Political Class Dismissed

First we had Israeli rising-star Avigdor Leiberman hinting at the use of nuclear weapons against the captive population of Gaza, now we have the American Obamacon, Dorothy King stating outright that Holocaust deniers should be gassed. Can things get any more sadly ironic? Actually, yes. There is this CNN poll result fresh in from the “land of free”…

People sneered when Ron Paul suggested that America was at risk from a creeping form of “soft fascism.” At this rate, it doesn’t look likely to stay soft for very long.

Israel justifiably takes a lot of flack for its all too often unconscionable actions against people on the basis of their religion or ethnic origins. However, the world too easily forgets, when looking at the images of dead children littering the streets of Gaza, that the other side of this conflict is not without sin–albeit perhaps on a vastly different scale. Still, the we should have the backbone to hold both sides accountable equally. 

The United Arab Emirates has this week refused to grant an entry visa to a tennis player on the basis of her religious and ethnic origin; Shahar Peer is from Israel. This is a blatant violation of the UAE’s agreement with the World Tennis Association regarding the admission of all qualified players to participate in the Sony Ericsson World Tennis Association Tour. If the UAE could not set aside its political rivalries, it should not have undertaken to host this tournament. It certainly should not have misrepresented its intentions until a week before the games. 

Truth be told, the UAE is not the only one failing to do the right thing here. The World Tennis Association, which has so far refused to cancel the tournament, is equally wrong. They are apparently more interested in the patronage of the tournament’s sponsor, Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Makhtoum, and the two million dollars in prize money, than they are in standing up for principle and their own rules. As a result, it is likely that Ms. Peer will be missing from next week’s games.

Dubai has recently been welcoming to Israeli citizens, so in all likelihood this particular incident is in response to the atrocities in Gaza. That situation, which is ongoing, is indeed abominable, but Ms. Peer is not a member of the Israeli government. She should not be held to pay for the Israeli government’s crimes, any more than the children of Gaza should be held to pay for the crimes of Hamas radicals.

The World Tennis Association and Sony Corporation should be encouraged to cancel next week’s tournament in the UAE. If the UAE cannot abide by the terms of its agreement with the WTA, than the WTA has an obligation to its players — all of them, including Ms. Peer — to ensure that a level playing field is maintained. They do that by canceling Dubai. If you would like to contact the Sony WTA Tour, you may do so by writing or calling with the following information.

Sony Ericsson Corporation / WTA Tour
Attn: Scott MacLeod
Senior Vice President
Phone: +44.20.7386.4100 (London)
e-mail: smacleod@wtatour.com

–or, in the U.S., 

Sony Ericsson Corporation / WTA Tour
One Progress Plaza, Suite 1500
St. Petersburg, FL 33701 
Phone: 727.895.5000

…when it came to neocons and their kneejerk support of Israel without regard to America’s interests.

Russell Kirk said:

they have been rash in their schemes of action, pursuing a fanciful democratic globaIism rather that the national interest of the United States; on such occasions I have tended to side with those moderate Libertarians who set their faces against foreign entanglements. And not seldom it has seemed as if some eminent Neoconservatives mistook Tel Aviv for the capital of the United States - a position they will have difficulty in maintaining, as matters drift in the Levant.

Seriously, people! Wake up! The Dems act like neocons on Israel too! This isn’t our fight so why do we have our elected representatives voting in support of Israel? It’s not enough that we bankroll their military with our unconstitutional foreign aid? Are we trying to make ourselves even bigger targets for Islamic terrorists? It’s time to listen to the advice of our Founders and quit picking sides. Again, the honorable Ron Paul is one of the only voices of reason on this issue.

The resolution in fact will lead the U.S. to become further involved in this conflict, promising ‘vigorous support and unwavering commitment to the welfare, security, and survival of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.’ Is it really in the interest of the United States to guarantee the survival of any foreign country? I believe it would be better to focus on the security and survival of the United States, the Constitution of which my colleagues and I swore to defend just this week at the beginning of the 111th Congress.