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Home Front: WoT
US flotilla ship: We intend to break Gaza blockade
2011-06-20
'Audacity of Hope' organizers at NY press conference: "We'll carry no goods. Our mission is from US society to Gaza civil society."

Passengers on a US-flagged boat, The Audacity of Hope, spoke at a press conference Monday to discuss their plans and reasons for joining the "International Freedom Flotilla II -- Stay Human," a flotilla intended to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza. It is estimated that people from more than 20 countries will participate in the eight to ten boat flotilla, which will sail the last week of June, in part from Greece. One quarter of the participants on the US boat, which will have 36 passengers, are American Jews.
Proving once again that nothing provides a shield against determined stupidity.
According to a letter the Audacity of Hope group sent to US President Barack Obama, in addition to 36 passengers, 4 crew members, and 10 members of the press, the US-flagged boat "will carry thousands of letters of support and friendship from people throughout the US to the women, children and men of Gaza. There will be no weapons of any sort on board."
The iron pipes with tape-wrapped handles and small machetes are merely the normal tools of your common seaman. They need lots of them, to replace the ones that fall overboard.
"We will carry no goods of any kind for delivery in Gaza," the group's letter read. "Our mission is from American civil society to the civil society of Gaza. We do not serve the agenda of any political leadership, government or group. We are engaged solely in non-violent action in support of the Palestinian people and their human rights."
Here findeth the reader novel definitions of non-violent and human rights not found in any reputable dictionary.
Carrying no goods? It's just theater then, and the Israelis will be the final critics.
"Citizen activists are coming to the Mediterranean from all over the world to confront the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza and US government protection of Israeli criminal acts," Audacity of Hope passenger Ann Wright said. "As a former US diplomat and retired military colonel,
Being a member of the military also does not protect one from determined stupidity. Diplomacy, on the other hand, encourages it.
I strongly believe it is the responsibility of citizens to act when our governments fail to protect the human rights and dignity of any people--in this case, the Palestinians."

Leslie Cagan, the US boat coordinator leading Monday's press conference, said the Israeli government acted with extreme violence against Freedom Flotilla I in 2010, killing nine passengers and injuring more than 50, and has threatened the use of attack dogs and snipers against this Freedom Flotilla II.
Something to ponder, for those considering this adventure...
Cagan said, "Following the example of years of non-violent Palestinian protests,
Those are the ones where the youths hurl large chunks of concrete, and boys play dead for the cameras?
everyone participating in this project is deeply committed to non-violence. We hope and plan to arrive in Gaza City safely by the beginning of July. Any other outcome is the responsibility of the US and Israeli government's decision to maintain the illegal and unjustifiable imprisonment of 1.5 million people in the Gaza strip."

"We are trying to act in alignment with our conscience," Audacity of Hope passenger Kathy Kelly said at the press conference.
No doubt.
Cagan added that the flotilla organizers have urged United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to put into place a UN inspection of the ships but have received no official response as yet.

In late May, the Secretary General expressed his opposition to flotilla operations intended to challenge the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza, believing that assistance and goods bound for Gaza should go through legitimate crossings.

Ban has called on governments to use their influence to discourage flotillas, stating that they carry the potential to exacerbate rather than ameliorate the conflict. The United States government, participants in the US-flagged ship said, have warned the US citizens not to participate in the flotilla.
Finger wagging and a wink were involved.
Posted by:trailing wife

#7  "The Audacity of Hope?"

Nice name, real catchy.
Apparently they have been "in touch" with Cynthia McKinney.

Its still "cool" to be an Obama supporter, you know. Well, back to 1967 and let's begin there and trade our way up to the present....yeah.
Dont you just love watching this from your living room and knowing that somewhere Obama is planning to give us all World Peace....Nobel, kinda guy, that he is?

Yasss, I can feel it. the Audacity of Hope. Gitchi gitchi...
Posted by: de Medici   2011-06-20 22:58  

#6  Make sure Media is watching for 20minutes while you announce over loudspeaker and radio to stop and prepare for inspection. They don't after 20minutes then sink em.
Posted by: Charles   2011-06-20 20:17  

#5  Sink the wankers.

Fish gotta eat too.

Does the Med have sharks?
Posted by: Barbara   2011-06-20 17:26  

#4  We are engaged solely in non-violent action

Liar!

Supporting an organization which deliberately and with full knowledge targets innocent civilians (men, women and children) is supporting terrorism - which, in my book, is an act of violence. You may not wield the blade - but you sure do support it.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2011-06-20 16:21  

#3  We do not serve the agenda of any political leadership, government or group.

Citizen activists are coming to the Mediterranean from all over the world to confront the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza and US government protection of Israeli criminal acts.

Nope. No agenda there...
Posted by: tu3031   2011-06-20 15:05  

#2  Sink the ships, burn the bodies, dead or alive. Then simply send a bill to the organizations involved along with a notice that supporting terrorists is terrorism and they are now listed terrorist organiztions.

No mercy for vermin.
Posted by: Silentbrick - Halliburton Lost Drill Bit Division   2011-06-20 14:53  

#1  Sink it and call it a day.
Posted by: DarthVader   2011-06-20 14:44  

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