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https://informationclearinghouse.blog/2023/12/24/murder-christmas/

Murder Christmas

Our Christmas will not be merry this year, at least for those many Americans whose consciousness operates outside the Amazon/Neflix/Charley Brown nexus.  It will be impossible for them to blot out awareness of the wholesale murder Israel is inflicting on the Palestinian people, one of whose sons’ births we claim to honor, who was later crucified by Romans in his homeland that was suffering even then, but under a far less brutal colonial empire.

The genocide of Palestinians that Israel is committing as the paralyzed world looks on, wringing its hands, is far beyond the sacrifice of one man, holy or otherwise.  It is the crucifixion of an entire people.  When Jesus died, a sizable crowd was watching, most in tacit approval.  As the tens of thousands of Palestinians, many women and children, are slaughtered by a Nazi Zionist Wehrmacht, that whole nation of sick, degenerate, dehumanized monsters sings and dances and joyously applauds.  Zionism has indoctrinated its own children in its hideous, satanic perversity, and some perform for cameras in joyous celebration of agony and death, giddily ignorant of what they are doing to themselves.

Zionism was a vicious, latter day colonial program long before it was installed in an Israel built on theft, rape and murder in 1948.  From its bloody inception there was never any fate envisioned by its leaders for the resident Palestinians but displacement, abuse, domination and elimination.  It is in their books, their memoirs, their histories, and is incontestable.  Implicit, but denounced and denied, was the fact that the utter subjugation of a people can only be carried out if that people is completely destroyed.  

America could only impose its absolute dominion over the native people of the continent it violently possessed, by annihilating that entire population and destroying its cultural coherence.  It did this, chiefly with superior weaponry, utilizing alcohol, disease, treachery, and bogus “law”.  Parenthetically, though not realized at the time, that rape was the basis for its current “ rules-based order” horseshit, the moldy chestnut The Empire still tries to feed to a world that laughs at it now.

What the evil Zionist Israel is doing is not original or new and follows precedent.  The problem is that the era is long gone when human beings could be murdered and eradicated offhandedly, as in the heyday of Euro Colonialism when America stole its continent, and that at this stage making great pyramids of human skulls, in the manner of Genghiz Khan, is recognized as an inhuman horror.  

In addition to the sickening barbarism of its genocidal program, Zionist Israel, dragging its horrors out for weeks and months, has undercut its indiscriminate mass murder program by showing clearly that its girly-boy IDF, so tough when abusing poor women and children, is not the lethal Waffen SS it was cracked up to be.  They can’t get their killing done and now they’re being shamed.

Well, so it goes, as Vonnegut said.  Quite apart from what the Zionists hope to do to pull their nuts out of the fire, is the much larger question to be answered when the end comes, however it may be, and that is what the world will decide to do with them.  Because Zionist Israel won’t be able—and won’t be allowed—to go on as it has.  By this monstrous exhibition of its vicious character it revoked its membership in the world community.

Zionism has always exploited the grisly, bloodthirsty mythology of the Torah for its odious purposes, though it has no connection to Judaism in practice, and devout Jews anathematize it and pray openly for its destruction.  Netanyahu, its criminal fuhrer figure, cites the Torah’s ghastly fairy tales as justification for his regime’s mass murder, as his predecessors did for their war of conquest on Palestinians but ancient fairy tales won’t sell it now.

The central myths of all three major western religions originated and evolved in what has long been known as The Holy Land, much of it contained in current Israel.  These religions, widely diverse in specific tenets and doctrines, have histories that are intertwined and parallel in that land of their genesis.  

Each has a complex, elaborate dogma invented and ramified over centuries that marks it as exclusive and unique.  What is true and not surprising is that, at their ethical centers, they have everything in common, because all religions at their cores are pure distillations of human ethics.  They inculcate identical moral precepts, and this undeniable bedrock unity renders the vast webs of ancient, arcane, abstruse, metaphysical embroidery within which each is deeply cocooned, marginal and irrelevant.

The single, irrefutable imperative, the grain of sand around which all religions accrete the spiritual pearls of their creeds is starkly simple: do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Zionist Israel has profaned and defiled Jewish religion.  Insofar as belief in Yahweh—Jehovah—exists, Zionist Nazis have offended and betrayed their god.  But beyond religious mythology, where the painfully assembled structure of Mankind’s ethical code maintains a frail, vulnerable existence in an indifferent universe, Israel’s genocide stands condemned by all humanity.  It is in this arena that Zionist Israel will be condemned, not in the world of etherial fantasies but on earth, with practical consequences. 

That condemnation will fall likewise on the diseased, disgraced United States which, in its sclerotic, moribund senescence, has abandoned its own pathetic military goon show to act as the profiteering financier of proxy forces, in Ukraine and in Israel.  Americans in the main are fine with this since no religious scruple troubles them, Christianity in this country having long since been reduced to an empty farce, to gutless, social symbolism and a political conduit for delivering cowardice, prejudice and hate.

For us to dare to celebrate a Prince of Peace is obscene hypocrisy.

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https://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/?p=278754

The Houthis Have Biden By the Shorthairs

“Yemen has said it would stop the blockade of Israel-bound ships as soon as sufficient food, water and medicine are allowed to enter Gaza. Guess that’s asking too much.” Elizabeth Murray@elizabethmurra

Yemen’s Houthi militia has shown how a small army can take on the American Empire and win. They have shown how courage, resolve and commitment to principle can act as a force-multiplier allowing a much weaker military to ‘punch above its weight’. They’ve also shown that a few well-placed missiles in key locations on the world’s most critical shipping lanes, can send tremors across the global economy and shake the “rules-based order” to its foundations. In short, the Houthis have shown that David can bring down Goliath without breaking a sweat, provided that David maintains his perch along the Bab-al-Mandab Strait.

Here’s what’s going on: The Houthis occupy an area along the narrowest part of the Red Sea that is the most important shipping corridor in the world. It is “responsible for 12% of international trade and almost one-third of global container traffic.” When the movement of ships is disrupted along this waterway, insurance premiums skyrocket, prices on retail merchandise rise, and oil prices go through the roof. That is why western powers are committed to keeping these shipping lanes open at all times whatever the cost. Here’s some background from CNN:

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels are stepping up their strikes on ships in the Red Sea, which they say are revenge against Israel for its military campaign in Gaza.

The attacks have forced some of the world’s biggest shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes, which could potentially cause a shock to the global economy.

The Houthis are believed to have been armed and trained by Iran, and there are fears that their attacks could escalate Israel’s war against Hamas into a wider regional conflict. Who Are The Houthis, CNN

At present, these shipping lanes are effectively closed due to Houthis attacks on Israeli-bound vessels. This, in turn, has slowed overall traffic to a crawl. If the current situation persists or gets worse, the impact on the global economy could be catastrophic.

Here’s more from the Washington Post:

On Monday, oil giant BP became the latest company to announce it would be pausing its shipments through the Red Sea. Several shipping companies, including MSC, Maersk, Euronav and the Evergreen Group, have said they are also avoiding the Suez Canal as militants target cargo vessels.

Roughly 10 percent of all maritime oil trade goes through the Red Sea — which connects to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal. Without access to the Red Sea route, many ships will have to take the far longer and costlier journey around Africa to reach their destinations….

It urged “the global community to continue to pursue every possible diplomatic effort in support of security in and safe navigation through this region that is vital to international trade.”New U.S.-led Red Sea task force won’t stop shipping attacks, Houthis say, Washington Post

It’s worth noting that the Houthis have repeatedly said that ships that are NOT bound for Israeli ports, will not be attacked. But that has not stopped all of the major shipping companies from rerouting their vessels from the Red Sea to the Cape of Good Hope. This alternate route adds weeks to the sailing time forcing carriers to raise their cargo prices and adjust their schedules. Bottom line: The action of the Houthis is going to further boost inflation in western countries pushing their economies into a sharp and protracted nosedive.

Surprisingly, the Houthis do not stand to gain anything for their efforts. In fact, they are putting themselves at great risk (of retaliation by the United States) in order to pressure Israel into stopping its relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip and to allow the starving Palestinian people access to food, water and medical supplies. The Houthis should probably be applauded for their selfless compassion and humanity, but Washington doesn’t see it that way. They don’t think see the Houthis’ action as laudable, virtuous or just. They see it as a challenge to American primacy. They see it as a threat to their regional hegemony and global leadership. They see it as interference in their Gaza policy in which Israel has been granted carte blanche to kill and maim as many Palestinians as it sees fit in order to achieve its own strategic objective, which is Greater Israel. So, what we have is an unstoppable force and an immovable object. We have two opposing points of view, and no way to resolve their differences without a direct military confrontation. That means there’s going to be trouble in the very near future.

And that is why, last Monday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced that he had assembled a ten-member maritime coalition that would patrol the waterways in the Red Sea and defend the “freedom of navigation” in that area. (Coalition members include: Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain.)

Now a reasonable person might wonder why Austin would cobble together another makeshift military coalition—whose strategic goals are far from clear—instead of first contacting the Houthi leadership to see if a deal could be worked out and a confrontation avoided. But those who have followed US foreign policy for the last 30 years, know that the US does not negotiate with people or countries it considers its inferiors. So, that option was quickly discarded. Instead, the US has decided to pursue its traditional approach to emerging crises, which involves a fair amount of incendiary rhetoric followed by a military hammer-blow. And, that appears to be the direction that things are now headed. Check out this excerpt from an article by John Helmer:

“… on Monday, in the Moscow newspaper Vedomosti, it was reported that Russian experts expect “most likely, the Americans will launch missile and bomb attacks on command centres and military depots of the Houthis, or targeted strikes by special forces may follow in order to eliminate the commanders of the movement. The operation will be roughly comparable to the actions of Western allies in Syria or Iraq.” The newspaper claimed that, according to its source, “the military forces of Saudi Arabia and the UAE may participate in the operation – their armed forces and their proxies have been waging a sluggish war against Iran’s allies in Yemen since 2015. John Helmer, Dancing With Bears

And respected publications in the western media are calling for a war with the Houthis too. This is from The World Socialist Web Site:

The US media is, meanwhile, agitating for the Biden administration to target both Yemen and Iran. In an editorial, the Wall Street Journal wrote, “The press is reporting that the Biden Administration is contemplating the use of military force in response to continuing attacks on commercial shipping by the Houthi militia in Yemen. It’s about time. The Houthi missile attacks pose the most significant threat to global shipping in decades, and they will continue unless a global coalition unites to stop them.”

The Journal continued, “The question is whether the U.S. and other Western navies are merely going to play defense and catch missiles as the Houthis set the terms of battle. Sooner or later a Houthi missile may get past U.S. naval defenses and kill American sailors. Then the White House will have little choice other than to strike back.” The Journal demands that the US escalate against Iran, declaring, “Eventually Iran’s rulers have to know that their assets—military and nuclear—are at risk if they continue to foment disorder, attack U.S. allies, and target American bases or ships.” As Gaza genocide continues, US prepares major escalation of war throughout Middle East, World Socialist Web Site

So, there’s definitely an element within the foreign policy establishment that supports the idea of a war on Yemen. We expect this ‘rush to war’ will gain momentum in the weeks ahead as more ships are diverted to Africa and hostilities continue to mount. But there’s no sign that the Houthis are going to ease up on their demands or abandon the Palestinian cause anytime soon. If anything, they appear to be more resolute than ever as is evident in this quote by Houthi Council member Muhammad al-Bukhaiti,

“Even if America succeeds in mobilizing the entire world, our operations in the Red Sea will not stop unless the massacre in Gaza stops. We will not give up the responsibility of defending the Moustazafeen (oppressed ones) of the Earth.”

There’s not a lot of wiggle-room here. The Houthis want a cessation of the violence and the distribution of humanitarian aid. And they are willing to go to war with the United States to make sure their demands are met. And no one knows better than the Houthis, what that means. During the 9 years they were at war with Saudi Arabia, Washington provided the weapons and embargo-power that led to the deaths of an estimated 377,000 people. “More than half died due to starvation and disease caused by the siege.” (Antiwar.com)

So, the Houthis know what savagery Washington is capable of. Even so, they are not backing down and not caving in. There’s going to be a ceasefire or there’s going to be a war. It’s up to Biden to decide. But if he opts for war, he should realize that it’s not going to be a cakewalk. Oh, no. There are going to be attacks on American bases, American warships and Saudi oil fields and infrastructure. Oil prices will soar, commercial shipping will grind to a standstill, and global equities will tumble. And, all the while, China and Russia will be watching from the sidelines while Uncle Sam drains his last ounce credibility and power down a black hole on the Arabian Peninsula.

This is how Houthi leader Sayyed Abdul-Malik al-Houthi summed it up:

“If the US wants to go to war with us, they must know that we are waiting. We want a direct war between Yemen and the US and Israel. We are not afraid of America and all the people of Yemen will stand against them.”

This is a war that the United States can easily avoid by simply ‘doing the right thing’ and approving a ceasefire now. That will bring a swift end to Israel’s atrocities and stop the attacks on commercial shipping at the same time. That’s a solution we can all live with.

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https://informationclearinghouse.blog/2023/12/24/the-yemenis-know-the-u-s-is-bluffing-heres-why/

The Yemenis Know the U.S. Is Bluffing… Here’s Why

The United States has this week announced a multinational navy task force to counter Yemen’s blockade of the Red Sea. The U.S. also warned it is prepared to hit the Arab country with military strikes in retaliation.

The stakes are high. The Yemenis have the vital Red Sea global shipping route under their command from controlling the narrow Bab el-Mandeb strait that flows out to the Indian Ocean. The impact of closing this chokepoint on global trade is eye-watering. Hence the Americans and their European allies have sprung into action with threats of retaliation.

In response, the Yemeni armed forces in alliance with the Houthi rebel movement told the Americans to shove it.

The Yemenis warned that they have ballistic missiles to sink any warship or submarine that the U.S. and its allies deploy in the region. The Yemenis added they will continue blocking cargo vessels using the Red Sea route until the genocide in Gaza stops.

Over the past week, Yemen has stepped up its interdiction of cargo ships attempting to transit the Red Sea route. Several major shipping conglomerates have confirmed their vessels are being re-routed around the African continent. The additional transport costs and disruption to supply chains are already hiking price inflation in Western economies, adding to already painful economic woes and political damage for governments held in contempt by hard-pressed populations.

The Yemenis say they are only targeting Israeli-linked ships but it seems that the deterioration in security conditions in the narrow maritime corridor is deterring all shipping companies. The Bab el-Mandeb strait is 32-kilometers wide straddling Yemen and the Horn of Africa. Hundreds of container ships and oil tankers pass through the strait on any given day, ferrying cargo from Asia to Europe through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, the other chokepoint further north in Egypt. If one chokepoint closes, the whole route is closed.

The United States has sought to frame the navy task force as a policing operation to protect international commerce and freedom of navigation.

The Yemenis, however, have said their disruption of Israeli-affiliated shipping is a legitimate action in solidarity with Palestinians.

U.S. Secretary of State Lloyd Austin in announcing the new naval coalition, dubbed Operation Prosperity Guardian, stated. “The recent escalation in reckless Houthi attacks originating from Yemen threatens the free flow of commerce, endangers innocent mariners, and violates international law. The Red Sea is a critical waterway that has been essential to freedom of navigation and a major commercial corridor that facilitates international trade. Countries that seek to uphold the foundational principle of freedom of navigation must come together to tackle the challenge posed by this non-state actor launching ballistic missiles and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) at merchant vessels from many nations lawfully transiting international waters.”

In response, Mohammed Abdel-Salam, a spokesman for Yemen’s Houthi rebels, said: “The American-formed coalition is to protect Israel and militarize the Red Sea without any justification, and will not stop Yemen from continuing its legitimate operations in support of Gaza. We are not making a show of force against anyone [except Israel]. Whoever seeks to expand the conflict must bear the consequences of his actions.”

The Americans are trying to make out that the Yemenis are acting like criminal sea pirates and the U.S.-led task force is nobly serving in the interests of international commerce and peaceful navigation.

Washington and its allies cannot publicly admit that their actions are in support of Israel. The genocidal offensive on Gaza since October 7 in which nearly 20,000 civilians have been murdered is politically untenable for Israel’s Western allies.

The naval task force launched by the U.S. this week includes nine other nations: Britain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Norway, as well as the Seychelles and Bahrain. The latter two are token non-Western parties to give the image that this is not overtly a Western imperialist coalition. Bahrain is where the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet is based in the Persian Gulf, so it makes sense that the tiny monarchy has to be included in simple logistics.

However, the salient thing is that there are no other Gulf Arab nations involved in the task force. Egypt is also absent even though it is a major Red Sea coastal nation as is Saudi Arabia. Their absence belies the official U.S. rationale. If Operation Prosperity Guardian were really about protecting commerce and international shipping then why aren’t Red Sea Arab states joining up? Of course, they are not, because the real purpose of the task force is to aid Israel.

The acute but unspoken conundrum is if Arab states were to join the U.S.-led naval force then it would be politically fatal for the rulers of these states. They would be seen by their populations as supporting the Western-backed Israeli aggression and genocide of Palestinians. That would make America’s Arab allies unstable from internal revolt and perhaps even risk their total collapse. The Arab pillars of the U.S. empire are at risk of falling.

If the Saudis and Egyptians were patrolling the Red Sea with American warships, the Yemenis would be sure to fire missiles at Riyadh and Cairo in retaliation. After all, the Yemenis fought an eight-year with Saudi Arabia from 2015 when the Saudis were militarily supported by the U.S., Britain and France. The Yemenis were undefeated and the Saudis were forced into making a shaky truce over the past year. The Saudis reportedly don’t want to slide back into a war with Yemen that was financially ruinous for the Saudis.

U.S. President Joe Biden is facing a tight reelection contest in less than 11 months. Polls show him losing to Republican contender Donald Trump. That’s a sign of how deeply unpopular Biden is.

The last thing Biden wants is to torpedo his electoral chances by starting a broader war in the Middle East involving U.S. forces directly. Especially if the Yemenis begin sending U.S. warships to the bottom of the Red Sea or Indian Ocean.

If the U.S. were to seriously retaliate against the Yemenis, the conflict would likely escalate with Iran entering the fray in support of their ally Yemen.

That’s why, as this AP report notes, the Pentagon is curiously dancing on a pinhead over the Red Sea. Washington is huffing and puffing, trying to talk tough but ultimately hesitant to use its firepower. The U.S. has an aircraft carrier, USS Dwight Eisenhower, in the Gulf of Aden next to Yemen. But for some reason, it has kept a distance from the marauding Yemeni vessels.

The Yemenis know they have a just cause morally and legally to help Palestinians against the U.S.-backed Israeli genocide. The battle-hardened Yemenis also have demonstrated the courage and resilience against a Western-backed Saudi war of aggression.

Washington knows the Yemenis are a people that are fearless and are not bluffing. While, on the other hand, the Yemenis know the Americans are bluffing.

Bab el-Mandeb translates as “the gateway of tears”. The Americans and their duplicitous allies will be the ones shedding the tears.