Congressional Democrats back flotilla massacre

[man4allcats]

or "Business As Usual In Washington":

The offensive by the Congressional Democratic leadership against the Gaza humanitarian aid flotilla has now moved beyond just rhetorical support for the Israeli attack on the unarmed convoy. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), chair of the House Foreign Relations Committee’s subcommittee on terrorism, nonproliferation and trade, has called upon U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to prosecute U.S. citizens who were involved or on board the flotilla.

Because the Gaza Strip is currently ruled by Hamas, according to Sherman, any humanitarian aid to the people of that territory is “clearly an effort to give items of value to a terrorist organization,” which is prosecutable under the 1996 Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. Despite the active support of the humanitarian aid effort by a number of pacifist organizations in the United States and Europe, Sherman insists that the organizers of the flotilla have “clear terrorist ties,” dismissing critical analysis of such charges as part of the ideological agenda of “the liberal media.”

- snip -

Indeed, {that Democratic Party leaders would choose -- out of 255 Democrats in the House of Representatives -- a paranoid right-winger like Sherman to chair the critically important terrorism subcommittee} raises serious questions about whether the Democratic Party Congressional leadership is really concerned about international terrorism or, like the Bush administration, is attempting to use the threat of terrorism as an excuse to suppress nonviolent dissent against the policies of the U.S. government and its rightist allies.

- snip -

... Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), insists that {organizers and endorsers of the flotilla} are “pro-Hamas people.” Rep. Elliot Engel (D-NY) claims that the organizers of the flotilla have “links to Hamas and reportedly played a role in the attempted Millennium bombing in Los Angeles.” Rep. Ron Klein D-FL) insists that the real agenda of these peace and human rights organizations is “to bolster the terrorist Hamas government in Gaza.” Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) argues that Israel’s attack on the unarmed flotilla laden with humanitarian supplies part of an effort to “defend herself against terrorism.”

My emphasis - m4ac

More here ...

[no_hypocrisy]

1. To my knowledge, there hasn't been a report submitted about this event.

How could any individual "back" the murder of participants of the flotilla without the facts or a version of the facts?

[BlackMagic]

2. Would seem like it's becoming the US and Israel against the world! eom

[Matilda]

7. In fairness to the U.S., they are not alone.

The Australian government bemoaned the deaths on board the aid flotilla, said that Israel must provide a credible explanation, then reaffirmed its support and friendship for the Jewish State.

Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

[Better Believe It]

3. They want to start a McCarthyite type witch-hunt against progressives labeling them terrorists

They appear to be following the lead of the extreme right-wing regime in Israel which is attacking liberal/progressive Israeli's who oppose their reactionary policies.

[dgibby]

4. Another reason I'm glad I'm registered as an Independent. n/t

[lumpy]

5. Hmmm.... Some of AIPAC's Congressional best friends.....

What else would you expect them to say ...their homeland is without taint....

[EFerrari]

6. So these people are tacitly endorsing the murder of a US citizen

who was "guilty" of holding a camera.

Disgusting.