If there is one thing demonstrated by the IDF boarding of a flotilla of violent “non-violent” activists, it is that all political speech is dishonest. Everybody criticizing Israel knows that this flotilla was intended as an act of provocation. They know that Israel could have killed everyone on board, but did not, because it was attempting to use a minimal amount of force. Even if nobody had been killed, we would be hearing stories about “mistreatment” and “injuries” from the violent “non-violent” activists. And despite the fact that the flotilla was deliberately trying to provoke, those injuries would be decried as some sort of inherent evil of Israel.
I forget which pundit was decrying this a few days ago and, apparently, looking down his nose at the gullibility of the rest of the world, but this is no different than what occurs here in the US. Partisans search for any little thing to nitpick their opponents about and then attempt to inflate the issue and then feign shock and outrage. Barack Obama does not wear a flag lapel pin! He must hate America! We are so much more enlightened than the rest of the world. Well, except for Europe.
Perhaps the problem is not Information Operations or "4GW" or public diplomacy. Perhaps the problem is that we insist upon living in this world of media fiction. This flotilla event did not change anybody's opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian issue. People who hated Israel still hate Israel, though now they have something new to feign outrage over. People who supported Israel still support Israel and cite this incident as yet another publicity stunt intended to provoke international outrage.
As George Will used to say - people cannot be reasoned out of positions they weren't reasoned into.
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And file this under: "Yeah, that will make it all better"
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard (how "revolutionary" are you if you've been in power for 30 years?) are offering to escort more Gaza ships.
Iran would be willing to send its Revolutionary Guard members to accompany further aid ships to Gaza, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday in an interview cited by Reuters.
"The naval wing of the Revolutionary Guard is ready to assist the peace flotilla to Gaza with all its effort and capabilities," Khamenei's Revolutionary Guard spokesman Ali Shirazi stated.
"If the Supreme Leader issues an order for this then the Revolutionary Guard naval forces will do their best to secure the ships,' Shirazi said. 'It is Iran's duty to defend the innocent people of Gaza."
How many innocent people are there in Gaza? Five? Six, maybe?
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And oh, those peaceful Gazans! All they want is love, faith, charity, and a chance to sabotage Israeli naval vessels from underwater.
Israel's navy killed four Palestinian militants in diver suits off the coast of Gaza early Monday in the first violence at sea since a deadly raid against an international flotilla last week killed nine pro-Palestinian activists and set off an international storm of criticism against Israel.
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What do you think about the Israeli/Gaza naval incident? Is this going to cause more tension with Israel? What's Turkey going to do? Was the convoy all about provocation? Or was it really a "peaceful" convoy? And if it really was about charitable humanitarian aid, why not let Israel inspect it?
Sound off in the comments!
By: Brant
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