[WCUSP] On Abbas & Sinoria (The Evil of Collaboration)
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KATHARLOW at aol.com
Thu Dec 28 10:28:52 CST 2006
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The Evil of Collaboration
by Kim Petersen
_www.dissidentvoice.org_ (http://www.dissidentvoice.org/)
December 27, 2006
(http://www.referralblast.com/rblast.asp?sid=7227)
Collaboration in a certain context epitomizes progressivism: people working
together for the greater good. Collaboration, however, also has a dark side
that is anathema to progressivist tenets: working against one's own society.
In other words: treason and sedition.
In western society, those collaborating with the enemy were condemned as
traitors. In Europe, the surname of Vitus Quisling, a Norwegian who collaborated
with the Nazi occupation of Norway has come to mean "traitor" in much the
same way as dual loyalist Benedict Arnold's name means "traitor" in American
society.
There are two major contenders in the Middle East for eponymous recognition
as traitors: Lebanon's prime minister, Fouad Siniora, and Palestine's
president, Mahmoud Abbas, are willing to sell out their kinsfolk to Zionists and
imperialists.
The Treason of Siniora
Lebanese prime minister Fouad Siniora shakes hands with Condoleeza Rice, the
US Secretary of State who lengthened Lebanese exposure to Zionist bombing by
working against a ceasefire. (Reuters)
Siniora is the "leader" known for weeping in front of Arab dignitaries while
Zionist forces bombed Lebanon. The banker cum prime minister, whose policies
help massively indebt Lebanon and leave it at the mercy of neoliberal sharks
like the International Monetary Fund and the Paris Club, is awaiting a
bailout from the treacherous George Bush administration in the United States
(after all it was US secretary-of-state Condoleezza Rice who held off calls for a
ceasefire so Israeli aggressors could finish what they had started). The
Washington Post reports a $1 billion dollar "aid" package. Almost $500 million
of the "aid" is earmarked for "Lebanon's military and police to help
strengthen the security forces … to help the beleaguered Lebanese government." _[1]_
(http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Dec06/Petersen27.htm#1) The Post does not
mention why the Lebanese regime is beleaguered and by who.
The Lebanese government is beleaguered by its own people (particularly by a
coalition of Maronites and Shi'a), a people impoverished by neoliberal
policies and suffering the ravages of war caused by the same countries that Siniora
has been cozying up to.
And what is the intention of the "aid" giving regimes? The Post answers:
"The package is part of an effort by the United States, France, Saudi Arabia,
the United Arab Emirates and others to shore up the Lebanese security forces so
they can eventually extend their control over the entire country." Let's
see: We destroy you from inside and outside, then we give "aid" with the string
attached that you acquiesce to puppets of your foreign masters. This would
be a surrender of sovereignty.
The Post adds, "[The "aid" package] is also designed to strengthen the
government's hand over the influence of Hezbollah." Hizbollah is the resistance
that is credited with forcing Israel out of Lebanon (with the exception of
Sheba'a Farms) and having recently fought Israel to at least a standstill. It
compelled an end to Israel's latest aggression as Zionist impotency outside
aerial bombing was proving humiliating. Strengthening the Lebanese government's
hand over Hizbollah, though, is equivalent to strengthening imperialist hands
over Hizbollah.
The Post is more forthcoming: "After Iraq, Lebanon has become the primary
battleground for influence between the United States and Iran." Influence in
Lebanon is part of the wider US effort to violently reshape the Middle East.
"Aid" with the purpose of wider geo-political aims.
Since the infrastructure of Lebanon has been leveled and farms littered with
cluster bombs, why is so much "aid" going to guns instead of food and
rebuilding?
The US is the country that gave a green light for the Zionist army to
devastate Lebanon, that held back the United Nations from acting to halt the
violence. Why would the Lebanese government collaborate with such a nefarious
entity that seeks to undermine Lebanese society for it and its client state's
selfish interest?
The Post quotes "U.S. officials" that Iran is violating UN resolutions
through current arms smuggling into Lebanon via Syria. The risible UN provides the
context whereby the US may bring arms into Lebanon to arm its proxy regime,
but the same is prohibited for Hizbollah.
Furthermore, the US opposes the Hizbollah push for an election to determine
the public support for the Siniora government but pushes for an election in
Palestine in the hope that starving Palestinians might oust the Zionist
resisting Hamas-led government so western regimes might allow them to feed
adequately.
The Treason of Abbas
Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas (R) grins after getting promise from
Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert (L) to partial release of illegally seized
Palestinian tax funds. (Moshe Milner/GPO)
So intent are western regimes on starving the Palestinians that money
"legally" collected by Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh was blocked at the
Rafah Crossing from Egypt into Gaza.
Citing a "very well informed source," United Press International (UPI) _[2]_
(http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Dec06/Petersen27.htm#2) reports that Fatah
member Saeb Erakat had secured Egypt's compliance with the boycott against
Hamas. _[3]_ (http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Dec06/Petersen27.htm#3)
The Hamas prime minister returned with money raised during his trip to Iran,
Qatar and Sudan. The Israelis asked Lt. Gen. Pietro Pistolese, the commander
of European Union Border Assistance Mission -- police and customs officers
from 17 countries -- (EUBAM), to close the border and he complied.
According to an Israeli spokesman, Shlomo Dror, the Palestinians "promised
to 'make efforts' to stop money smuggling." Since when is a government
minister bringing money for his government "smuggling"? This was not armaments. This
was not narcotics. This was money brought into a country where the
population is starving. What kind of Palestinian would make a promise that aggravates
the starving his own people?
UPI writes:
It is all part of a broader confrontation. The United States, the European
Union, Russia and the United Nations who comprise the Quartet, Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, and Israel want to force the Hamas-led
government to renounce violence, accept Israel and honor agreements concluded with
it. The Islamic Hamas refuses to do so, and is subject to a political and
economic boycott.
Why the allusion to the religious affiliation of Hamas? Why is the article
so one-sided? Why is there almost never a mention that Palestine wants to
force the Zionist-led government to renounce violence, accept Palestine and honor
agreements concluded with it -- that the Jewish Kadima refuses to do so?
The Hamas-led government of Palestine finds itself opposed by several
western regimes that have frozen "aid" to it. Except for the promised release of
$100 million in Palestinian tax funds, Israel has frozen any transfers. But
Israel has no rights to freeze transfers; in fact, Israel, as the occupying
power, is legally (no use appealing to morality in the case of the Zionist state)
responsible for the needs of the occupied people.
Because of the financial boycott, Hamas was forced to bring cash (estimated
at $60 million by Pistolese) through Rafah. So while Haniyeh was out getting
cash to feed the people, Abbas and his coterie were seeking to block such a
hunger-busting move.
That move is from Abbas. As the UPI reveals:
President Abbas' men control the Rafah Crossing. However, there is no
Palestinian law against bringing money that way. The importer just has to declare
it. EUBAM's mandate says that the law that applies at the crossing is the
Palestinian law.
Nor have the Palestinians violated Egyptian law because the money did not
originate there, it just passed through Egypt.
President Abbas is quoted: "We heard that he (Haniyeh) has funds to smuggle
into the country; we say here that we are in need of funds but not smuggled
funds." What does Abbas mean? As UPI makes clear, no laws were broken in
attempting to bring the money into Palestine. So there was no smuggling! How can
Abbas genuflect to Zionist dictates while his own kinsfolk go hungry?
Rejecting Collaborators
Lebanese people en masse are seeking to topple Siniora's collaborationist
government. The opponents of Siniora's government transcend religious
affiliations. _[4]_ (http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Dec06/Petersen27.htm#4) Imperialist
and Zionist interests back the beleaguered regime of Siniora.
In Lebanon, the people are denouncing the collaboration of Siniora. In
Palestine, the situation is being drive toward violence. The US regime has waded
into the Hamas-Fatah confrontation by seeking congressional approval for $100
million destined for Abbas' presidential guard.
In Palestine, "deep dissatisfaction" with Abbas' Fatah Party -- "its
corruption, inefficiency, and lack of progress in achieving the Palestinians'
national goals of independence and a just settlement with Israel" -- saw Hamas
sweep to a clear victory. _[5_
(http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Dec06/Petersen27.htm#5) ] The democratic will of Palestinians has been stymied by western
machinations that have plunged Palestinians further into poverty. Against this
extortionary backdrop, Abbas, backed by his Zionist-imperialist friends, seeks
another shot at electoral victory. In essence: "Vote Fatah and eat" or "Vote
Hamas and starve."
The choice lies with the people, as it should. But choices extracted under
repressive and extortionary circumstances demean any pretense to democracy.
The Zionist-imperialist interferences have come back to bite them. Hamas, after
all, is a zionist creation and the post of a Palestinian prime minister
resulted from US attempts to trim the political power of Yasser Arafat.
Over the decades, Palestinians have embodied the courageous sentiment of
Mexican revolutionary figure Emiliano Zapata who intoned: "I prefer to die
standing, rather than live on my knees." Zionists-imperialists should not be
surprised if the long-suffering, resisting, and still standing Palestinian people,
even when faced with what amounts to a life-and-death election, might still
reject the evil stench of collaboration -- food or no food.
Kim Petersen, Co-Editor of Dissident Voice, lives in the Republic of Korea.
He can be reached at: _kim at dissidentvoice.org_ (mailto:kim at dissidentvoice.org)
.
ENDNOTES
[1] Robin Wright, "_U.S. Readies Security Aid Package To Help Lebanon
Counter Hezbollah_
(http://www.theday.com/re_txt.aspx?re=b5485c4e-6640-43da-8af1-fdce8c01379f) ," Washington Post, 22 December 2006.
[2] UPI is owned by News World Communications, which is owned by the
anti-communist, hard right-wing religious movement called the Unification Church
led Reverend Moon Sun Myung.
[3] Joshua Brilliant, "_Analysis: Can Hamas be reined-in?_
(http://license.icopyright.net/user/viewFreeUse.act?fuid=MjUxNzE0) " United Press
International, 21 December 2006.
[4] Pakinam Amer, "_Lebanon's faiths mingle at Christmas Eve rally_
(http://news.monstersandcritics.com/middleeast/features/article_1236553.php/Lebanons_fa
iths_mingle_at_Christmas_Eve_rally) ," m&c news, 25 December 2006. A
Christian, Hoda al-Farjiya, was quoted: "In the past we used to say 'This is
Christian' and 'This is Muslim.' Now we stand here together and say 'Religion is for
God and Lebanon is for everyone.'"
[5] Q&A, "_Hamas election victory_
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4650300.stm) ," BBC News, 26 January 2006.
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