Palestinian Possibilities

I will address the following topics in today’s blog post:

·       Stopping missile attacks against Israel

·       Who is Been-Jammin’ Knittin’-Yahoo? [Think: Yosemite Sam]

·       Selected comments regarding Obama’s May 22, 2011 speech to AIPAC

·       Selected comments regarding Netanyahu’s May 24, 2011 speech to the US Congress

·       Suggestions and observations concerning Israeli/Palestinian prospects for peace

·       US divestment of investments in Israel, including a ban on the purchase of Israeli War Bonds

·       My campaign commercial featuring an overly-compliant US Congress

Stopping missile attacks against Israel

There is a practical, nuts-and-bolts way to stop missile attacks against Israel – at least the ones coming from the Palestinians. But first, I offer something I tried to post on Yahoo News yesterday, which was censored (oh, well):

QUOTE:

"[Knittin' Yahoo's] rejection of a return to what he called the "indefensible" borders that Israel had before the 1967 Mideast war."

Wait a minute. "Indefensible," you say? Those borders had proved more than defensible during that particular war. What's different now? Israel is only stronger, not to mention having 200 nukes (okay, I'll mention it...I hope the PM isn't going to be a Nuke Denier).

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

"How does our Congress give this walking/talking Fascist Major Obstacle to Peace 12 standing ovations? What a bunch of k*ss a**es!"

:UNQUOTE.

What the Prime Minister is really asking for are impenetrable borders – even though he had used the word defensible. No nation on earth has absolutely inviolable borders, so he might as well stop asking for the impossible.

Even if Netanyahu got his way – his heart’s desire – that is, total annexation of the West Bank and Gaza City with Palestinians somehow magically disappearing…even under those conditions, Israel’s borders would still be “indefensible.” If Israel maintains its current course, fueled by its current attitude, this is what it can look forward to:

·       Some state or non-state actor is going to figure out how to get at Israel – with either missiles, germs, hack attack or something totally unanticipated at this present time. Bottom line? If any person or entity thinks it can treat the whole world as if it’s a mortal enemy over a long enough period of time, that will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

·       Concerning missiles: Technology – especially guidance systems – are only going to get better. So far, Israel’s been lucky that rockets fired by Hamas almost never hit their targets. Because of lack of a guidance mechanism or only having one that’s primitive! But that could change…if Israel decides it wants to be stubborn and try to keep the Palestinian issue in a permanent state of non-resolution.

As promised – here’s how I propose to stop terrorist rocket attacks:

The United States should take the aid money it gives to Israel and Egypt (given since 1976), and instead give it to the Palestinian man & woman on the street – that is, to the ordinary Palestinian citizen. My figures are rough, but you’ll get the general idea: The amount in question is $5 billion which, divided evenly among all Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza (about 4 million people) works out to an annual stipend of $1,250 for each man, woman, and child – annually.

Even better – arrange for a number of contributors in addition to (or even instead of) the United States: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and even (eventually) Iraq come to mind. The idea of Muslim taking care of Muslim has a nice ring to it, which would (ironically) help Israel finally resolve this long standing dispute.

However, there should be one condition: The bounty stops if the rocket attacks resume. Each Palestinian would stand to lose an awful lot in that event, so they would vigorously self-police.

Selected comments regarding

Obama’s May 22, 2011 speech to AIPAC

In my usual fashion, I will quote from Obama’s speech, and follow with my own comments:

QUOTE: No vote at the United Nations will ever create an independent Palestinian state.

COMMENT: Why not? After all, Israel came into existence due to the machinations of the UN. Israel might not always be able to count on the US to use its Security Council veto power to thwart such a UN move. As Israel knows all too well – changes in administration can produce changes in policy. Translation? The US might get so sick of Israeli intransigence that it will throw its support behind any UN move to create a Palestinian state.

QUOTE: Moreover, we know that peace demands a partner –- which is why I said that Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with Palestinians who do not recognize its right to exist.

COMMENT: There will always be some Palestinians who will never recognize this right, so I hope Obama isn’t hoping for unanimity on this count. Besides, there are Jews who do not recognize Palestine’s right to exist, simply because they think God gave all of that land to the Jewish tribe. Should Palestine shun negotiations with any of them – or just continue plotting and scheming long enough until they hit on a plan or unique combination of circumstances that will deal Israel a mighty blow? As they say, every dog has its day.

QUOTE: I said that the United States believes that negotiations should result in two states, with permanent Palestinian borders with Israel, Jordan, and Egypt, and permanent Israeli borders with Palestine.  The borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps -- (applause) -- so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states. The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, and reach their potential, in a sovereign and contiguous state.

COMMENT: Obama got into a bit of trouble with that bit about starting negotiations “based on the 1967 lines.” Some thought he was urging an Israeli withdrawal behind those lines. However, Obama later pointed out that he had added the condition about “mutually agreed land swaps.” I’m confused, though, about how “mutually agreeable” any land swaps can be, since Israel holds all the cards.

But the thorniest issue would involve Palestine as a “contiguous state.” One way that might happen (my suggestion): The Gaza strip should be ceded to Israel, and all Israeli settlements in the West Bank should be ceded to Palestine. Also, Israel should give up any notion of holding onto the West Bank of the Jordan River. An army can’t be maintained there unless access is allowed through Palestine – which would be a violation of its sovereignty.

Also, Jerusalem should become an international city under the jurisdiction of the UN – with its headquarters relocated there.

Perhaps (again my suggestion) that $1,250 stipend could also be offered to Palestinians who are citizens of and living in Israel – if they would leave Israel and relocate to the newly-independent state of Palestine. Of course, this implies that Palestinians would give up the Right of Return (to Israel), but they weren’t about to get that anyway.

QUOTE: As for security, every state has the right to self-defense, and Israel must be able to defend itself –- by itself -– against any threat.

COMMENT: Defend itself “by itself – against any threat?” That’s simply not possible. Oh, nations can try to defend themselves but not even we are always 100% successful – the 9/11 attacks and Pearl Harbor come to mind. If the US couldn’t do it, how could anyone else?

The best way for Israel to guarantee its security is to find a way to make friends, and one way to do that would be if it helped the Palestinians prosper. And, as I mentioned above, the stipend I’m proposing for each Palestinian, courtesy of the US Treasury, would help. But I’m hoping Israel somehow manages to assist in this enterprise, possibly in terms of joint enterprises.

Selected comments regarding

Netanyahu’s May 24, 2011 speech to Congress

In my usual fashion, I will quote from Netanyahu’s speech, and follow with my own comments:

QUOTE: So it’s therefore vital, absolutely vital, that a Palestinian state be fully demilitarized.

COMMENT: Frankly, it would be great if Palestine spared itself the expense of maintaining an armed force. And it might well decide to do just that – for now. But what about the future? Will a duly-elected leader decide his country has to join the ranks of the militarized? If so, does that mean Israel starts throwing bombs? Bottom line: There’s no way to guarantee permanent disarmament, even on condition of the US promising to continue stipend payments (described above) in perpetuity. [Maybe Congress might pull the plug on that or Palestine might acquire a real enemy it feels needs discouraging.]


QUOTE: And it’s vital, absolutely vital, that Israel maintain a long-term military presence along the Jordan River.

COMMENT: Why? “Absolutely vital,” you say? Does Netanyahu hope that will be a front line of defense against waves of Jordanian tanks crossing the river on make-shift bridges? If he thinks Israel might be invaded through Palestine, maybe Palestine should be militarized after all. Anyway, maintaining an Israeli army on the west of the Jordan River wouldn’t be necessary in the face of Jordanian hostilities. Aerial surveillance will detect any massing of the king’s forces which can be promptly dealt with by the IDF.

          At this point, I have to say, “If Netanyahu is afraid of the Jordanians, I wonder how many other enemies he thinks he has hiding under his bed?” The Jordanians? No offense but, are you kidding?

          The real reason Netanyahu insists on this “absolutely vital” (though nonsensical) provision is to set up yet another discouraging roadblock for Palestinian negotiators. For the PM doesn’t really care to negotiate at all and will set up any obstacles he can imagine. That is the sad truth of the matter.

Question: Who is Been-Jammin’ Knittin’-Yahoo?

Answer: Benjamin Netanyahu

Before I talk about B-J K-Y, I’ll tell you upfront: I not only dislike the Prime Minister, I detest him since I think he’s a pathologically violent man. Now, you might ask: “If you really feel that way, but end up (somehow) being elected US President, won’t your first face-to-face with him be a bit awkward?”

Answer: He and I will never meet face-to-face. For one thing, I will instruct the State Department to reject any request for the PM to even enter the United States. And I’m certainly not going to Israel any time soon. Since I will have voided our diplomatic recognition of Israel, Knittin’-Yahoo and I won’t have any reason to speak. So we won’t. And that’s that.

As to the meaning of the joke name:

First, I refer you to a YouTube clip of a famous cartoon character known as Yosemite Sam – an angry little man quick to engage in violence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOUhGcsHqDM

That’s how I see the Prime Minister, who is really just an old war dog with no sense of how to create a lasting peace – with justice for all.

To break down my name for him:

Been-Jammin’ – two possible meanings here: (1) As in “been jamming” up the peace process (obfuscating and gumming up the works) every chance he gets; (2) as in “been jamming” in the sense of musicians having a jam session*; (3) as in “been jammin’” this stick up yo butt for so long, you don’t even notice it.

*  More on the “jam session” meaning: A “jam session” is often between musicians who do not usually play together and just play off one another for the fun of it, especially without any preconceived ideas as to outcome [sounds like the peace process]. It might refer to musicians filling the stage (that is, jamming to capacity) - as often an open jam session would result in a lot of participants – for better or worse [again, sounds like the peace process].

Knittin’ – I have this vision of a mercurial, excitable Yosemite Sam-type PM animatedly “knitting” his eyebrows as he angrily denounces enemies and allies alike.

Yahoo – A Yahoo is either a member of a race of brutes in Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, who have all the vices of and the form of (but aren’t necessarily) humans, or a yahoo is a boorish, crass, or stupid person. [No, I won’t call the PM “stupid” – except in the ways of peace – for all and not just members of his tribe.]

US divestment of investments in Israel,

including a ban on the purchase of Israeli War Bonds

I call them “Israeli War Bonds” even though the purpose of their sale is to raise cash for peaceful development. However, any money Israel raises for peace serves to free up money which can be spent to maintain its status as a permanently armed camp. I am tired of our politicians bleating about how much we support Israel and will do so forever under all circumstances. Our leaders proudly say, “Nobody tells Israel what to do.”

          Fine…I will be the last person to try to boss Israel around. But I think we can exert influence on their thinking. They certainly believe they can influence ours! And it’s looking more and more like we’ll have to use that influence in the name of tough love. In this post, I’m only offering a range of options, not all of which we have to engage at once. But I don’t much like the status quo. I don’t approve of sharing our highest level military technology, our annual multi-billion dollar cash giveaway, or swearing our eternal allegiance to Israel’s security.

          As far as I’m concerned, all nations are equally deserving of our respect and treatment, until they give us reason to think otherwise. And we don’t serve ourselves or anyone else well by singling out “special” relationships. Israel will rise and fall on its merits (as will we all, countries and individuals alike) due to the nature of its karma. And no one should expect any more or less than what their karma dictates. If they don’t like where they think that might lead them, then it’s time to make the amends necessary to change that karma.

My campaign commercials

I’ve posted scripted scenarios on this blog regarding commercials, in support of my presidential campaign, I hope might end up on YouTube. Add this concept to that pile:

I would love to see a spot showing a live clip of our fawning Congressmen giving Netanyahu twelve standing ovations. But the speaker would be the Yosemite Sam cartoon character mentioned above, spouting the PM’s rhetoric in Sam’s voice. Sam could even draw his 6-shooter and fire some emphasizing shots into the ceiling as he harangues our leaders.

I’m hard-put to figure out why the PM was invited to address our Congress in the first place. I read the text of his speech and saw nothing there requiring the physical presence of our representatives. Don’t they have more pressing business than to gather to hear a prepared text? Or maybe they had to be there or AIPAC would “note” their absence and start working against their reelection.

My campaign slogan would work well in such a commercial:

“Join the New American Revolution: Declare your independence by voting for independents.”

As the camera pans the faces of our fawning Congressmen (12 standing ovations, indeed!), a voiceover could point out: “Been-Jammin’ Knittin’-Yahoo obviously has the undivided attention of our elected leadership. Question: When will We-the-People get that kind of attention? Answer: We won’t – unless we get rid of the Dem/Pubs who insist on business as usual – like giving Israel everything it wants. We need independents who will give us everything we want.”

This might be a little over the top but here goes: As those Congressmen are applauding the PM, computer-generated images of trolls in yarmulkes could be seen circulating among that audience, stuffing dollar bills into their pockets. That’s not much of exaggeration of our current political reality.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

Founder of The Independent Contractors’ Party

“Peace is possible, but not at the hands of the usual suspects – and not without independent Congressmen watching out for our interests.”

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com

Sobering perspectives on Israel

Opening Statement from your next President:

QUOTE: If I, Steven Searle, am elected as the next President of the United States, I won't be throwing any nuclear bombs (or any other kind) around if Israel is attacked. Not even if Israel is attacked by nuclear weapons.

Furthermore, I will not permit US military forces to help defend Israel if it's attacked by either conventional or nuclear weapons. In fact, I will totally remove our troops as far from the Middle East as possible, as far out of harm's way as possible.

In addition, I will bar sales of US military equipment to Israel, even if I have to order the US Navy to physically intercept such shipments.

Last but not least, I will withdraw US diplomatic recognition from Israel, granting that status instead to Palestine which includes areas now occupied by West Bank Jewish settlements. :UNQUOTE.

In opposition to current US policy

In 2008, then candidate Hillary Clinton had strongly hinted that she would use nukes against Iran, in response to any Iranian nuclear attack on Israel.

John McCain had made his position clear by coming across as a silly old man by singing "bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" to the tune of an old Beach Boys' song Barbara Ann: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-zoPgv_nYg

Not to be outdone by his rivals, we had these words of wisdom from the Apostle of Change himself, Barack Obama:

QUOTE:  ...we must preserve our total commitment to our unique defense relationship with Israel by fully funding military assistance and continuing work on the Arrow and related missile defense programs. This would help Israel maintain its military edge and deter and repel attacks from as far as Tehran and as close as Gaza.:UNQUOTE [

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-littman/barack-obamas-unwavering_b_83721.html ]

I stand in sharp contrast to the conventional thinking expressed by these Three with my position: "The US has overextended itself in an exaggerated and unnatural way by engaging in hyper concerns over Israel's security for a prolonged period of time. It's high time we stopped allowing the Israeli government to exert such disproportionate influence over US policy."

My policy regarding Israel's security

One of the most profound and undemocratic powers listed in - and derived from - the US Constitution is the President's right to totally control US foreign policy. Even though I detest this arrangement and will work to change it, I will (meanwhile) declare it to be US policy to shift the burden of Israel's security where it belongs: Directly onto the shoulders of the Israeli military and any allies it can enlist in their cause - most appropriately, from among the various European nations or from the EU itself.

The most appropriate keepers-of-the-peace in the Mediterranean basin should be the nations of the Mediterranean basin itself.

Some will argue that the US should guarantee Israel's right to exist. Why? For one thing, there are no guarantees in life. Does that mean I don’t think Israel has a right to exist? As a Buddhist all I can offer is this: Whether a state (or living being) has a right to exist, or has a right to exist in poor or exalted circumstances, is a matter entirely up to its karma. It is inappropriate to even discuss whether a state or person has a right to exist since (as the saying goes) “it is what it is.”

The US didn't rush in to assert Tibet's right to exist when the Chinese invaded in 1950. Nor is the US bending over backwards - or even lifting a finger - to assert any right to exist for Kurdistan. [NOTE: What is called "Kurdistan" covers a lot more territory and includes a lot more Kurds than does the Kurdish Autonomous Zone in northern Iraq.]

Besides: Israel has 200 nuclear weapons at its disposal.

Not to mention: God is on Israel's side, so the US military is hardly necessary.

And finally this: There is no formal treaty binding the United States to the defense of Israel. This might come as a huge surprise to people who feed too much on what the mainstream media has to offer, but it's true. When Barack Obama spoke (above) of a "total commitment to our unique defense relationship [my emphasis]," he wasn't kidding: This relationship is rhetorical! It is not in the form of a treaty, as codified in (for instance) the treaty that created NATO.

Some numbers to keep in mind

The United States is overexerting itself in the name of Israel - in other words, on behalf of a nation of 7.7 million persons. Or, to be more precise, on behalf of a nation of 7.7 million people, of whom the US cares exclusively for the 75% who are Jewish.

We're talking about a US willingness to engage in nuclear war on behalf of six million Jews. There are 30 cities in the world which have more people than that! And I'm talking about cities in terms of population contained within city limits - excluding those living in the greater metropolitan areas.

And yet, you won't hear the United States rattling the nuclear saber on behalf of any of these 30 cities. There is no unique defense relationship binding us to any of them.

To put a finer point on these numbers, only 1 out of 1,000 people in the world are Jews living in Israel. If the US even attempted to exert itself as mightily on behalf of the other 999 (mostly non-Jews) out of 1,000, the US would quickly discover it couldn't afford the $3 trillion annual price tag.

Much has been said about Israel being the only democracy in the Middle East (unless you want to count Iraq). However, I believe Israel's democracy is overrated, their de facto government actually being a theocracy.

Consider: 20% of Israel's citizens are non-Jewish Arabs. If that number increased, approaching the point of threatening Jewish political control of the country, how long do you think it would take for this "democratic" Jewish majority to vote to deny its Arab citizens the right to vote?

Democracies can be just dandy, as long as real political control remains in the hands of the people who really matter.

One noteworthy dissenter

One of Israel's foes is Ahmadinejad of Iran, who once asked: "If you [of the West] have burned the Jews, why don't you give a piece of Europe, the United States, Canada or Alaska to Israel?" Naturally, the world community (or, actually, its non-Islamic members - the ones who count) vehemently denounced this statement for its larger context of holocaust denial. However, the point of the question was not lost on Moslems worldwide, though I would personally rephrase Ahmadinejad's question this way:

"Since it was Germany which was responsible, as a matter of state policy brought about by a democratic election, for murdering millions of Jews, why wasn't Germany penalized by being made to forfeit the 8.9% of its land needed to create the State of Israel within its borders?"

Actually, that would have been 8.9% of what was known as West Germany. In terms of the area Germany currently occupies, that would be 6%. Either way, it would have been less than a 10% tithing would have warranted - not to mention what an atonement would have warranted.

This is the kind of thinking which would resonate well throughout the Islamic world. Not just in the salons of the intellectuals, but among the men and women in the street.

And yet, we of the West wear blinders, thinking of Europe as the home of what we consider the best that civilization has to offer. But we give scant, if any, thought to the other legacies of Europe: colonization and slavery on a scale unknown in world history, not to mention two World Wars.

Conclusion

We have to engage in new thinking about the Middle East, especially concerning our role in that part of the world. And the only force on earth that can do this will come from independent Congressmen. If, however, we keep voting for Democrats and Republicans, we’ll keep seeing the same old tired spectacle every election cycle – that is, how these guys keep trying to outdo themselves pledging allegiance to Israel.

Steven Searle for U.S. President in 2012

Founder of The Independent Contractors’ Party

“I am very much in favor of rethinking this US/Israel codependency, going for a broader unified world concept. Haven’t we had enough of tribalism?”

Contact me at bpa_cinc@yahoo.com

Adventures in Yahoo! Land

Here are some of my recent posts (or attempts to post) on Yahoo! News. These are my responses to certain events over the past few days:

Post # 1:

"...Obama has authorized the use of covert forces in Libya..."

Uh, huh. And if Gadhafi's troops capture any of these guys, just how will Obama react when pictures of their hacked up corpses hit the internet...in living color...or (maybe) in the process of being hacked up? Covert operatives have no rights under the Geneva convention and can't be treated as POWs.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"Obama is a fool for having ventured into this."

Post # 2:

Why should Gadhafi quit? He's winning!

If he manages to pull off the upset of the year, we'll have hell to pay for decades (from now on... permanently?) in Africa. That continent might end up coalescing around Gadhafi's leadership if he ends up successfully humiliating the White Man's air power. Remember, it was Gadhafi who tried to bring about meaningful African unity - at least in the eyes of his many Black admirers.

So, what will the EU and the US end up gaining if Gadhafi wins? A whole continent turned against them.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"Listen up, Barack Obama - there is no such thing as a little war and I don't care if your advisers told you otherwise."

Post # 3:

Senator Marcus “Rubix” Cubio can’t possibly realize what he’s saying. He says he won’t vote “yes” to raise the debt ceiling unless (first!) we have a “balanced-budget amendment” in place? As in, amendment to the Constitution? [Hey, Marcus, any idea how long it takes to pass an amendment or any of the other items you’ve listed?]

Not to mention: His vote “yes” must be accompanied by a plan for [among other landmark-type legislative proposals] fundamental tax reform. Especially cute: He won’t vote “yes” unless “it is the last [increase in the debt limit] we ever authorize.” How can this Congress pass such a law and make it binding on future Congresses?

Take a look at the photo accompanying this article. I swear, if you put a moron in front of enough microphones, he’ll say any fool thing that comes to mind.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012
“If Cubio wasn’t so stupid, he’d be dangerous. Oh wait a minute, that’s exactly why he’s so dangerous...not to mention, he's got a legion of airhead followers.”

Post # 4 [NOTE: This post was censored by Yahoo!]:

There was a far more effective (and intelligent) way for [Donald] Trump to have gone Birther. He could have refused to weigh in on Obama in particular, while saying, "I think each of the 50 states should enact rules to deny access to the ballot for any presidential candidate who doesn't provide his original, full-form birth certificate in advance of the primary in that state."

He could have gone on to say: "Don't take this as my opinion concerning Obama's birth-right legitimacy. However, in the upcoming 2012 election cycle, even he should be blocked from the ballot for failure to comply with any such (new) more stringent rules. I think it's a travesty to allow anyone access to the ballot who has not complied to the greatest degree possible to dispell any lingering uncertainty as to natural born citizenship."

Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"But no-o-o...Trump didn't say any of that, so to Trump I will say this: 'You're fired!' [You can't believe how good it felt to type those two words.]

Post # 5:

"Russia criticized the Western intervention that has turned the tide in the conflict, saying it amounted to taking sides in a civil war and breached the terms of a United Nations Security Council resolution."

Russia, this time, happens to be right. But surely Russia had to have seen this coming - that is, direct "allied" military support of the rebels. Which is probably why they abstained when the UN rez came to a vote. They didn't want to make it look like they were choosing sides.

They were probably wise to remain neutral, and not (say) encourage the League of Arab States to take a leadership role. The last thing Russia would want (or the West for that matter) is for that League to find its voice and assert leadership. However, not to worry -- as long as a group could even conceive of calling itself the League of ARAB States, all will be well under control. If, though, that name changed to the League of Islamic States, watch out. That could well be a game-changer.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"Bottom line: No one among the Western powers wants to see the emergence of Islamic unity in the form of a caliphate -- or actually in any form at all."

Post # 6:

"Israel considering annexing West Bank settlements."

Come on, Israel is going to do that regardless of what the Palestinians do. Not unless the US sets up a No Fly Zone to stop them. That's about what it would take to stop this thinly-disguised Zionist land grab. I'm still in favor of voiding US diplomatic recognition of Israel and canceling our $3B annual welfare dole to that (so-called) "ally's" military. By the way, Israel is no ally and has no friend in the entire world other than itself. In moments of candor, the Zionist will agree with that statement - but not in public.

Steven Searle for US President in 2012
"I would dearly love to see the Zionist go back to practicing Judaism - it couldn't hurt."

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Steven Searle for US President in 2012

Founder of The Independent Contractors’ Party

“It’s sad that Yahoo! chooses to censor some of my stuff but that’s life.”

Israel gives better (head)

Warning: If the topic of beheading bothers you, even when the point (as here) is to create a work of fiction, then don't read on.

Back in 2006, I had first offered this piece to the public, though on a now-defunct website.

Though it might seem an odd placement for a creative writing exercise such as this, I concluded: "Exposing my fellow citizens to my creative side is a good way for them to get to know me. And this is important since I wish to become their president."

Triple-M Gives Good Head; Israel Gives Better

 by Steven Searle © 2006

Background and Dedication

On June 25, 2006, Palestinian militants either - depending on your point of view - "kidnapped/captured" Gilad Shalit, a 19-year old corporal in the Israeli army. When I finished writing this piece on July 20, 2006, nobody knew if Gilad had been executed and, if so, what retaliatory military response Israel would come up with. Israel's overreaction-to-date, however, leads me to wonder out loud: "Why are they militating so extremely? For the sake of one young man? Do they know something about him that the rest of us don't? Like, maybe he's the Messiah or something?" No, can't be, I'm sure this is not the case. Maybe some exaggerated invoking of "an eye for an eye" is at fault.

Or maybe something more mundane is at work. Perhaps the Israeli military is reacting to the audacity of a successful attack on one of its units. It's well known that authoritarians the world over do not like to be embarrassed and, further, tend to wreak havoc on their transgressors. Who knows?

Even if Gilad Shalit is alive and eventually freed, thereby reducing Israeli military hyperactivity (at least until the next "crisis"), I feel the following kaleidoscopic might be a reasonable indicator of events yet-to-unfold in the event of a similar seizure in the future. So it is to Gilad Shalit, to whom I dedicate this piece.

Forewarning 

I am sure many people will take offense at this humble literary effort of mine. For one thing, the subject is a decapitated head. This, I admit, is grisly enough to contemplate only in passing, let alone to dwell upon at great length as I have done here. However, I felt emboldened to proceed by keeping in mind that extremes in writing are sometimes necessary to match ever-evolving extremes in actual human behavior. Concerning events transpiring in the Middle East, writing in a nicey-nice manner won't cut it.

Then there are those who will see my words as anti-Jewish. For the record, I am not a Jew Hater, though I am personally uncomfortable with the very idea of a state conceived for the benefit of a particular religion. My feelings on this issue are equally negative toward the idea of an Islamic state or a Christian state...or a Buddhist one, for that matter. As far as negative reaction from the Mossad is concerned, I address those practical ladies and gentlemen as follows:

Frankly, I don't care if you conclude that you must hate me for my words. I do care, however, about what you might do, since violent overreaction by partisans of all persuasions seems to be very much in vogue these days. As bad as your overreaction might be for me, I fear it would be many times worse for you and, especially, for those things you care most about. I declare this from the standpoint of a follower of the Buddhist scripture known as the Lotus Sutra, which assures a horrible retribution in the here-and-now which will persist for many lifetimes for those who would harm a Preacher of the Law (like me, for instance).

I urge you, partisans of Israel, to carefully contemplate my presentation. Learn from it. Don't dismiss it too quickly. Let it sink in. Deep in your hearts, you know the tension in the Middle East cannot continue for much longer. Embrace your Arabic neighbor, for he is truly your brother. Refraining from this embrace is breaking God's heart. As for me, do not regard me too harshly. If you feel duty-bound to regard me as an enemy, I know that you will come to realize (after all gets said and done): "With enemies like Steve, who would ever need friends?"

Some Useful Definitions 

Definition:  "SuperBall (originally Super Ball) is a toy manufactured by Wham-O®. It is an extremely elastic ball made of Zectron®... When an original Wham-O® Super Ball was dropped from shoulder level onto a hard surface such as concrete, it rebounded to about 90% of the original height."- quoted from Wikipedia, the free, online encyclopedia.

Definition: "SuperDuperBall (SDB), capable of rebounding to 99% of its original height, is the next generation of SuperBall. SDB is powered by utilizing a bio-technology capable of actually storing ‘reboundability' in much the same way as capacitors (caps) store electric charge (i.e., caps and bio-caps are units capable of discharging when needed). Though no practical military use of SDB's has been conceived as yet, [U.S.] Commander-in-Chief has ordered all relevant information classified ‘Top Secret.'" - quoted from a stolen, classified U.S. Department of Defense document.

Definition: "AMD" stands for "Anti Missile Defense," a highly-efficient system deployed throughout Israel during the period of the following chronology, intended to destroy any incoming missiles launched from neighboring locations. Israel's AMD, developed jointly by U.S. and Israeli technicians, is considered the prototypical system for that which is being contemplated for imminent deployment throughout the United States. 

Definition: "IDF" stands for "Israeli Defense Force," the official name of Israel's armed forces.

Definition:  "Day Zero" is a day in the future which occurs months after a member of the IDF is kidnapped/captured by a previously unknown band of Palestinian militants calling themselves the Mighty Minions of Mohammed (dubbed "Triple-M" by the popular press). [Note: This seizure is the first to have occurred in years in the Palestinian Territories.] 

Chronology of Events Starting from Day Zero 

Day Zero (noon):

News Flash [Gaza City]: Nobody knew what Triple-M meant by saying, "The head shall soon be bouncing all over Israel." The whole world knew which head was being referred to; the "bouncing" part was the mystery. Now we know. Militants had already publicly announced that IDF Corporal Heezah Freemason* had been decapitated. Israel then responded by demanding the return of the corporal's head shortly after discovering the rest of him. Astonishingly enough, it turns out that Freemason's head had been encased within a transparent superball-like substance. Then, a powerful catapult having been used to launch it from an unknown point within the Gaza Strip, it arced over the border and landed in Israel. After bouncing crazily thither and yon for close to an hour, it finally stopped, crashing through the roof of a popular Israeli deli. Thank God/Allah no one in the deli was hurt. 

*Editor's note: "Freemason" was not always the family surname; Heezah's father (Ima) had it legally changed while still a U.S. citizen. The senior Freemason claimed: "I call myself ‘Freemason' because I would be more than happy to personally build a brick wall, free of charge, around any Jewish community in the world threatened by hostile neighbors."

Day Zero (9 p.m.): 

[Scene: Two young American volunteers in Gaza City. They are alone in a park, sitting under the stars on a clear desert night, sharing some private thoughts.] 

"Why didn't the Israelis open fire? Anything launched from Gaza has always been shot down. That's policy." - Eve. 

"Under normal circumstances, yes. However, they were willing to hold their fire and take a chance this incoming was Heezah's head. They definitely wanted to recover it intact." - Adam. 

"Why did they think it might be Heezah's head?" - Eve. 

"I heard Triple-M actually told IDF High Command they were about to launch Heezah's head, just before doing so. HC decided to take a chance and not engage their AMD." - Adam. 

"My God! ‘Take a chance?' What if it had been nuclear?" - Eve. 

[Laughing.] "Even though they didn't engage their AMD, SENSOR is always engaged. Within seconds, they knew it was non-nuclear. And that's all they wanted to know. True, it could have been some type of bomb, but they figured it was too small to cause major damage. So, like I said, they didn't shoot because they wanted his head intact." - Adam. 

"Why did Triple-M use a catapult? Was it to confuse or somehow thwart AMD?" - Eve. 

"AMD would have been quite capable of stopping anything launched, even by catapult." - Adam. 

"Really? I mean, what if an object is in the air for only a few seconds before it would hit its target?" - Eve. 

"Well, it would have to truly be ‘for only a few seconds.' Anything more than that would be stopped in its tracks. Even if it comes in without heat, like something catapulted, SENSOR would pick it up. You see, these days, everything in Israel is either highly controlled, under surveillance, or on a hair trigger ... including its citizens, I'm afraid." - Adam. 

"Back to my question: Why a catapult?" - Eve. 

"I think it was to make a statement, like ‘You may have the best air defenses in the world and we can't top that. So we'll try a bit of low-tech instead.' Besides, maybe SENSOR wouldn't have been able to ‘see' inside a missile to determine it non-nuclear. In that case, a shoot-down would have been necessary. And I'm sure Triple-M's big goal was to create a spectacle with this bouncing head - not wanting it shot down." - Adam.

"I heard IDF took the head in, ah, ‘custody' hours ago. And yet, no reaction from the Israeli government." - Eve. 

"Yeah, it's been awfully quiet." - Adam. 

Looking around and straining to listen, Eve says: "I can't hear a thing. It's like the desert itself is holding its breath." 

Day Zero plus 10 days:

Excerpt from secure e-mail between two agents of Israeli Intelligence: 

"Analysis of Projectile is complete. There is no doubt that Heezah's severed head was encased in what is now known to be an SDB-like substance, though the following is of particular interest: Using a process currently unknown to us or the Americans, the terrorists were able to ‘rubberize' the molecules of Heezah's head (similar to how organic matter is petrified). The apparent purpose of this was to prevent disintegration of the head due to shock waves generated within the SDB when making its multiple impacts (bounces) in Israel. We are attempting to replicate this rubberization process. More later." 

Day Zero plus 30 days: 

News Flash: No reaction whatsoever from official Israeli sources over this highly unusual first in the long-running history of terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens. This non-reaction is a first in its own right, as Tel Aviv is always very quick to (at least) verbally condemn any terrorist activity. Rumor has it, this silence is an indication of a severe split within the government as to how to proceed. 

News Flash: Throughout the Middle East, especially in the poorer quarters, the sport of basketball has witnessed an upsurge of popularity. Pundits throughout the civilized world have always appreciated basketball's time-honored utility as a poor man's sport. So it comes as no surprise to see many of the poorest and most idle of Muslim youth whiling away their time on the courts. What is surprising is the portrait of Heezah Freemason's head which is crudely painted on all of these balls. Oddly enough, this phenomenon has not been seen in any part of the Palestinian Territories. 

Day Zero plus 40 days: 

Two wealthy Saudis, in private conversation: 

"I really have to congratulate you on that rubberized-head idea. Your research team really showed the world what a group of committed and resourceful...no, forget ‘resourceful'...I'll just come out and say it: ‘stinking rich'... Arabs are capable of devising." - Alpha. 

"You want to know the funny part? The U.S. President himself told me about this Top Secret SuperDuperBall technology." - Omega. 

"He told you?" - Alpha. 

"Oh yes, indeed. He had a few drinks and ... we're ‘allies' don't you know? And the rest, as they say, is ‘loose lips.' But of course I didn't tell him we had already developed that technology ourselves, long ago. And, as well, I didn't mention our rubberization process." - Omega. 

"Why did you not tell him? Are we not ‘allies,' after all?" - Alpha. 

"Oh, yes. We are allies, but I'm not stupid." - Omega.

Day Zero plus 42 days: 

[Scene: Within the walls of a maximum security Israeli prison, Knitt'n Yah'hoo sits in solitary confinement, in the grip of a disturbing vision. Knitt'n was imprisoned for a failed attempt at suicide bombing ten years ago and found religion while incarcerated. He keeps his increasingly frequent visions to himself, saying nothing of them aloud, knowing that even the walls of his cell have ears.]

Knitt'n's vision: 

A transparent orb is sailing across the border. Within said orb I behold a head - and only a head. Its facial expression is a mask of pure horror, such as one would surely wear if knowing well in advance of one's own pending beheading. That's what's hardest about death: Having too much time to think about the blow that has been threatened. Or maybe the hardest thing occurs when the means of death is delivered slowly by unsteady hands. 

For as long as there have been men, we have dreamed of flight. But not like this. Not flying into one's homeland after being personally desecrated. Now comes the first of many bounces - this one, on the hard surface of a paved road - after which the orb sails once again high into the sky. I see that face in slow motion, rippling with shockwaves caused by smacking the highway. I see many more bounces and many attempts to snare this orb - all unsuccessful.

Then it stops after crashing through a roof. Passers-by, looking too closely at this atrocity fall back, tears blinding their eyes. They are the lucky ones, for they can look away. After a while, they will feel with less intensity the memory of what they saw. I, however, cannot get that face out of my mind; it is branded onto my eyes. Everything I see seems imprinted by that visage, solely for my consumption. The face of a man who might have been a friend, under other circumstances. 

Day Zero plus 60 days: 

[Scene: Two young American volunteers in Gaza City. They are alone in a park, sitting under the stars on a clear desert night, sharing some private thoughts.] 

"Did you hear what just happened?" - Eve. 

"Who hasn't? Imagine! Taking the severed heads of 20 prominent, imprisoned terrorist leaders, shrinking them so they'd fit into one small SDB, and launching it into Gaza." - Adam. 

"Well, at least IDF had the decency to warn the Palestinian Authority not to shoot, and why." - Eve. 

"Right, that's exactly what the world needs more of: this kind of decency." - Adam. 

"I heard lots of money changed hands for the Israelis to access the necessary technology for this operation." - Eve. 

"Yeah, money seems to work miracles every time. What would the Middle East be without its share of miracles?" - Adam. 

Day Zero plus 61 days: 

News Flash: There is an eerie silence pervading the Palestinian Territories, the day after 20 shrunken heads were launched into Gaza. There are no demonstrations in the streets, no wailings from the mosques, no self-flagellations in sight. The world is wondering, "How will the Palestinians respond to this outrage?" 

Day Zero plus 62 days: 

[Overheard in a marketplace.] 

"I guess ‘an eye for an eye' now means, ‘Consider us ‘even' if, for every one of our least important whom you kill, we kill 20 of your most prominent.'" 

Day Zero plus six months: 

News Flash: It's like waiting for the other shoe to drop. There has not been a single terrorist incident against the Israelis since Israel launched those 20 heads four months ago. What next? 

Day Zero plus six years: 

[From the diary of a prisoner of conscience in the United States, in the middle of serving his fifteen year sentence, who devotes his time to following current events, praying for the soul of Gaia, and meditating.] 

Dear Diary: 

Nobody visits Israel any more, that sad land of tragedy. I guess it's just as well their government built that wall. It serves well to keep out anyone who might accidentally wander into no-man's land. Nobody would want to cross that border now. 

I still cannot believe what happened. No one will ever get it right. After the 20 heads were launched, the Palestinians purposefully withheld any reprisal. I heard this was the result of a huge whispering campaign that ended up having a huge butterfly effect. You know, word of mouth, in effect: ‘Let us not respond, going head-to-head so to speak. Let's do what the Israelis would least expect and, ultimately, would themselves suffer most greatly from: Respond with submission. After all, isn't that what the word "Islam" means? To "submit to the will of God?" 

And "submit" they did. They did not react at all. They slammed the brakes on all of their vehicles, great and small, of externally-manifested Jihad. They said nothing unkind and did nothing unkind, including the few of them who still crossed the border on a daily basis to work in Israel. They suffered taunts and jeers to be sure, but maintained their submission stoically. And in this, the Palestinians were joined by their sympathizers throughout the Middle East. 

Then an amazing thing happened. With the terrorists/freedom-fighters no longer threatening them, the Jews turned against each other. The Super Duper Orthodox started the ball rolling by pointing accusing fingers at the [merely] Orthodox, saying, "You're not really Jews." The different factions became increasingly suspicious of each other, to the point where one small band of zealots stole some nuclear weapons from the Israeli arsenal, just to assure their own security. [I guess the small always fear the large.] Other groups, seeing this, obtained nukes of their own. 

Then, a very predictable thing happened. There was an accident, or a misunderstanding. Call it what you will, but it ended up in a nuclear exchange within Israel. It seems that years of ever-escalating insensitivity to Israel's Palestinian Problem induced such a state of paranoia as to make Israeli self-destruction inevitable. I guess that's human nature. Wasn't Israel supposed to be a light unto all nations? Tell me, what did it profit Israel by showing the world a light created by its own nuclear meltdown? Maybe this "light unto all nations" edict was intended to be a negative example. I don't know. 

Sad Israel. I shall now say a prayer for her. 

Day Zero plus Eight Years: 

A great Buddhist meditation master reads the minds of his close disciples, coming up with: 

·       Why was it so important for the Jews to have a nation to call their own? The Chinese take-over of Tibet didn't destroy Tibetan Buddhism. Also, the world community allowed that "Big" to take over that "Small" - without much complaint.

·       It is claimed in a certain Holy Scripture that God gave a certain land to the tribes of Israel. Did they not know that God was testing them? Not everything in such scriptures is to be taken at face value. Even in our Buddhist scriptures, there are sections where the Buddha himself actually lies and hopes that his disciples call him on it. It was one of the great failures of those in the Great Assembly of monks that, in fact, no one did call him on it.

·       An evil thought crossed my mind: I had always hoped for a great disaster to befall the Middle East. This would show the world how following false religion leads to disaster. Even though I know this to be true, there's no way the followers of Abraham could have known it; they'd be too busy finding ways to blame the Other instead of looking within themselves. I say mine was an "evil thought," because one should never pray for the misfortune of another. Instead, I should have prayed for their enlightenment. And worked toward it.

·       One could say, "The humiliation of the Moslems by the Great Western Powers was karmic retribution for the great arrogance of the Caliphate at the height of its power." As for the Israelis, they took the notion of God being on their side entirely too far. What greater arrogance is that? I wonder how they will resurrect themselves, and what this resurrected form will look like.

·       It will be interesting to see how Jews and fundamental U.S. Christians will come to interpret this turn of events. In times of great tragedy, the interpreters and revisionists start kicking their activities into high gear.

·       I wonder what God, that Great Bodhisattva Protector of the West, will do now.

·       There is a new sect calling itself "God is Greatest," which is gaining in popularity among disillusioned Western monotheists. They've abandoned all pretense of theology and Holy Scripture, becoming religious Know-Nothings. All they do is repeat aloud, over and over, "God is Greatest." How do I as a Buddhist reach out to people like this?

Day Zero plus Ten Years: 

[Scene: Two aging American volunteers in Gaza City. They are alone in a park, sitting under the stars on a clear desert night, sharing some private thoughts.] 

"Have you heard? Vietnam and North Korea are asking for U.S. military help. It seems China's ready to invade." - Adam. 

"I heard China wants to annex those two countries. Could that possibly be true? Whatever happened to the principle of Self-Determination - that Holy Grail of the Left?" - Eve. 

"I'd believe anything these days, including the truth: newly-discovered resources in these countries are ‘inspiring' the Chinese." - Adam. 

"Ah, a different kind of Holy Grail. I guess the Big will always be tempted to exploit the Small - unless the Small happen to have nuclear weapons [laughs]." - Eve. 

"or unless God is on their side [laughs]." - Adam. 

"Or both [both laugh]." - Eve. 

"I wonder...what is it that makes the Big big?" - Adam. 

"Maybe the Big guy is the guy who ultimately wins, assuming there is an ‘ultimate'" - Eve. 

"By annihilating his neighbor? Or assimilating him? Or thoroughly dominating him with some currently-unknown-yet-irrefutable technology?" - Adam.

"So that's it, then? We're doomed to an endless series of conflicts between Bigs and Smalls? - Eve. 

"Maybe things aren't so bad as all that. Even if a very ‘Big' appears on the scene, it could conceivably go the way of all the others: Power struggles from within, loss of vigor, over- or under-reaction at the top, corruption...all ultimately leading to breakdown. Some would call this: ‘failure of integrity.' I like that. Then it would join all the other failed ‘Bigs' in a special Big Hell." - Adam. 

"And not take us little people with it, I hope. - Eve. 

"Right, that is something to worry about. Seems like people are worrying more and more these days about how to deal with the various Bigs in their lives." - Adam. 

"Maybe instead of worrying, we should forsake the Bigs and, as individuals, just pray to deal with our age-old demons: Borders, Boundaries, and Behaviors." - Eve. 

"Don't the Buddhists call these three demons Greed, Anger, and Stupidity?" - Adam. 

"Same thing, yes?" - Eve. 

"Yeah...same thing." - Adam. 

FINISH 

Steven Searle for US President in 2012

Founder of The Independent Contractors’ Party

“In order to make some larger (hopefully) profound points, I’m willing to risk looking bad. Appearances aren’t everything” – Steve.