Feingold’s Loyalty to Israel Threatens His Anti-War 2008 Campaign
irregulartimes.com
( Too bad! Another dual-loyalty Zionist with the wrong country first. I liked Feingold. )
Filed under General, War and Peace, Election 2008, Democrats by Peregrin Wood at 11:54 am
Russ Feingold’s shot for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination is fundamentally based upon one thing: His vote against the Iraq War. Oh, there are other reasons for progressive Democrats to support Russ Feingold for President, but his opposition to the Iraq War is the thing that makes him stand out from the pack of other Democratic contenders, and attracts the support of progressive Democratic activists.
Now, the Russ Feingold for President movement is hitting a roadbump. In reaction to the expansion of conflict in the Middle East through the exchange of missile fire by Israel and Hizbollah fighters hanging out in Lebanon, Russ Feingold has joined George W. Bush in choosing sides in the war, aligning himself without reservation with Israel.
On Friday, July 14, commenting on the war between Israel and Hizbollah, and the bombing of Lebanon, Senator Feingold said, “I stand firmly with the people of Israel and their government as they defend themselves against these outrageous attacks. The kidnapping of Israeli soldiers and missile attacks against Israeli citizens are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated.”
I have no argument with Feingold’s claim that kidnapping and missile attacks against Israeli citizens are unacceptable, but why does Feingold fall silent when it comes to the huge number of civilians killed in Israel’s missile attacks against Lebanon? As J. Clifford pointed out this morning, 92.7 percent of the people killed by Israel’s attacks into Lebanon so far have been civilians. Does Russ Feingold believe that these attacks are acceptable? Does he believe that these attacks can be tolerated?
Antiwar activists in the Democratic Party are paying attention to how the prospective Democratic candidates for President are dealing with this rapidly growing crisis. So far, Russ Feingold gets a failing grade. This is no time for the American government to be choosing sides. Both Hizbollah and Israel are engaging in outrageous behavior. American support for Israel’s slaughter of innocents in Lebanon will make it all the more difficult for us to stabilize Iraq and end that war without disaster.
Russ Feingold’s antiwar credibility took a nosedive this weekend. He ought to know better than to join President Bush as a cheerleader for Israel’s attacks. |
