I'm crushed by pleas from people I consider friends who are still in Haiti providing needed services to people in one of the poorest parts of the country, as Haiti devolves into unimaginable violence and chaos. I haven't seen much on the MSM about this, not nearly as much coverage as trump calling Haiti a "shithole" got. Mostly, I'm sad that such a beautiful place is undergoing such tragedy.
Then I think back to the piece I posted about a few years ago detailing the actions of the Clintons as they raised 2 billion dollars on the premise of helping Haiti recover from a disaster, and managed to funnel most of that to their cronies and do very little for Haiti. This angle will be unlikely to get much coverage from the MSM, and I guess we'll see how long this goes on. It'll be interesting to see if Biden ignores the tragedy on the US's doorstep, while continuing to throw billions of dollars at Ukraine and Gaza.
But mostly, I'm just appalled at the thought of what might happen to people I've spent time and served with.
Haiti is in the news, so here's a quick timeline of Haiti since 2009. Notice Hillary Clinton is featured prominently: - 2009: Secretary of State Clinton makes Haiti a top diplomatic priority. - Jan. 2010: A devastating earthquake that claims 220,000 lives decimates Haiti. The Clinton Foundation raises $30 million for Haiti relief that goes largely unaccounted for. - Nov 2010: Hillary Clinton endorses Michel Martelly, but he comes in third place and does NOT qualify for the runoff election scheduled for March 2011. - January 2011: Hillary Clinton travels to Haiti, meets with President Preval, and threatens to cut off aid if Martelly is not on the ballot. Celestin is dropped from the ballot, and Martelly is placed on the ballot. - March 2011: Martelly "wins" an election marred by voter fraud where 650,000 "ghost ballots" were counted, including many who died in the earthquake. - 2011-2016: Martelly administration is plagued with corruption scandals mainly centered around accepting bribes in exchange for construction project deals that never materialized and working with criminal gangs to commit human rights violations. - 2016: Martelly resigns and flees to Florida a week before his term is set to expire. - June 2016: The results of a special election are annulled after an audit found extensive voter fraud. - November 2016-2020: Jovenel Moise wins new elections. He begins enacting agrarian reforms, establishing free trade zones, fighting corruption, and arresting narcotics and human traffickers. - July 7th, 2021: 6 months after Joe Biden takes office, 28 foreign (mostly Colombian) mercenaries storm the presidential palace and assassinate President Moise. - July 7th–21st, 2021: departing PM Claude Joseph takes over as president for 14 days, but stands down in favor of Ariel Henry, who was supported by the United States. Two days before his murder, Moise had chosen Henry to be Prime Minister. - 2021: Gangs begin carving out the nation's capital, Port-au-Prince. - February 2024: Claude Joseph and Moise's widow are indicted for plotting Moise's assassination. - March 2024: Henry travels to Kenya to sign an agreement for 1,000 troops to help restore order in the Haitian capital but is unable to return home due to security concerns. Henry remains stranded in Puerto Rico as warring gangs wrestle for control of the government with human flesh-eating gang leader "Barbecue" poised to take over.
Random bit of a side note. I met Martelly in the "domestic terminal" of TLO when he was running. Seemed kind of like a used car salesman.
https://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-37826098
I know the BBC is not "real" journalism, but still...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/11/haiti-and-the-failed-promise-of-us-aid
https://canada-haiti.ca/content/how-clintons-robbed-and-destroyed-haiti
https://www.democracynow.org/2016/10/11/bill_clinton_s_trade_policies_destroyed
https://drrichswier.com/2016/09/22/the-destruction-of-haiti-by-bill-and-hillary-clinton/
I'll have to search my archives for the piece I posted earlier, it did an excellent job of digging into the details.
41 comments:
Awful shit. The worst part is that those in power there haven't anywhere near the power of those in authority here. Those with any authority here pretending to lend aid but do nothing beyond lining their own pockets have a special place in hell with their name prominently engraved on its door.
When I hear such stories of criminals taking control, I can't understand why they aren't regarded as terrorists deserving of total annihilation by those seeking domestic tranquility. I feel the same about street gangs in this country (and of course the foreign criminals invited by the Biden administration). I can turn a blind eye to good government on a seek and destroy mission against these criminal elements, in that should an occasional innocent be killed or injured, a degree of qualified immunity should be granted. This is indeed a war...a war between good and evil, and while those on the side of good may be imperfect, evil where so obvious needs to be exterminated to a degree others come to the light to save their own unworthy hides.
NPR is doing regular coverage of this humanitarian tragedy.
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/05/1235903704/haiti-crisis
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/06/1236288645/haiti-crisis-prime-minister-henry-puerto-rico
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/08/1236875738/amid-a-dramatic-standoff-haiti-extends-its-state-of-emergency-for-another-30-day
etc.
As is BBC...
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68531759
etc
It IS a shame when freedom-loving nations fail to pay attention to/lend support to nations experiencing conflict and disaster. And for a president to speak so disparagingly of people like our friends in Haiti IS scandalous. Yet you continue to vote for him, in spite of a lack of support from him.
https://www.wlrn.org/2020-10-26/trump-and-haitians-he-said-hed-be-their-champ-many-now-feel-like-chumps
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/10/08/trump-haitian-migrants/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/19/biden-urges-un-security-council-to-authorise-international-mission-to-haiti
Poverty creates great problems that are complex and often with no simple answers. But let's encourage our representatives and people to take helpful action in places like Haiti, like Sudan, like Ukraine. Like Israel/Gaza.
Perhaps we could unite on that point.
Also, look to Reuters, BBC and NPR (among others) for good coverage of world events. Quality mainstream journalism is out there and these people are amongst our heroes.
Sadly, our world is full of bad approaches to foreign aid (or lack thereof) to Haiti and other nations. Including but not limited to the Clinton Administration.
Doing a little reading and I can't find ANY of the MSM that hasn't run multiple stories on this. Even Fox. What MSM are you consuming?
Dan
Art,
I don't disagree. The reality is that the "good people" are in no position to rise up against the gangs. They have no food, no transportation, no money, and no weapons. Unfortunately, the UN has failed in sending troops to control this sort of thing, the US has a bad reputation because of things that happened decades ago, and there is literally no one to take charge if the gangs could be eradicated.
Dan,
Perhaps you should read and comprehend what I wrote before you start posting comments.
" This angle will be unlikely to get much coverage from the MSM, and I guess we'll see how long this goes on."
The words "This angle", referring to the destruction wrought by the Clintons and their cronies is what will likely not get much MSM coverage.
I saw none of your links that addressed what I actually said, so far.
"It IS a shame when freedom-loving nations fail to pay attention to/lend support to nations experiencing conflict and disaster."
1. The Clintons raised over 2 billion for Haiti, and less than 5% actually went to Haiti. Much like BLM, what happened to that money?
2. There have been UN troops in Haiti since I started going there over a decade ago, to suggest that Haiti has been abandoned is simply absurd.
3. Haiti has been experiencing "conflict and disaster" since it was founded. While I applaud TLO for beating the combined military might of Spain, France, and England to win independence, his murder by France and the subsequent reign of Dessalines turned one of the most valuable colonies of France into what it has become today.
4. There are still, despite the danger, thousands of people from multiple "freedom loving" countries who have invested millions of dollars into Haiti. It's not their fault that the Haitians (with the help and pressure from the Clintons) have chosen so poorly when it comes to their leadership.
"And for a president to speak so disparagingly of people like our friends in Haiti IS scandalous. Yet you continue to vote for him, in spite of a lack of support from him."
1. Name one "friend" you have in Haiti.
2. By any rational standard of living, Haiti is a shithole and has been since Dessalines to some degree or another.
3. Pointing out the objective facts of life in Haiti, is not disparaging the individual Haitians.
4. The Clintons raising 2 billion "for Haiti" and most of it going to them and their cronies is scandalous, but doesn't even merit a mention from you. Yet, you voted for him twice and her at least once.
5. I am unable to find any actual Trump policy regarding Haiti that made Haiti worse. He did change immigration policy towards Haitians who sought refuge after that 2101 earthquake, but that didn't negatively affect Haiti as a country.
6. So far, per your link, the Biden administration continues to support the PM who the Haitians seem to not want in power. Are you protesting Biden's inaction?
"PERALTA: You know, Haitians have been taking to the streets for more than a year, calling for Henry to resign. And it's important to remember that Henry was appointed, not elected, after the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021. And what has happened during his rule is that the country has spiraled very close to anarchy. And even though he promised elections, those have never materialized. And what we're seeing right now is a kind of surreal moment. Nearly everyone is calling for his ouster. The people - the rich, the poor, the intellectuals and now even the gangs. And they used to fight against each other. And now they have united to launch coordinated attacks to try to topple the government. And so now these gangs, which have really brought misery to Haiti, are now presenting themselves as liberators.
MARTÍNEZ: So then given all that, why is the United States still standing by Henry?
PERALTA: That's a good question. And I asked this to Daniel Foote, and he's a former American diplomat. He was appointed as the special envoy to Haiti after the president was assassinated. And he quit, in part, because he says the U.S. wouldn't listen when he told them that they shouldn't back Henry, that he didn't have legitimacy, and that picking him would put the country on a path to chaos. Daniel Foote says that this has happened over and over in history, then the U.S. has done the same thing, which is to pick someone they think they can trust instead of learning to trust the leader who the people choose.
7. Whether or not I vote for Trump is undecided. However, Trump is not currently in office. Biden is and has been for over 2 years. What specifically has Biden done to fix this problem? Maybe he can air drop some more supplies. Maybe he can fly some of these Haitian gang members into the US without vetting them.
"Poverty creates great problems that are complex and often with no simple answers. But let's encourage our representatives and people to take helpful action in places like Haiti, like Sudan, like Ukraine. Like Israel/Gaza."
Like what "helpful actions"? Like shipping billions of dollars worth of weapons to arm Ukrainian citizens (while simultaneously trying to disarm US citizens)? Like allowing Hamas to hold hostages since October with no demands that the hostages be released? Like allowing Hamas leaders to live in luxury while they siphon off billions in foreign aid? Like allowing Hamas to use billions of foreign aid, and hijack humanitarian aid, to build tunnels to further their terrorist attacks and buy more weapons? Like allowing a recognized terrorist organization to "govern" Gaza? To simply allow the Houthis to hijack international shipping? How about doing nothing about the genocide against Christians in Nigeria?
C'mon, tell us about the wonders of the Biden administration and how they're fixing these problems. Can you do so without blaming Trump?
I'll give you credit for kinda, sorta, mentioning the Clintons in an almost negative light. Except you couldn't even get that right.
1. So, you're not complaining about the "MSM" not covering the tragedy unfolding in Haiti right now... You're complaining that they're not mentioning the Clintons as they cover this story right now?
2. Or are you complaining that you don't imagine they covered the Clinton story as it happened way back when?
3. " So far, per your link, the Biden administration continues to support the PM who the Haitians seem to not want in power. Are you protesting Biden's inaction?"
Yes. Biden's administration is not doing enough. Congress is not doing enough. Democrats and Republicans are not doing enough in Haiti.
4. They're also not doing enough in Sudan, nor in Gaza, nor in Ukraine.
5. Are you protesting that the GOP and Democrats are not doing enough in Gaza and Ukraine, or only in places where you have connections?
6. "1. Name one "friend" you have in Haiti."
I have friends in nearly every nation, or friends of friends. Also, I'm talking about the friendship of humanity and of interpersonal connections. I view all people in all nations as friends... ESPECIALLY oppressed people.
Same for you?
3. Haiti has been experiencing "conflict and disaster" since it was founded.
Indeed, it has. The curse of colonialism and poverty lasts generations.
Like shipping billions of dollars worth of weapons to arm Ukrainian citizens (while simultaneously trying to disarm US citizens)?
A stupidly false claim. Neither the Democrats nor Biden are trying to "disarm US citizens." It's a bullshit claim, not found in reality.
But yes, in this case, where an innocent people have been invaded by a despot who is likely to continue invading other nations if left unattended (or worse, given praise by idiots like Trump who apparently hasn't met a dictator or strongman that doesn't make Trump feel all warm and giggly inside - have you seen the bromance he and Orban of Hungary are sharing? Get a bedroom, boys), this just peacemaker supports giving aid to oppressed people to fight off dictators and invasion. What specifically do YOU think should be done to assist Ukraine? Just let Russian claim it, human rights and freedom be damned? And when Putin then invades Moldova, Albania...? Just roll over and ask him to destroy another nation?
Like allowing Hamas to hold hostages since October with no demands that the hostages be released?
No. That's a stupidly inane and obtuse suggestion. No one is suggesting that. Be an adult. Engage in conversation with respect.
Like allowing Hamas leaders to live in luxury while they siphon off billions in foreign aid?
No.
Like allowing Hamas to use billions of foreign aid, and hijack humanitarian aid, to build tunnels to further their terrorist attacks and buy more weapons?
No.
Like what "helpful actions"?
A. STOP GIVING AID TO ISRAEL TO KILL CIVILIANS. How about that very basic first step?
Seriously. You want to pretend to give a damn about your friends in Haiti while saying to hell with the citizens of Palestine and Gaza? That isn't concern for the oppressed. That's just selfish self-interest. I am SO glad you have friends in Haiti and are concerned for them, but there are more oppressed people than just your friends. Think globally and in a Christ-like manner of concern for ALL oppressed people.
Did you know that little Israel (with SERIOUS concerns about oppression themselves) is the single greatest recipient of US aid?
Did you know that Israel receives billions of dollars annual in US military aid?
Did you know that Israel is using OUR dollars to kill thousands and thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza?
Do you not give a damn?
If not, why not?
Did you know that, by law, the US cannot provide security assistance to foreign governments or groups that commit gross human rights violations, a red line enshrined in the so-called Leahy Law?
Do you not care that Biden and our congress are violating that law?
If not, why not?
https://www.cfr.org/article/us-aid-israel-four-charts
You want to complain about the Democrats for a REAL reason? Complain about the Democrats AND the GOP assisting in the mass slaughter of innocent civilians.
Or, if you prefer, just worry about places where you happen to have friends, but be sure to understand that this means you don't care about oppression and deadly violence against innocents. You just care about your own personal friends.
I know Craig...it's a heinous situation that the people most suffering might have to risk everything to make a difference without real help from outsiders. In defending the so-called asylum seeking refugees who illegally flood across our borders, Dan asks "What would YOU do if your family was threatened?" I'd like to think I'd kill a lot of motherf**kers. If I leave my home with my family, what of those who can't leave?....my neighbors, friends and possibly extended family members?
When I hear of these things, and I see what Dan enables, I think of my youth when I could have been learning to hunt, skin and live off the grid. How can I make weapons from materials around me? How do predatory animals like big cats find those who stray too far from the herd? In this case, animals with weapons I can take after putting them down like the dogs they are.
These are things which go through my mind when I hear of situations like Haiti. I hope I never have to experience it up close and personal, but with the current party in power in this country, DeNiro is an asshat to think Trump will be a dictator who threatens his ass. We've been seeing a far more blatant abuse of power in this country since Jan '21 than we've ever seen before in this country. No one should take that as hyperbole.
1. I'm not "complaining" about the failure to cover the Clintons role in the collapse of Haiti, I'm pointing out that their involvement isn't a part of the current reporting.
2. Again, not "complaining". But you are correct that the Clinton story (other then the puff pieces) was ignored by the MSM at the time it was a current story.
3. Interesting. You just can't single out Biden the same way you try to blame Trump. This is an executive branch issue at this point, not a legislative branch issue, so it's a Biden thing.
4. Yet you say so very little about any of these things, or criticizing Biden. Does this mean that you support more unaccountable billions sent to each of those places? More arms shipped to Ukraine? Failing to even address the hostages held by Hamas? Thousands of US military boots on the ground in Gaza to build and operate a port? Pressure on Egypt to open their border with Gaza? You are great at complaining about stuff not being done, in a vague general sense. Yet woefully lacking in specifics.
5. Foreign policy is the purview of the State Department, which is part of the executive branch of the US government. As far as I know that executive branch is not being run by the GOP, nor does the GOP control enough of the appropriate branches of government to bear any significant responsibility for what's being done in those areas. But excellent job of blaming the GOP and ignoring Haiti. Strangely enough, none of these countries was in their current conditions during the Trump presidency, so it seems impossible to blame Trump for not fixing something before it started. Although, I'm sure you'll try.
6. So you can't name one "friend" you have in Haiti.
"Indeed, it has. The curse of colonialism and poverty lasts generations."
That's one simplistic and vague hunch. Of course voodoo, slaughter, reversion to subsistence farming, and the like aren't even on your radar. I'd argue that Napoleon's false imprisonment and the resulting death of TLO is probably one of the single biggest factors in Haiti's decline.
Dan's cognitive dissonance over the fact that the US is shipping arms to arm the citizens of Ukraine (ignoring the graft, corruption, and unaccountable billions missing), while CO is the most recent state attempting to disarm law abiding citizens shows up in the fact that he immediately has to blame Trump. His tiny little brain can't actually specifically come to grips with the specific failures of the Biden "throw weapons at it" approach, so he reflexively goes into blame Trump mode. trump isn't president, this wasn't happening when he was, it's Biden's problem.
"No. That's a stupidly inane and obtuse suggestion. No one is suggesting that. Be an adult. Engage in conversation with respect."
What exactly is false? Is not Hamas still holding hostages that they captured on 10/7? Are not those hostages being treated horribly, including starvation and rape? Have not some hostages been killed by Hamas? Are not some of those hostages US citizens? Does not the Biden administration bear responsibility for getting those US citizens released? What and when has Biden ever specifically called for the release of the hostages? Why is Biden throwing aid to Hamas and offering to put US boots on the ground to build Hamas a port without tying those offers directly to the release of the hostages? I know you won't answer these questions, but I had to ask them.
"No."
Are you denying that the leaders of Hamas are billionaires, living in luxury outside of Gaza, and that they got their billions by siphoning off aid funds?
"No"
Are you denying the reality that Hamas has gotten tens of billions of dollars in aid, and that they used that money to dig tunnels, by weapons, and recruit more terrorists to continue their goal of wiping Israel off the map?
"A. STOP GIVING AID TO ISRAEL TO KILL CIVILIANS. How about that very basic first step?"
Well, if you want to pretend that Israel wasn't attacked first and doesn't have innocent civilians being held hostage by Hamas, I guess that's your prerogative. If you want to pretend that Israel isn't taking measures to minimize civilian casualties, that's your prerogative. If you want to pretend that Hamas isn't intentionally sacrificing their own civilians for PR purposes, that's your prerogative. If you want to pretend like Israel is the bad guy here, go right ahead. Hamas could stop this tomorrow if they wanted to, yet they choose not to. Hamas is the side that uses rape as a weapon, but you'll downplay that.
"Seriously. You want to pretend to give a damn about your friends in Haiti while saying to hell with the citizens of Palestine and Gaza?"
No. But if making up false and inflammatory bullshit makes you feel superior, go right ahead. Of course, "Palestine" isn't a country, never has been a country, and is an invention of various imperial, colonial, conquerors. I guess this means that you support the colonialists in this one aspect. Hamas has complete and total control of what's happening in Gaza. The Muslim world barely raises a finger to do anything in Gaza. Egypt has multiple border walls (which I've never heard you complain about), and barely allows a trickle of aid through. Yet you can only see this thorough your "Israel is bad" filter, and ignore the history. Clearly you don't give a damn about your made up "friends" in Haiti, because the Clintons role in the disaster that is Haiti doesn't merit the tiniest bit of condemnation from you. Haiti is 600 miles from the US, Gaza is thousands of miles away and surrounded by wealthy nations of fellow Muslims who do virtually nothing to help. Absolutely the US should focus closer to home.
"Did you know that little Israel (with SERIOUS concerns about oppression themselves) is the single greatest recipient of US aid?"
So. Israel is completely surrounded by countries that have sworn to wipe them off the map at various times in their short history, and countries that actively support terror groups who are actively attacking Israel as we speak. I'm not a huge fan of foreign aid (except for disaster relief) anyway, but Israel is the one country I'm most sympathetic to giving aid to.
"Did you know that Israel receives billions of dollars annual in US military aid?"
So? Ukraine has had billions of dollars thrown at them for military aid, and the Biden administration doesn't even account for where it's gone. One excuse for the billions of unaccountable aid to Ukraine is that it is spent with US arms companies anyway, so it's a net positive for the US. I'd guess that the exact same argument could be made for Israel, so it seems hypocritical to support billions in aid to Ukraine (because it benefits the US), while bitching about the same arrangement with Israel. Again, you assume that I support this sort of aid, and you're wrong.
"Did you know that Israel is using OUR dollars to kill thousands and thousands of innocent men, women and children in Gaza?"
Blah, blah, blah, blah, same old bullshit. It's all Israel's fault. They're wantonly killing "innocent civilians" for no reason. Hamas isn't intentionally placing those "innocent civilians" in danger. Hamas has no power to end this whole thing tomorrow. Dan is ignorant of or doesn't care about the history. Get some new material.
"Do you not give a damn?"
Sure. I give a damn that innocent Israeli civilians are still being held hostage as we speak. I give a damn that Hamas attacked, raped, killed, tortured innocent Israeli civilians on 10/7 and has been doing so for years. I give a damn that Hamas is still holding, raping and torturing innocent civilian hostages. Don't you?
"Did you know that, by law, the US cannot provide security assistance to foreign governments or groups that commit gross human rights violations, a red line enshrined in the so-called Leahy Law?"
So?
"Do you not care that Biden and our congress are violating that law?"
Really, how? Do you mean by offering aid and comfort to Hamas who have used rape as a weapon, hold hostages, and intentionally target and kill innocent civilians (including their own)?
I have to say that you've done a masterful job of moving this discussion away from the topic (The Clinton's contribution to the current situation in Haiti, and the situation in Haiti in general) back to a topic you've already demonstrated your ignorance about, and simply regurgitate bullshit talking points about. I guess the fact that you've passively said something sort of negative about the Biden administration is a step in the right direction, but a tiny one.
Art,
Thank you for staying on topic at least.
I agree that if I was facing the situation that leads people to request asylum in the US (I'm talking about legit asylum seekers), that my first response would be to defend my family and my country. I agree that the people who refuse to defend what's theirs enable those who are evil to triumph. (For evil to triumph, good men have to do nothing. Or words to that effect) Yes, the policies Dan espouses do allow evil to triumph in other countries. Yet we're seeing what can happen in places like El Salvador when good people stand up to evil. Scripture tells us that there is no one greater than he who lays down his life for his friends. Yet Dan celebrates those who choose to run away from protecting their friends, family, and country. Dan remains silent on the genocide of Christians in Nigeria, the killing of hundreds of thousands of "innocent civilians" in various Muslim countries (Syria), ignores the genocide against that Yazidis and the Uighers. I know he makes his bland, vacuous, generalized, bullshit, namby pamby, milquetoast, statements about being against all oppression. Yet, when it comes to specifics, he really only gets upset about "oppression" when it's done by countries or groups he doesn't like. Hell, he can barely say anything negative about the Biden administration as it facilitates all sorts of mayhem/ He certainly hasn't (to my knowledge) made nearly as big of a stink about the hostages Hamas still holds as he has about the "innocent civilians" Hamas uses as human sacrifices. What's amazing is that Hamas tactics of sacrificing their own women, children and elderly to gain the sympathy of idiot western liberals like Dan is working, and Dan is swallowing it hook, line and sinker.
God have mercy on your soul.
Me? I'm consistently opposed to the killing of innocents because of course I am. I'm morally rational that way.
I am concerned about innocent Jewish lives, about the innocent in Haiti, the innocent Ukrainians and the innocent Palestinians.
You want to deny people exist and don't care that thousands are being killed with our dollars.
And that's the difference between you and me.
Jesus: what you do for the least of these..."
Craig: blah blah blah, same old bullshit, Jesus...
Dan
That bigots don't want to recognize a people's existence or humanity doesn't mean a damn thing. Don't be a bigot. Don't swallow bigoted lies hook, line and sinker.
https://peacenow.org/page.php?name=they-say-we-say-the-palestinians-are-not-a-real-people
Dan
Dan,
It's always comforting to see you act so predictably. Ask Dan a lot of questions, and it's almost a guarantee that we'll see a comment like the one above. I call it the preparation for dismount. Because this sets the stage for Dan as the morally superior person to be able to leave in a state of righteous indignation, with so many questions unanswered.
As a sinner, saved by the grace of YHWH, I regularly pray for His grace and mercy. Without those things I have no hope. Yet, I don't think that standing up for the release of hostages, the defeat of terrorists, and a government in Haiti that isn't corrupt are things He'll be upset about.
You say you're concerned about "Jewish lives, about the innocent in Haiti, the innocent Ukrainians and the innocent Palestinians.", yet I haven't seen one post about your concern for any of those except one pro "palestinian" post. Why the silence? Why not express concern for those innocents who live in fear of unguided Hamas/Hezbollah rockets? Why not even one call for the release of the Hamas held hostages? Just the same old bland generalities that allow you to claim some moral high ground, yet pick and choose which innocent victims you'll favor with your specific concern.
You want to make bullshit up out of thin air, claim it's something I "want" or said, or think, and use that straw man as the justification for your moral superiority. "You sit on a throne of lies", seems to sum up your condescending, morally superior, bullshit.
I'd say that the hostages who've been held in tunnels since 10/7, raped, tortured, starved, and mistreated are "the least of these" you stay silent about. The fact that UNRWA employees participated in the holding of these hostages doesn't appear to concern you in the least.
It is just you repeating the same old blah, blah, blah, nothing new. Just vague, generalized, pablum.
Then you try to hide behind Jesus.
"That bigots don't want to recognize a people's existence or humanity doesn't mean a damn thing. Don't be a bigot. Don't swallow bigoted lies hook, line and sinker."
It's an interesting tactic to call yourself a bigot, bold. But until you recognize the plight of the Uighers, The Yazidis, Nigerian Christians, and the rest you conveniently ignore, you're no better than those you accuse. It's just one more straw man, blah, blah, blah, bullshit.
I read your link, and I'll simply note that it's one more straw man. I've never said that people who call themselves don't exist. I said that a country called Palestine never existed. Palestine was a creation of those who conquered the land that was once Israel. From Rome, to The Ottoman Empire, to the British Mandate, Palestine was a name imposed on the people in the region formerly known as Israel. The fact that some Arabs chose to take this term, imposed on them by conquering oppressors, is irrelevant to the fact that a country named Palestine never existed.
Further, the only reason there is no country of Palestine, post British Mandate is that the Arabs and the "Palestinians" have repeatedly rejected a state because they want a state that erases Israel from existence.
But why bother with History when you can find a link from some special interest group that shares your biases, to reinforce your ignorance.
I must say that your record against straw men is impressive. Now maybe deal with what I have said, not some bullshit you made up and pretend that I said.
It seems reasonable to point out that I wrote a post about the carnage going on in Haiti, and the role of the Clintons is the situation. It seems as though Dan has concluded that the Clintons did, in fact, contribute significantly to the disaster in Haiti because he has hardly mentioned them and their actions. Instead he's jumped to Gaza, Hamas, and all sorts of other crap. Anything but a discussion of the Clintons role in Haiti.
I'm just waiting for the full dismount.
1. The MSM is not mentioning the Clintons in regards to this latest story as they are not the reasons for the problems there.
2. The MSM didn't mention the Clintons as much as you'd have apparently liked back when the story happened because no criminal behavior happened.
3. I'm mentioning specifically the current widespread killing in Gaza more than the hostages (who should of course be released) or the Oct 6 attack on Israel by Hamas (which of course was an atrocity) because it is OUR money funding the slaughter of innocent Palestinians. The US CAN have an impact upon this particular slaughter because we are largely funding the killing. IF the US withdrew aid, THEN the killings would no doubt quickly end.
4. In noting that we CAN do something about the killings in Gaza and noting the horrors of murderous religious extremists that are outside our control is just starting with what we CAN do.
4a. People like you are useful idiots playing right into the evil Hamas actors' hands, because they KNOW that the mass slaughter of Palestinians will garner attention and support for Palestinians - as it should. DON'T give the bad actors in Hamas the privilege of playing the victim by making them even greater victims. Concentrate on stopping the villains and ENDING the senseless slaughter of innocents.
5. The region has a long of history of intra-country conflict. The only way to end it is by ending the retaliations that hit innocent bystanders. There can be NO peace (and Hamas wins) until Israel stops slaughtering innocent people.
6. The reality remains: I'm consistently opposed to the harming of innocents. You're fine with it as long as your guys are the ones doing the slaughtering. People like me are on the rational and moral side of history. Join us in consistently opposing the harm of innocents, whether it's Israeli innocents, Haitian innocents, Ukrainian innocents or Palestinian innocents. And for God's sake, quit playing the "I'm a bigot" card by referring to them as "Palestinians" with scare quotes.
1. Their actions are part of what set the stage for what we are seeing now, especially their interference with Haitian elections. The fact that you pronounce something doesn't make it True.
2. I'm so glad that we have your finely honed legal mind and vast experience in international law to make such a confident declaration.
Of course, diverting 98% of billions of dollars raised for Haiti is something that is 100% completely legal, moral, and ethical.
3. That's quite the claim. It;s quite the excuse for ignoring the US hostages that Biden has abandoned, the torture, rape, and starvation of the hostages means so little to you because you think that the Biden administration (the president you voted for, support, will almost certainly vote for in November) is supporting BOTH sides in this conflict. A conflict that Hamas started on 10/7, and that the Arab nations started in 1948. DO you really not object to Biden supporting Hamas which has US citizens that they've kidnapped (a violation of international law and the Geneva convention), and which has used rape as a weapon against innocent Israeli civilians? You're so upset by this that you've written countless blog posts and FB posts excoriating the Biden administration for it's actions.
4. We can expect Hamas to surrender, release the hostages, submit to justice, and step down from their ruling position in Gaza.
4a. Interesting, you are buying the Hamas propaganda hook line and sinker. I'm not sure how advocating for Hamas to be eradicated and the hostages released is "playing into their hands". But your support of Hamas and your choice to ignore and not advocate for the release of the hostages is giving them exactly what they want. You buying into their unverified propaganda is giving aid and comfort to evil people who use rape as a weapon. You are the one supporting rapists, and evil, vile human beings. I see now, your response is to give Hamas a victory. To tell them that taking hostages and raping innocent women and children is the way to get what they want. To encourage them in thinking that they should only push for a one state solution, with Israel removed from the map. They love ignorant idiots like you, they know that you'll roll over and give them their state "from the river to the sea" as long as they continue to commit atrocities. you'll be one more of the idiots justifying their atrocities because they must have their "homeland" by any means necessary. The Egyptians are smarter than you.
5. In 1948 the Arabs massed their armies on the borders of Israel (after rejecting a 2 state solution) and vowed to wipe Israel (although they wouldn't even use that word Israel) from the map killing as many Jews as possible and driving the rest into the Med. They tried again and failed twice, then resorted to terrorism after failing at conventional war. The Arab nations mistreated, and radicalized the "palestinians" to be used as proxies and cannon fodder in the plan to eradicate Israel. After Israel; gave Gaza to the "palesstinians", they chose to invest their billions in aid to enrich their leaders, and turn Gaza into an armed camp dedicated to slaughtering innocent Israeli's and have done so for years. Hamas started this fight, they brought this on themselves, they intentionally hid behind their women, children, and elders to further their aim of destroying Israel. It's not my fault that you've bought the propaganda and lies insread of studying history. the fact that you can blandly excuse 3 seperate military actions designed to destroy Israel and kill as many Jews as possible as "intra-country conflict" just shows you ignorance.
6. The reality is that your support for Hamas, is support for rape, murder, torture, and kidnapping. Your ignorant belief that there will magically be peace if Israel just lets Hamas get away with their attack, and rewards them for taking hostages, would be cute if it wasn't so deadly. You ignorantly think that Hamas will magically stop killing innocent civilians is Israel just gives them what they want.
I'm referring to "palestinians" with a lowercase p and quota tin marks because there is not, has and has never been a cxountry of "palestine". Your ignorance of history, and willingness to believe propaganda is concerning. Joining you in support of rape, murder, torture and kidnapping is not somewhere I'll ever be. I do believe that evil needs to be eradicated for the good of everyone else. The fact that none of the Muslim nations has solved this problem, means that Israel finally had to act to protect themselves and their innocent civilians.
FYI, you are a bigot, and you still haven't answered the questions you were asked.
I have to give you credit. Your commitment to the false Narrative, propaganda, and unwillingness to pay attention to history or to Hamas' own charter is an impressive display. To be surrounded by the means to find the Truth, yet be so committed to a lie is impressive.
"I'm not sure how advocating for Hamas to be eradicated and the hostages released is "playing into their hands"."
It's quite simple if you're dedicated to the oppressed and not the oppressor: NO ONE is suggesting the Hamas rapists and killers should not be stopped. Period. Full stop.
BUT, Israel is, with US support, killing tens of thousands of innocents.
And here's the key:
INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE NOT THE KILLERS. THEY ARE, BY DEFINITION, INNOCENT.
Understand?
Your commitment to your right-wing agenda is blinding you to reason and decency.
Dan
"The reality is that your support for Hamas,"
The actual reality is that I have not supported the killers and rapists in Hamas. Never. Not one time.
In spite of that, your dedication to a far right agenda is letting you make such stupidly false claims.
Here. I'll make it simple for you:
Hamas has killed hundreds of innocent people. The US should not fund Hamas. Because of course we shouldn't.
ISRAEL has killed THOUSANDS of innocent people. The US should not fund Israel. Because of course we shouldn't.
I'm opposed to the US funding ANYONE engaged in mass slaughter.
Your type is okay with funding Israel even though they are mass killing innocent people.
Don't buy the murderous lies being fed to you. Don't be a useful idiot.
Dan
I had stated:
"Poverty creates great problems that are complex and often with no simple answers. But let's encourage our representatives and people to take helpful action in places like Haiti, like Sudan, like Ukraine. Like Israel/Gaza."
You responded:
Like what "helpful actions"? ... Like allowing Hamas to hold hostages since October with no demands that the hostages be released?
I replied to THAT comment saying:
No. That's a stupidly inane and obtuse suggestion. No one is suggesting that. Be an adult. Engage in conversation with respect.
You replied:
What exactly is false?
I literally did not say "false." I called the suggestion you're making (that I'm fine with Hamas holding hostages) inane. But it IS false to suggest that. It's a cowardly and stupid lie/suggestion/implication. Follow the conversation. It's FALSE to even hint at the suggestion that I'm fine with Hamas holding hostages.
Do you recognize how stupid the question is? How false the implication?
Engage in adult and respectful conversation, not grade school lame attempts to demonize based on false insinuations.
You asked other questions:
Is not Hamas still holding hostages that they captured on 10/7? Are not those hostages being treated horribly, including starvation and rape? Have not some hostages been killed by Hamas? Are not some of those hostages US citizens? Does not the Biden administration bear responsibility for getting those US citizens released? What and when has Biden ever specifically called for the release of the hostages? Why is Biden throwing aid to Hamas and offering to put US boots on the ground to build Hamas a port without tying those offers directly to the release of the hostages? I know you won't answer these questions, but I had to ask them.
Why would I not answer them? They're obtuse, ignorant suggestions and questions but of course, I can answer them because, reality is what it is.
YES, Hamas holds hostages.
YES, it is wrong to hold hostages.
YES, it appears these villains are treating them awfully.
YES, some have been killed.
YES, some are US citizens.
YES, Biden should try to get the hostages released.
etc, etc, etc. They're stupid questions, do you not realize that? Why not ask me: Are bluebird blue? Is rain wet? Does the GOP support the ongoing killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians?
There's nothing to answer in these inane questions. The reality is what the reality is.
NOW, coward, YOU answer the questions put to you:
WILL you oppose Israel killing innocent civilians?
WILL you condemn such killings?
WILL you support Israel being charged with human rights abuses as it appears they've committed them?
And don't ask another stupid question in response, like "Will you, Dan, support Hamas being charged with human rights abuses for their crimes?" Because the answer is obvious: YES, YES, YES. OF COURSE, I will. What Hamas did was wrong and I'm consistently against the harming of innocents.
And THAT, coward, is the difference between folks like me and the modern cowards and morally bankrupt GOP who have blinded your God-given common decency.
you still haven't answered the questions you were asked.
When you ask stupid questions with self-evident answers, you'll have to be patient in getting your response. When you ask a person who is consistently opposed to the harming of innocent people TEN different questions asking if he's opposed to the harming of innocent people, the answer is ALWAYS YES.
That's the advantage of holding consistently to clear and obvious moral principles.
I encourage you to give it a try.
'Understand?"
No, absolutely nothing you said made the least bit of sense.
"Your commitment to your right-wing agenda is blinding you to reason and decency."
But not nearly as impressive as your commitment to ignoring history, and the Narrative.
"Your type is okay with funding Israel even though they are mass killing innocent people."
Wow, right before you bitch about lies, you tell this whopper.
"WILL you oppose Israel killing innocent civilians?"
Of course I oppose any entity intentionally targeting and killing "innocent" civilians with zero military purpose. I also oppose Hamas intentionally placing "innocent civilians" in harms way intentionally to protect themselves and to get good PR and support from people like you. I oppose entities that intentionally violate the Geneva convention.
"WILL you condemn such killings?"
I condemn any entity that intentionally targets and kills innocent civilians, with absolutely zero military purpose. See above.
"WILL you support Israel being charged with human rights abuses as it appears they've committed them?"
I would not support unilaterally charging Israel with some vague, undefined "human rights abuses". I cannot support selectively charging Israel with such vague and undefined charges when the CCP, Iran, Nigeria, Hamas/Gaza, Syria, Yemen, and other countries engaging in worse practices are not charged. I would also need to see hard, specific, evidence before thinking that such charges were appropriate.
Nice excuse for not answering questions, coward.
have to give credit where credit is due. The Biden administration finally made a statement regarding their (feeble) attempts to get hostages released from Hamas.
"“One of the things that I have found somewhat absent from the [media] coverage is that what we are talking about in the first phase is women, elderly, and wounded civilians.
Those who would like to see a ceasefire in Gaza. A ceasefire is on the table today for six weeks to be built on into something more enduring if Hamas would simply release women, wounded, and elderly.
And the fact that they will not do so says a lot to me about Hamas’s regard for innocent Palestinian civilians, the fact that they were holding on to those folks and refusing to release them, and refusing to step up and say that we could get this ceasefire in place, which not only would bring calm to the fighting, but also would create an enormous opportunity to flow humanitarian assistance in in much greater quantities.”
Jake Sullivan White House National Security Advisor.
Mr. Sullivan seems quite clear that the responsibility for the lack of a cease fire is squarely on Hamas. Further, he is clear that the hold up is Hamas' refusal to release "women, children, and the elderly".
It'll be interesting to see Dan pretend that this is "right wing" propaganda.
https://www.newsweek.com/road-ceasefire-leads-through-rafah-offensive-opinion-1878137
"When Hamas attacked and invaded Israel, it did so knowing there would be a massive response by Israel and an operation into Gaza. It knew many Gazan civilians would die, indeed they counted on it, referring to their population as a "nation of martyrs" and taking pride in their sacrifices to further Hamas's military goals.
The military strategy for Hamas' October 7 attack was to create the largest scale of atrocity possible and survive Israel's counterattack. Then, having survived, it intended to build up for many more October 7 attacks, all with the aim of achieving its grand strategic goal: the destruction of Israel and the death of the Jewish people.
Ghazi Hamad, a senior Hamas political leader, stated as much, saying, "Israel is a country that has no place on our land. We must remove that country ... the Al-Aqsa Flood is just the first time, and there will be a second, third, and fourth. Will we pay a price? Yes, and we are ready to pay it."
Hamas's hope is that repeated attacks like October 7 will eventually break the will of the Israeli population. To do that, Hamas would need to survive the war.
Hamas's defenses in Gaza were built to hold the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the eastern areas of Gaza. The defense also relied on the hundreds of miles of tunnels that Hamas had built under the civilian areas, protected sites, and infrastructure of Gaza. In the offensive in North Gaza, the IDF achieved operational surprise and performed well on the battlefield. As a result, Hamas' defenses did not hold as well as they hoped, so Hamas embraced a temporary ceasefire and returned almost half the hostages. During that ceasefire, Hamas evacuated the remaining hostages and much of their leadership to hide among the concentration of civilians in the remaining uncleared areas of Gaza such as Rafah.
While multiple countries joined Israel's efforts to increase the amount of aid going into different parts of Gaza, to include airdrops and now a seaport, there will always be limitations while Hamas continues to hold the hostages and attack the IDF.
"Ultimately, Hamas' strategy and unwillingness to negotiate is entirely dependent on the United States acting as Hamas wants—an outcome that looks increasingly likely."
Look, Newsweek (a bastion of right wing zealots and not real journalists) acknowledged that Hamas is relying on the US to act as Dan wants, which is their path to victory.
Yea Dan!!!! Advocating for actions that will lead a group of hostage taking, murdering, raping, torturing, terrorist scum who are willing to "martyr" others for their cause of "remove" (removing) Israel from existence. Dan is literally supporting a group that wants to remove an entire nation (a liberal, democratic, free nation, which gives their citizens more human rights than any Muslim country) from existence.
https://twitter.com/orenbarsky/status/1767547607516135662
Unfortunately, I can't pull the image out of the tweet, but it's fascinating that people actually believe that Israel is killing "innocent civilians" with such mathematical precision.
The fact that people are willing to blindly, uncritically accept the figures spouted by Hamas without any outside verification is incredible.
Dan,
Again I'm impressed by your determination to make this post about what's happening in Haiti, and the Clintons involvement is the conditions in Haiti, a showcase for you to display your ignorance about the Arab/Israel conflict and your commitment to the Narrative that Hamas is convinced will allow them to win now, and to facilitate their use of even worse actions (or the threat of) in the future as their way to eliminate Israel from the face of the earth. Congratulations, your now on team genocide.
But seriously, how about you stop the BS that's off topic.
Remember back in 2020 when you threw out the MLK quote about riots being the language of the oppressed ,or something similar, as justification for the BLM riots? If you really believe that, isn't what's happening in Haiti simply more of the same? Haitians oppressing Haitians, how is that even possible? Does the interference by the Clintons in Haitian elections have anything to do with the current situation?
Personally, I am heading toward a "Let the Haitians figure it out for themselves." solution. Sure, it'll be bloody, and sure we'll see masses of Haitians showing up at our border (why not France?), but as long as they stay out of the DR, who really cares. It'll be a grand social experiment in self governance. As long as they allow all of the non Haitians who are doing good work caring for the sick, the hungry, and the orphans out of the country, let them sort it out themselves.
""Seriously. You want to pretend to give a damn about your friends in Haiti while saying to hell with the citizens of Palestine and Gaza?""
That was me, Dan. It was I who have expressed zero regard for the people who put Hamas in power, don't defend Israel against Hamas aggression and have shown no indication they disagree with Hamas intention toward Israel, even though now some have supported the IDF action against Hamas because the suffering Hamas' Oct 7 actions have brought down upon them.
Dan continues to speak as if Israel is targeting civilians. He demand for us to oppose "Israel killing civilians" purposely frames it as if targeting civilians is the point rather than the consequence of war against true aggressors and oppressors. Israel puts itself in great jeopardy by going out of their way to avoid civilian casualties and Dan prefers to lay blame for them at the feet of Israel, who is the true victim of hateful aggression.
The very notion that anyone would criticize Israel is beyond my ability to comprehend. The Gazastinians are wholly responsible for their own suffering. They and the West Bankers should be doing out of their way to praise and thank Israel for allowing them to remain in what is actually Israeli territory.
Back to the topic:
When I see reports of all which is happening in Haiti, it at least gives some justification for all the Haitians showing up on the Texas border...those who were confronted by Border Patrol agents falsely accused of whipping them.
As to fighting back in Haiti, where there's a will, there's a way, right? Good people have to fly under the radar as best they can, taking a page out of the jihadist playbook of gathering people and weapons until the time is right, and then unleashing hell on the scumbags. Form some kind of militia to go all Francis Marion on them in guerilla warfare fashion.
Again...these things come to mind when hearing of situations like Haiti. Could work in our own Dem run inner cities, too.
Art,
Thanks for pointing this out. Dan isn't always good about paying attention and is doesn't always let facts get in the way of a good rant.
To your point. As a human, who doesn't like seeing people suffer, I do feel for people in places like Nigeria, China, Haiti, Gaza, Syria, and the like. I would prefer to see them throw off those who rule them and to establish a peaceful, civil society governed by just laws.
However, the people of Gaza voted for Hamas to rule them knowing full well what Hamas was and what their goals were. So I feel less sympathy for those in Gaza. Honestly, If Hamas wasn't obsessed with killing Israelis, I'd agree with you. As we see in Syria, it's perfectly acceptable for Muslims to kill hundreds of thousands of other Muslims and the old, rich, white, American, liberals won;t say a thing, write a Tweet, or change their FB profile pic. They'll stay silent on that slaughter. Same thing if Muslims in Nigeria or communists in China kill Christians of Uighurs, the APl can't be bothered to stir. So, if those in Gaza could keep their killing, raping, kidnapping, and torturing in house, I'd say leave them to it.
As I said earlier, I'm getting to the point that I'm thinking that maybe the best answer for Haiti is to reinforce the border with the DR , ring the island with boats to stop those that want out, and let them go full on Hunger Games for control. I'd even throw in some small arms and ammo for those who want to fight against the cannibal gangs if that'd help.
I think when it comes to the "palestinians" FAFO seems to be the best descriptor I can think of. Action provokes reaction. If you can't handle what the response is, maybe reconsider your actions.
I posted something earlier about Hamas' tactics that deal with this.
"When I see reports of all which is happening in Haiti, it at least gives some justification for all the Haitians showing up on the Texas border...those who were confronted by Border Patrol agents falsely accused of whipping them."
Here's my thing. I know a fair amount of Haitians who I would unhesitatingly bring to the US and put on the legal path to citizenship. 100%. But I think back to my conversation with a Haitian Dr who had relatives in the US and could easily have immigrated. His response to why he didn't move to Miami was simple. "I'm a Haitian.". I respect the hell out of people like him.
"As to fighting back in Haiti, where there's a will, there's a way, right? Good people have to fly under the radar as best they can, taking a page out of the jihadist playbook of gathering people and weapons until the time is right, and then unleashing hell on the scumbags. Form some kind of militia to go all Francis Marion on them in guerilla warfare fashion."
Obviously this is True. I completely agree that these folks who cut and run because it's too dangerous are simply surrendering to the bad guys and letting the bad guys win. If your country means something to you, then of course you'd fight for it. Just look at the Haitian revolution. A bunch of ex slaves beat three of the major military powers in the world at that time. Of course they could wipe out a bunch of drug smuggling, cannibal, gang members if they were willing to take the risk. As I just said, I have no problem providing arms to them to resist.
"Again...these things come to mind when hearing of situations like Haiti. Could work in our own Dem run inner cities, too."
The problem with doing this in cities is the collateral damage, although the idea of some sort of controlled purge makes some sort of sense in certain circumstances.
As a side note, it's obvious that the US will be flooded with Haitians fleeing this nightmare. What's also obvious is that the gangs will use this flood as a way to expand into the US, or grow their US organizations. In general I have no problem with helping Haitians flee from this disaster, but I damn well expect thorough vetting of every singe Haitian and that the bad guys get jailed or sent back posthaste.
I believe we're in agreement here, though as I read my own comments, I could have been more clear. One point of yours threw me:
" Honestly, If Hamas wasn't obsessed with killing Israelis, I'd agree with you."
My position is based on this obsession. The Gazastinians put Hamas in power, and now some of them have buyer's remorse. At the same time, I'm not sure the reason for that is any more complicated than the fact that many of them are getting dead. I only hear that some are fed up with the suffering, not that any of those whining would care about Hamas murder if they weren't paying the price personally. That is, who are the Gazastinians who are standing up for the Israeli dead? I don't think there are too many and certainly not too many who will boldly voice that support.
Art,
I'll have to go back and look at the context to be sure what I meant. I think my point was about your suggesting that we isolate Gaza/Haiti and leave them to their own devices. In principle I agree that it's not a bad idea. Unfortunately Hamas' entire existence is predicated on eliminating Israel, therefore it's unlikely that it would be possible to confine them to Gaza and let them work things out. Without the ability to serve Allah by killing Jews/infidels, they have no purpose. It's likely that they would put all of their effort into escaping to kill Jews/infidels. Whereas Haiti is much more of an internal conflict. Those currently in power don't have a goal beyond Haiti.
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