Greece Drops Charges Against American Captain in Gaza Freedom Flotilla II
Israel Loses Power

Israel's informational shortcomings and stumbles are catching up.

'The Audacity of Hope' held at port by Greek authorities after its first attempt to reach Gaza. CNN photo

(ATHENS / SALEM) - An American under arrest in Greece for his role in trying to aid Palestinians has been released.

Captain John Klusmire

We reported several hours ago that Captain John Klusmire was in Greek custody, under arrest for attempting to sail the humanitarian aid vessel Audacity of Hope out of Greece as part of a large international effort to end Israel's illegal siege of Gaza. (see: Audacity of Hope Captain John Klusmire and Athens Justice - Steve Greaves for Salem-News.com)

Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal reported from Athens. "He has not been fined for anything, and he is a free man. This after Greek authorities arrested him or detained him late on Friday as he tried to bring his ship out and take the passengers to Gaza".

It has already been a long and arduous journey for the hundreds of activists who've expelled a great amount of money, time and energy to see the mission through.

Many charge Israel with influencing Greek policy; which is now creating a detrimental scenario for the beleaguered people of Gaza, instead of simply helping the activists reach their destination.

Unusual trends taking place in the U.S. include positive mainstream media coverage of the flotilla effort, which is a switch from past regard. Established groups like KGO TV in San Francisco and the New York Times have carried stories that tell the story of these flotilla activists in a positive light. (see: KGO Tells Honest Story About Gaza Freedom Flotilla's Plight in Greece - Tim King Salem-News.com)

Over the last 12 months we have seen the emergence of many details of deadly 2010 flotilla attack. Israel crashed that party with sniper rounds striking photographers with bullets in the forehead. One lie after another was issued, up to and including fake audio insertions Israel at first claimed were real, in which a flotilla captain was alleged to have said:

The MV Mavi Marmara aid- carrying ship leaving Antalya, Turkey for Gaza 22 May 2010

"Salaam, go back to Auschwitz",

and "We're just helping Arabs go against the U.S., don't forget 911 guys".

As we cover The Audacity of Hope we can also explore the audacity of Israeli policy makers. They have all the money and technology one could seek, yet the Israeli's completely lack of understanding of American culture allows really big mistakes.

Did Israel's spinmasters really think they could sell that to the world? Again, massive cultural misunderstandings, we Americans may be sheepish but we know bullshit when it stares us in the face. Hey Israel, keep those guys in place, they are doing far more to hurt your cause than aid it.

This is the clip the Israelis released: "Radio Transmission from Mavi Marmara to Israeli Navy", which they claimed was real, but turned out to be fabricated. (see: Mavi Mamara Audio Released by IDF Appears to be Forged - Bonnie King Salem-News.com)

The clip to the left is the original released by Israel, the one to the right is the actual unmodified version. The severity of Israel's official public mistruths should be enough to sway any government away from open support, however it didn't phase the U.S.

Along with the fact that several of the nine killed men were killed "execution style" by Israeli government forces, according to the United Nations Human Rights Commission report; is the thwarting of Israel's claims of not approaching with live ammunition. It almost seems like Israel has front line misinformation as well as a second or even third line of resistance woven into their PR approach.

What can safely be concluded for the record; it the well-established fact that Israel not only issues false and defamatory statements to the world court without hesitation, but that it engages in 'hasbara' propaganda wars that seek to maintain the destabilization of truth, which in itself might be the worst attribute, because governments are expected to have a system in place to ensure integrity. Israel does not seek to have one.

We have interviewed both our writer Ken O'Keefe who was aboard the Mavi Marmara, and Canadian activist Kevin Neish, at length about what happened that night. If you have a value for first-hand accounts that are backed by lengthy UN reports, watch the video below.

Mavi Marmara Witness features eye witness accounts. Salem-News.com video

There is little to suggest they are not telling the complete truth based upon their observations, when reviewing the only video that activists were able to sneak past their Israeli interrogators. Iara Lee, an outspoken activist who was aboard the Mavi Marmara, did manage to slip her SD card out and the evidence was damning toward Israel.

Still, Israel went so far with their propaganda war, that they went into a studio and produced a song that mimicked 'We are the world' from the 1980's totally making fun of people aboard the ship they killed that pivotal night. As a result of Israel's attack on the Mavi Marmara, the border opening at Rafah has been partly opened, and while restricted, it is allowing movement for Palestinians that has not existed in years.

It seems clear that this direct activism is winning the war against injustice.

The brother-in-law of Captain John Klusmire, Steve Greaves, told Salem-News.com that, "A kinder, more courteous gentleman you won't find. He did not deserve any of the disrespect and inhumane treatment the Greeks have imposed on him."

I think that due to the actions of these brave activists and mariners, and the Greek court, change is solidly taking place.

Mavi Marmara image courtesy: IHH

Al Jazeera's Jamal Elshayyal agrees, saying, "Many viewed that the case today would be indicative of how likely it would be that this flotilla would actually set sail altogether."

Elshayyal added, "And it seems that there is reason for optimism on the part of the participants, since now their captain has been set free."

Greece's coast guard said on Saturday that the captain of The Audacity of Hope faced charges of trying to leave port without permission and of endangering the lives of the boat's passengers. Greece's cooperation with Israel was only a small setback it seems.

As Elshayyal stated in the al Jazeera report, this US boat is one of nine vessels carrying several hundred activists attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. Some of the passengers on the US ship have remained on board in solidarity with the jailed captain, while others headed home.

While the news of the release of the U.S. ship captain is good, there is another unusual reward in this that many may not have seen; it is a song that puts everything about that mess into perspective.

Bearing in mind the complexity of the story of the Mavi Marmara and the massive amounts of propaganda put forth by Israel, Internet Killed Israeli PR by Minor Demographic Threat is something none of us will soon forget.

_________________________________________________________

Tim King: Salem-News.com Editor and Writer

Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines.

Tim holds awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Silver Spoke Award by the National Coalition of Motorcyclists (2011), Excellence in Journalism Award by the Oregon Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs (2010), Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), First-place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Tim has several years of experience in network affiliate news TV stations, having worked as a reporter and photographer at NBC, ABC and FOX stations in Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Tim was a member of the National Press Photographer's Association for several years and is a current member of the Orange County Press Club.

Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website. As News Editor, Tim among other things, is responsible for publishing the original content of 93 Salem-News.com writers in more that 20 countries. He reminds viewers that emails are easily missed and urges those trying to reach him, to please send a second email if the first goes unanswered. You can write to Tim at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com. Another way to reach Tim is by leaving a comment on any Salem-News.com story, specify 'message to Tim'

Americans for a Stronger Israel

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