Does President Obama Listen to His Own Words?

If Obama wanted to protect the Palestinian victims, he wouldn’t have to bomb anyone.

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(WEST KINGSTON R.I.) - Yesterday, Mr. Obama went on TV to explain his military action to protect people in Libya.

He said: “Innocent people were targeted for killing. Hospitals and ambulances were attacked... Supplies of food and fuel were choked off. Water for hundreds of thousands of people... was shut off. Cities and towns were shelled, mosques were destroyed, and apartment buildings reduced to rubble. Military jets and helicopter gunships were unleashed upon people who had no means to defend themselves against assaults from the air.”

There is no doubt that Muammar Kaddafi is a tyrant abusing the people of Libya. But every one of Obama’s assertions applies equally to Benjamin Netanyahu’s treatment of the people of Palestine. In addition, Netanyahu confiscates Palestinian lands and destroys Palestinian homes. He prevents Palestinians from traveling in their own country, even for emergency medical care.

If Obama wanted to protect the Palestinian victims, he wouldn’t have to bomb anyone, He’d just need to stop giving our money and weapons to the Israeli oppressors, and stop protecting Israel from criticism at the U.N.

On Feb. 18, the U.N. Security Council took up a resolution against Netanyahu’s theft of Palestinian land. Of the 15 members of the Security Council, 14 voted for the resolution – including our allies the UK and France. But the resolution failed because Barack Obama vetoed it – on orders from the Israeli lobby.

Rod Driver studied engineering and mathematics at the University of Minnesota, receiving a Ph.D. in mathematics in 1960. He worked at Sandia Laboratories in Albuquerque for six years before taking a teaching position at the University of Rhode Island for 30 years. Rod says he became a 'peacenik' in 1951 (thanks to a few weeks on Pariss Island). He became particularly active in opposition to U.S. wars in Indochina and U.S. involvement in overthrowing governments and supporting dictators in Latin America and Iran. As the Vietnam war was winding down Rod began paying attention to the abuse of Palestinians - enabled with U.S. weapons and dollars, which has never stopped. Rod is the founder and president of the non-profit Justice First Foundation.

In Rhode Island Rod was an elected delegate to the state constitutional convention of 1986, Then he was elected a state representative for 10 years. At this time he is not in office. You can write to Rod Driver at this address: rod@roddriver.com