[News] From Cynthia McKinney: We Lived to Tell the Story
Anti-Imperialist News
news at freedomarchives.org
Thu Jan 1 22:39:50 EST 2009
Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 16:51:54 -0500
From: HQ <hq2600 at gmail.com>
January 1, 2009 - We Lived to Tell the Story: Lebanon Rescued Us
Yesterday, we met with the President of Lebanon, the Chief of the Military,
and the Interior Minister who all thanked us for responding and risking our
lives on a mission of mercy; we profusely thanked them for rescuing us.
What would we have done, stranded out at sea, prohibited from reaching our
destination, low on fuel, with a badly damaged boat if Lebanon had not
accepted us? Lebanon sent their ships to find us. Lebanon rescued us.
Lebanon welcomed us. And we are truly thankful.
It's official now. We've been told that the sturdy, wood construction of
our boat, Dignity, is the reason we are still alive. Fiberglass would
probably not have withstood the impact of the Israeli attack and under
different circumstances, we might not be here to tell the story. Even at
that, the report that came to us yesterday after the Captain and First Mate
went back to Sour (Tyre) to inspect the boat was that it was sinking, the
damage is extensive, and the boat will take, in their estimation, at least
one month to repair. Tomorrow, we will bring the Dignity from Sour to
Beirut. And now, we must decide what to do and from where we will do it and
how we are to get back to wherever that might be.
My personal, and I know the group's, thanks must go to Al Jazeera, that
allowed three of their reporters to be onboard with us on our voyage. As a
result, Al Jazeera carried the story of the Dignity live, from castoff in
Cyprus when our spirits were high, right up through the manacing maneuvers
of the huge, super fast Israeli ships before they rammed us, the Israeli
calls on the ship phone after the ramming calling us terrorists and
subversives and telling us to return to Cyprus (even though the Israelis
later claimed that they didn't know who we were, they knew enough about us
to tell us where we had come from), and the fact that we didn't have enough
fuel to follow their instructions, right up to their threat to fire at us if
we didn't turn around, ending with our beaten-up boat limping into Sour
harbor in Lebanon. Al Jazeera carried our story as "breaking news" and
performed a real service to its audience and to us. Al Jazeera called the
Israelis to inquire about the incident right as it was happening and I am
sure the Israelis were prepared to leave none to tell the story. Al Jazeera
told the story and documented it as it was happening.
One of those Al Jazeera reporters with us was Sami El-Haj, who was detained
in Guantanamo by the United States for six incredibly long years. What an
honor to even exchange glances with such a humble man who had endured so
much pain at the hands of the U.S. government. I apologized to him that my
tax dollars were being used in such a despicable way. And Sami's crime
according to the U.S.? Born in Sudan, and reporting for Al Jazeera in
Afghanistan, Sami was the wrong color, the wrong nationality, the wrong
religion, reporting for the wrong news outfit, telling us the truth about a
wrong war. And for that he survived incarceration for six long years. Sami
El-Haj, Guantanamo prisoner number 345.
Another incredibly committed journalist who was with us was CNN's Karl
Penhaul. Karl reported the truth even when his own station was repeating
Israeli disinformation. The fact that we were traveling with these alert
journalists added to the flat-footedness and obvious crudeness of the
Israeli response. Sadly, Israel has changed its story too many times to
count, and that's because they are not telling the truth.
We lived to tell the story. Karl's incredible reporting, just a portion of
our story, can be seen on CNN at:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/30/gaza.aid.boat/index.html
where there's also video and a photo of our damaged boat. A little more of
the story and film of the extensive damage can be seen at:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/30/gaza.aid.boat/index.html#cnnSTCVideo
This video and the photos of Karl's report is particularly interesting given
that Israel claims that our boat was only scratched and that, in actuality,
our captain, while trying to outmaneuver them, damaged their warship.
I'm told that CNN only played my full statement once--and that's the time
that it aired live. Of course, they cut the reference to the U.S.S.
Liberty. What are they afraid of?
Last night I was on PressTV.com, along with others who were on the Dignity,
and we debated a representative from WINEP, the Washington Institute for
Near East Policy. I reminded the audience that the Palestinians don't have
nuclear weapons, depleted uranium munitions, white phosphorous, or F-16s,
but the Israelis do. The facts, however, tend to get garbled after being
processed by the "Grand Wurlitzer" organ of state-sponsored disinformation
utilizing the world's press.
With the truth clearly on our side, Israel has been reduced to releasing the
ridiculous bombast below, given to me by a reporter who came to our hotel in
Beirut for a visit. With their multiple, conflicting stories, it is clear
that the Israelis did not expect us to live to tell the truth.
On the drive from Sour through Saida to Beirut, we were welcomed like heroes
because our ordeal had been seen by everyone on Al Jazeera. The mayor of
Sour came to welcome us. The mayor of Saida insisted that we stop there, on
our way to Beirut, for a special ceremony. But there was something else
that was visible along our drive, and that is the devastation that Lebanon,
itself, has received as a result of the Israeli war machine. The scars of
the war are still evident everywhere. I will write more on that tomorrow.
And one final note, President-elect Obama roared like a mighty lion onto the
political scene, but now he is as silent as a lamb in the face of the death
and destruction that is happening in Gaza. As we approach the birthday
celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. let us remember what Dr. King
said:
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence
of our friends."
And after five days of aerial bombardment by Israel, the carnage in Gaza
continues.
Here is the palaver that the Israelis put out for public consumption. It is
pitiful that a powerful and mighty country like Israel would be reduced to
publishing something so petty and weak as the following press release dated
December 30, 2008:
seal
Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast
Press Release
Office of Media Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12.30.2008
Israel continues to take its humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza seriously.
Border crossings into Gaza remain open, and every effort is being made to
deliver aid to the Palestinian people. Nearly 100 trucks carrying relief
supplies entered Gaza on the 28th & 29th of December and additional
shipments are arriving. Israel is working closely with UNSCO, UNRWA, the
Red Cross, and WHO to ensure the entry of the required aid, especially food
and medical equipment.
Unfortunately, former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney has taken it upon
herself to commit an act of provocation, leading a small boat of supposed
assistants into the conflict zone. She endangered herself, her assistants,
and the vessel's crew. The Israeli navy hailed Ms. McKinney but the former
Congresswoman failed to respond, thereby leading to the incident. We regret
that during this time of crisis, while Israel is battling with the terrorist
organization of Hamas and defending its citizens, that we are forced to deal
with Ms. McKinney's irresponsible behavior.
Consulate General of Israel
to the Southeast
1100 Spring St NW, Ste 440
Atlanta, GA 30309-2823
Michael Printy Arthur
Director of Media Affairs
404.487.6511
media at atlanta.mfa.gov.il
For additional information, please visit our website.
-------------- next part --------------
January 1, 2009 - We Lived to Tell the Story: Lebanon Rescued Us
Yesterday, we met with the President of Lebanon, the Chief of the Military,
and the Interior Minister who all thanked us for responding and risking our
lives on a mission of mercy; we profusely thanked them for rescuing us.
What would we have done, stranded out at sea, prohibited from reaching our
destination, low on fuel, with a badly damaged boat if Lebanon had not
accepted us? Lebanon sent their ships to find us. Lebanon rescued us.
Lebanon welcomed us. And we are truly thankful.
It's official now. We've been told that the sturdy, wood construction of
our boat, Dignity, is the reason we are still alive. Fiberglass would
probably not have withstood the impact of the Israeli attack and under
different circumstances, we might not be here to tell the story. Even at
that, the report that came to us yesterday after the Captain and First Mate
went back to Sour (Tyre) to inspect the boat was that it was sinking, the
damage is extensive, and the boat will take, in their estimation, at least
one month to repair. Tomorrow, we will bring the Dignity from Sour to
Beirut. And now, we must decide what to do and from where we will do it and
how we are to get back to wherever that might be.
My personal, and I know the group's, thanks must go to Al Jazeera, that
allowed three of their reporters to be onboard with us on our voyage. As a
result, Al Jazeera carried the story of the Dignity live, from castoff in
Cyprus when our spirits were high, right up through the manacing maneuvers
of the huge, super fast Israeli ships before they rammed us, the Israeli
calls on the ship phone after the ramming calling us terrorists and
subversives and telling us to return to Cyprus (even though the Israelis
later claimed that they didn't know who we were, they knew enough about us
to tell us where we had come from), and the fact that we didn't have enough
fuel to follow their instructions, right up to their threat to fire at us if
we didn't turn around, ending with our beaten-up boat limping into Sour
harbor in Lebanon. Al Jazeera carried our story as "breaking news" and
performed a real service to its audience and to us. Al Jazeera called the
Israelis to inquire about the incident right as it was happening and I am
sure the Israelis were prepared to leave none to tell the story. Al Jazeera
told the story and documented it as it was happening.
One of those Al Jazeera reporters with us was Sami El-Haj, who was detained
in Guantanamo by the United States for six incredibly long years. What an
honor to even exchange glances with such a humble man who had endured so
much pain at the hands of the U.S. government. I apologized to him that my
tax dollars were being used in such a despicable way. And Sami's crime
according to the U.S.? Born in Sudan, and reporting for Al Jazeera in
Afghanistan, Sami was the wrong color, the wrong nationality, the wrong
religion, reporting for the wrong news outfit, telling us the truth about a
wrong war. And for that he survived incarceration for six long years. Sami
El-Haj, Guantanamo prisoner number 345.
Another incredibly committed journalist who was with us was CNN's Karl
Penhaul. Karl reported the truth even when his own station was repeating
Israeli disinformation. The fact that we were traveling with these alert
journalists added to the flat-footedness and obvious crudeness of the
Israeli response. Sadly, Israel has changed its story too many times to
count, and that's because they are not telling the truth.
We lived to tell the story. Karl's incredible reporting, just a portion of
our story, can be seen on CNN at:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/30/gaza.aid.boat/index.html
where there's also video and a photo of our damaged boat. A little more of
the story and film of the extensive damage can be seen at:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/30/gaza.aid.boat/index.html#cnnSTCVideo
This video and the photos of Karl's report is particularly interesting given
that Israel claims that our boat was only scratched and that, in actuality,
our captain, while trying to outmaneuver them, damaged their warship.
I'm told that CNN only played my full statement once--and that's the time
that it aired live. Of course, they cut the reference to the U.S.S.
Liberty. What are they afraid of?
Last night I was on PressTV.com, along with others who were on the Dignity,
and we debated a representative from WINEP, the Washington Institute for
Near East Policy. I reminded the audience that the Palestinians don't have
nuclear weapons, depleted uranium munitions, white phosphorous, or F-16s,
but the Israelis do. The facts, however, tend to get garbled after being
processed by the "Grand Wurlitzer" organ of state-sponsored disinformation
utilizing the world's press.
With the truth clearly on our side, Israel has been reduced to releasing the
ridiculous bombast below, given to me by a reporter who came to our hotel in
Beirut for a visit. With their multiple, conflicting stories, it is clear
that the Israelis did not expect us to live to tell the truth.
On the drive from Sour through Saida to Beirut, we were welcomed like heroes
because our ordeal had been seen by everyone on Al Jazeera. The mayor of
Sour came to welcome us. The mayor of Saida insisted that we stop there, on
our way to Beirut, for a special ceremony. But there was something else
that was visible along our drive, and that is the devastation that Lebanon,
itself, has received as a result of the Israeli war machine. The scars of
the war are still evident everywhere. I will write more on that tomorrow.
And one final note, President-elect Obama roared like a mighty lion onto the
political scene, but now he is as silent as a lamb in the face of the death
and destruction that is happening in Gaza. As we approach the birthday
celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. let us remember what Dr. King
said:
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence
of our friends."
And after five days of aerial bombardment by Israel, the carnage in Gaza
continues.
Here is the palaver that the Israelis put out for public consumption. It is
pitiful that a powerful and mighty country like Israel would be reduced to
publishing something so petty and weak as the following press release dated
December 30, 2008:
seal
Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast
Press Release
Office of Media Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12.30.2008
Israel continues to take its humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza seriously.
Border crossings into Gaza remain open, and every effort is being made to
deliver aid to the Palestinian people. Nearly 100 trucks carrying relief
supplies entered Gaza on the 28th & 29th of December and additional
shipments are arriving. Israel is working closely with UNSCO, UNRWA, the
Red Cross, and WHO to ensure the entry of the required aid, especially food
and medical equipment.
Unfortunately, former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney has taken it upon
herself to commit an act of provocation, leading a small boat of supposed
assistants into the conflict zone. She endangered herself, her assistants,
and the vessel's crew. The Israeli navy hailed Ms. McKinney but the former
Congresswoman failed to respond, thereby leading to the incident. We regret
that during this time of crisis, while Israel is battling with the terrorist
organization of Hamas and defending its citizens, that we are forced to deal
with Ms. McKinney's irresponsible behavior.
Consulate General of Israel
to the Southeast
1100 Spring St NW, Ste 440
Atlanta, GA 30309-2823
Michael Printy Arthur
Director of Media Affairs
404.487.6511
media at atlanta.mfa.gov.il
For additional information, please visit our website.
--
The shock, awe and heart attacks that followed Madoff's confession that he
was 'running a Ponzi scheme' drew as much anger for the money lost and the
fall from the moneyed class as for the embarrassment of knowing that the
world's biggest exploiters and smartest swindlers on Wall Street, were
completely 'taken' by one of their own. Not only did they suffer big losses
but their self-image of themselves as rich because they are so smart and of
'superior stock' was utterly shattered: They saw themselves as suffering
the same fate as all the schmucks they had previously swindled, exploited
and dispossessed in their climb to the top. There is nothing worse for the
ego of a respectable swindler than to be trumped by a bigger swindler. As a
result, a number of the biggest losers have so far refused to give their
names or the amount they lost, working instead through lawyers fighting off
other losers.
--James Petras
"And advanced forms of biological warfare that can 'target' specific
genotypes may transform biological warfare from the realm of terror to a
politically useful tool."
--PNAC, Rebuilding America's Defenses, p. 60
The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and
policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish
idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two
parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can "throw
the rascals out" at any election without leading to any profound or
extensive shifts in policy.
--Carroll Quigley, Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in our Time
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