Trump Revels In War Crimes; Israel Ethnically Cleanses Lebanon In Darkness w/ Zahra Hankir | MR Live
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Donald Trump explicitly threatened war crimes against Iran, including bombing power plants and bridges, and seizing oil, while simultaneously suggesting negotiations were ongoing.
- ❖US and Israeli forces have bombed civilian infrastructure in Iran, including Sharif University and petrochemical plants, and continue to strike Lebanon and Gaza.
- ❖Israel is conducting an 'ethnic cleansing' campaign in southern Lebanon, demolishing villages, seizing territory, and using white phosphorus, with minimal Western media attention.
- ❖At least 11 journalists have been killed in Lebanon since October 2023, with Israel admitting to targeting a clearly marked press vehicle.
- ❖Western media's coverage of Lebanon is criticized for being framed as 'spillover' from the Iran war, simplifying complex internal dynamics, and failing to focus on the severe humanitarian crisis.
- ❖Over one million Lebanese (20% of the population) have been displaced, facing full shelters and sectarian tensions exacerbated by Israeli warnings to Christian communities not to host Shia or Druze neighbors.
- ❖Maine Senate candidate Graham Platoner advocates for immediately cutting all US military aid to Israel, stating that not a 'single taxpayer dollar should be spent on arming and defending a country that commits a genocide.'
Insights
1Trump's Open Threats of War Crimes Against Iran
Donald Trump explicitly articulated threats of war crimes against Iran via Truth Social and in interviews, detailing plans to bomb civilian infrastructure like power plants and bridges, and to 'take the oil.' The hosts frame this as 'rapist bully language' and compare it to historical figures like Curtis LeMay, who advocated bombing North Vietnam 'into the Stone Age.' These threats were made even as Trump claimed negotiations were underway, creating a contradictory and dangerous foreign policy stance.
Trump's Truth Social decree: 'Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day, all wrapped up in one in Iran. There will be nothing like it. Open the straight, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in hell. Just watch.' (). He also stated, 'If it were up to me, I'd take the oil.' ()
2Underreported Ethnic Cleansing and Media Failure in Lebanon
Zahra Hankir highlights a severe lack of Western media coverage on Israel's ongoing 'ethnic cleansing' campaign in southern Lebanon. Israeli forces are demolishing villages, seizing territory, and using white phosphorus, leading to over a million displaced people (20% of Lebanon's population). Hankir notes that 11 journalists have been killed in Lebanon since October 2023, with Israel admitting to targeting a clearly marked press vehicle. Western media is criticized for framing the conflict as 'spillover' and simplifying Hezbollah's role, ignoring the humanitarian crisis and sectarian divisions exacerbated by Israel.
Hankir states, 'Israel's using things like white phosphorus in southern Lebanon southern Lebanon. That's a war crime.' (). She also mentions, 'There have been at least 11 journalists killed in Lebanon since October 2023. Three journalists were killed on March 28th. They were targeted and Israel admitted to targeting that vehicle which was clearly marked as press.' ()
3Graham Platoner's Stance on US Aid to Israel
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platoner is praised for his unequivocal position on US military aid to Israel. He publicly stated that not 'a single taxpayer dollar should be spent on arming and defending a country that commits a genocide.' Platoner supports restricting military aid and expressed long-term difficulty in seeing Israel as a close working partner given its current actions, offering a 'vision for the day after' that contrasts sharply with more moderate political figures.
Platoner's quote: 'Not a single taxpayer dollar should be spent on arming and defending a country that COMMITS A GENOCIDE.' (). He added, 'It is going to be very difficult for me to ever be able to look at them again and see someone that we should be working with closely.' ()
4Israel's Exploitation of Lebanese Sectarian Divisions
Zahra Hankir explains that Israel is actively exploiting and fanning existing sectarian divisions within Lebanon to further its agenda. This includes targeting predominantly Shia areas and allegedly issuing warnings to Christian communities not to host displaced Shia or Druze neighbors. This tactic is framed as part of a targeted ethnic cleansing campaign, leveraging historical alignments and internal schisms to destabilize the country and weaken resistance.
Hankir states, 'Israel is fanning the flames of some of those sectarian divisions' () and mentions, 'There's Israeli officials that actually had said you know, to Christian communities for example, do not host or hide Lebanese or Druze.' ()
Lessons
- Critically evaluate mainstream media coverage of Middle Eastern conflicts, especially regarding Lebanon, and seek out alternative sources from journalists on the ground to get a more nuanced perspective.
- Support political candidates like Graham Platoner who advocate for a re-evaluation of US foreign aid to countries accused of human rights abuses or genocide.
- Understand the geopolitical implications of 'failed states' and how such conditions can be exploited by belligerent actors to expand influence and seize territory, as discussed in the context of Lebanon and Syria.
- Recognize and challenge the simplification of complex geopolitical actors like Hezbollah, understanding their dual roles as political parties and social service providers within their communities.
Quotes
"Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day, all wrapped up in one in Iran. There will be nothing like it. Open the straight, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in hell. Just watch. Praise be to Allah, President Donald J. Trump."
"This is less of a war and more of a terrorism spree by our government and Israel."
"Not a single taxpayer dollar should be spent on arming and defending a country that COMMITS A GENOCIDE."
"It is going to be very difficult for me to ever be able to look at them again and see someone that we should be working with closely."
"Israel's using things like white phosphorus in southern Lebanon southern Lebanon. That's a war crime."
"This is the deadliest period on record for journalists because of Israel's targeted killing of journalists in Gaza and Lebanon."
Q&A
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