Josh Paul, who said he has worked in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs for more than 11 years, said in his LinkedIn post that he resigned “due to a policy disagreement concerning our continued lethal assistance to Israel.”
“Let me be clear,” Paul wrote. “Hamas’ attack on Israel was not just a monstrosity; it was a monstrosity of monstrosities. I also believe that potential escalations by Iran-linked groups such as Hezbollah, or by Iran itself, would be a further cynical exploitation of the existing tragedy. But I believe to the core of my soul that the response Israel is taking, and with it the American support both for that response, and for the status quo of the occupation, will only lead to more and deeper suffering for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people – and is not in the long term American interest.”
“This Administration’s response – and much of Congress’ as well – is an impulsive reaction built on confirmation bias, political convenience, intellectual bankruptcy, and bureaucratic inertia,” Paul adds. “That is to say, it is immensely disappointing, and entirely unsurprising. Decades of the same approach have shown that security for peace leads to neither security, nor to peace. The fact is, blind support for one side is destructive in the long term to the interests of the people on both sides.”
Thank you this needed to be said and fuck Biden administration for taking sides and not only that he NOW going use OUR tax dollars to help Israel commit genocide. Fuck him hate his fucking guts. We should of had Sanders for president he would find the right thing to do.
Plenty to dislike about Biden but this one existed LONG before him and is a lot more complex than “current admin bad”.
Even this person leaving their position admits it’s been this way for decades and is wholly unsurprising, albeit incredibly disappointing.
Too bad that doesn’t matter because he had choices and he made the wrong ones still.
Yeah? Please explain your understanding of this situation and then follow up with what options he had.
Please.
Not the commenter you asked, but my understanding of this situation is that in response to a Hamas attack on the 7th Israel has, for the past week and a half, been bombing a captive population that is currently without electricity, water, food and medical supplies, and our government is supporting that.
What Biden could do, now, is say “Hey, we understand your fear and pain, but Palestinian deaths won’t brings back those Israeli lives. Mass killing of civilians in the hopes of killing some of the people responsible won’t bring peace, trust me we’ve tried too.” From there he can engage in discussions about next steps, but this is the minimum fucking first step he refuses to take.
Biden did tell Israel not to make the same mistake the US did after 9/11. He also has been pressuring them to reinstate access to things like water, food, shelter, and telling Israel not to kill civilians.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/10/20/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-unites-states-response-to-hamass-terrorist-attacks-against-israel-and-russias-ongoing-brutal-war-against-ukraine/
There is no world where anything but the eradication of Hamas would satisfy Israelies. Hamas which is the acting governing body in Gaza and has vowed to anahilate every single isaerli and has definitely actively acted towards that goal for decades. Hamas who still had hostages and still refuses to release them while they keep slaughtering them. Hamas who keeps lying about literally every single objective and would sooner kill their own to blame it on Israel than work towards peace. Peace isn’t an option here. Thinking Biden would or could demand Israel not to retaliate sounds like it is coming from someone who has never suffered. As long as Hamas exist there will never be peace.
And seeing as Hamas’ charter is the eradication of Jews everywhere on earth, Israel should have this perspective.
Wish the American people and bush would have said that Sep 12th. But if you knew anything about countries and their responses to external terror attacks, you’d know why that first step is impossible.
He had the option of forcing Israel to sit down at the table with Palestine and hammer out a deal for peace.
I don’t personally like forcing anyone but the world is at a point now where, in this singular case, force is required.
When did he have that option? Neither side has any interest in speaking
The US funds israels way of life. Any removal of that funding would shut israel up and remind them that the only reason they can afford genocide is because we are funding them.
The US is in prime position to force israel to consider peace talks. We just dont have politicians with the moral standing to do so.
That’s only part of the situation.
Removing the funding comes with consequences. By the way the world is, we have evidence those consequences outweigh change.
I was talking to this commenter who apparently is White House level briefed on Bidens options he had.
But if you’d like to also participate that’s cool too but that wasn’t my question.
What were his all of his choices that he had since were feigning to know so much about all the choices he had as armchair forum political experts again.
You claim that Biden could just make Israel come to a meeting somehow? Please explain how that would’ve been accomplished and explain why that would’ve worked with minimal or negligible side effects. If your proposal does contain noticeable side effects, make sure to bring those up as well
Didn’t Clinton do this in the 90s with Arafat and whatever Israeli PM? We’ve been trying this shit for decades.
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Don’t you see it’s so SIMPLE! Just have the king of Hamas sit down with the Emperor of Israel and have some scotch and cigars and hammer out a quick deal for peace!
Grandpappy 'Murica would just grab those rascals by the ears and make them share! Simple!
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Are you familiar with a little thing called Congress?
I think you’re both right, I’m surprised you disagree. Yes, this problem has existed longed than the Biden administration, but also yes, this administration unsurprisingly continues to perpetuate it. A person leaving the administration because of its support of Israel does not refute that fact, it supports it. I’m not aware of a US president/administration, Democrat or Republican, that has ever supported Palestine, and I’m not under the impression that any of them were somehow forced to hold the positions they did - it has always been a choice.
Also, I don’t know what’s up with the replies saying the US should force them to stop fighting at metaphorical gunpoint - not only does that support the godawful myth of America as world police, but anyone familiar with this conflict should know that both Hamas and the Israeli government are fighting in the name of supremacist beliefs, and neither have any interest in ceasing until the other side is completely obliterated.
FWIW, this isn’t a “now” problem, it’s been the US position for a long time. Still shitty though.
I’m not sure what you would’ve expected Biden to do here. Break years of US foreign policy work to side with attackers?
Honestly the whole Israel and US thing feels like Israel is the angry friend that’s little brother just got bullied at school and the US is trying to be supportive while talking them down.
Sounds and awful lot like “I’ll help you kick the ass of the fools that hit your brother, but don’t make the mistake I did, you don’t need to kick everybody’s ass.”
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/10/18/world/israel-hamas-war-biden-gaza/heres-the-latest-on-the-war?smid=url-share
I’m also not sure how anyone expects Israel to accept the losses and move on. If the US or any other country had been attacked like this they’d already have boots on the ground.
He said the quiet part out loud.
It’s people like this that should be in positions of power.
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Try being more reactionary, that should help.