Friday October 20, 2023

October 20, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday October 20, 2023

Putin and Iran’s Calculated Exploitation of Israel-Palestine Crisis

The relentless conflict in Gaza places both Palestinian and Israeli civilians in a dire predicament. As Hamas, responsible for numerous deadly acts against Israel and hostage-taking, triggers a planned offensive by Israel's IDF in northern Gaza City, it is inevitable that innocent civilians will suffer the repercussions.

October 14, 2023

It’s no coincidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran, his pro-Hamas and Hezbollah funding ally, are capitalizing on the turmoil between Israel and Palestine to further their agenda. Their strategy? To sow chaos in the West by drawing them into the conflict and diverting attention away from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Iran’s proxy involvement in the destruction of Ukrainian lives through missile attacks.

The timing of their maneuvers couldn’t be more perfect for Putin, who finds himself celebrating his birthday while hundreds of Hamas militants enter Israel, resulting in the tragic loss of over 1,300 innocent civilians. For Moscow, the primary goal right now is to distract the world from its military aggression in Ukraine, where it has been involved in untold atrocities. To that end, they are actively working to undermine the United States and its allies, and the crisis in Israel serves their interests perfectly.

June 1, 2023

While we lack concrete proof that Russian leaders had prior knowledge of the Hamas attacks, there’s no doubt that the Kremlin is seizing this opportunity. Russia has escalated its support for Hamas through diplomacy and a propaganda offensive. Additionally, it’s using this crisis to ratchet up violence in Ukraine while the global community remains distracted. Senior Hamas official Ali Baraka even lauded Russia’s support in a recent interview with Russia Today, a state-controlled media outlet, acknowledging that Russia is content to see the United States embroiled in the Palestinian conflict, as it relieves pressure on Russia in Ukraine. It’s a cynical game of one war easing the pressure of another.

September 22, 2022

Analysis: What Putin Stands to Gain From Israel-Hamas War

While the precise extent of Russia’s military support for Hamas remains uncertain, there are telltale signs, such as Hamas being in possession of Russian licenses to manufacture Kalashnikov rifles and ammunition used in the assault. Reports have also suggested that Russia’s Wagner, a mercenary firm, may have assisted in training Hamas soldiers. Moreover, it’s believed that Palestinian terrorist groups are laundering illicit funds through a crypto exchange based in Moscow.

Although there is no confirmed direct military support from Russia to Hamas, it’s clear that the collaboration between Russia and Iran in Ukraine has indirectly benefitted Hamas. The shared technology and tactics developed in Ukraine have found their way into Hamas’s arsenal, such as armed drones used against Israeli targets.

February 25, 2022

Moreover, Moscow has turned its extensive propaganda machine into a pro-Hamas, anti-Western disinformation campaign. Even before the recent outbreak of hostilities, Russian media had been insinuating that U.S. arms meant for Ukraine ended up in the hands of terrorists plotting against Israel. Following the attack, pro-Russian videos of dubious origin circulated, accusing Ukraine of arming Hamas, some even masquerading as fake BBC reports.

Russian officials and propaganda outlets are unanimous in blaming the United States for the ongoing violence in Israel, arguing that Washington’s preoccupation with Ukraine has led to the neglect of mounting tensions in the Middle East. This is a deliberate ploy to drive a wedge in Western military support for Ukraine, demoralize Ukrainian society, and reassure Russian audiences that international society will ignore Ukraine’s war effort.

October 18, 2022

The relationship between Russia and Hamas isn’t new, with Putin hosting Hamas leaders in Moscow as early as 2006. Russia has never designated Hamas as a terrorist organization and has consistently taken a pro-Palestinian diplomatic stance. However, the recent events mark a stark departure from the previously cordial relations between Russia and Israel. Israel had been reluctant to overtly support Ukraine to avoid jeopardizing its ability to strike targets in Syria with Russia’s acquiescence. Now, Russia is committed to supporting Hamas and Iran, especially in diplomatic circles.

Opinion: The Israel-Hamas war is the latest proof Russia is a global agent of chaos

On October 13th, Russia introduced a draft resolution in the U.N. Security Council calling for an immediate cease-fire and condemning all acts of terrorism but conspicuously omitted any reference to Hamas. In a speech, Russia’s U.N. ambassador blamed the United States for the “looming war” in the Middle East and condemned Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians, squarely putting the blame on Washington.

Putin’s emphasis on blaming the United States instead of the terrorists reveals his true objectives. His priority is not to resolve the crisis but to link it to his broader conflict against the West. It is essential to recognize that Russia, Iran, and Hamas are working together to undermine the United States, Europe, Ukraine, and Israel.

As Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted in a speech to NATO, “the only difference is that there is a terrorist organization that attacked Israel, and here is a terrorist state that attacked Ukraine.”

In the coming days, President Biden will seek emergency funding for both Israel and Ukraine, and it is imperative that Congress swiftly approves both components of the package. If the United States were to abandon Ukraine by cutting off aid, Putin’s strategy would have achieved its nefarious goals. (AI)

Thursday October 19, 2023

October 19, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Biden walks a diplomatic tightrope in the Israel-Palestine conflict, facing party divisions over support for Israel. His cautious approach aims to defuse tensions and bolster his diplomatic reputation for potential re-election gains. The situation highlights the challenge of managing diverse constituencies.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday October 19, 2023

President Biden’s Diplomatic Balancing Act in the Israel-Palestine Conflict

October 14, 2023

As President Biden ventured into the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, he demonstrated a careful and calibrated approach to navigating one of the world’s most enduring crises. With escalating violence in the region and deep-rooted divisions within his own party, Biden’s diplomatic efforts are at a crucial juncture, posing both political risks and opportunities.

President Biden’s unwavering support for Israel following a devastating Hamas attack in Tel Aviv was an expected, yet bold move. The President’s stance, largely in line with Washington’s dominant position, earned him praise from both sides of the aisle. His extensive foreign policy experience made handling an international crisis seem like familiar territory, even amid grave geopolitical dangers.

News: White House confirms president won’t meet King Abdullah II, Palestinian leader Abbas or President al-Sisi of Egypt after airstrike

October 18, 2022

While foreign policy rarely takes center stage in American elections, Biden’s role as a statesman abroad, particularly if he can help de-escalate the rising tensions, could offer a welcome respite from the barrage of domestic challenges that have affected his approval ratings.

In Tel Aviv, Biden reaffirmed America’s support for Israel but, in a subtle shift, he offered humanitarian assistance to displaced Palestinians. He also cautioned against repeating past mistakes, referencing the U.S. response to the 9/11 attacks. This nuanced approach demonstrated Biden’s commitment to finding a path to peace in the region, even as tensions flared.

However, Biden’s task is made more challenging by the growing anger within the progressive wing of his party, especially as Israel intensified its military actions in Gaza. Progressive Democrats accused him of supporting a war that had already claimed the lives of thousands of Palestinians. This anger reached a peak after a deadly explosion at a Gaza City hospital, sparking protests across the Middle East and forcing Biden to cancel his planned visit to Jordan.

April 26, 2023

This precarious tightrope that Biden is walking reflects the complex nature of the Israel-Palestine conflict. While many Republicans have simplified the issue, seeing it in black and white terms, the progressive base of the Democratic Party views it through a different lens. Younger Democrats, in particular, are skeptical of Israeli policies toward Palestinians and are reluctant to support military action, even in response to a Hamas attack.

To address these concerns, a group of progressive members of Congress signed a letter calling for the restoration of essential supplies to Gaza. Another House resolution demanded an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire. While Biden’s defenders argue that he is privately pushing Israel to minimize civilian casualties, critics warn that if he aligns too closely with Israel, he may be held accountable for excessive use of force.

Opinion: President Biden’s Finest Hour

December 1, 2012

Amid this internal party strife, Biden’s trip to Israel is seen as an opportunity for de-escalation. Larry Cohen, chairman of Our Revolution, a left-wing political organization, expressed hope that the visit could prevent further violence.

Public opinion on this matter is mixed, with polls indicating that Americans are more confident in Biden’s ability to handle the Israel-Palestine conflict than domestic issues. However, the younger and more progressive wing of the Democratic Party remains skeptical of his approach, particularly when it comes to military support for Israel.

The key challenge for President Biden lies in balancing American interests, maintaining relations with a long-standing ally, and addressing the concerns of his party’s progressive wing. It’s a delicate act, but if he can successfully defuse tensions and contribute to a lasting peace, it may enhance his reputation as a seasoned diplomat and provide a welcome boost to his re-election bid. In the tumultuous world of foreign policy, Biden’s cautious and measured steps are a testament to his experience and diplomatic competence. (AI)

Editorial cartoon printed in the Hamilton Spectator and the Toronto Star.

Saturday October 14, 2023

October 14, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday October 14, 2023

Middle East Conflict Shifts to Ground Operations, Leaving Innocent Civilians in the Crossfire

The situation in the Middle East has taken a concerning turn, with Israel’s announcement of ground operations in the Gaza Strip, transitioning from an air campaign to a risky and complex ground offensive. Regrettably, the greatest casualties in this ongoing crisis continue to be the innocent civilians of Palestine and Israel, who are enduring unimaginable hardship. The pursuit of peace in the region remains a distant and elusive goal.

The announcement of ground operations by Israel in the Gaza Strip underscores the gravity of the situation. As a response to Hamas’s recent attacks in southern Israel, this shift further exacerbates the suffering of the people caught in the crossfire. In an attempt to mitigate the looming threat, Israel issued an evacuation order, compelling over a million people to leave the northern half of the Gaza Strip within a mere 24 hours, a move met with apprehension by many who were unsure of their fate.

News: How Hamas Overran Southern Israel and Killed 1,300

July 25, 2014

The situation on the ground is perilous, with Israeli forces targeting Palestinian rocket crews and seeking information about hostages. The tragic loss of innocent lives and the displacement of thousands evoke concerns of an impending humanitarian disaster. The reports of casualties and injuries, including women, children, and the elderly, on both sides of the conflict, highlight the urgent need for international intervention.

The evacuation order, which includes the densely populated Gaza City, has created confusion among civilians and aid workers who are already grappling with Israeli airstrikes and a territory-wide power blackout. The UN’s call for safe areas for civilians in Gaza is a step in the right direction, as it is crucial to protect the lives of innocent people who are trapped in the midst of this conflict.

News: Palestinians flee northern Gaza before expected Israeli ground invasion

The escalation of violence and loss of life in the region is a grim reminder of the need for a peaceful resolution. The world cannot afford to stand by as innocent civilians bear the brunt of political failures and diplomatic impasses. The pursuit of peace should be paramount, and international leaders must redouble their efforts to end this cycle of violence and suffering. (AI)

Friday July 16, 2021

July 23, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday July 16, 2021

Greens adopt a climate of cruelty in self-destructive attack on party leader

It is the sovereign purpose of the Green Party of Canada to save the world from planet-destroying global warming.

June 18, 2021

Its second purpose appears to be to badmouth Israel whenever an opportunity to do so presents itself.

It is really, really difficult to see how the second of these relates to the first. They are wildly dissimilar undertakings. For example, you may read hundreds and hundreds of books and articles about Israel and the Middle East and only rarely, if at all, come upon such phrases as carbon capture, biofuels, green new deal or tips on how to get the most out of your basement heater.

The topics or issues are, if you will forgive the phrase, a world apart, and yet within the Green party, the members’ stand on Israel apparently stimulates a passion surpassing even their horror of the planet’s imminent collapse.

October 7, 2020

Surely, I hear some mumbling, you exaggerate. Not at all. The recently elected leader of the Canadian greens, the accomplished Annamie Paul, has brought upon herself a great green fury. Not from any slackness on the global warming file. On global warming — the evils of oil companies, love of solar panels and giddiness over windmills — she is as green as the next planet saver, a veritable oak in the forest of green politics.

But on the matter of Israel, which as I’ve hinted has to be seen as desperately disconnected from any form of meteorological Armageddon, she had expressed a moderate view. In the most recent breakout of Middle East tension she called for “both sides to cease violence,” the burden of her position being that “Violence and confrontation will not bring resolution, only more suffering.”

That surely is an unexceptional statement. Indeed Ms. Paul’s words are intimately similar to the words and thoughts of the world’s most respected and venerated climate leader, Greta Thunberg. The gallant Ms. Thunberg spoke as the recent conflict raged: “I am not ‘against’ Israel or Palestine. Needless to say I’m against any form of violence or oppression from anyone or any part.”

October 14, 2015

But not on the side of the Canadian Green party, many of whose key figures and executives have been putting Annamie Paul through the political grinder, and being very public about it as well. They have relieved her of her staff. They are threatening an executive vote of non-confidence. Jenica Atwin, the only Green member ever elected in an Eastern climate (New Brunswick), took such offence from Paul’s moderate statement, that she is now gathered into the generous bosom of the Liberal party. Elizabeth May, who was originally a supporter of Ms. Paul, has been most uncharacteristically silent, as the new leader faces deep challenge and — check the Twitter feeds — some very harsh and frequent abuse.

In the most unkindest cut of all, Green party brass have moved to block the funding for their leader’s riding campaign. I have seen party leaders under siege and attack before. And these were real parties, by which I mean they had more than two or three seats in the House of Commons. In other words, the leadership was a real prize. But there is nothing in the memory to match the harshness and political cruelty directed to a leader who took over the position only nine months ago. And certainly nothing to match the grounds on which she is being attacked — the Middle East — which is, from any rational viewpoint, so utterly, almost infinitely unrelated to the one and central issue of every green party in the world: global warming.

September 17, 2007

The full-on public campaign against Annamie Paul coming from her own party’s supporters is as hot and heavy as any they have waged against Fort McMurray and the oilsands. And that’s a measurement that’s hard to meet.

But this little porch of a party that thinks it’s a mansion, is giving what it so likes to call “the old-line parties” a marvellous lesson in how to self-destruct with the most damage to your main issue, and how to drop below even a meagre two seats in Parliament once Prime Minister Justin Trudeau waves the election wand. It is also a first-class illustration of the old maxim, the smaller the prize, the messier the fight to own it. (Rex Murphy – The National Post)

Wednesday February 24, 2021

March 3, 2021 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday February 24, 2021

The upside of vaccine envy: If everyone else wants it, I want it, too

Like COVID-19, its grip is tightening and the spread is exponential. Vaccine envy is the latest pandemic phenomenon to spread across borders and deep into our psyches.

February 6, 2021

Vaccine envy taps into our most basic instincts. If somebody else has something, especially if it has value, I want it, too. And if I don’t have it, why don’t I?

Scarcity just feeds into the feeling. The rarer a commodity, the sharper the envy. If you’re old enough, you may remember the Cabbage Patch Kids fad, back in the early 1980s. A pretty mundane soft doll backed by astute marketing, it took the world by storm just before Christmas, causing huge demand and riots in stores as desperate parents kicked and scratched their way to the front of the queue.

By contrast, COVID vaccines are actually useful, so rarity causes people to go to extremes to get a head start on others.

In the U.S., where anything and everything is turned into a competition, vaccine envy has sparked an unseemly race to get a shot before your neighbour. The chaotic nature of the U.S. health-care system, where nobody is really in charge and vaccines are available in a dizzying array of locales, exaggerates the rush.

September 18, 2020

People line up in the cold for hours, wake up in the middle of the night to sign in to pharmacy websites, persistently call their doctor or volunteer at a vaccine clinic, in the hope of getting an unused dose at the end of the day. Of course, the wealthy have a huge advantage, willing as they are to pay cash or build a new hospital wing in return for a bit of Pfizer or Moderna.

The one-upmanship is particularly acute in Hollywood, where celebrities will do anything to get vaccinated. One producer told Vulture, “There are no more drug dealers in town. I can get any I want, and it doesn’t even matter, at this point. It’s the vaccine dealer that everybody wants on speed dial.”

The U.S. being a meritocracy, it also gives low-rollers a chance to be entrepreneurial when acting on their vaccine envy. The State of Massachusetts recently came up with the brilliant idea of encouraging the elderly to get to their mass vaccination sites by allowing any relative or caregiver who accompanies somebody over 75 to also get a vaccine. Suddenly, old people, who had been left alone and isolated since the start of the pandemic, were hugely popular.

Websites like Craigslist were soon brimming with invitations to the elderly, according to the New York Times. “I have a great driving record and a very clean Toyota Camry,” said one ad. “I can pay $100 cash, as well. I am a friendly conversationalist and will allow you to choose the music and show me all the pictures of your grandkids!”

January 7, 2021

Canadians are sure to mumble. At least in the U.S., they’ve got vaccines to fight over. Our supply seems to be sitting in a warehouse in Belgium, or frozen at a snowbound UPS facility in Louisville, Ky., of all places.

Here, vaccine envy has turned into a national psychosis, another reason to beat ourselves up for some fatal national flaw. Why can’t we be like Israel? Or Australia? Or Romania? If only we hadn’t sold Connaught Laboratories in 1989. One dual Canada-U.K. citizen praised the British response, noting that when he got sick with the disease in the spring, he received fabulous treatment from Britain’s National Health Service, which followed up his hospitalization with weekly home deliveries of tinned beans, bags of apples, and lavender soap. (Continued: iPolitics)