July 20, 2006

War crimes could have been committed in the Middle East, alleges UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour. Note the qualification "could have" when it is plain for all to see that war crimes are, indeed, being committed in Lebanon and Gaza by the constant Israeli attacks.

Arbour continues, "Indiscriminate shelling of cities constitutes a foreseeable and unacceptable targeting of civilians. Similarly, the bombardment of sites with alleged military significance, but resulting invariably in the killing of innocent civilians, is unjustifiable".

Why does it take the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to speak out on the devastation being caused by Israel? Why not instead the so-called leaders of the "free world"?

The answer is, the West is so beguiled by Israel and pressured by the US, that any attempt to gainsay US policy will find opponents very much left out in the cold.

That is what happens when supposed leaders of sovereign states acquiesce to the US for fear of reprisal if not in the short term, then likely in the long term. America has the military power and the economic strength (despite its present indebtedness) to be vengeful. It also has the vindictiveness and memory to seek revenge. The US makes a poor friend and worse enemy.

The American administration, having allowed Israel to wreak unimpeded death and destruction upon Arabs, has intimidated leaders of the European Union into accepting its shameful policy in the guise of Israel fighting a "war on terrorism".

But the majority of the public are not so easily deceived, for all can see bloody mayhem, as vividly brought to their homes each night via satellite television. There is and can be no justification for allowing such atrocity to continue, unless there is another agenda, agreed beforehand, between America and Israel. More and more it looks if this is so.

Urgent talks needed between Israel, Lebanon and Gaza have been deferred. Sending US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the Middle East has been postponed, with no definite date being given, nor is likely to be until Israel is in a commanding position over its perceived adversaries.

Increasingly the US, and now EU leaders, bring Syria and Iran into the equation as if by doing so, they will anaesthetise public opinion so when, in time, attacks are made on those countries it will be viewed as justifiable.

And it is likely it will be a belligerent Israel that will turn its attention to the Hezbollah in those countries, maybe even taking out their nuclear capability at the same time, as a "favour" to the US and EU. After all, who is to stop them? Certainly no one in the West.

Especially not America.