cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/20133423
[interview with Dr. Hassan Abdel Salam, from Abandon Harris movement]
Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor 04 Sep 2024
cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/20133423
[interview with Dr. Hassan Abdel Salam, from Abandon Harris movement]
Ann Garrison, BAR Contributing Editor 04 Sep 2024
The purpose for which they are sold is “defend Israel”, the purpose Bibi puts them to use as is “genocide”, but that is not why we’re selling them.
An example I use quite a bit is humanitarian aid, a lot of aid we send out gets stolen or re-directed by corrupt governments. That doesn’t mean we’re going to stop sending aid.
“Defense” has a long history of euphemistic use and this is no exception. JDAMs have no defensive use. They are bombs. They have been and are used to bomb essential civilisn infrastructure in Gaza. The US and Israel still call it “defense”. It is just a rhetorical trick. Same as " Israel has a right to defend itself", which is a thought-terminating cliche that provides a smokescreen for highly aggressive military actions with little care for civilians, journalists, aid workers.
Everyone in power knows how this works and what it means. It isn’t an accident or even particularly unwanted. Israel has been invading and destroying Gaza for nearly a year. Nobody thinks a bunch of JDAMs are for defending Israel or are a case of misuse. They are being used exactly as intended.