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MY LAI VET SAYS: HERE IT COMES AGAIN IN IRAQ Tony Swindell recalls "Butcher's Brigade" in '69; says "gooks" have now become "ragheads", every adult male is an "insurgent" ... atrocities against Iraqi civilians are soon going to explode in America's face; US Government's courtroom jihads against terror stumble. Alexander Cockburn on Lodi case where Feds paid $250,000 to man who "saw" world's three top terrorists at mosque. As neocons and Israel lobby howl for US to bomb Teheran, an Iranian outlines simple path to peace. CounterPunch Online is read by millions of viewers each month! But remember, we are funded solely by the subscribers to the print edition of CounterPunch. Please support this website by buying a subscription to our newsletter, which contains fresh material you won't find anywhere else, or by making a donation for the online edition. Remember contributions are tax-deductible. Click here to make a donation. If you find our site useful please: Subscribe Now! |
Today's Stories May Day, 2006 Alexander Cockburn Website of the
Day April 29 / 30, 2006 Peter Linebaugh Ralph Nader Robert Bryce Rev. William
Alberts Lee Sustar John Chuckman Eric Ruder Seth Sandronsky Ron Jacobs Ben Tripp Fred Gardner Don Monkerud Tommy Stevenson Lettrist International Contratiempo St. Clair, Vest
and D'Antoni Poets' Basement
April 28, 2006 James Ridgeway Ramzy Baroud Sarah Knopp William S. Lind Werther April 27, 2006 Winslow T. Wheeler Robert Fisk Juan Santos Robert Jensen Dave Lindorff Jose Pertierra
April 26,2006 Robin Philpot Sherry Wolf Pratyush Chandra Joshua Frank Gary
Leupp Bill
Quigley
April 25, 2006 Gary
Leupp Paul
Craig Roberts Linda
S. Heard Ralph
Nader Mike
Whitney Michael
Donnelly Sharon
Smith Website
of the Day
April 24, 2006 Tim
Wise John
Stanton Dave
Lindorff Steve
Shore Amadou
Deme Mickey
Z. Ralph Nader Alexander
Cockburn Website
of the Day
April 22/23, 2006 Jeffrey
St. Clair Jeff
Halper Jeff
Klein Thomas
P. Healy David
Underhill Lee
Sustar Deb
Reich John
Chuckman Fred
Gardner Julian
Edney Seth
Sandronsky Brynne
Keith-Jennings Dave
Lindorff Catherine
Ann Cullen and Harry Browne Bill
Pahnelas Jim
French Ron
Jacobs David
Krieger Jeffrey
St. Clair Poets'
Basement Website
of the Weekend
April 21, 2006 Jonathan
Cook Lawrence
R. Velvel Evelyn
Pringle Christopher
Brauchli Pratyush
Chandra Michael
George Smith Missy
Comley Beattie Sarah
Hines Website
of the Day
April 20, 2006 Chris
Kutalik Gary
Leupp Joshua
Frank Diane
Christian William
S. Lind Ramzy
Baroud Justin
E.H. Smith
April 19, 2006 P.
Sainath Norman
Solomon Anthony
Papa Mike
Ferner Stanley
Heller Rifundazione Christopher
Reed Alexander
Cockburn Website
of the Day April 18, 2006 Paul
Craig Roberts Eric
Wingerter Juan
Santos Greg
Weiher Sam
Bahour Behzad
Yaghmaian Website
of the Day
April 17, 2006 Kevin Zeese Uri Avnery Norman Solomon John Ross Laila al-Haddad Jeffrey Blankfort Website of the Day
April 15 / 16, 2006 Jeffrey
St. Clair Ralph
Nader Thaddeus
Hoffmeister Kevin
Prosen / Dave Zirin Thomas
P. Healy Kristoffer
Larsson Fred
Gardner Edwin
Krales Brian
Cloughley John
Holt Seth
Sandronsky Rafael
Renteria Michael
Ortiz Hill William
A. Cook Gideon
Levy Andrew
Wimmer Madis
Senner Michael
Kuehl Mark
Scaramella Nate
Mezmer Jesse
Walker Poets'
Basement Website
of the Weekend
April 14, 2006 Col.
Dan Smith Saul
Landau Stan
Cox Kevin
Zeese Brian
McKinlay Howard
Meyers Ishmael
Reed Website
of the Day
April 13, 2006 CounterPunch
News Service Norman
Solomon Stanley
Heller Jeff
Birkenstein Evelyn
J. Pringle Michael
Donnelly Kamran
Matin Website
of the Day
April 12, 2006 Vijay
Prashad Alan
Maass Dave
Lindorff Ron
Jacobs Ramzy
Baroud Randall
Dodd Missy
Comley Beattie P. Sainath Website
of the Day
April 11, 2006 Al
Krebs Lawrence
R. Velvel Sonia
Nettinin Willliam
S. Lind Robert
Ovetz Pratyush
Chandra Grant
F. Smith Laray
Polk Francis
Boyle José
Pertierra Website
of the Day
April 10, 2006 Ralph
Nader Heather
Gray Uri
Avnery Joshua
Frank Seth
Sandronsky Michael
Leonardi Evelyn
Pringle Tom
Kerr Lucinda
Marshall Website
of the Day April 7 -9, 2006 Alexander
Cockburn Jeffrey
St. Clair Patrick
Cockburn David
Vest Dave
Lindorff Gary
Leupp Elaine
Cassel Saul
Landau James
Ridgeway Ron
Jacobs John
Walsh Ramzy
Baroud Christopher
Brauchli Todd
Chretien Jonathan
Scott John
Bomar Michele
Brand Ronan
Sheehan Mickey
Z. Don
Monkerud Michael
Dickinson Website
of the Weekend
April 6, 2006 John
Ross Dave
Lindorff Don
Monkerud Robert
McDonald Boris
Kagarlitsky Remi
Kanazi Niranjan
Ramakrishnan Robert
Fisk
April 5, 2006 Dick
J. Reavis Mark
Brenner Brian
Cloughley Jozef
Hand-Boniakowski Matt
Vidal Juan
Santos Alan
Maass JoAnn
Wypijewski Website
of the Day
April 4, 2006 Jackson
Thoreau Gary
Corseri Dave
Lindorff Paul
Craig Roberts Norman
Solomon Michael
Carmichael Winslow
T. Wheeler Ingmar
Lee Michael
Neumann Website
of the Day
April 3, 2006 Saul
Landau Richard
Thieme Timothy
B. Tyson Omar
Barghouti Iwasaki
Atsuko Julian
Edney Roger
Morris
April 1 / 2, 2006 Alexander
Cockburn Ralph
Nader Dave
Zirin David
Underhill Earl
Ofari Hutchinson Dave
Lindorff P.
Sainath Fred
Gardner Clancy
Chassay Heather
Gray Greg
Moses John
Chuckman Ron
Jacobs Jeffrey
St. Clair Poets'
Basement Website
of the Weekend
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May
Day Edition Self-Haters Unite!The Israeli Anti-Semitic Cartoons Contest By GILAD ATZMON More than two months ago, following the cartoon scandal and the outrage of the Muslim world that ensued, a group of Israelis announced their own anti-Jewish cartoons contest. At the time, they received very wide coverage in the Israeli media and Jewish supportive press around the world. At the end of the day, the Israelis in particular, and Jews in general, insist on being 'seen' as open-minded beings, people who can easily handle self-mockery. The contest is now over. More than a few cartoons were submitted from around the world, many of them made by Jews and Israelis. Most of the cartoons are hilariously vicious, but -- how can one put it -- the Jewish and the Israeli media are now far less enthusiastic about the entire issue of self-mockery. Two out of the four jurists (Art Spiegelman and Amos Biderman) were quick to distance themselves from the contest, dismissing the submissions as disappointing, low quality work. While Spiegelman suggested that the cartoons were "frightening for being too real, lack any sense of irony, and look very much like genuine Anti-Semitic cartoons," Biderman insisted that the illustrations are not funny at all and fall into the category of "letting the shit hit the fan." "We don't think this is the right way," said a spokesman for the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. The Simon Wiesenthal Center dismissed the contest as "gallows humor." Once it was clear what the imagery of the cartoons might suggest, Israeli mainstream press imposed upon itself a complete silence. It is fairly clear that the artists who sent in their cartoons have something to say about the devastating Jewish reality, something that Israeli and Jewish media would prefer to brush under the carpet. As it seems, the two artists behind the contest (Eyal Zusman and Amitai Sandi) were abandoned. The Israelis and the Jewish media failed miserably in the 'self- mockery exam'. In an article named 'Kosher Anti-Semites', Henryk M. Broder, a German and a devoted supporter of Israel, offered an insight into the content of the Israeli Anti-Semitic Cartoons Contest. "In the past," says Broder, "there were Jewish anti-Semites like Karl Marx, Otto Weininger and Karl Kraus, yet they were all operating as individuals, not as a collective. Nowadays," Broder concludes, "this could change." Indeed, Mr Broder is absolutely
correct, this could change, and in fact, it has already changed.
In an era in which Jews celebrate their symptoms collectively,
as well as violently, it is rather natural that a few Jews who
happen to be ethically motivated and talented enough to express
themselves would raise their voices. Seemingly, the morally deteriorated
conduct of the Jewish state and its supportive Jewish lobbies
around the world push some Jews towards some manifestations of
collective self-hate. The Israeli Anti-Semitic Cartoons Contest
has illustrated, with a real collection of 'Kosher anti-Semitism',
a celebration of what I tend to define as 'proud Jewish self-hatred'. The collection of cartoons is a glimpse into the world of a few morally enlightened Jews and what they feel uncomfortable with. It portrays as well what seems to be the Jewish notion of Anti-Semitism. Clearly, three main themes keep repeating themselves.
Seemingly, more than a few of the cartoonists found a way to ridicule what they see as a Jewish intent to own the world, to run its media, to run America and to seek any means of power and control available, dismissing any possible moral conduct. In Jeremy Gerils' work, it is the 'Other' who refers to the Jews the intent to own the world. In Codor's work it is Jews in disguise that run, what seems to be, the 'World Order'. Alfred Breitman's 'American Flag' doesn't leave us with much doubt. We are dealing here with the 'Jewnited States of JewMerica'. The Poetic Sherman may have something to say about the real power behind the American $$$$$s. Elders Of Zion is indeed something a proper anti-Semite should never skip. This time it is an offer no one can refuse: Join now, Circumcise later. Indeed brilliant work by Mike Eighpe (France). Clearly, the cartoonists do not shy away from illustrating that which we are all banned from saying. Whether they mean it or now is indeed a difficult question to answer. However,more than enough was published about the Israeli influence within the American presidential administration. As evidence that this issue is entering into mainstream discourse, recently, an extensive work about the Jewish Lobby's influence in America was published by two major American academics. The cartoons above were made by Jews and were published in Israel. Thus, I would maintain that artistic work could serve as a glimpse into the notion of Jewish and Zionist brutality from a unique internal Jewish perspective. The holocaust narrative cartoons can be divided into three main categories: the ones that ridicule the notion of Jewish suffering, the ones that ridicule the official historical narrative (mainly numbers), and the ones that draw moral conclusions and associate Nazi crimes with current Israeli brutality. Jewish identity is associated with the exceptional capability to enjoy, not to say celebrate, one's symptoms. Without a doubt, Post-WW2 Jewish politics reduced Jewish agony into an unbeatable positivist argument backed with many numbers, mountains of shoes, and piles of glasses and golden teeth. Robin Moore portrays the process of cold decision-making made by the concentration camp inmates. Jeremy Gerlis, who we met before, enlightens the notion of the post-Holocaust orientated Judeo-centric symbolic order. Within the newly formed Hebraic world, every perception and lingual expression is Auschwitz'ly orientated. Ostensibly, many of the Jewish cartoonists can't stop themselves from ridiculing the sacred 'six' figure. Nowadays, when some German-speaking nations are actively implementing Holocaust denial laws and arresting historical revisionists, it is rather crucial to emphasize that many Jews do not take the 'six' figure and the Zionist Holocaust narrative very seriously. As we will see next, the Jewish cartoonists portray the Holocaust as an utter manipulative lie. Miki Mottes and Elad Cahana from Israel can probably see some clear discrepancies within the Holocaust tale they learned in Israel. Asaf Luzon from Israel is no different. He can see that the numbers do not add. Ilan Touri may try to tell us that the 'six narrative' is basically a Jewish orchestrated Hollywood movie. Aron Katz is no different. He locates Jews in the hub of 'fake' American glory. Greg found a very personal and funny way to express his doubts. Some of the cartoonists didn't refrain themselves from drawing the necessary conclusions. The Zionists transformed the Jewish bloody history into a Palestinian reality of pain and misery. Arnon Moskoitz and Koren Shadmi depict the image of Palestinians queuing in the entrance to a 'Nazi-like' Israeli employment office. According to AF, from Illinois USA, considering the current Israeli murderous reality, Adolph may have gotten it right. Naturally, the Jewish cartoonists couldn't avoid the very charged subject of blood libel. Jewish European history is spiced with sporadic tales of blood libel in which Jews are blamed for making Matzos for Passover using the blood of Christian youngsters. Indeed, not many would take such an allegation seriously in the 21st century. However, the blood-thirstiness portrayed by Israeli politicians as well as the Israeli society, who time after time votes in war criminals, raises some major concerns regarding the moral integrity of the reformed Hebraic people. The cartoonist challenges the ethical quality of the Jewish state and its Jewish inhabitants. Leandro Spett doesn't leave
us much room for doubt. Palestinians are indeed a necessary ingredient
for Passover Matzos. To follow Broder's interpretation
into the cartoonists' insights, Jews are capable of anything.
They run the show, they own the world, and they are brutal, monstrous
cannibals. As one would expect, once realising what the contest
was about, the Israeli media was very quick to ignore the event
and to dismiss its importance. Israel is far from interested
in letting the world know what Jews could think of themselves. Moreover, the current state of Jewish ethics is beyond absurdum, it is a total disaster. It is no coincidence therefore that within the continuous cruelty towards the Palestinian people, a reference is made to the plausibility of Blood Libel or there is a comparison with Nazis. The cartoons may suggest that if world Jewry supports such genocidal crimes against the Palestinian people, Jews are probably capable of anything. It is quite apparent that many of the Jewish cartoonists present us with a very low image of the Jewish character, world Jewry, Jewish interests and so on. Although it may be possible that many of the cartoonists are taking a very highly cynical standpoint that is far from what they themselves believe in, it is as well very likely that we are dealing here with an outstanding collective manifestation of Jewish self-contempt. Considering the Israeli reality and the support from world Jewry of this very brutal reality, such a collective reaction by honest Jews is long overdue, yet, it is more than welcome. At the end of the day, it is always the proud self-hating Jews who transform Jewishness into an ethical message. Gilad Atzmon was born in Israel and served in the
Israeli military. He is the author of two novels: A
Guide to the Perplexed and the recently released My One
and Only Love. Atzmon is also one of the most accomplished
jazz saxophonists in Europe. His recent CD, Exile,
was named the year's best jazz CD by the BBC. He now lives in
London and can be reached at: atz@onetel.net.uk
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from CounterPunch Books! The Case Against Israel By Michael Neumann Grand Theft Pentagon: Tales of Greed and Profiteering in the War on Terror by Jeffrey St. Clair Sick of sit-on-the-Fence speakers, tongue-tied and timid? CounterPunch Editors Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St Clair are available to speak forcefully on ALL the burning issues, as are other CounterPunchers seasoned in stump oratory. Call CounterPunch Speakers Bureau, 1-800-840-3683. Or email beckyg@counterpunch.org. |