[Peace-discuss] One can have only contempt for this

[C. G. Estabrook]

[Imagine the effect if Obama had simply called things by their right names, and 
denounced what the world sees as war crimes.  (Imagine what he would have done 
if a thousand Israelis had been killed or wounded by Iran this week.)  Despite 
his shameful silence on US-sponsored murder, he was quick to denounce loudly and 
publicly the appointment of an Illinois senator; but then the governor of 
Illinois is universally despised in the media, too.  Our 'pragmatic' pres-elect 
strains at a gnat and swallows a camel. "... when the Obama Administration takes 
the White House next month, little will have really changed." --CGE]

	As War Ravages Gaza, Silent Barack Works on Golf Game
	20 Days Ahead of Inauguration, President-elect
	Seems Distant From Growing Crisis
	Posted December 30, 2008

With the death toll in the Gaza Strip still rapidly rising, incoming 
President-elect Barack Obama’s initial reaction of “no immediate comment” has 
seamlessly segued into an official policy of no comment, period. As Obama and 
family continue to enjoy a luxurious vacation in Hawaii, his attention seems far 
more focused on his golf game than the foreign policy crisis he is poised to 
inherit.

The silence from Hawaii is almost deafening, with Obama’s staff using the 
oft-repeated excuse that the US “has only one president at a time” to justify 
his lack of commentary. The silence, combined with his cabinet choices, has 
punctuated what many already believe: that when the Obama Administration takes 
the White House next month, little will have really changed.

A small group of protesters at his rented vacation home hope to ensure that the 
President-elect is at least aware of what is going on. But if Obama saw the 
protesters as his motorcade took him to play a game of basketball, he didn’t 
show it. There was no word of how many points Obama scored, but it is unlikely 
to have rivaled the number of casualties in the Gaza Strip during the game. And 
the silence continues.

Related Stories

     * December 27, 2008 -- Obama on Gaza: ‘No Comment’
     * December 30, 2008 -- At Least 384 Killed as Israel Continues ‘Phase One’ 
of Gaza Attack
     * December 30, 2008 -- As War Sentiment Grows, Israeli Arabs Increasingly 
Seen as ‘Traitors’

compiled by Jason Ditz [email the author]

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