode her illness to something akin to fame and did so
while real disability activists were calling her into question. She
never had a career to speak of and now she probably never will because
hate doesn't sell a lot of tickets. In "<a href="http://sickofitradlz.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-hateful-people-who-destroy-our-world.html">The hateful people who destroy our world</a>,"
Marcia gathered some of the responses on Twitter to Selma. Speaking of
Marcias, Marcia Cross of MELROSE PLACE and DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES fame is
in the news. <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/12/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israel-planning-rafah-assault-as-talks-continue">ALJAZEERA reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="card-live__content"><div class="wysiwyg-content"><div class="wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content css-1kw180w" id="wysiwyg"><p><b>Marcia
Cross, known for her role as Bree Van de Kamp on the popular TV series
Desperate Housewives, has written on her Instagram page: “I’m struggling
to comprehend how to live among people with eyes that don’t water,
hearts that don’t flinch, and voices that remain silent.”</b></p>
<p><b>She ended her statement with emojis of a broken heart and the flag of Palestine.</b></p>
<p><b>“There are no words for the horror that has and is being unleashed.
And the silence has me believing I am deaf,” she wrote in the post.</b></p></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Back to the trash that is Selma Blair, <a href="https://www.newarab.com/news/selma-blair-faces-backlash-over-islamophobic-comments">THE NEW ARAB notes</a>:</div><div><p class="selectionShareable"><b>Blair was joined by controversial actors
Michael Rapaport, who commented on Hamra's video "Love it", and Debra
Messing, who posted: "THANK YOU".</b></p>
<p class="selectionShareable"><b><a href="https://www.newarab.com/news/debra-messing-slammed-mocking-gazas-motaz-azaiza-exit">Messing</a>
herself received backlash for ridiculing the exit of Palestinian
Journalist Motaz Azaiza from Gaza on Instagram, going as far as to
question Azaiza's journalistic credentials.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Michael
Rapaport is human filth and the best that can be said about his "Love
it" is that maybe typing that prevented him for a moment or two from
again beating up a woman. The most appalling thing is that hate
merchant Debra Messing is making a 'documentary,' as Ava and I noted in "<a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/tv-hate-spreaders.html">TV: The hate spreaders</a>."
The mask is off, she's shown her true self -- she actually showed her
true self on the set of the WILL & GRACE reboot so grasp what Megan
Mullally had to work with and why Megan said, "No more." But now she
wants to be a documentary director and thinks she can show her hate
online but still trick people into believing she's worth listening to.
She is not. And anyone who participates in her garbage documentary --
I'm looking at you, Kirsten Gillibrand, especially -- should be ashamed
of themselves. And if you participate in it, you are signing off on
the hate hate Debra herself has applauded. You will own that look.</div><div><br /></div><div>US
President Joe Biden doesn't have a good look currently. Yes, there
have been multiple things in the last day. I'm just focusing on the
attack in southern Gaza, in Rafah. Joe warned the world that Israel
better have a plan for evacuation before the attack. They didn't. They
don't.</div><div><br /></div><div>The government of Israel just blew him
off. Just ignored him. Just treated him like a powerless, doddering
fool. Is that the look he was going for?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Sunday? <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/12/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israel-planning-rafah-assault-as-talks-continue">ALJAZEERA notes</a>,
"Our Al Jazeera Arabic colleagues are reporting that at least 63 people
were killed in strikes on two mosques in Rafah earlier tonight." Yes,
Israel is attacking Rafah -- home of an estimated 1.3 million people --
by ground and air. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-02-11-2014-785309c668e15728c6aac9905f290b4d">AP notes</a>,
"On
Sunday, the White House said President Joe Biden had warned Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel should not conduct a military
operation against Hamas in Rafah without a 'credible and executable'
plan to protect civilians." They also point out that they witnessed a
strike on a hospital. They don't point out that that is a War Crime. <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna138259">Chantal da Silva (NBC NEWS) reports</a>, "In photos captured by NBC News’ crew, multiple children could be seen
among with the injured, including a young boy with a bandaged head and
blood on his face and sweater."</div><p>They just blew him off and ignored him.</p><p><br /></p><p>Other governments haven't been as weak as Joe. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-02-12-24/index.html">CNN’s Catherine Nicholls reports</a> today:</p><p><br /></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>The
Netherlands must stop the export of F-35 fighter jet parts to Israel
within seven days, a Dutch court ruled on Monday, citing concerns that
they could be used to violate international law as part of the Israeli
campaign in Gaza.</b></p><div class="sc-bdVaJa sc-RefOD bkVmOx"><blockquote class="sc-dnqmqq hJIoKL"><b>“The
court finds that there is a clear risk that Israel’s F-35 fighter jets
might be used in the commission of serious violations of international
humanitarian law,” The Hague Court of Appeal said in a statement. </b></blockquote></div><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>“This means that the export of F-35 parts from the Netherlands to Israel has to be stopped.”</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Three
non-governmental organizations — Oxfam Novib, Pax for Peace, and The
Rights Forum — appealed a previous Dutch court decision that allowed the
continued export of F-35 parts to Israel.</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>On
Monday, The Hague Court of Appeal said that under several international
regulations that the Netherlands is a party to, the country must
prevent the export of military equipment if there is a “clear risk of
serious violations of international humanitarian law.”</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>The
court said that Israel does not take “take sufficient account of the
consequences of its attacks for the civilian population,” adding that
its attacks on Gaza have resulted in a “disproportionate number of
civilian casualties.”</b></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/feb/12/middle-east-crisis-live-updates-israel-gaza-hostages-freed-rafah-strikes-latest-news">Lisa O'Carroll (THE GUARDIAN) reports</a>, "The EU’s chief diplomat, <strong>Josep Borrell</strong>,
has said he is 'extraordinarily concerned' about Benjamin Netanyahu’s
threats to launch attacks on Rafah with no evacuation plan and no
prospect of refugee camps in Egypt." </p><p><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/12/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israel-planning-rafah-assault-as-talks-continue">Doctors Without Borders is also objecting</a>:</p><p><b><br /></b></p><div class="card-live__content"><div class="wysiwyg-content"><div class="wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content css-1kw180w" id="wysiwyg"><p><b>Doctors
Without Borders, a medical charity also known by its French initials
MSF, has said that “Israel’s declared ground offensive on Rafah would be
catastrophic and must not proceed”.</b></p>
<p><b>“As aerial bombardment of the area continues, more than a million
people, many living in tents and makeshift shelters, now face a dramatic
escalation in this ongoing massacre,” it said on X.</b></p>
<p><b>“Nowhere in Gaza is safe, and repeated forced displacements have
pushed people to Rafah, where they are trapped in a tiny patch of land
and have no options,” it added.</b></p>
<p><b>MSF also said that, since the beginning of Israel’s war on Gaza, the
organisation’s medical teams and patients have been forced to evacuate
nine different healthcare facilities in the Gaza Strip.</b></p>
<p><b>It said the MSF facilities have come “under fire from tanks,
artillery, fighter jets, snipers and ground troops, or being subject to
an evacuation order”.</b></p></div></div></div><p><br /></p><div><span class="byline__authors"><a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-administration-jon-finer-gaza-communication/">Margaret Brennan, Richard Escobedo, Sophia Barkoff and Carol Joynt (CBS NEWS) report</a>:</span></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>A top Biden administration aide privately admitted failures and
"missteps" in the communication of US policy regarding Israel's ongoing
war in Gaza in a closed-door meeting with Arab American and Muslim
leaders in Michigan last week. </b></p><p><b>"We have left a very damaging
impression, based on what has been a wholly inadequate public accounting
for how much the President, the administration, the country, values the
lives of Palestinians," Deputy National Security adviser Jon Finer was
heard telling community leaders in a recording obtained by CBS News. "We
are very well aware that we have misstepped in the course of responding
to this crisis." </b></p><p><b>Finer also acknowledged that many in the Arab
American community believe Mr. Biden doesn't empathize with Palestinians
in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.</b></p>
<p><b>The audio recording was verified by a National Security Council official. </b></p><p><b>Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy responded to Finer's remarks Sunday during an interview on "<span class="link"><a data-invalid-url-rewritten-http="" href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/face-the-nation-full-transcript-02-11-2024/">Face the Nation With Margaret Brennan</a></span>"<em> </em>and
said the administration plans to make changes. He pointed to President
Biden's Thursday statement that Israel has "gone too far" in Gaza, and a
recent call by Secretary of State Antony Blinken for Israel not to
dehumanize others as Israelis themselves had been dehumanized by Hamas
during the brutal attacks on Oct. 7 that began the current conflict.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>How do you respond to that?</div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/84TB8C50nos?si=byU6SrYp3RwmkPP7" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 129 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>,
"More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna138339">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "The war in Gaza has killed 28,340 people and injured 67,984, health officials in the enclave said today." Months ago, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP has noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">February 7th, Jeremy Scahill explained</a>
on DEMOCRACY NOW! that "there’s an estimated 7,000 or 8,000
Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble of
their former home." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe
Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." <br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/hind-rajab">At COMMON DREAMS, Brett Wilkins reports</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><p><b>The decomposing body of a missing young Palestinian girl was found Saturday in <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/gaza">Gaza</a>
surrounded by her dead relatives in a bullet-ridden, tank-crushed car
near a blasted ambulance and the bodies of two paramedics killed by
Israeli troops while trying to save the child.
</b></p><p><b>
The plight of 6-year-old Hind Rajab drew worldwide attention after the <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/palestine">Palestine</a>
Red Crescent Society published a recording of a desperate phone call
made by her 15-year-old cousin Layan Hamadeh to the PRCS as her family
came under Israeli tank attack while trying to flee to safety in their
car in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood of southern Gaza City at dusk on
January 29. </b></p></div><div><b>"They are shooting at us. The tank is right next to me. We're in the
car, the tank is right next to us," Hamadeh said before screaming as
gunfire erupts and the call goes silent. </b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>Along with Hamadeh, Rajab's aunt, uncle, and two other cousins were
killed. But Rajab—who was wounded in the back and hand—initially
survived.
</b></p><p><b>
"Come take me. Will you come and take me?" she <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://twitter.com/PalestineRCS/status/1753434287402004548" target="_blank">begged</a> PRCS dispatcher Rana al-Faqeh over the phone, telling her that she was afraid of the dark. "I'm so scared, please come!"
</b></p><p><b>
An ambulance was dispatched to rescue Rajab. But it, too, came under
Israeli attack, and crew members Yusuf Zeino and Ahmed Al-Madhoun were
killed.</b></p><p> </p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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2 days ago
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</div></div></li></ul></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-73274257500268358142024-02-09T01:25:00.000-05:002024-02-09T01:25:13.029-05:00Keto Ground Beef Casserole in the Kitchen<div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mark e-mails to note that he and Ryan (his husband) are trying Keto and that they like <a class="yiv1601055607ydp695c0065yiv9174861785" href="https://healthyrecipesblogs.com/ground-beef-casserole/#ingredients" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Healthy Recipes' Keto Ground Beef Casserole</a>:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Ingredients</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Olive oil spray for pan</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2 lb extra lean ground beef (93% lean)</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 teaspoon fine sea salt</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1/4 teaspoon black pepper</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2 teaspoons garlic powder</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 teaspoon onion powder</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4 oz reduced-fat cream cheese cubed</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1 cup shredded cheddar divided</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2 tablespoons chopped parsley for garnish</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> Instructions:</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1) Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray a 2-quart casserole dish with olive oil and set it aside.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2) Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly spray it with olive oil.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3)
Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook, stirring and breaking up the
meat into small pieces, until the meat is no longer raw, about 5
minutes. Drain the beef and return it to the skillet.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4)
Reduce the heat to medium. Mix the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion
powder and cayenne into the beef, then slowly and patiently mix in the
cream cheese until fully melted and incorporated.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5) Turn the heat off, and mix 1/2 cup of the shredded cheddar into the beef mixture.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>6) Transfer the mixture to the prepared 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheddar on top.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>7) Bake the casserole until the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve.</b></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I haven't tried this recipe. I was looking at it and another one and trying to figure out which one to highlight tonight and my husband walked into the kitchen -- I blog from my kitchen table -- and I pitched both to him. He said that not only did this one sound best but he'd love it this weekend. So I'll be making it Saturday -- for lunch or dinner. (Tomorrow's dinner will be fish -- we're Catholic.)</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">News? <a class="yiv1601055607ydp695c0065yiv9174861785" href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/school-board-member-skewered-for-publicly-questioning-random-teen-athlete-s-gender/ar-BB1hZuT1?cvid=51cfca39f9f942aaab1b40a295548d29&ei=7" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Josh Fiallo (Daily Beast) reports</a>:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><div><div style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A school board member in <a class="yiv1601055607ydp695c0065yiv9174861785" href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/keyword/utah" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Utah</a> with
a history of hateful posts was grilled by GOP lawmakers and the state’s
Republican governor, Spencer Cox, after she publicly questioned the
gender of a 16-year-old high school athlete, who then faced a firestorm
of harassment.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Natalie
Cline, a first-term Republican board member of the Utah Department of
Education, has regularly spewed hateful rhetoric on her Facebook page,
including a post last Independence Day where she claimed schools were <a class="yiv1601055607ydp695c0065yiv9174861785" href="https://www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/utah-education-association-condemns-grooming-remarks-made-by-board-of-education-member" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">brainwashing children</a> into “queer, gender bending ideologies.”</span></p><div dir="ltr"><div><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On
Tuesday night, Cline shared a flier for a high school basketball team
on her official Facebook page and implied that one of the featured
athletes was transgender, writing, “Girls’ basketball...”</span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
post blew up with dozens of commenters making nasty remarks about the
child, while others explained that the girl in question was not
transgender. Her parents described the athlete as being a “tomboy” who
has her “own style” in an interview with <a href="https://ksltv.com/620977/parents-of-female-student-athlete-at-the-center-of-controversial-school-board-member-post-speak-out/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KSLTV</a>, adding that she has a larger build, like them.</span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
deluge of harassment continued, however. The girl’s school district
said the harassment became so bad, it had to appoint her police
protection for her to continue attending class.</span></p><p style="color: #2b2b2b; margin: 0px 0px 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even
Cline has recognized her post was in poor taste, especially since she
had no idea who the girl was. She released a half-hearted mea culpa on
Wednesday, saying she offered her “deepest apologies” to the girl’s
family and said she deleted her initial post to protect the student.</span></p></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There's
a word for Cline and it rhymes with "runt." She needs to be removed
from office immediately. Girl X (what I'm calling the student) suffered
irreparable harm as a result of Cline's actions. Girl X was mocked,
bullied and required police protection. There is no excuse for that. </span></div></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And,
guess what, if Girl X had been trans, there was still no excuse for
it. Our children are not to be mocked and made fun of especially not by
politicians which, as noted in Annie Hall, are just a notch above child
molesters. How dare that woman attack a child. How dare she.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cline's
actions were outrageous and caused real harm. And they would cause
real harm to any child -- trans or not -- which is why her actions were
always out of bounds. There is no excuse for an adult doing this.
None. I don't believe in suicide but if Cline were to slit her wrists
today, it would still not make up for what she did. And she intended to
harm a child -- grasp that. Her point was to hold a child up to
ridicule. An adult in a position of power wanted to see a child
publicly ridiculed. That's outrageous. She could spend the next year
begging for forgiveness but I wouldn't forgive her. She knew what she
was doing and she got the outcome she wanted for Girl X -- just turns
out Girl X isn't transgender.</span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cline should not be holding public office. Her actions are offensive and outrageous. </span></div></div><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_01167025158.html">Iraq snapshot</a>:"</p><p><br /></p>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3316605306387742110" itemprop="articleBody">
Thursday, February 8, 2024. Netanyahu has a hissy fit over a proposed
pause in the slaughter, more photos of alleged torture by the IDF
emerge, Marianne Williamson suspends her campaign, and much more.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Another candidate has suspended her campaign.<br /><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/raIyiyMM7zA?si=7vHbBHpVHrmiOp5X" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Marianne Williamson has suspended her campaign for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination and <a href="https://mariannewilliamson.substack.com/p/much-to-be-grateful-for?r=3zkfe&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web">notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you don’t win:)…</b></p><p><b>I
appreciate greatly all the incredible people who accompanied me on our
political journey over the last ten months. While the level of our
failure is obvious to all, a level of success is real nonetheless. We
articulated deeper, more authentic truths than those regularly
acknowledged by the political establishment. And I’m not only glad we
did that; I’m proud of it. We spoke for those most ignored in America
today and whose wounds are most in need of healing. I wish I could have
reached them. I know we would have provided hope.</b></p></div><div><p><b>I will never be able to fully express my gratitude to those who
supported the campaign - as donors, as volunteers, as team members, and
more. I hope the blessings you have shown me will be reflected in your
life many times over. There are memories of support and kindness that I
will cherish going forward, carrying an emotional fragrance that will
linger in my heart forever.</b></p><p><b>In the final analysis, I think the
only real failure in life is that which we fail to learn from. I have
learned so much already and I know that I will learn more. Processing
this experience will be an ongoing journey and forgiveness will guide me
as I move through it. I will not allow the mental torment of all the
woulda shoulda couldas to tie me to the past, but rather I will keep my
eye on the larger story. In ways I cannot yet see, none of this will
have been in vain. There are hidden gifts that have only just begun to
reveal themselves.</b></p><p><b>Among those gifts are seeds I know we dropped
into the hearts of many - those who will in their own time, in their own
way, carry our ideas forward. Although as of today we are suspending
our campaign, our platform - with its deep dive into so many issues -
will remain on Marianne2024.com. I hope future candidates will take what
works for them, drinking from the well of information that we prepared.
My team and I brought to the table some great ideas, and I will take
pleasure when I see them live on in campaigns and candidates yet to be
created.</b></p><p><b>I wish I could give a personal hug to every person who
encouraged me on this journey. So many had faith and believed in what
was possible. While we did not succeed at running a winning political
campaign, I know in my heart we impacted the political ethers. As with
every other aspect of my career over the last forty years, I know how
ideas float through the air forming ever new designs. I will see and
hear things in different situations and through different voices, and I
will smile a small internal smile knowing in my heart where that came
from. </b></p><p><b>I am wishing you all the love in the world, with a thanks
more sincere than you can possibly imagine. May love yet prevail, in our
hearts and in the world.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>The list of
potentials gets smaller and the list of real potentials -- real meaning,
this isn't a deluded vanity campaign, gets tiny. On the Republican
side, it's coming down to Donald Trump (unless the courts do the right
thing and bar him from running due to his violations of Article 3 and
the 14th Amendment) and Nikki Haley. On the Democratic Party side, it's
now Joe Biden. Joe visited NYC and, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/jewish-protest-cease-fire">Brett Wilkins (COMMON DREAMS) reports</a>, it was a visit that got attention:</div><div><br /></div><div><p> Around 100 Jewish American and allied activists were arrested in New
York City Wednesday after they blocked President Joe Biden's motorcade
route to protest U.S. complicity in Israel's genocidal war against the
Palestinian people and to demand an immediate Gaza cease-fire.
</p><p>
The group Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) led the Upper East Side
demonstration, during which activists sat down in the intersection of
Fifth Avenue and 82nd Street, where the president was attending a nearby
fundraiser. <br /></p><p>
"As Jewish New Yorkers we want to make crystal clear that President
Biden is not welcome in our city while he continues to fund and arm the
Israeli government's genocide of Palestinians in Gaza," said<strong></strong>JVP's Jay Saper. </p></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I
know nothing about Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia but they have
the nomination for the Party for Socialism and Liberation (Claudia for
president, Karina for vice president) which, in the past, has run real
candidates. The Green Party is in shambles and that's evidenced by the
fact that Jill Stein trying to get the nomination. Jill Stein is AGAIN
trying to get the nomination.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the complaints from those anticipating a Donald and Joe match up has been the age issue. </div><div><br /></div><div>Jill's no spring chicken. </div><div><br /></div><div>She turns 74 this May.</div><div><br /></div><div>She
has no real accomplishments to speak of -- unless you consider her
dropping her anti-vaccine stance when the press discovered it while she
was running for office -- I believe that was in her failed Senate run
and not during one of her disastrous attempts at the presidency. Jill
fights for what she stands for . . . at least until she's expected to
actually stand for it.</div><div><br /></div><div>And, yes, we said "attempts at the presidency."</div><div><br /></div><div>The Green Party is dead will be the announcement if, this summer, they announce Jill Stein as their candidate.</div><div><br /></div><div>She
was their failed candidate in 2012 -- one who refused to question
Barack Obama's sending US troops back into Iraq even though Tim Arango
had reported this for THE NEW YORK TIMES just before the presidential
debates started. Poor Jill, she had more important things than war or
pointing out reality. She needed to get a new hair do and she needed
more photos of herself and she needed waste everyone's time.</div><div><br /></div><div>She did that in 2016 again.</div><div><br /></div><div>She's
a disaster and something of an idiot. It's gotten worse, her public
speaking, so bad in fact that she might need to see a doctor. </div><div><br /></div><div>Does that sound like a party offering a real difference between the duopoly?</div><div><br /></div><div>No.</div><div><br /></div><div>A
real difference would be the Green Party getting an actual candidate --
not an old nag or hag that they've run twice already and who is over
70s year old. 35. That's the youngest you can be. And yet do nothing
Jill thinks her twice that age, failed ass needs to mislead the Green
Party again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Joe Biden should have put himself
out to pasture. No question. But Greens, if you run a 74 year old
failure, you don't have any room to scold any other parties. She's
failed twice. She's led to the party into great debt with those
failures. She's done nothing but whine in the last years -- I only ate a
dinner in Russia! -- and she's not an activist. Her 'activism' most
recently was trying to force Cornel West down the throat of the Green
Party. I don't think she realizes how hated that's made her.</div><div><br /></div><div>She
and others at the top of the Green Party, tried to steal the nomination
for him. And rank-and-file pushed back. Cornel for any other
failures, was smart enough to see what was happening and cease his
campaign for the Green Party nomination.</div><div><br /></div><div>That
Cornel didn't grasp the process of the Green Party is not surprising.
He announced his pursuit of the presidency by announcing he was the
candidate for the People's Party and then a week later, he wasn't.
Oops. Turns out you actually do need to do some work to run for
president and that includes checking out the party whose nomination
you've accepted -- in fact, better to do that checking before you accept
their nomination.</div><div><br /></div><div>But Jill knew the process
and she didn't just ignore it, she tried to break it and would have been
able to if the rank-and-file hadn't pushed back so hard and said NO!
They weren't dropping their process of how people had to campaign for
the party's presidential nomination and they weren't changing their
schedule (again, it will be decided this summer at the party's
convention). </div><div><br /></div><div>Then there's the whole Peter
Daou thing. This is not to trash Peter or even about Peter -- my
remarks. This is about the fact that Jill's told one conflicting story
after another about Petere. She's claimed this and she's claimed that.
If she can't even get her story straight about her 'friendship' with a
political strategist, she needs to bow out. Instead, she's using media
attention to make it appear that she's the party's nominee.</div><div><br /></div><div>The party has no nominee and won't until the summer convention.</div><div><br /></div><div>If
Jill is the nominee, we all need to wipe our hands clean of the Green
Party and face reality that it is not trying to build the party and that
it's just a bunch of egomaniacs at the top who need their egos stroked.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Did someone say Junior?</div><div><br /></div><div>Yeah, Little Junior remains to do nothing.</div><div><br /></div><div>He
keeps pointing to his popularity polls. Among the uneducated and
likely non-voters, he does have some sort of appeal still. He keeps
pointing to his 'popularity' as his reason for running.</div><div><br /></div><div>Running?</div><div><br /></div><div>$306.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That's the cost for his campaign basically. United Airlines can fly him from New Hampshire to Utah for $306. </div><div><br /></div><div>He's qualified for Utah's ballot and, since the end of last month he's claimed he's qualified for New Hampshire. </div><div><br /></div><div>In a dream world where he can win both states that would be what, ten electoral votes?</div><div><br /></div><div>Just 260 more and he can be president.</div><div><br /></div><div>Donald Trump says if he gets the nomination, he's not taking Junior on his ticket.</div><div><br /></div><div>Junior dropped out of the race of the Democratic Party nomination.</div><div><br /></div><div>He declared himself an independent making an independent run.</div><div><br /></div><div>But no one told him that required work and our socialite just does not like to work.</div><div><br /></div><div>So
now he's flirting with the Libertarian Party as well as flirting with
conducting fraud state by state. Since he clearly can't meet the
requirements for ballot access in the majority of the states as an
independent candidate, his admitted plan currently is to start
'political parties' so he can meet that threshold instead.</div><div><br /></div><div>However,
it is fraud -- legal fraud -- to do what he's talking about. The
qualifications do not say 'create a fake political party.' He can't
meet the legal criteria to get on the ballot as the independent
candidate ha has publicly announced himself so he wants to commit fraud
state by state. If he does that, I hope he's prosecuted to the full
extent of the law and he should be.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Junior is cheering on the slaughter of Gaza. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf-jgpvRvY0">Click here for FRANCE 24's analysis of a photo of a Palestinian in Israeli custody -- apparently having been tortured</a>. The War Crimes just continue to pile up. In fact, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/8/israels-war-on-gaza-live-us-says-space-for-truce-deal-israel-vows-war">in other War Crimes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>The Palestinian Red Crescent Society says that one of its teams that
was carrying out a mission to evacuate a number of wounded people on
Wednesday was deliberately targeted.</b></p>
<p><b>Paramedic Mohammed al-Omari was killed as a result, and two of his colleagues were wounded.</b></p>
<p><b>“This brings the number of colleagues killed while carrying out their
humanitarian work since the beginning of the war on Gaza to 12,” the
organisation said.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>Let's note this from <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/7/israel_propaganda_gaza">yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BUtnJuzC_gc?si=xcI3Qim3F7hdiLSl" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="text"><p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Nermeen Shaikh, with Amy Goodman.</b></p>
<p><b>A key Israeli intelligence document used by over a dozen countries, including the United States, to justify defunding <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>,
the primary aid group for Palestinian refugees, contains no evidence to
back up Israel’s claims, according to several news reports. The
allegations made in the Israeli document include accusations that
several <span class="caps">UNRWA</span> employees participated in the
Hamas attack on October 7th. Britain’s Channel 4 obtained the document
and found that it, quote, “provides no evidence to support its explosive
new claim that <span class="caps">UNRWA</span> staff were involved with terror attacks on Israel.” The <em>Financial Times</em>,
which also reviewed the materials, came to the same conclusion, as did
Sky News. Now the aid agency, which is critical to providing
humanitarian support in Gaza, says it will run out of funds by March as a
result of the funding cuts.</b></p>
<p><b>The allegations made by Israel are just the latest in what journalist
Jeremy Scahill calls, quote, “Israel’s information warfare campaign,”
which is aimed at, quote, “flood[ing] the public discourse with a stream
of false, unsubstantiated, and unverifiable allegations.” In his latest
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/02/07/gaza-israel-netanyahu-propaganda-lies-palestinians/">article</a>, published today in <em>The Intercept</em>,
Scahill writes, quote, “Nearly every week, sometimes every day, the
Israeli government and military have unloaded a fresh barrage of
allegations intended to justify the ongoing slaughter.” He adds, quote,
“The tactic is effective, particularly because the U.S. and other major
allies have consistently laundered Israel’s unverified allegations as
evidence of the righteousness of the cause.”</b></p>
<p><b>Jeremy Scahill is a senior reporter and correspondent at <em>The Intercept</em>. His latest <a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/02/07/gaza-israel-netanyahu-propaganda-lies-palestinians/">article</a>
is headlined “Netanyahu’s War on Truth: Israel’s Ruthless Propaganda
Campaign to Dehumanize Palestinians.” He joins us now from Germany.</b></p>
<p><b>Jeremy, welcome back to <em>Democracy Now!</em> If you could just begin by laying out the case that you make in your latest piece?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JEREMY</span> <span class="caps">SCAHILL</span>:
Well, in the early morning hours of October 7th, members of Hamas from
the Qassam Brigades, the Nukhba, their elite special forces, as well as
members of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, led a multipronged attack in
Israel. Everyone is familiar with this. And the initial targets that
they hit constituted almost the entirety of Israel’s infrastructure in
what Tel Aviv calls the “Gaza envelope,” and they were able to actually
quite swiftly overpower the Gaza Division, the main entity of the
Israeli state responsible for enforcing the prison conditions of the
people of Gaza, for carrying out drone strikes, for waging war, for
conducting all manner of warfare against the people of Gaza. And then
the militant Palestinian fighters made their way into a series of
settlements in the area.</b></p>
<p><b>And the intent was quite clear: They were trying to take hostages
captive so that they could negotiate the release of their own prisoners.
But what they did on that day was nothing short of shattering the
paradigm, of sending a message that the big lie that is promoted by
Israel — not just under Netanyahu, but certainly under Netanyahu — that
Israelis could somehow live in peace a stone’s throw away from what is
effectively a concentration camp filled with 2.3 million people that are
deprived anything vaguely resembling a human existence, that that is
tenable.</b></p>
<p><b>And Israel was, by all accounts, caught off guard, despite the fact
that its own intelligence analysts had been warning that it appeared
that Hamas was preparing and training for something that was quite
spectacular, and not simply some small, one-off attempts to fire rockets
or even do a minor incursion into Israeli territory. And by all
accounts, those were overlooked and dismissed.</b></p>
<p><b>And what we saw happen then, as the Palestinian fighters made their
way across these various Israeli communities and overtook the Gaza
Division and took many, many military personnel prisoner and brought
them back to Gaza, was the Israeli government engage in sustained
counteraction, including with Apache attack helicopters, with drones.
When the military did finally arrive in some of these communities — and,
mind you, it was hours and hours before any official Israeli security
forces were responding to some of these civilian areas — they engaged in
widespread firefights. At Kibbutz Be’eri, we know that eyewitnesses
have said that Israel forces shelled a house, likely killing at least a
dozen Israelis who were being held captive by Palestinian fighters. And
so, the Israeli government then was reeling from the shock of having
these crucial military bases overrun, communities being flooded with
Palestinian fighters.</b></p>
<p><b>And within hours of these attacks happening, the Netanyahu government
began to craft a very deliberate propaganda campaign to sell the United
States, other Western leaders and the global public on a scorched-earth
war of annihilation against Gaza. And this campaign kicked into such
high gear immediately. And what they did, what was central to this, is
that the Israelis began showing President Biden, Secretary of State
Blinken, the heads of state of <span class="caps">NATO</span> countries
and other Western nations images and videos that they then proceeded to
tell an unverified story about what they depicted. And the
characterization from Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was
that this was the greatest act of violence against Jewish people since
the Holocaust, that the tactics that Hamas used included rape, beheading
of babies, mutilation of bodies, torture of families, the bounding of
children in groups, including in a nursery in one of the kibbutzes, and
then engaging in mass execution of small children, setting children on
fire. And President Biden, Secretary Blinken and many Western leaders
then started to repeat these claims.</b></p>
<p><b>But what happened is that when the Israeli social security agency
began to actually document the deaths on October 11th, they documented
1,139 deaths; 695 of them were civilians. And we started reviewing the
public documentation of the deaths. It turns out that there was only one
infant that was killed in all of the attacks combined on October 7th, a
9-month-old baby named Mila Cohen. And she was hit by a bullet during
gunfire while she was in her mother’s arm. There were also — I think
there were 36 children under the age of 19 that died that day. Fourteen
of them were actually killed in Hamas rocket attacks. So, when
journalists started actually looking then at the official death toll —
and you can go — the Israelis have published the stories, the photos of
many, many, many of the victims — you realize that these were all lies.
It was a massive fraud that was perpetrated on the world, particularly
this business about mass decapitation of babies. And Joe Biden, on
numerous occasions, said that he saw actual photographic evidence of the
beheading of babies and the bounding and burning alive with kerosene
whole families.</b></p>
<p><b>And what I discovered in my research was that these stories appear to
have ended up in the heads of Biden and Blinken and others based on the
totally fraudulent version of events on October 7th that was offered by
private Orthodox rescue operations — the most famous of them is Zaka —
telling stories, you know, about a pregnant woman who had a fetus cut
out of her body, and then the fetus was decapitated in front of the
woman and her two children. There’s no evidence whatsoever to indicate
that that happened. In fact, there’s no documentation that any pregnant
woman died on October 7th. There was one pregnant woman who was shot
while in her car on the way to deliver her baby. She was a Bedouin
woman. And the doctors were able to save her life. They tried to deliver
the baby. The baby died some hours later. But that wasn’t Hamas cutting
a baby out of a stomach. And yet these lies were sold. And some of the
most obscene things that Israel said, that we now know are false, were
repeated by Antony Blinken, the U.S. secretary of state, in testimony in
front of the Senate, by Joe Biden himself. And this has gone on and on
and on. I’ve just given you a couple of the most graphic examples of
this.</b></p>
<p><b>But what’s clear is that the Israeli government understood that they
needed to sell this as like the worst crime against humanity in modern
times, in order to justify a long-planned siege of Gaza that Benjamin
Netanyahu — he represents the most extreme and violent version of the
Israeli state project. And it’s very, very clear that they sold this
fraud, and the White House laundered it, and that’s why we’ve seen — and
I think 27,000 people killed in Gaza is a conservative estimate. I
think it’s much greater than that, because there’s an estimated 7,000 or
8,000 Palestinians missing, many of them in graves that are the rubble
of their former home. So, this is one of the most epic frauds in modern
history, reminiscent of the lies told to justify the invasion and
occupation of Iraq.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Jeremy, I’m wondering if we can jump for a moment to the beginning of this segment, from October 7 to the <span class="caps">UNRWA</span> story, that something like, what, the Israeli government was alleging 12 — and then that number got larger — members of <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>,
which has something like 13,000 workers in Gaza, were involved with the
October 7th attack. Talk about, if you will, the way you do in your <a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/02/07/gaza-israel-netanyahu-propaganda-lies-palestinians/">piece</a>,
take apart, as Channel 4 did, as a number of news organizations have,
the evidence for this, that has been used by now almost 20 countries to
defund this essential organization that supports the hospitals and the
schools of Gaza for over 2 million people.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JEREMY</span> <span class="caps">SCAHILL</span>: Well, <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>
is nothing short of the most important humanitarian organization
operating in Gaza. In fact, it was explicitly established in 1949 during
the Nakba, where 750,000-plus Palestinians were forced from their homes
in an extermination/annihilation campaign that then paved the way for
the establishment of the state of Israel in the aftermath of World War
II. And the mandate of <span class="caps">UNRWA</span> was to care for
those Palestinians and ensure that their right of return to their homes
and land was going to be protected. And so, the Israeli government,
certainly under Netanyahu, but under other heads of state, as well, has
always wanted <span class="caps">UNRWA</span> eliminated, because this
represents a very serious problem for the Israeli agenda of eliminating
Palestinian territory in its entirety. So, just to give that context.</b></p>
<p><b>But then, the Israelis decide that — immediately after the
International Court of Justice rules in favor of South Africa and orders
provisional measures that include the prevention of genocidal acts, the
stopping of killing Palestinians, that the court recognized as a
protected group, and to allow, with immediate effect, the entry of aid
sufficient to confront the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the
Israeli war on Gaza, the Israelis then choose to open a new front and
just blast the public and the ears of Western leaders with a propaganda
campaign aimed at trying to get them to join the crusade to eliminate <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>. And Israel then prepared what it called an intelligence dossier, alleging that 12 employees of <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>
— it has 13,000 or so employees in Gaza, 30,000 employees spread out
across the Middle East where displaced Palestinians reside.</b></p>
<p><b>And the response from the Biden administration was to immediately announce it was suspending all funding to <span class="caps">UNRWA</span>.
And Secretary of State Antony Blinken admitted publicly that the United
States had not even done its own review or investigation of these
assertions that 12 members of a 30,000-member organization had some link
to the October 7th attacks.</b></p>
<p><b>And then what happened — and this is so reminiscent of Judy Miller, <em>The New York Times</em>, the mushroom cloud, Dick Cheney, build-up to the War in Iraq — they go to <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>, and the Israelis provide the <em>The Wall Street Journal</em> with what the <em>Journal</em>
then advertises as a dossier, an intelligence dossier. And they go
further than the 12. They say that a full 10% of UNRWA’s Gaza staff,
1,200 employees, are connected to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad,
and they say this is not just a few bad apples.</b></p>
<p><b>Well, this laundering of Israeli propaganda in the form of an article
for a major American newspaper was — the lead author of that article
was Carrie Keller-Lynn. She’s a new contributor to <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>. I started digging into who is this person, because she didn’t have a full bio on <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>
website. Well, it turns out that she is a veteran of the Israeli
Defense Forces. She was a militant opponent of the Boycott, Divest,
Sanctions movement when she was at university in the United States. And
her close friend, who she did a joint interview with for an organization
that takes American grad students to Israel, she credits her with,
during the 2009 Gaza war, creating the social media strategy for the
Israeli Defense Forces. This is the reporter that was the lead
journalist writing this <span class="caps">UNRWA</span> story for <em>The Wall Street Journal</em>.</b></p>
<p><b>And once we started to draw attention to that and put photos of her in her <span class="caps">IDF</span> uniform and talking about her ties to someone she said helped create the social media strategy for the <span class="caps">IDF</span>
during a previous war in Gaza, then these organizations she was
affiliated with scrubbed all of these articles and photos from the
internet. The <em>Journal</em> has locked her Twitter account.</b></p>
<p><b>But this was very, very clearly a sophisticated propaganda campaign,
where they knew which journalists to go to, they knew which governments
would buy into it. And what they got is the Biden administration now
being actively complicit in violating the orders of the International
Court of Justice, which has Israel under watch for potential plausible
genocidal actions in Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Finally, Jeremy, do you think, on the October 7th investigation, that
it wasn’t simply enough for Israel to say over a thousand Israelis and
other people, majority of them civilian, were killed in the Hamas
attack, was not enough of a justification to go into [Gaza] and then
multiply that over 27,000 [<i>sic</i>] times — 27 times, to more than 27,000 dead today?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">JEREMY</span> <span class="caps">SCAHILL</span>:
The Israelis, particularly the civilians who were killed that day,
deserve the truth about what happened. The Israeli government responded
with very heavy firepower. There’s indications that the Hannibal
Directive may have been invoked, which says that it’s better to injure
and possibly even kill Israelis than let them be taken hostage. They
also made sweeping allegations about sexual violence being
systematically committed by Hamas, that they have provided no proof that
such a systematic campaign took place. The victims in Israel deserve
the truth. And the 30,000-plus Palestinians who have been murdered with
American bombs, whose deaths have been justified by the killing of those
Israelis, possibly including by their own government, they also deserve
the truth, and they deserve justice.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>: Jeremy, I’m afraid, I’m sorry, we’re going to have to leave it there. Jeremy Scahill, senior reporter and correspondent at <em>The Intercept</em>. His latest <a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/02/07/gaza-israel-netanyahu-propaganda-lies-palestinians/">piece</a>,
out today, “Netanyahu’s War on Truth: Israel’s Ruthless Propaganda
Campaign to Dehumanize Palestinians.” And that does it for the show. I’m
Nermeen Shaikh, with Amy Goodman. Thanks for joining us.</b></p></div></div><div> </div><div>This morning, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/blinken-netanyahu-israel-hamas-gaza-saudi-arabia-qatar-palestinians-48ff7a3bbab5d92841df2949c29d9e72">Matthew LEE (AP) reports</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken left the Middle East on
Thursday with public divisions between the United States and Israel at
perhaps their worst level since <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Israel’s war against Hamas</a></span> in Gaza began in October.</b></p><p><b>Wrapping
up a four-nation Mideast trip — his fifth to the region since the
conflict erupted — Blinken was returning to Washington after getting a
virtual slap in the face from <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/video/israel-government-israel-hamas-war-hamas-middle-east-israel-0241a44fc5444077a3bc6677435ab8fa" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a></span>,
who said the war would continue until Israel is completely victorious
and appeared to reject outright a response from Hamas to a <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" data-gtm-enhancement-style="LinkEnhancementA" href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-hamas-hostages-ceasefire-9f57efb1a01afebb9a921cfbf01648bb" rel="noopener" target="_blank">proposed cease-fire plan</a></span>.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="sc-d63d5cd8-3 faMHro" data-testid="byline-name"><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68232883">Lyse Doucet and Kathryn Armstrong (BBC NEWS) add</a>:</span></div><div><span class="sc-d63d5cd8-3 faMHro" data-testid="byline-name"><br /></span></div><div><span class="sc-d63d5cd8-3 faMHro" data-testid="byline-name"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><b>An Egyptian official source told the BBC that a new round of
negotiations, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, is still expected to go ahead
on Thursday in Cairo.</b></div><div><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b>Egypt has called on all parties to show the necessary flexibility to reach a calm agreement, the source said. </b></p></section><section class="sc-4e574cd-0 bhtqwj" data-component="text-block"><p class="sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fYAfXe"><b>And
Mr Netanyahu's rejection of a "delusional" plan are in stark contrast
to remarks from Qatar, which described Hamas's response as "positive".</b> </p></section></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 125 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>, "More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/8/israels-war-on-gaza-live-us-says-space-for-truce-deal-israel-vows-war">ALJAZEERA notes</a>, "Gaza’s Health Ministry says the death toll from Israel’s aggression
on the blockaded territory has risen to 27,840 Palestinians killed since
October 7. At least 67,317 have been wounded." <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP has noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." <br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-02-08-24/index.html">CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq reports</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Iraq has issued a warning to the United States in response to an airstrike late Wednesday in Baghdad that <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/07/politics/us-carries-out-an-airstrike-in-baghdad/index.html" target="_blank">killed a senior commander</a> with the pro-Iran Kataib Hezbollah militia.</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Iraq's
Joint Operation Command called the strike a "new aggression by the
United States, adding that the move acted to "undermine all
understandings" between Iraq and the US, in a statement posted by
spokesperson <a href="https://x.com/Generaltahseen/status/1755361766358253711?s=20" target="_blank">Tahseen Al Khafaji on X</a>.</b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>The
spokesperson also reiterated what the country said after the first
series of US strikes in Iraq last Friday in retaliation for the killing
of three US soldiers in Jordan, which was to call the strikes a
"violation of Iraqi sovereignty." </b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>Kataib
Hezbollah is considered the most powerful Iran-backed militia in Iraq
and part of a state-sponsored consortium of militias in the country
known as the PMU (Popular Mobilization Forces), many of them Shia
militias, that help maintain security there. </b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b>But
just days after the killing of the three US soldiers in Jordan on
January 28, Kataib Hezbollah announced it was suspending its military
operations against US forces, which was seen as signs the group feared
blowback by the US on itself, as well as other pro-Iran militias or even
Iran proper in response to the US solider deaths. </b></p><p class="sc-gZMcBi render-stellar-contentstyles__Paragraph-sc-9v7nwy-2 dCwndB"><b><br /></b></p></div><div><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/iraq-drone-strike">Jake Johnson (COMMON DREAMS) adds</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b> Yehia Rasool, a spokesperson for the Iraqi military, said in a <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://twitter.com/IraqiSpoxMOD/status/1755503649202040956" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">statement</a>
early Thursday that the U.S. "conducted a blatant assassination through
an airstrike in the heart of a residential neighborhood in the capital,
Baghdad, showing no regard for civilian lives or international laws."
</b></p><p><b>
"By this act, the American forces jeopardize civil peace, violate Iraqi
sovereignty, and disregard the safety and lives of our citizens," said
Rasool. "Even more concerning is that the coalition consistently
deviates from the reasons and objectives for its presence on our
territory."
</b></p><p><b>
Rasool said the latest U.S. strike will only intensify the push to
remove American forces from Iraq more than two decades after the
disastrous 2003 invasion.
</b></p><p><b>
"This trajectory compels the Iraqi government more than ever to
terminate the mission of this coalition, which has become a factor for
instability and threatens to entangle Iraq in the cycle of conflict,"
said Rasool.</b> </p></div><div><br /></div><div>The following sites updated:</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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16 hours ago </div></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div></div>Trinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08747013437162383264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20676184.post-30846334596397276312024-02-07T23:22:00.001-05:002024-02-07T23:22:59.376-05:00Instant Noodle Soup in the Kitchen<p>Before winters ends, Liz suggests we try <a href="https://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/food-drinks/recipes/a54004/instant-noodle-soup-recipe/">Women's Day's Instant Noodle Soup recipe</a>. She notes that she loves soup but often struggles with soup recipes. This one she has found easy from day one.</p><p><b><br /></b></p><div class="css-1nrgze0 e7k5zd2"><h2 class="css-1dz2rlo eno1xhi6">Ingredients</h2></div><div class="ingredients-body css-0 eno1xhi4"><div class="css-0 eno1xhi3"><ul class="ingredient-lists css-xm7ys2 eno1xhi2"><li class="css-t15ufh eno1xhi1"><b>2 tsp. reduced-sodium chicken bouillon based (we used Better Than Bouillon)</b></li><li class="css-t15ufh eno1xhi1"><b>1 tsp. grated fresh ginger</b></li><li class="css-t15ufh eno1xhi1"><b>1 tsp. chili garlic sauce</b></li><li class="css-t15ufh eno1xhi1"><b>1 1/4 oz. rice noodles, cooked and rinsed</b></li><li class="css-t15ufh eno1xhi1"><b>2 oz. snow peas (about 16), sliced crosswise</b></li><li class="css-t15ufh eno1xhi1"><b>1 medium carrot, coarsely grated</b></li><li class="css-t15ufh eno1xhi1"><b>1/2 head baby bok choy, sliced crosswise 1/2 in. thick</b></li><li class="css-t15ufh eno1xhi1"><b>1 c. shredded rotisserie chicken (optional)</b></li><li class="css-t15ufh eno1xhi1"><b>boiling water</b></li></ul></div></div><p><b> </b></p><div class="css-l74ltq evb48wp6"><div class="css-1nrgze0 e7k5zd2"><h2 class="css-1dz2rlo evb48wp5">Directions</h2></div><ul class="directions css-j01fd6 evb48wp4"><li class="css-lzxfow evb48wp3"><ol class="css-9wvcvc et3p2gv0"><li><b><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-0 eagam8p0"></span><span class="css-0 evb48wp1">Step </span><span class="css-0 evb48wp0">1</span><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-13o7eu2 eagam8p1"></span>Divide the bouillon base, ginger and chili garlic sauce between two 16-oz mason jars.</b></li><li><b><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-0 eagam8p0"></span><span class="css-0 evb48wp1">Step </span><span class="css-0 evb48wp0">2</span><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-13o7eu2 eagam8p1"></span>Layer the jars with the noodles, snow peas, carrot and bok choy, plus the chicken (if using); seal tightly.</b></li><li><b><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-0 eagam8p0"></span><span class="css-0 evb48wp1">Step </span><span class="css-0 evb48wp0">3</span><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-13o7eu2 eagam8p1"></span>When ready to eat, cover the ingredients with boiling water, cover and let sit, 3 minutes, then stir to combine.</b></li></ol></li></ul></div><p><br /></p><p>So that's an easy recipe that will result in some tasty soup. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>This is C.I.'s "<a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_0420711671.html">Iraq snapshot</a>" for Wednesday:</p><p><br /></p>
<div class="post-header">
<div class="post-header-line-1"></div>
</div>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-2167974825034892839" itemprop="articleBody">
Wednesday, February 7, 2024. Did John Kirby lie last Friday or
yesterday, talk of another pause in the slaughter of Gaza, a Texas hate
crime targets Palestinians, and much more.<div><br /><div><br /></div><div>It's not just Gaza. It's inflaming the entire region and Joe Biden is bombing multiple countries. One of which is Iraq. From <a href="http://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/02/iraq-snapshot_0807513363.html">yesterday's snapshot</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><span class="name"><b><a href="https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/050220242">Karwan Faidhi Dri (RUDAW) reports</a>: </b></span></div><div><span class="name"><b> </b></span></div><div><b> </b></div><div><b><i>US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters that
Washington had “informed” Baghdad "prior" to carrying out the attacks,
an assertion denied by Iraqi government spokesperson Basim al-Awadi. <br />
<br />
“The American side then deliberately deceived and falsified the facts by
announcing prior coordination to commit this aggression, which is a
false claim aimed at misleading international public opinion and
disavowing legal responsibility for this rejected crime in accordance
with all international laws and laws,” Awadi stated on Saturday.<br />
<br />
Iraq’s foreign ministry on Saturday summoned the charge d’affaires of
the US Embassy in Baghdad, David Burger, to protest against the
“American aggression that targeted Iraqi military and civilian sites.”</i></b></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Did Iraq call it? Apparently they did.</div><div><br /></div><div>Late
morning yesterday, John Kirby held a press briefing by teleconference.
Everyone was warned he had "a few words" to say before getting to
questions. A few words? Like these:<br /> </div><div><b><br />And then, just before I close out, I’m sure many of you saw the
statement that I issued yesterday, correcting what I had said Friday
night about pre-notification to Iraqi officials on Friday night before
the strikes that we took on facilities related to the Iran-backed
militia groups. And I deeply apologize for the error, and I regret any
confusion that it caused. It was based on information we had or that
was provided to me in those early hours after the strikes. Turns out
that information was incorrect. And I certainly regret the error. <br /> <br />And
I hope that you’ll understand there was no ill-intent behind it, no
deliberate intent to deceive or to be wrong. I take those
responsibilities very, very seriously. And I deeply regret the mistake
that I made. <br /> <br />And with that, we can take some questions.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If
he's telling the truth -- IF -- then let's note something. A glaring
error -- a lie -- was told to the press by John Kirby last week and they
wait until this week to correct it. And the reaction from the press
corps?</div><div><br /></div><div>They go on to ask about 20 questions
(check my math). Not one of them is, "Could you go into more detail on
your erroneous statements?" Not one is, "When did you realize that you
had gotten the facts wrong?" Not one was, "Has there been an apology to
the Iraqi government for these false remarks made on behalf of the
White House?"</div><div><br /></div><div>No, not one.</div><div><br /></div><div>They all averted their eyes and ignored the elephant in the room.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then this:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>MODERATOR: Thank you. And as Kirby said, we’re going to hear from the President in a wee bit, so we’ll let you go. <br /> <br />If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out, and we’ll get back to you. <br /> <br />Oh, wait, Kirby has one more thing.<br /> <br />MR.
KIRBY: Yep. Just again, I want to foot-stomp my apology at the top. I
made a mistake there on Friday night, and I do really regret it. And I
promise you I’ll do a better job going forward and work harder to not
put bad information out there. Again, my apologies. Thanks.<br /> <br />MODERATOR:
Great. Again, if there’s anything else we can do, feel free to email
us, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Thanks. </b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If
John Kirby told the truth in yesterday's briefing -- IF -- then this is
dysfunctional press at best -- a craven and cowed press at worse.</div><div><br /></div><div>There
is an alternate explanation. Kirby didn't lie and the press knows it.
He wasn't convincing in his statements at the briefing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Between
his Friday remarks and then his Tuesday correction, a lot went down.
Including Iraqi government officials screaming at Joe Biden's
administration. The US government had no popularity to spare in Iraq
before the Israeli government launched the assault on Gaza. When that
slaughter began and Joe Biden backed the slaughter and refused to call
for a cease-fire, Iraqi anger at the US became even greater. </div><div><br /></div><div>The
prime minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, has been playing a
dancing game. The Iraqi people have only grown louder in their demands
that all US forces leave Iraq. He publicly backs that call while,
behind the scenes, he desperately tries to curry favor with the US
government. </div><div><br /></div><div>Joe Biden's bombing on Friday was
a violation of Iraq's sovereignty. It was also an attack on Iraq's
national army because the 'militias' were legally folded into that army
over seven years ago. Attacking the militias is attacking the Iraqi
military.</div><div><br /></div><div>In America, many don't grasp that reality because we have a press that keeps lying and lying about this. </div><div><br /></div><div>Let's drop back to the <a href="https://thecommonills.blogspot.com/2024/01/iraq-snapshot_5.html">January 5th snapshot</a> for when a US outlet finally got it right:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Lastly, we covered a topic yesterday, we're not
going all into it again, the snapshot's already late in going up. Short
story: The US government attacked the Iraqi military. US outlets need
to stop distorting reality with their "Iran-linked militia" nonsense.
In December of 2017, the Iraqi government officially, legally made the
militias part of the Iraqi military. By not noting that reality, you
are misinforming the American people. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/04/world/middleeast/us-drone-strike-baghdad-iraq.html">Alissa J. Rubin and Eric Schmitt (NEW YORK TIMES) reported</a> on the event late yesterday:</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #363636;"><b><i>A
U.S. Special Operations drone strike in Baghdad on Thursday killed a
senior figure in an Iran-linked militant group that is part of Iraq’s
security apparatus, drawing sharp criticism from the Iraqi government,
as well as allied groups.</i></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Would
I have worded it that way? No. But that's much better than other US
outlets have done and it does provide a reader with actual information.
They can read that sentence and they can grasp why the Iraqi government
might be angered (and they are) by what happened. And an editor at NYT
noted that to me and I said I'd work in the sentence in because it is a
huge improvement over what everyone else has done. "A group that is
part of Iraq's security apparatus" makes it clear to any news consumer.
So applause for THE TIMES and Rubin and Schmitt for getting it right.</b></div><div><br /></div></div><div>If
Kirby lied on Friday? I don't think he did (two friends with the State
Dept say his remarks Friday were accurate). I don't think he did based
on the way he delivered the remarks. I don't think he did based on
the press being 100% uninterested in asking even one question about this
major announcement. </div><div><br /></div><div>I think the Iraqi
government reamed the White House over the remarks. I think they made
it clear how much damage the accurate statement made -- the Iraqi
government was informed ahead of time -- and what a threat those remarks
were to the prime minister.</div><div><br /></div><div>If John got the
facts right on Friday, then the Iraqi government was informed ahead of a
US attack that the Iraqi security forces were about to be bombed and
the prime minister just went along with it, that's reason for Parliament
to call for a no-confidence vote. </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/060220241">RUDAW notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>The ongoing violence and repeated strikes by third parties in Iraq have
placed the country on a “knife edge” and carry the potential to
destabilize and roll back hard-earned gains made towards stability and
security, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq
(UNAMI) said on Tuesday. <br />
<br />
“I am compelled to reiterate our appeal to all sides to exercise maximum
restraint. With Iraq cloaked in an already-complicated tapestry of
challenges, it is of the greatest importance that all attacks cease,”
UNAMI Head Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said at a UN Security Council
session discussing Iraq in New York. “Iraq, and the wider region,
remains on a knife edge.” <br />
<br />
The US on Friday night launched a major retaliation campaign against the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) and Iran-aligned
militias in Iraq and Syria, striking more than 85 targets and killing
at least 16 Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) fighters and injuring
another 36 in Iraq’s western Anbar province, near the Syrian border.</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On the Biden administration, let's note <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/6/blinken_trip">this from yesterday's DEMOCRACY NOW!</a></div><div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/k39ebK-4g-w?si=xElQjGrb4b8rGwBn" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b> <span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>: This is <em>Democracy Now!</em>, democracynow.org, <em>The War and Peace Report</em>. I’m Nermeen Shaikh, joined by Amy Goodman. Hi, Amy!</b></div><div class="text">
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>: Hi, Nermeen. And welcome to all our listeners and our viewers around the country and around the world. Well, I’m not a <span class="caps">NOVID</span> anymore. For four years I somehow avoided getting <span class="caps">COVID</span>,
but I ended up getting it. Asymptomatic. I’m at the tail end of it. I
just have to go from positive to negative. It’s not exactly in my nature
to go negative, but I’m really working on it. Until then, Nermeen is
there, and I am here. And most importantly, on with the show.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>: We look forward to having you back, Amy.</b></p>
<p><b>Secretary of State Tony Blinken is heading to Qatar and then to
Israel and the West Bank, after holding talks in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
This comes as Israel threatens to launch a ground invasion of the
southern Gaza city of Rafah, where over half of all residents of Gaza
have sought refuge. Palestinian health officials say Israeli attacks
killed 107 Palestinians over the past day, bringing the Palestinian
death toll to over 27,500, including over 11,500 children.</b></p>
<p><b>This is Blinken’s fifth trip to the Middle East since Hamas attacked
Israel on October 7th. The State Department says Blinken is pushing for a
pause to Israel’s assault and for Hamas to release all remaining
hostages seized nearly four months ago.</b></p>
<p><b>On Monday, Blinken met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in
Riyadh, where they discussed a potential deal involving Saudi Arabia
normalizing relations with Israel in exchange for Israel agreeing to a
pathway for a Palestinian state. Saudi Arabia is also seeking a new
military pact with the United States and U.S. assistance with its
nuclear program. This comes as Hamas is reportedly reviewing a truce and
hostage deal negotiated in part by mediators from Egypt and Qatar.</b></p>
<p><b>Blinken’s trip comes just days after the United States bombed 85
targets in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for a recent drone strike by
Iran-backed militants on a base in Jordan that killed three U.S. troops.
The U.S. has also repeatedly bombed Yemen over the past two weeks,
targeting sites controlled by Houthi forces who have been targeting
ships linked to Israel and the United States to protest Israel’s assault
on Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b>We begin today’s show with Akbar Shahid Ahmed, senior diplomatic correspondent for <em>HuffPost</em> based in Washington, D.C.</b></p>
<p><b>Welcome to <em>Democracy Now!</em>, Akbar. We are very happy to have
you here. If you could first respond — tell us what’s most important
about the meetings that Blinken had already with the crown prince and
his meetings today in Egypt. What’s at stake?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKBAR</span> <span class="caps">SHAHID</span> <span class="caps">AHMED</span>: Thanks for having me, Nermeen.</b></p>
<p><b>Secretary Blinken is hoping that Arab officials will finally believe
the U.S. is serious about an end to the carnage in Gaza. It’s a hard
ask, because a lot of Arab diplomats, a lot of regional diplomats who
are worried about the spiraling conflict feel the Biden administration
has no real interest in pressuring Israel to stop. And you’ve got
repeated comments from Israeli officials, most recently Israeli Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just yesterday, saying, “We want to see
Hamas leaders killed. We want to see months more of war, if not a year,”
and ideas for a resettlement of Gaza — extremely controversial
proposals.</b></p>
<p><b>So, Blinken, on the one hand, is dealing with Israelis who are not
saying what Arab diplomats and the U.S. want to hear, he’s representing a
president who has a policy of near-total support for Israel, and he’s
getting flak from Arab diplomats. Blinken is, of course, a skilled
foreign policy official, a skilled mediator, but it’s a very hard task
for him, Nermeen, because there’s not a lot of goodwill or faith right
now for the U.S.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Akbar, if you can talk more about what you think took place before the
crown prince of Saudi Arabia and Blinken, and the significance of what
exactly Saudi Arabia, the United States and Israel are proposing? The
Hamas attack on October 7th took place just around the time that Saudi
Arabia was going to normalize relations with Israel. Talk about what
that would mean and exactly what these proposals are and how possible
you think they are.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKBAR</span> <span class="caps">SHAHID</span> <span class="caps">AHMED</span>:
Absolutely, Amy. So, prior to the October 7th attack, the U.S., Saudi
Arabia, Israel were talking about this kind of tripartite deal that
would involve the Saudis giving Israel recognition from Saudi Arabia,
which is a huge win for Israel, right? After many years of conflict,
feeling threatened by its Arab neighbors, this would be the biggest,
most important Muslim-majority country in the world, essentially,
saying, “We recognize Israel,” and, importantly, without Israel having
to make significant concessions on the Palestinian file.</b></p>
<p><b>So, that’s where this whole process, while it’s been beneficial for
the U.S., for Saudi, for Israel, the Palestinians and their advocates
have been saying, “Where are we in this conversation?” So, prior to
October 7th, there was already huge anxiety about these talks. There was
dissatisfaction. And then the attacks happened. And, you know, no one
less than President Biden has said they see that U.S.-Israel-Saudi
process as part of the reason for the October 7th attacks, right? It was
a way, in part, for Palestinians to kind of bring this issue back on
the negotiating table. However, since then, what we’ve seen, four months
into this war, is that rather than considering, “Well, maybe this
approach got us to conflict,” the Biden administration has doubled down
on the U.S.-Saudi-Israel deal. So they’ve taken the Gaza war, and
they’ve tied it to what they were doing before the Gaza war.</b></p>
<p><b>Their new proposal is we’ll rebuild Gaza using Saudi money. This will
be part of the whole package that will get the Israelis to make some
significant concessions to Palestinians. It’ll get the Saudis to have
the American commitments they want. But in terms of feasibility, it’s
quite, I would say, at best, contentious, right? The U.S. officials I
talked to within the government, one described this as, quote,
“delusionally optimistic.” You’ve got so many parties involved. You do
not have a serious commitment from the U.S. to get Palestine anything
major — right? — beyond economic guarantees or the reconstruction of
Gaza. And then you’ve got what you referenced earlier, Nermeen, the
strikes by Iran-backed militias. There are a lot of what’s called
spoilers, a lot of other forces around the region who don’t like this
deal, who certainly see the deal, especially between Saudi, Israel and
the U.S., opponents of Iran, as very risky for Iran and its network.</b></p>
<p><b>So, in terms of the actual feasibility of something being approved,
I’m skeptical. And it’s important to remember there’s a very short
runway now prior to the election. And if the Biden administration wants
to get a security treaty with Saudi Arabia through the Senate while they
still have control of the Senate, I mean, they’ve only got six months
to do it.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
And then, can you talk about what’s happening today with Tony Blinken
in Cairo and Qatar before going to Israel and then the occupied West
Bank?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKBAR</span> <span class="caps">SHAHID</span> <span class="caps">AHMED</span>:
Absolutely. So, the Egyptians and the Qataris are critical mediators,
because the U.S. does not speak directly to Hamas, which the U.S. lists
as a terror organization. So any messages from the U.S. have to go
through Qatar and Egypt. And Israel also doesn’t really like directly
dealing with Hamas. So, Blinken is in Cairo, and he was in Doha, kind of
hoping to get those governments to pressure Hamas.</b></p>
<p><b>Now the “yes” is on Hamas’s side. Israel has kind of tacitly agreed
to a truce and hostage release. But the longer there’s a delay here, the
more it seems that this deal isn’t achieving what the Palestinians or
Hamas might really want, right? So, you’ve seen Prime Minister Netanyahu
come out and say, “I want to kill Hamas leadership.” That raises the
stakes for Hamas, if they’re saying, “Why would we agree to a two-week
deal if, after that, you’re just going to come back, invade Rafah, kill
our leadership?” So, I think there’s — the prospects of a deal, to me,
seem low right now.</b></p>
<p><b>Some of the other important sticking points are, of course, there’s
broad agreement that the hostages, particularly civilians, particularly
older people and children, should be released. That’s kind of generally
agreed upon. But the question is: How many Palestinian political
prisoners is Israel willing to release in return? There’s a certain
Palestinian leader called Marwan Barghouti, really seen as a unifying
Palestinian figure, and Hamas has said they want him out of jail. Now,
for a lot of Israelis who don’t want to see a kind of unified
Palestinian movement, that’s a no-go.</b></p>
<p><b>So there are a lot of sticking points here. And it’s up to Secretary
Blinken to kind of push everyone towards a median. I think the Qataris
can certainly play a very helpful role here with Hamas, but any
indication of U.S. seriousness is what’s needed, and we haven’t yet had
that, certainly not from President Biden.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>:
And, Akbar, I mean, as you said, the issue of the release of
Palestinian prisoners is something that Netanyahu, at least, has ruled
out, as well as the creation of a Palestinian state. So it’s unclear
how, you know, these positions can be reconciled, because there’s no
incentive for Hamas to go along with this. But I wanted to ask: I mean,
Saudi Arabia is also pushing minimally for the minimal condition of the
creation of a Palestinian state, but where do other Arab states stand,
including Egypt and Qatar, who are the negotiators, as you said, the
mediators? Where else do Arab states stand on this? And is it important
at all?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKBAR</span> <span class="caps">SHAHID</span> <span class="caps">AHMED</span>:
You know, it’s critical. I love how you phrase it, Nermeen, because the
Saudis certainly want us to think they are pushing for the creation of a
Palestinian state, but the language is sort of shifting, right?
Sometimes they say “creating a Palestinian state.” Sometimes they say “a
pathway towards a Palestinian state” or “irreversible steps.” So, that
goalpost is shifting all the time. And I think for the Saudis, in
particular, who have, especially under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,
really expressed disdain for the Palestinian cause in recent years and
the sense that it’s been a burden for the Arab world, and a deep
enthusiasm for relations with Israel, for the Saudis, I’d say, kind of
limited Palestinian concessions would be acceptable, if they can get
some kind of Palestinian window dressing of approval. And I’ve heard
from my sources that there are quite conversations going on between the
Saudis and maybe some friendly Palestinians who might be willing to
bless whatever the Saudis can get.</b></p>
<p><b>In terms of other states, Qatar is one of the firmest in terms of
wanting to see a resolution here. I think for a lot of states that maybe
were not taking the strongest position earlier — so, think about the
United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Arab countries that have made
deals with Israel — I think, after this war and after the spiraling
tensions — right? — the risk of a huge Middle East war, those countries
are feeling more and more we need a resolution to the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That is meaningful.</b></p>
<p><b>For Egypt, I think that desire is there, particularly because,
because of the strikes you mentioned by the Houthi movement in Yemen,
shipping is not going through the Suez Canal as much, and for Egypt,
that’s an economic lifeline, right? So they want the war over so the
Houthis stop attacking shipping. At the same time, it’s really critical
to remember Egypt helped Israel with its blockade of Gaza — right? — for
the last 16 years. Egypt has not, for years, wanted to see a strong,
independent Palestinian presence. So I think they’ll be weighing that
quite cautiously, and they won’t necessarily be such firm advocates for
serious Palestinian statehood.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>:
And, Akbar, you’ve written extensively — at the moment, we see
Netanyahu being, you know, singled out as the person who is responsible
for the present situation. He certainly hasn’t made it any easier and,
arguably, of course, much more brutal. Although as you point out, it’s
important to look at the long-term context in Israel and, in particular,
U.S. support for Israeli policies, whatever form they’ve taken. So, if
you could elaborate on that and what distinctions you see between
Netanyahu and his predecessors on the question of Gaza?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKBAR</span> <span class="caps">SHAHID</span> <span class="caps">AHMED</span>:
Absolutely. So, Netanyahu is an easy bogeyman from a U.S. political
standpoint. You’re already seeing Democrats who are kind of struggling,
scrambling to defend President Biden’s policy here. They’re saying,
“Well, it’s not really about Biden. It’s about Netanyahu.” And given
that Netanyahu was so close to former President Trump, opposed President
Barack Obama so vocally, for Democratic voters, yes, Netanyahu is an
easy bogeyman.</b></p>
<p><b>But, absolutely, we have to look at the context. And for the first
three years of the Biden administration, two of those years they did not
have a Prime Minister Netanyahu. They had a different Israeli
government, slightly more moderate, certainly including non-Netanyahu
figures. And in that moment, the U.S. did not, Nermeen, try to pursue
any kind of progress, right? President Biden didn’t even reverse
policies that President Trump had imposed that were anti-Palestinian and
pro-Israeli.</b></p>
<p><b>So, to me, the thing that needs to be questioned in this moment,
certainly, Netanyahu, personally corrupt, attempting to hold onto power
for as long as he can, but as one Israeli analyst put it, there’s a,
quote, “culture of impunity” — right? — in U.S.-Israel relations. And
that’s what really needs to be analyzed right now.</b></p>
<p><b>So, if you think about the broader Israeli political establishment,
the person who would take over, if Netanyahu were to be unseated in
weeks, months, later this year, is someone called Benny Gantz. He’s a
former Israeli general. The military is understood to be a bit more
pragmatic on the Palestinian issue, just from a strategic and security
standpoint, than politicians are. All that said, even a Prime Minister
Benny Gantz might not be willing to accept statehood — right? — might
not be willing to give Palestinians security control in Gaza.</b></p>
<p><b>So, the actual culture of the U.S. and Israel, unfortunately, over
decades, has become one in which even these small steps towards progress
are so difficult. It’s like pulling teeth. And I just draw people back
to the last few examples of effective U.S. leverage over Israel.
Interestingly, they’ve been under Republican presidents, George H.W.
Bush, George W. Bush, to some extent. But we haven’t seen that in the
last 10 or 15 years, and certainly not under Presidents Biden or,
really, Obama.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
Akbar, I wanted to talk about the level of dissent in this country and
in other countries that are supporting Israel right now. You just wrote a
<a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/civil-servants-gaza-cease-fire-us-allies_n_65bc6e4ce4b05c8779f8a19d">piece</a> about over 800 government officials in the United States and Europe that have anonymously signed a <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTbqPLjpzDpGdamN2LWL1a-lLCkgs0nDOmgBN3MT-U-3-t5D1gIgrc5KORsHfO9nEIuOBdCnD-5tDKX/pub">statement</a>
that their own governments’ support for Israel is in violation of their
values. If you can talk more about that, and also the level at the
grassroots in the United States, right up into the White House and the
State Department? In fact, let me play a clip. We <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2023/12/11/state_department_arms_israel">interviewed</a> Josh Paul, a high-level State Department official, when he quit. You were the one who broke the story about Josh Paul.</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
I just have to ask before we go, Josh Paul. We spoke to you soon after
you resigned from the State Department in October. This was, of course,
in the midst of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which came after the
October 7th surprise attack on Israel that killed 1,200. Can you talk
about the response of your colleagues at the State Department? Have
others resigned in other parts of the government?</b></p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">JOSH</span> <span class="caps">PAUL</span>:
So, we have seen, certainly from the U.N., a U.N. senior official,
Craig Mokhiber, resign. We have not seen, to my knowledge, significant
resignations within the U.S. government. But I have heard, and continue
to hear, from many of my former colleagues who are really trying to find
what mechanisms they can use to slow this down, to change the policy. I
fear that their efforts at this point continue to be in vain. I think
we need to see a policy change from the top. But I know a lot of good
people are continuing to make the argument.</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b><span class="caps">AMY</span> <span class="caps">GOODMAN</span>:
So, that’s Josh Paul, who quit the State Department. And he is not the
only one. And I wanted to get a sense from you how aware is President
Biden of the enormous, as our guest yesterday said, Matt Duss,
“incandescent” kind of rage in the Democratic base, but also in high
levels of the government. We just — Nermeen just read headlines. In
Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, over a hundred people, led by
Jewish Voice for Peace, were arrested, demanding a ceasefire and much
more. Talk about all these levels of dissent in the United States and
outside and what effect it’s having. Is Biden fearful that his very
reelection is in jeopardy?</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">AKBAR</span> <span class="caps">SHAHID</span> <span class="caps">AHMED</span>: Absolutely, Amy. I’ll start with the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTbqPLjpzDpGdamN2LWL1a-lLCkgs0nDOmgBN3MT-U-3-t5D1gIgrc5KORsHfO9nEIuOBdCnD-5tDKX/pub">letter</a>
you mentioned, because it’s a fascinating statement, more than 800
officials in the U.S., in European institutions, in the Netherlands,
France, Britain. I just heard from another European official yesterday
who just signed the letter. So, the numbers on that letter are just
going to keep growing. It’s not closed yet.</b></p>
<p><b>I’d say the dissent is — it’s striking because, given the initial
attack, there was such deep sympathy for Israel, which is a close U.S.
partner. There was such a sense of “We want to do something to help.”
But I think it became so clear, within three or four days, to people
that President Biden’s approach to helping Israel was not going to be
measured or strategic or involve planning, consultation, all of that. It
was just, full tilt, whatever they want, whatever the consequences. And
I think that’s where you see a lot of dissent come from. It comes from
moral reasons, certainly, for some folks within government, from people
in the Democratic base, also from strategic considerations — right?
— also from a sense of is the U.S. tearing up goodwill and shoving away
the good work that we have done over years and decades, particularly
after former President Trump, to reestablish America’s reputation in the
world, right? Is that all moot now? And I think that’s only grown since
October, because President Biden has not been willing to shift in any
tangible way.</b></p>
<p><b>In terms of his own awareness of that, what’s so striking about this
moment, too, is there is a huge national security establishment here in
Washington, as I know you both know, so many layers — counterterror,
State Department, Treasury. But this policy is being controlled in a
group of, I would say, 20 to 30 close officials around the president,
right? So, what’s really important to remember there is there is a real
filtering of information. And it’s indisputable, of course, President
Biden is going to campaign rallies and events, and he’s seeing the
protesters. But to what extent is he aware that many of the actual
foreign policy and national security experts within his government, who
are nonpartisan, are opposed to this policy, I think that’s a little
questionable, right? Because advisers around him have their own
priorities. A gentleman called Brett McGurk, the top White House Middle
East official, who I’ve reported on extensively, is really pushing that
U.S.-Saudi-Israel deal, and President Biden has been going along with
that.</b></p>
<p><b>I think there’s very heated debates in the president’s close circle,
but because especially the State Department has been so frozen out at
this moment — and the way I’ve heard it from State Department officials
is they’ve literally been told, “We understand your concern. Why don’t
you try to work on another part of the world? You know, why don’t you
look sort of the Pacific or Latin America? Just apply your skills
there.” I think that kind of dismissal of this really reasoned dissent,
and response to it of listening sessions and town halls and “we feel
your pain” — people don’t want their pain to be felt. They want to see a
shift. So I think you’ll see even more pushback from within government,
certainly from within the party base.</b></p>
<p><b>I think one of the important things — and maybe this is how the
message will get through to the president — is not necessarily from his
White House national security team of Jake Sullivan, Brett McGurk, Tony
Blinken, but maybe through his political contacts. Right? You’ve seen
multiple Democratic senators, Chris Van Hollen, importantly, of
Maryland, but many others, Chris Coons even, of Delaware, who’s
personally close to the president, they’ve publicly started to say, “OK,
we need to see a shift from Israel.” So, once those lawmakers, once
governors, once others who are actually elected officials start standing
up, you might see a shift from the president. But right now there’s
still a wariness even on those fronts. I reported yesterday that this
new bipartisan border package that was unveiled had Democratic senators
agreeing to defund the U.N. agency for Palestinians. That’s a reversal
from the Biden administration’s own policy, a reversal from Democrats, a
triumph from Republicans. So, I think as soon as elected Democrats kind
of find that assertiveness, that’s when you might start to see a shift
from the president.</b></p>
<p><b><span class="caps">NERMEEN</span> <span class="caps">SHAIKH</span>: Well, we’ll just be speaking to a doctor who’s recently returned from Gaza, where we’ll discuss what’s happening with <span class="caps">UNRWA</span> in Gaza. Thank you so much, Akbar Shahid Ahmed, senior diplomatic correspondent for <em>HuffPost</em>, based in Washington, D.C.</b></p>
<p><b>Next, <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2024/2/6/blinken_trip">we
speak to an American doctor recently returned from Gaza, pediatrician
Dr. Seema Jilani with the International Rescue Committee.</a>
Back in a minute.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div>Gaza remains under assault. Day 124 of the assault in the wave that began in October. <a href="https://dissidentvoice.org/2023/12/the-view-from-washington-let-the-killing-in-gaza-continue/">Binoy Kampmark (DISSIDENT VOICE) points out</a>, "Bloodletting as form; murder as fashion. The ongoing campaign in Gaza
by Israel’s Defence Forces continues without stalling and restriction.
But the burgeoning number of corpses is starting to become a challenge
for the propaganda outlets: How to justify it? Fortunately for Israel,
the United States, its unqualified defender, is happy to provide cover
for murder covered in the sheath of self-defence." <a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/index.html">CNN has explained</a>, "The Gaza Strip is '<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-22-23/h_6b422f2abd54d7a1e3c9c9321c1dd103" target="_blank">the most dangerous place</a>' in the world to be a child, according to the executive director of the United Nations Children's Fund." <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/gaza-strip-is-the-most-dangerous-place-to-be-a-child-unicef-105520385?id=105348620">ABC NEWS quotes</a> UNICEF's December 9th statement, ""The Gaza Strip is the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
Scores of children are reportedly being killed and injured on a daily
basis. Entire neighborhoods, where children used to play and go to
school have been turned into stacks of rubble, with no life in them." <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-rcna125877">NBC NEWS notes</a>, "Strong majorities of all voters in the U.S. disapprove of President Joe
Biden’s handling of foreign policy and the Israel-Hamas war, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-bidens-standing-hits-new-lows-israel-hamas-war-rcna125251" target="_blank">according to the latest national NBC News poll</a>.
The erosion is most pronounced among Democrats, a majority of whom
believe Israel has gone too far in its military action in Gaza." The
slaughter continues. It has displaced over 1 million people per the US
Congressional Research Service. <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/conditions-in-gaza">Jessica Corbett (COMMON DREAMS) points out</a>, "Academics and legal experts around the world, including Holocaust scholars, have <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza-genocide-lawsuit" target="_blank">condemned</a>
the six-week Israeli assault of Gaza as genocide." The death toll of
Palestinians in Gaza is grows higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/01/gender-alert-the-gendered-impact-of-the-crisis-in-gaza">United Nations Women noted</a>, "More than
1.9 million people -- 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza --
have
been displaced, including what UN Women estimates to be nearly 1 million
women and girls. The entire population of Gaza -- roughly 2.2 million
people -- are in crisis levels of acute food insecurity or worse." <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/palestine-israel/2024/02/07/live-israel-gaza-hamas-deal/">THE NATIONAL notes</a>, "The death toll in Gaza has risen to 27,708 after Israeli strikes killed
123 Palestinians in the past 24 hours, the Health Ministry has
announced." <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-live-updates-11-21-2023-8db6dafbe39830c907f7c2db258c9875">AP has noted</a>, "About 4,000 people are reported missing." February 5th, the United Nations' Phillipe Lazzarini Tweeted:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754491459145765059" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754491459145765059&lang=en&origin=http%3A%2F%2Fthecommonills.blogspot.com%2F2024%2F02%2Firaq-snapshot_5.html&sessionId=8f0fa1745619dea84d27d8781eb3a286b6bb0ce3&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 416px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div> <div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And the area itself? <a href="https://apnews.com/article/palestinians-gaza-israel-bombing-destruction-hamas-reconstruction-f299a28410b70ee05dd764df97d8d3a0">Isabele Debre (AP) reveals</a>, "Israel’s <span class="LinkEnhancement"><a class="Link AnClick-LinkEnhancement" href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war" rel="noopener" target="_blank">military offensive</a></span>
has turned much of northern Gaza into an uninhabitable moonscape. Whole
neighborhoods have been erased. Homes, schools and hospitals have been
blasted by airstrikes and scorched by tank fire. Some buildings are
still standing, but most are battered shells." <a href="https://inews.co.uk/news/world/gaza-destruction-ukraine-iraq-vietnam-2776016">Kieron Monks (I NEWS) reports</a>, "More than 40 per cent of the buildings in northern Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, according to a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/gaza-strip-map-attacks-damage/">new study of satellite imagery</a>
by US researchers Jamon Van Den Hoek from Oregon State University and
Corey Scher at the City University of New York. The UN gave a figure of <a href="https://www.unocha.org/news/un-relief-chief-intolerable-humanitarian-situation-gaza-cannot-continue">45 per cent of housing</a>
destroyed or damaged across the strip in less than six weeks. The rate
of destruction is among the highest of any conflict since the Second
World War." </div></div><div><br /></div><div>Though no cease-fire is
being sought, another pause in the slaughter make take places -- a
pause, not an ending, just a momentary pause. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/07/hamas-responds-to-israel-plan-with-three-stage-proposal-to-end-gaza-war">Bethan McKernan (GUARDIAN) reports</a>:</div></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Hamas has responded to a US-backed Israeli
ceasefire plan for the war in Gaza with its own far-reaching proposal
for a permanent end to the fighting.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>It is a
position Israel is almost certain to reject, but which mediators are
viewing positively, as it appears the group is willing to engage in
further negotiations.</b></p><div id="sign-in-gate"><b><gu-island config="{"renderingTarget":"Web","darkModeAvailable":false}" data-island-status="hydrated" deferuntil="visible" name="SignInGateSelector" priority="feature" props="{"contentType":"Article","sectionId":"world","tags":[{"id":"world/israel-hamas-war","type":"Keyword","title":"Israel-Gaza war"},{"id":"world/hamas","type":"Keyword","title":"Hamas"},{"id":"world/gaza","type":"Keyword","title":"Gaza"},{"id":"world/israel","type":"Keyword","title":"Israel"},{"id":"world/palestinian-territories","type":"Keyword","title":"Palestinian territories"},{"id":"world/middleeast","type":"Keyword","title":"Middle East and north Africa"},{"id":"world/world","type":"Keyword","title":"World news"},{"id":"type/article","type":"Type","title":"Article"},{"id":"tone/news","type":"Tone","title":"News"},{"id":"profile/bethan-mckernan","type":"Contributor","title":"Bethan McKernan","bylineImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2019/03/26/Bethan-McKernan.jpg?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=fc60fe38dca07385db995d876bc0dac6","bylineLargeImageUrl":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2019/04/15/Bethan-McKernan,_L.png?width=300&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=e5fb860fb57d909932c48e2737da44dd"},{"id":"tracking/commissioningdesk/uk-foreign","type":"Tracking","title":"UK Foreign"}],"isPaidContent":false,"isPreview":false,"host":"https://www.theguardian.com","pageId":"world/2024/feb/07/hamas-responds-to-israel-plan-with-three-stage-proposal-to-end-gaza-war","idUrl":"https://profile.theguardian.com","switches":{"prebidAppnexusUkRow":true,"abSignInGateMainVariant":true,"lightbox":true,"ophanNext":false,"commercialMetrics":true,"prebidTrustx":true,"scAdFreeBanner":false,"adaptiveSite":true,"prebidPermutiveAudience":true,"compareVariantDecision":false,"enableSentryReporting":true,"lazyLoadContainers":true,"ampArticleSwitch":true,"remarketing":true,"articleEndSlot":true,"keyEventsCarousel":true,"registerWithPhone":false,"targeting":true,"remoteHeader":true,"slotBodyEnd":true,"prebidImproveDigitalSkins":true,"ampPrebidOzone":true,"extendedMostPopularFronts":true,"emailInlineInFooter":true,"showNewPrivacyWordingOnEmailSignupEmbeds":true,"deeplyRead":false,"prebidAnalytics":true,"extendedMostPopular":true,"ampContentAbTesting":false,"prebidCriteo":true,"okta":false,"imrWorldwide":true,"acast":true,"automaticFilters":true,"twitterUwt":true,"prebidAppnexusInvcode":true,"ampPrebidPubmatic":true,"a9HeaderBidding":true,"prebidAppnexus":true,"enableDiscussionSwitch":true,"prebidXaxis":true,"stickyVideos":true,"interactiveFullHeaderSwitch":true,"discussionAllPageSize":true,"prebidUserSync":true,"audioOnwardJourneySwitch":true,"brazeTaylorReport":false,"abConsentlessAds":true,"externalVideoEmbeds":true,"abIntegrateIma":true,"callouts":true,"sentinelLogger":true,"geoMostPopular":true,"weAreHiring":false,"relatedContent":true,"thirdPartyEmbedTracking":true,"prebidOzone":true,"ampLiveblogSwitch":true,"ampAmazon":true,"prebidAdYouLike":true,"mostViewedFronts":true,"discussionInApps":false,"optOutAdvertising":true,"abSignInGateMainControl":true,"headerTopNav":true,"googleSearch":true,"brazeSwitch":true,"darkModeInApps":true,"prebidKargo":true,"consentManagement":true,"crosswordMobileBanner":false,"personaliseSignInGateAfterCheckout":true,"redplanetForAus":true,"prebidSonobi":true,"idProfileNavigation":true,"confiantAdVerification":true,"discussionAllowAnonymousRecommendsSwitch":false,"permutive":true,"comscore":true,"ampPrebidCriteo":true,"abMpuWhenNoEpic":true,"newsletterOnwards":false,"youtubeIma":true,"webFonts":true,"prebidImproveDigital":true,"ophan":true,"crosswordSvgThumbnails":true,"prebidTriplelift":true,"weather":true,"disableAmpTest":true,"prebidPubmatic":true,"serverShareCounts":false,"autoRefresh":true,"enhanceTweets":true,"prebidIndexExchange":true,"prebidOpenx":true,"prebidHeaderBidding":true,"idCookieRefresh":true,"discussionPageSize":true,"smartAppBanner":false,"abPrebidKargo":false,"boostGaUserTimingFidelity":false,"historyTags":true,"brazeContentCards":true,"surveys":true,"remoteBanner":true,"emailSignupRecaptcha":true,"prebidSmart":true,"shouldLoadGoogletag":true,"inizio":true}}"></gu-island></b></div><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>Hamas
put forward its three-stage plan late on Tuesday via Qatari and
Egyptian mediators. Under the plan, Palestinian militants would exchange
Israeli hostages they captured on 7 October for 1,500 Palestinian
prisoners, secure the reconstruction of Gaza, ensure the complete
withdrawal of Israeli forces and an exchange of bodies and remains,
according to a draft document seen by Reuters.</b></p><p class="dcr-4cudl2"><b>The
proposal envisions three phases of a truce, of 45 days each. It comes
in response to a plan put forward by Israel two weeks ago for a six-week
cessation of hostilities and the phased release of the estimated 130
Israelis still held hostage in <a data-component="auto-linked-tag" data-link-name="in body link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/gaza">Gaza</a> in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div>This morning, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/palestine-israel/2024/02/07/live-israel-gaza-hamas-deal/">THE NATIONAL notes</a>:</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b>An Israeli air strike on a home in northern Gaza killed 20 people and
wounded many more on Tuesday night, Palestinian media reported.</b></p><p><b>At
least 20 people were wounded in the strike on Al Shanti family home,
east of the Jabalia refugee camp, the official Wafa news agency
reported.</b></p><p><b>Fourteen people were killed in a strike on the Al Hanawi
school in Rafah, while "violent raids" were reported near the border
with Egypt.</b></p><p><b>Several people were also shot dead by snipers in the southern city, according to Wafa.</b></p><p><b>Several Rafah fishermen were also injured when their boats were targeted by navy gunships, it added.</b></p><p><b>Several
people were killed in strikes in the central city of Deir Al Balah,
while at least eight injured people arrived at the Al Aqsa Hospital.</b></p></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/7/israels-war-on-gaza-live-israel-pounds-gaza-as-truce-diplomacy-continues">ALJAZEERA's Hani Mahmoud reports</a> from Rafah:</div><div> </div><div><div class="card-live__content"><div class="wysiwyg-content"><div class="wysiwyg wysiwyg--all-content css-1kw180w" id="wysiwyg"><p><b>A
14-year-old girl was out in Khan Younis trying to get water when she
was shot by a sniper. This is definitely not the first time, and people
here are certain it’s not going to be the last.</b></p>
<p><b>She was left in the street bleeding until she passed away. It is
another example of how unsafe the situation is in the southern city.
There are Israeli attack drones, intense bombing and snipers on the
rooftops.</b></p>
<p><b>Hours before this murder, a 40-year-old woman was also shot and killed by a sniper just metres away from the main gate of <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/12/18/bloodbath-israel-keeps-hitting-gaza-hospitals-amid-international-uproar">Nasser Hospital</a>. She was trying to get food and water for her wounded son inside.</b></p></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>And, in the US, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/palestinian-american-stabbed">Brett Wilkins (COMMON DREAMS) reports</a>:</div><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><p><b> Democratic Michigan Congresswoman <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/rashida-tlaib">Rashida Tlaib</a>
on Tuesday joined a leading Muslim advocacy group in urging the U.S.
Department of Justice to open a hate crime investigation following the
stabbing of a young Palestinian American man in Texas.
</b></p><p><b>
Zacharia Doar, 23, and three other Muslim American men were driving
home from a Sunday evening demonstration against Israel's war on
Gaza—which has killed, wounded, or left missing more than 100,000
Palestinians—when "a white male riding a bicycle, later identified as
Bert James Baker, allegedly attempted to rip a flagpole with a
Palestinian keffiyeh scarf reading 'Free Palestine' off of their car,"
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-for-hate-crime-charge-in-stabbing-attack-on-young-muslims-after-pro-palestine-protest/" target="_blank">according to</a> the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR).
</b></p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d8c85b275ee88d9210a05bbdd80d2019" id="263af"><div class="rm-embed-container rm-embed-twitter rm-loaded"><b><span class="rm-embed-spacer rm-embed-spacer-desktop" style="padding-bottom: 158%;"></span></b><div class="rm-embed-holder"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; max-width: 550px; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" class="" data-tweet-id="1754709737940173232" frameborder="0" id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1754709737940173232&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.commondreams.org%2Fnews%2Fpalestinian-american-stabbed&partner=rebelmouse&sessionId=aaf873c06170450c730a7975a7ac48250947fe76&siteScreenName=commondreams&siteUserId=14296273&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="display: block; flex-grow: 1; height: 873px; position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px;" title="X Post"></iframe></div></div></div></div><p><b>
CAIR continued:
</b></p><blockquote><b>
According to the victims, Baker repeatedly screamed the n-word and
other obscenities, opened the passenger door, pulled one of the victims
out of the car, and physically attacked him. The three others in the car
say they then exited the car and fought off Baker. After Baker appeared
to be subdued, he allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed one of the
young men in the chest, breaking one of his ribs.
<br /><br />
The stabbing victim again subdued Baker, who was arrested after police
arrived on the scene. The father of the stabbing victim reports that he
has undergone a successful surgery and is recovering at the hospital.
</b></blockquote><p><b>
The Austin Police Department
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://mailchi.mp/austintexas.gov/apd-provides-statement-on-the-incident-that-occurred-at-nueces-street-and-w-26th-street-on-february-4-2024" target="_blank">said</a>
Tuesday that it believes the attack was "bias-motivated" and it would
forward details of the incident to the city's Hate Crime Review
Commission.
</b></p><p><b>
"A 23-year-old Palestinian American was stabbed last night in Texas—the
latest hate crime against Palestinian Americans," Tlaib
<a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://twitter.com/RepRashida/status/1754916454091182114" target="_blank">said</a> on social media. "The constant dehumanization of Palestinians, Arab, and Muslim Americans has real, dangerous consequences. <a class="rm-stats-tracked" href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept" target="_blank"></a>The Justice Department must investigate this as a hate crime."</b> </p></div><div><br /></div><div>New content at THIRD:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul class="posts">
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/truest-statement-of-week.html">Truest statement of the week</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/truest-statement-of-week-ii.html">Truest statement of the week II</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-note-to-our-readers.html">A note to our readers</a></li>
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<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/tv-things-to-praise-things-to-shake.html">TV: Things to praise, things to shake your head ...</a></li>
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<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/tys-corner.html">Ty's Corner</a></li>
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<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/music-video-of-week.html">Music video of the week</a></li>
<li><a href="http://thirdestatesundayreview.blogspot.com/2024/02/this-editions-playlist.html">This edition's playlist</a></li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div>The following sites updated:</div><div><br /></div><div><h2 class="title"></h2>
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