They won't stop until over 1,000 dead and Obama's inauguration

Israel acts with impunity, always has, always will.  Unlike most countries, whose leaders are tried, convicted, and serve sentences of 97+ years for crimes against humanity, Israel can deliberately target women and children, refuse 1.2 million people the basic necessities for daily survival, and never answer to a higher authority.  Chuck E. Taylor was convicted yesterday of torturing and killing men who were in opposition to his father' government in Liberia.  Because he was born here in the U.S. and maintained his citizenship, he was tried in a Boston court and will now serve 97 years in an American jail.  How many Israeli Defense Force soldiers hold American citizenship?  How many of those young men, from New York, California, and other States from this country serve their two years in the IDF and then come back to the United States, proud of the service they gave to Israel?  I've met several, who explained to me the kind of service they performed while in the IDF.  Some were stationed in the Gaza Strip, and their duties consisted of searching the backpacks of little children on their way to school, to make sure they did not contain "subversive" material that would point out Israel as an enemy.  Perhaps these young men lied to me about their service, but I don't think so, as some were really troubled by the "duties" they had to perform.

The important point to all of this is the fact that Israel, and IDF soldiers in particular, will never have to answer to a higher authority for the horrific war crimes committed in the past two weeks.  Unlike Chuck E. Taylor, Israelis are somehow immune to international criticism, and regardless of some holding U.S. citizenship, there will never be an investigation into the crimes committed against innocent Palestinians.

The reality is, this conflict will continue until Obama is inaugurated as the first African-American US president.  Some deal has already been worked out that includes a large "AID" packet for Israel in exchange for a cease-fire during the inauguration.  Israel will agree to terms, so ambiguous, they will continue their assault unabated.  Perhaps a deal was worked out with the Bush administration, and in the next week we will see a concerted effort on the part of Condeleeza Rice to push for a durable, long-lasting cease fire.  By then, there will be over 1,000 Palestinian deaths, most of whom are innocent women and children.  In part, because most Palestinian men have already been killed in previous operations or they are sitting in Israeli jails waiting to hear their indictments.  

I keep waiting for one politician to have the courage to stand up to Israel, for one to speak out against the horrific way Palestinians are treated, to demand justice and proportionality in Israel's military operations.

The "change" I voted for will not come with this administration.  Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State means the same pro-Israel spin as usual, the ridiculous scramble by the media and other politicians to find ways for Israel to justify her continued assault without impediment.  I've been watching this closely for 7 years and the only thing that has changed in this country has been the face spouting out the Israeli spin.  Thus, another generation exposed to the lies and corruption.  It's truly amazing that 3% of the population controls our foreign policy through a lobbying group that puts money into the pockets of any representative willing to tote the Israeli line.  The Madoff scandal can only be thought of as some bit of Karma for the destruction and instability Israel and her supporters have brought to this country.  It is time that Americans wake up and realize the disproportionate amount of influence that country has over our politicians and our policies, both domestic and foreign.