So the Palestinian Territories are in a kind of mini-civil war. Hamas Islamist nutters (also called terrorists by some) are running all over the place rounding up all sorts including the slightly more secular Fatah members (also called terrorists by some). So what does Robert Fisk have to say about it all in his front page article of the Indpendent? A paper, incidentally, that defended itself ferociously from the criticism of Blair that it was a "viewspaper" rather than a newspaper?
I imagine you've guessed already, but the Fisk article isn't news, it's pure opinion. However, don't expect an opinion or analysis on the current happenings in Gaza. I know the title might make you think that's what you're getting but actually, what you get, is an article slagging off Israel, America and the West in general.
I know, I know, par for the course for Fisk right? But this time it's slightly different. Normally he places blame for whatever is happening on those three things. This time however he knows it's got sod all to do with us so instead he just has a good slag under the guise of commentary on the Hamas craziness.
6 comments:
Oops! You've got it all wrong.
Here's some documented evidence:
U.S. Mideast Envoy On Palestinian Civil War: "I Like This Violence"
*** QUOTE ***
Now, here's David Welch, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and US Envoy to the Middle East, speaking in private several weeks before Rice. This appears on p.21 of the leaked report (pdf) by Alvaro de Soto, former UN coordinator for the Middle East:
...the US clearly pushed for a confrontation between Fateh and Hamas -- so much so that, a week before Mecca, the US envoy declared twice in an envoys meeting in Washington how much "I like this violence", referring to the near-civil war that was erupting in Gaza in which civilians were being regularly killed and injured, because "it means that other Palestinians are resisting Hamas".
*** END QUOTE ***
There's a lot more, too, but you have to be open-minded and interested in the truth before you can learn. Are you?
Errr I havn't got it all wrong at all, you have, because you're point is absolutely and utterly irrelevant to the criticism. Obviously you have to have to be open-minded and have basic reading comprehension before you can learn. Are you?
Incidentally, Robert Fisk's article used to be interesting, the problem is that after you've been reading them for about six month you know longer need to read them anymore to know what he's going to say. It's just anti-Enlightenment self-loathing bollocks where everything that happens in the Middle East is either the West's fault or Israel.
Using the word "truth" in relation to Robert Fisk article is a bit like using the phrase "isn't Catholic" after the word "Pope". The article are pure conjecture and opinion wrapped around his own ideology. Suggesting their a representation of "truth" is an intellectual bankrupt thing to assert.
Oh and before you suggest I am biased, of course I am. But I'm not stupid enough to consider my opinions to be "truth". I may arrogantly believe I am not wrong, but talking about the "truth" when discussing the politics of the Middle East is frankly, dumb. And to be honest, having glanced at your website, you do seem pretty dumb. 9/11 conspiracy videos galore and just generally mental stuff.
Oh yes, I did just insult you too, that is probably a cue for you to shout about ad hominen attacks, but I don't care. What I think more interesting is why someone decided to email you the link to my website when you're based in America and part of the lunatic left fringe.
Now.. kindly fuck off.
Obviously Fisk writes opinion, commentary, analysis pieces. With more than a sprinkling of facts and real life experience than most pontiffs of the streets of shame.
As he actually lives much of his life in the war zone in question and has a network of contacts, confidants and close friends.
Clearly at a superficial level the cock fights between Hamas and Fatah are their own doing ... and similarly in Iraq etc etc ... but their context obviously is a history of imperialism, exploitation, subjugation and so on.
People's Liberation Front etc etc. Yes. Splitters, yes. But independent of the past, present and anticipated future activities of USA, UK, Israel and others ... I don't think so.
I haven't read the Fisk piece - and think the Independent is a Viewspaper to the extent of being a snoozepaper or even a ewes-paper as my little brother once cartooned.
But I like the man and he has an extraordinary and hard won insight into what's going on in that part of the words.
No-one has to agree with him. But a fair-minded fisking of Fisk may discover that he does have a point, he does have some arguments, and a reasonable reading of the facts does support that argument - as well possibly as alternatives.
"Clearly at a superficial level the cock fights between Hamas and Fatah are their own doing...."
Oh, I know what's coming....
...their context obviously is a history of imperialism, exploitation, subjugation and so on.
Ding ding ding! Lefty talking-point bingo! It's all the West's fault, it would be sunshine & kittens over there if not for the West. And the Jews. And the capitalist running dogs...
Yawn.
"West's fault"
I say we stop sending money and arms and quit interfering. That way nobody can blame us when they all kill each other. Chances are they will eventually stop - especially since our continuing financial support to stave off 'economic collapse' or 'existential threats' is not really providing anyone with an incentive to change.
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