rodoheel
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I have zero problems with specific, nuanced critiques of what choices the Biden admin has made or not made with respect to Israel. I, too, would prefer that we not send Israel any more offensive weapons. I would prefer that we come out more strongly against Israel when it demonstrably oversteps. But I generally don't hear leftists saying those sorts of things in measured, reasonable tones. Instead, it all gets boiled down to a flat moral right/wrong statement like "The administration is supporting genocide." It gets boiled down to protestors yelling at Kamala rallies that she's a murderer and war criminal. I don't think that's entirely fair, and more importantly I think framing critiques in those sorts of terms is what makes leftists (especially young leftists) stay away from the polls altogether, or throw their vote away on Jill freaking Stein. It makes it easier for voters - especially young voters - to reach the simplistic conclusion that "both parties are evil" and it therefore doesn't matter which one you vote for, because Dems are just as bad as Republicans. When in reality, even if you think Dems are just as bad as Republicans on Palestine (which I think is not the case, but fine) they are most assuredly not just as bad on a whole host of other important domestic and foreign policy issues.It’s not about moral high ground for me. I think Harris continuing Biden’s stance is actively hurting her electoral chances. I shouldn’t have said the Democratic Party is responsible for a genocide, because it’s really just the Biden administration.
Biden has had a year now to use leverage to stop Israel’s actions by cutting off offensive weapons to them under international and U.S. law. It’s not leaving them defenseless to take away the 2,000 lb bombs they drop on Gaza.
Biden is out to lunch on this issue. Why is Brett McGurk running our foreign policy? Why is he able to make decisions overriding DoD and the State Department? And by the way, getting rid of Netanyahu isn’t going to magically solve these issues.
It’s gaslighting to say we can’t do anything about this in an election year when the administration has had four years to work on this. Clearly it wasn’t a priority for them. Nor was diplomatic engagement with Iran. Why not try to reenter into the nuclear deal?
All Harris has to do is make it clear that her administration will follow international law. Something the Biden admin is not currently doing. There is no evidence that her saying this will “torpedo” her election prospects. Nowhere have I advocated for Harris coming out in favor of a complete withdrawal of weapons and aid to Israel.