Ralph devotes the entire program to challenging the “official” count of 60 thousand fatalities reported so far in the genocide Israel, aided and abetted by the United States, has perpetrated on the Palestinians in Gaza.
Germany sends $500 million so Ukraine can fight back. When Palestinians resist decades of occupation, they’re called terrorists. Occupied people everywhere have the same right: freedom. 🇵🇸
Dr. Feroze Sidhwa has all of the necessary facts to substantiate the massive number of noncombatant deaths in Gaza at the hands of Israel, the US, and allies of the US. The intent to wipe out a particular class of people, in this case Palestinians, is the textbook definition of genocide. The International rules of war are clear about the crime of crimes, genocide. That’s the single most important lesson coming out of World War II, and that is genocide is the crime of crimes. There are other laws of war that apply to the Israel/Gaza war, but they pale when compared to the willful eradication of innocent civilians in Gaza. We could talk all day about proportionality in war and the protection of women, children, and men who are noncombatants, but what is clear here is that the nation founded after the Nazi genocide is itself carrying out a methodical genocide.
What can be done to stop this lethal insanity? As heroic students, professors, and men and women on the streets in the US found out in 2024, the US, the main supplier of Israeli arms and major supporter of its aggression, will go to extreme lengths in order to criminalize protest here and substitute near silence instead of protest.
Theodore Postal is accurate in his assessment of what the weapons supplied to Israel for its war can and have done to masses of Palestinians.
I think that Hannah Arendt was accurate when she cited the banality of evil in considering how mass atrocities were carried out by Germany and its allies during World War II. The lack of a moral compass is also part of the dehumanized nature of such people.
Thank you to both Dr. Sidhwa and Professor Postal for providing this important information and their insights. And thank you to the programmers. This is the kind of information and discussion we are not getting elsewhere. I had to just turn off a cable “news” program in which a former ambassador to Russia bemoaned the red carpet treatment Trump accorded Putin, emphasizing that Putin is an international war criminal and that it is a shameful anomaly that we invited Putin to the U.S. and treated him so well. Of course this former ambassador said nothing about Netanyahu’s trips to Washington and his having been feted by both Republicans and Democrats. The ambassador betrayed not a hint of embarrassment or irony (or awareness of hypocrisy) in his comments. I had a similar reaction of disgust when I read an op-ed in the NYT today about Gaza. What does it say about us when watching and listening to the MSM in this country makes us feel ill — not because of the truth of the coverage, but because of its opposite? Thanks to Mr. Nader and his team for their reliable integrity and commitment. In a sea of cynical propaganda, listening to this site is like reaching a lifeboat.
The body count of Gaza kinda reminds me of the Nam body count of my buddies on that wall in Washington. After being drafted 11 bravo in 66 and by 70's things were just starting to whined down , but trickey Dick (Nixon) kept it going for a few more years , by then you became an official " short timer " you just wanted to get out ,ets to nowhere or anywhere.
So is Trump or Ben a trickey Dick in discise? Are they going to let this war go on for another 2 or 3 years ? Didn't that guy trump say " on day ,"one " it would be over ' I think Ben's not going to stop this War until the word Hamas has been erased from his Jewish dictionary.
The world does not see Gaza like Trump as a real estate deal on the Mediterranean , nor Ben's one state solution.
I got news for trump and Ben .
Nobody ever gets everything in life just the way they thought they wanted it .
How many more up on that Gaza wall before they learn their lesson ?
Thank you for this program. The horror of this intentional cruelty deepens. My own country continues to make this unspeakable suffering and death possible. I want us to cut all funds and weapons to Israel. I sign petitions to Congress. Congress gives a standing ovation to Netanyahu. I feel anguished and impotent.
A lot of great reporting. The people of Gaza do they really need to be provided a number of their dead to know Hamas is not protecting them. Israel is an occupying force and is systematically starving Gaza to death. Bombing them daily, a graveyard .The US is responsicble for the ongoing Genocide. Prior to October 7th Palestinians lived under apartheid conditions. Israel has attacked Lebanon, Syria also occupies it, Yeman & Iran. Our US war machine funds it all.
Than people wonder why extremist take hold , and hate is all they feel. Those children who survive , that had everything ripped away from them while the world watched , will hate and revenge be a goal.
You clearly know nothing whatsoever about Hamas, which is a political party. For the uneducated in the crowd, the al Qassam Brigades are the armed wing of the political party, Hamas. And your sentiments are NOT echoed by the Palestinians, who know very well that but for the al Qassam Brigades, Soraya al Quds, the Lions of Shujiaiya, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as well as the other several groups operant in Gaza, and the Axis of Resistance overall, EVERYONE WOULD ALREADY BE DEAD.
I read your comments , in terms of ongoing Hamas resistance or specific groups yes correct I am not versed. These groups may provide protections as you indicated or stop more deaths.
The humanitarian crisis was the point of my comment.
Then why bring up "Hamas" at all??? They have NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with the humanitarian crisis which lies entirely at the feet of the U.S, Israel, Britain, France, Germany, and Canada.
I'd prefer these comments be civil. We're all learning from each other. When you start a sentence with "You clearly know nothing whatsoever about Hamas..." that's condescending. Everyone is frustrated with the policies being enacted in our name. We need to have that conversation and not lord our own particular expertise over someone else. We need to help each other understand and tone is important.
I referred to Hamas in response to the statement made in the show that an undercount being part of how Hamas may suffer politically if a more factual number was reported.
Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7th and there is no equivalency for the genocide in Gaza. However Hamas has a responsibility as we all collectively do to work to stop it. Americans may be under informed as I said I am not familiar with the different groups of Hamas . My voice was raised because I care, not indifferent .
I can appreciate you are not indifferent, and I'm grateful for that. If you're interested, I have a great list of independent investigative journalists, indigenous to, and for the most part, reporting directly from, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. Peace. ❤️
Are you seriously speaking against Iran who says they do not want a bomb
⁉️to give Israel some credit here⁉️ on the same program where you bring so much great information about the horror that America and Israel is bringing on the world by the way‼️disgusting absolutely maddening all of you on this program🤬the typical old white men crap, with the same old white man attitude. That has gotten us to the shithole country we are today! which is not American anymore! We need to respect other countries and what they say. We need to leave Iran alone. They are not being aggressive to anyone outside of their protection of themselves. I’m so disgusted with this conversation. I’m so disgusted. There is and never was any reason to go after Iran, except that Israel wanted us to. The assumptions you’re making here are just lies. They’re just lies‼️
Not sure what you're talking about. We were not speaking against Iran. Professor Postol was talking about how the U.S. and Israel were hyping the extent of the damage the bombing did to the nuclear facilities in Iran. Please quote the offending passages. Otherwise, your "old white man" rant makes no sense. By the way, Ralph is a person of Middle Eastern heritage and does not really qualify as an "old white man."
The much too in depth comments on how easily or capable Iran is of making a bomb when that is not there thinking. Not every country thinks of a bomb when they think of nuclear power. That’s something Israel made up. And the propaganda that brings us to this violent country, we live in The old white man comment is in reference to who’s been running this country, America. (by the way, I’m an old white woman) Everything is about war and power. The reality is, the world is moving beyond us. It’s about saving the planet. It’s about respecting individual countries and their sovereignty. It’s not about the “strong man”if you prefer that to old white man. Basically, I feel that segment fed into the lies and propaganda from Israel to justify are going after a country that is not coming after us. This is not about Ralph Nader and all of you on the Ralph Nader radio hour who I love, and support. this about this is about watching our words because the words, are why we are, where we are in Gaza today.
Maureen, I respect your point of view. But I believe the point Postol was making is that this attack is actually encouraging Iran to develop a bomb. And their wanting a bomb would be completely understandable. They would be smart to do it. Because the "old white men" don't mess with the countries that have nuclear weapons.
Thank you I appreciate your respect. I realize my thinking is idealistic, but I wish America really did aim to promote peace in the world. Because then we would respect other countries sovereignty. At this point, we both know that’s not gonna happen. So I can imagine someone saying in the next day or two, to someone else; I heard on the Ralph Nader radio hour that they can build a bomb and X number of days or weeks and nothing good comes from that rhetoric.
Thank you for hearing me.
I’m genuinely honored by your response and giving me this space to clarify my point.
Hopefully the broader platform and firmer more secure foundation for such highly contested regions as Muddle East is that which MaureenB and RalphN seem properly focused upon. No more state of Human Fear\Exploitation globally traded products that go boom in the night (or anywhere at any time) need be deployed.
As Churchill fairly often said (his intentions are questionable, the contexts and quote deployment motives & uses vary, as do those of the most saintly appearing, humanitarian aiming human being):
Please investigate the recent arrest in Las Vegas for Tom Alexandrovich, an Israeli CEO of Israel’s cybersecurity. He was arrested in a sting operation for online predators and children. He was released and returned to Israel. This just happened this past week.
An excellent program about a topic very near to my own heart, the undercount of the dead, and as I've posted repeatedly on FB myself about the undercount, I've implored people to STOP ALLOWING US and ISRAEL TO DEFINE THE SCALE OF CARNAGE THEY ARE INFLICTING. We must break through this barrier, which I feel is critical to turning the tide of "statements" into "actions." In particular, it is in this context that I want to both thank, and express my profound disappointment in Ralph Nader.
I am grateful for your work on this topic, which I took to heart immediately when you first questioned the numbers being reported. Your initial concern on the issue of deliberate undercounting was certainly the first expression of that sentiment expressed by a public figure, and for that you are to be lauded.
However, I am APPALLED that you would name "Hamas" in this program as the #1 reason that the undercount exists in the first place, which, quite honestly, is so offensive, I will have to, going forward, note my direct opposition to this declaration any time I repost you work. It's an abject demonstration of a complete capitulation to the most despicable Hasbara propaganda and lies and suggests you haven't spent even one moment actually investigating who the RESISTANCE FIGHTERS are, who should not be conflated with "terrorists" created/funded/nurtured nonstop for DECADES by the US and Israel, e.g., al Qaeda, al Nusra Front, ISIS, HTS, takfiri - all WAHABIST HEAD CHOPPING MONSTERS.
You undermine your stated support for the Palestinians by your immediate willingness to throw their DEFENDERS under the bus without a second thought, which implies that in the final analysis, perhaps you only care about dead Palestinians.
IF you care to educate yourself, here's two resources to get you started - Jeremy Scahill's deep dive investigation into the claims Israel "created" Hamas - a frank lie meant to sow division among the Palestinians (unsuccessfully so, as they well understand that but for the al Qassam Brigades and other resistance fighters operant in Gaza, EVERYONE WOULD ALREADY BE DEAD), as well as confuse stupid Americans who can't be bothered to educate themselves well enough to distinguish between the different groups and simply find it easier to lump them all together - in effect, RACISM PERSONIFIED.
The second is to refer you to Electronic Intifada's weekly Thursday livestream, where senior editor and extraordinary military analyst, Jon Elmer, explains in great detail not only the current operations of each of the resistance groups operating in the Middle East (which is at least 10 groups in Gaza, as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Ansarallah in Yemen), but also explains their ethics and dedication to faith. Unlike Israel's facetious and thoroughly spurious claims of being the "most moral army in the world," NONE of the members of the Axis of Resistance (which includes Iran) do ANY of the following: MURDER CIVILIANS (including women and children); rape, torture, or starve ANYONE; murder doctors and emergency medical personnel; murder journalists; destroy civilian infrastructure; or destroy water treatment and public utility facilities.
For someone who has the platform you do, Mr. Nader, it's really past time for you to DO BETTER on this subject. Surely, the Palestinians deserve at least that much before Israel and the US succeed in their desired total annihilation and extermination campaign, don't you think?
“Remember the Holocaust,” “Never again”, yeah right. Why remember it when similar atrocities are being inflicted on people with the same DNA?
It seems like no one wants to talk about it, but I will. Religion, RELIGION, is the root cause of many of the world's problems. Just look at the history of our world. It’s a grim history. The terrible things that humans have done to each other throughout history can be considered demonic. Yet, people go about their lives as if it's normal. Many claim to worship God and believe that when they die, they will go to Heaven. If that were true, then I guess Heaven must be just as troubled as life on Earth.
When I was in elementary school and first learned about the destructive power of atomic and nuclear weapons, I thought about how different the world might have been if the Nazis had developed them first. At first, I believed the best way to stop such weapons was to shoot them down from outer space. However, after some reflection, I realized that a more effective solution would be to target the people and armies responsible for their use rather than harming innocent people.
This idea was inspired by a passage I read in the Bible, specifically 2 Kings 19:35: “And that night Jehovah’s angel went out and killed a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp: the first thing in the morning they were all found dead corpses.” – The Bible in Living English
The passage recounts how Sennacherib, the king of the Assyrian Empire, sought to conquer the two-tribe kingdom of Judah. He successfully captured several cities and intended to take Jerusalem, which he believed would soon surrender to him. What Sennacherib did not realize was that God was protecting Jerusalem. As he camped his soldiers outside the city walls, God sent an angel to the Assyrian camp one night, resulting in the death of 185,000 soldiers. Faced with the loss of his most formidable warriors, Sennacherib had no choice but to retreat home, defeated.
As I grew older and saw the evils in the world, my perspective began to change. I became disillusioned and felt a deep sense of hopelessness about humanity. Why bother thinking about creating another devastating superweapon if it will only lead to more suffering, like what is currently happening in Gaza? This world is broken. Why waste the effort trying to save it for those who are corrupt? God should remove the evil from the world, just as He did when He sent a flood to cleanse it.
Finally, AOL announced this week that they will end their Dial-up internet service in September, Ars Technica reports. AOL launched their Dial-up service in 1991, helping to usher in the era of widespread internet adoption. While this may seem like a natural step in terms of technological advancement, US Census data from 2022 shows that approximately 175,000 American households still connect to the Internet through dial-up services. As this article notes, “These users typically live in rural areas where broadband infrastructure doesn't exist or remains prohibitively expensive to install.” In effect, this move could leave these rural communities completely without internet, a problem compounded by the Trump administration’s decision earlier this year to “abandon key elements of a $42.45bn Biden-era plan to connect rural communities to high-speed internet,” per the Guardian. It should be considered a national disgrace if both the private sector and the government leave these rural communities behind.
I think Ralph is mistaken to think Hamas has an interest in an artificially low death count. As Ralph himself said, they knew they would provoke a huge and violent response. So if they knew that why would their further plan be to try to hide the reality of that violence (through an under count)? The people of Gaza can see what is happening, they do not need an official count to know. That cannot be hidden from the people experiencing it. Therefore it seems entirely unwarranted to think Hamas is trying to under count the victims.
Why are their numbers low? The show explained that. They only count deaths they can verify. That is professional of them, but more important if they did not do that they would discredit themselves. Nobody would believe anything they said, but thus far it seems the Health Ministry is reliable in its numbers.
As Hamas knew massive destruction was coming, surely that was part of what they planned for. Indeed, what seems most likely, they were counting on it. I have called this a variation of Gandhian strategy. They provoke what they know will be an irrationally violent response, hoping the world will acknowledge it and respond to it, and respond to their plight overall.
They are counting on the world knowing the real death count. They are not irrational, which the racists assume. The world responded to and ended apartheid once before and Hamas is trying to get the world to do so again.
So, no, Hamas does not have an interest in an undercount. They need the full truth to come out. They bet everything, literally, everything on the world seeing the predictable horror and acting to do something. They are likely shocked the world is taking so long to respond (I am). Will their population agree with them making that bet? I don't know. But that is the bet they made.
Will the world do something? I do not know but maybe. If Ralph is correct -- that real numbers will move masses of people -- then maybe the masses will move governments to create some just arrangement (one or two states, I think one secular but up to all of the people there), and eventually war crimes trials.
I posted a link to this substack on David Cay Johnston's Facebook page as he was finally discussing the Gaza carnage and the murders of fellow journalists. He's had a number of his followers attack him and others who supported the obvious genocide, using all manner of foul and disgusting language. Such people should be de-platformed for obvious profanity and abuse but Facebook rejects such reports.
Netanyahu was involved in the planning of Rabin's assassination because the Oslo II Accords (1995) would allow Palestinians to 'grow roots' and block any chance of the canal (once known as the Ben Gurion canal). On Oct 8 2023, I knew that Netanyahu was grateful for the attack of Oct 7 and that he was most grateful for Israeli hostages, so that he would have an excuse to finally clear the area of Palestinians. Would not matter to Netanyahu if all the hostages were released, this was Netanyahu's last chance for the canal.
In late 1963, the proposed Ben-Gurion canal was shelved after analysis that there were too many Palestinians in the proximity of where the canal would be built.
The correct solution is for Egypt to give 10% of the Suez canal back to the French, so that the French can provide security forces and experts at the canal that assures the rest of the world that access for international shipping will remain open. Ever since Egypt's Nassar stole (nationalized) the canal from the French and the British, many times the Egyptians used the canal for their personal and political agendas, which is depraved.
The problem with the correct solution is the Arab culture that they don't see anything wrong when the canal was stolen or when American-built oil wells were stolen (nationalized). Not ideal for encouraging foreign capital investment.
I believe you are overstating the case against Hamas. Give your hard data basis for your comments! My measure for Jewish Americans is whether they EVER supported AIPAC or any other lobbyist/funders meddling with our system-legislators. Not acceptable.
I don't disagree. And a number of people we've interviewed on the program have said the same thing. People know when their family has been killed. They don't need the numbers.
see my comments above. Nader is way, way off base concerning "Hamas." His comments on that topic are nothing more than a reflection of reflexive US/Israeli propaganda and lies, and are certainly not an informed position on the subject of resistance fighters operating either in Gaza, or the Middle East overall.
Germany sends $500 million so Ukraine can fight back. When Palestinians resist decades of occupation, they’re called terrorists. Occupied people everywhere have the same right: freedom. 🇵🇸
Dr. Feroze Sidhwa has all of the necessary facts to substantiate the massive number of noncombatant deaths in Gaza at the hands of Israel, the US, and allies of the US. The intent to wipe out a particular class of people, in this case Palestinians, is the textbook definition of genocide. The International rules of war are clear about the crime of crimes, genocide. That’s the single most important lesson coming out of World War II, and that is genocide is the crime of crimes. There are other laws of war that apply to the Israel/Gaza war, but they pale when compared to the willful eradication of innocent civilians in Gaza. We could talk all day about proportionality in war and the protection of women, children, and men who are noncombatants, but what is clear here is that the nation founded after the Nazi genocide is itself carrying out a methodical genocide.
What can be done to stop this lethal insanity? As heroic students, professors, and men and women on the streets in the US found out in 2024, the US, the main supplier of Israeli arms and major supporter of its aggression, will go to extreme lengths in order to criminalize protest here and substitute near silence instead of protest.
Theodore Postal is accurate in his assessment of what the weapons supplied to Israel for its war can and have done to masses of Palestinians.
I think that Hannah Arendt was accurate when she cited the banality of evil in considering how mass atrocities were carried out by Germany and its allies during World War II. The lack of a moral compass is also part of the dehumanized nature of such people.
Thank you to both Dr. Sidhwa and Professor Postal for providing this important information and their insights. And thank you to the programmers. This is the kind of information and discussion we are not getting elsewhere. I had to just turn off a cable “news” program in which a former ambassador to Russia bemoaned the red carpet treatment Trump accorded Putin, emphasizing that Putin is an international war criminal and that it is a shameful anomaly that we invited Putin to the U.S. and treated him so well. Of course this former ambassador said nothing about Netanyahu’s trips to Washington and his having been feted by both Republicans and Democrats. The ambassador betrayed not a hint of embarrassment or irony (or awareness of hypocrisy) in his comments. I had a similar reaction of disgust when I read an op-ed in the NYT today about Gaza. What does it say about us when watching and listening to the MSM in this country makes us feel ill — not because of the truth of the coverage, but because of its opposite? Thanks to Mr. Nader and his team for their reliable integrity and commitment. In a sea of cynical propaganda, listening to this site is like reaching a lifeboat.
The body count of Gaza kinda reminds me of the Nam body count of my buddies on that wall in Washington. After being drafted 11 bravo in 66 and by 70's things were just starting to whined down , but trickey Dick (Nixon) kept it going for a few more years , by then you became an official " short timer " you just wanted to get out ,ets to nowhere or anywhere.
So is Trump or Ben a trickey Dick in discise? Are they going to let this war go on for another 2 or 3 years ? Didn't that guy trump say " on day ,"one " it would be over ' I think Ben's not going to stop this War until the word Hamas has been erased from his Jewish dictionary.
The world does not see Gaza like Trump as a real estate deal on the Mediterranean , nor Ben's one state solution.
I got news for trump and Ben .
Nobody ever gets everything in life just the way they thought they wanted it .
How many more up on that Gaza wall before they learn their lesson ?
Good luck America have a great day my friends
Thank you for this program. The horror of this intentional cruelty deepens. My own country continues to make this unspeakable suffering and death possible. I want us to cut all funds and weapons to Israel. I sign petitions to Congress. Congress gives a standing ovation to Netanyahu. I feel anguished and impotent.
A lot of great reporting. The people of Gaza do they really need to be provided a number of their dead to know Hamas is not protecting them. Israel is an occupying force and is systematically starving Gaza to death. Bombing them daily, a graveyard .The US is responsicble for the ongoing Genocide. Prior to October 7th Palestinians lived under apartheid conditions. Israel has attacked Lebanon, Syria also occupies it, Yeman & Iran. Our US war machine funds it all.
Than people wonder why extremist take hold , and hate is all they feel. Those children who survive , that had everything ripped away from them while the world watched , will hate and revenge be a goal.
You clearly know nothing whatsoever about Hamas, which is a political party. For the uneducated in the crowd, the al Qassam Brigades are the armed wing of the political party, Hamas. And your sentiments are NOT echoed by the Palestinians, who know very well that but for the al Qassam Brigades, Soraya al Quds, the Lions of Shujiaiya, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as well as the other several groups operant in Gaza, and the Axis of Resistance overall, EVERYONE WOULD ALREADY BE DEAD.
I read your comments , in terms of ongoing Hamas resistance or specific groups yes correct I am not versed. These groups may provide protections as you indicated or stop more deaths.
The humanitarian crisis was the point of my comment.
Then why bring up "Hamas" at all??? They have NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with the humanitarian crisis which lies entirely at the feet of the U.S, Israel, Britain, France, Germany, and Canada.
I'd prefer these comments be civil. We're all learning from each other. When you start a sentence with "You clearly know nothing whatsoever about Hamas..." that's condescending. Everyone is frustrated with the policies being enacted in our name. We need to have that conversation and not lord our own particular expertise over someone else. We need to help each other understand and tone is important.
I referred to Hamas in response to the statement made in the show that an undercount being part of how Hamas may suffer politically if a more factual number was reported.
Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7th and there is no equivalency for the genocide in Gaza. However Hamas has a responsibility as we all collectively do to work to stop it. Americans may be under informed as I said I am not familiar with the different groups of Hamas . My voice was raised because I care, not indifferent .
I can appreciate you are not indifferent, and I'm grateful for that. If you're interested, I have a great list of independent investigative journalists, indigenous to, and for the most part, reporting directly from, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. Peace. ❤️
Yes I would very much appreciate the list. ✌️ Thank you.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Are you seriously speaking against Iran who says they do not want a bomb
⁉️to give Israel some credit here⁉️ on the same program where you bring so much great information about the horror that America and Israel is bringing on the world by the way‼️disgusting absolutely maddening all of you on this program🤬the typical old white men crap, with the same old white man attitude. That has gotten us to the shithole country we are today! which is not American anymore! We need to respect other countries and what they say. We need to leave Iran alone. They are not being aggressive to anyone outside of their protection of themselves. I’m so disgusted with this conversation. I’m so disgusted. There is and never was any reason to go after Iran, except that Israel wanted us to. The assumptions you’re making here are just lies. They’re just lies‼️
Not sure what you're talking about. We were not speaking against Iran. Professor Postol was talking about how the U.S. and Israel were hyping the extent of the damage the bombing did to the nuclear facilities in Iran. Please quote the offending passages. Otherwise, your "old white man" rant makes no sense. By the way, Ralph is a person of Middle Eastern heritage and does not really qualify as an "old white man."
The much too in depth comments on how easily or capable Iran is of making a bomb when that is not there thinking. Not every country thinks of a bomb when they think of nuclear power. That’s something Israel made up. And the propaganda that brings us to this violent country, we live in The old white man comment is in reference to who’s been running this country, America. (by the way, I’m an old white woman) Everything is about war and power. The reality is, the world is moving beyond us. It’s about saving the planet. It’s about respecting individual countries and their sovereignty. It’s not about the “strong man”if you prefer that to old white man. Basically, I feel that segment fed into the lies and propaganda from Israel to justify are going after a country that is not coming after us. This is not about Ralph Nader and all of you on the Ralph Nader radio hour who I love, and support. this about this is about watching our words because the words, are why we are, where we are in Gaza today.
Maureen, I respect your point of view. But I believe the point Postol was making is that this attack is actually encouraging Iran to develop a bomb. And their wanting a bomb would be completely understandable. They would be smart to do it. Because the "old white men" don't mess with the countries that have nuclear weapons.
Thank you I appreciate your respect. I realize my thinking is idealistic, but I wish America really did aim to promote peace in the world. Because then we would respect other countries sovereignty. At this point, we both know that’s not gonna happen. So I can imagine someone saying in the next day or two, to someone else; I heard on the Ralph Nader radio hour that they can build a bomb and X number of days or weeks and nothing good comes from that rhetoric.
Thank you for hearing me.
I’m genuinely honored by your response and giving me this space to clarify my point.
Maureen, that's Postol's technical assessment. He wasn't ascribing motive, which I don't believe any of us can do in either direction.
Hopefully the broader platform and firmer more secure foundation for such highly contested regions as Muddle East is that which MaureenB and RalphN seem properly focused upon. No more state of Human Fear\Exploitation globally traded products that go boom in the night (or anywhere at any time) need be deployed.
As Churchill fairly often said (his intentions are questionable, the contexts and quote deployment motives & uses vary, as do those of the most saintly appearing, humanitarian aiming human being):
https://samf.substack.com/p/why-putin-prefers-war-war-to-jaw
(jaw...)
Tio Mitchito
Wow thank you.
Please investigate the recent arrest in Las Vegas for Tom Alexandrovich, an Israeli CEO of Israel’s cybersecurity. He was arrested in a sting operation for online predators and children. He was released and returned to Israel. This just happened this past week.
It's because Israel is a sanctuary COUNTRY for pedophiles.
Yes......agree that is my understanding too........
An excellent program about a topic very near to my own heart, the undercount of the dead, and as I've posted repeatedly on FB myself about the undercount, I've implored people to STOP ALLOWING US and ISRAEL TO DEFINE THE SCALE OF CARNAGE THEY ARE INFLICTING. We must break through this barrier, which I feel is critical to turning the tide of "statements" into "actions." In particular, it is in this context that I want to both thank, and express my profound disappointment in Ralph Nader.
I am grateful for your work on this topic, which I took to heart immediately when you first questioned the numbers being reported. Your initial concern on the issue of deliberate undercounting was certainly the first expression of that sentiment expressed by a public figure, and for that you are to be lauded.
However, I am APPALLED that you would name "Hamas" in this program as the #1 reason that the undercount exists in the first place, which, quite honestly, is so offensive, I will have to, going forward, note my direct opposition to this declaration any time I repost you work. It's an abject demonstration of a complete capitulation to the most despicable Hasbara propaganda and lies and suggests you haven't spent even one moment actually investigating who the RESISTANCE FIGHTERS are, who should not be conflated with "terrorists" created/funded/nurtured nonstop for DECADES by the US and Israel, e.g., al Qaeda, al Nusra Front, ISIS, HTS, takfiri - all WAHABIST HEAD CHOPPING MONSTERS.
You undermine your stated support for the Palestinians by your immediate willingness to throw their DEFENDERS under the bus without a second thought, which implies that in the final analysis, perhaps you only care about dead Palestinians.
IF you care to educate yourself, here's two resources to get you started - Jeremy Scahill's deep dive investigation into the claims Israel "created" Hamas - a frank lie meant to sow division among the Palestinians (unsuccessfully so, as they well understand that but for the al Qassam Brigades and other resistance fighters operant in Gaza, EVERYONE WOULD ALREADY BE DEAD), as well as confuse stupid Americans who can't be bothered to educate themselves well enough to distinguish between the different groups and simply find it easier to lump them all together - in effect, RACISM PERSONIFIED.
https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20231115-did-israel.../...
The second is to refer you to Electronic Intifada's weekly Thursday livestream, where senior editor and extraordinary military analyst, Jon Elmer, explains in great detail not only the current operations of each of the resistance groups operating in the Middle East (which is at least 10 groups in Gaza, as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Ansarallah in Yemen), but also explains their ethics and dedication to faith. Unlike Israel's facetious and thoroughly spurious claims of being the "most moral army in the world," NONE of the members of the Axis of Resistance (which includes Iran) do ANY of the following: MURDER CIVILIANS (including women and children); rape, torture, or starve ANYONE; murder doctors and emergency medical personnel; murder journalists; destroy civilian infrastructure; or destroy water treatment and public utility facilities.
Electronic Intifada, query: Jon Elmer: https://electronicintifada.net/search/site/Jon%20Elmer
For someone who has the platform you do, Mr. Nader, it's really past time for you to DO BETTER on this subject. Surely, the Palestinians deserve at least that much before Israel and the US succeed in their desired total annihilation and extermination campaign, don't you think?
“Remember the Holocaust,” “Never again”, yeah right. Why remember it when similar atrocities are being inflicted on people with the same DNA?
It seems like no one wants to talk about it, but I will. Religion, RELIGION, is the root cause of many of the world's problems. Just look at the history of our world. It’s a grim history. The terrible things that humans have done to each other throughout history can be considered demonic. Yet, people go about their lives as if it's normal. Many claim to worship God and believe that when they die, they will go to Heaven. If that were true, then I guess Heaven must be just as troubled as life on Earth.
When I was in elementary school and first learned about the destructive power of atomic and nuclear weapons, I thought about how different the world might have been if the Nazis had developed them first. At first, I believed the best way to stop such weapons was to shoot them down from outer space. However, after some reflection, I realized that a more effective solution would be to target the people and armies responsible for their use rather than harming innocent people.
This idea was inspired by a passage I read in the Bible, specifically 2 Kings 19:35: “And that night Jehovah’s angel went out and killed a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp: the first thing in the morning they were all found dead corpses.” – The Bible in Living English
The passage recounts how Sennacherib, the king of the Assyrian Empire, sought to conquer the two-tribe kingdom of Judah. He successfully captured several cities and intended to take Jerusalem, which he believed would soon surrender to him. What Sennacherib did not realize was that God was protecting Jerusalem. As he camped his soldiers outside the city walls, God sent an angel to the Assyrian camp one night, resulting in the death of 185,000 soldiers. Faced with the loss of his most formidable warriors, Sennacherib had no choice but to retreat home, defeated.
As I grew older and saw the evils in the world, my perspective began to change. I became disillusioned and felt a deep sense of hopelessness about humanity. Why bother thinking about creating another devastating superweapon if it will only lead to more suffering, like what is currently happening in Gaza? This world is broken. Why waste the effort trying to save it for those who are corrupt? God should remove the evil from the world, just as He did when He sent a flood to cleanse it.
Wow I not seen this brought up GREAT reporting
Not thats worth listening too!
Finally, AOL announced this week that they will end their Dial-up internet service in September, Ars Technica reports. AOL launched their Dial-up service in 1991, helping to usher in the era of widespread internet adoption. While this may seem like a natural step in terms of technological advancement, US Census data from 2022 shows that approximately 175,000 American households still connect to the Internet through dial-up services. As this article notes, “These users typically live in rural areas where broadband infrastructure doesn't exist or remains prohibitively expensive to install.” In effect, this move could leave these rural communities completely without internet, a problem compounded by the Trump administration’s decision earlier this year to “abandon key elements of a $42.45bn Biden-era plan to connect rural communities to high-speed internet,” per the Guardian. It should be considered a national disgrace if both the private sector and the government leave these rural communities behind.
I think Ralph is mistaken to think Hamas has an interest in an artificially low death count. As Ralph himself said, they knew they would provoke a huge and violent response. So if they knew that why would their further plan be to try to hide the reality of that violence (through an under count)? The people of Gaza can see what is happening, they do not need an official count to know. That cannot be hidden from the people experiencing it. Therefore it seems entirely unwarranted to think Hamas is trying to under count the victims.
Why are their numbers low? The show explained that. They only count deaths they can verify. That is professional of them, but more important if they did not do that they would discredit themselves. Nobody would believe anything they said, but thus far it seems the Health Ministry is reliable in its numbers.
As Hamas knew massive destruction was coming, surely that was part of what they planned for. Indeed, what seems most likely, they were counting on it. I have called this a variation of Gandhian strategy. They provoke what they know will be an irrationally violent response, hoping the world will acknowledge it and respond to it, and respond to their plight overall.
They are counting on the world knowing the real death count. They are not irrational, which the racists assume. The world responded to and ended apartheid once before and Hamas is trying to get the world to do so again.
So, no, Hamas does not have an interest in an undercount. They need the full truth to come out. They bet everything, literally, everything on the world seeing the predictable horror and acting to do something. They are likely shocked the world is taking so long to respond (I am). Will their population agree with them making that bet? I don't know. But that is the bet they made.
Will the world do something? I do not know but maybe. If Ralph is correct -- that real numbers will move masses of people -- then maybe the masses will move governments to create some just arrangement (one or two states, I think one secular but up to all of the people there), and eventually war crimes trials.
I posted a link to this substack on David Cay Johnston's Facebook page as he was finally discussing the Gaza carnage and the murders of fellow journalists. He's had a number of his followers attack him and others who supported the obvious genocide, using all manner of foul and disgusting language. Such people should be de-platformed for obvious profanity and abuse but Facebook rejects such reports.
Netanyahu was involved in the planning of Rabin's assassination because the Oslo II Accords (1995) would allow Palestinians to 'grow roots' and block any chance of the canal (once known as the Ben Gurion canal). On Oct 8 2023, I knew that Netanyahu was grateful for the attack of Oct 7 and that he was most grateful for Israeli hostages, so that he would have an excuse to finally clear the area of Palestinians. Would not matter to Netanyahu if all the hostages were released, this was Netanyahu's last chance for the canal.
In late 1963, the proposed Ben-Gurion canal was shelved after analysis that there were too many Palestinians in the proximity of where the canal would be built.
The correct solution is for Egypt to give 10% of the Suez canal back to the French, so that the French can provide security forces and experts at the canal that assures the rest of the world that access for international shipping will remain open. Ever since Egypt's Nassar stole (nationalized) the canal from the French and the British, many times the Egyptians used the canal for their personal and political agendas, which is depraved.
The problem with the correct solution is the Arab culture that they don't see anything wrong when the canal was stolen or when American-built oil wells were stolen (nationalized). Not ideal for encouraging foreign capital investment.
I believe you are overstating the case against Hamas. Give your hard data basis for your comments! My measure for Jewish Americans is whether they EVER supported AIPAC or any other lobbyist/funders meddling with our system-legislators. Not acceptable.
Julia, what do you mean by "overstating the case." What case? Which comments? Who are you talking to?
Hamas wanting to cover up the true numbers due to their failures to protect. Give me a break!
I don't disagree. And a number of people we've interviewed on the program have said the same thing. People know when their family has been killed. They don't need the numbers.
see my comments above. Nader is way, way off base concerning "Hamas." His comments on that topic are nothing more than a reflection of reflexive US/Israeli propaganda and lies, and are certainly not an informed position on the subject of resistance fighters operating either in Gaza, or the Middle East overall.
You may be right, but which comments about Hamas are you referring to? It helps to be specific.