In an episode reminiscent of the U.S.S. Liberty, the Israeli Navy bumped and damaged a boat carrying former U.S. Representative Cynthia McKinney.
A boat carrying international peace activists, including former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney, and medical supplies to the embattled Gaza Strip sailed back into a Lebanese port on Tuesday after being turned back and damaged by the Israeli navy, organizers of the trip said.
The crowds on the docks in the Lebanese port city of Tyre were jubilant and cheering as they welcomed the vessel.
The boat, which set off from Cyprus Monday wanted to make a statement and deliver medical supplies to embattled Gaza. The trip’s organizers said the boat was clearly in international waters, 90 miles off the coast of Gaza, at the time of its close encounter with the Israeli navy.
“Our boat was rammed three times, twice in the front and one on the side,” McKinney told CNN Tuesday morning. “Our mission was a peaceful mission. Our mission was thwarted by the aggressiveness of the Israeli military.”
Yigal Palmor, a spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, denied there had been any shooting although the two ships had made “physical contact.”
A little perspective, via a September 4, 2004 article in the Washington Post:
In 2002, two Democrats in Congress with records of voting against Israel’s interests — Reps. Earl Hilliard of Alabama and Cynthia McKinney of Georgia — faced primary opponents who received substantial support from Jewish donors. A majority of AIPAC board members gave to either McKinney’s challenger or Hilliard’s or both. Hilliard and McKinney lost. Bill Banks, McKinney’s campaign manger, charged that AIPAC had made her the “No. 1 candidate to try to remove from office.” AIPAC denied the accusation.
Of course, McKinney speaks out against AIPAC (here’s a video of a speech she made on February 2, 2008 on the subject to the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA)):
McKinney is lucky the Israelis didn’t torpedo and firebomb her boat and leave her for dead, as they did to over 200 Americans on the U.S.S. Liberty. It’s no accident that they damaged her vessel.
Be careful brave BooMan. The U.S.S. Liberty is one of those well-kept secrets – the unspeakable, despicable cover-up by American PowersthatBe of Israel’s killing 200 Americans sailors. You see, “It never happened.”
When Pakistan packs its punch, Israel will be included…in the CONSEQUENCES. I and I.
The connection?
Why does Israel come here?
The other pertinent question — Why does Israel think it rules the world? So did ancient Rome.
Look to the 18 months begining Jan, Year 2011 – June 2012. May I suggest, put that date on your tracking board.
Oh, it happened.
We know it happened. The PowersthatBe would like us to believe otherwise. Do you think for a moment the billions in aid to Israel would continue if the USS Liberty incident was widely reported? ..(the death of 200 Americans at the hands of Israel).
6 donuts, any brand.
.
As a result of the public relations campaign undertaken on behalf of Israel, the USS Liberty survivors have been vilified for their assertions that the attack was deliberate and for their ongoing quest for justice. They are characterized as “neo-Nazis”, “anti-Semites”, and “conspiracy theorists” for wanting nothing more than an honest, open investigation of the attack on their ship and themselves.
Assault on the Liberty
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."Israeli Defense Forces Launch YouTube Channel
In an effort to combat skewed media reports on the current fighting in Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces launched a YouTube channel. The IDF has video of airstrikes on smuggling tunnels and rocket launch sites, the movement of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the deployment of IDF tanks to the Gaza region, and other such videos. Eight videos total have been uploaded over the post 24 hours.
The IDF is targeting the blogosphere and anyone else willing to watch the videos. “The blogosphere and new media are another war zone,” IDF Foreign Press Branch head Major Avital Leibovich told the Jerusalem Post. “We have to be relevant there.”
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2008/12/israeli_defense_force_launch_y.asp
Why do I think of those Osama/SITE videos as I’m reading this? LOL!
All this carnage might be justified if it succeeded in halting rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel-proper, but I doubt it will work. It is certainly not working right now:
I think I predicted this on the first day of bombing. Too bad no one pays me for my intuition.
this will not end well for anyone, but if lebanon is any predictor, all Hamas has to do is fight the Israeli army to a stalemate. all they have to do is remain standing, while the Israeli army needs to crush them.
I don’t see how that happens with a popular movement, “popular” meaning “of the people” not “everyone’s favorite”.
Hamas will be strengthened as was Hezbollah.
Thanks for keeping track of this event by the Free Gaza Movement.
BBC coverage.
Of course they are lying and say they did no such thing.
Boo,
Right. They killed Rachel Corie and they could have killed McKinney and others and got away with it.
I got the email before she departed. I didn’t sleep well last night.
At least a CNN reporter was on the boat to prove that Israel is lying again.
They attacked the boat on purpose.
Those Israelis better watch out!!!
She’ll swim over there and kick their fascist asses!!!
She took on the Capitol Police.
Why not the Israelis?
I wouldn’t bet against her in either case, myself.
No sir.
Tough, she is.
Smart, too.
In fact…I think that she oughta be appointed to the vacant NY Senate seat.
Oh what fun that would be.
Wouldn’t it?
Later…
AG
Booman:
I am a first time emailer. I really enjoy your Blog, agree with you mostly, but I am really disappointed at both your tone, and that of the commenters to this posting. You can certainly take issue with policies of the Israeli government – I often do – but the abolsute and utter contempt for Israel just seeps out of every word you write. Why do you cast a blind eye to what Hqamas has been doing to prompt this crisis? And, hoo boy, you certainly did hit a responsive chord in some of teh haters out there in your audience – getting the “hate Israel first crowd to come out of the woodwork. Again, I am certainly no apologist for Israel, but let’s admit that they have had rockets shelling their citizens too over the past few weeks. What are they supposed to do – just sit back and take it? Would your emailers be so sanguine if they were having their homes shelled daily by folk over the border, from either Canada or Mexico? I think not! So, what is Israel supposed to do? Does not a sovereign country have the duty to defend itself? And as for Cynthia McKinney – while you can certainly blast particular Israeli policies and not be an anti-Semite, McKinney, and her bigot of a fundamentalist preacher father have made actual anti-Semitic statements in the past. Frankly, I would not be at all sorry if McKinney had had her skull crushed in this accident. Why would I, or anyone, mourn for a dead bigot? So, please, let’s not treat Ms. McKinney as a Mother Teresa figure.
Well, yes you are an Israeli apologist – thanks for playing.
g.
How sweet of you. Demanding sympathy while you dream of crushing skulls.
You’ve just beautifully described the sickness that is Israel’s skull-crushing policies.