by William Hughes Friday, Aug. 04, 2006 at 8:20 AM
Kevin Zeese, an Independent candidate for U.S. Senate from Maryland, is
shaking up the Establishment. Despite the “unmatched power” the Israel
Lobby exerts over our foreign policy, Zeese is challenging Rep. Ben
Cardin to speak out about Israel’s “terror military policy” in Occupied
Gaza and Lebanon. Cardin, who is also running for the U.S. Senate in
MD, submitted a two sentence reply to Zeese. The people of Maryland
deserve better!
"Time's glory is to unmask falsehood and bring truth to light." William
Shakespeare
In an action unprecedented in Maryland politics, Kevin Zeese, an
Independent candidate in Maryland for the U.S. Senate, has demanded
that an incumbent congressman, who has close ties to the powerful
Israel Lobby, break his silence on Israeli wrongdoing. In one of his
four “Open Letters” to Rep. Ben Cardin (D-MD), dated July 17, 2006,
Zeese requested that the “ardent supporter” of Israel end “his sin of
silence" and speak out about "the brutal terrorist attacks by Israel on
civilians in Lebanon and Gaza." (1) A scholarly report, the "Harvard
Study," revealed that the Israel Lobby has exercised "unmatched power"
over U.S. foreign policy, which hasn't been in our "national interest."
(2)
Rep. Cardin, whose political career dates back to the reign of
the late political boss Irv Kovens, is presently seeking the Democratic
Party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate in the September primary. He has
been in Congress for close to 20 years representing the 3rd District,
which includes a big slice of Baltimore City. I doubt if he has ever
had a serious opponent, like the energetic, issues-oriented Zeese.
Zeese, an Independent candidate for U.S. Senate, has been
endorsed by the Populist, Green and Libertarian Parties. His name will
be on the ballot for the Tuesday, November 7, 2006 General Election.
Close to 19 percent of Maryland electorate is registered as other than
a Republican or a Democrat. Zeese is on record opposing the Iraqi War
and spotlighting the Far Right Israeli supporters who want the U.S. to
attack Iran. (1) Here is part of what Zeese wrote to Rep. Cardin on
July 17th, only five days after Cardin's favorite country, Israel, had
launched its proportionally unjustified and merciless invasion of
Lebanon: "The violence threatens to escalate [in Gaza and Lebanon] if
Israel is not told it is violating many laws, and a pro-Israel
messenger, like you, would be an excellent messenger." Zeese then went
on to point out to Rep. Cardin how Israel is violating U.S. law by
using American-made weapons, given to Israel by America, for reasons
other than "legitimate self-defense...The intensive bombing of Beirut
and other Lebanese cities, and the killing of civilians are not
legitimate acts of self-defense." Zeese continued that Israel is also
"violating UN Resolutions...and International law by engaging in
collective punishment of civilians in breach of the Fourth Geneva
Convention, Article 33. Collective punishment is a war crime. A cease
fire," he said, "is needed immediately."
Zeese also sharply criticized Rep. Cardin for not speaking out
about the plight of the 25,000 Americans, who were trapped in Lebanon
when the war broke out. Some of them had complained that Israel had
prevented them from "leaving a battle zone." He asked Rep. Cardin: "Why
the silence when Israel is threatening U.S. citizens? At least, speak
out for Americans civilians-or do you represent Israel before you
represent Americans?"
On July 20, 2006, Rep. Cardin voted in the House of
Representatives to give Israel's bloodstained regime a "green light"
for its rampage through Lebanon. The invasion has killed over 900
Lebanese, wounded 3,200 and left an estimated one million of them
homeless. Most of its major cities: Beirut, Sidon and Tyre have been
pulverized with air strikes by the IOF. Lebanon has no air force to
defend itself. The massacre at Qana by the Israeli Occupation Forces
(IOF) should be on Cardin's conscience, too, as well as on the other
members of the U.S. Congress. (3) Just before the slaughter at Qana,
the extreme Rightist, Olmert, was quoted as saying that nobody "dies
from being uncomfortable." As I write, the IOF is pushing into Southern
Lebanon, with over 10,000 troops, attempting to seize control of the
Litani River, a critical source of water for Israel's expansionist
ambitions. (4) Despite their numerical advantage and superior military
arms, however, the IOF is facing defiant resistance from the Hezbollah
fighters. About 68 Israelis have died so far in the conflict.
Zeese, in his July 11th letter to Rep. Cardin, along with two
other letters, which dealt with Occupied Palestine, condemned the
Israeli invasion of Gaza and the destruction there of homes, power
plants, government buildings, along with the targeted assassinations of
individuals by the IOF. He added: "Israel is now preventing Palestinian
Americans from entering the Palestinian territories. Surely, you do not
approve of Americans being forbidden to travel to their home country?
Further, Israel is walling off Bethlehem, the town of Jesus’ birth, as
a result it is very difficult for Christians to visit this important
town that is the birthplace of Christianity. Surely, this is not
something you condone?" It is fair to say that Occupied Gaza, with a
population of 1.4 million, as a result of the Israeli invasion and
constant shelling by the IOF, is in a state of near total humanitarian
collapse. (5)
Meanwhile, more Americans are beginning to view Israel as the
problem. Here are some reasons for that change in attitude: Israel's
deliberate attack on the USS Liberty on July 8, 1967; its ruthless
killing of the peace activist, Rachel Corrie on March 16, 2003; its
extracting $140 billion from our national treasury; and its letting
loose the Zionist fanatic, Jonathan Pollard to steal our military
secrets. These actions all stick in the throats of many in this
country; along with the Neocons' scheme to destabilize the Middle East.
(6) Some are coming to realize the U.S. didn't have any enemies in the
Islamic World, until the state of Israel was created in 1948. (7) And,
many more would like someone to explain to them why those five Israelis
were celebrating, over in New Jersey, while the WTC's towers were
collapsing on 9/11? (8)
One politician of Jewish origins, who has dared to openly
criticize Israel's conduct is Jonathan Tasini. He is running as a
Democrat for the U.S. Senate, in New York, against the hawkish
incumbent, Sen. Hillary Clinton. Tasini has not only derided Israel for
its brutal occupation of Gaza, but for its excesses, too, in Lebanon.
(9)
On July 20, 2006, candidate Zeese, in the matter of Lebanon,
asked Rep. Cardin these questions: "How many Bin Ladens is Israel, with
U.S. acquiescence -- and the silence of U.S. politicians -- creating?
How many Americans will die because of the support of the United States
for Israel in reaction to its abusive behavior?" Zeese also emphasized
to Rep. Cardin that Israel's targeting of civilians in Lebanon and its
extreme actions have been condemned by both the Vatican and the
European Union. The Vatican said: "The right of defense on the part of
a state does not exempt it from its responsibility to respect
international law, particularly regarding the safety of civilian
population." (10)
At press time, Rep. Cardin's office submitted this two sentence
reply to Zeese: "Ben Cardin firmly believes Israel has the right to
defend itself against terrorist attacks. He's proud to stand with the
Israeli people during this difficult time." Obviously, this curt,
cheer-leading type of response is totally inadequate under the
circumstances. It doesn't begin to answer the substantial questions
raised. Zeese is doing a tremendous service for the Republic by calling
for a series of debate with Rep. Cardin on Israel's off-the-wall
military behavior, which can't be sustained under any kind of "just
war" theory. (11)
Finally, Occupied Gaza and Lebanon are presently suffering under
the terror bombings of the IOF. (12) Israel needs to be reigned in,
immediately! Its reckless conduct is also creating more enemies for
America. Marylanders must insist that Rep. Cardin get off his high
horse and answer fully all the questions raised by the Independent
candidate for the U.S. Senate - Kevin Zeese. The Middle East, thanks to
a militant Israel and a complicit Bush-Cheney Gang, is only one errant
missile attack away from igniting WWIII.
Notes:
1. http://kevinzeese.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/
2.
http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/Research/wpaper.nsf/rwp/RWP06-011/%24File/rwp_06_011_walt.pdf
3. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14276.htm
4. http://www.uruknet.info/?p=24790
5. http://www.washington-report.org/ and
http://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/13013/index.php
6.
http://batr.net/neoconwatch/archives/2004_12_01_neoconswatch_archive.html
and
http://irmep.org/Policy_Briefs/3_27_2003_Clean_Break_or_Dirty_War.html
7.
http://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/13104/index.php
8. http://www.antiwar.com/justin/j062402.html
9.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-tasini/the-children-of-qana-and-_b_26240.html
10. http://kevinzeese.com/content/view/168/45/ and
http://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/13213/index.php
11. http://www.iep.utm.edu/j/justwar.htm
12. See, satellite images from Geo/Eye of the IOF's bombing of a
Christian section of Beirut-before and after photos:
http://news.yahoo.com/photo/060803/481/0d4bf4975624426492174d021ada116f&g=events/wl/080601mideast;_ylt=AnFfcQZNXNyvOPMSkWlBs5EUewgF;_ylu=X3oDMTA3bGk2OHYzBHNlYwN0bXA
