Trying to Blow away the Smoke and Smash the Mirrors

As might be expected, only Al Jazeera has been trying to make it a point to take issue with the reckless language coming out of the office of the Prime Minister of Israel. Recall the text that I reproduced yesterday from a BBC News report, offered as justification for the violent commando assault on the Mavi Marmara, the Turkish vessel trying to carry humanitarian aid for Gaza through the Israeli blockade:

We saw today the difference between a ship of peace activists [referring to the Irish Rachel Corrie], with whom we don't agree but respect their right to a different opinion from ours, and between a ship of hate organised by violent Turkish terror extremists.

The BBC cited this as text released by Benjamin Netanyahu's office. Al Jazeera English now has a report that includes what appears to be further text from the same source:

"According to the information currently in our possession, this group [presumably the "violent Turkish terror extremists"] boarded separately in a different city, organised separately, equipped itself separately and went on deck under different procedures,'' Netanyahu said.

"The clear intent of this hostile group was to initiate a violent clash with IDF [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers."

However, he did not provide any evidence to support his allegation.

This reinforces my conviction that Israel prefers "proof by intimidation" to logically sound arguments, since the subtext of that first sentence is blatantly clear:

We have our reasons, but we cannot reveal them without jeopardizing our national security.

The same argument can be applied to Israel's resistance to any investigation of the incident taking place under international jurisdiction, thus totally disregarding the hard fact that this incident occurred in international waters. Cynic that I am, I believe that the world eventually will see evidence to justify Israel's reasons for their actions. We just have to assume that they are applying the George W. Bush Playbook and need time to cook up the evidence before they release it! Not only should there be an international investigation; but I offer the "modest proposal" that it be led by Colin Powell, given his experience with how those with power can invent excuses for aggressive acts!