Shameful traits of the USA and Israel

Shameful traits of the USA and Israel

By Paul J. Balles

15 December 2010

Paul J. Balles views two shameful traits shared by the US and Israel and represented in the views of Joseph A. Klein: abhorring criticism and diverting attention from their own faults when criticized by levelling the same criticism at others.

"Arrogance diminishes wisdom” – Arabic proverb

Last month, Joseph A. Klein wrote an article for the Canada Free Press criticizing the Obama administration for joining the UN Human Rights Council.

The council had met and found fault with a number of human rights violations by America. For this, Klein verbally bashed the council. Klein is author of the book Global Deception: The UN’s Stealth Assault on America’s Freedom.

Having "studied the United Nations for many years" Klein says he "watched it degenerate into an anti-Western echo chamber that does more harm than good."

...we righteously oppose aggression while invading and simultaneously occupying numerous countries, while threatening to attack still more, and arming countries like Israel to the teeth to wage still other attacks..."

Glenn Greenwald, attorney, commentator and author

The point of Klein's writing is that the UN is wrong because of its criticism of the US and Israel.

The US and Israel share two shameful traits: both abhor criticism, and both divert attention from their own faults when criticized by levelling the same criticism at others.

"In my new book, Lethal Engagement," says Klein, "I focus on the perfect storm revolving around the increasing Islamicization of key UN bodies – particularly the ones that produce influential international norms."

In short, criticize Israel for any of its misdeeds –destruction of Lebanon's infrastructure, imprisoning thousands of Palestinians, starving and slaughtering Gazans – and Klein will shift to an unrelated issue.

Klein complains that "Obama wants to engage with our enemies like Iran and Syria while coming down hard on one of our closest allies, Israel".

Thus, Klein (and others) will criticize Obama, but to find fault with America or Israelis is to be dubbed unpatriotic, Islamic extremist or anti-Semitic.

While most people's ire is aroused by criticism from outsiders (aliens, expatriates, foreigners) there are often good reasons for outsiders to be critical.

Attorney, commentator and author of How would a Patriot Act, Glenn Greenwald pointed to several understandable reasons for external criticism in his books and articles.

"We systematically torture Muslims and then cover it up and protect our torturers while preaching accountability and the rule of law; we condemn deprivations of due process while maintaining and expanding lawless prison systems for Muslims..."

That being factually accurate, it's understandable why those who have suffered under our double standards denigrate their abusers.

Greenwald notes how our critics react predictably to our hypocrisy: "We demand adherence to UN dictates and international law while blocking investigations into UN reports of war crimes and possible 'crimes against humanity' by our allies..."

If that weren't enough, Greenwald reminds us that "we righteously oppose aggression while invading and simultaneously occupying numerous countries, while threatening to attack still more, and arming countries like Israel to the teeth to wage still other attacks..."

Source-http://www.redress.cc/americas/pjballes20101215

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