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."
I am not hiding from anyone. If everyone wishes to form an opinion from one source save Paul's own words offered to me by another poster, feel free.
Please explain your remark...
Paul gave this statement:
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."
It makes Paul a terrorist apologist and justifies use of less powerful weapons.
I used to admire Paul, but he is no longer for liberty, he now preaches submission.
Him first.
Many of us have been trying to point out that this is not new from him.. you can find statements like these going back to the late 70s from Paul.
And the fact that Ron Paul is anti-Israel and loves Kucinch so much are top of the list why I could never support him.
“What the Palestinians do is no excuse for bombing densely populated areas by a civilized country founded on religious principles.”
Bull. The Palestinians started the war. They have to live with that decision. It just sucks to be them.
What a foolish thing to say. Let Ron Paul and his family live in those areas being targeted by Hamas missile batteries. I wonder how fast he would change his tune if one of his sons was killed by a Hamas warhead?
The very term "preemptive war" is just retarded. What, are you supposed to sit around and let others take a free shot at you before you do anything?
The "Palestinians" voted Hamas in. Their government has been launching missiles into Israeli territory. "Palestinian civilians" are responsible for the actions of their government.
Israel should wage a real war, pulling no punches. They need to remove Hamas from their doorstep without regard for civilian casualties. Hamas targets civilians. If some "Palestinian civilians" are killed in Israel's effort to wipe out terror, it is the fault of the "Palestinian people" who have elected terrorists into positions of power.
Ron Paul is a jerk.
Since when do we fight to keep a country and people from being 'wiped off the face of the earth' with 'proportionate' defense?
Their (and your) 'proportionate' crap has resulted in years of 'Groundhog DAy' back and forth: shell, get shelled, yell "Truce/cease fire, break truce with impunity until the attacked defends again, yell "Truce..."
Enough. That's a never-ending story.
Israel is done playing the one-sided game. It's time to be be done with it. FINISH IT.
"Let us hope the ground assault will better discriminate between civilians and militants."
Shouldn't that, rather, be: "Let us hope that Hammas will stop deliberately putting it's civilians in front of and all around them as fodder-collateral."?
So, if someone breaks into my house and comes at me with a knife - I can’t use my gun to defend myself? I need to get a knife?
Did you just get back from an extended stay on Mars that you don't know that Hammas fights, deliberately, in the midst of the civilians population, both hiding behind women and children and using them as propaganda when they get killed.
P> If a parent shoves his child out in front of traffic and he gets hit - who is primarily to blame?
Your posts increasingly unmask your thinking - which seems to be either woefully uninformed or steeped in Pali sympathy.
Either way: ignorant.
(There is no cure for ignorance.)
And what would have been "proportionate"?
Proportionality and discrimination between combatants and civilians have been the civilizational norm since the Middle Ages. No one has rescinded those, and no one can. The barbarity of the opponent is not an excuse to lower the civilizational standard.
Proportionality does not mean symmetry. One can use a more effective defensive weapon. It means that the response should be measured to the objective of the war. For example, if the objective is to eliminate a military threat, it is proportionate to destroy weapons, supply routes and military personnel, but not government structures or civilian areas. (Link)
I spent yesterday with several dozen Jewish people facing down the PLO Hamas supporters here in San Diego.
The PLO types also with their other anti American signs, etc.
The L. Ron Paul, Bobby Barr and Chuck Baldwin Third Party Loons who are anti war, anti Israel, 9/11 Truthers, etc.
are full of supporters on FR and their goal is to divide the Republicans with their constant RINO, all or nothing talk to divide knowing their Third party will never win only the left.
There are some Repos I don’t care much for but I stay with the GOP as only the Repos or Dems can win.
The sit at homes and Third Party loons help make possible
Obozo’s win and also helped Al Freakin in Minn.
Don’t buy into the Third Party demagogues on FR who
try to divide Republicans.
War is about crushing another people and their spirit, by whatever means most effective.
Alas, I believe the Israelis are too civilized to do the necessary.
You are one dense "Palistinian" sympathizer.
Fox, well somtimes the cast their lot with the rest...
“Palestinian”
Sounds great on paper, doesn't it? It reality it's much harder to do so. Especially when the "fighters" are hiding behind women and children.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.