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Democratic Disaster
MIDDLEEAST.ORG - MER - Washington - 3 November: It is not the first time in the history of modern-day corporate-system democracies that a country has badly lost its way and that a people have voted their fears and their nationalist flag.
Not since Civil War and Depression days has the American polity been more polarized in passions and visions and beliefs. The U.S. Democratic Party which had so many issues and concerns in its favor has suffered a disastrous defeat -- especially after sinking such a huge amount of funds and passions into the campaign.
All three branches of the American government are now more firmly in the hands of the Republican Party. And the Republican Party is more firmly in the hands of its conservative crusading Christian evangelicals allied with its imperialist considerably Jewish neo-conservatives. And the alliance with the hard-line 'Revisionist Zionist' Israelis, and their powerful lobby in Washington, has never been stronger and never been more dangerous.
After drawing a few breaths everything soon, very soon, will return to policies, issues, and wars. Iraq, Iran, Palestine, North Korea -- just to name the immediate top flashpoints -- the clock is fast ticking on all, the situation ominous in all, potential catastrophe looming at many turns ahead.
Even as Americans voted and the world watched considerably now in shock, one of the world's most famous scientists, Stephen Hawking, was declaring the U.S. invasion of Iraq a 'war crime' at a protest in London. Now the aftermath of that history-making invasion, of the new Crusade led by the United States and based on major historic deceptions and manipulations, will return to center stage.
The future is likely to be more bloody, and more dangerous, than the past.
British scientist Hawking decries Iraq war at London protest
LONDON (AP - 2 November): Britain's most famous scientist, Stephen Hawking, condemned the U.S. led invasion of Iraq as a ``war crime'' and said Tuesday it was based on lies.
The physicist spoke at an anti-war demonstration in London's Trafalgar Square timed to coincide with the U.S. election. Protesters read out the names of thousands of Iraqis and coalition troops killed since the March 2003 invasion.
``The war was based on two lies,'' said Hawking. ``The first was we were in danger of weapons of mass destruction and the second was that Iraq was somehow to blame for Sept. 11.
``It has been a tragedy for all the families that have lost members. As many as 100,000 people have died, half of them women and children. If that is not a war crime, what is?''
Hawking, the best-selling author of ``A Brief History Of Time,'' was joined by other public figures. Similar events were being held in Spain, Italy, Australia, the United States and Iraq.
``Our message to the U.S. is that the war is illegal and unnecessary, and we want our troops to come home,'' said Andrew Burgin, a spokesman for demonstration organizer Stop the War Coalition. ``We also want to highlight the enormous number of Iraqis killed in this conflict who are so often ignored.''
In Trafalgar Square, hundreds of spectators holding candles or placards opposing President Bush listened as speakers read the names of the dead while their images were projected onto a large screen.
One group of students from London's Imperial College waved anti-Bush signs, hoping to send a message to U.S. voters.
``If enough people show up tonight at the demonstration, I think a few more voters might notice what we're saying,'' said Emma Thomson, a student from Scotland who said she was able to cast a vote in Pennsylvania because she was born there.
Israelis working to influence U.S. voteHa'aretz - 2 November: Americans in Israel were working up until the last minute to influence from across the Atlantic a U.S. vote that was deemed too close to call. Republicans here spent election day working the phones, calling friends, family, and anyone else on their lists to ensure that American voters don't let bad weather or a busy schedule get in the way of re-electing President George W. Bush. "First, we tell people to vote and when they do vote, we make sure they'll vote for Bush," said Kory Bardash, chair of Republicans Abroad in Israel, who spent much of yesterday on the phone to his home state of New Jersey. Democrats, meanwhile, say they finished their final preparations last week, with the completion of their write-in ballot distribution events. With house calls to confused voters around the country, they are convinced they've mobilized the local vote in a way that will maximize support for Democratic candidate John Kerry among the estimated 50,000 Americans who cast their ballot from Israel in this election. The Democrats have made their phone calls, planned their election parties and are rehearsing their victory speeches in both English and Hebrew. "I'm going to keep it humble," vowed Mark Zober, chair of Democrats Abroad in Israel, "and focus on the importance of America's unity." For some politically active Republicans in Israel, election day here - despite the discrepancy in time zones - was their final opportunity to convince Jewish Democrats in the U.S. to renege on their party loyalties and re-elect Bush. "A lot of my friends will be voting Republican, so I've been concentrating on convincing my Democratic family," said Geri Schwartz, a recent immigrant and Bush supporter who lives in Modi'in. "My mother planned to vote for Kerry, but reminding her that she has children and grandchildren living in Israel has helped change her mind." Republicans with ties in swing states like Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania were especially active on election day, Bardash said, though much of the work was done in the months leading up to yesterday's showdown. "Our first stage was voter registration, our second was getting people here to vote, and our third stage has been getting friends and family in the U.S. to vote," he said. "But at a certain point, the only thing left to do is pray - it's all in God's hands at this point." |
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