cover1_Cover1 10/26/11 6:31 PM Page 1 NEOCONSNEOCONS BLAMEBLAME OBAMAOBAMA FORFOR IRAQIRAQ DISASTERDISASTER upa_ad_c2_UPA C2 DECEMBER 2011 10/24/11 11:19 AM Page c2 United Palestinian Appeal DO THESE PALESTINIAN CHILDREN DESERVE A CHANCE TO SUCCEED? Education is a universal human right. United Palestinian Appeal (UPA) works with its partner organizations to ensure that, despite ongoing challenges of life under occupation, the most vulnerable Palestinians are not deprived of this right. rough a grant from UPA, the Spaord Children’s Center in the Old City of Jerusalem provides special education and psychological support for children suering from post-traumatic stress disorder, speech impediments, and learning disabilities. Your support helps Palestinians in need. Visit helpupa.org today to donate online. /FX)BNQTIJSF"WF/8t4VJUFt8BTIJOHUPO %$t8FCTJUFIFMQVQBPSHtDPOUBDU!IFMQVQBPSH 5FM t645PMM'SFF t'BY United Palestinian Appeal, Inc., is a registered 501(c)(3) non-prot organization. Contributions are tax-deductible according to applicable laws. toc_3-4_December 2011 TOC 10/27/11 1:26 PM Page 3 On Middle East Affairs Volume XXX, No. 9 December 2011 Telling the Truth for 29 Years… Interpreting the Middle East for North Americans I Interpreting North America for the Middle East THE U.S. ROLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE 8 Obama’s Speech to the U.N.: In Distorting the Facts 24 Afghanistan: Ten Years of Aimless War He Revealed the Truth—Rachelle Marshall —Eric S. Margolis 12 28 Years: One Palestinian Prisoner’s Story 25 What Lay Behind the Libya Intervention? —Mohammed Omer —William Pfaff 26 The Assassination of Anwar Al-Awlaki—Two Views 13 Inside the Mideast Prisoner Swap—Ali Abunimah —Patrick Seale, Rep. Ron Paul 14 “Price Tag” or Pogrom? West Bank Settlers Now 28 Republican Frontrunner Mitt Romney Touts Running Amok in Israel as Well—Jonathan Cook Neoconservative Foreign Policy—Jim Lobe 17 Washington Impaling Itself on the Horns of a 30 Congress Echoes Israel’s Near Hysteria Over Diplomatic Dilemma—Ian Williams Palestinians’ U.N. Bid—Shirl McArthur 19 Neocons Blame Obama for Iraq Disaster 38 Go Palestine: An Extraordinary Summer Camp —Robert Parry Behind the Wall—Ramsey Langley 20 How Plausible Is the Alleged Iranian “Terror Plot”?—Two Views —Gareth Porter, Patrick Seale SPECIAL REPORTS 32 The Sins of Liam Fox—Justin Raimondo 34 The Political Uses of Islamophobia in Europe —John Gee 40 Canadian War-Crimes Profiteering—Sean F. McMahon STAFF PHOTO DELINDA HANLEY DELINDA PHOTO STAFF Nearly three weeks after demonstrators gathered to mark the 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan on Oct. 6, anti-war protesters determined to “dismantle the war machine” remain camped out at Freedom Plaza in downtown Washington, DC, Oct. 25, 2011. ON THE COVER: An armed Jewish settler from the illegal West Bank settlement of Elon More mans a barrier on a main road near Nablus which Palestinians are allowed to cross only at specific hours to reach their olive groves just outside the village of Salem and harvest their crop. JAAFAR ASHTIYEH/AFP/GETTY IMAGES toc_3-4_December 2011 TOC 10/27/11 12:17 PM Page 4 (A Supplement to the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs available by sub- scription at $15 per year. To subscribe, call toll-free 1-800-368-5788, and press 1. For other options, see page OV-3 in this issue.) Other Voices Compiled by Janet McMahon The “Terrorist” Who Couldn’t Think Straight, Gilad Atzmon on Jewish Identity Politics, Justin Raimondo, www.antiwar.com OV-1 Kathleen Christison, www.counterpunch.com OV-10 Why I Published U.S. Intelligence Secrets Ruling for Yoram Kaniuk Hailed as Major About Israel’s Anti-Iran Campaign, Victory for Separation of State and Richard Silverstein, www.truthout.org OV-3 Religion, Tomer Zarchin, Haaretz OV-12 The Never-ending Terror Threat, A Mixture of Feelings as Prisoners Near Ivan Eland, www.consortiumnews.com OV-6 Freedom, Shahd Abusalama, www.palestinefrommyeyes.blogspot.com OV-12 Why the Drone Wars Threaten Us All, Conn Hallinan, Tunisia: Social Media Lifts the Silence, www.dispatchesfromtheedgeblog.wordpress.com OV-7 Simba Russeau, IPS-Inter Press Service OV-13 Last Week at the U.N., Israel Lost America, Who Murdered My Old Friend Prof. Rabbani?, Larry Derfner, www.972mag.com OV-8 Eric S. Margolis, www.ericmargolis.com OV-14 Israel’s Jewishness: Precondition for Palestinian Why Did the United States Invade Statehood, Jonathan Cook, Al-Akhbar English OV-9 Afghanistan?, Tim Kelly, www.fff.org OV-15 DEPARTMENTS 5 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 49 ISRAEL AND JUDAISM: 59 WAGING PEACE: The Myth of an Israel-Centered Panel Explores Egypt’s Changing 7 PUBLISHERS’ PAGE “Jewish Vote”—and its Negative Religious Climate Consequences for Mideast Peace —Allan C. Brownfeld 23 THE WORLD LOOKS AT THE 68 DIPLOMATIC DOINGS: MIDDLE EAST — CARTOONS Saudi Arabia Celebrates 80th 52 ARAB-AMERICAN ACTIVISM: Anniversary 36 OTHER PEOPLE’S MAIL Comedian Discusses U.S. Islam- ophobia, Comedy in Arab World 69 BULLETIN BOARD 42 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHRONICLE: Gaza Kids’ Art 52 MUSLIM-AMERICAN Show a Smashing Success De- ACTIVISM: CAIR’s Annual 70 BOOK REVIEWS: spite Museum’s Attempt at Fund-raiser a Huge Success Israeli Rejectionism: A Hidden Censorship—Elaine Pasquini Agenda in the Middle East Peace 54 HUMAN RIGHTS: Process 44 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Share the Water, Build the Peace CHRONICLE: Diana Buttu Zahra’s Paradise Addresses Palestine Children’s 56 MUSIC AND ARTS: —Reviewed by Andrew Stimson Relief Fund “Healing Hands” Chamy’s “Of Refuge, Of Home” Benefit—Pat and Samir Twair Explores Family Myth and 71 NEW ARRIVALS FROM THE AET BOOK CLUB 46 NEW YORK CITY AND TRI- History STATE NEWS: Longtime Journalist Describes Iranians as 58 EDUCATION: 72 2011 AET CHOIR OF ANGELS Most Pro-American People in Mideast Universities Face Chal- Middle East—Jane Adas lenge of Unemployed Graduates 22 INDEX TO ADVERTISERS lte_5-6_December 2011 LTE 10/27/11 12:09 PM Page 5 Publisher: ANDREW I. KILLGORE LetterstotheEditor Executive Editor: RICHARD H. CURTISS Managing Editor: JANET McMAHON U.S. “Outrage” at the U.N. been lifted from the “Godfather I” movie News Editor: DELINDA C. HANLEY Laughable script, in which a bomb was supposed to Book Club Director: ANDREW STIMSON Russia and China on Oct. 4 vetoed a pro- have been detonated in a prominent Circulation Director: ANNE O’ROURKE posed U.N. resolution targeting the unac- restaurant. Gary Sick, an Iran expert at Co- Administrative Director: ALEX BEGLEY ceptable treatment of protesters by the Syr- lumbia University, warned that Israel and Art Director: RALPH U. SCHERER ian regime. The United States— the U.S. are launching an aggressive propa- rightly—expressed “outrage” at this veto. ganda campaign to justify economic and Washington Report on Middle East However, the inappropriately childish be- possibly military attacks on Iran. The mur- Affairs (ISSN 8755-4917) is published 9 times a havior of the U.S. permanent representative, der of several of Iran’s nuclear scientists year, monthly except Jan./Feb., May/June and Sept./Oct. combined, at 1902 18th St., NW, Wash- Ambassador Susan Rice (again), actually has increased tensions between Iran and ington, DC 20009-1707. Tel. (202) 939-6050. Sub- embarrassed the U.N. more than the veto Israel, which has been accused of commit- scription prices (United States and possessions): did! Remember, in February, Ambassador ting the crimes. Reza Aslan, a prominent one year, $29; two years, $55; three years, $75. For Rice vetoed a draft resolution condemning Iran expert, also debunked the alleged Canadian and Mexican subscriptions, $35 per year; for other foreign subscriptions, $70 per year. Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory plot, warning that such incendiary Periodicals, postage paid at Washington, DC and while all other 14 members of the Security rhetoric could drag the U.S. into yet an- additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send Council unanimously voted in favor of the other dangerous conflict. address changes to Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, P.O. Box 53062, Washington, resolution, making the U.S. seem DC 20009-9062. disturbingly out of touch with Published by the American Educational Trust events on the ground, and horri- (AET), a non-profit foundation incorporated in Wash- bly disinterested in the desperate ington, DC by retired U.S. foreign service officers to plight of the Palestinian people. It provide the American public with balanced and ac- seems she continues the downhill curate information concerning U.S. relations with Middle Eastern states.AET’s Foreign Policy Commit- slide, by petulantly walking out tee has included former U.S. ambassadors, govern- during an address by the Syrian ment officials, and members of Con gress, including ambassador, who himself has re- the late Demo cratic Sen. J.William Fulbright, and Re- spectfully faced a tirade of criti- publican Sen. Charles Percy, both former chairmen of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Members cism by Ambassador Rice. Am- of AET’s Board of Directors and advisory committees bassador Rice makes the U.S. look receive no fees for their services. like a spoiled, bullying child who The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs does not take partisan domestic political sulks when it doesn’t have its positions. As a solution to the Palestinian- Israeli dis- way. Ambassador Rice’s petulant pute, it endorses U.N. Security Council Resolution behavior echoes back to the dark 242’s land-for-peace formula, supported by seven days of the Bush administration, when John The alleged plot seems to be a deliberate successive U.S. presidents. In general, it supports Middle East solutions which it judges to be consis- Bolton, then acting U.S. permanent repre- attempt to distract a restive public from its tent with the charter of the United Nations and sentative to the United Nations, was economic woes and to cozy up to Israel to traditional American support for human rights, self- renowned for his tirades.