Posted on 01/05/2009 11:50:56 AM PST by LdSentinal
Outspoken Republican congressman Ron Paul says Israel had received a green light from the United States to launch an offensive in Gaza.
The Texas congressman said the Israeli attack on the impoverished Gaza Strip shapes a bleak future for the whole world as it means that, "the whole idea of preemptive or preventive war is spreading."
He went on to challenge the idea of Hamas threatening Israel's security and argued that "Palestinian missiles are so minor compared to the fire power of Israel, who has nuclear weapons."
The US Congressman's remarks come as Israel continues to rebuff international efforts to end the assault on Gaza, and Israeli troops and tanks -- protected by heavy air, sea and artillery fire - have sliced through the center of Gaza and surrounded the main city.
The tenth day of the assault brings the number of Palestinian casualties to 530 with over 2,600 others wounded. The UN says that about 25 percent of the casualties were civilian deaths.
Paul added that the escalation of war in Gaza would contribute to the fall of economy on the global stage and in the US, explaining that the US involvement in too many wars is "draining us emotionally and financially".
Congressman Paul said that even though Israel has carried out the invasion of Gaza, "the United States will be blamed for it."
"Israel depends on us; they depend on us economically, they depend on us for their military power and all their weapons and they really got a green light from our administration," he explained.
Paul's comment comes after US vice president Dick Cheney said Israel did not seek Washington's approval for launching an offensive against Gaza.
"They didn't seek clearance or approval from us, certainly," Cheney said Sunday.
Earlier on Saturday, the Israeli website Debkafile cited sources in Washington as saying that US President George W. Bush had given a green light to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for an all-out military operation in Gaza.
The GOP congressman also warned in July, that any Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities would take place with the explicit backing of the US government.
Paul told Press TV that, "No matter what they do, it is our money, it is our weapons, and they are not going to do it without us approving it."
His whole career reads like satire, if you've followed it. Which is why some of us have a hard time believing RP has supporters on this forum. Still.
Preemptive it is not, but the Israeli response is vastly disproportionate. Let us hope the ground assault will better discriminate between civilians and militants, than the aerial bombardment has been.
Paul is correct that the US will be blamed.
Yeah but they are only minor little rockets. Not like those big evil ones those Jews have.
Yes, that’s the way I remember it too.
I'm sure his supporters here on FR, would tell you that Ron Paul would use the "Letter of Marque" against his foes. Yes, this useless 18th Century antiquated writ is what replaces testicles for the Paulhroids.
“Paul is correct that the US will be blamed.”
That’s a given! Especially with clowns like Paul getting out there to make sure!
This is a perfect example of why I could not ever take him seriously as a POTUS candidate, and have disdain for the Reps who do.
After they where celebrating 9/11 like it was a holiday I don’t feel sorry for them.. The Iraqis yes, the Syrians yes, the Jordanians yes, the Iranians yes.. The Palestianians no..
Actually it is no disproportionate enough. The Good people of Israel have been very reserved dealing with these animals.
Sheesh, the entertainment never ceases...
Good, that is the point of war, disproportionate response to kill as much of the enemy and destroy as much of his property as possible for a fast victory.
Disproportionate leads to victory.
Proportionate leads to an ongoing stalemate.
Only losers whine about disproportionate response. The reason this has gone on so long as that Israel has kowtowed to world demands to only respond 'proportionately'.
And the US could not fight with another country, even if the other country attacked, if the other country was not militarily equal.
Makes me loathe RP. And to think I was considering voting for him a year ago or more (shame).
Well, to play devil's advocate, he did call for reducing our military down to 'a few submarines', thus, he would make us equal militarily to much weaker countries.
Ron Paul is more moderate than his supporters. Many of them despise Israel and Jews in general. Many say Jews control America and Wall St etc etc etc
But I do not and cannot support him on this or any of his foreign policy statements.
What an idiotic statement. The latest Qassam 3 rockets can hold 10KG of high explosives. This is only minor if it hits someone else's house.
Imagine homemade steel explosive rockets raining down on Washington DC suburbs or Boston or NYC. Imagine around 3,600 of them so far.
How long do you think it would take for us to kick some ass?
Oh, so what you are saying is 'the Jews" should lob hundreds of unguided, "land where they may" missles of simular design right back at them, right?
Imagine the outcry if they did that. Actually it would probably be fare more effective and kill more terrorists, they ones that walk around the streets in large crowds waving guns and shouting "death to the Isreal"- so called "civillians".
To the average "palestinan"(no such thing), the UN, and every other Palestinian sympathizer, there is no such thing as a "civillian Jew". They are all 'legitamate" targets in their and Hamas eyes, from baby to old man.
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