Hastings: Israel had “no other choice”

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Michael C. Bender | Monday, December 29, 2008, 03:53 PM


From U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, this afternoon:

It is regrettable that in response to Hamas’ refusal to negotiate with Israel and continue its ceasefire, Israel was forced into this situation. Hamas has chosen war over peace. Israel has but no other choice to respond and protect its citizens.

Continue reading for the full statement.

U.S. Representative Alcee L. Hastings (D-Miramar) issued the following statement today regarding on-going events in Israel and the Gaza Strip:

“I, like so many others, am deeply troubled by the on-going events in Israel and the Gaza Strip.

“It is regrettable that in response to Hamas’ refusal to negotiate with Israel and continue its ceasefire, Israel was forced into this situation. Hamas has chosen war over peace. Israel has but no other choice to respond and protect its citizens.

more: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/floridapolitics/entries/2008/12/29/hastings_israel_had_no_other_c.html

[Taverner]

1. Bullshit. They both had other choices

[ixion]

2. yep, this was by choice, and there were plenty of other options

[PCIntern]

4. Name some..please.

I'm just curious...

[snappyturtle]

9. Well, honor the part of the cease-fire arrangement to gradually reduce

economic sanctions. To my knowledge that never happened until last Friday when Israel allowed a few trucks into Gaza and some say it was to appear to the world that they weren't starving the Gazans. Now they have halted the Dignity, a relief ship from Cypress. Did they appeal to the U.N.? Rice? Anybody? Did they allow Fatah in? IMHO Israel did not seem to have exhausted all diplomatic efforts to avoid this one sided destruction.

I am disgusted by the great loss of life, the wink and nod of our present administration and the thwarting of relief efforts, both diplomatic and in receipt of real services and goods. imho

[ixion]

17. well, just for starters

Not bombing Gaza, and actually trying to work with Hamas.

[Vegasaurus]

18. Work with Hamas?

How exactly?

Hamas is sworn to Israel's destruction.

They say they will never recognize Israel, and certainly not negotiate.

So, how might one "work with' Hamas?

[ixion]

20. I'm not taking sides mind you... Hamas has to work with Israel as well

it has to be mutual. And as long as both sides swear to each other's destruction, there will be only violence.

[Taverner]

22. Shit, if Israel wants to go all Dirty Harry they could have sent in assasins

Instead of carpet bombs...

[ProgressiveProfessor]

36. They did not carpet bomb and Spec Ops would not have worked

[Vegasaurus]

25. Hamas has never tried anything but violence

If they did, there would be a mutual response on the other side, or at least I would hope so.

[ixion]

29. there are two sides to every coin

and Hamas is not alone. Israel has shown itself to be just as violent, if not more, given their military superiority.

[PCIntern]

32. What?

It's just hopeless...

[ixion]

33. if you can't see that...

... then, yes it is.

[still_one]

5. and that is the problem, why those other choices won't be used /nt

[JuniperLea]

7. Indeed they did...

I'm really sick of this whole thing.

And I'm particularly sick of the fact that so many American munitions have gone into this... not to mention the constant flow of money. Borrowing money from one country to GIVE to another is about as stupid as it gets. Especially when we see how willfully ignorant these beasts are being.

Waa... he hit me first! I tried to talk, but he hit me!

There's just no high road in the ME I guess.

[Idealism]

3. Bullshit.

[snappyturtle]

6. Astounding ignorance. nt

[burythehatchet]

11. But that is precisely what the MSM psyops say. Do you hear anything about blockades? No.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

8. I think

Alcee could acknowledge that the bombs have tags on them and those tags may very well trace back to Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, etc.

Not holding my breath.

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. Of course they do. The US (and the Democratic Pary) is committed to ensuring that

Israel retains a qualitative edge for its national security and its right to self-defense, is all the more important as we contend with growing threats in the region–a strengthened Iran, a chaotic Iraq, the resurgence of Al Qaeda, the reinvigoration of Hamas and Hezbollah.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

35. Some will, certainly the GBU-39s

But Israel also makes a lot of ordnance in country and exports a lot as well, some even to the US.

[burythehatchet]

12. That oughta be worth a few thousand AIPAC bucks.

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. AIPAC does not donate money to political campaigns

[burythehatchet]

15. OK. A little more precise

AIPAC is not a political action committee and does not give out money itself. But it is a sort of central coordinating committee that tips Jewish American organizations as to where it thinks campaign contributions neeed to go. Because a lot of wealthy individuals contributed to Hilliard as individuals, the true amount AIPAC directed his way was probably double the conservative estimate above. Fleischauer writes, "Davis' receipts skyrocketed. By May 15, 2002, Davis was up to $446,821. Of the 517 individual contributions to Davis in the weeks surrounding the fundraisers, only four came from Alabamians."

http://www.juancole.com/2004/09/aipac-spy-case-involves-intelligence.html

[azurnoir]

24. Thank you

AIPAC is not a contributor its a distributor

[Dougiefresh43537]

13. Israel thrives politically on this conflict!

Couldn't Israel manage rocket attacks by creating a no-go zone beyond the borders of Gaza? This would serve to diffuse the effect of the rocket launchers and take this irritant out of the conflict.

It seems that Israel doesn't take the logical steps to diffuse the conflict because it thrives politically on this conflict!

[Kurska]

16. If you extend the border forward hams would just extend the range and launch from the cities.

[Dougiefresh43537]

26. What if Israel made it a no-go (DMZ-type) zone?

[bdamomma]

19. again Israel wins stunning support from our officials

sickening.

[Freddie Stubbs]

21. It is the official policy of the Democratic Party to support Israel

Just read the platform.

[bdamomma]

23. this maybe my ignorance to the problem

but why can't we support both sides? Palestinians and Israelis, can't we be an objective partner?

[EFerrari]

27. Because Israel has a bigger lobby.

[Dougiefresh43537]

28. Money > Morals > Rock > Paper > Scissors

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. Of course they do. There are more Democratic voters who support Israel than Democratic voters who

support the Palestinians.

[EFerrari]

31. There is more money in the Israeli lobby.

[Freddie Stubbs]

34. Oh course. That is simply a function of there being more supporters of Israel