CNN: US weapons 'killing innocent civilians' in Gaza

[laststeamtrain]

CNN: US weapons 'killing innocent civilians' in Gaza
David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Published: Friday January 2, 2009

As Israeli warplanes continue to bomb Gaza, attention is turning to the role of American-made weapons in the deadly attacks, which have now killed over 400 and wounded 2000, including many civilians.

CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr believes that Israel's use of American weapons against civilians "is becoming very problematic." She notes, for example, that the 2000 pound bomb which killed a Hamas leader and members of his family on Thursday "is part of the billions of dollars that Israel has spent buying weapons from the United States."

Israel's use of American-made weapons in attacking Gaza has been a matter of offical concern for years. In 2002, the State Department announced it was monitoring possible violations of the Arms Export Control Act after the Israeli military used an American-made jet to drop a laser-guided bomb that killed a Hamas leader and 14 civilians in a crowded Gaza City neighborhood.

Just last September, Congress approved a $77 billion dollar deal to sell a thousand Boeing GBU-39 bunker-buster "smart bombs" to Israel. The Jerusalem Post reported on Monday that these small, GPS-guided missiles have now been used on underground tunnels and launchers in Gaza.

"Precision guided bombs are only precision in that they hit the target they are aimed at," Starr explained. "We're getting these civilian casualties. These weapons are supposed to be used for a country's self-defense. Israel, obviously, believes this is its self-defense against Hamas, but you see these civilian casualties. That's not why the US sells weapons abroad -- for the killing of innocent civilians."

<more>

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/CNN_U.S._weapons_create_Gaza_civilian_0102.html

[annabanana]

1. Barbara Starr !?!

I am surprised that she should find it problematic. I have never known her to vary from the party line before...

[Adsos Letter]

3. I think the Party Line may be in play right about now.

[Truth2Tell]

7. Bingo!

I have been noticing hints of that in the last week. Z-big trashing the rationale for attacking Hamas on Morning Joe. CNN devoting a *6 minute* segment to the rammed aid boat and Cynthia McKinney. Big U.S. Power Interests are shifting the tone methinks.

[High Plains]

2. Your tax dollars at work. We have bloody hands in Gaza, too.

America and Israel are two brutal, bullying, murderous peas in a pod, aren't we? Waging our holy wars against the Arabs/Moslems in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan. Busy, busy.

[aquart]

15. Yah, two identical peas. Same size and everything.

Good grief, get a fucking map. Take a look at the size of the Muslim countries. Take a look at the size of Israel. Have one goddamn moment of reality.

[High Plains]

33. Poor fucking Israel, with its nuclear arsenal and all.

No, of course, the two are not the same size, but they apply the thuggish strategies and tactics. Don't be such a fucking nit-picking literalist.

[Poll_Blind]

4. This very point is why many at DU spend so much time trying to raise the consciousness of other...

...DUers in regards to the I/P situation.

 The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) use American-made Apache gunships to launch American-made Hellfire missiles and American-made F-16's drop American-made bombs and missiles. It doesn't stop there by any means but those are highly associated with the American War Industry.

 There is no place on Earth where this association is not made.

PB

[patrice]

14. There is no weapons parity between Israel and the state-less persons living in the Gaza strip.

The only opportunity those who live in the Gaza have for achieving anything even remotely like parity with Israel would be to acquire WMD. Thus, we are preparing the way for WMD by arming Israel.

[Poll_Blind]

24. I meant: There is no place on Earth where the American/Israel military relationship is not easily...

...identified. Poor choice of words on my part.

PB

[patrice]

25. Oh, I wasn't criticizing, just supporting. nt

:hi:

[Pavulon]

26. Like the NVA, no parity

however they fought and used AK47s as infantry weapons not something to shoot off at weddings and in front of camera men.

These unmotivated fuckers need to get to work fighting. It is more risky than shooting rockets blindly but can be effective.

Proper use!


Ornamental asshole use: Note the m16 with optics. Would kill better than that shit rocket:

[Hannah Bell]

32. ah yes. the "muslim terrorists" in their matching outfits & masks, the rocket prominently labeled

"qassam 2".

ho-ho.

[tkmorris]

5. Wait, Boeing sold "smart bombs" for $77 million EACH?

What a racket.

[grassfed]

6. Hundreds dead, thousands injured and displaced

At approximately 2:40pm yesterday, Thursday 1 January 2008, Israeli aircrafts fired heavy missiles at the house of Nizar Rayyan, a leader in the Hamas movement, in the Jabaliya refugee camp, causing massive destruction in the camp and killing 16 of its residents, 11 of whom were children. The victims were identified as:

49-year-old Nizar Abdul-Qadir Rayyan;
40-year-old Nawal Ismail Rayyan;
46-year-old Hyiam Abdul-Rahman Rayyan;
45-year-old Iman Khalil Rayyan;
25-year-old Shirin Said Rayyan;
2-year-old Asad Nizar Rayyan;
3-year-old Usama Nizar Rayyan;
3-year-old Aiysha Nizar Rayyan;
4-year-old Reem Nizar Rayyan;
5-year-old Halima Nizar Rayyan;
5-year-old Meryam Nizar Rayyan;
6-year-old Abdul-Rahman Nizar Rayyan;
12-year-old Abdul-Qadir Nizar Rayyan;
12-year-old Ayia Nizar Rayyan;
15-year-old Zainab Nizar Rayyan;
16-year-old Ghassan Nizar Rayyan

The victims are from the same family. The body of Ghassan was still under the rubble of the house at the time this release was drafted. Moreover, 12 people, including five children and one woman, were injured this raid. It also destroyed 10 houses completely and caused damage to dozens of other houses.

http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article10099.shtml

[goclark]

8. K and R

[laststeamtrain]

9. Hospital official:"19 children have died in the past 24 hours, all under the age of 15,"

<snip>

The director of rehabilitation at El Wafa Hospital in Gaza City, Dr. Khamis Elessi, said Friday that 19 children have died in the past 24 hours, all under the age of 15,.

Doctors were shorthanded and under tremendous strain, he added.

Six of the hospital's medical staff -- a doctor, a lab technician and four paramedics -- died this week, Elessi said.

"The situation is so desperate. There is no electricity. No fuel. No food. No medicines," he said.

The hospital is only about a half-mile from Israel.

<more>

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/01/02/israel.gaza/

[blues90]

10. Nice , makes me proud to be an american , the land of

the gift that keeps giving. And this is how we are seen with all our sick profits made selling weapons made specifically to kill and mutilate innocent people. Makes me want to hide my head in shame.

Just think , instead of working to make something life saving or other wise usefull people actually work in some foresaken factory making weapons to kill other people.

[patrice]

16. It's maddening! Not just the utter Sadness, but also the stupendous waste of resources, Past,

Present, and Future!

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

[GoesTo11]

11. That fat terrorist Rayyan and his family weren't innocent civilians.

That's the example the CNN reporter notes as problematic?

He was the "mentor to the suicide bombers"
He already sent one son to be a suicide bomber who killed two Israelis. Why do you suppose he had four wives and umpteen children - to make more terrorists.

Their house was filled to the brim with explosives so that there were huge secondary explosions.

He kept his family with him after bragging that Israel would either have to chicken out or kill family members.

Somehow, I think his family knew what his program was and was with him on this.

[cali]

17. what the fuck??!!

His children damn well were innocent. And your moronic "thinking" says a shitload about YOU.

[Duckhunter935]

19. I guess his son was innocent.

The one he sent out as a suicide bomber

[cali]

20. No, that's hardly what I'm claiming.

I realize you love the death of Palestinians- including children- but others of us don't relish the deaths of children and other civilians on either side.

[Pavulon]

22. He should have just shot them in the head, he did the EXACT same

playing war with his wife and kids around. Counted on israel not calling his bluff by killing them all. He lost.

This is why marines dont deploy with their wives.

Except the other kid he sent to be a suicide bomber, he was already dead. This fuck killed them all.

[High Plains]

34. I guess when someone assassinates li'l Zipi, it'll be her fault, too.

Right?

[patrice]

18. In our Revolutionary War, he would have been a hero. nt

[cali]

21. uh, no he wouldn't have been considered a hero in the Revolutionary War

that's flat out ignorant as shit.

[patrice]

28. You are a rude and crude person. I refuse to talk to you. nt

[cali]

29. and you're

someone who I can honestly say doesn't give a shit about the deaths of civilians- if they're Israelis.

You're just disgusting.

[GoesTo11]

23. I regret that he had but one life to give for his country.

No apologies for being glad that scum is dead. As for his kids, it's his fault they died. He put them in harm's way. He had the damn factory and warehouse of rockets aimed at civilians in his house, Israel said they were going to bomb the place, they all stayed. And it's not like this guy is having kids because he wanted someone to play catch with and to watch him in his old age. He sent his own son as a suicide bomber. He was raising his kids as terrorists. His many wives were on his side.

What does this say about me? I don't know. If you hate me for hating Rayyan, go ahead. I hate Rayyan.

[patrice]

27. I try not to Hate, do a pretty good job of it, except for when it comes to

ignorant apathy about ALL of the killing.

And, oh yes, I HATE the whole I/P situation.

[ThisThreadIsSatire]

12. LOGIC:. Hamas weapons 'targeting innocent civilians' in Israel.

[Duckhunter935]

13. Of course they are

But they are justified you know.

[TahitiNut]

36. 20 Israelis killed since 2004; over 400 Palestinians killed since last week.

The "logic" of retaliation is massively psychotic codependent thinking.

[chill_wind]

30. Barbara Starr??? n/t

[specimenfred1984]

31. Ka-ching! Let's sell, sell, sell! Civilian Killers R'Us

48% of the U.S. voted for a war mongering old fool and a tits and ass show to do just that: KILL KILL KILL for profit. What a wonderful nation the U.S. is.

[WillieW]

35. What else is new??