Gaza Polls: 'Oh, America ... Oh, Empire of Contradictions' (Al-Hayat Al-Jadidah, Palestinian Territories)
"The Palestinian elections took place according to America's
expressed wishes, its open encouragement, and strict oversight, but as soon as
the less than mysterious results became clear, we found the world's shepherd of
democracy turned against our Palestinian brand, and punishing all of our people
for their democratic decision. ... Tell us, what are
the democratic elements that the United States wants, so people can understand
them ahead of time, and so that these people don't pay the exorbitant price that
the United States demands. ... Oh, America ... Oh, empire of contradictions."
When America urges others to espouse democracy and democratic elections, what is it really asking for, what is it saying? As part of our effort to contribute to finding out how the world arrived at the current woeful pass, we offer you a column from the Alhayat Aljadeeda translated and posted on April 3, 2006, in the wake of the Gaza elections held in January that year. As you'll see, after holding polls 'superior in execution, form and content' to those in many other nations, and which were demanded by the United States, columnist Yahya Ribah expresses consternation at the fact that once again, Gaza Palestinians found themselves on the wrong side of the 'shepherds of democracy' in Washington. So sit back, grab a cup of tea, and recall 2006. George W. Bush has settled in for a horrifying second term, Condoleezza Rice has taken over from Colin Powell at the State Department, the Iraq insurgency against U.S. occupation is in full swing, and Israel has invaded Lebanon, aka/ Operation Just Reward."
Condoleezza
Rice is denying widespread expectations that the United States will retreat
from its support of democracy in the world, even after that very democracy has
put parties in power that America disapproves of!!!
If
that were true, namely, if America insisted on supporting democracy in the
world, we would truly be the happiest people, but regrettably, when we look
around us, we see the exact opposite, because support for democracy by the
United States of America is selective. She supports this party and opposes that
one, supports Orange Revolutions in a number of countries around the world, then
puts the screws to, boycotts, and fights, the democratic experience in other
countries. A perfect example of this selectivity and double standard is America's
position on Palestinian democracy. Superior in execution, form and content to
the experience in many other nations, Palestinians have thus far endured
nothing but resistance, denial, provocation, threats, and boycotts from the
United States.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
The
Palestinian elections took place according to America's expressed wishes, its
open encouragement, and strict oversight, but as soon as the less than
mysterious results became clear, since many signs had pointed to this outcome
[the election of Hamas], we found the world's shepherd of democracy turned
against our Palestinian brand, and punishing all of our people for their
democratic decision. This also places additional insurmountable obstacles in
the path of Palestine's political system. What's more, not content with the
damage she has inflicted on her own, Washington has called on the entire
international community to follow its example!!
The
double standards of the United States are not limited to democracy, but have
expanded in recent days to include the field of danger that threatens human
life across the planet, meaning nuclear weapons. And all of this, at a time
when the United States is leading a destructive battle against Iran's national
project and against the merest inkling of progress in certain Arab countries,
while it openly concludes a nuclear treaty with India!! Furthermore, it defends
Israeli nuclear production with unrivaled intensity!!! Moreover, the United
States of America carries out the destruction of states, peoples and
communities on the basis of intention alone, i.e. that such states, peoples,
and communities intend (in the future) to possess a nuclear weapon! So it
carries out pre-emptive wars against such states, peoples, and communities …
with Iraq the grossest revelation of these American double standards.
Palestinians under daily attack from Israeli occupiers and
financial siege from U.S. and E.U.: 'We will live free or die
standing like trees. We kneel only to our creator.'
Getting
back to our scene … Hamas, which won the elections and formed a government,
didn't descend on us from another planet. Rather, it is a part of the
Palestinian body politic. Whether under the name of the Muslim Brotherhood or
the Islamic Resistance, it was always there, a part of the tissue and the give
and take of Palestinian life.
So
why does Washington hold this misunderstood and unjustifiable position? And
tell us, what are the democratic elements that the United States wants, so
people can understand them ahead of time, and so that these people don't pay
the exorbitant price that the United States demands. We have seen that the U.S.
is always able to understand Israel, in any perverse action that it may carry
out, even if it publicly murders Palestinians every day, or openly steals their
land, or imposes a suffocating encirclement, transferring them to small,
isolated areas with checkpoints between each and every one, which are now being
transformed into border crossings, or rather, international crossings!!
We
know with certainty that power has its own special logic, and its own democracy
that serves its own interests, and its own laws that do not recognize the
rights of the weak!! We know all of that with certainty, but what we don't know
is what America wants us to believe when it talks, and how to trust it where
it counts … Oh, America ... Oh, empire of contradictions.
