NEW PIECE BY MEDEA BENJAMIN AND ALLISON McCRACKEN

I received this piece with a request to post it. As a great admirer of Medea Benjamin's wonderful activism, and the staunch work of Code Pink, I am more than happy to do so.

Code Pink at work

Congress Sees Middle East Through AIPAC-Colored Glasses
Medea Benjamin and Allison McCracken


During August recess this year, 81 members of Congress went on a junket to Israel funded by the Israel lobby group AIPAC (well, funded by the American Israel Education Fund, but they are really one and the same) to "learn first-hand about one of our closest friends and allies.” While the representatives insist they got a balanced view, their itinerary belies that claim: 95% of their time was spent hearing the Israeli government point of view, with only one token meeting with Palestinian reps.

CODEPINK has filed a complaint with the Congressional Ethics Committee stating that these trips—and the upcoming ones scheduled for December--violate the Congressional prohibition on traveling with a lobby group. We feel these Potemkin voyages are part of AIPAC’s grand plan to control and monopolize Congress, which is not just unethical, but dangerous. Their bias reinforces a disastrous U.S. policy of unconditional support for Israel that obstructs peace and runs counter to our national interests.

At a recent Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, entitled "Promoting Peace? Reexamining US Aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA)", we got a glimpse of what happens when Congress views the Middle East through AIPAC-colored glasses. Here are a few of examples of their tunnel vision:

* Asking the wrong questions: Congress is intent on looking into the $600 million a year U.S. taxpayers give to the Palestinian Authority, especially at a time, as a few members brought up, of economic hardship in the United States. But they would not dare hold a hearing about the more important issue: the $3 billion a year we are giving to the Israeli government--which is five times what we give the Palestinian Authority. The question they should be asking, but won’t, is: How can American taxpayers afford to give “military aid” to the wealthy government of Israel, especially when that government uses our funds to drop white phosphorous on civilians in Gaza, kill international humanitarians on boats trying to break the Gaza siege, bulldoze Palestinian homes and orchards, and imprison peaceful protesters?” CODEPINK was in the hearing with signs saying “No More $$ to Israel”, but we were not even allowed to quietly hold them.

* Listening to the wrong people: While the hearing was about Palestine, not one of the four witnesses was Palestinian-American, Arab-American, or even sympathetic to the Palestinian point of view. Like the AIPAC-junkets to Israel, this Washington hearing was completely one-sided. Three of the four people testifying before the Committee were Jewish, and all four were white men from conservative think tanks that take the side of the Israeli government. One of the witnesses was none other than convicted criminal Elliott Abrams, who, after the Iran-Contra scandal, went on to covertly arm Fatah after Hamas won the 2006 elections in Gaza, leading to a bloody conflict and inadvertently, to a Hamas takeover of all of Gaza. What great credentials for giving Congress advice on the Middle East!

When we asked the committee staff why there was not one pro-Palestinian voice on the panel, we were told to be quiet or we’d be ejected from the hearing.

* Polluting the atmosphere with racist comments: Not once was the plight of the Palestinians under occupation even mentioned. Instead, Democrats and Republicans across the board made sweeping statements that were embarrassingly racist. “Sending aid to the PA reinforces bad behavior," said Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lethinen. "The Palestinians refuse to negotiate and they glorify violence," she added. Cong. Carnahan wanted to know why there are no “honest actors” among the Palestinians. Elliot Abrams added, “The Palestinians have been cursed by a failure of leadership for 100 years.” There was no mention, of course, that some of the best Palestinian leaders can be found in Israeli jails.

At the end of the day, one message that could clearly be taken away from the hearing was that all Palestinians (except perhaps Salem Fayyad, who they didn’t think was so bad) are ungrateful, Jew-hating, terror-worshipping freeloaders who are too lazy to work for peace and who glorify violence. It obviously didn’t fit into the AIPAC junket agenda to introduce any of the committee members to peace activists in the West Bank who organize nonviolent protests against the occupation on a weekly basis.

* Ignoring history/denying reality: It was painful to listen to the whole hearing, but one particular lament of Congress was arguably the most offensive. “Ah, Israel has given up so much land, and done so much for peace. When are the Palestinians going to make some concessions and do anything at all for peace?”, asked Cong. Rohrbacher, throwing up his hands in disgust. The Palestinians still want the right to return “so that they can destroy Israel,” he added. Cong. Poe complained that Israel has given so much land for peace that “pretty soon they’re gonna run outta land.” Witness Schanzer denounced “100 years of Palestinian nationalism, which has been more concerned with destroying Israel than constructing a viable Palestinian state.”

Putting aside the fact that the West Bank and Gaza territories represent a fraction of historical Palestine, Congress completely ignores the fact that thousands of acres of Palestinian land have been confiscated by the Israeli government to establish dozens of settlements and populate them with hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers. When the word settlement came up, it was not in the context of land theft but to chide the Obama administration for focusing too much on settlements in its first two years and creating a rift with the Israeli government.

* Targeting the victims: As if pointing the finger at the Palestinians for all the Middle East’s woes wasn’t enough, to its delight the committee found a new target to defund and shut down: UNRWA, the United Nations Refugee Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees. UNRWA assists about 5 million Palestinian refugees throughout the Middle East, including those who were displaced during the creation of the state of Israel and their descendants. UNRWA provides these refugees with basic services such as education and healthcare. The surrounding Arab countries where millions of Palestinian refugees live refuse to grant many of them citizenship, thus denying them the ability to work and receive social services. Without UNRWA, these people would basically be left with nothing.

Instead of acknowledging this sad reality, members of Congress nodded their heads in eager agreement as witness Jonathan Schanzer insisted that UNRWA be shut down. “UNRWA treats the Palestinians more like clients than refugees,” he claimed, thus perpetuating the refugee problem. The only dissenting voice around shutting down UNRWA was David Makovsky, who cautioned that the Israeli government might hate UNRWA, but it would not like to see it shut down because then Israel would have to pay for those services it provides, including schooling Palestinian refugee kids.

* Shutting off the lights: One witness, Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, had just returned from Ramallah with news about the “electricity scam.” The PA, he said, was supplying power to Palestinians in Gaza, but Hamas--which controls Gaza--was charging people and pocketing the money. Since the US funds the PA, we were enabling this scam. Committee Chair Ros-Lethinen was horrified and indicated that cutting off funds for electricity (i.e. turning out the lights on 1.6 million people) might be in order. No one mentioned that Israel bombed Gaza’s sole power plant during the 2008 invasion, and today it is still only partially functioning. No one mentioned that Israel continues to restrict the entry of spare parts to rebuild the plant and fuel to run it, leaving the people of Gaza with severe power shortages of up to 12 hours a day!

* Tying aid with plenty of strings: While most representatives expressed a desire to cut all funds to the PA, the witnesses cautioned them--not for humanitarian reasons but for Israel’s interests. The PA security forces have been cooperating with the Israelis on everything from stopping attacks on Israelis to repressing demonstrations. David Makovsky from the Washington Institute speculated that cutting off funds to the PA security forces would only hurt Israel. Jonathan Schanzer said that cutting off the PA could lead to an “intrafada” in which Hamas could emerge even stronger. He stated that money is the U.S. leverage to control the PA. “If we cut the funds, we lose our leverage and open the door for Iran and other anti-Israel actors.”

*  Eviscerating the UN: The United States claims that it will veto the Palestinian statehood bid because the peace talks should take place between the two parties directly and not through an outside entity—in this case, the UN. Many of the reps could not contain their distain for the UN. “The UN would vote for any resolution that is anti-Israel,” said Cong. Poe in disgust, even if it said that the world is flat. They suggested defunding any UN organization that endorses Palestinian statehood. Some went even further, suggesting we cut off aid to any country that endorses statehood! Hungry Haitians or Ethiopians will simply have to pay the price. There is no such thing as “going too far” when it comes to standing up for Israel!

* Sheer stupidity: One thing the representatives just couldn’t understand is that if we are giving the Palestinians so much money, how come they don’t like us? “Anti-Americanism among the Palestinians is only second to anti-Israel invective,” said witness Jonathan Schanzer, to the nods of the representatives. Rohrbacher seemed incredulous that we’ve given the Palestinians all this money, and it hasn’t even bought us goodwill. Duh! Of course the Palestinians don’t like us—we are supplying billions of dollars of weapons to their oppressors!

The stranglehold AIPAC has over Congress is putting our nation on a collision course with history. The vast majority of the world’s nations support the Palestinian bid for statehood (120 of them already recognize the state of Palestine). The democratic movements sweeping the Arab world are clamoring for Palestinian rights. Unconditional U.S. support for Israel keeps the region in turmoil, pits us against world opinion and jeopardizes our national security. It’s time for Congress to take off the AIPAC blinders.


Medea Benjamin is cofounder of the human rights group Global Exchange and the peace group CODEPINK. Allison McCracken is the DC Coordinator of CODEPINK.

IF YOU FOUND THIS PIECE INTERESTING you might also like to take a look at NO WAY TO HONOR DR. KING by Medea Benjamin.

BITS & BITES: "HOW CAN YOU CARE TOO MUCH?"

"I have a dream!.... No, wait. That's not the line."

Out of the Mouth of Mickey

Any of you who are activists or agitators for social change on any level have probably heard a million times things like: "What are you so worried about?" "You have to see the glass as half full and enjoy life" etc. etc. These folks, who probably mean well, don't see that you can have a social conscience and work to make the world a better place and still enjoy your life. In fact, you appreciate your blessings even more. The fact that they miss the point so badly makes me a little sad. That's why "spreading the word" is so important. It all makes me think of Mickey Rourke, as the nutty rogue cop in "Year of the Dragon," when he says: "How can you care too much?" That's how I've always felt and as long as there's one person suffering or one child hungry, I'll be quite content to feel rather intense about trying to make a difference.


Hurricane Irene

I've been tracking this angry lady quite closely because my son lives back East. He just turned nine and we spoke on the phone a few minutes ago. "We hardly got anything!" he told me, a little disappointed not to have a bit more excitement in his Sunday. Of course, Irene is no joke for a lot of people who have to pick up the pieces in her wake. I'm very leery of the political mileage that Obama and others get out of stuff like this. The speeches, the grim predictions, the somber summaries -- all from their ivory towers and safe havens. Is there an election simmering on the stove top by any chance? (NOTE: Did you realize that Obama raised a BILLION dollars for his first presidential campaign? Think about how sick that is and what it says about our bogus "democracy." I know some people on the East Coast who could use a taste of that kind of money right now.)


Guest Writers for "House on Fire"

You may have noticed that Code Pink founder and super-gutsy lady Medea Benjamin gave me use of her most recent piece (on the new MLK monument in D.C.) for "House on Fire." I'm very grateful to her; she's a really great person. Well, I've lined up some other big names for "guest appearances." Some of these blog posts will be in the format of "5 Questions for..." So keep checking back. In addition, a couple of my closest friends, who have expertise and special insights into certain activism areas, will also be appearing as guest writers. Tryin' to mix it up a bit here, people!

Click here to read "No Way to Honor Dr. King" by Medea Benjamin


Remember Unions?

When I first started out in the workforce, a long time ago, I worked in blue collar, union jobs. And that seemed about right to me. As I've said before: Unions aren't perfect but they're a hell of a lot better than the alternative! Well, in some good news reported on DemocracyNow.org on Friday, the National Labor Relations Board has come out with new regulations that will require most employers in the private sector to actually put posters on their bulletin boards informing employees about their rights, under federal law, to unionize. Spread the word on this one!

DemocracyNow.org


The Verizon Strike

45,000 Verizon workers are now back at work and kudos to them for gutting it out against a major, and majorly greedy, corporation that was trying to slash their benefits. The final deal is still being thrashed out but put this down as a win for struggling workers and proof that being in a union, and having courage and solidarity, mean something.

You can read more at the Communications Workers of America website


A Win in Wisconsin as Well

You have to tip your hat to the working people of Wisconsin -- and their many supporters -- who refused to let ratbag Governor Scott Walker kill collective bargaining. 10,000 of them (some say many more than this) took over the Capitol at one point and People Power forced recall elections that added pro-worker Democrats to the WI senate and showed that the not-so-good governor isn't nearly as popular as he thought he was.

Click here to visit the We Are Wisconsin website


People Power Across the Middle East

The pro-democracy uprisings that have swept the Middle East in recent months are a fascinating situation that has ramifications for global democracy, and they're making despots from Saudi Arabia to Washington D.C. pretty nervous. No way to predict how it will all play out but when you look at the long list of countries involved you can at least say that something significant has happened and that the power really does lie with the people. And when they decide to take to the streets, they can create history and make our phony leaders look like the weaklings they really are.


Norman Solomon -- An Honest Man Headed for DC

Don't forget to throw your support behind Norman in his run for Congress. I'm as cynical as anyone when it comes to politicians. But Norman is an activist and a wonderful human being, not a career politician. He's a good chance of winning his district and, once he gets to Capitol Hill, the cat will be among the pigeons. Onward!

Click here to see Norman Solomon's campaign site

Take care,
Adrian

IF YOU FOUND THIS BLOG POST INTERESTING you might also like to take a look at BITS & BITES -- July 24, 2011

NO WAY TO HONOR DR. KING by Medea Benjamin

Medea Benjamin: Never shy about making her point on Capitol Hill

One of the raisons d'être of "House on Fire" is to use it as a launching pad for an activism website I am developing. As part of the process, I've reached out to luminaries on the left to endorse that site, and I've been delighted with the response. One of those who didn't hesitate to offer her endorsement was Medea Benjamin. As you may well know, Medea is a cofounder of both CODEPINK and Global Exchange, an international human rights organization. Earlier today I contacted Medea again to ask if she'd contribute a piece to "House on Fire." Despite being on vacation in Europe, she responded almost immediately -- such is the dedication of this woman -- and granted me use of the following piece. It's hot off the press and unedited.

****************

No Way to Honor Dr. King

By

Medea Benjamin

The ceremonies for the new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington DC were kicked off on August 24 at an event billed as Honoring Global Leaders for Peace. But some of those honored are a far cry from King’s beloved community of the poor and oppressed. The tribute to peacemakers, organized by the MLK National Memorial Foundation, was mostly a night applauding warmakers, corporate profiteers and co-opted musicians.

The night started out with great promise when MC Andrea Mitchell mentioned Dr. King’s brilliant anti-war speech Beyond Vietnam as a key to understanding the real Dr. King. And sure, there were a few wonderful moments — a song by Stevie Wonder, a speech about nonviolence by the South African Ambassador and a quick appearance by Jesse Jackson in which he managed to spit out a call to “study war no more.”

But most of the evening’s speakers and guests of honor had little to do with peacemaking. One of the dignitaries thanked at the start of the program was Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren, representing a country that uses $3 billion a year in precious U.S. tax dollars to commit war crimes against Palestinians.

Then came a parade of representatives of corporations that want to cleanse their image by being associated with Dr. King. The first was General Motors VP Eric Peterson. His company took billions from government coffers to keep it afloat, then showed its “generosity” by donating $10 million of our tax dollars to the memorial. Mr. Peterson gave a speech paying tribute to the company’s first black board member, Rev. Leon Sullivan. Peterson claimed that the Sullivan Principles, principles that established a social responsibility code for companies working in South Africa, helped abolish apartheid. The truth is that the Sullivan Principles ended up being a cover for U.S. corporations — like General Motors — to continue doing business in racist South Africa instead of respecting the international divestment campaign.

Up next was Guy Vikers, president of the Tommy Hilfiger Corporate Foundation. Although the group Sweatshop Watch fingered Hilfiger for mistreating workers and inducted the company into its Hall of Shame, Hilfiger’s $6 million gift to the memorial bought it a piece of the King legacy.

Next on the corporate sponsor list was Myrtle Potter of Medco Health Solutions. Medco is a $60 billion “pharmaceutical management” company that fought against healthcare reform and was recently forced to pay the U.S. government $155 million to settle fraud charges. Other corporate benefactors to the memorial include union-busting Verizon, war profiteering General Electric and sweatshop king Wal-Mart.

After the line-up of corporate shills came U.S. trade rep Ron Kirk. One wonders how on earth a man who pushes free trade policies that destroy workers’ rights and promote a race to the bottom was deemed a peacemaker. King’s commitment to workers — remember his support of the sanitation workers? — was in total opposition to Ron Kirk’s pro-corporate stance.

But the queen bee of the evening was former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. She dismissed King’s call that morality be the guiding light of our international relations as nice, but far from the complex real world where we have enemies we have to confront. This is the same “practical” diplomat whose claim to shame in the eyes of true peacemakers was her support of such stringent sanctions against Iraq that over 500,000 children under 5 were killed. When asked about the morality of this policy on national TV, Albright calmly asserted that “the price was worth it” in the fight against Saddam Hussein.

Ms. Albright was awarded a model-size version of the King Memorial, presented by the controversial Chinese artist himself, Lei Yixin. Uninvited was the group that had spearheaded a campaign pressing the Foundation to choose an African-American artist, and use American granite and American workers. Instead the Foundation tried to save some money with a Chinese artist who used Chinese materials and Chinese workers. The human rights abusing Chinese government, delighted by the association with Dr. King, sweetened the deal with a $25 million donation. And despite written promises that the Foundation would use local stonemasons to assemble the memorial, Chinese laborers were used. The Washington area local of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftsworkers union claims the workers were not paid fairly, and their pay was withheld until they returned to China.

After the speeches and Stevie Wonder’s song, the mic was turned over to an Israeli musician Idan Raichel, an avid supporter of the Israeli Army and someone who has publicly expressed approval of Israel’s 2009 invasion of Gaza. One wonders how much the Israel government gave to the Foundation to get a plum spot in the tribute to peace.

But don’t ask the King family how they feel about their fathers’ opening tribute being sold off to the highest bidder. The family demands royalties for use of the King name — even from the Memorial — and so far have received about a million dollars. Cambridge University historian David Garrow, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his biography of King, said that King would have been "absolutely scandalized by the profiteering behavior of his children."

Today’s great global peacemakers, the true followers of Dr. King, were neither seen nor evoked. No mention of Burma’s struggling opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi or the nonviolent protagonists of the Arab Spring or the environmentalists opposing a proposed tar sands pipeline from Canada to Texas who were arrested at the White House on the very day of the tribute. No mention of the U.S. peace groups trying — for 10 years now — to stop the horrifying Bush/Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the drone attacks in Pakistan that have killed so many civilians.

Dr. King, whose life was spent preaching unconditional love and nonviolent redemptive good, continues to inspire people the world over who are helping to shape his vision of an “arc of the moral universe” that is long but bends toward justice. Gandhi, King, Mandela — there are precious few whose legacies resonate with those who are risking their lives today, in a nonviolent fashion, to eliminate the evils of racism, poverty, militarism and environmental destruction. King’s tribute to global peacemakers should have reached out to them as the legitimate heirs of the King legacy, not the monied interests who helped pay for the piece of carved granite that bears his image.

Medea Benjamin is cofounder of Global Exchange and CODEPINK. You can read her full bio here.

IF YOU FOUND THIS BLOG POST INTERESTING you might also like to take a look at "STANDING UP TO THE MADNESS"