Everyone In The US Is Either Pro-Genocide Or Anti-Genocide— Elected Officials Have To Choose

And So Do Candidates... And Voters

"Gaza" by Nancy Ohanian

Every time I see John Kirby on MSNBC I think of the clownish Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, who you probably remember as “Baghdad Bob”— AKA “Comical Ali.” Kirby has become the face of American connivance with genocide. Alas, the U.S. has been complicit in genocide before— in Guatemala against the Mayan people between 1960 and 1996 and in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War when the term “collateral damage” joined the vocabulary... and over a million civilians were killed by American invaders in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. (In Laos, the U.S. dropped more bombs per capita than any other country in history— and we weren’t even at war with them!) The big American genocide, though, started much closer to home, when the white European settlers and their descendants— many of us— began exterminating the Native Americans, right into the 1800s. And now there’s Gaza.

Yesterday, Tesnim Zekeria and Judd Legum wrote that there’s a full-blown famine in northern Gaza in all, as many as 1.1 million Gazans are experiencing “famine-like conditions.” Israel’s blocking aid, while America supplies the weapons that have killed over 30,000 civilians already, mostly women and children, with no end in sight. American leaders (and Kirby) keep saying they’re “outraged”— but keep sending more weapons… so they’re not that outraged. It’s kabuki theater for a domestic audience that has largely turned against Israel to the point that Biden’s reelection is being seriously threatened. If his opponent wasn’t Trump, he’d have no chance at all.

On March 23, Biden signed a government funding bill that included $3.8 billion in military aid for Israel and continues to call for the passage of a supplemental funding bill that would include an additional $14 billion. Just last week, the Biden administration approved the transfer of "more than 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs," according to the Washington Post. The 2,000-pound bombs, in particular, "have been linked to previous mass-casualty events throughout Israel’s military campaign in Gaza." The State Department also recently "authorized the transfer of 25 F-35A fighter jets and engines worth roughly $2.5 billion" to Israel. Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the Biden administration has approved over 100 weapons transfers, many below the threshold that requires Congressional notification. Reuters reported on Monday that the Biden administration "is weighing whether to go ahead with an $18 billion arms transfer package to Israel that would include dozens of F-15 aircraft." 

United States law prohibits "the U.S. Government from using funds for assistance to units of foreign security forces where there is credible information implicating that unit in the commission of gross violations of human rights." In February, Biden issued an executive order requiring that any recipients of military aid from the United States "facilitate and not arbitrarily deny, restrict, or otherwise impede, directly or indirectly, the transport or delivery of United States humanitarian assistance and United States Government-supported international efforts to provide humanitarian assistance." Israel has provided a letter, required by the order, stating that it is meeting this standard. On March 25, the Biden administration said that Israel was in "compliance" with the order. 

Seventeen Senators, all members of the Democratic caucus, wrote a letter to the Biden administration rejecting this assessment. The Senators said it is "abundantly clear that Netanyahu’s government is not doing nearly enough to allow aid to reach starving and otherwise desperate people in Gaza." The Senators urged the Biden administration to enforce the order, and use it "to secure the necessary delivery of aid into and throughout Gaza."

The Biden administration's current policy is to call on Israel to cease its military operations in Gaza while continuing to supply them with weapons essential to the operation. The horrific attack on WCK's humanitarian workers underscores that that position is untenable.

These 77 Members of the House and 8 senators are the ones who are anti-genocide. The rest… better be examining their consciences. The only member of the Democratic leadership who’s taken a stand— albeit a pretty weak one— against genocide is minority whip Katherine Clark (D-MA). Instead of taking a stand, the rest are taking contributions from AIPAC and the rest of the pro-genocide lobby. I’ve been so busy watching— with horror— AIPAC and DMFI (AIPAC Jr)— that I missed the The Jewish Democratic Council of America and their PAC, headed by rabid Zionist former Floridian Congressman Ron Klein. 

Looking at their endorsement page— with 3 or 4 exceptions— you would guess that their organizational imperative is to find and stock Congress with the next Joe Lieberman, Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema… not just in regard to Israel-Palestine but in all ways Democrats can be as reactionary as Republicans are. Although they somehow wound up endorsing Jamie Raskin, he’s one of the glaring exceptions in a list of incumbents—like Blue Dogs Jared Golden (ME), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA), Don Davis (NC) and Mary Peltola (AK)— and worthless candidates like Rudy Salas (CA), Adam Gray (CA), Dave Min (CA), Wesley Bell (MO) and George Latimer (NY)— who we will watch make sure Democrats in the House are never the vanguard of any kind of progressive movement. And I didn’t even include the most vile of the bloodthirsty genocidal maniacs like Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL) and Ritchie Torres (NY).

The newest batch

Jen Perelman is the progressive Democrat challenging Wasserman Schultz this cycle (You can contribute to her campaign here.) She feels as strongly about this as I wish Antone running for Congress should. “It is unfathomable to me,” she said, “that 358 representatives are supporting a genocide. When there is a reckoning for this crime, I can only hope that all of these conspirators are held accountable. As a person with a soul, as well as a keen understanding of human rights and international law, I can safely say that as a congressional representative I would never be complicit in atrocities like this.”

Steven Holden, the progressive Democrat running for the North Country seat held by MAGA stalwart Elise Stefanik, told voters at a recent downhill that he “firmly condemns the actions of Prime Minister Netanyahu's government in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Further, I condemn Hamas for the attack they launched on innocent civilians in Gaza on October 7, 2023. The violence and loss of innocent lives is heartbreaking, and it is past time for a resolution to the conflict. From my own experience, I understand that war only perpetuates further violence. Thus, I support an immediate ceasefire to halt the bloodshed and prevent further escalation of violence. In Gaza, this is critical as we look for ways to release hostages and reunite them with their families. Israel, like all nations, must abide by International Humanitarian Law and the Laws of War, which safeguard civilians during conflict. There is an urgent need for humanitarian aid to be provided to the Palestinian people. They are facing immense hardship and suffering as a result of the conflict.”

Derek Marshall, a former U.S. diplomat, is running for the San Bernardino seat help by MAGA sock-puppet Jay Obernolte. “As someone deeply committed to human rights and justice,” said Marshall, “I believe it is paramount to stand firmly against any and all forms of genocide and human rights violations. The situation in Gaza, like many others around the world, requires a nuanced, informed, and compassionate approach. If elected to Congress, I pledge to be a voice for the oppressed, a proponent of peace, and an advocate for policies that respect the dignity of all people. It's not just about taking a stand; it's about being proactive in seeking solutions that promote human welfare and global stability."

A UN report, entitled “Anatomy of a Genocide,” states that “There are reasonable grounds to believe that the threshold indicating the commission of the crime of genocide…has been met.” Please help defend progressives from the genocide lobby.